Battle of Puiflijk facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Puiflijk
Part of the War of the First Coalition Flanders campaign
Date 19 October 1794 Location Puiflijk, Guelders, Dutch Republic Result French victory
Belligerents
French First Republic Armée du Nord	Great Britain Armée des Émigrés
Commanders and leaders
Jean-Charles Pichegru	Duke of York Prince of Rohan

The Battle of Puiflijk was a fight that happened on October 19, 1794. It took place in a region of the Netherlands called the Land van Maas en Waal. This battle was part of a bigger conflict known as the War of the First Coalition. This war was fought against Revolutionary France. The battle was also part of the Flanders campaign.

The battle involved French troops fighting against a group of Allies. The French forces were led by General Jean-Charles Pichegru. The Allies included soldiers from Great Britain and a group of French people called the Armée des émigrés. These were French citizens who had left France during the revolution. The Allied forces were led by the British commander, Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany. The French Emigrés were led by the Prince of Rohan.

The Battle Begins

The Allied forces had set up strong positions. They were behind a canal called the Oude Wetering. They also used the natural protection of the dykes (walls) along the Maas and Waal rivers.

On October 18, 1794, the French army crossed the Maas river. They moved from a place called Teeffelen to Alphen. The next day, October 19, the French launched their attack. They targeted the Allied positions in three different spots. These spots were near Appeltern (at a place called Blauwe Sluis), Altforst, and along the Waal dyke near Druten (in the area of Puiflijk).

Fierce Fighting and French Victory

At Blauwe Sluis, the forces led by the Prince of Rohan fought hard. However, they were eventually forced to retreat. During this part of the battle, 19 of the Emigré soldiers were captured by the French. These captured soldiers were later brought before a French military court. They were found guilty and executed.

The British forces also faced strong attacks. They were pushed back in a very disorganized way. During the fighting on the Waal dyke, the flag (standard) of the 37th English infantry regiment was captured by the French soldiers, known as the Sans-culottes. In the end, the French forces won the Battle of Puiflijk.

Re-enactment of the Battle

Years later, on August 10, 2017, the Battle of Puiflijk was brought to life again. A small group of actors, with help from the people of Puiflijk, re-enacted parts of the battle. This event was part of a larger television show called Zomer in Gelderland. The show aimed to highlight the village of Puiflijk and its history.