DISPOSITION OF ARMY UNDER THE PRINCE OF ORANGE. 717

The Disposable Force.

British and Hanoverian infantry are stationed at Mons, Tournay, Ath and vicinity, and Courtray, as mentioned in the return No. 5.

The Belgian troops are now distributed

4th line battalion, Bruxelles.

1st and 2nd at Mons.

7th at Gand.

8th at Termonde.

5th and 10th Chasseurs, Louvain.

1 Heavy Cavalry regiment at Bruxelles, and 2 Light Cavalry regiments at Malines, with 1 troop of Horse Artillery and- 1 9-pounder brigade.

Including the above-mentioned troops, and those on the march from Holland, the King of the Netherlands' army in the field will consist of the

And about 7,000 infantry in Venloo and Maestricht.

British regiments are in good order and well clothed, but composed of very young soldiers.

The Hanoverians are generally young men, and have very bad officers.
Belgians not to be trusted.

No. 6. Chief Engineer's Report of the works intended at Tournay.

No. 7. Mem.

The Dutch government have only 20,000 muskets in reserve. 40,000 muskets are expected from England.

Infantry reinforcements disembarked:-The 3rd batt. 14th, 1st batt. 23rd, 51st, 52nd, 2nd batt. 95th; 3,153 rank and file.

Cavalry: 11th and 12th Light Dragoons.

DISPOSITION of the Army in the Low COUNTRIES under the command of GENERAL HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS the HEREDITARY PRINCE of ORANGE.

718 DISPOSITION OF ARMY UNDER THE PRINCE OF ORANGE.

MARCH, 1815.

RETURN OF THE BRUNSWICK CORPS.

719

DISPOSITION of ARMY under PRINCE of ORANGE-continued.

The Duke of Brunswick to Field Marshal the Duke of Wellington. MY LORD DUKE,

Brunswick, 25th March, 1815.

I am informed by Count Münster of your Grace's intention to settle at Bruxelles the military course which the German Princes allied to Great Britain will pursue, and I lose no time to enclose the return of my corps, of which you will observe that the same is stronger, as the earlier state of the German military constitution, before the French Revolution, had required; but observing that the military means to support the welfare of Germany may require new sacrifices, I brought the same to the present state.

I am by those means favoured to support the good cause; but not having the means to furnish in time of war, and out of the country, from the public income the wants of my troops, I request your Grace to interfere by government, that during the war a subsidy may be granted to me as a support for my effective corps, which I may furnish in the field, and which may be paid in such a manner as your Grace and His Majesty's government may think proper, but commencing from the period of the corps leaving my dominions. The corps will act in concert and under a chief whom His Royal Highness the Prince Regent may think proper to appoint, and as an auxiliary corps would be under the same command.

I have authorised Colonel de Herzberg, the bearer of this letter, to receive your Grace's intentions, and the direction of operation which your Grace may fix upon. I shall have my troops in such a state of readiness, that from the day of your Grace's decision which you may give, they shall be put in motion, and to arrive at its destination in the shortest possible time.

I have the honour to be, my Lord Duke,

Your Grace's most obedient servant,

WILLIAM, DUKE OF BRUNSWICK.

Brunswick, 25th March, 1815.

28882

MARCH, 1815.

MARCH, 1815. FIELD WORKS IN THE NETHERLANDS. 721

MEMORANDA ON THE FIELD WORKS IN PROGRESS IN THE

NETHERLANDS.

Bruxelles, 27th March, 1815.

Within these few days the following works have been undertaken by the Engineer department :

Ostend.

The earthworks to be repaired. The palisading completed and renewed where necessary. The outwork at the Bruges Gate finished. The breach in the curtain between bastions 10 and 11 entrenched until it can be repaired. This breach is an opening made by the French to introduce a supply of fresh water. As, however, it is the centre of a curtain, and has two wet ditches in front of it besides the inundation, it is not of any consequence. The sandhills on the western side, which give the only approach to Ostend when the inundations are extended, are to be occupied by a sort of detached hornwork, calculated for 800 men and six pieces of ordnance. The bastions of this work will have their gorges enclosed with palisades so as to prevent their being taken in the rear, and still calculated so as to afford an enemy little advantage when got possession of.

It is hoped this work will materially lengthen the defence of Ostend. It is calculated that everything essential to Ostend will be done in a fortnight.

Nieuport.

The earthworks to be repaired and palisaded. Communications by means of flat boats established to the outworks. The gates, barriers, and bridges repaired. Splinter proofs in the detached bastions to be constructed. Nieuport can only be approached by the Dunkirk sandhills, and when repaired and properly armed may be considered strong. Thirty additional guns have been mounted.

As Nieuport does not possess the same convenience of timber and artificers as Ostend, from whence a number of articles required must be brought, perhaps the repairs in hand may require a few days longer; but three weeks must finish the essential points.

Ypres.

The repairs here are heavy. There are, however, 2000 men at work. A very considerable breach was to be repaired, which is completed, palisaded, and fraised. The earthworks are to be repaired and palisaded; gates, drawbridges, platforms, and communications to the outworks repaired or made.

The outworks here are so numerous, that instructions have been given to the officer in charge to repair the body of the place only, with the detached bastions and ravelins which cover it, and to level the large hornwork near the Canal de Boussinghue and the advanced lines beyond the inundation. These works would require an army to defend them, and if not occupied, materially injure the defence otherwise to be expected from Ypres.

By means of the inundation and its large ditches, Ypres is at this moment