Page:Cassell's Illustrated History of England vol 4.djvu/212

198 implored Marlborough to put a stop to these horrible outrages; but Marlborough, notwithstanding his affected pity, only replied that it was in his own power to put a stop to them by coming to terms. The elector, enraged at this answer, declared that as they compelled him to draw his sword, he would now throw away the scabbard.

On reconnoitering the elector's camp, they found it so strong that they did not venture to attack it; but their great object should have been, failing that, to prevent the junction of the approaching French army with him. Instead, however, of so posting themselves as to effect their object, they withdrew, and contented themselves with laying siege to Ingoldstadt, to do which they had to cross the Paer, near Schrobenhausen, where they encamped with their left at Closterburg. Meantime, the French army under Tallard was steadily approaching, and, though watched by prince Eugene, was not checked by him, for he had only eighteen thousand men.



Scarcely had Marlborough removed from before Augsburg when the elector quitted his camp and marched to Biberach, and there effected a junction with Tallard.

On the 6th of August prince Eugene galloped into Marlborough's camp to announce this fact, and to take measures for competing with them. It was resolved between them to get rid of the fatal incubus of the margrave of Baden, with his pride and his jealousy, by leaving him to continue the siege of Ingoldstadt, for which purpose they left him twenty-three battalions and thirty-one squadrons. Marlborough then prepared again to cross the Lech and the Danube, and advanced to Exheim. Here prince Eugene, who had set out to bring up his force to form a junction with Marlborough, galloped back to inform him that the united French and Bavarian army was in full march towards Dillingen, evidently intending to fall on the little army of Eugene. It was, therefore, agreed that the troops of Eugene should fall back, and those of Marlborough should cross the Danube to make a speedy junction with them. Eugene took possession of the strong camp on the Schellenberg, and had his main position at Donauwerth. On the evening of the 10th Marlborough began to throw detachments of his army across the Danube—an operation of no little difficulty, owing to his having to cross the Aicha, the Lech, and the Wernitz, as well as the Danube, and all these floods swelled by the rains. The whole of the army, however, was got over at different points on the 11th, and on the 12th Marlborough's baggage and artillery came up.

The English guards were pushed forward towards Schweningen, and Marlborough and Eugene ascended together the tower of a village church, to get a view of the country. There they discovered the French and Bavarians busy making out a camp betwixt Blenheim and Lutzingen. They saw at once the great advantage they should have by foiling on the enemy before they had strongly entrenched themselves, and whilst in the confusion of encamping themselves. No sooner, however, did they issue their orders, than some of the general officers demurred as to the danger of attacking the allies in so strong a position as the one they had chosen. But Marlborough told them that circumstances compelled them to fight, and the sooner the better. Marlborough and Eugene were busy planning the order of the battle, and at two o'clock of the morning of the 13th of August, the forces were in full advance. In another hour they were across the Kessell, with a combined force of fifty-two thousand men, and fifty-two pieces of artillery.