He had then gone to Vienna to bring up reinforcements, and until these arrived Marlborough hardly felt in a position to take the offensive, as the French armies were considerably stronger than his own, and he had not yet been joined by the troops from Hanover.
Except to receive orders, the aides-de-camp saw little of their commander.

He was absorbed in the difficult problems of the war, and was occasionally absent for two or three days at the camp of Vendome.

He always spoke kindly to them when on duty, but at other times dispensed altogether with their attendance, and as a rule took his meals alone.
"You see him at his worst," d'Eyncourt said one day to his new comrades, "He is a different man when he is in the field.

Then he is full of life and activity, looking into every detail himself, endeavouring to infuse some of his own energy into others, full of care for the comfort of his troops, though ready to endure any hardship himself.

Then you see the real man; a noble character, idolized by the soldiers and loved by us all.