FRIEDRICH,THESEASONANDFORAGEBEINGDONE,MAKES
FORSILESIA。
ThereoccurredatFrankfurt——theclearmajority,sevenofthenineElectors,Bavariaitself(nayBohemiathistime,"distaff"ornot),andalltheothersbutFriedrichandKur—Pfalz,beingsodisposedorsodisposable,Traunbeingmasteroftheground——nodifficultyaboutelectingGrand—DukeFranzStephanofTuscany?Joint—KingofBohemia,tobeKaiseroftheHolyRomishReich。Friedrich’senvoyprotested;——asdidKur—Pfalz’s,withstillmorevehemence,andthenwithdrewtoHanau:theotherSevenvotedSeptember13th1745:anditwasdone。AnewKaiser,FranzStephan,orFranzI。,——withourblessingonhim,ifthatcanavailmuch。ButIfearitcannot。UponsuchmendaciousEmpty—CaseofKaiserhood,withoutevenmoneytofeeditself,nottospeakofgoverning,ofdefendingandcoercing;
uponsuchentitiestheblessingsofmanavaillittle;thegods,havingwarnedthemtogo,donotblessthemforstaying!——However,tar—barrelsburn,thefountainsplay(wineinsomeofthem,I
hope);Franzistobecrownedinafortnighthence,withextraordinarymagnificence。AtthislastpartofitMariaTheresawill,inherownhighperson,attend;andproceedsaccordinglytowardsFrankfurt,intheendofSeptember(saytheoldBooks),sosoonastheElectionisover。
HungarianMajesty’sbearingwasnotpopularthere,accordingtoFriedrich,——whoalwaysadmiresherafterasort,andalwaysspeaksofherlikeakingandgentleman:——buttheHighLady,itisintimated,feltsomewhattoowellthatshewashigh。Notsorrytohaveitknown,underthedueveils,thatherKaiser—Husbandisbutofamimeticnature;thatitisshewhohastherealpower;andthatindeedsheisinavictoriouspostureatpresent。VeryhighinhercarriagetowardsthePrincesoftheReich,andtheirprivileges:——poorKur—Pfalz’snotary,orherald,comingtoprotest(Ithink,itwasthesecondtime)aboutsomething,shequitedisregardedhistabards,pasteboards,orwhatevertheywere,andclapthiminprison。Thethingwascommentedupon;butKur—Pfalzgotnoredress。Needwerepeat,——lazyreadershavingsooftenmethim,andforgottenhimagain,——thisisanewyoungerKur—Pfalz:
KarlTheodor,thisone;notFriedrichWilhelm’soldFriend,buthisSuccessor,oftheSulzbachline;ofwhom,afterthirtyyearsorso,wemayagainhear。Hecancomplainabouthisviolatedtabard;willgethisnotaryoutofjailagain,butnoredress。
Highisheventowardsherfriends,this"Empress—Queen"
(KAISERIN—KONIGIN,suchhernewtitle),andhasakindof"Thank—you—for—
Nothing"airtowardsthem。PrussianMajesty,shesaid,hadunquestionabletalents;but,oh,whatacharacter!Toomuchlevity,shesaid,byfar;heterodoxtoo,intheextreme;aBOSERMANN;——andwhataneighborhashebeen!AstoSilesia,shewasheardtosay,shewouldassoonpartwithherpetticoataspartwithit。
[OEuvresdeFrederic,iii。126,128。]——
Sothatthereisnottheleastprospectofpeacehere?"None,"
answerFriedrich’semissaries,whomhehadempoweredtohintthething。WhichisheavynewstoFriedrich。
EarlyinAugust,notlongafterthatAudienceofRobinson’s,herMajesty,afterrepeatedwrittenmessagestoPrinceKarl,urginghimtogointofightagainorattemptsomething,hadsenttwohighmessengers:PrinceLobkowitz,Duked’Ahremberg,highdignitariesfromCourt,havecometoKonigsgratzwiththelatesturgencies,thenewestideas;andwouldfainhelpPrinceKarltoattemptsomething。
Dailytheyusedtocomeoutuponalittleheight,inviewofFriedrich’stent,andgazeinuponhim,androundallNature,"withbigtubes,"hesays,"asiftheyhadbeenastronomers;"butneverattemptedanything。WerememberD’Ahremberg,andwhatparthehasplayed,fromtheDettingentimesandonward。"Adebauchedoldfellow,"saysFriedrich;"gonealltohebetudebyhislaborsinthatline;agreesalwayswiththelastspeaker。"PrinceKarlseemstohavelittlestomachhimself;anddoesnotseehiswayinto(oracross)anotherBattle。Lobkowitz,again,isalwayssaying:
"Trysomething!Wearenowstrongerthanthey,bytheirdetachings,byourreinforcings"(indeed,abouttwicetheirnumber,regularandirregular),thoughmostoftheSaxonsaregonehome。Aftermuchgazingthroughtheirtubes,theAustrians(August23d)domakeasmallshiftofplace,insignificantotherwise;thePrussians,nextday,dothelike,inconsequence;quitChlum,burningtheirhuts;
postthemselvesalittlefartheruptheElbe,——theirleftataplacecalledJaromirz,embouchureoftheAupaintoElbe,[OEuvresdeFrederic,iii。129。]——andareagainunattackable。
TheworstfactisthemultitudeofPandours,moreandmoreinfestingourprovision—roads;andthathorse—forageitselfis,atlast,runninglow。Detachmentsliealldulyroundtorightandleft,tosecureourcommunicationswithSilesia,especiallytoleft,outofGlatz,whererunsoneofthechiefroadswehave。
Buttheserviceisbecomingdailymoredifficult。Forexample:——
"NEUSTADT,8thSEPTEMBER。Inthatleft—handquarter,comingoutofGlatzatalittleBohemianTowncalledNeustadt,thePrussianCommander,Tauenzienbyname,wasrepeatedlyassaulted;andfromSeptember8th,hadtostandactualsiege,gallantlyrepulsingafull10,000withtheirbigartillery,thoughhiswallswereallbreached,foraboutaweek,tillFriedrichsenthimrelief。
PrinceLobkowitz,ouroldanti—Belleislefriend,whoisalwaysofforwardfieryhumor,hadsetthemonthisenterprise;whichhasturnedoutfruitless。TheKingismuchsatisfiedwithTauenzien;
[Ib。132。]ofwhomweshallhearagain。Whoindeedbecomesnotabletous,wereitonlyforgettingoneLessingassecretary,byandby:GottholdEphraimLessing,whosefamehassincegoneintoallcountries;themanhavingbeenappointeda’Secretary’totheveryDestinies,insomesort;thatistosay,aWriterofBookswhichhaveturnedouttohavetruthinthem!Tauenzien,agrimmishaquilinekindofman,ofnosuperfluouswords,hasdistinguishedhimselfforthepresentbydefendingNeustadt,whichtheAustriansfullycountedtogetholdof。"
Letusgiveanotherlittlescene;preparatorytoquittingthisCountry,asitisevidenttheKingandwewillsoonhavetodo;
Countrybeingquiteeatenout,Pandoursgettingeverrifer,andtheSeasondone:——
JAROMIRZ,"EARLYINSEPTEMBER,"1745。"JaromirzisalittleBohemianTownontheAupa,orbetweentheAupaandMetaubranchesoftheUpperElbe;fourorfivemilesnorthofSemonitz,whereFriedrich’squarternowis。Valori,soseldomspokento,islodgedinasuburbthere:’Hadnotyoubettergointothetownitself?’
hisMajestydidoncesay;butValori,dreadingnothing,lodgedon,——’LandlordaBurgherwhomIthoughtrespectable。’Respectable,yeshe;buthissonhadbeendealingwithFranquinithePandour,andhadsoldValori,——nightappointed,measuresalltaken;amiracleifValoriescape。Franquini,chiefof30,000Pandours,hascomeinpersontosuperintendthisimportantcapture;andlieshidden,withastrongparty,inthewoodstorearward。Prussiansabout200,scatteredinposts,occupythehedgesinfront,forguardoftheovens;torear,Jaromirzbeingwhollyours,thereisnosuspicion。
"Inthedeadofthenight,Franquiniemergesfromthewoods;
sendsforwardapartyofsixty,undertheyoungJudas;who,bymethodssuitable,getsthemstealthilyconductedintoPapa’sBarn,whichlooksacrossacourtyardintoValori’sverywindows。FromtheBarnitiseasy,onpawsofvelvet,togetintotheHouse,ifyouhaveaJudastoopenit。Whichyouhave:——boltsalldrawnforyou,andevenbeamsreadyforbarricadingifyoubemeddledwith。
’UpstairsishisExcellencyasleep;Excellency’sroomis——toright,doyouremember;ortoleft’——’Pshaw,weshallfindit!’
ThePandoursmount;findabedroom,breakitopen,——somefifteenorsixteenofthem,andonewhoknowsalittleFrench;——comecrowdingforward:tothehorrorandterrorofthepoorinhabitant。’
’QUEVOULEZ—VOUSDONC?’’HisExcellencyValori!’’Well,noviolence;Iamyourprisoner:letmedress!’answersthesupposedExcellency,——andcontrivestosecreteportfolios,andtearormakeawaywithpapers。Andismarchedoff,underaselectguard,wholeavetheresttodothepillage。AndwasnotValoriatall;
wasValori’sSecretary,oneD’Arget,whohadcalledhimselfValorionthisdangerousoccasion!Valorisatquakingbehindhispartition;nottillthePandoursbeganplunderingthestablesdidthePrussiansentrycatchsoundofthem,andplungein。"
Friedrichhadhisamusementoutofthisadventure;likedD’Arget,thecleverSecretary;gotD’Argettohimselfbeforelong,aswillbeseen;——and,inquietertimes,dashedoffaconsiderableExplosionofRhyme,calledLEPALLADION(ValoriasPrussia’s"Palladium,"withDevilsattemptingtostealhim,andthelike),whichwasoncethoughtanexquisiteBurlesque,——Kingscovetingasightofit,invain,——butisnowwearisomeenoughtoeveryreader。
[Valori,i。242;OEuvresdeFrederic,
iii。130:fortheFact。ExquisiteBurlesque,PALLADIONitself,isinOEuvres,xi。192—271(seeIB。139):abadcopyofthatverybadOriginal,JEANNED’ARC,——theonlythingnowgoodinit,Friedrich’spoliteyetpositiverefusaltogratifyKingLouisandhisPompdourwithasightofit(seeIB。PREFACE,x—xiv,Friedrich’sLettertoLouis;dateofrequestandofrefusal,March,1750)。]——LetusattendhisMajesty’sexitfromBohemia。
ChapterXII。
BATTLEOFSOHR。
ThefamedbeautifulElbeRiverrisesinromanticchasms,terribletothepicturesquebeholder,attherootsoftheRiesengebirge;
overlookedbytheHohe—Kamms,andhighestsummitsofthatchain。
"Outofelevenwells,"saysgentleDulness,"EILForELFQUELLEN,whenceitsname,ElbeforELF。"Sureenough,itstartsoutofvariouswells;[Description,inZollner,BriefeuberSchlesien,ii。305;in&c。&c。]rushesout,likeagreatpeacock’sorpasha’stail,fromtherootsoftheGiantMountainsthereabouts;andhurriessouthward,——orevenrathereastward,atfirst;for(excepttheIsertowestward,whichdoesnotfallinforagreatwhile)itschiefbranchescomefromtheeasternside:Aupa,Metau,Adler,thedrainingsofGlatz,andofthatruggedCountrywhereFriedrichhasbeencampingandmanoeuvringallsummer。Onthewhole,itscourseissouthwardforthefirstseventyoreightymiles,washingJaromirz,Konigshof,Konigsgratz,downtoPardubitz:atPardubitzitturnsabruptlywestward,andholdsonso,bendingevennorthward,byhillandplain,throughtherestofitsfiveorsixhundredmiles。
Itsfirstconsiderablebranch,onthateasternorleftbank,istheAupa,whichrisesinthePassofSchatzlar(greatstrugglingthere,forconvoys,justnow);goesnextbyTrautenau,whichhaslatelybeenburnt;andjoinstheElbeatJaromirz,whereValoriwasstolen,ornearlyso,fromunderthePrussianleftwing。TheAuparunsnearlystraightsouth;theElbe,tillmeetingit,hasrunrathersoutheast;butafterjoiningtheygosouthtogether,augmentedbytheMetau,bytheAdler,downtoPardubitz,wherethefinalturntowestoccurs。Jaromirz,whichliesintheveryangleofElbeandAupa,istheleftwingofFriedrich’sCamp;mainbodyoftheCampliesontheothersideoftheElbe,butofcoursehasbridges(asatSmirzitz,wherethatstrawsentrydidhisprankslately);bridgesareindispensable,partofourprovisioncomingalwaysbythatBOHEMIANNeustadt,fromthenortheastquarteroutofSilesia;thoughthemaincourseofourmeal(andmuchfightingforit)isdirectfromthenorth,bythePassofSchatzlar,——
"Chaslard,"aspoorValoricallsit。
ThusFriedrichlay,whenValoriescapedbeingstolen;
whenTauenzienwasassailedbythe10,000Pandourswithsiegeartillery,andstoodinexpugnableinthebreachtillFriedrichrelievedhim。ThosePandours"hadcutawayhiswater,forthelasttwodays;"sothat,exceptforspeedyrelief,allvalorhadbeeninvain。Waterbeinggone,notrecoverablewithoutdifficulties,Neustadtwasabandoned(September16th,asIguess);——oneofourmainSilesianroadsformealhasceased。WehavenowonlySchatzlartodependon;whereFranquini——lyingwestwardamongtheglensoftheUpperElbe,andpossessedofabundanttalentintheTolpatchway(witnessValori’snarrowmisslately)——givesustroubleenough。
FriedrichdeterminestomovetowardsSchatzlar。Homewards,infact;
eatingtheCountrywellashegoes。
Saturday,18thSeptember,FriedrichcrossestheElbeatJaromirz。
Entirelyunopposed;theAustrianswereallbusyfiringFEU—DE—JOIE
fortheElectionoftheirGrand—Duke:ElectiondonefivedaysagoatFrankfurt,andthenewsjustcome。Sotheycrackleabout,anddeliverrollingfire,atagreatrate;proudtobe"IMPERIALArmy"
henceforth,asifthatcoulddomuchforthem。Therewasalsovastdining,forthreedays,amongthehighheads,andagreatdealofwinespent。Thatprobablywouldhavebeenthechancetoundertakesomethinguponthem,betterthancrossingtheElbe,saysFriedrichlookingback。Buthedidnotthinkofitintime;tooksecond—bestinplaceofbest。
Heisnow,therefore,overintothatTriangularpieceofCountrybetweenElbeandAupa(ifreaderswillconsulttheirMap);inthattriangle,hissubsequentnotableoperationsalllie。Hehereproposestomovenorthward,bydegrees,——throughTrautenau,Schatzlar,andhome;welleatingthisbitofCountrytoo,thelastuneatenbit,ashegoes。Thiswelleaten,therewillbenoharboranywhereforInvasion,throughtheWintercoming。OneofmyoldNotessaysofit,inthetopographicpointofview:——
"ItisatriangularpatchofCountry,whichhaslainasleepsincetheCreationoftheWorld;traversedonlybyBoii(BOI—HEIM—ERS,Bohemians),Czechsandothersuchpopulations,inHumanHistory;
butwhichFriedrichhasbeenfatedtomakerathernotabletotheModernshenceforth。Letmerecommendittothepicturesquetourist,especiallytothemilitaryone。Loversofrockyprecipices,quagmires,brawlingtorrentsandtheunadulteratedruggednessofNature,willfindscopethere;anditwasthesceneofadistinguishedpassageofarms,withnotabledisplayofhumandexterityandswiftpresenceofmind。Fortherest,oneofthewildest,andperhaps(excepttothepicturesquetourist)mostunpleasantregionsintheworld。Wildstonyupland;topmostUpland,wemaysay,ofEuropeingeneral,orportionofsuchUpland;
fortherainstormshereaboutsrunseveralroads,——intotheGermanOceanandAtlanticbytheElbe,intotheBalticbytheOder,intotheBlackSeabytheDonau;——anditisthewasteOutfieldwhitheryourise,bylongweeks—journeys,frommanysides。
"Muchofit,towardstheangleofElbeandAupa,isoccupiedbyahugewasteWood,called’KingdomForest’(KONIGREICHSYLVAorWALD,peculiumofOldCzechMajesties,Ifancy);maybesixtysquaremilesinarea,thelongersideofwhichliesalongtheElbe。
ACountryofrockydefiles;lowishhillschaoticallyshovedtogether,notwantingtheirbrooksandquagmires,straightlabyrinthicpassages;shaggywithwildwood。SomepoorHamletshereandthere,probablythesleepiestinNature,arescatteredabout;
theremaybepatchesploughableforrye[modernTouristsayssnappishly,Therearemanysuch;wholeregionnowdrained;
remindedmeofYorkshireHighlands,withtheWesternSungildingit,thatfineafternoon!]——ploughableforrye,buckwheat;
boggygrasstobegatheredinsummer;charcoalingtodo;pigsatleastarepresumable,amongthesestragglingoutpostsofhumanityintheirobscureHamlets:poorploughing,moilingcreatures,theylittlethoughtofbecomingnotablesosoon!NoneoftheBooks(allintentonmeresoldiering)taketheleastnoticeofthem;notatthepainstospelltheirHamletsright:nomorenoticethaniftheyalsohadbeenstocksandmoss—grownstones。Nevertheless,theretheydidevidentlylive,forthousandsofyearspast,inadimmanner;——andaremuchterrifiedtohavebecometheseatofwar,allonasudden。TheirpoorHamlets,Sohr,Staudentz,Prausnitz,Burgersdorfandothersstillsendupafaintsmoke;andhaveinthem,languidly,thelive—coalofmysterioushumanexistence,inthosewoods,——tojudgebythelastmapsthathavecomeout。Athingworthconsideringbythepassingtourist,militaryorother。"
ItisinthisKingdomForest(whichhecallsROYAUMEDESILVA,insteadofSYLVADEROYAUME)thatFriedrichnownmrches;
keepingthebodyoftheForestwellonhisleft,andskirtingthesouthernandeasternsidesofit。RoughmarchingforhisMajesty;
painfullyinfestedbyNadastianTolpatches;whorunoutonhimfromambushes,andneedtobescourged;oneambushinparticular,ataplacecalledLiebenthal(secondday’smarch,andneartheendofit),——whereourPrussianHussars,windinglikefierydragonsonthedangerousprecipices,gavethembetterthantheybrought,andcompletelyquenchedtheirappetiteforthatday。AfterLiebenthal,themarchsoonends;threemilesfartheron,atthedimwold—hamletofStaudentz:hereacampispitched;here,tilltheCountryiswelleatenout,ortillsomethingelseoccur,weproposetotarryforatime。
Horse—forageaboundshere;butthereisnogettingofitwithoutdisturbancefromthosedogs;youmustfightforeverytrussofgrass:ifameal—trainiscoming,astheredoeseveryfivedays,youhavetodetach8,000footand3,000horsetohelpitsafein。
Afrettingfatiguingtimeforregulartroops。OurbakeryisatTrautenau,——whereValoriisnowlodging。TheTolpatchery,unabletotakeTrautenau,setfiretoit,thoughitistheirowntown,theirownQueen’stown;thatchyTrautenau,woodentoointheupperstoriesofit,takesgreedilytothefire;goesallaloftinflame,andthenliesblack。Ascandaloustransaction,thinksFriedrich。
ThePrussiancornlaynearlyallincellars;littlegot,evenofthePrussians,bysuchanatrocity:andyourownpoorfellow—
subjects,wherearethey?Valoriwasburntouthere;againexplodedfromhisquarters,poorman;——seemstohavethoughtitamerefireinhisownlodging,andthathewasanunfortunatediplomatist。
Happilyhegotnotice(PRIVATISSIME,fornoofficerdarewhisperinsuchcases)thatthereisanarmedpartysettingoutforSilesia,toguardmealthatiscoming:Valoriyokeshimselftothisarmedparty,andgetssafeovertheHillswithit,——thenswift,byextrapost,toBreslauandtocivilized(partiallycivilized)
accommodation,foralittlerestafterthesehustlingsandtossings。
FriedrichhadlainatStaudentz,inthismanner,bickeringcontinuallyforhisforage,andeatingtheCountry,forabouttendays:andnow,asthelatterprocessiswellon,andtheseasondrawingtoaclose:hedeterminesonashiftnorthward。
Thursday,30thSeptembernext,lettherebeoneothergrandforage,thefinaloneinthiseatentract,thennorthwardtofreshgrounds。
That,itappears,wasthedesign。But,onWednesday,therecameinanAustriandeserter;whoinformsusthatPrinceKarlisnotnowinKonigsgratz,butinmotionuptheElbe;alreadysomefiftymilesup;pastJaromirz:hisrearatKonigshof,hisvanatArnau,——onalevelwithburntTrautenau,andfarthernorththanweourselvesare。Thisisimportantnews。"IntendingtoblockusoutfromSchatzlar?Hmh!"Singlescouts,orsmallparties,cannotliveinthisKingdomWood,swarmingwithPandours:FriedrichsendsoutaColonelKatzler,with500lighthorse,toinvestigatealittle。
Katzlerpushesforward,onsuchlaneorforestroad—trackasthereis,towardsKonigshof;beatsbacksmallhussarparties;——comes,inaboutanhour’sspace,notuponhussarsmerely,butupondensemassesofheavyhorsewindingthroughtheforestlanes;and,withthatimperfectintelligence,isobligedtoreturn。Thedeserterspaketruth,apparently;andthatisallwecanknow。Forageschemeisgivenup;theorderis,"Baggagepacked,andMARCHto—morrowmorningatten。"Longbeforeten,therehadgreatthingsbefallenonthemorrow!——TrytounderstandthisNotealittle:——
"TheCampofStaudentz—whichtwopersons(theKing,andGeneralStille,amorecarefulreporter,whoalsowasaneye—witness)havedonetheirbesttodescribe——will,afterallefforts,andanOrdnanceMaptohelp,remainconsiderablyunintelligibletothereader;asistoousualinsuchcases。Ablockofhigh—lyingground;Friedrich’sCamponit,perhapstwomileslong,lookstothesouth;smallVillageofStaudentzinfront;hollowbeyondthat,andsecondsmallVillage,DeutschPrausnitz,hangingontheoppositeslope,withshaggyheightsbeyond,andtheKingdomForesttherebeginning:ontheleft,defiles,brooksandstraitcountry,leadingtowardsthesmalltownofEypel:thatisourleftandfrontaspect,ahollowwellisolatingusonthosesides。Hollowcontinuesallalongthefront;hollowdefiniteonoursideofit,andformingatolerabledefence:——thoughagain,Iperceive,torightwardatnogreatdistance,thereriseHighGroundswhichconsiderablyoverhangus。"Athingtobemarked!"Thesewecouldnotoccupy,forwantofmen;butonlymaintainvedettesuponthem。OvertheseHeights,amileortwowestwardofthishollowofours,runsthebigwindinghollowcalledGeorgengrund(GEORGE’SBOTTOM),whichwindsupanddowninthatKingdomForest,andoffersaroadfromKonigshoftoTrautenau,amongothercoursesittakes。
"FromthecrownofthoseHeightsonourrightflankhere,lookingtothewest,youmightdiscern(perhapsthreemilesoff,fromoneoftheshelteringnooksinthehithersideofthatGeorgengrund),risingfaintlyvisibleoverknollsanddingles,thesmokeofalittleForestVillage。ThatVillageisSohr;notableeversince,beyondothers,intheKingdomWood。Sohr,liketheotherVillages,hasitslane—roads;itsroadtoTrautenau,toKonigshof,nodoubt;
butmuchneareryou,onoureasternslopeoftheHeights,andfarhitherwardofSohr,whichisonthewestern,goesthegreatroad[whatisnowthegreatroad],fromKonigshoftoTrautenau,wellvisiblefromFriedrich’sCamp,thoughstillatsomedistancefromit。CouldtheseHeightsbetweenusandSohr,whichliebeyondthegreatroad,beoccupied,wewerewellsecured;isolatedontherighttoo,asontheothersides,fromKingdomForestanditsambushes。’Shouldhavebeendone,’admitsFriedrich;’butthen,asitis,therearenottroopsenough:’with18,000menyoucannotdoeverything!"
Here,however,istheimportantpoint。InSohr,thisnight,29thSeptember,inamostprivatemanner,theAustrians,30,000ofthemandmore,havecomeglidingthroughthewoods,withouteventheirpipelit,andwiththickveilofhussarsahead!OutpostsoftheirsliesquattedinthebushesbehindDeutschPrausnitz,hardly500
yardsfromFriedrich’sCamp。Andeastward,leftwardofhim,inthedefilesaboutEypel,lieNadastiandRuffianTrenck,withtenortwelvethousand,whoaretotakehiminrear。His"CampofStaudentz"willbeatafinepassto—morrowmorning。TheAustrianGentlemenhadfound,lastweek,acertainbareHeightintheForest(Heightstillknown),fromwhichtheycouldusetheirastronomertubesdayafterday;[Orlich,ii。225。]andnowtheyareaboutattemptingsomething!
Thursdaymorning,veryearly,30thSeptember,1745,Friedrichwasinhistent,busywithgeneralsandmarch—routes,——whenarapidorderlycomesin,fromthatVedette,orstrongPiquet,ontheHeightstoourright:"Austriansvisiblymoving,inquantity,nearby!"andbeforehehasdoneanswering,theofficerhimselfarrives:
"RegularCavalryingreatforce;longdust—cloudinKingdomForest,inthegraydawn;and,sofaraswecanjudge,itistheirArmycomingon。"Hereisnewsforapoorman,intherawofaSeptembermorning,bywayofbreakfasttohim!"Toarms!"is,ofcourse,Friedrich’sinstantorder;andhehimselfgallopstothePiquetontheHeights,glassinhand。"AustrianArmysureenough,thirtytothirty—fivethousandofthem,weonlyeighteen。[OEuvresdeFrederic,iii。139。]Comingtotakeusontherightflankhere;toattackourCampbysurprise:willcrushusnorthwardthroughthedefiles,andtrampleusdownindetail?Hmh!Torunforit,willneverdo。Wemustfightforit,andevenattackTHEM,asourwayis,thoughonsuchterms。Quick,aplan!"TheheadofFriedrichisabankyoucannoteasilybreakbycomingonitforplans:suchacreatureforimpromptuplans,andunexpecteddashesswiftasthepanther’s,Ihavehardlyknown,——especiallywhenyousqueezehimintoacorner,andfancyheisoverwithit!
Friedrichgallopsdown,withhisplanclearenough;andalreadytheAustrians,horseandfoot,aredeployinguponthoseHeightshehasquitted;FiftySquadronsofHorseforleftwingtothem,andabatteryofTwenty—eightbigGunsisestablishingitselfwhereFriedrich’sPiquetlatelystood。
Friedrich’srightflankhastobecomehisfront,andfacethoseformidableAustrianHeightsandBatteries;andthiswithmorethanPrussianvelocity,andundertheplayofthosetwenty—eightbigguns,throwingcase—shot(GRENADESROYALES)andsoforth,allthewhile。ToValori,whenheheardofthething,itisinconceivablehowmortaltroopscouldaccomplishsuchamovement;
Friedrichhimselfpraisesit,asathinghonorablywelldone。
Tookabouthalfanhour;case—shotrainingallthewhile;
soldierhonorablynever—minding:noflurry,thoughaspeedlikethatofspinning—tops。Andhereweatlengthare,Staudentznowtorearofus,behindourcentreagoodspace;Burgersdorfinfrontofustoright,ourleftreachingtoPrausnitz:Austrianlines,threedeepofthem,ontheoppositeHeight;weonelineonly,whichmatchestheminlength。
They,thatleftwingofhorse,shouldhavethundereddownonus,attackingus,notwaitingourattack,thinksFriedrich;buttheyhavenotdoneit。Theystandontheirheightthere,willperhapsfirecarbines,astheirwontis。"You,Buddenbrock,gointothemwithyourCuirassiers!"BuddenbrockandtheCuirassiers,thoughitisuphill,gointothematafuriousrate;meetnocountercharge,meresputterofcarbines;——tumblethemtomadwreck,backupontheirsecondline,backupontheirthird:absurdlycrowdedthereontheirnarrowheight,noroomtomanoeuvre;sothattheyplunge,fiftysquadronsofthem,whollyintotheGeorgengrundrearward,intotheKingdomWood,andnevercomeonagainatall。
Buddenbrockhasdonehisjobrightwell。
Seeingwhich,ourInfantryoftherightwing,whichstoodnexttoBuddenbrock,madeimpetuouschargeuphill,emuloustocapturethatBatteryofTwenty—eight;butfoundit,forsometime,aterribleattempt。TheseHeightsarenottobecalled"hills,"stillless"mountains"(asinsomecarelessBooks);butitisastiffclimbatdouble—quick,withtwenty—eightbiggunsplayinginthefaceofyou。Stormsofcase—shotshearawaythisInfantry,arequenchingitsnoblefuryindespair;Infantryvisiblyrecoiling,whenoursoleThreeRegimentsofReservehurryuptosupport。Roundtheseallrallies;rushesdesperatelyon,andtakestheBattery,——ofcourse,sendingtheAustrianleftwingrapidlyadrift,onlossofthesame。
This,Iconsider,isthecrisisoftheFight;thebackoftheAustrianenterpriseisalreadybroken,bythissadwingingofitontheleft。Butitresistsstill;comesdownagain,——thereserveoftheirleftwingseenrapidlymakingforBurgersdorf,intendinganattackthere;whichweopposewithvigor,settingBurgersdorfonfirefortemporaryscreen;anddrivetheAustrianreserverapidlytorearwardagain。Butthereisrallyafterrallyofthem。
Theyrankagainoneverynewheight,anddisputethere;loathtobedrivenintoKingdomWood,aftersuchaflourishofarms。
Oneheight,"bushysteepheight,"thelight—limbedvaliantPrince,littleFerdinandofBrunswick,hadthechargeofattacking;andhediditwithhisusualimpetusandirresistibility:——and,strangelyenough,thedefenderofitchancedtobethatBrotherofhis,PrinceLudwig,withwhomhehadthelittleInterviewlately。
PrinceLudwiggotawound,aswellaslosthisheight。ThethirdBrother,poorPrinceAlbrecht,whoisalsohere,asvolunteerapprentice,onthePrussianside,getskilled。TherewillneverbeanotherInterview,forallthree,betweentheCamps!StrangetimesforthosepoorPrinces,whohavetoseeksoldieringfortheirexistence。
MeanwhiletheCavalryofBuddenbrock,thatistosayoftherightwing,havingnownoworkinthatquarter,isdespatchedtoreinforcetheleftwing,whichhasstoodhithertoapartonitsownground;notattackedorattacking,——aleftwingREFUSED,asthesoldiersstyleit。ReinforcedbyBuddenbrock,thisleftwingofhorsedoesnowalsostormforward;——"neartheVillageofPrausnitz"
(Prausnitzalittlewaytorearofit),thereabouts,isthesceneofitsfeat。FeatdoneinsuchfashionthattheAustriansoppositewillnotstandthechargeatall;butgurgleaboutinachaoticmanner;thengallopfairlyintoKingdomWood,withoutstrokestruck;anddisappear,astheirfellowshaddone。WhereuponthePrussianhorsebreaksinupontheadjoiningInfantryofthatflank(Austrianrightflank,leftbareinthismanner);champsitalsointochaoticwhirlpools;cutsawayanoutskirtofnear2,000
prisoners,andsetstherestrunning。ThisseemstohavebeenprettymuchtheCOUP—DE—GRACEoftheFight;andtohavebroughttheAustriandisputetofinis。Fromthefirst,theyhadralliedontheheights;hadstruggledanddisputed。Twogeneralralliestheymade,andvariouspartial,butnonehadanysuccess。Theyweredrivenon,bayonetinback,asthephraseis:withthissadslapontheirright,addedtothatoldoneontheirleft,whatcantheynowdobutebbrapidly;pourincataractsintoKingdomWood,anddisappearthere?[OEuvresdeFrederic,iii。135—143;
Stille,pp。144—163;Orlich,ii。227—243;Feldzuge,i。357,363,374。]
PrinceKarl’sschemewasgood,saysFriedrich;butitwasillexecuted。Henevershouldhaveletusform;hisfirstgrandfaultwasthathewaitedtobeattacked,insteadofattacking。Partsofhisschemewereneverexecutedatall。Duked’Ahremberg,forinstance,itissaid,hadsodimanotionoftheground,thathedrewupsomemilesoff,withhisbacktothePrussians。Suchistherumor,——perhapsonlyarumor,inmockeryofthehebetatedoldgentlemanfallenunlucky?Ontheotherhand,thatNadastimadeafailurewhichprovedimportant,isindubitable。Nadasti,withsomethousandsofTolpatchery,wasatLiebenthal,fourmilestosoutheastoftheaction;RuffianTrencklaybehindEypel,perhapsasfartoeast,ofit:TrenckandNadastiweretorendezvous,tounite,andattackthePrussianCamponitsrear,——"Camp,"sorantheorder,foritwasunderstoodthePrussianswouldallbethere,weothersattackingitinfrontandbothflanks;——whichturnedoutotherwise,notforNadastialone!
Nadasticametohisrendezvousintime;RuffianTrenckdidnot:
NadastigrewtiredofwaitingforTrenck,andattackedtheCampbyhimself:——Camp,butnotanymen;Campbeingnowempty,andthemenallfighting,rankedatrightanglestoit,furlongsandmilesaway。NadastimadeararehandoftheCamp;plunderedeverything,tookalltheKing’sCamp—furniture,readymoney,favoritedogBiche,——likewisepoorEichelhisSecretary,who,however,torethepapersfirst。TolpatcheryexultinglyguttedtheCamp;andatlastsetfiretoit,——burntevensomeeightortenpoorPrussiansick,andalso"somewomenwhomtheycaught。Wefoundthelimbsofthesepoormenandwomenlyingabout,"reportsoldGeneralLehwald;
whoknewaboutit。Adoggerywellworthyofthegallows,thinkLehwaldandI。"Couldn’thelpit;ferocityofwildmen,"saysNadasti。"Well;butwhynotattack,then,withyourferocity?"
ConfusedCourt—martialputthesequestions,atViennasubsequently;
andRuffianTrenck,somesay,gotinjustice,Nadastishufflingthingsuponhim;forwhichonecaresalmostnothing。Lehwald,lyingatTrautenau,hadheardthefiringatsunrise;andinstantlymarchedtohelp:heonlyarrivedtogiveNadastiaslashortwo,andwastoolatefortheFight。OueSchlichtling,onguardwithaweakparty,savedwhatwasintherightwingoftheCamp,——smallthankstohim,theMainFightbeingsonear:Friedrich’sopinionis,anOfficer,inSchlichtling’splace,oughttohavedonemore,andnothavebeensohelpless。
ThiswastheBattleofSohr;socalledbecausetheAustrianshadbegunthere,andthePrussiansendedthere。ThePrussianpursuitdrewbridleatthatVillage;unsafetoprosecuteAustriansfarther,nowinthedeepsofKingdomForest。TheBattlehaslastedfivehours。Itmustbenowgettingtowardsnoon;andtimeforbreakfast,ifindeedanyweretobehad;butthatisnexttoimpossible,Nadastihavingbeensobusy。Notwithoutextremedifficultyisamanchetofbread,withorwithoutadropofwine,procuredfortheKing’sMajestythisday。Manyatiredherowillhavenothingbuttobacco,withspring—water,tofallbackupon。Nevermind!saystheKing,sayseverybody。Afterall,itisacheappricetopayformissinganattackfromPandoursintherear,whilesuchcrisiswentonahead。
LyingCOUSINTrenck,oftheLife—guard,whoisnowinGlatz,givesvivideye—witnessparticularsofthesethings,timeofthemorningandsoon;saysexpresslyhewasthere,andwhathedidthere,[FredericBarondeTrenck,Memoires,traduitsparlui—meme(StrasbnrgandParis,1789),i。74—78,79。]——thoughinGlatzunderlockandkey,threegoodmonthsbefore。"HowcouldI
helpmistakes,"saidheafterwards,whenpeopleobjectedtothisandthatinhisblusterousmendacityofaBook:"Ihadnothingbutmypooragitatedmemorytotrustto!"Aman’smemory,whenitgetsthelengthofrememberingthathewasintheBattleofSohrwhilebodilyabsent,oughtitnotto——infact,tostrikework;tostillitsagitationsaltogether,andcallhalt?Trenck,somemonthsafter,gotclamberedoutofGlatz,bysewers,orIforgethow;
andleaped,ordropped,fromsomeparapetintotheRiverNeisse,——
sinkingtotheloinsintoughmud,sothathecouldnotstirMAPTOGOHERE————BOOK15——page499————
farther。"Fouquetletmestandtherehalfaday,beforehewouldpickmeoutagain。"RigorousBouquet,humanmercyforbidding,couldnotlethimstandthereinpermanence,——aswe,bettercircumstanced,maywithadvantagetrytodo,intimecoming!
FriedrichlayatSohrfivedays;partlyforthehonorofthething,partlytoeatouttheCountrytoperfection。PrinceKarl,fromKonigshof,soonfellbacktoKonigsgratz;andlaymotionlessthere,nothingbuthisTolpatcheriesastir,SohrCountryalleaten,Friedrich,inthedueDivisions,marchednorthward。
ThroughTrautenau,Schatzlar,hisownDivision,whichwasthemainone;——and,fencingofftheTolpatchessuccessfullywithtrouble,bringsallhismenintoSilesiaagain。Agoodjobofworkbehindthem,surely!CantonsthemtorightandleftofLandshut,aboutRohnstockandHohenfriedberg,hamletsknownsowell;andleavingtheYoungDessauertocommand,drivesforBerlin(30thOctober),——
rapidly,ashiswontis。PrinceKarlhassplituphisforceatKonigsgratz;means,onecannotdoubt,togointowinter—quarters。
Ifhethinkofinvading,acrossthateatenCountryandthosebadMountains,——well,ourtroopscanallbegottogetherinsixhours’time。
AtTrautenau,aweekafterSohr,FriedrichhadatlastreceivedtheEnglishratificationofthatConventionofHanover,signed26thAugust,almostamonthago;notratifiedtillSeptember22d。
Aboutwhichtherehadlatterlybeensomeanxiety,lesthisBritannicMajestyhimselfmighthavebrokenofffromit。
WithAustria,withSaxony,BritannicMajestyhasbeenentirelyunsuccessful:——"MaynotSohr,perhaps,beafreshpersuasive?"
hopesFriedrich;——butastoBritannicMajesty’sbreakingoff,histhoughtsarefarfromthat,ifweknew!PoorMajesty:notlongsince,SupremeJoveofGermany;andnow——isliketobeswallowedinragamuffinstreet—riots;notathunder—boltwithinclutchofhim(thunder—boltsallstickinginthemudoftheNetherlands,faroff),andnotaconstable’sstaffoftheleastefficacy!
Considerthesedatesincombination。BattleofSohrwasonTHURSDAY,SEPTEMBER30th:——
"SUNDAYpreceding,SEPTEMBER26th,wassuchaLord’s—DayintheCityofEdinburgh,ashadnotbeenseenthere,——notsinceJennyGeddes’sstoolwentflyingattheBishop’shead,aboveahundredyearsbefore。Bigalarm—bellburstingoutinthemiddleofdivineservice;emptyingalltheChurches(’Highlandrebelsjustathand!’)——intoGeneralMeetingoftheInhabitants,intoChaoscomeagain,forthenextfortyhours。Till,inthegauntmidnight,Tuesday,2A。M。,Lochielwithabout1,000Camerons,waitingslightopportunity,crushedinthroughtheNetherbowPort;and"——And,aboutnoonofthatday,apoorfriendofours,loiteringexpectantintheroadthatleadsbySt。Anthony’sWell,sawmakingentryintopaternalHolyrood,——theYoungPretender,inperson,whoisjustbeingproclaimedPrinceofWales,upintheHigh—streetyonder!
"Atallslenderyoungman,aboutfivefeettenincheshigh;ofaruddycomplexion,high—nosed,largerollingbrowneyes;long—
visaged,red—haired,butatthattimeworeapaleperiwig。HewasinaHighlandhabit[coat];overtheshoulderabluesashwroughtwithgold;redvelvetbreeches;agreenvelvetbonnet,withwhitecockadeonitandagoldlace。HisspeechseemedverylikethatofanIrishman;verysly[howdidyouknow,mypoorfriend?];——spokeoftentoO’Sullivan[thoughttobeapersonofsomecounsel;hadbeenTutortoMaillebois’sBoys,hadeventriedsomeirregularfightingunderMaillebois]——toO’Sullivanand"[Henderson,
HighlandRebellion,p。14。]……AndonSaturday,inshort,camePRESTONPANS。EnoughofsuchaSupremeJove;goodforushereasatimetablechiefly,ormarkerofdates!
Sunday,3dOctober,King’sAdjutant,CaptainMollendorf,ayoungOfficerdeservedlyinfavor,arrivesatBerlinwiththejoyfultidingsofthisSohrbusiness("Prausnitz"wethencalledit):
tothejoyofallPrussians,especiallyofaQueenMother,forwhomthereisaLetterinpencil。Afterbriefcongratulation,Mollendorfrusheson;havingnexttogivetheOldDessauernoticeofitinhisCampatDieskau,intheHalleneighborhood。MollendorfappearsinHallesuddenlynextmorning,Monday,aboutteno’clock,sixteenpostilionstrumpeting,andattheirswiftesttrot,infrontofhim;——shooting,likeamelodiousmorning—star,acrosstherustyoldcity,inthismanner,——toDieskauCamp,wherehegivestheOldDessauerhisgoodnews。ExcellentVictoryindeed;sharpstriking,swiftself—helponourpart。HalleandtheCamphaveenoughtothinkof,forthisdayandthenext。WhitherMollendorfwentnext,wewillnotask:perhapstoBrunswickandotherconsanguineousplaces?——Certainitis,"OnWednesday,the6th,abouttwointheafternoon,theOldDessauerhashiswholeArmydrawnoutthere,withgreensprigsintheirhats,atDieskau,closeupontheSaxonFrontier;and,afterswashingandmanoeuvringaboutinthehighestmilitarystyleofart,ranksthemallinline,ortwosuitablelines,30,000ofthem;
andthen,withclangorousoutburstoftrumpet,kettle—drumandallmanneroffield—music,firesoffhisunitedartilleryafirsttime;
almostshakingtheveryhillsbysuchathunderouspeal,inthestillafternoon。Andmark,closefittedintotheartillerypeal,commencesarollingfire,likeapealspreadoutinthreads,sparklingstrangelytoeyeandear;fromrighttoleft,longspearsoffireandsharpstrokesofsound,dartingaloft,successivesimultaneous,windingforthespaceofmiles,thenbackbytherearline,andhometothestarting—point:verygrandindeed。Again,andalsoagain,theartillerypeal,androllingsmall—armsfittedintoit,isrepeated;asecondandathirdtime,kettle—drumsandtrumpetsdoingwhattheycan。ThatwastheOldDessauer’sbonfiring(whatiscalledFEU—DE—JOIE),fortheVictoryofSohr;audiblealmostatLeipzig,ifthewindwerewesterly。Overpoweringtothehumanmind;atleast,totheoldNewspaperreporterofthatday。
Butwhatwasstrangestinthebusiness,"continueshe"(DAS
CURIEUSESTEDABEY),wasthattheSaxonUhlans,lyingaboutinthevillagesacrosstheBorder,wereoutinthefields,watchingthesight,hardly300yardsoff,frombeginningtoend;andlittledreamedthathisHighPrincelySerenity,"blueoffaceanddreadfulinwar,"wasquiteclosetothem,ontheHeightcalledBornhock;
condescendingto’takeallthisintoHigh—SereneEye—shinethere;
and,byhavingawhiteflagwaved,deigningtogivesignalforthedischargesoftheartillery。’"[Helden—Geschichte,i。1124。]
BythisthereadermayknowthattheOldDessauerisalive,readyforactionifcalledon;andBruhloughttocomprehendbetterhowriskishhisgamewithedge—toolsis。Bruhlisnotnowinanunpreparedstate:——hereareUhlansatone’selbowlookingon。
Rutowski’sUhlans;wholiesencamped,notfaroff,ingoodforce,postedamongmorasses;stronglyentrenched,andwithschemesinhishead,andinBruhl’s,ofanaggressive,thrice—secretandverysurprisingnature!Iremarkonlythat,inHeidelbergCountry,victoriousoldTraunisputtinghispeopleintowinter—quarters;
himselfabouttovanishfromthisHistory,[WenttoSIEBENBURGEN
(Transylvania)asGovernor;diedthereFebruary,1748,ageseventy—one(MariaTheresiensLeben,p。56
n。)。]——andhasdetachedGeneralGrunewith10,000men;wholeftHeidelbergOctober9th,onamysteriouserrand,heededbynobody;
andwillturnupinthenextChapter。
ChapterXIII。
SAXONYANDAUSTRIAMAKEASURPRISINGLASTATTEMPT。
AfterthisstrenuousandvictoriousCampaign,whichhasastonishedallpublicmen,especiallyallPragmaticGazetteers,andwithwhichallEuropeisdisharmoniouslyringing,FriedrichishopefultherewillbePeace,throughEngland;——cannotdoubt,atleast,buttheAustrianshavehadenoughforoneyear;——andlooksforwardtocertainmonths,ifnotofrest,yetofanotherkindofactivity。
Negotiation,PeacethroughEngland,ifpossible;thatisthehighprize:andintheothercase,orinanycase,readinessfornextCampaign;——whichwiththetreasuryexhausted,andnohonorablesubsidyfromFrance,isadifficultproblem。
ThatwasFriedrich’s,andeverybody’s,programofaffairsforthemonthscoming:butinthatFriedrichandeverybodyfoundthemselvesgreatlymistaken。BruhlandtheAustrianshaddecidedotherwise。
"Openmouse—trap,"atStriegau;clawsofthesleepingcat,atSohr:
theseweresadexperiences;illtobear,withtheSea—Powersgrumblingonyou,andtheworldsniffingitspityonyou;——butarenotconclusive,areonlyprovokingandevenmaddening,tothesanguinemind。Twosadfailures;butletustryanothertime。
"Atrickyman;cunningenough,yourKingofPrussia!"thinksBruhl,withafellnessofhumoragainstFriedrichwhichislittleconceivabletousnow:"Cunningenough。Butitispossiblecunningmaybesurpassedbydeepercunning!"——anddecides,BartensteinandanindignantEmpress—Queenassentingeagerly,Thatthereshall,intheprofoundestsecrecytillitbreakout,beathird,andmuchfiercertrial,thisWinteryet。TheBruhl—Bartensteinplan(owingmainlytotheRussianBugbearwhichhungoverit,protective,butwithwhimsofitsown)underwentchanges,successiveredactionsoreditions;whichthereaderwouldgrudgetohearexplainedtohim。
[AccountoftheminOrlich,ii。273—278(fromvariousRUTOWSKI
Papers;andfromthecontemporarysatiricalPamphlet,"MONDSCHEINWURFE,Mirror—castingsofMoonshine,byZEBEDAUSCuckoo,beatenCaptainofabeatenArmy。"]Ofthefinaloractededition,someloosenotion,sufficientforourpurpose,maybecollectedfromthefollowingfractionsofNotes:——
NOVEMBER17th(INTERIOROFGERMANY)……"Feldmarschall—LieutenantvonGrune,aGeneralofmark,detachedbyTraunnotlongsince,fromtheRhineCountry,withaforceof10,000men,whyishemarchingabout:firsttoBaireuthCountry,’atHof,November9th,’
asifforBohemia;thennorth,toGera(’liesatGeratillthe17th’),asifforSaxonyProper?PrinceKarl,youwouldcertainlysay,hasgoneintowinter—quarters;aboutKonigsgratz,andfartheron?Goneorgoing,sureenough,isPrinceKarl,intotheconvenientBohemiandistricts,——uncertainwhichparticulardistricts;atleasttheYoungDessauer,watchinghimfromtheSilesianside,isuncertainwhich。Betterbevigilant,PrinceLeopold!——Grune,lyingatGerayonder,isnotintendingforPrinceKarl,then?No,notthither。ThenperhapstowardsSaxony,toreinforcetheSaxons?
Orsome—whithertofindfatwinter—quarters:whoknows?Indeed,whocaresparticularly,forsuchinconsiderableGruneandhis10,000!——
"TheSaxonsquittedtheirinexpugnableCamptowardsHalle,sometimeago;wentintocantonmentsfartherinland;——theOldDessauer(middleofOctober)havingdonethelike,andgonehome:hisforceliesratherscattered,forconvenienceoffoodandforage。FromtheSilesianside,again,PrinceLeopold,whosehead—quartersareaboutStriegau,intimates,Thathecannotyetsay,withcertainty,whatdistrictsPrinceKarlwilloccupyforwinter—quartersinBohemia。
PrinceKarlisvaguelyrovingabout;detachingPandourstotheSilesianMountains,asifforcheckingourvictoriousNassauthere;——alwaysrathercreepingnorthward;skirtingWesternSilesiawithhismainforce;30,000orbetter,withLobkowitzandNadastiahead。Meaningwhat?Bevigilant,myyoungfriend。
"Theprivatefactis,PrinceKarldoesnotmeantogointowinter—
quartersatall。Inprivatefact,PrinceKarlisoneofThreemysteriousElementsorCurrents,sentonafarerrand:Gruneisanother:Rutowski’sSaxonCamp(nowbecomeCantonment)isathird。
ThreeCurrentsinstinctwithfireanddestruction,butasyetquiteopaque;whichhavebeenlaunched,——whitherwardthinksthereader?
OnBerlinitself,andtheMarkofBrandenburg;theretocollide,andigniteinamarvellousmanner。Thereistheirmeeting—point:
thereshallthey,onasudden,smiteoneanotherintoflame;
andthedestructionblaze,fieryenough,roundFriedrichandhisownBrandenburghomesteadsthere!——
"Itisagrandscheme;schemeatleastonagrandscale。FortheLEGSofit,Grune’smarchandPrinceKarl’s,areabout600mileslong!Planduechiefly,theysay,totheyellowrageofBruhl;
aidedbythecontrivanceofRutowski,andthecounselofAustrianmilitarymen。Forthereismuchconsultingaboutit,andredactingofit;PolishMajestyhimselfverybusy。ToBruhl’syellowrageitishighlysolacingandhopeful。’Rutowski,lyingcloseinhisCantonments,andthensuddenlyspringingout,willoverwhelmtheOldDessauer,wholieswide;——candoit,surely;andGruneistheretohelpifnecessary。Dessauerblowntopieces,Grune,withRutowskicombined,pushinuponBrandenburg,——GrunehimselfuponBerlin,——fromthewestandsouth,nobodyexpectinghim。PrinceKarl,nottakingintowinter—quartersinBohemia,astheyidlythink;butfallingdowntheValleyoftheBober,orBoberandQueiss,intotheLausitz(toGorlitz,Guben,wherewehaveMagazinesforhim),comesuponitfromthesoutheast,——nobodyexpectinganyofthem。ThreesimultaneousArmieshurledontheheadofyourFriedrich;combustibledelugesflowingtowardshim,asfromtheendsofGermany;soopaque,silent,yetoffirewholly:
willnotthatsurprisehim!’thinksBruhl。Thesearetheschemesofthelittleman。"
Bruhl,havingconstitutedhimselfrivaltoFriedrich,andfallenintopaleoryellowragebythecoursethingstook,thisPlanisnaturallyhischiefjoy,orcrownofjoys;abubblingwellofsolacetohiminhisparchedcondition。Heshould,obviously,havekeptitsecret;thrice—secret,thelittlefool;——butapoorparchedmanisnotalwaysmasterofhisprivatebubblingwellsinthatkind!WolfstiernaisSwedishEnvoyatDresden;Rudenskjold,SwedishEnvoyatBerlin,hasrunovertoseehiminthedimNovemberdays。
Swedes,sinceUlrique’smarriage,arefriendlytoPrussia。
Bruhlhasthesetwomentodinner;talkswiththem,overhiswine,aboutFriedrich’sinsultingusageofhim,amongothertopics。
"Insulting;how,yourExcellency?"asksRudenskjold,privatelyafriendofFriedrich。Bruhlexplains,withvoicequivering,thosecutsintheFriedrichmanifestoofAugustlast,andothergriefssuffered;thetwoSwedessoothinghimwithwhatoiltheyhaveready。"Nomatter!"hintsBruhl;andproceedsfromhinttohint,tillthetwoSwedesarefullyawareofthegrandscheme:
Grune,PrinceKarl;andhowDestruction,withlegs500mileslong,issteadilyadvancingtoassuageonewithjustrevenge。
"Right,yourExcellency!"——onlythatRudenskjoldproceedstoBerlin;andtherestraightway("8thNovember")punctuallymakesFriedrichalsoaware。[Stenzel,iv。262;Ranke,iii。317—323;
Friedrich’sownnarrativeofit,OEuvres,
iii。148。]FoolishBruhl:amanthathasasecretshouldnotonlyhideit,buthidethathehasittohide。
FRIEDRICHGOESOUTTOMEETHISTHREE—LEGGEDMONSTER;
CUTSONELEGOFITINTWO(FightofHennersdorf,23dNovember,1745)。
Friedrich,havingheardthesecret,gazesintoitwithhorrorandastonishment:"WhatatimeIhave!Thisisnotliving;thisisbeingkilledathousandtimesaday!"[Ranke(iii。321n。):TOwhomsaid,wearenottold。]——withhorrorandastonishment;butalsowithwhatmostluminousflashofeyesightisinhim;comparesitwithPrinceKarl’senigmaticmotions,Grune’sopenonesandtheotherphenomena;——perceivesthatitisanindisputablefact,andathrice—formidable;requiringtobeinstantlydealtwithbythepartyinterested!Whereupon,afterheartythankstoRudenskjold,thereoccurtheserapidlysuccessivephasesofactivity,whichwestudytotakeupinacurtform。
FIRST(probably9thor10thNovember),thereisCouncilheldwithMinisterPodewilsandtheOldDessauer;Councilfromwhichcomeslittlebenefit,ornone。PodewilsandOldLeopoldstareincredulous;cannotbemadetobelievesuchathing。
"ImpossibleanySaxonministerormanwouldvoluntarilybringthetheatreofwarintohisownCountry,inthismanner!"thinkstheOldDessauer,andpersiststothink,——onwhatobstinategroundFriedrichneverknew。TowhichPodewils,"whohaspropertiesintheLausitz,andwouldsofainthinkthemsafe,"obstinately,thoughmorecovertly,adheres。"Impossible!"urgeboththeseCouncillors;
andFriedrichcannotevenmakethembelieveit。Believeit;
and,alas,believingitisnotthewholeproblem!
HappilyFriedrichhastheprivilegeofordering,withorwithouttheirbelief。"You,Podewils,announcethemattertoforeignCourts。You,SereneHighnessofAnhalt,atyourswiftest,collectyonder,andencampagain。YoureyewellonGruneandRutowski;
andtheinstantIgiveyousignal——!IamforSilesia,tolookafterPrinceKarl,theotherlonglegofthisBusiness。"
OldLeopold,accordingtoFriedrich’saccount,isvisiblygladofsuchopportunitytofightagainbeforehedie:andyet,fornoreasonexceptsomesenilejealousy,isnotcontentwiththesearrangements;perverselyobjectstothisandthat。AtlengththeKingsays,——thinkofthishardword,andoftheeyesthataccompanyit!——"WhenyourHighnessgetsArmiesofyourown,youwillorderthemaccordiugtoyourmind;atpresent,itmustbeaccordingtomine。"On,then;andnotamomentlost:forofallthingswemustbeswift!
OldLeopoldgoesaccordingly。Friedrichhimselfgoesinaweekhence。Orders,correspondencesfromPodewilsandtherest,areflyingrightandleft;——toYoungLeopoldinSilesia,firstofall。
YoungLeopolddrawsouthisforcestowardstheSilesian—Lausitzborder,wherePrinceKarl’sintentionsarenowbecomingvisible。
And,——hereisthesecondphasenotable,——
"OnMonday,15th,["18th,"Feldzuge,i。402
(seeRodenbeck,i。122)。]at7A。M。,"Friedrichrushesoff,byCrossen,fullspeedforLiegnitz;"withRothenburg,withthePrinceofPrussiaandFerdinandofBrunswickaccompanying。"Withwhatthoughts,——though,inhisface,youcanreadnothing;allBerlinbeingalreadyinsuchtremor!FriedrichisinLiegnitznextday;
andafterneedfulpreliminariesthere,does,ontheThursdayfollowing,"atNieder—Adelsdorf,"notfaroff,takeactualcommandofPrinceLeopold’sArmy,whichhadlainencampedforsomedays,waitinghim。Andnowwithsuchforceinhand,——35,000,soldierseverymanofthem,andfreshenedbyamonth’srest,——onewillendeavortodosomegooduponPrinceKarl。ProbablysoonerthanPrinceKarlsupposes。ForthereisgreatvelocityinthisyoungKing;apanther—likesuddennessofspringinhim:cunning,too,asanyFelisofthem;andwithclawsliketheFelisLeoonoccasion。
HerefollowsthebriefCampaignthatensued,whichIstrivegreatlytoabridge。
PrinceKarl’sintentionstowardsFrankfurt—on—OderCountry,throughtheLausitz,arenowbecomingpracticallymanifest。ThereisaMagazineforhimatGuben,withinthirtymilesofFrankfurt;
arrangementsgettingreadyalltheway。Awintermarchof150
miles;——butwhat,saythespies,istohinder?PrinceKarldreamsnotthatFriedrichisontheground,orthatanybodyisaware。
WhichnotionFriedrichfindsthatitwillbeextremelysuitabletomaintaininPrinceKarl。FriedrichisnowatAdelsdorf,somethirtymileseastwardoftheLausitzBorder,perhapsfortyormorefromtheroutePrinceKarlwillfollowthroughthatProvince。
"Itisahigh—lyingirregularlyhillyCountry;hilly,notmountainous。Variousstreamsriseoutofitthathavealongcourse,——amongothers,theSpree,whichwashesBerlin;——especiallythreeValleyscrossit,threeRiverswiththeirValleys:
Bober,Queiss,Neisse(theTHIRDNeissewehavecomeupon);
allrunningnorthward,prettymuchparallel,thoughallarebranchesoftheOder。ThisisNeisseTHIRD,wesay;nottheNeisseofNeisseCity,whichweusedtoknowatthenorthbaseoftheGiantMountains,northeRoaringNeisse,whichwehaveseenatHohenfriedberg;butathird[andtheFOURTHandlast,"BlackNeisse,"thankHeaven,isanupperbranchofthis,andwehave,andshallhave,nothingtodowithit!]——thirdNeisse,whichwemaycalltheLausitzNeisse。Onwhich,neartheheadofit,thereisafineoldspinning,linen—weavingTowncalledZittau,——where,tomakeitmemorable,oneTouristhasread,ontheTown—house,anInscriptionworthrepeating:’BENEFACEREETMALEAUDIREREGIUM
EST,Todogoodandhaveevilsaidofyou,isakinglything。’
OtherTowns,asGorlitz,andseventymilesfarthertheabove—saidGuben,lieonthissameNeisse,——shallweaddthatHerrnhuthstandsneartheheadofit?ThewondrousTownofHerrnhuth(LORD’S—
KEEPING),foundedbyCountZinzendorf,twentyyearsbeforethosedates;["In1722,thefirsttreefelled"(LIVESofZinzendorf)。]
whereareakindofGermanMethodist—Quakerstothisday,whohavebecomeverycelebratedintheinterim。Anopulentenough,mostsilent,strictlyregular,strangelittleTown。Thewomenareinuniform;wives,maids,widows,eachtheirformofdress。
Missionaries,speakingflabbyEnglish,whohavebeenintheWestIndiesoraregoingthither,seemtoaboundintheplace;
malepopulationotherwise,Ishouldthink,mustbemainlydoingtradeelsewhere;nothingbutprayers,preachings,charitableboarding—schoolingandthelike,appearedtobegoingon。
Herrnhuthis’aSabbathPetrified;CalvinisticSabbathdoneintoStone,’asoneofmycompanionscalledit。"[Tourist’sNote(Autumn,1852)。]
Herrnhuth,ofwhichallEnglishmenhaveheard,standsneartheheadofthisourthirdNeisse;asdoesZittau,afewmileshigherup。
Icandonothingmoretogiveitmarkforthem。BoberValley,thenQueissValley,whichrunparallelthoughtheyjoinatlast,andbecomeBoberwhollybeforegettingintotheOder,——thesetwoValleysandRiverslieinFriedrich’sownTerritory;andarebetweenhimandtheLausitz,QueissRiverbeingtheboundaryofSilesiaandtheLausitzhere。ItisdowntheNeissethatPrinceKarlmeanstomarch。ThereareSaxonsalreadygatheringaboutZittau;anddownasfarasGubentheyaremakingMagazinesandarrangements,——foritisalltheirownCountryinthoseyears,thoughmostofitisPrussia’snow。PrinceKarl’smarchwillgoparalleltotheBoberandtheQueiss;separatedfromtheQueissinthispartbyanundulatingHill—tractoftwentymilesormore。
FriedrichhashadsomewhattosettlefortheSouthernFrontierofSilesiawithal,whichnewdoggeriesofPandoursareinvading,——toliereadyforPrinceKarlonhisreturnthither,whosegrandmeaningallthiswhile(asFriedrichwellknows),is"Silesiainthelump"again,hadheoncecutusofffromBrandenburgandoursupplies!GeneralNassau,fareastward,whoisdoingexploitsinMoraviaitself,——himFriedrichhasorderedhomeward,westwardtohisownsideoftheMountains,toattendthesenewPandourgentlemen;Winterfeldhehascalledhome,outofthoseSouthernmountains,aslikelytobeusefulerhereonthisWesternfrontier。
WinterfeldarrivedinCampthesamedaywithFriedrich;andissentforwardwithabodyof3,000lighttroops,tokeepwatchabouttheLausitzFrontierandtheRiverQueiss;"carefulnottoquitourownsideofthatstream,"——aswemeantohoodwinkPrinceKarl,ifwecan!
Friedrichliesstrictlywithinhisownborders,foradayortwo;
tillPrinceKarlmarch,tillhisownarrangementsarecomplete。
FriedrichhimselfkeepstheBober,WinterfeldtheQueiss;"allpassfreelyoutoftheLausitz;noneareallowedtocrossintoit:
therebywehearnoticeofPrinceKarl,henoneofus。"
Perfectlyquiescent,we,poorcreatures,andawareofnothing!
Thus,too,Friedrich——inspiteofhiswarlikeManifesto,whichtheSaxonsareontheeveofansweringwithaformalDeclarationofWar——affectsgreatrigorinconsideringtheSaxonsasnotyetatwarwithhim:respectstheirfrontier,Winterfeldevenpunisheshussars"fortrespassingonLausitzground。"Friedrichalsoaffectstohaveroadsrepaired,whichhebynomeansintendstotravel:——
thewholewithaviewoflullingPrinceKarl;ofkeepingthemouse—
trapopen,ashehaddoneintheStriegaucase。Itsucceededagain,quiteasconspicuously,andatlessexpense。
PrinceKarl——whoseTolpatchdoggeryWinterfeldwillnotallowtopasstheQueiss,andtowhomnotravellerortidingscancomefrombeyondthatRiver——discernsonly,onthefarthershoreofit,Winterfeldwithhis3,000lighttroops。Behindthese,hediscernseithernothing,ornothingimmediatelymomentous;butcontentedlysupposesthatthis,thesuperficiesofthings,isallthesolid—
contenttheyhave。PrinceKarlgetsunderway,therefore,nothingdoubting;withhisSaxonsasvanguard。DowntheNeisseValley,ontherightorQueiss—wardsideofit:Saturday,20thNovember,ishisfirstmarchinLusatianterritory。HeliesthatnightspreadoutinthreeVillages,Schonberg,Schonbrunn,Kieslingswalde;
[Feldzuge,i。407(BerichtvonderActionbeyKatholisch—Hennersdorf,&c。)。]sometenmileslong;paralleltotheNeisseRiver,andaboutfourmilesfromit,eastorQueiss—wardofit。Karlhimselfisrear,atSchonberg;fierceLobkowitziscentre;
theSaxonsarevanguard,6,000inall,postedinVillages,whichagainaresometenortwelvemilesaheadofPrinceKarl’sforces;
theQueissontheirrighthand,andtheNaumburgBridgeofQueiss,whereWinterfeldnowis,aboutfifteenmilestoeast。TheirUhlanscirculatethroughtheinterveningspace(weremuchpatrollingneeded,insuchquietcircumstances),andmaintaintheduecommunication。ThereliesPrinceKarl,onSaturdaynight,20thNovember,1745;anArmyofperhaps40,000,dnngerouslystragglingoutabovetwentymileslong;andappearstoseenodifficultyahead。TheSaxons,Ithink,aretocontinuewheretheyare;
guardingtheflank,whilethePrinceandLobkowitzpushforward,closerbyNeisseRiver。Infourmarchesmore,theycanbeinBrandenburg,withGubenandtheirMagazinesathand。
Seeingwhichstateofmatters,WinterfeldgivesFriedrichnoticeofit;andthathe,Winterfeld,thinksthemomentiscome。
"PontoonstoNaumburg,then!"ordersFriedrich。Winterfeld,atthepropermoment,istoformaBridgethere。OnepermanentBridgetherealreadyis;andtwofords,oneaboveit,onebelow:withasecondBridge,therewillberoadwayforfourcolumns,andaswifttransitwhenneedful。Sunday,21st,FriedrichquitstheBober,diligentlytowardsNaumburg;marchesSunday,Monday;Tuesday,23d,aboutelevenA。M。,beginstoarrivethere;Winterfeldandpassagesallready。Forward,then,andletusdriveinuponPrinceKarl;
andeithercuthimintwo,orforcehimtofightus;helittlethinkswhereoronwhatterms。Sureenough,intheworstplacewecanchooseforhim!FriedrichbeginscrossinginfourcolumnsatoneP。M。;crossescontinuouslyforfourhours;unopposed,exceptsomeskirmishingofUhlans,whilehisCavalryisridingtheFordstorightandleft;Uhlansweredrivenbackswiftly,sosoonastheCavalrygotover。Atfiveintheevening,hehasgotentirelyacross,35,000horseandfoot:ZiethenischasingtheUhlansatfullspeed;whoatleastwillshowustheway,——forbythistimeamisthasbegunfalling,andthebriefdaylightisdone。
Friedrichhimself,withoutwaitingfortherearofhisforce,andsomewhilebeforethismistfell(asIjudge),ispushingforward,"amillerladforhisguide,"acrosstoHennersdorf,——Katholisch—
Hennersdorf,alongstragglingVillage,eightortenmilesoff,anditselftwomileslong,——whereheunderstandstheSaxonsare。
Millerladguidesus,overheightandhollow,withhisbestskill,atabriskpace;——throughonehollow,wherehehasknownthecattlepastureinsummertime;butwhichprovesimpassable,andmerequagmire,atthisseason。Nogettingthroughit,youunfortunatemillerlad(GARCONDEMEUNIER)。Nevertheless,wedidfindpassagethroughtheskirtsofit:naythisquagmireprovedtheluckofus;
fortheenemy,trustiugtoit,hadnooutguardthere,neverexpectingusonthatside。Sothatthevanguard,ZiethenandrapidHussars,madeanexcellentthingofit。Ziethensendsusword,ThathehasgotintothebodyofHennersdorf,——"foundtheSaxonQuartermasterquietlypayinghismen;"——thathe,Ziethen,istolerablymasterofHennersdorf,andwillamusetheenemytilltheotherforcecomeup。
OfcourseFriedrichnowpusheson,doublespeed;detachesotherforce,horseandfoot:whichwaslucky,saysmyinformant;fortheZiethenHussars,gettinggoodplunder,hadbynomeansdemolishedtheSaxons;buthadleftthemtimetodrawupinfirmorder,withahedgeinfront,alittlewestoftheVillage;——fromwhichpost,unassailablebyZiethen,theywouldhavegotsafeofftothemainbody,withlittlebutanaffrontandsomelossofgoods。Thenewforce——arapidKatzlerwithlighthorseinthevan,cuirassiersandfootrapidlyfollowinghim——sweepspastthelongVillage,"throughathinwoodandadefile;"findstheenemyfirmlyrankedasabovesaid;cavalrytheirleft,infantryonright,flankedbyanimpenetrablehedge;andatoncestrikesin。Atonce,Katzlerdoes,onordergiven;butisfartooweak。Charges,he;butiscounter—
charged,tumbledback;theSaxons,horseandfoot,showingexcellentfight。Atlength,morePrussianforcecomingup,cuirassierschargetheminfront,dragoonsinflank,hussarsinrear;allattackingatonce,andwithawill;andthepoorSaxonCavalryisentirelycuttoshreds。
AndnowthereremainsonlytheInfantry,perhapsabout1,000men(ifonemustguess);whoformasquare;plyvigorouslytheirfield—
piecesandtheirfire—arms;andcannotbebrokenbyhorse—charges。
Infact,theseSaxonsmadeafierceresistance;——till,beforelong,PrussianInfantrycameup;and,withcounterfield—piecesandmusketries,blastedgapsinthem;uponwhichtheCavalrygotadmittance,andreducedthegallantfellowsnearlywhollytoannihilationeitherbydeathorcapture。Thereare914PrisonersinthisAction,4bigguns,andIknownothowmanykettle—drums,standardsandthelike,——allthatwerethere,Isuppose。Thenumberofdeadnotgiven。[Orlich,ii。291;Feldzuge,i。400—413。]But,inbrief,thisSaxonForceisutterlycuttopieces;andonlyscatteredtwosandthreesofitrushthroughthedarkmist;scatteringterrortothishandandthat。