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much pleased with the expression of friendship the generals have made me."

Reaching Cassel, a suburb of Mentz, on the 29th, he halted a day to refresh the cavalry, who were much fatigued by their constant march. In this interval, he was hospitably received at Mentz by the elector, in whose presence the troops were reviewed. The elector was particularly struck with their cleanly and neat appearance, and alluding to an entertainment which was to be given to the officers, observed, "these gentlemen seem to be all dressed for the ball." *

Before he marched, Marlborough received information that the States had consented to reinforce his army with 20 squadrons and 8 battalions of danish auxiliaries. But his satisfaction at this news was counterbalanced by intelligence, that the margrave of Baden had not only suffered the french succours to join the elector of Bavaria without obstruction, but had also neglected a favourable opportunity of defeating the enemy even after the junction.

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The elector and Marsin had broken up from their camp at Ulm with 35,000 men, and on the 17th of May drew towards the head of the Danube to receive the expected succours. On their approach, general Thungen, who commanded the German troops between the Danube and the Lake of Constance, withdrew towards Rothwell, where he was joined by the dutch and a body of Wirtemberg cavalry. On the 14th he

*Hare's Journal.

was reinforced by the margrave of Bareith and general Stirum, with 14,000 men, from the circle of Franconia.

These generals being thus at the head of 30,000 men, proposed to attack the elector, who was then posted behind Villingen, and would doubtless have prevented the junction of the reinforcements which were then filing through the defiles to the east of Freyburg. At this moment, however, their design was suspended by an order from the margrave of Baden, enjoining them to wait his arrival. Apprised of the enemy's motions, he quitted the lines of Stolhoffen on the 17th, and hastening to the camp at Rothweil, was followed by seven regiments of infantry and one of cavalry. The junction being effected, he on the evening of the 19th approached the electoral camp at Villingen. Unfortunately, the time which had been lost in waiting his arrival, had enabled the french reinforcements to accomplish their passage; and on the 20th the enemy hastily decamping, withdrew through Huffingen, towards Engen.

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The enemy being burthened with a long line of carriages, an active general might yet have remedied the mischief of the delay, by seizing the pass of Stochach, which would have cut off their retreat; and as they were totally in want of bread, would have left them no resource except to surrender at discretion. The margrave indeed wanted not skill and vigilance to perceive, but activity to seize the advantage. He crossed the Danube at Dutlingen, and advanced to Leptingen at the same time that the enemy reached Engen; yet in

this situation he suffered them to anticipate him at the pass of Stochach, and after a brisk cannonade they filed off without obstruction to Saulgen. Having thus permitted his prey to escape, he fell back to Mosskirk, and on the 28th of May took up his position at Rietlingen.*

While he remained at Mentz, Marlborough acquainted the landgrave of Hesse, with his intention of proceeding farther into Germany, to the relief of the emperor, and persuaded that prince to send the artillery which he had provided for the expected operations on the Moselle to Manheim, that it might be ready for the siege of Landau, or any other enterprise of advantage to the common cause. He also summoned the prince of Hesse, Bulow, and Hompesch to Mentz, to receive the necessary directions for the junction of the forces under their command with the main army. He took measures also for the regular payment of his troops. I send to-morrow to Frankfort," he writes to Godolphin, "to see if I can take up a month's pay for the english, and shall draw the bills on Mr. Sweet; for notwithstanding the continual marching, the men are extremely pleased with this expedition, so that I am sure you will take all the care possible that they may not want."+

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*Hare's Journal. Memoirs de Tallard, passim. Histoire de Marlborough, t. i. p. 288–291.

† Mentz, May 18–29. 1704.

CHAPTER 22.

1704.

Marlborough reaches the Neckar.-Direction of his march towards the Danube.-Counter movements of the enemy. Interviews of Marlborough with prince Eugene and the margrave of Baden.-Disposition of the command, and plan of operations.-Eugene heads the army on the Rhine, and the margrave shares the command with Marlborough. Failure of the dutch generals in their attempt to force the french lines.The emperor offers to Marlborough a principality of the empire.-Junction of the armies under Marlborough and the margrave.-Their arrival and commencement of operations on the Danube.

THE next point to which Marlborough directed his march was Ladenburg, where he had previously ordered bridges to be constructed for the passage of the Neckar. Here he arrived on the 3d of June. Notwithstanding all the cares which weighed on his mind, and the pomp with which he was surrounded, his thoughts still dwelt on the endearments of home, and the society of his family and friends. The duchess having earnestly repeated her request to join him, he replied:

"Weinheim, May 22-June 2. "I take it extreme kindly that you persist in desiring to come to me; but I am sure when you consider that three days hence will be a month,

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that the troops have been in a continual march to get hither; and we shall be a fortnight longer before we shall be able to get to the Danube, so that you could hardly get to me and back again to Holland, before it would be time to return into England. Besides, my dear soul, how could I be at any ease; for if we should not have good success, I could not put you into any place where would be safe.

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"I am now in a house of the elector palatine, that has a prospect over the finest country that is possible to be seen. I see out of my chamber window the Rhine and the Neckar, and his two principal towns of Manheim and Heidelberg; but would be much better pleased with the prospect of St. Alban's, which is not very famous for seeing far."

To Godolphin he briefly communicates his situation and ulterior views; in a letter also written from Ladenburg on the 4th of June.

"The cannon and infantry being six days' march behind me, and the troops of Luneburg, Holland, and Hesse, being in several quarters, I shall halt here to-morrow, to give the necessary orders, and then shall advance towards the Danube, with what troops I have here, leaving the english and cannon to be brought up by my brother, and the danes by the duke of Wirtemberg. I hope in eight days to meet with prince Louis and prince Eugene. I am afraid the first will not go to the Rhine, he being, as I am told, desirous to stay on the Danube. When I see them, you shall be sure to know what we have concerted."

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