(Vol. viii., pp. 8. 127.)
I am in a position to furnish a more complete account of this skirmish, and
of the action of April 26, in which my grandfather, General Mansel, fell,
from a copy of the _Evening Mail_ of May 14, 1794, now in the possession of
J. C. Mansel, Esq., of Cosgrove Hall, Northamptonshire. Your correspondent
MR. T. C. SMITH appears to have been misinformed as to the immediate
suppression of the _Poetical Sketches_ by an officer of the Guards, as I
have seen the _third edition_ of that work, printed in 1796.
"_Particulars of the Glorious Victory obtained by the English Cavalry
over the French under the Command of General Chapuis, at Troisoille, on
the 26th of April, 1794._
"On the 25th, according to orders received from the Committee of Public
Safety, and subsequently from General Pichegru, General Chapuis, who
commanded the Camp of Caesar, marched from thence with his whole force,
consisting of 25,000 infantry, 3000 cavalry, and seventy-five pieces of
cannon. At Cambray he divided them into three columns; the one marched
by Ligny, and attacked the redoubt at Troisoille, which was most
gallantly defended by Col. Congreve against this column of 10,000 men.
The second column was then united, consisting of 12,000 men, which
marched on the high road as far as Beausois, and from that village
turned off to join the first column; and the attack recommenced against
Col. Congreve's redoubt, who kept the whole at bay. The enemy's flank
was supported by the village of Caudry, to defend which they had six
pieces of cannon, 2000 infantry, and 500 cavalry. During this period
Gen. Otto conceived it practicable to fall on their flank with the
cavalry; in consequence of which, Gen. Mansel, with about 1450
men--consisting of the Blues, 1st and 3rd Dragoon Guards, 5th Dragoon
Guards, and 1st Dragoons, 15th and 16th Dragoons, with Gen. Dundas, and
a division of Austrian cuirassiers, and another of Archduke Ferdinand's
hussars under Prince Swartzenburg--after several manoeuvres, came up
with the enemy in the village of Caudry, through which they charged,
putting the cavalry to flight, and putting a number of infantry to the
sword, and taking the cannon. Gen. Chapuis, perceiving the attack on
the village of Caudry, sent down the regiment of carabineers to support
those troops; but the succour came too late, and this regiment was
charged by the English light dragoons and the hussars, and immediately
gave way with some little loss. The charge was then continued against a
battery of eight pieces of cannon behind a small ravine, which was soon
carried; and, with equal rapidity, the heavy cavalry rushed on to
attack a battery of fourteen pieces of cannon, placed on an eminence
behind a very steep ravine, into which many of the front ranks fell;
and the cannon, being loaded with grape, did some execution: however, a
considerable body, with Gen. Mansel at their head, passed the ravine,
and charged the cannon with inconceivable intrepidity, and their
efforts were crowned with the utmost success. This event decided the
day, and the remaining time was passed in cutting down battalions, till
every man and horse was obliged to give up the pursuit from fatigue. It
was at the mouth of this battery that the brave and worthy Gen. Mansel
was shot: one grape-shot entering his chin, fracturing the spine, and
coming out between the shoulders; and the other breaking his arm to
splinters; his horse was also killed under him, his Brigade-Major
Payne's horse shot, and his son and aide-de-camp, Capt. Mansel, wounded
and taken prisoner; and it is since known that he was taken into {371}
Arras. The French lost between 14,000 and 15,000 men killed; we took
580 prisoners. The loss in tumbrils and ammunition was immense, and in
all fifty pieces of cannon, of which thirty-five fell to the English;
twenty-seven to the heavy, and eight to the light cavalry. Thus ended a
day which will redound with immortal honour to the bravery of the
British cavalry, who, assisted by a small body of Austrians, the whole
not amounting to 1500, gained so complete a victory over 22,000 men in
sight of their _corps de reserve_, consisting of 6000 men and twenty
pieces of cannon. Had the cavalry been more numerous, or the infantry
able to come up, it is probable few of the French would have escaped.
History does not furnish such an example of courage.
"The whole army lamented the loss of the brave General, who thus
gloriously terminated a long military career, during which he had been
ever honoured, esteemed, and respected by all who knew him. It should
be some consolation to those he has left behind him, that his
reputation was as unsullied as his soul was honest; and that he died as
he lived, an example of true courage, honour, and humility. On the 24th
General Mansel narrowly escaped being surrounded at Villers de Couche
by the enemy, owing to a mistake of General Otto's aide-de-camp, who
was sent to bring up the heavy cavalry: in doing which he mistook the
way, and led them to the front of the enemy's cannon, by which the 3rd
Dragoon Guards suffered considerably."--Extract from the _Evening
Mail_, May 14, 1794.
From the above extract, compared with the communication of MR. SMITH (Vol.
viii., p. 127.), it appears that the 15th Light Dragoons were engaged in
both actions, that of Villers en Couche on April 24, and that of Troisoille
(or Cateau) on the 26th. In the statement communicated by MR. SIMPSON
(_Ibid._ p. 8.), there appears to be some confusion between the particulars
of the two engagements.