without hopes of congratulating your highness on a great victory, for my troops will be animated by the presence of so distinguished a commander." Eugene warmly approved the resolution he had taken of instantly attacking the enemy; and a council of war having been summoned, their united opinion prevailed over the objections of the Dutch deputies, who were less obstinate in resisting vigorous measures than usual, from having become seriously alarmed for their barrier. It was resolved to attack the enemy in their position in front of OuDENARDE. * 36. cross-march communica The plan resolved on for this purpose by Marlborough and Eugene was as able as its execution was felicitous. Instead of moving direct on the covering army of Marlborough's Vendôme, which lay between them and Oude- on Vendôme's narde, they resolved to throw themselves on his tions, 9th July. communications, and, by interposing between him and the French frontier, compel him to fight with his face toward Paris and his back to Antwerp. It was precisely a repetition of what Marlborough had already done in the campaign of 1705, when the results which would have arisen from such a plan were frustrated by the Dutch deputies.† Every thing here depended on activity and rapidity of movement, and these were not wanting. The allies broke up at two in the morning of the 9th of July, and advanced, in four great columns, toward the French frontiers at Lessines. So rapid and well ordered was the march, that before noon the heads of the columns had reached Herfilingen, fourteen miles from Asche, whence they had started. Bridges were rapidly thrown over the Dender, and it was crossed early on the following morning in presence of Eugene and Marlborough, whom the animation of the great events in progress had, in a manner, raised from the bed of sickness. Here the duke halted, and the * Disp., iv., 79–102. COXE, iv., 130–132. † Ante, chap. iii., sec. 21. "The treachery of Ghent, continual marching, and some letters I have received from England (from the queen and the duchess), have so vexed me, that I was yesterday in so great a fever, that the doctor would have per |