Skirmish at Akersloot, 6 October 1799

During the fall of 1799, the British launched an invasion in Holland, which was part of the Batavian Republic allied to the revolutionary French Republic. The invasion force was about 40,000 men strong and was led by general York. After some fierce battles around Bergen and Alkmaar, in which their advance was checked by Batavian (Dutch) and French forces, the British, now reinforced by a Russian expeditionary force, prepared to regain the offensive, and attacked Batavian and French outposts in and around Limmen, Bakkum and Akersloot, initiating the battle of Castricum. In this battle the British and Russian forces took heavy losses and were forced to retreat, and meant the failure of the invasion campaign.