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Chapter 12: 1758 part 8
Along the Rhine
The Duke of Brunswick and his brother Ferdinand led a coalition of British, Prussian and Hanoverian troops in numerous skirmishes in the German provinces along the Rhine as the pushed the French forces back toward the river.
The French forces were led by Louis, Count of Clermont who replaced the captured Prince of Soubise Charles de Rohan, who was awaiting a negotiated ransom via Swiss intermediaries. Clermont was assisted by the Marquis de Contades and Victor Francois, the 2nd Duc de Brogile.
Battle of Dusseldorf
The allied forces numbers over 32,000 against the French forces numbering just over 47,000. On June 18th, the two armies sighted each other near villages outside of Dusseldorf near the banks of the Rhine. The primary lines of infantry drew up amongst a series of farm fields. Brunswick had a portion of his forces out of sight among Orchards and hedgerows bordering the fields. Brunswick aimed to trap the French against the bank, which soon occurred as their right flank took numerous volleys and began to fall back against the water. The left and center however was an even fight as the two armies trampled the summer crops underfoot on the field. Comete de Gisors however had found a nearby ford over the River and commanded the French Cavalry to swing around an cross it to defend the right flank and force the Allied forces back into the hedgerows and orchards were the horses could not pursue them easily. This allowed the French time to retreat across the Rhine in good order, while French Artillery on the far bank set up and prevented any serious attempt for the allied forces to reenter the open ground in pursuit of the retreating French.
Battle Results:
Allied Forces: 2000 dead and wounded.
French Forces: 3300 dead and wounded.
Allied Victory.
As a result of this battle Clermont would resign and Contades would take command of French forces on the eastern frontier. Upon learning of the defeat in Paris late the summer, Choiseul would send some of the first waves of reformed regiments the following spring to the eastern theater in a renewed bid to retake Hanover. In the meantime, France maintained a defensive stance along the Rhine. The Duke of Brunswick also chose not to pursue further across the Rhine as Fredrick had recalled Prussian troops in the area back east in an effort to bolster his own forces against Austria and Russia.