three in the morning
On the left bank was the height of Schellenberg , covering the passage of the river at Donauwoerth , and held by 12,000 men , including 2500 horse . Along the front of this hill was an old rampart , which the French were engaged in strengthening when the allied army arrived . The latter were not when they came up , according to the ordinary military idea , in a condition to attack . Their camp had been broken up at three in the morning , and it was two in the afternoon before they arrived , after a long and fatiguing march , in front of the enemy 's position . Thinking that it was probable that he would be forced to fight immediately upon arriving , Marlborough had selected 530 picked men from each battalion , amounting to 6000 men , together with thirty squadrons of horse , as an advance guard ; and close behind them followed three regiments of Imperial grenadiers , under Prince Louis . The total strength of this force was 10,500 men . The French and Bavarian generals did not expect an attack , knowing the distance that the troops had marched , and therefore quietly continued their work of strengthening the entrenchments .