Lincelles 1793

The fortified village of Lincelles had been taken by the Dutch army, but a French counterattack had driven them out again. The British Guards recaptured Lincelles:

Source: Anonymous, "Feldzug der Verbündeten in Braband und Flandern im Jahr 1793", in Hoyers' 'Neues Militairisches Magazin, 2. Band, 2. Stück (Leipzig 1801) pp. 37-38:

"The rumour [of the Dutch thrown out of Lincelles again] had just become common knowledge in the English army, when at three o'clock in the afternoon totally unexpectedly the British guards struck camp, leaving behind their tents and baggage. No one knew where they went too. They were followed at half past six by the Hessian 'Erbprinz', 'Prinz Carl', and 'Von Kosboth' Regiments, including their artillery, taking the road to Lincelles. Just before Lincelles we already heard the news. The English General Lake had debouched out of the woods on this side of Lincelles with the three battalions of English guards, formed up, and marched against the heavily fortified village Lincelles (situated on a height, from which the surrounding terrain can be overseen), with much speed and in perfect order. The French let the English come into canister range, and then they blasted away at the English with 12-pdr to 16-pdr cannon and a very effective musketry. The English lost 350 men killed and wounded in this barrage, including 13 officers. However, without flinching, these 3 battalions with exemplary bravery stormed the entrenchments, stabbing to death every one of the fleeing enemy they could catch. The loss of the enemy seems to have been heavy; around 9 o'clock in the evening, one found in several corners of the entrenched village 20 to 30 dead Frenchmen lying side by side. We have made 60 prisoners, and reckon that the enemy has lost over 1,200 men. The victors captured twelve 16-pdr cannon, and their loss totalled 850 dead and wounded." 1)

1) [This account is probably used to describe this action in Jomini's "Histoire critique et militaire des Guerres de la Revolution" Tome 4me (Paris, new edition 1820), which is been copied again in Panckoucke's "Victoires, conquêtes, désastres, revers et guerres civiles des français de 1792 à 1815" Tome 1er (Paris 1817), as it is identical].

It is interesting to look at some more accounts of this engagement, as it gives a good impression of the way different sources describe the same event, as well as giving an idea if the bias that certain sources have.

Source: Robert Brown (Corporal in the Coldstream Guards), "An Impartial Journal of a Detachment from the Brigade of Foot Guards, commencing 25th February, 1793, and ending 9th May, 1795" (London 1795) pp. 65-67:

"The Dutch troops having been driven from the post of Lincelles this day, it was deemed necessary to retake it; upon which the three battalions of the guards, under the command of Major-General Lake, were ordered immediately on that service; accordingly we marched about two o'clock P.M. and about six o'clock reached the village of Lincelles, where we found the enemy strongly entrenched, and well prepared for their defence.General Lake having made the proper disposition, the attack began. The 1st regiment being in front of the column, began the attack, and the 3rd regiment and Coldstream forming on their left with the utmost celerity, the whole line then rushed in upon the enemy with irresistible force, amidst showers of grape shot from their redoubts; and after discharging a volley or two of musketry, made a furious charge, accompanied with a loud huzza, mounted their batteries in the face of the enemy, and devoted all they met with to the bayonet.
The French, who had been accustomed to the cold lifeless attacks of the Dutch [sic!], were amazed at the spirit and intrepidity of the British, and not much relishing the manner of our salute, immediately gave way, abandoning all that was in the place, and in their flight threw away both arms and accoutrements.We took one stand of colours, ten pieces of cannon, with two pieces which they had taken from the Dutch, and a number of prisoners. We suppose the number of troops in that place to have amounted to between 5 and 6,000; ours were short of 1,200.

Battalions	Captains		Lieutenants		Ensigns		Sergeants		Drummer		R. & F.
Battalions	k	w	k	w	k	w	k	w	k	w	k	w
1st Regiment	-	2	-	3	-	-	2	2	-	-	19	42
Coldstream	1	1	-	-	-	1	-	2	-	-	8	40
3rd Regiment	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	2	1	-	7	43
Total	1	3	-	4	-	1	2	6	1	-	34	125

Lieutenant-colonel Bosville of the Coldstream was killed, a man of an amiable disposition, much regretted by all who knew him."

Source: J.W. Fortescue, "British Campaigns in Flanders 1690-1794, being extracts from 'A History of the British Army'" vol. IV (London 1918) pp. 225-226:

"About mid-day the French returned with five thousand men and drove out the Dutch; and an hour or two later an aide-de-camp came galloping into Menin to ask for help. The Duke of York at once ordered out the brigade of Guards, which had just arrived at Menin after a severe march, with a few guns, under General Lake. The three battalions, without their flank companies, and therefore little over eleven hundred strong, at once turned out, and traversed the six miles to Linselles in little more than an hour, but, on reaching it, found not a Dutchman there. They were, however, saluted by a heavy fire of grape from batteries which they had supposed to be in possession of the Dutch; and thereupon Lake determined to attack at once.
The hill, on which the village of Linselles stands, is fairly steep on its northern face, and was further strengthened by two redoubts before the village itself and by a barrier of palisades on the road, while its flanks were secured by woods and ditches. Lake at once deployed into line under a heavy fire of grape, and, after firing three or four volleys, charged with the bayonet and drove the French from the redoubts and village. He then halted and re-formed on the southern side of the hill, not without apprehensions lest the enemy should rally and make a counter attack while he was still unsupported. Fortunately, however, the French were not equal to the attempt, being still of the inferior quality which was inevitable under the foolish administration of the Jacobins, and so puny in stature that the Guards cuffed and jostled them like a London mob, without condescending to kill them 1). Lake was therefore left unmolested on his ground, until at nightfall six battalions of Hessians arrived, in reply to his urgent messages for reinforcement, to relieve him. His trophies were twelve guns, seventy prisoners, and a colour, but his losses amounted to one hundred and eighty-seven officers and men killed and wounded."

Source: Journaal der Armée onder de orders van zyne Doorlugtige Hoogheid den Heere Generaal Erfprince van Orange etc. ['Journal of the army, commanded by his royal highness the hereditary Prince of Organe]; headquarters, 18 August 1793:

"(…) In the afternoon his royal higness [at Menin] received message that Lincelles and Blaton were attacked again, with such might that, if no support was send, a retreat would be inevitable. Lord the Duke of York was requested to send some of his troops, after which three battalions English Guards marched to Lincelles. When the Prince of Orange arrived at Lincelles, the post was abandoned again, being stormed and captured by the troops mentioned."

Source: J.P. van Ginkel, "Het leven van Willem George Frederik van Orange" (Rotterdam 1802) p. 104:

"[The French advanced on Lincelles again] with a numerous force, and after heavy fighting they became masters of that post. Now three English battalions advanced, which attacked the enemy and retook the post by storm again. But these also would not have been able to maintain their position alone, because of which they were supported by the [Dutch units] Bataljon Zwitsers van May, Bataljon van Welderen, and two squadrons of the [Dutch] guard which arrived with speed to keep this post."

Source: J. Bosscha, "Neerland's heldendaden te land, van de vroegste tijden af tot op onze dagen" deel 3 (Rotterdam 1842) pp. 44-45:

"These two posts were very strong [i.e. the villages Blaton and Lincelles], and it was to expect that the Dutch forces would need support, of which Prince William [of Orange] assured himself with a promise by the Duke of York. (…) the enemy returned strongly reinforced in the afternoon, and retook Blaton and Lincelles. Now reinforcements arrived, consisting of two battalions of the English Guard which, followed by two Dutch battalions, drove the enemy out of Lincelles again, after which the entrenchments were demolished. Enemy loss was estimated 1,700 men, while the Dutch forces had lost ten officers deadly wounded or taken prisoner."

Source: F. de Bas, "Prins Frederik der Nederlanden en zijn tijd" deel 1 (Schiedam 1887) p. 202:

"But the [Dutch] column of Lincelles, led by the hereditary prince himself, would have been beaten after having gained some advantages, when the English Guard had not arrived in time. These recaptured the lost post by storm and [the Prince of] Orange stayed victorious, although with great loss of officers and other."

[as already has been stated, Jomini's and Panckoucke's accounts are identical to the first one]

Source: J.P.G. Viennet, "Histoire des guerres de la Révolution - Campagnes du Nord 1792-1794" Tome 1er (Paris 1827) p. 200:

"But the Duke of York, who was in Menin at that time, ordered General Lake with his English guards to the rescue of the Prince of Orange. Three Hessian regiments followed in reserve to support the new attack when necessary. But they were not needed; the guard sufficed. Wavering from the fire of our batteries, they were rallied by the undauntedness of General Lake, and stormed our entrenchments, becoming master of both villages [i.e. Blaton and Lincelles]"

Source: Baron Gay de Vernon (officier d'état-major), "Mémoire sur les opérations militaires des généraux en chef Custine et Houchard, pendant les années 1792 et 1793" (Paris 1844) p. 239:

"The second affair of that day was murderous and executed with much force: the 12me de ligne showed good conduct and much valour in the attack on Lincelles. The Duke of York detached the English Guards brigade and three Hessian regiments to rescue the Prince of Orange. General Lake, commanding this force, reached the village in the evening and stayed master of Lincelles."

Source: Albrecht Reichs-Burggrafen zu Dohna (General-Adjudant of General Knobelsdorff, CIC of the Prussian forces in the Netherlands), "Der Feldzug der Preussen gegen die Franzosen in den Niederlanden im Jahr 1793" 3. Band (Stendal 1798) p.224:

"At half past three in the afternoon, the enemy advanced again and the Dutch left the post [Lincelles] to them, abandoning a large part of their muskets, two howitzers, a 12-pdr and five 3-pdr's. The Duke of York was already in the vicinity of the fighting with his corps, and hurried to aid the Dutch forces. The post was again captured, the enemy thrown out of it and 10 cannon taken from him.The Dutch cannon had already been removed, and it was not possible to retrieve them again."

Source: Hauptmann Schels, "Die Eroberung der Niederlande durch den Prinzen von Sachsen-Koburg, k.k. Feldmarschall, im Jahre 1793", in 'Neue Militärische Zeitschrift' I, 2. Heft (Wien 1813) p.11:

"In the afternoon 7 to 8,000 Frenchmen left the Camp of Madelaine, and forced the Dutch to abandon Lincelles again. After having received message of this, the Duke of York hurried there with two English Grenadier battalions, stormed the place again, and captured 10 cannon."

The above collection of accounts of a random and only minor event is a good example of how the truth suddenly can change. You could even say it is a scholarly example. Initially, I only wanted to give an example about the French use of artillery, and I found Lincelles in the first account. After having put this on my web site, but not being very comfortable as I am used to describe events using several sources, never only one, I continued to search about this event, resulting in an entirely other piece!

Not surprisingly, Jomini copied another source, while Jomini on his turn was copied by Panckoucke. Both sources are known as mainly compilations of other sources. At least Panckoucke takes the trouble to give a rough impression of the sources used…

In the first account "Feldzug der Verbündeten ..." and in most other, three battalions are mentioned. The Austrian account "Eroberung der Niederlande…" speaks about only two battalions. And this account is written by Schels, who usually is known as a reliable source! Of course, his description of Lincelles is second hand, as he was not present himself, being no Austrian forces present at all on this part of the field. I do not know what his source really was, but obviously not the official Dutch journal! What now, if you speak only German, with only access to limited sources: suddenly the strength of the attacker is reduced by 33%. Of course, this makes the performance of the English much better.

For spectators of the engagement, it is possible that they saw only two bodies of infantry advancing: Brown, who participated in the attack as a corporal in the Coldstream Guards, wrote: "The 1st regiment being in front of the column, began the attack, and the 3rd regiment and Coldstream forming on their left with the utmost celerity". When looking at the map, one could also decide on two bodies, not three. It was definitely three battalions, as mentioned in the British and Dutch sources, which also should be the most reliable ones in this case.

Another interesting point is, that some sources mention the Dutch reinforcements and others not. Maybe suspect, Dutch sources mention the Dutch reinforcements. However, facts are not what you should think. Of course the above gives not the broader picture [another lesson !!!], as I focussed on the description of the action of the British Guards alone. I believe the above goes the other way round; British bias shining through! Of course, according to the British sources mentioned, there were no Dutch troops present, and they did it all on their own. But you should know that Brown disliked the Dutch [after all, he was in the British Guards!!!], and Fortescue dislikes everything that is not British!

Lincelles was part of a big operation, with the Austrians, Dutch, and Anglo-Allied armies advancing in close communication on a broad front. The Dutch main army advanced in the Lincelles area, led by the CIC of the Dutch army the hereditary Prince of Orange in person. There was heavy fighting, especially before the British Guards attacked, and the Dutch suffered heavy loss, including a number of high ranking officers. As Lincelles had been part of the French positions, the defence works were on the wrong side of the village. After the village had been captured by the Dutch, also by storm, Two Dutch battalions were ordered to lay down their arms, to demolish the defence works on the 'Allied' side, and to erect new ones on the 'French' side. While busy doing this, they were surprised by the French counterattack, on the side of the village with at this point only rudimentary defence works to that side of the village, and mostly unarmed they suffered heavily. There was however no mass rout of the Dutch army, so there undoubtly were Dutch units present, these also still taking part in the fighting later this day. So I am sure the Dutch presence was left out of some accounts on purpose.

The Prince of Orange, with units which were for the time being demoralised and shaken because of their surprise and subsequent defeat, asked for help to the Duke of York (as had been agreed upon before). The British Guards undoubtly charged the village impetuously as described. However, one must not forget that at this side the defence works were already partially demolished by the Dutch!

These are just some comments on the above accounts. Doubtless there are many more points to discuss and / or to sort out, but I believe I have made my point: showing what an enormous task it is, to research a combat or even a battle. And beside that, I didn't even go to the various archives!

As another illustration: December 2002 the magazine First Empire published a piece of me about the battle of Aldenhoven 1793. Only ten pages long, maybe now it is understandable that it took me about six months to do the research for this piece…Giving you an insight, how thorough research could be done [or not !!!] by authors who write a whole book every year: works that I always look at with suspicion!

For another example about how careful one must be for using source material: see the article about the battle of Messkirch, 5 May 1800.