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Historical military art prints of the
17th century including the 30 Years War, Netherlands War of Independence,
War of the Grand Alliance and the first English- Dutch War, shown in
military giclee canvas prints published by Cranston Fine Arts.
[ Samurai History ]
War of the League of Augsburg 1689-1697 and the part played by the
Grenadier Guards:
After the Revolution of 1688, many of the
officers were removed and the command was given to Henry Sidney,
afterwards Viscount Sidney and Earl of Romney, who had fought with the
Englishmen in the pay of the States General of Holland. William did not
bring the Guards to London for his coronation, nor venture to give them a
share in the operations in Ireland. But the vigorous hostility of the
French, and the operations of Tourville in the Channel, put the seal upon
their allegiance to the new dynasty. In the Low countries the French made
good headway, and the mismanagement by which the allies lost Mons in 1691,
and the great stronghold of Namur the following year, laid Brussels open
to the attack. Luxembourg, one of the most masterful soldiers of the age,
was in command at Mons, and in order to defeat the purposes of his astute
opponent, William marched westward to throw himself between that place and
the capital. He had with him two battalions of the First Guards, one of
the Coldstream regiment, and two each of the Scots and Dutch Guards,
making a brigade of nearly 5,000 men, besides other English regiments, and
a number of Dutch. It is interesting to remember that the Guards were
reviewed by him in the course of this march at Genappe, between Quatre
Bras and Waterloo, on the part of the field where long after they were to
win undying fame. Luxembourg had marched from Mons to Enghien, and lay
with his right resting on the village of Steinkirk, when William resolved
to attack on August 3rd 1692. One of the leading regiments was 2nd
battalion First Guards, under lieutenant-Colonel Warcup. If a surprise had
been possible, as was intended, victory might have fallen to the allies,
but the flower of the French army was before them, with overwhelming force
at hand. A wood and broken group of field and hedgerows lay between the
forces, but after a furious cannonade the Guardsmen steadily advanced,
supported by other regiments and a stubborn fight ensued. Inch by inch the
ground was contested, and repeatedly the Guards repulsed the fierce
attacks, driving the enemy back into his very camp. A terrific struggle
took place around a French battery, which Colonel Warcup led his battalion
to attack. The fury of the attack swept the French from their guns, but
not before they had cut the traces of the horses, which galloped back to
the camp, and the First Guards could not carry off their prize. Sir Robert
Douglas was shot dead as he lead his men to the charge, and the press grew
thicker as the French fell back. It was but a momentary recoil, for
Boufflers, coming up on their left, brought a large body of fresh troops
into action, which poured volley after volley into the allied line. We
were overpowered and bitter execrations were poured upon Count Solmes, who
had failed to bring up the strong reserves that would have confirmed the
day. Many corps were almost annihilated. "Cutts's, Mackay's, Angus's,
Graham's, and Leven's all cut to pieces," pathetically exclaims
Corporal Trim, whose fond descriptions of these fights in "Tristram
Shandy" reflect the accounts of an eyewitness of them, "and so
had the English Guards been too had it not been for some regiments on the
right, who marched up boldly to their relief and received the enemy's fire
in their faces before any one of their own platoons discharged a
musket." Colonel Warcup and six other officers were left dead on the
field.
Steinkirk was an engagement that spoke volumes
for the dash and sturdy courage of the British infantry, and it did not
fail of its menaced positions of Tournai, Lille and Courtrai. Still it was
a battle in which William's military fame had been grievously diminished,
for he had shown himself no match for his opponents. It would have been
much to Louis's fancy to direct the capture of Brussels and Liège, but
when he found William in the field, in 1693 he retired to Versaille and to
Madame de Maintenon, leaving the fighting in the far more capable hands of
Luxembourg, who on July 19th confronted the allies at Landon on the road
from Liège to Tirlemont. More bloody and furious was that memorable fight
than the last year's action at Steinkirk. The allies were in a strongly
entrenched position behind Landen, and between the villages of Neerwinden
and Laer. For eight hours the terrific contest was waged. Battalions of
the First Guards, and of the Coldstream and Scots regiments, lining the
hasty entrenchment in the centre, gave not an inch of ground.
The battle raged most fiercely round the
village of Neerwinden on the right, where battalions of the First, Scots,
and Dutch Guards were among the defenders. Most stubbornly was the place
contested until the fields were filled with dead. Twice the French broke
through, and twice they were driven out by a comparative handful of Guards
and Hanovarians. But reinforcements again were wanting, and when
Luxembourg dashed a third time at the village with fresh reserves of the
French and Swiss household troops, and outflanked the position with four
regiments of Dragoons, the remnant of the allies fell back across the
bridges over the Little Gheet, and the day of Landen was lost. The First
Guards had 7 officers killed and as many wounded and one a prisoner, and
left heaps of dead on the fiercely contested field. "Brave! brave! by
heaven! he deserves a crown," cried Uncle Toby of the King, when Trim
recounted the fiery valour of the day, and we may catch his enthusiasm and
apply his words to the gallant and unfortunate Guards.
The next year was one of tactical marches and
sieges, but in 1695, the Guards displayed again their intrepid courage in
the triumphant success of Namur. Luxembourg was dead and Villeroy, his
successor was as much inferior as a soldier to William as William had been
to the victor of Steinkirk and Landen. Namur was a fortress deemed
impregnable, and a chef a'oeuvre of Vauban. It was besieged by 80
battalions, including 2 of the First Guards, 1 of the Coldstream and 1 of
the Scots, and Cohorn, Vauban's pupil, directed the operations of the
Sappers. The Guards displayed prodigies of valour, losing many officers
and men in the carrying of the successive lines, which were defended by
stubborn fury, and Boufflers surrendered the town, having lost 5,000 men
in its defence. He retired with 7,000 others to the citadel, where a
murderous fire from 160 cannon and 60 mortars was poured upon him.
Villeroy advanced from the siege of Brussels to his relief, but
unaccountably withdrew, and William determined to hasten forward the
carrying of the breaches. On August 30th 1695, the forlorn hope of the
grenadiers of the Guards issued from the trenches, and marched some 700
yards under pitiless fire right up to the ditch. They made a daring rush;
but, owing to some mistake, the 3 regiments ordered to follow delayed
their advance, and the grenadiers were hurled down shorn of half their
numbers and with most of their officers killed. When, however, the other
troops came up, the desperate resistance was overcome, and the breach was
triumphantly gained. It had been a sanguinary business, for some 3,000 men
were killed and wounded on both sides. Boufflers, thereupon, seeing his
helpless state, surrendered the great fortress, the possession of which
had been of such vast importance to the French. The stout defenders, 5,168
strong, with beating drums marched out honourably from the breach, and
thus came to an end the last important operation of the fiercely contested
war, which the Peace of Ryswick brought to satisfactory close. (Excerpt
from the Navy and Army Gazette November 20th 1896 by John Leyland)
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Wallenstein, A Scene From the Thirty Years War by Ernest Crofts
Bohemian Revolt 1618-1623 includes the following battles, Pilsen, Sablat, White Mountain, Wiesloch, Wimpfen, Höchst, Fleurus I, Stadtlohn. Danish Revolt 1626-1628: Dessau Bridge, Lutter am Barenberge, Stralsund I, Wolgast. Swedish Revolt 1631-1634: Frankfurt on the Oder, Magdeburg, Weben, Breitenfeld I, Rain, Fürth, Lützen I, Nördlingen I. Swedish-French 1636-1648: Wittstock, Rheinfelden, Breisach, Breitenfeld II, Rocroi, Tuttlingen, Freiburg, Jankau, Mergentheim, Nördlingen II, Zusmarshausen, Prague II, Lens.
Open edition print. Special Promotion : This print is 30% off for a limited time only! Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £37.80
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £500.00
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £390.00
ITEM CODE DHM1096
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A Skirmish in a Landscape by Pieter Stevens III (GL)
The Battle of Mookerheide fought between the Dutch provinces of Philip II of Spain. William I of Orange stood for the resistance of the Netherlanders and in 1574 his brothers Louis and Henry of Nassau held the Dutch village of Mookerheide on the Meuse. A Spanish force of 5,000 men attacked Mookerheide on April 14th, although the Dutch had superior numbers they were poorly armed and ill trained in the battle both Louis and Henry of Nassau were killed along with several thousand Dutch.
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £500.00
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £390.00
ITEM CODE GIJL5007
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An Episode From the War Against the Turks by Adam Frans van der Meulen (GL)
Mohammed IV sent the Turkish Army to take Vienna under the command of Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa the Turkish force arrived at Vienna on July 16th 1683. The defence of Vienna was commanded by Count Ernst Rudiger von Starhemberg. All attempts by the Turks to take the city failed so they began mining under the city walls, but before this was completed a relieving army of 20,000 men under the command of John III Sobiski of Poland and Charles V, Duke of Lorraine arrived and attacked the Turkish lines. The Turks were routed ending the threat to Vienna.
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91m x 61cm). Price £500.00
Limited edition of 20 0giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £390.00
ITEM CODE GISD8147
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Cavalry Engagement by the Studio of Sebastien Vranx (GL)
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £500.00
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £390.00
ITEM CODE GIDT1970
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The Battle of Lekkerbeetje by the Studio of Sebastien Vranx (GL)
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £500.00
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £390.00
ITEM CODE GIDT2967
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Spanish Troops Raising the Siege of Grolle by Peeter Snayers (GL)
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £500.00
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £390.00
ITEM CODE GIJL2700
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| Wallenstein, A Scene From the Thirty Years
War by Ernest Crofts
Battles of the Thirty Years War:
Bohemian Revolt 1618-1623 includes the following
battles, Pilsen, Sablat, White Mountain, Wiesloch, Wimpfen, Höchst,
Fleurus I, Stadtlohn.
Danish Revolt 1626-1628: Dessau Bridge, Lutter am
Barenberge, Stralsund I, Wolgast.
Swedish Revolt 1631-1634: Frankfurt on the Oder,
Magdeburg, Weben, Breitenfeld I, Rain, Fürth, Lützen I, Nördlingen I.
Swedish-French 1636-1648: Wittstock, Rheinfelden,
Breisach, Breitenfeld II, Rocroi, Tuttlingen, Freiburg, Jankau,
Mergentheim, Nördlingen II, Zusmarshausen, Prague II, Lens.
A Skirmish in a
Landscape by Pieter Stevens III The Battle of Mookerheide fought between the Dutch
provinces of Philip II of Spain. William I of Orange stood for the
resistance of the Netherlanders and in 1574 his brothers Louis and Henry
of Nassau held the Dutch village of Mookerheide on the Meuse. A Spanish
force of 5,000 men attacked Mookerheide on April 14th, although the Dutch
had superior numbers they were poorly armed and ill trained in the battle
both Louis and Henry of Nassau were killed along with several thousand
Dutch.
An Episode From the War
Against the Turks by Adam Frans van der Meulen Mohammed IV sent the Turkish Army to take Vienna
under the command of Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa the Turkish force arrived
at Vienna on July 16th 1683. The defence of Vienna was commanded by Count
Ernst Rudiger von Starhemberg. All attempts by the Turks to take the city
failed so they began mining under the city walls, but before this was
completed a relieving army of 20,000 men under the command of John III
Sobiski of Poland and Charles V, Duke of Lorraine arrived and attacked the
Turkish lines. The Turks were routed ending the threat to Vienna. |
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History of the First Royal Scots
at Tangier
John Ross, the author of "Tangier's Rescue", thus
described the arrival of these celebrated veterans under Sir James
Hackett: "After this landed the valorous Major Hackett with the
renowned regiment of the Earl of Dumbarton; all of them men of approved
valour, fame having echoed the sound of their glorious actions and
achievements in France and other nations; having left behind them a report
of their glorious victories wherever they came; every place witnessing and
giving large testimony of their renown; so that the arrival of this
illustrious regiment more and more increased the resolution and courage of
the inhabitants, and added confidence to their valour."
Dumbarton's Scots were not long in giving a good account of
themselves and the recital of their achievements reads like Homer's
account of the combat around Troy. More than once they plucked the Lambs
from the very jaws of the Moorish wolves, on one occasion forming the
forlorn-hope in a sally having for its object the rescue of the garrison
in a detached fort, and brilliantly succeeding with a loss of fifteen
killed and several wounded, including their leader (Captain Hume). In
another sally Captain Forbes and eight men were killed.
A general sally, or sortie, of the garrison had been ordered; and,
when the signal for attack was given, "the Scots and their
Grenadiers", wrote Ross, "charged first, if there was any time
at all between their charging; for like fire and lightning, all went at
once." The Moors - fourteen to fifteen thousand strong- were reposing
behind their trenches, when suddenly, at the first dim dawn of the
September day, they were aroused out of their sleep, like the soldiers of
the rebel Arabi at Tel-el-Kebir, "by the sound of a trampling
multitude rushing to battle", and the next moment they were thrown
into confusion by a shower of bursting hand grenades. Dumbarton's veterans
quickly carried the first trench, and "mixing in fierce combat with
the Moors, soon proved that a valiant Scot was more than a match for one
of the dusky sons of Africa. The first trench having been won, a portion
of it was levelled for the cavalry, when the British and Spanish horsemen
charged the Moors, and plunging amidst the dark masses, trampled and cut
down the astonished Africans. At the same time the British Grenadiers were
seen using their hatchets with dreadful execution on one side, the pikemen
were bearing down all before them on the other, and the musketeers, having
slung their muskets, were fighting sword in hand with an impetuosity which
the Moors could not withstand.
(Excerpts from The Glories and Traditions of the
British Army. (Naval and Army illustrated Feb 26th 1897). The First Royal
Scots or Lothian Regiment by Chas Lowe)
History of the First Royal Scots
at Sedgemoor
Now officially recognised as the Royal Regiment of Foot, their next
battlefield was that of Sedgemoor - the last on English soil- (1685),
where they formed the extreme right of the royal line, and behaved in such
a disciplined manner as to secure the victory of King James II over the
usurper Monmouth and his rustic levies. When viewing from a distance the
royal infantry, Monmouth, as Macaulay wrote, "could distinguish among
the hostile ranks that gallant band, which was then called from the name
of its colonel, Dumbarton's Regiment, but which has long been known as the
first of the line, and which, in all the four corners of the world, has
nobly supported its early reputation. 'I know these men', said Monmouth,
'they will fight. If I had but them all would go well.'
What says Lord Wolseley in his "Life of Marlborough"?
"Lord Grey (commanding Monmouth's cavalry) found himself facing
Dumbarton's Regiment. The officers of this battalion, of greater
experience in war than those of the other regiments, were somewhat more on
the alert. As it was the only regiment present which still retained the
matchlock, the others being armed with the newly-introduced snaphaunce or
flint-musket, Grey was able to mark its position by the burning
matches"; and thus he was lured on to his destruction as if by so
many will-o'-the-wisps in that boggy region.
When trying to cross the broad ditch in front of them ( the famous
Bussex Rhine) Grey's horsemen were challenged by Dumbarton's Regiment and
a battalion of Foot Guards from the opposite side. "Who are you
for?" "The King". "What King?" "Monmouth,
and God with us!" was the prompt reply. "Take this with you
then!" as the battalions poured a volley upon the startled troopers.
Soon after this Monmouth hurried forward his foot, directing his advance
upon the burning matches of Dumbarton's Scots, and on the royalist side
this was the only regiment to return the fire of the rebels. The latter
made a stout stand against repeated volleys and charges of cavalry, but
the backbone of their resistance was at last broken " by a determined
attack of the grenadier companies of the Guards and Dumbarton's
Regiment", which the latter, being foremost in the pursuit, captured
the Duke of Monmouth's standard.
(Excerpts from The Glories and Traditions of the
British Army. (Naval and Army illustrated Feb 26th 1897). The First Royal
Scots or Lothian Regiment by Chas Lowe)
History of the First Royal Scots
at Steinkirk
For many years the Royals had
shown what they could do when fighting for the French, and at
Steinkirk (1692), they showed how terrible they could be when fighting against
them.
Among the foremost in this action, as the old chronicler wrote,
"was seen the brave Sir Robert Douglas at the head of the 1st
battalion of his regiment, emulating the noblest actions recorded in the
annals of war. Having led his battalion against the troops behind the
first hedge, "he soon cleared it of its French defenders, and drove
one of the battalions from the field in confusion. A second hedge was
assailed and carried by the Scots in a few moments, a third was assaulted
- the French stood their ground - the combatants fought muzzle to muzzle,
but again the Royals proved victorious, and the third hedge was won. The
toil of conflict did not cool the ardour of the veteran Scots, but forward
they rushed with a loud huzza, and attacked the troops lining the fourth
hedge. Here the fighting was severe but eventually the Royals overthrew a
fourth French battalion and drove a crowd of combatants from their
cannon."
In this desperate conflict the battalion lost one of its three
colours. Sir Robert Douglas, seeing the colour on the other side of the
hedge, leaped through a gap, slew the French officer who bore the colour,
and cast it back into the midst of his own men; but this act of heroism
cost him his life, a French marksman having shot him dead while in the act
of rejoining his ranks. "Thus the Scots commander improved upon the
Roman general. For the brave Posthumous cast his standard in the middle of
the enemy for his soldiers to retrieve; but Douglas retrieved his from the
middle of the enemy, and cast it back for his soldiers to retain."
Excerpts from The Glories and Traditions of the
British Army. (Naval and Army illustrated Feb 26th 1897). The First Royal
Scots or Lothian Regiment by Chas Lowe
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