"The Anglo-Russian Helder campaign, 1799" Topic

"In the middle of October 1799, forty thousand British and Russian troops camped in the shelter of the Zijpe Canal across the very northernmost tip of Holland's Helder Peninsula. Rain pock-marked the surface of the Groote Sloot that ran through the centre of the small village of Schagerbrug, and pounded off the narrow, muddy street outside the burgemeester's house.

Here the Duke of York, commander-in-chief of the allied British and Russian forces, had summoned an important meeting of his Council of War. Around the table were some of the most senior generals of the Allied army: Lieutenant-Generals Sir Ralph Abercromby, David Dundas, and James Pulteney; Major-General Lord Chatham; and the acting Russian commander, General Ivan Essen. As the rain continued to fall, the Council pondered the question of whether or not to abandon the campaign…"
Main page

link

Amicalement
Armand

She is an absolute gem!

Fascinating. Anybody have any sources for the troops involved beyond the overall numbers which is about all I can find on the internet?

Have a look at "British minor expeditions. 1746 to 1814"
by Great Britain. War Office. Intelligence Division
Publication date 1884 (pdf downloadable link
It contains OoBs for the French, Dutch, British & Russians
link

Prince -- excellent source link. Thanks!

Jim

Sir John Fortescue covers the expedition in Vol IV (pt II) of his 'History of the British Army'- Chapter XIII onwards (p.639).

link

This might also be of interest. "Command and leadership-1721-1815' PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2018 HELION & COMPANY 'FROM REASON TO REVOLUTION' CONFERENCE
link

Carole Divale's 'General Sir Ralph Abercromby and the French Revolutionary Wars 1792-1801,' might be useful.

Glad you like it my friend!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

I copy the link on useful stuff, please cher Prince – in case you find such useful stuff, you can do this directly as well.

@vW – point taken. Will try to rememeber to do so in future….

Another useful tome as in the appendices are a list of the Russian warships & British ships used to ferry the Russian troops from Revel link

Also listed are the remaining Dutch ships in August 1799 link :

The campaign in Holland, 1799
by Subaltern; Terry, Astley PRO
Publication date 1861
Publisher London, W. Mitchell
PDF link

Perhaps of lesser interest:

A narrative of the expedition to Holland, in the autumn of the year 1799. Illustrated with a map of North Holland, and seven views of the principal places occupied by the British forces
by Walsh, Edward, 1756-1832
Publication date 1800
Publisher London : G.G. and J. Robinson
PDF link

Histoire de la campagne faite en 1799, en Hollande
by MacCarthy
Publication date 1818
Publisher Paris : Plancher
PDF link

OoBs at link

Geschiedkundige Beschouwing van den Oorlog op het grondgebied der Bataafsche Republiek in 1799
By Baron Cornelis Rudolphus Theodorus Krayenhoff
J.C. Vieweg, 1832
link

Twenty-five years in the Rifle Brigade (1973).
Author: Surtees, William, 1781-1830.

This has an account of the experiences of a light company soldier in the 56th West Essex fighting in the dunes.

link

gutenberg.org/ebooks/36778

A modern account: link

The secret expedition : the Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland 1799
by Geert van Uythoven.
Warwick, England : Helion &​ Company, 2018

Physical Description
viii, 447 pages : illustrations, maps ; 25 cm.
Series
From reason to revolution, 1721-1815 ; no. 19
From reason to revolution 1721-1815 (Series) ; no. 19.

Contents
1.The Batavian Republic
Patriots and Orangists
2.The Second Coalition and Plans to Invade the Batavian Republic
3.Batavian and French Military Forces
4.The British and Russian Military Forces
5.Preparations for the Secret Expedition
6.The Franco-Batavian Response to the Threat
7.The British Landing: Battle of Calandsoog 27 August
8.Building up Forces and the Surrender of the Batavian Fleet
9.The Orangist Incursion into the Batavian Republic
10.The Battle of Zijpe, 10 September
11.The Russians Arrive
12.The Battle of Bergen, 19 September
13.Distrust and Doubt
14.The Battle of Alkmaar, Egmont op Zee, or 2nd Battle of Bergen 2 October
15.The Battle of Castricum (or 2nd Battle of Egmond op Zee) 6 October
16.The Armistice
17.The End of the Campaign
Appendices
I.Convention closed between Great Britain and Russia on 22 June 1799
II.The Escort Squadron under the Command of Vice Admiral Andrew Mitchell
III.Ships Transporting the Russian Army from the Baltic
IV.British Invasion Force under the Command of Abercromby, 27 August 1799
V.French troops stationed in the Batavian Republic (4 July 1799)
VI.The Batavian Fleet at the Roads of Texel, 27 August 1799
VII.Composition of the le Bataafsche Divisie (Daendels) before the British landing
VIII.Composition of the Anglo-Russian North Sea fleet, commanded by Admiral Adam Duncan
IX.Order of Battle of the Anglo-Russian Fleet engaging the Dutch Fleet, 30 August 1799
X.Composition of the Franco – Batavian Army In Holland on 9 September 1799
XI.Composition of the Anglo-Russian army on 18 September 1799
XII.Anglo-Russian Order of Battle, 19 September 1799
XIII.Dispositions of the Franco-Batavian Army on 18 September 1799
XIV.British ships present on the Zuiderzee on 23 September 1799
XV.Anglo-Russian Order of Battle, 2 October 1799
XVI.French Troops Present in Holland, 1 and 3 October 1799
XVII.Order of Battle of the French troops present in the Batavian Republic, 22 November 1799
XVIII.Officers sent to Holland to raise the 1st and 2nd Dutch Regiments
XIX.Plans for the Orangist Invasion of the Batavian Republic
XX.Letter of 7 October 1799 to the Duke of York, proposing the retreat to the Zijpe.
Notes
Formerly CIP.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Language
English
ISBN 9781912390205

That's the one!

Or:
link

@green

Deletorious to my pocket that link!

indeed

A Waste of Blood and Treasure: The 1799 Anglo-Russian Invasion of the Netherlands

by Philip Ball and Kate Bohdanowicz

very nice read

Thank you Von Winterfeldt- Kate Bohdanowicz was the editor and is incorrectly credited as author on Amazon…

thanks for the correction, an excellent book which re kindled my interest in this campaign

I have Geert's book and it is excellent! A must read for anyone that loves this era and want to know more about obscure campaigns.

I added this campaign into the game "Republican Bayonets on the Rhine" by John Tiller Software. I need to revise the scenarios based on information I found in this book.

These actions and battles make for fun miniature battles when the large ones will not fit on the gaming table.

If I was to restart again and paint or buy painted miniatures I would pain the Fr. Rev. Wars period because there is such an incredible variety of colorful uniforms. In particular the French had so many different National Guard units. You could spend a good chunk of time just painting up those battalions and cav squadrons.