them with additional squadrons, prepared to charge the
enemy, who were rapidly filing in good order along the skirt
of the wood towards Morselingen. Such an attack would
probably have terminated in the utter ruin of their whole
army; but it was prevented by one of those accidents which
often occur in the confusion of battles. The troops of
Eugene appeared behind those of the enemy, in it situation
to bear on the flank of the victorious cavalry; and as the
fall of night and the clouds of smoke which hung over the
field, rendered the view indistinct, they were mistaken for a
part of the electoral army. Marlborough, therefore, counter-
manded the order for harassing the Gallo-Bavarians in their
retreat; and, although closely pursued by the cavalry of
Eugene, they drew up under cover of the wood between
Lutzingen and Morselingen. Having collected the remnant
of the defeated wing, they fell back on the approach of night
in the direction of Dillingen.

The fate of the day was no sooner decided, than Marlbo-
rough, taking from a pocket-book a slip of paper, wrote a
hasty note to the duchess, announcing his victory.

"August 13, 1704. -- I have not time to say more, but to beg you
will give my duty to the queen, and let her know her army has had a
glorious victory. M. Tallard and two other generals are in my coach,
and I am following the rest. The bearer, my aide-de-camp, Colonel
Parke, will give her an account of what has passed. I shall do it in a
day or two, by another more at large. -- MARLBOROUGH." ^*

The fate of the troops posted in Blenheim still remained un-
decided. They had witnessed the event of the battle, without
making any attempt to escape, because the officer despatched

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