the 5th of July a detachment, which had encamped at Oude-
nard, marched to Harlebeck; and the Prussian and Hano-
verian troops, who were also on their way to join the army,
were directed to advance to Ninove, in order to cover the
country between the Scheldt and the Dender from any irrup-
tion on the side of Mons. The duke then moved with the
main army from Rousselaer, and encamped between Courtrai
and Harlebeck, having the Lys in his rear.

At this period, the three regiments destined to join the
expedition in England marched to Ostend, where they were
to embark. On the following day the army again moved to
Helchin, where bridges had been prepared for the passage of
the Scheldt, the army of Overkirk at the same time occupying
the post of St. Eloi Vive, near Harlebeck. As the French
had endeavoured to prevent the navigation of the Scheldt, by
means of sluices and drains, which lowered the water, Gene-
ral Salisch was despatched with a proper force, to destroy
all such works between Lille, Armentieres, Menin, and
Courtrai.

Menin, the object of attack, was considered as one of the
master-pieces of the celebrated Vauban. The defences were
low, without being commanded, the approaches rendered
difficult by inundations, and the garrison sufficiently nume-
rous, and well provided with means of resistance. The mar-
quis of Bully was governor, but the military command was
intrusted to the marquis of Caraman, who was versed in the
defence of fortresses, and was assisted by able engineers.
On the 23d the place was invested by General Salisch, who
was charged to conduct the siege with 32 battalions and 25
squadrons. He took post from Werwick to Wevelghem,
and a competent number of pioneers were employed in form-
ing lines of circumvallation.

The heavy artillery having arrived from Ghent on the
30th of July, the attacks were opened on the night of the
4th of August against the bastion of Capucins and that of
Ypres, on the west front; and pushed with a vigour which
proved the determination of the allies to profit by the re-
mains of the season for action. On the 18th, the works
being advanced to a state proper for an attack on the covert
way, Marlborough drew his army nearer to Menin, by taking
post between Belleghem and Pont dEspierre, and himself

-450-