Defense of the
Dutch Republic 1793
Dutch During the
Revolutionary Wars Part 11
Dutch Offensive Actions
by Geert van Uythoven, Netherlands
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Armed gunboats and smacks from Amsterdam before Moerdijk, 5 April 1793, taken from the book by J.P. van Oldenborgh. "The yacht depicted is the flagship of Willem Gustaaf Frederik, Graaf van Bentinck, Heer van Rhoon, who commands the fleet from Amsterdam." On 7 March Lieutenant B. Perreyn, commanding gunboat No. 1 located west of Werkendam, reported that, while on arecormaissance mission, he had sighted several barges, gathered in the small and marshy waterways north of Geertruidenberg. Perreyn was ordered to execute a raid, in order to capture or sink the barges sighted. Leaving that same night, Perreyn made his way towards the barges in two boats, with a force of twelve sailors and a pilot. Arriving there the morning at first daylight, he found thirteen barges and a fishing boat, manned by a few Dutch patriots. These initially tried to escape, but most were captured and put to work to bring over the barges to Hardinxveld. This proved to be impossible, with low tide and a northeastern wind. Therefore Perreyn ordered the barges to be sunk, after that had been done the patriots allowed to leave. The fishing boat however was brought over to Hardinxveld, only arriving there the next day, the boat pressed into Dutch service. By 11 March, the Dutch forces had become strong enough to be successful in preventing any French attempt to cross the river front, with most batteries more or less ready and enough ships and boats armed and in position. By now they even could take on a more offensive posture. The first place where the Dutch made use of their naval strength was Willemstad, as we already have seen. Defense of the Dutch Republic 1793 Dutch in Revolutionary Wars Part 11
The First British Troops Arrive Dutch Defense on Land Dutch Naval Forces French Activities Dutch Offensive Actions Defense of Zeeland Dutch Forces Cross the Hollandisch Diep British Attack and French Retreat The Dutch During the Revolutionary Wars
Battle of Swalmen, 1793 Part 12 [FE65] Defense of the Dutch Republic 1793 Part 11 [FE64] Siege of Willemstad 1793 Part 10 [FE63] Klundert and Willemstad 1793 Part 9 [FE62] Breda and Geertruidenberg 1793 Part 8 [FE60] Battle of Maastricht 1793 Part 7 [FE59] Austrian Troops and Dutch Defense Part 6 [FE57] Intermezzo 1787 - 1793 Part 5 [FE56] Prussian Campaign in Holland 1787: Part IV Part 4 [FE47] Prussian Campaign in Holland 1787: Part III Part 3 [FE46] Prussian Campaign in Holland 1787: Part II Part 2 [FE45] Prussian Campaign in Holland 1787: Part I Part 1 [FE44] Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire #64 Back to First Empire List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2002 by First Empire. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com |
Captain Detmers of the "Zeehond" received orders to do everything possible to aid the defenders of Willemstad, as described in part 9 and 10 of the series. As we have seen, the frigate "Venus" (Lieutenant Kervel, 24 guns), re-artned with ten 12-pdr guns instead of its original 6-pdr armament, was also send from Hellevoetsluis, to aid the defenders of this fortress-city. The next ship that was to arrive was the brig "Mercuut" (Lieutenant van Eeten, 16 guns). While struggling to hold Willemstad, the Dutch held a close guard on the French activities opposite the Island of Dordrecht.