| Citation |
BNL.744.012
23 Aug 1744:32 (2108)
Extract of a letter from a person of distinction at
Haliborn, dated June 1, N.S.
I have been five days in Prince Charles of Lorain's camp at
Necker, Ulm, not far from hence; his Highness it a most
affable and courteous Prince, and the army is in fine order,
both as to men and horses; it consists of 76,000 effective
men, besides 20,000 irregular troops, 18,000 of whom are
Croats, Hussars, Pandours, Carlstanders, &c. who are
encamped by themselves. I was present when Prince Esternasi
drew up the irregular troops, who by their dress made a
terrible appearance, and their looks represent a wild and
savage fierceness: All night they lie on the ground without
tents or straw, in the day they dance and exercise
themselves with running and throwing of stones of 20 lb.
weight, which they perform in the following manner, viz. . .
[7 lines] The day I saw them perform this exercise, they
had made an excursion of about three leagues,
notwithstanding which, they jump'd and danc'd as if they had
not undergone any fatigue at all. They openly declare that
when they once get on French ground, they will give no
quarters either to man or child. Yesterday a body of about
1000 of them, took, near Germersheim, some small vessels
with 40,000 sacks of oats, and cut in pieces the Frenchmen
who guarded them, and brought away their heads.
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