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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/2115-h.zip b/2115-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..40cc78c --- /dev/null +++ b/2115-h.zip diff --git a/2115-h/2115-h.htm b/2115-h/2115-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..60068d7 --- /dev/null +++ b/2115-h/2115-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8136 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + History of Friedrich II Of Prussia, Volume 15, by Thomas Carlyle + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. +XV. (of XXI.), by Thomas Carlyle + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. XV. (of XXI.) + Frederick The Great--Second Silesian War, Important Episode + In The General European One--15th Aug. 1744-25th Dec. 1745 + +Author: Thomas Carlyle + +Release Date: June 13, 2008 [EBook #2115] +Last Updated: November 30, 2012 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. *** + + + + +Produced by D.R. Thompson and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II OF PRUSSIA, Volume 15 + </h1> + <h2> + FREDERICK THE GREAT + </h2> + <h2> + by Thomas Carlyle + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Contents + </h2> + <div class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> <big><b>BOOK XV.—SECOND SILESIAN WAR, + IMPORTANT EPISODE IN THE GENERAL EUROPEAN ONE.—15th Aug. 1744-25th + Dec. 1745.</b></big> </a><br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0001"> <b>Chapter I.—PRELIMINARY: + HOW THE MOMENT ARRIVED.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> PRINCE KARL GETS ACROSS THE RHINE (20 JUNE-2 + JULY, 1744). </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> FRIEDRICH DECIDES TO + INTERVENE. </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> <b>Chapter II.—FRIEDRICH MARCHES UPON PRAG, + CAPTURES PRAG.</b> </a><br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0003"> <b>Chapter III.—FRIEDRICH, + DILIGENT IN HIS BOHEMIAN CONQUESTS, UNEXPECTEDLY COMES UPON PRINCE KARL, + WITH NO FRENCH ATTENDING HIM.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> FRIEDRICH, LEAVING SMALL GARRISON IN PRAG, + RUSHES SWIFTLY UP THE MOLDAU VALLEY, UPON THE TABOR-BUDWEIS COUNTRY; TO + PLEASE HIS FRENCH FRIENDS. </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> THE + FRENCH ARE LITTLE GRATEFUL FOR THE PLEASURE DONE THEM AT SUCH RUINOUS + EXPENSE. </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> <b>Chapter IV.—FRIEDRICH REDUCED TO + STRAITS; CANNOT MAINTAIN HIS MOLDAU CONQUESTS AGAINST PRICE KARL.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> FRIEDRICH TRIES TO HAVE BATTLE FROM PRINCE + KARL, IN THE MOLDAU COUNTRIES; CANNOT, OWING TO THE SKILL OF PRINCE KARL + OR OF OLD FELDMARSCHALL TRAUN;—HAS TO RETIRE BEHIND THE SAZAWA, + AND ULTIMATELY BEHIND THE ELBE, WITH MUCH LABOR IN VAIN. </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0011"> FRIEDRICH'S RETREAT; ESPECIALLY EINSIEDEL'S FROM + PRAG. </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> <b>Chapter V.—FRIEDRICH, UNDER + DIFFICULTIES, PREPARES FOR A NEW CAMPAIGN.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> OLD DESSAUER REPELS THE SILESIAN INVASION + (Winter, 1744-45). </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> THE FRENCH FULLY + INTEND TO BEHAVE BETTER NEXT SEASON TO FRIEDRICH AND THEIR GERMAN + ALLIES;—BUT ARE PREVENTED BY VARIOUS ACCIDENTS (November, + 1744-April, 1745; April-August, 1745). </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0015"> + STRANGE ACCIDENT TO MARECHAL DE BELLEISLE IN THE HARZ MOUNTAINS (20th + December, 1744). </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> THE KAISER KARL + VII. GETS SECURED FROM OPPRESSIONS, IN A TRAGIC WAY. FRIEDRICH PROPOSES + PEACE, BUT TO NO PURPOSE. </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> <b>Chapter VI.—VALORI GOES ON AN + ELECTIONEERING MISSION TO DRESDEN.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0018"> 1. FRIEDRICH'S POSITION TOWARDS SAXONY. </a><br /> + <a href="#link2H_4_0019"> 2. THERE IS A, "UNION OF WARSAW" (8th January, + 1745); AND STILL MORE SPECIALLY A "TREATY OF WARSAW" (8th January-18th + May, 1745). </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0020"> 3. VALORI'S ACCOUNT OF + HIS MISSION (in compressed form). [Valori, i. 211-219.] </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0021"> MIDDLE-RHINE ARMY IN A STAGGERING STATE; THE + BAVARIAN INTRICACY SETTLES ITSELF, THE WRONG WAY. </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> <b>Chapter VII.—FRIEDRICH IN SILESIA; + UNUSUALLY BUSY.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0023"> KING FRIEDRICH TO PODEWILS, IN BERLIN (under + various dates, March-April, 1745). </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0024"> + FRIEDRICH TO PODEWILS (as before, April-May, 1745). </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> <b>Chapter VIII.—THE MARTIAL BOY AND HIS + ENGLISH versus THE LAWS OF NATURE.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0026"> BATTLE OF FONTENOY (11th May, 1745). </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> <b>Chapter IX.—THE AUSTRIAN-SAXON ARMY + INVADES SILESIA, ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS.</b> </a><br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0010"> <b>Chapter X.—BATTLE OF HOHENFRIEDBERG.</b> + </a><br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0011"> <b>Chapter XI.—CAMP OF + CHLUM: FRIEDRICH CANNOT ACHIEVE PEACE.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0030"> CAMP OF DIESKAU: BRITANNIC MAJESTY MAKES + PEACE, FOR HIMSELF, WITH FRIEDRICH; BUT CANNOT FOR AUSTRIA OR SAXONY. + </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0031"> SCHONBRUNN, 2d AUGUST, 1745, + ROBINSON HAS AUDIENCE OF HER HUNGARIAN MAJESTY. </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0032"> GRAND-DUKE FRANZ IS ELECTED KAISER (13TH + SEPTEMBER, 1745); FRIEDRICH, THE SEASON AND FORAGE BEING DONE, MAKES FOR + SILESIA. </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> <b>Chapter XII.—BATTLE OF SOHR.</b> </a><br /><br /> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> <b>Chapter XIII.—SAXONY AND AUSTRIA MAKE A + SURPRISING LAST ATTEMPT.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0035"> FRIEDRICH GOES OUT TO MEET HIS THREE-LEGGED + MONSTER; CUTS ONE LEG OF IT IN TWO (Fight of Hennersdorf, 23d November, + 1745). </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0036"> PRINCE KARL, CUT IN TWO, + TUMBLES HOME AGAIN DOUBLE-QUICK. </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> <b>Chapter XIV.—BATTLE OF KESSELSDORF.</b> + </a><br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0015"> <b>Chapter XV.—PEACE OF + DRESDEN: FRIEDRICH DOES MARCH HOME.</b> </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + BOOK XV.—SECOND SILESIAN WAR, IMPORTANT EPISODE IN THE GENERAL + EUROPEAN ONE.—15th Aug. 1744-25th Dec. 1745. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter I.—PRELIMINARY: HOW THE MOMENT ARRIVED. + </h2> + <p> + Battle being once seen to be inevitable, it was Friedrich's plan not to + wait for it, but to give it. Thanks to Friedrich Wilhelm and himself, + there is no Army, nor ever was any, in such continual preparation. + Military people say, "Some Countries take six months, some twelve, to get + in motion for war: but in three weeks Prussia can be across the marches, + and upon the throat of its enemy." Which is an immense advantage to little + Prussia among its big neighbors. "Some Countries have a longer sword than + Prussia; but none can unsheathe it so soon:"—we hope, too, it is + moderately sharp, when wielded by a deft hand. + </p> + <p> + The French, as was intimated, are in great vigor, this Year; thoroughly + provoked; and especially since Friedrich sent his Rothenburg among them, + have been doing their very utmost. Their main effort is in the + Netherlands, at present;—and indeed, as happened, continues all + through this War to be. They by no means intend, or ever did, to neglect + Teutschland; yet it turns out, they have pretty much done with their + fighting there. And next Year, driven or led by accidents of various + kinds, they quit it altogether; and turning their whole strength upon the + Netherlands and Italy, chiefly on the Netherlands, leave Friedrich, much + to his astonishment, with the German War hanging wholly round HIS neck, + and take no charge of it farther! In which, to Friedrich's Biographers, + there is this inestimable benefit, if far the reverse to Friedrich's self: + That we shall soon have done with the French, then; with them and with so + much else; and may, in time coming, for most part, leave their huge + Sorcerer's Sabbath of a European War to dance itself out, well in the + distance, not encumbering us farther, like a circumambient Bedlam, as it + has hitherto done. Courage, reader! Let us give, in a glance or two, some + notion of the course things took, and what moment it was when Friedrich + struck in;—whom alone, or almost alone, we hope to follow + thenceforth; "Dismal Swamp" (so gracious was Heaven to us) lying now + mostly to rearward, little as we hoped it! + </p> + <p> + It was mere accident, a series of bad accidents, that led King Louis and + his Ministers into gradually forsaking Friedrich. They were the farthest + in the world from intending such a thing. Contrariwise, what + brain-beating, diplomatic spider-weaving, practical contriving, now and + afterwards, for that object; especially now! Rothenburg, Noailles, + Belleisle, Cardinal Tencin, have been busy; not less the mistress + Chateauroux, who admires Friedrich, being indeed a high-minded unfortunate + female, as they say; and has thrown out Amelot, not for stammering alone. + They are able, almost high people, this new Chateauroux Ministry, compared + with some; and already show results. + </p> + <p> + Nay, what is most important of all, France has (unconsciously, or by mere + help of Noailles and luck) got a real General to her Armies: Comte de + Saxe, now Marechal de Saxe; who will shine very splendent in these + Netherland operations,—counter-shone by mere Wades, D'Ahrembergs, + Cumberlands,—in this and the Four following Years. Noailles had + always recognized Comte de Saxe; had long striven for him, in Official + quarters; and here gets the light of him unveiled at last, and set on a + high place: loyal Noailles. + </p> + <p> + This was the Year, this 1744, when Louis XV., urged by his Chateauroux, + the high-souled unfortunate female, appeared in person at the head of his + troops: "Go, Sire, go, MON CHOU (and I will accompany); show yourself + where a King should be, at the head of your troops; be a second + Louis-le-Grand!" Which he did, his Chateauroux and he; actually went to + the Netherlands, with baggage-train immeasurable, including not cooks + only, but play-actors with their thunder-barrels (off from Paris, May 3d), + to the admiration of the Universe. [Adelung, iv. 113; Barbier, ii. 391, + 394; Dulaure, <i>Hist. de Paris;</i> &c.] Took the command, + nominal-command, first days of June; and captured in no-time Menin, Ipres, + Furnes, and the Fort of Knock, and as much of the Austrian Netherlands as + he liked,—that is to say, saw Noailles and Saxe do it;—walking + rapidly forward from Siege to Siege, with a most thundering artillery; old + Marshal Wade and consorts dismally eating their victuals, and looking on + from the distance, unable to attempt the least stroke in opposition. So + that the Dutch Barrier, if anybody now cared for it, did go all flat; and + the Balance of Power gets kicked out of its sacred pivot: to such purpose + have the Dutch been hoisted! Terrible to think of;—had not there, + from the opposite quarter, risen a surprising counterpoise; had not there + been a Prince Karl, with his 70,000, pressing victoriously over the Rhine; + which stayed the French in these sacrilegious procedures. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PRINCE KARL GETS ACROSS THE RHINE (20 JUNE-2 JULY, 1744). + </h2> + <p> + Prince Karl, some weeks ago, at Heilbronn, joined his Rhine Army, which + had gathered thither from the Austrian side, through Baiern, and from the + Hither-Austrian or Swabian Winter-quarters; with full intent to be across + the Rhine, and home upon Elsass and the Compensation Countries, this + Summer, under what difficulties soever. Karl, or, as some whisper, old + Marshal Traun, who is nominally second in command, do make a glorious + campaign of it, this Year;—and lift the Cause of Liberty, at one + time, to the highest pitch it ever reached. Here, in brief terms, is + Prince Karl's Operation on the Rhine, much admired by military men:— + </p> + <p> + "STOCKSTADT, JUNE 20th, 1744. Some thirty and odd miles north of Mannheim, + the Rhine, before turning westward at Mainz, makes one other of its many + Islands (of which there are hundreds since the leap at Schaffhausen): one + other, and I think the biggest of them all; perhaps two miles by five; + which the Germans call KUHKOPF (Cowhead), from the shape it has,—a + narrow semi-ellipse; River there splitting in two, one split (the western) + going straight, the other bending luxuriantly round: so that the HIND-head + or straight end of the Island lies towards France, and the round end, or + cow-LIPS (so to speak) towards native Teutschland, and the woody Hills of + the Berg-Strasse thereabouts. Stockstadt, chief little Town looking over + into this Cowhead Island, lies under the CHIN: understand only farther + that the German branch carries more than two-thirds of the River; that on + the Island itself there is no town, or post of defence; and that + Stockstadt is the place for getting over. Coigny and the French, some + 40,000, are guarding the River hereabouts, with lines, with batteries, + cordons, the best they can; Seckendorf, with 20,000 more ('Imperial' Old + Bavarian Troops, revivified, recruited by French pay), is in his garrison + of Philipsburg, ready to help when needed:"—not moulting now, at + Wembdingen, in that dismal manner; new-feathered now into "Kaiser's Army;" + waiting in his Philipsburg to guard the River there. "Coigny's French have + ramparts, ditches, not quite unfurnished, on their own shore, opposite + this Cowhead Island (ISLE DE HERON, as they call it); looking over to the + hind-head, namely: but they have nothing considerable there; and in the + Island itself, nothing whatever. 'If now Stockstadt were suddenly snatched + by us,' thinks Karl;—'if a few pontoons were nimbly swung in?' + </p> + <p> + "JUNE 20th,—Coigny's people all shooting FEU-DE-JOIE, for that never + enough to be celebrated Capture of Menin and the Dutch Barrier a fortnight + ago,—this is managed to be done. The active General Barenklau, + active Brigadier Daun under him, pushes rapidly across into Kuhkopf; + rapidly throws up intrenchments, ramparts, mounts cannon, digs himself in,—greatly + to Coigny's astonishment; whose people hereabouts, and in all their lines + and posts, are busy shooting FEU-DE-JOIE for those immortal Dutch + victories, at the moment, and never dreaming of such a thing. Fresh force + floods in, Prince Karl himself arrives next day, in support of Barenklau; + Coigny (head-quarters at Speyer, forty miles south) need not attempt + dislodging him; but must stand upon his guard, and prepare for worse. + Which he does with diligence; shifting northward into those + Stockstadt-Mainz parts; calling Seckendorf across the River, and otherwise + doing his best,—for about ten days more, when worse, and almost + worst, did verily befall him. + </p> + <p> + "No attempt was made on Barenklau; nor, beyond the alarming of the + Coigny-Seckendorf people, did anything occur in Cowhead Island,—unless + it were the finis of an ugly bully and ruffian, who has more than once + afflicted us: which may be worth one word. Colonel Mentzel [copper-faced + Colonel, originally Play-actor, "Spy in Persia," and I know not what] had + been at the seizure of Kuhkopf; a prominent man. Whom, on the fifth day + after ('June 25th'), Prince Karl overwhelmed with joy, by handing him a + Patent of Generalcy: 'Just received from Court, my Friend, on account of + your merits old and late.'—'Aha,' said Barenklau, congratulating + warmly: 'Dine with me, then, Herr General Mentzel, this very day. The + Prince himself is to be there, Highness of Hessen-Darmstadt, and who not; + all are impatient to drink your health!' Mentzel had a glorious dinner; + still more glorious drink,—Prince Karl and the others, it is said, + egging him into much wild bluster and gasconade, to season their much + wine. Eminent swill of drinking, with the loud coarse talk supposable, on + the part of Mentzel and consorts did go on, in this manner, all afternoon: + in the evening, drunk Mentzel came out for air; went strutting and + staggering about; emerging finally on the platform of some rampart, face + of him huge and red as that of the foggiest rising Moon;—and stood, + looking over into the Lorraine Country; belching out a storm of oaths, as + to his taking it, as to his doing this and that; and was even flourishing + his sword by way of accompaniment; when, lo, whistling slightly through + the summer air, a rifle-ball from some sentry on the French side (writers + say, it was a French drummer, grown impatient, and snatching a sentry's + piece) took the brain of him, or the belly of him; and he rushed down at + once, a totally collapsed monster, and mere heap of dead ruin, never to + trouble mankind more." [<i>Guerre de Boheme,</i> iii. 165.] For which my + readers and I are rather thankful. Voltaire, and perhaps other memorable + persons, sometimes mention this brute (miraculous to the Plebs and + Gazetteers); otherwise eternal oblivion were the best we could do with + him. Trenck also, readers will be glad to understand, ends in jail and + bedlam by and by. + </p> + <p> + "Prince Karl had not the least intention of crossing by this Cowhead + Island. Nevertheless he set about two other Bridges in the neighborhood, + nearer Mainz (few miles below that City); kept manoeuvring his Force, in + huge half-moon, round that quarter, and mysteriously up and down; alarming + Coigny wholly into the Mainz region. For the space of ten days; and then, + stealing off to Schrock, a little Rhine Village above Philipsburg, many + miles away from Coigny and his vigilantes, he— + </p> + <p> + "NIGHT OF 30th JUNE-1st JULY, Suddenly shot Pandour Trenck, followed by + Nadasti and 6,000, across at Schrock who scattered Seckendorf's poor + outposts thereabouts to the winds; 'built a bridge before morning, and + next day another.' Next day Prince Karl in person appeared; and on the 3d + of July, had his whole Army with its luggages across; and had seized the + Lines of Lauterburg and Weissenburg (celebrated northern defence of + Elsass),—much to Coigny's amazement; and remained inexpugnable + there, with Elsass open to him, and to Coigny shut, for the present! + [Adelung, iv. 139-141.] Coigny made bitter wail, accusation, blame of + Seckendorf, blame of men and of things; even tried some fighting, + Seckendorf too doing feats, to recover those Lines of Weissenburg: but + could not do it. And, in fact, blazing to and fro in that excited rather + than luminous condition, could not do anything; except retire into the + strong posts of the background; and send express on express, swifter than + the wind if you can, to a victorious King overturning the Dutch Barrier: + 'Help, your Majesty, or we are lost; and France is—what shall I + say!'" + </p> + <p> + "Admirable feat of Strategy! What a General, this Prince Karl!" exclaimed + mankind,—Cause-of-Liberty mankind with special enthusiasm; and took + to writing LIVES of Prince Karl, [For instance, <i>The Life of his + Highness Prince Charles of &c., with &c. &c.</i> (London, + 1746); one of the most distracted Blotches ever published under the name + of Book;—wakening thoughts of a public dimness very considerable + indeed, to which this could offer itself as lamp!] as well as tar-burning + and TE-DEUM-ing on an extensive scale. For it had sent the Cause of + Liberty bounding up again to the top of things, this of crossing the + Rhine, in such fashion. And, in effect, the Cause of Liberty, and Prince + Karl himself, had risen hereby to their acme or culminating point in + World-History; not to continue long at such height, little as they dreamt + of that, among their tar-burnings. The feat itself—contrived by + Nadasti, people say, and executed (what was the real difficulty) by Traun—brought + Prince Karl very great renown, this Year; and is praised by Friedrich + himself, now and afterwards, as masterly, as Julius Caesar's method, and + the proper way of crossing rivers (when executable) in face of an enemy. + And indeed Prince Karl, owing to Traun or not, is highly respectable in + the way of Generalship at present; and did in these Five Months, from June + onward, really considerable things. At his very acme of Life, as well as + of Generalship; which, alas, soon changed, poor man; never to culminate + again. He had got, at the beginning of the Year, the high Maria Theresa's + one Sister, Archduchess Maria Anna, to Wife; [Age then twenty-five gone: + "born 14th September, 1718; married to Prince Karl 7th January, 1744; + died, of childbirth, 16th December same year" (Hormayr, <i>OEsterreichischer + Plutarch,</i> iv. erstes Baudchen, 54).] the crown of long mutual + attachment; she safe now at Brussels, diligent Co-Regent, and in a + promising family-way; he here walking on victorious:—need any man be + happier? No man can be supremely happy long; and this General's strategic + felicity and his domestic were fatally cut down almost together. The Cause + of Liberty, too, now at the top of its orbit, was—But let us stick + by our Excerpting: + </p> + <p> + "DUNKIRK, 19th JULY, 1744 [Princess Ulrique's Wedding, just two days ago]. + King Louis, on hearing of the Job's-news from Elsass, instantly suspended + his Conquests in Flanders; detached Noailles, detached this one and that, + double-quick, Division after Division (leaving Saxe, with 45,000, to his + own resources, and the fatuities of Marshal Wade); and, 19th July, himself + hastens off from Dunkirk (leaving much of the luggage, but not the + Chateauroux behind him), to save his Country, poor soul. But could not, in + the least, save it; the reverse rather. August 4th, he got to Metz, + Belleisle's strong town, about 100 miles from the actual scene; his + detached reinforcements, say 50,000 men or so, hanging out ahead like + flame-clouds, but uncertain how to act;—Noailles being always + cunctatious in time of crisis, and poor Louis himself nothing of a + Cloud-Compeller;—and then, + </p> + <p> + "METZ, AUGUST 8th, The Most Christian King fell ill; dangerously, + dreadfully, just like to die. Which entirely paralyzed Noailles and + Company, or reduced them to mere hysterics, and excitement of the + unluminous kind. And filled France in general, Paris in particular, with + terror, lamentation, prayers of forty hours; and such a paroxysm of + hero-worship as was never seen for such an object before." [Espagnac, ii. + 12; Adelung, iv. 180; <i>Fastes de Louis XV.,</i> ii. 423; &c. &c.] + </p> + <p> + For the Cause of Liberty here, we consider, was the culminating moment; + Elsass, Lorraine and the Three Bishoprics lying in their quasi-moribund + condition; Austrian claims of Compensation ceasing to be visions of the + heated brain, and gaining some footing on the Earth as facts. Prince Karl + is here actually in Elsass, master of the strong passes; elate in heart, + he and his; France, again, as if fallen paralytic, into temporary + distraction; offering for resistance nothing hitherto but that universal + wailing of mankind, Hero-worship of a thrice-lamentable nature, and the + Prayers of Forty-Hours! Most Christian Majesty, now IN EXTREMIS, centre of + the basest hubbub that ever was, is dismissing Chateauroux. Noailles, + Coigny and Company hang well back upon the Hill regions, and strong posts + which are not yet menaced; or fly vaguely, more or less distractedly, + hither and thither; not in the least like fighting Karl, much less like + beating him. Karl has Germany free at his back (nay it is a German + population round him here); neither haversack nor cartridge-box like to + fail: before him are only a Noailles and consorts, flying vaguely about;—and + there is in Karl, or under the same cloak with him at present, a talent of + manoeuvring men, which even Friedrich finds masterly. If old Marshal Wade, + at the other end of the line, should chance to awaken and press home on + Saxe, and his remnant of French, with right vigor? In fact, there was not, + that I can see, for centuries past, not even at the Siege of Lille in + Marlborough's time, a more imminent peril for France. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + FRIEDRICH DECIDES TO INTERVENE. + </h2> + <p> + King Friedrich, on hearing of these Rhenish emergencies and of King + Louis's heroic advance to the rescue, perceived that for himself too the + moment was come; and hastened to inform heroic Louis, That though the + terms of their Bargain were not yet completed, Sweden, Russia and other + points being still in a pendent condition, he, Friedrich,—with an + eye to success of their Joint Adventure, and to the indispensability of + joint action, energy, and the top of one's speed now or never,—would, + by the middle of this same August, be on the field with 100,000 men. "An + invasion of Bohemia, will not that astonish Prince Karl; and bring him to + his Rhine-Bridges again? Over which, if your Most Christian Majesty be + active, he will not get, except in a half, or wholly ruined state. Follow + him close; send the rest of your force to threaten Hanover; sit well on + the skirts of Prince Karl. Him as he hurries homeward, ruined or + half-ruined, him, or whatever Austrian will fight, I do my best to beat. + We may have Bohemia, and a beaten Austria, this very Autumn: see,—and, + in one Campaign, there is Peace ready for us!" This is Friedrich's scheme + of action; success certain, thinks he, if only there be energy, activity, + on your side, as there shall be on mine;—and has sent Count + Schmettau, filled with fiery speed and determination, to keep the French + full of the like, and concert mutual operations. + </p> + <p> + "Magnanimous!" exclaim Noailles and the paralyzed French Gentlemen (King + Louis, I think, now past speech, for Schmettau only came August 9th): + "Most sublime behavior, on his Prussian Majesty's part!" own they. And + truly it is a fine manful indifference (by no means so common as it should + be) to all interests, to all considerations, but that of a Joint + Enterprise one has engaged in. And truly, furthermore, it was immediate + salvation to the paralyzed French Gentlemen, in that alarming crisis; + though they did not much recognize it afterwards as such: and indeed were + conspicuously forgetful of all parts of it, when their own danger was + over. + </p> + <p> + Maria Theresa's feelings may be conceived; George II's feelings; and what + the Cause of Liberty in general felt, and furiously said and complained, + when—suddenly as a DEUS EX MACHINA, or Supernal Genie in the Minor + Theatres—Friedrich stept in. Precisely in this supreme crisis, 7th + August, 1744, Friedrich's Minister, Graf von Dohna, at Vienna, has given + notice of the Frankfurt Union, and solemn Engagement entered into: + "Obliged in honor and conscience; will and must now step forth to right an + injured Kaiser; cannot stand these high procedures against an Imperial + Majesty chosen by all the Princes of the Reich, this unheard-of protest + that the Kaiser is no Kaiser, as if all Germany were but Austria and the + Queen of Hungary's. Prussian Majesty has not the least quarrel of his own + with the Queen of Hungary, stands true, and will stand, by the Treaty of + Berlin and Breslau;—only, with certain other German Princes, has + done what all German Princes and peoples not Austrian are bound to do, on + behalf of their down-trodden Kaiser, formed a Union of Frankfurt; and + will, with armed hand if indispensable, endeavor to see right done in that + matter." [In <i>Adelung,</i> iv. 155, 156, the Declaration itself + (Audience, "7th August, 1744." Dohna off homeward "on the second day + after").] + </p> + <p> + This is the astonishing fact for the Cause of Liberty; and no clamor and + execration will avail anything. This man is prompt, too; does not linger + in getting out his Sword, when he has talked of it. Prince Karl's + Operation is likely to be marred amazingly. If this swift King (comparable + to the old Serpent for devices) were to burst forth from his Silesian + strengths; tread sharply on the TAIL of Prince Karl's Operation, and bring + back the formidably fanged head of IT out of Alsace, five hundred miles + all at once,—there would be a business! + </p> + <p> + We will now quit the Rhine Operations, which indeed are not now of moment; + Friedrich being suddenly the key of events again. I add only, what readers + are vaguely aware of, that King Louis did not die; that he lay at death's + door for precisely one week (8th-15th August), symptoms mending on the + 15th. In the interim,—Grand-Almoner Fitz-James (Uncle of our Conte + di Spinelli) insisting that a certain Cardinal, who had got the Sacraments + in hand, should insist; and endless ministerial intrigue being busy,—moribund + Louis had, when it came to the Sacramental point, been obliged to dismiss + his Chateauroux. Poor Chateauroux; an unfortunate female; yet, one almost + thinks, the best man among them: dismissed at Metz here, and like to be + mobbed! That was the one issue of King Louis's death-sickness. Sublime + sickness; during which all Paris wept aloud, in terror and sorrow, like a + child that has lost its mother and sees a mastiff coming; wept sublimely, + and did the Prayers of Forty-Hours; and called King Louis Le BIEN-AIME + (The Well-beloved):—merely some obstruction in the royal bowels, it + turned out;—a good cathartic, and the Prayers of Forty-Hours, quite + reinstated matters. Nay reinstated even Chateauroux, some time after,—"the + Devil being well again," and, as the Proverb says, quitting his monastic + view. Reinstated Chateauroux: but this time, poor creature, she continued + only about a day:—"Sudden fever, from excitement," said the Doctors: + "Fever? Poison, you mean!" whispered others, and looked for changes in the + Ministry. Enough, oh, enough!— + </p> + <p> + Old Marshal Wade did not awaken, though bawled to by his Ligoniers and + others, and much shaken about, poor old gentleman. "No artillery to speak + of," murmured he; "want baggage-wagons, too!" and lay still. "Here is + artillery!" answered the Official people; "With my own money I will buy + you baggage-wagons!" answered the high Maria Anna, in her own name and her + Prince Karl's, who are Joint-Governors there. Possibly he would have + awakened, had they given him time. But time, in War especially, is the + thing that is never given. Once Friedrich HAD struck in, the moment was + gone by. Poor old Wade! Of him also enough. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter II.—FRIEDRICH MARCHES UPON PRAG, CAPTURES PRAG. + </h2> + <p> + It was on Saturday, "early in the morning," 15th August, 1744, that + Friedrich set out, attended by his two eldest Brothers, Prince of Prussia + and Prince Henri, from Potsdam, towards this new Adventure, which proved + so famous since. Sudden, swift, to the world's astonishment;—actually + on march here, in three Columns (two through Saxony by various routes + southeastward, one from Silesia through Glatz southwestward), to invade + Bohemia: rumor says 100,000 strong, fact itself says upwards of 80,000, on + their various routes, converging towards Prag. [—Helden-Geschichte,—ii. + 1165. Orlich (ii. 25, 27) enumerates the various regiments.] His Columns, + especially his Saxon Columns, are already on the road; he joins one + Column, this night, at Wittenberg; and is bent, through Saxony, towards + the frontiers of Bohemia, at the utmost military speed he has. + </p> + <p> + Through Saxony about 60,000 go: he has got the Kaiser's Order to the + Government of Saxony, "Our august Ally, requiring on our Imperial business + a transit through you;"—and Winterfeld, an excellent soldier and + negotiator, has gone forward to present said Order. A Document which + flurries the Dresden Officials beyond measure. Their King is in Warsaw; + their King, if here, could do little; and indeed has been inclining to + Maria Theresa this long while. And Winterfeld insists on such despatch;—and + not even the Duke of Weissenfels is in Town, Dresden Officials "send off + five couriers and thirteen estafettes" to the poor old Duke; [<i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> + ii. 1163.] get him at last; and—The march is already taking effect; + they may as well consent to it: what can they do but consent! In the + uttermost flurry, they had set to fortifying Dresden; all hands driving + palisades, picking, delving, making COUPURES (trenches, or sunk + barricades) in the streets;—fatally aware that it can avail nothing. + Is not this the Kaiser's Order? Prussians, to the amount of 60,000, are + across our Frontiers, rapidly speeding on. + </p> + <p> + "Friedrich's Manifesto—under the modest Title, 'ANZEIGE DER URSACHEN + (Advertisement of the Causes which have induced his Prussian Majesty to + send the Romish Kaiser's Majesty some Auxiliary Troops)'—had + appeared in the Berlin Newspapers Thursday, 13th, only two days before. An + astonishment to all mankind; which gave rise to endless misconceptions of + Friedrich: but which, supporting itself on proofs, on punctually excerpted + foot-notes, is intrinsically a modest, quiet Piece; and, what is singular + in Manifestoes, has nothing, or almost nothing, in it that is not, so far + as it goes, a perfect statement of the fact. 'Auxiliary troops, that is + our essential character. No war with her Hungarian Majesty, or with any + other, on our own score. But her Hungarian Majesty, how has she treated + the Romish Kaiser, her and our and the Reich's Sovereign Head, and to what + pass reduced him; refusing him Peace on any terms, except those of + self-annihilation; denying that he is a Kaiser at all;'—and + enumerates the various Imperial injuries, with proof given, quiet + footnotes by way of proof; and concludes in these words: 'For himself his + Majesty requires nothing. The question here is not of his Majesty's own + interest at all [everything his Majesty required, or requires, is by the + Treaty of Berlin solemnly his, if the Reich and its Laws endure]: and he + has taken up arms simply and solely in the view of restoring to the Reich + its freedom, to the Kaiser his Headship of the Reich, and to all Europe + the Peace which is so desirable.' [Given in Seyfarth, <i>Beylage,</i> i. + 121-136, with date "August, 1744."] + </p> + <p> + "'Pretences, subterfuges, lies!' exclaimed the Austrian and Allied Public + everywhere, or strove to exclaim; especially the English Public, which had + no difficulty in so doing;—a Public comfortably blank as to German + facts or non-facts; and finding with amazement only this a very certain + fact, That hereby is their own Pragmatic thunder checked in mid-volley in + a most surprising manner, and the triumphant Cause of Liberty brought to + jeopardy again. 'Perfidious, ambitious, capricious!' exclaimed they: 'a + Prince without honor, without truth, without constancy;'—and + completed, for themselves, in hot rabid humor, that English Theory of + Friedrich which has prevailed ever since. Perhaps the most surprising item + of which is this latter, very prominent in those old times, That Friedrich + has no 'constancy,' but follows his 'caprices,' and accidental whirls of + impulse:—item which has dropped away in our times, though the others + stand as stable as ever. A monument of several things! Friedrich's + suddenness is an essential part of what fighting talent he has: if the + Public, thrown into flurry, cannot judge it well, they must even misjudge + it: what help is there? + </p> + <p> + "That the above were actually Friedrich's reasons for venturing into this + Big Game again, is not now disputable. And as to the rumor, which rose + afterwards (and was denied, and could only be denied diplomatically to the + ear, if even to the ear), That Friedrich by Secret Article was 'to have + for himself the Three Bohemian Circles, Konigsgratz, Bunzlau, Leitmeritz, + which lie between Schlesien and Sachsen,' [<i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> i. + 1081; Scholl, ii. 349.]—there is not a doubt but Friedrich had so + bargained, 'Very well, if we can get said Circles!' and would right + cheerfully have kept and held them, had the big game gone in all points + completely well (game, to reinstate the Kaiser BOTH in Bohemia and + Bavaria) by Friedrich's fine playing. Not a doubt of all this:—nor + of what an extremely hypothetic outlook it then and always was; greatly + too weak for enticing such a man." + </p> + <p> + Friedrich goes in Three Columns. One, on the south or left shore of the + Elbe, coming in various branches under Friedrich himself; this alone will + touch on Dresden, pass on the south side of Dresden; gather itself about + Pirna (in the Saxon Switzerland so called, a notable locality); thence + over the Metal Mountains into Bohmen, by Toplitz, by Lowositz, Leitmeritz, + and the Highway called the Pascopol, famous in War. The Second Column, + under Leopold the Young Dessauer, goes on the other or north side of the + Elbe, at a fair distance; marching through the Lausitz (rendezvous or + starting-point was Bautzen in the Lausitz) straight south, to meet the + King at Leitmeritz, where the grand Magazine is to be; and thence, still + south, straight upon Prag, in conjunction with his Majesty or parallel to + him. [<i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> i. 1081.] These are the Two Saxon Columns. + The Third Column, under Schwerin, collects itself in the interior of + Silesia; is issuing, by Glatz Country, through the Giant Mountains, + BOHMISCHE KAMME (Bohemian COMBS as they are called, which Tourists know), + by the Pass of Braunau,—disturbing the dreams of Rubezahl, if + Rubezahl happen to be there. This, say 20,000, will come down upon Prag + from the eastern side; and be first on the ground (31st August),—first + by one day. In the home parts of Silesia, well eastward of Glatz, there is + left another Force of 20,000, which can go across the Austrian Border + there, and hang upon the Hills, threatening Olmutz and the Moravian + Countries, should need be. + </p> + <p> + And so, in its Three Columns, from west, from north, from east, the march, + with a steady swiftness, proceeds. Important especially those Two Saxon + Columns from west and north: 60,000 of them, "with a frightful + (ENTSETZLICH) quantity of big guns coming up the Elbe." Much is coming up + the Elbe; indispensable Highway for this Enterprise. Three months' + provisions, endless artillery and provender, is on the Elbe; 480 big + boats, with immense VORSPANN (of trace-horses, dreadful swearing, too, as + I have heard), will pass through the middle of Dresden: not landing by any + means. "No, be assured of it, ye Dresdeners, all flurried, palisaded, + barricaded; no hair of you shall be harmed." After a day or two, the + flurry of Saxony subsided; Prussians, under strict discipline, molest no + private person; pay their way; keep well aloof, to south and to north, of + Dresden (all but the necessary ammunition-escorts do);—and require + of the Official people nothing but what the Law of the Reich authorizes to + "Imperial Auxiliaries" in such case. "The Saxons themselves," Friedrich + observes, "had some 40,000, but scattered about; King in Warsaw:—dreadful + terror; making COUPURES and TETES-DE-PONT;—could have made no + defence." Had we diligently spent eight days on them! reflects he + afterwards. "To seize Saxony [and hobble it with ropes, so that at any + time you could pin it motionless, and even, if need were, milk the + substance out of it], would not have detained us eight days." [ <i>OEuvres + de Frederic,</i> iii. 53.] Which would have been the true plan, had we + known what was getting ready there! Certain it is, Friedrich did no + mischief, paid for everything; anxious to keep well with Saxony; hoping + always they might join him again, in such a Cause. "Cause dear to every + Patriot German Prince," urges Friedrich,—though Bruhl, and the + Polish, once "Moravian," Majesty are of a very different opinion:— + </p> + <p> + "Maria Theresa, her thoughts at hearing of it may be imagined: 'The Evil + Genius of my House afoot again! My high projects on Elsass and Lorraine; + Husband for Kaiser, Elsass for the Reich and him, Lorraine for myself and + him; gone probably to water!' Nevertheless she said (an Official person + heard her say), 'My right is known to God; God will protect me, as He has + already done.' [ <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> ii. 1024.] And rose very + strong, and magnanimously defiant again; perhaps, at the bottom of her + heart, almost glad withal that she would now have a stroke for her dear + Silesia again, unhindered by Paladin George and his Treaties and notions. + What measures, against this nefarious Prussian outbreak, hateful to gods + and men, are possible, she rapidly takes: in Bohemia, in Bavaria and her + other Countries, that are threatened or can help. And abates nothing of + heart or hope;—praying withal, immensely, she and her People, + according to the mode they have. Sending for Prince Karl, we need not say, + double-quick, as the very first thing. + </p> + <p> + "Of Maria Theresa in Hungary,—for she ran to Presburg again with her + woes (August 16th, Diet just assembling there),—let us say only that + Hungary was again chivalrous; that old Palfy and the general Hungarian + Nation answered in the old tone,—VIVAT MARIA; AD ARMA, AD ARMA! with + Tolpatches, Pandours, Warasdins;—and, in short, that great and + small, in infinite 'Insurrection,' have still a stroke of battle in them + PRO REGE NOSTRO. Scarcely above a District or two (as the JASZERS and + KAUERS, in their over-cautious way) making the least difficulty. Much + enthusiasm and unanimity in all the others; here and there a Hungarian + gentleman complaining scornfully that their troops, known as among the + best fighters in Nature, are called irregular troops,—irregular, + forsooth! In one public consultation [District not important, not very + spellable, though doubtless pronounceable by natives to it], a gentleman + suggests that 'Winter is near; should not there be some slight provision + of tents, of shelter in the frozen sleety Mountains, to our gallant + fellows bound thither?' Upon which another starts up, 'When our Ancestors + came out of Asia Minor, over the Palus Maeotis bound in winter ice; and, + sabre in hand, cut their way into this fine Country which is still ours, + what shelter had they? No talk of tents, of barracks or accommodation + there; each, wrapt in his sheep skin, found it shelter sufficient. Tents!' + [ <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> ii. 1030.] And the thing was carried by + acclamation. + </p> + <p> + "Wide wail in Bohemia that War is coming back. Nobility all making off, + some to Vienna or the intermediate Towns lying thitherward, some to their + Country-seats; all out of Prag. Willing mind on the part of the Common + People; which the Government strains every nerve to make the most of. Here + are fasts, processions, Prayers of Forty-Hours; here, as in Vienna and + elsewhere. In Vienna was a Three Days' solemn Fast: the like in Prag, or + better; with procession to the shrine of St. Vitus,—little likely to + help, I should fear. 'Rise, all fencible men,' exclaims the Government,—'at + least we will ballot, and make you rise:'—Militia people enter Prag + to the extent of 10,000; like to avail little, one would fear. General + Harsch, with reinforcement of real soldiers, is despatched from Vienna; + Harsch, one of our ablest soldiers since Khevenhuller died, gets in still + in time; and thus increases the Garrison of regulars to 4,000, with a + vigorous Captain to guide it. Old Count Ogilvy, the same whom Saxe + surprised two years ago in the moonlight, snatching ladders from the + gallows,—Ogilvy is again Commandant; but this time nominal mainly, + and with better outlooks, Harsch being under him. In relays, 3,000 of the + Militia men dig and shovel night and day; repairing, perfecting the + ramparts of the place. Then, as to provisions, endless corn is introduced,—farmers + forced, the unwilling at the bayonet's point, to deliver in their corn; + much of it in sheaf, so that we have to thrash it in the market-place, in + the streets that are wide: and thus in Prag is heard the sound of flails, + among the Militia-drums and so many other noises. With the great + church-organs growling; and the bass and treble MISERERE of the poor + superstitious People rising, to St. Vitus and others. In fact, it is a + general Dance of St. Vitus,—except that of the flails, and Militia-men + working at the ramparts,—mostly not leading any-whither." ["LETTER + from a Citizen of Prag," date, 21st Sept. (in <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> + ii. 1168), which gives several curious details.] + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Friedrich's march from west, from north, from east, is flowing + on; diligent, swift; punctual to its times, its places; and meets no + impediment to speak of. At Tetschen on the Saxon-Bohemian Frontier,—a + pleasant Schloss perched on its crags, as Tourists know, where the Elbe + sweeps into Saxon Switzerland and its long stone labyrinths,—at + Tetschen the Austrians had taken post; had tried to block the River, + driving piles into it, and tumbling boulders into it, with a view to stop + the 480 Prussian Boats. These people needed to be torn out, their piles + and they: which was done in two days, the soldier part of it; and occupied + the boatmen above a week, before all was clear again. Prosperous, correct + to program, all the rest; not needing mention from us;—here are the + few sparks from it that dwell in one's memory:— + </p> + <p> + "AUGUST 15th, 1744, King left Potsdam; joined his First Column that night, + at Wittenberg. Through Mieissen, Torgau, Freyberg; is at Peterswalde, + eastern slope of the Metal Mountains, August 25th; all the Columns now on + Bohemian ground. + </p> + <p> + "Friedrich had crossed Elbe by the Bridge of Meissen: on the southern + shore, politely waiting to receive his Majesty, there stood Feldmarschall + the Duke of Weissenfels; to whom the King gave his hand," no doubt in + friendly style, "and talked for above half an hour,"—with such + success! thinks Friedrich by and by. We have heard of Weissenfels before; + the same poor Weissenfels who was Wilhelmina's Wooer in old time, now on + the verge of sixty; an extremely polite but weakish old gentleman; + accidentally preserved in History. One of those conspicuous "Human + Clothes-Horses" (phantasmal all but the digestive part), which abound in + that Eighteenth Century and others like it; and distress your Historical + studies. Poor old soul; now Feldmarschall and Commander-in-Chief here. Has + been in Turk and other Wars; with little profit to himself or others. Used + to like his glass, they say; is still very poor, though now Duke in + reality as well as title (succeeded two egregious Brothers, some years + since, who had been spendthrift): he has still one other beating to get in + this world,—from Friedrich next year. Died altogether, two years + hence; and Wilhelmina heard no more of him. + </p> + <p> + "At Meissen Bridge, say some, was this Half-hour's Interview; at Pirna, + the Bridge of Pirna, others say; [See Orlich, ii. 25; and <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> + ii. 1166.]—quite indifferent to us which. At Pirna, and hither and + thither in Saxon Switzerland, Friedrich certainly was. 'Who ever saw such + positions, your Majesty?' For Friedrich is always looking out, were it + even from the window of his carriage, and putting military problems to + himself in all manner of scenery, 'What would a man do, in that kind of + ground, if attacking, if attacked? with that hill, that brook, that bit of + bog?' and advises every Officer to be continually doing the like. + [MILITARY INSTRUCTIONS? RULES FOR A GOOD COMMANDER OF &c.?—I + have, for certain, read this Passage; but the reference is gone again, + like a sparrow from the house-top!] That is the value of picturesque or + other scenery to Friedrich, and their effect on good Prussian Officers and + him. + </p> + <p> + "... At Tetschen, Colonel Kahlbutz," diligent Prussian Colonel, "plucks + out those 100 Austrians from their rock nest there; makes them prisoners + of war;—which detained the Leitmeritz branch of us two days. August + 28th, junction at Leitmeritz thereupon. Magazine established there. Boats + coming on presently. Friedrich himself camped at Lobositz in this part,"—Lobositz, + or Lowositz, which he will remember one day. + </p> + <p> + "AUGUST 29th, March to Budin; that is, southward, across the Eger, arrive + within forty miles of Prag. Austrian Bathyani, summoned hastily out of his + Bavarian posts, to succor in this pressing emergency, has arrived in these + neighborhoods,—some 12,000 regulars under him, preceded by clouds of + hussars, whom Ziethen smites a little, by way of handsel;—no other + Austrian force to speak of hereabouts; and we are now between Bathyani and + Prag. + </p> + <p> + "SEPTEMBER 1st, To Mickowitz, near Welwarn, twenty miles from Prag. + September 2d, Camp on the Weissenberg there." [ <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> + i. 1080.] + </p> + <p> + And so they are all assembled about Prag, begirdling the poor City,—third + Siege it has stood within these three years (since that moonlight November + night in 1741);—and are only waiting for their heavy artillery to + begin battering. The poor inhabitants, in spite of three sieges; the + 10,000 raw militia-men, mostly of Hungarian breed; the 4,000 regulars, and + Harsch and old Ogilvy, are all disposed to do their best. Friedrich is + naturally in haste to get hold of Prag. But he finds, on taking survey: + that the sword-in-hand method is not now, as in 1741, feasible at all; + that the place is in good posture of strength; and will need a hot + battering to tear it open. Owing to that accident at Tetschen, the + siege-cannon are not yet come up: "Build your batteries, your + Moldau-bridges, your communications, till the cannon come; and beware of + Bathyani meddling with your cannon by the road!" + </p> + <p> + "Bathyani is within twenty miles of us, at Beraun, a compact little Town + to southwest; gathering a Magazine there; and ready for enterprises,—in + more force than Friedrich guesses. 'Drive him out, seize that Magazine of + his!' orders Friedrich (September 5th); and despatches General Hacke on + it, a right man,"—at whose wedding we assisted (wedding to an + heiress, long since, in Friedrich Wilhelm's time), if anybody now + remembered. "And on the morrow there falls out a pretty little 'Action of + Beraun,' about which great noise was made in the Gazettes PRO and CONTRA: + which did not dislodge Bathyani by airy means; but which might easily have + ruined the impetuous Hacke and his 6,000, getting into masked batteries, + Pandour whirlwinds, charges of horses 'from front, from rear, and from + both flanks,'—had not he, with masterly promptitude, whirled himself + out of it, snatched instantly what best post there was, and defended + himself inexpugnably there, for six hours, till relief came." [DIE BEY + BERAUN VORGEFALLENE ACTION (in Seyfarth, <i>Beylage,</i> i. 136, 137).] + Brilliant little action, well performed on both sides, but leading to + nothing; and which shall not concern us farther. Except to say that + Bathyani did now, more at his leisure, retire out of harm's way; and begin + collecting Magazines at Pilsen far rearward, which may prove useful to + Prince Karl, in the route Prince Karl is upon. + </p> + <p> + Siege-cannon having at last come (September 8th), the batteries are all + mounted:—on Wednesday, 9th, late at night, the Artillery, "in + enormous quantity," opens its dread throat; poor Prag is startled from its + bed by torrents of shot, solid and shell, from three different quarters; + and makes haste to stand to its guns. From three different quarters; from + Bubenetsch northward; from the Upland of St. Lawrence (famed WEISSENBERG, + or White-Hill) westward; and from the Ziscaberg eastward (Hill of Zisca, + where iron Zisca posted himself on a grand occasion once),—which + latter is a broad long Hill, west end of it falling sheer over Prag; and + on another point of it, highest point of all, the Praguers have a strong + battery and works. The Prag guns otherwise are not too effectual; planted + mostly on low ground. By much the best Prag battery is this of the + Ziscaberg. And this, after two days' experience had of it, the Prussians + determine to take on the morrow. + </p> + <p> + SEPTEMBER 12th, Schwerin, who commands on that side, assaults accordingly; + with the due steadfastness and stormfulness: throwing shells and balls by + way of prelude. Friedrich, with some group of staff-officers and + dignitaries, steps out on the Bubenetsch post, to see how this affair of + the Ziscaberg will prosper: the Praguers thereabouts, seeing so many + dignitaries, turn cannon on them. "Disperse, IHR HERREN; have a care!" + cried Friedrich; not himself much minding, so intent upon the Ziscaberg. + And could have skipt indifferently over your cannon-balls ploughing the + ground,—had not one fateful ball shattered out the life of poor + Prince Wilhelm; a good young Cousin of his, shot down here at his hand. + Doubtless a sharp moment for the King. Prince Margraf Wilhelm and a poor + young page, there they lie dead; indifferent to the Ziscaberg and all + coming wars of mankind. Lamentation, naturally, for this young man,—Brother + to the one who fell at Mollwitz, youngest Brother of the Margraf Karl, who + commands in this Bubenetsch redoubt:—But we must lift our eye-glass + again; see how Schwerin is prospering. Schwerin, with due steadfastness + and stormfulness, after his prelude of bomb-shells, rushes on + double-quick; cannot be withstood; hurls out the Praguers, and seizes + their battery; a ruinous loss to them. + </p> + <p> + Their grand Zisca redoubt is gone, then; and two subsidiary small redoubts + behind it withal, which the French had built, and named "the magpie-nests + (NIDS A PIE);" these also are ours. And we overhang, from our Zisca Hill, + the very roofs, as it were; and there is nothing but a long bare curtain + now in this quarter, ready to be battered in breach, and soon holed, if + needful. It is not needful,—not quite. In the course of three days + more, our Bubenetsch battery, of enormous power, has been so diligent, it + has set fire to the Water-mill; burns irretrievably the Water-mill, and + still worse, the wooden Sluice of the Moldau; so that the river falls to + the everywhere wadable pitch. And Governor Harsch perceives that all this + quarter of the Town is open to any comer;—and, in fact, that he will + have to get away, the best he can. + </p> + <p> + White flag accordingly (Tuesday, 15th): "Free withdrawal, to the + Wischerad; won't you?" "By no manner of means!" answers Friedrich. Bids + Schwerin from his Ziscaberg make a hole or two in that "curtain" opposite + him; and gets ready for storm. Upon which Harsch, next morning, has to + beat the chamade, and surrender Prisoner of War. And thus, Wednesday, + 16th, it is done: a siege of one week, no more,—after all that + thrashing of grain, drilling of militia, and other spirited preparation. + Harsch could not help it; the Prussian cannonading was so furious. + [Orlich, ii. 36-39; <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> i. 1082, and ii. 1168; <i>OEuvres + de Frederic,</i> iii. 56; &c. &c.] + </p> + <p> + Prag has to swear fealty to the Kaiser; and "pay a ransom of 200,000 + pounds." Drilled militia, regulars, Hungarians, about 16,000,—only + that many of the Tolpatches contrived to whisk loose,—are marched + prisoners to Glatz and other strong places. Prag City, with plenty of + provision in it, is ours. A brilliant beginning of a Campaign; the eyes of + all Europe turned again, in very various humor, on this young King. If + only the French do their duty, and hang well on the skirts of Marshal + Traun (or of Prince Karl, the Cloak of Traun), who is hastening hitherward + all he can. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter III.—FRIEDRICH, DILIGENT IN HIS BOHEMIAN CONQUESTS, + UNEXPECTEDLY COMES UPON PRINCE KARL, WITH NO FRENCH ATTENDING HIM. + </h2> + <p> + This electrically sudden operation on Prag was considered by astonished + mankind, whatever else they might think about it, a decidedly brilliant + feat of War: falling like a bolt out of the blue,—like three bolts, + suddenly coalescing over Prag, and striking it down. Friedrich himself, + though there is nothing of boast audible here or anywhere, was evidently + very well satisfied; and thought the aspects good. There is Prince Karl + whirling instantly back from his Strasburg Prospects; the general St. + Vitus Dance of Austrian things rising higher and higher in these home + parts:—reasonable hope that "in the course of one Campaign," proud + obstinate Austria might feel itself so wrung and screwed as to be glad of + Peace with neighbors not wishing War. That was the young King's + calculation at this time. And, had France done at all as it promised,—or + had the young King himself been considerably wiser than he was,—he + had not been disappointed in the way we shall see! + </p> + <p> + Friedrich admits he did not understand War at this period. His own scheme + now was: To move towards the southwest, there to abolish Bathyani and his + Tolpatches, who are busy gathering Magazines for Prince Karl's advent; to + seize the said Magazines, which will be very useful to us; then advance + straight towards the Passes of the Bohemian Mountains. Towns of Furth, + Waldmunchen, unfortunate Town of Cham (burnt by Trenck, where masons are + now busy); these stand successive in the grand Pass, through which the + highway runs; some hundred miles or so from where we are: march, at one's + swiftest, thitherward, Bathyani's Magazines to help; and there await + Prince Karl? It was Friedrich's own notion; not a bad one, though not the + best. The best, he admits, would have been: To stay pretty much where he + was; abolish Bathyani's Tolpatch people, seizing their Magazines, and + collecting others; in general, well rooting and fencing himself in Prag, + and in the Circles that lie thereabouts upon the Elbe,—bounded to + southward by the Sazawa (branch of the Moldau), which runs parallel to the + Elbe;—but well refusing to stir much farther at such an advanced + season of the year. + </p> + <p> + That second plan would have been the wisest:—then why not, follow + it? Too tame a plan for the youthful mind. Besides, we perceive, as indeed + is intimated by himself, he dreaded the force of public opinion in France. + "Aha, look at your King of Prussia again. Gone to conquer Bohemia; and, + except the Three Circles he himself is to have of it, lets Bohemia go to + the winds!" This sort of thing, Friedrich admits, he dreaded too much, at + that young period; so loud had the criticisms been on him, in the time of + the Breslau Treaty: "Out upon your King of Prussia; call you that an + honorable Ally!" Undoubtedly a weakness in the young King; inasmuch, says + he, as "every General [and every man, add we] should look to the fact, not + to the rumor of the fact." Well; but, at least, he will adopt his own + other notion; that of making for the Passes of the Bohemian Mountains; to + abolish Bathyani at least, and lock the door upon Prince Karl's advent? + That was his own plan; and, though second-best, that also would have done + well, had there been no third. + </p> + <p> + But there was, as we hinted, a third plan, ardently favored by Belleisle, + whose war-talent Friedrich much respected at this time: plan built on + Belleisle's reminiscences of the old Tabor-Budweis businesses, and totally + inapplicable now. Belleisle said, "Go southeast, not southwest; right + towards the Austrian Frontier itself; that will frighten Austria into a + fine tremor. Shut up the roads from Austria: Budweis, Neuhaus; seize those + two Highroad Towns, and keep them, if you would hold Bohemia; the want of + them was our ruin there." Your ruin, yes: but your enemy was not coming + from Alsace and the southwest then. He was coming from Austria; and your + own home lay on the southwest: it is all different now! Friedrich might + well think himself bewitched not to have gone for Cham and Furth, and the + Passes of the Bohmer-Wald, according to his own notion. But so it was; he + yielded to the big reputation of Belleisle, and to fear of what the world + would say of him in France; a weakness which he will perhaps be taught not + to repeat. In fact, he is now about to be taught several things;—and + will have to pay his school-wages as he goes. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + FRIEDRICH, LEAVING SMALL GARRISON IN PRAG, RUSHES SWIFTLY UP THE MOLDAU + VALLEY, UPON THE TABOR-BUDWEIS COUNTRY; TO PLEASE HIS FRENCH FRIENDS. + </h2> + <p> + Friedrich made no delay in Prag; in haste at this late time of year. + September 17th, on the very morrow of the Siege, the Prussians get in + motion southward; on the 19th, Friedrich, from his post to north of the + City, defiles through Prag, on march to Kunraditz,—first stage on + that questionable Expedition up the Moldau Valley, right bank; towards + Tabor, Budweis, Neuhaus; to threaten Austria, and please Belleisle and the + French. + </p> + <p> + Prag is left under General Einsiedel with a small garrison of 5,000;—Einsiedel, + a steady elderly gentleman, favorite of Friedrich Wilhelm's, has brief + order, or outline of order to be filled up by his own good sense. + Posadowsky follows the march, with as many meal-wagons as possible,—draught-cattle + in very ineffectual condition. Our main Magazine is at Leitmeritz (should + have been brought on to Prag, thinks Friedrich); Commissariat very + ill-managed in comparison to what it ought to be,—to what it shall + be, if we ever live to make another Campaign. Heavy artillery is left in + Prag (another fault); and from each regiment, one of its baggage-wagons. [ + <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> i. 1083; Orlich, ii. 41 et seqq.; <i>Frederic,</i> + iii. 59; &c.] "We rest a day here at Kunraditz: 21st September, get to + the Sazawa River;—22d, to Bistritz (rest a day);—26th, to + Miltschin; and 27th, to Tabor:"—But the Diary would be tedious. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich goes in two Columns; one along the great road towards Tabor, + under Schwerin this, and Friedrich mainly with him; the other to the + right, along the River's bank, under Leopold, Young Dessauer, which has to + go by wild country roads, or now and then roads of its own making; and + much needs the pioneer (a difficult march in the shortening days). + Posadowsky follows with the proviant, drawn by cattle of the horse and ox + species, daily falling down starved: great swearing there too, I doubt + not! General Nassau is vanguard, and stretches forward successfully at a + much lighter pace. + </p> + <p> + There are two Rivers, considerable branches of the Moldau, coming from + eastward; which, and first of them the Sazawa, concern us here. After + mounting the southern Uplands from Prag for a day or two, you then begin + to drop again, into the hollow of a River called Sazawa, important in + Bohemian Wars. It is of winding course, the first considerable branch of + the Moldau, rising in Teutschbrod Country, seventy or eighty miles to east + of us: in regard to Sazawa, there is, at present, no difficulty about + crossing; the Country being all ours. After the Sazawa, mount again, long + miles, day after day, through intricate stony desolation, rocks, bogs, + untrimmed woods, you will get to Miltschin, thence to Tabor: Miltschin is + the crown of that rough moor country; from Prag to Tabor is some sixty + miles. After Miltschin the course of those brown mountain-brooks is all + towards the Luschnitz, the next considerable branch of the Moldau; branch + still longer and more winding than the Sazawa; Tabor towers up near this + branch; Budweis, on the Moldau itself, is forty miles farther; and there + at last you are out of the stony moors, and in a rich champaign + comfortable to man and horse, were you but once there, after plodding + through the desolations. But from that Sazawa by the Luschnitz on to + Budweis, mounting and falling in such fashion, there must be ninety miles + or thereby. Plod along; and keep a sharp eye on the whirling clouds of + Pandours, for those too have got across upon us,—added to the other + tempests of Autumn. + </p> + <p> + On the ninth day of their march, the Prussians begin to descry on the + horizon ahead the steeples and chimney-tops of Tabor, on its high scarped + rock, or "Hill of Zisca,"—for it was Zisca and his Hussites that + built themselves this Bit of Inexpugnability, and named it Tabor from + their Bibles,—in those waste mountain regions. On the tenth day + (27th September), the Prussians without difficulty took Tabor; walls being + ruined, garrison small. We lie at Tabor till the 30th, last day of + September. Thence, 2d October, part of us to Moldau-Tein rightwards; where + cross the Moldau by a Bridge,—"Bridge" one has heard of, in old + Broglio times;—cross there, with intent (easily successful) to + snatch that "Castle of Frauenberg," darling of Broglio, for which he + fought his Pharsalia of a Sahay to no purpose! + </p> + <p> + Both Columns got united at Tabor; and paused for a day or two, to rest, + and gather up their draggled skirts there. The Expedition does not improve + in promise, as we advance in it; the march one of the most untowardly; and + Posadowsky comes up with only half of his provision-carts,—half of + his cattle having fallen down of bad weather, hill-roads and starvation; + what could he do? That is an ominous circumstance, not the less. + </p> + <p> + Three things are against the Prussians on this march; two of them + accidental things. FIRST, there is, at this late season too, the intrinsic + nature of the Country; which Friedrich with emphasis describes as boggy, + stony, precipitous; a waste, hungry and altogether barren Country,—too + emphatically so described. But then SECONDLY, what might have been + otherwise, the Population, worked upon by Austrian officials, all fly from + the sight of us; nothing but fireless deserted hamlets; and the corn, if + they ever had any, all thrashed and hidden. No amount of money can + purchase any service from them. Poor dark creatures; not loving Austria + much, but loving some others even less, it would appear. Of Bigoted Papist + Creed, for one thing; that is a great point. We do not meddle with their + worship more or less; but we are Heretics, and they hate us as the Night. + Which is a dreadful difficulty you always have in Bohemia: nowhere but in + the Circle of Konigsgraz, where there are Hussites (far to the rear of us + at this time), will you find it otherwise. This is difficulty second. + </p> + <p> + Then, THIRDLY, what much aggravates it,—we neglected to abolish + Bathyani! And here are Bathyani's Pandours come across the Moldau on us. + Plenty of Pandours;—to whom "10,000 fresh Hungarians," of a new + Insurrection which has been got up there, are daily speeding forward to + add themselves:—such a swarm of hornets, as darkens the very + daylight for you. Vain to scourge them down, to burn them off by blaze of + gunpowder: they fly fast; but are straightway back again. They lurk in + these bushy wildernesses, scraggy woods: no foraging possible, unless + whole regiments are sent out to do it; you cannot get a letter safely + carried for them. They are an unspeakable contemptible grief to the + earnest leader of men.—Let us proceed, however; it will serve + nothing to complain. Let us hope the French sit well on the skirts of + Prince Karl: these sorrowful labors may all turn to good, in that case. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich pushes on from Tabor; shoots partly (as we have seen) across the + Moldau, to the left bank as well; captures romantic Frauenberg on its high + rock, where Broglio got into such a fluster once. We could push to Pisek, + too, and make a "Bivouac of Pisek," if we lost our wits! Nassau is in + Budweis, in Neuhaus; and proper garrisons are gone thither: nothing + wanting on our side of the business. But these Pandours, these 10,000 + Insurrection Hungarians, with their Trencks spurring them! A continual + unblessed swarm of hornets, these; which shut out the very light of day + from us. Too literally the light of day: we can get no free messaging from + part to part of our own Army even. "As many as six Orderlies have been + despatched to an outlying General; and not one of them could get through + to him. They have snapt up three Letter-bags destined for the King + himself. For four weeks he is absolutely shut out from the rest of + Europe;" knows not in the least what the Kaiser, or the Most Christian or + any other King, is doing; or whether the French are sitting well on Prince + Karl's skirts, or not attempting that at all. This also is a thing to be + amended, a thing you had to learn, your Majesty? An Army absolutely shut + out from news, from letters, messages to or fro, and groping its way in + darkness, owing to these circumambient thunder-clouds of Tolpatches, is + not a well-situated Army! And alas, when at last the Letter-bag did get + through, and—But let us not anticipate! + </p> + <p> + At Tabor there arose two opinions; which, in spite of the King's presence, + was a new difficulty. South from Tabor a day's march, the Highway splits; + direct way for Vienna; left-hand goes to Neuhaus, right-hand, or + straightforward rather, goes to Budweis, bearing upon Linz: which of these + two? Nassau has already seized Budweis; and it is a habitable champaign + country in comparison. Neuhaus, farther from the Moldau and its uses, but + more imminent on Austria, would be easy to seize; and would frighten the + Enemy more. Leopold the Young Dessauer is for Budweis; rapid Schwerin, a + hardy outspoken man, is emphatic for the other place as Head-quarter. So + emphatic are both, that the two Generals quarrel there; and Friedrich + needs his authority to keep them from outbreaks, from open incompatibility + henceforth, which would be destructive to the service. For the rest, + Friedrich seizes both places; sends a detachment to Neuhaus as well; but + holds by Budweis and the Moldau region with his main Army; which was not + quite gratifying to the hardy Schwerin. On the opposite or left bank, + holding Frauenberg, the renowned Hill-fortress there, we make inroads at + discretion: but the country is woody, favorable to Pandours; and the right + bank is our chief scene of action. How we are to maintain ourselves in + this country? To winter in these towns between the Sazawa and the + Luschnitz? Unless the French sit well on Prince Karl's skirts, it will not + be possible. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE FRENCH ARE LITTLE GRATEFUL FOR THE PLEASURE DONE THEM AT SUCH RUINOUS + EXPENSE. + </h2> + <p> + French sitting well on Prince Karl's skirts? They are not molesting Prince + Karl in the smallest; never tried such a thing;—are turned away to + the Brisgan, to the Upper Rhine Country; gone to besiege Freyburg there, + and seize Towns; about the Lake of Constance, as if there were no + Friedrich in the game! It must be owned the French do liberally pay off + old scores against Friedrich,—if, except in their own imagination, + they had old scores against him. No man ever delivered them from a more + imminent peril; and they, the rope once cut that was strangling them, + magnificently forget who cut it; and celebrate only their own + distinguished conduct during and after the operation. To a degree truly + wonderful. + </p> + <p> + It was moonlight, clear as day that night, 23d August, when Prince Karl + had to recross the Rhine, close in their neighborhood; [<i>Guerre de + Boheme,</i> iii. 196.]—and instead of harassing Prince Karl "to half + or to whole ruin," as the bargain was, their distinguished conduct + consisted in going quietly to their beds (old Marechal de Noailles even + calling back some of his too forward subalterns), and joyfully leaving + Prince Karl, then and afterwards, to cross the Rhine, and march for + Bohmen, at his own perfect convenience. + </p> + <p> + "Seckendorf will sit on Karl's skirts," they said: "too late for US, this + season; next season, you shall see!" Such was their theory, after Louis + got that cathartic, and rose from bed. Schmettau, with his importunities, + which at last irritated everybody, could make nothing more of it. "Let the + King of France crown his glories by the Siege of Freyburg, the conquest of + Brisgau:—for behoof of the poor Kaiser, don't you observe? Hither + Austria is the Kaiser's;—and furthermore, were Freyburg gone, there + will be no invading of Elsass again" (which is another privately very + interesting point)! + </p> + <p> + And there, at Freyburg, the Most Christian King now is, and his Army up to + the knees in mud, conquering Hither Austria; besieging Freyburg, with much + difficulty owing to the wet,—besieging there with what energy; a + spectacle to the world! And has, for the present, but one wife, no + mistress either! With rapturous eyes France looks on; with admiration too + big for words. Voltaire, I have heard, made pilgrimage to Freyburg, with + rhymed Panegyric in his pocket; saw those miraculous operations of a Most + Christian King miraculously awakened; and had the honor to present said + Panegyric; and be seen, for the first time, by the royal eyes,—which + did not seem to relish him much. [The Panegyric (EPITRE AU ROI DEVANT + FRIBOURG) is in <i>OEuvres de Voltaire,</i> xvii. 184.] Since the first + days of October, Freyburg had been under constant assault; "amid rains, + amid frosts; a siege long and murderous" (to the besieging party);—and + was not got till November 5th; not quite entirely, the Citadels of it, + till November 25th; Majesty gone home to Paris, to illuminations and + triumphal arches, in the interim. [Adelung, iv. 266; Barbier, ii. 414 + (13th November, &c.), for the illuminations, grand in the extreme, in + spite of wild rains and winds.] It had been a difficult and bloody + conquest to him, this of Freyburg and the Brisgau Country; and I never + heard that either the Kaiser or he got sensible advantage by it,—though + Prince Karl, on the present occasion, might be said to get a great deal. + </p> + <p> + "Seckendorf will do your Prince Karl," they had cried always: "Seckendorf + and his Prussian Majesty! Are not we conquering Hither Austria here, for + the Kaiser's behoof?" Seckendorf they did officially appoint to pursue; + appoint or allow;—and laid all the blame on Seckendorf; who perhaps + deserved his share of it. Very certain it is, Seckendorf did little or + nothing to Prince Karl; marched "leisurely behind him through the + Ober-Pfalz,"—skirting Baireuth Country, Karl and he, to Wilhelmina's + grief; [Her Letters ( <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxvii. i. 133, &c.).]—"leisurely + behind him at a distance of four days," knew better than meddle with + Prince Karl. So that Prince Karl, "in twenty-one marches," disturbed only + by the elements and bad roads, reached Waldmunchen 26th September, in the + Furth-Cham Country; [Ranke, iii. 187.] and was heard to exclaim: "We are + let off for the fright, then (NOUS VOILA QUITTES POUR LA PEUR)!"—Seckendorf, + finding nothing to live upon in Ober-Pfalz, could not attend Prince Karl + farther; but turned leftwards home to Bavaria; made a kind of Second + "Reconquest of Bavaria" (on exactly the same terms as the First, Austrian + occupants being all called off to assist in Bohmen again);—concerning + which, here is an Excerpt:— + </p> + <p> + "Seckendorf, following at his leisure, and joined by the Hessians and + Pfalzers, so as now to exceed 30,000, leaves Prince Karl and the rest of + the enterprise to do as it can; and applies himself, for his own share, as + the needfulest thing, to getting hold of Bavaria again, that his poor + Kaiser may have where to lay his head, and pay old servants their wages. + Dreadfully exclaimed against, the old gentleman, especially by the French + co-managers: 'Why did not the old traitor stick in the rear of Prince + Karl, in the difficult passes, and drive him prone,—while we went + besieging Freyburg, and poaching about, trying for a bit of the Brisgau + while chance served!' A traitor beyond doubt; probably bought with money + down: thinks Valori. But, after all, what could Seckendorf do? He is now + of weight for Barenklau and Bavaria, not for much more. He does sweep + Barenklau and his Austrians from Bavaria, clear out (in the course of this + October), all but Ingolstadt and two or three strong towns,—Passau + especially, 'which can be blockaded, and afterwards besieged if needful.' + For the rest, he is dreadfully ill-off for provisions, incapable of the + least, attempt on Passau (as Friedrich urged, on hearing of him again); + and will have to canton himself in home-quarters, and live by his shifts + till Spring. + </p> + <p> + "The noise of French censure rises loud, against not themselves, but + against Seckendorf:—Friedrich, before that Tolpatch eclipse of + Correspondence [when three of his Letter-bags were seized, and he fell + quite dark], had too well foreboded, and contemptuously expressed his + astonishment at the blame BOTH were well earning: Passau, said he, cannot + you go at least upon Passau; which might alarm the Enemy a little, and + drag him homewards? 'Adieu, my dear Seckendorf, your Officer will tell you + how we did the Siege of Prag. You and your French are wetted hens (POULES + MOUILLEES),'—cowering about like drenched hens in a day of set rain. + 'As I hear nothing of either of you, I must try to get out of this + business without your help;'"—otherwise it will be ill for me + indeed! [Excerpted Fragment of a Letter from Friedrich,—(exact date + not given, date of EXCERPT is, Donanworth Country, 23d September, 1744),—which + the French Agent in Seckendorf's Army had a reading of (<i>Campagnes de + Coigny,</i> iv. 185-187; ib. 216-219: cited in Adelung, iv. 225).] "Which + latter expression alarmed the French, and set them upon writing and + bustling, but not upon doing anything." + </p> + <p> + "Prince Karl had crossed the Rhine unmolested, in the clearest moonlight, + August 23d-24th; Seckendorf was not wholly got to Heilbronn, September + 8th: a pretty way behind Prince Karl! The 6,000 Hessians, formerly in + English pay, indignant Landgraf Wilhelm [who never could forgive that + Machiavellian conduct of Carteret at Hanau, never till he found out what + it really was] has, this year, put into French pay. And they have now + joined Seckendorf; [Espagnac, ii. 13; Buchholz, ii. 123.] Prince Friedrich + [Britannic Majesty's Son-in-law], not good fat Uncle George, commanding + them henceforth:—with extreme lack of profit to Prince Friedrich, to + the Hessians, and to the French, as will appear in time. These 6,000, and + certain thousands of Pfalzers likewise in French pay, are now with + Seckendorf, and have raised him to above 30,000;—it is the one fruit + King Friedrich has got by that 'Union of Frankfurt,' and by all his long + prospective haggling, and struggling for a 'Union of German Princes in + general.' Two pears, after that long shaking of the tree; both pears + rotten, or indeed falling into Seckendorf, who is a basket of such + quality! 'Seckendorf, increased in this munificent manner, can he still do + nothing?' cry the French: 'the old traitor!'—'I have no magazines,' + said Seckendorf, 'nothing to live upon, to shoot with; no money!' And it + is a mutual crescendo between the 'perfidious Seckendorf' and them; + without work done. In the Nurnberg Country, some Hussars of his picked up + Lord Holderness, an English Ambassador making for Venice by that bad + route. 'Prisoner, are not you?' But they did not use him ill; on + consideration, the Heads of Imperial Departments gave him a Pass, and he + continued his Venetian Journey (result of it zero) without farther + molestation that I heard of. [Adelung, iv. 222.] + </p> + <p> + "These French-Seckendorf cunctations, recriminations and drenched-hen + procedures are an endless sorrow to poor Kaiser Karl; who at length can + stand it no longer; but resolves, since at least Bavaria, though moneyless + and in ruins, is his, he will in person go thither; confident that there + will be victual and equipment discoverable for self and Army were he + there. Remonstrances avail not: 'Ask me to die with honor, ask me not to + lie rotting here;' [Ib. iv. 241.]—and quits Frankfurt, and the + Reich's-Diet and its babble, 17th October, 1744 (small sorrow, were it for + the last time),—and enters his Munchen in the course of a week. + [17th October, 1744, leaves Frankfurt; arrives in Munchen 23d (Adelung, + iv. 241-244).] Munchen is transported with joy to see the Legitimate + Sovereign again; and blazes into illuminations,—forgetful who caused + its past wretchednesses, hoping only all wretchedness is now ended. Let + ruined huts, and Cham and the burnt Towns, rebuild themselves; the wasted + hedges make up their gaps again: here is the King come home! Here, sure + enough, is an unfortunate Kaiser of the Holy Romish Reich, who can once + more hope to pay his milk-scores, being a loved Kurfurst of Bavaria at + least. Very dear to the hearts of these poor people;—and to their + purses, interests and skins, has not he in another sense been dear? What a + price the ambitions and cracked phantasms of that weak brain have cost the + seemingly innocent population! Population harried, hungered down, dragged + off to perish in Italian Wars; a Country burnt, tribulated, torn to ruin, + under the harrow of Fate and ruffian Trenck and Company. Britannic George, + rather a dear morsel too, has come much cheaper hitherto. England is not + yet burnt; nothing burning there,—except the dull fire of deliriums; + Natural Stupidities all set flaming, which (whatever it may BE in the way + of loss) is not felt as a loss, but rather as a comfort for the time + being;—and in fact there are only, say, a forty or fifty thousand + armed Englishmen rotted down, and scarcely a Hundred Millions of money yet + spent. Nothing to speak of, in the cause of Human Liberty. Why Populations + suffer for their guilty Kings? My friend, it is the Populations too that + are guilty in having such Kings. Reverence, sacred Respect for Human + Worth, sacred Abhorrence of Human Unworth, have you considered what it + means? These poor Populations have it not, or for long generations have + had it less and less. Hence, by degrees, this sort of 'Kings' to them, and + enormous consequences following!"— + </p> + <p> + Karl VII. got back to Munchen 23d October, 1744; and the tar-barrels being + once burnt, and indispensable sortings effected, he went to the field + along with Seckendorf, to encourage his men under Seckendorf, and urge the + French by all considerations to come on. And really did what he could, + poor man. But the cordage of his life had been so strained and torn, he + was not now good for much; alas, it had been but little he was ever good + for. A couple of dear Kurfursts, his Father and he; have stood these + Bavarian Countries very high, since the Battle of Blenheim and downwards! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter IV.—FRIEDRICH REDUCED TO STRAITS; CANNOT MAINTAIN HIS MOLDAU + CONQUESTS AGAINST PRICE KARL. + </h2> + <p> + One may fancy what were Friedrich's reflections when he heard that Prince + Karl had, prosperously and unmolested, got across, by those Passes from + the Ober-Pfalz, into Bohmen and the Circle of Pilsen, into junction with + Bathyani and his magazines; ["At Mirotitz, October 2d" (Ranke, iii. 194); + Orlich, ii. 49.] heard, moreover, that the Saxons, 20,000 strong, under + Weissenfels, crossing the Metal Mountains, coming on by Eger and Karlsbad + regions, were about uniting with him (bound by Treaty to assist the + Hungarian Majesty when invaded);—and had finally, what confirms + everything, that the said Prince Karl in person (making for Budweis, "just + seen his advanced guard," said rumor under mistake) was but few miles off. + Few miles off, on the other side of the Moldau;—of unknown strength, + hidden in the circumambient clouds of Pandours. + </p> + <p> + Suppressing all the rages and natural reflections but those needful for + the moment, Friedrich (October 4th, by Moldau-Tein) dashes across the + Moldau, to seek Prince Karl, at the place indicated, and at once smite him + down if possible;—that will be a remedy for all things. Prince Karl + is not there, nor was; the indication had been false; Friedrich searches + about, for four days, to no purpose. Prince Karl, he then learns for + certain, has crossed the Moldau farther down, farther northward, between + Prag and us. Means to cut us off from Prag, then, which is our fountain of + life in these circumstances? That is his intention:—"Old Traun, who + is with him, understands his trade!" thinks Friedrich. Traun, or the + Prince, is diligently forming magazines, all the Country carrying to him, + in the Town of Beneschau, hither side of the Sazawa, some seventy miles + north of us, an important Town where roads meet:—unless we can get + hold of Beneschau, it will be ill with us here! Across the River again, at + any rate; and let us hasten thither. That is an affair which must be + looked to; and speed is necessary! + </p> + <p> + OCTOBER 8th, After four days' search ending in this manner, Friedrich + swiftly crosses towards Tabor again, to Bechin (over on the Luschnitz, one + march), there to collect himself for Beneschau and the other intricacies. + Towards Tabor again, by his Bridge of Moldau-Tein;—clouds of Pandour + people, larger clouds than usual, hanging round; hidden by the woods till + Friedrich is gone. Friedrich being gone, there occurs the AFFAIR OF + MOLDAU-TEIN, much talked of in Prussian Books. Of which, in extreme + condensation, this is the essence:— + </p> + <p> + "OCTOBER 9th. Friedrich once off to Bechin, the Pandour clouds gather on + his rearguard next day at Tein Bridge here, to the number of about 10,000 + [rumor counts 14,000]; and with desperate intent, and more regularity than + usual, attack the Tein-Bridge Party, which consists of perhaps 2,000 + grenadiers and hussars, the whole under Ziethen's charge,—obliged to + wait for a cargo of Bread-wagons here. 'Defend your Bridge, with cannon, + with case-shot:' that is what the grenadiers do. The Pandour cloud, with + horrid lanes cut in it, draws back out of this; then plunges at the River + itself, which can be ridden above or below; rides it, furious, by the + thousand: 'Off with your infantry; quit the Bridge!' cries Ziethen to his + Captain there: 'Retire you, Parthian-like; thrice-steady,' orders Ziethen: + 'It is to be hoped our hussars can deal with this mad-doggery!' And they + do it; cutting in with iron discipline, with fierceness not undrilled; a + wedge of iron hussars, with ditto grenadiers continually wheeling, like so + many reapers steady among wind-tossed grain; and gradually give the + Pandours enough. Seven hours of it, in all: 'of their sixty cartridges the + grenadiers had fired fifty-four,' when it ended, about 7 P.M. The coming + Bread-wagons, getting word, had to cast their loaves into the River (sad + to think of); and make for Bechin at their swiftest. But the rearguard got + off with its guns, in this victorious manner: thanks to Major-General + Ziethen, Colonel Reusch and the others concerned. [<i>Feldzuge der + Preussen,</i> i. 268; Orlich, ii. 55.] + </p> + <p> + "Ziethen handsels his Major-Generalcy in this fine way: [Patent given him + "3d October, 1744," only a week ago, "and ordered to be dated eight months + back" (Rodenbeck, i. 109).] a man who has had promotion, and also has had + none, and may again come to have none;—and is able to do either way. + Never mind, my excellent tacit friend! Ziethen is five-and-forty gone; has + a face which is beautiful to me, though one of the coarsest. Face + thrice-honest, intricately ploughed with thoughts which are well kept + silent (the thoughts, indeed, being themselves mostly inarticulate; + thoughts of a simple-hearted, much-enduring, hot-tempered son of iron and + oatmeal);—decidedly rather likable, with its lazily hanging + under-lip, and respectable bearskin cylinder atop." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + FRIEDRICH TRIES TO HAVE BATTLE FROM PRINCE KARL, IN THE MOLDAU COUNTRIES; + CANNOT, OWING TO THE SKILL OF PRINCE KARL OR OF OLD FELDMARSCHALL TRAUN;—HAS + TO RETIRE BEHIND THE SAZAWA, AND ULTIMATELY BEHIND THE ELBE, WITH MUCH + LABOR IN VAIN. + </h2> + <p> + OCTOBER 14th-18th: RETREAT FROM BECHIN-TABOR COUNTRY TO BENESCHAU. ... + "These Pandours give us trouble enough; no Magazine here, no living to be + had in this Country beside them. Unfortunate Colonel Jahnus went out from + Tabor lately, to look after requisitioned grains: infinite Pandours set + upon him [Muhlhausen is the memorable place]; Jahnus was obstinate (too + obstinate, thinks Friedrich), and perished on the ground, he and 200 of + his. [ <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> iii. 61.] Nay, next, a swarm of them + came to Tabor itself, Nadasti at their head; to try whether Tabor, with + its small garrison, could not be escaladed, and perhaps Prince Henri, who + lies sick there, be taken? Tabor taught them another lesson; sent them + home with heads broken;—which Friedrich thinks was an extremely + suitable thing. But so it stands: Here by the thousand and the ten + thousand they hang round us; and Prince Karl—It is of all things + necessary we get hold of that Beneschau, and the Magazine he is gathering + there! + </p> + <p> + "Rapidity is indispensable,—and yet how quit Tabor? We have + detachments out at Neuhaus, at Budweis, and in Tabor 300 men in hospital, + whom there are no means of carrying. To leave them to the Tolpaches? + Friedrich confesses he was weak on this occasion; he could not leave these + 300 men, as was his clear duty, in this extremity of War. He ordered in + his Neuhaus Detachment; not yet any of the others. He despatched Schmerin + towards Beneschau with all his speed; Schwerin was lucky enough to take + Beneschau and its provender,—a most blessed fortune,—and + fences himself there. Hearing which, Friedrich, having now got the Neuhaus + Detachment in hand, orders the other Three, the Budweis, the Tabor here, + and the Frauenberg across the River, to maintain themselves; and then, + leaving those southern regions to their chance, hastens towards Beneschau + and Schwerin; encamps (October 18th) near Beneschau,—'Camp of + Konopischt,' unattackable Camp, celebrated in the Prussian Books;—and + there, for eight days, still on the south side of Sazawa, tries every + shift to mend the bad posture of affairs in that Luschnitz-Sazawa Country. + His Three Garrisons (3,000 men in them, besides the 300 sick) he now sees + will not be able to maintain themselves; and he sends in succession 'eight + messengers,' not one messenger of whom could get through, to bid them come + away. His own hope now is for a Battle with Prince Karl; which might + remedy all things. [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> iii. 62-64.]" + </p> + <p> + That is Friedrich's wish; but it is by no means Traun's, who sees that + hunger and wet weather will of themselves suffice for Friedrich. There + ensues accordingly, for three weeks to come, in that confused Country, a + series of swift shufflings, checkings and manoeuvrings between these two, + which is gratifying and instructive to the strategic mind, but cannot be + inflicted upon common readers. Two considerable chess-players, an old and + a young; their chess-board a bushy, rocky, marshy parallelogram, running + fifty miles straight east from Prag, and twenty or fewer south, of which + Prag is the northwest angle, and Beneschau, or the impregnable Konopischt + the southwest: the reader must conceive it; and how Traun will not fight + Friedrich, yet makes him skip hither and thither, chiefly by threatening + his victuals. Friedrich's main magazine is now at Pardubitz, the extreme + northeast angle of the parallelogram. Parallelogram has one river in it, + with the innumerable rocks and brooks and quagmires, the river Sazawa; and + on the north side, where are Kuttenberg, Czaslau, Chotusitz, places again + become important in this business, it is bounded by another river, the + Elbe. Intricate manoeuvring there is here, for three weeks following: "old + Traun an admirable man!" thinks Friedrich, who ever after recognized Traun + as his Schoolmaster in the art of War. We mark here and there a date, and + leave it to readers. + </p> + <p> + "RADICZ, OCTOBER 21st-22d. At Radicz, a march to southwest of us, and on + our side of the Moldau, the Saxons, under Weissenfels, 20,000 effective, + join Prince Karl; which raises his force to 69,514 men, some 10,000 more + than Friedrich is master of. [Orlich, ii. 66.] Prospect of wintering + between the Luschnitz and the Sazawa there is now little; unless they will + fight us, and be beaten. Friedrich, from his inaccessible Camp of + Konopischt, manoeuvres, reconnoitres, in all directions, to produce this + result; but to no purpose. An Austrian Detachment did come, to look after + Beneschau and the Magazines there; but rapidly drew back again, finding + Konopischt on their road, and how matters were. Friedrich will guard the + door of this Sazawa-Elbe tract of Country; hope of the Sazawa-Luschnitz + tract has, in few days, fallen extinct. Here is news come to Konopischt: + our Three poor Garrisons, Budweis, Tabor, Frauenberg, already all lost; + guns and men, after defence to the last cartridge,—in Frauenberg + their water was cut off, it was eight-and-forty hours of thirst at + Frauenberg:—one way or other, they are all Three gone; eight + couriers galloping with message, 'Come away,' were all picked up by the + Pandours; so they stood, and were lost. 'Three thousand fighting men gone, + for the weak chance of saving three hundred who were in hospital!' thinks + Friedrich: War is not a school of the weak pities. For the chance of ten, + you lose a hundred and the ten too. Sazawa-Elbe tract of country, let us + vigilantly keep the door of that! + </p> + <p> + "SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24th, Friedrich out reconnoitring from Konopischt + discovers of a certainty that the whole Austrian-Saxon force is now + advaucing towards Beneschau, and will, this night, encamp at Marschowitz, + to southwest, only one march from us! On the instant Friedrich hurries + back; gets his Army on march thitherward, though the late October sun is + now past noon; off instantly; a stroke yonder will perhaps be the cure of + all. Such roads we had, says Friedrich, as never Army travelled before: + long after nightfall, we arrive near the Austrian camp, bivouac as we can + till daylight return. At the first streak of day, Friedrich and his chief + generals are on the heights with their spy-glasses: Austrian Army sure + enough; and there they have altered their posture overnight (for Traun too + has been awake); they lie now opposite our RIGHT flank; 'on a scarped + height, at the foot of which, through swamps and quagmires, runs a muddy + stream.' Unattackable on this side: their right flank and foot are safe + enough. Creep round and see their left:—Nothing but copses, swampy + intricacies! We may shoulder arms again, and go back to Konopischt: no + fight here! [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> iii. 63, 64; Orlich, ii. 69.] + Speaking of defensive Campaigns, says Friedrich didactically, years + afterwards, 'If such situations are to answer the purpose intended, the + front and flanks must be equally strong, but the rear entirely open. Such, + for instance, are those heights which have an extensive front, and whose + flanks are covered by morasses:—as was Prince Karl's Camp at + Marschowitz in the year 1744, with its front covered by a stream, and the + wings by deep hollows; or that which we ourselves then occupied at + Konopischt,—as you well remember. [<i>Military Instructions</i> + (above cited), p. 44.] + </p> + <p> + "OCTOBER 26th-NOVEMBER 1st. The Sazawa-Luschnitz tract of Country is quite + lost, then; lost with damages: the question now is, Can we keep the + Sazawa-Elbe tract? For about three weeks more, Friedrich struggles for + that object; cannot compass that either. Want of horse-provender is very + great:—country entirely eaten, say the peasants, and not a truss + remaining. October 26th, Friedrich has to cross the Sazawa; we must quit + the door of that tract (hunger driving us), and fight for the interior in + detail. Traun gets to Beneschau in that cheap way; and now, in behalf of + Traun, the peasants find forage enough, being zealous for Queen and creed. + Pandours spread themselves all over this Sazawa-Elbe country; endanger our + subsistences, make our lives miserable. It is the old story: Friedrich, + famine and mud and misery of Pandours compelling, has to retire northward, + Elbe-ward, inch by inch; whither the Austrians follow at a safe distance, + and, in spite of all manoeuvring, cannot be got to fight. + </p> + <p> + "Brave General Nassau, who much distinguishes himself in these businesses, + has (though Friedrich does not yet know it) dexterously seized Kolin, + westward in those Elbe parts,—ground that will be notable in years + coming. Important little feat of Nassau's; of which anon. On the other + hand, our Magazine at Pardubitz, eastward on the Elbe, is not out of + danger: Pandours and regulars 2,000 and odd, 'sixty of the Pandour kind + disguised as peasants leading hay-carts,' made an attempt there lately; + but were detected by the vigilant Colonel, and blown to pieces, in the + nick of time, some of them actually within the gate. [ <i>OEuvres de + Frederic,</i> iii. 65.] Nay, a body of Austrian regulars were in full + march for Kolin lately, intending to get hold of the Elbe itself at that + point (midway between Prag and Pardubitz): but the prompt General Nassau, + as we remarked, had struck in before them; and now holds Kolin;—though, + for several days, Friedrich could not tell what had become of Nassau, + owing to the swarms of Pandours. + </p> + <p> + "Friedrich, standing with his back to Prag, which is fifty miles from him, + and rather in need of his support than able to give him any; and drawing + his meal from the uncertain distance, with Pandours hovering round,—is + in difficult case. While old Traun is kept luminous as mid-day; the + circumambient atmosphere of Pandours is tenebrific to Friedrich, keeps him + in perpetual midnight. He has to read his position as with flashes of + lightning, for most part. A heavy-laden, sorely exasperated man; and must + keep his haggard miseries strictly secret; which I believe he does. Were + Valori here, it is very possible he might find the countenance FAROUCHE + again; eyes gloomy, on damp November mornings! Schwerin, in a huff, has + gone home: Since your Majesty is pleased to prefer his young Durchlaucht + of Anhalt's advice, what can an elderly servant (not without rheumatisms) + do other?—'Well!' answers Friedrich, not with eyes cheered by the + phenomenon. The Elbe-Sazawa tract, even this looks as if it would be hard + to keep. A world very dark for Friedrich, enveloped so by the ill chances + and the Pandours. But what help? + </p> + <p> + "From the French Camp far away, there comes, dated 17th October (third + week of their Siege of Freyburg), by way of help to Friedrich, magnanimous + promise: 'So soon as this Siege is done, which will be speedily, though it + is difficult, we propose to send fifty battalions and a hundred + squadrons,'"—say only 60,000 horse and foot (not a hoof or toe of + which ever got that length, on actually trying it),—"towards + Westphalia, to bring the Elector of Koln to reason [poor Kaiser's lanky + Brother, who cannot stand the French procedures, and has lately sold + himself, that is sold his troops, to England], and keep the King of + England and the Dutch in check,"—by way of solacement to your + Majesty. Will you indeed, you magnanimous Allies?—This was picked up + by the Pandours; and I know not but Friedrich was spared the useless pain + of reading it. [Orlich, ii. 73.] + </p> + <p> + "NOVEMBER 1st-9th: FRIEDRICH LOSES SAZAWA-ELBE COUNTRY TOO. On the first + day of November, here is a lightning-flash which reveals strange things to + Friedrich. Traun's late manoeuvrings, which have been so enigmatic, to + right and to left, upon Prag and other points, issue now in an attempt + towards Pardubitz; which reveals to Friedrich the intention Traun has + formed, of forcing him to choose one of those two places, and let go the + other. Formidable, fatal, thinks Friedrich; and yet admirable on the part + of Traun: 'a design beautiful and worthy of admiration.' If we stay near + Prag, what becomes of our communication with Silesia; what becomes of + Silesia itself? If we go towards Pardubitz, Prag and Bohmen are lost! What + to do? 'Despatch reinforcement to Pardubitz; thanks to Nassau, the + Kolin-Pardubitz road is ours!' That is done, Pardubitz saved for the + moment. Could we now get to Kuttenberg before the old Marshal, his design + were overset altogether. Alas, we cannot march at once, have to wait a day + for the bread. Forward, nevertheless; and again forward, and again; three + heavy marches in November weather: let us make a fourth forced march, + start to-morrow before dawn,—Kuttenberg above all things! In vain; + to-morrow, 4th November, there is such a fog, dark as London itself, from + six in the morning onwards, no starting till noon: and then impossible, + with all our efforts, to reach Kuttenberg. We have to halt an eight miles + short of it, in front of Kolin; and pitch tents there. On the morrow, 5th + November, Traun is found encamped, unattackable, between us and our + object; sits there, at his ease in a friendly Country, with Pandour + whirlpools flowing out and in; an irreducible case to Friedrich. November + 5th, and for three days more, Friedrich, to no purpose, tries his utmost;—finds + he will have to give up the Elbe-Sazawa region, like the others. Monday, + November 9th, Friedrich gathers himself at Kolin; crosses the Elbe by + Kolin Bridge, that day. Point after point of the game going against him." + </p> + <p> + Kolin was, of course, attacked, that Monday evening, so soon as the main + Army crossed: but, so soon as the Army left, General Nassau had taken his + measures; and, with his great guns and his small, handled the Pandours in + a way that pleased us. [ <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> iii. 68.] Thursday + night following, they came back, with regular grenadiers to support; under + cloud of night, in great force, ruffian Trenck at the head of them: a + frightful phenomenon to weak nerves. But this also Nassau treated in such + a fiery fashion that it vanished without return; three hundred dead left + on the ground, and ruffian Trenck riding off with his own crown broken,—beautiful + indigo face streaking itself into GINGHAM-pattern, for the moment! + </p> + <p> + Except Pardubitz, where also the due battalions are left, Friedrich now + holds no post south of the Elbe in this quarter; Elbe-Sazawa Tract is gone + like the others, to all appearance. And we must now say, Silesia or Prag? + Prince Leopold, Council-of-War being held on the matter, is for keeping + hold of Prag: "Pity to lose all the excellent siege-artillery we brought + thither," says he. True, too true; an ill-managed business that of Prag! + thinks Friedrich sadly to himself: but what is Prag and artillery, + compared to Silesia? Parthian retreat into Silesia; and let Prag and the + artillery go: that, to Friedrich, is clearly the sure course. Or perhaps + the fatal alternative will not actually arrive? So long as Pardubitz and + Kolin hold; and we have the Elbe for barrier? Truth is, Prince Karl has + himself written to Court that, having now pushed his Enemy fairly over the + Elbe, and winter being come with its sleets and slushes, ruinous to troops + that have been so marched about, the Campaign ought to end;—nay, his + own young Wife is in perilous interesting circumstances, and the poor + Prince wishes to be home. To which, however, it is again understood, Maria + Theresa has emphatically answered, "No,—finish first!" + </p> + <p> + NOVEMBER 9th-19th: WE DEFEND THE ELBE RIVER. Friedrich has posted himself + on the north shore of the Elbe, from Pardubitz to the other side of Kolin; + means to defend that side of the River, where go the Silesian roads. At + Bohdenetz, short way across from Pardubitz, he himself is; Prince Leopold + is near Kolin: thirty miles of river-bank to dispute. The controversy + lasts ten days; ends in ELBE-TEINITZ, a celebrated "passage," in Books and + otherwise. Friedrich is in shaggy, intricate country; no want of dingles, + woods and quagmires; now and then pleasant places too,—here is + Kladrup for example, where our Father came three hundred miles to dine + with the Kaiser once. The grooms and colts are all off at present; Father + and Kaiser are off; and much is changed since then. Grim tussle of War + now; sleety winter, and the Giant Mountains in the distance getting on + their white hoods! Friedrich doubtless has his thoughts as he rides up and + down, in sight of Kladrup, among other places, settling many things; but + what his thoughts were, he is careful not to say except where necessary. + Much is to be looked after, in this River controversy of thirty miles. + Detachments lie, at intervals, all the way; and mounted sentries, a sentry + every five miles, patrol the River-bank; vigilant, we hope, as lynxes. + Nothing can cross but alarm will be given, and by degrees the whole + Prussian force be upon it. This is the Circle of Konigsgratz, this that + now lies to rear; and happily there are a few Hussites in it, not utterly + indisposed to do a little spying for us, and bring a glimmering of + intelligence, now and then. + </p> + <p> + It is now the second week that Frietrich has lain so, with his mounted + patrols in motion, with his Hussite spies; guarding Argus-like this thirty + miles of River; and the Austrians attempt nothing, or nothing with effect. + If the Austrians go home to their winter-quarters, he hopes to issue from + Kolin again before Spring, and to sweep the Elbe-Sazawa Tract clear of + them, after all. Maria Theresa having answered No, it is likely the + Austrians will try to get across: Be vigilant therefore, ye mounted + sentries. Or will they perhaps make an attempt on Prag? Einsiedel, who has + no garrison of the least adequacy, apprises us That "in all the villages + round Prag people are busy making ladders,"—what can that mean? + Friedrich has learned, by intercepted letters, that something great is to + be done on Wednesday, 18th: he sends Rothenburg with reinforcement to + Einsiedel, lest a scalade of Prag should be on the cards. Rothenburg is + right welcome in the lines of Prag, though with reinforcement still + ineffectual; but it is not Prag that is meant, nor is Wednesday the day. + Through Wednesday, Friedrich, all eye and ear, could observe nothing: much + marching to and fro on the Austrian side of the River; but apparently it + comes to nothing? The mounted patrols had better be vigilant, however. + </p> + <p> + On the morrow, 5 A.M., what is this that is going on? Audible booming of + cannon, of musketry and battle, echoing through the woods, penetrates to + Friedrich's quarters at Bohdenetz in the Pardubitz region: Attack upon + Kolin, Nassau defending himself there? Out swift scouts, and see! Many + scouts gallop out; but none comes back. Friedrich, for hours, has to + remain uncertain; can only hope Nassau will defend himself. Boom go the + distant volleyings; no scout comes back. And it is not Nassau or Kolin; it + is something worse: very glorious for Prussian valor, but ruinous to this + Campaign. + </p> + <p> + The Austrians, at 2 o'clock this morning, Austrians and Saxons, came in + great force, in dead silence, to the south brink of the River, opposite a + place called Teinitz (Elbe-Teinitz), ten miles east of Kolin; that was the + fruit of their marching yesterday. They sat there forbidden to speak, to + smoke tobacco or do anything but breathe, till all was ready; till + pontoons, cannons had come up, and some gleam of dawn had broken. At the + first gleam of dawn, as they are shoving down their pontoon boats, there + comes a "WER-DA, Who goes?" from our Prussian patrol across the River. + Receiving no answer, he fires; and is himself shot down. One Wedell, + Wedell and Ziethen, who keep watch in this part, start instantly at sound + of these shots; and make a dreadful day of it for these invasive Saxon and + Austrian multitudes. Naturally, too, they send off scouts, galloping for + more help, to the right and to the left. But that avails not. Wild doggery + of Pandours, it would seem, have already swum or waded the River, above + Teinitz and below:—"Want of vigilance!" barks Friedrich impatiently: + but such a doggery is difficult to watch with effect. At any rate, to the + right and to the left, the woods are already beset with Pandours; every + scout sent out is killed: and to east or to west there comes no news but + an echoing of musketry, a boom of distant cannon. [Orlich, ii. 82-85.] + Saxon-Austrian battalions, four or five, with unlimited artillery going, + VERSUS Wedell's one battalion, with musketry and Ziethen's hussars: it is + fearful odds. The Prussians stand to it like heroes; doggedly, for four + hours, continue the dispute,—till it is fairly desperate; "two + bridges of the enemy's now finished;"—whereupon they manoeuvre off, + with Parthian or Prussian countenance, into the woods, safe, towards + Kolin; "despatching definite news to Friedrich, which does arrive about 11 + A.M., and sets him at once on new measures." + </p> + <p> + This is a great feat in the Prussian military annals; for which, sad as + the news was, Wedell got the name of Leonidas attached to him by Friedrich + himself. And indeed it is a gallant passage of war; "Forcing of the Elbe + at Teinitz;" of which I could give two Narratives, one from the Prussian, + and one from the Saxon side; [Seyfarth, <i>Beylage,</i> i. 595-598; <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> + ii. 1175-1181.] didactic, admonitory to the military mind, nay to the + civic reader that has sympathy with heroisms, with work done manfully, and + terror and danger and difficulty well trampled under foot. Leonidas Wedell + has an admirable silence, too; and Ziethen's lazily hanging under-lip is + in its old attitude again, now that the spasm is over. "WAS THUTS? They + are across, without a doubt. We would have helped it, and could not. + Steady!"— + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + FRIEDRICH'S RETREAT; ESPECIALLY EINSIEDEL'S FROM PRAG. + </h2> + <p> + Seeing, then, that they are fairly over, Friedrich, with a creditable + veracity of mind, sees also that the game is done; and that same night he + begins manoeuvring towards Silesia, lest far more be lost by continuing + the play. One column, under Leopold the Young Dessauer, goes through + Glatz, takes the Magazine of Pardubitz along with it: good to go in + several columns, the enemy will less know which to chase. Friedrich, with + another column, will wait for Nassau about Konigsgratz, then go by the + more westerly road, through Nachod and the Pass of Braunau. Nassau, who is + to get across from Kolin, and join us northwards, has due rendezvous + appointed him in the Konigsgratz region. Einsiedel, in Prag, is to spike + his guns, since he cannot carry them; blow up his bastions, and the like; + and get away with all discretion and all diligence,—northwestward + first, to Leitmeritz, where our magazines are; there to leave his heavier + goods, and make eastward towards Friedland, and across the "Silesian + Combs" by what Passes he can. Will have a difficult operation; but must + stand to it. And speed; steady, simultaneous, regular, unresting velocity; + that is the word for all. And so it is done,—though with difficulty, + on the part of poor Einsiedel for one. It was Thursday, 19th November, + when the Austrians got across the Elbe: on Monday, 23d, the Prussian + rendezvousings are completed; and Friedrich's column, and the Glatz one + under Leopold, are both on march; infinite baggage-wagons groaning orderly + along ("sick-wagons well ahead," and the like precautions and + arrangements), on both these highways for Silesia: and before the week + ends, Thursday, 26th, even Einsiedel is under way. Let us give something + of poor Einsiedel, whose disasters made considerable noise in the world, + that Winter and afterwards. + </p> + <p> + "The two main columns were not much molested; that which went by Glatz, + under Leopold, was not pursued at all. On the rear of Friedrich's own + column, going towards Braunau, all the way to Nachod or beyond, there hung + the usual doggery of Pandours, which required whipping off from time to + time; but in the defiles and difficult places due precaution was taken, + and they did little real damage. Truchsess von Waldburg [our old friend of + the Spartan feat near Austerlitz in the MORAVIAN-FORAY time, whom we have + known in London society as Prussian Envoy in bygone years] was in one of + the divisions of this column; and one day, at a village where there was a + little river to cross (river Mietau, Konigsgratz branch of the Elbe), got + provoked injudiciously into fighting with a body of these people. Intent + not on whipping them merely, but on whipping them to death, Truchsess had + already lost some forty men, and the business with such crowds of them was + getting hot; when, all at once a loud squeaking of pigs was heard in the + village,"—apprehensive swineherd hastily penning his pigs belike, + and some pig refractory;—"at sound of which, the Pandour multitude + suddenly pauses, quits fighting, and, struck by a new enthusiasm, rushes + wholly into the village; leaving Truchsess, in a tragi-comic humor, + victorious, but half ashamed of himself. [ <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + iii. 73.] In the beginning of December, Friedrich's column reached home, + by Braunau through the Mountains, the same way part of it had come in + August; not quite so brilliant in equipment now as then. + </p> + <p> + "It was upon Einsiedel's poor Garrison, leaving Prag in such haste, that + the real stress of the retreat fell; its difficulties great indeed, and + its losses great. Einsiedel did what was possible; but all things are not + possible on a week's warning. He spiked great guns, shook endless + hundredweights of powder, and 10,000 stand of arms, into the River; he + requisitioned horses, oxen, without number; put mines under the bastions, + almost none of which went off with effect. He kept Prag accurately shut, + the Praguers accurately in the dark; took his measures prudently; and + labored night and day. One measure I note of him: stringent Proclamation + to the inhabitants of Prag, 'Provision yourselves for three months; + nothing but starvation ahead otherwise.' Alas, we are to stand a fourth + siege, then? say the Praguers. But where are provisions to be had? At such + and such places; from the Royal Magazines only, if you bring a certificate + and ready money! Whereby Einsiedel got delivered of his meal-magazine, for + one thing. But his difficulties otherwise were immense. + </p> + <p> + "On the Thursday morning, 26th November, 1744, he marched. His wagons had + begun the night before; and went all night, rumbling continuous (Anonymous + of Prag [Second "LETTER from a Citizen, &c." (date, 27th November, see + supra, p. 348), in <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> ii. 1181-1188.] hearing them + well), through the Karlthor, northwest gate of Prag, across the Moldau + Rridge. All night across that bridge,—Leitmeritz road, great road to + the northwest:—followed finally by the march of horse and foot. But + news had already fled abroad. Five hundred Pandours were in the City, + backed by the Butchers' lads and other riotous GESINDEL, before the + rear-guard got away. Sad tugging and wriggling in consequence, much firing + from windows, and uproarious chaos;—so that Rothenburg had at last + to remount a couple of guns, and blow it off with case-shot. A drilled + Prussian rear-guard struggling, with stern composure, through a real bit + of burning chaos. With effect, though not without difficulty. Here is the + scene on the Noldau Bridge, and past that high Hradschin [Old Palace of + the Bohemian Kings (pronounce RADsheen); one of the steepest Royal Sites + in the world.] mass of buildings; all Prag, not the Hradschin only, + struggling to give us fatal farewell if it durst. River is covered with + Pandours firing out of boats; Bridge encumbered to impassability by + forsaken wagons, the drivers of which had cut traces and run; shot comes + overhead from the Hradschin on our left, much shot, infinite tumult all + round; thoroughfare impossible for two-wheeled vehicle, or men in rank. + 'Halt!' cries Colonel Brandes, who has charge of the thing; divides them + in three: 'First one party, deal with these river-boats, that Pandour + doggery; second party, pull these stray wagons to right and left, making + the way clear; third party, drag our own wagons forward, shoulder to + shaft, and yoke them out of shot-range;—you, Captain Carlowitz,' and + calls twenty volunteers to go with Carlowitz, and drag their own cannon, + 'step you forward, keep the gate of that Hradschin till we all pass!' In + this manner, rapid, hard of stroke, clear-headed and with stern + regularity, drilled talent gets the burning Nessus'-shirt wriggled off; + and tramps successfully forth with its baggages. About 11 A.M., this + rearguard of Brandes's did; should have been at seven,—right well + that it could be at all. + </p> + <p> + "Einsiedel, after this, got tolerably well to Leitmeritz; left his heavy + baggage there; then turned at an acute angle right eastward, towards the + Silesian Combs, as ordered: still a good seventy miles to do, and the + weather getting snowy and the days towards their shortest. Worse still; + old Weissenfels, now in Prag with his Saxons, is aware that Einsiedel, + before ending, will touch on a wild high-lying corner of the Lausitz which + is Saxon Country; and thitherward Weissenfels has despatched Chevalier de + Saxe (in plenty of time, November 29th), with horse and foot, to waylay + Einsiedel, and block the entrance of the Silesian Mountains for him. + Whereupon, in the latter end of his long march, and almost within sight of + home, ensues the hardest brush of all for Einsiedel. And, in the + desolation of that rugged Hill country of the Lausitz, 'HOCHWALD (Upper + Weld),' twenty or more miles from Bohemian Friedland, from his entrance on + the Mountain Barrier and Silesian Combs, there are scenes—which gave + rise to a Court-Martial before long. For unexpectedly, on the winter + afternoon (December 9th), Einsiedel, struggling among the snows and + pathless Hills, comes upon Chevalier de Saxe and his Saxon Detachment,—intrenched + with trees, snow-redoubts, and a hollow bog dividing us; plainly + unassailable;—and stands there, without covering, without 'food, + fire, or salt,' says one Eye-witness, 'for the space of fourteen hours.' + Gazing gloomily into it, exchanging a few shots, uncertain what more to + do; the much-dubitating Einsiedel. 'At which the men were so disgusted and + enraged, they deserted [the foreign part of them, I fancy] in groups at a + time,' says the above Eye-witness. Not to think what became of the + equipments, baggage-wagons, sick-wagons:—too evident Einsiedel's + loss, in all kinds, was very considerable. Nassau, despatched by Leopold + out of Glatz, from the other side of the Combs, is marching to help + Einsiedel;—who knows, at this moment, where or whitherward? For the + peasants are all against us; our very guides desert, and become spies. + 'Push to the left, over the Hochwald top, must not we?' thinks Einsiedel: + 'that is Lausitz, a Saxon Country; and Saxony, though the Saxons stand + intrenched here, with the knife at our throat, are not at war with us, oh + no, only allies of her Majesty of Hungary, and neutral otherwise!' And + here, it is too clear, the Chevalier de Saxe stands intrenched behind his + trees and snow; and it is the fourteenth hour, men deserting by the + hundred, without fire and without salt; and Nassau is coming,—God + knows by what road! + </p> + <p> + "Einsiedel pushes to the left, the Hochwald way; finds, in the Hochwald + too, a Saxon Commandant waiting him, with arms strictly shouldered. 'And + we cannot pass through this moor skirt of Lausitz, say you, then?' + 'Unarmed, yes; your muskets can come in wagons after you,' replies the + Saxon Commandant of Lausitz. 'Thousand thanks, Herr Commandant; but we + will not give you all that trouble,' answer Einsiedel and his Prussians; + 'and march on, overwhelming him with politenesses,' says Friedrich;—the + approach of Nassau, above all, being a stringent civility. Of course, + despatch is very requisite to Einsiedel; the Chevalier, with his force, + being still within hail. The Prussians march all night, with pitch-links + flaring,—nights (I think) of the 13th-15th December, 1744, up among + the highlands there, rugged buttresses of the Silesian Combs: a sight + enough to astonish Rubezahl, if he happened to be out! As good chance + would have it, Nassau and Einsiedel, by preconcert, partly by lucky guess + of their own, were hurrying by the same road: three heaven-rending cheers + (December 16th) when we get sight of Nassau; and find that here is land! + December 16th, we are across,—by Ruckersdorf, not far from Friedland + (Bohmisch Friedland, not the Silesian town of that name, once + Wallenstein's);—and rejoice now to look back on labor done." [ <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> + ii. 1181-1190, 1191-1194;—Feldzuge,—i. 278-280.] + </p> + <p> + These were intricate strange scenes, much talked of at the time: + Rothenburg, ugly Walrave, Hacke, and other known figures, concerned in + them. Scenes in which Friedrich is not well informed; who much blames + Einsiedel, as he is apt to do the unsuccessful. Accounts exist, both from + the Prussian and from the Saxon side, decipherable with industry; not now + worth deciphering to English readers. Only that final scene of the + pitch-links, the night before meeting with Nassau, dwells voluntarily in + one's memory. And is the farewell of Einsiedel withal. Friedrich blames + him to the last: though a Court-Martial had sat on his case, some months + after, and honorably acquitted him. Good solid, silent Einsiedel;—and + in some months more, he went to a still higher court, got still stricter + justice: I do not hear expressly that it was the winter marches, or strain + of mind; but he died in 1745; and that flare of pitch-links in Rubezahl's + country is the last scene of him to us,—and the end of Friedrich's + unfortunate First Expedition in the Second Silesian War. + </p> + <p> + "Foiled, ultimately, then, on every point; a totally ill-ordered game on + our part! Evidently we, for our part, have been altogether in the wrong, + in various essential particulars. Amendment, that and no other, is the + word now. Let us take the scathe and the scorn candidly home to us;—and + try to prepare for doing better. The world will crow over us. Well, the + world knows little about it; the world, if it did know, would be partly in + the right!"—Wise is he who, when beaten, learns the reasons of it, + and alters these. This wisdom, it must be owned, is Friedrich's; and much + distinguishes him among generals and men. Veracity of mind, as I say, + loyal eyesight superior to sophistries; noble incapacity of self-delusion, + the root of all good qualities in man. His epilogue to this Campaign is + remarkable;—too long for quoting here, except the first word of it + and the last:— + </p> + <p> + "No General committed more faults than did the King in this Campaign.... + The conduct of M. de Traun is a model of perfection, which every soldier + that loves his business ought to study, and try to imitate, if he have the + talent. The king has himself admitted that he regarded this Campaign as + his school in the Art of War, and M. de Traun as his teacher." But what + shall we say? "Bad is often better for Princes than good;—and + instead of intoxicating them with presumption, renders them circumspect + and modest." [<i>OEuvres,</i> iii.76, 77.] Let us still hope!— + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter V.—FRIEDRICH, UNDER DIFFICULTIES, PREPARES FOR A NEW + CAMPAIGN. + </h2> + <p> + To the Court of Vienna, especially to the Hungarian Majesty, this + wonderful reconquest of Bohemia, without battle fought,—or any cause + assignable but Traun's excellent manoeuvring and Friedrich's imprudences + and trust in the French,—was a thing of heavenly miracle; blessed + omen that Providence had vouchsafed to her prayers the recovery of Silesia + itself. All the world was crowing over Friedrich: but her Majesty of + Hungary's views had risen to a clearly higher pitch of exultation and + triumphant hope, terrestrial and celestial, than any other living + person's. "Silesia back again," that was now the hope and resolution of + her Majesty's high heart: "My wicked neighbor shall be driven out, and + smart dear for the ill he has done; Heaven so wills it!" "Very little + uplifts the Austrians," says Valori; which is true, under such a Queen; + "and yet there is nothing that can crush them altogether down," adds he. + </p> + <p> + No sooner is Bohemia cleared of Friedrich, than Maria, winter as it is, + orders that there be, through the Giant-Mountains, vigorous assault upon + Silesia. Highland snows and ices, what are these to Pandour people, who, + at their first entrance on the scene of History, "crossed the + Palus-Maeotis itself [Father of Quagmires, so to speak] in a frozen + state," and were sufficiently accommodated each in his own dirty + sheepskin? "Prosecute the King of Prussia," ordered she; "take your + winter-quarters in Silesia!"—and Traun, in spite of the advanced + season, and prior labors and hardships, had to try, from the southwestern + Bohemian side, what he could do; while a new Insurrection, coming through + the Jablunka, spread itself over the southeast and east. Seriously + invasive multitudes; which were an unpleasant surprise to Friedrich; and + did, as we shall see, require to be smitten back again, and re-smitten; + making a very troublesome winter to the Prussians and themselves; but by + no means getting winter-quarters, as they once hoped. + </p> + <p> + In a like sense, Maria Theresa had already (December 2d) sent forth her + Manifesto or Patent, solemnly apprising her ever-faithful Silesian + Populations, "That the Treaty of Breslau, not by her fault, is broken; + palpably a Treaty no longer. That they, accordingly, are absolved from all + oaths and allegiance to the King of Prussia; and shall hold themselves in + readiness to swear anew to her Majesty, which will be a great comfort to + such faithful creatures; suffering, as her Majesty explains to them that + they have done, under Prussian tyranny for these two years past. Immediate + dead-lift effort there shall be; that is certain: and 'the Almighty God + assisting, who does not leave such injustices unpunished, We have the + fixed Christian hope, Omnipotence blessing our arms, of almost immediately + (EHESTENS) delivering you from this temporary Bondage (BISHERIGEN JOCH).' + You can pray, in the mean while, for the success of her Majesty's arms; + good fighting, aided by prayer, in a Cause clearly Heaven's, will now, to + appearance, bring matters swiftly round again, to the astonishment and + confusion of bad men." [In <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> ii. 1194-1198; Ib. + 1201-1206, is Friedrich's Answer, "19th December, 1744."] + </p> + <p> + These are her Majesty's views; intensely true, I doubt not, to her devout + heart. Robinson and the English seem not to be enthusiastic in that + direction; as indeed how can they? They would fain be tender of Silesia, + which they have guaranteed; fain, now and afterwards, restrain her Majesty + from driving at such a pace down hill: but the declivity is so + encouraging, her Majesty is not to be restrained, and goes faster and + faster for the time being. And indeed, under less devout forms, the + general impression, among Pragmatic people, Saxon, Austrian, British even, + was, That Friedrich had pretty much ruined himself, and deserved to do so; + that this of his being mere "Auxiliary" to a Kaiser in distress was an + untenable pretext, now justly fallen bankrupt upon him. The evident fact, + That he had by his "Frankfurt Union," and struggles about "union," + reopened the door for French tribulations and rough-ridings in the Reich, + was universally distasteful; all chance of a "general union of German + Princes, in aid of their Kaiser," was extinct for the present. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's rapidity had served him ill with the Public, in this as in + some other instances! Friedrich, contemplating his situation, not + self-delusively, but with the candor of real remorse, was by no means yet + aware how very bad it was. For six months coming, partly as existing facts + better disclosed themselves, as France, Saxony and others showed what + spirit they were of; partly as new sinister events and facts arrived one + after the other,—his outlook continued to darken and darken, till it + had become very dark indeed. There is perennially the great comfort, + immense if you can manage it, of making front against misfortune; of + looking it frankly in the face, and doing with a resolution, hour by hour, + your own utmost against it. Friedrich never lacked that comfort; and was + not heard complaining. But from December 13th, 1744, when he hastened home + to Berlin, under such aspects, till June 4th, 1745, when aspects suddenly + changed, are probably the worst six months Friedrich had yet had in the + world. During which, his affairs all threatening to break down about him, + he himself, behooving to stand firm if the worst was not to realize + itself, had to draw largely on what silent courage, or private + inexpugnability of mind, was in him,—a larger instalment of that + royal quality (as I compute) than the Fates had ever hitherto demanded of + him. Ever hitherto; though perhaps nothing like the largest of all, which + they had upon their Books for him, at a farther stage! As will be seen. + For he was greatly drawn upon in that way, in his time. And he paid + always; no man in his Century so well; few men, in any Century, better. As + perhaps readers may be led to guess or acknowledge, on surveying and + considering. To see, and sympathetically recognize, cannot be expected of + modern readers, in the present great distance, and changed conditions of + men and things. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich, after despatching Nassau to cut out Einsiedel, had delivered + the Silesian Army to the Old Dessauer, who is to command in chief during + Winter; and had then hastened to Berlin,—many things there urgently + requiring his presence; preparations, reparations, not to speak of + diplomacies, and what was the heaviest item of all, new finance for the + coming exertions. In Schweidnitz, on Leopold's appearance, there had been + an interview, due consultings, orderings; which done, Friedrich at once + took the road; and was at Berlin, Monday, December 14th,—precisely + in the time while Nassau and Einsiedel were marching with torchlights in + Rubezahl's Country, and near ending their difficult enterprise better or + worse. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich, fastening eagerly on Home business, is astonished and provoked + to learn that the Austrians, not content with pushing him out of Bohmen, + are themselves pushing into Schlesien,—so Old Leopold reports, with + increasing emphasis day by day; to whom Friedrich sends impatient order: + Hurl them out again; gather what force you need, ten thousand, or were it + twenty or thirty thousand, and be immediate about it; "I will as soon be + pitched (HERAUSGESCHMISSEN) out of the Mark of Brandenburg as out of + Schlesien:" no delay, I tell you! And as the Old Dessauer still explains + that the ten or fifteen thousand he needs are actually assembling, and + cannot be got on march quite in a moment, Friedrich dashes away his + incipient Berlin Operations; will go himself and do it. Haggle no more, + you tedious Old Dessauer:— + </p> + <p> + BERLIN, "19th DECEMBER," 1744. "On the 21st [Monday, one week after my + arriving], I leave Berlin, and mean to be at Neisse on the 24th at latest. + Your Serenity will in the interim make out the Order-of-Battle [which is + also Order-of-March] for what regiments are come in. For I will, on the + 25th, without delay, cross the Neisse, and attack those people, cost what + it may,—to chase them out of Schlesien and Glatz, and follow them so + far as possible. Your Serenity will therefore take your measures, and + provide everything, so far as in this short time you can, that the project + may be executable the moment I arrive." [Friedrich to the Old Dessauer (<i>Orlich,</i> + ii. 356).] + </p> + <p> + And rushed off accordingly, in a somewhat flamy humor; but at Schweidnitz, + where the Old Dessauer met him again, became convinced that the matter was + weightier than he thought; not one of Tolpatchery alone, but had Traun + himself in it. Upon which Friedrich candidly drew bridle; hastened back, + and, with a loss of four days, was at his Potsdam Affairs again. To which + he stuck henceforth, ardently, and I think rather with increase of gloom, + though without spurt of impatience farther, for three months to come. + Before his return,—nay, had he known, it was the night before he + went away,—a strange little thing had happened in the opposite or + Western parts: surprising accident to Marechal de Belleisle; which now + lies waiting his immediate consideration. But let us finish Silesia first. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + OLD DESSAUER REPELS THE SILESIAN INVASION (Winter, 1744-45). + </h2> + <p> + "This Silesian Affair includes due inroad of Pandours; or indeed two + inroads, southwest and southeast; and in the southwest, or Traun quarter, + regulars are the main element of it. Traun, 20,000 strong, PLUS + stormy-enough Pandour ACCOMPANIMENT, is by this time through into Glatz; + in three columns;—is master of all Glatz, except the Rock-Fortress + itself; and has spread himself, right and left, along the Neisse River, + and from the southwest northwards, in a skilful and dangerous manner. In + concert with whom, far to the east, are Pandour whirlwinds on their own + footing (brand-new 'Insurrection' of them, got thus far) starting from + Olmutz and Brunn; scouring that eastern country, as far as Namslau + northward [a place we were at the taking of, in old Brieg times]; much + more, infesting the Mountains of the South. A rather serious thing; with + Traun for general manager of it." + </p> + <p> + With Traun, we say: poor Prince Karl is off, weeks ago; on the saddest of + errands. His beautiful young Wife,—Hungarian Majesty's one Sister, + Vice-Regents of the Netherlands he and she, conspicuous among the bright + couples of the world,—she had a bad lying-in (child still-born), + while those grand Moldau Operations went on; has been ill, poor lady, ever + since; and, at Brussels, on December 16th, she herself lies dead, Prince + Karl weeping over her and the days that will not return. Prince Karl's + felicities, private and public, had been at their zenith lately, which was + very high indeed; but go on declining from this day. Never more the + Happiest of Husbands (did not wed again at all); still less the Greatest + of Captains, equal or superior to Caesar in the Gazetteer judgment, with + distracted EULOGIES, BIOGRAPHIES and such like filling the air: before + long, a War-Captain of quite moderate renown; which we shall see sink + gradually into no renown at all, and even (unjustly) into MINUS + quantities, before all end. A mad world, my masters! + </p> + <p> + "Between Traun on the southwest hand, and his Pandours on the southeast, + the small Prussian posts have all been driven in upon Troppau-Jagerndorf + region; more and more narrowed there;—and, in fine (two days before + this new Interview of Leopold and the impatient King at Schweidnitz), have + had to quit the Troppau-Jagerndorf position; to quit the Hills altogether, + and are now in full march towards Brieg. Of which march I should say + nothing, were it not that Marwitz, Father of Wilhelmina's giggling + Marmitzes, commanded;—and came by his death in the course of it; + though our Wilhelmina is not now there, pen in hand, to tell us what the + effects at Baireuth were. Marwitz had been left for dead on the Field of + Mollwitz; lay so all night, but was nursed to some kind of strength again + by those giggling young women; and came back to Schlesien, to posts of + chief trust, for the last year or two,—was guarding the Mountains, + and even invading Mahren, during the late Campaign;—but saw himself + reduced latterly to Jagerndorf and Troppau; and had even to retreat out of + these. And in the whirlpool of hurries thereupon,—how is not very + clear; by apoplexy, say some; by accidental pistol from a servant of his + own; in actual skirmish with Pandours,—too certainly, one way or the + other, on December 23d (just during that second Interview at Schweidnitz), + brave old Marwitz did suddenly sink dead, and is ended. [<i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> + ii. 1201.] Even so, ye poor giggling creatures, and your loud weeping will + not mend it at all! + </p> + <p> + "Friedrich, looking candidly into these phenomena, could not but see that: + what with Tolpatcheries, what with Traun's 20,000 regulars, and the whole + Army at their back, his Silesian Border is girt in by a very considerable + inroad of Austrians,—huge Chain of them, in horse-shoe form, 300 + miles long, pressing in; from beyond Glatz and Landshut, round by the + southern Mountains, and up eastward again as far as Namslau, nothing but + war whirlwinds in regular or irregular form, in the centre of them Traun;—and + that the Old Dessauer really must have time to gird himself for dealing + with Traun and them. + </p> + <p> + "It was not till January 9th that Old Leopold, 25,000 strong, equipped to + his mind, which was a difficult matter, crossed the Neisse River; and + marched direct upon Traun, with Ziethen charging ahead. Actually marched; + after which the main wrestle was done in a week. January 16th, Old Leopold + got to Jagerndorf; found the actual Traun concentrated at Jagerndorf; and + drew up, to be ready for assault to-morrow morning,—had not Traun, + candidly computing, judged it better to glide wholly away in the + night-time, diligently towards Mahren, breaking the bridges behind him. + And so, in effect, to give up the Silesian Invasion for this time. After + which, though there remained a good deal of rough tussling with Pandour + details, and some rugged exploits of fight, there is—except that of + Lehwald in clearing of Glatz—nothing farther that we can afford to + speak of. Lehwald's exploit, Lehwald VERSUS Wallis (same Wallis who + defended Glogau long since), which came to be talked of, and got name and + date, 'Action of Habelschwert, February 14th,' something almost like a + pitched fight on the small scale, is to the following effect:— + </p> + <p> + "PLOMNITZ, NEAR HABELSCHWERT, 14th FEBRUARY, 1745. Old General Lehwald, + marching in the hollow ground near Habelschwert (hollow of the young + Neisse River, twenty miles south of Glatz), with intent to cut that + Country free; the Enemy, whom he is in search of, appears in great force,—posted + on the uphill ground ahead, half-frozen difficult stream in front of them, + cannon on flank, Pandour multitude in woods; all things betokening + inexpugnability on the part of the Enemy. So that Lehwald has to take his + measures; study well where the vital point is, the root of that extensive + Austrian junglery, and cut in upon the same. By considerable fire of + effort, the uphill ground, half-frozen stream, sylvan Pandours, + cannon-batteries, and what inexpugnabilities there may be, are subdued; + Austrian wide junglery, the root of it slit asunder rolls homeward + simultaneously, not too fast: nay it halted, and re-ranked itself twice + over, finding woods and quaggy runlets to its mind; but was always slit + out again, disrooted, and finally tumbled home, having had enough. 'Wenzel + Wallis,' Friedrich asserts with due scorn, 'was all this while in a + Chapel; praying ardently,' to St. Vitus, or one knows not whom; 'without + effect; till they shouted to him, "Beaten, Sir! Off, or you are lost!" + upon which he sprang to saddle, and spurred with both heels (PIQUA DES + DEUX).' [ <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> iii. 79. 80.] That was the feat of + Lehwald, clearing the Glatz Country with one good cut: a skilful Captain; + now getting decidedly oldish, close on sixty; whom we shall meet again a + dozen years hence, still in harness. + </p> + <p> + "The old Serene Highness himself, face the color of gun-powder, and bluer + in the winter frost, went rushing far and wide in an open vehicle, which + he called his 'cart;' pushing out detachments, supervising everything; + wheeling hither and thither as needful; sweeping out the Pandour world, + and keeping it out: not much of fighting needed, but 'a great deal of + marching [murmurs Friedrich], which in winter is as bad, and wears down + the force of the battalions.' Of all which we give no detail: sufficient + to fancy, in this manner, the Old Dessauer flapping his wide military + wings in the faces of the Pandour hordes, with here and there a hard + twitch from beak or claws; tolerably keeping down the Pandour interest all + Winter. His sons, Leopold and Dietrich, were under him, occasionally + beside him; the Junior Leopold so worn down with feverish gout he could + hardly sit on horseback at all, while old Papa went tearing about in his + cart at that rate." [<i>Unternehmung in Ober-Schlesien, unter dem Fursten + Leopold von Anhalt-Dessau, im Januar und Februar,</i> 1745 (Seyfarth, <i>Beylage,</i> + i. 141-152); Stenzel, iv. 232; &c.] + </p> + <p> + There was, on the 21st of February, TE-DEUM sung in the churches of Berlin + "for the Deliverance of Silesia from Invasion." Not that even yet the + Pandours would be quite quiet, or allow Old Leopold to quit his cart; far + from it. And they returned in such increased and tempestuous state, as + will again require mention, with the earliest Spring:—precursors to + a second, far more serious and deadly "Invasion of Silesia;" for which it + hangs yet on the balance whether there will be a TE-DEUM or a MISERERE to + sing! + </p> + <p> + Hungarian Majesty, disappointed of Silesia,—which, it seems, is not + to be had "all at once (EHESTENS)," in the form of miracle,—makes + amends by a rush upon Seckendorf and Bavaria; attacks Seckendorf furiously + ("Bathyani pressing up the Donau Valley, with Browne on one hand, and + Barenklau on the other") in midwinter; and makes a terrible hand of him; + reducing his "Reconquest of Bavaria" to nothing again, nay to less. Of + which in due time. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE FRENCH FULLY INTEND TO BEHAVE BETTER NEXT SEASON TO FRIEDRICH AND + THEIR GERMAN ALLIES;—BUT ARE PREVENTED BY VARIOUS ACCIDENTS + (November, 1744-April, 1745; April-August, 1745). + </h2> + <p> + It is not divine miracle, Friedrich knows well, that has lost him his late + Bohemian Conquests without battle fought: it was rash choosing of a plan + inexecutable without French co-operation,—culpable blindness to the + chance that France would break its promises, and not co-operate. Had your + Majesty forgotten the Joint-Stock Principle, then? His Majesty has + sorrowful cause to remember it, from this time, on a still larger scale! + </p> + <p> + Reflections, indignant or exculpatory, on the conduct of the French in + this Business are useless to Friedrich, and to us. The performance, on + their part, has been nearly the worst;—though their intentions, + while the Austrian Dragon had them by the throat, were doubtless + enthusiastically good! But, the big Austrian Dragon being jerked away from + Elsass, by Friedrich's treading on his tail, 500 miles off, they were + charmed, quite into new enthusiasm, to be rid of said Dragon: and, instead + of chasing HIM according to bargain, took to destroying his DEN, that he + might be harmless thenceforth. Freyburg is a captured Town, to the joy and + glory of admiring France; and Friedrich's Campaign has gone the road we + see! The Freyburg Illuminations having burnt out, there might rise, in the + triumphant mind, some thought of Friedrich again,—perhaps almost of + a remorseful nature? Certain it is, the French intentions are now again + magnanimous, more so than ever; coupled now with some attempts at + fulfilment, too; which obliges us to mention them here. They were still a + matter of important hope to Friedrich; hope which did not quite go out + till August coming. Though, alas, it did then go out, in gusts of + indignation on Friedrich's part! And as the whole of these magnanimous + French intentions, latter like former, again came to zero, we are + interested only in rendering them conceivable to readers for Friedrich's + sake,—with the more brevity, the better for everybody. Two grand + French Attempts there were; listen, on the threshold, a little:— + </p> + <p> + ... "It is certain the French intend gloriously; regardless of expense. + They are dismantling Freyburg, to render it harmless henceforth. But, + withal, in answer to the poor Kaiser's shrieks, they have sent Segur [our + old Linz friend], with 12,000, to assist Seckendorf; 'the bravest troops + in the world,'"—who did bravely take one beating (at Pfaffenhofen, + as will be seen), and go home again. ("They have Coigny guarding those + fine Brisgau Conquests. And are furthermore diplomatizing diligently, not + to say truculently, in the Rhine Countries; bullying poor little fat + Kur-Trier, lean Kur-Koln and others, 'To join the Frankfurt Union' not one + of whom would, under menace),—though 'it is the clear duty of all + Reich's-Princes with a Kaiser under oppression:'—and have marched + Maillebois, directly after Freyburg, into the Middle-Rhine Countries, to + Koln Country, to Mainz Country, and to and fro, in support of said + compulsory diplomacies;—but without the least effect." + </p> + <p> + To the "Middle-Rhine Countries," observe, and under Maillebois, then under + Conti, little matter under whom: only let readers recollect the name of + it;—for it is the FIRST of the French Attempts to do something of a + joint-stock nature; something for self AND Allies, instead of for self + only. It caused great alarm in those months, to Britannic George and + others; and brought out poor Duc d'Ahremberg with portions (no English + included) of the poor Pragmatic Army, to go marching about in the winter + slushes, instead of resting in bed, [Adelung, iv. 276, 420 ("December, + 1744-June, 1745").]—and is indeed a very loud business in the old + Gazettes and books, till August coming. Business which almost broke poor + D'Ahremberg's heart, he says, "till once I got out of it" (was TURNED out, + in fact): Business of Pragmatic Army, under D'Ahremberg, VERSUS + Middle-Rhine Army under Maillebois, under Conti; Business now wholly of + Zero VERSUS Zero to us,—except for a few dates and reflex + glimmerings upon King Friedrich. Result otherwise—We shall see the + Result! + </p> + <p> + "Attempt SECOND was still more important to Friedrich; being directed upon + the Kaiser and Bavaria. Belleisle is to go thither and take survey; + Belleisle thither first: you may judge if the intention is sincere! Valori + is quite eloquent upon it. Directly after Freyburg, says he, Sechelles, + that first of Commissaries, was sent to Munchen. Sechelles cleared up the + chaos of Accounts; which King Louis then instantly paid. 'Your Imperial + Majesty shall have Magazines also,' said Louis, regardless of expense; + 'and your Army, with auxiliaries (Segur and 25,000 of them French), shall + be raised to 60,000.' Belleisle then came: 'We will have Ingolstadt, the + first thing, in Spring.' Alas, Belleisle had his Accident in the Harz; and + all went aback, from that time." [Valori, i. 322-329.] Aback, too + indisputably, all!—"And Belleisle's Accident?" Patience, readers. + </p> + <p> + "The truth is, Attempt SECOND, and chief, broke down at once [Bathyani + beating it to pieces, as will be seen],—the ruins of it painfully + reacting on Attempt FIRST; which had the like fate some months later;—and + there was no THIRD made. And, in fact, from the date of that latter + down-break, August, or end of July, 1745 [and quite especially from + "September 13th," by which time several irrevocable things had happened, + which we shall hear of], the French withdrew altogether out of German + entanglements; and concentrated themselves upon the Netherlands, there to + demolish his Britannic Majesty, as the likelier enterprise. This was a + course to which, ever since the Exit of Broglio and the Oriflamme, they + had been more and more tending and inclining, 'Nothing for us but loss on + loss, to be had in Germany!' and so they at last frankly gave up that bad + Country. They fought well in the Netherlands, with great splendor of + success, under Saxe VERSUS Cumberland and Company. They did also some + successful work in Italy;—and left Friedrich to bear the brunt in + Germany; too glad if he or another were there to take Germany off their + hand! Friedrich's feelings on his arriving at this consummation, and + during his gradual advance towards it, which was pretty steady all along + from those first 'drenched-hen (POULES MOUILLEES)' procedures, were amply + known to Excellency Valori, and may be conceived by readers,"—who + are slightly interested in the dates of them at farthest. And now for the + Belleisle Accident, with these faint preliminary lights. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + STRANGE ACCIDENT TO MARECHAL DE BELLEISLE IN THE HARZ MOUNTAINS (20th + December, 1744). + </h2> + <p> + Siege of Freyburg being completed, and the River and most other things + (except always the bastions, which we blow up) being let into their old + channels there, Marechal de Belleisle, who is to have a chief management + henceforth,—the Most Christian King recognizing him again as his + ablest man in war or peace,—sets forth on a long tour of + supervision, of diplomacy and general arrangement, to prepare matters for + the next Campaign. Need enough of a Belleisle: what a business we have + made of it, since Friedrich trod on the serpent's tail for us! Nothing but + our own Freyburg to show for ourselves; elsewhere, mere down-rush of + everything whitherward it liked;—and King Friedrich got into such a + humor! Friedrich must be put in tune again; something real and good to be + agreed on at Berlin: let that be the last thing, crown of the whole. The + first thing is, look into Bavaria a little; and how the Kaiser, poor + gentleman, in want of all requisites but good-will, can be put into + something of fighting posture. + </p> + <p> + "In the end of November, Marechal Duc de Belleisle, with his Brother the + Chevalier (now properly the Count, there having been promotions), and a + great retinue more, alights at Munchen; holds counsel with the poor Kaiser + for certain days:—Money wanted; many things wanted; and all things, + we need not doubt, much fallen out of square. 'Those Seckendorf troops in + their winter-quarters,' say our French Inspectors and Segur people, as + usual, 'do but look on it, your Excellency! Scattered, along the valleys, + into the very edge of Austria; Austria will swallow them, the first thing, + next year; they will never rendezvous again except in the Austrian + prisons. Surely, Monseigneur, only a man ignorant of war, or with + treasonous intention [or ill-off for victuals],—could post troops in + that way? Seckendorf is not ignorant of war!' say they. [Valori, i. 206.] + For, in fact, suspicion runs high; and there is no end to the accusations + just and unjust; and Seckendorf is as ill treated as any of us could wish. + Poor old soul. Probably nobody in all the Earth, but his old Wife in the + Schloss of Altenburg, has any pity for him,—if even she, which I + hope. He has fought and diplomatized and intrigued in many countries, very + much; and in his old days is hard bested. Monseigueur, whose part is + rather that of Jove the Cloud-compeller, is studious to be himself + noiseless amid this noise; and makes no alteration in the Seckendorf + troops; but it is certain he meant to do it, thinks Valori." + </p> + <p> + And indeed Seckendorf, tired of the Bavarian bed-of-roses, had privately + fixed with himself to quit the same;—and does so, inexorable to the + very Kaiser, on New-Year arriving. [<i>Seckendorfs Leben,</i> p. 365.] + Succeeded by Thorring (our old friend DRUM Thorring), if that be an + improvement. Marechal de Belleisle has still a long journey ahead, and + infinitely harder problems than these,—assuagement of the King of + Prussia, for example. Let us follow his remarkable steps. + </p> + <p> + "WEDNESDAY, 9th DECEMBER, 1744, the Marechal leaves Munchen, northwards + through OEttingen and the Bamberg-Anspach regions towards Cassel;—journey + of some three hundred and fifty miles: with a great retinue of his own; + with an escort of two hundred horse from the Kaiser; these latter to + prevent any outfall or insult in the Ingolstadt quarter, where the + Austrians have a garrison, not at all very tightly blocked by the + Seckendorf people thereabouts. No insult or outfall occurring, the + Marechal dismisses his escort at OEttingen; fares forward in his twenty + coaches and fourgons, some score or so of vehicles:—mere neutral + Imperial Countries henceforth, where the Kaiser's Agent, as Marechal de + Belleisle can style himself, and Titular Prince of the German Empire + withal, has only to pay his way. By Donauworth, by OEttingen; over the + Donau acclivities, then down the pleasant Valley of the Mayn. [See REVIEW + OF THE CASE OF MARSHAL BELLEISLE (or Abstract of it, <i>Gentleman's + Magazine,</i> 1745, pp. 366-373); &c. &c.] + </p> + <p> + "SUNDAY, 13th DECEMBER, Marechal de Belleisle arrives at Hanau [where we + have seen Conferences held before now, and Carteret, Prince Karl and great + George our King very busy], there to confer with Marshals Coigny, + Maillebois and other high men, Commanders in those Rhine parts. Who all + come accordingly, except Marechal Maillebois, who is sorry that he + absolutely cannot; but will surely do himself the honor as Monseigneur + returns." As Monseigneur returns! "And so, on Monday, 14th, Monseigneur + starts for Cassel; say a hundred miles right north; where we shall meet + Prince Wilhelm of Hessen-Cassel, a zealous Ally; inform him how his + Troops, under Seckendorf, are posted [at Vilshofen yonder; hiding how + perilous their post is, or promising alterations]; perhaps rest a day or + two, consulting as to the common weal: How the King of Prussia takes our + treatment of him? How to smooth the King of Prussia, and turn him to + harmony again? We are approaching the true nodus of our business, + difficulty of difficulties; and Wilhelm, the wise Landgraf, may afford a + hint or two. Thus travels magnanimous Belleisle in twenty vehicles, a man + loaded with weighty matters, in these deep Winter months; suffering + dreadfully from rheumatic neuralgic ailments, a Doctor one of his + needfulest equipments; and has the hardest problem yet ahead of him. + </p> + <p> + "Prince Wilhelm's consultations are happily lost altogether; buried from + sight forever, to the last hint,—all except as to what road to + Berlin would be the best from Cassel. By Leipzig, through low-lying + country, is the great Highway, advisable in winter; but it runs a hundred + and thirty miles to right, before ever starting northward; such a + roundabout. Not to say that the Saxons are allies of Austria,—if + there be anything in that. Enemies, they, to the Most Christian King: + though surely, again, we are on Kaiser's business, nay we are titular + 'Prince of the Reich,' for that matter, such the Kaiser's grace to us? + Well; it is better perhaps to AVOID the Saxon Territory. And, of course, + the Hanoverian much more; through which lies the other Great Road! 'Go by + the Harz,' advises Landgraf Wilhelm: 'a rugged Hill Country; but it is + your hypotenuse towards Berlin; passes at once, or nearly so, from Cassel + Territory into Prussian: a rugged road, but a shorter and safer.' That is + the road Belleisle resolves upon. Twenty carriages; his Brother the + Chevalier and himself occupy one; and always the courier rides before, + ordering forty post-horses to be ready harnessed. + </p> + <p> + "SUNDAY, 20th DECEMBER, 1744. In this way they have climbed the eastern + shin of the Harz Range, where the Harz is capable of wheel-carriages; and + hope now to descend, this night, to Halberstadt; and thence rapidly by + level roads to Berlin. It is sinking towards dark; the courier is forward + to Elbingerode, ordering forty horses to be out. Roughish uphill road; + winter in the sky and earth, winter vapors and tumbling wind-gusts: + westward, in torn storm-cloak, the Bracken, with its witch-dances; + highland Goslar, and ghost of Henry the Fowler, on the other side of it. A + multifarious wizard Country, much overhung by goblin reminiscences, + witch-dances, sorcerers'-sabbaths and the like,—if a rheumatic + gentleman cared to look on it, in the cold twilight. Brrh! Waste chasmy + uplands, snow-choked torrents; wild people, gloomy firs! Here at last, by + one's watch 5 P.M., is Elbingerode, uncomfortable little Town; and it is + to be hoped the forty post-horses are ready. + </p> + <p> + "Behold, while the forty post-horses are getting ready, a thing takes + place, most unexpected;—which made the name of Elbingerode famous + for eight months to come. Of which let us hastily give the bare facts, + Fancy making of them what she can. Was Monseigneur aware that this + Elbingerode, with a patch of territory round it, is Hanoverian ground; one + of those distracted patches or ragged outskirts frequent in the German + map? Prussia is not yet, and Hessen-Cassel has ceased to be. Undoubtedly + Hanoverian! Apparently the Landgraf and Monseigneur had not thought of + that. But Munchhausen of Hanover, spies informing him, had. The Bailiff + (Vogt, AdVOCATus) has gathered twenty JAGER [official Game-keepers] with + their guns, and a select idle Sunday population of the place with or + without guns: the Vogt steps forward, and inquires for Monseigneur's + passport. 'No passport, no need of any!'—'Pardon!' and signifies to + Monseigneur, on the part of George Elector of Hanover, King of Great + Britain, France and Ireland, that Monseigneur is arrested! + </p> + <p> + "Monseigneur, with compressed or incompressible feelings, indignantly + complies,—what could he else, unfortunate rheumatic gentleman?—and + is plucked away in such sudden manner, he for one, out of that big German + game of his raising. The twenty vehicles are dragged different roads; + towards Scharzfels, Osterode, or I know not where,—handiest roads to + Hanover;—and Monseigneur himself has travelling treatment which + might be complained of, did not one disdain complaint: 'my Brother parted + from me, nay my Doctor, and my Interpreter;'"—not even speech + possible to me. [Letter of Belleisle next morning, "Neuhof, 21st December, + 9 A.M." (in <i>Valori,</i> i. 204), to Munchhausen at Hanover,—by no + possibility "to Valori," as the distracted French Editor has given it!] + That was the Belleisle Accident in the Harz, Sunday Evening, 20th + December, 1744. + </p> + <p> + "Afflicted indignant Valori, soon enough apprised, runs to Friedrich with + the news,—greets Friedrich with it just alighting from that Silesian + run of his own. Friedrich, not without several other things to think of, + is naturally sorry at such news; sorry for his own sake even; but not + overmuch. Friedrich refuses 'to despatch a party of horse,' and cut out + Marechal de Belleisle. "That will never do, MON CHER!'—and even gets + into FROIDES PLAISANTERIES: 'Perhaps the Marechal did it himself? Tallard, + prisoner after Blenheim, made PEACE, you know, in England?'—and the + like; which grieved the soul of Valori, and convinced him of Friedrich's + inhumanity, in a crying case. + </p> + <p> + "Belleisle is lugged on to Hanover; his case not doubtful to Munchhausen, + or the English Ministry,—though it raised great argument, (was the + capture fair, was it unfair? Is he entitled to exchange by cartel, or not + entitled?' and produced, in the next eight months, much angry animated + pamphleteering and negotiation. For we hear by and by, he is to be + forwarded to Stade, on the Hamburg sea-coast, where English Seventy-fours + are waiting for him; his case still undecided;—and, in effect, it + was not till after eight months that he got dismissal. 'Lodged handsomely + in Windsor Palace,' in the interim; free on his parole, people of rank + very civil to him, though the Gazetteers were sometimes ill-tongued,—had + he understood their PATOIS, or concerned himself about such things + </p> + <p> + ["TUESDAY, 18th FEBRUARY [1st March, 1745], Marshal Belleisle landed at + Harwich; lay at Greenwich Palace, having crossed Thames at the Isle of + Dogs: next morning, about 10, set out, in a coach-and-six, Colonel Douglas + and two troops of horse escorting; arrived 3 P.M.,—by Camberwell, + Clapham, Wandsworth, over Kingston and Staines Bridges,—at Windsor + Castle, and the apartments ready for him." (<i>Gentleman's Magazine,</i> + 1745, p 107.) Was let go 13th (24th) August, again with great pomp and + civilities (ib. p. 442). See Adelung, iv. 299, 346; v. 83, 84.] + </p> + <p> + "It was a current notion among contemporary mankind, this of Friedrich, + that Belleisle's capture might be a mere collusion, meant to bring about a + Peace in that Tallard fashion,—wide of the truth as such a notion + is, far as any Peace was from following. To Britannic George and his + Hanoverians it had merely seemed, Here was a chief War-Captain and + Diplomatist among the French; the pivot of all these world-wide movements, + as Valori defines him; which pivot, a chance offering, it were well to + twitch from its socket, and see what would follow. Perhaps nothing will + follow; next to nothing? A world, all waltzing in mad war, is not to be + stopped by acting on any pivot; your waltzing world will find new pivots, + or do without any, and perhaps only waltz the more madly for wanting the + principal one." + </p> + <p> + This withdrawal of Belleisle, the one Frenchman respected by Friedrich, or + much interested for his own sake in things German, is reckoned a main + cause why the French Alliance turned out so ill for Friedrich; and why + French effort took more and more a Netherlands direction thenceforth, and + these new French magnanimities on Friedrich's behalf issued in futility + again. Probably they never could have issued in very much: but it is + certain that, from this point, they also do become zero; and that + Friedrich, from his French alliance, reaped from first to last nothing at + all, except a great deal of obloquy from German neighbors, and from the + French side endless trouble, anger and disappointment in every particular. + Which 'might be a joy (though not unmixed) to Britannic Majesty and the + subtle followers who had ginned this fine Belleisle bird in its flight + over the Harz Range? Though again, had they passively let him wing his + way, and he had GOT "to be Commander and Manager," as was in agitation,—he, + Belleisle and in Germany, instead of Marechal de Saxe with the Netherlands + as chief scene,—what an advantage might that have been to them! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE KAISER KARL VII. GETS SECURED FROM OPPRESSIONS, IN A TRAGIC WAY. + FRIEDRICH PROPOSES PEACE, BUT TO NO PURPOSE. + </h2> + <p> + A still sadder cross for Friedrich, in the current of foreign Accidents + and Diplomacies, was the next that befell; exactly a month later,—at + Munchen, 20th January, 1745. Hardly was Belleisle's back turned, when her + Hungarian Majesty, by her Bathyani and Company, broke furiously in upon + the poor Kaiser and his Seckendorf-Segur defences. Belleisle had not + reached the Harz, when all was going topsy-turvy there again, and the + Donau-Valley fast falling back into Austrian hands. Nor is that the worst, + or nearly so. + </p> + <p> + "MUNCHEN, 20th JANUARY, 1745. This day poor Kaiser Karl laid down his + earthly burden here, and at length gave all his enemies the slip. He had + been ill of gout for some time; a man of much malady always, with no want + of vexations and apprehensions. Too likely the Austrians will drive him + out of Munchen again; then nothing but furnished lodgings, and the French + to depend upon. He had been much chagrined by some Election, just done, in + the Chapter of Salzburg. [Adelung, iv. 249, 276, 313.] The Archbishop + there—it was Firmian, he of the SALZBURG EMIGRATION, memorable to + readers—had died, some while ago. And now, in flat contradiction to + Imperial customs, prerogatives, these people had admitted an Austrian + Garrison; and then, in the teeth of our express precept, had elected an + Austrian to their benefice: what can one account it but an insult as well + as an injury? And the neuralgic maladies press sore, and the gouty + twinges; and Belleisle is seized, perhaps with important papers of ours; + and the Seckendorf-Segur detachments were ill placed; nay here are the + Austrians already on the throat of them, in midwinter! It is said, a + babbling valet, or lord-in-waiting, happened to talk of some skirmish that + had fallen out (called a battle, in the valet rumor), and how ill the + French and Bavarians had fared in it, owing to their ill behavior. And + this, add they, proved to be the ounce-weight too much for the so + heavy-laden back. + </p> + <p> + "The Kaiser took to bed, not much complaining; patient, mild, though the + saddest of all mortals; and, in a day or two, died. Adieu, adieu, ye loved + faithful ones; pity me, and pray for me! He gave his Wife, poor little fat + devout creature, and his poor Children (eldest lad, his Heir, only + seventeen), a tender blessing; solemnly exhorted them, To eschew ambition, + and be warned by his example;—to make their peace with Austria; and + never, like him, try COM' E DURO CALLE, and what the charity of Christian + Kings amounts to. This counsel, it is thought, the Empress Dowager + zealously accedes to, and will impress upon her Son. That is the Austrian + and Cause-of-Liberty account: King Friedrich, from the other side, has + heard a directly opposite one. How the Kaiser, at the point of death, + exhorted his son, 'Never forget the services which the King of France and + the King of Prussia have done us, and do not repay them with ingratitude.' + [ <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> iii. 92;—and see (PER CONTRA) in + Adelung, iv. 314 A; in Coxe, &c.] The reader can choose which he will, + or reject both into the region of the uncertain. 'Karl Albert's pious and + affectionate demeanor drew tears from all eyes,' say the by-standers: 'the + manner in which he took leave of his Empress would have melted a heart of + stone.' He was in his forty-eighth year; he had been, of all men in his + generation, the most conspicuously unhappy." + </p> + <p> + What a down-rush of confusion there ensued on this event, not to Bavaria + alone, but to all the world, and to King Friedrich more than another, no + reader can now take the pains of conceiving. The "Frankfurt Union," then, + has gone to air! Here is now no "Kaiser to be delivered from oppression:" + here is a new Kaiser to be elected,—"Grand-Duke Franz the man," cry + the Pragmatic Potentates with exultation, "no Belleisle to disturb!"—and + questions arise innumerable thereupon, Will France go into electioneering + again? The new Kur-Baiern, only seventeen, poor child, cannot be set up as + candidate. What will France do with HIM; what he with France? Whom can the + French try as Candidate against the Grand-Duke? Kur-Sachsen, the Polish + Majesty again? Belleisle himself must have paused uncertain over such a + welter,—and probably have done, like the others, little or nothing + in it, but left it to collapse by natural gravitation. + </p> + <p> + Hungarian Majesty checked her Bavarian Armaments a little: "If perhaps + this young Kur-Baiern will detach himself from France, and on submissive + terms come over to us?" Whereupon, at Munchen, and in the cognate + quarters, such wriggling, dubitating and diplomatizing, as seldom was,—French, + Anti-French (Seckendorf busiest of all), straining every nerve in that + way, and for almost three months, nothing coming of it,—till + Hungarian Majesty sent her Barenklaus and Bathyanis upon them again; and + these rapidly solved the question, in what way we shall see! + </p> + <p> + Friedrich has still his hopes of Bavaria, so grandiloquent are the French + in regard to it; who but would hope? The French diplomatize to all lengths + in Munchen, promising seas and mountains; but they perform little; in an + effectual manner, nothing. Bavarian "Army raised to 60,000;" counts in + fact little above half that number; with no General to it but an imaginary + one; Segur's actual French contingent, instead of 25,000, is perhaps + 12,000;—and so of other things. Add to all which, Seckendorf is + there, not now as War-General, but as extra-official "Adviser;" busier + than ever,—"scandalous old traitor!" say the French;—and + Friedrich may justly fear that Bavaria will go, by collapse, a bad road + for him. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich, a week or two after the Kaiser's death, seeing Bavarian and + French things in such a hypothetic state, instructs his Ambassador at + London to declare his, Friedrich's, perfect readiness and wish for Peace: + "Old Treaty of Breslau and Berlin made indubitable to me; the rest of the + quarrel has, by decease of the Kaiser, gone to air." To which the + Britannic Majesty, rather elated at this time, as all Pragmatic people + are, answers somewhat in a careless way, "Well, if the others like it!" + and promises that he will propose it in the proper quarter. So that + henceforth there is always a hope of Peace through England; as well as + contrariwise, especially till Bavaria settle itself (in April next), a + hope of great assistance from the French. Here are potentialities and + counter-potentialities, which make the Bavarian Intricacy very agitating + to the young King, while it lasts. And indeed his world is one huge + imbroglio of Potentialities and Diplomatic Intricacies, agitating to + behold. Concerning which we have again to remark how these huge Spectres + of Diplomacy, now filling Friedrich's world, came mostly in result to + Nothing;—shaping themselves wholly, for or against, in exact + proportion, direct or inverse, to the actual Quantity of Battle and + effective Performance that happened to be found in Friedrich himself. + Diplomatic Spectralities, wide Fatamorganas of hope, and hideous big + Bugbears blotting out the sun: of these, few men ever had more than + Friedrich at this time. And he is careful, none carefuler, not to neglect + his Diplomacies at any time;—though he knows, better than most, that + good fighting of his own is what alone can determine the value of these + contingent and aerial quantities,—mere Lapland witchcraft the + greater part of them. + </p> + <p> + A second grand Intricacy and difficulty, still more enigmatic, and + pressing the tighter by its close neighborhood, was that with the Saxons. + "Are the Saxons enemies; are they friends? Neutrals at lowest; bound by + Treaty to lend Austria troops; but to lend for defence merely, not for + offence! Could not one, by good methods, make friends with his Polish + Majesty?" Friedrich was far from suspecting the rages that lurked in the + Polish Majesty, and least of all owing to what. Owing to that old + MORAVIAN-FORAY business; and to his, Friedrich's, behavior to the Saxons + in it; excellent Saxons, who had behaved so beautifully to Friedrich! That + is the sad fact, however. Stupid Polish Majesty has his natural envies, + jealousies, of a Brandenburg waxing over his head at this rate. But it + appears, the Moravian Foray entered for a great deal into the account, and + was the final overwhelming item. Bruhl, by much descanting on that famous + Expedition,—with such candid Eye-witnesses to appeal to, such + corroborative Staff-officers and appliances, powerful on the idle heart + and weak brain of a Polish Majesty,—has brought it so far. Fixed + indignation, for intolerable usage, especially in that Moravian-Foray + time: fixed; not very malignant, but altogether obstinate (as, I am told, + that of the pacific sheep species usually is); which carried Bruhl and his + Polish Majesty to extraordinary heights and depths in years coming! But + that will deserve a section to itself by and by. + </p> + <p> + A third difficulty, privately more stringent than any, is that of Finance. + The expenses of the late Bohemian Expedition, "Friedrich's Army costing + 75,000 pounds a month," have been excessive. For our next Campaign, if it + is to be done in the way essential, there are, by rigorous arithmetic, + "900,000 pounds" needed. A frugal Prussia raises no new taxes; pays its + Wars from "the Treasure," from the Fund saved beforehand for emergencies + of that kind; Fund which is running low, threatening to be at the lees if + such drain on it continue. To fight with effect being the one sure hope, + and salve for all sores, it is not in the Army, in the Fortresses, the + Fighting Equipments, that there shall be any flaw left! Friedrich's budget + is a sore problem upon him; needing endless shift and ingenuity, now and + onwards, through this war:—already, during these months, in the + Berlin Schloss, a great deal of those massive Friedrich-Wilhelm plate + Sumptuosities, especially that unparalleled Music-Balcony up stairs, all + silver, has been, under Fredersdorf's management, quietly taken away; + "carried over, in the night-time, to the Mint." [Orlich, ii. 126-128.] + </p> + <p> + And, in fact, no modern reader, not deeper in that distressing story of + the Austrian-Succession War than readers are again like to be, can imagine + to himself the difficulties of Friedrich at this time, as they already lay + disclosed, and kept gradually disclosing themselves, for months coming; + nor will ever know what perspicacity, patience of scanning, sharpness of + discernment, dexterity of management, were required at Friedrich's hands;—and + under what imminency of peril, too; victorious deliverance, or ruin and + annihilation, wavering fearfully in the balance for him, more than once, + or rather all along. But it is certain the deeper one goes into that + hideous Medea's Caldron of stupidities, once so flamy, now fallen extinct, + the more is one sensible of Friedrich's difficulties; and of the talent + for all kinds of Captaincy,—by no means in the Field only, or + perhaps even chiefly,—that was now required of him. Candid readers + shall accept these hints, and do their best:—Friedrich himself made + not the least complaint of men's then misunderstanding him; still less + will he now! We, keeping henceforth the Diplomacies, the vaporous + Foreshadows, and general Dance of Unclean Spirits with their intrigues and + spectralities, well underground, so far as possible, will stick to what + comes up as practical Performance on Friedrich's part, and try to give + intelligible account of that. + </p> + <p> + Valori says, he is greatly changed, and for the better, by these late + reverses of fortune. All the world notices it, says Valori. No longer that + brief infallibility of manner; that lofty light air, that politely + disdainful view of Valori and mankind: he has now need of men. Complains + of nothing, is cheerful, quizzical;—ardently busy to "grind out the + notches," as our proverb is; has a mild humane aspect, something of + modesty, almost of piety in him. Help me, thou Supreme Power, Maker of + men, if my purposes are manlike! Though one does not go upon the Prayers + of Forty-Hours, or apply through St. Vitus and such channels, there may be + something of authentic petition to Heaven in the thoughts of that young + man. He is grown very amiable; the handsomest young bit of Royalty now + going. He must fight well next Summer, or it will go hard with him! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VI.—VALORI GOES ON AN ELECTIONEERING MISSION TO DRESDEN. + </h2> + <p> + Some time in January, a new Frenchman, a "Chevalier de Courten," if the + name is known to anybody, was here at Berlin; consulting, settling about + mutual interests and operations. Since Belleisle is snatched from us, it + is necessary some Courten should come; and produce what he has got: little + of settlement, I should fear, of definite program that will hold water; in + regard to War operations chiefly a magazine of clouds. [Specimens of it, + in Ranke, iii. 219.] For the rest, the Bavarian question; and very + specially, Who the new Emperor is to be?"King of Poland, thinks your + Majesty?"—"By all means," answers Friedrich, "if you can! Detach him + from Austria; that will be well!" Which was reckoned magnanimous, at least + public-spirited, in Friedrich; considering what Saxony's behavior to him + had already been. "By all means, his Polish Majesty for Kaiser; do our + utmost, Excellencies Valori, Courten and Company!" answers Friedrich,—and + for his own part, I observe, is intensely busy upon Army matters, looking + after the main chance. + </p> + <p> + And so Valori is to go to Dresden, and manage this cloud or cobwebbery + department of the thing; namely, persuade his Polish Majesty to stand for + the Kaisership: "Baiern, Pfalz, Koln, Brandenburg, there are four votes, + Sire; your own is five: sure of carrying it, your Polish Majesty; backed + by the Most Christian King, and his Allies and resources!" And Polish + Majesty does, for his own share, very much desire to be Kaiser. But none + of us yet knows how he is tied up by Austria, Anti-Friedrich, Anti-French + considerations; and can only "accept if it is offered me:" thrice-willing + to accept, if it will fall into my mouth; which, on those terms, it has so + little chance of doing!—Saxony and its mysterious affairs and + intentions having been, to Friedrich, a riddle and trouble and + astonishment, during all this Campaign, readers ought to know the fact + well;—and no reader could stand the details of such a fact. Here, in + condensed form, are some scraps of Excerpt; which enable us to go with + Valori on this Dresden Mission, and look for ourselves:— + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + 1. FRIEDRICH'S POSITION TOWARDS SAXONY. + </h2> + <p> + "... By known Treaty, the Polish Majesty is bound to assist the Hungarian + with 12,000 men, 'whenever invaded in her own dominions.' Polish Majesty + had 20,000 in the field for that object lately,—part of them, 8,000 + of them, hired by Britannic subsidy, as he alleges. The question now is, + Will Saxony assist Austria in invading Silesia, with or without Britannic + subsidy? Friedrich hopes that this is impossible! Friedrich is deeply + unaware of the humor he has raised against himself in the Saxon + Court-circles; how the Polish Majesty regards that Moravian Foray; with + what a perfect hatred little Bruhl regards him, Friedrich; and to what + pitch of humor, owing to those Moravian-Foray starvings, marchings about + and inhuman treatment of the poor Saxon Army, not to mention other + offences and afflictive considerations, Bruhl has raised the simple Polish + Majesty against Friedrich. These things, as they gradually unfolded + themselves to Friedrich, were very surprising. And proved very + disadvantageous at the present juncture and for a long time afterwards. To + Friedrich disadvantageous and surprising; and to Saxony, in the end, + ruinous; poor Saxony having got its back broken by them, and never stood + up in the world since! Ruined by this wretched little Bruhl; and reduced, + from the first place in Northern Teutschland, to a second or third, or no + real place at all." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + 2. THERE IS A, "UNION OF WARSAW" (8th January, 1745); AND STILL MORE + SPECIALLY A "TREATY OF WARSAW" (8th January-18th May, 1745). + </h2> + <p> + "January 8th, 1745, before the Old Dessauer got ranked in Schlesien + against Traun, there had concluded itself at Warsaw, by way of + counterpoise to the 'Frankfurt Union,' a 'Union of Warsaw,' called also + 'Quadruple Alliance of Warsaw;' the Parties to which were Polish Majesty, + Hungarian ditto, Prime-Movers, and the two Sea-Powers as Purseholders; + stipulating, to the effect: 'We Four will hold together in affairs of the + Reich VERSUS that dangerous Frankfurt Union; we will'—do a variety + of salutary things; and as one practical thing, 'There shall be, this + Season, 30,000 Saxons conjoined to the Austrian Force, for which we + Sea-Powers will furnish subsidy.'—This was the one practical point + stipulated, January 8th; and farther than this the Sea-Powers did not go, + now or afterwards, in that affair. + </p> + <p> + "But there was then proposed by the Polish and Hungarian Majesties, in the + form of Secret Articles, an ulterior Project; with which the Sea-Powers, + expressing mere disbelief and even abhorrence of it, refused to have any + concern now or henceforth. Polish Majesty, in hopes it would have been + better taken, had given his 30,000 soldiers at a rate of subsidy + miraculously low, only 150,000 pounds for the whole: but the Sea-Powers + were inexorable, perhaps almost repented of their 150,000 pounds; and + would hear nothing farther of secret Articles and delirious Projects. + </p> + <p> + "So that the 'Union of Warsaw' had to retire to its pigeon-hole, content + with producing those 30,000 Saxons for the immediate occasion; and there + had to be concocted between the Polish and Hungarian Majesties themselves + what is now, in the modern Pamphlets, called a 'TREATY of Warsaw,'—much + different from the innocent, 'UNION of Warsaw;' though it is merely the + specifying and fixing down of what had been shadowed out as secret + codicils in said 'Union,' when the Sea-Power parties obstinately recoiled. + Treaty of Warsaw let us continue to call it; though its actual birth-place + was Leipzig (in the profoundest secrecy, 18th May, 1745), above four + months after it had tried to be born at Warsaw, and failed as aforesaid. + Warsaw Union is not worth speaking of; but this other is a Treaty highly + remarkable to the reader,—and to Friedrich was almost infinitely so, + when he came to get wind of it long after. + </p> + <p> + "Treaty which, though it proved abortional, and never came to fulfilment + in any part of it, is at this day one of the remarkablest bits of + sheepskin extant in the world. It was signed 18th May, 1745; [Scholl, ii. + 350.] and had cost a great deal of painful contriving, capable still of + new altering and retouching, to hit mutual views: Treaty not only for + reconquering Silesia (which to the Two Majesties, though it did not to the + Sea-Powers, seems infallible, in Friedrich's now ruined circumstances), + but for cutting down that bad Neighbor to something like the dimensions + proper for a Brandenburg Vassal;—in fact, quite the old 'Detestable + Project' of Spring, 1741, only more elaborated into detail (in which + Britannic George knows better than to meddle!)—Saxony to have share + of the parings, when we get them. 'What share?' asked Saxony, and long + keeps asking. 'A road to Warsaw; Strip of Country carrying us from the end + of the Lausitz, which is ours, into Poland, which we trust will continue + ours, would be very handy! Duchy of Glogau; some small paring of Silesia, + won't your Majesty?' 'Of my Silesia not one hand-breadth,' answered the + Queen impatiently (though she did at last concede some outlying + hand-breadths, famed old 'Circle of Schwiebus,' if I recollect); and they + have had to think of other equivalent parings for Saxony's behoof + (Magdeburg, Halberstadt, Saale-Circle, or one knows not what); and have + had, and will have, their adoes to get it fixed. Excellent bearskin to be + slit into straps; only the bear is still on his feet!—Polish Majesty + and Hungarian, Polish with especial vigor, Bruhl quite restless upon it, + are—little as Valori or any mortal could dream of it—engaged + in this partition of the bearskin, when Valori arrives. Of their innocent + Union of Warsaw, there was, from the first, no secret made; but the + Document now called 'TREATY of Warsaw' needs to lie secret and + thrice-secret; and it was not till 1756 that Friedrich, having unearthed + it by industries of his own, and studied it with great intensity for some + years, made it known to the world." [Adelung, v. 308. 397; Ranke, iii. 231 + (who, for some reason of his own, dates "3d May" instead of 18th]. + </p> + <p> + Treaties, vaporous Foreshadows of Events, have oftenest something of the + ghost in them; and are importune to human nature, longing for the Events + themselves; all the more if they have proved abortional Treaties, and + become doubly ghost-like or ghastly. Nevertheless the reader is to note + well this Treaty of Warsaw, as important to Friedrich and him; and indeed + it is perhaps the remarkablest Treaty, abortional or realized, which got + to parchment in that Century. For though it proved abortional, and no part + of it, now or afterwards, could be executed, and even the subsidy and + 30,000 Saxons (stipulated in the "UNION of Warsaw") became crow's-meat in + a manner,—this preternatural "Treaty of Warsaw," trodden down never + so much by the heel of Destiny, and by the weight of new Treaties, + superseding it or presupposing its impossibility or inconceivability, + would by no means die (such the humor of Bruhl, of the Two Majesties and + others); but lay alive under the ashes, carefully tended, for Ten or + Twenty Years to come;—and had got all Europe kindled again, for + destruction of that bad Neighbor, before it would itself consent to go + out! And did succeed in getting Saxony's back broken, if not the bad + Neighbor's,—in answer to the humor of little Bruhl; unfortunate + Saxony to possess such a Bruhl! + </p> + <p> + In those beautiful Saxon-Austrian developments of the Treaty of Warsaw, + Czarina Elizabeth, bobbing about in that unlovely whirlpool of intrigues, + amours, devotions and strong liquor, which her History is, took (ask not + for what reason) a lively part:—and already in this Spring of 1745, + they hope she could, by "a gift of two millions for her pleasures" (gift + so easy to you Sea-Powers), be stirred up to anger against Friedrich. And + she did, in effect, from this time, hover about in a manner questionable + to Friedrich; though not yet in anger, but only with the wish to be + important, and to make herself felt in Foreign affairs. Whether the + Sea-Powers gave her that trifle of pocket-money ("for her pleasures"), I + never knew; but it is certain they spent, first and last, very large + amounts that way, upon her and hers; especially the English did, with what + result may be considered questionable. + </p> + <p> + As for Graf von Bruhl, most rising man of Saxony, once a page; now by + industry King August III.'s first favorite and factotum; the fact that he + cordially hates Friedrich is too evident; but the why is not known to me. + Except indeed, That no man—especially no man with three hundred and + sixty-five fashionable suits of clothes usually about him, different suit + each day of the year—can be comfortable in the evident contempt of + another man. Other man of sarcastic bantering turn, too; tongue sharp as + needles; whose sayings many birds of the air are busy to carry about. Year + after year, Bruhl (doubtless with help enough that way, if there had + needed such) hates him more and more; as the too jovial Czarina herself + comes to do, wounded by things that birds have carried. And now we will go + with Valori,—seeing better into some things than Valori yet can. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0020" id="link2H_4_0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + 3. VALORI'S ACCOUNT OF HIS MISSION (in compressed form). [Valori, i. + 211-219.] + </h2> + <p> + "Valori [I could guess about the 10th of February, but there is no date at + all] was despatched to Dresden with that fine project, Polish Majesty for + Kaiser: is authorized to offer 60,000 men, with money corresponding, and + no end of brilliant outlooks;—must keep back his offers, however, if + he find the people indisposed. Which he did, to an extreme degree; nothing + but vague talk, procrastination, hesitation on the part of Bruhl. This + wretched little Bruhl has twelve tailors always sewing for him, and three + hundred and sixty-five suits of clothes: so many suits, all pictured in a + Book; a valet enters every morning, proposes a suit, which, after + deliberation, with perhaps amendments, is acceded to, and worn at dinner. + Vainest of human clothes-horses; foolishest coxcomb Valori has seen: it is + visibly his notion that it was he, Bruhl, by his Saxon auxiliaries, by his + masterly strokes of policy, that checkmated Friedrich, and drove him from + Bohemia last Year; and, for the rest, that Friedrich is ruined, and will + either shirk out of Silesia, or be cut to ribbons there by the Austrian + force this Summer. To which Valori hints dissent; but it is ill received. + Valori sees the King; finds him, as expected, the fac-simile of Bruhl in + this matter; Jesuit Guarini the like: how otherwise? They have his Majesty + in their leash, and lead him as they please. + </p> + <p> + "At four every morning, this Guarini, Jesuit Confessor to the King and + Queen, comes to Bruhl; Bruhl settles with him what his Majesty shall + think, in reference to current business, this day; Guarini then goes, + confesses both Majesties; confesses, absolves, turns in the due way to + secular matters. At nine, Bruhl himself arrives, for Privy Council: 'What + is your Majesty pleased to think on these points of current business?' + Majesty serenely issues his thoughts, in the form of orders; which are + found correct to pattern. This is the process with his Majesty. A poor + Majesty, taking deeply into tobacco; this is the way they have him + benetted, as in a dark cocoon of cobwebs, rendering the whole world + invisible to him. Which cunning arrangement is more and more perfected + every year; so that on all roads he travels, be it to mass, to hunt, to + dinner, any-whither in his Palace or out of it, there are faithful + creatures keeping eye, who admit no unsafe man to the least glimpse of him + by night or by day. In this manner he goes on; and before the end of him, + twenty years hence, has carried it far. Nothing but disgust to be had out + of business;—mutinous Polish Diets too, some forty of them, in his + time, not one of which did any business at all, but ended in LIBERUM VETO, + and Billingsgate conflagration, perhaps with swords drawn: [See Buchholz, + 154; &c.]—business more and more disagreeable to him. What can + Valori expect, on this heroic occasion, from such a King? + </p> + <p> + "The Queen herself, Maria Theresa's Cousin, an ambitious hard-favored + Majesty,—who had sense once to dislike Bruhl, but has been quite + reconciled to him by her Jesuit Messenger of Heaven (which latter is an + oily, rather stupid creature, who really wishes well to her, and loves a + peaceable life at any price),—even she will not take the bait. + Valori was in Dresden nine days (middle part of February, it is likely); + never produced his big bait, his 60,000 men and other brilliancies, at + all. He saw old Feldmarschall Konigseck passing from Vienna towards the + Netherlands Camp; where he is to dry-nurse (so they irreverently call it, + in time coming) his Royal Highness of Cumberland, that magnificent English + Babe of War, and do feats with him this Summer." Konigseck, though Valori + did not know it, has endless diplomacies to do withal; inspections of + troops, advisings, in Hanover, in Holland, in Dresden here; [Anonymous,—Duke + of Cumberland,—p. 186.]—and secures the Saxon Electoral-Vote + for his Grand-Duke in passing. "The welcome given to Konigseck disgusted + Valori; on the ninth day he left; said adieu, seeing them blind to their + interest; and took post for Berlin,"—where he finds Friedrich much + out of humor at the Saxon reception of his magnanimities. [Valori, i. + 211-219; <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> iii. 81-85. For details on Bruhl, see + <i>Graf von Bruhl, Leben und Charakter</i> (1760, No Place): Anonymous, by + one Justi, a noted Pamphleteer of the time: exists in English too, or + partly exists; but is unreadable, except on compulsion; and totally + unintelligible till after very much inquiry elsewhere.] + </p> + <p> + This Saxon intricacy, indecipherable, formidable, contemptible, was the + plague of Friedrich's life, one considerable plague, all through this + Campaign. Perhaps nothing in the Diplomatic sphere of things caused him + such perplexity, vexation, indignation. An insoluble riddle to him; + extremely contemptible, yet,—with a huge Russia tacked to it, and + looming minatory in the distance,—from time to time, formidable + enough. Let readers keep it in mind, and try to imagine it. It cost + Friedrich such guessing, computing, arranging, rearranging, as would weary + the toughest reader to hear of in detail. How Friedrich did at last solve + it (in December coming), all readers will see with eyes!— + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + MIDDLE-RHINE ARMY IN A STAGGERING STATE; THE BAVARIAN INTRICACY SETTLES + ITSELF, THE WRONG WAY. + </h2> + <p> + Early in March it becomes surmisable that Maillebois's Middle-Rhine Army + will not go a good road. Maillebois has been busy in those countries, + working extensive discontent; bullying mankind "to join the Frankfurt + Union," to join France at any rate, which nobody would consent to; and + exacting merciless contributions, which everybody had to consent to and + pay.—And now, on D'Ahremberg's mere advance, with that poor Fraction + of Pragmatic Army, roused from its winter sleep, Maillebois, without + waiting for D'Ahremberg's attack, rapidly calls in his truculent + detachments, and rolls confusedly back into the Frankfurt regions. + [Adelung, iv. 276-352 (December, 1744-March, 1745).] Upon which + D'Ahremberg—if by no means going upon Maillebois's throat—sets, + at least, to coercing Wilhelm of Hessen, our only friend in those parts; + who is already a good deal disgusted with the Maillebois procedures, and + at a loss what to do on the Kaiser's death, which has killed the Frankfurt + Union too. Wise Wilhelm consents, under D'Ahremberg's menaces, to become + Neutral; and recall his 6,000 out of Baiern,—wishes he had them home + beside him even now! + </p> + <p> + With an Election in the wind, it is doubly necessary for the French, who + have not even a Candidate as yet, to stand supreme and minatory in the + Frankfurt Country; and to King Friedrich it is painfully questionable, + whether Maillebois can do it. "Do it we will; doubt not that, your + Majesty!" answer Valori and the French;—and study to make + improvements, reinforcements, in their Rhine Army. And they do, at least, + change the General of their Middle-Rhine Army,—that is to say, + recall Prince Conti out of Italy, where he has distinguished himself, and + send Maillebois thither in his stead,—who likewise distinguishes + himself THERE, if that could be a comfort to us! Whether the distinguished + Conti will maintain that Frankfurt Country in spite of the Austrians and + their Election movements, is still a question with Friedrich, though + Valori continued assuring him (always till July came) that, it was beyond + question. "Siege of Tournay, vigorous Campaign in the Netherlands (for + behoof of Britannic George)!" this is the grand French program for the + Year. This good intention was achieved, on the French part; but this, like + Aaron's rod among the serpents, proved to have EATEN the others as it + wriggled along!— + </p> + <p> + Those Maillebois-D'Ahremberg affairs throw a damp on the Bavarian Question + withal;—in fact, settle the Bavarian Question; her Hungarian + Majesty, tired of the delays, having ordered Bathyani to shoulder arms + again, and bring a decision. Bathyani, with Barenklau to right of him, and + Browne (our old Silesian friend) to left, goes sweeping across those + Seckendorf-Segur posts, and without difficulty tumbles everything to ruin, + at a grand rate. The traitor Seckendorf had made such a choice of posts,—left + unaltered by Drum Thorring;—what could French valor do? Nothing; + neither French valor, nor Bavarian want of valor, could do anything but + whirl to the right-about, at sight of the Austrian Sweeping-Apparatus; and + go off explosively, as in former instances, at a rate almost unique in + military annals. Finished within three weeks or so!—We glance only + at two points of it. March 21st, Bathyani stood to arms (to BESOMS we + might call it), Browne on the left, Barenklau on the right: it was March + 21st when Bathyani started from Passau, up the Donau Countries;—and + within the week coming, see:— + </p> + <p> + "VILSHOFEN, 28th MARCH, 1745. Here, at the mouth of the Vils River + (between Inn and Iser), is the first considerable Post; garrison some + 4,000; Hessians and Prince Friedrich the main part,—who have their + share of valor, I dare say; but with such news out of Hessen, not to speak + of the prospects in this Country, are probably in poorish spirits for + acting. General Browne summons them in Vilshofen, this day; and, on their + negative, storms in upon them, bursts them to pieces; upon which they beat + chamade. But the Croats, who are foremost, care nothing for chamade: go + plundering, slaughtering; burn the poor Town; butcher [in round numbers] + 3,000 of the poor Hessians; and wound General Browne himself, while he too + vehemently interferes." [Adelung, iv. 356, and the half-intelligible + Foot-note in Ranke, iii. 220.] This was the finale of those 6,000 + Hessians, and indeed their principal function, while in French pay;—and + must have been, we can Judge how surprising to Prince Friedrich, and to + his Papa on hearing of it! Note another point. + </p> + <p> + Precisely about this time twelvemonth, "March 16th, 1746," the same Prince + Friedrich, with remainder of those Hessians, now again completed to 6,000, + and come back with emphasis to the Britannic side of things, was—marching + out of Edinburgh, in much state, with streamers, kettle-drums, Highness's + coaches, horses, led-horses, on an unexpected errand. [Henderson (Whig + Eye-witness). <i>History of the Rebellion,</i> 1745 and 1746 (London, + 1748, reprint from the Edinburgh edition), pp. 104, 106, 107.] Toward + Stirling, Perth; towards Killiecrankie, and raising of what is called "the + Siege of Blair in Athol" (most minute of "sieges," but subtending a great + angle there and then);—much of unexpected, and nearer home than + "Tournay and the Netherlands Campaign," having happened to Britannic + George in the course of this year, 1746! "Really very fine troops, those + Hessians [observes my orthodox Whig friend]: they carry swords as well as + guns and bayonets; their uniform is blue turned up with white: the Hussar + part of them, about 500, have scimitars of a great length; small horses, + mostly black, of Swedish breed; swift durable little creatures, with long + tails." Honors, dinners, to his Serene Highness had been numerous, during + the three weeks we had him in Edinburgh; "especially that Ball, February + 21st (o.s.), eve of his Consort the Princess Mary's Birthday [EVE of + birthday, "let us dance the auspicious morning IN] was, for affluence of + Nobility and Gentry of both sexes," a sublime thing...." + </p> + <p> + PFAFFENHOFEN, APRIL 15th. "Unfortunate Segur, the Segur of Linz three + years ago,—whose conduct was great, according to Valori, but + powerless against traitors and fate!—was again, once more, + unfortunate in those parts. Unfortunate Segur drew up at Pfaffenhofen + (centre of the Country, many miles from Vilshofen) to defend himself, when + fallen upon by Barenklau, in that manner; but could not, though with + masterly demeanor; and had to retreat three days, with his face to the + enemy, so to speak, fighting and manoeuvring all the way: no shelter for + him either but Munchen, and that, a most temporary one. Instead of taking + Straubingen, taking Passau, perhaps of pushing on to Vienna itself, this + is what we have already come to. No Rhine Army, Middle-Rhine Army, Coigny, + Maillebois, Conti, whoever it was, should send us the least reinforcement, + when shrieked to. No outlook whatever but rapid withdrawal, retreat to the + Rhine Army, since it will not stir to help us." [Adelung, iv. 360.] + </p> + <p> + "The young Kur-Baiern is still polite, grateful [to us French], overwhelms + us with politeness; but flies to Augsburg, as his Father used to do. + Notable, however, his poor fat little Mother won't, this time: 'No, I will + stay here, I for one, and have done with flying and running; we have had + enough of that!' Seckendorf, quite gone from Court in this crisis, + reappears, about the middle of April, in questionable capacity; at a place + called Fussen, not far off, at the foot of the Tyrol Hills;—where + certain Austrian Dignitaries seem also to be enjoying a picturesque + Easter! Yes indeed: and, on APRIL 22d, there is signed a 'PEACE OF FUSSEN' + there; general amicable AS-YOU-WERE, between Austria and Bavaria + ('Renounce your Anti-Pragmatic moonshine forevermore, vote for our + Grand-Duke; there is your Bavaria back, poor wretches!')—and + Seckendorf, it is presumable, will get his Turkish arrears liquidated. + </p> + <p> + "The Bavarian Intricacy, which once excelled human power, is settled, + then. Carteret and Haslang tried it in vain [dreadful heterodox intentions + of secularizing Salzburg, secularizing Passau, Regensburg, and loud + tremulous denial of such];—Carteret and Wilhelm of Hesseu + [Conferences of Hanau, which ruined Carteret], in vain; King Friedrich, + and many Kings, in vain: a thing nobody could settle;—and it has at + last settled itself, as the generality of ill-guided and unlucky things + do, by collapse. Delirium once out, the law of gravity acts; and there the + mad matter lies." + </p> + <p> + "Bought by Austria, that old villain!" cry the French. Friedrich does not + think the Austrians bought Seckendorf, having no money at present; but + guesses they may have given him to understand that a certain large arrear + of payment due ever since those Turkish Wars,—when Seckendorf, + instead of payment, was lodged in the Fortress of Gratz, and almost got + his head cut off,—should now be paid down in cash, or authentic + Paper-money, if matters become amicable. [ <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + iii. 22; <i>Seckendorfs Leben,</i> pp. 367-376.] As they have done, in + Friedrich's despite;—who seems angrier at the old stager for this + particular ill-turn than for all the other many; and long remembers it, as + will appear. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VII.—FRIEDRICH IN SILESIA; UNUSUALLY BUSY. + </h2> + <p> + Here, sure enough, are sad new intricacies in the Diplomatic, hypothetic + sphere of things; and clouds piling themselves ahead, in a very minatory + manner to King Friedrich. Let King Friedrich, all the more, get his + Fighting Arrangements made perfect. Diplomacy is clouds; beating of your + enemies is sea and land. Austria and the Gazetteer world consider + Friedrich to be as good as finished: but that is privately far from being + Friedrich's own opinion;—though these occurrences are heavy and + dismal to him, as none of us can now fancy. + </p> + <p> + Herr Ranke has got access, in the Archives, to a series of private + utterances by Friedrich,—Letters from him, of a franker nature than + usual, and letting us far deeper into his mind;—which must have been + well worth reading in the original, in their fully dated and developed + condition. From Herr Ranke's Fragmentary Excerpts, let us, thankful for + what we have got, select one or two. The Letters are to Minister Podewils + at Berlin; written from Silesia (Neisse and neighborhood), where, since + the middle of March, Friedrich has been, personally pushing on his Army + Preparations, while the above sinister things befell. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0023" id="link2H_4_0023"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + KING FRIEDRICH TO PODEWILS, IN BERLIN (under various dates, March-April, + 1745). + </h2> + <p> + NEISSE, 29th MARCH.... "We find ourselves in a great crisis. If we don't, + by mediation of England, get Peace, our enemies from different sides + [Saxony, Austria, who knows if not Russia withal!] will come plunging in + against me. Peace I cannot force them to. But if they must have War, we + will either beat them, or none of us will see Berlin again." [Ranke, iii. + 236 et seqq.] + </p> + <p> + APRIL (no day given).... "In any case, I have my troops well together. The + sicknesses are ceasing; the recruitments are coming in: shortly all will + be complete. That does not hinder us from making Peace, if it will only + come; but, in the contrary case, nobody can accuse me of neglecting what + was necessary." + </p> + <p> + APRIL 17th (still from Neisse).... "I toil day and night to improve our + situation. The soldiers will do their duty. There is none among us who + will not rather have his backbone broken than give up one foot-breadth of + ground. They must either grant us a good Peace, or we will surpass + ourselves by miracles of daring; and force the enemy to accept it from + us." + </p> + <p> + APRIL 20th. "Our situation is disagreeable; constrained, a kind of spasm: + but my determination is taken. If we needs must fight, we will do it like + men driven desperate. Never was there a greater peril than that I am now + in. Time, at its own pleasure, will untie this knot; or Destiny, if there + is one, determine the event. The game I play is so high, one cannot + contemplate the issue with cold blood. Pray for the return of my good + luck."—Two days hence, the poor young Kur-Baiern, deaf to the French + seductions and exertions, which were intense, had signed his "Peace of + Fussen" (22d April 1745),—a finale to France on the German Field, as + may be feared! The other Fragments we will give a little farther on. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich had left Berlin for Silesia March 15th; rather sooner than he + counted on,—Old Leopold pleading to be let home. At Glogau, at + Breslau, there had been the due inspecting: Friedrich got to Neisse on the + 23d (Bathyani just stirring in that Bavarian Business, Vilshofen and the + Hessians close ahead); and on the 27th, had dismissed Old Leopold, with + thanks and sympathies,—sent him home, "to recover his health." + Leopold's health is probably suffering; but his heart and spirits still + more. Poor old man, he has just lost—the other week, "5th February" + last—his poor old Wife, at Dessau; and is broken down with grief. + The soft silk lining of his hard Existence, in all parts of it, is torn + away. Apothecary Fos's Daughter, Reich's Princess, Princess of Dessau, + called by whatever name, she had been the truest of Wives; "used to attend + him in all his Campaigns, for above fifty years back." "Gone, now, forever + gone!"—Old Leopold had wells of strange sorrow in the rugged heart + of him,—sorrow, and still better things,—which he does not + wear on his sleeve. Here is an incident I never can forget;—dating + twelve or thirteen years ago (as is computable), middle of July, 1732. + </p> + <p> + "Louisa, Leopold's eldest Daughter, Wife of Victor Leopold, reigning + Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg, lay dying of a decline." Still only + twenty-three, poor Lady, though married seven years ago;—the end now + evidently drawing nigh. "A few days before her death,—perhaps some + attendant sorrowfully asking, 'Can we do nothing, then?'—she was + heard to say, 'If I could see my Father at the head of his Regiment, yet + once!'"—Halle, where the Regiment lies, is some thirty or more miles + off; and King Friedrioh Wilhelm, I suppose, would have to be written to:—Leopold + was ready the soonest possible; and, "at a set hour, marched, in all pomp, + with banner flying, music playing, into the SCHLOSS-HOF (Palace Court) of + Bernburg; and did the due salutations and manoeuvrings,—his poor + Daughter sitting at her window, till they ended;"—figure them, the + last glitter of those muskets, the last wail of that band-music!—"The + Regiment was then marched to the Waisenhaus (ORPHAN-HOUSE), where the + common men were treated with bread and beer; all the Officers dining at + the Prince's Table. All the Officers, except Leopold alone, who stole away + out of the crowd; sat himself upon the balustrade of the Saale Bridge, and + wept into the river." [LEBEN (12mo; not Rannft's, but Anonymous like his), + p. 234 n.]—Leopold is now on the edge of seventy; ready to think all + is finished with him. Perhaps not quite, my tough old friend; recover + yourself a little, and we shall see! + </p> + <p> + Old Leopold is hardly home at Dessau, when new Pandour Tempests, tides of + ravaging War, again come beating against the Giant Mountains, pouring + through all passes; from utmost Jablunka, westward by Jagerndorf to Glatz, + huge influx of wild riding hordes, each with some support of Austrian + grenadiers, cannoniers; threatening to submerge Silesia. Precursors, + Friedrich need not doubt, of a strenuous regular attempt that way, + Hungarian Majesty's fixed intention, hope and determination is, To expel + him straightway from Silesia. Her Patent circulates, these three months; + calling on all men to take note of that fixed fact, especially on all + Silesian men to note it well, and shift their allegiance accordingly. + Silesian men, in great majority,—our friend the Mayor of Landshut, + for example?—are believed to have no inclination towards change: and + whoever has, had clearly better not show any till he see! [In Ranke (iii. + 234), there is vestige of some intended "voluntary subscription by the + common people of Glatz," for Friedrich's behoof;—contrariwise, in + Orlich (ii. 380, "6th February, 1745," from the Dessau Archives), notice + of one individual, suspected of stirring for Austria, whom "you are to put + under lock and key;"—but he runs off, and has no successor, that I + hear of.]— + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's thousand-fold preliminary orderings, movements, rearrangings + in his Army matters, must not detain us here;—still less his + dealings with the Pandour element, which is troublesome, rather than + dangerous. Vigilance, wise swift determination, valor drilled to its work, + can deal with phenomena of that nature, though never so furious and + innumerable. Not a cheering service for drilled valor, but a very needful + one. Continual bickerings and skirmishings fell out, sometimes rising to + sharp fight on the small scale:—Austrian grenadiers with cannon are + on that Height to left, and also on this to right, meaning to cut off our + march; the difficult landscape furnished out, far and wide, with Pandour + companies in position: you must clash in, my Burschen; seize me that + cannon-battery yonder; master such and such a post,—there is the + heart of all that network of armed doggery; slit asunder that, the network + wholly will tumble over the Hills again. Which is always done, on the part + of the Prussian Burschen; though sometimes not, without difficulty.—His + Majesty is forming Magazines at Neisse, Brieg, and the principal + Fortresses in those parts; driving on all manner of preparations at the + rapidest rate of speed, and looking with his own eyes into everything. The + regiments are about what we may call complete, arithmetically and + otherwise; the cavalry show good perfection in their new mode of + manoeuvring;—it is to be hoped the Fighting Apparatus generally will + give fair account of itself when the time comes. Our one anchor of hope, + as now more and more appears. + </p> + <p> + On the Pandour element he first tried (under General Hautcharmoi, with + Winterfeld as chief active hand) a direct outburst or two, with a view to + slash them home at once. But finding that it was of no use, as they always + reappeared in new multitudes, he renounced that; took to calling in his + remoter outposts; and, except where Magazines or the like remained to be + cared for, let the Pandours baffle about, checked only by the fortified + Towns, and more and more submerge the Hill Country. Prince Karl, to be + expected in the form of lion, mysteriously uncertain on which side coming + to invade us,—he, and not the innumerable weasel kind, is our + important matter! By the end of April (news of the PEACE OF FUSSEN coming + withal), Friedrich had quitted Neisse; lay cantoned, in Neisse Valley + (between Frankenstein and Patschkau, "able to assemble in forty-eight + hours"); studying, with his whole strength, to be ready for the mysterious + Prince Karl, on whatever side he might arrive;—and disregarding the + Pandours in comparison. + </p> + <p> + The points of inrush, the tideways of these Pandour Deluges seem to be + mainly three. Direct through the Jablunka, upon Ratibor Country, is the + first and chief; less direct (partly supplied by REFLUENCES from Ratibor, + when Ratibor is found not to answer), a second disembogues by Jagerndorf; + a third, the westernmost, by Landshut. Three main ingresses: at each of + which there fall out little Fights; which are still celebrated in the + Prussian Books, and indeed well deserve reading by soldiers that would + know their trade. In the Ratibor parts, the invasive leader is a General + Karoly, with 12,000 under him, who are the wildest horde of all: "Karoly + lodges in a wood: for himself there is a tent; his companions sleep under + trees, or under the open sky, by the edge of morasses." [Ranke, iii. 244.] + It was against this Karoly and his horde that Hautcharmoi's little + expedition, or express attacking party to drive them home again, was shot + out (8th-2lst April). Which did its work very prettily; Winterfeld, chief + hand in it, crowning the matter by a "Fight of Wurbitz," [Orlich, ii. 136 + (21st April).]—where Winterfeld, cutting the taproot, in his usual + electric way, tumbles Karoly quite INTO the morasses, and clears the + country of him for a time. For a time; though for a time only;—Karoly + or others returning in a week or two, to a still higher extent of + thousands; mischievous as ever in those Ratibor-Namslau countries. Upon + which, Friedrich, finding this an endless business, and nothing like the + most important, gives it up for the present; calls in his remoter + detachments; has his Magazines carted home to the Fortress Towns,—Karoly + trying, once or so, to hinder in that operation, but only again getting + his crown broken. ["Fight of Mocker," May 4th (Orlich, ii. 141).] Or if + carting be too difficult, still do not waste your Magazine:—Margraf + Karl, for instance, is ordered to Jagerndorf with his Detachment, "to eat + the Magazine;" hungry Pandours looking on, till he finish. On which + occasion a renowned little Fight took place (Fight of Neustadt, or of + Jagerndorf-Neustadt), as shall be mentioned farther on. + </p> + <p> + So that, for certain weeks to come, the Tolpatcheries had free course, in + those Frontier parts; and were left to rove about, under check only of the + Garrison Towns; Friedrich being obliged to look elsewhere after higher + perils, which were now coming in view. In which favorable circumstances, + Karoly and Consorts did, at last, make one stroke in those Ratibor + countries; that of Kosel, which was greatly consolatory. [26th May, 1743 + (Orlich, ii. 156-158).] "By treachery of an Ensign who had deserted to + them [provoked by rigor of discipline, or some intolerable thing], they + glided stealthily, one night, across the ditches, into Kosel" (a + half-fortified place, Prussian works only half finished): which, being the + Key of the Oder in those parts, they reckoned a glorious conquest; of good + omen and worthy of TE-DEUMS at Vienna. And they did eagerly, without the + least molestation, labor to complete the Prussian works at Kosel: "One + garrison already ours!"—which was not had from them without + battering (and I believe, burning), when General von Nassau came to + inquire after it; in Autumn next. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich had always hoped that the Saxons, who are not yet in declared + War with him, though bound by Treaty to assist the Queen of Hungary under + certain conditions, would not venture on actual Invasion of his + Territories; but in this, as readers anticipate, Friedrich finds himself + mistaken. Weissenfels is hastening from the Leitmeritz northwestern + quarter, where he has wintered, to join Prince Karl, who is gathering + himself from Olmutz and his southeastern home region; their full intention + is to invade Silesia together, and they hope now at length to make an end + of Friedrich and it. These Pandour hordes, supported by the necessary + grenadiers and cannoniers, are sent as vanguard; these cannot themselves + beat him; but they may induce him (which they do not) to divide his Force; + they may, in part, burn him away as by slow fire, after which he will be + the easier to beat. Instead of which, Friedrich, leaving the Pandours to + their luck, lies concentrated in Neisse Valley; watching, with all his + faculties, Prince Karl's own advent (coming on like Fate, indubitable, yet + involved in mysteries hitherto); and is perilously sensible that only in + giving that a good reception is there any hope left him. + </p> + <p> + Prince Karl "who arrived in Olmutz April 30th," commands in chief again,—saddened, + poor man, by the loss of his young Wife, in December last; willing to + still his grief in action for the cause SHE loved;—but old Traun is + not with him this year: which is a still more material circumstance. Traun + is to go this year, under cloak not of Prince Karl, but of Grand-Duke + Franz, to clear those Frankfurt Countries for the KAISERWAHL and him. + Prince Conti lies there, with his famous "Middle-Rhine Army" (D'Ahremberg, + from the western parts, not nearly so diligent upon him as one could + wish); and must, at all rates, be cleared away. Traun, taking command of + Bathyani's Army (now that it has finished the Bavarian job), is preparing + to push down upon Conti, while Bathyani (who is to supersede the laggard + D'Ahremberg) shall push vigorously up;—and before summer is over, we + shall hear of Traun again, and Conti will have heard!— + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's indignation, on learning that the Saxons were actually on + march, and gradually that they intended to invade him, was great; and the + whole matter is portentously enigmatic to him, as he lies vigilant in + Neisse Valley, waiting on the When and the How. Indignation;—and yet + there is need of caution withal. To be ready for events, the Old Dessauer + has, as one sure measure, been requested to take charge, once more, of a + "Camp of Observation" on the Saxon Frontier (as of old, in 1741); and has + given his consent: ["April 25th" consents (Orlich, ii. 130).] "Camp of + Magdeburg," "Camp of Dieskau;" for it had various names and figures; + checkings of your hand, then layings of it on, heavier, lighter and again + heavier, according to one's various READINGS of the Saxon Mystery; and we + shall hear enough about it, intermittently, till December coming: when it + ended in a way we shall not forget!—On which take this Note:— + </p> + <p> + "The Camp of Observation was to have begun May 1st; did begin somewhat + later, 'near Magdeburg,' not too close on the Frontier, nor in too + alarming strength; was reinforced to about 30,000; in which state [middle + of August] it stept forward to Wieskau, then to Dieskau, close on the + Saxon Border; and became,—with a Saxon Camp lying close opposite, + and War formally threatened, or almost declared, on Saxony by Friedrich,—an + alarmingly serious matter. Friedrich, however, again checked his hand; and + did not consummate till November-December. But did then consummate; + greatly against his will; and in a way flamingly visible to all men!" + [Orlich, ii. 130, 209, 210: <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> ii. 1224-1226; i. + 1117.] + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's own incidental utterances (what more we have of Fractions from + the Podewils Letters), in such portentous aspect of affairs, may now be + worth giving. It is not now to Jordan that he writes, gayly unbosoming + himself, as in the First War,—poor Jordan lies languishing, these + many months; consumptive, too evidently dying:—Not to Jordan, this + time; nor is the theme "GLOIRE" now, but a far different! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0024" id="link2H_4_0024"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + FRIEDRICH TO PODEWILS (as before, April-May, 1745). + </h2> + <p> + April 20th or so, Orders are come to Berlin (orders, to Podewils's horror + at such a thought), Whitherward, should Berlin be assaulted, the Official + Boards, the Preciosities and household gods are to betake themselves:—to + Magdeburg, all these, which is an impregnable place; to Stettin, the Two + Queens and Royal Family, if they like it better. Podewils in horror, "hair + standing on end," writes thereupon to Eichel, That he hopes the + management, "in a certain contingency," will be given to Minister Boden; + he Podewils, with his hair in that posture, being quite unequal to it. + Friedrich answers:— + </p> + <p> + "APRIL 26th.... 'I can understand how you are getting uneasy, you + Berliners. I have the most to lose of you all; but I am quiet, and + prepared for events. If the Saxons take part,' as they surely will, 'in + the Invasion of Silesia, and we beat them, I am determined to plunge into + Saxony. For great maladies, there need great remedies. Either I will + maintain my all, or else lose my all. [Hear it, friend; and understand it,—with + hair lying flat!] It is true, the disaffection of the Russian Court, on + such trifling grounds, was not to be expected; and great misfortune can + befall us. Well; a year or two sooner, a year or two later,—it is + not worth one's while to bother about the very worst. If things take the + better turn, our condition will be surer and firmer than it was before. If + we have nothing to reproach ourselves with, neither need we fret and + plague ourselves about bad events, which can happen to any man.'—'I + am causing despatch a secret Order for Boden [on YOU know what], which you + will not deliver him till I give sign.'"—On hearing of the Peace of + Fussen, perhaps a day or so later, Friedrich again writes:— + </p> + <p> + "APRIL [no distinct date; Neisse still? QUITS Neisse, April 28th]. ... + Peace of Fussen, Bavaria turned against me? 'I can say nothing to it,—except, + There has come what had to come. To me remains only to possess myself in + patience. If all alliances, resources, and negotiations fail, and all + conjunctures go against me, I prefer to perish with honor, rather than + lead an inglorious life deprived of all dignity. My ambition whispers me + that I have done more than another to the building up of my House, and + have played a distinguished part among the crowned heads of Europe. To + maintain myself there, has become as it were a personal duty; which I will + fulfil at the expense of my happiness and my life. I have no choice left: + I will maintain my power, or it may go to ruin, and the Prussian name be + buried under it. If the enemy attempt anything upon us, we will either + beat him, or we will all be hewed to pieces, for the sake of our Country, + and the renown of Brandenburg. No other counsel can I listen to.'" + </p> + <p> + SAME LETTER, OR ANOTHER? (Herr Ranke having his caprices!)... "You are a + good man, my Podewils, and do what can be expected of you" (Podewils has + been apologizing for his terrors; and referring hopefully "to + Providence"): "Perform faithfully the given work on your side, as I on + mine; for the rest, let what you call 'Providence' decide as it likes [UNE + PROVIDENCE AVEUGLE? Ranke, who alone knows, gives "BLINDE VORSEHUNG." What + an utterance, on the part of this little Titan! Consider it as exceptional + with him, unusual, accidental to the hard moment, and perhaps not so + impious as it looks!]—Neither our prudence nor our courage shall be + liable to blame; but only circumstances that would not favor us.... + </p> + <p> + "I prepare myself for every event. Fortune may be kind or be unkind, it + shall neither dishearten me nor uplift me. If I am to perish, let it be + with honor, and sword in hand. What the issue is to be—Well, what + pleases Heaven, or the Other Party (J'AI JETE LE BONNET PAR DESSUS LES + MOULINS)! Adieu, my dear Podewils; become as good a philosopher as you are + a politician; and learn from a man who does not go to Elsner's Preaching + [fashionable at the time], that one must oppose to ill fortune a brow of + iron; and, during this life, renounce all happiness, all acquisitions, + possessions and lying shows, none of which will follow us beyond the + grave." [Ranke, iii. pp. 238-241.] + </p> + <p> + "By what points the Austrian-Saxon Armament will come through upon us? + Together will it be, or separately? Saxons from the Lausitz, Austrians + from Bohmen, enclosing us between two fires?"—were enigmatic + questions with Friedrich; and the Saxons especially are an enigma. But + that come they will, that these Pandours are their preliminary + veiling-apparatus as usual, is evident to him; and that he must not spend + himself upon Pandours; but coalesce, and lie ready for the main wrestle. + So that from April 28th, as above noticed, Friedrich has gone into + cantonments, some way up the Neisse Valley, westward of Neisse Town; and + is calling in his outposts, his detachments; emptying his Frontier + Magazines;—abandoning his Upper-Silesian Frontier more and more, and + in the end altogether, to the Pandour hordes; a small matter they, + compared to the grand Invasion which is coming on. Here, with shiftings up + the Neisse Valley, he lies till the end of May; watching Argus-like, and + scanning with every faculty the Austrian-Saxon motions and intentions, + until at length they become clear to him, and we shall see how he deals + with them. + </p> + <p> + His own lodging, or head-quarter, most of this time (4th May-27th May), is + in the pleasant Abbey of Camenz (mythic scene of that BAUMGARTEN-SKIRMISH + business, in the First Silesian War). He has excellent Tobias Stusche for + company in leisure hours; and the outlook of bright Spring all round him, + flowering into gorgeous Summer, as he hurries about on his many occasions, + not of an idyllic nature. [Orlich, ii. 139; Ranke, iii. 242-249.] But his + Army is getting into excellent completeness of number, health, equipment, + and altogether such a spirit as he could wish. May 22d, here is another + snatch from some Note to Podewils, from this balmy Locality, potential + with such explosions of another kind. CAMENZ, MAY 22d.... "The Enemies are + making movements; but nothing like enough as yet for our guessing their + designs. Till we see, therefore, the thunder lies quiet in us (LA FOUDRE + REPOSE EN MES MAINS). Ah, could we but have a Day like that May Eleventh!" + [Ranke, iii. 248 n.] + </p> + <p> + What "that May Eleventh" is or was? Readers are curious to know; + especially English readers, who guess FONTENOY. And Historic Art, if she + were strict, would decline to inform them at any length; for really the + thing is no better than a "Victory on the Scamander, and a Siege of Pekin" + (as a certain observer did afterwards define it), in reference to the + matter now on hand! Well, Pharsalia, Arbela, the Scamander, Armageddon, + and so many Battles and Victories being luminous, by study, to cultivated + Englishmen, and one's own Fontenoy such a mystery and riddle,—Art, + after consideration, reluctantly consents to be indulgent; will produce + from her Paper Imbroglios a slight Piece on the subject, and print instead + of burning. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VIII.—THE MARTIAL BOY AND HIS ENGLISH versus THE LAWS OF + NATURE. + </h2> + <p> + "Glorious Campaign in the Netherlands, Siege of Tournay, final ruin of the + Dutch Barrier!" this is the French program for Season 1745,—no + Belleisle to contradict it; Belleisle secure at Windsor, who might have + leant more towards German enterprises. And to this his Britannic Majesty + (small gain to him from that adroitness in the Harz, last winter!) has to + make front. And is strenuously doing so, by all methods; especially by + heroic expenditure of money, and ditto exposure of his Martial Boy. Poor + old Wade, last year,—perhaps Wade did suffer, as he alleged, from + "want of sufficient authority in that mixed Army"? Well, here is a Prince + of the Blood, Royal Highness of Cumberland, to command in chief. With a + Konigseck to dry-nurse him, may not Royal Highness, luck favoring, do very + well? Luck did not favor; Britannic Majesty, neither in the Netherlands + over seas, nor at home (strange new domestic wool, of a tarry HIGHLAND + nature, being thrown him to card, on the sudden!), made a good Campaign, + but a bad. And again a bad (1746) and again (1747), ever again, till he + pleased to cease altogether. Of which distressing objects we propose that + the following one glimpse be our last. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0026" id="link2H_4_0026"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + BATTLE OF FONTENOY (11th May, 1745). + </h2> + <p> + ... "In the end of April, Marechal de Saxe, now become very famous for his + sieges in the Netherlands, opened trenches before Tournay; King Louis, + with his Dauphin, not to speak of mistresses, play-actors and cookery + apparatus (in wagons innumerable), hastens to be there. A fighting Army, + say of 70,000, besides the garrisons; and great things, it is expected, + will be done; Tournay, in spite of strong works and Dutch garrison of + 9,000, to be taken in the first place. + </p> + <p> + "Of the Siege, which was difficult and ardent, we will remember nothing, + except the mischance that befell a certain 'Marquis de Talleyrand' and his + men, in the trenches, one night. Night of the 8th-9th May, by carelessness + of somebody, a spark got into the Marquis's powder, two powder-barrels + that there were; and, with horrible crash, sent eighty men, Marquis + Talleyrand and Engineer Du Mazis among them, aloft into the other world; + raining down their limbs into the covered way, where the Dutch were very + inhuman to them, and provoked us to retaliate. [Espagnac, ii. 27.] Du + Mazis I do not know; but Marquis de Talleyrand turns out, on study of the + French Peerages, to be Uncle of a lame little Boy, who became Right + Reverend Tallyrand under singular conditions, and has made the name very + current in after-times!— + </p> + <p> + "Hearing of this Siege, the Duke of Cumberland hastened over from England, + with intent to raise the same. Mustered his 'Allied Army' (once called + 'Pragmatic'),—self at the head of it; old Count Konigseck, who was + NOT burnt at Chotusitz, commanding the small Austrian quota [Austrians + mainly are gone laggarding with D'Ahremberg up the Rhine]; and a Prince of + Waldeck the Dutch,—on the plain of Anderlecht near Brussels, May + 4th; [Anonymous, <i>Life of Cumberland,</i> p. 180; Espagnac, ii. 26.] and + found all things tolerably complete. Upon which, straightway, his Royal + Highness, 60,000 strong let us say, set forth; by slowish marches, and a + route somewhat leftward of the great Tournay Road [no place on it, except + perhaps STEENKERKE, ever heard of by an English reader]; and on Sunday, + 9th May, [Espagnac, ii. 27.] precisely on the morrow after poor Talleyrand + had gone aloft, reached certain final Villages: Vezon, Maubray, where he + encamps, Briffoeil to rear; Camp looking towards Tournay and the setting + sun,—with Fontenoy short way ahead, and Antoine to left of it, and + Barry with its Woods to right:—small peaceable Villages, which + become famous in the Newspapers shortly after. [Patch of Map at p. 440.] + Royal Highness, resting here at Vezon, is but some six or seven miles from + Tournay; in low undulating Country, woody here and there, not without + threads of running water, and with frequent Villages and their adjuncts: + the part of it now interesting to us lies all between the Brussels-Tournay + Road and the Scheld River,—all in immediate front of his Royal + Highness,—to southeastward from beleaguered Tournay, where said Road + and River intersect. How shall he make some impression on the Siege of + Tournay? That is now the question; and his Royal Highness struggles to + manoeuvre accordingly. + </p> + <p> + "Marechal de Saxe, whose habit is much that of vigilance, forethought, + sagacious precaution, singular in so dissolute a man, has neglected + nothing on this occasion. He knows every foot of the ground, having sieged + here, in his boyhood, once before. Leaving the siege-trenches at Tournay, + under charge of a ten or fifteen thousand, he has taken camp here; still + with superior force (56,000 as they count, Royal Highness being only + 50,000 ranked), barring Royal Highness's way. Tournay, or at least the + Marechal's trenches there, are on the right bank of the Scheld; which + flows from southeast, securing all on that hand. The broad Brussels + Highway comes in to him from the east;—north of that he has nothing + to fear, the ground being cut with bogs; no getting through upon him, that + way, to Tournay and what he calls the 'Under Scheld.' The 'Upper Scheld' + too, avail them nothing. There is only that triangle to the southeast, + between Road and River, where the Enemy is now manoeuvring in front of + him, from which damage can well come; and he has done his best to be + secure there. Four villages or hamlets, close to the Scheld and onwards to + the Great Road,—Antoine, Fontenoy, Barry, Ramecroix, with their + lanes and boscages,—make a kind of circular base to his triangle; + base of some six or eight miles; with hollows in it, brooks, and northward + a considerable Wood [BOIS DE BARRY, enveloping Barry and Ramecroix, which + do not prove of much interest to us, though the BOIS does of a good deal]. + In and before each of those villages are posts and defences; in Antoine + and Fontenoy elaborate redoubts, batteries, redans connecting: in the Wood + (BOIS DE BARRY), an abattis, or wall of felled trees, as well as cannon; + and at the point of the Wood, well within double range of Fontenoy, is a + Redoubt, called of Eu (REDOUTE D'EU, from the regiment occupying it), + which will much concern his Royal Highness and us. Saxe has a hundred + pieces of cannon [say the English, which is correct], consummately + disposed along this space; no ingress possible anywhere, except through + the cannon's throat; torrents of fire and cross-fire playing on you. He is + armed to the teeth, as they say; and has his 56,000 arranged according to + the best rules of tactics, behind this murderous line of works. If his + Royal Highness think of breaking in, he may count on a very warm reception + indeed. + </p> + <p> + "Saxe is only afraid his Royal Highness will not. Outside of these lines, + with a 50,000 dashing fiercely round us, under any kind of leading; + pouncing on our convoys; harassing and sieging US,—our siege of + Toumay were a sad outlook. And this is old Austrian Konigseck's opinion, + too; though, they say, Waldeck and the Dutch (impetuous in theory at + least) opined otherwise, and strengthened Royal Highness's view. Two young + men against one old: 'Be it so, then!' His Royal Highness, resolute for + getting in, manoeuvres and investigates, all Monday 10th; his cannon is + not to arrive completely till night; otherwise he would be for breaking in + at once: a fearless young man, fearless as ever his poor Father was; + certainly a man SANS PEUY, this one too; whether of much AVIS, we shall + see anon. + </p> + <p> + "Tuesday morning early, 11th May, 1745, cannon being up, and dispositions + made, his Royal Highness sallies out; sees his men taking their ground: + Dutch and Austrians to the left, chiefly opposite Antoine; English, with + some Hanoverians, in the centre and to the right; infantry in front, + facing Fontenoy, cavalry to rear flanking the Wood of Barry,—Konigseck, + Ligonier and others able, assisting to plant them advantageously; cannon + going, on both sides, the while; radiant enthusiasm, SANS PEUR ET SANS + AVIS, looking from his Royal Highness's face. He has been on horseback + since two in the morning; cannon started thundering between five and six,—has + killed chivalrous Grammont over yonder (the Grammont of Dettingen), almost + at the first volley. And now about the time when ploughers breakfast + (eight A.M., no ploughing hereabouts to-day!), begins the attack, + simultaneously or in swift succession, on the various batteries which it + will be necessary to attack and storm. + </p> + <p> + "The attacks took place; but none of them succeeded. Dutch and Austrians, + on the extreme left, were to have stormed Antoine by the edge of the + River; that was their main task; right skirt of them to help US meanwhile + with Fontenoy. And they advanced, accordingly; but found the shot from + Antoine too fierce: especially when a subsidiary battery opened from + across the River, and took them in flank, the Dutch and Austrians felt + astonished; and hastily drew aside, under some sheltering mound or + earthwork they had found for themselves, or prudently thrown up the night + before. There, under their earthwork, stood the Dutch and Austrians; + patiently expecting a fitter time,—which indeed never occurred; for + always, the instant they drew out, the batteries from Antoine, and from + across the River, instantly opened upon them, and they had to draw in + again. So that they stood there, in a manner, all day; and so to speak did + nothing but patiently expect when it should be time to run. For which they + were loudly censured, and deservedly. Antoine is and remains a total + failure on the part of the Dutch and Austrians. + </p> + <p> + "Royal Highness in person, with his English, was to attack Fontenoy;—and + is doing so, by battery and storm, at various points; with emphasis, + though without result. As preliminary, at an early stage he had sent + forward on the right, by the Wood of Barry, a Brigadier Ingoldsby 'with + Semple's Highlanders' and other force, to silence 'that redoubt yonder at + the point of the Wood,'—redoubt, fort, or whatever it be (famous + REDOUTE D'EU, as it turned out!),—which guards Fontenoy to north, + and will take us in flank, nay in rear, as we storm the cannon of the + Village. Ingoldsby, speed imperative on him, pushed into the Wood; found + French light-troops ('God knows how many of them!') prowling about there; + found the Redoubt a terribly strong thing, with ditch, drawbridge, what + not; spent thirty or forty of his Highlanders, in some frantic attempt on + it by rule of thumb;—and found 'He would need artillery' and other + things. In short, Ingoldsby, hasten what he might, could not perfect the + preparations to his mind, had to wait for this and for that; and did not + storm the Redoubt d'Eu at all; but hung fire, in an unaccountable manner. + For which he had to answer (to Court-Martial, still more to the + Newspapers) afterwards; and prove that it was misfortune merely, or + misfortune and stupidity combined. Too evident, the REDOUTE D'EU was not + taken, then or thenceforth; which might have proved the saving of the + whole affair, could Ingoldsby have managed it. Royal Highness attacked + Fontenoy, and re-attacked, furiously, thrice over; and had to desist, and + find Fontenoy impossible on those terms. + </p> + <p> + "Here is a piece of work. Repulsed at all those points; and on the left + and on the right, no spirit visible but what deserves repulse! His Royal + Highness blazes into resplendent PLATT-DEUTSCH rage, what we may call + spiritual white-heat, a man SANS PEUR at any rate, and pretty much SANS + AVIS; decides that he must and will be through those lines, if it please + God; that he will not be repulsed at his part of the attack, not he for + one; but will plunge through, by what gap there is [900 yards Voltaire + measures it (<i>OEuvres,</i> xxviii. 150 (SIECLE DE LOUIS QUINZE, c. xv. + "BATAILLE DE FONTENOI,"—elaborately exact on all such points).)] + between Fontenoy and that Redoubt with its laggard Ingoldsby; and see what + the French interior is like! He rallies rapidly, rearranges; forms himself + in thin column or columns [three of them, I think,—which gradually + got crushed into one, as they advanced, under cannon-shot on both hands),—wheeling + his left round, to be rear, his right to be head of said column or + columns. In column, the cannon-shot from Fontenoy on the left, and Redoubt + d'Eu on our right, will tell less on us; and between these two + death-dealing localities, by the hollowest, least shelterless way + discoverable, we mean to penetrate: (Forward, my men, steady and swift, + till we are through the shot-range, and find men to grapple with, instead + of case-shot and projectile iron!' Marechal de Saxe owned afterwards, 'He + should have put an additional redoubt in that place, but he did not think + any Army would try such a thing' (cannon batteries playing on each hand at + 400 yards distance);—nor has any Army since or before! + </p> + <p> + "These columns advance, however; through bushy hollows, water-courses, + through what defiles or hollowest grounds there are; endure the + cannon-shot, while they must; trailing their own heavy guns by hand, and + occasionally blasting out of them where the ground favors;—and do, + with indignant patience, wind themselves through, pretty much beyond + direct shot-range of either d'Eu or Fontenoy. And have actually got into + the interior mystery of the French Line of Battle,—which is not a + little astonished to see them there! It is over a kind of blunt ridge, or + rising ground, that they are coming: on the crown of this rising ground, + the French regiment fronting it (GARDES FRANCAISES as it chanced to be) + notices, with surprise, field-cannon pointed the wrong way; actual British + artillery unaccountably showing itself there. Regiment of GARDES rushes up + to seize said field-pieces: but, on the summit, perceives with amazement + that it cannot; that a heavy volley of musketry blazes into it (killing + sixty men); that it will have to rush back again, and report progress: + Huge British force, of unknown extent, is readjusting itself into column + there, and will be upon us on the instant. Here is news! + </p> + <p> + "News true enough. The head of the English column comes to sight, over the + rising ground, close by: their officers doff their hats, politely saluting + ours, who return the civility: was ever such politeness seen before? It is + a fact; and among the memorablest of this Battle. Nay a certain English + Officer of mark—Lord Charles Hay the name of him, valued surely in + the annals of the Hay and Tweeddale House—steps forward from the + ranks, as if wishing something. Towards whom [says the accurate Espagnac] + Marquis d'Auteroche, grenadier-lieutenant, with air of polite + interrogation, not knowing what he meant, made a step or two: 'Monsieur,' + said Lord Charles (LORD CHARLES-HAY), 'bid your people fire (FAITES TIRER + VOS GENS)!' 'NON, MONSIEUR, NOUS NE TIRONS JAMAIS LES PREMIERS (We never + fire first).' [Espagnac, ii. 60 (of the ORIGINAL, Toulouse, 1789); ii. 48 + of the German Translation (Leipzig, 1774), our usual reference. Voltaire, + endlessly informed upon details this time, is equally express: "MILORD + CHARLES HAY, CAPITAINE AUX GARDES ANGLAISES, CRIA: 'MESSIEURS DES GARDES + FRANCAISES, TIREZ!' To which Count d'Auteroche with a loud voice answered" + &c. (<i>OEuvres,</i> vol. xxviii. p. 155.) See also <i>Souvenirs du + Marquis de Valfons</i> (edited by a Grand-Nephew, Paris, 1860), p. 151;—a + poor, considerably noisy and unclean little Book; which proves + unexpectedly worth looking at, in regard to some of those poor Battles and + personages and occurrences: the Bohemian Belleisle-Broglio part, to my + regret, if to no other person's, has been omitted, as extinct, or + undecipherable by the Grand-Nephew.] After YOU, Sirs! Is not this a bit of + modern chivalry? A supreme politeness in that sniffing pococurante kind; + probably the highest point (or lowest) it ever went to. Which I have often + thought of." + </p> + <p> + It is almost pity to disturb an elegant Historical Passage of this kind, + circulating round the world, in some glory, for a century past: but there + has a small irrefragable Document come to me, which modifies it a good + deal, and reduces matters to the business form. Lord Charles Hay, + "Lieutenant-Colonel," practical Head, "of the First Regiment of + Foot-guards," wrote, about three weeks after (or dictated in sad spelling, + not himself able to write for wounds), a Letter to his Brother, of which + here is an Excerpt at first hand, with only the spelling altered:... "It + was our Regiment that attacked the French Guards: and when we came within + twenty or thirty paces of them, I advanced before our Regiment; drank to + them [to the French, from the pocket-pistol one carries on such + occasions], and told them that we were the English Guards, and hoped that + they would stand till we came quite up to them, and not swim the Scheld as + they did the Mayn at Dettingen [shameful THIRD-BRIDGE, not of wood, though + carpeted with blue cloth there]! Upon which I immediately turned about to + our own Regiment; speeched them, and made them huzza,"—I hope with a + will. "An Officer [d'Auteroche] came out of the ranks, and tried to make + his men huzza; however, there were not above three or four in their + Brigade that did." ["Ath, May ye 20th, o.s." (to John, Fourth Marquis of + Tweeddale, last "Secretary of State for Scotland," and a man of figure in + his day): Letter is at Yester House, East Lothian; Excerpt PENES ME.]... + </p> + <p> + Very poor counter-huzza. And not the least whisper of that sublime "After + you, Sirs!" but rather, in confused form, of quite the reverse; Hay having + been himself fired into ("fire had begun on my left;" Hay totally ignorant + on which side first),—fired into, rather feebly, and wounded by + those D'Auteroche people, while he was still advancing with shouldered + arms;—upon which, and not till which, he did give it them: in + liberal dose; and quite blew them off the ground, for that day. From all + which, one has to infer, That the mutual salutation by hat was probably a + fact; that, for certain, there was some slight preliminary talk and + gesticulation, but in the Homeric style, by no means in the + Espagnac-French,—not chivalrous epigram at all, mere rough banter, + and what is called "chaffing;"—and in short, that the French + Mess-rooms (with their eloquent talent that way) had rounded off the thing + into the current epigrammatic redaction; the authentic business-form of it + being ruggedly what is now given. Let our Manuscript proceed. + </p> + <p> + "D'Auteroche declining the first fire,"—or accepting it, if ever + offered, nobody can say,—"the three Guards Regiments, Lord Charles's + on the right, give it him hot and heavy, 'tremendous rolling fire;' so + that D'Auteroche, responding more or less, cannot stand it; but has at + once to rustle into discontinuity, he and his, and roll rapidly out of the + way. And the British Column advances, steadily, terribly, hurling back all + opposition from it; deeper and deeper into the interior mysteries of the + French Host; blasting its way with gunpowder;—in a magnificent + manner. A compact Column, slowly advancing,—apparently of some + 16,000 foot. Pauses, readjusts itself a little, when not meddled with; + when meddled with, has cannon, has rolling fire,—delivers from it, + in fact, on both hands such a torrent of deadly continuous fire as was + rarely seen before or since. 'FEU INFERNAL,' the French call it. The + French make vehement resistance. Battalions, squadrons, regiment after + regiment, charge madly on this terrible Column; but rush only on + destruction thereby. Regiment This storms in from the right, regiment That + from the left; have their colonels shot, 'lose the half of their people;' + and hastily draw back again, in a wrecked condition. The cavalry-horses + cannot stand such smoke and blazing; nor indeed, I think, can the + cavaliers. REGIMENT DU ROI rushing on, full gallop, to charge this Column, + got one volley from it [says Espagnac] which brought to the ground 460 + men. Natural enough that horses take the bit between their teeth; likewise + that men take it, and career very madly in such circumstances! + </p> + <p> + MAP Chap. VIII, Book 15, PAGE 440 GOES ABOUT HERE—— + </p> + <p> + "The terrible Column with slow inflexibility advances; cannon (now in + reversed position) from that Redoubt d'Eu ('Shame on you, Ingoldsby!'), + and irregular musketry from Fontenoy side, playing upon it; defeated + regiments making barriers of their dead men and firing there; Column + always closing its gapped ranks, and girdled with insupportable fire. It + ought to have taken Fontenoy and Redoubt d'Eu, say military men; it ought + to have done several things! It has now cut the French fairly in two;—and + Saxe, who is earnestly surveying it a hundred paces ahead, sends word, + conjuring the King to retire instantly,—across the Scheld, by + Calonne Bridge and the strong rear-guard there,—who, however, will + not. King and Dauphin, on horseback both, have stood 'at the Justice + (GALLOWS, in fact) of our Lady of the Woods,' not stirring much, + occasionally shifting to a windmill which is still higher,—ye + Heavens, with what intrepidity, all day!—'a good many country-folk + in trees close behind them.' Country-folk, I suppose, have by this time + seen enough, and are copiously making off: but the King will not, though + things do look dubious. + </p> + <p> + "In fact, the Battle hangs now upon a hair; the Battle is as good as lost, + thinks Marechal de Saxe. His battle-lines torn in two in that manner, + hovering in ragged clouds over the field, what hope is there in the + Battle? Fontenoy is firing blank, this some time; its cannon-balls done. + Officers, in Antoine, are about withdrawing the artillery,—then + again (on new order) replacing it awhile. All are looking towards the + Scheld Bridge; earnestly entreating his Majesty to withdraw. Had the + Dutch, at this point of time, broken heartily in, as Waldeck was urging + them to do, upon the redoubts of Antoine; or had his Royal Highness the + Duke, for his own behoof, possessed due cavalry or artillery to act upon + these ragged clouds, which hang broken there, very fit for being swept, + were there an artillery-and-horse besom to do it,—in either of these + cases the Battle was the Duke's. And a right fiery victory it would have + been; to make his name famous; and confirm the English in their mad method + of fighting, like Baresarks or Janizaries rather than strategic human + creatures. [See, in Busching's <i>Magazin,</i> xvi. 169 ("Your illustrious + 'Column,' at Fontenoy? It was fortuitous, I say; done like janizaries;" + and so forth), a Criticism worth reading by soldiers.] + </p> + <p> + "But neither of these contingencies had befallen. The Dutch-Austrian wing + did evince some wish to get possession of Antoine; and drew out a little; + but the guns also awoke upon them; whereupon the Dutch-Austrians drew in + again, thinking the time not come. As for the Duke, he had taken with him + of cannon a good few; but of horse none at all (impossible for horse, + unless Fontenoy and the Redoubt d'Eu were ours!)—and his horse have + been hanging about, in the Wood of Barry all this while, uncertain what to + do; their old Commander being killed withal, and their new a dubitative + person, and no orders left. The Duke had left no orders; having indeed + broken in here, in what we called a spiritual white-heat, without asking + himself much what he would do when in: 'Beat the French, knock them to + powder if I can!'—Meanwhile the French clouds are reassembling a + little: Royal Highness too is readjusting himself, now got '300 yards + ahead of Fontenoy,'—pauses there about half an hour, not seeing his + way farther. + </p> + <p> + "During which pause, Duc de Richelieu, famous blackguard man, gallops up + to the Marechal, gallops rapidly from Marechal to King; suggesting, 'were + cannon brought AHEAD of this close deep Column, might not they shear it + into beautiful destruction; and then a general charge be made?' So + counselled Richelieu: it is said, the Jacobite Irishman, Count Lally of + the Irish Brigade, was prime author of this notion,—a man of tragic + notoriety in time coming. ["Thomas Arthur Lally Comte de Tollendal," + patronymically "O'MULALLY of TULLINDALLY" (a place somewhere in Connaught, + undiscoverable where, not material where): see our dropsical friend (in + one of his wheeziest states), <i>King James's Irish Army-List</i> (Dublin, + 1855), pp. 594-600.] Whoever was author of it, Marechal de Saxe adopts it + eagerly, King Louis eagerly: swift it becomes a fact. Universal rally, + universal simultaneous charge on both flanks of the terrible Column: this + it might resist, as it has done these two hours past; but cannon ahead, + shearing gaps through it from end to end, this is what no column can + resist;—and only perhaps one of Friedrich's columns (if even that) + with Friedrich's eye upon it, could make its half-right-about (QUART DE + CONVERSION), turn its side to it, and manoeuvre out of it, in such + circumstances. The wrathful English column, slit into ribbons, can do + nothing at manoeuvring; blazes and rages,—more and more clearly in + vain; collapses by degrees, rolls into ribbon-coils, and winds itself out + of the field. Not much chased,—its cavalry now seeing a job, and + issuing from the Wood of Barry to cover the retreat. Not much chased;—yet + with a loss, they say, in all, of 7,000 killed and wounded, and about + 2,000 prisoners; French loss being under 5,000. + </p> + <p> + "The Dutch and Austrians had found that the fit time was now come, or + taken time by the forelock,—their part of the loss, they said, was a + thousand and odd hundreds. The Battle ended about two o'clock of the day; + had begun about eight. Tuesday, 11th May, 1745: one of the hottest + half-day's works I have known. A thing much to be meditated by the English + mind.—King Louis stept down from the Gallows-Hill of Our Lady; and + KISSED Marechal de Saxe. Saxe was nearly dead of dropsy; could not sit on + horseback, except for minutes; was carried about in a wicker bed; has had + a lead bullet in his mouth, all day, to mitigate the intolerable thirst. + Tournay was soon taken; the Dutch garrison, though strong, and in a strong + place, making no due debate. + </p> + <p> + "Royal Highness retired upon Ath and Brussels; hovered about, nothing + daunted, he or his: 'Dastard fellows, they would not come out into the + open ground, and try us fairly!' snort indignantly the Gazetteers and + enlightened Public. [Old Newspapers.] Nothing daunted;—but, as it + were, did not do anything farther, this Campaign; except lose Gand, by + negligence VERSUS vigilance, and eat his victuals,—till called home + by the Rebellion Business, in an unexpected manner! Fontenoy was the + nearest approach he ever made to getting victory in a battle; but a miss + too, as they all were. He was nothing like so rash, on subsequent + occasions; but had no better luck; and was beaten in all his battles—except + the immortal Victory of Culloden alone. Which latter indeed, was it not + itself (in the Gazetteer mind) a kind of apotheosis, or lifting of a man + to the immortal gods,—by endless tar-barrels and beer, for the time + being? + </p> + <p> + "Old Marechal de Noailles was in this Battle; busy about the redans, and + proud to see his Saxe do well. Chivalrous Grammont, too, as we saw, was + there,—-killed at the first discharge. Prince de Soubise too (not + killed); a certain Lord George Sackville (hurt slightly,—perhaps had + BETTER have been killed!)—and others known to us, or that will be + known. Army-Surgeon La Mettrie, of busy brain, expert with his tourniquets + and scalpels, but of wildly blusterous heterodox tongue and ways, is + thrice-busy in Hospital this night,—'English and French all one to + you, nay, if anything, the English better!' those are the Royal orders:—La + Mettrie will turn up, in new capacity, still blusterous, at Berlin, by and + by. + </p> + <p> + "The French made immense explosions of rejoicing over this Victory of + Fontenoy; Voltaire (now a man well at Court) celebrating it in prose and + verse, to an amazing degree (21,000 copies sold in one day); the whole + Nation blazing out over it into illuminations, arcs of triumph and + universal three-times-three:—in short, I think, nearly the heartiest + National Huzza, loud, deep, long-drawn, that the Nation ever gave in like + case. Now rather curious to consider, at this distance of time. Miraculous + Anecdotes, true and not true, are many. Not to mention again that + surprising offer of the first fire to us, what shall we say of the 'two + camp-sutlers whom I noticed,' English females of the lowest degree; 'one + of whom was busy slitting the gold-lace from a dead Officer, when a + cannon-ball came whistling, and shore her head away. Upon which, without + sound uttered, her neighbor snatched the scissors, and deliberately + proceeded.' [De Hordt, <i>Memoires,</i> i. 108. A FRENCH OFFICER'S ACCOUNT + (translated in <i>Gentleman's Magazine,</i> 1745; where, pp. 246, 250, + 291, 313, &c., are many confused details and speculations on this + subject).] A deliberate gloomy people;—unconquerable except by + French prowess, glory to that same!" + </p> + <p> + Britannic Majesty is not successful this season; Highland Rebellions + rising on him, and much going awry. He is founding his National Debt, poor + Majesty; nothing else to speak of. His poor Army, fighting never so well + in Foreign quarrels,—and generally itself standing the brunt, with + the co-partners looking on till it is time to run (as at Roucoux again + next season, and at Lauffeld next),—can win nothing but hard knocks + and losses. And is defined by mankind,—in phraseology which we have + heard again since then!—as having "the heart of a Lion and the head + of an Ass." [Old Pamphlets, SOEPIUS.] Portentous to contemplate!— + </p> + <p> + Cape Breton was besieged this Summer, in a creditable manner; and taken. + The one real stroke done upon France this Year, or indeed (except at sea) + throughout the War. "Ruin to their Fisheries, and a clear loss of + 1,400,000 pounds a year." Compared with which all these fine "Victories in + Flanders" are a bottle of moonshine. This was actually a kind of stroke;—and + this, one finds, was accomplished, under presidency of a small squadron of + King's ships, by ('New-England Volunteers," on funds raised by + subscription, in the way of joint-stock. A shining Colonial feat; said to + be very perfectly done, both scrip part of it, and fighting part;) + [Adelung, v. 32-35 ("27th June, 1745, after a siege of forty-nine days"): + see "Gibson, <i>Journal of the Siege;"</i> "Mr. Prince (of the South + Church, Boston), THANKSGIVING SERMON (price fourpence);" &c. &c.: + in the Old Newspapers, 1745, 1748, multifarious Notices about it, and then + about the "repayment" of those excellent "joint-stock" people.]—and + might have yielded, what incalculable dividends in the Fishery way! But + had to be given up again, in exchange for the Netherlands, when Peace + came. Alas, your Majesty! Would it be quite impossible, then, to go direct + upon your own sole errand, the JENKINS'S-EAR one, instead of stumbling + about among the Foreign chimney-pots, far and wide, under nightmares, in + this terrible manner?—Let us to Silesia again. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter IX.—THE AUSTRIAN-SAXON ARMY INVADES SILESIA, ACROSS THE + MOUNTAINS. + </h2> + <p> + Valori, who is to be of Friedrich's Campaign this Year, came posting off + directly in rear of the glorious news of Fontenoy; found Friedrich at + Camenz, rather in spirits than otherwise; and lodged pleasantly with Abbot + Tobias and him, till the Campaign should begin. Two things surprise + Valori: first, the great strength, impregnable as it were, to which Neisse + has been brought since he saw it last,—superlative condition of that + Fortress, and of the Army itself, as it gathers daily more and more about + Frankenstein here:—and then secondly, and contrariwise, the + strangely neglected posture of mountainous or Upper Silesia, given up to + Pandours. Quite submerged, in a manner: Margraf Karl lies quiet among them + at Jagerndorf, "eating his magazine;" General Hautcharmoi (Winterfeld's + late chief in that Wurben affair), with his small Detachment, still hovers + about in those Ratibor parts, "with the Strong Towns to fall-back upon," + or has in effect fallen back accordingly; and nothing done to coerce the + Pandours at all. While Prince Karl and Weissenfels are daily coming on, in + force 100,000, their intention certain; force, say, about 100,000 regular! + Very singular to Valori. + </p> + <p> + "Sire, will not you dispute the Passes, then?" asks Valori, amazed: "Not + defend your Mountain rampart, then?" "MON CHER; the Mountain rampart is + three or four hundred miles long; there are twelve or twenty practicable + roads through it. One is kept in darkness, too; endless Pandour doggery + shutting out your daylight:—ill defending such a rampart," answers + Friedrich. "But how, then," persists Valori; "but—?" "One day the + King answered me," says Valori, "'MON AMI, if you want to get the mouse, + don't shut, the trap; leave the trap open (ON LAISSE LA SOURICIERE + OUVERTE)!'" Which was a beam of light to the inquiring thought of Valori, + a military man of some intelligence. [See VALORI, i. 222, 224, 228.] + </p> + <p> + That, in fact, is Friedrich's purpose privately formed. He means that the + Austrians shall consider him cowed into nothing, as he understands they + already do; that they shall enter Silesia in the notion of chasing him; + and shall, if need be, have the pleasure of chasing him,—till + perhaps a right moment arrive. For he is full of silent finesse, this + young King; soon sees into his man, and can lead him strange dances on + occasion. In no man is there a plentifuler vein of cunning, nor of a finer + kind. Lynx-eyed perspicacity, inexhaustible contrivance, prompt ingenuity,—a + man very dangerous to play with at games of skill. And it is cunning + regulated always by a noble sense of honor, too; instinctively abhorrent + of attorneyism and the swindler element: a cunning, sharp as the vulpine, + yet always strictly human, which is rather beautiful to see. This is one + of Friedrich's marked endowments. Intellect sun-clear, wholly practical + (need not be specially deep), and entirely loyal to the fact before it; + this—if you add rapidity and energy, prompt weight of stroke, such + as was seldom met with—will render a man very dangerous to his + adversary in the game of war.—Here is the last of our Pandour + Adventures for the present:— + </p> + <p> + "From May 12th, Friedrich had been gathering closer and closer about + Frankenstein; by the end of the month (28th, as it proved) he intends that + all Detachments shall be home, and the Army take Camp there. The most are + home; Margraf Karl, at Jagerndorf, has not yet done eating his magazine; + but he too must come home. Summon the Margraf home:—it is not + doubted he will cut himself through, he and his 12,000; but such is the + swarm of Pandours hovering between him and us, no estafette, or cleverest + letter-bearer, can hope to get across to him. Ziethen with 500 Hussars, he + must take the Letter; there is no other way. Ziethen mounts; fares swiftly + forth, towards Neustadt, with his Letter; lodges in woods; dodges the + thick-crowding Tolpatcheries (passes himself off for a Tolpatchery, say + some, and captures Hungarian Staff-Officers who come to give him orders + [Frau van Blumenthal, <i>Life of De Ziethen,</i> pp. 171-181 (extremely + romantic; now given up as mythical, for most part): see Orlich (ii. 150); + but also Ranke (iii. 245), Preuss, &c.]); is at length found out, and + furiously set upon, 'Ziethen, Hah!'—but gets to Jagerndorf, Margraf + Karl coming out to the rescue, and delivers his Letter. 'Home, then, all + of us to-morrow!' And so, Saturday, 22d May, before we get to Neustadt on + the way home, there is an authentic passage of arms, done very brilliantly + by Margraf Karl against Pandours and others. + </p> + <p> + "To right of us, to left, barring our road, the enemy, 20,000 of them, + stand ranked on heights, in chosen positions; cannon-batteries, + grenadiers, dragoons of Gotha and infinite Pandours: military jungle + bristling far and wide. And you must push it heartily, and likewise cut + the tap-root of it (seize its big guns), or it will not roll away. Margraf + Karl shoots forth his steady infantry ('Silent till you see the whites of + their eyes!'),—his cavalry with new manoeuvres; whose behavior is + worthy of Ziethen himself:—in brief, the jungle is struck as by a + whirlwind, the tap-root of it cut, and rolls simultaneously out of range, + leaving only the Regiment of Gotha, Regiment of Ogilvy and some Regulars, + who also get torn to shreds, and utterly ruined. Seeing which, the Pandour + jungle plunges wholly into the woods, uttering horrible cries (EN POUSSANT + DES CRIS TERRIBLES), says Friedrich. [ <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> iii. + 106. More specially BERICHTE VON DER AM 22 MAI, 1745 BEY NEUSTADT IN + OBER-SCHLESIEN VORGEFALLENER ACTION (Seyfarth, <i>Beylage,</i> i. + 159-166).] Our new cavalry-manoeuvres deserve praise. Margraf Karl had the + honor to gain his Cousin's approbation this day; and to prove himself, + says the Cousin, (worthy of the grandfather he came from,'—my own + great-grandfather; Great Elector, Friedrich-Wilhelm; whose style of motion + at Fehrbellin, or on the ice of the Frische Haf (soldiers all in sledges, + tearing along to be at the Swedes), was probably somewhat of this + kind."... + </p> + <p> + "Some days ago, Winterfeld had been pushed out to Landshut, with + Detachment of 2,000, to judge a little for himself which way the Austrians + were coming, and to scare off certain Uhlans (the SAXON species of + Tolpatchery), who were threatening to be mischievous thereabouts. The + Uhlans, at sound of Winterfeld, jingled away at once: but, in a day or + two, there came upon him, on the sudden, Pandour outburst in quite other + force;—and in the very hours while Ziethen was struggling into + Jagerndorf, and still more emphatically next day, while Margraf Karl was + handling his Pandours,—Colonel Winterfeld, a hundred miles to + westward lapped among the Mountains, chanced to be dealing again with the + same article. Very busy with it, from 4 o'clock this morning; likely to + give a good account of the job. Steadily defending Landshut and himself, + against the grenadier battalions, cannon and furious overplus of Pandours + (8,000 or 9,000, it is said, six to one or so in the article of cavalry), + which General Nadasti, a scientific leader of men or Pandours, skilfully + and furiously hurls upon Landshut and him, in an unexpected manner. + Colonel Winterfeld had need of all his heart and energy, in the intricate + ground; against the furious overplus well manoeuvred: but in him too there + are manoeuvres; if he fall back here, it is to rush on double strong + there; hour after hour he inexpugnably defends himself,—till General + Stille, Friedrich's old Tutor, our worthy writing friend, whom we + occasionally quote, comes up with help; and Nadasti is at once brushed + home again, with sore smart of failure, and 'the loss of 600 killed,' + among other items. [<i>Bericht von der am 21 Mai, 1745 bey Landshut + rorgefallener Action, in Feldzuge,</i> i. 302-305 (or in Seyfarth, <i>Beylage,</i> + i. 155-158); <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> iii. 105; Stille, pp. 120-124 + (who misdates, "23d May" for 22d).] Colonel Winterfeld was made + Major-General next day, for this action. Colonel Winterfeld is cutting out + a high course for himself, by his conduct in these employments; solidity, + brilliant effectuality, shining through all he does; his valor and value, + his rapid just insight, fiery energy and nobleness of mind more and more + disclosing themselves,—to one who is a judge of men, and greatly + needs for his own use the first-rate quality in that article." + </p> + <p> + Friedrich has left the mouse-trap open;—and latterly has been + baiting it with a pleasant spicing of toasted cheese. One of his Spies, + reporting from Prince Karl's quarters, Friedrich has at this time + discovered to be a Double-Spy, reporting thither as well. Double-Spy, + there is an ugly fact;—perhaps not quite convenient to abolish it by + hemp and gibbet; perhaps it could be turned to use, as most facts can? + "Very good, my expert Herr von Schonfeld [that was the knave's name]; and + now of all things, whenever the Prince does get across,—instant word + to us of that! Nothing so important to us. If he should get BETWEEN us and + Breslau, for example, what would the consequence be!" To this purport + Friedrich instructs his Double-Spy; sends him off, unhanged, to Prince + Karl's Camp, to blab this fresh bit of knowledge. "We likewise," says + Friedrich, "ordered some repairs on the roads leading to Breslau;"—last + turn of the hand to our bit of toasted fragrancy. And Prince Karl is + actually striding forward, at an eager pace:—and Nadasti VERSUS + Winterfeld, the other day, could Winterfeld have guessed it, was the + actual vanguard of the march; and will be up again straightway! Whereupon + Winterfeld too is called home; and all eyes are bent on the Landshut side. + </p> + <p> + Prince Karl, under these fine omens, had been urgent on the Saxons to be + swift; Saxons under Weissenfels did at last "get their cannon up," and we + hear of them for certain, in junction with the Austrians, at Schatzlar, on + the Bohemian side of the Giant-Mountains; climbing with diligence those + wizard solitudes and highland wastes. In a word, they roll across into + Silesia, to Landshut (29th May); nothing doubting but Friedrich has + cowered into what retreats he has, as good as desperate of Silesia, and + will probably be first heard of in Breslau, when they get thither with + their sieging guns. No cautious sagacious old Feldmarschall Traun is in + that Host at present; nothing but a Prince Karl, and a poor Duke of + Weissenfels; who are too certain of several things;—very capable of + certainty, and also of doubt, the wrong way of the facts. Their force is, + by strict count, 75,000; and they march from Landshut, detained a little + by provender concerns, on the last day of May. [Orlich, ii. 146; Ranke, + iii. 247; Stenzel, iv. 245.] + </p> + <p> + May 28th, Friedrich had encamped at Frankenstein; May 30th, he sets forth + northwestward, to be nearer the new scene; encamps at Reichenbach, that + night; pushes forward again, next day, for Schweidnitz, for Striegau (in + all, a shift northwest of some forty miles);—and from June 1st, lies + stretched out between Schweidnitz and Striegau, nine miles long; well + hidden in the hollows of the little Rivers thereabouts (Schweidnitz Water, + Striegau Water), with their little knolls and hills; watching Prince + Karl's probable place of egress from the Mountain Country opposite. His + main Camp is from Schweidnitz to Jauernik, some five miles long; but he + has his vanguard up as far as Striegau, Dumoulin and Winterfeld as + vanguard, in good strength, a little way behind or westward of that Town + and Stream; Nassau and his Division are screened in the Wood called + Nonnenbusch (NUN'S BUSH), and there are outposts sprinkled all about, and + vedettes watching from the hill-tops, from the Stanowitz Foxhill; the + Zedlitz "Cowhill," "Winchill:" an Army not courting observation, but + intent very much to observe. Nadasti has appeared again; at Freyburg, few + miles off, on this side of the Mountains; goes out scouting, + reconnoitring; but is "fired at from the growing corn," and otherwise + hoodwinked by false symptoms, and makes little of that business. + Friedrich's Army we will compute at 70,000. [General-Lieutenant Freiherr + Leo von Lutzow, <i>Die Schlacht von Hohenfriedbeg</i> (Potsdam, 1845), pp. + 18, 21.] Not quite equal in number to Prince Karl's; and, in other + particulars, willing and longing that Prince Karl would arrive, and try + its quality. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's head-quarter is at Jauernik: he goes daily riding hither, + thither; to the top of the Fuchsberg (FOXHILL at Stanowitz) with eager + spy-glass; daily many times looks with his spy-glass to the ragged peaks + about Bolkenhayn, Kauder, Rohnstock; expecting the throw of the dice from + that part. On Thursday, 3d June: Do you notice that cloud of dust rising + among the peaks over yonder? Dust-cloud mounting higher and higher. There + comes the big crisis, then! There are the combined Weissenfels and Karl + with their Austrian Saxons, issuing proudly from their stone labyrinth; + guns, equipments, baggages, all perfectly brought through; rich Silesian + plain country now fairly at their feet, Breslau itself but a few marches + off:—at sight of all which, the Austrian big host bursts forth into + universal field-music, and shakes out its banners to the wind. Thursday, + 3d June, 1745; a dramatic Entry of something quite considerable on the + Stage of History. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich, with Nassau and generals round, stands upon the Fuchsberg,—his + remarks not given, his looks or emotions not described to us, his thought + well known,—and looks at it through his TUBUS (or spy-glass): There + they are, then, and the big moment is come! Friedrich had seen the dust + and the manoeuvring of them, deeper in the Hills, from this same Fuchsberg + yesterday, and inferred what was coming; calculated by what roads or + hill-tracks they could issue: and how he, in each case, was to deal with + them; his march-routes are all settled, plank-bridges repaired, all + privately is ready for these proud Austrian musical gentlemen, here in the + hollow. Friedrich has been upon this Fuchsberg with his TUBUS daily, many + times since Monday last: it is our general observatorium, says Stille, and + commands a fine view into the interior of these Hills. A Fuchsberg which + has become notable in the Prussian maps: "the Stanowitz Fuchsberg," east + side of Striegau Water,—let no tourist mistake himself; for there + are two or even three other Fuchsbergs, a mile or so northward on the + western side of that Stream, which need to be distinguished by epithets, + as the Striegau Fuchsberg, the Graben Fuchsberg, and perhaps still others: + comparable to the FOUR Neisse rivers, three besides the one we know, which + occur in this piece of Country! Our German cousins, I have often sorrowed + to find, have practically a most poor talent for GIVING NAMES; and indeed + much, for ages back, is lying in a sad state of confusion among them. Many + confused things, rotting far and wide, in contradiction to the plainest + laws of Nature; things as well as names! All the welcomer this Prussian + Army, this young Friedrich leading it; they, beyond all earthly entities + of their epoch, are not in a state of confusion, but of most strict + conformity to the laws of Arithmetic and facts of Nature: perhaps a very + blessed phenomenon for Germany in the long-run. + </p> + <p> + Prince Karl with Weissenfels, General Berlichingen and many plumed + dignitaries, are dining on the Hill-top near Hohenfriedberg: after having + given order about everything, they witness there, over their wine, the + issue of their Columns from the Mountains; which goes on all afternoon, + with field-music, spread banners; and the oldest General admits he never + saw a finer review-manoeuvre, or one better done, if so well. Thus sit + they on the Hill-top (GALGENBERG, not far from the gallows of the place, + says Friedrich), in the beautiful June afternoon. Silesia lying + beautifully azure at their feet; the Zobtenberg, enchanted Mountain, blue + and high on one's eastern horizon; Prussians noticeable only in weak + hussar parties four or five miles off, which vanish in the hollow grounds + again. All intending for Breslau, they, it is like;—and here, red + wine and the excellent manoeuvre going on. "The Austrian-and-Saxon Army + streamed out all afternoon," says a Country Schoolmaster of those parts, + whose Day-book has been preserved, [In Lutzow, pp. 123-132.] "each + regiment or division taking the place appointed it; all afternoon, till + late in the night, submerging the Country as in a deluge," five miles long + of them; taking post at the foot of the Hills there, from Hohenfriedberg + round upon Striegau, looking towards the morrow's sunrise. To us poor + country-folk not a beautiful sight; their light troops flying ahead, and + doing theft and other mischief at a sad rate. + </p> + <p> + On the other hand, the Austrian and Saxon gentlemen, from their + Gallows-Hill at Hohenfriedberg, notice, four or five miles in the + distance, opposite them, or a little to the left of opposite, a Body of + Prussian horse and foot, visibly wending northward; like a long glittering + serpent, the glitter of their muskets flashing back yonder on the + afternoon sun and us, as they mount from hollow to height. Ten or twelve + thousand of them; making for Striegau, to appearance. Intending to bivouac + or billet there, and keep some kind of watch over us; belike with an eye + to being rear-guard, on the retreat towards Breslau to-morrow? Or will + they retreat without attempting mischief? Serenity of Weissenfels engages + to seize the heights and proper posts, over yonder, this night yet; and + will take Striegau itself, the first thing, to-morrow morning. + </p> + <p> + Yes, your Serenities, those are Prussians in movement: Vanguard Corps of + Dumoulin, Winterfeld;—Rittmeister Seydlitz rides yonder:—and + it is not their notion to retreat without mischief. For there stands, not + so far off, on the Stanowitz Fuchsberg, a brisk little Gentleman, if you + could notice him; with his eyes fixed on you, and plans in the head of him + now getting nearly mature. For certain, he is pushing out that column of + men; and all manner of other columns are getting order to push out, and + take their ground; and to-morrow morning—you will not find him in + retreat! Such are the phenomena in that Striegau-Hohenfriedberg region, + while the sun is bending westward, on Thursday, 3d June, 1745. + </p> + <p> + "From Hohenfriedberg, which leans against the higher Mountains, there may + be, across to Striegau northeast, which stands well apart from them, among + lower Hills of its own, a distance of about five English miles. The + intervening country is of flat, though upland nature: the first broad + stage, or STAIR-STEP, so to speak, leading down into the general interior + levels of Silesia in those parts. A tract which is now tolerably dried by + draining, but was then marshy as well as bushy:—flat to the eye, yet + must be imperceptibly convexed a little, for the line of watershed is + hereabouts: walk from Hohenfriedberg to Striegau, the water on your left + hand flows, though mainly in ditches or imperceptible oozings, to the + north and west,—there to fall into an eastern fork of the Roaring + Neisse [one of our three new Neisses, which is a very quiet stream here; + runs close by the Mountain base, fed by many torrents, and must get its + name, WUTHENDE or Roaring, from the suddenness of its floods]: into this, + bound northward and westward, run or ooze all waters on your left hand, as + you go to Striegau. Right hand, again, or to eastward, you will find all + sauntering, or running in visible brooks into Striegau Water [little River + notable to us], which comes circling from the Mountains, past + Hohenfriedberg, farther south; and has got to some force as a stream + before it reaches Striegau, and turns abruptly eastward;—eastward, + to join Schweidnitz Water, and form with it the SECOND stair-step + downwards to the Plain Country. Has its Fuchsbergs, Kuhbergs and little + knolls and heights interspersed, on both sides of it, in the conceivable + way. + </p> + <p> + "So that, looking eastward from the heights of Hohenfriedberg, our broad + stage or stair-step has nothing of the nature of a valley, but rather is a + kind of insensibly swelling plain between two valleys, or hollows, of + small depth; and slopes both ways. Both ways; but MORE towards the + Striegau-Water valley or hollow; and thence, in a lazily undulating + manner, to other hollows and waters farther down. Friedrich's Camp lies in + the next, the Schweidnitz-Water hollow; and is five, or even nine miles + long, from Schweidnitz northward;—much hidden from the + Austrian-Saxon gentlemen at present. No hills farther, mere flat country, + to eastward of that. But to the north, again, about Striegau, the hollow + deepens, narrows; and certain Hills," much notable at present, "rise to + west of Striegau, definite peaked Hills, with granite quarries in them and + basalt blocks atop:—Striegau, it appears, is, in old Czech dialect, + TRZIZA, which means TRIPLE HILL, the 'Town of the Three Hills.' [Lutzow, + p. 28.] An ancient quaint little Town, of perhaps 2,000 souls: brown-gray, + the stones of it venerably weathered; has its wide big market-place, + piazza, plain-stones, silent enough except on market-days: nestles itself + compactly in the shelter of its Three Hills, which screen it from the + northwest; and has a picturesque appearance, its Hills and it, projected + against the big Mountain range beyond, as you approach it from the Plain + Country. + </p> + <p> + "Hohenfriedberg, at the other corner of our battle-stage, on the road to + Landshut, is a Village of no great compass; but sticks pleasantly + together, does not straggle in the usual way; climbs steep against its + Gallows-Hill (now called 'SIEGESBERG, Victory Hill,' with some tower or + steeple-monument on it, built by subscription); and would look better, if + trimmed a little and habitually well swept. The higher Mountain summits, + Landshut way, or still more if you look southeastward, Glatz-ward, rise + blue and huge, remote on your right; to left, the Roaring Neisse range + close at hand, is also picturesque, though less Alpine in type." + [Tourist's Note (1858).]... And of all Hills, the notablest, just now to + us, are those "Three" at Striegau. + </p> + <p> + Those Three Hills of Striegau his Serenity of Weissenfels is to lay hold + of, this night, with his extreme left, were it once got deployed and + bivouacked. Those Hills, if he can: but Prussian Dumoulin is already on + march thither; and privately has his eye upon them, on Friedrich's part!—For + the rest, this upland platform, insensibly sloping two ways, and as yet + undrained, is of scraggy boggy nature in many places; much of it damp + ground, or sheer morass; better parts of it covered, at this season, with + rank June grass, or greener luxuriance of oats and barley. A humble + peaceable scene; peaceable till this afternoon; dotted, too, with six or + seven poor Hamlets, with scraggy woods, where they have their fuel; most + sleepy littery ploughman Hamlets, sometimes with a SCHLOSS or Mansion for + the owner of the soil (who has absconded in the present crisis of things), + their evening smoke rising rather fainter than usual; much cookery is not + advisable with Uhlans and Tolpatchcs flying about. Northward between + Striegau and the higher Mountains there is an extensive TEICHWIRTHSCHAFT, + or "Pond-Husbandry" (gleaming visible from Hohenfriedberg Gallows-Hill + just now); a combination of stagnant pools and carp-ponds, the ground much + occupied hereabouts with what they name Carp-Husbandry. Which is all + drained away in our time, yet traceable by the studious:—quaggy + congeries of sluices and fish-ponds, no road through them except on + intricate dams; have scrubby thickets about the border;—this also is + very strong ground, if Weissenfels thought of defence there. + </p> + <p> + Which Weissenfels does not, but only of attack. He occupies the ground + nevertheless, rearward of this Carp-Husbandry, as becomes a strategic man; + gradually bivouacking all round there, to end on the Three Hills, were his + last regiments got up. The Carp-Husbandry is mainly about Eisdorf Hamlet:—in + Pilgramshayn, where Weissenfels once thought of lodging, lives our Writing + Schoolmaster. The Mountains lie to westward; flinging longer shadows, as + the invasive troops continually deploy, in that beautiful manner; and coil + themselves strategically on the ground, a bent rope, cordon, or line + (THREE lines in depth), reaching from the front skirts of Hohenfriedberg + to the Hills at Striegau again,—terrible to behold. + </p> + <p> + In front of Hohenfriedberg, we say, is the extremity or right wing of the + Austrian-Saxon bivouac, or will be when the process is complete; five + miles to northeast, sweeping round upon Striegau region, will be their + left, where mainly are the Saxons,—to nestle upon those Three Hills + of Striegau: whitherward however, Dumoulin, on Friedrich's behalf, is + already on march. Austrian-Saxon bivouac, as is the way in regulated + hosts, can at once become Austrian-Saxon order-of-battle: and then, + probably, on the Chord of that Arc of five miles, the big Fight will roll + to-morrow; Striegau one end of it, Hohenfriedbcrg the other. Flattish, + somewhat elliptic upland, stair-step from the Mountains, as we called it; + tract considerably cut with ditches, carp-husbandries, and their tufts of + wood; line from Striegau to Hohenfriedberg being axis or main diameter of + it, and in general the line of watershed: there, probably, will the tug of + war be. Friedrich, on his Fuchsberg, knows this; the Austrian-Saxon + gentlemen, over their wine on the Gallows-Hill, do not yet know it, but + will know. + </p> + <p> + It was about four in the afternoon, when Valori, with a companion, waiting + a good while in the King's Tent at Jauernik, at last saw his Majesty + return from the Fuchsberg observatory. Valori and friend have great news: + "Tournay fallen; siege done, your Majesty!" Valori's friend is one De + Latour; who had brought word of Fontenoy ("important victory on the + Scamander," as Friedrich indignantly defined it to himself); and was bid + wait here till this Siege-of-Tournay consummation ("as helpful to me as + the Siege of Pekin!") should supervene. They hasten to salute his Majesty + with the glorious tidings, Hmph! thinks Friedrich: and we are at + death-grips here, little to be helped by your taking Pekin! However, he + lets wit of nothing. "I make my compliments; mean to fight to-morrow." + [Valori, i. 228.] Valori, as old soldier and friend, volunteers to be + there and assist:—Good. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich, I presume, at this late hour of four, may bc snatching a morsel + of dinner; his orderlies are silently speeding, plans taken, orders given: + To start all, at eight in the evening, for the Bridge of Striegau; there + to cross, and spread to the right and to the left. Silent, not a word + spoken, not a pipe lighted: silently across the Striegau Water there. A + march of three miles for the nearest, who are here at Jauernik; of nine + miles for the farthest about Schweidnitz; at Schweidnitz leave all your + baggage, safe under the guns there. To the Bridge of Striegau, diligently, + silently march along; Bridge of Striegau, there cross Striegau Water, and + deploy to right and to left, in the way each of you knows. These are + Friedrich's orders. + </p> + <p> + Late in the dusk, Dumoulin and Winterfeld, whom we saw silently on march + some hours ago, have silently glided past Striegau, and got into the + Three-Hill region, which is some furlong or so farther north:—to his + surprise, Dumoulin finds Saxon parties posting themselves thereabouts. He + attacks said Saxon parties; and after some slight tussle, drives them + mostly from their Three Hills; mostly, not altogether; one Saxon Hill is + precipitous on our hither side of it, and we must leave that till the dawn + break. Of the other Heights Dumoulin takes good possession, with cannon + too, to be ready against dawn;—and ranks himself out to leftward + withal, along the plain ground; for he is to be right wing, had the other + troops come up. These are now all under way; astir from Jauernik and + Schweidnitz, silently streaming along; and Dumoulin bivouacs here,—very + silent he: not so silent the Saxons; who are still marching in, over + yonder, to westward of Dumoulin, their rear-guard groping out its posts as + it best can in the dark. Elsewhere, miles and miles along the foot of the + Mountains, Austrian-Saxon watch-fires flame through the ambrosial night; + and it is an impressive sight for Dumoulin,—still more for the poor + Schoolmaster at Pilgramshayn and others, less concerned than Dumoulin. "It + was beautiful," says Stille, who was there, "to see how the plain about + Rohnstock, and all over that way, was ablaze with thousands of watch-fires + (TAUSEND UND ABER TAUSEND); by the light of these, we could clearly + perceive the enemy's troops continually defile from the Hills the whole + night through." [Cited in Seyfarth, i. 630.] + </p> + <p> + Serenity of Weissenfels, after all, does not lodge at Pilgramshayn; far in + the night, he goes to sleep at Rohnstock, a Schloss and Hamlet on that + fork of Roaring Neisse, by the foot of the Mountains; three or four miles + off, yet handy enough for picking up Striegau the first thing to-morrow. + His Highness Prince Karl lies in Hausdorf, tolerable quarters, pretty much + in the centre of his long bivouac; day's business well done, and bottle + (as one's wont rather is) well enjoyed. Nadasti has been out scouting; but + was pricked into by hussar parties, fired into from the growing corn; and + could make out little, but the image of his own ideas. Nadasti's ultimate + report is, That the Prussians are perfectly quiet in their camp; from + Jauernik to Schweidnitz, watch-fires all alight, sentries going their + rounds. And so they are, in fact; sentries and watch-fires,—but now + nothing else there, a mere shell of a camp; the men of it streaming + steadily along, without speech, without tobacco; and many of them are + across Striegau Bridge by this time!— + </p> + <p> + It was past eleven, so close and continuous went this march, before Valori + and his Latour, with their carriages and furnitures, could find an + interval, and get well into it. Never will Valori forget the discipline of + these Prussians, and how they marched. Difficult ways; the hard road is + for their artillery; the men march on each side, sometimes to mid-leg in + water,—never mind. Wholly in order, wholly silent; Valori followed + them three leagues close, and there was not one straggler. Every private + man, much more every officer, knows well what grim errand they are on; and + they make no remarks. Steady as Time; and, except that their shoes are not + of felt, silent as he. The Austrian watch-fires glow silent manifold to + leftward yonder; silent overhead are the stars:—the path of all + duty, too, is silent (not about Striegau alone) for every well-drilled + man. To-morrow;—well, to-morrow? + </p> + <p> + A grimmish feeling against the Saxons is understood to be prevalent among + these men. Bruhl, Weissenfels himself, have been reported talking high,—"Reduce + our King to the size of an Elector again," and other foolish things;—indeed, + grudges have been accumulating for some time. "KEIN PARDON (No quarter)!" + we hear has been a word among the Saxons, as they came along; the + Prussians growl to one another, "Very well then, None!" Nay Friedrich's + general order is, "No prisoners, you cavalry, in the heat of fight; + cavalry, strike at the faces of them: you infantry, keep your fire till + within fifty steps; bayonet withal is to be relied on." These were + Friedrich's last general orders, given in the hollow of the night, near + the foot of that Fuchsberg where he had been so busy all day; a widish + plain space hereabouts, Striegau Bridge now near: he had lain snme time in + his cloak, waiting till the chief generals, with the heads of their + columns, could rendezvous here. He then sprang on horseback; spoke briefly + the essential things (one of them the above);—"Had meant to be more + minute, in regard to positions and the like; but all is so in darkness, + embroiled by the flare of the Austrian watch-fires, we can make nothing + farther of localities at present: Striegau for right wing, left wing + opposite to Hohenfriedberg,—so, and Striegau Water well to rear of + us. Be diligent, exact, all faculties awake: your own sense, and the Order + of Battle which you know, must do the rest. Forward; steady: can I doubt + but you will acquit yourselves like Prussian men?" And so they march, + across the Bridge at Striegau, south outskirt of the Town,—plank + Bridge, I am afraid;—and pour themselves, to right and to left, + continually the livelong night. + </p> + <p> + To describe the Battle which ensued, Battle named of Striegau or + Hohenfriedberg, excels the power of human talent,—if human talent + had leisure for such employment. It is the huge shock and clash of 70,000 + against 70,000, placed in the way we said. An enormous furious SIMALTAS + (or "both-at-once," as the Latins phrase it), spreading over ten square + miles. Rather say, a wide congeries of electric simultaneities; all + ELECTRIC, playing madly into one another; most loud, most mad: the aspect + of which is smoky, thunderous, abstruse; the true SEQUENCES of which, who + shall unravel? There are five accounts of it, all modestly written, each + true-looking from its own place: and a thrice-diligent Prussian Officer, + stationed on the spot in late years, has striven well to harmonize them + all. [Five Accounts: 1. The Prussian Official Account, in <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> + i. 1098-1102. 2. The Saxon, ib. 1103-1108. 3. The Austrian, ib. 1109-1115. + 4. Stille's (ii. 125-133, of English Translation). 5. Friedrich's own, <i>OEuvres,</i> + iii. 108-118. Lutzow, above cited, is the harmonizer. Besides which, two + of value, in <i>Feldzuge,</i> i. 310-323, 328-336; not to mention + Cogniazzo, <i>Confessions of an Austrian Veeran</i> (Breslau, 1788-1791: + strictly Anonymous at that time, and candid, or almost more, to Prussian + merit;—still worth reading, here and throughout), ii. 123-135; &c. + &c.] Well worth the study of military men;—who might make tours + towards this and the other great battle-field, and read such things, were + they wise. For us, a feature or two, in the huge general explosion, to + assist the reader's fancy in conceiving it a little, is all that can be + pretended to. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter X.—BATTLE OF HOHENFRIEDBERG. + </h2> + <p> + With the first streak of dawn, the dispute renewed itself between those + Prussians and Saxons who are on the Heights of Striegau. The two Armies + are in contact here; they lie wide apart as yet at the other end. + Cannonading rises here, on both sides, in the dim gray of the morning, for + the possession of these Heights. The Saxons are out-cannonaded and + dislodged, other Saxons start to arms in support: the cry "To arms!" + spreads everywhere, rouses Weissenfels to horseback; and by sunrise a + furious storm of battle has begun, in this part. Hot and fierce on both + sides; charges of horse, shock after shock, bayonet-charges of foot; the + great guns going like Jove's thunder, and the continuous tearing storm of + small guns, very loud indeed: such a noise, as our poor Schoolmaster, who + lives on this spot, thinks he will hear only once again, when the Last + Trumpet sounds! It did indeed, he informs us, resemble the dissolution of + Nature: "For all fell dark too;" a general element of sulphurous + powder-smoke, streaked with dull blazes; and death and destruction very + nigh. What will become of poor pacific mortals hereabouts? Rittmeister + Seydlitz, Winterfeld his patron ride, with knit brows, in these + horse-charges; fiery Rothenburg too; Truchsess von Waldburg, at the head + of his Division,—poor Truchsess known in London society, a + cannon-ball smites the life out of him, and he ended here. + </p> + <p> + At the first clash of horse and foot, the Saxons fancied they rather had + it; at the second, their horse became distressed; at the third, they + rolled into disorderly heaps. The foot also, stubborn as they were, could + not stand that swift firing, followed by the bayonet and the sabre; and + were forced to give ground. The morning sun shone into their eyes, too, + they say; and there had risen a breath of easterly wind, which hurled the + smoke upon them, so that they could not see. Decidedly staggering + backwards; getting to be taken in flank and ruined, though poor + Weissenfels does his best. About five in the morning, Friedrich came + galloping hitherward; Valori with him: "MON AMI, this is looking well! + This will do, won't it?" The Saxons are fast sinking in the scale; and did + nothing thenceforth but sink ever faster; though they made a stiff + defence, fierce exasperation on both sides; and disputed every inch. Their + position, in these scraggy Woods and Villages, in these Morasses and + Carp-Husbandries, is very strong. + </p> + <p> + It had proved to be farther north, too, than was expected; so that the + Prussians had to wheel round a little (right wing as a centre, fighting + army as radius) before they could come parallel, and get to work: a + delicate manoeuvre, which they executed to Valori's admiration, here in + the storm of battle; tramp, tramp, velocity increasing from your centre + outwards, till at the end of the radius, the troops are at treble-quick, + fairly running forward, and the line straight all the while. Admirable to + Valori, in the hot whirlwind of battle here. For the great guns go, in + horrid salvos, unabated, and the crackling thunder of the small guns; + "terrible tussling about those Carp-ponds, that quaggy Carp-husbandry," + says the Schoolmaster, "and the Heavens blotted out in sulphurous + fire-streaked smoke. What had become of us pacific? Some had run in time, + and they were the wisest; others had squatted, who could find a nook + suitable. Most of us had gathered into the Nursery-garden at the foot of + our Village; we sat quaking there,—our prayers grown tremulously + vocal;—in tears and wail, at least the women part. Enemies made + reconcilement with each other," says he, "and dear friends took farewell." + [His Narrative, in Lutzow, UBI SUPRA.] One general Alleleu; the Last Day, + to all appearance, having come. Friedrich, seeing things in this good + posture, gallops to the left again, where much urgently requires attention + from him. + </p> + <p> + On the Austrian side, Prince Karl, through his morning sleep at Hausdorf, + had heard the cannonading: "Saxons taking Striegau!" thinks he; a pleasant + lullaby enough; and continues to sleep and dream. Agitated messengers rush + in, at last; draw his curtains: "Prussians all in rank, this side Striegau + Water; Saxons beaten, or nearly so, at Striegau: we must stand to arms, + your Highness!"—"To arms, of course," answers Karl; and hurries now, + what he can, to get everything in motion. The bivouac itself had been in + order of battle; but naturally there is much to adjust, to put in trim; + and the Austrians are not distinguished for celerity of movement. All the + worse for them just now. + </p> + <p> + On Friedrich's side, so far as I can gather, there have happened two cross + accidents. First, by that wheeling movement, done to Valori's admiration + in the Striegau quarter, the Prussian line has hitched itself up towards + Striegau, has got curved inward, and covers less ground than was counted + on; so that there is like to be some gap in the central part of;—as + in fact there was, in spite of Friedrich's efforts, and hitchings of + battalions and squadrons: an indisputable gap, though it turned to rich + profit for Friedrich; Prince Karl paying no attention to it. Upon such + indisputable gap a wakeful enemy might have done Friedrich some perilous + freak; but Karl was in his bed, as we say;—in a terrible flurry, + too, when out of bed. Nothing was done upon the gap; and Friedrich had his + unexpected profit by it before long. + </p> + <p> + The second accident is almost worse. Striegau Bridge (of planks, as I + feared), creaking under such a heavy stream of feet and wheels all night, + did at last break, in some degree, and needed to be mended; so that the + rearward regiments, who are to form Friedrich's left wing, are in painful + retard;—and are becoming frightfully necessary, the Austrians as yet + far outflanking us, capable of taking us in flank with that right wing of + theirs! The moment was agitating to a General-in-chief: Valori will own + this young King's bearing was perfect; not the least flurry, though under + such a strain. He has aides-de-camp, dashing out every-whither with + orders, with expedients; Prince Henri, his younger Brother: galloping the + fastest; nay, at last, he begs Valori himself to gallop, with orders to a + certain General Gessler, in whose Brigade are Dragoons. Which Valori does,—happily + without effect on Gessler; who knows no Valori for an aide-de-camp, and + keeps the ground appointed him; rearward of that gap we talked of. + </p> + <p> + Happily the Austrian right wing is in no haste to charge. Happily Ziethen, + blocked by that incumbrance of the Bridge mending, "finds a ford higher + up," the assiduous Ziethen; splashes across, other regiments following; + forms in line well leftward; and instead of waiting for the Austrian + charge, charges home upon them, fiercely through the difficult grounds, No + danger of the Austrians outflanking us now; they are themselves likely to + get hard measure on their flank. By the ford and by the Bridge, all + regiments, some of them at treble-quick, get to their posts still in time. + Accident second has passed without damage. Forward, then; rapid, steady; + and reserve your fire till within fifty paces!—Prinoe Ferdinand of + Brunswick (Friedrich's Brother-in-law, a bright-eyed steady young man, of + great heart for fight) tramps forth with his Division:—steady!—all + manner of Divisions tramp forth; and the hot storm, Ziethen and cavalry + dashing upon that right wing of theirs, kindles here also far and wide. + </p> + <p> + The Austrian cavalry on this wing and elsewhere, it is clear, were ill + off. "We could not charge the Prussian left wing, say they, partly because + of the morasses that lay between us; and partly [which is remarkable] + because they rushed across and charged us." [Austrian report, <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> + i. 1113.] Prince Karl is sorry to report such things of his cavalry; but + their behavior was bad and not good. The first shock threw them wavering; + the second,—nothing would persuade them to dash forth and meet it. + High officers commanded, obtested, drew out pistols, Prince Karl himself + shot a fugitive or two,—it was to no purpose; they wavered worse at + every new shock; and at length a shock came (sixth it was, as the reporter + counts) which shook them all into the wind. Decidedly shy of the Prussians + with their new manoeuvres, and terrible way of coming on, as if sure of + beating. In the Saxon quarter, certain Austrian regiments of horse would + not charge at all; merely kept firing from their carbines, and when the + time came ran. + </p> + <p> + As for the Saxons, they have been beaten these two hours; that is to say, + hopeless these two hours, and getting beaten worse and worse. The Saxons + cannot stand, but neither generally will they run; they dispute every + ditch, morass and tuft of wood, especially every village. Wrecks of the + muddy desperate business last, hour after hour. "I gave my men a little + rest under the garden walls," says one Saxon Gentleman, "or they would + have died, in the heat and thirst and extreme fatigue: I would have given + 100 gulden [10 pounds Sterling] for a glass of water." [ <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> + ubi supra.] The Prussians push them on, bayonet in back; inexorable, not + to be resisted; slit off whole battalions of them (prisoners now, and + quarter given); take all their guns, or all that are not sunk in the + quagmires;—in fine, drive them, part into the Mountains direct, part + by circuit thither, down upon the rear of the Austrian fight: through + Hausdorf, Seifersdorf and other Mountain gorges, where we hear no more of + them, and shall say no more of them. A sore stroke for poor old + Weissenfels; the last public one he has to take, in this world, for the + poor man died before long. Nobody's blame, he says; every Saxon man did + well; only some Austrian horse-regiments, that we had among us, were too + shy. Adieu to poor old Weissenfels. Luck of war, what else,—thereby + is he in this pass. + </p> + <p> + And now new Prussian force, its Saxons being well abolished, is pressing + down upon Prince Karl's naked left flank. Yes;—Prince Karl too will + have to go. His cavalry is, for most part, shaken into ragged clouds; + infantry, steady enough men, cannot stand everything. "I have observed," + says Friedrich, "if you step sharply up to an Austrian battalion [within + fifty paces or so], and pour in your fire well, in about a quarter of an + hour you see the ranks beginning to shake, and jumble towards + indistinctness;" [<i>Military Instructions.</i> ] a very hopeful symptom + to you! + </p> + <p> + It was at this moment that Lieutenant-General Gessler, under whom is the + Dragoon regiment Baireuth, who had kept his place in spite of Valori's + message, determined on a thing,—advised to it by General Schmettau + (younger Schmettau), who was near. Gessler, as we saw, stood in the rear + line, behind that gap (most likely one of several gaps, or wide spaces, + left too wide, as we explained); Gessler, noticing the jumbly condition of + those Austrian battalions, heaped now one upon another in this part,—motions + to the Prussian Infantry to make what farther room is needful; then dashes + through, in two columns (self and the Dragoon-Colonel heading the one, + French Chasot, who is Lieutenant-Colonel, heading the other), sabre in + hand, with extraordinary impetus and fire, into the belly of these jumbly + Austrians; and slashes them to rags, "twenty battalions of them," in an + altogether unexampled manner. Takes "several thousand prisoners," and such + a haul of standards, kettle-drums and insignia of honor, as was never got + before at one charge. Sixty-seven standards by the tale, for the regiment + (by most All-Gracious Permission) wears, ever after, "67" upon its + cartridge-box, and is allowed to beat the grenadier march; [Orlich, ii. + 179 (173 n., 179 n., slightly wrong); <i>Militair-Lexikon,</i> ii. 9, iv. + 465, 468. See Preuss, i. 212; <i>OEuvres de Frederic;</i> &c. &c.]—how + many kettle-drums memory does not say. + </p> + <p> + Prince Karl beats retreat, about 8 in the morning; is through + Hohenfriedberg about 10 (cannon covering there, and Nadasti as + rear-guard): back into the Mountains; a thoroughly well-beaten man. + Towards Bolkenhayn, the Saxons and he; their heavy artillery and baggage + had been left safe there. Not much pursued, and gradually rearranging + himself; with thoughts,—no want of thoughts! Came pouring down, + triumphantly invasive, yesterday; returns, on these terms, in about + fifteen hours. Not marching with displayed banners and field-music, this + time; this is a far other march. The mouse-trap had been left open, and we + rashly went in!—Prince Karl's loss, including that of the Saxons + (which is almost equal, though their number in the field was but HALF), is + 9,000 dead and wounded, 7,000 prisoners, 66 cannon, 73 flags and + standards; the Prussian is about 5,000 dead and wounded. [In Orlich (ii. + 182) all the details.] Friedrich, at sight of Valori, embraces his GROS + VALORI; says, with a pious emotion in voice and look, "My friend, God has + helped me wonderfully this day!" Actually there was a kind of devout + feeling visible in him, thinks Valori: "A singular mixture, this Prince, + of good qualities and of bad; I never know which preponderates." [Valori, + SOEPIUS.] As is the way with fat Valoris, when they come into such + company. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich is blamed by some military men, and perhaps himself thought it + questionable, that he did not pursue Prince Karl more sharply. He says his + troops could not; they were worn out with the night's marching and the + day's fighting. He himself may well be worn out. I suppose, for the last + four-and-twenty hours he, of all the contemporary sons of Adam, has + probably been the busiest. Let us rest this day; rest till to-morrow + morning, and be thankful. "So decisive a defeat," writes he to his Mother + (hastily, misdating "6th" June for 4th), "has not been since Blenheim" + [Letter in <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxvi. 71.] (which is tolerably + true); and "I have made the Princes sign their names," to give the good + Mother assurance of her children in these perils of war. Seldom has such a + deliverance come to a man. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XI.—CAMP OF CHLUM: FRIEDRICH CANNOT ACHIEVE PEACE. + </h2> + <p> + Friedrich marched, on the morrow, likewise to Bolkenhayn; which the enemy + have just left; our hussars hanging on their rear, and bickering with + Nadasti. Then again on the morrow, Sunday,—"twelve hours of + continuous rain," writes Valori; but there is no down-pour, or distress, + or disturbance that will shake these men from their ranks, writes Valori. + And so it goes on, march after march, the Austrians ahead, Dumoulin and + our hussars infesting their rear, which skilfully defended itself: through + Landshut down into Bohemia; where are new successive marches, the Prussian + quarterstaff stuck into the back of defeated Austria, "Home with you; + farther home!"—and shogging it on,—without pause, for about a + fortnight to come. And then only with temporary pause; that is to say, + with intricate manoeuvrings of a month long, which shove it to + Konigsgratz, its ultimatum, beyond which there is no getting it. The + stages and successive campings, to be found punctually in the old Books + and new, can interest only military readers. Here is a small theological + thing at Landshut, from first hand:— + </p> + <p> + JUNE 8th, 1745. "The Army followed Dumoulin's Corps, and marched upon + Landshut. On arriving in that neighborhood, the King was surrounded by a + troop of 2,000 Peasants,"—of Protestant persuasion very evidently! + (which is much the prevailing thereabouts),—"who begged permission + of him 'to massacre the Catholics of these parts, and clear the country of + them altogether.' This animosity arose from the persecutions which the + Protestants had suffered during the Austrian domination, when their + churches used to be taken from them and given to the Popish priests,"—churches + and almost their children, such was the anxiety to make them orthodox. The + patience of these peasants had run over; and now, in the hour of hope, + they proposed the above sweeping measure. "The King was very far from + granting them so barbarous a permission. He told them, 'They ought rather + to conform to the Scripture precept, to bless those that cursed them, and + pray for those that despitefully used them; such was the way to gain the + Kingdom of Heaven.' The peasants," rolling dubious eyes for a moment, + "answered, His Majesty was right; and desisted from their cruel + pretension." [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> ii.218.]...—"On + Hohenfriedberg Day," says another Witness, "as far as the sound of the + cannon was heard, all round, the Protestants fell on their knees, praying + for victory to the Prussians;" [In Ranke, iii. 259.] and at Breslau that + evening, when the "Thirteen trumpeting Postilions" came tearing in with + the news, what an enthusiasm without limit! + </p> + <p> + Prince Karl has skill in choosing camps and positions: his Austrians are + much cowed; that is the grievous loss in his late fight. So, from June + 8th, when they quit Silesia,—by two roads to go more readily,—all + through that month and the next, Friedrich spread to the due width, duly + pricking into the rear of them, drives the beaten hosts onward and onward. + They do not think of fighting; their one thought is to get into positions + where they can have living conveyed to them, and cannot be attacked; for + the former of which objects, the farther homewards they go, it is the + better. The main pursuit, as I gather, goes leftward from Landshut, by + Friedland,—the Silesian Friedland, once Wallenstein's. Through rough + wild country, the southern slope of the Giant Mountains, goes that slow + pursuit, or the main stream of it, where Friedrich in person is; intricate + savage regions, cut by precipitous rocks and soaking quagmires, shaggy + with woods: watershed between the Upper Elbe and Middle Oder; Glatz on our + left,—with the rain of its mountains gathering to a Neisse River, + eastward, which we know; and on their west or hither side, to a Mietau, + Adler, Aupa and other many-branched feeders of the Elbe. Most complex + military ground, the manoeuvrings on it endless,—which must be left + to the reader's fancy here. + </p> + <p> + About the end of June, Karl and his Austrians find a place suitable to + their objects: Konigsgratz, a compact little Town, in the nook between the + Elbe and Adler; covered to west and to south by these two streams; strong + enough to east withal; and sure and convenient to the southern roads and + victual. Against which Friedrich's manoeuvres avail nothing; so that he at + last (20th July) crosses Elbe River; takes, he likewise, an inexpugnable + Camp on the opposite shore, at a Village called Chlum; and lies there, + making a mutual dead-lock of it, for six weeks or more. Of the prior + Camps, with their abundance of strategic shufflings, wheelings, pushings, + all issuing in this of Chlum, we say nothing: none of them,—except + the immediately preceding one, called of Nahorzan, called also of Drewitz + (for it was in parts a shifting entity, and flung the LIMBS of it about, + strategically clutching at Konigsgratz),—had any permanency: let us + take Chlum (the longest, and essentially the last in those parts) as the + general summary of them, and alone rememberable by us. ["Camp of + Gross-Parzitz [across the Mietau, to dislodge Prince Karl from his shelter + behind that stream], June 14th:" "Camp of Nahorzan, June 18th [and + abstruse manoeuvrings, of a month, for Konigsgratz]: 20th July," cross + Elbe for Chlum; and lie, yourself also inexpugnable, there. See <i>OEuvres + de Frederic,</i> (iii. 120 et seq.); especially see Orlich (ii. pp. 193, + 194, 203, &c. &c.),—with an amplitude of inorganic details, + sufficient to astonish the robustest memory!] + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's purposes, at Chlum or previously, are not towards conquests in + Bohemia, nor of fighting farther, if he can help it. But, in the mean + while, he is eating out these Bohemian vicinages; no invasion of Silesia + possible from that quarter soon again. That is one benefit: and he hopes + always his enemies, under screw of military pressure with the one hand, + and offer of the olive-branch with the other, will be induced to grant him + Peace. Britannic Majesty, after Fontenoy and Hohenfriedberg, not to + mention the first rumors of a Jacobite Rebellion, with France to rear of + it, is getting eager to have Friedrich settled with, and withdrawn from + the game again;—the rather, as Friedrich, knowing his man, has + ceased latterly to urge him on the subject. Peace with George the + Purseholder, does not that mean Peace with all the others? Friedrich knows + the high Queen's indignation; but he little guesses, at this time, the + humor of Bruhl and the Polish Majesty. He has never yet sent the Old + Dessauer in upon them; always only keeps him on the slip, at Magdeburg; + still hoping actualities may not be needed. He hopes too, in spite of her + indignation, the Hungarian Majesty, with an Election on hand, with the + Netherlands at such a pass, not to speak of Italy and the Middle Rhine, + will come to moderate views again. On which latter points, his reckoning + was far from correct! Within three months, Britannic Majesty and he did + get to explicit Agreement (CONVENTION OF HANOVER, 26th August): but in + regard to the Polish Majesty and the Hungarian there proved to be no such + result attainable, and quite other methods necessary first! + </p> + <p> + "Of military transactions in this Camp of Chlum, or in all these + Bohemian-Silesian Camps, for near four months, there is nothing, or as + good as nothing: Chlum has no events; Chlum vigilantly guards itself; and + expects, as the really decisive to it, events that will happen far away. + We are to conceive this military business as a dead-lock; attended with + hussar skirmishes; attacks, defences, of outposts, of provision-wagons + from Moravia or Silesia:—Friedrich has his food from Silesia + chiefly, by several routes, 'convoys come once in the five days.' His + horse-provender he forages; with Tolpatches watching him, and continual + scufflings of fight: 'for hay and glory,' writes one Prussian Officer, 'I + assure you we fight well!' Endless enterprising, manoeuvring, + counter-manoeuvring there at first was; and still is, if either party + stir: but here, in their mutually fixed camps, tacit mutual observances + establish themselves; and amid the rigorous armed vigilantes, there are + traits of human neighborship. As usual in such cases. The guard-parties do + not fire on one another, within certain limits: a signal that there are + dead to bury, or the like, is strictly respected. On one such occasion it + was (June 30th, Camp-of-Nahorzan time) that Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick—Prince + Ferdinand, with a young Brother Albert volunteering and learning his + business here, who are both Prussian—had a snatch of interview with + a third much-loved Brother, Ludwig, who is in the Austrian service. A + Prussian officer, venturing beyond the limits, had been shot; Ferdinand's + message, 'Grant us burial of him!' found, by chance, Brother Ludwig in + command of that Austrian outpost; who answers: 'Surely;—and beg that + I may embrace my Brothers!' And they rode out, those three, to the space + intermediate; talked there for half an hour, till the burial was done. + [Mauvillon, <i>Geschichte Ferdinands von Braunschweig-Luneburg,</i> i. + 118.] Fancy such an interview between the poor young fellows, the soul of + honor each, and tied in that manner! + </p> + <p> + "Trenck of the Life-guard was not quite the soul of honor. It was in the + Nahorzan time too that Trenck, who had, in spite of express order to the + contrary, been writing to his Cousin the indigo Pandour, was put under + arrest when found out. 'Wrote merely about horses: purchase of horses, so + help me God!' protests the blusterous Life-guardsman, loud as lungs will,—whether + with truth in them, nobody can say. 'Arrest for breaking orders!' answers + Friedrich, doubting or disbelieving the horses; and loud Trenck is packed + over the Hills to Glatz; to Governor Fouquet, or Substitute;—where, + by not submitting and repenting, by resisting and rebelling, and ever + again doing it, he makes out for himself, with Fouquet and his other + Governors, what kind of life we know! 'GARDEZ E'TROITEMENT CE DROLE-LA, IL + A VOULU DEVENIR PANDOUR AUPRES DE SON ONCLE (Keep a tight hold of this + fine fellow; he wanted to become Pandour beside his Uncle)!' writes + Friedrich:—'Uncle' instead of 'Cousin,' all one to Friedrich. This + he writes with his own hand, on the margin: 28th June, 1745; the + inexorable Records fix that date. [Rodenbeck. iii. 381. Copy of the + Warrant, once PENES ME.] Which I should not mention, except for another + inexorable date (30th September), that is coming; and the perceptible + slight comfort there will be in fixing down a loud-blustering, extensively + fabulous blockhead, still fit for the Nurseries, to one undeniable + premeditated lie, and tar-marking him therewith, for benefit of more + serious readers." As shall be done, were the 30th of September come! + </p> + <p> + Here is still something,—if it be not rather nothing, by a great + hand! Date uncertain; Camp-of-Chlum time, pretty far on:... "There are + continual foragings, on both sides; with parties mutually dashing out to + hinder the same. The Prussians have a detached post at Smirzitz; which is + much harassed by Hungarians lurking about, shooting our sentry and the + like. An inventive head contrives this expedient. Stuff a Prussian uniform + with straw; fix it up, by aid of ropes and check-strings, to stand with + musket shouldered, and even to glide about to right and left, on judicious + pulling. So it is done: straw man is made; set upon his ropes, when the + Tolpatches approach; and pensively saunters to and fro,—his living + comrades crouching in the bushes near by. Tolpatches fire on the walking + straw sentry; straw sentry falls flat; Tolpatches rush in, esurient, + triumphant; are exploded in a sharp blast of musketry from the bushes all + round, every wounded man made prisoner;—and come no more back to + that post." Friedrich himself records this little fact: "slight pleasantry + to relieve the reader's mind," says he, in narrating it. [<i>OEuvres,</i> + iii. 123.]—Enough of those small matters, while so many large are + waiting. + </p> + <p> + June 26th, a month before Chlum, General Nassau had been detached, with + some 8 or 10,000, across Glatz Country, into Upper Silesia, to sweep that + clear again. Hautcharmoi, quitting the Frontier Towns, has joined, raising + him to 15,000; and Nassau is giving excellent account of the multitudinous + Pandour doggeries there; and will retake Kosel, and have Upper Silesia + swept before very long. [Kosel, "September 5th:" Excellent, lucid and even + entertaining Account of Nassau's Expedition, in the form of DIARY (a + model, of its kind), in <i>Feldzuge,</i> iv. 257, 371, 532.] On the other + hand, the Election matter (KAISERWAHL, a most important point) is + obviously in threatening, or even in desperate state! That famed + Middle-Rhine Army has gone to the—what shall we say? + </p> + <p> + JULY 5th-19th, MIDDLE-RHINE COUNTRY. "The first Election-news that reaches + Friedrich is from the Middle-Rhine Country, and of very bad complexion. + Readers remember Traun, and his Bathyanis, and his intentions upon Conti + there. In the end of May, old Traun, things being all completed in + Bavaria, had got on march with his Bavarian Army, say 40,000, to look into + Prince Conti down in those parts; a fact very interesting to the Prince. + Traun held leftward, westward, as if for the Neckar Valley,—'Perhaps + intending to be through upon Elsass, in those southern undefended portions + of the Rhine?' Conti, and his Segur, and Middle-Rhine Army stood + diligently on their guard; got their forces, defences, apparatuses, + hurried southward, from Frankfurt quarter where they lay on watch, into + those Neckar regions. Which seen to be done, Traun whirled rapidly to + rightward, to northward; crossed the Mayn at Wertheim, wholly leaving the + Neckar and its Conti; having weighty business quite in the other + direction,—on the north side of the Mayn, namely; on the Kinzig + River, where Bathyani (who has taken D'Ahremberg's command below + Frankfurt, and means to bestir himself in another than the D'Ahremberg + fashion) is to meet him on a set day. Traun having thus, by strategic + suction, pulled the Middle-Rhine Army out of his and Bathyani's way, hopes + they two will manage a junction on the Kinzig; after junction they will be + a little stronger than Conti, though decidedly weaker taken one by one. + Traun, in the long June days, had such a march, through the Spessart + Forest (Mayn River to his left, with our old friends Dettingen, + Aschaffenburg, far down in the plain), as was hardly ever known before: + pathless wildernesses, rocky steeps and chasms; the sweltering June sun + sending down the upper snows upon him in the form of muddy slush; so that + 'the infantry had to wade haunch-deep in many of the hollow parts, and + nearly all the cavalry lost its horse-shoes.' A strenuous march; and a + well-schemed. For at the Kinzig River (Conti still far off in the Neckar + country), Bathyani punctually appeared, on the opposite shore; and Traun + and he took camp together; July 5th, at Langen-Selbord (few miles north of + Hanau, which we know);—and rest there; calculating that Conti is now + a manageable quantity;—and comfortably wait till the Grand-Duke + arrives. [Adelung, iv. 421; v. 36.] For this is, theoretically, HIS Army; + Grand-Duke Franz being the Commander's Cloak, this season; as Karl was + last,—a right lucky Cloak he, while Traun lurked under him, not so + lucky since! July 13th, Franz arrived; and Traun, under Franz, instantly + went into Conti (now again in those Frankfurt parts); clutched at Conti, + Briareus-like, in a multiform alarming manner: so that Conti lost head; + took to mere retreating, rushing about, burning bridges;—and in + fine, July 19th, had flung himself bodily across the Rhine (clouds of + Tolpatches sticking to him), and left old Traun and his Grand-Duke supreme + lord in those parts. Who did NOT invade Elsass, as was now expected; but + lay at Heidelberg, intending to play pacifically a surer card. All French + are out of Teutschland again; and the game given up. In what a premature + and shameful manner! thinks Friedrich. + </p> + <p> + "Nominally it was the Grand-Duke that flung Conti over the Rhine; and + delivered Teutschland from its plagues. After which fine feat, salvatory + to the Cause of Liberty, and destructive to French influence, what is to + prevent his election to the Kaisership? Friedrich complains aloud: 'Conti + has given it up; you drafted 15,000 from him (for imaginary uses in the + Netherlands),—you have given it up, then! Was that our bargain?' 'We + have given it up,' answers D'Argenson the War-minister, writing to Valori; + 'but,'—And supplies, instead of performance according to the laws of + fact, eloquent logic; very superfluous to Friedrich and the said laws!—Valori, + and the French Minister at Dresden, had again been trying to stir up the + Polish Majesty to stand for Kaiser; but of course that enterprise, eager + as the Polish Majesty might be for such a dignity, had now to collapse, + and become totally hopeless. A new offer of Friedrich's to co-operate had + been refused by Bruhl, with a brevity, a decisiveness—'Thinks me + finished (AUX ABOIS),' says Friedrich; 'and not worth giving terms to, on + surrendering!' The foolish little creature; insolent in the wrong + quarter!" [ <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> iii. 128.] + </p> + <p> + 'The German Burden, then,—which surely was mutual, at lowest, and + lately was French altogether,—the French have thrown it off; the + French have dropped their end of the BEARING-POLES (so to speak), and left + Friedrich by himself, to stand or stagger, under the beweltered broken + harness-gear and intolerable weight! That is one's payment for cutting the + rope from their neck last year!—Long since, while the present + Campaign was being prepared for, under such financial pressures, Friedrich + had bethought him, "The French might, at least give me money, if they can + nothing else?"—and he had one day penned a Letter with that object; + but had thrown it into his desk again, "No; not till the very last + extremity, that!" Friedrich did at last despatch the unpleasant missive: + "Service done you in Elsass, let us say little of it; but the repayment + has been zero hitherto: your Bavarian expenses (poor Kaiser gone, and + Peace of Fussen come!) are now ended:—A round sum, say of 600,000 + pounds, is becoming indispensable here, if we are to keep on our feet at + all!" Herr Ranke, who has seen the Most Christian King's response (though + in a capricious way), finds "three or four successive redactions" of the + difficult passage; all painfully meaning, "Impossible, alas!"—painfully + adding, "We will try, however!" And, after due cunctations, Friedrich + waiting silent the while,—Louis, Most Christian King, who had failed + in so many things towards Friedrich, does empower Valori To offer him a + subsidy of 600,000 livres a month, till we see farther. Twenty thousand + pounds a month; he hopes this will suffice, being himself run terribly + low. Friedrich's feeling is to be guessed: "Such a dole might answer to a + Landgraf of Hessen-Darmstadt; but to me is not in the least suitable;"—and + flatly refuses it; FIEREMENT, says Valori. [Ranke, iii. 235, 299 n. (not + the least of DATE allowed us in either case); Valori. i. 240.] + </p> + <p> + MON GROS VALORI, who could not himself help all this, poor soul, "falls + now into complete disgrace;" waits daily upon Friedrich at the giving out + of the parole, "but frequently his Majesty does not speak to me at all." + Hardly looks at me, or only looks as if I had suddenly become Zero + Incarnate. It is now in these days, I suppose, that Friedrich writes about + the "Scamander Battle" (of Fontenoy), and "Capture of Pekin," by way of + helping one to fight the Austrians according to Treaty. And has a touch of + bitter sarcasm in uttering his complaints against, such treatment,—the + heart of him, I suppose, bitter enough. Most Christian King has felt this + of the Scamander, Friedrich perceives; Louis's next letter testifies + pique;—and of course we are farther from help, on that side, than + ever. "From the STANDE of the Kur-Mark [Brandenburg] Friedrich was offered + a considerable subsidy instead; and joyfully accepted the same, 'as a + loan:'"—paid it punctually back, too; and never, all his days, + forgot it of those STANDE. [Stenzel, iv. 255; Ranke, &c.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0030" id="link2H_4_0030"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CAMP OF DIESKAU: BRITANNIC MAJESTY MAKES PEACE, FOR HIMSELF, WITH + FRIEDRICH; BUT CANNOT FOR AUSTRIA OR SAXONY. + </h2> + <p> + About the middle of August, there are certain Saxon phenomena which awaken + dread expectation in the world. Friedrich, watching, Argus-like, near and + far, in his Chlum observatory, has noticed that Prince Karl is getting + reinforced in Konigsgratz; 10,000 lately, 7,000 more coming;—and + contrariwise that the Saxons seem to be straggling off from him; ebbing + away, corps after corps,—towards Saxony, can it be? There are + whispers of "Bavarian auxiliaries" being hired for them, too. And little + Bruhl's late insolence; Bruhl's evident belief that "we are finished (AUX + ABOIS)"? Putting all this together, Friedrich judges—with an + indignation very natural—that there is again some insidious Saxon + mischief, most likely an attack on Brandenburg, in the wind. Friedrich + orders the Old Dessauer, "March into them, delay no longer!" and publishes + a clangorously indignant Manifesto (evidently his own writing, and coming + from the heart): [In Adelung, v. 64-71 (no date; "middle of August," say + the Books).] "How they have, not bound by their Austrian Treaty, wantonly + invaded our Silesia; have, since and before, in spite of our forbearance, + done so many things:—and, in fact, have finally exhausted our + patience; and are forcing us to seek redress and safety by the natural + methods," which they will see how they like!— + </p> + <p> + Old Leopold advances straightway, as bidden, direct for the Saxon + frontier. To whom Friedrich shoots off detachments,—Prince Dietrich, + with so many thousands, to reinforce Papa; then General Gessler with so + many,—till Papa is 30,000 odd; and could eat Saxony at a mouthful; + nothing whatever being yet ready there on Bruhl's part, though he has such + immense things in the wind!—Nevertheless Friedrich again paused; did + not yet strike. The Saxon question has Russian bug-bears, no end of + complications. His Britannic Majesty, now at Hanover, and his prudent + Harrington with him, are in the act of laboring, with all earnestness, for + a general Agreement with Friedrich. Without farther bitterness, + embroilment and bloodshed: how much preferable for Friedrich! Old + Dessauer, therefore, pauses: "Camp of Dieskau," which we have often heard + of, close on the Saxon Border; stands there, looking over, as with sword + drawn, 30,000 good swords,—but no stroke, not for almost three + months more. In three months, wretched Bruhl had not repented; but, on the + contrary, had completed his preparations, and gone to work;—and the + stroke did fall, as will be seen. That is Bruhl's posture in the matter. + [Ranke, iii. 231, 314.] + </p> + <p> + To Britannic George, for a good while past, it has been manifest that the + Pragmatic Sanction, in its original form, is an extinct object; that + reconquest of Silesia, and such like, is melancholy moonshine; and that, + in fact, towards fighting the French with effect, it is highly necessary + to make peace with Friedrich of Prussia again. This once more is George's + and his Harrington's fixed view. Friedrich's own wishes are known, or used + to be, ever since the late Kaiser's death,—though latterly he has + fallen silent, and even avoids the topic when offered (knowing his man)! + Herrington has to apply formally to Friedrich's Minister at Hanover. "Very + well, if they are in earnest this time," so Friedrich instructs his + Minister: "My terms are known to you; no change admissible in the terms;—do + not speak with me on it farther: and, observe, within four weeks, the + thing finished, or else broken off!" [Ranke, iii. 277-281.] And in this + sense they are laboring incessantly, with Austria, with Saxony,—without + the least success;—and Excellency Robinson has again a panting + uncomfortable time. Here is a scene Robinson transacts at Vienna, which + gives us a curious face-to-face glimpse of her Hungarian Majesty, while + Friedrich is in his Camp at Chlum. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0031" id="link2H_4_0031"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + SCHONBRUNN, 2d AUGUST, 1745, ROBINSON HAS AUDIENCE OF HER HUNGARIAN + MAJESTY. + </h2> + <p> + Robinson, in a copious sonorous speech (rather apt to be copious, and to + fall into the Parliamentary CANTO-FERMO), sets forth how extremely ill we + Allies are faring on the French hand; nothing done upon Silesia either; a + hopeless matter that,—is it not, your Majesty? And your Majesty's + forces all lying there, in mere dead-lock; and we in such need of them! + "Peace with Prussia is indispensable."—To which her Majesty + listened, in statuesque silence mostly; "never saw her so reserved before, + my Lord."... + </p> + <p> + ROBINSON.... "'Madam, the Dutch will be obliged to accept Neutrality' [and + plump down again, after such hoisting]! + </p> + <p> + QUEEN. "'Well, and if they did, they? It would be easier to accommodate + with France itself, and so finish the whole matter, than with Prussia." My + Army could not get to the Netherlands this season. No General of mine + would undertake conducting it at this day of the year. Peace with Prussia, + what good could it do at present?' + </p> + <p> + ROBINSON. "'England has already found, for subsidies, this year, 1,178,753 + pounds. Cannot go on at that rate. Peace with Prussia is one of the + returns the English Nation expects for all it has done.' + </p> + <p> + QUEEN. "'I must have Silesia again: without Silesia the Kaiserhood were an + empty title. "Or would you have us administer it under the guardiancy of + Prussia!"'... + </p> + <p> + ROBINSON. "'In Bohemia itself things don't look well; nothing done on + Friedrich: your Saxons seem to be qnarrelling with you, and going home.' + </p> + <p> + QUEEN. "'Prince Karl is himself capable of fighting the Prussians again. + Till that, do not speak to me of Peace! Grant me only till October!' + </p> + <p> + ROBINSON. "'Prussia will help the Grand-Duke to Kaisership.' + </p> + <p> + QUEEN. "'The Grand-Duke is not so ambitions of an empty honor as to engage + in it under the tutelage of Prussia. Consider farther: the Imperial + dignity, is it compatible with the fatal deprivation of Silesia? "One + other battle, I say! Good God, give me only till the month of October!"' + </p> + <p> + ROBINSON. "'A battle, Madam, if won, won't reconquer Silesia; if lost, + your Majesty is ruined at home.' + </p> + <p> + QUEEN. "'DUSSE'JE CONCLURE AVEC LUI LE LENDEMAIN, JE LUI LIVRERAIS + BATAILLE CE SOIR (Had I to agree with him to-morrow, I would try him in a + battle this evening)!'" [Robinson's Despatch, 4th August, 1745. Ranke, + iii. 287; Raumer, pp. 161, 162.] + </p> + <p> + Her Majesty is not to be hindered; deaf to Robinson, to her Britannic + George who pays the money. "Cruel man, is that what you call keeping the + Pragmatic Sanction; dismembering me of Province after Province, now in + Germany, then in Italy, on pretext of necessity? Has not England money, + then? Does not England love the Cause of Liberty? Give me till October!" + Her Majesty did take till October, and later, as we shall see; poor George + not able to hinder, by power of the purse or otherwise: who can hinder + high females, or low, when they get into their humors? Much of this + Austrian obstinacy, think impartial persons, was of female nature. We + shall see what profit her Majesty made by taking till October. + </p> + <p> + As for George, the time being run, and her Majesty and Saxony + unpersuadable, he determined to accept Friedrich's terms himself, in hope + of gradually bringing the others to do it. August 26th, at Hanover, there + is signed a CONVENTION OF HANOVER between Friedrich and him: "Peace on the + old Breslau-Berlin terms,—precisely the same terms, but Britannic + Majesty to have them guaranteed by All the Powers, on the General Peace + coming,—so that there be no snake-procedure henceforth." Silesia + Friedrich's without fail, dear Hanover unmolested even by a thought of + Friedrich's;—and her Hungarian Majesty to be invited, nay urged by + every feasible method, to accede. [Adelung, v. 75; is "in Rousset, xix. + 441;" in &c. &c.] Which done, Britannic Majesty—for there + has hung itself out, in the Scotch Highlands, the other day ("Glenfinlas, + August 12th"), a certain Standard "TANDEM TRIUMPHANS," and unpleasant + things are imminent!—hurries home at his best pace, and has his + hands full there, for some time. On Austria, on Saxony, he could not + prevail: "By no manner of means!" answered they; and went their own road,—jingling + his Britannic subsidies in their pocket; regardless of the once Supreme + Jove, who is sunk now to a very different figure on the German boards. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's outlook is very bad: such a War to go on, and not even finance + to do it with. His intimates, his Rothenburg one time, have "found him + sunk in gloomy thought." But he wears a bright face usually. No wavering + or doubting in him, his mind made up; which is a great help that way. + Friedrich indicates, and has indicated everywhere, for many months, that + Peace, precisely on the old footing, is all he wants: "The Kaiser being + dead, whom I took up arms to defend, what farther object is there?" says + he. "Renounce Silesia, more honestly than last time; engage to have it + guaranteed by everybody at the General Peace (or perhaps Hohenfriedberg + will help to guarantee it),—and I march home!" My money is running + down, privately thinks he; guarantee Silesia, and I shall be glad to go. + If not, I must raise money somehow; melt the big silver balustrades at + Berlin, borrow from the STANDE, or do something; and, in fact, must stand + here, unless Silesia is guaranteed, and struggle till I die. + </p> + <p> + That latter withal is still privately Friedrich's thought. Under his light + air, he carries unspoken that grimly clear determination, at all times, + now and henceforth; and it is an immense help to the guidance of him. An + indispensable, indeed. No king or man, attempting anything considerable in + this world, need expect to achieve it except, tacitly, on those same + terms, "I will achieve it or die!" For the world, in spite of rumors to + the contrary, is always much of a bedlam to the sanity (so far as he may + have any) of every individual man. A strict place, moreover; its very + bedlamisms flowing by law, as do alike the sudden mud-deluges, and the + steady Atlantic tides, and all things whatsoever: a world inexorable, + truly, as gravitation itself;—and it will behoove you to front it in + a similar humor, as the tacit basis for whatever wise plans you lay. In + Friedrich, from the first entrance of him on the stage of things, we have + had to recognize this prime quality, in a fine tacit form, to a complete + degree; and till his last exit, we shall never find it wanting. Tacit + enough, unconscious almost, not given to articulate itself at all;—and + if there be less of piety than we could wish in the silence of it, there + is at least no play-actor mendacity, or cant of devoutness, to poison the + high worth of it. No braver little figure stands on the Earth at that + epoch. Ready, at the due season, with his mind silently made up;—able + to answer diplomatic Robinsons, Bartensteins and the very Destinies when + they apply. If you will withdraw your snakish notions, will guarantee + Silesia, will give him back his old Treaty of Berlin in an irrefragable + shape, he will march home; if not, he will never march home, but be + carried thither dead rather. That is his intention, if the gods permit. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0032" id="link2H_4_0032"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + GRAND-DUKE FRANZ IS ELECTED KAISER (13TH SEPTEMBER, 1745); FRIEDRICH, THE + SEASON AND FORAGE BEING DONE, MAKES FOR SILESIA. + </h2> + <p> + There occurred at Frankfurt—the clear majority, seven of the nine + Electors, Bavaria itself (nay Bohemia this time, "distaff" or not), and + all the others but Friedrich and Kur-Pfalz, being so disposed or so + disposable, Traun being master of the ground—no difficulty about + electing Grand-Duke Franz Stephan of Tuscany? Joint-King of Bohemia, to be + Kaiser of the Holy Romish Reich. Friedrich's envoy protested;—as did + Kur-Pfalz's, with still more vehemence, and then withdrew to Hanau: the + other Seven voted September 13th 1745: and it was done. A new Kaiser, + Franz Stephan, or Franz I.,—with our blessing on him, if that can + avail much. But I fear it cannot. Upon such mendacious Empty-Case of + Kaiserhood, without even money to feed itself, not to speak of governing, + of defending and coercing; upon such entities the blessings of man avail + little; the gods, having warned them to go, do not bless them for staying!—However, + tar-barrels burn, the fountains play (wine in some of them, I hope); Franz + is to be crowned in a fortnight hence, with extraordinary magnificence. At + this last part of it Maria Theresa will, in her own high person, attend; + and proceeds accordingly towards Frankfurt, in the end of September (say + the old Books), so soon as the Election is over. + </p> + <p> + Hungarian Majesty's bearing was not popular there, according to Friedrich,—who + always admires her after a sort, and always speaks of her like a king and + gentleman:—but the High Lady, it is intimated, felt somewhat too + well that she was high. Not sorry to have it known, under the due veils, + that her Kaiser-Husband is but of a mimetic nature; that it is she who has + the real power; and that indeed she is in a victorious posture at present. + Very high in her carriage towards the Princes of the Reich, and their + privileges:—poor Kur-Pfalz's notary, or herald, coming to protest (I + think, it was the second time) about something, she quite disregarded his + tabards, pasteboards, or whatever they were, and clapt him in prison. The + thing was commented upon; but Kur-Pfalz got no redress. Need we repeat,—lazy + readers having so often met him, and forgotten him again,—this is a + new younger Kur-Pfalz: Karl Theodor, this one; not Friedrich Wilhelm's old + Friend, but his Successor, of the Sulzbach line; of whom, after thirty + years or so, we may again hear. He can complain about his violated tabard; + will get his notary out of jail again, but no redress. + </p> + <p> + Highish even towards her friends, this "Empress-Queen" (KAISERIN-KONIGIN, + such her new title), and has a kind of "Thank-you-for-Nothing" air towards + them. Prussian Majesty, she said, had unquestionable talents; but, oh, + what a character! Too much levity, she said, by far; heterodox too, in the + extreme; a BOSER MANN;—and what a neighbor has he been! As to + Silesia, she was heard to say, she would as soon part with her petticoat + as part with it. [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> iii. 126, 128.]—So + that there is not the least prospect of peace here? "None," answer + Friedrich's emissaries, whom he had empowered to hint the thing. Which is + heavy news to Friedrich. + </p> + <p> + Early in August, not long after that Audience of Robinson's, her Majesty, + after repeated written messages to Prince Karl, urging him to go into + fight again or attempt something, had sent two high messengers: Prince + Lobkowitz, Duke d'Ahremberg, high dignitaries from Court, have come to + Konigsgratz with the latest urgencies, the newest ideas; and would fain + help Prince Karl to attempt something. Daily they used to come out upon a + little height, in view of Friedrich's tent, and gaze in upon him, and + round all Nature, "with big tubes," he says, "as if they had been + astronomers;" but never attempted anything. We remember D'Ahremberg, and + what part he has played, from the Dettingen times and onward. "A debauched + old fellow," says Friedrich; "gone all to hebetude by his labors in that + line; agrees always with the last speaker." Prince Karl seems to have + little stomach himself; and does not see his way into (or across) another + Battle. Lobkowitz, again, is always saying: "Try something! We are now + stronger than they, by their detachings, by our reinforcings" (indeed, + about twice their number, regular and irregular), though most of the + Saxons are gone home. After much gazing through their tubes, the Austrians + (August 23d) do make a small shift of place, insignificant otherwise; the + Prussians, next day, do the like, in consequence; quit Chlum, burning + their huts; post themselves a little farther up the Elbe,—their left + at a place called Jaromirz, embouchure of the Aupa into Elbe, [ <i>OEuvres + de Frederic,</i> iii. 129.]—and are again unattackable. + </p> + <p> + The worst fact is the multitude of Pandours, more and more infesting our + provision-roads; and that horse-forage itself is, at last, running low. + Detachments lie all duly round to right and left, to secure our + communications with Silesia, especially to left, out of Glatz, where runs + one of the chief roads we have. But the service is becoming daily more + difficult. For example:— + </p> + <p> + "NEUSTADT, 8th SEPTEMBER. In that left-hand quarter, coming out of Glatz + at a little Bohemian Town called Neustadt, the Prussian Commander, + Tauenzien by name, was repeatedly assaulted; and from September 8th, had + to stand actual siege, gallantly repulsing a full 10,000 with their big + artillery, though his walls were all breached, for about a week, till + Friedrich sent him relief. Prince Lobkowitz, our old anti-Belleisle + friend, who is always of forward fiery humor, had set them on this + enterprise; which has turned out fruitless. The King is much satisfied + with Tauenzien; [Ib. 132.] of whom we shall hear again. Who indeed becomes + notable to us, were it only for getting one Lessing as secretary, by and + by: Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, whose fame has since gone into all + countries; the man having been appointed a 'Secretary' to the very + Destinies, in some sort; that is to say, a Writer of Books which have + turned out to have truth in them! Tauenzien, a grimmish aquiline kind of + man, of no superfluous words, has distinguished himself for the present by + defending Neustadt, which the Austrians fully counted to get hold of." + </p> + <p> + Let us give another little scene; preparatory to quitting this Country, as + it is evident the King and we will soon have to do; Country being quite + eaten out, Pandours getting ever rifer, and the Season done:— + </p> + <p> + JAROMIRZ, "EARLY IN SEPTEMBER," 1745. "Jaromirz is a little Bohemian Town + on the Aupa, or between the Aupa and Metau branches of the Upper Elbe; + four or five miles north of Semonitz, where Friedrich's quarter now is. + Valori, so seldom spoken to, is lodged in a suburb there: 'Had not you + better go into the town itself?' his Majesty did once say; but Valori, + dreading nothing, lodged on,—'Landlord a Burgher whom I thought + respectable.' Respectable, yes he; but his son had been dealing with + Franquini the Pandour, and had sold Valori,—night appointed, + measures all taken; a miracle if Valori escape. Franquini, chief of 30,000 + Pandours, has come in person to superintend this important capture; and + lies hidden, with a strong party, in the woods to rearward. Prussians + about 200, scattered in posts, occupy the hedges in front, for guard of + the ovens; to rear, Jaromirz being wholly ours, there is no suspicion. + </p> + <p> + "In the dead of the night, Franquini emerges from the woods; sends forward + a party of sixty, under the young Judas; who, by methods suitable, gets + them stealthily conducted into Papa's Barn, which looks across a courtyard + into Valori's very windows. From the Barn it is easy, on paws of velvet, + to get into the House, if you have a Judas to open it. Which you have:—bolts + all drawn for you, and even beams ready for barricading if you be meddled + with. 'Upstairs is his Excellency asleep; Excellency's room is—to + right, do you remember; or to left'—'Pshaw, we shall find it!' The + Pandours mount; find a bedroom, break it open,—some fifteen or + sixteen of them, and one who knows a little French;—come crowding + forward: to the horror and terror of the poor inhabitant.' 'QUE + VOULEZ-VOUS DONC?' 'His Excellency Valori!' 'Well, no violence; I am your + prisoner: let me dress!' answers the supposed Excellency,—and + contrives to secrete portfolios, and tear or make away with papers. And is + marched off, under a select guard, who leave the rest to do the pillage. + And was not Valori at all; was Valori's Secretary, one D'Arget, who had + called himself Valori on this dangerous occasion! Valori sat quaking + behind his partition; not till the Pandours began plundering the stables + did the Prussian sentry catch sound of them, and plunge in." + </p> + <p> + Friedrich had his amusement out of this adventure; liked D'Arget, the + clever Secretary; got D'Arget to himself before long, as will be seen;—and, + in quieter times, dashed off a considerable Explosion of Rhyme, called LE + PALLADION (Valori as Prussia's "Palladium," with Devils attempting to + steal him, and the like), which was once thought an exquisite Burlesque,—Kings + coveting a sight of it, in vain,—but is now wearisome enough to + every reader. [Valori, i. 242; <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> iii. 130: for + the Fact. Exquisite Burlesque, PALLADION itself, is in <i>OEuvres,</i> xi. + 192-271 (see IB. 139): a bad copy of that very bad Original, JEANNE D'ARC,—the + only thing now good in it, Friedrich's polite yet positive refusal to + gratify King Louis and his Pompdour with a sight of it (see IB. PREFACE, + x-xiv, Friedrich's Letter to Louis; date of request and of refusal, March, + 1750).]—Let us attend his Majesty's exit from Bohemia. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XII.—BATTLE OF SOHR. + </h2> + <p> + The famed beautiful Elbe River rises in romantic chasms, terrible to the + picturesque beholder, at the roots of the Riesengebirge; overlooked by the + Hohe-Kamms, and highest summits of that chain. "Out of eleven wells," says + gentle Dulness, "EILF or ELF QUELLEN, whence its name, Elbe for ELF." Sure + enough, it starts out of various wells; [Description, in Zollner, <i>Briefe + uber Schlesien,</i> ii. 305; in &c. &c.] rushes out, like a great + peacock's or pasha's tail, from the roots of the Giant Mountains + thereabouts; and hurries southward,—or even rather eastward, at + first; for (except the Iser to westward, which does not fall in for a + great while) its chief branches come from the eastern side: Aupa, Metau, + Adler, the drainings of Glatz, and of that rugged Country where Friedrich + has been camping and manoeuvring all summer. On the whole, its course is + southward for the first seventy or eighty miles, washing Jaromirz, + Konigshof, Konigsgratz, down to Pardubitz: at Pardubitz it turns abruptly + westward, and holds on so, bending even northward, by hill and plain, + through the rest of its five or six hundred miles. + </p> + <p> + Its first considerable branch, on that eastern or left bank, is the Aupa, + which rises in the Pass of Schatzlar (great struggling there, for convoys, + just now); goes next by Trautenau, which has lately been burnt; and joins + the Elbe at Jaromirz, where Valori was stolen, or nearly so, from under + the Prussian left wing. The Aupa runs nearly straight south; the Elbe, + till meeting it, has run rather southeast; but after joining they go south + together, augmented by the Metau, by the Adler, down to Pardubitz, where + the final turn to west occurs. Jaromirz, which lies in the very angle of + Elbe and Aupa, is the left wing of Friedrich's Camp; main body of the Camp + lies on the other side of the Elbe, but of course has bridges (as at + Smirzitz, where that straw sentry did his pranks lately); bridges are + indispensable, part of our provision coming always by that BOHEMIAN + Neustadt, from the northeast quarter out of Silesia; though the main + course of our meal (and much fighting for it) is direct from the north, by + the Pass of Schatzlar,—"Chaslard," as poor Valori calls it. + </p> + <p> + Thus Friedrich lay, when Valori escaped being stolen; when Tauenzien was + assailed by the 10,000 Pandours with siege artillery, and stood + inexpugnable in the breach till Friedrich relieved him. Those Pandours + "had cut away his water, for the last two days;" so that, except for + speedy relief, all valor had been in vain. Water being gone, not + recoverable without difficulties, Neustadt was abandoned (September 16th, + as I guess);—one of our main Silesian roads for meal has ceased. We + have now only Schatzlar to depend on; where Franquini—lying westward + among the glens of the Upper Elbe, and possessed of abundant talent in the + Tolpatch way (witness Valori's narrow miss lately)—gives us trouble + enough. Friedrich determines to move towards Schatzlar. Homewards, in + fact; eating the Country well as he goes. + </p> + <p> + Saturday, 18th September, Friedrich crosses the Elbe at Jaromirz. Entirely + unopposed; the Austrians were all busy firing FEU-DE-JOIE for the Election + of their Grand-Duke: Election done five days ago at Frankfurt, and the + news just come. So they crackle about, and deliver rolling fire, at a + great rate; proud to be "IMPERIAL Army" henceforth, as if that could do + much for them. There was also vast dining, for three days, among the high + heads, and a great deal of wine spent. That probably would have been the + chance to undertake something upon them, better than crossing the Elbe, + says Friedrich looking back. But he did not think of it in time; took + second-best in place of best. + </p> + <p> + He is now, therefore, over into that Triangular piece of Country between + Elbe and Aupa (if readers will consult their Map); in that triangle, his + subsequent notable operations all lie. He here proposes to move northward, + by degrees,—through Trautenau, Schatzlar, and home; well eating this + bit of Country too, the last uneaten bit, as he goes. This well eaten, + there will be no harbor anywhere for Invasion, through the Winter coming. + One of my old Notes says of it, in the topographic point of view:— + </p> + <p> + "It is a triangular patch of Country, which has lain asleep since the + Creation of the World; traversed only by Boii (BOI-HEIM-ERS, Bohemians), + Czechs and other such populations, in Human History; but which Friedrich + has been fated to make rather notable to the Moderns henceforth. Let me + recommend it to the picturesque tourist, especially to the military one. + Lovers of rocky precipices, quagmires, brawling torrents and the + unadulterated ruggedness of Nature, will find scope there; and it was the + scene of a distinguished passage of arms, with notable display of human + dexterity and swift presence of mind. For the rest, one of the wildest, + and perhaps (except to the picturesque tourist) most unpleasant regions in + the world. Wild stony upland; topmost Upland, we may say, of Europe in + general, or portion of such Upland; for the rainstorms hereabouts run + several roads,—into the German Ocean and Atlantic by the Elbe, into + the Baltic by the Oder, into the Black Sea by the Donau;—and it is + the waste Outfield whither you rise, by long weeks-journeys, from many + sides. + </p> + <p> + "Much of it, towards the angle of Elbe and Aupa, is occupied by a huge + waste Wood, called 'Kingdom Forest' (KONIGREICH SYLVA or WALD, peculium of + Old Czech Majesties, I fancy); may be sixty square miles in area, the + longer side of which lies along the Elbe. A Country of rocky defiles; + lowish hills chaotically shoved together, not wanting their brooks and + quagmires, straight labyrinthic passages; shaggy with wild wood. Some poor + Hamlets here and there, probably the sleepiest in Nature, are scattered + about; there may be patches ploughable for rye [modern Tourist says + snappishly, There are many such; whole region now drained; reminded me of + Yorkshire Highlands, with the Western Sun gilding it, that fine afternoon!]—ploughable + for rye, buckwheat; boggy grass to be gathered in summer; charcoaling to + do; pigs at least are presumable, among these straggling outposts of + humanity in their obscure Hamlets: poor ploughing, moiling creatures, they + little thought of becoming notable so soon! None of the Books (all intent + on mere soldiering) take the least notice of them; not at the pains to + spell their Hamlets right: no more notice than if they also had been + stocks and moss-grown stones. Nevertheless, there they did evidently live, + for thousands of years past, in a dim manner;—and are much terrified + to have become the seat of war, all on a sudden. Their poor Hamlets, Sohr, + Staudentz, Prausnitz, Burgersdorf and others still send up a faint smoke; + and have in them, languidly, the live-coal of mysterious human existence, + in those woods,—to judge by the last maps that have come out. A + thing worth considering by the passing tourist, military or other." + </p> + <p> + It is in this Kingdom Forest (which he calls ROYAUME DE SILVA, instead of + SYLVA DE ROYAUME) that Friedrich now marches; keeping the body of the + Forest well on his left, and skirting the southern and eastern sides of + it. Rough marching for his Majesty; painfully infested by Nadastian + Tolpatches; who run out on him from ambushes, and need to be scourged; one + ambush in particular, at a place called Liebenthal (second day's march, + and near the end of it),—where our Prussian Hussars, winding like + fiery dragons on the dangerous precipices, gave them better than they + brought, and completely quenched their appetite for that day. After + Liebenthal, the march soon ends; three miles farther on, at the dim + wold-hamlet of Staudentz: here a camp is pitched; here, till the Country + is well eaten out, or till something else occur, we propose to tarry for a + time. + </p> + <p> + Horse-forage abounds here; but there is no getting of it without + disturbance from those dogs; you must fight for every truss of grass: if a + meal-train is coming, as there does every five days, you have to detach + 8,000 foot and 3,000 horse to help it safe in. A fretting fatiguing time + for regular troops. Our bakery is at Trautenau,—where Valori is now + lodging. The Tolpatchery, unable to take Trautenau, set fire to it, though + it is their own town, their own Queen's town; thatchy Trautenau, wooden + too in the upper stories of it, takes greedily to the fire; goes all aloft + in flame, and then lies black. A scandalous transaction, thinks Friedrich. + The Prussian corn lay nearly all in cellars; little got, even of the + Prussians, by such an atrocity: and your own poor fellow-subjects, where + are they? Valori was burnt out here; again exploded from his quarters, + poor man;—seems to have thought it a mere fire in his own lodging, + and that he was an unfortunate diplomatist. Happily he got notice + (PRIVATISSIME, for no officer dare whisper in such cases) that there is an + armed party setting out for Silesia, to guard meal that is coming: Valori + yokes himself to this armed party, and gets safe over the Hills with it,—then + swift, by extra post, to Breslau and to civilized (partially civilized) + accommodation, for a little rest after these hustlings and tossings. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich had lain at Staudentz, in this manner, bickering continually for + his forage, and eating the Country, for about ten days: and now, as the + latter process is well on, and the season drawing to a close: he + determines on a shift northward. Thursday, 30th September next, let there + be one other grand forage, the final one in this eaten tract, then + northward to fresh grounds. That, it appears, was the design. But, on + Wednesday, there came in an Austrian deserter; who informs us that Prince + Karl is not now in Konigsgratz, but in motion up the Elbe; already some + fifty miles up; past Jaromirz: his rear at Konigshof, his van at Arnau,—on + a level with burnt Trautenau, and farther north than we ourselves are. + This is important news. "Intending to block us out from Schatzlar? Hmh!" + Single scouts, or small parties, cannot live in this Kingdom Wood, + swarming with Pandours: Friedrich sends out a Colonel Katzler, with 500 + light horse, to investigate a little. Katzler pushes forward, on such lane + or forest road-track as there is, towards Konigshof; beats back small + hussar parties;—comes, in about an hour's space, not upon hussars + merely, but upon dense masses of heavy horse winding through the forest + lanes; and, with that imperfect intelligence, is obliged to return. The + deserter spake truth, apparently; and that is all we can know. Forage + scheme is given up; the order is, "Baggage packed, and MARCH to-morrow + morning at ten." Long before ten, there had great things befallen on the + morrow!—Try to understand this Note a little:— + </p> + <p> + "The Camp of Staudentz-which two persons (the King, and General Stille, a + more careful reporter, who also was an eye-witness) have done their best + to describe—will, after all efforts, and an Ordnance Map to help, + remain considerably unintelligible to the reader; as is too usual in such + cases. A block of high-lying ground; Friedrich's Camp on it, perhaps two + miles long, looks to the south; small Village of Staudentz in front; + hollow beyond that, and second small Village, Deutsch Prausnitz, hanging + on the opposite slope, with shaggy heights beyond, and the Kingdom Forest + there beginning: on the left, defiles, brooks and strait country, leading + towards the small town of Eypel: that is our left and front aspect, a + hollow well isolating us on those sides. Hollow continues all along the + front; hollow definite on our side of it, and forming a tolerable defence:—though + again, I perceive, to rightward at no great distance, there rise High + Grounds which considerably overhang us." A thing to be marked! "These we + could not occupy, for want of men; but only maintain vedettes upon them. + Over these Heights, a mile or two westward of this hollow of ours, runs + the big winding hollow called Georgengrund (GEORGE'S BOTTOM), which winds + up and down in that Kingdom Forest, and offers a road from Konigshof to + Trautenau, among other courses it takes. + </p> + <p> + "From the crown of those Heights on our right flank here, looking to the + west, you might discern (perhaps three miles off, from one of the + sheltering nooks in the hither side of that Georgengrund), rising faintly + visible over knolls and dingles, the smoke of a little Forest Village. + That Village is Sohr; notable ever since, beyond others, in the Kingdom + Wood. Sohr, like the other Villages, has its lane-roads; its road to + Trautenau, to Konigshof, no doubt; but much nearer you, on our eastern + slope of the Heights, and far hitherward of Sohr, which is on the western, + goes the great road [what is now the great road], from Konigshof to + Trautenau, well visible from Friedrich's Camp, though still at some + distance from it. Could these Heights between us and Sohr, which lie + beyond the great road, be occupied, we were well secured; isolated on the + right too, as on the other sides, from Kingdom Forest and its ambushes. + 'Should have been done,' admits Friedrich; 'but then, as it is, there are + not troops enough:' with 18,000 men you cannot do everything!" + </p> + <p> + Here, however, is the important point. In Sohr, this night, 29th + September, in a most private manner, the Austrians, 30,000 of them and + more, have come gliding through the woods, without even their pipe lit, + and with thick veil of hussars ahead! Outposts of theirs lie squatted in + the bushes behind Deutsch Prausnitz, hardly 500 yards from Friedrich's + Camp. And eastward, leftward of him, in the defiles about Eypel, lie + Nadasti and Ruffian Trenck, with ten or twelve thousand, who are to take + him in rear. His "Camp of Staudentz" will be at a fine pass to-morrow + morning. The Austrian Gentlemen had found, last week, a certain bare + Height in the Forest (Height still known), from which they could use their + astronomer tubes day after day; [Orlich, ii. 225.] and now they are about + attempting something! + </p> + <p> + Thursday morning, very early, 30th September, 1745, Friedrich was in his + tent, busy with generals and march-routes,—when a rapid orderly + comes in, from that Vedette, or strong Piquet, on the Heights to our + right: "Austrians visibly moving, in quantity, near by!" and before he has + done answering, the officer himself arrives: "Regular Cavalry in great + force; long dust-cloud in Kingdom Forest, in the gray dawn; and, so far as + we can judge, it is their Army coming on." Here is news for a poor man, in + the raw of a September morning, by way of breakfast to him! "To arms!" is, + of course, Friedrich's instant order; and he himself gallops to the Piquet + on the Heights, glass in hand. "Austrian Army sure enough, thirty to + thirty-five thousand of them, we only eighteen. [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + iii. 139.] Coming to take us on the right flank here; to attack our Camp + by surprise: will crush us northward through the defiles, and trample us + down in detail? Hmh! To run for it, will never do. We must fight for it, + and even attack THEM, as our way is, though on such terms. Quick, a plan!" + The head of Friedrich is a bank you cannot easily break by coming on it + for plans: such a creature for impromptu plans, and unexpected dashes + swift as the panther's, I have hardly known,—especially when you + squeeze him into a corner, and fancy he is over with it! Friedrich gallops + down, with his plan clear enough; and already the Austrians, horse and + foot, are deploying upon those Heights he has quitted; Fifty Squadrons of + Horse for left wing to them, and a battery of Twenty-eight big Guns is + establishing itself where Friedrich's Piquet lately stood. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's right flank has to become his front, and face those formidable + Austrian Heights and Batteries; and this with more than Prussian velocity, + and under the play of those twenty-eight big guns, throwing case-shot + (GRENADES ROYALES) and so forth, all the while. To Valori, when he heard + of the thing, it is inconceivable how mortal troops could accomplish such + a movement; Friedrich himself praises it, as a thing honorably well done. + Took about half an hour; case-shot raining all the while; soldier + honorably never-minding: no flurry, though a speed like that of + spinning-tops. And here we at length are, Staudentz now to rear of us, + behind our centre a good space; Burgersdorf in front of us to right, our + left reaching to Prausnitz: Austrian lines, three deep of them, on the + opposite Height; we one line only, which matches them in length. + </p> + <p> + They, that left wing of horse, should have thundered down on us, attacking + us, not waiting our attack, thinks Friedrich; but they have not done it. + They stand on their height there, will perhaps fire carbines, as their + wont is. "You, Buddenbrock, go into them with your Cuirassiers!" + Buddenbrock and the Cuirassiers, though it is uphill, go into them at a + furious rate; meet no countercharge, mere sputter of carbines;—tumble + them to mad wreck, back upon their second line, back upon their third: + absurdly crowded there on their narrow height, no room to manoeuvre; so + that they plunge, fifty squadrons of them, wholly into the Georgengrund + rearward, into the Kingdom Wood, and never come on again at all. + Buddenbrock has done his job right well. + </p> + <p> + Seeing which, our Infantry of the right wing, which stood next to + Buddenbrock, made impetuous charge uphill, emulous to capture that Battery + of Twenty-eight; but found it, for some time, a terrible attempt. These + Heights are not to be called "hills," still less "mountains" (as in some + careless Books); but it is a stiff climb at double-quick, with + twenty-eight big guns playing in the face of you. Storms of case-shot + shear away this Infantry, are quenching its noble fury in despair; + Infantry visibly recoiling, when our sole Three Regiments of Reserve hurry + up to support. Round these all rallies; rushes desperately on, and takes + the Battery,—of course, sending the Austrian left wing rapidly + adrift, on loss of the same. + </p> + <p> + This, I consider, is the crisis of the Fight; the back of the Austrian + enterprise is already broken, by this sad winging of it on the left. But + it resists still; comes down again,—the reserve of their left wing + seen rapidly making for Burgersdorf, intending an attack there; which we + oppose with vigor, setting Burgersdorf on fire for temporary screen; and + drive the Austrian reserve rapidly to rearward again. But there is rally + after rally of them. They rank again on every new height, and dispute + there; loath to be driven into Kingdom Wood, after such a flourish of + arms. One height, "bushy steep height," the light-limbed valiant Prince, + little Ferdinand of Brunswick, had the charge of attacking; and he did it + with his usual impetus and irresistibility:—and, strangely enough, + the defender of it chanced to be that Brother of his, Prince Ludwig, with + whom he had the little Interview lately. Prince Ludwig got a wound, as + well as lost his height. The third Brother, poor Prince Albrecht, who is + also here, as volunteer apprentice, on the Prussian side, gets killed. + There will never be another Interview, for all three, between the Camps! + Strange times for those poor Princes, who have to seek soldiering for + their existence. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile the Cavalry of Buddenbrock, that is to say of the right wing, + having now no work in that quarter, is despatched to reinforce the left + wing, which has stood hitherto apart on its own ground; not attacked or + attacking,—a left wing REFUSED, as the soldiers style it. Reinforced + by Buddenbrock, this left wing of horse does now also storm forward;—"near + the Village of Prausnitz" (Prausnitz a little way to rear of it), + thereabouts, is the scene of its feat. Feat done in such fashion that the + Austrians opposite will not stand the charge at all; but gurgle about in a + chaotic manner; then gallop fairly into Kingdom Wood, without stroke + struck; and disappear, as their fellows had done. Whereupon the Prussian + horse breaks in upon the adjoining Infantry of that flank (Austrian right + flank, left bare in this manner); champs it also into chaotic whirlpools; + cuts away an outskirt of near 2,000 prisoners, and sets the rest running. + This seems to have been pretty much the COUP-DE-GRACE of the Fight; and to + have brought the Austrian dispute to finis. From the first, they had + rallied on the heights; had struggled and disputed. Two general rallies + they made, and various partial, but none had any success. They were driven + on, bayonet in back, as the phrase is: with this sad slap on their right, + added to that old one on their left, what can they now do but ebb rapidly; + pour in cataracts into Kingdom Wood, and disappear there? [ <i>OEuvres de + Frederic,</i> iii. 135-143; Stille, pp. 144-163; Orlich, ii. 227-243; <i>Feldzuge,</i> + i. 357, 363, 374.] + </p> + <p> + Prince Karl's scheme was good, says Friedrich; but it was ill executed. He + never should have let us form; his first grand fault was that he waited to + be attacked, instead of attacking. Parts of his scheme were never executed + at all. Duke d'Ahremberg, for instance, it is said, had so dim a notion of + the ground, that he drew up some miles off, with his back to the + Prussians. Such is the rumor,—perhaps only a rumor, in mockery of + the hebetated old gentleman fallen unlucky? On the other hand, that + Nadasti made a failure which proved important, is indubitable. Nadasti, + with some thousands of Tolpatchery, was at Liebenthal, four miles to + southeast of the action; Ruffian Trenck lay behind Eypel, perhaps as far + to east, of it: Trenck and Nadasti were to rendezvous, to unite, and + attack the Prussian Camp on its rear,—"Camp," so ran the order, for + it was understood the Prussians would all be there, we others attacking it + in front and both flanks;—which turned out otherwise, not for + Nadasti alone! + </p> + <p> + Nadasti came to his rendezvous in time; Ruffian Trenck did not: Nadasti + grew tired of waiting for Trenck, and attacked the Camp by himself:—Camp, + but not any men; Camp being now empty, and the men all fighting, ranked at + right angles to it, furlongs and miles away. Nadasti made a rare hand of + the Camp; plundered everything, took all the King's Camp-furniture, ready + money, favorite dog Biche,—likewise poor Eichel his Secretary, who, + however, tore the papers first. Tolpatchery exultingly gutted the Camp; + and at last set fire to it,—burnt even some eight or ten poor + Prussian sick, and also "some women whom they caught. We found the limbs + of these poor men and women lying about," reports old General Lehwald; who + knew about it. A doggery well worthy of the gallows, think Lehwald and I. + "Could n't help it; ferocity of wild men," says Nadasti. "Well; but why + not attack, then, with your ferocity?" Confused Court-martial put these + questions, at Vienna subsequently; and Ruffian Trenck, some say, got + injustice, Nadasti shuffling things upon him; for which one cares almost + nothing. Lehwald, lying at Trautenau, had heard the firing at sunrise; and + instantly marched to help: he only arrived to give Nadasti a slash or two, + and was too late for the Fight. One Schlichtling, on guard with a weak + party, saved what was in the right wing of the Camp,—small thanks to + him, the Main Fight being so near: Friedrich's opinion is, an Officer, in + Schlichtling's place, ought to have done more, and not have been so + helpless. + </p> + <p> + This was the Battle of Sohr; so called because the Austrians had begun + there, and the Prussians ended there. The Prussian pursuit drew bridle at + that Village; unsafe to prosecute Austrians farther, now in the deeps of + Kingdom Forest. The Battle has lasted five hours. It must be now getting + towards noon; and time for breakfast, if indeed any were to be had; but + that is next to impossible, Nadasti having been so busy. Not without + extreme difficulty is a manchet of bread, with or without a drop of wine, + procured for the King's Majesty this day. Many a tired hero will have + nothing but tobacco, with spring-water, to fall back upon. Never mind! + says the King, says everybody. After all, it is a cheap price to pay for + missing an attack from Pandours in the rear, while such crisis went on + ahead. + </p> + <p> + Lying COUSIN Trenck, of the Life-guard, who is now in Glatz, gives vivid + eye-witness particulars of these things, time of the morning and so on; + says expressly he was there, and what he did there, [Frederic Baron de + Trenck, <i>Memoires, traduits par lui-meme</i> (Strasburg and Paris, + 1789), i. 74-78, 79.]—though in Glatz under lock and key, three good + months before. "How could I help mistakes," said he afterwards, when + people objected to this and that in his blusterous mendacity of a Book: "I + had nothing but my poor agitated memory to trust to!" A man's memory, when + it gets the length of remembering that he was in the Battle of Sohr while + bodily absent, ought it not to—in fact, to strike work; to still its + agitations altogether, and call halt? Trenck, some months after, got + clambered out of Glatz, by sewers, or I forget how; and leaped, or + dropped, from some parapet into the River Neisse,—sinking to the + loins in tough mud, so that he could not stir. + </p> + <p> + MAP TO GO HERE——BOOK 15—page 499—— + </p> + <p> + "Fouquet let me stand there half a day, before he would pick me out + again." Rigorous Bouquet, human mercy forbidding, could not let him stand + there in permanence,—as we, better circumstanced, may with advantage + try to do, in time coming! + </p> + <p> + Friedrich lay at Sohr five days; partly for the honor of the thing, partly + to eat out the Country to perfection. Prince Karl, from Konigshof, soon + fell back to Konigsgratz; and lay motionless there, nothing but his + Tolpatcheries astir, Sohr Country all eaten, Friedrich, in the due + Divisions, marched northward. Through Trautenau, Schatzlar, his own + Division, which was the main one;—and, fencing off the Tolpatches + successfully with trouble, brings all his men into Silesia again. A good + job of work behind them, surely! Cantons them to right and left of + Landshut, about Rohnstock and Hohenfriedberg, hamlets known so well; and + leaving the Young Dessauer to command, drives for Berlin (30th October),—rapidly, + as his wont is. Prince Karl has split up his force at Konigsgratz; means, + one cannot doubt, to go into winter-quarters. If he think of invading, + across that eaten Country and those bad Mountains,—well, our troops + can all be got together in six hours' time. + </p> + <p> + At Trautenau, a week after Sohr, Friedrich had at last received the + English ratification of that Convention of Hanover, signed 26th August, + almost a month ago; not ratified till September 22d. About which there had + latterly been some anxiety, lest his Britannic Majesty himself might have + broken off from it. With Austria, with Saxony, Britannic Majesty has been + entirely unsuccessful:—"May not Sohr, perhaps, be a fresh + persuasive?" hopes Friedrich;—but as to Britannic Majesty's breaking + off, his thoughts are far from that, if we knew! Poor Majesty: not long + since, Supreme Jove of Germany; and now—is like to be swallowed in + ragamuffin street-riots; not a thunder-bolt within clutch of him + (thunder-bolts all sticking in the mud of the Netherlands, far off), and + not a constable's staff of the least efficacy! Consider these dates in + combination. Battle of Sohr was on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30th:— + </p> + <p> + "SUNDAY preceding, SEPTEMBER 26th, was such a Lord's-Day in the City of + Edinburgh, as had not been seen there,—not since Jenny Geddes's + stool went flying at the Bishop's head, above a hundred years before. Big + alarm-bell bursting out in the middle of divine service; emptying all the + Churches ('Highland rebels just at hand!')—into General Meeting of + the Inhabitants, into Chaos come again, for the next forty hours. Till, in + the gaunt midnight, Tuesday, 2 A.M., Lochiel with about 1,000 Camerons, + waiting slight opportunity, crushed in through the Netherbow Port; and"—And, + about noon of that day, a poor friend of ours, loitering expectant in the + road that leads by St. Anthony's Well, saw making entry into paternal + Holyrood,—the Young Pretender, in person, who is just being + proclaimed Prince of Wales, up in the High-street yonder! "A tall slender + young man, about five feet ten inches high; of a ruddy complexion, + high-nosed, large rolling brown eyes; long-visaged, red-haired, but at + that time wore a pale periwig. He was in a Highland habit [coat]; over the + shoulder a blue sash wrought with gold; red velvet breeches; a green + velvet bonnet, with white cockade on it and a gold lace. His speech seemed + very like that of an Irishman; very sly [how did you know, my poor + friend?];—spoke often to O'Sullivan [thought to be a person of some + counsel; had been Tutor to Maillebois's Boys, had even tried some + irregular fighting under Maillebois]—to O'Sullivan and" [Henderson, + <i>Highland Rebellion,</i> p. 14.]... And on Saturday, in short, came + PRESTONPANS. Enough of such a Supreme Jove; good for us here as a + timetable chiefly, or marker of dates! + </p> + <p> + Sunday, 3d October, King's Adjutant, Captain Mollendorf, a young Officer + deservedly in favor, arrives at Berlin with the joyful tidings of this + Sohr business ("Prausnitz" we then called it): to the joy of all + Prussians, especially of a Queen Mother, for whom there is a Letter in + pencil. After brief congratulation, Mollendorf rushes on; having next to + give the Old Dessauer notice of it in his Camp at Dieskau, in the Halle + neighborhood. Mollendorf appears in Halle suddenly next morning, Monday, + about ten o'clock, sixteen postilions trumpeting, and at their swiftest + trot, in front of him;—shooting, like a melodious morning-star, + across the rusty old city, in this manner,—to Dieskau Camp, where he + gives the Old Dessauer his good news. Excellent Victory indeed; sharp + striking, swift self-help on our part. Halle and the Camp have enough to + think of, for this day and the next. Whither Mollendorf went next, we will + not ask: perhaps to Brunswick and other consanguineous places?—Certain + it is, + </p> + <p> + "On Wednesday, the 6th, about two in the afternoon, the Old Dessauer has + his whole Army drawn out there, with green sprigs in their hats, at + Dieskau, close upon the Saxon Frontier; and, after swashing and + manoeuvring about in the highest military style of art, ranks them all in + line, or two suitable lines, 30,000 of them; and then, with clangorous + outburst of trumpet, kettle-drum and all manner of field-music, fires off + his united artillery a first time; almost shaking the very hills by such a + thunderous peal, in the still afternoon. And mark, close fitted into the + artillery peal, commences a rolling fire, like a peal spread out in + threads, sparkling strangely to eye and ear; from right to left, long + spears of fire and sharp strokes of sound, darting aloft, successive + simultaneous, winding for the space of miles, then back by the rear line, + and home to the starting-point: very grand indeed. Again, and also again, + the artillery peal, and rolling small-arms fitted into it, is repeated; a + second and a third time, kettle-drums and trumpets doing what they can. + That was the Old Dessauer's bonfiring (what is called FEU-DE-JOIE), for + the Victory of Sohr; audible almost at Leipzig, if the wind were westerly. + Overpowering to the human mind; at least, to the old Newspaper reporter of + that day. But what was strangest in the business," continues he "(DAS + CURIEUSESTE DABEY), was that the Saxon Uhlans, lying about in the villages + across the Border, were out in the fields, watching the sight, hardly 300 + yards off, from beginning to end; and little dreamed that his High + Princely Serenity," blue of face and dreadful in war, "was quite close to + them, on the Height called Bornhock; condescending to 'take all this into + High-Serene Eye-shine there; and, by having a white flag waved, deigning + to give signal for the discharges of the artillery.'" [<i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> + i. 1124.] + </p> + <p> + By this the reader may know that the Old Dessauer is alive, ready for + action if called on; and Bruhl ought to comprehend better how riskish his + game with edge-tools is. Bruhl is not now in an unprepared state:—here + are Uhlans at one's elbow looking on. Rutowski's Uhlans; who lies + encamped, not far off, in good force, posted among morasses; strongly + entrenched, and with schemes in his head, and in Bruhl's, of an + aggressive, thrice-secret and very surprising nature! I remark only that, + in Heidelberg Country, victorious old Traun is putting his people into + winter-quarters; himself about to vanish from this History, [Went to + SIEBENBURGEN (Transylvania) as Governor; died there February, 1748, age + seventy-one (<i>Maria Theresiens Leben,</i> p. 56 n.).]—and has + detached General Grune with 10,000 men; who left Heidelberg October 9th, + on a mysterious errand, heeded by nobody; and will turn up in the next + Chapter. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XIII.—SAXONY AND AUSTRIA MAKE A SURPRISING LAST ATTEMPT. + </h2> + <p> + After this strenuous and victorious Campaign, which has astonished all + public men, especially all Pragmatic Gazetteers, and with which all Europe + is disharmoniously ringing, Friedrich is hopeful there will be Peace, + through England;—cannot doubt, at least, but the Austrians have had + enough for one year;—and looks forward to certain months, if not of + rest, yet of another kind of activity. Negotiation, Peace through England, + if possible; that is the high prize: and in the other case, or in any + case, readiness for next Campaign;—which with the treasury + exhausted, and no honorable subsidy from France, is a difficult problem. + </p> + <p> + That was Friedrich's, and everybody's, program of affairs for the months + coming: but in that Friedrich and everybody found themselves greatly + mistaken. Bruhl and the Austrians had decided otherwise. "Open + mouse-trap," at Striegau; claws of the sleeping cat, at Sohr: these were + sad experiences; ill to bear, with the Sea-Powers grumbling on you, and + the world sniffing its pity on you;—but are not conclusive, are only + provoking and even maddening, to the sanguine mind. Two sad failures; but + let us try another time. "A tricky man; cunning enough, your King of + Prussia!" thinks Bruhl, with a fellness of humor against Friedrich which + is little conceivable to us now: "Cunning enough. But it is possible + cunning may be surpassed by deeper cunning!"—and decides, + Bartenstein and an indignant Empress-Queen assenting eagerly, That there + shall, in the profoundest secrecy till it break out, be a third, and much + fiercer trial, this Winter yet. The Bruhl-Bartenstein plan (owing mainly + to the Russian Bugbear which hung over it, protective, but with whims of + its own) underwent changes, successive redactions or editions; which the + reader would grudge to hear explained to him. [Account of them in Orlich, + ii. 273-278 (from various RUTOWSKI Papers; and from the contemporary + satirical Pamphlet, "MONDSCHEINWURFE, Mirror-castings of Moonshine, by + ZEBEDAUS Cuckoo,) beaten Captain of a beaten Army."] Of the final or acted + edition, some loose notion, sufficient for our purpose, may be collected + from the following fractions of Notes:— + </p> + <p> + NOVEMBER 17th (INTERIOR OF GERMANY).... "Feldmarschall-Lieutenant von + Grune, a General of mark, detached by Traun not long since, from the Rhine + Country, with a force of 10,000 men, why is he marching about: first to + Baireuth Country, 'at Hof, November 9th,' as if for Bohemia; then north, + to Gera ('lies at Gera till the 17th'), as if for Saxony Proper? Prince + Karl, you would certainly say, has gone into winter-quarters; about + Konigsgratz, and farther on? Gone or going, sure enough, is Prince Karl, + into the convenient Bohemian districts,—uncertain which particular + districts; at least the Young Dessauer, watching him from the Silesian + side, is uncertain which. Better be vigilant, Prince Leopold!—Grune, + lying at Gera yonder, is not intending for Prince Karl, then? No, not + thither. Then perhaps towards Saxony, to reinforce the Saxons? Or + some-whither to find fat winter-quarters: who knows? Indeed, who cares + particularly, for such inconsiderable Grune and his 10,000!— + </p> + <p> + "The Saxons quitted their inexpugnable Camp towards Halle, some time ago; + went into cantonments farther inland;—the Old Dessauer (middle of + October) having done the like, and gone home: his force lies rather + scattered, for convenience of food and forage. From the Silesian side, + again, Prince Leopold, whose head-quarters are about Striegau, intimates, + That he cannot yet say, with certainty, what districts Prince Karl will + occupy for winter-quarters in Bohemia. Prince Karl is vaguely roving + about; detaching Pandours to the Silesian Mountains, as if for checking + our victorious Nassau there;—always rather creeping northward; + skirting Western Silesia with his main force; 30,000 or better, with + Lobkowitz and Nadasti ahead. Meaning what? Be vigilant, my young friend. + </p> + <p> + "The private fact is, Prince Karl does not mean to go into winter-quarters + at all. In private fact, Prince Karl is one of Three mysterious Elements + or Currents, sent on a far errand: Grune is another: Rutowski's Saxon Camp + (now become Cantonment) is a third. Three Currents instinct with fire and + destruction, but as yet quite opaque; which have been launched,—whitherward + thinks the reader? On Berlin itself, and the Mark of Brandenburg; there to + collide, and ignite in a marvellous manner. There is their meeting-point: + there shall they, on a sudden, smite one another into flame; and the + destruction blaze, fiery enough, round Friedrich and his own Brandenburg + homesteads there!— + </p> + <p> + "It is a grand scheme; scheme at least on a grand scale. For the LEGS of + it, Grune's march and Prince Karl's, are about 600 miles long! Plan due + chiefly, they say, to the yellow rage of Bruhl; aided by the contrivance + of Rutowski, and the counsel of Austrian military men. For there is much + consulting about it, and redacting of it; Polish Majesty himself very + busy. To Bruhl's yellow rage it is highly solacing and hopeful. 'Rutowski, + lying close in his Cantonments, and then suddenly springing out, will + overwhelm the Old Dessauer, who lies wide;—can do it, surely; and + Grune is there to help if necessary. Dessauer blown to pieces, Grune, with + Rutowski combined, push in upon Brandenburg,—Grune himself upon + Berlin,—from the west and south, nobody expecting him. Prince Karl, + not taking into winter-quarters in Bohemia, as they idly think; but + falling down the Valley of the Bober, or Bober and Queiss, into the + Lausitz (to Gorlitz, Guben, where we have Magazines for him), comes upon + it from the southeast,—nobody expecting any of them. Three + simultaneous Armies hurled on the head of your Friedrich; combustible + deluges flowing towards him, as from the ends of Germany; so opaque, + silent, yet of fire wholly: will not that surprise him!' thinks Bruhl. + These are the schemes of the little man." + </p> + <p> + Bruhl, having constituted himself rival to Friedrich, and fallen into pale + or yellow rage by the course things took, this Plan is naturally his chief + joy, or crown of joys; a bubbling well of solace to him in his parched + condition. He should, obviously, have kept it secret; thrice-secret, the + little fool;—but a poor parched man is not always master of his + private bubbling wells in that kind! Wolfstierna is Swedish Envoy at + Dresden; Rudenskjold, Swedish Envoy at Berlin, has run over to see him in + the dim November days. Swedes, since Ulrique's marriage, are friendly to + Prussia. Bruhl has these two men to dinner; talks with them, over his + wine, about Friedrich's insulting usage of him, among other topics. + "Insulting; how, your Excellency?" asks Rudenskjold, privately a friend of + Friedrich. Bruhl explains, with voice quivering, those cuts in the + Friedrich manifesto of August last, and other griefs suffered; the two + Swedes soothing him with what oil they have ready. "No matter!" hints + Bruhl; and proceeds from hint to hint, till the two Swedes are fully aware + of the grand scheme: Grune, Prince Karl; and how Destruction, with legs + 500 miles long, is steadily advancing to assuage one with just revenge. + "Right, your Excellency!"—only that Rudenskjold proceeds to Berlin; + and there straightway ("8th November") punctually makes Friedrich also + aware. [Stenzel, iv. 262; Ranke, iii. 317-323; Friedrich's own narrative + of it, <i>OEuvres,</i> iii. 148.] Foolish Bruhl: a man that has a secret + should not only hide it, but hide that he has it to hide. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0035" id="link2H_4_0035"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + FRIEDRICH GOES OUT TO MEET HIS THREE-LEGGED MONSTER; CUTS ONE LEG OF IT IN + TWO (Fight of Hennersdorf, 23d November, 1745). + </h2> + <p> + Friedrich, having heard the secret, gazes into it with horror and + astonishment: "What a time I have! This is not living; this is being + killed a thousand times a day!" [Ranke (iii. 321 n.): TO whom said, we are + not told.]—with horror and astonishment; but also with what most + luminous flash of eyesight is in him; compares it with Prince Karl's + enigmatic motions, Grune's open ones and the other phenomena;—perceives + that it is an indisputable fact, and a thrice-formidable; requiring to be + instantly dealt with by the party interested! Whereupon, after hearty + thanks to Rudenskjold, there occur these rapidly successive phases of + activity, which we study to take up in a curt form. + </p> + <p> + FIRST (probably 9th or 10th November), there is Council held with Minister + Podewils and the Old Dessauer; Council from which comes little benefit, or + none. Podewils and Old Leopold stare incredulous; cannot be made to + believe such a thing. "Impossible any Saxon minister or man would + voluntarily bring the theatre of war into his own Country, in this + manner!" thinks the Old Dessauer, and persists to think,—on what + obstinate ground Friedrich never knew. To which Podewils, "who has + properties in the Lausitz, and would so fain think them safe," + obstinately, though more covertly, adheres. "Impossible!" urge both these + Councillors; and Friedrich cannot even make them believe it. Believe it; + and, alas, believing it is not the whole problem! + </p> + <p> + Happily Friedrich has the privilege of ordering, with or without their + belief. "You, Podewils, announce the matter to foreign Courts. You, Serene + Highness of Anhalt, at your swiftest, collect yonder, and encamp again. + Your eye well on Grune and Rutowski; and the instant I give you signal—! + I am for Silesia, to look after Prince Karl, the other long leg of this + Business." Old Leopold, according to Friedrich's account, is visibly glad + of such opportunity to fight again before he die: and yet, for no reason + except some senile jealousy, is not content with these arrangements; + perversely objects to this and that. At length the King says,—think + of this hard word, and of the eyes that accompany it!—"When your + Highness gets Armies of your own, you will order them according to your + mind; at present, it must be according to mine." On, then; and not a + moment lost: for of all things we must be swift! + </p> + <p> + Old Leopold goes accordingly. Friedrich himself goes in a week hence. + Orders, correspondences from Podewils and the rest, are flying right and + left;—to Young Leopold in Silesia, first of all. Young Leopold draws + out his forces towards the Silesian-Lausitz border, where Prince Karl's + intentions are now becoming visible. And,—here is the second phase + notable,— + </p> + <p> + "On Monday, 15th, ["18th," <i>Feldzuge,</i> i. 402 (see Rodenbeck, i. + 122).] at 7 A.M.," Friedrich rushes off, by Crossen, full speed for + Liegnitz; "with Rothenburg, with the Prince of Prussia and Ferdinand of + Brunswick accompanying." With what thoughts,—though, in his face, + you can read nothing; all Berlin being already in such tremor! Friedrich + is in Liegnitz next day; and after needful preliminaries there, does, on + the Thursday following, "at Nieder-Adelsdorf," not far off, take actual + command of Prince Leopold's Army, which had lain encamped for some days, + waiting him. And now with such force in hand,—35,000, soldiers every + man of them, and freshened by a month's rest,—one will endeavor to + do some good upon Prince Karl. Probably sooner than Prince Karl supposes. + For there is great velocity in this young King; a panther-like suddenness + of spring in him: cunning, too, as any Felis of them; and with claws like + the Felis Leo on occasion. Here follows the brief Campaign that ensued, + which I strive greatly to abridge. + </p> + <p> + Prince Karl's intentions towards Frankfurt-on-Oder Country, through the + Lausitz, are now becoming practically manifest. There is a Magazine for + him at Guben, within thirty miles of Frankfurt; arrangements getting ready + all the way. A winter march of 150 miles;—but what, say the spies, + is to hinder? Prince Karl dreams not that Friedrich is on the ground, or + that anybody is aware. Which notion Friedrich finds that it will be + extremely suitable to maintain in Prince Karl. Friedrich is now at + Adelsdorf, some thirty miles eastward of the Lausitz Border, perhaps forty + or more from the route Prince Karl will follow through that Province. + </p> + <p> + "It is a high-lying irregularly hilly Country; hilly, not mountainous. + Various streams rise out of it that have a long course,—among + others, the Spree, which washes Berlin;—especially three Valleys + cross it, three Rivers with their Valleys: Bober, Queiss, Neisse (the + THIRD Neisse we have come upon); all running northward, pretty much + parallel, though all are branches of the Oder. This is Neisse THIRD, we + say; not the Neisse of Neisse City, which we used to know at the north + base of the Giant Mountains, nor the Roaring Neisse, which we have seen at + Hohenfriedberg; but a third [and the FOURTH and last, "Black Neisse," + thank Heaven, is an upper branch of this, and we have, and shall have, + nothing to do with it!]—third Neisse, which we may call the Lausitz + Neisse. On which, near the head of it, there is a fine old spinning, + linen-weaving Town called Zittau,—where, to make it memorable, one + Tourist has read, on the Town-house, an Inscription worth repeating: 'BENE + FACERE ET MALE AUDIRE REGIUM EST, To do good and have evil said of you, is + a kingly thing.' Other Towns, as Gorlitz, and seventy miles farther the + above-said Guben, lie on this same Neisse,—shall we add that + Herrnhuth stands near the head of it? The wondrous Town of Herrnhuth + (LORD'S-KEEPING), founded by Count Zinzendorf, twenty years before those + dates; ["In 1722, the first tree felled" (LIVES of Zinzendorf).] where are + a kind of German Methodist-Quakers to this day, who have become very + celebrated in the interim. An opulent enough, most silent, strictly + regular, strange little Town. The women are in uniform; wives, maids, + widows, each their form of dress. Missionaries, speaking flabby English, + who have been in the West Indies or are going thither, seem to abound in + the place; male population otherwise, I should think, must be mainly doing + trade elsewhere; nothing but prayers, preachings, charitable + boarding-schooling and the like, appeared to be going on. Herrnhuth is 'a + Sabbath Petrified; Calvinistic Sabbath done into Stone,' as one of my + companions called it." [Tourist's Note (Autumn, 1852).] + </p> + <p> + Herrnhuth, of which all Englishmen have heard, stands near the head of + this our third Neisse; as does Zittau, a few miles higher up. I can do + nothing more to give it mark for them. Bober Valley, then Queiss Valley, + which run parallel though they join at last, and become Bober wholly + before getting into the Oder,—these two Valleys and Rivers lie in + Friedrich's own Territory; and are between him and the Lausitz, Queiss + River being the boundary of Silesia and the Lausitz here. It is down the + Neisse that Prince Karl means to march. There are Saxons already gathering + about Zittau; and down as far as Guben they are making Magazines and + arrangements,—for it is all their own Country in those years, though + most of it is Prussia's now. Prince Karl's march will go parallel to the + Bober and the Queiss; separated from the Queiss in this part by an + undulating Hill-tract of twenty miles or more. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich has had somewhat to settle for the Southern Frontier of Silesia + withal, which new doggeries of Pandours are invading,—to lie ready + for Prince Karl on his return thither, whose grand meaning all this while + (as Friedrich well knows), is "Silesia in the lump" again, had he once cut + us off from Brandenburg and our supplies! General Nassau, far eastward, + who is doing exploits in Moravia itself,—him Friedrich has ordered + homeward, westward to his own side of the Mountains, to attend these new + Pandour gentlemen; Winterfeld he has called home, out of those Southern + mountains, as likely to be usefuler here on this Western frontier. + Winterfeld arrived in Camp the same day with Friedrich; and is sent + forward with a body of 3,000 light troops, to keep watch about the Lausitz + Frontier and the River Queiss; "careful not to quit our own side of that + stream,"—as we mean to hoodwink Prince Karl, if we can! + </p> + <p> + Friedrich lies strictly within his own borders, for a day or two; till + Prince Karl march, till his own arrangements are complete. Friedrich + himself keeps the Bober, Winterfeld the Queiss; "all pass freely out of + the Lausitz; none are allowed to cross into it: thereby we hear notice of + Prince Karl, he none of us." Perfectly quiescent, we, poor creatures, and + aware of nothing! Thus, too, Friedrich—in spite of his warlike + Manifesto, which the Saxons are on the eve of answering with a formal + Declaration of War—affects great rigor in considering the Saxons as + not yet at war with him: respects their frontier, Winterfeld even punishes + hussars "for trespassing on Lausitz ground." Friedrich also affects to + have roads repaired, which he by no means intends to travel:—the + whole with a view of lulling Prince Karl; of keeping the mouse-trap open, + as he had done in the Striegau case. It succeeded again, quite as + conspicuously, and at less expense. + </p> + <p> + Prince Karl—whose Tolpatch doggery Winterfeld will not allow to pass + the Queiss, and to whom no traveller or tidings can come from beyond that + River—discerns only, on the farther shore of it, Winterfeld with his + 3,000 light troops. Behind these, he discerns either nothing, or nothing + immediately momentous; but contentedly supposes that this, the superficies + of things, is all the solid-content they have. Prince Karl gets under way, + therefore, nothing doubting; with his Saxons as vanguard. Down the Neisse + Valley, on the right or Queiss-ward side of it: Saturday, 20th November, + is his first march in Lusatian territory. He lies that night spread out in + three Villages, Schonberg, Schonbrunn, Kieslingswalde; [<i>Feldzuge,</i> + i. 407 (Bericht von der Action bey Katholisch-Hennersdorf, &c.).] some + ten miles long; parallel to the Neisse River, and about four miles from + it, east or Queiss-ward of it. Karl himself is rear, at Schonberg; fierce + Lobkowitz is centre; the Saxons are vanguard, 6,000 in all, posted in + Villages, which again are some ten or twelve miles ahead of Prince Karl's + forces; the Queiss on their right hand, and the Naumburg Bridge of Queiss, + where Winterfeld now is, about fifteen miles to east. Their Uhlans + circulate through the intervening space (were much patrolling needed, in + such quiet circumstances), and maintain the due communication. There lies + Prince Karl, on Saturday night, 20th November, 1745; an Army of perhaps + 40,000, dnngerously straggling out above twenty miles long; and appears to + see no difficulty ahead. The Saxons, I think, are to continue where they + are; guarding the flank, while the Prince and Lobkowitz push forward, + closer by Neisse River. In four marches more, they can be in Brandenburg, + with Guben and their Magazines at hand. + </p> + <p> + Seeing which state of matters, Winterfeld gives Friedrich notice of it; + and that he, Winterfeld, thinks the moment is come. "Pontoons to Naumburg, + then!" orders Friedrich. Winterfeld, at the proper moment, is to form a + Bridge there. One permanent Bridge there already is; and two fords, one + above it, one below: with a second Bridge, there will be roadway for four + columns, and a swift transit when needful. Sunday, 21st, Friedrich quits + the Bober, diligently towards Naumburg; marches Sunday, Monday; Tuesday, + 23d, about eleven A.M., begins to arrive there; Winterfeld and passages + all ready. Forward, then, and let us drive in upon Prince Karl; and either + cut him in two, or force him to fight us; he little thinks where or on + what terms. Sure enough, in the worst place we can choose for him! + Friedrich begins crossing in four columns at one P.M.; crosses + continuously for four hours; unopposed, except some skirmishing of Uhlans, + while his Cavalry is riding the Fords to right and left; Uhlans were + driven back swiftly, so soon as the Cavalry got over. At five in the + evening, he has got entirely across, 35,000 horse and foot: Ziethen is + chasing the Uhlans at full speed; who at least will show us the way,—for + by this time a mist has begun falling, and the brief daylight is done. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich himself, without waiting for the rear of his force, and some + while before this mist fell (as I judge), is pushing forward, "a miller + lad for his guide," across to Hennersdorf,—Katholisch-Hennersdorf, a + long straggling Village, eight or ten miles off, and itself two miles + long,—where he understands the Saxons are. Miller lad guides us, + over height and hollow, with his best skill, at a brisk pace;—through + one hollow, where he has known the cattle pasture in summer time; but + which proves impassable, and mere quagmire, at this season. No getting + through it, you unfortunate miller lad (GARCON DE MEUNIER). Nevertheless, + we did find passage through the skirts of it: nay this quagmire proved the + luck of us; for the enemy, trusting to it, had no outguard there, never + expecting us on that side. So that the vanguard, Ziethen and rapid + Hussars, made an excellent thing of it. Ziethen sends us word, That he has + got into the body of Hennersdorf,—"found the Saxon Quartermaster + quietly paying his men;"—that he, Ziethen, is tolerably master of + Hennersdorf, and will amuse the enemy till the other force come up. + </p> + <p> + Of course Friedrich now pushes on, double speed; detaches other force, + horse and foot: which was lucky, says my informant; for the Ziethen + Hussars, getting good plunder, had by no means demolished the Saxons; but + had left them time to draw up in firm order, with a hedge in front, a + little west of the Village;—from which post, unassailable by + Ziethen, they would have got safe off to the main body, with little but an + affront and some loss of goods. The new force—a rapid Katzler with + light horse in the van, cuirassiers and foot rapidly following him—sweeps + past the long Village, "through a thin wood and a defile;" finds the enemy + firmly ranked as above said; cavalry their left, infantry on right, + flanked by an impenetrable hedge; and at once strikes in. At once, Katzler + does, on order given; but is far too weak. Charges, he; but is + counter-charged, tumbled back; the Saxons, horse and foot, showing + excellent fight. At length, more Prussian force coming up, cuirassiers + charge them in front, dragoons in flank, hussars in rear; all attacking at + once, and with a will; and the poor Saxon Cavalry is entirely cut to + shreds. + </p> + <p> + And now there remains only the Infantry, perhaps about 1,000 men (if one + must guess); who form a square; ply vigorously their field-pieces and + their fire-arms; and cannot be broken by horse-charges. In fact, these + Saxons made a fierce resistance;—till, before long, Prussian + Infantry came up; and, with counter field-pieces and musketries, blasted + gaps in them; upon which the Cavalry got admittance, and reduced the + gallant fellows nearly wholly to annihilation either by death or capture. + There are 914 Prisoners in this Action, 4 big guns, and I know not how + many kettle-drums, standards and the like,—all that were there, I + suppose. The number of dead not given. [Orlich, ii. 291; <i>Feldzuge,</i>i. + 400-413.] But, in brief, this Saxon Force is utterly cut to pieces; and + only scattered twos and threes of it rush through the dark mist; + scattering terror to this hand and that. The Prussians take their post at + and round Hennersdorf that night;—bivouacking, though only in sack + trousers, a blanket each man:—"We work hard, my men, and suffer all + things for a day or two, that it may save much work afterwards," said the + King to them; and they cheerfully bivouacked. + </p> + <p> + This was the Action of Katholisch-Hennersdorf, fought on Tuesday, 23d + November, 1745; and still celebrated in the Prussian Annals, and reckoned + a brilliant passage of war. KATHOLISCH-Hennersdorf, some ten miles + southwest of Naumburg ON THE QUEISS (for there are, to my knowledge, + Twenty-five other Villages called Hennersdorf, and Three several Towns of + Naumburg, and many Castles and Hamlets so named in dear Germany of the + Nomenclatures):—Katholisch-Hennersdorf is the place, and Tuesday + about dusk the time. A sharp brush of fighting; not great in quantity, but + laid in at the right moment, in the right place. Like the prick of a + needle, duly sharp, into the spinal marrow of a gigantic object; totally + ruinous to such object. Never, or rarely, in the Annals of War, was as + much good got of so little fighting. You may, with labor and peril, plunge + a hundred dirks into your boaconstrictor; hack him with axes, bray him + with sledge-hammers; that is not uncommon: but the one true prick in the + spinal marrow, and the Artist that can guide you well to that, he and it + are the notable and beneficent phenomena. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0036" id="link2H_4_0036"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PRINCE KARL, CUT IN TWO, TUMBLES HOME AGAIN DOUBLE-QUICK. + </h2> + <p> + Next morning, Wednesday, 24th, the Prussians are early astir again; + groping, on all manner of roads, to find what Prince Karl is doing, in a + world all covered in thick mist. They can find nothing of him, but broken + tumbrils, left baggage-wagons, rumor of universal marching hither and + marching thither;—evidences of an Army fallen into universal St. + Vitus's-Dance; distractedly hurrying to and fro, not knowing whitherward + for the moment, except that it must be homewards, homewards with velocity. + </p> + <p> + Prince Karl's farther movements are not worth particularizing. Ordering + and cross-ordering; march this way; no, back again: such a scene in that + mist. Prince Karl is flowing homeward; confusedly deluging and gurgling + southward, the best he can. Next afternoon, near Gorlitz, and again one + other time, he appears drawn up, as if for fighting; but has himself no + such thought; flies again, without a shot; leaves Gorlitz to capitulate, + that afternoon; all places to capitulate, or be evacuated. We hear he is + for Zittau; Winterfeld with light horse hastens after him, gets sight of + him on the Heights at Zittau yonder, [ <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> iii. + 157; Orlich, ii. 296.] "about two in the morning:" but the Prince has not + the least notion to fight. Prince leaves Zittau to capitulate,—quits + silently the Heights of Zittau at two A.M. (Winterfeld, very lively in the + rear of him, cutting off his baggage);—and so tumbles, pell-mell, + through the Passes of Gabel, home to Bohemia again. Let us save this poor + Note from the fire: + </p> + <p> + "On Saturday night, November 27th, the Prussians, pursuing Prince Karl, + were cantoned in the Herrnhuth neighborhood,—my informant's regiment + in the Town of Herrnhuth itself. [<i>Feldzuge,</i> i. ubi supra.] Yes, + there lay the Prussians over Sunday; and might hear some weighty + expounder, if they liked. Considerably theological, many of these poor + Prussian soldiers; carrying a Bible in their knapsack, and devout Psalms + in the heart of them. Two-thirds of every regiment are LANDESKINDER, + native Prussians; each regiment from a special canton,—generally + rather religious men. The other third are recruits, gathered in the Free + Towns of the Reich, or where they can be got; not distinguished by + devotion these, we may fancy, only trained to the uttermost by Spartan + drill." + </p> + <p> + Before the week is done, that "first leg" of the grand Enterprise (the + Prince-Karl leg) is such a leg as we see. "Silesia in the lump,"—fond + dream again, what a dream! Old Dessauer getting signal, where now, too + probably, is Saxony itself?—Ranking again at Aussig in Bohemia, + Prince Karl—5,000 of his men lost, and all impetus and fire gone—falls + gently down the Elbe, to join Rutowski at least; and will reappear within + four weeks, out of Saxon Switzerland, still rather in dismal humor. + </p> + <p> + The Prussian Troops, in four great Divisions, are cantoned in that Lausitz + Country, now so quiet; in and about Bautzen and three other Towns of the + neighborhood; to rest and be ready for the old Dessauer, when we hear of + him. The "Magazine at Guben in 138 wagons," the Gorlitz and other + Magazines of Prince Karl in the due number of wagons, supply them with + comfortable unexpected provender. Thus they lie cantoned; and have with + despatch effectually settled their part of the problem. Question now is, + How will it stand with the Old Dessauer and his part? Or, better still, + Would not perhaps the Saxons, in this humiliated state, accept Peace, and + finish the matter? + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XIV.—BATTLE OF KESSELSDORF. + </h2> + <p> + A "Correspondence" of a certain Excellency Villiers, English Minister at + Dresden,—Sir Thomas Villiers, Grandfather of the present Earl of + Clarendon,—was very famous in those weeks; and is still worth + mention, as a trait of Friedrich's procedure in this crisis. Friedrich, + not intoxicated with his swift triumph over Prince Karl, but calculating + the perils and the chances still ahead,—miserably off for money too,—admits + to himself that not revenge or triumph, that Peace is the one thing + needful to him. November 29th, Old Leopold is entering Saxony; and in the + same hours, Podewils at Berlin, by order of Friedrich, writes to Villiers + who is in Dresden, about Peace, about mediating for Peace: "My King ready + and desirous, now as at all times, for Peace; the terms of it known; terms + not altered, not alterable, no bargaining or higgling needed or allowable. + CONVENTION OF HANOVER, let his Polish Majesty accede honestly to that, and + all these miseries are ended." ["CORRESPONDANCE DU ROI AVEC SIR THOMAS + VILLIERS;" commences, on Podewils's part, 28th November; on Friedrich's, + 4th December; ends, on Villier's, 18th December; fourteen Pieces in all, + four of them Friedrich's: Given in <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> iii. + 183-216 (see IB, 158), and in many other Books.] + </p> + <p> + Villiers starts instantly on this beneficent business; "goes to Court, on + it, that very night;" Villiers shows himself really diligent, reasonable, + loyal; doing his very best now and afterwards; but has no success at all. + Polish Majesty is obstinate,—I always think, in the way sheep are, + when they feel themselves too much put upon;—and is deaf to + everybody but Bruhl. Bruhl answers: "Let his Prussian Majesty retire from + our Territory;—what is he doing in the Lausitz just now! Retire from + our Territory; THEN we will treat!" Bruhl still refuses to be desperate of + his bad game;—at any rate, Bruhl's rage is yellower than ever. That, + very evening, while talking to Villiers, he has had preparations going on;—and + next morning takes his Master, Polish Majesty August III., with some + comfortable minimum of apparatus (cigar-boxes not forgotten), off to Prag, + where they can be out of danger till the thing decide itself. Villiers + follows to Prag; desists not from his eloquent Letters, and earnest + persuasions at Prag; but begins to perceive that the means of persuading + Bruhl will be a much heavier kind of artillery. + </p> + <p> + On the whole, negotiations have yet done little. Britannic George, though + Purseholder, what is his success here? As little is the Russian Bugbear + persuasive on Friedrich himself. The Czarina of the Russias, a luxurious + lady, of far more weight than insight, has just notified to him, with more + emphasis than ever, That he shall not attack Saxony; that if he do, she + with considerable vigor will attack him! That has always been a formidable + puzzle for Friedrich: however, he reflects that the Russians never could + draw sword, or be ready with their Army, in less than six months, probably + not in twelve; and has answered, translating it into polite official + terms: "Fee-faw-fum, your Czarish Majesty! Question is not now of + attacking, but of being myself attacked!"—and so is now running his + risks with the Czarina. + </p> + <p> + Still worse was the result he got from Louis XV. Lately, "for form's + sake," as he tells us, "and not expecting anything," he had (November + 15th) made a new appeal to France: "Ruin menacing your Most Christian + Majesty's Ally, in this huge sudden crisis of invasive Austrian-Saxons; + and for your Majesty's sake, may I not in some measure say?" To which + Louis's Answer is also given. A very sickly, unpleasant Document; + testifying to considerable pique against Friedrich;—Ranke says, it + was a joint production, all the Ministers gradually contributing each his + little pinch of irony to make it spicier, and Louis signing when it was + enough;—very considerable pique against Friedrich; and something of + the stupid sulkiness as of a fat bad boy, almost glad that the house is on + fire, because it will burn his nimble younger brother, whom everybody + calls so clever: "Sorry indeed, Sir my Brother, most sorry:—and so + you have actually signed that HANOVER CONVENTION with our worst Enemy? + France is far from having done so; France has done, and will do, great + things. Our Royal heart grieves much at your situation; but is not + alarmed; no, Your Majesty has such invention, vigor and ability, superior + to any crisis, our clever younger Brother! And herewith we pray God to + have you in his holy keeping." This is the purport of King Louis's Letter;—which + Friedrich folds together again, looking up from perusal of it, we may + fancy with what a glance of those eyes. [Louis's Original, in <i>OEuvres + de Frederic,</i> iii. 173, 174 (with a much more satirical paraphrase than + the above), and Friedrich's Answer adjoined,—after the events had + come.] + </p> + <p> + He is getting instructed, this young King, as to alliances, grand + combinations, French and other. His third Note to Villiers intimates, "It + being evident that his Polish Majesty will have nothing from us but + fighting, we must try to give it him of the best kind we have." ["Bautzen, + 11th December, 1745" (UBI SUPRA).] Yes truly; it is the ULTIMATE + persuasive, that. Here, in condensed form, are the essential details of + the course it went, in this instance:—General Grune, on the road to + Berlin, hearing of the rout at Hennersdorf, halted instantly,—hastened + back to Saxony, to join Rutowski there, and stand on the defensive. Not + now in that Halle-Frontier region (Rutowski has quitted that, and all the + intrenchments and marshy impregnabilities there); not on that + Halle-Frontier, but hovering about in the interior, Rutowski and Grune are + in junction; gravitating towards Dresden;—expecting Prince Karl's + advent; who ought to emerge from the Saxon Switzerland in few days, were + he sharp; and again enable us to make a formidable figure. Be speedy, Old + Dessauer: you must settle the Grune-Rutowski account before that junction, + not after it! + </p> + <p> + The Old Dessauer has been tolerably successful, and by no means thinks he + has been losing time. November 29th, "at three in the morning," he stept + over into Saxony with its impregnable camps; drove Rutowski's rear-guard, + or remnant, out of the quagmires, canals and intrenchments, before + daylight; drove it, that same evening, or before dawn of the morrow, out + of Leipzig: has seized that Town,—lays heavy contribution on it, + nearly 50,000 pounds (such our strait for finance), "and be sure you take + only substantial men as sureties!" [Orlich, ii. 308.]—and will, and + does after a two days' rest, advance with decent celerity inwards; though + "One must first know exactly whither; one must have bread, and + preparations and precautions; do all things solidly and in order," thinks + the Old Dessauer. Friedrich well knows the whither; and that Dresden + itself is, or may be made, the place for falling in with Rutowski. + Friedrich is now himself ready to join, from the Bautzen region; the days + and hours precious to him; and spurs the Old Dessauer with the sharpest + remonstrances. "All solidly and in order, your Majesty!" answers the Old + Dessauer: solid strong-boned old coach-horse, who has his own modes of + trotting, having done many a heavy mile of it in his time; and whose skin, + one hopes, is of the due thickness against undue spurring. + </p> + <p> + Old Dessauer wishes two things: bread to live upon; and a sure Bridge over + the Elbe whereby Friedrich may join him. Old Dessauer makes for Torgau, + far north, where is both an Elbe Bridge and a Magazine; which he takes; + Torgau and pertinents now his. But it is far down the Elbe, far off from + Bautzen and Friedrich: "A nearer Bridge and rendezvous, your Highness! + Meissen [where they make the china, only fifty miles from me, and twenty + from Dresden], let that be the Bridge, now that you have got victual. And + speedy; for Heaven's sake, speedy!" Friedrich pushes out General Lehwald + from Bautzen, with 4,000 men, towards Meissen Bridge; Lehwald does not + himself meddle with the Bridge, only fires shot across upon the Saxon + party, till the Old Dessauer, on the other bank, come up;—and the + Old Dessauer, impatience thinks, will never come. "Three days in Torgau, + yes, Your Majesty: I had bread to bake, and the very ovens had to be + built." A solid old roadster, with his own modes of trotting; needs + thickness of skin. [Friedrich's Letters to Leopold, in Orlich, ii. 431, + 435 (6th-10th December, 1745).] + </p> + <p> + At long last, on Sunday, 12th December, about two P.M., the Old Dessauer + does appear; or General Gessler, his vanguard, does appear,—Gessler + of the sixty-seven standards,—"always about an hour ahead." Gessler + has summoned Meissen; has not got it, is haggling with it about terms, + when, towards sunset of the short day, Old Dessauer himself arrives. + Whereupon the Saxon Commandant quits the Bridge (not much breaking it); + and glides off in the dark, clear out of Meissen, towards Dresden,—chased, + but successfully defending himself. [See Plan, p. 10.] "Had he but stood + out for two days!" say the Saxons,—"Prince Karl had then been up, + and much might have been different." Well, Friedrich too would have been + up, and it had most likely been the same on a larger scale. But the Saxon + Commandant did not stand out; he glided off, safe; joined Rutowski and + Grune, who are lying about Wilsdruf, six or seven miles on the hither side + of Dresden, and eagerly waiting for Prince Karl. "Bridge and Town of + Meissen are your Majesty's," reports the Old Dessauer that night: upon + which Friedrich instantly rises, hastening thitherward. Lehwald comes + across Meissen Bridge, effects the desired junction; and all Monday the + Old Dessauer defiles through Meissen town and territory; continually + advances towards Dresden, the Saxons harassing the flanks of him a little,—nay + in one defile, being sharp strenuous fellows, they threw his rear into + some confusion; cut off certain carts and prisoners, and the life of one + brave General, Lieutenant-General Roel, who had charge there. "Spurring + one's trot into a gallop! This comes of your fast marching, of your + spurring beyond the rules of war!" thinks Old Leopold; and Friedrich, who + knows otherwise, is very angry for a moment. + </p> + <p> + But indeed the crisis is pressing. Prince Karl is across the Metal + Mountains, nearing Dresden from the east; Friedrich strikes into march for + the same point by Meissen, so soon as the Bridge is his. Old Leopold is + advancing thither from the westward,—steadily hour by hour; Dresden + City the fateful goal. There,—in these middle days of December, 1745 + (Highland Rebellion just whirling back from Derby again, "the London shops + shut for one day"),—it is clear there will be a big and bloody game + played before we are much older. Very sad indeed: but Count Bruhl is not + persuadable otherwise. By slumbering and sluggarding, over their + money-tills and flesh-pots; trying to take evil for good, and to say, "It + will do," when it will not do, respectable Nations come at last to be + governed by Bruhls; cannot help themselves;—and get their backs + broken in consequence. Why not? Would you have a Nation live forever that + is content to be governed by Bruhls? The gods are wiser!—It is now + the 13th; Old Dessauer tramping forward, hour by hour, towards Dresden and + some field of Fate. + </p> + <p> + On Tuesday, 14th, by break of day, Old Dessauer gets on march again; in + four columns, in battle order; steady all day,—hard winter weather, + ground crisp, and flecked with snow. The Pass at Neustadt, "his cavalry + went into it at full gallop;" but found nobody there. That night he + encamps at a place called Rohrsdorf; which may be eight miles + west-by-north from Dresden, as the crow flies; and ten or more, if you + follow the highway round by Wilsdruf on your right. The real direct + Highway from Meissen to Dresden is on the other side of the Elbe, and + keeps by the River-bank, a fine level road; but on this western side, + where Leopold now is, the road is inland, and goes with a bend. Leopold, + of course, keeps command of this road; his columns are on both sides of + it, River on their left at some miles distance; and incessantly expect to + find Rutowski, drawn out on favorable ground somewhere. The country is of + fertile, but very broken character; intersected by many brooks, making + obliquely towards the Elbe (obliquely, with a leaning Meissen-wards); + country always mounting, till here about Rohrsdorf we seem to have almost + reached the watershed, and the brooks make for the Elbe, leaning Dresden + way. Good posts abound in such broken country, with its villages and + brooks, with its thickets, hedges and patches of swamp. But Rutowski has + not appeared anywhere, during this Tuesday. + </p> + <p> + Our four columns, therefore, lie all night, under arms, about Rohrsdorf: + and again by morrow's dawn are astir in the old order, crunching far and + wide the frozen ground; and advance, charged to the muzzle with potential + battle. Slightly upwards always, to the actual watershed of the country; + leaving Wilsdruf a little to their right. Wilsdruf is hardly past, when + see, from this broad table-land, top of the country: "Yonder is Rutowski, + at last;—and this new Wednesday will be a day!" Yonder, sure enough: + drawn out three or four miles long; with his right to the Elbe, his left + to that intricate Village of Kesselsdorf; bristling with cannon; deep + gullet and swampy brook in front of him: the strongest post a man could + have chosen in those parts. + </p> + <p> + The Village of Kesselsdorf itself lies rather in a hollow; in the slight + beginning, or uppermost extremity, of a little Valley or Dell, called the + Tschonengrund,—which, with its quaggy brook of a Tschone, wends + northeastward into the Elbe, a course of four or five miles: a little + Valley very deep for its length, and getting altogether chasmy and + precipitous towards the Elbe-ward or lower end. Kesselsdorf itself, as we + said, is mainly in a kind of hollow: between Old Leopold and Kesselsdorf + the ground rather mounts; and there is perceptibly a flat knoll or rise at + the head of it, where the Village begins. Some trees there, and abundance + of cannon and grenadiers at this moment. It is the southwestern or + left-most point of Rutowski's line; impregnable with its cannon-batteries + and grenadiers. Rightward Rutowski extends in long lines, with the + quaggy-dell of Tschonengrund in front of him, parallel to him; Dell ever + deepening as it goes. Northeastward, at the extreme right, or Elbe point + of it, where Grune and the Austrians stand, it has grown so chasmy, we + judge that Grune can neither advance nor be + </p> + <p> + MAP/PLAN GOES HERE—book 15 continuation —page 10— + </p> + <p> + advanced upon:e,—which he did all day, in a purely meditative + posture. Rutowski numbers 35,000, now on this ground, with immensity of + cannon; 32,000 we, with only the usual field-artillery, and such a + Tschonengrund, with its half-frozen quagmires ahead. A ticklish case for + the old man, as he grimly reconnoitres it, in the winter morning. + </p> + <p> + Grim Old Dessauer having reconnoitred, and rapidly considered, decides to + try it,—what else?—will range himself on the west side of that + Tschonengrund, horse and foot; two lines, wide as Rutowski opposite him; + but means to direct his main and prime effort against Kesselsdorf, which + is clearly the key of the position, if it can be taken. For which end the + Old Dessauer lengthens himself out to rightward, so as to outflank + Kesselsdorf;—neglecting Grune (refusing Grune, as the soldiers say):—"our + horse of the right wing reached from the Wood called Lerchenbusoh + (LARCH-BUSH) rightward as far as Freyberg road; foot all between that + Lerchenbusch and the big Birch-tree on the road to Wilsdruf; horse of the + left wing, from there to Roitsch." [Stille (p. 181), who was present. See + Plan.] It was about two P.M. before the old man got all his deployments + completed; what corps of his, deploying this way or that, came within wind + of Kesselsdorf, were saluted with cannon, thirty pieces or more, which are + in battery, in three batteries, on the knoll there; but otherwise no + fighting as yet. At two, the Old Dessauer is complete; he reverently doffs + his hat, as had always been his wont, in prayer to God, before going in. A + grim fervor of prayer is in his heart, doubtless; though the words as + reported are not very regular or orthodox: "O HERR GOTT, help me yet this + once; let me not be disgraced in my old days! Or if thou wilt not help me, + don't help those HUNDSVOGTE [damned Scoundrels, so to speak], but leave us + to try it ourselves!" That is the Old Scandinavian of a Dessauer's prayer; + a kind of GODUR he too, Priest as well as Captain: Prayer mythically true + as given; mythically, not otherwise. [Ranke, iii. 334 n.] Which done, he + waves his hat once, "On, in God's name!" and the storm is loose. Prussian + right wing pushing grandly forward, bent in that manner, to take + Kesselsdorf and its fire-throats in flank. + </p> + <p> + The Prussians tramp on with the usual grim-browed resolution, foot in + front, horse in rear; but they have a terrible problem at that + Kesselsdorf, with its retrenched batteries, and numerous grenadiers + fighting under cover. The very ground is sore against them; uphill, and + the trampled snow wearing into a slide, so that you sprawl and stagger + sadly. Thirty-one big guns, and about 9,000 small, pouring out mere death + on you, from that knoll-head. The Prussians stagger; cannot stand it; bend + to rightwards, and get out of shot-range; cannot manage it this bout. + Rally, reinforce; try it again. Again, with a will; but again there is not + a way. The Prussians are again repulsed; fall back, down this slippery + course, in more disorder than the first time. Had the Saxons stood still, + steadily handling arms, how, on such terms, could the Prussians ever have + managed it? + </p> + <p> + But at sight of this second repulse, the Saxon grenadiers, and especially + one battalion of Austrians who were there (the only Austrians who fought + this day), gave a shout "Victory!"—and in the height of their + enthusiasm, rushed out, this Austrian battalion first and the Saxons after + them, to charge these Prussians, and sweep the world clear of them. It was + the ruin of their battle; a fatal hollaing before you are out of the + woods. Old Leopold, quick as thought, noticing the thing, hurls cavalry on + these victorious down-plunging grenadiers; slashes them asunder, into mere + recoiling whirlpools of ruin; so that "few of them got back unwounded;" + and the Prussians storming in along with them,—aided by ever new + Prussians, from beyond the Tschonengrund even,—the place was at + length carried; and the Saxon battle became hopeless. + </p> + <p> + For, their right being in such hurricane, the Prussians from the centre, + as we hint, storm forward withal; will not be held back by the + Tschonengrund. They find the Tschonengrund quaggy in the extreme, "brook + frozen at the sides, but waist-deep of liquid mud in the centre;" cross + it, nevertheless, towards the upper part of it,—young Moritz of + Dessau leading the way, to help his old Father in extremity. They climb + the opposite side,—quite slippery in places, but "helping one + another up;"—no Saxons there till you get fairly atop, which was an + oversight on the Saxon part. Fairly atop, Moritz is saluted by the Saxons + with diligent musket-volleys; but Moritz also has musket-volleys in him, + bayonet-charges in him; eager to help his old Papa at this hard pinch. Old + Papa has the Saxons in flank; sends more and ever more other cavalry in on + them; and in fact, the right wing altogether storms violently through + Kesselsdorf, and sweeps it clean. Whole regiments of the Saxons are made + prisoners; Roel's Light Horse we see there, taking standards; cutting + violently in to avenge Roel's death, and the affront they had at Meissen + lately. Furious Moritz on their front, from across the Tschonengrund; + furious Roel (GHOST of Roel) and others in their flank, through + Kesselsdorf: no standing for the Saxons longer. + </p> + <p> + About nightfall,—their horse having made poorish fight, though the + foot had stood to it like men,—they roll universally away. The + Prussian left wing of horse are summoned through the Tschonengrund to + chase: had there remained another hour of daylight, the Saxon Army had + been one wide ruin. Hidden in darkness, the Saxon Army ebbed confusedly + towards Dresden: with the loss of 6,000 prisoners and 3,000 killed and + wounded: a completely beaten Army. It is the last battle the Saxons fought + as a Nation,—or probably will fight. Battle called of Kesselsdorf: + Wednesday, 15th December, 1745. + </p> + <p> + Prince Karl had arrived at Dresden the night before; heard all this + volleying and cannonading, from the distance; but did not see good to + interfere at all. Too wide apart, some say; quartered at unreasonably + distant villages, by some irrefragable ignorant War-clerk of Bruhl's + appointing,—fatal Bruhl. Others say, his Highness had himself no + mind; and made excuses that his troops were tired, disheartened by the two + beatings lately,—what will become of us in case of a third or + fourth! It is certain, Prince Karl did nothing. Nor has Grime's corps, the + right wing, done anything except meditate:—it stood there + unattacked, unattacking; till deep in the dark night, when Rutowski + remembered it, and sent it order to come home. One Austrian battalion, + that of grenadiers on the knoll at Kesselsdorf, did actually fight;—and + did begin that fatal outbreak, and quitting of the post there; "which lost + the Battle to us!" say the Saxons. + </p> + <p> + Had those grenadiers stood in their place, there is no Prussian but admits + that it would have been a terrible business to take Kesselsdorf and its + batteries. But they did not stand; they rushed out, shouting "Victory;" + and lost us the battle. And that is the good we have got of the sublime + Austrian Alliance; and that is the pass our grand scheme of Partitioning + Prussia has come to? Fatal little Bruhl of the three hundred and + sixty-five clothes-suits; Valet fatally become divine in Valet-hood,—are + not you costing your Country dear! + </p> + <p> + Old Dessauer, glorious in the last of his fields, lay on his arms all + night in the posts about; three bullets through his roquelaure, no scratch + of wound upon the old man. Young Moritz too "had a bullet through his + coat-skirt, and three horses shot under him; but no hurt, the Almighty's + grace preserving him." [<i>Feldzuge,</i>i. 434.] This Moritz is the Third + of the Brothers, age now thirty-three; and we shall hear considerably + about him in times coming. A lean, tall, austere man; and, "of all the + Brothers, most resembled his Father in his ways." Prince Dietrich is in + Leipzig at present; looking to that contribution of 50,000 pounds; to + that, and to other contributions and necessary matters;—and has done + all his fighting (as it chanced), though he survived his Brothers many + years. Old Papa will now get his discharge before long (quite suddenly, + one morning, by paralytic stroke, 7th April, 1747); and rest honorably + with the Sons of Thor. [Young Leopold, the successor, died 16th December, + 1751, age fifty-two; Dietrich (who had thereupon quitted soldiering, to + take charge of his Nephew left minor, and did not resume it), died 2d + December, 1769; Moritz (soldier to the last), 11th April, 1760. See <i>Militair-Lexikon,</i>i. + 43, 34, 38,47.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XV.—PEACE OF DRESDEN: FRIEDRICH DOES MARCH HOME. + </h2> + <p> + Friedrich himself had got to Meissen, Tuesday, 14th; no enemy on his road, + or none to speak of: Friedrich was there, or not yet far across, all + Wednesday; collecting himself, waiting, on the slip, for a signal from Old + Leopold. Sound of cannon, up the Elbe Dresden-ward, is reported there to + Friedrich, that afternoon: cannon, sure enough, notes Friedrich; and deep + dim-rolling peals, as of volleying small-arms; "the sky all on fire over + there," as the hoar-frosty evening fell. Old Leopold busy at it, + seemingly. That is the glare of the Old Dessauer's countenance; who is + giving voice, in that manner, to the earthly and the heavenly powers; + conquering Peace for us, let us hope! + </p> + <p> + Friedrich, as may be supposed, made his best speed next morning: "All + well!" say the messengers; all well, says Old Leopold, whom he meets at + Wilsdruf, and welcomes with a joyful embrace; "dismounting from his horse, + at sight of Leopold, and advancing to meet him with doffed hat and open + arms,"—and such words and treatments, that day, as made the old + man's face visibly shine. "Your Highness shall conduct me!" And the two + made survey together of the actual Field of Kesselsdorf; strewn with the + ghastly wrecks of battle,—many citizens of Dresden strolling about, + or sorrowfully seeking for their lost ones among the wounded and dead. No + hurt to these poor citizens, who dread none; help to them rather: such is + Friedrich's mind,—concerning which, in the Anecdote-Books, there are + Narratives (not worth giving) of a vapidly romantic character, credible + though inexact. [For the indisputable pa so we leave him standing therrt, + see Orlich, ii. 343, 344; and <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> iii. 170.] + Friedrich, who may well be profuse of thanks and praises, charms the Old + Dessauer while they walk together; brave old man with his holed + roquelaure. For certain, he has done the work there,—a great deal of + work in his time! Joy looks through his old rough face, of gunpowder + color: the Herr Gott has not delivered him to those damned Scoundrels in + the end of his days.—On the morrow, Friday, Leopold rolled grandly + forward upon Dresden; Rutowski and Prince Karl vanishing into the Metal + Mountains, by Pirna, for Bohemia, at sound of him,—as he had + scarcely hoped they would. + </p> + <p> + On the Saturday evening, Dresden, capable of not the least defence, has + opened all its gates, and Friedrich and the Prussians are in Dresden; + Austrians and wrecked Saxons falling back diligently towards the Metal + Mountains for Bohemia, diligent to clear the road for him. Queen and + Junior Princes are here; to whom, as to all men, Friedrich is courtesy + itself; making personal visit to the Royalties, appointing guards of + honor, sacred respect to the Royal Houses; himself will lodge at the + Princess Lubomirski's, a private mansion. + </p> + <p> + "That ferocious, false, ambitious King of Prussia"—Well, he is not + to be ruined in open fight, on the contrary is ruinous there; nor by the + cunningest ambuscades, and secret combinations, in field or cabinet: our + overwhelming Winter Invasion of him—see where it has ended! Bruhl + and Polish Majesty—the nocturnal sky all on fire in those parts, and + loud general doomsday come—are a much-illuminated pair of gentlemen. + </p> + <p> + From the time Meissen Bridge was lost, Prince Karl too showing himself so + languid, even Bruhl had discerned that the case was desperate. On the very + day of Kesselsdorf,—not the day BEFORE, which would have been such a + thrift to Bruhl and others!—Friedrich had a Note from Villiers, + signifying joyfully that his Polish Majesty would accept Peace. Thanks to + his Polish Majesty:—and after Kesselsdorf, perhaps the Empress-Queen + too will! Friedrich's offers are precisely what they were, what they have + always been: "Convention of Hanover; that, in all its parts; old treaty of + Breslau, to be guaranteed, to be actually kept. To me Silesia sure;—from + you, Polish Majesty, one million crowns as damages for the trouble and + cost this Triple Ambuscade of yours has given me; one million crowns, + 150,000 pounds we will say; and all other requisitions to cease on the day + of signature. These are my terms: accept these; then wholly, As you were, + Empress-Queen and you, and all surviving creatures: and I march home + within a week." Villiers speeds rapidly from Prag, with the due + olive-branch; with Count Harrach, experienced Austrian, and full powers. + Harrach cannot believe his senses: "Such the terms to be still granted, + after all these beatings and rebeatings!"—then at last does believe, + with stiff thankfulness and Austrian bows. The Negotiation need not occupy + many hours. + </p> + <p> + "His Majesty of Prussia was far too hasty with this Peace," says Valori: + "he had taken a threap that he would have it finished before the Year was + done:"—in fact, he knows his own mind, MON GROS VALORI, and that is + what few do. You shear through no end of cobwebs with that fine implement, + a wisely fixed resolution of your own. A Peace slow enough for Valori and + the French: where could that be looked for?—Valori is at Berlin, in + complete disgrace; his Most Christian King having behaved so like a Turk + of late. Valori, horror-struck at such Peace, what shall he do to prevent + it, to retard it? One effort at least. D'Arget his Secretary, stolen at + Jaromirz, is safe back to him; ingenious, ingenuous D'Arget was always a + favorite with Friedrich: despatch D'Arget to him. D'Arget is despatched; + with reasons, with remonstrances, with considerations. D'Arget's Narrative + is given: an ingenuous off-hand Piece;—poor little crevice, through + which there is still to be had, singularly clear, and credible in every + point, a direct glimpse of Friedrich's own thoughts, in that many-sounding + Dresden,—so loud, that week, with dinner-parties, with operas, + balls, Prussian war-drums, grand-parades and Peace-negotiations. + </p> + <p> + THE SIEUR D'ARGET TO EXCELLENCY VALORI (at Berlin). + </p> + <p> + "DRESDEN, 1745" (dateless otherwise, must be December, between 18th and + 25th). + </p> + <p> + "MONSEIGNEUR,—I arrived yesterday at 7 P.M.; as I had the honor of + forewarning you, by the word I wrote to the Abbe [never mind what Abbe; + another Valori-Clerk] from Sonnenwalde [my half-way house between Berlin + and this City]. I went, first of all, to M. de Vaugrenand," our Envoy + here; "who had the goodness to open himself to me on the Business now on + hand. In my opinion, nothing can be added to the excellent considerations + he has been urging on the King of Prussia and the Count de Podewils. + </p> + <p> + "At half-past 8, I went to his Prussian Majesty's; I found he was engaged + with his Concert,"—lodges in the Lubomirski Palace, has his snatch + of melody in the evening of such discordant days,—"and I could not + see him till after half-past 9. I announced myself to M. Eichel; he was + too overwhelmed with affairs to give me audience. I asked for Count + Rothenburg; he was at cards with the Princess Lubomirski. At last, I did + get to the King: who received me in the most agreeable way; but was just + going to Supper; said he must put off answering till to-morrow morning, + morning of this day. M. de Vaugrenand had been so good as prepare me on + the rumors of a Peace with Saxony and the Queen of Hungary. I went to M. + Podewils; who said a great many kind things to me for you. I could only + sketch out the matter, at that time; and represented to Podewils the + brilliant position of his Master, who had become Arbiter of the Peace of + Europe; that the moment was come for making this Peace a General One, and + that perhaps there would be room for repentance afterwards, if the + opportunity were slighted. He said, his Master's object was that same; and + thus closed the conversation by general questions. + </p> + <p> + "This morning, I again presented myself at the King of Prussia's. I had to + wait, and wait; in fine, it was not till half-past 5 in the evening that + he returned, or gave me admittance; and I stayed with him till after 7,"—when + Concert-time was at hand again. Listen to a remarkable Dialogue, of the + Conquering Hero with a humble Friend whom he likes. "His Majesty + condescended (A DAIGNE) to enter with me into all manner of details; and + began by telling me, + </p> + <p> + "That M. de Valori had done admirably not to come, himself, with that + Letter from the King [Most Christian, OUR King; Letter, the sickly + Document above spoken of]; that there could not have been an Answer + expected,—the Letter being almost of ironical strain; his Majesty + [Most Christian] not giving him the least hope, but merely talking of his + fine genius, and how that would extricate him from the perilous + entanglement, and inspire him with a wise resolution in the matter! That + he had, in effect, taken a resolution the wisest he could; and was making + his Peace with Saxony and the Queen of Hungary. That he had felt all the + dangers of the difficult situations he had been in,"—sheer + destruction yawning all round him, in huge imminency, more than once, and + no friend heeding;—"that, weary of playing always double-or-quits, + he had determined to end it, and get into a state of tranquillity, which + both himself and his People had such need of. That France could not, + without difficulty, have remedied his mishaps; and that he saw by the + King's Letter, there was not even the wish to do it. That his, + Friedrich's, military career was completed,"—so far as HE could + foresee or decide! "That he would not again expose his Country to the + Caprices of Fortune, whose past constancy to him was sufficiently + astonishing to raise fears of a reverse (HEAR!). That his ambitions were + fulfilled, in having compelled his Enemies to ask Peace from him in their + own Capital, with the Chancellor of Bohemia [Harrach, typifying fallen + Austrian pride] obliged to co-operate. + </p> + <p> + "That he would always be attached to our King's interests, and set all the + value in the world on his friendship; but that he had not been + sufficiently assisted to be content. That, observing henceforth an exact + neutrality, he might be enabled to do offices of mediation; and to carry, + to the one side and to the other, words of peace. That he offered himself + for that object, and would be charmed to help in it; but that he was fixed + to stop there. That in regard to the basis of General Peace, he had Two + Ideas [which the reader can attend to, and see where they differed from + the Event, and where not]:—One was, That France should keep Ypres, + Furnes, Tournay [which France did not], giving up the Netherlands + otherwise, with Ostend, to the English [to the English!] in exchange for + Cape Breton. The other was, To give up more of our Conquests [we gave them + all up, and got only the glory, and our Cod-fishery, Cape Breton, back, + the English being equally generous], and bargain for liberty to + re-establish Dunkirk in its old condition [not a word of your Dunkirk; + there is your Cape Breton, and we also will go home with what glory there + is,—not difficult to carry!]. But that it was by England we must + make the overtures, without addressing ourselves to the Court of Vienna; + and put it in his, Friedrich's, power to propose a receivable Project of + Peace. That he well conceived the great point was the Queen of Spain + [Termagant and Jenkins's Ear; Termagant's Husband, still living, is a + lappet of Termagant's self]: but that she must content herself with Parma + and Piacenza for the Infant, Don Philip [which the Termagant did]; and + give back her hold of Savoy [partial hold, of no use to her without the + Passes] to the King of Sardinia." And of the JENKINS'S-EAR question, + generous England will say nothing? Next to nothing; hopes a modicum of + putty and diplomatic varnish may close that troublesome question,—which + springs, meanwhile, in the centre of the world!— + </p> + <p> + "These kind condescensions of his Majesty emboldened me to represent to + him the brilliant position he now held; and how noble it would be, after + having been the Hero of Germany, to become, instead of one's own + pacificator, the Pacificator of Europe. 'I grant you,' said he, (MON CHER + D'Arget; but it is too dangerous a part for playing. A reverse brings me + to the edge of ruin: I know too well the mood of mind I was in, last time + I left Berlin with that Three-legged Immensity of Atropos, NOT yet mown + down at Hennersdorf by a lucky cut), ever to expose myself to it again! If + luck had been against me there, I saw myself a Monarch without throne; and + my subjects in the cruelest oppression. A bad game that: always, mere + CHECK TO YOUR KING; no other move;—I refer it to you, friend + D'Arget:—in fine, I wish to be at peace.' + </p> + <p> + "I represented to him that the House of Austria would never, with a + tranquil eye, see his House in possession of Silesia. 'Those that come + after me,' said he, 'will do as they like; the Future is beyond man's + reach. Those that come after will do as they can. I have acquired; it is + theirs to preserve. I am not in alarm about the Austrians;—and this + is my answer to what you have been saying about the weakness of my + guarantees. They dread my Army; the luck that I have. I am sure of their + sitting quiet for the dozen years or so which may remain to me of life;—quiet + till I have, most likely, done with it. What! Are we never to have any + good of our life, then (NE DOIS-JE DONC JAMAIS JOUIR)? There is more for + me in the true greatness of laboring for the happiness of my subjects, + than in the repose of Europe. I have put Saxony out of a condition to do + hurt. She owes 14,775,000 crowns of debt [two millions and a quarter + sterling]; and by the Defensive Alliance which I form with her, I provide + myself [but ask Bruhl withal!] a help against Austria. I would not + henceforth attack a cat, except to defend myself.' ["These are his very + words," adds D'Arget;—and well worth noting.] (Ambition (GLOIRE) and + my interests were the occasion of my first Campaigns. The late Kaiser's + situation, and my zeal for France [not to mention interests again], gave + rise to these second: and I have been fighting always since for my own + hearths,—for my very existence, I might say! Once more, I know the + state I had got into:—if I saw Prince Karl at the gates of Paris, I + would not stir.'—'And us at the gates of Vienna,' answered I + promptly, 'with the same indifference?'—'Yes; and I swear it to you, + D'Arget. In a word, I want to have some good of my life (VEUX JOUIR). What + are we, poor human atoms, to get up projects that cost so much blood? Let + us live, and help to live.' + </p> + <p> + "The rest of the conversation passed in general talk, about Literature, + Theatres and such objects. My reasonings and objectings, on the great + matter, I need not farther detail: by the frank discourse his Prussian + Majesty was kind enough to go into, you may gather perhaps that my + arguments were various, and not ill-chosen;—and it is too evident + they have all been in vain."—Your Excellency's (really in a very + faithful way)— D'ARGET. [Valori, i. 290-294 (no date, except + "Dresden, 1745,"—sleepy Editor feeling no want of any).] + </p> + <p> + D'Arget, about a month after this, was taken into Friedrich's service; + Valori consenting, whose occupation was now gone;—and we shall hear + of D'Arget again. Take this small Note, as summary of him: "D'Arget (18th + January, 1746) had some title, 'Secretary at Orders (SECRETAIRE DES + COMMANDEMENTS),' bit of pension; and continued in the character of reader, + or miscellaneous literary attendant and agent, very much liked by his + Master, for six years coming. A man much heard of, during those years of + office. March, 1752, having lost his dear little Prussian Wife, and got + into ill health and spirits, he retired on leave to Paris; and next year + had to give up the thought of returning;—though he still, and to the + end, continued loyally attached to his old Master, and more or less in + correspondence with him. Had got, before long, not through Friedrich's + influence at Paris, some small Appointment in the ECOLE MILITAIRE there. + He is, of all the Frenchmen Friedrich had about him, with the exception of + D'Argens alone, the most honest-hearted. The above Letter, lucid, + innocent, modest, altogether rational and practical, is a fair specimen of + D'Arget: add to it the prompt self-sacrifice (and in that fine silent way) + at Jaromirz for Valori, and readers may conceive the man. He lived at + Paris, in meagre but contented fashion, RUE DE L'ECOLE MILITAIRE, till + 1778; and seems, of all the Ex-Prussian Frenchmen, to have known most + about Friedrich; and to have never spoken any falsity against him. + Duvernet, the 'M——' Biographer of VOLTAIRE, frequented him a + good deal; and any true notions, or glimmerings of such, that he has about + Prussia, are probably ascribable to D'Arget." [See <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + xx. (p. xii of PREFACE to the D'ARGET CORRESPONDENCE there).] + </p> + <p> + The Treaty of Dresden can be read in Scholl, Flassan, Rousset, Adelung; + but, except on compulsion, no creature will now read it,—nor did + this Editor, even he, find it pay. Peace is made. Peace of Dresden is + signed, Christmas Day, 1745: "To me Silesia, without farther treachery or + trick; you, wholly as you were." Europe at large, as Friedrich had done, + sees "the sky all on fire about Dresden." The fierce big battles done + against this man have, one and all of them, become big defeats. The + strenuous machinations, high-built plans cunningly devised,—the + utmost sum-total of what the Imperial and Royal Potencies can, for the + life of them, do: behold, it has all tumbled down here, in loud crash; the + final peal of it at Kesselsdorf; and the consummation is flame and smoke, + conspicuous over all the Nations. You will let him keep his own + henceforth, then, will you? Silesia, which was NOT yours nor ever shall + be? Silesia and no afterthought? The Saxons sign, the high + Plenipotentiaries all; in the eyes of Villiers, I am told, were seen + sublimely pious tears. Harrach, bowing with stiff, almost incredulous, + gratitude, swears and signs;—hurries home to his Sovereign Lady, + with Peace, and such a smile on his face; and on her Imperial Majesty's + such a smile!—readers shall conceive it. + </p> + <p> + There are but Two new points in the Treaty of Dresden,—nay properly + there is but One point, about which posterity can have the least care or + interest; for that other, concerning "The Toll of Schidlo," and settlement + of haggles on the Navigation of the Elbe there, was not kept by the + Saxons, but continued a haggle still: this One point is the Eleventh + Article. Inconceivably small; but liable to turn up on us again, in a + memorable manner. That let us translate,—for M. de Voltaire's sake, + and time coming! STEUER means Land-Tax; OBER-STEUER-EINNAHME will be + something like Royal Exchequer, therefore; and STEUER-SCHEIN will be + approximately equivalent to Exchequer Bill. Article Eleventh stipulates: + </p> + <p> + "All subjects and servants of his Majesty the King of Prussia who hold + bonds of the Saxon OBER-STEUER-EINNAHME shall be paid in full, capital and + interest, at the times, and to the amount, specified in said + STEUER-SCHEINE or Bonds." That is Article Eleventh.—"The Saxon + Exchequer," says an old Note on it, "thanks to Bruhl's extravagance, has + been as good as bankrupt, paying with inconvertible paper, with SCHEINE + (Things to be SHOWN), for some time past; which paper has accordingly + sunk, let us say, 25 per cent below its nominal amount in gold. All + Prussian subjects, who hold these Bonds, are to be paid in gold; Saxons, + and others, will have to be content with paper till things come round + again, if things ever do." Yes;—and, by ill chance, the matter will + attract M. de Voltaire's keen eye in the interim! + </p> + <p> + Friedrich stayed eight days in Dresden, the loud theme of Gazetteers and + rumors; the admired of two classes, in all Countries: of the many who + admire success, and also of the few who can understand what it is to + deserve success. Among his own Countrymen, this last Winter has kindled + all their admirations to the flaming pitch. Saved by him from imminent + destruction; their enemies swept home as if by one invincible; nay, sent + home in a kind of noble shame, conquered by generosity. These feelings, + though not encouraged to speak, run very high. The Dresdeners in private + society found him delightful; the high ladies especially: "Could you have + thought it; terrific Mars to become radiant Apollo in this manner!" From + considerable Collections of Anecdotes illustrating this fact, in a way now + fallen vapid to us,—I select only the Introduction:— + </p> + <p> + "Do readers recollect Friedrich's first visit to Dresden [in 1728], + seventeen years ago; and a certain charming young Countess Flemming, at + that time only fourteen; who, like a Hebe as she was, contrived beautiful + surprises for him, and among other things presented him, so gracefully, on + the part of August the Strong, with his first flute?"—No reader of + this History can recollect it; nor indeed, except in a mythic sense, + believe it! A young Countess Flemming (daughter of old Feldmarschall + Flemming) doubtless there might be, who presented him a flute; but as to + HIS FIRST flute—? "That same charming young Countess Flemming is + still here, age now thirty-one; charming, more than ever, though now under + a changed name; having wedded a Von Racknitz (Supreme Gentleman-Usher, or + some such thing) a few years ago, and brought him children and the usual + felicities. How much is changed! August the Strong, where is he; and his + famous Three Hundred and Fifty-four, Enchantress Orzelska and the others, + where are they? Enchantress Orzelska wedded, quarrelled, and is in a + convent: her charming destiny concluded. Rutowski is not now in the + Prussian Army: he got beaten, Wednesday last, at Kesselsdorf, fighting + against that Army. And the Chevalier de Saxe, he too was beaten there;—clambering + now across the Metal Mountains, ask not of him. And the Marechal de Saxe, + he takes Cities, fights Battles of Fontenoy, 'mumbling a lead bullet all + day;' being dropsical, nearly dead of debaucheries; the most dissolute (or + probably so) of all the Sons of Adam in his day. August the Physically + Strong is dead. August the Spiritually Weak is fled to Prag with his + Bruhl. And we do not come, this time, to get a flute; but to settle the + account of Victories, and give Peace to Nations. Strange, here as always, + to look back,—to look round or forward,—in the mad huge whirl + of that loud-roaring Loom of Time!—One of Countess Racknitz's Sons + happened to leave MANUSCRIPT DIARIES [rather feeble, not too + exact-looking], and gives us, from Mamma's reminiscences"... Not a word + more. [Rodenbeck, <i>Beitrage,</i> i. 440, et seq.] + </p> + <p> + The Peace, we said, was signed on Christmas-day. Next day, Sunday, + Friedrich attended Sermon in the Kreuzkirche (Protestant High-Church of + Dresden), attended Opera withal; and on Monday morning had vanished out of + Dresden, as all his people had done, or were diligently doing. Tuesday, he + dined briefly at Wusterhausen (a place we once knew well), with the Prince + of Prussia, whose it now is; got into his open carriage again, with the + said Prince and his other Brother Ferdinand; and drove swiftly homeward. + Berlin, drunk with joy, was all out on the streets, waiting. On the Heath + of Britz, four or five miles hitherward of Berlin, a body of young + gentlemen ("Merchants mostly, who had ridden out so far") saluted him with + "VIVAT FRIEDRICH DER GROSSE (Long live Friedrich THE GREAT)!" thrice over;—as + did, in a less articulate manner, Berlin with one voice, on his arrival + there; Burgher Companies lining the streets; Population vigorously + shouting; Pupils of the Koln Gymnasium, with Clerical and School + Functionaries in mass, breaking out into Latin Song:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "VIVAT, VIVAT FRIDERICUS REX; + VIVAT AUGUSTUS, MAGNUS, FELIX, PATER, PATRI-AE—!" +</pre> + <p> + —and what not. [Preuss, i. 220; who cites <i>Beschreibung</i> + ("Description of his Majesty's Triumphant Entry, on the" &c.) and + other Contemporary Pamphlets. Rodenbeck, i. 124.] On reaching the Portal + of the Palace, his Majesty stept down; and, glancing round the + Schloss-Platz and the crowded windows and simmering multitudes, saluted, + taking off his hat; which produced such a shout,—naturally the + loudest of all. And so EXIT King, into his interior. Tuesday, 2-3 P.M., + 28th December, 1745: a King new-christened in the above manner, so far as + people could. + </p> + <p> + Illuminated Berlin shone like noon, all that night (the beginning of a + GAUDEAMUS which lasted miscellaneously for weeks):—but the King + stole away to see a friend who was dying; that poor Duhan de Jaudun, his + early Schoolmaster, who had suffered much for him, and whom he always much + loved. Duhan died, in a day or two. Poor Jordan, poor Keyserling (the + "Cesarion" of young days): them also he has lost; and often laments, in + this otherwise bright time. (In <i>OEuvres,</i> xvii. 288; xviii. 141; IB. + 142—painfully tender Letters to Frau von Camas and others, on these + events). + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, +Vol. XV. (of XXI.), by Thomas Carlyle + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. *** + +***** This file should be named 2115-h.htm or 2115-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/1/2115/ + +Produced by D.R. Thompson + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. XV. (of XXI.) + Frederick The Great--Second Silesian War, Important Episode + In The General European One--15th Aug. 1744-25th Dec. 1745 + +Author: Thomas Carlyle + +Posting Date: June 13, 2008 [EBook #2115] +Release Date: March 2000 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. *** + + + + +Produced by D.R. Thompson + + + + + +HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. OF PRUSSIA + +FREDERICK THE GREAT + +By Thomas Carlyle + + + + + +BOOK XV.--SECOND SILESIAN WAR, IMPORTANT EPISODE IN THE GENERAL EUROPEAN +ONE.--15th Aug. 1744-25th Dec. 1745. + + + + +Chapter I.--PRELIMINARY: HOW THE MOMENT ARRIVED. + +Battle being once seen to be inevitable, it was Friedrich's plan not to +wait for it, but to give it. Thanks to Friedrich Wilhelm and himself, +there is no Army, nor ever was any, in such continual preparation. +Military people say, "Some Countries take six months, some twelve, to +get in motion for war: but in three weeks Prussia can be across +the marches, and upon the throat of its enemy." Which is an immense +advantage to little Prussia among its big neighbors. "Some Countries +have a longer sword than Prussia; but none can unsheathe it so +soon:"--we hope, too, it is moderately sharp, when wielded by a deft +hand. + +The French, as was intimated, are in great vigor, this Year; thoroughly +provoked; and especially since Friedrich sent his Rothenburg among +them, have been doing their very utmost. Their main effort is in the +Netherlands, at present;--and indeed, as happened, continues all +through this War to be. They by no means intend, or ever did, to neglect +Teutschland; yet it turns out, they have pretty much done with their +fighting there. And next Year, driven or led by accidents of various +kinds, they quit it altogether; and turning their whole strength upon +the Netherlands and Italy, chiefly on the Netherlands, leave Friedrich, +much to his astonishment, with the German War hanging wholly round +HIS neck, and take no charge of it farther! In which, to Friedrich's +Biographers, there is this inestimable benefit, if far the reverse to +Friedrich's self: That we shall soon have done with the French, then; +with them and with so much else; and may, in time coming, for most part, +leave their huge Sorcerer's Sabbath of a European War to dance +itself out, well in the distance, not encumbering us farther, like a +circumambient Bedlam, as it has hitherto done. Courage, reader! Let us +give, in a glance or two, some notion of the course things took, and +what moment it was when Friedrich struck in;--whom alone, or almost +alone, we hope to follow thenceforth; "Dismal Swamp" (so gracious was +Heaven to us) lying now mostly to rearward, little as we hoped it! + +It was mere accident, a series of bad accidents, that led King Louis and +his Ministers into gradually forsaking Friedrich. They were the +farthest in the world from intending such a thing. Contrariwise, what +brain-beating, diplomatic spider-weaving, practical contriving, now +and afterwards, for that object; especially now! Rothenburg, Noailles, +Belleisle, Cardinal Tencin, have been busy; not less the mistress +Chateauroux, who admires Friedrich, being indeed a high-minded +unfortunate female, as they say; and has thrown out Amelot, not +for stammering alone. They are able, almost high people, this new +Chateauroux Ministry, compared with some; and already show results. + +Nay, what is most important of all, France has (unconsciously, or by +mere help of Noailles and luck) got a real General to her Armies: Comte +de Saxe, now Marechal de Saxe; who will shine very splendent in these +Netherland operations,--counter-shone by mere Wades, D'Ahrembergs, +Cumberlands,--in this and the Four following Years. Noailles had +always recognized Comte de Saxe; had long striven for him, in Official +quarters; and here gets the light of him unveiled at last, and set on a +high place: loyal Noailles. + +This was the Year, this 1744, when Louis XV., urged by his Chateauroux, +the high-souled unfortunate female, appeared in person at the head +of his troops: "Go, Sire, go, MON CHOU (and I will accompany); show +yourself where a King should be, at the head of your troops; be a second +Louis-le-Grand!" Which he did, his Chateauroux and he; actually went to +the Netherlands, with baggage-train immeasurable, including not cooks +only, but play-actors with their thunder-barrels (off from Paris, May +3d), to the admiration of the Universe. [Adelung, iv. 113; Barbier, +ii. 391, 394; Dulaure, _Hist. de Paris;_ &c.] Took the command, +nominal-command, first days of June; and captured in no-time Menin, +Ipres, Furnes, and the Fort of Knock, and as much of the Austrian +Netherlands as he liked,--that is to say, saw Noailles and Saxe do +it;--walking rapidly forward from Siege to Siege, with a most thundering +artillery; old Marshal Wade and consorts dismally eating their victuals, +and looking on from the distance, unable to attempt the least stroke in +opposition. So that the Dutch Barrier, if anybody now cared for it, +did go all flat; and the Balance of Power gets kicked out of its sacred +pivot: to such purpose have the Dutch been hoisted! Terrible to think +of;--had not there, from the opposite quarter, risen a surprising +counterpoise; had not there been a Prince Karl, with his 70,000, +pressing victoriously over the Rhine; which stayed the French in these +sacrilegious procedures. + + + + +PRINCE KARL GETS ACROSS THE RHINE (20 JUNE-2 JULY, 1744). + +Prince Karl, some weeks ago, at Heilbronn, joined his Rhine Army, which +had gathered thither from the Austrian side, through Baiern, and from +the Hither-Austrian or Swabian Winter-quarters; with full intent to be +across the Rhine, and home upon Elsass and the Compensation Countries, +this Summer, under what difficulties soever. Karl, or, as some whisper, +old Marshal Traun, who is nominally second in command, do make a +glorious campaign of it, this Year;--and lift the Cause of Liberty, at +one time, to the highest pitch it ever reached. Here, in brief terms, is +Prince Karl's Operation on the Rhine, much admired by military men:-- + +"STOCKSTADT, JUNE 20th, 1744. Some thirty and odd miles north of +Mannheim, the Rhine, before turning westward at Mainz, makes one other +of its many Islands (of which there are hundreds since the leap at +Schaffhausen): one other, and I think the biggest of them all; perhaps +two miles by five; which the Germans call KUHKOPF (Cowhead), from the +shape it has,--a narrow semi-ellipse; River there splitting in two, one +split (the western) going straight, the other bending luxuriantly round: +so that the HIND-head or straight end of the Island lies towards France, +and the round end, or cow-LIPS (so to speak) towards native Teutschland, +and the woody Hills of the Berg-Strasse thereabouts. Stockstadt, chief +little Town looking over into this Cowhead Island, lies under the +CHIN: understand only farther that the German branch carries more than +two-thirds of the River; that on the Island itself there is no town, +or post of defence; and that Stockstadt is the place for getting over. +Coigny and the French, some 40,000, are guarding the River hereabouts, +with lines, with batteries, cordons, the best they can; Seckendorf, with +20,000 more ('Imperial' Old Bavarian Troops, revivified, recruited +by French pay), is in his garrison of Philipsburg, ready to help when +needed:"--not moulting now, at Wembdingen, in that dismal manner; +new-feathered now into "Kaiser's Army;" waiting in his Philipsburg to +guard the River there. "Coigny's French have ramparts, ditches, not +quite unfurnished, on their own shore, opposite this Cowhead Island +(ISLE DE HERON, as they call it); looking over to the hind-head, namely: +but they have nothing considerable there; and in the Island itself, +nothing whatever. 'If now Stockstadt were suddenly snatched by us,' +thinks Karl;--'if a few pontoons were nimbly swung in?' + +"JUNE 20th,--Coigny's people all shooting FEU-DE-JOIE, for that never +enough to be celebrated Capture of Menin and the Dutch Barrier +a fortnight ago,--this is managed to be done. The active General +Barenklau, active Brigadier Daun under him, pushes rapidly across into +Kuhkopf; rapidly throws up intrenchments, ramparts, mounts cannon, digs +himself in,--greatly to Coigny's astonishment; whose people hereabouts, +and in all their lines and posts, are busy shooting FEU-DE-JOIE for +those immortal Dutch victories, at the moment, and never dreaming of +such a thing. Fresh force floods in, Prince Karl himself arrives next +day, in support of Barenklau; Coigny (head-quarters at Speyer, forty +miles south) need not attempt dislodging him; but must stand upon his +guard, and prepare for worse. Which he does with diligence; shifting +northward into those Stockstadt-Mainz parts; calling Seckendorf across +the River, and otherwise doing his best,--for about ten days more, when +worse, and almost worst, did verily befall him. + +"No attempt was made on Barenklau; nor, beyond the alarming of the +Coigny-Seckendorf people, did anything occur in Cowhead Island,--unless +it were the finis of an ugly bully and ruffian, who has more than once +afflicted us: which may be worth one word. Colonel Mentzel [copper-faced +Colonel, originally Play-actor, "Spy in Persia," and I know not what] +had been at the seizure of Kuhkopf; a prominent man. Whom, on the fifth +day after ('June 25th'), Prince Karl overwhelmed with joy, by handing +him a Patent of Generalcy: 'Just received from Court, my Friend, +on account of your merits old and late.'--'Aha,' said Barenklau, +congratulating warmly: 'Dine with me, then, Herr General Mentzel, +this very day. The Prince himself is to be there, Highness of +Hessen-Darmstadt, and who not; all are impatient to drink your health!' +Mentzel had a glorious dinner; still more glorious drink,--Prince +Karl and the others, it is said, egging him into much wild bluster and +gasconade, to season their much wine. Eminent swill of drinking, with +the loud coarse talk supposable, on the part of Mentzel and consorts did +go on, in this manner, all afternoon: in the evening, drunk Mentzel came +out for air; went strutting and staggering about; emerging finally on +the platform of some rampart, face of him huge and red as that of +the foggiest rising Moon;--and stood, looking over into the Lorraine +Country; belching out a storm of oaths, as to his taking it, as to +his doing this and that; and was even flourishing his sword by way of +accompaniment; when, lo, whistling slightly through the summer air, a +rifle-ball from some sentry on the French side (writers say, it was a +French drummer, grown impatient, and snatching a sentry's piece) took +the brain of him, or the belly of him; and he rushed down at once, a +totally collapsed monster, and mere heap of dead ruin, never to trouble +mankind more." [_Guerre de Boheme,_ iii. 165.] For which my readers and +I are rather thankful. Voltaire, and perhaps other memorable persons, +sometimes mention this brute (miraculous to the Plebs and Gazetteers); +otherwise eternal oblivion were the best we could do with him. Trenck +also, readers will be glad to understand, ends in jail and bedlam by and +by. + +"Prince Karl had not the least intention of crossing by this Cowhead +Island. Nevertheless he set about two other Bridges in the neighborhood, +nearer Mainz (few miles below that City); kept manoeuvring his Force, +in huge half-moon, round that quarter, and mysteriously up and down; +alarming Coigny wholly into the Mainz region. For the space of ten +days; and then, stealing off to Schrock, a little Rhine Village above +Philipsburg, many miles away from Coigny and his vigilantes, he-- + +"NIGHT OF 30th JUNE-1st JULY, Suddenly shot Pandour Trenck, followed +by Nadasti and 6,000, across at Schrock who scattered Seckendorf's poor +outposts thereabouts to the winds; 'built a bridge before morning, and +next day another.' Next day Prince Karl in person appeared; and on the +3d of July, had his whole Army with its luggages across; and had seized +the Lines of Lauterburg and Weissenburg (celebrated northern defence of +Elsass),--much to Coigny's amazement; and remained inexpugnable there, +with Elsass open to him, and to Coigny shut, for the present! [Adelung, +iv. 139-141.] Coigny made bitter wail, accusation, blame of Seckendorf, +blame of men and of things; even tried some fighting, Seckendorf too +doing feats, to recover those Lines of Weissenburg: but could not do it. +And, in fact, blazing to and fro in that excited rather than luminous +condition, could not do anything; except retire into the strong posts +of the background; and send express on express, swifter than the wind if +you can, to a victorious King overturning the Dutch Barrier: 'Help, your +Majesty, or we are lost; and France is--what shall I say!'" + +"Admirable feat of Strategy! What a General, this Prince Karl!" +exclaimed mankind,--Cause-of-Liberty mankind with special enthusiasm; +and took to writing LIVES of Prince Karl, [For instance, _The Life of +his Highness Prince Charles of &c., with &c. &c._ (London, 1746); one +of the most distracted Blotches ever published under the name of +Book;--wakening thoughts of a public dimness very considerable indeed, +to which this could offer itself as lamp!] as well as tar-burning and +TE-DEUM-ing on an extensive scale. For it had sent the Cause of Liberty +bounding up again to the top of things, this of crossing the Rhine, +in such fashion. And, in effect, the Cause of Liberty, and Prince +Karl himself, had risen hereby to their acme or culminating point in +World-History; not to continue long at such height, little as they +dreamt of that, among their tar-burnings. The feat itself--contrived +by Nadasti, people say, and executed (what was the real difficulty) by +Traun--brought Prince Karl very great renown, this Year; and is praised +by Friedrich himself, now and afterwards, as masterly, as Julius +Caesar's method, and the proper way of crossing rivers (when executable) +in face of an enemy. And indeed Prince Karl, owing to Traun or not, +is highly respectable in the way of Generalship at present; and did in +these Five Months, from June onward, really considerable things. At his +very acme of Life, as well as of Generalship; which, alas, soon changed, +poor man; never to culminate again. He had got, at the beginning of the +Year, the high Maria Theresa's one Sister, Archduchess Maria Anna, to +Wife; [Age then twenty-five gone: "born 14th September, 1718; married to +Prince Karl 7th January, 1744; died, of childbirth, 16th December same +year" (Hormayr, _OEsterreichischer Plutarch,_ iv. erstes Baudchen, 54).] +the crown of long mutual attachment; she safe now at Brussels, +diligent Co-Regent, and in a promising family-way; he here walking on +victorious:--need any man be happier? No man can be supremely happy +long; and this General's strategic felicity and his domestic were +fatally cut down almost together. The Cause of Liberty, too, now at the +top of its orbit, was--But let us stick by our Excerpting: + +"DUNKIRK, 19th JULY, 1744 [Princess Ulrique's Wedding, just two days +ago]. King Louis, on hearing of the Job's-news from Elsass, instantly +suspended his Conquests in Flanders; detached Noailles, detached this +one and that, double-quick, Division after Division (leaving Saxe, with +45,000, to his own resources, and the fatuities of Marshal Wade); +and, 19th July, himself hastens off from Dunkirk (leaving much of the +luggage, but not the Chateauroux behind him), to save his Country, poor +soul. But could not, in the least, save it; the reverse rather. August +4th, he got to Metz, Belleisle's strong town, about 100 miles from the +actual scene; his detached reinforcements, say 50,000 men or so, hanging +out ahead like flame-clouds, but uncertain how to act;--Noailles being +always cunctatious in time of crisis, and poor Louis himself nothing of +a Cloud-Compeller;--and then, + +"METZ, AUGUST 8th, The Most Christian King fell ill; dangerously, +dreadfully, just like to die. Which entirely paralyzed Noailles and +Company, or reduced them to mere hysterics, and excitement of the +unluminous kind. And filled France in general, Paris in particular, +with terror, lamentation, prayers of forty hours; and such a paroxysm +of hero-worship as was never seen for such an object before." [Espagnac, +ii. 12; Adelung, iv. 180; _Fastes de Louis XV.,_ ii. 423; &c. &c.] + +For the Cause of Liberty here, we consider, was the culminating moment; +Elsass, Lorraine and the Three Bishoprics lying in their quasi-moribund +condition; Austrian claims of Compensation ceasing to be visions of the +heated brain, and gaining some footing on the Earth as facts. Prince +Karl is here actually in Elsass, master of the strong passes; elate in +heart, he and his; France, again, as if fallen paralytic, into temporary +distraction; offering for resistance nothing hitherto but that universal +wailing of mankind, Hero-worship of a thrice-lamentable nature, and the +Prayers of Forty-Hours! Most Christian Majesty, now IN EXTREMIS, centre +of the basest hubbub that ever was, is dismissing Chateauroux. Noailles, +Coigny and Company hang well back upon the Hill regions, and strong +posts which are not yet menaced; or fly vaguely, more or less +distractedly, hither and thither; not in the least like fighting Karl, +much less like beating him. Karl has Germany free at his back (nay it is +a German population round him here); neither haversack nor cartridge-box +like to fail: before him are only a Noailles and consorts, flying +vaguely about;--and there is in Karl, or under the same cloak with him +at present, a talent of manoeuvring men, which even Friedrich finds +masterly. If old Marshal Wade, at the other end of the line, should +chance to awaken and press home on Saxe, and his remnant of French, with +right vigor? In fact, there was not, that I can see, for centuries past, +not even at the Siege of Lille in Marlborough's time, a more imminent +peril for France. + + + + +FRIEDRICH DECIDES TO INTERVENE. + +King Friedrich, on hearing of these Rhenish emergencies and of King +Louis's heroic advance to the rescue, perceived that for himself too the +moment was come; and hastened to inform heroic Louis, That though the +terms of their Bargain were not yet completed, Sweden, Russia and other +points being still in a pendent condition, he, Friedrich,--with an eye +to success of their Joint Adventure, and to the indispensability of +joint action, energy, and the top of one's speed now or never,--would, +by the middle of this same August, be on the field with 100,000 men. "An +invasion of Bohemia, will not that astonish Prince Karl; and bring him +to his Rhine-Bridges again? Over which, if your Most Christian Majesty +be active, he will not get, except in a half, or wholly ruined state. +Follow him close; send the rest of your force to threaten Hanover; sit +well on the skirts of Prince Karl. Him as he hurries homeward, ruined or +half-ruined, him, or whatever Austrian will fight, I do my best to beat. +We may have Bohemia, and a beaten Austria, this very Autumn: see,--and, +in one Campaign, there is Peace ready for us!" This is Friedrich's +scheme of action; success certain, thinks he, if only there be energy, +activity, on your side, as there shall be on mine;--and has sent Count +Schmettau, filled with fiery speed and determination, to keep the French +full of the like, and concert mutual operations. + +"Magnanimous!" exclaim Noailles and the paralyzed French Gentlemen (King +Louis, I think, now past speech, for Schmettau only came August 9th): +"Most sublime behavior, on his Prussian Majesty's part!" own they. And +truly it is a fine manful indifference (by no means so common as it +should be) to all interests, to all considerations, but that of a Joint +Enterprise one has engaged in. And truly, furthermore, it was immediate +salvation to the paralyzed French Gentlemen, in that alarming crisis; +though they did not much recognize it afterwards as such: and indeed +were conspicuously forgetful of all parts of it, when their own danger +was over. + +Maria Theresa's feelings may be conceived; George II's feelings; and +what the Cause of Liberty in general felt, and furiously said and +complained, when--suddenly as a DEUS EX MACHINA, or Supernal Genie +in the Minor Theatres--Friedrich stept in. Precisely in this supreme +crisis, 7th August, 1744, Friedrich's Minister, Graf von Dohna, at +Vienna, has given notice of the Frankfurt Union, and solemn Engagement +entered into: "Obliged in honor and conscience; will and must now step +forth to right an injured Kaiser; cannot stand these high procedures +against an Imperial Majesty chosen by all the Princes of the Reich, this +unheard-of protest that the Kaiser is no Kaiser, as if all Germany were +but Austria and the Queen of Hungary's. Prussian Majesty has not the +least quarrel of his own with the Queen of Hungary, stands true, and +will stand, by the Treaty of Berlin and Breslau;--only, with certain +other German Princes, has done what all German Princes and peoples not +Austrian are bound to do, on behalf of their down-trodden Kaiser, +formed a Union of Frankfurt; and will, with armed hand if indispensable, +endeavor to see right done in that matter." [In _Adelung,_ iv. 155, 156, +the Declaration itself (Audience, "7th August, 1744." Dohna off homeward +"on the second day after").] + +This is the astonishing fact for the Cause of Liberty; and no clamor and +execration will avail anything. This man is prompt, too; does not +linger in getting out his Sword, when he has talked of it. Prince +Karl's Operation is likely to be marred amazingly. If this swift King +(comparable to the old Serpent for devices) were to burst forth from +his Silesian strengths; tread sharply on the TAIL of Prince Karl's +Operation, and bring back the formidably fanged head of IT out of +Alsace, five hundred miles all at once,--there would be a business! + +We will now quit the Rhine Operations, which indeed are not now of +moment; Friedrich being suddenly the key of events again. I add only, +what readers are vaguely aware of, that King Louis did not die; that he +lay at death's door for precisely one week (8th-15th August), symptoms +mending on the 15th. In the interim,--Grand-Almoner Fitz-James (Uncle +of our Conte di Spinelli) insisting that a certain Cardinal, who had got +the Sacraments in hand, should insist; and endless ministerial intrigue +being busy,--moribund Louis had, when it came to the Sacramental +point, been obliged to dismiss his Chateauroux. Poor Chateauroux; an +unfortunate female; yet, one almost thinks, the best man among them: +dismissed at Metz here, and like to be mobbed! That was the one issue +of King Louis's death-sickness. Sublime sickness; during which all Paris +wept aloud, in terror and sorrow, like a child that has lost its mother +and sees a mastiff coming; wept sublimely, and did the Prayers +of Forty-Hours; and called King Louis Le BIEN-AIME (The +Well-beloved):--merely some obstruction in the royal bowels, it turned +out;--a good cathartic, and the Prayers of Forty-Hours, quite reinstated +matters. Nay reinstated even Chateauroux, some time after,--"the Devil +being well again," and, as the Proverb says, quitting his monastic view. +Reinstated Chateauroux: but this time, poor creature, she continued only +about a day:--"Sudden fever, from excitement," said the Doctors: "Fever? +Poison, you mean!" whispered others, and looked for changes in the +Ministry. Enough, oh, enough!-- + +Old Marshal Wade did not awaken, though bawled to by his Ligoniers and +others, and much shaken about, poor old gentleman. "No artillery to +speak of," murmured he; "want baggage-wagons, too!" and lay still. "Here +is artillery!" answered the Official people; "With my own money I will +buy you baggage-wagons!" answered the high Maria Anna, in her own name +and her Prince Karl's, who are Joint-Governors there. Possibly he would +have awakened, had they given him time. But time, in War especially, is +the thing that is never given. Once Friedrich HAD struck in, the moment +was gone by. Poor old Wade! Of him also enough. + + + + +Chapter II.--FRIEDRICH MARCHES UPON PRAG, CAPTURES PRAG. + +It was on Saturday, "early in the morning," 15th August, 1744, that +Friedrich set out, attended by his two eldest Brothers, Prince of +Prussia and Prince Henri, from Potsdam, towards this new Adventure, +which proved so famous since. Sudden, swift, to the world's +astonishment;--actually on march here, in three Columns (two through +Saxony by various routes southeastward, one from Silesia through Glatz +southwestward), to invade Bohemia: rumor says 100,000 strong, fact +itself says upwards of 80,000, on their various routes, converging +towards Prag. [--Helden-Geschichte,--ii. 1165. Orlich (ii. 25, 27) +enumerates the various regiments.] His Columns, especially his Saxon +Columns, are already on the road; he joins one Column, this night, +at Wittenberg; and is bent, through Saxony, towards the frontiers of +Bohemia, at the utmost military speed he has. + +Through Saxony about 60,000 go: he has got the Kaiser's Order to the +Government of Saxony, "Our august Ally, requiring on our Imperial +business a transit through you;"--and Winterfeld, an excellent soldier +and negotiator, has gone forward to present said Order. A Document which +flurries the Dresden Officials beyond measure. Their King is in Warsaw; +their King, if here, could do little; and indeed has been inclining +to Maria Theresa this long while. And Winterfeld insists on such +despatch;--and not even the Duke of Weissenfels is in Town, Dresden +Officials "send off five couriers and thirteen estafettes" to the poor +old Duke; [_Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 1163.] get him at last; and--The +march is already taking effect; they may as well consent to it: what can +they do but consent! In the uttermost flurry, they had set to fortifying +Dresden; all hands driving palisades, picking, delving, making COUPURES +(trenches, or sunk barricades) in the streets;--fatally aware that it +can avail nothing. Is not this the Kaiser's Order? Prussians, to the +amount of 60,000, are across our Frontiers, rapidly speeding on. + +"Friedrich's Manifesto--under the modest Title, 'ANZEIGE DER URSACHEN +(Advertisement of the Causes which have induced his Prussian Majesty to +send the Romish Kaiser's Majesty some Auxiliary Troops)'--had appeared +in the Berlin Newspapers Thursday, 13th, only two days before. An +astonishment to all mankind; which gave rise to endless misconceptions +of Friedrich: but which, supporting itself on proofs, on punctually +excerpted foot-notes, is intrinsically a modest, quiet Piece; and, what +is singular in Manifestoes, has nothing, or almost nothing, in it that +is not, so far as it goes, a perfect statement of the fact. 'Auxiliary +troops, that is our essential character. No war with her Hungarian +Majesty, or with any other, on our own score. But her Hungarian Majesty, +how has she treated the Romish Kaiser, her and our and the Reich's +Sovereign Head, and to what pass reduced him; refusing him Peace on any +terms, except those of self-annihilation; denying that he is a Kaiser at +all;'--and enumerates the various Imperial injuries, with proof given, +quiet footnotes by way of proof; and concludes in these words: 'For +himself his Majesty requires nothing. The question here is not of his +Majesty's own interest at all [everything his Majesty required, or +requires, is by the Treaty of Berlin solemnly his, if the Reich and its +Laws endure]: and he has taken up arms simply and solely in the view of +restoring to the Reich its freedom, to the Kaiser his Headship of the +Reich, and to all Europe the Peace which is so desirable.' [Given in +Seyfarth, _Beylage,_ i. 121-136, with date "August, 1744."] + +"'Pretences, subterfuges, lies!' exclaimed the Austrian and Allied +Public everywhere, or strove to exclaim; especially the English Public, +which had no difficulty in so doing;--a Public comfortably blank as to +German facts or non-facts; and finding with amazement only this a very +certain fact, That hereby is their own Pragmatic thunder checked in +mid-volley in a most surprising manner, and the triumphant Cause of +Liberty brought to jeopardy again. 'Perfidious, ambitious, capricious!' +exclaimed they: 'a Prince without honor, without truth, without +constancy;'--and completed, for themselves, in hot rabid humor, that +English Theory of Friedrich which has prevailed ever since. Perhaps the +most surprising item of which is this latter, very prominent in +those old times, That Friedrich has no 'constancy,' but follows his +'caprices,' and accidental whirls of impulse:--item which has dropped +away in our times, though the others stand as stable as ever. A monument +of several things! Friedrich's suddenness is an essential part of what +fighting talent he has: if the Public, thrown into flurry, cannot judge +it well, they must even misjudge it: what help is there? + +"That the above were actually Friedrich's reasons for venturing into +this Big Game again, is not now disputable. And as to the rumor, which +rose afterwards (and was denied, and could only be denied diplomatically +to the ear, if even to the ear), That Friedrich by Secret Article was +'to have for himself the Three Bohemian Circles, Konigsgratz, +Bunzlau, Leitmeritz, which lie between Schlesien and Sachsen,' +[_Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 1081; Scholl, ii. 349.]--there is not a doubt +but Friedrich had so bargained, 'Very well, if we can get said Circles!' +and would right cheerfully have kept and held them, had the big game +gone in all points completely well (game, to reinstate the Kaiser BOTH +in Bohemia and Bavaria) by Friedrich's fine playing. Not a doubt of all +this:--nor of what an extremely hypothetic outlook it then and always +was; greatly too weak for enticing such a man." + +Friedrich goes in Three Columns. One, on the south or left shore of the +Elbe, coming in various branches under Friedrich himself; this alone +will touch on Dresden, pass on the south side of Dresden; gather itself +about Pirna (in the Saxon Switzerland so called, a notable locality); +thence over the Metal Mountains into Bohmen, by Toplitz, by Lowositz, +Leitmeritz, and the Highway called the Pascopol, famous in War. The +Second Column, under Leopold the Young Dessauer, goes on the other or +north side of the Elbe, at a fair distance; marching through the Lausitz +(rendezvous or starting-point was Bautzen in the Lausitz) straight +south, to meet the King at Leitmeritz, where the grand Magazine is to +be; and thence, still south, straight upon Prag, in conjunction with his +Majesty or parallel to him. [_Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 1081.] These are +the Two Saxon Columns. The Third Column, under Schwerin, collects itself +in the interior of Silesia; is issuing, by Glatz Country, through the +Giant Mountains, BOHMISCHE KAMME (Bohemian COMBS as they are called, +which Tourists know), by the Pass of Braunau,--disturbing the dreams of +Rubezahl, if Rubezahl happen to be there. This, say 20,000, will come +down upon Prag from the eastern side; and be first on the ground (31st +August),--first by one day. In the home parts of Silesia, well eastward +of Glatz, there is left another Force of 20,000, which can go across the +Austrian Border there, and hang upon the Hills, threatening Olmutz and +the Moravian Countries, should need be. + +And so, in its Three Columns, from west, from north, from east, the +march, with a steady swiftness, proceeds. Important especially those +Two Saxon Columns from west and north: 60,000 of them, "with a frightful +(ENTSETZLICH) quantity of big guns coming up the Elbe." Much is coming +up the Elbe; indispensable Highway for this Enterprise. Three months' +provisions, endless artillery and provender, is on the Elbe; 480 big +boats, with immense VORSPANN (of trace-horses, dreadful swearing, too, +as I have heard), will pass through the middle of Dresden: not landing +by any means. "No, be assured of it, ye Dresdeners, all flurried, +palisaded, barricaded; no hair of you shall be harmed." After a day or +two, the flurry of Saxony subsided; Prussians, under strict discipline, +molest no private person; pay their way; keep well aloof, to south and +to north, of Dresden (all but the necessary ammunition-escorts do);--and +require of the Official people nothing but what the Law of the +Reich authorizes to "Imperial Auxiliaries" in such case. "The Saxons +themselves," Friedrich observes, "had some 40,000, but scattered +about; King in Warsaw:--dreadful terror; making COUPURES and +TETES-DE-PONT;--could have made no defence." Had we diligently spent +eight days on them! reflects he afterwards. "To seize Saxony [and hobble +it with ropes, so that at any time you could pin it motionless, and +even, if need were, milk the substance out of it], would not have +detained us eight days." [ _OEuvres de Frederic,_ iii. 53.] Which would +have been the true plan, had we known what was getting ready there! +Certain it is, Friedrich did no mischief, paid for everything; anxious +to keep well with Saxony; hoping always they might join him again, +in such a Cause. "Cause dear to every Patriot German Prince," urges +Friedrich,--though Bruhl, and the Polish, once "Moravian," Majesty are +of a very different opinion:-- + +"Maria Theresa, her thoughts at hearing of it may be imagined: 'The Evil +Genius of my House afoot again! My high projects on Elsass and Lorraine; +Husband for Kaiser, Elsass for the Reich and him, Lorraine for myself +and him; gone probably to water!' Nevertheless she said (an Official +person heard her say), 'My right is known to God; God will protect me, +as He has already done.' [ _Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 1024.] And rose very +strong, and magnanimously defiant again; perhaps, at the bottom of her +heart, almost glad withal that she would now have a stroke for her +dear Silesia again, unhindered by Paladin George and his Treaties +and notions. What measures, against this nefarious Prussian outbreak, +hateful to gods and men, are possible, she rapidly takes: in Bohemia, +in Bavaria and her other Countries, that are threatened or can help. And +abates nothing of heart or hope;--praying withal, immensely, she and +her People, according to the mode they have. Sending for Prince Karl, we +need not say, double-quick, as the very first thing. + +"Of Maria Theresa in Hungary,--for she ran to Presburg again with her +woes (August 16th, Diet just assembling there),--let us say only that +Hungary was again chivalrous; that old Palfy and the general Hungarian +Nation answered in the old tone,--VIVAT MARIA; AD ARMA, AD ARMA! with +Tolpatches, Pandours, Warasdins;--and, in short, that great and small, +in infinite 'Insurrection,' have still a stroke of battle in them +PRO REGE NOSTRO. Scarcely above a District or two (as the JASZERS and +KAUERS, in their over-cautious way) making the least difficulty. Much +enthusiasm and unanimity in all the others; here and there a Hungarian +gentleman complaining scornfully that their troops, known as among +the best fighters in Nature, are called irregular troops,--irregular, +forsooth! In one public consultation [District not important, not very +spellable, though doubtless pronounceable by natives to it], a gentleman +suggests that 'Winter is near; should not there be some slight provision +of tents, of shelter in the frozen sleety Mountains, to our gallant +fellows bound thither?' Upon which another starts up, 'When our +Ancestors came out of Asia Minor, over the Palus Maeotis bound in winter +ice; and, sabre in hand, cut their way into this fine Country which +is still ours, what shelter had they? No talk of tents, of barracks or +accommodation there; each, wrapt in his sheep skin, found it shelter +sufficient. Tents!' [ _Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 1030.] And the thing was +carried by acclamation. + +"Wide wail in Bohemia that War is coming back. Nobility all making off, +some to Vienna or the intermediate Towns lying thitherward, some to +their Country-seats; all out of Prag. Willing mind on the part of the +Common People; which the Government strains every nerve to make the most +of. Here are fasts, processions, Prayers of Forty-Hours; here, as in +Vienna and elsewhere. In Vienna was a Three Days' solemn Fast: the like +in Prag, or better; with procession to the shrine of St. Vitus,--little +likely to help, I should fear. 'Rise, all fencible men,' exclaims the +Government,--'at least we will ballot, and make you rise:'--Militia +people enter Prag to the extent of 10,000; like to avail little, one +would fear. General Harsch, with reinforcement of real soldiers, +is despatched from Vienna; Harsch, one of our ablest soldiers since +Khevenhuller died, gets in still in time; and thus increases the +Garrison of regulars to 4,000, with a vigorous Captain to guide it. +Old Count Ogilvy, the same whom Saxe surprised two years ago in +the moonlight, snatching ladders from the gallows,--Ogilvy is again +Commandant; but this time nominal mainly, and with better outlooks, +Harsch being under him. In relays, 3,000 of the Militia men dig and +shovel night and day; repairing, perfecting the ramparts of the place. +Then, as to provisions, endless corn is introduced,--farmers forced, the +unwilling at the bayonet's point, to deliver in their corn; much of +it in sheaf, so that we have to thrash it in the market-place, in the +streets that are wide: and thus in Prag is heard the sound of flails, +among the Militia-drums and so many other noises. With the great +church-organs growling; and the bass and treble MISERERE of the poor +superstitious People rising, to St. Vitus and others. In fact, it is a +general Dance of St. Vitus,--except that of the flails, and Militia-men +working at the ramparts,--mostly not leading any-whither." ["LETTER from +a Citizen of Prag," date, 21st Sept. (in _Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 1168), +which gives several curious details.] + +Meanwhile Friedrich's march from west, from north, from east, is flowing +on; diligent, swift; punctual to its times, its places; and meets no +impediment to speak of. At Tetschen on the Saxon-Bohemian Frontier,--a +pleasant Schloss perched on its crags, as Tourists know, where the +Elbe sweeps into Saxon Switzerland and its long stone labyrinths,--at +Tetschen the Austrians had taken post; had tried to block the River, +driving piles into it, and tumbling boulders into it, with a view to +stop the 480 Prussian Boats. These people needed to be torn out, their +piles and they: which was done in two days, the soldier part of it; +and occupied the boatmen above a week, before all was clear again. +Prosperous, correct to program, all the rest; not needing mention from +us;--here are the few sparks from it that dwell in one's memory:-- + +"AUGUST 15th, 1744, King left Potsdam; joined his First Column that +night, at Wittenberg. Through Mieissen, Torgau, Freyberg; is at +Peterswalde, eastern slope of the Metal Mountains, August 25th; all the +Columns now on Bohemian ground. + +"Friedrich had crossed Elbe by the Bridge of Meissen: on the +southern shore, politely waiting to receive his Majesty, there stood +Feldmarschall the Duke of Weissenfels; to whom the King gave his hand," +no doubt in friendly style, "and talked for above half an hour,"--with +such success! thinks Friedrich by and by. We have heard of Weissenfels +before; the same poor Weissenfels who was Wilhelmina's Wooer in old +time, now on the verge of sixty; an extremely polite but weakish old +gentleman; accidentally preserved in History. One of those conspicuous +"Human Clothes-Horses" (phantasmal all but the digestive part), which +abound in that Eighteenth Century and others like it; and distress +your Historical studies. Poor old soul; now Feldmarschall and +Commander-in-Chief here. Has been in Turk and other Wars; with little +profit to himself or others. Used to like his glass, they say; is still +very poor, though now Duke in reality as well as title (succeeded two +egregious Brothers, some years since, who had been spendthrift): he has +still one other beating to get in this world,--from Friedrich next year. +Died altogether, two years hence; and Wilhelmina heard no more of him. + +"At Meissen Bridge, say some, was this Half-hour's Interview; at +Pirna, the Bridge of Pirna, others say; [See Orlich, ii. 25; +and _Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 1166.]--quite indifferent to us which. At +Pirna, and hither and thither in Saxon Switzerland, Friedrich certainly +was. 'Who ever saw such positions, your Majesty?' For Friedrich is +always looking out, were it even from the window of his carriage, and +putting military problems to himself in all manner of scenery, 'What +would a man do, in that kind of ground, if attacking, if attacked? with +that hill, that brook, that bit of bog?' and advises every Officer to +be continually doing the like. [MILITARY INSTRUCTIONS? RULES FOR A +GOOD COMMANDER OF &c.?--I have, for certain, read this Passage; but the +reference is gone again, like a sparrow from the house-top!] That is the +value of picturesque or other scenery to Friedrich, and their effect on +good Prussian Officers and him. + +"... At Tetschen, Colonel Kahlbutz," diligent Prussian Colonel, "plucks +out those 100 Austrians from their rock nest there; makes them prisoners +of war;--which detained the Leitmeritz branch of us two days. August +28th, junction at Leitmeritz thereupon. Magazine established there. +Boats coming on presently. Friedrich himself camped at Lobositz in this +part,"--Lobositz, or Lowositz, which he will remember one day. + +"AUGUST 29th, March to Budin; that is, southward, across the Eger, +arrive within forty miles of Prag. Austrian Bathyani, summoned hastily +out of his Bavarian posts, to succor in this pressing emergency, +has arrived in these neighborhoods,--some 12,000 regulars under him, +preceded by clouds of hussars, whom Ziethen smites a little, by way of +handsel;--no other Austrian force to speak of hereabouts; and we are now +between Bathyani and Prag. + +"SEPTEMBER 1st, To Mickowitz, near Welwarn, twenty miles from Prag. +September 2d, Camp on the Weissenberg there." [ _Helden-Geschichte,_ i. +1080.] + +And so they are all assembled about Prag, begirdling the poor +City,--third Siege it has stood within these three years (since that +moonlight November night in 1741);--and are only waiting for their heavy +artillery to begin battering. The poor inhabitants, in spite of three +sieges; the 10,000 raw militia-men, mostly of Hungarian breed; the 4,000 +regulars, and Harsch and old Ogilvy, are all disposed to do their best. +Friedrich is naturally in haste to get hold of Prag. But he finds, on +taking survey: that the sword-in-hand method is not now, as in 1741, +feasible at all; that the place is in good posture of strength; and +will need a hot battering to tear it open. Owing to that accident at +Tetschen, the siege-cannon are not yet come up: "Build your batteries, +your Moldau-bridges, your communications, till the cannon come; and +beware of Bathyani meddling with your cannon by the road!" + +"Bathyani is within twenty miles of us, at Beraun, a compact little Town +to southwest; gathering a Magazine there; and ready for enterprises,--in +more force than Friedrich guesses. 'Drive him out, seize that Magazine +of his!' orders Friedrich (September 5th); and despatches General +Hacke on it, a right man,"--at whose wedding we assisted (wedding to +an heiress, long since, in Friedrich Wilhelm's time), if anybody now +remembered. "And on the morrow there falls out a pretty little 'Action +of Beraun,' about which great noise was made in the Gazettes PRO and +CONTRA: which did not dislodge Bathyani by airy means; but which might +easily have ruined the impetuous Hacke and his 6,000, getting into +masked batteries, Pandour whirlwinds, charges of horses 'from +front, from rear, and from both flanks,'--had not he, with masterly +promptitude, whirled himself out of it, snatched instantly what best +post there was, and defended himself inexpugnably there, for six +hours, till relief came." [DIE BEY BERAUN VORGEFALLENE ACTION (in +Seyfarth, _Beylage,_ i. 136, 137).] Brilliant little action, well +performed on both sides, but leading to nothing; and which shall not +concern us farther. Except to say that Bathyani did now, more at his +leisure, retire out of harm's way; and begin collecting Magazines at +Pilsen far rearward, which may prove useful to Prince Karl, in the route +Prince Karl is upon. + +Siege-cannon having at last come (September 8th), the batteries are all +mounted:--on Wednesday, 9th, late at night, the Artillery, "in enormous +quantity," opens its dread throat; poor Prag is startled from its bed +by torrents of shot, solid and shell, from three different quarters; and +makes haste to stand to its guns. From three different quarters; +from Bubenetsch northward; from the Upland of St. Lawrence (famed +WEISSENBERG, or White-Hill) westward; and from the Ziscaberg eastward +(Hill of Zisca, where iron Zisca posted himself on a grand occasion +once),--which latter is a broad long Hill, west end of it falling +sheer over Prag; and on another point of it, highest point of all, the +Praguers have a strong battery and works. The Prag guns otherwise are +not too effectual; planted mostly on low ground. By much the best Prag +battery is this of the Ziscaberg. And this, after two days' experience +had of it, the Prussians determine to take on the morrow. + +SEPTEMBER 12th, Schwerin, who commands on that side, assaults +accordingly; with the due steadfastness and stormfulness: throwing +shells and balls by way of prelude. Friedrich, with some group of +staff-officers and dignitaries, steps out on the Bubenetsch post, to see +how this affair of the Ziscaberg will prosper: the Praguers thereabouts, +seeing so many dignitaries, turn cannon on them. "Disperse, IHR HERREN; +have a care!" cried Friedrich; not himself much minding, so intent upon +the Ziscaberg. And could have skipt indifferently over your cannon-balls +ploughing the ground,--had not one fateful ball shattered out the life +of poor Prince Wilhelm; a good young Cousin of his, shot down here at +his hand. Doubtless a sharp moment for the King. Prince Margraf Wilhelm +and a poor young page, there they lie dead; indifferent to the Ziscaberg +and all coming wars of mankind. Lamentation, naturally, for this young +man,--Brother to the one who fell at Mollwitz, youngest Brother of the +Margraf Karl, who commands in this Bubenetsch redoubt:--But we must lift +our eye-glass again; see how Schwerin is prospering. Schwerin, with due +steadfastness and stormfulness, after his prelude of bomb-shells, rushes +on double-quick; cannot be withstood; hurls out the Praguers, and seizes +their battery; a ruinous loss to them. + +Their grand Zisca redoubt is gone, then; and two subsidiary small +redoubts behind it withal, which the French had built, and named "the +magpie-nests (NIDS A PIE);" these also are ours. And we overhang, from +our Zisca Hill, the very roofs, as it were; and there is nothing but a +long bare curtain now in this quarter, ready to be battered in breach, +and soon holed, if needful. It is not needful,--not quite. In the course +of three days more, our Bubenetsch battery, of enormous power, has been +so diligent, it has set fire to the Water-mill; burns irretrievably the +Water-mill, and still worse, the wooden Sluice of the Moldau; so that +the river falls to the everywhere wadable pitch. And Governor Harsch +perceives that all this quarter of the Town is open to any comer;--and, +in fact, that he will have to get away, the best he can. + +White flag accordingly (Tuesday, 15th): "Free withdrawal, to the +Wischerad; won't you?" "By no manner of means!" answers Friedrich. +Bids Schwerin from his Ziscaberg make a hole or two in that "curtain" +opposite him; and gets ready for storm. Upon which Harsch, next morning, +has to beat the chamade, and surrender Prisoner of War. And thus, +Wednesday, 16th, it is done: a siege of one week, no more,--after +all that thrashing of grain, drilling of militia, and other spirited +preparation. Harsch could not help it; the Prussian cannonading was +so furious. [Orlich, ii. 36-39; _Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 1082, and ii. +1168; _OEuvres de Frederic,_ iii. 56; &c. &c.] + +Prag has to swear fealty to the Kaiser; and "pay a ransom of 200,000 +pounds." Drilled militia, regulars, Hungarians, about 16,000,--only that +many of the Tolpatches contrived to whisk loose,--are marched prisoners +to Glatz and other strong places. Prag City, with plenty of provision in +it, is ours. A brilliant beginning of a Campaign; the eyes of all Europe +turned again, in very various humor, on this young King. If only the +French do their duty, and hang well on the skirts of Marshal Traun (or +of Prince Karl, the Cloak of Traun), who is hastening hitherward all he +can. + + + + +Chapter III.--FRIEDRICH, DILIGENT IN HIS BOHEMIAN CONQUESTS, +UNEXPECTEDLY COMES UPON PRINCE KARL, WITH NO FRENCH ATTENDING HIM. + +This electrically sudden operation on Prag was considered by astonished +mankind, whatever else they might think about it, a decidedly brilliant +feat of War: falling like a bolt out of the blue,--like three bolts, +suddenly coalescing over Prag, and striking it down. Friedrich himself, +though there is nothing of boast audible here or anywhere, was evidently +very well satisfied; and thought the aspects good. There is Prince Karl +whirling instantly back from his Strasburg Prospects; the general St. +Vitus Dance of Austrian things rising higher and higher in these home +parts:--reasonable hope that "in the course of one Campaign," proud +obstinate Austria might feel itself so wrung and screwed as to be glad +of Peace with neighbors not wishing War. That was the young +King's calculation at this time. And, had France done at all as it +promised,--or had the young King himself been considerably wiser than he +was,--he had not been disappointed in the way we shall see! + +Friedrich admits he did not understand War at this period. His own +scheme now was: To move towards the southwest, there to abolish Bathyani +and his Tolpatches, who are busy gathering Magazines for Prince Karl's +advent; to seize the said Magazines, which will be very useful to us; +then advance straight towards the Passes of the Bohemian Mountains. +Towns of Furth, Waldmunchen, unfortunate Town of Cham (burnt by Trenck, +where masons are now busy); these stand successive in the grand Pass, +through which the highway runs; some hundred miles or so from where +we are: march, at one's swiftest, thitherward, Bathyani's Magazines to +help; and there await Prince Karl? It was Friedrich's own notion; not a +bad one, though not the best. The best, he admits, would have been: +To stay pretty much where he was; abolish Bathyani's Tolpatch people, +seizing their Magazines, and collecting others; in general, well rooting +and fencing himself in Prag, and in the Circles that lie thereabouts +upon the Elbe,--bounded to southward by the Sazawa (branch of the +Moldau), which runs parallel to the Elbe;--but well refusing to stir +much farther at such an advanced season of the year. + +That second plan would have been the wisest:--then why not, follow it? +Too tame a plan for the youthful mind. Besides, we perceive, as indeed +is intimated by himself, he dreaded the force of public opinion in +France. "Aha, look at your King of Prussia again. Gone to conquer +Bohemia; and, except the Three Circles he himself is to have of it, +lets Bohemia go to the winds!" This sort of thing, Friedrich admits, he +dreaded too much, at that young period; so loud had the criticisms +been on him, in the time of the Breslau Treaty: "Out upon your King of +Prussia; call you that an honorable Ally!" Undoubtedly a weakness in the +young King; inasmuch, says he, as "every General [and every man, add we] +should look to the fact, not to the rumor of the fact." Well; but, at +least, he will adopt his own other notion; that of making for the Passes +of the Bohemian Mountains; to abolish Bathyani at least, and lock the +door upon Prince Karl's advent? That was his own plan; and, though +second-best, that also would have done well, had there been no third. + +But there was, as we hinted, a third plan, ardently favored by +Belleisle, whose war-talent Friedrich much respected at this time: plan +built on Belleisle's reminiscences of the old Tabor-Budweis businesses, +and totally inapplicable now. Belleisle said, "Go southeast, not +southwest; right towards the Austrian Frontier itself; that will +frighten Austria into a fine tremor. Shut up the roads from Austria: +Budweis, Neuhaus; seize those two Highroad Towns, and keep them, if you +would hold Bohemia; the want of them was our ruin there." Your ruin, +yes: but your enemy was not coming from Alsace and the southwest then. +He was coming from Austria; and your own home lay on the southwest: it +is all different now! Friedrich might well think himself bewitched not +to have gone for Cham and Furth, and the Passes of the Bohmer-Wald, +according to his own notion. But so it was; he yielded to the big +reputation of Belleisle, and to fear of what the world would say of him +in France; a weakness which he will perhaps be taught not to repeat. In +fact, he is now about to be taught several things;--and will have to pay +his school-wages as he goes. + + + + +FRIEDRICH, LEAVING SMALL GARRISON IN PRAG, RUSHES SWIFTLY UP THE MOLDAU +VALLEY, UPON THE TABOR-BUDWEIS COUNTRY; TO PLEASE HIS FRENCH FRIENDS. + +Friedrich made no delay in Prag; in haste at this late time of year. +September 17th, on the very morrow of the Siege, the Prussians get in +motion southward; on the 19th, Friedrich, from his post to north of the +City, defiles through Prag, on march to Kunraditz,--first stage on that +questionable Expedition up the Moldau Valley, right bank; towards Tabor, +Budweis, Neuhaus; to threaten Austria, and please Belleisle and the +French. + +Prag is left under General Einsiedel with a small garrison of +5,000;--Einsiedel, a steady elderly gentleman, favorite of Friedrich +Wilhelm's, has brief order, or outline of order to be filled up by his +own good sense. Posadowsky follows the march, with as many meal-wagons +as possible,--draught-cattle in very ineffectual condition. Our main +Magazine is at Leitmeritz (should have been brought on to Prag, thinks +Friedrich); Commissariat very ill-managed in comparison to what it ought +to be,--to what it shall be, if we ever live to make another Campaign. +Heavy artillery is left in Prag (another fault); and from each regiment, +one of its baggage-wagons. [ _Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 1083; Orlich, ii. +41 et seqq.; _Frederic,_ iii. 59; &c.] "We rest a day here at Kunraditz: +21st September, get to the Sazawa River;--22d, to Bistritz (rest a +day);--26th, to Miltschin; and 27th, to Tabor:"--But the Diary would be +tedious. + +Friedrich goes in two Columns; one along the great road towards Tabor, +under Schwerin this, and Friedrich mainly with him; the other to the +right, along the River's bank, under Leopold, Young Dessauer, which has +to go by wild country roads, or now and then roads of its own making; +and much needs the pioneer (a difficult march in the shortening days). +Posadowsky follows with the proviant, drawn by cattle of the horse and +ox species, daily falling down starved: great swearing there too, +I doubt not! General Nassau is vanguard, and stretches forward +successfully at a much lighter pace. + +There are two Rivers, considerable branches of the Moldau, coming from +eastward; which, and first of them the Sazawa, concern us here. After +mounting the southern Uplands from Prag for a day or two, you then begin +to drop again, into the hollow of a River called Sazawa, important in +Bohemian Wars. It is of winding course, the first considerable branch +of the Moldau, rising in Teutschbrod Country, seventy or eighty miles +to east of us: in regard to Sazawa, there is, at present, no difficulty +about crossing; the Country being all ours. After the Sazawa, mount +again, long miles, day after day, through intricate stony desolation, +rocks, bogs, untrimmed woods, you will get to Miltschin, thence to +Tabor: Miltschin is the crown of that rough moor country; from Prag to +Tabor is some sixty miles. After Miltschin the course of those brown +mountain-brooks is all towards the Luschnitz, the next considerable +branch of the Moldau; branch still longer and more winding than the +Sazawa; Tabor towers up near this branch; Budweis, on the Moldau itself, +is forty miles farther; and there at last you are out of the stony +moors, and in a rich champaign comfortable to man and horse, were you +but once there, after plodding through the desolations. But from that +Sazawa by the Luschnitz on to Budweis, mounting and falling in such +fashion, there must be ninety miles or thereby. Plod along; and keep +a sharp eye on the whirling clouds of Pandours, for those too have got +across upon us,--added to the other tempests of Autumn. + +On the ninth day of their march, the Prussians begin to descry on +the horizon ahead the steeples and chimney-tops of Tabor, on its high +scarped rock, or "Hill of Zisca,"--for it was Zisca and his Hussites +that built themselves this Bit of Inexpugnability, and named it Tabor +from their Bibles,--in those waste mountain regions. On the tenth day +(27th September), the Prussians without difficulty took Tabor; walls +being ruined, garrison small. We lie at Tabor till the 30th, last day +of September. Thence, 2d October, part of us to Moldau-Tein rightwards; +where cross the Moldau by a Bridge,--"Bridge" one has heard of, in old +Broglio times;--cross there, with intent (easily successful) to snatch +that "Castle of Frauenberg," darling of Broglio, for which he fought his +Pharsalia of a Sahay to no purpose! + +Both Columns got united at Tabor; and paused for a day or two, to rest, +and gather up their draggled skirts there. The Expedition does not +improve in promise, as we advance in it; the march one of the +most untowardly; and Posadowsky comes up with only half of his +provision-carts,--half of his cattle having fallen down of bad weather, +hill-roads and starvation; what could he do? That is an ominous +circumstance, not the less. + +Three things are against the Prussians on this march; two of them +accidental things. FIRST, there is, at this late season too, the +intrinsic nature of the Country; which Friedrich with emphasis describes +as boggy, stony, precipitous; a waste, hungry and altogether barren +Country,--too emphatically so described. But then SECONDLY, what might +have been otherwise, the Population, worked upon by Austrian officials, +all fly from the sight of us; nothing but fireless deserted hamlets; and +the corn, if they ever had any, all thrashed and hidden. No amount +of money can purchase any service from them. Poor dark creatures; not +loving Austria much, but loving some others even less, it would appear. +Of Bigoted Papist Creed, for one thing; that is a great point. We do not +meddle with their worship more or less; but we are Heretics, and they +hate us as the Night. Which is a dreadful difficulty you always have +in Bohemia: nowhere but in the Circle of Konigsgraz, where there +are Hussites (far to the rear of us at this time), will you find it +otherwise. This is difficulty second. + +Then, THIRDLY, what much aggravates it,--we neglected to abolish +Bathyani! And here are Bathyani's Pandours come across the Moldau on +us. Plenty of Pandours;--to whom "10,000 fresh Hungarians," of a new +Insurrection which has been got up there, are daily speeding forward to +add themselves:--such a swarm of hornets, as darkens the very daylight +for you. Vain to scourge them down, to burn them off by blaze of +gunpowder: they fly fast; but are straightway back again. They lurk in +these bushy wildernesses, scraggy woods: no foraging possible, unless +whole regiments are sent out to do it; you cannot get a letter safely +carried for them. They are an unspeakable contemptible grief to the +earnest leader of men.--Let us proceed, however; it will serve nothing +to complain. Let us hope the French sit well on the skirts of Prince +Karl: these sorrowful labors may all turn to good, in that case. + +Friedrich pushes on from Tabor; shoots partly (as we have seen) across +the Moldau, to the left bank as well; captures romantic Frauenberg on +its high rock, where Broglio got into such a fluster once. We could +push to Pisek, too, and make a "Bivouac of Pisek," if we lost our wits! +Nassau is in Budweis, in Neuhaus; and proper garrisons are gone thither: +nothing wanting on our side of the business. But these Pandours, these +10,000 Insurrection Hungarians, with their Trencks spurring them! A +continual unblessed swarm of hornets, these; which shut out the very +light of day from us. Too literally the light of day: we can get no +free messaging from part to part of our own Army even. "As many as six +Orderlies have been despatched to an outlying General; and not one of +them could get through to him. They have snapt up three Letter-bags +destined for the King himself. For four weeks he is absolutely shut out +from the rest of Europe;" knows not in the least what the Kaiser, or the +Most Christian or any other King, is doing; or whether the French are +sitting well on Prince Karl's skirts, or not attempting that at all. +This also is a thing to be amended, a thing you had to learn, your +Majesty? An Army absolutely shut out from news, from letters, messages +to or fro, and groping its way in darkness, owing to these circumambient +thunder-clouds of Tolpatches, is not a well-situated Army! And alas, +when at last the Letter-bag did get through, and--But let us not +anticipate! + +At Tabor there arose two opinions; which, in spite of the King's +presence, was a new difficulty. South from Tabor a day's march, the +Highway splits; direct way for Vienna; left-hand goes to Neuhaus, +right-hand, or straightforward rather, goes to Budweis, bearing upon +Linz: which of these two? Nassau has already seized Budweis; and it is +a habitable champaign country in comparison. Neuhaus, farther from the +Moldau and its uses, but more imminent on Austria, would be easy to +seize; and would frighten the Enemy more. Leopold the Young Dessauer is +for Budweis; rapid Schwerin, a hardy outspoken man, is emphatic for the +other place as Head-quarter. So emphatic are both, that the two Generals +quarrel there; and Friedrich needs his authority to keep them from +outbreaks, from open incompatibility henceforth, which would be +destructive to the service. For the rest, Friedrich seizes both places; +sends a detachment to Neuhaus as well; but holds by Budweis and the +Moldau region with his main Army; which was not quite gratifying to the +hardy Schwerin. On the opposite or left bank, holding Frauenberg, the +renowned Hill-fortress there, we make inroads at discretion: but the +country is woody, favorable to Pandours; and the right bank is our chief +scene of action. How we are to maintain ourselves in this country? To +winter in these towns between the Sazawa and the Luschnitz? Unless the +French sit well on Prince Karl's skirts, it will not be possible. + + + + +THE FRENCH ARE LITTLE GRATEFUL FOR THE PLEASURE DONE THEM AT SUCH +RUINOUS EXPENSE. + +French sitting well on Prince Karl's skirts? They are not molesting +Prince Karl in the smallest; never tried such a thing;--are turned away +to the Brisgan, to the Upper Rhine Country; gone to besiege Freyburg +there, and seize Towns; about the Lake of Constance, as if there were no +Friedrich in the game! It must be owned the French do liberally pay off +old scores against Friedrich,--if, except in their own imagination, +they had old scores against him. No man ever delivered them from a more +imminent peril; and they, the rope once cut that was strangling +them, magnificently forget who cut it; and celebrate only their own +distinguished conduct during and after the operation. To a degree truly +wonderful. + +It was moonlight, clear as day that night, 23d August, when Prince Karl +had to recross the Rhine, close in their neighborhood; [_Guerre de +Boheme,_ iii. 196.]--and instead of harassing Prince Karl "to half or to +whole ruin," as the bargain was, their distinguished conduct consisted +in going quietly to their beds (old Marechal de Noailles even calling +back some of his too forward subalterns), and joyfully leaving Prince +Karl, then and afterwards, to cross the Rhine, and march for Bohmen, at +his own perfect convenience. + +"Seckendorf will sit on Karl's skirts," they said: "too late for US, +this season; next season, you shall see!" Such was their theory, +after Louis got that cathartic, and rose from bed. Schmettau, with his +importunities, which at last irritated everybody, could make nothing +more of it. "Let the King of France crown his glories by the Siege of +Freyburg, the conquest of Brisgau:--for behoof of the poor Kaiser, don't +you observe? Hither Austria is the Kaiser's;--and furthermore, were +Freyburg gone, there will be no invading of Elsass again" (which is +another privately very interesting point)! + +And there, at Freyburg, the Most Christian King now is, and his Army up +to the knees in mud, conquering Hither Austria; besieging Freyburg, with +much difficulty owing to the wet,--besieging there with what energy; +a spectacle to the world! And has, for the present, but one wife, no +mistress either! With rapturous eyes France looks on; with admiration +too big for words. Voltaire, I have heard, made pilgrimage to Freyburg, +with rhymed Panegyric in his pocket; saw those miraculous operations +of a Most Christian King miraculously awakened; and had the honor to +present said Panegyric; and be seen, for the first time, by the royal +eyes,--which did not seem to relish him much. [The Panegyric (EPITRE AU +ROI DEVANT FRIBOURG) is in _OEuvres de Voltaire,_ xvii. 184.] Since the +first days of October, Freyburg had been under constant assault; "amid +rains, amid frosts; a siege long and murderous" (to the besieging +party);--and was not got till November 5th; not quite entirely, the +Citadels of it, till November 25th; Majesty gone home to Paris, to +illuminations and triumphal arches, in the interim. [Adelung, iv. 266; +Barbier, ii. 414 (13th November, &c.), for the illuminations, grand in +the extreme, in spite of wild rains and winds.] It had been a difficult +and bloody conquest to him, this of Freyburg and the Brisgau Country; +and I never heard that either the Kaiser or he got sensible advantage by +it,--though Prince Karl, on the present occasion, might be said to get a +great deal. + +"Seckendorf will do your Prince Karl," they had cried always: +"Seckendorf and his Prussian Majesty! Are not we conquering Hither +Austria here, for the Kaiser's behoof?" Seckendorf they did officially +appoint to pursue; appoint or allow;--and laid all the blame on +Seckendorf; who perhaps deserved his share of it. Very certain it is, +Seckendorf did little or nothing to Prince Karl; marched "leisurely +behind him through the Ober-Pfalz,"--skirting Baireuth Country, Karl and +he, to Wilhelmina's grief; [Her Letters ( _OEuvres de Frederic,_ xxvii. +i. 133, &c.).]--"leisurely behind him at a distance of four days," knew +better than meddle with Prince Karl. So that Prince Karl, "in twenty-one +marches," disturbed only by the elements and bad roads, reached +Waldmunchen 26th September, in the Furth-Cham Country; [Ranke, iii. +187.] and was heard to exclaim: "We are let off for the fright, then +(NOUS VOILA QUITTES POUR LA PEUR)!"--Seckendorf, finding nothing to live +upon in Ober-Pfalz, could not attend Prince Karl farther; but turned +leftwards home to Bavaria; made a kind of Second "Reconquest of Bavaria" +(on exactly the same terms as the First, Austrian occupants being all +called off to assist in Bohmen again);--concerning which, here is an +Excerpt:-- + +"Seckendorf, following at his leisure, and joined by the Hessians and +Pfalzers, so as now to exceed 30,000, leaves Prince Karl and the rest of +the enterprise to do as it can; and applies himself, for his own share, +as the needfulest thing, to getting hold of Bavaria again, that his poor +Kaiser may have where to lay his head, and pay old servants their wages. +Dreadfully exclaimed against, the old gentleman, especially by the +French co-managers: 'Why did not the old traitor stick in the rear of +Prince Karl, in the difficult passes, and drive him prone,--while we +went besieging Freyburg, and poaching about, trying for a bit of the +Brisgau while chance served!' A traitor beyond doubt; probably bought +with money down: thinks Valori. But, after all, what could Seckendorf +do? He is now of weight for Barenklau and Bavaria, not for much more. He +does sweep Barenklau and his Austrians from Bavaria, clear out (in the +course of this October), all but Ingolstadt and two or three strong +towns,--Passau especially, 'which can be blockaded, and afterwards +besieged if needful.' For the rest, he is dreadfully ill-off for +provisions, incapable of the least, attempt on Passau (as Friedrich +urged, on hearing of him again); and will have to canton himself in +home-quarters, and live by his shifts till Spring. + +"The noise of French censure rises loud, against not themselves, +but against Seckendorf:--Friedrich, before that Tolpatch eclipse of +Correspondence [when three of his Letter-bags were seized, and he fell +quite dark], had too well foreboded, and contemptuously expressed his +astonishment at the blame BOTH were well earning: Passau, said he, +cannot you go at least upon Passau; which might alarm the Enemy a +little, and drag him homewards? 'Adieu, my dear Seckendorf, your Officer +will tell you how we did the Siege of Prag. You and your French are +wetted hens (POULES MOUILLEES),'--cowering about like drenched hens in a +day of set rain. 'As I hear nothing of either of you, I must try to get +out of this business without your help;'"--otherwise it will be ill for +me indeed! [Excerpted Fragment of a Letter from Friedrich,--(exact +date not given, date of EXCERPT is, Donanworth Country, 23d September, +1744),--which the French Agent in Seckendorf's Army had a reading of +(_Campagnes de Coigny,_ iv. 185-187; ib. 216-219: cited in Adelung, iv. +225).] "Which latter expression alarmed the French, and set them upon +writing and bustling, but not upon doing anything." + +"Prince Karl had crossed the Rhine unmolested, in the clearest +moonlight, August 23d-24th; Seckendorf was not wholly got to Heilbronn, +September 8th: a pretty way behind Prince Karl! The 6,000 Hessians, +formerly in English pay, indignant Landgraf Wilhelm [who never could +forgive that Machiavellian conduct of Carteret at Hanau, never till he +found out what it really was] has, this year, put into French pay. And +they have now joined Seckendorf; [Espagnac, ii. 13; Buchholz, ii. 123.] +Prince Friedrich [Britannic Majesty's Son-in-law], not good fat Uncle +George, commanding them henceforth:--with extreme lack of profit to +Prince Friedrich, to the Hessians, and to the French, as will appear in +time. These 6,000, and certain thousands of Pfalzers likewise in French +pay, are now with Seckendorf, and have raised him to above 30,000;--it +is the one fruit King Friedrich has got by that 'Union of Frankfurt,' +and by all his long prospective haggling, and struggling for a 'Union +of German Princes in general.' Two pears, after that long shaking of +the tree; both pears rotten, or indeed falling into Seckendorf, who is +a basket of such quality! 'Seckendorf, increased in this munificent +manner, can he still do nothing?' cry the French: 'the old traitor!'--'I +have no magazines,' said Seckendorf, 'nothing to live upon, to shoot +with; no money!' And it is a mutual crescendo between the 'perfidious +Seckendorf' and them; without work done. In the Nurnberg Country, some +Hussars of his picked up Lord Holderness, an English Ambassador making +for Venice by that bad route. 'Prisoner, are not you?' But they did not +use him ill; on consideration, the Heads of Imperial Departments gave +him a Pass, and he continued his Venetian Journey (result of it zero) +without farther molestation that I heard of. [Adelung, iv. 222.] + +"These French-Seckendorf cunctations, recriminations and drenched-hen +procedures are an endless sorrow to poor Kaiser Karl; who at length +can stand it no longer; but resolves, since at least Bavaria, though +moneyless and in ruins, is his, he will in person go thither; confident +that there will be victual and equipment discoverable for self and Army +were he there. Remonstrances avail not: 'Ask me to die with honor, ask +me not to lie rotting here;' [Ib. iv. 241.]--and quits Frankfurt, and +the Reich's-Diet and its babble, 17th October, 1744 (small sorrow, were +it for the last time),--and enters his Munchen in the course of a week. +[17th October, 1744, leaves Frankfurt; arrives in Munchen 23d (Adelung, +iv. 241-244).] Munchen is transported with joy to see the Legitimate +Sovereign again; and blazes into illuminations,--forgetful who caused +its past wretchednesses, hoping only all wretchedness is now ended. +Let ruined huts, and Cham and the burnt Towns, rebuild themselves; the +wasted hedges make up their gaps again: here is the King come home! +Here, sure enough, is an unfortunate Kaiser of the Holy Romish Reich, +who can once more hope to pay his milk-scores, being a loved Kurfurst of +Bavaria at least. Very dear to the hearts of these poor people;--and +to their purses, interests and skins, has not he in another sense been +dear? What a price the ambitions and cracked phantasms of that weak +brain have cost the seemingly innocent population! Population harried, +hungered down, dragged off to perish in Italian Wars; a Country burnt, +tribulated, torn to ruin, under the harrow of Fate and ruffian Trenck +and Company. Britannic George, rather a dear morsel too, has come +much cheaper hitherto. England is not yet burnt; nothing burning +there,--except the dull fire of deliriums; Natural Stupidities all set +flaming, which (whatever it may BE in the way of loss) is not felt as a +loss, but rather as a comfort for the time being;--and in fact there are +only, say, a forty or fifty thousand armed Englishmen rotted down, and +scarcely a Hundred Millions of money yet spent. Nothing to speak of, +in the cause of Human Liberty. Why Populations suffer for their guilty +Kings? My friend, it is the Populations too that are guilty in having +such Kings. Reverence, sacred Respect for Human Worth, sacred Abhorrence +of Human Unworth, have you considered what it means? These poor +Populations have it not, or for long generations have had it less and +less. Hence, by degrees, this sort of 'Kings' to them, and enormous +consequences following!"-- + +Karl VII. got back to Munchen 23d October, 1744; and the tar-barrels +being once burnt, and indispensable sortings effected, he went to the +field along with Seckendorf, to encourage his men under Seckendorf, and +urge the French by all considerations to come on. And really did what +he could, poor man. But the cordage of his life had been so strained and +torn, he was not now good for much; alas, it had been but little he was +ever good for. A couple of dear Kurfursts, his Father and he; have stood +these Bavarian Countries very high, since the Battle of Blenheim and +downwards! + + + + +Chapter IV.--FRIEDRICH REDUCED TO STRAITS; CANNOT MAINTAIN HIS MOLDAU +CONQUESTS AGAINST PRICE KARL. + +One may fancy what were Friedrich's reflections when he heard that +Prince Karl had, prosperously and unmolested, got across, by those +Passes from the Ober-Pfalz, into Bohmen and the Circle of Pilsen, into +junction with Bathyani and his magazines; ["At Mirotitz, October 2d" +(Ranke, iii. 194); Orlich, ii. 49.] heard, moreover, that the Saxons, +20,000 strong, under Weissenfels, crossing the Metal Mountains, coming +on by Eger and Karlsbad regions, were about uniting with him (bound by +Treaty to assist the Hungarian Majesty when invaded);--and had finally, +what confirms everything, that the said Prince Karl in person (making +for Budweis, "just seen his advanced guard," said rumor under mistake) +was but few miles off. Few miles off, on the other side of the +Moldau;--of unknown strength, hidden in the circumambient clouds of +Pandours. + +Suppressing all the rages and natural reflections but those needful for +the moment, Friedrich (October 4th, by Moldau-Tein) dashes across the +Moldau, to seek Prince Karl, at the place indicated, and at once smite +him down if possible;--that will be a remedy for all things. Prince Karl +is not there, nor was; the indication had been false; Friedrich searches +about, for four days, to no purpose. Prince Karl, he then learns for +certain, has crossed the Moldau farther down, farther northward, between +Prag and us. Means to cut us off from Prag, then, which is our fountain +of life in these circumstances? That is his intention:--"Old Traun, who +is with him, understands his trade!" thinks Friedrich. Traun, or the +Prince, is diligently forming magazines, all the Country carrying to +him, in the Town of Beneschau, hither side of the Sazawa, some seventy +miles north of us, an important Town where roads meet:--unless we can +get hold of Beneschau, it will be ill with us here! Across the River +again, at any rate; and let us hasten thither. That is an affair which +must be looked to; and speed is necessary! + +OCTOBER 8th, After four days' search ending in this manner, Friedrich +swiftly crosses towards Tabor again, to Bechin (over on the Luschnitz, +one march), there to collect himself for Beneschau and the other +intricacies. Towards Tabor again, by his Bridge of Moldau-Tein;--clouds +of Pandour people, larger clouds than usual, hanging round; hidden by +the woods till Friedrich is gone. Friedrich being gone, there occurs the +AFFAIR OF MOLDAU-TEIN, much talked of in Prussian Books. Of which, in +extreme condensation, this is the essence:-- + +"OCTOBER 9th. Friedrich once off to Bechin, the Pandour clouds gather +on his rearguard next day at Tein Bridge here, to the number of about +10,000 [rumor counts 14,000]; and with desperate intent, and more +regularity than usual, attack the Tein-Bridge Party, which consists +of perhaps 2,000 grenadiers and hussars, the whole under Ziethen's +charge,--obliged to wait for a cargo of Bread-wagons here. 'Defend your +Bridge, with cannon, with case-shot:' that is what the grenadiers do. +The Pandour cloud, with horrid lanes cut in it, draws back out of this; +then plunges at the River itself, which can be ridden above or below; +rides it, furious, by the thousand: 'Off with your infantry; quit the +Bridge!' cries Ziethen to his Captain there: 'Retire you, Parthian-like; +thrice-steady,' orders Ziethen: 'It is to be hoped our hussars can deal +with this mad-doggery!' And they do it; cutting in with iron discipline, +with fierceness not undrilled; a wedge of iron hussars, with ditto +grenadiers continually wheeling, like so many reapers steady among +wind-tossed grain; and gradually give the Pandours enough. Seven hours +of it, in all: 'of their sixty cartridges the grenadiers had fired +fifty-four,' when it ended, about 7 P.M. The coming Bread-wagons, +getting word, had to cast their loaves into the River (sad to think of); +and make for Bechin at their swiftest. But the rearguard got off with +its guns, in this victorious manner: thanks to Major-General Ziethen, +Colonel Reusch and the others concerned. [_Feldzuge der Preussen,_ i. +268; Orlich, ii. 55.] + +"Ziethen handsels his Major-Generalcy in this fine way: [Patent given +him "3d October, 1744," only a week ago, "and ordered to be dated eight +months back" (Rodenbeck, i. 109).] a man who has had promotion, and also +has had none, and may again come to have none;--and is able to do either +way. Never mind, my excellent tacit friend! Ziethen is five-and-forty +gone; has a face which is beautiful to me, though one of the coarsest. +Face thrice-honest, intricately ploughed with thoughts which are well +kept silent (the thoughts, indeed, being themselves mostly inarticulate; +thoughts of a simple-hearted, much-enduring, hot-tempered son of +iron and oatmeal);--decidedly rather likable, with its lazily hanging +under-lip, and respectable bearskin cylinder atop." + + + + +FRIEDRICH TRIES TO HAVE BATTLE FROM PRINCE KARL, IN THE MOLDAU +COUNTRIES; CANNOT, OWING TO THE SKILL OF PRINCE KARL OR OF OLD +FELDMARSCHALL TRAUN;--HAS TO RETIRE BEHIND THE SAZAWA, AND ULTIMATELY +BEHIND THE ELBE, WITH MUCH LABOR IN VAIN. + +OCTOBER 14th-18th: RETREAT FROM BECHIN-TABOR COUNTRY TO BENESCHAU. ... +"These Pandours give us trouble enough; no Magazine here, no living to +be had in this Country beside them. Unfortunate Colonel Jahnus went out +from Tabor lately, to look after requisitioned grains: infinite Pandours +set upon him [Muhlhausen is the memorable place]; Jahnus was obstinate +(too obstinate, thinks Friedrich), and perished on the ground, he and +200 of his. [ _OEuvres de Frederic,_ iii. 61.] Nay, next, a swarm of +them came to Tabor itself, Nadasti at their head; to try whether Tabor, +with its small garrison, could not be escaladed, and perhaps Prince +Henri, who lies sick there, be taken? Tabor taught them another lesson; +sent them home with heads broken;--which Friedrich thinks was an +extremely suitable thing. But so it stands: Here by the thousand and the +ten thousand they hang round us; and Prince Karl--It is of all things +necessary we get hold of that Beneschau, and the Magazine he is +gathering there! + +"Rapidity is indispensable,--and yet how quit Tabor? We have detachments +out at Neuhaus, at Budweis, and in Tabor 300 men in hospital, whom there +are no means of carrying. To leave them to the Tolpaches? Friedrich +confesses he was weak on this occasion; he could not leave these 300 +men, as was his clear duty, in this extremity of War. He ordered in his +Neuhaus Detachment; not yet any of the others. He despatched Schmerin +towards Beneschau with all his speed; Schwerin was lucky enough to +take Beneschau and its provender,--a most blessed fortune,--and fences +himself there. Hearing which, Friedrich, having now got the Neuhaus +Detachment in hand, orders the other Three, the Budweis, the Tabor here, +and the Frauenberg across the River, to maintain themselves; and +then, leaving those southern regions to their chance, hastens towards +Beneschau and Schwerin; encamps (October 18th) near Beneschau,--'Camp of +Konopischt,' unattackable Camp, celebrated in the Prussian Books;--and +there, for eight days, still on the south side of Sazawa, tries every +shift to mend the bad posture of affairs in that Luschnitz-Sazawa +Country. His Three Garrisons (3,000 men in them, besides the 300 sick) +he now sees will not be able to maintain themselves; and he sends in +succession 'eight messengers,' not one messenger of whom could get +through, to bid them come away. His own hope now is for a Battle +with Prince Karl; which might remedy all things. [_OEuvres de +Frederic,_ iii. 62-64.]" + +That is Friedrich's wish; but it is by no means Traun's, who sees that +hunger and wet weather will of themselves suffice for Friedrich. There +ensues accordingly, for three weeks to come, in that confused Country, +a series of swift shufflings, checkings and manoeuvrings between these +two, which is gratifying and instructive to the strategic mind, but +cannot be inflicted upon common readers. Two considerable chess-players, +an old and a young; their chess-board a bushy, rocky, marshy +parallelogram, running fifty miles straight east from Prag, and twenty +or fewer south, of which Prag is the northwest angle, and Beneschau, or +the impregnable Konopischt the southwest: the reader must conceive it; +and how Traun will not fight Friedrich, yet makes him skip hither and +thither, chiefly by threatening his victuals. Friedrich's main magazine +is now at Pardubitz, the extreme northeast angle of the parallelogram. +Parallelogram has one river in it, with the innumerable rocks and +brooks and quagmires, the river Sazawa; and on the north side, where are +Kuttenberg, Czaslau, Chotusitz, places again become important in +this business, it is bounded by another river, the Elbe. Intricate +manoeuvring there is here, for three weeks following: "old Traun an +admirable man!" thinks Friedrich, who ever after recognized Traun as his +Schoolmaster in the art of War. We mark here and there a date, and leave +it to readers. + +"RADICZ, OCTOBER 21st-22d. At Radicz, a march to southwest of us, and on +our side of the Moldau, the Saxons, under Weissenfels, 20,000 effective, +join Prince Karl; which raises his force to 69,514 men, some 10,000 more +than Friedrich is master of. [Orlich, ii. 66.] Prospect of wintering +between the Luschnitz and the Sazawa there is now little; unless they +will fight us, and be beaten. Friedrich, from his inaccessible Camp of +Konopischt, manoeuvres, reconnoitres, in all directions, to produce +this result; but to no purpose. An Austrian Detachment did come, to look +after Beneschau and the Magazines there; but rapidly drew back again, +finding Konopischt on their road, and how matters were. Friedrich +will guard the door of this Sazawa-Elbe tract of Country; hope of the +Sazawa-Luschnitz tract has, in few days, fallen extinct. Here is +news come to Konopischt: our Three poor Garrisons, Budweis, Tabor, +Frauenberg, already all lost; guns and men, after defence to the +last cartridge,--in Frauenberg their water was cut off, it was +eight-and-forty hours of thirst at Frauenberg:--one way or other, they +are all Three gone; eight couriers galloping with message, 'Come away,' +were all picked up by the Pandours; so they stood, and were lost. 'Three +thousand fighting men gone, for the weak chance of saving three hundred +who were in hospital!' thinks Friedrich: War is not a school of the +weak pities. For the chance of ten, you lose a hundred and the ten too. +Sazawa-Elbe tract of country, let us vigilantly keep the door of that! + +"SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24th, Friedrich out reconnoitring from Konopischt +discovers of a certainty that the whole Austrian-Saxon force is +now advaucing towards Beneschau, and will, this night, encamp at +Marschowitz, to southwest, only one march from us! On the instant +Friedrich hurries back; gets his Army on march thitherward, though the +late October sun is now past noon; off instantly; a stroke yonder will +perhaps be the cure of all. Such roads we had, says Friedrich, as never +Army travelled before: long after nightfall, we arrive near the Austrian +camp, bivouac as we can till daylight return. At the first streak of +day, Friedrich and his chief generals are on the heights with their +spy-glasses: Austrian Army sure enough; and there they have altered +their posture overnight (for Traun too has been awake); they lie now +opposite our RIGHT flank; 'on a scarped height, at the foot of which, +through swamps and quagmires, runs a muddy stream.' Unattackable on this +side: their right flank and foot are safe enough. Creep round and see +their left:--Nothing but copses, swampy intricacies! We may shoulder +arms again, and go back to Konopischt: no fight here! [_OEuvres +de Frederic,_ iii. 63, 64; Orlich, ii. 69.] Speaking of defensive +Campaigns, says Friedrich didactically, years afterwards, 'If such +situations are to answer the purpose intended, the front and flanks must +be equally strong, but the rear entirely open. Such, for instance, +are those heights which have an extensive front, and whose flanks are +covered by morasses:--as was Prince Karl's Camp at Marschowitz in the +year 1744, with its front covered by a stream, and the wings by deep +hollows; or that which we ourselves then occupied at Konopischt,--as you +well remember. [_Military Instructions_ (above cited), p. 44.] + +"OCTOBER 26th-NOVEMBER 1st. The Sazawa-Luschnitz tract of Country is +quite lost, then; lost with damages: the question now is, Can we keep +the Sazawa-Elbe tract? For about three weeks more, Friedrich struggles +for that object; cannot compass that either. Want of horse-provender is +very great:--country entirely eaten, say the peasants, and not a truss +remaining. October 26th, Friedrich has to cross the Sazawa; we must quit +the door of that tract (hunger driving us), and fight for the interior +in detail. Traun gets to Beneschau in that cheap way; and now, in behalf +of Traun, the peasants find forage enough, being zealous for Queen and +creed. Pandours spread themselves all over this Sazawa-Elbe country; +endanger our subsistences, make our lives miserable. It is the old +story: Friedrich, famine and mud and misery of Pandours compelling, +has to retire northward, Elbe-ward, inch by inch; whither the Austrians +follow at a safe distance, and, in spite of all manoeuvring, cannot be +got to fight. + +"Brave General Nassau, who much distinguishes himself in these +businesses, has (though Friedrich does not yet know it) dexterously +seized Kolin, westward in those Elbe parts,--ground that will be notable +in years coming. Important little feat of Nassau's; of which anon. On +the other hand, our Magazine at Pardubitz, eastward on the Elbe, is +not out of danger: Pandours and regulars 2,000 and odd, 'sixty of the +Pandour kind disguised as peasants leading hay-carts,' made an attempt +there lately; but were detected by the vigilant Colonel, and blown to +pieces, in the nick of time, some of them actually within the gate. +[ _OEuvres de Frederic,_ iii. 65.] Nay, a body of Austrian regulars were +in full march for Kolin lately, intending to get hold of the Elbe +itself at that point (midway between Prag and Pardubitz): but the prompt +General Nassau, as we remarked, had struck in before them; and now holds +Kolin;--though, for several days, Friedrich could not tell what had +become of Nassau, owing to the swarms of Pandours. + +"Friedrich, standing with his back to Prag, which is fifty miles from +him, and rather in need of his support than able to give him any; and +drawing his meal from the uncertain distance, with Pandours hovering +round,--is in difficult case. While old Traun is kept luminous as +mid-day; the circumambient atmosphere of Pandours is tenebrific to +Friedrich, keeps him in perpetual midnight. He has to read his position +as with flashes of lightning, for most part. A heavy-laden, sorely +exasperated man; and must keep his haggard miseries strictly secret; +which I believe he does. Were Valori here, it is very possible he might +find the countenance FAROUCHE again; eyes gloomy, on damp November +mornings! Schwerin, in a huff, has gone home: Since your Majesty is +pleased to prefer his young Durchlaucht of Anhalt's advice, what can +an elderly servant (not without rheumatisms) do other?--'Well!' answers +Friedrich, not with eyes cheered by the phenomenon. The Elbe-Sazawa +tract, even this looks as if it would be hard to keep. A world very dark +for Friedrich, enveloped so by the ill chances and the Pandours. But +what help? + +"From the French Camp far away, there comes, dated 17th October +(third week of their Siege of Freyburg), by way of help to Friedrich, +magnanimous promise: 'So soon as this Siege is done, which will be +speedily, though it is difficult, we propose to send fifty battalions +and a hundred squadrons,'"--say only 60,000 horse and foot (not a hoof +or toe of which ever got that length, on actually trying it),--"towards +Westphalia, to bring the Elector of Koln to reason [poor Kaiser's lanky +Brother, who cannot stand the French procedures, and has lately sold +himself, that is sold his troops, to England], and keep the King of +England and the Dutch in check,"--by way of solacement to your Majesty. +Will you indeed, you magnanimous Allies?--This was picked up by the +Pandours; and I know not but Friedrich was spared the useless pain of +reading it. [Orlich, ii. 73.] + +"NOVEMBER 1st-9th: FRIEDRICH LOSES SAZAWA-ELBE COUNTRY TOO. On the first +day of November, here is a lightning-flash which reveals strange things +to Friedrich. Traun's late manoeuvrings, which have been so enigmatic, +to right and to left, upon Prag and other points, issue now in an +attempt towards Pardubitz; which reveals to Friedrich the intention +Traun has formed, of forcing him to choose one of those two places, and +let go the other. Formidable, fatal, thinks Friedrich; and yet admirable +on the part of Traun: 'a design beautiful and worthy of admiration.' If +we stay near Prag, what becomes of our communication with Silesia; what +becomes of Silesia itself? If we go towards Pardubitz, Prag and Bohmen +are lost! What to do? 'Despatch reinforcement to Pardubitz; thanks to +Nassau, the Kolin-Pardubitz road is ours!' That is done, Pardubitz saved +for the moment. Could we now get to Kuttenberg before the old Marshal, +his design were overset altogether. Alas, we cannot march at once, have +to wait a day for the bread. Forward, nevertheless; and again forward, +and again; three heavy marches in November weather: let us make a fourth +forced march, start to-morrow before dawn,--Kuttenberg above all things! +In vain; to-morrow, 4th November, there is such a fog, dark as London +itself, from six in the morning onwards, no starting till noon: and then +impossible, with all our efforts, to reach Kuttenberg. We have to halt +an eight miles short of it, in front of Kolin; and pitch tents there. On +the morrow, 5th November, Traun is found encamped, unattackable, between +us and our object; sits there, at his ease in a friendly Country, with +Pandour whirlpools flowing out and in; an irreducible case to Friedrich. +November 5th, and for three days more, Friedrich, to no purpose, tries +his utmost;--finds he will have to give up the Elbe-Sazawa region, like +the others. Monday, November 9th, Friedrich gathers himself at Kolin; +crosses the Elbe by Kolin Bridge, that day. Point after point of the +game going against him." + +Kolin was, of course, attacked, that Monday evening, so soon as the main +Army crossed: but, so soon as the Army left, General Nassau had taken +his measures; and, with his great guns and his small, handled the +Pandours in a way that pleased us. [ _OEuvres de Frederic,_ iii. 68.] +Thursday night following, they came back, with regular grenadiers to +support; under cloud of night, in great force, ruffian Trenck at the +head of them: a frightful phenomenon to weak nerves. But this also +Nassau treated in such a fiery fashion that it vanished without return; +three hundred dead left on the ground, and ruffian Trenck riding off +with his own crown broken,--beautiful indigo face streaking itself into +GINGHAM-pattern, for the moment! + +Except Pardubitz, where also the due battalions are left, Friedrich now +holds no post south of the Elbe in this quarter; Elbe-Sazawa Tract is +gone like the others, to all appearance. And we must now say, Silesia +or Prag? Prince Leopold, Council-of-War being held on the matter, is for +keeping hold of Prag: "Pity to lose all the excellent siege-artillery we +brought thither," says he. True, too true; an ill-managed business +that of Prag! thinks Friedrich sadly to himself: but what is Prag and +artillery, compared to Silesia? Parthian retreat into Silesia; and +let Prag and the artillery go: that, to Friedrich, is clearly the sure +course. Or perhaps the fatal alternative will not actually arrive? So +long as Pardubitz and Kolin hold; and we have the Elbe for barrier? +Truth is, Prince Karl has himself written to Court that, having now +pushed his Enemy fairly over the Elbe, and winter being come with its +sleets and slushes, ruinous to troops that have been so marched about, +the Campaign ought to end;--nay, his own young Wife is in perilous +interesting circumstances, and the poor Prince wishes to be home. To +which, however, it is again understood, Maria Theresa has emphatically +answered, "No,--finish first!" + +NOVEMBER 9th-19th: WE DEFEND THE ELBE RIVER. Friedrich has posted +himself on the north shore of the Elbe, from Pardubitz to the other side +of Kolin; means to defend that side of the River, where go the Silesian +roads. At Bohdenetz, short way across from Pardubitz, he himself is; +Prince Leopold is near Kolin: thirty miles of river-bank to dispute. +The controversy lasts ten days; ends in ELBE-TEINITZ, a celebrated +"passage," in Books and otherwise. Friedrich is in shaggy, intricate +country; no want of dingles, woods and quagmires; now and then pleasant +places too,--here is Kladrup for example, where our Father came three +hundred miles to dine with the Kaiser once. The grooms and colts are +all off at present; Father and Kaiser are off; and much is changed since +then. Grim tussle of War now; sleety winter, and the Giant Mountains in +the distance getting on their white hoods! Friedrich doubtless has +his thoughts as he rides up and down, in sight of Kladrup, among other +places, settling many things; but what his thoughts were, he is careful +not to say except where necessary. Much is to be looked after, in this +River controversy of thirty miles. Detachments lie, at intervals, all +the way; and mounted sentries, a sentry every five miles, patrol the +River-bank; vigilant, we hope, as lynxes. Nothing can cross but alarm +will be given, and by degrees the whole Prussian force be upon it. This +is the Circle of Konigsgratz, this that now lies to rear; and happily +there are a few Hussites in it, not utterly indisposed to do a little +spying for us, and bring a glimmering of intelligence, now and then. + +It is now the second week that Frietrich has lain so, with his mounted +patrols in motion, with his Hussite spies; guarding Argus-like this +thirty miles of River; and the Austrians attempt nothing, or nothing +with effect. If the Austrians go home to their winter-quarters, he hopes +to issue from Kolin again before Spring, and to sweep the Elbe-Sazawa +Tract clear of them, after all. Maria Theresa having answered No, it is +likely the Austrians will try to get across: Be vigilant therefore, +ye mounted sentries. Or will they perhaps make an attempt on Prag? +Einsiedel, who has no garrison of the least adequacy, apprises us That +"in all the villages round Prag people are busy making ladders,"--what +can that mean? Friedrich has learned, by intercepted letters, that +something great is to be done on Wednesday, 18th: he sends Rothenburg +with reinforcement to Einsiedel, lest a scalade of Prag should be on +the cards. Rothenburg is right welcome in the lines of Prag, though with +reinforcement still ineffectual; but it is not Prag that is meant, nor +is Wednesday the day. Through Wednesday, Friedrich, all eye and ear, +could observe nothing: much marching to and fro on the Austrian side of +the River; but apparently it comes to nothing? The mounted patrols had +better be vigilant, however. + +On the morrow, 5 A.M., what is this that is going on? Audible booming of +cannon, of musketry and battle, echoing through the woods, penetrates to +Friedrich's quarters at Bohdenetz in the Pardubitz region: Attack upon +Kolin, Nassau defending himself there? Out swift scouts, and see! Many +scouts gallop out; but none comes back. Friedrich, for hours, has to +remain uncertain; can only hope Nassau will defend himself. Boom go the +distant volleyings; no scout comes back. And it is not Nassau or Kolin; +it is something worse: very glorious for Prussian valor, but ruinous to +this Campaign. + +The Austrians, at 2 o'clock this morning, Austrians and Saxons, came in +great force, in dead silence, to the south brink of the River, opposite +a place called Teinitz (Elbe-Teinitz), ten miles east of Kolin; that +was the fruit of their marching yesterday. They sat there forbidden to +speak, to smoke tobacco or do anything but breathe, till all was ready; +till pontoons, cannons had come up, and some gleam of dawn had broken. +At the first gleam of dawn, as they are shoving down their pontoon +boats, there comes a "WER-DA, Who goes?" from our Prussian patrol across +the River. Receiving no answer, he fires; and is himself shot down. One +Wedell, Wedell and Ziethen, who keep watch in this part, start instantly +at sound of these shots; and make a dreadful day of it for these +invasive Saxon and Austrian multitudes. Naturally, too, they send off +scouts, galloping for more help, to the right and to the left. But that +avails not. Wild doggery of Pandours, it would seem, have already swum +or waded the River, above Teinitz and below:--"Want of vigilance!" barks +Friedrich impatiently: but such a doggery is difficult to watch with +effect. At any rate, to the right and to the left, the woods are already +beset with Pandours; every scout sent out is killed: and to east or to +west there comes no news but an echoing of musketry, a boom of distant +cannon. [Orlich, ii. 82-85.] Saxon-Austrian battalions, four or five, +with unlimited artillery going, VERSUS Wedell's one battalion, with +musketry and Ziethen's hussars: it is fearful odds. The Prussians stand +to it like heroes; doggedly, for four hours, continue the +dispute,--till it is fairly desperate; "two bridges of the enemy's now +finished;"--whereupon they manoeuvre off, with Parthian or Prussian +countenance, into the woods, safe, towards Kolin; "despatching definite +news to Friedrich, which does arrive about 11 A.M., and sets him at once +on new measures." + +This is a great feat in the Prussian military annals; for which, sad +as the news was, Wedell got the name of Leonidas attached to him by +Friedrich himself. And indeed it is a gallant passage of war; "Forcing +of the Elbe at Teinitz;" of which I could give two Narratives, one from +the Prussian, and one from the Saxon side; [Seyfarth, _Beylage,_ i. +595-598; _Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 1175-1181.] didactic, admonitory +to the military mind, nay to the civic reader that has sympathy with +heroisms, with work done manfully, and terror and danger and difficulty +well trampled under foot. Leonidas Wedell has an admirable silence, too; +and Ziethen's lazily hanging under-lip is in its old attitude again, now +that the spasm is over. "WAS THUTS? They are across, without a doubt. We +would have helped it, and could not. Steady!"-- + + + + +FRIEDRICH'S RETREAT; ESPECIALLY EINSIEDEL'S FROM PRAG. + +Seeing, then, that they are fairly over, Friedrich, with a creditable +veracity of mind, sees also that the game is done; and that same +night he begins manoeuvring towards Silesia, lest far more be lost by +continuing the play. One column, under Leopold the Young Dessauer, goes +through Glatz, takes the Magazine of Pardubitz along with it: good to go +in several columns, the enemy will less know which to chase. Friedrich, +with another column, will wait for Nassau about Konigsgratz, then go by +the more westerly road, through Nachod and the Pass of Braunau. Nassau, +who is to get across from Kolin, and join us northwards, has due +rendezvous appointed him in the Konigsgratz region. Einsiedel, in Prag, +is to spike his guns, since he cannot carry them; blow up his +bastions, and the like; and get away with all discretion and all +diligence,--northwestward first, to Leitmeritz, where our magazines are; +there to leave his heavier goods, and make eastward towards Friedland, +and across the "Silesian Combs" by what Passes he can. Will have +a difficult operation; but must stand to it. And speed; steady, +simultaneous, regular, unresting velocity; that is the word for all. And +so it is done,--though with difficulty, on the part of poor Einsiedel +for one. It was Thursday, 19th November, when the Austrians got across +the Elbe: on Monday, 23d, the Prussian rendezvousings are completed; and +Friedrich's column, and the Glatz one under Leopold, are both on march; +infinite baggage-wagons groaning orderly along ("sick-wagons well +ahead," and the like precautions and arrangements), on both these +highways for Silesia: and before the week ends, Thursday, 26th, even +Einsiedel is under way. Let us give something of poor Einsiedel, +whose disasters made considerable noise in the world, that Winter and +afterwards. + +"The two main columns were not much molested; that which went by Glatz, +under Leopold, was not pursued at all. On the rear of Friedrich's own +column, going towards Braunau, all the way to Nachod or beyond, there +hung the usual doggery of Pandours, which required whipping off from +time to time; but in the defiles and difficult places due precaution was +taken, and they did little real damage. Truchsess von Waldburg [our old +friend of the Spartan feat near Austerlitz in the MORAVIAN-FORAY time, +whom we have known in London society as Prussian Envoy in bygone years] +was in one of the divisions of this column; and one day, at a village +where there was a little river to cross (river Mietau, Konigsgratz +branch of the Elbe), got provoked injudiciously into fighting with +a body of these people. Intent not on whipping them merely, but on +whipping them to death, Truchsess had already lost some forty men, and +the business with such crowds of them was getting hot; when, all at +once a loud squeaking of pigs was heard in the village,"--apprehensive +swineherd hastily penning his pigs belike, and some pig refractory;--"at +sound of which, the Pandour multitude suddenly pauses, quits fighting, +and, struck by a new enthusiasm, rushes wholly into the village; leaving +Truchsess, in a tragi-comic humor, victorious, but half ashamed +of himself. [ _OEuvres de Frederic,_ iii. 73.] In the beginning of +December, Friedrich's column reached home, by Braunau through the +Mountains, the same way part of it had come in August; not quite so +brilliant in equipment now as then. + +"It was upon Einsiedel's poor Garrison, leaving Prag in such haste, that +the real stress of the retreat fell; its difficulties great indeed, and +its losses great. Einsiedel did what was possible; but all things are +not possible on a week's warning. He spiked great guns, shook endless +hundredweights of powder, and 10,000 stand of arms, into the River; +he requisitioned horses, oxen, without number; put mines under the +bastions, almost none of which went off with effect. He kept Prag +accurately shut, the Praguers accurately in the dark; took his measures +prudently; and labored night and day. One measure I note of him: +stringent Proclamation to the inhabitants of Prag, 'Provision yourselves +for three months; nothing but starvation ahead otherwise.' Alas, we +are to stand a fourth siege, then? say the Praguers. But where are +provisions to be had? At such and such places; from the Royal Magazines +only, if you bring a certificate and ready money! Whereby Einsiedel +got delivered of his meal-magazine, for one thing. But his difficulties +otherwise were immense. + +"On the Thursday morning, 26th November, 1744, he marched. His wagons +had begun the night before; and went all night, rumbling continuous +(Anonymous of Prag [Second "LETTER from a Citizen, &c." (date, 27th +November, see supra, p. 348), in _Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 1181-1188.] +hearing them well), through the Karlthor, northwest gate of Prag, across +the Moldau Rridge. All night across that bridge,--Leitmeritz road, great +road to the northwest:--followed finally by the march of horse and foot. +But news had already fled abroad. Five hundred Pandours were in the +City, backed by the Butchers' lads and other riotous GESINDEL, before +the rear-guard got away. Sad tugging and wriggling in consequence, much +firing from windows, and uproarious chaos;--so that Rothenburg had at +last to remount a couple of guns, and blow it off with case-shot. A +drilled Prussian rear-guard struggling, with stern composure, through a +real bit of burning chaos. With effect, though not without difficulty. +Here is the scene on the Noldau Bridge, and past that high Hradschin +[Old Palace of the Bohemian Kings (pronounce RADsheen); one of the +steepest Royal Sites in the world.] mass of buildings; all Prag, not the +Hradschin only, struggling to give us fatal farewell if it durst. River +is covered with Pandours firing out of boats; Bridge encumbered to +impassability by forsaken wagons, the drivers of which had cut traces +and run; shot comes overhead from the Hradschin on our left, much shot, +infinite tumult all round; thoroughfare impossible for two-wheeled +vehicle, or men in rank. 'Halt!' cries Colonel Brandes, who has charge +of the thing; divides them in three: 'First one party, deal with these +river-boats, that Pandour doggery; second party, pull these stray wagons +to right and left, making the way clear; third party, drag our +own wagons forward, shoulder to shaft, and yoke them out of +shot-range;--you, Captain Carlowitz,' and calls twenty volunteers to go +with Carlowitz, and drag their own cannon, 'step you forward, keep the +gate of that Hradschin till we all pass!' In this manner, rapid, hard of +stroke, clear-headed and with stern regularity, drilled talent gets the +burning Nessus'-shirt wriggled off; and tramps successfully forth with +its baggages. About 11 A.M., this rearguard of Brandes's did; should +have been at seven,--right well that it could be at all. + +"Einsiedel, after this, got tolerably well to Leitmeritz; left his heavy +baggage there; then turned at an acute angle right eastward, towards the +Silesian Combs, as ordered: still a good seventy miles to do, and the +weather getting snowy and the days towards their shortest. Worse still; +old Weissenfels, now in Prag with his Saxons, is aware that Einsiedel, +before ending, will touch on a wild high-lying corner of the Lausitz +which is Saxon Country; and thitherward Weissenfels has despatched +Chevalier de Saxe (in plenty of time, November 29th), with horse and +foot, to waylay Einsiedel, and block the entrance of the Silesian +Mountains for him. Whereupon, in the latter end of his long march, +and almost within sight of home, ensues the hardest brush of all for +Einsiedel. And, in the desolation of that rugged Hill country of the +Lausitz, 'HOCHWALD (Upper Weld),' twenty or more miles from Bohemian +Friedland, from his entrance on the Mountain Barrier and Silesian Combs, +there are scenes--which gave rise to a Court-Martial before long. +For unexpectedly, on the winter afternoon (December 9th), Einsiedel, +struggling among the snows and pathless Hills, comes upon Chevalier de +Saxe and his Saxon Detachment,--intrenched with trees, snow-redoubts, +and a hollow bog dividing us; plainly unassailable;--and stands there, +without covering, without 'food, fire, or salt,' says one Eye-witness, +'for the space of fourteen hours.' Gazing gloomily into it, exchanging a +few shots, uncertain what more to do; the much-dubitating Einsiedel. 'At +which the men were so disgusted and enraged, they deserted [the foreign +part of them, I fancy] in groups at a time,' says the above +Eye-witness. Not to think what became of the equipments, baggage-wagons, +sick-wagons:--too evident Einsiedel's loss, in all kinds, was very +considerable. Nassau, despatched by Leopold out of Glatz, from the other +side of the Combs, is marching to help Einsiedel;--who knows, at this +moment, where or whitherward? For the peasants are all against us; +our very guides desert, and become spies. 'Push to the left, over the +Hochwald top, must not we?' thinks Einsiedel: 'that is Lausitz, a Saxon +Country; and Saxony, though the Saxons stand intrenched here, with the +knife at our throat, are not at war with us, oh no, only allies of her +Majesty of Hungary, and neutral otherwise!' And here, it is too clear, +the Chevalier de Saxe stands intrenched behind his trees and snow; and +it is the fourteenth hour, men deserting by the hundred, without fire +and without salt; and Nassau is coming,--God knows by what road! + +"Einsiedel pushes to the left, the Hochwald way; finds, in the Hochwald +too, a Saxon Commandant waiting him, with arms strictly shouldered. +'And we cannot pass through this moor skirt of Lausitz, say you, then?' +'Unarmed, yes; your muskets can come in wagons after you,' replies the +Saxon Commandant of Lausitz. 'Thousand thanks, Herr Commandant; but we +will not give you all that trouble,' answer Einsiedel and his Prussians; +'and march on, overwhelming him with politenesses,' says Friedrich;--the +approach of Nassau, above all, being a stringent civility. Of course, +despatch is very requisite to Einsiedel; the Chevalier, with his force, +being still within hail. The Prussians march all night, with pitch-links +flaring,--nights (I think) of the 13th-15th December, 1744, up among the +highlands there, rugged buttresses of the Silesian Combs: a sight enough +to astonish Rubezahl, if he happened to be out! As good chance would +have it, Nassau and Einsiedel, by preconcert, partly by lucky guess of +their own, were hurrying by the same road: three heaven-rending cheers +(December 16th) when we get sight of Nassau; and find that here is land! +December 16th, we are across,--by Ruckersdorf, not far from Friedland +(Bohmisch Friedland, not the Silesian town of that name, once +Wallenstein's);--and rejoice now to look back on labor done." +[ _Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 1181-1190, 1191-1194;--Feldzuge,--i. +278-280.] + +These were intricate strange scenes, much talked of at the time: +Rothenburg, ugly Walrave, Hacke, and other known figures, concerned in +them. Scenes in which Friedrich is not well informed; who much blames +Einsiedel, as he is apt to do the unsuccessful. Accounts exist, both +from the Prussian and from the Saxon side, decipherable with industry; +not now worth deciphering to English readers. Only that final scene +of the pitch-links, the night before meeting with Nassau, dwells +voluntarily in one's memory. And is the farewell of Einsiedel withal. +Friedrich blames him to the last: though a Court-Martial had sat on his +case, some months after, and honorably acquitted him. Good solid, silent +Einsiedel;--and in some months more, he went to a still higher court, +got still stricter justice: I do not hear expressly that it was the +winter marches, or strain of mind; but he died in 1745; and that +flare of pitch-links in Rubezahl's country is the last scene of him +to us,--and the end of Friedrich's unfortunate First Expedition in the +Second Silesian War. + +"Foiled, ultimately, then, on every point; a totally ill-ordered game on +our part! Evidently we, for our part, have been altogether in the wrong, +in various essential particulars. Amendment, that and no other, is the +word now. Let us take the scathe and the scorn candidly home to us;--and +try to prepare for doing better. The world will crow over us. Well, the +world knows little about it; the world, if it did know, would be partly +in the right!"--Wise is he who, when beaten, learns the reasons of it, +and alters these. This wisdom, it must be owned, is Friedrich's; and +much distinguishes him among generals and men. Veracity of mind, as +I say, loyal eyesight superior to sophistries; noble incapacity of +self-delusion, the root of all good qualities in man. His epilogue to +this Campaign is remarkable;--too long for quoting here, except the +first word of it and the last:-- + +"No General committed more faults than did the King in this Campaign.... +The conduct of M. de Traun is a model of perfection, which every soldier +that loves his business ought to study, and try to imitate, if he have +the talent. The king has himself admitted that he regarded this Campaign +as his school in the Art of War, and M. de Traun as his teacher." But +what shall we say? "Bad is often better for Princes than good;--and +instead of intoxicating them with presumption, renders them circumspect +and modest." [_OEuvres,_ iii.76, 77.] Let us still hope!-- + + + + +Chapter V.--FRIEDRICH, UNDER DIFFICULTIES, PREPARES FOR A NEW CAMPAIGN. + +To the Court of Vienna, especially to the Hungarian Majesty, this +wonderful reconquest of Bohemia, without battle fought,--or any cause +assignable but Traun's excellent manoeuvring and Friedrich's imprudences +and trust in the French,--was a thing of heavenly miracle; blessed omen +that Providence had vouchsafed to her prayers the recovery of Silesia +itself. All the world was crowing over Friedrich: but her Majesty of +Hungary's views had risen to a clearly higher pitch of exultation +and triumphant hope, terrestrial and celestial, than any other living +person's. "Silesia back again," that was now the hope and resolution of +her Majesty's high heart: "My wicked neighbor shall be driven out, and +smart dear for the ill he has done; Heaven so wills it!" "Very little +uplifts the Austrians," says Valori; which is true, under such a Queen; +"and yet there is nothing that can crush them altogether down," adds he. + +No sooner is Bohemia cleared of Friedrich, than Maria, winter as it is, +orders that there be, through the Giant-Mountains, vigorous assault upon +Silesia. Highland snows and ices, what are these to Pandour people, +who, at their first entrance on the scene of History, "crossed the +Palus-Maeotis itself [Father of Quagmires, so to speak] in a frozen +state," and were sufficiently accommodated each in his own dirty +sheepskin? "Prosecute the King of Prussia," ordered she; "take your +winter-quarters in Silesia!"--and Traun, in spite of the advanced +season, and prior labors and hardships, had to try, from the +southwestern Bohemian side, what he could do; while a new Insurrection, +coming through the Jablunka, spread itself over the southeast and east. +Seriously invasive multitudes; which were an unpleasant surprise to +Friedrich; and did, as we shall see, require to be smitten back again, +and re-smitten; making a very troublesome winter to the Prussians and +themselves; but by no means getting winter-quarters, as they once hoped. + +In a like sense, Maria Theresa had already (December 2d) sent forth +her Manifesto or Patent, solemnly apprising her ever-faithful Silesian +Populations, "That the Treaty of Breslau, not by her fault, is broken; +palpably a Treaty no longer. That they, accordingly, are absolved +from all oaths and allegiance to the King of Prussia; and shall hold +themselves in readiness to swear anew to her Majesty, which will be +a great comfort to such faithful creatures; suffering, as her Majesty +explains to them that they have done, under Prussian tyranny for these +two years past. Immediate dead-lift effort there shall be; that is +certain: and 'the Almighty God assisting, who does not leave such +injustices unpunished, We have the fixed Christian hope, Omnipotence +blessing our arms, of almost immediately (EHESTENS) delivering you from +this temporary Bondage (BISHERIGEN JOCH).' You can pray, in the mean +while, for the success of her Majesty's arms; good fighting, aided by +prayer, in a Cause clearly Heaven's, will now, to appearance, bring +matters swiftly round again, to the astonishment and confusion of +bad men." [In _Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 1194-1198; Ib. 1201-1206, is +Friedrich's Answer, "19th December, 1744."] + +These are her Majesty's views; intensely true, I doubt not, to her +devout heart. Robinson and the English seem not to be enthusiastic in +that direction; as indeed how can they? They would fain be tender of +Silesia, which they have guaranteed; fain, now and afterwards, restrain +her Majesty from driving at such a pace down hill: but the declivity is +so encouraging, her Majesty is not to be restrained, and goes faster +and faster for the time being. And indeed, under less devout forms, the +general impression, among Pragmatic people, Saxon, Austrian, British +even, was, That Friedrich had pretty much ruined himself, and deserved +to do so; that this of his being mere "Auxiliary" to a Kaiser in +distress was an untenable pretext, now justly fallen bankrupt upon him. +The evident fact, That he had by his "Frankfurt Union," and struggles +about "union," reopened the door for French tribulations and +rough-ridings in the Reich, was universally distasteful; all chance of +a "general union of German Princes, in aid of their Kaiser," was extinct +for the present. + +Friedrich's rapidity had served him ill with the Public, in this as +in some other instances! Friedrich, contemplating his situation, not +self-delusively, but with the candor of real remorse, was by no means +yet aware how very bad it was. For six months coming, partly as existing +facts better disclosed themselves, as France, Saxony and others showed +what spirit they were of; partly as new sinister events and facts +arrived one after the other,--his outlook continued to darken and +darken, till it had become very dark indeed. There is perennially the +great comfort, immense if you can manage it, of making front against +misfortune; of looking it frankly in the face, and doing with a +resolution, hour by hour, your own utmost against it. Friedrich never +lacked that comfort; and was not heard complaining. But from December +13th, 1744, when he hastened home to Berlin, under such aspects, till +June 4th, 1745, when aspects suddenly changed, are probably the worst +six months Friedrich had yet had in the world. During which, his affairs +all threatening to break down about him, he himself, behooving to stand +firm if the worst was not to realize itself, had to draw largely on +what silent courage, or private inexpugnability of mind, was in him,--a +larger instalment of that royal quality (as I compute) than the Fates +had ever hitherto demanded of him. Ever hitherto; though perhaps nothing +like the largest of all, which they had upon their Books for him, at a +farther stage! As will be seen. For he was greatly drawn upon in that +way, in his time. And he paid always; no man in his Century so well; few +men, in any Century, better. As perhaps readers may be led to guess or +acknowledge, on surveying and considering. To see, and sympathetically +recognize, cannot be expected of modern readers, in the present great +distance, and changed conditions of men and things. + +Friedrich, after despatching Nassau to cut out Einsiedel, had delivered +the Silesian Army to the Old Dessauer, who is to command in chief during +Winter; and had then hastened to Berlin,--many things there urgently +requiring his presence; preparations, reparations, not to speak of +diplomacies, and what was the heaviest item of all, new finance for the +coming exertions. In Schweidnitz, on Leopold's appearance, there had +been an interview, due consultings, orderings; which done, Friedrich at +once took the road; and was at Berlin, Monday, December 14th,--precisely +in the time while Nassau and Einsiedel were marching with torchlights in +Rubezahl's Country, and near ending their difficult enterprise better or +worse. + +Friedrich, fastening eagerly on Home business, is astonished and +provoked to learn that the Austrians, not content with pushing him +out of Bohmen, are themselves pushing into Schlesien,--so Old Leopold +reports, with increasing emphasis day by day; to whom Friedrich sends +impatient order: Hurl them out again; gather what force you need, ten +thousand, or were it twenty or thirty thousand, and be immediate about +it; "I will as soon be pitched (HERAUSGESCHMISSEN) out of the Mark of +Brandenburg as out of Schlesien:" no delay, I tell you! And as the Old +Dessauer still explains that the ten or fifteen thousand he needs are +actually assembling, and cannot be got on march quite in a moment, +Friedrich dashes away his incipient Berlin Operations; will go himself +and do it. Haggle no more, you tedious Old Dessauer:-- + +BERLIN, "19th DECEMBER," 1744. "On the 21st [Monday, one week after +my arriving], I leave Berlin, and mean to be at Neisse on the 24th at +latest. Your Serenity will in the interim make out the Order-of-Battle +[which is also Order-of-March] for what regiments are come in. For I +will, on the 25th, without delay, cross the Neisse, and attack those +people, cost what it may,--to chase them out of Schlesien and Glatz, and +follow them so far as possible. Your Serenity will therefore take your +measures, and provide everything, so far as in this short time you can, +that the project may be executable the moment I arrive." [Friedrich to +the Old Dessauer (_Orlich,_ ii. 356).] + +And rushed off accordingly, in a somewhat flamy humor; but at +Schweidnitz, where the Old Dessauer met him again, became convinced that +the matter was weightier than he thought; not one of Tolpatchery alone, +but had Traun himself in it. Upon which Friedrich candidly drew bridle; +hastened back, and, with a loss of four days, was at his Potsdam Affairs +again. To which he stuck henceforth, ardently, and I think rather with +increase of gloom, though without spurt of impatience farther, for three +months to come. Before his return,--nay, had he known, it was the +night before he went away,--a strange little thing had happened in the +opposite or Western parts: surprising accident to Marechal de Belleisle; +which now lies waiting his immediate consideration. But let us finish +Silesia first. + + + + +OLD DESSAUER REPELS THE SILESIAN INVASION (Winter, 1744-45). + +"This Silesian Affair includes due inroad of Pandours; or indeed +two inroads, southwest and southeast; and in the southwest, or Traun +quarter, regulars are the main element of it. Traun, 20,000 strong, PLUS +stormy-enough Pandour ACCOMPANIMENT, is by this time through into Glatz; +in three columns;--is master of all Glatz, except the Rock-Fortress +itself; and has spread himself, right and left, along the Neisse River, +and from the southwest northwards, in a skilful and dangerous manner. In +concert with whom, far to the east, are Pandour whirlwinds on their own +footing (brand-new 'Insurrection' of them, got thus far) starting from +Olmutz and Brunn; scouring that eastern country, as far as Namslau +northward [a place we were at the taking of, in old Brieg times]; much +more, infesting the Mountains of the South. A rather serious thing; with +Traun for general manager of it." + +With Traun, we say: poor Prince Karl is off, weeks ago; on the saddest +of errands. His beautiful young Wife,--Hungarian Majesty's one Sister, +Vice-Regents of the Netherlands he and she, conspicuous among the bright +couples of the world,--she had a bad lying-in (child still-born), while +those grand Moldau Operations went on; has been ill, poor lady, ever +since; and, at Brussels, on December 16th, she herself lies dead, Prince +Karl weeping over her and the days that will not return. Prince Karl's +felicities, private and public, had been at their zenith lately, which +was very high indeed; but go on declining from this day. Never more the +Happiest of Husbands (did not wed again at all); still less the Greatest +of Captains, equal or superior to Caesar in the Gazetteer judgment, with +distracted EULOGIES, BIOGRAPHIES and such like filling the air: before +long, a War-Captain of quite moderate renown; which we shall see +sink gradually into no renown at all, and even (unjustly) into MINUS +quantities, before all end. A mad world, my masters! + +"Between Traun on the southwest hand, and his Pandours on the southeast, +the small Prussian posts have all been driven in upon Troppau-Jagerndorf +region; more and more narrowed there;--and, in fine (two days before +this new Interview of Leopold and the impatient King at Schweidnitz), +have had to quit the Troppau-Jagerndorf position; to quit the Hills +altogether, and are now in full march towards Brieg. Of which march I +should say nothing, were it not that Marwitz, Father of Wilhelmina's +giggling Marmitzes, commanded;--and came by his death in the course of +it; though our Wilhelmina is not now there, pen in hand, to tell us +what the effects at Baireuth were. Marwitz had been left for dead on +the Field of Mollwitz; lay so all night, but was nursed to some kind +of strength again by those giggling young women; and came back to +Schlesien, to posts of chief trust, for the last year or two,--was +guarding the Mountains, and even invading Mahren, during the late +Campaign;--but saw himself reduced latterly to Jagerndorf and Troppau; +and had even to retreat out of these. And in the whirlpool of hurries +thereupon,--how is not very clear; by apoplexy, say some; by accidental +pistol from a servant of his own; in actual skirmish with Pandours,--too +certainly, one way or the other, on December 23d (just during that +second Interview at Schweidnitz), brave old Marwitz did suddenly sink +dead, and is ended. [_Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 1201.] Even so, ye poor +giggling creatures, and your loud weeping will not mend it at all! + +"Friedrich, looking candidly into these phenomena, could not but see +that: what with Tolpatcheries, what with Traun's 20,000 regulars, and +the whole Army at their back, his Silesian Border is girt in by a very +considerable inroad of Austrians,--huge Chain of them, in horse-shoe +form, 300 miles long, pressing in; from beyond Glatz and Landshut, round +by the southern Mountains, and up eastward again as far as Namslau, +nothing but war whirlwinds in regular or irregular form, in the centre +of them Traun;--and that the Old Dessauer really must have time to gird +himself for dealing with Traun and them. + +"It was not till January 9th that Old Leopold, 25,000 strong, equipped +to his mind, which was a difficult matter, crossed the Neisse River; +and marched direct upon Traun, with Ziethen charging ahead. Actually +marched; after which the main wrestle was done in a week. January 16th, +Old Leopold got to Jagerndorf; found the actual Traun concentrated at +Jagerndorf; and drew up, to be ready for assault to-morrow morning,--had +not Traun, candidly computing, judged it better to glide wholly away in +the night-time, diligently towards Mahren, breaking the bridges behind +him. And so, in effect, to give up the Silesian Invasion for this time. +After which, though there remained a good deal of rough tussling with +Pandour details, and some rugged exploits of fight, there is--except +that of Lehwald in clearing of Glatz--nothing farther that we can afford +to speak of. Lehwald's exploit, Lehwald VERSUS Wallis (same Wallis who +defended Glogau long since), which came to be talked of, and got name +and date, 'Action of Habelschwert, February 14th,' something almost like +a pitched fight on the small scale, is to the following effect:-- + +"PLOMNITZ, NEAR HABELSCHWERT, 14th FEBRUARY, 1745. Old General Lehwald, +marching in the hollow ground near Habelschwert (hollow of the young +Neisse River, twenty miles south of Glatz), with intent to cut that +Country free; the Enemy, whom he is in search of, appears in great +force,--posted on the uphill ground ahead, half-frozen difficult stream +in front of them, cannon on flank, Pandour multitude in woods; all +things betokening inexpugnability on the part of the Enemy. So that +Lehwald has to take his measures; study well where the vital point is, +the root of that extensive Austrian junglery, and cut in upon the same. +By considerable fire of effort, the uphill ground, half-frozen stream, +sylvan Pandours, cannon-batteries, and what inexpugnabilities there may +be, are subdued; Austrian wide junglery, the root of it slit asunder +rolls homeward simultaneously, not too fast: nay it halted, and +re-ranked itself twice over, finding woods and quaggy runlets to its +mind; but was always slit out again, disrooted, and finally tumbled +home, having had enough. 'Wenzel Wallis,' Friedrich asserts with due +scorn, 'was all this while in a Chapel; praying ardently,' to St. +Vitus, or one knows not whom; 'without effect; till they shouted to him, +"Beaten, Sir! Off, or you are lost!" upon which he sprang to saddle, and +spurred with both heels (PIQUA DES DEUX).' [ _OEuvres de Frederic,_ iii. +79. 80.] That was the feat of Lehwald, clearing the Glatz Country with +one good cut: a skilful Captain; now getting decidedly oldish, close on +sixty; whom we shall meet again a dozen years hence, still in harness. + +"The old Serene Highness himself, face the color of gun-powder, and +bluer in the winter frost, went rushing far and wide in an open vehicle, +which he called his 'cart;' pushing out detachments, supervising +everything; wheeling hither and thither as needful; sweeping out the +Pandour world, and keeping it out: not much of fighting needed, but 'a +great deal of marching [murmurs Friedrich], which in winter is as bad, +and wears down the force of the battalions.' Of all which we give no +detail: sufficient to fancy, in this manner, the Old Dessauer flapping +his wide military wings in the faces of the Pandour hordes, with here +and there a hard twitch from beak or claws; tolerably keeping down the +Pandour interest all Winter. His sons, Leopold and Dietrich, were under +him, occasionally beside him; the Junior Leopold so worn down with +feverish gout he could hardly sit on horseback at all, while old +Papa went tearing about in his cart at that rate." [_Unternehmung in +Ober-Schlesien, unter dem Fursten Leopold von Anhalt-Dessau, im Januar +und Februar,_ 1745 (Seyfarth, _Beylage,_ i. 141-152); Stenzel, iv. 232; +&c.] + +There was, on the 21st of February, TE-DEUM sung in the churches of +Berlin "for the Deliverance of Silesia from Invasion." Not that even +yet the Pandours would be quite quiet, or allow Old Leopold to quit his +cart; far from it. And they returned in such increased and +tempestuous state, as will again require mention, with the earliest +Spring:--precursors to a second, far more serious and deadly "Invasion +of Silesia;" for which it hangs yet on the balance whether there will be +a TE-DEUM or a MISERERE to sing! + +Hungarian Majesty, disappointed of Silesia,--which, it seems, is not to +be had "all at once (EHESTENS)," in the form of miracle,--makes amends +by a rush upon Seckendorf and Bavaria; attacks Seckendorf furiously +("Bathyani pressing up the Donau Valley, with Browne on one hand, and +Barenklau on the other") in midwinter; and makes a terrible hand of him; +reducing his "Reconquest of Bavaria" to nothing again, nay to less. Of +which in due time. + + + + +THE FRENCH FULLY INTEND TO BEHAVE BETTER NEXT SEASON TO FRIEDRICH AND +THEIR GERMAN ALLIES;--BUT ARE PREVENTED BY VARIOUS ACCIDENTS (November, +1744-April, 1745; April-August, 1745). + +It is not divine miracle, Friedrich knows well, that has lost him his +late Bohemian Conquests without battle fought: it was rash choosing of +a plan inexecutable without French co-operation,--culpable blindness to +the chance that France would break its promises, and not co-operate. Had +your Majesty forgotten the Joint-Stock Principle, then? His Majesty has +sorrowful cause to remember it, from this time, on a still larger scale! + +Reflections, indignant or exculpatory, on the conduct of the French in +this Business are useless to Friedrich, and to us. The performance, on +their part, has been nearly the worst;--though their intentions, +while the Austrian Dragon had them by the throat, were doubtless +enthusiastically good! But, the big Austrian Dragon being jerked away +from Elsass, by Friedrich's treading on his tail, 500 miles off, they +were charmed, quite into new enthusiasm, to be rid of said Dragon: and, +instead of chasing HIM according to bargain, took to destroying his DEN, +that he might be harmless thenceforth. Freyburg is a captured Town, to +the joy and glory of admiring France; and Friedrich's Campaign has gone +the road we see! The Freyburg Illuminations having burnt out, +there might rise, in the triumphant mind, some thought of Friedrich +again,--perhaps almost of a remorseful nature? Certain it is, the French +intentions are now again magnanimous, more so than ever; coupled now +with some attempts at fulfilment, too; which obliges us to mention them +here. They were still a matter of important hope to Friedrich; hope +which did not quite go out till August coming. Though, alas, it did then +go out, in gusts of indignation on Friedrich's part! And as the whole of +these magnanimous French intentions, latter like former, again came to +zero, we are interested only in rendering them conceivable to readers +for Friedrich's sake,--with the more brevity, the better for everybody. +Two grand French Attempts there were; listen, on the threshold, a +little:-- + +... "It is certain the French intend gloriously; regardless of expense. +They are dismantling Freyburg, to render it harmless henceforth. But, +withal, in answer to the poor Kaiser's shrieks, they have sent Segur +[our old Linz friend], with 12,000, to assist Seckendorf; 'the +bravest troops in the world,'"--who did bravely take one beating (at +Pfaffenhofen, as will be seen), and go home again. ("They have Coigny +guarding those fine Brisgau Conquests. And are furthermore diplomatizing +diligently, not to say truculently, in the Rhine Countries; bullying +poor little fat Kur-Trier, lean Kur-Koln and others, 'To join the +Frankfurt Union' not one of whom would, under menace),--though 'it +is the clear duty of all Reich's-Princes with a Kaiser under +oppression:'--and have marched Maillebois, directly after Freyburg, into +the Middle-Rhine Countries, to Koln Country, to Mainz Country, and to +and fro, in support of said compulsory diplomacies;--but without the +least effect." + +To the "Middle-Rhine Countries," observe, and under Maillebois, then +under Conti, little matter under whom: only let readers recollect the +name of it;--for it is the FIRST of the French Attempts to do something +of a joint-stock nature; something for self AND Allies, instead of for +self only. It caused great alarm in those months, to Britannic George +and others; and brought out poor Duc d'Ahremberg with portions (no +English included) of the poor Pragmatic Army, to go marching about in +the winter slushes, instead of resting in bed, [Adelung, iv. 276, 420 +("December, 1744-June, 1745").]--and is indeed a very loud business in +the old Gazettes and books, till August coming. Business which almost +broke poor D'Ahremberg's heart, he says, "till once I got out of +it" (was TURNED out, in fact): Business of Pragmatic Army, under +D'Ahremberg, VERSUS Middle-Rhine Army under Maillebois, under Conti; +Business now wholly of Zero VERSUS Zero to us,--except for a few dates +and reflex glimmerings upon King Friedrich. Result otherwise--We shall +see the Result! + +"Attempt SECOND was still more important to Friedrich; being directed +upon the Kaiser and Bavaria. Belleisle is to go thither and take survey; +Belleisle thither first: you may judge if the intention is sincere! +Valori is quite eloquent upon it. Directly after Freyburg, says he, +Sechelles, that first of Commissaries, was sent to Munchen. Sechelles +cleared up the chaos of Accounts; which King Louis then instantly +paid. 'Your Imperial Majesty shall have Magazines also,' said Louis, +regardless of expense; 'and your Army, with auxiliaries (Segur and +25,000 of them French), shall be raised to 60,000.' Belleisle then came: +'We will have Ingolstadt, the first thing, in Spring.' Alas, Belleisle +had his Accident in the Harz; and all went aback, from that time." +[Valori, i. 322-329.] Aback, too indisputably, all!--"And Belleisle's +Accident?" Patience, readers. + +"The truth is, Attempt SECOND, and chief, broke down at once [Bathyani +beating it to pieces, as will be seen],--the ruins of it painfully +reacting on Attempt FIRST; which had the like fate some months +later;--and there was no THIRD made. And, in fact, from the date of that +latter down-break, August, or end of July, 1745 [and quite especially +from "September 13th," by which time several irrevocable things had +happened, which we shall hear of], the French withdrew altogether out of +German entanglements; and concentrated themselves upon the Netherlands, +there to demolish his Britannic Majesty, as the likelier enterprise. +This was a course to which, ever since the Exit of Broglio and the +Oriflamme, they had been more and more tending and inclining, 'Nothing +for us but loss on loss, to be had in Germany!' and so they at last +frankly gave up that bad Country. They fought well in the Netherlands, +with great splendor of success, under Saxe VERSUS Cumberland and +Company. They did also some successful work in Italy;--and left +Friedrich to bear the brunt in Germany; too glad if he or another +were there to take Germany off their hand! Friedrich's feelings on his +arriving at this consummation, and during his gradual advance towards +it, which was pretty steady all along from those first 'drenched-hen +(POULES MOUILLEES)' procedures, were amply known to Excellency Valori, +and may be conceived by readers,"--who are slightly interested in the +dates of them at farthest. And now for the Belleisle Accident, with +these faint preliminary lights. + + + + +STRANGE ACCIDENT TO MARECHAL DE BELLEISLE IN THE HARZ MOUNTAINS (20th +December, 1744). + +Siege of Freyburg being completed, and the River and most other things +(except always the bastions, which we blow up) being let into their old +channels there, Marechal de Belleisle, who is to have a chief management +henceforth,--the Most Christian King recognizing him again as his ablest +man in war or peace,--sets forth on a long tour of supervision, of +diplomacy and general arrangement, to prepare matters for the next +Campaign. Need enough of a Belleisle: what a business we have made of +it, since Friedrich trod on the serpent's tail for us.! Nothing but +our own Freyburg to show for ourselves; elsewhere, mere down-rush of +everything whitherward it liked;--and King Friedrich got into such a +humor! Friedrich must be put in tune again; something real and good to +be agreed on at Berlin: let that be the last thing, crown of the whole. +The first thing is, look into Bavaria a little; and how the Kaiser, +poor gentleman, in want of all requisites but good-will, can be put into +something of fighting posture. + +"In the end of November, Marechal Duc de Belleisle, with his Brother the +Chevalier (now properly the Count, there having been promotions), and +a great retinue more, alights at Munchen; holds counsel with the poor +Kaiser for certain days:--Money wanted; many things wanted; and all +things, we need not doubt, much fallen out of square. 'Those Seckendorf +troops in their winter-quarters,' say our French Inspectors and Segur +people, as usual, 'do but look on it, your Excellency! Scattered, along +the valleys, into the very edge of Austria; Austria will swallow them, +the first thing, next year; they will never rendezvous again except in +the Austrian prisons. Surely, Monseigneur, only a man ignorant of war, +or with treasonous intention [or ill-off for victuals],--could post +troops in that way? Seckendorf is not ignorant of war!' say they. +[Valori, i. 206.] For, in fact, suspicion runs high; and there is no end +to the accusations just and unjust; and Seckendorf is as ill treated as +any of us could wish. Poor old soul. Probably nobody in all the Earth, +but his old Wife in the Schloss of Altenburg, has any pity for him,--if +even she, which I hope. He has fought and diplomatized and intrigued +in many countries, very much; and in his old days is hard bested. +Monseigueur, whose part is rather that of Jove the Cloud-compeller, +is studious to be himself noiseless amid this noise; and makes no +alteration in the Seckendorf troops; but it is certain he meant to do +it, thinks Valori." + +And indeed Seckendorf, tired of the Bavarian bed-of-roses, had privately +fixed with himself to quit the same;--and does so, inexorable to the +very Kaiser, on New-Year arriving. [_Seckendorfs Leben,_ p. 365.] +Succeeded by Thorring (our old friend DRUM Thorring), if that be an +improvement. Marechal de Belleisle has still a long journey ahead, +and infinitely harder problems than these,--assuagement of the King of +Prussia, for example. Let us follow his remarkable steps. + +"WEDNESDAY, 9th DECEMBER, 1744, the Marechal leaves Munchen, +northwards through OEttingen and the Bamberg-Anspach regions towards +Cassel;--journey of some three hundred and fifty miles: with a great +retinue of his own; with an escort of two hundred horse from the Kaiser; +these latter to prevent any outfall or insult in the Ingolstadt quarter, +where the Austrians have a garrison, not at all very tightly blocked by +the Seckendorf people thereabouts. No insult or outfall occurring, the +Marechal dismisses his escort at OEttingen; fares forward in his twenty +coaches and fourgons, some score or so of vehicles:--mere neutral +Imperial Countries henceforth, where the Kaiser's Agent, as Marechal +de Belleisle can style himself, and Titular Prince of the German Empire +withal, has only to pay his way. By Donauworth, by OEttingen; over +the Donau acclivities, then down the pleasant Valley of the Mayn. [See +REVIEW OF THE CASE OF MARSHAL BELLEISLE (or Abstract of it, _Gentleman's +Magazine,_ 1745, pp. 366-373); &c. &c.] + +"SUNDAY, 13th DECEMBER, Marechal de Belleisle arrives at Hanau [where +we have seen Conferences held before now, and Carteret, Prince Karl and +great George our King very busy], there to confer with Marshals Coigny, +Maillebois and other high men, Commanders in those Rhine parts. Who +all come accordingly, except Marechal Maillebois, who is sorry that he +absolutely cannot; but will surely do himself the honor as Monseigneur +returns." As Monseigneur returns! "And so, on Monday, 14th, Monseigneur +starts for Cassel; say a hundred miles right north; where we shall meet +Prince Wilhelm of Hessen-Cassel, a zealous Ally; inform him how his +Troops, under Seckendorf, are posted [at Vilshofen yonder; hiding how +perilous their post is, or promising alterations]; perhaps rest a day or +two, consulting as to the common weal: How the King of Prussia takes +our treatment of him? How to smooth the King of Prussia, and turn him +to harmony again? We are approaching the true nodus of our business, +difficulty of difficulties; and Wilhelm, the wise Landgraf, may afford +a hint or two. Thus travels magnanimous Belleisle in twenty vehicles, a +man loaded with weighty matters, in these deep Winter months; suffering +dreadfully from rheumatic neuralgic ailments, a Doctor one of his +needfulest equipments; and has the hardest problem yet ahead of him. + +"Prince Wilhelm's consultations are happily lost altogether; buried from +sight forever, to the last hint,--all except as to what road to Berlin +would be the best from Cassel. By Leipzig, through low-lying country, is +the great Highway, advisable in winter; but it runs a hundred and thirty +miles to right, before ever starting northward; such a roundabout. Not +to say that the Saxons are allies of Austria,--if there be anything in +that. Enemies, they, to the Most Christian King: though surely, again, +we are on Kaiser's business, nay we are titular 'Prince of the Reich,' +for that matter, such the Kaiser's grace to us? Well; it is better +perhaps to AVOID the Saxon Territory. And, of course, the Hanoverian +much more; through which lies the other Great Road! 'Go by the Harz,' +advises Landgraf Wilhelm: 'a rugged Hill Country; but it is your +hypotenuse towards Berlin; passes at once, or nearly so, from Cassel +Territory into Prussian: a rugged road, but a shorter and safer.' That +is the road Belleisle resolves upon. Twenty carriages; his Brother the +Chevalier and himself occupy one; and always the courier rides before, +ordering forty post-horses to be ready harnessed. + +"SUNDAY, 20th DECEMBER, 1744. In this way they have climbed the eastern +shin of the Harz Range, where the Harz is capable of wheel-carriages; +and hope now to descend, this night, to Halberstadt; and thence rapidly +by level roads to Berlin. It is sinking towards dark; the courier is +forward to Elbingerode, ordering forty horses to be out. Roughish +uphill road; winter in the sky and earth, winter vapors and tumbling +wind-gusts: westward, in torn storm-cloak, the Bracken, with its +witch-dances; highland Goslar, and ghost of Henry the Fowler, on the +other side of it. A multifarious wizard Country, much overhung by goblin +reminiscences, witch-dances, sorcerers'-sabbaths and the like,--if a +rheumatic gentleman cared to look on it, in the cold twilight. Brrh! +Waste chasmy uplands, snow-choked torrents; wild people, gloomy firs! +Here at last, by one's watch 5 P.M., is Elbingerode, uncomfortable +little Town; and it is to be hoped the forty post-horses are ready. + +"Behold, while the forty post-horses are getting ready, a thing takes +place, most unexpected;--which made the name of Elbingerode famous for +eight months to come. Of which let us hastily give the bare facts, +Fancy making of them what she can. Was Monseigneur aware that this +Elbingerode, with a patch of territory round it, is Hanoverian ground; +one of those distracted patches or ragged outskirts frequent in the +German map? Prussia is not yet, and Hessen-Cassel has ceased to be. +Undoubtedly Hanoverian! Apparently the Landgraf and Monseigneur had not +thought of that. But Munchhausen of Hanover, spies informing him, +had. The Bailiff (Vogt, AdVOCATus) has gathered twenty JAGER [official +Game-keepers] with their guns, and a select idle Sunday population of +the place with or without guns: the Vogt steps forward, and inquires for +Monseigneur's passport. 'No passport, no need of any!'--'Pardon!' and +signifies to Monseigneur, on the part of George Elector of Hanover, King +of Great Britain, France and Ireland, that Monseigneur is arrested! + +"Monseigneur, with compressed or incompressible feelings, indignantly +complies,--what could he else, unfortunate rheumatic gentleman?--and is +plucked away in such sudden manner, he for one, out of that big German +game of his raising. The twenty vehicles are dragged different roads; +towards Scharzfels, Osterode, or I know not where,--handiest roads to +Hanover;--and Monseigneur himself has travelling treatment which might +be complained of, did not one disdain complaint: 'my Brother parted from +me, nay my Doctor, and my Interpreter;'"--not even speech possible to +me. [Letter of Belleisle next morning, "Neuhof, 21st December, 9 A.M." +(in _Valori,_ i. 204), to Munchhausen at Hanover,--by no possibility +"to Valori," as the distracted French Editor has given it!] That was the +Belleisle Accident in the Harz, Sunday Evening, 20th December, 1744. + +"Afflicted indignant Valori, soon enough apprised, runs to Friedrich +with the news,--greets Friedrich with it just alighting from that +Silesian run of his own. Friedrich, not without several other things to +think of, is naturally sorry at such news; sorry for his own sake even; +but not overmuch. Friedrich refuses 'to despatch a party of horse,' and +cut out Marechal de Belleisle. "That will never do, MON CHER!'--and even +gets into FROIDES PLAISANTERIES: 'Perhaps the Marechal did it +himself? Tallard, prisoner after Blenheim, made PEACE, you know, in +England?'--and the like; which grieved the soul of Valori, and convinced +him of Friedrich's inhumanity, in a crying case. + +"Belleisle is lugged on to Hanover; his case not doubtful to +Munchhausen, or the English Ministry,--though it raised great argument, +(was the capture fair, was it unfair? Is he entitled to exchange by +cartel, or not entitled?' and produced, in the next eight months, much +angry animated pamphleteering and negotiation. For we hear by and by, +he is to be forwarded to Stade, on the Hamburg sea-coast, where English +Seventy-fours are waiting for him; his case still undecided;--and, +in effect, it was not till after eight months that he got dismissal. +'Lodged handsomely in Windsor Palace,' in the interim; free on his +parole, people of rank very civil to him, though the Gazetteers were +sometimes ill-tongued,--had he understood their PATOIS, or concerned +himself about such things + +["TUESDAY, 18th FEBRUARY [1st March, 1745], Marshal Belleisle landed at +Harwich; lay at Greenwich Palace, having crossed Thames at the Isle of +Dogs: next morning, about 10, set out, in a coach-and-six, Colonel +Douglas and two troops of horse escorting; arrived 3 P.M.,--by +Camberwell, Clapham, Wandsworth, over Kingston and Staines Bridges,--at +Windsor Castle, and the apartments ready for him." (_Gentleman's +Magazine,_ 1745, p 107.) Was let go 13th (24th) August, again with great +pomp and civilities (ib. p. 442). See Adelung, iv. 299, 346; v. 83, 84.] + +"It was a current notion among contemporary mankind, this of Friedrich, +that Belleisle's capture might be a mere collusion, meant to bring about +a Peace in that Tallard fashion,--wide of the truth as such a notion +is, far as any Peace was from following. To Britannic George and his +Hanoverians it had merely seemed, Here was a chief War-Captain and +Diplomatist among the French; the pivot of all these world-wide +movements, as Valori defines him; which pivot, a chance offering, it +were well to twitch from its socket, and see what would follow. Perhaps +nothing will follow; next to nothing? A world, all waltzing in mad war, +is not to be stopped by acting on any pivot; your waltzing world will +find new pivots, or do without any, and perhaps only waltz the more +madly for wanting the principal one." + +This withdrawal of Belleisle, the one Frenchman respected by Friedrich, +or much interested for his own sake in things German, is reckoned a main +cause why the French Alliance turned out so ill for Friedrich; and why +French effort took more and more a Netherlands direction thenceforth, +and these new French magnanimities on Friedrich's behalf issued in +futility again. Probably they never could have issued in very much: but +it is certain that, from this point, they also do become zero; and that +Friedrich, from his French alliance, reaped from first to last nothing +at all, except a great deal of obloquy from German neighbors, and from +the French side endless trouble, anger and disappointment in every +particular. Which 'might be a joy (though not unmixed) to Britannic +Majesty and the subtle followers who had ginned this fine Belleisle bird +in its flight over the Harz Range? Though again, had they passively let +him wing his way, and he had GOT "to be Commander and Manager," as was +in agitation,--he, Belleisle and in Germany, instead of Marechal de Saxe +with the Netherlands as chief scene,--what an advantage might that have +been to them! + + + + +THE KAISER KARL VII. GETS SECURED FROM OPPRESSIONS, IN A TRAGIC WAY. +FRIEDRICH PROPOSES PEACE, BUT TO NO PURPOSE. + +A still sadder cross for Friedrich, in the current of foreign Accidents +and Diplomacies, was the next that befell; exactly a month later,--at +Munchen, 20th January, 1745. Hardly was Belleisle's back turned, when +her Hungarian Majesty, by her Bathyani and Company, broke furiously in +upon the poor Kaiser and his Seckendorf-Segur defences. Belleisle had +not reached the Harz, when all was going topsy-turvy there again, and +the Donau-Valley fast falling back into Austrian hands. Nor is that the +worst, or nearly so. + +"MUNCHEN, 20th JANUARY, 1745. This day poor Kaiser Karl laid down his +earthly burden here, and at length gave all his enemies the slip. He +had been ill of gout for some time; a man of much malady always, with no +want of vexations and apprehensions. Too likely the Austrians will drive +him out of Munchen again; then nothing but furnished lodgings, and the +French to depend upon. He had been much chagrined by some Election, +just done, in the Chapter of Salzburg. [Adelung, iv. 249, 276, 313.] +The Archbishop there--it was Firmian, he of the SALZBURG EMIGRATION, +memorable to readers--had died, some while ago. And now, in flat +contradiction to Imperial customs, prerogatives, these people had +admitted an Austrian Garrison; and then, in the teeth of our express +precept, had elected an Austrian to their benefice: what can one account +it but an insult as well as an injury? And the neuralgic maladies press +sore, and the gouty twinges; and Belleisle is seized, perhaps with +important papers of ours; and the Seckendorf-Segur detachments were ill +placed; nay here are the Austrians already on the throat of them, in +midwinter! It is said, a babbling valet, or lord-in-waiting, happened to +talk of some skirmish that had fallen out (called a battle, in the valet +rumor), and how ill the French and Bavarians had fared in it, owing to +their ill behavior. And this, add they, proved to be the ounce-weight +too much for the so heavy-laden back. + +"The Kaiser took to bed, not much complaining; patient, mild, though +the saddest of all mortals; and, in a day or two, died. Adieu, adieu, +ye loved faithful ones; pity me, and pray for me! He gave his Wife, poor +little fat devout creature, and his poor Children (eldest lad, his Heir, +only seventeen), a tender blessing; solemnly exhorted them, To eschew +ambition, and be warned by his example;--to make their peace with +Austria; and never, like him, try COM' E DURO CALLE, and what the +charity of Christian Kings amounts to. This counsel, it is thought, the +Empress Dowager zealously accedes to, and will impress upon her Son. +That is the Austrian and Cause-of-Liberty account: King Friedrich, from +the other side, has heard a directly opposite one. How the Kaiser, at +the point of death, exhorted his son, 'Never forget the services which +the King of France and the King of Prussia have done us, and do not +repay them with ingratitude.' [ _OEuvres de Frederic,_ iii. 92;--and see +(PER CONTRA) in Adelung, iv. 314 A; in Coxe, &c.] The reader can choose +which he will, or reject both into the region of the uncertain. 'Karl +Albert's pious and affectionate demeanor drew tears from all eyes,' say +the by-standers: 'the manner in which he took leave of his Empress would +have melted a heart of stone.' He was in his forty-eighth year; he had +been, of all men in his generation, the most conspicuously unhappy." + +What a down-rush of confusion there ensued on this event, not to Bavaria +alone, but to all the world, and to King Friedrich more than another, +no reader can now take the pains of conceiving. The "Frankfurt Union," +then, has gone to air! Here is now no "Kaiser to be delivered from +oppression:" here is a new Kaiser to be elected,--"Grand-Duke Franz the +man," cry the Pragmatic Potentates with exultation, "no Belleisle to +disturb!"--and questions arise innumerable thereupon, Will France go +into electioneering again? The new Kur-Baiern, only seventeen, poor +child, cannot be set up as candidate. What will France do with HIM; +what he with France? Whom can the French try as Candidate against the +Grand-Duke? Kur-Sachsen, the Polish Majesty again? Belleisle himself +must have paused uncertain over such a welter,--and probably have done, +like the others, little or nothing in it, but left it to collapse by +natural gravitation. + +Hungarian Majesty checked her Bavarian Armaments a little: "If perhaps +this young Kur-Baiern will detach himself from France, and on submissive +terms come over to us?" Whereupon, at Munchen, and in the cognate +quarters, such wriggling, dubitating and diplomatizing, as seldom +was,--French, Anti-French (Seckendorf busiest of all), straining every +nerve in that way, and for almost three months, nothing coming of +it,--till Hungarian Majesty sent her Barenklaus and Bathyanis upon them +again; and these rapidly solved the question, in what way we shall see! + +Friedrich has still his hopes of Bavaria, so grandiloquent are the +French in regard to it; who but would hope? The French diplomatize to +all lengths in Munchen, promising seas and mountains; but they perform +little; in an effectual manner, nothing. Bavarian "Army raised to +60,000;" counts in fact little above half that number; with no General +to it but an imaginary one; Segur's actual French contingent, instead +of 25,000, is perhaps 12,000;--and so of other things. Add to all which, +Seckendorf is there, not now as War-General, but as extra-official +"Adviser;" busier than ever,--"scandalous old traitor!" say the +French;--and Friedrich may justly fear that Bavaria will go, by +collapse, a bad road for him. + +Friedrich, a week or two after the Kaiser's death, seeing Bavarian and +French things in such a hypothetic state, instructs his Ambassador +at London to declare his, Friedrich's, perfect readiness and wish for +Peace: "Old Treaty of Breslau and Berlin made indubitable to me; the +rest of the quarrel has, by decease of the Kaiser, gone to air." +To which the Britannic Majesty, rather elated at this time, as all +Pragmatic people are, answers somewhat in a careless way, "Well, if +the others like it!" and promises that he will propose it in the proper +quarter. So that henceforth there is always a hope of Peace through +England; as well as contrariwise, especially till Bavaria settle itself +(in April next), a hope of great assistance from the French. Here are +potentialities and counter-potentialities, which make the Bavarian +Intricacy very agitating to the young King, while it lasts. And indeed +his world is one huge imbroglio of Potentialities and Diplomatic +Intricacies, agitating to behold. Concerning which we have again to +remark how these huge Spectres of Diplomacy, now filling Friedrich's +world, came mostly in result to Nothing;--shaping themselves wholly, +for or against, in exact proportion, direct or inverse, to the actual +Quantity of Battle and effective Performance that happened to be found +in Friedrich himself. Diplomatic Spectralities, wide Fatamorganas of +hope, and hideous big Bugbears blotting out the sun: of these, few +men ever had more than Friedrich at this time. And he is careful, none +carefuler, not to neglect his Diplomacies at any time;--though he +knows, better than most, that good fighting of his own is what alone +can determine the value of these contingent and aerial quantities,--mere +Lapland witchcraft the greater part of them. + +A second grand Intricacy and difficulty, still more enigmatic, and +pressing the tighter by its close neighborhood, was that with the +Saxons. "Are the Saxons enemies; are they friends? Neutrals at lowest; +bound by Treaty to lend Austria troops; but to lend for defence merely, +not for offence! Could not one, by good methods, make friends with his +Polish Majesty?" Friedrich was far from suspecting the rages that lurked +in the Polish Majesty, and least of all owing to what. Owing to that old +MORAVIAN-FORAY business; and to his, Friedrich's, behavior to the Saxons +in it; excellent Saxons, who had behaved so beautifully to Friedrich! +That is the sad fact, however. Stupid Polish Majesty has his natural +envies, jealousies, of a Brandenburg waxing over his head at this rate. +But it appears, the Moravian Foray entered for a great deal into the +account, and was the final overwhelming item. Bruhl, by much descanting +on that famous Expedition,--with such candid Eye-witnesses to appeal to, +such corroborative Staff-officers and appliances, powerful on the idle +heart and weak brain of a Polish Majesty,--has brought it so far. Fixed +indignation, for intolerable usage, especially in that Moravian-Foray +time: fixed; not very malignant, but altogether obstinate (as, I am +told, that of the pacific sheep species usually is); which carried Bruhl +and his Polish Majesty to extraordinary heights and depths in years +coming! But that will deserve a section to itself by and by. + +A third difficulty, privately more stringent than any, is that of +Finance. The expenses of the late Bohemian Expedition, "Friedrich's +Army costing 75,000 pounds a month," have been excessive. For our +next Campaign, if it is to be done in the way essential, there are, by +rigorous arithmetic, "900,000 pounds" needed. A frugal Prussia raises +no new taxes; pays its Wars from "the Treasure," from the Fund saved +beforehand for emergencies of that kind; Fund which is running low, +threatening to be at the lees if such drain on it continue. To fight +with effect being the one sure hope, and salve for all sores, it is +not in the Army, in the Fortresses, the Fighting Equipments, that there +shall be any flaw left! Friedrich's budget is a sore problem upon him; +needing endless shift and ingenuity, now and onwards, through this +war:--already, during these months, in the Berlin Schloss, a great deal +of those massive Friedrich-Wilhelm plate Sumptuosities, especially +that unparalleled Music-Balcony up stairs, all silver, has been, under +Fredersdorf's management, quietly taken away; "carried over, in the +night-time, to the Mint." [Orlich, ii. 126-128.] + +And, in fact, no modern reader, not deeper in that distressing story +of the Austrian-Succession War than readers are again like to be, can +imagine to himself the difficulties of Friedrich at this time, as they +already lay disclosed, and kept gradually disclosing themselves, +for months coming; nor will ever know what perspicacity, patience +of scanning, sharpness of discernment, dexterity of management, were +required at Friedrich's hands;--and under what imminency of peril, too; +victorious deliverance, or ruin and annihilation, wavering fearfully +in the balance for him, more than once, or rather all along. But it +is certain the deeper one goes into that hideous Medea's Caldron of +stupidities, once so flamy, now fallen extinct, the more is one +sensible of Friedrich's difficulties; and of the talent for all kinds +of Captaincy,--by no means in the Field only, or perhaps even +chiefly,--that was now required of him. Candid readers shall accept +these hints, and do their best:--Friedrich himself made not the least +complaint of men's then misunderstanding him; still less will he now! +We, keeping henceforth the Diplomacies, the vaporous Foreshadows, and +general Dance of Unclean Spirits with their intrigues and spectralities, +well underground, so far as possible, will stick to what comes up as +practical Performance on Friedrich's part, and try to give intelligible +account of that. + +Valori says, he is greatly changed, and for the better, by these late +reverses of fortune. All the world notices it, says Valori. No longer +that brief infallibility of manner; that lofty light air, that politely +disdainful view of Valori and mankind: he has now need of men. Complains +of nothing, is cheerful, quizzical;--ardently busy to "grind out the +notches," as our proverb is; has a mild humane aspect, something of +modesty, almost of piety in him. Help me, thou Supreme Power, Maker of +men, if my purposes are manlike! Though one does not go upon the Prayers +of Forty-Hours, or apply through St. Vitus and such channels, there may +be something of authentic petition to Heaven in the thoughts of that +young man. He is grown very amiable; the handsomest young bit of Royalty +now going. He must fight well next Summer, or it will go hard with him! + + + + +Chapter VI.--VALORI GOES ON AN ELECTIONEERING MISSION TO DRESDEN. + +Some time in January, a new Frenchman, a "Chevalier de Courten," if the +name is known to anybody, was here at Berlin; consulting, settling about +mutual interests and operations. Since Belleisle is snatched from us, +it is necessary some Courten should come; and produce what he has got: +little of settlement, I should fear, of definite program that will +hold water; in regard to War operations chiefly a magazine of clouds. +[Specimens of it, in Ranke, iii. 219.] For the rest, the Bavarian +question; and very specially, Who the new Emperor is to be?"King of +Poland, thinks your Majesty?"--"By all means," answers Friedrich, "if +you can! Detach him from Austria; that will be well!" Which was reckoned +magnanimous, at least public-spirited, in Friedrich; considering what +Saxony's behavior to him had already been. "By all means, his Polish +Majesty for Kaiser; do our utmost, Excellencies Valori, Courten and +Company!" answers Friedrich,--and for his own part, I observe, is +intensely busy upon Army matters, looking after the main chance. + +And so Valori is to go to Dresden, and manage this cloud or cobwebbery +department of the thing; namely, persuade his Polish Majesty to stand +for the Kaisership: "Baiern, Pfalz, Koln, Brandenburg, there are four +votes, Sire; your own is five: sure of carrying it, your Polish Majesty; +backed by the Most Christian King, and his Allies and resources!" And +Polish Majesty does, for his own share, very much desire to be Kaiser. +But none of us yet knows how he is tied up by Austria, Anti-Friedrich, +Anti-French considerations; and can only "accept if it is offered me:" +thrice-willing to accept, if it will fall into my mouth; which, on those +terms, it has so little chance of doing!--Saxony and its mysterious +affairs and intentions having been, to Friedrich, a riddle and trouble +and astonishment, during all this Campaign, readers ought to know the +fact well;--and no reader could stand the details of such a fact. Here, +in condensed form, are some scraps of Excerpt; which enable us to go +with Valori on this Dresden Mission, and look for ourselves:-- + + + + +1. FRIEDRICH'S POSITION TOWARDS SAXONY. + +"... By known Treaty, the Polish Majesty is bound to assist the +Hungarian with 12,000 men, 'whenever invaded in her own dominions.' +Polish Majesty had 20,000 in the field for that object lately,--part +of them, 8,000 of them, hired by Britannic subsidy, as he alleges. The +question now is, Will Saxony assist Austria in invading Silesia, with +or without Britannic subsidy? Friedrich hopes that this is impossible! +Friedrich is deeply unaware of the humor he has raised against himself +in the Saxon Court-circles; how the Polish Majesty regards that Moravian +Foray; with what a perfect hatred little Bruhl regards him, Friedrich; +and to what pitch of humor, owing to those Moravian-Foray starvings, +marchings about and inhuman treatment of the poor Saxon Army, not to +mention other offences and afflictive considerations, Bruhl has raised +the simple Polish Majesty against Friedrich. These things, as they +gradually unfolded themselves to Friedrich, were very surprising. And +proved very disadvantageous at the present juncture and for a long time +afterwards. To Friedrich disadvantageous and surprising; and to Saxony, +in the end, ruinous; poor Saxony having got its back broken by them, and +never stood up in the world since! Ruined by this wretched little Bruhl; +and reduced, from the first place in Northern Teutschland, to a second +or third, or no real place at all." + + + + +2. THERE IS A, "UNION OF WARSAW" (8th January, 1745); AND STILL MORE +SPECIALLY A "TREATY OF WARSAW" (8th January-18th May, 1745). + +"January 8th, 1745, before the Old Dessauer got ranked in Schlesien +against Traun, there had concluded itself at Warsaw, by way of +counterpoise to the 'Frankfurt Union,' a 'Union of Warsaw,' called +also 'Quadruple Alliance of Warsaw;' the Parties to which were Polish +Majesty, Hungarian ditto, Prime-Movers, and the two Sea-Powers as +Purseholders; stipulating, to the effect: 'We Four will hold together in +affairs of the Reich VERSUS that dangerous Frankfurt Union; we will'--do +a variety of salutary things; and as one practical thing, 'There shall +be, this Season, 30,000 Saxons conjoined to the Austrian Force, for +which we Sea-Powers will furnish subsidy.'--This was the one practical +point stipulated, January 8th; and farther than this the Sea-Powers did +not go, now or afterwards, in that affair. + +"But there was then proposed by the Polish and Hungarian Majesties, +in the form of Secret Articles, an ulterior Project; with which the +Sea-Powers, expressing mere disbelief and even abhorrence of it, refused +to have any concern now or henceforth. Polish Majesty, in hopes it +would have been better taken, had given his 30,000 soldiers at a rate +of subsidy miraculously low, only 150,000 pounds for the whole: but the +Sea-Powers were inexorable, perhaps almost repented of their 150,000 +pounds; and would hear nothing farther of secret Articles and delirious +Projects. + +"So that the 'Union of Warsaw' had to retire to its pigeon-hole, content +with producing those 30,000 Saxons for the immediate occasion; and +there had to be concocted between the Polish and Hungarian Majesties +themselves what is now, in the modern Pamphlets, called a 'TREATY of +Warsaw,'--much different from the innocent, 'UNION of Warsaw;' though it +is merely the specifying and fixing down of what had been shadowed +out as secret codicils in said 'Union,' when the Sea-Power parties +obstinately recoiled. Treaty of Warsaw let us continue to call it; +though its actual birth-place was Leipzig (in the profoundest secrecy, +18th May, 1745), above four months after it had tried to be born at +Warsaw, and failed as aforesaid. Warsaw Union is not worth speaking +of; but this other is a Treaty highly remarkable to the reader,--and to +Friedrich was almost infinitely so, when he came to get wind of it long +after. + +"Treaty which, though it proved abortional, and never came to fulfilment +in any part of it, is at this day one of the remarkablest bits of +sheepskin extant in the world. It was signed 18th May, 1745; [Scholl, +ii. 350.] and had cost a great deal of painful contriving, capable still +of new altering and retouching, to hit mutual views: Treaty not only for +reconquering Silesia (which to the Two Majesties, though it did not +to the Sea-Powers, seems infallible, in Friedrich's now ruined +circumstances), but for cutting down that bad Neighbor to something like +the dimensions proper for a Brandenburg Vassal;--in fact, quite the old +'Detestable Project' of Spring, 1741, only more elaborated into detail +(in which Britannic George knows better than to meddle!)--Saxony to have +share of the parings, when we get them. 'What share?' asked Saxony, and +long keeps asking. 'A road to Warsaw; Strip of Country carrying us from +the end of the Lausitz, which is ours, into Poland, which we trust will +continue ours, would be very handy! Duchy of Glogau; some small paring +of Silesia, won't your Majesty?' 'Of my Silesia not one hand-breadth,' +answered the Queen impatiently (though she did at last concede +some outlying hand-breadths, famed old 'Circle of Schwiebus,' if I +recollect); and they have had to think of other equivalent parings for +Saxony's behoof (Magdeburg, Halberstadt, Saale-Circle, or one knows +not what); and have had, and will have, their adoes to get it fixed. +Excellent bearskin to be slit into straps; only the bear is still on his +feet!--Polish Majesty and Hungarian, Polish with especial vigor, Bruhl +quite restless upon it, are--little as Valori or any mortal could dream +of it--engaged in this partition of the bearskin, when Valori arrives. +Of their innocent Union of Warsaw, there was, from the first, no secret +made; but the Document now called 'TREATY of Warsaw' needs to lie secret +and thrice-secret; and it was not till 1756 that Friedrich, having +unearthed it by industries of his own, and studied it with great +intensity for some years, made it known to the world." [Adelung, v. 308. +397; Ranke, iii. 231 (who, for some reason of his own, dates "3d May" +instead of 18th]. + +Treaties, vaporous Foreshadows of Events, have oftenest something of the +ghost in them; and are importune to human nature, longing for the Events +themselves; all the more if they have proved abortional Treaties, and +become doubly ghost-like or ghastly. Nevertheless the reader is to +note well this Treaty of Warsaw, as important to Friedrich and him; and +indeed it is perhaps the remarkablest Treaty, abortional or realized, +which got to parchment in that Century. For though it proved abortional, +and no part of it, now or afterwards, could be executed, and even the +subsidy and 30,000 Saxons (stipulated in the "UNION of Warsaw") became +crow's-meat in a manner,--this preternatural "Treaty of Warsaw," trodden +down never so much by the heel of Destiny, and by the weight of +new Treaties, superseding it or presupposing its impossibility or +inconceivability, would by no means die (such the humor of Bruhl, of +the Two Majesties and others); but lay alive under the ashes, carefully +tended, for Ten or Twenty Years to come;--and had got all Europe kindled +again, for destruction of that bad Neighbor, before it would itself +consent to go out! And did succeed in getting Saxony's back broken, +if not the bad Neighbor's,--in answer to the humor of little Bruhl; +unfortunate Saxony to possess such a Bruhl! + +In those beautiful Saxon-Austrian developments of the Treaty of +Warsaw, Czarina Elizabeth, bobbing about in that unlovely whirlpool of +intrigues, amours, devotions and strong liquor, which her History is, +took (ask not for what reason) a lively part:--and already in this +Spring of 1745, they hope she could, by "a gift of two millions for +her pleasures" (gift so easy to you Sea-Powers), be stirred up to anger +against Friedrich. And she did, in effect, from this time, hover about +in a manner questionable to Friedrich; though not yet in anger, but +only with the wish to be important, and to make herself felt in Foreign +affairs. Whether the Sea-Powers gave her that trifle of pocket-money +("for her pleasures"), I never knew; but it is certain they spent, first +and last, very large amounts that way, upon her and hers; especially the +English did, with what result may be considered questionable. + +As for Graf von Bruhl, most rising man of Saxony, once a page; now by +industry King August III.'s first favorite and factotum; the fact that +he cordially hates Friedrich is too evident; but the why is not known to +me. Except indeed, That no man--especially no man with three hundred +and sixty-five fashionable suits of clothes usually about him, different +suit each day of the year--can be comfortable in the evident contempt of +another man. Other man of sarcastic bantering turn, too; tongue sharp +as needles; whose sayings many birds of the air are busy to carry about. +Year after year, Bruhl (doubtless with help enough that way, if there +had needed such) hates him more and more; as the too jovial Czarina +herself comes to do, wounded by things that birds have carried. And now +we will go with Valori,--seeing better into some things than Valori yet +can. + + + + +3. VALORI'S ACCOUNT OF HIS MISSION (in compressed form). [Valori, i. +211-219.] + +"Valori [I could guess about the 10th of February, but there is no date +at all] was despatched to Dresden with that fine project, Polish Majesty +for Kaiser: is authorized to offer 60,000 men, with money corresponding, +and no end of brilliant outlooks;--must keep back his offers, however, +if he find the people indisposed. Which he did, to an extreme degree; +nothing but vague talk, procrastination, hesitation on the part of +Bruhl. This wretched little Bruhl has twelve tailors always sewing for +him, and three hundred and sixty-five suits of clothes: so many suits, +all pictured in a Book; a valet enters every morning, proposes a suit, +which, after deliberation, with perhaps amendments, is acceded to, and +worn at dinner. Vainest of human clothes-horses; foolishest coxcomb +Valori has seen: it is visibly his notion that it was he, Bruhl, by his +Saxon auxiliaries, by his masterly strokes of policy, that checkmated +Friedrich, and drove him from Bohemia last Year; and, for the rest, that +Friedrich is ruined, and will either shirk out of Silesia, or be cut to +ribbons there by the Austrian force this Summer. To which Valori hints +dissent; but it is ill received. Valori sees the King; finds him, as +expected, the fac-simile of Bruhl in this matter; Jesuit Guarini the +like: how otherwise? They have his Majesty in their leash, and lead him +as they please. + +"At four every morning, this Guarini, Jesuit Confessor to the King and +Queen, comes to Bruhl; Bruhl settles with him what his Majesty shall +think, in reference to current business, this day; Guarini then goes, +confesses both Majesties; confesses, absolves, turns in the due way +to secular matters. At nine, Bruhl himself arrives, for Privy Council: +'What is your Majesty pleased to think on these points of current +business?' Majesty serenely issues his thoughts, in the form of orders; +which are found correct to pattern. This is the process with his +Majesty. A poor Majesty, taking deeply into tobacco; this is the way +they have him benetted, as in a dark cocoon of cobwebs, rendering the +whole world invisible to him. Which cunning arrangement is more and more +perfected every year; so that on all roads he travels, be it to mass, +to hunt, to dinner, any-whither in his Palace or out of it, there are +faithful creatures keeping eye, who admit no unsafe man to the least +glimpse of him by night or by day. In this manner he goes on; and before +the end of him, twenty years hence, has carried it far. Nothing but +disgust to be had out of business;--mutinous Polish Diets too, some +forty of them, in his time, not one of which did any business at all, +but ended in LIBERUM VETO, and Billingsgate conflagration, perhaps +with swords drawn: [See Buchholz, 154; &c.]--business more and more +disagreeable to him. What can Valori expect, on this heroic occasion, +from such a King? + +"The Queen herself, Maria Theresa's Cousin, an ambitious hard-favored +Majesty,--who had sense once to dislike Bruhl, but has been quite +reconciled to him by her Jesuit Messenger of Heaven (which latter is an +oily, rather stupid creature, who really wishes well to her, and loves +a peaceable life at any price),--even she will not take the bait. Valori +was in Dresden nine days (middle part of February, it is likely); never +produced his big bait, his 60,000 men and other brilliancies, at all. +He saw old Feldmarschall Konigseck passing from Vienna towards the +Netherlands Camp; where he is to dry-nurse (so they irreverently call +it, in time coming) his Royal Highness of Cumberland, that magnificent +English Babe of War, and do feats with him this Summer." Konigseck, +though Valori did not know it, has endless diplomacies to do withal; +inspections of troops, advisings, in Hanover, in Holland, in Dresden +here; [Anonymous,--Duke of Cumberland,--p. 186.]--and secures the Saxon +Electoral-Vote for his Grand-Duke in passing. "The welcome given to +Konigseck disgusted Valori; on the ninth day he left; said adieu, seeing +them blind to their interest; and took post for Berlin,"--where he finds +Friedrich much out of humor at the Saxon reception of his magnanimities. +[Valori, i. 211-219; _OEuvres de Frederic,_ iii. 81-85. For details +on Bruhl, see _Graf von Bruhl, Leben und Charakter_ (1760, No Place): +Anonymous, by one Justi, a noted Pamphleteer of the time: exists in +English too, or partly exists; but is unreadable, except on compulsion; +and totally unintelligible till after very much inquiry elsewhere.] + +This Saxon intricacy, indecipherable, formidable, contemptible, was the +plague of Friedrich's life, one considerable plague, all through this +Campaign. Perhaps nothing in the Diplomatic sphere of things caused +him such perplexity, vexation, indignation. An insoluble riddle to +him; extremely contemptible, yet,--with a huge Russia tacked to it, and +looming minatory in the distance,--from time to time, formidable enough. +Let readers keep it in mind, and try to imagine it. It cost Friedrich +such guessing, computing, arranging, rearranging, as would weary the +toughest reader to hear of in detail. How Friedrich did at last solve it +(in December coming), all readers will see with eyes!-- + + + + +MIDDLE-RHINE ARMY IN A STAGGERING STATE; THE BAVARIAN INTRICACY SETTLES +ITSELF, THE WRONG WAY. + +Early in March it becomes surmisable that Maillebois's Middle-Rhine Army +will not go a good road. Maillebois has been busy in those countries, +working extensive discontent; bullying mankind "to join the Frankfurt +Union," to join France at any rate, which nobody would consent to; and +exacting merciless contributions, which everybody had to consent to and +pay.--And now, on D'Ahremberg's mere advance, with that poor Fraction +of Pragmatic Army, roused from its winter sleep, Maillebois, without +waiting for D'Ahremberg's attack, rapidly calls in his truculent +detachments, and rolls confusedly back into the Frankfurt regions. +[Adelung, iv. 276-352 (December, 1744-March, 1745).] Upon which +D'Ahremberg--if by no means going upon Maillebois's throat--sets, at +least, to coercing Wilhelm of Hessen, our only friend in those parts; +who is already a good deal disgusted with the Maillebois procedures, +and at a loss what to do on the Kaiser's death, which has killed the +Frankfurt Union too. Wise Wilhelm consents, under D'Ahremberg's menaces, +to become Neutral; and recall his 6,000 out of Baiern,--wishes he had +them home beside him even now! + +With an Election in the wind, it is doubly necessary for the French, who +have not even a Candidate as yet, to stand supreme and minatory in the +Frankfurt Country; and to King Friedrich it is painfully questionable, +whether Maillebois can do it. "Do it we will; doubt not that, your +Majesty!" answer Valori and the French;--and study to make improvements, +reinforcements, in their Rhine Army. And they do, at least, change the +General of their Middle-Rhine Army,--that is to say, recall Prince Conti +out of Italy, where he has distinguished himself, and send Maillebois +thither in his stead,--who likewise distinguishes himself THERE, if that +could be a comfort to us! Whether the distinguished Conti will maintain +that Frankfurt Country in spite of the Austrians and their Election +movements, is still a question with Friedrich, though Valori continued +assuring him (always till July came) that, it was beyond question. +"Siege of Tournay, vigorous Campaign in the Netherlands (for behoof of +Britannic George)!" this is the grand French program for the Year. This +good intention was achieved, on the French part; but this, like Aaron's +rod among the serpents, proved to have EATEN the others as it wriggled +along!-- + +Those Maillebois-D'Ahremberg affairs throw a damp on the Bavarian +Question withal;--in fact, settle the Bavarian Question; her Hungarian +Majesty, tired of the delays, having ordered Bathyani to shoulder arms +again, and bring a decision. Bathyani, with Barenklau to right of him, +and Browne (our old Silesian friend) to left, goes sweeping across those +Seckendorf-Segur posts, and without difficulty tumbles everything to +ruin, at a grand rate. The traitor Seckendorf had made such a choice of +posts,--left unaltered by Drum Thorring;--what could French valor do? +Nothing; neither French valor, nor Bavarian want of valor, could +do anything but whirl to the right-about, at sight of the Austrian +Sweeping-Apparatus; and go off explosively, as in former instances, at +a rate almost unique in military annals. Finished within three weeks or +so!--We glance only at two points of it. March 21st, Bathyani stood to +arms (to BESOMS we might call it), Browne on the left, Barenklau on the +right: it was March 21st when Bathyani started from Passau, up the Donau +Countries;--and within the week coming, see:-- + +"VILSHOFEN, 28th MARCH, 1745. Here, at the mouth of the Vils River +(between Inn and Iser), is the first considerable Post; garrison some +4,000; Hessians and Prince Friedrich the main part,--who have their +share of valor, I dare say; but with such news out of Hessen, not to +speak of the prospects in this Country, are probably in poorish spirits +for acting. General Browne summons them in Vilshofen, this day; and, on +their negative, storms in upon them, bursts them to pieces; upon which +they beat chamade. But the Croats, who are foremost, care nothing for +chamade: go plundering, slaughtering; burn the poor Town; butcher [in +round numbers] 3,000 of the poor Hessians; and wound General Browne +himself, while he too vehemently interferes." [Adelung, iv. 356, and the +half-intelligible Foot-note in Ranke, iii. 220.] This was the finale +of those 6,000 Hessians, and indeed their principal function, while in +French pay;--and must have been, we can Judge how surprising to Prince +Friedrich, and to his Papa on hearing of it! Note another point. + +Precisely about this time twelvemonth, "March 16th, 1746," the same +Prince Friedrich, with remainder of those Hessians, now again completed +to 6,000, and come back with emphasis to the Britannic side of +things, was--marching out of Edinburgh, in much state, with streamers, +kettle-drums, Highness's coaches, horses, led-horses, on an unexpected +errand. [Henderson (Whig Eye-witness). _History of the Rebellion,_ 1745 +and 1746 (London, 1748, reprint from the Edinburgh edition), pp. 104, +106, 107.] Toward Stirling, Perth; towards Killiecrankie, and raising of +what is called "the Siege of Blair in Athol" (most minute of "sieges," +but subtending a great angle there and then);--much of unexpected, and +nearer home than "Tournay and the Netherlands Campaign," having happened +to Britannic George in the course of this year, 1746! "Really very fine +troops, those Hessians [observes my orthodox Whig friend]: they carry +swords as well as guns and bayonets; their uniform is blue turned up +with white: the Hussar part of them, about 500, have scimitars of +a great length; small horses, mostly black, of Swedish breed; swift +durable little creatures, with long tails." Honors, dinners, to his +Serene Highness had been numerous, during the three weeks we had him +in Edinburgh; "especially that Ball, February 21st (o.s.), eve of his +Consort the Princess Mary's Birthday [EVE of birthday, "let us dance the +auspicious morning IN] was, for affluence of Nobility and Gentry of both +sexes," a sublime thing...." + +PFAFFENHOFEN, APRIL 15th. "Unfortunate Segur, the Segur of Linz three +years ago,--whose conduct was great, according to Valori, but powerless +against traitors and fate!--was again, once more, unfortunate in those +parts. Unfortunate Segur drew up at Pfaffenhofen (centre of the Country, +many miles from Vilshofen) to defend himself, when fallen upon by +Barenklau, in that manner; but could not, though with masterly demeanor; +and had to retreat three days, with his face to the enemy, so to speak, +fighting and manoeuvring all the way: no shelter for him either but +Munchen, and that, a most temporary one. Instead of taking Straubingen, +taking Passau, perhaps of pushing on to Vienna itself, this is what +we have already come to. No Rhine Army, Middle-Rhine Army, Coigny, +Maillebois, Conti, whoever it was, should send us the least +reinforcement, when shrieked to. No outlook whatever but rapid +withdrawal, retreat to the Rhine Army, since it will not stir to help +us." [Adelung, iv. 360.] + +"The young Kur-Baiern is still polite, grateful [to us French], +overwhelms us with politeness; but flies to Augsburg, as his Father used +to do. Notable, however, his poor fat little Mother won't, this time: +'No, I will stay here, I for one, and have done with flying and running; +we have had enough of that!' Seckendorf, quite gone from Court in this +crisis, reappears, about the middle of April, in questionable capacity; +at a place called Fussen, not far off, at the foot of the Tyrol +Hills;--where certain Austrian Dignitaries seem also to be enjoying a +picturesque Easter! Yes indeed: and, on APRIL 22d, there is signed a +'PEACE OF FUSSEN' there; general amicable AS-YOU-WERE, between Austria +and Bavaria ('Renounce your Anti-Pragmatic moonshine forevermore, vote +for our Grand-Duke; there is your Bavaria back, poor wretches!')--and +Seckendorf, it is presumable, will get his Turkish arrears liquidated. + +"The Bavarian Intricacy, which once excelled human power, is settled, +then. Carteret and Haslang tried it in vain [dreadful heterodox +intentions of secularizing Salzburg, secularizing Passau, Regensburg, +and loud tremulous denial of such];--Carteret and Wilhelm of Hesseu +[Conferences of Hanau, which ruined Carteret], in vain; King Friedrich, +and many Kings, in vain: a thing nobody could settle;--and it has at +last settled itself, as the generality of ill-guided and unlucky things +do, by collapse. Delirium once out, the law of gravity acts; and there +the mad matter lies." + +"Bought by Austria, that old villain!" cry the French. Friedrich does +not think the Austrians bought Seckendorf, having no money at present; +but guesses they may have given him to understand that a certain large +arrear of payment due ever since those Turkish Wars,--when Seckendorf, +instead of payment, was lodged in the Fortress of Gratz, and almost +got his head cut off,--should now be paid down in cash, or authentic +Paper-money, if matters become amicable. [ _OEuvres de Frederic,_ iii. +22; _Seckendorfs Leben,_ pp. 367-376.] As they have done, in Friedrich's +despite;--who seems angrier at the old stager for this particular +ill-turn than for all the other many; and long remembers it, as will +appear. + + + + +Chapter VII.--FRIEDRICH IN SILESIA; UNUSUALLY BUSY. + +Here, sure enough, are sad new intricacies in the Diplomatic, hypothetic +sphere of things; and clouds piling themselves ahead, in a very minatory +manner to King Friedrich. Let King Friedrich, all the more, get his +Fighting Arrangements made perfect. Diplomacy is clouds; beating of +your enemies is sea and land. Austria and the Gazetteer world consider +Friedrich to be as good as finished: but that is privately far from +being Friedrich's own opinion;--though these occurrences are heavy and +dismal to him, as none of us can now fancy. + +Herr Ranke has got access, in the Archives, to a series of private +utterances by Friedrich,--Letters from him, of a franker nature than +usual, and letting us far deeper into his mind;--which must have been +well worth reading in the original, in their fully dated and developed +condition. From Herr Ranke's Fragmentary Excerpts, let us, thankful +for what we have got, select one or two. The Letters are to Minister +Podewils at Berlin; written from Silesia (Neisse and neighborhood), +where, since the middle of March, Friedrich has been, personally pushing +on his Army Preparations, while the above sinister things befell. + + + + +KING FRIEDRICH TO PODEWILS, IN BERLIN (under various dates, March-April, +1745). + +NEISSE, 29th MARCH.... "We find ourselves in a great crisis. If we +don't, by mediation of England, get Peace, our enemies from different +sides [Saxony, Austria, who knows if not Russia withal!] will come +plunging in against me. Peace I cannot force them to. But if they +must have War, we will either beat them, or none of us will see Berlin +again." [Ranke, iii. 236 et seqq.] + +APRIL (no day given).... "In any case, I have my troops well together. +The sicknesses are ceasing; the recruitments are coming in: shortly all +will be complete. That does not hinder us from making Peace, if it will +only come; but, in the contrary case, nobody can accuse me of neglecting +what was necessary." + +APRIL 17th (still from Neisse).... "I toil day and night to improve our +situation. The soldiers will do their duty. There is none among us who +will not rather have his backbone broken than give up one foot-breadth +of ground. They must either grant us a good Peace, or we will surpass +ourselves by miracles of daring; and force the enemy to accept it from +us." + +APRIL 20th. "Our situation is disagreeable; constrained, a kind of +spasm: but my determination is taken. If we needs must fight, we will do +it like men driven desperate. Never was there a greater peril than +that I am now in. Time, at its own pleasure, will untie this knot; or +Destiny, if there is one, determine the event. The game I play is so +high, one cannot contemplate the issue with cold blood. Pray for the +return of my good luck."--Two days hence, the poor young Kur-Baiern, +deaf to the French seductions and exertions, which were intense, had +signed his "Peace of Fussen" (22d April 1745),--a finale to France on +the German Field, as may be feared! The other Fragments we will give a +little farther on. + +Friedrich had left Berlin for Silesia March 15th; rather sooner than he +counted on,--Old Leopold pleading to be let home. At Glogau, at Breslau, +there had been the due inspecting: Friedrich got to Neisse on the 23d +(Bathyani just stirring in that Bavarian Business, Vilshofen and the +Hessians close ahead); and on the 27th, had dismissed Old Leopold, +with thanks and sympathies,--sent him home, "to recover his health." +Leopold's health is probably suffering; but his heart and spirits still +more. Poor old man, he has just lost--the other week, "5th February" +last--his poor old Wife, at Dessau; and is broken down with grief. The +soft silk lining of his hard Existence, in all parts of it, is torn +away. Apothecary Fos's Daughter, Reich's Princess, Princess of Dessau, +called by whatever name, she had been the truest of Wives; "used to +attend him in all his Campaigns, for above fifty years back." "Gone, +now, forever gone!"--Old Leopold had wells of strange sorrow in the +rugged heart of him,--sorrow, and still better things,--which he does +not wear on his sleeve. Here is an incident I never can forget;--dating +twelve or thirteen years ago (as is computable), middle of July, 1732. + +"Louisa, Leopold's eldest Daughter, Wife of Victor Leopold, reigning +Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg, lay dying of a decline." Still only +twenty-three, poor Lady, though married seven years ago;--the end now +evidently drawing nigh. "A few days before her death,--perhaps some +attendant sorrowfully asking, 'Can we do nothing, then?'--she was heard +to say, 'If I could see my Father at the head of his Regiment, yet +once!'"--Halle, where the Regiment lies, is some thirty or more miles +off; and King Friedrioh Wilhelm, I suppose, would have to be written +to:--Leopold was ready the soonest possible; and, "at a set hour, +marched, in all pomp, with banner flying, music playing, into the +SCHLOSS-HOF (Palace Court) of Bernburg; and did the due salutations +and manoeuvrings,--his poor Daughter sitting at her window, till they +ended;"--figure them, the last glitter of those muskets, the last wail +of that band-music!--"The Regiment was then marched to the Waisenhaus +(ORPHAN-HOUSE), where the common men were treated with bread and beer; +all the Officers dining at the Prince's Table. All the Officers, except +Leopold alone, who stole away out of the crowd; sat himself upon the +balustrade of the Saale Bridge, and wept into the river." [LEBEN (12mo; +not Rannft's, but Anonymous like his), p. 234 n.]--Leopold is now on the +edge of seventy; ready to think all is finished with him. Perhaps not +quite, my tough old friend; recover yourself a little, and we shall see! + +Old Leopold is hardly home at Dessau, when new Pandour Tempests, tides +of ravaging War, again come beating against the Giant Mountains, pouring +through all passes; from utmost Jablunka, westward by Jagerndorf to +Glatz, huge influx of wild riding hordes, each with some support of +Austrian grenadiers, cannoniers; threatening to submerge Silesia. +Precursors, Friedrich need not doubt, of a strenuous regular attempt +that way, Hungarian Majesty's fixed intention, hope and determination +is, To expel him straightway from Silesia. Her Patent circulates, +these three months; calling on all men to take note of that fixed +fact, especially on all Silesian men to note it well, and shift their +allegiance accordingly. Silesian men, in great majority,--our friend +the Mayor of Landshut, for example?--are believed to have no inclination +towards change: and whoever has, had clearly better not show any till he +see! [In Ranke (iii. 234), there is vestige of some intended +"voluntary subscription by the common people of Glatz," for Friedrich's +behoof;--contrariwise, in Orlich (ii. 380, "6th February, 1745," from +the Dessau Archives), notice of one individual, suspected of stirring +for Austria, whom "you are to put under lock and key;"--but he runs off, +and has no successor, that I hear of.]-- + +Friedrich's thousand-fold preliminary orderings, movements, rearrangings +in his Army matters, must not detain us here;--still less his dealings +with the Pandour element, which is troublesome, rather than dangerous. +Vigilance, wise swift determination, valor drilled to its work, can deal +with phenomena of that nature, though never so furious and innumerable. +Not a cheering service for drilled valor, but a very needful one. +Continual bickerings and skirmishings fell out, sometimes rising to +sharp fight on the small scale:--Austrian grenadiers with cannon are on +that Height to left, and also on this to right, meaning to cut off our +march; the difficult landscape furnished out, far and wide, with Pandour +companies in position: you must clash in, my Burschen; seize me that +cannon-battery yonder; master such and such a post,--there is the heart +of all that network of armed doggery; slit asunder that, the network +wholly will tumble over the Hills again. Which is always done, on +the part of the Prussian Burschen; though sometimes not, without +difficulty.--His Majesty is forming Magazines at Neisse, Brieg, and +the principal Fortresses in those parts; driving on all manner of +preparations at the rapidest rate of speed, and looking with his own +eyes into everything. The regiments are about what we may call complete, +arithmetically and otherwise; the cavalry show good perfection in their +new mode of manoeuvring;--it is to be hoped the Fighting Apparatus +generally will give fair account of itself when the time comes. Our one +anchor of hope, as now more and more appears. + +On the Pandour element he first tried (under General Hautcharmoi, with +Winterfeld as chief active hand) a direct outburst or two, with a view +to slash them home at once. But finding that it was of no use, as they +always reappeared in new multitudes, he renounced that; took to calling +in his remoter outposts; and, except where Magazines or the like +remained to be cared for, let the Pandours baffle about, checked only by +the fortified Towns, and more and more submerge the Hill Country. Prince +Karl, to be expected in the form of lion, mysteriously uncertain on +which side coming to invade us,--he, and not the innumerable weasel +kind, is our important matter! By the end of April (news of the PEACE +OF FUSSEN coming withal), Friedrich had quitted Neisse; lay cantoned, in +Neisse Valley (between Frankenstein and Patschkau, "able to assemble in +forty-eight hours"); studying, with his whole strength, to be ready +for the mysterious Prince Karl, on whatever side he might arrive;--and +disregarding the Pandours in comparison. + +The points of inrush, the tideways of these Pandour Deluges seem to be +mainly three. Direct through the Jablunka, upon Ratibor Country, is +the first and chief; less direct (partly supplied by REFLUENCES from +Ratibor, when Ratibor is found not to answer), a second disembogues by +Jagerndorf; a third, the westernmost, by Landshut. Three main ingresses: +at each of which there fall out little Fights; which are still +celebrated in the Prussian Books, and indeed well deserve reading by +soldiers that would know their trade. In the Ratibor parts, the invasive +leader is a General Karoly, with 12,000 under him, who are the wildest +horde of all: "Karoly lodges in a wood: for himself there is a tent; +his companions sleep under trees, or under the open sky, by the edge of +morasses." [Ranke, iii. 244.] It was against this Karoly and his horde +that Hautcharmoi's little expedition, or express attacking party to +drive them home again, was shot out (8th-2lst April). Which did its work +very prettily; Winterfeld, chief hand in it, crowning the matter by a +"Fight of Wurbitz," [Orlich, ii. 136 (21st April).]--where Winterfeld, +cutting the taproot, in his usual electric way, tumbles Karoly quite +INTO the morasses, and clears the country of him for a time. For a time; +though for a time only;--Karoly or others returning in a week or two, +to a still higher extent of thousands; mischievous as ever in those +Ratibor-Namslau countries. Upon which, Friedrich, finding this an +endless business, and nothing like the most important, gives it up for +the present; calls in his remoter detachments; has his Magazines carted +home to the Fortress Towns,--Karoly trying, once or so, to hinder in +that operation, but only again getting his crown broken. ["Fight of +Mocker," May 4th (Orlich, ii. 141).] Or if carting be too difficult, +still do not waste your Magazine:--Margraf Karl, for instance, is +ordered to Jagerndorf with his Detachment, "to eat the Magazine;" hungry +Pandours looking on, till he finish. On which occasion a renowned little +Fight took place (Fight of Neustadt, or of Jagerndorf-Neustadt), as +shall be mentioned farther on. + +So that, for certain weeks to come, the Tolpatcheries had free course, +in those Frontier parts; and were left to rove about, under check only +of the Garrison Towns; Friedrich being obliged to look elsewhere +after higher perils, which were now coming in view. In which favorable +circumstances, Karoly and Consorts did, at last, make one stroke in +those Ratibor countries; that of Kosel, which was greatly consolatory. +[26th May, 1743 (Orlich, ii. 156-158).] "By treachery of an Ensign +who had deserted to them [provoked by rigor of discipline, or some +intolerable thing], they glided stealthily, one night, across the +ditches, into Kosel" (a half-fortified place, Prussian works only +half finished): which, being the Key of the Oder in those parts, they +reckoned a glorious conquest; of good omen and worthy of TE-DEUMS at +Vienna. And they did eagerly, without the least molestation, labor +to complete the Prussian works at Kosel: "One garrison already +ours!"--which was not had from them without battering (and I believe, +burning), when General von Nassau came to inquire after it; in Autumn +next. + +Friedrich had always hoped that the Saxons, who are not yet in declared +War with him, though bound by Treaty to assist the Queen of Hungary +under certain conditions, would not venture on actual Invasion of his +Territories; but in this, as readers anticipate, Friedrich finds himself +mistaken. Weissenfels is hastening from the Leitmeritz northwestern +quarter, where he has wintered, to join Prince Karl, who is gathering +himself from Olmutz and his southeastern home region; their full +intention is to invade Silesia together, and they hope now at length to +make an end of Friedrich and it. These Pandour hordes, supported by the +necessary grenadiers and cannoniers, are sent as vanguard; these cannot +themselves beat him; but they may induce him (which they do not) to +divide his Force; they may, in part, burn him away as by slow fire, +after which he will be the easier to beat. Instead of which, Friedrich, +leaving the Pandours to their luck, lies concentrated in Neisse Valley; +watching, with all his faculties, Prince Karl's own advent (coming on +like Fate, indubitable, yet involved in mysteries hitherto); and is +perilously sensible that only in giving that a good reception is there +any hope left him. + +Prince Karl "who arrived in Olmutz April 30th," commands in chief +again,--saddened, poor man, by the loss of his young Wife, in December +last; willing to still his grief in action for the cause SHE loved;--but +old Traun is not with him this year: which is a still more material +circumstance. Traun is to go this year, under cloak not of Prince Karl, +but of Grand-Duke Franz, to clear those Frankfurt Countries for +the KAISERWAHL and him. Prince Conti lies there, with his famous +"Middle-Rhine Army" (D'Ahremberg, from the western parts, not nearly so +diligent upon him as one could wish); and must, at all rates, be cleared +away. Traun, taking command of Bathyani's Army (now that it has finished +the Bavarian job), is preparing to push down upon Conti, while Bathyani +(who is to supersede the laggard D'Ahremberg) shall push vigorously +up;--and before summer is over, we shall hear of Traun again, and Conti +will have heard!-- + +Friedrich's indignation, on learning that the Saxons were actually on +march, and gradually that they intended to invade him, was great; and +the whole matter is portentously enigmatic to him, as he lies vigilant +in Neisse Valley, waiting on the When and the How. Indignation;--and +yet there is need of caution withal. To be ready for events, the Old +Dessauer has, as one sure measure, been requested to take charge, once +more, of a "Camp of Observation" on the Saxon Frontier (as of old, in +1741); and has given his consent: ["April 25th" consents (Orlich, ii. +130).] "Camp of Magdeburg," "Camp of Dieskau;" for it had various names +and figures; checkings of your hand, then layings of it on, heavier, +lighter and again heavier, according to one's various READINGS of the +Saxon Mystery; and we shall hear enough about it, intermittently, till +December coming: when it ended in a way we shall not forget!--On which +take this Note:-- + +"The Camp of Observation was to have begun May 1st; did begin somewhat +later, 'near Magdeburg,' not too close on the Frontier, nor in too +alarming strength; was reinforced to about 30,000; in which state +[middle of August] it stept forward to Wieskau, then to Dieskau, +close on the Saxon Border; and became,--with a Saxon Camp lying close +opposite, and War formally threatened, or almost declared, on Saxony +by Friedrich,--an alarmingly serious matter. Friedrich, however, again +checked his hand; and did not consummate till November-December. But +did then consummate; greatly against his will; and in a way +flamingly visible to all men!" [Orlich, ii. 130, 209, 210: +_Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 1224-1226; i. 1117.] + +Friedrich's own incidental utterances (what more we have of Fractions +from the Podewils Letters), in such portentous aspect of affairs, may +now be worth giving. It is not now to Jordan that he writes, gayly +unbosoming himself, as in the First War,--poor Jordan lies languishing, +these many months; consumptive, too evidently dying:--Not to Jordan, +this time; nor is the theme "GLOIRE" now, but a far different! + + + + +FRIEDRICH TO PODEWILS (as before, April-May, 1745). + +April 20th or so, Orders are come to Berlin (orders, to Podewils's +horror at such a thought), Whitherward, should Berlin be assaulted, +the Official Boards, the Preciosities and household gods are to betake +themselves:--to Magdeburg, all these, which is an impregnable place; +to Stettin, the Two Queens and Royal Family, if they like it better. +Podewils in horror, "hair standing on end," writes thereupon to Eichel, +That he hopes the management, "in a certain contingency," will be given +to Minister Boden; he Podewils, with his hair in that posture, being +quite unequal to it. Friedrich answers:-- + +"APRIL 26th.... 'I can understand how you are getting uneasy, you +Berliners. I have the most to lose of you all; but I am quiet, and +prepared for events. If the Saxons take part,' as they surely will, 'in +the Invasion of Silesia, and we beat them, I am determined to plunge +into Saxony. For great maladies, there need great remedies. Either +I will maintain my all, or else lose my all. [Hear it, friend; and +understand it,--with hair lying flat!] It is true, the disaffection of +the Russian Court, on such trifling grounds, was not to be expected; and +great misfortune can befall us. Well; a year or two sooner, a year or +two later,--it is not worth one's while to bother about the very worst. +If things take the better turn, our condition will be surer and firmer +than it was before. If we have nothing to reproach ourselves with, +neither need we fret and plague ourselves about bad events, which can +happen to any man.'--'I am causing despatch a secret Order for Boden [on +YOU know what], which you will not deliver him till I give sign.'"--On +hearing of the Peace of Fussen, perhaps a day or so later, Friedrich +again writes:-- + +"APRIL [no distinct date; Neisse still? QUITS Neisse, April 28th]. +... Peace of Fussen, Bavaria turned against me? 'I can say nothing to +it,--except, There has come what had to come. To me remains only +to possess myself in patience. If all alliances, resources, and +negotiations fail, and all conjunctures go against me, I prefer to +perish with honor, rather than lead an inglorious life deprived of all +dignity. My ambition whispers me that I have done more than another to +the building up of my House, and have played a distinguished part among +the crowned heads of Europe. To maintain myself there, has become as it +were a personal duty; which I will fulfil at the expense of my happiness +and my life. I have no choice left: I will maintain my power, or it +may go to ruin, and the Prussian name be buried under it. If the enemy +attempt anything upon us, we will either beat him, or we will all +be hewed to pieces, for the sake of our Country, and the renown of +Brandenburg. No other counsel can I listen to.'" + +SAME LETTER, OR ANOTHER? (Herr Ranke having his caprices!)... "You are a +good man, my Podewils, and do what can be expected of you" (Podewils +has been apologizing for his terrors; and referring hopefully "to +Providence"): "Perform faithfully the given work on your side, as I on +mine; for the rest, let what you call 'Providence' decide as it +likes [UNE PROVIDENCE AVEUGLE? Ranke, who alone knows, gives "BLINDE +VORSEHUNG." What an utterance, on the part of this little Titan! +Consider it as exceptional with him, unusual, accidental to the hard +moment, and perhaps not so impious as it looks!]--Neither our prudence +nor our courage shall be liable to blame; but only circumstances that +would not favor us.... + +"I prepare myself for every event. Fortune may be kind or be unkind, it +shall neither dishearten me nor uplift me. If I am to perish, let it +be with honor, and sword in hand. What the issue is to be--Well, what +pleases Heaven, or the Other Party (J'AI JETE LE BONNET PAR DESSUS LES +MOULINS)! Adieu, my dear Podewils; become as good a philosopher as +you are a politician; and learn from a man who does not go to Elsner's +Preaching [fashionable at the time], that one must oppose to ill fortune +a brow of iron; and, during this life, renounce all happiness, all +acquisitions, possessions and lying shows, none of which will follow us +beyond the grave." [Ranke, iii. pp. 238-241.] + +"By what points the Austrian-Saxon Armament will come through upon us? +Together will it be, or separately? Saxons from the Lausitz, Austrians +from Bohmen, enclosing us between two fires?"--were enigmatic questions +with Friedrich; and the Saxons especially are an enigma. But that come +they will, that these Pandours are their preliminary veiling-apparatus +as usual, is evident to him; and that he must not spend himself upon +Pandours; but coalesce, and lie ready for the main wrestle. So that from +April 28th, as above noticed, Friedrich has gone into cantonments, some +way up the Neisse Valley, westward of Neisse Town; and is calling in his +outposts, his detachments; emptying his Frontier Magazines;--abandoning +his Upper-Silesian Frontier more and more, and in the end altogether, to +the Pandour hordes; a small matter they, compared to the grand Invasion +which is coming on. Here, with shiftings up the Neisse Valley, he +lies till the end of May; watching Argus-like, and scanning with every +faculty the Austrian-Saxon motions and intentions, until at length they +become clear to him, and we shall see how he deals with them. + +His own lodging, or head-quarter, most of this time (4th May-27th +May), is in the pleasant Abbey of Camenz (mythic scene of that +BAUMGARTEN-SKIRMISH business, in the First Silesian War). He has +excellent Tobias Stusche for company in leisure hours; and the outlook +of bright Spring all round him, flowering into gorgeous Summer, as he +hurries about on his many occasions, not of an idyllic nature. [Orlich, +ii. 139; Ranke, iii. 242-249.] But his Army is getting into excellent +completeness of number, health, equipment, and altogether such a spirit +as he could wish. May 22d, here is another snatch from some Note to +Podewils, from this balmy Locality, potential with such explosions of +another kind. CAMENZ, MAY 22d.... "The Enemies are making movements; but +nothing like enough as yet for our guessing their designs. Till we see, +therefore, the thunder lies quiet in us (LA FOUDRE REPOSE EN MES MAINS). +Ah, could we but have a Day like that May Eleventh!" [Ranke, iii. 248 +n.] + +What "that May Eleventh" is or was? Readers are curious to know; +especially English readers, who guess FONTENOY. And Historic Art, if she +were strict, would decline to inform them at any length; for really +the thing is no better than a "Victory on the Scamander, and a Siege of +Pekin" (as a certain observer did afterwards define it), in reference +to the matter now on hand! Well, Pharsalia, Arbela, the Scamander, +Armageddon, and so many Battles and Victories being luminous, by study, +to cultivated Englishmen, and one's own Fontenoy such a mystery and +riddle,--Art, after consideration, reluctantly consents to be indulgent; +will produce from her Paper Imbroglios a slight Piece on the subject, +and print instead of burning. + + + + +Chapter VIII.--THE MARTIAL BOY AND HIS ENGLISH versus THE LAWS OF +NATURE. + +"Glorious Campaign in the Netherlands, Siege of Tournay, final ruin +of the Dutch Barrier!" this is the French program for Season 1745,--no +Belleisle to contradict it; Belleisle secure at Windsor, who might have +leant more towards German enterprises. And to this his Britannic Majesty +(small gain to him from that adroitness in the Harz, last winter!) has +to make front. And is strenuously doing so, by all methods; especially +by heroic expenditure of money, and ditto exposure of his Martial Boy. +Poor old Wade, last year,--perhaps Wade did suffer, as he alleged, +from "want of sufficient authority in that mixed Army"? Well, here is a +Prince of the Blood, Royal Highness of Cumberland, to command in +chief. With a Konigseck to dry-nurse him, may not Royal Highness, luck +favoring, do very well? Luck did not favor; Britannic Majesty, neither +in the Netherlands over seas, nor at home (strange new domestic wool, of +a tarry HIGHLAND nature, being thrown him to card, on the sudden!), made +a good Campaign, but a bad. And again a bad (1746) and again (1747), +ever again, till he pleased to cease altogether. Of which distressing +objects we propose that the following one glimpse be our last. + + + + +BATTLE OF FONTENOY (11th May, 1745). + +... "In the end of April, Marechal de Saxe, now become very famous for +his sieges in the Netherlands, opened trenches before Tournay; King +Louis, with his Dauphin, not to speak of mistresses, play-actors and +cookery apparatus (in wagons innumerable), hastens to be there. A +fighting Army, say of 70,000, besides the garrisons; and great things, +it is expected, will be done; Tournay, in spite of strong works and +Dutch garrison of 9,000, to be taken in the first place. + +"Of the Siege, which was difficult and ardent, we will remember nothing, +except the mischance that befell a certain 'Marquis de Talleyrand' +and his men, in the trenches, one night. Night of the 8th-9th May, by +carelessness of somebody, a spark got into the Marquis's powder, two +powder-barrels that there were; and, with horrible crash, sent eighty +men, Marquis Talleyrand and Engineer Du Mazis among them, aloft into the +other world; raining down their limbs into the covered way, where +the Dutch were very inhuman to them, and provoked us to retaliate. +[Espagnac, ii. 27.] Du Mazis I do not know; but Marquis de Talleyrand +turns out, on study of the French Peerages, to be Uncle of a lame little +Boy, who became Right Reverend Tallyrand under singular conditions, and +has made the name very current in after-times!-- + +"Hearing of this Siege, the Duke of Cumberland hastened over from +England, with intent to raise the same. Mustered his 'Allied Army' (once +called 'Pragmatic'),--self at the head of it; old Count Konigseck, +who was NOT burnt at Chotusitz, commanding the small Austrian quota +[Austrians mainly are gone laggarding with D'Ahremberg up the Rhine]; +and a Prince of Waldeck the Dutch,--on the plain of Anderlecht near +Brussels, May 4th; [Anonymous, _Life of Cumberland,_ p. 180; Espagnac, +ii. 26.] and found all things tolerably complete. Upon which, +straightway, his Royal Highness, 60,000 strong let us say, set forth; by +slowish marches, and a route somewhat leftward of the great Tournay Road +[no place on it, except perhaps STEENKERKE, ever heard of by an English +reader]; and on Sunday, 9th May, [Espagnac, ii. 27.] precisely on the +morrow after poor Talleyrand had gone aloft, reached certain final +Villages: Vezon, Maubray, where he encamps, Briffoeil to rear; Camp +looking towards Tournay and the setting sun,--with Fontenoy short +way ahead, and Antoine to left of it, and Barry with its Woods to +right:--small peaceable Villages, which become famous in the Newspapers +shortly after. [Patch of Map at p. 440.] Royal Highness, resting here +at Vezon, is but some six or seven miles from Tournay; in low undulating +Country, woody here and there, not without threads of running water, +and with frequent Villages and their adjuncts: the part of it now +interesting to us lies all between the Brussels-Tournay Road and +the Scheld River,--all in immediate front of his Royal Highness,--to +southeastward from beleaguered Tournay, where said Road and River +intersect. How shall he make some impression on the Siege of Tournay? +That is now the question; and his Royal Highness struggles to manoeuvre +accordingly. + +"Marechal de Saxe, whose habit is much that of vigilance, forethought, +sagacious precaution, singular in so dissolute a man, has neglected +nothing on this occasion. He knows every foot of the ground, having +sieged here, in his boyhood, once before. Leaving the siege-trenches at +Tournay, under charge of a ten or fifteen thousand, he has taken camp +here; still with superior force (56,000 as they count, Royal Highness +being only 50,000 ranked), barring Royal Highness's way. Tournay, or +at least the Marechal's trenches there, are on the right bank of the +Scheld; which flows from southeast, securing all on that hand. The broad +Brussels Highway comes in to him from the east;--north of that he has +nothing to fear, the ground being cut with bogs; no getting through +upon him, that way, to Tournay and what he calls the 'Under Scheld.' The +'Upper Scheld' too, avail them nothing. There is only that triangle +to the southeast, between Road and River, where the Enemy is now +manoeuvring in front of him, from which damage can well come; and he has +done his best to be secure there. Four villages or hamlets, close to +the Scheld and onwards to the Great Road,--Antoine, Fontenoy, Barry, +Ramecroix, with their lanes and boscages,--make a kind of circular base +to his triangle; base of some six or eight miles; with hollows in it, +brooks, and northward a considerable Wood [BOIS DE BARRY, enveloping +Barry and Ramecroix, which do not prove of much interest to us, though +the BOIS does of a good deal]. In and before each of those villages +are posts and defences; in Antoine and Fontenoy elaborate redoubts, +batteries, redans connecting: in the Wood (BOIS DE BARRY), an abattis, +or wall of felled trees, as well as cannon; and at the point of the +Wood, well within double range of Fontenoy, is a Redoubt, called of Eu +(REDOUTE D'EU, from the regiment occupying it), which will much concern +his Royal Highness and us. Saxe has a hundred pieces of cannon [say the +English, which is correct], consummately disposed along this space; no +ingress possible anywhere, except through the cannon's throat; torrents +of fire and cross-fire playing on you. He is armed to the teeth, as they +say; and has his 56,000 arranged according to the best rules of tactics, +behind this murderous line of works. If his Royal Highness think of +breaking in, he may count on a very warm reception indeed. + +"Saxe is only afraid his Royal Highness will not. Outside of these +lines, with a 50,000 dashing fiercely round us, under any kind of +leading; pouncing on our convoys; harassing and sieging US,--our siege +of Toumay were a sad outlook. And this is old Austrian Konigseck's +opinion, too; though, they say, Waldeck and the Dutch (impetuous in +theory at least) opined otherwise, and strengthened Royal Highness's +view. Two young men against one old: 'Be it so, then!' His Royal +Highness, resolute for getting in, manoeuvres and investigates, +all Monday 10th; his cannon is not to arrive completely till night; +otherwise he would be for breaking in at once: a fearless young man, +fearless as ever his poor Father was; certainly a man SANS PEUY, this +one too; whether of much AVIS, we shall see anon. + +"Tuesday morning early, 11th May, 1745, cannon being up, and +dispositions made, his Royal Highness sallies out; sees his men taking +their ground: Dutch and Austrians to the left, chiefly opposite Antoine; +English, with some Hanoverians, in the centre and to the right; +infantry in front, facing Fontenoy, cavalry to rear flanking the Wood +of Barry,--Konigseck, Ligonier and others able, assisting to plant +them advantageously; cannon going, on both sides, the while; radiant +enthusiasm, SANS PEUR ET SANS AVIS, looking from his Royal Highness's +face. He has been on horseback since two in the morning; cannon started +thundering between five and six,--has killed chivalrous Grammont over +yonder (the Grammont of Dettingen), almost at the first volley. And +now about the time when ploughers breakfast (eight A.M., no ploughing +hereabouts to-day!), begins the attack, simultaneously or in swift +succession, on the various batteries which it will be necessary to +attack and storm. + +"The attacks took place; but none of them succeeded. Dutch and +Austrians, on the extreme left, were to have stormed Antoine by the edge +of the River; that was their main task; right skirt of them to help US +meanwhile with Fontenoy. And they advanced, accordingly; but found +the shot from Antoine too fierce: especially when a subsidiary battery +opened from across the River, and took them in flank, the Dutch and +Austrians felt astonished; and hastily drew aside, under some sheltering +mound or earthwork they had found for themselves, or prudently thrown +up the night before. There, under their earthwork, stood the Dutch +and Austrians; patiently expecting a fitter time,--which indeed never +occurred; for always, the instant they drew out, the batteries from +Antoine, and from across the River, instantly opened upon them, and they +had to draw in again. So that they stood there, in a manner, all day; +and so to speak did nothing but patiently expect when it should be time +to run. For which they were loudly censured, and deservedly. Antoine is +and remains a total failure on the part of the Dutch and Austrians. + +"Royal Highness in person, with his English, was to attack +Fontenoy;--and is doing so, by battery and storm, at various points; +with emphasis, though without result. As preliminary, at an early stage +he had sent forward on the right, by the Wood of Barry, a Brigadier +Ingoldsby 'with Semple's Highlanders' and other force, to silence 'that +redoubt yonder at the point of the Wood,'--redoubt, fort, or whatever it +be (famous REDOUTE D'EU, as it turned out!),--which guards Fontenoy to +north, and will take us in flank, nay in rear, as we storm the cannon of +the Village. Ingoldsby, speed imperative on him, pushed into the Wood; +found French light-troops ('God knows how many of them!') prowling +about there; found the Redoubt a terribly strong thing, with ditch, +drawbridge, what not; spent thirty or forty of his Highlanders, in +some frantic attempt on it by rule of thumb;--and found 'He would need +artillery' and other things. In short, Ingoldsby, hasten what he might, +could not perfect the preparations to his mind, had to wait for this and +for that; and did not storm the Redoubt d'Eu at all; but hung fire, in +an unaccountable manner. For which he had to answer (to Court-Martial, +still more to the Newspapers) afterwards; and prove that it was +misfortune merely, or misfortune and stupidity combined. Too evident, +the REDOUTE D'EU was not taken, then or thenceforth; which might have +proved the saving of the whole affair, could Ingoldsby have managed it. +Royal Highness attacked Fontenoy, and re-attacked, furiously, thrice +over; and had to desist, and find Fontenoy impossible on those terms. + +"Here is a piece of work. Repulsed at all those points; and on the left +and on the right, no spirit visible but what deserves repulse! His Royal +Highness blazes into resplendent PLATT-DEUTSCH rage, what we may call +spiritual white-heat, a man SANS PEUR at any rate, and pretty much SANS +AVIS; decides that he must and will be through those lines, if it please +God; that he will not be repulsed at his part of the attack, not he for +one; but will plunge through, by what gap there is [900 yards Voltaire +measures it (_OEuvres,_ xxviii. 150 (SIECLE DE LOUIS QUINZE, c. xv. +"BATAILLE DE FONTENOI,"--elaborately exact on all such points).)] +between Fontenoy and that Redoubt with its laggard Ingoldsby; and see +what the French interior is like! He rallies rapidly, rearranges; +forms himself in thin column or columns [three of them, I think,--which +gradually got crushed into one, as they advanced, under cannon-shot on +both hands),--wheeling his left round, to be rear, his right to be head +of said column or columns. In column, the cannon-shot from Fontenoy +on the left, and Redoubt d'Eu on our right, will tell less on us; and +between these two death-dealing localities, by the hollowest, least +shelterless way discoverable, we mean to penetrate: (Forward, my men, +steady and swift, till we are through the shot-range, and find men to +grapple with, instead of case-shot and projectile iron!' Marechal de +Saxe owned afterwards, 'He should have put an additional redoubt in that +place, but he did not think any Army would try such a thing' (cannon +batteries playing on each hand at 400 yards distance);--nor has any Army +since or before! + +"These columns advance, however; through bushy hollows, water-courses, +through what defiles or hollowest grounds there are; endure the +cannon-shot, while they must; trailing their own heavy guns by hand, and +occasionally blasting out of them where the ground favors;--and do, with +indignant patience, wind themselves through, pretty much beyond direct +shot-range of either d'Eu or Fontenoy. And have actually got into the +interior mystery of the French Line of Battle,--which is not a little +astonished to see them there! It is over a kind of blunt ridge, or +rising ground, that they are coming: on the crown of this rising ground, +the French regiment fronting it (GARDES FRANCAISES as it chanced to +be) notices, with surprise, field-cannon pointed the wrong way; actual +British artillery unaccountably showing itself there. Regiment of GARDES +rushes up to seize said field-pieces: but, on the summit, perceives with +amazement that it cannot; that a heavy volley of musketry blazes into +it (killing sixty men); that it will have to rush back again, and report +progress: Huge British force, of unknown extent, is readjusting itself +into column there, and will be upon us on the instant. Here is news! + +"News true enough. The head of the English column comes to sight, over +the rising ground, close by: their officers doff their hats, politely +saluting ours, who return the civility: was ever such politeness seen +before? It is a fact; and among the memorablest of this Battle. Nay +a certain English Officer of mark--Lord Charles Hay the name of him, +valued surely in the annals of the Hay and Tweeddale House--steps +forward from the ranks, as if wishing something. Towards whom [says the +accurate Espagnac] Marquis d'Auteroche, grenadier-lieutenant, with air +of polite interrogation, not knowing what he meant, made a step or two: +'Monsieur,' said Lord Charles (LORD CHARLES-HAY), 'bid your people fire +(FAITES TIRER VOS GENS)!' 'NON, MONSIEUR, NOUS NE TIRONS JAMAIS LES +PREMIERS (We never fire first).' [Espagnac, ii. 60 (of the ORIGINAL, +Toulouse, 1789); ii. 48 of the German Translation (Leipzig, 1774), our +usual reference. Voltaire, endlessly informed upon details this time, +is equally express: "MILORD CHARLES HAY, CAPITAINE AUX GARDES ANGLAISES, +CRIA: 'MESSIEURS DES GARDES FRANCAISES, TIREZ!' To which Count +d'Auteroche with a loud voice answered" &c. (_OEuvres,_ vol. xxviii. +p. 155.) See also _Souvenirs du Marquis de Valfons_ (edited by a +Grand-Nephew, Paris, 1860), p. 151;--a poor, considerably noisy and +unclean little Book; which proves unexpectedly worth looking at, in +regard to some of those poor Battles and personages and occurrences: the +Bohemian Belleisle-Broglio part, to my regret, if to no other person's, +has been omitted, as extinct, or undecipherable by the Grand-Nephew.] +After YOU, Sirs! Is not this a bit of modern chivalry? A supreme +politeness in that sniffing pococurante kind; probably the highest point +(or lowest) it ever went to. Which I have often thought of." + +It is almost pity to disturb an elegant Historical Passage of this kind, +circulating round the world, in some glory, for a century past: but +there has a small irrefragable Document come to me, which modifies it a +good deal, and reduces matters to the business form. Lord Charles +Hay, "Lieutenant-Colonel," practical Head, "of the First Regiment +of Foot-guards," wrote, about three weeks after (or dictated in sad +spelling, not himself able to write for wounds), a Letter to his +Brother, of which here is an Excerpt at first hand, with only the +spelling altered:... "It was our Regiment that attacked the French +Guards: and when we came within twenty or thirty paces of them, I +advanced before our Regiment; drank to them [to the French, from the +pocket-pistol one carries on such occasions], and told them that we were +the English Guards, and hoped that they would stand till we came quite +up to them, and not swim the Scheld as they did the Mayn at Dettingen +[shameful THIRD-BRIDGE, not of wood, though carpeted with blue cloth +there]! Upon which I immediately turned about to our own Regiment; +speeched them, and made them huzza,"--I hope with a will. "An Officer +[d'Auteroche] came out of the ranks, and tried to make his men huzza; +however, there were not above three or four in their Brigade that did." +["Ath, May ye 20th, o.s." (to John, Fourth Marquis of Tweeddale, last +"Secretary of State for Scotland," and a man of figure in his day): +Letter is at Yester House, East Lothian; Excerpt PENES ME.]... + +Very poor counter-huzza. And not the least whisper of that sublime +"After you, Sirs!" but rather, in confused form, of quite the reverse; +Hay having been himself fired into ("fire had begun on my left;" Hay +totally ignorant on which side first),--fired into, rather feebly, and +wounded by those D'Auteroche people, while he was still advancing with +shouldered arms;--upon which, and not till which, he did give it them: +in liberal dose; and quite blew them off the ground, for that day. +From all which, one has to infer, That the mutual salutation by hat was +probably a fact; that, for certain, there was some slight preliminary +talk and gesticulation, but in the Homeric style, by no means in the +Espagnac-French,--not chivalrous epigram at all, mere rough banter, and +what is called "chaffing;"--and in short, that the French Mess-rooms +(with their eloquent talent that way) had rounded off the thing into the +current epigrammatic redaction; the authentic business-form of it being +ruggedly what is now given. Let our Manuscript proceed. + +"D'Auteroche declining the first fire,"--or accepting it, if ever +offered, nobody can say,--"the three Guards Regiments, Lord Charles's on +the right, give it him hot and heavy, 'tremendous rolling fire;' so that +D'Auteroche, responding more or less, cannot stand it; but has at once +to rustle into discontinuity, he and his, and roll rapidly out of the +way. And the British Column advances, steadily, terribly, hurling back +all opposition from it; deeper and deeper into the interior mysteries +of the French Host; blasting its way with gunpowder;--in a magnificent +manner. A compact Column, slowly advancing,--apparently of some 16,000 +foot. Pauses, readjusts itself a little, when not meddled with; when +meddled with, has cannon, has rolling fire,--delivers from it, in fact, +on both hands such a torrent of deadly continuous fire as was rarely +seen before or since. 'FEU INFERNAL,' the French call it. The French +make vehement resistance. Battalions, squadrons, regiment after +regiment, charge madly on this terrible Column; but rush only on +destruction thereby. Regiment This storms in from the right, regiment +That from the left; have their colonels shot, 'lose the half of their +people;' and hastily draw back again, in a wrecked condition. The +cavalry-horses cannot stand such smoke and blazing; nor indeed, I think, +can the cavaliers. REGIMENT DU ROI rushing on, full gallop, to charge +this Column, got one volley from it [says Espagnac] which brought to the +ground 460 men. Natural enough that horses take the bit between +their teeth; likewise that men take it, and career very madly in such +circumstances! + +MAP Chap. VIII, Book 15, PAGE 440 GOES ABOUT HERE-------- + +"The terrible Column with slow inflexibility advances; cannon (now in +reversed position) from that Redoubt d'Eu ('Shame on you, Ingoldsby!'), +and irregular musketry from Fontenoy side, playing upon it; defeated +regiments making barriers of their dead men and firing there; Column +always closing its gapped ranks, and girdled with insupportable fire. +It ought to have taken Fontenoy and Redoubt d'Eu, say military men; it +ought to have done several things! It has now cut the French fairly in +two;--and Saxe, who is earnestly surveying it a hundred paces ahead, +sends word, conjuring the King to retire instantly,--across the Scheld, +by Calonne Bridge and the strong rear-guard there,--who, however, will +not. King and Dauphin, on horseback both, have stood 'at the Justice +(GALLOWS, in fact) of our Lady of the Woods,' not stirring much, +occasionally shifting to a windmill which is still higher,--ye Heavens, +with what intrepidity, all day!--'a good many country-folk in trees +close behind them.' Country-folk, I suppose, have by this time seen +enough, and are copiously making off: but the King will not, though +things do look dubious. + +"In fact, the Battle hangs now upon a hair; the Battle is as good as +lost, thinks Marechal de Saxe. His battle-lines torn in two in that +manner, hovering in ragged clouds over the field, what hope is there in +the Battle? Fontenoy is firing blank, this some time; its cannon-balls +done. Officers, in Antoine, are about withdrawing the artillery,--then +again (on new order) replacing it awhile. All are looking towards the +Scheld Bridge; earnestly entreating his Majesty to withdraw. Had the +Dutch, at this point of time, broken heartily in, as Waldeck was urging +them to do, upon the redoubts of Antoine; or had his Royal Highness the +Duke, for his own behoof, possessed due cavalry or artillery to act upon +these ragged clouds, which hang broken there, very fit for being swept, +were there an artillery-and-horse besom to do it,--in either of these +cases the Battle was the Duke's. And a right fiery victory it would +have been; to make his name famous; and confirm the English in their mad +method of fighting, like Baresarks or Janizaries rather than strategic +human creatures. [See, in Busching's _Magazin,_ xvi. 169 ("Your +illustrious 'Column,' at Fontenoy? It was fortuitous, I say; done like +janizaries;" and so forth), a Criticism worth reading by soldiers.] + +"But neither of these contingencies had befallen. The Dutch-Austrian +wing did evince some wish to get possession of Antoine; and drew out a +little; but the guns also awoke upon them; whereupon the Dutch-Austrians +drew in again, thinking the time not come. As for the Duke, he had taken +with him of cannon a good few; but of horse none at all (impossible for +horse, unless Fontenoy and the Redoubt d'Eu were ours!)--and his horse +have been hanging about, in the Wood of Barry all this while, uncertain +what to do; their old Commander being killed withal, and their new a +dubitative person, and no orders left. The Duke had left no orders; +having indeed broken in here, in what we called a spiritual white-heat, +without asking himself much what he would do when in: 'Beat the French, +knock them to powder if I can!'--Meanwhile the French clouds are +reassembling a little: Royal Highness too is readjusting himself, now +got '300 yards ahead of Fontenoy,'--pauses there about half an hour, not +seeing his way farther. + +"During which pause, Duc de Richelieu, famous blackguard man, gallops +up to the Marechal, gallops rapidly from Marechal to King; suggesting, +'were cannon brought AHEAD of this close deep Column, might not they +shear it into beautiful destruction; and then a general charge be made?' +So counselled Richelieu: it is said, the Jacobite Irishman, Count Lally +of the Irish Brigade, was prime author of this notion,--a man of tragic +notoriety in time coming. ["Thomas Arthur Lally Comte de Tollendal," +patronymically "O'MULALLY of TULLINDALLY" (a place somewhere in +Connaught, undiscoverable where, not material where): see our +dropsical friend (in one of his wheeziest states), _King James's Irish +Army-List_ (Dublin, 1855), pp. 594-600.] Whoever was author of it, +Marechal de Saxe adopts it eagerly, King Louis eagerly: swift it becomes +a fact. Universal rally, universal simultaneous charge on both flanks +of the terrible Column: this it might resist, as it has done these two +hours past; but cannon ahead, shearing gaps through it from end to end, +this is what no column can resist;--and only perhaps one of Friedrich's +columns (if even that) with Friedrich's eye upon it, could make its +half-right-about (QUART DE CONVERSION), turn its side to it, and +manoeuvre out of it, in such circumstances. The wrathful English +column, slit into ribbons, can do nothing at manoeuvring; blazes and +rages,--more and more clearly in vain; collapses by degrees, rolls into +ribbon-coils, and winds itself out of the field. Not much chased,--its +cavalry now seeing a job, and issuing from the Wood of Barry to cover +the retreat. Not much chased;--yet with a loss, they say, in all, of +7,000 killed and wounded, and about 2,000 prisoners; French loss being +under 5,000. + +"The Dutch and Austrians had found that the fit time was now come, or +taken time by the forelock,--their part of the loss, they said, was a +thousand and odd hundreds. The Battle ended about two o'clock of the +day; had begun about eight. Tuesday, 11th May, 1745: one of the hottest +half-day's works I have known. A thing much to be meditated by the +English mind.--King Louis stept down from the Gallows-Hill of Our Lady; +and KISSED Marechal de Saxe. Saxe was nearly dead of dropsy; could not +sit on horseback, except for minutes; was carried about in a wicker bed; +has had a lead bullet in his mouth, all day, to mitigate the intolerable +thirst. Tournay was soon taken; the Dutch garrison, though strong, and +in a strong place, making no due debate. + +"Royal Highness retired upon Ath and Brussels; hovered about, nothing +daunted, he or his: 'Dastard fellows, they would not come out into the +open ground, and try us fairly!' snort indignantly the Gazetteers and +enlightened Public. [Old Newspapers.] Nothing daunted;--but, as it +were, did not do anything farther, this Campaign; except lose Gand, by +negligence VERSUS vigilance, and eat his victuals,--till called home +by the Rebellion Business, in an unexpected manner! Fontenoy was the +nearest approach he ever made to getting victory in a battle; but a +miss too, as they all were. He was nothing like so rash, on subsequent +occasions; but had no better luck; and was beaten in all his +battles--except the immortal Victory of Culloden alone. Which latter +indeed, was it not itself (in the Gazetteer mind) a kind of apotheosis, +or lifting of a man to the immortal gods,--by endless tar-barrels and +beer, for the time being? + +"Old Marechal de Noailles was in this Battle; busy about the redans, and +proud to see his Saxe do well. Chivalrous Grammont, too, as we saw, +was there,---killed at the first discharge. Prince de Soubise too (not +killed); a certain Lord George Sackville (hurt slightly,--perhaps had +BETTER have been killed!)--and others known to us, or that will +be known. Army-Surgeon La Mettrie, of busy brain, expert with his +tourniquets and scalpels, but of wildly blusterous heterodox tongue and +ways, is thrice-busy in Hospital this night,--'English and French all +one to you, nay, if anything, the English better!' those are the Royal +orders:--La Mettrie will turn up, in new capacity, still blusterous, at +Berlin, by and by. + +"The French made immense explosions of rejoicing over this Victory of +Fontenoy; Voltaire (now a man well at Court) celebrating it in prose and +verse, to an amazing degree (21,000 copies sold in one day); the whole +Nation blazing out over it into illuminations, arcs of triumph and +universal three-times-three:--in short, I think, nearly the heartiest +National Huzza, loud, deep, long-drawn, that the Nation ever gave in +like case. Now rather curious to consider, at this distance of time. +Miraculous Anecdotes, true and not true, are many. Not to mention again +that surprising offer of the first fire to us, what shall we say of the +'two camp-sutlers whom I noticed,' English females of the lowest degree; +'one of whom was busy slitting the gold-lace from a dead Officer, when a +cannon-ball came whistling, and shore her head away. Upon which, without +sound uttered, her neighbor snatched the scissors, and deliberately +proceeded.' [De Hordt, _Memoires,_ i. 108. A FRENCH OFFICER'S ACCOUNT +(translated in _Gentleman's Magazine,_ 1745; where, pp. 246, 250, 291, +313, &c., are many confused details and speculations on this subject).] +A deliberate gloomy people;--unconquerable except by French prowess, +glory to that same!" + +Britannic Majesty is not successful this season; Highland Rebellions +rising on him, and much going awry. He is founding his National Debt, +poor Majesty; nothing else to speak of. His poor Army, fighting never so +well in Foreign quarrels,--and generally itself standing the brunt, with +the co-partners looking on till it is time to run (as at Roucoux again +next season, and at Lauffeld next),--can win nothing but hard knocks and +losses. And is defined by mankind,--in phraseology which we have heard +again since then!--as having "the heart of a Lion and the head of an +Ass." [Old Pamphlets, SOEPIUS.] Portentous to contemplate!-- + +Cape Breton was besieged this Summer, in a creditable manner; and taken. +The one real stroke done upon France this Year, or indeed (except at +sea) throughout the War. "Ruin to their Fisheries, and a clear loss of +1,400,000 pounds a year." Compared with which all these fine "Victories +in Flanders" are a bottle of moonshine. This was actually a kind of +stroke;--and this, one finds, was accomplished, under presidency of a +small squadron of King's ships, by ('New-England Volunteers," on funds +raised by subscription, in the way of joint-stock. A shining Colonial +feat; said to be very perfectly done, both scrip part of it, and +fighting part;) [Adelung, v. 32-35 ("27th June, 1745, after a siege of +forty-nine days"): see "Gibson, _Journal of the Siege;"_ "Mr. Prince +(of the South Church, Boston), THANKSGIVING SERMON (price fourpence);" +&c. &c.: in the Old Newspapers, 1745, 1748, multifarious Notices about +it, and then about the "repayment" of those excellent "joint-stock" +people.]--and might have yielded, what incalculable dividends in +the Fishery way! But had to be given up again, in exchange for the +Netherlands, when Peace came. Alas, your Majesty! Would it be +quite impossible, then, to go direct upon your own sole errand, +the JENKINS'S-EAR one, instead of stumbling about among the Foreign +chimney-pots, far and wide, under nightmares, in this terrible +manner?--Let us to Silesia again. + + + + +Chapter IX.--THE AUSTRIAN-SAXON ARMY INVADES SILESIA, ACROSS THE +MOUNTAINS. + +Valori, who is to be of Friedrich's Campaign this Year, came posting off +directly in rear of the glorious news of Fontenoy; found Friedrich at +Camenz, rather in spirits than otherwise; and lodged pleasantly with +Abbot Tobias and him, till the Campaign should begin. Two things +surprise Valori: first, the great strength, impregnable as it were, +to which Neisse has been brought since he saw it last,--superlative +condition of that Fortress, and of the Army itself, as it gathers +daily more and more about Frankenstein here:--and then secondly, and +contrariwise, the strangely neglected posture of mountainous or Upper +Silesia, given up to Pandours. Quite submerged, in a manner: Margraf +Karl lies quiet among them at Jagerndorf, "eating his magazine;" General +Hautcharmoi (Winterfeld's late chief in that Wurben affair), with his +small Detachment, still hovers about in those Ratibor parts, "with +the Strong Towns to fall-back upon," or has in effect fallen back +accordingly; and nothing done to coerce the Pandours at all. While +Prince Karl and Weissenfels are daily coming on, in force 100,000, their +intention certain; force, say, about 100,000 regular! Very singular to +Valori. + +"Sire, will not you dispute the Passes, then?" asks Valori, amazed: "Not +defend your Mountain rampart, then?" "MON CHER; the Mountain rampart is +three or four hundred miles long; there are twelve or twenty practicable +roads through it. One is kept in darkness, too; endless Pandour doggery +shutting out your daylight:--ill defending such a rampart," answers +Friedrich. "But how, then," persists Valori; "but--?" "One day the King +answered me," says Valori, "'MON AMI, if you want to get the mouse, +don't shut, the trap; leave the trap open (ON LAISSE LA SOURICIERE +OUVERTE)!'" Which was a beam of light to the inquiring thought of +Valori, a military man of some intelligence. [See VALORI, i. 222, 224, +228.] + +That, in fact, is Friedrich's purpose privately formed. He means that +the Austrians shall consider him cowed into nothing, as he understands +they already do; that they shall enter Silesia in the notion of chasing +him; and shall, if need be, have the pleasure of chasing him,--till +perhaps a right moment arrive. For he is full of silent finesse, this +young King; soon sees into his man, and can lead him strange dances on +occasion. In no man is there a plentifuler vein of cunning, nor of a +finer kind. Lynx-eyed perspicacity, inexhaustible contrivance, prompt +ingenuity,--a man very dangerous to play with at games of skill. And +it is cunning regulated always by a noble sense of honor, too; +instinctively abhorrent of attorneyism and the swindler element: a +cunning, sharp as the vulpine, yet always strictly human, which is +rather beautiful to see. This is one of Friedrich's marked endowments. +Intellect sun-clear, wholly practical (need not be specially deep), +and entirely loyal to the fact before it; this--if you add rapidity +and energy, prompt weight of stroke, such as was seldom met with--will +render a man very dangerous to his adversary in the game of war.--Here +is the last of our Pandour Adventures for the present:-- + +"From May 12th, Friedrich had been gathering closer and closer about +Frankenstein; by the end of the month (28th, as it proved) he intends +that all Detachments shall be home, and the Army take Camp there. The +most are home; Margraf Karl, at Jagerndorf, has not yet done eating his +magazine; but he too must come home. Summon the Margraf home:--it is not +doubted he will cut himself through, he and his 12,000; but such is +the swarm of Pandours hovering between him and us, no estafette, or +cleverest letter-bearer, can hope to get across to him. Ziethen with 500 +Hussars, he must take the Letter; there is no other way. Ziethen mounts; +fares swiftly forth, towards Neustadt, with his Letter; lodges in +woods; dodges the thick-crowding Tolpatcheries (passes himself off for a +Tolpatchery, say some, and captures Hungarian Staff-Officers who come to +give him orders [Frau van Blumenthal, _Life of De Ziethen,_ pp. 171-181 +(extremely romantic; now given up as mythical, for most part): see +Orlich (ii. 150); but also Ranke (iii. 245), Preuss, &c.]); is at +length found out, and furiously set upon, 'Ziethen, Hah!'--but gets +to Jagerndorf, Margraf Karl coming out to the rescue, and delivers his +Letter. 'Home, then, all of us to-morrow!' And so, Saturday, 22d May, +before we get to Neustadt on the way home, there is an authentic passage +of arms, done very brilliantly by Margraf Karl against Pandours and +others. + +"To right of us, to left, barring our road, the enemy, 20,000 of +them, stand ranked on heights, in chosen positions; cannon-batteries, +grenadiers, dragoons of Gotha and infinite Pandours: military jungle +bristling far and wide. And you must push it heartily, and likewise +cut the tap-root of it (seize its big guns), or it will not roll away. +Margraf Karl shoots forth his steady infantry ('Silent till you see +the whites of their eyes!'),--his cavalry with new manoeuvres; whose +behavior is worthy of Ziethen himself:--in brief, the jungle is struck +as by a whirlwind, the tap-root of it cut, and rolls simultaneously out +of range, leaving only the Regiment of Gotha, Regiment of Ogilvy and +some Regulars, who also get torn to shreds, and utterly ruined. Seeing +which, the Pandour jungle plunges wholly into the woods, uttering +horrible cries (EN POUSSANT DES CRIS TERRIBLES), says Friedrich. +[ _OEuvres de Frederic,_ iii. 106. More specially BERICHTE VON DER AM +22 MAI, 1745 BEY NEUSTADT IN OBER-SCHLESIEN VORGEFALLENER ACTION +(Seyfarth, _Beylage,_ i. 159-166).] Our new cavalry-manoeuvres deserve +praise. Margraf Karl had the honor to gain his Cousin's approbation this +day; and to prove himself, says the Cousin, (worthy of the +grandfather he came from,'--my own great-grandfather; Great Elector, +Friedrich-Wilhelm; whose style of motion at Fehrbellin, or on the ice +of the Frische Haf (soldiers all in sledges, tearing along to be at the +Swedes), was probably somewhat of this kind."... + +"Some days ago, Winterfeld had been pushed out to Landshut, with +Detachment of 2,000, to judge a little for himself which way the +Austrians were coming, and to scare off certain Uhlans (the SAXON +species of Tolpatchery), who were threatening to be mischievous +thereabouts. The Uhlans, at sound of Winterfeld, jingled away at once: +but, in a day or two, there came upon him, on the sudden, Pandour +outburst in quite other force;--and in the very hours while Ziethen was +struggling into Jagerndorf, and still more emphatically next day, while +Margraf Karl was handling his Pandours,--Colonel Winterfeld, a hundred +miles to westward lapped among the Mountains, chanced to be dealing +again with the same article. Very busy with it, from 4 o'clock this +morning; likely to give a good account of the job. Steadily defending +Landshut and himself, against the grenadier battalions, cannon and +furious overplus of Pandours (8,000 or 9,000, it is said, six to one +or so in the article of cavalry), which General Nadasti, a scientific +leader of men or Pandours, skilfully and furiously hurls upon Landshut +and him, in an unexpected manner. Colonel Winterfeld had need of all his +heart and energy, in the intricate ground; against the furious overplus +well manoeuvred: but in him too there are manoeuvres; if he fall +back here, it is to rush on double strong there; hour after hour he +inexpugnably defends himself,--till General Stille, Friedrich's old +Tutor, our worthy writing friend, whom we occasionally quote, comes up +with help; and Nadasti is at once brushed home again, with sore smart of +failure, and 'the loss of 600 killed,' among other items. [_Bericht von +der am 21 Mai, 1745 bey Landshut rorgefallener Action, in Feldzuge,_ i. +302-305 (or in Seyfarth, _Beylage,_ i. 155-158); _OEuvres de +Frederic,_ iii. 105; Stille, pp. 120-124 (who misdates, "23d May" for +22d).] Colonel Winterfeld was made Major-General next day, for this +action. Colonel Winterfeld is cutting out a high course for himself, +by his conduct in these employments; solidity, brilliant effectuality, +shining through all he does; his valor and value, his rapid just +insight, fiery energy and nobleness of mind more and more disclosing +themselves,--to one who is a judge of men, and greatly needs for his own +use the first-rate quality in that article." + +Friedrich has left the mouse-trap open;--and latterly has been baiting +it with a pleasant spicing of toasted cheese. One of his Spies, +reporting from Prince Karl's quarters, Friedrich has at this time +discovered to be a Double-Spy, reporting thither as well. Double-Spy, +there is an ugly fact;--perhaps not quite convenient to abolish it +by hemp and gibbet; perhaps it could be turned to use, as most facts +can? "Very good, my expert Herr von Schonfeld [that was the +knave's name]; and now of all things, whenever the Prince does get +across,--instant word to us of that! Nothing so important to us. If +he should get BETWEEN us and Breslau, for example, what would the +consequence be!" To this purport Friedrich instructs his Double-Spy; +sends him off, unhanged, to Prince Karl's Camp, to blab this fresh bit +of knowledge. "We likewise," says Friedrich, "ordered some repairs on +the roads leading to Breslau;"--last turn of the hand to our bit of +toasted fragrancy. And Prince Karl is actually striding forward, at +an eager pace:--and Nadasti VERSUS Winterfeld, the other day, could +Winterfeld have guessed it, was the actual vanguard of the march; and +will be up again straightway! Whereupon Winterfeld too is called home; +and all eyes are bent on the Landshut side. + +Prince Karl, under these fine omens, had been urgent on the Saxons to be +swift; Saxons under Weissenfels did at last "get their cannon up," +and we hear of them for certain, in junction with the Austrians, at +Schatzlar, on the Bohemian side of the Giant-Mountains; climbing with +diligence those wizard solitudes and highland wastes. In a word, they +roll across into Silesia, to Landshut (29th May); nothing doubting but +Friedrich has cowered into what retreats he has, as good as desperate of +Silesia, and will probably be first heard of in Breslau, when they get +thither with their sieging guns. No cautious sagacious old Feldmarschall +Traun is in that Host at present; nothing but a Prince Karl, and a +poor Duke of Weissenfels; who are too certain of several things;--very +capable of certainty, and also of doubt, the wrong way of the facts. +Their force is, by strict count, 75,000; and they march from Landshut, +detained a little by provender concerns, on the last day of May. +[Orlich, ii. 146; Ranke, iii. 247; Stenzel, iv. 245.] + +May 28th, Friedrich had encamped at Frankenstein; May 30th, he sets +forth northwestward, to be nearer the new scene; encamps at Reichenbach, +that night; pushes forward again, next day, for Schweidnitz, for +Striegau (in all, a shift northwest of some forty miles);--and from June +1st, lies stretched out between Schweidnitz and Striegau, nine miles +long; well hidden in the hollows of the little Rivers thereabouts +(Schweidnitz Water, Striegau Water), with their little knolls and +hills; watching Prince Karl's probable place of egress from the Mountain +Country opposite. His main Camp is from Schweidnitz to Jauernik, some +five miles long; but he has his vanguard up as far as Striegau, Dumoulin +and Winterfeld as vanguard, in good strength, a little way behind or +westward of that Town and Stream; Nassau and his Division are screened +in the Wood called Nonnenbusch (NUN'S BUSH), and there are outposts +sprinkled all about, and vedettes watching from the hill-tops, from +the Stanowitz Foxhill; the Zedlitz "Cowhill," "Winchill:" an Army not +courting observation, but intent very much to observe. Nadasti has +appeared again; at Freyburg, few miles off, on this side of the +Mountains; goes out scouting, reconnoitring; but is "fired at from the +growing corn," and otherwise hoodwinked by false symptoms, and makes +little of that business. Friedrich's Army we will compute at 70,000. +[General-Lieutenant Freiherr Leo von Lutzow, _Die Schlacht von +Hohenfriedbeg_ (Potsdam, 1845), pp. 18, 21.] Not quite equal in number +to Prince Karl's; and, in other particulars, willing and longing that +Prince Karl would arrive, and try its quality. + +Friedrich's head-quarter is at Jauernik: he goes daily riding hither, +thither; to the top of the Fuchsberg (FOXHILL at Stanowitz) with eager +spy-glass; daily many times looks with his spy-glass to the ragged peaks +about Bolkenhayn, Kauder, Rohnstock; expecting the throw of the dice +from that part. On Thursday, 3d June: Do you notice that cloud of dust +rising among the peaks over yonder? Dust-cloud mounting higher and +higher. There comes the big crisis, then! There are the combined +Weissenfels and Karl with their Austrian Saxons, issuing proudly from +their stone labyrinth; guns, equipments, baggages, all perfectly brought +through; rich Silesian plain country now fairly at their feet, Breslau +itself but a few marches off:--at sight of all which, the Austrian big +host bursts forth into universal field-music, and shakes out its banners +to the wind. Thursday, 3d June, 1745; a dramatic Entry of something +quite considerable on the Stage of History. + +Friedrich, with Nassau and generals round, stands upon the +Fuchsberg,--his remarks not given, his looks or emotions not described +to us, his thought well known,--and looks at it through his TUBUS (or +spy-glass): There they are, then, and the big moment is come! Friedrich +had seen the dust and the manoeuvring of them, deeper in the Hills, from +this same Fuchsberg yesterday, and inferred what was coming; calculated +by what roads or hill-tracks they could issue: and how he, in each case, +was to deal with them; his march-routes are all settled, plank-bridges +repaired, all privately is ready for these proud Austrian musical +gentlemen, here in the hollow. Friedrich has been upon this Fuchsberg +with his TUBUS daily, many times since Monday last: it is our general +observatorium, says Stille, and commands a fine view into the interior +of these Hills. A Fuchsberg which has become notable in the Prussian +maps: "the Stanowitz Fuchsberg," east side of Striegau Water,--let +no tourist mistake himself; for there are two or even three other +Fuchsbergs, a mile or so northward on the western side of that Stream, +which need to be distinguished by epithets, as the Striegau Fuchsberg, +the Graben Fuchsberg, and perhaps still others: comparable to the FOUR +Neisse rivers, three besides the one we know, which occur in this piece +of Country! Our German cousins, I have often sorrowed to find, have +practically a most poor talent for GIVING NAMES; and indeed much, +for ages back, is lying in a sad state of confusion among them. Many +confused things, rotting far and wide, in contradiction to the plainest +laws of Nature; things as well as names! All the welcomer this Prussian +Army, this young Friedrich leading it; they, beyond all earthly entities +of their epoch, are not in a state of confusion, but of most strict +conformity to the laws of Arithmetic and facts of Nature: perhaps a very +blessed phenomenon for Germany in the long-run. + +Prince Karl with Weissenfels, General Berlichingen and many plumed +dignitaries, are dining on the Hill-top near Hohenfriedberg: after +having given order about everything, they witness there, over their +wine, the issue of their Columns from the Mountains; which goes on all +afternoon, with field-music, spread banners; and the oldest General +admits he never saw a finer review-manoeuvre, or one better done, if +so well. Thus sit they on the Hill-top (GALGENBERG, not far from the +gallows of the place, says Friedrich), in the beautiful June afternoon. +Silesia lying beautifully azure at their feet; the Zobtenberg, enchanted +Mountain, blue and high on one's eastern horizon; Prussians noticeable +only in weak hussar parties four or five miles off, which vanish in the +hollow grounds again. All intending for Breslau, they, it is +like;--and here, red wine and the excellent manoeuvre going on. "The +Austrian-and-Saxon Army streamed out all afternoon," says a Country +Schoolmaster of those parts, whose Day-book has been preserved, [In +Lutzow, pp. 123-132.] "each regiment or division taking the place +appointed it; all afternoon, till late in the night, submerging the +Country as in a deluge," five miles long of them; taking post at the +foot of the Hills there, from Hohenfriedberg round upon Striegau, +looking towards the morrow's sunrise. To us poor country-folk not a +beautiful sight; their light troops flying ahead, and doing theft and +other mischief at a sad rate. + +On the other hand, the Austrian and Saxon gentlemen, from their +Gallows-Hill at Hohenfriedberg, notice, four or five miles in the +distance, opposite them, or a little to the left of opposite, a Body +of Prussian horse and foot, visibly wending northward; like a long +glittering serpent, the glitter of their muskets flashing back yonder +on the afternoon sun and us, as they mount from hollow to height. Ten or +twelve thousand of them; making for Striegau, to appearance. Intending +to bivouac or billet there, and keep some kind of watch over us; +belike with an eye to being rear-guard, on the retreat towards Breslau +to-morrow? Or will they retreat without attempting mischief? Serenity of +Weissenfels engages to seize the heights and proper posts, over +yonder, this night yet; and will take Striegau itself, the first thing, +to-morrow morning. + +Yes, your Serenities, those are Prussians in movement: Vanguard Corps of +Dumoulin, Winterfeld;--Rittmeister Seydlitz rides yonder:--and it is not +their notion to retreat without mischief. For there stands, not so far +off, on the Stanowitz Fuchsberg, a brisk little Gentleman, if you could +notice him; with his eyes fixed on you, and plans in the head of him +now getting nearly mature. For certain, he is pushing out that column of +men; and all manner of other columns are getting order to push out, +and take their ground; and to-morrow morning--you will not find him in +retreat! Such are the phenomena in that Striegau-Hohenfriedberg region, +while the sun is bending westward, on Thursday, 3d June, 1745. + +"From Hohenfriedberg, which leans against the higher Mountains, there +may be, across to Striegau northeast, which stands well apart from them, +among lower Hills of its own, a distance of about five English miles. +The intervening country is of flat, though upland nature: the first +broad stage, or STAIR-STEP, so to speak, leading down into the general +interior levels of Silesia in those parts. A tract which is now +tolerably dried by draining, but was then marshy as well as bushy:--flat +to the eye, yet must be imperceptibly convexed a little, for the line of +watershed is hereabouts: walk from Hohenfriedberg to Striegau, the +water on your left hand flows, though mainly in ditches or imperceptible +oozings, to the north and west,--there to fall into an eastern fork of +the Roaring Neisse [one of our three new Neisses, which is a very quiet +stream here; runs close by the Mountain base, fed by many torrents, +and must get its name, WUTHENDE or Roaring, from the suddenness of its +floods]: into this, bound northward and westward, run or ooze all waters +on your left hand, as you go to Striegau. Right hand, again, or to +eastward, you will find all sauntering, or running in visible brooks +into Striegau Water [little River notable to us], which comes circling +from the Mountains, past Hohenfriedberg, farther south; and has got to +some force as a stream before it reaches Striegau, and turns abruptly +eastward;--eastward, to join Schweidnitz Water, and form with it the +SECOND stair-step downwards to the Plain Country. Has its Fuchsbergs, +Kuhbergs and little knolls and heights interspersed, on both sides of +it, in the conceivable way. + +"So that, looking eastward from the heights of Hohenfriedberg, our broad +stage or stair-step has nothing of the nature of a valley, but rather is +a kind of insensibly swelling plain between two valleys, or hollows, +of small depth; and slopes both ways. Both ways; but MORE towards the +Striegau-Water valley or hollow; and thence, in a lazily undulating +manner, to other hollows and waters farther down. Friedrich's Camp lies +in the next, the Schweidnitz-Water hollow; and is five, or even +nine miles long, from Schweidnitz northward;--much hidden from the +Austrian-Saxon gentlemen at present. No hills farther, mere flat +country, to eastward of that. But to the north, again, about Striegau, +the hollow deepens, narrows; and certain Hills," much notable at +present, "rise to west of Striegau, definite peaked Hills, with granite +quarries in them and basalt blocks atop:--Striegau, it appears, is, in +old Czech dialect, TRZIZA, which means TRIPLE HILL, the 'Town of the +Three Hills.' [Lutzow, p. 28.] An ancient quaint little Town, of perhaps +2,000 souls: brown-gray, the stones of it venerably weathered; has its +wide big market-place, piazza, plain-stones, silent enough except on +market-days: nestles itself compactly in the shelter of its Three Hills, +which screen it from the northwest; and has a picturesque appearance, +its Hills and it, projected against the big Mountain range beyond, as +you approach it from the Plain Country. + +"Hohenfriedberg, at the other corner of our battle-stage, on the road +to Landshut, is a Village of no great compass; but sticks pleasantly +together, does not straggle in the usual way; climbs steep against its +Gallows-Hill (now called 'SIEGESBERG, Victory Hill,' with some tower or +steeple-monument on it, built by subscription); and would look better, +if trimmed a little and habitually well swept. The higher Mountain +summits, Landshut way, or still more if you look southeastward, +Glatz-ward, rise blue and huge, remote on your right; to left, the +Roaring Neisse range close at hand, is also picturesque, though less +Alpine in type." [Tourist's Note (1858).]... And of all Hills, the +notablest, just now to us, are those "Three" at Striegau. + +Those Three Hills of Striegau his Serenity of Weissenfels is to lay hold +of, this night, with his extreme left, were it once got deployed and +bivouacked. Those Hills, if he can: but Prussian Dumoulin is already +on march thither; and privately has his eye upon them, on Friedrich's +part!--For the rest, this upland platform, insensibly sloping two ways, +and as yet undrained, is of scraggy boggy nature in many places; much +of it damp ground, or sheer morass; better parts of it covered, at this +season, with rank June grass, or greener luxuriance of oats and barley. +A humble peaceable scene; peaceable till this afternoon; dotted, too, +with six or seven poor Hamlets, with scraggy woods, where they have +their fuel; most sleepy littery ploughman Hamlets, sometimes with a +SCHLOSS or Mansion for the owner of the soil (who has absconded in the +present crisis of things), their evening smoke rising rather fainter +than usual; much cookery is not advisable with Uhlans and Tolpatchcs +flying about. Northward between Striegau and the higher Mountains there +is an extensive TEICHWIRTHSCHAFT, or "Pond-Husbandry" (gleaming visible +from Hohenfriedberg Gallows-Hill just now); a combination of stagnant +pools and carp-ponds, the ground much occupied hereabouts with what +they name Carp-Husbandry. Which is all drained away in our time, yet +traceable by the studious:--quaggy congeries of sluices and fish-ponds, +no road through them except on intricate dams; have scrubby thickets +about the border;--this also is very strong ground, if Weissenfels +thought of defence there. + +Which Weissenfels does not, but only of attack. He occupies the ground +nevertheless, rearward of this Carp-Husbandry, as becomes a strategic +man; gradually bivouacking all round there, to end on the Three Hills, +were his last regiments got up. The Carp-Husbandry is mainly about +Eisdorf Hamlet:--in Pilgramshayn, where Weissenfels once thought of +lodging, lives our Writing Schoolmaster. The Mountains lie to westward; +flinging longer shadows, as the invasive troops continually deploy, in +that beautiful manner; and coil themselves strategically on the ground, +a bent rope, cordon, or line (THREE lines in depth), reaching from the +front skirts of Hohenfriedberg to the Hills at Striegau again,--terrible +to behold. + +In front of Hohenfriedberg, we say, is the extremity or right wing of +the Austrian-Saxon bivouac, or will be when the process is complete; +five miles to northeast, sweeping round upon Striegau region, will be +their left, where mainly are the Saxons,--to nestle upon those Three +Hills of Striegau: whitherward however, Dumoulin, on Friedrich's behalf, +is already on march. Austrian-Saxon bivouac, as is the way in regulated +hosts, can at once become Austrian-Saxon order-of-battle: and then, +probably, on the Chord of that Arc of five miles, the big Fight will +roll to-morrow; Striegau one end of it, Hohenfriedbcrg the other. +Flattish, somewhat elliptic upland, stair-step from the Mountains, as +we called it; tract considerably cut with ditches, carp-husbandries, and +their tufts of wood; line from Striegau to Hohenfriedberg being axis +or main diameter of it, and in general the line of watershed: there, +probably, will the tug of war be. Friedrich, on his Fuchsberg, knows +this; the Austrian-Saxon gentlemen, over their wine on the Gallows-Hill, +do not yet know it, but will know. + +It was about four in the afternoon, when Valori, with a companion, +waiting a good while in the King's Tent at Jauernik, at last saw his +Majesty return from the Fuchsberg observatory. Valori and friend have +great news: "Tournay fallen; siege done, your Majesty!" Valori's friend +is one De Latour; who had brought word of Fontenoy ("important victory +on the Scamander," as Friedrich indignantly defined it to himself); and +was bid wait here till this Siege-of-Tournay consummation ("as helpful +to me as the Siege of Pekin!") should supervene. They hasten to salute +his Majesty with the glorious tidings, Hmph! thinks Friedrich: and +we are at death-grips here, little to be helped by your taking Pekin! +However, he lets wit of nothing. "I make my compliments; mean to +fight to-morrow." [Valori, i. 228.] Valori, as old soldier and friend, +volunteers to be there and assist:--Good. + +Friedrich, I presume, at this late hour of four, may bc snatching a +morsel of dinner; his orderlies are silently speeding, plans taken, +orders given: To start all, at eight in the evening, for the Bridge +of Striegau; there to cross, and spread to the right and to the left. +Silent, not a word spoken, not a pipe lighted: silently across the +Striegau Water there. A march of three miles for the nearest, who are +here at Jauernik; of nine miles for the farthest about Schweidnitz; at +Schweidnitz leave all your baggage, safe under the guns there. To +the Bridge of Striegau, diligently, silently march along; Bridge of +Striegau, there cross Striegau Water, and deploy to right and to left, +in the way each of you knows. These are Friedrich's orders. + +Late in the dusk, Dumoulin and Winterfeld, whom we saw silently on march +some hours ago, have silently glided past Striegau, and got into the +Three-Hill region, which is some furlong or so farther north:--to his +surprise, Dumoulin finds Saxon parties posting themselves thereabouts. +He attacks said Saxon parties; and after some slight tussle, drives them +mostly from their Three Hills; mostly, not altogether; one Saxon Hill +is precipitous on our hither side of it, and we must leave that till the +dawn break. Of the other Heights Dumoulin takes good possession, with +cannon too, to be ready against dawn;--and ranks himself out to leftward +withal, along the plain ground; for he is to be right wing, had the +other troops come up. These are now all under way; astir from Jauernik +and Schweidnitz, silently streaming along; and Dumoulin bivouacs +here,--very silent he: not so silent the Saxons; who are still marching +in, over yonder, to westward of Dumoulin, their rear-guard groping out +its posts as it best can in the dark. Elsewhere, miles and miles along +the foot of the Mountains, Austrian-Saxon watch-fires flame through the +ambrosial night; and it is an impressive sight for Dumoulin,--still more +for the poor Schoolmaster at Pilgramshayn and others, less concerned +than Dumoulin. "It was beautiful," says Stille, who was there, "to see +how the plain about Rohnstock, and all over that way, was ablaze with +thousands of watch-fires (TAUSEND UND ABER TAUSEND); by the light of +these, we could clearly perceive the enemy's troops continually defile +from the Hills the whole night through." [Cited in Seyfarth, i. 630.] + +Serenity of Weissenfels, after all, does not lodge at Pilgramshayn; far +in the night, he goes to sleep at Rohnstock, a Schloss and Hamlet on +that fork of Roaring Neisse, by the foot of the Mountains; three or +four miles off, yet handy enough for picking up Striegau the first +thing to-morrow. His Highness Prince Karl lies in Hausdorf, tolerable +quarters, pretty much in the centre of his long bivouac; day's business +well done, and bottle (as one's wont rather is) well enjoyed. Nadasti +has been out scouting; but was pricked into by hussar parties, fired +into from the growing corn; and could make out little, but the image +of his own ideas. Nadasti's ultimate report is, That the Prussians are +perfectly quiet in their camp; from Jauernik to Schweidnitz, watch-fires +all alight, sentries going their rounds. And so they are, in fact; +sentries and watch-fires,--but now nothing else there, a mere shell of +a camp; the men of it streaming steadily along, without speech, without +tobacco; and many of them are across Striegau Bridge by this time!-- + +It was past eleven, so close and continuous went this march, before +Valori and his Latour, with their carriages and furnitures, could +find an interval, and get well into it. Never will Valori forget the +discipline of these Prussians, and how they marched. Difficult ways; the +hard road is for their artillery; the men march on each side, sometimes +to mid-leg in water,--never mind. Wholly in order, wholly silent; Valori +followed them three leagues close, and there was not one straggler. +Every private man, much more every officer, knows well what grim errand +they are on; and they make no remarks. Steady as Time; and, except that +their shoes are not of felt, silent as he. The Austrian watch-fires glow +silent manifold to leftward yonder; silent overhead are the stars:--the +path of all duty, too, is silent (not about Striegau alone) for every +well-drilled man. To-morrow;--well, to-morrow? + +A grimmish feeling against the Saxons is understood to be prevalent +among these men. Bruhl, Weissenfels himself, have been reported talking +high,--"Reduce our King to the size of an Elector again," and other +foolish things;--indeed, grudges have been accumulating for some time. +"KEIN PARDON (No quarter)!" we hear has been a word among the Saxons, +as they came along; the Prussians growl to one another, "Very well then, +None!" Nay Friedrich's general order is, "No prisoners, you cavalry, in +the heat of fight; cavalry, strike at the faces of them: you infantry, +keep your fire till within fifty steps; bayonet withal is to be relied +on." These were Friedrich's last general orders, given in the hollow of +the night, near the foot of that Fuchsberg where he had been so busy all +day; a widish plain space hereabouts, Striegau Bridge now near: he had +lain snme time in his cloak, waiting till the chief generals, with +the heads of their columns, could rendezvous here. He then sprang +on horseback; spoke briefly the essential things (one of them the +above);--"Had meant to be more minute, in regard to positions and the +like; but all is so in darkness, embroiled by the flare of the Austrian +watch-fires, we can make nothing farther of localities at present: +Striegau for right wing, left wing opposite to Hohenfriedberg,--so, and +Striegau Water well to rear of us. Be diligent, exact, all faculties +awake: your own sense, and the Order of Battle which you know, must do +the rest. Forward; steady: can I doubt but you will acquit yourselves +like Prussian men?" And so they march, across the Bridge at Striegau, +south outskirt of the Town,--plank Bridge, I am afraid;--and pour +themselves, to right and to left, continually the livelong night. + +To describe the Battle which ensued, Battle named of Striegau or +Hohenfriedberg, excels the power of human talent,--if human talent had +leisure for such employment. It is the huge shock and clash of 70,000 +against 70,000, placed in the way we said. An enormous furious SIMALTAS +(or "both-at-once," as the Latins phrase it), spreading over ten square +miles. Rather say, a wide congeries of electric simultaneities; all +ELECTRIC, playing madly into one another; most loud, most mad: the +aspect of which is smoky, thunderous, abstruse; the true SEQUENCES of +which, who shall unravel? There are five accounts of it, all modestly +written, each true-looking from its own place: and a thrice-diligent +Prussian Officer, stationed on the spot in late years, has striven well +to harmonize them all. [Five Accounts: 1. The Prussian Official Account, +in _Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 1098-1102. 2. The Saxon, ib. 1103-1108. +3. The Austrian, ib. 1109-1115. 4. Stille's (ii. 125-133, of English +Translation). 5. Friedrich's own, _OEuvres,_ iii. 108-118. Lutzow, above +cited, is the harmonizer. Besides which, two of value, in _Feldzuge,_ i. +310-323, 328-336; not to mention Cogniazzo, _Confessions of an Austrian +Veeran_ (Breslau, 1788-1791: strictly Anonymous at that time, and +candid, or almost more, to Prussian merit;--still worth reading, here +and throughout), ii. 123-135; &c. &c.] Well worth the study of +military men;--who might make tours towards this and the other great +battle-field, and read such things, were they wise. For us, a feature +or two, in the huge general explosion, to assist the reader's fancy in +conceiving it a little, is all that can be pretended to. + + + + +Chapter X.--BATTLE OF HOHENFRIEDBERG. + +With the first streak of dawn, the dispute renewed itself between those +Prussians and Saxons who are on the Heights of Striegau. The two Armies +are in contact here; they lie wide apart as yet at the other end. +Cannonading rises here, on both sides, in the dim gray of the morning, +for the possession of these Heights. The Saxons are out-cannonaded and +dislodged, other Saxons start to arms in support: the cry "To arms!" +spreads everywhere, rouses Weissenfels to horseback; and by sunrise a +furious storm of battle has begun, in this part. Hot and fierce on both +sides; charges of horse, shock after shock, bayonet-charges of foot; the +great guns going like Jove's thunder, and the continuous tearing storm +of small guns, very loud indeed: such a noise, as our poor Schoolmaster, +who lives on this spot, thinks he will hear only once again, when +the Last Trumpet sounds! It did indeed, he informs us, resemble the +dissolution of Nature: "For all fell dark too;" a general element +of sulphurous powder-smoke, streaked with dull blazes; and death +and destruction very nigh. What will become of poor pacific mortals +hereabouts? Rittmeister Seydlitz, Winterfeld his patron ride, with +knit brows, in these horse-charges; fiery Rothenburg too; Truchsess von +Waldburg, at the head of his Division,--poor Truchsess known in London +society, a cannon-ball smites the life out of him, and he ended here. + +At the first clash of horse and foot, the Saxons fancied they rather +had it; at the second, their horse became distressed; at the third, +they rolled into disorderly heaps. The foot also, stubborn as they +were, could not stand that swift firing, followed by the bayonet and the +sabre; and were forced to give ground. The morning sun shone into their +eyes, too, they say; and there had risen a breath of easterly wind, +which hurled the smoke upon them, so that they could not see. Decidedly +staggering backwards; getting to be taken in flank and ruined, though +poor Weissenfels does his best. About five in the morning, Friedrich +came galloping hitherward; Valori with him: "MON AMI, this is looking +well! This will do, won't it?" The Saxons are fast sinking in the scale; +and did nothing thenceforth but sink ever faster; though they made a +stiff defence, fierce exasperation on both sides; and disputed every +inch. Their position, in these scraggy Woods and Villages, in these +Morasses and Carp-Husbandries, is very strong. + +It had proved to be farther north, too, than was expected; so that the +Prussians had to wheel round a little (right wing as a centre, fighting +army as radius) before they could come parallel, and get to work: a +delicate manoeuvre, which they executed to Valori's admiration, here in +the storm of battle; tramp, tramp, velocity increasing from your centre +outwards, till at the end of the radius, the troops are at treble-quick, +fairly running forward, and the line straight all the while. Admirable +to Valori, in the hot whirlwind of battle here. For the great guns go, +in horrid salvos, unabated, and the crackling thunder of the small guns; +"terrible tussling about those Carp-ponds, that quaggy Carp-husbandry," +says the Schoolmaster, "and the Heavens blotted out in sulphurous +fire-streaked smoke. What had become of us pacific? Some had run in +time, and they were the wisest; others had squatted, who could find a +nook suitable. Most of us had gathered into the Nursery-garden at +the foot of our Village; we sat quaking there,--our prayers grown +tremulously vocal;--in tears and wail, at least the women part. Enemies +made reconcilement with each other," says he, "and dear friends took +farewell." [His Narrative, in Lutzow, UBI SUPRA.] One general Alleleu; +the Last Day, to all appearance, having come. Friedrich, seeing things +in this good posture, gallops to the left again, where much urgently +requires attention from him. + +On the Austrian side, Prince Karl, through his morning sleep at +Hausdorf, had heard the cannonading: "Saxons taking Striegau!" thinks +he; a pleasant lullaby enough; and continues to sleep and dream. +Agitated messengers rush in, at last; draw his curtains: "Prussians +all in rank, this side Striegau Water; Saxons beaten, or nearly so, at +Striegau: we must stand to arms, your Highness!"--"To arms, of course," +answers Karl; and hurries now, what he can, to get everything in motion. +The bivouac itself had been in order of battle; but naturally there is +much to adjust, to put in trim; and the Austrians are not distinguished +for celerity of movement. All the worse for them just now. + +On Friedrich's side, so far as I can gather, there have happened two +cross accidents. First, by that wheeling movement, done to Valori's +admiration in the Striegau quarter, the Prussian line has hitched itself +up towards Striegau, has got curved inward, and covers less ground than +was counted on; so that there is like to be some gap in the central +part of;--as in fact there was, in spite of Friedrich's efforts, and +hitchings of battalions and squadrons: an indisputable gap, though it +turned to rich profit for Friedrich; Prince Karl paying no attention to +it. Upon such indisputable gap a wakeful enemy might have done Friedrich +some perilous freak; but Karl was in his bed, as we say;--in a terrible +flurry, too, when out of bed. Nothing was done upon the gap; and +Friedrich had his unexpected profit by it before long. + +The second accident is almost worse. Striegau Bridge (of planks, as +I feared), creaking under such a heavy stream of feet and wheels all +night, did at last break, in some degree, and needed to be mended; so +that the rearward regiments, who are to form Friedrich's left wing, +are in painful retard;--and are becoming frightfully necessary, the +Austrians as yet far outflanking us, capable of taking us in flank +with that right wing of theirs! The moment was agitating to a +General-in-chief: Valori will own this young King's bearing was perfect; +not the least flurry, though under such a strain. He has aides-de-camp, +dashing out every-whither with orders, with expedients; Prince Henri, +his younger Brother: galloping the fastest; nay, at last, he begs Valori +himself to gallop, with orders to a certain General Gessler, in whose +Brigade are Dragoons. Which Valori does,--happily without effect on +Gessler; who knows no Valori for an aide-de-camp, and keeps the ground +appointed him; rearward of that gap we talked of. + +Happily the Austrian right wing is in no haste to charge. Happily +Ziethen, blocked by that incumbrance of the Bridge mending, "finds a +ford higher up," the assiduous Ziethen; splashes across, other regiments +following; forms in line well leftward; and instead of waiting for the +Austrian charge, charges home upon them, fiercely through the difficult +grounds, No danger of the Austrians outflanking us now; they are +themselves likely to get hard measure on their flank. By the ford and +by the Bridge, all regiments, some of them at treble-quick, get to their +posts still in time. Accident second has passed without damage. +Forward, then; rapid, steady; and reserve your fire till within fifty +paces!--Prinoe Ferdinand of Brunswick (Friedrich's Brother-in-law, a +bright-eyed steady young man, of great heart for fight) tramps forth +with his Division:--steady!--all manner of Divisions tramp forth; and +the hot storm, Ziethen and cavalry dashing upon that right wing of +theirs, kindles here also far and wide. + +The Austrian cavalry on this wing and elsewhere, it is clear, were +ill off. "We could not charge the Prussian left wing, say they, partly +because of the morasses that lay between us; and partly [which is +remarkable] because they rushed across and charged us." [Austrian +report, _Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 1113.] Prince Karl is sorry to report +such things of his cavalry; but their behavior was bad and not good. +The first shock threw them wavering; the second,--nothing would persuade +them to dash forth and meet it. High officers commanded, obtested, drew +out pistols, Prince Karl himself shot a fugitive or two,--it was to no +purpose; they wavered worse at every new shock; and at length a shock +came (sixth it was, as the reporter counts) which shook them all into +the wind. Decidedly shy of the Prussians with their new manoeuvres, and +terrible way of coming on, as if sure of beating. In the Saxon quarter, +certain Austrian regiments of horse would not charge at all; merely kept +firing from their carbines, and when the time came ran. + +As for the Saxons, they have been beaten these two hours; that is to +say, hopeless these two hours, and getting beaten worse and worse. The +Saxons cannot stand, but neither generally will they run; they dispute +every ditch, morass and tuft of wood, especially every village. Wrecks +of the muddy desperate business last, hour after hour. "I gave my men a +little rest under the garden walls," says one Saxon Gentleman, "or they +would have died, in the heat and thirst and extreme fatigue: I would +have given 100 gulden [10 pounds Sterling] for a glass of water." +[ _Helden-Geschichte,_ ubi supra.] The Prussians push them on, bayonet +in back; inexorable, not to be resisted; slit off whole battalions of +them (prisoners now, and quarter given); take all their guns, or all +that are not sunk in the quagmires;--in fine, drive them, part into the +Mountains direct, part by circuit thither, down upon the rear of the +Austrian fight: through Hausdorf, Seifersdorf and other Mountain gorges, +where we hear no more of them, and shall say no more of them. A sore +stroke for poor old Weissenfels; the last public one he has to take, in +this world, for the poor man died before long. Nobody's blame, he says; +every Saxon man did well; only some Austrian horse-regiments, that we +had among us, were too shy. Adieu to poor old Weissenfels. Luck of war, +what else,--thereby is he in this pass. + +And now new Prussian force, its Saxons being well abolished, is pressing +down upon Prince Karl's naked left flank. Yes;--Prince Karl too will +have to go. His cavalry is, for most part, shaken into ragged clouds; +infantry, steady enough men, cannot stand everything. "I have observed," +says Friedrich, "if you step sharply up to an Austrian battalion [within +fifty paces or so], and pour in your fire well, in about a quarter of +an hour you see the ranks beginning to shake, and jumble towards +indistinctness;" [_Military Instructions._ ] a very hopeful symptom to +you! + +It was at this moment that Lieutenant-General Gessler, under whom is the +Dragoon regiment Baireuth, who had kept his place in spite of Valori's +message, determined on a thing,--advised to it by General Schmettau +(younger Schmettau), who was near. Gessler, as we saw, stood in the rear +line, behind that gap (most likely one of several gaps, or wide spaces, +left too wide, as we explained); Gessler, noticing the jumbly condition +of those Austrian battalions, heaped now one upon another in this +part,--motions to the Prussian Infantry to make what farther room +is needful; then dashes through, in two columns (self and +the Dragoon-Colonel heading the one, French Chasot, who is +Lieutenant-Colonel, heading the other), sabre in hand, with +extraordinary impetus and fire, into the belly of these jumbly +Austrians; and slashes them to rags, "twenty battalions of them," in an +altogether unexampled manner. Takes "several thousand prisoners," and +such a haul of standards, kettle-drums and insignia of honor, as was +never got before at one charge. Sixty-seven standards by the tale, for +the regiment (by most All-Gracious Permission) wears, ever after, "67" +upon its cartridge-box, and is allowed to beat the grenadier +march; [Orlich, ii. 179 (173 n., 179 n., slightly wrong); +_Militair-Lexikon,_ ii. 9, iv. 465, 468. See Preuss, i. 212; _OEuvres de +Frederic;_ &c. &c.]--how many kettle-drums memory does not say. + +Prince Karl beats retreat, about 8 in the morning; is through +Hohenfriedberg about 10 (cannon covering there, and Nadasti as +rear-guard): back into the Mountains; a thoroughly well-beaten man. +Towards Bolkenhayn, the Saxons and he; their heavy artillery and baggage +had been left safe there. Not much pursued, and gradually rearranging +himself; with thoughts,--no want of thoughts! Came pouring down, +triumphantly invasive, yesterday; returns, on these terms, in about +fifteen hours. Not marching with displayed banners and field-music, this +time; this is a far other march. The mouse-trap had been left open, and +we rashly went in!--Prince Karl's loss, including that of the Saxons +(which is almost equal, though their number in the field was but HALF), +is 9,000 dead and wounded, 7,000 prisoners, 66 cannon, 73 flags and +standards; the Prussian is about 5,000 dead and wounded. [In Orlich (ii. +182) all the details.] Friedrich, at sight of Valori, embraces his GROS +VALORI; says, with a pious emotion in voice and look, "My friend, God +has helped me wonderfully this day!" Actually there was a kind of devout +feeling visible in him, thinks Valori: "A singular mixture, this +Prince, of good qualities and of bad; I never know which preponderates." +[Valori, SOEPIUS.] As is the way with fat Valoris, when they come into +such company. + +Friedrich is blamed by some military men, and perhaps himself thought it +questionable, that he did not pursue Prince Karl more sharply. He says +his troops could not; they were worn out with the night's marching and +the day's fighting. He himself may well be worn out. I suppose, for the +last four-and-twenty hours he, of all the contemporary sons of Adam, +has probably been the busiest. Let us rest this day; rest till to-morrow +morning, and be thankful. "So decisive a defeat," writes he to his +Mother (hastily, misdating "6th" June for 4th), "has not been since +Blenheim" [Letter in _OEuvres de Frederic,_ xxvi. 71.] (which is +tolerably true); and "I have made the Princes sign their names," to give +the good Mother assurance of her children in these perils of war. Seldom +has such a deliverance come to a man. + + + + +Chapter XI.--CAMP OF CHLUM: FRIEDRICH CANNOT ACHIEVE PEACE. + +Friedrich marched, on the morrow, likewise to Bolkenhayn; which the +enemy have just left; our hussars hanging on their rear, and bickering +with Nadasti. Then again on the morrow, Sunday,--"twelve hours of +continuous rain," writes Valori; but there is no down-pour, or distress, +or disturbance that will shake these men from their ranks, writes +Valori. And so it goes on, march after march, the Austrians ahead, +Dumoulin and our hussars infesting their rear, which skilfully defended +itself: through Landshut down into Bohemia; where are new successive +marches, the Prussian quarterstaff stuck into the back of defeated +Austria, "Home with you; farther home!"--and shogging it on,--without +pause, for about a fortnight to come. And then only with temporary +pause; that is to say, with intricate manoeuvrings of a month long, +which shove it to Konigsgratz, its ultimatum, beyond which there is no +getting it. The stages and successive campings, to be found punctually +in the old Books and new, can interest only military readers. Here is a +small theological thing at Landshut, from first hand:-- + +JUNE 8th, 1745. "The Army followed Dumoulin's Corps, and marched upon +Landshut. On arriving in that neighborhood, the King was surrounded by +a troop of 2,000 Peasants,"--of Protestant persuasion very evidently! +(which is much the prevailing thereabouts),--"who begged permission of +him 'to massacre the Catholics of these parts, and clear the country of +them altogether.' This animosity arose from the persecutions which the +Protestants had suffered during the Austrian domination, when +their churches used to be taken from them and given to the Popish +priests,"--churches and almost their children, such was the anxiety to +make them orthodox. The patience of these peasants had run over; and +now, in the hour of hope, they proposed the above sweeping measure. "The +King was very far from granting them so barbarous a permission. He told +them, 'They ought rather to conform to the Scripture precept, to bless +those that cursed them, and pray for those that despitefully used them; +such was the way to gain the Kingdom of Heaven.' The peasants," rolling +dubious eyes for a moment, "answered, His Majesty was right; and +desisted from their cruel pretension." [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ +ii.218.]...--"On Hohenfriedberg Day," says another Witness, "as far as +the sound of the cannon was heard, all round, the Protestants fell on +their knees, praying for victory to the Prussians;" [In Ranke, iii. +259.] and at Breslau that evening, when the "Thirteen trumpeting +Postilions" came tearing in with the news, what an enthusiasm without +limit! + +Prince Karl has skill in choosing camps and positions: his Austrians are +much cowed; that is the grievous loss in his late fight. So, from June +8th, when they quit Silesia,--by two roads to go more readily,--all +through that month and the next, Friedrich spread to the due width, +duly pricking into the rear of them, drives the beaten hosts onward and +onward. They do not think of fighting; their one thought is to get into +positions where they can have living conveyed to them, and cannot be +attacked; for the former of which objects, the farther homewards they +go, it is the better. The main pursuit, as I gather, goes leftward from +Landshut, by Friedland,--the Silesian Friedland, once Wallenstein's. +Through rough wild country, the southern slope of the Giant Mountains, +goes that slow pursuit, or the main stream of it, where Friedrich +in person is; intricate savage regions, cut by precipitous rocks and +soaking quagmires, shaggy with woods: watershed between the Upper Elbe +and Middle Oder; Glatz on our left,--with the rain of its mountains +gathering to a Neisse River, eastward, which we know; and on their west +or hither side, to a Mietau, Adler, Aupa and other many-branched feeders +of the Elbe. Most complex military ground, the manoeuvrings on it +endless,--which must be left to the reader's fancy here. + +About the end of June, Karl and his Austrians find a place suitable to +their objects: Konigsgratz, a compact little Town, in the nook between +the Elbe and Adler; covered to west and to south by these two streams; +strong enough to east withal; and sure and convenient to the southern +roads and victual. Against which Friedrich's manoeuvres avail nothing; +so that he at last (20th July) crosses Elbe River; takes, he likewise, +an inexpugnable Camp on the opposite shore, at a Village called Chlum; +and lies there, making a mutual dead-lock of it, for six weeks or +more. Of the prior Camps, with their abundance of strategic shufflings, +wheelings, pushings, all issuing in this of Chlum, we say nothing: none +of them,--except the immediately preceding one, called of Nahorzan, +called also of Drewitz (for it was in parts a shifting entity, and flung +the LIMBS of it about, strategically clutching at Konigsgratz),--had any +permanency: let us take Chlum (the longest, and essentially the last in +those parts) as the general summary of them, and alone rememberable by +us. ["Camp of Gross-Parzitz [across the Mietau, to dislodge Prince Karl +from his shelter behind that stream], June 14th:" "Camp of Nahorzan, +June 18th [and abstruse manoeuvrings, of a month, for Konigsgratz]: 20th +July," cross Elbe for Chlum; and lie, yourself also inexpugnable, there. +See _OEuvres de Frederic,_ (iii. 120 et seq.); especially see Orlich +(ii. pp. 193, 194, 203, &c. &c.),--with an amplitude of inorganic +details, sufficient to astonish the robustest memory!] + +Friedrich's purposes, at Chlum or previously, are not towards conquests +in Bohemia, nor of fighting farther, if he can help it. But, in the mean +while, he is eating out these Bohemian vicinages; no invasion of Silesia +possible from that quarter soon again. That is one benefit: and he hopes +always his enemies, under screw of military pressure with the one hand, +and offer of the olive-branch with the other, will be induced to grant +him Peace. Britannic Majesty, after Fontenoy and Hohenfriedberg, not to +mention the first rumors of a Jacobite Rebellion, with France to rear of +it, is getting eager to have Friedrich settled with, and withdrawn from +the game again;--the rather, as Friedrich, knowing his man, has ceased +latterly to urge him on the subject. Peace with George the Purseholder, +does not that mean Peace with all the others? Friedrich knows the high +Queen's indignation; but he little guesses, at this time, the humor of +Bruhl and the Polish Majesty. He has never yet sent the Old Dessauer in +upon them; always only keeps him on the slip, at Magdeburg; still +hoping actualities may not be needed. He hopes too, in spite of her +indignation, the Hungarian Majesty, with an Election on hand, with the +Netherlands at such a pass, not to speak of Italy and the Middle Rhine, +will come to moderate views again. On which latter points, his reckoning +was far from correct! Within three months, Britannic Majesty and he did +get to explicit Agreement (CONVENTION OF HANOVER, 26th August): but in +regard to the Polish Majesty and the Hungarian there proved to be no +such result attainable, and quite other methods necessary first! + +"Of military transactions in this Camp of Chlum, or in all these +Bohemian-Silesian Camps, for near four months, there is nothing, or as +good as nothing: Chlum has no events; Chlum vigilantly guards itself; +and expects, as the really decisive to it, events that will happen far +away. We are to conceive this military business as a dead-lock; +attended with hussar skirmishes; attacks, defences, of outposts, of +provision-wagons from Moravia or Silesia:--Friedrich has his food from +Silesia chiefly, by several routes, 'convoys come once in the five +days.' His horse-provender he forages; with Tolpatches watching him, and +continual scufflings of fight: 'for hay and glory,' writes one +Prussian Officer, 'I assure you we fight well!' Endless enterprising, +manoeuvring, counter-manoeuvring there at first was; and still is, if +either party stir: but here, in their mutually fixed camps, tacit +mutual observances establish themselves; and amid the rigorous armed +vigilantes, there are traits of human neighborship. As usual in such +cases. The guard-parties do not fire on one another, within certain +limits: a signal that there are dead to bury, or the like, is strictly +respected. On one such occasion it was (June 30th, Camp-of-Nahorzan +time) that Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick--Prince Ferdinand, with a young +Brother Albert volunteering and learning his business here, who are both +Prussian--had a snatch of interview with a third much-loved Brother, +Ludwig, who is in the Austrian service. A Prussian officer, venturing +beyond the limits, had been shot; Ferdinand's message, 'Grant us burial +of him!' found, by chance, Brother Ludwig in command of that Austrian +outpost; who answers: 'Surely;--and beg that I may embrace my Brothers!' +And they rode out, those three, to the space intermediate; talked there +for half an hour, till the burial was done. [Mauvillon, _Geschichte +Ferdinands von Braunschweig-Luneburg,_ i. 118.] Fancy such an interview +between the poor young fellows, the soul of honor each, and tied in that +manner! + +"Trenck of the Life-guard was not quite the soul of honor. It was in the +Nahorzan time too that Trenck, who had, in spite of express order to the +contrary, been writing to his Cousin the indigo Pandour, was put under +arrest when found out. 'Wrote merely about horses: purchase of horses, +so help me God!' protests the blusterous Life-guardsman, loud as lungs +will,--whether with truth in them, nobody can say. 'Arrest for breaking +orders!' answers Friedrich, doubting or disbelieving the horses; and +loud Trenck is packed over the Hills to Glatz; to Governor Fouquet, or +Substitute;--where, by not submitting and repenting, by resisting and +rebelling, and ever again doing it, he makes out for himself, with +Fouquet and his other Governors, what kind of life we know! 'GARDEZ +E'TROITEMENT CE DROLE-LA, IL A VOULU DEVENIR PANDOUR AUPRES DE SON ONCLE +(Keep a tight hold of this fine fellow; he wanted to become Pandour +beside his Uncle)!' writes Friedrich:--'Uncle' instead of 'Cousin,' all +one to Friedrich. This he writes with his own hand, on the margin: 28th +June, 1745; the inexorable Records fix that date. [Rodenbeck. iii. 381. +Copy of the Warrant, once PENES ME.] Which I should not mention, except +for another inexorable date (30th September), that is coming; and +the perceptible slight comfort there will be in fixing down a +loud-blustering, extensively fabulous blockhead, still fit for the +Nurseries, to one undeniable premeditated lie, and tar-marking him +therewith, for benefit of more serious readers." As shall be done, were +the 30th of September come! + +Here is still something,--if it be not rather nothing, by a great +hand! Date uncertain; Camp-of-Chlum time, pretty far on:... "There are +continual foragings, on both sides; with parties mutually dashing out to +hinder the same. The Prussians have a detached post at Smirzitz; which +is much harassed by Hungarians lurking about, shooting our sentry and +the like. An inventive head contrives this expedient. Stuff a Prussian +uniform with straw; fix it up, by aid of ropes and check-strings, to +stand with musket shouldered, and even to glide about to right and left, +on judicious pulling. So it is done: straw man is made; set upon his +ropes, when the Tolpatches approach; and pensively saunters to and +fro,--his living comrades crouching in the bushes near by. Tolpatches +fire on the walking straw sentry; straw sentry falls flat; Tolpatches +rush in, esurient, triumphant; are exploded in a sharp blast of musketry +from the bushes all round, every wounded man made prisoner;--and come +no more back to that post." Friedrich himself records this little fact: +"slight pleasantry to relieve the reader's mind," says he, in narrating +it. [_OEuvres,_ iii. 123.]--Enough of those small matters, while so +many large are waiting. + +June 26th, a month before Chlum, General Nassau had been detached, with +some 8 or 10,000, across Glatz Country, into Upper Silesia, to sweep +that clear again. Hautcharmoi, quitting the Frontier Towns, has joined, +raising him to 15,000; and Nassau is giving excellent account of the +multitudinous Pandour doggeries there; and will retake Kosel, and +have Upper Silesia swept before very long. [Kosel, "September 5th:" +Excellent, lucid and even entertaining Account of Nassau's Expedition, +in the form of DIARY (a model, of its kind), in _Feldzuge,_ iv. 257, +371, 532.] On the other hand, the Election matter (KAISERWAHL, a most +important point) is obviously in threatening, or even in desperate +state! That famed Middle-Rhine Army has gone to the--what shall we say? + +JULY 5th-19th, MIDDLE-RHINE COUNTRY. "The first Election-news that +reaches Friedrich is from the Middle-Rhine Country, and of very +bad complexion. Readers remember Traun, and his Bathyanis, and his +intentions upon Conti there. In the end of May, old Traun, things being +all completed in Bavaria, had got on march with his Bavarian Army, +say 40,000, to look into Prince Conti down in those parts; a fact very +interesting to the Prince. Traun held leftward, westward, as if for the +Neckar Valley,--'Perhaps intending to be through upon Elsass, in those +southern undefended portions of the Rhine?' Conti, and his Segur, and +Middle-Rhine Army stood diligently on their guard; got their forces, +defences, apparatuses, hurried southward, from Frankfurt quarter where +they lay on watch, into those Neckar regions. Which seen to be done, +Traun whirled rapidly to rightward, to northward; crossed the Mayn +at Wertheim, wholly leaving the Neckar and its Conti; having weighty +business quite in the other direction,--on the north side of the Mayn, +namely; on the Kinzig River, where Bathyani (who has taken D'Ahremberg's +command below Frankfurt, and means to bestir himself in another than the +D'Ahremberg fashion) is to meet him on a set day. Traun having thus, +by strategic suction, pulled the Middle-Rhine Army out of his and +Bathyani's way, hopes they two will manage a junction on the Kinzig; +after junction they will be a little stronger than Conti, though +decidedly weaker taken one by one. Traun, in the long June days, had +such a march, through the Spessart Forest (Mayn River to his left, with +our old friends Dettingen, Aschaffenburg, far down in the plain), as +was hardly ever known before: pathless wildernesses, rocky steeps and +chasms; the sweltering June sun sending down the upper snows upon him in +the form of muddy slush; so that 'the infantry had to wade haunch-deep +in many of the hollow parts, and nearly all the cavalry lost its +horse-shoes.' A strenuous march; and a well-schemed. For at the Kinzig +River (Conti still far off in the Neckar country), Bathyani punctually +appeared, on the opposite shore; and Traun and he took camp together; +July 5th, at Langen-Selbord (few miles north of Hanau, which we +know);--and rest there; calculating that Conti is now a manageable +quantity;--and comfortably wait till the Grand-Duke arrives. [Adelung, +iv. 421; v. 36.] For this is, theoretically, HIS Army; Grand-Duke Franz +being the Commander's Cloak, this season; as Karl was last,--a right +lucky Cloak he, while Traun lurked under him, not so lucky since! July +13th, Franz arrived; and Traun, under Franz, instantly went into Conti +(now again in those Frankfurt parts); clutched at Conti, Briareus-like, +in a multiform alarming manner: so that Conti lost head; took to mere +retreating, rushing about, burning bridges;--and in fine, July 19th, had +flung himself bodily across the Rhine (clouds of Tolpatches sticking to +him), and left old Traun and his Grand-Duke supreme lord in those parts. +Who did NOT invade Elsass, as was now expected; but lay at Heidelberg, +intending to play pacifically a surer card. All French are out of +Teutschland again; and the game given up. In what a premature and +shameful manner! thinks Friedrich. + +"Nominally it was the Grand-Duke that flung Conti over the Rhine; and +delivered Teutschland from its plagues. After which fine feat, salvatory +to the Cause of Liberty, and destructive to French influence, what is +to prevent his election to the Kaisership? Friedrich complains aloud: +'Conti has given it up; you drafted 15,000 from him (for imaginary uses +in the Netherlands),--you have given it up, then! Was that our bargain?' +'We have given it up,' answers D'Argenson the War-minister, writing to +Valori; 'but,'--And supplies, instead of performance according to the +laws of fact, eloquent logic; very superfluous to Friedrich and the said +laws!--Valori, and the French Minister at Dresden, had again been trying +to stir up the Polish Majesty to stand for Kaiser; but of course that +enterprise, eager as the Polish Majesty might be for such a dignity, had +now to collapse, and become totally hopeless. A new offer of +Friedrich's to co-operate had been refused by Bruhl, with a brevity, a +decisiveness--'Thinks me finished (AUX ABOIS),' says Friedrich; 'and not +worth giving terms to, on surrendering!' The foolish little creature; +insolent in the wrong quarter!" [ _OEuvres de Frederic,_ iii. 128.] + +'The German Burden, then,--which surely was mutual, at lowest, and +lately was French altogether,--the French have thrown it off; the French +have dropped their end of the BEARING-POLES (so to speak), and left +Friedrich by himself, to stand or stagger, under the beweltered broken +harness-gear and intolerable weight! That is one's payment for cutting +the rope from their neck last year!--Long since, while the present +Campaign was being prepared for, under such financial pressures, +Friedrich had bethought him, "The French might, at least give me money, +if they can nothing else?"--and he had one day penned a Letter with that +object; but had thrown it into his desk again, "No; not till the very +last extremity, that!" Friedrich did at last despatch the unpleasant +missive: "Service done you in Elsass, let us say little of it; but the +repayment has been zero hitherto: your Bavarian expenses (poor Kaiser +gone, and Peace of Fussen come!) are now ended:--A round sum, say of +600,000 pounds, is becoming indispensable here, if we are to keep on +our feet at all!" Herr Ranke, who has seen the Most Christian King's +response (though in a capricious way), finds "three or four successive +redactions" of the difficult passage; all painfully meaning, +"Impossible, alas!"--painfully adding, "We will try, however!" And, +after due cunctations, Friedrich waiting silent the while,--Louis, Most +Christian King, who had failed in so many things towards Friedrich, does +empower Valori To offer him a subsidy of 600,000 livres a month, till we +see farther. Twenty thousand pounds a month; he hopes this will suffice, +being himself run terribly low. Friedrich's feeling is to be guessed: +"Such a dole might answer to a Landgraf of Hessen-Darmstadt; but to me +is not in the least suitable;"--and flatly refuses it; FIEREMENT, says +Valori. [Ranke, iii. 235, 299 n. (not the least of DATE allowed us in +either case); Valori. i. 240.] + +MON GROS VALORI, who could not himself help all this, poor soul, "falls +now into complete disgrace;" waits daily upon Friedrich at the giving +out of the parole, "but frequently his Majesty does not speak to me at +all." Hardly looks at me, or only looks as if I had suddenly become Zero +Incarnate. It is now in these days, I suppose, that Friedrich writes +about the "Scamander Battle" (of Fontenoy), and "Capture of Pekin," by +way of helping one to fight the Austrians according to Treaty. And has +a touch of bitter sarcasm in uttering his complaints against, such +treatment,--the heart of him, I suppose, bitter enough. Most Christian +King has felt this of the Scamander, Friedrich perceives; Louis's next +letter testifies pique;--and of course we are farther from help, on +that side, than ever. "From the STANDE of the Kur-Mark [Brandenburg] +Friedrich was offered a considerable subsidy instead; and joyfully +accepted the same, 'as a loan:'"--paid it punctually back, too; and +never, all his days, forgot it of those STANDE. [Stenzel, iv. 255; +Ranke, &c.] + + + + +CAMP OF DIESKAU: BRITANNIC MAJESTY MAKES PEACE, FOR HIMSELF, WITH +FRIEDRICH; BUT CANNOT FOR AUSTRIA OR SAXONY. + +About the middle of August, there are certain Saxon phenomena which +awaken dread expectation in the world. Friedrich, watching, Argus-like, +near and far, in his Chlum observatory, has noticed that Prince Karl +is getting reinforced in Konigsgratz; 10,000 lately, 7,000 more +coming;--and contrariwise that the Saxons seem to be straggling off from +him; ebbing away, corps after corps,--towards Saxony, can it be? There +are whispers of "Bavarian auxiliaries" being hired for them, too. And +little Bruhl's late insolence; Bruhl's evident belief that "we are +finished (AUX ABOIS)"? Putting all this together, Friedrich judges--with +an indignation very natural--that there is again some insidious Saxon +mischief, most likely an attack on Brandenburg, in the wind. Friedrich +orders the Old Dessauer, "March into them, delay no longer!" and +publishes a clangorously indignant Manifesto (evidently his own writing, +and coming from the heart): [In Adelung, v. 64-71 (no date; "middle of +August," say the Books).] "How they have, not bound by their Austrian +Treaty, wantonly invaded our Silesia; have, since and before, in spite +of our forbearance, done so many things:--and, in fact, have finally +exhausted our patience; and are forcing us to seek redress and safety by +the natural methods," which they will see how they like!-- + +Old Leopold advances straightway, as bidden, direct for the Saxon +frontier. To whom Friedrich shoots off detachments,--Prince Dietrich, +with so many thousands, to reinforce Papa; then General Gessler with +so many,--till Papa is 30,000 odd; and could eat Saxony at a mouthful; +nothing whatever being yet ready there on Bruhl's part, though he has +such immense things in the wind!--Nevertheless Friedrich again paused; +did not yet strike. The Saxon question has Russian bug-bears, no end of +complications. His Britannic Majesty, now at Hanover, and his prudent +Harrington with him, are in the act of laboring, with all earnestness, +for a general Agreement with Friedrich. Without farther bitterness, +embroilment and bloodshed: how much preferable for Friedrich! Old +Dessauer, therefore, pauses: "Camp of Dieskau," which we have often +heard of, close on the Saxon Border; stands there, looking over, as with +sword drawn, 30,000 good swords,--but no stroke, not for almost three +months more. In three months, wretched Bruhl had not repented; but, on +the contrary, had completed his preparations, and gone to work;--and the +stroke did fall, as will be seen. That is Bruhl's posture in the matter. +[Ranke, iii. 231, 314.] + +To Britannic George, for a good while past, it has been manifest that +the Pragmatic Sanction, in its original form, is an extinct object; that +reconquest of Silesia, and such like, is melancholy moonshine; and that, +in fact, towards fighting the French with effect, it is highly necessary +to make peace with Friedrich of Prussia again. This once more is +George's and his Harrington's fixed view. Friedrich's own wishes are +known, or used to be, ever since the late Kaiser's death,--though +latterly he has fallen silent, and even avoids the topic when offered +(knowing his man)! Herrington has to apply formally to Friedrich's +Minister at Hanover. "Very well, if they are in earnest this time," so +Friedrich instructs his Minister: "My terms are known to you; no change +admissible in the terms;--do not speak with me on it farther: and, +observe, within four weeks, the thing finished, or else broken off!" +[Ranke, iii. 277-281.] And in this sense they are laboring incessantly, +with Austria, with Saxony,--without the least success;--and Excellency +Robinson has again a panting uncomfortable time. Here is a scene +Robinson transacts at Vienna, which gives us a curious face-to-face +glimpse of her Hungarian Majesty, while Friedrich is in his Camp at +Chlum. + + + + +SCHONBRUNN, 2d AUGUST, 1745, ROBINSON HAS AUDIENCE OF HER HUNGARIAN +MAJESTY. + +Robinson, in a copious sonorous speech (rather apt to be copious, and to +fall into the Parliamentary CANTO-FERMO), sets forth how extremely +ill we Allies are faring on the French hand; nothing done upon Silesia +either; a hopeless matter that,--is it not, your Majesty? And your +Majesty's forces all lying there, in mere dead-lock; and we in such need +of them! "Peace with Prussia is indispensable."--To which her Majesty +listened, in statuesque silence mostly; "never saw her so reserved +before, my Lord."... + +ROBINSON.... "'Madam, the Dutch will be obliged to accept Neutrality' +[and plump down again, after such hoisting]! + +QUEEN. "'Well, and if they did, they? It would be easier to accommodate +with France itself, and so finish the whole matter, than with Prussia." +My Army could not get to the Netherlands this season. No General of +mine would undertake conducting it at this day of the year. Peace with +Prussia, what good could it do at present?' + +ROBINSON. "'England has already found, for subsidies, this year, +1,178,753 pounds. Cannot go on at that rate. Peace with Prussia is one +of the returns the English Nation expects for all it has done.' + +QUEEN. "'I must have Silesia again: without Silesia the Kaiserhood were +an empty title. "Or would you have us administer it under the guardiancy +of Prussia!"'... + +ROBINSON. "'In Bohemia itself things don't look well; nothing done on +Friedrich: your Saxons seem to be qnarrelling with you, and going home.' + +QUEEN. "'Prince Karl is himself capable of fighting the Prussians again. +Till that, do not speak to me of Peace! Grant me only till October!' + +ROBINSON. "'Prussia will help the Grand-Duke to Kaisership.' + +QUEEN. "'The Grand-Duke is not so ambitions of an empty honor as to +engage in it under the tutelage of Prussia. Consider farther: the +Imperial dignity, is it compatible with the fatal deprivation of +Silesia? "One other battle, I say! Good God, give me only till the month +of October!"' + +ROBINSON. "'A battle, Madam, if won, won't reconquer Silesia; if lost, +your Majesty is ruined at home.' + +QUEEN. "'DUSSE'JE CONCLURE AVEC LUI LE LENDEMAIN, JE LUI LIVRERAIS +BATAILLE CE SOIR (Had I to agree with him to-morrow, I would try him in +a battle this evening)!'" [Robinson's Despatch, 4th August, 1745. Ranke, +iii. 287; Raumer, pp. 161, 162.] + +Her Majesty is not to be hindered; deaf to Robinson, to her Britannic +George who pays the money. "Cruel man, is that what you call keeping the +Pragmatic Sanction; dismembering me of Province after Province, now in +Germany, then in Italy, on pretext of necessity? Has not England money, +then? Does not England love the Cause of Liberty? Give me till October!" +Her Majesty did take till October, and later, as we shall see; poor +George not able to hinder, by power of the purse or otherwise: who can +hinder high females, or low, when they get into their humors? Much of +this Austrian obstinacy, think impartial persons, was of female nature. +We shall see what profit her Majesty made by taking till October. + +As for George, the time being run, and her Majesty and Saxony +unpersuadable, he determined to accept Friedrich's terms himself, in +hope of gradually bringing the others to do it. August 26th, at Hanover, +there is signed a CONVENTION OF HANOVER between Friedrich and him: +"Peace on the old Breslau-Berlin terms,--precisely the same terms, but +Britannic Majesty to have them guaranteed by All the Powers, on the +General Peace coming,--so that there be no snake-procedure henceforth." +Silesia Friedrich's without fail, dear Hanover unmolested even by a +thought of Friedrich's;--and her Hungarian Majesty to be invited, nay +urged by every feasible method, to accede. [Adelung, v. 75; is "in +Rousset, xix. 441;" in &c. &c.] Which done, Britannic Majesty--for +there has hung itself out, in the Scotch Highlands, the other day +("Glenfinlas, August 12th"), a certain Standard "TANDEM TRIUMPHANS," and +unpleasant things are imminent!--hurries home at his best pace, and has +his hands full there, for some time. On Austria, on Saxony, he could +not prevail: "By no manner of means!" answered they; and went their own +road,--jingling his Britannic subsidies in their pocket; regardless of +the once Supreme Jove, who is sunk now to a very different figure on the +German boards. + +Friedrich's outlook is very bad: such a War to go on, and not even +finance to do it with. His intimates, his Rothenburg one time, have +"found him sunk in gloomy thought." But he wears a bright face usually. +No wavering or doubting in him, his mind made up; which is a great help +that way. Friedrich indicates, and has indicated everywhere, for many +months, that Peace, precisely on the old footing, is all he wants: "The +Kaiser being dead, whom I took up arms to defend, what farther object is +there?" says he. "Renounce Silesia, more honestly than last time; engage +to have it guaranteed by everybody at the General Peace (or perhaps +Hohenfriedberg will help to guarantee it),--and I march home!" My money +is running down, privately thinks he; guarantee Silesia, and I shall +be glad to go. If not, I must raise money somehow; melt the big silver +balustrades at Berlin, borrow from the STANDE, or do something; and, in +fact, must stand here, unless Silesia is guaranteed, and struggle till I +die. + +That latter withal is still privately Friedrich's thought. Under his +light air, he carries unspoken that grimly clear determination, at all +times, now and henceforth; and it is an immense help to the guidance +of him. An indispensable, indeed. No king or man, attempting anything +considerable in this world, need expect to achieve it except, tacitly, +on those same terms, "I will achieve it or die!" For the world, in spite +of rumors to the contrary, is always much of a bedlam to the sanity +(so far as he may have any) of every individual man. A strict place, +moreover; its very bedlamisms flowing by law, as do alike the sudden +mud-deluges, and the steady Atlantic tides, and all things whatsoever: a +world inexorable, truly, as gravitation itself;--and it will behoove +you to front it in a similar humor, as the tacit basis for whatever wise +plans you lay. In Friedrich, from the first entrance of him on the stage +of things, we have had to recognize this prime quality, in a fine tacit +form, to a complete degree; and till his last exit, we shall never find +it wanting. Tacit enough, unconscious almost, not given to articulate +itself at all;--and if there be less of piety than we could wish in the +silence of it, there is at least no play-actor mendacity, or cant of +devoutness, to poison the high worth of it. No braver little figure +stands on the Earth at that epoch. Ready, at the due season, with +his mind silently made up;--able to answer diplomatic Robinsons, +Bartensteins and the very Destinies when they apply. If you will +withdraw your snakish notions, will guarantee Silesia, will give him +back his old Treaty of Berlin in an irrefragable shape, he will march +home; if not, he will never march home, but be carried thither dead +rather. That is his intention, if the gods permit. + + + + +GRAND-DUKE FRANZ IS ELECTED KAISER (13TH SEPTEMBER, 1745); FRIEDRICH, +THE SEASON AND FORAGE BEING DONE, MAKES FOR SILESIA. + +There occurred at Frankfurt--the clear majority, seven of the nine +Electors, Bavaria itself (nay Bohemia this time, "distaff" or not), +and all the others but Friedrich and Kur-Pfalz, being so disposed or +so disposable, Traun being master of the ground--no difficulty about +electing Grand-Duke Franz Stephan of Tuscany? Joint-King of Bohemia, to +be Kaiser of the Holy Romish Reich. Friedrich's envoy protested;--as did +Kur-Pfalz's, with still more vehemence, and then withdrew to Hanau: the +other Seven voted September 13th 1745: and it was done. A new Kaiser, +Franz Stephan, or Franz I.,--with our blessing on him, if that can +avail much. But I fear it cannot. Upon such mendacious Empty-Case +of Kaiserhood, without even money to feed itself, not to speak of +governing, of defending and coercing; upon such entities the blessings +of man avail little; the gods, having warned them to go, do not bless +them for staying!--However, tar-barrels burn, the fountains play (wine +in some of them, I hope); Franz is to be crowned in a fortnight hence, +with extraordinary magnificence. At this last part of it Maria Theresa +will, in her own high person, attend; and proceeds accordingly towards +Frankfurt, in the end of September (say the old Books), so soon as the +Election is over. + +Hungarian Majesty's bearing was not popular there, according to +Friedrich,--who always admires her after a sort, and always speaks of +her like a king and gentleman:--but the High Lady, it is intimated, felt +somewhat too well that she was high. Not sorry to have it known, under +the due veils, that her Kaiser-Husband is but of a mimetic nature; that +it is she who has the real power; and that indeed she is in a victorious +posture at present. Very high in her carriage towards the Princes of the +Reich, and their privileges:--poor Kur-Pfalz's notary, or herald, coming +to protest (I think, it was the second time) about something, she quite +disregarded his tabards, pasteboards, or whatever they were, and clapt +him in prison. The thing was commented upon; but Kur-Pfalz got no +redress. Need we repeat,--lazy readers having so often met him, and +forgotten him again,--this is a new younger Kur-Pfalz: Karl Theodor, +this one; not Friedrich Wilhelm's old Friend, but his Successor, of the +Sulzbach line; of whom, after thirty years or so, we may again hear. He +can complain about his violated tabard; will get his notary out of jail +again, but no redress. + +Highish even towards her friends, this "Empress-Queen" +(KAISERIN-KONIGIN, such her new title), and has a kind of +"Thank-you-for-Nothing" air towards them. Prussian Majesty, she said, +had unquestionable talents; but, oh, what a character! Too much levity, +she said, by far; heterodox too, in the extreme; a BOSER MANN;--and what +a neighbor has he been! As to Silesia, she was heard to say, she +would as soon part with her petticoat as part with it. [_OEuvres de +Frederic,_ iii. 126, 128.]--So that there is not the least prospect of +peace here? "None," answer Friedrich's emissaries, whom he had empowered +to hint the thing. Which is heavy news to Friedrich. + +Early in August, not long after that Audience of Robinson's, her +Majesty, after repeated written messages to Prince Karl, urging him to +go into fight again or attempt something, had sent two high messengers: +Prince Lobkowitz, Duke d'Ahremberg, high dignitaries from Court, have +come to Konigsgratz with the latest urgencies, the newest ideas; and +would fain help Prince Karl to attempt something. Daily they used to +come out upon a little height, in view of Friedrich's tent, and gaze in +upon him, and round all Nature, "with big tubes," he says, "as if +they had been astronomers;" but never attempted anything. We remember +D'Ahremberg, and what part he has played, from the Dettingen times and +onward. "A debauched old fellow," says Friedrich; "gone all to hebetude +by his labors in that line; agrees always with the last speaker." Prince +Karl seems to have little stomach himself; and does not see his way into +(or across) another Battle. Lobkowitz, again, is always saying: "Try +something! We are now stronger than they, by their detachings, by our +reinforcings" (indeed, about twice their number, regular and irregular), +though most of the Saxons are gone home. After much gazing through +their tubes, the Austrians (August 23d) do make a small shift of place, +insignificant otherwise; the Prussians, next day, do the like, in +consequence; quit Chlum, burning their huts; post themselves a little +farther up the Elbe,--their left at a place called Jaromirz, embouchure +of the Aupa into Elbe, [ _OEuvres de Frederic,_ iii. 129.]--and are +again unattackable. + +The worst fact is the multitude of Pandours, more and more infesting our +provision-roads; and that horse-forage itself is, at last, running +low. Detachments lie all duly round to right and left, to secure our +communications with Silesia, especially to left, out of Glatz, where +runs one of the chief roads we have. But the service is becoming daily +more difficult. For example:-- + +"NEUSTADT, 8th SEPTEMBER. In that left-hand quarter, coming out of +Glatz at a little Bohemian Town called Neustadt, the Prussian Commander, +Tauenzien by name, was repeatedly assaulted; and from September 8th, had +to stand actual siege, gallantly repulsing a full 10,000 with their big +artillery, though his walls were all breached, for about a week, till +Friedrich sent him relief. Prince Lobkowitz, our old anti-Belleisle +friend, who is always of forward fiery humor, had set them on this +enterprise; which has turned out fruitless. The King is much satisfied +with Tauenzien; [Ib. 132.] of whom we shall hear again. Who indeed +becomes notable to us, were it only for getting one Lessing as +secretary, by and by: Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, whose fame has since +gone into all countries; the man having been appointed a 'Secretary' +to the very Destinies, in some sort; that is to say, a Writer of Books +which have turned out to have truth in them! Tauenzien, a grimmish +aquiline kind of man, of no superfluous words, has distinguished himself +for the present by defending Neustadt, which the Austrians fully counted +to get hold of." + +Let us give another little scene; preparatory to quitting this Country, +as it is evident the King and we will soon have to do; Country being +quite eaten out, Pandours getting ever rifer, and the Season done:-- + +JAROMIRZ, "EARLY IN SEPTEMBER," 1745. "Jaromirz is a little Bohemian +Town on the Aupa, or between the Aupa and Metau branches of the Upper +Elbe; four or five miles north of Semonitz, where Friedrich's quarter +now is. Valori, so seldom spoken to, is lodged in a suburb there: 'Had +not you better go into the town itself?' his Majesty did once say; but +Valori, dreading nothing, lodged on,--'Landlord a Burgher whom I thought +respectable.' Respectable, yes he; but his son had been dealing with +Franquini the Pandour, and had sold Valori,--night appointed, measures +all taken; a miracle if Valori escape. Franquini, chief of 30,000 +Pandours, has come in person to superintend this important capture; and +lies hidden, with a strong party, in the woods to rearward. Prussians +about 200, scattered in posts, occupy the hedges in front, for guard of +the ovens; to rear, Jaromirz being wholly ours, there is no suspicion. + +"In the dead of the night, Franquini emerges from the woods; sends +forward a party of sixty, under the young Judas; who, by methods +suitable, gets them stealthily conducted into Papa's Barn, which looks +across a courtyard into Valori's very windows. From the Barn it is easy, +on paws of velvet, to get into the House, if you have a Judas to open +it. Which you have:--bolts all drawn for you, and even beams ready for +barricading if you be meddled with. 'Upstairs is his Excellency asleep; +Excellency's room is--to right, do you remember; or to left'--'Pshaw, we +shall find it!' The Pandours mount; find a bedroom, break it open,--some +fifteen or sixteen of them, and one who knows a little French;--come +crowding forward: to the horror and terror of the poor inhabitant.' 'QUE +VOULEZ-VOUS DONC?' 'His Excellency Valori!' 'Well, no violence; I am +your prisoner: let me dress!' answers the supposed Excellency,--and +contrives to secrete portfolios, and tear or make away with papers. +And is marched off, under a select guard, who leave the rest to do the +pillage. And was not Valori at all; was Valori's Secretary, one D'Arget, +who had called himself Valori on this dangerous occasion! Valori sat +quaking behind his partition; not till the Pandours began plundering the +stables did the Prussian sentry catch sound of them, and plunge in." + +Friedrich had his amusement out of this adventure; liked D'Arget, +the clever Secretary; got D'Arget to himself before long, as will be +seen;--and, in quieter times, dashed off a considerable Explosion of +Rhyme, called LE PALLADION (Valori as Prussia's "Palladium," with +Devils attempting to steal him, and the like), which was once thought an +exquisite Burlesque,--Kings coveting a sight of it, in vain,--but is +now wearisome enough to every reader. [Valori, i. 242; _OEuvres de +Frederic,_ iii. 130: for the Fact. Exquisite Burlesque, PALLADION +itself, is in _OEuvres,_ xi. 192-271 (see IB. 139): a bad copy of +that very bad Original, JEANNE D'ARC,--the only thing now good in it, +Friedrich's polite yet positive refusal to gratify King Louis and his +Pompdour with a sight of it (see IB. PREFACE, x-xiv, Friedrich's Letter +to Louis; date of request and of refusal, March, 1750).]--Let us attend +his Majesty's exit from Bohemia. + + + + +Chapter XII.--BATTLE OF SOHR. + +The famed beautiful Elbe River rises in romantic chasms, terrible to the +picturesque beholder, at the roots of the Riesengebirge; overlooked +by the Hohe-Kamms, and highest summits of that chain. "Out of eleven +wells," says gentle Dulness, "EILF or ELF QUELLEN, whence its name, Elbe +for ELF." Sure enough, it starts out of various wells; [Description, in +Zollner, _Briefe uber Schlesien,_ ii. 305; in &c. &c.] rushes out, like +a great peacock's or pasha's tail, from the roots of the Giant Mountains +thereabouts; and hurries southward,--or even rather eastward, at first; +for (except the Iser to westward, which does not fall in for a great +while) its chief branches come from the eastern side: Aupa, Metau, +Adler, the drainings of Glatz, and of that rugged Country where +Friedrich has been camping and manoeuvring all summer. On the whole, +its course is southward for the first seventy or eighty miles, washing +Jaromirz, Konigshof, Konigsgratz, down to Pardubitz: at Pardubitz it +turns abruptly westward, and holds on so, bending even northward, by +hill and plain, through the rest of its five or six hundred miles. + +Its first considerable branch, on that eastern or left bank, is the +Aupa, which rises in the Pass of Schatzlar (great struggling there, for +convoys, just now); goes next by Trautenau, which has lately been burnt; +and joins the Elbe at Jaromirz, where Valori was stolen, or nearly so, +from under the Prussian left wing. The Aupa runs nearly straight south; +the Elbe, till meeting it, has run rather southeast; but after joining +they go south together, augmented by the Metau, by the Adler, down to +Pardubitz, where the final turn to west occurs. Jaromirz, which lies in +the very angle of Elbe and Aupa, is the left wing of Friedrich's Camp; +main body of the Camp lies on the other side of the Elbe, but of course +has bridges (as at Smirzitz, where that straw sentry did his pranks +lately); bridges are indispensable, part of our provision coming always +by that BOHEMIAN Neustadt, from the northeast quarter out of Silesia; +though the main course of our meal (and much fighting for it) is direct +from the north, by the Pass of Schatzlar,--"Chaslard," as poor Valori +calls it. + +Thus Friedrich lay, when Valori escaped being stolen; when Tauenzien +was assailed by the 10,000 Pandours with siege artillery, and stood +inexpugnable in the breach till Friedrich relieved him. Those Pandours +"had cut away his water, for the last two days;" so that, except +for speedy relief, all valor had been in vain. Water being gone, not +recoverable without difficulties, Neustadt was abandoned (September +16th, as I guess);--one of our main Silesian roads for meal has ceased. +We have now only Schatzlar to depend on; where Franquini--lying westward +among the glens of the Upper Elbe, and possessed of abundant talent in +the Tolpatch way (witness Valori's narrow miss lately)--gives us trouble +enough. Friedrich determines to move towards Schatzlar. Homewards, in +fact; eating the Country well as he goes. + +Saturday, 18th September, Friedrich crosses the Elbe at Jaromirz. +Entirely unopposed; the Austrians were all busy firing FEU-DE-JOIE +for the Election of their Grand-Duke: Election done five days ago at +Frankfurt, and the news just come. So they crackle about, and deliver +rolling fire, at a great rate; proud to be "IMPERIAL Army" henceforth, +as if that could do much for them. There was also vast dining, for +three days, among the high heads, and a great deal of wine spent. That +probably would have been the chance to undertake something upon them, +better than crossing the Elbe, says Friedrich looking back. But he did +not think of it in time; took second-best in place of best. + +He is now, therefore, over into that Triangular piece of Country between +Elbe and Aupa (if readers will consult their Map); in that triangle, +his subsequent notable operations all lie. He here proposes to move +northward, by degrees,--through Trautenau, Schatzlar, and home; well +eating this bit of Country too, the last uneaten bit, as he goes. This +well eaten, there will be no harbor anywhere for Invasion, through the +Winter coming. One of my old Notes says of it, in the topographic point +of view:-- + +"It is a triangular patch of Country, which has lain asleep since the +Creation of the World; traversed only by Boii (BOI-HEIM-ERS, Bohemians), +Czechs and other such populations, in Human History; but which Friedrich +has been fated to make rather notable to the Moderns henceforth. Let me +recommend it to the picturesque tourist, especially to the military +one. Lovers of rocky precipices, quagmires, brawling torrents and the +unadulterated ruggedness of Nature, will find scope there; and it was +the scene of a distinguished passage of arms, with notable display of +human dexterity and swift presence of mind. For the rest, one of the +wildest, and perhaps (except to the picturesque tourist) most unpleasant +regions in the world. Wild stony upland; topmost Upland, we may say, +of Europe in general, or portion of such Upland; for the rainstorms +hereabouts run several roads,--into the German Ocean and Atlantic by the +Elbe, into the Baltic by the Oder, into the Black Sea by the Donau;--and +it is the waste Outfield whither you rise, by long weeks-journeys, from +many sides. + +"Much of it, towards the angle of Elbe and Aupa, is occupied by a huge +waste Wood, called 'Kingdom Forest' (KONIGREICH SYLVA or WALD, peculium +of Old Czech Majesties, I fancy); may be sixty square miles in area, the +longer side of which lies along the Elbe. A Country of rocky defiles; +lowish hills chaotically shoved together, not wanting their brooks and +quagmires, straight labyrinthic passages; shaggy with wild wood. Some +poor Hamlets here and there, probably the sleepiest in Nature, are +scattered about; there may be patches ploughable for rye [modern Tourist +says snappishly, There are many such; whole region now drained; reminded +me of Yorkshire Highlands, with the Western Sun gilding it, that fine +afternoon!]--ploughable for rye, buckwheat; boggy grass to be gathered +in summer; charcoaling to do; pigs at least are presumable, among +these straggling outposts of humanity in their obscure Hamlets: poor +ploughing, moiling creatures, they little thought of becoming notable so +soon! None of the Books (all intent on mere soldiering) take the least +notice of them; not at the pains to spell their Hamlets right: no +more notice than if they also had been stocks and moss-grown stones. +Nevertheless, there they did evidently live, for thousands of years +past, in a dim manner;--and are much terrified to have become the seat +of war, all on a sudden. Their poor Hamlets, Sohr, Staudentz, Prausnitz, +Burgersdorf and others still send up a faint smoke; and have in them, +languidly, the live-coal of mysterious human existence, in those +woods,--to judge by the last maps that have come out. A thing worth +considering by the passing tourist, military or other." + +It is in this Kingdom Forest (which he calls ROYAUME DE SILVA, instead +of SYLVA DE ROYAUME) that Friedrich now marches; keeping the body of the +Forest well on his left, and skirting the southern and eastern sides +of it. Rough marching for his Majesty; painfully infested by Nadastian +Tolpatches; who run out on him from ambushes, and need to be scourged; +one ambush in particular, at a place called Liebenthal (second day's +march, and near the end of it),--where our Prussian Hussars, winding +like fiery dragons on the dangerous precipices, gave them better than +they brought, and completely quenched their appetite for that day. After +Liebenthal, the march soon ends; three miles farther on, at the dim +wold-hamlet of Staudentz: here a camp is pitched; here, till the Country +is well eaten out, or till something else occur, we propose to tarry for +a time. + +Horse-forage abounds here; but there is no getting of it without +disturbance from those dogs; you must fight for every truss of grass: +if a meal-train is coming, as there does every five days, you have +to detach 8,000 foot and 3,000 horse to help it safe in. A fretting +fatiguing time for regular troops. Our bakery is at Trautenau,--where +Valori is now lodging. The Tolpatchery, unable to take Trautenau, set +fire to it, though it is their own town, their own Queen's town; thatchy +Trautenau, wooden too in the upper stories of it, takes greedily to +the fire; goes all aloft in flame, and then lies black. A scandalous +transaction, thinks Friedrich. The Prussian corn lay nearly all in +cellars; little got, even of the Prussians, by such an atrocity: and +your own poor fellow-subjects, where are they? Valori was burnt out +here; again exploded from his quarters, poor man;--seems to have thought +it a mere fire in his own lodging, and that he was an unfortunate +diplomatist. Happily he got notice (PRIVATISSIME, for no officer dare +whisper in such cases) that there is an armed party setting out for +Silesia, to guard meal that is coming: Valori yokes himself to this +armed party, and gets safe over the Hills with it,--then swift, by extra +post, to Breslau and to civilized (partially civilized) accommodation, +for a little rest after these hustlings and tossings. + +Friedrich had lain at Staudentz, in this manner, bickering continually +for his forage, and eating the Country, for about ten days: and now, +as the latter process is well on, and the season drawing to a close: +he determines on a shift northward. Thursday, 30th September next, let +there be one other grand forage, the final one in this eaten tract, then +northward to fresh grounds. That, it appears, was the design. But, +on Wednesday, there came in an Austrian deserter; who informs us that +Prince Karl is not now in Konigsgratz, but in motion up the Elbe; +already some fifty miles up; past Jaromirz: his rear at Konigshof, his +van at Arnau,--on a level with burnt Trautenau, and farther north than +we ourselves are. This is important news. "Intending to block us out +from Schatzlar? Hmh!" Single scouts, or small parties, cannot live in +this Kingdom Wood, swarming with Pandours: Friedrich sends out a Colonel +Katzler, with 500 light horse, to investigate a little. Katzler +pushes forward, on such lane or forest road-track as there is, towards +Konigshof; beats back small hussar parties;--comes, in about an hour's +space, not upon hussars merely, but upon dense masses of heavy horse +winding through the forest lanes; and, with that imperfect intelligence, +is obliged to return. The deserter spake truth, apparently; and that +is all we can know. Forage scheme is given up; the order is, "Baggage +packed, and MARCH to-morrow morning at ten." Long before ten, there +had great things befallen on the morrow!--Try to understand this Note a +little:-- + +"The Camp of Staudentz-which two persons (the King, and General Stille, +a more careful reporter, who also was an eye-witness) have done their +best to describe--will, after all efforts, and an Ordnance Map to help, +remain considerably unintelligible to the reader; as is too usual +in such cases. A block of high-lying ground; Friedrich's Camp on it, +perhaps two miles long, looks to the south; small Village of Staudentz +in front; hollow beyond that, and second small Village, Deutsch +Prausnitz, hanging on the opposite slope, with shaggy heights beyond, +and the Kingdom Forest there beginning: on the left, defiles, brooks +and strait country, leading towards the small town of Eypel: that is our +left and front aspect, a hollow well isolating us on those sides. Hollow +continues all along the front; hollow definite on our side of it, and +forming a tolerable defence:--though again, I perceive, to rightward at +no great distance, there rise High Grounds which considerably overhang +us." A thing to be marked! "These we could not occupy, for want of men; +but only maintain vedettes upon them. Over these Heights, a mile or +two westward of this hollow of ours, runs the big winding hollow called +Georgengrund (GEORGE'S BOTTOM), which winds up and down in that Kingdom +Forest, and offers a road from Konigshof to Trautenau, among other +courses it takes. + +"From the crown of those Heights on our right flank here, looking to +the west, you might discern (perhaps three miles off, from one of +the sheltering nooks in the hither side of that Georgengrund), rising +faintly visible over knolls and dingles, the smoke of a little Forest +Village. That Village is Sohr; notable ever since, beyond others, in +the Kingdom Wood. Sohr, like the other Villages, has its lane-roads; its +road to Trautenau, to Konigshof, no doubt; but much nearer you, on our +eastern slope of the Heights, and far hitherward of Sohr, which is on +the western, goes the great road [what is now the great road], from +Konigshof to Trautenau, well visible from Friedrich's Camp, though still +at some distance from it. Could these Heights between us and Sohr, which +lie beyond the great road, be occupied, we were well secured; isolated +on the right too, as on the other sides, from Kingdom Forest and its +ambushes. 'Should have been done,' admits Friedrich; 'but then, as +it is, there are not troops enough:' with 18,000 men you cannot do +everything!" + +Here, however, is the important point. In Sohr, this night, 29th +September, in a most private manner, the Austrians, 30,000 of them and +more, have come gliding through the woods, without even their pipe lit, +and with thick veil of hussars ahead! Outposts of theirs lie squatted in +the bushes behind Deutsch Prausnitz, hardly 500 yards from Friedrich's +Camp. And eastward, leftward of him, in the defiles about Eypel, lie +Nadasti and Ruffian Trenck, with ten or twelve thousand, who are to take +him in rear. His "Camp of Staudentz" will be at a fine pass to-morrow +morning. The Austrian Gentlemen had found, last week, a certain bare +Height in the Forest (Height still known), from which they could use +their astronomer tubes day after day; [Orlich, ii. 225.] and now they +are about attempting something! + +Thursday morning, very early, 30th September, 1745, Friedrich was in his +tent, busy with generals and march-routes,--when a rapid orderly comes +in, from that Vedette, or strong Piquet, on the Heights to our right: +"Austrians visibly moving, in quantity, near by!" and before he has done +answering, the officer himself arrives: "Regular Cavalry in great force; +long dust-cloud in Kingdom Forest, in the gray dawn; and, so far as we +can judge, it is their Army coming on." Here is news for a poor man, in +the raw of a September morning, by way of breakfast to him! "To arms!" +is, of course, Friedrich's instant order; and he himself gallops to the +Piquet on the Heights, glass in hand. "Austrian Army sure enough, +thirty to thirty-five thousand of them, we only eighteen. [_OEuvres +de Frederic,_ iii. 139.] Coming to take us on the right flank here; +to attack our Camp by surprise: will crush us northward through the +defiles, and trample us down in detail? Hmh! To run for it, will never +do. We must fight for it, and even attack THEM, as our way is, though on +such terms. Quick, a plan!" The head of Friedrich is a bank you cannot +easily break by coming on it for plans: such a creature for impromptu +plans, and unexpected dashes swift as the panther's, I have hardly +known,--especially when you squeeze him into a corner, and fancy he is +over with it! Friedrich gallops down, with his plan clear enough; and +already the Austrians, horse and foot, are deploying upon those Heights +he has quitted; Fifty Squadrons of Horse for left wing to them, and +a battery of Twenty-eight big Guns is establishing itself where +Friedrich's Piquet lately stood. + +Friedrich's right flank has to become his front, and face those +formidable Austrian Heights and Batteries; and this with more than +Prussian velocity, and under the play of those twenty-eight big guns, +throwing case-shot (GRENADES ROYALES) and so forth, all the while. +To Valori, when he heard of the thing, it is inconceivable how mortal +troops could accomplish such a movement; Friedrich himself praises +it, as a thing honorably well done. Took about half an hour; case-shot +raining all the while; soldier honorably never-minding: no flurry, +though a speed like that of spinning-tops. And here we at length are, +Staudentz now to rear of us, behind our centre a good space; Burgersdorf +in front of us to right, our left reaching to Prausnitz: Austrian lines, +three deep of them, on the opposite Height; we one line only, which +matches them in length. + +They, that left wing of horse, should have thundered down on us, +attacking us, not waiting our attack, thinks Friedrich; but they +have not done it. They stand on their height there, will perhaps fire +carbines, as their wont is. "You, Buddenbrock, go into them with your +Cuirassiers!" Buddenbrock and the Cuirassiers, though it is uphill, +go into them at a furious rate; meet no countercharge, mere sputter of +carbines;--tumble them to mad wreck, back upon their second line, back +upon their third: absurdly crowded there on their narrow height, no room +to manoeuvre; so that they plunge, fifty squadrons of them, wholly into +the Georgengrund rearward, into the Kingdom Wood, and never come on +again at all. Buddenbrock has done his job right well. + +Seeing which, our Infantry of the right wing, which stood next to +Buddenbrock, made impetuous charge uphill, emulous to capture that +Battery of Twenty-eight; but found it, for some time, a terrible +attempt. These Heights are not to be called "hills," still less +"mountains" (as in some careless Books); but it is a stiff climb at +double-quick, with twenty-eight big guns playing in the face of you. +Storms of case-shot shear away this Infantry, are quenching its noble +fury in despair; Infantry visibly recoiling, when our sole Three +Regiments of Reserve hurry up to support. Round these all rallies; +rushes desperately on, and takes the Battery,--of course, sending the +Austrian left wing rapidly adrift, on loss of the same. + +This, I consider, is the crisis of the Fight; the back of the Austrian +enterprise is already broken, by this sad winging of it on the left. But +it resists still; comes down again,--the reserve of their left wing +seen rapidly making for Burgersdorf, intending an attack there; which we +oppose with vigor, setting Burgersdorf on fire for temporary screen; and +drive the Austrian reserve rapidly to rearward again. But there is rally +after rally of them. They rank again on every new height, and dispute +there; loath to be driven into Kingdom Wood, after such a flourish of +arms. One height, "bushy steep height," the light-limbed valiant Prince, +little Ferdinand of Brunswick, had the charge of attacking; and he did +it with his usual impetus and irresistibility:--and, strangely enough, +the defender of it chanced to be that Brother of his, Prince Ludwig, +with whom he had the little Interview lately. Prince Ludwig got a wound, +as well as lost his height. The third Brother, poor Prince Albrecht, +who is also here, as volunteer apprentice, on the Prussian side, gets +killed. There will never be another Interview, for all three, between +the Camps! Strange times for those poor Princes, who have to seek +soldiering for their existence. + +Meanwhile the Cavalry of Buddenbrock, that is to say of the right wing, +having now no work in that quarter, is despatched to reinforce the left +wing, which has stood hitherto apart on its own ground; not attacked or +attacking,--a left wing REFUSED, as the soldiers style it. Reinforced by +Buddenbrock, this left wing of horse does now also storm forward;--"near +the Village of Prausnitz" (Prausnitz a little way to rear of it), +thereabouts, is the scene of its feat. Feat done in such fashion that +the Austrians opposite will not stand the charge at all; but gurgle +about in a chaotic manner; then gallop fairly into Kingdom Wood, without +stroke struck; and disappear, as their fellows had done. Whereupon +the Prussian horse breaks in upon the adjoining Infantry of that flank +(Austrian right flank, left bare in this manner); champs it also into +chaotic whirlpools; cuts away an outskirt of near 2,000 prisoners, +and sets the rest running. This seems to have been pretty much the +COUP-DE-GRACE of the Fight; and to have brought the Austrian dispute to +finis. From the first, they had rallied on the heights; had struggled +and disputed. Two general rallies they made, and various partial, but +none had any success. They were driven on, bayonet in back, as the +phrase is: with this sad slap on their right, added to that old one on +their left, what can they now do but ebb rapidly; pour in cataracts +into Kingdom Wood, and disappear there? [ _OEuvres de Frederic,_ iii. +135-143; Stille, pp. 144-163; Orlich, ii. 227-243; _Feldzuge,_ i. 357, +363, 374.] + +Prince Karl's scheme was good, says Friedrich; but it was ill executed. +He never should have let us form; his first grand fault was that he +waited to be attacked, instead of attacking. Parts of his scheme were +never executed at all. Duke d'Ahremberg, for instance, it is said, had +so dim a notion of the ground, that he drew up some miles off, with +his back to the Prussians. Such is the rumor,--perhaps only a rumor, +in mockery of the hebetated old gentleman fallen unlucky? On the +other hand, that Nadasti made a failure which proved important, is +indubitable. Nadasti, with some thousands of Tolpatchery, was at +Liebenthal, four miles to southeast of the action; Ruffian Trenck lay +behind Eypel, perhaps as far to east, of it: Trenck and Nadasti were to +rendezvous, to unite, and attack the Prussian Camp on its rear,--"Camp," +so ran the order, for it was understood the Prussians would all be +there, we others attacking it in front and both flanks;--which turned +out otherwise, not for Nadasti alone! + +Nadasti came to his rendezvous in time; Ruffian Trenck did not: +Nadasti grew tired of waiting for Trenck, and attacked the Camp by +himself:--Camp, but not any men; Camp being now empty, and the men all +fighting, ranked at right angles to it, furlongs and miles away. Nadasti +made a rare hand of the Camp; plundered everything, took all the King's +Camp-furniture, ready money, favorite dog Biche,--likewise poor +Eichel his Secretary, who, however, tore the papers first. Tolpatchery +exultingly gutted the Camp; and at last set fire to it,--burnt even some +eight or ten poor Prussian sick, and also "some women whom they caught. +We found the limbs of these poor men and women lying about," reports +old General Lehwald; who knew about it. A doggery well worthy of the +gallows, think Lehwald and I. "Could n't help it; ferocity of wild men," +says Nadasti. "Well; but why not attack, then, with your ferocity?" +Confused Court-martial put these questions, at Vienna subsequently; and +Ruffian Trenck, some say, got injustice, Nadasti shuffling things upon +him; for which one cares almost nothing. Lehwald, lying at Trautenau, +had heard the firing at sunrise; and instantly marched to help: he only +arrived to give Nadasti a slash or two, and was too late for the Fight. +One Schlichtling, on guard with a weak party, saved what was in the +right wing of the Camp,--small thanks to him, the Main Fight being so +near: Friedrich's opinion is, an Officer, in Schlichtling's place, ought +to have done more, and not have been so helpless. + +This was the Battle of Sohr; so called because the Austrians had begun +there, and the Prussians ended there. The Prussian pursuit drew bridle +at that Village; unsafe to prosecute Austrians farther, now in the deeps +of Kingdom Forest. The Battle has lasted five hours. It must be now +getting towards noon; and time for breakfast, if indeed any were to be +had; but that is next to impossible, Nadasti having been so busy. Not +without extreme difficulty is a manchet of bread, with or without a drop +of wine, procured for the King's Majesty this day. Many a tired hero +will have nothing but tobacco, with spring-water, to fall back upon. +Never mind! says the King, says everybody. After all, it is a cheap +price to pay for missing an attack from Pandours in the rear, while such +crisis went on ahead. + +Lying COUSIN Trenck, of the Life-guard, who is now in Glatz, gives vivid +eye-witness particulars of these things, time of the morning and so on; +says expressly he was there, and what he did there, [Frederic Baron de +Trenck, _Memoires, traduits par lui-meme_ (Strasburg and Paris, 1789), +i. 74-78, 79.]--though in Glatz under lock and key, three good months +before. "How could I help mistakes," said he afterwards, when people +objected to this and that in his blusterous mendacity of a Book: "I had +nothing but my poor agitated memory to trust to!" A man's memory, when +it gets the length of remembering that he was in the Battle of Sohr +while bodily absent, ought it not to--in fact, to strike work; to still +its agitations altogether, and call halt? Trenck, some months after, +got clambered out of Glatz, by sewers, or I forget how; and leaped, or +dropped, from some parapet into the River Neisse,--sinking to the loins +in tough mud, so that he could not stir. + +MAP TO GO HERE----BOOK 15--page 499---- + +"Fouquet let me stand there half a day, before he would pick me +out again." Rigorous Bouquet, human mercy forbidding, could not let +him stand there in permanence,--as we, better circumstanced, may with +advantage try to do, in time coming! + +Friedrich lay at Sohr five days; partly for the honor of the thing, +partly to eat out the Country to perfection. Prince Karl, from +Konigshof, soon fell back to Konigsgratz; and lay motionless there, +nothing but his Tolpatcheries astir, Sohr Country all eaten, Friedrich, +in the due Divisions, marched northward. Through Trautenau, Schatzlar, +his own Division, which was the main one;--and, fencing off the +Tolpatches successfully with trouble, brings all his men into Silesia +again. A good job of work behind them, surely! Cantons them to right and +left of Landshut, about Rohnstock and Hohenfriedberg, hamlets known so +well; and leaving the Young Dessauer to command, drives for Berlin (30th +October),--rapidly, as his wont is. Prince Karl has split up his force +at Konigsgratz; means, one cannot doubt, to go into winter-quarters. +If he think of invading, across that eaten Country and those bad +Mountains,--well, our troops can all be got together in six hours' time. + +At Trautenau, a week after Sohr, Friedrich had at last received the +English ratification of that Convention of Hanover, signed 26th August, +almost a month ago; not ratified till September 22d. About which there +had latterly been some anxiety, lest his Britannic Majesty himself might +have broken off from it. With Austria, with Saxony, Britannic Majesty +has been entirely unsuccessful:--"May not Sohr, perhaps, be a fresh +persuasive?" hopes Friedrich;--but as to Britannic Majesty's breaking +off, his thoughts are far from that, if we knew! Poor Majesty: not long +since, Supreme Jove of Germany; and now--is like to be swallowed +in ragamuffin street-riots; not a thunder-bolt within clutch of him +(thunder-bolts all sticking in the mud of the Netherlands, far off), and +not a constable's staff of the least efficacy! Consider these dates in +combination. Battle of Sohr was on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30th:-- + +"SUNDAY preceding, SEPTEMBER 26th, was such a Lord's-Day in the City of +Edinburgh, as had not been seen there,--not since Jenny Geddes's stool +went flying at the Bishop's head, above a hundred years before. Big +alarm-bell bursting out in the middle of divine service; emptying all +the Churches ('Highland rebels just at hand!')--into General Meeting of +the Inhabitants, into Chaos come again, for the next forty hours. +Till, in the gaunt midnight, Tuesday, 2 A.M., Lochiel with about 1,000 +Camerons, waiting slight opportunity, crushed in through the Netherbow +Port; and"--And, about noon of that day, a poor friend of ours, +loitering expectant in the road that leads by St. Anthony's Well, saw +making entry into paternal Holyrood,--the Young Pretender, in person, +who is just being proclaimed Prince of Wales, up in the High-street +yonder! "A tall slender young man, about five feet ten inches high; of +a ruddy complexion, high-nosed, large rolling brown eyes; long-visaged, +red-haired, but at that time wore a pale periwig. He was in a Highland +habit [coat]; over the shoulder a blue sash wrought with gold; red +velvet breeches; a green velvet bonnet, with white cockade on it and +a gold lace. His speech seemed very like that of an Irishman; very sly +[how did you know, my poor friend?];--spoke often to O'Sullivan [thought +to be a person of some counsel; had been Tutor to Maillebois's Boys, had +even tried some irregular fighting under Maillebois]--to O'Sullivan and" +[Henderson, _Highland Rebellion,_ p. 14.]... And on Saturday, in short, +came PRESTONPANS. Enough of such a Supreme Jove; good for us here as a +timetable chiefly, or marker of dates! + +Sunday, 3d October, King's Adjutant, Captain Mollendorf, a young Officer +deservedly in favor, arrives at Berlin with the joyful tidings of +this Sohr business ("Prausnitz" we then called it): to the joy of all +Prussians, especially of a Queen Mother, for whom there is a Letter in +pencil. After brief congratulation, Mollendorf rushes on; having next to +give the Old Dessauer notice of it in his Camp at Dieskau, in the Halle +neighborhood. Mollendorf appears in Halle suddenly next morning, Monday, +about ten o'clock, sixteen postilions trumpeting, and at their swiftest +trot, in front of him;--shooting, like a melodious morning-star, across +the rusty old city, in this manner,--to Dieskau Camp, where he gives the +Old Dessauer his good news. Excellent Victory indeed; sharp striking, +swift self-help on our part. Halle and the Camp have enough to think +of, for this day and the next. Whither Mollendorf went next, we will not +ask: perhaps to Brunswick and other consanguineous places?--Certain it +is, + +"On Wednesday, the 6th, about two in the afternoon, the Old Dessauer +has his whole Army drawn out there, with green sprigs in their hats, +at Dieskau, close upon the Saxon Frontier; and, after swashing and +manoeuvring about in the highest military style of art, ranks them +all in line, or two suitable lines, 30,000 of them; and then, +with clangorous outburst of trumpet, kettle-drum and all manner of +field-music, fires off his united artillery a first time; almost shaking +the very hills by such a thunderous peal, in the still afternoon. And +mark, close fitted into the artillery peal, commences a rolling fire, +like a peal spread out in threads, sparkling strangely to eye and ear; +from right to left, long spears of fire and sharp strokes of sound, +darting aloft, successive simultaneous, winding for the space of miles, +then back by the rear line, and home to the starting-point: very +grand indeed. Again, and also again, the artillery peal, and rolling +small-arms fitted into it, is repeated; a second and a third time, +kettle-drums and trumpets doing what they can. That was the Old +Dessauer's bonfiring (what is called FEU-DE-JOIE), for the Victory of +Sohr; audible almost at Leipzig, if the wind were westerly. Overpowering +to the human mind; at least, to the old Newspaper reporter of that day. +But what was strangest in the business," continues he "(DAS CURIEUSESTE +DABEY), was that the Saxon Uhlans, lying about in the villages across +the Border, were out in the fields, watching the sight, hardly 300 yards +off, from beginning to end; and little dreamed that his High Princely +Serenity," blue of face and dreadful in war, "was quite close to them, +on the Height called Bornhock; condescending to 'take all this into +High-Serene Eye-shine there; and, by having a white flag waved, +deigning to give signal for the discharges of the artillery.'" +[_Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 1124.] + +By this the reader may know that the Old Dessauer is alive, ready for +action if called on; and Bruhl ought to comprehend better how riskish +his game with edge-tools is. Bruhl is not now in an unprepared +state:--here are Uhlans at one's elbow looking on. Rutowski's Uhlans; +who lies encamped, not far off, in good force, posted among morasses; +strongly entrenched, and with schemes in his head, and in Bruhl's, of +an aggressive, thrice-secret and very surprising nature! I remark only +that, in Heidelberg Country, victorious old Traun is putting his people +into winter-quarters; himself about to vanish from this History, [Went +to SIEBENBURGEN (Transylvania) as Governor; died there February, +1748, age seventy-one (_Maria Theresiens Leben,_ p. 56 n.).]--and has +detached General Grune with 10,000 men; who left Heidelberg October 9th, +on a mysterious errand, heeded by nobody; and will turn up in the next +Chapter. + + + +Chapter XIII.--SAXONY AND AUSTRIA MAKE A SURPRISING LAST ATTEMPT. + +After this strenuous and victorious Campaign, which has astonished all +public men, especially all Pragmatic Gazetteers, and with which all +Europe is disharmoniously ringing, Friedrich is hopeful there will be +Peace, through England;--cannot doubt, at least, but the Austrians have +had enough for one year;--and looks forward to certain months, if not +of rest, yet of another kind of activity. Negotiation, Peace through +England, if possible; that is the high prize: and in the other case, +or in any case, readiness for next Campaign;--which with the treasury +exhausted, and no honorable subsidy from France, is a difficult problem. + +That was Friedrich's, and everybody's, program of affairs for the months +coming: but in that Friedrich and everybody found themselves greatly +mistaken. Bruhl and the Austrians had decided otherwise. "Open +mouse-trap," at Striegau; claws of the sleeping cat, at Sohr: these were +sad experiences; ill to bear, with the Sea-Powers grumbling on you, and +the world sniffing its pity on you;--but are not conclusive, are only +provoking and even maddening, to the sanguine mind. Two sad failures; +but let us try another time. "A tricky man; cunning enough, your King of +Prussia!" thinks Bruhl, with a fellness of humor against Friedrich which +is little conceivable to us now: "Cunning enough. But it is possible +cunning may be surpassed by deeper cunning!"--and decides, Bartenstein +and an indignant Empress-Queen assenting eagerly, That there shall, in +the profoundest secrecy till it break out, be a third, and much fiercer +trial, this Winter yet. The Bruhl-Bartenstein plan (owing mainly to the +Russian Bugbear which hung over it, protective, but with whims of its +own) underwent changes, successive redactions or editions; which the +reader would grudge to hear explained to him. [Account of them in +Orlich, ii. 273-278 (from various RUTOWSKI Papers; and from the +contemporary satirical Pamphlet, "MONDSCHEINWURFE, Mirror-castings of +Moonshine, by ZEBEDAUS Cuckoo,) beaten Captain of a beaten Army."] Of the +final or acted edition, some loose notion, sufficient for our purpose, +may be collected from the following fractions of Notes:-- + +NOVEMBER 17th (INTERIOR OF GERMANY).... "Feldmarschall-Lieutenant von +Grune, a General of mark, detached by Traun not long since, from the +Rhine Country, with a force of 10,000 men, why is he marching about: +first to Baireuth Country, 'at Hof, November 9th,' as if for Bohemia; +then north, to Gera ('lies at Gera till the 17th'), as if for +Saxony Proper? Prince Karl, you would certainly say, has gone into +winter-quarters; about Konigsgratz, and farther on? Gone or going, +sure enough, is Prince Karl, into the convenient Bohemian +districts,--uncertain which particular districts; at least the Young +Dessauer, watching him from the Silesian side, is uncertain which. +Better be vigilant, Prince Leopold!--Grune, lying at Gera yonder, is not +intending for Prince Karl, then? No, not thither. Then perhaps +towards Saxony, to reinforce the Saxons? Or some-whither to find fat +winter-quarters: who knows? Indeed, who cares particularly, for such +inconsiderable Grune and his 10,000!-- + +"The Saxons quitted their inexpugnable Camp towards Halle, some time +ago; went into cantonments farther inland;--the Old Dessauer (middle +of October) having done the like, and gone home: his force lies rather +scattered, for convenience of food and forage. From the Silesian +side, again, Prince Leopold, whose head-quarters are about Striegau, +intimates, That he cannot yet say, with certainty, what districts Prince +Karl will occupy for winter-quarters in Bohemia. Prince Karl is vaguely +roving about; detaching Pandours to the Silesian Mountains, as if for +checking our victorious Nassau there;--always rather creeping northward; +skirting Western Silesia with his main force; 30,000 or better, with +Lobkowitz and Nadasti ahead. Meaning what? Be vigilant, my young friend. + +"The private fact is, Prince Karl does not mean to go into +winter-quarters at all. In private fact, Prince Karl is one of Three +mysterious Elements or Currents, sent on a far errand: Grune is another: +Rutowski's Saxon Camp (now become Cantonment) is a third. Three Currents +instinct with fire and destruction, but as yet quite opaque; which have +been launched,--whitherward thinks the reader? On Berlin itself, and +the Mark of Brandenburg; there to collide, and ignite in a marvellous +manner. There is their meeting-point: there shall they, on a sudden, +smite one another into flame; and the destruction blaze, fiery enough, +round Friedrich and his own Brandenburg homesteads there!-- + +"It is a grand scheme; scheme at least on a grand scale. For the LEGS of +it, Grune's march and Prince Karl's, are about 600 miles long! Plan due +chiefly, they say, to the yellow rage of Bruhl; aided by the contrivance +of Rutowski, and the counsel of Austrian military men. For there is much +consulting about it, and redacting of it; Polish Majesty himself +very busy. To Bruhl's yellow rage it is highly solacing and hopeful. +'Rutowski, lying close in his Cantonments, and then suddenly springing +out, will overwhelm the Old Dessauer, who lies wide;--can do it, surely; +and Grune is there to help if necessary. Dessauer blown to pieces, +Grune, with Rutowski combined, push in upon Brandenburg,--Grune himself +upon Berlin,--from the west and south, nobody expecting him. Prince +Karl, not taking into winter-quarters in Bohemia, as they idly think; +but falling down the Valley of the Bober, or Bober and Queiss, into the +Lausitz (to Gorlitz, Guben, where we have Magazines for him), comes upon +it from the southeast,--nobody expecting any of them. Three simultaneous +Armies hurled on the head of your Friedrich; combustible deluges flowing +towards him, as from the ends of Germany; so opaque, silent, yet of fire +wholly: will not that surprise him!' thinks Bruhl. These are the schemes +of the little man." + +Bruhl, having constituted himself rival to Friedrich, and fallen into +pale or yellow rage by the course things took, this Plan is naturally +his chief joy, or crown of joys; a bubbling well of solace to him in +his parched condition. He should, obviously, have kept it secret; +thrice-secret, the little fool;--but a poor parched man is not always +master of his private bubbling wells in that kind! Wolfstierna is +Swedish Envoy at Dresden; Rudenskjold, Swedish Envoy at Berlin, has +run over to see him in the dim November days. Swedes, since Ulrique's +marriage, are friendly to Prussia. Bruhl has these two men to dinner; +talks with them, over his wine, about Friedrich's insulting usage +of him, among other topics. "Insulting; how, your Excellency?" asks +Rudenskjold, privately a friend of Friedrich. Bruhl explains, with voice +quivering, those cuts in the Friedrich manifesto of August last, and +other griefs suffered; the two Swedes soothing him with what oil they +have ready. "No matter!" hints Bruhl; and proceeds from hint to hint, +till the two Swedes are fully aware of the grand scheme: Grune, Prince +Karl; and how Destruction, with legs 500 miles long, is steadily +advancing to assuage one with just revenge. "Right, your +Excellency!"--only that Rudenskjold proceeds to Berlin; and there +straightway ("8th November") punctually makes Friedrich also aware. +[Stenzel, iv. 262; Ranke, iii. 317-323; Friedrich's own narrative of +it, _OEuvres,_ iii. 148.] Foolish Bruhl: a man that has a secret should +not only hide it, but hide that he has it to hide. + + + + +FRIEDRICH GOES OUT TO MEET HIS THREE-LEGGED MONSTER; CUTS ONE LEG OF IT +IN TWO (Fight of Hennersdorf, 23d November, 1745). + +Friedrich, having heard the secret, gazes into it with horror and +astonishment: "What a time I have! This is not living; this is being +killed a thousand times a day!" [Ranke (iii. 321 n.): TO whom said, we +are not told.]--with horror and astonishment; but also with what most +luminous flash of eyesight is in him; compares it with Prince Karl's +enigmatic motions, Grune's open ones and the other phenomena;--perceives +that it is an indisputable fact, and a thrice-formidable; requiring to +be instantly dealt with by the party interested! Whereupon, after hearty +thanks to Rudenskjold, there occur these rapidly successive phases of +activity, which we study to take up in a curt form. + +FIRST (probably 9th or 10th November), there is Council held with +Minister Podewils and the Old Dessauer; Council from which comes little +benefit, or none. Podewils and Old Leopold stare incredulous; cannot +be made to believe such a thing. "Impossible any Saxon minister or man +would voluntarily bring the theatre of war into his own Country, in +this manner!" thinks the Old Dessauer, and persists to think,--on what +obstinate ground Friedrich never knew. To which Podewils, "who +has properties in the Lausitz, and would so fain think them safe," +obstinately, though more covertly, adheres. "Impossible!" urge both +these Councillors; and Friedrich cannot even make them believe it. +Believe it; and, alas, believing it is not the whole problem! + +Happily Friedrich has the privilege of ordering, with or without their +belief. "You, Podewils, announce the matter to foreign Courts. You, +Serene Highness of Anhalt, at your swiftest, collect yonder, and encamp +again. Your eye well on Grune and Rutowski; and the instant I give you +signal--! I am for Silesia, to look after Prince Karl, the other long +leg of this Business." Old Leopold, according to Friedrich's account, is +visibly glad of such opportunity to fight again before he die: and yet, +for no reason except some senile jealousy, is not content with these +arrangements; perversely objects to this and that. At length the +King says,--think of this hard word, and of the eyes that accompany +it!--"When your Highness gets Armies of your own, you will order them +according to your mind; at present, it must be according to mine." On, +then; and not a moment lost: for of all things we must be swift! + +Old Leopold goes accordingly. Friedrich himself goes in a week hence. +Orders, correspondences from Podewils and the rest, are flying right and +left;--to Young Leopold in Silesia, first of all. Young Leopold draws +out his forces towards the Silesian-Lausitz border, where Prince Karl's +intentions are now becoming visible. And,--here is the second phase +notable,-- + +"On Monday, 15th, ["18th," _Feldzuge,_ i. 402 (see Rodenbeck, i. 122).] +at 7 A.M.," Friedrich rushes off, by Crossen, full speed for Liegnitz; +"with Rothenburg, with the Prince of Prussia and Ferdinand of Brunswick +accompanying." With what thoughts,--though, in his face, you can read +nothing; all Berlin being already in such tremor! Friedrich is in +Liegnitz next day; and after needful preliminaries there, does, on the +Thursday following, "at Nieder-Adelsdorf," not far off, take actual +command of Prince Leopold's Army, which had lain encamped for some days, +waiting him. And now with such force in hand,--35,000, soldiers every +man of them, and freshened by a month's rest,--one will endeavor to do +some good upon Prince Karl. Probably sooner than Prince Karl supposes. +For there is great velocity in this young King; a panther-like +suddenness of spring in him: cunning, too, as any Felis of them; and +with claws like the Felis Leo on occasion. Here follows the brief +Campaign that ensued, which I strive greatly to abridge. + +Prince Karl's intentions towards Frankfurt-on-Oder Country, through the +Lausitz, are now becoming practically manifest. There is a Magazine for +him at Guben, within thirty miles of Frankfurt; arrangements getting +ready all the way. A winter march of 150 miles;--but what, say the +spies, is to hinder? Prince Karl dreams not that Friedrich is on the +ground, or that anybody is aware. Which notion Friedrich finds that it +will be extremely suitable to maintain in Prince Karl. Friedrich is now +at Adelsdorf, some thirty miles eastward of the Lausitz Border, perhaps +forty or more from the route Prince Karl will follow through that +Province. + +"It is a high-lying irregularly hilly Country; hilly, not mountainous. +Various streams rise out of it that have a long course,--among others, +the Spree, which washes Berlin;--especially three Valleys cross it, +three Rivers with their Valleys: Bober, Queiss, Neisse (the THIRD Neisse +we have come upon); all running northward, pretty much parallel, though +all are branches of the Oder. This is Neisse THIRD, we say; not the +Neisse of Neisse City, which we used to know at the north base of +the Giant Mountains, nor the Roaring Neisse, which we have seen at +Hohenfriedberg; but a third [and the FOURTH and last, "Black Neisse," +thank Heaven, is an upper branch of this, and we have, and shall have, +nothing to do with it!]--third Neisse, which we may call the Lausitz +Neisse. On which, near the head of it, there is a fine old spinning, +linen-weaving Town called Zittau,--where, to make it memorable, one +Tourist has read, on the Town-house, an Inscription worth repeating: +'BENE FACERE ET MALE AUDIRE REGIUM EST, To do good and have evil said +of you, is a kingly thing.' Other Towns, as Gorlitz, and seventy miles +farther the above-said Guben, lie on this same Neisse,--shall we +add that Herrnhuth stands near the head of it? The wondrous Town of +Herrnhuth (LORD'S-KEEPING), founded by Count Zinzendorf, twenty +years before those dates; ["In 1722, the first tree felled" (LIVES of +Zinzendorf).] where are a kind of German Methodist-Quakers to this day, +who have become very celebrated in the interim. An opulent enough, most +silent, strictly regular, strange little Town. The women are in uniform; +wives, maids, widows, each their form of dress. Missionaries, speaking +flabby English, who have been in the West Indies or are going thither, +seem to abound in the place; male population otherwise, I should think, +must be mainly doing trade elsewhere; nothing but prayers, preachings, +charitable boarding-schooling and the like, appeared to be going on. +Herrnhuth is 'a Sabbath Petrified; Calvinistic Sabbath done into Stone,' +as one of my companions called it." [Tourist's Note (Autumn, 1852).] + +Herrnhuth, of which all Englishmen have heard, stands near the head of +this our third Neisse; as does Zittau, a few miles higher up. I can do +nothing more to give it mark for them. Bober Valley, then Queiss Valley, +which run parallel though they join at last, and become Bober wholly +before getting into the Oder,--these two Valleys and Rivers lie in +Friedrich's own Territory; and are between him and the Lausitz, Queiss +River being the boundary of Silesia and the Lausitz here. It is down +the Neisse that Prince Karl means to march. There are Saxons already +gathering about Zittau; and down as far as Guben they are making +Magazines and arrangements,--for it is all their own Country in those +years, though most of it is Prussia's now. Prince Karl's march will go +parallel to the Bober and the Queiss; separated from the Queiss in this +part by an undulating Hill-tract of twenty miles or more. + +Friedrich has had somewhat to settle for the Southern Frontier of +Silesia withal, which new doggeries of Pandours are invading,--to lie +ready for Prince Karl on his return thither, whose grand meaning all +this while (as Friedrich well knows), is "Silesia in the lump" again, +had he once cut us off from Brandenburg and our supplies! General +Nassau, far eastward, who is doing exploits in Moravia itself,--him +Friedrich has ordered homeward, westward to his own side of the +Mountains, to attend these new Pandour gentlemen; Winterfeld he has +called home, out of those Southern mountains, as likely to be usefuler +here on this Western frontier. Winterfeld arrived in Camp the same day +with Friedrich; and is sent forward with a body of 3,000 light troops, +to keep watch about the Lausitz Frontier and the River Queiss; "careful +not to quit our own side of that stream,"--as we mean to hoodwink Prince +Karl, if we can! + +Friedrich lies strictly within his own borders, for a day or two; till +Prince Karl march, till his own arrangements are complete. Friedrich +himself keeps the Bober, Winterfeld the Queiss; "all pass freely out of +the Lausitz; none are allowed to cross into it: thereby we hear notice +of Prince Karl, he none of us." Perfectly quiescent, we, poor creatures, +and aware of nothing! Thus, too, Friedrich--in spite of his warlike +Manifesto, which the Saxons are on the eve of answering with a formal +Declaration of War--affects great rigor in considering the Saxons as not +yet at war with him: respects their frontier, Winterfeld even punishes +hussars "for trespassing on Lausitz ground." Friedrich also affects to +have roads repaired, which he by no means intends to travel:--the whole +with a view of lulling Prince Karl; of keeping the mouse-trap open, +as he had done in the Striegau case. It succeeded again, quite as +conspicuously, and at less expense. + +Prince Karl--whose Tolpatch doggery Winterfeld will not allow to pass +the Queiss, and to whom no traveller or tidings can come from beyond +that River--discerns only, on the farther shore of it, Winterfeld with +his 3,000 light troops. Behind these, he discerns either nothing, or +nothing immediately momentous; but contentedly supposes that this, the +superficies of things, is all the solid-content they have. Prince +Karl gets under way, therefore, nothing doubting; with his Saxons as +vanguard. Down the Neisse Valley, on the right or Queiss-ward side of +it: Saturday, 20th November, is his first march in Lusatian territory. +He lies that night spread out in three Villages, Schonberg, Schonbrunn, +Kieslingswalde; [_Feldzuge,_ i. 407 (Bericht von der Action bey +Katholisch-Hennersdorf, &c.).] some ten miles long; parallel to the +Neisse River, and about four miles from it, east or Queiss-ward of it. +Karl himself is rear, at Schonberg; fierce Lobkowitz is centre; the +Saxons are vanguard, 6,000 in all, posted in Villages, which again are +some ten or twelve miles ahead of Prince Karl's forces; the Queiss on +their right hand, and the Naumburg Bridge of Queiss, where Winterfeld +now is, about fifteen miles to east. Their Uhlans circulate through +the intervening space (were much patrolling needed, in such quiet +circumstances), and maintain the due communication. There lies Prince +Karl, on Saturday night, 20th November, 1745; an Army of perhaps 40,000, +dnngerously straggling out above twenty miles long; and appears to see +no difficulty ahead. The Saxons, I think, are to continue where they +are; guarding the flank, while the Prince and Lobkowitz push +forward, closer by Neisse River. In four marches more, they can be in +Brandenburg, with Guben and their Magazines at hand. + +Seeing which state of matters, Winterfeld gives Friedrich notice of +it; and that he, Winterfeld, thinks the moment is come. "Pontoons to +Naumburg, then!" orders Friedrich. Winterfeld, at the proper moment, is +to form a Bridge there. One permanent Bridge there already is; and two +fords, one above it, one below: with a second Bridge, there will be +roadway for four columns, and a swift transit when needful. Sunday, +21st, Friedrich quits the Bober, diligently towards Naumburg; marches +Sunday, Monday; Tuesday, 23d, about eleven A.M., begins to arrive there; +Winterfeld and passages all ready. Forward, then, and let us drive in +upon Prince Karl; and either cut him in two, or force him to fight us; +he little thinks where or on what terms. Sure enough, in the worst place +we can choose for him! Friedrich begins crossing in four columns at +one P.M.; crosses continuously for four hours; unopposed, except some +skirmishing of Uhlans, while his Cavalry is riding the Fords to right +and left; Uhlans were driven back swiftly, so soon as the Cavalry got +over. At five in the evening, he has got entirely across, 35,000 horse +and foot: Ziethen is chasing the Uhlans at full speed; who at least will +show us the way,--for by this time a mist has begun falling, and the +brief daylight is done. + +Friedrich himself, without waiting for the rear of his force, and some +while before this mist fell (as I judge), is pushing forward, "a miller +lad for his guide," across to Hennersdorf,--Katholisch-Hennersdorf, a +long straggling Village, eight or ten miles off, and itself two miles +long,--where he understands the Saxons are. Miller lad guides us, over +height and hollow, with his best skill, at a brisk pace;--through one +hollow, where he has known the cattle pasture in summer time; but which +proves impassable, and mere quagmire, at this season. No getting through +it, you unfortunate miller lad (GARCON DE MEUNIER). Nevertheless, we did +find passage through the skirts of it: nay this quagmire proved the +luck of us; for the enemy, trusting to it, had no outguard there, never +expecting us on that side. So that the vanguard, Ziethen and rapid +Hussars, made an excellent thing of it. Ziethen sends us word, That he +has got into the body of Hennersdorf,--"found the Saxon Quartermaster +quietly paying his men;"--that he, Ziethen, is tolerably master of +Hennersdorf, and will amuse the enemy till the other force come up. + +Of course Friedrich now pushes on, double speed; detaches other force, +horse and foot: which was lucky, says my informant; for the Ziethen +Hussars, getting good plunder, had by no means demolished the Saxons; +but had left them time to draw up in firm order, with a hedge in front, +a little west of the Village;--from which post, unassailable by Ziethen, +they would have got safe off to the main body, with little but an +affront and some loss of goods. The new force--a rapid Katzler +with light horse in the van, cuirassiers and foot rapidly following +him--sweeps past the long Village, "through a thin wood and a defile;" +finds the enemy firmly ranked as above said; cavalry their left, +infantry on right, flanked by an impenetrable hedge; and at once strikes +in. At once, Katzler does, on order given; but is far too weak. Charges, +he; but is counter-charged, tumbled back; the Saxons, horse and foot, +showing excellent fight. At length, more Prussian force coming up, +cuirassiers charge them in front, dragoons in flank, hussars in rear; +all attacking at once, and with a will; and the poor Saxon Cavalry is +entirely cut to shreds. + +And now there remains only the Infantry, perhaps about 1,000 men (if one +must guess); who form a square; ply vigorously their field-pieces and +their fire-arms; and cannot be broken by horse-charges. In fact, these +Saxons made a fierce resistance;--till, before long, Prussian Infantry +came up; and, with counter field-pieces and musketries, blasted gaps +in them; upon which the Cavalry got admittance, and reduced the gallant +fellows nearly wholly to annihilation either by death or capture. There +are 914 Prisoners in this Action, 4 big guns, and I know not how many +kettle-drums, standards and the like,--all that were there, I suppose. +The number of dead not given. [Orlich, ii. 291; _Feldzuge,_i. 400-413.] +But, in brief, this Saxon Force is utterly cut to pieces; and only +scattered twos and threes of it rush through the dark mist; scattering +terror to this hand and that. The Prussians take their post at and round +Hennersdorf that night;--bivouacking, though only in sack trousers, a +blanket each man:--"We work hard, my men, and suffer all things for a +day or two, that it may save much work afterwards," said the King to +them; and they cheerfully bivouacked. + +This was the Action of Katholisch-Hennersdorf, fought on Tuesday, +23d November, 1745; and still celebrated in the Prussian Annals, and +reckoned a brilliant passage of war. KATHOLISCH-Hennersdorf, some +ten miles southwest of Naumburg ON THE QUEISS (for there are, to my +knowledge, Twenty-five other Villages called Hennersdorf, and Three +several Towns of Naumburg, and many Castles and Hamlets so named in dear +Germany of the Nomenclatures):--Katholisch-Hennersdorf is the place, +and Tuesday about dusk the time. A sharp brush of fighting; not great in +quantity, but laid in at the right moment, in the right place. Like +the prick of a needle, duly sharp, into the spinal marrow of a gigantic +object; totally ruinous to such object. Never, or rarely, in the Annals +of War, was as much good got of so little fighting. You may, with labor +and peril, plunge a hundred dirks into your boaconstrictor; hack him +with axes, bray him with sledge-hammers; that is not uncommon: but the +one true prick in the spinal marrow, and the Artist that can guide you +well to that, he and it are the notable and beneficent phenomena. + + + + +PRINCE KARL, CUT IN TWO, TUMBLES HOME AGAIN DOUBLE-QUICK. + +Next morning, Wednesday, 24th, the Prussians are early astir again; +groping, on all manner of roads, to find what Prince Karl is doing, in +a world all covered in thick mist. They can find nothing of him, but +broken tumbrils, left baggage-wagons, rumor of universal marching hither +and marching thither;--evidences of an Army fallen into universal St. +Vitus's-Dance; distractedly hurrying to and fro, not knowing whitherward +for the moment, except that it must be homewards, homewards with +velocity. + +Prince Karl's farther movements are not worth particularizing. Ordering +and cross-ordering; march this way; no, back again: such a scene in that +mist. Prince Karl is flowing homeward; confusedly deluging and gurgling +southward, the best he can. Next afternoon, near Gorlitz, and again one +other time, he appears drawn up, as if for fighting; but has himself no +such thought; flies again, without a shot; leaves Gorlitz to capitulate, +that afternoon; all places to capitulate, or be evacuated. We hear he is +for Zittau; Winterfeld with light horse hastens after him, gets sight of +him on the Heights at Zittau yonder, [ _OEuvres de Frederic,_ iii. 157; +Orlich, ii. 296.] "about two in the morning:" but the Prince has not +the least notion to fight. Prince leaves Zittau to capitulate,--quits +silently the Heights of Zittau at two A.M. (Winterfeld, very lively in +the rear of him, cutting off his baggage);--and so tumbles, pell-mell, +through the Passes of Gabel, home to Bohemia again. Let us save this +poor Note from the fire: + +"On Saturday night, November 27th, the Prussians, pursuing Prince Karl, +were cantoned in the Herrnhuth neighborhood,--my informant's regiment +in the Town of Herrnhuth itself. [_Feldzuge,_ i. ubi supra.] Yes, there +lay the Prussians over Sunday; and might hear some weighty expounder, +if they liked. Considerably theological, many of these poor Prussian +soldiers; carrying a Bible in their knapsack, and devout Psalms in the +heart of them. Two-thirds of every regiment are LANDESKINDER, native +Prussians; each regiment from a special canton,--generally rather +religious men. The other third are recruits, gathered in the Free Towns +of the Reich, or where they can be got; not distinguished by devotion +these, we may fancy, only trained to the uttermost by Spartan drill." + +Before the week is done, that "first leg" of the grand Enterprise (the +Prince-Karl leg) is such a leg as we see. "Silesia in the lump,"--fond +dream again, what a dream! Old Dessauer getting signal, where now, too +probably, is Saxony itself?--Ranking again at Aussig in Bohemia, Prince +Karl--5,000 of his men lost, and all impetus and fire gone--falls gently +down the Elbe, to join Rutowski at least; and will reappear within four +weeks, out of Saxon Switzerland, still rather in dismal humor. + +The Prussian Troops, in four great Divisions, are cantoned in that +Lausitz Country, now so quiet; in and about Bautzen and three other +Towns of the neighborhood; to rest and be ready for the old Dessauer, +when we hear of him. The "Magazine at Guben in 138 wagons," the Gorlitz +and other Magazines of Prince Karl in the due number of wagons, supply +them with comfortable unexpected provender. Thus they lie cantoned; +and have with despatch effectually settled their part of the problem. +Question now is, How will it stand with the Old Dessauer and his part? +Or, better still, Would not perhaps the Saxons, in this humiliated +state, accept Peace, and finish the matter? + + + + +Chapter XIV.--BATTLE OF KESSELSDORF. + +A "Correspondence" of a certain Excellency Villiers, English Minister +at Dresden,--Sir Thomas Villiers, Grandfather of the present Earl of +Clarendon,--was very famous in those weeks; and is still worth mention, +as a trait of Friedrich's procedure in this crisis. Friedrich, not +intoxicated with his swift triumph over Prince Karl, but calculating +the perils and the chances still ahead,--miserably off for money +too,--admits to himself that not revenge or triumph, that Peace is the +one thing needful to him. November 29th, Old Leopold is entering Saxony; +and in the same hours, Podewils at Berlin, by order of Friedrich, writes +to Villiers who is in Dresden, about Peace, about mediating for Peace: +"My King ready and desirous, now as at all times, for Peace; the terms +of it known; terms not altered, not alterable, no bargaining or higgling +needed or allowable. CONVENTION OF HANOVER, let his Polish Majesty +accede honestly to that, and all these miseries are ended." +["CORRESPONDANCE DU ROI AVEC SIR THOMAS VILLIERS;" commences, on +Podewils's part, 28th November; on Friedrich's, 4th December; ends, +on Villier's, 18th December; fourteen Pieces in all, four of them +Friedrich's: Given in _OEuvres de Frederic,_ iii. 183-216 (see IB, 158), +and in many other Books.] + +Villiers starts instantly on this beneficent business; "goes to Court, +on it, that very night;" Villiers shows himself really diligent, +reasonable, loyal; doing his very best now and afterwards; but has no +success at all. Polish Majesty is obstinate,--I always think, in the way +sheep are, when they feel themselves too much put upon;--and is deaf +to everybody but Bruhl. Bruhl answers: "Let his Prussian Majesty retire +from our Territory;--what is he doing in the Lausitz just now! Retire +from our Territory; THEN we will treat!" Bruhl still refuses to be +desperate of his bad game;--at any rate, Bruhl's rage is yellower +than ever. That, very evening, while talking to Villiers, he has had +preparations going on;--and next morning takes his Master, Polish +Majesty August III., with some comfortable minimum of apparatus +(cigar-boxes not forgotten), off to Prag, where they can be out of +danger till the thing decide itself. Villiers follows to Prag; desists +not from his eloquent Letters, and earnest persuasions at Prag; but +begins to perceive that the means of persuading Bruhl will be a much +heavier kind of artillery. + +On the whole, negotiations have yet done little. Britannic George, +though Purseholder, what is his success here? As little is the Russian +Bugbear persuasive on Friedrich himself. The Czarina of the Russias, a +luxurious lady, of far more weight than insight, has just notified to +him, with more emphasis than ever, That he shall not attack Saxony; that +if he do, she with considerable vigor will attack him! That has always +been a formidable puzzle for Friedrich: however, he reflects that the +Russians never could draw sword, or be ready with their Army, in less +than six months, probably not in twelve; and has answered, translating +it into polite official terms: "Fee-faw-fum, your Czarish Majesty! +Question is not now of attacking, but of being myself attacked!"--and so +is now running his risks with the Czarina. + +Still worse was the result he got from Louis XV. Lately, "for form's +sake," as he tells us, "and not expecting anything," he had (November +15th) made a new appeal to France: "Ruin menacing your Most Christian +Majesty's Ally, in this huge sudden crisis of invasive Austrian-Saxons; +and for your Majesty's sake, may I not in some measure say?" To which +Louis's Answer is also given. A very sickly, unpleasant Document; +testifying to considerable pique against Friedrich;--Ranke says, it was +a joint production, all the Ministers gradually contributing each his +little pinch of irony to make it spicier, and Louis signing when it was +enough;--very considerable pique against Friedrich; and something of the +stupid sulkiness as of a fat bad boy, almost glad that the house is on +fire, because it will burn his nimble younger brother, whom everybody +calls so clever: "Sorry indeed, Sir my Brother, most sorry:--and so +you have actually signed that HANOVER CONVENTION with our worst Enemy? +France is far from having done so; France has done, and will do, great +things. Our Royal heart grieves much at your situation; but is not +alarmed; no, Your Majesty has such invention, vigor and ability, +superior to any crisis, our clever younger Brother! And herewith we +pray God to have you in his holy keeping." This is the purport of King +Louis's Letter;--which Friedrich folds together again, looking up from +perusal of it, we may fancy with what a glance of those eyes. [Louis's +Original, in _OEuvres de Frederic,_ iii. 173, 174 (with a much +more satirical paraphrase than the above), and Friedrich's Answer +adjoined,--after the events had come.] + +He is getting instructed, this young King, as to alliances, grand +combinations, French and other. His third Note to Villiers intimates, +"It being evident that his Polish Majesty will have nothing from us +but fighting, we must try to give it him of the best kind we have." +["Bautzen, 11th December, 1745" (UBI SUPRA).] Yes truly; it is the +ULTIMATE persuasive, that. Here, in condensed form, are the essential +details of the course it went, in this instance:--General Grune, on +the road to Berlin, hearing of the rout at Hennersdorf, halted +instantly,--hastened back to Saxony, to join Rutowski there, and stand +on the defensive. Not now in that Halle-Frontier region (Rutowski has +quitted that, and all the intrenchments and marshy impregnabilities +there); not on that Halle-Frontier, but hovering about in the +interior, Rutowski and Grune are in junction; gravitating towards +Dresden;--expecting Prince Karl's advent; who ought to emerge from the +Saxon Switzerland in few days, were he sharp; and again enable us to +make a formidable figure. Be speedy, Old Dessauer: you must settle the +Grune-Rutowski account before that junction, not after it! + +The Old Dessauer has been tolerably successful, and by no means thinks +he has been losing time. November 29th, "at three in the morning," he +stept over into Saxony with its impregnable camps; drove Rutowski's +rear-guard, or remnant, out of the quagmires, canals and intrenchments, +before daylight; drove it, that same evening, or before dawn of the +morrow, out of Leipzig: has seized that Town,--lays heavy contribution +on it, nearly 50,000 pounds (such our strait for finance), "and be sure +you take only substantial men as sureties!" [Orlich, ii. 308.]--and +will, and does after a two days' rest, advance with decent celerity +inwards; though "One must first know exactly whither; one must have +bread, and preparations and precautions; do all things solidly and in +order," thinks the Old Dessauer. Friedrich well knows the whither; and +that Dresden itself is, or may be made, the place for falling in with +Rutowski. Friedrich is now himself ready to join, from the Bautzen +region; the days and hours precious to him; and spurs the Old Dessauer +with the sharpest remonstrances. "All solidly and in order, your +Majesty!" answers the Old Dessauer: solid strong-boned old coach-horse, +who has his own modes of trotting, having done many a heavy mile of it +in his time; and whose skin, one hopes, is of the due thickness against +undue spurring. + +Old Dessauer wishes two things: bread to live upon; and a sure Bridge +over the Elbe whereby Friedrich may join him. Old Dessauer makes for +Torgau, far north, where is both an Elbe Bridge and a Magazine; which he +takes; Torgau and pertinents now his. But it is far down the Elbe, far +off from Bautzen and Friedrich: "A nearer Bridge and rendezvous, your +Highness! Meissen [where they make the china, only fifty miles from me, +and twenty from Dresden], let that be the Bridge, now that you have got +victual. And speedy; for Heaven's sake, speedy!" Friedrich pushes out +General Lehwald from Bautzen, with 4,000 men, towards Meissen Bridge; +Lehwald does not himself meddle with the Bridge, only fires shot across +upon the Saxon party, till the Old Dessauer, on the other bank, come +up;--and the Old Dessauer, impatience thinks, will never come. "Three +days in Torgau, yes, Your Majesty: I had bread to bake, and the very +ovens had to be built." A solid old roadster, with his own modes of +trotting; needs thickness of skin. [Friedrich's Letters to Leopold, in +Orlich, ii. 431, 435 (6th-10th December, 1745).] + +At long last, on Sunday, 12th December, about two P.M., the Old Dessauer +does appear; or General Gessler, his vanguard, does appear,--Gessler of +the sixty-seven standards,--"always about an hour ahead." Gessler has +summoned Meissen; has not got it, is haggling with it about terms, when, +towards sunset of the short day, Old Dessauer himself arrives. Whereupon +the Saxon Commandant quits the Bridge (not much breaking it); and glides +off in the dark, clear out of Meissen, towards Dresden,--chased, but +successfully defending himself. [See Plan, p. 10.] "Had he but stood out +for two days!" say the Saxons,--"Prince Karl had then been up, and much +might have been different." Well, Friedrich too would have been up, +and it had most likely been the same on a larger scale. But the Saxon +Commandant did not stand out; he glided off, safe; joined Rutowski and +Grune, who are lying about Wilsdruf, six or seven miles on the hither +side of Dresden, and eagerly waiting for Prince Karl. "Bridge and Town +of Meissen are your Majesty's," reports the Old Dessauer that night: +upon which Friedrich instantly rises, hastening thitherward. Lehwald +comes across Meissen Bridge, effects the desired junction; and all +Monday the Old Dessauer defiles through Meissen town and territory; +continually advances towards Dresden, the Saxons harassing the flanks +of him a little,--nay in one defile, being sharp strenuous fellows, they +threw his rear into some confusion; cut off certain carts and prisoners, +and the life of one brave General, Lieutenant-General Roel, who had +charge there. "Spurring one's trot into a gallop! This comes of your +fast marching, of your spurring beyond the rules of war!" thinks Old +Leopold; and Friedrich, who knows otherwise, is very angry for a moment. + +But indeed the crisis is pressing. Prince Karl is across the Metal +Mountains, nearing Dresden from the east; Friedrich strikes into march +for the same point by Meissen, so soon as the Bridge is his. Old Leopold +is advancing thither from the westward,--steadily hour by hour; Dresden +City the fateful goal. There,--in these middle days of December, 1745 +(Highland Rebellion just whirling back from Derby again, "the London +shops shut for one day"),--it is clear there will be a big and bloody +game played before we are much older. Very sad indeed: but Count Bruhl +is not persuadable otherwise. By slumbering and sluggarding, over their +money-tills and flesh-pots; trying to take evil for good, and to say, +"It will do," when it will not do, respectable Nations come at last +to be governed by Bruhls; cannot help themselves;--and get their backs +broken in consequence. Why not? Would you have a Nation live forever +that is content to be governed by Bruhls? The gods are wiser!--It is now +the 13th; Old Dessauer tramping forward, hour by hour, towards Dresden +and some field of Fate. + +On Tuesday, 14th, by break of day, Old Dessauer gets on march again; +in four columns, in battle order; steady all day,--hard winter weather, +ground crisp, and flecked with snow. The Pass at Neustadt, "his cavalry +went into it at full gallop;" but found nobody there. That night +he encamps at a place called Rohrsdorf; which may be eight miles +west-by-north from Dresden, as the crow flies; and ten or more, if you +follow the highway round by Wilsdruf on your right. The real direct +Highway from Meissen to Dresden is on the other side of the Elbe, and +keeps by the River-bank, a fine level road; but on this western side, +where Leopold now is, the road is inland, and goes with a bend. Leopold, +of course, keeps command of this road; his columns are on both sides of +it, River on their left at some miles distance; and incessantly expect +to find Rutowski, drawn out on favorable ground somewhere. The country +is of fertile, but very broken character; intersected by many +brooks, making obliquely towards the Elbe (obliquely, with a leaning +Meissen-wards); country always mounting, till here about Rohrsdorf we +seem to have almost reached the watershed, and the brooks make for the +Elbe, leaning Dresden way. Good posts abound in such broken country, +with its villages and brooks, with its thickets, hedges and patches of +swamp. But Rutowski has not appeared anywhere, during this Tuesday. + +Our four columns, therefore, lie all night, under arms, about Rohrsdorf: +and again by morrow's dawn are astir in the old order, crunching far +and wide the frozen ground; and advance, charged to the muzzle with +potential battle. Slightly upwards always, to the actual watershed +of the country; leaving Wilsdruf a little to their right. Wilsdruf is +hardly past, when see, from this broad table-land, top of the country: +"Yonder is Rutowski, at last;--and this new Wednesday will be a day!" +Yonder, sure enough: drawn out three or four miles long; with his +right to the Elbe, his left to that intricate Village of Kesselsdorf; +bristling with cannon; deep gullet and swampy brook in front of him: the +strongest post a man could have chosen in those parts. + +The Village of Kesselsdorf itself lies rather in a hollow; in the slight +beginning, or uppermost extremity, of a little Valley or Dell, called +the Tschonengrund,--which, with its quaggy brook of a Tschone, wends +northeastward into the Elbe, a course of four or five miles: a little +Valley very deep for its length, and getting altogether chasmy and +precipitous towards the Elbe-ward or lower end. Kesselsdorf itself, +as we said, is mainly in a kind of hollow: between Old Leopold and +Kesselsdorf the ground rather mounts; and there is perceptibly a flat +knoll or rise at the head of it, where the Village begins. Some trees +there, and abundance of cannon and grenadiers at this moment. It is the +southwestern or left-most point of Rutowski's line; impregnable with +its cannon-batteries and grenadiers. Rightward Rutowski extends in long +lines, with the quaggy-dell of Tschonengrund in front of him, parallel +to him; Dell ever deepening as it goes. Northeastward, at the extreme +right, or Elbe point of it, where Grune and the Austrians stand, it has +grown so chasmy, we judge that Grune can neither advance nor be + +MAP/PLAN GOES HERE--book 15 continuation --page 10-- + +advanced upon:e,--which he did all day, +in a purely meditative posture. Rutowski numbers 35,000, now on this +ground, with immensity of cannon; 32,000 we, with only the usual +field-artillery, and such a Tschonengrund, with its half-frozen +quagmires ahead. A ticklish case for the old man, as he grimly +reconnoitres it, in the winter morning. + +Grim Old Dessauer having reconnoitred, and rapidly considered, decides +to try it,--what else?--will range himself on the west side of that +Tschonengrund, horse and foot; two lines, wide as Rutowski opposite him; +but means to direct his main and prime effort against Kesselsdorf, which +is clearly the key of the position, if it can be taken. For which end +the Old Dessauer lengthens himself out to rightward, so as to outflank +Kesselsdorf;--neglecting Grune (refusing Grune, as the soldiers +say):--"our horse of the right wing reached from the Wood called +Lerchenbusoh (LARCH-BUSH) rightward as far as Freyberg road; foot +all between that Lerchenbusch and the big Birch-tree on the road to +Wilsdruf; horse of the left wing, from there to Roitsch." [Stille (p. +181), who was present. See Plan.] It was about two P.M. before the old +man got all his deployments completed; what corps of his, deploying this +way or that, came within wind of Kesselsdorf, were saluted with cannon, +thirty pieces or more, which are in battery, in three batteries, on the +knoll there; but otherwise no fighting as yet. At two, the Old Dessauer +is complete; he reverently doffs his hat, as had always been his wont, +in prayer to God, before going in. A grim fervor of prayer is in his +heart, doubtless; though the words as reported are not very regular or +orthodox: "O HERR GOTT, help me yet this once; let me not be disgraced +in my old days! Or if thou wilt not help me, don't help those HUNDSVOGTE +[damned Scoundrels, so to speak], but leave us to try it ourselves!" +That is the Old Scandinavian of a Dessauer's prayer; a kind of GODUR +he too, Priest as well as Captain: Prayer mythically true as given; +mythically, not otherwise. [Ranke, iii. 334 n.] Which done, he waves his +hat once, "On, in God's name!" and the storm is loose. Prussian right +wing pushing grandly forward, bent in that manner, to take Kesselsdorf +and its fire-throats in flank. + +The Prussians tramp on with the usual grim-browed resolution, foot +in front, horse in rear; but they have a terrible problem at that +Kesselsdorf, with its retrenched batteries, and numerous grenadiers +fighting under cover. The very ground is sore against them; uphill, and +the trampled snow wearing into a slide, so that you sprawl and stagger +sadly. Thirty-one big guns, and about 9,000 small, pouring out mere +death on you, from that knoll-head. The Prussians stagger; cannot stand +it; bend to rightwards, and get out of shot-range; cannot manage it +this bout. Rally, reinforce; try it again. Again, with a will; but again +there is not a way. The Prussians are again repulsed; fall back, down +this slippery course, in more disorder than the first time. Had the +Saxons stood still, steadily handling arms, how, on such terms, could +the Prussians ever have managed it? + +But at sight of this second repulse, the Saxon grenadiers, and +especially one battalion of Austrians who were there (the only Austrians +who fought this day), gave a shout "Victory!"--and in the height of +their enthusiasm, rushed out, this Austrian battalion first and the +Saxons after them, to charge these Prussians, and sweep the world clear +of them. It was the ruin of their battle; a fatal hollaing before you +are out of the woods. Old Leopold, quick as thought, noticing the thing, +hurls cavalry on these victorious down-plunging grenadiers; slashes them +asunder, into mere recoiling whirlpools of ruin; so that "few of +them got back unwounded;" and the Prussians storming in along with +them,--aided by ever new Prussians, from beyond the Tschonengrund +even,--the place was at length carried; and the Saxon battle became +hopeless. + +For, their right being in such hurricane, the Prussians from the +centre, as we hint, storm forward withal; will not be held back by the +Tschonengrund. They find the Tschonengrund quaggy in the extreme, "brook +frozen at the sides, but waist-deep of liquid mud in the centre;" cross +it, nevertheless, towards the upper part of it,--young Moritz of Dessau +leading the way, to help his old Father in extremity. They climb the +opposite side,--quite slippery in places, but "helping one another +up;"--no Saxons there till you get fairly atop, which was an oversight +on the Saxon part. Fairly atop, Moritz is saluted by the Saxons with +diligent musket-volleys; but Moritz also has musket-volleys in him, +bayonet-charges in him; eager to help his old Papa at this hard pinch. +Old Papa has the Saxons in flank; sends more and ever more other cavalry +in on them; and in fact, the right wing altogether storms violently +through Kesselsdorf, and sweeps it clean. Whole regiments of the Saxons +are made prisoners; Roel's Light Horse we see there, taking standards; +cutting violently in to avenge Roel's death, and the affront they had +at Meissen lately. Furious Moritz on their front, from across the +Tschonengrund; furious Roel (GHOST of Roel) and others in their flank, +through Kesselsdorf: no standing for the Saxons longer. + +About nightfall,--their horse having made poorish fight, though the foot +had stood to it like men,--they roll universally away. The Prussian left +wing of horse are summoned through the Tschonengrund to chase: had there +remained another hour of daylight, the Saxon Army had been one wide +ruin. Hidden in darkness, the Saxon Army ebbed confusedly towards +Dresden: with the loss of 6,000 prisoners and 3,000 killed and wounded: +a completely beaten Army. It is the last battle the Saxons fought as +a Nation,--or probably will fight. Battle called of Kesselsdorf: +Wednesday, 15th December, 1745. + +Prince Karl had arrived at Dresden the night before; heard all this +volleying and cannonading, from the distance; but did not see good to +interfere at all. Too wide apart, some say; quartered at unreasonably +distant villages, by some irrefragable ignorant War-clerk of Bruhl's +appointing,--fatal Bruhl. Others say, his Highness had himself no mind; +and made excuses that his troops were tired, disheartened by the two +beatings lately,--what will become of us in case of a third or fourth! +It is certain, Prince Karl did nothing. Nor has Grime's corps, the +right wing, done anything except meditate:--it stood there unattacked, +unattacking; till deep in the dark night, when Rutowski remembered +it, and sent it order to come home. One Austrian battalion, that of +grenadiers on the knoll at Kesselsdorf, did actually fight;--and did +begin that fatal outbreak, and quitting of the post there; "which lost +the Battle to us!" say the Saxons. + +Had those grenadiers stood in their place, there is no Prussian but +admits that it would have been a terrible business to take Kesselsdorf +and its batteries. But they did not stand; they rushed out, shouting +"Victory;" and lost us the battle. And that is the good we have got of +the sublime Austrian Alliance; and that is the pass our grand scheme +of Partitioning Prussia has come to? Fatal little Bruhl of the three +hundred and sixty-five clothes-suits; Valet fatally become divine in +Valet-hood,--are not you costing your Country dear! + +Old Dessauer, glorious in the last of his fields, lay on his arms all +night in the posts about; three bullets through his roquelaure, no +scratch of wound upon the old man. Young Moritz too "had a bullet +through his coat-skirt, and three horses shot under him; but no hurt, +the Almighty's grace preserving him." [_Feldzuge,_i. 434.] This Moritz +is the Third of the Brothers, age now thirty-three; and we shall hear +considerably about him in times coming. A lean, tall, austere man; and, +"of all the Brothers, most resembled his Father in his ways." Prince +Dietrich is in Leipzig at present; looking to that contribution of +50,000 pounds; to that, and to other contributions and necessary +matters;--and has done all his fighting (as it chanced), though he +survived his Brothers many years. Old Papa will now get his discharge +before long (quite suddenly, one morning, by paralytic stroke, 7th +April, 1747); and rest honorably with the Sons of Thor. [Young Leopold, +the successor, died 16th December, 1751, age fifty-two; Dietrich (who +had thereupon quitted soldiering, to take charge of his Nephew left +minor, and did not resume it), died 2d December, 1769; Moritz (soldier +to the last), 11th April, 1760. See _Militair-Lexikon,_i. 43, 34, +38,47.] + + + + +Chapter XV.--PEACE OF DRESDEN: FRIEDRICH DOES MARCH HOME. + +Friedrich himself had got to Meissen, Tuesday, 14th; no enemy on his +road, or none to speak of: Friedrich was there, or not yet far across, +all Wednesday; collecting himself, waiting, on the slip, for a signal +from Old Leopold. Sound of cannon, up the Elbe Dresden-ward, is +reported there to Friedrich, that afternoon: cannon, sure enough, notes +Friedrich; and deep dim-rolling peals, as of volleying small-arms; +"the sky all on fire over there," as the hoar-frosty evening fell. Old +Leopold busy at it, seemingly. That is the glare of the Old Dessauer's +countenance; who is giving voice, in that manner, to the earthly and the +heavenly powers; conquering Peace for us, let us hope! + +Friedrich, as may be supposed, made his best speed next morning: "All +well!" say the messengers; all well, says Old Leopold, whom he meets +at Wilsdruf, and welcomes with a joyful embrace; "dismounting from his +horse, at sight of Leopold, and advancing to meet him with doffed hat +and open arms,"--and such words and treatments, that day, as made the +old man's face visibly shine. "Your Highness shall conduct me!" And the +two made survey together of the actual Field of Kesselsdorf; strewn with +the ghastly wrecks of battle,--many citizens of Dresden strolling about, +or sorrowfully seeking for their lost ones among the wounded and dead. +No hurt to these poor citizens, who dread none; help to them rather: +such is Friedrich's mind,--concerning which, in the Anecdote-Books, +there are Narratives (not worth giving) of a vapidly romantic character, +credible though inexact. [For the indisputable pa so we leave him +standing therrt, see Orlich, ii. 343, 344; and _OEuvres de +Frederic,_ iii. 170.] Friedrich, who may well be profuse of thanks and +praises, charms the Old Dessauer while they walk together; brave old man +with his holed roquelaure. For certain, he has done the work there,--a +great deal of work in his time! Joy looks through his old rough face, of +gunpowder color: the Herr Gott has not delivered him to those damned +Scoundrels in the end of his days.--On the morrow, Friday, Leopold +rolled grandly forward upon Dresden; Rutowski and Prince Karl vanishing +into the Metal Mountains, by Pirna, for Bohemia, at sound of him,--as he +had scarcely hoped they would. + +On the Saturday evening, Dresden, capable of not the least defence, has +opened all its gates, and Friedrich and the Prussians are in Dresden; +Austrians and wrecked Saxons falling back diligently towards the Metal +Mountains for Bohemia, diligent to clear the road for him. Queen and +Junior Princes are here; to whom, as to all men, Friedrich is courtesy +itself; making personal visit to the Royalties, appointing guards of +honor, sacred respect to the Royal Houses; himself will lodge at the +Princess Lubomirski's, a private mansion. + +"That ferocious, false, ambitious King of Prussia"--Well, he is not to +be ruined in open fight, on the contrary is ruinous there; nor by the +cunningest ambuscades, and secret combinations, in field or cabinet: our +overwhelming Winter Invasion of him--see where it has ended! Bruhl and +Polish Majesty--the nocturnal sky all on fire in those parts, and loud +general doomsday come--are a much-illuminated pair of gentlemen. + +From the time Meissen Bridge was lost, Prince Karl too showing himself +so languid, even Bruhl had discerned that the case was desperate. On the +very day of Kesselsdorf,--not the day BEFORE, which would have been +such a thrift to Bruhl and others!--Friedrich had a Note from Villiers, +signifying joyfully that his Polish Majesty would accept Peace. Thanks +to his Polish Majesty:--and after Kesselsdorf, perhaps the Empress-Queen +too will! Friedrich's offers are precisely what they were, what they +have always been: "Convention of Hanover; that, in all its parts; old +treaty of Breslau, to be guaranteed, to be actually kept. To me Silesia +sure;--from you, Polish Majesty, one million crowns as damages for +the trouble and cost this Triple Ambuscade of yours has given me; one +million crowns, 150,000 pounds we will say; and all other requisitions +to cease on the day of signature. These are my terms: accept these; then +wholly, As you were, Empress-Queen and you, and all surviving creatures: +and I march home within a week." Villiers speeds rapidly from Prag, with +the due olive-branch; with Count Harrach, experienced Austrian, and full +powers. Harrach cannot believe his senses: "Such the terms to be still +granted, after all these beatings and rebeatings!"--then at last does +believe, with stiff thankfulness and Austrian bows. The Negotiation need +not occupy many hours. + +"His Majesty of Prussia was far too hasty with this Peace," says Valori: +"he had taken a threap that he would have it finished before the Year +was done:"--in fact, he knows his own mind, MON GROS VALORI, and that +is what few do. You shear through no end of cobwebs with that fine +implement, a wisely fixed resolution of your own. A Peace slow enough +for Valori and the French: where could that be looked for?--Valori is at +Berlin, in complete disgrace; his Most Christian King having behaved so +like a Turk of late. Valori, horror-struck at such Peace, what shall +he do to prevent it, to retard it? One effort at least. D'Arget his +Secretary, stolen at Jaromirz, is safe back to him; ingenious, ingenuous +D'Arget was always a favorite with Friedrich: despatch D'Arget to +him. D'Arget is despatched; with reasons, with remonstrances, with +considerations. D'Arget's Narrative is given: an ingenuous off-hand +Piece;--poor little crevice, through which there is still to be had, +singularly clear, and credible in every point, a direct glimpse of +Friedrich's own thoughts, in that many-sounding Dresden,--so loud, +that week, with dinner-parties, with operas, balls, Prussian war-drums, +grand-parades and Peace-negotiations. + + + THE SIEUR D'ARGET TO EXCELLENCY VALORI (at Berlin). + + "DRESDEN, 1745" (dateless otherwise, must be + December, between 18th and 25th). +"MONSEIGNEUR,--I arrived yesterday at 7 P.M.; as I had the honor of +forewarning you, by the word I wrote to the Abbe [never mind what Abbe; +another Valori-Clerk] from Sonnenwalde [my half-way house between Berlin +and this City]. I went, first of all, to M. de Vaugrenand," our Envoy +here; "who had the goodness to open himself to me on the Business now +on hand. In my opinion, nothing can be added to the excellent +considerations he has been urging on the King of Prussia and the Count +de Podewils. + +"At half-past 8, I went to his Prussian Majesty's; I found he was +engaged with his Concert,"--lodges in the Lubomirski Palace, has his +snatch of melody in the evening of such discordant days,--"and I could +not see him till after half-past 9. I announced myself to M. Eichel; he +was too overwhelmed with affairs to give me audience. I asked for Count +Rothenburg; he was at cards with the Princess Lubomirski. At last, I did +get to the King: who received me in the most agreeable way; but was just +going to Supper; said he must put off answering till to-morrow morning, +morning of this day. M. de Vaugrenand had been so good as prepare me on +the rumors of a Peace with Saxony and the Queen of Hungary. I went to M. +Podewils; who said a great many kind things to me for you. I could only +sketch out the matter, at that time; and represented to Podewils the +brilliant position of his Master, who had become Arbiter of the Peace +of Europe; that the moment was come for making this Peace a General One, +and that perhaps there would be room for repentance afterwards, if the +opportunity were slighted. He said, his Master's object was that same; +and thus closed the conversation by general questions. + +"This morning, I again presented myself at the King of Prussia's. I had +to wait, and wait; in fine, it was not till half-past 5 in the evening +that he returned, or gave me admittance; and I stayed with him till +after 7,"--when Concert-time was at hand again. Listen to a remarkable +Dialogue, of the Conquering Hero with a humble Friend whom he likes. +"His Majesty condescended (A DAIGNE) to enter with me into all manner of +details; and began by telling me, + +"That M. de Valori had done admirably not to come, himself, with that +Letter from the King [Most Christian, OUR King; Letter, the sickly +Document above spoken of]; that there could not have been an Answer +expected,--the Letter being almost of ironical strain; his Majesty [Most +Christian] not giving him the least hope, but merely talking of his fine +genius, and how that would extricate him from the perilous entanglement, +and inspire him with a wise resolution in the matter! That he had, in +effect, taken a resolution the wisest he could; and was making his Peace +with Saxony and the Queen of Hungary. That he had felt all the dangers +of the difficult situations he had been in,"--sheer destruction +yawning all round him, in huge imminency, more than once, and no +friend heeding;--"that, weary of playing always double-or-quits, he had +determined to end it, and get into a state of tranquillity, which both +himself and his People had such need of. That France could not, without +difficulty, have remedied his mishaps; and that he saw by the King's +Letter, there was not even the wish to do it. That his, Friedrich's, +military career was completed,"--so far as HE could foresee or +decide! "That he would not again expose his Country to the Caprices of +Fortune, whose past constancy to him was sufficiently astonishing to +raise fears of a reverse (HEAR!). That his ambitions were fulfilled, in +having compelled his Enemies to ask Peace from him in their own Capital, +with the Chancellor of Bohemia [Harrach, typifying fallen Austrian +pride] obliged to co-operate. + +"That he would always be attached to our King's interests, and set +all the value in the world on his friendship; but that he had not been +sufficiently assisted to be content. That, observing henceforth an +exact neutrality, he might be enabled to do offices of mediation; and to +carry, to the one side and to the other, words of peace. That he offered +himself for that object, and would be charmed to help in it; but that he +was fixed to stop there. That in regard to the basis of General Peace, +he had Two Ideas [which the reader can attend to, and see where they +differed from the Event, and where not]:--One was, That France should +keep Ypres, Furnes, Tournay [which France did not], giving up the +Netherlands otherwise, with Ostend, to the English [to the English!] +in exchange for Cape Breton. The other was, To give up more of our +Conquests [we gave them all up, and got only the glory, and our +Cod-fishery, Cape Breton, back, the English being equally generous], and +bargain for liberty to re-establish Dunkirk in its old condition [not +a word of your Dunkirk; there is your Cape Breton, and we also will go +home with what glory there is,--not difficult to carry!]. But that it +was by England we must make the overtures, without addressing ourselves +to the Court of Vienna; and put it in his, Friedrich's, power to propose +a receivable Project of Peace. That he well conceived the great point +was the Queen of Spain [Termagant and Jenkins's Ear; Termagant's +Husband, still living, is a lappet of Termagant's self]: but that she +must content herself with Parma and Piacenza for the Infant, Don Philip +[which the Termagant did]; and give back her hold of Savoy [partial +hold, of no use to her without the Passes] to the King of Sardinia." And +of the JENKINS'S-EAR question, generous England will say nothing? Next +to nothing; hopes a modicum of putty and diplomatic varnish may close +that troublesome question,--which springs, meanwhile, in the centre of +the world!-- + +"These kind condescensions of his Majesty emboldened me to represent to +him the brilliant position he now held; and how noble it would be, +after having been the Hero of Germany, to become, instead of one's own +pacificator, the Pacificator of Europe. 'I grant you,' said he, (MON +CHER D'Arget; but it is too dangerous a part for playing. A reverse +brings me to the edge of ruin: I know too well the mood of mind I +was in, last time I left Berlin with that Three-legged Immensity of +Atropos, NOT yet mown down at Hennersdorf by a lucky cut), ever to +expose myself to it again! If luck had been against me there, I saw +myself a Monarch without throne; and my subjects in the cruelest +oppression. A bad game that: always, mere CHECK TO YOUR KING; no other +move;--I refer it to you, friend D'Arget:--in fine, I wish to be at +peace.' + +"I represented to him that the House of Austria would never, with a +tranquil eye, see his House in possession of Silesia. 'Those that come +after me,' said he, 'will do as they like; the Future is beyond man's +reach. Those that come after will do as they can. I have acquired; it is +theirs to preserve. I am not in alarm about the Austrians;--and this +is my answer to what you have been saying about the weakness of my +guarantees. They dread my Army; the luck that I have. I am sure of +their sitting quiet for the dozen years or so which may remain to me of +life;--quiet till I have, most likely, done with it. What! Are we never +to have any good of our life, then (NE DOIS-JE DONC JAMAIS JOUIR)? There +is more for me in the true greatness of laboring for the happiness of +my subjects, than in the repose of Europe. I have put Saxony out of a +condition to do hurt. She owes 14,775,000 crowns of debt [two millions +and a quarter sterling]; and by the Defensive Alliance which I form with +her, I provide myself [but ask Bruhl withal!] a help against Austria. I +would not henceforth attack a cat, except to defend myself.' ["These +are his very words," adds D'Arget;--and well worth noting.] (Ambition +(GLOIRE) and my interests were the occasion of my first Campaigns. +The late Kaiser's situation, and my zeal for France [not to mention +interests again], gave rise to these second: and I have been fighting +always since for my own hearths,--for my very existence, I might say! +Once more, I know the state I had got into:--if I saw Prince Karl at +the gates of Paris, I would not stir.'--'And us at the gates of Vienna,' +answered I promptly, 'with the same indifference?'--'Yes; and I swear +it to you, D'Arget. In a word, I want to have some good of my life (VEUX +JOUIR). What are we, poor human atoms, to get up projects that cost so +much blood? Let us live, and help to live.' + +"The rest of the conversation passed in general talk, about Literature, +Theatres and such objects. My reasonings and objectings, on the great +matter, I need not farther detail: by the frank discourse his Prussian +Majesty was kind enough to go into, you may gather perhaps that my +arguments were various, and not ill-chosen;--and it is too evident they +have all been in vain."--Your Excellency's (really in a very faithful +way)-- D'ARGET. [Valori, i. 290-294 (no date, except "Dresden, +1745,"--sleepy Editor feeling no want of any).] + +D'Arget, about a month after this, was taken into Friedrich's service; +Valori consenting, whose occupation was now gone;--and we shall hear of +D'Arget again. Take this small Note, as summary of him: "D'Arget (18th +January, 1746) had some title, 'Secretary at Orders (SECRETAIRE DES +COMMANDEMENTS),' bit of pension; and continued in the character of +reader, or miscellaneous literary attendant and agent, very much liked +by his Master, for six years coming. A man much heard of, during those +years of office. March, 1752, having lost his dear little Prussian Wife, +and got into ill health and spirits, he retired on leave to Paris; and +next year had to give up the thought of returning;--though he still, and +to the end, continued loyally attached to his old Master, and more +or less in correspondence with him. Had got, before long, not through +Friedrich's influence at Paris, some small Appointment in the ECOLE +MILITAIRE there. He is, of all the Frenchmen Friedrich had about him, +with the exception of D'Argens alone, the most honest-hearted. The above +Letter, lucid, innocent, modest, altogether rational and practical, is +a fair specimen of D'Arget: add to it the prompt self-sacrifice (and in +that fine silent way) at Jaromirz for Valori, and readers may conceive +the man. He lived at Paris, in meagre but contented fashion, RUE +DE L'ECOLE MILITAIRE, till 1778; and seems, of all the Ex-Prussian +Frenchmen, to have known most about Friedrich; and to have never spoken +any falsity against him. Duvernet, the 'M----' Biographer of VOLTAIRE, +frequented him a good deal; and any true notions, or glimmerings of +such, that he has about Prussia, are probably ascribable to D'Arget." +[See _OEuvres de Frederic,_ xx. (p. xii of PREFACE to the D'ARGET +CORRESPONDENCE there).] + +The Treaty of Dresden can be read in Scholl, Flassan, Rousset, Adelung; +but, except on compulsion, no creature will now read it,--nor did this +Editor, even he, find it pay. Peace is made. Peace of Dresden is signed, +Christmas Day, 1745: "To me Silesia, without farther treachery or trick; +you, wholly as you were." Europe at large, as Friedrich had done, sees +"the sky all on fire about Dresden." The fierce big battles done against +this man have, one and all of them, become big defeats. The strenuous +machinations, high-built plans cunningly devised,--the utmost sum-total +of what the Imperial and Royal Potencies can, for the life of them, do: +behold, it has all tumbled down here, in loud crash; the final peal of +it at Kesselsdorf; and the consummation is flame and smoke, conspicuous +over all the Nations. You will let him keep his own henceforth, then, +will you? Silesia, which was NOT yours nor ever shall be? Silesia and +no afterthought? The Saxons sign, the high Plenipotentiaries all; in the +eyes of Villiers, I am told, were seen sublimely pious tears. +Harrach, bowing with stiff, almost incredulous, gratitude, swears and +signs;--hurries home to his Sovereign Lady, with Peace, and such a smile +on his face; and on her Imperial Majesty's such a smile!--readers shall +conceive it. + +There are but Two new points in the Treaty of Dresden,--nay properly +there is but One point, about which posterity can have the least care +or interest; for that other, concerning "The Toll of Schidlo," and +settlement of haggles on the Navigation of the Elbe there, was not +kept by the Saxons, but continued a haggle still: this One point is +the Eleventh Article. Inconceivably small; but liable to turn up on +us again, in a memorable manner. That let us translate,--for M. +de Voltaire's sake, and time coming! STEUER means Land-Tax; +OBER-STEUER-EINNAHME will be something like Royal Exchequer, therefore; +and STEUER-SCHEIN will be approximately equivalent to Exchequer Bill. +Article Eleventh stipulates: + +"All subjects and servants of his Majesty the King of Prussia who hold +bonds of the Saxon OBER-STEUER-EINNAHME shall be paid in full, capital +and interest, at the times, and to the amount, specified in said +STEUER-SCHEINE or Bonds." That is Article Eleventh.--"The Saxon +Exchequer," says an old Note on it, "thanks to Bruhl's extravagance, has +been as good as bankrupt, paying with inconvertible paper, with SCHEINE +(Things to be SHOWN), for some time past; which paper has accordingly +sunk, let us say, 25 per cent below its nominal amount in gold. All +Prussian subjects, who hold these Bonds, are to be paid in gold; Saxons, +and others, will have to be content with paper till things come round +again, if things ever do." Yes;--and, by ill chance, the matter will +attract M. de Voltaire's keen eye in the interim! + +Friedrich stayed eight days in Dresden, the loud theme of Gazetteers and +rumors; the admired of two classes, in all Countries: of the many who +admire success, and also of the few who can understand what it is to +deserve success. Among his own Countrymen, this last Winter has kindled +all their admirations to the flaming pitch. Saved by him from imminent +destruction; their enemies swept home as if by one invincible; nay, sent +home in a kind of noble shame, conquered by generosity. These feelings, +though not encouraged to speak, run very high. The Dresdeners in private +society found him delightful; the high ladies especially: "Could you +have thought it; terrific Mars to become radiant Apollo in this manner!" +From considerable Collections of Anecdotes illustrating this fact, in a +way now fallen vapid to us,--I select only the Introduction:-- + +"Do readers recollect Friedrich's first visit to Dresden [in 1728], +seventeen years ago; and a certain charming young Countess Flemming, +at that time only fourteen; who, like a Hebe as she was, contrived +beautiful surprises for him, and among other things presented him, so +gracefully, on the part of August the Strong, with his first flute?"--No +reader of this History can recollect it; nor indeed, except in a +mythic sense, believe it! A young Countess Flemming (daughter of old +Feldmarschall Flemming) doubtless there might be, who presented him a +flute; but as to HIS FIRST flute--? "That same charming young Countess +Flemming is still here, age now thirty-one; charming, more than ever, +though now under a changed name; having wedded a Von Racknitz (Supreme +Gentleman-Usher, or some such thing) a few years ago, and brought him +children and the usual felicities. How much is changed! August the +Strong, where is he; and his famous Three Hundred and Fifty-four, +Enchantress Orzelska and the others, where are they? Enchantress +Orzelska wedded, quarrelled, and is in a convent: her charming destiny +concluded. Rutowski is not now in the Prussian Army: he got beaten, +Wednesday last, at Kesselsdorf, fighting against that Army. And the +Chevalier de Saxe, he too was beaten there;--clambering now across the +Metal Mountains, ask not of him. And the Marechal de Saxe, he takes +Cities, fights Battles of Fontenoy, 'mumbling a lead bullet all day;' +being dropsical, nearly dead of debaucheries; the most dissolute (or +probably so) of all the Sons of Adam in his day. August the Physically +Strong is dead. August the Spiritually Weak is fled to Prag with his +Bruhl. And we do not come, this time, to get a flute; but to settle +the account of Victories, and give Peace to Nations. Strange, here as +always, to look back,--to look round or forward,--in the mad huge whirl +of that loud-roaring Loom of Time!--One of Countess Racknitz's +Sons happened to leave MANUSCRIPT DIARIES [rather feeble, not too +exact-looking], and gives us, from Mamma's reminiscences"... Not a word +more. [Rodenbeck, _Beitrage,_ i. 440, et seq.] + +The Peace, we said, was signed on Christmas-day. Next day, Sunday, +Friedrich attended Sermon in the Kreuzkirche (Protestant High-Church of +Dresden), attended Opera withal; and on Monday morning had vanished +out of Dresden, as all his people had done, or were diligently doing. +Tuesday, he dined briefly at Wusterhausen (a place we once knew well), +with the Prince of Prussia, whose it now is; got into his open carriage +again, with the said Prince and his other Brother Ferdinand; and drove +swiftly homeward. Berlin, drunk with joy, was all out on the streets, +waiting. On the Heath of Britz, four or five miles hitherward of Berlin, +a body of young gentlemen ("Merchants mostly, who had ridden out so +far") saluted him with "VIVAT FRIEDRICH DER GROSSE (Long live Friedrich +THE GREAT)!" thrice over;--as did, in a less articulate manner, Berlin +with one voice, on his arrival there; Burgher Companies lining the +streets; Population vigorously shouting; Pupils of the Koln Gymnasium, +with Clerical and School Functionaries in mass, breaking out into Latin +Song:-- + + "VIVAT, VIVAT FRIDERICUS REX; + VIVAT AUGUSTUS, MAGNUS, FELIX, PATER, PATRI-AE--!" + +--and what not. [Preuss, i. 220; who cites _Beschreibung_ ("Description +of his Majesty's Triumphant Entry, on the" &c.) and other Contemporary +Pamphlets. Rodenbeck, i. 124.] On reaching the Portal of the Palace, +his Majesty stept down; and, glancing round the Schloss-Platz and the +crowded windows and simmering multitudes, saluted, taking off his hat; +which produced such a shout,--naturally the loudest of all. And so EXIT +King, into his interior. Tuesday, 2-3 P.M., 28th December, 1745: a King +new-christened in the above manner, so far as people could. + +Illuminated Berlin shone like noon, all that night (the beginning of a +GAUDEAMUS which lasted miscellaneously for weeks):--but the King stole +away to see a friend who was dying; that poor Duhan de Jaudun, his early +Schoolmaster, who had suffered much for him, and whom he always much +loved. Duhan died, in a day or two. Poor Jordan, poor Keyserling (the +"Cesarion" of young days): them also he has lost; and often laments, in +this otherwise bright time. (In _OEuvres,_ xvii. 288; xviii. 141; IB. +142--painfully tender Letters to Frau von Camas and others, on these +events). + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, +Vol. XV. (of XXI.), by Thomas Carlyle + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. *** + +***** This file should be named 2115.txt or 2115.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/1/2115/ + +Produced by D.R. Thompson + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thanks to Friedrich Wilhelm and +himself, there is no Army, nor ever was any, in such continual +preparation. Military people say, "Some Countries take six months, +some twelve, to get in motion for war: but in three weeks Prussia +can be across the marches, and upon the throat of its enemy." +Which is an immense advantage to little Prussia among its big +neighbors. "Some Countries have a longer sword than Prussia; +but none can unsheathe it so soon:"--we hope, too, it is moderately +sharp, when wielded by a deft hand. + +The French, as was intimated, are in great vigor, this Year; +thoroughly provoked; and especially since Friedrich sent his +Rothenburg among them, have been doing their very utmost. +Their main effort is in the Netherlands, at present;--and indeed, +as happened, continues all through this War to be. They by no means +intend, or ever did, to neglect Teutschland; yet it turns out, they +have pretty much done with their fighting there. And next Year, +driven or led by accidents of various kinds, they quit it +altogether; and turning their whole strength upon the Netherlands +and Italy, chiefly on the Netherlands, leave Friedrich, much to his +astonishment, with the German War hanging wholly round HIS neck, +and take no charge of it farther! In which, to Friedrich's +Biographers, there is this inestimable benefit, if far the reverse +to Friedrich's self: That we shall soon have done with the French, +then; with them and with so much else; and may, in time coming, for +most part, leave their huge Sorcerer's Sabbath of a European War to +dance itself out, well in the distance, not encumbering us farther, +like a circumambient Bedlam, as it has hitherto done. +Courage, reader! Let us give, in a glance or two, some notion of +the course things took, and what moment it was when Friedrich +struck in;--whom alone, or almost alone, we hope to follow +thenceforth; "Dismal Swamp" (so gracious was Heaven to us) lying +now mostly to rearward, little as we hoped it! + +It was mere accident, a series of bad accidents, that led King +Louis and his Ministers into gradually forsaking Friedrich. +They were the farthest in the world from intending such a thing. +Contrariwise, what brain-beating, diplomatic spider-weaving, +practical contriving, now and afterwards, for that object; +especially now! Rothenburg, Noailles, Belleisle, Cardinal Tencin, +have been busy; not less the mistress Chateauroux, who admires +Friedrich, being indeed a high-minded unfortunate female, as they +say; and has thrown out Amelot, not for stammering alone. They are +able, almost high people, this new Chateauroux Ministry, compared +with some; and already show results. + +Nay, what is most important of all, France has (unconsciously, or +by mere help of Noailles and luck) got a real General to her +Armies: Comte de Saxe, now Marechal de Saxe; who will shine very +splendent in these Netherland operations,--counter-shone by mere +Wades, D'Ahrembergs, Cumberlands,--in this and the Four following +Years. Noailles had always recognized Comte de Saxe; had long +striven for him, in Official quarters; and here gets the light of +him unveiled at last, and set on a high place: loyal Noailles. + +This was the Year, this 1744, when Louis XV., urged by his +Chateauroux, the high-souled unfortunate female, appeared in person +at the head of his troops: "Go, Sire, go, MON CHOU (and I will +accompany); show yourself where a King should be, at the head of +your troops; be a second Louis-le-Grand!" Which he did, his +Chateauroux and he; actually went to the Netherlands, with baggage- +train immeasurable, including not cooks only, but play-actors with +their thunder-barrels (off from Paris, May 3d), to the admiration +of the Universe. [Adelung, iv. 113; Barbier, ii. 391, 394; Dulaure, +<italic> Hist. de Paris; <end italic> &c.] Took the command, +nominal-command, first days of June; and captured in no-time Menin, +Ipres, Furnes, and the Fort of Knock, and as much of the Austrian +Netherlands as he liked,--that is to say, saw Noailles and Saxe do +it;--walking rapidly forward from Siege to Siege, with a most +thundering artillery; old Marshal Wade and consorts dismally eating +their victuals, and looking on from the distance, unable to attempt +the least stroke in opposition. So that the Dutch Barrier, if +anybody now cared for it, did go all flat; and the Balance of Power +gets kicked out of its sacred pivot: to such purpose have the Dutch +been hoisted! Terrible to think of;--had not there, from the +opposite quarter, risen a surprising counterpoise; had not there +been a Prince Karl, with his 70,000, pressing victoriously over the +Rhine; which stayed the French in these sacrilegious procedures. + + + PRINCE KARL GETS ACROSS THE RHINE (20 JUNE-2 JULY, 1744). + +Prince Karl, some weeks ago, at Heilbronn, joined his Rhine Army, +which had gathered thither from the Austrian side, through Baiern, +and from the Hither-Austrian or Swabian Winter-quarters; with full +intent to be across the Rhine, and home upon Elsass and the +Compensation Countries, this Summer, under what difficulties +soever. Karl, or, as some whisper, old Marshal Traun, who is +nominally second in command, do make a glorious campaign of it, +this Year;--and lift the Cause of Liberty, at one time, to the +highest pitch it ever reached. Here, in brief terms, is Prince +Karl's Operation on the Rhine, much admired by military men:-- + +"STOCKSTADT, JUNE 20th, 1744. Some thirty and odd miles north of +Mannheim, the Rhine, before turning westward at Mainz, makes one +other of its many Islands (of which there are hundreds since the +leap at Schaffhausen): one other, and I think the biggest of them +all; perhaps two miles by five; which the Germans call KUHKOPF +(Cowhead), from the shape it has,--a narrow semi-ellipse; +River there splitting in two, one split (the western) going +straight, the other bending luxuriantly round: so that the HIND- +head or straight end of the Island lies towards France, and the +round end, or cow-LIPS (so to speak) towards native Teutschland, +and the woody Hills of the Berg-Strasse thereabouts. Stockstadt, +chief little Town looking over into this Cowhead Island, lies under +the CHIN: understand only farther that the German branch carries +more than two-thirds of the River; that on the Island itself there +is no town, or post of defence; and that Stockstadt is the place +for getting over. Coigny and the French, some 40,000, are guarding +the River hereabouts, with lines, with batteries, cordons, the best +they can; Seckendorf, with 20,000 more ('Imperial' Old Bavarian +Troops, revivified, recruited by French pay), is in his garrison of +Philipsburg, ready to help when needed:"--not moulting now, at +Wembdingen, in that dismal manner; new-feathered now into "Kaiser's +Army;" waiting in his Philipsburg to guard the River there. +"Coigny's French have ramparts, ditches, not quite unfurnished, on +their own shore, opposite this Cowhead Island (ISLE DE HERON, as +they call it); looking over to the hind-head, namely: but they have +nothing considerable there; and in the Island itself, nothing +whatever. 'If now Stockstadt were suddenly snatched by us,' thinks +Karl;--'if a few pontoons were nimbly swung in?' + +"JUNE 20th,--Coigny's people all shooting FEU-DE-JOIE, for that +never enough to be celebrated Capture of Menin and the Dutch +Barrier a fortnight ago,--this is managed to be done. The active +General Barenklau, active Brigadier Daun under him, pushes rapidly +across into Kuhkopf; rapidly throws up intrenchments, ramparts, +mounts cannon, digs himself in,--greatly to Coigny's astonishment; +whose people hereabouts, and in all their lines and posts, are busy +shooting FEU-DE-JOIE for those immortal Dutch victories, at the +moment, and never dreaming of such a thing. Fresh force floods in, +Prince Karl himself arrives next day, in support of Barenklau; +Coigny (head-quarters at Speyer, forty miles south) need not +attempt dislodging him; but must stand upon his guard, and prepare +for worse. Which he does with diligence; shifting northward into +those Stockstadt-Mainz parts; calling Seckendorf across the River, +and otherwise doing his best,--for about ten days more, when worse, +and almost worst, did verily befall him. + +"No attempt was made on Barenklau; nor, beyond the alarming of the +Coigny-Seckendorf people, did anything occur in Cowhead Island,-- +unless it were the finis of an ugly bully and ruffian, who has more +than once afflicted us: which may be worth one word. +Colonel Mentzel [copper-faced Colonel, originally Play-actor, +"Spy in Persia," and I know not what] had been at the seizure of +Kuhkopf; a prominent man. Whom, on the fifth day after ('June +25th'), Prince Karl overwhelmed with joy, by handing him a Patent +of Generalcy: 'Just received from Court, my Friend, on account of +your merits old and late.'--'Aha,' said Barenklau, congratulating +warmly: 'Dine with me, then, Herr General Mentzel, this very day. +The Prince himself is to be there, Highness of Hessen-Darmstadt, +and who not; all are impatient to drink your health!' Mentzel had a +glorious dinner; still more glorious drink,--Prince Karl and the +others, it is said, egging him into much wild bluster and +gasconade, to season their much wine. Eminent swill of drinking, +with the loud coarse talk supposable, on the part of Mentzel and +consorts did go on, in this manner, all afternoon: in the evening, +drunk Mentzel came out for air; went strutting and staggering +about; emerging finally on the platform of some rampart, face of +him huge and red as that of the foggiest rising Moon;--and stood, +looking over into the Lorraine Country; belching out a storm of +oaths, as to his taking it, as to his doing this and that; and was +even flourishing his sword by way of accompaniment; when, lo, +whistling slightly through the summer air, a rifle-ball from some +sentry on the French side (writers say, it was a French drummer, +grown impatient, and snatching a sentry's piece) took the brain of +him, or the belly of him; and he rushed down at once, a totally +collapsed monster, and mere heap of dead ruin, never to trouble +mankind more." [<italic> Guerre de Boheme, <end italic> iii. 165.] +For which my readers and I are rather thankful. Voltaire, and +perhaps other memorable persons, sometimes mention this brute +(miraculous to the Plebs and Gazetteers); otherwise eternal +oblivion were the best we could do with him. Trenck also, readers +will be glad to understand, ends in jail and bedlam by and by. + +"Prince Karl had not the least intention of crossing by this +Cowhead Island. Nevertheless he set about two other Bridges in the +neighborhood, nearer Mainz (few miles below that City); +kept manoeuvring his Force, in huge half-moon, round that quarter, +and mysteriously up and down; alarming Coigny wholly into the Mainz +region. For the space of ten days; and then, stealing off to +Schrock, a little Rhine Village above Philipsburg, many miles away +from Coigny and his vigilantes, he-- + +"NIGHT OF 30th JUNE-1st JULY, Suddenly shot Pandour Trenck, +followed by Nadasti and 6,000, across at Schrock who scattered +Seckendorf's poor outposts thereabouts to the winds; 'built a +bridge before morning, and next day another.' Next day Prince Karl +in person appeared; and on the 3d of July, had his whole Army with +its luggages across; and had seized the Lines of Lauterburg and +Weissenburg (celebrated northern defence of Elsass),--much to +Coigny's amazement; and remained inexpugnable there, with Elsass +open to him, and to Coigny shut, for the present! [Adelung, iv. +139-141.] Coigny made bitter wail, accusation, blame of Seckendorf, +blame of men and of things; even tried some fighting, Seckendorf +too doing feats, to recover those Lines of Weissenburg: but could +not do it. And, in fact, blazing to and fro in that excited rather +than luminous condition, could not do anything; except retire into +the strong posts of the background; and send express on express, +swifter than the wind if you can, to a victorious King overturning +the Dutch Barrier: 'Help, your Majesty, or we are lost; and France +is--what shall I say!'" + +"Admirable feat of Strategy! What a General, this Prince Karl!" +exclaimed mankind,--Cause-of-Liberty mankind with special +enthusiasm; and took to writing LIVES of Prince Karl, [For +instance, <italic> The Life of his Highness Prince Charles of &c., +with &c. &c. <end italic> (London, 1746); one of the most +distracted Blotches ever published under the name of Book;-- +wakening thoughts of a public dimness very considerable indeed, to +which this could offer itself as lamp!] as well as tar-burning and +TE-DEUM-ing on an extensive scale. For it had sent the Cause of +Liberty bounding up again to the top of things, this of crossing +the Rhine, in such fashion. And, in effect, the Cause of Liberty, +and Prince Karl himself, had risen hereby to their acme or +culminating point in World-History; not to continue long at such +height, little as they dreamt of that, among their tar-burnings. +The feat itself--contrived by Nadasti, people say, and executed +(what was the real difficulty) by Traun--brought Prince Karl very +great renown, this Year; and is praised by Friedrich himself, now +and afterwards, as masterly, as Julius Caesar's method, and the +proper way of crossing rivers (when executable) in face of an +enemy. And indeed Prince Karl, owing to Traun or not, is highly +respectable in the way of Generalship at present; and did in these +Five Months, from June onward, really considerable things. At his +very acme of Life, as well as of Generalship; which, alas, soon +changed, poor man; never to culminate again. He had got, at the +beginning of the Year, the high Maria Theresa's one Sister, +Archduchess Maria Anna, to Wife; [Age then twenty-five gone: +"born 14th September, 1718; married to Prince Karl 7th January, +1744; died, of childbirth, 16th December same year" (Hormayr, +<italic> OEsterreichischer Plutarch, <end italic> iv. erstes +Baudchen, 54).] the crown of long mutual attachment; she safe now +at Brussels, diligent Co-Regent, and in a promising family-way; he +here walking on victorious:--need any man be happier? No man can be +supremely happy long; and this General's strategic felicity and his +domestic were fatally cut down almost together. The Cause of +Liberty, too, now at the top of its orbit, was--But let us stick by our Excerpting: + +"DUNKIRK, 19th JULY, 1744 [Princess Ulrique's Wedding, just two +days ago]. King Louis, on hearing of the Job's-news from Elsass, +instantly suspended his Conquests in Flanders; detached Noailles, +detached this one and that, double-quick, Division after Division +(leaving Saxe, with 45,000, to his own resources, and the fatuities +of Marshal Wade); and, 19th July, himself hastens off from Dunkirk +(leaving much of the luggage, but not the Chateauroux behind him), +to save his Country, poor soul. But could not, in the least, save +it; the reverse rather. August 4th, he got to Metz, Belleisle's +strong town, about 100 miles from the actual scene; his detached +reinforcements, say 50,000 men or so, hanging out ahead like flame- +clouds, but uncertain how to act;--Noailles being always +cunctatious in time of crisis, and poor Louis himself nothing of a +Cloud-Compeller;--and then, + +"METZ, AUGUST 8th, The Most Christian King fell ill; dangerously, +dreadfully, just like to die. Which entirely paralyzed Noailles and +Company, or reduced them to mere hysterics, and excitement of the +unluminous kind. And filled France in general, Paris in particular, +with terror, lamentation, prayers of forty hours; and such a +paroxysm of hero-worship as was never seen for such an object +before." [Espagnac, ii. 12; Adelung, iv. 180; <italic> Fastes de +Louis XV., <end italic> ii. 423; &c. &c.] + +For the Cause of Liberty here, we consider, was the culminating +moment; Elsass, Lorraine and the Three Bishoprics lying in their +quasi-moribund condition; Austrian claims of Compensation ceasing +to be visions of the heated brain, and gaining some footing on the +Earth as facts. Prince Karl is here actually in Elsass, master of +the strong passes; elate in heart, he and his; France, again, as if +fallen paralytic, into temporary distraction; offering for +resistance nothing hitherto but that universal wailing of mankind, +Hero-worship of a thrice-lamentable nature, and the Prayers of +Forty-Hours! Most Christian Majesty, now IN EXTREMIS, centre of the +basest hubbub that ever was, is dismissing Chateauroux. +Noailles, Coigny and Company hang well back upon the Hill regions, +and strong posts which are not yet menaced; or fly vaguely, more or +less distractedly, hither and thither; not in the least like +fighting Karl, much less like beating him. Karl has Germany free at +his back (nay it is a German population round him here); neither +haversack nor cartridge-box like to fail: before him are only a +Noailles and consorts, flying vaguely about;--and there is in Karl, +or under the same cloak with him at present, a talent of +manoeuvring men, which even Friedrich finds masterly. If old +Marshal Wade, at the other end of the line, should chance to awaken +and press home on Saxe, and his remnant of French, with right +vigor? In fact, there was not, that I can see, for centuries past, +not even at the Siege of Lille in Marlborough's time, a more +imminent peril for France. + + + FRIEDRICH DECIDES TO INTERVENE. + +King Friedrich, on hearing of these Rhenish emergencies and of King +Louis's heroic advance to the rescue, perceived that for himself +too the moment was come; and hastened to inform heroic Louis, That +though the terms of their Bargain were not yet completed, Sweden, +Russia and other points being still in a pendent condition, he, +Friedrich,--with an eye to success of their Joint Adventure, and to +the indispensability of joint action, energy, and the top of one's +speed now or never,--would, by the middle of this same August, be +on the field with 100,000 men. "An invasion of Bohemia, will not +that astonish Prince Karl; and bring him to his Rhine-Bridges +again? Over which, if your Most Christian Majesty be active, he +will not get, except in a half, or wholly ruined state. Follow him +close; send the rest of your force to threaten Hanover; sit well on +the skirts of Prince Karl. Him as he hurries homeward, ruined or +half-ruined, him, or whatever Austrian will fight, I do my best to +beat. We may have Bohemia, and a beaten Austria, this very Autumn: +see,--and, in one Campaign, there is Peace ready for us!" This is +Friedrich's scheme of action; success certain, thinks he, if only +there be energy, activity, on your side, as there shall be on mine; +--and has sent Count Schmettau, filled with fiery speed and +determination, to keep the French full of the like, and concert +mutual operations. + +"Magnanimous!" exclaim Noailles and the paralyzed French Gentlemen +(King Louis, I think, now past speech, for Schmettau only came +August 9th): "Most sublime behavior, on his Prussian Majesty's +part!" own they. And truly it is a fine manful indifference (by no +means so common as it should be) to all interests, to all +considerations, but that of a Joint Enterprise one has engaged in. +And truly, furthermore, it was immediate salvation to the paralyzed +French Gentlemen, in that alarming crisis; though they did not much +recognize it afterwards as such: and indeed were conspicuously +forgetful of all parts of it, when their own danger was over. + +Maria Theresa's feelings may be conceived; George II's feelings; +and what the Cause of Liberty in general felt, and furiously said +and complained, when--suddenly as a DEUS EX MACHINA, or Supernal +Genie in the Minor Theatres--Friedrich stept in. Precisely in this +supreme crisis, 7th August, 1744, Friedrich's Minister, Graf von +Dohna, at Vienna, has given notice of the Frankfurt Union, and +solemn Engagement entered into: "Obliged in honor and conscience; +will and must now step forth to right an injured Kaiser; +cannot stand these high procedures against an Imperial Majesty +chosen by all the Princes of the Reich, this unheard-of protest +that the Kaiser is no Kaiser, as if all Germany were but Austria +and the Queen of Hungary's. Prussian Majesty has not the least +quarrel of his own with the Queen of Hungary, stands true, and will +stand, by the Treaty of Berlin and Breslau;--only, with certain +other German Princes, has done what all German Princes and peoples +not Austrian are bound to do, on behalf of their down-trodden +Kaiser, formed a Union of Frankfurt; and will, with armed hand if +indispensable, endeavor to see right done in that matter." +[In <italic> Adelung, <end italic> iv. 155, 156, the Declaration +itself (Audience, "7th August, 1744." Dohna off homeward "on the +second day after").] + +This is the astonishing fact for the Cause of Liberty; and no +clamor and execration will avail anything. This man is prompt, too; +does not linger in getting out his Sword, when he has talked of it. +Prince Karl's Operation is likely to be marred amazingly. If this +swift King (comparable to the old Serpent for devices) were to +burst forth from his Silesian strengths; tread sharply on the TAIL +of Prince Karl's Operation, and bring back the formidably fanged +head of IT out of Alsace, five hundred miles all at once,--there +would be a business! + +We will now quit the Rhine Operations, which indeed are not now of +moment; Friedrich being suddenly the key of events again. I add +only, what readers are vaguely aware of, that King Louis did not +die; that he lay at death's door for precisely one week (8th-15th +August), symptoms mending on the 15th. In the interim,--Grand- +Almoner Fitz-James (Uncle of our Conte di Spinelli) insisting that +a certain Cardinal, who had got the Sacraments in hand, should +insist; and endless ministerial intrigue being busy,--moribund +Louis had, when it came to the Sacramental point, been obliged to +dismiss his Chateauroux. Poor Chateauroux; an unfortunate female; +yet, one almost thinks, the best man among them: dismissed at Metz +here, and like to be mobbed! That was the one issue of King Louis's +death-sickness. Sublime sickness; during which all Paris wept +aloud, in terror and sorrow, like a child that has lost its mother +and sees a mastiff coming; wept sublimely, and did the Prayers of +Forty-Hours; and called King Louis Le BIEN-AIME (The Well- +beloved):--merely some obstruction in the royal bowels, it turned +out;--a good cathartic, and the Prayers of Forty-Hours, quite +reinstated matters. Nay reinstated even Chateauroux, some time +after,--"the Devil being well again," and, as the Proverb says, +quitting his monastic view. Reinstated Chateauroux: but this time, +poor creature, she continued only about a day:--"Sudden fever, +from excitement," said the Doctors: "Fever? Poison, you mean!" +whispered others, and looked for changes in the Ministry. +Enough, oh, enough!-- + +Old Marshal Wade did not awaken, though bawled to by his Ligoniers +and others, and much shaken about, poor old gentleman. +"No artillery to speak of," murmured he; "want baggage-wagons, +too!" and lay still. "Here is artillery!" answered the Official +people; "With my own money I will buy you baggage-wagons!" answered +the high Maria Anna, in her own name and her Prince Karl's, who are +Joint-Governors there. Possibly he would have awakened, had they +given him time. But time, in War especially, is the thing that is +never given. Once Friedrich HAD struck in, the moment was gone by. +Poor old Wade! Of him also enough. + + + + Chapter II. + + FRIEDRICH MARCHES UPON PRAG, CAPTURES PRAG. + +It was on Saturday, "early in the morning," 15th August, 1744, that +Friedrich set out, attended by his two eldest Brothers, Prince of +Prussia and Prince Henri, from Potsdam, towards this new Adventure, +which proved so famous since. Sudden, swift, to the world's +astonishment;--actually on march here, in three Columns (two +through Saxony by various routes southeastward, one from Silesia +through Glatz southwestward), to invade Bohemia: rumor says 100,000 +strong, fact itself says upwards of 80,000, on their various +routes, converging towards Prag. [<italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end +italic> ii. 1165. Orlich (ii. 25, 27) enumerates the various +regiments.] His Columns, especially his Saxon Columns, are already +on the road; he joins one Column, this night, at Wittenberg; and is +bent, through Saxony, towards the frontiers of Bohemia, at the +utmost military speed he has. + +Through Saxony about 60,000 go: he has got the Kaiser's Order to +the Government of Saxony, "Our august Ally, requiring on our +Imperial business a transit through you;"--and Winterfeld, an +excellent soldier and negotiator, has gone forward to present said +Order. A Document which flurries the Dresden Officials beyond +measure. Their King is in Warsaw; their King, if here, could do +little; and indeed has been inclining to Maria Theresa this long +while. And Winterfeld insists on such despatch;--and not even the +Duke of Weissenfels is in Town, Dresden Officials "send off five +couriers and thirteen estafettes" to the poor old Duke; +[<italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> ii. 1163.] get him at +last; and-- The march is already taking effect; they may as well +consent to it: what can they do but consent! In the uttermost +flurry, they had set to fortifying Dresden; all hands driving +palisades, picking, delving, making COUPURES (trenches, or sunk +barricades) in the streets;--fatally aware that it can avail +nothing. Is not this the Kaiser's Order? Prussians, to the amount +of 60,000, are across our Frontiers, rapidly speeding on. + +"Friedrich's Manifesto--under the modest Title, 'ANZEIGE DER +URSACHEN (Advertisement of the Causes which have induced his +Prussian Majesty to send the Romish Kaiser's Majesty some Auxiliary +Troops)'--had appeared in the Berlin Newspapers Thursday, 13th, +only two days before. An astonishment to all mankind; which gave +rise to endless misconceptions of Friedrich: but which, supporting +itself on proofs, on punctually excerpted foot-notes, is +intrinsically a modest, quiet Piece; and, what is singular in +Manifestoes, has nothing, or almost nothing, in it that is not, so +far as it goes, a perfect statement of the fact. 'Auxiliary troops, +that is our essential character. No war with her Hungarian Majesty, +or with any other, on our own score. But her Hungarian Majesty, how +has she treated the Romish Kaiser, her and our and the Reich's +Sovereign Head, and to what pass reduced him; refusing him Peace on +any terms, except those of self-annihilation; denying that he is a +Kaiser at all;'--and enumerates the various Imperial injuries, with +proof given, quiet footnotes by way of proof; and concludes in +these words: 'For himself his Majesty requires nothing. +The question here is not of his Majesty's own interest at all +[everything his Majesty required, or requires, is by the Treaty of +Berlin solemnly his, if the Reich and its Laws endure]: and he has +taken up arms simply and solely in the view of restoring to the +Reich its freedom, to the Kaiser his Headship of the Reich, and to +all Europe the Peace which is so desirable.' [Given in Seyfarth, +<italic> Beylage, <end italic> i. 121-136, with date +"August, 1744."] + +"'Pretences, subterfuges, lies!' exclaimed the Austrian and Allied +Public everywhere, or strove to exclaim; especially the English +Public, which had no difficulty in so doing;--a Public comfortably +blank as to German facts or non-facts; and finding with amazement +only this a very certain fact, That hereby is their own Pragmatic +thunder checked in mid-volley in a most surprising manner, and the +triumphant Cause of Liberty brought to jeopardy again. +'Perfidious, ambitious, capricious!' exclaimed they: 'a Prince +without honor, without truth, without constancy;'--and completed, +for themselves, in hot rabid humor, that English Theory of +Friedrich which has prevailed ever since. Perhaps the most +surprising item of which is this latter, very prominent in those +old times, That Friedrich has no 'constancy,' but follows his +'caprices,' and accidental whirls of impulse:--item which has +dropped away in our times, though the others stand as stable as +ever. A monument of several things! Friedrich's suddenness is an +essential part of what fighting talent he has: if the Public, +thrown into flurry, cannot judge it well, they must even misjudge +it: what help is there? + +"That the above were actually Friedrich's reasons for venturing +into this Big Game again, is not now disputable. And as to the +rumor, which rose afterwards (and was denied, and could only be +denied diplomatically to the ear, if even to the ear), That +Friedrich by Secret Article was 'to have for himself the Three +Bohemian Circles, Konigsgratz, Bunzlau, Leitmeritz, which lie +between Schlesien and Sachsen,' [<italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end +italic> i. 1081; Scholl, ii. 349.]--there is not a doubt but +Friedrich had so bargained, 'Very well, if we can get said +Circles!' and would right cheerfully have kept and held them, had +the big game gone in all points completely well (game, to reinstate +the Kaiser BOTH in Bohemia and Bavaria) by Friedrich's fine +playing. Not a doubt of all this:--nor of what an extremely +hypothetic outlook it then and always was; greatly too weak for +enticing such a man." + +Friedrich goes in Three Columns. One, on the south or left shore of +the Elbe, coming in various branches under Friedrich himself; +this alone will touch on Dresden, pass on the south side of +Dresden; gather itself about Pirna (in the Saxon Switzerland so +called, a notable locality); thence over the Metal Mountains into +Bohmen, by Toplitz, by Lowositz, Leitmeritz, and the Highway called +the Pascopol, famous in War. The Second Column, under Leopold the +Young Dessauer, goes on the other or north side of the Elbe, at a +fair distance; marching through the Lausitz (rendezvous or +starting-point was Bautzen in the Lausitz) straight south, to meet +the King at Leitmeritz, where the grand Magazine is to be; +and thence, still south, straight upon Prag, in conjunction with +his Majesty or parallel to him. [<italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end +italic> i. 1081.] These are the Two Saxon Columns. The Third +Column, under Schwerin, collects itself in the interior of Silesia; +is issuing, by Glatz Country, through the Giant Mountains, +BOHMISCHE KAMME (Bohemian COMBS as they are called, which Tourists +know), by the Pass of Braunau,--disturbing the dreams of Rubezahl, +if Rubezahl happen to be there. This, say 20,000, will come down +upon Prag from the eastern side; and be first on the ground (31st +August),--first by one day. In the home parts of Silesia, well +eastward of Glatz, there is left another Force of 20,000, which can +go across the Austrian Border there, and hang upon the Hills, +threatening Olmutz and the Moravian Countries, should need be. + +And so, in its Three Columns, from west, from north, from east, the +march, with a steady swiftness, proceeds. Important especially +those Two Saxon Columns from west and north: 60,000 of them, "with +a frightful (ENTSETZLICH) quantity of big guns coming up the Elbe." +Much is coming up the Elbe; indispensable Highway for this +Enterprise. Three months' provisions, endless artillery and +provender, is on the Elbe; 480 big boats, with immense VORSPANN (of +trace-horses, dreadful swearing, too, as I have heard), will pass +through the middle of Dresden: not landing by any means. "No, be +assured of it, ye Dresdeners, all flurried, palisaded, barricaded; +no hair of you shall be harmed." After a day or two, the flurry of +Saxony subsided; Prussians, under strict discipline, molest no +private person; pay their way; keep well aloof, to south and to +north, of Dresden (all but the necessary ammunition-escorts do);-- +and require of the Official people nothing but what the Law of the +Reich authorizes to "Imperial Auxiliaries" in such case. +"The Saxons themselves," Friedrich observes, "had some 40,000, but +scattered about; King in Warsaw:--dreadful terror; making COUPURES +and TETES-DE-PONT;--could have made no defence." Had we diligently +spent eight days on them! reflects he afterwards. "To seize Saxony +[and hobble it with ropes, so that at any time you could pin it +motionless, and even, if need were, milk the substance out of it], +would not have detained us eight days." [<italic> OEuvres de +Frederic, <end italic> iii. 53.] Which would have been the true +plan, had we known what was getting ready there! Certain it is, +Friedrich did no mischief, paid for everything; anxious to keep +well with Saxony; hoping always they might join him again, in such +a Cause. "Cause dear to every Patriot German Prince," urges +Friedrich,--though Bruhl, and the Polish, once "Moravian," Majesty +are of a very different opinion:-- + +"Maria Theresa, her thoughts at hearing of it may be imagined: +'The Evil Genius of my House afoot again! My high projects on +Elsass and Lorraine; Husband for Kaiser, Elsass for the Reich and +him, Lorraine for myself and him; gone probably to water!' +Nevertheless she said (an Official person heard her say), 'My right +is known to God; God will protect me, as He has already done.' +[<italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> ii. 1024.] And rose very +strong, and magnanimously defiant again; perhaps, at the bottom of +her heart, almost glad withal that she would now have a stroke for +her dear Silesia again, unhindered by Paladin George and his +Treaties and notions. What measures, against this nefarious +Prussian outbreak, hateful to gods and men, are possible, she +rapidly takes: in Bohemia, in Bavaria and her other Countries, that +are threatened or can help. And abates nothing of heart or hope;-- +praying withal, immensely, she and her People, according to the +mode they have. Sending for Prince Karl, we need not say, double- +quick, as the very first thing. + +"Of Maria Theresa in Hungary,--for she ran to Presburg again with +her woes (August 16th, Diet just assembling there),--let us say +only that Hungary was again chivalrous; that old Palfy and the +general Hungarian Nation answered in the old tone,--VIVAT MARIA; +AD ARMA, AD ARMA! with Tolpatches, Pandours, Warasdins;--and, in +short, that great and small, in infinite 'Insurrection,' have still +a stroke of battle in them PRO REGE NOSTRO. Scarcely above a +District or two (as the JASZERS and KAUERS, in their over-cautious +way) making the least difficulty. Much enthusiasm and unanimity in +all the others; here and there a Hungarian gentleman complaining +scornfully that their troops, known as among the best fighters in +Nature, are called irregular troops,--irregular, forsooth! In one +public consultation [District not important, not very spellable,
+though doubtless pronounceable by natives to it], a gentleman +suggests that 'Winter is near; should not there be some slight +provision of tents, of shelter in the frozen sleety Mountains, to +our gallant fellows bound thither?' Upon which another starts up, +'When our Ancestors came out of Asia Minor, over the Palus Maeotis +bound in winter ice; and, sabre in hand, cut their way into this +fine Country which is still ours, what shelter had they? No talk of +tents, of barracks or accommodation there; each, wrapt in his sheep +skin, found it shelter sufficient. Tents!' [<italic> Helden- +Geschichte, <end italic> ii. 1030.] And the thing was carried +by acclamation. + +"Wide wail in Bohemia that War is coming back. Nobility all making +off, some to Vienna or the intermediate Towns lying thitherward, +some to their Country-seats; all out of Prag. Willing mind on the +part of the Common People; which the Government strains every nerve +to make the most of. Here are fasts, processions, Prayers of Forty- +Hours; here, as in Vienna and elsewhere. In Vienna was a Three +Days' solemn Fast: the like in Prag, or better; with procession to +the shrine of St. Vitus,--little likely to help, I should fear. +'Rise, all fencible men,' exclaims the Government,--'at least we +will ballot, and make you rise:'--Militia people enter Prag to the +extent of 10,000; like to avail little, one would fear. General +Harsch, with reinforcement of real soldiers, is despatched from +Vienna; Harsch, one of our ablest soldiers since Khevenhuller died, +gets in still in time; and thus increases the Garrison of regulars +to 4,000, with a vigorous Captain to guide it. Old Count Ogilvy, +the same whom Saxe surprised two years ago in the moonlight, +snatching ladders from the gallows,--Ogilvy is again Commandant; +but this time nominal mainly, and with better outlooks, Harsch +being under him. In relays, 3,000 of the Militia men dig and shovel +night and day; repairing, perfecting the ramparts of the place. +Then, as to provisions, endless corn is introduced,--farmers +forced, the unwilling at the bayonet's point, to deliver in their +corn; much of it in sheaf, so that we have to thrash it in the +market-place, in the streets that are wide: and thus in Prag is +heard the sound of flails, among the Militia-drums and so many +other noises. With the great church-organs growling; and the bass +and treble MISERERE of the poor superstitious People rising, to +St. Vitus and others. In fact, it is a general Dance of St. Vitus, +--except that of the flails, and Militia-men working at the +ramparts,--mostly not leading any-whither." ["LETTER from a Citizen +of Prag," date, 21st Sept. (in <italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end +italic> ii. 1168), which gives several curious details.] + +Meanwhile Friedrich's march from west, from north, from east, is +flowing on; diligent, swift; punctual to its times, its places; and +meets no impediment to speak of. At Tetschen on the Saxon-Bohemian +Frontier,--a pleasant Schloss perched on its crags, as Tourists +know, where the Elbe sweeps into Saxon Switzerland and its long +stone labyrinths,--at Tetschen the Austrians had taken post; +had tried to block the River, driving piles into it, and tumbling +boulders into it, with a view to stop the 480 Prussian Boats. +These people needed to be torn out, their piles and they: which was +done in two days, the soldier part of it; and occupied the boatmen +above a week, before all was clear again. Prosperous, correct to +program, all the rest; not needing mention from us;--here are the +few sparks from it that dwell in one's memory:-- + +"AUGUST 15th, 1744, King left Potsdam; joined his First Column that +night, at Wittenberg. Through Mieissen, Torgau, Freyberg; is at +Peterswalde, eastern slope of the Metal Mountains, August 25th; +all the Columns now on Bohemian ground. + +"Friedrich had crossed Elbe by the Bridge of Meissen: on the +southern shore, politely waiting to receive his Majesty, there +stood Feldmarschall the Duke of Weissenfels; to whom the King gave +his hand," no doubt in friendly style, "and talked for above half +an hour,"--with such success! thinks Friedrich by and by. We have +heard of Weissenfels before; the same poor Weissenfels who was +Wilhelmina's Wooer in old time, now on the verge of sixty; +an extremely polite but weakish old gentleman; accidentally +preserved in History. One of those conspicuous "Human Clothes- +Horses" (phantasmal all but the digestive part), which abound in +that Eighteenth Century and others like it; and distress your +Historical studies. Poor old soul; now Feldmarschall and Commander- +in-Chief here. Has been in Turk and other Wars; with little profit +to himself or others. Used to like his glass, they say; is still +very poor, though now Duke in reality as well as title (succeeded +two egregious Brothers, some years since, who had been +spendthrift): he has still one other beating to get in this world, +--from Friedrich next year. Died altogether, two years hence; and +Wilhelmina heard no more of him. + +"At Meissen Bridge, say some, was this Half-hour's Interview; +at Pirna, the Bridge of Pirna, others say; [See Orlich, ii. 25; +and <italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> ii. 1166.]--quite +indifferent to us which. At Pirna, and hither and thither in Saxon +Switzerland, Friedrich certainly was. 'Who ever saw such positions, +your Majesty?' For Friedrich is always looking out, were it even +from the window of his carriage, and putting military problems to +himself in all manner of scenery, 'What would a man do, in that +kind of ground, if attacking, if attacked? with that hill, that +brook, that bit of bog?' and advises every Officer to be +continually doing the like. [MILITARY INSTRUCTIONS? RULES FOR A +GOOD COMMANDER OF &c.?--I have, for certain, read this Passage; +but the reference is gone again, like a sparrow from the house- +top!] That is the value of picturesque or other scenery to +Friedrich, and their effect on good Prussian Officers and him. + +"... At Tetschen, Colonel Kahlbutz," diligent Prussian Colonel, +"plucks out those 100 Austrians from their rock nest there; +makes them prisoners of war;--which detained the Leitmeritz branch +of us two days. August 28th, junction at Leitmeritz thereupon. +Magazine established there. Boats coming on presently. Friedrich +himself camped at Lobositz in this part,"--Lobositz, or Lowositz, +which he will remember one day. + +"AUGUST 29th, March to Budin; that is, southward, across the Eger, +arrive within forty miles of Prag. Austrian Bathyani, summoned +hastily out of his Bavarian posts, to succor in this pressing +emergency, has arrived in these neighborhoods,--some 12,000 +regulars under him, preceded by clouds of hussars, whom Ziethen +smites a little, by way of handsel;--no other Austrian force to +speak of hereabouts; and we are now between Bathyani and Prag. + +"SEPTEMBER 1st, To Mickowitz, near Welwarn, twenty miles from Prag. +September 2d, Camp on the Weissenberg there." [<italic> Helden- +Geschichte, <end italic> i. 1080.] + +And so they are all assembled about Prag, begirdling the poor +City,--third Siege it has stood within these three years (since +that moonlight November night in 1741);--and are only waiting for +their heavy artillery to begin battering. The poor inhabitants, in +spite of three sieges; the 10,000 raw militia-men, mostly of +Hungarian breed; the 4,000 regulars, and Harsch and old Ogilvy, are +all disposed to do their best. Friedrich is naturally in haste to +get hold of Prag. But he finds, on taking survey: that the sword- +in-hand method is not now, as in 1741, feasible at all; that the +place is in good posture of strength; and will need a hot battering +to tear it open. Owing to that accident at Tetschen, the siege- +cannon are not yet come up: "Build your batteries, your Moldau- +bridges, your communications, till the cannon come; and beware of +Bathyani meddling with your cannon by the road!" + +"Bathyani is within twenty miles of us, at Beraun, a compact little +Town to southwest; gathering a Magazine there; and ready for +enterprises,--in more force than Friedrich guesses. 'Drive him out, +seize that Magazine of his!' orders Friedrich (September 5th); +and despatches General Hacke on it, a right man,"--at whose wedding +we assisted (wedding to an heiress, long since, in Friedrich +Wilhelm's time), if anybody now remembered. "And on the morrow +there falls out a pretty little 'Action of Beraun,' about which +great noise was made in the Gazettes PRO and CONTRA: which did not +dislodge Bathyani by airy means; but which might easily have ruined +the impetuous Hacke and his 6,000, getting into masked batteries, +Pandour whirlwinds, charges of horses 'from front, from rear, and +from both flanks,'--had not he, with masterly promptitude, whirled +himself out of it, snatched instantly what best post there was, and +defended himself inexpugnably there, for six hours, till relief +came." [DIE BEY BERAUN VORGEFALLENE ACTION (in Seyfarth, <italic> +Beylage, <end italic> i. 136, 137).] Brilliant little action, well +performed on both sides, but leading to nothing; and which shall +not concern us farther. Except to say that Bathyani did now, more +at his leisure, retire out of harm's way; and begin collecting +Magazines at Pilsen far rearward, which may prove useful to Prince +Karl, in the route Prince Karl is upon. + +Siege-cannon having at last come (September 8th), the batteries are +all mounted:--on Wednesday, 9th, late at night, the Artillery, "in +enormous quantity," opens its dread throat; poor Prag is startled +from its bed by torrents of shot, solid and shell, from three +different quarters; and makes haste to stand to its guns. +From three different quarters; from Bubenetsch northward; from the +Upland of St. Lawrence (famed WEISSENBERG, or White-Hill) westward; +and from the Ziscaberg eastward (Hill of Zisca, where iron Zisca +posted himself on a grand occasion once),--which latter is a broad +long Hill, west end of it falling sheer over Prag; and on another +point of it, highest point of all, the Praguers have a strong +battery and works. The Prag guns otherwise are not too effectual; +planted mostly on low ground. By much the best Prag battery is this +of the Ziscaberg. And this, after two days' experience had of it, +the Prussians determine to take on the morrow. + +SEPTEMBER 12th, Schwerin, who commands on that side, assaults +accordingly; with the due steadfastness and stormfulness: +throwing shells and balls by way of prelude. Friedrich, with some +group of staff-officers and dignitaries, steps out on the +Bubenetsch post, to see how this affair of the Ziscaberg will +prosper: the Praguers thereabouts, seeing so many dignitaries, turn +cannon on them. "Disperse, IHR HERREN; have a care!" cried +Friedrich; not himself much minding, so intent upon the Ziscaberg. +And could have skipt indifferently over your cannon-balls ploughing +the ground,--had not one fateful ball shattered out the life of +poor Prince Wilhelm; a good young Cousin of his, shot down here at +his hand. Doubtless a sharp moment for the King. Prince Margraf +Wilhelm and a poor young page, there they lie dead; indifferent to +the Ziscaberg and all coming wars of mankind. Lamentation, +naturally, for this young man,--Brother to the one who fell at +Mollwitz, youngest Brother of the Margraf Karl, who commands in +this Bubenetsch redoubt:--But we must lift our eye-glass again; +see how Schwerin is prospering. Schwerin, with due steadfastness +and stormfulness, after his prelude of bomb-shells, rushes on +double-quick; cannot be withstood; hurls out the Praguers, and +seizes their battery; a ruinous loss to them. + +Their grand Zisca redoubt is gone, then; and two subsidiary small +redoubts behind it withal, which the French had built, and named +"the magpie-nests (NIDS A PIE);" these also are ours. And we +overhang, from our Zisca Hill, the very roofs, as it were; +and there is nothing but a long bare curtain now in this quarter, +ready to be battered in breach, and soon holed, if needful. It is +not needful,--not quite. In the course of three days more, our +Bubenetsch battery, of enormous power, has been so diligent, it has +set fire to the Water-mill; burns irretrievably the Water-mill, and +still worse, the wooden Sluice of the Moldau; so that the river +falls to the everywhere wadable pitch. And Governor Harsch +perceives that all this quarter of the Town is open to any comer;-- +and, in fact, that he will have to get away, the best he can. + +White flag accordingly (Tuesday, 15th): "Free withdrawal, to the +Wischerad; won't you?" "By no manner of means!" answers Friedrich. +Bids Schwerin from his Ziscaberg make a hole or two in that +"curtain" opposite him; and gets ready for storm. Upon which +Harsch, next morning, has to beat the chamade, and surrender +Prisoner of War. And thus, Wednesday, 16th, it is done: a siege of +one week, no more,--after all that thrashing of grain, drilling of +militia, and other spirited preparation. Harsch could not help it; +the Prussian cannonading was so furious. [Orlich, ii. 36-39; +<italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> i. 1082, and ii. 1168; +<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> iii. 56; &c. &c.] + +Prag has to swear fealty to the Kaiser; and "pay a ransom of +200,000 pounds." Drilled militia, regulars, Hungarians, about +16,000,--only that many of the Tolpatches contrived to whisk +loose,--are marched prisoners to Glatz and other strong places. +Prag City, with plenty of provision in it, is ours. A brilliant +beginning of a Campaign; the eyes of all Europe turned again, in +very various humor, on this young King. If only the French do their +duty, and hang well on the skirts of Marshal Traun (or of Prince +Karl, the Cloak of Traun), who is hastening hitherward all he can. + + + + Chapter III. + + FRIEDRICH, DILIGENT IN HIS BOHEMIAN CONQUESTS, UNEXPECTEDLY + COMES UPON PRINCE KARL, WITH NO FRENCH ATTENDING HIM. + +This electrically sudden operation on Prag was considered by +astonished mankind, whatever else they might think about it, a +decidedly brilliant feat of War: falling like a bolt out of the +blue,--like three bolts, suddenly coalescing over Prag, and +striking it down. Friedrich himself, though there is nothing of +boast audible here or anywhere, was evidently very well satisfied; +and thought the aspects good. There is Prince Karl whirling +instantly back from his Strasburg Prospects; the general St. Vitus +Dance of Austrian things rising higher and higher in these home +parts:--reasonable hope that "in the course of one Campaign," proud +obstinate Austria might feel itself so wrung and screwed as to be +glad of Peace with neighbors not wishing War. That was the young +King's calculation at this time. And, had France done at all as it +promised,--or had the young King himself been considerably wiser +than he was,--he had not been disappointed in the way we shall see! + +Friedrich admits he did not understand War at this period. His own +scheme now was: To move towards the southwest, there to abolish +Bathyani and his Tolpatches, who are busy gathering Magazines for +Prince Karl's advent; to seize the said Magazines, which will be +very useful to us; then advance straight towards the Passes of the +Bohemian Mountains. Towns of Furth, Waldmunchen, unfortunate Town +of Cham (burnt by Trenck, where masons are now busy); these stand +successive in the grand Pass, through which tbe highway runs; +some hundred miles or so from where we are: march, at one's +swiftest, thitherward, Bathyani's Magazines to help; and there +await Prince Karl? It was Friedrich's own notion; not a bad one, +though not the best. The best, he admits, would have been: To stay +pretty much where he was; abolish Bathyani's Tolpatch people, +seizing their Magazines, and collecting others; in general, well +rooting and fencing himself in Prag, and in the Circles that lie +thereabouts upon the Elbe,--bounded to southward by the Sazawa +(branch of the Moldau), which runs parallel to the Elbe;--but well +refusing to stir much farther at such an advanced season of +the year. + +That second plan would have been the wisest:--then why not, follow +it? Too tame a plan for the youthful mind. Besides, we perceive, as +indeed is intimated by himself, he dreaded the force of public +opinion in France. "Aha, look at your King of Prussia again. +Gone to conquer Bohemia; and, except the Three Circles he himself +is to have of it, lets Bohemia go to the winds!" This sort of +thing, Friedrich admits, he dreaded too much, at that young period; +so loud had the criticisms been on him, in the time of the Breslau +Treaty: "Out upon your King of Prussia; call you that an honorable +Ally!" Undoubtedly a weakness in the young King; inasmuch, says he, +as "every General [and every man, add we] should look to the fact, +not to the rumor of the fact." Well; but, at least, he will adopt +his own other notion; that of making for the Passes of the Bohemian +Mountains; to abolish Bathyani at least, and lock the door upon +Prince Karl's advent? That was his own plan; and, though second- +best, that also would have done well, had there been no third. + +But there was, as we hinted, a third plan, ardently favored by +Belleisle, whose war-talent Friedrich much respected at this time: +plan built on Belleisle's reminiscences of the old Tabor-Budweis +businesses, and totally inapplicable now. Belleisle said, +"Go southeast, not southwest; right towards the Austrian Frontier +itself; that will frighten Austria into a fine tremor. Shut up the +roads from Austria: Budweis, Neuhaus; seize those two Highroad +Towns, and keep them, if you would hold Bohemia; the want of them +was our ruin there." Your ruin, yes: but your enemy was not coming +from Alsace and the southwest then. He was coming from Austria; +and your own home lay on the southwest: it is all different now! +Friedrich might well think himself bewitched not to have gone for +Cham and Furth, and the Passes of the Bohmer-Wald, according to his +own notion. But so it was; he yielded to the big reputation of +Belleisle, and to fear of what the world would say of him in +France; a weakness which he will perhaps be taught not to repeat. +In fact, he is now about to be taught several things;--and will +have to pay his school-wages as he goes. + + + FRIEDRICH, LEAVING SMALL GARRISON IN PRAG, RUSHES SWIFTLY UP + THE MOLDAU VALLEY, UPON THE TABOR-BUDWEIS COUNTRY; TO PLEASE + HIS FRENCH FRIENDS. + +Friedrich made no delay in Prag; in haste at this late time of +year. September 17th, on the very morrow of the Siege, the +Prussians get in motion southward; on the 19th, Friedrich, from his +post to north of the City, defiles through Prag, on march to +Kunraditz,--first stage on that questionable Expedition up the +Moldau Valley, right bank; towards Tabor, Budweis, Neuhaus; +to threaten Austria, and please Belleisle and the French. + +Prag is left under General Einsiedel with a small garrison of +5,000;--Einsiedel, a steady elderly gentleman, favorite of +Friedrich Wilhelm's, has brief order, or outline of order to be +filled up by his own good sense. Posadowsky follows the march, with +as many meal-wagons as possible,--draught-cattle in very +ineffectual condition. Our main Magazine is at Leitmeritz (should +have been brought on to Prag, thinks Friedrich); Commissariat very +ill-managed in comparison to what it ought to be,--to what it shall +be, if we ever live to make another Campaign. Heavy artillery is +left in Prag (another fault); and from each regiment, one of its +baggage-wagons. [<italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> i. 1083; +Orlich, ii. 41 et seqq.; <italic> Frederic, iii. 59; &c.] "We rest +a day here at Kunraditz: 21st September, get to the Sazawa River; +--22d, to Bistritz (rest a day);--26th, to Miltschin; and 27th, to +Tabor:"--But the Diary would be tedious. + +Friedrich goes in two Columns; one along the great road towards +Tabor, under Schwerin this, and Friedrich mainly with him; the +other to the right, along the River's bank, under Leopold, Young +Dessauer, which has to go by wild country roads, or now and then +roads of its own making; and much needs the pioneer (a difficult +march in the shortening days). Posadowsky follows with the +proviant, drawn by cattle of the horse and ox species, daily +falling down starved: great swearing there too, I doubt not! +General Nassau is vanguard, and stretches forward successfully at a +much lighter pace. + +There are two Rivers, considerable branches of the Moldau, coming +from eastward; which, and first of them the Sazawa, concern us +here. After mounting the southern Uplands from Prag for a day or +two, you then begin to drop again, into the hollow of a River +called Sazawa, important in Bohemian Wars. It is of winding course, +the first considerable branch of the Moldau, rising in Teutschbrod +Country, seventy or eighty miles to east of us: in regard to +Sazawa, there is, at present, no difficulty about crossing; the +Country being all ours. After the Sazawa, mount again, long miles, +day after day, through intricate stony desolation, rocks, bogs, +untrimmed woods, you will get to Miltschin, thence to Tabor: +Miltschin is the crown of that rough moor country; from Prag to +Tabor is some sixty miles. After Miltschin the course of those +brown mountain-brooks is all towards the Luschnitz, the next +considerable branch of the Moldau; branch still longer and more +winding than the Sazawa; Tabor towers up near this branch; Budweis, +on the Moldau itself, is forty miles farther; and there at last you +are out of the stony moors, and in a rich champaign comfortable to +man and horse, were you but once there, after plodding through the +desolations. But from that Sazawa by the Luschnitz on to Budweis, +mounting and falling in such fashion, there must be ninety miles or +thereby. Plod along; and keep a sharp eye on the whirling clouds of +Pandours, for those too have got across upon us,--added to the +other tempests of Autumn. + +On the ninth day of their march, the Prussians begin to descry on +the horizon ahead the steeples and chimney-tops of Tabor, on its +high scarped rock, or "Hill of Zisca,"--for it was Zisca and his +Hussites that built themselves this Bit of Inexpugnability, and +named it Tabor from their Bibles,--in those waste mountain regions. +On the tenth day (27th September), the Prussians without difficulty +took Tabor; walls being ruined, garrison small. We lie at Tabor +till the 30th, last day of September. Thence, 2d October, part of +us to Moldau-Tein rightwards; where cross the Moldau by a Bridge,-- +"Bridge" one has heard of, in old Broglio times;--cross there, with +intent (easily successful) to snatch that "Castle of Frauenberg," +darling of Broglio, for which he fought his Pharsalia of a Sahay to +no purpose! + +Both Columns got united at Tabor; and paused for a day or two, to +rest, and gather up their draggled skirts there. The Expedition +does not improve in promise, as we advance in it; the march one of +the most untowardly; and Posadowsky comes up with only half of his +provision-carts,--half of his cattle having fallen down of bad +weather, hill-roads and starvation; what could he do? That is an +ominous circumstance, not the less. + +Three things are against the Prussians on this march; two of them +accidental things. FIRST, there is, at this late season too, the +intrinsic nature of the Country; which Friedrich with emphasis +describes as boggy, stony, precipitous; a waste, hungry and +altogether barren Country,--too emphatically so described. But then +SECONDLY, what might have been otherwise, the Population, worked +upon by Austrian officials, all fly from the sight of us; +nothing but fireless deserted hamlets; and the corn, if they ever +had any, all thrashed and hidden. No amount of money can purchase +any service from them. Poor dark creatures; not loving Austria +much, but loving some others even less, it would appear. Of Bigoted +Papist Creed, for one thing; that is a great point. We do not +meddle with their worship more or less; but we are Heretics, and +they hate us as the Night. Which is a dreadful difficulty you +always have in Bohemia: nowhere but in the Circle of Konigsgraz, +where there are Hussites (far to the rear of us at this time), will +you find it otherwise. This is difficulty second. + +Then, THIRDLY, what much aggravates it,--we neglected to abolish +Bathyani! And here are Bathyani's Pandours come across the Moldau +on us. Plenty of Pandours;--to whom "10,000 fresh Hungarians," of a +new Insurrection which has been got up there, are daily speeding +forward to add themselves:--such a swarm of hornets, as darkens the +very daylight for you. Vain to scourge them down, to burn them off +by blaze of gunpowder: they fly fast; but are straightway back +again. They lurk in these bushy wildernesses, scraggy woods: +no foraging possible, unless whole regiments are sent out to do it; +you cannot get a letter safely carried for them. They are an +unspeakable contemptible grief to the earnest leader of men.--Let +us proceed, however; it will serve nothing to complain. Let us hope +the French sit well on the skirts of Prince Karl: these sorrowful +labors may all turn to good, in that case. + +Friedrich pushes on from Tabor; shoots partly (as we have seen) +across the Moldau, to the left bank as well; captures romantic +Frauenberg on its high rock, where Broglio got into such a fluster +once. We could push to Pisek, too, and make a "Bivouac of Pisek," +if we lost our wits! Nassau is in Budweis, in Neuhaus; and proper +garrisons are gone thither: nothing wanting on our side of the +business. But these Pandours, these 10,000 Insurrection Hungarians, +with their Trencks spurring them! A continual unblessed swarm of +hornets, these; which shut out the very light of day from us. +Too literally the light of day: we can get no free messaging from +part to part of our own Army even. "As many as six Orderlies have +been despatched to an outlying General; and not one of them could +get through to him. They have snapt up three Letter-bags destined +for the King himself. For four weeks he is absolutely shut out from +the rest of Europe;" knows not in the least what the Kaiser, or the +Most Christian or any other King, is doing; or whether the French +are sitting well on Prince Karl's skirts, or not attempting that at +all. This also is a thing to be amended, a thing you had to learn, +your Majesty? An Army absolutely shut out from news, from letters, +messages to or fro, and groping its way in darkness, owing to these +circumambient thunder-clouds of Tolpatches, is not a well-situated +Army! And alas, when at last the Letter-bag did get through, and-- +But let us not anticipate! + +At Tabor there arose two opinions; which, in spite of the King's +presence, was a new difficulty. South from Tabor a day's march, the +Highway splits; direct way for Vienna; left-hand goes to Neuhaus, +right-hand, or straightforward rather, goes to Budweis, bearing +upon Linz: which of these two? Nassau has already seized Budweis; +and it is a habitable champaign country in comparison. +Neuhaus, farther from the Moldau and its uses, but more imminent on +Austria, would be easy to seize; and would frighten the Enemy more. +Leopold the Young Dcssauer is for Budweis; rapid Schwerin, a hardy +outspoken man, is emphatic for the other place as Head-quarter. +So emphatic are both, that the two Generals quarrel there; +and Friedrich needs his authority to keep them from outbreaks, from +open incompatibility henceforth, which would be destructive to the +service. For the rest, Friedrich seizes both places; sends a +detachment to Neuhaus as well; but holds by Budweis and the Moldau +region with his main Army; which was not quite gratifying to the +hardy Schwerin. On the opposite or left bank, holding Frauenberg, +the renowned Hill-fortress there, we make inroads at discretion: +but the country is woody, favorable to Pandours; and the right bank +is our chief scene of action. How we are to maintain ourselves in +this country? To winter in these towns between the Sazawa and the +Luschnitz? Unless the French sit well on Prince Karl's skirts, it +will not be possible. + + + THE FRENCH ARE LITTLE GRATEFUL FOR THE PLEASURE DONE THEM + AT SUCH RUINOUS EXPENSE. + +French sitting well on Prince Karl's skirts? They are not molesting +Prince Karl in the smallest; never tried such a thing;--are turned +away to the Brisgan, to the Upper Rhine Country; gone to besiege +Freyburg there, and seize Towns; about the Lake of Constance, as if +there were no Friedrich in the game! It must be owned the French do +liberally pay off old scores against Friedrich,--if, except in +their own imagination, they had old scores against him. No man ever +delivered them from a more imminent peril; and they, the rope once +cut that was strangling them, magnificently forget who cut it; and +celebrate only their own distinguished conduct during and after the +operation. To a degree truly wonderful. + +It was moonlight, clear as day that night, 23d August, when Prince +Karl had to recross the Rhine, close in their neighborhood; +[<italic> Guerre de Boheme, <end italic> iii. 196.]--and instead of +harassing Prince Karl "to half or to whole ruin," as the bargain +was, their distinguished conduct consisted in going quietly to +their beds (old Marechal de Noailles even calling back some of his +too forward subalterns), and joyfully leaving Prince Karl, then and +afterwards, to cross the Rhine, and march for Bohmen, at his own +perfect convenience. + +"Seckendorf will sit on Karl's skirts," they said: "too late for +US, this season; next season, you shall see!" Such was their +theory, after Louis got that cathartic, and rose from bed. +Schmettau, with his importunities, which at last irritated +everybody, could make nothing more of it. "Let the King of France +crown his glories by the Siege of Freyburg, the conquest of +Brisgau:--for behoof of the poor Kaiser, don't you observe? +Hither Austria is the Kaiser's;--and furthermore, were Freyburg +gone, there will be no invading of Elsass again" (which is anotber +privately very interesting point)! + +And there, at Freyburg, the Most Christian King now is, and his +Army up to the knees in mud, conquering Hither Austria; besieging +Freyburg, with much difficulty owing to the wet,--besieging there +with what energy; a spectacle to the world! And has, for the +present, but one wife, no mistress either! With rapturous eyes +France looks on; with admiration too big for words. Voltaire, I +have heard, made pilgrimage to Freyburg, with rhymed Panegyric in +his pocket; saw those miraculous operations of a Most Christian +King miraculously awakened; and had the honor to present said +Panegyric; and be seen, for the first time, by the royal eyes,-- +which did not seem to relish him much. [The Panegyric (EPITRE AU +ROI DEVANT FRIBOURG) is in <italic> OEuvres de Voltaire, <end +italic> xvii. 184.] Since the first days of October, Freyburg had +been under constant assault; "amid rains, amid frosts; a siege long +and murderous" (to the besieging party);--and was not got till +November 5th; not quite entirely, the Citadels of it, till November +25th; Majesty gone home to Paris, to illuminations and triumphal +arches, in the interim. [Adelung, iv. 266; Barbier, ii. 414 (13th +November, &c.), for the illuminations, grand in the extreme, in +spite of wild rains and winds.] It had been a difficult and bloody +conquest to him, this of Freyburg and the Brisgau Country; and I +never heard that either the Kaiser or he got sensible advantage by +it,--though Prince Karl, on the present occasion, might be said to +get a great deal. + +"Seckendorf will do your Prince Karl," they had cried always: +"Seckendorf and his Prussian Majesty! Are not we conquering Hither +Austria here, for the Kaiser's behoof?" Seckendorf they did +officially appoint to pursue; appoint or allow;--and laid all the +blame on Seckendorf; who perhaps deserved his share of it. +Very certain it is, Seckendorf did little or nothing to Prince +Karl; marched "leisurely behind him through the Ober-Pfalz,"-- +skirting Baireuth Country, Karl and he, to Wilhelmina's grief; +[Her Letters (<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> xxvii. +i. 133, &c.).]--"leisurely behind him at a distance of four days," +knew better than meddle with Prince Karl. So that Prince Karl, "in +twenty-one marches," disturbed only by the elements and bad roads, +reached Waldmunchen 26th September, in the Furth-Cham Country; +[Ranke, iii. 187.] and was heard to exclaim: "We are let off for +the fright, then (NOUS VOILA QUITTES POUR LA PEUR)!"--Seckendorf, +finding nothing to live upon in Ober-Pfalz, could not attend Prince +Karl farther; but turned leftwards home to Bavaria; made a kind of +Second "Reconquest of Bavaria" (on exactly the same terms as the +First, Austrian occupants being all called off to assist in Bohmen +again);--concerning which, here is an Excerpt:-- + +"Seckendorf, following at his leisure, and joined by the Hessians +and Pfalzers, so as now to exceed 30,000, leaves Prince Karl and +the rest of the enterprise to do as it can; and applies himself, +for his own share, as the needfulest thing, to getting hold of +Bavaria again, that his poor Kaiser may have where to lay his head, +and pay old servants their wages. Dreadfully exclaimed against, the +old gentleman, especially by the French co-managers: 'Why did not +the old traitor stick in the rear of Prince Karl, in the difficult +passes, and drive him prone,--while we went besieging Freyburg, and +poaching about, trying for a bit of the Brisgau while chance +served!' A traitor beyond doubt; probably bought with money down: +thinks Valori. But, after all, what could Seckendorf do? He is now +of weight for Barenklau and Bavaria, not for much more. He does +sweep Barenklau and his Austrians from Bavaria, clear out (in the +course of this October), all but Ingolstadt and two or three strong +towns,--Passau especially, 'which can be blockaded, and afterwards +besieged if needful.' For the rest, he is dreadfully ill-off for +provisions, incapable of the least, attempt on Passau (as Friedrich +urged, on hearing of him again); and will have to canton himself in +home-quarters, and live by his shifts till Spring. + +"The noise of French censure rises loud, against not themselves, +but against Seckendorf:--Friedrich, before that Tolpatch eclipse of +Correspondence [when three of his Letter-bags were seized, and he +fell quite dark], had too well foreboded, and contemptuously +expressed his astonishment at the blame BOTH were well earning: +Passau, said he, cannot you go at least upon Passau; which might +alarm the Enemy a little, and drag him homewards? 'Adieu, my dear +Seckendorf, your Officer will tell you how we did the Siege of +Prag. You and your French are wetted hens (POULES MOUILLEES),'-- +cowering about like drenched hens in a day of set rain. 'As I hear +nothing of either of you, I must try to get out of this business +without your help;'"--otherwise it will be ill for me indeed! +[Excerpted Fragment of a Letter from Friedrich,--(exact date not +given, date of EXCERPT is, Donanworth Country, 23d September, +1744),--which the French Agent in Seckendorf's Army had a reading +of (<italic> Campagnes de Coigny, <end italic> iv. 185-187; +ib. 216-219: cited in Adelung, iv. 225).] "Which latter expression +alarmed the French, and set them upon writing and bustling, but not +upon doing anything." + +"Prince Karl had crossed the Rhine unmolested, in the clearest +moonlight, August 23d-24th; Seckendorf was not wholly got to +Heilbronn, September 8th: a pretty way behind Prince Karl! +The 6,000 Hessians, formerly in English pay, indignant Landgraf +Wilhelm [who never could forgive that Machiavellian conduct of +Carteret at Hanau, never till he found out what it really was] has, +this year, put into French pay. And they have now joined +Seckendorf; [Espagnac, ii. 13; Buchholz, ii. 123.] Prince Friedrich +[Britannic Majesty's Son-in-law], not good fat Uncle George, +commanding them henceforth:--with extreme lack of profit to Prince +Friedrich, to the Hessians, and to the French, as will appear in +time. These 6,000, and certain thousands of Pfalzers likewise in +French pay, are now with Seckendorf, and have raised him to above +30,000;--it is the one fruit King Friedrich has got by that 'Union +of Frankfurt,' and by all his long prospective haggling, and +struggling for a 'Union of German Princes in general.' Two pears, +after that long shaking of the tree; both pears rotten, or indeed +falling into Seckendorf, who is a basket of such quality! +'Seckendorf, increased in this munificent manner, can he still do +nothing?' cry the French: 'the old traitor!'--'I have no +magazines,' said Seckendorf, 'nothing to live upon, to shoot with; +no money!' And it is a mutual crescendo between the 'perfidious +Seckendorf' and them; without work done. In the Nurnberg Country, +some Hussars of his picked up Lord Holderness, an English +Ambassador making for Venice by that bad route. 'Prisoner, are not +you?' But they did not use him ill; on consideration, the Heads of +Imperial Departments gave him a Pass, and he continued his Venetian +Journey (result of it zero) without farther molestation that I +heard of. [Adelung, iv. 222.] + +"These French-Seckendorf cunctations, recriminations and drenched- +hen procedures are an endless sorrow to poor Kaiser Karl; who at +length can stand it no longer; but resolves, since at least +Bavaria, though moneyless and in ruins, is his, he will in person +go thither; confident that there will be victual and equipment +discoverable for self and Army were he there. Remonstrances avail +not: 'Ask me to die with honor, ask me not to lie rotting here;' +[Ib. iv. 241.]--and quits Frankfurt, and the Reich's-Diet and its +babble, 17th October, 1744 (small sorrow, were it for the last +time),--and enters his Munchen in the course of a week. +[17th October, 1744, leaves Frankfurt; arrives in Munchen 23d +(Adelung, iv. 241-244).] Munchen is transported with joy to see the +Legitimate Sovereign again; and blazes into illuminations,-- +forgetful who caused its past wretchednesses, hoping only all +wretchedness is now ended. Let ruined huts, and Cham and the burnt +Towns, rebuild themselves; the wasted hedges make up their gaps +again: here is the King come home! Here, sure enough, is an +unfortunate Kaiser of the Holy Romish Reich, who can once more hope +to pay his milk-scores, being a loved Kurfurst of Bavaria at least. +Very dear to the hearts of these poor people;--and to their purses, +interests and skins, has not he in another sense been dear? What a +price the ambitions and cracked phantasms of that weak brain have +cost the seemingly innocent population! Population harried, +hungered down, dragged off to perish in Italian Wars; a Country +burnt, tribulated, torn to ruin, under the harrow of Fate and +ruffian Trenck and Company. Britannic George, rather a dear morsel +too, has come much cheaper hitherto. England is not yet burnt; +nothing burning there,--except the dull fire of deliriums; +Natural Stupidities all set flaming, which (whatever it may BE in +the way of loss) is not felt as a loss, but rather as a comfort for +the time being;--and in fact there are only, say, a forty or fifty +thousand armed Englishmen rotted down, and scarcely a Hundred +Millions of money yet spent. Nothing to speak of, in the cause of +Human Liberty. Why Populations suffer for their guilty Kings? +My friend, it is the Populations too that are guilty in having such +Kings. Reverence, sacred Respect for Human Worth, sacred Abhorrence +of Human Unworth, have you considered what it means? These poor +Populations have it not, or for long generations have had it less +and less. Hence, by degrees, this sort of 'Kings' to them, and +enormous consequences following!"-- + +Karl VII. got back to Munchen 23d October, 1744; and the tar- +barrels being once burnt, and indispensable sortings effected, he +went to the field along with Seckendorf, to encourage his men under +Seckendorf, and urge the French by all considerations to come on. +And really did what he could, poor man. But the cordage of his life +had been so strained and torn, he was not now good for much; +alas, it had been but little he was ever good for. A couple of dear +Kurfursts, his Father and he; have stood these Bavarian Countries +very high, since the Battle of Blenheim and downwards! + + + + Chapter IV. + + FRIEDRICH REDUCED TO STRAlTS; CANNOT MAINTAIN HIS + MOLDAU CONQUESTS AGAINST PRICE KARL. + +One may fancy what were Friedrich's reflections when he heard that +Prince Karl had, prosperously and unmolested, got across, by those +Passes from the Ober-Pfalz, into Bohmen and the Circle of Pilsen, +into junction with Bathyani and his magazines; ["At Mirotitz, +October 2d" (Ranke, iii. 194); Orlich, ii. 49.] heard, moreover, +that the Saxons, 20,000 strong, under Weissenfels, crossing the +Metal Mountains, coming on by Eger and Karlsbad regions, were about +uniting with him (bound by Treaty to assist the Hungarian Majesty +when invaded);--and had finally, what confirms everything, that the +said Prince Karl in person (making for Budweis, "just seen his +advanced guard," said rumor under mistake) was but few miles off. +Few miles off, on the other side of the Moldau;--of unknown +strength, hidden in the circumambient clouds of Pandours. + +Suppressing all the rages and natural reflections but those needful +for the moment, Friedrich (October 4th, by Moldau-Tein) dashes +across the Moldau, to seek Prince Karl, at the place indicated, and +at once smite him down if possible;--that will be a remedy for all +things. Prince Karl is not there, nor was; the indication had been +false; Friedrich searches about, for four days, to no purpose. +Prince Karl, he then learns for certain, has crossed the Moldau +farther down, farther northward, between Prag and us. Means to cut +us off from Prag, then, which is our fountain of life in these +circumstances? That is his intention:--"Old Traun, who is with him, +understands his trade!" thinks Friedrich. Traun, or the Prince, is +diligently forming magazines, all the Country carrying to him, in +the Town of Beneschau, hither side of the Sazawa, some seventy +miles north of us, an important Town where roads meet:--unless we +can get hold of Beneschau, it will be ill with us here! Across the +River again, at any rate; and let us hasten thither. That is an +affair which must be looked to; and speed is necessary! + +OCTOBER 8th, After four days' search ending in this manner, +Friedrich swiftly crosses towards Tabor again, to Bechin (over on +the Luschnitz, one march), there to collect himself for Beneschau +and the other intricacies. Towards Tabor again, by his Bridge of +Moldau-Tein;--clouds of Pandour people, larger clouds than usual, +hanging round; hidden by the woods till Friedrich is gone. +Friedrich being gone, there occurs the AFFAIR OF MOLDAU-TEIN, much +talked of in Prussian Books. Of which, in extreme condensation, +this is the essence:-- + +"OCTOBER 9th. Friedrich once off to Bechin, the Pandour clouds +gather on his rearguard next day at Tein Bridge here, to the number +of about 10,000 [rumor counts 14,000]; and with desperate intent, +and more regularity than usual, attack the Tein-Bridge Party, which +consists of perhaps 2,000 grenadiers and hussars, the whole under +Ziethen's charge,--obliged to wait for a cargo of Bread-wagons +here. 'Defend your Bridge, with cannon, with case-shot:' that is +what the grenadiers do. The Pandour cloud, with horrid lanes cut in +it, draws back out of this; then plunges at the River itself, which +can be ridden above or below; rides it, furious, by the thousand: +'Off with your infantry; quit the Bridge!' cries Ziethen to his +Captain there: 'Retire you, Parthian-like; thrice-steady,' orders +Ziethen: 'It is to be hoped our hussars can deal with this mad- +doggery!' And they do it; cutting in with iron discipline, with +fierceness not undrilled; a wedge of iron hussars, with ditto +grenadiers continually wheeling, like so many reapers steady among +wind-tossed grain; and gradually give the Pandours enough. +Seven hours of it, in all: 'of their sixty cartridges the +grenadiers had fired fifty-four,' when it ended, about 7 P.M. +The coming Bread-wagons, getting word, had to cast their loaves +into the River (sad to think of); and make for Bechin at their +swiftest. But the rearguard got off with its guns, in this +victorious manner: thanks to Major-General Ziethen, Colonel Reusch +and the others concerned. [<italic> Feldzuge der Preussen, i. 268; +Orlich, ii. 55.] + +"Ziethen handsels his Major-Generalcy in this fine way: +[Patent given him "3d October, 1744," only a week ago, "and ordered +to be dated eight months back" (Rodenbeck, i. 109).] a man who has +had promotion, and also has had none, and may again come to have +none;--and is able to do either way. Never mind, my excellent tacit +friend! Ziethen is five-and-forty gone; has a face which is +beautiful to me, though one of the coarsest. Face thrice-honest, +intricately ploughed with thoughts which are well kept silent (the +thoughts, indeed, being themselves mostly inarticulate; thoughts of +a simple-hearted, much-enduring, hot-tempered son of iron and +oatmeal);--decidedly rather likable, with its lazily hanging +under-lip, and respectable bearskin cylinder atop." + + + FRIEDRICH TRIES TO HAVE BATTLE FROM PRINCE KARL, IN THE MOLDAU + COUNTRIES; CANNOT, OWING TO THE SKILL OF PRINCE KARL OR OF OLD + FELDMARSCHALL TRAUN;--HAS TO RETIRE BEHIND THE SAZAWA, AND + ULTIMATELY BEHIND THE ELBE, WITH MUCH LABOR IN VAIN. + +OCTOBER 14th-18th: RETREAT FROM BECHIN-TABOR COUNTRY TO BENESCHAU. +... "These Pandours give us trouble enough; no Magazine here, no +living to be had in this Country beside them. Unfortunate Colonel +Jahnus went out from Tabor lately, to look after requisitioned +grains: infinite Pandours set upon him [Muhlhausen is the memorable +place]; Jahnus was obstinate (too obstinate, thinks Friedrich), and +perished on the ground, he and 200 of his. [<italic> OEuvres de +Frederic, <end italic> iii. 61.] Nay, next, a swarm of them came to +Tabor itself, Nadasti at their head; to try whether Tabor, with its +small garrison, could not be escaladed, and perhaps Prince Henri, +who lies sick there, be taken? Tabor taught them another lesson; +sent them home with heads broken;--which Friedrich thinks was an +extremely suitable thing. But so it stands: Here by the thousand +and the ten thousand they hang round us; and Prince Karl-- It is of +all things necessary we get hold of that Beneschau, and the +Magazine he is gathering there! + +"Rapidity is indispensable,--and yet how quit Tabor? We have +detachments out at Neuhaus, at Budweis, and in Tabor 300 men in +hospital, whom there are no means of carrying. To leave them to the +Tolpaches? Friedrich confesses he was weak on this occasion; +he could not leave these 300 men, as was his clear duty, in this +extremity of War. He ordered in his Neuhaus Detachment; not yet any +of the others. He despatched Schmerin towards Beneschau with all +his speed; Schwerin was lucky enough to take Beneschau and its +provender,--a most blessed fortune,--and fences himself there. +Hearing which, Friedrich, having now got the Neuhaus Detachment in +hand, orders the other Three, the Budweis, the Tabor here, and the +Frauenberg across the River, to maintain themselves; and then, +leaving those southern regions to their chance, hastens towards +Beneschau and Schwerin; encamps (October 18th) near Beneschau,-- +'Camp of Konopischt,' unattackable Camp, celebrated in the Prussian +Books;--and there, for eight days, still on the south side of +Sazawa, tries every shift to mend the bad posture of affairs in +that Luschnitz-Sazawa Country. His Three Garrisons (3,000 men in +them, besides the 300 sick) he now sees will not be able to +maintain themselves; and he sends in succession 'eight messengers,' +not one messenger of whom could get through, to bid them come away. +His own hope now is for a Battle with Prince Karl; which might +remedy all things. [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> +iii. 62-64.]" + +That is Friedrich's wish; but it is by no means Traun's, who sees +that hunger and wet weather will of themselves suffice for +Friedrich. There ensues accordingly, for three weeks to come, in +that confused Country, a series of swift shufflings, checkings and +manoeuvrings between these two, which is gratifying and instructive +to the strategic mind, but cannot be inflicted upon common readers. +Two considerable chess-players, an old and a young; their chess- +board a bushy, rocky, marshy parallelogram, running fifty miles +straight east from Prag, and twenty or fewer south, of which Prag +is the northwest angle, and Beneschau, or the impregnable +Konopischt the southwest: the reader must conceive it; and how +Traun will not fight Friedrich, yet makes him skip hither and +thither, chiefly by threatening his victuals. Friedrich's main +magazine is now at Pardubitz, the extreme northeast angle of the +parallelogram. Parallelogram has one river in it, with the +innumerable rocks and brooks and quagmires, the river Sazawa; +and on the north side, where are Kuttenberg, Czaslau, Chotusitz, +places again become important in this business, it is bounded by +another river, the Elbe. Intricate manoeuvring there is here, for +three weeks following: "old Traun an admirable man!" thinks +Friedrich, who ever after recognized Traun as his Schoolmaster in +the art of War. We mark here and there a date, and leave it +to readers. + +"RADICZ, OCTOBER 21st-22d. At Radicz, a march to southwest of us, +and on our side of the Moldau, the Saxons, under Weissenfels, +20,000 effective, join Prince Karl; which raises his force to +69,514 men, some 10,000 more than Friedrich is master of. [Orlich, +ii. 66.] Prospect of wintering between the Luschnitz and the Sazawa +there is now little; unless they will fight us, and be beaten. +Friedrich, from his inaccessible Camp of Konopischt, manoeuvres, +reconnoitres, in all directions, to produce this result; but to no +purpose. An Austrian Detachment did come, to look after Beneschau +and the Magazines there; but rapidly drew back again, finding +Konopischt on their road, and how matters were. Friedrich will +guard the door of this Sazawa-Elbe tract of Country; hope of the +Sazawa-Luschnitz tract has, in few days, fallen extinct. Here is +news come to Konopischt: our Three poor Garrisons, Budweis, Tabor, +Frauenberg, already all lost; guns and men, after defence to the +last cartridge,--in Frauenberg their water was cut off, it was +eight-and-forty hours of thirst at Frauenberg:--one way or other, +they are all Three gone; eight couriers galloping with message, +'Come away,' were all picked up by the Pandours; so they stood, and +were lost. 'Three thousand fighting men gone, for the weak chance +of saving three hundred who were in hospital!' thinks Friedrich: +War is not a school of the weak pities. For the chance of ten, you +lose a hundred and the ten too. Sazawa-Elbe tract of country, let +us vigilantly keep the door of that! + +"SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24th, Friedrich out reconnoitring from +Konopischt discovers of a certainty that the whole Austrian-Saxon +force is now advaucing towards Beneschau, and will, this night, +encamp at Marschowitz, to southwest, only one march from us! On the +instant Friedrich hurries back; gets his Army on march thitherward, +though the late October sun is now past noon; off instantly; +a stroke yonder will perhaps be the cure of all. Such roads we had, +says Friedrich, as never Army travelled before: long after +nightfall, we arrive near the Austrian camp, bivouac as we can till +daylight return. At the first streak of day, Friedrich and his +chief generals are on the heights with their spy-glasses: +Austrian Army sure enough; and there they have altered their +posture overnight (for Traun too has been awake); they lie now +opposite our RIGHT flank; 'on a scarped height, at the foot of +which, through swamps and quagmires, runs a muddy stream.' +Unattackable on this side: their right flank and foot are safe +enough. Creep round and see their left:--Nothing but copses, swampy +intricacies! We may shoulder arms again, and go back to Konopischt: +no fight here! [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> iii. 63, +64; Orlich, ii. 69.] Speaking of defensive Campaigns, says +Friedrich didactically, years afterwards, 'If such situations are +to answer the purpose intended, the front and flanks must be +equally strong, but the rear entirely open. Such, for instance, are +those heights which have an extensive front, and whose flanks are +covered by morasses:--as was Prince Karl's Camp at Marschowitz in +the year 1744, with its front covered by a stream, and the wings by +deep hollows; or that which we ourselves then occupied at +Konopischt,--as you well remember. [<italic> Military Instructions +<end italic> (above cited), p. 44.] + +"OCTOBER 26th-NOVEMBER 1st. The Sazawa-Luschnitz tract of Country +is quite lost, then; lost with damages: the question now is, Can we +keep the Sazawa-Elbe tract? For about three weeks more, Friedrich +struggles for that object; cannot compass that either. Want of +horse-provender is very great:--country entirely eaten, say the +peasants, and not a truss remaining. October 26th, Friedrich has to +cross the Sazawa; we must quit the door of that tract (hunger +driving us), and fight for the interior in detail. Traun gets to +Beneschau in that cheap way; and now, in behalf of Traun, the +peasants find forage enough, being zealous for Queen and creed. +Pandours spread themselves all over this Sazawa-Elbe country; +endanger our subsistences, make our lives miserable. It is the old +story: Friedrich, famine and mud and misery of Pandours compelling, +has to retire northward, Elbe-ward, inch by inch; whither the +Austrians follow at a safe distance, and, in spite of all +manoeuvring, cannot be got to fight. + +"Brave General Nassau, who much distinguishes himself in these +businesses, has (though Friedrich does not yet know it) dexterously +seized Kolin, westward in those Elbe parts,--ground that will be +notable in years coming. Important little feat of Nassau's; of +which anon. On the other hand, our Magazine at Pardubitz, eastward +on the Elbe, is not out of danger: Pandours and regulars 2,000 and +odd, 'sixty of the Pandour kind disguised as peasants leading hay- +carts,' made an attempt there lately; but were detected by the +vigilant Colonel, and blown to pieces, in the nick of time, some of +them actually within the gate. [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end +italic> iii. 65.] Nay, a body of Austrian regulars were in full +march for Kolin lately, intending to get hold of the Elbe itself at +that point (midway between Prag and Pardubitz): but the prompt +General Nassau, as we remarked, had struck in before them; and now +holds Kolin;--though, for several days, Friedrich could not tell +what had become of Nassau, owing to the swarms of Pandours. + +"Friedrich, standing with his back to Prag, which is fifty miles +from him, and rather in need of his support than able to give him +any; and drawing his meal from the uncertain distance, with +Pandours hovering round,--is in difficult case. While old Traun is +kept luminous as mid-day; the circumambient atmosphere of Pandours +is tenebrific to Friedrich, keeps him in perpetual midnight. He has +to read his position as with flashes of lightning, for most part. +A heavy-laden, sorely exasperated man; and must keep his haggard +miseries strictly secret; which I believe he does. Were Valori +here, it is very possible he might find the countenance FAROUCHE +again; eyes gloomy, on damp November mornings! Schwerin, in a huff, +has gone home: Since your Majesty is pleased to prefer his young +Durchlaucht of Anhalt's advice, what can an elderly servant (not +without rheumatisms) do other?--'Well!' answers Friedrich, not with +eyes cheered by the phenomenon. The Elbe-Sazawa tract, even this +looks as if it would be hard to keep. A world very dark for +Friedrich, enveloped so by the ill chances and the Pandours. +But what help? + +"From the French Camp far away, there comes, dated 17th October +(third week of their Siege of Freyburg), by way of help to +Friedrich, magnanimous promise: 'So soon as this Siege is done, +which will be speedily, though it is difficult, we propose to send +fifty battalions and a hundred squadrons,'"--say only 60,000 horse +and foot (not a hoof or toe of which ever got that length, on +actually trying it),--"towards Westphalia, to bring the Elector of +Koln to reason [poor Kaiser's lanky Brother, who cannot stand the +French procedures, and has lately sold himself, that is sold his +troops, to England], and keep the King of England and the Dutch in +check,"--by way of solacement to your Majesty. Will you indeed, you +magnanimous Allies?--This was picked up by the Pandours; and I know +not but Friedrich was spared the useless pain of reading it. +[Orlich, ii. 73.] + +"NOVEMBER 1st-9th: FRIEDRICH LOSES SAZAWA-ELBE COUNTRY TOO. On the +first day of November, here is a lightning-flash which reveals +strange things to Friedrich. Traun's late manoeuvrings, which have +been so enigmatic, to right and to left, upon Prag and other +points, issue now in an attempt towards Pardubitz; which reveals to +Friedrich the intention Traun has formed, of forcing him to choose +one of those two places, and let go the other. Formidable, fatal, +thinks Friedrich; and yet admirable on the part of Traun: 'a design +beautiful and worthy of admiration.' If we stay near Prag, what +becomes of our communication with Silesia; what becomes of Silesia +itself? If we go towards Pardubitz, Prag and Bohmen are lost! +What to do? 'Despatch reinforcement to Pardubitz; thanks to Nassau, +the Kolin-Pardubitz road is ours!' That is done, Pardubitz saved +for the moment. Could we now get to Kuttenberg before the old +Marshal, his design were overset altogether. Alas, we cannot march +at once, have to wait a day for the bread. Forward, nevertheless; +and again forward, and again; three heavy marches in November +weather: let us make a fourth forced march, start to-morrow before +dawn,--Kuttenberg above all things! In vain; to-morrow, 4th +November, there is such a fog, dark as London itself, from six in +the morning onwards, no starting till noon: and then impossible, +with all our efforts, to reach Kuttenberg. We have to halt an eight +miles short of it, in front of Kolin; and pitch tents there. On the +morrow, 5th November, Traun is found encamped, unattackable, +between us and our object; sits there, at his ease in a friendly +Country, with Pandour whirlpools flowing out and in; an irreducible +case to Friedrich. November 5th, and for three days more, +Friedrich, to no purpose, tries his utmost;--finds he will have to +give up the Elbe-Sazawa region, like the others. Monday, November +9th, Friedrich gathers himself at Kolin; crosses the Elbe by Kolin +Bridge, that day. Point after point of the game going against him." + +Kolin was, of course, attacked, that Monday evening, so soon as the +main Army crossed: but, so soon as the Army left, General Nassau +had taken his measures; and, with his great guns and his small, +handled the Pandours in a way that pleased us. [<italic> OEuvres de +Frederic, <end italic> iii. 68.] Thursday night following, they +came back, with regular grenadiers to support; under cloud of +night, in great force, ruffian Trenck at the head of them: +a frightful phenomenon to weak nerves. But this also Nassau treated +in such a fiery fashion that it vanished without return; +three hundred dead left on the ground, and ruffian Trenck riding +off with his own crown broken,--beautiful indigo face streaking +itself into GINGHAM-pattern, for the moment! + +Except Pardubitz, where also the due battalions are left, Friedrich +now holds no post south of the Elbe in this quarter; Elbe-Sazawa +Tract is gone like the others, to all appearance. And we must now +say, Silesia or Prag? Prince Leopold, Council-of-War being held on +the matter, is for keeping hold of Prag: "Pity to lose all the +excellent siege-artillery we brought thither," says he. True, too +true; an ill-managed business that of Prag! thinks Friedrich sadly +to himself: but what is Prag and artillery, compared to Silesia? +Parthian retreat into Silesia; and let Prag and the artillery go: +that, to Friedrich, is clearly the sure course. Or perhaps the +fatal alternative will not actually arrive? So long as Pardubitz +and Kolin hold; and we have the Elbe for barrier? Truth is, Prince +Karl has himself written to Court that, having now pushed his Enemy +fairly over the Elbe, and winter being come with its sleets and +slushes, ruinous to troops that have been so marched about, the +Campaign ought to end;--nay, his own young Wife is in perilous +interesting circumstances, and the poor Prince wishes to be home. +To which, however, it is again understood, Maria Theresa has +emphatically answered, "No,--finish first!" + +NOVEMBER 9th-19th: WE DEFEND THE ELBE RIVER. Friedrich has posted +himself on the north shore of the Elbe, from Pardubitz to the other +side of Kolin; means to defend that side of the River, where go the +Silesian roads. At Bohdenetz, short way across from Pardubitz, he +himself is; Prince Leopold is near Kolin: thirty miles of river- +bank to dispute. The controversy lasts ten days; ends in +ELBE-TEINITZ, a celebrated "passage," in Books and otherwise. +Friedrich is in shaggy, intricate country; no want of dingles, +woods and quagmires; now and then pleasant places too,--here is +Kladrup for example, where our Father came three hundred miles to +dine with the Kaiser once. The grooms and colts are all off at +present; Father and Kaiser are off; and much is changed since then. +Grim tussle of War now; sleety winter, and the Giant Mountains in +the distance getting on their white hoods! Friedrich doubtless has +his thoughts as he rides up and down, in sight of Kladrup, among +other places, settling many things; but what his thoughts were, he +is careful not to say except where necessary. Much is to be looked +after, in this River controversy of thirty miles. Detachments lie, +at intervals, all the way; and mounted sentries, a sentry every +five miles, patrol the River-bank; vigilant, we hope, as lynxes. +Nothing can cross but alarm will be given, and by degrees the whole +Prussian force be upon it. This is the Circle of Konigsgratz, this +that now lies to rear; and happily there are a few Hussites in it, +not utterly indisposed to do a little spying for us, and bring a +glimmering of intelligence, now and then. + +It is now the second week that Frietrich has lain so, with his +mounted patrols in motion, with his Hussite spies; guarding Argus- +like this thirty miles of River; and the Austrians attempt nothing, +or nothing with effect. If the Austrians go home to their winter- +quarters, he hopes to issue from Kolin again before Spring, and to +sweep the Elbe-Sazawa Tract clear of them, after all. Maria Theresa +having answered No, it is likely the Austrians will try to get +across: Be vigilant therefore, ye mounted sentries. Or will they +perhaps make an attempt on Prag? Einsiedel, who has no garrison of +the least adequacy, apprises us That "in all the villages round +Prag people are busy making ladders,"--what can that mean? +Friedrich has learned, by intercepted letters, that something great +is to be done on Wednesday, 18th: he sends Rothenburg with +reinforcement to Einsiedel, lest a scalade of Prag should be on the +cards. Rothenburg is right welcome in the lines of Prag, though +with reinforcement still ineffectual; but it is not Prag that is +meant, nor is Wednesday the day. Through Wednesday, Friedrich, all +eye and ear, could observe nothing: much marching to and fro on the +Austrian side of the River; but apparently it comes to nothing? +The mounted patrols had better be vigilant, however. + +On the morrow, 5 A.M., what is this that is going on? Audible +booming of cannon, of musketry and battle, echoing through the +woods, penetrates to Friedrich's quarters at Bohdenetz in the +Pardubitz region: Attack upon Kolin, Nassau defending himself +there? Out swift scouts, and see! Many scouts gallop out; but none +comes back. Friedrich, for hours, has to remain uncertain; can only +hope Nassau will defend himself. Boom go the distant volleyings; +no scout comes back. And it is not Nassau or Kolin; it is something +worse: very glorious for Prussian valor, but ruinous to +this Campaign. + +The Austrians, at 2 o'clock this morning, Austrians and Saxons, +came in great force, in dead silence, to the south brink of the +River, opposite a place called Teinitz (Elbe-Teinitz), ten miles +east of Kolin; that was the fruit of their marching yesterday. +They sat there forbidden to speak, to smoke tobacco or do anything +but breathe, till all was ready; till pontoons, cannons had come +up, and some gleam of dawn had broken. At the first gleam of dawn, +as they are shoving down their pontoon boats, there comes a +"WER-DA, Who goes?" from our Prussian patrol across the River. +Receiving no answer, he fires; and is himself shot down. +One Wedell, Wedell and Ziethen, who keep watch in this part, start +instantly at sound of these shots; and make a dreadful day of it +for these invasive Saxon and Austrian multitudes. Naturally, too, +they send off scouts, galloping for more help, to the right and to +the left. But that avails not. Wild doggery of Pandours, it would +seem, have already swum or waded the River, above Teinitz and +below:--"Want of vigilance!" barks Friedrich impatiently: but such +a doggery is difficult to watch with effect. At any rate, to the +right and to the left, the woods are already beset with Pandours; +every scout sent out is killed: and to east or to west there comes +no news but an echoing of musketry, a boom of distant cannon. +[Orlich, ii. 82-85.] Saxon-Austrian battalions, four or five, with +unlimited artillery going, VERSUS Wedell's one battalion, with +musketry and Ziethen's hussars: it is fearful odds. The Prussians +stand to it like heroes; doggedly, for four hours, continue the +dispute,--till it is fairly desperate; "two bridges of the enemy's +now finished;"--whereupon they manoeuvre off, with Parthian or +Prussian countenance, into the woods, safe, towards Kolin; +"despatching definite news to Friedrich, which does arrive about +11 A.M., and sets him at once on new measures." + +This is a great feat in the Prussian military annals; for which, +sad as the news was, Wedell got the name of Leonidas attached to +him by Friedrich himself. And indeed it is a gallant passage of +war; "Forcing of the Elbe at Teinitz;" of which I could give two +Narratives, one from the Prussian, and one from the Saxon side; +[Seyfarth, <italic> Beylage, <end italic> i. 595-598; <italic> +Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> ii. 1175-1181.] didactic, +admonitory to the military mind, nay to the civic reader that has +sympathy with heroisms, with work done manfully, and terror and +danger and difficulty well trampled under foot. Leonidas Wedell has +an admirable silence, too; and Ziethen's lazily hanging under-lip +is in its old attitude again, now that the spasm is over. "WAS +THUTS? They are across, without a doubt. We would have helped it, +and could not. Steady!"-- + + + FRIEDRICH'S RETREAT; ESPECIALLY EINSIEDEL'S FROM PRAG. + +Seeing, then, that they are fairly over, Friedrich, with a +creditable veracity of mind, sees also that the game is done; +and that same night he begins manoeuvring towards Silesia, lest far +more be lost by continuing the play. One column, under Leopold the +Young Dessauer, goes through Glatz, takes the Magazine of Pardubitz +along with it: good to go in several columns, the enemy will less +know which to chase. Friedrich, with another column, will wait for +Nassau about Konigsgratz, then go by the more westerly road, +through Nachod and the Pass of Braunau. Nassau, who is to get +across from Kolin, and join us northwards, has due rendezvous +appointed him in the Konigsgratz region. Einsiedel, in Prag, is to +spike his guns, since he cannot carry them; blow up his bastions, +and the like; and get away with all discretion and all diligence,-- +northwestward first, to Leitmeritz, where our magazines are; +there to leave his heavier goods, and make eastward towards +Friedland, and across the "Silesian Combs" by what Passes he can. +Will have a difficult operation; but must stand to it. And speed; +steady, simultaneous, regular, unresting velocity; that is the word +for all. And so it is done,--though with difficulty, on the part of +poor Einsiedel for one. It was Thursday, 19th November, when the +Austrians got across the Elbe: on Monday, 23d, the Prussian +rendezvousings are completed; and Friedrich's column, and the Glatz +one under Leopold, are both on march; infinite baggage-wagons +groaning orderly along ("sick-wagons well ahead," and the like +precautions and arrangements), on both these highways for Silesia: +and before the week ends, Thursday, 26th, even Einsiedel is under +way. Let us give something of poor Einsiedel, whose disasters made +considerable noise in the world, that Winter and afterwards. + +"The two main columns were not much molested; that which went by +Glatz, under Leopold, was not pursued at all. On the rear of +Friedrich's own column, going towards Braunau, all the way to +Nachod or beyond, there hung the usual doggery of Pandours, which +required whipping off from time to time; bnt in the defiles and +difficult places due precaution was taken, and they did little real +damage. Truchsess von Waldburg [our old friend of the Spartan feat +near Austerlitz in the MORAVIAN-FORAY time, whom we have known in +London society as Prussian Envoy in bygone years] was in one of the +divisions of this column; and one day, at a village where there was +a little river to cross (river Mietau, Konigsgratz branch of the +Elbe), got provoked injudiciously into fighting with a body of +these people. Intent not on whipping them merely, but on whipping +them to death, Truchsess had already lost some forty men, and the +business with such crowds of them was getting hot; when, all at +once a loud squeaking of pigs was heard in the village,"-- +apprehensive swineherd hastily penning his pigs belike, and some +pig refractory;--"at sound of which, the Pandour multitude suddenly +pauses, quits fighting, and, struck by a new enthusiasm, rushes +wholly into the village; leaving Truchsess, in a tragi-comic humor, +victorious, but half ashamed of himself. [<italic> OEuvres de +Frederic, <end italic> iii. 73.] In the beginning of December, +Friedrich's column reached home, by Braunau through the Mountains, +the same way part of it had come in August; not quite so brilliant +in equipment now as then. + +"It was upon Einsiedel's poor Garrison, leaving Prag in such haste, +that the real stress of the retreat fell; its difficulties great +indeed, and its losses great. Einsiedel did what was possible; +but all things are not possible on a week's warning. He spiked +great guns, shook endless hundredweights of powder, and 10,000 +stand of arms, into the River; he requisitioned horses, oxen, +without number; put mines under the bastions, almost none of which +went off with effect. He kept Prag accurately shut, the Praguers +accurately in the dark; took his measures prudently; and labored +night and day. One measure I note of him: stringent Proclamation to +the inhabitants of Prag, 'Provision yourselves for three months; +nothing but starvation ahead otherwise.' Alas, we are to stand a +fourth siege, then? say the Praguers. But where are provisions to +be had? At such and such places; from the Royal Magazines only, if +you bring a certificate and ready money! Whereby Einsiedel got +delivered of his meal-magazine, for one thing. But his difficulties +otherwise were immense. + +"On the Thursday morning, 26th November, 1744, he marched. +His wagons had begun the night before; and went all night, rumbling +continuous (Anonymous of Prag [Second "LETTER from a Citizen, &c." +(date, 27th November, see supra, p. 348), in <italic> Helden- +Geschichte, <end italic> ii. 1181-1188.] hearing them well), +through the Karlthor, northwest gate of Prag, across the Moldau +Rridge. All night across that bridge,--Leitmeritz road, great road +to the northwest:--followed finally by the march of horse and foot. +But news had already fled abroad. Five hundred Pandours were in the +City, backed by the Butchers' lads and other riotous GESINDEL, +before the rear-guard got away. Sad tugging and wriggling in +consequence, much firing from windows, and uproarious chaos;--so +that Rothenburg had at last to remount a couple of guns, and blow +it off with case-shot. A drilled Prussian rear-guard struggling, +with stern composure, through a real bit of burning chaos. +With effect, though not without difficulty. Here is the scene on +the Noldau Bridge, and past that high Hradschin [Old Palace of the +Bohemian Kings (pronounce RADsheen); one of the steepest Royal +Sites in the world.] mass of buildings; all Prag, not the Hradschin +only, struggling to give us fatal farewell if it durst. River is +covered with Pandours firing out of boats; Bridge encumbered to +impassability by forsaken wagons, the drivers of which had cut +traces and run; shot comes overhead from the Hradschin on our left, +much shot, infinite tumult all round; thoroughfare impossible for +two-wheeled vehicle, or men in rank. 'Halt!' cries Colonel Brandes, +who has charge of the thing; divides them in three: 'First one +party, deal with these river-boats, that Pandour doggery; +second party, pull these stray wagons to right and left, making the +way clear; third party, drag our own wagons forward, shoulder to +shaft, and yoke them out of shot-range;--you, Captain Carlowitz,' +and calls twenty volunteers to go with Carlowitz, and drag their +own cannon, 'step you forward, keep the gate of that Hradschin till +we all pass!' In this manner, rapid, hard of stroke, clear-headed +and with stern regularity, drilled talent gets the burning Nessus'- +shirt wriggled off; and tramps successfully forth with its +baggages. About 11 A.M., this rearguard of Brandes's did; should +have been at seven,--right well that it could be at all. + +"Einsiedel, after this, got tolerably well to Leitmeritz; left his +heavy baggage there; then turned at an acute angle right eastward, +towards the Silesian Combs, as ordered: still a good seventy miles +to do, and the weather getting snowy and the days towards their +shortest. Worse still; old Weissenfels, now in Prag with his +Saxons, is aware that Einsiedel, before ending, will touch on a +wild high-lying corner of the Lausitz which is Saxon Country; +and thitherward Weissenfels has despatched Chevalier de Saxe (in +plenty of time, November 29th), with horse and foot, to waylay +Einsiedel, and block the entrance of the Silesian Mountains for +him. Whereupon, in the latter end of his long march, and almost +within sight of home, ensues the hardest brush of all for +Einsiedel. And, in the desolation of that rugged Hill country of +the Lausitz, 'HOCHWALD (Upper Weld),' twenty or more miles from +Bohemian Friedland, from his entrance on the Mountain Barrier and +Silesian Combs, there are scenes--which gave rise to a Court- +Martial before long. For unexpectedly, on the winter afternoon +(December 9th), Einsiedel, struggling among the snows and pathless +Hills, comes upon Chevalier de Saxe and his Saxon Detachment,-- +intrenched with trees, snow-redoubts, and a hollow bog dividing us; +plainly unassailable;--and stands there, without covering, without +'food, fire, or salt,' says one Eye-witness, 'for the space of +fourteen hours.' Gazing gloomily into it, exchanging a few shots, +uncertain what more to do; the much-dubitating Einsiedel. 'At which +the men were so disgusted and enraged, they deserted [the foreign +part of them, I fancy] in groups at a time,' says the above +Eye-witness. Not to think what became of the equipments, baggage- +wagons, sick-wagons:--too evident Einsiedel's loss, in all kinds, +was very considerable. Nassau, despatched by Leopold out of Glatz, +from the other side of the Combs, is marching to help Einsiedel;-- +who knows, at this moment, where or whitherward? For the peasants +are all against us; our very guides desert, and become spies. +'Push to the left, over the Hochwald top, must not we?' thinks +Einsiedel: 'that is Lausitz, a Saxon Country; and Saxony, though +the Saxons stand intrenched here, with the knife at our throat, are +not at war with us, oh no, only allies of her Majesty of Hungary, +and neutral otherwise!' And here, it is too clear, the Chevalier de +Saxe stands intrenched behind his trees and snow; and it is the +fourteenth hour, men deserting by the hundred, without fire and +without salt; and Nassau is coming,--God knows by what road! + +"Einsiedel pushes to the left, the Hochwald way; finds, in the +Hochwald too, a Saxon Commandant waiting him, with arms strictly +shouldered. 'And we cannot pass through this moor skirt of Lausitz, +say you, then?' 'Unarmed, yes; your muskets can come in wagons +after you,' replies the Saxon Commandant of Lausitz. +'Thousand thanks, Herr Commandant; but we will not give you all +that trouble,' answer Einsiedel and his Prussians; 'and march on, +overwhelming him with politenesses,' says Friedrich;--the approach +of Nassau, above all, being a stringent civility. Of course, +despatch is very requisite to Einsiedel; the Chevalier, with his +force, being still within hail. The Prussians march all night, with +pitch-links flaring,--nights (I think) of the 13th-15th December, +1744, up among the highlands there, rugged buttresses of the +Silesian Combs: a sight enough to astonish Rubezahl, if he happened +to be out! As good chance would have it, Nassau and Einsiedel, by +preconcert, partly by lucky guess of their own, were hurrying by +the same road: three heaven-rending cheers (December 16th) when we +get sight of Nassau; and find that here is land! December 16th, we +are across,--by Ruckersdorf, not far from Friedland (Bohmisch +Friedland, not the Silesian town of that name, once Wallenstein's); +--and rejoice now to look back on labor done." [<italic> Helden- +Geschichte, <end italic> ii. 1181-1190, 1191-1194; <italic> +Feldzuge, <end italic> i. 278-280.] + +These were intricate strange scenes, much talked of at the time: +Rothenburg, ugly Walrave, Hacke, and other known figures, concerned +in them. Scenes in which Friedrich is not well informed; who much +blames Einsiedel, as he is apt to do the unsuccessful. Accounts +exist, both from the Prussian and from the Saxon side, decipherable +with industry; not now worth deciphering to English readers. +Only that final scene of the pitch-links, the night before meeting +with Nassau, dwells voluntarily in one's memory. And is the +farewell of Einsiedel withal. Friedrich blames him to the last: +though a Court-Martial had sat on his case, some months after, and +honorably acquitted him. Good solid, silent Einsiedel;--and in some +months more, he went to a still higher court, got still stricter +justice: I do not hear expressly that it was the winter marches, or +strain of mind; but he died in 1745; and that flare of pitch-links +in Rubezahl's country is the last scene of him to us,--and the end +of Friedrich's unfortunate First Expedition in the Second +Silesian War. + +"Foiled, ultimately, then, on every point; a totally ill-ordered +game on our part! Evidently we, for our part, have been altogether +in the wrong, in various essential particulars. Amendment, that and +no other, is the word now. Let us take the scathe and the scorn +candidly home to us;--and try to prepare for doing better. +The world will crow over us. Well, the world knows little about it; +the world, if it did know, would be partly in the right!"--Wise is +he who, when beaten, learns the reasons of it, and alters these. +This wisdom, it must be owned, is Friedrich's; and much +distinguishes him among generals and men. Veracity of mind, as I +say, loyal eyesight superior to sophistries; noble incapacity of +self-delusion, the root of all good qualities in man. His epilogue +to this Campaign is remarkable;--too long for quoting here, except +the first word of it and the last:-- + +"No General committed more faults than did the King in this +Campaign. ... The conduct of M. de Traun is a model of perfection, +which every soldier that loves his business ought to study, and try +to imitate, if he have the talent. The king has himself admitted +that he regarded this Campaign as his school in the Art of War, and +M. de Traun as his teacher." But what shall we say? "Bad is often +better for Princes than good;--and instead of intoxicating them +with presumption, renders them circumspect and modest." +[<italic> OEuvres, <end italic> iii.76, 77.] Let us still hope!-- + + + + Chapter V. + + FRIEDRICH, UNDER DIFFICULTIES, PREPARES FOR A + NEW CAMPAIGN. + +To the Court of Vienna, especially to the Hungarian Majesty, this +wonderful reconquest of Bohemia, without battle fought,--or any +cause assignable but Traun's excellent manoeuvring and Friedrich's +imprudences and trust in the French,--was a thing of heavenly +miracle; blessed omen that Providence had vouchsafed to her prayers +the recovery of Silesia itself. All the world was crowing over +Friedrich: but her Majesty of Hungary's views had risen to a +clearly higher pitch of exultation and triumphant hope, terrestrial +and celestial, than any other living person's. "Silesia back +again," that was now the hope and resolution of her Majesty's high +heart: "My wicked neighbor shall be driven out, and smart dear for +the ill he has done; Heaven so wills it!" "Very little uplifts the +Austrians," says Valori; which is true, under such a Queen; +"and yet there is nothing that can crush them altogether down," +adds he. + +No sooner is Bohemia cleared of Friedrich, than Maria, winter as it +is, orders that there be, through the Giant-Mountains, vigorous +assault upon Silesia. Highland snows and ices, what are these to +Pandour people, who, at their first entrance on the scene of +History, "crossed the Palus-Maeotis itself [Father of Quagmires, so +to speak] in a frozen state," and were sufficiently accommodated +each in his own dirty sheepskin? "Prosecute the King of Prussia," +ordered she; "take your winter-quarters in Silesia!"--and Traun, in +spite of the advanced season, and prior labors and hardships, had +to try, from the southwestern Bohemian side, what he could do; +while a new Insurrection, coming through the Jablunka, spread +itself over the southeast and east. Seriously invasive multitudes; +which were an unpleasant surprise to Friedrich; and did, as we +shall see, require to be smitten back again, and re-smitten; +making a very troublesome winter to the Prussians and themselves; +but by no means getting winter-quarters, as they once hoped. + +In a like sense, Maria Theresa had already (December 2d) sent forth +her Manifesto or Patent, solemnly apprising her ever-faithful +Silesian Populations, "That the Treaty of Breslau, not by her +fault, is broken; palpably a Treaty no longer. That they, +accordingly, are absolved from all oaths and allegiance to the King +of Prussia; and shall hold themselves in readiness to swear anew to +her Majesty, which will be a great comfort to such faithful +creatures; suffering, as her Majesty explains to them that they +have done, under Prussian tyranny for these two years past. +Immediate dead-lift effort there shall be; that is certain: +and 'the Almighty God assisting, who does not leave such injustices +unpunished, We have the fixed Christian hope, Omnipotence blessing +our arms, of almost immediately (EHESTENS) delivering you from this +temporary Bondage (BISHERIGEN JOCH).' You can pray, in the mean +while, for the success of her Majesty's arms; good fighting, aided +by prayer, in a Cause clearly Heaven's, will now, to appearance, +bring matters swiftly round again, to the astonishment and +confusion of bad men." [In <italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> +ii. 1194-1198; Ib. 1201-1206, is Friedrich's Answer, "19th +December, 1744."] + +These are her Majesty's views; intensely true, I doubt not, to her +devout heart. Robinson and the English seem not to be enthusiastic +in that direction; as indeed how can they? They would fain be +tender of Silesia, which they have guaranteed; fain, now and +afterwards, restrain her Majesty from driving at such a pace down +hill: but the declivity is so encouraging, her Majesty is not to be +restrained, and goes faster and faster for the time being. +And indeed, under less devout forms, the general impression, among +Pragmatic people, Saxon, Austrian, British even, was, That +Friedrich had pretty much ruined himself, and deserved to do so; +that this of his being mere "Auxiliary" to a Kaiser in distress was +an untenable pretext, now justly fallen bankrupt upon him. +The evident fact, That he had by his "Frankfurt Union," and +struggles about "union," reopened the door for French tribulations +and rough-ridings in the Reich, was universally distasteful; +all chance of a "general union of German Princes, in aid of their +Kaiser," was extinct for the present. + +Friedrich's rapidity had served him ill with the Public, in this as +in some other instances! Friedrich, contemplating his situation, +not self-delusively, but with the candor of real remorse, was by no +means yet aware how very bad it was. For six months coming, partly +as existing facts better disclosed themselves, as France, Saxony +and others showed what spirit they were of; partly as new sinister +events and facts arrived one after the other,--his outlook +continued to darken and darken, till it had become very dark +indeed. There is perennially the great comfort, immense if you can +manage it, of making front against misfortune; of looking it +frankly in the face, and doing with a resolution, hour by hour, +your own utmost against it. Friedrich never lacked that comfort; +and was not heard complaining. But from December 13th, 1744, when +he hastened home to Berlin, under such aspects, till June 4th, +1745, when aspects suddenly changed, are probably the worst six +months Friedrich had yet had in the world. During which, his +affairs all threatening to break down about him, he himself, +behooving to stand firm if the worst was not to realize itself, had +to draw largely on what silent courage, or private inexpugnability +of mind, was in him,--a larger instalment of that royal quality (as +I compute) than the Fates had ever hitherto demanded of him. +Ever hitherto; though perhaps nothing like the largest of all, +which they had upon their Books for him, at a farther stage! +As will be seen. For he was greatly drawn upon in that way, in his +time. And he paid always; no man in his Century so well; few men, +in any Century, better. As perhaps readers may be led to guess or +acknowledge, on surveying and considering. To see, and +sympathetically recognize, cannot be expected of modern readers, +in the present great distance, and changed conditions of men +and things. + +Friedrich, after despatching Nassau to cut out Einsiedel, had +delivered the Silesian Army to the Old Dessauer, who is to command +in chief during Winter; and had then hastened to Berlin,--many +things there urgently requiring his presence; preparations, +reparations, not to speak of diplomacies, and what was the heaviest +item of all, new finance for the coming exertions. In Schweidnitz, +on Leopold's appearance, there had been an interview, due +consultings, orderings; which done, Friedrich at once took the +road; and was at Berlin, Monday, December 14th,--precisely in the +time while Nassau and Einsiedel were marching with torchlights in +Rubezahl's Country, and near ending their difficult enterprise +better or worse. + +Friedrich, fastening eagerly on Home business, is astonished and +provoked to learn that the Austrians, not content with pushing him +out of Bohmen, are themselves pushing into Schlesien,--so Old +Leopold reports, with increasing emphasis day by day; to whom +Friedrich sends impatient order: Hurl them out again; gather what +force you need, ten thousand, or were it twenty or thirty thousand, +and be immediate about it; "I will as soon be pitched +(HERAUSGESCHMISSEN) out of the Mark of Brandenburg as out of +Schlesien:" no delay, I tell you! And as the Old Dessauer still +explains that the ten or fifteen thousand he needs are actually +assembling, and cannot be got on march quite in a moment, Friedrich +dashes away his incipient Berlin Operations; will go himself and do +it. Haggle no more, you tedious Old Dessauer:-- + +BERLIN, "19th DECEMBER," 1744. "On the 21st [Monday, one week after +my arriving], I leave Berlin, and mean to be at Neisse on the 24th +at latest. Your Serenity will in the interim make out the Order-of- +Battle [which is also Order-of-March] for what regiments are come +in. For I will, on the 25th, without delay, cross the Neisse, and +attack those people, cost what it may,--to chase them out of +Schlesien and Glatz, and follow them so far as possible. +Your Serenity will therefore take your measures, and provide +everything, so far as in this short time you can, that the project +may be executable the moment I arrive." [Friedrich to the Old +Dessauer (<italic> Orlich, <end italic> ii. 356).] + +And rushed off accordingly, in a somewhat flamy humor; but at +Schweidnitz, where the Old Dessauer met him again, became convinced +that the matter was weightier than he thought; not one of +Tolpatchery alone, but had Traun himself in it. Upon which +Friedrich candidly drew bridle; hastened back, and, with a loss of +four days, was at his Potsdam Affairs again. To which he stuck +henceforth, ardently, and I think rather with increase of gloom, +though without spurt of impatience farther, for three months to +come. Before his return,--nay, had he known, it was the night +before he went away,--a strange little thing had happened in the +opposite or Western parts: surprising accident to Marechal de +Belleisle; which now lies waiting his immediate consideration. +But let us finish Silesia first. + + + OLD DESSAUER REPELS THE SILESIAN INVASION (Winter, 1744-45). + +"This Silesian Affair includes due inroad of Pandours; or indeed +two inroads, southwest and southeast; and in the southwest, or +Traun quarter, regulars are the main element of it. Traun, 20,000 +strong, PLUS stormy-enough Pandour ACCOMPANIMENT, is by this time +through into Glatz; in three columns;--is master of all Glatz, +except the Rock-Fortress itself; and has spread himself, right and +left, along the Neisse River, and from the southwest northwards, in +a skilful and dangerous manner. In concert with whom, far to the +east, are Pandour whirlwinds on their own footing (brand-new +'Insurrection' of them, got thus far) starting from Olmutz and +Brunn; scouring that eastern country, as far as Namslau northward +[a place we were at the taking of, in old Brieg times]; much more, +infesting the Mountains of the South. A rather serious thing; +with Traun for general manager of it." + +With Traun, we say: poor Prince Karl is off, weeks ago; on the +saddest of errands. His beautiful young Wife,--Hungarian Majesty's +one Sister, Vice-Regents of the Netherlands he and she, conspicuous +among the bright couples of the world,--she had a bad lying-in +(child still-born), while those grand Moldau Operations went on; +has been ill, poor lady, ever since; and, at Brussels, on December +16th, she herself lies dead, Prince Karl weeping over her and the +days that will not return. Prince Karl's felicities, private and +public, had been at their zenith lately, which was very high +indeed; but go on declining from this day. Never more the Happiest +of Husbands (did not wed again at all); still less the Greatest of +Captains, equal or superior to Caesar in the Gazetteer judgment, +with distracted EULOGIES, BIOGRAPHIES and such like filling the +air: before long, a War-Captain of quite moderate renown; which we +shall see sink gradually into no renown at all, and even (unjustly) +into MINUS quantities, before all end. A mad world, my masters! + +"Between Traun on the southwest hand, and his Pandours on the +southeast, the small Prussian posts have all been driven in upon +Troppau-Jagerndorf region; more and more narrowed there;--and, in +fine (two days before this new Interview of Leopold and the +impatient King at Schweidnitz), have had to quit the Troppau- +Jagerndorf position; to quit the Hills altogether, and are now in +full march towards Brieg. Of which march I should say nothing, were +it not that Marwitz, Father of Wilhelmina's giggling Marmitzes, +commanded;--and came by his death in the course of it; though our +Wilhelmina is not now there, pen in hand, to tell us what the +effects at Baireuth were. Marwitz had been left for dead on the +Field of Mollwitz; lay so all night, but was nursed to some kind of +strength again by those giggling young women; and came back to +Schlesien, to posts of chief trust, for the last year or two,--was +guarding the Mountains, and even invading Mahren, during the late +Campaign;--but saw himself reduced latterly to Jagerndorf and +Troppau; and had even to retreat out of these. And in the whirlpool +of hurries thereupon,--how is not very clear; by apoplexy, say +some; by accidental pistol from a servant of his own; in actual +skirmish with Pandours,--too certainly, one way or the other, on +December 23d (just during that second Interview at Schweidnitz), +brave old Marwitz did suddenly sink dead, and is ended. +[<italic> Helden-Geschichte, ii. 1201.] Even so, ye poor giggling +creatures, and your loud weeping will not mend it at all! + +"Friedrich, looking candidly into these phenomena, could not but +see that: what with Tolpatcheries, what with Traun's 20,000 +regulars, and the whole Army at their back, his Silesian Border is +girt in by a very considerable inroad of Austrians,-- huge Chain of +them, in horse-shoe form, 300 miles long, pressing in; from beyond +Glatz and Landshut, round by the southern Mountains, and up +eastward again as far as Namslau, nothing but war whirlwinds in +regular or irregular form, in the centre of them Traun;--and that +the Old Dessauer really must have time to gird himself for dealing +with Traun and them. + +"It was not till January 9th that Old Leopold, 25,000 strong, +equipped to his mind, which was a difficult matter, crossed the +Neisse River; and marched direct upon Traun, with Ziethen charging +ahead. Actually marched; after which the main wrestle was done in a +week. January 16th, Old Leopold got to Jagerndorf; found the actual +Traun concentrated at Jagerndorf; and drew up, to be ready for +assault to-morrow morning,--had not Traun, candidly computing, +judged it better to glide wholly away in the night-time, diligently +towards Mahren, breaking the bridges behind him. And so, in effect, +to give up the Silesian Invasion for this time. After which, though +there remained a good deal of rough tussling with Pandour details, +and some rugged exploits of fight, there is--except that of Lehwald +in clearing of Glatz--nothing farther that we can afford to speak +of. Lehwald's exploit, Lehwald VERSUS Wallis (same Wallis who +defended Glogau long since), which came to be talked of, and got +name and date, 'Action of Habelschwert, February 14th,' something +almost like a pitched fight on the small scale, is to the +following effect:-- + +"PLOMNITZ, NEAR HABELSCHWERT, 14th FEBRUARY, 1745. Old General +Lehwald, marching in the hollow ground near Habelschwert (hollow of +the young Neisse River, twenty miles south of Glatz), with intent +to cut that Country free; the Enemy, whom he is in search of, +appears in great force,--posted on the uphill ground ahead, half- +frozen difficult stream in front of them, cannon on flank, Pandour +multitude in woods; all things betokening inexpugnability on the +part of the Enemy. So that Lehwald has to take his measures; study +well where the vital point is, the root of that extensive Austrian +junglery, and cut in upon the same. By considerable fire of effort, +the uphill ground, half-frozen stream, sylvan Pandours, cannon- +batteries, and what inexpugnabilities there may be, are subdued; +Austrian wide junglery, the root of it slit asunder rolls homeward +simultaneously, not too fast: nay it halted, and re-ranked itself +twice over, finding woods and quaggy runlets to its mind; but was +always slit out again, disrooted, and finally tumbled home, having +had enough. 'Wenzel Wallis,' Friedrich asserts with due scorn, 'was +all this while in a Chapel; praying ardently,' to St. Vitus, or one +knows not whom; 'without effect; till they shouted to him, "Beaten, +Sir! Off, or you are lost!" upon which he sprang to saddle, and +spurred with both heels (PIQUA DES DEUX).' [<italic> OEuvres de +Frederic, <end italic> iii. 79. 80.] That was the feat of Lehwald, +clearing the Glatz Country with one good cut: a skilful Captain; +now getting decidedly oldish, close on sixty; whom we shall meet +again a dozen years hence, still in harness. + +"The old Serene Highness himself, face the color of gun-powder, and +bluer in the winter frost, went rushing far and wide in an open +vehicle, which he called his 'cart;' pushing out detachments, +supervising everything; wheeling hither and thither as needful; +sweeping out the Pandour world, and keeping it out: not much of +fighting needed, but 'a great deal of marching [murmurs Friedrich], +which in winter is as bad, and wears down the force of the +battalions.' Of all which we give no detail: sufficient to fancy, +in this manner, the Old Dessauer flapping his wide military wings +in the faces of the Pandour hordes, with here and there a hard +twitch from beak or claws; tolerably keeping down the Pandour +interest all Winter. His sons, Leopold and Dietrich, were under +him, occasionally beside him; the Junior Leopold so worn down with +feverish gout he could hardly sit on horseback at all, while old +Papa went tearing about in his cart at that rate." +[<italic> Unternehmung in Ober-Schlesien, unter dem Fursten Leopold +von Anhalt-Dessau, im Januar und Februar, <end italic> 1745 +(Seyfarth, <italic> Beylage, <end italic> i. 141-152); Stenzel, iv. +232; &c.] + +There was, on the 21st of February, TE-DEUM sung in the churches of +Berlin "for the Deliverance of Silesia from Invasion." Not that +even yet the Pandours would be quite quiet, or allow Old Leopold to +quit his cart; far from it. And they returned in such increased and +tempestuous state, as will again require mention, with the earliest +Spring:--precursors to a second, far more serious and deadly +"Invasion of Silesia;" for which it hangs yet on the balance +whether there will be a TE-DEUM or a MISERERE to sing! + +Hungarian Majesty, disappointed of Silesia,--which, it seems, is +not to be had "all at once (EHESTENS)," in the form of miracle,-- +makes amends by a rush upon Seckendorf and Bavaria; attacks +Seckendorf furiously ("Bathyani pressing up the Donau Valley, with +Browne on one hand, and Barenklau on the other") in midwinter; +and makes a terrible hand of him; reducing his "Reconquest of +Bavaria" to nothing again, nay to less. Of which in due time. + + + THE FRENCH FULLY INTEND TO BEHAVE BETTER NEXT SEASON TO FRIEDRICH + AND THEIR GERMAN ALLIES;--BUT ARE PREVENTED BY VARIOUS ACCIDENTS + (November, 1744-April, 1745; April-August, 1745). + +It is not divine miracle, Friedrich knows well, that has lost him +his late Bohemian Conquests without battle fought: it was rash +choosing of a plan inexecutable without French co-operation,-- +culpable blindness to the chance that France would break its +promises, and not co-operate. Had your Majesty forgotten the Joint- +Stock Principle, then? His Majesty has sorrowful cause to remember +it, from this time, on a still larger scale! + +Reflections, indignant or exculpatory, on the conduct of the French +in this Business are useless to Friedrich, and to us. The +performance, on their part, has been nearly the worst;--though +their intentions, while the Austrian Dragon had them by the throat, +were doubtless enthusiastically good! But, the big Austrian Dragon +being jerked away from Elsass, by Friedrich's treading on his tail, +500 miles off, they were charmed, quite into new enthusiasm, to be +rid of said Dragon: and, instead of chasing HIM according to +bargain, took to destroying his DEN, that he might be harmless +thenceforth. Freyburg is a captured Town, to the joy and glory of +admiring France; and Friedrich's Campaign has gone the road we see! +The Freyburg Illuminations having burnt out, there might rise, in +the triumphant mind, some thought of Friedrich again,--perhaps +almost of a remorseful nature? Certain it is, the French intentions +are now again magnanimous, more so than ever; coupled now with some +attempts at fulfilment, too; which obliges us to mention them here. +They were still a matter of important hope to Friedrich; hope which +did not quite go out till August coming. Though, alas, it did then +go out, in gusts of indignation on Friedrich's part! And as the +whole of these magnanimous French intentions, latter like former, +again came to zero, we are interested only in rendering them +conceivable to readers for Friedrich's sake,--with the more +brevity, the better for everybody. Two grand French Attempts there +were; listen, on the threshold, a little:-- + +... "It is certain the French intend gloriously; regardless of +expense. They are dismantling Freyburg, to render it harmless +henceforth. But, withal, in answer to the poor Kaiser's shrieks, +they have sent Segur [our old Linz friend], with 12,000, to assist +Seckendorf; 'the bravest troops in the world,'"--who did bravely +take one beating (at Pfaffenhofen, as will be seen), and go home +again. ("They have Coigny guarding those fine Brisgau Conquests. +And are furthermore diplomatizing diligently, not to say +truculently, in the Rhine Countries; bullying poor little fat +Kur-Trier, lean Kur-Koln and others, 'To join the Frankfurt Union' +(not one of whom would, under menace),--though 'it is the clear +duty of all Reich's-Princes with a Kaiser under oppression:'--and +have marched Maillebois, directly after Freyburg, into the Middle- +Rhine Countries, to Koln Country, to Mainz Country, and to and +fro, in support of said compulsory diplomacies;--but without the +least effect." + +To the "Middle-Rhine Countries," observe, and under Maillebois, +then under Conti, little matter under whom: only let readers +recollect the name of it;--for it is the FIRST of the French +Attempts to do something of a joint-stock nature; something for +self AND Allies, instead of for self only. It caused great alarm in +those months, to Britannic George and others; and brought out poor +Duc d'Ahremberg with portions (no English included) of the poor +Pragmatic Army, to go marching about in the winter slushes, instead +of resting in bed, [Adelung, iv. 276, 420 ("December, 1744-June, +1745").]--and is indeed a very loud business in the old Gazettes +and books, till August coming. Business which almost broke poor +D'Ahremberg's heart, he says, "till once I got out of it" (was +TURNED out, in fact): Business of Pragmatic Army, under +D'Ahremberg, VERSUS Middle-Rhine Army under Maillebois, under +Conti; Business now wholly of Zero VERSUS Zero to us,--except for a +few dates and reflex glimmerings upon King Friedrich. Result +otherwise-- We shall see the Result! + +"Attempt SECOND was still more important to Friedrich; being +directed upon the Kaiser and Bavaria. Belleisle is to go thither +and take survey; Belleisle thither first: you may judge if the +intention is sincere! Valori is quite eloquent upon it. +Directly after Freyburg, says he, Sechelles, that first of +Commissaries, was sent to Munchen. Sechelles cleared up the chaos +of Accounts; which King Louis then instantly paid. 'Your Imperial +Majesty shall have Magazines also,' said Louis, regardless of +expense; 'and your Army, with auxiliaries (Segur and 25,000 of them +French), shall be raised to 60,000.' Belleisle then came: 'We will +have Ingolstadt, the first thing, in Spring.' Alas, Belleisle had +his Accident in the Harz; and all went aback, from that time." +[Valori, i. 322-329.] Aback, too indisputably, all!--"And +Belleisle's Accident?" Patience, readers. + +"The truth is, Attempt SECOND, and chief, broke down at once +[Bathyani beating it to pieces, as will be seen],--the ruins of it +painfully reacting on Attempt FIRST; which had the like fate some +months later;--and there was no THIRD made. And, in fact, from the +date of that latter down-break, August, or end of July, 1745 [and +quite especially from "September 13th," by which time several +irrevocable things had happened, which we shall hear of], the +French withdrew altogether out of German entanglements; +and concentrated themselves upon the Netherlands, there to demolish +his Britannic Majesty, as the likelier enterprise. This was a +course to which, ever since the Exit of Broglio and the Oriflamme, +they had been more and more tending and inclining, 'Nothing for us +but loss on loss, to be had in Germany!' and so they at last +frankly gave up that bad Country. They fought well in the +Netherlands, with great splendor of success, under Saxe VERSUS +Cumberland and Company. They did also some successful work in +Italy;--and left Friedrich to bear the brunt in Germany; too glad +if he or another were there to take Germany off their hand! +Friedrich's feelings on his arriving at this consummation, and +during his gradual advance towards it, which was pretty steady all +along from those first 'drenched-hen (POULES MOUILLEES)' +procedures, were amply known to Excellency Valori, and may be +conceived by readers,"--who are slightly interested in the dates of +them at farthest. And now for the Belleisle Accident, with these +faint preliminary lights. + + + STRANGE ACCIDENT TO MARECHAL DE BELLEISLE IN THE + HARZ MOUNTAINS (20th December, 1744). + +Siege of Freyburg being completed, and the River and most other +things (except always the bastions, which we blow up) being let +into their old channels there, Marechal de Belleisle, who is to +have a chief management henceforth,--the Most Christian King +recognizing him again as his ablest man in war or peace,--sets +forth on a long tour of supervision, of diplomacy and general +arrangement, to prepare matters for the next Campaign. Need enough +of a Belleisle: what a business we have made of it, since Friedrich +trod on the serpent's tail for us.! Nothing but our own Freyburg to +show for ourselves; elsewhere, mere down-rush of everything +whitherward it liked;--and King Friedrich got into such a humor! +Friedrich must be put in tune again; something real and good to be +agreed on at Berlin: let that be the last thing, crown of the +whole. The first thing is, look into Bavaria a little; and how the +Kaiser, poor gentleman, in want of all requisites but good-will, +can be put into something of fighting posture. + +"In the end of November, Marechal Duc de Belleisle, with his +Brother the Chevalier (now properly the Count, there having been +promotions), and a great retinue more, alights at Munchen; +holds counsel with the poor Kaiser for certain days:--Money wanted; +many things wanted; and all things, we need not doubt, much fallen +out of square. 'Those Seckendorf troops in their winter-quarters,' +say our French Inspectors and Segur people, as usual, 'do but look +on it, your Excellency! Scattered, along the valleys, into the very +edge of Austria; Austria will swallow them, the first thing, next +year; they will never rendezvous again except in the Austrian +prisons. Surely, Monseigneur, only a man ignorant of war, or with +treasonous intention [or ill-off for victuals],--could post troops +in that way? Seckendorf is not ignorant of war!' say they. +[Valori, i. 206.] For, in fact, suspicion runs high; and there is +no end to the accusations just and unjust; and Seckendorf is as ill +treated as any of us could wish. Poor old soul. Probably nobody in +all the Earth, but his old Wife in the Schloss of Altenburg, has +any pity for him,--if even she, which I hope. He has fought and +diplomatized and intrigued in many countries, very much; and in his +old days is hard bested. Monseigueur, whose part is rather that of +Jove the Cloud-compeller, is studious to be himself noiseless amid +this noise; and makes no alteration in the Seckendorf troops; +but it is certain he meant to do it, thinks Valori." + +And indeed Seckendorf, tired of the Bavarian bed-of-roses, had +privately fixed with himself to quit the same;--and does so, +inexorable to the very Kaiser, on New-Year arriving. +[<italic> Seckendorfs Leben, <end italic> p. 365.] Succeeded by +Thorring (our old friend DRUM Thorring), if that be an improvement. +Marechal de Belleisle has still a long journey ahead, and +infinitely harder problems than these,--assuagement of the King of +Prussia, for example. Let us follow his remarkable steps. + +"WEDNESDAY, 9th DECEMBER, 1744, the Marechal leaves Munchen, +northwards through OEttingen and the Bamberg-Anspach regions +towards Cassel;--journey of some three hundred and fifty miles: +with a great retinue of his own; with an escort of two hundred +horse from the Kaiser; these latter to prevent any outfall or +insult in the Ingolstadt quarter, where the Austrians have a +garrison, not at all very tightly blocked by the Seckendorf people +thereabouts. No insult or outfall occurring, the Marechal dismisses +his escort at OEttingen; fares forward in his twenty coaches and +fourgons, some score or so of vehicles:--mere neutral Imperial +Countries henceforth, where the Kaiser's Agent, as Marechal de +Belleisle can style himself, and Titular Prince of the German +Empire withal, has only to pay his way. By Donauworth, by +OEttingen; over the Donau acclivities, then down the pleasant +Valley of the Mayn. [See REVIEW OF THE CASE OF MARSHAL BELLEISLE +(or Abstract of it, <italic> Gentleman's Magazine, <end italic> +1745, pp. 366-373); &c. &c.] + +"SUNDAY, 13th DECEMBER, Marechal de Belleisle arrives at Hanau +[where we have seen Conferences held before now, and Carteret, +Prince Karl and great George our King very busy], there to confer +with Marshals Coigny, Maillebois and other high men, Commanders in +those Rhine parts. Who all come accordingly, except Marechal +Maillebois, who is sorry that he absolutely cannot; but will surely +do himself the honor as Monseigneur returns." As Monseigneur +returns! "And so, on Monday, 14th, Monseigneur starts for Cassel; +say a hundred miles right north; where we shall meet Prince Wilhelm +of Hessen-Cassel, a zealous Ally; inform him how his Troops, under +Seckendorf, are posted [at Vilshofen yonder; hiding how perilous +their post is, or promising alterations]; perhaps rest a day or +two, consulting as to the common weal: How the King of Prussia +takes our treatment of him? How to smooth the King of Prussia, and +turn him to harmony again? We are approaching the true nodus of our +business, difficulty of difficulties; and Wilhelm, the wise +Landgraf, may afford a hint or two. Thus travels magnanimous +Belleisle in twenty vehicles, a man loaded with weighty matters, in +these deep Winter months; suffering dreadfully from rheumatic +neuralgic ailments, a Doctor one of his needfulest equipments; +and has the hardest problem yet ahead of him. + +"Prince Wilhelm's consultations are happily lost altogether; +buried from sight forever, to the last hint,--all except as to what +road to Berlin would be the best from Cassel. By Leipzig, through +low-lying country, is the great Highway, advisable in winter; +but it runs a hundred and thirty miles to right, before ever +starting northward; such a roundabout. Not to say that the Saxons +are allies of Austria,--if there be anything in that. +Enemies, they, to the Most Christian King: though surely, again, we +are on Kaiser's business, nay we are titular 'Prince of the Reich,' +for that matter, such the Kaiser's grace to us? Well; it is better +perhaps to AVOID the Saxon Territory. And, of course, the +Hanoverian much more; through which lies the other Great Road! +'Go by the Harz,' advises Landgraf Wilhelm: 'a rugged Hill Country; +but it is your hypotenuse towards Berlin; passes at once, or nearly +so, from Cassel Territory into Prussian: a rugged road, but a +shorter and safer.' That is the road Belleisle resolves upon. +Twenty carriages; his Brother the Chevalier and himself occupy one; +and always the courier rides before, ordering forty post-horses to +be ready harnessed. + +"SUNDAY, 20th DECEMBER, 1744. In this way they have climbed the +eastern shin of the Harz Range, where the Harz is capable of wheel- +carriages; and hope now to descend, this night, to Halberstadt; +and thence rapidly by level roads to Berlin. It is sinking towards +dark; the courier is forward to Elbingerode, ordering forty horses +to be out. Roughish uphill road; winter in the sky and earth, +winter vapors and tumbling wind-gusts: westward, in torn storm- +cloak, the Bracken, with its witch-dances; highland Goslar, and +ghost of Henry the Fowler, on the other side of it. A multifarious +wizard Country, much overhung by goblin reminiscences, witch- +dances, sorcerers'-sabbaths and the like,--if a rheumatic gentleman +cared to look on it, in the cold twilight. Brrh! Waste chasmy +uplands, snow-choked torrents; wild people, gloomy firs! Here at +last, by one's watch 5 P.M., is Elbingerode, uncomfortable little +Town; and it is to be hoped the forty post-horses are ready. + +"Behold, while the forty post-horses are getting ready, a thing +takes place, most unexpected;--which made the name of Elbingerode +famous for eight months to come. Of which let us hastily give the +bare facts, Fancy making of them what she can. Was Monseigneur +aware that this Elbingerode, with a patch of territory round it, is +Hanoverian ground; one of those distracted patches or ragged +outskirts frequent in the German map? Prussia is not yet, and +Hessen-Cassel has ceased to be. Undoubtedly Hanoverian! +Apparently the Landgraf and Monseigneur had not thought of that. +But Munchhausen of Hanover, spies informing him, had. The Bailiff +(Vogt, AdVOCATus) has gathered twenty JAGER [official Game-keepers] +with their guns, and a select idle Sunday population of the place +with or without guns: the Vogt steps forward, and inquires for +Monseigneur's passport. 'No passport, no need of any!'--'Pardon!' +and signifies to Monseigneur, on the part of George Elector of +Hanover, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, that +Monseigneur is arrested! + +"Monseigneur, with compressed or incompressible feelings, +indignantly complies,--what could he else, unfortunate rheumatic +gentleman?--and is plucked away in such sudden manner, he for one, +out of that big German game of his raising. The twenty vehicles are +dragged different roads; towards Scharzfels, Osterode, or I know +not where,--handiest roads to Hanover;--and Monseigneur himself has +travelling treatment which might be complained of, did not one +disdain complaint: 'my Brother parted from me, nay my Doctor, and +my Interpreter;'"--not even speech possible to me. [Letter of +Belleisle next morning, "Neuhof, 21st December, 9 A.M." (in +<italic> Valori, <end italic> i. 204), to Munchhausen at +Hanover,--by no possibility "to Valori," as the distracted French +Editor has given it!] That was the Belleisle Accident in the Harz, +Sunday Evening, 20th December, 1744. + +"Afflicted indignant Valori, soon enough apprised, runs to +Friedrich with the news,--greets Friedrich with it just alighting +from that Silesian run of his own. Friedrich, not without several +other things to think of, is naturally sorry at such news; +sorry for his own sake even; but not overmuch. Friedrich refuses +'to despatch a party of horse,' and cut out Marechal de Belleisle. +"That will never do, MON CHER!'--and even gets into FROIDES +PLAISANTERIES: 'Perhaps the Marechal did it himself? +Tallard, prisoner after Blenheim, made PEACE, you know, in +England?'--and the like; which grieved the soul of Valori, and +convinced him of Friedrich's inhumanity, in a crying case. + +"Belleisle is lugged on to Hanover; his case not doubtful to +Munchhausen, or the English Ministry,--though it raised great +argument, (was the capture fair, was it unfair? Is he entitled to +exchange by cartel, or not entitled?' and produced, in the next +eight months, much angry animated pamphleteering and negotiation. +For we hear by and by, he is to be forwarded to Stade, on the +Hamburg sea-coast, where English Seventy-fours are waiting for him; +his case still undecided;--and, in effect, it was not till after +eight months that he got dismissal. 'Lodged handsomely in Windsor +Palace,' in the interim; free on his parole, people of rank very +civil to him, though the Gazetteers were sometimes ill-tongued,-- +had he understood their PATOIS, or concerned himself about such +things. ["TUESDAY, 18th FEBRUARY [lst March, 1745], Marshal +Belleisle landed at Harwich; lay at Greenwich Palace, having +crossed Thames at the Isle of Dogs: next morning, about 10, set +out, in a coach-and-six, Colonel Douglas and two troops of horse +escorting; arrived 3 P.M.,--by Camberwell, Clapham, Wandsworth, +over Kingston and Staines Bridges,--at Windsor Castle, and the +apartments ready for him." (<italic> Gentleman's Magazine, <end +italic> 1745, p 107.) Was let go 13th (24th) August, again with +great pomp and civilities (ib. p. 442). See Adelung, iv. 299, 346; +v. 83, 84.] + +"It was a current notion among contemporary mankind, this of +Friedrich, that Belleisle's capture might be a mere collusion, +meant to bring about a Peace in that Tallard fashion,--wide of the +truth as such a notion is, far as any Peace was from following. +To Britannic George and his Hanoverians it had merely seemed, Here +was a chief War-Captain and Diplomatist among the French; the pivot +of all these world-wide movements, as Valori defines him; +which pivot, a chance offering, it were well to twitch from its +socket, and see what would follow. Perhaps nothing will follow; +next to nothing? A world, all waltzing in mad war, is not to be +stopped by acting on any pivot; your waltzing world will find new +pivots, or do without any, and perhaps only waltz the more madly +for wanting the principal one." + +This withdrawal of Belleisle, the one Frenchman respected by +Friedrich, or much interested for his own sake in things German, is +reckoned a main cause why the French Alliance turned out so ill for +Friedrich; and why French effort took more and more a Netherlands +direction thenceforth, and these new French magnanimities on +Friedrich's behalf issued in futility again. Probably they never +could have issued in very much: but it is certain that, from this +point, they also do become zero; and that Friedrich, from his +French alliance, reaped from first to last nothing at all, except a +great deal of obloquy from German neighbors, and from the French +side endless trouble, anger and disappointment in every particular. +Which 'might be a joy (though not unmixed) to Britannic Majesty and +the subtle followers who had ginned this fine Belleisle bird in its +flight over the Harz Range? Though again, had they passively let +him wing his way, and he had GOT "to be Commander and Manager," as +was in agitation,--he, Belleisle and in Germany, instead of +Marechal de Saxe with the Netherlands as chief scene,--what an +advantage might that have been to them! + + + THE KAISER KARL VII. GETS SECURED FROM OPPRESSIONS, IN A + TRAGIC WAY. FRIEDRICH PROPOSES PEACE, BUT TO NO PURPOSE. + +A still sadder cross for Friedrich, in the current of foreign +Accidents and Diplomacies, was the next that befell; exactly a +month later,--at Munchen, 20th January, 1745. Hardly was +Belleisle's back turned, when her Hungarian Majesty, by her +Bathyani and Company, broke furiously in upon the poor Kaiser and +his Seckendorf-Segur defences. Belleisle had not reached the Harz, +when all was going topsy-turvy there again, and the Donau-Valley +fast falling back into Austrian hands. Nor is that the worst, or +nearly so. + +"MUNCHEN, 20th JANUARY, 1745. This day poor Kaiser Karl laid down +his earthly burden here, and at length gave all his enemies the +slip. He had been ill of gout for some time; a man of much malady +always, with no want of vexations and apprehensions. Too likely the +Austrians will drive him out of Munchen again; then nothing but +furnished lodgings, and the French to depend upon. He had been much +chagrined by some Election, just done, in the Chapter of Salzburg. +[Adelung, iv. 249, 276, 313.] The Archbishop there--it was Firmian, +he of the SALZBURG EMIGRATION, memorable to readers--had died, some +while ago. And now, in flat contradiction to Imperial customs, +prerogatives, these people had admitted an Austrian Garrison; +and then, in the teeth of our express precept, had elected an +Austrian to their benefice: what can one account it but an insult +as well as an injury? And the neuralgic maladies press sore, and +the gouty twinges; and Belleisle is seized, perhaps with important +papers of ours; and the Seckendorf-Segur detachments were ill +placed; nay here are the Austrians already on the throat of them, +in midwinter! It is said, a babbling valet, or lord-in-waiting, +happened to talk of some skirmish that had fallen out (called a +battle, in the valet rumor), and how ill the French and Bavarians +had fared in it, owing to their ill behavior. And this, add they, +proved to be the ounce-weight too much for the so heavy-laden back. + +"The Kaiser took to bed, not much complaining; patient, mild, +though the saddest of all mortals; and, in a day or two, died. +Adieu, adieu, ye loved faithful ones; pity me, and pray for me! +He gave his Wife, poor little fat devout creature, and his poor +Children (eldest lad, his Heir, only seventeen), a tender blessing; +solemnly exhorted them, To eschew ambition, and be warned by his +example;--to make their peace with Austria; and never, like him, +try COM' E DURO CALLE, and what the charity of Christian Kings +amounts to. This counsel, it is thought, the Empress Dowager +zealously accedes to, and will impress upon her Son. That is the +Austrian and Cause-of-Liberty account: King Friedrich, from the +other side, has heard a directly opposite one. How the Kaiser, at +the point of death, exhorted his son, 'Never forget the services +which the King of France and the King of Prussia have done us, and +do not repay them with ingratitude.' [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, +<end italic> iii. 92;--and see (PER CONTRA) in Adelung, iv. 314 A; +in Coxe, &c.] The reader can choose which he will, or reject both +into the region of the uncertain. 'Karl Albert's pious and +affectionate demeanor drew tears from all eyes,' say the by- +standers: 'the manner in which he took leave of his Empress +would have melted a heart of stone.' He was in his forty-eighth +year; he had been, of all men in his generation, the most +conspicuously unhappy." + +What a down-rush of confusion there ensued on this event, not to +Bavaria alone, but to all the world, and to King Friedrich more +than another, no reader can now take the pains of conceiving. +The "Frankfurt Union," then, has gone to air! Here is now no +"Kaiser to be delivered from oppression:" here is a new Kaiser to +be elected,--"Grand-Duke Franz the man," cry the Pragmatic +Potentates with exultation, "no Belleisle to disturb!"--and +questions arise innumerable thereupon, Will France go into +electioneering again? The new Kur-Baiern, only seventeen, poor +child, cannot be set up as candidate. What will France do with HIM; +what he with France? Whom can the French try as Candidate against +the Grand-Duke? Kur-Sachsen, the Polish Majesty again? Belleisle +himself must have paused uncertain over such a welter,--and +probably have done, like the others, little or nothing in it, but +left it to collapse by natural gravitation. + +Hungarian Majesty checked her Bavarian Armaments a little: +"If perhaps this young Kur-Baiern will detach himself from France, +and on submissive terms come over to us?" Whereupon, at Munchen, +and in the cognate quarters, such wriggling, dubitating and +diplomatizing, as seldom was,--French, Anti-French (Seckendorf +busiest of all), straining every nerve in that way, and for almost +three months, nothing coming of it,--till Hungarian Majesty sent +her Barenklaus and Bathyanis upon them again; and these rapidly +solved the question, in what way we shall see! + +Friedrich has still his hopes of Bavaria, so grandiloquent are the +French in regard to it; who but would hope? The French diplomatize +to all lengths in Munchen, promising seas and mountains; but they +perform little; in an effectual manner, nothing. Bavarian "Army +raised to 60,000;" counts in fact little above half that number; +with no General to it but an imaginary one; Segur's actual French +contingent, instead of 25,000, is perhaps 12,000;--and so of other +things. Add to all which, Seckendorf is there, not now as War- +General, but as extra-official "Adviser;" busier than ever,-- +"scandalous old traitor!" say the French;--and Friedrich may justly +fear that Bavaria will go, by collapse, a bad road for him. + +Friedrich, a week or two after the Kaiser's death, seeing Bavarian +and French things in such a hypothetic state, instructs his +Ambassador at London to declare his, Friedrich's, perfect readiness +and wish for Peace: "Old Treaty of Breslau and Berlin made +indubitable to me; the rest of the quarrel has, by decease of the +Kaiser, gone to air." To which the Britannic Majesty, rather elated +at this time, as all Pragmatic people are, answers somewhat in a +careless way, "Well, if the others like it!" and promises that he +will propose it in the proper quarter. So that henceforth there is +always a hope of Peace through England; as well as contrariwise, +especially till Bavaria settle itself (in April next), a hope of +great assistance from the French. Here are potentialities and +counter-potentialities, which make the Bavarian Intricacy very +agitating to the young King, while it lasts. And indeed his world +is one huge imbroglio of Potentialities and Diplomatic Intricacies, +agitating to behold. Concerning which we have again to remark how +these huge Spectres of Diplomacy, now filling Friedrich's world, +came mostly in result to Nothing;--shaping themselves wholly, for +or against, in exact proportion, direct or inverse, to the actual +Quantity of Battle and effective Performance that happened to be +found in Friedrich himself. Diplomatic Spectralities, wide +Fatamorganas of hope, and hideous big Bugbears blotting out the +sun: of these, few men ever had more than Friedrich at this time. +And he is careful, none carefuler, not to neglect his Diplomacies +at any time;--though he knows, better than most, that good fighting +of his own is what alone can determine the value of these +contingent and aerial quantities,--mere Lapland witchcraft the +greater part of them. + +A second grand Intricacy and difficulty, still more enigmatic, and +pressing the tighter by its close neighborhood, was that with the +Saxons. "Are the Saxons enemies; are they friends? Neutrals at +lowest; bound by Treaty to lend Austria troops; but to lend for +defence merely, not for offence! Could not one, by good methods, +make friends with his Polish Majesty?" Friedrich was far from +suspecting the rages that lurked in the Polish Majesty, and least +of all owing to what. Owing to that old MORAVIAN-FORAY business; +and to his, Friedrich's, behavior to the Saxons in it; excellent +Saxons, who had behaved so beautifully to Friedrich! That is the +sad fact, however. Stupid Polish Majesty has his natural envies, +jealousies, of a Brandenburg waxing over his head at this rate. +But it appears, the Moravian Foray entered for a great deal into +the account, and was the final overwhelming item. Bruhl, by much +descanting on that famous Expedition,--with such candid Eye- +witnesses to appeal to, such corroborative Staff-officers and +appliances, powerful on the idle heart and weak brain of a Polish +Majesty,--has brought it so far. Fixed indignation, for intolerable +usage, especially in that Moravian-Foray time: fixed; not very +malignant, but altogether obstinate (as, I am told, that of the +pacific sheep species usually is); which carried Bruhl and his +Polish Majesty to extraordinary heights and depths in years coming! +But that will deserve a section to itself by and by. + +A third difficulty, privately more stringent than any, is that of +Finance. The expenses of the late Bohemian Expedition, "Friedrich's +Army costing 75,000 pounds a month," have been excessive. For our +next Campaign, if it is to be done in the way essential, there are, +by rigorous arithmetic, "900,000 pounds" needed. A frugal Prussia +raises no new taxes; pays its Wars from "the Treasure," from the +Fund saved beforehand for emergencies of that kind; Fund which is +running low, threatening to be at the lees if such drain on it +continue. To fight with effect being the one sure hope, and salve +for all sores, it is not in the Army, in the Fortresses, the +Fighting Equipments, that there shall be any flaw left! +Friedrich's budget is a sore problem upon him; needing endless +shift and ingenuity, now and onwards, through this war:--already, +during these months, in the Berlin Schloss, a great deal of those +massive Friedrich-Wilhelm plate Sumptuosities, especially that +unparalleled Music-Balcony up stairs, all silver, has been, under +Fredersdorf's management, quietly taken away; "carried over, in the +night-time, to the Mint." [Orlich, ii. 126-128.] + +And, in fact, no modern reader, not deeper in that distressing +story of the Austrian-Succession War than readers are again like to +be, can imagine to himself the difficulties of Friedrich at this +time, as they already lay disclosed, and kept gradually disclosing +themselves, for months coming; nor will ever know what +perspicacity, patience of scanning, sharpness of discernment, +dexterity of management, were required at Friedrich's hands;--and +under what imminency of peril, too; victorious deliverance, or ruin +and annihilation, wavering fearfully in the balance for him, more +than once, or rather all along. But it is certain the deeper one +goes into that hideous Medea's Caldron of stupidities, once so +flamy, now fallen extinct, the more is one sensible of Friedrich's +difficulties; and of the talent for all kinds of Captaincy,--by no +means in the Field only, or perhaps even chiefly,--that was now +required of him. Candid readers shall accept these hints, and do +their best:--Friedrich himself made not the least complaint of +men's then misunderstanding him; still less will he now! +We, keeping henceforth the Diplomacies, the vaporous Foreshadows, +and general Dance of Unclean Spirits with their intrigues and +spectralities, well underground, so far as possible, will stick to +what comes up as practical Performance on Friedrich's part, and try +to give intelligible account of that. + +Valori says, he is greatly changed, and for the better, by these +late reverses of fortune. All the world notices it, says Valori. +No longer that brief infallibility of manner; that lofty light air, +that politely disdainful view of Valori and mankind: he has now +need of men. Complains of nothing, is cheerful, quizzical;-- +ardently busy to "grind out the notches," as our proverb is; has a +mild humane aspect, something of modesty, almost of piety in him. +Help me, thou Supreme Power, Maker of men, if my purposes are +manlike! Though one does not go upon the Prayers of Forty-Hours, or +apply through St. Vitus and such channels, there may be something +of authentic petition to Heaven in the thoughts of that young man. +He is grown very amiable; the handsomest young bit of Royalty now +going. He must fight well next Summer, or it will go hard with him! + + + + + Chapter VI. + + VALORI GOES ON AN ELECTIONEERING MISSION TO DRESDEN. + +Some time in January, a new Frenchman, a "Chevalier de Courten," if +the name is known to anybody, was here at Berlin; consulting, +settling about mutual interests and operations. Since Belleisle is +snatched from us, it is necessary some Courten should come; +and produce what he has got: little of settlement, I should fear, +of definite program that will hold water; in regard to War +operations chiefly a magazine of clouds. [Specimens of it, in +Ranke, iii. 219.] For the rest, the Bavarian question; and very +specially, Who the new Emperor is to be? "King of Poland, thinks +your Majesty?"--"By all means," answers Friedrich, "if you can! +Detach him from Austria; that will be well!" Which was reckoned +magnanimous, at least public-spirited, in Friedrich; considering +what Saxony's behavior to him had already been. "By all means, his +Polish Majesty for Kaiser; do our utmost, Excellencies Valori, +Courten and Company!" answers Friedrich,--and for his own part, +I observe, is intensely busy upon Army matters, looking after the +main chance. + +And so Valori is to go to Dresden, and manage this cloud or +cobwebbery department of the thing; namely, persuade his Polish +Majesty to stand for the Kaisership: "Baiern, Pfalz, Koln, +Brandenburg, there are four votes, Sire; your own is five: sure of +carrying it, your Polish Majesty; backed by the Most Christian +King, and his Allies and resources!" And Polish Majesty does, for +his own share, very much desire to be Kaiser. But none of us yet +knows how he is tied up by Austria, Anti-Friedrich, Anti-French +considerations; and can only "accept if it is offered me:" thrice- +willing to accept, if it will fall into my mouth; which, on those +terms, it has so little chance of doing!--Saxony and its mysterious +affairs and intentions having been, to Friedrich, a riddle and +trouble and astonishment, during all this Campaign, readers ought +to know the fact well;--and no reader could stand the details of +such a fact. Here, in condensed form, are some scraps of Excerpt; +which enable us to go with Valori on this Dresden Mission, and look +for ourselves:-- + + + 1. FRIEDRICH'S POSITION TOWARDS SAXONY. + +"... By known Treaty, the Polish Majesty is bound to assist the +Hungarian with 12,000 men, 'whenever invaded in her own dominions.' +Polish Majesty had 20,000 in the field for that object lately,-- +part of them, 8,000 of them, hired by Britannic subsidy, as he +alleges. The question now is, Will Saxony assist Austria in +invading Silesia, with or without Britannic subsidy? +Friedrich hopes that this is impossible! Friedrich is deeply +unaware of the humor he has raised against himself in the Saxon +Court-circles; how the Polish Majesty regards that Moravian Foray; +with what a perfect hatred little Bruhl regards him, Friedrich; +and to what pitch of humor, owing to those Moravian-Foray +starvings, marchings about and inhuman treatment of the poor Saxon +Army, not to mention other offences and afflictive considerations, +Bruhl has raised the simple Polish Majesty against Friedrich. +These things, as they gradually unfolded themselves to Friedrich, +were very surprising. And proved very disadvantageous at the +present juncture and for a long time afterwards. To Friedrich +disadvantageous and surprising; and to Saxony, in the end, ruinous; +poor Saxony having got its back broken by them, and never stood up +in the world since! Ruined by this wretched little Bruhl; +and reduced, from the first place in Northern Teutschland, to a +second or third, or no real place at all." + + + 2. THERE IS A, "UNION OF WARSAW" (8th January, 1745); + AND STILL MORE SPECIALLY A "TREATY OF WARSAW" + (8th January-18th May, 1745). + +"January 8th, 1745, before the Old Dessauer got ranked in Schlesien +against Traun, there had concluded itself at Warsaw, by way of +counterpoise to the 'Frankfurt Union,' a 'Union of Warsaw,' called +also 'Quadruple Alliance of Warsaw;' the Parties to which were +Polish Majesty, Hungarian ditto, Prime-Movers, and the two +Sea-Powers as Purseholders; stipulating, to the effect: 'We Four +will hold together in affairs of the Reich VERSUS that dangerous +Frankfurt Union; we will'--do a variety of salutary things; and as +one practical thing, 'There shall be, this Season, 30,000 Saxons +conjoined to the Austrian Force, for which we Sea-Powers will +furnish subsidy.'--This was the one practical point stipulated, +January 8th; and farther than this the Sea-Powers did not go, now +or afterwards, in that affair. + +"But there was then proposed by the Polish and Hungarian Majesties, +in the form of Secret Articles, an ulterior Project; with which the +Sea-Powers, expressing mere disbelief and even abhorrence of it, +refused to have any concern now or henceforth. Polish Majesty, in +hopes it would have been better taken, had given his 30,000 +soldiers at a rate of subsidy miraculously low, only 150,000 pounds +for the whole: but the Sea-Powers were inexorable, perhaps almost +repented of their 150,000 pounds; and would hear nothing farther of +secret Articles and delirious Projects. + +"So that the 'Union of Warsaw' had to retire to its pigeon-hole, +content with producing those 30,000 Saxons for the immediate +occasion; and there had to be concocted between the Polish and +Hungarian Majesties themselves what is now, in the modern +Pamphlets, called a 'TREATY of Warsaw,'--much different from the +innocent, 'UNION of Warsaw;' though it is merely the specifying and +fixing down of what had been shadowed out as secret codicils in +said 'Union,' when the Sea-Power parties obstinately recoiled. +Treaty of Warsaw let us continue to call it; though its actual +birth-place was Leipzig (in the profoundest secrecy, 18th May, +1745), above four months after it had tried to be born at Warsaw, +and failed as aforesaid. Warsaw Union is not worth speaking of; +but this other is a Treaty highly remarkable to the reader,--and to +Friedrich was almost infinitely so, when he came to get wind of it +long after. + +"Treaty which, though it proved abortional, and never came to +fulfilment in any part of it, is at this day one of the +remarkablest bits of sheepskin extant in the world. It was signed +18th May, 1745; [Scholl, ii. 350.] and had cost a great deal of +painful contriving, capable still of new altering and retouching, +to hit mutual views: Treaty not only for reconquering Silesia +(which to the Two Majesties, though it did not to the Sea-Powers, +seems infallible, in Friedrich's now ruined circumstances), but for +cutting down that bad Neighbor to something like the dimensions +proper for a Brandenburg Vassal;--in fact, quite the old +'Detestable Project' of Spring, 1741, only more elaborated into +detail (in which Britannic George knows better than to meddle!)-- +Saxony to have share of the parings, when we get them. +'What share?' asked Saxony, and long keeps asking. 'A road to +Warsaw; Strip of Country carrying us from the end of the Lausitz, +which is ours, into Poland, which we trust will continue ours, +would be very handy! Duchy of Glogau; some small paring of Silesia, +won't your Majesty?' 'Of my Silesia not one hand-breadth,' answered +the Queen impatiently (though she did at last concede some outlying +hand-breadths, famed old 'Circle of Schwiebus,' if I recollect); +and they have had to think of other equivalent parings for Saxony's +behoof (Magdeburg, Halberstadt, Saale-Circle, or one knows not +what); and have had, and will have, their adoes to get it fixed. +Excellent bearskin to be slit into straps; only the bear is still +on his feet!--Polish Majesty and Hungarian, Polish with especial +vigor, Bruhl quite restless upon it, are--little as Valori or any +mortal could dream of it--engaged in this partition of the +bearskin, when Valori arrives. Of their innocent Union of Warsaw, +there was, from the first, no secret made; but the Document now +called 'TREATY of Warsaw' needs to lie secret and thrice-secret; +and it was not till 1756 that Friedrich, having unearthed it by +industries of his own, and studied it with great intensity for some +years, made it known to the world." [Adelung, v. 308. 397; +Ranke, iii. 231 (who, for some reason of his own, dates "3d May" +instead of 18th}.] + +Treaties, vaporous Foreshadows of Events, have oftenest something +of the ghost in them; and are importune to human nature, longing +for the Events themselves; all the more if they have proved +abortional Treaties, and become doubly ghost-like or ghastly. +Nevertheless the reader is to note well this Treaty of Warsaw, as +important to Friedrich and him; and indeed it is perhaps the +remarkablest Treaty, abortional or realized, which got to parchment +in that Century. For though it proved abortional, and no part of +it, now or afterwards, could be executed, and even the subsidy and +30,000 Saxons (stipulated in the "UNION of Warsaw") became crow's- +meat in a manner,--this preternatural "Treaty of Warsaw," trodden +down never so much by the heel of Destiny, and by the weight of new +Treaties, superseding it or presupposing its impossibility or +inconceivability, would by no means die (such the humor of Bruhl, +of the Two Majesties and others); but lay alive under the ashes, +carefully tended, for Ten or Twenty Years to come;--and had got all +Europe kindled again, for destruction of that bad Neighbor, before +it would itself consent to go out! And did succeed in getting +Saxony's back broken, if not the bad Neighbor's,--in answer to the +humor of little Bruhl; unfortunate Saxony to possess such a Bruhl! + +In those beautiful Saxon-Austrian developments of the Treaty of +Warsaw, Czarina Elizabeth, bobbing about in that unlovely whirlpool +of intrigues, amours, devotions and strong liquor, which her +History is, took (ask not for what reason) a lively part:--and +already in this Spring of 1745, they hope she could, by "a gift of +two millions for her pleasures" (gift so easy to you Sea-Powers), +be stirred up to anger against Friedrich. And she did, in effect, +from this time, hover about in a manner questionable to Friedrich; +though not yet in anger, but only with the wish to be important, +and to make herself felt in Foreign affairs. Whether the Sea-Powers +gave her that trifle of pocket-money ("for her pleasures"), I never +knew; but it is certain they spent, first and last, very large +amounts that way, upon her and hers; especially the English did, +with what result may be considered questionable. + +As for Graf von Bruhl, most rising man of Saxony, once a page; +now by industry King August III.'s first favorite and factotum; +the fact that he cordially hates Friedrich is too evident; but the +why is not known to me. Except indeed, That no man--especially no +man with three hundred and sixty-five fashionable suits of clothes +usually about him, different suit each day of the year--can be +comfortable in the evident contempt of another man. Other man of +sarcastic bantering turn, too; tongue sharp as needles; +whose sayings many birds of the air are busy to carry about. +Year after year, Bruhl (doubtless with help enough that way, if +there had needed such) hates him more and more; as the too jovial +Czarina herself comes to do, wounded by things that birds have +carried. And now we will go with Valori,--seeing better into some +things than Valori yet can. + + + 3. VALORI'S ACCOUNT OF HIS MISSION (in compressed form). + [Valori, i. 211-219.] + +"Valori [I could guess about the 10th of February, but there is no +date at all] was despatched to Dresden with that fine project, +Polish Majesty for Kaiser: is authorized to offer 60,000 men, with +money corresponding, and no end of brilliant outlooks;--must keep +back his offers, however, if he find the people indisposed. +Which he did, to an extreme degree; nothing but vague talk, +procrastination, hesitation on the part of Bruhl. This wretched +little Bruhl has twelve tailors always sewing for him, and three +hundred and sixty-five suits of clothes: so many suits, all +pictured in a Book; a valet enters every morning, proposes a suit, +which, after deliberation, with perhaps amendments, is acceded to, +and worn at dinner. Vainest of human clothes-horses; foolishest +coxcomb Valori has seen: it is visibly his notion that it was he, +Bruhl, by his Saxon auxiliaries, by his masterly strokes of policy, +that checkmated Friedrich, and drove him from Bohemia last Year; +and, for the rest, that Friedrich is ruined, and will either shirk +out of Silesia, or be cut to ribbons there by the Austrian force +this Summer. To which Valori hints dissent; but it is ill received. +Valori sees the King; finds him, as expected, the fac-simile of +Bruhl in this matter; Jesuit Guarini the like: how otherwise? +They have his Majesty in their leash, and lead him as they please. + +"At four every morning, this Guarini, Jesuit Confessor to the King +and Queen, comes to Bruhl; Bruhl settles with him what his Majesty +shall think, in reference to current business, this day; +Guarini then goes, confesses both Majesties; confesses, absolves, +turns in the due way to secular matters. At nine, Bruhl himself +arrives, for Privy Council: 'What is your Majesty pleased to think +on these points of current business?' Majesty serenely issues his +thoughts, in the form of orders; which are found correct to +pattern. This is the process with his Majesty. A poor Majesty, +taking deeply into tobacco; this is the way they have him benetted, +as in a dark cocoon of cobwebs, rendering the whole world invisible +to him. Which cunning arrangement is more and more perfected every +year; so that on all roads he travels, be it to mass, to hunt, to +dinner, any-whither in his Palace or out of it, there are faithful +creatures keeping eye, who admit no unsafe man to the least glimpse +of him by night or by day. In this manner he goes on; and before +the end of him, twenty years hence, has carried it far. Nothing but +disgust to be had out of business;--mutinous Polish Diets too, some +forty of them, in his time, not one of which did any business at +all, but ended in LIBERUM VETO, and Billingsgate conflagration, +perhaps with swords drawn: [See Buchholz, 154; &c.]--business more +and more disagreeable to him. What can Valori expect, on this +heroic occasion, from such a King? + +"The Queen herself, Maria Theresa's Cousin, an ambitious +hard-favored Majesty,--who had sense once to dislike Bruhl, but has +been quite reconciled to him by her Jesuit Messenger of Heaven +(which latter is an oily, rather stupid creature, who really wishes +well to her, and loves a peaceable life at any price),--even she +will not take the bait. Valori was in Dresden nine days (middle +part of February, it is likely); never produced his big bait, his +60,000 men and other brilliancies, at all. He saw old Feldmarschall +Konigseck passing from Vienna towards the Netherlands Camp; +where he is to dry-nurse (so they irreverently call it, in time +coming) his Royal Highness of Cumberland, that magnificent English +Babe of War, and do feats with him this Summer." Konigseck, though +Valori did not know it, has endless diplomacies to do withal; +inspections of troops, advisings, in Hanover, in Holland, in +Dresden here; [Anonymous, <italic> Duke of Cumberland, <end italic> +p. 186.]--and secures the Saxon Electoral-Vote for his Grand-Duke +in passing. "The welcome given to Konigseck disgusted Valori; +on the ninth day he left; said adieu, seeing them blind to their +interest; and took post for Berlin,"--where he finds Friedrich much +out of humor at the Saxon reception of his magnanimities. [Valori, +i. 211-219; <italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> iii. 81-85. +For details on Bruhl, see <italic> Graf von Bruhl, Leben und +Charakter <end italic> (1760, No Place): Anonymous, by one Justi, a +noted Pamphleteer of the time: exists in English too, or partly +exists; but is unreadable, except on compulsion; and totally +unintelligible till after very much inquiry elsewhere.] + +This Saxon intricacy, indecipherable, formidable, contemptible, was +the plague of Friedrich's life, one considerable plague, all +through this Campaign. Perhaps nothing in the Diplomatic sphere of +things caused him such perplexity, vexation, indignation. +An insoluble riddle to him; extremely contemptible, yet,--with a +huge Russia tacked to it, and looming minatory in the distance,-- +from time to time, formidable enough. Let readers keep it in mind, +and try to imagine it. It cost Friedrich such guessing, computing, +arranging, rearranging, as would weary the toughest reader to hear +of in detail. How Friedrich did at last solve it (in December +coming), all readers will see with eyes!-- + + + MIDDLE-RHINE AWNY IN A STAGGERING STATE; THE BAVARIAN + INTRICACY SETTLES ITSELF, THE WRONG WAY. + +Early in March it becomes surmisable that Maillebois's Middle-Rhine +Army will not go a good road. Maillebois has been busy in those +countries, working extensive discontent; bullying mankind "to join +the Frankfurt Union," to join France at any rate, which nobody +would consent to; and exacting merciless contributions, which +everybody had to consent to and pay.--And now, on D'Ahremberg's +mere advance, with that poor Fraction of Pragmatic Army, roused +from its winter sleep, Maillebois, without waiting for +D'Ahremberg's attack, rapidly calls in his truculent detachments, +and rolls confusedly back into the Frankfurt regions. [Adelung, iv. +276-352 (December, 1744-March, 1745).] Upon which D'Ahremberg--if +by no means going upon Maillebois's throat--sets, at least, to +coercing Wilhelm of Hessen, our only friend in those parts; who is +already a good deal disgusted with the Maillebois procedures, and +at a loss what to do on the Kaiser's death, which has killed the +Frankfurt Union too. Wise Wilhelm consents, under D'Ahremberg's +menaces, to become Neutral; and recall his 6,000 out of Baiern,-- +wishes he had them home beside him even now! + +With an Election in the wind, it is doubly necessary for the +French, who have not even a Candidate as yet, to stand supreme and +minatory in the Frankfurt Country; and to King Friedrich it is +painfully questionable, whether Maillebois can do it. "Do it we +will; doubt not that, your Majesty!" answer Valori and the French; +--and study to make improvements, reinforcements, in their Rhine +Army. And they do, at least, change the General of their Middle- +Rhine Army,--that is to say, recall Prince Conti out of Italy, +where he has distinguished himself, and send Maillebois thither in +his stead,--who likewise distinguishes himself THERE, if that could +be a comfort to us! Whether the distinguished Conti will maintain +that Frankfurt Country in spite of the Austrians and their Election +movements, is still a question with Friedrich, though Valori +continued assuring him (always till July came) that, it was beyond +question. "Siege of Tournay, vigorous Campaign in the Netherlands +(for behoof of Britannic George)!" this is the grand French program +for the Year. This good intention was achieved, on the French part; +but this, like Aaron's rod among the serpents, proved to have EATEN +the others as it wriggled along!-- + +Those Maillebois-D'Ahremberg affairs throw a damp on the Bavarian +Question withal;--in fact, settle the Bavarian Question; her +Hungarian Majesty, tired of the delays, having ordered Bathyani to +shoulder arms again, and bring a decision. Bathyani, with Barenklau +to right of him, and Browne (our old Silesian friend) to left, goes +sweeping across those Seckendorf-Segur posts, and without +difficulty tumbles everything to ruin, at a grand rate. The traitor +Seckendorf had made such a choice of posts,--left unaltered by Drum +Thorring;--what could French valor do? Nothing; neither French +valor, nor Bavarian want of valor, could do anything but whirl to +the right-about, at sight of the Austrian Sweeping-Apparatus; +and go off explosively, as in former instances, at a rate almost +unique in military annals. Finished within three weeks or so!-- +We glance only at two points of it. March 21st, Bathyani stood to +arms (to BESOMS we might call it), Browne on the left, Barenklau on +the right: it was March 21st when Bathyani started from Passau, up +the Donau Countries;--and within the week coming, see:-- + +"VILSHOFEN, 28th MARCH, 1745. Here, at the mouth of the Vils River +(between Inn and Iser), is the first considerable Post; +garrison some 4,000; Hessians and Prince Friedrich the main +part,--who have their share of valor, I dare say; but with such +news out of Hessen, not to speak of the prospects in this Country, +are probably in poorish spirits for acting. General Browne summons +them in Vilshofen, this day; and, on their negative, storms in upon +them, bursts them to pieces; upon which they beat chamade. But the +Croats, who are foremost, care nothing for chamade: go plundering, +slaughtering; burn the poor Town; butcher [in round numbers] 3,000 +of the poor Hessians; and wound General Browne himself, while he +too vehemently interferes." [Adelung, iv. 356, and the half- +intelligible Foot-note in Ranke, iii. 220.] This was the finale of +those 6,000 Hessians, and indeed their principal function, while in +French pay;--and must have been, we can Judge how surprising to +Prince Friedrich, and to his Papa on hearing of it! +Note another point. + +Precisely about this time twelvemonth, "March 16th, 1746," the same +Prince Friedrich, with remainder of those Hessians, now again +completed to 6,000, and come back with emphasis to the Britannic +side of things, was--marching out of Edinburgh, in much state, with +streamers, kettle-drums, Highness's coaches, horses, led-horses, on +an unexpected errand. [Henderson (Whig Eye-witness). <italic> +History of the Rebellion, <end italic> 1745 and 1746 (London, 1748, +reprint from the Edinburgh edition), pp. 104, 106, 107.] +Toward Stirling, Perth; towards Killiecrankie, and raising of what +is called "the Siege of Blair in Athol" (most minute of "sieges," +but subtending a great angle there and then);--much of unexpected, +and nearer home than "Tournay and the Netherlands Campaign," having +happened to Britannic George in the course of this year, 1746! +"Really very fine troops, those Hessians [observes my orthodox Whig +friend]: they carry swords as well as guns and bayonets; +their uniform is blue turned up with white: the Hussar part of +them, about 500, have scimitars of a great length; small horses, +mostly black, of Swedish breed; swift durable little creatures, +with long tails." Honors, dinners, to his Serene Highness had been +numerous, during the three weeks we had him in Edinburgh; +"especially that Ball, February 21st (o.s.), eve of his Consort the +Princess Mary's Birthday [EVE of birthday, "let us dance the +auspicious morning IN] was, for affluence of Nobility and Gentry of +both sexes," a sublime thing. ... + +PFAFFENHOFEN, APRIL 15th. "Unfortunate Segur, the Segur of Linz +three years ago,--whose conduct was great, according to Valori, but +powerless against traitors and fate!--was again, once more, +unfortunate in those parts. Unfortunate Segur drew up at +Pfaffenhofen (centre of the Country, many miles from Vilshofen) to +defend himself, when fallen upon by Barenklau, in that manner; +but could not, though with masterly demeanor; and had to retreat +three days, with his face to the enemy, so to speak, fighting and +manoeuvring all the way: no shelter for him either but Munchen, and +that, a most temporary one. Instead of taking Straubingen, taking +Passau, perhaps of pushing on to Vienna itself, this is what we +have already come to. No Rhine Army, Middle-Rhine Army, Coigny, +Maillebois, Conti, whoever it was, should send us the least +reinforcement, when shrieked to. No outlook whatever but rapid +withdrawal, retreat to the Rhine Army, since it will not stir to +help us." [Adelung, iv. 360.] + +"The young Kur-Baiern is still polite, grateful [to us French], +overwhelms us with politeness; but flies to Augsburg, as his Father +used to do. Notable, however, his poor fat little Mother won't, +this time: 'No, I will stay here, I for one, and have done with +flying and running; we have had enough of that!' Seckendorf, quite +gone from Court in this crisis, reappears, about the middle of +April, in questionable capacity; at a place called Fussen, not far +off, at the foot of the Tyrol Hills;--where certain Austrian +Dignitaries seem also to be enjoying a picturesque Easter! +Yes indeed: and, on APRIL 22d, there is signed a 'PEACE OF FUSSEN' +there; general amicable AS-YOU-WERE, between Austria and Bavaria +('Renounce your Anti-Pragmatic moonshine forevermore, vote for our +Grand-Duke; there is your Bavaria back, poor wretches!')-- +and Seckendorf, it is presumable, will get his Turkish +arrears liquidated. + +"The Bavarian Intricacy, which once excelled human power, is +settled, then. Carteret and Haslang tried it in vain [dreadful +heterodox intentions of secularizing Salzburg, secularizing Passau, +Regensburg, and loud tremulous denial of such];--Carteret and +Wilhelm of Hesseu [Conferences of Hanau, which ruined Carteret], in +vain; King Friedrich, and many Kings, in vain: a thing nobody could +settle;--and it has at last settled itself, as the generality of +ill-guided and unlucky things do, by collapse. Delirium once out, +the law of gravity acts; and there the mad matter lies." + +"Bought by Austria, that old villain!" cry the French. +Friedrich does not think the Austrians bought Seckendorf, having no +money at present; but guesses they may have given him to understand +that a certain large arrear of payment due ever since those Turkish +Wars,--when Seckendorf, instead of payment, was lodged in the +Fortress of Gratz, and almost got his head cut off,--should now be +paid down in cash, or authentic Paper-money, if matters become +amicable. [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> iii. 22; +<italic> Seckendorfs Leben, <end italic> pp. 367-376.] As they have +done, in Friedrich's despite;--who seems angrier at the old stager +for this particular ill-turn than for all the other many; and long +remembers it, as will appear. + + + + Chapter VII. + + FRIEDRICH IN SILESIA; UNUSUALLY BUSY. + +Here, sure enough, are sad new intricacies in the Diplomatic, +hypothetic sphere of things; and clouds piling themselves ahead, in +a very minatory manner to King Friedrich. Let King Friedrich, all +the more, get his Fighting Arrangements made perfect. Diplomacy is +clouds; beating of your enemies is sea and land. Austria and the +Gazetteer world consider Friedrich to be as good as finished: +but that is privately far from being Friedrich's own opinion;-- +though these occurrences are heavy and dismal to him, as none of us +can now fancy. + +Herr Ranke has got access, in the Archives, to a series of private +utterances by Friedrich,--Letters from him, of a franker nature +than usual, and letting us far deeper into his mind;--which must +have been well worth reading in the original, in their fully dated +and developed condition. From Herr Ranke's Fragmentary Excerpts, +let us, thankful for what we have got, select one or two. +The Letters are to Minister Podewils at Berlin; written from +Silesia (Neisse and neighborhood), where, since the middle of +March, Friedrich has been, personally pushing on his Army +Preparations, while the above sinister things befell. + + + KING FRIEDRICH TO PODEWILS, IN BERLIN (under various dates, + March-April, 1745). + +NEISSE, 29th MARCH. ... "We find ourselves in a great crisis. If we +don't, by mediation of England, get Peace, our enemies from +different sides [Saxony, Austria, who knows if not Russia withal!] +will come plunging in against me. Peace I cannot force them to. +But if they must have War, we will either beat them, or none of us +will see Berlin again." [Ranke, iii. 236 et seqq.] + +APRIL (no day given). ... "In any case, I have my troops well +together. The sicknesses are ceasing; the recruitments are coming +in: shortly all will be complete. That does not hinder us from +making Peace, if it will only come; but, in the contrary case, +nobody can accuse me of neglecting what was necessary." + +APRIL 17th (still from Neisse). ... "I toil day and night to +improve our situation. The soldiers will do their duty. There is +none among us who will not rather have his backbone broken than +give up one foot-breadth of ground. They must either grant us a +good Peace, or we will surpass ourselves by miracles of daring; +and force the enemy to accept it from us." + +APRIL 20th. "Our situation is disagreeable; constrained, a kind of +spasm: but my determination is taken. If we needs must fight, we +will do it like men driven desperate. Never was there a greater +peril than that I am now in. Time, at its own pleasure, will untie +this knot; or Destiny, if there is one, determine the event. +The game I play is so high, one cannot contemplate the issue with +cold blood. Pray for the return of my good luck."--Two days hence, +the poor young Kur-Baiern, deaf to the French seductions and +exertions, which were intense, had signed his "Peace of Fussen" +(22d April 1745),--a finale to France on the German Field, as may +be feared! The other Fragments we will give a little farther on. + +Friedrich had left Berlin for Silesia March 15th; rather sooner +than he counted on,--Old Leopold pleading to be let home. +At Glogau, at Breslau, there had been the due inspecting: +Friedrich got to Neisse on the 23d (Bathyani just stirring in that +Bavarian Business, Vilshofen and the Hessians close ahead); and on +the 27th, had dismissed Old Leopold, with thanks and sympathies,-- +sent him home, "to recover his health." Leopold's health is +probably suffering; but his heart and spirits still more. Poor old +man, he has just lost--the other week, "5th February" last--his +poor old Wife, at Dessau; and is broken down with grief. The soft +silk lining of his hard Existence, in all parts of it, is torn +away. Apothecary Fos's Daughter, Reich's Princess, Princess of +Dessau, called by whatever name, she had been the truest of Wives; +"used to attend him in all his Campaigns, for above fifty years +back." "Gone, now, forever gone!"--Old Leopold had wells of strange +sorrow in the rugged heart of him,--sorrow, and still better +things,--which he does not wear on his sleeve. Here is an incident +I never can forget;--dating twelve or thirteen years ago (as is +computable), middle of July, 1732. + +"Louisa, Leopold's eldest Daughter, Wife of Victor Leopold, +reigning Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg, lay dying of a decline." +Still only twenty-three, poor Lady, though married seven years ago; +--the end now evidently drawing nigh. "A few days before her +death,--perhaps some attendant sorrowfully asking, 'Can we do +nothing, then?'--she was heard to say, 'If I could see my Father at +the head of his Regiment, yet once!'"--Halle, where the Regiment +lies, is some thirty or more miles off; and King Friedrioh Wilhelm, +I suppose, would have to be written to:--Leopold was ready the +soonest possible; and, "at a set hour, marched, in all pomp, with +banner flying, music playiug, into the SCHLOSS-HOF (Palace Court) +of Bernburg; and did the due salutations and manoeuvrings,--his +poor Daughter sitting at her window, till they ended;"--figure +them, the last glitter of those muskets, the last wail of that +band-music!--"The Regiment was then marched to the Waisenhaus +(ORPHAN-HOUSE), where the common men were treated with bread and +beer; all the Officers dining at the Prince's Table. All the +Officers, except Leopold alone, who stole away out of the crowd; +sat himself upon the balustrade of the Saale Bridge, and wept into +the river." [LEBEN (12mo; not Rannft's, but Anonymous like his), +p. 234 n.]--Leopold is now on the edge of seventy; ready to think +all is finished with him. Perhaps not quite, my tough old friend; +recover yourself a little, and we shall see! + +Old Leopold is hardly home at Dessau, when new Pandour Tempests, +tides of ravaging War, again come beating against the Giant +Mountains, pouring through all passes; from utmost Jablunka, +westward by Jagerndorf to Glatz, huge influx of wild riding hordes, +each with some support of Austrian grenadiers, cannoniers; +threatening to submerge Silesia. Precursors, Friedrich need not +doubt, of a strenuous regular attempt that way, Hungarian Majesty's +fixed intention, hope and determination is, To expel him +straightway from Silesia. Her Patent circulates, these three +months; calling on all men to take note of that fixed fact, +especially on all Silesian men to note it well, and shift their +allegiance accordingly. Silesian men, in great majority,--our +friend the Mayor of Landshut, for example?--are believed to have no +inclination towards change: and whoever has, had clearly better not +show any till he see! [In Ranke (iii. 234), there is vestige of +some intended "voluntary subscription by the common people of +Glatz," for Friedrich's behoof;--contrariwise, in Orlich (ii. 380, +"6th February, 1745," from the Dessau Archives), notice of one +individual, suspected of stirring for Austria, whom "you are to put +under lock and key;"--but he runs off, and has no successor, that I +hear of.]-- + +Friedrich's thousand-fold preliminary orderings, movements, +rearrangings in his Army matters, must not detain us here;--still +less his dealings with the Pandour element, which is troublesome, +rather than dangerous. Vigilance, wise swift determination, valor +drilled to its work, can deal with phenomena of that nature, though +never so furious and innumerable. Not a cheering service for +drilled valor, but a very needful one. Continual bickerings and +skirmishings fell out, sometimes rising to sharp fight on the small +scale:--Austrian grenadiers with cannon are on that Height to left, +and also on this to right, meaning to cut off our march; +the difficult landscape furnished out, far and wide, with Pandour +companies in position: you must clash in, my Burschen; seize me +that cannon-battery yonder; master such and such a post,--there is +the heart of all that network of armed doggery; slit asunder that, +the network wholly will tumble over the Hills again. Which is +always done, on the part of the Prussian Burschen; though sometimes +not, without difficulty.--His Majesty is forming Magazines at +Neisse, Brieg, and the principal Fortresses in those parts; +driving on all manner of preparations at the rapidest rate of +speed, and looking with his own eyes into everything. The regiments +are about what we may call complete, arithmetically and otherwise; +the cavalry show good perfection in their new mode of manoeuvring; +--it is to be hoped the Fighting Apparatus generally will give fair +account of itself when the time comes. Our one anchor of hope, as +now more and more appears. + +On the Pandour element he first tried (under General Hautcharmoi, +with Winterfeld as chief active hand) a direct outburst or two, +with a view to slash them home at once. But findiug that it was of +no use, as they always reappeared in new multitudes, he renounced +that; took to calling in his remoter outposts; and, except where +Magazines or the like remained to be cared for, let the Pandours +baffle about, checked only by the fortified Towns, and more and +more submerge the Hill Country. Prince Karl, to be expected in the +form of lion, mysteriously uncertain on which side coming to invade +us,--he, and not the innumerable weasel kind, is our important +matter! By the end of April (news of the PEACE OF FUSSEN coming +withal), Friedrich had quitted Neisse; lay cantoned, in Neisse +Valley (between Frankenstein and Patschkau, "able to assemble in +forty-eight hours"); studying, with his whole strength, to be ready +for the mysterious Prince Karl, on whatever side he might arrive; +--and disregarding the Pandours in comparison. + +The points of inrush, the tideways of these Pandour Deluges seem to +be mainly three. Direct through the Jablunka, upon Ratibor Country, +is the first and chief; less direct (partly supplied by REFLUENCES +from Ratibor, when Ratibor is found not to answer), a second +disembogues by Jagerndorf; a third, the westernmost, by Landshut. +Three main ingresses: at each of which there fall out little +Fights; which are still celebrated in the Prussian Books, and +indeed well deserve reading by soldiers that would know their +trade. In the Ratibor parts, the invasive leader is a General +Karoly, with 12,000 under him, who are the wildest horde of all: +"Karoly lodges in a wood: for himself there is a tent; +his companions sleep under trees, or under the open sky, by the +edge of morasses." [Ranke, iii. 244.] It was against this Karoly +and his horde that Hautcharmoi's little expedition, or express +attacking party to drive them home again, was shot out (8th-2lst +April). Which did its work very prettily; Winterfeld, chief hand in +it, crowning the matter by a "Fight of Wurbitz," [Orlich, ii. 136 +(21st April).]--where Winterfeld, cutting the taproot, in his usual +electric way, tumbles Karoly quite INTO the morasses, and clears +the country of him for a time. For a time; though for a time only; +--Karoly or others returning in a week or two, to a still higher +extent of thousands; mischievous as ever in those Ratibor-Namslau +countries. Upon which, Friedrich, finding this an endless business, +and nothing like the most important, gives it up for the present; +calls in his remoter detachments; has his Magazines carted home to +the Fortress Towns,--Karoly trying, once or so, to hinder in that +operation, but only again getting his crown broken. ["Fight of +Mocker," May 4th (Orlich, ii. 141).] Or if carting be too +difficult, still do not waste your Magazine:--Margraf Karl, for +instance, is ordered to Jagerndorf with his Detachment, "to eat the +Magazine;" hungry Pandours looking on, till he finish. On which +occasion a renowned little Fight took place (Fight of Neustadt, or +of Jagerndorf-Neustadt), as shall be mentioned farther on. + +So that, for certain weeks to come, the Tolpatcheries had free +course, in those Frontier parts; and were left to rove about, under +check only of the Garrison Towns; Friedrich being obliged to look +elsewhere after higher perils, which were now coming in view. +In which favorable circumstances, Karoly and Consorts did, at last, +make one stroke in those Ratibor countries; that of Kosel, which +was greatly consolatory. [26th May, 1743 (Orlich, ii. 156-158).] +"By treachery of an Ensign who had deserted to them [provoked by +rigor of discipline, or some intolerable thing], they glided +stealthily, one night, across the ditches, into Kosel" (a half- +fortified place, Prussian works only half finished): which, being +the Key of the Oder in those parts, they reckoned a glorious +conquest; of good omen and worthy of TE-DEUMS at Vienna. And they +did eagerly, without the least molestation, labor to complete the +Prussian works at Kosel: "One garrison already ours!"--which was +not had from them without battering (and I believe, burning), when +General von Nassau came to inquire after it; in Autumn next. + +Friedrich had always hoped that the Saxons, who are not yet in +declared War with him, though bound by Treaty to assist the Queen +of Hungary under certain conditions, would not venture on actual +Invasion of his Territories; but in this, as readers anticipate, +Friedrich finds himself mistaken. Weissenfels is hastening from the +Leitmeritz northwestern quarter, where he has wintered, to join +Prince Karl, who is gathering himself from Olmutz and his +southeastern home region; their full intention is to invade Silesia +together, and they hope now at length to make an end of Friedrich +and it. These Pandour hordes, supported by the necessary grenadiers +and cannoniers, are sent as vanguard; these cannot themselves beat +him; but they may induce him (which they do not) to divide his +Force; they may, in part, burn him away as by slow fire, after +which he will be the easier to beat. Instead of which, Friedrich, +leaving the Pandours to their luck, lies concentrated in Neisse +Valley; watching, with all his faculties, Prince Karl's own advent +(coming on like Fate, indubitable, yet involved in mysteries +hitherto); and is perilously sensible that only in giving that a +good reception is there any hope left him. + +Prince Karl "who arrived in Olmutz April 30th," commands in chief +again,--saddened, poor man, by the loss of his young Wife, in +December last; willing to still his grief in action for the cause +SHE loved;--but old Traun is not with him this year: which is a +still more material circumstance. Traun is to go this year, under +cloak not of Prince Karl, but of Grand-Duke Franz, to clear those +Frankfurt Countries for the KAISERWAHL and him. Prince Conti lies +there, with his famous "Middle-Rhine Army" (D'Ahremberg, from the +western parts, not nearly so diligent upon him as one could wish); +and must, at all rates, be cleared away. Traun, taking command of +Bathyani's Army (now that it has finished the Bavarian job), is +preparing to push down upon Conti, while Bathyani (who is to +supersede the laggard D'Ahremberg) shall push vigorously up;--and +before summer is over, we shall hear of Traun again, and Conti will +have heard!-- + +Friedrich's indignation, on learning that the Saxons were actually +on march, and gradually that they intended to invade him, was +great; and the whole matter is portentously enigmatic to him, as he +lies vigilant in Neisse Valley, waiting on the When and the How. +Indignation;--and yet there is need of caution withal. To be ready +for events, the Old Dessauer has, as one sure measure, been +requested to take charge, once more, of a "Camp of Observation" on +the Saxon Frontier (as of old, in 1741); and has given his consent: +["April 25th" consents (Orlich, ii. 130).] "Camp of Magdeburg," +"Camp of Dieskau;" for it had various names and figures; checkings +of your hand, then layings of it on, heavier, lighter and again +heavier, according to one's various READINGS of the Saxon Mystery; +and we shall hear enough about it, intermittently, till December +coming: when it ended in a way we shall not forget!--On which take +this Note:-- + +"The Camp of Observation was to have begun May 1st; did begin +somewhat later, 'near Magdeburg,' not too close on the Frontier, +nor in too alarming strength; was reinforced to about 30,000; +in which state [middle of August] it stept forward to Wieskau, then +to Dieskau, close on the Saxon Border; and became,--with a Saxon +Camp lying close opposite, and War formally threatened, or almost +declared, on Saxony by Friedrich,--an alarmingly serious matter. +Friedrich, however, again checked his hand; and did not consummate +till November-December. But did then consummate; greatly against +his will; and in a way flamingly visible to all men!" +[Orlich, ii. 130, 209, 210: <italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end +italic> ii. 1224-1226; i. 1117.] + +Friedrich's own incidental utterances (what more we have of +Fractions from the Podewils Letters), in such portentous aspect of +affairs, may now be worth giving. It is not now to Jordan that he +writes, gayly unbosoming himself, as in the First War,--poor Jordan +lies languishing, these many months; consumptive, too evidently +dying:--Not to Jordan, this time; nor is the theme "GLOIRE" now, +but a far different! + + + FRIEDRICH TO PODEWILS (as before, April-May, 1745). + +April 20th or so, Orders are come to Berlin (orders, to Podewils's +horror at such a thought), Whitherward, should Berlin be assaulted, +the Official Boards, the Preciosities and household gods are to +betake themselves:--to Magdeburg, all these, which is an +impregnable place; to Stettin, the Two Queens and Royal Family, if +they like it better. Podewils in horror, "hair standing on end," +writes thereupon to Eichel, That he hopes the management, "in a +certain contingency," will be given to Minister Boden; he Podewils, +with his hair in that posture, being quite unequal to it. +Friedrich answers:-- + +"APRIL 26th. ... 'I can understand how you are getting uneasy, you +Berliners. I have the most to lose of you all; but I am quiet, and +prepared for events. If the Saxons take part,' as they surely will, +'in the Invasion of Silesia, and we beat them, I am determined to +plunge into Saxony. For great maladies, there need great remedies. +Either I will maintain my all, or else lose my all. [Hear it, +friend; and understand it,--with hair lying flat!] It is true, the +disaffection of the Russian Court, on such trifling grounds, was +not to be expected; and great misfortune can befall us. +Well; a year or two sooner, a year or two later,--it is not worth +one's while to bother about the very worst. If things take the +better turn, our condition will be surer and firmer than it was +before. If we have nothing to reproach ourselves with, neither need +we fret and plague ourselves about bad events, which can happen to +any man.'--'I am causing despatch a secret Order for Boden [on YOU +know what], which you will not deliver him till I give sign.'"-- +On hearing of the Peace of Fussen, perhaps a day or so later, +Friedrich again writes:-- + +"APRIL [no distinct date; Neisse still? QUITS Neisse, April 28th]. +... Peace of Fussen, Bavaria turned against me? 'I can say nothing +to it,--except, There has come what had to come. To me remains only +to possess myself in patience. If all alliances, resources, and +negotiations fail, and all conjunctures go against me, I prefer to +perish with honor, rather than lead an inglorious life deprived of +all dignity. My ambition whispers me that I have done more than +another to the building up of my House, and have played a +distinguished part among the crowned heads of Europe. To maintain +myself there, has become as it were a personal duty; which I will +fulfil at the expense of my happiness and my life. I have no choice +left: I will maintain my power, or it may go to ruin, and the +Prussian name be buried under it. If the enemy attempt anything +upon us, we will either beat him, or we will all be hewed to +pieces, for the sake of our Country, and the renown of Brandenburg. +No other counsel can I listen to.'" + +SAME LETTER, OR ANOTHER? (Herr Ranke having his caprices!) ... +"You are a good man, my Podewils, and do what can be expected of +you" (Podewils has been apologizing for his terrors; and referring +hopefully "to Providence"): "Perform faithfully the given work on +your side, as I on mine; for the rest, let what you call +'Providence' decide as it likes [UNE PROVIDENCE AVEUGLE? Ranke, who +alone knows, gives "BLINDE VORSEHUNG." What an utterance, on the +part of this little Titan! Consider it as exceptional with him, +unusual, accidental to the hard moment, and perhaps not so impious +as it looks!]--Neither our prudence nor our courage shall be liable +to blame; but only circumstances that would not favor us. ... + +"I prepare myself for every event. Fortune may be kind or be +unkind, it shall neither dishearten me nor uplift me. If I am to +perish, let it be with honor, and sword in hand. What the issue is +to be-- Well, what pleases Heaven, or the Other Party (J'AI JETE LE +BONNET PAR DESSUS LES MOULINS)! Adieu, my dear Podewils; become as +good a philosopher as you are a politician; and learn from a man +who does not go to Elsner's Preaching [fashionable at the time], +that one must oppose to ill fortune a brow of iron; and, during +this life, renounce all happiness, all acquisitions, possessions +and lying shows, none of which will follow us beyond the grave." +[Ranke, iii. pp. 238-241.] + +"By what points the Austrian-Saxon Armament will come through upon +us? Together will it be, or separately? Saxons from the Lausitz, +Austrians from Bohmen, enclosing us between two fires?"--were +enigmatic questions with Friedrich; and the Saxons especially are +an enigma. But that come they will, that these Pandours are their +preliminary veiling-apparatus as usual, is evident to him; and that +he must not spend himself upon Pandours; but coalesce, and lie +ready for the main wrestle. So that from April 28th, as above +noticed, Friedrich has gone into cantonments, some way up the +Neisse Valley, westward of Neisse Town; and is calling in his +outposts, his detachments; emptying his Frontier Magazines;-- +abandoning his Upper-Silesian Frontier more and more, and in the +end altogether, to the Pandour hordes; a small matter they, +compared to the grand Invasion which is coming on. Here, with +shiftings up the Neisse Valley, he lies till the end of May; +watching Argus-like, and scanning with every faculty the Austrian- +Saxon motions and intentions, until at length they become clear to +him, and we shall see how he deals with them. + +His own lodging, or head-quarter, most of this time (4th May-27th +May), is in the pleasant Abbey of Camenz (mythic scene of that +BAUMGARTEN-SKIRMISH business, in the First Silesian War). He has +excellent Tobias Stusche for company in leisure hours; and the +outlook of bright Spring all round him, flowering into gorgeous +Summer, as he hurries about on his many occasions, not of an +idyllic nature. [Orlich, ii. 139; Ranke, iii. 242-249.] But his +Army is getting into excellent completeness of number, health, +equipment, and altogether such a spirit as he could wish. May 22d, +here is another snatch from some Note to Podewils, from this balmy +Locality, potential with such explosions of another kind. +CAMENZ, MAY 22d. ... "The Enemies are making movements; but nothing +like enough as yet for our guessing their designs. Till we see, +therefore, the thunder lies quiet in us (LA FOUDRE REPOSE EN MES +MAINS). Ah, could we but have a Day like that May Eleventh!" +[Ranke, iii. 248 n.] + +What "that May Eleventh" is or was? Readers are curious to know; +especially English readers, who guess FONTENOY. And Historic Art, +if she were strict, would decline to inform them at any length; +for really the thing is no better than a "Victory on the Scamander, +and a Siege of Pekin" (as a certain observer did afterwards define +it), in reference to the matter now on hand! Well, Pharsalia, +Arbela, the Scamander, Armageddon, and so many Battles and +Victories being luminous, by study, to cultivated Englishmen, and +one's own Fontenoy such a mystery and riddle,--Art, after +consideration, reluctantly consents to be indulgent; will produce +from her Paper Imbroglios a slight Piece on the subject, and print +instead of burning. + + + + Chapter VIII. + + THE MARTIAL BOY AND HIS ENGLISH versus THE LAWS 0F NATURE. + +"Glorious Campaign in the Netherlands, Siege of Tournay, final ruin +of the Dutch Barrier!" this is the French program for Season 1745, +--no Belleisle to contradict it; Belleisle secure at Windsor, who +might have leant more towards German enterprises. And to this his +Britannic Majesty (small gain to him from that adroitness in the +Harz, last winter!) has to make front. And is strenuously doing so, +by all methods; especially by heroic expenditure of money, and +ditto exposure of his Martial Boy. Poor old Wade, last year,-- +perhaps Wade did suffer, as he alleged, from "want of sufficient +authority in that mixed Army"? Well, here is a Prince of the Blood, +Royal Highness of Cumberland, to command in chief. With a Konigseck +to dry-nurse him, may not Royal Highness, luck favoring, do very +well? Luck did not favor; Britannic Majesty, neither in the +Netherlands over seas, nor at home (strange new domestic wool, of a +tarry HIGHLAND nature, being thrown him to card, on the sudden!), +made a good Campaign, but a bad. And again a bad (1746) and again +(1747), ever again, till he pleased to cease altogether. Of which +distressing objects we propose that the following one glimpse be +our last. + + + BATTLE OF FONTENOY (11th May, 1745). + +... "In the end of April, Marechal de Saxe, now become very famous +for his sieges in the Netherlands, opened trenches before Tournay; +King Louis, with his Dauphin, not to speak of mistresses, play- +actors and cookery apparatus (in wagons innumerable), hastens to be +there. A fighting Army, say of 70,000, besides the garrisons; and +great things, it is expected, will be done; Tournay, in spite of +strong works and Dutch garrison of 9,000, to be taken in the first +place. + +"Of the Siege, which was difficult and ardent, we will remember +nothing, except the mischance that befell a certain 'Marquis de +Talleyrand' and his men, in the trenches, one night. Night of the +8th-9th May, by carelessness of somebody, a spark got into the +Marquis's powder, two powder-barrels that there were; and, with +horrible crash, sent eighty men, Marquis Talleyrand and Engineer +Du Mazis among them, aloft into the other world; raining down their +limbs into the covered way, where the Dutch were very inhuman to +them, and provoked us to retaliate. [Espagnac, ii. 27.] Du Mazis I +do not know; but Marquis de Talleyrand turns out, on study of the +French Peerages, to be Uncle of a lame little Boy, who became Right +Reverend Tallyrand under singular conditions, and has made the name +very current in after-times!-- + +"Hearing of this Siege, the Duke of Cumberland hastened over from +England, with intent to raise the same. Mustered his 'Allied Army' +(once called 'Pragmatic'),--self at the head of it; old Count +Konigseck, who was NOT burnt at Chotusitz, commanding the small +Austrian quota [Austrians mainly are gone laggarding with +D'Ahremberg up the Rhine]; and a Prince of Waldeck the Dutch,--on +the plain of Anderlecht near Brussels, May 4th; [Anonymous, +<italic> Life of Cumberland, <end italic> p. 180; Espagnac, ii. +26.] and found all things tolerably complete. Upon which, +straightway, his Royal Highness, 60,000 strong let us say, set +forth; by slowish marches, and a route somewhat leftward of the +great Tournay Road [no place on it, except perhaps STEENKERKE, ever +heard of by an English reader]; and on Sunday, 9th May, [Espagnac, +ii. 27.] precisely on the morrow after poor Talleyrand had gone +aloft, reached certain final Villages: Vezon, Maubray, where he +encamps, Briffoeil to rear; Camp looking towards Tournay and the +setting sun,--with Fontenoy short way ahead, and Antoine to left of +it, and Barry with its Woods to right:--small peaceable Villages, +which become famous in the Newspapers shortly after. [Patch of Map +at p. 440.] Royal Highness, resting here at Vezon, is but some six +or seven miles from Tournay; in low undulating Country, woody here +and there, not without threads of running water, and with frequent +Villages and their adjuncts: the part of it now interesting to us +lies all between the Brussels-Tournay Road and the Scheld River,-- +all in immediate front of his Royal Highness,--to southeastward +from beleaguered Tournay, where said Road and River intersect. +How shall he make some impression on the Siege of Tournay? +That is now the question; and his Royal Highness struggles to +manoeuvre accordingly. + +Marechal de Saxe, whose habit is much that of vigilance, +forethought, sagacious precaution, singular in so dissolute a man, +has neglected nothing on this occasion. He knows every foot of the +ground, having sieged here, in his boyhood, once before. Leaving +the siege-trenches at Tournay, under charge of a ten or fifteen +thousand, he has taken camp here; still with superior force (56,000 +as they count, Royal Highness being only 50,000 ranked), barring +Royal Highness's way. Tournay, or at least the Marechal's trenches +there, are on the right bank of the Scheld; which flows from +southeast, securing all on that hand. The broad Brussels Highway +comes in to him from the east;--north of that he has nothing to +fear, the ground being cut with bogs; no getting through upon him, +that way, to Tournay and what he calls the 'Under Scheld.' +The 'Upper Scheld' too, avail them nothing. There is only that +triangle to the southeast, between Road and River, where the Enemy +is now manoeuvring in front of him, from which damage can well +come; and he has done his best to be secure there. Four villages or +hamlets, close to the Scheld and onwards to the Great Road,-- +Antoine, Fontenoy, Barry, Ramecroix, with their lanes and boscages, +--make a kind of circular base to his triangle; base of some six or +eight miles; with hollows in it, brooks, and northward a +considerable Wood [BOIS DE BARRY, enveloping Barry and Ramecroix, +which do not prove of much interest to us, though the BOIS does of +a good deal]. In and before each of those villages are posts and +defences; in Antoine and Fontenoy elaborate redoubts, batteries, +redans connecting: in the Wood (BOIS DE BARRY), an abattis, or wall +of felled trees, as well as cannon; and at the point of the Wood, +well within double range of Fontenoy, is a Redoubt, called of Eu +(REDOUTE D'EU, from the regiment occupying it), which will much +concern his Royal Highness and us. Saxe has a hundred pieces of +cannon [say the English, which is correct], consummately disposed +along this space; no ingress possible anywhere, except through the +cannon's throat; torrents of fire and cross-fire playing on you. +He is armed to the teeth, as they say; and has his 56,000 arranged +according to the best rules of tactics, behind this murderous line +of works. If his Royal Highness think of breaking in, he may count +on a very warm reception indeed. + +"Saxe is only afraid his Royal Highness will not. Outside of these +lines, with a 50,000 dashing fiercely round us, under any kind of +leading; pouncing on our convoys; harassing and sieging US,--our +siege of Toumay were a sad outlook. And this is old Austrian +Konigseck's opinion, too; though, they say, Waldeck and the Dutch +(impetuous in theory at least) opined otherwise, and strengthened +Royal Highness's view. Two young men against one old: 'Be it so, +then!' His Royal Highness, resolute for getting in, manoeuvres and +investigates, all Monday 10th; his cannon is not to arrive +completely till night; otherwise he would be for breaking in at +once: a fearless young man, fearless as ever his poor Father was; +certainly a man SANS PEUY, this one too; whether of much AVIS, we +shall see anon. + +"Tuesday morning early, 11th May, 1745, cannon being up, and +dispositions made, his Royal Highness sallies out; sees his men +taking their ground: Dutch and Austrians to the left, chiefly +opposite Antoine; English, with some Hanoverians, in the centre and +to the right; infantry in front, facing Fontenoy, cavalry to rear +flanking the Wood of Barry,--Konigseck, Ligonier and others able, +assisting to plant them advantageously; cannon going, on both +sides, the while; radiant enthusiasm, SANS PEUR ET SANS AVIS, +looking from his Royal Highness's face. He has been on horseback +since two in the morning; cannon started thundering between five +and six,--has killed chivalrous Grammont over yonder (the Grammont +of Dettingen), almost at the first volley. And now about the time +when ploughers breakfast (eight A.M., no ploughing hereabouts +to-day!), begins the attack, simultaneously or in swift succession, +on the various batteries which it will be necessary to attack +and storm. + +"The attacks took place; but none of them succeeded. Dutch and +Austrians, on the extreme left, were to have stormed Antoine by the +edge of the River; that was their main task; right skirt of them to +help US meanwhile with Fontenoy. And they advanced, accordingly; +but found the shot from Antoine too fierce: especially when a +subsidiary battery opened from across the River, and took them in +flank, the Dutch and Austrians felt astonished; and hastily drew +aside, under some sheltering mound or earthwork they had found for +themselves, or prudently thrown up the night before. There, under +their earthwork, stood the Dutch and Austrians; patiently expecting +a fitter time,--which indeed never occurred; for always, the +instant they drew out, the batteries from Antoine, and from across +the River, instantly opened upon them, and they had to draw in +again. So that they stood there, in a manner, all day; and so to +speak did nothing but patiently expect when it should be time to +run. For which they were loudly censured, and deservedly. +Antoine is and remains a total failure on the part of the Dutch +and Austrians. + +"Royal Highness in person, with his English, was to attack +Fontenoy;--and is doing so, by battery and storm, at various +points; with emphasis, though without result. As preliminary, at an +early stage he had sent forward on the right, by the Wood of Barry, +a Brigadier Ingoldsby 'with Semple's Highlanders' and other force, +to silence 'that redoubt yonder at the point of the Wood,'-- +redoubt, fort, or whatever it be (famous REDOUTE D'EU, as it turned +out!),--which guards Fontenoy to north, and will take us in flank, +nay in rear, as we storm the cannon of the Village. +Ingoldsby, speed imperative on him, pushed into the Wood; found +French light-troops ('God knows how many of them!') prowling about +there; found the Redoubt a terribly strong thing, with ditch, +drawbridge, what not; spent thirty or forty of his Highlanders, in +some frantic attempt on it by rule of thumb;--and found 'He would +need artillery' and other things. In short, Ingoldsby, hasten what +he might, could not perfect the preparations to his mind, had to +wait for this and for that; and did not storm the Redoubt d'Eu at +all; but hung fire, in an unaccountable manner. For which he had to +answer (to Court-Martial, still more to the Newspapers) afterwards; +and prove that it was misfortune merely, or misfortune and +stupidity combined. Too evident, the REDOUTE D'EU was not taken, +then or thenceforth; which might have proved the saving of the +whole affair, could Ingoldsby have managed it. Royal Highness +attacked Fontenoy, and re-attacked, furiously, thrice over; and had +to desist, and find Fontenoy impossible on those terms. + +"Here is a piece of work. Repulsed at all those points; and on the +left and on the right, no spirit visible but what deserves repulse! +His Royal Highness blazes into resplendent PLATT-DEUTSCH rage, what +we may call spiritual white-heat, a man SANS PEUR at any rate, and +pretty much SANS AVIS; decides that he must and will be through +those lines, if it please God; that he will not be repulsed at his +part of the attack, not he for one; but will plunge through, by +what gap there is [900 yards Voltaire measures it +[<italic> OEuvres, <end italic> xxviii. 150 (SIECLE DE LOUIS +QUINZE, c. xv. "BATAILLE DE FONTENOI,"--elaborately exact on all +sucb points).]] between Fontenoy and that Redoubt with its laggard +Ingoldsby; and see what the French interior is like! He rallies +rapidly, rearranges; forms himself in thin column or columns [three +of them, I think,--which gradually got crushed into one, as they +advanced, under caunon-shot on both hands],--wheeling his left +round, to be rear, his right to be head of said column or columns. +In column, the cannon-shot from Fontenoy on the left, and Redoubt +d'Eu on our right, will tell less on us; and between these two +death-dealing localities, by the hollowest, least shelterless way +discoverable, we mean to penetrate: (Forward, my men, steady and +swift, till we are through the shot-range, and find men to grapple +with, instead of case-shot and projectile iron!' Marechal de Saxe +owned afterwards, 'He should have put an additional redoubt in that +place, but he did not think any Army would try such a thing' +(cannon batteries playing on each hand at 400 yards distance);--nor +has any Army since or before! + +"These columns advance, however; through bushy hollows, water- +courses, through what defiles or hollowest grounds there are; +endure the cannon-shot, while they must; trailing their own heavy +guns by hand, and occasionally blasting out of them where the +ground favors;--and do, with indignant patience, wind themselves +through, pretty much beyond direct shot-range of either d'Eu or +Fontenoy. And have actually got into the interior mystery of the +French Line of Battle,--which is not a little astonished to see +them there! It is over a kind of blunt ridge, or rising ground, +that they are coming: on the crown of this rising ground, the +French regiment fronting it (GARDES FRANCAISES as it chanced to be) +notices, with surprise, field-cannon pointed the wrong way; +actual British artillery unaccountably showing itself there. +Regiment of GARDES rushes up to seize said field-pieces: but, on +the summit, perceives with amazement that it cannot; that a heavy +volley of musketry blazes into it (killing sixty men); that it will +have to rush back again, and report progress: Huge British force, +of unknown extent, is readjusting itself into column there, and +will be upon us on the instant. Here is news! + +"News true enough. The head of the English column comes to sight, +over the rising ground, close by: their officers doff their hats, +politely saluting ours, who return the civility: was ever such +politeness seen before? It is a fact; and among the memorablest of +this Battle. Nay a certain English Officer of mark--Lord Charles +Hay the name of him, valued surely in the annals of the Hay and +Tweeddale House--steps forward from the ranks, as if wishing +something. Towards whom [says the accurate Espagnac] Marquis +d'Auteroche, grenadier-lieutenant, with air of polite +interrogation, not knowing what he meant, made a step or two: +'Monsieur,' said Lord Charles (LORD CHARLES-HAY), 'bid your people +fire (FAITES TIRER VOS GENS)!' 'NON, MONSIEUR, NOUS NE TIRONS +JAMAIS LES PREMIERS (We never fire first).' [Espagnac, ii. 60 (of +the ORIGINAL, Toulouse, 1789); ii. 48 of the German Translation +(Leipzig, 1774), our usual reference. Voltaire, endlessly informed +upon details this time, is equally express: "MILORD CHARLES HAY, +CAPITAINE AUX GARDES ANGLAISES, CRIA: 'MESSIEURS DES GARDES +FRANCAISES, TIREZ!' To which Count d'Auteroche with a loud voice +answered" &c. (<italic> OEuvres, vol. xxviii. p. 155.) See also +<italic> Souvenirs du Marquis de Valfons <end italic> (edited by a +Grand-Nephew, Paris, 1860), p. 151;--a poor, considerably noisy and +unclean little Book; which proves unexpectedly worth looking at, in +regard to some of those poor Battles and personages and +occurrences: the Bohemian Belleisle-Broglio part, to my regret, if +to no other person's, has been omitted, as extinct, or +undecipherable by the Grand-Nephew.] After YOU, Sirs! Is not this a +bit of modern chivalry? A supreme politeness in that sniffing +pococurante kind; probably the highest point (or lowest) it ever +went to. Which I have often thought of." + +It is almost pity to disturb an elegant Historical Passage of this +kind, circulating round the world, in some glory, for a century +past: but there has a small irrefragable Document come to me, which +modifies it a good deal, and reduces matters to the business form. +Lord Charles Hay, "Lieutenant-Colonel," practical Head, "of the +First Regiment of Foot-guards," wrote, about three weeks after (or +dictated in sad spelling, not himself able to write for wounds), a +Letter to his Brother, of which here is an Excerpt at first hand, +with only the spelling altered: ... "It was our Regiment that +attacked the French Guards: and when we came within twenty or +thirty paces of them, I advanced before our Regiment; drank to them +[to the French, from the pocket-pistol one carries on such +occasions], and told them that we were the English Guards, and +hoped that they would stand till we came quite up to them, and not +swim the Scheld as they did the Mayn at Dettingen [shameful THIRD- +BRIDGE, not of wood, though carpeted with blue cloth there]! +Upon which I immediately turned about to our own Regiment; +speeched them, and made them huzza,"--I hope with a will. +"An Officer [d'Auteroche] came out of the ranks, and tried to make +his men huzza; however, there were not above three or four in their +Brigade that did." ["Ath, May ye 20th, o.s." (to John, Fourth +Marquis of Tweeddale, last "Secretary of State for Scotland," and a +man of figure in his day): Letter is at Yester House, East Lothian; +Excerpt PENES ME.] ... + +Very poor counter-huzza. And not the least whisper of that sublime +"After you, Sirs!" but rather, in confused form, of quite the +reverse; Hay having been himself fired into ("fire had begun on my +left;" Hay totally ignorant on which side first),--fired into, +rather feebly, and wounded by those D'Auteroche people, while he +was still advancing with shouldered arms;--upon which, and not till +which, he did give it them: in liberal dose; and quite blew them +off the ground, for that day. From all which, one has to infer, +That the mutual salutation by hat was probably a fact; that, for +certain, there was some slight preliminary talk and gesticulation, +but in the Homeric style, by no means in the Espagnac-French,-- +not chivalrous epigram at all, mere rough banter, and what is +called "chaffing;"--and in short, that the French Mess-rooms (with +their eloquent talent that way) had rounded off the thing into the +current epigrammatic redaction; the authentic business-form of it +being ruggedly what is now given. Let our Manuscript proceed. + +"D'Auteroche declining the first fire,"--or accepting it, if ever +offered, nobody can say,--"the three Guards Regiments, Lord +Charles's on the right, give it him hot and heavy, 'tremendous +rolling fire;' so that D'Auteroche, responding more or less, cannot +stand it; but has at once to rustle into discontinuity, he and his, +and roll rapidly out of the way. And the British Column advances, +steadily, terribly, hurling back all opposition from it; deeper and +deeper into the interior mysteries of the French Host; blasting its +way with gunpowder;--in a magnificent manner. A compact Column, +slowly advancing,--apparently of some 16,000 foot. +Pauses, readjusts itself a little, when not meddled with; +when meddled with, has cannon, has rolling fire,--delivers from it, +in fact, on both hands such a torrent of deadly continuous fire as +was rarely seen before or since. 'FEU INFERNAL,' the French call +it. The French make vehement resistance. Battalions, squadrons, +regiment after regiment, charge madly on this terrible Column; but +rush only on destruction thereby. Regiment This storms in from the +right, regiment That from the left; have their colonels shot, 'lose +the half of their people;' and hastily draw back again, in a +wrecked condition. The cavalry-horses cannot stand such smoke and +blazing; nor indeed, I think, can the cavaliers. REGIMENT DU ROI +rushing on, full gallop, to charge this Column, got one volley from +it [says Espagnac] which brought to the ground 460 men. +Natural enough that horses take the bit between their teeth; +likewise that men take it, and career very madly in such +circumstances! + +MAP Chap. VIII, Book 15, PAGE 440 GOES ABOUT HERE-------- + + +"The terrible Column with slow inflexibility advances; cannon (now +in reversed position) from that Redoubt d'Eu ('Shame on you, +Ingoldsby!'), and irregular musketry from Fontenoy side, playing +upon it; defeated regiments making barriers of their dead men and +firing there; Column always closing its gapped ranks, and girdled +with insupportable fire. It ought to have taken Fontenoy and +Redoubt d'Eu, say military men; it ought to have done several +things! It has now cut the French fairly in two;--and Saxe, who is +earnestly surveying it a hundred paces ahead, sends word, conjuring +the King to retire instantly,--across the Scheld, by Calonne Bridge +and the strong rear-guard there,--who, however, will not. King and +Dauphin, on horseback both, have stood 'at the Justice (GALLOWS, in +fact) of our Lady of the Woods,' not stirring much, occasionally +shifting to a windmill which is still higher,--ye Heavens, with +what intrepidity, all day!--'a good many country-folk in trees +close behind them.' Country-folk, I suppose, have by this time seen +enough, and are copiously making off: but the King will not, though +things do look dubious. + +"In fact, the Battle hangs now upon a hair; the Battle is as good +as lost, thinks Marechal de Saxe. His battle-lines torn in two in +that manner, hovering in ragged clouds over the field, what hope is +there in the Battle? Fontenoy is firing blank, this some time; +its cannon-balls done. Officers, in Antoine, are about withdrawing +the artillery,--then again (on new order) replacing it awhile. +All are looking towards the Scheld Bridge; earnestly entreating his +Majesty to withdraw. Had the Dutch, at this point of time, broken +heartily in, as Waldeck was urging them to do, upon the redoubts of +Antoine; or had his Royal Highness the Duke, for his own behoof, +possessed due cavalry or artillery to act upon these ragged clouds, +which hang broken there, very fit for being swept, were there an +artillery-and-horse besom to do it,--in either of these cases the +Battle was the Duke's. And a right fiery victory it would have +been; to make his name famous; and confirm the English in their mad +method of fighting, like Baresarks or Janizaries rather than +strategic human creatures. [See, in Busching's <italic> Magazin, +<end italic> xvi. 169 ("Your illustrious 'Column,' at Fontenoy? +It was fortuitous, I say; done like janizaries;" and so forth), a +Criticism worth reading by soldiers.] + +"But neither of these contingencies had befallen. The Dutch- +Austrian wing did evince some wish to get possession of Antoine; +and drew out a little; but the guns also awoke upon them; +whereupon the Dutch-Austrians drew in again, thinking the time not +come. As for the Duke, he had taken with him of cannon a good few; +but of horse none at all (impossible for horse, unless Fontenoy and +the Redoubt d'Eu were ours!)--and his horse have been hanging +about, in the Wood of Barry all this while, uncertain what to do; +their old Commander being killed withal, and their new a dubitative +person, and no orders left. The Duke had left no orders; having +indeed broken in here, in what we called a spiritual white-heat, +without asking himself much what he would do when in: 'Beat the +French, knock them to powder if I can!'--Meanwhile the French +clouds are reassembling a little: Royal Highness too is readjusting +himself, now got '300 yards ahead of Fontenoy,'--pauses there about +half an hour, not seeing his way farther. + +"During which pause, Duc de Richelieu, famous blackguard man, +gallops up to the Marechal, gallops rapidly from Marechal to King; +suggesting, 'were cannon brought AHEAD of this close deep Column, +might not they shear it into beautiful destruction; and then a +general charge be made?' So counselled Richelieu: it is said, the +Jacobite Irishman, Count Lally of the Irish Brigade, was prime +author of this notion,--a man of tragic notoriety in time coming. +["Thomas Arthur Lally Comte de Tollendal," patronymically +"O'MuLALLY of TULLINDALLY" (a place somewhere in Connaught, +undiscoverable where, not material where): see our dropsical friend +(in one of his wheeziest states), <italic> King James's Irish +Army-List <end italic> (Dublin, 1855), pp. 594-600.] Whoever was +author of it, Marechal de Saxe adopts it eagerly, King Louis +eagerly: swift it becomes a fact. Universal rally, universal +simultaneous charge on both flanks of the terrible Column: this it +might resist, as it has done these two hours past; but cannon +ahead, shearing gaps through it from end to end, this is what no +column can resist;--and only perhaps one of Friedrich's columns (if +even that) with Friedrich's eye upon it, could make its half-right- +about (QUART DE CONVERSION), turn its side to it, and manoeuvre out +of it, in such circumstances. The wrathful English column, slit +into ribbons, can do nothing at manoeuvring; blazes and rages,-- +more and more clearly in vain; collapses by degrees, rolls into +ribbon-coils, and winds itself out of the field. Not much chased,-- +its cavalry now seeing a job, and issuing from the Wood of Barry to +cover the retreat. Not much chased;--yet with a loss, they say, in +all, of 7,000 killed and wounded, and about 2,000 prisoners; +French loss being under 5,000. + +"The Dutch and Austrians had found that the fit time was now come, +or taken time by the forelock,--their part of the loss, they said, +was a thousand and odd hundreds. The Battle ended about two o'clock +of the day; had begun about eight. Tuesday, 11th May, 1745: one of +the hottest half-day's works I have known. A thing much to be +meditated by the English mind.--King Louis stept down from the +Gallows-Hill of Our Lady; and KISSED Marechal de Saxe. Saxe was +nearly dead of dropsy; could not sit on horseback, except for +minutes; was carried about in a wicker bed; has had a lead bullet +in his mouth, all day, to mitigate the intolerable thirst. +Tournay was soon taken; the Dutch garrison, though strong, and in a +strong place, making no due debate. + +"Royal Highness retired upon Ath and Brussels; hovered about, +nothing daunted, he or his: 'Dastard fellows, they would not come +out into the open ground, and try us fairly!' snort indignantly the +Gazetteers and enlightened Public. [Old Newspapers.] +Nothing daunted;--but, as it were, did not do anything farther, +this Campaign; except lose Gand, by negligence VERSUS vigilance, +and eat his victuals,--till called home by the Rebellion Business, +in an unexpected manner! Fontenoy was the nearest approach he ever +made to getting victory in a battle; but a miss too, as they all +were. He was nothing like so rash, on subsequent occasions; but had +no better luck; and was beaten in all his battles--except the +immortal Victory of Culloden alone. Which latter indeed, was it not +itself (in the Gazetteer mind) a kind of apotheosis, or lifting of +a man to the immortal gods,--by endless tar-barrels and beer, for +the time being? + +"Old Marechal de Noailles was in this Battle; busy about the +redans, and proud to see his Saxe do well. Chivalrous Grammont, +too, as we saw, was there,---killed at the first discharge. +Prince de Soubise too (not killed); a certain Lord George Sackville +(hurt slightly,--perhaps had BETTER have been killed!)--and others +known to us, or that will be known. Army-Surgeon La Mettrie, of +busy brain, expert with his tourniquets and scalpels, but of wildly +blusterous heterodox tongue and ways, is thrice-busy in Hospital +this night,--'English and French all one to you, nay, if anything, +the English better!' those are the Royal orders:--La Mettrie will +turn up, in new capacity, still blusterous, at Berlin, by and by. + +"The French made immense explosions of rejoicing over this Victory +of Fontenoy; Voltaire (now a man well at Court) celebrating it in +prose and verse, to an amazing degree (21,000 copies sold in one +day); the whole Nation blazing out over it into illuminations, arcs +of triumph and universal three-times-three:--in short, I think, +nearly the heartiest National Huzza, loud, deep, long-drawn, that +the Nation ever gave in like case. Now rather curious to consider, +at this distance of time. Miraculous Anecdotes, true and not true, +are many. Not to mention again that surprising offer of the first +fire to us, what shall we say of the 'two camp-sutlers whom I +noticed,' English females of the lowest degree; 'one of whom was +busy slitting the gold-lace from a dead Officer, when a cannon-ball +came whistling, and shore her head away. Upon which, without sound +uttered, her neighbor snatched the scissors, and deliberately +proceeded.' [De Hordt, <italic> Memoires, <end italic> i. 108. +A FRENCH OFFICER'S ACCOUNT (translated in <italic> Gentleman's +Magazine, <end italic> 1745; where, pp. 246, 250, 291, 313, &c., +are many confused details and speculations on this subject).] +A deliberate gloomy people;--unconquerable except by French +prowess, glory to that same!" + +Britannic Majesty is not successful this season; Highland +Rebellions rising on him, and much going awry. He is founding his +National Debt, poor Majesty; nothing else to speak of. His poor +Army, fighting never so well in Foreign quarrels,--and generally +itself standing the brunt, with the co-partners looking on till it +is time to run (as at Roucoux again next season, and at Lauffeld +next),--can win nothing but hard knocks and losses. And is defined +by mankind,--in phraseology which we have heard again since then! +--as having "the heart of a Lion and the head of an Ass." +[Old Pamphlets, SOEPIUS.] Portentous to contemplate!-- + +Cape Breton was besieged this Summer, in a creditable manner; +and taken. The one real stroke done upon France this Year, or +indeed (except at sea) throughout the War. "Ruin to their +Fisheries, and a clear loss of 1,400,000 pounds a year." +Compared with which all these fine "Victories in Flanders" are a +bottle of moonshine. This was actually a kind of stroke;--and this, +one finds, was accomplished, under presidency of a small squadron +of King's ships, by ('New-England Volunteers," on funds raised by +subscription, in the way of joint-stock. A shining Colonial feat; +said to be very perfectly done, both scrip part of it, and fighting +part; [Adelung, v. 32-35 ("27th June, 1745, after a siege of +forty-nine days"): see "Gibson, <italic> Journal of the Siege;" +<end italic> "Mr. Prince (of the South Church, Boston), +THANKSGIVING SERMON (price fourpence);" &c. &c.: in the Old +Newspapers, 1745, 1748, multifarious Notices about it, and then +about the "repayment" of those excellent "joint-stock" people.] +--and might have yielded, what incalculable dividends in the +Fishery way! But had to be given up again, in exchange for the +Netherlands, when Peace came. Alas, your Majesty! Would it be quite +impossible, then, to go direct upon your own sole errand, the +JENKINS'S-EAR one, instead of stumbling about among the Foreign +chimney-pots, far and wide, under nightmares, in this terrible +manner?--Let us to Silesia again. + + + + Chapter IX. + + THE AUSTRIAN-SAXON ARMY INVADES SILESIA, ACROSS THE + MOUNTAINS. + +Valori, who is to be of Friedrich's Campaign this Year, came +posting off directly in rear of the glorious news of Fontenoy; +found Friedrich at Camenz, rather in spirits than otherwise; +and lodged pleasantly with Abbot Tobias and him, till the Campaign +should begin. Two things surprise Valori: first, the great +strength, impregnable as it were, to which Neisse has been brought +since he saw it last,--superlative condition of that Fortress, and +of the Army itself, as it gathers daily more and more about +Frankenstein here:--and then secondly, and contrariwise, the +strangely neglected posture of mountainous or Upper Silesia, given +up to Pandours. Quite submerged, in a manner: Margraf Karl lies +quiet among them at Jagerndorf, "eating his magazine;" General +Hautcharmoi (Winterfeld's late chief in that Wurben affair), with +his small Detachment, still hovers about in those Ratibor parts, +"with the Strong Towns to fall-back upon," or has in effect fallen +back accordingly; and nothing done to coerce the Pandours at all. +While Prince Karl and Weissenfels are daily coming on, in force +100,000, their intention certain; force, say, about 100,000 +regular! Very singular to Valori. + +"Sire, will not you dispute the Passes, then?" asks Valori, amazed: +"Not defend your Mountain rampart, then?" "MON CHER; the Mountain +rampart is three or four hundred miles long; there are twelve or +twenty practicable roads through it. One is kept in darkness, too; +endless Pandour doggery shutting out your daylight:--ill defending +such a rampart," answers Friedrich. "But how, then," persists +Valori; "but--?" "One day the King answered me," says Valori, +"'MON AMI, if you want to get the mouse, don't shut, the trap; +leave the trap open (ON LAISSE LA SOURICIERE OUVERTE)!'" Which was +a beam of light to the inquiring thought of Valori, a military man +of some intelligence. [See VALORI, i. 222, 224, 228.] + +That, in fact, is Friedrich's purpose privately formed. He means +that the Austrians shall consider him cowed into nothing, as he +understands they already do; that they shall enter Silesia in the +notion of chasing him; and shall, if need be, have the pleasure of +chasing him,--till perhaps a right moment arrive. For he is full of +silent finesse, this young King; soon sees into his man, and can +lead him strange dances on occasion. In no man is there a +plentifuler vein of cunning, nor of a finer kind. Lynx-eyed +perspicacity, inexhaustible contrivance, prompt ingenuity,--a man +very dangerous to play with at games of skill. And it is cunning +regulated always by a noble sense of honor, too; instinctively +abhorrent of attorneyism and the swindler element: a cunning, sharp +as the vulpine, yet always strictly human, which is rather +beautiful to see. This is one of Friedrich's marked endowments. +Intellect sun-clear, wholly practical (need not be specially deep), +and entirely loyal to the fact before it; this--if you add rapidity +and energy, prompt weight of stroke, such as was seldom met with-- +will render a man very dangerous to his adversary in the game of +war.--Here is the last of our Pandour Adventures for the present:-- + +"From May 12th, Friedrich had been gathering closer and closer +about Frankenstein; by the end of the month (28th, as it proved) he +intends that all Detachments shall be home, and the Army take Camp +there. The most are home; Margraf Karl, at Jagerndorf, has not yet +done eating his magazine; but he too must come home. Summon the +Margraf home:--it is not doubted he will cut himself through, he +and his 12,000; but such is the swarm of Pandours hovering between +him and us, no estafette, or cleverest letter-bearer, can hope to +get across to him. Ziethen with 500 Hussars, he must take the +Letter; there is no other way. Ziethen mounts; fares swiftly forth, +towards Neustadt, with his Letter; lodges in woods; dodges the +thick-crowding Tolpatcheries (passes himself off for a Tolpatchery, +say some, and captures Hungarian Staff-Officers who come to give +him orders [Frau van Blumenthal, <italic> Life of De Ziethen, <end +italic> pp. 171-181 (extremely romantic; now given up as mythical, +for most part): see Orlich (ii. 150); but also Ranke (iii. 245), +Preuss, &c.]); is at length found out, and furiously set upon, +'Ziethen, Hah!'--but gets to Jagerndorf, Margraf Karl coming out to +the rescue, and delivers his Letter. 'Home, then, all of us +to-morrow!' And so, Saturday, 22d May, before we get to Neustadt on +the way home, there is an authentic passage of arms, done very +brilliantly by Margraf Karl against Pandours and others. + +"To right of us, to left, barring our road, the enemy, 20,000 of +them, stand ranked on heights, in chosen positions; cannon- +batteries, grenadiers, dragoons of Gotha and infinite Pandours: +military jungle bristling far and wide. And you must push it +heartily, and likewise cut the tap-root of it (seize its big guns), +or it will not roll away. Margraf Karl shoots forth his steady +infantry ('Silent till you see the whites of their eyes!'),--his +cavalry with new manoeuvres; whose behavior is worthy of Ziethen +himself:--in brief, the jungle is struck as by a whirlwind, the +tap-root of it cut, and rolls simultaneously out of range, leaving +only the Regiment of Gotha,, Regiment of Ogilvy and some Regulars, +who also get torn to shreds, and utterly ruined. Seeing which, the +Pandour jungle plunges wholly into the woods, uttering horrible +cries (EN POUSSANT DES CRIS TERRIBLES), says Friedrich. +[<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> iii. 106. More +specially BERICHTE VON DER AM 22 MAI, 1745 BEY NEUSTADT IN OBER- +SCHLESIEN VORGEFALLENER ACTION (Seyfarth, <italic> Beylage, <end +italic> i. 159-166).] Our new cavalry-manoeuvres deserve praise. +Margraf Karl had the honor to gain his Cousin's approbation this +day; and to prove himself, says the Cousin, (worthy of the +grandfather he came from,'--my own great-grandfather; +Great Elector, Friedrich-Wilhelm; whose style of motion at +Fehrbellin, or on the ice of the Frische Haf (soldiers all in +sledges, tearing along to be at the Swedes), was probably somewhat +of this kind." ... + +"Some days ago, Winterfeld had been pushed out to Landshut, with +Detachment of 2,000, to judge a little for himself which way the +Austrians were coming, and to scare off certain Uhlans (the SAXON +species of Tolpatchery), who were threatening to be mischievous +thereabouts. The Uhlans, at sound of Winterfeld, jingled away at +once: but, in a day or two, there came upon him, on the sudden, +Pandour outburst in quite other force;--and in the very hours while +Ziethen was struggling into Jagerndorf, and still more emphatically +next day, while Margraf Karl was handling his Pandours,--Colonel +Winterfeld, a hundred miles to westward lapped among the Mountains, +chanced to be dealing again with the same article. Very busy with +it, from 4 o'clock this morning; likely to give a good account of +the job. Steadily defending Landshut and himself, against the +grenadier battalions, cannon and furious overplus of Pandours +(8,000 or 9,000, it is said, six to one or so in the article of +cavalry), which General Nadasti, a scientific leader of men or +Pandours, skilfully and furiously hurls upon Landshut and him, in +an unexpected manner. Colonel Winterfeld had need of all his heart +and energy, in the intricate ground; against the furious overplus +well manoeuvred: but in him too there are manoeuvres; if he fall +back here, it is to rush on double strong there; hour after hour he +inexpugnably defends himself,--till General Stille, Friedrich's old +Tutor, our worthy writing friend, whom we occasionally quote, comes +up with help; and Nadasti is at once brushed home again, with sore +smart of failure, and 'the loss of 600 killed,' among other items. +[<italic> Bericht von der am 21 Mai, 1745 bey Landshut +rorgefallener Action, in Feldzuge, <end italic> i. 302-305 (or in +Seyfarth, <italic> Beylage, <end italic> i. 155-158); <italic> +OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> iii. 105; Stille, pp. 120-124 +(who misdates, "23d May" for 22d).] Colonel Winterfeld was made +Major-General next day, for this action. Colonel Winterfeld is +cutting out a high course for himself, by his conduct in these +employments; solidity, brilliant effectuality, shining through all +he does; his valor and value, his rapid just insight, fiery energy +and nobleness of mind more and more disclosing themselves,--to one +who is a judge of men, and greatly needs for his own use the first- +rate quality in that article." + +Friedrich has left the mouse-trap open;--and latterly has been +baiting it with a pleasant spicing of toasted cheese. One of his +Spies, reporting from Prince Karl's quarters, Friedrich has at this +time discovered to be a Double-Spy, reporting thither as well. +Double-Spy, there is an ugly fact;--perhaps not quite convenient to +abolish it by hemp and gibbet; perhaps it could be turned to use, +as most facts can? "Very good, my expert Herr von Schonfeld [that +was the knave's name]; and now of all things, whenever the Prince +does get across,--instant word to us of that! Nothing so important +to us. If he should get BETWEEN us and Breslau, for example, what +would the consequence be!" To this purport Friedrich instructs his +Double-Spy; sends him off, unhanged, to Prince Karl's Camp, to blab +this fresh bit of knowledge. "We likewise," says Friedrich, +"ordered some repairs on the roads leading to Breslau;"--last turn +of the hand to our bit of toasted fragrancy. And Prince Karl is +actually striding forward, at an eager pace:--and Nadasti VERSUS +Winterfeld, the other day, could Winterfeld have guessed it, was +the actual vanguard of the march; and will be up again straightway! +Whereupon Winterfeld too is called home; and all eyes are bent on +the Landshut side. + +Prince Karl, under these fine omens, had been urgent on the Saxons +to be swift; Saxons under Weissenfels did at last "get their cannon +up," and we hear of them for certain, in junction with the +Austrians, at Schatzlar, on the Bohemian side of the Giant- +Mountains; climbing with diligence those wizard solitudes and +highland wastes. In a word, they roll across into Silesia, to +Landshut (29th May); nothing doubting but Friedrich has cowered +into what retreats he has, as good as desperate of Silesia, and +will probably be first heard of in Breslau, when they get thither +with their sieging guns. No cautious sagacious old Feldmarschall +Traun is in that Host at present; nothing but a Prince Karl, and a +poor Duke of Weissenfels; who are too certain of several things;-- +very capable of certainty, and also of doubt, the wrong way of the +facts. Their force is, by strict count, 75,000; and they march from +Landshut, detained a little by provender concerns, on the last day +of May. [Orlich, ii. 146; Ranke, iii. 247; Stenzel, iv. 245.] + +May 28th, Friedrich had encamped at Frankenstein; May 30th, he sets +forth northwestward, to be nearer the new scene; encamps at +Reichenbach, that night; pushes forward again, next day, for +Schweidnitz, for Striegau (in all, a shift northwest of some forty +miles);--and from June 1st, lies stretched out between Schweidnitz +and Striegau, nine miles long; well hidden in the hollows of the +little Rivers thereabouts (Schweidnitz Water, Striegau Water), with +their little knolls and hills; watching Prince Karl's probable +place of egress from the Mountain Country opposite. His main Camp +is from Schweidnitz to Jauernik, some five miles long; but he has +his vanguard up as far as Striegau, Dumoulin and Winterfeld as +vanguard, in good strength, a little way behind or westward of that +Town and Stream; Nassau and his Division are screened in the Wood +called Nonnenbusch (NUN'S BUSH), and there are outposts sprinkled +all about, and vedettes watching from the hill-tops, from the +Stanowitz Foxhill; the Zedlitz "Cowhill," "Winchill:" an Army not +courting observation, but intent very much to observe. Nadasti has +appeared again; at Freyburg, few miles off, on this side of the +Mountains; goes out scouting, reconnoitring; but is "fired at from +the growing corn," and otherwise hoodwinked by false symptoms, and +makes little of that business. Friedrich's Army we will compute at +70,000. [General-Lieutenant Freiherr Leo von Lutzow, <italic> Die +Schlacht von Hohenfriedbeg <end italic> (Potsdam, 1845), pp. 18, +21.] Not quite equal in number to Prince Karl's; and, in other +particulars, willing and longing that Prince Karl would arrive, and +try its quality. + +Friedrich's head-quarter is at Jauernik: he goes daily riding +hither, thither; to the top of the Fuchsberg (FOXHILL at Stanowitz) +with eager spy-glass; daily many times looks with his spy-glass to +the ragged peaks about Bolkenhayn, Kauder, Rohnstock; expecting the +throw of the dice from that part. On Thursday, 3d June: Do you +notice that cloud of dust rising among the peaks over yonder? +Dust-cloud mounting higher and higher. There comes the big crisis, +then! There are the combined Weissenfels and Karl with their +Austrian Saxons, issuing proudly from their stone labyrinth; +guns, equipments, baggages, all perfectly brought through; rich +Silesian plain country now fairly at their feet, Breslau itself but +a few marches off:--at sight of all which, the Austrian big host +bursts forth into universal field-music, and shakes out its banners +to the wind. Thursday, 3d June, 1745; a dramatic Entry of something +quite considerable on the Stage of History. + +Friedrich, with Nassau and generals round, stands upon the +Fuchsberg,--his remarks not given, his looks or emotions not +described to us, his thought well known,--and looks at it through +his TUBUS (or spy-glass): There they are, then, and the big moment +is come! Friedrich had seen the dust and the manoeuvring of them, +deeper in the Hills, from this same Fuchsberg yesterday, and +inferred what was coming; calculated by what roads or hill-tracks +they could issue: and how he, in each case, was to deal with them; +his march-routes are all settled, plank-bridges repaired, all +privately is ready for these proud Austrian musical gentlemen, here +in the hollow. Friedrich has been upon this Fuchsberg with his +TUBUS daily, many times since Monday last: it is our general +observatorium, says Stille, and commands a fine view into the +interior of these Hills. A Fuchsberg which has become notable in +the Prussian maps: "the Stanowitz Fuchsberg," east side of Striegau +Water,--let no tourist mistake himself; for there are two or even +three other Fuchsbergs, a mile or so northward on the western side +of that Stream, which need to be distinguished by epithets, as the +Striegau Fuchsberg, the Graben Fuchsberg, and perhaps still others: +comparable to the FOUR Neisse rivers, three besides the one we +know, which occur in this piece of Country! Our German cousins, I +have often sorrowed to find, have practically a most poor talent +for GIVING NAMES; and indeed much, for ages back, is lying in a sad +state of confusion among them. Many confused things, rotting far +and wide, in contradiction to the plainest laws of Nature; +things as well as names! All the welcomer this Prussian Army, this +young Friedrich leading it; they, beyond all earthly entities of +their epoch, are not in a state of confusion, but of most strict +conformity to the laws of Arithmetic and facts of Nature: perhaps a +very blessed phenomenon for Germany in the long-run. + +Prince Karl with Weissenfels, General Berlichingen and many plumed +dignitaries, are dining on the Hill-top near Hohenfriedberg: +after having given order about everything, they witness there, over +their wine, the issue of their Columns from the Mountains; +which goes on all afternoon, with field-music, spread banners; +and the oldest General admits he never saw a finer review- +manoeuvre, or one better done, if so well. Thus sit they on the +Hill-top (GALGENBERG, not far from the gallows of the place, says +Friedrich), in the beautiful June afternoon. Silesia lying +beautifully azure at their feet; the Zobtenberg, enchanted +Mountain, blue and high on one's eastern horizon; +Prussians noticeable only in weak hussar parties four or five miles +off, which vanish in the hollow grounds again. All intending for +Breslau, they, it is like;--and here, red wine and the excellent +manoeuvre going on. "The Austrian-and-Saxon Army streamed out all +afternoon," says a Country Schoolmaster of those parts, whose +Day-book has been preserved, [In Lutzow, pp. 123-132.] "each +regiment or division taking the place appointed it; all afternoon, +till late in the night, submerging the Country as in a deluge," +five miles long of them; taking post at the foot of the Hills +there, from Hohenfriedberg round upon Striegau, looking towards the +morrow's sunrise. To us poor country-folk not a beautiful sight; +their light troops flying ahead, and doing theft and other mischief +at a sad rate. + +On the other hand, the Austrian and Saxon gentlemen, from their +Gallows-Hill at Hohenfriedberg, notice, four or five miles in the +distance, opposite them, or a little to the left of opposite, a +Body of Prussian horse and foot, visibly wending northward; like a +long glittering serpent, the glitter of their muskets flashing back +yonder on the afternoon sun and us, as they mount from hollow to +height. Ten or twelve thousand of them; making for Striegau, to +appearance. Intending to bivouac or billet there, and keep some +kind of watch over us; belike with an eye to being rear-guard, on +the retreat towards Breslau to-morrow? Or will they retreat without +attempting mischief? Serenity of Weissenfels engages to seize the +heights and proper posts, over yonder, this night yet; and will +take Striegau itself, the first thing, to-morrow morning. + +Yes, your Serenities, those are Prussians in movement: Vanguard +Corps of Dumoulin, Winterfeld;--Rittmeister Seydlitz rides yonder: +--and it is not their notion to retreat without mischief. For there +stands, not so far off, on the Stanowitz Fuchsberg, a brisk little +Gentleman, if you could notice him; with his eyes fixed on you, and +plans in the head of him now getting nearly mature. For certain, he +is pushing out that column of men; and all manner of other columns +are getting order to push out, and take their ground; and to-morrow +morning--you will not find him in retreat! Such are the phenomena +in that Striegau-Hohenfriedberg region, while the sun is bending +westward, on Thursday, 3d June, 1745. + +"From Hohenfriedberg, which leans against the higher Mountains, +there may be, across to Striegau northeast, which stands well apart +from them, among lower Hills of its own, a distance of about five +English miles. The intervening country is of flat, though upland +nature: the first broad stage, or STAIR-STEP, so to speak, leading +down into the general interior levels of Silesia in those parts. +A tract which is now tolerably dried by draining, but was then +marshy as well as bushy:--flat to the eye, yet must be +imperceptibly convexed a little, for the line of watershed is +hereabouts: walk from Hohenfriedberg to Striegau, the water on your +left hand flows, though mainly in ditches or imperceptible oozings, +to the north and west,--there to fall into an eastern fork of the +Roaring Neisse [one of our three new Neisses, which is a very quiet +stream here; runs close by the Mountain base, fed by many torrents, +and must get its name, WUTHENDE or Roaring, from the suddenness of +its floods]: into this, bound northward and westward, run or ooze +all waters on your left hand, as you go to Striegau. Right hand, +again, or to eastward, you will find all sauntering, or running in +visible brooks into Striegau Water [little River notable to us], +which comes circling from the Mountains, past Hohenfriedberg, +farther south; and has got to some force as a stream before it +reaches Striegau, and turns abruptly eastward;--eastward, to join +Schweidnitz Water, and form with it the SECOND stair-step downwards +to the Plain Country. Has its Fuchsbergs, Kuhbergs and little +knolls and heights interspersed, on both sides of it, in the +conceivable way. + +"So that, looking eastward from the heights of Hohenfriedberg, our +broad stage or stair-step has nothing of the nature of a valley, +but rather is a kind of insensibly swelling plain between two +valleys, or hollows, of small depth; and slopes both ways. +Both ways; but MORE towards the Striegau-Water valley or hollow; +and thence, in a lazily undulating manner, to other hollows and +waters farther down. Friedrich's Camp lies in the next, the +Schweidnitz-Water hollow; and is five, or even nine miles long, +from Schweidnitz northward;--much hidden from the Austrian-Saxon +gentlemen at present. No hills farther, mere flat country, to +eastward of that. But to the north, again, about Striegau, the +hollow deepens, narrows; and certain Hills," much notable at +present, "rise to west of Striegau, definite peaked Hills, with +granite quarries in them and basalt blocks atop:--Striegau, it +appears, is, in old Czech dialect, TRZIZA, which means TRIPLE HILL, +the 'Town of the Three Hills.' [Lutzow, p. 28.] An ancient quaint +little Town, of perhaps 2,000 souls: brown-gray, the stones of it +venerably weathered; has its wide big market-place, piazza, plain- +stones, silent enough except on market-days: nestles itself +compactly in the shelter of its Three Hills, which screen it from +the northwest; and has a picturesque appearance, its Hills and it, +projected against the big Mountain range beyond, as you approach it +from the Plain Country. + +"Hohenfriedberg, at the other corner of our battle-stage, on the +road to Landshut, is a Village of no great compass; but sticks +pleasantly together, does not straggle in the usual way; +climbs steep against its Gallows-Hill (now called 'SIEGESBERG, +Victory Hill,' with some tower or steeple-monument on it, built by +subscription); and would look better, if trimmed a little and +habitually well swept. The higher Mountain summits, Landshut way, +or still more if you look southeastward, Glatz-ward, rise blue and +huge, remote on your right; to left, the Roaring Neisse range close +at hand, is also picturesque, though less Alpine in type." +[Tourist's Note (1858).] ... And of all Hills, the notablest, just +now to us, are those "Three" at Striegau. + +Those Three Hills of Striegau his Serenity of Weissenfels is to lay +hold of, this night, with his extreme left, were it once got +deployed and bivouacked. Those Hills, if he can: but Prussian +Dumoulin is already on march thither; and privately has his eye +upon them, on Friedrich's part!--For the rest, this upland +platform, insensibly sloping two ways, and as yet undrained, is of +scraggy boggy nature in many places; much of it damp ground, or +sheer morass; better parts of it covered, at this season, with rank +June grass, or greener luxuriance of oats and barley. A humble +peaceable scene; peaceable till this afternoon; dotted, too, with +six or seven poor Hamlets, with scraggy woods, where they have +their fuel; most sleepy littery ploughman Hamlets, sometimes with a +SCHLOSS or Mansion for the owner of the soil (who has absconded in +the present crisis of things), their evening smoke rising rather +fainter than usual; much cookery is not advisable with Uhlans and +Tolpatchcs flying about. Northward between Striegau and the higher +Mountains there is an extensive TEICHWIRTHSCHAFT, or "Pond- +Husbandry" (gleaming visible from Hohenfriedberg Gallows-Hill just +now); a combination of stagnant pools and carp-ponds, the ground +much occupied hereabouts with what they name Carp-Husbandry. +Which is all drained away in our time, yet traceable by the +studious:--quaggy congeries of sluices and fish-ponds, no road +through them except on intricate dams; have scrubby thickets about +the border;--this also is very strong ground, if Weissenfels +thought of defence there. + +Which Weissenfels does not, but only of attack. He occupies the +ground nevertheless, rearward of this Carp-Husbandry, as becomes a +strategic man; gradually bivouacking all round there, to end on the +Three Hills, were his last regiments got up. The Carp-Husbandry is +mainly about Eisdorf Hamlet:--in Pilgramshayn, where Weissenfels +once thought of lodging, lives our Writing Schoolmaster. +The Mountains lie to westward; flinging longer shadows, as the +invasive troops continually deploy, in that beautiful manner; +and coil themselves strategically on the ground, a bent rope, +cordon, or line (THREE lines in depth), reaching from the front +skirts of Hohenfriedberg to the Hills at Striegau again,--terrible +to behold. + +In front of Hohenfriedberg, we say, is the extremity or right wing +of the Austrian-Saxon bivouac, or will be when the process is +complete; five miles to northeast, sweeping round upon Striegau +region, will be their left, where mainly are the Saxons,--to nestle +upon those Three Hills of Striegau: whitherward however, Dumoulin, +on Friedrich's behalf, is already on march. Austrian-Saxon bivouac, +as is the way in regulated hosts, can at once become Austrian-Saxon +order-of-battle: and then, probably, on the Chord of that Arc of +five miles, the big Fight will roll to-morrow; Striegau one end of +it, Hohenfriedbcrg the other. Flattish, somewhat elliptic upland, +stair-step from the Mountains, as we called it; tract considerably +cut with ditches, carp-husbandries, and their tufts of wood; +line from Striegau to Hohenfriedberg being axis or main diameter of +it, and in general the line of watershed: there, probably, will the +tug of war be. Friedrich, on his Fuchsberg, knows this; +the Austrian-Saxon gentlemen, over their wine on the Gallows-Hill, +do not yet know it, but will know. + +It was about four in the afternoon, when Valori, with a companion, +waiting a good while in the King's Tent at Jauernik, at last saw +his Majesty return from the Fuchsberg observatory. Valori and +friend have great news: "Tournay fallen; siege done, your Majesty!" +Valori's friend is one De Latour; who had brought word of Fontenoy +("important victory on the Scamander," as Friedrich indignantly +defined it to himself); and was bid wait here till this Siege-of- +Tournay consummation ("as helpful to me as the Siege of Pekin!") +should supervene. They hasten to salute his Majesty with the +glorious tidings, Hmph! thinks Friedrich: and we are at death-grips +here, little to be helped by your taking Pekin! However, he lets +wit of nothing. "I make my compliments; mean to fight to-morrow." +[Valori, i. 228.] Valori, as old soldier and friend, volunteers to +be there and assist:--Good. + +Friedrich, I presume, at this late hour of four, may bc snatching a +morsel of dinner; his orderlies are silently speeding, plans taken, +orders given: To start all, at eight in the evening, for the Bridge +of Striegau; there to cross, and spread to the right and to the +left. Silent, not a word spoken, not a pipe lighted: silently +across the Striegau Water there. A march of three miles for the +nearest, who are here at Jauernik; of nine miles for the farthest +about Schweidnitz; at Schweidnitz leave all your baggage, safe +under the guns there. To the Bridge of Striegau, diligently, +silently march along; Bridge of Striegau, there cross Striegau +Water, and deploy to right and to left, in the way each of you +knows. These are Friedrich's orders. + +Late in the dusk, Dumoulin and Winterfeld, whom we saw silently on +march some hours ago, have silently glided past Striegau, and got +into the Three-Hill region, which is some furlong or so farther +north:--to his surprise, Dumoulin finds Saxon parties posting +themselves thereabouts. He attacks said Saxon parties; and after +some slight tussle, drives them mostly from their Three Hills; +mostly, not altogether; one Saxon Hill is precipitous on our hither +side of it, and we must leave that till the dawn break. Of the +other Heights Dumoulin takes good possession, with cannon too, to +be ready against dawn;--and ranks himself out to leftward withal, +along the plain ground; for he is to be right wing, had the other +troops come up. These are now all under way; astir from Jauernik +and Schweidnitz, silently streaming along; and Dumoulin bivouacs +here,--very silent he: not so silent the Saxons; who are still +marching in, over yonder, to westward of Dumoulin, their rear-guard +groping out its posts as it best can in the dark. Elsewhere, miles +and miles along the foot of the Mountains, Austrian-Saxon watch- +fires flame through the ambrosial night; and it is an impressive +sight for Dumoulin,--still more for the poor Schoolmaster at +Pilgramshayn and others, less concerned than Dumoulin. "It was +beautiful," says Stille, who was there, "to see how the plain about +Rohnstock, and all over that way, was ablaze with thousands of +watch-fires (TAUSEND UND ABER TAUSEND); by the light of these, we +could clearly perceive the enemy's troops continually defile from +the Hills the whole night through." [Cited in Seyfarth, i. 630.] + +Serenity of Weissenfels, after all, does not lodge at Pilgramshayn; far in the night, he goes to sleep at Rohnstock, a Schloss and +Hamlet on that fork of Roaring Neisse, by the foot of the +Mountains; three or four miles off, yet handy enough for picking up +Striegau the first thing to-morrow. His Highness Prince Karl lies +in Hausdorf, tolerable quarters, pretty much in the centre of his +long bivouac; day's business well done, and bottle (as one's wont +rather is) well enjoyed. Nadasti has been out scouting; but was +pricked into by hussar parties, fired into from the growing corn; +and could make out little, but the image of his own ideas. +Nadasti's ultimate report is, That the Prussians are perfectly +quiet in their camp; from Jauernik to Schweidnitz, watch-fires all +alight, sentries going their rounds. And so they are, in fact; +sentries and watch-fires,--but now nothing else there, a mere shell +of a camp; the men of it streaming steadily along, without speech, +without tobacco; and many of them are across Striegau Bridge by +this time!-- + +It was past eleven, so close and continuous went this march, before +Valori and his Latour, with their carriages and furnitures, could +find an interval, and get well into it. Never will Valori forget +the discipline of these Prussians, and how they marched. +Difficult ways; the hard road is for their artillery; the men march +on each side, sometimes to mid-leg in water,--never mind. Wholly in +order, wholly silent; Valori followed them three leagues close, and +there was not one straggler. Every private man, much more every +officer, knows well what grim errand they are on; and they make no +remarks. Steady as Time; and, except that their shoes are not of +felt, silent as he. The Austrian watch-fires glow silent manifold +to leftward yonder; silent overhead are the stars:--the path of all +duty, too, is silent (not about Striegau alone) for every well- +drilled man. To-morrow;--well, to-morrow? + +A grimmish feeling against the Saxons is understood to be prevalent +among these men. Bruhl, Weissenfels himself, have been reported +talking high,--"Reduce our King to the size of an Elector again," +and other foolish things;--indeed, grudges have been accumulating +for some time. "KEIN PARDON (No quarter)!" we hear has been a word +among the Saxons, as they came along; the Prussians growl to one +another, "Very well then, None!" Nay Friedrich's general order is, +"No prisoners, you cavalry, in the heat of fight; cavalry, strike +at the faces of them: you infantry, keep your fire till within +fifty steps; bayonet withal is to be relied on." These were +Friedrich's last general orders, given in the hollow of the night, +near the foot of that Fuchsberg where he had been so busy all day; +a widish plain space hereabouts, Striegau Bridge now near: he had +lain snme time in his cloak, waiting till the chief generals, with +the heads of their columns, could rendezvous here. He then sprang +on horseback; spoke briefly the essential things (one of them the +above);--"Had meant to be more minute, in regard to positions and +the like; but all is so in darkness, embroiled by the flare of the +Austrian watch-fires, we can make nothing farther of localities at +present: Striegau for right wing, left wing opposite to +Hohenfriedberg,--so, and Striegau Water well to rear of us. +Be diligent, exact, all faculties awake: your own sense, and the +Order of Battle which you know, must do the rest. Forward; steady: +can I doubt but you will acquit yourselves like Prussian men?" +And so they march, across the Bridge at Striegau, south outskirt of +the Town,--plank Bridge, I am afraid;--and pour themselves, to +right and to left, continually the livelong night. + +To describe the Battle which ensued, Battle named of Striegau or +Hohenfriedberg, excels the power of human talent,--if human talent +had leisure for such employment. It is the huge shock and clash of +70,000 against 70,000, placed in the way we said. An enormous +furious SIMALTAS (or "both-at-once," as the Latins phrase it), +spreading over ten square miles. Rather say, a wide congeries of +electric simultaneities; all ELECTRIC, playing madly into one +another; most loud, most mad: the aspect of which is smoky, +thunderous, abstruse; the true SEQUENCES of which, who shall +unravel? There are five accounts of it, all modestly written, each +true-looking from its own place: and a thrice-diligent Prussian +Officer, stationed on the spot in late years, has striven well to +harmonize them all. [Five Accounts: 1. The Prussian Official +Account, in <italic> Helden-Geschichte,<end italic> i. 1098-1102. +2. The Saxon, ib. 1103-1108. 3. The Austrian, ib. 1109-1115. +4. Stille's (ii. 125-133, of English Translation). 5. Friedrich's +own, <italic> OEuvres, <end italic> iii. 108-118. Lutzow, above +cited, is the harmonizer. Besides which, two of value, in <italic> +Feldzuge, <end italic> i. 310-323, 328-336; not to mention +Cogniazzo, <italic> Confessions of an Austrian Veeran <end italic> +(Breslau, 1788-1791: strictly Anonymous at that time, and candid, +or almost more, to Prussian merit;--still worth reading, here and +throughout), ii. 123-135; &c. &c.] Well worth the study of military +men;--who might make tours towards this and the other great battle- +field, and read such things, were they wise. For us, a feature or +two, in the huge general explosion, to assist the reader's fancy in +conceiving it a little, is all that can be pretended to. + + + + Chapter X. + + BATTLE OF HOHENFRIEDBERG. + +With the first streak of dawn, the dispute renewed itself between +those Prussians and Saxons who are on the Heights of Striegau. +The two Armies are in contact here; they lie wide apart as yet at +the other end. Cannonading rises here, on both sides, in the dim +gray of the morning, for the possession of these Heights. +The Saxons are out-cannonaded and dislodged, other Saxons start to +arms in support: the cry "To arms!" spreads everywhere, rouses +Weissenfels to horseback; and by sunrise a furious storm of battle +has begun, in this part. Hot and fierce on both sides; charges of +horse, shock after shock, bayonet-charges of foot; the great guns +going like Jove's thunder, and the continuous tearing storm of +small guns, very loud indeed: such a noise, as our poor +Schoolmaster, who lives on this spot, thinks he will hear only once +again, when the Last Trumpet sounds! It did indeed, he informs us, +resemble the dissolution of Nature: "For all fell dark too;" +a general element of sulphurous powder-smoke, streaked with dull +blazes; and death and destruction very nigh. What will become of +poor pacific mortals hereabouts? Rittmeister Seydlitz, Winterfeld +his patron ride, with knit brows, in these horse-charges; +fiery Rothenburg too; Truchsess von Waldburg, at the head of his +Division,--poor Truchsess known in London society, a cannon-ball +smites the life out of him, and he ended here. + +At the first clash of horse and foot, the Saxons fancied they +rather had it; at the second, their horse became distressed; at the +third, they rolled into disorderly heaps. The foot also, stubborn +as they were, could not stand that swift firing, followed by the +bayonet and the sabre; and were forced to give ground. The morning +sun shone into their eyes, too, they say; and there had risen a +breath of easterly wind, which hurled the smoke upon them, so that +they could not see. Decidedly staggering backwards; getting to be +taken in flank and ruined, though poor Weissenfels does his best. +About five in the morning, Friedrich came galloping hitherward; +Valori with him: "MON AMI, this is looking well! This will do, +won't it?" The Saxons are fast sinking in the scale; and did +nothing thenceforth but sink ever faster; though they made a stiff +defence, fierce exasperation on both sides; and disputed every +inch. Their position, in these scraggy Woods and Villages, in these +Morasses and Carp-Husbandries, is very strong. + +It had proved to be farther north, too, than was expected; so that +the Prussians had to wheel round a little (right wing as a centre, +fighting army as radius) before they could come parallel, and get +to work: a delicate manoeuvre, which they executed to Valori's +admiration, here in the storm of battle; tramp, tramp, velocity +increasing from your centre outwards, till at the end of the +radius, the troops are at treble-quick, fairly running forward, and +the line straight all the while. Admirable to Valori, in the hot +whirlwind of battle here. For the great guns go, in horrid salvos, +unabated, and the crackling thunder of the small guns; "terrible +tussling about those Carp-ponds, that quaggy Carp-husbandry," says +the Schoolmaster, "and the Heavens blotted out in sulphurous fire- +streaked smoke. What had become of us pacific? Some had run in +time, and they were the wisest; others had squatted, who could find +a nook suitable. Most of us had gathered into the Nursery-garden at +the foot of our Village; we sat quaking there,--our prayers grown +tremulously vocal;--in tears and wail, at least the women part. +Enemies made reconcilement with each other," says he, "and dear +friends took farewell." [His Narrative, in Lutzow, UBI SUPRA.] +One general Alleleu; the Last Day, to all appearance, having come. +Friedrich, seeing things in this good posture, gallops to the left +again, where much urgently requires attention from him. + +On the Austrian side, Prince Karl, through his morning sleep at +Hausdorf, had heard the cannonading: "Saxons taking Striegau!" +thinks he; a pleasant lullaby enough; and continues to sleep and +dream. Agitated messengers rush in, at last; draw his curtains: +"Prussians all in rank, this side Striegau Water; Saxons beaten, or +nearly so, at Striegau: we must stand to arms, your Highness!"-- +"To arms, of course," answers Karl; and hurries now, what he can, +to get everything in motion. The bivouac itself had been in order +of battle; but naturally there is much to adjust, to put in trim; +and the Austrians are not distinguished for celerity of movement. +All the worse for them just now. + +On Friedrich's side, so far as I can gather, there have happened +two cross accidents. First, by that wheeling movement, done to +Valori's admiration in the Striegau quarter, the Prussian line has +hitched itself up towards Striegau, has got curved inward, and +covers less ground than was counted on; so that there is like to be +some gap in the central part of;--as in fact there was, in spite of +Friedrich's efforts, and hitchings of battalions and squadrons: +an indisputable gap, though it turned to rich profit for Friedrich; +Prince Karl paying no attention to it. Upon such indisputable gap a +wakeful enemy might have done Friedrich some perilous freak; +but Karl was in his bed, as we say;--in a terrible flurry, too, +when out of bed. Nothing was done upon the gap; and Friedrich had +his unexpected profit by it before long. + +The second accident is almost worse. Striegau Bridge (of planks, as +I feared), creaking under such a heavy stream of feet aud wheels +all night, did at last break, in some degree, and needed to be +mended; so that the rearward regiments, who are to form Friedrich's +left wing, are in painful retard;--and are becoming frightfully +necessary, the Austrians as yet far outflanking us, capable of +taking us in flank with that right wing of theirs! The moment was +agitating to a General-in-chief: Valori will own this young King's +bearing was perfect; not the least flurry, though under such a +strain. He has aides-de-camp, dashing out every-whither with +orders, with expedients; Prince Henri, his younger Brother: +galloping the fastest; nay, at last, he begs Valori himself to +gallop, with orders to a certain General Gessler, in whose Brigade +are Dragoons. Which Valori does,--happily without effect on +Gessler; who knows no Valori for an aide-de-camp, and keeps the +ground appointed him; rearward of that gap we talked of. + +Happily the Austrian right wing is in no haste to charge. +Happily Ziethen, blocked by that incumbrance of the Bridge mending, +"finds a ford higher up," the assiduous Ziethen; splashes across, +other regiments following; forms in line well leftward; and instead +of waiting for the Austrian charge, charges home upon them, +fiercely through the difficult grounds, No danger of the Austrians +outflanking us now; they are themselves likely to get hard measure +on their flank. By the ford and by the Bridge, all regiments, some +of them at treble-quick, get to their posts still in time. +Accident second has passed without damage. Forward, then; +rapid, steady; and reserve your fire till within fifty paces!-- +Prinoe Ferdinand of Brunswick (Friedrich's Brother-in-law, a +bright-eyed steady young man, of great heart for fight) tramps +forth with his Division:--steady!--all manner of Divisions tramp +forth; and the hot storm, Ziethen and cavalry dashing upon that +right wing of theirs, kindles here also far and wide. + +The Austrian cavalry on this wing and elsewhere, it is clear, were +ill off. "We could not charge the Prussian left wing, say they, +partly because of the morasses that lay between us; and partly +[which is remarkable] because they rushed across and charged us." +[Austrian report, <italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> +i. 1113.] Prince Karl is sorry to report such things of his +cavalry; but their behavior was bad and not good. The first shock +threw them wavering; the second,--nothing would persuade them to +dash forth and meet it. High officers commanded, obtested, drew out +pistols, Prince Karl himself shot a fugitive or two,--it was to no +purpose; they wavered worse at every new shock; and at length a +shock came (sixth it was, as the reporter counts) which shook them +all into the wind. Decidedly shy of the Prussians with their new +manoeuvres, and terrible way of coming on, as if sure of beating. +In the Saxon quarter, certain Austrian regiments of horse would not +charge at all; merely kept firing from their carbines, and when the +time came ran. + +As for the Saxons, they have been beaten these two hours; that is +to say, hopeless these two hours, and getting beaten worse and +worse. The Saxons cannot stand, but neither generally will they +run; they dispute every ditch, morass and tuft of wood, especially +every village. Wrecks of the muddy desperate business last, hour +after hour. "I gave my men a little rest under the garden walls," +says one Saxon Gentleman, "or they would have died, in the heat and +thirst and extreme fatigue: I would have given 100 gulden +[10 pounds Sterling] for a glass of water." [<italic> Helden- +Geschichte, <end italic> ubi supra.] The Prussians push them on, +bayonet in back; inexorable, not to be resisted; slit off whole +battalions of them (prisoners now, and quarter given); take all +their guns, or all that are not sunk in the quagmires;--in fine, +drive them, part into the Mountains direct, part by circuit +thither, down upon the rear of the Austrian fight: through +Hausdorf, Seifersdorf and other Mountain gorges, where we hear no +more of them, and shall say no more of them. A sore stroke for poor +old Weissenfels; the last public one he has to take, in this world, +for the poor man died before long. Nobody's blame, he says; +every Saxon man did well; only some Austrian horse-regiments, that +we had among us, were too shy. Adieu to poor old Weissenfels. +Luck of war, what else,--thereby is he in this pass. + +And now new Prussian force, its Saxons being well abolished, is +pressing down upon Prince Karl's naked left flank. Yes;--Prince +Karl too will have to go. His cavalry is, for most part, shaken +into ragged clouds; infantry, steady enough men, cannot stand +everything. "I have observed," says Friedrich, "if you step sharply +up to an Austrian battalion [within fifty paces or so], and pour in +your fire well, in about a quarter of an hour you see the ranks +beginning to shake, and jumble towards indistinctness;" +[<italic> Military Instructions. <end italic>] a very hopeful +symptom to you! + +It was at this moment that Lieutenant-General Gessler, under whom +is the Dragoon regiment Baireuth, who had kept his place in spite +of Valori's message, determined on a thing,--advised to it by +General Schmettau (younger Schmettau), who was near. Gessler, as we +saw, stood in the rear line, behind that gap (most likely one of +several gaps, or wide spaces, left too wide, as we explained); +Gessler, noticing the jumbly condition of those Austrian +battalions, heaped now one upon another in this part,--motions to +the Prussian Infantry to make what farther room is needful; +then dashes through, in two columns (self and the Dragoon-Colonel +heading the one, French Chasot, who is Lieutenant-Colonel, heading +the other), sabre in hand, with extraordinary impetus and fire, +into the belly of these jumbly Austrians; and slashes them to rags, +"twenty battalions of them," in an altogether unexampled manner. +Takes "several thousand prisoners," and such a haul of standards, +kettle-drums and insignia of honor, as was never got before at one +charge. Sixty-seven standards by the tale, for the regiment (by +most All-Gracious Permission) wears, ever after, "67" upon its +cartridge-box, and is allowed to beat the grenadier march; +[Orlich, ii. 179 (173 n., 179 n., slightly wrong); <italic> +Militair-Lexikon, <end italic> ii. 9, iv. 465, 468. See Preuss, +i. 212; <italic> OEuvres de Frederic; <end italic> &c. &c.]--how +many kettle-drums memory does not say. + +Prince Karl beats retreat, about 8 in the morning; is through +Hohenfriedberg about 10 (cannon covering there, and Nadasti as +rear-guard): back into the Mountains; a thoroughly well-beaten man. +Towards Bolkenhayn, the Saxons and he; their heavy artillery and +baggage had been left safe there. Not much pursued, and gradually +rearranging himself; with thoughts,--no want of thoughts! +Came pouring down, triumphantly invasive, yesterday; returns, on +these terms, in about fifteen hours. Not marching with displayed +banners and field-music, this time; this is a far other march. +The mouse-trap had been left open, and we rashly went in!--Prince +Karl's loss, including that of the Saxons (which is almost equal, +though their number in the field was but HALF), is 9,000 dead and +wounded, 7,000 prisoners, 66 cannon, 73 flags and standards; +the Prussian is about 5,000 dead and wounded. [In Orlich (ii. 182) +all the details.] Friedrich, at sight of Valori, embraces his GROS +VALORI; says, with a pious emotion in voice and look, "My friend, +God has helped me wonderfully this day!" Actually there was a kind +of devout feeling visible in him, thinks Valori: "A singular +mixture, this Prince, of good qualities and of bad; I never know +which preponderates." [Valori, SOEPIUS.] As is the way with fat +Valoris, when they come into such company. + +Friedrich is blamed by some military men, and perhaps himself +thought it questionable, that he did not pursue Prince Karl more +sharply. He says his troops could not; they were worn out with the +night's marching and the day's fighting. He himself may well be +worn out. I suppose, for the last four-and-twenty hours he, of all +the contemporary sons of Adam, has probably been the busiest. +Let us rest this day; rest till to-morrow morning, and be thankful. +"So decisive a defeat," writes he to his Mother (hastily, misdating +"6th" June for 4th), "has not been since Blenheim" [Letter in +<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> xxvi. 71.] (which is +tolerably true); and "I have made the Princes sign their names," to +give the good Mother assurance of her children in these perils of +war. Seldom has such a deliverance come to a man. + + + + Chapter XI. + + CAMP OF CHLUM: FRIEDRICH CANNOT ACHIEVE PEACE. + +Friedrich marched, on the morrow, likewise to Bolkenhayn; which the +enemy have just left; our hussars hanging on their rear, and +bickering with Nadasti. Then again on the morrow, Sunday,--"twelve +hours of continuous rain," writes Valori; but there is no down- +pour, or distress, or disturbance that will shake these men from +their ranks, writes Valori. And so it goes on, march after march, +the Austrians ahead, Dumoulin and our hussars infesting their rear, +which skilfully defended itself: through Landshut down into +Bohemia; where are new successive marches, the Prussian +quarterstaff stuck into the back of defeated Austria, "Home with +you; farther home!"--and shogging it on,--without pause, for about +a fortnight to come. And then only with temporary pause; that is to +say, with intricate manoeuvrings of a month long, which shove it to +Konigsgratz, its ultimatum, beyond which there is no getting it. +The stages and successive campings, to be found punctually in the +old Books and new, can interest only military readers. Here is a +small theological thing at Landshut, from first hand:-- + +JUNE 8th, 1745. "The Army followed Dumoulin's Corps, and marched +upon Landshut. On arriving in that neighborhood, the King was +surrounded by a troop of 2,000 Peasants,"--of Protestant persuasion +very evidently! (which is much the prevailing thereabouts),--"who +begged permission of him 'to massacre the Catholics of these parts, +and clear the country of them altogether.' This animosity arose +from the persecutions which the Protestants had suffered during the +Austrian domination, when their churches used to be taken from them +and given to the Popish priests,"--churches and almost their +children, such was the anxiety to make them orthodox. The patience +of these peasants had run over; and now, in the hour of hope, they +proposed the above sweeping measure. "The King was very far from +granting them so barbarous a permission. He told them, 'They ought +rather to conform to the Scripture precept, to bless those that +cursed them, and pray for those that despitefully used them; +such was the way to gain the Kingdom of Heaven.' The peasants," +rolling dubious eyes for a moment, "answered, His Majesty was +right; and desisted from their cruel pretension." [<italic> OEuvres +de Frederic, <end italic> ii.218.] ...--"On Hohenfriedberg Day," +says another Witness, "as far as the sound of the cannon was heard, +all round, the Protestants fell on their knees, praying for victory +to the Prussians;" [In Ranke, iii. 259.] and at Breslau that +evening, when the "Thirteen trumpeting Postilions" came tearing in +with the news, what an enthusiasm without limit! + +Prince Karl has skill in choosing camps and positions: +his Austrians are much cowed; that is the grievous loss in his late +fight. So, from June 8th, when they quit Silesia,--by two roads to +go more readily,--all through that month and the next, Friedrich +spread to the due width, duly pricking into the rear of them, +drives the beaten hosts onward and onward. They do not think of +fighting; their one thought is to get into positions where they can +have living conveyed to them, and cannot be attacked; for the +former of which objects, the farther homewards they go, it is the +better. The main pursuit, as I gather, goes leftward from Landshut, +by Friedland,--the Silesian Friedland, once Wallenstein's. +Through rough wild country, the southern slope of the Giant +Mountains, goes that slow pursuit, or the main stream of it, where +Friedrich in person is; intricate savage regions, cut by +precipitous rocks and soaking quagmires, shaggy with woods: +watershed between the Upper Elbe and Middle Oder; Glatz on our +left,--with the rain of its mountains gathering to a Neisse River, +eastward, which we know; and on their west or hither side, to a +Mietau, Adler, Aupa and other many-branched feeders of the Elbe. +Most complex military ground, the manoeuvrings on it endless,-- +which must be left to the reader's fancy here. + +About the end of June, Karl and his Austrians find a place suitable +to their objects: Konigsgratz, a compact little Town, in the nook +between the Elbe and Adler; covered to west and to south by these +two streams; strong enough to east withal; and sure and convenient +to the southern roads and victual. Against which Friedrich's +manoeuvres avail nothing; so that he at last (20th July) crosses +Elbe River; takes, he likewise, an inexpugnable Camp on the +opposite shore, at a Village called Chlum; and lies there, making a +mutual dead-lock of it, for six weeks or more. Of the prior Camps, +with their abundance of strategic shufflings, wheelings, pushings, +all issuing in this of Chlum, we say nothing: none of them,-- +except the immediately preceding one, called of Nahorzan, called +also of Drewitz (for it was in parts a shifting entity, and flung +the LIMBS of it about, strategically clutching at Konigsgratz),-- +had any permanency: let us take Chlum (the longest, and essentially +the last in those parts) as the general summary of them, and alone +rememberable by us. ["Camp of Gross-Parzitz [across the Mietau, to +dislodge Prince Karl from his shelter behind that stream], June +14th:" "Camp of Nahorzan, June 18th [and abstruse manoeuvrings, of +a month, for Konigsgratz]: 20th July," cross Elbe for Chlum; +and lie, yourself also inexpugnable, there. See <italic> OEuvres de +Frederic, <end italic> (iii. 120 et seq.); especially see Orlich +(ii. pp. 193, 194, 203, &c. &c.),--with an amplitude of inorganic +details, sufficient to astonish the robustest memory!] + +Friedrich's purposes, at Chlum or previously, are not towards +conquests in Bohemia, nor of fighting farther, if he can help it. +But, in the mean while, he is eating out these Bohemian vicinages; +no invasion of Silesia possible from that quarter soon again. +That is one benefit: and he hopes always his enemies, under screw +of military pressure with the one hand, and offer of the olive- +branch with the other, will be induced to grant him Peace. +Britannic Majesty, after Fontenoy and Hohenfriedberg, not to +mention the first rumors of a Jacobite Rebellion, with France to +rear of it, is getting eager to have Friedrich settled with, and +withdrawn from the game again;--the rather, as Friedrich, knowing +his man, has ceased latterly to urge him on the subject. Peace with +George the Purseholder, does not that mean Peace with all the +others? Friedrich knows the high Queen's indignation; but he little +guesses, at this time, the humor of Bruhl and the Polish Majesty. +He has never yet sent the Old Dessauer in upon them; always only +keeps him on the slip, at Magdeburg; still hoping actualities may +not be needed. He hopes too, in spite of her indignation, the +Hungarian Majesty, with an Election on hand, with the Netherlands +at such a pass, not to speak of Italy and the Middle Rhine, will +come to moderate views again. On which latter points, his reckoning +was far from correct! Within three months, Britannic Majesty and he +did get to explicit Agreement (CONVENTION OF HANOVER, 26th August): +but in regard to the Polish Majesty and the Hungarian there proved +to be no such result attainable, and quite other methods +necessary first! + +"Of military transactions in this Camp of Chlum, or in all these +Bohemian-Silesian Camps, for near four months, there is nothing, or +as good as nothing: Chlum has no events; Chlum vigilantly guards +itself; and expects, as the really decisive to it, events that will +happen far away. We are to conceive this military business as a +dead-lock; attended with hussar skirmishes; attacks, defences, of +outposts, of provision-wagons from Moravia or Silesia:--Friedrich +has his food from Silesia chiefly, by several routes, 'convoys come +once in the five days.' His horse-provender he forages; +with Tolpatches watching him, and continual scufflings of fight: +'for hay and glory,' writes one Prussian Officer, 'I assure you we +fight well!' Endless enterprising, manoeuvring, counter- +manoeuvring there at first was; and still is, if either party stir: +but here, in their mutually fixed camps, tacit mutual observances +establish themselves; and amid the rigorous armed vigilantes, there +are traits of human neighborship. As usual in such cases. +The guard-parties do not fire on one another, within certain +limits: a signal that there are dead to bury, or the like, is +strictly respected. On one such occasion it was (June 30th, Camp- +of-Nahorzan time) that Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick--Prince +Ferdinand, with a young Brother Albert volunteering and learning +his business here, who are both Prussian--had a snatch of interview +with a third much-loved Brother, Ludwig, who is in the Austrian +service. A Prussian officer, venturing beyond the limits, had been +shot; Ferdinand's message, 'Grant us burial of him!' found, by +chance, Brother Ludwig in command of that Austrian outpost; +who answers: 'Surely;--and beg that I may embrace my Brothers!' +And they rode out, those three, to the space intermediate; +talked there for half an hour, till the burial was done. +[Mauvillon, <italic> Geschichte Ferdinands von Braunschweig- +Luneburg, i. 118.] Fancy such an interview between the poor young +fellows, the soul of honor each, and tied in that manner! + +"Trenck of the Life-guard was not quite the soul of honor. It was +in the Nahorzan time too that Trenck, who had, in spite of express +order to the contrary, been writing to his Cousin the indigo +Pandour, was put under arrest when found out. 'Wrote merely about +horses: purchase of horses, so help me God!' protests the +blusterous Life-guardsman, loud as lungs will,--whether with truth +in them, nobody can say. 'Arrest for breaking orders!' answers +Friedrich, doubting or disbelieving the horses; and loud Trenck is +packed over the Hills to Glatz; to Governor Fouquet, or Substitute; +--where, by not submitting and repenting, by resisting and +rebelling, and ever again doing it, he makes out for himself, with +Fouquet and his other Governors, what kind of life we know! +'GARDEZ E'TROITEMENT CE DROLE-LA, IL A VOULU DEVENIR PANDOUR AUPRES +DE SON ONCLE (Keep a tight hold of this fine fellow; he wanted to +become Pandour beside his Uncle)!' writes Friedrich:--'Uncle' +instead of 'Cousin,' all one to Friedrich. This he writes with his +own hand, on the margin: 28th June, 1745; the inexorable Records +fix that date. [Rodenbeck. iii. 381. Copy of the Warrant, once +PENES ME.] Which I should not mention, except for another +inexorable date (30th September), that is coming; and the +perceptible slight comfort there will be in fixing down a loud- +blustering, extensively fabulous blockhead, still fit for the +Nurseries, to one undeniable premeditated lie, and tar-marking him +therewith, for benefit of more serious readers." As shall be done, +were the 30th of September come! + +Here is still something,--if it be not rather nothing, by a great +hand! Date uncertain; Camp-of-Chlum time, pretty far on: ... +"There are continual foragings, on both sides; with parties +mutually dashing out to hinder the same. The Prussians have a +detached post at Smirzitz; which is much harassed by Hungarians +lurking about, shooting our sentry and the like. An inventive head +contrives this expedient. Stuff a Prussian uniform with straw; +fix it up, by aid of ropes and check-strings, to stand with musket +shouldered, and even to glide about to right and left, on judicious +pulling. So it is done: straw man is made; set upon his ropes, when +the Tolpatches approach; and pensively saunters to and fro,--his +living comrades crouching in the bushes near by. Tolpatches fire on +the walking straw sentry; straw sentry falls flat; Tolpatches rush +in, esurient, triumphant; are exploded in a sharp blast of musketry +from the bushes all round, every wounded man made prisoner;--and +come no more back to that post." Friedrich himself records this +little fact: "slight pleasantry to relieve the reader's mind," says +he, in narrating it. [<italic> OEuvres, <end italic> iii. 123.] +--Enough of those small matters, while so many large are waiting. + +June 26th, a month before Chlum, General Nassau had been detached, +with some 8 or 10,000, across Glatz Country, into Upper Silesia, to +sweep that clear again. Hautcharmoi, quitting the Frontier Towns, +has joined, raising him to 15,000; and Nassau is giving excellent +account of the multitudinous Pandour doggeries there; and will +retake Kosel, and have Upper Silesia swept before very long. +[Kosel, "September 5th:" Excellent, lucid and even entertaining +Account of Nassau's Expedition, in the form of DIARY (a model, of +its kind), in <italic> Feldzuge, <end italic> iv. 257, 371, 532.] +On the other hand, the Election matter (KAISERWAHL, a most +important point) is obviously in threatening, or even in desperate +state! That famed Middle-Rhine Army has gone to the--what shall +we say? + +JULY 5th-19th, MIDDLE-RHINE COUNTRY. "The first Election-news that +reaches Friedrich is from the Middle-Rhine Country, and of very bad +complexion. Readers remember Traun, and his Bathyanis, and his +intentions upon Conti there. In the end of May, old Traun, things +being all completed in Bavaria, had got on march with his Bavarian +Army, say 40,000, to look into Prince Conti down in those parts; +a fact very interesting to the Prince. Traun held leftward, +westward, as if for the Neckar Valley,--'Perhaps intending to be +through upon Elsass, in those southern undefended portions of the +Rhine?' Conti, and his Segur, and Middle-Rhine Army stood +diligently on their guard; got their forces, defences, apparatuses, +hurried southward, from Frankfurt quarter where they lay on watch, +into those Neckar regions. Which seen to be done, Traun whirled +rapidly to rightward, to northward; crossed the Mayn at Wertheim, +wholly leaving the Neckar and its Conti; having weighty business +quite in the other direction,--on the north side of the Mayn, +namely; on the Kinzig River, where Bathyani (who has taken +D'Ahremberg's command below Frankfurt, and means to bestir himself +in another than the D'Ahremberg fashion) is to meet him on a set +day. Traun having thus, by strategic suction, pulled the Middle- +Rhine Army out of his and Bathyani's way, hopes they two will +manage a junction on the Kinzig; after junction they will be a +little stronger than Conti, though decidedly weaker taken one by +one. Traun, in the long June days, had such a march, through the +Spessart Forest (Mayn River to his left, with our old friends +Dettingen, Aschaffenburg, far down in the plain), as was hardly +ever known before: pathless wildernesses, rocky steeps and chasms; +the sweltering June sun sending down the upper snows upon him in +the form of muddy slush; so that 'the infantry had to wade haunch- +deep in many of the hollow parts, and nearly all the cavalry lost +its horse-shoes.' A strenuous march; and a well-schemed. For at the +Kinzig River (Conti still far off in the Neckar country), Bathyani +punctually appeared, on the opposite shore; and Traun and he took +camp together; July 5th, at Langen-Selbord (few miles north of +Hanau, which we know);--and rest there; calculating that Conti is +now a manageable quantity;--and comfortably wait till the Grand- +Duke arrives. [Adelung, iv. 421; v. 36.] For this is, +theoretically, HIS Army; Grand-Duke Franz being the Commander's +Cloak, this season; as Karl was last,--a right lucky Cloak he, +while Traun lurked under him, not so lucky since! July 13th, Franz +arrived; and Traun, under Franz, instantly went into Conti (now +again in those Frankfurt parts); clutched at Conti, Briareus-like, +in a multiform alarming manner: so that Conti lost head; took to +mere retreating, rushing about, burning bridges;--and in fine, July +19th, had flung himself bodily across the Rhine (clouds of +Tolpatches sticking to him), and left old Traun and his Grand-Duke +supreme lord in those parts. Who did NOT invade Elsass, as was now +expected; but lay at Heidelberg, intending to play pacifically a +surer card. All French are out of Teutschland again; and the +game given up. In what a premature and shameful manner! +thinks Friedrich. + +"Nominally it was the Grand-Duke that flung Conti over the Rhine; +and delivered Teutschland from its plagues. After which fine feat, +salvatory to the Cause of Liberty, and destructive to French +influence, what is to prevent his election to the Kaisership? +Friedrich complains aloud: 'Conti has given it up; you drafted +15,000 from him (for imaginary uses in the Netherlands),--you have +given it up, then! Was that our bargain?' 'We have given it up,' +answers D'Argenson the War-minister, writing to Valori; 'but,'-- +And supplies, instead of performance according to the laws of fact, +eloquent logic; very superfluous to Friedrich and the said laws!-- +Valori, and the French Minister at Dresden, had again been trying +to stir up the Polish Majesty to stand for Kaiser; but of course +that enterprise, eager as the Polish Majesty might be for such a +dignity, had now to collapse, and become totally hopeless. A new +offer of Friedrich's to co-operate had been refused by Bruhl, with +a brevity, a decisiveness--'Thinks me finished (AUX ABOIS),' says +Friedrich; 'and not worth giving terms to, on surrendering!' +The foolish little creature; insolent in the wrong quarter!" +[<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> iii. 128.] + +'The German Burden, then,--which surely was mutual, at lowest, and +lately was French altogether,--the French have thrown it off; +the French have dropped their end of the BEARING-POLES (so to +speak), and left Friedrich by himself, to stand or stagger, under +the beweltered broken harness-gear and intolerable weight! That is +one's payment for cutting the rope from their neck last year!-- +Long since, while the present Campaign was being prepared for, +under such financial pressures, Friedrich had bethought him, +"The French might, at least give me money, if they can nothing +else?"--and he had one day penned a Letter with that object; +but had thrown it into his desk again, "No; not till the very last +extremity, that!" Friedrich did at last despatch the unpleasant +missive: "Service done you in Elsass, let us say little of it; +but the repayment has been zero hitherto: your Bavarian expenses +(poor Kaiser gone, and Peace of Fussen come!) are now ended:-- +A round sum, say of 600,000 pounds, is becoming indispensable here, +if we are to keep on our feet at all!" Herr Ranke, who has seen the +Most Christian King's response (though in a capricious way), finds +"three or four successive redactions" of the difficult passage; +all painfully meaning, "Impossible, alas!"--painfully adding, "We +will try, however!" And, after due cunctations, Friedrich waiting +silent the while,--Louis, Most Christian King, who had failed in so +many things towards Friedrich, does empower Valori To offer him a +subsidy of 600,000 livres a month, till we see farther. +Twenty thousand pounds a month; he hopes this will suffice, being +himself run terribly low. Friedrich's feeling is to be guessed: +"Such a dole might answer to a Landgraf of Hessen-Darmstadt; but to +me is not in the least suitable;"--and flatly refuses it; +FIEREMENT, says Valori. [Ranke, iii. 235, 299 n. (not the least of +DATE allowed us in either case); Valori. i. 240.] + +MON GROS VALORI, who could not himself help all this, poor soul, +"falls now into complete disgrace;" waits daily upon Friedrich at +the giving out of the parole, "but frequently his Majesty does not +speak to me at all." Hardly looks at me, or only looks as if I had +suddenly become Zero Incarnate. It is now in these days, I suppose, +that Friedrich writes about the "Scamander Battle" (of Fontenoy), +and "Capture of Pekin," by way of helping one to fight the +Austrians according to Treaty. And has a touch of bitter sarcasm in +uttering his complaints against, such treatment,--the heart of him, +I suppose, bitter enough. Most Christian King has felt this of the +Scamander, Friedrich perceives; Louis's next letter testifies +pique;--and of course we are farther from help, on that side, than +ever. "From the STANDE of the Kur-Mark [Brandenburg] Friedrich was +offered a considerable subsidy instead; and joyfully accepted the +same, 'as a loan:'"--paid it punctually back, too; and never, all +his days, forgot it of those STANDE. [Stenzel, iv. 255; Ranke, &c.] + + + CAMP OF DIESKAU: BRITANNIC MAJESTY MAKES PEACE, FOR HIMSELF, + WITH FRIEDRICH; BUT CANNOT FOR AUSTRIA OR SAXONY. + +About the middle of August, there are certain Saxon phenomena which +awaken dread expectation in the world. Friedrich, watching, Argus- +like, near and far, in his Chlum observatory, has noticed that +Prince Karl is getting reinforced in Konigsgratz; 10,000 lately, +7,000 more coming;--and contrariwise that the Saxons seem to be +straggling off from him; ebbing away, corps after corps,--towards +Saxony, can it be? There are whispers of "Bavarian auxiliaries" +being hired for them, too. And little Bruhl's late insolence; +Bruhl's evident belief that "we are finished (AUX ABOIS)"? +Putting all this together, Friedrich judges--with an indignation +very natural--that there is again some insidious Saxon mischief, +most likely an attack on Brandenburg, in the wind. Friedrich orders +the Old Dessauer, "March into them, delay no longer!" and publishes +a clangorously indignant Manifesto (evidently his own writing, and +coming from the heart): [In Adelung, v. 64-71 (no date; "middle of +August," say the Books).] "How they have, not bound by their +Austrian Treaty, wantonly invaded our Silesia; have, since and +before, in spite of our forbearance, done so many things:--and, in +fact, have finally exhausted our patience; and are forcing us to +seek redress and safety by the natural methods," which they will +see how they like!-- + +Old Leopold advances straightway, as bidden, direct for the Saxon +frontier. To whom Friedrich shoots off detachments,--Prince +Dietrich, with so many thousands, to reinforce Papa; then General +Gessler with so many,--till Papa is 30,000 odd; and could eat +Saxony at a mouthful; nothing whatever being yet ready there on +Bruhl's part, though he has such immense things in the wind!-- +Nevertheless Friedrich again paused; did not yet strike. The Saxon +question has Russian bug-bears, no end of complications. +His Britannic Majesty, now at Hanover, and his prudent Harrington +with him, are in the act of laboring, with all earnestness, for a +general Agreement with Friedrich. Without farther bitterness, +embroilment and bloodshed: how much preferable for Friedrich! +Old Dessauer, therefore, pauses: "Camp of Dieskau," which we have +often heard of, close on the Saxon Border; stands there, looking +over, as with sword drawn, 30,000 good swords,--but no stroke, not +for almost three months more. In three months, wretched Bruhl had +not repented; but, on the contrary, had completed his preparations, +and gone to work;--and the stroke did fall, as will be seen. +That is Bruhl's posture in the matter. [Ranke, iii. 231, 314.] + +To Britannic George, for a good while past, it has been manifest +that the Pragmatic Sanction, in its original form, is an extinct +object; that reconquest of Silesia, and such like, is melancholy +moonshine; and that, in fact, towards fighting the French with +effect, it is highly necessary to make peace with Friedrich of +Prussia again. This once more is George's and his Harrington's +fixed view. Friedrich's own wishes are known, or used to be, ever +since the late Kaiser's death,--though latterly he has fallen +silent, and even avoids the topic when offered (knowing his man)! +Herrington has to apply formally to Friedrich's Minister at +Hanover. "Very well, if they are in earnest this time," so +Friedrich instructs his Minister: "My terms are known to you; +no change admissible in the terms;--do not speak with me on it +farther: and, observe, within four weeks, the thing finished, or +else broken off!" [Ranke, iii. 277-281.] And in this sense they are +laboring incessantly, with Austria, with Saxony,--without the least +success;--and Excellency Robinson has again a panting uncomfortable +time. Here is a scene Robinson transacts at Vienna, which gives us +a curious face-to-face glimpse of her Hungarian Majesty, while +Friedrich is in his Camp at Chlum. + + + SCHONBRUNN, 2d AUGUST, 1745, ROBINSON HAS AUDIENCE OF + HER HUNGARIAN MAJESTY. + +Robinson, in a copious sonorous speech (rather apt to be copious, +and to fall into the Parliamentary CANTO-FERMO), sets forth how +extremely ill we Allies are faring on the French hand; nothing done +upon Silesia either; a hopeless matter that,--is it not, your +Majesty? And your Majesty's forces all lying there, in mere dead- +lock; and we in such need of bhem! "Peace with Prussia is +indispensable."--To which her Majesty listened, in statuesque +silence mostly; "never saw her so reserved before, my Lord." ... + +ROBINSON. ... "'Madam, the Dutch will be obliged to accept +Neutrality' [and plump down again, after such hoisting]! + +QUEEN. "'Well, and if they did, they? "It would be easier to +accommodate with France itself, and so finish the whole matter, +than with Prussia." My Army could not get to the Netherlands this +season. No General of mine would undertake conducting it at this +day of the year. Peace with Prussia, what good could it do +at present?' + +ROBINSON. "'England has already found, for subsidies, this year, +1,178,753 pounds. Cannot go on at that rate. Peace with Prussia is +one of the returns the English Nation expects for all it has done.' + +QUEEN. "'I must have Silesia again: without Silesia the Kaiserhood +were an empty title. "Or would you have us administer it under the +guardiancy of Prussia!"' ... + +ROBINSON. "'In Bohemia itself things don't look well; nothing done +on Friedrich: your Saxons seem to be qnarrelling with you, and +going home.' + +QUEEN. "'Prince Karl is himself capable of fighting the Prussians +again. Till that, do not speak to me of Peace! Grant me only +till October!' + +ROBINSON. "'Prussia will help the Grand-Duke to Kaisership.' + +QUEEN. "'The Grand-Duke is not so ambitions of an empty honor as to +engage in it under the tutelage of Prussia. Consider farther: +the Imperial dignity, is it compatible with the fatal deprivation +of Silesia? "One other battle, I say! Good God, give me only till +the month of October!"' + +ROBINSON. "'A battle, Madam, if won, won't reconquer Silesia; +if lost, your Majesty is ruined at home.' + +QUEEN. "'DUSSE'JE CONCLURE AVEC LUI LE LENDEMAIN, JE LUI LIVRERAIS +BATAILLE CE SOIR (Had I to agree with him to-morrow, I would try +him in a battle this evening)!'" [Robinson's Despatch, 4th August, +1745. Ranke, iii. 287; Raumer, pp. 161, 162.] + +Her Majesty is not to be hindered; deaf to Robinson, to her +Britannic George who pays the money. "Cruel man, is that what you +call keeping the Pragmatic Sanction; dismembering me of Province +after Province, now in Germany, then in Italy, on pretext of +necessity? Has not England money, then? Does not England love the +Cause of Liberty? Give me till October!" Her Majesty did take till +October, and later, as we shall see; poor George not able to +hinder, by power of the purse or otherwise: who can hinder high +females, or low, when they get into their humors? Much of this +Austrian obstinacy, think impartial persons, was of female nature. +We shall see what profit her Majesty made by taking till October. + +As for George, the time being run, and her Majesty and Saxony +unpersuadable, he determined to accept Friedrich's terms himself, +in hope of gradually bringing the others to do it. August 26th, at +Hanover, there is signed a CONVENTION OF HANOVER between Friedrich +and him: "Peace on the old Breslau-Berlin terms,--precisely the +same terms, but Britannic Majesty to have them guaranteed by All +the Powers, on the General Peace coming,--so that there be no +snake-procedure henceforth." Silesia Friedrich's without fail, dear +Hanover unmolested even by a thought of Friedrich's;--and her +Hungarian Majesty to be invited, nay urged by every feasible +method, to accede. [Adelung, v. 75; is "in Rousset, xix. 441;" +in &c. &c.] Which done, Britannic Majesty--for there has hung +itself out, in the Scotch Highlands, the other day ("Glenfinlas, +August 12th"), a certain Standard "TANDEM TRIUMPHANS," and +unpleasant things are imminent!--hurries home at his best pace, and +has his hands full there, for some time. On Austria, on Saxony, he +could not prevail: "By no manner of means!" answered they; and went +their own road,--jingling his Britannic subsidies in their pocket; +regardless of the once Supreme Jove, who is sunk now to a very +different figure on the German boards. + +Friedrich's outlook is very bad: such a War to go on, and not even +finance to do it with. His intimates, his Rothenburg one time, have +"found him sunk in gloomy thought." But he wears a bright face +usually. No wavering or doubting in him, his mind made up; which is +a great help that way. Friedrich indicates, and has indicated +everywhere, for many months, that Peace, precisely on the old +footing, is all he wants: "The Kaiser being dead, whom I took up +arms to defend, what farther object is there?" says he. +"Renounce Silesia, more honestly than last time; engage to have it +guaranteed by everybody at the General Peace (or perhaps +Hohenfriedberg will help to guarantee it),--and I march home!" +My money is running down, privately thinks he; guarantee Silesia, +and I shall be glad to go. If not, I must raise money somehow; melt +the big silver balustrades at Berlin, borrow from the STANDE, or do +something; and, in fact, must stand here, unless Silesia is +guaranteed, and struggle till I die. + +That latter withal is still privately Friedrich's thought. Under +his light air, he carries unspoken that grimly clear determination, +at all times, now and henceforth; and it is an immense help to the +guidance of him. An indispensable, indeed. No king or man, +attempting anything considerable in this world, need expect to +achieve it except, tacitly, on those same terms, "I will achieve it +or die!" For the world, in spite of rumors to the contrary, is +always much of a bedlam to the sanity (so far as he may have any) +of every individual man. A strict place, moreover; its very +bedlamisms flowing by law, as do alike the sudden mud- deluges, and +the steady Atlantic tides, and all things whatsoever: a world +inexorable, truly, as gravitation itself;--and it will behoove you +to front it in a similar humor, as the tacit basis for whatever +wise plans you lay. In Friedrich, from the first entrance of him on +the stage of things, we have had to recognize this prime quality, +in a fine tacit form, to a complete degree; and till his last exit, +we shall never find it wanting. Tacit enough, unconscious almost, +not given to articulate itself at all;--and if there be less of +piety than we could wish in the silence of it, there is at least no +play-actor mendacity, or cant of devoutness, to poison the high +worth of it. No braver little figure stands on the Earth at that +epoch. Ready, at the due season, with his mind silently made +up;--able to answer diplomatic Robinsons, Bartensteins and the very +Destinies when they apply. If you will withdraw your snakish +notions, will guarantee Silesia, will give him back his old Treaty +of Berlin in an irrefragable shape, he will march home; if not, he +will never march home, but be carried thither dead rather. That is +his intention, if the gods permit. + + GRAND-DUKE FRANZ IS ELECTED KAISER (13TH SEPTEMBER, 1745); + FRIEDRICH, THE SEASON AND FORAGE BEING DONE, MAKES + FOR SILESIA. + +There occurred at Frankfurt--the clear majority, seven of the nine +Electors, Bavaria itself (nay Bohemia this time, "distaff" or not), +and all the others but Friedrich and Kur-Pfalz, being so disposed +or so disposable, Traun being master of the ground--no difficulty +about electing Grand-Duke Franz Stephan of Tuscany? Joint-King of +Bohemia, to be Kaiser of the Holy Romish Reich. Friedrich's envoy +protested;--as did Kur-Pfalz's, with still more vehemence, and then +withdrew to Hanau: the other Seven voted September 13th 1745: and +it was done. A new Kaiser, Franz Stephan, or Franz I.,--with our +blessing on him, if that can avail much. But I fear it cannot. Upon +such mendacious Empty-Case of Kaiserhood, without even money to +feed itself, not to speak of governing, of defending and coercing; +upon such entities the blessings of man avail little; the gods, +having warned them to go, do not bless them for staying! --However, +tar-barrels burn, the fountains play (wine in some of them, I +hope); Franz is to be crowned in a fortnight hence, with +extraordinary magnificence. At this last part of it Maria Theresa +will, in her own high person, attend; and proceeds accordingly +towards Frankfurt, in the end of September (say the old Books), so +soon as the Election is over. + +Hungarian Majesty's bearing was not popular there, according to +Friedrich,--who always admires her after a sort, and always speaks +of her like a king and gentleman:--but the High Lady, it is +intimated, felt somewhat too well that she was high. Not sorry to +have it known, under the due veils, that her Kaiser-Husband is but +of a mimetic nature; that it is she who has the real power; and +that indeed she is in a victorious posture at present. Very high in +her carriage towards the Princes of the Reich, and their +privileges:--poor Kur-Pfalz's notary, or herald, coming to protest +(I think, it was the second time) about something, she quite +disregarded his tabards, pasteboards, or whatever they were, and +clapt him in prison. The thing was commented upon; but Kur-Pfalz +got no redress. Need we repeat,--lazy readers having so often met +him, and forgotten him again,--this is a new younger Kur-Pfalz: +Karl Theodor, this one; not Friedrich Wilhelm's old Friend, but his +Successor, of the Sulzbach line; of whom, after thirty years or so, +we may again hear. He can complain about his violated tabard; will +get his notary out of jail again, but no redress. + +Highish even towards her friends, this "Empress-Queen" +(KAISERIN-KONIGIN, such her new title), and has a kind of +"Thank-you-for- +Nothing" air towards them. Prussian Majesty, she said, had +unquestionable talents; but, oh, what a character! Too much levity, +she said, by far; heterodox too, in the extreme; a BOSER MANN;--and +what a neighbor has he been! As to Silesia, she was heard to say, +she would as soon part with her petticoat as part with it. +[<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> iii. 126, 128.]-- +So that there is not the least prospect of peace here? "None," +answer Friedrich's emissaries, whom he had empowered to hint the +thing. Which is heavy news to Friedrich. + +Early in August, not long after that Audience of Robinson's, her +Majesty, after repeated written messages to Prince Karl, urging him +to go into fight again or attempt something, had sent two high +messengers: Prince Lobkowitz, Duke d'Ahremberg, high dignitaries +from Court, have come to Konigsgratz with the latest urgencies, the +newest ideas; and would fain help Prince Karl to attempt something. +Daily they used to come out upon a little height, in view of +Friedrich's tent, and gaze in upon him, and round all Nature, "with +big tubes," he says, "as if they had been astronomers;" but never +attempted anything. We remember D'Ahremberg, and what part he has +played, from the Dettingen times and onward. "A debauched old +fellow," says Friedrich; "gone all to hebetude by his labors in +that line; agrees always with the last speaker." Prince Karl seems +to have little stomach himself; and does not see his way into (or +across) another Battle. Lobkowitz, again, is always saying: +"Try something! We are now stronger than they, by their detachings, +by our reinforcings" (indeed, about twice their number, regular and +irregular), though most of the Saxons are gone home. After much +gazing through their tubes, the Austrians (August 23d) do make a +small shift of place, insignificant otherwise; the Prussians, next +day, do the like, in consequence; quit Chlum, burning their huts; +post themselves a little farther up the Elbe,--their left at a +place called Jaromirz, embouchure of the Aupa into Elbe, +[<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> iii. 129.]--and are +again unattackable. + +The worst fact is the multitude of Pandours, more and more +infesting our provision-roads; and that horse-forage itself is, at +last, running low. Detachments lie all duly round to right and +left, to secure our communications with Silesia, especially to +left, out of Glatz, where runs one of the chief roads we have. +But the service is becoming daily more difficult. For example:-- + +"NEUSTADT, 8th SEPTEMBER. In that left-hand quarter, coming out of +Glatz at a little Bohemian Town called Neustadt, the Prussian +Commander, Tauenzien by name, was repeatedly assaulted; and from +September 8th, had to stand actual siege, gallantly repulsing a +full 10,000 with their big artillery, though his walls were all +breached, for about a week, till Friedrich sent him relief. +Prince Lobkowitz, our old anti-Belleisle friend, who is always of +forward fiery humor, had set them on this enterprise; which has +turned out fruitless. The King is much satisfied with Tauenzien; +[Ib. 132.] of whom we shall hear again. Who indeed becomes notable +to us, were it only for getting one Lessing as secretary, by and +by: Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, whose fame has since gone into all +countries; the man having been appointed a 'Secretary' to the very +Destinies, in some sort; that is to say, a Writer of Books which +have turned out to have truth in them! Tauenzien, a grimmish +aquiline kind of man, of no superfluous words, has distinguished +himself for the present by defending Neustadt, which the Austrians +fully counted to get hold of." + +Let us give another little scene; preparatory to quitting this +Country, as it is evident the King and we will soon have to do; +Country being quite eaten out, Pandours getting ever rifer, and the +Season done:-- + +JAROMIRZ, "EARLY IN SEPTEMBER," 1745. "Jaromirz is a little +Bohemian Town on the Aupa, or between the Aupa and Metau branches +of the Upper Elbe; four or five miles north of Semonitz, where +Friedrich's quarter now is. Valori, so seldom spoken to, is lodged +in a suburb there: 'Had not you better go into the town itself?' +his Majesty did once say; but Valori, dreading nothing, lodged on, +--'Landlord a Burgher whom I thought respectable.' Respectable, yes +he; but his son had been dealing with Franquini the Pandour, and +had sold Valori,--night appointed, measures all taken; a miracle if +Valori escape. Franquini, chief of 30,000 Pandours, has come in +person to superintend this important capture; and lies hidden, with +a strong party, in the woods to rearward. Prussians about 200, +scattered in posts, occupy the hedges in front, for guard of the +ovens; to rear, Jaromirz being wholly ours, there is no suspicion. + +"In the dead of the night, Franquini emerges from the woods; +sends forward a party of sixty, under the young Judas; who, by +methods suitable, gets them stealthily conducted into Papa's Barn, +which looks across a courtyard into Valori's very windows. From the +Barn it is easy, on paws of velvet, to get into the House, if you +have a Judas to open it. Which you have:--bolts all drawn for you, +and even beams ready for barricading if you be meddled with. +'Upstairs is his Excellency asleep; Excellency's room is--to right, +do you remember; or to left'--'Pshaw, we shall find it!' +The Pandours mount; find a bedroom, break it open,--some fifteen or +sixteen of them, and one who knows a little French;--come crowding +forward: to the horror and terror of the poor inhabitant.' +'QUE VOULEZ-VOUS DONC?' 'His Excellency Valori!' 'Well, no +violence; I am your prisoner: let me dress!' answers the supposed +Excellency,--and contrives to secrete portfolios, and tear or make +away with papers. And is marched off, under a select guard, who +leave the rest to do the pillage. And was not Valori at all; +was Valori's Secretary, one D'Arget, who had called himself Valori +on this dangerous occasion! Valori sat quaking behind his +partition; not till the Pandours began plundering the stables did +the Prussian sentry catch sound of them, and plunge in." + +Friedrich had his amusement out of this adventure; liked D'Arget, +the clever Secretary; got D'Arget to himself before long, as will +be seen;--and, in quieter times, dashed off a considerable +Explosion of Rhyme, called LE PALLADION (Valori as Prussia's +"Palladium," with Devils attempting to steal him, and the like), +which was once thought an exquisite Burlesque,--Kings coveting a +sight of it, in vain,--but is now wearisome enough to every reader. +[Valori, i. 242; <italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> +iii. 130: for the Fact. Exquisite Burlesque, PALLADION itself, is +in <italic> OEuvres, <end italic> xi. 192-271 (see IB. 139): a bad +copy of that very bad Original, JEANNE D'ARC,--the only thing now +good in it, Friedrich's polite yet positive refusal to gratify King +Louis and his Pompdour with a sight of it (see IB. PREFACE, x-xiv, +Friedrich's Letter to Louis; date of request and of refusal, March, +1750).]--Let us attend his Majesty's exit from Bohemia. + + + + Chapter XII. + + BATTLE OF SOHR. + +The famed beautiful Elbe River rises in romantic chasms, terrible +to the picturesque beholder, at the roots of the Riesengebirge; +overlooked by the Hohe-Kamms, and highest summits of that chain. +"Out of eleven wells," says gentle Dulness, "EILF or ELF QUELLEN, +whence its name, Elbe for ELF." Sure enough, it starts out of +various wells; [Description, in Zollner, <italic> Briefe uber +Schlesien, <end italic> ii. 305; in &c. &c.] rushes out, like a +great peacock's or pasha's tail, from the roots of the Giant +Mountains thereabouts; and hurries southward,--or even rather +eastward, at first; for (except the Iser to westward, which does +not fall in for a great while) its chief branches come from the +eastern side: Aupa, Metau, Adler, the drainings of Glatz, and of +that rugged Country where Friedrich has been camping and +manoeuvring all summer. On the whole, its course is southward for +the first seventy or eighty miles, washing Jaromirz, Konigshof, +Konigsgratz, down to Pardubitz: at Pardubitz it turns abruptly +westward, and holds on so, bending even northward, by hill and +plain, through the rest of its five or six hundred miles. + +Its first considerable branch, on that eastern or left bank, is the +Aupa, which rises in the Pass of Schatzlar (great struggling there, +for convoys, just now); goes next by Trautenau, which has lately +been burnt; and joins the Elbe at Jaromirz, where Valori was +stolen, or nearly so, from under the Prussian left wing. The Aupa +runs nearly straight south; the Elbe, till meeting it, has run +rather southeast; but after joining they go south together, +augmented by the Metau, by the Adler, down to Pardubitz, where the +final turn to west occurs. Jaromirz, which lies in the very angle +of Elbe and Aupa, is the left wing of Friedrich's Camp; main body +of the Camp lies on the other side of the Elbe, but of course has +bridges (as at Smirzitz, where that straw sentry did his pranks +lately); bridges are indispensable, part of our provision coming +always by that BOHEMIAN Neustadt, from the northeast quarter out of +Silesia; though the main course of our meal (and much fighting for +it) is direct from the north, by the Pass of Schatzlar,-- +"Chaslard," as poor Valori calls it. + +Thus Friedrich lay, when Valori escaped being stolen; +when Tauenzien was assailed by the 10,000 Pandours with siege +artillery, and stood inexpugnable in the breach till Friedrich +relieved him. Those Pandours "had cut away his water, for the last +two days;" so that, except for speedy relief, all valor had been in +vain. Water being gone, not recoverable without difficulties, +Neustadt was abandoned (September 16th, as I guess);--one of our +main Silesian roads for meal has ceased. We have now only Schatzlar +to depend on; where Franquini--lying westward among the glens of +the Upper Elbe, and possessed of abundant talent in the Tolpatch +way (witness Valori's narrow miss lately)--gives us trouble enough. +Friedrich determines to move towards Schatzlar. Homewards, in fact; +eating the Country well as he goes. + +Saturday, 18th September, Friedrich crosses the Elbe at Jaromirz. +Entirely unopposed; the Austrians were all busy firing FEU-DE-JOIE +for the Election of their Grand-Duke: Election done five days ago +at Frankfurt, and the news just come. So they crackle about, and +deliver rolling fire, at a great rate; proud to be "IMPERIAL Army" +henceforth, as if that could do much for them. There was also vast +dining, for three days, among the high heads, and a great deal of +wine spent. That probably would have been the chance to undertake +something upon them, better than crossing the Elbe, says Friedrich +looking back. But he did not think of it in time; took second-best +in place of best. + +He is now, therefore, over into that Triangular piece of Country +between Elbe and Aupa (if readers will consult their Map); in that +triangle, his subsequent notable operations all lie. He here +proposes to move northward, by degrees,--through Trautenau, +Schatzlar, and home; well eating this bit of Country too, the last +uneaten bit, as he goes. This well eaten, there will be no harbor +anywhere for Invasion, through the Winter coming. One of my old +Notes says of it, in the topographic point of view:-- + +"It is a triangular patch of Country, which has lain asleep since +the Creation of the World; traversed only by Boii (BOI-HEIM-ERS, +Bohemians), Czechs and other such populations, in Human History; +but which Friedrich has been fated to make rather notable to the +Moderns henceforth. Let me recommend it to the picturesque tourist, +especially to the military one. Lovers of rocky precipices, +quagmires, brawling torrents and the unadulterated ruggedness of +Nature, will find scope there; and it was the scene of a +distinguished passage of arms, with notable display of human +dexterity and swift presence of mind. For the rest, one of the +wildest, and perhaps (except to the picturesque tourist) most +unpleasant regions in the world. Wild stony upland; topmost Upland, +we may say, of Europe in general, or portion of such Upland; +for the rainstorms hereabouts run several roads,--into the German +Ocean and Atlantic by the Elbe, into the Baltic by the Oder, into +the Black Sea by the Donau;--and it is the waste Outfield whither +you rise, by long weeks-journeys, from many sides. + +"Much of it, towards the angle of Elbe and Aupa, is occupied by a +huge waste Wood, called 'Kingdom Forest' (KONIGREICH SYLVA or WALD, +peculium of Old Czech Majesties, I fancy); may be sixty square +miles in area, the longer side of which lies along the Elbe. +A Country of rocky defiles; lowish hills chaotically shoved +together, not wanting their brooks and quagmires, straight +labyrinthic passages; shaggy with wild wood. Some poor Hamlets here +and there, probably the sleepiest in Nature, are scattered about; +there may be patches ploughable for rye [modern Tourist says +snappishly, There are many such; whole region now drained; +reminded me of Yorkshire Highlands, with the Western Sun gilding +it, that fine afternoon!]--ploughable for rye, buckwheat; +boggy grass to be gathered in summer; charcoaling to do; pigs at +least are presumable, among these straggling outposts of humanity +in their obscure Hamlets: poor ploughing, moiling creatures, they +little thought of becoming notable so soon! None of the Books (all +intent on mere soldiering) take the least notice of them; not at +the pains to spell their Hamlets right: no more notice than if they +also had been stocks and moss-grown stones. Nevertheless, there +they did evidently live, for thousands of years past, in a dim +manner;--and are much terrified to have become the seat of war, all +on a sudden. Their poor Hamlets, Sohr, Staudentz, Prausnitz, +Burgersdorf and others still send up a faint smoke; and have in +them, languidly, the live-coal of mysterious human existence, in +those woods,--to judge by the last maps that have come out. A thing +worth considering by the passing tourist, military or other." + +It is in this Kingdom Forest (which he calls ROYAUME DE SILVA, +instead of SYLVA DE ROYAUME) that Friedrich now nmrches; +keeping the body of the Forest well on his left, and skirting the +southern and eastern sides of it. Rough marching for his Majesty; +painfully infested by Nadastian Tolpatches; who run out on him from +ambushes, and need to be scourged; one ambush in particular, at a +place called Liebenthal (second day's march, and near the end of +it),-- where our Prussian Hussars, winding like fiery dragons on +the dangerous precipices, gave them better than they brought, and +completely quenched their appetite for that day. After Liebenthal, +the march soon ends; three miles farther on, at the dim wold-hamlet +of Staudentz: here a camp is pitched; here, till the Country is +well eaten out, or till something else occur, we propose to tarry +for a time. + +Horse-forage abounds here; but there is no getting of it without +disturbance from those dogs; you must fight for every truss of +grass: if a meal-train is coming, as there does every five days, +you have to detach 8,000 foot and 3,000 horse to help it safe in. +A fretting fatiguing time for regular troops. Our bakery is at +Trautenau,--where Valori is now lodging. The Tolpatchery, unable to +take Trautenau, set fire to it, though it is their own town, their +own Queen's town; thatchy Trautenau, wooden too in the upper +stories of it, takes greedily to the fire; goes all aloft in flame, +and then lies black. A scandalous transaction, thinks Friedrich. +The Prussian corn lay nearly all in cellars; little got, even of +the Prussians, by such an atrocity: and your own poor fellow- +subjects, where are they? Valori was burnt out here; again exploded +from his quarters, poor man;--seems to have thought it a mere fire +in his own lodging, and that he was an unfortunate diplomatist. +Happily he got notice (PRIVATISSIME, for no officer dare whisper in +such cases) that there is an armed party setting out for Silesia, +to guard meal that is coming: Valori yokes himself to this armed +party, and gets safe over the Hills with it,--then swift, by extra +post, to Breslau and to civilized (partially civilized) +accommodation, for a little rest after these hustlings +and tossings. + +Friedrich had lain at Staudentz, in this manner, bickering +continually for his forage, and eating the Country, for about ten +days: and now, as the latter process is well on, and the season +drawing to a close: he determines on a shift northward. +Thursday, 30th September next, let there be one other grand forage, +the final one in this eaten tract, then northward to fresh grounds. +That, it appears, was the design. But, on Wednesday, there came in +an Austrian deserter; who informs us that Prince Karl is not now in +Konigsgratz, but in motion up the Elbe; already some fifty miles +up; past Jaromirz: his rear at Konigshof, his van at Arnau,--on a +level with burnt Trautenau, and farther north than we ourselves +are. This is important news. "Intending to block us out from +Schatzlar? Hmh!" Single scouts, or small parties, cannot live in +this Kingdom Wood, swarming with Pandours: Friedrich sends out a +Colonel Katzler, with 500 light horse, to investigate a little. +Katzler pushes forward, on such lane or forest road-track as there +is, towards Konigshof; beats back small hussar parties;--comes, in +about an hour's space, not upon hussars merely, but upon dense +masses of heavy horse winding through the forest lanes; and, with +that imperfect intelligence, is obliged to return. The deserter +spake truth, apparently; and that is all we can know. Forage scheme +is given up; the order is, "Baggage packed, and MARCH to-morrow +morning at ten." Long before ten, there had great things befallen +on the morrow!--Try to understand this Note a little:-- + +"The Camp of Staudentz- which two persons (the King, and General +Stille, a more careful reporter, who also was an eye-witness) have +done their best to describe--will, after all efforts, and an +Ordnance Map to help, remain considerably unintelligible to the +reader; as is too usual in such cases. A block of high-lying +ground; Friedrich's Camp on it, perhaps two miles long, looks to +the south; small Village of Staudentz in front; hollow beyond that, +and second small Village, Deutsch Prausnitz, hanging on the +opposite slope, with shaggy heights beyond, and the Kingdom Forest +there beginning: on the left, defiles, brooks and strait country, +leading towards the small town of Eypel: that is our left and front +aspect, a hollow well isolating us on those sides. Hollow continues +all along the front; hollow definite on our side of it, and forming +a tolerable defence:--though again, I perceive, to rightward at no +great distance, there rise High Grounds which considerably overhang +us." A thing to be marked! "These we could not occupy, for want of +men; but only maintain vedettes upon them. Over these Heights, a +mile or two westward of this hollow of ours, runs the big winding +hollow called Georgengrund (GEORGE'S BOTTOM), which winds up and +down in that Kingdom Forest, and offers a road from Konigshof to +Trautenau, among other courses it takes. + +"From the crown of those Heights on our right flank here, looking +to the west, you might discern (perhaps three miles off, from one +of the sheltering nooks in the hither side of that Georgengrund), +rising faintly visible over knolls and dingles, the smoke of a +little Forest Village. That Village is Sohr; notable ever since, +beyond others, in the Kingdom Wood. Sohr, like the other Villages, +has its lane-roads; its road to Trautenau, to Konigshof, no doubt; +but much nearer you, on our eastern slope of the Heights, and far +hitherward of Sohr, which is on the western, goes the great road +[what is now the great road], from Konigshof to Trautenau, well +visible from Friedrich's Camp, though still at some distance from +it. Could these Heights between us and Sohr, which lie beyond the +great road, be occupied, we were well secured; isolated on the +right too, as on the other sides, from Kingdom Forest and its +ambushes. 'Should have been done,' admits Friedrich; 'but then, +as it is, there are not troops enough:' with 18,000 men you cannot +do everything!" + +Here, however, is the important point. In Sohr, this night, 29th +September, in a most private manner, the Austrians, 30,000 of them +and more, have come gliding through the woods, without even their +pipe lit, and with thick veil of hussars ahead! Outposts of theirs +lie squatted in the bushes behind Deutsch Prausnitz, hardly 500 +yards from Friedrich's Camp. And eastward, leftward of him, in the +defiles about Eypel, lie Nadasti and Ruffian Trenck, with ten or +twelve thousand, who are to take him in rear. His "Camp of +Staudentz" will be at a fine pass to-morrow morning. The Austrian +Gentlemen had found, last week, a certain bare Height in the Forest +(Height still known), from which they could use their astronomer +tubes day after day; [Orlich, ii. 225.] and now they are about +attempting something! + +Thursday morning, very early, 30th September, 1745, Friedrich was +in his tent, busy with generals and march-routes,--when a rapid +orderly comes in, from that Vedette, or strong Piquet, on the +Heights to our right: "Austrians visibly moving, in quantity, near +by!" and before he has done answering, the officer himself arrives: +"Regular Cavalry in great force; long dust-cloud in Kingdom Forest, +in the gray dawn; and, so far as we can judge, it is their Army +coming on." Here is news for a poor man, in the raw of a September +morning, by way of breakfast to him! "To arms!" is, of course, +Friedrich's instant order; and he himself gallops to the Piquet on +the Heights, glass in hand. "Austrian Army sure enough, thirty to +thirty-five thousand of them, we only eighteen. [<italic> OEuvres +de Frederic, <end italic> iii. 139.] Coming to take us on the right +flank here; to attack our Camp by surprise: will crush us northward +through the defiles, and trample us down in detail? Hmh! To run for +it, will never do. We must fight for it, and even attack THEM, as +our way is, though on such terms. Quick, a plan!" The head of +Friedrich is a bank you cannot easily break by coming on it for +plans: such a creature for impromptu plans, and unexpected dashes +swift as the panther's, I have hardly known,--especially when you +squeeze him into a corner, and fancy he is over with it! +Friedrich gallops down, with his plan clear enough; and already the +Austrians, horse and foot, are deploying upon those Heights he has +quitted; Fifty Squadrons of Horse for left wing to them, and a +battery of Twenty-eight big Guns is establishing itself where +Friedrich's Piquet lately stood. + +Friedrich's right flank has to become his front, and face those +formidable Austrian Heights and Batteries; and this with more than +Prussian velocity, and under the play of those twenty-eight big +guns, throwing case-shot (GRENADES ROYALES) and so forth, all the +while. To Valori, when he heard of the thing, it is inconceivable +how mortal troops could accomplish such a movement; +Friedrich himself praises it, as a thing honorably well done. +Took about half an hour; case-shot raining all the while; +soldier honorably never-minding: no flurry, though a speed like +that of spinning-tops. And here we at length are, Staudentz now to +rear of us, behind our centre a good space; Burgersdorf in front of +us to right, our left reaching to Prausnitz: Austrian lines, three +deep of them, on the opposite Height; we one line only, which +matches them in length. + +They, that left wing of horse, should have thundered down on us, +attacking us, not waiting our attack, thinks Friedrich; but they +have not done it. They stand on their height there, will perhaps +fire carbines, as their wont is. "You, Buddenbrock, go into them +with your Cuirassiers!" Buddenbrock and the Cuirassiers, though it +is uphill, go into them at a furious rate; meet no countercharge, +mere sputter of carbines;--tumble them to mad wreck, back upon +their second line, back upon their third: absurdly crowded there on +their narrow height, no room to manoeuvre; so that they plunge, +fifty squadrons of them, wholly into the Georgengrund rearward, +into the Kingdom Wood, and never come on again at all. +Buddenbrock has done his job right well. + +Seeing which, our Infantry of the right wing, which stood next to +Buddenbrock, made impetuous charge uphill, emulous to capture that +Battery of Twenty-eight; but found it, for some time, a terrible +attempt. These Heights are not to be called "hills," still less +"mountains" (as in some careless Books); but it is a stiff climb at +double-quick, with twenty-eight big guns playing in the face of +you. Storms of case-shot shear away this Infantry, are quenching +its noble fury in despair; Infantry visibly recoiling, when our +sole Three Regiments of Reserve hurry up to support. Round these +all rallies; rushes desperately on, and takes the Battery,--of +course, sending the Austrian left wing rapidly adrift, on loss of +the same. + +This, I consider, is the crisis of the Fight; the back of the +Austrian enterprise is already broken, by this sad winging of it on +the left. But it resists still; comes down again,--the reserve of +their left wing seen rapidly making for Burgersdorf, intending an +attack there; which we oppose with vigor, setting Burgersdorf on +fire for temporary screen; and drive the Austrian reserve rapidly +to rearward again. But there is rally after rally of them. +They rank again on every new height, and dispute there; loath to be +driven into Kingdom Wood, after such a flourish of arms. +One height, "bushy steep height," the light-limbed valiant Prince, +little Ferdinand of Brunswick, had the charge of attacking; and he +did it with his usual impetus and irresistibility:--and, strangely +enough, the defender of it chanced to be that Brother of his, +Prince Ludwig, with whom he had the little Interview lately. +Prince Ludwig got a wound, as well as lost his height. The third +Brother, poor Prince Albrecht, who is also here, as volunteer +apprentice, on the Prussian side, gets killed. There will never be +another Interview, for all three, between the Camps! Strange times +for those poor Princes, who have to seek soldiering for +their existence. + +Meanwhile the Cavalry of Buddenbrock, that is to say of the right +wing, having now no work in that quarter, is despatched to +reinforce the left wing, which has stood hitherto apart on its own +ground; not attacked or attacking,--a left wing REFUSED, as the +soldiers style it. Reinforced by Buddenbrock, this left wing of +horse does now also storm forward;--"near the Village of Prausnitz" +(Prausnitz a little way to rear of it), thereabouts, is the scene +of its feat. Feat done in such fashion that the Austrians opposite +will not stand the charge at all; but gurgle about in a chaotic +manner; then gallop fairly into Kingdom Wood, without stroke +struck; and disappear, as their fellows had done. Whereupon the +Prussian horse breaks in upon the adjoining Infantry of that flank +(Austrian right flank, left bare in this manner); champs it also +into chaotic whirlpools; cuts away an outskirt of near 2,000 +prisoners, and sets the rest running. This seems to have been +pretty much the COUP-DE-GRACE of the Fight; and to have brought the +Austrian dispute to finis. From the first, they had rallied on the +heights; had struggled and disputed. Two general rallies they made, +and various partial, but none had any success. They were driven on, +bayonet in back, as the phrase is: with this sad slap on their +right, added to that old one on their left, what can they now do +but ebb rapidly; pour in cataracts into Kingdom Wood, and disappear +there? [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> iii. 135-143; +Stille, pp. 144-163; Orlich, ii. 227-243; <italic> Feldzuge, <end +italic> i. 357, 363, 374.] + +Prince Karl's scheme was good, says Friedrich; but it was ill +executed. He never should have let us form; his first grand fault +was that he waited to be attacked, instead of attacking. Parts of +his scheme were never executed at all. Duke d'Ahremberg, for +instance, it is said, had so dim a notion of the ground, that he +drew up some miles off, with his back to the Prussians. Such is the +rumor,--perhaps only a rumor, in mockery of the hebetated old +gentleman fallen unlucky? On the other hand, that Nadasti made a +failure which proved important, is indubitable. Nadasti, with some +thousands of Tolpatchery, was at Liebenthal, four miles to +southeast of the action; Ruffian Trenck lay behind Eypel, perhaps +as far to east, of it: Trenck and Nadasti were to rendezvous, to +unite, and attack the Prussian Camp on its rear,--"Camp," so ran +the order, for it was understood the Prussians would all be there, +we others attacking it in front and both flanks;--which turned out +otherwise, not for Nadasti alone! + +Nadasti came to his rendezvous in time; Ruffian Trenck did not: +Nadasti grew tired of waiting for Trenck, and attacked the Camp by +himself:--Camp, but not any men; Camp being now empty, and the men +all fighting, ranked at right angles to it, furlongs and miles +away. Nadasti made a rare hand of the Camp; plundered everything, +took all the King's Camp-furniture, ready money, favorite dog +Biche,--likewise poor Eichel his Secretary, who, however, tore the +papers first. Tolpatchery exultingly gutted the Camp; and at last +set fire to it,--burnt even some eight or ten poor Prussian sick, +and also "some women whom they caught. We found the limbs of these +poor men and women lying about," reports old General Lehwald; +who knew about it. A doggery well worthy of the gallows, think +Lehwald and I. "Could n't help it; ferocity of wild men," says +Nadasti. "Well; but why not attack, then, with your ferocity?" +Confused Court-martial put these questions, at Vienna subsequently; +and Ruffian Trenck, some say, got injustice, Nadasti shuffling +things upon him; for which one cares almost nothing. Lehwald, lying +at Trautenau, had heard the firing at sunrise; and instantly +marched to help: he only arrived to give Nadasti a slash or two, +and was too late for the Fight. Oue Schlichtling, on guard with a +weak party, saved what was in the right wing of the Camp,--small +thanks to him, the Main Fight being so near: Friedrich's opinion +is, an Officer, in Schlichtling's place, ought to have done more, +and not have been so helpless. + +This was the Battle of Sohr; so called because the Austrians had +begun there, and the Prussians ended there. The Prussian pursuit +drew bridle at that Village; unsafe to prosecute Austrians farther, +now in the deeps of Kingdom Forest. The Battle has lasted five +hours. It must be now getting towards noon; and time for breakfast, +if indeed any were to be had; but that is next to impossible, +Nadasti having been so busy. Not without extreme difficulty is a +manchet of bread, with or without a drop of wine, procured for the +King's Majesty this day. Many a tired hero will have nothing but +tobacco, with spring-water, to fall back upon. Never mind! says the +King, says everybody. After all, it is a cheap price to pay for +missing an attack from Pandours in the rear, while such crisis went +on ahead. + +Lying COUSIN Trenck, of the Life-guard, who is now in Glatz, gives +vivid eye-witness particulars of these things, time of the morning +and so on; says expressly he was there, and what he did there, +[Frederic Baron de Trenck, <italic> Memoires, traduits par lui-meme +<end italic> (Strasbnrg and Paris, 1789), i. 74-78, 79.]--though in +Glatz under lock and key, three good months before. "How could I +help mistakes," said he afterwards, when people objected to this +and that in his blusterous mendacity of a Book: "I had nothing but +my poor agitated memory to trust to!" A man's memory, when it gets +the length of remembering that he was in the Battle of Sohr while +bodily absent, ought it not to--in fact, to strike work; to still +its agitations altogether, and call halt? Trenck, some months +after, got clambered out of Glatz, by sewers, or I forget how; +and leaped, or dropped, from some parapet into the River Neisse,-- +sinking to the loins in tough mud, so that he could not stir + +MAP TO GO HERE----BOOK 15-- page 499---- + +farther. "Fouquet let me stand there half a day, before he would +pick me out again." Rigorous Bouquet, human mercy forbidding, could +not let him stand there in permanence,--as we, better +circumstanced, may with advantage try to do, in time coming! + +Friedrich lay at Sohr five days; partly for the honor of the thing, +partly to eat out the Country to perfection. Prince Karl, from +Konigshof, soon fell back to Konigsgratz; and lay motionless there, +nothing but his Tolpatcheries astir, Sohr Country all eaten, +Friedrich, in the due Divisions, marched northward. +Through Trautenau, Schatzlar, his own Division, which was the main +one;--and, fencing off the Tolpatches successfully with trouble, +brings all his men into Silesia again. A good job of work behind +them, surely! Cantons them to right and left of Landshut, about +Rohnstock and Hohenfriedberg, hamlets known so well; and leaving +the Young Dessauer to command, drives for Berlin (30th October),-- +rapidly, as his wont is. Prince Karl has split up his force at +Konigsgratz; means, one cannot doubt, to go into winter-quarters. +If he think of invading, across that eaten Country and those bad +Mountains,--well, our troops can all be got together in six +hours' time. + +At Trautenau, a week after Sohr, Friedrich had at last received the +English ratification of that Convention of Hanover, signed 26th +August, almost a month ago; not ratified till September 22d. +About which there had latterly been some anxiety, lest his +Britannic Majesty himself might have broken off from it. +With Austria, with Saxony, Britannic Majesty has been entirely +unsuccessful:--"May not Sohr, perhaps, be a fresh persuasive?" +hopes Friedrich;--but as to Britannic Majesty's breaking off, his +thoughts are far from that, if we knew! Poor Majesty: not long +since, Supreme Jove of Germany; and now--is like to be swallowed in +ragamuffin street-riots; not a thunder-bolt within clutch of him +(thunder-bolts all sticking in the mud of the Netherlands, far +off), and not a constable's staff of the least efficacy! +Consider these dates in combination. Battle of Sohr was on +THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30th:-- + +"SUNDAY preceding, SEPTEMBER 26th, was such a Lord's-Day in the +City of Edinburgh, as had not been seen there,--not since Jenny +Geddes's stool went flying at the Bishop's head, above a hundred +years before. Big alarm-bell bursting out in the middle of divine +service; emptying all the Churches ('Highland rebels just at +hand!')--into General Meeting of the Inhabitants, into Chaos come +again, for the next forty hours. Till, in the gaunt midnight, +Tuesday, 2 A.M., Lochiel with about 1,000 Camerons, waiting slight +opportunity, crushed in through the Netherbow Port; and"--And, +about noon of that day, a poor friend of ours, loitering expectant +in the road that leads by St. Anthony's Well, saw making entry into +paternal Holyrood,--the Young Pretender, in person, who is just +being proclaimed Prince of Wales, up in the High-street yonder! +"A tall slender young man, about five feet ten inches high; of a +ruddy complexion, high-nosed, large rolling brown eyes; long- +visaged, red-haired, but at that time wore a pale periwig. He was +in a Highland habit [coat]; over the shoulder a blue sash wrought +with gold; red velvet breeches; a green velvet bonnet, with white +cockade on it and a gold lace. His speech seemed very like that of +an Irishman; very sly [how did you know, my poor friend?];--spoke +often to O'Sullivan [thought to be a person of some counsel; had +been Tutor to Maillebois's Boys, had even tried some irregular +fighting under Maillebois]--to O'Sullivan and" [Henderson, <italic> +Highland Rebellion, <end italic> p. 14.] ... And on Saturday, in +short, came PRESTONPANS. Enough of such a Supreme Jove; good for us +here as a timetable chiefly, or marker of dates! + +Sunday, 3d October, King's Adjutant, Captain Mollendorf, a young +Officer deservedly in favor, arrives at Berlin with the joyful +tidings of this Sohr business ("Prausnitz" we then called it): +to the joy of all Prussians, especially of a Queen Mother, for whom +there is a Letter in pencil. After brief congratulation, Mollendorf +rushes on; having next to give the Old Dessauer notice of it in his +Camp at Dieskau, in the Halle neighborhood. Mollendorf appears in +Halle suddenly next morning, Monday, about ten o'clock, sixteen +postilions trumpeting, and at their swiftest trot, in front of +him;--shooting, like a melodious morning-star, across the rusty old +city, in this manner,--to Dieskau Camp, where he gives the Old +Dessauer his good news. Excellent Victory indeed; sharp striking, +swift self-help on our part. Halle and the Camp have enough to +think of, for this day and the next. Whither Mollendorf went next, +we will not ask: perhaps to Brunswick and other consanguineous +places?--Certain it is, + +"On Wednesday, the 6th, about two in the afternoon, the Old +Dessauer has his whole Army drawn out there, with green sprigs in +their hats, at Dieskau, close upon the Saxon Frontier; and, after +swashing and manoeuvring about in the highest military style of +art, ranks them all in line, or two suitable lines, 30,000 of them; +and then, with clangorous outburst of trumpet, kettle-drum and all +manner of field-music, fires off his united artillery a first time; +almost shaking the very hills by such a thunderous peal, in the +still afternoon. And mark, close fitted into the artillery peal, +commences a rolling fire, like a peal spread out in threads, +sparkling strangely to eye and ear; from right to left, long spears +of fire and sharp strokes of sound, darting aloft, successive +simultaneous, winding for the space of miles, then back by the rear +line, and home to the starting-point: very grand indeed. Again, and +also again, the artillery peal, and rolling small-arms fitted into +it, is repeated; a second and a third time, kettle-drums and +trumpets doing what they can. That was the Old Dessauer's bonfiring +(what is called FEU-DE-JOIE), for the Victory of Sohr; audible +almost at Leipzig, if the wind were westerly. Overpowering to the +human mind; at least, to the old Newspaper reporter of that day. +But what was strangest in the business," continues he "(DAS +CURIEUSESTE DABEY), was that the Saxon Uhlans, lying about in the +villages across the Border, were out in the fields, watching the +sight, hardly 300 yards off, from beginning to end; and little +dreamed that his High Princely Serenity," blue of face and dreadful +in war, "was quite close to them, on the Height called Bornhock; +condescending to 'take all this into High-Serene Eye-shine there; +and, by having a white flag waved, deigning to give signal for the +discharges of the artillery.'" [<italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end +italic> i. 1124.] + +By this the reader may know that the Old Dessauer is alive, ready +for action if called on; and Bruhl ought to comprehend better how +riskish his game with edge-tools is. Bruhl is not now in an +unprepared state:--here are Uhlans at one's elbow looking on. +Rutowski's Uhlans; who lies encamped, not far off, in good force, +posted among morasses; strongly entrenched, and with schemes in his +head, and in Bruhl's, of an aggressive, thrice-secret and very +surprising nature! I remark only that, in Heidelberg Country, +victorious old Traun is putting his people into winter-quarters; +himself about to vanish from this History, [Went to SIEBENBURGEN +(Transylvania) as Governor; died there February, 1748, age +seventy-one (<italic> Maria Theresiens Leben, <end italic> p. 56 +n.).]--and has detached General Grune with 10,000 men; who left +Heidelberg October 9th, on a mysterious errand, heeded by nobody; +and will turn up in the next Chapter. + + + + Chapter XIII. + + SAXONY AND AUSTRIA MAKE A SURPRISING LAST ATTEMPT. + +After this strenuous and victorious Campaign, which has astonished +all public men, especially all Pragmatic Gazetteers, and with which +all Europe is disharmoniously ringing, Friedrich is hopeful there +will be Peace, through England;--cannot doubt, at least, but the +Austrians have had enough for one year;--and looks forward to +certain months, if not of rest, yet of another kind of activity. +Negotiation, Peace through England, if possible; that is the high +prize: and in the other case, or in any case, readiness for next +Campaign;--which with the treasury exhausted, and no honorable +subsidy from France, is a difficult problem. + +That was Friedrich's, and everybody's, program of affairs for the +months coming: but in that Friedrich and everybody found themselves +greatly mistaken. Bruhl and the Austrians had decided otherwise. +"Open mouse-trap," at Striegau; claws of the sleeping cat, at Sohr: +these were sad experiences; ill to bear, with the Sea-Powers +grumbling on you, and the world sniffing its pity on you;--but are +not conclusive, are only provoking and even maddening, to the +sanguine mind. Two sad failures; but let us try another time. +"A tricky man; cunning enough, your King of Prussia!" thinks Bruhl, +with a fellness of humor against Friedrich which is little +conceivable to us now: "Cunning enough. But it is possible cunning +may be surpassed by deeper cunning!"--and decides, Bartenstein and +an indignant Empress-Queen assenting eagerly, That there shall, in +the profoundest secrecy till it break out, be a third, and much +fiercer trial, this Winter yet. The Bruhl-Bartenstein plan (owing +mainly to the Russian Bugbear which hung over it, protective, but +with whims of its own) underwent changes, successive redactions or +editions; which the reader would grudge to hear explained to him. +[Account of them in Orlich, ii. 273-278 (from various RUTOWSKI +Papers; and from the contemporary satirical Pamphlet, +"MONDSCHEINWURFE, Mirror-castings of Moonshine, by ZEBEDAUS Cuckoo, +beaten Captain of a beaten Army."] Of the final or acted edition, +some loose notion, sufficient for our purpose, may be collected +from the following fractions of Notes:-- + +NOVEMBER 17th (INTERIOR OF GERMANY). ... "Feldmarschall-Lieutenant +von Grune, a General of mark, detached by Traun not long since, +from the Rhine Country, with a force of 10,000 men, why is he +marching about: first to Baireuth Country, 'at Hof, November 9th,' +as if for Bohemia; then north, to Gera ('lies at Gera till the +17th'), as if for Saxony Proper? Prince Karl, you would certainly +say, has gone into winter-quarters; about Konigsgratz, and farther +on? Gone or going, sure enough, is Prince Karl, into the convenient +Bohemian districts,--uncertain which particular districts; at least +the Young Dessauer, watching him from the Silesian side, is +uncertain which. Better be vigilant, Prince Leopold!--Grune, lying +at Gera yonder, is not intending for Prince Karl, then? No, not +thither. Then perhaps towards Saxony, to reinforce the Saxons? +Or some-whither to find fat winter-quarters: who knows? Indeed, who +cares particularly, for such inconsiderable Grune and his 10,000!-- + +"The Saxons quitted their inexpugnable Camp towards Halle, some +time ago; went into cantonments farther inland;--the Old Dessauer +(middle of October) having done the like, and gone home: his force +lies rather scattered, for convenience of food and forage. From the +Silesian side, again, Prince Leopold, whose head-quarters are about +Striegau, intimates, That he cannot yet say, with certainty, what +districts Prince Karl will occupy for winter-quarters in Bohemia. +Prince Karl is vaguely roving about; detaching Pandours to the +Silesian Mountains, as if for checking our victorious Nassau +there;--always rather creeping northward; skirting Western Silesia +with his main force; 30,000 or better, with Lobkowitz and Nadasti +ahead. Meaning what? Be vigilant, my young friend. + +"The private fact is, Prince Karl does not mean to go into winter- +quarters at all. In private fact, Prince Karl is one of Three +mysterious Elements or Currents, sent on a far errand: Grune is +another: Rutowski's Saxon Camp (now become Cantonment) is a third. +Three Currents instinct with fire and destruction, but as yet quite +opaque; which have been launched,--whitherward thinks the reader? +On Berlin itself, and the Mark of Brandenburg; there to collide, +and ignite in a marvellous manner. There is their meeting-point: +there shall they, on a sudden, smite one another into flame; +and the destruction blaze, fiery enough, round Friedrich and his +own Brandenburg homesteads there!-- + +"It is a grand scheme; scheme at least on a grand scale. For the +LEGS of it, Grune's march and Prince Karl's, are about 600 miles +long! Plan due chiefly, they say, to the yellow rage of Bruhl; +aided by the contrivance of Rutowski, and the counsel of Austrian +military men. For there is much consulting about it, and redacting +of it; Polish Majesty himself very busy. To Bruhl's yellow rage it +is highly solacing and hopeful. 'Rutowski, lying close in his +Cantonments, and then suddenly springing out, will overwhelm the +Old Dessauer, who lies wide;--can do it, surely; and Grune is there +to help if necessary. Dessauer blown to pieces, Grune, with +Rutowski combined, push in upon Brandenburg,--Grune himself upon +Berlin,--from the west and south, nobody expecting him. Prince +Karl, not taking into winter-quarters in Bohemia, as they idly +think; but falling down the Valley of the Bober, or Bober and +Queiss, into the Lausitz (to Gorlitz, Guben, where we have +Magazines for him), comes upon it from the southeast,--nobody +expecting any of them. Three simultaneous Armies hurled on the head +of your Friedrich; combustible deluges flowing towards him, as from +the ends of Germany; so opaque, silent, yet of fire wholly: +will not that surprise him!' thinks Bruhl. These are the schemes of +the little man." + +Bruhl, having constituted himself rival to Friedrich, and fallen +into pale or yellow rage by the course things took, this Plan is +naturally his chief joy, or crown of joys; a bubbling well of +solace to him in his parched condition. He should, obviously, have +kept it secret; thrice-secret, the little fool;--but a poor parched +man is not always master of his private bubbling wells in that +kind! Wolfstierna is Swedish Envoy at Dresden; Rudenskjold, Swedish +Envoy at Berlin, has run over to see him in the dim November days. +Swedes, since Ulrique's marriage, are friendly to Prussia. +Bruhl has these two men to dinner; talks with them, over his wine, +about Friedrich's insulting usage of him, among other topics. +"Insulting; how, your Excellency?" asks Rudenskjold, privately a +friend of Friedrich. Bruhl explains, with voice quivering, those +cuts in the Friedrich manifesto of August last, and other griefs +suffered; the two Swedes soothing him with what oil they have +ready. "No matter!" hints Bruhl; and proceeds from hint to hint, +till the two Swedes are fully aware of the grand scheme: +Grune, Prince Karl; and how Destruction, with legs 500 miles long, +is steadily advancing to assuage one with just revenge. +"Right, your Excellency!"--only that Rudenskjold proceeds to +Berlin; and there straightway ("8th November") punctually makes +Friedrich also aware. [Stenzel, iv. 262; Ranke, iii. 317-323; +Friedrich's own narrative of it, <italic> OEuvres, <end italic> +iii. 148.] Foolish Bruhl: a man that has a secret should not only +hide it, but hide that he has it to hide. + + + FRIEDRICH GOES OUT TO MEET HIS THREE-LEGGED MONSTER; + CUTS ONE LEG OF IT IN TWO (Fight of + Hennersdorf, 23d November, 1745). + +Friedrich, having heard the secret, gazes into it with horror and +astonishment: "What a time I have! This is not living; this is +being killed a thousand times a day!" [Ranke (iii. 321 n.): TO whom +said, we are not told.]--with horror and astonishment; but also +with what most luminous flash of eyesight is in him; compares it +with Prince Karl's enigmatic motions, Grune's open ones and the +other phenomena;--perceives that it is an indisputable fact, and a +thrice-formidable; requiring to be instantly dealt with by the +party interested! Whereupon, after hearty thanks to Rudenskjold, +there occur these rapidly successive phases of activity, which we +study to take up in a curt form. + +FIRST (probably 9th or 10th November), there is Council held with +Minister Podewils and the Old Dessauer; Council from which comes +little benefit, or none. Podewils and Old Leopold stare +incredulous; cannot be made to believe such a thing. +"Impossible any Saxon minister or man would voluntarily bring the +theatre of war into his own Country, in this manner!" thinks the +Old Dessauer, and persists to think,--on what obstinate ground +Friedrich never knew. To which Podewils, "who has properties in the +Lausitz, and would so fain think them safe," obstinately, though +more covertly, adheres. "Impossible!" urge both these Councillors; +and Friedrich cannot even make them believe it. Believe it; +and, alas, believing it is not the whole problem! + +Happily Friedrich has the privilege of ordering, with or without +their belief. "You, Podewils, announce the matter to foreign +Courts. You, Serene Highness of Anhalt, at your swiftest, collect +yonder, and encamp again. Your eye well on Grune and Rutowski; +and the instant I give you signal--! I am for Silesia, to look +after Prince Karl, the other long leg of this Business." +Old Leopold, according to Friedrich's account, is visibly glad of +such opportunity to fight again before he die: and yet, for no +reason except some senile jealousy, is not content with these +arrangements; perversely objects to this and that. At length the +King says,--think of this hard word, and of the eyes that accompany +it!--"When your Highness gets Armies of your own, you will order +them accordiug to your mind; at present, it must be according to +mine." On, then; and not a moment lost: for of all things we must +be swift! + +Old Leopold goes accordingly. Friedrich himself goes in a week +hence. Orders, correspondences from Podewils and the rest, are +flying right and left;--to Young Leopold in Silesia, first of all. +Young Leopold draws out his forces towards the Silesian-Lausitz +border, where Prince Karl's intentions are now becoming visible. +And,--here is the second phase notable,-- + +"On Monday, 15th, ["18th," <italic> Feldzuge, <end italic> i. 402 +(see Rodenbeck, i. 122).] at 7 A.M.," Friedrich rushes off, by +Crossen, full speed for Liegnitz; "with Rothenburg, with the Prince +of Prussia and Ferdinand of Brunswick accompanying." With what +thoughts,--though, in his face, you can read nothing; all Berlin +being already in such tremor! Friedrich is in Liegnitz next day; +and after needful preliminaries there, does, on the Thursday +following, "at Nieder-Adelsdorf," not far off, take actual command +of Prince Leopold's Army, which had lain encamped for some days, +waiting him. And now with such force in hand,--35,000, soldiers +every man of them, and freshened by a month's rest,--one will +endeavor to do some good upon Prince Karl. Probably sooner than +Prince Karl supposes. For there is great velocity in this young +King; a panther-like suddenness of spring in him: cunning, too, as +any Felis of them; and with claws like the Felis Leo on occasion. +Here follows the brief Campaign that ensued, which I strive greatly +to abridge. + +Prince Karl's intentions towards Frankfurt-on-Oder Country, through +the Lausitz, are now becoming practically manifest. There is a +Magazine for him at Guben, within thirty miles of Frankfurt; +arrangements getting ready all the way. A winter march of 150 +miles;--but what, say the spies, is to hinder? Prince Karl dreams +not that Friedrich is on the ground, or that anybody is aware. +Which notion Friedrich finds that it will be extremely suitable to +maintain in Prince Karl. Friedrich is now at Adelsdorf, some thirty +miles eastward of the Lausitz Border, perhaps forty or more from +the route Prince Karl will follow through that Province. + +"It is a high-lying irregularly hilly Country; hilly, not +mountainous. Various streams rise out of it that have a long +course,--among others, the Spree, which washes Berlin;--especially +three Valleys cross it, three Rivers with their Valleys: +Bober, Queiss, Neisse (the THIRD Neisse we have come upon); +all running northward, pretty much parallel, though all are +branches of the Oder. This is Neisse THIRD, we say; not the Neisse +of Neisse City, which we used to know at the north base of the +Giant Mountains, nor the Roaring Neisse, which we have seen at +Hohenfriedberg; but a third [and the FOURTH and last, "Black +Neisse," thank Heaven, is an upper branch of this, and we have, and +shall have, nothing to do with it!]--third Neisse, which we may +call the Lausitz Neisse. On which, near the head of it, there is a +fine old spinning, linen-weaving Town called Zittau,--where, to +make it memorable, one Tourist has read, on the Town-house, an +Inscription worth repeating: 'BENE FACERE ET MALE AUDIRE REGIUM +EST, To do good and have evil said of you, is a kingly thing.' +Other Towns, as Gorlitz, and seventy miles farther the above-said +Guben, lie on this same Neisse,--shall we add that Herrnhuth stands +near the head of it? The wondrous Town of Herrnhuth (LORD'S- +KEEPING), founded by Count Zinzendorf, twenty years before those +dates; ["In 1722, the first tree felled" (LIVES of Zinzendorf).] +where are a kind of German Methodist-Quakers to this day, who have +become very celebrated in the interim. An opulent enough, most +silent, strictly regular, strange little Town. The women are in +uniform; wives, maids, widows, each their form of dress. +Missionaries, speaking flabby English, who have been in the West +Indies or are going thither, seem to abound in the place; +male population otherwise, I should think, must be mainly doing +trade elsewhere; nothing but prayers, preachings, charitable +boarding-schooling and the like, appeared to be going on. +Herrnhuth is 'a Sabbath Petrified; Calvinistic Sabbath done into +Stone,' as one of my companions called it." [Tourist's Note +(Autumn, 1852).] + +Herrnhuth, of which all Englishmen have heard, stands near the head +of this our third Neisse; as does Zittau, a few miles higher up. +I can do nothing more to give it mark for them. Bober Valley, then +Queiss Valley, which run parallel though they join at last, and +become Bober wholly before getting into the Oder,--these two +Valleys and Rivers lie in Friedrich's own Territory; and are +between him and the Lausitz, Queiss River being the boundary of +Silesia and the Lausitz here. It is down the Neisse that Prince +Karl means to march. There are Saxons already gathering about +Zittau; and down as far as Guben they are making Magazines and +arrangements,--for it is all their own Country in those years, +though most of it is Prussia's now. Prince Karl's march will go +parallel to the Bober and the Queiss; separated from the Queiss in +this part by an undulating Hill-tract of twenty miles or more. + +Friedrich has had somewhat to settle for the Southern Frontier of +Silesia withal, which new doggeries of Pandours are invading,--to +lie ready for Prince Karl on his return thither, whose grand +meaning all this while (as Friedrich well knows), is "Silesia in +the lump" again, had he once cut us off from Brandenburg and our +supplies! General Nassau, far eastward, who is doing exploits in +Moravia itself,--him Friedrich has ordered homeward, westward to +his own side of the Mountains, to attend these new Pandour +gentlemen; Winterfeld he has called home, out of those Southern +mountains, as likely to be usefuler here on this Western frontier. +Winterfeld arrived in Camp the same day with Friedrich; and is sent +forward with a body of 3,000 light troops, to keep watch about the +Lausitz Frontier and the River Queiss; "careful not to quit our own +side of that stream,"--as we mean to hoodwink Prince Karl, if +we can! + +Friedrich lies strictly within his own borders, for a day or two; +till Prince Karl march, till his own arrangements are complete. +Friedrich himself keeps the Bober, Winterfeld the Queiss; "all pass +freely out of the Lausitz; none are allowed to cross into it: +thereby we hear notice of Prince Karl, he none of us." +Perfectly quiescent, we, poor creatures, and aware of nothing! +Thus, too, Friedrich--in spite of his warlike Manifesto, which the +Saxons are on the eve of answering with a formal Declaration of +War--affects great rigor in considering the Saxons as not yet at +war with him: respects their frontier, Winterfeld even punishes +hussars "for trespassing on Lausitz ground." Friedrich also affects +to have roads repaired, which he by no means intends to travel:-- +the whole with a view of lulling Prince Karl; of keeping the mouse- +trap open, as he had done in the Striegau case. It succeeded again, +quite as conspicuously, and at less expense. + +Prince Karl--whose Tolpatch doggery Winterfeld will not allow to +pass the Queiss, and to whom no traveller or tidings can come from +beyond that River--discerns only, on the farther shore of it, +Winterfeld with his 3,000 light troops. Behind these, he discerns +either nothing, or nothing immediately momentous; but contentedly +supposes that this, the superficies of things, is all the solid- +content they have. Prince Karl gets under way, therefore, nothing +doubting; with his Saxons as vanguard. Down the Neisse Valley, on +the right or Queiss-ward side of it: Saturday, 20th November, is +his first march in Lusatian territory. He lies that night spread +out in three Villages, Schonberg, Schonbrunn, Kieslingswalde; +[<italic> Feldzuge, <end italic> i. 407 (Bericht von der Action bey +Katholisch-Hennersdorf, &c.).] some ten miles long; parallel to the +Neisse River, and about four miles from it, east or Queiss-ward of +it. Karl himself is rear, at Schonberg; fierce Lobkowitz is centre; +the Saxons are vanguard, 6,000 in all, posted in Villages, which +again are some ten or twelve miles ahead of Prince Karl's forces; +the Queiss on their right hand, and the Naumburg Bridge of Queiss, +where Winterfeld now is, about fifteen miles to east. Their Uhlans +circulate through the intervening space (were much patrolling +needed, in such quiet circumstances), and maintain the due +communication. There lies Prince Karl, on Saturday night, 20th +November, 1745; an Army of perhaps 40,000, dnngerously straggling +out above twenty miles long; and appears to see no difficulty +ahead. The Saxons, I think, are to continue where they are; +guarding the flank, while the Prince and Lobkowitz push forward, +closer by Neisse River. In four marches more, they can be in +Brandenburg, with Guben and their Magazines at hand. + +Seeing which state of matters, Winterfeld gives Friedrich notice of +it; and that he, Winterfeld, thinks the moment is come. +"Pontoons to Naumburg, then!" orders Friedrich. Winterfeld, at the +proper moment, is to form a Bridge there. One permanent Bridge +there already is; and two fords, one above it, one below: with a +second Bridge, there will be roadway for four columns, and a swift +transit when needful. Sunday, 21st, Friedrich quits the Bober, +diligently towards Naumburg; marches Sunday, Monday; Tuesday, 23d, +about eleven A.M., begins to arrive there; Winterfeld and passages +all ready. Forward, then, and let us drive in upon Prince Karl; +and either cut him in two, or force him to fight us; he little +thinks where or on what terms. Sure enough, in the worst place we +can choose for him! Friedrich begins crossing in four columns at +one P.M.; crosses continuously for four hours; unopposed, except +some skirmishing of Uhlans, while his Cavalry is riding the Fords +to right and left; Uhlans were driven back swiftly, so soon as the +Cavalry got over. At five in the evening, he has got entirely +across, 35,000 horse and foot: Ziethen is chasing the Uhlans at +full speed; who at least will show us the way,--for by this time a +mist has begun falling, and the brief daylight is done. + +Friedrich himself, without waiting for the rear of his force, and +some while before this mist fell (as I judge), is pushing forward, +"a miller lad for his guide," across to Hennersdorf,--Katholisch- +Hennersdorf, a long straggling Village, eight or ten miles off, and +itself two miles long,--where he understands the Saxons are. +Miller lad guides us, over height and hollow, with his best skill, +at a brisk pace;--through one hollow, where he has known the cattle +pasture in summer time; but which proves impassable, and mere +quagmire, at this season. No getting through it, you unfortunate +miller lad (GARCON DE MEUNIER). Nevertheless, we did find passage +through the skirts of it: nay this quagmire proved the luck of us; +for the enemy, trustiug to it, had no outguard there, never +expecting us on that side. So that the vanguard, Ziethen and rapid +Hussars, made an excellent thing of it. Ziethen sends us word, That +he has got into the body of Hennersdorf,--"found the Saxon +Quartermaster quietly paying his men;"--that he, Ziethen, is +tolerably master of Hennersdorf, and will amuse the enemy till the +other force come up. + +Of course Friedrich now pushes on, double speed; detaches other +force, horse and foot: which was lucky, says my informant; for the +Ziethen Hussars, getting good plunder, had by no means demolished +the Saxons; but had left them time to draw up in firm order, with a +hedge in front, a little west of the Village;--from which post, +unassailable by Ziethen, they would have got safe off to the main +body, with little but an affront and some loss of goods. The new +force--a rapid Katzler with light horse in the van, cuirassiers and +foot rapidly following him--sweeps past the long Village, "through +a thin wood and a defile;" finds the enemy firmly ranked as above +said; cavalry their left, infantry on right, flanked by an +impenetrable hedge; and at once strikes in. At once, Katzler does, +on order given; but is far too weak. Charges, he; but is counter- +charged, tumbled back; the Saxons, horse and foot, showing +excellent fight. At length, more Prussian force coming up, +cuirassiers charge them in front, dragoons in flank, hussars in +rear; all attacking at once, and with a will; and the poor Saxon +Cavalry is entirely cut to shreds. + +And now there remains only the Infantry, perhaps about 1,000 men +(if one must guess); who form a square; ply vigorously their field- +pieces and their fire-arms; and cannot be broken by horse-charges. +In fact, these Saxons made a fierce resistance;--till, before long, +Prussian Infantry came up; and, with counter field-pieces and +musketries, blasted gaps in them; upon which the Cavalry got +admittance, and reduced the gallant fellows nearly wholly to +annihilation either by death or capture. There are 914 Prisoners in +this Action, 4 big guns, and I know not how many kettle-drums, +standards and the like,--all that were there, I suppose. The number +of dead not given. [Orlich, ii. 291; <italic> Feldzuge, <end +italic> i. 400-413.] But, in brief, this Saxon Force is utterly cut +to pieces; and only scattered twos and threes of it rush through +the dark mist; scattering terror to this hand and that. +The Prussians take their post at and round Hennersdorf that night; +--bivouacking, though only in sack trousers, a blanket each man:-- +"We work hard, my men, and suffer all things for a day or two, that +it may save much work afterwards," said the King to them; and they +cheerfully bivouacked. + +This was the Action of Katholisch-Hennersdorf, fought on Tuesday, +23d November, 1745; and still celebrated in the Prussian Annals, +and reckoned a brilliant passage of war. KATHOLISCH-Hennersdorf, +some ten miles southwest of Naumburg ON THE QUEISS (for there are, +to my knowledge, Twenty-five other Villages called Hennersdorf, and +Three several Towns of Naumburg, and many Castles and Hamlets so +named in dear Germany of the Nomenclatures):--Katholisch- +Hennersdorf is the place, and Tuesday about dusk the time. A sharp +brush of fighting; not great in quantity, but laid in at the right +moment, in the right place. Like the prick of a needle, duly sharp, +into the spinal marrow of a gigantic object; totally ruinous to +such object. Never, or rarely, in the Annals of War, was as much +good got of so little fighting. You may, with labor and peril, +plunge a hundred dirks into your boaconstrictor; hack him with +axes, bray him with sledge-hammers; that is not uncommon: but the +one true prick in the spinal marrow, and the Artist that can +guide you well to that, he and it are the notable and +beneficent phenomena. + + + PRINCE KARL, CUT IN TWO, TUMBLES HOME AGAIN DOUBLE-QUICK. + +Next morning, Wednesday, 24th, the Prussians are early astir again; +groping, on all manner of roads, to find what Prince Karl is doing, +in a world all covered in thick mist. They can find nothing of him, +but broken tumbrils, left baggage-wagons, rumor of universal +marching hither and marching thither;--evidences of an Army fallen +into universal St. Vitus's-Dance; distractedly hurrying to and fro, +not knowing whitherward for the moment, except that it must be +homewards, homewards with velocity. + +Prince Karl's farther movements are not worth particularizing. +Ordering and cross-ordering; march this way; no, back again: such a +scene in that mist. Prince Karl is flowing homeward; confusedly +deluging and gurgling southward, the best he can. Next afternoon, +near Gorlitz, and again one other time, he appears drawn up, as if +for fighting; but has himself no such thought; flies again, without +a shot; leaves Gorlitz to capitulate, that afternoon; all places to +capitulate, or be evacuated. We hear he is for Zittau; +Winterfeld with light horse hastens after him, gets sight of him on +the Heights at Zittau yonder, [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end +italic> iii. 157; Orlich, ii. 296.] "about two in the morning:" +but the Prince has not the least notion to fight. Prince leaves +Zittau to capitulate,--quits silently the Heights of Zittau at two +A.M. (Winterfeld, very lively in the rear of him, cutting off his +baggage);--and so tumbles, pell-mell, through the Passes of Gabel, +home to Bohemia again. Let us save this poor Note from the fire: + +"On Saturday night, November 27th, the Prussians, pursuing Prince +Karl, were cantoned in the Herrnhuth neighborhood,--my informant's +regiment in the Town of Herrnhuth itself. [<italic> Feldzuge, <end +italic> i. ubi supra.] Yes, there lay the Prussians over Sunday; +and might hear some weighty expounder, if they liked. +Considerably theological, many of these poor Prussian soldiers; +carrying a Bible in their knapsack, and devout Psalms in the heart +of them. Two-thirds of every regiment are LANDESKINDER, native +Prussians; each regiment from a special canton,--generally rather +religious men. The other third are recruits, gathered in the Free +Towns of the Reich, or where they can be got; not distinguished by +devotion these, we may fancy, only trained to the uttermost by +Spartan drill." + +Before the week is done, that "first leg" of the grand Enterprise +(the Prince-Karl leg) is such a leg as we see. "Silesia in the +lump,"--fond dream again, what a dream! Old Dessauer getting +signal, where now, too probably, is Saxony itself?--Ranking again +at Aussig in Bohemia, Prince Karl--5,000 of his men lost, and all +impetus and fire gone--falls gently down the Elbe, to join Rutowski +at least; and will reappear within four weeks, out of Saxon +Switzerland, still rather in dismal humor. + +The Prussian Troops, in four great Divisions, are cantoned in that +Lausitz Country, now so quiet; in and about Bautzen and three other +Towns of the neighborhood; to rest and be ready for the old +Dessauer, when we hear of him. The "Magazine at Guben in 138 +wagons," the Gorlitz and other Magazines of Prince Karl in the due +number of wagons, supply them with comfortabIe unexpected +provender. Thus they lie cantoned; and have with despatch +effectually settled their part of the problem. Question now is, How +will it stand with the Old Dessauer and his part? Or, better still, +Would not perhaps the Saxons, in this humiliated state, accept +Peace, and finish the matter? + + + + Chapter XIV. + + BATTLE OF KESSELSDORF. + +A "Correspondence" of a certain Excellency Villiers, English +Minister at Dresden,--Sir Thomas Villiers, Grandfather of the +present Earl of Clarendon,--was very famous in those weeks; and is +still worth mention, as a trait of Friedrich's procedure in this +crisis. Friedrich, not intoxicated with his swift triumph over +Prince Karl, but calculating the perils and the chances still +ahead,--miserably off for money too,--admits to himself that not +revenge or triumph, that Peace is the one thing needful to him. +November 29th, Old Leopold is entering Saxony; and in the same +hours, Podewils at Berlin, by order of Friedrich, writes to +Villiers who is in Dresden, about Peace, about mediating for Peace: +"My King ready and desirous, now as at all times, for Peace; the +terms of it known; terms not altered, not alterable, no bargaining +or higgling needed or allowable. CONVENTION OF HANOVER, let his +Polish Majesty accede honestly to that, and all these miseries are +ended." ["CORRESPONDANCE DU ROI AVEC SIR THOMAS VILLIERS;" +commences, on Podewils's part, 28th November; on Friedrich's, 4th +December; ends, on Villier's, 18th December; fourteen Pieces in +all, four of them Friedrich's: Given in <italic> OEuvres de +Frederic, <end italic> iii. 183-216 (see IB, 158), and in many +other Books.] + +Villiers starts instantly on this beneficent business; "goes to +Court, on it, that very night;" Villiers shows himself really +diligent, reasonable, loyal; doing his very best now and +afterwards; but has no success at all. Polish Majesty is obstinate, +--I always think, in the way sheep are, when they feel themselves +too much put upon;--and is deaf to everybody but Bruhl. +Bruhl answers: "Let his Prussian Majesty retire from our +Territory;--what is he doing in the Lausitz just now! Retire from +our Territory; THEN we will treat!" Bruhl still refuses to be +desperate of his bad game;--at any rate, Bruhl's rage is yellower +than ever. That, very evening, while talking to Villiers, he has +had preparations going on;--and next morning takes his Master, +Polish Majesty August III., with some comfortable minimum of +apparatus (cigar-boxes not forgotten), off to Prag, where they can +be out of danger till the thing decide itself. Villiers follows to +Prag; desists not from his eloquent Letters, and earnest +persuasions at Prag; but begins to perceive that the means of +persuading Bruhl will be a much heavier kind of artillery. + +On the whole, negotiations have yet done little. Britannic George, +though Purseholder, what is his success here? As little is the +Russian Bugbear persuasive on Friedrich himself. The Czarina of the +Russias, a luxurious lady, of far more weight than insight, has +just notified to him, with more emphasis than ever, That he shall +not attack Saxony; that if he do, she with considerable vigor will +attack him! That has always been a formidable puzzle for Friedrich: +however, he reflects that the Russians never could draw sword, or +be ready with their Army, in less than six months, probably not in +twelve; and has answered, translating it into polite official +terms: "Fee-faw-fum, your Czarish Majesty! Question is not now of +attacking, but of being myself attacked!"--and so is now running +his risks with the Czarina. + +Still worse was the result he got from Louis XV. Lately, "for +form's sake," as he tells us, "and not expecting anything," he had +(November 15th) made a new appeal to France: "Ruin menacing your +Most Christian Majesty's Ally, in this huge sudden crisis of +invasive Austrian-Saxons; and for your Majesty's sake, may I not in +some measure say?" To which Louis's Answer is also given. A very +sickly, unpleasant Document; testifying to considerable pique +against Friedrich;--Ranke says, it was a joint production, all the +Ministers gradually contributing each his little pinch of irony to +make it spicier, and Louis signing when it was enough;--very +considerable pique against Friedrich; and something of the stupid +sulkiness as of a fat bad boy, almost glad that the house is on +fire, because it will burn his nimble younger brother, whom +everybody calls so clever: "Sorry indeed, Sir my Brother, most +sorry:--and so you have actually signed that HANOVER CONVENTION +with our worst Enemy? France is far from having done so; France has +done, and will do, great things. Our Royal heart grieves much at +your situation; but is not alarmed; no, Your Majesty has such +invention, vigor and ability, superior to any crisis, our clever +younger Brother! And herewith we pray God to have you in his holy +keeping." This is the purport of King Louis's Letter;--which +Friedrich folds together again, looking up from perusal of it, we +may fancy with what a glance of those eyes. [Louis's Original, in +<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> iii. 173, 174 (with a +much more satirical paraphrase than the above), and Friedrich's +Answer adjoined,--after the events had come.] + +He is getting instructed, this young King, as to alliances, grand +combinations, French and other. His third Note to Villiers +intimates, "It being evident that his Polish Majesty will have +nothing from us but fighting, we must try to give it him of the +best kind we have." ["Bautzen, 11th December, 1745" (UBI SUPRA).] +Yes truly; it is the ULTIMATE persuasive, that. Here, in condensed +form, are the essential details of the course it went, in this +instance:-- + +General Grune, on the road to Berlin, hearing of the rout at +Hennersdorf, halted instantly,--hastened back to Saxony, to join +Rutowski there, and stand on the defensive. Not now in that Halle- +Frontier region (Rutowski has quitted that, and all the +intrenchments and marshy impregnabilities there); not on that +Halle-Frontier, but hovering about in the interior, Rutowski and +Grune are in junction; gravitating towards Dresden;--expecting +Prince Karl's advent; who ought to emerge from the Saxon +Switzerland in few days, were he sharp; and again enable us to make +a formidable figure. Be speedy, Old Dessauer: you must settle the +Grune-Rutowski account before that junction, not after it! + +The Old Dessauer has been tolerably successful, and by no means +thinks he has been losing time. November 29th, "at three in the +morning," he stept over into Saxony with its impregnable camps; +drove Rutowski's rear-guard, or remnant, out of the quagmires, +canals and intrenchments, before daylight; drove it, that same +evening, or before dawn of the morrow, out of Leipzig: has seized +that Town,--lays heavy contribution on it, nearly 50,000 pounds +(such our strait for finance), "and be sure you take only +substantial men as sureties!" [Orlich, ii. 308.]--and will, and +does after a two days' rest, advance with decent celerity inwards; +though "One must first know exactly whither; one must have bread, +and preparations and precautions; do all things solidly and in +order," thinks the Old Dessauer. Friedrich well knows the whither; +and that Dresden itself is, or may be made, the place for falling +in with Rutowski. Friedrich is now himself ready to join, from the +Bautzen region; the days and hours precious to him; and spurs the +Old Dessauer with the sharpest remonstrances. "All solidly and in +order, your Majesty!" answers the Old Dessauer: solid strong-boned +old coach-horse, who has his own modes of trotting, having done +many a heavy mile of it in his time; and whose skin, one hopes, is +of the due thickness against undue spurring. + +Old Dessauer wishes two things: bread to live upon; and a sure +Bridge over the Elbe whereby Friedrich may join him. Old Dessauer +makes for Torgau, far north, where is both an Elbe Bridge and a +Magazine; which he takes; Torgau and pertinents now his. But it is +far down the Elbe, far off from Bautzen and Friedrich: "A nearer +Bridge and rendezvous, your Highness! Meissen [where they make the +china, only fifty miles from me, and twenty from Dresden], let that +be the Bridge, now that you have got victual. And speedy; +for Heaven's sake, speedy!" Friedrich pushes out General Lehwald +from Bautzen, with 4,000 men, towards Meissen Bridge; Lehwald does +not himself meddle with the Bridge, only fires shot across upon the +Saxon party, till the Old Dessauer, on the other bank, come up;-- +and the Old Dessauer, impatience thinks, will never come. "Three +days in Torgau, yes, Your Majesty: I had bread to bake, and the +very ovens had to be built." A solid old roadster, with his own +modes of trotting; needs thickness of skin. [Friedrich's Letters to +Leopold, in Orlich, ii. 431, 435 (6th-10th December, 1745).] + +At long last, on Sunday, 12th December, about two P.M., the Old +Dessauer does appear; or General Gessler, his vanguard, does +appear,--Gessler of the sixty-seven standards,--"always about an +hour ahead." Gessler has summoned Meissen; has not got it, is +haggling with it about terms, when, towards sunset of the short +day, Old Dessauer himself arrives. Whereupon the Saxon Commandant +quits the Bridge (not much breaking it); and glides off in the +dark, clear out of Meissen, towards Dresden,--chased, but +successfully defending himself. [See Plan, p. 10.] "Had he but +stood out for two days!" say the Saxons,--"Prince Karl had then +been up, and much might have been different." Well, Friedrich too +would have been up, and it had most likely been the same on a +larger scale. But the Saxon Commandant did not stand out; he glided +off, safe; joined Rutowski and Grune, who are lying about Wilsdruf, +six or seven miles on the hither side of Dresden, and eagerly +waiting for Prince Karl. "Bridge and Town of Meissen are your +Majesty's," reports the Old Dessauer that night: upon which +Friedrich instantly rises, hastening thitherward. Lehwald comes +across Meissen Bridge, effects the desired junction; and all Monday +the Old Dessauer defiles through Meissen town and territory; +continually advances towards Dresden, the Saxons harassing the +flanks of him a little,--nay in one defile, being sharp strenuous +fellows, they threw his rear into some confusion; cut off certain +carts and prisoners, and the life of one brave General, Lieutenant- +General Roel, who had charge there. "Spurring one's trot into a +gallop! This comes of your fast marching, of your spurring beyond +the rules of war!" thinks Old Leopold; and Friedrich, who knows +otherwise, is very angry for a moment. + +But indeed the crisis is pressing. Prince Karl is across the Metal +Mountains, nearing Dresden from the east; Friedrich strikes into +march for the same point by Meissen, so soon as the Bridge is his. +Old Leopold is advancing thither from the westward,--steadily hour +by hour; Dresden City the fateful goal. There,--in these middle +days of December, 1745 (Highland Rebellion just whirling back from +Derby again, "the London shops shut for one day"),--it is clear +there will be a big and bloody game played before we are much +older. Very sad indeed: but Count Bruhl is not persuadable +otherwise. By slumbering and sluggarding, over their money-tills +and flesh-pots; trying to take evil for good, and to say, "It will +do," when it will not do, respectable Nations come at last to be +governed by Bruhls; cannot help themselves;--and get their backs +broken in consequence. Why not? Would you have a Nation live +forever that is content to be governed by Bruhls? The gods are +wiser!--It is now the 13th; Old Dessauer tramping forward, hour by +hour, towards Dresden and some field of Fate. + +On Tuesday, 14th, by break of day, Old Dessauer gets on march +again; in four columns, in battle order; steady all day,--hard +winter weather, ground crisp, and flecked with snow. The Pass at +Neustadt, "his cavalry went into it at full gallop;" but found +nobody there. That night he encamps at a place called Rohrsdorf; +which may be eight miles west-by-north from Dresden, as the crow +flies; and ten or more, if you follow the highway round by Wilsdruf +on your right. The real direct Highway from Meissen to Dresden is +on the other side of the Elbe, and keeps by the River-bank, a fine +level road; but on this western side, where Leopold now is, the +road is inland, and goes with a bend. Leopold, of course, keeps +command of this road; his columns are on both sides of it, River on +their left at some miles distance; and incessantly expect to find +Rutowski, drawn out on favorable ground somewhere. The country is +of fertile, but very broken character; intersected by many brooks, +making obliquely towards the Elbe (obliquely, with a leaning +Meissen-wards); country always mounting, till here about Rohrsdorf +we seem to have almost reached the watershed, and the brooks make +for the Elbe, leaning Dresden way. Good posts abound in such broken +country, with its villages and brooks, with its thickets, hedges +and patches of swamp. But Rutowski has not appeared anywhere, +during this Tuesday. + +Our four columns, therefore, lie all night, under arms, about +Rohrsdorf: and again by morrow's dawn are astir in the old order, +crunching far and wide the frozen ground; and advance, charged to +the muzzle with potential battle. Slightly upwards always, to the +actual watershed of the country; leaving Wilsdruf a little to their +right. Wilsdruf is hardly past, when see, from this broad table- +land, top of the country: "Yonder is Rutowski, at last;--and this +new Wednesday will be a day!" Yonder, sure enough: drawn out three +or four miles long; with his right to the Elbe, his left to that +intricate Village of Kesselsdorf; bristling with cannon; +deep gullet and swampy brook in front of him: the strongest post a +man could have chosen in those parts. + +The Village of Kesselsdorf itself lies rather in a hollow; in the +slight beginning, or uppermost extremity, of a little Valley or +Dell, called the Tschonengrund,--which, with its, quaggy brook of a +Tschone, wends northeastward into the Elbe, a course of four or +five miles: a little Valley very deep for its length, and getting +altogether chasmy and precipitous towards the Elbe-ward or lower +end. Kesselsdorf itself, as we said, is mainly in a kind of hollow: +between Old Leopold and Kesselsdorf the ground rather mounts; +and there is perceptibly a flat knoll or rise at the head of it, +where the Village begins. Some trees there, and abundance of cannon +and grenadiers at this moment. It is the southwestern or left-most +point of Rutowski's line; impregnable with its cannon-batteries and +grenadiers. Rightward Rutowski extends in long lines, with the +quaggy-dell of Tschonengrund in front of him, parallel to him; +Dell ever deepening as it goes. Northeastward, at the extreme +right, or Elbe point of it, where Grune and the Austrians stand, it +has grown so chasmy, we judge that Grune can neither advance nor be + +MAP/PLAN GOES HERE--book 15 continuation --page 10-- + + +advanced upon: so we leave him standing there,--which he did all +day, in a purely meditative posture. Rutowski numbers 35,000, now +on this ground, with immensity of cannon; 32,000 we, with only the +usual field-artillery, and such a Tschonengrund, with its half- +frozen quagmires ahead. A ticklish case for the old man, as he +grimly reconnoitres it, in the winter morning. + +Grim Old Dessauer having reconnoitred, and rapidly considered, +decides to try it,--what else?--will range himself on the west side +of that Tschonengrund, horse and foot; two lines, wide as Rutowski +opposite him; but means to direct his main and prime effort against +Kesselsdorf, which is clearly the key of the position, if it can. +be taken. For which end the Old Dessauer lengthens himself out to +rightward, so as to outflank Kesselsdorf;--neglecting Grune +(refusing Grune, as the soldiers say):--"our horse of the right +wing reached from the Wood called Lerchenbusoh (LARCH-BUSH) +rightward as far as Freyberg road; foot all between that +Lerchenbusch and the big Birch-tree on the road to Wilsdruf; +horse of the left wing, from there to Roitsch." [Stille (p. 181), +who was present. See Plan.] It was about two P.M. before the old +man got all his deployments completed; what corps of his, deploying +this way or that, came within wind of Kesselsdorf, were saluted +with cannon, thirty pieces or more, which are in battery, in three +batteries, on the knoll there; but otherwise no fighting as yet. +At two, the Old Dessauer is complete; he reverently doffs his hat, +as had always been his wont, in prayer to God, before going in. +A grim fervor of prayer is in his heart, doubtless; though the +words as reported are not very regular or orthodox: "O HERR GOTT, +help me yet this once; let me not be disgraced in my old days! +Or if thou wilt not help me, don't help those HUNDSVOGTE [damned +Scoundrels, so to speak], but leave us to try it ourselves!" +That is the Old Scandinavian of a Dessauer's prayer; a kind of +GODUR he too, Priest as well as Captain: Prayer mythically true as +given; mythically, not otherwise. [Ranke, iii. 334 n.] Which done, +he waves his hat once, "On, in God's name!" and the storm is loose. +Prussian right wing pushing grandly forward, bent in that manner, +to take Kesselsdorf and its fire-throats in flank. + +The Prussians tramp on with the usual grim-browed resolution, foot +in front, horse in rear; but they have a terrible problem at that +Kesselsdorf, with its retrenched batteries, and numerous grenadiers +fighting under cover. The very ground is sore against them; +uphill, and the trampled snow wearing into a slide, so that you +sprawl and stagger sadly. Thirty-one big guns, and about 9,000 +small, pouring out mere death on you, from that knoll-head. +The Prussians stagger; cannot stand it; bend to rightwards, and get +out of shot-range; cannot manage it this bout. Rally, reinforce; +try it again. Again, with a will; but again there is not a way. +The Prussians are again repulsed; fall back, down this slippery +course, in more disorder than the first time. Had the Saxons stood +still, steadily handling arms, how, on such terms, could the +Prussians ever have managed it? + +But at sight of this second repulse, the Saxon grenadiers, and +especially one battalion of Austrians who were there (the only +Austrians who fought this day), gave a shout "Victory!"--and in the +height of their enthusiasm, rushed out, this Austrian battalion +first and the Saxons after them, to charge these Prussians, and +sweep the world clear of them. It was the ruin of their battle; +a fatal hollaing before you are out of the woods. Old Leopold, +quick as thought, noticing the thing, hurls cavalry on these +victorious down-plunging grenadiers; slashes them asunder, into +mere recoiling whirlpools of ruin; so that "few of them got back +unwounded;" and the Prussians storming in along with them,--aided +by ever new Prussians, from beyond the Tschonengrund even,--the +place was at length carried; and the Saxon battle became hopeless. + +For, their right being in such hurricane, the Prussians from the +centre, as we hint, storm forward withal; will not be held back by +the Tschonengrund. They find the Tschonengrund quaggy in the +extreme, "brook frozen at the sides, but waist-deep of liquid mud +in the centre;" cross it, nevertheless, towards the upper part of +it,--young Moritz of Dessau leading the way, to help his old Father +in extremity. They climb the opposite side,--quite slippery in +places, but "helping one another up;"--no Saxons there till you get +fairly atop, which was an oversight on the Saxon part. Fairly atop, +Moritz is saluted by the Saxons with diligent musket-volleys; +but Moritz also has musket-volleys in him, bayonet-charges in him; +eager to help his old Papa at this hard pinch. Old Papa has the +Saxons in flank; sends more and ever more other cavalry in on them; +and in fact, the right wing altogether storms violently through +Kesselsdorf, and sweeps it clean. Whole regiments of the Saxons are +made prisoners; Roel's Light Horse we see there, taking standards; +cutting violently in to avenge Roel's death, and the affront they +had at Meissen lately. Furious Moritz on their front, from across +the Tschonengrund; furious Roel (GHOST of Roel) and others in their +flank, through Kesselsdorf: no standing for the Saxons longer. + +About nightfall,--their horse having made poorish fight, though the +foot had stood to it like men,--they roll universally away. +The Prussian left wing of horse are summoned through the +Tschonengrund to chase: had there remained another hour of +daylight, the Saxon Army had been one wide ruin. Hidden in +darkness, the Saxon Army ebbed confusedly towards Dresden: with the +loss of 6,000 prisoners and 3,000 killed and wounded: a completely +beaten Army. It is the last battle the Saxons fought as a Nation,-- +or probably will fight. Battle called of Kesselsdorf: Wednesday, +15th December, 1745. + +Prince Karl had arrived at Dresden the night before; heard all this +volleying and cannonading, from the distance; but did not see good +to interfere at all. Too wide apart, some say; quartered at +unreasonably distant villages, by some irrefragable ignorant War- +clerk of Bruhl's appointing,--fatal Bruhl. Others say, his Highness +had himself no mind; and made excuses that his troops were tired, +disheartened by the two beatings lately,--what will become of us in +case of a third or fourth! It is certain, Prince Karl did nothing. +Nor has Grime's corps, the right wing, done anything except +meditate:--it stood there unattacked, unattacking; till deep in the +dark night, when Rutowski remembered it, and sent it order to come +home. One Austrian battalion, that of grenadiers on the knoll at +Kesselsdorf, did actually fight;--and did begin that fatal +outbreak, and quitting of the post there; "which lost the Battle to +us!" say the Saxons. + +Had those grenadiers stood in their place, there is no Prussian but +admits that it would have been a terrible business to take +Kesselsdorf and its batteries. But they did not stand; they rushed +out, shouting "Victory;" and lost us the battle. And that is the +good we have got of the sublime Austrian Alliance; and that is the +pass our grand scheme of Partitioning Prussia has come to? +Fatal little Bruhl of the three hundred and sixty-five clothes- +suits; Valet fatally become divine in Valet-hood,--are not you +costing your Country dear! + +Old Dessauer, glorious in the last of his fields, lay on his arms +all night in the posts about; three bullets through his roquelaure, +no scratch of wound upon the old man. Young Moritz too "had a +bullet through his coat-skirt, and three horses shot under him; +but no hurt, the Almighty's grace preserving him." +[<italic> Feldzuge, <end italic> i. 434.] This Moritz is the Third +of the Brothers, age now thirty-three; and we shall hear +considerably about him in times coming. A lean, tall, austere man; +and, "of all the Brothers, most resembled his Father in his ways." +Prince Dietrich is in Leipzig at present; looking to that +contribution of 50,000 pounds; to that, and to other contributions +and necessary matters;--and has done all his fighting (as it +chanced), though he survived his Brothers many years. Old Papa will +now get his discharge before long (quite suddenly, one morning, by +paralytic stroke, 7th April, 1747); and rest honorably with the +Sons of Thor. [Young Leopold, the successor, died 16th December, +1751, age fifty-two; Dietrich (who had thereupon quitted +soldiering, to take charge of his Nephew left minor, and did not +resume it), died 2d December, 1769; Moritz (soldier to the last), +11th April, 1760. See <italic> Militair-Lexikon, <end italic> i. +43, 34, 38,47.] + + + + Chapter XV. + + PEACE OF DRESDEN: FRIEDRICH DOES MARCH HOME. + +Friedrich himself had got to Meissen, Tuesday, l4th; no enemy on his +road, or none to speak of: Friedrich was there, or not yet far +across, all Wednesday; collecting himself, waiting, on the slip, +for a signal from Old Leopold. Sound of cannon, up the Elbe +Dresden-ward, is reported there to Friedrich, that afternoon: +cannon, sure enough, notes Friedrich; and deep dim-rolling peals, +as of volleying small-arms; "the sky all on fire over there," as +the hoar-frosty evening fell. Old Leopold busy at it, seemingly. +That is the glare of the Old Dessauer's countenance; who is giving +voice, in that manner, to the earthly and the heavenly powers; +conquering Peace for us, let us hope! + +Friedrich, as may be supposed, made his best speed next morning: +"All well!" say the messengers; all well, says Old Leopold, whom he +meets at Wilsdruf, and welcomes with a joyful embrace; +"dismounting from his horse, at sight of Leopold, and advancing to +meet him with doffed hat and open arms,"--and such words and +treatments, that day, as made the old man's face visibly shine. +"Your Highness shall conduct me!" And the two made survey together +of the actual Field of Kesselsdorf; strewn with the ghastly wrecks +of battle,--many citizens of Dresden strolling about, or +sorrowfully seeking for their lost ones among the wounded and dead. +No hurt to these poor citizens, who dread none; help to them +rather: such is Friedrich's mind,--concerning which, in the +Anecdote-Books, there are Narratives (not worth giving) of a +vapidly romantic character, credible though inexact. [For the +indisputable part, see Orlich, ii. 343, 344; and <italic> OEuvres +de Frederic, <end italic> iii. 170.] Friedrich, who may well be +profuse of thanks and praises, charms the Old Dessauer while they +walk together; brave old man with his holed roquelaure. +For certain, he has done the work there,--a great deal of work in +his time! Joy looks through his old rough face, of gunpowder color: +the Herr Gott has not delivered him to those damned Scoundrels in +the end of his days.--On the morrow, Friday, Leopold rolled grandly +forward upon Dresden; Rutowski and Prince Karl vanishing into the +Metal Mountains, by Pirna, for Bohemia, at sound of him,--as he had +scarcely hoped they would. + +On the Saturday evening, Dresden, capable of not the least defence, +has opened all its gates, and Friedrich and the Prussians are in +Dresden; Austrians and wrecked Saxons falling back diligently +towards the Metal Mountains for Bohemia, diligent to clear the road +for him. Queen and Junior Princes are here; to whom, as to all men, +Friedrich is courtesy itself; making personal visit to the +Royalties, appointing guards of honor, sacred respect to the +Royal Houses; himself will lodge at the Princess Lubomirski's, a +private mansion. + +"That ferocious, false, ambitious King of Prussia"--Well, he is not +to be ruined in open fight, on the contrary is ruinous there; +nor by the cunningest ambuscades, and secret combinations, in field +or cabinet: our overwhelming Winter Invasion of him--see where it +has ended! Bruhl and Polish Majesty--the nocturnal sky all on fire +in those parts, and loud general doomsday come--are a much- +illuminated pair of gentlemen. + +From the time Meissen Bridge was lost, Prince Karl too showing +himself so languid, even Bruhl had discerned that the case was +desperate. On the very day of Kesselsdorf,--not the day BEFORE, +which would have been such a thrift to Bruhl and others!--Friedrich +had a Note from Villiers, signifying joyfully that his Polish +Majesty would accept Peace. Thanks to his Polish Majesty:--and +after Kesselsdorf, perhaps the Empress-Queen too will! +Friedrich's offers are precisely what they were, what they have +always been: "Convention of Hanover; that, in all its parts; +old treaty of Breslau, to be guaranteed, to be actually kept. To me +Silesia sure;--from you, Polish Majesty, one million crowns as +damages for the trouble and cost this Triple Ambuscade of yours has +given me; one million crowns, 150,000 pounds we will say; and all +other requisitions to cease on the day of signature. These are my +terms: accept these; then wholly, As you were, Empress-Queen and +you, and all surviving creatures: and I march home within a week." +Villiers speeds rapidly from Prag, with the due olive-branch; +with Count Harrach, experienced Austrian, and full powers. +Harrach cannot believe his senses: "Such the terms to be still +granted, after all these beatings and rebeatings!"--then at last +does believe, with stiff thankfulness and Austrian bows. +The Negotiation need not occupy many hours. + +"His Majesty of Prussia was far too hasty with this Peace," says +Valori: "he had taken a threap that he would have it finished +before the Year was done:"--in fact, he knows his own mind, MON +GROS VALORI, and that is what few do. You shear through no end of +cobwebs with that fine implement, a wisely fixed resolution of your +own. A Peace slow enough for Valori and the French: where could +that be looked for?--Valori is at Berlin, in complete disgrace; +his Most Christian King having behaved so like a Turk of late. +Valori, horror-struck at such Peace, what shall he do to prevent +it, to retard it? One effort at least. D'Arget his Secretary, +stolen at Jaromirz, is safe back to him; ingenious, ingenuous +D'Arget was always a favorite with Friedrich: despatch D'Arget to +him. D'Arget is despatched; with reasons, with remonstrances, with +considerations. D'Arget's Narrative is given: an ingenuous off-hand +Piece;--poor little crevice, through which there is still to be +had, singularly clear, and credible in every point, a direct +glimpse of Friedrich's own thoughts, in that many-sounding +Dresden,--so loud, that week, with dinner-parties, with operas, +balls, Prussian war-drums, grand-parades and Peace-negotiations. + + + THE SIEUR D'ARGET TO EXCELLENCY VALORI (at Berlin). + + "DRESDEN, 1745" (dateless otherwise, must be + December, between 18th and 25th). +"MONSEIGNEUR,--I arrived yesterday at 7 P.M.; as I had the honor of +forewarning you, by the word I wrote to the Abbe [never mind what +Abbe; another Valori-Clerk] from Sonnenwalde [my half-way house +between Berlin and this City]. I went, first of all, to M. de +Vaugrenand," our Envoy here; "who had the goodness to open himself +to me on the Business now on hand. In my opinion, nothing can be +added to the excellent considerations he has been urging on the +King of Prussia and the Count de Podewils. + +"At half-past 8, I went to his Prussian Majesty's; I found he was +engaged with his Concert,"--lodges in the Lubomirski Palace, has +his snatch of melody in the evening of such discordant days,-- +"and I could not see him till after half-past 9. I announced myself +to M. Eichel; he was too overwhelmed with affairs to give me +audience. I asked for Count Rothenburg; he was at cards with the +Princess Lubomirski. At last, I did get to the King: who received +me in the most agreeable way; but was just going to Supper; said he +must put off answering till to-morrow morning, morning of this day. +M. de Vaugrenand had been so good as prepare me on the rumors of a +Peace with Saxony and the Queen of Hungary. I went to M. Podewils; +who said a great many kind things to me for you. I could only +sketch out the matter, at that time; and represented to Podewils +the brilliant position of his Master, who had become Arbiter of the +Peace of Europe; that the moment was come for making this Peace a +General One, and that perhaps there would be room for repentance +afterwards, if the opportunity were slighted. He said, his Master's +object was that same; and thus closed the conversation by +general questions. + +"This morning, I again presented myself at the King of Prussia's. +I had to wait, and wait; in fine, it was not till half-past 5 in +the evening that he returned, or gave me admittance; and I stayed +with him till after 7,"--when Concert-time was at hand again. +Listen to a remarkable Dialogue, of the Conquering Hero with a +humble Friend whom he likes. "His Majesty condescended (A DAIGNE) +to enter with me into all manner of details; and began by +telling me, + +"That M. de Valori had done admirably not to come, himself, with +that Letter from the King [Most Christian, OUR King; Letter, the +sickly Document above spoken of]; that there could not have been an +Answer expected,--the Letter being almost of ironical strain; +his Majesty [Most Christian] not giving him the least hope, but +merely talking of his fine genius, and how that would extricate him +from the perilous entanglement, and inspire him with a wise +resolution in the matter! That he had, in effect, taken a +resolution the wisest he could; and was making his Peace with +Saxony and the Queen of Hungary. That he had felt all the dangers +of the difficult situations he had been in,"--sheer destruction +yawning all round him, in huge imminency, more than once, and no +friend heeding;--"that, weary of playing always double-or-quits, he +had determined to end it, and get into a state of tranquillity, +which both himself and his People had such need of. That France +could not, without difficulty, have remedied his mishaps; and that +he saw by the King's Letter, there was not even the wish to do it. +That his, Friedrich's, military career was completed,"--so far as +HE could foresee or decide! "That he would not again expose his +Country to the Caprices of Fortune, whose past constancy to him was +sufficiently astonishing to raise fears of a reverse (HEAR!). +That his ambitions were fulfilled, in having compelled his Enemies +to ask Peace from him in their own Capital, with the Chancellor of +Bohemia [Harrach, typifying fallen Austrian pride] obliged +to co-operate. + +"That he would always be attached to our King's interests, and set +all the value in the world on his friendship; but that he had not +been sufficiently assisted to be content. That, observing +henceforth an exact neutrality, he might be enabled to do offices +of mediation; and to carry, to the one side and to the other, words +of peace. That he offered himself for that object, and would be +charmed to help in it; but that he was fixed to stop there. That in +regard to the basis of General Peace, he had Two Ideas [which the +reader can attend to, and see where they differed from the Event, +and where not]:--One was, That France should keep Ypres, Furnes, +Tournay [which France did not], giving up the Netherlands +otherwise, with Ostend, to the English [to the English!] in +exchange for Cape Breton. The other was, To give up more of our +Conquests [we gave them all up, and got only the glory, and our +Cod-fishery, Cape Breton, back, the English being equally +generous], and bargain for liberty to re-establish Dunkirk in its +old condition [not a word of your Dunkirk; there is your Cape +Breton, and we also will go home with what glory there is,--not +difficult to carry!]. But that it was by England we must make the +overtures, without addressing ourselves to the Court of Vienna; +and put it in his, Friedrich's, power to propose a receivable +Project of Peace. That he well conceived the great point was the +Queen of Spain [Termagant and Jenkins's Ear; Termagant's Husband, +still living, is a lappet of Termagant's self]: but that she must +content herself with Parma and Piacenza for the Infant, Don Philip +[which the Termagant did]; and give back her hold of Savoy [partial +hold, of no use to her without the Passes] to the King of +Sardinia." And of the JENKINS'S-EAR question, generous England will +say nothing? Next to nothing; hopes a modicum of putty and +diplomatic varnish may close that troublesome question,--which +springs, meanwhile, in the centre of the world!-- + +"These kind condescensions of his Majesty emboldened me to +represent to him the brilliant position he now held; and how noble +it would be, after having been the Hero of Germany, to become, +instead of one's own pacificator, the Pacificator of Europe. +'I grant you,' said he, (MON CHER D'Arget; but it is too dangerous +a part for playing. A reverse brings me to the edge of ruin: I know +too well the mood of mind I was in, last time I left Berlin [with +that Three-legged Immensity of Atropos, NOT yet mown down at +Hennersdorf by a lucky cut], ever to expose myself to it again! +If luck had been against me there, I saw myself a Monarch without +throne; and my subjects in the cruelest oppression. A bad game +that: always, mere CHECK TO YOUR KING; no other move;--I refer it +to you, friend D'Arget:--in fine, I wish to be at peace.' + +"I represented to him that the House of Austria would never, with a +tranquil eye, see his House in possession of Silesia. 'Those that +come after me,' said he, 'will do as they like; the Future is +beyond man's reach. Those that come after will do as they can. +I have acquired; it is theirs to preserve. I am not in alarm about +the Austrians;--and this is my answer to what you have been saying +about the weakness of my guarantees. They dread my Army; the luck +that I have. I am sure of their sitting quiet for the dozen years +or so which may remain to me of life;--quiet till I have, most +likely, done with it. What! Are we never to have any good of our +life, then (NE DOIS-JE DONC JAMAIS JOUIR)? There is more for me in +the true greatness of laboring for the happiness of my subjects, +than in the repose of Europe. I have put Saxony out of a condition +to do hurt. She owes 14,775,000 crowns of debt [two millions and a +quarter sterling]; and by the Defensive Alliance which I form with +her, I provide myself [but ask Bruhl withal!] a help against +Austria. I would not henceforth attack a cat, except to defend +myself.' ["These are his very words," adds D'Arget;--and well worth +noting.] (Ambition (GLOIRE) and my interests were the occasion of +my first Campaigns. The late Kaiser's situation, and my zeal for +France [not to mention interests again], gave rise to these second: +and I have been fighting always since for my own hearths,--for my +very existence, I might say! Once more, I know the state I had got +into:--if I saw Prince Karl at the gates of Paris, I would not +stir.'--'And us at the gates of Vienna,' answered I promptly, 'with +the same indifference?'--'Yes; and I swear it to you, D'Arget. In a +word, I want to have some good of my life (VEUX JOUIR). What are +we, poor human atoms, to get up projects that cost so much blood? +Let us live, and help to live.' + +"The rest of the conversation passed in general talk, about +Literature, Theatres and such objects. My reasonings and +objectings, on the great matter, I need not farther detail: by the +frank discourse his Prussian Majesty was kind enough to go into, +you may gather perhaps that my arguments were various, and not ill- +chosen;--and it is too evident they have all been in vain."-- +Your Excellency's (really in a very faithful way)-- D'ARGET. +[Valori, i. 290-294 (no date, except "Dresden, 1745,"--sleepy +Editor feeling no want of any).] + +D'Arget, about a month after this, was taken into Friedrich's +service; Valori consenting, whose occupation was now gone;--and we +shall hear of D'Arget again. Take this small Note, as summary of +him: "D'Arget (18th January, 1746) had some title, 'Secretary at +Orders (SECRETAIRE DES COMMANDEMENTS),' bit of pension; and +continued in the character of reader, or miscellaneous literary +attendant and agent, very much liked by his Master, for six years +coming. A man much heard of, during those years of office. +March, 1752, having lost his dear little Prussian Wife, and got +into ill health and spirits, he retired on leave to Paris; and next +year had to give up the thought of returning;--though he still, and +to the end, continued loyally attached to his old Master, and more +or less in correspondence with him. Had got, before long, not +through Friedrich's influence at Paris, some small Appointment in +the ECOLE MILITAIRE there. He is, of all the Frenchmen Friedrich +had about him, with the exception of D'Argens alone, the most +honest-hearted. The above Letter, lucid, innocent, modest, +altogether rational and practical, is a fair specimen of D'Arget: +add to it the prompt self-sacrifice (and in that fine silent way) +at Jaromirz for Valori, and readers may conceive the man. He lived +at Paris, in meagre but contented fashion, RUE DE L'ECOLE +MILITAIRE, till 1778; and seems, of all the Ex-Prussian Frenchmen, +to have known most about Friedrich; and to have never spoken any +falsity against him. Duvernet, the 'M----' Biographer of VOLTAIRE, +frequented him a good deal; and any true notions, or glimmerings of +such, that he has about Prussia, are probably ascribable to +D'Arget." [See <italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> xx. +(p. xii of PREFACE to the D'ARGET CORRESPONDENCE there).] + +The Treaty of Dresden can be read in Scholl, Flassan, Rousset, +Adelung; but, except on compulsion, no creature will now read it,-- +nor did this Editor, even he, find it pay. Peace is made. Peace of +Dresden is signed, Christmas Day, 1745: "To me Silesia, without +farther treachery or trick; you, wholly as you were." Europe at +large, as Friedrich had done, sees "the sky all on fire about +Dresden." The fierce big battles done against this man have, one +and all of them, become big defeats. The strenuous machinations, +high-built plans cunningly devised,--the utmost sum-total of what +the Imperial and Royal Potencies can, for the life of them, do: +behold, it has all tumbled down here, in loud crash; the final peal +of it at Kesselsdorf; and the consummation is flame and smoke, +conspicuous over all the Nations. You will let him keep his own +henceforth, then, will you? Silesia, which was NOT yours nor ever +shall be? Silesia and no afterthought? The Saxons sign, the high +Plenipotentiaries all; in the eyes of Villiers, I am told, were +seen sublimely pious tears. Harrach, bowing with stiff, almost +incredulous, gratitude, swears and signs;--hurries home to his +Sovereign Lady, with Peace, and such a smile on his face; and on +her Imperial Majesty's such a smile!--readers shall conceive it. + +There are but Two new points in the Treaty of Dresden,--nay +properly there is but One point, about which posterity can have the +least care or interest; for that other, concerning "The Toll of +Schidlo," and settlement of haggles on the Navigation of the Elbe +there, was not kept by the Saxons, but continued a haggle still: +this One point is the Eleventh Article. Inconceivably small; +but liable to turn up on us again, in a memorable manner. That let +us translate,--for M. de Voltaire's sake, and time coming! +STEUER means Land-Tax; OBER-STEUER-EINNAHME will be something like +Royal Exchequer, therefore; and STEUER-SCHEIN will be approximately +equivalent to Exchequer Bill. Article Eleventh stipulates: + +"All subjects and servants of his Majesty the King of Prussia who +hold bonds of the Saxon OBER-STEUER-EINNAHME shall be paid in full, +capital and interest, at the times, and to the amount, specified in +said STEUER-SCHEINE or Bonds." That is Article Eleventh.-- +"The Saxon Exchequer," says an old Note on it, "thanks to Bruhl's +extravagance, has been as good as bankrupt, paying with +inconvertible paper, with SCHEINE (Things to be SHOWN), for some +time past; which paper has accordingly sunk, let us say, 25 per +cent below its nominal amount in gold. All Prussian subjects, who +hold these Bonds, are to be paid in gold; Saxons, and others, will +have to be content with paper till things come round again, if +things ever do." Yes;--and, by ill chance, the matter will attract +M. de Voltaire's keen eye in the interim! + +Friedrich stayed eight days in Dresden, the loud theme of +Gazetteers and rumors; the admired of two classes, in all +Countries: of the many who admire success, and also of the few who +can understand what it is to deserve success. Among his own +Countrymen, this last Winter has kindled all their admirations to +the flaming pitch. Saved by him from imminent destruction; +their enemies swept home as if by one invincible; nay, sent home in +a kind of noble shame, conquered by generosity. These feelings, +though not encouraged to speak, run very high. The Dresdeners in +private society found him delightful; the high ladies especially: +"Could you have thought it; terrific Mars to become radiant Apollo +in this manner!" From considerable Collections of Anecdotes +illustrating this fact, in a way now fallen vapid to us,--I select +only the Introduction:-- + +"Do readers recollect Friedrich's first visit to Dresden [in 1728], +seventeen years ago; and a certain charming young Countess +Flemming, at that time only fourteen; who, like a Hebe as she was, +contrived beautiful surprises for him, and among other things +presented him, so gracefully, on the part of August the Strong, +with his first flute?"--No reader of this History can recollect it; +nor indeed, except in a mythic sense, believe it! A young Countess +Flemming (daughter of old Feldmarschall Flemming) doubtless there +might be, who presented him a flute; but as to HIS FIRST flute--? +"That same charming young Countess Flemming is still here, age now +thirty-one; charming, more than ever, though now under a changed +name; having wedded a Von Racknitz (Supreme Gentleman-Usher, or +some such thing) a few years ago, and brought him children and the +usual felicities. How much is changed! August the Strong, where is +he; and his famous Three Hundred and Fifty-four, Enchantress +Orzelska and the others, where are they? Enchantress Orzelska +wedded, quarrelled, and is in a convent: her charming destiny +concluded. Rutowski is not now in the Prussian Army: he got beaten, +Wednesday last, at Kesselsdorf, fighting against that Army. And the +Chevalier de Saxe, he too was beaten there;--clambering now across +the Metal Mountains, ask not of him. And the Marechal de Saxe, he +takes Cities, fights Battles of Fontenoy, 'mumbling a lead bullet +all day;' being dropsical, nearly dead of debaucheries; the most +dissolute (or probably so) of all the Sons of Adam in his day. +August the Physically Strong is dead. August the Spiritually Weak +is fled to Prag with his Bruhl. And we do not come, this time, to +get a flute; but to settle the account of Victories, and give Peace +to Nations. Strange, here as always, to look back,--to look round +or forward,--in the mad huge whirl of that loud-roaring Loom of +Time!--One of Countess Racknitz's Sons happened to leave MANUSCRIPT +DIARIES [rather feeble, not too exact-looking], and gives us, from +Mamma's reminiscences" ... Not a word more. [Rodenbeck, <italic> +Beitrage, <end italic> i. 440, et seq.] + +The Peace, we said, was signed on Christmas-day. Next day, Sunday, +Friedrich attended Sermon in the Kreuzkirche (Protestant High- +Church of Dresden), attended Opera withal; and on Monday morning +had vanished out of Dresden, as all his people had done, or were +diligently doing. Tuesday, he dined briefly at Wusterhausen (a +place we once knew well), with the Prince of Prussia, whose it now +is; got into his open carriage again, with the said Prince and his +other Brother Ferdinand; and drove swiftly homeward. Berlin, drunk +with joy, was all out on the streets, waiting. On the Heath of +Britz, four or five miles hitherward of Berlin, a body of young +gentlemen ("Merchants mostly, who had ridden out so far") saluted +him with "VIVAT FRIEDRICH DER GROSSE (Long live Friedrich THE +GREAT)!" thrice over;--as did, in a less articulate manner, Berlin +with one voice, on his arrival there; Burgher Companies lining the +streets; Population vigorously shouting; Pupils of the Koln +Gymnasium, with Clerical and School Functionaries in mass, breaking +out into Latin Song:-- + "VIVAT, VIVAT FRIDERICUS REX; + VIVAT AUGUSTUS, MAGNUS, FELIX, PATER, PATRI-AE--!" +--and what not. [Preuss, i. 220; who cites <italic> Beschreibung +<end italic> ("Description of his Majesty's Triumphant Entry, on +the" &c.) and other Contemporary Pamphlets. Rodenbeck, i. 124.] +On reaching the Portal of the Palace, his Majesty stept down; +and, glancing round the Schloss-Platz and the crowded windows and +simmering multitudes, saluted, taking off his hat; which produced +such a shout,--naturally the loudest of all. And so EXIT King, into +his interior. Tuesday, 2-3 P.M., 28th December, 1745: a King new- +christened in the above manner, so far as people could. + +Illuminated Berlin shone like noon, all that night (the beginning +of a GAUDEAMUS which lasted miscellaneously for weeks):--but the +King stole away to see a friend who was dying; that poor Duhan de +Jaudun, his early Schoolmaster, who had suffered much for him, and +whom he always much loved. Duhan died, in a day or two. +Poor Jordan, poor Keyserling (the "Cesarion" of young days): +them also he has lost; and often laments, in this otherwise bright +time. {In <italic> OEuvres, <end italic> xvii. 288; xviii. 141; +IB. 142 (painfully tender Letters to Frau von Camas and others, on +these events). + + + + +END OF BOOK XV----- + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg etext of Carlyle's "History of +Friedrich II of Prussia V" volume 15. diff --git a/old/15frd10.zip b/old/15frd10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4438e8d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/15frd10.zip |