OUDENARDE.

A.D. 1708. July 11.

AMONG other important results, the battle of Ramilies led to the recall of Marshal Villeroi, and the substitution of Marshal Vendome, who was then considered the bravest, the most skilful, and in all things the greatest of the living generals of Louis XIV. Vendome had taken the field brim full of confidence. The French army had been reinforced, and fresh corps, who had been accustomed to victory and not to defeat, were gathered in Flanders.

Vendome had assumed the offensive. Aided by the treachery of the inhabitants, he had surprised and captured the important towns of Ghent and Bruges, and was now laying siege to Oudenarde, the connecting link for our alternate defence of Flanders and Brabant. Marlborough and Prince Eugene resolved that Oudenarde should not be taken, and it was this resolution which led to the great battle. After a series of rapid and most skilful marches and manœuvres, they got Marshal Vendome in a situation where he could not refuse or avoid the combat. In order that this memorable conflict may be more clearly understood, we extract from Marlborough's best biographer a full survey of the surrounding country and field of action.

From the frontier of France to the confluence of the Scheld and Lys, the surface consists of low hills and bold undulations, which contract the valley of the Scheld in various places, till they gradually subside in the vicinity of Ghent. Human industry here exerts unremitting efforts, and the eye nowhere rests on a patch of heath, or even on a single acre in repose. On the bolder swells of the upland, which are generally denominated couters, corn predominates; on the lower, flax, clover peas, and buckwheat. Woods or coppices are

found only on the steep acclivities, where the plough cannot act, or in patches of plantations, except towards France, where the country is shaded by forests. Numerous villages and hamlets enliven this rich and varied surface; small farms ard cottages are scattered in every direction; and at intervals appear the turrets of a castellated mansion, a convent, or abbey. Of the roads which form the communications between these countless dwellings, those across the couters are usually bare, and the others are mostly fringed with underwood, or bordered with avenues. Towards the Scheld, which winds along a valley comparatively low, are ranges of meadows, intersected with numerous drains and water-courses.

At the distance of a mile north of Oudenarde, is the village of Eyne. Here the ground rises into a species of low, but capacious amphitheatre. It sweeps along a moderately-sized plain, southward, to near the glacis of Oudenarde, where it is crowned by the village of Bevere, and numerous windmills. Turning westward, it then rises into another broad hill, under the name of the Boser Couter, and the highest point is near a tilleul or lime-tree, and a windmill overlooking the village of Oycke. From thence the ground curves towards Marolen; and the eye, glancing over the narrow valley watered by the Norken, is arrested by another upland plain, which trends by Huyse, gradually sinking till it terminates near Asper. A line, representing the chord of this semicircle, would commence about a league above the confluence of the Norken with the Scheld, and traverse the plain of Heurne, which is nearly as high as the amphitheatre itself. Within this space, two scanty rivulets, gushing from the base of the hill of Oycke, at a small distance asunder, embrace a low tongue of land, the middle of which rises into a gentle elevation. The borders of these rivulets, and a part of the intervening surface, are intersected with inclosures, surrounding the farms and hamlets of Barwaen, Chobon, and Diepenbeck. At the source of one is the castellated mansion of Bevere or Brian; at that of the other, the hamlet of Retelhoeck, situated in a woody and steep recess. These streams, uniting near a public-house called Schaerken, proceed partly in a double channel along a marshy bed to the Scheld, near Eyne. The Norken, rising near Morlehem, beyond Oycke, runs for some distance almost parallel to the Scheld; then

passing by Lede, Mullem, and Asper, it meets another streamlet from the west, and terminates in a species of canal, skirting the Scheld to a considerable distance below Gavre. The borders of the Norken, like those of the other rivulets, are fringed with the underwood, coppices, and thickets; and from Mullem to Herlehem the roads are skirted with avenues. Behind are inclosures surrounding a small plain, which terminates beyond the mill of Royegem. Between these is a hollow road, which leads up to the hill of Oycke.*

During the night of the 10th of July, Marlborough and Eugene prepared for the engagement, although they had a space of no less than fifteen miles to march, and a broad and rapid stream to cross.

The French commanders, relying on the apparent anxiety of Marlborough to cover the great towns in his rear, were astonished and disconcerted by his having boldly placed himself between them and their own frontier. A prince of the blood, the Duke of Burgundy, had been sent from Paris to join Vendome; and this produced a discord in the military counsels of the French, which was not unknown to the confederate chiefs. Disappointed and perplexed, the French commanders gave up the investment of Oudenarde, and directed their march to Gavre, where they had prepared bridges for crossing the Scheld.

On this occasion, Marlborough and Eugene evinced the same promptitude, decision, and spirit which had marked their operations on the Danube; and they were ably seconded by their veteran colleague, Overkirk. Aware that an army which is attacked in retreat, or in crossing a river, loses all the advantage of order and discipline, they pushed forward to the Scheld, to come in contact with the enemy at the moment of their passage.

Preparatory to this movement, Cadogan and Rantzau were detached with a strong advanced guard of sixteen battalions, consisting of the brigades of Sabine, Plettenberg, and Evans; and eight squadrons of the dragoons of Bulau, Leibregement, and Schulemburg, with the quarter-colours and thirty-two pieces of artillery. They were directed to clear the roads, and throw bridges over the Scheld, in the vicinity of Oudenarde. Departing at the dawn of the

Archdeacon Coxe.

11th, they were followed at eight in the morning by the whole army. The order of march was again in four columns, by the left, each line forming two columns, the cavalry leading the way, and the artillery in the rear.

At half-past ten in the morning, Cadogan reached the right bank of the Scheld, between the town and abbey of Eename, and immediately commenced the construction of bridges. About the same time, the hostile columns drew towards Gavre, two leagues below. Their bridges being already prepared, the French advanced guard, led on by the Marquis de Biron, passed leisurely over, without suspecting the approach of the allies; and some of the soldiers were even detached to collect forage. The bridges were completed about midday. As the heads of the columns of cavalry were drawing near, Rantzau passed the Scheld with the horse and quarter-colours, and was followed by Cadogan with twelve battalions, the other four being left to guard the pontoons. They advanced to the top of the high ground, between Eyne and Bevere, and formed at the extremity of the amphitheatre, the infantry opposite Eyne, and the cavalry extending on the left towards the inclosures near Schaerken.

Cadogan, proceeding to reconnoitre, saw several squadrons of the enemy on the farther side of the plain, and observed their foraging parties scattered about Heurne and Ruybroek. He instantly sent the cavalry to attack them, who drove them towards Synghem, and took several prisoners. But the alarm being given, Biron advanced with twelve squadrons, repulsed all the assailants, and advanced to the windmill behind the village of Eyne. Here he saw the allied detachment in position, and, observing at the same time the battalions posted near the bridges, and the columns of cavalry in the act of crossing, he withdrew, to avoid the shock of the whole confederate army, the greater part of which, he supposed, had already traversed the river.

The celerity of Marlborough, indeed, gave colour to this conjecture; for, hearing on his way that the enemy were crossing at Gavre, he became alarmed for the safety of his advance. Directing the flank column of cavalry to guard against the movements which he suppposed the enemy might make on his line of march, he and Eugene pressed forward at the head of the second column, which consisted entirely

of Prussians. They proceeded part of the way at full gallop, and reached the bridges at the moment when the Marquis de Biron had advanced to reconnoitre the assailants by whom his foragers had been so unexpectedly attacked.

The apparition of the allies created a general sensation throughout the French ranks. Vendome, however, did not partake of the alarm which seems to have seized the rest of the commanders. From the distant clouds of dust which marked the course of the moving columns, he judged that the main body was yet half a league from the Scheld, and that there was still sufficient time to attack the confederates before they could form in order of battle. To secure the plain of Heurne, and cover the deployment of his lines, he directed seven battalions of the Swiss regiments of Pfeffer, Villars, and Gueder, to occupy the village; and the cavalry of the right, consisting of part of the household troops, to draw up near the windmill. Under cover of this preliminary disposition, he intended to form his left on the plain of Heurne, and extend his right across the Boser Couter, towards Mooreghem. The Duke of Burgundy, however, countermanded the order, either from persuasion that an army so numerous as that of the confederates could not make so rapid a march, or from the opinion that the high ground of Huysse, with the Norken in front, would afford a more eligible position. The altered direction of the French columns was visible to the allied detachment; it appeared doubtful whether they would risk an engagement, or hasten towards their lines between Tournay and Lille.

Meanwhile, Pfeffer, with his seven battalions, instead of occupying Heurne, advanced and took post at Eyne, either from inadvertence or from a mistake caused by a similarity of names. Although this post was advantageous, the change in the direction of the French army placed him beyond the reach of protection; and the household horse, who had orders to cover him, were not only too far in the rear, but were afterwards recalled, and only a few squadrons left in their stead.

Marlborough and Eugene lost no time in taking advantage of the enemy's indecision. While the march of the infantry was accelerated, they jointly superintended the passage of the Scheld, and posted the troops as fast as they