234 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

chap. compound for a safe retreat, expected no lessi.xvr. than the total destruction of their enemy. ButI675- de Forges, nephew to Turenne , succeeded him. in the command, and possessed a great IF are of

the genius and capacity of his predecessor. By hisskilful operations , the French were enabled tore pass the Rhine, without considerable loss ; andthis retreat was deemed equally glorious with thegreatest victory. The valor of the English troops,who were placed in the rear, greatly contributedto save the French army. They had been seizedwith the same passion as the native troops ofFrance, for their brave general, and fought withardor to revenge his death on the Germans. Theduke of Marlborough , then captain Churchill,here learned the rudiments of that art, whichhe afterwards practised with such fatal successagainst France.

Th* prince df Conde left the army in Flandersunder the command of Luxembourg; and carryingwith him a considerable reinforcement, succeededto Turenne’s command. He defended Alsace fromthe Germans, who had passed the Rhine, andinvaded that province. He obliged them first toraise the siege of Hagenau, then that of Saverne.He eluded all their attempts to bring him to abattle. And having dexterously prevented themfrom establishing themselves in Alsace, he forcedthem , notwithstanding their superiority of num-bers, to repass the Rhine, and to take up winterquarters-in their own country.

After the death of Turenne, a detachment