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Battle of Quiévrain (1792)
Part of the War of the First Coalition
Général ARMAND LOUIS DE GONTAUT DE BIRON (1747-1793)
1834 painting of general Biron.
Date28 and 30 April 1792
LocationQuiévrain, Belgium
Result 28 April: tactical French victory
30 April: chaotic French retreat
Belligerents
Flag of France (1790-1794) Kingdom of the French Habsburg Monarchy Holy Roman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Armand-Louis de Gontaut Biron Johann Peter Beaulieu
Strength
7,500[1] 5,000[1]


The Battle of Quiévrain refers to two events of conflict between the Archduchy of Austria and the Kingdom of France in late April 1792 during the War of the First Coalition.

Background[]

On 28 April, there was a minor skirmish at Quiévrain, just across the Franco-Belgian border, resulting in a victory for the French army under the command of general Armand-Louis de Gontaut Biron. However, although Biron advanced and planned to take the city of Mons and eventually Brussels, he judged his forces were not strong enough and decided to retreat.[2]

On 30 April, as his troops were passing by Quiévrain again, a false alarm of an Austrian attack caused the soldiers to panic, and they fled back to Valenciennes in a disorderly fashion. His ally Théobald Dillon, who served with Biron under Marshal Rochambeau during this invasion, suffered an even worse fate during the Battle of Marquain (29 April), some 35 kilometres to the northeast.[2]

Order of Battle[]

French Forces, commanded by Général–Lieutenant Armand-Louis de Gontaut Biron[1] (The below regiments included 1 battalion for infantry or 3 squadrons in cavalry, unless otherwise stated.)

  • 3éme Régiment de Cavalerie (Commissaire Général)
  • 5éme Régiment de Dragons (Colonel Général) – 2 Sqns
  • 6éme Régiment de Dragons (La Reine) – 2 Sqns
  • 3éme Régiment de Hussards (Esterhazy)
  • 1er Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (Picardie)
  • 18éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (Royal Auvergne)
  • 49éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (Vitimille)
  • 68éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (Beauce)
  • 74éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (Beaujolais)
  • 89éme Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (Royal–Suédois)
  • 2éme Bataillon de la Garde Nationale de Paris
  • 1er Bataillon de la Garde Nationale d'Aisne
  • 1er Bataillon de la Garde Nationale de la Siene–Inférieure
  • 300 men and 30 cannons and 6 howitzers commanded by Colonel de Puch

Austrian Forces, commanded by Feldmarschalleutnant Johann Peter Beaulieu[1]

  • 37. Dragoonregiment von Coburg (3 squadrons)
  • Uhlanregiment von Degelamnn (3 squadrons)
  • Regiment von Le Loup Mounted Jägers (2 squadrons)
  • x3 Squadrons of French Émigres
  • Grenadier Battalion von Briey
  • 33. Infanterieregiment von Sztáray (1st & 2nd battalions)
  • 41. Infanterieregiment von Bender (1/3 battalion)
  • x2 Companies of French Émigres
  • O'Donnell's Freikorps (2nd Battalion)
  • Jägers von Le Loup (3 companies)

Footnotes[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Smith, p. 21.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Gallaher, p. 18.

References[]

  • Gallaher, John G. (1997). General Alexandre Dumas: Soldier of the French Revolution. Carbondale, Illinois: Southern Illinois University Press. ISBN 9780809320981.
  • Digby Smith, The Greenhill Napoleonic Wars Data Book: Actions and Losses in Personnel, Colours, Standards, and Artillery, 1792–1815, 1998 Greenhill Books, London, United Kingdom. ISBN 1-85367-276-9.
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The original article can be found at Battle of Quiévrain (1792) and the edit history here.
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