march to
Gavre, as if he had not yet formed any resolution; and now he recalled
the squadrons from the plain, determined to avoid a battle. Vendome
remonstrated against this conduct, and the dispute continued till three
in the afternoon, when the greater part of the allied army had passed
the Schelde without opposition. Then the duke of Burgundy declared
for an engagement, and Vendome submitted to his opinion with great
reluctance, as the opportunity was now lost, and the army unformed.
Major-general Grimaldi was ordered to attack Rantzaw with the horse
of the king's household, who, finding the rivulet marshy, refused to
charge, and retired to the right. Meanwhile Cadogan attacked the village
of Heynem, which he took, with three of the seven battalions by which it
was guarded. Bantzaw, passing the rivulet, advanced into the plain and
drove before him several squadrons of the enemy. In this attack the
electoral prince of Hanover, his late majesty George IL, charged at
the head of Bulau's dragoons with great intrepidity. His horse was
shot under him, and colonel Laschky killed by his side. Divers French
regiments were entirely broken, and a good number of officers and
standards fell into the hands of the Hanoverians. The confederates
continued still passing the river, but few or none of the infantry were
come up till five in the afternoon, when the duke of Argyle arrived with
twenty battalions, which immediately sustained a vigorous assault from
the enemy. By this time the French were drawn up in order of battle;
and the allies being formed as they passed the river, both armies were
engaged through the whole extent of their lines about seven in the
evening. Europe had not for many years produced two such noble armies:
above one hundred general officers appeared in the field, and two
hundred and fifty colonels fought at the head of their respective
regiments. The number of the French exceeded that of the allies
by twelve thousand; but their generals were divided, their forces
ill-disposed; and the men dispirited by the uninterrupted success
of their adversaries. They seemed from the beginning averse to an
engagement, and acted in hurry and trepidation. Nevertheless, the
action was maintained until general d'Auverquerque and count Tilly, who
commanded on the left of the allies, obliged the right of the enemy to
give ground; and the prince of Orange, with count Oxienstern, attacked
them in flank with the Dutch infantry. Then