首页 >出版文学> History of Friedrich II of Prussia>第105章
  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。