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A Biographical Memoir of His Late Royal Highness Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, Commander-In-Chief of the Forces of Great Britain,
A Biographical Memoir of His Late Royal Highness Frederick Duke of York and Albany CommanderInChief of the Forces of Great Britain Author:John Watkins Subtitle: With Numerous Anecdotes of the Royal Family, and Other Persons of High Distinction General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1827 Original Publisher: H. Fisher Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General... more » Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: CHAP. VI. FROM A. D. 1795 TO 1799. The reverses of fortune jexperienced by the Duke of York in no degree lessened his reputation, either for valour, judgment, or humanity. On the contrary, his military talents were universally confessed by veterans in the art of war; while the goodness of his heart endeared him to all who served under his command. His bravery in battle was admired by the enemy, and had a most animating effect upon his troops. The affair at Turcoing would have been still more disastrous than it was, had the Duke lost his presence of mind. But, by maintaining his courage and coolness amidst the dangers which gathered around him, he cut his way through the hostile ranks of infantry, and, plunging his horse into the river, effected his escape to the German entrenchments. His arrangements were generally allowed to be highly judicious; and he evinced uncommon skill, intrepidity, and steadiness in that most difficult and painful duty, the conducting of a retreat, which, whenever it became indispensably necessary, was always managed with a regularity and firmness, that the foe, though ardent and numerous, invariably preserved a respectful distance. The circumstances under which the Duke was placed were of a nature altogether peculiar and unprecedented ; so that neither the most consummate ability in a general, nor inflexible resolution in his soldiers, could have insured success. The plan of the allies was radically defective at the outset, for, instead of concentrating...« less