Battle of Castricum

The Battle of Castricum (October 6, 1799) saw a Franco-Batavian force defeat an Anglo-Russian force near Castricum, Netherlands, within the Anglo-Russian invasion of Holland. The battle was fought during the War of the Second Coalition against Revolutionary France between French–Batavian forces under the command of generals Guillaume Brune (commander-in-chief) and Herman Willem Daendels and British–Russian forces under the command of the Duke of York (commander-in-chief) and General Ivan Essen. The Castricum battle and its strategic outcome put an end to any hopes for the invasion's success.

At the Battle of Bergen on 19 September 1799, Brune defeated the Anglo-Russian forces piecemeal. At the battle of Castricum, in accordance with York's dispositions, the Russians launched an offensive in the center and pushed back the numerically inferior French advance units, dislodging them from their strong position around the village of Bakkum. However, they were soon counterattacked by Brune, who quickly concentrated far superior forces and recaptured the position, inflicting heavy losses. The high wind gusts from the North Sea, which blew the sounds of gunfire in the opposite direction, prevented Essen from hearing it and thus from delivering reinforcements to his vanguard more quickly. The Russians barely held out, but the late arrival of the British and the remaining Russian reinforcements halted the advance of the exhausted French and Batavians, and the inspired Russians pushed them back behind that position. Brune failed to defeat the Russians and the British alternately.

Despite this, the joint final offensive by York's British and Russians stalled on the heights where Brune had managed to organize his troops. Ralph Abercromby's British (part of York's forces) arrived late on the coastal flank, for which Abercromby was criticized; they were driven back twice by the French units stationed on this flank and suffered heavy losses, since General Louis Gouvion ^[fr], Brune's subordinate placed in command there, was able to prepare formidable defensive positions. On Brune's right flank, the Batavians were attacked by British forces and were pushed back from their advanced positions in the villages of Limmen and Akersloot, but the outcome of this specific clash remained in the balance throughout the engagement. At the cost of heavy casualties, York only succeeded in pushing Brune back some distance in the central and left sectors and, as a result, to capture the three villages mentioned; but he was unable to break through Brune's defensive lines. The Anglo-allied command decided on a full retreat. Brune's behavior showed him to be a capable military commander.

An Anglo-Russian force of 32,000 men landed in North Holland on August 27, 1799, captured a Batavian Navy fleet at Den Helder on August 30 and the city of Alkmaar on October 3. Following a series of battles at Bergen on September 19 and Alkmaar on October 2 (also known as 2nd Bergen), they faced the French and Batavian armies at Castricum on October 6.

York decided to advance his troops. The Coalition command began to act according to the disposition. The battle began at 8 AM. The Russian vanguard, commanded by Major General Alexander Sedmoratsky, consisting of 6 battalions and 7 guns, drove some of the French troops out of the fortifications of Bakkum, which were armed with artillery. As a result, the Russians captured the village. French Brigadier General Michel Pacthod, retreating to the village of Castricum, assembled the 43rd demi-brigade consisting of 3 battalions. Russian battalions attacked from the front under the cover of artillery, while grenadiers and part of the jaegers occupied sandy heights on the right to fire upon the village. Threatened by encirclement, the French retreated behind Castricum into gardens and onto sandy hillocks.

On the opposite wing, Lieutenant General Dundas' 2 British brigades under the command of Maj. Gen. Harry Burrard and Maj. Gen. Eyre Coote moved from Alkmaar to Akersloot, driving out 2 Batavian battalions and taking about 100 prisoners of war. They occupied Akerlsloot and Limmen, receiving orders to stop and defend.

Brune, upon learning of the encounter, initially intended to defend his positions and gave corresponding orders. However, noticing Sedmoratsky's isolation, he decided to go on the offensive. As at Bergen, the British did not hurry to assist; on the French left flank, where Lt. Gen. Abercromby's units were supposed to strike, everything was calm at this time. The French division under Divisional general Jean Boudet advanced, connected with Pacthod, and attacked the Russian vanguard. Sedmoratsky had 2 battalions in Castricum, the artillery in front of Castricum and 3 other battalions on the heights, firstly from Benkendorff regiment, secondly of combined grenadiers of Ericson regt.

Major General Essen was in Egmond-Binnen, awaiting news from Sedmoratsky, which took a long time to arrive—the sounds of gunfire were inaudible due to a strong wind from the north, blowing the sounds of gunfire in the opposite direction. Sedmoratsky had no aides-de-camp on horseback and was on foot himself. Finally, upon learning about the situation, Essen sent Colonel Alexander Dubiansky^[ru] with 3 combined grenadier battalions and 6 guns. However, this reinforcement was insignificant compared to Brune's forces—he had 11 battalions with artillery and cavalry support. The Russians fought stubbornly, holding out for 3 hours while being pressed from two flanks. Castricum changed hands repeatedly multiple times. Essen arrived on the battlefield and ordered Emme and Zherebtsov^[ru] regiments to hurry (the commander of the Zherebtsov regiment himself had already died in the Battle of Bergen). The British's cautiousness on the flanks (or the Russians' intensity in the central position; or both; one way or another, the Russians acted according to York's disposition) allowed Brune to add reinforcements to the central sector in the form of several battalions from Bonhomme's Batavian division and reserves in Beverwijk; these troops were formed into a tight column and launched an attack with bayonets. The Russians suffered significant losses and were driven from their heights. A powder storm fell upon Castricum; Russian guns fell silent, their crews were killed, and cavalry also suffered losses. The French broke into the village from several sides, annihilating Russians and capturing their guns.