andthen,moreobscurely,somedaysafter,thatanotherhasbeennominated:——oneofthemoughtcertainlytomakehasteout,ifhecould;theFrench,byaccount,have25,000meninthosecountries,withrealofficerstoleadthem!Hasteout,however,isnotwhatthisLordLoudonorhisrivalcanmake。InMarch,welearnthatLordLoudonhasbeenagainnominated;inanimprovedmanner,thistime;——andstilldoesnotlooklikegoing。’Againnominated,whyagain?’Alas,reader,therehavebeenhystericalfidgetingsinahighquarter;internalshiftingsandshufflings,contradictions,newproposals,oneknowsnotwhat。[Gentleman’sMagazinefor1756,pp。92,150,359,450。]Oneasksonly:
Howisthebusinessevertobedone,ifyoucannotevensettlewhatimbecileistogoandtryit?
"SeldomhadCountrymoreneedofaCommanderthanAmericanow。
Americaitselfisofwillingmind;andsurelyhasresources,insuchaCause;butisfullofanarchiesaswell:thedifferentStatesandsectionsofit,withtheirdiscrepantLegislatures,theirhalf—drilledMilitias,pullingeachadifferentway,thereis,asinthepoorMotherCountry,littleresultexceptoftheSt。—Vituskind。InsomeLegislaturesareanarchicQuakers,whothinkitunpermissibletofightwiththosehectoringFrench,andtheirtailofscalpingIndians;andthatthe’methodoflove’oughttobetriedwiththem。Whatistobecomeofthosepoorpeople,ifnotevenaLordLoudoncangetout?"
Theresultwas,LordLoudonhadnotinhisownpoorpersoncometohandinAmericatillAugust,1756,Seasonnowdone;andcouldonlywritehome,"AllisSt。Vitusouthere!Musthavereinforcementof10,000men!""Yes,"answersPitt,whoisnowinOffice:"youshallhavethem;andwewilltakeCapeBreton,pleaseHeaven!"——butwasthrownout;andbythewrigglingsthatensued,nothingofthe10,000reachedLordLoudontillSeason1757toowasdone。NordidtheythensteadhisLordshipmuch,thenorafterwards;whonevertookCapeBreton,norwaslikedoingit;——butwriggledtoandfroagooddeal,andrevolvedonhisaxis,accordingtopatterngiven。
Andset(whatchieflyinducesustonamehimhere)hisnotreverentenoughSubordinate,LordCharlesHay,ouroldFontenoyfriend,intoangryimpatientquizzingofhim;——andbyandbyintoCourt—Martialforsuchquizzing。[PeerageBooks,?Tweeddale。]Court—Martial,whichwasmuchpuzzledbythecase;andcoulddecidenothing,butonlyadjournandadjourn;——aswewillnowdo,notmentioningLordLoudonfarther,orthenumerousotherinstancesatall。["1stMay,1760,Major—GeneralLordCharlesHaydied"(Gentleman’sMagazineofYear);andhisparticularCourt—Martialcouldadjournforthelasttime。——"IwrotesomethingforLordCharles,"saidthegreatJohnsononce,manyyearsafterwards;
"andIthoughthehadnothingtofearfromaCourt—Martial。
Isufferedagreatlosswhenhedied:hewasamightypleasingmaninconversation,andareadingman"(Boswell’sLifeofJohnson:underdate,"3dApril,1776")。]
Pitt,wejustsaw,farfrombeingconfirmedandfurthered,hasbeenthrownoutbyRoyalHighnessofCumberland,thelastthingbeforecrossingtothatexquisiteWeserProblem。"NothingnowleftathometohinderusandourHanoverandWeserProblem!"thinksRoyalHighness。No,indeed:acomfortablepacificNo—government,orBattleoftheFourElements,leftyonder;theAnarchOldwagglinghisaddleheadoverit;readytohelpeverybody,andbringfireandwater,andYesandNo,intoholymatrimony,ifhecould!——LetusreturntoPrag。Onlyoneremarkmore;upon"April5th。"ThatwastheDayofPitt’sDismissalatSt。James’s:andIfind,atSchonbrunnitislikewisethedaywhenREICHS—HOFRATH(KaiserinPrivyCouncil)decides,inrespecttoFriedrich,thatBanoftheReichmustbeproceededwith,andrecommendsReich’sDiettogetthroughwiththesame。[Helden—Geschichte
(Reichs—Procedures,UBISUPRA)。]OfficialEnglandorderingitsPittintoprivatelife,andOfficialTeutschlanditsFriedrichintooutlawry("Bequiethenceforth,bothofYOU!")——are,bychance,synchronousphenomena。
PHENOMENAOFPRAGSIEGE:——PRAGSIEGEISINTERRUPTED。
Friedrich’sSiegeofPragprovedtediousbeyondexpectation。
Infourdayshehaddonethatexploitin1744;butnow,totheworld’sdisappointment,inasmanyweekshecannot。Nothingwasomittedonhispart:heseizedallegressesfromPrag,rapidlyenough;hadbesetthemwithbatteries,ontheverynightormorrowoftheBattle;everyegressbeset,cannonandruinforbiddinganyissuethere。Onthe9thofMay,cannonadingbegan;propersiege—
cannonandammunition,comingupfromDresden,werecompletelycomeMay19th;afterwhichtheplaceisindustriouslybattered,bombardedwithred—hotballs;butexceptbyhunger,itwillnotdo。
Pragasafortressisweak,butasabreastworkfor50,000menitisstrong。TheAustrianstriedsallies;buttheseavailednothing,——veryill—conducted,saysome。ThePrussians,morethanonce,hadnearlygotintotheplacebysurprisal;but,owingtomereluckoftheAustrians,nevercould,——saythesameparties。[Archenholtz,i。
85,87。]
ADIARIUMofPragSiegeisstillextant,TwoDIARIUMS;
punctualdiurnalaccount,bothAustrianandPrussian:[In
Helden—Geschichte,iv。42—56,PrussianDIARIUM;
ib。73—86,Austrian。]whichitisfarfromourintentiontoinflictonreaders,inthishaste。Siegelastedsixweeks;fourweeksextremelyhot,——fromMay19th,whentheproperartilleries,incompletestate,gotupfromDresden。Lineofsiege—works,orintermittentseriesofbatteries,issometwelvemileslong;
fromBraniksouthwardtobeyondtheBelvederenorthward,onbothsidesoftheMoldau。King’sCampisontheZiscaberg;Keith’sontheLorenzBerg,embracingandcommandingtheWeissenberg;
therearetwoBridgesofcommunication,BranikandPodoli:
KinglodgesintheParsonageofMichel,——thebusiestofallthesonsofAdam;whatasetofmeditationsinthatParsonage!
TheBesieged,46,000bycount,offertosurrenderPragonconditionof"Freewithdrawal:""No;youshallengage,suchofyouaswon’tenlistwithus,nottoserveagainstmeforsixyears。"HerearesomeselectSpecimens;Prussianchiefly,inanabridgedstate:——
"MAY19th,Nosoonerwasourartillerycome(allthegroundsandbedsforithadbeenreadybeforehand),thanaseveningfell,itbegantoplayinterrificfashion。"
"NIGHTOFTHE23d—24thMAY,Therebrokeoutafurioussally;
theirfirst,andmuchtheirhottest,saythePrussians:averyseriousaffair;——whichfelluponKeith’squarter,westsideoftheMoldau。Sally,saysomethinglike10,000strong;pickedmenall,andstrengthenedwithhalfapoundofhorse—flesheach"(unluckilywithoutsalt):judgewhatthecommondietmusthavebeen,whenthatwasgenerous!"Nosalttoit;butafairsupplementofbrandy。
Browne,fromhisbedofpain(died26thJune),hadbeenstronglyurgent。Aimis,ToforcethePrussianlines,bydeterminationandthehelpofdarkness,insomeweakpoint:thewholeArmy,standingrankedonthewalls,shallfollow,ifthingsgowell;andstormitselfthrough,——awayDaun—wards,acrosstheRiverbyPodoliBridge。
"Sallybrokeoutbetween1and2A。M。;butwehadwindofit,andwereonthealert。Sallytriedonthisplaceandonthat;
veryfuriousinplaces,butcouldnotanywhereprevail。
Thetusslinglastedfornearsixhours(PrinceFerdinand"ofPreussen,King’syoungestBrother,"andothersofus,gettinghurtsanddoingexploits),——till,about7A。M。,itwaswhollysweptin,withlossof1,000dead。Uponwhich,theirwholeArmyretiredtoitsquarters,inahopelesscondition。Escapeimpossible。
Near50,000ofthem;butinsuchaposture。Provisionofbread,thespiessay,isnotscarce,unlessthePrussianscanburnit,whichtheyareindustriouslytrying(diligenttolearnwheretheMagazinesare,andtofireincessantlyuponthesame):plentyofmealhitherto;butforbutcher’s—meat,onlywhatwesaw。
Foragenearlydone,and12,000horsesstandinginthesquaresandmarket—places,——notevenstablingforthem,nottospeakoffoodorwork,——slaughteringandsalting[ifonebuthadsalt!]theonemethod。Horse—fleshtwokreutzersapound;risesgraduallytodoublethatvalue。
"MAY29th,Aboutsunsettherecameafuriousburstofweather:
rain—torrentsmixedwithbatteringhail;——someflawofwater—spoutamongtheHills;foritlastedhouronhour,andMoldaucamedownroaringdouble—deep,aboveahundredyardstoowideeachway;
withcargoesofruin,torn—uptrees,drownedhorses;whichsorelytriedourBridgeatBranik。Bridge,halfofit,didbreakaway(Friedrich’shalf,forty—fourpontoons;Keith’speoplegottheirendoftheBridgedoubledinandsaved):theAustrians,inPrag,fishedouttwenty—fourofFriedrich’spontoons;theothertwentywecaughtatourBridgeofPodoli,fartherdown。AmostwildnightforthePrussianArmyintents;andindeedforPragitself,thelowpartsofwhichwereallunderwater;unfortunateindividualsgettingdrownedinthecellars;and,stillmoreimportant,agreatdealofAustrianmeal,whichhadbeencarriedthither,tobesafefromthered—hotballs。
"ItwasthoughttheAustrians,ourBridgebeingdown,mighttryasallyagain。Topreventwhich,hardlywastheraindone,when,onourpart,arocketflewaloft;andtherebeganontheCity,fromallsides,adelugeofbombsandredhotballs。Sothatthestill—
drippingCitywassetfireto,invariousparts:andwecouldhear[whatthisEditornevercanforget]theWEH—KLAGEN(wail)oftheTownsfolkastheytriedtoquenchit,anditalwaysburstoutagain。Thefire—delugelastedforsixhours。"——HumanWEH—KLAGEN,throughthehollowofNight,audibletothePrussiansandus:
"Woe’sme!water—deluges,thenfire—deluges;deathoneveryhand!"
AccordingtotheAustrianaccounts,thereperished,byburstingofbomb—shells,fallingofwalls,byhungerandothermiseryandhurts,"above9,000TownsfolkinthisSiege。"Yes,myImperialfriends;Warisnotathingofstreameringandornamentaltrumpetingalone;Warisaninexorable,dangerouslyincalculablething。Isitnotaterriblequestion,atwhosedoorliesthebeginningofaWar!
"JUNE5th,12,000poorpeopleofPragwerepushedout:
’Uselessmouths,willyoucontrivetodisappearsomeway!’
But,afterhagglingaboutallday,theyhadtobeadmittedinagain,underpenaltyofbeingshot。
"JUNE8th,Citylookingblackandruinous,wholeoftheNeustadtinashes;fewhousesleftintheJewTown;intheAltstadtthefireragedon(WUTHETEFORT)。Nothingbutruinandconfusionoverthere;
populationhidingincellars,gettingkilledbyfallingbuildings。
BurgermeisterandTownsfolkbesiegePrinceKarl,’FortheVirgin’ssake,havepityonus,YourSerenity!’PoorPrinceKarlhastobedeaf,whateverhisfeelings。
"Hewasdiligentinattendingmass,theysay:healoneofthePrinces,ofwhomtherewereseveral;twoSaxonPrincesamongothers,PrinceXaviertheelderofthem,whowillbeheardofagain。Aprofaneset,these,lodgingintheCLEMENTINUM[vastJesuitEdifice,whichhadbeenclearedoutforthem,and"thewindowsfilledwithdungoutside,"againstballs]:there,withwinesoffinevintage,andcookeriesplentifulandexquisite,thatknownothingoffamineoutside,theyledanidledisorderlylife,——
ranracesinthelongcorridors[notsobadacourse],dressedthemselvesinPriests’vestures[whichareabundantinsuchlocality],andmadetravestiesandmummeriesofHolyReligion;
thewretchedcreatures,defyingdespair,asbuccaneersmightwhentheirshipissinking。Tosurrender,everythingforbids;ofescape,thereisnopossibility。[Archenholtzi。86;Helden—
Geschichte,iv。73—84。]
"JUNE9th,Thebombardmentabates;aLABORATORIUMofourownflewaloftbysomesparkoraccident;andkilledtbirteenmen。
"JUNE15th,FromtheKing’sCampafewbombs[Kinghimselfnowgone]kindledtheCityinthreeplaces:"——butthereis,bythistime,newgameafield;PragSiegeawaitingitsdecisionnotatPrag,butsomewayoff。
Friedrichhasbeendoinghisutmost;diligent,byallmethods,tolearnwheretheAustrianMagazineswere,thatis,onwhatspecialedificesandlocalitiesshotmightbeexpendedwithadvantage;
andhasfiredintothese"about12,000bombs。"Hereisasmallthingstillremembered:——
"Spiesbeing,aboveall,essentialinthisbusiness,FriedrichhadbethoughthimofoneKasebier,asupremeofHouse—breakers,whomhehas,safewithaballathisankle,doingforcedlaboratSpandau[inStettin,ifitmattered]。Kasebierwasactuallysentfor,pardonpromisedhimifhecoulddotheStateaservice。
Kasebiersmuggledhimselftwice,perhapsthreetimes,intoPrag;
butthefourthtimehedidnotcomeback。"[Retzow,i。108。n。]
AnotherNotesays:"KasebierwasaTailor,andSonofaTailor,inHalle;andtheexpertestofThieves。Hadbeendoingforcedlabor,inStettin,since1748;twicedidgetintoPrag;thirdtime,vanished。AhighlycelebratedPrussianthief;stillamythamongthePeople,likeDickTurpinorCartouche,exceptthathiswasalwaystheftwithoutviolence。"[Preuss,ii。57n。]
Welearnvaguelythatthepriceofhorse—fleshinPraghasrisentodouble;famineverysore:butstillonehearsnothingofsurrender。
AndagainthereisvaguerumorthattheCitymaybeasitwill;
butthattheGarrisonhasmeal,afterallwehaveruined,whichwilllasttillOctober。SuchaProblemhasthisKing:
solublewithinthetime;ornotsoluble?Suchaquestionforthewholeworld,andforhimselfmorethanany。
MAPGOESINHERE——fACINGPAGE446,BOOKxviiiChapterIV。
BATTLEOFKOLIN。
OnandafterJune9th,thebombardmentatPragabated,andneverrosetobrisknessagain;theplaceoftrialfordecisionofthatSiegehavingflittedelse—whither,aswesaid。Aboutthattime,rumorscamein,notsofavorable,fromtheDukeofBevern;
whichFriedrich,stronginhope,strovevisiblytodisbelieve,butatlastcouldnot。BevernreportsthatDaunisactuallycomingon,fartoostrongforhisresisting;——inotherterms,thattheSiegeofPragwillnotdecideitselfbybombardment,butotherwiseandelsewhere。Ofwhichwemustnowgivesomeaccount;briefasmaybe,especiallyinregardtothepreliminaryormarchingpart。
Daun,whoselighttroopsplunderedBrandeis(almostwithinwindofthePrussianRear)onthedaywhilePragBattlewasfighting,had,onthatfatalevent,graduallydrawnbacktoCzaslau,aplaceweusedtoknowfifteenyearsago;andthere,orinthoseneighborhoods,defensivelymanoeuvring,andhanginguponKuttenberg,Kolin,especiallyuponhisMagazineofSuchdol,Daun,alwaysratherdrawingback,withBrunswick—Bevernvigilantlywaitingonhim,hascontinuedeversince;diligentlyrecruitinghimself;rankingtheremainsoftherightwingdefeatedatPrag;
drawingregimentsoutofMahren,orwhencesoevertobehad。
Till,bythesemethods,heisgrown60,000strong;nearlythricesuperiortoBevern;thoughbeinga"FabiusCunctator"(socalledbyandby),heasyetattemptsnothing。FortythousandinPrag,withSixtyhereintheCzaslauQuarter,[Tempelhof,i。196;Retzow(i。
107,109)counts46,00066,000。]thatmakes100,000;sayhisPrussianMajestyhastwo—thirdsofthenumber:cantheFabiusCunctatorattemptnothing,beforePragutterlyfamish?
OrdercomestohimfromVienna:"RescuePrag;straightwaygouponit,costwhatitlike!"Daundoesgouponit;advancesvisiblytowardsPrag,Bevernobligedtofallbackinfrontofhim。
Sunday,12thJune,DaundespatchesseveralOfficerstoPrinceKarlatPrag,withnoticethat,"Onthe20th,Mondaycomeaweek,hewillbeintheneighborhoodofPragwiththisview:——they,ofcourse,tosallyout,andhelpfromrearward。""SeveralOfficers,undervariousdisguises,"gowiththatmessage,June12th;butnoneofthemcouldgetintotheCity;andsomeofthem,Ijudge,musthavefallenintothePrussianHussarParties:——atanyrate,thenewstheycarrieddidgetintothePrussiancircuit,andproducedaninstantresolutionthere。Earlynextmorning,Monday13th,KingFriedrich,withwhatdisposableforceisonthespot,——10,000
capableofbeingsparedfromsiege—work,and4,000morethatwillbecapableoffollowing,underPrinceMoritz,intwodays,——setsforthinallspeed。JoinsBevernthatsamenight;atKaurzim,thirty—fivemilesoff,whichisaboutmidwayfromPragtoCzaslau,andonlythreemilesorsofromDaun’squartersthatnight,——hadtheKingknownit,whichhedidnot。
Daunmustbeinstantlygoneinto;andshall,——ifheisthereatall,andnotfallenbackatthefirstrumorofus,asFriedrichrathersupposes。Inanycase,therearepreliminariesindispensable:the4,000ofPrinceMoritzstilltocomeup;
secondly,breadtobehadforus,whichisbakingatNimburg,acrosstheElbe,twentymilesoff;lastly(orratherfirstly,andmostindispensableofall),Dauntobereconnoitred。
FriedrichreconnoitresDaunwithalldiligence;pushesoneverythingaccordingtohiswont;muchobstructedinthereconnoitringbyPandourclouds,underwhichDaunhasveiledhimself,whichfaroutnumberoursmallHussarforce。Daun,asusual,——showingalwaysgreatskillinregardtocampsandpositions,——hasplantedhimselfindifficultcountry:alittleriverwithitsboggypoolsinfront;behindandaround,anintricatebrokencountryofknollsandswamps,oneridgeinitwhichtheyevencallaBERGorHill,KamhayekBerg;notmuchofaHillafterall,butformingalongbackbonetothelocality,westendofitstraightbehindDaun’scentre,atpresent。
Friedrich’spositionisfromnorthtosouth;likeDaun’s,takingadvantageofwhatheightsandbrooksthereare;andedgingnorthwardtobenearhisbread—ovens:rightwingstillholdsbyKaurzim,leftwinglookingdownonPlanian,alittleTownontheHighRoad(KAISER—STRASSE)fromPragtoVienna。LittleTowndestinedtogetupitsnameinadayortwo,——nextlittleTowntowhich,twelvemilesfartheron,isKolin,secretlydestinedtobecomeandcontinuestillmorefamousamongmankind。KolinisclosetotheElbe,leftorsouthbank;Elbehereaboutsstrikesintohislongnorthwesterncourse(toWittenbergalltheway;Pirna,say150
milesoff,ishishalf—wayhouseinthatdirection);——strikesoffnorthwardhereabouts,makingforNimburg,amongotherplaces:
Planian,rightsouthofNimburg,isalreadyfifteengoodmilesfromElbe。
ThisisFriedrich’sposition,Wednesday,June15thandthedayfollowing;somewhatnearerhisovensthanyesterday。Daunisyetparalleltohim,hashiscentrebehindSwoyschitz,aninsignificantVillageatthefootofthoseKamhayekHeights,whichis,eversince,tobefoundinMaps。Friday,17th,Friedrich’sbread—wagonsand4,000havingcomein,asdoubtlessthePandoursreportintheproperplace,Daundoesnotquitelikehisstrongpositionanymore,butwouldpreferastronger。Fridayaboutsunset,"greatcloudsofdust"risefromDaun:changinghisposition,thePrussianssee,ifforPandoursandgatheringdarknesstheycanatpresentseelittleelse。Daun,truly,observingtheKingtohaveinthatmanneredgedup,towardsPlanian,isafraidofhisrightwingfromsuchaneighbor。SothatthereadermusttakehisMapagain。
Or,ifhecarenotforsuchthings,lethimskip,andleavemesolitarytomysadfunction;tillwecanmeetoneasierground,andreportthebattlewhichensued。Daunhustleshisrightwingbackoutofthatdangerousproximity;wheelshiswholerightwingandcentreninetydegreesround,soastoreachoutnowtowardsKolin,andlieonthenorthslopeoftheKamhayekridge;placeshisleftwingENPOTENCE(gibbet—wise),hangingroundthewesternendofsaidKamhayek,itssouthernextremityatSwoyschitz,itsnorthernatHradenin,where(notamilefromPlanian)hisrightwinghadformerlybeen;——withotherintricatemovementsnotworthfollowing,undermyquestionableguidance,onaMapwithunpronounceablenames。EnoughtosaythatDaun’srightwingisnowfareastatKrzeczhorz,wellbeyondChotzemitz,whereaboutshiscentrenowcomestostand(andmostofhishorseTHERE,boththewingsbeinghillyandrough,unfitforhorse);——andthat,thisbeingnearlythelastofDaun’sshiftingsandhustlingsforthepresent,orindeedinessentialrespectstheverylast,readersmayaswellnotetheabovemainpointsinit。
Hustledintothisstillstrongerplace,withwheelingandshoving,whichlastedtoalatehour,Dauncomposeshimselfforthenight。
Heliesnow,withcentreandrightlookingnorthward,prettymuchparalleltothePlanian—KolinorPrag—ViennaHighway,andaboutamilesouthofthesame;extremepostsextendingalmosttoKolinonthatside;leftwingwellplantedENPOTENCE;Kamhayekridge,northfaceandwestendofit,completelyhisonboththeexposedorAnti—Prussianfaces。Friedrichfeelsuncertainwhetherhehasnotgonehiswaysaltogether;butproposestoascertainbybreakofday。
BybreakofdayFriedrichstarts,havingclearedoffcertainPandourswarmsvisibleinplacesofdifficulty,whogoonfirstnotice,andwithoutshotfired。[Lloyd,i。61etseq。(orTempelhof’sTranslation,i。151—164);Tempelhof’sownAccountis,i。179—196;Retzow’s,i。120—149(fewererrorsofdetailthanusual);Kutzen,DerTagvonKolin(Breslau,1857),ausefullittlecompilationfrommanysources。Veryincorrectmostofthecommonaccountsare;Kausler’s
Schlachten,Jomini,andthelike。]MarchesthroughPlanianintwocolumns,alongtheKolinHighwayandtonorthofit;
marcheson,fourorfivemilesfarther,nothingvisiblebuttheskirtsofretiringPandours,——"Daun’srear—guardprobably?"——
FriedrichhimselfiswithZiethen,whohasthevanguard,asFriedrich’swontis,eagerlyenoughlookingout;reachesacertainInnonthewayside(WIRTHSHAUS"ofSlatislunzorGOLDEN—SUN,"saytheModernBooks,——thoughIamdriventothinkitNovomiesto,nearerPlanian;butwillnotquarrelonthesubject);Innofgoodheightforonething;andthere,mountingtothetop—storyorperhapstheleads,descriesDaun,stretchingfarandwide,leantagainsttheKamhayek,inthesummermorning。WhatasightforFriedrich:"BiggameSHALLbeplayed,then;deathsure,thisday,tothousandsofmen:andtome——?Well!"
Friedrichcallshalt:restherealittle;toconsider,examine,settlehow。Ahotclosemorning;restforanhourortwo,tillourrearfromKaurzimcomeup:horsesandmenwillbethebetterforit,——horsescanhaveamouthfulofgrass,mouthfulofwater;
someofthem"hadnodrinklastnight,solateingettinghome。"
Poorquadrupeds,theyalsohavetogetintoablazeofbattle—ragethisday,andbeblowntopiecesagreatmanyofthem,——inaquarrelnotoftheirseeking!Horseandriderarealikesatisfiedonthatlatterpoint;silentlyreadyforthetaskTHEYhave;
anddeafonquestionsthatarebottomless。
AtthisHostelryofNovomiesto(notofSlatislunzor"GOLDEN—SUN"
atall,whichisa"Sun"fallendismallyeclipsedinotherways["TheInnofSlati—Slunzwasburnt,abouttwentyyearsago;
nothingofitbutthestonewallsnowdatesfromFriedrich’stime。
Itisabiggishsolid—lookingHouseoftwostories(whethereverofthree,Icouldnotlearn);standspleasantly,atthecrownofalongrisefromKolin;——andinwardly,alas,inourday,offerslittlebutbadsmellsandnegativequantities!Onlytheground—
floorisnowinhabited。Fromthefront,yourviewnorthward,Nimburgway,acrosstheElbeValley,isfertile,wide—waving,pretty:butrearward,upstairs,——havingwithdifficultygotpermission,——youfindbarebalks,tatteredfeathers,severalhundredweightofpigeon’sdung,andnooutlookatall,exceptintowallsofoffice—housesandtheoverhangingbrowofHeights,——fatal,clearly,toanyviewofDaun,evenfromathirdstory!"(TOURIST’S
NOTE,1858。)——Tempelhof(UBISUPRA)seemstohaveknowntheright,place;not,Retzow,oralmostanybodysince:andindeedthequestion,exceptforexpresslyMilitarypeople,isofnomoment。]),Friedrichhaltedforthreehoursandmore;sawDaundevelopinghimselfintonewOrderofBattle,"everypartofhispositionvisible;"consideredwithhiswholemightwhatwastobetrieduponhim;——andaboutnoon,havingmadeuphismind,calledhisGenerals,insightofthephenomenonitselfthere,togivethemtheirvariousordersandinjunctionsinregardtothesame。ThePlanofFight,whichwasthoughtthen,andisstillthoughtbyeverybody,anexcellentone,——restingonthe"obliqueorderofattack,"
Friedrich’sfavoritemode,——was,ifthereaderwilltakehisMap,conceivableasfollows。
Daunhasbythistimedeployedhimself;inthreelines,ortwolinesandareserve;onthehigh—lyingChampaignsouthofthePlanian—KolinGreatRoad;south,sayamile,andoverthecrestsoftherisingground,orKamhayekridge,sothatfromtheGreatRoadyoucanseenothingofhim。Hisline,swayinghereandtherealittle,totakeadvantageofitsground,extendsnearlyfivemiles,fromeasttowest;pointingtowardsPlanianside,theleftwingofit;fromPlanian,eastward,thewayFriedrichhasmarched,Daun’sleftwingmaybefourmilesdistant。Ontheotherside,Daun’srightwing——mainlinealwaysprettyparalleltotheHighway,andpointingrathersouthwardofKolin——reachestothesmallHamletofKrzeczhorz,whichistwomilesoffKolin。InfrontofhiscentreisaVillagecalledChotzemitz(fromwhichforawhile,inthosemonths,theBattlegetsitsname,"BattleofChotzemitz,"byDaun’schristening):infrontofhim,torightortoleftofChotzemitz,aresomefourorevensixotherVillages(dimrusticHamlets,invisiblefromtheHighRoad),everyVillageofwhichDaunhaswellbesetwithbatteries,withgoodinfantry,nottospeakofCroatpartieshoveringabout,ordismountedPandourssquattedinthecorn。ThateasternmostVillageofhisisspelt"Krzeczhorz"
(unpronounceabletomankind),adirtylittleplace;inandroundwhichtheBattlehaditshingeorcardinalpoint:theothers,asabstruseofspelling,allbutequallyimpossibletothehumanorgans,wewillforbeartoname,exceptincaseofnecessity。
HalfamilebehindKrzeczhorz(letuswriteitKreczor,forthefuture:whatcanwedo?),isathinlittleOak—wood,bushesmainly,butwithsparsetreestoo,whichisnowquitestubbedout,thoughitwasthenimportantenough,andplayedagreatpartintheresultofthisday’swork。Radowesnitz,apronounceablelittleVillage,halfamilefartherorsouthwardoftheOak—bush,isbeyondtheextremityofDaun’sposition;lowdownonamarshylittleBrook,whichoozesthroughlakesandswampstowardsKolin,inthenortherlydirection。
MostoralloftheseVillagesareonlittleBrooks(naturalthirstsoleadingthem):alwayssomelittlerunletofwater,notsoswampywhenthereisanyfallforit;ingenerallivelywhenitgetsovertheridge,andbecomesvisiblefromthisHighway。Anditiscurioustoseewhataconsiderabledell,orgreenascendingchasm,thislittlethreadofwater,workingatallmomentsforthousandsofyears,hashollowedoutforitselfintheslopingground;makingagreatmilitaryobstacle,ifyouaremountingtoattackthere。
PoorCzechHamletsallofthem,dirty,dark,mal—odorous,ignorant,abhorrentofGermanspeech;——inwhatnookthoseinarticulateinhabitants,divingundergroundatagreatratethismorning,havehiddenthemselvesto—day,Iknownot。Thecountryconsistsofknollsandslopes,withswampsintermediate;riseshigheronthePlanianside;butexceptthetopofthatKamhayekridgeonthePlanianside,and"Friedrich’s—Berg"ontheKolinside,thereisnothingthatyoucouldthinkofcallingaHill,thoughmanyBooks(andevenFriedrich’sBook)rashlysayotherwise。Friedrich’s—Berg,nowsocalled,isonthenorthsideoftheHighway:halfamilenortheastwardofSlatislunz,themal—odorousInn。Aconicalheightofperhapsahundredandfiftyfeet;risesrathersuddenlyfromthestill—slopingground,checkingtheslopethere;onwhichtheAustrianpopulationshavebuiltsomememoriallately,notabletoTourists。HereFriedrich"stoodduringtheBattle,"saythey;
andthePrussians"hadabatterythere。"Whichremainsuncertaintome,atleastthebatterypartofit:thatFriedrichhimselfwasthere,nowandthen,canbebelieved;butnotthathekept"standingthere"forlongtogether。Friedrich’s—BergdoescommandsomeviewoftheKreczorscene,whichattimeswascardinal,atothersnot:butFriedrichdidnotstandanywhere:"oftenestinthethickofthefire,"saythosewhosaw。
Friedrich,fromhisInnnearPlanian,seeinghowDaundeployshimself,considershimimpregnableontheleftwing;impregnable,too,infront:notsoontheKreczorside,rightflankandrear;
butcapableofbeingrolledtogether,ifwellstruckatthere。
Thithertherefore;thatishisvulnerablepoint。Marchalonghisfront:quietlyparallelindueOrderofBattle,tillwecanbendround,andplungeinuponthat。TheVan,whichconsistsofZiethen’sHorseandHulsen’sInfantry;Van,havingfacedtorightatthepropermomentandsobecomeLeftWing,willattackKreczor;
probablycarryit;eachDivisionfollowingwillinlikemannerfacetorightwhenitarrivesthere,andfalloninregularsuccessioninsupportofHulsen(atHulsen’srightflank,ifHulsenbefoundprospering):ourRightWingistorefuseitself,andbeasaReserve,——nofightingontheroad,youothers,butsteadytowardsHulsen,incontinualsuccession,allyou;nofacinground,nofightinganywhere,tillwegetthither:——"March!"
Thewordisgivenabout2P。M。;andall,ontheinstant,isinmotion;rollssteadilyeastward,intwocolumns,whichwillbecomeFirstLineandSecond。OnealongtheHighway,thesecondatduedistanceleftwardonthegreenground,nohedgeorotherobstacleobstructinginthatpartoftheworld。Daun’sbatteries,ontheright,spitattheminpassing,tonopurpose;sputtersofPandourmusketry,fromcoverts,theremaybe:Prussiansfinelydisregarding,passalong;flowingtide—liketowardsTHEIRgoalandplaceofchoice。Animpressivephenomenoninthesunnyafternoon;
withDaunexpectantofthem,andtheCzechpopulationswellhiddenunderground!——
Ziethen,vanmostofall,findsNadastiandhisAustriansquadronsdrawnacrosstheHighway,hitherwardoftheKreczorlatitude:
ZiethendashesonNadasti;tumbleshissquadronsandhimaway;
clearstheRoad,andKreczorneighborhood,ofNadasti:driveshimquiteintothehollowofRadowesnitz,wherehestoodinactivefortherestoftheday。HulsennowatthelevelofKreczor(inthelatitudeofKreczor,aswephrasedit),halts,facestoright;
stifflypressesup,openshiscannon—thunders,hisbayonet—chargesandplatoon—firesuponKreczor。Stifflypressingup,inspiteoftheviolentcounter—thunders,HulsendoesmanageKreczorwithoutverymuchdelay,completelyenough,andlikeaworkman;takesthebattery,twobatteries;overturnstheInfantry;——inaword,hasseizedKreczor,and,asnewtenant,swepttheold,andtheirlitter,quiteout。OfallwhichZiethenhasnowthechase,andbynomeanswillneglectthatduty。Ziethen,drivingtheroutbeforehim,hasdrivenitinsomeminutespastthelittleOak—woodabovementioned;and,orratherBUT,——whatismuchtobenoted,——istheretakeninflankwithcannon—shotandmusketry,DaunhavingputbatteriesandCroatpartiesintheOak—wood;andisforcedtodrawbridle,andgetoutofrangeagain。
Hulsen,advancingtowardsthislittleOak—wood,issurprisedtodiscover,notthewoodalone,butastrongAustrianforce,footandhorse,torearofit;——suchhadbeenDaun’sandNadasti’sprecaution,onviewofthoseFriedrichphenomena,flowingonfromPlanian,guessedtobehitherward。AtsightofwhichWoodandfoot—
party,Hulsen,nonewBattalionhavingyetarrivedtosecondhim,pauses,merelycannonadingfromthedistance,tillnewBattalionsshallarrive。Unhappilytheydidnotarrive,ornotinduequantityatthesettime,——forwhatreason,bywhatstrangemistake?menstillaskthemselves。Probablybymoremistakesthanone。
Enough,Hulsenstrugglinghereallday,withreinforcementsneveradequate,didtaketheWood,andthenloseit;didtakeandlosethisandthat;——butwasunabletomakemoreofitthankeephisgroundthereabouts。Aresoluteman,saysRetzow,butwithoutinventionofhisown,orheadtomendthemistakesofothers。
InandaboutKreczor,Hulsendidmaintainhimselfwithmoreandmoretenacity,tillthegeneralavalanche,fruitofsadmistakessweptHIM,quitespasmodicallystrugglingatthatperiod,offtotheedgeofit,andalltheotherscleanaway!Mistakeshavebeentorightwards,oneoreventwo,thefruitofwhich,smallatfirst,sufficestoturnthebalance,andendsinanavalanche,orprecipitousdescentofruinonthePrussiansideOnemistaketherewas,mileswestwardontherightwing;duetoMannstein,ourtooimpetuousRussianfriend,Mannsteinwelltoright,whilemarchingforwardaccordingtoorder,hasCroatmusketryspittinguponhimfromamidthehighcorn,toaninconvenientextent:suchwasthecommonlot,whichothershadborneanddisregarded:perhapsitwasbeyondtheaverageonMannstein,orMannstein’spatiencewaslessinfinite;anywayitprovokedMannsteintoboilover;andinanevilmomenthesaid,"ExtinguishmethatCroatcanaille,then!"RegimentBornstedtfacedtoright,accordingly;tooktoextinguishingtheCroatcanaille,whichofcoursefledatonce,orsquattedcloser,butcamebackwithreinforcements;drewMannsteindeeperin,fatallydelayedBornstedt,andprovedwidelyruinous。Fornowhestoppedthewaytothosefollowinghim:regimentsmarchingontorearofMannsteinseeMannsteinhalted,volleyingwiththeAustrians;askthemselves"How?Istherenewordercome?Attacktobeinthispoint?"
AndsuccessivelyfallontosupportMannstein,astheoneclearpointinsuchdubiety。SothatthewholerightwingfromRegimentBornstedtwestwardisstormingupthedifficultsteeps,inhotconflictwiththeAustriansthere,wheresuccessagainstthemhadbeenjudgedimpracticable;——andthereisnownoreserveforceanywheretobeappliedtoinemergency,forHulsen’sbehooforanother’s;andthePlanofBattlefromMannsteinwestwardhasbeenfatallyoverturned。PoorMannstein,thereisnodoubt,committedthiserror,beingtoofieryaman。Surelytohimitwasnoluxury,andhepaidthesmartforitinskinandsoul:"badlywoundedinthisbusiness;"nay,indirectsequel,notmanyweeksafter,killedbyit,asweshallsee!——
ToMannstein’smistake,Friedrichhimself,inhisaccountofKolin,mainlyimputesthedisasterthatfollowed;andsuch,thenandafterwards,wastheuniversaljudgmentinmilitarycircles;
loadingthememoryoftooimpetuousMannsteinwiththewhole。
[SeeRetzow,i。135;Templehof,i。214,220。]MuchtalktherewasinPrussianmilitarycircles;buttheremustalsohavebeenanadmirablesilenceonthepartofsome。ToThreePersonsitwasknownthatanotherstrangeincidenthadhappenedfarahead,fareastward,ofMannstein’sposition:incidentwhichdidnotbyanymeanstendtoalleviate,whichcouldonlystrengthenandwiden,theevilresultsofMannstein;andwhichmighthaveliftedpartoftheloadfromMannstein’smemory!NottillthepresentCentury,afterthelapseofalmostfiftyyears,wasthissecretslowlydugoutofsilence,andsubmittedtomoderncuriosity。
Theincidentisthis;——neverwhisperedoffornearfiftyyears(sosilentwerethethree);andendlesslytossedaboutsincethat;
thesenseofitnotunderstoodtillalmostnow。[SeeRetzow,i。
126;Berenhorst;&c。&c。;——thenFINALLYKutzen,pp。99,217。]
Thethreepartieswere:KingFriedrich;MoritzofDessau,leadingonthecentrehere;Moritz’syoungNephewFranz,HeirofDessau,abriskladofseventeen,learningWarhereasAide—de—camptoMoritz:theexactspotisnotknowntome,——probablythegroundnearthatInnofSlatislunz,orGolden—Sun;betweenthefootofFriedrich’s—Bergandthat:——factindubitable,thoughkeptdarksolong。Moritzismarchingwiththecentre,ormainbattle,thatway,intendingtowheelandturnhillwards,Kreczor—wise,asperorder,certainfurlongsahead;whenFriedrich(having,soIcanconceiveit,seenfromhisHill—top,howHulsenhaddoneKreczor,altogetherprosperousthere;andwhatendlesscapabilitytherewasofprosperingtoalllengthsandspeedingthegeneralwinning,wereHulsenbutsupportedsoonenough,werethereanysafeshort—cuttoHulsen)dashedfromhisHill—topinhothastetowardsPrinceMoritz,Generalofthecentre,intendingtodirecthimuponsuchshort—cut;andhastilysaid,withOlympianbrevityandfire,"FacetorightHERE!"WithJove—likebrevity,andinsuchblazeofOlympianfireaswemayimagine。Moritzhimselfisofbrief,crabbed,fierymind,briefintemper;andanswerstotheeffect,"Impossibletoattacktheenemyhere,yourMajesty;posturedastheyare;andwewithsuchordersgoneabroad!"——"Facetoright,I
tellyou!"saidtheKing,stillmoreOlympian,andtooemphaticforexplaining。Moritz,Ihope,paused,butratherthinkhedidnot,beforeremonstratingthesecondtime;neitherperhapswashisvoicesolowasitshouldhavebeen:itiscertainFriedrichdashedquiteuptoMoritzatthissecondremonstrance,flashedouthissword(theonlytimeheeverdrewhisswordinbattle);andnow,gonealltomereOlympianlightningandthundertone,asksinTHISattitude,"WILLER(WillHe)obeyorders,then?"——Moritz,fallensilentofremonstrance,withgloomyrapidityobeys。
PrinceFranz,theyoungNephewofMoritz,alonewitnessedthisscene;scenetobelockedinthreefoldsilence。Inhisoldage,FranzhadwhisperedittoBerenhorst,hisbastardHalf—Uncle,afamedmilitaryCritic,——whoisstillinthehighestreputethatway(Berenhorst’sKRIEGSKUNST,andotherdeepBooks),andisrecognizable,toLAYreaders,foranabstrusestrongjudgment;
withequalstrengthofabstrusetemperhiddenbehindit,andveryprivatelyadeepgrudgetowardsFriedrich,scarcelyrepressibleonopportunity。FromBerenhorstitirrepressiblyoozedout;
["HeinrichvanBerenhorst[anaturalsonoftheOldDessauer’s],inhisBetrachtungenuberdieKriegskunst,isthefirstthatalludestoitinprint。(Leipzig,1797,——pageinSECONDedition,1798,isi。219)。"]muchmoretoFriedrich’sdisadvantagethanitnowlookswhenwhollyseeninto。Notchangeofplan,notruinouscapriceonFriedrich’spart,asBerenhorst,Retzowandotherswouldhaveit;onlyexcessofbrevitytowardsMoritz,andaccidentoftheOlympianfirebreakingout。
Friedrichischargeablewithnothing,exceptperhaps(whatMoritzknowstheevilof)tryingforashort—cut!Suchisnowthereceivedinterpretation。PrinceFranz,tohislastday,refusedtospeakagainonthesubject;judiciouslyrepentant,wecanfancy,ofhavingspokenatall,andbroughtsuchamatterintothestreetsandtheirpie—powderadjudications。[InKUTZEN,pp。217—237,alongdissertationonit。]Forthepresent,heisAdjutanttoMoritz,busyobeyingtotheletter。
Friedrich,withdrawingtohisHeightagain,andlookingbackonMoritz,findsthatheismakingrightinupontheAustrianline;
whichwasbynomeansFriedrich’smeaning,hadnothebeensobrief。Friedrich,doubtlesswithpain,remembersnowthathehadsaidonly,"Facetoright!"andhadthengotintoOlympiantempest,whichleftthingsdarktoMoritz。"HALB—LINKS,Halftoleftwithal!"hedespatchesthatnewordertoMoritz,withtheutmostspeed:"Facetoright;THEN,forwardhalftoleft。"HadMoritz,atthefirst,gotthatcommentarytohisorder,therehadprobablybeennoremonstranceonMoritz’spart,noOlympianscenetokeepsilent;andMoritz,takingthatdiagonaldirectionfromthefirst,hadhitinatorbelowKreczor,attheverypointwherehewasneeded。Alasforoverhaste;short—cuts,iftheyaretobegood,oughtatleasttobemadeclear!Moritz,ontheneworderreachinghim,doesinstantlysteerhalf—left:buthearrivesnowaboveKreczor,strikestheAustrianlineonthissideofKreczor;
disjoinedfromHulsen,wherehecandonogoodtoHulsen:inbrief,Moritz,andnowthewholelinewithhim,havetodoasMannsteinandsequelaredoing,attackinface,notinflank;andtrywhat,intheproportionofonetotwo,uphill,andagainstbatteries,theycanmakeofitinthatfashion!
Andso,fromrightwingtoleft,mileslong,thereisnowuniversalstormofvolleying,bayonet—charging,thunderofartillery,case—
shot,cartridge—shot,andsulphurousdevouringwhirlwind;
thewrestleverytoughandfurious,especiallyontheassaultingside。Here,asatPrag,thePrussiantroopswereoneandallinthefire;eachdoingstrenuouslyhisutmost,nocomplainttobemadeoftheirperformance。Moreperfectsoldiers,Ibelieve,wererarelyorneverseenonanyfieldofwar。Butthereisnoreserveleft:
Mannsteinandtherest,whoshouldhavebeenreserve,andataGeneral’sdisposal,weseewhattheyaredoing!Invain,ornearlyso,isFriedrich’stacticormanoeuvringtalent;whatnowistheretomanoeuvre?Allisnowgoneupintoonecombustion。Tofanthefire,tobehere,there,fanningthefirewhereneedshows:thisisnowFriedrich’sfunction;"everywhereinthehottestofthefight,"
thatisallweatpresentknowofhim,invisibletousotherwise。
Thisdeath—wrestlelastedperhapsfourhours;tillsevenortowardseighto’clockintheJuneevening;thesunvergingdownwards;
issuestilluncertain。
And,infact,atlasttheissueturneduponahair;——suchtheempireofChanceinWarmatters。CautiousDaun,itiswellknown,didnotliketheaspectofthething;cautiousDaunthinkstohimself,"IfwegetpushedbackintothatCampofyesternight,downtheKamhayekHeights,andrightintotheimpassableswamps;
thereverseway,HeightsnowHIS,notours,andimpassableswampswaitingtoswallowus?Wreckcomplete,andsurrenderatdiscretion——!"Daunwritesinpencil:"TheretreatistoSuchdol"
(Kuttenbergway,southward,wherewehaveheightsagainandmagazines);Daun’sAide—de—campisgallopingevery—whitherwiththatimportantDocument;andGeneralsarepreparingforretreataccordingly,——oneGeneralontherightwinghas,visiblytoHulsenandus,hiscannonoutofbattery,andunderwayrearwards;
awelcomesighttoHulsen,who,withimperfectreinforcement,istoughlymaintaininghimselfthereallday。
AndnowtheDaunAide—de—camp,soChancewouldhaveit,cannotfindNostitztheSaxonCommandantofHorseinthatquarter;findsa"SaxonLieutenant—ColonelB———"("Benkendorf"allBooksnowwritehimplainly),who,byanotherlittlechance,hadbeenstillleftthere:"CantheHerrLieutenant—ColoneltellmewhereGeneralNostitzis?"Benkendorfcantell;——willhimselftakethemessage:
butBenkendorflooksintotheimportantPencilDocument;thinksitpremature,wasteful,andthatthecontraryisfeasible!persuadesNostitzsotothink;persuadesthisregimentandthat(Saxon,Austrian,horseandfoot);thoughthecannoninretreatgotrundlingpastthem:"Merelyshiftingtheirbattery,don’tyousee:——Steady!"And,infine,organizes,ofSaxonandAustrianhorseandfootinpromisingquantity(SaxonsingreatfuryonthePirnascore,nottosaytheStriegau,andotheroldgrudges),anewunanimousassaultonHulsen。
Theassaultwasfurious,andbecameevermoreso;atlengthirresistibletoHulsen。Hulsen’shorse,pressingonastovictory,areatlasthurledback;couldnotberallied;[Thatof"RUCKER,WOLLTIHREWIGLEBEN,Rascals,wouldyouliveforever?"withthe"Fritz,foreightgroschen,thisdaytherehasbeenenough!"——istobecountedpuremyth;notunsuccessful,initswitheredkind。]
fairlyfled(someofthem);confusingHulsen’sfoot,——footisbroken,instantlyranksitself,asthemannerofPrussiansis;
ranksitselfinimpromptusquares,andstandsfiercelydefensiveagain,amidtheslashingandcareering:wrestleofextremefury,saythewitnesses。"ThisforStriegau!"criedtheSaxondragoons,furiouslysabring。[Archenholtz,i。100。]Yes;andistherenothingtoaccountofPirna,andthelaterscores?Scoresunliquidated,verymanystill;buttheendis,Hulsenisdrivenaway;
retreats,Parthian—like,down—hill,somespace;whosesadexamplehastospreadrightwardslikeapowder—train,tillallareinretreat,——northward,towardsNimburg,istheroad;——andtheBattleofKolinisfinished。
FriedrichmadevehementefforttorallytheHorse,torallythisandthat;buttonopurpose:oneaccountsayshedidcollectsomesmallbody,andmarchedforthattheheadofitagainstacertainbattery;but,inhisrear,manaftermanfellaway,tillLieutenant—ColonelGrant(not"LeGrand,"assomecallhim,andindeedthereisanACCENTofScotchinhim,stillaudibletoushere)hadtoremark,"YourMajestyandIcannottakethebatteryourselves!"UponwhichFriedrichturnedround;and,findingnobody,lookedattheEnemythroughhisglass,andslowlyrodeaway[Retzow,i。139。]——onadifferenterrand。
SeeingtheBattleirretrievablylost,henowcalledBevernandMoritztohim;gavethemchargeoftheretreat——"ToNimburg;
crossElbethere[fifteengoodmilesaway];andinthedefilesofPlanianhaveespecialcare!"andhimselfrodeoffthitherward,hisGarde—du—Corpsescorting。Retzowsays,"aswarmoffugitivehorse—
soldiers,baggage—people,groomsandledhorsesgatheredinthetrainofhim:theselatter,atonepoint,"RetzowhasheardinOppositioncircles,"rushedup,galloping:’Enemy’shussarsuponus!’andsetthewholepartytothegallopforsometime,tilltheyfoundthealarmwasfalse。"[Ib。i。140。]OfFriedrichweseenothing,exceptasifbycloudymoonlightinanuncertainmanner,throughthisandtheothersmallAnecdote,perhapssemi—mythical,andtrueonlyintheessenceofit。
Daungavenochaseanywhere;onhisextremelefthehad,perhapsaspreparativeforchasing,orderedoutthecavalry;"GeneralStampachandcavalryfromthecentre,"withcannon,withinfantryandappliances,toclearawaythewrecksofMannstein,andwhatstillstands,torightofhim,onthePlanianHighwayyonder。
ButStampachfound"obstaclesofground,"wetobstaclesandalsodry,——Prussianposts,smallerandgreater,whowouldnotstirahand—breadth:infact,analtogetherdeadlystormofNegative,spontaneousontheirpart,fromtheindignantregimentsthereabouts,King’sFirstBattalion,andtwoothers;whoblazedoutonStampachinanextraordinarymanner,tearingtoshredseveryattemptofhis,themselvesstiffassteel:"Die,allofus,ratherthanstir!"And,infact,thesecondmanofthesepoorfellowsdiddiethere?[Kutzen,p。138(fromthecanonical,or"STAFF—OFFICER’S"enumeration:seeSUPRA,p。403n。)。]SothatBevern,Commanderinthatpart,whowasabsentspeakingwiththeKing,foundonhisreturnanewbattlebrokenout;whichhedidnotforbidbutencourage;tillStampachhadenough,andwithdrewinrathertorncondition。This,ifthisweresomepreparativeforchasing,waswhatDaundidofit,inthecavalryway;andthiswasall。Theinfantryhestrictlyprohibitedtostirfromtheirposition,——"Nosaying,ifwecomeintothelevelground,withsuchanenemy!"——andpassedthenightunderarms。Faronourleft,orwhatwasonceourleft,Ziethenwithallhissquadrons,nayHulsenwithmostofhisbattalions,continuedsteadyontheground;
andmarchedawayattheirleisure,asrear—guard。
"Itseemed,"saysTempelhof,insplenetictone,"asifFeldmarschallDaun,likeagoodChristian,wouldnotsufferthesuntogodownonhiswrath。Thisday,nearlythelongestintheyear,heallowedthePrussiancavalry,whichhadbeatenNadasti,tostandquietonthefieldtilltenatnight[tillnine];hedidnotsendasinglehussarinchaseoftheinfantry。Hestoodallnightunderarms;andnextdayreturnedtohisoldCamp,asifhehadbeenafraidtheKingwouldcomeback。Arrivingtherehimself,hecouldsee,aboutteninthemorning,behindKaurzimandPlanian,thewholePrussianBaggagefallenintosuchacoilthatthewagonswerewithdifficultygotonwayagain;neverthelessheletit,undercoverofthegrenadierbattalionManteuffel,goinpeace。"
[Tempelhof,i。195。]Amanthatforcautionandslownesscouldmakenouseofhisvictory!
TheAustrianforceintheFieldthisdayiscountedtohavebeen60,000;theirlossesinkilled,woundedandmissing,8,114。
ThePrussians,whobegan34,000instrength,lost13,773;ofwhomprisoners(includingallthewounded),5,380。Theirbaggage,wehaveseen,wasnotmeddledwith:theylost45cannon,22flags,——alossnotworthadding,incomparisontothissorehavoc,forthesecondtime,intheflowerofthePrussianInfantry。[Retzow,i。
141(whosenumbersareapttobeinaccurate);Kutzen,p。144(whodependsontheCanonicalSTAFF—OFFICERAccount)。]
ThenewsreachedPragCampattwointhemorning(Sunday,19th):
tothesorrowfulamazementoftheGeneralsthere;who"stoodallsilent;onlythePrinceofPrussiabreakingoutintoloudlamentationsandaccusations,"whichevenRetzowthinksunseemly。
FriedricharrivedthatSundayevening:andtheSiegewasraised,nextday;withnexttonohindranceorinjury。WithnoneatallonthepartofDaun;whowasstillstandingamongtheheightsandswampsofPlanian,——busysinging,orshooting,universalTE—DEUM,withverygreatrollingfireandotherpomp,thatdaywhileFriedrichgatheredhisSiege—goodsandgotonmarch。
THEMARIA—THERESAORDER,NEWKNIGHTHOODFORAUSTRIA。
NotonguecanexpressthejoyoftheAustriansoverthisvictory,——
vouchsafedthem,inthismanner,byLieutenant—ColonelBenkendorfandthePowersabove。Miraculously,behold,theyarenotupontheretreattoSuchdol,atdouble—quick,andinraggedever—lengtheningline;butstandhere,keepingrankallnight,onthePlanian—KolinuplandoftheKamhayek:——behold,theyhaveactuallybeatenFriedrich;forthefirsttime,notbeenbeatenbyhim。
ClearlybeatenthatFriedrich,bysomemeansorother。Withsucharesult,too;considerit,——drawnswordwasatourthroat;
andmarvellouslynowitisturnedrounduponhis(ifDaunbealert),andwe——letusrejoicetoalllengths,andsingTE—DEUMandTE—DAUNUMwithonethroat,tilltheHeavensechoagain。
Therewasquiteahurricane,orlengthenedstorm,ofjubilationandtripudiationraisedatViennaonthisvictory:NewORDEROF
MARIATHERESA,insuitableOlympianfashion,withnoendofregulatingandinaugurating,——withDaunthefirstChiefofit;
and"PensionstoMerit"aconspicuouspartoftheplan,wearegladtosee。Itsubsiststothisday:thegrandestMilitaryOrdertheAustriansyethave。Whichthendeafenedtheworld,withitsinfinitesolemnities,patentings,discoursings,trumpetings,foragoodwhile。Aswasnatural,surely,tothathighImperialLadywiththemagnanimousheart;tothatloyalsolidAustrianPeoplewithitspudding—head。DaunisatthetopoftheTheresaOrder,andofmilitaryrenowninViennacircles;——ofLieutenant—ColonelBenkendorfIneverheardthathegottheleastpensionorrecognition;——continuedquietlyamilitaryliontodiscerningmen,fortherestofhisdays。["DiedatDresden,GeneralofCavalry,"
5thMay,1801(Rodenbeck,i。338,339)。]
Nayonce,onDauu’sTE—DEUMday,hehadakindofrecognition;——andeven,bygoodaccident,cantellusofitinhisownwords:
[Kutzen(citingsomeBIOGRAPHYofBenkendorf),p。143。]——
"Iwassentfortohead—quartersbyatrumpeter,"——Benkendorfwas,——"whenallwasreadyfortheTE—DEUM。FeldmarschallDaunwaspleasedtosayatsightofme,’ThatasIhadhadsomuchtodowiththevictory,itwasbutrightIshouldthankourHerrGottalongwithhim。’Havingnochangeofclothes,——astheservant,whowastohaveauniformandsomelinensreadyforme,hadgallopedoffduringtheFight,andourbaggagewasallgonetorearward,——
ItriedtohustleoutofsightamongthecrowdofImperialOfficersallingala:butthereigningDukeofWurtemberg[Wilhelmina’sSon—in—law,aperverseobstinateHerr,growingevermoreperverse;
oneofWilhelmina’ssadafflictionsinthesedays]calledmetohim,andsaid,’Hewouldgivehiswholewardrobe,couldhewearthatdustycoatwithsuchhonorasI!’"——yes;andtriedhard,inhisperverseway,forsomesuchthing;butnevercould,asweshallsee。
HowluckythatPolishMajestyhadsomeremainsofCavalrystillatWarsawinthePirnatime;thattheyweremadeintoaSaxonBrigade,andtakenintotheAustrianservice;BrigadeofthreeRegiments,NostitzforChief,andthisBenkendorfaLieutenant—Colonel,amongthem;——andthatPolishMajesty,thoughhimselflost,hasbeenthesavingofAustriatwicewithinoneyear!
ChapterV。
FRIEDRICHATLEITMERITZ,HISWORLDOFENEMIESCOMINGON。
OfFriedrich’snight—thoughtsatNimburg;howheslept,andwhathisdreamswere,wehavenoaccount。Seldomdidaweariedheartsinkdownintoobliviononsuchterms。Bynarrowmiss,thegamegone;andwithsuchresultsahead。Itwasarightvaliantplungethisthathemade,withallhisstrengthandallhisskill,homeupontheheartofhischiefenemy。Toquenchhischiefenemybeforeanothercameup:itwasavaliantplan,andvaliantlyexecuted;
andithasfailed。TodictatepeacefromthewallsofVienna:
thatlayonthecardsforhimthismorning;andatnight——?
Kolinislost,thefruitofPragVictorytooislost;andSchwerinandnewtensofthousands,unreplaceableforworthinthisworld,arelost;muchislost!Courage,yourMajesty,allisnotlost,younot,andhonornot。
TotheyoungGrafvonAnhalt,ontheroadtoNimburg,heisrecordedtohavesaid,"Don’tyouknow,then,thateverymanmusthavehisreverses(MAISNESAVEZ—VOUSDONCPASQUECHAQUEHOMME
DOITAVOIRSESREVERS)?ItappearsIamtohavemine。"[Rodenbeck,i。309。]Andmorevaguely,intheAnecdote—Books,ismentionofsomestanchruggedlypiousoldDragoon,whobrought,inhissteelcap,fromsomefine—flowingwellhehaddiscovered,adraughtofpurewatertotheKing;oldMotherEarth’sowngift,throughherruggedDragoon,exquisiterefectiontothethirstyweariedsoul;
andspoke,inhisDragoondialect,——"Nevermind,yourMajesty!
DERALLMACHTIGEandwe;Itshallbemendedyet。’TheKaiserinmaygetavictoryforonce;butdoesthatsendustotheDevil(DAVON
HOLTUNSDERTEUFEL—NICHT)!’"——wordsofroughcomfort,whichwerewelltaken。
Nextmorning,severalBooks,andmanyDrawingsandSculpturesofadimunsuccessfulnature,giveusviewofhim,atKimburg;
sittingsilent"onaBRUNNEN—ROHR"(FountainApparatus,waste—pipeorfeeding—pipe,toohighforconvenientsitting):heisstoopingforwardthere,hiseyesfixedontheground,andisscratchingfiguresinthesandwithhisstick,asthebrokentroopsreassembleroundhim。Archenholtzsays:"HesurveyedwithspeechlessfeelingthesmallremnantofhisLife—guardofFoot,favoriteFirstBattalion;1,000strongyesterdaymorning,hardly400now;"——gonetheothers,inthatfuriousAnti—Stampachoutburstwhichendedtheday’swork!"AllsoldiersofthischosenBattalionwerepersonallyknowntohim;theirnames,theirage,nativeplace,theirhistory[thepickofhisRuppinregimentwasthebasisofit]:inoneday,Deathhadmowedthemdown;theyhadfoughtlikeheroes,anditwasforhimthattheyhaddied。Hiseyeswerevisiblywet,downhisfacerolledsilenttears。"[Archenholtz,i。104,101;Kutzen,pp。259,138;Retzow,i。142。]
InpublicIneversawothertearsfromthisKing,——thoughinprivateIdonotwarranthim;hissensibilities,littleasyouwouldthinkit,beingverylivelyandintense。"Towork,however!"
ThisKingcanshakeawaysuchthings;andisnotgivenovermuchtoretrospectionontheunalterablePast。"Likedewdropsfromthelion’smane"(asisfigurativelysaid);thelionswiftlyrampantagain!Therewasmanifoldswiftordering,consideringanddetermining,atNimburg,thatday;andtowardsnightFriedrichshotrapidlyintoHead—quartersatPrag,where,byorder,thereis,asthefirstthingofall,averyrapidbusinessgoingon,wellforwardbythetimehearrives。
Tofoldone’sSiege—gearandArmyneatlytogetherfromthoseTwoHill—tops,andmarchawaywiththemsafe,insightofsomanyenemies:thishastobethefirstandrapidestthing;ifthisbefoundpossible,asonecalculatesitmay。Afterwhich,theworldofenemies,heldintheslipsolong,willrushinfromallthefourwinds,——unknownwhitherward;onemustwaittoseewhitherwardandhow。
Friedrich’sHistoryfortheremainingsixmonthsofthisYearfalls,accordingly,intothreeSections。SectionFIRST:Waitinghowandtowardswhatobjectshisenemies,theAustriansfirstofall,willadvance;——thislastsforaboutamonth;FriedrichwaitingmainlyatLeitmeritz,onguardtherebothofSaxonyandofSilesia,tillthisslowlydeclareitself。Slowly,perhapsalmoststupidly,butbynomeanssatisfactorilytoFriedrich,aswillbeseen!
Afterwhich,SectionSECONDofhisHistorylastsabovetwomonths;
Friedrich’senemiesbeingallgottotheground,andunitedinhopeandresolutiontooverwhelmandabolishhim;buttheirplans,positions,operationssoextremelyvariousthat,foralongtime(endofAugusttobeginningofNovember),Friedrichcannottellwhattodowiththem;andhastoscatterhimselfintothinthreads,androamabout,chieflyinThuringenandtheWestofSaxony,seekingsomethingtofightwith,andfindingnothing;gettingmoreandmoreimpatientofsuchpaltrymisery;attimesnighdesperate;
andhabituallydriftingondesperationasonaleeshoreinthenight,despiteallhisefforts。Till,inSectionTHIRD,whichgoesfromNovember5th,throughDecember5th,andintotheNewYear,hedoesfindwhattodo;anddoesit,——inaforevermemorableway。
ThreeSections;ofwhichthereadershallsuccessivelyhavesomeidea,ifheexerthimself;thoughitisonlyinsnatches,suggestivetoanactivefancy,thatwecanpromisetodwellonthem,especiallyontheFirstTwo,whichlieprettymuchunsurveyableinthosechaoticrecords,likeaworld—widecoilofthrums。Letusbeswift,inFriedrich’sownmanner;andtrytodisimprisonthesmallportionsofessential!Here,partlyfromEye—witnesses,aresomeNotesinregardtoSectionFirst:
[Westphalen,GeschichtederFeldzugedesHerzogsFerdinand(andaPrivateJournalofW。’sthere),ii。13—19;
Retzow;&c。]——
"SUNDAY,19thJUNE,At2A。M。,MajorGrantarrivesatPrag[musthavestartedinstantlyafterthatof"Wetwocannottakethebattery,yourMajesty!"]——goestoPrinceFerdinandofBrunswick,interimCommanderontheZiscaberg,withorderToraiseSiege。
Consternationonthepartofsome;worse,onthePrinceofPrussia’spart;theotherskeptsilenceatleast,——andsetinstantlytowork。OnbothHills,thecannonsareremoved(acrossMoldautheZisca—Hillones),batteriesdestroyed,Siege—gearneatlygatheredup,togoinwagonstoLeitmeritz,thencebyboattoDresden;allthisliesreadydone,thedangerouspartofitdone,whenFriedricharrives。
"MONDAY,20th,beforesunrise,Siegeraised。AtthreeinthemorningFriedrichmarchesfromtheZiscaberg;toeastwardhe,toAlt—Bunzlau,thencetoAh—Lissa,"——Nimburgway,withwhatobjectsweshallsee。"MarshalKeith’sfineperformance。Keith,fromtheWeissenberg,doesnotmarch,suchpackingandloadingstill;
allthebaggagesandartilleriesbeingwithKeith。NottillfourintheafternoondidKeithmarch;butbeautifullythen;andfoldedhimselfaway,——rear—guardunderSchmettau’retreatingcheckerwise,’
nothingbutTolpatcheriesattemptingonhim,——westward,Budin—ward,withoutlossofalinstock,nottospeakofguns。VeryprettilydoneonthepartofKeith。ByBudin,toLeitmeritz,he;wheretheKingwilljoinhimshortly。"
Friedrich’serrandinAlt—Lissa,eastward,whileKeithwentwestward,was,Tobewithinduearm’s—lengthoftheMoritz—Bevern,orbeatenKolinArmy,whichiscomingupthatway;intendingtotakepost,anddoitsbest,inthoseparts,withZittauMagazineandtheLausitztorearofit。OneofourEye—witnesses,aHerrWestphalen,FerdinandofBrunswick’sSecretary,——who,withhisChief,gotintowiderfieldsbeforelong,——yieldstheseadditionalparticularsfacetoface:——
"TUESDAY,21stJUNE,1757。King’sHead—quartersinLissaorneighborhoodtillFridaynext;whichiscentralforboththesemovements,——Thursday,orderssevenregimentsofhorsetoreinforceKeith。Nosymptomyetofpursuitanywhere。
"FRIDAY,24th。PrinceMoritzwiththeKolinArmymadeappearance,allsafe,andistocommandhere;KingintendingforKeith。
Afterdinner,andthedueinterchangeofbattalionstothatend,Kingsetsoff,withPrinceHenri,towardsKeith;Head—quarterinAlt—Bunzlauagain。SATURDAYNIGHT,atMelnick;SUNDAY,Gastorf:
MONDAYNIGHT,27thJUNE,Leitmeritz;KinglodgesintheCathedralClose,insightofKeith,whoisontheoppositesideofElbe,——butthetownhasaBridgeforto—morrow。’Neverwasaquietermarch;
nottheshadowofaPandourvisible。TheDuke[Ferdinand,myChief,Chatham’sjewelthatistobe,andprecioustoEngland]hassufferedmuchfroma’——infact,fromaCOURSDEVENTRE,temporarybowel—derangement,whichwasverytroublesome,owingtotheexcessiveheatsbyday,andcoldnessofthenights。
"TUESDAY,28th。JunctionwithKeith,——Bridgerightlysecured,duepartyofdragoonsandfootleftontherightbank,tooccupyaheightwhichcoversLeitmeritz。’ClearingofthePascopol’(thatis,sweepingthePandoursoutofit)isthefirstbusiness;
ColonelLoudonwithhisPandours,amostswiftsharpcuttingman,beingnowhereinthoseparts;doingadealofmischief。Threedaysago,Saturday,25th,Keithhadsentsevenbattalions,withthepropersteel—besoms,onthatPascopolaffair;Tuesday,onjunction,Majestysendsthreemore:jobdoneonWednesday;reported’done,’——
thoughIshouldnotbesurprised,"saysWestphalen,"ifsomelittlehighwayrobberystillwentonamongtheMountainsupthere。"
No;——andbeforequittinghold,whatisthisthatLoudon(ontheverydayoftheKing’sarrival,June27th),ontheoldFieldofLobositzoveryonder,hasmanagedtodo!GeneralMannstein,woundedatKolin,happened,withothersinlikecase,tobepassingthatway,towardsDresdenandbettersurgery,——whenLoudon’sCroatssetuponthem,scatteringtheirslightescort:"Quarter,onsurrender!
Prisoners?""Never!"answeredMannstein;"Never!"thattooimpetuousman,startingoutfromhiscarriage,andsnatchingamusket:andwasinstantlycutdownthere。Andsoends;——amanofstronghead,andofheartonlytoostrong。[Preuss,ii。58;
Militair—Lexikon,iii。10。]
FromPragonwards,herehasbeenadelicatesetofoperations;
perfectlyexecuted,——thankstoFriedrich’srapidityofshift,andalsotothecautiousslowlypuzzlingmindofDaun。HadDaunusedanydiligence,hadDaunandPrinceKarlbeenbroadawake,togetherorevensingly!ButFriedrichguessedtheyseldomorneverwere;
thattheywouldspendsomedaysinpuzzling;andthat,withdespatch,hewouldhavetimeforeverything。Daun,wecouldobserve,stoodsingingTE—DEUM,greatlyatleisure,inhisoldCamp,20thJune,whileFriedrich,fromthefirstgrayofmorning,anddiligentlyalldaylong,waswithdrawingfromthetrenchesofPrag,——Friedrich’speople,selfandgoodsgettingfoldedoutinthefinestgradation,andwithperfectsuccess;noDauntohinderhim,——DaunleisurelydoingTE—DEUM,fortymilesoff,helpingontheWRONGsidebythatexertion![Cogniazzo,ii。367。]——"PoorBrowne,heisdeadofhiswounds,inPragyonder,"writesWestphalen,inhisLeitmeritzJournal,"newscametousJuly1st:mensaid,’Ah,thatwaswhytheylayasleep。’"
TillJune26th,DaunandKarlhadnotunited;nor,exceptsendingoutLoudonandCroats,doneanything,eitherofthem。Sunday,June26th,atPodschernitzontheoldFieldofPrag,aweekandadayafterKolin,theydidgettogether;stillseeminglyalittlepuzzled,"ShallwefollowtheKing?ShallwefollowMoritzandBevern?"——nothingclearforsometime,excepttosendoutPandourpartiesuponboth。Moritz,sincepartingwiththeKinginAlt—
Bunzlauneighborhood,hasgonenorthwardsomemarches,thirtymilesorso,toJUNG—Bunzlau,——meetingofIserandElbe,surelyagoodposition:——Moritz,onreceiptofthesePandourallowancesofhis,writestotheKing,"ShallweretreatonZittau,then,yourMajesty?StraightuponZittau?"FancyFriedrich’sastonishment;——
whowellintendstoeattheCountryfirst,perhapstofightiftherebechance,andatleasttolieOUTSIDEthedoorsofSilesiaandtheLausitz,aswellasofSaxonyhere!——andanswers,withhisownhand,ontheinstant:"YourDilectionwillnotbesomad!"