The Dutch During
The Revolutionary Wars
The Prussian Campaign
In Holland 1787
Part III
Patriot Defenses
by Geert van Uythoven, The Netherlands
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Patriot DefencesThe patriots were busy strengthening the defences of Amsterdam, and they used the truce to strengthen them even more. The Defence-Commission asked for 1,800 volunteers, which were brought together easily, to work at the defences. Large Amsterdam Area Map (slow: 138K)
Every day more terrain became inundated, batteries were thrown up, and dikes were cut. Bridges were demolished and barricades thrown up. The patriots had many guns available, and used them to cover all the approaches. Flat-bottomed boats were equipped with guns to be used as gunboats. To counter an attack from behind, from the direction of Haarlem, redoubts were thrown up near the village Halfweg. The garrison of Amsterdam consisted of the following troops:
60 Burgher companies of Amsterdam Auxiliaries Artillery Cavalry Of these troops, the regular battalions were trained, and useful. The Burgher companies and auxiliaries had not much military value, although some units behaved well, especially if they were well led. The numerous guns lacked horses, but that was not a problem because most of them were positioned at static positions inside defence-works. Some of the crews were well trained. The cavalry was weak, already having received many losses, and suffering from desertion. Desertion rate was high: for example, during the night from 28 to 29 September, 134 deserters arrived at Von Kalkreuth's outposts. However, concerning the cavalry, there would be no much use for cavalry in the inundated defences, and they were used to patrol the shores of the Haarlemmermeer. Military command of Amsterdam was given to the Colonel of the Burgher companies, Colonel J.D. van Hogendorp tot Hofwegen. However, in practice the defence was led by the Defence-Commission. From now on, a further Prussian advance would be no 'walk in the park'. All the terrain around Amsterdam was inundated. The Prussians could use only the following approaches, which were well defended: 1. Advancing along the seadike from Naarden to Amsterdam, along the Zuiderzee. However, an advance along this dike was not possible because the fortress-city Muyden barred the way. Further back, at Diemerdam (Overdiemen, see map No. 4), on the sea dike a battery was thrown up, armed with two 6pdr and a 3pdr gun. Large Diemerbrug, Duivendrecht, and Ouderkerk Maps (slow: 113K)
South of this battery, a 6pdr gun behind a parapet covered a demolished bridge across a canal. South of this battery, yet another battery near a farm, armed with two 3pdr guns, covered a breach in the road leading to the southeast. The road leading in the direction of the Vinkenbrug was also barred with several breaches. Further back on the seadike, a 6pdr gun was positioned, to be used where necessary. Finally, at the Diemerdammer sluice, a battery armed with two 12pdr guns was thrown up, covering the sluices against an attack from across the Zuiderzee or along the seadike. 2. By way of Diemerbrug (see map No 1). Two roads led to this village: the southern one across the (demolished) bridge (Tolhekbrug), and the northern one across the Vinkenbrug. The road along the river Gaasper was barred by two breaches covered by a gun positioned behind some trees, in front of the burned bridge. Just behind the demolished bridge a battery was thrown up, armed with two 6pdr guns. On the canal near the demolished Tolhekbrug two gunboats, armed with two 6pdr guns and seventeen men each, were positioned. Five breaches were made in the southern road between this position and Diemerbrug, covered by two batteries armed with heavy guns. At Diemerbrug, more guns were positioned. The Vinkenbrug was drawn up, and covered by a battery with a moat, armed with two 6pdr guns. On the northern road, behind a breach, a battery armed with two 6pdr guns also covered the road and the Vinkenbrug. Behind Diemerbrug, behind the bridge across the circular canal around the Diemermeer Polder, two guns were positioned as a reserve. The forces occupying these defences were commanded by Colonel von Sternbach, with acting as local commander Colonel de Vins, and consisted of part of the Regiment Sternbach and Fusiliers van Salm. 3. Across the bridge at Duivendrechter Brug (See map No. 2). The road to Duivendrecht was barred with abatis [4], breaches and demolished bridges. In front of the bridge, a battery was thrown up, armed with an 18pdr and a 6pdr gun. Behind the bridge, behind a tavern, another battery armed with three 3pdr guns [5] defended the bridge and the approaches to it. Further back, another battery, armed with two 6pdr guns, also covered the approaches to the bridge. In the canal two gunboats, each armed with two 6pdr guns, were positioned. The forces present were also commanded by Colonel von Sternbach, and consisted of parts of the Regiment Sternbach and Fusiliers van Salm. Attached to this force was a 'brigade' of auxiliaries from the province Gelre, commanded by the reliable Major Herman Willem Daendels. [6]
4. By way of the village Ouderkerk (See map No. 3). The defences consisted of four artillery batteries. On both sides of the river Amstel, in the direction of Uithoorn, the roads were barred with abatis. These were covered by two batteries, one behind a canal with the bridge demolished, armed with two 12pdr guns, the other behind a breach, armed with two 6pdr guns. Further back to Ouderkerk, two 6pdr guns covered the road to Amstelveen. Further back, at the outskirts of Ouderkerk, a battery behind a demolished bridge, armed with three 6pdr guns, formed a further defence line in this direction. Abatis and a breach barred the road from the direction of Abcoude, along the river Vecht. These barricades were covered by two 6pdr guns behind a wooden parapet.
A little further back, another battery surrounded by a moat was thrown up, armed with two 3pdr guns. The road in the direction of Klein Duivendrecht was also cut at two places. As a reserve, further on the road to Amsterdam along the river Amstel, two heavy 8pdr guns were positioned. On the river Amstel, covering the Kalfjeslaan, five gunboats armed with two guns each were positioned. Finally, on the river Amstel near its entrance into the city of Amsterdam, a floating battery, armed with twelve 6pdr guns, was positioned. The forces present at Ouderkerk were commanded by Lt-Col van Wilde, Captain with the Burgher companies of Amsterdam, and consisted of Jagers van Salm, Burghers of Amsterdam, part of the auxiliary 'brigade' of the province Gelre, Friesian auxiliaries and gunners.
5. Along the road from Amstelveen to Amsterdam. Major of the Engineers Adriaan van Helden was assigned to strengthen this approach. He did his job very well. The road on the dike leading to Amstelveen was barred with an abatis. Behind the abatis, three breaches were made in the road. Behind a canal, a battery of five guns was thrown up (three 3pdr guns and two 6pdr guns [7]). Another battery, armed with three guns covered the road to Ouderkerk, which road was also cut at two places. Commanding these defences was Colonel Count de Porte. Further, back to Amsterdam the road was frequently barred with abatis, palisades, and chevaux frise. Near the Kalfjeslaan, two redoubts were thrown up; one of these, armed with two 6pdr and two 3pdr guns, covered the road leading in the direction of Ouderkerk. Abatis and seven breaches barred the Kalfjeslaan itself. The other redoubt, armed with two 6pdr and a 3pdr gun, covered the road to Amstelveen. A battery armed with two 3pdr guns covered a road leading west to the Haarlemmermeer, barred with five breaches. Finally, near the village Overtoom a battery was thrown up, armed with two 6pdr guns. The road leading from Overtoom to Sloten was also cut and barred with abatis, covered by a 6pdr and a 3pdr gun.
6. Along the road from the direction of Haarlem to Amsterdam. Near the sluices at Halfweg a battery was thrown up, armed with three 12pdr guns and two howitzers. In front of this position, the road was barred with an abatis, and in front of this barricade, the bridge across a canal was destroyed. Here commanded the French Captain of Artillery de Richaust.
Surprisingly, the Haarlemmermeer was not guarded with armed boats. Only the patriot cavalry patrolled its shores. In addition, due to the quick advance of the Prussians, not all defences were completed when the fighting started.
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The Dutch During the Revolutionary Wars
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