From Bedburg to Blenheim: the logistics of Marlborough's 1704 campaign
Date
1999
Authors
Barnard, Jon
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Abstract
The campaign which saw a British army march across Germany and ultimately win the Battle of Blenheim (13 August, 1704) astounded contemporary Europe. However, this remarkable feat has not been addressed from the logistical position. From January to September of 1704 serious efforts were made by the British to ensure their army had sufficient money, supplies and medical support. Though there were obstacles, solutions were found which created the conditions for final victory. This thesis examines how those logistical requirements were satisfied.
It must be stressed that the primary sources researched for this paper suffer from factual limitations. The sources were not written nor catalogued with the student of logistics in mind and therefore it has not been possible to present a complete logistical breakdown for the army. This notwithstanding, the following analysis rests on previously overlooked sources and therefore can claim to be the most complete study on the subject to date. As such it will be the first study of the campaign to seriously consider the relationship between the army's logistics and various commercial structures. The march was ultimately successful because careful judgements secured funds which in tum secured supplies, but nevertheless, difficulties presented themselves.