At the usual time the armies were got ready for active service, and everybody set out to join them.  That of the Rhine, in which I was, was commanded by the Marechal de Lorges.  No sooner had we crossed the river and come upon the enemy, than the Marechal fell ill.  Although we were in want of forage and were badly encamped, nobody complained—­nobody wished to move.  Never did an army show so much interest in the life of its chief, or so much love for him.  M. de Lorges was, in truth, at the last extremity, and the doctors that had been sent for from Strasbourg gave him up entirely.  I took upon myself to administer to him some “English Drops.”  One hundred and thirty were given him in three doses:  the effect was astonishing; an eruption burst out upon the Marechal’s body, and saved his life.  His illness was not, however, at an end; and the army, although suffering considerably, would not hear of moving until he was quite ready to move also.  There was no extremity it would not undergo rather than endanger the life of its chief.

Prince Louis of Baden offered by trumpets all sorts of assistance—­ doctors and remedies, and gave his word that if the army removed from its General, he and those who remained with him should be provided with forage and provisions—­should be unmolested and allowed to rejoin the main body in perfect safety, or go whithersoever they pleased.  He was thanked, as he merited, for those very kind offers, which we did not wish, however, to profit by.

Little by little the health of the General was reestablished, and the army demonstrated its joy by bonfire’s all over the camp, and by salvos, which it was impossible to prevent.  Never was seen testimony of love so universal or so flattering.  The King was much concerned at the illness of the Marechal; all the Court was infinitely touched by it.  M. de Lorges was not less loved by it than by the troops.  When able to support the fatigues of the journey, he was removed in a coach to Philipsburg, where he was joined by the Marechal, who had come there to meet him.  The next day he went to Landau, and I, who formed one of his numerous and distinguished escort, accompanied him there, and then returned to the army, which was placed under the command of the Marechal de Joyeuse.

We found it at about three leagues from Ketsch, its right at Roth, and its left at Waldsdorff.  We learned that the Marechal de Joyeuse had lost a good occasion of fighting the enemy; but as I was not in camp at the time, I will say no more of the matter.  Our position was not good:  Schwartz was on our left, and the Prince of Baden on our right, hemming us in, as it were, between them.  We had no forage, whilst they had abundance of everything, and were able to procure all they wanted.  There was a contest who should decamp the last.  All our communications were cut off with Philipsburg, so that we could not repass the Rhine under the protection of that place.