Post by The Viceroy (AdminM) on Oct 4, 2016 20:52:45 GMT
The Army of Holland under the command of Lord Abermarle
20,000 Line
5,000 Grenadiers
2,500 Cuirassiers
100 Field Guns
The Orange Army, under the command of William III, Prince of Orange
15,000 Line
4,000 Grenadiers
2,500 Cuirassiers
3,000 Dragoons
100 field guns
Army of the North, commanded by the Duc de Villaroi: Stationed in Ghent
12,000 Line Infantry
3,000 Grendiers
2,000 Engineers
2,500 Dragoons
2,000 Cuirassiers
2,000 Musketeers of the Guard
150 Field Guns
100 Howitzers
The Garrison of Ghent: Stationed in Ghent
1,000 Militiamen
1,000 Line Infantry
1,000 Grenadiers
500 Yeomanry Cavalry
William clearly relished commanding his forces once again. It had been some time, and made a nice break from the tedium that was rule. Not only that, but he had been reunited with his dear friend the Lord Abermarle. Villaroi however, was in a situation he very much did not enjoy. Trapped in Ghent, a major fortification for sure, but with the roads cut off he could not last long. He only hoped that it would be long enough for the King to draw up a strategy for his relief. He watched, from the Western Lock, as William ordered his guns rolled into place. Perhaps his hope was in vain.
William’s guns were, fortunately for the Duc, relatively ineffective. It seemed he’d neglected to bring along howitzers. As the guns did what little damage they could, Villaroi spotted something curious. A series of barges were being set alight outside the city. Smoke? Does he wish to disguise his assault? What assault? The walls have not fallen… Uncertain, Villaroi ordered his grenadiers to destroy the boats when they grew closer. William’s own grenadiers tried to cover the boats, by advancing with them, though their flintlocks were only so effective at providing covering fire. Some of the boats grew close to the locks and bounced of the sides of the walls, seemingly innocuously. The grenadiers which had tracked the boats to the walls began dropping grenades into them, and fleeing. The wind whipped up, and part of the covering on the boat beneath the Duc’s own footing lifted. This revealed barrels of powder. Turning to his Lieutenant behind the walls he shouted “powder!” The Lieutenant looked up to see the Duc engulfed in fire and rubble.
Two more explosions went off. The locks were blocked and the walls open. Villaroi opened his eyes, he had been blown onto a thatched roof nearby, and landed well as he rolled down the side of the building. His arm was broken but he was able to stand, although with unease. He realised he was stood before the breach, as his vision cleared he saw thousands upon thousands of Linemen advancing rapidly. They had no intention of a long siege, they wanted to end it quickly. Dragoons first emptied into the settlement, breaking the defensive lines which were still discombobulated. Villaroi drew his own sabre as the Anglo-Dutch infantry stormed the breach - songs would be sung of this day, he told himself. “Pour le Roi!” The battle cry echoed throughout Ghent as the French soldiers came to accept their fate.
The clash of swords and bayonets took almost a full day to die out. As the dust settled and the wounded and dying were being seen to, William strode through the streets of Ghent atop a glorious white steed, with Abermarle on his right. Despite his broken arm, Villaroi had put forth a good fight, and he was among the last few men to surrender after a flintlock to the leg brought him down.
Losses:
The Army of Holland
8,000 Line Infantry
2,000 Grenadiers
The Orange Army
7,000 Line Infantry
2,000 Dragoons
2,000 Grenadiers
The Garrison of Ghent
1,000 Militiamen
1,000 Line Infantry
1,000 Grenadiers
500 Yeomanry Cavalry
Army of the North, commanded by the Duc de Villaroi: Stationed in Ghent
9,000 Line Infantry
3,000 Line (PoW)
2,000 Grenadiers
1,000 Grenadiers (PoW)
2,000 Engineers (PoW)
2,000 Dragoons
500 Dragoons (PoW)
2,000 Cuirassiers
1,750 Musketeers of the Guard
250 Musketeers (PoW)
75 Field Guns
75 Field Guns (Captured)
100 Howitzers (Captured)
This was a decisive victory for the Grand Alliance, another for the Anglo-Dutch forces. This begs the question, what are the Austrians doing wrong? Despite the glorious victory, and the crushing of the Armee du Nord, there were a number of casualties that could have been avoided by a protracted siege. Still, time is the most valuable of commodities. Villaroi is held by William’s men.
20,000 Line
5,000 Grenadiers
2,500 Cuirassiers
100 Field Guns
The Orange Army, under the command of William III, Prince of Orange
15,000 Line
4,000 Grenadiers
2,500 Cuirassiers
3,000 Dragoons
100 field guns
Army of the North, commanded by the Duc de Villaroi: Stationed in Ghent
12,000 Line Infantry
3,000 Grendiers
2,000 Engineers
2,500 Dragoons
2,000 Cuirassiers
2,000 Musketeers of the Guard
150 Field Guns
100 Howitzers
The Garrison of Ghent: Stationed in Ghent
1,000 Militiamen
1,000 Line Infantry
1,000 Grenadiers
500 Yeomanry Cavalry
William clearly relished commanding his forces once again. It had been some time, and made a nice break from the tedium that was rule. Not only that, but he had been reunited with his dear friend the Lord Abermarle. Villaroi however, was in a situation he very much did not enjoy. Trapped in Ghent, a major fortification for sure, but with the roads cut off he could not last long. He only hoped that it would be long enough for the King to draw up a strategy for his relief. He watched, from the Western Lock, as William ordered his guns rolled into place. Perhaps his hope was in vain.
William’s guns were, fortunately for the Duc, relatively ineffective. It seemed he’d neglected to bring along howitzers. As the guns did what little damage they could, Villaroi spotted something curious. A series of barges were being set alight outside the city. Smoke? Does he wish to disguise his assault? What assault? The walls have not fallen… Uncertain, Villaroi ordered his grenadiers to destroy the boats when they grew closer. William’s own grenadiers tried to cover the boats, by advancing with them, though their flintlocks were only so effective at providing covering fire. Some of the boats grew close to the locks and bounced of the sides of the walls, seemingly innocuously. The grenadiers which had tracked the boats to the walls began dropping grenades into them, and fleeing. The wind whipped up, and part of the covering on the boat beneath the Duc’s own footing lifted. This revealed barrels of powder. Turning to his Lieutenant behind the walls he shouted “powder!” The Lieutenant looked up to see the Duc engulfed in fire and rubble.
Two more explosions went off. The locks were blocked and the walls open. Villaroi opened his eyes, he had been blown onto a thatched roof nearby, and landed well as he rolled down the side of the building. His arm was broken but he was able to stand, although with unease. He realised he was stood before the breach, as his vision cleared he saw thousands upon thousands of Linemen advancing rapidly. They had no intention of a long siege, they wanted to end it quickly. Dragoons first emptied into the settlement, breaking the defensive lines which were still discombobulated. Villaroi drew his own sabre as the Anglo-Dutch infantry stormed the breach - songs would be sung of this day, he told himself. “Pour le Roi!” The battle cry echoed throughout Ghent as the French soldiers came to accept their fate.
The clash of swords and bayonets took almost a full day to die out. As the dust settled and the wounded and dying were being seen to, William strode through the streets of Ghent atop a glorious white steed, with Abermarle on his right. Despite his broken arm, Villaroi had put forth a good fight, and he was among the last few men to surrender after a flintlock to the leg brought him down.
Losses:
The Army of Holland
8,000 Line Infantry
2,000 Grenadiers
The Orange Army
7,000 Line Infantry
2,000 Dragoons
2,000 Grenadiers
The Garrison of Ghent
1,000 Militiamen
1,000 Line Infantry
1,000 Grenadiers
500 Yeomanry Cavalry
Army of the North, commanded by the Duc de Villaroi: Stationed in Ghent
9,000 Line Infantry
3,000 Line (PoW)
2,000 Grenadiers
1,000 Grenadiers (PoW)
2,000 Engineers (PoW)
2,000 Dragoons
500 Dragoons (PoW)
2,000 Cuirassiers
1,750 Musketeers of the Guard
250 Musketeers (PoW)
75 Field Guns
75 Field Guns (Captured)
100 Howitzers (Captured)
This was a decisive victory for the Grand Alliance, another for the Anglo-Dutch forces. This begs the question, what are the Austrians doing wrong? Despite the glorious victory, and the crushing of the Armee du Nord, there were a number of casualties that could have been avoided by a protracted siege. Still, time is the most valuable of commodities. Villaroi is held by William’s men.