BERGEN-op-ZOOM Holland1814 British Siege Account by Major Parkinson’s 33rd Foot

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Calmphoul 23 March 1814" Sir Having this moment seen in the public papers the dispatchers of his Excellency the Command of the Forces, relative to the attack on Bergen/de/Zoom where it is stated in his Excellency letter, that the Royal Scots retired from the water-port gate followed by the 33rd , and in your Report that Lt. Colonel Jones shortly after day-break inform you that Lt. Colonel Muller and the Troops at the Water Port Gate had been obliged to surrender, and were marched prisoners into the Town. I considered it my duty in the report. I beg here to observe that my report being made directly to Head Quarters was in consequence of Lt. Colonel Miller’s having been taken prisoner, under whose immediate order the 33d Reg was placed. By this Report it will be seen that as far from the 33d having followed the Royal from, or through the Water-Port Gate that it remained in considerable time defending the position in had at first occupied near the gate, which was done without my knowing any. Thing of it and without my receiving any instructions from Lt. Col. Miller under whose orders I had been placed by yourself. The 33d Regt did not retire through the Water-Port Gate, nor ever had for a moment. The Regiment did not retire until turned on both flanks without support, at this point we were all alone. You yourself visited our position , long after day break and before the Royal Regt. had drawn from the Gate and the returns will show the number of Prisoners the French took from us in the whole, fifty five including the wounded and One Officer. Even this number is greater than l calculated on at the time."
Great Account of Major Edward Parkinson 33rd Regiment on the Siege of Bergen-de-Zoom, Holland March 8,1814 French victory and a defeat for the British. Total British losses for the assault 2,552 killed, wounded and captured; the vast majority at 2,000 officers and men capitulated. As 3,300 men had made the assault, the percentage of men lost, out of the total, stood at around 77% making it the highest rate of loss by the British Army in the Napoleonic Wars. Large expensive items will require more due to packing/shipping/insurance considerations. See our other fine items on eBay! Visit our ME Page
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