The assault
was therefore delayed in order that the attack might be delivered
simultaneously against the positions on both sides of the river.
The brigade of guards and the White Brigade crossed in the boats at
Gernsheim, five miles from the town, and marched against it during
the night.
The Spaniards from their lofty position in the castle of Oppenheim
saw the campfires of the Scots around their fort on the other side
of the river, and opened a heavy cannonade upon them. The fire was
destructive, and many of the Scots were killed, Hepburn and Munro
having a narrow escape, a cannonball passing just over their heads
as they were sitting together by a fire.
The defenders of the fort determined to take advantage of the fire
poured upon their assailants, and two hundred musketeers made a
gallant sortie upon them; but Hepburn led on his pikemen who were
nearest at hand, and, without firing a shot, drove them back again
into the fort. At daybreak the roar of cannon on the opposite side
of the river commenced, and showed that the king with the divisions
which had crossed had arrived at their posts. The governor of the
fort, seeing that if, as was certain, the lower town were captured
by the Swedes, he should be cut off from all communication with
the castle and completely isolated, surrendered to Sir John Hepburn.
The town had, indeed, at once opened its gates, and two hundred men
of Sir James Ramsay's regiment were placed there.
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