The Relief of Maastricht

Last weekend I had the pleasure of taking part in a late 17^th Century game hosted by Pete O’Toole. This was an attempt by the French to relieve the English/Dutch siege of Maastricht circa 1693— the 9^th game in a long running campaign which I had not previously participated in.

The game was played on two tables representing the Eastern and Western approaches to Maastricht.  We were free to allocate our forces to either table and hold others in reserve to play in later.  Playing the role of the Duc de Villeroy, I penned a dispatch to King Louis XIV after the battle, the text of which follows.

To Louis de Bourbon, Roy de France et Navarre, Roy de Solei,

From your humble servant François de Neufville, Duc de Villeroy, Greetings:

It gives me great pleasure to inform Your Majesty of Your decisive victory over William of Orange’s perfidious English, Dutch and their heretic followers at Maastricht and the relief of the town from siege.

The gallant Fontbeausard conducted a skilful holding action opposite the Hogeweg gate. His dragoons and foot kept the Dutch and their allies at bay, slowly giving ground to draw the enemy on. This tied up the vaunted Dutch guard and some of their best units, allowing your Majesty’s forces time to re-supply the garrison at the Oosterbruikweg gate.

Your Majesty’s plan was to attack hard and fast with a heavily weighted left wing to secure the Oosterbruikweg gate and get the supplies through. To this end Sebastien led a sortie from the town coordinated with Luxembourg’s attack against the English and Scottish foot. Your humble servant Villeroy deployed his cavalry to confound and frustrate the intended advance by the Danes on the enemy right.

There were some tense moments. The English horse proved to be ferocious in combat. Despite taking casualties from gunfire and musketry, they succeeded in forcing back Sebastien’s foot and were in a hair’s breadth of taking possession of the Oosterbruikweg gate.

The timely deployment of Your Majesty’s reserve horse, combined with concentrated fire from Your foot eventually saw them off. This cleared the ground for Your supply wagons to enter the gate and resupply Your stalwart garrison at Maastricht.

Luxembourg’s attack in the centre also met fierce opposition but French élan proved too much for the heretical English. Their grenadiers were routed, their guns overrun and before long Your Majesty’s foot were pushing them back on all fronts.

Your Majesty’s horse were successful in containing the Danes. Although some of the poorer units were driven off by gunfire, when sabres were drawn Your gallant cavaliers succeeded in forcing back the Danish horse. They then moved up to turn the enemy right flank. Your Majesty’s horse and dragoons are now pushing hard to keep the pressure on the retreating enemy. With Your gracious permission we shall continue to push them and manoeuvre Your Majesty’s army to cut their supply lines.