Battle of Walcourt

Battle of Walcourt
Part of the War of the Grand Alliance
Date August 27, 1689 Location Walcourt, present-day Belgium Result French defeat
Belligerents
France	England United Provinces
Commanders and leaders
Duke of Humières	Prince of Waldeck
Strength
unknown	unknown
Casualties and losses
600 - 1.000	unknown

The Battle of Walcourt was fought on August 27 1689 near the Belgian village of Walcourt , south of Charleroi as a part of the Nine Years War.

It was the first battle of this war, and the only defeat for the French.

Prelude

The French marshal d’Humières, being in superior force, had obtained special permission to offer battle to the Allies. Leaving the garrison of Lille and Tournai to amuse the Spaniards, he hurried from Maubeuge to oppose the Dutch, who from Namur had advanced slowly on Philippeville.

William III of Orange, who was in England, had put Prince Waldeck , who stood high in the estimation of William , in command of the Allied army.

Under Waldeck's orders was Marlborough, to whom William had confided an English brigade of 8,000 men, consisting of the best regiments of the old army of James. Second to Marlborough in command, and second also in professional skill, was Thomas Talmash.

The Battle

The vanguard of the French army surprised foragers who were being protected by Colonel Hodges' Regiment (16th Foot). A brilliant brave rearguard action by the 16th allowed time for the army to form up and the town of Walcourt to be brought to readiness.

D'Humières flung his advanced guard against the bridge and fortifications of this place to clear the way for his deployment beyond the river Heure. After wasting a thousand brave men in this attempt,he drew back.

About 6pm, Waldeck launched a double counterattack, General Slangenberg's Dutch against their left and Marlborough, at the head of the Life Guards and the Blues, against their right. The French retreated but valuable service by the French cavalry prevented the retreat from becoming a rout.

For a few days the two armies remained face to face, cannonading one another at intervals, but no further fighting occurred. D'Humières returned to the region of the Scheldt fortresses, and Waldeck to Brussels.

Aftermath

The fight was no more than a skirmish, but it was a sharp and bloody skirmish. There had within living memory been no equally serious encounter between the English and French.

D'Humières was replaced by Luxemburg, who won every coming battle.