Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 08.djvu/187

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Holland in advance of Marlborough, and as quartermaster-general conducted the historic march into Bavaria, ending with the great victory at Blenheim, 13 Aug. 1704, and the no less admirably managed return movement of the army with its huge convoys of prisoners and wounded. During the campaign he was wounded and had his horse shot under him at the attack on Schellenburg, but was on the field at Blenheim in attendance on Marlborough. He was promoted brigadier-general on 25 Aug. 1704, and his name figures in the distribution-list of the queen's bounty for Blenheim, for the sums of 90l. as brigadier-general, 60l. as quartermaster-general, and 123l. as colonel of a regiment of horse and captain of a troop therein (Treasury Papers, xciii. 79). In the following year Cadogan's Horse won great distinction at the forcing of the enemy's lines between Helixem and Neerwinden. Big men mounted on big horses, they drove the famous Bavarian horse-grenadier guards off the field, capturing four of their standards (Cannon, Hist. Rec. 5th Drag. Gds. p. 28). Popular accounts relate that the charge was led by Cadogan in person. After fulfilling special missions at Vienna and in Hanover, Cadogan was present at the victory at Ramillies on 23 May 1706. A plan of the order of battle, now in the British Museum (Brit. Mus. Maps, 31860/324), shows that he held no separate command on that day. But immediately afterwards he was sent with a body of horse and foot to occupy Ghent and to summon Antwerp, services speedily accomplished. The garrison of the latter city, consisting of six French and six Spanish regiments, was permitted to march out, and the keys of the city were handed to Cadogan, their first surrender since they were delivered up to the Duke of Parma, after a twelve-month's leaguer, two centuries before. Cadogan was promoted to major-general on 1 June 1706. The supply of the army was then included among the multifarious duties of Cadogan's department, and on 16 Aug. following, while making a forage near Tournay, in the combined capacities of a cavalry commander and quartermaster-general, he was captured by the enemy, but released on parole three days later and soon afterwards exchanged. Later in the year he was engaged in the delicate task of quartering the confederate troops of different nationalities for the winter (see Marlb. Desp. iii. 175). In February 1707 he was entrusted on his return from London with the task of explaining to the Dutch deputies the English view of the next campaign (ib. p. 369). Later in the year he was accredited envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to the States of Holland in the absence of Mr. Stepney, whom he succeeded in the post, retaining his military appointments. He arrived at Brussels in that capacity on 29 Nov. 1707 (London Gazette, No. 4390). On 11 May 1705 he had been returned for the borough of New Woodstock, Oxfordshire—probably on Marlborough's nomination—in the parliament which (after the union with Scotland) was proclaimed on 29 April 1707, the first parliament of Great Britain (see Lists of Members of Parliament). He was re-chosen for the same place in four succeeding parliaments. In February 1708 Cadogan was at Ostend, superintending the embarkation of ten regiments for home, in view of the rumoured French descent on Scotland from Dunkirk (Marlb. Desp. iii. 680, 689). He commanded the van of the army in the operations which led up to the great battle at Oudenarde on 11 July 1708, on which occasion he commenced the action by crossing the Scheldt and vigorously attacking the village of Hayem, which was carried and four out of seven opposing battalions made prisoners. Afterwards he was employed in convoying supplies from Ostend to the army during the siege of Lille. He was promoted to lieutenant-general on 1 Jan. 1709. Early in that year Cadogan was sent by Marlborough to see that the troops in Flanders were ready for the forthcoming campaign. In a list of general officers of the confederate armies, forwarded by Marlborough to the French headquarters in July, Cadogan's name appears at the end of the lieutenant-generals of cavalry (ib. iv. 538). His services during the year included the siege of Menin, where an incident occurred which has been variously told. The version given by the historian of the Grenadier guards—who says that it is commemorated by a centrepiece of plate in possession of the present Earl Cadogan—is that Marlborough, attended by Cadogan and a numerous staff, was reconnoitring the enemy's position at close quarters, and having dropped his glove requested Cadogan to dismount and pick it up, which was instantly done. Returned to camp and the staff dismissed, he asked Cadogan if he remembered the incident, adding that he wished a battery to be erected on the spot, but did not like to speak of it openly. Cadogan replied that he had already given the order, and on Marlborough expressing surprise rejoined that he knew his chief to be too much a gentleman to make such a request without good hidden reason (Hamilton, Hist. Gren. Gds. ii. 48). Cadogan was present at the battle of Malplaquet on 11 Sept. 1709, and was sent after