User:De la Marck/Sàndbox

Battle of Leuze
Part of the Nine Years' War
Combat de Leuze by Joseph Parrocel
Date 18 September 1691 Location Leuze-en-Hainaut, present-day Belgium Result French victory
Belligerents
France	England Dutch Republic Scotland
Commanders and leaders
Duc de Luxembourg	Friedrich of Waldeck
Strength
28 squadrons	72 squadrons
Casualties and losses
400 dead or wounded	1,500 - 2,000 dead or wounded

The Battle of Leuze, a minor Cavalry engagement of the Nine Years' War, took place on 18 September 1691, between a detachment of the French and a slightly superior Allied force.

Marshal Luxembourg had been informed that William III of Orange had left for England, in the supposition that the campaign of 1691 was at its end. He was also informed that Marshal Waldeck, who was left in charge, was preparing to retire into winter quarters.

Luxembourg was near Tournai and sent out a reconnaissance under Marsilly, from whom he learned that the main body of the Allied army was retreating, leaving a rear-guard of cavalry at Leuze. Luxembourg acted immediately. He send a detachment to follow the movements of the main body, and with the squadrons of Villars and Marsilly he attacked the smaller party without warning. The French cavalry charged, only using their swords.

The Allied cavalry was superior in numbers, but could not deploy efficiently because of the limited space they were manoeuvred in.

The Allied infantry, including Mackay's Regiment also took part in the battle but did not see much action.

The battle lasted for only two hours, but was a complete victory for the French. The remainder of the Allied cavalry was saved by troops sent back by Waldeck.

Luxembourg had been in the thick of the action and been forced to beat off an attack, directed at his person.

References

The Battle of Leuze, a minor Cavalry engagement of the Nine Years' War, took place on 18 September 1691, between a detachment of the French and a slightly superior Allied force.

Early in September, William of Orange had returned to England, in the supposition that the campaign was at its end. Marshal Waldeck, who was left in charge, was preparing to retire into winter quarters.

Luxembourg was near Tournai when he learned of this, and immediately deciding to capitalise on his enemy's departure, put his own army into action. He sent out a reconnaissance party under one of his generals, Marsilly, from whom he learned that the main body of the Allied army was retreating, leaving a rear-guard of cavalry at Leuze. Luxembourg acted immediately. He send a detachment to follow the movements of the main body, and with the squadrons of Villars and Marsilly he attacked the smaller party without warning. The French cavalry charged, only using their swords.

The Allied cavalry was superior in numbers, but could not deploy efficiently because of the limited space they were manoeuvred in. Their infantry, including Mackay's regiment, also took part in the battle but did not see much action.

The battle lasted for but two hours, but was a complete victory for the French. The remainder of the Allied cavalry was saved by troops sent back by Waldeck. Luxembourg had himself been endangered in the thick of the battle.