H R I T A I N. 



617 



John Mundcn was dismissed the service for suffer-in;; 

 a French squadron to < "vnpe into Corutma. Admi- 

 ral Benbow, in the West Indies, attacked a squadron 

 of the enemy ; but, being supported by only one- 

 ship, through the cowardice or treachery of his cap- 

 funs, he fought with unavailing gallantry against 

 superior numbers, till his own ship lay like a wreck 

 in the water, while the enemy escaped. The Cap- 

 tains Wade and Kirby, who deserted him, were shot 

 on their return to Plymouth, and others of his offi- 

 cers were disgraced. An attempt was made upon 

 Cadi/, by a force of 50 ships of the line, under Sir 

 George Ri.oke, and 14,000 men on board, command- 

 ed by the Duke of Ormond ; but the troops were re- 

 imbarked, after sending an ineffectual summons to 

 Fort St Catharine. At Vigo, however, the same 

 commanders retrieved their honour by the capture 

 or destruction of 18 French ships of war, and the 

 spoils of 1 1 galleons, with above a million of silver. 



The glory of Marlborough's first campaign only 

 incited the nation to aim at new triumphs. The 

 House of Commons voted 40,000 seamen, and the 

 same number of soldiers (an additional 10,000 were 

 soon after voted) to act in concert with the allies; 

 and Marlborough returned to the field with greater 

 confidence and larger authority than before. He 

 opened the campaign on the Rhine by taking Bonne, 

 the residence of the Elector of Cologne ; he next re- 

 took Huy, Limbourg, and became master of all 

 the lower Rhine. In 170+, the presence of the 

 Duke of Marlborough was loudly demanded by the 

 emperor, who was pressed by the arms of France. 

 Marlborough took with him about 13,000 English 

 troops, advanced by hasty inarches to the banks of 

 the Danube, and, having defeated a body of French 

 and Bavarians at Donavert, who were stationed to 

 oppose him, crossed the river, and laid Bavaria under 

 contribution. Villeroy, who liad superseded the 

 duke's late o'pponent Boufflers, could not watch, 

 much less oppose, the active movements of the Eng- 

 lish commander. Marshal Tallard, however, prepa- 

 red by another route to obstruct the Duke of Marl- 

 borough's retreat with 30,000 men ; and, being join- 

 ed by the Duke of Bavaria, those two generals, the 

 most reputed in France, were now at the head of 

 60,000 disciplined veterans. On the other hand, the 

 Duke of Marlborough was joined by the imperial 

 general Prince Eugene, whose talents and designs 

 coalesced admirably with his own. Their combined 

 army amounted to 52,000. As the battle which en- 

 sued, both from the talents of the commanders and 

 the discipline of the troops, is reckoned the most re- 

 markable in the earliest part of the last century, it 

 has been generally given in minute detail. 



The French, under Tallard, were posted on a hill 

 near the town of Hochstet ; their right being cover- 

 ed by the Danube and the village of Blenheim, their 

 left by the village of Lutzengen, and their front'by a 

 rivulet, the sides of which were steep, and the bottom 

 marshy. In this strong position, they rather waited 

 than offered battle ; but Marlborough and Eugene 

 resolved to attack them, and advanced upon a plain 

 in their front. The cannonading began at nine in 

 the morning, and continued to about half after 

 twelve. Marlborough then passed the rivulet at the 



VOL. iv. PART 11. 



head of the English, and attacked Tallard's cavalry ; 

 on the right. That general was, at the time, review- 

 ing his troops on the left, and his cavalry fonght for 

 some time without his presence. It was an hour be- 

 fore Prince Eugene could bring up his forces to at- 

 tack the other wing of the enemy commanded by the 

 Elector of Bavaria. When Tallard had repaired to 

 the scene of Marlborough's attack, he found that the 

 French cavalry had been thrice repulsed, and had ral- 

 lied as often. He had posted a large body of troops in 

 the village, and attempted tu bring them to the 

 charge; but these could hardly maintain their ground, 

 being furiously charged by a detachment of the Eng- 

 lish. All the French cavalry being thus attacked in 

 flank, was totally defeated. The English army, al- 

 ready half victorious, pierced up between the two 

 wings of the French, while the forces in the village 

 of Blenheim were separated by ant thcr detachment 

 In this terrible situation, Tallard flew to rally some 

 of his squadrons ; but, from shortness of sight, he 

 mistook a Hessian for a French corps, and was made 

 prisoner. Prince Eugene, in the mean time, had 

 been thrice repulsed on the left, but at last broke the 

 enemy. 



The French now fled in the utmost confusion, all 

 but the corps of 13,000, who were surrounded in 

 Blenheim, and obliged to surrender prisoners of war. 

 About 12 : 000 French and Bavarians were kiliedin the- 

 field, or drowned in the Danube. One hundred colours, 

 200 standards, 3000 tents, and all the baggage and mi- 

 litary chests of the French, were the trophies of Biei:- 

 heim. Of the allies, 13,000 were killed, wounded, 

 or missing ; but the conquerors gained by this day 

 an extent of 100 leagues of country. Marlborougb, 

 expert in ;he cabinet as in the field, repaired in per- 

 son, after finishing the campaign, to other parts of 

 Germany, to excite the powers in support of the em- 

 peror, and returned to England, deservedly welcomed 

 by the transports of his countrymen. The manorof 

 Woodstock was conferred upon him ; and the Lord 

 Keeper, in the name of the peers, honoured him with 

 the praise he so well deserved. See BLENHEIM. 



Nor were the arms of Britain less fortunate by sea. Gibraltar 

 By a conquest, of which the value was so little un- taken, 

 derstood at that time as to be voted unworthy of 

 thanks, Sir George Rooke and the Prince of Hesse 

 took Gibraltar. The former commander, with a 

 fleet of 52 ships of the line, engaged the grand fleet 

 of France off the coast of Malaga ; but the French, 

 though they afterwards claimed the victory, retired 

 when their van had been broken, and, as they would 

 not hazard another meeting, the British had 110 deci- 

 sive success. 



The success of the second campaign in Germany, Second 

 induced the English to increase their supplies for the campaign, 

 third, and Marlborough fixed upon the Moselle for the 

 sceneofaction ; but beingdisappointed by Prince Louit 

 of Baden, he returned to the Netherlands to oppose 

 Villeroy, who, in his absence, had undertaken thesiege 

 of Liege. Villeroy, at the Duke's approach, retreated 

 within his lines. Marlborough led on his troops to ftefeat <f 

 force them, and defeated the enemy's horse with Vil'eroy. 

 great slaughter. The infantry being abandoned, re- 

 treated in disorder to an ad\antageous post, where 

 they again drew up in order of battle. Had the 

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