Plan.

derates fo near them, poffefs'd themselves of a very A. C. ftrong Camp: placing their Right near the Tomb of 1706 Hottomont against the Mehaigne; and their Left at Anderkerk, or Autreglize; and pofted a good deal of their Infantry in the Villages of Autreglife, Offuz and Rammelies, which laft was near their Center; befides which they put five Battalions near the Hedges of See the the Village of Franquenies, which was on their Right. The Confederate Army, which confifted only of 74 Battalions,and 123 Squadrons, was at the fame time, drawn up in order of Battle, the Right Wing being pofted near Foltz, on the Rivulet Taufe, with a little Morafs in Front; and the Left near the Village of Franquenies on the Mehaigne; where,befides the number of the Horfe belonging to that Wing, the Duke of Marlborough order'd the Danish Squadrons, being 21 in number,to be pofted, rightly judging,by the fituation of the Ground, that the Strefs of the Action would be on that fide. All Things being thus difpos'd, it was refolv'd to attack the Village of Rammelies,which was the Enemy's principal Poft: In order to which 20 Pieces of Cannon of 24 Pounders, and fome Hawbitzers, were brought up; and 12 Battalions, who were to be fupported by the whole Line, were order'd to make the firft Onfet, under the Command of Lieutenant General Schultz.

About half an Hour paft One, the Artillery of the Confederates begun to play: It was immediately anfwer'd by the Enemy's Cannon, and both continued Firing with confiderable Execution. Whilft the Duke of Marlborough was at the Head of the Lines to give the neceffary Orders every where, Velt-Marefchal d'Auverquerque repaired to the Left, where perceiving that the Enemy's Foot, pofted in the Hedges of Franquenies, gall'd the Horfe of that Wing, he commanded four Battalions, with two Pieces of Cannon, under Colonel Wertmuller, to diflodge them from thence: Which they perform'd with great Vigour and Refolution. Hereupon the Enemy detach'd two Battalions, and fourteen Squa drons of Dragoons, on Foot, to regain that important Poft; but Monfieur d' Auverquerque commanded, at the fame time, the whole Wing of Dutch Horfe to attack the Enemy, which not only prevented their Design, but put thofe Dragoons into fuch

A. C. Disorder, that they were not able either to reach the 1706. Village, or to recover their Horfes, which they had left a good way behind the Tomb of Hottomont; And fo were, most of them, cut in Pieces, or taken Prifoners. The Dutch Cavalry charg'd with a great deal of Bravery, Sword in hand, and foon after the Engagement was fuftain'd by the Danish Squadrons; but having to deal with the French King's Houfhold, viz. the Moufquetaires, Genfdarmes, Gardes-du-Corps, Horfe-Grenadiers, and other choice Troops, which were in the Enemy's Right, the Conflict was obftinate, and the Succefs doubtful, for above an hour. The Danife Horfe, which fought on the Left of all, behaved themfelves with fuch Gallantry, that they forc'd the Enemy to give Ground, and broke feveral of their Squadrons; but, at the fame time, the French had almost an equal Advantage against the Dutch Horfe of the Right of the Left-Wing; whom they put into great Confufion. To remedy this, the Duke of Marlborough, who was advanc'd that way, fent for twenty Squadrons of Horfe from the Right Wing: And, in the mean time, rallied fome of the broken Squadrons, and gave his Orders for others to charge. In this Place, his Grace was in the Extremity of Danger: For being fingled out by feThus the veral of the Refoluteft of the Enemy, and having Relation, the Misfortune to fall from his Horfe, he had eiprinted by ther been kill'd, or taken Prifoner, if fome of the Authority Confederate Foot, that were near at hand, had not in Eng- come, very feafonably, to his Afliftance: After land, has which his Grace had ftill a greater Efcape, a Canit: But 1 non-Ball taking off the Head of Colonel Briendfield, was told by his Grace's Gentleman of the Horfe, as he was holdcers that ing the Stirrup for the Duke to remount.

Jome. Offi

were in the

was born

*

The Twenty Squadrons his Grace had fent for Engage- from the Right, to reinforce the Left, had but little ment, that Share in the Defeat of the Enemy's Right: For by the Duke that time they were come up, the Dutch and Danes having charg'd them both in Front and Flank, had down by almoft compleated that fignal Piece of Service, cutSome of the ting in Pieces the beft Part of the French King's Disorder'd Houfhold. In the mean time, the Village of Rammelies was vigorously attack'd by General Schultz, with the 12 Battalions under him. The Enemy having the Advantage of the Ground, defended them

Dutch

Horfe.

felves with great Refolution and Obftinacy, till fee- A. C. ing the whole Line of the Confederate Infantry in 1706. motion to fupport General Schultz, and the Dutch and Danish Horfe advancing to furround them, they bethought themfelves of making their Retreat, but found it was too late: For they were intercep ted by the victorious Horfe; and, most of them, cl ther kill'd, or taken Prifoners, Hereupon the reft of the Enemy's Infantry endeavour'd likewife to make their Efcape, which they did in better Order, being favour'd by the Horfe of their Left-wing, who being cover'd by a Rivulet and Morafs, had not yet been attack'd, and form'd themfelves in three Lines between Offuz and Autreglife. But the English Horfe, having found means to pafs the Rivulet, charg'd the Enemy with fuch unparallel'd Brisknefs and Courage, That the Enemy, who were, at the fame time,attack'd by the English and Dutch Foot with equal Bravery, gave way on all fides. Their Horfe rallied again in the Plains to cover the diforderly Retreat of their Foot; but they were fo closely purfued by the Confederate Cavalry, that they were forc'd to divide themfelves into three fmall Bodies, that they might fly the fafter three different Ways. Those that took to the Left, were purfued by the Dutch and Danes, who made great Slaughter amongst, them, and took abundance of Prifoners: Thofe that fied to the Right, were chac'd by the Regiments of Lumley, Hay and Roß, which two laft fell in with the Foot Regiment du Roy, of whom having kill'd many, the reft threw down their Arms, and begg'd Quarter, which was generously granted. The headmoft Regiments of English Horfe, that pursued the Enemy's Center, were that of Lieutenant General Wood, commanded by himself, and Windham's (now Palm's) Carabineers, headed by Major Perry. When they came upon a Rifing Ground, they ef pied feven Squadrons of the Spanish and Bavarian Guards, among which was the Elector in Perfon, and Marefchal de Villeroy, who hoped with thefe few choice Troops, to make good their Retreat, and fave their Cannon, which was marching in a Line before them. General Wood galloped with his own Regiment upon the Enemy's Left, and charg'd them

fo

A. C. fo vigorously, that he broke them all to Picces, kil1706. ling many of them, and taking not a few Prifoners,

among whom were two Lieutenant Colonels, one Major, four Captains, and feveral Subaltern Officers. He took alfo the Standard of the Elector's Guards, two of his own Trumpers, and kill'd his Kettle-Drummer: The Elector himself, and Marefchal de Villeroy, very narrowly ti efcaping. Major Petry, at the head of Windham's Carabineers, fell upon the Enemy with equal Brisknefs and Refolution; put many of them to the Sword, and took feveral Prifoners, particularly the Major of the Spanish Guards, Mr. de la Guerriere, and Mr. Bruan, Cornet of the fame; befides four Officers, and 46 private Men of the Royal Bombardiers, with their Colours. The Confe- The English Horfe and Dragoons followed the Chace derates through, and by Fudoigne, till two of the Clock in pleat Victo- the morning; and both they, and the Dutch and Danes, made themfelves Mafters of all the Enemy's Cannon, to the number of about 50 Pieces; most of their Baggage, about 120 Colours or Standards, and feveral pairs of Kettle-Drums. The Enemy's Lofs of Men, according to the most general Computation, amounted to 5000 Slain, and among them Prince Maximilian and Prince Monbafen; and about 4000 private Soldiers, and near 600 Officers, taken Prifoners. The Perfons of Note among the latter, were Meifeurs Palavicini and Mezieres,Majors General; the Marquis de Bar, Brigadier General of Horfe; the Marquis de Nonant, Brigadier General of Foot; the

gain a com

tt Lieutenant General W-d, in a Letter to a Noble Friend of his, wrote these very Words: One of the Lieutenant Colonels, who was much Wounded, remembring me laft War, call'd out to me to 'fave his Life, as I did: The other Lieutenant Colonel came to me, and yielded himself Prifoner alfo. Both thefe affured me, the Day after the Battle, That the Ele&tor himself, and Marefchal Villeroy, were in the Crowd, and not ten Yards off from me, when they two call'd out to me for Quarter, and that they narrowly efcap'd us: Which had I been fo fortunate as to have known, I had train'd Corolianus (on whom I rid all the Day of Battle,) to have made them Prifoners.

the Marquis de la Baume, Son of the Marefchal de A. C. Tallard; Monfieur de Montmorency, Nephew to the 1706. late Duke of Luxemburgh, a Nephew of the Lord Clare, and feveral others.

This compleat and memorable Victory, next to the Juft Prai Bletling of Heaven, (which, during the Courfe of this fes of the War,feem'd vifibly to affert the Juftice of theConfede-Generals, rate Caufe) was principally owing to the great Courage, Prudence, Vigilance and Experience of the Chief Commander, the Prince and Duke of Marlbo rough, who was perfonally prefent in the horteft of the Action; giving his Orders with wonderful Sedatenefs and Prefence of Mind. The fecond Honours. of this Glorious Day, are due to his Excellency Monfieur d'Auverquerque, Velt-Marefchal of the Dutch Troops, who acted with all the Valour, Conduct and Vigour, becoming a great experi enced General. The other Generals, and inferior Officers likewife diftinguifhed themfelves; and, among the relt, the Duke of Argyle expofed his Perfon to the greatest Danger, and received feveral flight Wounds. All the Troops that engaged, fought with the greatest Bravery and Refolution, And of the like Men, who were refolv'd rather to die, than lofe the Reputation they had gain'd at Schellemberg and Bleinheim. But it must be acknowledged, to the eternal Glory of the Dutch Horfe and Foot, that they bore almoft the whole Brunt of the Fight, having had to deal with the French King's Houf hold, and other choice Troops, which compofed the Enemy's Right Wing. The Danish Horfe were a great Weight to encline the Victory on the Confederates fide; and the English had the Honour to compleat the fame, by having the greatest Share in the purfuit; as fome of their Regiments of Foot had in the Engagement. Among the reft, Colonel Charles Churchill, who commanded General Churchill's Regiment, fignalized himfelf, by driving, with his Battalion,fupported by theLord Mordaunt's Regiment, «a three French Regiments into the Morals, where most of them were either deftroy'd, or taken Prifo

ners.

Troops.

The Lofs of the Confederates in fo Bloody and The loss of Obftinate a Conflict, could not but be great; vet the Confer G2 did derates.