Fieldsend was already captain, and hoped
ere the close of the 1707 campaign to get his majority. As for George
Fairburn, he was quite content to be a soldier for soldiering's sake,
yet would thankfully take promotion if it came his way. Blackett had
paid a visit to the west-country home of the Fieldsends, and it was
whispered that he had there found a mighty attraction. But more of
this may come later.
The year, to the bitter disappointment of our young officers, proved
an unlucky one. In all directions things went wrong. As for
Marlborough, from the very opening he experienced the old Dutch
thwartings and oppositions, and, after a short and vexatious summer,
he closed the campaign almost abruptly, and much earlier than in
former years. There was to be no promotion for anybody yet awhile.
In Spain there was an overwhelming disaster. The French and Spanish
forces, commanded by the redoubtable Berwick, completely defeated the
combined English, Dutch, and Portuguese troops under Galway, at
Almanza. So great a misfortune was this that Galway declared that
Spain would have to be evacuated by the Allies. The cause of the
Archduke Charles was to all intents and purposes lost, and the
Bourbons were henceforth firmly seated on the throne of Spain.
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