Albertus Perk - Diary of 1813-1814 - Part 1

This translation of Albertus Perk's diary has been kindly provided by Bas de Groot, who has translated and edited it from the original manuscript preserved with the Regionaal Archief Gooi en Vechtstreek (http://gooienvechthistorisch.nl/).

Albertus Perk later in his life

Albertus Perk was born in Hilversum, a town roughly 35 kilometres south-east of Amsterdam, in 1795, just three months after the French had invaded the northern Netherlands. He died there in 1880. He was born in a wealthy family, the son of a notary, and went on to become a very influential man himself in later life. In 1816, just 21 years old, he was already Town Clerk and Receiver of the Revenue for the Town of Hilversum. In 1820 he became a notary himself, like his father before him. In 1840 he became a Member of the Provincial States of the province of North-Holland, and in 1854 he was elected alderman in his home Town of Hilversum, which post he retained until his death. And next to father of 14 children to his two subsequent wives, and a keen and productive local and regional historian, he was also the Secretary of the “Erfgooiers”, a powerful agrarian collective which managed large tracts of agricultural lands in the region.

In 1813, however, Albertus Perk was just 18 years old. He had lived through turbulent times, but in a protected environment, free from the direct horrors of war. This resonates in his diary, which every now and then shows him to be an inquisitive, care-free, even gossipy youth. A youth who did not shirk from his duty to protect his home and hearth when faced with French raids from Naarden-based Imperial troops, however.

Naarden was one of the last fortresses in the Netherlands which remained in French hands throughout 1813 and early 1814, until well after Napoleon’s abdication. Only on 12 May 1814 did the town’s commander, General de Brigade Jacques Quetard de la Porte, whose second-in-command Colonel Jean Falba was the infamous commander of the troops responsible for the Woerden Massacre on 24 November 1813, finally surrender the fortress. He had held out with a garrison of over 2,000 men, but had had to deal with a number of desertions, as part of his troops consisted of Dutchmen and Germans in French service. Especially the Dutch of his Garde National units, and the Germans of the 4ème Régiment Etrangers were prone to leaving their Eagles at every opportunity. Nevertheless, after Quetard de la Porte, who had been the fortress’ commander since at least 1812, had given over the more direct command of the defense of Naarden to Colonel Falba, Falba remained an assertive defender, keeping his German and Dutch troops in check with his French and sending his troops on no less than 26 sorties between 8 December 1813 and 15 March 1814, the main goal of which was to bring fresh supplies of food and fuel into the fortress. This remained fairly easy to do, as most of the troops surrounding the fortress were hardly experienced fighting material. The first troops to arrive at Naarden were, like in many other places, patrols of Cossacks. At a number of places in the Netherlands, like Gorinchem and Delfzijl, these were then replaced by Prussian and Russian army units, who participated in sieges of those places, providing a backbone for the hastily created Dutch Landstorm (local militia) units. But in the case of Naarden, few Allied troops were committed, leaving it up to newly raised Dutch regular army units and the Landstorm to blockade the fortress. The Landstorm was called up in December 1813, and consisted of the male population of the country between the ages of 18 and 45, who were to be armed in any way possible, notably with pikes and fowling pieces. Overall, their fighting capabilities were very limited, and when not stiffened with professional troops they were prone to routing in combat, and desertion. Nevertheless, on a number of occasions they were able to make the life of the French commander difficult, and their very existence did much to encourage their compatriots within Naarden to desert to the Allies, leaving Quetard de la Porte and Falba with an ever dwindling garrison. 

After a summary of recent events in the Netherlands and Europe in general, Perk starts his diary on 10 November 1813.

“Wednesday evening 10^th of November, we were informed by channels from Utrecht and Amsterdam that seemed trustworthy, that the country had gone over to the Allies, that there was to be no fighting, and that the French would have leave the country before 15 November. This rumour made us rejoice extremely, as we would be in dire straits if the French did resist. The proximity of Naarden fortress, which had been fortified with casemates not long before and was one of the strongest in the country, made us worry about a siege that would affect us all.

Thursday 11^th of November we received intelligence that in Amersfoort the signposts of the customs officials had been torn down, that French officials had left that city, and that orange cockades were being worn. Rumour had it that the Russians were at Arnhem. Nobody knew of any French troops between here and there, and so all expected the Allies to be here soon, and the French to be overthrown.

Friday the 12^th, people at Eemnes were sure that they would see Russian troops enter their village, and the rumours of a French Capitulation were confirmed by everyone we spoke to.

Saturday the 13^th I was at Loenen, and heard there that the Emperor had been stabbed to death at Mainz. This rumour was repeated in Hilversum, but with slight variations. The Receiver of Revenues, Degottal, mocked the Cossacks, however, and told us that the French would be returning here shortly.

Sunday the 14^th it was widely mentioned that Napoleon had been captured, along with 8 Senators, and that Holland had been given over to the Allies. The Sub-Prefect made a proclamation at Eemnes, however, that there was no Capitulation, that 10,000 French troops would shortly be arriving in the cities along the IJssel river, and that Napoleon was in Paris.

Monday the 15^th we were told by persons coming from Amsterdam that the French had left that city, and that the Prince (they mean Charles-François Lebrun, duc de Plaisance, BdG) would be leaving that day. The Prefect (de Celles, BdG) was sick, the Emperor was said to be declared insane, and the Russians were supposed to be at Harderwijk.

Tuesday November 16^th. The old rumours were repeated until the afternoon. The paper stated that the enemy (the Allies, Bdg) had tried to attack Deventer on the 12^th, but had been beaten back by General Schinner (?). In the evening, Mr De Vries came from Amsterdam, and brought us the news that all the French were gone from there, that the guard houses of the Douane were being burned, that everyone was wearing orange cockades, but that most of the population was carrying on in an orderly fashion. He also brought a rumour that the English had landed at Zandvoort with the Prince of Orange at their head. Another person who arrived today mentioned that he had seen the Russians passing through Deventer on Sunday the 14^th, and that they were now at Niekerk.

Wednesday 17 November. Nothing special happened until late in the evening, when the trekschuit (a flat-bottomed horse-drawn boat that was used for public transport and postal services, BdG) arrived. It carried a letter from Amsterdam, reporting the death of 4 people, and the plundering of houses and property by the common people. We also got our hands on the first, new, Amsterdamsche Courant, which was very sought after, and read to one and all. It contained the names of the Provisional Government, as well as a number of proclamations, mostly asking for the people to remain calm and peaceful. Several circumstances were mentioned that seemed to imply that indeed a treaty had been signed to safeguard Holland from further violence, but everything remained murky, and we were left wondering, insecure about our future fate and future developments, but we remained hopeful, and the first ray of freedom arising flickers in our eyes. Oh, our bards, Loots and Helmers may yet have spoken the truth in their lofty verses. Heaven provide that it is so.

Thursday 18 November. This morning I rode to Loenen, to conclude our business with the Receiver of Revenues. Instead of finding him mocking the Allies, I found him packing his belongings and getting ready to move within the next two or three days. In Loosdrecht I encountered the first people who were openly wearing orange cockades and ribbons, but it was far from common to do so yet. Nothing else in this place spoke of rebellion or an uprising. The Maire together with the most respectable citizens had drawn up a number of measures to keep the peace, and we sincerely hope they will be effective. Amsterdam is reported to have quietened down.

Friday 19 November. I went to Naarden this morning, accompanied by my friend Hendrik van Veerssen, and it seemed like they were in earnest in preparing the defences. From all sides Douanes and other French employees are arriving here, where they are armed and put to work. Yesterday, the city was declared to be formally under siege, and under martial law. Just as we were leaving, the commanding general, a grey-haired Frenchman, was making his rounds. It is now difficult to enter Naarden. Nevertheless, it was said that the Prince of Orange had ordered a proclamation to be read in his name that very day.

Saturday 20 November. The proclamation I mentioned yesterday has been published in Amsterdam, and has found its way here as well. In Leiden, Haarlem and another city the city councils have been replaced. It is rumoured that the East India Company will be restored. But the Emperor has sent out a decree about certain matters in Holland as recent as 11 November, and has made a speech in the Senate on the 15^th that gave not a single hint about any treaty. The Duc de Plaisance has stated to the French officials that 10.000 French troops are approaching the river Lek, and the defences of Naarden are being strengthened daily. This continual state of rumours and counter-rumours stating this or that, relieving or increasing fears, is exhausting. We hear of no fights, we don’t hear anything about approaching troops or negotiations, and have no clue as to how everything is proceeding.

Sunday 21 November. No news.

Monday 22 November. Around 10 o’clock in the morning I arrived in Amsterdam, and found all the rumours that I had heard to be true. It was a strange sensation for me, to be walking in a city that had cast off its yoke and was truly free from French rule. I was told here that 4.000 French troops had arrived at Utrecht, and there was an increasing fear that the French would return. As we were leaving the city, we saw thirty soldiers arrive with all their accoutrements, led by three Amsterdam gentlemen on horseback. In the evening, we met some more near Ankeveen. Like the first ones we’d seen, they were going over from the French side to the Dutch in Amsterdam. They were mostly Germans in French service. Yet our prospects have not improved very much. At night in Hilversum I heard of an official communiqué, stating that the Russians were at Apeldoorn.

Tuesday 23 November. In the afternoon around 500 men, Douanes and men from the Regiment Etrangers passed through Hilversum towards Utrecht. This raised our spirits, as we hoped this foreboded the evacuation of Naarden by the French. Mr J.R. Das, who had been at Utrecht, reported that there were no more than 800 Frenchmen in that city. My brother-in-law, Lourens Vlaanderen, returned from Amersfoort, telling us that eleven Cossacks had been seen resting no more than an hour’s distance from that city, but that they had been overpowered at Niekerk by the Amersfoort garrison. Lourens had seen the garrison return: 200 men, triumphantly bringing with them 5 Cossacks, horses, and 2 pikes. All day there has been gunfire. It is said to emanate from Gorinchem. The Decree of the mass conscription of 300.000 men has been declared, nobody believes that Holland will be surrendred without a fight anymore. But there is more hope of liberation than there was yesterday. The Russians are at Elburg and Apeldoorn. The garde champetre (regional/country policeman, BdG) of ‘s Graveland, who had cried Oranje Boven in the presence of the Council and the Maire, has been taken to Utrecht by 3 gens d’armes this morning.

Wednesday 24 November.  Early in the morning, while we were at breakfast, Mr J.R. Das arrived, and told us that he had met a Cossack during the night, who had lost his way. Mr Das had sent him with a guide to Baarn, to take him across the bridge over the river Eem to Niekerk. Although we accepted the fact that the Cossack had lost his way, we were nevertheless perplexed, as we had thought them to be at Elburg that night. But very soon we discovered to our amazement that during the night some hundreds of Cossacks had followed the Hessian Road through our village towards Amsterdam. We simply could not believe it, but the flattened and trodden state of the road, and numerous reliable witnesses confirmed the story. Also, the Cossack who had spent the night here, when leaving the village, had taken the road towards Amsterdam, which he knew to take from the marks his countrymen had left behind. As we were discussing all this amongst ourselves, lo! We were surprised by a full dozen Cossacks. They asked us for directions to Amsterdam and Utrecht, and how many French were there, after which they went on their way. How unexpected was this arrival of the Russians as much as it was hoped for! We had not expected them for another four days at least. Now one and all became more cheerful, expecting the advance guard soon to be followed by larger numbers of troops. In the afternoon we headed for Baarn, but found no Russians there. Between nine and ten in the evening the church bells rang from the direction of Utrecht and Loosdrecht, but we couldn’t discover what caused it.

Thursday 25 November. Early in the morning, I rode over to Loosdrecht to find out what had been happening the previous night that had caused the bells to toll, and found that it was nothing more than a few bad and disorderly revellers, who had been feasting to their heart’s content. In the afternoon Mr J. van R. and I visited the widow Dulman, where we witnessed the ill-judged actions of the people of Loosdrecht, which were fired up and pushed on by a rum customer calling himself their Captain. Hearing that the French were still occupying Loenen, they had raised the drawbridge on that side of the village, and posted a guard consisting of four men. We wore orange cockades and ribbons openly for the first time, but a group of women thought the ribbons weren’t ostentatious enough, and badgered us about it. We made our way through them, and after having carefully avoided the zealous captain and his cronies, we left this raucous village without any further hindrance. After arriving at home, we were alarmed once more, hearing French and Cossack musket fire close by as they clashed at Eemnes. And the same evening we received word that the French still occupied Amersfoort, and that they had retaken Woerden, and had ransacked and pillaged that place in a barbarous manner. All this made us very uneasy.

Friday 26 November. At nine o’clock this morning, J. van R., my brothers and I left for Eemnes in order to obtain intelligence about yesterday’s affair. In this effort we succeeded splendidly, and we were able to note down the following details. We noted 13 trees that were hit by musket balls, some in as much as three places. A fence had been pierced by a bullet, and the great wooden door of a shed next to the post office as well, after which that particular ball had also pierced the opposite door, which was 14 feet away, and had shattered the rear leg of one of the Cossack’s horses. We heard here that Baarn had been abandoned by the Cossacks, and that the French still held Amersfoort. When we were back in Hilversum in the forenoon, a proclamation by the Maire and Council was read, requesting everyone to gather at the church square whenever  the small church bell tolled and carry out any further commands of the Council, in order to be able to deport any mischief makers when they came to disturb the peace. Our town differed in that respect from many in the neighbourhood: in Loosdrecht, Tienhoven, Kortenhoef and ‘s Graveland the national colours were hung from the church towers, the church bells tolled continuously, everyone was ordered to wear orange decorations, and one was mistreated if he or she did not. With Naarden still occupied by French troops, and no Allied troops at hand, this was a most unwise course of action. Our town remained peaceful, however, and its citizens both generous and determined, which was to be praised. How much it was to be praised became clear later that afternoon, when all of Loosdrecht, only so recently so passionate and courageous, shook and shuddered with fear when a French army of seven men entered it. This army made flag bearers into flag removers, stopped the bells from tolling, made orange ribbons and decorations disappear, made the noble citizens cower in their homes and the surrounding villages stop their revelries with a haste that showed their embarrassment. And all the while Hilversum did not have to explain anything, nor retract any hasty declarations, and was as peaceful in the presence of the Cossacks as it was in the presence of the French.

Saturday 27 November. In the morning I left through Loosdrecht for Loenen on horseback, but as the drawbridge on the Bloklaan hadn’t been lowered yet, I had to make a detour over Vreeland, even though peace had returned to Loosdrecht. The Receivers of Revenue Degottal and Dupont had left on Wednesday. The French that had occupied Loenen had withdrawn to the Fort at Nieuwersluis, where there were around 150 troops present. During their time in Loenen, they had terrified the inhabitants, threatening to plunder the community and mistreat its members, which they accused of rebellion. It came as no surprise, therefore, that the inhabitants still lived in frightful apprehension. The bridge across the river Vecht was raised, and near the Fort at Nieuwersluis the road had been dug up. At Loenen, I first read the original Proclamation of the Provisional Administration, but as proclamations in themselves rarely have any lasting effects, this could not encourage us. Our situation is really unenviable, the Russians are taking their time in advancing through the country. They have withdrawn from Baarn, and we hear nothing of any Allied army coming our way. Deventer is still in French hands, in Zwolle there are preciously few friendly troops. The French are hanging on, and everywhere they are, they conduct themselves brutally and unpredictably. Naarden is still occupied, and is being strengthened daily. A week has passed and we have not seen any improvement in our hopes of liberation or conditions. Napoleon will not have rested this last week. He will have improved his dispositions, and if he were to return with his army, even for a short period of time, we will all suffer like the poor wretches of Woerden did. Just a week ago, we said to ourselves: in eight days we’ll know more, no uncertainty can last that long. But nothing has progressed, and what will have changed in another eight days? Our prospects are bleak.

Sunday 28 November. After Church we received a number of newspapers that cheered us up. Hamburg had capitulated. But our joy was short-lived. Whilst eating our lunch, we heard a constant tramp of feet. I went out to see what was happening, and saw that more than a hundred Frenchmen from Naarden were now posted near our village. They took up posts at all the exits of the village, so that nobody could either enter or leave, sent out patrols through the village and the Garde Soldee was riding around in a fury. All of this disconcerted us greatly, and some people started to gather their belongings, as if to leave. It did not end in violence, however. An officer and thirty men entered the village and demanded that 100 blankets, three wagons filled with straw and some stoves be handed to them immediately. The people in the village started getting together these goods while the soldiers went to the Maire’s house and took all of his wine, jenever and bread, and from the Maire’s brother they took all his tobacco. The officer enquired after the town’s money-box, but didn’t wait for it to be delivered to him. When the required goods were ready and waiting for them, the wagons and soldiers left for Naarden around half three in the afternoon, as well as the guards at the exits of the town, which had only served to secure the French from a sudden Cossack raid. In the afternoon, J. van R. and I went to ‘s Graveland, and there we heard the news that Utrecht had been left by its French occupants around half four that morning, and that at one in the afternoon forty Cossacks had entered that city. Nieuwersluis and its fort had also been left by the French. Our hearts were greatly lifted by this news, and even though we had been scared that morning, we were now more hopeful than ever that we wouldn’t be seeing the French return again. The only thing we have left to fear is the garrison of Naarden, which is left on its own, and can still make sorties, maltreat us, and draw us into fights when the fortress is laid under siege. Fortunately, there are few troops in it at present, but enough to make our town’s citizens’ life living hell. We were assured that this night a single Cossack has arrived to claim the fortress for the Allies. Would that he succeeded! But the garrison of Amersfoort is marching for Naarden, and has plundered the post house at Eemnes whilst marching through there. Amersfoort is now occupied by Russian soldiers.         

Monday 29 November. Around ten o’clock in the morning I rode to Loosdrecht and returned with .... [illegible]. Cossacks have marched through Loenen to Amsterdam. All day long we feared another ‘visit’ from Naarden, but nothing happened. Around four in the afternoon a Cossack passed through, on his way to Utrecht from Laren, where around 20 of them are camped.

Tuesday 30 November.  Very early in the morning Lourens Vlaanderen came in to tell us that a party of Cossacks had arrived from the direction of Utrecht last night around midnight, and had now made camp in front of the Maire’s house. We immediately went out to have a look, and found around 25 Cossacks lying down around a large fire. Their horses were tied to the trees that surrounded them. Their commander was tall, handsome fellow, 29 years old, born on the borders of Asia. At the request of some people from ‘s Graveland, seven Cossacks had been detached to that place, where the villagers had kept watch all through last night, armed with pitchforks. The villagers of Kortenhoef had done the same. We now heard the rumour that the French from Naarden were plundering Weesp. Although this rumour turned out to be false, they did requisition a frightful amount of food and goods, after which they retired to Naarden. Around 2 o’ clock in the afternoon, a half-dressed man from Bussum stumbled into the village, telling how the French were plundering Bussum, and that he had just barely managed to escape. Our Cossacks immediately took to their horses, followed by a large number of onlookers from our side. As soon as the Cossacks, who had united with the band from Laren, approached Bussum, the French began to retire towards Naarden, even though they outnumbered the Cossacks by at least 100 men. Shots were fired in Bussum, wounding one of our Cossacks in the knee, and one of their horses in the belly. Two Dutchmen deserted the French and came over to our side. When the French had retired to Naarden, the Cossacks withdrew to Hilversum. In Bussum, the French had plundered the Roman Church, the vicar’s house, 2 or 3 large farmhouses, had threatened to pillage even more, had stolen 2 horses and 70 cows, and had put everyone in a state of great fear and anxiety. We in Hilversum likewise fear for another attack by the French from Naarden, as the garrison in our town is but small, and so the order has been given that in case of the alarm bell ringing, every villager is to turn out at once, armed with whatever he can find. There has been much firing of cannon and small arms this afternoon, rumour has it from the direction of Arnhem (Perk is correct, Arnhem was stormed and taken by General Bulow on this day, BdG). Now, around 10 o’clock at night, the Cossacks are lying by their horses. They have set up three small posts, each of three men, just outside the village. This afternoon the Cannon of Naarden have fired their first shot.