two in the morning of the 9th of July
Fortunately , on the 7th of July Prince Eugene arrived . Finding that his army could not be up in time , he had left them , and , accompanied only by his personal staff , had ridden on to join Marlborough . The arrival of this able general and congenial spirit did much to restore Marlborough ; and after a council with the prince , he determined to throw his army upon Vendome 's line of communications , and thus force him to fight with his face to Paris . At two in the morning of the 9th of July , the allies broke up their camp , and advanced in four great columns towards Lessines and the French frontier . By noon the heads of the columns had reached Herfelingen , fourteen miles from their starting point , and bridges were thrown across the Dender , and the next morning the army crossed , and then stood between the French and their own frontier . Vendome , greatly disconcerted at finding that his plans had all been destroyed , ordered his army to fall back to Gavre on the Scheldt , intending to cross below Oudenarde . Marlborough at once determined to press forward , so as to force on a battle , having the advantage of coming upon the enemy when engaged in a movement of retreat .