Je vous en prie. Apologies for any structural short comings. My bemused response derives from the belief, possibly mistaken, that this myth was by now well exploded since , apart from having been challenged first in the C19th, it was reported as such on napoleon series as early as 2000*- even if websites, with varying degrees of accuracy, continue to deploy the tale.
that there are no authentic primary references to hostilities or to the presence of artillery,
that the winter, although severe, was not so severe as to allow massed troops to cross the ice,
that the other authors derived the story from Jomini, and
that his source is unknown, but probably an intentionally or unintentionally exaggerated account by one of the hussars involved.
He quotes correspondence with three Dutch officers present in the fleet during or soon after the surrender as evidence that no hostilities were needed or took place.
I wish I'd known that.
On actually reading the articles linked to, I found that all basically agree with De Jonge.
Je vous en prie. Apologies for any structural short comings. My bemused response derives from the belief, possibly mistaken, that this myth was by now well exploded since , apart from having been challenged first in the C19th, it was reported as such on napoleon series as early as 2000*- even if websites, with varying degrees of accuracy, continue to deploy the tale.
*viz: Hans Karl's link https://www.napoleon-series.org/military-info/battles/c_jonge.html
As it is the anniversary is still some three weeks away 😐
French Cavalry Defeats Dutch Fleet?
By Peter Davis [Placed on the Napoleon Series: June 2000}
Conclusion
De Jonge concludes:
that there are no authentic primary references to hostilities or to the presence of artillery,
that the winter, although severe, was not so severe as to allow massed troops to cross the ice,
that the other authors derived the story from Jomini, and
that his source is unknown, but probably an intentionally or unintentionally exaggerated account by one of the hussars involved.
He quotes correspondence with three Dutch officers present in the fleet during or soon after the surrender as evidence that no hostilities were needed or took place.
Placed on the Napoleon Series: June 2000
Oh, please. Not again.
Don't forget
https://www.napoleon-series.org/military-info/battles/c_jonge.html
and this may be of interest as well