Klundert and Willemstad 1793
Dutch During the
Revolutionary Wars Part 10
Siege of Willenstad: March 3
by Geert van Uythoven, Netherlands
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The siege had lasted two days, as described in the previous article. Many events took place before the French would lift it.
Sunday, 3 March
The guns kept silent until about half past eight in the morning. The besieged garrison made good use of this pause of about twelve hours to finish the transfer of part of the powder from the damaged powder magazine to the holes dug in the courtines. In addition, more caverns or casemates were dug out for the soldier and officer, to have some protection against the bombardment, the rain and cold. This example was followed by many of the citizens.
The French had constructed another battery during the night, to be able to fire at the ships passing by or anchored to assist Willemstad. At nine o’clock, when this
battery was finished, the French resumed their bombardment of the city, with red-hot ball, howitzer shells and grenades. Most of the citizens sought refuge in the cellars
beneath the town hall. During the morning, the guard house on the bastion ‘Zeeland’, used by the gunners to seek refuge for the could, exploded. A few minutes before the explosion twenty men were inside, but now only two. Both were badly wounded, one of them died an hour later. [1]
A number of fires were caused by the bombardment, but the citizens did their best to extinguish them, aided by the garrison and encouraged by officers and members of the magistrate. Of the distress the citizens had to endure, the following event will be an example. When a civilian, named Jan van den Hil, wanted to
assist in extinguishing a fire, he first brought his pregnant wife, three children and his old mother to the safety of the cellars beneath the town hall. He carried his youngest child, three years old, on his arm. Arriving near the town hall he was hit by an 18-pdr cannon-ball in the back, splashing his bowels around and killing him instantly. The same ball wounded the child he carried deadly, taking an arm away. [2]
The effect of this horrifying event on the citizens and garrison alike can easy be imagined.
At around half past eleven, while a council of war was being held at the government house about the worsening situation the defenders found themselves in, it
was observed from the fortress walls that the French advanced in force through the inundated polder, wading through the water.
[3]
The attack was executed by the Batavian Legion, Dutch troops in French service, led by the exiled Lieutenant-Colonel Herman Willem Daendels.
[4]
Because of the inundations their advance was slow, and their losses heavy because of the gunfire from the walls. These guns were taken under fire by two heavy metal mortars, placed in battery by the French along the Straatweg during the previous night, and eight hand mortars. Lieutenant Colthof left the council of war end
hurried to the batteries on the walls covering the Straatweg and vicinities. Arriving there, he met his gunners in confusion, scared by the counter-battery fire of the enemy mortars. Pulling his sabre, he threatened to run through the person that did not do his duty, urging them to behave themselves with honour until the enemy had retreated. Loading a gun on his own, aiming and firing it at the French, he set an example for the gunners which took heart again. If this was not already enough, he opened his purse and handed out a handful of coins. His efforts had the desired result. A destructive fire was kept up from the walls, killing and wounding many French. These retreated, wading back through the inundated polder, leaving behind both heavy mortars, which were nailed by the Ensign J.C. Rost and a detachment of the
Regiment Saxen-Gotha later that day. According to a French gunner made prisoner they following day, the French needed five or six wagons to transport all their dead.
It became clear to the Governor Van Boetzelaer that the situation the fortress was getting worse every day. His thoughts were not for himself but for the citizens and the soldiers of his garrison. Therefore, on the same day, he despatched Captain Croon with the following message to the Stadtholder in The Hague:
His Serene Sovereign and Lord! The enemy harasses the city enormously, with howitzer-grenades as well as with red-hot ball. This morning there was a fire on three places inside the city, and the wind was so strong that I was afraid that the whole city would go up in flames. This lasted from half
past eight until one o’clock in the afternoon, when fortunately the fires were extinguished. In the meanwhile, the enemy appeared at the Landpoort, to clear away the abatis. But we managed to drive them away with cannon fire. However, I have the honour to inform Your Serene Highness that our situation
becomes critical: Therefore, I called together the council of war and it was decided to inform you of our situation, because in time they will overwhelm us with their superior numbers, and the garrison is wore down while it has no time to take a rest. I do not believe that there is a possibility left to capitulate, but when that moment arrives I will try to negotiate something, or if it is possible to retreat across the Hollandsch Diep with ships. Therefore, I ask Your Serene
Highness for orders about this matter. The garrison has behaved so well, that I cannot stay idle to see them put to the sword, what will be our faith if we are taken by storm. Therefore, I request Your Serene Highness to send me a few ships, so that in case of an emergency, when I cannot defend myself any longer and have to succumb for their superior numbers, I can save my garrison. For myself, my destiny will be clear to you from the letter I enclose,
[5] but I will make that sacrifice willingly for Your Serene Highness and my home country: But so many brave fellows could be of much use to the country, as to be sacrificed fruitlessly. And the city, burned down (what will be her destiny), in which we lack many things; no safe place for the wounded; no provisions;
and, with the heavy storm raging, which continued until yesterday afternoon, there is no possibility of communicating with the Buitensluis.
[6]
With this having the honour, with the deepest regards naming myself, Serene Sovereign and Lord! Your Serene Sovereign submissive and very obedient servant,
(was signed) C. van Boetzelaer,
However, the siege continued. In the evening, the French immigrant Captain of the Corps Royal de l’Artillerie de France, chevalier de Verclay arrived, send by the
Government in The Hague to assist in defending the fortress. It would appear that De Verclay was a very active and able officer, excelling in counter-battery fire.
Something that was necessary, because already the same evening at seven o’clock the French resumed their bombardment, throwing howitzer shells in the city. This lasted until eight, when the firing ceased, only to be resumed around ten o’clock, with enormous vigour. In two and a half hour, around five hundred shots were fired at the city; howitzer shells, grenades, and red-hot ball.
The garrison and the inhabitants took cover as best as they could. Again the church was set on fire, but again the fire was quickly extinguished by the combined efforts of the garrison as well as the citizens. The guns on the walls replied to the bombardment, but were not able to suppress the French fire effectively. The bombardment last the whole night, until about five o’clock in the morning. In the centre the harbour entrance can be seen, with on the right the barricaded Waterpoort. Left of the harbour entrance stands the tower of the town hall, with further to the left the church tower and the windmill.
The bastions that can be seen are the 'Groningen’ Bastion on the left, and the ‘Gelderland’ Bastion on the right.
Siege of Willemstad 1793 Dutch in Revolutionary Wars Part 10
The Dutch During the Revolutionary Wars
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Illustration 10.1; The fortress Willemstad seen from the Hollandsch Diep After an engraving taken from Oldenborgh’s “De Belegering en Verdediging van de Willemstad”