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Tigers in the Mud The Combat Career of German Panzer
Commander Otto Carius 1st ed Edition Otto Carius
Digital Instant Download
Author(s): Otto Carius
ISBN(s): 9780811729116, 0811729117
Edition: 1st ed
File Details: PDF, 53.74 MB
Year: 2003
Language: english
 TIGERS
IN THE MUD

o 11 911 6
 The Stackpole Military History Series

THE AMERICAN CML WAR M('sserschmitls over Sirily

Cavalry, Raids of I hp Civil Wa r Mirhapl Will'/llrtnn, Vol. I
Ghost, 77!'ltn rif'rbolt, and Wizard Mir/wel Wittmrmn, Vot. 2
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Panzers in Win lpr
Beyond the Bearhhead
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The Brigade
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Tigas in the Mud
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G('nnan Order of Bailie, Vol. I Flying A mairan Combal Airrraft:
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L uftwoffe A r('s
Mass(t(Tf' at Tobruk
Mec/tanized } ufrf!;ernaul or Mifilm)'
Anarhronism?
 TIGERS
IN THE MUD
The Combat Career of German Panzer
Commander Otto Carius

Otto Carius
Translated by Robert J. Edwards

STACKPOLE
BOOKS
English Copyright © 1992 by J. J. Fedorowicz Publishing, In e.

First published in papel-back in 2003 by

STACKPOLE BOOKS
5067 Riner Road
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
www.stackpolebooks.com

All rights reserved, including the ri ght to reprod uce this book or portions
thereof in a ny form p r by any means, e lectro nic or mechanical , including
ph otocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system ,
withou t permission in writin g from the publisher. All inqui ries sho uld be
addressed to J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing, [ne. , 104 Browning Bo ulevard ,
Winnipeg, MB, R3K OL7, Canada.

wwwjjfpub.mb.ca

Printed in the Un ited States of Ame ri ca

10 9 8 7

FIRST EDITION

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Carius, Ono.
Tigers in the mud : the comba t caree r o f German Panzer commander Ono
Carius / by Otto Carius ; tra nslated by RobertJ. Edwards.- 1st ed.
p. cm . - (Stackpo le Military history series)
ISBN 0-8117-2911-7 (pbk.)
1. Carius, Ono. 2. World War, 1939-1 945-Personal narratives,
German. 3. World War, 1939-1 945-Tan k warfare. 4. Germa ny.
Heer-Officers-Biography. 5. Tiger (Tank ) I. Title. Il. Series.
D8 11.C27735A32003
940.54' 1343'092-dc2 1
2003008243
[SBN 978-0-8 117-29 11-6
Table of Contents

Publisher's Acknowledgments . ... . ......... . ... . .... . .... ix

Foreword to the English-Language Edition . .. ... . .... ...... xi
Dedication ........... . .. . . ... . .. .. .................. xiii
Foreword to the German Edition ......... . ... . .. ... .... . . xv

The Fatherland Calls .. . ................... . .. .. ....... . ..... 1

In Napoleon's Wake . . ..... . .... ........ . ............. . .... . . 5

The First T34s .... .. .... . .... . ...................... . ... ... 10

Back With the O ld Gang .. .... . ............ .. ... . ... . ....... 12
A Catastrophe ....... .. ... . ......... . .............. . ....... 14
In Brittany ..... . ...... . .. . .......... . . . ... .. ........ . ... . . 19

Portrait of the "Tiger" .. .. ..... . ... . ....... ... .. . ......... .. 21

On an Express Train to the Leningrad Front . .... ... . .......... . 25
Defensive Battle at Newel ....... . . . .............. '............ 33
Retreat to the Narwa . . .......... . ...... . ......... ...... . ... 44
"Old Fritz" ... .. ..... ... ................................ . .. 53
The Front Held at Narwa ................. . ..... '...... . .. .... 61
Calm Before the Storm .............. . .......... . .... . ..... . 73
Ivan Attacks ..... . ........ .. . . .. . .......... .. .. . ..... .. .. .. 84
Mutiny in the Bunker ... . . . .... . . .... .... ..... ... .... .. .... . 97
"Operation Strachwitz" . ... . ................................ 100
The Night Was Hell .... . ..... . .... . ... . ... . .. . ........ . ... 109

v
•
vi TIGERS IN THE MUD

Fact or Fiction? .......... . .. .. .. ......... .. ............... 112

In Praise of the "Tiger" . .... .. ... . .. .. . ... ... ..... .. ........ 117

Failure and Farewell ................ . .. . ..... .... . . . ..... . . 120

Knight's Cross at the Hospital . .. . ...... ........... . ..... .... 137
The German Fighters Didn 't Show ........................... 146
"Report immediately to the unit" ........ . ..... ... .. .......... 151
Refusal to Obey Orders ........... . ..... . ...... .. .... ...... 153
Defensive Fighting at Dunaburg .. .. ... . .... . . .. .. .. ......... 162
The Ambush ... .. .. . ... .. .. . .. .. ... .. . .. .... . ............ 166
A Fateful Difference of Opinion .. . .. ............. ... . .... . . . 174
Knocking on Death's Door! .. .. ... .. .. . .... .. ... ... . .. ... ... 180
Rapid Recovery in the Hospital ........... .. .............. ... 189
A Visit with Heinrich Himmler . .. . ... ... ................... . 194
The Catastrophe Looms . ...... .. ... .. . ...... . ..... .... .. ... 203
The Ruhr Pocket . . ...................... ... ... ... . . . ..... 206
The Chaos Grows .. . ... . ... . . .. .. . . ............ . . .. ... .... 212
A Strange City Commandant ...... . .. ... .. ... ... ............ 216
Approaching the End . ... . ....... . .. ... . . . .. ....... . ... .... 222
The Heathens are Often the Better Christians ........ .. ..... ... 226
In Closing .. ...... . . . ....... .. .. . ... ... . . .... . . ....... ... 228

Afterword to the English-Language Edition ... ... .. .... ... .... . 229

Glossary ...... . ... ... . . . ........................... . 232

Documents:
Notes to First Six Documents ................. ... . ... 238
Document 1: After-Action Report ... . ................ 239
Document 2: Technical After-Action Report. ... .. ... ... 248
Table of Contents VII

Document 3: After-Action Report for the Period

from March 17 to 21, 1944 .... . ......... 256
Document 4: Secret ... . ....................... .. .. 260

Document 5: After-Action Report on the Employment of

the staff, 2nd Company, and 3rd Company
of the 502nd Heavy Panzer Battalion in
the Area of the 18th Army in the Period
from June 24 to 30, 1944 . ....... .. .. ... . 263
Document 6: After-Action Report on the Employment
of the 502nd H eavy Panzer Battalion
in the 16th Army Sector from July 4
to August 17, 1944 . ......... .. ... .. ... . 275

Appendix ... . ........ . ............... . . ........ .. . . . 310

Index .. .... ... .. .. ... . ... .. .. . ..... .... . .. ......... 361

Maps:

Map 1 ... . .. .. ... . ... ..... .. .. .. . .. ........ . ..... 32

Map 2 ............... . ........................... 62

Map 3: Attack against the 'Judennase" ............. . .. 138
Publisher's Acknowledgments
(For original English translation)

I wish to thank the following individuals who have contributed to the

original publishing of this bookiii. English.
Robert J. Edwards-Translation
George Rugenius-Proofreading
Brian Molloy-Cover Art
Brian Molloy-Signing Box
I also wish to thank you the reader for purchasing this book and all
those of you who have written to me with your kind words of praise and
encouragement. It gives me the impetus to continue to publish transla-
tions of the best German books available. More excellent books are
either being prepared or negotiated, thanks to your helpful proposals.
These will be announced as they near completion.
The photos in this book come from the personal photo album of Mr.
Otto Carius. I am forever grateful to Mr. Carius for allowing me to use
these photos [most never published before] in this book. I am also grate-
fu l, and very moved, that he agreed to have J. J. Fedorowicz Publishing
bring out his book in English.
John Fedorowicz

IX
Foreword to the English-Language Edition

We soldiers of the former German Wehrmacht are thankful to Fedorow-

icz Publishing for the English-language editions of German books con-
cerning World War 11. Through these publications, the defamation of
the German soldier in film, television, and the press has been countered,
and the picture of the Wehrmacht has become a more objective one by
means of the help offered by many sources.
We are especially grateful when we think of our fallen comrades who,
together with volunteers from all countries of Western Europe, fought to
be saved from communism and whose memory has been stained by
defamation.
Unfortunately, we have had to experience firsthand how war memo-
rials have been destroyed and desecrated in our own country while
"memorials in honor of the unknown deserter" have been ceremoni-
ously dedicated in Bremen, Hamburg, and Bonn. This despicable behav-
ior is probably unthinkable in any other country.
(It must be noted: Up until December 31, 1944, there were 1,408
deserters registered in the Wehrmacht out of approximately seven mil-
lion members of the Wehrmacht duringnve years of war!)
No other people had been so audaciously and (which embarrasses
me) so successfully lied to as the German people after 1945. Despite the
latest sources, the historical picture has not been corrected. With the help
of a lot of former propaganda people of the Third Reich , the "reeduca-
tion " was a complete success. Tradition is smiled at; the achievements of
the Wehrmacht and of our entire people in World War 11 are recognized,
at best, by our former opponents. In some cases, they are even admired.
Given the attitude of the public, it can be understood why the "citizen
in uniform" usually only performs his military service in order to avoid
the possibility of the longer and more unpleasant civil service. Politicians,
church leaders, and other personalities from public life characterize sol-
diers of the Bundeswehr as "pote ntial murderers" and go unpunished by
the courts. Even Minister Blum (the Minister of Labor) can declare in a

Xl
Xll TIGERS IN THE MUD

speech in Poland that for him there was no difference between a soldier
and a guard in a concentration camp.
Thus it amazes me that the "western community" was surprised by
the reaction of the German public to the war in the Gulf. If soldierly
virtues and any type of idealism have been trampled on and ridiculed for
decades, then nothing else can be expected. If everyone just watches out
for himself, then idealism simply cannot be pulled out of a drawer when
it is needed!
Each soldier has to do his duty "as the law prescribes." The enemy is
never determined 'by him, but rather for him by the politicians. "Mourir
au feu ou sur la route, c'est le metier du soldat " (To die under fire or on the
march, that is the lot of the soldier.) This saying of Napoleon continues
to apply to all soldiers. The common experience binds the combat sol-
diers of all nations, as is seen in many get-togethers.
Since 1945, there hasn't been a week without war somewhere in the
world. In the delirium following victory after both of the world wars, the
Allies have twice lost world peace in the 20th century. Let us hope in the
future that politicians are in charge who always keep the political goals in
sight during the most brilliantly fought battles and in the heady after-
math of victory.
All people want to live in peace and freedom. But we shouldn't just
always talk about human rights; we should also point out human obliga-
tions.
Let us hope that the young generation creates a peaceful order that
is lasting. The prerequisite for that will be the readiness to compromise
on the part of all nations.
In any case, we former combat troops know from bitter experience
and, in memory of our fallen comrades, wish to pass on this reminder:
War is the worst alternative in politics!

Ouo Carius
Dedication

Dedicated to my comrades-in-arms of the 2nd Company of the 502nd

Heavy Panzer Battalion to remember in honor those who fell and to
serve to remind those living of our undying and unforgettable fellowship.

Xlll
Foreword to the German Edition

When I first wrote down my experiences at the front, it was intended

solely for the members of the 502nd Tiger Tank Battalion.
When that finally evolved into this book, it was done as an attempt to
vindicate the German frontline soldier. The defamation of the German
soldier has been openly and systematically carried on either intentionally
or unintentionally since 1945, both in Germany and abroad. The public,
however, has the right to know what the war and the common German
soldier were really like!
Above all, however, this book is geared to my fellow former tankers.
For them, it is intended as a reminder of those difficult times. We did
exactly what our fe llow soldiers in all the other branches of the service
did-our duty!
I have been able to portray the events that make up the main point
of the narrative, the operations between February 24 and March 22,
1944, because I managed to save the respective combat reports of the
division and the corps after the war. They were presented to me back
then, and I sent them home. In addition to my memory, the usual offi-
cial documents were at my disposal for all of the other events.
Ouo Carius

xv
The Fatherland Calls

"What they want with that little runt ... that's what I'd like to know, too,"
said one of the card players. They were hunched together, a suitcase over
their knees, attempting to make their departure a little easier by passing
the time playing cards.
"What they want with that little runt .. ." applied to me. I stood at
the compartment window and gazed back at the Haardt Mountains while
the train rattled eastward through the flatlands of the Rhine. It seemed
as if a ship were leaving the safety of its port, sailing into the unknown. I
still had to convince myself occasionally that my draft notice was actually
in my pocket: Posen, 104th Infantry Replacement Battalion, Infantry,. the
Queen of Battle!
I was the odd man out in this group, and I couldn't really blame
everyone else for not taking me seriously. It certainly hadn 't been meant
seriously. In fact, it was quite understandable. I had already been turned
down twice after being called up: "Not fit for service at present under-
weight!" Twice I had to swallow hard and furtively dry the tears. My God,
they don 't ask one about his weight out there at the front!
Our armies had already cut through Poland in an unprecedented
race to victory. Only a few days before, France had also begun to feel the
first numbing blows of our weapons. My father was there. At the begin-
ning of the war, he had donned the uniform again. This meant that my
mother would now only have a small household to manage whenever she
was allowed back into our home at the border. And I had to spend my
eighteenth birthday in Posen on my own for the first time. Only then did
I realize how much I owed my parents for my happy youth! When and
how would I be able to return home again, to sit down at the piano or to
pick up my cello or the violin. Up until a few months before, I had
wanted to devote my future studies to music. Then I changed my mind
and began to take a fancy to mechanical engineering. For that reason, I
had also volunteered for the Tank Destroyer branch. But in the spring of
1940, they didn't need any volunteers. I was supposed to become an
infantryman. But that was OK, too. The main thing was that I was in!

1
2 TIGERS IN THE MUD

Mter a while , it became quiet in our compartment. No doubt every-

one had a lot of things to think over for themselves. The long hours
of our trip certainly allowed ample opportunity for that. By the time we
had debarked in Posen with our stiff legs and sore backs, we were actu-
ally quite happy that the time for introspection was being taken away
from us.
A group from the l04th Infantry Replacement Battalion received us,
told us to get in step, and took us to the post. The enlisted barracks were
certainly no thing of beauty. Room was scarce, and I found myself with
forty other men in an open barracks room. There wasn't a lot of free
time left over to contemplate the exalted duties of a defender of the
Fatherland; a battle for survival began against the old-timers. They con-
sidered us troublesome "foreigners." My situation was practically hope-
less: I still had peach fuzz! Since only a heavy beard was clearly a sign of
real manhood, I was on the defensive from the very beginning. The jeal-
ousy of the others over the fact that I got away with just one shave a week
only made matters worse.
Our training was well suited for getting on my nerves. I often thought
about my high school, the Maximilianeum, whenever drill and cere-
monies were practiced to the point of no return or whenever we rolled
around in the mud of the training area during terrain drills. Not until
later did I learn the value of such fundamental training. I was able to use
the knowledge I gained in Posen more than once to get out of dangerous
situations. A few hours later and all of the misery had been forgotten. The
rage we had experienced against the service, our superiors, and our own
stupidities in the course of training soon blew over. Basically, we were all
convinced that what we were doing had a purpose.
Every nation can consider itself lucky when it has a young genera-
tion that gives all for country and so selflessly fights as did the Germans
in both world wars. No one has the right to reproach us, as we were after
the war, even if the ideals that filled us were misused. Let us hope that
the present generation is spared the same disappointment as that which
was handed to us. It would be even better if a time were to come when a
country didn 't need any soldiers because of permanent peace.
My dream in Posen was to finish my basic infantry course smelling
like a rose. That dream ended in a disappointment mostly because of the
foot marches. They started at fifteen kilometers, increased by five each
week and ended at fifty. It was an unwritten rule that all the college prep
grads had to carry the machine gun. Apparently, they wanted to put me ,
the smallest guy in the lot, to the test and see what were the limits of my
The Fatherland Calls 3

stubborn will to succeed. It was no wonder then that I returned to the

post one day with tendonitis and a festering blister the size of a small
egg. I wasn't able to put on any more demonstrations of my infantry
prowess in Posen. We were transferred to Darmstadt. The closeness to
home suddenly made life in the billets easier to take, and the prospect of
a weekend pass provided additional incentive.
I suppose I was feeling pretty cocky one day when the company
commander was looking for twelve volunteers for the Panzer corps. Only
auto mechanics were supposed to apply, but with a sympathetic smile I
was allowed to join the ranks of the dozen volunteers. The old man was
probably happy to get rid of this half pint. I didn't have a completely
clear conscience with my decision, however. My father had given me per-
mission to join any branch, even aviation, but categorically forbade the
Panzer corps. In his mind's eye, he probably already saw me burning and
suffering horribly. And despite all that, I found myself in the black
Panzer uniform! I've never regretted this step, however, and if I ever had
to become a soldier again, there would be no question about it, the
Panzer corps would be my only choice.
I became a recruit again when I got to the 7th Panzer Replacement
Battalion in Vaihingen. My tank commander was Unteroffizier August
Dehler, a tremendous person and a good soldier. I was the loader, and
we were all bursting with pride when we received our Czechoslovakian
Panzer 38t's. We felt practically invincible with our 37-mm cannon and
two Czech machine guns. We were enthusiastic about the armor protec-
tion and didn't realize until later that it would only serve as moral pro-
tection for us. If necessary, it would stop small arms fire.
We learned the fundamentals of tank warfare at Putlos in Holstein,
where we went for live firing at the training area. In October 1940, the
21st Panzer Regiment was formed in Vaihingen. Shortly before the
beginning of the Russian campaign, it was integrated into the 20th
Panzer Division while at the training area in Ohrd,!rf. Our advanced
training consisted of joint exercises with infantry units.
When we were given our basic allotment of emergency rations in
June 1941, we knew that something was about to happen. It was any-
body's guess as to where we were going to be committed, until we found
ourselves en route to East Prussia. Although the East Prussian farmers
whispered this and that to us, we still believed that we had been sent to
the border to pull security. This assumption was an illusion formed by
our training in Putlos, where we worked with submergible tanks. These
tanks drove under the water up to the coast and then surfaced. We were
Another Random Scribd Document
with Unrelated Content
 JENNY JONES called the pledges of love; and her husband,
though they had been married nine years, had given her no such
pledges; a default for which he had no excuse, either from age or
health, being not yet thirty years old, and what they call a jolly brisk
young man. Hence arose another evil, which produced no little
uneasiness to the poor pedagogue, of whom she maintained so
constant a jealousy, that he durst hardly speak to one woman in the
parish; for the least degree of civility, or even correspondence, with
any female, was sure to bring his wife upon her back, and his own.
In order to guard herself against matrimonial injuries in her own
house, as she kept one maidservant, she always took care to chuse
her out of that order of females whose faces are taken as a kind of
security for their virtue; of which number Jenny Jones, as the reader
hath been before informed, was one. As the face of this young
woman might be called pretty good security of the before-mentioned
kind, and as her behaviour had been always extremely modest,
which is the certain consequence of understanding in women ; she
had passed above four years at Mr. Partridge’s (for that was the
schoolmaster’s name) without creating the least suspicion in her
mistress. Nay, she had been treated with uncommon kindness, and
her mistress had permitted Mr. Partridge to give her those
instructions which have been before commemorated. But it is with
jealousy as with the gout: when such distempers are in the blood,
there is never any security [ 75 ]
 TOM JONES, A FOUNDLING | against their breaking out ;
and that often on the slightest occasions, and hie least. suspected. :
Thus it happened to Mrs. Partridge, who had submitted four years to
her husband’s teaching this young woman, and had suffered her
often to neglect her work in order to pursue her learning. For,
passing by one day, as the girl was reading, and her master leaning
over her, the girl, I know not for what reason, suddenly started up
from her chair: and this was the first time that suspicion ever
entered into the head of her mistress. This did not, however, at that
time discover itself, but lay lurking in her mind, like a concealed
enemy, who waits for a reinforcement of additional strength before
he openly declares himself and proceeds upon hostile operations ;
and such additional strength soon | arrived to corroborate her
suspicion ; for not long after, the husband and wife being at dinner,
the master said to his maid, Da mihi aliquid potum : upon which the
poor girl smiled, perhaps at the badness of the Latin, and, when her
mistress cast her eyes cn her, blushed, possibly with a consciousness
of having laughed at her master. Mrs. Partridge, upon this,
immediately fell into a fury, and discharged the trencher on which
she was eating, at the head of poor Jenny, crying out, “ You
impudent whore, do you play tricks with my husband before my
face?” and at the same instant rose from her chair with a knife in
her hand, with which, most probably, she would have executed very
tragical vengeance, had not the girl taken the advantage of being
nearer the door than her mistress, and avoided her fury by running
away : [ 76 |
 JEALOUSY for, as to the poor husband, whether surprize
had rendered him motionless, or fear (which is full as probable) had
restrained him from venturing at any opposition, he sat staring and
trembling in his chair ; nor did he once offer to move or speak, till
his wife, returning from the pursuit of Jenny, made some defensive
measures necessary for his own preservation ; and he likewise was
obliged to retreat, after the example of the maid. This good woman
was, no more than Othello, of a disposition To make a life of
jealousy, And follow still the changes of the moon With fresh
suspicions With her, as well as him, To be once in doubt, Was once
to be resolv’d she therefore ordered Jenny immediately to pack up
her alls and begone, for that she was determined she should not
sleep that night within her walls. Mr. Partridge had profited too much
by experience to interpose ina matter of thisnature. He therefore
had recourse to his usual receipt of patience; for, though he was not
a great adept in Latin, he remembered, and well understood, the
advice contained in these words : ——-Leve fit, quod bene fertur
onus. in English: A burden becomes lightest when it is well borne —
ba
 TOM JONES, A FOUNDLING which he had always in his
mouth ; int of. which, to say the truth, he had often occasion to
capone the “4 truth. Jenny offered to make protestations of ‘het
innocence ; but the tempest was too strong for her to be heard. She
then betook herself to the business of. packing, for which a small
quantity of brown paper sufficed ; and, having received her small
pittance of wages, she returned home. The schoolmaster and his
consort passed their time unpleasantly enough that evening; but
something or other happened before the next morning, which a little
abated the fury of Mrs. Partridge; and she at length admitted her
husband to make his excuses: to which she gave the readier belief,
as he had, instead of desiring her to recall Jenny, professed a
satisfaction in her. being dismissed, saying, she was grown of little
use as a servant, spending all her time in reading, and was become,
moreover, very pert and obstinate ; for, indeed, she and her master
had lately had frequent disputes in literature; in which, as hath been
said, she was become greatly his superior. This, however, he would
by no means allow; and as he called her persisting in the right,
obstinacy, he began to hate her with no small inveteracy. [ 78 ]
 CHAPTER FOUR CONTAINING ONE OF THE MOST BLOODY
BATTLES, OR RATHER DUELS, THAT WERE EVER RECORDED IN
DOMESTIC HISTORY. OR the reasons mentioned in the preceding
chapter, and from some other matrimonial concessions, well known
to most husbands, and which, like the secrets of freemasonry,
should be divulged to none who are not members of that honourable
fraternity, Mrs. Partridge was pretty well satisfied that she had
condemned her husband without cause, and endeavoured by acts of
kindness to make him amends for her false suspicion. Her passions
were indeed equally violent, whichever way they inclined ; for as she
could be extremely angry, so could she be altogether as fond. But
though these passions ordinarily succeed each other, and scarce
twenty-four hours ever passed in which the pedagogue was not, in
some degree, the object of both; yet, on extraordinary occasions,
when the passion of anger had raged very high, the remission was
usually longer: and so was the case at present ; for she continued
longer in a state of affability, after this fit of jealousy was ended,
than her husband had ever known before: and, had it not been for
some little exercises, which all the followers [79 |
 TOM JONES, A FOUNDLING of Xantippe are obliged to per
form daily, Mr. Partridge would have enj joyed a perfect barter: of
several months. - Perfect calms at sea are always suspected by the
— experienced mariner to be the forerunners of a storm : and I
know some persons, who, without being generally the devotees of
superstition, are apt to apprehend that great and unusual peace or
tranquillity will be attended with its opposite. For which reason the
antients used, on such occasions, to sacrifice to the goddess
Nemesis, a deity who was thought by them to look with an invidious
eye on human felicity, and to have a peculiar delight in overturning
it. As we are very far from believing in any such heathen goddess, or
from encouraging any superstition, so we wish Mr. John Fr , or some
other such philosopher, would bestir himself a little, in order to find
out the real cause of this sudden transition from good to bad
fortune, which hath been so often remarked, and of which we shall
proceed to give an instance; for it is our province to relate facts, and
we shall leave causes to persons of much higher genius. Mankind
have always taken great delight in knowing and descanting on the
actions of others. Hence there have been, in all ages and nations,
certain places set apart for public rendezvous, where the curious
might meet and satisfy their mutual curiosity. Among these, the
barbers’ shops have justly borne the pre-eminence. Among the
Greeks, barbers’ news was a proverbial expression ; and Horace, in
one of [ 80 ]
 GOSSIPING his epistles, makes honourable mention of the
Roman barbers in the same light. Those of England are known to be
no wise inferior to their Greek or Roman predecessors. You there see
foreign affairs discussed in a manner little inferior to that with which
they are handled in the coffeehouses; and domestic occurrences are
much more largely and freely treated in the former than in the latter.
But this serves only for the men. Now, whereas the females of this
country, especially those of the lower order, do associate themselves
much more than those of other nations, our polity would — be
highly deficient, if they had not some place set apart likewise for the
indulgence of their curiosity, seeing they are in this no way inferior
to the other half of the species. In enjoying, therefore, such place of
rendezvous, the British fair ought to esteem themselves more happy
than any of their foreign sisters ; as I do not remember either to
have read in history, or to have seen in my travels, anything of the
like kind. This place then is no other than the chandler’s shop, the
known seat of all the news; or, as it is vulgarly called, gossiping, in
every parish in England. Mrs. Partridge being one day at this
assembly of females, was asked by one of her neighbours, if she had
heard no news lately of Jenny Jones? To which: she answered in the
negative. Upon this the other replied, with a smile, That the parish
was very much obliged to her for having turned Jenny away as she
did. Mrs. Partridge, whose jealous, as the reader well VOL. 1. —6 [|
81 |
 d % od pF ae p * TOM JONES, A FOUNDLING knows, was
long since cured, and who had no other quarrel to her maid,
answered boldly, She did not know any obligation the parish had to
her on that account; for she believed Jenny had scarce left her — _
equal behind her. ; “e “No, truly,” said the gossip, “I hope not,
though I fancy we have sluts enow too. Then you have not heard, it
seems, that she hath been brought to bed of two bastards? but as
they are not born here, my husband and the other overseer says we
shall not be obliged to keep them.” **'T'wo bastards !” answered
Mrs. Partridge hastily : “you surprize me! I don’t know whether we
must keep them ; but I am sure they must have been begotten
here, for the wench hath not been nine months ~ gone away.”
Nothing can be so quick and sudden as the operations of the mind,
especially when hope, or fear, or jealousy, to which the two others
are but journeymen, set it to work. It occurred instantly to her, that
Jenny had scarce ever been out of her own house while she lived
with her. The leaning over the chair, the sudden starting up, the
Latin, the smile, and many other things, rushed upon her all at once.
The satisfaction her husband expressed in the departure of Jenny,
appeared now to be only dissembled ; again, in the same instant, to
be real ; but yet to confirm her jealousy, proceeding from satiety,
and a hundred other bad causes. In a word, she was convinced of
her husband’s guilt, and immediately left the assembly in confusion.
As fair Grimalkin, who, though the youngest of [ 82 ]
 A BLOODY DUEL the feline family, degenerates not in
ferocity from the elder branches of her house, and though inferior in
strength, is equal in fierceness to the noble tiger himself, when a
little mouse, whom it hath long tormented in sport, escapes from her
clutches for a while, frets, scolds, growls, swears ; but if the trunk,
or box, behind which the mouse lay hid be again removed, she flies
like lightning on her prey, and, with envenomed wrath, bites,
scratches, mumbles, and tears the little animal. Not with less fury
did Mrs. Partridge fly on the poor pedagogue. Her tongue, teeth, and
hands, fell all upon him at once. His wig was in an instant torn from
his head, his shirt from his back, and from his face descended five
streams of blood, denoting the number of claws with which nature
had unhappily armed the enemy. Mr. Partridge acted for some time
on the defensive only ; indeed he attempted only to guard his face
with his hands ; but as he found that his antagonist abated nothing
of her rage, he thought he might, at least, endeavour to disarm her,
or rather to confine her arms; in doing which her cap fell off in the
struggle, and her hair being too short to reach her shoulders,
erected itself on her head ; her stays likewise, which were laced
through one single hole at the bottom, burst open ; and her breasts,
which were much more redundant than her hair, hung down below
her middle ; her face was likewise marked with the blood of her
husband : her teeth gnashed with rage ; and fire, such as sparkles
from a smith’s forge, darted from her eyes. So that, altogether, this
Amazonian hero[ 83 |
 TOM JONES, A FOUNDLING | ine might have been an
object of terror to a much ~ bolder man than Mr. Partridge. He had,
at length, the good fortune, by gettting possession of her arms, to
render those weapons which she wore at the ends of her fingers
useless ; which she no sooner perceived, than the softness of — her
sex prevailed over her rage, and she presently — dissolved in tears,
which soon after concluded in a fit. That small share of sense which
Mr. Partridge had hitherto preserved through this scene of fury, of
the cause of which he was Mitherts ignorant, now utterly abandoned
him. He ran instantly into the street, hallowing out that his wife was
in the agonies of _ death, and beseeching the neighbours to fly with
the utmost haste to her assistance. Several good women obeyed his
summons, who entering his house, and applying the usual remedies
on such occasions, Mrs. Partridge was at length, to the great joy of
her husband, brought to herself. As soon as she had a little
recollected her spirits, and somewhat composed herself with a
cordial, she began to inform the company of the manifold injuries
she had received from her husband; who, she said, was not
contented to injure her in her bed ; but, upon her upbraiding him
with it, had treated her in the cruelest manner imaginable ; had tore
her cap and hair from her head, and her stays from her body, giving
her, at the same time, several blows, the marks of which she should
carry to the grave. The poor man, who bore on his face many more
visible marks of the indignation of his wife, stood in 8A |
 AN UNJUST ACCUSATION silent astonishment at this
accusation; which the reader will, I believe, bear witness for him,
had greatly exceeded the truth; for indeed he had not struck her
once; and this silence being interpreted to be a confession of the
charge by the whole court, they all began at once, wna voce, to
rebuke and revile him, repeating often, that none but a coward ever
struck a woman. Mr. Partridge bore all this patiently ; but when his
wife appealed to the blood on her face, as an evidence of his
barbarity, he could not help laying claim to his own blood, for so it
really was ; as he thought it very unnatural, that this should rise up
(as we are taught that of a murdered person often doth) in
vengeance against him. To this the women made no other answer,
than that it was a pity it had not come from his heart, instead of his
face ; all declaring, that, if their husbands should lift their hands
against them, they would have their hearts’ blood out of their
bodies. After much admonition for what was past, and much good
advice to Mr. Partridge for his future behaviour, the company at
length departed, and left the husband and wife to a personal
conference together, in which Mr. Partridge soon learned the cause
of all his sufferings. [ 85 |
 CHAPTER FIVE CONTAINING MUCH MATTER TO EXERCISE
THE JUDGMENT AND REFLECTION OF THE READER, BELIEVE it is a
true observation, that few. secrets are divulged to one person only ;
but certainly, it would be next to a miracle that a fact of this kind
should be known to a whole parish, and not transpire any farther. |
And, indeed, a very few days had past, before the ~ country, to use
a common phrase, rung of the schoolmaster of Little Baddington ;
who was said to have beaten his wife in the most cruel manner. Nay,
in some places it was reported he had murdered her ; in others, that
he had broke her arms ; in others, her legs: in short, there was
scarce an injury which can — be done to a human creature, but
what Mrs. Partridge was somewhere or other affirmed to have
received from her husband. The cause of this quarrel was likewise
variously reported ; for as some people said that Mrs. Partridge had
caught her husband in bed with his maid, so many other reasons, of
a very different kind, went abroad. Nay, some transferred the guilt to
the wife, and the jealousy to the husband. Mrs. Wilkins had long ago
heard of this quarrel ; but, asa different cause from the true one had
reached her ears, she thought proper to conceal it ; and the [ 86 ]
 MRS. WILKINS’S DISCLOSURE rather, perhaps, as the
blame was universally laid on Mr. Partridge; and his wife, when she
was servant to Mr. Allworthy, had in something offended Mrs.
Wilkins, who was not of a very forgiving temper. But Mrs. Wilkins,
whose eyes could see objects at a distance, and who could very well
look forward a few years into futurity, had perceived a strong
likelihood of Captain Blifil’s being hereafter her master ; and as she
plainly discerned that the captain bore no great good-will to the little
foundling, she fancied it would be rendering him an agreeable
service, if she could make any discoveries that might lessen the
affection which Mr. Allworthy seemed to have contracted for this
child, and which gave visible uneasiness to the captain, who could
not entirely conceal it even before Allworthy himself; though his
wife, who acted her part much better in public, frequently
recommended to him her own example, of conniving at the folly of
her brother, which, she said, she at least as well perceived, and as
much resented, as any other possibly could. Mrs. Wilkins having
therefore, by accident, gotten a true scent of the above story,
though long after it had happened, failed not to satisfy herself
thoroughly of all the particulars; and then acquainted the captain,
that she had at last discovered the true father of the little bastard,
which she was sorry, she said, to see her master lose his reputation
in the country, by taking so much notice of. The captain chid her for
the conclusion of her speech, as an improper assurance in judging of
her master’s actions: for if his honour, or his understand[ 87 |
 TOM JONES, A FOUNDLING — ing, would have suffered the
captain to make an alliance with Mrs. Wilkins, his pride would by no
means have admitted it. And to say the truth, there — is no conduct
less politic, than to enter into anyconfederacy with. your friend’s
servants against their master: for by these means you afterwards
become the slave of these very servants ; by whom you are —
constantly liable to be betrayed. And this consideration, perhaps it
was, which prevented Captain Blifil from being more explicit with
Mrs. Wilkins, or from encouraging the abuse which she had
bestowed on. Allworthy. But though he declared no satisfaction to
Mrs. Wilkins at this discovery, he enjoyed not a little from it in his
own mind, and resolved to make the ~ best use of it he was able.
He kept this matter a long time concealed within his own breast, in
hopes that Mr. Allworthy might hear it from some other person; but
Mrs. Wilkins, whether she resented the captain’s behaviour, or
whether his cunning was beyond her, and she feared the discovery
might displease him, never afterwards opened her lips about the
matter. I have thought it somewhat strange, upon reflection, that
the housekeeper never acquainted Mrs. Blifil with this news, as
women are more inclined to communicate all pieces of intelligence to
their own sex, than to ours. The only way, as it appears to me, of
solving this difficulty, is, by imputing it to that distance which was
now grown between the lady and the housekeeper: whether this
arosé from a jealousy in Mrs. Blifil, that Wilkins showed too [ 88 ]
 A DISCOURSE ON CHARITY great a respect to the
foundling; for while she was endeavouring to ruin the little infant, in
order to ingratiate herself with the captain, she was every day more
and more commending it before Allworthy, as his fondness for it
every day increased. This, notwithstanding all the care she took at
other times to express the direct contrary to Mrs. Blifil, perhaps
offended that delicate lady, who certainly now hated Mrs. Wilkins;
and though she did not, or possibly could not, absolutely remove her
from her place, she found, however, the means of making her life
very uneasy. This Mrs. Wilkins, at length, so resented, that she very
openly showed all manner of respect and fondness to little Tommy,
in opposition to Mrs. Blifil. The captain, therefore, finding the story in
danger of perishing, at last took an opportunity to reveal it himself.
He was one day engaged with Mr. Allworthy in a discourse on
charity: in which the captain, with great learning, proved to Mr.
Allworthy, that the word charity in Scripture nowhere means
beneficence or generosity. “'The Christian religion,” he said, ‘* was
instituted for much nobler purposes, than to enforce a lesson which
many heathen philosophers had taught us long before, and which,
though it might perhaps be called a moral virtue, savoured but little
of that sublime, Christian-like disposition, that vast elevation of
thought, in purity approaching to angelic perfection, to be attained,
expressed, and felt only by grace. 'Those,” he said, “came nearer to
the Scripsf'69 ] .
 ‘TOM JONES, A FOUNDLING ture meaning, who understood
by it candour, or the forming of a benevolent opinion of our
brethren, and passing a favourable judgment on their actions ; a
virtue much higher, and more extensive in its nature, than a pitiful
distribution of alms, which, though we would never so much
prejudice, or even ruin our families, could never reach many;
whereas — charity, in the other and truer sense, might be extended
to all mankind.” He said, “Considering who the disciples were, it
would be absurd to conceive the doctrine of generosity, or giving
alms, to have been preached to them. And, as we could not well
imagine this doctrine should be preached by its Divine Author to
men who could not practise it, much less should we think it
understood so by those who can practise it, and do not. “But
though,” continued he, “there is, I am afraid, little merit in these
benefactions, there would, I must confess, be much pleasure in
them to a good mind, if it was not abated by one consideration. I
mean, that we are liable to be imposed upon, and to confer our
choicest favours often on the undeserving, as you must own was
your case in your bounty to that worthless fellow Partridge: for two
or three such examples must greatly lessen the inward satisfaction
which a good man would otherwise find in generosity ; nay, may
even make him timorous in bestowing, lest he should be guilty of
supporting vice, and encouraging the wicked ; a crime of a very
black dye, and for which it will by no means be a sufficient excuse,
that we have not actually intended such an encourage[ 90 ] ee SS
eee
 A DISCOURSE ON CHARITY ment; unless we have used the
utmost caution in chusing the objects of our beneficence. A
consideration which, I make no doubt, hath greatly checked the
liberality of many a worthy and pious man.” Mr. Allworthy answered,
“ He could not dispute with the captain in the Greek language, and
therefore could say nothing as to the true sense of the word which is
translated charity; but that he had always thought it was interpreted
to consist in action, and that giving alms constituted at least one
branch of that virtue. ‘ As to the meritorious part,” he said, “ he
readily agreed with the captain; for where could be the merit of
barely discharging a duty? which,” he said, “Jet the word charity
have what construction it would, it sufficiently appeared to be from
the whole tenor of the New Testament. And as he thought it an
indispensable duty, enjoined both by the Christian law, and by the
law of nature itself; so was it withal so pleasant, that if any duty
could be said to be its own reward, or to pay us while we are
discharging it, it was this. “To confess the truth,” said he, “there is
one degree of generosity (of charity I would have called it), which
seems to have some show of merit, and that is, where, from a
principle of benevolence and Christian love, we bestow on another
what we really want ourselves; where, in order to lessen the
distresses, of another, we condescend to share some part of them,
by giving what even our own necessities cannot well spare. ‘This is, I
think, meritorious ; but to relieve our brethren only with our
superflui[ 91 ]
 el ae os ’ gh * TOM JONES, A FOUNDLING ties; to be
charitable (I must use the word ) rather at the expense of our
coffers than ourselves ; to save several families from misery rather
than hang up an extraordinary picture in our houses or gratify any
other idle ridiculous vanity — this seems to be only being human
creatures. Nay, I will venture to go farther, it is being in some degree
epicures: for what. could the greatest epicure wish rather than to
eat with many mouths instead of one? which I think may be
predicated of any one who knows that the bread of many is owing to
his own largesses, “As to the apprehension of bestowing bounty »
on such as may hereafter prove unworthy objects, because many
have proved such; surely it can never _ deter a good man from
generosity. I do not think a few or many examples of ingratitude can
justify a man’s hardening his heart against the distresses of his
fellow-creature ; nor do I believe it can ever have such effect on a
truly benevolent mind. Nothing less than a persuasion of universal
depravity can lock up the charity of a good man; and this persuasion
must lead him, I think, either into atheism, or enthusiasm ; but
surely it is unfair to argue such universal depravity from a few
vicious individuals ; nor was this, I believe, ever done by a man,
who, upon searching his own mind, found one certain exception to
the general rule.” He then concluded by asking, “who that Partridge
was, whom he had called a worthless fellow?” *T mean,” said the
captain, “ Partridge the barber, the schoolmaster, what do you call
him? Partridge, the father of the little child which you found in your
bed.” [92] ’ .
 SEARCH FOR EVIDENCE Mr. Allworthy exprest great
surprize at this account, and the captain as great at his ignorance of
it; for he said he had known it above a month: and at length
recollected with much difficulty that he was told it by Mrs. Wilkins.
Upon this, Wilkins was immediately summoned ; who having
confirmed what the captain had said, was by Mr. Allworthy, by and
with the captain’s advice, dispatched to Little Baddington, to inform
herself of the truth of the fact: for the captain exprest great dislike
at all hasty proceedings in criminal matters, and said he would by no
means have Mr. Allworthy take any resolution either to the prejudice
of the child or its father, before he was satisfied that the latter was
guilty; for though he had privately satisfied himself of this from one
of Partridge’s neighbours, yet he was too generous to give any such
evidence to Mr. Allworthy. [ 93 ]
 CHAPTER SIX THE TRIAL OF PARTRIDGE, THE
SCHOOLMASTER, FOR INCONTINENCY ; THE EVIDENCE OF HIS
WIFE; A SHORT REFLECTION ON THE WISDOM OF OUR LAW; WITH
OTHER GRAVE MATTERS, WHICH THOSE WILL LIKE BEST WHO
UNDERSTAND THEM MOST. T may be wondered that a story so well
known, and which had furnished so much matter of conversation,
should never have been mentioned to Mr. Allworthy himself, who
was perhaps the only person in that country who had never heard of
it. To account in some measure for this to the reader, I think proper
to inform him, that there was no one in the kingdom less interested
in opposing that doctrine concerning the meaning of the word
charity, which hath been seen in the preceding chapter, than our
good man. Indeed, he was equally intitled to this virtue in either
sense; for as no man was ever more sensible of the wants, or more
ready to relieve the distresses of others, so none could be more
tender of their characters, or slower to believe anything to their
disadvantage. Scandal, therefore, never found any access to his
table ; for as it hath been long since observed that you may know a
man by his companions, so I will [ 94 ]
 MR. PARTRIDGE’S TRIAL venture to say, that, by attending
to the conversation at a great man’s table, you may satisfy yourself
of his religion, his politics, his taste, and indeed of his entire
disposition : for though a few odd fellows will utter their own
sentiments in all places, yet much the greater part of mankind have
enough of the courtier to accommodate their conversation to the
taste and inclination of their superiors. But to return to Mrs. Wilkins,
who, having executed her commission with great dispatch, though at
fifteen miles distance, brought back such a confirmation of the
schoolmaster’s guilt, that Mr. Allworthy determined to send for the
criminal, and examine him viva voce. Mr. Partridge, therefore, was
summoned to attend, in order to his defence (if he could make any)
against this accusation. At the time appointed, before Mr. Allworthy
himself, at Paradise-hall, came as well the said Partridge, with Anne,
his wife, as Mrs. Wilkins his accuser. And now Mr. Allworthy being
seated in the chair of justice, Mr. Partridge was brought before him.
Having heard his accusation from the mouth of Mrs. Wilkins, he
pleaded not guilty, making many vehement protestations of his
innocence. Mrs. Partridge was then examined, who, after a modest
apology for being obliged to speak the truth against her husband,
related all the circumstances with which the reader hath already
been acquainted ; and at last concluded with her husband’s
confession of his guilt. Whether she had forgiven him or no, I will
not [ 95 ]
 TOM JONES, A. FOUNDLING | venture to determine; but it
is certain she was an unwilling witness in this cause; and it is
probable from certain other reasons, would never have been brought
to depose as she did, had not Mrs. Wilkins, with great art, fished all
out of her at her own house, and had she not indeed made
promises, in Mr. Allworthy’s name, that the punishment of her
husband should not be such as might anywise affect his family.
Partridge still persisted in asserting his innocence, though he
admitted he had made the above-mentioned confession ; which he
however endeavoured to account for, by protesting that he was
forced into it by the continued importunity she used: who vowed,
that, as she was sure of his guilt, she would never leave tormenting
him till he had owned it; and faithfully _ promised, that, in such
case, she would never mention it tohimmore. Hence, hesaid, he had
been induced falsely to confess himself guilty, though he was
innocent; and that he believed he should have confest a murder
from the same motive. Mrs, Partridge could not bear this imputation
with patience ; and having no other remedy in the present place but
tears, she called forth a plentiful assistance from them, and then
addressing herself to Mr, Allworthy, she said (or rather cried), “ May
it please your worship, there never was any poor woman so injured
as I am by that base man ; for this is not the only instance of his
falsehood to me. No, may it please your worship, he hath injured my
bed many’s the good time and often. I could have put up with his
drunkenness and neglect of his business, if he had not broke one of
the sacred commandments, Be[ 96 |
 MRS. PARTRIDGE’S TESTIMONY sides, if it had been out of
doors I had not mattered it so much ; but with my own servant, in
my own house, under my own roof, to defile my own chaste bed,
which to be sure he hath, with his beastly stinking whores. Yes, you
villain, you have defiled my own bed, you have ; and then you have
charged me with bullocking you into owning the truth. It is very
likely, an’t please your worship, that I should bullock him? I have
marks enow about my body to show of his cruelty to me. If you had
been a man, you villain, you would have scorned to injure a woman
in that manner. But you an’t half a man, you know it. Nor have you
been half a husband to me. You need run after whores, you need,
when I’m sure And since he provokes me, I am ready, an ’t please
your worship, to take my bodily oath that I found them a-bed
together. What, you have forgot, I suppose, when you beat me into
a fit, and made the blood run down my forehead, because I only
civilly taxed you with adultery ! but I can prove it by all my
neighbours. You have almost broke my heart, you have, you have.”
Here Mr. Allworthy interrupted, and begged her to be pacified,
promising her that she should have justice ; then turning to
Partridge, who stood aghast, one half of his wits being hurried away
by surprize and the other half by fear, he said he was sorry to see
there was so wicked a man in the world. He assured him that his
prevaricating and lying backward and forward was a great
aggravation of his guilt ; for which the only atonement he could
make was by confession and repentance. He exhorted him, VOL, I.
—7 . OY |
 .* a 77 TOM JONES, A FOUNDLING therefore, to begin by
immediately | confessing the | fact, and not to persist in denying
what was so plainly proved against him even by his own wife. Here,
reader, I beg your patience a moment, while I make a just
compliment to the great wisdom and sagacity of our law, which
refuses to admit the evi- | dence of a wife for or against her
husband. This, says a certain learned author, who, I believe, was
never quoted before in any but a law-book, would be the means of
creating an eternal dissension between them. It would, indeed, be
the means of much perjury, and of much whipping, fining,
imprisoning, transporting, and hanging. Partridge stood a while
silent, till, being bid to _ speak, he said he had already spoken the
truth, and appealed to Heaven for his innocence, and lastly to the
girl herself, whom he desired his worship immediately to send for;
for he was ignorant, or at least pretended to be so, that she had left
that part of the country. Mr. Allworthy, whose natural love of justice,
joined to his coolness of temper, made him always a most patient
magistrate in hearing all the witnesses which an accused person
could produce in his defence, agreed to defer his final determination
of this matter till the arrival of Jenny, for whom he immediately
dispatched a messenger; and then having recommended peace
between Partridge and his wife (though he addressed himself chiefly
to the wrong person), he appointed them to attend again the third
day; for he had sent Jenny a whole day’s journey from his own
house. [ 98 |
 THE DECISION At the appointed time the parties all
assembled, when the messenger returning brought word, that Jenny
was not to be found ; for that she had left her habitation a few days
before, in company with a recruiting officer. Mr. Allworthy then
declared that the evidence of such a slut as she appeared to be
would have deserved no credit; but he said he could not help
thinking that, had she been present, and would have declared the
truth, she must have confirmed what so many circumstances,
together with his own confession, and the declaration of his wife
that she had caught her husband in the fact, did sufficiently prove.
He therefore once more exhorted Partridge to confess ; but he still
avowing his innocence, Mr. Allworthy declared himself satisfied of his
guilt, and that he was too bad a man to receive any encouragement
from him. He therefore deprived him of his annuity, and
recommended repentance to him on account of another world, and
industry to maintain himself and his wife in this. There were not,
perhaps, many more unhappy persons than poor Partridge. He had
lost the best part of his income by the evidence of his wife, and yet
was daily upbraided by her for having, among other things, been the
occasion of depriving her cf that benefit; but such was his fortune,
and he was obliged to submit to it. Though I called him poor
Partridge in the last paragraph, I would have the reader rather
impute that epithet to the compassion in my temper than conceive it
to be any declaration of his innocence. [99 |
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