RussianmainArmycleangone;alreadygottoJauer,aswehear;andBeckwithaDivisiontoseethemsafeacrosstheOder;——onlyCzernichefand20,000beingleft,asaCorpsofLoudon’s。Who,withallAustrians,arequietintheirHeightsofKunzendorfagain。
Andthus,onthetwentiethmorning,September10th,thisstrangeBusinessterminated。Shotofthosebatteriesisdrawnagain;
powderofthoseminesliftedoutagain:nofiringofyourheavyArtilleryatall,norevenofyourlight,aftersuchelaboratechargingandshovingofithitherandthitherforthelastthreeweeks。ThePrussiansceasetheirbivouacking,nightlystrikingoftents;andencamphenceforthinamerelyhumanmanner;their"SpanishRiders"(FRISIANHorse,CHEVAUX—DE—FRISE,othersofuscallthem),theirStorm—palesandelaboratewoodenEngineerings,theygraduallyburnasfuelinthecoldnights;findingLoudonabsolutelyquiescent,andthatthethingisover,forthepresent。
Onehugeperilhandsomelystavedaway,thoughsomanyothersimpend。
BywayofacceleratingButturlin,Friedrich,nextday,September11th,despatchedGeneralPlatenwithsome8,000(soIwillguessthemfromTempelhof’senumerationbybattalions),togetroundtheflankofButturlin,andburnhisMagazines。Platen,avaliantskilfulperson,didthisbusiness,ashewasapttodo,inashiningstyle;shotdexterouslyforwardbytheskirtsofButturlin;
heardofabigWAGENBURGorTravellingMagazineofhis,atGostynoverthePolishFrontier;infact,histravellingbread—basket,arrangedas"Wagon—fortress"inandroundsomeConventthere,withtrenches,brickwalls,cannonanddefenceconsideredstrongenoughforsoimportantanecessaryoftheroad。September15th,Platen,beforecock—crow,burstoutsuddenlyonthisWagon—fortress,withitscannons,trenches,brickwallsanddefensiveRussians;
stormedintoitwithextraordinaryfury:"Fixedbayonets,"orderedheatthemainpointoftheirdefence,"notashottilltheyaretumbledout!"——tumbledthemoutaccordingly,intoflightandruin;
tookofprisoners1,845,sevencannon,andburntthe5,000
provenderwagons,whichwasthesouloftheadventure;anddirectlygotupontheroadagain。[Tempelhof,v。281—293;
Helden—Geschichte,vi。643—649。]DetachmentsofhimthenfellonPosen,onPosenandothersmallRussianrepositoriesinthoseparts,——hay—magazines,biscuit—storessoldiers’uniforms;
distributedorburntthesame;——completelydestroyingthetravellinghaversackorgeneralroad—bagofButturlin;aButturlinthatwillhavetohastenforwardorstarve。
Whichdone,Platen(notwaitingtheKing’sneworders,butanticipatingthem,totheKing’sgreatcontentment)marchedinstantly,withhisbestspeedandskilfulestcontrivanceofroutesandmethods,notbacktotheKing,butonwardtowardsColberg,——
(whichheknows,asreadersshallanon,tobemuchinneedofhimatpresent);——andwithoutinjury,thoughbegirtallthewaybyahurricaneofCossacksandlightpeopledoingtheirutmostuponhim,arrivedthereSeptember25th;victoriouslycuttinginacrosstheBesiegingParty:andwillagainbevisibleenoughwhenwearrivethere。IndignantButturlinchasedviolently,eagertopunishPlaten;butcouldgetnohold:foundPlatenwasclearoff,toPommern,——onwhaterrandButturlinknewwell,ifnotsowellwhattodoinconsequence。"ReinforceourpoorBesiegersthere,andagainreinforce[toenormousamounts,40,000ofthemintheend];——
getbreadfromthemwithal:——and,beforelong,flowbodilythitherward,forbreadtoourselvesandfortheirpoorsake!"
That,onthewhole,waswhatButturlindid。
FriedrichstayedatBunzelwitzaboveafortnightafterButturlin。
"WhydidnotFriedrichstayaltogether,andwaithere?"saidsome,triumphantlysoonafter。Thatwasnotwellpossible。
HisSchweidnitzMagazineiswornlow;notaboveamonth’sprovisionnowleftforsomanyofus。Therateofsickness,too,getsheavierandheavierinthisBunzelwitzCircuit。Infine,itisgreatlydesirablethatLoudon,whohasnothingbutBohemiaforoutlook,shouldbegottostartthitherassoonaspossible,andbequickenedhomeward。September25th—26th,Friedrichwillbeunderwayagain。
And,inthemeanwhile,maynotweemploythisfortnightofquiescenceinnotingcertainotherthingsofinteresttohimanduswhichhaveoccurred,orareoccurring,inotherpartsoftheFieldofWar?OfHenriinSaxonyweundertooktosaynothing;andindeedhitherto,——bigDaunwithhisLacysandReichsfolk,lyingsoquiescent,tetheredbyconsiderations(Dauncontinuallydetaching,watching,forsupportofhisLoudonandRussiansandtheirthrice—
importantoperation,whichhasjusthadsuchafinish),——therecouldalmostnothingbesaid。Nothinghitherto,orevenhenceforth,asitproves,exceptmutualvigilances,multifariousbickerings,manoeuvrings,affairsofposts:sharpbitsofcutting(Seidlitz,GreenKleistandothersharppeoplethere);whichmustnotdetainusinsuchspeed。Buttherearetwopoints,theBritannic—FrenchCampaign,andtheThirdSiegeofColberg;whichinnorateofspeedcouldbequiteomitted。
OFFERDINAND’SBATTLEOFVELLINGHAUSEN(15th—16thJuly);
ANDTHECAMPAIGN1761。
VellinghausenisapoorlittlemooryHamletinPaderbornCountry,nearthesouthorleftbankoftheLippeRiver;liestothenorthofSoest,——some15milestoyourleft—handthere,asyougobyrailfromAachentoPaderborn;——butnobodynowhaseverheardofitatSoestorelsewhere,famousasitoncebecameahundredyearsago。
Ferdinandhadtakenasingularpositionthere,intheearlydaysofJuly,1761。HereisbriefNoticeofthatAffair,andofsomeresults,oradjuncts,stillmoreimportant,whichithad:——
"ThisYear,Ferdinand’sCampaignismoredifficultthanever;
ChoiseulhavingmadeaquitespasmodicefforttowardsHanover,whilenegotiatingforPeace。TwoArmies,countingtogether160,000
men,ingreatcompletenessofequipment,Choiseulhasgotonfoot,againstFerdinand’sof95,000。Hadafinedashingplan,too;——
devisedbyhimself(somethingofaSoldierhetoo,andfullofwhatthemess—roomscall’dash’);——notsobadaPlanofthedashingkind,sayjudges。Butitwasmarredsadlyinonepoint:
ThatBroglio,onissuingfromhisHessianWinter—quarters,isnottobesoleGeneral;thatSoubise,fromtheLower—RhineCountry,istobeCo—General;——suchtheinexorablewillofPompadour。
ThisclauseofthebusinessFerdinand,atanearlystage,appearstohaveguessedordiscernedmight,forhim,bethesavingclause。
"Now,asformerly,Ferdinand’sfirstgrandbusinessistoguardLippstadt,——guarditnowfromthesetwoGenerals:——and,singulartosee,insteadofopposingthejunctionofthem,hehassubmittedcheerfullytoletthemjoin。Andinthecourseofaweekortwoaftertakingthefield,isfoundtobeonthewesternoroutmostflankofSoubise,crushinghimuptowardsBroglio,nototherwise!
Andhas,partlybyaccident,takenapositionatVellinghausenwhichinfinitelypuzzlesBroglioandSoubise,whentheyrushintojunctionatSoest(July6th))andstudythething,withtheirowneyes,foreightwholedays,inconcert。’Whatcontinualreconnoitring,gallopingaboutofhigh—plumedgentlementogetherorapart;whatMEMOIR—ing,mutualconsulting,beatingofbrains,tolittlepurpose,duringthoseeightdays!——
"Ferdinandstandsinmoorydifficultground,lengthofhimabouteightmiles,lookingeastward;withhisleftatVellinghausenandtheLippe;centreofhimisastrideoftheAhse(centrepartly,andrightwingwholly,areonthesouthsideofAhse),whichisabranchofLippe;andinfront,hehasvariouslittleHamlets,Kirch—Denkern[KIRCH—Denkern,fortherearethreeorfourotherDenkernsthereabouts],Scheidingen,Wambelnandothers;andhisrightwingiscoveredfartherbyaquaggybrook,whichrunsintotheabove—saidAhse,andisaSUB—branchofLippe。AtmostoftheseVillagesFerdinandhasthrownupsomethingofearthworks:therearebogs,roughplaces,woods;allareturnedtoadvantage。
Ferdinandisinastrongish,butyetadangerousposition;andwillgivedifficulties,anddoesgiveendlessdubieties,tothesehigh—
plumedgentlemengallopingaboutwiththeirspy—glassesforeightdays。Onepossibilitytheyprettysoondiscerninhim:HisleftflankrestsonLippe,yes;buthisrightflankisintheair,hasnothingtoreston;——heresurelyissomepossibilityforus?
AstrongPosition,thatofhis;butifdrivenoutofitbyanymethod,hehasnoretreat;istumbledbackintotheANGLEwhereAhseandLippemeet,andintothelittleTownofHammthere,wherehisMagazineis。Whatafateforhim,ifwesucceed!——
"Ferdinand,bytheincessantreconnoitringandothersymptoms,judgeswhatiscoming;concludeshewillbeattackedinthispostureofhis;andonthewhole,whatcriticsnowreckonverywiseandverycourageousofhim,determinestostandhischanceinit。
TheconsultationsofBroglioandSoubiseareathinguniquetolookupon;spreadovervolumesofOfficialRecord,andaboutavolumeandahalfevenofBOURCET,whereitisstillalmostamusingtoread;[MemoiresHistoriques(thatistosay,formostpart,SelectionofOfficialPapers)surlaGuerrequelesFrancaisontsoutenueenAllemagnedepuis1757jusqu’au1762:parM。deBourcet,Lieutenant—GeneraldesArmeesduRoi(3tomes,Paris,1792);——worthilydone;butoccupied,two—thirdsofit,withthisVellinghausenandthepaltry"Campaignof1761"!]andendinginhelplessdownbreakonbothparts。
Ofstrategicfacultynobodysupposestheyhadmuch,andnearlyallofitisinBroglio;SoubisebeingstronginCourt—favoronly。
Exquisitelypolitetheybothstrivetobe;andundertheexquisitepoliteness,whatinfirmitiesoftemper,spleneticsuspicions,andinfactmutualhatredlayhidden,couldneverbeaccuratelyknown。
’Attackhim,Sundaynext;onthe13th!’so,atthelonglast,bothofthemhadsaid。Andthen,onmorereflection,Broglioafterwards:
’Ornottillthe15th,M。lePrince;tillIreconnoitreyetagain,anddriveinhisoutposts?’’M。leMarechal’swillisalwaysmine:
Tuesday,15th,reconnoitrehim,drivehimin;beitso,then!’
answersSoubise,withextremepoliteness,——butthinkinginhisownmind(orthoughttobethinking),’Wantstodoithimself,ortogetthecreditofdoingit,asinformercases;andbringmeintodisgrace!’Notquiteaninsanenotioneither,onSoubise’spart,saysomewhohavelookedintotheBroglio—SoubiseControversy;——
whichfarbeitfromanyofus,atthisoratanytime,todo。
Herearethefactsthatensued。
"TUESDAY,JULY15th,1761,Broglioreconnoitredwithintensityallday,droveinallFerdinand’soutposts;andaboutsixintheevening,seeinghopeofsurprise,orspurredbysomenotionofdoingthefeatbyhimself,suddenlyburstintoonslaughtonFerdinand’sPosition:’Vellinghausenyonder,andthewoodystrengthsabout,——couldnotwegetholdofthat;itwouldbesoconvenientto—morrowmorning!’GranbyandtheEnglishareincampaboutVellinghausen;andaretakenquiteonthesudden:buttheydrewoutrapidly,inastateofbottledindignation,andfought,allofthem,——Pembroke’sBrigadeofHorse,Cavendish’sofFoot,BERG—SCHOTTEN,Maxwell’sBrigadeandtheothers,inahighlysatisfactoryway,——’MITUNBESCHREIBLICHERTAPFERKEIT,’saysMauvillononthisoccasionagain。Brogliotrulyhasburstoutintoenormouscannonade,musketadeandcavalry—work,inthispart;
andstrugglesatit,almostfourhours,——afurious,andespeciallyaverynoisybusiness,charging,rechargingthroughthewoodsthere;——but,metinthismanner,findshecanmakenothingofit;
andabout10atnight,leavesofftillanewmorning。
"Nextmorning,about4,Broglio,havingdiligentlywarnedSoubiseovernight,recommenced;againveryfiercely,andwithloudcannonading;butwithresultworsethanbefore。
Ferdinandovernight,whileBrogliowaswarningSoubise,hadconsiderablystrengthenedhisleftwinghere,——bydetachmentsfromtherightorAnti—Soubisewing;judging,withgoodforesight,howSoubisewouldact。Andaccordingly,whilepoorBrogliokeptstormingforwardwithhisbestability,andgotalwayshurledbackagain,Soubisetookmatterseasy;’hadunderstoodthehourofattacktobe’so—and—so,’hadunderstood’thisandthat;andonthewhole,exceptsummoningorthreatening,inthemostlanguidway,oneoutlyingredoubt(’redoubtofScheidingen’)onFerdinand’srightwing,didnothing,ornexttonothing,forbehoofofhisBroglio。Who,hourafterhour,findshimselfeverworsebested;——
thoseGranbypeopleproving’indescribable’oncemore[theirWutgenaualsowithhisHanoveriansNOTbeingabsent,astheyratherwerelastnight];——andabout10inthemorninggivesupthebadjob;andsetsaboutretiring。Ifretiringbenowpermissible;
whichitisnotaltogether。Ferdinand,watchingintentlythroughhisglassthenowsilentBroglio,discerns’SomeconfusionintheMarechalyonder!’——andordersageneralchargeoftheleftwinguponBroglio;whichconsiderablyquickenedhisretreat;andbrokeitintoflight,anddistressfulwreckandcapture,insomeparts,——
RegimentROUGE,foroneitem,fallingwholly,men,cannon,flagsandfurniture,tothatMaxwellandhisBrigade。
"Ferdinandlost,bytheindistinctaccounts,’from1,500to2,000:’
Broglio’slosswas’above5,000;2,000ofthemprisoners。’
Soubise,forhisshare,’hadofkilled24,’——OyoulaggardofaSoubise![Mauvillon,ii。171—189;Tempelhof,v。207—221;
Bourcet,ii。75etseq。InHelden—Geschichte
(vi。770—782—792)theFrenchAccount,andtheEnglish(orAllied),withLISTS,andthelike。SlightLETTERfromSirRobertMurrayKeithtohisExcellencyPapa,nowatPetersburg,"Excellencyfirst,"asweusedtodefinehim,standsinthemiserablyeditedMemoirsandCorrespondence(London,1849),i。104—105;andmaytemptyoutoareading;butaltersnothing,addslittleornothing。SirR。fightshereasaColonelofHighlanders,butafterwardsbecame"Excellencysecond"ofhisname。]AnditisaBattlelosttoChoiseul’sgrandPairofArmies;
aCampaigncheckedinmidvolley;andnothingbutrecriminations,courts—martial,shriekyjargonings,——andplainincompatibilitybetweenthetwoMarechauxdeFrance;sothattheyhadtopartcompany,andgoeachhisownroadhenceforth。Choiseulremonstrateswiththem,urges,eucourages;writesthe’admirablestDespatches;’
tonopurpose。’Howridiculousandhumiliatingwoulditbeforus,if,withTwoArmiesofsuchstrength,weaccomplishednothing,andthewholeCampaignwerelost!’writesheoncetothem。
"Whichwasinfacttheresultarrivedat;thetwoGeneralspartingcompanyforthisCampaign(andindeedforallothers);andeach,inhisownway,provingfutile。Soubise,withsome30,000,wentgasconadingabout,intheWestphalian,orextremewesternparts;
takingEmbden(fromtwoCompaniesofChelseaPensioners;towhomhebrokehisword,pooroldsouls;——towhom,andmuchmoretothePopulationsthere[LETTERFROMAFRENCHPROTESTANTGENTLEMANAT
GRONINGEN;followedbyconfirmatoryLETTERFROM&c。&c。(copiedintoGentleman’sMagazinefor1761),givespecialdetailsofthealtogetherULTRA—SoltikofatrocitiesperpetratedbySoubise’speople(doubtlessagainsthiswill)ontherecalcitrantordisaffectedPeasants,onthe&c。&c。]),——takingEmbden,nottakingBremen;andinfactdoingnothing,exceptkeeptheGazetteersinvainnoise:aSoubisenotinforce,byhimself,toshakeFerdinand;andwho,itisremarked,nowandformerly,alwayspreferstobeatagooddistancefromthatGentleman。
Broglio,ontheotherhand,keepsviolentlypulsingout,roundFerdinand’sflanks;takingWolfenbuttel(Broglio’sfortwodays),besiegingBrunswick(foroneday);—and,inshort,leaving,hetoo,thematterashehadfoundit。Amanofdifficult,litigioustemper,Ishouldjudge;butclearlyhassomethingofgeneralship:
’doesunderstandtactic,ifstrategyNOT,’saideverybody;
’whileSoubise,inbothcapacities,isplainzero!’[ExcellencyStanley(seeINFRA)toPitt,"Paris,30thJuly,1761:"inTHACKERAY,ii。561—562。]Theend,however,was:nextWinter,Brogliogotdismissed,infavorofSoubise;——restfromshriekyjargonhavingitsvaluetosomeofus;and’holdofHanover’beingnowplainlyamatterhopelesstoFranceandus。"
InthisBattleafineyoungPrinceofBrunswickgotkilled;
Erbprinz’ssecondBrother;——leadingonaRegimentofBERG—SCHOTTEN,saytheaccounts。["TheLifeofPrinceAlbertHenry[hadlivedonly19years,pooryouth,notmuchofa"Life"!—buttheaccountofhisEducationisworthreading,fromarespectableEye—witness]ofBrunswick—Luneburg,BrothertotheHereditaryPrince;whosoeminently&c。atFellinghausen&c。&c。(London,Printedfor&c。1763)。WrittenoriginallyinGermanbytheRev。Mr。Hierusalem"
(Fatherofthe"YoungJerusalem"whokilledhimselfafterwards,andbecame,inasense,Goethe’sWERTHERandSORROWS)。Price,probably,Twopence)。]Berg—Schotten,andEnglishgenerally,Pembroke’sHorse,Cavendish’sBrigade,——wehavementionedtheirbehavior;andhowMaxwell’sBrigadetookonewholeregimentprisoners,inthatfinalchargeonBroglio。"Whataglorioussetoffellows!"saidtheEnglishpeopleovertheirbeerathome。Beerletusfancyit;
atthesignofTHEMARQUISOFGRANBY,whichisnoweverywhereprevalentandsplendent;——thebeer,wewillhope,good。Andasthisisathingstillsaid,bothoverbeerandhigherliquors,andperhapsisliabletobetoomuchinsistedon,Iwillgive,fromacaudidBy—stander,whoknowsthematterwell,whatprobablyisamoresolidandcircumstantiallycorrectopinion。SpeakingofFerdinand’sskillofmanagement,andofhowverycompositeakindhisArmywas,MajorMauvillonhasthesewords:——
"Thefirstinrank,"ofFerdinand’sForce,"weretheEnglish;
aboutafourthpartofthewholeArmy。Bravertroops,whenonthefieldofbattleandunderarmsagainsttheenemy,youwillnowherefindintheworld:thatisatruth;——andwiththatthesumoftheirmilitarymeritsends。Inthefirstplace,theirInfantryconsistsofsuchanunselectedhand—over—headmiscellanyofpeople,thatitishighlydifficulttopreserveamongthemevenashadowofgooddiscipline,"——ofMANNSZUCHT,inregardtoplunder,drinkingandthelike;doesnotmeanKRIEGSZUCHT,ordrill。"TheirCavalryindeedisnotsoconstituted;butafoolishlovefortheirhorsesmakesthemastonishinglyplunderousofforage;andthustheyexhaustadistrictfarfasterinthatrespectthandotheGermans。
"Officers’Commissionsamongthemareallhadbypurchase:
fromwhichitfollowsthattheirOfficersdonottroubletheirheadsabouttheservice;andunderstandofit,veryVERYfewexcepted,absolutelynothingwhatever[whatacharmingsetof"Officers"!]——andthisgoesfromtheEnsignuptotheGeneral。
Theirhome—customsinclinethemtotheindulgencesoflife;
and,nearlywithoutexception,theyallexpecttohaveampleandcomfortablemeansofsleep。[Hear,hear!]Thisleadsthemoftenintomilitarynegligences,whichwouldsoundincredible,weretheynarratedtoasoldier。Toallthisisaddedaquietnaturalarrogance(UEBERMUTH),"——veryquiet,mostlyunconscious,andasifinbornandcomingbydiscernmentofmerefacts,——"whichtemptsthemtodespisetheenemyaswellasthedanger;andastheyveryseldomthinkofmakinganysurprisalthemselves,theygenerallytakeitforgrantedthattheenemywillaslittle。
"Thisarrogance,however,hadfurthermoreaverybadconsequencefortheirrelationtotherestoftheArmy。ItiswellknownhowmuchthesepeopledespiseallForeigners。Thisofitselfrenderstheirco—operatingwithTroopsofotherNationsverydifficult。
Butinthiscasetherewasthecircumstancethat,astheArmywasinEnglishpay,theyfeltastrongtendencytoregardtheirfellow—
soldiersandcopartnersasasortofsubordinatewar—valets,whomustbereadytoputupwithanything:——whichwasfarindeedfrombeingtheopinionoftheothersconcerned!Theothershadnotthesmallestnotionofconsentingtoanykindofinferiortreatmentorconsiderationinrespectofthem。TotheHanoveriansespecially,fromknownpoliticalfeelings,theywereatheart,formostpart,speciallyindisposed;andthismodeofthinkingwascapableofleadingtoverydangerousoutbreaks。TheHanoverians,adullsteadypeople,braveasneedbe,buttooslowforanythingbutfootservice,consideredsilentlythisWartobetheirWar,andthatalltherest,Englishaswell,werehereontheir[andBritannicMajesty’s]account。
"ThinkwhatdifficultiesFerdinand’swere,andwhathismeritinquietlysubduingthem;whiletothecursoryobservertheywereinvisible,andnobodynoticedthembuthimself!"[Mauvillon,ii。
270—272。]
Yes,doubtless。Heneededtoknowhiskindsofmen;toregardintenselythechemicaffinitiesandnaturalproperties,tokeephisphosphorescentshisnitresandcharcoalswellapart;togetoutoftheseEnglishwhattheywerecapableofgivinghim,namely,heavystrokes,——andneveraskthemforwhattheyhadnot:themortheothers;buttreateachaccordingtohiskind。Just,candid,consummatelypolite:anexcellentmanagerofmen,aswellasofwar—movements,thoughVoltairefoundhimshockinglydefectiveinESPRIT。TheEnglish,Ithink,hegenerallyquarteredbythemselves;
employedthemoftenestundertheHereditaryPrince,——amanofswiftexecutionandpronetostrokeslikethemselves。"OftenestundertheErbprinz,"saysMauvillon:"till,aftertheFightofKlosterKampen,itbegantobenoticedthattherewasachangeinthatrespect;andthemess—roomswhispered,’Byaccidentornot?’"——
whichshallremainmysterioustome。InBattleafterBattlehegotthemostunexceptionablesabringandchargingfromLordGranbyandthedifficultEnglishelement;andneverwastheleastdiscordheardinhisCamp;——norcouldevenSackvilleatMindentempthimintoaloudword。
ButenoughofEnglishsoldiering,andbattlingwiththeFrench。
ForabouttwomonthspriortothisofVellinghausen,andformorethantwomonthsafter,thereisgoingon,byspecialEnvoysbetweenPittandChoiseul,alivelyPeace—Negotiation,whichisofmoreconcernmenttousthananyBattle。"CongressatAugsburg"splituponformalities,preliminaries,andnevereventriedtomeet:
butFranceandEnglandareactuallybusy。EachCountryhassentitsEnvoy:theSieurdeBussy,atrickygentleman,knownhereofold,isChoiseul’s,whomPittisonhisguardagainst;"Mr。HansStanley,"alively,clear—sightedperson,ofwhomIcouldneverhearelsewhere,isPitt’satParis:anditisinthatCitybetweenChoiseulandStanley,withPittwarilyandloftilypresidinginthedistance,thatthemainstressoftheNegotiationlies。Pittislofty,haughty,butveryfineandnoble;noKingorKaisercouldbemore。Sincere,severe,thoughmostsoft—shining;high,earnest,steady,likethestars。ArtfulChoiseul,again,flashesoutinacheerilyexuberantway;andStanley’sDespatchesaboutChoiseul("CEFOUPLEIND’ESPRIT,"asFriedrichoncechristenshim),aboutChoiseulandtheFrancethenroundhim,andtheeffectsofVellinghauseninsocietyandthelike,——aretheliveliestreadingonealmostanywheremeetswithinthatkind。[InTHACKERAY,i。
505—579,andespeciallyii。520—626,istheStanley—and—PittCorrespondence:Stanleywent"23dMay;"returned(gothispassportsforreturning)"September20th。"]Choiseulfranklyadmitsthathehascometotheworst:readyforconcessions,butthequestionis,What?Canadaisgone,forinstance;ofCanadayouwillallowusnothing:butourpoorFisher—people,toilingintheNewfoundlandwaters,cannottheyhavearocktodrytheirfishon;"IsleofMiquelon,orthelike?""Notthebreadthofablanket,"——thatisPitt’sprivateexpression,Ibelieve;andforcertain,that,inpoliteofficiallanguage,ishisinexorabledetermination。
"YoushallgohomeoutofthoseCountries,Messieurs;AmericaistobeEnglishorYANkee,notFRANGcee:thathasturnedouttobetheDecreeofHeaven;andwewillstandbythat。"
SothatChoiseulsoonsatisfieshimselfitwillbeahardbargain,thiswithPitt;andturnsthemoreassiduouslytotheMajestyofSpain(BabyCarlos,ouroldfriend,whohassoregrudgesofhisownagainsttheEnglish,standinggrievanceofCampeachyLogwood,ofbitterNaplesreminiscences,andenoughelse),turnstoBabyCarlos,timeaftertime,withhispathetic"See,yourMostCatholicMajesty!"AndbyrapiddegreesinducesMostCatholicMajestytogowhollyintotheadventurewithMostChristianDitto;——andtosay,atlength,ortoletChoiseulsayforhim,bywayofcautiousfirst—step(15thJuly,adateworthremembering,ifthereaderplease):"MightnotMostCatholicMajestybeallowedperhapstomediatealittleinthisBusiness?""MostCatholicMajesty!"
answersPitt,withaflashasiffromtheempyrean:"WhosentforMostCatholicMajesty?"——andthemattercatchesfire,totallyexplodes,andSpaintoodeclaresWar;inwhatwayisgenerallyknown。
Detailsarenotpermittedus。TheCatastropheweshallgiveafterwards,andcanheresayonly:FIRST,ThatoldEarlMarischal,Friedrich’sSpanishEnvoy,isagooddealinEngland,comingandgoing,atthistime,——onthatinterestingbusinessoftheKintoreInheritance,doubtless,——andhasbeenbeautifullytreated。
Beenpardoned,disattainted,permittedtoinherit,——bytheKingontheinstant,bytheParliamentsosoonaspossible;[King’sPatentisof"30thApril,1760[DATED29thMay,1759],ActofParliamenttofollowshortly;""August16th,1760,Acthavingpassed,isMarischal’spublicPresentationtohisMajesty(lateMajesty);"
OldGAZETTESinGentleman’sMagazine(for1760),xxx。201,392。]——andisofanaturallygratefulturn。
SECONDLY,Thatintheprofoundestsecrecy,penetrableonlytoeyesnearathandandthatseeinthedark,acelebratedBourbonFamilyCompactwassigned(August15th,1761,tendaysbeforethediggingatBunzelwitzbegan),ofwhichthefirstnewstotheOlympianman(conveyedbyMarischal,asisthought)waslike——likenewsofdeadPythonspretendingtoreviveuponhim。AndTHIRDLY,That,postponingtheCatastrophe,andrecommendingtheabovetwodates,15thJULY,15thAUGUST,tocarefulreaders,wemusthastentoColbergforthepresent。
THIRDSIEGEOFCOLBERG。
Readershad,somewhileago,aflyingNote,whichwepromisedtotakeupagain;aboutTottleben’sprocedures,andaThirdSiegeofColbergcoming。Siege,wehavechancedtosee,thereaccordinglyis,andaPlatengonetohelpagainstit。Siege,afterinfinitedelaysandhaggles,hasatlengthcome,——uncommonlyvividduringthefinaldaysofBunzelwitz;——andis,andhasbeen,andcontinuestobe,muchintheKing’sthoughts。Probablyamatterofmoreconcernmenttohim,before,duringandafterBunzelwitz(thoughthePittCatastrophe,goingonsimultaneously,isstillmoreimportant,ifheknewit),thananythingelsebefallinginthedistance。
Letusnowgiveafewfartherindicationsonthatmatter。
TrucebetweenWernerandTottlebenexpiredMay12th;butforfiveweeksmorenothingpracticalfollowed;exceptdiligentreinforcing,revictuallingandextraordinaryfortifyingofColberganditsenvirons,onthePrussianpart,——EugenofWurtemberg,directfromRestockandhisAnti—Swedebusiness,Eugen12,000strong,withaWernerandothersuchamongthem,takingheadchargeoutsidethewalls;oldHeydeagainasCommandantwithin:whileontheRussianpart,underGeneralRomanzow,thereisamosttortoise—likeadvance,——exceptthatthetortoisecarriesallhisresourceswithhim,andRomanzow’s,multifariousandenormous,arescatteredoverseasandlands,andneedendlesswaitingfor,intheintervalsofcrawling。
ThisistheRomanzowwhofailedatColhergoncealready(ontheheelofZorndorfin1758,ifreadersrecollect);andisthemoreboundtobesuccessfulnow。Fromseaandfromland,forfiveweeks,thereisrumorofaRomanzowinoverwhelmingforce,andwithintentionsveryfuriousuponColberg,——upontheoutposts,underWerner,asfirstpoint。Fiveweekswent,beforeanythingofRomanzowwasvisibleeventoWerner(22dJune,atCoslin,fortymilestoeastward);afterwhichhisadvance(suchwaitingfortheships,fortheartilleries,thethisandthethat)wasslowerthanever;andforabouteightweeksmore,hehagglesalongthroughCoslin,throughCorlin,Belgardagain,flowingslowlyforwarduponWerner’soutposts,likeasummerglacierwithitsrubbishes;
orlikeaslowlava—tide,——agreatdealofsmokeoneachsideofhim(owingtotheCossacks),asusual。Romanzow’sprogressisoftheslowest;anditisnottillAugust19ththathepracticallygetspossessionofCorlin,BelgardandthoseoutpostsonthePersanteRiver,andcomeswithinsightofColbergandhisproblem。
Bywhichtime,hefindsEugenofWurtembergencampedandintrenchedstillaheadofhim,stillnearerColberg,andlikelytogivehimwhattheycall"DELATABLATURE,"orextremelydifficultmusictoplay。
"ItwasonAUGUST19th[veryeveofFriedrich’sgoingintoBunzelwitz]thatRomanzow,——Werner,forthesakeofthosepoorTownsheholds,generallyretiringwithoutbombardmentorutterconflagration,——hadgotholdofCorlinandoftheRiverPersante[with"QuetzinandDegow,"ifanybodyknewthem,ashismainpoststhere]:andwasactuallynowwithinsightofColberg,——only7or8
mileswestofhim,andarivermoreorlessinhisway:——when,singulartosee,EugenofWurtemberghasrootedhimselfintothegroundfartherinward,environingColbergwithafortifiedCampaswithasecondwall;anditwillbeadifficultproblemindeed!
"ButSeaArmaments,Swedish—Russian,withendlesssiege—materialandred—hotballs,arefinallyathand;andthispitifulColbergmustbedone,wereitonlybyfallingflat,onit,andsmotheringitbyweightofnumbersandofred—hotiron。Thedaybeforeyesterday,August17th,aftersuchrumoringandsuchmanoeuvringastherehasbeen,sixRussianships—of—warshowedthemselvesinColbergRoads,andthreeofthemtriedsomeshootingonHeyde’sworkpeople,busyataredoubtonthebeach;buthitnothing,andwentawaytillRomanzowhimselfshouldcome。Romanzowcome,thereisutmostdespatch;andwithintheeightdaysfollowing,theRussianships,andthentheSwedishaswell,haveallgottotheirmoorings,——12sailoftheline,with42moreofthefrigateandgunboatkind,54shipsinall;——andfromAugust24th,especiallyfromAugust28th,bombardmenttotheveryuttermostisgoingon。
[Tempelhof,v。311。]Bombardmentbyeverymethod,fromseaandfromland,continuesdiligentforthenextfortnight,——withlittleornoresult;sodiligentareEugenandveteranHeyde。
"SEPTEMBER4th。TheSwedish—RussiangunboatshavebeenmuchshotdownbyHeyde’sbatteriesonthebeach;nosuccesshad,owingtoHeydeandEugen:paltrylittleColbergasimpossibleasBunzelwitz,itseems?’Doubleourdiligence,therefore!’ThatisRomanzow’sandeverybody’ssentimenthere。Romanzowcomescloserin,September4th;besiegesinform,sincenotColberg,Eugen’sCAMP,orbrazenwallofColberg;andthererisesinandroundthispoorlittleColberg(a2,000ballsdaily,red—hotandother)suchavolcanoasattractstheeyesofalltheworldthither。
"SEPTEMBER12th。Newsyesterdayofreinforcement,menandprovender,comingfromStettin;istobeatTreptowonthe13th。
Werner,nightofthe11th,stealthilysetsouttomeetit,ITinthefirstplace;then,joinedwithit,totakebyrearwardacertaininconvenientbattery,whichRomanzowisbuildingtowestwardofus,outthatway;todemolishsaidbattery,andbegenerallydistressfultotherearofRomanzow。AtTreptow,afterhisdifficultnight’smarch,Wernerisresting,securenowoftheadventure;——toocontemptuousofhisslowRussians,asappeared!
Who,foronce,surpriseHIM;and,atandroundTreptow,nextmorning,Wernerfindshimselfsuddenlyinamostawkwardpredicament。Werner,oneoftherapidestandstormiestofskilfulmen,plungedvaliantlyintotheaffair;wouldstillhavemanagedit,theysay,hadnot,insomesuddenswoop,——charge,orsomethingofcriticalorvitalnature,——rapidWerner’shorsegotshot,andfallenwithhim;wherebynotonlythechargefailed,butWernerhimselfwastakenprisoner。Alossofverygreatimportance,andgrievoustoeverybody:though,Ibelieve,thereinforcementandsupply,forthistime,gotmostlythrough,andthedangerousbatterywasgotdemolishedbyothermeans。[Seyfarth,
Beylagen,iii。238;Tempelhof,v。314。]ThisisRomanzow’sfirstitemofsuccess,thisofgettingsuchaWernersnatchedoutofthegame[andsenttoPetersburginsteadasweshallhear];andotheritemsfelltoRomanzowthenceforthbytheaidoftimeandhunger。
"Inthewayofstorming,batteringorotherwisecapturingEugen’sCamp,nottospeakofHeyde’stown,Romanzowfinds,ontrialaftertrial,thathecandoasgoodasnothing;andhisunwieldysea—
comrades(equinoctialgalescomingonthem,too)areequallyworthless。September19th[aweekafterthisofWerner,tenthdayafterBunzelwitzhadended],Romanzowmadehisfiercestattemptthatway;fiercestandlast:furiousextremely,from2inthemorningonwards;hadforsometimeholdoftheimportant’GreenRedoubt;’butwasstillmorefuriouslybatteredandbayonetedoutagain,withthelossofabove3,000men;andtriedthatnofarther。
Impossiblebythatmethod。ButhecanstandbetweentheEugen—Heydepeopleandsupplies;andbyobstinacyhungerthemout:this,addedtothefruitlessbombardment,isnowhismoreorlessfruitfulindustry。
"IntheendofSeptember,theeffectsofBunzelwitzarefelt:
Platen,afterburningtheButturlinMagazineatGostyn,hashastenedhither;inwhatstyleweknow。Blatenarrives25thSeptember;cutshiswaythroughRomanzowintoEugen’sCamp,raisesEugentoabout15,000;[Tempelhof,v。350。]rendersEugen,nottospeakofHeyde,moreimpossiblethanever。Butturlindidtrulysendreinforcements,a10,000,a12,000,’Asmanyasyoulike,myRomanzow!’And,inthebeginningofOctober,camerollingthitherwardbodily;hoping,theysay,tomakeaMaxenofituponthoseEugensandPlatens:butafterafortnight’ssurveyofthem,foundtherewasnottheleastfeasibility;——andthathehimselfmustgohome,onthescoreofhunger。Whichhedid,November2d;
leavingRomanzowreinforcedatdiscretion[40,000,butwithhimtooprovisionsarefallenlow],andtheadvice,’Cutofftheirsupplies:timeandfamineareoursolechanceshere!’
Butturlin’snewRussians,endlessthousandsofthem,underFermorandothers,infestingtheroadsfromStettin,areagreatcomforttoRomanzow。NorcouldanyEugen——withhisPlatens,Thaddens,andutmostexpenditureofskillandofvalorandendurance,whicharestillmemorableinsoldier—annals,[TagebuchderUnternehmungendesPlatenschenCorpsvomSeptemberbisNovember1761(Seyfarth,Beylagen,iii。
32—76)。BerichtvonderUnternehmungendesThaddenschenCorpsvomJennerbiszumDecember1761(ibid。
77—147)。]——sufficetoconveyprovisionsthroughthatdisastrousWildernessofdistancesanddifficulties。
"FromStettin,whichliessouthwest,throughTreptowGollnowandotherwildlittlePrussianTownsisabout100miles;fromLandsbergsouth,150:Friedrichhimselfiswell—nigh300milesaway;
inStettinaloneissuccor,couldweholdtheinterveningCountry。
ButitisoverrunwithRussians,moreandevermore。ACountryofswampsandmoors,winterdarknessstealingoverit,——illuminatedbysuchavolcanoaswesee:averygloomywastescene;andtraitsofstubbornhumanvalorandmilitaryvirtueplentifulinitwithutterhardshipasaconstantquantity;detailsnotpermissiblehereonlythemainfeaturesandepochs,iftheycouldbeindicated。
"TheKingisgreatlyinterestedforColberg;sendsorderstocollectfromeveryquartersuppliesatStettin,andstraineverynerveforthereliefofthatimportantlittleHaven。WhichisdonebythediligentBevern,thecollectingpart;couldonlytheconveyingbeaccomplished。ButendlessRussiansareafield,Fermorwitha15,000ofthemwaylaying;theconveyanceisthedifficulty。"
[BerichtvondenUnternehmungenderWurtembergischenCorpsinPommern,vomMay1761bisDecember1761(Seyfarth,Beylagen,iii。147—258)。Tempelhof,v。
313—326。Helden—Geschichte,vi。669—708。]
ButnowwemustreturntoBunzelwitz,andSeptember25th,inHead—
quartersthere。
ChapterVIII。
LOUDONPOUNCESUPONSCHWEIDNITZONENIGHT(LASTOFSEPTEMBER,1761)。
ItwasSeptember25th,moreproperly26th,[Tempelhof,v。327。]
whenFriedrichquittedBunzelwitz;weheardonwhaterrand。
Earlythatmorninghemarcheswithallhisgoods,firsttoPilzen(thatfinepostontheeastsideofSchweidnitz);andfromthat,straightway,——southwestward,twomarchesfarther,——toNeisseneighborhood(Gross—Nossenthenameoftheplace);Loudonmakinglittledisputeornone。InNeisseareabundantMagazines:
livinguponthese,FriedrichintendstoalarmLoudon’srearwardcountry,anddrawhimtowardsBohemia。Asmusthavegraduallyfollowed;andwouldatonce,——hadLoudonbeengiventoalarms,whichhewasnot。Loudon,veryprivately,hasquitedifferentgameafield。LoudonmerelydetachesthisandtheothersmallCorpstolookafterFriedrich’soperations,whichprobablyhebelievestobeonlyafeint:——and,beforeaweekpasses,Friedrichwillhavenewshelittleexpects!
Friedrich,pausingatGross—Nossen,andperhapsalittlesurprisedtofindnoLoudonmeddlingwithhim,pushesout,firstonepartyandthenanother,——Dalwig,Bulow,towardsLandshutHill—Country,tothreatenLoudon’sBohemianroads;——who,singulartosay,donotheartheleastwordofLoudonthereabouts。ALoudonstrangelyindifferenttothisnewEnterpriseofours。OnthethirddayofGross—Nossen(Friday,October2d),FriedrichdetachesGeneralLentulustorearward,orthewaywecame,fornewsofLoudon。
Rearwardtoo,LentulusseesnothingwhateverofLoudon:but,fromtherumorofthecountry,andfromtwoPrussiangarrison—soldiers,whomhefoundwanderingabout,——hehears,withhorrorandamazement,ThatLoudon,byasuddenpanther—spring,thenightbeforelast,hasgotholdofSchweidnitz:nowhiswholly,since5A。M。ofyesterday;andastrongAustriangarrisoninitbythistime!ThatwasthenewsLentulusbroughthometohisKing;
thesorestJob’s—postofallthisWar。
Truly,asurprisingenterprisethisofLoudon’s;andisallowedbyeverybodytohavebeenadmirablymanaged。Loudonhashaditinhisheadforsometime;——eversincethatcolicofforty—eighthours,I
shouldguess;uponthewrecksofwhichitmightwellriseasanewdaystar。Hekeptitstrictlyinhisownhead;nobodybutDaunandtheKaiserhadhintofit,bothofwhomassented,andagreedtokeepsilence。
"OnFriedrich’sremovaltowardsNeisseandthreateningofBohemia,"
saysmyNoteonthissubject,"Loudon’stimehadcome。
Friedrichhaddisappearedtosouthwestward,Saturday,September26th:’GonetoPilzen,’reportedLoudon’sscouts;’reststhereoverSunday。GonetoSigeroth,28th;gonetoGross—Nossen,Tuesday,September29th。’[Tempelhof,v。330。]Thatwilldo,thinksLoudon;
whohassatimmovableatKunzendorfallthiswhile;——and,WEDNESDAY,30th,instantlyproceedstobusiness。
"Drawsout,about10A。M。ofWednesday,allroundSchweidnitzatsomemilesdistance,aring,orcompletegirdle,ofCroat—Cossackpeople;blockingupeverypathandroad:’Nobodytopass,thisday,towardsSchweidnitz,muchlessintoit,onanypretext。’ThatisthedutyoftheCroatpeople。ToanotheractiveOfficerheintruststhetaskofcollectingfromtheneighboringVillages(outsidetheCroatgirdle)asmanyladders,planksandthelike,aswillberequisite;whichalsoispunctuallydone。FortheAttackitself,whichistobeFourfold,ourpickedOfficersarechosen,withthe20bestBattalionsintheArmy:Czernichefisapprised;whowarmlyassents,andofferseveryhelp:——’800ofyourGrenadiers,’answersLoudon;’nomoreneeded。’Loudon’sarrangementsformanagementoftheladders,forpunctualityabouttheroutes,thetimes,thesimultaneity,arethoseofaperfectartist;noFriedrichcouldhavedonebetter。
"About4intheafternoon,alltheCaptainsandBattalions,withtheirladdersandfurnitures,everybodywithInstructionverypointedandcomplete,areassembledatKunzendorf:LoudonaddressestheTroopsinafewfierywords;assureshimselfofvictorybythem;promisesthem10,060poundsinlieuofplunder,whichhestrictlyprohibits。OfficershadbettermakethemselvesacquaintedwiththeFourRoutestheyaretotakeinthedark:properalsotosetallyourwatchesbythechiefGeneral’s,thattherebenomistakeastotime。[InTEMPELHOF(v。332—349)andARCHENHOLTZ
(ii。272—280)allthesedetails。]At9,allbeingnowdark,andtheCroatgirdlehavinggathereditselfcloserroundtheplacesincenightfall,theFourDivisionsmarchtotheirrespectivestarting—
places;willwaitthere,silent;andabout2inthemorning,eachatitsappointedminute,stepforwardontheirbusiness。Withfixedbayonetsallofthem;nomusketrypermittedtilltheworksarewon。
LoudonwillwaitattheVillageofSchonbrunn[notWARKOTSCH’S
Schonbrunn,ofwhichbyandby,andwhichalsoisnotfar[SeeARCHENHOLTZ,ii。287;andcorrecthismistakeofthetwoplaces。]]
——atSchonbrunn,withinshortdistance;giveLoudonnoticewhenyouarewithin600yards;——thereshall,ifdesirable,bereinforcements,fartherorders。LoudonknowsSchweidnitzlikehisownbedroom。Hewaspersonallythere,inLeuthentime,improvingtheWorks。BynocturnalCroatparties,inthelatterpartofBunzelwitztime;andsincethen,bydesertersandotherwise,——heknowstheconditionoftheGarrison,oftheCommandant,andofeveryessentialpoint。HascalculatedthattheGarrisonishardlythirdpartofwhatitoughttobe,——3,800inwhole,andmanyofthemloosedeserterfellows;specialartillery—men,insteadofabout400,only191;——mostimportantofall,thatCommandantZastrowisnowizardinhistrade;and,onthewhole,thattheEnterpriseislikelytosucceed。
"Zastrowhasbeengettingmarriedlately;andhasmanythingstothinkof,besidesSchweidnitz。Someaccountssaythiswashiswedding—night,——whichisnottrue,butonlythathehadmeanttogiveaBallthislastnightofSeptember;andperhapsdidgiveit,dancingoverBEFORE2,letushope!Somethingofajolter—headseemingly,thoughsolidandhonest。Iobserveheisakindofbutt,orlaughing—stock,ofFriedrich’s,andhasyieldedsomegleamsofmomentaryfun,heandthismarriageofhis,betweenPrinceHenriandtheKing,inthetragicgloomallround。[Schoning,ii。
SOEPIUS。]NothingsosurprisesmeinFriedrichashishabitualinattentiontothestateofhisGarrisons。HehasthebestofCommandantsandalsotheworst:TauentzieninBreslau,HeydeinColberg,unsurpassableintheworld;inGlatzaD’O,inSchweidnitzaZastrow,bothofwhomcosthimdear。Oppositionsneerssecretly,’Itisastheyhappentohavecometohand。’Whichhasnotmuchtruth,thoughsome。Tauentzienhechose;D’OwasFouquet’schoice,nothis;Zastrowhedidchoose;Heydehehadbyaccident;ofHeydehehadneverheardtillthedefenceofColbergbegantobeaworld’swonder。AndinregardtohisGarrisons,itisindisputabletheywereoftenleftpalpablydefectiveinquantityandquality;
and,morethanonce,fatallygavewayatthewrongmoment。WecanonlysaythatFriedrichwasbitterlyinwantofmenforthefield;
that’aGarrison—Regiment’wasalwaysreckonedaninferiorarticle;
andthatFriedrich,inthepressofhisstraits,hadoftenhadtosay:’Well,these[plainlyHelots,notSpartans],thesewillhavetodo!’Forwhichheseverelysuffered:andperhapsrepented,——
whoknows?
"Zastrow,inspiteofLoudon’sprecautionaryGirdleofCroats,andthecaresofacomingBall,hadgotsufficientinklingofsomethingbeinginthewind。AndwasmuchontheWallsallday,heandhisOfficers;scanningwiththeirglassesandtheirguessesthesurroundingphenomena,tolittlepurpose。Atnighthesentoutpatrols;keptsputteringwithmusketryandanoccasionalcannonintothevacantdarkness(’Wearealert,yousee,HerrLoudon!’)。
Inaword,tookwhatmeasureshecould,poorman;——verystupidmeasures,thinksTempelhof,andalmostworsethannone,especiallythisofsputteringwithmusketry;——andhopedalwaystherewouldbenoAttack,ornonetospeakof。Till,infine,between2and3inthemorning,hispatrolsgallopin,’Austriansonmarch!’andZastrow,throwingoutarocketortwo,descriesinmomentaryilluminationthattheFactisverilyhere。
"Hisdefence(fouroftheFiveseveralFortsattackedatonce)wasofaconfusedcharacter;butbetterthancouldhavebeenexpected。
Loudon’sColumnscameonwithextraordinaryvigorandcondensedimpetuosity;stormedtheOutworkseverywhere,andalmostatoncegotintotheshelteroftheCovered—way:butontheMainWall,orinthescalingpartoftheirbusiness,wererepulsed,insomeplacestwiceorthrice;andhadamurderousstruggle,ofverychaoticnature,inthedarkelement。Nopictureofitintheleastpossibleorneedfulhere。Inoneplace,aPowder—Magazineblewupwithabout400ofthem,——blown(saidrumor,withnocertainty)byanindignantPrussianartillery—mantowhomtheyhadrefusedquarter:inanotherplace,the800RussianGrenadierscameunexpectedlyuponachasmorbridgelessintersticebetweentworamparts;andhadtohaltsuddenly,——till(saysrumoragain,withstilllesscertainty)theirOfficersinsistingwiththerearwardpart,’Forward,forward!’enoughoffrontmenweretumbledintomakearoadway!Thiswasthestorycurrent;[Archenholtz,ii。275。]
greatlyexaggerated,Ihavenodoubt。Whatweknowis,ThattheseRussiansdidscramblethrough,punctuallyperformtheirpartofthework;——andfurthermore,that,havinggotupontheTown—Wall,whichwasfinistoeverything,theypunctuallysatdownthere;
and,reflectivelyleaningontheirmuskets,witnessedwiththegravityanddignityofantiquesages,superiortomoneyormoney’sworth,thegeneralplunderwhichwentoninspiteofLoudon’sorders。
"For,infine,between5and6,thatisinaboutthreehoursandahalf,Loudonwaseverywherevictorious;Zastrow,SchweidnitzFortress,andallthatitheld,wereLoudon’satdiscretion;
Loudon’sonecarenowwastostopthepillageofthepoorTownsfolk,asthemostpressingthing。Whichwasnotdonewithoutdifficulty,norcompletelytillafterhoursofexertionbycavalryregimentssentin。Thecaptorshadfoughtvaliantly;butitwaswhisperedtherehadbeenapreliminaryofbrandyinthem;
certainly,exceptthosepoorRussians,nobody’sbehaviorwasunexceptionable。"
ThecaptureofSchweidnitzcostLoudonabout1,400men;hefoundinSchweidnitz,besidestheGarrisonallprisonersorkilled,some240
piecesofartillery,——"211heavyguns,135hand—mortars,"saytheAustrianAccounts,"withstoresandmunitions"insuchquantities;
"89,760musket—cartridges,1,300,000flints,"[InHelden—
Geschichte,(vi。651—665)theAustrianAccount,withLISTS&c。]fortwoitems:——andallthiswasatriflecomparedtotheshockithasbroughtonFriedrich’sSilesianaffairs。
For,inpresentcircumstances,itamountstotheactualconquestofalargeportionofSilesia;and,forthefirsttime,toarealprospectoffinishingtheremaindernextYear。ItisjudgedtohavebeenthehardeststrokeFriedrichhadinthecourseofthisWar。
"OurstrenuousCampaignonasuddenrenderedwind,andofnoworth!
TheEnemytowinterinSilesia,afterall;Silesiatogoinevitably,——andlifealongwithit!"WhatFriedrich’sblackmeditationswere,"Inthefollowingweeks[notclosefollowing,butpoorKusterdoesnotdate],theKingfellillofgout,sawalmostnobody,nevercameout;and,itwaswhispered,theinflexibleheartofhimwasatlastbreaking;thatistosay,theveryaxisofthisPrussianworldgivingway。Andforcertain,thereneverwasinhiscampandoverhisdominionssuchagloomasinthisOctober,1761;
tillatlengthheappearedonhorsebackagain,withacheerfulface;andeverybodythoughttohimself,’Ha,theworldwillstillroll,then!’"[Kuster,Lebens—RettungenFriedrichsdesZweyten(Berlin,1797),p。59&c。ItisthesameinnocentreliableKusterwhomwecited,inSALDERN’S
case,already。]
ThisiswhatLoudonhaddone,withoutanyRussians,exceptRussianstogivehimeight—and—fortyhourscolic,andputhimonhisownshifts。AndthewayinwhichtheKriegshofrath,andherImperialMajestytheKaiserinn,receivedit,isperhapsstillworthaword。
TheKaiser,whohadaloneknownofLoudon’sscheme,andforgoodreason(absolutesecrecybeingtheverysoulofit)hadwhisperednothingofitfarthertoanymortal,wasnaturallyoverjoyed。
ButtheOlympianbrowofMariaTheresa,whentheKaiserwentradianttoherwiththisnews,didnotradiateinresponse;
butgloomedindignantly:"NoorderfromKriegshofrath,orme!"
IndignantKriegshofrathcalleditaCROATEN—STREICH
(Croat’s—trick);andLoudon,likePrinceEugenlongsince,waswithdifficultyexcusedthisactofdisobedience。GreatisAuthority;——
andoughttobedivinelyrigorous,if(asbynomeansalwayshappens)itisotherwiseofdivinequality!
Friedrich’streatmentofZastrowwasinstrongcontrastofstyle。
HereishisLettertothatunluckyGentleman,whoishimselfclearthathedeservesnoblame:"MydearMajor—GeneralvonZastrow,——
Themisfortunethathasbefallenmeisverygrievous;butwhatconsolesmeinitis,toseebyyourLetterthatyouhavebehavedlikeabraveOfficer,andthatneitheryounortheGarrisonhavebroughtdisgraceorreproachonyourselves。Iamyourwell—
affectionedKing,——FRIEDRICH。"AndinAutographthisPostscript:
"Youmay,inthisoccurrence,saywhatFrancisI。,aftertheBattleofPavia,wrotetohisMother:’Allislostexcepthonor。’AsIdonotyetcompletelyunderstandtheaffair,Iforbeartojudgeofit;
foritisaltogetherextraordinary。——F。"[
Militair—Lexikon,iv。305,306(Letterundatedthere;
dateprobably,"Gross—Nossen,October3d")。]
AndnevermeddledfartherwithZastrow;onlylefthimwellaloneforthefuture。"GrantmeaCourt—Martial,then!"saidZastrow,findinghimselffallensoneglected,afterthePeace。"Nouse,"
answeredFriedrich:"Iimputenothingofcrimetoyou;butaftersuchamishap,itwouldbedangeroustotrustyouwithanypostorcommand;"——andin1766,grantedhim,ondemand,hisdemissioninstead。ThepoormanthenretiredtoCassel,wherehelivedtwentyyearslonger,andwasnomoreheardof。Hewashalf—brotheroftheGeneralZastrowwhogotkilledbyaPandouroflongrange(bulletthroughbothtemples,frombrushwood,acrosstheElbe),inthefirstyearofthisWar。
ChapterIX。
TRAITORWARKOTSCH。
Friedrich’sArmywastohavecantoneditselfroundNeisse,October3d:butontheinstantofthisfatalSchweidnitznewsproceeded(3d—6thOctober)towardsStrehleninstead,——Friedrichpersonallyonthe5th;——andtookquartersthereandinthevillagesround。
GeneralcantonmentatStrehlen,inguardofBreslauandofNeisseboth;Loudon,stillimmovableatKunzendorf,attemptingnothingoneitherofthoseplaces,andcarefullydecliningtheriskofaBattle,whichwouldhavebeenFriedrich’sgame:allthiscontinuedtillthebeginningofDecember,whenbothpartiestookWinter—
quarters;[Tempelhof,v。349。]cantonedthemselvesintheneighboringlocalities,——Czernichef,withhisRussians,inGlatzCountry;FriedrichinBreslauasheadquarter;——andtheCampaignhadended。Endedinthispart,withoutfarthereventoftheleastnotability;——exceptthefollowingonly,whichapoormanofthenameofKappelhasrecordedforus。Ofwhich,andtheastoundingSequeltowhich,wemustnowsaysomething。
KappelisaGentleman’sGroomofthoseStrehlenparts;andshall,inhisownwords,bringusfacetofacewithFriedrichinthatneighborhood,directlyafterSchweidnitzwaslost。ItisOctober5th,day,orrathernightoftheday,ofFriedrich’sarrivalthereabouts;mostofhisArmyaheadofhim,andtheremainderallunderway。FriedrichandtherearwardpartofhisArmyarefilingabout,inthatnewStrehlen—wardmovementoftheirs,undercloudofnight,intheintricateHill—and—DaleCountry;topostthemselvestothebestadvantagefortheirdoubleobject,ofcoveringBreslauandNeisseboth;KappelLOQUITUR;abridgedbyKuster,whomweabridge:——
"MONDAYNIGHT,OCTOBER5th,1761,TheKing,withtwoorthreeattendants,stillaheadofhisArmy,appearedatSchonbrunn,aSchlossandVillage,fiveorsixmilessouthfromStrehlen;
[THISistheWarkotschSchonbrunn;nottheothernearSchweidnitz,asArchenholtzbelieves:seeARCHENHOLTZ,ii。287,andthebitofmythhehasgoneintoinconsequence。]anddidtheowner,BaronvonWarkotsch,anacquaintanceofhis,thehonoroflodgingthere。
Beforebedtime,——ifindeedtheKingintendedbedatall,meaningtobeoffinfourhourshence,——FriedrichinquiredofWarkotschfor’atrustyman,wellacquaintedwiththeroadsinthisCountry。’
WarkotschmentionedKappel,hisownGroom;onewhoundoubtedlykneweveryroadoftheCountry;andwhohadalwaysbehavedasatrustyfellowinthesevenyearshehadbeenwithhim。’Letmeseehim,’
saidtheKing。Kappelwassentup,aboutmidnight,Kingstilldressed;sittingonasofa,bythefire;Kappel’slookwassatisfactory;KappelknowsseveralroadstoStrehlen,inthedarkestnight。’Itisthefootpathwhichgoesso—and—sothatI
want’(forFriedrichknowsthisCountryintimately:readersrememberhisworld—famousCampofStrehlen,withallthediplomaciesofEuropegatheredthere,throughsummer,inthetrainofMollwitz)。’JA,IHROMAJESTAT,Iknowit!’’Beready,then,at4。’
"Beforethestrokeof4,Kappelwasatthedoor,onMaster’sbesthorse;theKing’sGroomtoo,andledhorse,animblelittlegray,werewaiting。As4struck,Friedrichcamedown,Warkotschwithhim。
’Unspeakablethehonoryouhavedonemypoorhouse!’BesidestheKing’sGroom,therewereaChamberlain,anAdjutantandtwomountedChasers(REITENDEJAGER),whichlatterhadeachalightedlantern:
inallsevenpersons,includingKappelandtheKing。(Gobeforeusonfootwithyourlanterns,’saidtheKing。Verydarkitwas。AndovernighttheArmyhadarrivedallabout;someofthemjustcomingin,ondifferentroadsandpaths。TheKingwalkedabovetwomiles,andlookedhowtheRegimentswere,withoutspeakingaword。
Atlast,asthecannonscameup,andwerestillinfullmotion,theKingsaid:’Sharp,sharp,BURSCHE;itwillbeMARCHdirectly。’
’March?TheDevilitwill:wearejustcomingintoCamp!’saidacannonier,notknowingitwastheKing。
"TheKingsaidnothing。Walkedonstillalittlewhile;
thenordered,’Blowoutthelanterns;tohorsebacknow!’andmounted,aswealldid。Mehebadekeepfivestepsahead,fiveandnotmore,thathemightseeme;foritwasverydark。NotfarfromtheLordshipCasserey,wherethereisaWater—mill,theKingaskedme,’Haven’tyoumissedtheBridgehere?’(aKingthatdoesnotforgetroadsandtopographieswhichmaycometoconcernhim!)——andbadeusridewiththeutmostsilence,andmakenojingle。Asdaybroke,wewereinsightofStrehlen,nearbytheFarmofTreppendorf。’AnddoyouknowwheretheKallenberglies?’saidtheKing:’ItmustbetoleftoftheTown,neartheHills;bringusthither!’
"WhenwegotontheKallenberg,itwasnotquiteday;andwehadtohaltformorelight。AftersometimetheKingsaidtohisGroom,’Givememyperspective!’lookedslowlyallroundforagoodwhile,andthensaid,’IseenoAustrians!’——(groundallatourchoice,then;weknowwheretochoose!)TheKingthenaskedmeifIknewtheroadto"——infact,toseveralplaces,which,inaParishHistoryofthoseparts,wouldbeabundantlyinteresting;butmustbeentirelyomittedhere……"TheKingcalledhisChamberlain;
gavesomesign,whichmeant’Beer—moneytoKappel!’——andIgotfoureight—groschenpieces[threeshillingsodd;arichrewardinthosedays];andwasbidtellmyMaster,’ThattheKingthankedhimforthegoodquarters,andassuredhimofhisfavor。’
"Ridingbackacrosscountry,Kappel,somefourorfivemileshomeward,cameuponthe’wholePrussianArmy,’strugglingforwardintheirvariousColumns。TwoGenerals,——oneofthemKrusemark,King’sAdjutant[ColonelKrusemark,notGeneral,asKappelthinks,whocametoknowhimsomeweeksafter],——hadhimbroughtup:
towhomhegaveaccountofhimself,howhehadbeenescortingtheKing,andwherehehadlefthisMajesty。’BehindStrehlen,sayyou?
Breslauroad?Devilknowswhitherweshallallhavetogoyet!’
observedKrusemark,andleftKappelfree。"[Kuster,
Lebens—Rettungen,pp。66—76。]
Inthoseweeks,ColbergSiege,Pitt’sCatastropheandhighthingsareimpending,orcompleted,elsewhere:butthisistheonethingnoticeablehereabouts。InregardtoStrehlen,andFriedrich’shistorythere,whatwehavetosayturnsalluponthisKappelandWarkotsch:and,——aftermentioningonlythatFriedrich’slodgingisnotinStrehlenproper,butinWoiselwitz,avillageorsuburbalmosthalfamileoff,andverynegligentlyguarded,——wehavetorecordanAdventurewhichthenmadeagreatdealofnoiseintheworld。
Warkotschisarichlord;SchonbrunnonlyoneoffiveorsixdifferentEstateswhichhehasinthoseparts;though,notmanyyearsago,beingyoungerbrother,hewasaCaptainintheAustrianservice(RegimentBOTTA,ifyouareparticular);andlayinOlmutz,——withverydulloulooks;notimproved,Ishouldjudge,bythefactthatSilesiaandtheWarkotschconnectionswerebecomePrussiansincethisjuniorenteredtheAustrianArmy。Thejuniorhadsownhiswildoats,andwasalreadygettinggrayinthebeard,inthatdullmanner,when,aboutsevenyearsago,hisElderBrother,towhomFriedrichhadalwaysbeenkind,fellunwell;
and,intheendof1755,died:whereuponthejuniorsawhimselfHeir;andenteredonanewphaseofthings。QuittedhisCaptaincy,quittedhisallegiance;andwassettledherepeaceablyunderhisnewKingin1756,alittlewhilebeforethisWarbrokeout。And,atSchonbrunn,October5th,1761,hashadhisMajestyhimselfforguest。
WarkotschwasnotlonginridingovertoStrehlentopayhiscourt,asindutybound,forthehonorofsuchaVisit;andfromthattime,Kappel,everydayortwo,hadtoattendhimthither。TheKinghadalwayshadafavorforWarkotsch’slateBrother,asanexcellentSilesianLandlordandManager,whosefineDomainswereinanexemplarycondition;as,underthenewWarkotschtoo,theyhavecontinuedtobe。AlwaysagraciousMajestytothisWarkotschaswell;whoisanoldsoldierwithal,andmanofsenseandingenuity;
acceptabletoFriedrich,andgrowingmoreandmorefamiliaramongFriedrich’scircleofOfficersnowatStrehlen。
ToStrehlenisWarkotsch’sfavoriteride;inthesolitarycountry,quiteacharmingadjuncttoyourusualdullerrandoutforairandexercise。Kappel,too,remarksaboutthistimethathe(Kappel)
getsonceandagain,andevermorefrequently,aLettertocarryovertoSiebenhuben,aVillagethreeorfourmilesoff;theLetteralwaystooneSchmidt,whoisCatholicCuratethere;Letterunderenvelope,wellsealed,——andconsistingoftwopieces,ifyoufingeritjudiciously。And,whatiscurious,theLetterneverhasanyaddress;Mastermerelyorders,"Punctual;forCuratusSchmidt,youknow!"Whatcanthisbe?thinksKappel。Somesecret,doubtless;
perhapssomeintrigue,whichMadammustnotknowof,——"ACH,HERR
BARON;andatyourage,——fifty,Iamsure!"Kappel,asolidfellow,concernedforgroom—businessalone,punctuallycarrieshisLetters;
takeschargeoftheResponsestoo,whichneverhaveanyAddress;
anddoesnottoomuchtroublehimselfwithcuriositiesofanimpertinentnature。
TotheseexternalphenomenaIwillatpresentonlyaddthisinternalone:ThatanoldBrotherOfficerofWarkotsch’s,aColonelWallis,withHussars,isnowlyingatHeinrichau,——say,10milesfromStrehlen,andabout10fromSchonbrunntoo,oramilemoreifyoutaketheSiebenhubenway;andthatallthesemissives,throughCuratusSchmidt,areforWallistheHussarColonel,andmustbeasecretnotfromMadamalone!HowaBaron,hithertoofhonor,couldallatoncebecomeTURPISSIMUS,theSuperlativeofScoundrels?
Thisiseventhereason,——theprizeissosuperlative。
"MONDAYNIGHT,NOVEMBER30th,1761[nightbittercold],Kappelfindshimselfsittingmounted,andholdingMaster’shorse,inStrehlen,moreexactlyinWoiselwitz,asuburbofStrehlen,neartheKing’sdoor,——Majesty’stravelling—coachdrawnoutthere,symbolthatStrehlenisending,generaldeparturetowardsBreslaunownigh。NottoKappel’ssorrowperhaps,waitinginthecoldthere。Kappelwaits,hourafterhour;MastertakinghiseasewiththeKing’speople,regardlessofthehorsesandme,inthisshiveryweather;——andonemustnotwalkabouteither,fordisturbingtheKing’ssleep!NottillmidnightdoesMasteremerge,andthefreezingKappelandquadrupedsgetunderway。Underway,MasterbreaksoutintosingulartalkabouttheKing’slodging:Waseveranythingsocareless;nothingbuttwosentriesintheKing’santeroom;thirteenallthesoldiersthatareinWoiselwitz;
Strehlennotavailableinlessthantwentyminutes:nothingbutwoods,hagglyglensandhills,allontoHeinrichau:HoweasytosnatchoffhisMajesty!"UMGOTTESWILLEN,myLord,don’tspeakso:
thinkifapatrollingPrussianweretohearit,inthedark!"
Pooh,pooh,answerstheHerrBaron。
"AtSchonbrunn,intheshorthours,KappelfindsFrauKappelinstateofunappeasablecuriosity:’Whatcanitbe?CuratusSchmidtwashereallafternoon;muchinhastetoseeMaster;hadtogoatlast,——fortheChurch—service,thisSt。Andrew’sEve。Andonlythink,thoughhesatwithMyLadyhoursandhours,heleftthisLetterwithME:"GiveittoyourHusband,formyLord,theinstanttheycome;andsayImusthaveanAnswerto—morrowmorningat7。"
Leftitwithme,notwithMyLady;——MyLadynottoknowofit!’
’Tush,woman!’ButFrauKappelhasbeen,herself,unappeasablyrunningabout,eversinceshegotthisLetter;hasappliedtotwofellow—servants,oneaftertheother,whocanreadwriting,’Breakitup,willyou!’Buttheywouldnot。PracticalKappeltakestheLetteruptoMaster’sroom;deliversit,withtheMessage。