Turenne commanded the attack against the right bastion, de Gramont that on the left.  They first diverted a brook running through the plain, and were enabled to use its channel as an approach, thus advancing fifteen hundred paces nearer to the town.  They then formed an intrenchment that could be used by both columns, and from this on the 1st of September they began to open their trenches against their respective bastions.  De Gramont’s works were attacked on the following day by a sortie; this, however, was driven back.  On the fifth night both columns made a lodgment on the counterscarp, and their batteries opened fire.  After some days’ work they filled up the ditch, and seeing that his force was too weak to oppose so strong an attack, the commander surrendered on the 12th of September.

Although Merci was advancing with an army, Enghien continued the project that had been formed, and, remaining with his own troops to protect Philippsburg, sent Turenne with all his horse and five hundred foot to Worms, which threw open its gates.  Oppenheim surrendered without resistance, and he arrived in front of Mayence.  The garrison was very small, and upon the threat of Turenne that he would attack it on all sides the citizens sent a deputation offering to capitulate.  Turenne sent word of this to Enghien, who rode there at once, and received the surrender of the town.  Bingen capitulated; Landor, Mannheim, Neustadt, and several other places were taken; and thus from Strasburg to a point near Coblenz, the whole course of the Rhine, the Palatine, and all the country between the Rhine and the Moselle fell into the hands of the French.  Enghien returned to pass the winter in Paris.  The greater part of the army was recalled, and Turenne was left with but a few regiments to hold the newly acquired territory.

“Do you wish for leave, Campbell?” Turenne asked Hector.  “You had but a few days in your new lordship, and have a right to spend at least a portion of the winter there.”

“I thank you, marshal, but I have no idea of leaving you.  You have been good enough to say that you will fill up the gaps in my regiment by embodying in it the remains of the regiment of Ardennes, which will bring it up to nearly its former strength.  I certainly should not like to be away while the work of fusion is being carried out.  The new men must be divided equally among the companies, and the officers so arranged that one of those now appointed shall be attached to each company with two of my own.  Then I must see that all so work together as to arrive at the same standard as before.  I should have wished that if possible the captains of the Ardennes regiment should be appointed to the new regiment that you are about to form, and that the places of those who fell in action should be filled from my list of lieutenants.”

“Certainly.  You lost five captains, did you not?”

“Yes, sir.”

“If you send me the names of the five senior lieutenants, I will promote them at once.”