Second Battle of Neerwinden (1793)

On 18 March 1793 a Republican French army under Charles François Dumouriez attacked a Coalition force of Habsburg monarchy troops with a small Dutch Republic contingent commanded by Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld near Neerwinden, east of Brussels. After bitter fighting the Coalition repulsed all French assaults, Dumouriez conceded defeat and withdrew, and the French position in the Austrian Netherlands collapsed.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. After Dumouriez's victory over Duke Albert of Saxe-Teschen's Austrians at Jemappes on 6 November 1792, French armies rapidly overran most of the Austrian Netherlands; Mechelen capitulated to Henri Christian Michel de Stengel on 16 November 1792. Dumouriez and the French government then became preoccupied with war against the Dutch Republic rather than driving the Austrians to the west bank of the Rhine.

Course of the Battle. The French reserve formed a final column on the far left, tasked with first capturing Zoutleeuw (Leau) and then swinging south against Halle. After intense fighting, Coburg's troops repulsed the attacks of the French center and right wing, and Coalition forces launched attack after attack on villages stubbornly defended by the French.

Aftermath. Facing military collapse, Dumouriez negotiated a free withdrawal of French troops in return for the surrender of Belgium and Dutch territory. The French position in the Austrian Netherlands swiftly collapsed, ending the threat to the Dutch Republic and allowing Austria to regain its lost province. Dumouriez defected to the Austrians on 5 April 1793.

People involved

Sources

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