The letter which follows was written by an un- named officer in the British Royal Artillery. I don't recall who sent this letter to the SYWA Journal, but I extend my thanks to you for uncovering this account.

Franchenbergh Camp in Germany
August 23rd 1759

Dear Mrs. T.,

This with our kind loves to you hoping these may find you in as good health as it leaves us. I should have wrote to you before, but I expected to have had more news to have communicated to you. I suppose it will be no news now to acquaint you that on the lst of August we had a glorious battle, by which we restored many thousands to their native habitations, and prevented Hanover's utter destruction. I will give you some particulars.

On the 1st of August, about 3 in the morning, we found the French advancing upon us from behind Prussian Minden, a large Garrison which they had some time before lay encamped behind, in order as we thought to give us battle.

Prince Ferdinand upon this gave us all orders to decamp, and to form the line - but the French being formed at two in the morning thought to take us at a disadvantage by falling upon us as we were a forming, and accordingly ordered four Regiments of Horse, headed by their Gens d'armes, to fall upon us, but they unfortunately (as their prisoners are pleased to term it) fell in with the hardy English, or, as they sometimes call us, English Devils, for some of our English Commanders of the Infantry, observing them to come up, took care to be ready to receive them.

The first that engaged was Stewart's, Brudenel's and Napier's Regiments of Foot, who gave them such a warm reception that they were obliged to retreat as fast as possible, but, being reinforced by some fresh regiments they made a second attack upon the three regiments who as bravely stood their ground and beat them a second time. By this time most of the cannon, both in the French Army and ours, began to play, except two 12 Pounders of ours, which I was with, to be kept as a reserve.

About 10 o'clock the French, a little stomached with being twice beat by such a few English, was determined to push the heat of the battle against them, and if possible totally destroy them. Upon this, 8 fresh regiments of Horse and Foot came again to allack the three mangled Regiments who stood like a brass wall. But General Kingsley seeing them overpowered advanced out of the Rear Line, with his own Regiment, Hume's and the Welsh Fuzileers, and took up their ground, and boldly beat the French back a third time, but with great loss on both sides.

After this, a sort of silence from small-arms lasted about half an hour, in which time Prince Ferdinand gave us orders to advance with our ten 12 Pounders in order to assist the six English Regiments who he said had behaved like a brazen wall, but was doubtful would not be able to stand the next shock of the Enemy. We accordingly drew up our ten guns close to the 6 Regiments on the right and there waited undiscovered till the Enemy came almost within pistol shot, like a cloud, with numbers, and when they were just a going to gallop down sword in hand amongst the poor mangled Regiments, we clapt our matches to the ten guns and gave them such a salute as they little expected, as they have since told us. Our Balls (by the blessing of God) had the desired effect for we mowed them down like standing corn. We fired quick, firing upon them for about twenty minutes, during which time both armies stood in a kind of stagnation and never so much as fired one small arm.

The French fell so very fast that the rest were so confused that they really confess they did not know which way to fly for safety, but we paid no regard to their distress, but as we had begun a good work were determined to make an end of it and continue firing so long as we thought we could kill one man. This put the whole French Army into such a confusion that they all with one consent run away, tho' many of their Regiments had never been engaged. We advanced after them as far as we could to Minden about two English miles from the field of battle, where having the pleasure to see them make their escape up the hills like a flock of sheep and standing some time amazed at not seeing our cavalry pursue them we received orders to return to the field of battle which was done by the whole army. There we had the dismal employment of to draw the dead and wounded men and horses in heaps in order to make room to pitch our tents.

We stayed here two nights and on 4 August began our march after the French Army. We have had but three halting days since, but our Army notwithstanding seems as hearty and ready for action again as if they had lain all the time in St. James's Park. We have a fine Commander. May God for ever prosper him: he indulges us in all he can, allowing for the difficulties of the times, I mean Prince Ferdinand, whose name can never be sufficiently applauded.

I suppose you will have heard of a certain great Man's being arrived in England from Germany to receive a reward for his merit at the battle, and I hope his Majesty will not let him go without it. I am very sorry to hear that Adn-dral Byng is still living as we have so many substantial judges that give their opinion that he ought to have been dead before now. We have taken many prisoners and Marshall Contades, the French Commander-in- chief, has lost his baggage, horses, etc. our undertaker has bought them to draw his artillery with. We are now 8 German miles from Frankfort where the French make a stop and entrench themselves as though they intended to give us battle, but I believe we shall be able to give a very good account of them, till which time we are your

Well-wishers & Dutifull to Command
W. & M.H.

P.S. I had forgot to inform you that the morning after the battle my dear wife came in search of me upon the field of battle with a heart full of grief thinking every corpse she saw was mine. In which confusion I met her, but had some difficulty to persuade her I was really the Man she wanted. We are both very happy and enjoy all the pleasure that our unsettled life will allow of. It is the opinion of all here that had the Cavalry engagd the French (who) run away, we had destroyed their whole army root and branch. But their misconduct is laid on a very cautious man who acted like the wise Man in England that stood by at a (bear) Baiting and very wisely said fight Dog fight Bear and the Devil part you, for my fingers shall not be bit in doing it.

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