A STRANGE COUNCIL OF WAR.

31

From every side soon came information, however, that the
disorder was extreme. Puysdgur, Matignon, Sousternon,
Cheladet, Puyguyon, all brought the same news. Yend&me,
seeing that it was tiseless to resist all this testimony, and beside
himself with rage, cried, " Oh, very well, gentlemen! I see
clearly what you wish. We must retire, then;" and look-
ing at Monseigneur le Due de Bourgogne, he added, "I know
you have long wished to do so, Monseigneur.5'

These words, which could not fail to be taken in a double
sense, were pronounced exactly as I relate them, and were
emphasized in a manner to leave no doubt as to their significa-
tion. Monseigneur le Due de Bourgogne remained silent as
before, and for some time the silence was unbroken. ; At last,
Puysdgur interrupted it, by asking how the retreat was to be
executed. Each, then, spoke confusedly. Vendome, in his
turn, kept silence from vexation or embarrassment; then he
said they must march to Ghent, without adding how, or any-
thing else.

The day had been very fatiguing; the retreat was long and
perilous. The Princes mounted their horses, and took the
road to Ghent. Vendome set out without giving any orders, or
seeing to anything. The general officers returned to their
posts, and of themselves gave the order for retreat. Yet so
great was the confusion, that the Chevalier Eosel, lieutenant-
general, at the head of a hundred squadrons, received no orders.
In the morning he found himself with his hundred squadrons,
which had been utterly forgotten. He at once commenced his
march; but to retreat in full daylight was very difficult, as he
soon found. He had to sustain the attacks of the enemy during
several hours of his march.

Elsewhere, also, the difficulty of retreating was great. Fight-
ing went on at various points all night, and the enemy were on
the alerfc. Some of the troops of our right, while debating as
to the means of retreat, found they were about to be surrounded
by the enemy. The Vidame of Amiens saw that not a moment
was to be lost. He cried to the light horse, of which he was
Captain, " Follow me," and pierced his way through a line of