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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

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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

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troops encamped in their order of march, with their right on the Dender, and their front covered by a small stream which falls into that river. By this bold and rapid movement, Vendôme's well-concerted plan was entirely disconcerted: Marlborough had thrown himself between the French and their own frontier; he had rendered himself master of their communications; and, instead of seeking merely to cover his own fortresses, his measures threatened to compel the enemy to fall back, in order to regain the connection with their own country, and to abandon the whole enterprise, which they had commenced with such prospects of success.

37. Vendôme moves off, fol

allies, 11th of

July.

Vendôme was extremely disconcerted at this able movement, and immediately ordered his troops to fall back upon Gavre, situated on the Scheldt below lowed by the Oudenarde, where he had resolved to cross that river. No sooner was this design made manifest, than Marlborough followed with all his forces, with the double design of raising the investment of Oudenarde, and, if possible, forcing the enemy to give battle, under the disadvantage of doing so in a retreat. Anxious to improve their advantage, the allied generals marched with the utmost expedition, hoping to come up with the enemy when their columns and baggage were close upon the Scheldt, or at least while they were in the very act of crossing that river. Colonel Cadogan, with a strong advanced guard, was pushed forward by daybreak on the 11th toward the Scheldt, which he reached by eleven. Having immediately thrown bridges over it, he crossed with the whole cavalry and twelve battalions of foot. This body advanced to the summit of the plateau on the left bank of the river, and formed in battle array, the infantry opposite Eynes, the cavalry extending on the left toward Schaerken. Advancing slowly on in this regular array suaded me to have gone to Brussels; but I thank God I am now better, and by the next post I hope to answer your letters. The States have used this country so ill, that I noways doubt but all the towns in it will play us the same trick as Ghent if they have the power."-Marlborough to Godolphin, July 9, 1708, COXE, iv., 38,

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down the course of the river on its left bank, Cadogan was not long of coming in sight of the French rear guard under Biron, with which he had some sharp skirmishing. Meanwhile Marlborough and Eugene were pressing the passage at the bridges with all imaginable activity; but the greater part of their army had not yet got across. The main body was still half a league from the Scheldt, and the huge clouds of dust which arose from the passage of the artillery and carriages in that direction, inspired Vendôme with the hope that he might cut off the advanced guard which was over the Scheldt, before the bulk of the allied forces could get across to their relief. With this view he halted his troops, and drew them up hastily in order of battle. This brought on the great and glorious action which followed, toward the due understanding of which, a description of the theater of combat is indispensable.*

38. From the field of bat Description of

tle.

"At the distance of a mile north of Oudenarde is the village of Eynes. Here the ground rises into a species of low but spacious amphitheater. thence it sweeps along a small plain till it nearly reaches the glacis of Oudenarde, where it terminates in the village of Bevere. To the west the slope ascends to another broad hill called the Bosercanter; and at the highest point of the eminence stands a wind-mill, shaded by a lofty limetree, forming conspicuous objects from the whole adjacent country. From thence the ground gradually declines toward Mardlen; and the eye, glancing over the humid valley watered by the Norken, rests on another range of uplands, which, gently sinking, at length terminates near Asper. Within this space, two small streams, descending from the lower part of the hill of Oycke, embrace a low tongue of land, the center of which rises to a gentle elevation. The borders of these rivulets are crossed by frequent inclosures, surrounding the farm-yards of Barwaen, Chobon, and Diepenbeck. Near the source of one of these streams is a castellated mansion; at

* COXE, iv., 130–133. KAUSLER, 713.

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