Friedrich’sthousand—foldpreliminaryorderings,movements,rearrangingsinhisArmymatters,mustnotdetainushere;——stilllesshisdealingswiththePandourelement,whichistroublesome,ratherthandangerous。Vigilance,wiseswiftdetermination,valordrilledtoitswork,candealwithphenomenaofthatnature,thoughneversofuriousandinnumerable。Notacheeringservicefordrilledvalor,butaveryneedfulone。Continualbickeringsandskirmishingsfellout,sometimesrisingtosharpfightonthesmallscale:——AustriangrenadierswithcannonareonthatHeighttoleft,andalsoonthistoright,meaningtocutoffourmarch;
thedifficultlandscapefurnishedout,farandwide,withPandourcompaniesinposition:youmustclashin,myBurschen;seizemethatcannon—batteryyonder;mastersuchandsuchapost,——thereistheheartofallthatnetworkofarmeddoggery;slitasunderthat,thenetworkwhollywilltumbleovertheHillsagain。Whichisalwaysdone,onthepartofthePrussianBurschen;thoughsometimesnot,withoutdifficulty。——HisMajestyisformingMagazinesatNeisse,Brieg,andtheprincipalFortressesinthoseparts;
drivingonallmannerofpreparationsattherapidestrateofspeed,andlookingwithhisowneyesintoeverything。Theregimentsareaboutwhatwemaycallcomplete,arithmeticallyandotherwise;
thecavalryshowgoodperfectionintheirnewmodeofmanoeuvring;
——itistobehopedtheFightingApparatusgenerallywillgivefairaccountofitselfwhenthetimecomes。Ouroneanchorofhope,asnowmoreandmoreappears。
OnthePandourelementhefirsttried(underGeneralHautcharmoi,withWinterfeldaschiefactivehand)adirectoutburstortwo,withaviewtoslashthemhomeatonce。Butfindiugthatitwasofnouse,astheyalwaysreappearedinnewmultitudes,herenouncedthat;tooktocallinginhisremoteroutposts;and,exceptwhereMagazinesorthelikeremainedtobecaredfor,letthePandoursbaffleabout,checkedonlybythefortifiedTowns,andmoreandmoresubmergetheHillCountry。PrinceKarl,tobeexpectedintheformoflion,mysteriouslyuncertainonwhichsidecomingtoinvadeus,——he,andnottheinnumerableweaselkind,isourimportantmatter!BytheendofApril(newsofthePEACEOFFUSSENcomingwithal),FriedrichhadquittedNeisse;laycantoned,inNeisseValley(betweenFrankensteinandPatschkau,"abletoassembleinforty—eighthours");studying,withhiswholestrength,tobereadyforthemysteriousPrinceKarl,onwhateversidehemightarrive;
——anddisregardingthePandoursincomparison。
Thepointsofinrush,thetidewaysofthesePandourDelugesseemtobemainlythree。DirectthroughtheJablunka,uponRatiborCountry,isthefirstandchief;lessdirect(partlysuppliedbyREFLUENCES
fromRatibor,whenRatiborisfoundnottoanswer),aseconddisemboguesbyJagerndorf;athird,thewesternmost,byLandshut。
Threemainingresses:ateachofwhichtherefalloutlittleFights;whicharestillcelebratedinthePrussianBooks,andindeedwelldeservereadingbysoldiersthatwouldknowtheirtrade。IntheRatiborparts,theinvasiveleaderisaGeneralKaroly,with12,000underhim,whoarethewildesthordeofall:
"Karolylodgesinawood:forhimselfthereisatent;
hiscompanionssleepundertrees,orundertheopensky,bytheedgeofmorasses。"[Ranke,iii。244。]ItwasagainstthisKarolyandhishordethatHautcharmoi’slittleexpedition,orexpressattackingpartytodrivethemhomeagain,wasshotout(8th—2lstApril)。Whichdiditsworkveryprettily;Winterfeld,chiefhandinit,crowningthematterbya"FightofWurbitz,"[Orlich,ii。136
(21stApril)。]——whereWinterfeld,cuttingthetaproot,inhisusualelectricway,tumblesKarolyquiteINTOthemorasses,andclearsthecountryofhimforatime。Foratime;thoughforatimeonly;
——Karolyorothersreturninginaweekortwo,toastillhigherextentofthousands;mischievousaseverinthoseRatibor—Namslaucountries。Uponwhich,Friedrich,findingthisanendlessbusiness,andnothinglikethemostimportant,givesitupforthepresent;
callsinhisremoterdetachments;hashisMagazinescartedhometotheFortressTowns,——Karolytrying,onceorso,tohinderinthatoperation,butonlyagaingettinghiscrownbroken。["FightofMocker,"May4th(Orlich,ii。141)。]Orifcartingbetoodifficult,stilldonotwasteyourMagazine:——MargrafKarl,forinstance,isorderedtoJagerndorfwithhisDetachment,"toeattheMagazine;"hungryPandourslookingon,tillhefinish。OnwhichoccasionarenownedlittleFighttookplace(FightofNeustadt,orofJagerndorf—Neustadt),asshallbementionedfartheron。
Sothat,forcertainweekstocome,theTolpatcherieshadfreecourse,inthoseFrontierparts;andwerelefttoroveabout,undercheckonlyoftheGarrisonTowns;Friedrichbeingobligedtolookelsewhereafterhigherperils,whichwerenowcominginview。
Inwhichfavorablecircumstances,KarolyandConsortsdid,atlast,makeonestrokeinthoseRatiborcountries;thatofKosel,whichwasgreatlyconsolatory。[26thMay,1743(Orlich,ii。156—158)。]
"BytreacheryofanEnsignwhohaddesertedtothem[provokedbyrigorofdiscipline,orsomeintolerablething],theyglidedstealthily,onenight,acrosstheditches,intoKosel"(ahalf—
fortifiedplace,Prussianworksonlyhalffinished):which,beingtheKeyoftheOderinthoseparts,theyreckonedagloriousconquest;ofgoodomenandworthyofTE—DEUMSatVienna。Andtheydideagerly,withouttheleastmolestation,labortocompletethePrussianworksatKosel:"Onegarrisonalreadyours!"——whichwasnothadfromthemwithoutbattering(andIbelieve,burning),whenGeneralvonNassaucametoinquireafterit;inAutumnnext。
FriedrichhadalwayshopedthattheSaxons,whoarenotyetindeclaredWarwithhim,thoughboundbyTreatytoassisttheQueenofHungaryundercertainconditions,wouldnotventureonactualInvasionofhisTerritories;butinthis,asreadersanticipate,Friedrichfindshimselfmistaken。WeissenfelsishasteningfromtheLeitmeritznorthwesternquarter,wherehehaswintered,tojoinPrinceKarl,whoisgatheringhimselffromOlmutzandhissoutheasternhomeregion;theirfullintentionistoinvadeSilesiatogether,andtheyhopenowatlengthtomakeanendofFriedrichandit。ThesePandourhordes,supportedbythenecessarygrenadiersandcannoniers,aresentasvanguard;thesecannotthemselvesbeathim;buttheymayinducehim(whichtheydonot)todividehisForce;theymay,inpart,burnhimawayasbyslowfire,afterwhichhewillbetheeasiertobeat。Insteadofwhich,Friedrich,leavingthePandourstotheirluck,liesconcentratedinNeisseValley;watching,withallhisfaculties,PrinceKarl’sownadvent(comingonlikeFate,indubitable,yetinvolvedinmysterieshitherto);andisperilouslysensiblethatonlyingivingthatagoodreceptionisthereanyhopelefthim。
PrinceKarl"whoarrivedinOlmutzApril30th,"commandsinchiefagain,——saddened,poorman,bythelossofhisyoungWife,inDecemberlast;willingtostillhisgriefinactionforthecauseSHEloved;——butoldTraunisnotwithhimthisyear:whichisastillmorematerialcircumstance。Traunistogothisyear,undercloaknotofPrinceKarl,butofGrand—DukeFranz,toclearthoseFrankfurtCountriesfortheKAISERWAHLandhim。PrinceContiliesthere,withhisfamous"Middle—RhineArmy"(D’Ahremberg,fromthewesternparts,notnearlysodiligentuponhimasonecouldwish);
andmust,atallrates,beclearedaway。Traun,takingcommandofBathyani’sArmy(nowthatithasfinishedtheBavarianjob),ispreparingtopushdownuponConti,whileBathyani(whoistosupersedethelaggardD’Ahremberg)shallpushvigorouslyup;——andbeforesummerisover,weshallhearofTraunagain,andContiwillhaveheard!——
Friedrich’sindignation,onlearningthattheSaxonswereactuallyonmarch,andgraduallythattheyintendedtoinvadehim,wasgreat;andthewholematterisportentouslyenigmatictohim,asheliesvigilantinNeisseValley,waitingontheWhenandtheHow。
Indignation;——andyetthereisneedofcautionwithal。Tobereadyforevents,theOldDessauerhas,asonesuremeasure,beenrequestedtotakecharge,oncemore,ofa"CampofObservation"ontheSaxonFrontier(asofold,in1741);andhasgivenhisconsent:
["April25th"consents(Orlich,ii。130)。]"CampofMagdeburg,"
"CampofDieskau;"forithadvariousnamesandfigures;checkingsofyourhand,thenlayingsofiton,heavier,lighterandagainheavier,accordingtoone’svariousREADINGSoftheSaxonMystery;
andweshallhearenoughaboutit,intermittently,tillDecembercoming:whenitendedinawayweshallnotforget!——OnwhichtakethisNote:——
"TheCampofObservationwastohavebegunMay1st;didbeginsomewhatlater,’nearMagdeburg,’nottoocloseontheFrontier,norintooalarmingstrength;wasreinforcedtoabout30,000;
inwhichstate[middleofAugust]itsteptforwardtoWieskau,thentoDieskau,closeontheSaxonBorder;andbecame,——withaSaxonCamplyingcloseopposite,andWarformallythreatened,oralmostdeclared,onSaxonybyFriedrich,——analarminglyseriousmatter。
Friedrich,however,againcheckedhishand;anddidnotconsummatetillNovember—December。Butdidthenconsummate;greatlyagainsthiswill;andinawayflaminglyvisibletoallmen!"
[Orlich,ii。130,209,210:Helden—Geschichte,ii。1224—1226;i。1117。]
Friedrich’sownincidentalutterances(whatmorewehaveofFractionsfromthePodewilsLetters),insuchportentousaspectofaffairs,maynowbeworthgiving。ItisnotnowtoJordanthathewrites,gaylyunbosominghimself,asintheFirstWar,——poorJordanlieslanguishing,thesemanymonths;consumptive,tooevidentlydying:——NottoJordan,thistime;noristhetheme"GLOIRE"now,butafardifferent!
FRIEDRICHTOPODEWILS(asbefore,April—May,1745)。
April20thorso,OrdersarecometoBerlin(orders,toPodewils’shorroratsuchathought),Whitherward,shouldBerlinbeassaulted,theOfficialBoards,thePreciositiesandhouseholdgodsaretobetakethemselves:——toMagdeburg,allthese,whichisanimpregnableplace;toStettin,theTwoQueensandRoyalFamily,iftheylikeitbetter。Podewilsinhorror,"hairstandingonend,"
writesthereupontoEichel,Thathehopesthemanagement,"inacertaincontingency,"willbegiventoMinisterBoden;hePodewils,withhishairinthatposture,beingquiteunequaltoit。
Friedrichanswers:——
"APRIL26th……’Icanunderstandhowyouaregettinguneasy,youBerliners。Ihavethemosttoloseofyouall;butIamquiet,andpreparedforevents。IftheSaxonstakepart,’astheysurelywill,’intheInvasionofSilesia,andwebeatthem,IamdeterminedtoplungeintoSaxony。Forgreatmaladies,thereneedgreatremedies。
EitherIwillmaintainmyall,orelselosemyall。[Hearit,friend;andunderstandit,——withhairlyingflat!]Itistrue,thedisaffectionoftheRussianCourt,onsuchtriflinggrounds,wasnottobeexpected;andgreatmisfortunecanbefallus。
Well;ayearortwosooner,ayearortwolater,——itisnotworthone’swhiletobotherabouttheveryworst。Ifthingstakethebetterturn,ourconditionwillbesurerandfirmerthanitwasbefore。Ifwehavenothingtoreproachourselveswith,neitherneedwefretandplagueourselvesaboutbadevents,whichcanhappentoanyman。’——’IamcausingdespatchasecretOrderforBoden[onYOU
knowwhat],whichyouwillnotdeliverhimtillIgivesign。’"——
OnhearingofthePeaceofFussen,perhapsadayorsolater,Friedrichagainwrites:——
"APRIL[nodistinctdate;Neissestill?QUITSNeisse,April28th]……PeaceofFussen,Bavariaturnedagainstme?’Icansaynothingtoit,——except,Therehascomewhathadtocome。Tomeremainsonlytopossessmyselfinpatience。Ifallalliances,resources,andnegotiationsfail,andallconjuncturesgoagainstme,Iprefertoperishwithhonor,ratherthanleadaningloriouslifedeprivedofalldignity。MyambitionwhispersmethatIhavedonemorethananothertothebuildingupofmyHouse,andhaveplayedadistinguishedpartamongthecrownedheadsofEurope。Tomaintainmyselfthere,hasbecomeasitwereapersonalduty;whichIwillfulfilattheexpenseofmyhappinessandmylife。Ihavenochoiceleft:Iwillmaintainmypower,oritmaygotoruin,andthePrussiannamebeburiedunderit。Iftheenemyattemptanythinguponus,wewilleitherbeathim,orwewillallbehewedtopieces,forthesakeofourCountry,andtherenownofBrandenburg。
NoothercounselcanIlistento。’"
SAMELETTER,ORANOTHER?(HerrRankehavinghiscaprices!)……
"Youareagoodman,myPodewils,anddowhatcanbeexpectedofyou"(Podewilshasbeenapologizingforhisterrors;andreferringhopefully"toProvidence"):"Performfaithfullythegivenworkonyourside,asIonmine;fortherest,letwhatyoucall’Providence’decideasitlikes[UNEPROVIDENCEAVEUGLE?Ranke,whoaloneknows,gives"BLINDEVORSEHUNG。"Whatanutterance,onthepartofthislittleTitan!Consideritasexceptionalwithhim,unusual,accidentaltothehardmoment,andperhapsnotsoimpiousasitlooks!]——Neitherourprudencenorourcourageshallbeliabletoblame;butonlycircumstancesthatwouldnotfavorus……
"Ipreparemyselfforeveryevent。Fortunemaybekindorbeunkind,itshallneitherdisheartenmenorupliftme。IfIamtoperish,letitbewithhonor,andswordinhand。Whattheissueistobe——Well,whatpleasesHeaven,ortheOtherParty(J’AIJETELE
BONNETPARDESSUSLESMOULINS)!Adieu,mydearPodewils;becomeasgoodaphilosopherasyouareapolitician;andlearnfromamanwhodoesnotgotoElsner’sPreaching[fashionableatthetime],thatonemustopposetoillfortuneabrowofiron;and,duringthislife,renounceallhappiness,allacquisitions,possessionsandlyingshows,noneofwhichwillfollowusbeyondthegrave。"
[Ranke,iii。pp。238—241。]
"BywhatpointstheAustrian—SaxonArmamentwillcomethroughuponus?Togetherwillitbe,orseparately?SaxonsfromtheLausitz,AustriansfromBohmen,enclosingusbetweentwofires?"——wereenigmaticquestionswithFriedrich;andtheSaxonsespeciallyareanenigma。Butthatcometheywill,thatthesePandoursaretheirpreliminaryveiling—apparatusasusual,isevidenttohim;andthathemustnotspendhimselfuponPandours;butcoalesce,andliereadyforthemainwrestle。SothatfromApril28th,asabovenoticed,Friedrichhasgoneintocantonments,somewayuptheNeisseValley,westwardofNeisseTown;andiscallinginhisoutposts,hisdetachments;emptyinghisFrontierMagazines;——
abandoninghisUpper—SilesianFrontiermoreandmore,andintheendaltogether,tothePandourhordes;asmallmatterthey,comparedtothegrandInvasionwhichiscomingon。Here,withshiftingsuptheNeisseValley,heliestilltheendofMay;
watchingArgus—like,andscanningwitheveryfacultytheAustrian—
Saxonmotionsandintentions,untilatlengththeybecomecleartohim,andweshallseehowhedealswiththem。
Hisownlodging,orhead—quarter,mostofthistime(4thMay—27thMay),isinthepleasantAbbeyofCamenz(mythicsceneofthatBAUMGARTEN—SKIRMISHbusiness,intheFirstSilesianWar)。HehasexcellentTobiasStuscheforcompanyinleisurehours;andtheoutlookofbrightSpringallroundhim,floweringintogorgeousSummer,ashehurriesaboutonhismanyoccasions,notofanidyllicnature。[Orlich,ii。139;Ranke,iii。242—249。]ButhisArmyisgettingintoexcellentcompletenessofnumber,health,equipment,andaltogethersuchaspiritashecouldwish。May22d,hereisanothersnatchfromsomeNotetoPodewils,fromthisbalmyLocality,potentialwithsuchexplosionsofanotherkind。
CAMENZ,MAY22d……"TheEnemiesaremakingmovements;butnothinglikeenoughasyetforourguessingtheirdesigns。Tillwesee,therefore,thethunderliesquietinus(LAFOUDREREPOSEENMES
MAINS)。Ah,couldwebuthaveaDaylikethatMayEleventh!"
[Ranke,iii。248n。]
What"thatMayEleventh"isorwas?Readersarecurioustoknow;
especiallyEnglishreaders,whoguessFONTENOY。AndHistoricArt,ifshewerestrict,woulddeclinetoinformthematanylength;
forreallythethingisnobetterthana"VictoryontheScamander,andaSiegeofPekin"(asacertainobserverdidafterwardsdefineit),inreferencetothematternowonhand!Well,Pharsalia,Arbela,theScamander,Armageddon,andsomanyBattlesandVictoriesbeingluminous,bystudy,tocultivatedEnglishmen,andone’sownFontenoysuchamysteryandriddle,——Art,afterconsideration,reluctantlyconsentstobeindulgent;willproducefromherPaperImbrogliosaslightPieceonthesubject,andprintinsteadofburning。
ChapterVIII。
THEMARTIALBOYANDHISENGLISHversusTHELAWS0FNATURE。
"GloriousCampaignintheNetherlands,SiegeofTournay,finalruinoftheDutchBarrier!"thisistheFrenchprogramforSeason1745,——noBelleisletocontradictit;BelleislesecureatWindsor,whomighthaveleantmoretowardsGermanenterprises。AndtothishisBritannicMajesty(smallgaintohimfromthatadroitnessintheHarz,lastwinter!)hastomakefront。Andisstrenuouslydoingso,byallmethods;especiallybyheroicexpenditureofmoney,anddittoexposureofhisMartialBoy。PooroldWade,lastyear,——
perhapsWadedidsuffer,ashealleged,from"wantofsufficientauthorityinthatmixedArmy"?Well,hereisaPrinceoftheBlood,RoyalHighnessofCumberland,tocommandinchief。WithaKonigsecktodry—nursehim,maynotRoyalHighness,luckfavoring,doverywell?Luckdidnotfavor;BritannicMajesty,neitherintheNetherlandsoverseas,norathome(strangenewdomesticwool,ofatarryHIGHLANDnature,beingthrownhimtocard,onthesudden!),madeagoodCampaign,butabad。Andagainabad(1746)andagain(1747),everagain,tillhepleasedtoceasealtogether。Ofwhichdistressingobjectsweproposethatthefollowingoneglimpsebeourlast。
BATTLEOFFONTENOY(11thMay,1745)……"IntheendofApril,MarechaldeSaxe,nowbecomeveryfamousforhissiegesintheNetherlands,openedtrenchesbeforeTournay;
KingLouis,withhisDauphin,nottospeakofmistresses,play—
actorsandcookeryapparatus(inwagonsinnumerable),hastenstobethere。AfightingArmy,sayof70,000,besidesthegarrisons;andgreatthings,itisexpected,willbedone;Tournay,inspiteofstrongworksandDutchgarrisonof9,000,tobetakeninthefirstplace。
"OftheSiege,whichwasdifficultandardent,wewillremembernothing,exceptthemischancethatbefellacertain’MarquisdeTalleyrand’andhismen,inthetrenches,onenight。Nightofthe8th—9thMay,bycarelessnessofsomebody,asparkgotintotheMarquis’spowder,twopowder—barrelsthattherewere;and,withhorriblecrash,senteightymen,MarquisTalleyrandandEngineerDuMazisamongthem,aloftintotheotherworld;rainingdowntheirlimbsintothecoveredway,wheretheDutchwereveryinhumantothem,andprovokedustoretaliate。[Espagnac,ii。27。]DuMazisI
donotknow;butMarquisdeTalleyrandturnsout,onstudyoftheFrenchPeerages,tobeUncleofalamelittleBoy,whobecameRightReverendTallyrandundersingularconditions,andhasmadethenameverycurrentinafter—times!——
"HearingofthisSiege,theDukeofCumberlandhastenedoverfromEngland,withintenttoraisethesame。Musteredhis’AlliedArmy’
(oncecalled’Pragmatic’),——selfattheheadofit;oldCountKonigseck,whowasNOTburntatChotusitz,commandingthesmallAustrianquota[AustriansmainlyaregonelaggardingwithD’AhremberguptheRhine];andaPrinceofWaldecktheDutch,——ontheplainofAnderlechtnearBrussels,May4th;[Anonymous,LifeofCumberland,p。180;Espagnac,ii。
26。]andfoundallthingstolerablycomplete。Uponwhich,straightway,hisRoyalHighness,60,000strongletussay,setforth;byslowishmarches,andaroutesomewhatleftwardofthegreatTournayRoad[noplaceonit,exceptperhapsSTEENKERKE,everheardofbyanEnglishreader];andonSunday,9thMay,[Espagnac,ii。27。]preciselyonthemorrowafterpoorTalleyrandhadgonealoft,reachedcertainfinalVillages:Vezon,Maubray,whereheencamps,Briffoeiltorear;CamplookingtowardsTournayandthesettingsun,——withFontenoyshortwayahead,andAntoinetoleftofit,andBarrywithitsWoodstoright:——smallpeaceableVillages,whichbecomefamousintheNewspapersshortlyafter。[PatchofMapatp。440。]RoyalHighness,restinghereatVezon,isbutsomesixorsevenmilesfromTournay;inlowundulatingCountry,woodyhereandthere,notwithoutthreadsofrunningwater,andwithfrequentVillagesandtheiradjuncts:thepartofitnowinterestingtousliesallbetweentheBrussels—TournayRoadandtheScheldRiver,——
allinimmediatefrontofhisRoyalHighness,——tosoutheastwardfrombeleagueredTournay,wheresaidRoadandRiverintersect。
HowshallhemakesomeimpressionontheSiegeofTournay?
Thatisnowthequestion;andhisRoyalHighnessstrugglestomanoeuvreaccordingly。
MarechaldeSaxe,whosehabitismuchthatofvigilance,forethought,sagaciousprecaution,singularinsodissoluteaman,hasneglectednothingonthisoccasion。Heknowseveryfootoftheground,havingsiegedhere,inhisboyhood,oncebefore。Leavingthesiege—trenchesatTournay,underchargeofatenorfifteenthousand,hehastakencamphere;stillwithsuperiorforce(56,000
astheycount,RoyalHighnessbeingonly50,000ranked),barringRoyalHighness’sway。Tournay,oratleasttheMarechal’strenchesthere,areontherightbankoftheScheld;whichflowsfromsoutheast,securingallonthathand。ThebroadBrusselsHighwaycomesintohimfromtheeast;——northofthathehasnothingtofear,thegroundbeingcutwithbogs;nogettingthroughuponhim,thatway,toTournayandwhathecallsthe’UnderScheld。’
The’UpperScheld’too,availthemnothing。Thereisonlythattriangletothesoutheast,betweenRoadandRiver,wheretheEnemyisnowmanoeuvringinfrontofhim,fromwhichdamagecanwellcome;andhehasdonehisbesttobesecurethere。Fourvillagesorhamlets,closetotheScheldandonwardstotheGreatRoad,——
Antoine,Fontenoy,Barry,Ramecroix,withtheirlanesandboscages,——makeakindofcircularbasetohistriangle;baseofsomesixoreightmiles;withhollowsinit,brooks,andnorthwardaconsiderableWood[BOISDEBARRY,envelopingBarryandRamecroix,whichdonotproveofmuchinteresttous,thoughtheBOISdoesofagooddeal]。Inandbeforeeachofthosevillagesarepostsanddefences;inAntoineandFontenoyelaborateredoubts,batteries,redansconnecting:intheWood(BOISDEBARRY),anabattis,orwalloffelledtrees,aswellascannon;andatthepointoftheWood,wellwithindoublerangeofFontenoy,isaRedoubt,calledofEu(REDOUTED’EU,fromtheregimentoccupyingit),whichwillmuchconcernhisRoyalHighnessandus。Saxehasahundredpiecesofcannon[saytheEnglish,whichiscorrect],consummatelydisposedalongthisspace;noingresspossibleanywhere,exceptthroughthecannon’sthroat;torrentsoffireandcross—fireplayingonyou。
Heisarmedtotheteeth,astheysay;andhashis56,000arrangedaccordingtothebestrulesoftactics,behindthismurderouslineofworks。IfhisRoyalHighnessthinkofbreakingin,hemaycountonaverywarmreceptionindeed。
"SaxeisonlyafraidhisRoyalHighnesswillnot。Outsideoftheselines,witha50,000dashingfiercelyroundus,underanykindofleading;pouncingonourconvoys;harassingandsiegingUS,——oursiegeofToumaywereasadoutlook。AndthisisoldAustrianKonigseck’sopinion,too;though,theysay,WaldeckandtheDutch(impetuousintheoryatleast)opinedotherwise,andstrengthenedRoyalHighness’sview。Twoyoungmenagainstoneold:’Beitso,then!’HisRoyalHighness,resoluteforgettingin,manoeuvresandinvestigates,allMonday10th;hiscannonisnottoarrivecompletelytillnight;otherwisehewouldbeforbreakinginatonce:afearlessyoungman,fearlessaseverhispoorFatherwas;
certainlyamanSANSPEUY,thisonetoo;whetherofmuchAVIS,weshallseeanon。
"Tuesdaymorningearly,11thMay,1745,cannonbeingup,anddispositionsmade,hisRoyalHighnesssalliesout;seeshismentakingtheirground:DutchandAustrianstotheleft,chieflyoppositeAntoine;English,withsomeHanoverians,inthecentreandtotheright;infantryinfront,facingFontenoy,cavalrytorearflankingtheWoodofBarry,——Konigseck,Ligonierandothersable,assistingtoplantthemadvantageously;cannongoing,onbothsides,thewhile;radiantenthusiasm,SANSPEURETSANSAVIS,lookingfromhisRoyalHighness’sface。Hehasbeenonhorsebacksincetwointhemorning;cannonstartedthunderingbetweenfiveandsix,——haskilledchivalrousGrammontoveryonder(theGrammontofDettingen),almostatthefirstvolley。Andnowaboutthetimewhenploughersbreakfast(eightA。M。,noploughinghereaboutsto—day!),beginstheattack,simultaneouslyorinswiftsuccession,onthevariousbatterieswhichitwillbenecessarytoattackandstorm。
"Theattackstookplace;butnoneofthemsucceeded。DutchandAustrians,ontheextremeleft,weretohavestormedAntoinebytheedgeoftheRiver;thatwastheirmaintask;rightskirtofthemtohelpUSmeanwhilewithFontenoy。Andtheyadvanced,accordingly;
butfoundtheshotfromAntoinetoofierce:especiallywhenasubsidiarybatteryopenedfromacrosstheRiver,andtooktheminflank,theDutchandAustriansfeltastonished;andhastilydrewaside,undersomeshelteringmoundorearthworktheyhadfoundforthemselves,orprudentlythrownupthenightbefore。There,undertheirearthwork,stoodtheDutchandAustrians;patientlyexpectingafittertime,——whichindeedneveroccurred;foralways,theinstanttheydrewout,thebatteriesfromAntoine,andfromacrosstheRiver,instantlyopeneduponthem,andtheyhadtodrawinagain。Sothattheystoodthere,inamanner,allday;andsotospeakdidnothingbutpatientlyexpectwhenitshouldbetimetorun。Forwhichtheywereloudlycensured,anddeservedly。
AntoineisandremainsatotalfailureonthepartoftheDutchandAustrians。
"RoyalHighnessinperson,withhisEnglish,wastoattackFontenoy;——andisdoingso,bybatteryandstorm,atvariouspoints;withemphasis,thoughwithoutresult。Aspreliminary,atanearlystagehehadsentforwardontheright,bytheWoodofBarry,aBrigadierIngoldsby’withSemple’sHighlanders’andotherforce,tosilence’thatredoubtyonderatthepointoftheWood,’——
redoubt,fort,orwhateveritbe(famousREDOUTED’EU,asitturnedout!),——whichguardsFontenoytonorth,andwilltakeusinflank,nayinrear,aswestormthecannonoftheVillage。
Ingoldsby,speedimperativeonhim,pushedintotheWood;foundFrenchlight—troops(’Godknowshowmanyofthem!’)prowlingaboutthere;foundtheRedoubtaterriblystrongthing,withditch,drawbridge,whatnot;spentthirtyorfortyofhisHighlanders,insomefranticattemptonitbyruleofthumb;——andfound’Hewouldneedartillery’andotherthings。Inshort,Ingoldsby,hastenwhathemight,couldnotperfectthepreparationstohismind,hadtowaitforthisandforthat;anddidnotstormtheRedoubtd’Euatall;buthungfire,inanunaccountablemanner。Forwhichhehadtoanswer(toCourt—Martial,stillmoretotheNewspapers)afterwards;
andprovethatitwasmisfortunemerely,ormisfortuneandstupiditycombined。Tooevident,theREDOUTED’EUwasnottaken,thenorthenceforth;whichmighthaveprovedthesavingofthewholeaffair,couldIngoldsbyhavemanagedit。RoyalHighnessattackedFontenoy,andre—attacked,furiously,thriceover;andhadtodesist,andfindFontenoyimpossibleonthoseterms。
"Hereisapieceofwork。Repulsedatallthosepoints;andontheleftandontheright,nospiritvisiblebutwhatdeservesrepulse!
HisRoyalHighnessblazesintoresplendentPLATT—DEUTSCHrage,whatwemaycallspiritualwhite—heat,amanSANSPEURatanyrate,andprettymuchSANSAVIS;decidesthathemustandwillbethroughthoselines,ifitpleaseGod;thathewillnotberepulsedathispartoftheattack,notheforone;butwillplungethrough,bywhatgapthereis[900yardsVoltairemeasuresit[OEuvres,xxviii。150(SIECLEDELOUIS
QUINZE,c。xv。"BATAILLEDEFONTENOI,"——elaboratelyexactonallsucbpoints)。]]betweenFontenoyandthatRedoubtwithitslaggardIngoldsby;andseewhattheFrenchinteriorislike!Heralliesrapidly,rearranges;formshimselfinthincolumnorcolumns[threeofthem,Ithink,——whichgraduallygotcrushedintoone,astheyadvanced,undercaunon—shotonbothhands],——wheelinghisleftround,toberear,hisrighttobeheadofsaidcolumnorcolumns。
Incolumn,thecannon—shotfromFontenoyontheleft,andRedoubtd’Euonourright,willtelllessonus;andbetweenthesetwodeath—dealinglocalities,bythehollowest,leastshelterlesswaydiscoverable,wemeantopenetrate:(Forward,mymen,steadyandswift,tillwearethroughtheshot—range,andfindmentograpplewith,insteadofcase—shotandprojectileiron!’MarechaldeSaxeownedafterwards,’Heshouldhaveputanadditionalredoubtinthatplace,buthedidnotthinkanyArmywouldtrysuchathing’
(cannonbatteriesplayingoneachhandat400yardsdistance);——norhasanyArmysinceorbefore!
"Thesecolumnsadvance,however;throughbushyhollows,water—
courses,throughwhatdefilesorhollowestgroundsthereare;
endurethecannon—shot,whiletheymust;trailingtheirownheavygunsbyhand,andoccasionallyblastingoutofthemwherethegroundfavors;——anddo,withindignantpatience,windthemselvesthrough,prettymuchbeyonddirectshot—rangeofeitherd’EuorFontenoy。AndhaveactuallygotintotheinteriormysteryoftheFrenchLineofBattle,——whichisnotalittleastonishedtoseethemthere!Itisoverakindofbluntridge,orrisingground,thattheyarecoming:onthecrownofthisrisingground,theFrenchregimentfrontingit(GARDESFRANCAISESasitchancedtobe)
notices,withsurprise,field—cannonpointedthewrongway;
actualBritishartilleryunaccountablyshowingitselfthere。
RegimentofGARDESrushesuptoseizesaidfield—pieces:but,onthesummit,perceiveswithamazementthatitcannot;thataheavyvolleyofmusketryblazesintoit(killingsixtymen);thatitwillhavetorushbackagain,andreportprogress:HugeBritishforce,ofunknownextent,isreadjustingitselfintocolumnthere,andwillbeuponusontheinstant。Hereisnews!
"Newstrueenough。TheheadoftheEnglishcolumncomestosight,overtherisingground,closeby:theirofficersdofftheirhats,politelysalutingours,whoreturnthecivility:waseversuchpolitenessseenbefore?Itisafact;andamongthememorablestofthisBattle。NayacertainEnglishOfficerofmark——LordCharlesHaythenameofhim,valuedsurelyintheannalsoftheHayandTweeddaleHouse——stepsforwardfromtheranks,asifwishingsomething。Towardswhom[saystheaccurateEspagnac]Marquisd’Auteroche,grenadier—lieutenant,withairofpoliteinterrogation,notknowingwhathemeant,madeasteportwo:
’Monsieur,’saidLordCharles(LORDCHARLES—HAY),’bidyourpeoplefire(FAITESTIRERVOSGENS)!’’NON,MONSIEUR,NOUSNETIRONS
JAMAISLESPREMIERS(Weneverfirefirst)。’[Espagnac,ii。60(oftheORIGINAL,Toulouse,1789);ii。48oftheGermanTranslation(Leipzig,1774),ourusualreference。Voltaire,endlesslyinformedupondetailsthistime,isequallyexpress:"MILORDCHARLESHAY,CAPITAINEAUXGARDESANGLAISES,CRIA:’MESSIEURSDESGARDES
FRANCAISES,TIREZ!’TowhichCountd’Auterochewithaloudvoiceanswered"&c。(OEuvres,vol。xxviii。p。155。)SeealsoSouvenirsduMarquisdeValfons(editedbyaGrand—Nephew,Paris,1860),p。151;——apoor,considerablynoisyanduncleanlittleBook;whichprovesunexpectedlyworthlookingat,inregardtosomeofthosepoorBattlesandpersonagesandoccurrences:theBohemianBelleisle—Brogliopart,tomyregret,iftonootherperson’s,hasbeenomitted,asextinct,orundecipherablebytheGrand—Nephew。]AfterYOU,Sirs!Isnotthisabitofmodernchivalry?Asupremepolitenessinthatsniffingpococurantekind;probablythehighestpoint(orlowest)iteverwentto。WhichIhaveoftenthoughtof。"
ItisalmostpitytodisturbanelegantHistoricalPassageofthiskind,circulatingroundtheworld,insomeglory,foracenturypast:buttherehasasmallirrefragableDocumentcometome,whichmodifiesitagooddeal,andreducesmatterstothebusinessform。
LordCharlesHay,"Lieutenant—Colonel,"practicalHead,"oftheFirstRegimentofFoot—guards,"wrote,aboutthreeweeksafter(ordictatedinsadspelling,nothimselfabletowriteforwounds),aLettertohisBrother,ofwhichhereisanExcerptatfirsthand,withonlythespellingaltered:……"ItwasourRegimentthatattackedtheFrenchGuards:andwhenwecamewithintwentyorthirtypacesofthem,IadvancedbeforeourRegiment;dranktothem[totheFrench,fromthepocket—pistolonecarriesonsuchoccasions],andtoldthemthatweweretheEnglishGuards,andhopedthattheywouldstandtillwecamequiteuptothem,andnotswimtheScheldastheydidtheMaynatDettingen[shamefulTHIRD—
BRIDGE,notofwood,thoughcarpetedwithbluecloththere]!
UponwhichIimmediatelyturnedabouttoourownRegiment;
speechedthem,andmadethemhuzza,"——Ihopewithawill。
"AnOfficer[d’Auteroche]cameoutoftheranks,andtriedtomakehismenhuzza;however,therewerenotabovethreeorfourintheirBrigadethatdid。"["Ath,Mayye20th,o。s。"(toJohn,FourthMarquisofTweeddale,last"SecretaryofStateforScotland,"andamanoffigureinhisday):LetterisatYesterHouse,EastLothian;
ExcerptPENESME。]……
Verypoorcounter—huzza。Andnottheleastwhisperofthatsublime"Afteryou,Sirs!"butrather,inconfusedform,ofquitethereverse;Hayhavingbeenhimselffiredinto("firehadbegunonmyleft;"Haytotallyignorantonwhichsidefirst),——firedinto,ratherfeebly,andwoundedbythoseD’Auterochepeople,whilehewasstilladvancingwithshoulderedarms;——uponwhich,andnottillwhich,hedidgiveitthem:inliberaldose;andquiteblewthemofftheground,forthatday。Fromallwhich,onehastoinfer,Thatthemutualsalutationbyhatwasprobablyafact;that,forcertain,therewassomeslightpreliminarytalkandgesticulation,butintheHomericstyle,bynomeansintheEspagnac—French,——
notchivalrousepigramatall,mereroughbanter,andwhatiscalled"chaffing;"——andinshort,thattheFrenchMess—rooms(withtheireloquenttalentthatway)hadroundedoffthethingintothecurrentepigrammaticredaction;theauthenticbusiness—formofitbeingruggedlywhatisnowgiven。LetourManuscriptproceed。
"D’Auterochedecliningthefirstfire,"——oracceptingit,ifeveroffered,nobodycansay,——"thethreeGuardsRegiments,LordCharles’sontheright,giveithimhotandheavy,’tremendousrollingfire;’sothatD’Auteroche,respondingmoreorless,cannotstandit;buthasatoncetorustleintodiscontinuity,heandhis,androllrapidlyoutoftheway。AndtheBritishColumnadvances,steadily,terribly,hurlingbackalloppositionfromit;deeperanddeeperintotheinteriormysteriesoftheFrenchHost;blastingitswaywithgunpowder;——inamagnificentmanner。AcompactColumn,slowlyadvancing,——apparentlyofsome16,000foot。
Pauses,readjustsitselfalittle,whennotmeddledwith;
whenmeddledwith,hascannon,hasrollingfire,——deliversfromit,infact,onbothhandssuchatorrentofdeadlycontinuousfireaswasrarelyseenbeforeorsince。’FEUINFERNAL,’theFrenchcallit。TheFrenchmakevehementresistance。Battalions,squadrons,regimentafterregiment,chargemadlyonthisterribleColumn;butrushonlyondestructionthereby。RegimentThisstormsinfromtheright,regimentThatfromtheleft;havetheircolonelsshot,’losethehalfoftheirpeople;’andhastilydrawbackagain,inawreckedcondition。Thecavalry—horsescannotstandsuchsmokeandblazing;norindeed,Ithink,canthecavaliers。REGIMENTDUROI
rushingon,fullgallop,tochargethisColumn,gotonevolleyfromit[saysEspagnac]whichbroughttotheground460men。
Naturalenoughthathorsestakethebitbetweentheirteeth;
likewisethatmentakeit,andcareerverymadlyinsuchcircumstances!
MAPChap。VIII,Book15,PAGE440GOESABOUTHERE————————
"TheterribleColumnwithslowinflexibilityadvances;cannon(nowinreversedposition)fromthatRedoubtd’Eu(’Shameonyou,Ingoldsby!’),andirregularmusketryfromFontenoyside,playinguponit;defeatedregimentsmakingbarriersoftheirdeadmenandfiringthere;Columnalwaysclosingitsgappedranks,andgirdledwithinsupportablefire。ItoughttohavetakenFontenoyandRedoubtd’Eu,saymilitarymen;itoughttohavedoneseveralthings!IthasnowcuttheFrenchfairlyintwo;——andSaxe,whoisearnestlysurveyingitahundredpacesahead,sendsword,conjuringtheKingtoretireinstantly,——acrosstheScheld,byCalonneBridgeandthestrongrear—guardthere,——who,however,willnot。KingandDauphin,onhorsebackboth,havestood’attheJustice(GALLOWS,infact)ofourLadyoftheWoods,’notstirringmuch,occasionallyshiftingtoawindmillwhichisstillhigher,——yeHeavens,withwhatintrepidity,allday!——’agoodmanycountry—folkintreesclosebehindthem。’Country—folk,Isuppose,havebythistimeseenenough,andarecopiouslymakingoff:buttheKingwillnot,thoughthingsdolookdubious。
"Infact,theBattlehangsnowuponahair;theBattleisasgoodaslost,thinksMarechaldeSaxe。Hisbattle—linestornintwointhatmanner,hoveringinraggedcloudsoverthefield,whathopeisthereintheBattle?Fontenoyisfiringblank,thissometime;
itscannon—ballsdone。Officers,inAntoine,areaboutwithdrawingtheartillery,——thenagain(onneworder)replacingitawhile。
AllarelookingtowardstheScheldBridge;earnestlyentreatinghisMajestytowithdraw。HadtheDutch,atthispointoftime,brokenheartilyin,asWaldeckwasurgingthemtodo,upontheredoubtsofAntoine;orhadhisRoyalHighnesstheDuke,forhisownbehoof,possessedduecavalryorartillerytoactupontheseraggedclouds,whichhangbrokenthere,veryfitforbeingswept,werethereanartillery—and—horsebesomtodoit,——ineitherofthesecasestheBattlewastheDuke’s。Andarightfieryvictoryitwouldhavebeen;tomakehisnamefamous;andconfirmtheEnglishintheirmadmethodoffighting,likeBaresarksorJanizariesratherthanstrategichumancreatures。[See,inBusching’sMagazin,xvi。169("Yourillustrious’Column,’atFontenoy?
Itwasfortuitous,Isay;donelikejanizaries;"andsoforth),aCriticismworthreadingbysoldiers。]
"Butneitherofthesecontingencieshadbefallen。TheDutch—
AustrianwingdidevincesomewishtogetpossessionofAntoine;
anddrewoutalittle;butthegunsalsoawokeuponthem;
whereupontheDutch—Austriansdrewinagain,thinkingthetimenotcome。AsfortheDuke,hehadtakenwithhimofcannonagoodfew;
butofhorsenoneatall(impossibleforhorse,unlessFontenoyandtheRedoubtd’Euwereours!)——andhishorsehavebeenhangingabout,intheWoodofBarryallthiswhile,uncertainwhattodo;
theiroldCommanderbeingkilledwithal,andtheirnewadubitativeperson,andnoordersleft。TheDukehadleftnoorders;havingindeedbrokeninhere,inwhatwecalledaspiritualwhite—heat,withoutaskinghimselfmuchwhathewoulddowhenin:’BeattheFrench,knockthemtopowderifIcan!’——MeanwhiletheFrenchcloudsarereassemblingalittle:RoyalHighnesstooisreadjustinghimself,nowgot’300yardsaheadofFontenoy,’——pausesthereabouthalfanhour,notseeinghiswayfarther。
"Duringwhichpause,DucdeRichelieu,famousblackguardman,gallopsuptotheMarechal,gallopsrapidlyfromMarechaltoKing;
suggesting,’werecannonbroughtAHEADofthisclosedeepColumn,mightnottheyshearitintobeautifuldestruction;andthenageneralchargebemade?’SocounselledRichelieu:itissaid,theJacobiteIrishman,CountLallyoftheIrishBrigade,wasprimeauthorofthisnotion,——amanoftragicnotorietyintimecoming。
["ThomasArthurLallyComtedeTollendal,"patronymically"O’MuLALLYofTULLINDALLY"(aplacesomewhereinConnaught,undiscoverablewhere,notmaterialwhere):seeourdropsicalfriend(inoneofhiswheezieststates),KingJames’sIrishArmy—List(Dublin,1855),pp。594—600。]Whoeverwasauthorofit,MarechaldeSaxeadoptsiteagerly,KingLouiseagerly:swiftitbecomesafact。Universalrally,universalsimultaneouschargeonbothflanksoftheterribleColumn:thisitmightresist,asithasdonethesetwohourspast;butcannonahead,shearinggapsthroughitfromendtoend,thisiswhatnocolumncanresist;——andonlyperhapsoneofFriedrich’scolumns(ifeventhat)withFriedrich’seyeuponit,couldmakeitshalf—right—
about(QUARTDECONVERSION),turnitssidetoit,andmanoeuvreoutofit,insuchcircumstances。ThewrathfulEnglishcolumn,slitintoribbons,candonothingatmanoeuvring;blazesandrages,——
moreandmoreclearlyinvain;collapsesbydegrees,rollsintoribbon—coils,andwindsitselfoutofthefield。Notmuchchased,——
itscavalrynowseeingajob,andissuingfromtheWoodofBarrytocovertheretreat。Notmuchchased;——yetwithaloss,theysay,inall,of7,000killedandwounded,andabout2,000prisoners;
Frenchlossbeingunder5,000。
"TheDutchandAustrianshadfoundthatthefittimewasnowcome,ortakentimebytheforelock,——theirpartoftheloss,theysaid,wasathousandandoddhundreds。TheBattleendedabouttwoo’clockoftheday;hadbegunabouteight。Tuesday,11thMay,1745:oneofthehottesthalf—day’sworksIhaveknown。AthingmuchtobemeditatedbytheEnglishmind。——KingLouissteptdownfromtheGallows—HillofOurLady;andKISSEDMarechaldeSaxe。Saxewasnearlydeadofdropsy;couldnotsitonhorseback,exceptforminutes;wascarriedaboutinawickerbed;hashadaleadbulletinhismouth,allday,tomitigatetheintolerablethirst。
Tournaywassoontaken;theDutchgarrison,thoughstrong,andinastrongplace,makingnoduedebate。
"RoyalHighnessretireduponAthandBrussels;hoveredabout,nothingdaunted,heorhis:’Dastardfellows,theywouldnotcomeoutintotheopenground,andtryusfairly!’snortindignantlytheGazetteersandenlightenedPublic。[OldNewspapers。]
Nothingdaunted;——but,asitwere,didnotdoanythingfarther,thisCampaign;exceptloseGand,bynegligenceVERSUSvigilance,andeathisvictuals,——tillcalledhomebytheRebellionBusiness,inanunexpectedmanner!Fontenoywasthenearestapproachheevermadetogettingvictoryinabattle;butamisstoo,astheyallwere。Hewasnothinglikesorash,onsubsequentoccasions;buthadnobetterluck;andwasbeateninallhisbattles——excepttheimmortalVictoryofCullodenalone。Whichlatterindeed,wasitnotitself(intheGazetteermind)akindofapotheosis,orliftingofamantotheimmortalgods,——byendlesstar—barrelsandbeer,forthetimebeing?
"OldMarechaldeNoailleswasinthisBattle;busyabouttheredans,andproudtoseehisSaxedowell。ChivalrousGrammont,too,aswesaw,wasthere,———killedatthefirstdischarge。
PrincedeSoubisetoo(notkilled);acertainLordGeorgeSackville(hurtslightly,——perhapshadBETTERhavebeenkilled!)——andothersknowntous,orthatwillbeknown。Army—SurgeonLaMettrie,ofbusybrain,expertwithhistourniquetsandscalpels,butofwildlyblusterousheterodoxtongueandways,isthrice—busyinHospitalthisnight,——’EnglishandFrenchallonetoyou,nay,ifanything,theEnglishbetter!’thosearetheRoyalorders:——LaMettriewillturnup,innewcapacity,stillblusterous,atBerlin,byandby。
"TheFrenchmadeimmenseexplosionsofrejoicingoverthisVictoryofFontenoy;Voltaire(nowamanwellatCourt)celebratingitinproseandverse,toanamazingdegree(21,000copiessoldinoneday);thewholeNationblazingoutoveritintoilluminations,arcsoftriumphanduniversalthree—times—three:——inshort,Ithink,nearlytheheartiestNationalHuzza,loud,deep,long—drawn,thattheNationevergaveinlikecase。Nowrathercurioustoconsider,atthisdistanceoftime。MiraculousAnecdotes,trueandnottrue,aremany。Nottomentionagainthatsurprisingofferofthefirstfiretous,whatshallwesayofthe’twocamp—sutlerswhomI
noticed,’Englishfemalesofthelowestdegree;’oneofwhomwasbusyslittingthegold—lacefromadeadOfficer,whenacannon—ballcamewhistling,andshoreherheadaway。Uponwhich,withoutsounduttered,herneighborsnatchedthescissors,anddeliberatelyproceeded。’[DeHordt,Memoires,i。108。
AFRENCHOFFICER’SACCOUNT(translatedinGentleman’sMagazine,1745;where,pp。246,250,291,313,&c。,aremanyconfuseddetailsandspeculationsonthissubject)。]
Adeliberategloomypeople;——unconquerableexceptbyFrenchprowess,glorytothatsame!"
BritannicMajestyisnotsuccessfulthisseason;HighlandRebellionsrisingonhim,andmuchgoingawry。HeisfoundinghisNationalDebt,poorMajesty;nothingelsetospeakof。HispoorArmy,fightingneversowellinForeignquarrels,——andgenerallyitselfstandingthebrunt,withtheco—partnerslookingontillitistimetorun(asatRoucouxagainnextseason,andatLauffeldnext),——canwinnothingbuthardknocksandlosses。Andisdefinedbymankind,——inphraseologywhichwehaveheardagainsincethen!
——ashaving"theheartofaLionandtheheadofanAss。"
[OldPamphlets,SOEPIUS。]Portentoustocontemplate!——
CapeBretonwasbesiegedthisSummer,inacreditablemanner;
andtaken。TheonerealstrokedoneuponFrancethisYear,orindeed(exceptatsea)throughouttheWar。"RuintotheirFisheries,andaclearlossof1,400,000poundsayear。"
Comparedwithwhichallthesefine"VictoriesinFlanders"areabottleofmoonshine。Thiswasactuallyakindofstroke;——andthis,onefinds,wasaccomplished,underpresidencyofasmallsquadronofKing’sships,by(’New—EnglandVolunteers,"onfundsraisedbysubscription,inthewayofjoint—stock。AshiningColonialfeat;
saidtobeveryperfectlydone,bothscrippartofit,andfightingpart;[Adelung,v。32—35("27thJune,1745,afterasiegeofforty—ninedays"):see"Gibson,JournaloftheSiege;"
"Mr。Prince(oftheSouthChurch,Boston),THANKSGIVINGSERMON(pricefourpence);"&c。&c。:intheOldNewspapers,1745,1748,multifariousNoticesaboutit,andthenaboutthe"repayment"ofthoseexcellent"joint—stock"people。]
——andmighthaveyielded,whatincalculabledividendsintheFisheryway!Buthadtobegivenupagain,inexchangefortheNetherlands,whenPeacecame。Alas,yourMajesty!Woulditbequiteimpossible,then,togodirectuponyourownsoleerrand,theJENKINS’S—EARone,insteadofstumblingaboutamongtheForeignchimney—pots,farandwide,undernightmares,inthisterriblemanner?——LetustoSilesiaagain。
ChapterIX。
THEAUSTRIAN—SAXONARMYINVADESSILESIA,ACROSSTHE
MOUNTAINS。
Valori,whoistobeofFriedrich’sCampaignthisYear,camepostingoffdirectlyinrearofthegloriousnewsofFontenoy;
foundFriedrichatCamenz,ratherinspiritsthanotherwise;
andlodgedpleasantlywithAbbotTobiasandhim,tilltheCampaignshouldbegin。TwothingssurpriseValori:first,thegreatstrength,impregnableasitwere,towhichNeissehasbeenbroughtsincehesawitlast,——superlativeconditionofthatFortress,andoftheArmyitself,asitgathersdailymoreandmoreaboutFrankensteinhere:——andthensecondly,andcontrariwise,thestrangelyneglectedpostureofmountainousorUpperSilesia,givenuptoPandours。Quitesubmerged,inamanner:MargrafKarlliesquietamongthematJagerndorf,"eatinghismagazine;"GeneralHautcharmoi(Winterfeld’slatechiefinthatWurbenaffair),withhissmallDetachment,stillhoversaboutinthoseRatiborparts,"withtheStrongTownstofall—backupon,"orhasineffectfallenbackaccordingly;andnothingdonetocoercethePandoursatall。
WhilePrinceKarlandWeissenfelsaredailycomingon,inforce100,000,theirintentioncertain;force,say,about100,000
regular!VerysingulartoValori。
"Sire,willnotyoudisputethePasses,then?"asksValori,amazed:
"NotdefendyourMountainrampart,then?""MONCHER;theMountainrampartisthreeorfourhundredmileslong;therearetwelveortwentypracticableroadsthroughit。Oneiskeptindarkness,too;
endlessPandourdoggeryshuttingoutyourdaylight:——illdefendingsucharampart,"answersFriedrich。"Buthow,then,"persistsValori;"but——?""OnedaytheKingansweredme,"saysValori,"’MONAMI,ifyouwanttogetthemouse,don’tshut,thetrap;
leavethetrapopen(ONLAISSELASOURICIEREOUVERTE)!’"WhichwasabeamoflighttotheinquiringthoughtofValori,amilitarymanofsomeintelligence。[SeeVALORI,i。222,224,228。]
That,infact,isFriedrich’spurposeprivatelyformed。HemeansthattheAustriansshallconsiderhimcowedintonothing,asheunderstandstheyalreadydo;thattheyshallenterSilesiainthenotionofchasinghim;andshall,ifneedbe,havethepleasureofchasinghim,——tillperhapsarightmomentarrive。Forheisfullofsilentfinesse,thisyoungKing;soonseesintohisman,andcanleadhimstrangedancesonoccasion。Innomanisthereaplentifulerveinofcunning,norofafinerkind。Lynx—eyedperspicacity,inexhaustiblecontrivance,promptingenuity,——amanverydangeroustoplaywithatgamesofskill。Anditiscunningregulatedalwaysbyanoblesenseofhonor,too;instinctivelyabhorrentofattorneyismandtheswindlerelement:acunning,sharpasthevulpine,yetalwaysstrictlyhuman,whichisratherbeautifultosee。ThisisoneofFriedrich’smarkedendowments。
Intellectsun—clear,whollypractical(neednotbespeciallydeep),andentirelyloyaltothefactbeforeit;this——ifyouaddrapidityandenergy,promptweightofstroke,suchaswasseldommetwith——
willrenderamanverydangeroustohisadversaryinthegameofwar。——HereisthelastofourPandourAdventuresforthepresent:——
"FromMay12th,FriedrichhadbeengatheringcloserandcloseraboutFrankenstein;bytheendofthemonth(28th,asitproved)heintendsthatallDetachmentsshallbehome,andtheArmytakeCampthere。Themostarehome;MargrafKarl,atJagerndorf,hasnotyetdoneeatinghismagazine;buthetoomustcomehome。SummontheMargrafhome:——itisnotdoubtedhewillcuthimselfthrough,heandhis12,000;butsuchistheswarmofPandourshoveringbetweenhimandus,noestafette,orcleverestletter—bearer,canhopetogetacrosstohim。Ziethenwith500Hussars,hemusttaketheLetter;thereisnootherway。Ziethenmounts;faresswiftlyforth,towardsNeustadt,withhisLetter;lodgesinwoods;dodgesthethick—crowdingTolpatcheries(passeshimselfoffforaTolpatchery,saysome,andcapturesHungarianStaff—Officerswhocometogivehimorders[FrauvanBlumenthal,LifeofDeZiethen,pp。171—181(extremelyromantic;nowgivenupasmythical,formostpart):seeOrlich(ii。150);butalsoRanke(iii。245),Preuss,&c。]);isatlengthfoundout,andfuriouslysetupon,’Ziethen,Hah!’——butgetstoJagerndorf,MargrafKarlcomingouttotherescue,anddelivershisLetter。’Home,then,allofusto—morrow!’Andso,Saturday,22dMay,beforewegettoNeustadtonthewayhome,thereisanauthenticpassageofarms,doneverybrilliantlybyMargrafKarlagainstPandoursandothers。
"Torightofus,toleft,barringourroad,theenemy,20,000ofthem,standrankedonheights,inchosenpositions;cannon—
batteries,grenadiers,dragoonsofGothaandinfinitePandours:
militaryjunglebristlingfarandwide。Andyoumustpushitheartily,andlikewisecutthetap—rootofit(seizeitsbigguns),oritwillnotrollaway。MargrafKarlshootsforthhissteadyinfantry(’Silenttillyouseethewhitesoftheireyes!’),——hiscavalrywithnewmanoeuvres;whosebehaviorisworthyofZiethenhimself:——inbrief,thejungleisstruckasbyawhirlwind,thetap—rootofitcut,androllssimultaneouslyoutofrange,leavingonlytheRegimentofGotha,,RegimentofOgilvyandsomeRegulars,whoalsogettorntoshreds,andutterlyruined。Seeingwhich,thePandourjungleplungeswhollyintothewoods,utteringhorriblecries(ENPOUSSANTDESCRISTERRIBLES),saysFriedrich。
[OEuvresdeFrederic,iii。106。MorespeciallyBERICHTEVONDERAM22MAI,1745BEYNEUSTADTINOBER—
SCHLESIENVORGEFALLENERACTION(Seyfarth,Beylage,i。159—166)。]Ournewcavalry—manoeuvresdeservepraise。
MargrafKarlhadthehonortogainhisCousin’sapprobationthisday;andtoprovehimself,saystheCousin,(worthyofthegrandfatherhecamefrom,’——myowngreat—grandfather;
GreatElector,Friedrich—Wilhelm;whosestyleofmotionatFehrbellin,orontheiceoftheFrischeHaf(soldiersallinsledges,tearingalongtobeattheSwedes),wasprobablysomewhatofthiskind。"……
"Somedaysago,WinterfeldhadbeenpushedouttoLandshut,withDetachmentof2,000,tojudgealittleforhimselfwhichwaytheAustrianswerecoming,andtoscareoffcertainUhlans(theSAXON
speciesofTolpatchery),whowerethreateningtobemischievousthereabouts。TheUhlans,atsoundofWinterfeld,jingledawayatonce:but,inadayortwo,therecameuponhim,onthesudden,Pandouroutburstinquiteotherforce;——andintheveryhourswhileZiethenwasstrugglingintoJagerndorf,andstillmoreemphaticallynextday,whileMargrafKarlwashandlinghisPandours,——ColonelWinterfeld,ahundredmilestowestwardlappedamongtheMountains,chancedtobedealingagainwiththesamearticle。Verybusywithit,from4o’clockthismorning;likelytogiveagoodaccountofthejob。SteadilydefendingLandshutandhimself,againstthegrenadierbattalions,cannonandfuriousoverplusofPandours(8,000or9,000,itissaid,sixtooneorsointhearticleofcavalry),whichGeneralNadasti,ascientificleaderofmenorPandours,skilfullyandfuriouslyhurlsuponLandshutandhim,inanunexpectedmanner。ColonelWinterfeldhadneedofallhisheartandenergy,intheintricateground;againstthefuriousoverpluswellmanoeuvred:butinhimtootherearemanoeuvres;ifhefallbackhere,itistorushondoublestrongthere;hourafterhourheinexpugnablydefendshimself,——tillGeneralStille,Friedrich’soldTutor,ourworthywritingfriend,whomweoccasionallyquote,comesupwithhelp;andNadastiisatoncebrushedhomeagain,withsoresmartoffailure,and’thelossof600killed,’amongotheritems。
[Berichtvonderam21Mai,1745beyLandshutrorgefallenerAction,inFeldzuge,i。302—305(orinSeyfarth,Beylage,i。155—158);
OEuvresdeFrederic,iii。105;Stille,pp。120—124
(whomisdates,"23dMay"for22d)。]ColonelWinterfeldwasmadeMajor—Generalnextday,forthisaction。ColonelWinterfeldiscuttingoutahighcourseforhimself,byhisconductintheseemployments;solidity,brillianteffectuality,shiningthroughallhedoes;hisvalorandvalue,hisrapidjustinsight,fieryenergyandnoblenessofmindmoreandmoredisclosingthemselves,——toonewhoisajudgeofmen,andgreatlyneedsforhisownusethefirst—
ratequalityinthatarticle。"
Friedrichhasleftthemouse—trapopen;——andlatterlyhasbeenbaitingitwithapleasantspicingoftoastedcheese。OneofhisSpies,reportingfromPrinceKarl’squarters,FriedrichhasatthistimediscoveredtobeaDouble—Spy,reportingthitheraswell。
Double—Spy,thereisanuglyfact;——perhapsnotquiteconvenienttoabolishitbyhempandgibbet;perhapsitcouldbeturnedtouse,asmostfactscan?"Verygood,myexpertHerrvonSchonfeld[thatwastheknave’sname];andnowofallthings,wheneverthePrincedoesgetacross,——instantwordtousofthat!Nothingsoimportanttous。IfheshouldgetBETWEENusandBreslau,forexample,whatwouldtheconsequencebe!"TothispurportFriedrichinstructshisDouble—Spy;sendshimoff,unhanged,toPrinceKarl’sCamp,toblabthisfreshbitofknowledge。"Welikewise,"saysFriedrich,"orderedsomerepairsontheroadsleadingtoBreslau;"——lastturnofthehandtoourbitoftoastedfragrancy。AndPrinceKarlisactuallystridingforward,ataneagerpace:——andNadastiVERSUS
Winterfeld,theotherday,couldWinterfeldhaveguessedit,wastheactualvanguardofthemarch;andwillbeupagainstraightway!
WhereuponWinterfeldtooiscalledhome;andalleyesarebentontheLandshutside。
PrinceKarl,underthesefineomens,hadbeenurgentontheSaxonstobeswift;SaxonsunderWeissenfelsdidatlast"gettheircannonup,"andwehearofthemforcertain,injunctionwiththeAustrians,atSchatzlar,ontheBohemiansideoftheGiant—
Mountains;climbingwithdiligencethosewizardsolitudesandhighlandwastes。Inaword,theyrollacrossintoSilesia,toLandshut(29thMay);nothingdoubtingbutFriedrichhascoweredintowhatretreatshehas,asgoodasdesperateofSilesia,andwillprobablybefirstheardofinBreslau,whentheygetthitherwiththeirsiegingguns。NocautioussagaciousoldFeldmarschallTraunisinthatHostatpresent;nothingbutaPrinceKarl,andapoorDukeofWeissenfels;whoaretoocertainofseveralthings;——
verycapableofcertainty,andalsoofdoubt,thewrongwayofthefacts。Theirforceis,bystrictcount,75,000;andtheymarchfromLandshut,detainedalittlebyprovenderconcerns,onthelastdayofMay。[Orlich,ii。146;Ranke,iii。247;Stenzel,iv。245。]
May28th,FriedrichhadencampedatFrankenstein;May30th,hesetsforthnorthwestward,tobenearerthenewscene;encampsatReichenbach,thatnight;pushesforwardagain,nextday,forSchweidnitz,forStriegau(inall,ashiftnorthwestofsomefortymiles);——andfromJune1st,liesstretchedoutbetweenSchweidnitzandStriegau,ninemileslong;wellhiddeninthehollowsofthelittleRiversthereabouts(SchweidnitzWater,StriegauWater),withtheirlittleknollsandhills;watchingPrinceKarl’sprobableplaceofegressfromtheMountainCountryopposite。HismainCampisfromSchweidnitztoJauernik,somefivemileslong;buthehashisvanguardupasfarasStriegau,DumoulinandWinterfeldasvanguard,ingoodstrength,alittlewaybehindorwestwardofthatTownandStream;NassauandhisDivisionarescreenedintheWoodcalledNonnenbusch(NUN’SBUSH),andthereareoutpostssprinkledallabout,andvedetteswatchingfromthehill—tops,fromtheStanowitzFoxhill;theZedlitz"Cowhill,""Winchill:"anArmynotcourtingobservation,butintentverymuchtoobserve。Nadastihasappearedagain;atFreyburg,fewmilesoff,onthissideoftheMountains;goesoutscouting,reconnoitring;butis"firedatfromthegrowingcorn,"andotherwisehoodwinkedbyfalsesymptoms,andmakeslittleofthatbusiness。Friedrich’sArmywewillcomputeat70,000。[General—LieutenantFreiherrLeovonLutzow,DieSchlachtvonHohenfriedbeg(Potsdam,1845),pp。18,21。]NotquiteequalinnumbertoPrinceKarl’s;and,inotherparticulars,willingandlongingthatPrinceKarlwouldarrive,andtryitsquality。
Friedrich’shead—quarterisatJauernik:hegoesdailyridinghither,thither;tothetopoftheFuchsberg(FOXHILLatStanowitz)
witheagerspy—glass;dailymanytimeslookswithhisspy—glasstotheraggedpeaksaboutBolkenhayn,Kauder,Rohnstock;expectingthethrowofthedicefromthatpart。OnThursday,3dJune:Doyounoticethatcloudofdustrisingamongthepeaksoveryonder?
Dust—cloudmountinghigherandhigher。Therecomesthebigcrisis,then!TherearethecombinedWeissenfelsandKarlwiththeirAustrianSaxons,issuingproudlyfromtheirstonelabyrinth;
guns,equipments,baggages,allperfectlybroughtthrough;richSilesianplaincountrynowfairlyattheirfeet,Breslauitselfbutafewmarchesoff:——atsightofallwhich,theAustrianbighostburstsforthintouniversalfield—music,andshakesoutitsbannerstothewind。Thursday,3dJune,1745;adramaticEntryofsomethingquiteconsiderableontheStageofHistory。
Friedrich,withNassauandgeneralsround,standsupontheFuchsberg,——hisremarksnotgiven,hislooksoremotionsnotdescribedtous,histhoughtwellknown,——andlooksatitthroughhisTUBUS(orspy—glass):Theretheyare,then,andthebigmomentiscome!Friedrichhadseenthedustandthemanoeuvringofthem,deeperintheHills,fromthissameFuchsbergyesterday,andinferredwhatwascoming;calculatedbywhatroadsorhill—trackstheycouldissue:andhowhe,ineachcase,wastodealwiththem;
hismarch—routesareallsettled,plank—bridgesrepaired,allprivatelyisreadyfortheseproudAustrianmusicalgentlemen,hereinthehollow。FriedrichhasbeenuponthisFuchsbergwithhisTUBUSdaily,manytimessinceMondaylast:itisourgeneralobservatorium,saysStille,andcommandsafineviewintotheinterioroftheseHills。AFuchsbergwhichhasbecomenotableinthePrussianmaps:"theStanowitzFuchsberg,"eastsideofStriegauWater,——letnotouristmistakehimself;fortherearetwooreventhreeotherFuchsbergs,amileorsonorthwardonthewesternsideofthatStream,whichneedtobedistinguishedbyepithets,astheStriegauFuchsberg,theGrabenFuchsberg,andperhapsstillothers:
comparabletotheFOURNeisserivers,threebesidestheoneweknow,whichoccurinthispieceofCountry!OurGermancousins,I
haveoftensorrowedtofind,havepracticallyamostpoortalentforGIVINGNAMES;andindeedmuch,foragesback,islyinginasadstateofconfusionamongthem。Manyconfusedthings,rottingfarandwide,incontradictiontotheplainestlawsofNature;
thingsaswellasnames!AllthewelcomerthisPrussianArmy,thisyoungFriedrichleadingit;they,beyondallearthlyentitiesoftheirepoch,arenotinastateofconfusion,butofmoststrictconformitytothelawsofArithmeticandfactsofNature:perhapsaveryblessedphenomenonforGermanyinthelong—run。
PrinceKarlwithWeissenfels,GeneralBerlichingenandmanyplumeddignitaries,arediningontheHill—topnearHohenfriedberg:
afterhavinggivenorderabouteverything,theywitnessthere,overtheirwine,theissueoftheirColumnsfromtheMountains;
whichgoesonallafternoon,withfield—music,spreadbanners;
andtheoldestGeneraladmitsheneversawafinerreview—
manoeuvre,oronebetterdone,ifsowell。ThussittheyontheHill—top(GALGENBERG,notfarfromthegallowsoftheplace,saysFriedrich),inthebeautifulJuneafternoon。Silesialyingbeautifullyazureattheirfeet;theZobtenberg,enchantedMountain,blueandhighonone’seasternhorizon;
Prussiansnoticeableonlyinweakhussarpartiesfourorfivemilesoff,whichvanishinthehollowgroundsagain。AllintendingforBreslau,they,itislike;——andhere,redwineandtheexcellentmanoeuvregoingon。"TheAustrian—and—SaxonArmystreamedoutallafternoon,"saysaCountrySchoolmasterofthoseparts,whoseDay—bookhasbeenpreserved,[InLutzow,pp。123—132。]"eachregimentordivisiontakingtheplaceappointedit;allafternoon,tilllateinthenight,submergingtheCountryasinadeluge,"
fivemileslongofthem;takingpostatthefootoftheHillsthere,fromHohenfriedbergrounduponStriegau,lookingtowardsthemorrow’ssunrise。Touspoorcountry—folknotabeautifulsight;
theirlighttroopsflyingahead,anddoingtheftandothermischiefatasadrate。