In the spring of 1708 the regiment was called from its winter quarters in Flanders, in consequence of the King of France having fitted out a fleet, and embarked troops at Dunkirk, for the purpose of making a descent on the British coast, in favour of the Pretender. The FIFTEENTH, and several other regiments, marched from Ghent on the 8th of March, 1708, embarked at Ostend on the 15th, and arrived in England on the 21st; but the French fleet, with the Pretender on board, having been chased from the British shores by the English navy, the regiment returned to Flanders: it landed at Ostend on the 20th of April, and proceeded in boats, along the canal, to Ghent. Leaving its quarters towards the end of May, the regiment joined the allied army, and was engaged in the active operations which followed. The French gained possession of Ghent and Bruges by treachery. On the 11th of July, the regiment passed the Scheldt, on a pontoon bridge, between _Oudenarde_ and the abbey of Eename, and engaged the French troops under the Duke of Burgundy and Marshal Vendome, in the fields and open grounds beyond the river. A fierce conflict of musketry ensued; and charge succeeded charge until the shades of evening gathered over the scene, and the progress of the conflict could only be discerned by the flashes of musketry, which pointed out the ground on which the battle raged. The French were forced from their position; part of their army was separated, and nearly destroyed; but it was preserved from complete annihilation by the darkness of the night. This victory prepared the way for additional conquests; and the FIFTEENTH foot formed part of the covering army during the siege of the important fortress of _Lisle_, the capital of French Flanders, which was defended by fifteen thousand men under Marshal Boufflers. The regiment was in position when the united French forces advanced to raise the siege, but were frustrated by the superior tactics of the Duke of Marlborough. The grenadier company of the regiment joined the besieging army, and took part in the attacks on the town. When the Elector of Bavaria besieged Brussels, the regiment formed part of the force which marched to the relief of that city, passed the _Scheldt_, and carried the enemy's positions beyond that river on the 27th of November; which was followed by the retreat of the enemy from before Brussels. The citadel of Lisle surrendered on the 9th of December; _Ghent_ and _Bruges_ were afterwards recaptured, and the regiment had its winter quarters at Ghent. [Sidenote: 1709]