Thus ended a day in which the FOURTH HORSE acquired new honours. They were subsequently with the covering army during the siege of _Mons_, and after its surrender marched to East Flanders for winter quarters.
The FOURTH HORSE, having been completed by another remount from England,[40] marched out of their quarters in the beginning of April, 1710, and advanced to the banks of the Scheldt near Tournay, where the allied army, consisting of the troops of several nations, was assembled, and, according to the journals of that period, the BRITISH CUIRASSIERS made a noble appearance.
From this camp the FOURTH HORSE advanced at five o'clock in the afternoon of the 20th of April, and formed part of the column under Lieut.-General Cadogan, which, after marching all night, surprised the French guard at _Pont à Vendin_, and penetrated their fortified lines without opposition.
The siege of _Douay_, a strong town situate on the river Scarpe, was afterwards undertaken, and the FOURTH HORSE, forming part of the covering army, were engaged in several manœuvres and marches to counteract the operations of the enemy, who menaced the besieging force with an attack; but the superior tactics of the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, with the bravery of their troops, prevailed, and _Douay_ was surrendered on the 27th of June. After repairing the works, the army advanced towards the enemy, who, to avoid an engagement, retired behind their new lines of defence, when the allies directed their victorious arms against _Bethune_, and the FOURTH HORSE had their post in the besieging force until the surrender of the place on the 29th of August. They were subsequently employed in covering the sieges of _Aire_ and _St. Venant_, and after the termination of this successful campaign returned to Flanders, where they passed the winter in convenient quarters.
Advancing from thence in April, 1711, they directed their march to the banks of the Scarpe, and were subsequently employed in several manœuvres before the French lines of defence until the enemy's troops were drawn to the left, when the Duke of Marlborough, by secretly assembling a body of troops at Douay, forced the lines at _Arleux_ and invested _Bouchain_. The siege of this place was one of the most difficult enterprises undertaken during the war, and the FOURTH HORSE were fully employed in the multifarious services required, the lines extending for many miles, and the greatest care and vigilance being necessary. In September the place surrendered, and this regiment, after traversing the recently conquered territory, to its former winter station, went into cantonments.