DETTINGEN, a village of Bavaria, circle of lower Franconia, on the right bank of the Maine; noted as the scene of a battle during the Austrian wars of succession. This conflict, in which George II. of England headed the army of the allies, while the duke de Noailles acted as commander of the French forces, took place on the 27th June, 1743, and was the last occasion in which a king of England appeared in person on the field. The army of the allies was composed of Erglish, Ilanoverlans, IIessians, and some troops from the Low Countries, amounting in all to an active force of 37,000 men; while the French leader Noailles had an army of-about 60,000. The former occupied a valley extending from Aschaffenburg to Dettingen. Before the fight, Noailles threw 12,000 men into Asehaffenburg, and so made it impossible for his opponents to retreat. with safety. The defile of D. in front of the allies was also held by De Grammont with 25,000 men, while Noailles himself, shifting his position on the Maine, so as to command with his batteries the flank and rear of the allies, rendered their position so. critical that George resolved to force his way through the enemy. It was his only
chance; and fortunately for him, De Grammont rashly and foolishly left his position, rushed over the morass and rivulet.in his front, and engaged. At this moment, George,. dismounting, placed himself at the head of the British and Hanoverian infantry, flour ished his sword, and shouted: " Now, my boys, for the honor of England ! fire; behave well; and the French will soon run !" Shock after shock from the impetuous French horse broke ou the steady lines of infantry in vain, and at length George, form ing his infantry into one solid column, advanced. Onward went the column, dense, steady, and overwhelming, breaking the squadrons of De Grammont, and driving horse and foot before them, until the enemy broke into promiscuous and bewildered retreat. Noailles's reserves were too late to be of any use: the allies had won the day. Many of the French were driven into the Maine, and so drowned; some were killed iu the pur suit, which, however, was not prosecuted to any great extent. The loss of the French, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, was estimated at 0,000, and that of the allies at 2,000 men.