Battle of Le Cateau (1794) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Le Cateau (1794)
Part of the War of the First Coalition
Date 29 March 1794 Location Le Cateau-Cambrésis, France Result Coalition victory
Belligerents
Habsburg Austria	Republican France
Commanders and leaders
Paul Kray	Antoine Balland Jacques Goguet Jacques Fromentin
Strength
7,000	15,000
Casualties and losses
293	1,200, 4 guns

The Battle of Le Cateau happened on March 29, 1794. It was an early fight in the Flanders Campaign. This campaign was part of the bigger War of the First Coalition, which was a major conflict during the French Revolutionary Wars.

In this battle, three French divisions attacked Austrian forces. The French were led by Antoine Balland, Jacques Gilles Henri Goguet, and Jacques Fromentin. The Austrian army was commanded by Paul Kray. The Austrians won the battle. They caused many more losses for the French than they suffered themselves.

What Happened at Le Cateau?

The battle took place near Le Cateau-Cambrésis in France. This town is about 24 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of Cambrai.

The French army decided to attack first. They wanted to surprise the Austrian forces. The French attacked Austrian positions in Le Cateau and nearby villages like Beauvais and Solesmes. The French managed to capture these spots at first.

However, the Austrians quickly sent their cavalry forward. Cavalry are soldiers who fight on horseback. These horsemen charged at the French. The French soldiers panicked when they saw the charge. They quickly ran away.

The French left behind 5 cannons and about 400 dead soldiers. Many French soldiers were also captured. This included sixty dragoons, who were soldiers trained to fight on horseback or on foot. They had gotten off their horses and run into a wood. The Austrians had much fewer losses, with only 120 men.

About three weeks after this battle, the main group of Allied armies started their big spring attack. This led to the Siege of Landrecies.