The operation was to be undertaken by a simultaneous advance of several columns.
Marlborough himself with the main wing was to confront Marshal Villeroi.

General Spaar was to attack that part of the French lines which lay beyond the Scheldt.

Cohorn was to force the passage of that river in the territory of Hulst, and unite Spaar's attack with that of Obdam, who with twenty-one battalions and sixteen squadrons was to advance from Bergen op Zoom.
The commencement of this operation was well conducted.

On the night of the 26th Cohorn passed the Scheldt, and the next morning he and Spaar made a combined attack on that part of the French lines against which they had been ordered to act, and carried them after severe fighting and the loss of 1200 men.

Upon the following day the Earl of Marlborough, riding through the camp, saw Rupert Holliday, standing at the door of his tent.