The Allied advanced guard of infantry and pioneers, under the Duke of Wurttemberg, deployed silently around 5:00 a.m. close to the French encampments. Luxembourg was taken by surprise, allegedly because an attack on such a strong position seemed so unlikely; the main body of the French army was farther back and forming up after the passage of some woods. However, the extremely experienced Comte de Montal held off the initial Allied attack long enough to enable Luxembourg to bring up his main force.[3]