Diverging into the plain, the allied army formed line and advanced towards the enemy; the ROYAL IRISH regiment, being in the right wing, formed on the heights of Foulz, and, descending into the low grounds near the Little Gheet river, menaced the enemy's left, at Autreglise and Offuz, with an attack. This movement occasioned the enemy to weaken his centre to support his left flank, when the Duke of Marlborough instantly reinforced his centre, and made a determined attack upon the enemy's position at the weakened point. For some time the officers and soldiers of the ROYAL IRISH regiment were spectators of the fight; but at a critical moment they were brought forward, and they contributed to the complete overthrow of the forces of France, Spain, and Bavaria. The warlike brigades of the enemy, a few hours before so formidable and menacing, were driven from the field with great slaughter, and the loss of many officers and soldiers taken prisoners, also of their cannon and many standards and colours. After pursuing the fugitives a considerable distance, the regiment halted for the night, surrounded by the ensanguined trophies of this day of glorious triumph to the British arms. Retreating to Louvain, the broken remains of the enemy's splendid army halted a short time, and soon afterwards abandoned that city, and also Lierre, Ghent, Damme, and Bruges. The magistrates of these towns, together with those of Brussels, Malines, and Alost, renounced their allegiance to the Duke of Anjou, and declared in favour of the House of Austria. The garrisons of Oudenarde and Antwerp surrendered; Ostend withstood a short siege and then capitulated. Thus the successes of the allied arms were splendid beyond all precedent. Towards the end of July, the ROYAL IRISH regiment was detached from the main army to take part in the siege of the fortress of _Menin_, which was considered one of the masterpieces of VAUBAN, the celebrated French engineer, and was provided with a numerous garrison well supplied with everything necessary for a protracted defence. The garrison disputed every yard of ground with sanguinary tenacity; but the allies carried on the siege with vigour, and brought their approaches to the foot of the glacis, where a storming party was assembled to attack the covered-way. The ROYAL IRISH regiment was appointed to take part in this service. The signal being given, the assailants rushed forward to the palisades, and threw a shower of hand-grenades into the covered-way; then, entering amidst the confusion, overthrew all opposition. General Stearne states,--"This proved warm service; for though we drove the enemy at once out of the counterscarp, they sprung two mines upon us, and from their works plied us with a most violent fire, which we lay exposed to until our workmen had thrown up an entrenchment sufficient to cover us. In this action our regiment had six officers and upwards of eighty soldiers killed and wounded."[23]