The Dutch During
The Revolutionary Wars

Prussian Campaign
in Holland 1787
Part II

by Geert van Uythoven, The Netherlands

Part I

The Opening of the Campaign

In order to understand all the movements, it will be necessary to refer frequently to the map printed with the previous article.

During the night of 13 to 14 September, Captain Kleist returned from The Hague, bringing back the rejecting answer from the patriots. Assured that the patriots were busy cutting the dikes and inundating the land, the Duke of Brunswick felt he was correct in already crossing the Dutch border on the 13th. His troops were set in motion, according to the plans already made.

1st and 2nd Division

Although both Divisions had a rest day on 14 September, they both had to send forward strong detachments, in order to prevent the inundations and to take the second defence line along the rivers Eem and Grebbe. Soon it became clear that this line was undefended, and the important Grebbe-sluice was captured without any opposition by part of the advance guard of the 2nd Division, a force of 30 hussars led by Lieutenant von Schauroth. All information indicated that the patriots were not trying to inundate parts of the province Gelre north of the river Lek, but were doing so south of that river, where they were busy cutting the dike of the river Lek near Everdingen.

To prevent this, Major General Karl Adolph von Eben (commanding the advance guard of the 2nd Division) dispatched Captain von Meckling with a force of 90 hussars and 60 fusiliers. He in his turn send Lieutenant von Geel with 30 hussars in advance, who encountered at Kuilenburg `Orangist' Dutch infantry, commanded by Lt-Col Otto Lodewijk Baron van Quadt van Huchtenbroek. Van Quadt told Von Geel that the dike was already cut near the village Hagestein, but because of the low level of the river, no inundation was caused. Workers were still at work at this place, covered by 200 infantry, 20 cavalry, three field guns and two howitzers. Von Geel advanced on them, and after sighting the Prussians, the workers took flight. The patriot troops retreated without a shot being fired. The 2nd Division advanced further as planned, and on the 15th, the Brigade Woldeck reached Wageningen. The 1st Division reached Barnevelt on the same day.

3rd Division

The Duke of Brunswick accompanied the 3rd Division. On the 14th, the advance guard reached the village Ochten without opposition, while the main force reached Dodewaard. On the 15th the advance guard reached Tiel, were excited Orangists welcomed the troops. From there, Lieutenant von Holzendorff was dispatched with 30 hussars, to advance to Asperen and to secure the crossing of the river Linge. The patriots occupied Asperen with about 60 infantry of the Regiment No. 7 van Hardenbroek and some dragoons, but after some shots had been fired these retreated. The Prussian hussars forced the city gate and entered the city, taking prisoner six men.

Meanwhile the advance guard and main force had reached Thuil. At this place, the pontoon ships entered the Thuiler Kanaal (canal) to advance to the rivers Linge and Lek. Because the water was low, the ships had great difficulty advancing, and had to be pulled by hussar horses. On the 16th, it started to rain, and movement along the already bad roads became still more difficult than the days before. The main body advanced to Asperen, and the advance guard to Leerdam. At this place, a bridge was build across the river Linge, made of planks. Although the Quartermaster-General of the 3rd Division, Major von Gö6tz supervised the bridging, the Dutch Captain van Huye made it.

Information came that the patriots were busy cutting the dike along the Zekerick Canal near Meerkerk. Lieutenant von Grawert with 20 hussars was dispatched to prevent this, but when he arrived the patriots had already left, and the local farmers were busy repairing the damage done. [1]

From them, Grawert heard that another breach had been made, near the village Blokland. Moving to this place, Grawert found the dike cut, with the water already flowing on to the land, but he managed to close the gap before the inundation became serious.

The Duke of Brunswick decided to reconnoitre Gorkum in person. The 'Orangist' Swiss Captain de Gross accompanied him. De Gross had, as already described, taken up positions in Dalem with 200 men of the Regiment Zwitsers May No. 5, to counter any patriot move. Brunswick also took with him the commander of the advance guard Colonel von Romberg, Captain of the artillery von Eckenbrecher and a small hussar guard. Reconnoitring Gorkum, plans were made for the attack on the fortress-city, after which the Duke of Brunswick returned to his headquarters at Asperen. Von Romberg was ordered to advance on Gorkum on the 16th, at 23.00 hours.

Large Map 2 (slow: 156K)

Jumbo Map 2 (extremely slow: 593K)

More Prussian Campaign in Holland 1787 Part II

The Dutch During the Revolutionary Wars

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