As the action at Villers en Couche has lately been brought before your
readers, allow me to direct your correspondent to the _Journals and
Correspondence of Sir Harry Calvert_, edited by Sir Harry Verney, and just
published by Messrs. Hurst and Co.,--a book which contains a good deal of
valuable information respecting a memorable campaign. Sir Harry Calvert,
under the date of the 25th of April, 1794, thus describes the action at
Villers en Couche:
"Since Tuesday, as I foresaw was likely, we have been a good deal on
the _qui vive_. On Wednesday morning we had information that the enemy
had moved in considerable force from the Camp de Cesar, and early in
the afternoon we learned that they had crossed the Selle at Saultzoir,
and pushed patrols towards Quesnoy and Valenciennes. The Duke [of York]
sent orders to General Otto, who had gone out to Cambray on a
reconnoitring party with light dragoons and hussars, to get into the
rear of the enemy, find out their strength, and endeavour to cut them
off. The enemy retired to Villers en Couche that night, but occupied
Saultzoir and Haussy. Otto, fielding their strength greater than he
expected, about 14,000, early in the evening sent in for a brigade of
heavy cavalry for his support, which marched first to Fontaine
Antarque, and afterwards to St. Hilaire; and in the night he sent for a
farther support of four battalions and some artillery. Unfortunately he
confided this important mission to a hussar, who never delivered it,
probably having lost his way, so that, in the morning, the general
found himself under the necessity of attacking with very inferior
numbers. However, by repeated charges of his light cavalry, he drove
the enemy back into their camp, and took three pieces of cannon. He
had, at one time, taken eight; but the enemy, bringing up repeated
reinforcements of fresh troops, retook five.
"Our loss I cannot yet ascertain, but I fear the 15th Light Dragoons
have suffered considerably. Two battalions of the enemy are entirely
destroyed."
The especial bravery of the troops engaged on the 26th, which is another
subject noticed by your correspondent BIBLIOTHECAR. CHETHAM. prompted the
following entry on his journal by Sir Harry Calvert:
"April 26.--The enemy made a general attack on the camp of the allies.
On their approaching the right of the camp, the Duke of York directed a
column of heavy cavalry, consisting of the regiment of Zedwitsch
Cuirassiers, the Blues, Royals, 1st, 3rd, and 5th Dragoon Guards, to
turn the enemy, or endeavour to take them in flank, which service they
performed in a style beyond all praise, charging repeatedly through the
enemy's column, and taking twenty-six pieces of cannon. The light
dragoons and hussars took nine pieces on the left of the Duke's camp."
Sir Harry Verney has printed in an Appendix his father's well-considered
plans for the defence of the country against the invasion anticipated in
1796.