battle battle cavalry action fought september banks river germany corps spanish cavalry led corps dutch cavalry supported english troops led dutch taking advantage fact bulk spanish army operations france besieged town elderly governor citadel antwerp organized relief army forced lift siege moved positioning troops southern bank river cover dutch attack aimed relying superior army pitched battle planning use ambush draw spanish army trap plan discovered spanish commander organized counter ambush dutch intended overtake spanish foraging convoy deliver camp order draw spanish army pursuit banks awaiting order battle reinforced escort convoy hid large force cavalry wood nearby lieutenant thanks long experience spanish routed dutch force inflicted number casualties men including high ranking dutch english officers dutch army background france declared war spain response continued support france formed alliance engaged wars spanish crown consequently caught fronts french dutch forces tried create corridor linking respective states new governor general directed efforts leaving troops defend loyal provinces dutch attack july siege assembled force infantry cavalry companies artillery pieces led walls medium sized town northern flank defended stream river fortified garrisoned infantry companies regiment numbering troops german officer small artillery pieces receiving news siege elderly spanish governor antwerp left command spanish forces opposite dutch collected little army gathering forces garrisons marched force comprised spanish irish regiment swiss regiment cavalry having crossed joined german regiment able mount horseback helped men wear light armour came prominence battle spanish officers good fame rebel provinces portrayed positive light contemporaneous dutch authors hugo planned relieve lure pitched battle dutch general receiving news enemy march set fire supplies tools gathered siege retreated miles town prelude secured marched south cover town dutch attack army near followed took positions armies separated river spanish position strong rearguard left flank covered rhine right flank range hills called weeks armies looked forage time passed spanish forced look leagues far away camp took opportunity plan mock ambush foraging convoy aiming lure general action destroy spanish army hoped lure enemy trap september gave command ambush favourite commander cousin instructed cross river following day dawn hide wood spanish convoy expected pass fall guard goal seize foraging convoy separate escort lead dutch camp forcing intervene larger force appearance main army nassau retreat dutch camp spanish army ambush task nassau received command dutch english horsemen accompanied brothers dutch officers paul english captains dutch intentions anticipated spanish according french hired half brother successor write history learned ambush english soldiers deserted dutch colours italian jesuit claims spanish spies informed spies gather information enemy siege case spanish general took measures turn nassau surprise trap convoy normally guarded infantry cavalry reinforced large force cavalry lieutenant action september dawn dutch force crossed bridge awaited infantry rest cavalry arranged battle hills near opposite divided troops squadrons men second men count nassau brothers marched soldiers closing way men english captain having arrived nassau sent chosen men companies led surprise foraging horses finding force larger expected dutch officers thought wrong sent report dutch commander believed convoy escort moved troops entourage attack spanish cavalry aiming prevent escape dutch officers report mistaken early morning spanish scouts found track dutch force crossing river anticipating deployed cavalry countryside southwards covered small woods alternating troops guarding convoy command seven cavalry companies company adolf van den company authors list company informed guard convoy dutch intentions encouraged soldiers hold ground promising spanish army come relief commanding company followed bulk force nassau passed narrow path small forest coming open field surprised spanish troops followed van den discovering dutch column emerging forest fired volley turning right clashed dutch scouts starting action fight dutch troops formed squadrons caught surprise narrow passage dutch soldiers unable use forced defend swords pistols brothers cousin seriously wounded beginning fight troops coming relief unable rescue wounded commanders dutch soldiers started flee battlefield managed collect action disorder spanish cavalry encounter turned general action wood open ground dutch winning action disorder spanish squadrons charged ahead company flank turn routed dutch squadron allowed troops renew attack time success despite resistance offered dutch troops finally broken fled fashion attempting save river sent cavalry follow found dutch soldiers having unable find good place ford river drowned spanish captives freed taken dutch recovered aftermath battle noted heavy death toll dutch commanders mortally wounded beginning action shot point blank range body robes set fire brother english colonel slain lance thrust face count ferdinand killed seriously wounded captured philip carried soldiers visited catholic cousins van den brothers treated spanish despite dutch commanders died wounds sustained nassau night battle days later count captured dispatched bodies dead counts buried honours battle losses sources vary flemish protestant set dutch losses horses prisoners killed italian cardinal claimed dutch soldiers slain opposed spanish casualties roman jesuit wrote dutch casualties spanish soldier writer set spanish loss men killed claimed dutch force lost flags horses spanish soldiers note casualties wounded mortally stated dutch took seven spanish prisoners horses according spanish army envoy dutch camp present battle found later fatalities english author wrote book general history netherlands battle young hot bad got small battle celebrated spanish camp fired city artillery pieces muskets north american historian highlighted key role played year old spanish victory skirmish special significance military point view derives passing interest death brave distinguished soldier illustration human physically mentally old age given achievement planned expedition country antwerp insisted crossing rhine younger soldiers active brain busy hands famous young netherlands subtle policy set counter ambush cavalry cut pieces generals slain far blood ninety prevail spanish dutch armies spent days observing action importance ensued laid bridge rhine tried surprise enterprise discovered committed count nassau intercept spanish companies sent lodge managed reach leaving supplies dutch hands october lacking forage retired aimed cut retreat succeeded bringing troops secure position crossed november distributed troops different towns crossing river swiss mercenaries paid january elderly general died citadel antwerp deathbed wrote letter asking antwerp son company grandson requests denied
Battle of the Lippe