A Journal of 1799
The Diary of A. Jz. Kaan
by Geert van Uythoven, The Netherlands
 |
For the article in FE40, I translated the diary of Colonel N.L. Hoevenaar, participating in the defence of the Batavian Republic, 1799. What was the effect on the inhabitants of the country, which experienced the campaign from a very different point of view as the combatants?
To give you a view on their experiences, I decided to translate the "Journal of 1799", written by A. Jz. Kaan, a journal in possession of the family Kaan, still living in the same part of the Netherlands the 1799 invasion took place.
Farmer
At that time, A. Jz. Kaan was a farmer, living in the village Wieringerwaard, situated in the Wieringerwaard Polder that was 'nobody's land' for most of the time during the campaign. His journal is very detailed and the facts are very accurate. Again, in order for everyone to understand the journal, I will explain parts of it in footnotes.
On 26 August, at about eleven o'clock in the morning, the alarm was beaten in the Wierin-gerwaard by the drummers of the 2nd and 3rd Batallion/5th Halve Brigade [1] , after which both battalions left for the village Groote Keet, were the English fleet, commanded by Admiral Duncan, anchored near the coast [2] . At four o'clock in the afternoon I, A. Kaan, Wm. Quax and Jb. Waiboer, went on horseback to the beach near Abbestee were the most western warship of the English fleet at about 3/4 mile was anchored, while the other ships, part still sailing, to the north-east of this ship, counted about 170 ships. All ships towed longboats or boats, and many boats were moving from one ship to another. It was after six o'clock that we left the beach and returned to Wieringerwaard.
On 27 August, at about half past three in the morning, we heard the fire of a gun, shortly followed by three other gunshots, after which a heavy gunfire sustained till about six o'clock. From that moment on we heard heavy musketry. At half past nine the baggage of the 1st Battalion/5th Halve Brigade came through Wieringerwaard, followed by the baggage of the 2nd Battalion, with everything loaded on carts [3] . At nine o'clock an officer arrived from Groote Keet to fetch flesh for the Batavian troops. A short while later, several soldiers of the 2nd Battalion arrived, saying that our army [4] was in full retreat and that the English were advancing. This message caused great consternation, and I myself send my wife and children to Dirk Schipper, who with his ship lie at the landing stage at Nieuwe Sluis.
Ten o'clock several waggons loaded with wounded arrived from Buitenveld, which were treated by our surgeon, who cut several musket balls out of the wounded. It was chaos all day, and horses and waggons were requisitioned to serve the country, transporting flesh and bread, and removing the wounded from the battlefield, were the fighting lasted till half past five in the evening, so for about twelve hours in the dunes and on the Buitenveld [5] . Much blood was spilled, but during the following night and on Wednesday all was quit, until at seven o'clock in the evening when an officer with four grenadiers arrived with orders from Colonel Kras [6] to requisition 50 men with shovels, if necessary by force. Therefore, we had to go quickly.
On the 29th in the morning the baggage of the 5th Halve Brigade left for Alkmaar, and at eleven o'clock my wife and children returned from the ship, having spend three 24 hours in agony on sea in the home of the ship. At three o'clock in the afternoon, again an officer with three grenadiers arrived requisitioning 200 men with shovels to destroy some bridges and to throw up batteries, because the Batavian army was positioned in the Zijpe polder. Part of the men returned the same evening.
On the 30th in the morning the Batavian army left the Zijpe and moved to Hoorn and Avenhorn [7] , and the remainder of the requisitioned men returned, Also some waggons and horses, which were requi-sitioned from the 26th on, returned. In the night from 30 – 31 August the freedom tree was cut down and removed.
On the 31st at eleven o'clock in the morning Jakob Kat came to us from Oude Sluis, with on his hat a big orange ribbon, saying that he was send by an English officer, who had arrived at Oude Sluis with some soldiers. He said he was ordered to press as soon as possible every man in the Wieringerwaard, to repair all the destroyed bridges and to level the batteries. The inhabitants of the polder complied with the order, but arriving at Oude Sluis, they found no one to put them to work. As the result of the rumour that many French were marching to this village, they were advised to remove their orange ribbons, as was also done by the civilians of Oude Sluis. Nearly all the men followed their example, and returned to the Wieringerwaard without orange.
On 1 September at half past one in the morning, the same Jakob Kat again came to press all the citizens, because the work was not done the day before. Many again went, and arriving in the Zijpe some got work, and the others in a short while. In the afternoon, the flag was hoisted on the church-tower.
On the 2nd at five o'clock in the morning, seven English dragoons rode along the Noorddijk [8] past the Nieuwe Sluis the two roads along, but they seemed only to be reconnoitring. At eight o'clock, eight others did the same, coming along the Bars-ingerweg. At nine o'clock, again 40 men were pressed to construct batteries for the English. At Oude Sluis, the flag was hoisted from the tower, as was also done at Harinkhuizen.
On the 3rd, the flag was hoisted on the tower at Kolhorn, and again our men had to work on the batteries. On the 4th, W. Hopman, being the master carpenter of the polder, asked our municipality if the flag was not to be placed at the tower. He received the answer that it was early enough when the English would ordain that. Notwithstanding the denial, he placed, assisted by some citizens, the flag on the tower.
On the 5th, again some of the inhabitants had to work on the batteries at Oude Sluis. At twelve o'clock a messenger arrived from the English commander at Oude Sluis, that we had to make returns for the amount of horses and waggons the polder could deliver to do service for the English, and that all boats were requisitioned immediately. Be-cause we did not like this at all, we decided to send to the English commander our president (?) Wm. Quax to speak with him personally and to plea our cause. He spoke at Oude Sluis with the Commissary, and it was decided that we had to deliver only eight wagons with two draught-horses each and the boats owned by J. Mars and Harmen Cost.
The following day, at seven o'clock in the morning, the boat of Jan Winkel the Alkmaar had to be at the carpenter's yard at Oude Sluis. The English sentries now stood at the Noorddijk as far as the mill.
On the 5th, 6th and 7th no requisitions were made. On the 8th, the English General requisitioned small boats full of wood to form a pontoon bridge at the 'verlaat-sluis' (sluice) of our polder.
On the 9th, for the same purpose, two small boats full of wood were requisitioned, and four waggons with two draught-horses each. On this day, we heard musketry, as we guessed and could verify from the church-tower, in the Heer-Hugowaard Polder [9] .
On the 10th we saw and heard from three o'clock in the morning until one o'clock in the afternoon heavy gunfire and musketry, as we guessed from the village Groet and the north end of the Langendijk [10] . We saw these day fires at different places, as at the village Dirkshorn were four houses burned down, in the Hargerpolder a windmill and a haystack, and also at the village St. Maarten were the flour-mill and a house burned down. In addition, some wood was requisitioned from us to build bridges across the ditches in the Zijpe, to facilitate the English army.
In the morning of the 11th, we again heard gunfire, and we saw gunfire to the Southwest of our position. Again, the British requisitioned a lot of wood. In the morning of the 13th, a few waggons were requisitioned. In the afternoon, we received the following proclamation: [11]
We let the magistrates of the Wieringerwaard know that, because of the huge number of Anglo-Russian troops that now have arrived, makes it necessary to requisition the following essentials. The magistrates of the Wieringerwaard has to deliver as many bread weighing three English pound each, as is possible. If the bakers do not have enough flour, the magistrates have to requisition all the inhabitants to send their wheat to the mill, and to send the flour to the bakers in order to make bread for the army, on penalty of military execution. If there is not enough wheat, it is allowed to use 1/4 rye-flour, but not more. The bread has to be delivered to Lord Commissary Kennedy at Oude Sluis, were a reasonable price will be paid by the Comtoir of the Commissary General.
By order of Hendrik Montse, Commissary General
Schagerbrug 10 September 1799
Signed John Longden, Commissary
We agree with this order
Signed Ralph Abercromby, Commander in Chief
Further, the magistrates are requisitioned to send al the bricklayers of their district to Lord Spillen at Den Helder or Nieuwediep, to construct baking-ovens.
Signed John Longden, Commissary
After which all bakers and bricklayers were notified of the above. On the 14th in the evening all the in our polder requisitioned cement and bricks were loaded on 10 requisitioned waggons, that had to arrive at Schagerbrug at six o'clock in the morning.
On the 15th, we saw again fire, as we guessed at Haringkarspel. In the afternoon, many English marched to the villages Winkel and the Nieuwdorpen. On the 16th, we saw again fires, and at eight o'clock in the morning many English, that we estimated at about 2,000, marched along the Walingsweg. On the 17th nothing happened. On the 18th, again two waggons were requisitioned, and along the Poeldijk, many English troops marched, which continued along the Meeldijk [12] .
In the morning of the 19th, we heard heavy gunfire Southwest of our position, which lasted until six o'clock in the evening. At about half past seven the village Krabbendam was burned down. [13] On the 20th nothing happened. In the afternoon of the 22nd we heard again gunfire Southwest of our position.
On the 23rd and 24th we heard no shooting, and the English that had their bivouacs in the villages Kolhorn and Barsingerhorn, came from there and alarmed the inhabitants at the Kreijl and in our polder, and they took the cows and sheep from the pastures, giving for some of them a small amount of money, but stealing most of them.
In the afternoon of the 25th the cattle of Teunis Coorn from the Zijpe were brought to Kornelis Horn in our polder, the deliverer saying that the cattle was not safe in the Zijpe, because the Russians took the cows and sheep from the pastures and slaughtered them. From the 26th until 1 October, horses and waggons were requisitioned every day, but some of them were returned. On the 2nd we heard that a great battle was fought, and that the enemy [14] advanced to Alkmaar. [15]
On the 3rd, 4th and 5th nothing important happened. On the 6th, another seven waggons were requisitioned. [16] On the 7th, two brutal Dutch officers in English service requisitioned a waggon. On the 8th the English and Russians returned from Alkmaar forced marching, and took up their old positions in the Zijpe. This day again two waggons were requisitioned. On the 9th, a group of English soldiers and dragoons passed by, stealing about 400 sheep and many cows.
On the 10th, we heard heavy shooting to the Southwest of our place, and we saw heavy fires. In the afternoon, we received the news that the French [17] had advanced to the villages Nieudorp and Verlaat and that they were fighting with the English. From the Keirs(?) and the Zijpe many refugees came our way, with tidings that much of their cattle and goods were stolen, without any payment at all.
On the 11th many English soldiers and Dragoons marched along the Poeldijk as far as Kolhorn en threw up batteries at Kreijl, the Poeldijk and near the corner-house. We received on this day news of the arrival of Batavian troops in the village Winkel, and, because we could see that the flag of the tower of Winkel was removed, we believed the news. Until now, we did not experience the rapacity of the English troops, but on this day several inhabitants had to endure the fate of loosing their cattle, that was stolen from the pastures. In the afternoon at about two o'clock, we noticed fire at Medemblik, and we guessed it was the magazines that were on fire. [18]
On the 12th, we heard firing to the Southwest of our place during the whole day. Several refugees arrived from Kreijl, the Barsingerweg, and the Walingsweg, telling stories of English soldiers stealing and plundering everything they could carry. This news did much to alarm us for what could happen to us in the near future.
On the 13th, many cow, sheep and other cattle was removed from the pastures in the Zijpe, and taken to the Buitenveld. Someone named Jakob Kikkerd, who did not want to give his cows freely, was shot by the thieves, and everyone who would not deliver all the thieves could use, was threatened with bayonets and forced to give everything the thieves wanted. On the 14th things were no better then the days before. The enemy became more audacious, and took from everyone they visited everything they needed.
At nine o'clock in the morning of the 15th, four English came with loaded muskets. They took 6 cows and 7 sheep from Jan Veen, 39 sheep from Dirk Breed, and 28 sheep from the widow Ajen Kooij out of their pastures. But by talking, and giving some money, Jan Veen managed to get his cows returned, but his sheep were taken to the bivouac, that was near (the house of) widow Cornelis Kooy at the Slikkerdijk.
In the afternoon, a group of marauders took 22 of my own sheep out of my pasture, but because they had no muskets with them, I decided to attack them, aided by Willem Quak Tijs, Jan Schaat and my farm-labourer. We did that with success, and managed to get back the sheep after a fistfight with several of them. They left behind three hats, that we took as spoils, and ran away raging, as fast as they could. In the afternoon, again we noticed a fire near Harinkhuizen.
On the 16th, something very important happened. The English made a cutting in our North-dike, about 28 feet wide, and as deep as the water level, leaving only a causeway of 6 feet wide and 8 feet high, to enable them to inundate our polder very quickly if they thought that was necessary. Because of this, our situation became very precarious, and we made everything ready for an immediate evacuation. Beside this we still suffered from the raids, to extort butter, cheese, and everything else they could use.
On the 17th, the bridges at the Walingsweg across the canal were demolished, as were also the bridges near the farmsteads and pastures of P. Kooi, C. Blaauwboer, and C. van Pwuiver. Along the Barsingerweg 60 dragoons came in quarters, taking their billets with Dirk Braven, Jakop Volder, Corn. Stins and P. Geel, were they stole as much as they could.
On the 18th, we saw again have fires to the Southwest of us, further the same happened as in the previous days everywhere they could steal something. Dawn brought fear to everyone, and we longed for the evening, because at night the English stayed away. In the evening, we saw a fire in the Zijpe.
On the 19th, English were billeted in the houses along the Slikkerdijk. The ones Jan Schorel received stole everything they could. At the house of Dirk Breed a group of marauders arrived, but he managed to drive them off. In the evening, we heard that General Daendels, accompanied by a trumpeter, had been at Kolhorn to speak with an English officer.
On the 20th, we heard gunshots Southwest of us, in the evening we saw a fire in the south. On the 21st, at the Oude Sluis a lot of sheep en cows requisitioned by the English were embarked. In the evening three English thieves stole some goods at the house of C. Pal, and at the house of Luitje Stins. This day we heard that a capitulation was closed. [19]
On the 22nd, at the Oude Sluis some field carriages were embarked for Den Helder. Again, sheep were stolen from some inhabitants. The provisions of some inhabitants were nearly all gone, so many had to keep themselves alive with a little bread and beans, and if no help will come from outside our polder, our future will be dark.
On the 23rd, 24th and 25th, daily cows and sheep were stolen, some of them paid half, but most of them without payment. On the 26th and 27th, the stealing continued, further nothing important happened. On the 28th, we tried to repair the dike, but the English prevented this.
On the 29th, six English came, 4 with loaded musket, which took 3 sheep out of my pasture. I asked money for the sheep, but received no answer. Instead of that, one of them threatened to shoot me, but I told him that I wanted money, or the sheep returned. They answered me that they would take the sheep without payment, and hearing that, I tried with my farm-labourer to take back my sheep. Immediately one of them took a shot at us, but missed. Another one attacked me, and tried to hit me with his fists in the English way, but I parried his blows and took him by his collar. A third one tried to give me a blow on the head with the butt of his musket. I managed to avoid his blow partially, so that he only hit my right ear and shoulder, in such a way that we had to let them have their victory and had to retreat. Not being satisfied I walked to Oude Sluis, arriving before the robbers, and complaining to a Colonel present about the soldiers, which were very shy when they arrived with us.
The Colonel returned to me my sheep and put the thieves under arrest. Next day I inquired about their fate, and learned that they were severely punished for their misbehaviour. I used this situation to our benefit to ask the Colonel to take care that his soldiers would not do the same thing in the future, and added that if his soldiers would fire again on the inhabitants, these surely would return fire, what could have severe consequences. The Colonel answered that he would do whatever was in his power. After this day we did not see any armed soldiers again in our Polder, so my action, although very dangerous, brought our inhabitants peace. The thieves did not dare to steal anything unarmed, because we defended our property and gave them a severe beating. Further nothing more of importance happened. Daily English and Russians marched from the Zijpe, Barsingerhorn, and Schagen to Den Helder and embarked.
On the 7th, again we tried to repair our seadike, but on the 8th, the labourers were chased away by an officer and some soldiers, and we had to stay in that dangerous situation longer. Luckily every day we had southern winds and because of that, the water was low. Already a small southwestern storm would surely have been the cause of flooding our polder.
On the 9th, our board of the dikes sends a delegation to the Duke of York, who had his headquarters at the Zijpe, to obtain the repair of our seadike. Luckily, the delegation succeeded in obtaining that permission, after which as many labourers were put to work on the repairs as could brought together, and in a short while the dike was repaired.
There you are the story of the remarkable events that occurred from 27 August to 7 November. We have reason to thank God for guarding over us during these dangerous circumstances, and I end wishing that God will guard our descendants the same we he guarded us.
[1] A 'Halve Brigade' was the Batavian equivalent of the French 'Demi-Brigade', consisting of three battalions.
[2] In fact, Vice-Admiral Andrew Mitchell commanded the British fleet. Admiral Duncan was overall commander of the Anglo-Russian naval forces in the North Sea.
[3] Each infantry battalion had his own train, on paper consisting of two caissons with artillery ammunition (120 shots for the 6-pdr-guns), one waggon with infantry ammunition (24.000 rounds), three baggage waggons, and four bread waggons. In reality, the Batavians were short on waggons and draught-horses. On 29 August the troops were authorised to requisition additional carts or waggons: one for the staff of the Halve Brigade; three for the battalion staff; twelve for the battalion; one for each company; and one for every detachment accompanied by an officer (G.J.W. Koolemans Beijnen, Krijgsgeschiedkundige studie over de verdediging der Bataafsche Republiek in 1799 (Breda 1895).
[4] It is significant that Kaan uses the words 'our army': the Orangists and British thought that the inhabitants of North-Holland were all Orangist. The words 'our army' imply that at least Kaan himself and his family were patriotic!
[5] The British landing succeeded, and a strong bridgehead was formed to await the arrival of reinforcements and the Russians. Losses on the first day of the campaign were 1,400 Batavians against 472 British.
[6] Colonel Christiaan Louis Crass, commanding officer of the 5th Halve Brigade.
[7] In fact, the Batavian Lieutenant-General Daendels retreated to form a new defence line with the left wing near Alkmaar and the right wing near Avenhorn. The Wieringerwaard Polder was now situated in nobody's land between the British and Batavian lines, a fact that would have serious consequences for the inhabitants.
[8] 'Dijk' = dike, nearly always with a road on top of it; 'weg' = road
[9] In the morning of 9 September, a British force of twenty light dragoons tried to penetrate to the village Oud-Karspel. The Batavian jägers, who were in position behind some fascines, let them advance until they were only a few metres away. Then they fired a volley, killing or wounding twelve light dragoons and as many horses. The British survivors were routed instantly.
[10] On 10 September the Battle of Zijpe was fought: the French and Batavians under Génèral en Chef Brune tried to dislodge the British army from its position in the Zijpe polder. The battle was a disaster: the Franco-Batavians could make no impression on the strong British positions, and lost 1,759 men, against only 184 British!
[11] What follows now is a translation of the original Dutch text.
[12] On the 13th the Duke of York arrived, and took over command of the Anglo-Russian army. He planned a battle (that would receive the name Battle of Bergen) for the 19th. The left column, 9,000 British commanded by Abercromby, would have to capture the cities Hoorn and Purmerend on the 19th, and then had to outflank the Batavian positions on their right. Because of the distance that had to be covered, Abercrombies troops already advanced to Winkel and Aartswoude a few days earlier, and would on the 18th advance on Hoorn. Kaan saw these troops.
[13] On the 19th, the Battle of Bergen was fought. In four columns, the Anglo-Russians attacked the Franco-Batavian positions. Heavy fighting occurred, and although there was some initial success, in the end the Anglo-Russians army was thrown back in the Zijpe Polder. Anglo-Russian losses were 3,986 men, while the Franco-Batavians did loose 3,755 men. To prevent a Batavian pursuit and an attack on the Zijpe position before the defence was ready, the British burned down the village Krabbendam.
[14] Again, Kaan sees the Anglo-Russians as the enemy (see also footnote 4)!
[15] On 2 October, the Battle of Alkmaar (or 2nd Battle of Bergen) was fought. This time the Anglo-Russians managed to outmanoeuvre the Franco-Batavians from their positions, sustaining a loss of 2,125 men. The Franco-Batavians, which lost about 2,000 men, retreated to new positions in the line Wijk-aan-Zee – Castricum – Uitgeest, just north of the IJ. The Anglo-Russians occupied the city Alkmaar.
[16] At the same day, 6 October, the Battle of Castricum was fought. The Anglo-Russians were defeated and lost 2,536 men against 1,382 Franco-Batavians. York decided to retreat to the Zijpe. The morale of the Anglo-Russians was very low because of the defeat and subsequent retreat, made worse by the deteriorating weather and the deficient supplies.
[17] In fact, these were Batavians of the 2nd Batavian Division (Du Monceau).
[18] The British navy was busy emptying the magazines, and only the arrival of the Batavian troops prevented the already started plundering of the civilian houses and the setting on fire of the magazines.
[19] The treaty of Alkmaar, closed on 18 October, foresaw the unconditional retreat of the Anglo-Russian army. On 19 November 1799, the last troops left Batavian soil.
Large 1799 Map (slow: 136K)
Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire #41 Back to First Empire List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1998 by First Empire. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com |