Bibliography of works related to the surprise attack on Bergen op Zoom, 8 March 1814

BERGEN OP ZOOM,

THE BRITISH SURPRISE ATTACK

8 March 1814

A BIBLIOGRAPHY

composed and remarks by Geert van Uythoven

- Anonymus, “Der Ueberfall von Bergen-op-Zoom am 8ten und 9ten Merz 1814”, in ‘Zeitschrift für Kriegswissenschaft’ 2. Jahrgang (Stuttgart 1820) 45 pp. + map [in ‘old’ German].

- Anonymus, “Ueberfall und Sturm von Berg-op-Zoom in der nacht von 8. zum 9. März 1814”, in ‘Militair-Wochenblatt’ 17. Jahrgang (Berlin 1832) 12 pp. + map [in ‘old’ German: Based on the diary of Lieutenant Moodie Dunbar, who participated in the attack as a lieutenant with the 21st Royal Scots Fusileers].

- Bas, F. de “Prins Frederik der Nederlanden en zijn tijd” 4 parts in 6 bands (Schiedam 1887-1913) [in Dutch: part 3 contains a description of the attack on Bergen op Zoom, pp. 372-389 + map].

- Bornecque, J., “Surprise de Berg-op-Zoom, dans le nuit du 8 au 9 Mars 1814” (Paris 1878) 15 pp. + map [in French: Based on Legrand, not very useful].

- Carmichael-Smyth, Colonel, “Plans of the Attacks upon Antwerp, Bergen-op-Zoom, Cambray, Peronne, Maubeuge, Landrecy, Marienbourg, Philippeville, and Rocroy, by the British and Prussian armies in the Campaigns of 1814 and of 1815” (Cambray 1817) pp. 3-7 + map.

- Colenbrander, Dr. H.T., “Gedenkstukken der algemeene geschiedenis van Nederland van 1795 tot 1840” part 7, ‘Vestiging van het Koninkrijk 1813-1815’ (’s-Gravenhage 1914) [a huge collection of letters regarding this period, of all nations, including British, Prussian, etc., as long as it has some relevance to the Netherlands. An enormous source of primary material].

- Gorkum, Jan Egbertus van, “De bestorming der vesting Bergen op Zoom op den 8sten Maart 1814” (Leiden 1862) 96 pp. + map [The best source for information about the surprise-attack is the work of Jan Egbertus van Gorkum, who was the major Dutch engineer, attached to Graham, who designed the plan for the attack. As some kind of diary, he describes the day by day events leading to the attack, I have translated part of it, which is also on my website].

- Koolemans Beijnen, G.J.W. (ed.), “Historisch gedenkboek der herstelling van Neêrlands onafhankelijkheid in 1813” 4 parts (Haarlem 1912-’13) [in Dutch: Also known as “Gedenkboek 1813” or “1813”, this is the work Bas referred to. Part 4 contains a treatise about Bergen op Zoom by G.L. Breedvelt and Dr. H.F.M. Huijbers, pp. 523-562 + map].

- Legrand, “Relation de la surprise de Berg-op-Zoom, le 8 et le 9 mars 1814” (Paris 1816) c.110 pp. + map [in French: Legrand commanded the engineers inside the fortress during the surprise-attack. Although sometimes wrong regarding the facts related to the British, he gives a good account of the French side of the events. His work has been used extensively by other historians. Also translated in Dutch as “Verhaal van de verrassing van Bergen op Zoom, op den 8en en 9en Maart 1814” (Breda 1817) 143 pp. + map].

- Maronier, H., “De gids of de verrassing van Bergen op Zoom in maart 1814” (Rotterdam 1836) 218 pp. + map [in Dutch: although based on archival and other historical material, this is a romanticised story about one of the guides leading the attack. It nicely describes the feelings of the inhabitants inside as well as outside the fortress during this period].