As much as the attack plans at Valenciennes were flawed, so was the following siege. There were two opposing plans, British and Austrian. But as the British had no siege artillery, it’s little surprise as to whose plan was adopted.
Even more bizarre was the plan to besiege Dunkirk. Any siege which allows the enemy to constantly reinforce a city can have almost no hope of success. Sadly, the lack of siege guns at Dunkirk, the arrival of Admiral Macbride without any ships, and the arrival of the mortar flotilla on the day after the British forces had withdrawn are all true. I’m not skilled enough to make that up!
There is an Austrian agenda at work throughout this quartet. There are times however, that I feel a degree of sympathy with their position. While they were the land super-power, Austria was not the European police force, other nations failed to deal with a crisis which potentially threatened every aristocratic democracy. While the Austrian Netherlands were still part of the empire, matters pressed that nation in the north with the Polish situation, south with potential trouble in the Italian states and matter with the Ottoman Empire were rarely peaceful. Baron Thugut did not arrive until the following year. I took the liberty to include him in scene planning the Valenciennes siege, as his influence on the course of that lengthy action was certain.
So back to Trevethan and his demise.
When I first discussed this matter with Sarah, the editor, we explored the fact that the interaction between Trevethan and Jackson made for some great sketches. What’s more, the character of Trevethan is drawn just a little from a life-long friend who is also an engineer.
Trevethan could have lived; it would have been an easier path to take. Colonel Moncrief didn’t and to try and write about war and avoid the impact of death is to make the narrative devoid of reality. Trevethan’s death will be felt by Jackson, Krombach and others in the Duke’s staff throughout the next book, The Queen of the Citadels, and beyond those pages, no doubt.
And by me, I’ve enjoyed writing him and his voice will linger long in my mind.
Oh, and a final word on the Duke’s staff. A Guards battalion really was left behind in the retreat, and scenes like that of the party, were all too common at headquarters.
Krombach, Brandt and von Bomm must prepare for a hard winter. The retreat from Hondschoote showed that the Duke of York could rely at last on auxiliary troops. Next year, the campaign must be won.
The King still has need of his Germans.
Reading List
Reading List:
Bayonets of the Republic - Lynn, J.A
British Campaigns in Flanders 1690-1794 - Fortescue J.W
French Revolution - Hibbert, C.
Noble Duke of York - Byrne, F.A
Memoirs of Dumouriez - Dumouriez, C.F.
Officer of the Guards Volumes 1 and 2, an accurate and impartial account of the war - Officer of the Guards
Ompteda of the King’s German Legion - von Ompteda.
The King of Dunkirk Page 35