TURKHEIM. At the end of 1674 the imperial army under Bournonville had crossed the Rhine at Strasbourg and invaded Alsace (see DUTCH WARS and TURENNE). After an indecisive battle at Enzheim, Turenne, the French commander, withdrew northwards as if for the defence of Lorraine ; thereupon the im perialists spread themselves into winter quarters over southern Alsace. This was exactly what Turenne wanted; leaving only a screen of cavalry posts in northern Alsace, he re-entered Alsace from the south at Belfort. The imperialists were taken by sur prise; several bodies were captured or dispersed, and a rapid thrust at Strasbourg might have been decisive. But the long march in winter had exhausted Turenne's men, and when at last he did move northwards the allies had had time to concentrate their army, 50,000 strong, in a formidable position between Colmar and Turk heim. With only 35,00o men, Turenne saw that a pitched battle might end in failure; he therefore decided to manoeuvre his enemy out of position. Giving half his force to the Comte de Lorge, he ordered him to demonstrate particularly against the town of Colmar, on their left.
As he had hoped, the imperialists at once began to move troops from their right and centre for the defence of Colmar, whereupon Turenne, who had moved the rest of his army under cover of some hills close up to the enemy's right, sent Foucault forward with 12 battalions and some cavalry and guns to cross the stream near its junction with the Fecht. This attack was timed to begin an hour before sunset, because Turenne did not wish to be drawn into a general engagement but only to frighten the imperial ists into withdrawing in a night panic. Foucault advanced too soon, however, and had to wait for some time under heavy artil lery fire, while the imperialists had time to move some of their troops back towards the right. At 3 P.M. (on Jan. 5, 1675) Fou cault attacked and brilliantly forced the imperial right back upon their centre. As Turenne had anticipated, the imperialists, fearful that their flank was turned, fell back upon Strasbourg. The losses were unimportant, but the battle was decisive, Alsace being cleared of its invaders.