Page 58 - All About History 48 - 2017 UK

Greatest Battles

Grand French cavalry The battle joined
Alliance Army 02 counter-charge 01 Just after noon on 13 August 1704, English, Hessian and
With sabres drawn, French Gendarmes – elite cavalrymen – Hanoverian infantry brigades under the command of Lieutenant
General John Cutts, nicknamed ‘Salamander’ because he relishes
INFANTRY 35,000 charge into the reeling English ranks. Slashing and stabbing at intense combat, assault the French defenders of Blenheim. The French
the enemy infantrymen, the French take a fearful toll before
CAVALRY 17,000 the steady muskets of a Hessian brigade stop their onslaught, fortify closely packed houses in the village and riddle the attackers
with musket fire. Accurate artillery continually rakes the advancing
mowing down men and horses in a flash and compelling a
CANNON 66 swift retreat. The 21st Scots Battalion loses its colours in the English infantry, who advance, falter, regroup and renew the effort.
temporary retreat, but the standard is recovered behind the
stream of Hessian musketry.

07
JOHN CHURCHILL, 1ST 04
DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH 08
LEADER
The duke’s military career spanned
the reigns of five English monarchs,
and he earned lasting fame at the
Battle of Blenheim.
Strengths Marlborough was a
superb organiser, brilliant strategist
and consensus builder.
Weakness The duke once turned
against his benefactor, King James II.

03 Cutts and glory
Lieutenant General Cutts displays tremendous
SCOTS REGIMENT courage, forms his remaining troops, and rushes again towards
the cluster of houses in Blenheim. The English soldiers are
OF FOOT relentless. However, they cannot dislodge the defenders,
falling in great heaps before the strong French positions. The
KEY UNIT French commander, Lieutenant General Francois, marquis
The regiment was nicknamed ‘The de Clérambault, becomes distraught and orders 11 battalions
from the reserves into the fight at Blenheim. These troop
Duke of Marlborough’s Own’ in
movements leave the French centre dangerously unsupported.
recognition of its service during the
War of Spanish Succession.
Strengths Tradition and experience
made the regiment dependable.
Weakness Infantry units were
vulnerable to artillery fire and
cavalry attack.

DOGLOCKMUSKET 04 Stalemate on the left 05 Across the Nebel
Prince Eugene of Savoy commands 16,000
As the afternoon wears on, the Duke of
KEY WEAPON troops locked in desperate combat with approximately Marlborough’s force begins crossing the Nebel on pontoon
23,000 French and Bavarian soldiers under the Elector
Withahalf-cockcatchcalledthe of Bavaria and Marshal Ferdinand de Marsin defending bridges. Although they endure tremendous artillery and musket
‘dog’, the doglock musket was in the left flank of the French army near the town of fire, approximately 15,000 foot soldiers and 8,000 horsemen
widespread use among the armies Lutzingen. The prince’s soldiers must contend with ascend the opposite bank. Mounted on a striking charger, the
of the early-18th century. rocky outcroppings, ravines and thick underbrush, but duke personally leads his men forward against the hard-pressed
Strengths Servingasasafety,the manage to maintain their grip on the enemy, actually French centre, held by only 60 squadrons of cavalry and nine
dog prevented premature firing gaining a bit of ground by mid-afternoon. battalions of infantry that have never been tested in battle.
while loading.
Weakness A laborious loading
process limited the rate of fire.

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