The latter had made a serious blunder. In front of the position
held by the advanced division was a large wood, through which
the Bavarians must pass. Instead of taking possession of this and
holding it until reinforcements came up, he fell back, drew up his
troops on the plain, and allowed the Bavarians to occupy the wood
without resistance. With the troops which arrived with him, the
marshal had now under him some three thousand infantry and seven
regiments of horse. He placed his infantry on his right with two
squadrons to support them; with the rest of his cavalry, he formed
his left wing.

He himself took the command here. Rosen commanded on the right.
Merci, after passing through the wood, drew up his army in order
of battle and opened fire on the French. The artillery, however,
in no way shook their firmness, and seeing more troops in the
distance advancing to reinforce them, Merci began the battle by
an attack on a little wood on which the French right rested; while
at the same time Turenne charged the Bavarian right wing with his
cavalry, broke it up, and captured the cannon and twelve standards.
But while on this side the victory was almost won, on the other
side disaster had befallen the French. Their infantry, perceiving
that the Bavarians, who were advancing to attack them, were much
superior in force, were seized with a panic and scattered in all
directions. The left wing of the Bavarians advanced rapidly, and,
throwing themselves behind Turenne's wing, prepared to fall upon
him in the rear.

Turenne ordered his cavalry to retire, and passing through the wood
found beyond it three regiments that had just arrived. These with
the fifteen hundred horse that had been with him in the battle placed