andwithoutwaitingsignalorfartherorders,everyinstantbeingprecious,rapidlyformshimself;andplungesdownonthesepoorpeople。"Compactasawall,andwithanincrediblevelocity(D’UNE
VITESSEINCROYABLE),"saysoneofthem。FiguretheastonishmentofDauphiness;ofpoorBroglio,whocommandsthehorsehere。Takeninflank,insteadoftakingotherpeople;intercepted,notintheleastneedingtointercept!Hasnotimetoform,thoughhetriedwhathecould。OnlythetwoAustrianregimentsgotcompletelyformed;therestveryincompletely;andSeidlitz,intheblazeofrapidsteel,isinuponthem。ThetwoAustrianregiments,andtwoFrenchthatarenamed,madewhatdebatewasfeasible;——couragenowisewanting,insuchsadwantofcaptaincy;naySoubiseinpersongallopedintoit,ifthatcouldhavehelped。Butfromthefirst,thematterwashopeless;Seidlitzslashingitatsucharate,andplungingthroughitandagainthroughit,thrice,somesayfourtimes:sothat,inthespaceofhalfanhour,thislucklesscavalrywasalltumblingofftheground;plungingdown—
hill,infullflight,acrossitsowninfantryorwhateverobstacle,Seidlitzonthehipsofit;andgallopingmadlyoverthehorizon,towardsFreiburgasitproved;andwasnotagainheardofthatday。
Inabouthalfanhourthatbitofworkwasover;andSeidlitz,withhisrankstrimmedagain,haddrawnhimselfsouthwardalittle,intotheHollowofTageswerben,theretowaitimpendingphenomena。
ForFriedrichwiththeInfantryisnowemergingoverJanusHill,inahighlythunderousmanner,——eighteenpiecesofartillerygoing,and"fourbiggunstakenfromthewallsofLeipzig;"andtherewillbeeventsanon。Itissaid,Hildburghausen,atthefirstglimpseofFriedrichoverthehill—top,whisperedtoSoubise,"Wearelost,RoyalHighness!"——"Courage!"Soubisewouldanswer;andboth,letushope,didtheirutmostinthisextremelybadpredicamenttheyhadgotinto。
Friedrich’sartillerygoesatamurderousrate;hadcomeinview,overthehill—top,beforeSeidlitzended,——"nothingbut,themuzzlesofitvisible"(andthefire—torrentsfromit)touspoorFrenchbelow。Friedrich’slines;orratherhisoneline,meretipofhisleftwing,——onlysevenbattalionsinit,fiveofthemunderKeithfromthesecondorreserveline;wholecentreandrightwingstanding"refused"inobliquerank,invisible,BEHINDtheHill,——
Friedrich’sline,wesay,theartillerytoitsright,shootsoutinmysteriousPrussianrhythm,inechelons,inpotences,obliquelydowntheJanus—Hillside;straight,rigid,regularasironclock—
work;andstridestowardsus,silent,withthelightningsleepinginit:——FriedrichhasgottheflankofDauphiness,andmeanstokeepit。Onceandagainandathirdtime,poorSoubise,withhispoorregimentsmuchinanimbroglio,hereheapedononeanother,therewithwidegaps,haltbeingsosudden,——attemptstorecovertheflank,andpushesoutthisregimentandtheother,rightward,tobeevenwithFriedrich。Butseeswithdespairthatitcannotbe;
thatFriedrichwithhisechelons,potencesandmysteriousPrussianresources,pullshimselfoutlikethepiecesofaprospect—glass,pieceafterpiece,hopelesslyfastandseeminglynoendtothem;
andthattheflankislost,andthat——UnhappyGeneralsofDauphiness,whataphenomenonforthem!AterribleFriedrich,notfledtoMerseburgatall;butmountedthereontheJanusHill,asonhissaddle—horse,withfacequitetheotherway;——andforholster—pistol,haspluckedouttwenty—twocannon。Cladverilyinfire;Chimera—like,RIDINGtheJanusHill,inthatmanner;leftleg(orwing)ofhimspurningusintotheabysses,rightonereadytohelpatdiscretion!
Hildburghausen,Iwillhope,doeshisutmost;Soubise,Broglio,forcertaindo。TheFrenchlineisinfront,nextthePrussians:
poorGeneralsofDauphinessarepantingtoretrievethemselves。
Butwithregimentsjammedinthisastonishingway,andgotcollectivelyintothelion’sthroat,whatcanbedone?
Steady,rigidasironclock—work,thePrussianlinestridesforward;atfortypaces’distancedeliversitsfirstshockoflightning,burstsintoplatoonfire;andsocontinues,steadyattherateoffiveshotsaminute,——hardtoendurebypoormassesallinacoil。"Theartillerytoredownwholeranksofus,"saystheWutenbergDragoon;[HisLetterinMULLER,p。83。]"thePrussianmusketrydidterribleexecution。"
Thingsbegan%owaververysoon,FrenchreelingbackfromthePrussianfire,Reichstroopsrockingveryuneasy,tornbysuchartillery;when,tocrownthematter,Seidlitz,seeingallthingsrocktothedueextent,burstsoutofTageswerbenHollow,terriblycompactandfurious,upontherearofthem。Whichsetsallthingsintoinextricabletumble;andtheBattleisbecomearoutandaridingintoruin,noBattleevermore。Lastedtwenty—fiveminutes,thissecondactofit,ortillhalf—pastfour:afterwhich,thecurtainsrapidlydescending(Night’scurtain,weretherenoother)
covertheremainder;theonlystage—direction,EXEUNTOMNES。
Whichfora50or60,000,riddenoverbySeidlitzHorse,wasnotquiteaneasymatter!Theyleft,ofkilledandwounded,near3,000;
ofprisoners,5,000(Generalsamongthem8,Officers300):insum,about8,000;nottomentioncannon,67or72;withstandards,flags,kettle—drumsandmeanerbaggagesADLIBITUMinamanner。
ThePrussianlosswas,165killed,376wounded;——betweenasixteenthandafifteenthpartoftheirs:innumberthePrussianshadbeenlittlemorethanonetothree;22,000ofallarms,——notabovehalfofwhomevercameintothefire;Seidlitzandsevenbattalionsdoingallthefightingthatwasneeded,St。Germaintriedtocovertheretreat;but"gotbroken,"hesays,——Mayerburstinginonhim,——andsoonwenttoslushliketheothers。
Seldom,almostnever,notevenatCrecyorPoictiers,wasanyArmybetterbeaten。Andtruly,wemustsay,seldomdidanybetterdeserveit,sofarastheChiefPartieswent。Yes,Messieurs,thisisthePETITMARQUISDEBRANDEBOURG;youwillknowthisone,whenyoumeethimagain!Theflight,theFrenchpartofit,wastowardsFreiburgBridge;infullgallop,longafterthechasehadceased;
crossingoftheUnstrutthere,hoarse,many—voiced,allnight;
burningoftheBridge;foundburnt,whenFriedricharrivednextmorning。HehadencampedatObschutz,shortwayfromthefielditself。FrenchArmy,ReichsArmy,allwasgonetostaves,toutterchaoticwreck。HildburghausenwentbyNaumburg;crossedtheSaalethere;benthomewardsthroughtheWeimarCountry;onewildfloodofruin,swiftasitcouldgo;atErfurt"onlyoneregimentwasinrank,andmarchedthroughwithdrumsbeating。"HisArmy,whichhadbeendisgustinglyunhappyfromthefirst,andwasnowfallenfluidonthesemadterms,flowedallawayindifferentrills,eachbythecoursestraightesthome;andHildburghausenarrivingatBamberg,withhardlytheghostormutilatedskeletonofanArmy,flungdownhistruncheon,——"AmurrainonyourReichsArmiesandregimentalchaoses!"——andwentindignantlyhome。ReichsArmyhadtobeginatthebeginningagain;anddidnotreappearonthescenetilllatenextYear,underanewCommander,andwithslightlyimprovedconditions。
DauphinessProperwasinnobettercase;andwouldhaveflowedhomeinlikemanner,hadnothomebeensofar,andthewayunknown。
TwelvethousandofthemrushedstragglingthroughtheEichsfeld;
plunderingandharrying,likeCossacksorCalmucks:"Armyblownasunder,overacircleoffortymiles’radius,"writesSt。Germain:
"hadtheEnemypursuedus,afterIgotbroken[burstinuponbyMayerandhisFree—Corpspeople]wehadbeenannihilated。
NeverdidArmybehaveworse;thefirstcannon—salvodecidedourroutandourshame。"[St。GermaintoVerney:differentExcerptsofLettersinthetwoweeksafterRossbachandbefore(giveninPreuss,ii。97)。]
Intwodays’time(November7th),theFrenchhadgottoLangensalza,fifty—fivemilesfromtheBattle—fieldofRossbach;
plundering,running,SACRE—DIEU—ing;awilddelugeofmoltenwreck,fillingtheEichsfeldwithitswastenoises,makingnighthideousanddaytoo;——inthevillagesPlacardswerestuckup,appointingNordhausenandHeiligenstadtforrallyingplace。[Muller,p。73。]
Soubiserode,withfewattendants,allnighttowardsNordhausen,——
eightymilesoff,footoftheBrackenCountry,wheretheRichelieuresourcesare;——Soubisewithfewattendants,facesettowardstheBrocken;himself,itislike,inasomewhathag—riddencondition。
"ThejoyofpoorTeutschlandatlarge,"saysoneofmyNotes,"andhowallGermans,PrussianandAnti—Prussianalike,flunguptheircaps,withunanimousLEBE—HOCH,atthenewsofRossbach,hasoftenbeenremarked;andindeedisstillalmosttouchingtosee。
TheperhapsbravestNationintheworld,thoughtheleastbraggart,verycertainlyEINTAPFERESVOLK(astheirGoethecallsthem);
solonginsulted,snubbedandtrampledon,byaluckier,notabraver:——hasnotyourexultantDauphinessgotabeautifullittledoseadministeredher;andisgoneoffinfoulshrieks,andpangsoftheinterior,——letnomanaskwhitherward!’SIUNALLEMANDPEUT
AVOIRDEL’ESPRIT(CanaGermanpossiblyhavesharpnessofwits)?’
Well,yes,itwouldseem:hereisoneGermangraduatewhounderstandshismedicine—chest,andthequalityofpatients!——
Dauphinessgotnopityanywhere;plentyofepigrams,andmostlynothingbutlaughtereveninParisitself。Napoleonlongafter,whomuchadmiresFriedrich,findsthatthisVictoryofRossbachwasinevitable;’butwhatfillsmewithastonishmentandshame,’addshe,’isthatitwasgainedbysixbattalionsandthirtysquadrons[sevenproperly,andthirty—eight]oversuchamultitude!’
[Montholon,MEMOIRES&C。DENAPOLEON(Napoleon’sPrecisdesGuerresdeFrredericII。,vii。210)。]——Itiswellknown,Napoleon,afterJena,asifJenahadnotbeenenoughforhim,toredownthefirstMonumentofRossbach,somepoorashlarPyramidorPillar,raisedbytheneighborhood,withnothingmoreafflictiveinscribedonitthanadate;andsentitoffincartsforParis(wherenostoneofiteverarrived,theThuringencarmenslinkingoff,andleavingitscatteredindifferentplacesoverthefaceofThuringeningeneral);sothattheyhadthetroubleofanewonelately。"[Rodenbeck,Beitrage,i。
299;ib。p。385,LithographofthepoorextinctMonumentitself。]
FromFriedrichthe"ArmyoftheCircles,"thatis,DauphinessandCompany,——calledHOOPERSor"Coopers"(TONNELIERS),withadesperateattemptatwitbypun,——gettheirAdieuinwordswithal。
ThisisthefamedCONGEDEL’ARMEEDESCERCLESETDESTONNELIERS;
ashortmetricalPiece;calledbyEditorsthemostprofane,mostindecent,most&c。;andprintedwithasteriskveilsthrownovertheworstpassages。Whoshalldare,searchingandrummagingforinsightintoFriedrich,andcomplainingthatthereisnone,toliftanyportionoftheveil;andsay,"See——Faugh!"Thecynicism,truly,butalsotheirrepressiblehonestexultation,hasakindofepiccompleteness,andfulnessofsincerity;and,atbottom,thethingisnothinglikesowickedascarelesscommentatorshavegivenout。
Daretolookalittle:—
"ADIEU,GRANDSERASEURSDEROIS,"soitstarts:"Adieu,grandcrushersofKings;arrogantwind—bags,Turpin,Broglio,Soubise,——
Hildburghausenwiththegraybeard,foolishstillaswhenyourbeardwasblackintheTurk—Wartime:——briskjourneytoyouall!"
Thatisthefirststanza;unexceptionable,hadweroom。Thesecondstanzais,——withtheveilspartiallylifted;withprobably"MOISE"
putintothefirstblank,andintothethirdsomethingoforbelongingto"CESAR,"——
"Jevowsaivucomme……
DansdesroncesencertainlieuEutl’honneurdevoir……
OucommeaugredesaluxureLebonNicomedeal’ecartAiguillonnaitsaflammeimpureDes……"
Enoughtosay,theAuthor,withawildburstofspiritualenthusiasm,singsthecharmsoftherearwardpartofcertainmen;
andwhataroyalecstaticfelicitytheresometimesisinindisputablesurveyofthesame。HerisestotheheightsofAnti—
Biblicalprofanity,quotingMosesontheHillofVision;sinkstothebottomlessofhumanorultra—humandepravity,quotingKingNicomedes’sexperiencesonCaesar(happilyknownonlytothelearned);and,inbrief,recognizesthatthereis,onoccasion,considerablebeautyinthatquarterofthehumanfigure,whenitturnsonyouopportunely。Amostcynicalprofaneaffair:yet,wemustsaybywayofparenthesis,onewhichgivesnocountenancetoVoltaire’satrocitiesofrumoraboutFriedrichhimselfinthismatter;thereverserather,ifwellread;beingaltogethertheoretic,scientific;singswithgustotheglowofbeautyyoufindinthatunexpectedquarter,——whileKICKINGitdeservedlyandwithenthusiasm。"Toseethe"——whatshallwecallit:seatofhonor,infact,"ofyourenemy:"hasitnotanundeniablecharm?"Iowntoyouinconfidence,OSoubiseandCompany,thisfinelaurelIhavegot,andwassoinneedof,isnothingmoreorotherthanthesightofyour"——FOURASTERISKS。"Obligeme,wheneverclandestineFatebringsustogether,byshowingmethat"——alwaysthat,ifyouwouldgivemepleasurewhenwemeet。"Andoh,"nextstanzasays,"tothinkwhatourgloryisfoundedon,"——onviewofthatunmentionableobject,Ideclaretoyou!——Andthroughotherstanzas,gettingsmuttyenough(thoughintheoryonly),whichweneednotprosecutefarther。[OEuvresdeFrederic,xii。70—73
(WRITTENatFreiburg,6thNovember,whenhisMajestygotthither,andfoundtheBridgeburnt)。]Acertainheartinessandepicgreatnessofcynicism,life’snakednessgrownalmostasifinnocentagain;animmensesuppressedinsuppressibleHaha,onthepartofthisKing。StrangeTE—DEUMindeed。Comingfromtheveryheart,truly,asfewofthemdo;butnot,inotherpoints,recommendableatall!——Here,ofthenightbefore,issomethingbetter:——
TOWILHELMINA。
"NEARWEISSENFELS[OBSCHUTZ,infact;doesnotknowyetwhattheBattlewillbeCALLED],5thNovember,1757。
"Atlast,mydearSister,Icanannounceyouabitofgoodnews。
YouweredoubtlessawarethattheCooperswiththeircircleshadamindtotakeLeipzig。Iranup,andhovethembeyondSaale。TheDucdeRichelieusentthemareinforcementoftwentybattalionsandfourteensquadrons[say15,000horseandfoot];theythencalledthemselves63,000strong。YesterdayIwenttoreconnoitrethem;
couldnotattackthemintheposttheyheld。Thishadrenderedthemrash。Todaytheycameoutwiththeintentionofattackingme;butI
tookthestartofthem(LESAIPREVENU)。ItwasaBattleENDOUCEUR
(softtoone’swish)。ThankstoGodIhavenotahundredmenkilled;theonlyGeneralillwoundedisMeinecke。MyBrotherHenriandGeneralSeidlitzhaveslighthurts[gun—shots,notsoslight,thatofSeidlitz]inthearm。WehavealltheEnemy’scannon,allthe……IaminfullmarchtodrivethemovertheUnstrut[alreadydriven,yourMajesty;bridgeburning]。
"You,mydearSister,mygood,mydivineandaffectionateSister[faithfultothebone,ingoodtruth,poorWilhelmina],whodeigntointerestyourselfinthefateofaBrotherwhoadoresyou,deignalsotoshareinmyjoy。TheinstantIhavetime,Iwilltellyoumore。Iembraceyouwithmywholeheart;Adieu。F。"
[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvii。i。310。]
ULTERIORFATEOFDAUPHINESS;FLIESOVERTHERHINEINBADFASHION:
DAUPHINESS’SWAYSWITHTHESAXONPOPULATIONINHERDELIVERANCE—WORK。
FriedrichhadnomorefightingwiththeFrench。November9th,atMerseburg,inallstillness,DukeFerdinandgothisBritannicCommission,hisfullPowers,fromFriedrichandthepartiesinterested;inallstillnessmadehisarrangements,asifforMagdeburgandhisGovernorshipthere,——FriedrichhasteningoffforSilesiathewhile。DukeFerdinanddidstaysixdaysinMagdeburg,inspectingorpretendingtoinspect;verypleasantwithhisSisterandtheRoyaltiesthat,arenowthere;but,atmidnightofdaysixthshotoffsilentlyonwidererrand。And,insum,onThursday,24thNovember,1757,appearedinStade,onhorsebackatmorningparadethere;intimating,towhatjoyofthepoorBrunswickGrenadiersandothers,Thathewascometotakecommand;
thatKloster—Zevenisabolished;thatwearenotan"ObservationArmy,"rottinghereintheparishpound,anylonger,butan"AlliedArmy"(suchnowourtitle),intendingtostrikeforourselves,andgetoutofpoundstraightway!——
"THURSDAY,24thNOVEMBER—TUESDAY,29th。DukeFerdinanddidaccordinglypickupthereinsofthisdistractedAffair;and,inawaywonderfultosee,shotsanityintoeveryfibreofit;andkeptitsaneandroad—worthyfortheFiveYearscoming。Withasilentvelocity,anenergy,animperturbablesteadfastnessandclearinsightintocauseandeffect;whichwerecreditabletotheschoolhecamefrom;andwereaveryjoyfulsighttoPittandothersconcerned。SothatfromnextTuesday,’November29th,beforedaylight,’whenFerdinand’sbatteriesbeganplayinguponHarburg(FrenchFortressnearesttoStade),thereignoftheFrenchceasedinthoseCountries;andanastonishedRichelieuandhisFrench,lyingscatteredoveralltheWestofGermany,inreadinessfornothingbutplunder,hadtofallmoreorlessdistractedintheirturn;anddoanumberofastonishingthings。Totrythisandthat,offutile,moreorlessfranticnature;bedrivenfrompostafterpost;bedrivenacrosstheAllerfirstofall;——Richelieutogohomethereupon,andbesucceededbyonestillmoreincompetent。
"DECEMBER13th,afortnightafterFerdinand’sappearance,RichelieuhadgottothesafesideoftheAller(burningofZelleBridgeandZelleTownthere,hislastactinGermany);Ferdinand’squartersnowwideenough;andvigorousspeedofpreparationgoingonforfartherchase,weretheweathermended。FEBRUARY17th,1758,Ferdinandwasonfootagain;PrincedeClermont,thestillmoreincompetentsuccessorofRichelieu,gazingwide—eyeduponhim,butdoingnothingelse:andforthenextsixweekstherewasseenaoncetriumphantRichelieu—D’EstreesFrenchArmy,muchinrags,muchindisorder,interror,andhereandtherealmostindespair,——
wingingtheirway;likecloudsofdraggledpoultrycaughtbyamastiffinthecorn。AcrossWeser,acrossEms,finallyacrosstheRhineitself,everyfeatherofthem,——theirlong—drawncackle,ofashriekytype,fillingallNatureinthosemonths;themastiffsteadilyfollowing。[Mauvillon,i。252—284("9thNovember,1757—1stApril,1758");Westphalen,i。316—503(abundantlyexplicit,authenticandevenentertaining,——withtheampleCorrespondences,ib。ii。147—350);Schaper,ViemilitaireduMarechalPrinceFerdinand(2tomes,8vo,Magdebourg,1796,1799),i。7—100(acarefulBook;ofanofficialexactitude,likeWestphalen’s,——andappearstobeleftincompletelikehis)。]TotheastonishmentofPittandmankind。CanthisbethesameArmythatRoyalHighnessledtotheSeaandtheParishPound?Thesameidentically,wastedtoabouttwo—thirdsbyRoyalHighness;notadruminitchangedotherwise,onlyOneMandifferent,——andheistheimportantone!
"Pitt,whenthenewsofRossbachcame,awakeningthebonfiresandsteeple—bellsofEnglandtosuchapitch,hadresolvedonanemphaticmeasure:thatofsendingEnglishTroopstoreinforceourAlliedArmy,anditsnewGeneral;——suchanAllyasthatRossbachonebeingrareintheeyesofPitt。’PostponethemeetingofParliament,yetafewdays,yourMajesty,’saidPitt,’tillIgettheestimatesready!’[Thackeray,i。310。]TowhichMajestyassented,andallEnglandwithhim:’England’sownCause,’thinksPitt,withconfidence:’ourwayofConqueringAmerica,——and,inthecircumstances,ouroneway!’Englishdidland,accordingly;firstinstalmentofthem,a12,000(inAugustnext),increasedgraduallyto20,000;withnoendoffurnishingstothemandeverybody;
withresultsagainsatisfactorytoPitt;andveryfamousintheEnglandthatthenwas,dimastheyarenowgrown。"
Theeffectofallwhichwas,thatPitt,withhisFerdinandsandreinforcements,foundworkfortheFrencheveronwardsfromRossbach;FrenchalsoturningasifexclusivelyuponperfidiousAlbion:andthethingbecame,inTeutschland,aselsewhere,adueloflifeanddeathbetweenthesenaturalenemies,——Teutschlandthecentreofit,——TeutschlandandtheaccessibleFrenchSea—Towns,——
butthecircumferenceofitgoingroundfromManillaandMadrastoHavanaandQuebecagain。Wide—spreadfuriousduel;prize,Americaandlife。Bylandandsea;handsomelydonebyPittonbothelements。Landpart,wesay,wasalwaysmainlyinGermany,underFerdinand,——inHessenandtheWestphalianCountries,asfarwestasMinden,asfareastasFrankfurt—on—Mayn,generallywellnorthofRhine,wellsouthofElbe:thatwas,forfiveyearscoming,thecockpitorplaceofdeadlyfencebetweenFranceandEngland。
Friedrich’sarenalieseastwardofthat,occasionallyplayingintoitalittle,andplayedintobyit,andalwaysinlivelysympathyandconsultationwithit:but,excepttheFrenchsubsidizings,diplomatizings。andgreatdiligenaeagainsthiminforeignCourts,Friedrichis,inpracticalrespects,freeoftheFrench;andeverafterRossbach,FerdinandandtheEnglishkeeptheminfullwork,——
growingyearlytoofull。AheavyBusinessforEnglandandFerdinand;whichishappilykeptextraneoustoFriedrichthenceforth;tohimandus;whichisnotonthestageofhisaffairsandours,butistobeconceivedalwaysasvigorouslyproceedingalongsideofit,closebeyondthescenes,andliableatanytimetomaketragicentryonhimagain:——ofwhichweshallhavetonoticethelouderoccurrencesandcardinalphases,but,forthefuture,nothingmore。
Soubise,whohadcreptintotheskirtsoftheRichelieuArmyinHanoverorHessenCountry,hadofcoursetotakewinginthatgeneralfrightbeforethemastiff。SoubisedidnotcrosstheRhinewithit;Soubisemadeoffeastward;[Westphalen,i。501("endofMarch,1758"]。]——foundnewroostinHanau—FrankfurtCountry;
andhadthoughtsofjoiningtheAustriansinBohemianextCampaign;
butgotneworder,——suchthepinchesofawingedClermontwithamastiffFerdinandathispoordraggledtail;——andcamebacktotheFerdinandscene,tohelpthere;andneversawFriedrichagain。
BothBroglioandhehadagooddealoffighting(mostlybeating)
fromFerdinand;andagreatdealoftroubleandsorrowinthecourseofthisWar;butafterRossbachitisnotFriedrichorwe,itisFerdinandandtheDestiniesthathavetodowiththem。
PoorSoubise,exceptthathewasthecreatureofGeneralissimaPompadour,whichhadsomethingradicallyabsurdinit,didnotdeserveallthelaughterhegot:amanofsomechivalry,somequalities。AsforBroglio,Irememberalways,notwithouthumanemotion,thetwoextremepointsofhiscareerasasoldier:
RossbachandtheFalloftheBastille。Hewastowardsforty,whenFriedrichbestrodetheJanusHillinthatfierymanner;
hewasturnedofseventywhen,fromthepavementsofParis,theChimeraofDemocracyroseonhim,infireofastillmorehorribledescription。
Dauphiness—Bellona,inherspecialandinherwidestsense,hasmadeexit,then。Gone,likecloudsofdraggledpoultryhomeacrosstheRhine。ShewasthemostmaraudingArmylatelyseen,alsothemostgasconading,andhadtheleastcapacityforfighting:
threeworsequalitiesnoarmycouldhave。Howshefought,wehaveseensufficiently。Beforetakingleaveofherforever,readers,assheisaparagoninherkind,wouldperhapstakeaglanceortwoathermaraudingqualities,——byagoodopportunitythatoffers。
PlothoatRegensburg,thatasupremeReichsDietmayknowwhata"deliveranceofSaxony"thishasbeen,submitsonedaythefollowingirrefragableDocuments,"whichhavehappened,"notwithoutgoodindustryofmyown,"tofallintomy[Plotho’s]
hands。"TheyareDocumentspartlyofepistolary,partlyofaPetitionaryform,presentedtoPolishMajesty,outofthatSaxonCountry;andhaveanAFFIDAVITqualityaboutthem,oneandall。
1。BIGDAUPHINESS(thatis,D’Estrees)INTHEWESELCOUNTRIES,AT
ANEARLYSTAGE,——WHILESTILLENDEAVORINGWHATSHECOULDTOBEHAVE
WELL,HANGING1,000MARAUDERSANDTHELIKE(AprivateLetter):——
"COUNTYMARK,20thJUNE,1757。TheFrenchtroopsaregoingonhereinawaytoutterlyruinus。Schmidt,theirPresidentofJustice,whomtheysetupinCleve,hasgotorderstochangealltheMagistraciesoftheCountry[Protestantbynature],soasthathalfthemembersshallbeCatholic。BielefeldwasopenlyplunderedbytheFrenchforthreehourslong。YoucannotbypossibilityrepresenttoyourselfwhattheactualstateofmiseryintheseCountriesis。ASCHEFFELofryecoststhreethalerssixteengroschen[whoknowshowmanytimesitsnaturalprice!]。AndnowwearetobeforcedtoeatthespoiledmealthoseFrenchtroopsbroughtwiththem;whichisgonetosuchastatenoanimalwouldhaveit。Thispoisonedmealwearetobuyfromthem,readymoney,atthepricetheyfix;andthatfaminemayinduceus,theyareabouttostopthemills,andforciblytakeawaywhatlittlebread—
cornwehaveleft。Godhavepityonus,anddeliverussoon!
Nextweekwearetohaveatransitof6,000Pfalzers[Kur—Pfalz,foolishidlefellow,andKur—Baierntoo,arebothinsubsidyofFrance,asusual;6,000Pfalzersjustduehere];these,Isuppose,willsweepuscleanbare。"[Helden—Geschichte,iv。399。]:
WeselFortress,GateoftheRhine,couldnotbedefendedbyFriedrich:andtheHanoverIncapables,andEnglandstillallinSt。Vitus,wouldnothearofundertakingit;leftitwideopenfortheFrench;nevercouldrecoverit,orgettheRhine—Gatebarredagain,duringthewholeWar。Onehopestheyrepented;——butperhapsitwasonlyPittandDukeFerdinandthatdidso,instead!TheWeselCountrieswereatonceoccupiedbytheFrench;"aconquestofherImperialMajesty’s;"continuedtobeadministeredinImperialMajesty’sname,——andarethrivingasabove。
2。DAUPHINESSPROPER(thatis,Soubise)INTHURINGEN,ATALATESTAGE:——
"LETTERFROMFREIBURG,SHORTLYAFTERROSSBACH。——Itwasonthe23dOctober,aSunday,thatweofFreiburghadourfirstbilletingofFrench;abodyofCavalryfromdifferentregiments[goingtotakeLeipzig,takeTorgau,whatnot]:andfromthatdayFreiburgneveremptiedofFrench,whokeptmarchingthroughitinextraordinaryquantities。Themarchinglastedfourteendays,namely,tillthe6thNovember[dayAFTERRossbach;whentheyburntourpoorBridge,andmarchedforthelasttime];andoftenthebilletingwassoheavy,thatinasinglehousetherewerefortyorfiftymen。Whoatalltimeshadtobelodgedanddietedgratis;naymanyhouseholders,overandabovetheordinarymeal,wereobligedtogivethemmoneytoo;andmanypoorpeople,whocanscarcelygettheirownbitofbread,hadtorunandbringatoncetheirsixteenoreighteengroschen[pence]worthofwine,nottospeakofcoffeeandsugar。
Andagreatincreaseofthemischiefitwasalways,thatthesoldiersandcommonpeopledidnotunderstandoneanother’slanguage。"——Heavybilleting;butwhatwasthat?……"Vast,nearlyimpossible,quantitiesofforageandprovision,"werewrungfromus,asfromalltheotherTownsandVillagesabout,"undercontinualthreateningtoburnandrazeusfromtheearth。OftendidourFrenchColonelthreaten,’HewouldhavethecannonopenedonFreiburgstraightway。’Nay,haditstoodbyforaging,wemighthavereckonedourselveslucky。Butourstraitsincreaseddaybyday;
andsheerplunderingbecamemoreandmoreexcessive。
"Therobbingandtorturingoftravellers,theplunderingandburningofSaxonVillages……AlmostalltheTownsandVillageshereaboutsaresoplunderedout,thatmanyaonenowhasnothingbutwhathecarriesonhisbody。Plunderingwasuniversal:andnosoonerwasonepartyaway,thananothercame,andstillanother;
andoftenthesamehousewasthreeorfourtimesplundered。
Branderode,aVillagetwoleaguesfromthis[standsontheFieldofRossbach,ifwelook],issoruinedout,thatnobodyalmosthasanythingleft:ChiefInspectorBaronvonBose’sSchlossthere,withitssplendidappointments,theyruinedutterly;tookallmoney,victuals,valuables,furniture,clothes,linenandbeds,alltheycouldcarry;whatcouldnotbecarriedaway,theycut,hewedandsmashedtopieces;brokethewine—casks;andeventoreupthedocumentsandletterstheyfoundlyingintheplace。
BranderodeDorfwastwicesetfiretobythem;andwas,atlast,withZeuchfeld,whichisanAmtsdorf,——afterbothhadbeenplundered,——reducedtoashes。TheChurchesofBranderodeandZeuchfeld,withseveralotherChurches,wereplundered;thealtarsbroken,thealtar—clothsandothervesturescuttopieces,andthesacredvesselsandcupscarriedaway,——except[forwehaveanotarialexactness,andwillexaggeratenothing]thatinthecaseofBranderodetheysentthecupback。Ofthepollutionofthealtars,andoftheblasphemoussongsthesepeoplesanginthechurches,onecannotthinkwithouthorror。
"AnditwasmerelyourpretendedAlliesandProtectorsthathavedesecratedourdivineservice,utterlywastedourCountry,reducedtheinhabitantstowantanddesperation,and,inshort,havesobehavedthatyouwouldnotknowthisregionagain。TrulythesetroopshaverealizedforusmostoftheinfamiesweheardreportedoftheCossacks,andtheirravagingsinPreussenlately。
"ItisoneoftheirsmallestdoingsthattheyrobbedaSaxonClergyman[nameandcircumstancescanbegivenifrequired),threetimesover,onthepublicHighway;shotathim,tiedhimtoahorse’stailanddraggedhimalongwiththem;sothatheisnowlyingill,indangerofhislife。Onthewhole,itisourbelovedPastors,Clergymenmostofall,thathavebeenplunderedofeverythingtheyhad。
"BalgartandZschieplitz,bothVillageshalfaleaguefromthis,havelikewisebeenheavilyplundered;theyhaveevenlefttheParsonnothingbutwhatheworeonhisback。Grost,"anotherRossbachplace,"whichbelongstotheKammerjunkerHeldorf,haslikewise"……OHE,SATIS!——"Allthishappenedbetweenthe23dand3lstOctober;consequentlybeforetheBattle……InmanyVillagesyouseethetreesandfieldssprinkledwithfeathersfromthebedsthathavebeenslitup。
"InseveralVillagesbelongingtotheRoyalElectoralprivyCouncillorvonBruhl[whoisproperlythefountainofallthisandofmuchothermiserytous,ifweknewit!]theplunderinglikewisehadbegun;andaquantityofaboutahundredswine[soho!]hadbeencutinpieces:butinthemidstoftheirwork,theAlliesheardthatthesewereBruhlestates,andceasedtheirhavocofthem。Theseaccordinglyaretheonlylandsinallthisregionwhosefatehasbeentolerable。
"Theappellation,everymomentrenewed,of’Heretic!’wasthecourteousaddressfromthesepeopletoourfellow—Christians;
’hereticdogs(KETZERISCHEHUNDE)’wasaPRADICATalwaysintheirmouth。
"InWeischutz,"amileortwofromus,uptheUnstrut,"aFrenchColonelwhowantedtorideoutupontheworks,madethetherePastor,MagisterSchren,stoopdownbywayofhorse—block,andmountedintothesaddlefromhisback。[Messieurs,youwillkindlethewrathofmankindsomeday,andgetaterribleplucking,withthosehighwaysofyours!]
"Churchesareallsmashed;obscenesongsweresung,informoflitany,fromthepulpitsandaltars;whatwasdonewiththecommunion—vessels,whentheywerenotworthstealing,"——ishideoustothereligioussense,andshallnotbementionedinhumanspeech。
3。THEBROGLIOREINFORCEMENTCOMINGACROSSTOJOINSOUBISE,AND
PERFORMATROSSBACH(HumblePetitionfromtheMagistratesofSangerhausen,TotheKingofPoland’sMajesty):——
SANGERHAUSEN,23dOCTOBER,1757。——"Scarcelyhadwe,withprofoundsubmission(ALLERUNTERTHANIGST),underdateofthe13thcurrent,representedtoyourRoyalMajestyandElectoralTranslucencyhowheavilywewerepresseddownbytheforagerequisitionsandtransitsoftroops,andtheconsequent,expenditureinfood,drinking,inoatsandhay,whichnoonepays,——whendirectlythereafter,onthe14thofOctober,anewFrenchparty,oftheFischerCorps,"——FischerisamightyHussar,scarcelyinferiortoTurpin;,andstandsinastonishingauthoritywithRichelieu,andanArmywhoseobjectisplunder,[Ferdinand’sCorrespondente,SOEPIUS
(Westphalen,i。40—127);&c。&c。]——"newpartyoftheFischerCorps,ofsomesixtymenandhorse,arrivedintheTown;demandedmeat,drink,oatsaudhay,andallthingsnecessary;
whichtheyreceivedfromus;——andnotonlypaidnotonefarthingforallthis,butfurthermoresomeofthem,insteadofthankstotheirLandlord,Rossold,forciblybrokeuphispress,drankhisbrandy,andcarriedoffaTOUTE(gather—all)withmoneyinit。
FromaTanner,Lindauerbyname,theybargainedforabuckskin;
andhavingtaken,wouldnotpayit。IntheRATHSKELLER(TownPublic—house)theydrankmuchwine,andgavenothingforit:nayonmarchingoff,——becausenomountedguide(REITENDERBOTE)wasathand,andthoughtheyhadbeforeexpresslysaidnonesuchwouldbeneeded,——theyrushedaboutlikedistractedpersons(WIERASENDE
LEUTE)inthemarket—placeandinthestreets;beatthepeople,tumbledthemabout,andluggedthemalong,inaviolentmanner;
usingabusivelanguagetoafrightfulextent,andthreateningeverymisfortune。
"Hardlywereweridofthisconfusionandastonishmentwhen,onOctober21st,awholeswarmofhorses,men,women,childrenandwagons,whichlikewiseallbelongedtotheFischerCorps,andwerecommandedbyFirst—LieutenantSchmidt,cameintoourTown。
Thistroopconsistedof80men,partinfantry,partcavalry;
withsome80work—horses,10baggage—wagons,andabout100persons,women,sickpeopleandthelike。Theystayedthewholenighthere;
mademeat,drink,corn,hayandwhatevertheyneededbebroughtthem;andwentoffnextdaywithoutpayinganything。
"OurInnswerenowalmostquiteexhaustedofforageincornorhay;
andweknewnothowweweretopaywhathadbeenspent,——whenthethirtyFrenchLightCavalry,ofwhomwe,withprofoundsubmission,onthe13thHUJUSgaveyourRoyalMajestyandElectoralTranslucencyaccount,renewedtheirvisituponus;came,underthecommandofRittmeisterdeMocu,onthe22dofOctober[whilethebaggage—wagons,work—horses,women,sick,andsoforth,werehardlygone],towardsevening,intotheTown;consumedinmeatanddrink,oatsandhay,andthelike,whattheycouldlayholdof;andnextmorningearlymarchedaway,paying,astheircustomis,nothing。
"Notenoughthat,——besidesthegreatforage—contribution(LIEFERUNG),whichwealready,withprofoundsubmission,notifiedtoyourRoyalMajestyandElectoralTranslucencyashavingbeenlaiduponus;andthat,byorderoftheDucdeBroglio,anewrequisitionisnowlaidonus,andwehavehadtoengageforsixty—
fourmoresacksofwheat,andthirty—twoofrye(asisnotedunderheadA,intheenclosedcopy),——therehasfarthercomeonus,onthepartoftheReichsArmy,fromKreis—CommissariusHeldorf[whoseSchlossofGrost,weperceive,theyhavesinceburnt,bywayofthankstohim[Supra,No。2。]],thesimultaneousOrderforinstantdeliveryofForage(asunderheadB,hereenclosed)!Thusarewe,attheappointedplaces,allatoncetofurnishsuchquantities,morethanwecanraise;andknownotwhenorwhereweshall,eitherforwhathasbeenalreadyfurnished,orforwhatisstilltobe,receiveonepennyofmoney:nay,overandabove,wearetosustainthemanymarchingsoftroops,andprovidetothesamewhatmeat,drink,oats,hayandsoon,theyrequire,withouttheleastreturnofpayment!
"Sounendurable,and,takenalltogether,sohard(SIC)beginstheconductofthesetroops,thatprofessbeingcomeasfriendsandhelpers,toappeartous。AndHeavenaloneknowshowlong,underacontinuanceofsuchthings,thesubjects(whomtheHail—stormoflastyearhadatanyrateimpoverished)shallbeabletosupportthesame。Wewould,wereareasonabledeliveryofforagelaiduponusevenatalowprice,andtheboardandbilletofthemarchingtroopspaidtouseveninpart,layoutourwholestrengthinhelpingtobeartheburdensoftheFatherland;butifsuchthingsgoon,whichwillsoonleaveusonlybarelifeandemptyhuts,wecanlookforwardtonothingbutourruinanddestruction。But,asitisnotyourRoyalMajesty’sandElectoralTranslucency’smostgraciouswillthatwe,yourMostSupremeSelf’smostfaithfulsubjects,shouldentirelyperish,thereforewerepeatourformermostsubmissiveprayeronceagainwithhot(SIC)sorrowofmindtoHighest—the—Same;andsobmostsubmissivelyforthathelpwhichyourMostSupremeSelf,throughmostgraciousmediationwiththeDucdeRichelieu,withtheReichsArmyorwhereverelse,mightperhapsmostgraciouslyprocureforus。Who,indeepestlongingthitherwards,withthemostdeepestdevotion,remain——"[
Helden—Geschichte,iv。688—691。](NAMES,unfortunately,notgiven)。
HowmanySaxonsandGermansgenerally——alas,howmanymenuniversally——crytowardscelestialluminariesofthegoverningkindwiththemostdeepestdevotion,intheirextremeneed,undertheirunsufferableinjuries;andaretrulylikedogsinthebackyardbarkingattheMoon。TheMoonwon’tcomedowntothem,andbeeatenasgreencheese;theMooncan’t!
4。DAUPHINESSAFTERROSSBACH。"Excise—InspectorNeitsche,atBebra,nearWeissenfels[BebraiswellaheadfromFreiburgandtheburntBridge,andagoodtwenty—fivemileswestofWeissenfels],writesTotheKingofPoland’sMajesty,9thNOVEMBER,1757:——
"MayitpleaseyourRoyalMajestyandElectoralTranslucency,outofyourhighestgrace,totakeknowledge,fromtheaccompanyingRegistersSUBSIGNOMARTIS[signunknowntoreadershere],ofthethingswhich,inthenameofthisTownshipofBebra,theBurgermeisterJohannAdam,withtheRathsandothersconcerned,havelaidbeforetheExcise—Inspectionhere。Asfollows:——
"ItwillbealreadywellknowntotheExcise—Inspectionthatonthe7thofNovember(A。C。)ofthecurrentyear[daybeforeyesterday,infact!],theFrenchArmysohandledthisplaceastohavenotonlytakenfromtheinhabitants,byopenforce,allbreadandarticlesoffood,butlikewiseallclothes,beds,linens(WASCHE),andotherportablegoods;thatithasbroken,splittopieces,andemptiedout,allchests,boxes,presses,drawers;hasshotdead,inthebackyardsandonthethatch—roofs,allmanneroffeathered—
stock,ashens,geese,pigeons;alsocarriedforthwithitallswine,cow,sheepandhorsecattle;laidviolenthandsontheinhabitants,clappedguns,swords,pistolstotheirbreast,andthreatenedtokillthemunlesstheyshowedandbroughtoutwhatevergoodstheyhad;orelsehashuntedthemwhollyoutoftheirhouses,shootingatthem,cutting,stickingandatlastdrivingthemaway,therebytohavethefreerroomtorobandplunder:flungouthayandotherharvest—stockfromthebarnsintothemudanddung,andhadittrampledtoruinunderthehorses,feet;nay,infact,hasdealtwiththisplaceinsounpermittedawayaseventothemosthard—heartedmanmustseemcompassionable。"——Poorfellows:CETERA
DESUNT;butthatisenough!WhatcanaPolishMajestyandElectoralTranslucencydo?HeretooisasorrowfulhowlingtotheMoon。
[Helden—Geschichte,iv。692。]……"Forahundredmilesround,"writesSt。Germain,"theCountryisplunderedandharriedasiffirefromHeavenhadfallenonit;
scarcelyhaveourplunderersandmaraudersleftthehousesstanding……Ileadabandofrobbers,ofassassins,fitforbreakingonthewheel;theywouldturntailatthefirstgunshot,andarealwaysreadytomutiny。IftheGovernment(LACOUR,"withitsPompadourpresiding,veryunlikelyforsuchanenterprise!)
"cannotlaytheknifetotherootofallthis,wemaygiveupthenotionofWar。"[St。Germain,afterRossbachandbefore(inPreuss,UBISUPRA)。]……
SuchapitchhaveFrenchArmiessunkto。WhenwasthereseensuchaBellonaasDauphinessbefore?Nay,infact,sheisthesamedevil—
servingArmythatMarechaldeSaxecommandedwithsuchtriumph,——
MarechaldeSaxeinbetterluckforopponents;Armytheninayoungerstageofitsdevelopment。Foamingthenassweetmust,asnewwine,inthehandsofaskilfulvintner,poisonousbutbrisk;
notrun,asnow,tothevinegarstate,intolerabletoallmortals。
Shecannowannouncefromhercamp—theatresthereverseoftheRoucouxprogram,"To—morrow,Messieurs,youaregoingtofight;
ourManagerforesees"——youwillbebeaten;andwecannotsaywhatorwherethenextPiecewillbe!Impious,licentious,high—flaringefflorescenceofalltheVicesisnottoberedeemedbytheoneQuasi—Virtueofreadinesstobeshot;——sweetofthatkind,andsourofthis,arethesamesubstance,ifyouonlywait。HowkindwastheDeviltohisSaxe;andflewawaywithhiminrose—pink,whileitwasstilltime!
ChapterIX。
FRIEDRICHMARCHESFORSILESIA。
ThefameofFriedrichishighenoughagainintheGazetteerworld;
allpeople,andtheFrenchthemselves,laughingattheirgrandiloquentDauphiness—Bellona,andwritingepigramsonSoubise。
ButFriedrich’sdifficultiesarestillenormous。Oneenemycomingwithopenmouth,youplungeinupon,andruin,onthishand;anditonlygivesyouroomtoattemptuponanotherbiggeroneonthat。
Soubisehehasfinishedhandsomely,forthisseason;butnowhemusttryconclusionswithPrinceKarl。Quick,towardsSilesia,afterthisgloriousVictorywhichtheGazetteersarecelebrating。
ThenewsoutofSilesiaareominouslydoubtful,badatthebest。
DukeBevern,onceWinterfeldwasgone,had,asweobserved,felthimselffreetoact;unchecked,butalsounsupported,bycounselofthedueheroism;andhadactedunwisely。MadedirectforSilesia,namely,wherearemeal—magazinesandstrongplaces。PrinceKarl,theysay,wasalsounwise;tooknothoughtbeforehand,orhemighthavegainedmarches,disputedrivers,Bober,Queiss,withBevern,andasgoodashinderedhimfromevergettingtoSilesia。Sosaycritics,Retzowandothers;perhapslookingtoofixedlyononesideofthequestion。Certainitis,BevernmarchedinpeacetoSilesia;
founditbynomeansthebetterplaceithadpromisedtobe。
PrinceKarl——Daunthereassecond,butKarlnowthedominanthand——
wasontheheelsofBevern,marchaftermarch。PrinceKarlcutathwarthimbyonecunningmarch,inLiegnitzCountry;barringhimfromSchweidnitz,thechiefstrongholdofSilesia,andtoappearancefromBreslau,thechiefcity,too。Bevern,whodidnotwantforsoldiership,whenreducedtohisshifts,nowmadeabeautifulmanoeuvre,saythecritics;struckoutleftwards,namely,andcrossedtheOder,asifmakingforGlogau,quitebeyondPrinceKarl’ssphereofpossibility,——butturnedtoright,nottoleft,whenacross,andgotinuponBreslaufromtheotheroreastsideoftheRiver。Cunningmanoeuvre,ifyouwill,andfollowedbycunningmanoeuvres:buttheresultis,PrinceKarlhasgotSchweidnitztorear,standsbetweenBreslauandit;canbesiegeSchweidnitzwhenhelikes,andnorelieftoitpossiblethatwillnotcostabattle。
Abattle,thinksFriedrich,iswhatBevernoughttohavetriedatfirst;awell—foughtbattlemighthavesettledeverything,andtherewasnoothergoodlikelihoodinsuchanexpedition:butnow,bydetachingreinforcementstothisgarrisonandthat,hehasweakenedhimselfbeyondrightpoweroffighting。[OEuvresdeFrederic,iv。141,159。]Schweidnitzisliabletosiege;Breslau,withitspoorwallsandmultitudinouspopulation,canstandnosiegeworthmentioning;theSilesianstrongplaces,nottospeakofmeal—magazines,areliketogoabadroad。
Quitedominant,thisPrinceKarl;placardingandproclaiminginallplaces,accordingtothenew"ImperialPatent,"[In
Helden—Geschichte,(iv。832,833),Copyofit:
"AbsolvedfromallpriorTreatiesbyPrussianMajesty’sattackonus,We"&c。&c。("21stSept。1757")。]ThatSilesiaisherImperialMajesty’sagain!Whichseemstobefastbecomingthefact;——unlesscontradictedbetter。Quick!
Bevernhasnow,October1st,nomanoeuvreleftbuttodrawoutofBreslau;posthimselfonthesouthernsideofit,inasafeanglethere,marshyLoheinfront,broadOdertorear,Breslauathisright—handwithbread;andthereintrenchinghimselfbythebestmethods,waitslowly,inasittingposture,eventswhichareextensivelyonthegallopatpresent。Onefancies,HadWinterfeldbeenstillthere!ItisasbraveanArmy,30,000,ormore,aseverworesteel。Surelysomethingcouldhavebeendonewithit;——
somethingbetterthansitwatchingtheeventsonfullgallopallround!Bevernwasaloyal,considerablyskilfulandvaliantman;
intheBattleofLobositz,andelsewhere,wehaveseenhimbraveasalion:butperhapsintheotherkindofbraverywantedhere,he——
Well,hiscasewashorriblydifficult;fullofintricacy。Andhesat,nodoubtinaverywretchedstate,consultingtheoracles,withevents(whicharethemselvesoracular)goingatsuchapace。
SchweidnitzwasbesiegedOctober26th。Nadasti,with20,000,wassettodoit;PrinceKarl,with60,000,readytoprotecthim;
PrinceBevernaskingtheoracles:——whatabitofnewsforFriedrich;breakingsuddenlytheeffulgencyofRossbachwithabarofominousblack!Friedrich,stillinthethickofpureSaxonbusiness,makesinstantarrangementforSilesiaaswell:PrinceHenri,withsuchandsuchcorps,tomaintaintheSaale,andguardSaxony;MarshalKeith,withsuchandsuch,tostepoverintoBohemia,andraisecontributionsatleast,andtreadonthetailofthebigSilesiansnake:allthisFriedrichsettleswithinaweek;
takescertaincorpsofhisown,effectiveabout13,000;andonNovember13thmarchesfromLeipzig。RoundbyTorgau,byMuhlberg,Grossenhayn;byBautzen,Weissenberg,acrosstheQueiss,acrosstheBober;andso,withlongmarches,stridescontinuallyforward,allheartswilling,andalllimbs,thoughinthissadwinterweather,towardsreliefofSchweidnitz。
AtGrossenhayn,fifthdayofthemarch,FriedrichlearnsthatSchweidnitzisgone。November12th—14th,Schweidnitzwentbycapitulation;contrarytoeverybody’shopeorfear;certainlyaveryshortdefenceforsuchafortress。FaultoftheCommandant,waseverybody’sfirstthought。NotprobablythebestofCommandants,saidothersgradually;buthisgarrisonhadSaxonsinit;——oneday"180oftheminalumpthrewdowntheirarms,inthetrenches,andwentovertotheEnemy。"Owingtowhatsoever,theplaceisgone。Suchtowers,suchcurtains,star—ramparts;suchanopulenceofcannons,stores,munitions,a30,000poundsofhardcash,oneitem。Allisgone,afterafortnight’ssiege。Whatapieceofnews,asheardbyFriedrich,comingathisutmosttowardsthesceneitself!AsseenbyBevern,too,inhisquestioningmood,itwasaneventofveryoracularnature。
OnMonday,14th,Schweidnitzfell;Karl,withNadastireunitedtohim,wasnow80,000odd;andlostnotime。OnTuesdaynext,NOVEMBER22d,1757,"atthreeinthemorning,"longhoursbeforedaybreak,Karl,withhis60,000,alllearnedlyarranged,comesrollingoveruponhaplessBevern:withnoendofcannonadingandstormofwar:BATTLEOFBRESLAU,theycallit;ruinoustoBevern。
Ofwhichweshallattemptnodescription:excepttosay,thatKarlhadfivebridgesontheLohe,cameacrosstheLohebyfiveBridges;
andthatBevernstoodtohisarms,steadyastherocks,topreventhisgettingover,andtoentertainhimwhenover;thattherewerefiveprincipalattacks,renewedandre—renewedaslongasneedful,withtorrentsofshot,ofdeathandtumult;oversixoreightmilesofcountry,forthespaceoffifteenhours。BattlecomparableonlytoMalplaquet,saidtheAustrians;suchahurricaneofartillery,stronglyintrenchedenemyandlouddoomsdayofwar。Didnotendtillnineatnight;Austriansvictorious,moreorless,infouroftheirattacksorseparateenterprises:thatistosay,mastersoftheLohe,andoftheoutmostPrussianvillagesandpostsinfrontofthePrussiancentreandrightwing;victoriousinthatnorthernpart;——butplainlyunvictoriousinthesoutheastorPrussianleftwing,——farthestofffromBreslau,andunderZiethen’scommand,——
wheretheyweredrivenacrosstheLoheagain,andlostprisonersandcannons,oracannon。[InSeyfarth,ThreeAccounts;
Beylagan,ii。198,221,234etseq。]
SomeofBevern’speople,groundingonthislattercircumstance,andthattheystillheldtheBattle—field,ormostpartofit,wrotethemselvesvictorious;——thoughinadimbriefmanner,asifconsciousofthecontrary。Whichindeedwasthefact。Atthecouncilofwar,whichhesummonedthatevening,therewereproposalsofnight—attack,andotherfiercemeasures;butBevern,rejectingtheplanforanightattackontheAustriancampastoodubious,did,inthedarkhours,throughthesilentstreetsofBreslau,withdrawhimselfacrosstheOder,instead;leaving80
cannon,and5,000killedandwounded;anevidentlybeatenmanandArmy。Andindeeddidstraightwaydisappearpersonallyaltogether,asnolongerequaltoevents。Rodeout,namely,toreconnoitreinthegrayofhissecondsadmorning,onthisnewBankoftheOder;
sawlittleexceptgraymist;butrodeintoaCroatoutpost,onlyonepoorgroomattendinghim;andwastheremadeprisoner:——
intentionally,thoughtmankind;intentionally,thinksFriedrich,whowasveryangrywiththepoorman。[Preuss,ii。102。MoreexactinKutzen,DERTAGVONLEUTHEN(Breslau,1857,——anexcellentexactlittleCompilation,frommanifoldsourceswellstudied),pp。166—169,date"24thNovember。"]
ThepoormanwascarriedtoVienna,ifreaderscaretoknow;
butbeinganearCousinthere(second—cousin,noless,tothelateEmpress—Mother),wasbythehighnow—reigningEmpress—Queenreceivedinacharminglygraciousmanner,andsenthomeagainwithoutransom。"ToStettin!"beckonedFriedrichsternlyfromthedistance,andwouldnotseehimatall:"ToStettin,Isay,yourofficialpostintimeofpeace!CommandmetheinvalidGarrisonthere;youarefitfornothingbetter!"——Iwilladdoneotherthing,whichunhappilywillseemstrangetoreaders:thattherecamenowhisperofcomplaintfromBevern;meresilence,andloyalindustrywithhispoormeans,fromBevern;andthatheprovedheroicallyusefulinStettintwoyearshence,againsttheSwedes,againsttheRussiansintheSiege—of—Colbergtime;andgainedFriedrich’sfavoragain,withothergoodresults。WhichIobservewasacommonmethodwithPrussianGeneralsandsoldiers,when,unjustlyorjustly,theyfellintotroubleofthiskind;andamuchbetteronethanthatofcomplainingintheNewspapers,anddemandingCommissionsofInquiry,presidedoverbyChaosandtheFourth—Estate,nowis。
BevernbeingwiththeCroats,thePrussianArmyfallstoGeneralKyau,asnextinrank;who(directlyintheteethoffierceordersthatarespeedinghitherforBevernandhim)marchesaway,leavingBreslautoitsfate;andmakingtowardsGlogau,astheonesurepointinthiswreckofthings。AndPrinceKarl,thatsameday,goesuponBreslau;whichisinnocasetoresistandbebombarded:
sothatpooroldGeneralLestwitz,thePrussianCommandant,——alwaysthoughttobeavaliantoldgentleman,butwhohadbeenwoundedinthelateAction,andwasblamablydiscouraged,——tookthetermsoffered,andsurrenderedwithoutfiringagun。Garrisonandhetomarchout,in"FreeWithdrawal;"thesearetheterms:Garrisonwas4,000andodd,mostlySilesianrecruits;buttheremarchedhardly500outwithpoorLestwitz;theSilesianrecruits——persuadedbyconceivablemethods,thattheyweretobeprisonersofwar,andthat,inshort,AustriawasnowcometobeKingagain,andmightmakeinquiryintomen’sconduct——founditsafertotakeservicewithAustria,tovanishintoholesinBreslauorwheretheycould;
and,forinstance,oneregiment(orbattalion,letushidethenameofit),onmarchingthroughtheGate,consistedonlyofninechiefofficersandfourmen。[Muller,SCHLACHTBEILEUTHEN(Berlin,1857,——professedlyamereabridgmentandshadowofKutzen:
unindexedlikeit),p。12(withnameandparticulars)。]
Therewerelost98piecesofcannon;endlessmagazinesandstoresofwar。ABreslauscandalouslygone;——aBreslaupreachingdayafternext(27th,whichwasSunday),incertainofitschurches,especiallyCardinalSchaffgotschintheDomInseldoingit,ThanksgivingSermons,asperorder,withunctionrealorofficial,"Thatourancientsovereignsarerestoredtous:"whichSermons——
exceptintheSchaffgotschcase,PrinceKarlandthehighCatholicworldallthereingala——were"sparselyattended,"saymyauthors。
TheAustriansareatthetopoftheirpride;andconsiderfullsurelythatSilesiaistheirs,thoughFriedrichwereheretwiceover。"WhatisFriedrich?WebeathimatKolin。HisPrussiansatZittau,atMoys,atBreslauinthenewMalplaquet,werewebeatenbythem?Hnh!"——andsnort(intheAustrianmess—rooms),andsnaptheirfingersatFriedrichandhiscoming。
ItwasatGorlitz(sceneofpoorWinterfeld’sdeath)thatFriedrich,"onNovember23d,thetenthdayofhismarch,"firstgotrumoroftheBreslauMalplaquet:"endlesscannonadingheardthereaboutsallyesterday!"saidrumorfromtheeast,——moreandmoresteadily,asFriedrichhastenedforward;——andthatitwas"avictoryforBevern。"Till,atNaumburgontheQueiss,hegetstheactualtidings:BeverngonetotheCroats,Breslaugoing,Kyaumarchingvague;andwhatkindofvictoryitwas。
EverfromGrossenhaynonwardstherehadbeenmessageonmessage,moreandmorerigorous,preciseandindignant,"Dothis,dothat;
yourDilectionshallansweritwithyourhead!"——notonemessageofwhichreachedhisDilection,tillDilectionandFate(suchthegallopofevents)haddonethecontrary:andnowDilectionandhisheadhavemadeafinishofit。"No,"answersFriedrichtohimself;
"nottillweareallfinished!"——andpusheson,hetoo,likeakindofFate。"Whatdoesorcanhemean,then?"saytheAustrians,withscornfulastonishment,andthinkhisheadmustbeturning:"WillhebeatusoutofSilesiawithhisPotsdamGuard—Paradethen?"
"POTSDAMSCHEWACHT—PARADE:"——sotheydenominatehissmallArmy;
andareverymirthfulintheirmess—rooms。"Iwillattackthem,iftheystoodontheZobtenberg,iftheystoodonthesteeplesofBreslau!"saidFriedrich;andtrampeddiligentlyforward。Dayafterday,astherealtidingsarrive,hisoutlookinSilesiaisbecomingdarkeranddarker:asternlydarkmarchthisaltogether。
PrinceKarlhasthrownagarrisonintoLiegnitzonFriedrich’sroad;PrinceKarlliesencampedwithBreslauathisback;hasabove80,000whenfullygathered;andreignssupremeinthoseparts。
Darkermarchthereseldomwas:allblacksavealightthatburnsinoneheart,refusingtobequenchedtilldeath。
FriedrichsendsordersthatKyaushallbeputinarrest;
thatZiethenshallbegeneraloftheBevernwreck,shallbringitroundbyGlogau,andrendezvouswithFriedrichataplaceandday,——Parchwitz,2dofDecembercoming;——andbesteady,myoldZiethen。
FriedrichbrushespasttheLiegnitzGarrison,leavesLiegnitzanditatrifletotheright;arrivesatParchwitzNovember28th;andthererests,oratleasthiswearytroopsdo,tillZiethencomeup;
theKingnotveryrestful,withsomanythingstoprearrange;
alifeordeathcrisisnownigh。Well,itisbutdeath;anddeathhasbeenfrontedbeforenow!Wewhoareaftertheevent,onthesafesunnysideofit,canformsmallimageofthehorrorsandtheinwarddubietiestohimwhoispassingthroughit;——andhowHopeisneededtoshineheroicallyeternalinsomehearts。FireofHope,thatdoesnotissueinmereblazings,madaudacitiesandchaoticdespair,butadvanceswithitseyesopen,measuredly,countingitssteps,tothewrestling—place,——thisisagodlikething;
muchavailabletomankindinallthebattlestheyhave;
battleswithsteel,orofwhateversort。
Friedrich,atParchwitz,assembledhisCaptains,andspoketothem;
itwasthenightafterZiethencamein,nightofDecember3d,1757;
andZiethen,nodoubt,wasthere:foritisanauthenticmeeting,thisatParchwitz,andthewordsweretakendown。
FRIEDRICH’SSPEECHTOHISGENERALS(Parchwitz,3dDecember,1757)。
[FromRETZOW,i。240—242(slightlyabridged)。]
"Itisnotunknowntoyou,MEINEHERREN,whatdisastershavebefallenhere,whilewewerebusywiththeFrenchandReichsArmy。
Schweidnitzisgone;DukeofBevernbeaten;Breslaugone,andallourwar—storesthere;goodpartofSilesiagone:and,infact,myembarrassmentswouldbeattheinsuperablepitch,hadnotI
boundlesstrustinyou,andyourqualities,whichhavebeensooftenmanifested,assoldiersandsonsofyourCountry。Hardlyoneamongyoubuthasdistinguishedhimselfbysomenoblymemorableaction:alltheseservicestotheStateandmeIknowwell,andwillneverforget。
"Iflattermyself,therefore,thatinthiscasetoonothingwillbewantingwhichtheStatehasarighttoexpectofyourvalor。
Thehourisathand。IshouldthinkIhaddonenothing,ifIlefttheAustriansinpossessionofSilesia。Letmeappriseyou,then:
Iintend,inspiteoftheRulesofArt,toattackPrinceKarl’sArmy,whichisnearlythriceourstrength,whereverIfindit。
Thequestionisnotofhisnumbers,orthestrengthofhisposition:allthis,bycourage,bytheskillofourmethods,wewilltrytomakegood。ThisstepImustrisk,oreverythingislost。Wemustbeattheenemy,orperishallofusbeforehisbatteries。SoIreadthecase;soIwillactinit。
"MakethismydeterminationknowntoallOfficersoftheArmy;
preparethemenforwhatworkisnowtoensue,andsaythatIholdmyselfentitledtodemandexactfulfilmentoforders。Foryou,whenIreflectthatyouarePrussians,canIthinkthatyouwillactunworthily?Butifthereshouldbeoneoranotherwhodreadstosharealldangerswithme,he,"——continuedhisMajesty,withaninterrogativelook,andthenpausingforanswer,——"canhavehisDischargethisevening,andshallnotsuffertheleastreproachfromme。"——Modeststrongbassmurmur;meaning"No,bytheEternal!"
ifyoulookedintotheeyesandfacesofthegroup。NeverwillRetzowJuniorforgetthatscene,andhoweffulgentlyeloquenttheveteranphysiognomieswere。
"Hah,Iknewit,"saidtheKing,withhismostradiantsmile,"noneofyouwoulddesertme!Idependonyourhelp,then;andonvictoryassure。"——Thespeechwindsupwithaspecificpassage:
"TheCavalryregimentthatdoesnotontheinstant,onordergiven,dashfullplungeintotheenemy,Iwill,directlyaftertheBattle,unhorse,andmakeitaGarrisonregiment。TheInfantrybattalionwhich,meetwithwhatitmay,showstheleastsignofhesitating,losesitscolorsanditssabres,andIcutthetrimmingsfromitsuniform!Nowgood—night,Gentlemen:shortlywehaveeitherbeatentheEnemy,orweneverseeoneanotheragain。"
AnexcellenttemperinthisArmy;aroughveinofheroisminit,steadytothedeath;——andplentyofhopeinittoo,hopeinVaterFritz。"Nevermind,"thesoldiersusedtosay,inJohnDukeofMarlborough’stime,"CorporalJohnwillgetusthroughit!"——ThatsameeveningFriedrichrodeintotheCamp,wheretheregimentshehadwerenowallgathered,outoftheircantonments,tomarchonthemorrow。FirstregimenthecameuponwastheLife—GuardCuirassiers:themen,intheiraccustomedway,gavehimgood—
evening,whichhecheerilyreturned。Someofthemoreveteransortasked,ruggedlyconfidential,aswellasloyal:"Whatisthynews,then,solate?""Goodnews,children(KINDER):to—morrowyouwillbeattheAustrianstightly!""Thatwewill,by——!"answeredthey。——
"Butthinkonlywheretheystandyonder,andhowtheyhaveintrenchedthemselves?"saidFriedrich。"AndiftheyhadtheDevilinfrontandallroundthem,wewillknockthemout;onlythouleaduson!"——"Well,Iwillseewhatyoucando:nowlayyoudown,andsleepsound;andgoodsleeptoyou!""Good—night,Fritz!"answerall;[Muller,p。21(fromKaltenhorn,ofwhomINFRA);Preuss,&c。
&c。]asFritzamblesontothenextregiment,towhich,astoeveryone,hewillhavesomeword。
WasitthefamousPommernregiment,thisthathenextspoketo,——
whoansweredLoudon’ssummonstothemonce(asshallbenoticedbyandby)inawayineffable,thoughunforgettable?ManteuffelofFoot;yes,noother![Archenholtz,ii。61;andKutzen,p。35。]
Theyhavetheirownopinionoftheircapacitiesagainstanenemy,anddonotwantforagoodconceitofthemselves。"Well,children,howthinkyouitwillbeto—morrow?Theyaretwiceasstrongaswe。""Neverthoumindthat;therearenoPommernersamongthem;
thouknowestwhatthePommernerscando!"——FRIEDRICH:"Yea,truly,thatdoI;otherwiseIdurstnotriskthebattle。Nowgoodsleeptoyou!to—morrow,then,weshalleitherhavebeatentheEnemyorelsebealldead。""Yea,"answeredthewholeregiment;"dead,orelsetheEnemybeaten:"andsowenttodeepsleep,prefacetoadeeperformanyofthem,——asbeseemsbravemen。Inthisworlditmuchbeseemsthebraveman,uncertainaboutsomanythings,tobecertainofhimselfforonething。
ThesesnatchesofCampDialogue,muchmoretheSpeechpreservedtousbyRetzowJunior,appeartobetrue;thoughastothedates,thecircumstances,therehasbeendebating。[Kutzen,pp。175—181。]
OtherAnecdotes,dubiousormore,stillfloataboutinquantity;——
ofwhichletusgiveonlyone;thatoftheDeserter(whichhasmeritasamyth)。"Whatmadetheedesert,then?""Hm,alas,yourMajesty,weweregotsodownintheworld,andhadsuchatimeofit!"——"Well,tryitonedaymore;andifwecannotmendmatters,thouandIwillbothdesert。"
AlearnedDoctor,oneofthemostrecentonthesematters,isastonishedwhytheHistoriesofFriedrichshouldbesuchdrearyreading,andFriedrichhimselfsoprosaic,barrenanobject;
andlaystheblameupontheAge,insensibletorealgreatness;
ledawaybyclap—trapNapoleonisms,regardlessofexpense。
UponwhichSmelfungustakeshimup,withatwitch:——
"Tomysadmind,HerrDoctor,itseemsascribablerathertotheDryasdustoftheseAges,especiallytothePrussianDryasdust,sittingcomfortableinhisAcademies,wavingsublimelyhislongearsashetrampleshumanHeroismsintounintelligiblepipe—clayanddrearycontinentsofsandandcinders,withtheDoctorsallapplauding。
"HadthesacredPoet,ormanofrealHumanGenius,beenathiswork,forthethousandyearslastpast,insteadofidlyfiddlingfarawayfromhiswork,——whichsurelyisdefinableasbeingverymainly,ThatofINTERPRETINGhumanHeroisms;ofpainfullyextricating,andextortingfromthecircumambientchaosofmuddybabble,rumorandmendacity,somenotinconceivablehumananddivineImageofthem,moreandmoreclear,completeandcredibleformankind(poormankinddumblylookinguptohimforguidance,astowhatitshallthinkofGodandofMeninthisSceneofThings),——Icalculate,weshouldbythistimehavehadadifferentFriedrichofit;OHeavens,adifferentworldofit,insomanyrespects!
"MyesteemedHerrDoctor,itistoopainfulasubject。