[CHAPTER II.]
The campaign of 1704 closed with the Siege of Landau, the Greys forming part of the army covering the siege. In September, when the King of the Romans visited the British camp, the Duke of Marlborough placed himself at the head of the "Royal Scots Dragoons" to receive his Majesty.
The interesting incident is thus entered by Hare in his Journal:
"On 2nd of October the King of the Romans came from before Landau, to take a view of the Army commanded by his Grace at Weissembourg. His Grace sent Colonel Cadogan to conduct His Majesty to the left of the Army which was drawn out in two lines for this purpose. His Grace there received and saluted His Majesty at the head of Lord John Hayes' regiment of Dragoons, and afterwards accompanied His Majesty along the lines, which appeared extremely fine and gave great satisfaction to his Majesty."
In November they marched back to Holland for the winter, and in Guelderland were joined by another remount from Scotland.
They were withdrawn from their cantonments early in May of 1705, and after traversing Limburg, encamped near the banks of the river Maese, where the Duke of Marlborough assembled the army for the purpose of proceeding up the Moselle. After a halt of two days, the cavalry crossed the Maese, and marched to Coblenz, and thence to Juliers. After leaving this, they crossed a barren country to Triersweiler, where the troops encamped on May 26th. Thence the Moselle and the Saar were crossed, and plans made for offensive warfare. This was all frustrated by Austrian delays and German commanders' jealousies. The Duke of Marlborough resolved therefore to return.
At midnight on June 17th the troops decamped in the midst of a heavy rain, and the Royal Scots Dragoons, with several other regiments, formed up to cover the retreat through a long and narrow defile. No enemy, however, appeared to interrupt the army, and retracing their former steps by forced marches, the Greys reached the vicinity of Maestricht on June 30th; when the French forces in the Netherlands instantly ceased acting on the offensive, and took refuge behind their lines.
"Signatures of Colonel Agnew's Troop, for receipt of Bountie monie, for Campaigne of 1704."