'was necessary to determine our situation in this country; unfavourable weather obliged 'it to be postponed until yesterday.

The public despatches and future letters 'will give you fuller details of the action in general. I belonged to the column com'manded by Sir Ralph Abercrombie, and

my brigade formed his advanced guard. 'Our march was along the beach, with a 'view to force and turn the enemy's left flank,

'whilst other columns attacked in front. The

*

troops destined to flank our column, by 'moving in the sand hills, took some other 'direction (such mistakes are but too frequent in action); and as we very soon found 'the enemy upon our left, I was obliged very early to detach regiments of my brigade ' into the sandhills, and to be there very much 'myself. About seven in the morning we. 'got into fire, and succeeded with tolerable 'ease to push the enemy. I was wounded 'pretty soon in the thigh, but not so as to 'disable me, and I continued to do my duty

* A word illegible.

on foot, and on horseback. My horse was 'afterwards shot in the shoulder: between ' twelve and one o'clock, after five hours' con'stant action, during which we had continued 'to advance, we fell in with a fresh corps of 'the enemy. Many of my brigade were 'killed and disabled, all of them much ex'hausted. Under a very heavy fire, the enemy advanced upon us. I wished our 'people to charge them, but I could not pre'vail. The consequence was, that they gave 'way; having no longer hopes of getting any good from them, I sent Anderson to Sir

Ralph Abercrombie, to beg that he would 'detach fresh troops from the column to support us, and to charge the enemy. 'Anderson had scarcely left me, when I saw 'the enemy within a few yards on every side ' of me; afraid of being taken prisoner, I turned round to go off, and follow the men;

at that instant I was shot; the ball entered

at my cheek and went out behind my ear. 'I fell flat on my face, and was so excessively 'stunned, probably from the man who shot

'me being very near, that I felt as if the side

' of my head was carried off. I concluded I

6

6

' was killed, and felt neither power nor incli

'nation to stir. But I heard a soldier say,

Here is the General, we will carry him with 6 us. I was raised up, and when on my legs, 'finding I could stand, I made great exertions, ' and got off.

6

Whilst my wounds were dressing in the rear, I had the satisfaction to learn that the ' reinforcement, sent in consequence of my 'message to Sir Ralph, had succeeded in com'pletely beating the enemy. I had ten miles 'to ride back to my quarters; of course I was a good deal exhausted before I could 'get to bed, yet I passed a very good night,

and am quite free from fever. Mr. Knight 'came this morning from the Duke of 'York, and dressed my wounds: neither the 'jaw, nor any other bone is broken; the 'wound in my thigh is trifling; I have no 'pain, and am as easy as it is possible to be ' under such circumstances.

'My friend Anderson is with me, to whom

'I am dictating this letter: equally exposed 'as I was, during the whole of yesterday, he has had the good fortune to escape: be, as usual, pays me the most friendly attention. I want for nothing, and my only wish is that you and my Mother would not be uneasy, or torment yourselves about me. You shall hear when opportunities offer. Love to my Mother and all at home. With my own hand, and from my bed I subscribe myself your affectionate Son,

'JOHN MOORE.

Remember me to General Stuart; Anderson joins me in every thing kind to my Mother, you, and all.

Lord

· P.S. (By Captain Anderson.) Huntley was shot through the shoulder, but not dangerously; he is doing well.

You may rest assured that you shall hear every opportunity how the General is; and I have the satisfaction to tell you that he

in portbetly free from pain, and going on very well. Yours, &c. &c.,

• PAUL ANDERSON.'

To Dr. Moore, from Sir Robert Brownrigg, Secretary to H. R. H. the Duke of York, and Adjutant-General :

'Head-Quarters, Zuper Sluys, Holland, 'Oct. 4, 1799.

'My dear Sir,—I cannot suffer the accompanying letter from my dear friend, your 'Son, to go to you without assuring you that

the wounds he has received are attended 'with no danger. Mr. Knight, the Duke's 'surgeon, attends him, and gives hopes of his 'speedy recovery. The wound in his thigh 'he received early in the action, but it did 'not prevent him from continuing his exer'tions for two hours afterwards, when a 'wound in his face obliged him to leave the

field; it is through the cheek, and I under

'stand has not wounded the bone.

6

His

conduct in the serious action of the 2nd, 'which perhaps may be ranked among 'the most obstinately contested battles that 'have been fought this war, has raised him, 'if possible, higher than he before stood in 'the estimation of this army. Every one