the First, no genius in the field, but, as shall be seen in due time, an extremely sensible and clear-headed soldier.
The result of these complications was that Marlborough spent the greater part of the summer encamped, in the face of a superior French force, at Meldert, on a branch of the Great Geete, to cover his conquests in Flanders and Brabant. At last the Emperor, having accomplished his desires in Naples, made a diversion towards Provence, which drew away a part of the French force to that quarter and enabled the Duke to move. But then bad weather intervened to prevent any successful operations. Twice Marlborough was within an ace of surprising Vendôme, who had superseded Villeroy in Flanders, and twice the marshal decamped in haste and confusion only just in time to save his army. Even so the Duke would have struck one heavy blow but for the intervention of the Dutch deputies. But fortune favoured the French; the rain came down in torrents, and the country was poached into such a quagmire by the cavalry that many of the infantry were fairly swallowed up and lost.[1] Thus tamely ended the campaign which should have continued the work of Ramillies.[2]
- ↑ Parker.
- ↑ Order of Battle. Campaign of 1707.
Right. Stair's { Scots Greys.
Brigade. { 5th Royal Irish Dragoons.
Palmer's { 1st Dragoon Guards.
Brigade. { 5th " "
{ 7th " "
{ 6th " "
{ 3rd " "
{ Orrery's Foot.
{ Evans's "
Foreign horse.
Right Meredith's { 1 Batt. 1st Guards.
Wing Brigade. { 1 " Royal Scots.
only. { 16th Foot.
{ 23rd Royal Welsh.
{ 8th Foot.
Temple's { 2nd Batt. Royal Scots.
Brigade. { 18th Royal Irish.
{ Temple's Foot.
{ 24th Foot.
{ 10th "
Lord North and { 3rd Buffs.
Grey's Brigade. { 21st Royal Scots Fusiliers.
{ 37th Foot.
{ 26th Cameronians.
{ 15th Foot.
{ Gore's "
Left.
1st Line.
No British in the Second Line.Postboy 26th June 1707.
