During more than a century this _Maiden_ remained intact, but in
October, 1747, she was deprived of the proud title by the illustrious
and impetuous Lowendahl. In order not to lose the fruits of the
memorable day of Lanfeld, Louis XV. commanded the siege of this
important place. In describing it, we will avail ourselves of the words
of Voltaire:--
“Siege was laid to Bergen-op-Zoom, a place esteemed impregnable, less
because the celebrated and ingenious Cohorn had there displayed all his
art, than from its being constantly supplied with all it could want
by the Scheld, which forms an arm of the sea behind it. In addition
to these defences and a numerous garrison, there were lines near the
fortifications, and in those lines a body of troops, which might at any
moment assist the city. Of all the sieges ever undertaken, this was,
perhaps, the most difficult. The count de Lowendahl, who had already
taken a part of Dutch Brabant, was charged with this enterprise. The
allies and the French, the besieged and the besiegers, were all equally
of opinion that the undertaking would fail: Lowendahl was almost the
only person who reckoned upon success. The allies neglected nothing:
the garrison was reinforced; succours, provisions, and munitions, were
thrown in from the Scheld; the artillery was well served; the besieged
made frequent sorties; the troops from the lines were constant in their
attacks, and mines were sprung in several places. The diseases to
which the besiegers were subjected, from being encamped in an unhealthy
spot, materially seconded the resistance of the city. These contagious
maladies placed more than twenty thousand men _hors de combat_; but
that deficiency was soon filled up.
“At length, after three weeks of open trenches, the count de Lowendahl
made it apparent that there are occasions on which the rules of art may
be exceeded. The breaches were not yet practicable. There were three
works scarcely commenced,--the raveline of Edem and two bastions, one
of which was called the Cohorn, and the other the Pucelle. The general
determined to give the assault at all these three points at the same
time, and to carry the city.
“The French, in pitched battles, often meet with their equals, and
sometimes with their masters in military discipline; but they have none
in those bold strokes and rapid enterprises, in which impetuosity,
agility, and ardour overcome all obstacles. The troops were ordered
to assemble in profound silence, towards the middle of the night: the
besieged imagined themselves in perfect safety. The French descend into
the fosses, and go straight to the three breaches; twelve grenadiers
only render themselves masters of the fort of Edem, kill all who
attempt to defend themselves, and compel the terrified remainder to lay
down their arms. The bastions of La Pucelle and Cohorn are assailed and
carried with the same spirit. The troops mount in crowds. Everything
is carried; they push on to the ramparts, and there form: they then
enter the city with fixed bayonets. The marquis de Luzeac seizes the
port gate; the commander of the fortress of this port surrenders to
him at discretion: all the other forts do the same. The aged baron de
Cromstron, who commanded in the city, flies away towards the lines.
The prince of Hesse-Philipstadt endeavours to make some resistance in
the streets with two regiments, one Scotch and the other Swiss; but
they are cut to pieces. The remainder of the garrison flies towards
the lines, and carries terror to the body to which they look for
protection. All fly; arms, provisions, and baggage, everything is
abandoned: the city is given up as legitimate plunder to the conquering
soldiers. A seizure was made, in the name of the king, of seventeen
large vessels lying in the port, laden with munitions of all kinds,
and provisions, which the cities of Holland had sent to the besieged.
Upon the chests which contained them there was printed in large
characters, TO THE INVINCIBLE GARRISON OF BERGEN-OP-ZOOM. Louis XV., on
learning the news of this event, made the count de Lowendahl a marshal
of France. The surprise of London was great, but the consternation
of the United Provinces was extreme. The army of the allies was
discouraged.”
The count de Lowendahl, in the letter he wrote the day after the
capture to Marshal de Saxe, estimated his loss at four hundred men
only, and that of the enemy at five thousand.