Page:The reign of George VI - 1763.djvu/75

 tuation, found that his piquets were placed in a very negligent manner, and that it would be no difficult circumstance to surprise him in the night.

In pursuance of this opinion, about one in the morning, of the 10th of September, at the head of ten regiments, forming the first line of his army, he attacked the enemy's entrenchments; the onset was no sooner made than they were forced; the French soldiers ran naked to their arms; several of their Generals did all in their power to rally them, but in vain; the Duke de Vivione had his head shot off by a cannon-ball in the beginning of the attack, and before day-light their army was defeated and totally dispersed. The enemy being pursued, and great numbers made prisoners, the King presented himself before Dunkirk, and the cowardly Governor gave up the town, to his astonishment, without attempting any thing