The Duke of Bavaria, greatly alarmed at this invasion of his dominions, sent off message after message to the emperor, complaining of the manner in which the Imperial army remained inactive, leaving the allies to employ their whole force against him.

He threatened that unless the army advanced at once to his assistance he would make terms with France.

Imperative orders were thereupon sent to the archduke to move against the French.

The allies fell back, as his force was greatly superior to theirs, and the archduke took up a strong position, intending to force the allies to retire into Franconia as soon as the country round them was exhausted.
Turenne and Wrangel divined his purpose, and although it was now the beginning of November and snow was on the ground, they marched against him.

On arriving near his camp they found that it was strongly fortified, and could be attacked only by passing behind great marshes and defiles.