"Lacy,who,afterhoveringaboutinthesevicinitiesforfourdays,hadnowactuallycomeup,sosoonasEugenandHulsenwithdrew,——
wasdeeplydisgustedattheTermsofCapitulation;angrytofindthatTottlebenhadconcludedwithouthim;and,infact,flewintoopenrageatthearrangementsTottlebenhadmadeforhimselfandforothers。’Noadmittance,exceptonorderfromhisExcellency!’
saidtheRussianSentrytoLacy’sAustrians:uponwhich,LacyforcedtheGate,andviolentlymarchedin。Tooklodging,tohisownmind,intheFriedrichstadtquarter;andwasfearfullytruculentuponpersonandproperty,duringhisshortstay。Ascandaltobeseen,howhisCroatsandloosehordeswentopenlyraveningabout,bentonmerehousebreaking,street—robberyandinsolentviolence。
SothatTottlebenhadfairlytofireuponthevagabondsonceortwice;andforceontheunwillingLacysomecoercionofthemwithinlimits。Forthethreedaysofhiscontinuance,——itwasbutthreedaysinall,——LacywasastheevilgeniusofBerlin;TottlebenandhisRussiansthegood。Theirdisciplinewassoexcellent;
allCossacksandlooserabblestrictlykeptoutbeyondtheWalls。
ToBachmann,RussianCommandant,theBerliners,onhisdeparture,hadgratefullygotreadyamoney—giftofhandsomeamount:’Bynomeans,’answeredBachmann:’yourtreatmentwasaccordingtothemildnessofourSovereignCzarina。Formyself,ifIhaveservedyouinanything,thefactthatforthreedaysIhavebeenCommandantoftheGreatFriedrich’sCapitalismorethanarewardtome。’
"TottlebenandLacy,duringthosethreedaysofRussianandAustrianjointdominion,hadastormytimeofittogether。
’DestroytheLAGER—HAUS,’saidLacy:Lager—Haus,wheretheymanufacturetheirsoldiers’uniforms;itistheparentofallcloth—manufacturinginPrussia;setupbyFriedrichWilhelm,——notonfree—tradeprinciples。’TheLager—Haus,sayyou?Idoubt,itisnowprivateproperty;screenedbyourCapitulation;’——whichitprovestobe。’YoushallblowuptheArsenal!’saidLacy,withvehemenceandtruculence。Anobleedifice,astravellersyetknow:
fancyitsfragmentsflyingaboutamongthepopulousstreets,plungingthroughtheroofsofPalaces,andgreathousesallround。
Lacywasinexorable;TottlebenhadtosendaRussianParty(onewishestheyhadbeenCroats)onthissaderrand。TheyproceededtothePowder—Magazineforexplosivematerial,aspreliminary;
theywererashinhandlingthegunpowderthere,whichblewupintheirhands;sentitselfandallofthemintotheair;andsavedthepoorArsenal:’Notpowderenoughnowleftforourownartilleryuses,’urgedTottleben。
"SaxonandAustrianPartieswereinthePalacesabout,——atPotsdam,atCharlottenburg,Schonhausen(theQueen’s),atFriedrichsfeld(theMargrafKarl’s),someofwhombehavedwell,somehorriblyill。
InCharlottenburg,certainSaxonBruhl—Dragoons,whobytheirconductmighthavebeenDragoonsofAttila,smashedthefurnitures,thedoors,cuttingthePictures,muchmaltreatingthepoorpeople;
and,whatwasreckonedstillmoretragical,oversetthepoorPolignacCollectionofAntiquesandClassicalities;notonlyknockingoffnosesandarms,butbeatingthemsmall,lestreparationbycementshouldbepossible。TheirOfficers,Pirnapeople,lookingquietlyon。Ascandalousproceeding,thoughteverybody,friendorfoe,——especiallythoughtFriedrich;
whoseindignationatthisruinofCharlottenburgcameoutinwayofreprisalbyandby。AtPotsdam,ontheotherhand,PrinceEsterhazy,withperhapsHungariansamonghispeople,behavedlikeaveryPrince;receivedfromtheCastellananAttestationthathehadscrupulouslyrespectedeverything;andtook,assouvenir,onlyonePictureoflittlevalue;PrincedeLigne,whowasunderhim,carryingoff,stillmoredaintily,onegoose—quill,immortalbyhavingbeenapenoftheGreatFriedrich’s。
"Tottleben,withnofeelingotherthanOfficialtemperedbyHuman,wasingreatcontrastwithLacy,andverybeneficenttoBerlinduringthethreedaysitlayundertheTRIBULA,orharrowofWar。
ButtheTutelaryAngelofBerlin,thenandafterwardsforweeksandmonths,tillallscoresgotsettled,wastheGotzkowskymentionedabove。"WhomweshallseeagainhelpfulatLeipzig;
amanworthmarkinginthesetumults。"IfTottlebenwasthetemporalArmedKing,thisGotzkowskywastheSpiritualKing,PAPA
orUniversalFather,armedonlywithcharities,pieties,prayers,evershininglyattendedbyself—sacrificesonGotzkowsky’spart;
whichavertedwoesinnumerable(Lager—Hausonlyoneofalonglist);andwhich’surpassedallbelief,’writetheBerlinMagistracy,asifintearsoversuchheroism。TrulyaPrinceofMerchants,thisGotzkowsky,notforhisvastenterprises,andthemere1,500workmenheemploys,butforthestillgreaterheartthatdwellsinhim。HadbegunasatravellingPedler;usedtocallatReinsberg,withfemalehaberdasheriesexquisitelychosen(’GALLANTERIEwares’theGermanscallthem),forthethenPrincessRoyal;notunnoticedbyFriedrich,whorecognizedthebroadsense,solidityandgreatthoughtsoftheman。OfallwhichFriedrichhasknownfarmoresincethen,invariousbranchesofPrussiancommerceimprovedbyGotzkowsky’smanagements。AtrulynotableGotzkowsky;
becamebankruptatlast,oneissorrytohear;anddiedinafflictionandneglect,——shortofthehumblestwagesforsomuchgoodworkdoneintheworld![Preuss,ii。257,&c。&c。;
GESCHICHTEEINESPATRIOTISCHENKAUFMANNS(Berlin,1769,byGotzkowskyhimself)。]
"Gotzkowsky’sHousewaslikeageneralstoreroomforeverybody’spreciosities;histime,means,selfweretherefugeofalltheneedy。InZorndorftime,whenthisCzernichef[ifreaderscanremember],whoisnowsosupreme,——Czernichef,Soltikofandothers,——hadnothingforitbuttolodgeinthecellarsofburntCustrin,Gotzkowsky,withreadymoney,withadvice,withassuagement,hadbeentheirDEUSEXMACHINA:andnowCzernichefremembersit;andGotzkowsky,asPapa,hastogowithcontinualprayers,negotiations,counsellings,expedients,andbetherefugeofallunjustlysufferingmenBerlinhasimmensitiesoftradeinwar—furnitures:thecapitalscirculatingareastonishingtoArchenholtz;milliononthebackofmillion;nosuchcityinGermanyfortrade。ThedesireoftheThree—daysLacyGovernmentistowardsanyLager—Haus;anymassofwealth,whichcanbeconstruedasRoyalorconnectedwithRoyalty。EphraimandItzig,mint—
mastersofthatcopper—coinage;rollinginfoulwealthbytheruinoftheirneighbors;oughtnotthesetobleed?Well,yes,——ifanybody;andcopiouslyifyoulike!Ishouldhavesaidso:butthegenerousGotzkowskysaidinhisheart,’No;’andagainpleadedandprevailed。EphraimandItzig,foulswollencreatures,werenotbroachedatall;andtheirgratitudewas,That,atafutureday,Gotzkowsky’sdayofbankruptcy,theywerehardestofanyonGotzkowsky。
"ArchenholtzandtheBooksareenthusiasticallycopiousuponGotzkowskyandhisprocedures;butwemustbesilent。ThisAnecdoteonly,inregardtoFreedomofthePress,——totheso—called’airwebreathe,nothavingwhichwedie!’WouldmodernFriendsofProgressbelieveit?Because,informerstagesofthisWar,theBerlinNewspapershavehadoffensiveexpressions(scarcelynoticeabletothemicroscopeinourday,andbelowcalculationforsmallness)
upontheRussianandAustrianSovereignsorPeoples,——theAbleEditors(thereareonlyTwo)shallnowinperson,hereinthemarket—placeofBerlin,actuallyrunthegantletforit,——’runtherods(GASSEN—LAUFEN’),asthefashionnowis;whichisworsethanGANTLET,nottospeakoftheignominy。ThatisthebarbaricRussiannotion:’whoareyou,ill—formedinsolentpersons,thatgivealoosetoyourtongueinthatmanner?Striptothewaistband,swift!
Hereisthetruecareeropenedforyou:oneachhand,onehundredsharprodsrankedwaitingyou;runyourcoursesthere,——nohurrymorethanyoulike!’Thealternativeofdeath,Isuppose,wasopentotheseEditors;Romandeathatleast,andmartyrdomforanewFaith(FaithintheLooseTongue),verysacredtotheDemocraticAgesnowathand。Butnobodyseemstohavethoughtofit;
EditorsandPublictookthethingasa’sorrowincidenttothisdangerousProfessionoftheTongueLoose(orlooserthanusual);
whichnobodyyetknewtobedivine。TheEditorsmadepassionateenoughlamentation,inthestriptstate;oneofthen,withloudweeping,pulledoffhiswig,showedice—grayhair;’Iaminmy68thyear!’Butitseemsnothingwouldhavesteadedthem,hadnotGotzkowskybeenbusyinterceding。Byvirtueofwhomtherewaspardonprivatelyinreadiness:totheice—grayEditorcompletepardon;tothejuniorquasi—complete;onlyafewswitchestoasserttheprinciple,anddismissalwithadmonition。"[Helden—
Geschichte,vi。103—148;Rodenbeck,ii。41—54;Archenholtz,ii。
130—147;Preuss,UBISUPRA:&c。&c。]
Thepleasantpartofthefactis,thatGotzkowsky’spowerfulintercessionswerethenceforthnofartherneeded。Thesameday,Saturday,October11th,afewhoursafterthisoftheGASSEN—
LAUFEN,newsarrivedfullgallop:"TheKingiscoming!"Afterwhichitwasbeautifultoseehowallthingsgottothegallop;andinano—timeBerlinwasitselfagain。Thatsameevening,Saturday,Lacytooktheroad,withextraordinaryvelocity,towardsTorgauCountry,wheretheReichsfolk,inHulsen’sabsence,aresupreme;and,thesecondeveningafter,wasgot60milesthitherward。HisjointdominionhadbeenofTwodays。OnthemorningofSunday,12th,wentTottleben,whohadbusinesses,settlementsofransomandthelike,beforemarching。Tottleben,too,madeuncommondespatch;
marched,asdidalltheseinvasiveRussians,attherateofthirtymilesaday;theirMainArmylikewisemovingofffromFrankfurttoasaferdistance。Friedrichwasstillfivemarchesoff;butthereseemednotamomenttolose。
TheRussianspoilingsduringtheretreatweremorehorriblethanever:"Thegallowsgapingforus;andonlythisoneopportunity,ifeventhis!"thoughttheagitatedCossacktohimself。OurpoorfriendNisslerhadasadtaletotellofthem;[InBusching,Beitrage,i。400,401,accountoftheirsackingofNussler’spleasanthomeandestate,"Weissensee,nearBerlin。"]aswhohadnot?Terrorandmurder,incendiaryfireandotherworseunnamableabominationsofthePit。OneoldHalf—paygentleman,whomIsomewhatrespect,desperatelybarricadedhimself,amidhisdomesticsandtenantries,WifeandDaughtersassisting:
"HumanRussianOfficerscanenterhere;Cossacksno,butshallkillusfirst。NotaCossacktillallofusarelyingdead!"
[Archenholtz,ii。150。]Andkepthisword;thehumanRussiansowningittobeproper。
InGubenCountry,"atGross—Muckro,October15th,"thedayafterpassingGuben,Friedrichfirstheardforcertain,ThattheRussianshadbeeninBerlin,andalsothattheyweregone,andthatallwasover。Hemadetwomarchesfarther,——notnowdirectforBerlin,butdirectforSaxonyANDit;——toLubben,50or60milesstraightsouthofBerlin;andhaltedtheresomedays,toadjusthimselfforanewsequel。"Thesearethethings,"exclaimshe,sorrowfully,toD’Argens,"whichIhavebeenindreadofsinceWinterlast;thisiswhatgavethedismaltonetomyLetterstoyou。Ithasrequirednotlessthanallmyphilosophytoendurethereverses,theprovocations,theoutrages,andthewholesceneofatrociousthingsthathavecometopass。"[OEuvresdeFrederic,xix。199;"22dOctober。"]Friedrich’sgriefaboutBerlinweneednotpaint;thoughthereweremurmursafterwards,"Whydidnothestartsooner?"whichhecouldnot,instrictreason,thoughawarethatthesesavagerieswereonmarch。HehadhopedtheEugen—
Hulsenappliances,evenshouldallelsefail,mightkeepthematbay。Andindeed,inregardtotheselatter,itturnedonlyonahair。Montalembertcalculating,vows,onhisoath,"Canassureyou,M。l’Ambassadeur,PUISBIENVOUSASSURERCOMMESIJ,ETAISDEVANT
DIEU,asifIstoodbeforeGod,"[Montalembert,ii。108。]that,fromfirsttolast,itwasmydoing;thatbutforme,attheverylast,theRussians,onsightofHulsenandEugen,andnoLacycome,wouldhavemarchedaway!
Friedrich’sorderingsandadjustings,datedLubben,wherehisArmyrestedafterthisnewsfromBerlin,weremanifold;andagooddealstillofwrecksfromtheBerlinBusinessfelltohisshare。
Forinstance,onethinghehadatonceordered:"YourBillofaMillion—and—halftotheRussians,don’tpayit,oranypartofit!
WhenBambergwasransomed,Springgoneayear,——ReichandKaiser,didtheyrespectourBillwehadonBamberg?Didnottheycancelit,andflatlyrefuse?"Friedrichispositiveonthepoint,"Reprisalourclearremedy!"ButBerlinitselfwasinalarm,forperhapsanotherRussianvisit;BerlinandGotzkowskywerehumblypositivetheotherway。UponwhichavisitofGotskowskytotheRoyalCamp:"Merchants’Billsareasacredthing,yourMajesty!"
urgedGotzkowsky。Who,inhiszealforthematter,undertookdangerousvisitstotheRussianQuarters,andagreatdealoftrouble,perilandexpense,duringtheweeksfollowing。
MagnanimousGotzkowsky,"inmerebribestotheRussianOfficials,spentabout6,000poundsofhisown,"foroneitem。ButhehadatlengthconvincedhisMajestythatMerchants’Billswereasacredthing,inspiteofBamberganddesecrativeindividualities;
andthatthisMillion—and—halfmustbepaid。FriedrichwasstruckwithGotzkowskyandhisviewofthefacts。Friedrich,fromhisowndistressedfunds,handedtoGotzkowskythenecessaryMillion—and—
half,commandingonlyprofoundsilenceaboutit;andtoGotzkowskyhimselfapresentof150,000thalers(20,000poundsodd);
[Archenholtz,ii。146。]andsothematterdidatlastend。
IthadbeenacostlybusinesstoBerlin,andtotheKing,andtothepoorharriedCountry。ToBerlin,bombardmentoftenhours;
alarmofdiscursivesiege—workintheenvironsforfivedays;
foreignyokeforthreedays;lostmoneytotheamountsabovestated;whatlossinwoundstobodyortopeaceofmind,orwhetheranylossthatway,nobodyhascounted。TheBerlinpeoplerosetoamorethanRomanheightoftemper,testifiesD’Argens;[
OEuvresdeFrederic,xix。195—199:"D’ArgenstotheKing:Berlin,19thOctober,1760,"——aninterestingLetterofdetails。]sothatperhapsitwasagain。TheKing’sMagazinesandWar—furnituresaboutBerlinarewastedutterly,——Arsenalitselfnotblownup,wewellknowwhy;——andmuchHunnishruininCharlottenburg,withdamagetoAntiques,——forwhichlatterclausethereshall,inafewmonths,bereprisal:ifitpleasethePowers!
OfallthisMontalembertdeclares,"BeforeGod,thathe,Montalembert,isandwasthemainspring。"Andindeed,Tempelhof,withoutcensureofMontalembertandhisvocation,butaccuratelycomputingtimeandcircumstance,comestothesameconclusion;——asthus:"OCTOBER8th,seeingnoLacycome,Czernichef,haditnotbeenforMontalembert’seloquence,hadfixedforreturningtoCopenik:whomcautiousLacywouldhavebeenobligedtoimitate。
SupposeCzernichefhad,OCTOBER9th,gottoCopenik,——EugenandHulsenremainatBerlin;Czernichefcouldnothavegotbackthitherbeforethe11th;onthe11thwasnewsofFriedrich’scoming;whichsetallongalloptotherightabout。"[Tempelhof,iv。277。]
Sothatreally,beforeGod,itseemsMontalembertmusthavethemeritofthisfineachievement:——theonefruit,sofarasIcandiscover,ofhisreallyexcellentreasonings,eloquences,patiences,sownbroadcast,fourorfivelongyears,onsuchafieldasfinehumantalentneverhadbefore。Ideclaretoyou,M。l’Ambassadeur,thisexcellentvulture—swooponBerlin,andburningorreburningofthePeasantryoftheMark,isduesolelytoonepoorzealousgentleman!——
WhatwasnexttofollowoutofTHIS,——inTorgauneighborhood,whereDaunnowstandsexpectant,——poorM。deMontalembertwasfarfromanticipating;andwillbeinnohastetoclaimthemeritofbeforeGodorman。
ChapterV。
BATTLEOFTORGAU。
AfterHulsen’sfineexplosionontheDurrenberg,August20th,ontheincompetentReichsGenerals,therehadfollowednothingeminent;newfutilities,attemptingsanddesistings,advancingsandrecoilings,onthepartoftheReich;Hulsensolidlymaintaininghimself,indefenceofhisTorgauMagazineandSaxoninterestsinthoseregions,againstsuchoverwhelmingodds,tillreliefandreinforcementforthemandhimshouldarrive;andgainingtime,whichwasallhecouldaimatinsuchcircumstances。HadtheTorgauMagazinebeenbigger,perhapsHulsenmighthavesattheretotheend。ButhavingsolidlyeatenoutsaidMagazine,whatcouldHulsendobutagainmoverearward?[HogberichtvondemRuckzugdesGeneral—LieutenantsvonHulsenausdemLagerbeyTorgau(inSeyfarth,Beylagen,ii。
755—784)。]Aboveall,onthealarmfromBerlin,whichcalledhimoffdouble—quick,thingshadtogotheiroldroadinthatquarter。
WeakTorgauwastaken,weakWittenbergbesieged。Leipzig,Torgau,Wittenberg,allthatCountry,bythetimetheRussiansleftBerlin,wasagaintheReich’s。EugenandHulsen,hasteningforreliefofWittenberg,theinstantBerlinwasfree,foundWittenbergaheapofruins,outofwhichthePrussiangarrison,veryhungerurging,hadissuedthedaybefore,asprisonersofwar。NothingmoretobedonebyEugen,buttakepost,withinreachofMagdeburgandvictual,andwaitnewOrderfromtheKing。
TheKingisveryunquestionablycomingon;leavesLubbenthitherwardOctober20th。[Rodenbeck,ii。35:inAnonymousofHamburg(iv。241—245)Friedrich’sTwoMarches,towardsandfromBerlin(7th—17thOctober,toLubben;thence,20thOctober—3dNovember,toTorgau)。]Withfullfixityofpurposeasusual;butwithasgloomyanoutlookaseverbefore。Daun,wesaid,isnowarrivedinthoseparts:DaunandtheReichtogetherarenear100,000;Daunsome60,000,——Loudonhavingstayedbehind,andgonesouthward,forastrokeonKosel(ifGoltzwillpermit,whichhewon’tatall!),——andtheReich35,000。Saxonyisalltheirs;
cannottheymaintainSaxony?NotaTownoraMagazinenowbelongstoFriedrichthere,andheisinnumberas1to2。
"MaintainSaxony;indisputablyyoucan!"thatistheexpressViennaOrder,asFriedrichhappenstoknow。TheRussiansthemselveshavetakenCampagain,andwaitvisibly,aboutLandsbergandtheWartaCountry,tilltheyseeDauncertainofexecutingsaidOrder;
uponwhichtheyintend,theyalso,towinterinthoseElbe—Prussianparts,andconjointlytocrushFriedrichintogreatconfinementindeed。FriedrichisawareofthisViennaOrder;whichisakindofcomfortinthecircumstances。TheintentionsofthehungryRussians,too,arelegibletoFriedrich;andheismuchresolvedthatsaidOrdershallbeimpossibletoDaun。"Wereittobepossible,wearelandless。Whereareourrecruits,ourmagazines,ourresourcesforanewCampaign?Wemayaswelldie,assufferthattobepossible!"SuchisFriedrich’sfixedview。HesaystoD’Argens:——
"You,asafollowerofEpicurus,putavalueonlife;asforme,I
regarddeathfromtheStoicpointofview。NevershallIseethemomentthatforcesmetomakeadisadvantageousPeace;
nopersuasion,noeloquence,shalleverinducemetosignmydishonor。EitherIwillburymyselfundertheruinsofmyCountry,orifthatconsolationappearstoosweettotheDestinythatpersecutesme,Ishallknowhowtoputanendtomymisfortuneswhenitisimpossibletobearthemanylonger。Ihaveacted,andcontinuetoact,accordingtothatinteriorvoiceofconscienceandofhonorwhichdirectsallmysteps:myconductshallbe,ineverytime,conformabletothoseprinciples。AfterhavingsacrificedmyyouthtomyFather,myripeyearstomyCountry,IthinkIhaveacquiredtherighttodisposeofmyoldage。Ihavetoldyou,andI
repeatit,NevershallmyhandsignahumiliatingPeace。
FinishthisCampaignIcertainlywill,resolvedtodareall,andtotrythemostdesperatethingseithertosucceedortofindagloriousend(FINGLORIEUSE)。"[OEuvresdeFrederic,xix。202("Kemberg,28thOctober,1760,"aweekandadaybeforeTorgau)。]
FriedrichhadmarchedfromLubben,afterthreedays,settlingofaffairs,OCTOBER20th;arrivedatJessen,ontheElbe,withinwindofWittenberg,intwodaysmore。"HeformedasmallmagazineatDuben,"saysArchenholtz;"andwasofavelocity,asharpness,"——
likelightning,inamanner!Friedrichisuncommonlydangerouswhencrushedintoacorner,inthisway;andDaunknowsthatheis。
Friedrich’smanoeuvringsuponDaun——allreaderscananticipatethegeneraltypeofthem。Thestudiousmilitaryreader,ifEnglandboastsanysuch,willfindpunctualdetailoftheminTEMPELHOFandtheGermanBooks。Forourpoorobjects,hereisaSummarywhichmaysuffice:——
FromLubben,havingwindedupthesebadbusinesses,——andreinforcedGoltz,atGlogau,toa20,000forSilesia’ssake,tolooktowardsKoselandLoudon’sattemptsthere,——Friedrichgatheredhimselfintoproperconcentration;andwithallthestrengthnowlefttohimpushedforward(20thOctober)towardsWittenberg,andrecoveryofthoselostSaxonCountries。ToWittenbergfromLubbenissome60
miles;——canbedone,nearly,inacoupleofdays。WiththeKing,afterGoltzisfurnished,thereareabout30,000;EugenandHulsen,notidlefortheirownpart,waitinthosefarWesternorUltra—
Wittenbergregions(inandbeyondDessauCountry),tojoinhimwiththeir14,000,whentheygetsignal。Joinedwiththese,hewillbe44,000;hewillthencrossElbesomewhere,probablynotwhereDaunandtheReichimagine,andbeincontactwithhisProblem;
withwhatapitchofwillingnessnobodyneedbetold!Daun,inTorgauCountry,hasoneofthebestpositions;norisDaunamanforgettingflurried。
ThepoorReichsArmy,thoughitonceflattereditselfwithintendingtodisputeFriedrich’spassageoftheElbe,anddidmakesomedetachingsandmanoeuvringsthatway,onhisapproachtoWittenberg(October22d—23d),——tookasaferview,onhisactualarrivalthere,onhisre—seizureofthatruinedplace,anddangerousattitudeontherightbankbelowandabove。Saferview,onsalutarysecondthoughts;——andfellbackLeipzig—way,southwardtoDuben,30or40miles。WhencerapidlytoLeipzigitself,30or40more,onhisactuallyputtingdownhisbridgesoverElbe。
Friedrich’scrossing—placewasSchanzhaus,inDessauCountry,betweenRoslauandKlikau,12or15milesbelowWittenberg;
aboutmidwaybetweenWittenbergandtheinflowoftheMuldaintoElbe。HecrossedOCTOBER26th,noenemywithinwindatall;DaunatTorgauinhisinexpugnableCamp,ReichsfolkatDuben,makingtowardsLeipzigattheirbestpace。AndisnowwhollybetweenElbeandMulda;nothingbutMuldaandtheAnhallCountriesandtheHalleCountrynowtorearofhim。
AtJonitz,nextmarchsouthward,hefindstheEugen—Hulsenpeopleready。Wesaidtheyhadnotbeenidlewhilewaitingsignal:
ofwhichhereisoneprettyinstance。Eugen’sBrother,supremeReigningDukeofWurtemberg,——whomwepartedwithatFulda,lastWinter,onsoreterms;butwhoagain,zealouscreature,headshisownlittleArmyinFrench—Austrianservice,instillmoreeclipsedcircumstances("Nosubsidyatall,thisYear,sayyouraugustMajesties?Well,Imustdowithout:avolunteer;andshallneedonlywhatIcanmakebyforcedcontributions!"whichofcourseheisdiligenttolevywhereverpossible),——haslatterlytakenHalleCountryinhand,verybusyraisingcontributionsthere:andEugenhears,notwithoutinterest,thatcertainregimentsordetachmentsofhis,pushedout,arelyinghere,there,superintendingthatsalutarywork,——withinclutch,perhaps,ofKleisttheHussar!
EugendespatchesKleistuponhim;whopounceswithhisusualfiercefelicityuponthesepeople。TosuchalarmofhispoorSerenityandpoorArmy,thatSerenityfliesoffhomewardatonce,andoutoftheseWarsaltogether;whereheneverhadotherthanthereverseofbusinesstobe,andwherehehasplayedsuchafarce—tragedyforfouryearsback。Eugenhasbeenheardtospeak,——theoretically,andinexcitedmoments,——of"runningsuchafellowthroughthebody,wereonenearhim::butitisactuallyEugeninpersonthatsendshimhomefromtheseWars:whichmaybecountedanotunfraternalorunpatrioticprocedure;beingofindisputablebenefittothepoorSovereignmanhimself,andtoeverybodyconcernedwithhim。
HearingthatFriedrichwasacross,Dauncamewestwardthatsameday(October26th),andplantedhimselfatEilenburg;concludingthattheReichsfolkwouldnowbeinjeopardyfirstofall。Whichwaspartlythefact;andindeedthisDaunmovementratheracceleratedthecompletionofit。WithoutthistheReichsArmymighthavelivedanotherday。IthadquittedDuben,andgoneinallhasteforLeipzig,at1inthemorning(notbyEilenburg,ofwhichorofDaun’sarrivalthereitknowsnothing),——"at1inthemorningofthe27th,"orinfact,sosoonasnewscouldreachitatthegallop,ThatFriedrichwasacross。AndnowFriedrich,seeingDaunoutinthismanner,judgedthatajunctionwascontemplated;
andthatonecouldnotbetooswiftinpreventingit。October29th,withonediligentmarch,FriedrichpostedhimselfatDuben;
there,inasortnowbetweenDaunandtheReichsfolk,detachedHulsenwithaconsiderableforcetovisittheselatterinLeipzigitself;andbeganwithalldiligenceforming"asmallMagazineinDuben,"MagdeburgandthecurrentoftheElbebeinghithertohisonlyresourceinthatkind。BythetimeofHulsen’sreturn,thislittleoperationwillbewellforward,andDaunwillhavedeclaredhimselfalittle。
Hulsen,eveningofOctober30th,foundLeipziginconsiderableemotion,theReichsfolktakingrefugeinit:nottheleastinclinedtostandapush,whenHulsenpresentedhimself。Nightof30th—31st,therewassummoningandmenacing;Reichendeavoringtoanswerinfirmstyle;butallthewhileindustriouslypackinguptogo。By5
inthemorning,thingshadcometoextremity;———morning,happilyforsomeofus,wasdarkmist。Butabout5o’clock,Hulsen(orHulsen’sSecond)comingonwithmenaceoffireandsworduponthesepoorReichspeople,foundtheReichspeoplewhollyvanishedinthemist。Gonebodily;infullmarchforthespursoftheMetal—
MountainRangeagain;——concluding,forthefourthtime,anextremelycontemptibleCampaign。Daun,withtheKingaheadofhim,madenottheleastattempttohelpthemintheirLeipzigdifficulty;butretiredtohisstrongCampatTorgau;feelshisworktolieTHERE,——asFriedrichperceivesofhim,withsomeinterest。
HulsenleftalittlegarrisoninLeipzig(friendQuintusapartofit);[Tempelhof,iv。290。]andreturnedtotheKing;whosesmallMagazineatDuben,andothersmallaffairsthere,——Magdeburgwithboats,andtheKingwithwagons,havingbeensodiligentincarryinggrainthither,——arenowaboutcompleted。FromDaun’sreturningtoTorgau,FriedrichinfersthatthecautiousmanhasgotOrderfromCourttomaintainTorgauatallcosts,——toriskabattleratherthango。"Good:heshallhaveone!"thinksFriedrich。
And,NOVEMBER2d,infourcolumns,marchestowardsTorgau;
toSchilda,thatnight,whichissomesevenmilesonthesouthwardsideofTorgau。TheKing,himselfinthevanguardasusual,haswatchedwitheagerquestioningeyethecoursesofDaun’sadvancedparties,andbywhatroutestheyretreat;discernsforcertainthatDaunhasnoviewsuponDubenorourlittleMagazine;andthatthetugofwrestleforTorgau,whichistocrownthisCampaignintoconquestofSaxony,orshatteritintozerolikeitsforegoersontheAustrianpart,andwillbeofdeath—or—lifenatureonthePrussianpart,oughttoensueto—morrow。Forward,then!
ThisCampofTorgauisnotanewplacetoDaun。ItwasPrinceHenri’sCamplastAutumn;whereDauntriedallhiseffortstonopurpose;andthoughhugelyoutnumberingthePrince,couldmakeabsolutelynothingofit。Nothing,orless;andwasflowingbacktoDresdenandtheBohemianFrontier,uncheeredbyanything,tillthatcomfortableMaxenIncidentturnedup。Daunwellknowsthestrengthofthisposition。TorgauandtheBlockofHilltoWest,calledHillofSiptitz:——Hulsen,too,stoodherethisSummer;nottomentionFinckandWunsch,andtheirbeatingtheReichspeoplehere。AHillandPostofgreatstrength;notunfamiliartomanyPrussians,nortoFriedrich’sstudiousconsiderations,thoughhisknowledgeofitwasnotpersonalonallpoints;——asTo—morrowtaughthim,somewhattohiscost。
"Tourists,fromWeimarandtheThuringianCountries,"saysaNote—
book,sometimesusefultous,"havemostlikelyomittedRossbachintheirscreamingrailwayflighteastward;anddonelittleinLeipzigbutendeavortoeatdinner,and,stillmorevainly,tosnatchalittlesleepintheinhumandormitoriesoftheCountry。
Nextmorning,screamingDresden—ward,theymight,especiallyifmilitary,pauseatOschatz,astageortwobeforeMeissen,whereagainareobjectsofinterest。YoucanlookatHubertsburg,ifgiventhatway,——aRoyalSchloss,memorableonseveralgrounds;——atHubertsburg,andatotherfeatures,intheneighborhoodofOschatz。
Thisdone,orthisleftnotdone,youstrikeoffleftward,thatisnorthward,insomeopenvehicle,forsurveyofTorgauanditsvicinitiesandenvirons。Notabovefifteenmilesforyou;adrivesingularandpleasant;timeenoughtoreturnandbeinDresdenfordinner。
"TorgauisafinesolidoldTown;Prussianmilitarynowabundantinit。InancientHeathentimes,Isuppose,itmeanttheGAU,orDistrict,ofTHOR;CapitalofthatGau,——partofwhich,nowunderChristianorquasi—Christiancircumstances,youhavejustbeentraversing,withElbeonyourrighthand。InnocentruralaspectsofHumanity,Boor’slife,Gentry’slife,alltheway,notinanyholidayequipment;onthecontrary,somewhatunkemptandscraggy,butallthemorehonestandinoffensive。Thereissky,earth,air,andfreedomforyourownreflections:areallyagreeablekindofGau;pleasant,thoughinpartugly。Largetractsofitarepine—
wood,withpleasantVillagesandfinearableexpansesinterspersed。
SchildaandmanyVillagesyouleavetorightandleft。
Old—fashionedVillages,withtheirvillageindustriesvisiblearound;laboringeachinitskind,——nottoofast;probablywithextincttobacco—pipehangingoveritschin(KALT—RAUCHEND,’smokingCOLD,’astheyphraseit)。
"SchildahasanabsurdcelebrityamongtheGermans:itistheGothamofTeutschland;afountainofoldbroad—grinsandhomelyandheartyrusticbanter;wellingupfromtheseriousextinctAgestoourownday;’SCHILTburger’(InhabitantofSCHILDA)meaningstill,amongalltheTeutschpopulations,amanofcalmlyobstinatewhimsanddelusions,ofnotionsaltogethercontrarytofact,andagreeabletohimselfonly;resolutelypushinghiswaythroughlifeonthoseterms:amidhorse—laughter,naturally,andgeneralwaggingofbeardsfromsurroundingmankind。Extinctmirth,nottobegrowledatordespised,inAgesrunningtotheshallow,whichhavelosttheirmirth,andbecomeallonesniggerofmock—mirth。Foritisobservable,themoresolemnisyourbackgroundofDARK,thebrighteristheplayofallhumangenialitiesandcoruscationsonit,——ofgenialmirthespecially,inthehourformirth。WhotheDOCTORBORDELofSchildawas,Idonotknow:buttheyhavehadtheirBordel,asGothamhad;——probablyvariousBordels;
industrioustopickupthoseSpiritualfruitsoftheearth。Fortherecordsarestillabundantandcurrent;fullymorealivethanthoseofGothamhereare。——Andyonder,then,isactuallySchildaoftheabsurdfame。Asmall,cheerful—lookinghumanVillage,initsIslandamongtheWoods;youseeitlyingtotheright:——acleanbrick—
slatecongeries,withfaintsmoke—canopyhangingoverit,indicatingfrugaldinner—kettlesonthesimmer;——andyourememberkindlythosegoodoldgrinnings,overgoodSCHILTBURGER,goodWISE
MENOFGOTHAM,andtheirlearnedChroniclers,andunlearnedPeasantProducers,whohavecontributedawrinkleofhumanFuntotheearnestfaceofLife。
"AfterSchilda,andbefore,youtraverselongtractsofPineForest,allunderforestmanagement;withlongstraightstretchesofsandyroad(oneofwhichisyourown),straightlikeredtape—
strings,intersectingthewidesolitudes:dangeroustoyourtopographies,——forthefinger—postsarenotalwaysthere,andhumanadviceyoucangetnone。Nothingbutthestripeofblueskyoverhead,andthebrownoneoftape(orsand)underyourfeet:
thetreespoorandmeanformostpart,butsoinnumerable,andallsosilent,watchingyoualllikemutewitnesses,mutelywhisperingtogether;novoicebuttheircombinedwhisperorbigforestSOUGH
audibletoyouintheworld:——onthewhole,yoursolitaryridethereproves,unexpectedly,asingulardeliverancefromthemadrailway,anditsironbedlamismsandshriekingdiscordsandprecipitances;andissoothing,andpensivelywelcome,thoughsadenough,andinoutwardfeaturesuglyenough。Nowildboarsarenowinthesewoods,nochanceofawolf:"——whatconcernsusmoreis,thatFriedrich’scolumns,onthe3dofNovember,hadtomarchupthroughtheselonglanes,ortape—stripesoftheTorgauForest;
andthatoneimportantcolumn,oneormore,tookthewrongturnatsomepoint,andwasdangerouslywantingattheexpectedmoment!——
"TorgauitselfstandsnearElbe;ontheshoulder,easternorElbe—
wardshoulder,ofabigmassofKnoll,orbroadHeight,calledofSiptitz,themainEminenceoftheGau。Shoulder,Icalledit,ofthisHeightofSiptitz;butmoreproperlyitisonacontinuation,orlowerulteriorheightdippingintoElbeitself,thatTorgaustands。SiptitzHeight,nearlyamilefromElbe,dropsdownintoastraggleofponds;afterwhich,onasecondorfinalrise,comesTorgaudippingintoElbe。Notashoulderstrictly,butratheraCHEEK,withNECKintervening;——neckGOITRYforthatmatter,orquaggywithponds!TheoldTownstandshighenough,butisenlacedonthewesternandsouthernsidebyasetoflakesandquagmires,someofwhicharestillextensiveandundrained。Thecourseofthewatershereabouts;andofElbeitself,hashaditsintricacies:
closetonorthwest,Torgauisbordered,inastragglingway,bywhattheycallOLDELBE;whichisnotnowafluententity,butastagnantcongeriesofdirtywatersandmorasses。TheHillofSiptitzabutsinthataqueousorquaggymanner;itsforefeetbeing,asitwere,atorinElbeRiver,anditssides,totheSouthandtotheNorthforsomedistanceeachway,considerablyenvelopedinpondsandboggydifficulties。
"Plentyofwaterallabout,butIsupposemostlyofbadquality;
atleastTorgauhasdeclineddrinkingit,andbeenatthetroubletolayapipe,orROHRGRABEN,severalmileslong,tobringitsculinarywaterfromthewesternneighborhoodsofSiptitzHeight。
AlongthesouthernsideofSiptitzHeightgoesleisurelyanuncomfortablekindofBrook,calledthe’ROHRGRABEN(Pipe—Ditch);’
themeaningofwhichunexpectednameyoufindtobe,ThatthereisaSERVICE—PIPElaidcunninglyatthebottomofthisBrook;
liftingtheBrookatitspureuppersprings,andsendingitalong,insecrettubularquasi—bottledcondition;leavingthefoulerdrippingsfromtheneighborhoodtomakewhat’brook’theystillcan,overitshead,andkeepitoutofharm’swaytillTorgaugetit。ThisiscalledtheROHRGRABEN,thiswhichcomesrunningthroughSiptitzVillage,allalongbythesouthernbaseofSiptitzHill;
totheidleeye,adirtyishBrook,endingincertainnotablePondseastward:buttotheeyeoftheinquiringmind,whichhaspierceddeeper,aTubeofrationalWater,runningintothethroatsofTorgau,whiletheso—calledBrookdisemboguesatdiscretionintotheENTEFANG(Duck—trap),andwhatPondsorreedyPuddlesthereare,"——ofwhich,inpoorWunsch’sfinebitoffighting,lastYear,weheardmention。Letreaderskeepmindofthem。
TheHillSiptitz,withthisROHRGRABENatthesouthernbasisofit,makesaverymainfigureintheBattlenowimminent。SiptitzHeightis,infact,Daun’sCamp;wherehestandsintrenchedtotheutmost,repeatedlychanginghisposition,thebettertosustainFriedrich’sexpectedattacks。Itisabluntbroad—backedElevation,mostlyinvineyard,perhapsontheaverage200feetabovethegenerallevel,andoffiveorsixsquaremilesinarea:length,easttowest,fromGrosswigneighborhoodtotheenvironsofTorgau,maybeaboutthreemiles;breadth,southtonorth,fromtheSiptitztotheZinnaneighborhoods,abovehalfthatdistance。TheHeightissteepishonthesouthernside,allalongtothesouthwestangle(whichwasDaun’sleftflankinthegreatActioncoming),butswellsupwitheasierascentonthewest,earthandothersides。Letthereadertryforsomeconceptionofitsenvironmentandit,asthefloororarenaofagreattransactionthisday。
DaunstandsfrontingsouthwardalongtheseSiptitzHeights,lookingtowardsSchildaandhisdangerousneighbor;heights,woods,pondsandinaccessibilitiesenvironinghisPositionandhim。Oneofthestrongestpositionsimaginable;which,underPrinceHenri,provedinexpugnableenoughtosomeofus。Apositionnottobeattackedonthatsouthernfront,noroneitherofitsflanks:——wherecanitbeattacked?Impregnable,underPrinceHenriinfarinferiorforce:
howwillyoutakeitfromDaunindecidedlysuperior?Apositionnottobeattackedatall,mostmilitarymenwouldsay;——thoughOnemilitaryman,inhisextremenecessity,mustandwillfindawayintoit。
Onefault,theuniquemilitaryman,intenselypondering,discoversthatithas:itistoosmallforDaun;notareaenoughformanoeuvring65,000meninit;whowillgetintoconfusionifproperlydealtwith。Amostcomfortablelight—flash,theEUREKAofthisterribleproblem。"Wewillattackitonrearandonfrontsimultaneously;thatisthewaytohandleit!"Yes;simultaneously,thoughthatisdifficult,saymilitaryjudges;perhapstoPrussiansitmaybepossible。Itistheopinionofmilitaryjudgeswhohavestudiedthematter,thatFriedrich’splan,couldithavebeenperfectlyexecuted,mighthavegotnotonlyvictoryfromDaun,butwascapabletoflinghisbigArmyandhimpell—mellupontheElbeBridge,thatistosay,insuchcircumstances,intoElbeRiver,andswallowhimbodilyatafrightfulrate!ThatfatewassparedpoorDaun。
MONDAY,3dNOVEMBER,1760,athalf—past6inthemorningFriedrichisonmarchforthisgreatenterprise。Themarchgoesnorthward,inThreeColumns,withaFourthofBaggage;throughthewoods,onfourdifferentroads;roads,orcombinationsofthoseintricatesandyavenuesalreadynoticed。Northwardallofitatfirst;butatacertainpointahead(atcrossingoftheEilenburg—TorgauRoad,namely),theMarchistodivideitselfintwo。HalfoftheforceistostrikeoffrightwardtherewithZiethen,andtoissueonthesouthsideofSiptitzHill;otherhalf,underFriedrichhimself,tocontinuenorthward,longmilesfarther,andthenatlastbendinground,issue——simultaneouslywithZiethen,ifpossible——uponSiptitzHillfromthenorthside。Weareabout44,000strong,againstDaun,whois65,000。
SimultaneouslywithZiethen,sofarashumanlypossible:thatistheessentialpoint!Friedrichhastakeneverypainsthatitshallbecorrect,inthisandallpoints;andtotakedoubleassuranceofhidingitfromDaun,heyesternight,indictatinghisOrdersontheotherheadsofmethod,keptentirelytohimselfthismostimportantZiethenportionoftheBusiness。Andnow,atstarting,hehastakenZietheninhiscarriagewithhimafewmiles,toexplainthethingbywordofmouth。AttheEilenburgroad,orbeforeit,Ziethenthinksheisclearastoeverything;dismounts;takesinhandthemassintrustedtohim;andstrikesoffbythatrightwardcourse:
"Rightward,HerrZiethen;rightwardtillyougettoKlitschen,yourfirstconsiderableislandinthisseaofwood;atKlitschenstriketotheleftintothewoodsagain,——yourroadiscalledtheButter—
Strasse(BUTTER—STREET);goesbythenorthwestsideofSiptitzHeight;reachSiptitzbytheButter—Street,andthendoyourendeavor!"
WiththeotherHalfofhisArmy,speciallywiththeFirstColumnofit,Friedrichproceedsnorthwardonhisownpartoftheadventure。
ThreeColumnshehas,besidestheBaggageone:innumberaboutequaltoZiethen’s;ifperhapsotherwise,ratherthechosenHalf;
about8,000grenadierandfootguardpeople,withKleist’sHussars,areFriedrich’sownColumn。Friedrich’sColumnmarchesnearesttheDaunpositions;theBaggage—columnfarthest;andthatlatteristohalt,underescort,quiteawaytoleftorwestwardofthedisturbancecoming;theotherTwoColumns,Hulsen’soffoot,Holstein’smostlyofhorse,gothroughintermediatetracksofwood,byroadsmoreorlessparallel;andareall,Friedrich’sownColumn,stillmoretheothers,toleaveSiptitzseveralmilestoright,andtoend,notATSiptitzHeight,butseveralmilespastit,andthenwheelinground,beginbusinessfromthenorthwardorrearwardsideofDaun,whileZiethenattacksormenaceshisfront,——simultaneously,ifpossible。Friedrich’smarch,hiddenallbywoods,ismorethantwiceasfarasZiethen’s,——some14or15milesinall;goingstraightnorthward10miles;thencebendingeastward,thensouthwardthroughwoods;toemergeaboutNeiden,theretocrossaBrook(Striebach),andstrikehomeonthenorthsideofDaun。Thetrackofmarchisintheshapesomewhatofashepherd’scrook;thelongHANDLEofit,wellawayfromSiptitz,reachesuptoNeiden,thisisthestraightorwoodenpartofsaidcrook;afterwhichcomesthebent,catching,orironpart,——intendedforDaunandhisfierceflock。Ziethenhashardlyabovesixmiles;andoughttobedeliberateinhiswoodlands,tilltheKing’spartyhavetimetogetround。
Themorning,Ifind,iswet;fourteenmilesofmarch:fancysuchaPromenadethroughthedrippingWoods;heavy,toilsome,andwithsucherrandahead!Thedelayswereconsiderable;someofthemaccidental。VigilantDaunhasDetachmentswatchingintheseWoods:
——aGeneralRied,whofirescannonandgetsoff:thenaGeneralSt。
IgnonandtheSt。IgnonRegimentofDragoons;who,beingBETWEEN
ColumnFirstandColumnSecond,cannotgetaway;but,aftersomeindustrybyKleistandthoseofColumnTwo,arecaughtandpocketed,St。Ignonhimselfprisoneramongtherest。Thisdelaymayperhapsbeconsideredprofitable:buttherewereotherdelaysabsolutelywithoutprofit。Forexample,thatofhavingdifficultieswithyourartillery—wagonsinthewetmirylanes;thatofmissingyourroad,atsometurninthesolitarywoods;whichlatterwasthesadchanceofColumnThird,fatallydelayingitformanyhours。
Daun,learningbythosereturnedpartiesfromtheWoodswhattheRoyalintentionsonhimare,hastilywhirlshimselfround,soastofrontnorth,andtherereceiveFriedrich:bestlinenorthwardforFriedrich’sbehoof;rearlineorsecond—bestwillnowreceiveZiethenorwhatmaycome。Daun’sarrangementsareadmittedtobepromptandexcellent。Lacy,withhis20,000,——wholay,whileFriedrich’sattackwasexpectedfromsouth,atLoswig,asadvancedguard,eastsideoftheGROSSETEICH(supremepondofall,whichisacontinuationoftheDuck—trap,ENTEFANG,andhangslikeachiefgoitreonthegoitryneckofTorgau),——Lacyisnowtodrawhimselfnorthandwestward,andlookingintotheEntefangoverhisleftshoulder(sotospeak),berear—guardagainstanyZiethenorPrussianpartythatmaycome。Daun’sbaggageisallacrosstheElbe,allinwagonssinceyesterday;threeBridgeshangingforDaunandit,incaseofadverseaccident。Daunlikewisebringsallornearlyallhiscannontothenewfront,forFriedrich’sbehoof:
200newpieceshither;Archenholtzsays400inwhole;
certainlysuchaweightofartilleryasneverappearedinBattlebefore。UnlessFriedrich’sarrangementsprovepunctual,andhisstrokebeemphatic,Friedrichmayhappentofarebadly。Onthelatterpoint,ofemphasis,thereisnodubietyforFriedrich:
butontheformer,——thingsarealreadypastdoubt,thewrongway!
ForthelasthourorsoofFriedrich’smarchtherehasbeencontinualstormofcannonadeandmusketryaudiblefromZiethen’sside:——"Ziethenengaged!"thinkseverybody;andquickensstephere,underthismarchingmusicfromthedistance。Whichisbutawrongreadingormistake,nothingmore;therealphenomenonbeingasfollows:ZiethenpunctuallygottoKlitschenattheduehour;
struckintotheBUTTER—STRASSE,calculatinghispaces;but,ontheedgeoftheWoodfoundasmallAustrianparty,likethoseinFriedrich’sroute;and,pushingintoit,theAustrianpartyrepliedwithcannonbeforerunning。WhereuponZiethen,notknowinghowinconsiderableitwas,drewoutinbattle—order;gaveitasalvoortwo;droveitbackonLacy,intheDuck—trapdirection,——alongwayeastofButter—Street,andZiethen’srealplace;——unluckythathefolloweditsofar!Ziethenfollowedit;andgotintosomelanguiddisputewithLacy:disputequitedistant,languid,onbothsides,andconsistingmainlyofcannon;butlastinginthiswaymanyprecioushours。Thisisthephenomenonwhichfriends,inthedistancereadtobe,"Ziethenengaged!"Engaged,yes,andalaswithwhat?WhatZiethen’sdegreeofblamewas,Idonotknow。
Friedrichthoughtitconsiderable:——"Stupid,stupid,MEINLIEBER!"
whichZiethenneverwouldadmit;——and,beyondquestion,itwasofhighdetrimenttoFriedrichthisday。Suchaccidents,saymilitarymen,areinherent,nottobeavoided,inthatdoubleformofattack:whichmaybetrue,onlythatFriedrichhadnochoiceleftofformsjustnow。
AboutnoonFriedrich’sVanguard(KleistandHussars),about1
o’clockFriedrichhimself,7or8,000Grenadiers,emergedfromtheWoodsaboutNeiden。ThisColumn,whichconsistsofchoicetroops,istobeFront—lineoftheAttack。ButthereisyetnoSecondColumnunderHulsen,stilllessanyThirdunderHolstein,comeinsight:andZiethen’scannonadeisbuttooaudible。Friedrichhalts;
sendsAdjutantstohurryontheseColumns;——andridesoutreconnoitring,questioningpeasants;earnestlysurveyingDaun’sgroundandhisown。Daun’snowrightwingwelleastwardaboutZinnahadbeenFriedrich’sintendedpointofattack;buttheground,outthere,provesbrokenbyboggybrooksandremnantstagnanciesoftheOldElbe:FriedrichfindshemustreturnintotheWoodagain;
andattackDaun’sleft。Daun’sleftiscarefullydrawndownEN
POTENCE,orgallows—shapethere;andhas,withintheWood,carefullybuiltbyPrinceHenrilastyear,anextensiveAbatis,orcompletewesternwall,——onlythenorthpartofwhichisperhapsnowpassable,theAustrianshavinginthecoldtimeusedagooddealofitasfirewoodlately。There,onthenorthwestcornerofDaun,acrossthatweakpartoftheAbatis,mustFriedrich’sattacklie。
ButFriedrich’sColumnsarestillfatallybehind,——Holstein,withalltheCavalrywehave,sopreciousatpresent,iswanderingbywrongpaths;tookthewrongturnatsomepoint,andtheAdjutantcanhardlyfindhimatall,withhispreceptof"Haste,Haste!"
WemayfigureFriedrich’shumorundertheseillomens。
Ziethen’scannonadebecomeslouderandlouder;whichFriedrichnaturallyfanciestobedeathorlifetohim,——nottomeanalmostnothing,asitdid。"MEINGOTT,Ziethenisinaction,andIhavenotmyInfantryup!"[Tempelhof,iv。303。]criedhe。Andatlengthdecidedtoattackashewas:Grenadiersinfront,thechosenofhisInfantry;Ramin’sBrigadeforsecondline;and,exceptabout800ofKleist,noCavalryatall。HisbattalionsmarchoutfromNeidenhand,throughdifficultbrooks,Striebachandthelike,bybridgesofAustrianbuild,whichtheAustriansareobligedtoquitinhurry。ThePrussiansareasyetperpendiculartoDaun,butwillwheelrightward,intotheDomitschWoodagain;andthenform,——
paralleltoDaun’snorthwestshoulder;andtoPrinceHenri’sAbatis,whichwillbetheirfirstobstacleincharging。
Theirobstaclesinformingweremanyandintricate;groundsodifficult,forartilleryespecially:seldomwasseensuchexpertness,suchwillingnessofmind。AndseldomlayaheadofmensuchobstaclesAFTERforming!Thinkonlyofonefact:Daun,onsightoftheirintention,hasopened400piecesofArtilleryonthem,andthesegoragingandthunderingintothehemoftheWood,andtowhateverissuesfromit,nowandforhourstocome,atarateofdeafeninguproarandofsheerdeadliness,whichnoobservercanfindwordsfor。
Archenholtz,averyyoungofficeroffifteen,whocameintoitperhapsanhourhence,describesitasathingsurpassableonlybyDoomsday:clangorousrageofnoiserisentotheinfinite;
theboughsofthetreesrainingdownonyou,withhorridcrash;
theForest,withitsechoes,bellowingfarandnear,andreverberatinginuniversaldeath—peal;comparabletotheTrumpofDoom。Friedrichhimself,whoisanoldhand,saidtothoseabouthim:"Whataninfernalfire(HOLLISCHESFEUER)!Didyoueverhearsuchacannonadebefore?Inever。"[Tempelhof,iv。304;
Archenholtz,ii。164。]FriedrichisbetweentheTwoLinesofhisGrenadiers,whichishisplaceduringtheattack:thefirstLineofGrenadiers,behindPrinceHenri’sAbatis,iswithin800yardsofDaun;Ramin’sBrigadeistorearoftheSecondLine,asaReserve。
Horsetheyhavenone,exceptthe800KleistHussars;whostandtotheleft,outsidetheWood,frontedbyAustrianHorseinhopelessmultitude。Artillerytheyhave,ineffect,none:theirBatteries,hardlytobegotacrosstheselastwoodydifficultiesoftreesgrowingandtreesfelled,didrankoutsidetheWood,ontheirleft;
butcoulddoabsolutelynothing(gun—carriagesandgunners,officersandmen,beingalikeblownaway);andwhenTempelhofsawthemafterwards,theyneverhadbeenfiredatall。TheGrenadiershavetheirmuskets,andtheirheartsandtheirright—hands。
Withamazingintrepidity,they,beingatlengthallreadyinrankwithin800yards,rushintothethroatofthisFire—volcano;inthewaycommanded,——whichisthealoneway:suchaproblemashumanbraveryseldomhad。TheGrenadiersplungeforwarduponthethroatofDaun;butitisintothethroatofhisironenginesandhistearingbillowsofcannon—shotthatmostofthemgo。Shorndownbythecompany,bytheregiment,inthoseterrible800yards,——thenandafterwards。RegimentSTUTTERHEIMwasnearlyallkilledandwounded,saytheBooks。YouwouldfancyitwasthefewestofthemthatevergottothelengthofsellingtheirlivestoDaun,insteadofgivingthemawaytohis400cannon。Butitisnotso。
TheGrenadiers,bothLinesofthem,stillinquantity,didgetintocontactwithDaun。Andsoldhimtheirlives,handtohand,ataratebeyondexampleinsuchcircumstances;——Daunhavingtohurryupnewforceinstreamsuponthem;resolutetopurchase,thoughtheprice,foralongwhile,rosehigherandhigher。
Atlastthe6,000Grenadiers,beingnowreducedtothetenthman,hadtofallback。UponwhichcertainAustrianBattalionsrusheddawninchase,countingitVictorycome:butwereseverelyadmonishedofthatmistake;anddrivenbackbyRamin’speople,whoaccompaniedthemintotheirranksandagaingaveDaunagreatdealoftroublebeforehecouldoverpowerthem。ThisisAttackFirst,issuinginfailurefirst:oneofthestiffestbitsoffightingeverknown。Beganabout2intheafternoon;ended,Ishouldguess,ratherafter3。Daun,bythistime,isinconsiderabledisorderofline;thoughhis400fire—throatscontinuebelchingruin,anddeafeningtheworld,withoutabatement。DaunhimselfhadgotwoundedinthefootorlegduringthisAttack,buthadnotimetomindit:amostbusy,strongandresoluteDaun;doinghisverybest。Friedrich,too,waswounded,——nobodywilltellmeinwhichoftheseattacks;——butIthinknotnow,atleastwillnotspeakofitnow。Whathisfeelingswere,asthisGrenadierAttackwenton,——astrugglesounequal,butnottobehelped,fromthedelaysthathadrisen,——nobody,himselfleastofall,recordsforus:onlybythislittlesymptom:TwoGrandsonsoftheOldDessauer’sareAdjutantsofhisMajesty,andwelllovedbyhim;oneofthemnowathishand,theotherheadinghisregimentinthischargeofGrenadiers。
WordcomestoFriedrichthatthislatteroneisshotdead。OnwhichFriedrich,turningtotheBrother,andnothidinghisemotion,aswasusualinsuchmoments,said:"Allgoesillto—day;myfriendsarequittingme。IhavejustheardthatyourBrotheriskilled(TOUTVAMALAUJOURD’HUI;MESAMISMEQUITTENT。ONVIENTDE
M’ANNONCERLAMORTDEVOTREFRERE)!"[Preuss,ii。226。]WordswhichtheAnhaltkindred,andthePrussianmilitarypublic,treasuredupwithareverencestrangetous。OfAnhaltperhapssomewordbyandby,atafitterseason。
Shortlyafter3,asIreckonthetime,Hulsen’sColumndidarrive:
choicetroopsthesetoo,thePomeranianMANTEUFFEL,oneregimentofthem;——youngArchenholtzofFORCADE(firstBattalionhere,secondandthirdarewithZiethen,makingvainnoise)wasinthisColumn;
came,withtheothers,windingtotheWood’sedge,insuchcircuits,pooryoungsoul;rainpouring,ifthathadbeenworthnotice;cannon—ballsplunging,boughscrashing,suchaTODES—
POSAUNE,orDoomsday—Thunder,brokenloose:——theydidemergesteadily,nevertheless,hesays,"likesea—billowsorflowoftide,underthesmokyhurricane。"Prettymenareheretoo,ManteuffelPommerners;noheartsstouter。Withthese,andtheindignantRemnantswhichwaitedforthem,anewassaultuponDaunissetabout。Andburstsout,onthatsamenorthwestcornerofhim;
sayabouthalf—past3。Therainisnowdone,"blownawaybythetremendousartillery,"thinksArchenholtz,ifthatwereanymatter。
TheAttack,supportedbyafewmoreHorse(thoughColumnThreestillfatallylingers),and,Ishouldhope,bysomepracticableweightofField—batteries,isspurredbyagrimmerkindofindignation,andisoffiercerspiritthanever。ThinkhowManteuffelofFootwillblazeout;andwhatisthehumorofthoseonceoverwhelmedRemnants,nowgettingairagain!Daun’slineisactuallybrokeninthispoint,hisartillerysurmountedandbecomeuseless;Daun’spotenceandnorthfrontarereelingbackwards,Prussiansinpossessionoftheirground。"Thefieldtobeours!"
thinksFriedrich,forsometime。IfindeedZiethenhadbeenseriouslybusyonthesouthernsideofthings,insteadofvaguelycannonadinginthatmanner!ButresoluteDaun,withpromptitude,callsinhisReservefromGrosswig,callsinwhatsoeverofdisposableforcehecangather;Daunrallies,rushesagainonthePrussiansinoverpoweringnumber;and,inspiteoftheirmostdesperateresistance,drivesthemback,everback;andrecovershisground。
Averydesperatebout,thisSecondone;probablythetoughestoftheBattle:buttheresultagainisDaun’s;thePrussianspalpablyobligedtodrawback。Friedrichhimselfgotwoundedhere;——pooryoungArchenholtztoo,ONLYwounded,notkilled,assomanywere:——
Friedrich’swoundwasacontusiononthebreast;cameofsomespentbitofcase—shot,deadenedfartherbyafamedpelissehewore,——
"whichsavedmylife,"hesaidafterwardstoHenri。TheKinghimselflittleregardedit(mentioningitonlytoBrotherHenri,oninquiryandsolicitation),duringthefewweeksitstillhungabouthim。TheBooksintimatethatitstruckhimtotheearth,voidofconsciousnessforsometime,totheterrorofthoseabouthim;
andthathestartedup,disregardingitaltogetherinthispressofbusiness,andalmostasifashamedofhimself,whichimposedsilenceonpeople’stongues。Inmilitarycirclesthereisstill,onthislatterpoint,anAnecdote;whichIcannotconfirmordeny,butwillgiveforthesakeofBerenhorstandhisfamedBookontheART
OFWAR。Berenhorst——anaturalsonoftheOldDessauer’s,andevidentlyenoughachipoftheoldblock,onlygoneintothearticulate—speakingorintellectualform——was,forthepresent,anAdjutantorAide—de—campofFriedrich’s;andatthisjuncturewasseenbendingovertheswoonedFriedrich,perhapswithanover—
pathosorelaboratesomethinginhisexpressionofcountenance:
whenFriedrichreopenedhisindignanteyes:"WASMACHTERHIER?"
criedFriedrich:"ERSAMMLEFUYARDS!Whathaveyoutodohere?Goandgatherrunaways"(beofsomerealuse,can’tyou)!——whichunkindcutstruckdeepintoBerenhorst,theysay;andcouldneverafterbeeradicatedfromhisgloomyheart。ItiscertainhebecamePrinceHenri’sAdjutantsoonafter,andthatinhisKRIEGSKUNST,amidsttheclearestorthodoxadmiration,hemanifests,bylittletouchesupanddown,afeelingofveryfellandpallidqualityagainsttheKing;andbelongs,inapeculiarlyvirulentthoughtaciturnway,totheOppositionParty。H1sBook,nexttoEnglishLloyd’s(orperhapssuperior,forBerenhorstisofmuchthemorecultivatedintellect,highlycondensedtoo,thoughsodiscursiveandfar—read,wereitnotfortheviceofperversediabolictemper),seemed,toahumbleoutsiderlikemyself,greatlythestrongest—headed,mostpenetratingandhumanlyilluminativeIhadhadtostudyonthatsubject。Whotheweakest—headedwas(perhapsJOMINI,amongthewidelycirculatingkind?),Iwillnotattempttodecide,sogreatisthecrushinthatbaddirection。Toreturn。
ThisSecondAttackisagainarepulsetotheindignantFriedrich;
thoughhestillpersistsinfierceefforttorecoverhimself:
andindeedDaun’sinterior,too,itappears,isallinawhirlofconfusion;hislossestoohavingbeenenormous:——when,see,hereatlength,abouthalf—past4,Sunnowdown,isthetardyHolstein,withhisCavalry,emergingfromtheWoods。Comeswendingonyonder,halfamiletonorthofus;straighteastwardorElbe—ward(accordingtotheorderoflastnight),leavingusandourdeath—
strugglesunregarded,asathingthatisnotonhistablets,andisnoconcernofHolstein’s。Friedrichhaltshim,notquitetoolate;
organizesanewandthirdAttack。SimultaneousuniversaleffortoffootandhorseuponDaun’sFront;Holsteinhimself,whoisalmostatZinnabythistime,togouponDaun’srightwing。ThisisAttackThird;andisofsporadicintermittentnature,inthethickeningduskanddarkness:partofitsuccessful,noneofitbeaten,butnowherethesuccesscomplete。Thus,intheextremewestorleftmostofFriedrich’sattack,SPAENDragoons,——oneofthelastHorseRegimentsofHolstein’sColumn,——SPAENDragoons,undertheirLieutenant—ColonelDalwig(abeautifulmanoeuvrer,whohasstormedthroughmanyfields,fromMollwitzonwards),cutin,withanadmiredimpetuosity,withanaudaciousskill,upon,theAustrianInfantryRegimentsthere;brokethemtopieces,tooktwooftheminthelumpprisoners;beardedwholetorrentsofAustriancavalryrushinguptotherescue,——andbroughtofftheirmassofprisonerregimentsandsixcannon;——theAustrianrescuersbeingchargedbysomenewPrussianparty,andhuntedhomeagain。[Tempelhof,iv。
305。]"HadthesePrussianHorsebeenontheirgroundat2o’clock,anddoneasnow,itisveryevident,"saysTempelhof,"whattheBattleofTorgauhadbythistimebeen!"
Nearby,too,fartherrightwards,ifinthebewilderingindistinctnessImightguesswhere(butthewhereisnotsoimportanttous),BaireuthDragoons,theyofthe67standardsatStriegaulongsince,plungedintotheAustrianBattalionsatanunsurpassablerate;tumbledfourregimentsofthem(RegimentKAISER,RegimentNEIPPERG,——nobodynowcareswhichfour)heelsoverhead,andinfewminutestookthemostofthemprisoners;
bringingthemhometoo,likeDalwig,throughcrowdsofrescuers。
Eastward,again,orElbe—ward,Holsteinhasfoundsuchintricaciesofground,suchboggydepthsandroughsteeps,hisCavalrycouldcometonodecisivesabringwiththeAustrian;butstoodexchangingshot;——nothingtobedoneonthatrightwingofDaun。
Daun’sleftflank,however,doesappear,afterThreesuchAttacks,tobeatlastprettywellruined:Tempelhofsays,"Daun’swholeFrontLinewastumbledtopieces;disorderhad,sympathetically,gonerearward,eveninthoseeasternparts;andonthewesternandnorthwesternthePrussianHorseRegimentswerenowstandinginitsplace。"But,indeed,suchchargingandrecharging,pulsingandrepulsing,hastherebeenhereaboutsforhourspast,therivalHostshavegotcompletelyinterpenetrated;Austrianparties,orwholeregiments,aretorearofthosePrussianswhostandrankedhere,andinvictoriousposture,astheNightsinks。Nightisnowsinkingonthismurderousday:"Nothingmoretobemadeofit;
tryitagainto—morrow!"thinkstheKing;givesHulsenchargeofbivouackingandre—arrangingthesescatteredpeople;andrideswithescortnorthwestwardtoElsnig,northofNeiden,welltorearofthisbloodyarena,——inamoodofmindwhichmaybefiguredasgloomyenough。
Daun,too,ishometoTorgau,——1think,alittleearlier,——tohavehiswounddressed,nowthatthedayseemstohimsecure。
Buccow,Daun’ssecond,iskilled;Daun’sthirdisanIrishGrafO’Donnell,memorableonlyonthisoneoccasion;tothisO’Donnell,andtoLacy,whoisfirmonhisgroundyonder,untouchedallday,thechargeofmattersisleft。Whichcannotbeadifficultone,hopesDaun。Daun,whilehiswoundisdressing,speedsoffacouriertoVienna。Courierdidenterdulythere,withglorioustrumpetingpostilions,anduniversalHep—hep—hurrah;kindlingthatardentlyloyalCityintoinfinitetriumphandillumination,——forthespaceofcertainhoursfollowing。
Hulsenmeanwhilehasbeendoinghisbesttogetintoproperbivouacforthemorrow;hasdrawnbackthoseeastwardhorseregiments,drawnforwardtheinfantrybattalions;forward,Ithink,andwellrightward,where,inthedaytime,Daun’sleftflankwas。Onthewhole,itisnorthwestwardthatthegeneralPrussianBivouacforthisnightis;theextremestSOUTHwestern—mostportionofitisInfantry,underGeneralLestwitz;agallantusefulman,wholittledreamsofbecomingfamousthisdrearyuncertainnight。
Itis6o’clock。Dampduskhasthickeneddownintoutterdarkness,ontheseterms:——when,lo,cannonadeandmusketadefromthesouth,audibleintheLestwitz—Hulsenquarters:seriouslyloud;redglowofconflagrationvisiblewithal,——someunfortunateVillagegoingup("VillageofSiptitz,thinkyou?");andneedofHulsenathisfastest!Hulsen,withsomereadiestFootRegiments,circlinground,makesthitherward;Lestwitzinthevan。Letusprecedehimthither,andexplainalittlewhatitwas。
Ziethen,whohadstoodalldaymakingidlenoises,——ofwhatafatalqualityweknow,ifZiethendidnot,——waitingfortheKing’sappearance,musthavebeenconsiderablydispleasedwithhimselfatnightfall,whentheKing’sfiregraduallydiedoutfartherandfarthernorth,givingrisetothesaddestsurmises。
Ziethen’sGenerals,SaldernandtheLeuthenMollendorf,arefullofgloomyimpatience,urgentonhimtotrysomething。"Pushwestward,nearertheKing?Somestrokeattheenemyontheirsouthorsouthwesternside,wherewehavenotmolestedthemallday?
NogettingacrosstheRohrgrabenonthem,saysyourExcellenz?
SiptitzVillage,andtheirBatterythere,isonoursideoftheRohrgraben:——UMGOTTESWILLEN,something,HerrGeneral!"
Ziethendoesfinallyassent:drawsleftward,westward;
unbucklesSaldern’speopleuponSiptitz;whogolikesharphoundsfromtheslip;fastenonSiptitzandtheAustriansthere,withawill;wrenchtheseout,forcethemtoabandontheirBattery,andtosetSiptitzonfire,whiletheyrunoutofit。Comfortablebitofsuccess,sofar,——werenotSiptitzburning,sothatwecannotgetthrough。"Through,no:andwerewethrough,isnottheretheRohrgraben?"thinksZiethen,notseeinghisway。
Howluckythat,atthismoment,Mollendorfcomesin,withadiscoverytowestward;discoveryofouroldfriend"theButter—
Street,"——itisnothingmore,——whereZiethenshouldhavemarchedthismorning:therewouldhehavefoundasolidroadacrosstheRohrgraben,freepassagebyabridgebetweentwobitsofponds,attheSCHAFEREI(Sheep—Farm)ofSiptitzyonder。"Therestill,"
reportsMollendorf,"thesolidroadis;unbesethitherto,exceptbymeMollendorf!"Thitherwardalldonowhasten,Austrians,Prussians:butthePrussiansarebeforehand;MollendorfismasterofthePass,deployinghimselfontheothersideofit,andZiethenandeverybodyhasteningthroughtosupporthimthere,andtheAustriansmakingfiercefightinvain。ThesoundofwhichhasreachedHulsen,andsetLestwitzandhiminmotionthither。
Forthethingisvital,ifweknewit。CloseaheadofMollendorf,whenheisthroughthisPass,closeonMollendorf’sleft,ashewheelsroundontheattackingAustrians,isthesouthwestcornerofSiptitzHeight。Southwestcorner,highestpointofit;summitandkeyofallthatBattlearea;rulesitall,ifyougetcannonthither。Ithangssteepishonthesouthernside,overtheRohrgraben,wherethisMollendorf—Austrianfightbegins;butitisbeautifullyaccessible,ifyoubearroundtothewestside,——afinesaddle—shapedbitofcleargroundthere,inshapeliketheoutsideorseatofasaddle;DomitschWoodthecrupperpart;summitofthisHeightthepommel,onlynothinglikesosteep:——itishere(onthosouthernsaddle—flap,sotospeak),graduallymountingwestwardtothecrupper—and—pommelpart,thattheagonynowis。
Andhere,inutterdarkness,illuminatedonlybythemusketryandcannonblazes,thereensuedtwohoursofstiffwrestlinginitskind:notthefiercestspasmofall,butthefinalwhichdecidedall。Lestwitz,Hulsen,comesweepingon,ledbythesoundandthefire;"beatingthePrussianmarch,they,"sharplyonalltheirdrums,——Prussianmarch,rat—tat—tan,sharplythroughthegloomofChaosinthatmanner;andjointhemselves,withnomistakemade,toMollendorf’s,toZiethen’sleftandthesaddle—flapthere,andfallon。Thenightispitch—dark,saysArchenholtz;youcannotseeyourhandbeforeyou。OldHulsen’sbridle—horseswereallshotaway,whenheheardthisalarm,faroff:nohorseleft;andheisold,andhashisownbruises。Heseatedhimselfonacannon;andsorides,andarrives;rightwelcomethesightofhim,doubtnot!
Andthefightragesstillforanhourormore。
ToanobservantMollendorf,watchingaboutallday,theimportanceandall—importanceofSiptitzSummit,ifitcanbegot,isprobablyknown;toDaunitisalarminglywellknown,whenhehearsofit。
DauniszealouslyurgentonLacy,onO’Donnell;whodotrywhattheycan;sendreinforcements,andthelike;butnothingthatprovesuseful。O’Donnellisnotthemanforsuchacrisis:
Lacy,too,itisremarked,hasalwaysbeenmoreexpertinduckingoutofFriedrich’swaythaninfightinganybody。[Archenholtz’ssourremark。]Infine,suchisthetotaldarkness,thedifficulty,theuncertainty,mostorallofthereinforcementssenthaltedshort,inthebellyoftheNight,uncertainwhere;andtheirpoorfriendsgotaltogetherbeatenanddrivenaway。