Battle of Aldenhoven (1793) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Aldenhoven (1793)
Part of the Flanders Campaign in the War of the First Coalition
Date 1 March 1793 Location Aldenhoven, Germany 50°53′45″N 6°16′59″E / 50.89583°N 6.28306°E / 50.89583; 6.28306 Result Austrian victory
Belligerents
Habsburg Austria	Republican France
Commanders and leaders
Prince of Coburg Archduke Charles	René de Lanoue Henri de Stengel
Strength
39,000	9,000
Casualties and losses
50	2,300, 7 guns, 2 colors

The Battle of Aldenhoven happened on March 1, 1793. It was a fight between the Austrian army, led by Prince Josias of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, and the French army, led by René Joseph de Lanoue. The battle took place near Aldenhoven, a town in Germany.

The Austrians crossed the Roer River. Their cavalry, led by Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen, charged and defeated the French. This caused the French to retreat and lose many soldiers. This battle was part of the War of the First Coalition.

After a victory in the Battle of Jemappes in November 1792, the French army had taken over most of the Austrian Netherlands (which is now Belgium). During the winter, the French commander, Charles Francois Dumouriez, tried to take over the Dutch Republic. Meanwhile, another French general, Francisco de Miranda, was trying to capture Maastricht. Lanoue's troops were protecting this effort along the Roer River.

The Austrian government sent Prince Coburg to win back Belgium. His troops attacked early on March 1 and scattered the French forces. Another important battle, the Battle of Neerwinden, would happen later in March. That battle would decide who controlled the Austrian Netherlands.

How the Battle Unfolded

In the main part of the battle, Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen led a powerful cavalry charge. He commanded the Latour Dragoon Regiment Nr. 31 and the Esterhazy Hussar Regiment Nr. 32.

The French commander, Lanoue, had about 9,000 soldiers. These included seven battalions, six squadrons of cavalry, and 12 artillery cannons. Some of the French units were the 3rd and 4th Grenadier Battalions, the Liège Battalion, and the 14th Light Infantry Battalion. Also present were the 2nd Battalion of the Paris National Guard, two battalions from the 29th Line Infantry Regiment, and the 6th and 12th Chasseurs à Cheval (light cavalry). Henri Christian Michel de Stengel was one of Lanoue's officers during this battle.

What Happened After the Battle

The Austrian forces had very few losses, with only 50 soldiers hurt or killed. The French, however, suffered greatly. They lost about 2,000 soldiers. On top of that, 300 French soldiers were captured. The Austrians also captured seven French cannons and two battle flags. One of these flags belonged to the 29th Line Infantry Regiment.

Because of this defeat, the French had to stop their attempt to capture Maastricht. For three days after the battle, General Stengel was missing. People worried he might have left the army. But he later showed up in Namur. He arrived with a group of soldiers from the 12th Chasseurs and the army's money chest.

On March 9, three French armies gathered again in Leuven (Louvain). They were all under the command of Francisco de Miranda. These armies were the Army of the North on the left side, the Army of Belgium in the middle, and the Army of the Ardennes on the right side.