BATTLE OF BLENHEIM. 
513 
dispositions therefore being made for the attack, and the orders 
communicated to the general officers, the allied forces advanced into 
the plain, and were ranged in order of battle. 
The cannonading began about nine in the morning, and continued 
till about half after twelve. The troops then advanced to the attack; 
the right under the direction of prince Eugene, the left headed by 
Marlborough, and opposed to marshal Tailard, Marlborough, at the 
head of the English troops, having passed the rivulet, attacked the 
cavalry of Tailard with great bravery. This general being then 
reviewing the disposition of his troops to the left, his cavalry fought 
for some time without their commander. Prince Eugene had not 
yet attacked the forces of the elector, and it was near an hour before 
he could bring up his troops to the engagement. Tailard was no 
sooner informed that his right was attacked by the duke, than he 
flew to its head, where he found a furious encounter already begun, 
his cavalry being thrice driven back, and rallying as often. He had 
posted a large body of forces in Blenheim, and he made an attempt 
to bring them to the charge. They were attacked by a detachment 
of Marlborough’s troops so vigorously, that instead of assisting the 
main body, they could hardly maintain their ground. All the French 
cavalry being thus attacked in flank, was totally defeated. The 
English army now penetrated between the two bodies of the French 
commanded by the marshal and elector, while the forces in Blenheim 
were separated by another detachment. In this distressed situation 
Tailard flew to rally some squadrons ; but from his short-sightedness, 
mistaking a detachment of the enemy for his own, he was taken 
prisoner by the Hessian troops who were in the allied army. Mean- 
while prince Eugene, after having been thrice repulsed, at last put 
the enemy into confusion. The rout then became general, and the 
flight precipitate. The consternation of the French soldiers was such, 
that they threw themselves into the Danube, without knowing whither 
they fled. 
The allies being now^ masters of the field of battle, surrounded the 
village of Blenheim, where a body of 13,000 men had been posted in 
the beginning of the action, and still maintained their ground. These 
troops, seeing themselves cut off from all communication with the rest 
of the army, and despairing of forcing their way through the allies, 
threw down their arms, and surrendered prisoners of war. Thus 
ended the battle of Blenheim, one of the most complete victories that 
ever was obtained, 12,000 French and Bavarians being slam in the 
field or drowned in the Danube, and 13,000 made prisoners of war ; 
besides 100 pieces of cannon, 22 mortars, upwards of 100 pairs of 
colours, 200 standards, 17 pairs of kettledrums, upwards of 3000 
tents, 34 coaches, 300 loaded mules, 2 bridges of boats, and all the 
French baggage taken, with their military chest. Next day, when 
the duke of Marlborough visited his prisoner the marshal, the latter 
assured him that he had overcome the best troops in the world. 
hope, sir,” replied the duke, you will except the troops by whom they 
were conquered.” The allies, in consequence of this victory, became 
masters of a country 100 leagues in extent. 
