"Weneedonlyadd,onthishead,that,fortenmonthsmore,BabyCarlosandMontemarwentaboutbesieging,Gaeta,Messina,Syracuse;andmakingtriumphalentries;——andthat,onthe30thofJune,1735,BabyCarloshadhimselffairlycrownedatPalermo。
[FastesdeLouisXV。,i。278。]’KingoftheTwoSicilies’
DEFACTO;inwhicheminentpostheandhiscontinue,notwithmuchsuccess,tothisday。
"ThatwillsufficefortheTwoSicilies。AstoLombardyagain,nowthatVillarsisoutofit,andtheCoignysandBroglioshavesucceeded:——
"JUNE29th,1734。Kaiser,rallyingdesperatelyforrecoveryoftheMilanese,hassentanArmythither,GrafvonMercyleaderofit:
BattleofParmabetweentheFrenchandit(29thJune);——totallylostbytheKaiser’speople,afterfuriousfighting;GrafvonMercyhimselfkilledintheaction。GrafvonMercy,andwhatcomesnearerus,aPrinceofCulmbach,amiableUncleofourWilhelmina’sHusband,abravemanandAustrianSoldier,whowasmuchregrettedbyWilhelminaandtherest;hisdeathandobsequiesmakingamelancholyCourtofBaireuthinthisagitatedyear。TheKaiser,doinghisutmost,isbeatenateverypoint。
"SEPTEMBER15th。SurprisaloftheSecchia。Kaiser’speoplerally,——underaGeneralGrafvonKonigseckworthnotingbyus,——andaftersomemanoeuvring,intheGuastalla—Modenaregion,ontheSecchiaandPoriversthere,dexterouslystealacrosstheSecchiathatnight(15thSeptember),cuttingoffthesmallguard—partyatthefordoftheSecchia,thenwadingsilently;andburstinupontheFrenchCampinatrulyalarmingmanner。[Hormayr,xx。84;
Fastes,asitisliabletodo,misdates。]
SothatBroglio,incommandthere,hadtogallopwithonlyonebooton,somesay’inhisshirt,’tillhegotsomeforcerallied,andmanagedtoretreatmoreParthian—likeuponhisbrotherMarechal’sDivision。Artillery,war—chest,secretcorrespondence,’KingofSardinia’stent,’andmuchcheeringplunderbesideBroglio’soddboot,weretheconsequences;theKaiser’sonesuccessinthisWar;abolished,unluckily,infourdays!——
TheBrogliowhoheregallopsisthesecondFrenchMarechalofthename,sonofthefirst;amilitarygentlemanwhomweshallbuttoooftenmeetinsubsequentstages。Asonofthisone’s,athirdMarechalBroglio,presentattheSecchiathatbadnight,isthefamousWar—godoftheBastilletime,fifty—fiveyearshence,——
unfortunateoldWar—god,theTitansbeingallupabouthim。AstoBrogliowiththeoneboot,itisbutatriumphoverhimtill——
"SEPTEMBER19th。BattleofGuastalla,thatday。BattlelostbytheKaiser’speople,aftereighthours,hotfighting;whoarethenobligedtohurryacrosstheSecchiaagain;——andinfactdonotsucceedinfightinganymoreinthatquarter,thisyearorafterwards。For,nextyear(1735),MontemarissoadvancedwiththeTwoSicilies,hecanassistintheseNorthernoperations;
andNoailles,abetterMarechal,replacestheBroglioandCoignythere;who,withlearnedstrategicmovements,sieges,threateningsofsiege,sweepsthewrecksofAustria,toasatisfactorydegree,intotheTyrol,withoutfighting,oreventmentionablethenceforth。
"ThisistheKaiser’sWaroftwoCampaigns,intheItalian,whichwasthedecisivepartofit:acontinualBeingBeaten,asthereadersees;aBeingStript,tillonewasnearlybareinthatquarter。"
COURSEOFTHEWAR,INTHEGERMANPARTOFIT。
InGermanythementionableeventsarestillfewer;andindeed,butforonesmallcircumstancebindingonus,wemightskipthemaltogether。Forthereisnothingcomfortableinittothehumanmemoryotherwise。
MarechalDucdeBerwick,acautiousconsiderableGeneral(Marlborough’sNephew,onwhattermsisknowntoreaders),havingtakenKehlandplunderedtheSwabianoutskirtslastWinter,hadextensiveplansofoperatingintheheartofGermany,andruiningtheKaiserthere。Butfirstheneeds,andtheKaiserisawareofit,a"basisontheRhine;"freebridgeovertheRhine,notbyStrasburgandKehlalone:andforthisreason,hewillhavetobesiegeandcapturePhilipsburgfirstofall。StrongTownofPhilipsburg,welldowntowardsSpeyer—and—HeidelbergquarterontheGermansideoftheRhine:[Seemap]herewillbeourbridge。
Lorraineisalreadyoccupied,sincethefirstdayoftheWar;
Trarbach,strong—placeoftheMoselleandElectorateofTrier,cannotbedifficulttoget?ThusweretheRhineCountry,ontheFrenchside,securetoFrance;andsoBerwickcalculateshewillhaveabasisontheRhine,fromwhichtoshootforthintotheveryheartoftheKaiser。
BerwickbesiegedPhilipsburgaccordingly(SummerandAutumn);
Kaiserdoinghisfeeblebesttohinder:attheSiege,Berwicklosthislife,butPhilipsburgsurrenderedtohissuccessor,allthesame;——Kaiserstrivingtohinder;butinamostparalyzedmanner,andtonopurposewhatever。And——andthisproperlyWAStheGermanWar;thesumofalldoneinitduringthosetwoyears。
SeizureofNanci(thatis,ofLorraine),seizureofKehlwealreadyheardof;then,priortoPhilipsburg,therewassiegeorseizureofTrarbachbytheFrench;and,posteriortoit,seizureofWormsbythem;andbytheGermanstherewas"burningofamagazineinSpeyerbybombs。"And,inbrief,onbothsides,therewasmarchingandmanoeuvringundervariousgenerals(ouroldrustySeckendorfoneofthem),tilltheendof1735,whentheItaliandecisionarrived,andTruceandPeacealongwithit;buttherewasnootheractionworthnaming,evenintheNewspapersasawonderofninedays,TheSiegeofPhilipsburg,andwhathungflickeringroundthatoperation,beforeandafter,wasthesum—totaloftheGermanWar。
Philipsburg,keyoftheRhineinthoseparts,hashadmanysieges;
norwouldthisonemerittheleasthistoryfromus;wereitnotforonecircumstance:ThatourCrown—PrincewasoftheOpposingArmy,andmadehisfirstexperienceofarmsthere。ASiegeofPhilipsburgslightlymemorabletous,onthatoneaccount。
WhatFriedrichdidthere,whichinthemilitarywaywasasgoodasnothing;whathesawandexperiencedthere,which,withsome"eightyPrincesoftheReich,"aPrinceEugeneforGeneral,andthreemonthsundercanvasonthefield,mayhavebeensomething:
this,inoutline,bysuchobscureindicationsasremain,wewouldfainmakeconceivabletothereader。Indications,intheHistory—
Books,wehaveasgoodasnone;butmustgatherwhatthereisfromWILHELMINAandtheCrown—Prince’sLETTERS,——muchstudyingtobebrief,wereitpossible!
ChapterX。
CROWN—PRINCEGOESTOTHERHINECAMPAIGN,TheKaiser——withKehlsnatchedfromhim,theRhineopen,andLouisXV。singingTEDEUMintheChristmastimeforwhatVillarsinItalyhaddone——applied,inpassionatehaste,totheReich。
TheReich,thoughFleurytriedtocajoleit,andapologizefortakingKehlfromit,declaresfortheKaiser’squarrel;
WaragainstFranceonhisbehalf;[13thMarch,1734(Buchholz,i。131)。]——itwasinthiswaythatFriedrichWilhelmandourCrown—PrincecametobeconcernedintheRhineCampaign。
TheKaiserwillhaveaReich’s—Army(wereitgoodformuch,asisnotlikely)tojointohisownAustrianone。AndifPrinceEugene,whoisReich’s—Feldmarschall,oneoftheTWOFeldmarschalls,gettheGeneralshipasmenhope,itisnotdoubtedbuttherewillbegreatworkontheRhine,thisSummerof1734。
UnhappilytheReich’s—Army,raisedfrom——multifariouscontingents,andguidedandprovidedforbymanyheads,isusuallygoodforlittle。NottosaythatoldKur—Pfalz,withaneyetoFrenchhelpintheBerg—and—Julichmatter;oldKur—Pfalz,andtheBavarianset(KUR—BAIERNandKUR—KOLN,BavariaandCologne,whoareBrothers,andofoldcousinshiptoKur—Pfalz),——quiterefusetheircontingents;protestintheDiet,andopenlyhaveFrenchleanings。
ThesearebadomensfortheReich’s—Army。AndinregardtotheReich’s—FeldmarschallOffice,therealsoisadifficulty。
TheReich,aswehinted,keepstwosupremeFeldmarschalls;
oneCatholic,oneProtestant,forequilibrium’ssake;illustriousPrinceEugeniovonSavoyeistheCatholic;——butastotheProtestant,itisadifficultyworthobservingforamoment。
OldDukeEberhardLudwigofWurtemberg,theunfortunateoldgentlemanbewitchedbytheGravenitz"Deliverusfromevil,"usedtobetheReich’s—FeldmarschallofProtestantpersuasion;——
Commander—in—ChieffortheReich,whenittriedfighting。
OldEberhardhadbeenatBlenheim,andhadmarchedupanddown:
IneverheardhewasmuchofaGeneral;perhapsgoodenoughfortheReich,whosetroopswerealwaysbad。ButnowthatpoorDuke,asweintimatedonceormore,isdead;theremustbe,ofProtestanttype,anewReich’s—Feldmasschallhad。OneCatholic,unequalledamongCaptains,wealreadyhave;butwhereistheProtestant,DukeEberhardbeingdead?
DukeEberhard’ssuccessorinWurtemberg,KarlAlexanderbyname,whomweoncedinedwithatPragontheKladrupjourney,he,aGeneralofsomeworth,wouldbeanaturalperson。UnluckilyDukeKarlAlexanderhad,whileanAustrianOfficerandwithoutoutlooksuponProtestantWurtemberg,goneovertoPapacy,andisnowCatholic。"TwoCatholicFeldmarschalls!"criestheCORPUS
EVANGELICORUM;"thatwillneverdo!"
Well,ontheotherorProtestantsidethereappeartwoCandidates;
oneofthemnotmuchexpectedbythereader:nootherthanFerdinandDukeofBrunswick—Bevern,ourCrown—Prince’sFather—in—
law;whomweknewtobeaworthyman,butdidnotknowtobemuchofasoldier,orcapableoftheseambitiousviews。HeisCandidateFirst。ThenthereisaSecond,muchmoreentitled:ourgunpowderfriendtheOldDessauer;who,tosaynothingofhissoldierqualities,haspromisesfromtheKaiser,——hesurelyweretheman,ifitdidnothurtotherpeople’sfeelings。Butitsurelydoesandwill。ThereisFerdinandofBevernapplyinguponthescoreofoldpromisestoo。Howcanpeople’sfeelingsbesaved?Protestantsthesetwolast:buttheycannotbothhaveit;andwhatwillWurtembergsaytoeitherofthem?TheReichwasinverygreatafflictionaboutthispreliminarymatter。ButFriedrichWilhelmstepsinwithahealingrecipe:"LettherebefourReich’s—
Feldmarschalls,"saidFriedrichWilhelm;"twoProtestantandtwoCatholic:won’tthatdo?"——Excellent!answerstheReich:andtherearefourFeldmarschallsforthetimebeing;nolackofcommanderstotheReich’s—Army。Brunswick—Beverntrieditfirst;butonlytillPrinceEugenewereready,andindeedhehadofhimselfcometonothingbeforethatdate。PrinceEugenenext;thenKarlAlexandernext;andinfacttheyallmighthavehadastrokeatcommanding,andatcomingtonothingorlittle,——onlytheOldDessauersulkedattheofficeinthisitsfourfoldstate,andneverwouldfairlyhaveit,till,bydeceaseofoccupants,itcametobetwofoldagain。ThisglimpseintothedistractedeffeteinteriorofthepooroldReichanditsPolitics,withfriendsofoursconcernedthere,letitbewelcometothereader。
[LeopoldivonAnhalt—DessauLeben(byRanfft),p。127;Buchholz,i。131。]
FriedrichWilhelmwaswithoutconcerninthisWar,orinwhathadledtoit。PracticalshareinthePolishElection(afterthatpreliminarytheoreticprogramoftheKaiser’sandCzarina’swenttosmoke)FriedrichWilhelmsteadilyrefusedtotake:
thoughconsiderableoffersweremadehimonbothsides,——offerofWestPreussen(PolishpartofPrussia,whichoncewasknowntous)
ontheFrenchside。[ByDelaChetardie,FrenchAmbassadoratBerlin(Buchholz,i。130)。]Buthisprimaryfixedresolutionwastostandoutofthequarrel;andheabidesbythat;suppressesanywishesofhisowninregardtothePolishElection;——keepswardonhisownfrontiers,withgoodmilitarybesominhand,tosweepitoutagainifitintrudedthere。"WhatKingyoulike,inGod’sname;onlydon’tcomeovermythresholdwithhisbrabblesandhim!"
ButseeingtheKaisergotintoactualFrenchWar,withtheReichconsenting,heisbound,byTreatyofolddate(dateolderthanWUSTERHAUSEN,thoughitwasconfirmedonthatfamousoccasion),"ToassisttheKaiserwithtenthousandmen;"andthisengagementheintendsamplytofulfil。Nosooner,therefore,hadtheReichgivensuresignsofassenting("Reich’sassent"istheconditionofthetenthousand),thanFriedrichWilhelm’sorderswereout,"Beinreadiness!"FriedrichWilhelm,bythetimeoftheReich’sactualassent,orDeclarationofWarontheKaiser’sbehalf,hasbuttolifthisfinger:squadronsandbattalions,outofPommern,outofMagdeburg,outofPreussen,tothedueamount,willgetonmarchwhitherwardyoubid,andbewithyouthereatthedayyouindicate,almostatthehour。Captains,notofanimaginarynature,thesearealwaysbusy;andtheKinghimselfisbusyoverthem。Frombiggunsandwagon—horsesdowntogun—flintsandgaiter—straps,allismarkedinregisters;nothingiswanting,nothingoutofitsplaceatanytime,inFriedrichWilhelm’sArmy。
Fromanearlyperiod,theFrenchintentionsuponPhilipsburgmightbeforeseenorguessed:andintheendofMarch,MarechalBerwick,"inthreedivisions,"fairlyappearsinthatquarter;hispurposeevident。SothattheReich’s—Army,wereitintheleastready,oughttorendezvous,andreinforcethehandfulofAustriansthere。
FriedrichWilhelm’spartoftheReich’s—Armydoesaccordinglystraightwaygetonmarch;leavesBerlin,aftertheduereviewing,"8thApril:"[Fassmann,p。495。]eightregimentsofit,threeofHorseandfiveofFoot,GoltzFoot—regimentoneofthem;——
aGeneralRoder,unexceptionableGeneral,tocommandinchief;——
andwillarrive,thoughthefarthestoff,"firstofalltheReich’s—Contingents;"7thofJune,namely。Themarch,straightsouth,mustbesomefourhundredmiles。
BesidestheOfficialGenerals,certainhighmilitarydignitaries,Schulenburg,Bredow,Majestyhimselfattheirhead,proposetogoasvolunteers;——especiallytheCrown—Prince,whoseeagernessisverygreat,hasgotlibertytogo。"Asvolunteer"hetoo:
asColonelofGoltz,itmighthavehaditsunsuitabilities,inetiquetteandotherwise。FewvolunteersaremoreinterestedthantheCrown—Prince。WatchingthegreatWar—theatreuncurtainitselfinthismanner,fromDantzigdowntoNaples;andwhathisownshareinitshallbe:this,muchmorethanhisMarriage,I
suppose,hasoccupiedhisthoughtssincethatevent。HereoutofRuppin,datingsixorsevenweeksbeforethemarchoftheTenThousand,isasmallsign,oneamongmany,ofhisoutlooksinthismatter。SmallNotetohisCousin,MargrafHeinrich,theill—
behavedMargraf,muchhiscomrade,whoisalwaysfallingintoscrapes;andwhomhehasjust,notwithoutdifficulty,gotdeliveredoutofsomethingofthekind。[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvii。part2d,pp。8,9。]HewritesinGermanandintheintimatestyleofTHOU:——
"RUPPIN。23dFEBRUARY,1734。MYDEARBROTHER,——IcanwithpleasureanswerthattheKinghathspokenoftheealtogetherfavorablytome[scrapenowabolished,forthetime]:——andIthinkitwouldnothaveanilleffect,wertthoutoapplyforleavetogowiththetenthousandwhomheissendingtotheRhine,anddotheCampaignwiththemasvolunteer。Iammyselfgoingwiththatcorps;soI
doubtnottheKingwouldallowthee。
"ItakethefreedomtosendherewithafewbottlesofChampagne;
andwish"allmannerofgoodthings。
"FRIEDRICH。"
[Ib。xxvii。part2d,p。10。]
ThisMargrafHeinrichgoes;alsohiselderBrother,MargrafFriedrichWilhelm,——wholongpersecutedWilhelminawithhishopes;
andwhoisnowaboutgettingSophieDorothee,ajuniorPrincess,muchbetterthanhemerits:Betrothalistheweekafterthesetenthousandmarch;[16thApril,1734(Ib。part1st,p。14n)。]hethirty,shefifteen。Hetoowillgo;aswilltheotherpairofCousinMargraves,——Karl,whowasonceourneighborinCustrin;
andtheYoungerFriedrichWilhelm,whosefateliesatPragifheknewit。Majestyhimselfwillgoasvolunteer。Arenotgreatthingstobedone,withEugeneforGeneral?——TounderstandtheinsignificantSiegeofPhilipsburg,sum—totaloftheRhineCampaign,whichfilledtheCrown—Prince’sandsomanyothermindsbrimful;thatSummer,andisnowwhollyoutofeverymind,thefollowingExcerptmaybeadmissible:——
"TheunluckylittleTownofPhilipsburg,keyoftheRhineinthatquarter,fortifiedunderdifficultiesbyoldBishopsofSpeyerwhosometimesresidedthere,[Kohler,Munzbelustigungen,vi。169。]hasbeendismantledandrefortified,hashaditsRhine—bridgetorndownandsetupagain;beengarrisonednowbythisparty,nowbythat,whohad’rightofgarrisonthere;’nayFrancehassometimeshad’therightofgarrison;’——andthepoorlittleTownhassufferedmuch,andbeentumbledsadlyaboutintheSuccession—warsandperpetualcontroversiesbetweenFranceandGermanyinthatquarter。Inthetimewearespeakingof,ithasa’flying—bridge’(ofIknownotwhatstructure),withfortified’bridge—head(TETE—DE—PONT,’onthewesternorFrance—wardsideoftheRiver。Town’sbulwarks,andcomplexengineeringdefences,areofgoodstrength,allputinrepairforthisoccasion:ReichandKaiserhaveaneffectivegarrisonthere,andacommandantdeterminedondefencetotheuttermost:whattheunfortunateInhabitants,perhapsathousandorsoinnumber,thoughtordidundersuchavisitationofruinandbombshells,Historygivesnottheleasthintanywhere。’Quiteusedtoit!’thinksHistory,andattendstootherpoints。
"TheRhineValleyhereisnotofgreatbreadth:eastwardtheheightsrisetobemountainousinnotmanymiles。BywayofdefencetothisValley,intheEugene—MarlboroughWars,therewas,aboutfortymilessouthward,orhigheruptheRiverthanPhilipsburg,amilitarylineorchainofposts;goingfromStollhofen,aboggyhamletontheRhine,withcunningindentations,andlearnedconcatenationofbogandbluff,upintotheinaccessibilities,——LINESOFSTOLLHOFEN,thenameofit,——
whichwell—devisedbarrierdidgoodserviceforcertainyears。
Itwasnottill,Ithink,thefourthyearoftheirexistence,year1707,thatVillars,thesameVillarswhoisnowinItaly,’stormedtheLinesofStollhofen;’whichmadehimfamousthatyear。
"TheLinesofStollhofenhavenow,in1734,fallenflatagain;
butEugeneremembersthem,and,Icouldguess,itwashewhosuggestsasimilarexpedient。Atallevents,thereisasimilarexpedientfallenupon:LINESOFETTLINGENthistime;one—halfnearerPhilipsburg;runningfromMuhlburgontheRhine—brinkuptoEttlingenintheHills。[Seemap]Nearer,bytwentymiles;and,Iguess,muchmoreslightlydone。WeshallseetheseLinesofEttlingen,onepointofthem,foramoment:——andtheywouldnotbeworthmentioningatall,exceptthatincarelessBookstheytooarecalled’LinesofSTOLLHOFEN,’[Wilhelmina(ii。206),forinstance;who,orwhosePrinter,callthem"LinesofSTOKOFF"
even。]andtheingenuousreaderissentwanderingonhismaptonopurpose。"
"LinesofETTLINGEN"theyare;related,asnowsaid,totheStollhofenset。DukeFerdinandofBrunswick—Bevern,oneofthefourFeldmarschalls,hassomeineffectualhandfulofImperialtroopsdottedabout,withintheseLinesandontheskirtsofPhilipsburg;——eagerlywaitingtilltheReich’s—Armygathertohim;
otherwisehemustcometonothing。Willatanyrate,Ishouldthink,behappytoresigninfavorofPrinceEugene,werethatlittleheroonceontheground。
OnMayday,MarechalBerwick,whohasbeenawakeinthisquarter,"inthreedivisions,"foramonthpast,——veryimpatienttillBelleislewiththefirstdivisionshouldhavetakenTrarbach,andmadetheWesterninteriorpartssecure,——didactuallycrosstheRhine,withhisseconddivision,"atFortLouis,"welluptheRiver,wellsouthofPhilipsburg;intendingtoattacktheLinesofEttlingen,andsogetinupontheTown。Thereisathirddivision,abouttolaypontoonsforitselfagoodwayfartherdown,whichwillattacktheLinessimultaneouslyfromwithin,——thatistosay,shallcomeuponthebackofpoorBevernandhisdefensivehandfuloftroops,andastonishhimthere。AllprosperstoBerwickinthismatter:Noailleshislieutenant(notyetgonetoItalytillnextyear),withwhomisMauriceComtedeSaxe(afterwardsMarechaldeSaxe),anexcellentobservantOfficer,marchesuptoEttlingen,May3d;bivouacs"atthebaseofthemountain"(nogreatthingsofamountain);ascendsthesameintwocolumns,horseandfoot,bythefirstsunlightnextmorning;formsonalittleplainonthetop;issuesthroughathinwood,——andactuallybeholdsthosesameLINESOFETTLINGEN,theoutmosteasternendofthem:asomewhatinconsiderablematter,afterall!HereisNoailles’sownaccount:——
"Theseretrenchments,madeinTurkfashion,consistedofbigtreessetzigzag(ENECHIQUIER),twistedtogetherbythebranches;
thewholeaboutfivefathomsthick。InsideofitwereasmallforlornofAustrians:thesesteadilyawaitourgrenadiers,anddonotgivetheirvolleytillweareclose。Ourgrenadiersreceivetheirvolley;cleartheintertwistedtrees,afterreceivingasecondvolley(totallossseventy—fivekilledandwounded);
and——theenemyquitshispost;andtheLinesofEttlingenARE
stormed!"[Noailles,Memoires(inPetitot’sCollection),iii。207。]ThisisnotlikestormingtheLinesofStollhofen;athingtomakeNoaillesfamousintheNewspapersforayear。Butitwasausefulsmallfeat,andwellenoughperformedonhispart。Thetruthis,BerwickwasaboutattackingtheLinessimultaneouslyontheotherorMuhlburgendofthem(hadnotNoailles,nowvictorious,gallopedtoforbid);andwhatwasfarmoreconsiderable,thoseotherFrench,tothenorthward,"uponpontoons,"arefairlyacross;liketobeupontheBACKofDukeFerdinandandhishandfulofdefenders。DukeFerdinandperceivesthatheiscometonothing;hastilycollectshispeoplefromtheirvariousposts;retreatswiththemthatsamenight,unpursued,toHeilbronn;andgivesupthecommandtoPrinceEugene,whoisjustarrivedthere,——whotookquietlytwopinchesofsnuffonhearingthisnewsofEttlingen,andsaid,"Nomatter,afterall!"
BerwicknowformstheSiege,athisdiscretion;investsPhilipsburg,13thMay;[Berwick,ii。312;23d,saysNoailles’sEditor(iii。210)。]beginsfiring,nightofthe3d—4thJune;——
EugenewaitingatHeilbronntilltheReich’s—Armycomeup。
ThePrussiantenthousanddocome,allinorder,onthe7th:
therestbydegrees,alllater,andallNOTquiteinorder。
Eugene,thePrussianshavingjoinedhim,movesdowntowardsPhilipsburganditscannonading;encampsclosetorearwardofthebesiegingFrench。"CampofWiesenthal"theycallit;VillageofWiesenthalwithbogs,ontheleft,beinghishead—qnarters;
VillageofWaghausel,downneartheRiver,afivemilesdistance,beinghislimitontheright。Berwick,infront,industriouslybatteringPhilipsburgintotheRiver,hasthrownupstronglinesbehindhim,stronglymanned,todefendhimselffromEugene;
acrosstheRiver,BerwickhasoneBridge,andatthefartherendonebatterywithwhichheplaysupontherearofPhilipsburg。
Heismuchcriticisedbyunoccupiedpeople,"Eugene’sattackwillruinusonthoseterms!"——andmuchincommodedbyoverflowingsoftheRhine;Rhineswolnbymeltingofthemountain—snows,asisusualthere。WhichinundationsBerwickhadwellforeseen,thoughtheWar—ministeratPariswouldnot:"Haste!"answeredtheWar—ministeralways:"Weshallbeinrighttime。Itellyoutherehavefallennosnowsthiswinter:howcaninundationbe?"——
"Dependsontheheat,"saidBerwick;"therearesnowsenoughalwaysinstockupthere!"
Andsoitproves,thoughtheWar—ministerwouldnotbelieve;
andBerwickhastotaketheinundations,andtotakethecircumstances;——andtotryif,byhisowncontinualbestexertions,hecanbutgetPhilipsburgintothebargain。Onthe12thofJune,visitinghisposts,ashedailydoes,thefirstthing,Berwicksteptoutofthetrenches,anxiousforclearviewofsomething;steptupon"thecrestofthesap,"aplaceexposedtobothFrenchandAustrianbatteries,andwhichhadbeenforbiddentothesoldiers,——andthere,asheanxiouslyscannedmattersthroughhisglass,acannon—ball,unknownwhetherFrenchorAustrian,shiveredawaytheheadofBerwick;leftotherstodealwiththecriticisms,andtheinundations,andtheoperationsbigorlittle,atPhilipsburgandelsewhere!Siegewenton,betterorworse,underthenextincommand;"Parisingreatanxiety,"saytheBooks。
Itisahotsiege,astiffdefence;PrinceEugenelookson,butdoesnotattackinthewayapprehended。SouthwardinItaly,wehearthereismarching,strategyingintheParmaCountry;GrafvonMercylikelytocometoanactionbeforelong。Northward,Dantzigbythistimeisallwraptinfire—whirlwinds;itssallyingsandouterdefencesalldrivenin;meretorrentsofRussiaubombsrainingonitdayandnight;Frenchauxiliaries,snaptupatlanding,areonboardRussianships;andpoorStanislausand"theLadyofQualitywhoshotthefirstgun"haveabadoutlookthere。
Towardstheendofthemonth,theBerlinvolunteerGenerals,ourCrown—PrinceandhisMargravesamongthem,aregettingontheroadforPhilipsburg;——andthatisproperlytheonepointweareconcernedwith。Whichtookeffectinmannerfollowing。
Tuesdayevening,29thJune,thereisBallatMonbijou;theCrown—
Princeandothersbusydancingthere,asifnothingspeciallayahead。Nevertheless,atthreeinthemorninghehaschangedhisball—dressforabetter,heandcertainmore;andisrushingsouthward,withhisvolunteerGeneralsandMargraves,fullspeed,salutedbytherisingsun,towardsPhilipsburgandtheSeatofWar。Andthesamenight,KingStanislaus,ifanyofuscaredforhim,isonflightfromDantzig,"disguisedasacattle—dealer;"
gotoutonthenightofSundaylast,Townundersucharainofbombshellsbeingpalpablytoohotforhim:gotout,butcannotgetacrossthemuddyintricaciesoftheWeichsel;liespainfullysquattedupanddown,inobscurealehouses,inthatStygianMud—
Delta,——amatteroflifeanddeathtogetacross,andnotaboattobehad,suchthevigilanceoftheRussian。Dantzigiscapitulating,dreadfulpenaltiesexacted,alltheheavierasnoStanislausistobefoundinit;andsearchallthekeenerrisesintheDeltaafterhim。Throughperilsandadventuresofthesortusualonsuchoccasions,[Crediblemodestdetailofthem,inaLETTERfromStanislaushimself(HistoryofStanislaus,alreadycited,pp。235—248)。]lStanislausdoesgetacross;andintimedoesreachPreussen;where,byFriedrichWilhelm’sorder,safeopulentasylumisaffordedhim,tilltheFates(whenthisWarends)determinewhatistobecomeofthepoorImaginaryMajesty。Weleavehim,squattedintheintricaciesoftheMud—Delta,tofollowourCrown—Prince,whointhesamehourisrushingfarelsewhither。
Margraves,Generalsandhe,intheirsmallstringofcarriages,goon,byextra—post,dayandnight;noresttilltheygettoHof,intheCulmbachneighborhood,agoodtwohundredmilesoff,——nearWilhelmina,andmorethanhalf—waytoPhilipsburg。
MajestyFriedrichWilhelmishimselftofollowinaboutaweek:
hehasgivenstrictorderagainstwasteoftime:"Nottopartcompany;gotogether,andNOTbyAnspachorBaireuth,"——thoughtheyliealmoststraightforyou。
ThislatterwasasoreclausetoFriedrich,whohadcountedallalongonseeinghisdearfaithfulWilhelmina,ashepassed:
therefore,asthePapa’sOrders,dangerouspenaltylyinginthem,cannotbeliterallydisobeyed,thequestionrises,HowseeWilhelminaandnotBaireuth?Wilhelmina,weakassheisandunfitfortravelling,willhavetomeethiminsomeneutralplace,suitablestforboth。Aftervariousshiftings,ithasbeensettledbetweenthemthatBerneck,alittletowntwelvemilesfromBaireuthontheHofroad,willdo;andthatFriday,probablyearly,willbetheday。Wilhelmina,accordingly,isontheroadthatmorning,earlyenough;Husbandwithher,andceremonialattendants,inhonorofsuchaBrother;morningisofsultrywindlesssort;dayhotterandhotter;——atBerneckisnoCrown—
Prince,intheHouseappointedforhim;hourafterhour,Wilhelminawaitsthereinvain。Thetruthis,oneofthesmallestaccidentshashappened:theGenerals"lostawheelatGerayesterday;"wereleftbehindtherewiththeirsmiths,havenotyetappeared;andtheinsolublequestionamongFriedrichandtheMargravesis,"Wedarenotgoonwithoutthem,then?Wedare;——
darewe?"QuestionliketodriveFriedrichmad,whilethehours,atanyrate,areslippingon!HerearethreeLettersofFriedrich,legibleatlast;which,withWilhelmina’saccountfromtheotherside,representasmallentirelyhumansceneinthisFrench—
AustrianWar,——nearlyallofhumanwehavefoundinthebeggarlyaffair:——
1。TOPRINCESSWILHELMINA,ATBAIREUTH,ORONTHEROADTOBERNECK。
"HOF,2dJuly[notlongafter4a。m。],1794。
"MYDEARSISTER,——HereamIwithinsixleagues[sayeightormore,twenty—fivemilesEnglish]ofaSisterwhomIlove;andIhavetodecidethatitwillbeimpossibletoseeher,afterall!"——Doesdecideso,accordingly,forreasonsknowntous。
"Ihaveneversolamentedthemisfortuneofnotdependingonmyselfasatthismoment!TheKingbeingbutverysour—sweetonmyscore,Idarenotrisktheleastthing;Mondaycomeaweek,whenhearriveshimself,Ishouldhaveaprettyscene(SERAISJOLIMENT
TRAITE)intheCamp,ifIwerefoundtohavedisobeyedorders。
"……TheQueencommandsmetogiveyouathousandregardsfromher。Sheappearedmuchaffectedatyourillness;butfortherest,Icouldnotwarrantyouhowsincereitwas;forsheistotallychanged,andIhavequitelostreckoningofher(N’YCONNAIS
RIEN)。ThatgoessofarthatshehasdonemehurtwiththeKing,allshecould:however,thatisovernow。AstoSophie[youngSisterjustbetrothedtotheeldestMargrafwhomyouknow],shealsoisnolongerthesame;forsheapprovesallthattheQueensaysordoes;andsheischarmedwithherbigclown(GROSNIGAUD)
ofaBridegroom。
"TheKingismoredifficultthanever;heiscontentwithnothing,soastohavelostwhatsoevercouldbecalledgratitudeforallpleasuresonecandohim,"——marryingagainstone’swill,andthelike。"Astohishealth,itisonedaybetter,anotherworse;
butthelegs,theyarealwaysswelled,Judgewhatmyjoymustbetogetoutofthatturpitude,——fortheKingwillonlystayafortnight,atmost,intheCamp。
"Adieu,myadorableSister:Iamsotired,Icannotstir;
havingleftonTuesdaynight,orratherWednesdaymorningatthreeo’clock,fromaBallatMonbijou,andarrivedherethisFridaymorningatfour。Irecommendmyselftoyourgraciousremembrance;
andam,formyownpart,tilldeath,dearestSister,"——
Your——"FRIEDRICH"
[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvii。part1st,p。13。]
ThisisLetterFirst;writtenFridaymorning,ontheedgeofgettingintobed,aftersuchfatigue;andithas,asnaturalinthatmood,givenupthematterindespair。ItdidnotmeetWilhelminaontheroad;andshehadleftBaireuth;——whereitmether,Idonotknow;probablyathome,onherreturn,whenallwasover。LetWilhelminanowspeakherownlivelyexperiencesofthatsameFriday:——
"IgottoBerneckatten。Theheatwasexcessive;IfoundmyselfquitewornoutwiththelittlejourneyIhaddone。IalightedattheHousewhichhadbeengotreadyformyBrother。Wewaitedforhim,andinvainwaited,tillthreeintheafternoon。Atthreewelostpatience;haddinnerservedwithouthim。Whilstwewereattable,therecameonafrightfulthunder—storm。Ihavewitnessednothingsoterrible:thethunderroaredandreverberatedamongtherockycliffswhichbegirdleBerneck;anditseemedasiftheworldwasgoingtoperish:adelugeofrainsucceededthethunder。
"Itwasfouro’clock;andIcouldnotunderstandwhathadbecomeofmyBrother。Ihadsentoutseveralpersonsonhorsebacktogettidingsofhim,andnoneofthemcameback。Atlength,inspiteofallmyprayers,theHereditaryPrince[myexcellentHusband]
himselfwouldgoinsearch。Iremainedwaitingtillnineatnight,andnobodyreturned。Iwasincruelagitations:thesecataractsofrainareverydangerousinthemountaincountries;theroadsgetsuddenlyoverflowed,andthereoftenhappenmisfortunes。Ithoughtforcertain,therehadonehappenedtomyBrotherortotheHereditaryPrince。"Sucha2dofJuly,topoorWilhelmina!
"Atlast,aboutnine,somebodybroughtwordthatmyBrotherhadchangedhisroute,andwasgonetoCulmbach[aHouseofours,lyingwestward,knowntoreaders];theretostayovernight。Iwasforsettingoutthither,——CulmbachistwentymilesfromBerneck;
buttheroadsarefrightful,"WhiteMayn,stillayoungRiver,dashingthroughtherock—labyrinthsthere,"andfullofprecipices:——everybodyroseinopposition,and,whetherIwouldornot,theyputmeintothecarriageforHimmelkron[partlyontheroadthither],whichisonlyabouttenmilesoff。Wehadliketohavegotdrownedontheroad;thewatersweresoswoln[WhiteMaynanditsangrybrooks],thehorsescouldnotcrossbutbyswimming。
"Iarrivedatlast,aboutoneinthemorning。Iinstantlythrewmyselfonabed。Iwasliketodiewithweariness;andinmortalterrorsthatsomethinghadhappenedtomyBrotherortheHereditaryPrince。Thislatterrelievedmeonhisownscore;
hearrivedatlast,aboutfouro’clock,——hadstillnonewsfartherofmyBrother。Iwasbeginningtodozealittle,whentheycametowarnmethat’M。vonKnobelsdorfwishedtospeakwithmefromthePrince—Royal。’Idartedoutofbed,andrantohim。He,"handingmeaLetter,"broughtwordthat"——
ButletusnowgiveLetterSecond,whichhasturneduplately,andwhichcuriouslycompletesthepicturehere。Friedrich,onrisingrefreshedwithsleepatHof,hadtakenacheerfulerview;andtheGeneralsstilllaggingrearward,hethinksitpossibletoseeWilhelmiuaafterall。Possible;andyetsoverydangerous,——
perhapsnotpossible?HereisasecondLetterwrittenfromMunchberg,somefifteenmilesfartheron,atanafterperiodofthesameFriday:purportstillofaperplexednature,"Iwill,andIdarenot;"——practicaloutcome,ofitselfuncertain,isscatterednowbytorrentsandthunderstorms。ThisistheLetter,whichKnobelsdorfnowhandstoWilhelminaatthatuntimelyhourofSaturday:——
2。TOPRINCESSWILHELMINA(byKnobelsdorf)。
"MUNCHBERG,2dJuly,1754。
"MYDEARESTSISTER,——IamindespairthatIcannotsatisfymyimpatienceandmyduty,——tothrowmyselfatyourfeetthisday。
Butalas,dearSister,itdoesnotdependonme:wepoorPrinces,"theMargravesandI,"areobligedtowaitheretillourGenerals[Bredow,SchulenburgandCompany]comeup;wedarenotgoalongwithoutthem。TheybrokeawheelinGera[fiftymilesbehindus];
hearingnothingofthemsince,weareabsolutelyforcedtowaithere。JudgeinwhatamoodIam,andwhatsorrowmustbemine!
ExpressordernottogobyBaireuthorAnspach:——forbear,dearsister,totormentmeonthingsnotdependingonmyselfatall。
"Iwaverbetweenhopeandfearofpayingmycourttoyou。IhopeitmightstillbeatBerneck,"thisevening,——"ifyoucouldcontrivearoadintotheNurnbergHighwayagain;avoidingBaireuth:otherwiseIdarenotgo。TheBearer,whoisCaptainKnobelsdorf[excellentjudiciousman,oldacquaintancefromtheCustrintime,whoattendsuponus,actualCaptainonce,butnowtitularmerely,giventoarchitectureandthefinearts(Seyfarth(Anonymous),Lebens—undRegierungs—GeschichteFriedrichsdesAndern(Leipzig,1786),ii。200。OEuvresdeFrederic,vii。33。Preuss,FriedrichmitseinenVerwandten(Berlin。1838),pp。8,17。)],willappriseyouofeveryparticular:letKnobelsdorfsettlesomethingthatmaybepossible。ThisishowIstandatpresent;andinsteadofhavingtoexpectsomefavorfromtheKing[afterwhatIhavedonebyhisorder],Igetnothingbutchagrin。Butwhatiscrueleruponmethanall,isthatyouareill。God,inhisgrace,bepleasedtohelpyou,andrestoretheprecioushealthwhichIsomuchwishyou!……FRIEDRICH。"
[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvii。partlst,p。15。]
JudiciousKnobelsdorfsettlesthatthemeetingistobethisverymorningateight;Wilhelmina(whosememoryalittlefailsherintheinsignificantpoints)doesnottelluswhere:but,byfaintindications,IperceiveitwasintheLake—House,pleasantPavilionintheancientartificialLake,orbigornamentalFishpond,calledBRANDENBURGERWEIHER,acoupleofmilestothenorthofBaireuth:thereFriedrichistostop,——keepingthePaternalOrderfromtheteethoutwardsinthismanner。
Eighto’clock:sothatWilhelminaisobligedatoncetogetupontheroadagain,——poorPrincess,aftersuchadayandnight。
HerdescriptionoftheInterviewisverygood:——
"MyBrotheroverwhelmedmewithcaresses;butfoundmeinsopitiableastate,hecouldnotrestrainhistears。Iwasnotabletostandonmylimbs;andfeltliketofainteverymoment,soweakwasI。HetoldmetheKingwasmuchangeredattheMargraf[myFather—in—Law]fornotlettinghisSonmaketheCampaign,"——
concerningwhichpoint,saidSon,myHusband,beingHeir—Apparent,therehadbeenmucharguinginCourtandCountry,hereatBaireuth,andendlessanxietyonmypoorpart,lestheshouldgetkilledintheWars。"ItoldhimalltheMargraf’sreasons;
andadded,thatsurelytheyweregood,inrespectofmydearHusband。’Well,’saidhe,’lethimquitsoldiering,then,andgivebackhisregimenttotheKing。Butfortherest,quietyourselfastothefearsyoumayhaveabouthimifhedogo;forIknow,bycertaininformation,thattherewillbenobloodspilt。’——’TheyareattheSiegeofPhilipsburg,however。’——’Yes,’saidmyBrother,’buttherewillnotbeabattleriskedtohinderit。’
"TheHereditaryPrince,"myHusband,"cameinwhileweweretalkingso;andearnestlyentreatedmyBrothertogethimawayfromBaireuth。Theywenttoawindow,andtalkedalongtimetogether。Intheend,myBrothertoldmehewouldwriteaveryobligingLettertotheMargraf,andgivehimsuchreasonsinfavoroftheCampaign,thathedoubtednotitwouldturnthescale。
’Wewillstaytogether,’saidhe,addressingtheHereditaryPrince;’andIshallbecharmedtohavemydearBrotheralwaysbesideme。’HewrotetheLetter;gaveittoBaronStein[ChamberlainorGoldstickofours],todelivertotheMargraf。
HepromisedtoobtaintheKing’sexpressleavetostopatBaireuthonhisreturn;——afterwhichhewentaway。ItwasthelasttimeI
sawhimontheoldfootingwithme:hehasmuchchangedsincethen!——WereturnedtoBaireuth;whereIwassoillthat,forthreedays,theydidnotthinkIshouldgetoverit。"[Wilhelmina,ii。200—202。]
Crown—Princedashesoff,southwestward,throughcrosscountry,intotheNurnbergRoadagain;getstoNurnbergthatsameSaturdaynight;andthere,amongotherLetters,writesthefollowing;
whichwillwindupthislittleIncidentforus,stillinahumanmanner:——
3。TOPRINCESSWILHELMINAATBAIREUTH。
"NURNBERG,3dJuly,1734。
"MYDEAREST(TRES—CHERE)SISTER,——Itwouldbeimpossibletoquitthisplacewithoutsignifying,dearestSister,mylivelygratitudeforallthemarksoffavoryoushowedmeintheWEIHERHAUS[HouseontheLake,to—day]。Thehighestofallthatitwaspossibletodo,wasthatofprocuringmethesatisfactionofpayingmycourttoyou。Ibegmillionsofpardonsforsoputtingyouabout,dearestSister;butIcouldnothelpit;foryouknowmysadcircumstanceswellenough。Inmygreatjoy,IforgottogiveyoutheEnclosed。Ientreatyou,writemeoftennewsofyourhealth!
QuestiontheDoctors;and"——andincertaincontingencies,theCrown—Prince"wouldrecommendgoat’s—milk"forhispoorSister。
Hadalready,whatwasnotedofhiminafterlife,atendencytogivemedicaladvice,incasesinterestingtohim?——
"Adieu,myincomparableanddearSister。Iamalwaysthesametoyou,andwillremainsotillmydeath。
"FRIEDRICH。"
[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvii。partlst,p。57。]
Generalswiththeirwheelmended,Margraves,PrinceandnowtheCampEquipagetoo,areallatNurnberg;andstartonthemorrow;
hardlyahundredmilesnowtobedone,——butonslowerterms,owingtotheEquipage。Heilbronn,placeofarmsorcentralstrongholdoftheReich’s—Army,theyreachonMonday:aboutEppingen,nextnight,ifthewindiswesterly,onemayhearthecannon,——notwithoutinterest。ItwasWednesdayforenoon,7thJuly,1734,onsomehill—topcomingdownfromEppingenside,thatthePrincefirstsawPhilipsburgSiege,blottingtheRhineValleyyonderwithitsfireandcounter—fire;andtheTentsofEugenestretchingonthisside:firstviewheeverhadoftheactualitiesofwar。
HisaccounttoPapaissodistinctandgood,welookthroughitalmostasatfirst—handforamoment:——
"CAMPATWIESENTHAL,Wednesday,7thJuly,1734。
"MOSTALL—GRACIOUSFATHER,——……WeleftNurnberg[nothingsaidofourBaireuthaffair],4thearly,anddidnotstoptillHeilbronn;
where,alongwiththeEquipage,Iarrivedonthe5th。YesterdayI
camewiththeEquipagetoEppingen[twentymiles,aslowmarch,givingthefourgonstime];andthismorningwecametotheCampatWiesenthal。IhavedinedwithGeneralRoder[ourPrussianCommander];and,afterdinner,rodewithPrinceEugenewhilegivingtheparole。IhandedhimmyAll—graciousFather’sLetter,whichmuchrejoicedhim。Aftertheparole,Iwenttoseetherelievingofouroutposts[changeofsentriesthere],andviewtheFrenchretrenchment。
"We,"yourMajesty’sContingent,"arethrowingupthreeredoubts:
atoneofthemtoday,threemusketeershavebeenmiserablyshot[GESCHOSSEN,wounded,notquitekilled];twoareofRoder’s,andoneisofFinkenstein’sregiment。
"To—morrowIwillridetoavillagewhichisonourrightwing;
Waghauselisthenameofit[Busching,v。1152。][somefivemilesoff,northofus,nearbytheRhine];thereisasteeplethere,fromwhichonecanseetheFrenchCamp;fromthispointIwillridedown,betweenthetwoLines,"Frenchandours,"toseewhattheyarelike。
"Therearequantitiesofhurdlesandfascinesbeingmade;
which,asIhear,aretobeemployedinoneoftwodifferentplans。Thefirstplanis,ToattacktheFrenchretrenchmentgenerally;theditchwhichisbeforeit,andthemorasswhichliesonourleftwing,tobemadepassablewiththesefascines。
Theotherplanis,ToamusetheEnemybyafalseattack,andthrowsuccorintotheTown。——Onethingiscertain,inafewdaysweshallhaveastrokeofworkhere。Happenwhatmay,myAll—graciousFathermaybeassuredthat"&c。,"andthatIwilldonothingunworthyofhim。
"FRIEDRICH。"
[OEuvres,xxvii。part3d,p。79。]
Neitherofthosefineplanstookeffect;nordidanythingtakeeffect,asweshallsee。Butinregardtothat"surveyfromthesteepleofWaghausel,andridehomeagainbetweentheLines,"——inregardtothat,hereisanauthenticfractionofanecdote,curiouslyfittingin,whichshouldnotbeomitted。AcertainHerrvanSuhm,SaxonMinisteratBerlin,occasionallymentionedhere,stoodinmuchCorrespondencewiththeCrown—Princeintheyearsnowfollowing:Correspondencewhichwasallpublishedattheduedistanceoftime;Suhmhaving,athisdecease,leftthePrince’sLetterscarefullyassortedwiththatview,andfurnishedwithaPrefatory"CharacterofthePrince—Royal(PortraitduPrince—Royal,parM。deSuhm)。"OfwhichPrefacethisisasmallparagraph,relatingtotheSiegeofPhilipsburg;
offeringusamomentaryglanceintoonefibreofthefutileWarnowgoingonthere。OfSuhm,andhowexacthewas,weshallknowalittlebyandby。Of"PrincevonLichtenstein,"anAustrianmanandsoldierofmuchdistinctionafterwards,wehaveonlytosaythathecametoBerlinnextyearonDiplomaticbusiness,andthatprobablyenoughhehadbeeneye—witnesstothelittlefact,——factcredibleperhapswithoutmuchproving。Oneratherregrettedtherewasnodatetoit,nodetailtogiveitwhereaboutandfixityinourconception;thatthepoorlittleAnecdote,thoughindubitable,hadtohangvaguelyintheair。Now,however,theabovedatedLETTERdoes,byaccident,dateSuhm’sAnecdotetoo;date"July8"
asgoodascertainforit;theSiegeitselfhavingended(July18)
intendaysmore。HerrvonSuhmwrites(notforpublicationtillafterFriedrich’sdeathandhisown):——
"ItwasremarkedintheRhineCampaignof1734,thatthisPrincehasagreatdealofintrepidity(BEAUCOUPDEVALEUR)。Ononeoccasion,amongothers[toallappearance,thisveryday,"July8,"ridinghomefromWaghauselbetweenthelines],whenhehadgonetoreconnoitretheLinesofPhilipsburg,withagoodmanypeopleabouthim,——passing,onhisreturn,alongastripofverythinwood,thecannon—shotfromtheLinesaccompaniedhimincessantly,andcrasheddownseveraltreesathisside;duringallwhichhewalkedhishorsealongattheoldpace,preciselyasifnothingwerehappening,norinhishanduponthebridlewastheretheleasttraceofmotionperceptible。Thosewhogaveattentiontothematterremarked,onthecontrary,thathedidnotdiscontinuespeakingverytranquillytosomeGeneralswhoaccompaniedhim;andwhoadmiredhisbearing,inakindofdangerwithwhichhehadnotyethadoccasiontofamiliarizehimself。
ItisfromthePrincevonLichtensteinthatIhavethisanecdote。"
[CorrespondancedeFredericII。avecM。deSuhm(Berlin,1787);Avant—propos,p。xviii。(written28thApril,1740)。TheCORRESPONDANCEisallinOEuvresdeFrederic(xvi,247—408);buttheSuhmPrefacenot。]
Onthe15tharrivedhisMajestyinperson,withtheOldDessauer,Buddenbrock,Derschauandaselectsuite;inhopesofwitnessingremarkablefeatsofwar,nowthatthecrisisofPhilipsburgwascomingon。ManyPrinceswereassembledthere,inthelikehope:
PrinceofOrange(honeymoonwellended[HadweddedPrincessAnne,GeorgeII。’seldest,25th(14th)March,1734;tothejoyofselfandmankind,inEnglandhere。]),avivaciouslightgentleman,slightlycrookedintheback;PrincesofBaden,Darmstadt,Waldeck:allmannerofPrincesanddistinguishedpersonages,fourscorePrincesofthembytale,theeyesofEuropebeingturnedonthismatter,andonoldEugene’sguidanceofit。PrinceFredofEngland,evenhehadanotionofcomingtolearnwar。
Itwasaboutthistime,notmanyweeksago,thatFred,nowfallingintomuchdiscrepancywithhisFather,andatalossforacareertohimself,appearedonasuddenintheAntechamberatSt。James’soneday;andsolemnlydemandedaninterviewwithhisMajesty。
WhichhisindignantMajesty,aftersomeconferencewithWalpole,decidedtogrant。PrinceFred,whenadmitted,madethreedemands:
1。TobeallowedtogoupontheRhineCampaign,bywayofatemporarycareerforhimself;2。Thathemighthavesomethingdefinitetoliveupon,afixedrevenuebeingsuitableinhiscircumstances;3。That,afterthosesadPrussiandisappointments,somesuitableConsortmightbechosenforhim,——heartandhouseholdlyinginsuchwastecondition。PoorFred,whoofusknowswhatofsensemightbeinthesedemands?Fewcreaturesmoreabsurdlysituatedaretobefoundinthisworld。Togowherehisequalswere,andlearnsoldieringalittle,mightreallyhavebeenuseful。PaternalMajestyreceivedFredandhisThreeDemandswithfulminatinglook;answered,tothefirsttwo,nothing;tothethird,aboutaConsort,"Yes,youshall;butberespectfultotheQueen;——andnow。offwithyou;away!"[Coxe’sWalpole,i。322。]
PoorFred,hehasacircleofhungryParliamenteersabouthim;
youngPitt,aCornetofHorse,youngLytteltonofHagley,ouroldSoissonsfriend,nottomentionothersofworsetype;towhomthisroyalYoungGentleman,withhisvanities,ambitions,inexperiences,plentifulinflammabilities,isimportantforexplodingWalpole。Hemayhave,andwithgreatjusticeIshouldthink,thedimconsciousnessoftalentsfordoingsomethingbetterthan"writemadrigals"inthisworld;infinitudeofwishesandappetitesheclearlyhas;——heisfullofinflammablematerials,pooryouth。AndheistheFireshipthoseolderhandsmakeuseofforblowingWalpoleandCompanyoutoftheiranchorage。Whataschoolofvirtueforayounggentleman;——andfortheelderonesconcernedwithhim!HedidnotgettotheRhineCampaign;
norindeedevertoanything,excepttowritingmadrigals,andbeingveryfutile,dissoluteandmiserablewithwhatoftalentNaturehadgivenhim。LetuspitythepoorconstitutionalPrince。
OurFritzwasonlyindangeroflosinghislife;butwhatisthat,tolosingyoursanity,personalidentityalmost,andbecomingParliamentaryFireshiptohisMajesty’sOpposition?
FriedrichWilhelmstayedamonthcampaigninghere;graciouslydeclinedPrinceEugene’sinvitationtolodgeinHeadquarters,underaroofandwithinbuiltwalls;preferredatentamonghisownpeople,andtookthecommonhardships,——withgreathurttohisweakhealth,aswasafterwardsfound。
Intheseweeks,thebigCzarina,whohassetaprice(100,000
rubles,say15,000pounds)upontheheadofpoorStanislaus,hearsthathisPrussianMajestyprotectshim;andthereuponsignifies,inhighterms,Thatshe,byherFeld—marschallMunnich,willcomeacrossthefrontiersandseizethesaidStanislaus。TowhichhisPrussianMajestyanswerspositively,thoughinproperDiplomatictone,"Madam,Iwillinnowisepermitit!"PerhapshisMajesty’sremarkablesttransaction,hereontheRhine,wasthisconcerningStanislaus。ForSeckendorftheFeldzeugmeisterwasherealso,onmilitaryfunction,notforgetfuloftheDiplomacies;whobusilyassailedhisMajesty,ontheKaiser’spart,inthesamedirection:
"GiveupStanislaus,yourMajesty!Howridiculous(LACHERLICH)tobeperhapsruinedforStanislaus!"Butwithouttheleasteffect,noworafterwards。
PoorStanislaus,inthebeginningofJuly,gotacrossintoPreussen,asweintimated;andtherehecontinued,safeagainstanyamountofrublesandFeldmarschalls,entreatiesandmenaces。
AtAngerburg,onthePrussianfrontier,hefoundasteadfastveteran,Lieutenant—GeneralvonKatte,Commandantinthoseparts(FatherofacertainpoorLieutenant,whomwetragicallyknewoflongago!)——whichveterangentlemanreceivedtbeFugitiveMajesty,[Militair—Lexikon,ii。254。]withwelcomeintheKing’sname,andassurancesofanhonorableasylumtillthetimesandroadsshouldclearagainforhisFugitiveMajesty。
FugitiveMajesty,forwhomtheroadsandtimeswereverydarkatpresent,wenttoMarienwerder;talkedofgoing"toPillau,forasea—passage,"ofgoingtovariousplaces;wentfinallytoKonigsberg,andthere——withaconsiderablePolishSuiteofFugitives,verymoneyless,andveryexpensive,mostofthem,whohadaccumulatedabouthim——setuphisabode。Thereforalmosttwoyears,infacttillthisWarended,theFugitivePolishMajestycontinued;FriedrichWilhelmpunctuallyprotectinghim,andevenpayinghimasmallPension(50poundsamonth),——France,theleastitcoulddofortheGrandfatherofFrance,allowingamuchlargerone;larger,thoughstillinadequate。FrancehasleftitsGrandfatherstrangelyinthelurchhere;with"100,000rublesonhishead。"ButFriedrichWilhelmknowsthesacredrites,andwilldothem;continuesdeafasadoor—postaliketothemenacesandtheentreatiesofKaiserandCzarina;strictlyintimatingtoMunnich,whattheLawsofNeutralityare,andthattheymustbeobserved。Which,byhisMajesty’sgoodarrangements,Munnich,willingenoughtothecontraryhaditbeenfeasible,foundhimselfobligedtocomplywith。PrussianMajesty,likeaKingandagentleman,wouldlistentonotermsaboutdismissingordeliveringup,orotherwise,failinginthesacredritestoStanislaus;
buthonorablykepthimtheretillthetimesandroutesclearedthemselvesagain。[Forster,ii。132,134—136。]Aplainpieceofduty;punctuallydone:thebeginningofitfallshereintheCampatPhilipsburg,July—August1734;inMay,1736,weshallseesomeglimpseoftheend!——
HisPrussianMajestyinCampatPhilipsburg——sodistinguishedavolunteer,doingusthehonortoencamphere——"wasaskedtoalltheCouncils—of—warthatwereheld,"saytheBooks。Andhedidattend,theCrown—Princeandhe,onimportantoccasions:but,alas,therewas,sotospeak,nothingtobeconsultedof。
Fascinesandhurdleslayuseless;noattemptwasmadetorelievePhilipsburg。OnthethirddayafterhisMajesty’sarrival,July18th,Philipsburg,afterastiffdefenceofsixweeks,growinghopelessofrelief,hadtosurrender;——FrenchthenproceededtorepairPhilipsburg,noattemptonEugene’sparttomolestthemthere。IftheytryulterioroperationsonthissidetheRiver,hecounter—tries;andthatisall。
OurCrown—Prince,somewhatofajudgeinafteryears,ismaturelyofopinion,ThattheFrenchLineswerebynomeansinexpugnable;
thattheFrenchArmymighthavebeenruinedunderanattackoftheproperkind。[OEuvresdeFrederic,i。167。]
Theirpositionwasbad;noroomtounfoldthemselvesforfight,exceptwiththeTown’scannonplayingonthemallthewhile;
onlyoneBridgetogetacrossby,incaseofcomingtotheworse:
defeatofthemprobable,andruintotheminevitableincaseofdefeat。ButPrinceEugene,withanArmylittletohismind(Reich’s—Contingentsnottobedependedon,thoughtEugene),durstnotventure:"SeventeenvictoriousBattles,andifweshouldbedefeatedintheeighteenthandlast?"
ItisprobabletheOldDessauer,hadhebeenGeneralissimo,withthissameArmy,——inwhich,evenintheReich’spartofit,weknowtenthousandofaneffectivecharacter,——wouldhavedonesomestrokeupontheFrench;butPrinceEugenewouldnottry。
Muchdimmedfromhisformerselfthisoldhero;agenow73;——
agooddealweariedwiththelongmarchthroughTime。AndthisverySummer,hisBrother’sSon,thelastmaleofhisHouse,hadsuddenlydiedofinflammatoryfever;lefttheoldmanverymournful:"Alone,alone,attheendofone’slongmarch;
laurelshavenofruit,then?"Hestoodcautious,onthedefensive;
andinthiscapacityisadmittedtohaveshownskilfulmanagement。
ButPhilipsburgbeingtaken,thereisnolongertheleasteventtobespokenof;theCampaignpassedintoaseriesofadvancings,retreatings,facing,andthenright—aboutfacings,——painfulmanoeuvrings,onbothsidesoftheRhineandoftheNeckar,——
withoutresultfarthertotheFrench,withoutmemorabilitytoeitherside。AboutthemiddleofAugust,FriedrichWilhelmwentaway;——healthmuchhurtbyhismonthundercanvas,amidRhineinundations,andmeredistressingphenomena。Crown—PrinceFriedrichandaselectpartyescortedhisMajestytoMainz,wherewasaDinnerofunusualsublimitybytheKurfurstthere;[15thAugust(Fassmann,p。511。)]——Dinnerdone,hisMajestysteptonboard"theElectoralYacht;"andinthisfinehospitablevehiclewentsweepingthroughtheBingerLoch,rapidlydowntowardsWesel;
andtheCrown—PrinceandpartyreturnedtotheirCamp,whichisupontheNeckaratthistime。
Campshiftsabout,andCrown—Princeinit:toHeidelberg,toWaiblingen,Weinheim;closetoMainzatonetime:butitisnotworthfollowing:norinFriedrich’sownLetters,orinotherdocuments,isthere,onthebestexamination,anythingconsiderabletobegleanedrespectinghisproceduresthere。
Hehearsoftheill—successinItaly,BattleofParmaattheduedate,withthenaturalfeelings;speakswithasorrowfulgayety,ofthemuddyfatigues,futilitieshereontheRhine;——hasthesense,however,nottoblamehissuperiorsunreasonably。
Here,fromoneofhisLetterstoColonelCamas,isapassageworthquotingforthecreditofthewriter。WithCamas,adistinguishedPrussianFrenchman,whomwementionedelsewhere,stillmorewithMadameCamasintimecoming,hecorrespondedmuch,ofteninafinefilialmanner:——
"ThepresentCampaignisaschool,whereprofitmaybereapedfromobservingtheconfusionanddisorderwhichreignsinthisArmy:
ithasbeenafieldverybarreninlaurels;andthosewhohavebeenused,alltheirlife,togathersuch,andonSeventeendistinguishedoccasionshavedoneso,cangetnonethistime。"
Nextyear,weallhopetobeontheMoselle,andtofindthatafruitfulerfield……"Iamafraid,dearCamas,youthinkIamgoingtoputonthecothurnus;tosetupforasmallEugene,and,pronouncingwithadoctoraltonewhateachshouldhavedoneandnothavedone,condemnandblametorightandleft。No,mydearCamas;farfromcarryingmyarrogancetothatpoint,IadmiretheconductofourChief,anddonotdisapprovethatofhisworthyAdversary;andfarfromforgettingtheesteemandconsiderationduetopersonswho,scarredwithwounds,havebyyearsandlongservicegainedaconsummateexperience,Ishallhearthemmorewillinglythaneverasmyteachers,andtrytolearnfromthemhowtoarriveathonor,andwhatistheshortestroadintothesecretofthisProfession。"["CampatHeidelberg,11thSeptember,1734"
(OEuvres,xvi。131)。]
Thisother,toLieutenantGroben,threeweeksearlierindate,showsusadifferentaspect;whichisatleastequallyauthentic;
andmaybeworthtakingwithus。GrobenisLieutenant,——IsupposestilloftheRegimentGoltz,thoughheislefttherebehind;——atanyrate,heismuchafamiliarwiththePrinceatRuppin;
wasringleader,itisthought,inthosemidnightpranksuponparsons,andtheotherescapadesthere;[Busching,v。20。]amerryman,eightyearsolderthanthePrince,——withwhomitisclearenoughhestandsonaveryfreefooting。Philipsburgwaslostamonthago;Frencharebusyrepairingit;andmanoeuvring,withnoeffect,togetintotheinteriorofGermanyalittle。WeinheimisalittleTownonthenorthsideoftheNeckar,adozenmilesorsofromMannheim;——outofwhich,andintowhich,thePrussianCorpsgoesshiftingfromtimetotime,asPrinceEugeneandtheFrenchmanoeuvretonopurposeinthatRhine—NeckarCountry。"HERDEK
TEREMTETEM"itappears,isabitofHungarianswearing;shouldbeORDEKTEREMTETE;andmeans"TheDevilmadeyou!"
MAPGOESHERE——————
"WEINHEIM,17thAugust,1734。
"HERDEKTEREMTETE!’Wentwiththem,gothangedwiththem,’
["Mitgegangenmitgehangen:"LetterisinGerman。]saidtheBielefeldInnkeeper!Sowillitbewithme,poordevil;forIgodawdlingaboutwiththisArmyhere;andtheFrenchwillhavethebetterofus。WewanttobeovertheNeckaragain[totheSouthorPhilipsburgside],andtherogueswon’tletus。
Whatmostprovokesmeinthematteris,thatwhilewearehereinsuchawildernessoftrouble,doingourutmost,bymilitarylaborsandendurances,tomakeourselvesheroic,thousittest,thoudevil,athome!
"DucdeBouillonhaslosthisequipage;ourHussarstookitatLandau[othersidetheRhine,awhileago]。Herewestandinmudtotheears;fifteenoftheRegimentAlt—Badenhavesunkaltogetherinthemud。Mudcomesofawater—spout,orsuddencataractofrain,therewasintheseHeidelbergCountries;
twovillages,FuhrenheimandSandhausen,itswamaway,everystickofthem(GANZUNDGAR)。
"CaptainvanStojentin,ofRegimentFlans,"oneofoureightRegimentshere,"hasgotwoundedinthehead,inanaffairofhonor;heisstillalive,anditishopedhewillgetthroughit。
"TheDrill—DemonhasnowgotintotheKaiser’speopletoo:
PrinceEugeneisgrownheavierwithhisdrillsthanweourselves。
Heisoftenthreehoursatit;——andtheKaiser’speoplecurseusforthesame,atafrightfulrate。Adieu。IftheDevildon’tgetthee,heought。ThereforeVALE。[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvii。part3d,p。181。]
"FRIEDRICH。"
Nolaurelstobegainedhere;butplentyofmud,andlaborioushardship,——met,asweperceive,withyouthfulstoicism,ofthederisive,andperhapsofbetterforms。Friedrichistwenty—twoandsomemonths,whenhemakeshisfirstCampaign。Thegeneralphysiognomyofhisbehaviorinitwehavetoguessfromthesefewindications。Nodoubtheprofitedbyit,onthemilitaryside;
andwouldstudywithquitenewlightandvivacityaftersuchcontactwiththefactstudiedof。Verydidactictowitnesseven"theconfusionsofthisArmy,"andwhatcomesofthemtoArmies!
Fortherest,thesocietyofEugene,Lichtenstein,andsomanyPrincesoftheReich,andChiefsofexistingmankind,couldnotbutbeentertainingtotheyoungman;andsilently,ifhewishedtoreadtheactualTime,assureenoughhe,withhumanandwithroyaleagerness,didwish,——theywerehereastheALPHABETofittohim:importantforyearscoming。Nayitisnotdoubted,theinsightheheregotintotheconditionoftheAustrianArmyanditsmanagement——"Armyleftsevendayswithoutbread,"foroneinstance——gavehimafterwardsthehighlyimportantnotion,thatsuchArmycouldbebeatenifnecessary!——
Wilhelminasays,hischiefcomradewasMargrafHeinrich;——theILL
Margraf;whowascutbyFriedrich,inafteryears,forsomeunknownbadbehavior。MargrafHeinrich"ledhimintoallmannerofexcesses,"saysWilhelmina,——probablyinthelanguageofexaggeration。Hehimselftellsher,inoneofhisLETTERS,adayortwobeforePapa’sdeparture:"TheCampissoontobecloseonMainz,nothingbuttheRhinebetweenMainzandourrightwing,wheremyplaceis;andsosoonasSerenissimusgoes[LE
SERENISSIME,soheirreverentlynamesPapa],Imeantobeacrossforsomesport,"[OEuvresdeFrederic,
xxvii。part1st,p。17(10thAugust)。]——nodoubttheIllMargrafwithme!WiththeElderMargraf,littleSophie’sBetrothed,whomhecalled"bigclown"inaLetterweread,heisatthisdateinopenquarrel,——"BROUILLEATOUTEOUTRANCEwiththemadSon—in—law,whoisthewildestwild—beastofallthisCamp。"[Ibid。]
Wilhelmina’sHusbandhadcome,inthebeginningofAugust;butwasnotsohappyasheexpected。ConsiderablycutoutbytheIllHeinrich。Hereisasmalladventuretheyhad;mentionedbyFriedrich,andcopiouslyrecordedbyWilhelmina:adventureonsomeRiver,——whichwecouldguess,ifitwereworthguessing,tohavebeentheNeckar,nottheRhine。FrenchhadafortifiedpostonthefarthersideofthisRiver;Crown—Prince,IllMargraf,andWilhelmina’sHusbandwerequietlylookingaboutthem,ridinguptheotherside:Wilhelmina’sHusbanddecidedtotakeapencil—
drawingoftheFrenchpost,andpausedforthatobject。