1708. which would certainly have proved more fatal than the timpul 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 squadrons from the right, commanded by the lieutenant-generals Bulau and Lumley, with a considerable body of foot, to follow and attack the enemy's rear guard, which they did with great vigour. But several companies of French grenadiers, being advantageously posted along the highway leading to Ghent, killed and wounded several of the officers and private men of the confederates, and obliged them to leave off the pursuit, there being but one road, secured by hedges and ditches, lined with the enemy's grenadiers; but no place for the confede. rate cavalry to form themselves in. On this occasion several officers of the grenadiers, commanded by major Erwin, were killed or wounded; and general Meredith received a shot in the check; but the enemy, on their fide, were much greater fufferers. The regiment of Risburg, which closed their rear, was intirely ruined, and two whole companies taken prisoners; as was likewise brigadier Pourienne, who commanded the hindermoft brigade, with feveral other officers.

As to the killed and wounded on either side, the allies reckoned among the slain major-general Berensdorf; the colonels Adercasz 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 thousand private soldiers ; which loss was abundantly repaired by deserters and prisoners, Germans, Swiss, and Savoyards, who listed themselves voluntarily in the service of the allies. The French endeavoured to conceal their loss with all poffible industry ; but that it was much greater than that of the allies, is evident from several very authentic accounts (8) į from which it appcars, that the number of pri

foners

(g) A letter from the field. the fates-general : deputies of the lates-general to

High

foners taken from the enemy amounted to seven thousand 1708. men, among whom were two lieutenant-generals, two ma

jorHigh and mighty lords, ing the Scheld. But, by that By reason of the shortness of time the enemy were come near time, we could only let your Oudenard, they faw we had alhigh-mightinesses know yester- ready taken poft over the Scheld, day, that we engaged the ene which made them resolve to my about four in the afternoon. ftrike off to the right; but, to Wherefore we give ourselves the cover their march against ours, honour of sending your high- they thought fit to throw troops mightineffes farther advice, that into the hedges and into a vilour army, having marched on lage upon the Scheld below OuSunday night from Asche, took denard. About three in the afthe route of Lessines, in order to ternoon, as soon as our foot bepass the Dender at that place, gan to come up, it was judged without opposition from the e adviseable to attack the village, nemy, whom we had prevented and thereby oblige the enemy by a sudden march ; and, arri to go no farther, but stop their ving there on Tuesday evening, march. This attack was made we understood, that the enemy with so much vigour and success, were marched from Aloft to that the enemy were immediately wards Gavre, where they caused driven out of the village, our bridges to be made, in order to men falling upon them with their pass the Scheld; which made bayonets on the muzzles of their us believe they designed to poít muskets, and not firing a piece ; themselves upon the height of so that they presently threw down Oudenard, and hinder us from their arms, and a whole brigade, paling the Scheld. And, tho' together with a brigadier, surour army was very much fa. rendered prisoners. The few tigued by the foregoing march, horse, that had passed with the yet we refolved to proceed on detachment, attacked likewise our march yesterday, and, if the French squadrons posted bepossible, to prevent the enemy. hind the village with so much We detatched therefore fixteen fuccefs, that they were put into battalions in the night, to take difurder and pushed, our men poft on the other fide of the taking from them eight or ten Scheld near Oudenard, and to standards, and som orfes. lay the bridges necessary for our Hereupon the enemy were forced pallage. Yetterday morning a to face about to us, and form bout nine we received advice, themselves about four o'clock, that the enemy had passed the when, most of our foot being Scheld, and were marching to over, and formed, the general wards Oudenard, which made engagement began, first on the us haften our march as much as right, and afterwards on the left possible, for fear our detach- wing. The fight was properly ment, that was fent over, should between the foot, and was obbe defeated, and ourselves pre- ftinate; but our men got gound, vented in our design of paf- and drove the enemy from one

hedge

1

1708. jor-generals, five brigadiers, about thirty colonels, above a
www hundred Officers of the state-major, and four hundred fu-

balterns,
hedge to another, till night put our loss is nothing at all. Nor
an end to the combat. The do we yet know, that we have
horse, who, by reason of the lost any head-officer of the state.
broken ground, could not act, With which, high and mighty
were detached to the right and lords, &c.
the left wing, and advanced so

Oudenard, July Signed,
far, that they attacked the ene.

12, 1708.
my in flank and rear; which,

Ford. Van Collen,
when they perceived, they fell
in the night into the utmost con-

G. Van Rossum tot Arden.
fusion; and

part
of them retired,

broeck,
with their baggage and artillery,

S. Van Goslinga, towards Ghent and Deynse; a.

Count of Rechteren, nother part towards the road of

B. Van Vanvelde,

Adr. Van Borselle tot Gel-
Courtray ; and, according to

dermalsen.
computation, fix or seven thou-
fand furrendered themselves pri P.S. We thought, confider-
foners, with three or four ing the importance of this af-
hundred officers at their head; fair, we should not do amiss
among whom are several dukes in sending this to your high-
and general officers. Had not mightinesses by the head-officer
the night come to their assistance, Cock, who may have the honour
we believe they would have of informing your high-mighti-
faved very little of their army. nesses of more particulars.
We therefore congratulate your
high mightinesses

upon

this com Velt-marshal d'Auverquerque's
pleat victory, which God Al-

letter to the greffier Fagel.
mighty has so gracioufly vouch-
fafed, and which gives us an op On Monday last, at feven
portunity, with this victorious o'clock, we broke up (as I have
army, and that of prince Eu already had the honour to ac-
gene, who was present at this quaint your lordship) with the
action, to extend the frontiers army from Herfelinghen near
further, and bring the enemy to Enghien. We marched the whole
reason. Each general made so night, and the next day passed
good a difpofition, and every the Dender at

the Dender at and above Lel-
regiment attacked the enemy so fines towards Oudenard, where
well, and with so much intrepi we arrived about noon. We had
dity, that it was impoffible for received intelligence, that the
any one to distinguish themselves army broke up on Tuesday from
in a particular manner. Our the neighbourhood of Aloft, and
lofs, God be thanked, is so were incamped at Gavre, and
small, that there is not, as we that they also pafled the Scheld
know of, one regiment out of yesterday at that place; which
a condition to make the rest of indeed we found to be true,
the campaign. Among the horse perceiving, upon our arrival at

Ou.

balterns, together, with seventy or eighty standards or co 1708. lours. The largest lift, on the side of the allies, make the w

loss Oudenard, the enemy upon

of the duke of Marlborough and full march towards Tournay. prince Eugene cannot be enough We laid the bridges over the commended, nor the zeal and Scheld in their fight, and our courage of the other generals of troops passed the river with an the states, who did all which unspeakable speed and courage. their duty and regard for the About two o'clock the greatest service required of them. All the part of our army had passed, officers and troops, without diwith which the duke of Marl- ftinction, did all that could be borough and prince Eugene expected from brave men and formed the right wing near good foldiers.

We sent out a Broan-Castle, about half a league body of horse and foot this mornfrom the town, and began to ing to pursue the run

way eneengage the enemy in a battle.

my, and scatter them yet more, In the mean time I marched but they were got too far off by likewise with the troops of the the favour of the night. I restates, which composed the left main, wing, in order to attack the enemy, which I did about five

Your lordship's o'clock, having been obliged to

Humble and make a great round to come at them i and God has been plea- From the camp fed so to bless the arms of the of Oudenard, obedient fervant,

July 12,1708. high allies, that we have en

AUVERQUERQUE. tirely beaten the enemy, and forced them to retire in great confufion, fome towards Cour. Mr. Cardonnel's letter to Mr. tray, and others towards Ghent.

Cole at Venice. I give myself the honour to congratulate their high-mighti

Camp at Oudenard, nesses upon this important vic

July 12, 1708. tory.

We shall endeavour all As soon as the enemy had an we can to make our advantage of account, that our army had passed it. The enemy will have much

the Dender at Leffines, they re ado to bring their army into the called their troops that were field again this yearin a good con come to invest Oudenard, and dition. The loss of the slain on marched with their whole army their side is very considerable, be to Gavre, where they began to fides a good number of officers pass the Scheld yesterday morn(some of them of distinction) and ing, and continued palling till common foldiers, prisoners. We about four in the afternoon. And have also taken several standards lord duke was resolved to and colours, of which I will send pursue them, in order to engage their high-mightinesses a lift by them to a battle, major-general the next courier.

Cadogan was sent away very
The bravery and wife conduct early with a strong detachment,

.

SIR,

as my

1708. loss of the enemy to be nine thousand eight hundred priu Toners, officers included; four thousand two hundred killed

and

to pass the same river through dred officers, of which several
this town, and to make bridges are of note. I heartily congra-
for the whole army, which fol- tulate with you on this great and
lowed with all posible diligence, glorious vićtory, &c.
to prevent the enemy's passing Letter from the duke of Marl-
the Lys, or their retreat towards borough to the earl of Man-
the lines. Accordingly, about chester.
three in the afternoon, the de-

Camp at Werwick,
tachment, with the head of our

My lord, July 15, 1708. army, began to attack the ene

I return your lordship many my in their march ; and, in a

thanks for the favour of your little time, brigadier Sabine, at letter of the 22d of last month, the head of his brigade, beat and am glad to see your lordship seven of the enemy's battalions,

was like soon to have just fatis-
of whom he killed a great num. faction from the republic of Ve-
ber, and took most of the rest nice. You need not doubt then,
prisoners. The enemy then form-

but the queen will readily grant
ed their line, and the battle be-
gan about five, and lasted with We are in greatexpectation of Sir

your desire of returning home.
great firmness till near ten at
night, it being chiefly the foot talonia, where the fuccours from

John Leake's being failed for Ca-
that were engaged, the enemy I'aly will have been very much
still retiring; fo that, besides a
great slaughter, we made a great Orleans persisted in the fiege of

wanting. We hear the duke of
number of prisoners. We can. Tortosa, notwithstanding the loss
not yet give the particulars of of his provision ships taken by our
this great victory; but some feet. Your lordship will have
thousands of prisoners, and, a-

heard with concern the enemy's
mong them, some general of.
ficers are already brought into having taken the city of Ghent,
town. Forty Squadrons of horse, inhabitants. But the good news

by the treachery of some the
with twenty battalions of foot, that will foon have followed of
are in pursuit of the rest of their

our defeating, on Wednesday
army, which is retiring towards
Ghent. My lord duke, with denard, and obliging them to

laft, part of their army near Ou-
the prince of Savoy, and mon-

retire behind the canal between sieur d'Auverquerque, continued

Ghent and Bruges, will have on horse-back the whole night, made fome amends. We took to animate our troops,

between fix and seven thousand give the necessary orders for the prifoners,

besides about seven pursuit. I am, &c.

hundred officers, of which feveH. CARDONNEL.ral are of note, and a great numP. S. Since the writing of this, ber of standards and colours, we have an account of about fix. Qur 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 batte: on

Friday

and

to