The Battle of Dettingen 1743

A letter from an Officer of the Royal Welch Fusiliers
dated Thursday, June 27th 1743
From the Gentlemen's Magazine 13:03:86

We attack'd the Regiment of Navarre, one of their prime regiments. Our People imitated their Predecessors in the last war gloriously, marching in close Order, as firm as a Wall, and did not fire till we came within 60 Paces, and still kept advancing; so that we had soon closed with the Enemy, if they had not retreated: For when the Smoak blew off a little, instead of being among their Living, we found the Dead in Heaps by us; and the second Fire turn'd them to the Right about, and upon a long Trot. We engaged two other Regiments afterwards, one after the other, who stood but one fire each; and their Blue French Foot Guards made the best of their Way without firing a Shot. Our Colonel fell in the first Attack, shot in the Mouth, and out at the Neck; but there are Hopes of his Recovery. The Gens d'Armes are quite ruin'd, who are their chief Dependance, and intended to cut us all to Pieces without firing a Shot. Our Regiment sustain'd little Loss, tho' much engaged; And indeed our whole Army gives us great Honour. Brigadier Huske who behaved gloriously, and quite cool was shot thro' the Foot at the Time that our Colonel fell, yet continued his Post. We have no more tha 50 kill'd and wounded, and one Officer besides the Colonel. What preserved us, was our keeping close Order, and advancing near the Enemy ere we fir'd. Several that popp'd at 100 Paces lost more of their Men, and did less Execution; for the French will stand Fire at a distance, tho' 'tis plain they cannot look Men in the Face.

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