Swedish troops in Baltic provinces, Sept. 1677

Russian military demonstrations on the frontier in 1675-1677 (link) made Sweden to maintain a 10,500 strong forces (Sept. 1677) in Baltic provinces, most of them were Finish: 2.376 in Finland, 7.300 in Livland, 3.950 in Estland & 2.500 in Ingermanland. It was a time, when Sweden needed troops in Scone & Pomerania to oppose Danish & Brandenburg offensive. 

Я уже ранее в блоге упоминал о русских военных демонстрациях на шведской границе в 1675-1677 гг. Шведы к ним относились достаточно серьезно, и в разгар Сконской войны держали в своих прибалтийских провинциях 10,5 тыс. чел. (в основном финские полки): 2,4 тыс. в Финляндии, 7,3 тыс. в Лифляндии (Рига и Дерпт), почти 4 тыс. в Эстляндии и 2,5 тыс. в Ингрии. И это в то время, когда у шведов на счету был каждый солдат в Сконе и Померании. 

Russian military demonstrations on the Swedish border, 1675-1677

In 1675-1677 Russian government influenced by Danish & Austrian diplomats made serious military demonstrations on Swedish border. It mobilized military troops of Novgorod Razryad - a military district, composed of the north-west Russian territories bordered Swedish Baltic provinces & Finland. It numbered about 10,500 field (!) troops: 1.200 mounted feudal levy ("pomestnaya konnitca"), ab. 400 hussars (Polish-styled) in 5 coys, ab. 400 "kopeyshiki" (lancers) in 5 coys, 3.125 reitars in 3 regiments, ab. 3.200 soldiers in 3-4 regiments, 2.500 streltzy in 5 converged "prikazes".

First mobilization was done in 1675 to meet a Swedish embassy under Ernst Kreutz. The Novgorod Razryad under kz. Ivan Khovanskiy composed of Kopeyniy (Heinrich Zoge), 3 Reitars (Iakob Bils, Ulrich Schnitter, Stepan Uvarov), 3 Foot (Johann Treyden, Michael Westhof, Ivan Kegelkin) & 5 converged prikazes of Streltzy. Swedish embassy was postponed till next year, & in October the troops were sent back. Swedes noticed the gathering of the numerous Russian troops near the border & were seriously alarmed.  

Danish troops sent to United Provinces 1674

In 1674 Denmark agreed to provide a Corps to support United Provinces in the war against France. it composed of the following troops:

Source: Tweejaerige geschiedenissen, voorgevallen in de jaeren MDCLXXIV en MDCLXXV... S. 163

French army under de Conde in Brabant in 1674

Source: Tweejaerige geschiedenissen, voorgevallen in de jaeren MDCLXXIV en MDCLXXV. S. 160.

Spanish troops in Brabant, 1674

Spanish army in Brabant (Spanish Netherlands) under Governor Juan Domingo de Zuniga y Fonseca comte de Monterrey et Fuentes (see on him Spanish wiki & English wiki- they differ a little) had a paper strength of about 36.000

French army & fleet in 1672

List of French army & fleet from British newspapers dated 1672.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Brandenburg homeland garrisons in the beginning of 1675

When Sweden declared a war on Brandenburg in December of 1674, the main Brandenburg army under Kurfurst Friedrich Wilhelm was on Rhine (see details: wiki). The homeland garrisons numbered only around 4300 men:

• Berlin: 1200 men of Garde zu Fuss
• Kustrin, Driesen, Lochnitz: 1236 men of Dohna Foot
• Spandau: 202 men, plus new-raised (capitulation signed on 24.12.1674) Frei-compagnie under Obrist Isaak du Plessis-Gouret of 200 men
• Beitz: 302 men
• Oderberg: 101 men
• Frankfurt: 181 men
• Colberg: 1005 men of Schwerin Foot

Source: Jany C. Geschichte der Preussischen Armee. B. 1. Osnabruck, 1967. S. 233.

Taking of Rheinberg, 2-6 June 1672

"Plattegrond van Rheinberg, veroverd door de Fransen in 1672" by Gaspar Bouttat
(CLICK TO ENLARGE, source: Rijksmuseum, link)

Rheinberg was one of the key Dutch strongholds in their frontier defense system. It’s garrison was about 1,500 of various independent companies under commandant Colonel Daneil baron D’Ossory (in some sources he is lieutenant-colonel). It was besieged by French army under Prince Conde on 2 of June 1672 & soon capitulated on 6 of June. 

Siege of Rheinberg by Lambert de Hodt
(CLICK TO ENLARGE, link)

According to Olaf Nimwegen’s work Rheiberg burghers displayed a great zeal & readiness to defend the town to the utmost. In spite of that d’Ossory opened the gates without a single shot being fired. As the Dutch troops left the town the populace yelled after them: “You scoundrels, neither before God nor the world shall you be able to defend your deeds. You all deserve to be punish with the gallows”.  In September of 1672 D’Ossory was called to account by the General Court Martial. He was found guilty of cowardice & treason & was subsequently beheaded on 14 September of 1672.

So, official Dutch version is that Rheinberg was fell without any serious resistance. The siege is presented on two art works, by Gaspar Bouttat (1672) & Lamber de Hodt (I believe, that Bouttat’s drawing was the source for de Hodt). There are at least 4 clashes (sorties) on them, one on the left & three on the right banks of the Rhine. Unfortunately I didn’t find any description of the events from the French side. 

French fleet in 1672

"Liste des Vaisseaux de l'Armee Navale qui doit servir l'anne 1672" from Le Mercure Galant, Tome 1, 1672, P. 299-305.
Squadron in Rochefort

Squadron in Brest

Austrian army in 1677

According to Hollantse Mercurius (volume of 1677 S. 181) Austrian (Kayserlich) army contained in 1677 of 18 regiments & 40 new-raised companies of Cuirassiers, 4 regiments of Dragoons, 3 regiments & 40 new-raised companies of Croats, 20 regiments of foot - totaled about 69,200 of authorized strength. 

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Dutch & French fleets in the battle of Tobago, 22 March 1677

Dutch squadron under commodore Jacob Binckes was of 3 ships-of-line (top 3 in the table below), 5 frigates, 3 armed merchants (the last 3), a brander (De Zaeyer) & a yacht (De Fortuyn)

Ship	Captain	Cannons	Crew
Bescherminge	Jakob Binckes	50	153
Provincie van Zeelant	Pieter Constant	44	118
Huis te Kruiningen	Roermer-Vlack	56	128
Middelbourg	Jan Swart	36	83
Wapen van Leyden	Galtje Galtjes	34	73
Popjesburgh	Pieter Stolwijck	24	52
De Goude Star	Pieter Cooreman	28	74
L’Alcion (ex-French)	Cornelis Stolwijck	24	25
Duc de Jork	Fredrick Sweers	26	35
De goude Munnick	Dirck Schoen	31	25
De Sphaera mundi	Wylof Langerys	12	20

French fleet under D’Estrees was of 6 ship-of-line (top 6 in the table below), 4 frigates, one brander & some other smaller ships. There about 4,000 men on the ships, inl. 9 companies of soldiers (450) & about 400 volunteers.

Battle of Konzer Brucke or Taverne, 11 August of 1675

Crossing of the Saar river during the battle of Konzer Brucke or Taverne, 11 August 1675
by M. Merian (Theatrum Europaeum. Band 11. 1682. Tafel 42)
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In summer of 1675 the French garrison of Trier (7 battalions) was besieged by the Imperial army under Duke Karl IV of Lorraine. French army of 15,000 (12 battalions, 36 squadrons, see details below) under marshal Francois de Bonne de Crequi tryed to relive the city. Imperials left 9 battalions & 4 squadrons to blockade the Trier, the rest marched to meet Creque.
The Imperial army under Duke Georg Wilhelm of Luneburg & Duke Karl IV of Lorraine was of 11 battalions & 42 squadrons, mostly of Luneburg-Osnabruck & Lothringen troops (see details below). Imperials crossed the Saar river in 3 columns:
- right column under Austrian General-Wachtmeister Otto de Grana was of 16 Lothringen (12 of reitars & 2 of dragoons) & 2 Austrian (Chavagnag Dragoons) squadrons
- center column was of 11 infantry battalions with 14 cannons
- left column under Luneburg General de Cavalerie v.d. Lippe was of 24 squadrons (18 of Luneburg & Osnabruck, 6 Austrian)
Evidently the same was their BO on the battlefield. Allies successfully crossed the river & attacked French lines. After a 3-hour frierce battle Crequi was defeated & escaped to Trier. French lost ab. 2,000 killed, 1,600 PoWs, 80 colours & standards, 11 cannons & ab. 200 train waggoons. Imperial losses were about 1,000. French garrison of Trier soon capitulated.

Plates with Courland troops on Dutch service 1672-75

By occasion I found two plates named as Courland troops on Dutch service in 1672-75. In 1672 Duke Frederick Casimir of Courland agreed to provide a Foot, a Horse & a Dragoon regiments on Dutch service (all troops were maintained by Friesland). I've written about their colours and standards earlier (link). Unfortunately I don't have any info about their uniforms & can't give any comments about the plates. They could be a fake.

Reicharmee under GFM Karl von Lothringen at the start of the siege of Philipsburg, April 1676

Belagerung von Philipsburg 1676
by Romeyn de Hooghe
(CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Reicharmee under GFM Prinz Karl V of Lothringen numbered about 32,000 in the April of 1676 at the start of the operations against Philipsburg. The army laid siege on the Philipsburg on the 1 (or 11) May of 1676. The garrison under Du Fay was of 2,298 infantry & 466 cavalry with 100 guns. Karl Lothringen successfully repealed attempts of the French army of Rhein under Marshal Luxembeurg to relief the siege. Meanwhile siege forces under Markgrave Herman von Baden made the garrison to capitulate after several severe attacks on the 9 of September 1676.

Austrian troops:

Infantry (12): Souches, Pio, Keyserstein (half), Kuigge (half), Alt-Grana, Neu-Grana, Portia, Starenbergh, Serini, Straim, Stadel (Reus), Mansfeld (Lesli) – total around 18,000

Reicharmee in Alsace, winter 1674-1675

Reicharmee opposed French under Turenne in Alsace in the winter of 1674-1675 contained Kaiser (Austrian), Brandenburg, Braunschweig-Luneburg, Munster & Lothringen troops. See detailed list of troops below.
The source is: Kortzfleisch G. Der oberelsassische winterfeldzug 1674/1675. SS. 167-170.