An artillery officer who was present wrote of the battle:
"They [the French] were fairly surprised, and our troops behaved with a bravery not to be paralleled in history, especially our Grenadiers and Highlanders, who sent prisoners, I dare say, more than double their own numbers out of the forest. The 5th Regiment behaved nobly, and took prisoners about twice their own number. We had the misfortune to lose Lieutenant Cock (an officer of our regiment, and as pretty an officer as any in the army) by a cannon-shot, which took off his head."
The casualties in the British regiments amounted to 54 killed and 249 wounded; those of the allies, only to 144 killed and wounded.
The surrender of the French Grenadiers to the old "Fighting Fifth" is commemorated by the Fusilier or, rather Grenadier, cap, which at one time was worn only by the Northumberland Fusiliers. Now, however, all Fusilier regiments share this honour with the Northumberlands.
Studying the above list in conjunction with Prince Ferdinand's despatch gives rise to the question, Why should the Northumberland Fusiliers alone bear the battle honour "Wilhelmstahl"?
Note.—During the years 1756-1762 the annual subsidies voted by the English Parliament to enable the Prussian armies to keep the field amounted to £670,000, aggregating £3,350,000. During the same period England paid for the upkeep of the armies of Hesse-Cassel £2,631,438.