"The Mystery of Lord Chatham’s Brigade at the Battle ..." Topic

…of Castricum, 6 October 1799. By Jacqueline Reiter.

"Between the end of August and mid-October 1799, Britain and Russia fielded a combined force of about 45,000 men in North Holland as part of the Second Continental Coalition against France. The campaign's intention was to take Amsterdam, push the French out of the Batavian Republic and re-establish the deposed House of Orange, preferably with the help of a popular uprising.

This did not occur, and poor weather delayed the Allied advance. Although a series of battles on 27 August, 19 September, and 2 and 6 October forced the French back, the Allies were low on supplies, riddled with sickness, and unable to rely on local support. They made terms on 18 October and were permitted to evacuate unmolested in exchange for releasing 8000 French prisoners of war from Britain…"

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Amicalement
Armand

Probably looking for a medway between troubles.

Not sure why, and it relates to the later Walcheren campaign, but this piece of doggerel has long stuck in my mind:-

Lord Chatham, with his sword drawn,
Was waiting for Sir Richard Strachan [pronounced Strawn]
Sir Richard, longing to be at 'em,
Was waiting for the Earl of Chatham.

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand