The Campaign in Holland, 1799

An early campaign of the long war for Europe



This anonymously written account concerns itself with an early episode in Britain's struggle with the Revolutionary France that would shortly evolve into Consulate France and then the First Empire of the French under its charismatic emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. It was a period of almost continual warfare which embraced all the nations of Europe until the downfall of the Napoleonic era in 1815, some sixteen years after the events described in this book. This historical analysis is a rarity and certainly at the time it was written its author believed it to be unique. The British Forces employed came under the command of the Duke of York and were supported by Russian troops under Fersen and Essen, it was accompanied by a naval force which had considerable success particularly in the capture of enemy vessels. Whilst the campaign on land-with its battles at Bergen, Alkmaar and Egmont-is an interesting one for the student of the period it concluded indecisively in an armistice. The principal advantage for the British was that is was able to embark and could fight again another day. The campaign provided many British officers with valuable lessons which they would take account of, by not repeating this campaigns errors, during the long years of battle to come particularly on the Iberian peninsula.

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