Fire and Sword (23 page)

‘We need royal approval here, my lord Duke. His Majesty will decide which we besiege first – Menin or Oudenarde.’

‘If we wait for His Majesty’s decision, it may be too late.’

‘Without it, we can do nothing.’

Vendôme wanted to storm out of the tent in a rage but managed to maintain a measure of control. All that he could do was to wait and hope that his plan gained royal assent. He gave a rueful nod.

‘So be it, my lord,’ he said, darkly. ‘So be it.’

Now that the campaign had at last been set alight, Marlborough acted with speed and authority. Brigadier Chandos was sent post-haste to Oudenarde, travelling at night with sizeable reinforcements. The main army was still at Assche and it was there that Daniel Rawson attended a council of war as an interpreter. Aware of how feverish Marlborough was, he was amazed at the coherence of the plan that was outlined.

‘We must reach the river crossings at Lessines as soon as is humanly possible,’ declared Marlborough, brooking no dissension. ‘I’ve already ordered eight days of bread to be baked so that we’re not hindered by shortage of food. In the interests of speed, our baggage and transport must be reduced to an absolute minimum.’

‘What exactly does that mean, Your Grace?’ asked a voice.

‘If you want chapter and verse,’ said Marlborough, picking up a list, ‘I’ll give it. Generals of foot are permitted to retain three wagons and a coach.’ There was an audible gasp from around the table. ‘Other generals are allowed only two wagons and a coach. Brigadiers must manage with one of each and colonels with only a pair of wagons. Yes,’ he went on over the heavy murmur, ‘I know that it will lead to inconvenience but it can’t be avoided. If we lose the race to Lessines, then we’ll be trapped on this side of the river.’

Daniel was impressed by his masterly performance. It was just like old times. From where he was sitting, however, he couldn’t see the perspiration dribbling down Marlborough’s face or assess how weak he now was. When the meeting broke up, a number of generals clustered around their commander-in-chief to clarify certain points in his orders. Daniel had the opportunity to take Cardonnel aside.

‘What is the state of His Grace’s health?’ he asked, quietly.

‘It’s a cause for concern, Daniel.’

‘Concern is not alarm.’

‘We’ve not reached that stage yet, thank God,’ said Cardonnel. ‘His doctor bled him today and advised him to sweat out the fever. He’s suffering badly but will, as you saw, rise above any discomfort he may feel.’

‘His bravery is a lodestar for us all.’

Cardonnel grinned. ‘I’ve heard that said about you.’

Oh, I could never emulate His Grace,’ said Daniel with humility. ‘He can inspire a whole army. All that I can offer is the kind of blind courage that enables me to risk my life for the sake of a sword. I’m already beginning to feel ashamed of that episode.’

‘Why is that?’

‘I put my selfish needs before my duty to the army.’

‘You’ll discharge your duty much better if you have the right sword in your hand, Daniel.’

‘That’s true.’

‘And if you have any twinges of conscience, there’s a simple way to get rid of them. Distinguish yourself in battle and you’ll feel that you made amends.’

‘That depends if there
is
a battle,’ said Daniel. ‘We know that the French like to skirmish but will they meet us in a frontal attack? I must say, I have my doubts about that.’

‘I don’t,’ returned Cardonnel, ‘and, as you heard, His Grace is convinced that they are ready for battle this time. There’s far too much at stake for them to pull back now. They want to erase the memory of Ramillies. Our task is to renew it.’

When the Allies marched south to camp at Herfelingen, their spirits were raised by the appearance at last of Prince Eugene. Unfortunately, he only arrived with an advance guard, having pressed on four days ahead of his cavalry. The bulk of his men were still approaching Brussels. They were
being shadowed by Marshal Berwick, the hero of Almanza, where he’d crushed the Allied forces with a combined French and Spanish army. Berwick’s orders were to watch Eugene’s forces until their intentions became clear.

At the sight of his tardy ally, Marlborough rallied at once and gave Eugene a cordial welcome. Prince Eugene’s bold leadership had earned him immense respect during the preceding years. He heard and readily agreed with Marlborough’s plan of action. When Cadogan set off for Lessines with an elite body of men, hand-picked for their valour and for their experience, Eugene wished them well. He followed with the main army which broke camp at two in the morning.

Night marches were familiar to Marlborough’s soldiers. They would never be popular but they usually achieved the desired result. So it was in this case. The French were heading for Lessines from the opposite side of the River Dender, bent on seizing the crossings and keeping the Allies at bay. They were mortified to learn that Cadogan and his men had been in the town since dawn and that the main army reached the river hours ahead of them. In all, Marlborough’s forces had covered an astonishing thirty miles in less than thirty-six hours. Their speed completely disrupted French plans.

Seeing what had happened, Vendôme was puce with anger. He turned on Burgundy, riding beside him, and spat out the words.

‘They got here before us,’ he said with disgust.

‘We moved as fast as we could, my lord Duke.’

‘Had you listened to me, we’d have been here yesterday and in a position to keep them on the opposite bank. By seeking the authority of His Majesty before we acted, we squandered our opportunity.’

‘May I remind you,’ said Burgundy, piqued by his tone, ‘that His Majesty approved of my suggestion to invest Menin?’

‘He won’t approve of this catastrophe, my lord.’

‘I don’t view it as such.’

‘My advice was to secure the crossings here with all due haste and besiege Oudenarde. Neither objective is now possible.’

‘The siege of Oudenarde was not sanctioned by His Majesty,’ said Burgundy, taking refuge behind the authority of his grandfather. ‘You read his dispatch, my lord Duke. The most that he recommended was that we should blockade the town.’

‘It’s too late for that now as well. Their men are already pouring over the Dender in large numbers.’

‘In that case, we must withdraw.’

‘But we have a chance to force a battle,’ urged Vendôme. ‘Their main army has not arrived in full yet and Prince Eugene’s cavalry are still days behind. This is a moment for us to strike.’

‘I think not,’ said Burgundy after using a telescope to
review the strength and disposition of the Allied forces. ‘We’ll move north of Oudenarde and camp on the bank of the Scheldt.’

‘I beg of you to think again, my lord.’

‘I will only reach the same decision a second time.’

‘What is the point of bringing our army here if we are not prepared to fight?’ asked Vendôme with exasperation. ‘Marlborough will not withdraw. He’ll not yield one inch. If we attack, he’s bound to close with us. Circumstances may not favour us again,’ he went on. ‘We must take advantage of them while we can.’

Burgundy paid him the courtesy of considering his advice. He surveyed the enemy through his telescope again then pulled out his saddle map. Opening it up, he indicated a point on the river.

‘We’ll withdraw,’ he said at length, ‘and head northwards towards Gavre, camping here.’ His finger tapped the map. ‘That will put the Scheldt between us and our enemy. There’ll be other opportunities for battle, my lord. For the moment, we need to pitch camp so that we can gather our strength and decide on our next move. There’s no hurry,’ he went on, complacently. ‘Their army and its reinforcements will not reach the Scheldt for some time yet.’

Nightfall found both armies sited beside a river. While the French were on the east bank of the Scheldt, the Allies had lit their campfires on the west bank of the Dender.
The town of Oudenarde lay between them. Burgundy and Vendôme were stationed a mere six miles north of it. Marlborough and Eugene were some fifteen miles to the south-east. Unlike the French commanders, they were in agreement with each other. Anticipating the possibility of a siege train being sent to Oudenarde, they decided to advance rapidly towards the town. In the dead of night, the ever reliable Cadogan was once again sent ahead with a force composed of eight squadrons, sixteen battalions, thirty-two regimental guns – lighter pieces attached to each battalion – and a bridging train.

Cadogan’s orders were explicit. He was to improve the road, allowing faster movement over it for those following, establish five pontoon bridges to the north of Oudenarde and build a protective bridgehead on the Scheldt. This, it was hoped, would allow the Allies to cross the river to the west bank before the French did so. Now attached to Marlborough’s staff, Daniel was with him when a first report came back from Cadogan.

‘He’s in sight of the river,’ said Marlborough with satisfaction.

‘At what time was the message sent, Your Grace?’ asked Daniel.

‘Nine o’clock this morning.’

‘They’ve moved fast.’

‘William Cadogan is not a man to dawdle. According to this,’ said Marlborough, holding up the missive, ‘the French
camp is at Gavre. They’ll be crossing the Scheldt before long. We mustn’t keep them waiting.’

Daniel was soon in the saddle, riding with Marlborough at the head of forty squadrons, eager to join Cadogan’s advance guard before the French realised what their intentions were. By one o’clock in the afternoon, they were thundering across the wooden timbers of the pontoon bridges. Behind them, the infantry were already on the march from Lessines. Daniel was exhilarated. He was not only heartened to see Marlborough shaking off his physical debility and behaving with characteristic authority, he sensed that battle was finally at hand. The Allies would have an opportunity to avenge the loss of Bruges and Ghent, and the sword that Daniel had taken such pains to retrieve would be put to good use.

Vendôme’s temper had not improved overnight. If anything, it was at an even higher pitch. When news of the enemy’s movements reached him, wrath crimsoned his cheeks and put murder in his eyes. He rounded on his commander-in-chief.

‘You assured me that the Allies wouldn’t reach the Scheldt for days,’ he said, accusingly. ‘While our men are still crossing the river as if they have all the time in the world, Marlborough’s soldiers are already here on the west bank.’

‘His speed took me by surprise,’ confessed Burgundy.

‘When you match yourself against Marlborough, you must always expect surprises. Otherwise, you’re doomed to fail.’

Burgundy was adamant. ‘There’s no chance of our failing when we have a much larger army,’ he asserted. ‘Evidently, a battle is imminent. We’ve been left with no alternative but to fight.’

‘We should have been in a position to dictate the terms of the encounter,’ complained Vendôme, ‘and not have it forced upon us. If you’d listened to my advice at the start, the Allies would still be fretting outside the walls of Lessines.’

‘That’s all in the past,’ said Burgundy, dismissively. ‘We have to meet this new situation and do so with vigour.’

‘On that, at least, we can agree. We should attack at once.’

‘I think not, my lord Duke.’

‘All that we’re facing at the moment is the advance guard. If we fall upon them without delay, we can put them to flight then march on Oudenarde.’

‘I have a better strategy.’

‘Dear God!’ exclaimed Vendôme. ‘Have you learnt
nothing
? Every second we delay gives the enemy time to bring more men across the river. We should strike now before reinforcements arrive. With deference to your position,’ he went on, trying to show a semblance of respect, ‘I submit that there is no better strategy.’

‘Then we must agree to differ,’ said Burgundy with muted anger. ‘I suggest that you calm down before you make a judgement. A cool head is required, my lord Duke.’

‘What use is a cool head without a detailed knowledge of warfare?’ said Vendôme under his breath. Controlling himself with a conscious effort, he became apologetic. ‘Forgive my hasty words, my lord. The prospect of battle excites me somewhat. I implore you to follow my advice this time and act decisively.’

‘That’s exactly what I intend to do. Having inspected the terrain with care, I want the army to form into line of battle along the ridge to the north of the River Norken. From there, we’ll be able to see the spires of Oudenarde.’

‘The time to look at spires is when we’ve defeated the enemy,’ said Vendôme, earnestly. ‘Strike now and we can rout them.’

‘You’ve heard my decision,’ declared Burgundy, ‘and it will stand. Like everyone else under my command, you must obey orders.’

Vendôme scowled. There was nothing more to be said.

By the time that Marlborough and Eugene caught up with him, Cadogan had already had a brush with the cavalry of the French advance guard. Undaunted by larger enemy numbers, he hailed the arrival of the others and was eager to attack. His unassailable buoyancy raised the spirits of his men. After conversing with Cadogan about what
had already occurred, Marlborough watched the enemy deploying along a low, partly wooded ridge that was punctuated by three small villages.

‘They’ve chosen well,’ he said with grudging admiration. ‘It’s a strong position.’

‘Do we still attack, Your Grace?’ asked Cadogan.

‘We came here to fight and that’s what we’ll do.’

‘There are many risks involved.’

Marlborough grinned. ‘That’s never stopped you before, William.’

‘And it won’t do this time,’ said Cadogan, heartily.

‘Now that we have them in our sights, we’ll offer them battle. We must do – nothing else will suffice. We need a victory to appease our critics. If it miscarries, I’m ready to shoulder the blame.’

Overhearing the exchange between the two men, Daniel was impressed. Both men were confident and clear-headed. Since most of the Allied army were still scrambling over the pontoons, their leaders would be courting danger with an attack. Simultaneously, however, they’d be signalling to the enemy that they felt capable of inflicting serious damage on them even with a depleted force. The boldness of the plan appealed to Daniel.