A. C. 1707 N. S. and a Pair of Kettle-Drums, but no Cannon, which the Enemy had drawn off betimes. In this Action the Allies had not above 60 Men either kill'd or wounded; and among the latter Brigadier Baldwin, in the Service of the States, was fhot through the Body; and the Earl of Albermarle, Prince William of Heffe, and Count Maurice of Naffau, had their Horfes kill'd under them. The Confederates purfued the Enemy till 'twas dark, and encamp'd on the Hills near Oudenarde, to the Joy of the whole Army, who expected to have met with great Difficulties in paffing tlfe Scheld; and to the Surprize of the Generals themfelves, who could not have imagin'd that the Enemy would have fo eafily abandon'd Pofts fo advantageous by Nature, and. which they had fortify'd with so much Application The Duke and Labour. Upon his Arrival at Oudenarde, the of Marl- Duke of Marlborough took Measures immediately borough for advancing towards Bruffels which his Grace comes to had continued Advices the Elector of Bavaria was Bruffels preffing with the utmoft Vigour. By break of Nov. 29. Day, the next Morning, the Army was in motion again; but, to fpare the Troops, as much as poffible, his Grace ordered the main Body to halt, in the Night at Omberg, and advanced with a Detachment of Horfe and the two Battalions of Guards to Aloft, to be fo much the nearer the Enemy. Soon after his Arrival there, his Grace had an Account that the Elector, upon the first Notice he had of the Paffage of the Scheld, quitted the Siege with Precipitation; whereupon his Grace came to Bruffels, the 29th, about 11-a-Clock in the Morning, to take Measures for fending a Supply of Ammunition and Stores to the Siege, and to thank the Garrifon for their vigorous Defence. His Grace was receiv'd with great Acclamations of Joy, being met without the Gates by the chief Officers of the Garrifon, headed by General Pafcal the Governor, whom his Grace fa-luted with distinguishing Marks of Favour and Efteem. His Grace alighted at the Governor's House, where the Council of State, the States of Brabant, the Magiftrates of Bruffels, and the Dutch Deputies, came immediately to make their Compliments of Thanks for their feafonable Deliverance; and his Grace, with King Auguftus, and fome other Perfons Perfons of the highest Rank, having been enter A. C. tained at Dinner by General Pafcal, and given the 1708. neceffary Directions, return'd, in the Evening, to his Camp near Aloft. The day before, Prince Eugene Prince Euwent back to Lille, with the Troops detach'd from gene rethe Siege, and 8 Battalions and 30 Squadrons of the turns to Duke of Marlborough's Army, which had been re- Lille, inforc'd by the Forces employ'd in fortifying La Nov. 28. Baffe; the chief Defign in Poffeffing of which Poft, The Allies was to divide and weaken the French Army on the abandon Scheld, as appears by a Letter (B) from Lieutenant La Ballée. General Hompefch to another General. The N. S. SIR, (B) That Letter was as follows: Expect this Day 100 Waggons under a Guard of 9 Battali ons, with Powder fent for from Aeth, by my Lord Duke, 'which are to joyn me. The Enemy have affembled their Forces between Lens and La Baffee, and are fortifying the latter, ' wherein our Troops had taken Poft, and made a fhew of fortifying the fame, as ifthey would maintain themselves therein. This was intended to oblige the Enemy to detach fome Troops on that ⚫ fide, and weaken thofe they had on the Scheld, which fucceeded accordingly. That Poft would have been very advantageous; but as our Generals had other Things in view,they quitted the fame, feeing the French were come into their Neighbourhood with moft of their Forces; and thereby render'd our paffing the Scheld more eafy. They are now near enough to attack Prince Eugene before Lille, if they think fit; and in that Cafe, I fhall be foon with him, with the Troops under my Command. It began laft Night to freeze fo very hard, that our Soldiers long for Fighting, were it only to warm themselves. If any thing material happens, I fhall not fail to acquaint you therewith. At the Camp near Menin, I am, &c. Sign'd, R. V. Count de Hompefch. P. S. Forage being very fcarce in thefe Parts, our Horfes 'will fomewhat fuffer; but when Men must be facrific'd, to obtain a safe and honourable Peace, there is no reafon to complain of the Share Horfes must have in these Difficulties. I will, however, ufe all poffible Means to preferve them. A. C. Allies. N. S. The Duke of Marlborough's Army, having refted 1708. the 30th of November, N. S. in the Neighbourhood of Aloft, moved from thence the 1ft of December, and encamp'd with the Right at Oudenarde, and the Left near Bierlegheim. At the fame time, Lieutenant-General Dedem, was order'd to advance with 20 Battalions, and to pafs the Scheld at Oudenarde, where he encamp'd on the other Side the River, to affift at the Works that were order'd to be made for the Security of that Place, and to be near at Hand to join Lieutenant-General Hompefch, who with 38 Squadrons and 8 Battalions, was encamp'd near Menin: By which Difpofitions a Communication was maintain'd with Prince Eugene's Forces in Lille. While the Elector of Bavaria was employ'd in the Siege of Bruffels, Major-General St. Gui- Pallandt, Governor of Aeth, furpriz'd the Town flain taken of St. Guillain, between Mons and Conde; but the by Surprize Men he left there, being attack'd by the Marquis by the de Hautefort, and Count Albergotti, with most of the Forees that had abandon'd the Scheld, they were Nov. 27. oblig'd to furrender, before Lieutenant-General Dompre, whom the Duke of Marlborough had detach'd to relieve them, could come up; and capitulated to be conducted to Mons, till they were exchang'd; to fave their Equipages; and that thofe of the Enemy that were taken in that Place, and could not be fent away, should likewise remain Pritaken by foners of War. Hereupon, General Dompre with the French his Detachment, halted at Attre, and was order'd by Capitu to affift in Bringing from Aeth to Oudenarde a great lation. Convoy of Ammunition and Stores for Lille; And Nov. 30. the Duke of Marlborough having order'd, That publick Thanks fhould be given to Almighty God for the happy Paffage of the Scheld, and the Relief of Bruffels, the fame was very religioufly kept thro' the whole Army, an the 2d of December, N. S. The Enemy having, for fome Time paft, on all Occafions, violated their Paffports, to colour this ungenerous Practice, the French King, by a Proclamation (dated Nov. 12th, N. S.) revoked all that had been granted, in hopes thereby to diftrefs the more the Confederate Army: But the Allies having likewife recall'd all Paffes given on their Side, the Enemy were the greater Sufferers thereby; For upon And re N. S. Thanksgi ying obferv'd in the Army. the the fuccefsful Paffage of the Scheld; which ftruck A. C. a general Confternation through their Army; their 1708. Communication with thofe in Ghent and Bruges was cut off; and the greatest Part of their Troops Paffports were oblig'd to march towards Valenciennes for revoked on Subfiftence. both fides. All this while the Siege of the Cittadel of Lille The Siege was carried on; and in the Abfence of Prince Eu- of the Citgene, the Befiegers lodg'd themselves on the Second tadel of Counterfcarp. Upon his Return, his Highness fent Lille carto the Marefchal de Boufflers, to acquaint him with ried on. the late Succefs of the Confederate Forces, and the Elector of Bavaria's Retreat; at which that General could not forbear expreffing fome Mortification; but faid, He did not believe that Advice; pretending that Prince Eugene was misinform'd; and, however, it was, that he would defend himfelf to the last Extremity. Hereupon, the Befiegers carried on their Approaches; and having extended themselves along the Paliffadoes of the Second Cover'd-Way, began, on the 1ft of December, N. S. to erect Batteries there; which being finish'd in Six Days, Prince Eugene fent a Summons to the Marefchal de Boufflers, offering him an honourable Capitulation; with this Declaration, That if he did not furrender before the Batteries had begun to fire, he was not to expect any other Articles, than for him and his Garrifon, to be made Prifoners of War; And because the Enemy might fancy, that the Allies wanted Provifions and Ammunition, his The Citta Highness propofed to them, at the fame Time, to delof Lille fend out fome Officers to fee his Stores. Hereupon Surrendred the Governor, who had himself but a fmall Dec. 9. Quantity of Powder left, thought fit to prevent N. S. the Confequences of a Breach being made in the Body of the Citadel, by Beating a Parley the 8th of December, N. S. in the Morning; And Hoftages being exchang'd, the Articles were Sign'd, See the the next Day, about Four in the Afternoon; ac- Appen cording to which, a Gate was deliver'd the fame dix. Day; and the 10th, the Marefchal de Boufflers, VII. with the whole Garrifon, march'd out, with all the ufual Marks of Honour, and was conducted to Douay; after having receiv'd uncommon Civilities from Prince Eugene. The Numb. A. C. parates. * cold Wea The French Generals, deeply mortify'd to fee all 1708. their Counfels and Attempts for the Relief of Lille miferably baffled; and fondly believing, that the The French Confederates, tired out with the Fatigues and Dif Army Se- ficulties they had undergone, would have been contented with that important Conqueft, feparated their Army, and return'd to Paris; But Prince EA Witti- gene and the Duke of Marlborough refolv'd to crown cifm fa- their glorious Campaign, with the Recovery of ther'd on Ghent and Bruges; and there goes a Report, That the Duke of the Latter, upon his taking leave of King Auguftus, Marlbo who wifh'd him a good Voyage to England, reply'd rough. very ingeniously in French,* Que le Tems etant fort froid, il ne vouloit pas paffer la Mer Sans Gand: being very Which laft Word fignifies both a Glove and Ghent. ther, he Whether his Grace was really the Author of this would not Witticifm or no, 'tis certain he march'd the 11th of cross the December, N. S. with the Army under his ComSeas with mand from Bierleghem, and encamp'd with the out Gloves. Right at Melle, and the Left at Meerlebeck; where Orders were immediately given for laying Bridges over the Upper and Lower Scheld, as well as over Lys, for the Communication the feveral Bodies of Troops to be employ'd in the Attack of Ghent : Tho' the hard Froft, which began about this Time, was no fmall Hindrance to that Enterprize. Five Days after Prince Eugene, with his Army, pafs'd the Scheld, and encamp'd at Ename; and about Noon, came to Melle, to hold a Council of War with the Duke of Marlborough, and the Generals under him, about the remaining Operations of the Campaign; wherein it was refolv'd, That the Duke of Marlborough fhould command, and Prince Eugene cover borough the Siege. In order to that, the Imperial and PalaEugene tine Troops, with 20 Squadrons of Horfe detach'd from the Duke's Army, march'd, the next * Day, Council of towards Grammont, in order to encamp at Gamerache, on the other Side of the Dender; both for the Con*Dec. 17. veniency of Forrage, and to obferve the Enemy on that fide. The Prince of Naffau, with the Detachment that went from his Grace's Army, to the Siege of Lille, and the Heffians march'd likewife, the 17th, from Ename to Cofterzeele, in order to block up Ghent between the Upper and Lower Scheld; and + Dec. 16. N. S. The Duke of Marl and Prince held a War." N. S. the |