from all these and other circumftances, to any movements being attempted in them by a large body of infantry. Behind thefe fand-hills, and to the enemy's right, through the whole extent of North Holland, lies a wet and low country, every where interfected with dykes, canals, and ditches, which it refted with the enemy to occupy and ftrengthen in whatever manner and in whatever points he pleased, and thereby to prevent our making any fucceff ful attempts against his right. His centre was fupported by the town of Alkmaar, and water communication gave him, in every direction, the advantage of drawing from and profiting by the refources of the country. The delays, which the unufual feverity of the weather at this feafon, and the whole of our fituation, rendered inevitable, enabled him to improve his pofition by new works, which bore a formidable appearance, and threatened much refiftance. Under all circumftances, it was evident, that it was only by a great advantage gained on the enemy's left that we could drive him back, and force him to evacuate North Holland, thereby materially bettering our fituation, by opening the fphere of our refources and future exertions: The combined attacks were therefore made in four principal columns: the firft on the right, under general fir Ralph Abercrombie, confifting of major-general D'Oyley's brigade, major-general Moore's ditto, majorgeneral earl of Cavan's ditto, colonel M'Donald's referve, nine fquadrons of light dragoons, commanded by colonel lord Paget, and one troop of horfe artillery, marched by the fea-beach againit Egmont-op-Zee,

with a view to turn the enemy's left flank. Of the fecond, confifting of Ruffian troops, commanded by major-general D'Effen, the greater proportion marched by the Slaper Dyke through the villages of Groete and Schorel upon Bergen, by the road which all the way fkirts the foot of the fand-hills of Camperdown, about 300 feet high, prefenting a steep face to the country, much wooded, but from their fummit more gradually floping towards the fea. Part of this column, under major-general Sedmoratzky, debouched from the Zuyper Sluys, and were deftined to cover the left flank of the remainder of the Ruffian troops moving under the fand-hills, to co-operate with the brigade under major-general Burrard in the attack of Schoreldam, and to combine, their attack upon Bergen with the troops upon their right. The third column, under the command of lieutenant-general Dundas, con. fifted of major-general earl Chatham's brigade, major-general Coote's ditto, major-general Burrard's ditto, and one fquadron of the 11th light dragoons. Major-general Coote's brigade was ordered to follow the advanced guard of fir Ralph Abercrombie's column from Petten, to turn to the left at the village of Campe, and proceeding under the hills, to take the Slaper Dyke in referve, and clear the road to Groete and the heights above it, for that part of the Ruffian column which marched by the Slaper Dyke, whofe right major-general Coote was to cover, during its progrefs towards Bergen, by detaching the required number of troops into the fand-hills. Majorgeneral lord Chatham's brigade was to follow that part of the Ruffian

column

column which marched from the Zuyper Sluys, to turn to the right, and falling into the road in the rear of major-general D'Effen's corps, to join fuch part of major-general Coote's as moved along that road to proceed in fupport of the Ruffian column, covering its right upon the fand-hills, and from them ultimately to combine with that column in its attack upon Bergen; for which purpose these two brigades were to extend as much as poffible to the right, and endeavour to connect themselves with the right column. Major-general Burrard's brigade was ordered to move from Tutenhoorn and Krabendam, upon the left of the Alkmaar canal, to combine, with the corps under major-general Sedmoratzky, its attack from Schoreldam, which was farther fupported by leven gun-boats moving along the above canal. Major-general Burrard was to communicate upon his left with the fourth column under lieutenant-general fir James Pulteney, confifting of major-general his highnefs prince William's brigade, major-general Manners's ditto, major-general Don's ditto, two fquadrons of the 18th light dragoons, and two battalions of Ruffians. This column covered the whole of the left of our pofition to the Zuyder Zee, and was deftined to threaten the enemy's right, and to take advantage of every favourable circumstance that fhould offer. Proportions of artillery of referve were attached to each column, and to the Ruffian column about 200 Coffacs and huflars. The force of the enemy was computed at 25,000 men, much the greater proportion of which were French. The ftate of the tide determined the march of the right column, which proceeded

from Petten at half paft fix o'clock in the morning. Its advanced guard compofed of the referve under colonel M'Donald, viz. 1ft battalion of grenadiers of the line, 1ft battalion of light infantry ditto, 23d regiment of infantry, and 55th ditto, drove the enemy from Campe and from the fand-hills above that village, and continued its march upon the ridge of thofe hills, inclining a little to the left. Major-general Coote's brigade, which next followed, turned to its left at Campe, and advancing as far as the extremity of the Slaper Dyke and the village of Groete, cleared the road for the Ruffian column under majorgeneral D'Ellen. Part of this brigade, in connection with colonel M'Donald's corps, drove the enemy from the fand-hills to the right and front of the Ruffian column, and continued moving forward upon the fand-hills, a little in advance of the Ruffian troops. Major-general Sedmoratzky's corps had marched from the Zuyper Sluys as foon as the enemy had abandoned Groete, and advanced acrofs the plain between the Alkmaar canal and the road by which major-general D'Effen moved, whofe left he joined, whilft his own left was protected by the fire of the gun-boats and the advance of majorgeneral Burrard's corps. The enemy, who had gradually retired from Schorel, were now formed in confiderable force from Schorel to Schoreldam, and kept up a very warm fire from the cannon which they had pofted at different points of their line. Major-general lord Chatham's brigade moved in the rear of majorgeneral Sedmoratzky's corps, clofe behind which it was formed in the plain. The column under major. general D'Effen proceeded along

the road upon Schorel, whilst major-general Coote's brigade was rapidly driving the enemy from the ridge of fand-hills above that village and to its right. Colonel M'Donald's corps had moved confiderably to the right, with a view to connect itfelf with the right column, and continued warmly engaged with the enemy, who were in very confiderable force in the fand-hills.

After fome delay the enemy were driven, about eleven o'clock, by the Ruffian troops, and by the gun-boats and major-general Burrard's brigade upon their left, from Schorel and Schoreldam, between which majorgenerals D'Effen's and Sedmoratzky's corps took poft, and continued the remainder of the day engaged in a cannonade with the enemy, pofted in the village of Bergen, and between it and the Koe Dyke. Schoreldam was occupied by majorgeneral Burrard, whence he continued his attack (in conjunction with the gun-boats) upon the enemy, who was ftrongly pofted on the Koe Dyke. In this fituation it became neceffary to make a great effort to clear the fummit of the fand-hills of the enemy, who occupied them in great numbers, and for a great vifible extent quite beyond Bergen. The left of major-general Coote's brigade was then above Schorel, and the regiments which compofed it were feparated by very confiderable intervals, and extended a long way into the fand-hills. The 85th regiment being on the right, and confiderably advanced, was warmly engaged with the enemy, who fhowed a difpofition to come upon the right of the brigade. I therefore directed lieutenant-general Dundas to march major-general lord Chatham's brigade from the plain

- 12

into the fand-hills, to the right of major-general Coote's, leaving one battalion (the 31ft,) to move close under the hills parallel with the left of major-general Coote's brigade. This movement was admirably executed; and major-general lord Chatham's brigade having arrived at fome distance behind the 85th regiment, and outflanking it by about two battalions, the line was formed, and the whole was ordered to advance at a brisk pace to gain the heights about three quarters of a mile diftant across a fhrubby wood, and then by a gradual afcent to the fummit of the fand-hills. The 85th regiment at the fame time charged and drove the enemy before them, who, being thus taken, in flank and rear, retired precipitately towards his right, and took poft on the fummit of the heights which hang over Bergen, whilft the remainder of najor-general Coote's brigade having allo moved forward, joined the left of inajor-general lord Chatham's.

The 85th regiment took poft in a favourable fituation below those heights, fo as to block up and command the avenue and great road, which leads through Bergen. From the heights the enemy were feen in the village of Bergen, and the woods and plains about it, wavering, and apparently in great uncertainty; but lieutenant-general Dundas's corps not being able alone to undertake the attack of the village and woods, or to bring cannon into the fand-hills, the enemy re-occupied the village in force, and kept up a brifk fire of cannon and mufketry on the heights occupied by the British, and by which the latter were sheltered. A confiderable body of the enemy advanced along the avenue,

and

fuch spirit, that they were soon at the bottom of the enemy's pofition; and afcending the hill, without ftopping, they purfued their advantage with fuch vigour as to drive the enemy totally from the fand-hills. This was the last event which took place on the fide of Bergen; and, as the clofe of the day was faft approaching, colonel M'Donald, with two battalions, was fent to the fupport of general fir Ralph Abercrombie. The heights of the fand-hills, furrounding Bergen for about three miles, remained crowned and poffeffed by eleven British battalions.

and made a fpirited attack to regain. the heights on the poft of the 85th, but were driven back with lofs, and that regiment gallantly maintained their fituation during the reft of the day against other attempts of the enemy. A large body of the enemy having been feen moving to their left, three battalions of major-general Coote's brigade were marched beyond the right of lord Chatham's, to fupport him, and extend the line. The 27th regiment, pofted at the termination of another avenue from Bergen, were attacked by a confiderable body iffuing from the woods: the regiment having, however, by a fpirited charge, driven the enemy into the wood, no farther attempt was made by them from that time (about half paft three P. M.) to diflodge lieutenant-general Dundas's corps.

General fir Ralph Abercrombie had marched, according to the difpofition, along the beach, with major-general D'Oyley's, major-general Moore's, and major-general lord Cavan's brigades, the cavalry and horse-artillery (the referve, under M'Donald, not having been able, owing to the great extent of the fand-hills, to rejoin him, after turning to the left at Campe). The main body of fir Ralph Abercrombie's column had proceeded without meeting with much refiftance in the early part of the day, but was nevertheless much inconvenienced, and his troops haraffed, by the neceffity of detaching continually into the fand-hills to his left, to cover that flank against the troops whom the enemy had placed in the fandhills. The admirable difpofition, however, which he made of his troops, and their determined fpirit and gallantry, enabled him to arrive within a mile of Egmont. Here he was ferionfly oppofed by a very confiderable corps of French infantry, which occupied Egmont-op-Zee and the high fand-hills in its front, and who had formed a very strong corps of cavalry and artillery to their

The extenfion of his line had now brought its right very near to the referve under colonel McDonald, who had been advancing rapidly, notwithstanding the confiderable refiftance he had experienced, and was now warmly engaged with the body of the enemy, lining a fandhill ridge, which croffes the downs in a perpendicular direction, and which body probably had moved from Bergen and Egmont-op-teHooff, with the view of turning lieutenant-general Dundas's right flank. Lieutenant-general Dundas therefore fent down the 29th regiment on the left of colonel M'Donald, clofe to the road leading from Bergen to Egmont; and although the enemy's pofition appeared fteep and formidable, a general and rapid attack was made. The advance of the 29th regiment was the fignal for the whole on the right of it to move forward brifkly, which was done with VOL. XLI.

left

left upon the beach. The engagement was maintained, during feveral hours, with the greatest obstinacy; and in no inftance were the abilities of a commander, or the heroic perfeverence of troops in fo difficult and trying a fituation, more highly confpicuous. Animated by the example of general fir Ralph Abercrombie, and the general and other officers under him, the troops fuftained every effort made upon them by an enemy then fuperior in number, and much favoured by the ftrength of his pofition. Late in the evening, the enemy's cavalry having been defeated in an attempt which they made upon the British horfe artillery on the beach, and having been charged by the cavalry, under colonel lord Paget, was driven, with confiderable lofs, nearly to Egmont-op-Zee: his efforts then relaxed confiderably upon the right; and general fir Ralph Abercrombie having foon after been joined by the reinforcements under colonel M'Donald, took poft upon the fand-hills and the beach, within a very fhort diftance of Egmont-op-Zee, where the troops lay upon their arms during the night. Lieutenant-general fir James Pulteney had affembled the greater part of his corps in front of Drixhoorn, whence he threatened an attack on Oudt Carspel, in and near which was placed the principal force of the enemy's right, and could at the fame time have fupported any part of the line which might be attempted. Lieutenant-general fir James Pulteney, feconded by the active exertions of the general of ficers and troops under his command, executed, with his ufual ability, that part of the difpofition with which he was intrufted, and effectually prevented the enemy

from fending any detachments to his left.

On the 3d, at daybreak, the enemy evacuated their ftrongly fortified pofts at Oudt Carfpel and the Lange Dyke, retiring upon Saint Pancras and Alkmaar: the above pofts were very foon after occupied by lieutenant-general fir James Pulteney.

The enemy ftill continued in the woods and town of Bergen, and appeared with cannon, and in fome force, on that fide of it next to the Koe Dyke. They had, however, withdrawn the greater part of their force, during the night, and before mid-day the village was taken poffeffion of by the 85th regiment. About one, general fir Ralph Abercrombie entered Egmont-op-Zee, and in the evening the Ruffians, under major-general D'Effen, advanced from the ground, where (as I have already ftated) they had halted the preceding day, to Egmont-op-te-Hooff. Major-general Burrard, who, when the enemy retired from Bergen, had advanced to Koe Dyke, was ordered in the evening to occupy, with a detachment from his brigade, the town of Alkmaar, which had been abandoned by the enemy, and had been entered nearly at the fame time by patroles from his and lieutenantgeneral fir James Pulteney's corps. The exhaufted ftate of the troops, from the almoft unparalleled difficulties and fatigues which they had to encounter, prevented me from taking that advantage of the enemy's retreat to Beverwyck and Wyck-op-Zee, which, in any other country, and under any other circumfiances, would have been the confequences of the operations of the army upon the 2d.