Ontheotherhand,theAustrianandSaxongentlemen,fromtheirGallows—HillatHohenfriedberg,notice,fourorfivemilesinthedistance,oppositethem,oralittletotheleftofopposite,aBodyofPrussianhorseandfoot,visiblywendingnorthward;likealongglitteringserpent,theglitteroftheirmusketsflashingbackyonderontheafternoonsunandus,astheymountfromhollowtoheight。Tenortwelvethousandofthem;makingforStriegau,toappearance。Intendingtobivouacorbilletthere,andkeepsomekindofwatchoverus;belikewithaneyetobeingrear—guard,ontheretreattowardsBreslauto—morrow?Orwilltheyretreatwithoutattemptingmischief?SerenityofWeissenfelsengagestoseizetheheightsandproperposts,overyonder,thisnightyet;andwilltakeStriegauitself,thefirstthing,to—morrowmorning。
Yes,yourSerenities,thosearePrussiansinmovement:VanguardCorpsofDumoulin,Winterfeld;——RittmeisterSeydlitzridesyonder:
——anditisnottheirnotiontoretreatwithoutmischief。Fortherestands,notsofaroff,ontheStanowitzFuchsberg,abrisklittleGentleman,ifyoucouldnoticehim;withhiseyesfixedonyou,andplansintheheadofhimnowgettingnearlymature。Forcertain,heispushingoutthatcolumnofmen;andallmannerofothercolumnsaregettingordertopushout,andtaketheirground;andto—morrowmorning——youwillnotfindhiminretreat!SucharethephenomenainthatStriegau—Hohenfriedbergregion,whilethesunisbendingwestward,onThursday,3dJune,1745。
"FromHohenfriedberg,whichleansagainstthehigherMountains,theremaybe,acrosstoStriegaunortheast,whichstandswellapartfromthem,amonglowerHillsofitsown,adistanceofaboutfiveEnglishmiles。Theinterveningcountryisofflat,thoughuplandnature:thefirstbroadstage,orSTAIR—STEP,sotospeak,leadingdownintothegeneralinteriorlevelsofSilesiainthoseparts。
Atractwhichisnowtolerablydriedbydraining,butwasthenmarshyaswellasbushy:——flattotheeye,yetmustbeimperceptiblyconvexedalittle,forthelineofwatershedishereabouts:walkfromHohenfriedbergtoStriegau,thewateronyourlefthandflows,thoughmainlyinditchesorimperceptibleoozings,tothenorthandwest,——theretofallintoaneasternforkoftheRoaringNeisse[oneofourthreenewNeisses,whichisaveryquietstreamhere;runsclosebytheMountainbase,fedbymanytorrents,andmustgetitsname,WUTHENDEorRoaring,fromthesuddennessofitsfloods]:intothis,boundnorthwardandwestward,runoroozeallwatersonyourlefthand,asyougotoStriegau。Righthand,again,ortoeastward,youwillfindallsauntering,orrunninginvisiblebrooksintoStriegauWater[littleRivernotabletous],whichcomescirclingfromtheMountains,pastHohenfriedberg,farthersouth;andhasgottosomeforceasastreambeforeitreachesStriegau,andturnsabruptlyeastward;——eastward,tojoinSchweidnitzWater,andformwithittheSECONDstair—stepdownwardstothePlainCountry。HasitsFuchsbergs,Kuhbergsandlittleknollsandheightsinterspersed,onbothsidesofit,intheconceivableway。
"Sothat,lookingeastwardfromtheheightsofHohenfriedberg,ourbroadstageorstair—stephasnothingofthenatureofavalley,butratherisakindofinsensiblyswellingplainbetweentwovalleys,orhollows,ofsmalldepth;andslopesbothways。
Bothways;butMOREtowardstheStriegau—Watervalleyorhollow;
andthence,inalazilyundulatingmanner,tootherhollowsandwatersfartherdown。Friedrich’sCampliesinthenext,theSchweidnitz—Waterhollow;andisfive,orevenninemileslong,fromSchweidnitznorthward;——muchhiddenfromtheAustrian—Saxongentlemenatpresent。Nohillsfarther,mereflatcountry,toeastwardofthat。Buttothenorth,again,aboutStriegau,thehollowdeepens,narrows;andcertainHills,"muchnotableatpresent,"risetowestofStriegau,definitepeakedHills,withgranitequarriesinthemandbasaltblocksatop:——Striegau,itappears,is,inoldCzechdialect,TRZIZA,whichmeansTRIPLEHILL,the’TownoftheThreeHills。’[Lutzow,p。28。]AnancientquaintlittleTown,ofperhaps2,000souls:brown—gray,thestonesofitvenerablyweathered;hasitswidebigmarket—place,piazza,plain—
stones,silentenoughexceptonmarket—days:nestlesitselfcompactlyintheshelterofitsThreeHills,whichscreenitfromthenorthwest;andhasapicturesqueappearance,itsHillsandit,projectedagainstthebigMountainrangebeyond,asyouapproachitfromthePlainCountry。
"Hohenfriedberg,attheothercornerofourbattle—stage,ontheroadtoLandshut,isaVillageofnogreatcompass;butstickspleasantlytogether,doesnotstraggleintheusualway;
climbssteepagainstitsGallows—Hill(nowcalled’SIEGESBERG,VictoryHill,’withsometowerorsteeple—monumentonit,builtbysubscription);andwouldlookbetter,iftrimmedalittleandhabituallywellswept。ThehigherMountainsummits,Landshutway,orstillmoreifyoulooksoutheastward,Glatz—ward,riseblueandhuge,remoteonyourright;toleft,theRoaringNeisserangecloseathand,isalsopicturesque,thoughlessAlpineintype。"
[Tourist’sNote(1858)。]……AndofallHills,thenotablest,justnowtous,arethose"Three"atStriegau。
ThoseThreeHillsofStriegauhisSerenityofWeissenfelsistolayholdof,thisnight,withhisextremeleft,wereitoncegotdeployedandbivouacked。ThoseHills,ifhecan:butPrussianDumoulinisalreadyonmarchthither;andprivatelyhashiseyeuponthem,onFriedrich’spart!——Fortherest,thisuplandplatform,insensiblyslopingtwoways,andasyetundrained,isofscraggyboggynatureinmanyplaces;muchofitdampground,orsheermorass;betterpartsofitcovered,atthisseason,withrankJunegrass,orgreenerluxurianceofoatsandbarley。Ahumblepeaceablescene;peaceabletillthisafternoon;dotted,too,withsixorsevenpoorHamlets,withscraggywoods,wheretheyhavetheirfuel;mostsleepylitteryploughmanHamlets,sometimeswithaSCHLOSSorMansionfortheownerofthesoil(whohasabscondedinthepresentcrisisofthings),theireveningsmokerisingratherfainterthanusual;muchcookeryisnotadvisablewithUhlansandTolpatchcsflyingabout。NorthwardbetweenStriegauandthehigherMountainsthereisanextensiveTEICHWIRTHSCHAFT,or"Pond—
Husbandry"(gleamingvisiblefromHohenfriedbergGallows—Hilljustnow);acombinationofstagnantpoolsandcarp—ponds,thegroundmuchoccupiedhereaboutswithwhattheynameCarp—Husbandry。
Whichisalldrainedawayinourtime,yettraceablebythestudious:——quaggycongeriesofsluicesandfish—ponds,noroadthroughthemexceptonintricatedams;havescrubbythicketsabouttheborder;——thisalsoisverystrongground,ifWeissenfelsthoughtofdefencethere。
WhichWeissenfelsdoesnot,butonlyofattack。Heoccupiesthegroundnevertheless,rearwardofthisCarp—Husbandry,asbecomesastrategicman;graduallybivouackingallroundthere,toendontheThreeHills,werehislastregimentsgotup。TheCarp—HusbandryismainlyaboutEisdorfHamlet:——inPilgramshayn,whereWeissenfelsoncethoughtoflodging,livesourWritingSchoolmaster。
TheMountainslietowestward;flinginglongershadows,astheinvasivetroopscontinuallydeploy,inthatbeautifulmanner;
andcoilthemselvesstrategicallyontheground,abentrope,cordon,orline(THREElinesindepth),reachingfromthefrontskirtsofHohenfriedbergtotheHillsatStriegauagain,——terribletobehold。
InfrontofHohenfriedberg,wesay,istheextremityorrightwingoftheAustrian—Saxonbivouac,orwillbewhentheprocessiscomplete;fivemilestonortheast,sweepingrounduponStriegauregion,willbetheirleft,wheremainlyaretheSaxons,——tonestleuponthoseThreeHillsofStriegau:whitherwardhowever,Dumoulin,onFriedrich’sbehalf,isalreadyonmarch。Austrian—Saxonbivouac,asisthewayinregulatedhosts,canatoncebecomeAustrian—Saxonorder—of—battle:andthen,probably,ontheChordofthatArcoffivemiles,thebigFightwillrollto—morrow;Striegauoneendofit,Hohenfriedbcrgtheother。Flattish,somewhatellipticupland,stair—stepfromtheMountains,aswecalledit;tractconsiderablycutwithditches,carp—husbandries,andtheirtuftsofwood;
linefromStriegautoHohenfriedbergbeingaxisormaindiameterofit,andingeneralthelineofwatershed:there,probably,willthetugofwarbe。Friedrich,onhisFuchsberg,knowsthis;
theAustrian—Saxongentlemen,overtheirwineontheGallows—Hill,donotyetknowit,butwillknow。
Itwasaboutfourintheafternoon,whenValori,withacompanion,waitingagoodwhileintheKing’sTentatJauernik,atlastsawhisMajestyreturnfromtheFuchsbergobservatory。Valoriandfriendhavegreatnews:"Tournayfallen;siegedone,yourMajesty!"
Valori’sfriendisoneDeLatour;whohadbroughtwordofFontenoy("importantvictoryontheScamander,"asFriedrichindignantlydefinedittohimself);andwasbidwaitheretillthisSiege—of—
Tournayconsummation("ashelpfultomeastheSiegeofPekin!")
shouldsupervene。TheyhastentosalutehisMajestywiththeglorioustidings,Hmph!thinksFriedrich:andweareatdeath—gripshere,littletobehelpedbyyourtakingPekin!However,heletswitofnothing。"Imakemycompliments;meantofightto—morrow。"
[Valori,i。228。]Valori,asoldsoldierandfriend,volunteerstobethereandassist:——Good。
Friedrich,Ipresume,atthislatehouroffour,maybcsnatchingamorselofdinner;hisorderliesaresilentlyspeeding,planstaken,ordersgiven:Tostartall,ateightintheevening,fortheBridgeofStriegau;theretocross,andspreadtotherightandtotheleft。Silent,notawordspoken,notapipelighted:silentlyacrosstheStriegauWaterthere。Amarchofthreemilesforthenearest,whoarehereatJauernik;ofninemilesforthefarthestaboutSchweidnitz;atSchweidnitzleaveallyourbaggage,safeunderthegunsthere。TotheBridgeofStriegau,diligently,silentlymarchalong;BridgeofStriegau,therecrossStriegauWater,anddeploytorightandtoleft,inthewayeachofyouknows。TheseareFriedrich’sorders。
Lateinthedusk,DumoulinandWinterfeld,whomwesawsilentlyonmarchsomehoursago,havesilentlyglidedpastStriegau,andgotintotheThree—Hillregion,whichissomefurlongorsofarthernorth:——tohissurprise,DumoulinfindsSaxonpartiespostingthemselvesthereabouts。HeattackssaidSaxonparties;andaftersomeslighttussle,drivesthemmostlyfromtheirThreeHills;
mostly,notaltogether;oneSaxonHillisprecipitousonourhithersideofit,andwemustleavethattillthedawnbreak。OftheotherHeightsDumoulintakesgoodpossession,withcannontoo,tobereadyagainstdawn;——andrankshimselfouttoleftwardwithal,alongtheplainground;forheistoberightwing,hadtheothertroopscomeup。Thesearenowallunderway;astirfromJauernikandSchweidnitz,silentlystreamingalong;andDumoulinbivouacshere,——verysilenthe:notsosilenttheSaxons;whoarestillmarchingin,overyonder,towestwardofDumoulin,theirrear—guardgropingoutitspostsasitbestcaninthedark。Elsewhere,milesandmilesalongthefootoftheMountains,Austrian—Saxonwatch—
firesflamethroughtheambrosialnight;anditisanimpressivesightforDumoulin,——stillmoreforthepoorSchoolmasteratPilgramshaynandothers,lessconcernedthanDumoulin。"Itwasbeautiful,"saysStille,whowasthere,"toseehowtheplainaboutRohnstock,andalloverthatway,wasablazewiththousandsofwatch—fires(TAUSENDUNDABERTAUSEND);bythelightofthese,wecouldclearlyperceivetheenemy’stroopscontinuallydefilefromtheHillsthewholenightthrough。"[CitedinSeyfarth,i。630。]
SerenityofWeissenfels,afterall,doesnotlodgeatPilgramshayn;
farinthenight,hegoestosleepatRohnstock,aSchlossandHamletonthatforkofRoaringNeisse,bythefootoftheMountains;threeorfourmilesoff,yethandyenoughforpickingupStriegauthefirstthingto—morrow。HisHighnessPrinceKarlliesinHausdorf,tolerablequarters,prettymuchinthecentreofhislongbivouac;day’sbusinesswelldone,andbottle(asone’swontratheris)wellenjoyed。Nadastihasbeenoutscouting;butwasprickedintobyhussarparties,firedintofromthegrowingcorn;
andcouldmakeoutlittle,buttheimageofhisownideas。
Nadasti’sultimatereportis,ThatthePrussiansareperfectlyquietintheircamp;fromJauerniktoSchweidnitz,watch—firesallalight,sentriesgoingtheirrounds。Andsotheyare,infact;
sentriesandwatch—fires,——butnownothingelsethere,amereshellofacamp;themenofitstreamingsteadilyalong,withoutspeech,withouttobacco;andmanyofthemareacrossStriegauBridgebythistime!——
Itwaspasteleven,socloseandcontinuouswentthismarch,beforeValoriandhisLatour,withtheircarriagesandfurnitures,couldfindaninterval,andgetwellintoit。NeverwillValoriforgetthedisciplineofthesePrussians,andhowtheymarched。
Difficultways;thehardroadisfortheirartillery;themenmarchoneachside,sometimestomid—leginwater,——nevermind。Whollyinorder,whollysilent;Valorifollowedthemthreeleaguesclose,andtherewasnotonestraggler。Everyprivateman,muchmoreeveryofficer,knowswellwhatgrimerrandtheyareon;andtheymakenoremarks。SteadyasTime;and,exceptthattheirshoesarenotoffelt,silentashe。TheAustrianwatch—firesglowsilentmanifoldtoleftwardyonder;silentoverheadarethestars:——thepathofallduty,too,issilent(notaboutStriegaualone)foreverywell—
drilledman。To—morrow;——well,to—morrow?
AgrimmishfeelingagainsttheSaxonsisunderstoodtobeprevalentamongthesemen。Bruhl,Weissenfelshimself,havebeenreportedtalkinghigh,——"ReduceourKingtothesizeofanElectoragain,"
andotherfoolishthings;——indeed,grudgeshavebeenaccumulatingforsometime。"KEINPARDON(Noquarter)!"wehearhasbeenawordamongtheSaxons,astheycamealong;thePrussiansgrowltooneanother,"Verywellthen,None!"NayFriedrich’sgeneralorderis,"Noprisoners,youcavalry,intheheatoffight;cavalry,strikeatthefacesofthem:youinfantry,keepyourfiretillwithinfiftysteps;bayonetwithalistobereliedon。"ThesewereFriedrich’slastgeneralorders,giveninthehollowofthenight,nearthefootofthatFuchsbergwherehehadbeensobusyallday;
awidishplainspacehereabouts,StriegauBridgenownear:hehadlainsnmetimeinhiscloak,waitingtillthechiefgenerals,withtheheadsoftheircolumns,couldrendezvoushere。Hethensprangonhorseback;spokebrieflytheessentialthings(oneofthemtheabove);——"Hadmeanttobemoreminute,inregardtopositionsandthelike;butallissoindarkness,embroiledbytheflareoftheAustrianwatch—fires,wecanmakenothingfartheroflocalitiesatpresent:Striegauforrightwing,leftwingoppositetoHohenfriedberg,——so,andStriegauWaterwelltorearofus。
Bediligent,exact,allfacultiesawake:yourownsense,andtheOrderofBattlewhichyouknow,mustdotherest。Forward;steady:
canIdoubtbutyouwillacquityourselveslikePrussianmen?"
Andsotheymarch,acrosstheBridgeatStriegau,southoutskirtoftheTown,——plankBridge,Iamafraid;——andpourthemselves,torightandtoleft,continuallythelivelongnight。
TodescribetheBattlewhichensued,BattlenamedofStriegauorHohenfriedberg,excelsthepowerofhumantalent,——ifhumantalenthadleisureforsuchemployment。Itisthehugeshockandclashof70,000against70,000,placedinthewaywesaid。AnenormousfuriousSIMALTAS(or"both—at—once,"astheLatinsphraseit),spreadingovertensquaremiles。Rathersay,awidecongeriesofelectricsimultaneities;allELECTRIC,playingmadlyintooneanother;mostloud,mostmad:theaspectofwhichissmoky,thunderous,abstruse;thetrueSEQUENCESofwhich,whoshallunravel?Therearefiveaccountsofit,allmodestlywritten,eachtrue—lookingfromitsownplace:andathrice—diligentPrussianOfficer,stationedonthespotinlateyears,hasstrivenwelltoharmonizethemall。[FiveAccounts:1。ThePrussianOfficialAccount,inHelden—Geschichte,i。1098—1102。
2。TheSaxon,ib。1103—1108。3。TheAustrian,ib。1109—1115。
4。Stille’s(ii。125—133,ofEnglishTranslation)。5。Friedrich’sown,OEuvres,iii。108—118。Lutzow,abovecited,istheharmonizer。Besideswhich,twoofvalue,in
Feldzuge,i。310—323,328—336;nottomentionCogniazzo,ConfessionsofanAustrianVeeran
(Breslau,1788—1791:strictlyAnonymousatthattime,andcandid,oralmostmore,toPrussianmerit;——stillworthreading,hereandthroughout),ii。123—135;&c。&c。]Wellworththestudyofmilitarymen;——whomightmaketourstowardsthisandtheothergreatbattle—
field,andreadsuchthings,weretheywise。Forus,afeatureortwo,inthehugegeneralexplosion,toassistthereader’sfancyinconceivingitalittle,isallthatcanbepretendedto。
ChapterX。
BATTLEOFHOHENFRIEDBERG。
Withthefirststreakofdawn,thedisputereneweditselfbetweenthosePrussiansandSaxonswhoareontheHeightsofStriegau。
ThetwoArmiesareincontacthere;theyliewideapartasyetattheotherend。Cannonadingriseshere,onbothsides,inthedimgrayofthemorning,forthepossessionoftheseHeights。
TheSaxonsareout—cannonadedanddislodged,otherSaxonsstarttoarmsinsupport:thecry"Toarms!"spreadseverywhere,rousesWeissenfelstohorseback;andbysunriseafuriousstormofbattlehasbegun,inthispart。Hotandfierceonbothsides;chargesofhorse,shockaftershock,bayonet—chargesoffoot;thegreatgunsgoinglikeJove’sthunder,andthecontinuoustearingstormofsmallguns,veryloudindeed:suchanoise,asourpoorSchoolmaster,wholivesonthisspot,thinkshewillhearonlyonceagain,whentheLastTrumpetsounds!Itdidindeed,heinformsus,resemblethedissolutionofNature:"Forallfelldarktoo;"
ageneralelementofsulphurouspowder—smoke,streakedwithdullblazes;anddeathanddestructionverynigh。Whatwillbecomeofpoorpacificmortalshereabouts?RittmeisterSeydlitz,Winterfeldhispatronride,withknitbrows,inthesehorse—charges;
fieryRothenburgtoo;TruchsessvonWaldburg,attheheadofhisDivision,——poorTruchsessknowninLondonsociety,acannon—ballsmitesthelifeoutofhim,andheendedhere。
Atthefirstclashofhorseandfoot,theSaxonsfanciedtheyratherhadit;atthesecond,theirhorsebecamedistressed;atthethird,theyrolledintodisorderlyheaps。Thefootalso,stubbornastheywere,couldnotstandthatswiftfiring,followedbythebayonetandthesabre;andwereforcedtogiveground。Themorningsunshoneintotheireyes,too,theysay;andtherehadrisenabreathofeasterlywind,whichhurledthesmokeuponthem,sothattheycouldnotsee。Decidedlystaggeringbackwards;gettingtobetakeninflankandruined,thoughpoorWeissenfelsdoeshisbest。
Aboutfiveinthemorning,Friedrichcamegallopinghitherward;
Valoriwithhim:"MONAMI,thisislookingwell!Thiswilldo,won’tit?"TheSaxonsarefastsinkinginthescale;anddidnothingthenceforthbutsinkeverfaster;thoughtheymadeastiffdefence,fierceexasperationonbothsides;anddisputedeveryinch。Theirposition,inthesescraggyWoodsandVillages,intheseMorassesandCarp—Husbandries,isverystrong。
Ithadprovedtobefarthernorth,too,thanwasexpected;sothatthePrussianshadtowheelroundalittle(rightwingasacentre,fightingarmyasradius)beforetheycouldcomeparallel,andgettowork:adelicatemanoeuvre,whichtheyexecutedtoValori’sadmiration,hereinthestormofbattle;tramp,tramp,velocityincreasingfromyourcentreoutwards,tillattheendoftheradius,thetroopsareattreble—quick,fairlyrunningforward,andthelinestraightallthewhile。AdmirabletoValori,inthehotwhirlwindofbattlehere。Forthegreatgunsgo,inhorridsalvos,unabated,andthecracklingthunderofthesmallguns;"terribletusslingaboutthoseCarp—ponds,thatquaggyCarp—husbandry,"saystheSchoolmaster,"andtheHeavensblottedoutinsulphurousfire—
streakedsmoke。Whathadbecomeofuspacific?Somehadrunintime,andtheywerethewisest;othershadsquatted,whocouldfindanooksuitable。MostofushadgatheredintotheNursery—gardenatthefootofourVillage;wesatquakingthere,——ourprayersgrowntremulouslyvocal;——intearsandwail,atleastthewomenpart。
Enemiesmadereconcilementwitheachother,"sayshe,"anddearfriendstookfarewell。"[HisNarrative,inLutzow,UBISUPRA。]
OnegeneralAlleleu;theLastDay,toallappearance,havingcome。
Friedrich,seeingthingsinthisgoodposture,gallopstotheleftagain,wheremuchurgentlyrequiresattentionfromhim。
OntheAustrianside,PrinceKarl,throughhismorningsleepatHausdorf,hadheardthecannonading:"SaxonstakingStriegau!"
thinkshe;apleasantlullabyenough;andcontinuestosleepanddream。Agitatedmessengersrushin,atlast;drawhiscurtains:
"Prussiansallinrank,thissideStriegauWater;Saxonsbeaten,ornearlyso,atStriegau:wemuststandtoarms,yourHighness!"——
"Toarms,ofcourse,"answersKarl;andhurriesnow,whathecan,togeteverythinginmotion。Thebivouacitselfhadbeeninorderofbattle;butnaturallythereismuchtoadjust,toputintrim;
andtheAustriansarenotdistinguishedforcelerityofmovement。
Alltheworseforthemjustnow。
OnFriedrich’sside,sofarasIcangather,therehavehappenedtwocrossaccidents。First,bythatwheelingmovement,donetoValori’sadmirationintheStriegauquarter,thePrussianlinehashitcheditselfuptowardsStriegau,hasgotcurvedinward,andcoverslessgroundthanwascountedon;sothatthereisliketobesomegapinthecentralpartof;——asinfacttherewas,inspiteofFriedrich’sefforts,andhitchingsofbattalionsandsquadrons:
anindisputablegap,thoughitturnedtorichprofitforFriedrich;
PrinceKarlpayingnoattentiontoit。UponsuchindisputablegapawakefulenemymighthavedoneFriedrichsomeperilousfreak;
butKarlwasinhisbed,aswesay;——inaterribleflurry,too,whenoutofbed。Nothingwasdoneuponthegap;andFriedrichhadhisunexpectedprofitbyitbeforelong。
Thesecondaccidentisalmostworse。StriegauBridge(ofplanks,asIfeared),creakingundersuchaheavystreamoffeetaudwheelsallnight,didatlastbreak,insomedegree,andneededtobemended;sothattherearwardregiments,whoaretoformFriedrich’sleftwing,areinpainfulretard;——andarebecomingfrightfullynecessary,theAustriansasyetfaroutflankingus,capableoftakingusinflankwiththatrightwingoftheirs!ThemomentwasagitatingtoaGeneral—in—chief:ValoriwillownthisyoungKing’sbearingwasperfect;nottheleastflurry,thoughundersuchastrain。Hehasaides—de—camp,dashingoutevery—whitherwithorders,withexpedients;PrinceHenri,hisyoungerBrother:
gallopingthefastest;nay,atlast,hebegsValorihimselftogallop,withorderstoacertainGeneralGessler,inwhoseBrigadeareDragoons。WhichValoridoes,——happilywithouteffectonGessler;whoknowsnoValoriforanaide—de—camp,andkeepsthegroundappointedhim;rearwardofthatgapwetalkedof。
HappilytheAustrianrightwingisinnohastetocharge。
HappilyZiethen,blockedbythatincumbranceoftheBridgemending,"findsafordhigherup,"theassiduousZiethen;splashesacross,otherregimentsfollowing;formsinlinewellleftward;andinsteadofwaitingfortheAustriancharge,chargeshomeuponthem,fiercelythroughthedifficultgrounds,NodangeroftheAustriansoutflankingusnow;theyarethemselveslikelytogethardmeasureontheirflank。BythefordandbytheBridge,allregiments,someofthemattreble—quick,gettotheirpostsstillintime。
Accidentsecondhaspassedwithoutdamage。Forward,then;
rapid,steady;andreserveyourfiretillwithinfiftypaces!——
PrinoeFerdinandofBrunswick(Friedrich’sBrother—in—law,abright—eyedsteadyyoungman,ofgreatheartforfight)trampsforthwithhisDivision:——steady!——allmannerofDivisionstrampforth;andthehotstorm,Ziethenandcavalrydashinguponthatrightwingoftheirs,kindlesherealsofarandwide。
TheAustriancavalryonthiswingandelsewhere,itisclear,wereilloff。"WecouldnotchargethePrussianleftwing,saythey,partlybecauseofthemorassesthatlaybetweenus;andpartly[whichisremarkable]becausetheyrushedacrossandchargedus。"
[Austrianreport,Helden—Geschichte,
i。1113。]PrinceKarlissorrytoreportsuchthingsofhiscavalry;buttheirbehaviorwasbadandnotgood。Thefirstshockthrewthemwavering;thesecond,——nothingwouldpersuadethemtodashforthandmeetit。Highofficerscommanded,obtested,drewoutpistols,PrinceKarlhimselfshotafugitiveortwo,——itwastonopurpose;theywaveredworseateverynewshock;andatlengthashockcame(sixthitwas,asthereportercounts)whichshookthemallintothewind。DecidedlyshyofthePrussianswiththeirnewmanoeuvres,andterriblewayofcomingon,asifsureofbeating。
IntheSaxonquarter,certainAustrianregimentsofhorsewouldnotchargeatall;merelykeptfiringfromtheircarbines,andwhenthetimecameran。
AsfortheSaxons,theyhavebeenbeatenthesetwohours;thatistosay,hopelessthesetwohours,andgettingbeatenworseandworse。TheSaxonscannotstand,butneithergenerallywilltheyrun;theydisputeeveryditch,morassandtuftofwood,especiallyeveryvillage。Wrecksofthemuddydesperatebusinesslast,hourafterhour。"Igavemymenalittlerestunderthegardenwalls,"
saysoneSaxonGentleman,"ortheywouldhavedied,intheheatandthirstandextremefatigue:Iwouldhavegiven100gulden[10poundsSterling]foraglassofwater。"[Helden—
Geschichte,ubisupra。]ThePrussianspushthemon,bayonetinback;inexorable,nottoberesisted;slitoffwholebattalionsofthem(prisonersnow,andquartergiven);takealltheirguns,orallthatarenotsunkinthequagmires;——infine,drivethem,partintotheMountainsdirect,partbycircuitthither,downupontherearoftheAustrianfight:throughHausdorf,SeifersdorfandotherMountaingorges,wherewehearnomoreofthem,andshallsaynomoreofthem。AsorestrokeforpooroldWeissenfels;thelastpubliconehehastotake,inthisworld,forthepoormandiedbeforelong。Nobody’sblame,hesays;
everySaxonmandidwell;onlysomeAustrianhorse—regiments,thatwehadamongus,weretooshy。AdieutopooroldWeissenfels。
Luckofwar,whatelse,——therebyisheinthispass。
AndnownewPrussianforce,itsSaxonsbeingwellabolished,ispressingdownuponPrinceKarl’snakedleftflank。Yes;——PrinceKarltoowillhavetogo。Hiscavalryis,formostpart,shakenintoraggedclouds;infantry,steadyenoughmen,cannotstandeverything。"Ihaveobserved,"saysFriedrich,"ifyoustepsharplyuptoanAustrianbattalion[withinfiftypacesorso],andpourinyourfirewell,inaboutaquarterofanhouryouseetheranksbeginningtoshake,andjumbletowardsindistinctness;"
[MilitaryInstructions。]averyhopefulsymptomtoyou!
ItwasatthismomentthatLieutenant—GeneralGessler,underwhomistheDragoonregimentBaireuth,whohadkepthisplaceinspiteofValori’smessage,determinedonathing,——advisedtoitbyGeneralSchmettau(youngerSchmettau),whowasnear。Gessler,aswesaw,stoodintherearline,behindthatgap(mostlikelyoneofseveralgaps,orwidespaces,lefttoowide,asweexplained);
Gessler,noticingthejumblyconditionofthoseAustrianbattalions,heapednowoneuponanotherinthispart,——motionstothePrussianInfantrytomakewhatfartherroomisneedful;
thendashesthrough,intwocolumns(selfandtheDragoon—Colonelheadingtheone,FrenchChasot,whoisLieutenant—Colonel,headingtheother),sabreinhand,withextraordinaryimpetusandfire,intothebellyofthesejumblyAustrians;andslashesthemtorags,"twentybattalionsofthem,"inanaltogetherunexampledmanner。
Takes"severalthousandprisoners,"andsuchahaulofstandards,kettle—drumsandinsigniaofhonor,aswasnevergotbeforeatonecharge。Sixty—sevenstandardsbythetale,fortheregiment(bymostAll—GraciousPermission)wears,everafter,"67"uponitscartridge—box,andisallowedtobeatthegrenadiermarch;
[Orlich,ii。179(173n。,179n。,slightlywrong);
Militair—Lexikon,ii。9,iv。465,468。SeePreuss,i。212;OEuvresdeFrederic;&c。&c。]——howmanykettle—drumsmemorydoesnotsay。
PrinceKarlbeatsretreat,about8inthemorning;isthroughHohenfriedbergabout10(cannoncoveringthere,andNadastiasrear—guard):backintotheMountains;athoroughlywell—beatenman。
TowardsBolkenhayn,theSaxonsandhe;theirheavyartilleryandbaggagehadbeenleftsafethere。Notmuchpursued,andgraduallyrearranginghimself;withthoughts,——nowantofthoughts!
Camepouringdown,triumphantlyinvasive,yesterday;returns,ontheseterms,inaboutfifteenhours。Notmarchingwithdisplayedbannersandfield—music,thistime;thisisafarothermarch。
Themouse—traphadbeenleftopen,andwerashlywentin!——PrinceKarl’sloss,includingthatoftheSaxons(whichisalmostequal,thoughtheirnumberinthefieldwasbutHALF),is9,000deadandwounded,7,000prisoners,66cannon,73flagsandstandards;
thePrussianisabout5,000deadandwounded。[InOrlich(ii。182)
allthedetails。]Friedrich,atsightofValori,embraceshisGROS
VALORI;says,withapiousemotioninvoiceandlook,"Myfriend,Godhashelpedmewonderfullythisday!"Actuallytherewasakindofdevoutfeelingvisibleinhim,thinksValori:"Asingularmixture,thisPrince,ofgoodqualitiesandofbad;Ineverknowwhichpreponderates。"[Valori,SOEPIUS。]AsisthewaywithfatValoris,whentheycomeintosuchcompany。
Friedrichisblamedbysomemilitarymen,andperhapshimselfthoughtitquestionable,thathedidnotpursuePrinceKarlmoresharply。Hesayshistroopscouldnot;theywerewornoutwiththenight’smarchingandtheday’sfighting。Hehimselfmaywellbewornout。Isuppose,forthelastfour—and—twentyhourshe,ofallthecontemporarysonsofAdam,hasprobablybeenthebusiest。
Letusrestthisday;resttillto—morrowmorning,andbethankful。
"Sodecisiveadefeat,"writeshetohisMother(hastily,misdating"6th"Junefor4th),"hasnotbeensinceBlenheim"[LetterinOEuvresdeFrederic,xxvi。71。](whichistolerablytrue);and"IhavemadethePrincessigntheirnames,"togivethegoodMotherassuranceofherchildrenintheseperilsofwar。Seldomhassuchadeliverancecometoaman。
ChapterXI。
CAMPOFCHLUM:FRIEDRICHCANNOTACHIEVEPEACE。
Friedrichmarched,onthemorrow,likewisetoBolkenhayn;whichtheenemyhavejustleft;ourhussarshangingontheirrear,andbickeringwithNadasti。Thenagainonthemorrow,Sunday,——"twelvehoursofcontinuousrain,"writesValori;butthereisnodown—
pour,ordistress,ordisturbancethatwillshakethesemenfromtheirranks,writesValori。Andsoitgoeson,marchaftermarch,theAustriansahead,Dumoulinandourhussarsinfestingtheirrear,whichskilfullydefendeditself:throughLandshutdownintoBohemia;wherearenewsuccessivemarches,thePrussianquarterstaffstuckintothebackofdefeatedAustria,"Homewithyou;fartherhome!"——andshoggingiton,——withoutpause,foraboutafortnighttocome。Andthenonlywithtemporarypause;thatistosay,withintricatemanoeuvringsofamonthlong,whichshoveittoKonigsgratz,itsultimatum,beyondwhichthereisnogettingit。
Thestagesandsuccessivecampings,tobefoundpunctuallyintheoldBooksandnew,caninterestonlymilitaryreaders。HereisasmalltheologicalthingatLandshut,fromfirsthand:——
JUNE8th,1745。"TheArmyfollowedDumoulin’sCorps,andmarcheduponLandshut。Onarrivinginthatneighborhood,theKingwassurroundedbyatroopof2,000Peasants,"——ofProtestantpersuasionveryevidently!(whichismuchtheprevailingthereabouts),——"whobeggedpermissionofhim’tomassacretheCatholicsoftheseparts,andclearthecountryofthemaltogether。’ThisanimosityarosefromthepersecutionswhichtheProtestantshadsufferedduringtheAustriandomination,whentheirchurchesusedtobetakenfromthemandgiventothePopishpriests,"——churchesandalmosttheirchildren,suchwastheanxietytomakethemorthodox。Thepatienceofthesepeasantshadrunover;andnow,inthehourofhope,theyproposedtheabovesweepingmeasure。"TheKingwasveryfarfromgrantingthemsobarbarousapermission。Hetoldthem,’TheyoughtrathertoconformtotheScriptureprecept,toblessthosethatcursedthem,andprayforthosethatdespitefullyusedthem;
suchwasthewaytogaintheKingdomofHeaven。’Thepeasants,"
rollingdubiouseyesforamoment,"answered,HisMajestywasright;anddesistedfromtheircruelpretension。"[OEuvresdeFrederic,ii。218。]……——"OnHohenfriedbergDay,"
saysanotherWitness,"asfarasthesoundofthecannonwasheard,allround,theProtestantsfellontheirknees,prayingforvictorytothePrussians;"[InRanke,iii。259。]andatBreslauthatevening,whenthe"ThirteentrumpetingPostilions"cametearinginwiththenews,whatanenthusiasmwithoutlimit!
PrinceKarlhasskillinchoosingcampsandpositions:
hisAustriansaremuchcowed;thatisthegrievouslossinhislatefight。So,fromJune8th,whentheyquitSilesia,——bytworoadstogomorereadily,——allthroughthatmonthandthenext,Friedrichspreadtotheduewidth,dulyprickingintotherearofthem,drivesthebeatenhostsonwardandonward。Theydonotthinkoffighting;theironethoughtistogetintopositionswheretheycanhavelivingconveyedtothem,andcannotbeattacked;fortheformerofwhichobjects,thefartherhomewardstheygo,itisthebetter。Themainpursuit,asIgather,goesleftwardfromLandshut,byFriedland,——theSilesianFriedland,onceWallenstein’s。
Throughroughwildcountry,thesouthernslopeoftheGiantMountains,goesthatslowpursuit,orthemainstreamofit,whereFriedrichinpersonis;intricatesavageregions,cutbyprecipitousrocksandsoakingquagmires,shaggywithwoods:
watershedbetweentheUpperElbeandMiddleOder;Glatzonourleft,——withtherainofitsmountainsgatheringtoaNeisseRiver,eastward,whichweknow;andontheirwestorhitherside,toaMietau,Adler,Aupaandothermany—branchedfeedersoftheElbe。
Mostcomplexmilitaryground,themanoeuvringsonitendless,——
whichmustbelefttothereader’sfancyhere。
AbouttheendofJune,KarlandhisAustriansfindaplacesuitabletotheirobjects:Konigsgratz,acompactlittleTown,inthenookbetweentheElbeandAdler;coveredtowestandtosouthbythesetwostreams;strongenoughtoeastwithal;andsureandconvenienttothesouthernroadsandvictual。AgainstwhichFriedrich’smanoeuvresavailnothing;sothatheatlast(20thJuly)crossesElbeRiver;takes,helikewise,aninexpugnableCampontheoppositeshore,ataVillagecalledChlum;andliesthere,makingamutualdead—lockofit,forsixweeksormore。OfthepriorCamps,withtheirabundanceofstrategicshufflings,wheelings,pushings,allissuinginthisofChlum,wesaynothing:noneofthem,——
excepttheimmediatelyprecedingone,calledofNahorzan,calledalsoofDrewitz(foritwasinpartsashiftingentity,andflungtheLIMBSofitabout,strategicallyclutchingatKonigsgratz),——
hadanypermanency:letustakeChlum(thelongest,andessentiallythelastinthoseparts)asthegeneralsummaryofthem,andalonerememberablebyus。["CampofGross—Parzitz[acrosstheMietau,todislodgePrinceKarlfromhisshelterbehindthatstream],June14th:""CampofNahorzan,June18th[andabstrusemanoeuvrings,ofamonth,forKonigsgratz]:20thJuly,"crossElbeforChlum;
andlie,yourselfalsoinexpugnable,there。SeeOEuvresdeFrederic,(iii。120etseq。);especiallyseeOrlich(ii。pp。193,194,203,&c。&c。),——withanamplitudeofinorganicdetails,sufficienttoastonishtherobustestmemory!]
Friedrich’spurposes,atChlumorpreviously,arenottowardsconquestsinBohemia,noroffightingfarther,ifhecanhelpit。
But,inthemeanwhile,heiseatingouttheseBohemianvicinages;
noinvasionofSilesiapossiblefromthatquartersoonagain。
Thatisonebenefit:andhehopesalwayshisenemies,underscrewofmilitarypressurewiththeonehand,andofferoftheolive—
branchwiththeother,willbeinducedtogranthimPeace。
BritannicMajesty,afterFontenoyandHohenfriedberg,nottomentionthefirstrumorsofaJacobiteRebellion,withFrancetorearofit,isgettingeagertohaveFriedrichsettledwith,andwithdrawnfromthegameagain;——therather,asFriedrich,knowinghisman,hasceasedlatterlytourgehimonthesubject。PeacewithGeorgethePurseholder,doesnotthatmeanPeacewithalltheothers?FriedrichknowsthehighQueen’sindignation;buthelittleguesses,atthistime,thehumorofBruhlandthePolishMajesty。
HehasneveryetsenttheOldDessauerinuponthem;alwaysonlykeepshimontheslip,atMagdeburg;stillhopingactualitiesmaynotbeneeded。Hehopestoo,inspiteofherindignation,theHungarianMajesty,withanElectiononhand,withtheNetherlandsatsuchapass,nottospeakofItalyandtheMiddleRhine,willcometomoderateviewsagain。Onwhichlatterpoints,hisreckoningwasfarfromcorrect!Withinthreemonths,BritannicMajestyandhedidgettoexplicitAgreement(CONVENTIONOFHANOVER,26thAugust):
butinregardtothePolishMajestyandtheHungarianthereprovedtobenosuchresultattainable,andquiteothermethodsnecessaryfirst!
"OfmilitarytransactionsinthisCampofChlum,orinalltheseBohemian—SilesianCamps,fornearfourmonths,thereisnothing,orasgoodasnothing:Chlumhasnoevents;Chlumvigilantlyguardsitself;andexpects,asthereallydecisivetoit,eventsthatwillhappenfaraway。Wearetoconceivethismilitarybusinessasadead—lock;attendedwithhussarskirmishes;attacks,defences,ofoutposts,ofprovision—wagonsfromMoraviaorSilesia:——FriedrichhashisfoodfromSilesiachiefly,byseveralroutes,’convoyscomeonceinthefivedays。’Hishorse—provenderheforages;
withTolpatcheswatchinghim,andcontinualscufflingsoffight:
’forhayandglory,’writesonePrussianOfficer,’Iassureyouwefightwell!’Endlessenterprising,manoeuvring,counter—
manoeuvringthereatfirstwas;andstillis,ifeitherpartystir:
buthere,intheirmutuallyfixedcamps,tacitmutualobservancesestablishthemselves;andamidtherigorousarmedvigilantes,therearetraitsofhumanneighborship。Asusualinsuchcases。
Theguard—partiesdonotfireononeanother,withincertainlimits:asignalthattherearedeadtobury,orthelike,isstrictlyrespected。Ononesuchoccasionitwas(June30th,Camp—
of—Nahorzantime)thatPrinceFerdinandofBrunswick——PrinceFerdinand,withayoungBrotherAlbertvolunteeringandlearninghisbusinesshere,whoarebothPrussian——hadasnatchofinterviewwithathirdmuch—lovedBrother,Ludwig,whoisintheAustrianservice。APrussianofficer,venturingbeyondthelimits,hadbeenshot;Ferdinand’smessage,’Grantusburialofhim!’found,bychance,BrotherLudwigincommandofthatAustrianoutpost;
whoanswers:’Surely;——andbegthatImayembracemyBrothers!’
Andtheyrodeout,thosethree,tothespaceintermediate;
talkedthereforhalfanhour,tilltheburialwasdone。
[Mauvillon,GeschichteFerdinandsvonBraunschweig—
Luneburg,i。118。]Fancysuchaninterviewbetweenthepooryoungfellows,thesoulofhonoreach,andtiedinthatmanner!
"TrenckoftheLife—guardwasnotquitethesoulofhonor。ItwasintheNahorzantimetoothatTrenck,whohad,inspiteofexpressordertothecontrary,beenwritingtohisCousintheindigoPandour,wasputunderarrestwhenfoundout。’Wrotemerelyabouthorses:purchaseofhorses,sohelpmeGod!’proteststheblusterousLife—guardsman,loudaslungswill,——whetherwithtruthinthem,nobodycansay。’Arrestforbreakingorders!’answersFriedrich,doubtingordisbelievingthehorses;andloudTrenckispackedovertheHillstoGlatz;toGovernorFouquet,orSubstitute;
——where,bynotsubmittingandrepenting,byresistingandrebelling,andeveragaindoingit,hemakesoutforhimself,withFouquetandhisotherGovernors,whatkindoflifeweknow!
’GARDEZE’TROITEMENTCEDROLE—LA,ILAVOULUDEVENIRPANDOURAUPRES
DESONONCLE(Keepatightholdofthisfinefellow;hewantedtobecomePandourbesidehisUncle)!’writesFriedrich:——’Uncle’
insteadof’Cousin,’allonetoFriedrich。Thishewriteswithhisownhand,onthemargin:28thJune,1745;theinexorableRecordsfixthatdate。[Rodenbeck。iii。381。CopyoftheWarrant,oncePENESME。]WhichIshouldnotmention,exceptforanotherinexorabledate(30thSeptember),thatiscoming;andtheperceptibleslightcomforttherewillbeinfixingdownaloud—
blustering,extensivelyfabulousblockhead,stillfitfortheNurseries,tooneundeniablepremeditatedlie,andtar—markinghimtherewith,forbenefitofmoreseriousreaders。"Asshallbedone,werethe30thofSeptembercome!
Hereisstillsomething,——ifitbenotrathernothing,byagreathand!Dateuncertain;Camp—of—Chlumtime,prettyfaron:……
"Therearecontinualforagings,onbothsides;withpartiesmutuallydashingouttohinderthesame。ThePrussianshaveadetachedpostatSmirzitz;whichismuchharassedbyHungarianslurkingabout,shootingoursentryandthelike。Aninventiveheadcontrivesthisexpedient。StuffaPrussianuniformwithstraw;
fixitup,byaidofropesandcheck—strings,tostandwithmusketshouldered,andeventoglideabouttorightandleft,onjudiciouspulling。Soitisdone:strawmanismade;setuponhisropes,whentheTolpatchesapproach;andpensivelysaunterstoandfro,——hislivingcomradescrouchinginthebushesnearby。Tolpatchesfireonthewalkingstrawsentry;strawsentryfallsflat;Tolpatchesrushin,esurient,triumphant;areexplodedinasharpblastofmusketryfromthebushesallround,everywoundedmanmadeprisoner;——andcomenomorebacktothatpost。"Friedrichhimselfrecordsthislittlefact:"slightpleasantrytorelievethereader’smind,"sayshe,innarratingit。[OEuvres,iii。123。]
——Enoughofthosesmallmatters,whilesomanylargearewaiting。
June26th,amonthbeforeChlum,GeneralNassauhadbeendetached,withsome8or10,000,acrossGlatzCountry,intoUpperSilesia,tosweepthatclearagain。Hautcharmoi,quittingtheFrontierTowns,hasjoined,raisinghimto15,000;andNassauisgivingexcellentaccountofthemultitudinousPandourdoggeriesthere;andwillretakeKosel,andhaveUpperSilesiasweptbeforeverylong。
[Kosel,"September5th:"Excellent,lucidandevenentertainingAccountofNassau’sExpedition,intheformofDIARY(amodel,ofitskind),inFeldzuge,iv。257,371,532。]
Ontheotherhand,theElectionmatter(KAISERWAHL,amostimportantpoint)isobviouslyinthreatening,orevenindesperatestate!ThatfamedMiddle—RhineArmyhasgonetothe——whatshallwesay?
JULY5th—19th,MIDDLE—RHINECOUNTRY。"ThefirstElection—newsthatreachesFriedrichisfromtheMiddle—RhineCountry,andofverybadcomplexion。ReadersrememberTraun,andhisBathyanis,andhisintentionsuponContithere。IntheendofMay,oldTraun,thingsbeingallcompletedinBavaria,hadgotonmarchwithhisBavarianArmy,say40,000,tolookintoPrinceContidowninthoseparts;
afactveryinterestingtothePrince。Traunheldleftward,westward,asiffortheNeckarValley,——’PerhapsintendingtobethroughuponElsass,inthosesouthernundefendedportionsoftheRhine?’Conti,andhisSegur,andMiddle—RhineArmystooddiligentlyontheirguard;gottheirforces,defences,apparatuses,hurriedsouthward,fromFrankfurtquarterwheretheylayonwatch,intothoseNeckarregions。Whichseentobedone,Traunwhirledrapidlytorightward,tonorthward;crossedtheMaynatWertheim,whollyleavingtheNeckaranditsConti;havingweightybusinessquiteintheotherdirection,——onthenorthsideoftheMayn,namely;ontheKinzigRiver,whereBathyani(whohastakenD’Ahremberg’scommandbelowFrankfurt,andmeanstobestirhimselfinanotherthantheD’Ahrembergfashion)istomeethimonasetday。Traunhavingthus,bystrategicsuction,pulledtheMiddle—
RhineArmyoutofhisandBathyani’sway,hopestheytwowillmanageajunctionontheKinzig;afterjunctiontheywillbealittlestrongerthanConti,thoughdecidedlyweakertakenonebyone。Traun,inthelongJunedays,hadsuchamarch,throughtheSpessartForest(MaynRivertohisleft,withouroldfriendsDettingen,Aschaffenburg,fardownintheplain),aswashardlyeverknownbefore:pathlesswildernesses,rockysteepsandchasms;
theswelteringJunesunsendingdowntheuppersnowsuponhimintheformofmuddyslush;sothat’theinfantryhadtowadehaunch—
deepinmanyofthehollowparts,andnearlyallthecavalrylostitshorse—shoes。’Astrenuousmarch;andawell—schemed。ForattheKinzigRiver(ContistillfaroffintheNeckarcountry),Bathyanipunctuallyappeared,ontheoppositeshore;andTraunandhetookcamptogether;July5th,atLangen—Selbord(fewmilesnorthofHanau,whichweknow);——andrestthere;calculatingthatContiisnowamanageablequantity;——andcomfortablywaittilltheGrand—
Dukearrives。[Adelung,iv。421;v。36。]Forthisis,theoretically,HISArmy;Grand—DukeFranzbeingtheCommander’sCloak,thisseason;asKarlwaslast,——arightluckyCloakhe,whileTraunlurkedunderhim,notsoluckysince!July13th,Franzarrived;andTraun,underFranz,instantlywentintoConti(nowagaininthoseFrankfurtparts);clutchedatConti,Briareus—like,inamultiformalarmingmanner:sothatContilosthead;tooktomereretreating,rushingabout,burningbridges;——andinfine,July19th,hadflunghimselfbodilyacrosstheRhine(cloudsofTolpatchesstickingtohim),andleftoldTraunandhisGrand—Dukesupremelordinthoseparts。WhodidNOTinvadeElsass,aswasnowexpected;butlayatHeidelberg,intendingtoplaypacificallyasurercard。AllFrenchareoutofTeutschlandagain;andthegamegivenup。Inwhataprematureandshamefulmanner!
thinksFriedrich。
"NominallyitwastheGrand—DukethatflungContiovertheRhine;
anddeliveredTeutschlandfromitsplagues。Afterwhichfinefeat,salvatorytotheCauseofLiberty,anddestructivetoFrenchinfluence,whatistopreventhiselectiontotheKaisership?
Friedrichcomplainsaloud:’Contihasgivenitup;youdrafted15,000fromhim(forimaginaryusesintheNetherlands),——youhavegivenitup,then!Wasthatourbargain?’’Wehavegivenitup,’
answersD’ArgensontheWar—minister,writingtoValori;’but,’——
Andsupplies,insteadofperformanceaccordingtothelawsoffact,eloquentlogic;verysuperfluoustoFriedrichandthesaidlaws!——
Valori,andtheFrenchMinisteratDresden,hadagainbeentryingtostirupthePolishMajestytostandforKaiser;butofcoursethatenterprise,eagerasthePolishMajestymightbeforsuchadignity,hadnowtocollapse,andbecometotallyhopeless。AnewofferofFriedrich’stoco—operatehadbeenrefusedbyBruhl,withabrevity,adecisiveness——’Thinksmefinished(AUXABOIS),’saysFriedrich;’andnotworthgivingtermsto,onsurrendering!’
Thefoolishlittlecreature;insolentinthewrongquarter!"
[OEuvresdeFrederic,iii。128。]
’TheGermanBurden,then,——whichsurelywasmutual,atlowest,andlatelywasFrenchaltogether,——theFrenchhavethrownitoff;
theFrenchhavedroppedtheirendoftheBEARING—POLES(sotospeak),andleftFriedrichbyhimself,tostandorstagger,underthebewelteredbrokenharness—gearandintolerableweight!Thatisone’spaymentforcuttingtheropefromtheirnecklastyear!——
Longsince,whilethepresentCampaignwasbeingpreparedfor,undersuchfinancialpressures,Friedrichhadbethoughthim,"TheFrenchmight,atleastgivememoney,iftheycannothingelse?"——andhehadonedaypennedaLetterwiththatobject;
buthadthrownitintohisdeskagain,"No;nottilltheverylastextremity,that!"Friedrichdidatlastdespatchtheunpleasantmissive:"ServicedoneyouinElsass,letussaylittleofit;
buttherepaymenthasbeenzerohitherto:yourBavarianexpenses(poorKaisergone,andPeaceofFussencome!)arenowended:——
Aroundsum,sayof600,000pounds,isbecomingindispensablehere,ifwearetokeeponourfeetatall!"HerrRanke,whohasseentheMostChristianKing’sresponse(thoughinacapriciousway),finds"threeorfoursuccessiveredactions"ofthedifficultpassage;
allpainfullymeaning,"Impossible,alas!"——painfullyadding,"Wewilltry,however!"And,afterduecunctations,Friedrichwaitingsilentthewhile,——Louis,MostChristianKing,whohadfailedinsomanythingstowardsFriedrich,doesempowerValoriToofferhimasubsidyof600,000livresamonth,tillweseefarther。
Twentythousandpoundsamonth;hehopesthiswillsuffice,beinghimselfrunterriblylow。Friedrich’sfeelingistobeguessed:
"SuchadolemightanswertoaLandgrafofHessen—Darmstadt;buttomeisnotintheleastsuitable;"——andflatlyrefusesit;
FIEREMENT,saysValori。[Ranke,iii。235,299n。(nottheleastofDATEallowedusineithercase);Valori。i。240。]
MONGROSVALORI,whocouldnothimselfhelpallthis,poorsoul,"fallsnowintocompletedisgrace;"waitsdailyuponFriedrichatthegivingoutoftheparole,"butfrequentlyhisMajestydoesnotspeaktomeatall。"Hardlylooksatme,oronlylooksasifIhadsuddenlybecomeZeroIncarnate。Itisnowinthesedays,Isuppose,thatFriedrichwritesaboutthe"ScamanderBattle"(ofFontenoy),and"CaptureofPekin,"bywayofhelpingonetofighttheAustriansaccordingtoTreaty。Andhasatouchofbittersarcasminutteringhiscomplaintsagainst,suchtreatment,——theheartofhim,Isuppose,bitterenough。MostChristianKinghasfeltthisoftheScamander,Friedrichperceives;Louis’snextlettertestifiespique;——andofcoursewearefartherfromhelp,onthatside,thanever。"FromtheSTANDEoftheKur—Mark[Brandenburg]Friedrichwasofferedaconsiderablesubsidyinstead;andjoyfullyacceptedthesame,’asaloan:’"——paiditpunctuallyback,too;andnever,allhisdays,forgotitofthoseSTANDE。[Stenzel,iv。255;Ranke,&c。]
CAMPOFDIESKAU:BRITANNICMAJESTYMAKESPEACE,FORHIMSELF,WITHFRIEDRICH;BUTCANNOTFORAUSTRIAORSAXONY。
AboutthemiddleofAugust,therearecertainSaxonphenomenawhichawakendreadexpectationintheworld。Friedrich,watching,Argus—
like,nearandfar,inhisChlumobservatory,hasnoticedthatPrinceKarlisgettingreinforcedinKonigsgratz;10,000lately,7,000morecoming;——andcontrariwisethattheSaxonsseemtobestragglingofffromhim;ebbingaway,corpsaftercorps,——towardsSaxony,canitbe?Therearewhispersof"Bavarianauxiliaries"
beinghiredforthem,too。AndlittleBruhl’slateinsolence;
Bruhl’sevidentbeliefthat"wearefinished(AUXABOIS)"?
Puttingallthistogether,Friedrichjudges——withanindignationverynatural——thatthereisagainsomeinsidiousSaxonmischief,mostlikelyanattackonBrandenburg,inthewind。FriedrichorderstheOldDessauer,"Marchintothem,delaynolonger!"andpublishesaclangorouslyindignantManifesto(evidentlyhisownwriting,andcomingfromtheheart):[InAdelung,v。64—71(nodate;"middleofAugust,"saytheBooks)。]"Howtheyhave,notboundbytheirAustrianTreaty,wantonlyinvadedourSilesia;have,sinceandbefore,inspiteofourforbearance,donesomanythings:——and,infact,havefinallyexhaustedourpatience;andareforcingustoseekredressandsafetybythenaturalmethods,"whichtheywillseehowtheylike!——
OldLeopoldadvancesstraightway,asbidden,directfortheSaxonfrontier。TowhomFriedrichshootsoffdetachments,——PrinceDietrich,withsomanythousands,toreinforcePapa;thenGeneralGesslerwithsomany,——tillPapais30,000odd;andcouldeatSaxonyatamouthful;nothingwhateverbeingyetreadythereonBruhl’spart,thoughhehassuchimmensethingsinthewind!——
NeverthelessFriedrichagainpaused;didnotyetstrike。TheSaxonquestionhasRussianbug—bears,noendofcomplications。
HisBritannicMajesty,nowatHanover,andhisprudentHarringtonwithhim,areintheactoflaboring,withallearnestness,forageneralAgreementwithFriedrich。Withoutfartherbitterness,embroilmentandbloodshed:howmuchpreferableforFriedrich!
OldDessauer,therefore,pauses:"CampofDieskau,"whichwehaveoftenheardof,closeontheSaxonBorder;standsthere,lookingover,aswithsworddrawn,30,000goodswords,——butnostroke,notforalmostthreemonthsmore。Inthreemonths,wretchedBruhlhadnotrepented;but,onthecontrary,hadcompletedhispreparations,andgonetowork;——andthestrokedidfall,aswillbeseen。
ThatisBruhl’spostureinthematter。[Ranke,iii。231,314。]
ToBritannicGeorge,foragoodwhilepast,ithasbeenmanifestthatthePragmaticSanction,initsoriginalform,isanextinctobject;thatreconquestofSilesia,andsuchlike,ismelancholymoonshine;andthat,infact,towardsfightingtheFrenchwitheffect,itishighlynecessarytomakepeacewithFriedrichofPrussiaagain。ThisoncemoreisGeorge’sandhisHarrington’sfixedview。Friedrich’sownwishesareknown,orusedtobe,eversincethelateKaiser’sdeath,——thoughlatterlyhehasfallensilent,andevenavoidsthetopicwhenoffered(knowinghisman)!
HerringtonhastoapplyformallytoFriedrich’sMinisteratHanover。"Verywell,iftheyareinearnestthistime,"soFriedrichinstructshisMinister:"Mytermsareknowntoyou;
nochangeadmissibleintheterms;——donotspeakwithmeonitfarther:and,observe,withinfourweeks,thethingfinished,orelsebrokenoff!"[Ranke,iii。277—281。]Andinthissensetheyarelaboringincessantly,withAustria,withSaxony,——withouttheleastsuccess;——andExcellencyRobinsonhasagainapantinguncomfortabletime。HereisasceneRobinsontransactsatVienna,whichgivesusacuriousface—to—faceglimpseofherHungarianMajesty,whileFriedrichisinhisCampatChlum。
SCHONBRUNN,2dAUGUST,1745,ROBINSONHASAUDIENCEOF
HERHUNGARIANMAJESTY。
Robinson,inacopioussonorousspeech(ratherapttobecopious,andtofallintotheParliamentaryCANTO—FERMO),setsforthhowextremelyillweAlliesarefaringontheFrenchhand;nothingdoneuponSilesiaeither;ahopelessmatterthat,——isitnot,yourMajesty?AndyourMajesty’sforcesalllyingthere,inmeredead—
lock;andweinsuchneedofbhem!"PeacewithPrussiaisindispensable。"——TowhichherMajestylistened,instatuesquesilencemostly;"neversawhersoreservedbefore,myLord。"……
ROBINSON……"’Madam,theDutchwillbeobligedtoacceptNeutrality’[andplumpdownagain,aftersuchhoisting]!
QUEEN。"’Well,andiftheydid,they?"ItwouldbeeasiertoaccommodatewithFranceitself,andsofinishthewholematter,thanwithPrussia。"MyArmycouldnotgettotheNetherlandsthisseason。NoGeneralofminewouldundertakeconductingitatthisdayoftheyear。PeacewithPrussia,whatgoodcoulditdoatpresent?’
ROBINSON。"’Englandhasalreadyfound,forsubsidies,thisyear,1,178,753pounds。Cannotgoonatthatrate。PeacewithPrussiaisoneofthereturnstheEnglishNationexpectsforallithasdone。’
QUEEN。"’ImusthaveSilesiaagain:withoutSilesiatheKaiserhoodwereanemptytitle。"OrwouldyouhaveusadministeritundertheguardiancyofPrussia!"’……
ROBINSON。"’InBohemiaitselfthingsdon’tlookwell;nothingdoneonFriedrich:yourSaxonsseemtobeqnarrellingwithyou,andgoinghome。’
QUEEN。"’PrinceKarlishimselfcapableoffightingthePrussiansagain。Tillthat,donotspeaktomeofPeace!GrantmeonlytillOctober!’
ROBINSON。"’PrussiawillhelptheGrand—DuketoKaisership。’
QUEEN。"’TheGrand—DukeisnotsoambitionsofanemptyhonorastoengageinitunderthetutelageofPrussia。Considerfarther:
theImperialdignity,isitcompatiblewiththefataldeprivationofSilesia?"Oneotherbattle,Isay!GoodGod,givemeonlytillthemonthofOctober!"’
ROBINSON。"’Abattle,Madam,ifwon,won’treconquerSilesia;
iflost,yourMajestyisruinedathome。’
QUEEN。"’DUSSE’JECONCLUREAVECLUILELENDEMAIN,JELUILIVRERAIS
BATAILLECESOIR(HadItoagreewithhimto—morrow,Iwouldtryhiminabattlethisevening)!’"[Robinson’sDespatch,4thAugust,1745。Ranke,iii。287;Raumer,pp。161,162。]
HerMajestyisnottobehindered;deaftoRobinson,toherBritannicGeorgewhopaysthemoney。"Cruelman,isthatwhatyoucallkeepingthePragmaticSanction;dismemberingmeofProvinceafterProvince,nowinGermany,theninItaly,onpretextofnecessity?HasnotEnglandmoney,then?DoesnotEnglandlovetheCauseofLiberty?GivemetillOctober!"HerMajestydidtaketillOctober,andlater,asweshallsee;poorGeorgenotabletohinder,bypowerofthepurseorotherwise:whocanhinderhighfemales,orlow,whentheygetintotheirhumors?MuchofthisAustrianobstinacy,thinkimpartialpersons,wasoffemalenature。
WeshallseewhatprofitherMajestymadebytakingtillOctober。
AsforGeorge,thetimebeingrun,andherMajestyandSaxonyunpersuadable,hedeterminedtoacceptFriedrich’stermshimself,inhopeofgraduallybringingtheotherstodoit。August26th,atHanover,thereissignedaCONVENTIONOFHANOVERbetweenFriedrichandhim:"PeaceontheoldBreslau—Berlinterms,——preciselythesameterms,butBritannicMajestytohavethemguaranteedbyAllthePowers,ontheGeneralPeacecoming,——sothattherebenosnake—procedurehenceforth。"SilesiaFriedrich’swithoutfail,dearHanoverunmolestedevenbyathoughtofFriedrich’s;——andherHungarianMajestytobeinvited,nayurgedbyeveryfeasiblemethod,toaccede。[Adelung,v。75;is"inRousset,xix。441;"
in&c。&c。]Whichdone,BritannicMajesty——fortherehashungitselfout,intheScotchHighlands,theotherday("Glenfinlas,August12th"),acertainStandard"TANDEMTRIUMPHANS,"andunpleasantthingsareimminent!——hurrieshomeathisbestpace,andhashishandsfullthere,forsometime。OnAustria,onSaxony,hecouldnotprevail:"Bynomannerofmeans!"answeredthey;andwenttheirownroad,——jinglinghisBritannicsubsidiesintheirpocket;
regardlessoftheonceSupremeJove,whoissunknowtoaverydifferentfigureontheGermanboards。
Friedrich’soutlookisverybad:suchaWartogoon,andnotevenfinancetodoitwith。Hisintimates,hisRothenburgonetime,have"foundhimsunkingloomythought。"Buthewearsabrightfaceusually。Nowaveringordoubtinginhim,hismindmadeup;whichisagreathelpthatway。Friedrichindicates,andhasindicatedeverywhere,formanymonths,thatPeace,preciselyontheoldfooting,isallhewants:"TheKaiserbeingdead,whomItookuparmstodefend,whatfartherobjectisthere?"sayshe。
"RenounceSilesia,morehonestlythanlasttime;engagetohaveitguaranteedbyeverybodyattheGeneralPeace(orperhapsHohenfriedbergwillhelptoguaranteeit),——andImarchhome!"
Mymoneyisrunningdown,privatelythinkshe;guaranteeSilesia,andIshallbegladtogo。Ifnot,Imustraisemoneysomehow;meltthebigsilverbalustradesatBerlin,borrowfromtheSTANDE,ordosomething;and,infact,muststandhere,unlessSilesiaisguaranteed,andstruggletillIdie。
ThatlatterwithalisstillprivatelyFriedrich’sthought。Underhislightair,hecarriesunspokenthatgrimlycleardetermination,atalltimes,nowandhenceforth;anditisanimmensehelptotheguidanceofhim。Anindispensable,indeed。Nokingorman,attemptinganythingconsiderableinthisworld,needexpecttoachieveitexcept,tacitly,onthosesameterms,"Iwillachieveitordie!"Fortheworld,inspiteofrumorstothecontrary,isalwaysmuchofabedlamtothesanity(sofarashemayhaveany)
ofeveryindividualman。Astrictplace,moreover;itsverybedlamismsflowingbylaw,asdoalikethesuddenmud—deluges,andthesteadyAtlantictides,andallthingswhatsoever:aworldinexorable,truly,asgravitationitself;——anditwillbehooveyoutofrontitinasimilarhumor,asthetacitbasisforwhateverwiseplansyoulay。InFriedrich,fromthefirstentranceofhimonthestageofthings,wehavehadtorecognizethisprimequality,inafinetacitform,toacompletedegree;andtillhislastexit,weshallneverfinditwanting。Tacitenough,unconsciousalmost,notgiventoarticulateitselfatall;——andiftherebelessofpietythanwecouldwishinthesilenceofit,thereisatleastnoplay—actormendacity,orcantofdevoutness,topoisonthehighworthofit。NobraverlittlefigurestandsontheEarthatthatepoch。Ready,atthedueseason,withhismindsilentlymadeup;——abletoanswerdiplomaticRobinsons,BartensteinsandtheveryDestinieswhentheyapply。Ifyouwillwithdrawyoursnakishnotions,willguaranteeSilesia,willgivehimbackhisoldTreatyofBerlininanirrefragableshape,hewillmarchhome;ifnot,hewillnevermarchhome,butbecarriedthitherdeadrather。Thatishisintention,ifthegodspermit。
GRAND—DUKEFRANZISELECTEDKAISER(13THSEPTEMBER,1745);