CHAPTER 12.

1702.

Marlborough crosses the Meuse and advances to Hamont. Movements of the two armies.-The dutch deputies oppose the wishes of Marlborough to attack the enemy. Attempt of the french to intercept his communications.-Frustrated.

·Again prevented from risking a battle.—Indignation and disappointment of the army.—Capture of Venloo, Ruremond and Stevenswaert. Reduction of Liege.- Winter quarters.

Ar length Marlborough soothed the fears of the dutch government, and obtained full powers to execute his own plan. To the dutch deputies who attended him on a reconnoitring party, he pointed out the camp of the enemy, and exultingly exclaimed, "I shall soon deliver you from these troublesome neighbours!" Accordingly the confederate army crossed the Meuse on the 26th of July, and encamped with the right at Uden and the left at Zeeland. On the 27th they again advanced, establishing their right near Nunen and their left at Leyshout; the 28th they were posted between Geldorp and Mierle, and on the 30th approached Hamont.

These decisive operations, as Marlborough had predicted, drew the french from their position. On the first intelligence that he had crossed the Meuse,

they suddenly decamped in the evening, traversed the river in several columns at Venloo and Ruremond, and hastened by forced marches in the direction of Peer and Bray.

Apprized of these movements, Marlborough announced to Godolphin his design of crossing the line of their march, and endeavouring to place himself between them and the Demer. He expressed also the fullest persuasion that he should draw them entirely from the Meuse, and not only be enabled to besiege Venloo, but to subsist in their territory, during the remainder of the campaign. He adds, "Our marches have already had the desired effect, which was, their repassing the Meuse, which had we done sooner, would have been much better. If they would venture any thing this summer, it ought to be this day; for our march is upon an open heath, and we are weaker by sixteen regiments of foot than we shall be three days hence. I am just getting on horseback to begin the march. My letter is dated from the place where we are to camp this night. The french are nearer to it than we, but I do not think they will venture. But by this march they must own that we do not avoid meeting them.” *

At Hamont Marlborough was joined by three english regiments of dragoons, with the train of artillery, and two battalions of Swiss. On the 31st a new reinforcement of nine battalions and six squadrons arrived from Nimeguen, being part of the corps left under general Heukelom for the de

* Camp near Hamont, July 19-30. 1702.

fence of the frontier. The same day Marlborough extended his right to St. Hubert's Lill, where he established his head quarters. He had scarcely entered his new position, before reports arrived that the enemy were again in motion. With his characteristic vigilance, he instantly mounted his horse, and spent twelve hours in reconnoitring the ground, and obtaining intelligence of their march. While he remained in this position, the castle of Gravenbrock, which was held by a small french garrison, was compelled to surrender by a detachment under lord Cutts. His correspondence shews the eagerness with which he watched for an opportunity of bringing the enemy to an engagement.

"I believe," he observes," the enemy will not encamp where they are, which is not far from Bray, but will this night march on towards the Demer; for though count Tallard has joined them, I believe they will not care to venture, at least till they have the troops which are with M. Bedmar, and even then I question whether they will be stronger than we, for in two or three days it will be in our power to draw out eight regiments of foot and five squadrons of horse, from Maestricht. Four deserters are just come in, that assure me the french army will encamp this night at Bray. If it be true, we shall be moving to-morrow morning early. I have several parties out, so that some will bring news. I thought I should not have been able to have writ so much, my head aching extremely. The minute I seal this I shall go to bed." *

*To lord Godolphin, camp of St. Hubert's Lill, July 20-31. 1702.

On the 2d of August Marlborough again prolonged his march, by bringing his left to St. Hubert's Lill, and stretching his right to Little Bruegel, where he established his head quarters. At the same time the enemy continued their hasty progress, and took post between Peer and Bray. As Marlborough calculated that they would direct their march through Sonhoven to Beringhen, he proposed to attack them, either in their passage over the heaths beyond Bray, or in their camp at Sonhoven, which was so ill chosen as to render defeat inevitable. But according to the information of Berwick, who was present, they were saved by the timidity of the dutch deputies, who refused their assent. Thus favoured, the french succeeded in reaching Beringhen unmolested, on the 5th of August, and the same day the confederate army established itself in the rear of Peer, with the right on the Dommel and the left at Erlicum.

Marlborough had thus compelled the enemy to: abandon the course of the Meuse, and leave him at liberty to prosecute his designs against the fortresses on that river. While preparations were making for the siege of Venloo, he employed des tachments to destroy the fortifications of Peer and Bray, which lay in the line of his communications.

* "Monsieur de Marlborough proposa de marcher à nous, en passant le defilé de Peer, moyennant quoi la battaille étoit inévitable sur les bruyeres; mais les députés des etats généraux, n'y voulurent jamais consentir, non plus qu'à nous attaquer dans notre camp de Sonoven ; ce qui fut heureux pour nous, car nous étions postés de manière que nous aurions été battus sans pouvoir nous remuer, notre gauche étant en l'air, et notre droite enfoncée dans un cul-de-sac entre deux ruisseaux." Memoires de Berwick, t. i. p. 187.

Here he was joined by ten battalions, and several squadrons, with a small train of artillery, from Maestricht, the garrison of which was disengaged by his advance.

With a view to ulterior operations, he prepared to pass the Dommel; but the french commanders, for the purpose of threatening his communications, broke up from Beringhen on the 9th, and marching by Moll and Bergueick to Rythoven, detached Berwick on the 12th to Eyndhoven, to cut off a valuable convoy which had been long expected from Bois le Duc. This movement obliged Marlborough to make a retrograde march on the 12th to Everbeek*, from whence he detached a strong corps, under count Tilly, for the protection of the convoy. Here he remained several days in great anxiety, and his letters are filled with complaints of the want of concert among his subordinate officers, the obstacles raised to his designs, and the tardiness of the preparations for the siege of Venloo. As the movement of the enemy had prevented the attack on Weert, a second detachment was now charged with its reduction, and a body of ten battalions and seven squadrons was sent to commence operations against Venloo. Arrangements were also made to draw the supply of bread for the army from Maestricht. t

At length the convoy, which had engrossed the attention of both armies, arrived from Bois le Duc. It traversed the heath near Geldorp, within sight of the french detachment; and although the ne

* A castle about two english miles north of Hamont.

+ Correspondence from Everbeek, August 3–14. to August 10–17. 1702.