hausen, where they encamped, with their left
at Closterburgh. On the fifth day of August the elector of Bavaria
marched to Biberach, where he was joined by Tallard. He resolved to pass
the Danube at Lawingen to attack prince Eugene, who had followed the
French army from the lines of Bichi, and lay encamped at Hochstadt.
Next day, however, he made a motion that disappointed the enemy.
Nevertheless, they persisted in their design of passing the Danube and
encamping at Blenheim. The allies resolved that prince Louis should
undertake the siege of Ingoldstadt, whilst prince Eugene and the duke
should observe the elector of Bavaria. Advice being received that he had
actually crossed the Danube at Lawingen, the duke of Marlborough joined
the forces of prince Eugene at the camp of Munster on the eleventh day
of August, prince Louis having by this time marched off towards the
place he intended to besiege. Next day the duke of Marlborough and
prince Eugene observed the posture of the enemy, who were advantageously
posted on a hill near Hochstadt, their right being covered by the Danube
and the village of Blenheim, their left by the village of Lutzengen, and
their front by a rivulet, the banks of which were steep, and the bottom
marshy.

THE CONFEDERATES OBTAIN A COMPLETE VICTORY AT HOCHSTADT.

Notwithstanding these difficulties, the generals resolved to attack them
immediately, rather than lie inactive until their forage and provisions
should be consumed. They were moreover stimulated to this hazardous
enterprise by an intercepted letter to the elector of Bavaria, from
mareschal Villeroy, giving him to understand that he had received orders
to ravage the country of Wirtem-berg, and intercept all communication
between the Rhine and the allied army. The dispositions being made for
the attack, and the orders communicated to the general officers, the
forces advanced into the plain on the thirteenth day of August, and
were ranged in order of battle. The cannonading began about nine in
the morning, and continued on both sides till one in the afternoon. The
French and Bavarians amounted to about sixty thousand men, Mareschal
Tallard commanded on the right, and posted twenty-seven battalions, with
twelve squadrons, in the village of Blenheim, supposing that there the
allies would make their chief effort: their left was conducted by the
elector of Bavaria, assisted by Marsin, a French general of experience
and capacity. The number