War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14)
Sieges, marches, encampments and famous battles from 1701 to 1712 in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands
Siege of Bouchain, 1711
PLAN DE LA VILLE DE / Bouchain
1711 or laterPen, ink and watercolour on paper; some pricking through along rivers and outline of the town; laid down on coarse linen | Scale: not stated. 1:43,000 approx. | RCIN 726069
The date of 6 August-13 September for the beginning of the siege and surrender of the fortress is taken from Ostwald (2007), p.343.
This rough sketch shows some of the siege works, the encampments, and the line of circumvallation around Bouchain. The headquarters of Marlborough, Fagel and Cadogan are marked. Some regiments are named. The sketch appears to be unfinished: a blank rectangular panel, bottom right, may have been intended for additional text.
The area covered extends from Anis (Aniche 50°19'47"N 03°15'12"E) in the north-west to Douchÿ (Douchy-les-Mines 50°18'02"N 03°23'33"E) in the north-east, and from Crupelÿ (possibly Cuvillers 50°13'22"N 03°14'21"E) in the south-west to Villers Cau' Chÿ (Villers-en-Cauchies 50°13'32"N 03°24'13"E) in the south-east.
Condition: four fold lines; worn along folds and torn bottom, left of centre; repaired before being incorporated into Cumberland's collection by being laid down on linen; top right corner trimmed into a curved shape. Verso: top left, water-stained patch and shadow from the removal of Cumberland's cipher label.
Anonymous (cartographer)
Watermark: Amsterdam coat of arms
Mark, stamped: 142
Condition: four fold lines; worn along folds and torn bottom, left of centre; repaired before being incorporated into Cumberland's collection by being laid down on linen; top right corner trimmed into a curved shape. Verso: top left, water-stained patch and shadow from the removal of Cumberland's cipher label
Scale: not stated. 1:43,000 approx.
31.5 x 40.4 cm (image and neatline)
31.9 x 40.9 cm (sheet)
Manuscript title:
PLAN DE LA VILLE DE / Bouchain. [bottom left, in rectangular panel]
Annotations:
George III heading: Bouchain 7 Aug.t - 14 Sept.r 1711.
Other annotations: (Recto) [bottom left, the title has been annotated (by Schultz?) with the dates of the action.] [top right, black pencil:] 115. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil:] 106; [top right, ink?, obscured by linen backing:] 115.; [bottom right, ink, obscured by linen backing, in Schultz's hand:] Netherlands B.a. 32; [right centre, red pencil:] 106; [bottom left, obscured by linen backing, ink:] Bouchain [and, crossed out, indistinct: a 6?].
George III catalogue entry:
Bouchain Plan dessiné de la Ville de Bouchain, investie le 7 d'Aout et pris le 14 de Septembre.
Subject(s)
Bouchain, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France (50°17'06"N 03°18'53"E)
Bibliographic reference(s)
J. Ostwald, Vauban under siege: engineering efficiency and martial vigor in the War of the Spanish Succession, Leiden 2007
