Waldeck troops in Netherlands service

by Geert van Uythoven

Officers of the 5e bataljon Waldeck, 1797

Aquarelle of J.A. Langendijk

The Waldeck troops have a long history in Netherlands service, interrupted by a few short periods of half pay, starting with two regiments of one battalion each in 1742, with a third regiment added in 1744. In 1763, the regiments were reorganised into two regiments of two battalions each. In 1792 a fifth Waldeck battalion entered Dutch service. The several capitulations stipulated that the Waldeck troops would principally serve in garrison duties. In 1802 however, the 5e Bataljon Waldeck would leave for the Cape of Good Hope. In 1806 service technically ended when the Waldeck units were disbanded, the men absorbed into the regular infantry units of the Kingdom of Holland.

1e Regiment Waldeck

History:

- 1742, 3 September: entering service of the Republiek der Vereenigde Nederlanden as the 1e Bataljon Waldeck

- 1752, 2 March: renamed 1e Regiment Waldeck

- 1763, 1 October: becomes the 1st battalion; augmented with a 2nd battalion, former 2e Regiment Waldeck

- 1795: remained in the service of the Batavian Republic

- 1806, 11 September: becomes the 3rd battalion of the 1e Regiment Infanterie

- 1806, 17 Spetember: becomes the 3rd battalion of the 2e Regiment Infanterie

- 1809, 28 August: distributed among the 1st and 2nd battalion

Organisation:

Until 1 October 1763 one battalion strong, after that date two battalions of eight companies each: One leib-company, one grenadier company, and six musketeer companies.

Officers

Garrisons:

1742: Nijmegen

1746: Venlo

1749: Ieperen

1752: Ieperen / Venlo

1754: Namen (Namur)

1760: Grave / Namen (Namur)

1762: Dendermonde / Namen (Namur)

1763: Dendermonde / Sluis (l’Ecluse), IJzendijke

1764: Dendermonde / Bergen op Zoom

1766: Dendermonde / ’s Hertogenbosch (Bois le Duc), Tiel, Zaltbommel

1768: Hulst / Dendermonde

1769: Nijmegen / Dendermonde

1771: ‘s Hertogenbosch (Bois le Duc) / Dendermonde

1773: Dendermonde / Steenbergen, Willemstad

1774: Dendermonde / ’s Hertogenbosch (Bois le Duc)

1775: Dendermonde / Tiel, Zaltbommel

1776: Axel, Philippine, IJzendijke / Dendermonde

1777: ‘s Hertogenbosch (Bois le Duc)

1780: Dendermonde / Bergen op Zoom

1781: Dendermonde / Goeree

1782: Goeree / ’s Hertogenbosch (Bois le Duc)

1784: Maastricht

1787: Gorinchem

1789: Groningen

1790: Arnhem

1791: Nijmegen / Tiel

1792: Arnhem, Elburg, Harderwijk, Hattem, Wageningen / Doesburg

1794: Breda

2e Regiment Waldeck

History:

- 1742, 5 November: entering service of the Republiek der Vereenigde Nederlanden as the 2e Bataljon Waldeck

- 1752, 2 March: became the 2nd battalion of the 1e Regiment Waldeck

- 1767, 7 November: the 3e Regiment Waldeck becomes the 1st battalion of the 2e Regiment Waldeck; a 2nd battalion is raised, bringing the regiment to a strength of two battalions

- 1794, 27 September – 28 December: defence of the fortress-city Grave

- 1794, 30 December – 1795: imprisonment

- 1795: remained in the service of the Batavian Republic

- 1806, 11 September: becomes the 3rd battalion of the 2e Regiment Infanterie

- 1806, 17 September: becomes the 3rd battalion of the 3e Regiment Infanterie

- 1809, 28 August: distributed among the 1st and 2nd battalion

Organisation:

Until 1767 one battalion strong, after that date two battalions of eight companies each: One leib-company, one grenadier company, and six musketeer companies.

Officers

Garrisons:

1743: Zwolle

1744: ’s Hertogenbosch (Bois le Duc)

1745: Bergen op Zoom

1746: Venlo

1749: Doornik (Tournai)

1750: Bergen op Zoom

1751: Geertruidenberg, Willemstad

1752: Venlo

3e Regiment / (bataljon) Waldeck

History:

- 1744, 7 July: entering service of the Republiek der Vereenigde Nederlanden as the 3e Bataljon Waldeck

- 1748 – 1767, 7 November: on half pay in Waldeck

- 1767, 7 November: became the 1st battalion of the 2e Regiment Waldeck; See further under 2e Regiment Waldeck

Organisation:

One battalion strong.

Officers

Garrisons:

1745: Bergen op Zoom

1747 - 1748: Venlo

1768: Grave

1769: Nijmegen

1774: Brielle / Hellevoetsluis

1775: Nijmegen

1777: Dendermonde / Tiel, Zaltbommel

1780: Tholen, Lillo, Scheldt fortresses / Steenbergen, Willemstad

1781: Liefkenshoek, Lillo / Goes, Tholen

1782: Leeuwarden / Goes, Noord-Beveland, Tholen

1783: Leeuwarden

1784: Nijmegen

1785: Breda

1787: Willemstad / Klundert, Woudrichem

1789: Haarlem / Dordrecht

1790: Nijmegen

1791: Maastricht

1793: Sluis (l’Ecluse)/ Maastricht

1794: Arnhem / Zutphen

5e Bataljon Waldeck

History:

- before 1784: In British service

- 1784, 17 December – 1786: in service of the Republiek der Vereenigde Nederlanden

- 1786 - 1790: on half pay in Waldeck

- 1790: entering service of the Republiek der Vereenigde Nederlanden again

- 1794, 27 December: “At this date Colonel Gerhard Heinrich von Heldring, commander of the 5e Bataljon Waldeck, commanded a detachment of Dutch troops in Wagenberg village, behind the defensive Lines of Breda. When he received the alarm of the French attack, the French had already broken through the Lines which were only occupied by some surprised sentries. Colonel Heldring tried to reach Made over Stuivesand, but encountered the enemy here. The he moved to Hooge Zwaluwe, but not able to reach Made from here as well, he finally moved to Moerdijk. Here he met Colonel Ferdinand Count d’Oultremont de Wegimond, who had retreated from terheijden under comparable circumstances. Here, Major-General of the Infantry G.L.F. von Haacke took over. Von Haacke was under orders to retreat to Geertruidenberg if he would have to abandon the Lines of Breda, but for unknown reasons he decided to retreat to the west to Willemstad. Because he had received message that Zevenbergen was already occupied by the French, he decided to march over Roode Vaart and Noordschans. (…). Major-General von Haacke did not get very far. Close to the bridge which crosses the Zevenbergsche Haven near Roode Vaart, he encountered a French detachement of the brigade of général de brigade Antoine F.R. Blondeau du Fays who effectively blocked any further advance. We will let Major-General von Haacke speak for himself: ‘Captain van der Put attacked with the advance guard the enemy with the untmost bravery, and despite their heavy fire, he drove them back over the dike. But here the cavalry was of no further use and had to retreat out of enemy fire. Now the infantry advanced heavy fighing taking place in an effort to dislodge the enemy from behind the first dike, to the left and right side of the sluice. While this took place, the 5e Bataljon Waldeck move to the right, to outflank the enemy, but this could only be done by crossing the Roode Vaart across the ships lying here, men pulling eachother across one by one, which took us much trouble and precious time. The enemy noticed our efforts, and detached on his left flank to cut us off. In addition, we noticed enemy cavalry advacing along the dike leading from Noorschans to Roode Vaart. Receiving several reports that ammunition was running low, time came by that I had to capitulate, after having fought against the enemy for about two hours, and being completely cut off.’ (source: “De Franse aanval op Brabants Westhoek 1794” by Geert van Uythoven, in ‘Ravelijn’ magazine, 2004). In this action, the 211 remaining men of the 5e Bataljon Waldeck were taken prisoner.

- 1795: remained in the service of the Batavian Republic

- 1802: consisting of 1 jager- and 6 fusilier companies, was sent to the Cape of Good Hope (Kaap de Goede Hoop). Apparently Lieutenant-Colonel C. Müller was in command. For more information about the events that took place at the Cape, see Biography of General Janssens.

- 1806, 18 July: the battalion was disbanded when returning from imprisonment.

Organisation:

A battalion of eight companies: One grenadier company, one jager company, and six musketeer companies. In 1802 the battalion, serving on the Cape of Good Hope at this time, consisted of one jager company, and six fusilier companies.

Officers

Garrisons:

1785 – 1786: Coevorden

1790: Bergen op Zoom

1794: Grave

Miscellaneous:

- On 25 November 1803, a Regiment Waldeck formed part of the Batavian Division under Lieutenant-General Dumonceau, destined for the expedition to Great Britain. The regiment was formed of the 1st battalion of the 1e Regiment Waldeck, and the 2nd battalion of the 2e Regiment Waldeck.

- During August-September 1805, II Corps d’Armée commanded by General Marmont was embarked at Den Helder for an invasion of England, on the fleet commanded by Admiraal Jan Willem De Winter. Part of this Corps is a Batavian Division, which included a Regiment Waldeck, consisting of 2 battalions of 5 companies each. For the strength and composition of this regiment, see The Batavian Army in 1805.

© Geert van Uythoven