Battle of Grandreng

Flax field in countryside near Grand-Reng in 2007

Date	10–13 May 1794
Location	Grand-Reng, Belgium
Result	Austro-Dutch victory

Belligerents

Habsburg Austria

Dutch Republic

Republican France

Commanders and leaders

Graf von Kaunitz

Louis Charbonnier

Jacques Desjardin

Strength

27,000

53,000

Casualties and losses

1,400–2,800

3,000–4,000, 12 guns

The Battle of Grandreng or Battle of Rouvroi (10–13 May 1794) saw a Republican French army jointly commanded by Louis Charbonnier and Jacques Desjardin attempt to advance across the Sambre River against a combined Habsburg Austrian and Dutch army under Franz Wenzel, Graf von Kaunitz-Rietberg. After winning crossings over the Sambre at Thuin and Lobbes on the 10th and Merbes-le-Château on the 12th, the French were defeated on 13 May at Grand-Reng and forced to retreat. The War of the First Coalition engagement marked the first of five attempts by the French armies to establish themselves on the north bank of the Sambre. Grand-Reng is now part of the village of Erquelinnes, Belgium, lying close to the border with France. Rouveroy (Rouvroi) is situated 3.8 kilometres (2.4 mi) north. Grand-Reng is located about 33 kilometres (21 mi) southwest of Charleroi.

The spring of 1794 saw intense and continual fighting in the Austrian Netherlands between the French and First Coalition armies. While the Coalition army concentrated their main effort in the center against Landrecies, the French directed their efforts against the flanks. On the eastern flank, the small Army of the Ardennes under Charbonnier joined with three Army of the North divisions led by Desjardin to threaten Mons.

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Wikipedia