Command of the General of the Artillery Don Pedro A. C. Mafcarenas; but they receiv'd Letters from Saragoffa, 1706. in answer to the Meffage fent by Colonel Bourguet, whereby they were inform'd, that the King was to be the 28th at Molina in Arragon, and because he was to pass within 13 Leagues of the Enemy, who were at Xadraque and Atiença, he defir'd that they fhould cover his March, adding, that my Lord Peterborough was to join him, and that the Troops were in motion to reinforce the Portugueze Army.

This Intelligence fill'd the Army with incredible Joy; the Project of fecuring Toledo was laid afide, and it was refolv'd to march towards the Ene-. my, in order to keep 'em in play in fuch a manner, as that they fhould have no thoughts to disturb the King's March. The 28th they march'd to Sopetram, and encamp'd between that place and Tta, where they had certain Information, that the Enemy af fembled all their Forces at Xadraque. Thereupon it. was debated whether they fhould march on to the derate and The Confe Enemy, which being refolv'd upon, the Army be-French gan to move at Mid-night. When they arriv'd near Armies are Xadraque, they found that the Van of the Enemy'sin Sight. Army began to march towards them, but the Enemy repaffed the Defilees affoon as they perceived the Allies. The Country was fo difficult, that it was not poffible to come to a general Engagement, and therefore the Armies did only cannonade one another, and skirmish for two days.

The Enemy's Camp increafing daily by the Rein-The Confeforcements they receiv'd, the Confederate Generals derates thought fit to return to Guadalaxara; the rather be-march back caufe the King was fuppos'd, by this time, to be paft to Guadaall danger. The 31ft they went to incamp at Jun-laxara. quiera, whereupon the Enemy broke up likewife, and incamp'd within 2 Leagues of them. The ift of Auguft they march'd towards Guadalax ara, where the Portugueze faw that they were going to lose the Communication with their Country, which they might have preferv'd by pofting themselves behind the Carama, and marching from thence near Guadarama: But they judged,that if they made that motion, and the Enemy fhould detach fome Troops against King Charles, they might drive him again as far as Barcelona. The Confederate Generals obferving, that

the

A. C. the Enemy defign'd to force them to a general En1706. gagement in the Plain, before they were joined by the Reinforcements they expected, they put the River Henares between the Enemy and themfelves, having given Orders for all the Provifions and Baggage they had at Alcala to be drawn from thence; which was executed, with the Lofs only of fome few Waggons, which were left behind, and which were plunder'd by the Enemy and the Peafants, who took likewife fome Prifoners. The 2d of Auguft the Enemy came and incamp'd before the Allies, the Henares being between both Armies. The Firft, which was ftretch'd on one Line only, to make the greater fhew, confifted of 47 Battalions, and 80 Squadrons; whereThe French as the Confederate Forces confifted only of 28 Batretake Ma-talions, and 42 Squadrons. The 3d, the Enemy made drid. a Detachment from their Army, that entred Madrid

the next Day; that City returning readily to the Obedience of the Duke of Anjou. Some Miquelets and others, who had retired into the Caftle, furrendred the fame upon Terms, whereupon the Partizans of France exercis'd all imaginable Cruelties K.Charles against thofe of the Houfe of Auftria.

joins the The King arriv'd the 6th of Auguft, in the EveConfederatening, at Guadalaxare,where he was receiv'd with unArmy, Au- expreffible Joy, under three Salvoes of all the Arguft6.N.S.tillery and fmail Arms.. My Lord Peterborough was

with his Majefty, who brought with him his Troop
of Life-guard, his Regiment of yellow Dragoons,
which made four fine Squadrons; that of Horfe of
Don Pedro Moras in a very good condition, making
alfo four Squadrons, and three compleat Battalions,
one Italian in his Majefty's Pay, and two Dutch.
Two Days after, there came up two other Battalions
of his Majefty's Troops,viz. one of Caftilians, and the
other of Germans, with the Regiment of Raby's Dra-
goons, making three Squadrons, and that of Pierce,
one; fo that the Confederates receiv'd a Reinforce-
ment of 13 Squadrons and 5 Battalions, which how-
ever did not put them in a condition to go in queft
of the Enemy; who were much fuperior, both in
Horfe and Foot. A few days after the Earl of Pe-
terborough, returned to the Fleet, and fail'd for Italy,
to negotiate Supplies, particularly of Money,
King Charles

for

After

After the Confederates had confumed the Provi- A. C. · fions and Forrage of Guadalaxara, thev march'd to- 1706, wards Chincon, where they arriv'd the 14th of Au-n guft; and incamped with the left towards Colmen-Te Conare, where they pofted Count Dhona with fourfates Battalions to cover themfelves on that fide. In march te this Camp they were very hard put to it for Chincon. Meal: But with much ado they made ufe of their Mills, and by the extraordinary good Order and Hus-· bandry of the Generals, the Army fubfifted plentifully in that Poft a whole Month, only by what they got from Chincon and Colmenare, and fome neighbouring Villages. Chincon being but five Leagues from Madrid, the Enemy obferved the Allies along the Henares and incamped at Campofuclos, the Xarama being between both Armies. Nothing confiderable happen'd all that while, fave only that the Enemy gain'd fome little Advantages over fmall Parties and Forragers, meerly by the favour of the Country People, who would fain have been rid of the Portuguege, and delivered from the Inconveniencies of War.

At length, when the Confederate Generals faw there was no Hope of receiving any more Reinforcements, and that no Diverfion was made to oblige the Enemy to divide their Forces, it was refolv'd to pafs the Tagus, before the Rains fhould render it impracticable. The Enemy had boafted all along to hinder them from it, by Fighting them: And indeed it was a difficult Undertaking to march forty Leagues in fight of an Enemy much fuperior, and thro' a Country altogether unknown. However, Colonel The Confe Carles having been fent fome days before to view the derates reGround, that they might direct their March ac-treat and cording to his Report, they pafs'd the Tagus at Fuentiff the TaDuennas, without the leaftOppofition from the Enemy, gus, Sept. who crofs'd the fame River four Leagues below 15. N. S. that Place. The next day they encamp'd at Barajas and the day following at Veles, where Lieutenant Lieut.GenGeneral Windham join'd them with three Battalions, ham joins and a Regiment of Horfe, newly raised by the Earl of Peterborough. They continued their March thro' Sept. 17. Mancha, which is a fine champaign fruitful Coun- N. S. try, full of great Villages, encamp'd at Pelamares,

Torres,

ral Wind

the Army

A. C. Torres, Fonfilos, Cafra, and pafs'd the Xucar at the 1706. Bridge of Olibos near Velverdo. They were enclined

rates, but

to have taken Quarters behind that River, but the Poft of Alarcon, which is a pretty ftrong Castle, and a Paffage over that River, being poffefs'd by the Enemy, 'twas thought they could not be fecure there; the rather, because part of the Enemy's Army arriv'd near that Place, affoon as they on the other fide. Lieutenant General Windham brought with him from Gueta (or Hueta) a feafonable fupply of Bread and Bisket for four days, which the Earl of Peterborough, and himself, had gather'd from the Neighbouring Country, during his ftay in that Place.

The Enemy pafs'd the Tagus at Aranjuez, with all their Forces, and with a strong Body of Horfe obferv'd, and endeavour'd to difturb the March of the Allies. But they never found an Opportunity to attack them with Advantage; fo that, at laft, the latter pafs'd the Xucar near Velverdo, from whence they march'd to Montila, and then to Peral, where they ftaid a few Days. On the other hand the Enemy pofted themfelves near Alarcon, but the Parties they fent out to obferve the Confederates were generally worsted.

On the 25th of September, the Duke of Berwick The Duke of being inform'd, that the Allies were to march thro Berwick a Plain, to come to Yniefta, and draw near the makes a Xabriel, drew all his Forces together, and advanc'd fhew of At-with fo great Diligence in the Night, that his Van tacking the appear'd in the Plain, juft as they began their Confede- March. Hereupon my Lord Galway, with wonderful Prefence of Mind, made the neceffary Difpois prevented fitions for a Battle; caufing all the Cavalry of the firft Line, which made a Column oppofite to the Enemy, to advance; giving the Command of the Foot of that Line to Sir Charles Hara; And, ordering the Second Line to march in Battalia, behind the Infantry of the firft. This Difpofition was made, that which Way foever the Enemy should approach them, they fhould have a fufficient Front to oppofe them; And, at the fame time, the Allies march'd on in fuch a manner, that the Enemy never found an Opportunity to come to a general Engagement

with Advantage. On the contrary, all the Squa- A. C drons that advanc'd towards them, were vigorously 1708. repuls'd with Lofs; and the Confederates had then time to arrive at Tnicfta, where they posted their Right, and the Army was drawn up in Order of Battle, having a little Rivulet before their Front. The King himself led the Columns, and pofted the Troops on the other fide of the Rivulet, the Earl of Galway taking care to fee them all pafs in good Or der. The Horfe the Enemy fent to disturb them, was routed; and fome Portugueze Squadrons that were very weak, defeated feveral of the Enemies that appeared much stronger. The Marquis das Minas continued all the while in the Rear, and when the whole Army was pafs'd, they expected the Enemy in Order of Battle; but though all their Infantry was come up, yet they found the Allies in fo good a Pofture, that they never durft attempt to attack them, The Baggage continued their The Confe March, and afterwards the whole Army began to derates pafs move, in the day-time, and in fight of the Enemy; .the Xa. and pafs'd the Xabriel, without the leaft Oppofition. After this Remarkable and Succefsful March, the And go inConfederate Army took their Quarters from Requena from Reto Denia, having poffefs'd themfelves of Cofrentes, quena to and put a Garrifon into Cuença, whereby they pre- Denia. ferv'd an Entrance into Caftile, and at the fame Time, were able to protect thofe Countries that had before fubmitted to King Charles; who, for the fame Purpose, fent most of his own Troops into Arragon. This Juftice muit be done to all the Confederate Forces, both Officers and Private Men, that they fhew'd, during all this Campaign, great Courage, Patience and Readinefs, whereby they fupported themselves, beyond what could be expected, in the Difficulties they ftruggled with, in that barren, and unfriendly Country: Which was, in great Measure owing to the Steddy Zeal and Conduct of the Marquis das Minas, and the Admirable Addrefs and Vi-The Lofs of gilance of the Earl of Galway. "Tis true, the Lofs Madrid of Madrid, after the Confederates had been lo long wholly to Mafters of it, feems to caft an indelible Blemish on be charg'd this Campaign: But 'tis plain, by the foregoing Charles's on King Account (which was tranfmitted to the Writer of Charles's thefe Annals, by a General Officer of that Army, ragoffa. going toSa

abfolutely

te Quarters