Butafirebeingkindled,whichconsistedoftar—barrels,fagots,tables,tubs,&c。,hewasconsumedinabouthalfanhour。"
[OldNewspapers(Gentleman’sMagazine,
xxvi。409)。]
ThatistheiremploymentonTower—Hill,overyonder,whileMitchellisgettingunderwaytoseeFriedrich。
MitchellcontinuedatPotsdamoverFriday;andwasstillineagerconsultationthatnight,whentheKingsaidtohim,withacertainexpressivenessofglance:"BONSOIR,then;——To—morrowmorningaboutfour!"Andonthemorrow,Saturday,28th,Mitchellreportshurriedly:——
"……AmjustreturnedtoBerlin,intimetowritetoyourLordship。
Thismorning,betweenfourandfive,ItookleaveoftheKingofPrussia。HrwentimmediatelyupontheParade;mountedonhorseback;
and,afteraveryshortexerciseofhisTroops,puthimselfattheirhead;andmarcheddirectlyforBelitz[half—waytoBrietzen,TREUENbrietzenastheycallit];where,To—morrow,hewillentertheSaxonTerritory,"——as,attheirrespectivepoints,histwootherColumnswill;——andbegin,whoshallsaywhatterriblegame;
incalculabletoyourLordshipandme,withsuchOperationsafootonTower—Hill![MitchellPapers,vi。804("ToLordHolderness,28thAugust,1756")。]——
SevenHussarRegimentsofDukeFerdinand’sColumngotthelengthofLeipzigthatSundayEvening,29th;andtookpossessionoftheplace。[InHelden—Geschichte,iii。731,his"Proclamation"there,29thAugust,1756。]DukeFerdinandtorightoftheKing,DukeofBrunswick—Beverntoleft,——theThreeColumnscrosstheBorder,atpoints,say80milesfromoneanother;
occasionally,onthemarch,bendingtorightwardsandleftwards,totakeintheprincipalTowns,andmakesettlementsthere,thetwomightbeaboveahundredmilesfromFriedrichoneachhand。ThelengthofmarchforeachColumn,——Ferdinand"fromLeipzig,byChemnitz,Freyberg,Dippoldiswalde,totheVillageofCotta"(Pirnaneighborhood,southofElbe);Bevern,"throughtheLausitz,byBautzen,toLohmen"(sameneighborhood,northofElbe);
KingFriedrich,toDresden,bythecourseoftheElbeitself,wasnotfarfromequal,andmaybecalledabout150miles。Theymarchedwithdiligence,notwithhurry;hadtheirpauses,rest—days,whenbusinessrequired。Theygottotheirground,withthesimultaneousnessappointed,ontheeleventhortwelfthday。
ThemiddleColumn,undertheKing,whereMarshalKeithissecondincommand,goesbyTorgau(detachingMoritzofDessautopickupWittenberg,andruintheslightworksthere);crossestheElbeatTorgau,September2d;marches,cantoningitselfdayafterday,alongthesouthernbankoftheRiver;leavesMeissentotheleft,I
perceive,doesnotpassthroughMeissen;comesfirstatWilsdrufongroundwherewehavebeen,——andportionsofit,Idoubtnot,werebilletedinKesselsdorf;andwouldtakeaglanceattheoldField,iftheyhadtime。ThereisstrictdisciplineinalltheColumns;
theauthoritiescomplyingonsummons,andarrangingwhatisneedful。Nobodyresists;town—guardsatoncegroundarms,andthereisnosoldiervisible;soldiersallebbingaway,whitherwardweguess。[Helden—Geschichte,iii。732,733;
OEuvresdeFrederic,iv。81。]
AtWilsdruf,Friedrichfirstlearnsforcertain,thattheSaxonArmy,withKing,withBruhlandotherchiefpersonages,arewithdrawntoPirna,totheinexpugnableKonigsteinandRock—
Country。TheSaxonArmyhadbegunassemblingthere,September1st,directlyonthenewsthatFriedrichwasacrosstheBorder;
September9th,onFriedrich’sapproach,theKingandDignitariesmoveoffthither,fromDresden,outofhisway。ExcellencyBrogliohasputthemonthatplan。WhichmayhaveitscomplexitiesforFriedrich,hopesBroglio,——thoughperhapsitsstillgreaterforsomeotherpartiesconcerned!ForBruhlandPolishMajesty,aswillappearbyandby,nothingcouldhaveturnedoutworse。
MeanwhileFriedrichpusheson:"Forward,allthesame。"PolishMajesty,datingfromStruppen,inthePirnaCountry,hasbegunaCorrespondencewithFriedrich,verypoliteonbothhands;andhisAdjutant—General,theChevalierMeagher("ChevalierdeMARRE,"asValoricallshim,——MA’AR,ashecallshimselfinIrish),hasjusthad,atWilsdruf,aninterviewwithFriedrich;butisfarfromhavinggotsettlementonthetermshewished。PolishMajestymagnanimouslyassentingto"aRoadthroughhisCountryformilitarypurposes;"offers"thestrictestNeutrality,strictestfriendshipeven;hasdone,andwilldo,noinjurywhatevertohisPrussianMajesty——["DidweeverSIGNanything?"whispercomfortablyBruhlandhetooneanother];——expects,therefore,thathisPrussianMajestywillmarchon,whitherheisbound;andleavehimunmolestedhere。"[Helden—Geschichte,
iii。774。]
ThatwasMeagher’smessage;thatisthepurportofallhisPolishMajesty’sElevenLetterstoFriedrich,whichprecedeorfollow,——
reiteratingwithacertainovineobstinacy,insensibletotimeorchange,ThatsuchisPolishMajesty’sfixednotion:
"Strictneutrality,friendshipeven;andleavemeunmolestedhere。"
[InOEuvresdeFrederic,iv。235—260("29thAugust—10thSeptember—18thSeptember,"1756),arecollectednow,theElevenLetters,withtheirAnswers。]"Strictneutrality,yes:
butdisperseyourArmy,then,"answersFriedrich;sendyourArmybacktoitscantonments:ImustmyselfhavethekeepingofmyHighway,lestIloseit,asin1744。"ThisisFriedrich’sanswer;
thisatfirst,andforsometimecoming;though,astheaspectschange,andthedangerouselementsheapthemselveshigher,Friedrich’sanswerwillrisewiththem,andhisterms,liketheSibyl’s,becomeworseandworse。ThisistheutmostthatMeagher,atWilsdruf,canmakeofit;andthis,inconceivablecircumstances,willgrowlessandless。
Nextday,September9th,Friedrich,withsomeBattalions,enteredDresden,mostofhisColumntakingCampnearby;GeneralWylichhadenteredyesterday,andisalreadyCommandantthere。Friedrichsends,byFeldmarschallKeith,highestOfficerofhisColumn,hishomagestoherPolishMajesty:——nothinggivenusofKeith’sInterview;exceptbyaside—wind,"ThatMajestycomplainedofthosePrussianSentrieswalkingaboutincertainofhercorridors"(withaneyetoSomething,itmaybefeared!)——ofwhich,doubtless,Keithundertooktomakereport。FriedrichhimselfwaitsupontheJuniorPrinces,whoarelefthere:ispoliteandgraciousasever,thoughstrict,andwithbusinessenough;lodges,forhisownpart,"intheGarden—HouseofPrincessMoczinska;"——andnextmorningleadsoffhisColumn,ashortmarcheastward,tothePirnaCountry;where,ontherightandontheleft,FerdinandatCotta,BevernatLohmen(ifreaderswilllookontheirMap),hefindstheotherTwointheirduepositions。Head—quarterisGross—Sedlitz(westernmostskirtoftheRock—region);andwillhavetocontinueso,muchlongerthanhadbeenexpected。
TheDiplomaticworldinDresdenisingreatemotion;moreespeciallyjustatpresent。Thismorning,beforeleaving,Friedrichhadtodoanexceedinglystrictthing:securetheOriginalsofthoseMenzelDocuments。Originalsindispensabletohim,forjustifyinghisnewproceduresuponSaxony。Sothattherehasbeen,atthePalace,aScenethismorningofaveryhighanddissonantnature,——"MarshalKeith"init,"MarshalKeithmakingasecondvisit"(saysomelooseandfalseAccounts);——thefactsbeingstrictlyasfollows。
FarfromremovingthosePrussiansentriescomplainedoflastnight,hereseemstobeadoublestrengthofthemthismorning。AndherPolishMajesty,asevere,hard—featuredoldLady,hasbeenfilledwithindignantamazementbyaPrussianOfficer——MajorvonWangenheim,Ibelieveitis——requiring,intheKingofPrussia’sname,theKeysofthatArchive—room;PrussianMajestyabsolutelyneedingsight,foralittlewhile,ofcertainPapersthere。
"Enterthatroom?ArchivesofacrownedHead?Letmeseethelivingmortalthatwilldaretodoit!"——onefanciestheindignantPolishMajesty’sanswer;andhow,callingformaterials,she"openlysealedthedoorinquestion,"inWangenheim’spresence。AsthisisacelebratedPassage,whichhasbeenreportedinseverallooseways,letustakeitfromtheprimarysource,Chancerystyleandall。GrafvonSternberg,AustrianExcellency,writingfromthespotandatthehour,informshisownCourt,andthroughthatallCourts,inthesesolemnlyOfficialterms:——
"DRESDEN,10thSEPTEMBER,1756。TheQueen’sMajesty,thisforenoon,hascalledtoheralltheForeignMinistersnowatDresden;andinHighestOwnPersonhassignifiedtous,How,thePrussianintrusionsandhostilitiesbeingalreadyknown,HighestsaidQueen’sMajestywouldnowsimplystatewhathadfarthertakenplacethismorning:——
"HighestsaidQueen’sMajesty,towit,had,inherownname,requestedtheKingofPrussia,inconformitywithhisassurances[byKeith,yesternight]ofpayingeveryregardforHerandtheRoyalFamily,ToremovethePrussianSentriespacingaboutinthoseCorridors,"——CorridorswhichleadtotheSecretArchives,importanttosomeofus!——"Insteadofwhich,thesaidKinghadnotonlydoubledhisSentriesthere;butalso,byanOfficer,demandedtheKeysoftheArchive—apartment[justalludedto]!AndastheQueen’sMajesty,forsecurityofallwritingsthere,offeredtosealtheDoorofitherself,anddidso,thereandthen,——thesaidOfficerhadsolittlerespect,thatheclappedhisownsealthereontoo。
"Norwashecontenttherewith,"——notbyanymeans!——"butthesameOfficer[havingbeenwithWylich,Commandanthere]cameback,ashorttimeafter,andmadeforopeningoftheDoorhimself。
WhichbeingannouncedtotheQueen’sMajesty,sheinherownperson(HOCHSTDIESELBE,Highest—the—Same)wentoutagain;andstandingbeforetheDoor,informedhim,’HowHighest—the—SamehadtoomuchregardtohisPrussianMajesty’sgivenassurance,tobelievethatsuchordercouldproceedfromtheKing。’AstheOfficer,however,replied,’Thathewassorrytohavesuchanordertoexecute;
butthattheorderwasseriousandprecise;andthathe,bynotexecutingit,wouldexposehimselftothegreatestresponsibility,"
HerMajestycontinuedstandingbeforetheDoor;andsaidtotheOfficer,’Ifhemeanttouseforce,hemightuponHermakehisbeginning。’"Thereisforyou,HerrWangenheim!——
"UponwhichsaidOfficerhadgoneaway,toreportanewtotheKing[Ithink,onlytoWylichtheCommandant;Kingnowadozenmilesoff,notsoeasilyreportedto,andhismindknown];andinthemeanwhileHerMajestyhadcalledtoherthePrussianandEnglishAmbassadors[MahlzahnandStormont;sorrybothofthem,buthowentirelyresourceless,——especiallyMahlzahn!],andhadrepresentedandrepeatedtothemtheabove;beseechingthatbytheirremonstrancesandpersuasionstheywouldinducetheKingofPrussia,conformablywithhisgivenassurance,toforbear。
Instead,however,ofanyfruitfromsuchremonstrancesandurgencies,finalOrdercame,’That,Queen’sMajesty’sownHighestPersonnotwithstanding,forcemustbeused。’
"WhereuponherMajesty,toavoidactualmistreatment,hadbeenobligedto"——tobecomepassive,and,noKeysbeingprocurablefromher,seeasmithwithhispicklocksgivethesePrussiansadmission。
Legation—SecretaryPlessmannwasthere(Menzelonefanciessitting,ratherpale,inanadjacentroom[Supra,p。266。]);andtheyknewwhattodo。TheirsmithopenstherequiredBoxforthem(oneofseveral"alllyingpackedforWarsaw,"saysFriedrich);fromwhichsoontakingwhattheyneeded,WangenheimandWylichwithdrewwiththeirbooty,andreadershavethefruitofittothisday。
"Whichunheard—ofprocedure,bepleased,yourExcellencies,toreporttoyourrespectiveCourts。"[GesammelteNachrichten,i。222(or"No。26"ofthatCollection);
OEuvresdeFrederic,iv。83。]
PooroldLady,whatasituation!AndIbelievesheneversawherpooroldHusbandagain。ThedayhewenttoPirna(morningofyesterday,September9th,Friedrichenteringintheevening),thesepoorSpouseshad,littledreamingofit,takenleaveofoneanotherforevermore。SuchprofitliesinyourBruhl。KingsandQueensthatwillbegovernedbyaJesuitGuarini,andaBruhloftheTwelveTailors,sometimespaydearforit。They,ortheirrepresentatives,aresuretodoso。KingsandQueens,——yes,andifthatwereall:
buttheirpoorCountriestoo?TheirCountries;——well,theirCountriesdidnothateBeelzebub,inhisvariousshapes,ENOUGH。
TheirCountriesshouldhavebeeninwatchagainstBeelzebubintheshapeofBruhls;——watching,andalso"praying"inaheroicmanner,nowfallenobsoleteintheseimpioustimes!
ChapterV。
FRIEDRICHBLOCKADESTHESAXONSINPIRNACOUNTRY。
Friedrichreckonshimselftohave65,000meninSaxony。SchwerinisissuingfromSilesia,throughtheGlatzMountains,forBohemia,attheheadof40,000。TheAustrianforceisinferiorinquantity,andfarfromready:——Two"Camps"inBohemiatheyhave;thechiefoneunderBrowne(looking,orintending,thisSaxonway),andasmallerunderPiccolomini,intheKonigshof—Kolinregion:——ifwellrunintofromfrontandrear,bothBrowneandPiccolominimightbebeautifullyhandled;andagashbecutinAustria,whichmightinclinehertobeatpeaceagain!NothinghindersbutthispaltryCampoftheSaxons;itselfonly18,000strong,butinaCountryofsuchstrength。Andthisdoeshinder,effectuallywhileitcontinues:"HowmarchtoBohemia,andleavetheroadblockedinourrear?"
TheSaxonCampdidcontinue,——unmanageablebyanymethod,forfiveweekstocome;theseasonofwar—operationsgone,bythattime:——
andFriedrich’sFirstCampaign,renderedmostlyfruitlessinthismanner,willbynomeanschecktheAustriantruculencies,asbyhisvelocityhehopedtodo。No;but,onthecontrary,willrousetheAustrians,FrenchandallEnemies,toatenfoldpitchoftemper。
Andbringuponhimself,fromanastonishedandmisunderstandingPublic,suchtempestsandworld—tornadoesofloud—roaringobloquy,asevenhe,Friedrich,hadneverenduredbefore。
ToreadersofatouringhabitthisSaxonCountryisperhapswellknown。Forthelasthalf—centuryithasbeengrowingmoreandmorefamous,underthenameof"SaxonSwitzerland(SACHSISCHE
SCHWEITZ),"insteadof"MisnianHighlands(MEISSNISCHEHOCHLAND),"
whichitusedtobecalled。AbeautifulenoughandextremelyruggedCountry;interestingtothepicturesquemind。Beginsrising,insoftHills,onbothsidesoftheElbe,afewmileseastofDresden,asyouascendtheRiver;tillitrisesintoHillsofwildcharacter,gettingeverwilder,andrivenintowondrouschasmsandprecipices。Extends,sayalmosttwentymilesuptheRiver,toTetschenandbeyond,inthiseasterndirection;andwithperhapstenmilesofbreadthoneachsideoftheRiver:areaoftheRock—
region,therefore,isperhapssomefourhundredsquaremiles。
TheFalkenberg(whatweshouldcallHAWKSCRAG)northeastwardintheLausitz,theSchneeberg(SNOWMOUNTAIN),southeastwardontheBohemianborder,areaboutthirty—fivemilesapart:thesetwoarebothreckonedtobeinit,——itslastoutpostsonthateasternside。
Butthelimitsofitarefixedbycustomonly,anddependonnonaturalcondition。
WemightdefineitastheSandstoneNECKoftheMetalMountains:aratherlowerblock,ofSandstone,intercalatedintotheMetal—
Mountainrange,whichotherwise,onbothhands,ishigher,andofharderrocks。Southward(asSHOULDERtothissandstoneNECK)lies,continuous,broadandhigh,the"Metal—Mountainrange"speciallysocalled:northwardandnortheastwardthererise,beyondthatFalkenberg,manymountains,solitaryoringroups,——"theMetalMountains"fadingouthereinto"theLausitzHills,"stillinfinepicturesquefashion,whichareNorthernBordertothegreatBohemian"BasinoftheElba,"afteryouemergefromthisSandstoneCountry。
SaxonSwitzerlandisnotveryhighanywhere;2,000feetisanotabledegreeofheight:butitistornandtumbledintostonelabyrinths,chasmsandwindingrock—walls,asfewregionsare。
Growspinewood,tothetopmostheight;pine—treesfaraloftlookquietlydownuponyou,oversheerprecipices,onyourintricatepath。OntheslopesoftheHillsisgrassenough;intheintervalsareVillagesandhusbandries,arecornandmilkforthelaboriousnatives,——whodependmainlyonquarrying,andpine—forestwork:
pinesandfree—stone,raftsoflongslimpines,andbigstonebarges,arewhatoneseesupontheRiverthere。ANote,notverygeological,saysofit:——
"ElbesweepsfreelythroughthisCountry,foragesandaeonspast;
curlinghimselfalittleintosnake—figure,andwithincreasedvelocity,butsilentmostly,andtrimtotheedge,afineflint—
coloredriver;——thoughinaeonslonganterior,itmusthavebeenaverydifferentmatterfortorrentsandwater—power。TheCountryisonehugeBlockofSandstone,somanysquaremilesofthatmaterial;
ribbed,channelled,tornandquarried,inthismanner,bytheever—
busyelements,foramillionofAgespast!ChieflybytheElbehimself,sincehegottobeaRiver,andbecamecosmicandpersonal;ceasingtobeamerewaterychaosofLakesandDelugeshereabouts。FortheSandstonewasofvariousdegreesofhardness;
tenaciousasmarblesomepartsofit,softalmostassandotherparts。Andtheprimordialdiluviumsandworld—oldtorrents,greatandsmall,rushingdownfromtheBohemianHighlands,fromtheSaxonMetalMountains,withsuchstorming,gurglingandswashing,havesweptawaythesoftparts,andleftthehardstandinginthischaoticmanner,andbequeatheditalltotheElbe,andthecommonfrostsandrainsofthesehumanages。
"Elbehasnowatrimcourse;butElbetooisbusyquarryingandmining,wherenotartificiallyheldin;——andyounoticeateveryoutletofaBrookfromtheinterior,northsideandsouthside,howbusytheBrookhasbeen。Boring,grinding,undermining;muchhelpedbythefrosts,bytherains。AEonsago,theBrookwasalake,intheinterior;butwaseverymomentlaboringtogetout;tillithascutforitselfthatmountaingullet,orsheer—downchasm,andbroughtoutwithitanAlluviumorDelta,——onwhich,sinceAdam’stime,humancreatureshavebuiltaHamlet。Thatistheorigin,orunwrittenhistory,ofmosthamletsandcultivatedspotsyoufallinwithhere:theyarethewasteshavingsoftheBrook,workingmillionsofyears,foritsownobjectofgettingintotheElbeinlevelcircumstances。Ploughedfields,notwithoutfertility,areintheinterior,ifyouascendthatBrook;theHamlet,atthedeltaormouthofit,isasifbuiltuponitsTONGUEandintoitsGULLET:
thinkhowpicturesque,intheNovemberrains,forexample!
"Theroad"oneroad,"fromDresdentoAussig,toLobositz,Budin,Prag,runsuptheriver—brink(southbrink);or,inourday,asPrag—DresdenRailway,thundersthroughthosesolitudes;strangelyawakeningtheirechoes;andinvitingeventhebewilderedTouristtoreflect,ifhecould。ThebewilderedTouristseesrock—wallsheaven—highonbothhandsofhim;Riverandherushingonbetween,bylawofgravitation,lawofennui(whicharelawsofNatureboth),withanarrowstripofskyinfullgallopoverhead;andhaslittleencouragementtoreflect,exceptuponhisownsorrows,anddeliriouscircumstances,physicalandmoral。’Howmuchhappier,wereIlyinginmybed!’thinksthebewilderedTourist;——doesstrivewithaltoadmirethePicturesque,butwithlittlesuccess;
noticesthe’BASTEI(Bastion),’andotherrigorouslyprescribedpointsoftheSublimeandBeautiful,whicharetobe’done。’
ThatyouwillhavetoDO,myfriend:stepout,youwillhavetogoonthatPinnacle,withindifferentHotelattached;onthatironbalcony,aloftamongthecloudsyonder;andshuddertoprojectoverElbe—floodfromsuchaltitudes,admiringthePicturesqueinprescribedmanner。
"ThisCountryhasforitspermanentuses,timber,free—stone,modicumofmilkandhaver,serviceabletothegenerality;——andtohisPolishMajesty,atpresent,itisastheveryArkofNoah:
pricelessatthisjuncture;beingthestrongestmilitarycountryintheworld。Excellentstrengthinit;expressFortresses;especiallyoneFortresscalledtheKonigstein,notfarfromSchandau,ofatoweringprecipitousnature,with’awell900feetdeep’init,andpleasantVillageoutsideatthebase;——Fortresswhichisstill,inourday,reckonedasafeplacefortheSaxonArchivesandpreciosities。Impregnabletogunpowderartillery;nottobehadexceptbyhunger。Andthen,fartherdowntheRiver,closebyPirna,presidingoverPirna,asthatKonigsteininsomesortdoesoverSchandau,istheSonnenstein:SonnensteintoowasaFortressinthosedaysofFriedrich,butnotimpregnable,ifjudgedworthtaking。TheAustrianstookit,ayearortwohence;Friedrichretookit,dismantledit:’theSonnensteinisnowaMadhouse,’saytheGuide—books。
"Sonnensteinstandscloseeastorup—streamofPirna,whichisatownof5,000souls,bymuchthelargestinthoseparts;
Konigsteinalittledown—streamofSchandau,whichlatterisontheoppositeornorthsideoftheRiver。ThesearethetwochiefTowns,whichdoallthetradeofthisregion;picturesqueplacesboth:——
theTouristremembersPirna?Standingonitssleektableorstair—
step,bytheRiver’sedge;wellabovefloodmark;green,shaggyorfringymountainslookingdownonittorearward;infront,beyondtheRiver,nothingvisiblebutmile—longcream—coloredrock—wall,withbushesatbottomandtop,wallquarriedbyElbe,asyoucansee。Pirnaisnearthebeginning[properlyEND,butwestartfromDresden]orwesternextremityofSaxonSchweitz。Schandau,almostattheoppositeoreasternextremity,isstillmorepicturesque;
standingonthedeltaofalittleBrook,withhighrock—cliffs,withgarden—shrubberies,sandedwalks,tuftsofforest—umbrage;
abright—painted,almostOPERATIC—lookingplace,——withspa—waters,ifIrecollect:"yestruly,andthe"BathSeason"makingitspackagesingreathaste,breakingupprematurely,thisYear(1756)!——
DirectlyonarrivingatGross—Sedlitz,FriedrichtakesocularsurveyofthisCountry,whichisalreadynotunknowntohim。
HefindsthattheSaxonshavesecuredthemselveswithintheMountains;arockystreamlet,BrookofGottleube,whichissuesintoElbejustbetweenGross—Sedlitzandthem,"throughadellofeightyorahundredfeetdeep,"servingastheirfirstdefence;wellinfrontofthemererockyHeightsandprecipicesbehindit,whichstretchcontinuouslyalongtosouthward,sixmilesormore,fromPirnaandthesouthbrinkofElbe。AtLangen—Hennersdorf,whichisthesouthernmostpart,theseHeightsmakeanelbowinwards,byLeopoldshayn,towardstheKonigstein,whichisbutfourmilesoff;
heretootheSaxonsaredefendedbyaBrook(runningstraighttowardsKonigstein,thisone)infrontoftheirHeights;andstanddefensive,inthisway,alongarock—bulwarkoftenmileslong:
thepassesallsecuredbybatteries,byabatis,palisades,mileaftermile,asFriedrichridesobservantleftward:behindthem,Elberushingswifterthroughhisrock—wallsyonder,withchasmsandintricategorges;defendingtheminexpugnablytorear。Sixmileslongofnaturalbulwark(sixtoHennersdorf),wherethegrossoftheSaxonslie;thentoKonigsteinfourothermiles,sufficiently,ifmoresparsely,besetbythem。"Nostrongerpositionintheworld,"Friedrichthinks;[OEuvresdeFrederic,iv。83,84(notaverydistinctAccount;andfarfromaccurateinthedetails,——whichareleftwithouteffectualcorrectioneveninthebestEditions)。]——andthatitisimpossibletoforcethisplace,withoutalossoflifedisproportionateeventoitsimportanceatpresent。NottosaythattheSaxonswillmaketermsalltheeasier,BEFOREbloodshedrisebetweenus;——andfurthermorethatHunger(forweheartheyhaveprovisiononlyfortwoweeks)mayitselfsoondoit。"Wedgethemin,therefore;blockeveryoutgate,everyentrance;nothingtogetin,exceptgraduallyHunger。Hunger,andonourpartrationalOffers,willsuffice。"
ThatisFriedrich’splan;goodinitself,——thoughtheovineobstinacy,andothercircumstances,retardedtheexecutionofittoanunexpectedextent,lamentabletoFriedrichandtosomeothers。
ThePrussian—Saxonmilitaryoperationsforthenextfiveweeksneednotdetainus。TheirrespectivepositionsontheHeightsbehindthatBrookGottleube,andontheplainerCountryinfrontofit,——
HowthePrussianslie,firstDivisionofthem,fromGross—SedlitztoZehist,undertheKing;thensecondDivisionfromZehisttoCotta,andonwardby"theRothschenke"(RED—HOUSETavern),byMarkersbach,andsparselyasfarasHellendorfonthePragHighway;
inbrief,wherealltheDivisionsofthemlie,andunderwhom;
andwherethePrussians,watchingElbeitself,haveBatteriesandPostsonthenorthsideofit:allthisismarkedontheMap;
——tosatisfyingenuouscuriosity,shoulditmaketourinthoseparts。TowhichaddonlythesestragglesofNote,asfartherelucidative:——
"TheSaxons,betweenElbeandtheirLines,possessaboutthirtysquaremilesofcountry。FromPirnaorSonnensteintoKonigstein,asthecrowflies,maybefivemileseasttowest;butbyLangen—
Hennersdorf,andtheelbowthere,itwillbeten:atKonigstein,moreover,Elbemakesanabruptturnnorthwardforacoupleofmiles,insteadofwestwardasheretofore,turningabruptlywestwardagainafterthat:sothattheSaxon’Camp’orOccupancyhere,isanirregularTrapezium,withPirnaandKonigsteinforvertices,andwithareaestimableasabove,——ploughable,afairportionofit,andnotwithoutcornofitsown。Sothatthe’twoweeks’provision’
spunthemselvesout(shortallowanceaiding)totwomonths,beforeactualfaminecame……"TheHigh—roadfromtheLausitzpartscrossesElbeatPirna;
fallsintotheDresden—PragHigh—roadthere;andfromPirnatowardsToplitz,forthefirstfewmiles,thislatterrunsthroughthePrussianPosts;butwemayguessitisnotmuchtravelledatpresent。NorthofElbe,too,thePrussianshavebatteriesonthefitpoints;detachmentsofdueforce,fromGross—SedlitzBridge—of—
PontoonsallroundtoSchandau,orbeyond;couldfireupontheKonigstein,acrosstheRiver:theyhavepluggeduptheSaxonpositioneverywhere。TheyhaveaBatteryespecially,andstrongpost,tocannonadetheBridgeatPirna,shouldtheSaxonsthinkoftryingthere。ItisnowtheoneSaxonorevenHalf—SaxonBridge;
SonnensteinandPirnacommandtheSaxonendofit,astrongbatterythePrussianend:aBridgelyingmainlyidle,likethegeneralHighwaytoToplitzatthistime。BeyondtheKonigstein,again,ataplacecalledWendisch—Fahre(WENDS’—FERRY),thePrussianshave,bymeansofboatsswingingwideatanchorontheswiftcurrent,whatiscalledaFlying—bridge,withwhichthenorthsidecancommunicatewiththesouth。TheyhaveapostatNieder—Raden(OBER
Raden,railwaystationinourtime,isonthesouthside):
NetherRadenisaninterestinglittleHamlet,mostlyinvisibletomankind(builtintheTHROATofthestonechasmsthere),fromwhichyoubeginmountingtotheBASTEIfaraloft。ARadentobenoted,bytheTouristandus。"
Little,orevennothing,offightingthereis:whyshouldtherebe?
Themilitaryoperationsareadead—lock,andrequirenoword。
Thirtythousand,halfofthePrussianForce,lie,vigilantaslynxes,blockadinghere;otherhalf,32,000,underMarshalKeith,havemarchedforwardtoAussig,toNollendorfontheBohemianfrontier,tocleartheways,andlookintoanyAustrianmotionthereabouts,——withwhom,withsomePandourdetachmentofwhom,DukeFerdinand,leadingthevanguard,hashadalittlebrushamongtheHills;smitingthemhomeagain,inhisusualcreditableway(September13th);andtakingCampatPeterswalde,heandothersoftheForce,thatnight。[OEuvresdeFrederic,
iv。85;ANONYMOUSOFHAMBURG,i。19。]ItiswiththisKeithArmy,withthisifwithany,thatadventuresaretobelookedforatpresent。
PolishMajesty’sHead—quartersareatStruppen,wellinthecentreoftheSaxonlines;"goesalwaystotheKonigsteintosleep。"
PolishMajesty’sowntableis,byFriedrich’spermissionforthatspecialobject,suppliedADLIBITUM:butthecommonmenwereatonceputonshortallowance,whichgrowsalwaystheshorter。
PolishMajestycorrespondswithFriedrich,aswesaw;andaboveall,sendsburningMessagestoAustria,toFrance,toeveryEuropeanCourt,chargedwithmereshrieks:"Helpme;arobberhasme!"Inwhichsense,Excellenciesofallkinds,especiallyoneLordStormont,theEnglishExcellency,dailyrunningoutfromDresdentoGross—Sedlitz,arepassionatelyindustriouswithFriedrich;whoiseagerenoughtocomply,werethereanysafemeanspossible。
Buttherearenone。Unfortunately,too,itappearstheAustriansareastir;FeldmarschallBrowneactuallyfurbishinghimselfatPragyonderwithaneyehitherward,andextraordinaryhasteandspiritshown:whichobligesFriedrichtoriseinhisdemands;
ovineobstinacy,ontheotherside,naturallyincreasingfromthesamecause。
"PolishMajesty,wesay,haslibertytobringinproviantforselfandsuite,rigorouslyfornomortalmore;andheliveswell,intheculinarysense,——surelyformostpart’inhisdressing—gown,’too,poorloosecollapsedsoul!Bruhlandhehaveplentyofformalbusiness:buttheironerealbusinessisthatofcrying,byestafettesandeveryconceivablemethod,toAustria,’Getusoutofthis!’TowhichAustriahasanswered,’Yes;onlypatience,andbesteady!’——Friedrich’shead—quartersareatSedlitz;andthenegotiatingandrespondingwhichhehas,transcendsimagination。
Hisfirsthopewas,PolishMajestymightbepersuadedtojoinwithhim;——onthebackofthat,certainty,graduallycoming,thatPolishMajestyneverwould;andthattheAustrianswouldendeavorarescue,weretheyonceready。Starvation,ortheAustrians,whichwillbefirsthere?isthequestion;andFriedrichstudiestothinkitwillbetheformer。Atallevents,havingsettledonthestarvationmethod,andseenthatallhispostsareright,weperceivehedoesnotstickclosebySedlitz;butrunsnowhithernowthither;isatTorgau,whereanimportantestablishment,kindofNewGovernmentforSaxony,ontheFinanceside,isorganizingitself。WhathisworkwithAmbassadorswas,andhowdelicatethehandlingneeded,think!"——HereisanotherClipping:——……"PolishMajestypassesthedayatStruppen,amidmanyvainnoisesofSoldiering,ofDiplomatizing;thenightalwaysatKonigstein,andfinallybothdayandnight,——quiteluxuriouslyaccommodated,Bruhlandhe,totheveryendofthisAffair。
TowardsStruppen[thisisweeksfartheron,butwegiveithere],——
ComtedeBroglio[OldBroglio’selderSon,youngerisintheMilitaryline],whoisAmbassadortohisSaxon—PolishMajesty,setsoutfromDresdenforaninterviewwithsaidMajesty。AtthePrussianlines,heisinformed,’Yes,youcango;but,withoutourKing’sOrder,youcannotreturn。’’What?TheMostChristianMajesty’sAmbassador,andtreatedinthisway?IwillgotowherethePolishKingis,andIwillreturntomyownKing,sooftenasI
findbusiness:stopmeatyourperil!’andthreatenedandargued,andmadeadealofblusterousnoise;——fartoomuch,thinksValori;
thinkthePrussianOfficers,whoaresorry,butinflexible。
MargrafKarl,Commandantoftheplace,inabsenceofKingFriedrich(whoisgonelately,onaBusinessweshallhearof),earnestlydissuadedExcellencyBroglio;butitwastonopurpose。NextdayBroglioappearedinhisstate—carriage,formallydemandingentrance,freethoroughfare:’Doyoudarerefuseme?’’Yes,’
answeredMargrafKarl;’wedoandmust。’IndignantBroglioreappeared,nextday,onfoot;Lieutenant—GeneralPrinceFriedrichEugenofWurtembergthechiefmanincharge:’Doyoudare?’
’Indubitably,Yes;’——andBrogliostillpushingonincredulous,Eugenactuallyraisedhisarm,——elbowandfore—armacrossthebreastofMostChristianMajesty’sAmbassador,——whorecoiled,toDresden,inmerewhirlwindsoffire;andmadethemostofit[unwisely,thinksValori]inwritingtoCourt。[Valori,ii。349,209,353("Wednesday,6thOctober,"thedayofit,seemingly);
ib。i。312,&c。]Court,inhighdudgeon,commandedValoritoquitBerlinwithouttakingleave。Valori,inhisprivatecapacity,wroteanAdieu;[Friedrich’skindLetterinanswertoit,"2dNovember,1756,"inValori,i。313。]andinhispublic,asthefactstood,ThathewasgonewithoutAdieu。"
AndtheDauphiness,daughterofthoseinjuredPolishMajesties,fellonherknees(Pompadourpermittingandencouraging)atthefeetofMostChristianMajesty;onherknees,allinpassionoftears;cravedhelpandprotectiontoherlovedoldMother,inthenameofNatureandofallKings:couldanyKingresist?AndhisPompadourwasbusy:"ThinkofthatnobleEmpress,whocallsmeCOUSINANDDEARPRINCESS;thinkofthatinsolentPrussianRobber:
Ah,yourMajesty:"—andKingLouis,thoughnotahatingman,didprivatelydislikeFriedrich;andevilspeechesofFriedrich’shadbeenreportedtohim。And,inshort,theupshotwas:KingLouis,boundonlyto24,000forhelpofAustria,determinedtosend,anddidsend,above100,000acrosstheRhine,nextYear,forthatobject;aswillbeseen。AndallFrenchmen——allexceptBelleisle,whoisold——arecharmedwiththesenewenergeticmeasures,andbeautifulnewAustrianconnections。
Certainitis,theAustriansarecoming,herImperialMajestybentwithallhermightonreliefofthoseSaxonmartyrs;whichindeedisreliefofherself,asshewellperceives:"Courage,myfriends;
endureyetalittle!"MessengerssmugglethemselvesthroughtheMountainpaths,andgoandreturn,thoughwithdifficulty。
SinceSeptember19th,theCorrespondencewithPolishMajestyhasceased:nopersuadingofthePolishMajesty。Winterfeldwenttwicetohim;conferredatlarge,Bruhlforbiddentobethere,ontheactualstringenciesandurgenciesofFactbetweentheTwoCountries;butitwaswithnoresultatall。PolishMajestyhasnottheleastintentionthatSaxonyshallbeevenaHighwayforFriedrich,ifatanytimePolishMajestycanhinderit:
"Neutrality,"therefore,willnotdoforFriedrich;hedemandsAlliance,practicalPartnership;andtothathisPolishMajestyiscompletelyabhorrent。Diplomatizingmaycease;nothingbutwrestleoffightwillsettlethismatter。
Friedrich,abletogetnothingfromtheSovereignofSaxony,isreducedtograspSaxonyitself:andwecanobservehimdoingit;
alwaysthecloser,alwaysthemorecarefully,asthecomplicacydeepens,andtheobstinacybecomesmoredangerousandprovoking。
Whatalternativeisthere?OnfirstenteringSaxony,Friedrichhadmadenosecretthathewasnotamerebirdofpassagethere。
AtTorgau,therewasatoncea"Field—Commissariat"established,withPrussianOfficialsofeminencetoadminister,theMilitaryChesttobedepositedthere,andTorgautobeputinastateofdefence。Torgau,ourSaxonMetropolisofWar—Finance,isbecomingmoreandmoretheMetropolisofSaxonFinanceingeneral。
SaxonOfficialswereliable,fromthefirst,tobesuspended,onFriedrich’sorder。SaxonFinance—Officials,ofallkinds,werefromthefirstinstructed,thattillfarthernoticetheremustbenodisbursementswithoutKingFriedrich’ssanction。And,infact,KingFriedrichfullyintendsthatSaxonyistohelphimallitcan;
andthatiteitherwillorelseshall,inthisdirepressureofperplexity,whichisdueinsuchadegreetotheconductoftheSaxonGovernmentfortwelveyearspast。WouldSaxonygowithhiminanyformofconsent,howmuchmoreconvenienttoFriedrich!
ButSaxonywillnot;PolishMajesty,nothimselfsufferinghunger,isobstinateasthedecreesofFate(orassheep,whentoomuchputupon),regardlessofconsiderations;——and,infine,hereisBrowneactuallyafoot;comingtorelievePolishMajesty!——TheAustrianshaduncommonlybestirredthemselves:——
Theactivity,thezealofallranks,eversincethisexpeditionintoSaxony,andclutchingofSaxonybythethroat,contemporarywitnessesdeclaretohavebeenextraordinary。"HorsesforPiccolomini’sCavalry,——theyhadscarcelygottheirhorses,nottospeakoftrainingthem,nottospeakofcannonandtheheavierrequisites,whenSchwerinbeganmarchingoutofGlatzonPiccolomini。AstothecannonforBrowneandhim,draught—cattleseemabsolutelyunprocurable。WhereuponMariaTheresaflingsopenherownImperialStuds:’There,yokethesetoourcannon;letthemgotheirswiftest;’——whichawokesuchanenthusiasm,thatnoblemenandpeasantscrowdedforwardwiththeircoach—horsesandtheircart—horses,torelayBrowne,allthroughBohemia,atdifferentstages;andthecannonandequipmentsmovetotheirplacesatthegallop,inamanner,"[Archenholtz,i。24。]——andevenBrowne,atthebaseoftheMetalMountains,hasgotmostofhisequipments。
AndisastirtowardsPirna(Armyof60,000,rumorsays),forreliefoftheSaxonmartyrs。Friedrich’scomplexitiesaregettingdaybydaymorestringent。
FromthemiddleofSeptember,MarshalKeith,aswasobserved,withHalfofthePrussians,DukeFerdinandofBrunswickunderhim,hasbeenontheBohemianslopeoftheMetalMountains;securingtheroads,townsandpassesthereabouts,andlookingoutfortheadvanceofMarshalBrownefromtheinteriorparts。TownofAussig,andtheRiver—road(castleofTetschen,onitshighrockknowntoTourists,whichalwaysneedstobetakenonsuchoccasions),theseKeithhassecured。LiesencampedfromPeterswaldetoAussig,themiddleormainstrengthofhimbeingintheHamletofJohnsdorf(discoverable,ifreaderslike):thereliesKeith,fifteenmilesinlength;likeastrap,orbar,thrownacrossthebackofthatMetal—
MountainRange,——orpartofitsback;fortherangeisverybroad,andthereismuchinequality,andmanytroughs,bigandlittle,partialandgeneral,inthecrossingofit。AtractwhichmyreadersandIhavecrossedbeforenow,bythe"Pascopol"orPost—
roadandotherwise;andshalloftenhavetocross!
Browne,vigorouslyastirintheinterior(cannonandequipmentscomingbyrelaysatsuchapace),isdailyadvancing,withhisbestspeed:inthelastdaysofSeptember,BrowneisencampedatBudin;
maycrosstheEgerRiveranyday,andwillthenbewithintwomarchesofKeith。HisintentionstowardsPirnaCountryarefixedandsure;buttheplanorroutehewilltakeisunknowntoeverybody,andindeedtoBrownehimself,tillheseenearathandandconsider。Browne’sproblem,hehimselfknows,isabundantlyabstruse,——borderingontheimpossible;buthewilltryhisbest。
TogetwithinreachoftheSaxonsisalmostimpossibletoBrowne,evenweretherenoKeiththere。Asgoodasimpossiblealtogether,byanylineofmarch,whileKeithisafootinthoseparts。
ByAussig,downtheRiver,straightfortheinterioroftheirCamp,itisflatlyimpossible:bythesouthorsoutheastcorneroftheirCamp(Gottleubeway),orbythenortheast(bySchandauway,rightbankofElbe),itisvirtuallyso,——atleastwithoutbeatingKeith。
CouldonebeatKeithindeed;——butthatwillnotbeeasy!Andthat,unluckily,isthepreliminarytoeverything。
"BytheHellendorf—Hennersdorfside,inthewasteswhereGottleubeBrookgathersitself,Brownemighthaveachance。There,onthatsoutheastcorneroftheirCamp,wereheoncetheretoattackthePrussiansfromwithout,whiletheSaxonsburstupfromwithin,——
there,"thinksagoodjudge,"ismuchthefavorablestplace。
ButunlessBrowne’sArmyhadwings,howisitevertogetthere?
AcrossthoseMetal—Mountainranges,barredbyKeith:——byAussig,withtherocksoverhangingElbeRiverandhim,hecannotgoinauycase。WeretherenoKeith,indeed(buttherealwaysis,standingreadyonthespring),onemightholdtoleftward,andbystolenmarches,swift,farroundabout——!
"BySchandauregion,northsideoftheElbe,isBrowne’seasiest,andindeedonefeasible,pointofapproach,——noPrussiansatpresentbetweenhimandthat;theroadopen,thoughafarcircuitnorthwardforBrowne,——werehetocrosstheElbeinLeitmeritzcircle,andmarchwithvelocity?Thattoowillbedifficult,——
nearlyimpossibleinsightofKeith。Andwerethatevendone,theegressfortheSaxons,bySchandauside,isthroughstraitmountaingorges,intricatesteeppasses,crossingsoftheElbe:whatforceofSaxonsorofAustrianswilldrivethePrussiansfromtheirredoubtsandbatteriesthere?"[OEuvresdeFrederic,iv。86,93,96。]
Browne’sproblemisnoneofthefeasiblest:buthisordersarestrict,"RelievetheSaxons,atallrisks。"AndBrowne,oneoftheablestsoldiersliviug("YourImperialMajesty’sbestgeneral,"
saidthedyingKhevenhullerlongsince),willdohisutmostuponit。Friedrichdoesnotthinktheenterpriseverydangerous,——
beatingofKeiththeindispensablepreliminarytoit;butwillnaturallyhimselfgoandlookintoit。
Tuesday,September28th,FriedrichquitsPirnaCountrybythePragHighway;makingdueinspectionofhisPostsashegoesalong;
and,theoutmostoftheseoncepast,drivesrapidlyuptheMountains;gets,withsmallescort,throughPeterswaldeontoJohnsdorfthatnight。DoesnotthinkthisKeithpositiongood;
breaksupthis"CampofJohnsdorf"bodilynextmorning;andmarchesdowntheMountains,directtowardsBrowne;who,wehear,isaboutcrossingtheEger(hisPontoonsnowcomeatlast),andwillhimselfbeontheadvance。FromTurmitz,apoormountainhamletinthehollowoftheHills,whichishead—quartersthatnight,themarchproceedsagain;Friedrichwiththevanguard;Army,Ithink,onvariouscountry—roads,onbothhands;tillallgetupontheGreatRoadagain,——Prag—Toplitz—DresdenPost—road;whichiscalled,speciallyinthispartofit,andlooselyinwhole,"ThePascopol,"
andleadsdowndirecttoBudinandBrowne。
"A’Pascopol’famedinmilitaryannals,"saysourTourist。"Itisaroadwithmanywindings,manyprecipitoussweepsofupanddown;
roadprecipitousinstructure;——offersviewstotheloverofwildNature:hugelonesomeHillsscatteredinthedistance;
wasteexpansesnearerhand,andfutileattemptsatmoorishagriculture;butlittleelsethatiscomfortable。IntimesofPeace,youwillmeet,atlongintervals,somepost—vehiclestrugglingforwardundermelancholycircumstances;somecart,ordilapidatedmongrelbetweencartandbasket,withaleanoxharnessedtoit,andscarecrowdriver,ladenwithpit—coal,——whichyouwishsafehome,andthatthescarecrowweregettingwarmedbyit。ButinWar—timethesteeproadislivelier;thecommonInvasionroadbetweenSaxonyandBohemia;wholeArmiessweepingoverit,andtheirthousand—foldwagonsandnoisesmakingclangorenough……OneofthoseHollows,onthePascopol,isJoachimsthal,withitsoldSilverMines;yieldingcoinswhichwereinrequestwithtraders,thesilverbeingfine。’LetmyducatbeaJoachimsthalone,then!’theoldtraderwouldsay:’aJOACHIMSTHAL—ER;’or,forbrevity,a’THAL—ER;’whenceTHALER,andatlastDOLLAR(almightyandotherwise),——nowgoingroundtheworld![Busching,
Erdbeschreibung,v。178。]PascopolfinishesinWelminaTownship。FromthelasthamletinWelmina,attheneckofthelastHill,stepdownwardonemile,holdingrathertotheleft,youwillcomeontheinnocentVillageofLobositz,itspoorcorn—millsandhuckster—shopsallpeaceablyunknownasyet,whichissoontobecomeveryfamous。"
TheCountry—roadswhereFriedrich’sArmyisonmarch,Ishouldthink,aremostlyonthemountinghand。Forhere,fromTurmitz,isatroughagain;thoughthelastconsiderableone;andonthecrestofthat,weshalllookdownupontheBohemianPlainsandthegrandBasinoftheElbe,——throughvariousscrubbyvillageswhicharenotnameworthy;throughonecalledKletschen,whichforacertainreasonis。CrossingtheshoulderofKletschenberg(HILLofthisKletschen),whichabutsuponthePascopol,——yonderinbrightsunshineisyourbeautifulexpansiveBasinoftheElbe,andthegreenBohemianPlains,revealedforamoment。Friedrichsnatcheshisglass,notwithpicturesqueobject:"See,yonderisFeldmarschallBrowne,then!Incampyonder,downbyLobositz,nottenmilesfromus,——[itismosttrue;Brownemarchedthismorning,longbeforetheSun;crossedEger,andpitchedcampatnoon]——
Good!"thinksFriedrich。AndpushesdownintothePascopol,intothehollowsandminortroughs,whichhideBrownehenceforth,tillwearequitenear。
Quitenear,throughWelminaandacertainfinalgapoftheHills,Friedrichwiththevanguarddoesemerge,"anhourbeforesunset;"
overhangingBrowne;notaboveamilefromtheCampofBrowne。
AverylargeCamp,thatofBrowne’s,flankedtorightbytheElbe;
goesfromSulowitz,throughLobositz,toWelhotencloseonElbe;——
andhaspropertiesextremelywellworthstudyingjustnow!
"Friedrich"theBookssay,"bivouacsbyafireofsticks,"shortwaydownonthesouthernslopeoftheHill;andtillsunsetandafter,haseye—glass,brain,andfacultiesandactivitiessufficientlyoccupiedfortherestofthenight;——hisDivisionsgraduallytakingpostbehindhim,underarms;"nottillmidnight,theveryrearmostofthem。"["Tuesday,28thSeptember,lefttheCampatSedlitz,with8battalions20squadrons,toJohnsdorf:
29th,toTurmitz,——BrowneistopasstheEgertomorrow。FromthetopsofthePascopol(30th),SEEanAustrianCampinthePlainofLobositz。Vanguardbivouacsinthe’neck’ofthetwoHillsoralittlebeyond。"PRUSSIANACCOUNTOFCAMPAIGN1756(in
GesammelteNachrichten,i。844—845,840—858);AnonymousofHamburg;
&c。&c。]
ChapterVI。
BATTLEOFLOBOSITZ。
Welmina,——orReschni—Aujest,lastpertinentofWelmina(butwewilltakeFriedrich’snameforit),offerstothescrutinizingeyenothing,inourday,butsomebewilderedmemoryof"AlteFritz"
clingingobstinatelyeventothePeasantmindthereabouts。Asleepylitteryplace;somebiggishhaggarduntrimmedtrees,somebroken—
backedsleepy—lookingthatchedhouses,notincontact,andeachasfarasmightbewithitsbackturnedontheother,andcloakedinitsownlitterandprivacy。Probablynohumancreaturewillbevisible,asyoupassthrough。Muchstrawlyingabout,chieflywherethefewgaunttreeslookdownonit(cattlegladofanyshelter):
infact,itismainlyanextincttumultofstraw;nothingalive,asyoupass,butafewpooroxenlanguidlysaunteringupanddown,findingmuchtotrample,littletoeat。TheCzechPopulations(wereitnotforthat"QuestionoftheNationalities")arenotverybeautiful!
ClosesouthofthispoorHamletisabigHill,conspicuouswiththreepeaks;quiteattheotherbaseofwhich,agoodwaydown,liesLobositz,themainVillageinthoseparts;aplacenowofassiduouscorn—millandfruittrade;andoneofthestationsontheDresden—PragRailway。ThisHilliswhatLloydcallstheLobosch;
[Major—GeneralLloyd,HistoryofthelateWarinGermany,1756—1759(3vols。4to,London,1781),i。2—11。]twintowhich,onlyflatter,isLloyd’s"HomolkaHill"(HillofRADOSTITZinmoremodernPlansandBooks)。ConspicuousHeights,andimportanttoushere,——thoughIdidnotfindthePeasantsmuchknowthemunderthosenames。BythesouthernshoulderofthisLoboschHillrunstheroadfromWelminatoLobositz,withbranchestowardsmanyothervillages。Toyourrightorsouthernhand,shortwaysouthward,risestheotherHill,whichLloydcallsHomolkaHill;
thegaporintervalbetweenHomolkaandLobosch,perhapsafurlonginextent,isessentiallythePASSthroughthoseuplands。
Thispass,Friedrich,atthefirstmoment,madesureof;
fillingthesamewithbattalions,theretobivouac。HelikewisepromptlylaidholdofthetwoHills,highLoboschtohisleft,andlowerHomolkatoright;whichprecautionarymeasureitisreckonedafaultinBrownetohaveneglected,thatnight;faultforwhichhesmartedonthemorrow。
Fromthisuplandpass,orneckbetweenthetwoMountains,Friedrich’sbattalionswouldhavehadafineview,hadthemorningshoneforthem:Lobositz,Leitmeritz,Melnick;agreatfertileValley,orexpanseoffruitfulcountry,manymilesinbreadthandlength;Elbe,likeasilverstripe,windinggrandlythroughthefinestofallhiscountries,beforeduckinghimselfintotherock—
tumultsofthatPirnadistrict。ThemountaingorgesofPragandMoldauRiver,southofMelnick,liehiddenunderthehorizon,orvisibleonlyaspeaks,thirtymilesandmoretosoutheastward;
abrightcountryintervening,sprinkledwithsteepledtowns。
Tonorthwestward,faraway,aretheLausitzMountains,rankedinlooseorder,butmassive,makingakindofrange:andasoutpoststothemintheirscatteredstate,Hillsofgoodheightandaspectarescatteredallabout,andbreaktheuniformityofthePlain。
NowhereinNorthGermanycouldthePrussianbattalionshaveafinerview,——ifthemorningwerefine,andifviewsweretheirobject。
Themorning,firstinOctober,wasnotfine;anditwasfarotherthanscenerythatthePrussianbattalionshadinhand!——Friday,1stOctober,1756,Dayshouldhavebroken:butwhereisday?Atseveninthemorning(andontilleleven),thickmistlayovertheplain;
thinfogtotheveryhill—tops;sothatyoucannotseeahundredyardsahead。Lobositzisvisibleonlyasthroughacrape;
fartheron,nothingbutgraysea;underwhich,whattheAustriansaredoing,orwhetherthereareanyAustrians,whocansay?
LeftwardontheLobosch—Hillside,aswereconnoitre,somePandoursarenoticeable,nestledinthevineyardsthere:——thatsunwardsideoftheLoboschisallvineyards,belongingtothedifferentLobositzers:scrubbyvineyards,allinabrownpluckedstateatthisseason。Vineyardspartedbylowstonewalls,saythreeorfourfeethigh(partedbyhurdles,orbytinytrenches,inourday,andthestonewallsmerestonefacings):therearethePandourscrouched,andgivefireinakneelingposturewhenyouapproach。
Lowerdown,nearLobositzitself,flickeringsasofHorsesquadrons,probablyHussarparties,twinkledubiousinthewaveringmist。Problemwraptinmist;nothingtobeseen;andalldependsonjudgingitwithaccuracy!Sevenbytheclock:Deploy,atanyrate;
letuscoverourpost;andbeinreadinessforevents。
Friedrich’svanguardofitselfnearlyfillsthatneck,orspacebetweentheLoboschandHomolkaHills。HespreadshisInfantryand"hundredfield—pieces,"inpart,rightwardsalongtheHomolkaHill;
butchieflyleftwardsalongtheLobosch,wheretheirnearestdutyistodriveoffthosePandours。Alwaysasanewbattalion,pushingfartherleftward,comesuponitsground,thePandoursgivefireonit;——anditonthePandours;tilltheLeftWingiscomplete,andalltheLoboschis,inthismanner,acracklingofPandourmusketry。andanti—musketry。RightWing,steadytoitsgunsontheHomolka,hasasyetnothingtodo。ThosewingsofInfantryaretwolinesdeep;theCavalry,inthreelines,isbetweentheminthecentre;noroomforCavalryelsewhere,exceptontheoutskirtssomefringingoflighthorse,tobereadyforemergencies。
ThePandourfiring,exceptforthenoiseofit,doesnotamounttomuch;theycantakenoaim,saysLloyd,crouchingbehindtheirstonefences;andthePrussianBattalions,steadilypushingdownwards,trampleouttheirsputtering,andcleartheLoboschofthemtoasafedistance。Butthegroundisintricate,sowraptinmistforthepresent。Thatcracklinglastsforhours;decisiveofnothing;andthemistalso,andone’sanxiousguessingsandscrutinizings,lastsinawaveringfitfulmanner。
Once,forsometime,inthewaveringofthemist,therewasseen,downintheplainoppositeourcentre,abodyofCavalry。Horseforcertain:saytensquadronsofthem,or1,500Horse;continuallymanoeuvring,changingshape;nowinmoreranks,nowinfewer;
sometimes"checkerwise,"formedlikeadraught—board;shootingoutwings:theycareerabout,oneseesnotwhither,orvanishagainintothemistbehind。"Browne’srear—guardthis,thatwearecomeupon,"thinksFriedrich;"thesesquattedPandours,backedbyHorse,mustbehisrear—guard,thatareamusingus:BrowneandtheArmyareoff;crossingtheElbe,hasteningtowardstheSchandau,thePirnaquarter,whilewestandbickeringandidlysputteringhere!"
——Wearyofsuchidlebusiness,FriedrichordersforwardTwentyofhisSquadronsfromthecentrestation:"ChargemethoseAustrianHorse,andletusfinishthis。"TheTwentySquadrons,precededbyapairoffield—pieces,movedownhill;storminupontheAustrianparty,stormitfuriouslyintothemist;arefuriouslychasingit,——whenunexpectedcannon—batteries,destructivecase—shot,awakenontheirleftflank(batteriesfromLobositz,onemayguess);
andforcethemtodrawback。Todrawback,withsomeloss;andrankagain,inanindignantlyblowncondition,atthefootoftheirHill。Indignant;afterbriefbreathing,theytryitoncemore。
"Don’ttryit!"Friedrichhadsentouttotellthem:forthemistwasclearing;andFriedrich,onthehigherground,sawnewimportantphenomena:butitwastoolate。FortheTwentySquadronsareagaindashingforward;sweepingdownwhateverisbeforethem:
inspiteofcannon—volleys,theyplungedeeperanddeeperintothemist;comeupon"aditchtwelvefeetbroad"(bigswampydrain,suchasarestillfoundthere,grass—greeninsummer—time);clearsaidditch;forwardstilldeeperintothemist:andafterthreehundredyards,comeuponasecondfarworse"ditch;"plainlyimpassablethisone,——"ditch"theycallit,thoughitisinfactavilesedgyBrook,oozingalongthere(theMORELLBACH,considerableBrook,lazilywanderingtowardsLobositz,whereitdisemboguesinratherswifterfashion);——andaresalutedwithcannon,fromthefartherside;andseeserriedranksunderthegauzeofmist:Browne’sArmy,infact!TheTwentySquadronshavetorecoiloutofshot—range,thefaster,thebetter;withalossofagoodmanymen,inthosetwocharges。FriedrichordersthemupHillagain;muchregretfulofthissecondcharge,whichhewishedtohinder;andpoststhemtorearward,——wheretheystandsilent,theunconsciousstoic—
philosophersinbuff,andhavelittlefartherservicethroughtherestoftheday。
Itisnow11o’clock;themistallclearingoff;andFriedrich,beforethatsecondcharge,hadagrowingviewofthePlainanditscondition。Beyondquestion,thereisBrowne;notinretreat,byanymeans;butinfullarray;numerous,andhispositionverystrong。
Ranked,unattackablemostly,behindthatoozyBrook,orBACHofMorell;whichhasonlytwonarrowBridges,cannonplentyonboth:
oneBridgefromthesouthpartstoSulowitz(OURroadtoSulowitzanditwouldbebyRadostitzandtheHomolka);andthenoneotherBridge,connectingSulowitzwithLobositz,——whichlatterisBrowne’sownBridge,unitingrightwingandleftofBrowne,sotospeak;andisstillmoreunattackable,inthecircumstances。
WhatwillFriedrichdecideonattempting?
ThatoozyMorellBrookissuesonBrowne’ssideofLobositz,cuttingBrowneintwo;butisotherwiseallinBrowne’sfavor。
BrowneextendsthroughLobositz;andbeyondit,curvesuptoWelhotenontheRiver—brink;atLobositzarevisibleconsiderableredoubts,cannon—batteriesandmuchregularinfantry。Brownewillbedifficulttoforceyonder,intheLobositzpart;butyonderalonecanhebetried。HeispushingupmoreInfantrythatway;
consciousprobablyofthatfact,——andthattheLoboschHillisnothis,butanother’s。WhatwouldnotBrownenowgivefortheLoboschHill!Yesternighthemighthavehaditgratis,inamanner;
andindeeddidtryslightly,withhisPandourpeople(durstnotatgreaterexpense),——whohavenowceasedsputtering,andcowerextinctinthelowervineyardsthere。Browne,atanyrate,israpidlystrengtheninghisrightwing,whichhasholdofLobositz;
pushingforwardinthatquarter,——wheretheBrookwithalisoffirmerbottomandmorewadable。ThithertooisFriedrichbent。
SothatLobositzisnowthekeyoftheBattle;therewillthetugofwarnowbe。
Friedrich’scavalryisgonealltorearward。HisrightwingholdstheHomolkaHill,——thattoowouldnowbevaluabletoBrowne;
andcannotbehadgratis,asyesternight!Friedrich’sleftwingisontheLobosch;Pandoursprettywellextinctbeforeit,butnowfromWelhotenquarternewRegularscomingonthither,——asifBrownewouldstilltaketheLobosch?Whichwouldbevictorytohim;butisnotnowpossibletoBrowne。Norwilllongseemso;——Friedrichhavingotherworkinviewforhim;——meaningnowtotakeLobositz,insteadoflosingtheLoboschtohim!FriedrichpushesouthisLeftWingstillfartherleftward,leftwardanddownwardwithal,toclearthosevineyard—fencescompletelyoftheiroccupants,PandourorRegular,oldornew。Thisisdone;thevineyard—fencesswept;——andthesweepingsdriven,inamoreandmorestormyfashion,towardsWelhotenandLobositz;theLoboschfallingquitedesperateforBrowne。
HenceforthFriedrichdirectsallhisindustrytotakingLobositz;
Browne,tothedefendingofit,whichhedoeswithgreatvigorandfire;hisbatteries,redoubts,doingtheiruttermost,andhisbattalionsrushingon,massofthemaftermass,atquickmarch,obstinate,fiercetoadegree,intheheightoftemper;andshowingsuchfightasweneverhadofthembefore。Friedrich’sLeftWingandBrowne’sRightnowhaveittodecidebetweenthem;——anyattemptBrownemakeswithhisLeftthroughSulowitz(asheoncedid,andonceonly)isinstantlyrepressedbycannonfromtheHomolkaHill。
AndtherestoftheBattle,orrathertheBattleitself,——forallhithertohasbeenpickeeringandgropinginthemist,——maybemadeconceivableinfewwords。
FriedrichordersthesecondlineofhisLeftWingtomarchupandjoinwiththefirst;RightWing,shovingITStwolinesintoone,isnowtocovertheLoboschaswell。LeftWing,incondensedcondition,shallfalldownonLobositz,anddoitsbest。Theyarenowclearofthevineyard—works;thegroundisleveller,thoughstillsloping,——athreefurlongsfromtheVillage,andsomewhattowardstheElbe,whenBrowne’sbattalionsfirstcameextensivelytoclosegrips;fierceenough(aswassaid);thetoughestwrestleyethadwiththoseAustrians,——comingonwithsteadyfury,undersuchforceofcannon;withironramrodstoo,andimprovedways,likeourown。Butnothingcouldavailthem;thecounter—furybeingsogreat。TheyhadtogoattheWelhotenpart,andeventorun,——
plungingintoElbe,agoodfewofthem,anddrowningthere,inthevainhopetoswim。"Neverhavemytroops,"saysFriedrich,"donesuchmiraclesofvalor,cavalryaswellasinfantry,sinceIhadthehonortocommandthem。Bythisdead—liftachievement(TOURDE
FORCE)Ihaveseenwhattheycando。"[LettertoSchwerin,"Lobositz,2dAugust,1756"(Retzow,i。64);RELATIONDELA
CAMPAGNE,1756,thatis,PRUSSIANACCOUNT(inGesammelteNachrichten),i。848。Lloyd,UTSUPRA,i。2—11(whohassolidinformationatfirsthand,havingbeenanactorintheseWars。Amanofgreatnaturalsagacityandinsight;decidedlyluminousandoriginal,thoughofsomewhatcrabbedtempernowandthen;amanwellworthhearingonthisandonwhateverelsehehandles)。Tempelhof,GESCHICHTEDESSIEBENJAHRIGENKRIEGES(whichisatfirstamereTranslationofLloyd,nothingnewinitbutcertainnotesandcriticismsonLloyd;whenLloydends,Tempelhof,PrussianMajorandProfessor,alearned,intelligent,butdiffuseman,offarinferiortalenttoLloyd,continuesandcompletesonhisownfooting:sixverythin4tos,Berlin,1794),i。38(Battle,withFOOTNOTES),andib。51(CRITICISMofLloyd)。PrussianandAustrianAccountsinHelden—Geschichte,iii。
800etseq。ManyNarrativesinFELDZUGE,andtheBEYLAGEtoSeyfarth;&c。&c。]
Infine,aftersomethreehoursmoreofdesperatetuggingandstruggling,cannononbothsidesgoingatagreatrate,andinfinitemusketry("ninetycartridgesamanonourPrussianside,andammunitionfallingdone"),notwithoutbayonet—pushings,andsmitingswiththebuttofyourmusket,theAustriansaredrivenintoLobositz;arefuriouslypushedthere,and,inspiteofnewbattalionscomingtotherescue,arefairlypushedthrough。
TheseVillage—streetsaretoonarrowfornewbattalionsfromBrowne;"muchoftheVillageshouldhavebeenburntbeforehand,"
saycooljudges。Andnow,sureenough,itdoesgetburnt;
Lobositzisnowallonfire,byPrussianindustry。SothattheAustrianshavetoquititinstantly;andrushoffingreatdisorder;keyoftheBattle,orBattleitself,quitelosttothem。
ThePrussianinfantry,ledbytheDukeofBrunswick—Bevern("GovernorofStettin,"oneoftheDuke—Ferdinandcousinry,frugalandvaliant),gavethehighestsatisfaction;seldomwassuchfiring,suchfuriouspushing;theyhadspentninetycartridgesaman;wereatlastquiteoutofcartridges;sothatBevernhadtosay,"Strikeinwithbayonets,MEINEKINDER;butt—ends,orwhatwehave;HERAN!"OurGrenadiersweremainlytheythatburntLobositz。
"Howsalutarynowwouldithavebeen,"saysEpimetheusLloyd,"hadBrownehadasmallbatteryontheothersideoftheElbe;"
wherebyhemighthavetakentheminflank,andshornthemintothewind!EpimetheusmarksthisbatteryonhisPlan;andiswisebehindhand,atacheaprate。
Browne’sRightWing,andprobablyhisArmywithit,wouldhavegonemuchtoperdition,nowthatLobositzwasbecomePrussian,——hadnotBrowne,inthenickofthemoment,madeamasterlymovement:
pushedforwardhisCentreandLeftWing,numerousbattalionsstillfresh,tointerposebetweenthechasingPrussiansandthosefugitives。ThePrussians,infantryonly,cannotchaseonsuchterms;thePrussiancavalry,weknow,isfarrearwardonthehighground。Browneretiresamileortwo,——southward,Budin—ward,——notchased;andtherehalts,andrearrangeshimself;thinkingwhatfartherhewilldo。Hisaiminfightinghadonlybeentodefendhimself;andinthathumbleaimhehasfailed。ChaseofthePrussiansoverthatHomolka—Loboschcountry,withthehighgroundsrearwardandtheMetalMountainsintheirhands,hecouldinnoeventhaveattempted。
Thequestionnowis:WillhegobacktoBudin;orwillhetryfarthertowardsSchandau?Naturepointstotheformercourse,insuchcircumstances;Friedrich,bywayofassisting,doesathingmuchadmiredbyLloyd;——detachesBevernwithastrongpartysouthward,outofLobositz,whichisnowhis,tolayholdofTschirskowitz,lyingBudin—ward,butbeyondtheBudinRoad。
Whichfeat,whenBrownehearsofit,meanstohim,"GoingtocutmeofffromBudin,then?Frommyammunition—stores,frommyverybread—cupboard!"Andhemarchesthatsamemidnight,silently,ingoodorder,backtoBudin。Heisnotmuchruined;naythePrussianlossisnumericallygreater:"3,308killedandwounded,onthePrussianside;ontheAustrian,2,984,withthreecannontakenandtwostandards。"Notruinedatall;butfoiled,frustrated;andhastodeviseearnestly,"Whatnext?"Oncerearranged,hemaystilltry。
TheBattlelastedsevenhours;thelastfourofitveryhot,tillLobositzwaswonandlost。Itwasabout5P。M。whenBrownefiredhisretreat—cannon:——cannonhappenedtobeloaded(saytheAnecdote—Books,mythicallygivennowandthen);Friedrich,weariedenough,hadflunghimselfintohiscarriageforamoment’srest,orthankfulreflection;andofallplaces,theballoftheretreat—
cannonlightedTHERE。BetweenFriedrich’sfeet,ashelayreclining,——saytheAnecdote—Books,whomnobodyisboundtobelieve。
OnthestrengthofthosetwoPrussiancharges,whichhadretiredfromcase—shotontheirflank,andhadnotwings,forgettingoversedgeandooze,Austriapretendedtoclaimthevictory。
"Twochargesrepelledbyourgallanthorse;Lobositz,indeed,wasgotonfire,andwehadnothingforitbuttowithdraw;butwetookanewposition,andonlyleftthatforwantofwater;"——withthelikeexcuses。"Essentiallyaclearvictory,"saidtheAustrians;