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SIr Iohn Hepburne being sent with his Regiment (from Spruce) to relieve us, I was ordained with my Folks to march before Colberge, where Generall Major Kniphowsen did command in the Blockering thereof
(which I did) and being come there, a Poaste was assigned for us to watch at. In the meane time, the Generall Major getting intelligence, that the ene∣mies Army (lying at Gartts and Griffinbawgen, on the Oder) had intention to relieve Colberge, and so being in his march, he must needs passe by the Towne and Castle, of Shevelbeane in the Marke, being a passe distant but five miles from Colberge, he thought expedient, to Recognosce the place, by sending of Colonell Hepburne thither, with a Troope of Horsemen for his guard, and convoy; who having seene the place, advised Kniphowsen to beset it with a Garrison, being of consequence to hold up the Enemy, if he should march thereon with the Army, whereupon I was made choise of, with my Folks to beset it, being sent for in the night to breake up, and to march thi∣ther in all haste; I had command to speake with Kniphowsen in my going, for receiving further Orders.
The Companies marched by; I following my Orders desired to know what the Generall Major had to command me, who gave me Orders in wri∣ting, I should march thither, and in case the enemy should pursue me, I should fight to the last man, and not to give over the Castle, though I should be for∣ced to quit the Towne: Receiving Orders for some Ammunition, I tooke leave of Kniphowsen, and continued my march to Shevelbean, then layd almost waste with Pestilence, the Inhabitants being fled away, I had slight quar∣ters for my Soldiers, which being quartered, having visited the Towne and Castle, I appointed the manner of our Watch, and did beset the Poastes, from our Guards, which were kept both in the Towne and on the Castle, and then I sent Orders to the Boores of the Graveshaft, to come in the next day, with Spades, Shovels and Axes, for to repaire the workes, that were almost ruined, being a scurvie hole, for any honest Cavalier to maintaine his cre∣dit by.
Before my comming, two Troopes of Bawtees Horsemen (viz.) Major Roustene, and Long-fretts, were quattered there, who getting intelligence the Army was to march upon me, being Horsemen, quit the Garrison to our selves, and took them to the Fields, to joyne with their Colonels Regiment, being neere hand, so that our Quarters thus enlarged, we were glad to be rid of their trouble, as they were to eschew the Enemies comming, serving bet∣ter in the Fields, then they could doe within Walles; The Horsemen gone, I was evill sped, for being put on such a place with such orders, appointed to fight to the last man, where no Cavalier with credit could hold out twenty foure houres, being pursued by an Army, except the Lord extraordinarily would shew mercy: Neverthelesse, getting three dayes longer continuation before the enemies comming, we did worke all of us night and day, till we had Stacketed the Wall about, the height of a man above the Parapet, having made a breast-worke of earth within the Walles round about, with Traverses within, for cleering out the Enemy, if he had entered at a breach; our Work ended, and our Ports Ranforced with Earth to resist the force of Pittards; we see in the afternoone the Enemies squadrons of Foot and Horse, about eight thousand strong, marching unto us, having Artillery conforme, we finding them marching within reach, I caused to salute them with two small shot, wherewith a Rut-master, and a Lievtenant of horse were killed, which made the rest march out of distance: The Army drawne up in Battell without reach of our Canon, they sent a Trumpeter summoning us to a treatie, he was an∣swered; we had no such Orders, but we had Powder, and Ball at their ser∣vice.
Whereupon they commanded a Captaine with a hundred and fiftie musketiers towards the Porte, directing proportionally to the rest of the Portes: our souldiers in the beginning before the Portes killed of them above thirtie souldiers, and two Livetenants, I not being able to maintaine the Towne, retired with my folke on the Castle: I being retired, the Burgers made up, set open the Portes to the enemie, giving him entrance, who did bring in his whole Artillerie, and Amunition to the market place, and then sent to mee a Drummer to see, if I would render up the Castle upon good conditions, then they were in my power, but if not, I should have no quar∣ters afterwards.
They got their first Answer againe, and then the service beginnes anew on both sides, and they begunne before night to plant their Batteries, within fourtie pace of our walles, which I thought too neere, but the night drawing on, wee resolved with fire workes, to cause them remove their quarters, and their Artillerie.
Having thrown some fiery Granades on the houses, and seeing they wrought no effect, I hired a stout souldier with a Pike to reach a firye Ball I had made (upon the top of the next house that lay to the Castle) which in the end was fired, so that the whole street did burne right alongst betwixt us, and the ene∣my, who was then forced to retire, both his Cannon, and souldiers, and not without great losse done unto him by our souldiers, by meanes of the fire∣light; where other two Officers, and eighteene of their souldiers were killed.
The day cleering up, I fell out after with fourescore Musketiers, and tooke thirteene Crabbats prisoners. The Army leaving us for that time they mar∣ched forwards for the releefe of Colberg, and I retired to the towne to comfort the Burgers, for their losse sustained by the fire, caused through necessitie, ha∣ving no other meanes to escape our enemies fury.
I being retired to the Castle, and the enemy marching to Colberg, having made up eighteene Dragoniers to march after the enemy for bringing me in∣telligence, if his Majesties forces from Statin were come betwixt the enemie and Colberg, my party retiring shewes, that the field Marshall Gustave Horne, and Colonell Mackey, that cōmanded the cōmanded musketiers, were joyned with Kniphousen, Bawtish, and Sir Iohn Hepburne; and were lying over-night, before a passage betwixt the enemy, and Colberg.
The next morning being darke till nine aclock with a thick mist, the horse∣men charging one another, they came in confusion on both sides, being af∣frighted alike, retired from each others with the losse of fourescore men on both sides: The particulars whereof I will not set downe, having not seene the service, though I was within hearing of their Cannon and Muskets both.
Two horsemen of Bawtish Regiment, that had charged through the ene∣my came, and reported to me openly, in presence of many souldiers, that the Swedens were all beaten, I being offended at the manner of their report, I cau∣sed to imprison both the horsemen, till I knew greater certainty, and calling my souldiers together, I was prepared for the enemies returne. But he passing by a mile from us, I sent Dragoniers to cut off his passage, giving them charge to cut off the Bridges, but his Dragoniers being there before mine, to be quit of their ill; my Dragoniers returned againe in safetie, allowing passage to their enemies: within few dayes after, having escaped this inconvenience, I was re∣called from thence, by his Majesties order, to joyne with the Felt-marshall Horne, then at Griffinberg, with a party of the Armie, where before my
departing, I took an Attestation, from the Amptman of the Castle, of the good order and Discipline, that was kept by vs there; And being glad I was rid with credit of such a place, I marched to Griffenberg to finde the Felt-Marshall.