The Battle of Boxtel was a battle in and near Boxtel (North Brabant) on 14 and 15 September 1794, during the First Coalition War against Revolutionary France.
The battle was fought between French troops under the command of General Pichegru and Allied troops, consisting of troops from Great Britain, Hesse and Hanover who were under the joint command of British commander Frederik van York. The Allies had mobilized at the bridges across the Dommel to cover the northern withdrawal of the Allied Chief Power. On September 14, the French, who traveled from the south to 's-Hertogenbosch, attacked the allied position at Boxtel from three sides and conquered the village and bridge over the Dommel after a 3-hour battle. Then the French attacked the bridges at Sint-Oedenrode, Breugel and Nijnsel. The Allies had removed a few bridges to stop the French march and open the locks at the water mills, so that the area around 's-Hertogenbosch came under water, but it did not work anymore.
The next day, British reinforcements arrived, but the British did not succeed in recapturing Boxtel. The Allies fled in panic and were chased by the French. However, Arthur Wellesley, the later Duke of Wellington, covered the trip with his 33th Infantry Regiment. This was Wellesley's first battle, and he proved his military ability.
The battle has entered history as the event that invented the "Tommy" denomination for British soldiers. According to the surrender, Wellesley struck one of his soldiers seriously. The soldier, Thomas Atkins, said to him, "It's all right sir. It's all in a day's work" and died soon after. Since then, British soldiers were called "Tommy" because of their alleged optimism and courage.
wiki
