Then they began to give way, and retired in great confusion.

The duke de Vendome, alighting from his horse, rallied the broken battalions, called the officers by name, conjured them to maintain the honour of their country, and animated the men with his voice and example.

But notwithstanding all his endeavours, they were forced back among the enclosures in great confusion.

Some regiments were cut in pieces; others desired to capitulate; and if the darkness had not interposed, their whole army would have been ruined.
The night coming on, so that it became impossible to distinguish friends from enemies, the two generals ordered the troops to cease firing, and the enemy took this opportunity of escaping by the road which leads from Oudenarde to Ghent.

The duke de Vendome seeing the French forces flying in the utmost terror and precipitation, formed a rear-guard of about five-and-twenty squadrons, and as many battalions, with which he secured the retreat.