1710.

 

1. FRESH NEGOTIATIONS WHICH AGAIN FAIL.—2. WAR IN THE NETHERLANDS. THE SIEGE AND CAPTURE OF DOUAY.—3. WAR IN ITALY.  4. WAR IN SPAIN.—5. BATTLE OF SARAGOSSA.—6. STANHOPE AND HIS ARMY SURRENDER AT BRIHUEGA.—7. BATTLE OF VILLAVIC1OSA.— 8. NAVAL WAR.

 

1. Fresh Negotiations which again fail.

 

Many events occurred in the winter, which in their issue were calculated to affect the war. The Whig party, to which Marlborough belonged in England, were driven from the Queen’s councils. The French King seeing the misery of his people daily increase, and his resources fail, again endeavoured to resume negotiations, and sent plenipotentiaries to meet the Dutch Envoy, who arrived at Moesdyk on the 19th of March. The States sent a petition to the Queen of England, to send over the Duke of Marlborough to meet them, who came over and met Prince Eugene at Geertruydenberg. The substance of the conferences was communicated to Lord Townshend and Count Zinzendorf, as well as to the Pensionary Heinsius, and the negotiations lasted, notwithstanding many interruptions, until the 25th of July, when the French plenipotentiaries returned to France re infectá.

 

2. War in the Netherlands. The Siege and Capture of Douay.

 

These conferences however did not retard the operations of the campaign. Prince Eugene and the Duke of Marlborough assembled already in March all the forces which were quartered in Flanders and Brabant. On the 20th of April they suddenly advanced to Pont-à-Vendin, in order to attack the lines on which the French had been at work all the winter, to cover Douay and other frontier towns, which were now threatened by the allies. The troops left for the defence of the lines retired without opposition, and bridges being laid across the river Scarpe, Marlborough crossed with his division, at Pont-à-Vendin, and encamped at Vitry. Eugene on the other side invested Douay, at the head of 60,000 men. The lines of circumvallation were commenced on the 25th of April, and two days after two camps were established at Bouvigny and Rambaucort, and the Duke’s head-quarters were placed at the Abbaye de Flines. Marshal Villars still commanded the French army, which was exceedingly numerous and well appointed: for the distress that prevailed in that kingdom sent thousands to serve in the ranks to save themselves from hunger. The Marshal crossed the Scheldt, and encamped at Bouchain, to give battle to the confederates, who immediately made a change in their dispositions to receive him. Having reconnoitred the position of the allied generals, however, Villars, by the King’s order, marched back to the heights of St. Lawrence, where he fixed his camp. His aim thenceforward appeared to be only to interrupt the siege by continual alarms, and to permit the garrison, which was numerous, and under the command of the Marquis Albergotti, to make a number of successful sorties.

Douay was a fortress of considerable strength; less populous than Lille, it embraced a larger extent of ground. It is situated on a plain, and traversed by the river Scarpe. Within the distance of cannon-shot is Fort Scarpe, an irregular pentagon, surrounded with a wet ditch, with an outward fosse, and with sluices to form an inundation. It was garrisoned by three battalions and six companies, besides artillery. The celebrated Valory was the chief engineer in the place.

The customary arrangements and preparations having been made, the trenches were opened on the night of the 5th of May. Two attacks were contemplated, one against the gate of Equerchin, on the west, and the other against that of Ocre, towards the north. The attacks were conducted by the Prince of Orange, and the Prince of Anhalt-Dessau : the former with twenty battalions, and the latter with forty battalions of Prussians, and as many squadrons, under his command. On the 7th the parallels had been carried up to 250 paces of the palisades, when a sortie of 1000 infantry and 200 cavalry, under the Duke of Montemar, gave the besiegers a severe check. The regiment of Sutton, which covered the work­men, was nearly cut to pieces, and that of Smith suffered greatly. But the assailants were at length repulsed and driven back with loss. On the 9th the siege train, consisting of 200 pieces, (eighty of which were twenty-four-pounders,) arrived in camp, with a large supply of ammunition from Tournay. The approaches proceeded now with redoubled speed, and on the 11th the besiegers not only reached the outer ditch, but erected a battery of twenty-four cannon and eight mortars on each attack, and on the 21st canned their approaches on to the covert way, notwithstanding a sally from the besieged. On the 23rd, at night, a fourth attempt was made on the trenches, but with no better success.

During these transactions Marshal Villars held a great council of war at Cambray, in which it was resolved to assemble the French army, and attempt something for the relief of Douay. Accordingly, having called in some reinforcements from the Upper Rhine, and having drawn together all his troops, the French Marshal threw bridges over the Scheldt, as if be intended to attack the Dutch between that river and the Scarpe and he then turned to the latter river and threw eight bridges over it, between Athies and Avesnes, by means of which he crossed his army on the 30th, and entered into the plains of Lens at the head of 153 battalions and 262 squadrons. The army of Marlborough and Eugene was nearly of the same strength, 155 battalions and 262. squadrons. Meanwhile the allied generals had not been neglectful of their usual precautions, and had marked defensive positions on either side the river Scarpe—the one crossing the road from Valenciennes, and the other on the side of Lens and Arras. They had thrown twenty bridges over the river, and made roads of sufficient width for the march of the army in columns in either direction. The Duke’s army formed up, with Arleux on his left, and Vitry on his right, and the Prince Eugene’s across the Scarpe, still further on his right, near Equerchin. The French advance into the plains of Lens became threatening, and Marlborough moved into Eugene’s position; the Prince taking ground to the right towards Beaumont. The redans on the position were connected into one intrenched line by the 31st, extending from Vitry to Montigny. The head-quarters of Marlborough were now at Equerchin, and those of Eugene at Henin-Lietard. On the 1st of June Marshal Villars advanced at the head of a strong escort, within musket-shot, to reconnoitre the allied position; but instead of attacking it, as he had given out, or “mis la grippe sur eux,” as was his language, he marched back and retired to the height of St. Lawrence, behind Lens. Berwick then seeing no prospect of battle, quitted the Low Countries for his command in Dauphiné. The allies now judging from Villars’ movements that he did not design to attack them, but only to retard the siege, sent the troops back which they had drawn from before Douay, and taking all possible precautions to guard the lines, returned to the siege, which had been delayed by these movements. The besieged continued to make vigorous sallies, but on the 5th of June the besiegers made several lodgements on the ravelins; and on the 10th, got up a battery of five pieces of cannon to plunge into the covert way. On the 15th they perfected a lodgement upon the right attack, and began their breaching batteries, which effected a practical breach on the 19th. The assault took place that night, but it was met with so vigorous a resistance from the garrison, that it failed, with a loss of 720 of their assailants. On the 22nd of June the trenches were opened before Fort Scarpe, and carried on by sap. On the 24th the besiegers again stormed the two ravelins, took them, and lodged themselves in the same, with small resistance. On the 25th the garrison offered to capitulate for the town only, without including Fort Scarpe, which was refused, and on the 26th terms were settled, both for that place and the town. The garrison, reduced to 4527 effective men, received the most favourable terms; and a due tribute of respect was paid to Albergotti, who had retarded the surrender to the last moment, and only yielded at last after fifty- two days’ open trenches. The loss of the allies in this siege amounted to 2142 killed, and 5865 wounded.

The allies then intended to move upon the frontier town of Arras, but Villars occupied so strongly intrenched a camp to cover that town, that they did not deem it practicable to attack it. Accordingly on the 15th of July, turning to an easier prey, they resolved to besiege Bethune, the capture of which would facilitate the reduction of Aire and St. Venant, and thus establish a communication through Lille with Abbeville and Calais. Ths was defended by Monsieur Puy Vauban, ; nephew of the Marshal, and was garrisoned by 9000 men. The works were strong, but they wanted the necessary supplies for a long resistance, and it surrendered on the 29th of August. Villars marched out of his intrenchments with a view to raise the siege, but not thinking proper to hazard an engagement, contented himself with some warm skirmishing, and retreated, so as to avoid a battle, and at the same time to cover the roads leading into France. The allies then besieged St. Venant and Aire, which were taken without much difficulty, and they afterwards broke up for winter-quarters.

It was observed, both by friends and foes, that Marlborough was not this year the same man he had been. His confidence in himself, and his cheerfulness, had abandoned him. It was proposed to him to attack Boulogne, and open that way to Paris, but he contented himself with the capture of fourth-rate towns, and appeared rather to have his thoughts on the affairs of home than on his campaign in France. There can be no doubt that Marshal Villars acted with consummate judgment and ability in the campaign, by avoiding a battle which, if lost, would have opened the interior of the kingdom to the allied generals;—as also by directing his attention to the preservation of Arras and Ypres, which were of much greater importance to the protection of France than the places captured by the allies.

 

3. War in Italy.

 

Nothing considerable passed on the Rhine this year, both sides being equally unable to enter upon action. On the side of Italy the Duke de Berwick returned to Briançon, on the 27th of June, and took the command, with seventy battalions and thirty squadrons, including garrisons. Count Daun still commanded the imperial army, consisting of a movable force of about the same numbers. On the 10th of July Daun crossed the Alps towards the river Var and Barcelonnette, and took Fort d’Arche, which surrendered in two days. On the 29th Rhebender advanced on the side of Mont Genèvre, but Berwick took such precautions, as baffled all the attempts of the imperial general; and on the 14th of October both Daun and Rhebender re-crossed the mountains, and went into winter­quarters in the neighbourhood of Turin.

 

4. War in Spain.

 

Spain was much more fruitful this year than any other field, in military incidents, as if one of the wars could only be brilliant by the eclipse of the others. King Philip assumed the command of the Bourbon army in person, and took the field on the 15th of May by laying siege to Balaguer. The imperialist general, Count Stahremberg, too vigilant to be surprised, collected his troops and prevented this attack. General Stanhope after attending his duties in parliament, returned to Catalonia in the month of May, and there joined Stahremberg. These two generals and King Charles remained on the defensive for some reinforcements until the 27th of July, when Stanhope, leading the van, brought the Bourbon King to action near Almenara. For the first time the rival Kings were now face to face. Charles occupied an advantageous position on a rising ground above Almenara, but some delay arose before he could be brought to the fight, for it is said that Stanhope, eager for battle, was obliged to “hector the King into compliance”. The sun was not above half an hour high when having established a battery of six guns, Philip headed the charge of the cavalry in person against the enemy, who were in two lines, twenty-two squadrons in the first and twenty in the second, besides nine battalions who were formed up behind them. Stanhope had but sixteen squadrons with him, but he commanded the rest to follow, and the infantry to get ready to march. He then made a short speech to the men, in these words, “Keep very close, and do not break your ranks, as I am sure the enemy’s squadrons will be as firm as a rock; we shall else scarcely break them”; and as he dashed forward the opposing horses closed, and he slew with his own hand General Amezaga, who commanded the guards of Philip. The Spanish horse were entirely routed and were driven back on their infantry, who only escaped by favour of the darkness. This affair did not last an hour : and the main body of the enemy retired with precipitation to Lerida, which King Philip reached with difficulty : his troops were almost annihilated by the fire of the place as they marched past it and continued their way to Saragossa. The young Earl of Rochford and Count Francis of Nassau were killed in this action and about 400 men. The Spaniards lost about 1500, amongst whom were the Duke de Sarao and several distinguished officers. A great part of King Philip’s plate, several guns, and much baggage were taken by the allies. Philip now deprived Villadarias of his command, which he gave to the Marquis de Bay. On the 9th of August Stanhope overtook Philip near the river Cinca, but they marched on in the night. On the 17th Philip gained Saragossa and encamped his army between the Ebro and the Gallego. On the 19th the allies crossed the Ebro at Pina, and ranged themselves in order of battle on the right bank. Philip’s army rested its left on the Ebro and its right on the heights of Torralon, overlooking Saragossa. King Philip himself took post on an eminence, whence he had a view of the entire field, while King Charles waited the result of the combat at the convent of the Chartreuse.

 

6. Battle of Saragossa.

 

At midday on the 19th of August the action began. General Stanhope had been out to view the disposition of the enemy’s army the previous evening, and had observed that their right line was extended far beyond their left; also that their cavalry consisted of thirty-two squadrons, whilst his was only twenty. He accordingly ordered the body of reserves, consisting of eight squadrons of Portuguese horse, who were clothed in red, to be drawn up at a distance upon his left, flanking it—the general rightly judging that the enemy would take them for English, which, in fact, they did. He was, however, soon obliged to move his horse more to the left, in consequence of discovering in his front a very large ditch, famous in the history of Aragon, for hero it was that Ferdinand overthrew the Moors and made such a slaughter of them, that the ditch was from thence called “La Barranca de los muertos.”

The cannon began to fire very early on the morning of the 19th on both sides; but the troops waited a long time for the convoy of bread which after all did not arrive till the signal for attack was made. It was much wanted in consequence of the rapidity of their late marches, and many men pressed by hunger and thirst ventured to go and gather grapes in the vale between the two armies, and were shot down by the enemy’s advanced pickets. Major-General Wade came to the left before the attack commenced, and advised Stanhope to send for three or four battalions to interchange with his squadrons, which was done. About noon the signal for battle was given; when Stanhope went forward and soon came up with the Spanish horse, which he found, as he expected, much superior to his force of cavalry, but the enemy observing the red coats beyond Stanhope’s line, ordered ten or twelve squadrons to march and attack them. This gave General Stanhope a less disadvantage in numbers, but in his charge two of his squadrons were thrown into disorder by the enemy’s fire. They rallied, however, in an instant and fell on the Spanish line with such order and courage that it was broken. The second line made but a short stand, and in the flight many were taken and killed. Their left wing, also of cavalry, was overpowered at the same time by the allied right. The enemy’s horse on the left being gone and the infantry opposed to infantry, the battle here lasted for two hours with much slaughter, so that the field was covered with dead. The allied infantry mounted the ascent, on which the enemy’s centre was posted, with great steadiness, and pouring in a destructive fire, which disordered the enemy, overthrew them completely by their rapid and impetuous attack. The new levies threw down their arms at once, but the Walloons made a resolute stand, and then retreated to the neighbouring height of Garba, where they were forced to surrender. The right and centre wing being now broken, the allies drove their opponents back to the walls of the city. In the mean time the Spanish left had put to flight the Portuguese red coats, and pursued them a great way, when finding their mistake they returned to the position, which they found entirely bare of troops of either side; and there they fell furiously on a battery thus exposed, and cut to pieces all they found in it. As soon as Stahremberg was informed of this, he ordered General Wetzel to be on his guard against any surprise from these squadrons. “But it is no great matter,” said the Marshal,“for if General Stanhope has beaten the whole of the right wing, we are sure of a complete victory.” And so it proved, for these redoubtable squadrons soon galloped away and were seen no more. Five or six thousand of the enemy were killed and about 7000 men taken prisoners, and all their guns and many colours were taken. The army encamped that night in a pleasant and commodious position near the city, and King Charles the same evening entered Saragossa, and was received with the loudest acclamations. King Philip remained a spectator of his broken army till the fate of the day was decided. He then quitted the field and hastened by Agreda to Madrid. The Marquis de Bay with 8000 men effected a retreat to the frontier of Soria.

 

King Charles enters Madrid.

 

After spending nearly a month in his conquest, King Charles set out with Stanhope and Stahremberg for the capital. Philip having sent his Queen and son to Vittoria, retired on the 9th of September to Valladolid, in order to collect his scattered forces so as to form another army. On the 21st of September Stanhope, still leading the van of the army, took quiet possession of Madrid, and on the 28th King Charles entered it in triumph, and, as became a Spanish King, paid his devotions to our Lady of Atocha. But the good fortune of Charles was of short duration; he sent forward a detachment to Toledo to bring up a Portuguese army with which he might again advance into the heart of Spain. But no Portuguese came. Stanhope proposed to secure Pamplona, in order to cut off reinforcements from France, but this salutary scheme was rejected. King Charles had the mortification to find that no grandees came near him at Madrid, and it was clear the Castilians were universally attached to his competitor. Philip was, in fact, still supported by the loyalty and affection of the country and was preparing to return in force. The King of France, at his son’s request, sent the Duke de Vendome to command in Spain, and a detach­ment from Berwick’s corps (thirty-four battalions and thirty-one squad­ons) to reinforce his army. Vendôme’s reputation was so high, and his person so beloved by the soldiery, that his presence was almost equivalent to an army. A great number of volunteers immediately assembled to signalize themselves under the eye of this renowned general. The Castilians made surprising efforts in favour of Philip. No one on the other hand stirred for Charles. Neither the court of Vienna nor that of London took steps to supply his wants, or to enable him to prosecute the advantages he had gained. Provisions began to fail at Madrid, and he moved away on the 11th of November to Toledo, leaving it open to King Philip to return to the capital when he pleased. On the 18th of November a council had been held, in which it was resolved that Toledo should be abandoned, and that Charles should re-establish himself in Catalonia. Accordingly on the 22nd the Austrian Prince took his final departure, and under an escort of 2000 horse withdrew to Barcelona, where he arrived safely on the 15th of December.

 

6. Stanhope and his Army surrender at Brihuega.

 

The generals of the several nations began to march away separately. Stahremberg established his head-quarters at Cifuentes; and Stanhope with the British forces, amounting to 6000 men, arrived on the 26th of November in the little town of Brihuega. It must be admitted that this mode of retiring in the face of an enterprising enemy was a temptation of Providence. Vendôme saw his opportunity, and Stanhope, to his astonishment, found himself next day suddenly surrounded by the Duke’s army. The French had marched three days and three nights with incredible despatch, and brought some foot soldiers with them on the saddles behind the troopers. Stanhope had not deemed it possible that the enemy could be so quick upon him, but he made a gallant resistance, and burned nearly all his gunpowder, before he was compelled to surrender on the 28th with all his force, prisoners of war, to the amount of 5000 men, with five generals, and all the colonels and officers of his respective regiments. Stanhope was justly censured for having allowed himself to be surprised; indeed he had omitted to place outguards on the neighbouring hills, or he might then have received timely notice of the enemy’s approach. He detached an aid-de-camp to inform Stahremberg of his situation immediately on the appearance of the French army, and this general had begun his march forthwith towards Brihuega, but the roads were bad, and they said Stahremberg loitered on the way; at all events the English general had surrendered before his arrival, and the melancholy silence that reigned in Brihuega announced to the Marshal the fate of his companions in arms.

 

7. Battle of Villaviciosa.

 

Scarcely had the English general surrendered, when, on the 27th of November, the booming of several pieces of cannon signalled the approach of the allied army; and on the 29th, early in the morning, it marched in four columns on Brihuega, with a force of 13,000 men. They found Vendôme with 25,000, forming up on a position near Villaviciosa. Between twelve and one the two armies began to cannonade each other; and the French, perceiving the weakness of their adversary, since the loss of the British, soon commenced the attack, flanking, and almost surrounding the enemy’s left, where there were thirteen weak squadrons, who behaved very ill, and ran away as soon as they were charged. This so exposed the infantry, that two English battalions, two Dutch, four Palatines, two Spanish, and one Neapolitan,—in all, eleven battalions, were either cut to pieces or taken prisoners; and Generals Belcastel and St. Arnaud were killed. Fortunately for the allies the victorious French fell to plundering the baggage, which was very considerable, and could not be got away. Besides which, many persons of distinction, (chiefly ladies and ecclesiastics,) who had followed King Charles, were in their coaches with all the riches they could carry off from Madrid. The French being thus employed, Marshal Stahremberg fought the left with great success till night, when King Philip and the Duke de Vendôme got off in much haste, leaving Stahremberg master of the field, with all the cannon—both that belonging to Vendôme, and that which he had taken from Stanhope, all which, however, they were obliged to spike for want of horses or mules to carry it off, and eventually it became the prize of the enemy. The Portuguese behaved singularly well in this action; especially the cavalry, who fell on the French infantry, sword in hand, and committed great havoc: 7000 of the enemy were said to have been killed on the spot, and a great many wounded. Stahremberg had however suffered so severely in the action, that he could not maintain his ground, and the French with reason claimed the victory; for the result of this battle gave Philip the throne of Spain. It is said that the King when he fled with Vendôme, was so fatigued that he would have lain down to rest on the ground; but the Marshal, who already saw his triumph, said, “Je vais vous donner le plus beau lit sur lequel jamais Roi est couché,” and spread before him the standards he had taken in the battle. Charles was pursued by Vendôme, and took refuge under the walls of Barcelona. And he who in the autumn had considered himself master of Spain, had now nothing left him but Balaguer and the two maritime fortresses of Tarragona and Barcelona, whilst Philip, from a fugitive, became in three months King of almost the whole Spanish monarchy. When this sudden change of fortune was made known to Louis XIV, that Monarch, in allusion to Vendôme, remarked,“il n’y avait pourtant en Espagne qu’un seul homme de plus?”

Nothing of consequence occurred on the side of Portugal, from which Lord Galway had returned to England by the Queen’s permission.

 

8. Naval War.

 

The operations of the British fleet this year were so inconsiderable, as scarcely to merit notice. Sir John Norris commanded in the Mediterranean, and after carrying reinforcements from Italy to Catalonia, they landed about 700 men, under the command of General Saissan, a native of Languedoc, in order to raise the Protestants in that province; but the Duke de Noailles being detached by Berwick to join the Duke de Roquelaire, who commanded in those parts, this paltry force got back to their ships with the loss of 100 men.

Hostilities were carried on between the Swedish and Danish fleets with various success. The Danes and Swedes, though awed by the great principals in the war, were still hostilely disposed towards each other. The Danish fleet had, on the 14th of September, been exposed to a severe storm, and been much injured; and the Swedes, imagining their loss to be greater than it was, went in quest of them, and on the 4th of October they attacked, with twenty-one ships-of-the-line and ten frigates, the Danish ships in the Bay of Kioge. Upon this surprise, when attacked, they cut their cables and endeavoured to gain the wind, so as to get between Copenhagen and the Swedish fleet; while the Swedes endeavoured to intercept them. This occasioned much cannonading, during which a Danish ship of ninety guns blew up. The Swedes followed up their advantage, but got two of their own flag-ships on a sand-bank near the island of Amack, which induced the whole fleet to come to anchor to endeavour to recover them. This being impracticable, they set fire to their two ships and saved their crews. The Swedes then retired, on the 7th of October, and the Danes pursued them, but with no advantage on either side.

The French commodore, Du Clerc, with five ships-of-war and about 1000 soldiers, left Brest for the purpose of making an attack on Rio de Janeiro, but having landed they were overcome, when Du Clerc and his officers were butchered, and the rest made prisoners.