"On The Road With Wellington"
by August Schaumann

But who was "Old Schwalbach"?

by Raymond P. Cusick

August Schaumann in his diary, recently re-published, has left a fascinating account of military life during the Duke of Wellington's Peninsula campaign. An ex-Lieutenant he was serving as a member of the commissariat with the King's German Legion. As Deputy assistant commissary-general, equivalent rank for pay, would be a lieutenant- he served particularly with the renowned 1st German Hussars, probably the most skilled and efficient Hussar regiment in Wellington's army. During the first six months of 1810, the regiment was attached to what would become the famous Light Division, then under the command of Brigadier-General Robert Craufurd who had orders from the Duke of Wellington to patrol the Portuguese frontier. The 1st German Hussars function was to make forward scouting patrols to gain information on French intentions and at the same time inhibit any similar French incursions on the Light Divisions front. Schaumann gained a reputation as a first class cavalry commissariat which was a particularly arduous job with the constant demand for not only victuals for the men but large amounts of fodder for the horses. A commissary had a non-combatant role without any direct military responsibilities but was nevertheless often in the thick of things. He not only suffered all the vicissitudes of campaign life in his capacity of provider, but often the effects of battle without actually being involved, so he was able to witness first hand many engagements as a close observer. In his memoirs there are several references to coming across "old Schwalbach", written in familiar terms as if he was well known and had a reputation in Wellington's Army. On page 279 for instance: - "Our Jägers took post at the entrances of the town and all round it. Brave old Schwalbach stationed himself with his foremost outposts, and coldly explained to the fellows how close they were to allow the French to come before they aimed and mowed them down." From this account we deduce that Schwalbach was in command of a body, (a platoon) of sharpshooters and about to lay a surprise attack. The sharpshooters were Portuguese Cacadores we discover. The Cacadore regiments were the Portuguese Army's light infantry, and two of the best battalions were attached to the Light Division. Who was "old Schwalbach"? He was in fact a German and served at the beginning of the campaign as a corporal with the 5/60th Rifles. Their first commanding officer was the famous Colonel Baron Francis de Rottenberg. Most of the other ranks at that time were German speakers from the various states and almost two thirds of the officers also. They were known as the British Army's own Jäger battalion and by other regiments as the "jaggers". When the battalion arrived in the Peninsula it was divided so that each company, armed with Baker rifles, was attached to a division as specialist sharpshooters or what would in today's terms would be called snipers. They had a fearsome reputation in the French Army. A vindication of that reputation could be called- A French Testimonial. - Casualties amongst French officers were very high. As a final testimony to the accuracy and effectiveness of the 5/60th riflemen, a report from Marshal Soult, Commander-in-Chief in Spain to the Minister of War survives: St. Jean de Luz, 1st Sept. 1813 "The loss in prominent and superior officers, sustained for some time past by the Army, is so disproportionate to that of the rank and file that I have been at pains to discover the reason, and have acquired the following information, which of course explains the cause of so extraordinary a circumstance. There is in the English army a battalion of the 60th consisting of ten companies - the regiment is composed of six battalions, the other five being in America or the West Indies. This battalion is never concentrated, but has a company attached to each Infantry Division. It is armed with a short rifle, the men are selected for their marksmanship, they perform the duties of scouts, and in action are expressly ordered to pick off the officers, especially Field or General Officers. Thus it has been observed that whenever a superior officer goes to the front during an action, either for the purposes of observation or to lead and encourage his men, he is usually hit. This mode of making war and injuring the enemy is very detrimental to us; " . . . Colonel Dumas, on Soult's staff, claimed in support of this that "Les Riflemen" killed all officers between 25th July and 31st August 1813, that is 500 officers and eight generals. The heavy casualties amongst French officers was due to a deliberate policy of selecting officers and senior NCOs as prime targets so as to break the command structure. In this instance he was referring in particular to the riflemen of the 5/60th but it equally applied to all riflemen, to those of the 95th and the Kings German Light Battalions. In "Celer Et Audax", a history of the 5/60th by Major-General Gibbes Rigaud is the following account which explains who was "Brave old Schwalbach" The muster roll of December 1809 In No 2 (B), or Captain de Salaberry's company, muster roll is a corporal named John Schwalbach against whose name is written, "Discharged by order of Lieut. General Sir Arthur Wellesley, 14th June 1808. At first it might be thought that he could be a "suspected man", that is one with doubtful affiliations and loyalties. Johan Schwalbach was a man of mark; he had already attracted the notice of his regimental officers, and his commanding officer had promoted him to the rank of corporal, (unable to do more as his strength was to be reduced), had appointed him lance-sergeant. It was to employ him in one of the Cacadore regiments that Sir Arthur directed his discharge. N.B. The Portuguese army was being reformed and selected officers and NCOs serving with Sir Arthur's army were attached to the Portuguese Regiments to aid training or given positions of command. After the Peninsula campaign and for the remainder of his days Schwalbach made Portugal his adopted country, and rose high in its service. In 1839, he was a Major and employed as a special commissioner, as there was trouble in Brazil for the Portuguese; and in 1847, he was a General commanding in the Royal Army, and had been ennobled for his services A report appeared about him in the "Illustrated London News", January, 1847, together with a woodcut portrait of him and his rival General. Illustrated London News Jan. 2nd 1847 "Johan Schwalbach is one of the commanders of the royal troops at present operating with Marshal Saldanha against Das Antas and the insurgents. As is evident from his name he is a German; but he has been for many years in the Portuguese service. He was a favourite officer of Don Pedro, who raised him from the rank of Lieutenant to that of general, and gave him the title of Baron von Setabal. His latest achievement is the occupation of the place from which he takes his title (an important town). He is much dreaded by the democrats, and they evacuated it- popular forces, junta and all - three hours before he arrived. Schwalbach is a brave soldier and an able general; never having mixed himself up with politics at all. It is difficult to foresee what will be the issue of these convulsions. Constitutional government is impossible: for no one can be trusted with power, and the mass of the people neither comprehend nor care for political principles. It should be noted that Saldanha, the Queen's general, under whom Schwalbach was serving, and General das Antas his opponent, and the leader of the insurrection in Portugal, both served under Lord Wellington against the French, Das Antas having been a subaltern and afterwards a captain in the 7th battalion of Cacadores!" Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire #53 Back to First Empire List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2000 by First Empire. 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