The Captain General the Duke of Marlborough was dismissed in late 1711 and replaced by the Tory Duke of Ormonde. Ormonde was given a secret, later controversial, "restraining order" not to fight against the French while talks were approaching their conclusion. Mid-campaign Ormonde pulled his troops out from the coalition army and withdrew to Dunkirk. Allied forces under Eugene of Savoy then suffered a major defeat at the Battle of Denain in the British absence. Despite a concerted opposition campaign, Harley was able to pass the Peace of Utrecht through Parliament. This involved the creation of twelve peers, known as Harley's Dozen, in a single day to tilt the balance of the Whig-dominated House of Lords.