1708. which would certainly have proved more fatal than the way first. The confederates, in the mean time, continued under arms, hoping to renew the engagement again the next morning, and impatient, in the mean time, for day, that they might have a true information how far this victory had extended, of which the darkness of the night left them in ignorance. To this end, as foon as it was light, the duke of Marlborough ordered forty fquadrons from the right, commanded by the lieutenant-generals Bulau and Lumley, with a confiderable body of foot, to follow and attack the enemy's rear guard, which they did with great vigour. But feveral companies of French grenadiers, being advantageoufly posted along the highway leading to Ghent, killed and wounded feveral of the officers and private men of the confederates, and obliged them to leave off the pursuit, there being but one road, fecured by hedges and ditches, lined with the enemy's grenadiers; but no place for the confede rate cavalry to form themfelves in. On this occafion feveral officers of the grenadiers, commanded by major Erwin, were killed or wounded; and general Meredith received a fhot in the cheek; but the enemy, on their fide, were much greater fufferers. The regiment of Risburg, which clofed their rear, was intirely ruined, and two whole companies taken prifoners; as was likewife brigadier Pourienne, who commanded the hindermoft brigade, with several other officers. As to the killed and wounded on either fide, the allies reckoned among the flain major-general Berenfdorf; the colonels Adercafz and Bolzen, count Rantzaw, and Sir John Matthews, with captain Dean of the British guards, and about eight hundred private men; and, among the wounded, lieutenant-general Natzmer, major-generals Gaudecker and Berner; the colonels Groves, Pennyfeather, and four others; a hundred and fixty other officers, and about two thoufand private foldiers; which lofs was abundantly repaired by deferters and prifoners, Germans, Swifs, and Savoyards, who lifted themfelves voluntarily in the fervice of the allies. The French endeavoured to conceal their lofs with all poffible induftry; but that it was much greater than that of the allies, is evident from feveral very authentic accounts (g); from which it appears, that the number of pri (g) A letter from the field- the fates-general: deputies of the fates-general to foners High foners taken from the enemy amounted to seven thousand 1708. men, among whom were two lieutenant-generals, two ma my High and mighty lords, By reafon of the fhortness of time, we could only let your high-mightineffes know yefterday, that we engaged the eneabout four in the afternoon. Wherefore we give ourselves the honour of fending your highmightineffes farther advice, that our army, having marched on Sunday night from Afche, took the route of Leffines, in order to pafs the Dender at that place, without oppofition from the enemy, whom we had prevented by a sudden march; and, arriving there on Tuesday evening, we understood, that the enemy were marched from Aloft towards Gavre, where they caused bridges to be made, in order to pafs the Scheld; which made us believe they defigned to poft themselves upon the height of Oudenard, and hinder us from paffing the Scheld. And, tho' our army was very much fa tigued by the foregoing march, yet we refolved to proceed on our march yesterday, and, if poffible, to prevent the enemy. We detatched therefore fixteen battalions in the night, to take pot on the other fide of the Scheld near Oudenard, and to lay the bridges neceffary for our paffage. Yefterday morning about nine we received advice, that the enemy had paffed the Scheld, and were marching towards Oudenard, which made us haften our march as much as poffible, for fear our detachment, that was fent over, fhould be defeated, and ourfelves prevented in our design of paf jor ing the Scheld. But, by that time the enemy were come near Oudenard, they faw we had already taken poft over the Scheld, which made them refolve to ftrike off to the right; but, to cover their march against ours, they thought fit to throw troops into the hedges and into a village upon the Scheld below Oudenard. About three in the afternoon, as foon as our foot be gan to come up, it was judged advifeable to attack the village, and thereby oblige the enemy to go no farther, but stop their march. This attack was made with fo much vigour and fuccefs, that the enemy were immediately driven out of the village, our men falling upon them with their bayonets on the muzzles of their mufkets, and not firing a piece; fo that they prefently threw down their arms, and a whole brigade, together with a brigadier, furrendered prifoners. The few horfe, that had paffed with the detachment, attacked likewife the French fquadrons pofted behind the village with fo much fuccefs, that they were put into disorder and pushed, our men taking from them eight or ten ftandards, and fome horfes. Hereupon the enemy were forced to face about to us, and form themselves about four o'clock, when, most of our foot being over, and formed, the general engagement began, firft on the right, and afterwards on the left wing. The fight was properly between the foot, and was obftinate; but our men got gound, and drove the enemy from one hedge 1708. jor-generals, five brigadiers, about thirty colonels, above a hundred Officers of the ftate-major, and four hundred fubalterns, hedge to another, till night put an end to the combat. The horfe, who, by reafon of the broken ground, could not act, were detached to the right and the left wing, and advanced fo far, that they attacked the ene my in flank and rear; which, when they perceived, they fell in the night into the utmoft confufion; and part of them retired, with their baggage and artillery, towards Ghent and Deynfe; another part towards the road of Courtray; and, according to computation, fix or seven thoufand furrendered themselves prifoners, with three or four hundred officers at their head; among whom are feveral dukes and general officers. Had not the night come to their affiftance, we believe they would have faved very little of their army. We therefore congratulate your high mightineffes upon this compleat victory, which God Almighty has fo graciously vouchfafed, and which gives us an opportunity, with this victorious army, and that of prince Eugene, who was prefent at this action, to extend the frontiers further, and bring the enemy to reafon. Each general made fo good a difpofition, and every regiment attacked the enemy fo well, and with fo much intrepidity, that it was impoffible for any one to diftinguish themselves in a particular manner. Our lofs, God be thanked, is fo fmall, that there is not, as we know of, one regiment out of a condition to make the rest of the campaign. Among the horse our lofs is nothing at all. Nor do we yet know, that we have loft any head-officer of the state. With which, high and mighty lords, &c. Oudenard, July Signed, 12, 1708. Ford. Van Collen, G. Van Roffum tot Arden. S. Van Goslinga, Adr. Van Borfelle tot Gel- P.S. We thought, confidering the importance of this affair, we fhould not do amifs in fending this to your highmightineffes by the head-officer Cock, who may have the honour of informing your high-mightineffes of more particulars. Velt-marshal d'Auverquerque's letter to the greffier Fagel. On Monday last, at seven o'clock, we broke up (as I have already had the honour to acquaint your lordship) with the army from Herfelinghen near Enghien. We marched the whole night, and the next day paffed the Dender at and above Leffines towards Oudenard, where we arrived about noon. We had received intelligence, that the army broke up on Tuesday from the neighbourhood of Aloft, and were incamped at Gavre, and that they also paffed the Scheld yesterday at that place; which indeed we found to be true, perceiving, upon our arrival at Ou 27 balterns, together, with feventy or eighty standards or co- 1708. lours. The largest lift, on the fide of the allies, make the lofs of the duke of Marlborough and Oudenard, the enemy upon a I give myself the honour to congratulate their high-mightineffes upon this important victory. We fhall endeavour all we can to make our advantage of it. The enemy will have much ado to bring their army into the field again this yearin a good condition. The lofs of the flain on their fide is very confiderable, befides a good number of officers (fome of them of diftinction) and common foldiers, prifoners. We have alfo taken feveral standards and colours, of which I will fend their high-mightineffes a lift by the next courier. The bravery and wife conduct Your lordship's Humble and From the camp of Oudenard, obedient fervant, AUVERQUERQUE. Cardonnel's letter to Mr. SIR, Camp at Oudenard, As foon as the enemy had an as my lord duke was refolved to purfue them, in order to engage them to a battle, major-general Cadogan was fent away very early with a strong detachment, to 1708. lofs of the enemy to be nine thoufand eight hundred prifoners, officers included; four thoufand two hundred killed to pafs the fame river through this town, and to make bridges for the whole army, which followed with all poffible diligence, to prevent the enemy's paffing the Lys, or their retreat towards the lines. Accordingly, about three in the afternoon, the detachment, with the head of our army, began to attack the enemy in their march; and, in a little time, brigadier Sabine, at the head of his brigade, beat feven of the enemy's battalions, of whom he killed a great number, and took most of the reft prifoners. The enemy then formed their line, and the battle began about five, and lafted with great firmness till near ten at night, it being chiefly the foot that were engaged, the enemy ftill retiring; fo that, befides a great flaughter, we made a great number of prisoners. We cannot yet give the particulars of this great victory; but fome thousands of prifoners, and, among them, fome general of ficers are already brought into town. Forty fquadrons of horfe, with twenty battalions of foot, are in pursuit of the rest of their army, which is retiring towards Ghent. My lord duke, with the prince of Savoy, and monfieur d'Auverquerque, continued on horfe-back the whole night, to animate our troops, and to give the neceffary orders for the purfuit. I am, &c. and dred officers, of which feveral are of note. I heartily congratulate with you on this great and glorious victory, &c. Letter from the duke of Marl borough to the earl of Manchefter. Camp at Werwick, My lord, July 15, 1708. I return your lordship many thanks for the favour of your letter of the 22d of last month, and am glad to fee your lordship was like foon to have just fatiffaction from the republic of Venice. You need not doubt then, but the queen will readily grant your defire of returning home. We are in great expectation of Sir John Leake's being failed for Catalonia, where the fuccours from I aly will have been very much wanting. We hear the duke of Orleans perfifted in the fiege of Tortofa, notwithstanding the lofs of his provifion fhips taken by our fleet. Your lordship will have heard with concern the enemy's having taken the city of Ghent, by the treachery of some of the inhabitants. But the good news that will foon have followed of our defeating, on Wednesday laft, part of their army near Ou denard, and obliging them to retire behind the canal between Ghent and Bruges, will have made fome amends. We took between fix and feven thoufand prifoners, befides about feven hundred officers, of which feveH. CARDONNEL. ral are of note, and a great numP. S. Since the writing of this, ber of ftandards and colours, we have an account of about fix. Our army lay on their arms that thousand prisoners brought into night, and on Thursday incampthe town, befides near five hun-ed on the field of battle: on |