BROTHERS OF THE BLADE: TWO LIVES AGAINST NAPOLEON (4)

INSTALMENT NO. 4 : DIARY OF EUGEN VON HIRSCHFELD 13 SEPTEMBER 1810 TO 4 JANUARY 1811.

Instalment No. 4: Reunited with Moritz von Hirschfeld, a never-ending sea journey and first battle.

13 September. 

The news of the day is the following : Several days they have fought one another in the area of ​​Tortosa, namely Suchet with the Army of Valencia. Although nothing has now been decided by this, Suchet has lost so much by desertion in his army that he could not have held the field had he not united with General Macdonald. While all this was happening, O'Donnell had advanced against Saragossa from Tarragona; Due to the union of Suchet and Macdonald he is too weak to act against them and will probably limit himself to harassing them on their supply lines. A guerrilla, usually called by his nickname: ‘Empecinado’¹ , whose actions can almost be described as large-scale operations, recently captured and had shot to death the French General N. Marshal Soult issued a proclamation that he knew of no other Spanish Army than that which was under the command of Joseph Bonaparte, and that the other consisted only of brigands, and he would treat anyone else carrying arms accordingly. He orders the inhabitants to resist their 'own' troops with weapons in their hands, and threatens severe punishment if they should not do so. In short, this manifesto is indescribably outrageous, and the Regencia responded to it very emphatically.

Juan Martín Díez, nicknamed El Empecinado (Spanish: the Undaunted), (5 September 1775 – 20 August 1825)Spanish military leader and guerilla fighter during the Peninsular War

14 September

This Empecinado holds his ground in the districts of Guadalascara, and is of sufficient importance to keep the whole district fairly clean from the French; A proof of this is that in the region of Guadalajara in the mountains there is still a Spanish junta, which, although it is necessary to change its place of residence from time to time, regularly conducts its business and maintains its reputation. Recently, the mentioned partisan, who is particularly characterised by his boldness, had the plan to kill Joseph Bonaparte in his summer palace near Madrid. The plot failed, but he had the audacity to penetrate to the outskirts of Madrid and hang 7 Spaniards who were in the service of the French and who had fallen into his hands in the street. This man is a scourge to the French, which they have incurred by their abominable cruelty. When the French first invaded Spain he was postmaster in a small town and got into trouble with a French officer about a girl, then stabbed the officer in a duel and fled. Since the French, despite their best efforts, could not get hold of him, his father, his mother and his wife were shot instead of him. He has sworn terrible revenge and has already sacrificed many thousands in revenge for the murdered. In Catalonia, the French, on behalf of the Spanish General O'Donnell, have circulated leaflets announcing that peace had been concluded with Joseph Buonaparte, urging the inhabitants to go home in peace. 

But the most shameful thing about it is that it also calls on the people to kill an excellent guerrilla in Catalonia because he is a traitor. This sheet was signed ‘O'Donnell’, and has done nothing but increase disgust for the French. There are an incredible number of priests here, and in general the priestly spirit is still very strong in Spain. Recently the bishop of Ourense issued an edict in which he calls it licentious and unscriptural for women to go out with bare arms. It is true that only very few people stand up to it, because the women here, as everywhere, are the smartest and most enlightened part of the nation; But you are not allowed to come into the church with your bare arms, you will be turned away immediately.

15 September

We recently got a taste of how pathetic business is here. Count Braunsberg² and I had the intention of making a small voyage of discovery by water with a number of other German officers, to the coast of Trafalgar to Tarifa, because we had good news that a detachment of French cavalry was operating there. For this we lacked nothing but a very small barge manned by a few sailors; we then wanted to land near Conil in order to examine the locations of the undertaking and to return immediately and lead a detachment there. We went to the Minister of War, Dr. Eusebio Bardají y Azara, informed him of our plan and asked for a small vehicle. He really liked the thing, you could tell by looking at his nose, and he promised to fulfil our wishes. But instead of asking one of his subordinates to do this minor job, as is customary in other countries, the Minister of War tormented himself with it, kept us waiting for a full four weeks and finally let the Admiral talk him out of it again, who disapproved the undertaking and considered it dangerous because three French privateers cruised in that area. Now consider what such Spaniards do at the moment when it is a question of maintaining the independence of the nation through arms. In an extremely difficult situation, the Minister of War is a man who has never been a soldier and has no idea of ​​war. - I was with him the other day when a cavalry general came and brought him a test saddle that was set up in such a way that an infantryman could sit on the back. The mantle sack, mantle and so on was stored in front, the infantryman was to sit on the back on a cushion, which looked like a large parcel. - Probably the most stupid idea that a horseman has ever had, and only conceivable by a Spanish horseman. The Minister of War was also very pleased with it, until I could no longer contain myself, gave my opinion and gave them a short lecture on the principles and rules of cavalry, very basic and well-known things, as every German infantry officer knows . With that I turned the minister's heart and defeated my opponent so much that he himself said in an undertone and meekly: 'tiene razones' (he is right), and so quietly departed with his 17 cubit long saddle and a nose just as long. According to yesterday 's newspaper , Romana had a successful battle near Lerida and is again advancing towards Seville. English cavalry has landed in Lisbon, which is intended to reinforce Wellington.

21 September

Yesterday I received word that my patent was with the inspector of cavalry out on the Isla, so I went out there today together with Grollmann. The inspector was very kind, showed me my patents as a graduated Lieutenant-Colonel and cavalry captain in the light cavalry in the army in Catalonia. However, I do not get my hands on these patents, they are first sent to General O'Donnell for his signature. I received the order and my passport to leave for Catalonia; however, I cannot do so until I have received the Minister of War's letters and clearance. 

The 23rd, Sunday. 

When I wanted to go to the Minister of War yesterday, I met Moritz on the street -- Moritz. Our mutual joy was very great; he definitely didn't expect to find me here anymore and I am now relieved of all the worries I used to have about him. If he had come here after we had all gone away, I would have had to leave him money here, but I would not have known anyone who would have stayed behind and whom Moritz could actually have located. Despite his promise, the Duke of Brunswick was unable to employ him and recommended him to Smith, Romberg and so on, so that he was granted free passage. The Duke gave him 30 Pounds. Today we want to go out to the Isla and present ourselves to the Minister of War and get employment tomorrow. 

27 September

We were on the island for two days and experienced very strange things. For on the 24th the Cortes of the Empire assembled³, that new sun to which everyone looks up to now. They met publicly in the former comedy house, took the Regencia on oath, duty and responsibility. The Regencia is the executive power, the Cortes the legislative. We were received by the Minister of War, received very courteously, and released with the best of promises. The necessary certificates for receipt of the English salary have arrived for Schepeler and Oppen, but as I correctly predicted and through my usual misfortune anticipated, I went away empty-handed due to some error, and although it has been corrected by General Graham this time,  I can not get my salary in the future. General O'Donnell is said to have fought a very important battle in Catalonia and decisively defeated the enemy, so the Minister of War told me. Bassecourt is now Captain-General of Valencia. The Minister of War thinks I would probably get the order to set up a troop or more of Lancers from the existing Polish prisoners - if all goes well that is.

The Oath of the Cortes of Cadiz. On 24 September 1810, during the siege of Cadiz, in the context of the Spanish War of Independence, the deputies who drafted the Spanish Constitution of 1812 swore allegiance in the church of San Pedro and San Pablo in San Fernando. This event was immortalised by the painter José Casado del Alisal, whose painting is on display in the Spanish Congress of Deputies. On the right, standing next to one another and touching one another’s hands, are Eugen (on the right with black hair) and Moritz von Hirschfeld. This is the only known depiction of the brothers Hirschfeld and while the artist painted this about 50 years after the event, it is likely that he used earlier portaits (now lost) of the two as models.