A Waste of Blood and Treasure by Philip Ball

Author:Philip Ball
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2017-02-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

The Battle of Egmond/Alkmaar – 2 October 1799

The defeat at Bergen was a setback for the allies but all was not lost. The Duke of York was not discouraged; having been reinforced by a fresh brigade of Russians and another regiment of British cavalry, he began preparations for a fresh offensive.1 However, some have questioned York’s wisdom in trying a different version of a plan that had failed so spectacularly already. The Franco-Batavian position had proved itself immensely strong, had been further fortified and its defenders reinforced by fresh troops from France. Surely another frontal assault was doomed to fail?2 Certainly alternatives were suggested, both at the time and by later commentators. Admiral Mitchell had created a small flotilla of gunboats and shallow draft bomb-ketches, which had been harassing Dutch towns along the Zuider Zee, and the French historian Gachot believed that a column of troops landed by this squadron at Hoorn could have reached Alkmaar ‘in the rear of the French in a few hours’.3 However, these craft did not have the capacity to transport thousands of troops and their equipment, and the Zuider Zee was too shallow to accommodate the transport ships that had been used in the initial landing. The option to send troops to back a promised Orangist coup in Friesland was also rejected as little had been seen to suggest that there was any substance to Orangist claims of support.4

The only remaining option was another frontal assault, so York had to draw up a plan that would take into account the lessons of the previous attempt and provide the expedition with the best chance for a decisive victory. Once again the invaders would have to contend with the Helder’s difficult terrain and persistently appalling weather and once again York would have to consult his fellow commanders in constructing his scheme. The British generals were in broad agreement with his ideas. Moore bemoaned the evacuation of Oudkarspel after its costly capture on 19 September but felt that an attack was the only option: ‘Our situation is such as to make battle necessary. No diversion can be of use to us. We must beat the French or give up the point.’5

The Russians were less easily convinced. The amiable but reckless General Herman had been replaced by Major General Essen, who was a commander of an entirely different hue. Prickly from the start, Essen had been badly shaken by his experience on 19 September, when he had tried to hold together the remains of the disintegrating Russian force as it had streamed in disorder from Bergen. Now he bombarded York with demands for clarification of orders and British support for his division. Although Essen was clearly ill-disposed towards his allies, relations with the Russian commander cannot have been helped by York’s behaviour towards him and his staff.6 It is perhaps telling that so much of their correspondence seems to have been conducted by letter. Essen had instilled in his troops the need to maintain their formation and

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