Siege of Bergen op Zoom (1814)


The Siege of Bergen op Zoom, took place during the War of the Sixth Coalition between a British force led by Thomas Graham, 1st Baron Lynedoch and a French garrison under Guilin Laurent Bizanet and Jean-Jacques Ambert. The initial British assault force seized part of the defences, but a well-managed French counterattack compelled much of the assault force to surrender. Bergen op Zoom is a port in the Netherlands about south of Rotterdam and north of Antwerp in Belgium.

Assault

French General Guilin Laurent Bizanet had 2,700 soldiers in the garrison when, under cover of night and using local intelligence, Graham attacked. The French, however, were positioned well, and the population allied with them as they fought in the streets. The attacking British troops took heavy casualties. General Bizanet remained in control of Bergen op Zoom until a peace accord was signed.

Forces and casualties

One source named Bizanet as the governor and Jean-Jacques Ambert as the French commander. The 2,700-man French garrison sustained 500 killed and wounded and 100 captured during the action. Of the 4,000 troops in the British assault force, 2,100 were killed, wounded or captured. In addition to the units listed below, the source counted the 2nd Battalion of the 35th Foot in the assault force. The Guards Brigade consisted of three companies of the 1st Foot Guards and four companies each of the 2nd Foot Guards and 3rd Foot Guards, all from the 2nd Battalions of the regiments.

British Order of Battle

Graham formed his troops into four columns as follows:
CommanderUnitNumber of Men
1st ColumnColonel Lord ProbyBrigade of Guards1,000
2nd ColumnLieutenant-colonel Morrice, 69th Foot55th Foot250
69th Foot350
33rd Foot600
3rd ColumnLieutenant-colonel Henry, 21st Foot21st Foot400
91st Foot100
37th Foot150
4th ColumnBrigadier-general Gore / Lieutenant-colonel Carleton44th Foot300
Flank companies of the 21st and 37th Foot200
1st Foot600
Total3,950