ch there was no
garrison; at the same time the count de la Motte, with a strong body
of forces, appeared before Bruges, which was surrendered to him without
opposition; then he made a fruitless attempt upon Damme, and marched to
the little fort of Plassendhal, which he took by assault. The duke of
Marlborough was no sooner apprised of the enemy's having sent a strong
detachment towards Tabize, than he marched from Terbank, passed the
canal, and encamped at Anderlach. The French crossed the Senne at Halle
and Tabize, and the allies resolved to attack them next morning; but the
enemy passed the Dender in the night with great expedition; and the duke
of Marlborough next day encamped at Asche, where he was joined by prince
Eugene, who had marched with a considerable reinforcement of Germans
from the Moselle. The enemy understanding that this general was on his
march, determined to reduce Oudenarde, the only pass on the Schelde
possessed by the confederates; and invested it on the ninth day of July,
hoping to subdue it before the allies could be reinforced. The duke of
Marlborough was immediately in motion, and made a surprising march from
Asche, as far as Herselingen, where he was joined by the reinforcement.
Then he took possession of the strong camp at Lessines, which the French
had intended to occupy in order to cover the siege of Oudenarde.

Thus disappointed, the French generals altered their resolution,
abandoned Oudenarde, and began to pass the Schelde at Gavre. The
two generals of the confederates were bent upon bringing them to an
engagement. Cadogan was sent with sixteen battalions and eight squadrons
to repair the roads, and throw bridges over the Schelde below Oudenarde.
The army was in motion about eight o'clock, and marched with such
expedition, that by two in the afternoon the horses had reached the
bridges over which Cadogan and his detachment were passing. The enemy
had posted seven battalions in the village of Heynem, situated on the
banks of the Schelde, and the French household troops were drawn up
in order of battle on the adjacent plain, opposite to a body of troops
under major-general Bantzaw, who were posted behind a rivulet that ran
into the river. The duke de Vendome intended to attack the confederates
when one half of their army should have passed the Schelde; but he
was thwarted by the duke of Burgundy, who seemed to be perplexed and
irresolute. This prince had ordered the troops to halt in their