The French army, amounting to one hundred and twenty thousand men, were posted behind the woods of La Merte and Tanieres, in the neighbourhood of Malplaquet.

The confederates, nearly of the same number, encamped with the right near Sart and Bleron, and the left on the edge of the wood of Laniere; the head quarters being at Blaregnies.

The enemy, instead of attacking the allies, began to fortify their camp, which was naturally strong, with triple intrenchments.

In a word, they were so covered with lines, hedges, intrenchments, cannon and trees laid across, that they seemed to be quite inaccessible.

Had the confederates attacked them on the ninth, the battle would not have been so bloody, and the victory would have proved more decisive; for they had not then begun to secure the camp; but Marlborough postponed the engagement until they should be reinforced by eighteen battalions which had been employed in the siege of Tournay; and in the meantime, the French fortified themselves with incredible diligence and despatch.