of it a spring, which formed a long and large quagmire, nearly separated the two lines of Marshal Tallard.  It was a strange situation for a general to take up, who is master of a vast plain; and it became, as will be seen, a very sad one.  At his extreme right was the large village of Blenheim, in which, by a blindness without example, he had placed twenty-six battalions of infantry, six regiments of dragoons, and a brigade of cavalry.  It was an entire army merely for the purpose of holding this village, and supporting his right, and of course he had all these troops the less to aid him in the battle which took place.  The first battle of Hochstedt afforded a lesson which ought to have been studied on this occasion.  There were many officers present, too, who had been at that battle; but they were not consulted.  One of two courses was open, either to take up a position behind the brook, and parallel to it, so as to dispute its passage with the enemies, or to take advantage of the disorder they would be thrown into in crossing it by attacking them then.  Both these plans were good; the second was the better; but neither was adopted.  What was done was, to leave a large space between our troops and the brook, that the enemy might pass at their ease, and be overthrown afterwards, as was said.  With such dispositions it is impossible to doubt but that our chiefs were struck with blindness.  The Danube flowed near enough to Blenheim to be of sufficient support to our right, better indeed than that village, which consequently there was no necessity to hold.

The enemies arrived on the 13th of August at the dawn, and at once took up their position on the banks of the brook.  Their surprise must have been great to see our army so far off, drawn up in battle array.  They profited by the extent of ground left to them, crossed the brook at nearly every point, formed themselves in several lines on the side to which they crossed, and then extended themselves at their ease, without receiving the slightest opposition.  This is exact truth, but without any appearance of being so; and posterity will with difficulty believe it.  It was nearly eight o’clock before all these dispositions, which our troops saw made without moving, were completed.  Prince Eugene with his army had the right; the Duke of Marlborough the left.  The latter thus opposed to the forces of Tallard, and Prince Eugene to those of Marsin.

The battle commenced; and in one part was so far favourable to us that the attack of Prince Eugene was repulsed by Marsin, who might have profited by this circumstance but for the unfortunate position of our right.  Two things contributed to place us at a disadvantage.  The second line, separated by the quagmire I have alluded to from the first line, could not sustain it properly; and in consequence of the long bend it was necessary to make round this quagmire, neither line, after receiving or making a charge, could retire