SUMMARY
The Army of the States-General
Volume viii
Part iii
Book x
The campaign oj 1711
At the beginning of 1711 both the military and the socio-economical con
ditions were extremely crucial. The first and foremost aim of the king of France
therefore was to gain time, especially so as in January the secret negotiations
with the English Government had begun. The king would not hear of fighting a
battle. On the other hand the unexpected decease of the emperor Joseph 1 in
Vienna on 17 April was a matter of great importance. On account of the un-
excepted complications in Germany in electing a successor, it was quite a
question whether Eugenius of Savoy with the imperial and the Palatine troops
should be able to join the campaign. Moreover, the allied army had been
weakened owing to the fact that various detachments had been drafted, while
Villars was sending troops to the Rhine by order of king Lewis. Consequently,
it was not expected that the warfare in the Netherlands should be very vigorous.
At the end of April both armies were concentrated East and South of Douai
the allies with a strength of 142 battalions and 269 squadrons, the French with
146 battalions and 247 squadrons. The French were covered by an extensive line
of entrenchments and inundations about 240 km length and reaching from
Namur to the sea. For the time being both the armies were adopting a waiting
attitude. For their supply the allies had control of the rivers (Scheldt and Lys
with its tributaries), while the French had to do without this advantage. This
induced Villars to try and render the rivers useless and to intercept convoys in
which the French were successful for a few times.
When on 11 June a French detachment departs for the Rhine, Eugenius too
marches off with the imperial and Palatine troops. Urgent requests of Goslinga
and others cannot induce the Prince to stay.
In the mean time the allied army moves for reasons of supply in a north
westerly direction to Lillers, followed by Villars. Not until the end of July,
when information has been received that the French for the third time have
weakened their army by drafting a detachment, Marlborough decides upon an
attempt to break through the French lines. Arleux is selected as the place for
crossing the river Scarpe. The plan is kept a close secret; some preliminary
movements are intended to lead Villars astray. In the evening of y August the
army marches off and after a very successful 40 km march by night the Sensee
crossing place is reached and the crossing completed without any resistance.
Villars came too late to contest the crossing but he took up his position west
of Arras, between this town and the little river de Marquion. For the allies
with their odds this was a good opportunity to fight a battle. Goslinga did all he
could for this battle to be carried out, but his efforts were fustrated by the
obstinacy of Marlborough and, consequently, of most of the generals also.
It was now decided to lay siege to the little fortress Bouchain. On 9 August the
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