"In this battle, fought on the 30th of April, than which few have been more bloody, the laurel was snatched from the enemy by this corps and three others, who covered the British and Hanoverian Infantry, under General Lord Ligonier, and that in so gallant a manner as to render wholly abortive one of the greatest objects of the French commander, for the timid Dutch had retreated, leaving a wing of the Allied Army exposed to the enemy, and this, although supported by two British battalions.
"The hazard was great and the moment more critical inasmuch as its brave Colonel was killed and his post left defective for a considerable time until His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland ordered some pieces of cannon to be brought up, at the head of the Foot Guards, which soon silenced the enemy's guns, and by exciting universal admiration at the General's presence of mind in the midst of such danger, the troops were roused to unusual exertions and actually took possession of some of their batteries, although, to effect this, they were necessarily exposed to a most terrible and incessant cannonade. Perhaps the page of history could not produce a parallel to the bravery of the British troops in this engagement, who, after having stood for upwards of three hours the incessant fire of three strong batteries, could drive the French, their superiors in point of number, from their lines into their Camp; who when thinned in their ranks, tired with slaughter and almost sinking beneath their wounds, could break the same host of troops, drive them back a second time, and at length make good a safe retreat, at the moment when the enemy was reinforced by seven fresh battalions."
At the risk of seeming lengthy, I must here add, without pretending to edit it, a paragraph from Cannon's very scarce record:—
"A tremendous cannonade was followed by volleys of musketry and charges of cavalry. The Greys supported the infantry for some time; but at length they were led forward by their Colonel, the chivalrous and daring Lieutenant-General James Campbell, against a line of French Cuirassiers. Their grey horses and grenadier caps rendered them conspicuous—their noble bearing excited admiration. Before them appeared the enemy's squadrons, formidable in numbers, and bright in polished armour; but undismayed by the opposing ranks of war, the Greys raised a loud huzza, and rushed at speed upon their steel-clad opponents, who were overthrown and pursued to the rear of their own lines....
"The Greys pursued their adversaries to the banks of the river, and captured a White Standard, with which they returned in triumph to their own lines, where they received the expression of the approbation of their Sovereign, who had witnessed their gallantry.... The standard was of white damask, finely embroidered with gold and silver; a thunderbolt in the middle, upon a blue and white ground; motto, Sensere Gigantes."
The following interesting 1747 record I copy from the Manuscript Papers now preserved by the Greys:—
"Extract from the Record Book of the Enniskilling Dragoons.
"Signed, E. M. W. Gres, Major.
"1747. The Duke of Cumberland arrived at the Hague on the 15th of February. The French made some hostile movements in April. The Allied Army were encamped near to Antwerp, their right extending to Breschater. The army of the Allies marched 30th of June in three columns towards Lonaken, and encamped between that place and Ghenck. The French corps of the Count de Clermont occupied the high ground from Tongress to Tonggrebech. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland and Marshal Bathiani resolved to take possession of the camp of Bilsen. On the 2nd of July an action was fought between Tongress and Bilsen, near Maestricht, called the battle of Keselt or of Lafeldt, or Vol. The British cavalry charged and broke the enemy's first line, and afterwards when His Royal Highness was with them, charged a second time and broke the enemy again; hereupon the enemy made a desperate effort on the centre of the Allies; their squadrons penetrated and divided the army.
"At this juncture the British cavalry, led on by Sir John Ligonier, charged the French with so much success that they overthrew all before them, but too eager in pursuit of the enemy, received a sharp fire from the Foot, which they had posted in a hollow way and some hedges, to favour the flight of their horse, by which they suffered a good deal; they dispersed, however, that Foot and some fresh squadrons which the enemy had sent down upon them, but was all in vain whilst the army was divided in two.