# Hanover Expedition > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hanover_Expedition > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hanover_Expedition.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanover_Expedition > Source revision: 1345323798 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|1805–1806 expedition during the War of the Third Coalition}} {{good article}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Use British English|date=February 2022}} {{Infobox military conflict | conflict = Hanover Expedition | width = | partof = [War of the Third Coalition](/source/War_of_the_Third_Coalition) | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | date = 19 November 1805 – 15 February 1806 | place = [Electorate of Hanover](/source/Electorate_of_Hanover) | coordinates = | map_type = | map_relief = | map_size = | map_marksize = | map_caption = | map_label = | territory = British evacuation of Hanover | result = French victory | status = | combatants_header = | combatant1 = {{flagicon|United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland}} [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom_of_Great_Britain_and_Ireland)
{{flagicon|Russian Empire}} [Russian Empire](/source/Russian_Empire)
{{flagicon|Sweden|naval}} [Sweden](/source/Gustavian_era) | combatant2 = {{flagicon|First French Empire}} [France](/source/First_French_Empire)
{{flagicon|Kingdom of Prussia|1803}} [Prussia](/source/Kingdom_of_Prussia) | combatant3 = | commander1 = {{flagicon|United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland}} [Sir George Don](/source/George_Don_(British_Army_officer))
{{flagicon|United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland}} [Lord Cathcart](/source/William_Cathcart%2C_1st_Earl_Cathcart)
{{flagicon|Russian Empire}} [Pyotr Aleksandrovich Tolstoy](/source/Pyotr_Aleksandrovich_Tolstoy)
{{flagicon|Sweden|naval}} [Gustav IV Adolf](/source/Gustav_IV_Adolf) | commander2 = {{flagdeco|First French Empire}} [Napoleon I](/source/Napoleon)
{{flagicon|Kingdom of Prussia|1803}} [Friedrich Adolf, Count von Kalckreuth](/source/Friedrich_Adolf%2C_Count_von_Kalckreuth) | commander3 = | units1 = Allied armies | units2 = Local garrisons | units3 = | strength1 = Britain: 25,000
Russia: 20,000
Sweden: 10,000 | strength2 = France: 4,000
Prussia: 50,000 | strength3 = | casualties1 = 1,000+ (British shipwrecks) | casualties2 = Unknown, minor | casualties3 = | notes = | campaignbox = }} {{Campaignbox Third Coalition}}{{Campaignbox Russo-French Wars}} The '''Hanover Expedition''', also known as the '''Weser Expedition''',{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=23}} was a British invasion of the [Electorate of Hanover](/source/Electorate_of_Hanover) during the [Napoleonic Wars](/source/Napoleonic_Wars). Coordinated as part of an attack on [France](/source/First_French_Empire) by the nations of the [Third Coalition](/source/War_of_the_Third_Coalition) against [Napoleon](/source/Napoleon) by [William Pitt the Younger](/source/William_Pitt_the_Younger) and [Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh](/source/Robert_Stewart%2C_Viscount_Castlereagh), planning began for an invasion of French territories in July 1805. Hanover, previously a British possession, was chosen as the goal of the expedition, with [Swedish](/source/Gustavian_era) and [Russian](/source/Russian_Empire) forces under [Gustav IV Adolf](/source/Gustav_IV_Adolf) and [Count](/source/Count) [Pyotr Aleksandrovich Tolstoy](/source/Pyotr_Aleksandrovich_Tolstoy) brought in to support the endeavour. Key to the success of the invasion was the support of [Prussia](/source/Prussia), a nation poised to threaten France but not as yet openly hostile to the country. [Sir George Don](/source/George_Don_(British_Army_officer)) commanded the British expedition and he arrived with an army of around 14,000 men at [Cuxhaven](/source/Cuxhaven) in November. To bolster the expedition and to strengthen the resolve of Prussia, Don's army was reinforced by 12,000, with [Lord Cathcart](/source/William_Cathcart%2C_1st_Earl_Cathcart) taking over command. Coordination between the British, Swedes, and Russians in Hanover was so poor that by December very little past the occupation of Hanover had been achieved. Cathcart grouped his force around the [Weser](/source/Weser), and soon after learned of the Austro-Russian defeat at the [Battle of Austerlitz](/source/Battle_of_Austerlitz), which forced the [Austrians](/source/Austrian_Empire) to surrender and the Russians to retreat into Poland. With no large armies now protecting Cathcart's force from French attack, the situation was exacerbated when Prussia signed the [Treaty of Schönbrunn](/source/Treaty_of_Sch%C3%B6nbrunn_(1805)) with France, which created an alliance between the two nations and agreed that Prussia should control Hanover. With French and Prussian forces moving against Hanover, Cathcart's army was recalled in January 1806. The evacuation was completed on 15 February, and Hanover was left to the occupation of a Prussian army. The expedition, while a total failure, had little effect on the British position because of the lack of combat. Its method of quick amphibious transportation and landings of troops on a foreign shore would go on to be imitated in the [Walcheren Expedition](/source/Walcheren_Expedition) in 1809. ==Background== {{See also|Invasion of Hanover (1803)}} In the first years of the [French Revolutionary](/source/French_Revolutionary_War) and [Napoleonic Wars](/source/Napoleonic_Wars) Britain found increased difficulty in engaging France in land battles. With British control of the seas and with many of the French colonies already taken because of this, France provided little opportunity for Britain to attack her apart from at sea.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|pp=23–24}}{{sfnp|Hague|2004|pp=561–562}} The small [British Army](/source/British_Army) was not equipped to engage in an invasion of the highly defended French mainland, and so continued to rely on the [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy)'s blockade of [Brest](/source/Brest_(France)) as the best way to impact the French at home.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|pp=23–24}} This outlook changed in 1803 when Austria and Russia allied themselves to Britain as part of the [Third Coalition](/source/War_of_the_Third_Coalition). With more militarily impressive allies now available to take the war to France on land, the British Army would be able to do the same, safe in the knowledge that it would not be engaging the French armies alone.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=24}} This combined with the creation of the [King's German Legion](/source/King's_German_Legion) in 1804 produced an opportunity for new British Army operations.{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=280}} In around October 1805 [Napoleon's planned invasion of the United Kingdom](/source/Napoleon's_planned_invasion_of_the_United_Kingdom) was called off and the [Grande Armée](/source/Grande_Arm%C3%A9e) left its encampments at [Boulogne](/source/Boulogne) to march towards the Russians and Austrians.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=22}}{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=24}}{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=280}} With the largest portions of the French army gone, an opening was created for a British incursion into northwest Germany, with particular interest in the re-taking of the [Electorate of Hanover](/source/Electorate_of_Hanover), which [George III](/source/George_III) had controlled until 1803, and which had only 4,000 French troops remaining in it.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=24}}{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=286}} The British [Prime Minister](/source/Prime_Minister_of_the_United_Kingdom), [William Pitt the Younger](/source/William_Pitt_the_Younger), and his [Secretary of State for War and the Colonies](/source/Secretary_of_State_for_War_and_the_Colonies) [Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh](/source/Robert_Stewart%2C_Viscount_Castlereagh), were strong supporters of the enterprise, having championed it from as early as July. They envisaged an amphibious army that could be landed at points across Napoleonic Europe, making "pinprick" attacks against enemy targets while avoiding large battles with the French that could result in "crippling defeat". With news of the French withdrawal having reached Britain before its culmination, Castlereagh began planning in September. By taking Hanover, Britain could restore the country to its rightful rulers while also gaining a useful springboard for further operations in Europe.{{sfnp|Bew|2014|p=210}}{{sfnp|Bartlett|1966|p=59}} Not all of the establishment was in favour of the endeavour, with the [Commander-in-Chief of the Forces](/source/Commander-in-Chief_of_the_Forces), the [Duke of York](/source/Prince_Frederick%2C_Duke_of_York_and_Albany), relying on his experience in the [Flanders campaign](/source/Low_Countries_theatre_of_the_War_of_the_First_Coalition), arguing that expeditions that relied too much on the allies' actions would be difficult.{{sfnp|Bartlett|1966|pp=61–62}} ==Planning== [[File:Graf Johann Friedrich von der Decken 1769-1840.jpg|[Friedrich von der Decken](/source/Friedrich_von_der_Decken), planner of the initial expedition in November 1805|thumb]] Castlereagh estimated that the retirement of the French armies from the [Channel coast](/source/English_Channel) had freed up between 40,000 and 60,000 British soldiers for service abroad.{{sfnp|Bartlett|1966|p=59}} With this in mind, original estimates for an expedition planned for a large "disposable force" commanded by Lieutenant-General [Lord Cathcart](/source/William_Cathcart%2C_1st_Earl_Cathcart). This would have included two divisions of cavalry, one of [light dragoons](/source/light_cavalry) and the other of [heavy cavalry](/source/heavy_cavalry), consisting of 9,600 men. Alongside the cavalry plans called for seven divisions of infantry, including four [battalion](/source/battalion)s of [Foot Guards](/source/Foot_Guards) and forty of [line infantry](/source/line_infantry). These divisions would have each had around 5,000 men, and would have been supported by a [light infantry](/source/light_infantry) brigade of four more infantry battalions, six brigades of [Royal Horse Artillery](/source/Royal_Horse_Artillery), and ten brigades of [Royal Artillery](/source/Royal_Artillery). Military historian [C. T. Atkinson](/source/C._T._Atkinson) suggests that this force, if it had come to fruition, would have been "a really formidable effort".{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=24}}{{sfnp|Bartlett|1966|p=59}} This large army, while viable on paper, would have been very difficult to form up and transport in reality, and so on 10 October a much smaller army was hastily brought together to cross the [North Sea](/source/North_Sea) under the command of Lieutenant-General [Sir George Don](/source/George_Don_(British_Army_officer)), who was expected to also instigate diplomatic connections with the allied nations.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=24}}{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=285}}{{sfnp|Glover|2001|p=48}} While the original plan had expected the creation of multiple divisions, Don's force was instead made up of two cavalry and six infantry regiments of the [King's German Legion](/source/King's_German_Legion) (KGL) which were controlled by Brigadier-General [Friedrich von der Decken](/source/Friedrich_von_der_Decken),{{refn|While von der Decken was recorded as the commander of the KGL forces, they were split into brigades with their own commanders as well. Major-General [Karl von Linsingen](/source/Karl_von_Linsingen) had the cavalry brigade, with Colonel [Charles, Count Alten](/source/Charles%2C_Count_Alten) commanding the light brigade, and two infantry brigades commanded respectively by Colonels [Ernst Eberhard Kuno, Baron Langwerth von Simmern](/source/Ernst_Eberhard_Kuno%2C_Baron_Langwerth_von_Simmern) and [Adolphus, Baron Barsse](/source/Adolphus%2C_Baron_Barsse).{{sfnp|Burnham|McGuigan|2010|p=23}}|group=Note}} a brigade of Foot Guards under Major-General [Edward Finch](/source/Edward_Finch_(British_Army_officer)), and a brigade of line infantry under Major-General [Edward Paget](/source/Edward_Paget). This totalled between 12,000 and 14,000 men, and Don received his final orders on 16 October.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=24}}{{sfnp|Benady|2020}}{{sfnp|Bew|2014|p=212}}{{sfnp|Burnham|McGuigan|2010|p=23}} Von der Decken planned the operation, ensuring that the force would be transported quickly to avoid the coming of the harsh northern winter that would freeze the ports and rivers necessary in disembarking the troops.{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=286}} It was initially planned that Don would go ahead of his force to ensure that they would receive a positive welcome upon their landing, but this duty was instead taken by the politician [Dudley Ryder, 1st Earl of Harrowby](/source/Dudley_Ryder%2C_1st_Earl_of_Harrowby) on 25 October.{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=287}} Harrowby's mission was to [Berlin](/source/Berlin) and the court of Prussia, with the intention of enticing that nation into joining the Third Coalition.{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|pp=286–289}} He was authorised to offer a gift of £2,500,000 to ensure this.{{sfnp|Hague|2004|p=562}} Castlereagh believed that only the wavering support of Prussia could stop Don's expedition from being successful, and by the end of October it was thought that Prussia's entry into the conflict was imminent.{{sfnp|Bew|2014|p=211}}{{sfnp|Hague|2004|p=562}} Pitt, in turn, was of the mind that success could bring about "Bonaparte's army either cut off or driven back to France".{{sfnp|Bartlett|1966|p=62}} ==Expedition== ===Initial landing=== It was expected that Don's force would sail immediately, but with the wind against them their [troopship](/source/troopship)s only succeeded in arriving at [Cuxhaven](/source/Cuxhaven) on 19 November.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=25}}{{sfnp|Bartlett|1966|p=59}} The crossing was difficult, and at least five ships did not complete it, spending seventeen days at sea before returning to [Harwich](/source/Harwich) with a portion of the KGL cavalry still on board.{{sfnp|Grocott|2002|p=205}} The expedition went on despite this loss. A Swedish force of 10,000 men paid for by Britain was poised to attack from [Stralsund](/source/Stralsund), and they were joined by 20,000 Russians under Lieutenant-General [Pyotr Aleksandrovich Tolstoy](/source/Pyotr_Aleksandrovich_Tolstoy).{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=285}} The British were not the first part of the Third Coalition to enter Hanover, as a Russian force had earlier arrived to blockade [Hamelin](/source/Hamelin), still garrisoned by the French and the only position left to them.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=25}}{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=286}} Despite this Don's army received a warm welcome, and they quickly secured lines of supplies, while the KGL took advantage of being back in Germany to increase their numbers with local recruits.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=25}} Four infantry battalions, two of the KGL and two of line infantry, were sent to join the Russians at Hamelin, while other portions of the force were split off to go to the [Ems](/source/Ems_(river)) and [Weser](/source/Weser) rivers.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=26}} The neutral [Prussian Army](/source/Prussian_Army) had also entered French-controlled lands, south of Hanover, commanded by the [Duke of Brunswick](/source/Charles_William_Ferdinand%2C_Duke_of_Brunswick), but quickly looked for their forces to be replaced by those of the coalition.{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|pp=288–289}} Don's position on the continent was tenuous but not immediately threatened. Napoleon had beaten an Austrian army, that did not wait for Russian assistance before advancing, at the [Battle of Ulm](/source/Battle_of_Ulm), but in doing so had stretched his lines of communication too far and was unable to advance further, giving time for Britain's allies to reinforce their armies.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=25}} When fully organised, Don's force stretched in a line between the Weser and [Verden](/source/Verden_an_der_Aller), supported with Tolstoy's Russians to the right of him.{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=289}} While still not part of the Third Coalition, Prussia was on increasingly poor terms with France because of incursions made by the French into [Ansbach](/source/Ansbach), and Pitt hoped that Prussia would join the Coalition because of this.{{refn|The Prussian minister [Karl August von Hardenberg](/source/Karl_August_von_Hardenberg) had been advocating a British occupation of Hanover since August, but the Prussian court was divided and led by the indecisive [Frederick William III](/source/Frederick_William_III_of_Prussia).{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|pp=282–283}}|group=Note}}{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=25}}{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=282}} With Napoleon placed just to the south of Prussian lands, an advance by a Prussian army would put him in a very precarious situation.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=25}} Realising this, Pitt decided to strengthen the British expeditionary force, hoping this would entice Prussia into more warlike actions. The diplomatic situation was complicated because Prussia also coveted Hanover, and Napoleon had offered it to Prussia in return for aggression towards Austria.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=25}}{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=281}} Despite this difficulty, Pitt and Castlereagh were encouraged by the absence of the expected harsh winter weather and continued to move forward with their plans.{{sfnp|Bew|2014|p=212}} ===Expedition expanded=== [[File:1stEarlCathcart.jpg|[Lord Cathcart](/source/William_Cathcart%2C_1st_Earl_Cathcart), commander of the expanded expedition|thumb]] While Pitt decided on his next actions, Don began to plan an attack into the [Batavian Republic](/source/Batavian_Republic) alongside Tolstoy. Their plan was slowed by the reticence of the Swedish force and the continuing confusion surrounding the intentions of the Prussians. Tolstoy eventually decided that he could not invest enough men into an invasion and ensure the continued blockade of Hamelin, and no attack took place.{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|pp=289–291}} It was afterwards decided that Don's force, then spread about, would be brought together as one [field army](/source/field_army).{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=25}} On 27 November this new command was given to Cathcart, who would bring 12,000 reinforcements with him to bolster his army. Don was superseded, but continued with the army as its second in command.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=25}}{{sfnp|Benady|2020}}{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=289}}{{sfnp|Burnham|McGuigan|2010|p=22}} Cathcart, who had been preparing to serve as [ambassador-extraordinary](/source/Ambassador) to Russia and Prussia, was titled "Commander-in-Chief of British Forces in Northern Europe", and was given control over Russian, Swedish, or Prussian troops as well.{{sfnp|Eddy|2016}} Harrowby began reporting that the Prussians were inclining towards neutrality in the conflict.{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=290}} Cathcart was issued his orders on 5 December, which expected him to work to the best of his abilities with the armies of the allied nations, but not endanger Hanover. Despite this aggressive step, Cathcart was also warned to take caution in his warlike manoeuvres; even if he put his army under the command of another force, such as that of [Gustav IV Adolf](/source/Gustav_IV_Adolf) of Sweden at Stralsund, he was allowed to refuse action if he deemed it too dangerous. Castlereagh even suggested that Cathcart attempt to link up with the main Russian army advancing from the east, but this was a logistically difficult proposition.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=26}}{{sfnp|Bew|2014|p=212}} Cathcart arrived at Cuxhaven on 15 December, making his headquarters at [Bremen](/source/Bremen).{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=25}}{{sfnp|Eddy|2016}} He began to prepare for the upcoming campaign, discussing how to communicate if the rivers of [Heligoland](/source/Heligoland) should freeze over, considering whether to advance on Holland or the [Lower Rhine](/source/Lower_Rhine), and bringing his army together around the Weser. Before being withdrawn, the units stationed at Hamelin briefly skirmished with the defending French on 22 December, marking the only combat engaged by any of the force.{{refn|Between 500 and 600 French soldiers had left Hamelin for another town, and the Anglo-Russian blockading force met them mid-way in a battle that saw 200 Frenchmen captured, and the rest forced to return to Hamelin to avoid being completely cut off from that strongpoint.{{cite web |url=https://www.dcmmedals.co.uk/the-origins-of-the-kings-german-legion-and-the-expedition-to-hanover/|access-date=16 February 2022|title=The Origins of the King's German Legion 1803-04 and the Expedition to Hanover, 1805|last=Duckers|first=Peter|website=DCM Medals|date=9 November 2021 }}|group=Note}}{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=26}} Word of the [Battle of Austerlitz](/source/Battle_of_Austerlitz) threw Cathcart's plans into confusion. There on 2 December a Russo-Austrian army had been soundly defeated by Napoleon, and Austria had surrendered in consequence, with both allied armies all but destroyed. The chance of Prussia entering the conflict was heavily diminished, and the remaining Russian forces began to withdraw towards Poland.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=26}}{{sfnp|Hague|2004|p=568}} ===Offensive breaks down=== Cathcart had come ahead of his reinforcements, and their ships only arrived in the Weser on 27 December, with two divisions under Lieutenant-Generals [Francis Dundas](/source/Francis_Dundas) and [George Ludlow, 3rd Earl Ludlow](/source/George_Ludlow%2C_3rd_Earl_Ludlow).{{refn|Cathcart was given the [local rank](/source/Military_rank) of [general](/source/General_(United_Kingdom)) while he was with the expedition.{{sfnp|Burnham|McGuigan|2010|p=22}}|group=Note}}{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=26}}{{sfnp|Burnham|McGuigan|2010|p=23}} In these were four infantry brigades, commanded by Major-Generals [Rowland Hill](/source/Rowland_Hill%2C_1st_Viscount_Hill), [Sir Arthur Wellesley](/source/Arthur_Wellesley%2C_1st_Duke_of_Wellington), [Alexander Mackenzie Fraser](/source/Alexander_Mackenzie_Fraser), and [John Coape Sherbrooke](/source/John_Coape_Sherbrooke), with three companies of [Royal Artillery](/source/Royal_Artillery) and some [Royal Engineers](/source/Royal_Engineers) attached.{{sfnp|Axelrod|Phillips|1998|p=163}}{{sfnp|Axelrod|Phillips|1998|p=439}}{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=294}} The news of Austerlitz reached Britain on 28 December, but it was still hoped that Prussia would not cease fighting against France, and that Russia might hold on in the west.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=26}} Without the larger Russian and Austrian armies standing as a buffer between the French forces and Cathcart's army, the latter's position in Hanover became untenable.{{sfnp|Bew|2014|p=213}} Despite its now increasingly precarious position, Cathcart's force was kept in Hanover in the hope that its presence might still encourage the Prussians, and an uneasy cooperation with the Prussian General [Friedrich Adolf, Count von Kalckreuth](/source/Friedrich_Adolf%2C_Count_von_Kalckreuth) continued.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=26}}{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=295}} The reinforcements in the Weser landed and joined Cathcart's army, despite there being no clear view of what they might be used for.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=26}} This injection of new troops was not the boon it might have been for Cathcart, because on top of the decaying strategic situation, the troopships had sailed through rough weather in the North Sea. Hardly any of the battalions embarked succeeded in reaching Cathcart whole; the troopship ''Ariadne'', carrying the headquarters party and 300 men of the [9th Regiment of Foot](/source/9th_Regiment_of_Foot), was [wrecked](/source/shipwrecking) near [Calais](/source/Calais) and all on board were taken as [prisoners of war](/source/prisoners_of_war). The same happened to half of the [5th Regiment of Foot](/source/5th_Regiment_of_Foot), while losses were also encountered in the [3rd](/source/3rd_Regiment_of_Foot), [30th](/source/30th_Regiment_of_Foot), and [89th](/source/89th_Regiment_of_Foot) Regiments of Foot, the latter of which lost 150 men killed and a further 150 captured.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=26}} The [26th Regiment of Foot](/source/26th_Regiment_of_Foot) was the hardest hit in the crossing, with one troopship being wrecked on the [Goodwin Sands](/source/Goodwin_Sands) with the loss of all on board, and another wrecked off the coast of Holland, totalling between them 500 deaths.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=27}} Other units were also depleted, but not by shipwrecks, with over 1,000 men returning to Britain when ships were unable to reach their destination.{{sfnp|Grocott|2002|pp=205–207}} Only the [28th](/source/28th_Regiment_of_Foot) and [36th](/source/36th_Regiment_of_Foot) Regiments of Foot succeeded in arriving substantially intact, but large portions of Cathcart's reinforcements were so badly depleted that they were incapable of further operations, with over 1,000 people having been killed.{{refn|Around 1,000 men in total were taken prisoner from the wrecks, but they were soon exchanged in [prisoner exchange](/source/prisoner_exchange)s.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=28}}|group=Note}}{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=27}}{{sfnp|Grocott|2002|p=207}} Cathcart could do little with his new troops, and had further problems with the local intelligence. On 28 December Castlereagh complained that the situation in Hanover was almost unknown to him, being reliant on French and Dutch newspapers more than anything.{{refn|For example, Pitt only learned of the [Battle of Ulm](/source/Battle_of_Ulm) when he was given a Dutch newspaper reporting it.{{sfnp|Hague|2004|p=564}}|group=Note}} In some ways, Cathcart's army knew less than him; Wellesley reported around the same time that "they appear to have very little intelligence in this place, except what they receive from England".{{sfnp|Bew|2014|p=213}} ===Evacuation=== Map showing Prussia (blue) after her annexation of Hanover in January 1806|thumb Prussian troops were still present in Hanover, dating from the period before Austerlitz when Prussia was considering more offensive actions against France. Despite Prussia being the reason for Cathcart's continued presence on the continent, he was unimpressed with them, writing that they were "strong numerically, but not in quality". Cathcart kept his army in Hanover in the hope that Russia would continue to fight and that Prussia would finally officially enter the conflict, but he also began to plan routes of retreat, expecting that if the rivers froze and they were not able to sail home, that the army could march towards [Swedish Pomerania](/source/Swedish_Pomerania). The army continued in its positions, awaiting official instructions from Britain.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=27}} By 29 December the state of Cathcart's allies was so poor that Castlereagh admitted to him that the possibility of supporting them with the British force was now completely gone.{{sfnp|Bew|2014|p=214}} Castlereagh was aware of Cathcart's difficulties, writing to him that he should continue to support the Russians and Prussians where possible, but that the Prussians were untrustworthy and he should not go on the offensive unless Prussian assistance was guaranteed. Prussia was also suspected of plotting to force Cathcart to leave the German soldiers of the KGL in Hanover under Prussian command. Castlereagh and Cathcart were both heavily resistant to this, and the latter ensured that in the case of an evacuation the KGL would leave first.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=27}} Pitt's health was severely declining and he had retired to [Bath](/source/Bath%2C_Somerset); with the prime minister unavailable, the [Cabinet](/source/Cabinet_of_the_United_Kingdom) began to send troopships to Cathcart in preparation for an evacuation.{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=294}} The remaining troopships at [Ramsgate](/source/Ramsgate) waiting to make the voyage to Hanover had their men disembarked on 30 December, and were instead sent as part of this force.{{sfnp|Grocott|2002|p=207}} On 5 January 1806 it was decided that no more troops would be sent to Hanover.{{sfnp|Bew|2014|p=214}} Two days later it was discovered that on 14 December Prussia had ratified the [Treaty of Schönbrunn](/source/Treaty_of_Sch%C3%B6nbrunn_(1805)), a defensive and offensive alliance with France in which Prussia was given leave to occupy Hanover.{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=292}}{{sfnp|Mikaberidze|2020|p=215}} Prussia also began to withdraw Tolstoy's force, which had been left under its auspices by the retreating [Alexander I of Russia](/source/Alexander_I_of_Russia).{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=292}}{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=296}}{{sfnp|Bew|2014|p=215}} With Prussia now advancing to occupy Hanover with 50,000 men and with rumours growing that a French force of three divisions was preparing to attack from Holland, orders were sent for Cathcart to evacuate on 19 January.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=28}}{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=293}}{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=296}}{{sfnp|Bew|2014|p=214}} Cathcart received his instructions at the end of the month, and quickly put them into effect. His army by this time had grown to 26,643 men because of recruitment by the KGL which resulted in it returning to Britain with more battalions and depots than it had left with;{{refn|The KGL returned with the new 5th, 6th, and 7th Line Battalions, having left Britain with only four. Three hundred men were also recruited as the basis of the 8th Line Battalion. New heavy dragoon and light dragoon units were also formed.{{sfnp|Burnham|McGuigan|2010|p=68}}{{sfnp|Ludlow Beamish|1832|p=90}}|group=Note}} only around 14,000 were British infantry.{{refn|This number decreased slightly before the final embarkation, because some of the KGL were unwilling to leave their native lands.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=28}}|group=Note}}{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=22}}{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=28}}{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=296}} The first to leave were the KGL and the four British battalions that had been most weakened in the crossings of the North Sea. By 12 February the last of the army had been embarked, and Cathcart left Hanover on 15 February.{{refn|The army had several thousand horses with them, but were only able to take 2,300 back with them.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=28}}|group=Note}}{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=28}}{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=296}} Von der Decken, who had served the expedition as [quartermaster general](/source/quartermaster_general) to both the British and Russian forces, stayed behind to ensure that all British debts were paid. He finally returned in May.{{sfnp|Philippart|1820|p=358}} ==Aftermath== [[File:Evacuation de Walcheren par les Anglais - 30 août 1809 - Composition de PHILIPPOTEAUX.jpg|Scene from the evacuation of the [Walcheren Expedition](/source/Walcheren_Expedition), initiated in similar form to the Hanover Expedition|thumb]] With the British force gone and the Russians under Prussian control, Hanover was occupied by Prussia. In Britain, the remains of Cathcart's force were split up along the south coast of England to serve as a deterrent to invasion.{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=296}}{{sfnp|Hill|2012|p=35}}{{sfnp|Roberts|1895|p=49}} Prussia was forced by France to close all its north German ports to British traffic, and this caused Britain to declare war on Prussia on 21 April.{{sfnp|Mikaberidze|2020|p=216}} The expedition was the last military endeavour planned and orchestrated by Pitt.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=22}} It had achieved nothing, but had not been a great loss of men or material, and Castlereagh would later write that he was well satisfied with Cathcart's actions, war-related losses having been minor.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=28}}{{sfnp|Bew|2014|p=214}} Some senior generals in the army were angered by the failure of the expedition, feeling that its control by civilian politicians trying to be military experts had caused its failure.{{sfnp|Bew|2014|p=214}} Critics suggested that if the expedition had been sent to join Lieutenant-General [Sir James Craig's](/source/James_Henry_Craig) [Anglo-Russian occupation of Naples](/source/Anglo-Russian_occupation_of_Naples) then Britain might have had one successful expedition instead of two failures.{{sfnp|Bartlett|1966|p=60}} Positively, however, Hanover had shown that the navy could transport large groups of soldiers across seas at short notice, and in relatively good order barring bad weather.{{sfnp|Bew|2014|pp=214–215}} Lessons were, however, not fully learned. Pitt died on 23 January, having been further weakened by the knowledge that Britain was alone in war against France, her allies defeated and the British once more pushed from the continent.{{sfnp|Bew|2014|p=215}} His government was replaced, and future expeditions with equally poor results, such as the [Walcheren Expedition](/source/Walcheren_Expedition), would be launched in imitation of the Hanover Expedition.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=28}}{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=298}}{{sfnp|Bew|2014|p=215}} Castlereagh's disposable force of 30,000 men remained in existence, but by March 1807 it had dwindled to 12,000 men, with the fleet of troopships created to assist in transporting it dispersed for other uses.{{sfnp|Bartlett|1966|p=62}} Opinions on the expedition have been varied. Atkinson argues that the failure of the expedition was the fault of Britain's allies on the continent, rather than the politicians who had ordered the endeavour.{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=23}} Pitt and Castlereagh had reacted quickly to the opportunity to attack Germany, and Atkinson says that the Austrians and Russians made enough mistakes that Napoleon was able to take advantage and defeat them; without them Cathcart's army could do, and did, nothing.{{refn|There is debate as to whether Cathcart actually fought a small battle at a place called Munkaiser; while his [Oxford Dictionary of Biography](/source/Oxford_Dictionary_of_Biography) entry records this, Atkinson could find no evidence of such a battle taking place.{{sfnp|Eddy|2016}}{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=26}}|group=Note}}{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=28}} On the other hand, military historian [Sir John Fortescue](/source/John_Fortescue_(historian)) is more critical of the expedition, describing it as an "egregious farce". However, he agrees that the plan behind the expedition was sound in theory, its execution being let down by the rulers of the allied nations; while complimentary to Pitt's attempts to strike a blow against France, he is derisory of the other leaders, calling those of Russia and Sweden "insane", that of Prussia "contemptible", and Austria "weak". This need to rely on the actions of Britain's allies in order to succeed has been echoed by historian [Alexander Mikaberidze](/source/Alexander_Mikaberidze).{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|pp=297–299}}{{sfnp|Mikaberidze|2020|p=198}} Glover writes succinctly that "[The British] had enlisted a few hundred recruits for the King's German Legion, they had offended the King of Prussia, but they had not caused Napoleon a moment's worry".{{sfnp|Glover|2001|p=48}} The Third Coalition completed its final collapse in July 1806.{{sfnp|Bew|2014|p=249}} Hanover remained under French control until November 1813 [when it was liberated](/source/Liberation_of_Hanover) following the [Battle of Leipzig](/source/Battle_of_Leipzig).Payne, Reider. ''War and Diplomacy in the Napoleonic Era: Sir Charles Stewart, Castlereagh and the Balance of Power in Europe''. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2021 p.75 ==British Expeditionary Force== {| class="wikitable" style="width:85%; align-center" !colspan="5" | Hanover Expedition Order of Battle |- ! Force|| Brigade|| Unit|| Size at end of campaign||Ref. |- |rowspan=18|Arrived with Lieutenant-General [Sir George Don](/source/George_Don_(British_Army_officer)) |rowspan=3|Major-General [Edward Paget](/source/Edward_Paget) | First Battalion, [4th Regiment of Foot](/source/4th_Regiment_of_Foot) | 1,000+ |rowspan=5|{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=28}} |- |First Battalion, [14th Regiment of Foot](/source/14th_Regiment_of_Foot) | 1,000+ |- |First Battalion, [23rd Regiment of Foot](/source/23rd_Regiment_of_Foot) |794 |- |rowspan=2|Major-General [Edward Finch](/source/Edward_Finch_(British_Army_officer)) | First Battalion, [Coldstream Guards](/source/Coldstream_Guards) | 1,200+ |- | First Battalion, [Third Guards](/source/Scots_Guards) | 1,200+ |- |rowspan=4|Major-General [Baron Linsingen](/source/Karl_von_Linsingen) |1st Heavy Dragoons (KGL) |rowspan=13|12,075 (total) |rowspan=13|{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=296}}{{sfnp|Ludlow Beamish|1832|p=84}} |- |2nd Heavy Dragoons (KGL) |- |1st Light Dragoons (KGL) |- |3rd Light Dragoons (KGL) |- |rowspan=2|Colonel [Baron Alten](/source/Charles%2C_Count_Alten) |1st Light Battalion (KGL) |- |2nd Light Battalion (KGL) |- |rowspan=2|Colonel [Baron Barsse](/source/Adolphus%2C_Baron_Barsse) |1st Line Battalion (KGL) |- |2nd Line Battalion (KGL) |- |rowspan=2|Colonel [Baron Langwerth](/source/Ernst_Eberhard_Kuno%2C_Baron_Langwerth_von_Simmern) |3rd Line Battalion (KGL) |- |4th Line Battalion (KGL) |- |rowspan=3| Units formed on expedition |[5th Line Battalion (KGL)](/source/5th_Line_Battalion%2C_King's_German_Legion) |- |6th Line Battalion (KGL) |- |7th Line Battalion (KGL) |- |rowspan=13|Arrived with Lieutenant-General [Lord Cathcart](/source/William_Cathcart%2C_1st_Earl_Cathcart) |rowspan=3|Major-General [Sir Arthur Wellesley](/source/Arthur_Wellesley%2C_1st_Duke_of_Wellington) |First Battalion, [3rd Regiment of Foot](/source/3rd_Regiment_of_Foot) |590 |rowspan=13|{{sfnp|Atkinson|1952|p=26}}{{sfnp|Fortescue|1910|p=294}} |- |First Battalion, [8th Regiment of Foot](/source/8th_Regiment_of_Foot) |447 |- |First Battalion, [36th Regiment of Foot](/source/36th_Regiment_of_Foot) |750 |- |rowspan=3|Major-General [Alexander Mackenzie Fraser](/source/Alexander_Mackenzie_Fraser) |First Battalion, [26th Regiment of Foot](/source/26th_Regiment_of_Foot) |315 |- |First Battalion, [28th Regiment of Foot](/source/28th_Regiment_of_Foot) |968 |- |First Battalion, [91st Regiment of Foot](/source/91st_Regiment_of_Foot) |508 |- |rowspan=3|Major-General [John Coape Sherbrooke](/source/John_Coape_Sherbrooke) |First Battalion, [5th Regiment of Foot](/source/5th_Regiment_of_Foot) |523 |- |Second Battalion, [27th Regiment of Foot](/source/27th_Regiment_of_Foot) |362 |- |Second Battalion, [34th Regiment of Foot](/source/34th_Regiment_of_Foot) |429 |- |rowspan=3|Major-General [Rowland Hill](/source/Rowland_Hill%2C_1st_Viscount_Hill) |First Battalion, [9th Regiment of Foot](/source/9th_Regiment_of_Foot) |rowspan=3 {{unknown}} |- |First Battalion, [30th Regiment of Foot](/source/30th_Regiment_of_Foot) |- |First Battalion, [89th Regiment of Foot](/source/89th_Regiment_of_Foot) |} ==Notes and citations== ===Notes=== {{reflist|group=Note}} ===Citations=== {{reflist}} ==References== {{refbegin}} * {{cite journal|last1=Atkinson |first1=C. T.|author-link=C. T. Atkinson |date=1952 |title=Gleanings from the Cathcart MSS Part V |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44218370 |journal=Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research|volume=30 |issue=121 |pages=22–29 |doi= |jstor=44218370 |access-date=8 January 2022}} * {{cite book|last1=Axelrod|first1=Alan|last2=Phillips|first2=Charles|author-link1=Alan Axelrod|year=1998|title=The Macmillan Dictionary of Military Biography|location=New York|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=0-02-861994-3}} * {{cite book|last=Bartlett|first=C. J.|author-link=C. J. Bartlett|year=1966|title=Castlereagh|location=London|publisher=Macmillan}} * {{cite ODNB|last=Benady|first=S. G.|title=Don, Sir George|url=https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/7791|year=2020}} * {{cite book|last=Bew|first=John|author-link=John Bew (historian)|year=2014|title=Castlereagh: The Biography of a Statesman|location=London|publisher=Quercus|isbn=978-0-85738-840-7}} * {{cite book|last1=Burnham|first1=Robert|last2=McGuigan|first2=Ron|year=2010|title=The British Army against Napoleon|location=Barnsley, South Yorkshire|publisher=Frontline Books|isbn=978-1-84832-562-3}} * {{cite ODNB|last=Eddy|first=M. D.|title=Cathcart, William Schaw, first Earl Cathcart|url=https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/4889|year=2016}} * {{cite book|last=Fortescue|first=John William|author-link=John Fortescue (historian)|year=1910|title=A History of the British Army|volume=5|location=London|publisher=Macmillan and Co.}} * {{cite book|last=Glover|first=Michael|author-link=Michael Glover (historian)|year=2001|title=Wellington as Military Commander|location=London|publisher=Penguin Books|isbn=978-0-14139-051-2}} * {{cite book|last=Grocott|first=Terence|year=2002|title=Shipwrecks of the Revolutionary & Napoleonic Eras|publisher=Caxton Editions|isbn=1-84067-164-5}} * {{cite book|last=Hague|first=William|author-link=William Hague|year=2004|title=William Pitt the Younger|location=London|publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=978-0-00714-719-9}} * {{cite book|last=Hill|first=Joanna|year=2012|title=Wellington's Right Hand: Rowland, Viscount Hill|location=Stroud, Gloucestershire|publisher=Spellmount|isbn=978-0-7524-9013-7}} * {{cite book|last=Ludlow Beamish|first=N.|year=1832|title=History of the King's German Legion|location=London|publisher=Thomas and William Boone}} * {{cite book|last=Mikaberidze|first=Alexander|author-link=Alexander Mikaberidze|year=2020|title=The Napoleonic Wars: A Global History|location=New York|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19995-106-2}} * {{cite book|last=Philippart|first=John|year=1820|title=The Royal Military Calendar|volume=2|location=London|publisher=A. J. Valpy}} * {{cite book|last=Roberts|first=Frederick|author-link=Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts|year=1895|title=The Rise of Wellington|location=London|publisher=Sampson Low, Marston and Company}} {{refend}} Category:Conflicts in 1805 Category:Campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars Category:War of the Third Coalition Category:Amphibious operations involving the United Kingdom Category:Electorate of Hanover Category:Military campaigns involving France Category:Military campaigns involving the Kingdom of Prussia Category:Military campaigns involving Russia Category:Military campaigns involving Sweden Category:Military campaigns involving the United Kingdom --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hanover Expedition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanover_Expedition) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanover_Expedition?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.