* A. C. themfelves, upon the News they receiv'd that very 1708. Day, That the Enemy had furpriz'd Ghent. From the Moment the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eu N. S. gene met, they acted with fuch Unanimity, as if One Soul had inform'd Two Bodies; and the next July 7. * Day a Council of War was held, wherein it being refolv'd to regulate the March of the Army, according to the Enemy's Motions, Pioneers were fent, on every fide, to make Ways. In the Afternoon Prince Eugene went to Bruffels, to pay a Vifit to his Mother, the Countess of Soiffons; And the next †Day, the Duke of Marlborough being much indifpos'd, and feaverish, Orders were given at MonThe Duke fieur D'Auverquerque's Quarters, according to which of Marl Four Battalions march'd to reinforce the Garrifon borough of Bruffels; and Eight Squadrons, with as many indifpos'd. Battalions, were order'd, with Major-General Cadogan, and the Quarter-Mafters, to make the +July 8. N. S. Ways. The Governor of the Caftle of Ghent's not delivering that Fortrefs till the 8th of July, according to the Capitulation, had this good Fffect, That it amus'd two or three Days the Enemy, in their Camp, from above Aloft to Schilebille, on the Scheld; which Delay proved of moft fatal Confequence to them: For the French Generals having Notice, that Prince Eugene was bringing up, with all imaginable Celerity, a Reinforcement of about Thirty Thousand Men, from Germany into Brabant, bethought themselves of retiring towards their Lines and ftrong Towns, before the Conjunction of the Confederate Forces; Hoping, That being reinforc'd with a good Body of Troops, that was coming up to them, from Alface, (tho' not with equal Speed with the Germans, which is very remarkable) under the Command of the Duke of Berwick, they might afterwards be able to cope with the Allies; or, at leaft, to preferve their late eafy Conquefts: They likewife fondly imagin'd, That they might have encreas'd them, by the Surprizing or ReduThe French cing of Oudenarde, before the Confederates could inveft Ou-give them any Disturbance; and, in order to that, denarde. they caus'd the Place to be invefted the 9th of July, July 9. in the Morning; and proposed to poffefs themfelves N. S. of of the advantageous Camp of Leffines: But the A. C. Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, upon either 1708. an Information, or Sufpicion of the Enemy's Defign, order'd Brigadier Chanclos to throw himself in- A Ranto Oudenarde, with 700 Men, detach'd from Aeth, forcement Courtray, and Menin; and Walef's Dragoons, which thrown inwas perform'd accordingly; and the fame t Day the to the Place was invelted, the Confederate Army march'd Place, Juin Four Columas by the Left; all the Horfe of the ly 8. +July 9. Right Wing in one Column, on the Right; the Horfe of the Left in a Column, on the Left; and the Foot of both Lines, breaking in the middle, in two Columns, in the Center; The Earl of Albemarle being left, with all the Grenadiers of the Ar my, and 30 Squadrons, to make the Rear-Guard, in cafe the Enemy should have made any Movement towards Bruffels. The Ways being well made, the Army march'd with exact Order, tho' with incredible Celerity and Expedition; the Head being paft Herfelingen, above 5 Leagues from Afche, before 11 a Clock in the Morning; and the Lines perfectly clofed up, without any ftraggling, or any Thing left behind. The Duke of Marlborough gave Orders for the Army to pitch their Tents, juft in their March, about Herfelingen, fronting towards the Enemy; who being far from expecting that the Confederate Army was able to make fuch a fwift March, did not beat their General till 3 a Clock in the Afternoon, reckoning themselves fure of the Camp of Leffies, in order to cover the Siege of Oudenarde, for which their Artillery lay ready at Tournay. Prince Eugene having rejoin'd the Army at Herfelingen, his Grace the Duke of Marlborough, about 4 in the Afternoon, detach'd Major-General Cadogan, with 8 Squadrons, and as many Battalions, to take The Confe Poffeffion of the Camp of Lelines; And, according- derates pol dy, 800 Men, of his Detachment, entred the Town fefs mof that Name about Midnight, and the reft having felves of the pafs'd thro', at 4 in the Morning, pofted themfelves Camp of Leflines, on this fide the River Dender, On the other Hand, the Retreat, which was the Signal for ftriking the Tents, being beat at 7 the Evening before, in the Camp at Herfelingen, the whole Army march'd immediately; and moving on all Night, began, the 10th, about II of the Clock in the Morning, to July 10. N. S. A. C. to pass the Dender over the Bridges laid there 1708. by Major-General Cadogan; and continued their March to the Camp of Leffines, on the other fide; the chief Strength whereof, confifts in the Rivulet that falls below it into thé Dender. The Enemy finding themselves difappointed of this Camp, left their Rout towards it, in which they had march'd feveral Hours, and bent their March towards Gavre, in order to pafs the Scheld there. On the 11th of July, in the Morning, upon Intelligence that the Enemy had quitted Oudenarde, and were pursued by Brigadier Chanclos, with Walef's Dragoons, Major-General Cadogan was fent with 16 Battalions, and 8 Squadrons, to make the Ways and Bridges at Oudenarde. The Army began to march at Eight-a-Clock by the Left, ftill in Four Colums, as they had encamp'd; and after the News came of the Enemies being ftill paffing at Gavre, the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, refolv'd to endeavour to bring the Enemy to an Engagement; in order to which, the Army continued their March with fuch redoubled Speed and Diligence, that, at Two a-Clock in the Afternoon, the Head was at the Bridges, over which the 16 Battalions, that were with Major-General Cadogan, were then paffing. The 8 Squadrons and Quarter-Mafters, with Major-General Rantzau, being pofted on an Eminence, behind a narrow, but marshy Rivulet, that runs into the Scheld; they faw a great many French Squadrons drawn up on the Plain, on the other fide the Rivulet; and the March of the French Army being directed towards their Right, they had thrown Seven Battalions into the Village of Heynem, through which the High-Way runs along the Scheld. Thefe Appearances made it uncertain, whether their true Design was to oppofe the Duke of Marlborough's Paffing the Scheld, or to gain their own Lines between Lille and Tournay, which they might expect to have Time enough to do; for it could hardly be imagin'd, That fuch a vaft Army could march Five Leagues in a very clofe Country; have their Ways made; pafs a great River; and give them Difturbance, all in one Day! |