ThePrussianVanguard,oneKrockowitscommander,repulsedthatfirstAustrianattack;swepttheBassclearforsomeminutes;gottheirsectionofthecarriages,orsomepartofit,250inall,hurriedthrough;thenhaltedonthesafeside,towaitwhatZiethenwoulddowiththeremainder。Ziethendoeshisbestandbravest,aseverybodydoes;keepshiswagon—chaospluggeddown;ranksitinsquaremass,asawagonfortress(WAGENBURG);rankshimselfandeverybody,hiscannon,hisplatoonmusketry,tothebestadvantageroundit;furiouslyshootsoutinallmannerofways,againstthefuriousLoudononthisflank,andthefuriousZiskowitzonthat;
takeshills,losesthem;repelsandisrepelled(wagon—chaoseverhardertokeepplugged);finallyperceiveshimselftobebeaten;
thatthewagon—chaoshasgotunplugged(fancyit!)——andthathe,Ziethen,mustretreat;backforemostifpossible。Hedidretreat,fightingallthewaytoTroppau;andtheConvoyisaruinandaprey。
Krockow,withthe250,hasgotunderwayagain;hearingthepowder—
wagonsstartintotheair(firedbytheenemy),andhearingthecannonandmusketrytakeanortherlycourse,anddieawayinthatominousdirection。These250wereallthecarriagesthatcamein:——
happily,byZiethen’sprudence,themoney,alargesum,hadbeenlodgedinthevanmostofthese。TherestoftheConvoy,ball,powder,bread,wasoflittlevaluetoLoudon,butbeyondvaluetoFriedrichatthismoment;andithasgonetoannihilationandthebellyofChaosandtheCroats。AmongthetragicwrecksofthisConvoythereisonethatstillgoestoourheart。Alongish,almoststraightrowofyoungPrussianrecruitsstretchedamongtheslain,whatarethese?Thesewere700recruitscomingupfromtheircantonstotheWars;hardlyyetsixmonthsintraining:seehowtheyhavefoughttothedeath,poorlads,andhavehonorably,onthesudden,gotmanumittedfromthetoilsoflife。Sevenhundredofthemstoodtoarms,thismorning;somesixty—fivewillgetbacktoTroppau;thatistheinvoiceaccount。Theyliethere,withtheirblondyoungcheeksandlighthair;beautifulindeath;——couldnothavedonebetter,thoughthesacredpoethassaidnothingofthemhitherto,——norneed,tilltimesmendwithusandhim。Adieu,mynobleyoungBrothers;sobrave,somodest,noSpartannornoRomanmore;maythesilencebeblessedtoyou!
Contrarytosomecurrentnotions,itiscomfortablyevidentthattherewasaconsiderablefireofloyaltyinthePrussianstowardstheirKing,duringthisWar;loyaltykeptwellundercover,notwastingitselfinharanguesornoisyfroth;butcomingout,amongallranksofmen,inpracticalattemptstobeofhelpinthishighstruggle,whichwastheirownaswellashis。TheSTANDE,landedGentry,ofPommernandotherplaces,weheardoftheirpoorlittleNavyoftwelvegunboats,whichwerealltakenbytheSwedes。
MilitiaRegimentstoo,whichdidgoodserviceatColberg,asmaytransientlyappearbyandby:——inthegentryorupperclasses,arespectablezealfortheirKing。Then,amongthepeasantryorlowerclass——HereareSevenHundredwhostoodwellwhereheplantedthem。
AndtheirMothers——BeSpartanalso,yeMothers!Inpeaceabletimes,TempelhoftellsusthePrussianMotherisusuallyproudofhavinghersoninthisKing’sservice:acountrywifewillsaytoyou:"Ihavethreeofthem,allintheregiment,"Billerbeck,Itzenplitz,orwhateverbetheCantonregiment;"theeldestisteninches[standsfivefeetten],thesecondiseleven,thethirdeight,forindeedheisyetyoung。"
Daun,onthedayofthisDomstadtlbusiness,andbywayofmaskingit,feelinghowvitalitwas,madevariousextensivemovements,acrosstheRiverbyseveralBridges;thenhither,thither,onthefarthersideofOlmutz,mazingupanddown:Friedrichobservinghim,tillheshouldripentosomethingdefinite,followedhisbombardingthewhile;perhapshavinghopesofwagerofbattleensuing。OfthedisasteratDomstadtlFriedrichcouldknownothing,Loudonhavingclosedtheroads。Daunbynomeansripensintobattle:newsofthedisasterreachedFriedrichnextday(Saturday,July1st),——who"immediatelyassembledhisGenerals,andspokeafewinspiringwordstothem,"suchaswemayfancy。FriedrichperceivesthatOlmutzisover;thathisThirdCampaign,thirdlungeupontheEnemy’sheart,hasprosperedworse,thusfar,thaneitheroftheothers;thathemuststraightwayendthisofOlmutz,withoutanysuccesswhatever,andtrytheremainingmethodsandresources。
Nowordofcomplaint,theysay,isheardfromFriedrichinsuchcases;facealwayshopeful,tonecheery。AmaninFriedrich’spositionneedsagooddealofStoicism,Greekorother。
ThatSaturdaynightthePrussianbombardmentisquiteuncommonlyfurious,longcontinuing;nonightyetlikeit:——thePrussiansareshootingofftheirsuperfluousammunitionthisnight;donotquiteendtillSundayisin。OnSundayitself,packings,preparations,allcompleted;and,"Keith,withabove4,000wagons,safeontheroadsince2A。M。"——thePrussianssoftlyvanishinlongsmoothstreams,withmusicplaying,unmolestedbyDaun;andleavingnothing,itisboasted,butfiveorthreemortars,whichkeptplayingtothelast,andonecannon,towhichsomethinghadhappened。
Oftheretreattherecouldbemuchsaid,instructivetomilitarymenwhowerestudious;extremelyfineretreat,sayalljudges;——ofwhichmyreaderscraveonlytheoutlines,theresults。Daun,itwasthought,shouldhaveruinedFriedrichinthisretreat;buthedidnothingofharmtohim。Infact,foraweekhecouldnotcomprehendthephenomenonatall,anddidnotstirfromhisplace,——whichwasontheother,orwrong,sideoftheRiver。DaunhadneverdoubtedbuttheretreatwouldbetoSilesia;andhehadmadehisdetachments,andlaidhimselfoutfordoingsomethinguponit,inthatdirection:but,lo,whatroadsarethese,whatmotionswhitherward?Inaboutaweekitbecomesmanifestthattheretreat,whichgoesonvariousroads,sometimesthreeatonce,hasconvergedonLeutomischl;straightforBohemiainsteadofSilesia;andthatDaunisfallensevendaysbehindit;incapablenowtodoanything。
NoteventheMagazineatLeutomischlcouldbegotaway,norcouldeventhewholeofitbeburnt。
KeithandthebaggageoncesafeinLeutomischl(July8th),allgoesindeliberatelongcolumn;Friedrichaheadtoopenthepassages。
July14th,afterfivemoremarches,FriedriohburstsupKonigsgratz;scatteringanyoppositionthereis;andsitsdownthere,inapositionconsidered,heknowswellhowinexpugnable;
toliveontheCountry,andsurveyevents。The4,000baggage—wagonscameinaboutentire。Fouquethadthefirstdivisionofthem,andasecondarychargeofthewhole;anextremelystrict,almostpedanticman,andofveryfierytemper:"HE,D’OUVENEZ—VOUS?"askedhesharplyofRetzowsenior,whohadbrokenthroughhisorder,oneday,toavertgreatmischief:"Howcomeyouhere,MONGENERAL?"
"BytheHighway,yourExcellency!"answeredRetzowinagravestifftone。[Retzow,i。302。]
Keithhimselftakestherear—guard,themostticklishpostofall,andmanagesitwell,andwithsuccess,ashiswontis。
Undersicknessatthetime,butwithhisusualvigilance,prudence,energy;qualitiesapttobesuccessfulinWar。SomebrushesofCroatfightinghehadfromLoudon;buttheydidnotamounttoanything。ItwasatHolitz,withinamarchofKonigsgratz,thatLoudonmadehischiefattempt;avehement,well—intendedthing;
whichlookedwellatonetime。ButKeithheardthecannonadingahead;hurriedupwithnewcavalry,newsagacityandfireofenergy;dashedouthorse—charges,seizedhill—tops,ofavitalnature;andquicklyendedtheaffair。Amanfieryenough,andpromptwithhisstrokewhenwanted,thoughcommonlysoquiet。
"TellMonsieur,"——someGeneralwhoseemedtoostupidortoolanguidonthisoccasion,——"TellMonsieurfromme,"saidKeithtohisAide—
de—camp,"hemaybeaveryprettything,butheisnotaman(QU’IL
PEUTETREUNEBONNECHOSE,MAISQU’ILN’ESTPASUNHOMME)!"
[Varnhagen,Lebendes&c。JakobvonKeith,
p。227。]TheexcellentvernacularKeith;——stillafinebreadthofaccentinhim,oneperceives!Heisnowpastsixty;troubledwithasthma;andIdoubtnotmaybe,occasionally,thinkingitneartimetoendhiscampaigns。Andinfact,heisaboutendingthem;
soonerthanheoranybodyhadexpected。
Daun,pickinghisstepsandpositions,latterlywiththreefoldprecaution,gotintoKonigsgratzneighborhood,aweekafterFriedrich;andlookeddownwithenigmaticwonderuponFriedrich’snewsettlementthere。Forageabundantallround,andthecorn—
harvestgrowingwhite;——here,strangetosay,hasFriedrichgotplantedintheinsideofthoseinnumerableDaunredoubts,and"woodsofabatis;"andmightmakeaverypretty"BohemianCampaign"
ofit,afterall,wereDauntheonlyadversaryhehad!Judgesareofopinion,thatDaun,withallhissuperiorityofnumber,couldnothavedisrootedFriedrichthisseason。[Tempelhof,ii。170—176,185;——who,unluckily,insoldierfashion,hereastoooftenelsewhere,doesnotgiveustheArithmeticalNumbersofeach,butcountsby"Battalions"and"Squadrons,"which,exceptintimeofPeace,areatotallyuncertainquantity:——guessvaguely,75,000
against30,000。]DaundidtryhimbythePandourmethods,"1,000
CroatsstealinginuponKonigsgratzatoneinthemorning,"andthelike;buttheseavailednothing。Bytheoneeffectualmethod,thatofbeatinghiminbattle,Daunneverwouldhavetried。WhatdiddisrootFriedrich,then?——Takethefollowingdates,andsmallhintsofphenomenainotherpartsofthebigTheatreofWar。
"Konitz"isalittlePolishTown,midwaybetweenDantzigandFriedrich’sDominions:——
"KONITZ,16thJUNE,1758。ThisdayFeldmarschallFermorarrivesinhisprincipalCamphere。FormanyweekspasthehasbeendribblingacrosstheWeichselhitherward,intovarioussmallcamps,withCossackPartiesflyingabout,undercheckofGeneralPlaten。
Butnow,beingallacross,andreunited,FermorshootsoutCossackPartiesofquiteotherweightandatrocity;andisreadytobeginbusiness,——stillalittleuncertainhow。HisCossacks,undertheirDemikows,Romanzows;capableofnogoodfighting,butofendlessincendiarymischiefintheneighborhood;——shootfaraheadintoPrussianterritory:Platen,HordtwithhisFree—Corps,arebeautifullysharpuponthem;butmanybeatingsavaillittle。
’TheyburnthetownofDriesen[Hordthavingbeenharduponthemthere];townofRatzebuhr,andnineteenvillagesaround;’——burnpooroldwomenandmen,onepooroldclergymanespecially,windhimwellinstraw—roping,thensetfire,andleavehim;——andareworsethanfiendsorhyenas。NottobecheckedbyPlaten’sbestdiligence;not,intheend,byPlatenandDohnatogether。Dohna(18thJune)hasrisenfromStralsundincheckofthem,——leavingtheunfortunateSwedestocomeout[shrunktoabout7,000,sounsalutarytheirstockfishdietthere],——thesehyena—Cossacksbeingthefarmorepressingthing。Dohnaisdiligent,givesthemmanyslapsandchecks;Dohnacannotcutthetap—rootofthemintwo;
thatistosay,fightFermorandbeathim:othereffectualchecktherecanbenone。[Helden—Geschichte,v。149
etseq。;Tempelhof,ii。135&c。]
"TSCHOPAU(inSaxony),21stJUNE。PrinceHenrihasquittedBambergCountry;andishomeagain,carefullyposted,atTschopauandupanddown,onthesouthernsideofSaxony;withhiseyewellonthePassesoftheMetalMountains,——wherenow,intheturnthingsatOlmutzhavetaken,hisclearfateistobeinvaded,NOTtoinvade。
TheReichsArmy,fairlyafootintheCircleofSaatz,countsitself35,000;add15,000Austriansofasolidquality,thereisaReichsArmyof50,000inall,thisYear。AndwillcertainlyinvadeSaxony,——thoughitisinnohurry;doesnotstirtillAugustcome,andwillfindPrinceHenrielaboratelyonhisguard,andlittletobemadeofhim,thoughheisasonetotwo。
"CREFELD(RhineCountry),23dJUNE。DukeFerdinand,afterskilfulshovingandadvancing,somefortyorfiftymiles,onhisneworFrenchsideoftheRhine,findstheFrenchdrawnupatCrefeld(June23d);47,000ofthemVERSUS33,000:inaltogetherintricateground;canal—ditches,osier—thickets,farm—villages,peat—bogs。
Grounddefensibleagainsttheworld,hadthe47,000hadaCaptain;
butreasonablysafetoattack,withnothingbutaClermontactingthatcharacter。Ferdinand,Icanperceive,knewhisClermont;
andtooklibertieswithhim。Dividedhimselfintothreeattacks:
oneinfront;oneonClermont’srightflank,bothofwhichcannonaded,asifinearnest,butdidnotpreventClermontgoingtodinner。Oneattackonfront,oneonrightflank;thentherewasathird,seeminglyonleftflank,butwhichwindeditselfround(perilouslyimprudent,hadtherebeenaCaptain,insteadofaClermontdeepishinwinebythistime),andburstinuponClermont’srear;jinglinghiswine—glassesanddecanters,thinkatwhatarate;——scatteringhis47,000andhimtotheroadagain,withalossofmen,whichwascountedto4,000(4,000against1,700),andofhonor——whateverwasstilltolose!"[Mauvillon,i。297—309;
Westphalen,i。588—604;Tempelhof;&c。&c。]
Ferdinand,itwashoped,wouldnowbeabletomaintainhimself,andpushforward,onthisFrenchsideoftheRhine:andhadWeselbeenhis(assomeofusknowitisnot!),perhaps。hemight。Atanyrate,veteranBelleisletookhismeasures:——dismissalofClermontPrinceoftheBlood,andappointmentofContades,amanofsomeskill;recallofSoubiseandhis24,000fromtheirAustrianintentions;theseandotherstrenuousmeasures,——andpreventedsuchconsummation。AgallantyoungComtedeGisors,onlysonofBelleisle,perishedinthatdisgracefulCrefeld:——unfortunateoldman,whatabusinessthatof"cuttingGermanyinfour"hasbeentoyou,firstandlast!
"LOUISBURG(NorthAmerica),JULY8th。LandingofGeneralAmherst’speopleatLouisburginCapeBreton;withaviewofbesiegingthatimportantplace。Whichhasnowbecomeextremelydifficult;
thegarrison,andtheirdefences,military,naval,beinginfullreadinessforsuchanevent。LandingwasdonebyBrigadierWolfe;
undertheeyeofAmherstandAdmiralBoscawenfromrearward,andunderabundantfireofbatteriesandmusketriesplayingonitahead:inoneofthesurfiestseas(butwehavewaitedfourdays,andithardlymends),tossingusaboutlikecorks;——sothat’manyoftheboatswerebroken;’andWolfeandpeople’hadtoleapout,breast—deep,’andmakefightforthemselves,thefasterthebetter,underveryintricatecircumstances!Whichwasvictoriouslydone,byWolfeandhispeople;reallyinaratherhandsomemanner,thatmorning。AswereallthesubsequentSiege—operations,onlandandonwater,bythemandtheothers:——till(August8th)theSiegeended:incompletesurrender,——positivelyforthelasttime(Pittfullyintends);noAustrianNetherlandsnowtoputoneonrevokingit![GeneralAmherst’sDIARYOFTHESIEGE(inGentleman’sMagazine,xxviii。384—389)。]
"Theseareprettyvictories,cheeringtoPittandFriedrich;
butthedifficultpointstillisthatofFermor。WhoseCossacks,andtheirdevil—likeravagings,arehideoustothinkof:——
unrestrainablebyDohna,unlesshecouldcuttherootofthem;
whichhecannot。JUNE27th[whileColonelMosel,withhis3,000
wagons,stillonlyonestagefromTroppau,wassobusy],slowFermorrosefromKonitz;beganhitchingsouthward,southwardgraduallytoPosen,——aconsiderablystrongerPolishTown;ontheedgebothofBrandenburgandofSilesia;——andhasbeensittingthere,almosteversinceourentranceintoBohemia;hisCossacksburningandwastingtogreatdistancesinbothCountries;
nodecidingwhichofthemhemeanttoinvadewithhismainArmy。
Sitstherealmostamonth,enigmatictoDohna,enigmatictoFriedrich:tillFriedrichdecidesatlastthathecannotbesufferedlonger,whicheverofthemhemean;andrisesforSilesia(August2d)。PreciselyaboutwhichdayFermorhaddecidedforBrandenburg,androlledoverthither,towardsCustrinandtheFrankfurt—on—OderCountry,heraldedbyfireandmurder,asusual。"
Friedrich’smarchtoLandshutis,again,muchadmired。Daunhadbesetthethreegreatroads,thetwolikeliestespecially,withabundantPandours,andhisbestLoudonsandSt。Ignons:
Friedrich,makinghimselfenigmatictoDaun,struckintothethirdroadbySkalitz,Nachod;circuitous,steep,butlyingGlatz—ward,handyforsupportofvariouskinds。Hewasattempted,onceormore,byPandours,butusedthembadly;fellinwithDaun’soldabatis(wellwind—driednow),indifferentplaces,andburnttheminpassing。AndinfivedayswasinKloster—Grussau,safeonhisownsideoftheMountainsagain。Onepointonlywewillnote,inthesePandourturmoilings。FromSkalitz,thefirststageofhismarch,heanswersaLetterofBrotherHenri’s:——
TOPRINCEHENRI(atTachopauinSaxony)。"WhatyouwritetomeofmySisterofBaireuth[thatshehasbeeninextremity,cannotyetwrite,andmustnotbetoldofthePrinceofPrussia’sdeathlestitkillher]makesmetremble!NexttoourMother,sheiswhatI
havethemosttenderlylovedinthisworld。SheisaSisterwhohasmyheartandallmyconfidence;andwhosecharacterisofpricebeyondallthecrownsinthisuniverse。Frommytenderestyears,I
wasbroughtupwithher:youcanconceivehowtherereignsbetweenusthatindissolublebondofmutualaffectionandattachmentforlife,whichinallothercases,wereitonlyfromdisparityofages,isimpossible。WouldtoHeavenImightdiebeforeher;——andthatthisterroritselfdon’ttakeawaymylifewithoutmyactuallylosingher!"[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvi。179,"Klenny,nearSkalitz,3dAugust,1758;"Henri’sLetterisdated"CampofTschopau,28thJuly"(ib。277)。]……
AtGrussau(August9th)hewritestohisdearWilhelminaherself:
"Oyou,thedearestofmyfamily,youwhomIhavemostatheartofallinthisworld,——forthesakeofwhateverismostprecioustoyou,preserveyourself,andletmehaveatleasttheconsolationofsheddingmytearsinyourbosom!FearnothingforUS,and"——
OKing,sheisdying,andIbelieveknowsit,thoughyouwillhopetothelast!ThereissomethingpiercinglytragicalinthosefinalLettersofFriedrichtohisWilhelmina,writtenfromsuchscenesofwreckandstorm,andinWilhelmina’sbeautifulever—lovingquietAnswers,dictatedwhenshecouldnolongerwrite。["July18th"isthelastbyherhand,and"almostillegible;"——stillextant,itseems,thoughwithheldfromus。WasreceivedatGrussauhere,andansweredatsomelength(OEuvres,xxvii。
i。316),accordingtothespecimenjustgiven。Twomoreofhersfollow,andfouroftheKing’s(ib。317—322)。Nearlymeaningless,asprintedthere,withoutcommentaryfortheunpreparedreader。]
FriedrichhadlastleftGrussauApril18th;hehasreturnedtoitAugust8th:aftersixteenweeksofaveryeventfulabsence。
InGrussauhestayedtwowholedays;——busyenoughhe,probably,thoughhispeoplewereresting!August10thhedrawsup,forPrinceHenri,"undersealofthemostabsolutesecrecy,"andwithadmirablebusiness—likestrictness,brevityandclearness,forgettingnothinguseful,rememberingnothinguseless,aPaperofDirectionsincaseofacertainevent:"Imarchto—morrowagainsttheRussians:astheeventsofWarmayleadtoallsortsofaccidents,anditmayeasilyhappentometobekilled,Ihavethoughtitmydutytoletyouknowwhatmyplanswere,"andwhatyouaretodointhatevent,——"theratherasyouareGuardianofourNephew[latePrinceofPrussia’sSon]withanunlimitedauthority。"OathfromallthearmiestheinstantIamkilled:
rapid,active,asever;theenemynottonoticethatthereisanychangeinthecommand。Iintendto"beattheRussiansutterly[APLATECOUTURE,splay—seam],ifitbepossible;"thento&c。:——
givesyouhis"itinerary,"too,orprobableaddress,till"the25th"(notablyenough);inshort,forgetsnothinguseful,norremembersanythingthatisnot,inspiteofhishurry。
["DISPOSITIONTESTAMENTAIRE"(sotheyhavelabelledit);giveninOEuvres,iv。(APPENDICE)261,262。
Friedrich’sTESTAMENTproperisalreadymade,andallinorder,yearsago("11thJanuary1752"):ofthistherefollowedTwonewRedactions(newEDITIONSwithslightimprovements,"7thNovember,1768,"and"8thJanuary,1769"theFINALLYvalidone);andvariousSupplements,orsummaryEnforcements(ashere),atdifferenttimesofcrisis。seePREUSS,iv。277,401,andOEuvresdeFrederic,vi。p。13(ofPreface),forsomeconfusedaccountofthatmatter。]ForMlnlsterFinckalsotherewentaPaper;seallzotneedingtobeopenedforthemoment。
WithMargrafKarl,andFouquetunderhim,whoaretoguardSilesia,heleavesintwoDivisionsaboutHalfthelateOlmutzArmy:——addedtotheotherforce,thiswillmakeabout40,000forthatservice。
[Stenzel,v。163。]Keithhasthechiefcommandhere;butisorderedtoBreslau,inthemeantime,foralittlerestandrecoveryofhealth。Friday,11thAugust,Friedrichhimself,withtheotherHalf,pushesofftowardsFermorandtheCossackdemons;
throughLiegnitz,throughHohenfriedbergCountry,straightforFrankfurt,withhisbestspeed。
ChapterXIII。
BATTLEOFZORNDORF。
Sunday,20thAugust,Friedrich,withhissmallArmy,hardlyabove15,000Ishouldguess,arrivedatFrankfurt—on—Oder:"hisMajesty,"
itseems,"lodgedintheLebusSuburb,inthehouseofaClergyman’sWidow;andwasobservedtogooftenoutofdoors,andlistentothecannonading,whichwasgoingonatCustrin。"
[Rodenbeck,i。347。]FromLandshuthither,hehascomeinninedays;theswiftestmarching;afieryspurofindignationbeinguponallhismenandhim,forthelasttwodaysfierierthanever,——
longingalltohaveablowatthoseincendiaryRussiangentlemen。
Fivedaysago,theRussians,attemptingblindlyontheGarrisonofCustrin,hadburnt,——nothingoftheGarrisonatall,——butthepoorlittleTownaltogether。Whichhasfilledeverybodywithlamentationandhorror。And,listenyonder,theyarestillbusyonthesolitaryGarrisonofCustrin;——audibleenoughtoFriedrichfromhisnorthernorLebusSuburb,whichliesnearesttheplace,atadistanceofsometwentymiles。
OfFermor’sred—hotsavageryonCustrin,itislamentablynecessaryweshouldsaysomething:tosaymuchwouldheawasteofrecord;
asthethingitselfwasawasteofpowder。Athinghideoustothinkof;withouttheleastprofittoFermor,butwithtotalruintoalltheinhabitants,andtothemanystrangerswhohadsoughtrefugethere。Oneinteriorcircumstanceismemorableandluckytous。
Artillery—CaptainTielckehappenedtobewiththesepeople;
hadcomeinthetrainof"twoSaxonPrinces,servingasvolunteers;"and,withasingularlucidity,andfaithfulgoodsense,notscientificalone,heilluminatesthesebiackRussianmattersforsuchashavetodowiththem。
Tielcke’sBookofContributionstotheArtofWar[BeytragezurKriege—Kunstund(ZUR)GeschichtedesKriegesvon1756bis1763(sixthinvols。4to,withmanyPlates);citedabove。]isstillinreputewithSoldiers,especiallyintheArtilleryline;andindeedshowsasoundgeometricalhead,andcontainsbitsofexcellentHistoricalreadinginterspersedamongthescientificparts。ThisTielcke,itappears,wasacommonfoot—soldier,oneofthosePirna14,000madePrussianagainsttheirwill;butTielckehadamilkmaidforsweetheartinthoseregions,who,goodsoul,gavehimhergenerousfarewell,asuitofherclothes,perhapsapairofherpails;andinthatguisehewalkedoutofbondage。Clearaway;toWarsaw,tofavorwiththeKingandothers(beingofrealmerit,anexcellent,studious,modestlittleman);andherehenowreappears,inahighercapacity;asarticulateEye—witnessoftheCustrinBusinessandtheZorndorf,amongmuchotherRussiandarkness,whichshallremaincomfortablyblanktous。
UptoCustrin,theJournaloftheOperationsoftheRussianArmy,whichIcouldgivefromdaytoday,["TAGEBUCHBEYDER&c。(DiaryofbothArmiesfromthebeginningoftheCampaigntillZorndorf"),inTielcke,ii。1—75;Tempelhof,ii。136,216—224;Helden—
Geschichte,v。;&c。&c。]isofnointerestexcepttotheNetherPowersofthisUniverse;theRussianOperationshithertohavingconsistedinslowmarches,sluttishcookeries,cantonings,bivouackings,withdestructionofapoorinnocentCountry,andarson,theftandmurderdoneonthegreatscalebyinhumanvagabonds,Cossackssocalled,nottemperedonthisoccasionbythemercyofCalmucks。TheregularRussianArmy,itappears,participatesinthecommonhorrorofmankindagainstsuchamethodofmakingwar;butneitherFeldmarschallFermor,norGeneralDemikof(properlyTHEMICOUD,aSwiss,deservinglittlethanksfromus,whohastakeninhandtocommandtheseMissionariesofthePit),canhelptheresultsabovedescribed。Whicharejustlycharacterizedasabominable,togodsandmen;andnotfittoberecordedinhumanAnnals;execration,and,ifitwerepossible,oblivion,beingthehumanresourcewiththem。,TheRussianOfficers,itseems,despisetbisCossackrabbleincredibly;
fortheirfightingqualitieswithalarecloseonzero,thoughtheirtalentforarsonandmurderissoconsiderable。Andcontrariwise,theCossacks,fortheirpart,havenoobjectiontoplunder,oreven,ifobstreperous,tokill,anyregularOfficertheymaymeetunescortedinagoodplace。Theirtalentforarsonisgreat。
TheydouncountabledamagetotheArmyitself;provokingalltheCountrypeopletodestroybyfirewhatcouldbeeatenorused,theforaging,foodandequipmentsofhorseandman;sothathorseandmanhavetobefedbyvictualcartedhundredsofmilesoutofPoland;andtheRussianArmysticks,asitwere,tetheredwithawelterofbrokenporridge—potsandrentmeal—bagshungtoeveryfootithas。
EastPreussenisquietfromthestormsofWar;holdsitstonguewell,andhopesbetterdays:buttheRussiansthemselvesarelittlethebetterforit,acountrysolatelyburnedbare;theyaremerelyflungsomanyscoresofmilesforward,fartherfromhomeandtheirrealresources,beforetheycanbeginwork,TheyhavenoportontheBaltic:poorblockheads,theyareawarehowdesirable,forinstance,Dantzigwouldbe;tohelpfeedingthemoutofships;
buttheDantzigerswon’t。Colberg,apoorlittleplace,withonly700militiapeopleinit,wouldbeofimmenseservicetothemasasea—haven:buteventhistheyhavenotyettriedtoget;andaftertrying,theywillfinditajob。"WhynotunitewiththeSwedesandtakeStettin(thefinestharborintheBaltic),whichwouldbringRussia,byships,toyourveryhand?"ThisiswhatMontalembertisurgentupon,yearafteryear,tothepointofwearyingeverybody;
buthecangetnoofficialsoultopayheedtohim,——thedifficultiesaresoconsiderable。"Swedes,whatarethey?"saytheRussians:"Russianswhat?"saytheSwedes。"SwedenwouldbesohandyfortheArtilleries,"urgesMontalembert;"RussiansfortheSoldiery,orcoveringandfightingpart。"——"Can’tbedone!"
Officialityshakesitshead:andMontalembertisobligedtobesilent。
TheRussianshavegotintotheNeumarkofBrandenburg,onthosebadterms;andareclearlyawarethat,withoutsomeFortressasaPlaceofArms,theyareanovergrownIncompetencyandMonstrosityinthefieldofWar;doingmuchdestruction,mostofwhichprovesself—
destructivebeforelong。Buthowhelpit?Ifthecarryingofmealsofarbedifficultwhatwillthecarryingofsiege—furniturebe?
Aflatimpossibility。Fermor,awareofthesefacts,rememberswhathappenedatOczakow,——longago,inourpresence,andKeith’sandMunnich’s,ifthereaderhavenotquiteforgot。Munnich,onthatoccasion,tookOczakowwithoutanysiege—furniturewhatever,byboldlymarchinguptoit;nothingbutaudacityandgoodluckonhisside。FermordeterminestotryCustrininthelikeway,——ifperadventurePrussiansoldierybelikeTurk?——
FermorrosefromPosenAugust2d,almostthreeweeksago;
makingdailyfortheNeumarkandthoseunfortunateOderCountries;
nobodybutDohnatoopposehim,——Dohnaintheratioofperhapsoneagainstfour。DohnanaturallylaidholdofFrankfurtandtheOderBridge,sothatFermorcouldnotcrossthere;whereuponFermor,asthenextbestthing,strucknorthwardfortheWarta(blackPolishstream,lastbigbranchofOder);crossedthis,athisease,byLandsbergBridge,August10th[Tempelhof,ii。216。]andafteradayortwoofreadjustmentinLandsberg,madeforCustrinCountry(hisnexthead—quarterisatGrossKamin);hopinginsomeaccidentalormiraculouswaytocrossOderthereabouts,orevengetholdofCustrinasaPlaceofArms。IfperadventurehecantakeCustrinwithoutpropersiege—artillery,intheOczakoworAnti—Turkway?
FermorhasbeenbusyuponCustrinsinceAugust15th;——inwhatfashionwepartlyheard,andwillnow,fromauthenticsources,seealittleforourselves。
TheCastleofCustrin,builtbygoodJohannofCustrin,and"roofedwithcopper,"intheReformationtimes,——weknowitfromofold,andFriedrichhassincehadsomeknowledgeofit。CustrinitselfisaruggedlittleTown,withsomemoorlandtraffic,andisstillaplaceofgreatmilitarystrength,thegarrisonofthoseparts。
Itsroughpavements,itsheavystonebattlementsandbarriers,giveitaguarledobstinateaspect,——sternenoughplaceofexileforaCrown—PrincefallenintosuchdisfavorwithPapa!Arugged,compact,bynomeanshandsomelittleTown,atthemeetingoftheWartaandtheOder;standsnaturallyamongsedges,willowsanddrainedmire,exceptthathumanindustryispleasantlybusyuponit,andhaslongbeen。Sothattheneighborhoodispopulousbeyondexpectation;studdedwithroughcottagesinwhite—wash;hamletsinapavedcondition;andcomfortablesignsoflaborvictoriouslywrestlingwiththewilderness。Custrin,anarsenalandgarrison,begirtwithtworivers,andwithawfulbulwarks,andbastionscasedinstone,——"perhapstoohigh,"saythelearned,——islikelytobeimpregnabletoRussianengineeringonthoseterms。Here,withbrevity,isthecatastropheofCustrin。
TUESDAY,15thAUGUST,1758。Attwointhemorning,severalthousandRussians,grenadiers,underQuartermasterGeneralStoffeln,whomthereadersofMannsteinknowfromoldOczakowtimes,areastir;
pushingalongfromGrossKamin,throughthescraggyfirwoods,andflatpeatcountries;intendingastrokeonCustrin,ifperhapstheycangetit:[Tempelhof,ii。217;butTielcke,ii。69etseq。,therealsource。]——nottheslightestchancetogetCustrin;
PrussiansoldiershipandTurkishbeingtwoquitedifferentthings!
ThepickeeringandmanoeuvringofStoffelnshallnotdetainus。
StoffelncamealongbytheLandsbergroad(courseofthenowKonigsberg—CustrinRailway);anddroveinthePrussianout—parties,whoatfirsttookhimforCossacks。Stoffelnsethimselfdownonthenorthsideoftheplace;plantedcannonincertainclay—pitsthereabouts,andaboutnineo’clockbeganfiringshellsandincendiarygrenadoesatagreatrate。Tielckesaweverything,——andhadthehonortotakeluncheon,thatevening,withcertainchiefOfficers,sittingontheground,afterallwasover,andonlyafewshotsfromtheGarrisonstilldropping。[Tielcke,ii。75n。]
Atthethirdgrenade,which,itseems,fellintoastrawmagazine,Custrintookfire;couldnotbequenchedagain,somuchdrywoodinit,somuchdisordertoo,theverysoldierssomeofthemdisorderly(abaddeserterset);sothatitsoonflamedaloft,——fromsidetosideoneseaofflame:andman,womanandchild,everysoul(excepttheGarrison,whichsatenclosedinstrongstone),hadtoflyacrosstheRiver,underpenaltyofdeathbyfire。OfCustrin,byfiveintheevening,therewasnothingleftbuttheblackashes;
theGarrisonstandingunharmed,andtheChurch,School—houseandsomestoneedificesinacharredskeletoncondition。"Nolifewaslost,exceptthatofonechildinarms。"AllNeumarkhadlodgeditsvaluablesinthisplaceofstrength;allareflednowinhorrorandterroracrosstheOder,bytheBridge,beforeitalsounquenchablytakesfire,atthewesternornon—Russianendoftheplace。Suchadayaswasseldomseeninhumanexperience;——Fermorresponsibleforit,happilynotwe。
Fermor,intheevening,saidtohisArtilleryPeople:"Whyhaveyouceasedtofiregrenadoes?""Excellency,theTownisout;
nothingnowbutashesandstone。""Nevermind;givethemtherest,oneeveryquarterofanhour。Weshallnotneedthegrenadoesagain。Thecannon—ballsweshall;them,therefore,donotwaste。"
Onthemorrowmorning,afterthisperformanceontheTown,FermorsendsaTrumpeter:"Surrenderorelse——!"ratherinthetremendousstyle。"Orelse?"answerstheCommandant,pointingtotheashes,totheblackinconsumablestones;andisdeaftothisEX—POST—FACTO
Trumpeter。TheRussianssaytheysentoneyesterdaymorning,notEX—POST—FACTO,buthewaskilledinthepickeerings,andneverheardofagain。AmileorsotorearofCustrin,onthewestwardorBerlinsideoftheRiver,liesDohnaforthelastfourdays;
expectingthattheLawsofNaturewillholdgood,andCustrinprovetenableagainstsuchsieging。SostandsitonFriedrich’sarrival。
WeleftFriedrichintheLebusSuburbofFrankfurt,Sunday,August20th,listeningtothedistantcannonade。Nextmorning,heisherehimself;atDohna’sCampofGorgast,takingsurveyofaffairs;
cameearly,underrapidsmallescort,leavinghisArmytofollow;
scornandcontemptuousindignationthehumorofhim,theysay;
resolutiontobeswiftlyhomeuponthatsurprisingRussianarmament,andteachitnewmanners。TheblackskeletonofCustrinstareshideouslyacrosstheRiver;"CustrinSiege"socalledstillgoingon;——hadbettermakedespatchnow,andtakeitselfaway!
HegreatlydespisesRussiansoldiership:"Pooh,pooh,"hewouldanswer,ifKeithfromexperiencesaid,"YourMajestydoesnotdoitjustice;"——andKeithhasbeenknowntohint,"Ifthetrialevercome,yourMajestywillalterthatopinion。"Adayortwohence,amidthesehideousRussianfire—traceries,theHussarsbringhimadozenofCossackstheyhavemadeprisoners:Friedrichlooksatthedirtygreenvagabonds;saystooneofhisStaff:"AndthisisthekindofDoggeryIhavetobotherwith!"——Thesightofthepoorcountry—people,andtheirtearsofjoyandofsorrowonhisreappearanceamongthem,muchaffectedhim。TakinginspectionofDohna,hefindsDohnawonderfullyclean,pipe—clayed,complete:
"Youareveryfineindeed,you;——Ibringyouasetoffellows,roughasGRASTEUFELN["grass—devils,"Ineverknowwhetherinsectsorbirds];buttheycanbite,"——hopeyoucan!
Tuesday,August32d,atfiveinthemorningourArmyhasallarrived,theFrankfurtpeoplejustcomein;30,000ofusnowinCampatGorgast。FriedrichordersstraightwaythatacertainRussianRedoubtontheothersideoftheRiver,atSchaumburg,amileortwodownstream,bewellcannonadedintoruin,——asifhetookitforsomeincipiencyofaRussianBridge,orwerehimselfmindedtocrosshere,undercoverofCustrin。Friedrich’sintentionverycertainlyistocross,——hereornotjusthere;——andthatsamenight,aftersomehoursofresttotheFrankfurtpeople,——nightofTuesday—Wednesday,Friedrich,havingpersuadedtheRussiansthathiscrossing—placewillbetheirRedoubtatSchaumburg,marchestenortwelvemilesdowntheRiver,silentlyhis30,000andhe,tilloppositetheVillageofGustebiese;rapidlymakeshisBridgesthere,unmolested:Fermor,withhiseyeonthecannonadedRedoubtonly,hasexpectednosuchmatter;andismuchastonishedwhenhehearsofit,twentyhoursafter。Friedrich,acrosswiththevanguard,atanearlyhourofWednesday,getsupontheknollatGustebieseforaview;andallGustebiese,hearingofhim,hurriesout,withlow—voicedtremulousblessings,irrepressibletears:
"GodrewardyourMajesty,thathavecometous!"——andthereisahustlingandastruggling,amongthewomenespecially,tokisstheskirtsofhiscoat。Poorsouls:onecouldhavestoodtremendouscheers;butthisisathingIforgiveFriedrichforbeingvisiblyaffectedwith。
FriedrichleaveshisbaggageontheothersideoftheOder,andtheBridgeguarded;ourfriendHordt,withhisFree—Corps,doingit,Friedrichmarchesforwardsometenmilesthatnight;
eastward,straightforGrossKamin,asiftotaketheRussiansinrear;encampsataplacecalledKlossow,spreadinghimselfobliquelytowardstheMutzel(blacksluggishtributaryoftheOderinthoseparts),meaningtoreachNeuDammontheMutzelto—morrow,therealmostwithinwindoftheRussians,andbereadyforcrossingonthem。ItwasatKlossow(23dAugust,evening),thattheHussarsbroughtintheirdozenortwoofCossacks,andhehadhisfirstsightofRussiansoldiery;bynomeansafavorableone,"Ugh,onlylook!"——AswearenowapproachingZorndorf,andthemonstroustugofBattlewhichfelloutthere,readerswillbegladofthefollowing:——
"FromDammontheMutzel,whereFriedrichintendscrossingitto—morrownight,southtoGrossKamin,notfarfromtheWarta,whereFermor’shead—quarterlatelywas,maybeaboutfivemiles。
FromCustrin,Kaminliesnortheastabouteightortenmiles:
Zorndorf,themostconsiderableVillageinthistract,lies——littledreamingofthesadglorycomingtoit——prettymuchinthecentrebetweenbigWartaandsmallerMutzel。TheCountryisbynatureapeatwilderness,farandwide;butithasbeentamedextensively;
growscrops,greenpastures;iselsewherecoveredwithwood(Scotchfir,scraggyinsize,butevidentlyunderforestmanagement);
perhapshalfthecountryisinFirtracts,whattheycallHEIDEN
(Heaths);thecultivatedspaceslyinglikelight—greenislandswithblack—greenchannelsandexpansesofcircumambientFir。TheDrewitzHeath,theMassinorZitherHeath,andothersaboutZorndorf,willbecomenotabletous。TheCountryisnowmuchdrierthaninFriedrich’stime;thehumanspadedoingitsdutyeverywhere:
sothatmuchoftheBattle—groundhasbecomeirrecognizable,whencomparedwiththeoldmarshydescriptionsgivenofit。Zorndorf,aroughsubstantialHamlet,hasnothingofboggynowvisiblenearby;
lieseasttowest,afirmbroadhighwayleadingthrough:aseaofforestbeforeit,tosouth;tonorth,gooddrybarley—groundsorrye—grounds,sensiblyrisingforhalfamile,thenwavingaboutinvariousslowslightchangesofleveltowardsQuartschen,Zicher,&c。:forminganirregularcleared’island,’altogetherofperhapsfourmilesbythree,withunlimitedcircumambienciesofwood。
Itwashere,onthisislandaswecallit,thattheBattle,whichhasmadeZorndorffamous,wasfought。
"Zorndorf(oreventheopengroundhalfamiletonorthofit,whichwillbemoreimportanttous)isprobablynot50feetabovetheleveloftheMutzel,nor100aboveWartaandOder,sixmilesoff;butitisthecrownoftheCountry;——thegrounddroppingtherefromeveryway,inlazydullwavesorswells;towardsTamselandGrossKaminonsoutheast;towardsBirken—Busch,Quartschen,Darmutzel[DARoftheMutzel,whatever"DAR"maybe。]onnorthwest;
aswellastowardsDammanditsBridgenortheast,whereFriedrichwillsoonbe,andtowardsCustrinsouthwest,wherehelatelywas,eachafiveorsixmilesfromZorndorf。
"SuchisthepoormoorlandtractofCountry;Zorndorfthecentreofit,——wherethebattleislikelytobe:——Zorndorfandenvironsabarequasi—islandamongthesewoods;extensivebaldcrownofthelandscape,girtwithafrizzleoffirwoodsallround。Boggypoolsthereare,especiallyonthewesternside(alldrainedinourtime)。Mutzel,ornorthside,isofcoursethelowestinlevel:
andaccordingly,"whatismuchtobemarkedbyreadershere,"fromthesouth,orZorndorfside,atwideintervals,theresaunteralong,inaslowobscuremanner,ThreemiserablecontinuousLeakages,oroozyThreadsofWater,allmakingforQuartschen,tonorthornorthwest,theretodisembogueintotheMutzel。EachofthesehasitslittleHollow;ofwhichthewesternmost,calledZabernHollow(ZABERNGRUND),isthemostconsiderable,andthemostimportanttoushere:GALGENGRUND(Gallows—Hollow)isalsoworthnaminginthisBattle;thethirdLeakage,thoughwithoutimportance,invitesustonameit,HOSEBRUCH,quasiSTOCKING—
quagmire,——becauseyoucanusenostockingsthere,exceptwithmanifestdisadvantage。"——Takethisotherconcludingtrait:——……"Inexpressiblefringeofmarsh,twoorthreemilesbroad,mostlybottomless,wovenwithsluggishcreeksandstagnantpools,borderstheWartaformanymilestowardsLandsberg;
Custrin—LandsbergCausewaythealonesurefootinginit;afterwhich,thecountryrisesinsensibly,butmostbeneficially,andismainlydriertillyougettotheMutzelagain,andfindthesamefringeofmudlace—workagain,Zorndorfwecalledthecrownofit。
Tamsel,Wilkersdorf,KleinKamin,GrossKamin,andotherplacesknowntous,lieonthedryturf—fuelcountry,butlookingovercloseuponthehemofthatmarsh—fringe,andnodoubtgettingpeats,wildducks,pike—fishes,eels,andsnatchesofsummerpastureandcow—hayoutofit。"
Thursday,August24th,Friedrichisagainspeedingon;
occupyingDarmutzelandothercrossing—placesoftheMutzel;
[MitchelltoHolderness,"DErmItzel,24thAugust,1758"(MEMOIRS
ANDPAPERS,i。425;Ib。ii。40—47,Mitchell’sPrivateJournal)。]——
bynomeanshimselfcrossingthere;onthecontrary,carefullybreakingalltheBridgesbeforehego("NoretreatforthoseRussianvagabonds,onlydeathorsurrenderforthem!")——himselfnotintendingtocrosstillhebeupatDamm,NeuDamm,welleastwardofhisRussians,andhavegotthemallpinfoldedbetweenMutzelandOderinthatway。Intheevening,hereachesDammandtheMillofDamm,somethreeorfourmileshigheruptheMutzel;——andtherepushespartlyacrossatonce。Thatistosay,hisvanguardatonce,andtakesadefensiveposition;hisArtilleryandotherDivisionsbydegrees,inthesilentnighthours;and,beforedaybreakto—morrow,everysoulwillbeacross,andtheBridgebrokenagain;
——andFermorhadbetterhavehisaccountssettled。
Fermor’srovingCossackcloudsseldombringhiminintelligence;
butonlyreturnstainedwithcharcoalgrimeandredmurder:uptolatelastnight,hehadnotknownwhereFriedrichwasatall;
hadidlythoughthimbusywiththeSchaumburgRedoubt,ontheothersideofOder,fencingandprecautioning:butnow(nightofthe23d),theseCossacksdocomeinwithnews,"Indisputabletoourpoorminds,thePrussiansareatKlossowyonder,——capturedadozengreenvagabondsofus,andhavesentusgalloping!"——whichnews,withthenightclosinginonhim,wasastonishing,thriceandfourtimesimportanttoFermor。
InstantlyheraisesthesiegeofCustrin,anysiegetherewas;
getshisimmensebaggage—trainshovedoffthatnighttoKleinKamin,Landsbergway;summonstheforcefromLandsbergtojoinhimwithoutlossofamoment;——andinthemeanwhilepitcheshimselfinlongbivouacintheDrewitzWoodorFir—Heath,withthequaggyZaberngrundinfront。QuaggyZaberngrund,——doreadersrememberit;
oneofthose"ThreecontinuousLeakages,"veryimportant,toFermorandusatpresent?ThisisthesafestplaceFermorcanfindforhimself;scraggyfirsaround,goodquagmiresandZabernHollowinfront;lookingtotheeast,waitingwhatanewdaywillbring。
ThatwasFermor’sposture,whileFriedrichquittedKlossowinthedawnofthe24th。Bebusy,yeCossackdoggeries;returnwithnews,notwithmeregrimeandmarksofbloodonyourmouths!
Eveningofthe24th,CossacksreportthatFriedrichhasgottoDammMill;hasholdoftheBridgethere;andmaybelookedfor,sureasthedaylight,to—morrow。Fermoris50,000odd,hisLandsbergforcesallcomingin;oneDetachmentoutStettinway,whichcannotcomein;Fermorfindsthathisbaggage—trainisfairlyontheroadtoKleinKamin;——andthathewillhavetoquitthisboskybivouac,andfightforhimselfintheopenground,ordoworse。
THESEUSANDTHEMINOTAUROVERAGAIN,——THATISTOSAY,FRIEDRICHATHAND—GRIPSWITHFERMORANDHISRUSSIANS
(25THAUGUST,1758)。
ArtlessFermordrawsouttotheopenground,northofZorndorf,southofQuartschen;arrangeshimselfinhugequadrilateralmass,withhis"staff—baggage"(lighterbaggage)inthecentre,andhisfront,sotospeak,everywhere。[ExcellentPlanofhim,orratherPlans,inhissuccessiveshapes,inTielcke,ii。(PLATES4,5,6,7,8)。]Mass,saytwomileslongbyonemilebroad;butitisbynomeansregular,andhasmanyzigzagsaccordingtotheground,andnarrowsanddroopssouthwardontheeasternend:oneofthemostartlessarrangements;butknowntoFermor,andthereadiestonthispinchoftime。Munnichdevisedthisquadrilateralmode;andfounditgoodagainsttheTurks,andtheirdelugesofraginghorseandfoot:Fermorcouldperhapsdobetter;butthereissuchapressofhurry。Fermor’swesternflank,orbiggestbreadthofquadrilateral,leansonthatZabernHollow,withitsfinequagmires;hiseastern,narrowestpart,droopsdownoncertainmud—poolsandconveniencestowardsZicher。GallowsHollow,aslighterthantheZabern,runsthroughthecentreofhim;andwithhisbestpeoplehefrontstowardstheMutzelBridges,especiallytowardsDamm—MillBridgewhenceFriedrichwillemerge,sureasthesunrise,oneknowsnotwithwhatissue。ArtlessFermorisnothingdaunted;norarehispeople;butstandpatientlyunderarms,regardlessoffutureandpresent,toadegreenotcommoninsoldiering。
Friday,August25th,byhalf—pastthreeinthemorning,FriedrichisacrosstheMutzel;selfandInfantrybyDamm—MutzelBridge,cavalrybyanotherBridge(KERSTEN—BRUGGE,means"ChristianBridge,"inthedialectofCharlemagne’stime,averyoldarrangementofSuccessiveLogsupthere!)somefurlongshigherup。
TheBridgeatDammisperhapssomethreemilesfromthenearestRussiansaboutZicher;butFriedrichhasnothoughtofattackingFermorthere;hehasaquiteotherprogramlaid,andwillattackFermorpreciselyonthesideoppositetothere。
Friedrich’sintentionistosweepquiteroundthismonstrousRussianquadrilateral;tobreakinuponitonthewesternflank,andhurlitbackuponMutzelanditsquagmires。Hehasbrokenhistwobridgesafterpassing,allbridgesaregonethere,andthecountryisbottomless:surrenderatdiscretionifonceyouaredriventhither!AndFriedrich’sownretreat,ifhefail,isshortandopentoCustrin。"Admirable,"saytheCritics,"andaltogetherinFriedrich’sstyle!"——Friedrich,addsoneCritic,wasnotawarethattheRussianHeavy—BaggageTrain,whichistheirpowder—flaskandbread—basketandstaffoflife,liesatKleinKamin,withinfewmilesonhisleftjustnow,Russiansthemselvesonhisright;
thattheRussianscouldhavebeenabolishedfromthosecountrieswithoutfightingatall![Retzow,i。305—329。]Thisisverytrue。
Friedrich’shasteisgreat,hishumorhot;andhehasnotheardofthisKlein—Kaminfact,whichincommontimeshewouldhavedone,andofwhichinacalmermoodhewould,withafinescientificgusto,havetakenhisadvantage。
Friedrichpoursincessantsouthward;cavalryparalleltoinfantryandacertaindistancebeyondit,eastwardofit;andtheyhaveburnttheBridges;whichisacuriousfact!Continuallysouthward,asifforTamsel:——pooroldTamsel,doreadersrecollectitatall,doesFriedrichatall?Nopleasantdinner,orlily—and—rosecomplexions,thereforoneto—day!——SomedistanceshortofTamsel,Friedrich,emerging,turnswestward;——intendingwhatonearth?
thinksFermor。Friedrichhasbeenmostlyhiddenbythewoodsallthiswhile,andenigmatictoFermor。Fermordoesnowatlastseethecolorofthefacts;——andthatone’schieffrontmustchangeitselftosouthward,one’sbestlegandarmbeforemost,ortowardsZorndorf,nottowardstheMutzelashitherto。FermorstirsuphisQuadrilateral,makestherequiredchange,"You,bestornorthernline,stepacross,andfrontsouthward;acrosstosouthward,Isay;
second—bestgonorthwardintheirstead:"andso,withsomeotherslightpolishings,suggestedbythegroundandphenomena,weanewawaitthisPrussianEnigmawithourbestlegforemost。ThemarchorcircularsweepofthesePrussianlines,fromDammBridgethroughthewoodsandchampaigntotheirappointedplaceofaction,issevenoreightmiles;lineswhenhaltedinbattle—orderwillbetwomileslongormore。
Friedrichpourssteadilyalong,horseandfoot,bytherearcfWilkersdorf,ofZorndorf,——RussianMinotaurscrutinizinghiminthatmannerwithdullbloodshoteyes,uncertainwhathewilldo。
Itiseightinthemorning,hotAugust;windamerelull,butsouthernlyifany。SmallHussarpicketsridetorightofthemainArmyMarch;tokeeptheCossacksincheck:whoarerovingabout,allonwing;andpertenough,inspiteoftheHussarpickets,DesperadoindividualsofthemgallopuptotheInfantryranks,andfireofftheirpistolsthere,——withoutreply;replyorfiring,tillthewordcome,isstrictlyforbidden。Infantrypoursalong,likeaploughmandrawinghisfurrow,heedlessofthecirclingcrows。
CrowsorCossacks,findingtheyarenotregarded,setfiretoZorndorf,andgallopoff。Zorndorfgoesupreadily,mainlywoodandstraw;rollsinbigcloudsofsmokefarnorthwardinupontheRussianMinotaur,makinghimstillblinderintheimportantmomentsnowcoming。
FriedrichridesuptoviewtheZabernHollow:"Beyondexpectationdeep;veryboggytoo,withitsfoulleakageorbrook:noattackingoftheirwesternflankthroughthisZaberngrund;——attackthecornerofthem,then;hereonthesouthwest!"ThatisFriedrich’srapidresource。Thelineshalt,accordingly;makeready。BehindflamingZorndorfstandshisextremeleft,whichistomaketheattack;
infantryinfront;horsetorearandfartherleftwards,——andunderthecommandofSeidlitzinthisquarter,whichisanimportantcircumstance。Rightwing,reachingtobehindWilkersdorf,istorefuseitself;wholeforceofcentreistopushuponthatRussiancorner,tosupporttheleftindoingit;——accordingtotheLeuthenorLEUCTRAprinciple,oncemore。Maynomistakesoccurinexecutingitthisday!——
ThefirstdivisionofthePrussianInfantry,orextremeLeft,marchesforwardbythewestendofflamingZorndorf;nextdivision,whichshouldstandclosetorightofit,orevenbehinditinaction,andfollowitcloseintotheRussianfire,hastomarchbytheeastendofZorndorf;thisisafartherroad,owingtotheflames;andnotaluckyone。Seconddivisioncouldnevergetintofaircontactwiththatfirstdivisionagain:thatwasthemistake:
anditmighthavebeenfatal,butwasnot,asweshallsee。
FirstdivisionhasgotclearofZorndorf,inadvancingtowardsitsRussianbusiness;——isstridingforward,itsleftflanksafeagainsttheZaberngrund;steadilybyfixedstages,againstthefatedRussianCorner,whichisitspointofattack。Firstdivision,seconddivision,areclearofZorndorf,thoughwithawidegapbetweenthem;aresteadilystridingforwardtowardstheRussianCorner。Twostrongbatteries,wideapart,haveplantedthemselvesahead;andareplayingupontheRussianQuadrilateral,theirfirescrossingatthedueCorneryonder,withterribleeffect;
Russianartillery,whicharemultitudinousandallgathereddowntothissouthwesterncorner,areresponding,thoughwiththeirfirespread,andfarlesseffectual。ThePrussianlinestepson,extremeleftperhapsintooanimatedamanner;theircannonbatteriesenfiladethethickmassofRussiansatafrightfulrate("forty—
twomenofacertainregimentblownawaybyasingleball,"inoneinstance[Tielcke。]),drivetheinteriorbaggage—horsestodespair:
averyagitatedQuadrilateral,underitsgrimcanopyofcannonsmoke,andofstrawsmoke,heapedonitfromtheZorndorfsidehere。Manteuffel,leaderofthatfirstorleftmostdivision,seestheinternalsimmering;stepsforwardstillmorebriskly,tofiringdistance;beginshisplatoonthunder,withtheduesteadyfury,——
hadtheseconddivisionbutgotuptosupportManteuffel!
Theseconddivisionisinfiretoo;butnotclosetoManteuffel,whereitshouldbe。
Fermornoticesthegap,thewaveringofManteuffelunsupported;
plungesoutinimmensetorrent,horseandfoot,intothegap,intoManteuffel’sflankandfront;hurlsManteuffelback,whohasnosupportathand:"ARAH,ARAH(Hurrah,Hurrah)!Victory,Victory!"
shouttheRussians,plungingwildlyforward,sweepingallbeforethem,capturingtwenty—sixpiecesofcannon,foroneitem。WhatamomentforFriedrich;lookingonitfromsomeknollsomewherenearZorndorf,Isuppose;hastilybiddingSeidlitzstrikein:
"Seidlitz,now!"ThehurrahingRussianscannotkeeprankatthatrateofgoing。likeabuffalostampede;butfallintoheapsandgaps:Seidlitz,withaswiftness,withadexteritybeyondpraise,haspickedhiswayacrossthatquaggyZabernHollow;falls,withsay5,000horse,ontheflankofthisbigbuffalostampede;
tumblesitintoinstantruin;——whichprovesirretrievable,asthePrussianInfantrycomeonagain,andbackSeidlitz。
Infifteenminutesmore(Iguessitnowtobeteno’clock),theRussianMinotaur,thisendofit,ontotheGallowsGround,isonewildmass。Seldomwasthereseensuchacharge;issuiuginsuchdelugesofwreck,ofchaoticflight,orchaoticrefusaltofly。
TheSeidlitzcavalrywentsabringtill,forveryfatigue,theygaveitup,andcouldnomore。TheRussianhorsefledtoKutzdorf,——
Fermorwiththem,whosawnomoreofthisFight,anddidnotgetbacktilldark;——hadnottheBridgesbeenburnt,andnocrossingoftheMutzelpossible,Fermorneverwouldhavecomeback,andherehadbeentheendofZorndorf。Luckierifithad!ButthereisnocrossingoftheMutzel,thereisonlydrowninginthequagmiresthere:——deathanyway;whatcanbedonebutdie?
TheRussianinfantrystandtobesabred,intheabovemanner,asiftheyhadbeendeadoxen。MoreremotefromSeidlitz,theybreakopenthesutlers’brandy—casks,andinfewminutesgetroaringdrunk。
Theirofficers,desperate,splitthebrandy—casks;soldiersflapdowntodrinkitfromthepuddles;furiouslyremonstratewiththeirofficers,and"killagoodmanyofthem"(VIELE,saysTielcke),especiallytheforeignsort。"Afrightfulblood—bath,"byalltheAccounts:blood—bath,brandy—bath,andchiefNucleusofChaosthenextantaboveground。Fermorissweptaway:thischaos,theveryPrussiansdrawingbackfromit,weariedwithmassacring,laststillaboutoneo’clock。UptotheGallows—groundtheMinotaurismerewreckanddelirium:butbeyondtheGallows—ground,theotherhalfformsanewfronttoitself;becomesanewMinotaur,thoughinreducedshape。ThisisPartFirstoftheBattleofZorndorf;
Friedrich——ontheedgeofgreatdisasteratonemoment,butmiraculouslysaved——hasstilltheotherhalftodo(unluckythatheleftnoBridgesontheMutzel),andmustagainchangehisprogram。
HalfoftheMinotaurisgonetoshredsinthismanner;buttheattackuponit,too,isspent:whatistobedonewiththeotherhalfofthemonster,whichisagainalive;whichstillstands,andpolypus—likehasarrangedanewlifeforitself,anewfrontagainsttheGalgengrundyonder?Friedrichbringshisrightwingintoaction。Rapidlyarrangesrightwing,centre,alloftheleftthatisdisposable,withbatteries,withcavalry;foranattackontheoppositeorsoutheasternendofhismonster。Ifyourmonster,polypus—like,comealiveagaininthetail—part,youmustfellthatotherheadofhim。Batteries,wellinadvance,beginworkuponthenewheadofthemonster,whichwasoncehistail;freshtroops,longlinesofthem,pushingforwardtobeginplatoon—volleying:——
timenow,Ishouldguess,abouthalf—pasttwo。Ourinfantryhasnotyetgotwithinmusket—range,——whentorrentsofRussianHorse,Foottoofollowing,plungeout;wide—flowing,stormfullyswift;anddashagainstthecomingattack。Dashagainstit;staggerit;actuallytumbleitback,inthecentrepart;takeoneofthebatteries,andawholebattalionprisoners。Hereagainisamoment!Friedrich,theysay,rushedpersonallyintothisvortex;ralliedthesebrokenbattalions,againralliedandledthemup;butitwastonopurpose:theycouldnotbemadetostand,thesecentrebattalions;
——"somesuddenpanicinthem,athingunaccountable,"saysTempelhof;"theyareDohna’speople,whofoughtperfectlyatJagersdorf,andoftenelsewhere"(theywereallinsuchafinelyburnishedstatetheotherday;buthavenotbitingtalent,likethegrass—devils):enough,theyfairlyscouraway,certaindisgracefulbattalions,andarenotgotrankedagaintillbelowWilkersdorf,aboveamileoff;thoughthegrass—devils,onbothhandsofthem,standgrimlysteady,leftinthisominousmanner。
Whatwouldhavebecomeoftheaffaironeknowsnot,ifithadnotbeenthatSeidlitzoncemoremadehisappearance。OnFriedrich’sorder,oronhisown,Idonotknow;butsureitis,Seidlitz,withsixty—onesquadrons,arrivingfromsomedistance,breaksinlikeaDEUSEXMACHINA,swiftasthestorm—wind,uponthisRussianHorse—
torrent;drivesitagainbeforehimlikeameretorrentofchaff,back,everback,totheshoreofAcheronandtheStygianquagmires(oftheMutzel,namely);sothatitdidnotreturnagain;andthePrussianinfantryhadfreefieldfortheirplatoonexercise。
TheirrageagainsttheRussianswasextreme;andthatoftheRussianscorresponded。Threeofthesegrass—devilbattalions,whostoodnearesttoDohna’srunaways,werenativesofthissameburnt—
outZorndorfCountry;wemayfancythePlatt—Teutschheartsofthem,andthesacredlightning,withamoisturetoit,thatwasintheireyes。Platt—Teutschplatooning,bayonet—charging,——onsuchtermsnoRussianormortalQuadrilateralcanstandit。TheRussianMinotaurgoesalltoshredsasecondtime;butwillnotrun。
"Noquarter!"——"Well,then,none!"
"Shortlyafterfouro’clock,"saymyAccounts,"thefiring,"
regularfiring,"altogetherceased;ammunitionnearlyspent,onbothsides;Prussianssnatchingcartridge—boxesofRussiandead;"
andthenbeganatugofdeadlymassacringandwrestlingmantoman,"withbayonets,withbuttsofmuskets,withhands,evenwithteeth[insomeRussianinstances],suchaswasneverseenbefore。"
TheRussians,beatentofragments,wouldnotrun:whitherrun?
BehindisMutzelandthebogofAcheron;——onMutzelisnobridgeleft;"theshoreofMutzelisthickwithmenandhorses,whohavetriedtocross,andliethereswallowedintheooze"——"likeapavement,"saysTielcke。TheRussians,——neverwassuchVISINERTIAE
astheirsnow。Theystoodlikesacksofclay,likeoxenalreadydead;notevenifyoushotabulletthroughthem,wouldtheyfallatonce,saysArchenholtz,butseemtobedeliberateaboutit。
Completedisorderreignedonbothsides;exceptthatthePrussianscouldalwaysformagainwhenbidden,theRussiansnot。Thislastedtillnightfall,——Russiansgettingthemselvesshovedawayonthesehorridterms,andobstinatetotakenoother。Towardsdark,thereappeared,onadistantknoll,somethinglikearankedbodyofthemagain,——some2,000footandhalfasmanyhorse;whomThemicoud(superlativeSwissCossack,usuallywrittenDemikoforDemikow)hadpickedup,andpersuadedfromtheshoreofAcheron,backtothisknollofvantage,andsomecannonwiththem。Friedrichordersthesetobedispersedagain:GeneralForcade,withtwobattalions,takingthefrontofthem,shallattackthere;you,GeneralRauter,bringupthoseDohnafellowsagain,andtaketheminflank。
Forcadepusheson,Rautertoo,——butatthefirsttasteofcannon—
shot,thesepoorDohna—people(suchtheirnowflurried,disgracedstateofmind)taketoflightagain,worsethanbefore;rushquitethroughWilkersdorfthistime,intothewoods,andcanhardlybegottogetheratall。Scandaloustothinkof。NowonderFriedrich"lookedalwaysaskanceonthoseregimentsthathadbeenbeatenatGrossJagersdorf,andtotheendofhislifegavethemproofsofit:"[Retzow;——andstillmoreemphatically,BriefeeinesaltenPreussischenOfficiers(Hohenzollern,1790),i。34,ii。52,&c。]verynatural,iftherestwerelikethese!
OfpoorGeneralRauter,Tempelhofandtheothers,thatcanhelpit,arepolitelysilent;onlySaxonTielcketellsus,thatFriedrichdismissedhim,"Go,you,tosomeothertrade!"——which,onPrussianevidencetoo,expressedinveiledterms,Ifindtobethefact:
Militair—Lexikon,obligedtohaveanarticleonRauter,isverybriefaboutit;hintsnothingunkind;
recordshispersonalintrepidity;andsays,"in1758he,onhisrequest,hadleavetowithdraw,"——poorsoul,leaveandmore!
Forcade,lefttohimself,keptcannonadingThemicoud;
Themicoudresponding,wouldnotgo;stoodonhisknollofvantage,butgatherednostrength:"Lethimstand,"saidFriedrich,aftersometime;andThemicoudmeltedintheshadesofnight,graduallytowardsthehithershoreofAcheron,——thatis,ofAcheron—Mutzel,nonenowattemptingtoPAVEitfarther,butsimmeringaboutattheirsadleisurethere。FeldmarschallFermorisnowgottohispeopleagain,orhispeopletohim;reunitedinplaceandluck:
suchachaosasFermorneversawbeforeorafter。Noregimentorbattalionnowis;meresimmeringmonads,thisfineArmy;
officersdoingtheirutmosttocobbleitintosomethingofrank,withoutregardtoregimentsorqualities。Darknessseldomsankonsuchascene。
WildCossackpartiesarescouringoverallpartsofthefield;
robbingthedead,murderingthewounded;doingarson,too,whereverpossible;andevensnatchingatthePrussiancannonleftrearwards,sothattheHussarshavetogouponthemagain。OnelargemassofthemplunderingintheHamletofZicher,theHussarssurrounded:
theCossackstooktotheouthouses;squatted,ran,calledintheaidoffire,theirconstantfriend:above400ofthemwereinsomebigbarn,orrangeofstrawhouses;andsetfiretoit,——butcouldnotgetoutforHussars;theHussarswereattheoutgate:Notadevilofyou!saidtheHussars;andthewholefourhundredperishedthere,choked,burnt,orslainbytheHussars,——andthispoorPlanetwasatlengthridofthem。[Helden—Geschichte,v。166。]
Friedrichsendsforhistent—equipages;andtheArmypitchesitscampintwobiglines,runningnorthandsouth,lookingtowardstheRussiansideofthings;Friedrich’stentinfrontofthefirstline;awarriorKingamonghispeople,whohavehadaday’sworkofit。TheRussianlossturnsout,whencounted,tohavebeen21,529
killed,woundedandmissing,7,990ofthemkilled;thePrussiansum—totalis11,390(abovethePrussianthirdman),ofwhom3,680
slain。AndontheshoresofAcheronnorthwardyonder,therestillisasimmering。Andfarandwidethecountryisalightwithincendiaryfires,——manydevilsstillabroad。ExcellencyMitchell,abouteightintheevening,issentforbytheKing;findsvariouschiefGenerals,Seidlitzamongthem,ontheirvariousbusinessesthere;congratulates"onthenoblevictory[notsoconclusivehitherto]whichHeavenhasgrantedyourMajesty。""Haditnotbeenforhim,"saidFriedrich,——"Haditnotbeenforhim,thingswouldhavehadabadlookbythistime!"andturnedhissun—eyesuponSeidlitz,withafineexpressioninthem。[Preuss,ii。153。
Mitchell(ii。432)mentionstheInterview,nothingofSeidlitz。]
TowhichSeidlitz’sreply,Ifind,wasanembarrassedblushandofarticulateonly,"Hm,no,ha,itwasyourMajesty’sCavalrythatdidtheirduty,——butWakenitz[mysecond]doesdeservepromotion!"
——whichWakenitz,notinatoooverflowingmeasure,got。
Fermor,duringthenight—watches,havingcobbledhimselfintosomekindofranksorrows,movesdownwellwestwardofZabernHollow;
totheDrewitzHeath,whereheoncebeforelay,andtheremakeshisbivouacinthewood,safeunderthefir—trees,withtheZaberngroundtofrontofhim。Bytheabovereckoning,28or29,000stillhangtoFermor,orfloatvaporouslyroundhim;withFriedrich,inhistwolines,aresome18,000:——inwhole,46,000tiredmortalssleepingthereabouts;near12,000othershavefallenintoadeepersleep,notliabletobedisturbed;——andofthewoundedonthefield,oneshudderstoimagine。