Early the next morning their advance guard, composed of twelve battalions of infantry and the whole of the cavalry, reached the Scheldt; and, having thrown bridges over the river, crossed, and soon came in contact with the French advance guard, under Biron.

There was some severe fighting, in which neither party gained any great advantage, the French maintaining possession of the village of Eynes.
While this conflict was going on, Marlborough and Eugene, with the main body, had reached the river, and were engaged in crossing it; and Vendome determined to attack them while carrying out the operation.

He was, as usual, opposed by Burgundy, who wished to continue the march to Ghent.

Marshal Vendome pointed out that, in a country so broken and interspersed with hedges, an army possessing the greatest strength--for the French numbered eighty-five thousand, while Marlborough had but eighty thousand under him--would lose the advantage of that superiority; and, upon Berwick strongly siding with the marshal, Burgundy was forced to give way.
The discussion lasted some time, enabling the allies to pass bodies of troops across the river, where they were formed up at a village a few hundred yards north of Oudenarde; and immediately Marlborough felt strong enough to risk an attack, orders were sent to Cadogan, who commanded the advance guard, to drive the enemy out of Eynes.
Four English battalions attacked the seven French battalions in the village, while the cavalry crossed higher up, and came down on the back of the village.

Three of the French battalions were surrounded and made prisoners, while the other four were dispersed.
It was now evident, even to Burgundy, that an action could not be avoided, but again an angry dispute took place.