.gif)
Battle of Bergen (1799)
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Bergen, also called the Battle of Bergen-Binnen, was fought on 19 September 1799, and resulted in a French
-Dutch
victory under General Brune
and General Daendels
against the Russians
and British
under the Duke of York
who had landed in North Holland
. The battlefield is marked by the Russisch Monument (1902).
At this period the Allies possessed a superiority of force with which it was decided to strike a decisive blow as early as possible. The Dutch, numbering 12,000, were in a strong position around Langedijk
, somewhat in advance of the French, who, by drawing in all detachments, had raised their field strength to 10,000 men, who were positioned in Alkmaar
, Bergen
, Schoorl
, and Egmond aan Zee
.
On 19 September the forces, under the Duke of York, formed in four columns, moved forward from Schagerbrug
. The left column, commanded by Sir Ralph Abercromby
, consisted of:
Two squadrons 18th Light Dragoons.
Major-General the Earl of Chatham
’s 7th Brigade (4th and 31st Foot).
Major-General Sir John Moore’s 4th Brigade (2/1st, 25th, 49th, 79th and 92nd Foot).
Major-General the Earl of Cavan
’s 6th Brigade (1/20th, 2/20th and 63rd Foot).
Colonel Macdonald's Reserve:
The right column, commanded by Lieutenant-General Hermann, consisted of:
Two squadrons 7th Light Dragoons
.
Russian forces: 6 grenadier, 6 musketeer and 1 jaeger battalions, Leib Hussar Regiment.
Major-General Manners
’ 9th Brigade (1/9th, 2/9th and 56th Foot).
The left-centre column, commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir James Pulteney, was composed of:
Two squadrons 11th Light Dragoons
.
Major-General George Don
’s 5th Brigade (1/7th, 2/17th, 1/40th and 2/40th Foot).
Major-General Eyre Coote’s 3rd Brigade (2nd, 27th, 29th
and 85th Foot).
The right-centre column, under Lieutenant-General Dundas, consisted of:
Two squadrons 11th Light Dragoons
.
Major-General D'Oyley's 1st Guards Brigade (3/1st Foot Guards and combined Guards grenadier companies).
Major-General Harry Burrard's 2nd Brigade (1st battalions of the Coldstream and 3rd Foot Guards).
Major-General H.R.H. Prince William
’s 8th Brigade (1/5th, 2/5th and 2/35th Foot).
undefended on the only side by which it was accessible.
The plan of operations was as follows: The left column was to turn the enemy’s right, on the Zuiderzee; the right was to drive the enemy from the heights of Camperduin
, and to seize Bergen; the right-centre had to force the position at Warmenhuizen
and Schoorldam
, and to cooperate with the right column; while the left-centre had to obtain possession of Oudkarspel
, on the main road leading to Alkmaar.
The enemy’s left was advantageously posted on the high sand hills which extend from the sea, in front of Petten
, to the town of Bergen. The ground over which the centre columns had to move was intersected every three or four hundred yards by broad, deep, wet ditches and canals. The bridges across the few roads leading to the points of attack were destroyed, and obstacles had been carefully arranged.
Contrary to all reasonable expectations, the force under Sir Ralph Abercromby
took no direct part in this action; consequently the allied troops engaged amounted to no more than between 15,000 to 18,000 men. The corps under Sir Ralph Abercromby began their march on the evening of 18 September, but his advance was delayed by the bad state of the roads, and he arrived at Hoorn many hours later than was expected. The objectives that would have been gained by this column would have had a material effect on the result of the whole expedition, and could only be attempted while the Duke of York possessed the superior force.
The battle was commenced by Russian forces, which had by 8 am, September 19, obtained possession of Bergen. In vain did they expect support from their British allies, which had not even lined up for the battle, because the British and Russian commanders had neglected to synchronize their clocks. As a result Russian forces were rapidly encircled by the French, and Lieutenant-Generals Hermann and Zherebtsov were made prisoners, while their troops were forced back through Bergen to Schoorl, which they also had to abandon.
This village was retaken by Major-General Manners
’ Brigade, which was then reinforced by two battalions of Russians, by Major-General D’Oyley’s Brigade of Guards, and by the 35th Regiment, under Prince William
. The action was renewed by these troops, who in their turn repulsed the enemy; but a lack of ammunition and the exhausted state of the corps engaged in that part of the field obliged them to retire on Petten and the Zijpe Canal.
The column under Lieutenant-General Dundas attacked the village of Warmenhuizen
at dawn, where the enemy, with a large force of artillery, was strongly positioned. Three battalions of Russians, under Major-General Sedmoratsky, moving from Krabbendam
, gallantly stormed the left of the village, with the 1st Regiment of Guards entering it on the right at the same time. The Grenadier battalion of Guards, the 3rd Regiment of Guards
and the 2nd battalion 5th Regiment which had been previously detached to march upon Schoorldam
to keep up the communication with Sir James Pulteney, were joined by the remainder of the column, which, after taking Warmenhuizen, had been reinforced by the 1st battalion 5th Regiment, and the whole moved forward and seized the village. They held it under artillery fire until the conclusion of the action.
The left-centre column, though opposed by the bulk of the Batavian army, under General Daendels, had overcome all opposition and taken possession of Oudkarspel, thus securing the direct line of advance on Alkmaar. Sir Ralph Abercromby had equally well accomplished his task by capturing the town of Hoorn
, on the coast of the Zuiderzee, and placing himself in a favourable position for completing the turning movement. However, in consequence of the partial failure on the right, it was considered necessary to recall all the troops and re-occupy the former position.
The strength of the column which attacked Bergen would have been more than sufficient if it had been employed correctly. This column was numerically superior to the enemy, but it moved in mass in an intersected country, did not cover its flanks, and its operations having, contrary to order, been commenced long before daylight, its fire was probably more destructive to itself than to the enemy. That the other columns were not too weak for their tasks is shown by their having taken and held, until recalled, the points against which they had been directed.
British: 6 officers, 2 sergeants, 109 rank-and-file killed; 43 officers, 20 sergeants, 2 drummers, 345 rank-and-file, wounded; 22 sergeants, 5 drummers, 463 rank-and-file, missing.
Russians: 1,741 non-commissioned officers, rank-and-file, and 44 officers, killed or captured. 1,225, including 49 officers, wounded.
Republicans: 3,000 prisoners, including 60 officers. 16 guns taken.
and, deeming the campaign to be doomed, promptly returned to Russia.
The Republicans re-occupied all the positions from which they had been driven, and their general line of defence was now covered on the right by inundations, the only roads across which were covered by field works. The space between Alkmaar and the Zuiderzee was thus rendered defensible by small numbers, and Amsterdam was secured on the land side. The remainder of the army, which had been reinforced, was concentrated between the Langedijk
and the sea, and the post of Oudkarspel
was strengthened by additional works, and by inundations. Schoorldam
and Koedijk
were also fortified. The next major engagement took place at Castricum
on 6 October.
French First Republic
The French First Republic was founded on 22 September 1792, by the newly established National Convention. The First Republic lasted until the declaration of the First French Empire in 1804 under Napoleon I...
-Dutch
Batavian Republic
The Batavian Republic was the successor of the Republic of the United Netherlands. It was proclaimed on January 19, 1795, and ended on June 5, 1806, with the accession of Louis Bonaparte to the throne of the Kingdom of Holland....
victory under General Brune
Guillaume Marie Anne Brune
Guillaume Marie Anne Brune, 1st Comte Brune was a French soldier and political figure who rose to Marshal of France....
and General Daendels
Herman Willem Daendels
Herman Willem Daendels was a Dutch politician who served as the 36th Governor General of the Dutch East Indies between 1808 and 1811....
against the Russians
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
and British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
under the Duke of York
Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany
The Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany was a member of the Hanoverian and British Royal Family, the second eldest child, and second son, of King George III...
who had landed in North Holland
North Holland
North Holland |West Frisian]]: Noard-Holland) is a province situated on the North Sea in the northwest part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is Haarlem and its largest city is Amsterdam.-Geography:...
. The battlefield is marked by the Russisch Monument (1902).
Order of battle
The Duke of York landed on 15 September, and assumed the command of the army, which now amounted to about 30,000 men with 1,200 light cavalry.At this period the Allies possessed a superiority of force with which it was decided to strike a decisive blow as early as possible. The Dutch, numbering 12,000, were in a strong position around Langedijk
Langedijk
Langedijk is a municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland and the region of West-Frisia. Langedijk received city rights in 1415.-Population centres :...
, somewhat in advance of the French, who, by drawing in all detachments, had raised their field strength to 10,000 men, who were positioned in Alkmaar
Alkmaar
Alkmaar is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of Noord Holland. Alkmaar is well known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination.-History:...
, Bergen
Bergen, North Holland
Bergen is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Its North Sea beaches make it a popular destination for tourists, especially Germans. In 2001, the municipality was expanded to include the former municipalities of Egmond and Schoorl.Since about 1900, Bergen...
, Schoorl
Schoorl
Schoorl is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Bergen, and lies about 8 km northwest of Alkmaar. Until 2001, Schoorl was also a municipality of its own....
, and Egmond aan Zee
Egmond aan Zee
Egmond aan Zee is a village on the North Sea coast in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Bergen, and lies about 9 km west of Alkmaar....
.
On 19 September the forces, under the Duke of York, formed in four columns, moved forward from Schagerbrug
Schagerbrug
Schagerbrug is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is the main town of the municipality of Zijpe, and lies about 15 km north of Heerhugowaard....
. The left column, commanded by Sir Ralph Abercromby
Ralph Abercromby
Sir Ralph Abercromby was a Scottish soldier and politician. He rose to the rank of lieutenant-general in the British Army, was noted for his services during the Napoleonic Wars, and served as Commander-in-Chief, Ireland.He twice served as MP for Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire, and was...
, consisted of:
Two squadrons 18th Light Dragoons.
Major-General the Earl of Chatham
John Pitt, 2nd Earl of Chatham
General John Pitt, 2nd Earl of Chatham, KG, PC was a British peer and soldier.-Career:He was the eldest son of William Pitt the Elder and an elder brother of William Pitt the Younger...
’s 7th Brigade (4th and 31st Foot).
Major-General Sir John Moore’s 4th Brigade (2/1st, 25th, 49th, 79th and 92nd Foot).
Major-General the Earl of Cavan
Richard Lambart, 7th Earl of Cavan
General Richard Ford William Lambart, 7th Earl of Cavan , styled Viscount Kilcoursie from 1772 to 1778, was a military commander throughout the Napoleonic era and beyond. He was colonial head of Egypt...
’s 6th Brigade (1/20th, 2/20th and 63rd Foot).
Colonel Macdonald's Reserve:
- First battalion of combined grenadier companies.
- First battalion of combined light companies.
- 53rd and 55th Foot.
The right column, commanded by Lieutenant-General Hermann, consisted of:
Two squadrons 7th Light Dragoons
7th Queen's Own Hussars
The 7th Queen's Own Hussars was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first formed in 1690. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into The Queen's Own Hussars in 1958....
.
Russian forces: 6 grenadier, 6 musketeer and 1 jaeger battalions, Leib Hussar Regiment.
Major-General Manners
Robert Manners (1758–1823)
Robert Manners was a British soldier and Member of Parliament.He was the eldest son of General Lord Robert Manners by his wife Mary Digges, and succeeded to his father's estate at Bloxholm in Lincolnshire...
’ 9th Brigade (1/9th, 2/9th and 56th Foot).
The left-centre column, commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir James Pulteney, was composed of:
Two squadrons 11th Light Dragoons
11th Hussars
The 11th Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army.-History:The regiment was founded in 1715 as Colonel Philip Honeywood's Regiment of Dragoons and was known by the name of its Colonel until 1751 when it became the 11th Regiment of Dragoons...
.
Major-General George Don
George Don (British Army officer)
General Sir George Don GCB, GCH was a senior British Army military officer and colonial governor during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries...
’s 5th Brigade (1/7th, 2/17th, 1/40th and 2/40th Foot).
Major-General Eyre Coote’s 3rd Brigade (2nd, 27th, 29th
29th Regiment of Foot
The 29th Regiment of Foot was, from 1694 to 1881, an infantry regiment of the British Army. It now forms part of the Mercian Regiment.-Formation:...
and 85th Foot).
The right-centre column, under Lieutenant-General Dundas, consisted of:
Two squadrons 11th Light Dragoons
11th Hussars
The 11th Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army.-History:The regiment was founded in 1715 as Colonel Philip Honeywood's Regiment of Dragoons and was known by the name of its Colonel until 1751 when it became the 11th Regiment of Dragoons...
.
Major-General D'Oyley's 1st Guards Brigade (3/1st Foot Guards and combined Guards grenadier companies).
Major-General Harry Burrard's 2nd Brigade (1st battalions of the Coldstream and 3rd Foot Guards).
Major-General H.R.H. Prince William
Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh
Prince William, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh was a member of the British Royal Family, a great-grandson of George II and nephew of George III.-Early life:...
’s 8th Brigade (1/5th, 2/5th and 2/35th Foot).
Battle plan and terrain
The British and Russian commanders noticed that the Republicans had left their right uncovered, and a very strong position unoccupied. This would have been difficult to correct if the attack on that flank had been vigorously carried out. They had also left AmsterdamAmsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
undefended on the only side by which it was accessible.
The plan of operations was as follows: The left column was to turn the enemy’s right, on the Zuiderzee; the right was to drive the enemy from the heights of Camperduin
Camperduin
Camperduin is a small village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Bergen, and lies about 12 km northwest of Alkmaar....
, and to seize Bergen; the right-centre had to force the position at Warmenhuizen
Warmenhuizen
Warmenhuizen is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Harenkarspel, and lies about 8 km northwest of Heerhugowaard.In 2001, the town of Warmenhuizen had 4925 inhabitants...
and Schoorldam
Schoorldam
Schoorldam is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is partially in the municipality of Bergen, partially in Harenkarspel....
, and to cooperate with the right column; while the left-centre had to obtain possession of Oudkarspel
Oudkarspel
Oudkarspel is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is located in the municipality of Langedijk, north of the town of Noord-Scharwoude.Oudkarspel was a separate municipality until 1941, when the new municipality of Langedijk was created....
, on the main road leading to Alkmaar.
The enemy’s left was advantageously posted on the high sand hills which extend from the sea, in front of Petten
Petten
Petten is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Zijpe, and lies about 15 km northwest of Alkmaar, on the North Sea. The population is ca. 1900....
, to the town of Bergen. The ground over which the centre columns had to move was intersected every three or four hundred yards by broad, deep, wet ditches and canals. The bridges across the few roads leading to the points of attack were destroyed, and obstacles had been carefully arranged.
Action
Ralph Abercromby
Sir Ralph Abercromby was a Scottish soldier and politician. He rose to the rank of lieutenant-general in the British Army, was noted for his services during the Napoleonic Wars, and served as Commander-in-Chief, Ireland.He twice served as MP for Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire, and was...
took no direct part in this action; consequently the allied troops engaged amounted to no more than between 15,000 to 18,000 men. The corps under Sir Ralph Abercromby began their march on the evening of 18 September, but his advance was delayed by the bad state of the roads, and he arrived at Hoorn many hours later than was expected. The objectives that would have been gained by this column would have had a material effect on the result of the whole expedition, and could only be attempted while the Duke of York possessed the superior force.
The battle was commenced by Russian forces, which had by 8 am, September 19, obtained possession of Bergen. In vain did they expect support from their British allies, which had not even lined up for the battle, because the British and Russian commanders had neglected to synchronize their clocks. As a result Russian forces were rapidly encircled by the French, and Lieutenant-Generals Hermann and Zherebtsov were made prisoners, while their troops were forced back through Bergen to Schoorl, which they also had to abandon.
This village was retaken by Major-General Manners
Robert Manners (1758–1823)
Robert Manners was a British soldier and Member of Parliament.He was the eldest son of General Lord Robert Manners by his wife Mary Digges, and succeeded to his father's estate at Bloxholm in Lincolnshire...
’ Brigade, which was then reinforced by two battalions of Russians, by Major-General D’Oyley’s Brigade of Guards, and by the 35th Regiment, under Prince William
Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh
Prince William, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh was a member of the British Royal Family, a great-grandson of George II and nephew of George III.-Early life:...
. The action was renewed by these troops, who in their turn repulsed the enemy; but a lack of ammunition and the exhausted state of the corps engaged in that part of the field obliged them to retire on Petten and the Zijpe Canal.
The column under Lieutenant-General Dundas attacked the village of Warmenhuizen
Warmenhuizen
Warmenhuizen is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Harenkarspel, and lies about 8 km northwest of Heerhugowaard.In 2001, the town of Warmenhuizen had 4925 inhabitants...
at dawn, where the enemy, with a large force of artillery, was strongly positioned. Three battalions of Russians, under Major-General Sedmoratsky, moving from Krabbendam
Krabbendam
Krabbendam is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Harenkarspel, and lies about 10 km north of Alkmaar....
, gallantly stormed the left of the village, with the 1st Regiment of Guards entering it on the right at the same time. The Grenadier battalion of Guards, the 3rd Regiment of Guards
Scots Guards
The Scots Guards is a regiment of the Guards Division of the British Army, whose origins lie in the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland...
and the 2nd battalion 5th Regiment which had been previously detached to march upon Schoorldam
Schoorldam
Schoorldam is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is partially in the municipality of Bergen, partially in Harenkarspel....
to keep up the communication with Sir James Pulteney, were joined by the remainder of the column, which, after taking Warmenhuizen, had been reinforced by the 1st battalion 5th Regiment, and the whole moved forward and seized the village. They held it under artillery fire until the conclusion of the action.
The left-centre column, though opposed by the bulk of the Batavian army, under General Daendels, had overcome all opposition and taken possession of Oudkarspel, thus securing the direct line of advance on Alkmaar. Sir Ralph Abercromby had equally well accomplished his task by capturing the town of Hoorn
Hoorn
-Cities :* Purmerend * Enkhuizen * Alkmaar * Amsterdam * Lelystad * Den Helder * Leeuwarden -Towns :* Edam...
, on the coast of the Zuiderzee, and placing himself in a favourable position for completing the turning movement. However, in consequence of the partial failure on the right, it was considered necessary to recall all the troops and re-occupy the former position.
The strength of the column which attacked Bergen would have been more than sufficient if it had been employed correctly. This column was numerically superior to the enemy, but it moved in mass in an intersected country, did not cover its flanks, and its operations having, contrary to order, been commenced long before daylight, its fire was probably more destructive to itself than to the enemy. That the other columns were not too weak for their tasks is shown by their having taken and held, until recalled, the points against which they had been directed.
Losses
The losses on both sides were considerable:British: 6 officers, 2 sergeants, 109 rank-and-file killed; 43 officers, 20 sergeants, 2 drummers, 345 rank-and-file, wounded; 22 sergeants, 5 drummers, 463 rank-and-file, missing.
Russians: 1,741 non-commissioned officers, rank-and-file, and 44 officers, killed or captured. 1,225, including 49 officers, wounded.
Republicans: 3,000 prisoners, including 60 officers. 16 guns taken.
Aftermath
The newly appointed Russian Commander-in-Chief, Mikhail Kutuzov, who was rushing from St. Petersburg to assume command of Russian forces, learned about the debacle at HamburgHamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
and, deeming the campaign to be doomed, promptly returned to Russia.
The Republicans re-occupied all the positions from which they had been driven, and their general line of defence was now covered on the right by inundations, the only roads across which were covered by field works. The space between Alkmaar and the Zuiderzee was thus rendered defensible by small numbers, and Amsterdam was secured on the land side. The remainder of the army, which had been reinforced, was concentrated between the Langedijk
Langedijk
Langedijk is a municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland and the region of West-Frisia. Langedijk received city rights in 1415.-Population centres :...
and the sea, and the post of Oudkarspel
Oudkarspel
Oudkarspel is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is located in the municipality of Langedijk, north of the town of Noord-Scharwoude.Oudkarspel was a separate municipality until 1941, when the new municipality of Langedijk was created....
was strengthened by additional works, and by inundations. Schoorldam
Schoorldam
Schoorldam is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is partially in the municipality of Bergen, partially in Harenkarspel....
and Koedijk
Koedijk
Koedijk is a village in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It is now a part of Langedijk, but before 1972 it was a separate municipality. Koedijk is most famous for its annual . This gondelvaart is held every year on the 3rd Saturday in August....
were also fortified. The next major engagement took place at Castricum
Battle of Castricum
The Battle of Castricum saw a Franco-Dutch force defeat an Anglo-Russian force near Castricum, Netherlands. The battle was fought during the War of the Second Coalition against Revolutionary France between French and Dutch forces under the command of General Guillaume Brune and Herman Willem...
on 6 October.