Volume 2 > Half-Volume 4

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Russian campaign; thus availing himself of every
means and opportunity that offered of improving
himself in that art, to attain an eminence in which
had been from his earliest years the object of his
fondest hopes.
His lordship now joined the Imperialists assembled
near Peterwaradin, under the command of Marshal
Wallis, and attached himself to his old friend and
fellow-soldier the Prince of Waldeck, lieutenant-
general of infantry. In a short time after the battle
of Krotzka, near Belgrade, was fought. In this
engagement the earl, while fighting the Turks at
the head of Palfi's cuirassiers, had his favourite black
horse killed under him: another was immediately
brought him, but he had scarcely gained the saddle
when he himself was struck with a musket-ball,
which, entering the outside of his left thigh, shattered
the bone to pieces, and brought him to the ground.
Here he lay for some time in a state of utter insensibi-
lity, when he was accidentally discovered by General
Count Sucheri, who, on perceiving him, ordered
some grenadiers to raise him up and place him on
one of his horses. This, however, was all the atten-
tion which the urgency of the moment would permit.
Having been mounted on the horse he was left to
his fate, and received no further assistance until the
following morning, when he was found by one of his
own grooms, his face deadly pale, his head uncovered,
and himself holding fast by the horse's mane with
both hands to prevent his falling off. He was now
immediately carried to Belgrade, where surgical
assistance was obtained. So desperate and severe
was his wound, that his lordship walked for the first
time, and even then with the assistance of crutches,
only in the beginning of September, 1740�about a
year and a half after he had received it.
Being advised to try the effects of the baths of
Baden, he proceeded to that quarter, and remained
there till the nth of August, 1741; but finding there
no effectual cure, he embarked for England. Not-
withstanding his absence, the earl's interest had not
been neglected at home. In July, 1739, he was
made a colonel of horse and adjutant-general, and
on the 25th October of the same year was appointed
colonel of the 42d regiment of foot, or Royal Scots
Highlanders. The same inclination to forward his
military views marked his return. On the 25th of
December, 1741, the year in which he came to
England, he was appointed colonel of the second
troop of horse grenadier-guards.
His lordship's wound still annoying him, he, in
1742, repaired to the baths of Bareges and Provence,
from the last of which he derived great benefit. He
finally joined the British army, of which Field-marshal
Stair was commander, on the 24th of May, 1743, at
Hochstet, where George II. happened to be at the time.
At the battle of Dettingen, which took place on the
l6th of the following month, the earl commanded a
brigade of life-guards, and conducted himself through-
out that conflict with a coolness and intrepidity which
greatly enhanced his reputation for courage and mili-
tary skill. During the action his lordship, on one
occasion, ordered the officers of his brigade to the
front, the enemy being within fifty paces of them.
He then addressed his men, "Hark, my dear lads,"
he said, "trust to your swords, handle them well,
and never mind your pistols." Placing himself then
at their head, he led them on to the charge, the
trumpets the while sounding the martial strain of
"Britons, Strike Home;" his soldiers, participating
in his enthusiasm, closed on the French, and drove
them before them with prodigious slaughter. In the
beginning of the battle a musket-ball struck his lord-
Ship's right holster-case, penetrated the leather, and,
hitting the barrel of the pistol which it contained,
fell harmlessly into the case. Here it was found by
his lordship, who showed it the day after the en-
gagement to the king at Hanau, where he then was,
and who, on seeing the earl approaching, exclaimed,
"Here comes my champion;" following up after-
wards this flattering expression of his opinion of his
lordship's merits by the most gratifying remarks on
the gallantry of his conduct on the preceding day.
In this year (1743) the earl was appointed colonel
of the 4th or Scottish troop of horse-guards, and,
after the battle of Dettingen, was made a general of
brigade. In May, 1744, his lordship joined the
combined armies, in camp near Brussels; but, owing
to the over-caution of Marshal Wade, no opportunity
offered of again distinguishing himself during the
whole of the campaign which followed. In the next
year, however, this was not wanting. The Duke of
Cumberland, having been appointed captain-general
of the British forces, arrived at Brussels on the 11th
of April, 1745, his lordship being then with the army
as brigadier-general. The arrival of his grace was
soon after (3Oth April) followed by the battle of
Fontenoy. In this engagement his lordship con-
ducted himself with his usual gallantry, and exhibited
even more than his usual skill, particularly in con-
ducting the retreat, which he did in a manner so
masterly, as procured for him a reputation for mili-
tary genius not inferior to any of that age. His
lordship also wrote an exceedingly able and interest-
ing account of the battle. On the 3Oth of May fol-
lowing, he was promoted to the rank of major-
general.
The rebellion in Scotland now occurring, his
lordship was ordered, in February, 1746, from Ant-
werp, where he then was, to his native country, to
take the command of the Hessians employed by the
government on that occasion, and whose numbers
amounted to 6000. With these troops he secured
Stirling, Perth, and the passes into the Lowlands,
while Cumberland proceeded by the north-east coast
in quest of the rebels. On this visit to Scotland his
lordship formed an acquaintance with, and afterwards
married, Lady Jane Murray, eldest daughter and
presumptive heiress of James, second Duke of Athole.
On the extinction of the rebellion he returned to the
army in the Netherlands, where he arrived early in
June. At the battle of Rocoux, which took place
on the 1st of October following, he commanded the
second line of cavalry, with which he drove back the
French infantry, and threw them into irretrievable
confusion. His lordship soon afterwards accom-
panied the army into winter-quarters at Bois le Duc.
His troop of horse-guards being this year disbanded,
he was appointed to the command of the 25th regi-
ment of foot on the 25th December, 1746.
In February following (1747) his lordship em-
barked for England, and at Belford met by appoint-
ment Lady Jane Murray, to whom he was married on
the day of his arrival. His wound, which had never
yet been thoroughly healed, now again broke out from
fatigue, and subjected him anew to all the pain and
suffering which he had experienced immediately after
receiving it. From Belford the earl and countess
proceeded to London, from thence to Helvoetsluys,
and finally to Bois le Duc, where they arrived in June.
On the 22d May his lordship, previous to his leaving
England, was appointed to the command of the 2d
regiment of dragoons or Royal Scots Greys, in room
of the Earl of Stair deceased; and on the 26th of Sep-
tember following he was promoted to the rank of
lieutenant-general.
On the conclusion of the campaign the earl, ac-
companied by his countess, went to Aix-la-Chapelle,