the Spanish troops were posted in a fortified camp at Villanova,
halfway between Asti and Turin. Leaving only a small body of troops
to guard the lower valley of Susa from an attack by the Spaniards
at Turin, the army advanced to Carignano, and thence towards
Villanova. The Spaniards, however, although nearly twice as
strong as the French, were so much surprised at the boldness of
this proceeding that instead of marching out to give battle they
contented themselves with strengthening still further the defences
of their camp, and in order to force them to come out d'Harcourt
advanced to Chieri -- called by the French Quiers -- a town situated
between Villanova and Turin, and about two leagues distant from
each.

Turenne was in command of the cavalry, and took post between Chieri
and Villanova. The Spaniards, however, made no effort to relieve
the town, which capitulated after a resistance of only two or three
days. While the siege was proceeding, a large convoy of provisions
succeeded, unmolested, in making its way to Casale, and thus placed
the garrison there in a position to hold out for several weeks to
come. But a very small store of provisions was found in Chieri,
and the army was forced to fall back towards Carignano to obtain
food from the stores collected there. The Marquis of Leganez,
whose headquarters were at Asti, knowing that the French had sent
all the stores they had brought with them to Casale, had foreseen
that this would be the case, and advancing rapidly with the troops
from Villanova seized Poirino, on the line by which the French
would retire, while at the same time Prince Thomas, who commanded
at Turin, advanced with the greater portion of his troops, and
marched towards the little river Santina, intending to cross there.
Thus the French army could not retire on Carignano without exposing