"Neue Rheinische Zeitung" – [Elberfeld]

[Elberfeld]

["Neue Rheinische Zeitung" No. 300 of 17 May, 1849, Second Edition]

*
Cologne
, 16 May. The "Neue Rheinische Zeitung" was also present on the Elberfeld barricades.

To counter various false rumours, we owe our readers a brief report on this affair:

On 10 May, Friedrich Engels, editor of the "Neue Rheinische Zeitung," travelled from Cologne to Elberfeld, bringing with him from Solingen two cases of cartridges which had been captured by the Solingen workers during the storming of the Gräfrath armoury. Having arrived in Elberfeld, he reported to the Committee of Public Safety on the state of affairs in Cologne, placed himself at the Committee's disposal, and was immediately entrusted by the military commission with the direction of the fortification works by means of the following authorisation:

"The military commission of the Committee of Public Safety hereby instructs Mr. Friedrich Engels to inspect all the town's barricades and to complete the fortifications. All posts on the barricades are hereby requested to assist the same wherever the need arises.

Elberfeld, 11 May 1849

(signed)
Hühnerbein – Troost
"

On the following day, the artillery was likewise placed at his disposal:

"Authorisation for Citizen F. Engels to position the cannon at his discretion, as well as to requisition the necessary artisans, the costs of which shall be borne by the Committee of Public Safety.

Elberfeld, 12 May 1849

The Committee of Public Safety

On its behalf:

(signed)
Pothmann – Hühnerbein – Troost
"

On the very first day of his presence, Engels organised a company of pioneers and completed the barricades at several of the town's exits. He attended all meetings of the military commission and proposed to it Herr Mirbach as supreme commander, which proposal was adopted unanimously. In the following days he continued his activity, altered several barricades, indicated positions for new ones, and reinforced the pioneer companies. From the moment of Mirbach's arrival, he placed himself at his disposal and equally took part in the councils of war held by the supreme commander.

Throughout his entire presence, Engels enjoyed the most unconditional confidence of both the armed workers of Berg and Mark and of the volunteer corps.

On the very first day of his presence, Herr Riotte, a member of the Committee of Public Safety, asked him about his intentions. Engels declared that he had come, firstly, because he had been delegated to do so from Cologne; secondly, because he believed that he might perhaps be usefully employed in military matters; and thirdly, because, being a native of Berg himself, he had deemed it a matter of honour to be on the spot at the first armed rising of the people of Berg. He wished to concern himself solely with military affairs and to remain entirely aloof from the political character of the movement, since it was obvious that, up to now, only a black-red-and-gold movement was possible here and any action against the Imperial Constitution must therefore be avoided.

Herr Riotte was in full agreement with this declaration.

On the morning of the 14th, after Engels had accompanied the supreme commander Mirbach to the general parade on the Engelnberg, Herr Höchster, likewise from the Committee of Public Safety, came to him and declared: Although there was absolutely nothing to be said against his conduct, the Elberfeld bourgeoisie was nonetheless alarmed in the highest degree by his presence; it feared at every moment that he would proclaim the red republic, and wished universally that he might withdraw.

Engels declared that he would neither force himself upon them nor cravenly abandon his post, and demanded, without otherwise binding himself to anything, that they present this wish to him in black and white, signed by the entire Committee of Public Safety.

Herr Höchster brought the matter before the Committee of Public Safety, and on the same day the following resolution was adopted:

"Citizen Friedrich Engels of Barmen, most recently resident in Cologne, is
requested, in full recognition
of the activity he has hitherto demonstrated in this town, to leave the

environs of this municipality today, since
his presence might give rise to misunderstandings regarding the character of the movement
."

Even before the resolution had been adopted, Engels had declared: He would comply with the request of the Committee of Public Safety only if Mirbach commanded him to do so. Mirbach had come at his instigation, and he might therefore not depart until Mirbach dismissed him.

On the morning of the 15th, after much urging on the part of the Committee of Public Safety, Mirbach finally signed the resolution in question, whereupon it was also made known by placard.

The armed workers and volunteer corps were agitated in the highest degree over the resolution of the Committee of Public Safety. They demanded that Engels should remain; they would "protect him with their lives." Engels went to them himself and calmed them, referring them to Mirbach and declaring that he would not be the first to renounce obedience to the commander who had been called here at his instigation and who, moreover, possessed his unconditional confidence.

Engels then carried out a reconnaissance in the surrounding area and departed from Elberfeld, after having ceded his command to his adjutant.

But the workers of Berg and Mark, who have shown our co-editor such astonishing affection and attachment, may consider that the present movement is only the prelude to another, a thousand times more serious movement, in which it will be a question of their, the workers', own most particular interests. This new revolutionary movement will be the result of the present one, and as soon as it begins, Engels – on this the workers may rely – will be at his post, just as surely as all the other editors of the "N[eue] Rh[einische] Z[ei]t[un]g," and no power on earth will then move him to retreat from that post.