 Having rushed back to the Low Countries (and forcing Villeroi to retreat behind his defenses), Marlborough retook Huy, and then planned to break through the lines to bring Villeroi to battle.On the evening of 17 July Marlborough sent the Dutch troops under Marshal Overkirk in a feint southwards towards Namur, drawing Villeroi and 40,000 men after them.Overnight he marched with his own English and Scottish troops northwards to the small village of Eliksem ("Elixheim"), and there broke through the lines without resistance.