Have you any thoughts on field hospitals during the battle? In the Blenheim tapestry at Blenheim Palace, you can clearly see some medical patching up being done between the burning windmills — someone is being carried over on a stretcher, another is having his head bandaged.
I have discovered that Marlborough set up military hospitals along the supply line at Heidenheim and Kessel, but wondered if you knew who was carrying out injured away from the site or triaging at the battle itself? Good question about the wounded, LP. I know that the primary function of bandsmen drummers and fifers during actual combat, from at least the 17th century, was to act as stretcher bearers.
This function extended up through the late 19th century. Marlborough is mentioned as having set up field hospitals, or at least dressing stations, but I don't believe he was an innovator in this; just diligent. The other thing I always wondered about it who cleaned up all the dead bodies after a battle.
Me again — re the marshy Nebel — all the accounts of the long march to the Danube refer to the torrential rain all through May and into June.
Living in England, I know that a wet spring can raise groundwater levels right into August so I wonder if the ground around the Nebel perhaps was marshy but passable. Also, my assumption about the state of the ground around the Nebel is based on my experience living in Oregon also, like Britain, wet; particularly in the spring.
