Villeroi, anxious to cover Namur, moved his troops out from their quarters on the Dyle to stop the advance of the allies, and bring on a battle in the open field.
The ground taken up by the French marshal was exceedingly strong.
Marlborough was aware of the great importance of the position, and had made every effort to be the first to seize it; but the French had less distance to march, and when the allied troops arrived within sight of the ground, the French were already in camp upon Mont Saint Andre.
Mont Saint Andre is an extensive and elevated plateau, being, indeed, the highest ground in Brabant.

From it four rivers take their rise--the Great Gheet, the Little Gheet, the Dyle, and the Mehaigne.

The French camp was placed immediately above the sources of the two Gheets.
The plan of the battle should be examined carefully, and the events of the great battle will then be understood without difficulty.
The descents from the plateau to the Great Gheet are steep and abrupt.

The other rivers rise in wet marshes, in some places impassable.

The French left was on the crest of the ridge, above the marshes of the Little Gheet, and extended to the village of Autre Eglise; while the extreme right stood on the high ground overlooking the sources of the Mehaigne.