Siege of Valenciennes (1793)
Encyclopedia
The siege of Valenciennes
took place between 13 June and 28 July 1793, during the Flanders Campaign
of the War of the First Coalition. The French garrison under Ferrand
was blockaded by part of the army of Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, commanded by the Duke of York
. Valenciennes fell on 28th July, resulting in an Allied victory.
, the Allied army under the Prince of Coburg recovered much of the Austrian Netherlands and began besieging Condé-sur-l'Escaut
, while the demoralised French army's attempts to relieve the fortress in actions at St.Amand and Raismes
were driven back. By mid May Coburg was reinforced to a strength approaching 90,000, which allowed the Allies to drive the French from an entrenched camp at Famars
on 23 May, and lay siege to Valenciennes.
Many of the French who had been driven from Famars took refuge in the fortified town of Valenciennes, raising its garrison considerably.
Coburg selected the recently arrived Duke of York to lead the siege operations with his own command and 14,000 Austrians, while Austrian General Ferraris
was attached to supervise the technical aspects. The British government were surprised by this, the British were inexperienced in heavy siege warfare and lacked equipment, it was even suspected the Austrians had some sinister reasons for choosing York York's Chief of Engineers Colonel Moncrieff believed that the place could be carried by an assault without the need for a long protracted investment, but Ferraris would hear none of it and insisted on a formal siege of trenches following full procedures.
The siege operations of the Austrians proceeded at a slow pace, much to the frustration of York. Fitzgerald wrote "He sharply remonstrated with them, and in return was reproved for his excessive zeal".
On 26 July the main hornworks on the Eastern side were stormed by three columns, one of them of British troops (companies of the Guards supported by part of Abercromby's brigade). York's chief of staff Murray wrote: "The keeping of the hornwork was entirely owing to us putting the Duke of York at the head. Repeated orders were sent by General Ferraris to evacuate it. Knowing the Duke's wishes on that head, convinced of the folly of such a measure, and strongly supported by Colonel Moncrieff, I gave positive orders to the contrary, which was approved in the fullest manner by His Royal Highness who was at that time at a redoubt a little to the rear"
Following the fall of the hornwork Valenciennes surrendered on 28 July, the garrison being allowed to leave with the honours of war minus their weapons and munitions.
Although the released garrison troops were supposed to return to France and not fight again in the War, in fact many were immediately re-assigned to the defence of Dunkirk by the French government.
Valenciennes
Valenciennes is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It lies on the Scheldt river. Although the city and region had seen a steady decline between 1975 and 1990, it has since rebounded...
took place between 13 June and 28 July 1793, during the Flanders Campaign
Flanders Campaign
This feature refers to the conflict that took place during the Wars of the French Revolution 1792–1801.For the Low Countries campaigns of the War of the Grand Alliance 1688–97 see Nine Years' War...
of the War of the First Coalition. The French garrison under Ferrand
Ferrand
Ferrand may refer to:Cities:*Clermont-FerrandChurches:*Clermont-Ferrand CathedralAirports:*Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne AirportArenas:*Clermont-Ferrand Sports HallAs a name:*André Ferrand*Antoine-François-Claude Ferrand*Francis Ferrand Foljambe...
was blockaded by part of the army of Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, commanded by the Duke of York
Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany
The Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany was a member of the Hanoverian and British Royal Family, the second eldest child, and second son, of King George III...
. Valenciennes fell on 28th July, resulting in an Allied victory.
Background
Following the defeat of the French Republican armies at NeerwindenBattle of Neerwinden (1793)
The Battle of Neerwinden took place on near the village of Neerwinden in present-day Belgium between the Austrians under Prince Josias of Coburg and the French under General Dumouriez...
, the Allied army under the Prince of Coburg recovered much of the Austrian Netherlands and began besieging Condé-sur-l'Escaut
Condé-sur-l'Escaut
-Administration:Condé-sur-l'Escaut is the eastern member of the agglomerated Valenciennes metropolitan area, which together administers 35 communes.-References:...
, while the demoralised French army's attempts to relieve the fortress in actions at St.Amand and Raismes
Battle of Raismes (1793)
The Battle of Raismes took place on 8 May 1793, during the Flanders Campaign of the Wars of the French Revolution, between the French Republican army of the Marquis de Dampierre and the Allied Coalition army of the Prince of Saxe-Coburg, and resulted in an Allied Victory.-Background:Following the...
were driven back. By mid May Coburg was reinforced to a strength approaching 90,000, which allowed the Allies to drive the French from an entrenched camp at Famars
Battle of Famars
The Battle of Famars was fought on 23 May 1793 during the Flanders Campaign of the War of the First Coalition. An Allied Austrian, Hanoverian, and British army under Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld defeated the French Army of the North led by General François Joseph Drouet Lamarche...
on 23 May, and lay siege to Valenciennes.
Many of the French who had been driven from Famars took refuge in the fortified town of Valenciennes, raising its garrison considerably.
Coburg selected the recently arrived Duke of York to lead the siege operations with his own command and 14,000 Austrians, while Austrian General Ferraris
Ferraris
Ferraris as a surname may refer to:* Antonio de Ferraris , Greek-Italian scholar and doctor* Attilio Ferraris , Italian footballer* Claudia Ferraris , Italian beauty pageant winner...
was attached to supervise the technical aspects. The British government were surprised by this, the British were inexperienced in heavy siege warfare and lacked equipment, it was even suspected the Austrians had some sinister reasons for choosing York York's Chief of Engineers Colonel Moncrieff believed that the place could be carried by an assault without the need for a long protracted investment, but Ferraris would hear none of it and insisted on a formal siege of trenches following full procedures.
The Siege
It took a fortnight before heavy guns could be brought forward, but on 13 June trenches were finally dug and the siege began. 25,000 men undertook the siege, protected by a covering army of 30,000.The siege operations of the Austrians proceeded at a slow pace, much to the frustration of York. Fitzgerald wrote "He sharply remonstrated with them, and in return was reproved for his excessive zeal".
On 26 July the main hornworks on the Eastern side were stormed by three columns, one of them of British troops (companies of the Guards supported by part of Abercromby's brigade). York's chief of staff Murray wrote: "The keeping of the hornwork was entirely owing to us putting the Duke of York at the head. Repeated orders were sent by General Ferraris to evacuate it. Knowing the Duke's wishes on that head, convinced of the folly of such a measure, and strongly supported by Colonel Moncrieff, I gave positive orders to the contrary, which was approved in the fullest manner by His Royal Highness who was at that time at a redoubt a little to the rear"
Following the fall of the hornwork Valenciennes surrendered on 28 July, the garrison being allowed to leave with the honours of war minus their weapons and munitions.
Aftermath
York was proclaimed as a saviour by the population of the town, which trampled the tricolour underfoot and declared him King of France.Although the released garrison troops were supposed to return to France and not fight again in the War, in fact many were immediately re-assigned to the defence of Dunkirk by the French government.