Marshal Villeroi, who commanded the French army on the frontier, finding that he could give no aid to Bonn, advanced against Maestrich, which he hoped to surprise, before Overkirk could arrive to its aid.  On the way, however, he had to take the town of Tangres, which was held by two battalions of infantry only.  These, however, defended themselves with astonishing bravery against the efforts of a whole army, and for twenty-eight hours of continuous fighting arrested the course of the enemy.  At the end of that time they were forced to surrender, but the time gained by their heroic defence afforded time for Overkirk to bring up his army, and when Villeroi arrived near Maestrich, he found the allies already there, and so strongly posted that although his force was fully twice as strong as theirs, he did not venture to attack.

Marlborough, upon the fall of Bonn, marched with the greatest expedition to the assistance of his colleague.  His cavalry reached Maestrich on the 21st, his infantry three days later.  On the 26th of May he broke up the camp and advanced to undertake the grand operation of the siege of Antwerp.  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.  Beckoning him to him, he said: 

“Would you like a ride round Antwerp, Master Holliday?  I have a letter which I desire carried to General Obdam, whose force is at Eckeron on the north of the city.”

Upon Rupert saying that he should like it greatly, the earl bade him be at his quarters in an hour’s time.

“There is the dispatch,” he said, when Rupert called upon him.  “You will give this to the general himself.  I consider his position as dangerous, for Marshal Villeroi may throw troops into the town, and in that case the Marquis Bedmar may fall in great force upon any of our columns now lying around him.  I have warned Obdam of his danger, and have begged him to send back his heavy baggage, to take up a strong position, and if the enemy advance in force to fall back to Bergen op Zoom.  Should the general question you, you can say that you are aware of the terms of the dispatch, and that I had begged you to assure the general that my uneasiness on his account was considerable.”