首页 >出版文学> History of Friedrich II of Prussia>第64章
  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。