The Dutch During
The Revolutionary Wars

Prussian Campaign
in Holland 1787
Part II

Capture of Gorkum

by Geert van Uythoven, The Netherlands

3rd Division: The Capture of Gorkum

At the above time, Captain von Kleist (temporarily attached to von Romberg) with 20 Fussjäger, a fusilier company and 20 hussars led the advance on Gorkum, followed by the remainder of von Romberg's troops. The Dutch Captain Huy van Oostee guided the Prussians. The night march was difficult because it rained heavily. A howitzer sank into a ditch, and was recovered only after much trouble. At 04.30 hours, the troops arrived at Dalem, and took up positions behind the Kerkdijk ('churchdike').

The positions were as follows (from the left to the right): Fussjäger company; Fusilier-Battalion von Renouard No. 8; Artillery (augmented by the (four) battalion guns); Grenadier Battalion von Schack; 2 squadrons Leib-Husaren-Regiment von Eben No. 2. Behind the left wing, the 200 Swiss troops under Captain Gross were positioned, to act as a general reserve.

At 06.00 hours, Captain von Wintzingerode of the fusiliers went forward, accompanied by a trumpeter, to summon the surrender of Gorkum. Delivering the written summons, he left again, returning about one hour later to receive the answer of Colonel van der Capellen, commanding the fortress-city. However, arriving near the walls, the defender fired on him, and he had to return without any answer. Von Romberg was very indignant at this, and at 06.30 hours, Captain von Eckenbrecher was ordered to open fire and to bombard the city. The fourth shot set fire to a windmill, and the fire spread rapidly. More fires were caused by the continuing bombardment, and after the 44th shot, the white flag was hoisted.

The Prussians ceased firing, and negotiations were opened. Von Romberg made clear to Colonel Van der Capellen that he would receive no capitulation, but only unconditional surrender because of the firing on his representative. After some discussion, Van der Capellen [2] gave in. However, the garrison of 1,200 men thought otherwise, and instead of surrendering, they made good their escape by boats and along the dike to Dordrecht. The Prussians took only 98 prisoners, and according to them, this was the second violation of the rules of war. In addition, the Prussians captured 172 guns and found enough provisions for six weeks. The guns bearing the sign of the Dutch Republic were transferred to the Dutch army, while those with the sign of the province Holland were treated as booty, as was done during the whole campaign.

The Duke of Brunswick at Asperen concluded by the cessation of fire that Gorkum was captured, and ordered his main force to advance to Meerkerk, except for one battalion. This battalion (a musketeer battalion of Rgt von Knobelsdorff) and six hussars commanded by Brunswicks' Adjutant, Major von Hirschfeld, had to advance on the Arkelensche Sluis, and to take the redoubt there. Then he galloped with his staff to Gorkum arriving just in time to enter the city at the head of the Grenadier Battalion von Schack. Entering the city, he was welcomed by the inhabitants with in favour of William V, singing 'Oranje boven'. The city was free of patriot troops, except for the redoubt on an island in the river Waal.

To capture them, 20 Fussjäger commanded by Lieutenant Bindheim crossed the water in some boats, and took 13 prisoners without any resistance. Colonel von Romberg was appointed commandant of Gorkum, which was to be garrisoned by the Fusilier--Battalion von Renouard and the Grenadier-Battalion von Schack. The Fussjäger and hussars were directed to Ameide, to form the advance guard of the Division again.

Major von Hirschfeld in the meantime advanced to the Arkelensche Sluis. Thinking that after the capture of Gorkum the redoubt near the Arkelensche Sluis would be abandoned by the patriots, and without waiting for the infantry, he rode to the sluice accompanied by only six hussars. Arriving at the redoubt he saw that he had made a mistake: the patriots were still occupying the redoubt. Von Hirschfeld tried to make use of the surprise and charged, trying to enter the redoubt from the rear. Arriving there his charge is halted, because the rear was closed by a cheval de frise. With presence of mind, he ordered the patriots to cease fire and to surrender. The patriot officers answered him that they would discuss his proposal, but that he first would have to pull back out of range. The Prussians retreated, but after a few minutes, Von Hirschfeld noticed that the patriots were retreating! Pursuing them, still with only his hussars, he again summoned their surrender, and at last, the patriots gave in.

In this way a handful hussars made prisoner two Captains, two Lieutenants, two Ensigns, three drummers and 90 soldiers from the Regiments No. 7 Hardenbroek (40 men), Sternbach (50) and some auxiliaries. A small escort brought the prisoners to Gorkum, while the remainder of the infantry again closed up with the main force.

Lt-Col von Wolffradt with the Leib-Husaren-Regiment von Eben No. 2 was the first to reach the main army and took up his duty as advance guard. He immediately dispatched Lieutenant von Holzendorff with 20 hussars to Molenaars Graft to prevent the cutting of the dike. On his arrival, the labourers took flight, and Holzendorff returned to Ameide. Lieutenant von Lestocq with 30 hussars had to reconnoitre in the direction of Nieuwpoort. Arriving there, he learned that the patriots were in the process of evacuating Nieuwpoort, and were busy ferrying their troops across the Lek to Schoonhoven. Immediately he charged with his hussars through the open gate into the city, and managed to capture 66 men of the Regiment Saxen-Gotha and 15 dragoons before they could be ferried across. Von Wolffradt, hearing about the taking of Nieuwpoort, ordered Captain von Bila to reinforce Lestocq with 30 hussars and 20 Fussjäger (commanded by Lieutenant von Pfeilitsch) and try to take the ferry. Arriving at Nieuwpoort, von Bila learned from the mayor of Schoonhoven that the patriots also were leaving this city, and were retreating in the direction of Woerden. Immediately he crossed the river with six dismounted hussars and six Fussjäger, and managed to take prisoner another 15 men of the Regiment Saxen-Gotha. In addition, 13 patriot dragoons deserted. The patriotic citizens were disarmed, and put under guard of some Orangist civilians.

The Betrayal of the Rheingraf von Salm

The Defence-Commission at Woerden had ordered the Rheingraf von Salm to take up a central position in the city Utrecht with the field army. Already on 27 August, von Salm had protested against this strategy. His opinion was that to defend Holland, he had to leave Utrecht, because this city lies in front of the defence line, and because of this, he could be cut off. In addition, he was of the opinion that he would not be able to hold Utrecht against an attack by Prussian troops, because these were much stronger then the opposing army of the stadtholder.

Von Salm wanted to retreat behind the rivers Vecht and Vaart, to take up defensive positions there. Utrecht was to be defended by the (mainly patriotic) inhabitants. The Defence-Commission plainly forbade him to leave Utrecht. The city Utrecht was an important patriotic bastion and had contributed much to the patriotic cause, so it was impossible to leave Utrecht undefended.

When the Rheingraf von Salm received the news of the Prussian advance, he declared to the Defence-Commission that he would hold Utrecht and defend himself as best as he could. But in the same message he asked for marching orders, to be able to move his troops if the situation made that necessary. He wanted to receive these orders in advance, without any date filled in, so that he would still be able to manoeuvre if he would be cut of from the Defence-Commission. The Defence-Commission agreed and did send the orders. However, as soon as Von Salm received them, he filled in the date, and left Utrecht with his army in the night from 15 to 16 September. Initially the troops followed the river Vecht to Nieuwersluis were Von Salm left the troops to their fate and departed for Germany. [3]

His troops dispersed: elements moved to Abkoude, Weesp, and Muiden, but many soldiers deserted, plundering everywhere they went. Amsterdam closed its gates for the undisciplined troops. The consequences of the behaviour of the Rheingraf von Salm were great. Many patriots now believed that they fought for a lost cause, and deserted. Whole units abandoned their defensive positions and dispersed, returning home. Fugitives from the villages and cities close to the river Vecht choked the roads to the west.

After the departure of von Salm, the most notable patriots departed Utrecht also. The Defence-commission moved to Amsterdam. The stadtholder at Amersfoort was informed by the Orangists of what had happened in Utrecht, and immediately assembled his troops at the camp near Zeist. Then he advanced on Utrecht with six infantry battalions and four light cavalry squadrons, taking the city without opposition on 16 September. Because of reasons unknown, the Stadtholder failed to inform the Duke of Brunswick about this important development, who did not receive the news until the night of 17 to 18 September. The Stadtholder garrisoned Utrecht with four of the six battalions, while both others moved to the river Vaart to occupy Jutfaas and Vreeswijk. The cavalry pursued Von Salms' troops, but these had started much more early, and only some baggage was taken.

Large Map 3 (slow: 140K)

More Prussian Campaign in Holland 1787 Part II

The Dutch During the Revolutionary Wars

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