The article was received on July 16, 2020, and accepted for publishing on September 13, 2020. VARIA
The conduct lists of military physicians Ion Arsenie and Bucur (Hilarius) Mitrea during the Mexican campaign (1864-1866)
Sandra Hirsch1, Vlad Popovici1
Abstract: The study aims at complementing the historical knowledge regarding the participation of Dr. Bucur (Hilarius) Mitrea and Dr. Ioan Arsenie within the Austrian volunteer corps in Mexico, using as sources the copies of their conduct lists preserved in the military archives of Vienna. The new data concern the battles they took part in, together with characterizations of their behavior and personality. The latter consolidate the image built by former biographers in the case of Dr. Mitrea and help to sketch a less known portrait in the case of Dr. Arsenie.
Keywords: military physicians, 19th century, Transylvania, Mexico, Österreichisches Freiwilligenkorps in Mexiko
INTRODUCTION Râului (Sibiu County). Son of a priest, he studied medicine in Ion Arsenie (Arseniu) and Bucur (Hilarius, Ilarie) Mitrea are Vienna between 1857 and 1862 [1]. He joined ÖFM in the among the most frequently mentioned Romanian military autumn of 1864, with the rank of first lieutenant senior physicians in the Austrian Monarchy, even though their physician (Oberlieutenant Oberarzt) in the first Austrian service for the House of Habsburg was of short duration and volunteer group that left for Mexico to support emperor took place entirely within the Austrian volunteer corps in Maximilian. Shortly after his return in Europe (1866), he Mexico (Das Österreichische Freiwilligenkorps in Mexiko, henceforth ÖFM). Their later careers evolved differently, up to his death in 1883. Little is known about his professional and so did the activity, both as a civilian and as a military physician. However, the period they have spent in Mexico remains a Throughout the campaign in Mexico, he sent financial biographical landmark to be taken into account. The present donations to the Transylvanian Association for Romanian study will complement previously known data on the Literature and the Culture of the Romanian People (ASTRA), military activity of the two physicians as well as travel stories, published in the press of those times. He was also involved in other Romanian literary and of conduct, discovered at the War Archive in Vienna (Österreichisches Staatsarchiv, Kriegsarchiv), unknown to Vienna, and remained a member and financial supporter of specialists to this day. ASTRA up until the end of his life. There are no biographical studies dedicated to him exclusively, only fragments spread Dr. Ion Arsenie (Arseniu) (1838 1883) was born in Gura
Corresponding author: Vlad Popovici [email protected] 1 -Bolyai University Cluj-Napoca, Romania
71 out in different papers, most of the times associated with Dr. had a tabular structure, and contained a rigorous description Mitrea [2]. of the career, knowledge, behavior, and personality of the officer. An excerpt of the conduct lists drafted at Puebla, The life and activity of Dr. Bucur (Hilarius, Ilarie) Mitrea (1842 1904) were the subjects of numerous works of chief-physician, on November 30th, 1866 just one week research, covering a great part of his biography. The future before the disbandment of the volunteer corps was kept physician and explorer was born in 1842 and was the only for both Dr. Arsenie and Dr. Mitrea [AT-OeStA/KA AdT Mexiko, A42 & A43]1 [8]. in Cluj and later in Würzburg (where he defended his doctoral thesis), Berlin, and Vienna [3]. After failing in his Both conduct lists contain the following categories of attempt to occupy the position of a physician in his information: commune of birth (1864), he was initially employed a) biographical (name, place and year of birth, confession, physician on board of an immigrant ship to Australia (1865 civil status, and whether they have children or not); 1866) and afterward enrolled in ÖFM (March 1866), where he was active until the unit was disbanded by emperor b) concerning the military career (current rank and previous Maximilian (December 6th, 1866). He returned to Europe in ranks, the date when the first rank was obtained and the April 1867, attended further specialty studies at the period covered by every rank starting with the date of University of Berlin, and then worked again as a ship enrollment, medals, military actions they were involved in, physician on board at least two transatlantic voyages [4]. In and whether the officer is suitable for advancement); March 1869, his enrolment application in the Dutch colonial c) regarding their studies, linguistic knowledge, and the level of their professional knowledge (medical, military, and van gezondheid). Dr. Mitrea worked as an army doctor in the other fields, if such was the case); Dutch army in Indonesia from 1869 until his retirement in 1894. His last advancement in rank took place in May 1890, d) characterizations of their general state of health, from 1st class Officer of Health to 2nd class Chief-Officer of personality, behavior towards their superiors, comrades, or Health [5]. He was married to a local woman and had two against the enemy, as well as the opinion of the author of children, both educated from small ages in Europe. He died the characterization on the respective army doctor. in 1904, in Vienna, probably taking his own life, on the Using the information provided by these documents, we will background of unsettled family issues [3]. He donated to the attempt to complete the currently known data regarding National Museum in Bucharest the most of his rich natural their activity and career as military physicians, through the sciences collection, that he had gathered throughout his method of historical reconstruction, comparing the activity in Indonesia. The National Museum of Natural bibliographical mentions with those in the archive documents. collection [6-7].
General knowledge on the life and activity of the two RESULTS physicians differs fundamentally: Dr. Arsenie remains to this Biographical data day almost anonymous, whereas Dr. Mitrea naturally benefitted from consistent historiographic attention. Yet, Concerning biographical information, the conduct lists bring regarding their military activity in Mexico little is known in nothing new. In the case of Dr. Arsenie, there is no mention both cases, and this will be the focus of our research in what of the year or place of birth, confession, or civil status. In the follows. case of Dr. Mitrea, it mentions the year and place of birth (1842, Reschinar in Siebenbürgen), the confession METHODS (Orthodox, griechisch nicht uniert), and the civil status (not married, ledig) [AT-OeStA/KA AdT Mexiko A43]. The lack of Some of the most important biographical sources for the biographical information regarding Dr. Arsenie lead us to officers of the Habsburg army (and other European armies) believe that he was not present in Puebla at the moment of the 19th century are the conduct lists. This type of when the conduct lists were drafted, and the officer in document was periodically drafted within each military unit, charge did not have at his disposal any additional documents
1 Austrian State Archives. War Archive, Archives of Army Troops Austrian- Belgian volunteer corps in Mexico Administrative documents Conduct lists and descriptions of individuals, Akten 42 (Arsenie) and Akten 43 (Mitrea).
72 concerning him. be identified, through visual comparison with the similar one
Military Career historiographical contribution to this particular topic [12]. It The data regarding the military career of the two army was the Commemorative medal of the Mexico expedition doctors are much more rigorously recorded and allows for (Médaille commémorative de l'expédition du Mexique), an exact reconstruction of the duration of their service, their issued by the French emperor Napoleon III, of which the advancements in rank, and the military actions they took black eagle on the ribbon is visible in the image. part in. The data is also very valuable since up to this date, Regarding the battles that Dr. Arsenie took part in, these are no details were known regarding the military activities that listed in a dedicated column: at Tesuitlan [Teziutlán] on the two army doctors were involved in. February 6th and 10th 1865, at Zacapoaxtla on March 1st On November 30th, 1866, Dr. Arsenie had completed exactly and 2nd 1865, at Xilotepec [Jilotepec] and Xochiapulco on two years and one month of service in ÖFM, meaning that April 13th, at Tlapacoyan on July 9th, 11th, 13th and 19th he was on the payroll starting with November 1st, 1864, 1865, at Agua Dulce on January 11th, 1866, at Tres Cruces on more than one month before the first ship of Austrian July 13th and Pahuathlan on July 14th, 1866 [AT-OeStA/KA expeditionary troops left the port of Trieste (December 6th, AdT Mexiko A42]. The battles in 1865 took place in a very 1864) [4]. Although we have no information about the ship small area, about 140 km North-West of Puebla, most he traveled on, nor on the exact moment of his arrival in probably where his garrison was stationed. The battles from Mexico, we know that he was there on February 6th, 1865, 1866 took place about 100 km North and North-West of the when he is mentioned as a participant in the skirmishes in previous ones (Sierra del Norte). For his bravery here, at Tesuitlan. He was enrolled with the rank of first lieutenant Agua Dulce, he was awarded the Order of Guadalupe. senior physician (Oberlieutenant-Oberarzt), which he kept Dr. Mitrea enrolled in Vienna, on March 26th, 1866. Based for one year, four months and twenty-nine days, until March 30th, 1866, when he was promoted to the rank of captain Mexico, his main biographer, E. Pop, also mentions the senior physician, 2nd class (Hauptmann Oberarzt 2. Classe) possibility of him having received a three-month bonus to his [AT-OeStA/KA AdT Mexiko A42]. He held this rank at the date pay (January 1st March 31st, 1866) [3]. However, the when the conduct list was drafted, and probably one week conduct list only registers a service of eight months and five days on November 30th (starting with April 1st, 1866, 6th, 1866). probably the first day of his payroll) with the rank of first The same document mentions that he was decorated with lieutenant senior physician (Oberlieutenant-Oberarzt). No the Mexican Imperial Order of Guadalupe, in the rank of medals are being recorded. The Commemorative Medal of knight (limited to some 500 decorated people), a fact already the Expedition in Mexico, issued by emperor Napoleon III, known from the photos and press of the time [2]. The order was awarded at a later date. Dr. Mitrea took part in the was created in 1822, during the first Mexican empire, battle at Cozautlan [Cosautlán de Carvajal] on September annulled and reinstated twice since then, depending on the 23rd, 1866, the one in Banderilla on October 24th, 1866, and political changes in the country. Emperor Maximilian wished the defense of the city of Zalapa [Xalapa] between to consolidate the basis of his reign through symbolic November 4th and November 11th, 1866 [AT-OeStA/KA AdT gestures as well, making use of Catholic spirituality, i.e. the Mexiko A43]. recognition of the importance of the Virgin of Guadalupe cult Specialty training, abilities, and competencies and reinstating the Order of Honor that carried her name, in 1865. During its time, the order was split into Grandes Data regarding their studies, linguistic knowledge, and the Cruces (30), Grandes Oficiales (100), Comendadores (200), level of professional knowledge (medical, military, or in and Caballeros (500) [9-11]. From the conduct list, we also other fields) are brief, but it does bring up new data. learn the circumstances that led to him being decorated: for In both cases, it is mentioned that they had completed the the deeds of merit performed in Sierra del Norte, and secondary and university studies required by their current especially in Agua Dulce (für seine verdienstvollen position. Based on their biographical and educational Leistungen in der Sierra del Norte namentlich bei Agua background, we know they were both speakers of Romanian Dulce) [AT-OeStA/KA AdT Mexiko A42]. There is, however, a and German, and we also know Dr. Mitrea was a speaker of photograph taken in Vienna in 1869, showing him in the Hungarian (given the fact that he had studied medicine in Cluj), but the conduct lists add new information. In the case Despite the poor quality of the image, the second medal can of Dr. Arsenie, it mentions that he could speak and write in
73 Romanian, Hungarian, German, but also rather well in Dr. Arsenie was much more inclined than Dr. Mitrea to French, Italian, and Spanish. In the case of Dr. Mitrea, the written, indirect, social communication and interaction. languages recorded are Romanian, Hungarian, German, However, given the lack of more explicit documentation, Latin, and a bit of Spanish (etwas spanisch). In both cases, such as the ones we have used, he could not have known they probably learned Spanish during the campaign. that both of them had similar distant and reserved personas.
The military knowledge of Dr. Arsenie is characterized as CONCLUSION
The information preserved by the excerpts of the conduct military experience and the fact that they were trained as lists of the two Romanian army doctors from the Austrian civilian physicians. It is also mentioned that neither of them volunteer corps in Mexico is extremely valuable, both in had any knowledge in other fields of activity.[AT-OeStA/KA terms of new data and by nuancing pre-existing AdT Mexiko A42, A43] historiographic assumptions. The documents helped with the exact reconstruction of their short military career, and Personality traits and conduct especially with the battles, they took part in. Moreover, they The general health state mentioned in the conduct lists is helped with the reconstruction of their personality (which, in the case of Dr. Arsenie, complements the image proposed case of Dr. Mitrea. The former is characterized as being half a century ago, by E. Pop) and of how their superior officers regarded and appreciated them.
Starting from these documents, a more in-depth research plan on the activity of the two army doctors (and the other Anforderungen entspre few Romanians enrolled as volunteers in the same campaign) can be drafted. By knowing the battles they took part in, one can identify new sources, both in the Austrian and Mexican archives (the latter being up to this day comes to the effort they put in: Dr. Arsenie was considered completely unexplored about this subject). fleißig mit entsprechendem Erfolg), while Dr. Mitrea was Future plans
The current research should also be regarded as a signal, Erfolg). Both are considered able for military service, and aiming at drawing attention to both the documentary their beh potential of the conduct lists of officers in the Habsburg army, as well as to the particular subject of Romanian officer who drafted the conduct lists is that each of them was
little is yet known. Regarding the first aspect, further Truppenarzt) [AT-OeStA/KA AdT Mexiko A42, A43]. research shall be focused on the area of the former border Whereas the personality of Dr. Mitrea fits the regiments in Transylvania, which is covered by rich and historiographic portrait created based on his almost completely unexplored documentation preserved in the Viennese war archive. This includes, inter alia, a contradicts the assumptions of E. Pop. Starting from the fact multitude of data on the organization of the sanitary service that Dr. Arsenie sent a series of letters from Mexico to some in military border areas, medical staff, medical and health Romanian journals in Transylvania, and analyzing the light practices, etc. Regarding the second aspect, the search for style of his penmanship, scattered with humorous nuances new sources related to the activity of the Romanian (but probably also taking into account his financial donations volunteers in Mexico will continue, in the hope of further to Astra), E. Pop concluded that, as opposed to Dr. Mitrea, detailing their activity on the battlefield and in the field he would have been more of an extrovert, who liked making hospitals. public appearances [2]. However, the conduct lists indicate the opposite: out of the two, Dr. Mitrea was the one who had a more open personality in his direct social relations, Acknowledgments though he was just as calm and silent as his colleague. E. Pop This paper was written within the framework of the project Romanian Officers in the Habsburg Army and their Involvement in Civil Society (late 18th century managed to very well perceive the difference between the to 1918), financed by UEFISCDI Romania, PN-III-P1-1.1-ID-TE-2016-0432. two army doctors at the level of inner personality, as surely All expenses related to the identification and transcription of the documents
74 on which the research is based have been covered from the aforementioned project.
References:
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