SaganTownmaybeabout70milesnorthwardofwhereFriedrichnowis:fromSagan,weretheyonceinthemeridianofSagan,theirroadisfreeeastwardandnorthward;——toCrossenisabout60milesnorth—by—eastfromSagan,toFrankfurtnear100north。SaganisontheBober;Bober,ineveryevent,isbetweentheAustriansandtheiraim。
Friedrichfeelsthat,howeverdangeroustoquitDaun’sneighborhood,hemust,heinperson,goatonce。Andwho,intheinterim,willwatchDaunandhisenterprises?Friedrich’sreflectionsare:"Well,inthecrisisofthemoment,Saxony——thoughtherealreadyaremaraudingBodiesofReichsfolkinit——muststillbelefttoitselfforatime;orcannotFinckandhis10,000looktoit?Henri,withhisArmy,nowuselessatBautzen,shallinstantlyrendezvousatSagan;hisArmytogowithme,againsttheRussiansandtheirHaddick—Loudons;HenritoSchmottseifen,insteadofme,andattendtoDaun;Henri,Ihavenootherleft!Finckandhis10,000musttakechargeofSaxony,suchchargeashecan:——howluckythoseSpringForays,whichdestroyedtheReichsMagazines!
WherebythereisnoReichsArmyyetgotintoSaxony(nothingbutpreliminarypulsesandsplashingsofit);noneyet,norliketobequiteatonce。"ThatisFriedrich’sswiftplan。
Henriroseontheinstant,asdideverybodyconcerned:July29th,HenriandArmywereatSagan;ArmywaitingfortheKing;HenrisofaronhisroadtoSchmottseifen。HehadcometoSagan"byalmosttherapidestmarcheseverheardof,"——orevertillsomeothersofHenri’sown,whichhemadeinthatneighborhoodsoon。Punctual,he,tohisday;asareEugenofWurtemberg’speople,andallDetachmentsandDivisions:FriedrichhimselfarrivesatSaganthatsame29th,"aboutmidnight,"——andfindsplentyofworkwaiting:
nosleepthesetwonightspast;andnonecomingjustyet!Amostswiftrendezvous。Thespeedofeverybodyhasbeen,andneedsstilltobe,intense。
ThisrendezvousatSagan——intersectionofHenriandFriedrich,bounddifferentroads(theBrothers,Ithink,didnotpersonallymeet,HenrihavingdrivenoffforSchmottseifenbyashorterroad)
——wasSUNDAY,JULY29th。Followingwhich,aresixdaysofsuchahuntforthoseAustrianreynardsasseldomorneverwas!
Mostvehement,breathless,bafflinghunt;halfofitspentinpainfullybeatingcover,inmerefindingandlosing。Notrightlysuccessful,afterall。Sothat,ontheeighthdayhence,AUGUST
6th,atMullrose,nearFrankfurt,80milesfromSagan,thereisasecondrendezvous,——rendezvousofWedellandFriedrich,whodonotnow"intersect,"butmeetafterthehuntisdone;——andintheinterim,therehasbeenawonderfulperformance,thoughanunsuccessful。FriedrichnevercouldrightlygetholdofhisAustrians。Onceonly,atSommerfeld,alongmarchnorthwestofSagan,hecameuponsomeoutskirtsofthem。Andingeneral,inthoselattereightdays,especiallyinthefirstsixofthem,thereis,inthatKotbus—SaganCountry,suchanintersecting,checking,pushingandmultifarioussimmeringofmarches,onthepartofhalfadozenStrategicEntities,Friedrichthecentreofthem,as——as,I
think,nobodybutanexpresssoldier—student,wellfurnishedwithadmirationforthisparticularSoldier,wouldconsenttohaveexplainedtohim。Oneofthemaziest,mostunintelligiblewhirlsofmarching;inextricableSwordDance,orDanceoftheFuries,——fiveofthem(thatisthecorrectnumber:Haddick,Loudon,Friedrich,Wurtemberg,Wedell);——anditisflungdownforus,allinahuddle,intheseinhumanBooks(whichhaveseveralerrorsofthepress,too):letnomanrashlyinsistwithhimselfonunderstandingit,unlesshehaveneed!Humanlypulledstraight,notinhumanlyflungdownatrandom,heretheessentialsofitare,——inverybriefstate:——
"SAGAN,MONDAY,30thJULY。FriedrichisatSagan,sincemidnightlast,busierandbusier;"beatingcover,aswetermedit,andgettinghishounds(hisnewHenri—Army)inleash;"endeavoring,especially,togettidingsofthoseAustrianpeople;whoareveryenigmatic,——Loudonadexterousman,——andhavehungupsuchacurtainofPandoursbetweenFriedrichandthemasisnearlyimpenetrable。InthecourseofthisMondayFriedrichascertainsthattheyareverilyontheroad;comingeastward,forSommerfeld,——’thenceforCrossen!’heneedsnoghosttotellhim。Wherefore,"TUESDAY,SAGANTONAUMBURG。TuesdaybeforedaybreakFriedrichtooisontheroad:northwestward;infullmarchtowardsNaumburgonBober,meaningtocatchtheBridgefromthemthere。Marchoftheswiftest;hehimselfisahead,asusual,withtheVanguardofHorse。HereachesNaumburg(northward,amarchof20miles);
finds,notHaddickorLoudon,butaDetachmentoftheirs:whichheatonceoversetswithhiscavalry,andchases,——markingwithalthat’westwardisthewaytheyrun。’Westward;andthatwearestillahead,thankHeaven!
"BeforehisInfantryareallup,orarewellrestedinNaumburg,Friedrichascertains,onmoreprecisetidings,thattheAustriansareinSommerfeld,towestward(againa20miles);andjudgesThat,nodoubt,theywillbearoffmoretoleftward,byGubenprobably,andtrytoavoidhim,——unlesshecanstillcatchtheminSommerfeld。AboutnightfallhemarchesforSommerfeld,athisswiftest;arrivesWednesdayearly;finds——alas!——
"SOMMERFELD,WEDNESDAYMORNING,AUGUST1st,FriedrichfindsthatLoudonwastherelastnight,——preteritetense,alas;thequestionnowbeing,Whereishe!"Infact,LoudonhadwrittenyesterdaytoDaun(Letterstillextant,"Sommerfeld,July31st"),That"beingswiftandlight,"consistingofhorseformostpart,"hemayprobablyeffectJunctionthisverynight;"——buthasalteredhismindverymuch,onsightofthesefugitivesfromNaumburg,since!
Andhasborneoffmoretoleftward。Straightnorthnow,andataverybriskpace;beingnowallofhorse;——andhasanimportantconferencewithHaddickatGuben,whentheyarrivethere。"NotinSommerfeld?"thinksFriedrich(earnestlysurveying,throughthisslithehasmadeinthePandourveil):"GonetoGubenmostlikely,bearingofffromustoleftward?"——Whichwasthefact;thoughnotthewholefact。Andindeedthechaseisnowagainfallenuncertain,andtherehastobesomebeatingofcovers。Foronething,helearnsto—day(August1st)thattheRussiansaregonetoFrankfurt:
"Followthem,youWedell,"——ordersFriedrich:themweshallhavetogointo,——howeverthishuntend!——
"ToMarkersdorf,Thursday,August2d。FriedrichtakestheroadforGuben;reachesMarkersdorf(twentymiles’march,stillsevenoreightfromGuben);fallsupon——Whatphenomenonisthis?
TheAustrianheavyTrain;meal—wagonsnotafew,andaregimentoffootinchargeofit;——butgoingthewrongway,notTOWARDStheRussians,butfromthem!Whatonearthcanthisbe?ThisisHaddick,——ifFriedrichcouldyetclearlyknowit,——HaddickandTrain,whoforhisownparthasgivenupthejunctionenterprise。
AtGuben,somehoursago,hehadconferencewithLoudon;andthiswastheconclusionarrivedat:’Impossible,withthatKingsonear!
You,HerrLoudon,pushon,withoutheavybaggage,andwiththeCavalryaltogether:youcangetin,almost20,000strong;I,withtheInfantry,withthemealandheavyguns,willturn,andmakefortheLausitzagain!’
"ThismysteriousAustrianTrain,goingthewrongway,Friedrichattacks,whateveritbe(hoping,Isuppose,itmightbetheAustriansaltogether);chasesitvigorously;snatchesallthemeal—
wagons,andabout1,000prisoners。Uncertainstillwhatitis,——ifnottheAustriansaltogether?Tohissorrow,hefinds,onpushingfartherintoit,thatitisonlyHaddickandtheInfantry;
thatLoudon,withthe20,000Horse,willhavegoneoffforFrankfurt;——irretrievablyahead,theswiftLoudon,——evercareeringnorthwardallthiswhile,sincethatafternoonatSommerfeld,whenthefugitivesalteredhisopinion:anowunattainableLoudon。
InthecourseofThursdaynight,FriedrichhassatisfiedhimselfthattheLoudonjunctionisathingasgoodasdone;——ineffect,LoudondidgettoFrankfurt,morningofAugust3d,andjoinedtheRussiansthere;andaboutthesametime,oronlyafewhourssooner,Friedrich,bysymptoms,hasdivinedthathishunthasended,inthisratherunsuccessfulway;andthatchasingofHaddickisnottheroadtogo。"[Tempelhof,iii。135—139。]
NotHaddicknow;withorwithouttheirAustrians,itshallbetheRussiansnow!Twodaysago(Wednesday,aswasmentioned),beforesightofthoseenigmaticmeal—wagons,FriedrichhadlearnedthattheRussiansweretobeinFrankfurtagain;andhadorderedWedelltomarchthitherward,atanyrate。WhichWedellisdoing,allthisThursdayandthefourfollowingdays。Asdoeslikewise,fromandafter"FRIDAY,AUGUST3d,1A。M。"(huntthenover),Friedrichhimself,——renouncingHaddickandthehunt。StraighttowardsFrankfurtthenceforth;head—quartersBeeskowthatnight;
nextnight,Mullrose,whitherWedellisappointed,withintwelvemilesofFrankfurt。ThisistheendofFriedrich’ssoreChaseandMarch;burntdeeplyintohisownwearybrain,ifoursstillrefuseitadmittance!Here,ofutterlyfatiguedtone,isaNoteofhis,chieflyonbusiness,toMinisterFinkenstein。Indeedthereare,withinthenexttendays,ThreesuccessiveNotestoFinkenstein,whichwillbeworthreadingintheirdueplaces。ThisistheFirstofthem:——
THEKINGTOGRAFVONFINKENSTEIN(atBerlin)。
"BEESKOW,3dAugust,1759。"
"Iamjustarrivedhere,aftercruelandfrightfulmarchings[CHECKSHIMSELF,HOWEVER]。Thereisnothingdesperateinallthat;
andIbelievethenoiseanddisquietudethishurly—burlyhascausedwillbetheworstofit。ShowthisLettertoeverybody,thatitmaybeknowntheStateisnotundefended。Ihavemadeabove1,000
prisonersfromHaddick。Allhismeal—wagonshavebeentaken。
Finck,Ibelieve,willkeepaneyeonhim,"andsecureBerlinfromattemptsofhis。"ThisisallIcansay。
"To—morrowImarchtowithintwoleaguesofFrankfurt[toMullrose,namely]。Katte[theMinisterwhohaschargeofsuchthings]mustsendmeinstantlyTwoHundredWispels[saytons]ofMeal,andBakersOneHundred,toFurstenwalde。IshallencampatWulkow。Iamverytired。ForsixnightsIhavenotclosedaneye。Farewell。——F。"
DuringtheaboveintricateWar—DanceofFive,——thedaywhileFriedrichwasatSommerfeld,thedaybeforehecameinsightofHaddick’smeal—wagonsgoingthewrongroad,——therewenton,atMinden,ontheWeser,threehundredmilesaway,abeautifulfeatofWar,inthehighestdegreesalutarytoDukeFerdinandandBritannicMajesty’sMinistry;featwhichrequiresawordfromushere。
AreallysplendidVictory,thisofMinden,August1st:
FrenchdrivenheadlongthroughthePassesthere;their"ConquestofHanoverandWeserCountry"quiteexplodedandflungoverthehorizon;andDukeFerdinandrelievedfromallhisdistresses,andlordoftheascendantagaininthoseparts。HighlyinterestingtoFriedrich;——especiallytoPrinceHenri;whoseapprehensionsaboutFerdinandandtheoldRichelieuHastenbeck—Halberstadttimereturningonus,havebeenverygreat;andwhonow,atSchmottseifen,firesFEU—DE—JOIEforitwithallhisheart。ThisisaBattlestillofsomeinteresttoEnglishreaders。ButcanEnglishreadersconsenttohaltinthishotpinchoftheFriedrichcrisis;
andreadthebriefestthingwhichisforeigntoit?Alas,Ifeartheycan;——andwillinserttheNotehere:——
BATTLEOFMINDEN:WEDNESDAY,AUGUST1st,1759。———"EversinceBergen,thingshavegoneawrywithFerdinand,andinspiteofskilfulmanagement,ofhardstrugglesandbrightsparklesofsuccess,hehashadabadCampaignofit。TheFrench,itwouldseem,arereallygotintobetterfightingorder;Belleisle’sexertionsasWar—Ministerhavebeenalmostwonderful,——insomerespects,TOOwonderful,asweshallhear!——andBroglioandContades,incomparisonwithClermontandSoubise,haverealsoldierqualities。Contades,acrossRhineagain,inthoseWeserCountries,whoisskilfulinhisway,andisprickedonbyemulationofBroglio,hasbeenspreadinghimselfoutsteadilyprogressivethere;whileBroglio,pushingalongfromFrankfurt—on—
Mayn,hasconqueredHessen;isintoHanover;ontheedgeofconqueriugHanover,——whichhowisFerdinandtohinder?
Ferdinandhasgottwo,ifnotthreeArmiestodealwith,andinnumberisnotmnchsuperiortoone。IfheruntosaveHanoverfromBroglio,helosesWestphalia:Osnabruck(hismagazine)?Munster,Lippstadt,——Contades,iflefttohimself,willtakethese,aftershortsiege;andwillnestlehimselfthere,andthenadvance,notlikeatransitoryfever—fit,butlikevisibledeath,onHanover。
Ferdinand,rapidyetwary,manoeuvredhisverybestamongthoseinterestsofhis,ontheleftbankofWeser;butafterthesurprisalofMindenfromhim(brilliantlydonebyBroglio,andtheaidofatreacherouspeasant),especiallyafterthecaptureofOsnabruck,hisoutlooksaregloomytoadegree:andatVersailles,andatMindenwhereContadeshasestablishedhimself,’theConquestofHanover’(beautifulcounterweighttoallone’slossesinAmericaorelsewhere)isregardedasacertaintyofthisYear。
"ForthelasttendaysofJuly,aboutMinden,themanoeuvring,especiallyonFerdinand’spart,hadbeenintense;agreatideaintheheadofFerdinand,moreorlessunintelligibletoContades。
Contades,withsome30,000,whichisthebetterhalfofhisforce,hastakenoneoftheunassailablestpositions。Helieslookingnorthward,hisrightwingontheWeserwithpoststoMinden(Mindenperhapsamilenortheastwardthere),onhisleftimpassablepeat—
bogsandquagmires;infrontaquaggyRiverorimpassableblackBrook,calledtheBastau,comingfromthewestward,whichdisemboguesatMinden:[SketchofPlan,p。238]——thereliesContades,asifinarabbit—hole,saymilitarymen;fordefence,ifthatwerethesoleobject,nopostcanbestronger。Contadeshasinpersonsay30,000;androundhim,onbothsidesoftheWeser,areBrogliowith20,000;besidesotherDivisions,Iknownothowmany,besiegingMunster,capturingOsnabruck(ourhaymagazine),attemptingLippstadtbysurprise(tonopurpose),anddiligentlyworkingforward,daybyday,toFerdinand’sruininthoseMindenregions。ThreeorfourDivisionsbusyinthatmanner;——andaboveall,wesay,hehasBrogliowitha20,000ontherightoreastbankoftheWeser,——who,ifFerdinandquithimevenforaday,seemstohaveHanoveratdiscretion,andcanmarchanydayuponHanoverCity,wherehislighttroopshavealreadybeenmorethanonce。
Whydoesn’tFerdinandcrossWeser,re—crossWeser;coerceBroglioback;andsaveHanover?crytheGazetteersandaPublicofweakjudgment。Pitt’sPublicisinclinedtomurmuraboutFerdinand;
Pitthimselfnever。FerdinandpersistsinstickingbyMindenneighborhood,——and,inascarcelyaccountableway,manoeuvringthere,shootingouttherefromwhatmischiefhecanuponthevariousContadespeopleintheirsiegesandthelike。
"OnContadeshimselfhecanpretendtodonothing,——excepthoodwinkhim,enticehimout,andtrytogetachanceonhim。Butforhisownsubsistenceandotherwise,heisverylively;——snatches,byasuddenstroke,BremenCity:’Yestruly,BremenisaReichstadt;
norshallYOUsnatchit,asyoudidFrankfurt;butIwill,instead;
andmyEnglishproviant—shipsshallhaveasurehavenhenceforth!’
SnatchesBremenbyonesuddenstroke;RE—snatchesOsnabruckbyanother(’ourmagazineconsiderablyINCREASEDsinceyouhavehadit,manythanks!’);doesloseMunster,tohissorrow;
butneverthelesssticksbyhisgroundhere;——naydetacheshisswift—cuttingNephew,theHereditaryPrince,whoisgrowingfamousforsuchthings,tocutoutContades’sstrongposttosouthward(Gohfeld,tenmilesuptheWeser),whichguardshismeal—wagons,aftertheirlongjourneyfromthesouth。ThatisContades’soneweakpoint,inthispostureofthings:hismealisatCassel,seventymilesoff。Broglioandheseeclearly,’TillwecangetanewmagazinemuchnearerHanover,oratlowest,canclearoutthesepeoplefrominfestingushere,thereisnomovingnorthward!’
TobothContadesandBrogliothatisanevidentthing:
thecorollarytowhichis,TheymustfightFerdinand;mustwatchlynx—liketillachanceturnupofbeatinghiminfight。Thatistheiroutlook;andFerdinandknowsitis,——andmanoeuvresaccordingly。Militarymenadmiremuch,nothismovementsonly,buthisclearinsightintoContades’sandBroglio’stemperofmind,andbywhatmethodstheyweretobehandled,theyandhisownaffairstogether,andbroughtwhitherhewantedthem。[InMAUVILLON(ii。
41—44)minuteaccountofallthat。]
"ThisattemptonGohfeldwasaseriousmischieftoContades,ifitsucceeded。ButthedetachingofthePrinceofBrunswickonit,andweakeningone’stooweakArmy,’Whatarashness,whatanoversight!’thinksContades(asFerdinandwishedhimtodo):
’Isourskilfulenemy,inthisextremeembarrassment,losinghead,then?Lookathisleftwingyonder[GeneralWangenheim,sittingbehindbatteries,inhisVillageofTodtenhausen,lookingintoMindenfromthenorth]:——Wangenheim’sleftleansontheWeser,yes;
butWangenheim’sright,observe,hasnosupportwithinthreemilesofit:tearWangenheimout,Ferdinand’sflankisbare!’
ThesethingsseemedtoContadestheverychancehehadbeenwaitingfor;andbroughthimtriumphantlyoutofhisrabbit—hole,intotheHeathofMinden,asFerdinandhopedtheywoulddo。
"Andso,TUESDAYEVENING,JULY31st,thingsbeingnowallripe,upwardsof50,000Frenchareindustriouslyinmotion。ContadeshasnineteenbridgesreadyontheBastauBrook,infrontofhim;
TATTOOthisnight,inContades’sCamp,istomeanGENERALMARCH,’March,allofyou,acrossthesenineteenBridges,toyourstationsonthePlainorHeathofMindenyonder,——andbepunctual,liketheclock!’BrogliocrossesWeserbythetownBridge,rankshimselfoppositeTodtenhausen;andthroughthelivelongnightthereis,onthepartofthe50,000French,averygreatmarchinganddeploying。
ContadesandBrogliotogetherare51,400footandhorse。
Ferdinand’sentireforcewillbenear46,000;butonthedayofBattleheisonly36,000,——havingdetachedtheHereditaryPrinceonGohfeld,inwhatviewweknow。——TheBATTLEOFMINDEN,calledalsoofTONHAUSEN(meaningTODTENhausen),whichhereuponfellout,hasstillitsfameintheworld;and,Iperceive,iswellworthstudybythesoldiermind:thoughnothingbuttheroughoutlineofitispossiblehere。
"Ferdinand’spostsextendfromtheWeserriverandTodtenhausenroundbyStemmern,Holzhausen,toHartumandtheBogofBastau(thechiefpartofhimtowardsBastau),——invariousVillages,andwoodypatchesandfavorablespots;alllookinginuponMinden,fromadistanceoffiveorsevenmiles;formingakindofarc,withMindenforcentre。HewillmarchupineightColumns;ofcourse,withwideintervalsbetweenthem,——wide,butcontinuallynarrowingasheadvances;whichwillindeedberuinousgaps,ifFerdinandwaittobeattacked;butwhichwillcoalescecloseenough,ifhebespeedyuponContades。ForContades’slineisalsoofarc—likeoralmostsemicircularform,behinditMindenascentre;Minden,whichisattheintersectionofWeserandtheBrook;hisrightflankisonWeser,BroglioVERSUSWangenheimtheextremeright;hisleft,withinfantryandartillery,restsonthatblackBrookofBastauwithitsnineteenBridges。Asthegroundonbothwingsisrough,notsofitforCavalry,ContadesputshisCavalrywhollyinthecentre:
theyarethefloweroftheFrenchArmy,about10,000horseinall;
firmopengroundaheadofthemthere,withstrongbatteries,massesofinfantrytosupportoneachflank;batteriestoplywithcross—
fireanyassailantthatmaycomeon。Broglio,wesaid,isrightwing;stronginartilleryandinfantry。BroglioistorootoutWaugenheim:afterwhich,——orevenbeforewhich,ifWangenheimiskeptbusyandwearenimble,——whatbecomesofFerdinand’sleftflank,withagapofthreemilesbetweenWangenheimandhim,and10,000chosenhorsetotakeadvantageofit!HadtheFrenchbeenofPrussiandexterityandnimblenessinmarching,itisverypossiblesomethingmighthavecomeofthislattercircumstance:butFerdinandknowstheyarenot;andintendstotakegoodcareofhisflank。
"Contadesandhispeoplewereofwillingmind;buthadnoskillin’marchiugup:’and,oncegotacrosstheBastaubytheirnineteenBridges,theywastedmanyhours:——’Toofar,amI?notfarenough?
Tooclose?notcloseenough?’——andbroiledabout,inmuchhurryandconfusion,allnight。Fightwastohavebegunat5inthemorning。
Brogliowasinhisplace,silentlylookingintoWangenheim,byfiveo’clock;butunfortunatelydidnothinguponWangenheim(’Notreadyyou,Isee!’),exceptcannonadealittle;——andindeedallthroughdidnothing(’Stillnotreadyyouothers!’);whichsurelywasquestionableconduct,thoughnotreckonedsoatVersailles,whenthecasecametobearguedthere。AstotheContadespeople,acrossthosenineteenBridges,theyhadabafflingconfusednight;
andwerebynomeanscorrectlyontheirgroundatsunrise,norat7o’clock,norat8;andwerestillmendingthemselveswhentheshockcame,andtimewasdone。
"Themorningisverymisty;butFerdinandhashimselfbeenoutexaminingsincetheearliestdaybreak:hisorderslastnightwere,’Cavalrybesaddledat1inthemorning,’——havingaguessthattherewouldbework,ashenowfindstherewill。From5A。M。
FerdinandisissuingfromhisCamp,flowingdowneastward,beautifullyconcentric,closingonContades;horseNOTincentre,butEnglishInfantryincentre(SixBattalions,orSixREGIMENTSbyEnglishreckoning);rightoppositethose10,000HorseofContades’s,thesightofwhomseemstobeveryanimatingtothem。
TheEnglishCavaIrystandontherightwing,attheVillageofHartum:LordGeorgeSackvillehadnotbeenverypunctualinsaddlingat1o’clock;butheisthere,rankedontheground,at8,——inwhathumornobodyknows;sulkyandflabby,Ishouldratherguess。EnglishTourists,idleotherwise,maytakealookatHartumonthesouthside,asthespotwhereaveryuglythingoccurredthatday。
"Soonafter8theFightbegins:attack,bycertainHessians,onHahlenanditsbatteries;attempttodrivetheFrenchoutofHahlen,asthefirstthing,——whichdoesnotsucceedatonce(indeedtookthreeattacksinall);andperhapslooksrathertedioustothoseSixEnglishBattalions。Ferdinand’sordertothemwas,’Youshallmarchuptoattack,youSix,onsoundofdrum;’but,itseems,theyreadit,’BYsoundofdrum;’’Beatingourowndrums;
yes,ofcourse!’——and,beingwearyofthisHahlenwork,orfancyingtheyhadnoconcernwithit,strodeon,double—quick,withoutwaitingforHahlenatall!TothehorroroftheirHanoveriancomrades,whoneverthelessdeterminedtofollowassecondline。
’TheContadescross—fireofartillery,batteryof30gunsononeflank,of36ontheother,doesitsbestuponthisforward—mindedInfantry,buttheyseemtoheeditlittle;walkrightforward;
and,totheastonishmentofthoseFrenchHorseandofalltheworld,entirelybreakandruinthechargemadeonthem,andtrampforwardinchaseofthesame。The10,000Horsefeelastonished,insulted;andrushoutagain,furiouslycharging;theEnglishhaltandserrythemselves:’Nofiretilltheyarewithinfortypaces;’
andthensuchpouringtorrentsofitasnohorseormancanendure。
Rallyafterrallythereis,onthepartofthose10,000;massaftermassofthemindignantlyplungeson,——again,everagain,aboutsixchargesinall;——butdonotbreaktheEnglishlines:oneofthem(regimentMestrede—Camp,raisedtoaparoxysm)doesoncegetthrough,acrossthefirstline,butisblownbackindreadfulcircumstancesbythesecond。Afterwhichtheygiveitup,asathingthatcannotbedone。Andrushrearward,hither,thither,thewholeseventy—fivesquadronsofthem;and’betweentheirtwowingsofinfantryareseenboilingincompletedisorder。’
"Thishaslastedaboutanhour:thisisessentiallythesouloftheFight,——thoughtherewantednototheractivities,torightofitandtoleft,onbothsides;artilleriesgoingatamightyrateonbothwings;andcounter—artilleries(superlativepractice’byCaptainPhillips’onOURrightwing);BrogliocannonadingWangenheimveryloudly,butwithlittleharmdoneorsuffered,ontheirrightwing。WangenheimiswatchfulofthatgapbetweenFerdinandandhim,tillitcloseitselfsufficiently。Theirright—
wingInfantrydidoncemakesomeattemptthere;butthePrussianHorse——(alwaysasmallbodyofPrussiansserveinthisAlliedArmy)——shotout,andinabrilliantmannersweptthemhomeagain。
PLANOFBATTLEHERE——PAGE239,BOOKX1X———————————————
ArtilleryandthatprettychargeofPrussianHorsearealloneremembers,exceptthisoftheEnglishandHanoverFootinthecentre:’anunsurpassablething,’saysTempelhof(thoughitsoeasilymighthavebeenafatal!)——whichhassetContades’scentreboiling,andreducedContadesaltogethertowater,asitwere。
Contadessaidbitterly:’IhaveseenwhatIneverthoughttobepossible,——asinglelineofinfantrybreakthroughthreelinesofcavalryrankedinorderofbattle,andtumblethemtoruin!’
[Stenzel,v。204。]
"Thiswasthefeat,thishour’sworkinthecentre,theessentialsouloftheFight:——andhadLordGeorgeSackville,GeneraloftheHorse,comeonwhengallopedforandbidden,herehadbeensucharuin,sayalljudges,asseldomcameuponanArmy。LordGeorge——everlastingdisgraceandsorrowonthenameofhim——couldnotseehiswaytocomingon;delayed,haggled;wouldnotevenletGranby,hislieutenant,come;notforasecondAdjutant,notforathird;nevercameonatall;butrodetothePrince,asking,’HowamItocomeon?’Who,withapolitenessIcanneverenoughadmire,didnotinstantlykillhim,butanswered,inmildtone,’Milord,theopportunityisnowpast!’WherebyContadesescapedruin,andwasonlybeaten。Byabout10inthemorningallwasover。Whenaman’scentreisgonetowater,nopartofhimisfarfromthefluidstate。Contadesretreatedintohisrabbit—holebythosenineteenbridges,——welltormented,theysay,byCaptainPhillips’sartillery,tillhegotbeyondtheknollsagain。Broglio,whohadneverbeeninmusket—fireatall,buthadmerelybarkedonWangenheimallmorning,insteadofbiting,coveredtheretreat,andwithdrewintoMinden。AndweareabeatenArmy,——thankstoLordGeorge,notanannihilatedone。Ourlossbeingonly7,086(withheavyguns,colors,cavalryflagsandthelike);theirsbeing2,822,——fullhalfofitfallingonthoserashSixBattalions。
[Mauvillon,ii。44—60;Tempelhof,iii。154—179,&c。&c。:
andProceedingsofaCourt—Martial,heldattheHorse—
Guards,7th—24thMarchand25thMarch—5thApril,1760,inTrialofLordGeorgeSackville(London,1760)。InKnesebeck,FerdinandwahrenddessiebenjahrigenKrieges
(i。395),Ferdinand’sLettertoFriedrichof"July31st;"and(i。398—418andii。33—36)manyspecialdetailsaboutSackvilleand"August1st。"
"AndwhatisthisonehearsfromGohfeldintheevening?
TheHereditaryPrince,busythereonusduringtheveryhoursofMinden,hasblownourrear—guarddivisiontothewindsthere;——andwemustmovesouthward,oneandallofus,withoutamoment’sdelay!Outofthisrabbit—holetheretreatbyrearwardisthroughadifficultcountry,theWestphalianGatessocalled;fataltoVarus’sLegionslongago。Contadesgotunderwaythatverynight;
lostmostofhisbaggage,allhisconquests,thatshadow—conquestofHanover,andmorethanallhisglories(Versaillesshriekingonhim,’Resignyou;letBrogliobechief,);——and,onthewhole,jumbledhomewardhitherandthither,gravitatingtowardstheRhine,nothingbutWeseltodependoninthoseparts,asheretofore。
BroglioretreatedFrankfurt—way,alsoasusual,thoughnotquitesofar;andatVersailleshadclearlythevictory。ZealousBelleislecouldnotprotecthisContades;itisnotknownwhetherheprivatelyblamedContadesorblamedBroglioforlossofMinden。
Zealousoldman,whatalosstohimselfwithalhadMindenbeen!
Thatshadow—conquestofHanoverisquitevanished:andworse,inFerdinand’sspoilwerecertainLETTERSfromBelleisletoContades,inculcatingstrangethings;——forexample,’ILFAUTFAIREUNDESERT
DUPAYS[allHessen,Ithink,lestFerdinandadvanceonyou]DEVANT
L’ARMEE,’andthelike。WhichFerdinandsawgoodtopublish,andwhichresoundedratherhideouslythroughthegeneralmind。"
[WeretakenatDetmold(Tempelhof,iii。223);OldNewspapersfullofExcerptsfromthem,intheweeksfollowing。]
IgnominiousSackvillewastriedbyCourt—martial;cashiered,declaredincapableofagainservinghisMajesty"inanymilitarycapacity;"——perhapsamildwayofsignifyingthathewantedthecommoncourageofasoldier?ZealousMajesty,alwaysparticularinsoldiermatters,proclaimeditofficiallytobe"asentenceworsethandeath;"andfurthermore,withhisownroyalhand,takingthepenhimself,struckoutSackvillefromtheListofPrivy—
Councillors。Propersurely,andindispensable;——andshouldhavebeenpersistedin,likeFate;which,inanewReign,itwasnot!
Fortherest,therewasalways,andis,somethingofenigmainSackville’spalpablybadcase。ItisdifficulttothinkthataSackvillewantedcommoncourage。ThisSackvillefoughtduelswithpropriety;inprivatelife,hewasasurly,domineeringkindoffellow,andhadnoappearanceofwantingspirit。Itisknown,hedidnotloveDukeFerdinand;farfromit!Maynothehavebeenofpeculiarlysourhumorthatmorning,thelucklessfool;
sulkyagainstFerdinand,andhis"saddlingatoneo’clock;"
sulkyagainsthimself,againsttheworldandmankind;andflabbilydisinclinedtoheroicpracticesforthemoment?Andthemomentcame;andthemanwasnotthere,exceptinthatfoggy,flabbyandforeverruinouscondition!Archenholtz,aloneofWriters,judgesthatheexpresslywantedtospoiltheBattleofMindenandFerdinand’sreputation,andtogetappointedCommanderinhisstead。Wonderful;butmayhavesomevestigeofbasis,too!
True,thisSackvillewasasfittoleadthecoursesofthestarsastoleadarmies。ButsuchaSackvillehasambition,and,whatisfatallymorepeculiartohim,achanceforunfoldingit;——anyblockheadhasanambitioncapable,ifyouencourageitsufficiently,ofrunningtotheinfinite。Enoughofthisparticularblockhead;andmayitbelongbeforeweseehislikeagain!——
TheEnglishCavalrywasinaragewithSackville。OftheEnglishInfantry,Historianssay,whatisnotnowmuchheardofinthisCountry,"ThattheseunsurpassableSix[inindustriousvalorunsurpassable,thoughtheymistookorders,andmighthavefaredbadly!]areeversincecalledtheMindenRegiments;thattheyarethe12th,20th,23d,25th,37thand51stoftheBritishLine;
andcarry’Minden’ontheircolors,"[Kausler,Schlachter,&c。p,587。]——withsilentprofit,Ihope!
FancyhowPitt’spublic,latelygloomyanddubious,blazedaloftintojoyfulcertaintyagain!Pitt’soutlookshavebeenreallygloomyallthisseason;norarethedifficultiesyetended,thoughwehopetheywillend。LetusaddthisotherbitofSynchronism,whichisstillofadverseaspect,overSeas;andwillbepungentlyinterestingtoPittandEngland,whentheycometohearofit。
"BEFOREQUEBEC,JULY31st,1759。ThissameEvening,atQuebec,ontheothersideoftheAtlantic,——eveningatQuebec,9or10atnightforContadesandhisnineteenBridges,——thereisadifficultaffairgoingon。AboveandbelowtheFallsofMontmorenci,andtheiroutflowintotheSt。Lawrence:attemptonGeneralWolfe’sparttopenetratethroughupontheFrench,underMarquisdeMontcalm,FrenchCommander—in—chief,andtogetastrokeatQuebecandhim。FromthesouthsideoftheSt。Lawrence,nothingcanbedoneuponQuebec,suchthedistanceover。FromIsled’Orleansandthenorthside,itisalsoimpossiblehitherto。EasyenoughtobattertheLowerTown,fromyourshipsandredoubts:buttheHighTowntowersaloftonitssheerpinnacles,inaccessibleeventocannon;looksdownontheskilfulestBritishAdmiralandFleetasifwithanairofindifference,——tryinghimondarknightswithfire—ships,fire—rafts,thecunningestkindsofpyrotechny,whichheskilfullytowsaside。
"Astrenuousthing,thisofWolfe’s;thoughanunsuccessful。
Towardsevening,theendofit;allQuebecassembledonthesouthernramparts,witnessingwithintenseinterest;thesublimeFallsofMontmorencigushingon,totallyindifferent。Foraboutamonthpast,GeneralWolfe,withtheproperequipments,andabout10,000men,navalandmilitary,whowasexpresslyselectedbyPitttobesiegeQuebec,andisdyingtosucceed,hasbeentryingeveryschemetogetintocontactwithit:——tonopurpose,solofty,chasmy,rockyistheground,cutbymountainousprecipicesandtorrentstreams,branchesofthegrandSt。LawrenceRiver;
soskilfullytakenadvantageofbyMontcalmandhispeople,whoareathomehere,andinregularsnearlyequalWolfe,nottospeakofSavagesandCanadians,Wolfe’splanofthe31stwasnotilllaid;
andtheexecutionhasbeenzealous,seamenandlandsmenalikeofwillingmind;——butitmetwithaccidents。Accidentsinboating;
thenastillworseaccidentonlanding;theregimentofgrenadiers,whichcrossedbelowtheFalls,having,sosoonaslanded,rushedoffontheredoubtthereontheirownscore,withoutwaitingforthetwobrigadesthatweretocrossandco—operateABOVEtheFalls!
WhichcutWolfetotheheart;andinducedhim,especiallyasthetidewasmakingagain,togiveuptheenterprisealtogether,andrecalleverybody,whileitwasyettime。[Gentleman’sMagazinefor1759,pp。470—473;Thackeray,i。488。]
Wolfeisstrictindiscipline;lovesthewillingmind,nonemore,andcankindleitamongthoseabouthim;buthelovesdisciplinewithal,andknowshowfatalthetoowillingmaybe。ForsixweeksmorethereistoilonthebackoftoileverywhereforpoorWolfe。
Hefallsintofevers,intomiseries,almostintobrokenheart;——
nothingsuretohimbutthatofdoinghisownpoorutmosttotheverydeath。Aftersixweeks,weshallperhapshearofhimagain。
Glidingswiftlytowardsdeath;butalsotowardsvictoryandthegoalofallhiswishes。"
Andnow,afterthisflighthalfroundtheworld,itistimewereturntoOderCountry,andaFriedrichontheedgeofformidablethingsthere。NextdayafterBeeskow,wherewelefthim,hedulyarrivedatMullrose;wasjoinedbyWedellthere,August6th;andisnowatWulkow,——"encampedbetweenLebusandWulkow,"aswehearelsewhere;——quiteintheenvironsofFrankfurtandofgreatevents。
FRIEDRICHTOGRAFVONFINKENSTEIN(SecondNote)。
WULKOW,8thAugust,1759。
"Ifyouhearoffiringto—morrow,don’tbesurprised;itisourrejoicingfortheBattleofMinden。IbelieveIshallhavetokeepyouinsuspensesomedaysyet。Ihavemanyarrangementstomake;
Ifindgreatdifficultiestosurmount,——anditisrequiredtosaveourCountry,nottoloseit:Ioughtbothtobemoreprudentandmoreenterprisingthanever。Inaword,IwilldoandundertakewhateverIfindfeasibleandpossible。Withallthat,Iseemyselfinthenecessityofmakinghaste,tocheckthedesignsHaddickmayhaveonBerlin。Adieu,MONCHER。Inalittle,youwillhaveeitheraDEPROFUNDISoraTEDEUM。——F。"[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxv。305,306。]
ChapterIV。
BATTLEOFKUNERSDORF。
Sunday,July29th,atFrankfurt—on—Oderdivineworshipwasbrokeninupon,andthepoorCitythrownintoconsternation,byactualadvent,orasgoodasadvent,oftheRussians:"OntheCrossenroad,closeby;coming,come!"Andtheydidundeniablyappear,nextmorning,inforce;ontheopposite,easternorKunersdorfsideoftheRiver,onthetopoftheOder—Damthere;anddemandedinstantadmission,underpenaltyofgeneraldeathbyfire。
WithintheTownstoodMajorArnim,aVeteranofthoseparts,with400militia;these,withtheirmusketsandwithtwocannon,aretheonlydefenceofFrankfurt,TheTownhasGates;butitswalls,I
doubt,aremainlygarden—wallsandhouse—walls。Ontheeasternside,theRiver,especiallyifyouhavecannonontheBridge,givesitsomethiugofprotection;butonthewesternandallothersides,itisoverhungbyheights。ThisFrankfurt,likeitsbiggerNamesakeontheMayn,isknownasabusytradingplace,itsFairsmuchfrequentedinthoseEasternparts;andisbelievedbytheRussianstobefarricherthanitis。Thereader,astherehappenstobeoculartestimonyextant,[JohannZudwigKriele,SCHLACHTBEI
KUNERSDORF,MIT&C。(Berlin,1801)。KrielewassubsequentPastorintheParish,anexcellentintelligentman:hascompiledinbriefform,withanelaborateCharttoo,aclearaccountofeverything,intheBattleandbeforeandafterit。]mayliketoseealittlehowtheybehavedthere。
"Arnim,takingsurveyoftheRussianParty,valuesit,orwhathecanseeofit,at1,000[theyreallywere6,000];keepshisDrawbridgeup;andanswersstoutlyenough,’No。’Uponwhich,fromtheOder—Dam,therefliesoffonefierygrenado;oneandnomore,——
whichalightedinthehouseof’Mrs。Thielicke,aBaker’sWidow,whowasstandingatthedoor;’——killedpoorMrs。Thielicke,blewthehouseconsiderablytowreck,butdidnotsetfiretoit。
Amim,alltheMagistratesentreatinghimfortheloveofHeaventoleavethem,issecretlyshovingoffhistwocannontotheNorthernGate;andinfactismakinghispackageswithfullspeed:’PushforCustrin,’thinksArnim,andsaveselvesandcannon,sincenogoodistobedonehere!’
"Itwasabout11A。M。whentheThielickegrenadofell:obstinateArnimwouldbynomeansgo;onlypackedallthefaster。Asecondsummonscame:still,No。ForthethirdandlasttimetheRussiansthensummon:’Grenadoes,ahundredmoreofthemlieready,unless——!’’Wewill,wewill;OmercifulservantofCzarishMajesty!’passionatelysignifytheMagistrates。ButArnimisstillnegative,stillkeepstheBridgeup。Oneofthehundreddoesgo,bywayofforetaste:thislighted’neartheOberKirche,inthechimneyoftheTownMusikus;’broughtthechimneycrashingdownonhim[fancyamanwithsomefinenessofear];torethehouseagooddealtopieces,butagaindidnotsetitonfire。’YourobstinateTowncanbebombarded,then,——cannotit?’observedtheRussianMessenger。——’GiveusFreeWithdrawal!’proposesAmim。’No;youtobePrisonersofWar;TownatCzarishMajesty’sdiscretion。’
’Never,’answersArnim(totheoutwardear)。——’Go,oh,fortheloveofHeaven,go!’cryallOfficialpeople。
"Arnim,deaftoclamor,butsteadilydiligentingettingready,doesatlastgo;throughtheLebusSuburb,quickmarch;steady,yetathisbeststep;——takingtheTown—keysinhispocket,andleavingtheDrawbridgeup。OneissorryforpoorArnimandhis400Militia;
whoseconductwasperfect,underdifficultiesandalarms;
butprovedunsuccessful。TheterrifiedMagistrates,findingtheirKeysgone,andtheconflagrativeRussiansattheirgates,gotblacksmithsontheinstant;smotedown,bychiselandmallet,thelockedDrawbridge,smoteopentheGates:’Enter,OgraciousSirs;
andmayCzarishMajestyhavemercyonus!’SothatArnimhadsmallstartformarchersonfoot;andwasovertakenabouthalf—way。
Wouldnotyieldstill,thoughtheoddswereoverwhelming;
drewhimselfoutonthebestgrounddiscoverable;madehotresistance;hotandskilful;butinvain。Aboutsixintheevening,ArnimandPartywerebroughtback,Prisoners,toFrankfurtagain,——
self,survivingmen,cannonsandall(selfinawoundedstate);——
and’werelockedinvariousBrew—houses;’littleofcarefulsurgery,Ishouldfear。PoorArnim;mancoulddonomore;andhehasbeenunfortunate。"
ItisbynomeansourintentiontodescribetheIliadofmiseries,theagitations,terrorsanddisquietudes,thetribulationandutterharrowingtodespair,whichpoorFrankfurtunderwent,incessantlyfromthatdayforward,foraboutfiveweekstocome。
"Thefurnishingsofvictual[Russianstockquiteout]weretoaninconceivableamount;surrenderofarms,oflinens,cloths,ofeverythingusefultoahungryArmy;aboveallthings,ofhorses,sothatatlasttherewerebutfourhorsesleftinallFrankfurt;
and"——Butwemustnotgointodetails。
"Onthesecondday,besidesallthis,"whatwillbesignificantofitall,"therewasexacted’ransomof600,000thalers(90,000
pounds),oryoushallbedeliveredtotheCossacks!’Frankfurthasnotabove12,000inhabitantswithinitsbounds;hereisasuddenpoll—taxof7pounds10s。perhead。Frankfurthasnotsuchasum;
themostrigorouscollectiondidnotyieldabovethetenthpartofit。Andmorethanoncethosesanguinaryvagabondswereopenlydrawnout,pitch—linkinhand:’The90,000poundsor——!’CivicPresidencyOfficeinFrankfurtwasnotabedofroses。ThepoorMagistratesrusheddistractedlyabout;wrungoutmoneystothelastdrop;
moneys,andintheendplatefromthosethathadit;wentintearfuldeputationtoGeneralSoltikof,——asevereproudkindofman,capableperhapsofbeingflattered,——whousuallylockedthemupinstead。MagistrateswerelockedinRussianward,atonetime,foralmostaweek;satintheblazingsun;ifyoutryfortheshadeofatree,thesentryhandlesarmsuponyou;——andwereliketodie。
Tome,Kriele,itisamiraclehowthemostofuslived;nayweneverreallywantedfood,sokindwasProvidence,sogenerousourpoorneighborsoutofalltheTownsround。Theutmostofmoneythatcouldberaisedwas6,000pounds;nothingbutsomelittleofplate,andourBillfortheremainder。Soltikof,ahighkindofgentleman,sawatlasthowitstood;lettheMagistratesoutofward;sentbacktheplate——’Nothingofthat!’——nay,CzarishMajestywasherselfgenerous;andFORGAVEtheBill,onourpetition,nextYear。
Cossacks,indeed,wereaplunderouswildcrew;buttheRussianskeptthemmostlywithoutthegates。TheregularRussianswerecivilandorderly,officersandmen,——greatlybeyondtheAustriansinbehavior。"[Kriele,SchlachtbeiKunersdorf;
pp。1—15(incompressedstate)。]BythesefewtraitsconceiveFrankfurt:this,nowforgotteninmostbooks,isabackgroundonwhichthingsweretransactedstillmemorabletoeverybody。
"Friday,August3d,GeneralLoudoncametohand:arrivedearly,intheGuben(orWestern)Suburb,his18,000andhe。Inhighspiritsnaturally,andsomewhatexultanttohaveevadedFriedrich;
butfoundareceptionthatsurprisedhim。TheRussianshadbeenlivinginthehopeofjunction;butstillmorevividlyinthatofmeal。’Auxiliaries;humph,——only18,000ofthem;howmuchwelcomerhadbeenasmanyhundredweightsofmeal!’LoudonhadpushedhisbaggagedirectintoFrankfurt;andlikewisearequisitionofsuchandsuchproviants,weightsofmealandthelike,inexuberantamount,tobefurnishedstraightwaybytheCity:neitherofwhichprocedureswouldtheRussianshearofforamoment。’Outwithyou!’
saidtheyroughlytothebaggage—people:’quarterintheGubenSuburb,orwhereyoulike;nothere!’Andwithregardtotherequisitionofproviant,theyansweredinascornfulangrykey,’Proviant?Youtoowithoutit?Youhavenotbroughtusmeal,accordingtocovenant;insteadofmeal,youbringus18,000neweaters,mostofthemonhorse—back,——Satanthankyou!FromFrankfurtbeverycertainyoucangetnoounceofmeal;Frankfurtisourownpoormeal—bag,dreadfullyscanty:stayoutside,andfeedwhereandhowyoucan!’
"Allthis,Loudon,thoughofhottemper,easilycapableofrisingtothefiercepoint,hadtoendureinsilence,forthecommoninterest。Loudon’sowntableisfurnishedfromFrankfurt;nootherAustrianman’s:allothershavetoshifthowtheycan。
Sadrequisitioningneeded,andsadplundertosupplementit:
theAustrianbehaviorwasverybad,saytheFrankfurters;
’inparticular,theyhadburntgraduallyallthecorn—millsinthecountry;withinmanymilesnotonemillstandingwhentheyleftus,’——andfourhorsesalltheconveyancepowerwehad。
Soltikoflodgesingreatpomp,muchsoldieryandcannonparadingbeforehisdoors;notanundignifiedman,oraninhumanoressentiallyfoolish,butveryhighinhisways,anddistastefultoAustriandignitaries。"
TheRussianArmyliesmainlyacrossOder;encampedontheJudenberg,andeastwardthere,alongtheHeights,nearthreemiles,toKunersdorfandbeyond。TheyexpectFriedrichatthegatesofFrankfurtshortly;knowwellthattheycannotdefendFrankfurt。
TheycalculatethatFriedrichwillattackthemintheirJudenbergEncampment,buthopetheyarenearlyreadyforhimthere。
Loudon,fromtheGubenSuburb,willhastenacross,atanymoment;——
welcomeonsuchfightingoccasion,thoughillseenwhenthequestionisofeating!TheRussianshavetheirWagenburgonanIslandsouthward,fartheruptheRiver;theyhavethreePontoonBridgesleadingthither,afreeretreatshouldtheybebeaten。
Andinthemeanwhileareintrenchingthemselves,asonlyDaunwould,——cannonandredoubtsallroundthoseHeights;——andexceptitbescrewingFrankfurttodoitsimpossibleduty,andcartingprovenderwithallthehorsesexceptfour,havenotmuchfarthertodobutwaittilltheKingcome。Whichwillbespeedily,itisprobable!——
Wednesday,August8th,RussianandAustrianGenerals,acheerfulpartyofthem,hadrendezvousedatFISCHERSMUHLE;aMillnotyetburnt,andapleasantTavernaswell;inoneoftheprettiestvalleysintheWesternEnvirons;——intendingtodinethere,andhaveapleasantday。ButtheMiller’sBoyrunsinuponthem,wide—eyed,"HIMMELUNDERDE,PrussianHussars!"ItwasinverityPrussianHussars;theKingofPrussiawiththeminperson。Heiscomeoutreconnoitring,——thedayafterhisarrivalinthoseparts。
ThepleasuringGenerals,RussianandAustrian,sprangtohorsebackattheirswiftest,——hopeofdinnergonefutile,excepttotheinterveningPrussianHussars;——andwouldhaveallbeencaptured,butforthatMiller’sBoy;whoseMilltoowasburntbeforelong。
ThisgallophomeoftheundinedGeneralsintoFrankfurtwasthefirstnewswepoorFrankfurtershadoftheKing’sarrival。
TheKinghasbeenpunctualtohisreckoning:hepickedupWedellatMullrose,——nottoocordialtoWedell’speople:"Noneofyouspeaktothosebeatenwretches,"orderedhe;"tillperhapstheywipeofftheirZullichaustain!"Onthe7th,FriedrichadvancedtoFrankfurtneighborhood;tookCampbetweenWulkowandLebus;——andhasjustbeenoutreconnoitring。Andhasraised,fancywhatemotioninpoorFrankfurtlyingunderitsnightmare!"Nextday,August9th,fromWulkow—Lebushand,we"ofFrankfurt,"heardagreatfiring;
cannon—salvos,musket—volleys:’Nothingoffight,’theRussianOfficerstoldus;’itistheKingofPrussiadoingjoy—fireforMinden,’ofwhichwetillnowknewnothing。"
Friedrich,onsurveyofthisRussian—AustrianArmy,some90,000innumber,withsuchposts,artilleries,advantages,judgesthathe,countingonly40,000,isnotstrongenough。And,indeed,hadsoanticipated,andalreadyjudged;and,accordingly,hasFinckonmarchhitherwardagain,——Berlinmusttakeitsrisk,Saxonymustshiftforitselfintheinterim。Finckisdueintwodays,——nothereatLebusprecisely,butatanotherplaceappointed;Finckwillraisehimto50,000;andthenbusinesscanbegin!ContrarytoRussianexpectation,FriedrichdoesnotattackFrankfurt;
seemsquitequietinhiscantonments;——heisquietly(ifoneknewit)makingpreparationsfartherdowntheRiver。AboutReitwein,betweenthisandCustrin,therearrangementsareproceeding,bynomeansofashowysort。
TheRussian—AustrianArmyquitsFrankfurt,leavingonlysomehundredsofgarrison:Loudonmovesacross,Soltikofacross;totheOder—Damandfarther;andlie,powerfullyintrenched,onthoseKunersdorfHeights,andsandyMoorlands,whichgoeastwardatright—anglestoOder—Dam。OneofthestrongestCampsimaginable。
Allroundthere,tobeyondKunersdorfandbackagain,nearthreemileseachway,theyhavearingofredoubts,andartillerywithoutend。Andliethere,inorderofbattle,ornearlyso;readyforFriedrich,whenheshallattack,throughFrankfurtorotherwise。
TheyfacetotheNorth(Reitweinway,asithappens);totheirrear,andindeedtotheirfront,onlynotsoclose,arewoodsandintricatewilds。Loudonhastheleftflank;thatistosay,Loudon’slefthandistowardstheOder—DamandFrankfurt;heliesattheROTHEVORWERK("RedGrange,"aFarmsteadmuchmentionedjustnow);rathertonorthwestwardoftheJewHillandJewChurchyard(JUDENBERGandJUDENKIRCHHOF,likewisemuchmentioned);andinadvanceofthegeneralMass。Soltikof’shead—quarter,Iratherunderstand,isontherightwing;probablyinKunersdorfitself,orbeyondthatVillage;there,atleast,ourhighlyimportantRussianrightwingis;there,elaboratelyfortified;and,halfamilefarther,ends,——ontheedgeofsteepdells;theRussianbrinkofwhichisstronglyfringedwithcannon,whilebeyond,onthefartherbrink,theyhavebuiltanabatis;somakingassurancedoublysure。
Lookingtothenorthwardallthese90,000;theirleftrathersouthwardofFrankfurtBridge,overwhichFriedrichwillprobablyarrive。Leftward,somewhattorearward,theyhavebridgesoftheirown;shouldanythingsinisterbefall;threebridgeswhichleadintothatOderIsland,andtheRussianWagenburgthere。
August10th,Finck,punctualtotime,arrivesintheneighborhoodofReitwein(whichissometenmilesdownstreamfromLebus,fromFrankfurtperhapsfifteen);Friedrich,thesameday,istherebeforehim;eagertocompletetheBridges,andgettobusiness。
OneBridgeisofpontoons;oneof"Oder—boatsfloatedupfromCustrin。"Bridgesarenotbeguntillnightfall,lesteyesbeabroad;arereadyintheminimumoftime。Andso,duringthesamenightofthe10th,alltheInfantry,withtheirartilleriesandbattle—furnitures,pouroverintwocolumns;theCavalry,attheduepointoftime,ridingbyafordshortwaytotheright。Andatfour,inthegrayoftheAugustmorning(Saturday,11thAugust,1759),allpersonsandthingsfindthemselvescorrectlyacross;
rankedthere,inthosebarren,much—indented"Pasture—groundsofGoritz"orofOEtscher;intendingtowardsKunersdorf;readyforunfoldingintoorderofbattlethere。TheyleavetheirheavybaggageatGoritz,WunschtoguardtheBridgesandit;and,insuccinctcondition,areallunderway。AtoneintheafternoonwearegottoLeissowandBischofsee;scrubbyhamlets(astherestallare),notabovetwomilesfromKunersdorf。TheAugustdayiswindless,shiny,sultry;manandhorsearewearywiththelabors,andwiththewantofsleep:wedecidetobivouachere,andrestonthescrubbysurface,heatherorwhateveritis,tillto—morrow。
FinckisVanguard,aheadshortway,andwithhisleftonabitoflakeorbog;theArmyisintwolines,withitsrightonLeissow,andhasCavalryinthekindofwoodwhichthereistorear。
Friedrich,havingsettledthepositions,ridesoutreconnoitring;
hither,thither,overtheHeightsofTrettin。"Thedaybeingstillhot,hesuffersconsiderablyfromthirst[itisouroneAnecdote]
inthataridtract:atlastaPeasantdoesbringhim,directfromthefountain,ajugofpurecoldwater;whom,luckyman,theKingrewardedwithathaler;andnotonlyso,but,themanbeingintelligentofthelocalities,tookwithhimtoanswerquestions。"
Readerstoomaydesiretogainsomeknowledgeoftheimportantgroundnowundersurvey。
"Frankfurt,averyancientTown,notaverybeautiful,"saysmyNote,"standsonanalluviumwhichhasbeengrounddownfromcertainclayHillsontheleftbankofOder。Itcountedabout12,000inhabitantsinFriedrich’stime;hasnowperhapsabout20,000;nothalfthebulkofitsnamesakeontheMayn;butwithThreegreatFairsannually,andmuchtradeoftheroughkind。
OnthisleftorwestbankofOderthecountryisarable,moderatelygrassyandumbrageous,theprospectroundyounotunpleasant;
buteastward,overtheRiver,nothingcanbemoreincontrast。
Oderisofswiftcurrent,ofturbidcolor,asitrollsunderFrankfurtBridge,——WoodenBridge,withDamSuburbattheend;——aRivertreeless,desolate,asyoulookupanddown;whichhas,evidently,oftenchangeditscourse,sincegrindingdownthatalluviumassiteforFrankfurt;andwhich,thoughnowholdingmainlytonorthward,isstillgiventobeerratic,anddestructiveontheeasternlowgrounds,——hadnottheFrankfurtersbuiltan’Oder—Dam’onthatside;abroadstrongEarth—mound,runningformanymiles,andconfiningitsfloods。BeyondtheDamtherearetracesofan’OldOder(ALTEODER);’and,infact,Oder,inprimevalandinrecenttime,hasgonealong,many—streamed;
indenting,quarrying,leavinglakelets,quagmires,miscellaneoussandytumult,atagreatrate,onthateasternshore。Makingofitoneoftheunloveliestscenesofchaoticdesolationanywheretobemetwith;——fallenunlovelierthaneverinourownmorerecenttimes。
"WhatwecalltheHeightsofKunersdorfisabroadChainofKnolls;
comingout,atright—angles,orasakindofspur,fromtheeasternhighgrounds;directtowardsOderandFrankfurt。
Mill—Hill(MUHLBERG)istherootoreasternmostpartofthisspur。
FromtheMuhlberg,overKunersdorf,toOder—Dam,whichisthewholelengthofthespur,orChainofKnolls,willbelittleshortoffourmiles;thebreadthoftheChainisnowhereonemile,——whichisitsgranddefectasaCamp:’toonarrowformanoeuvringin。’
Here,atopandonthethreesidesofthisBlockofKnolls,wasfoughtthefuriousBattleofKunersdorf[tobefoughtto—morrow],oneofthemostfuriouseverknown。ABlockofKnollsmemorableeversince。
"Toallappearance:itwasoncesomebigIslandorchainofIslandsintheOderdeluges:itisstillcutwithsuddenhollows,——KUHGRUND
(Cow—Hollow),TIEFEWEG(DeepWay),andwesternmostofall,andmostimportantforushere,HOHLEGRUND(BigHollow,letuscallit;’LOUDON’SHollow’peoplesubsequentlycalledit);——andiseverywherestrangelytumbledupintoknollsbluntorsharp,theworkofprimevalOderinhisrages。Initshighestknolls,——ofwhichletreadersnotespeciallytheSpitzberg,theMuhlberg,theJudenberg,——itrisesnowhereto150feet;perhapsthegeneralheightofitmaybeabout100。Oneachsideofit,especiallyonthenorth,theCountryisofmostintricatecharacter:
bushy,scraggy,withbrookletsormuddyoozingswanderingabout,especiallywithathingcalledtheHUNERFLIESS(Hen—Floss),whichspringsintheeasternwoods,andhasinconceivabledifficultytogetintoOder,——ifitgetatall!ThiswasasoreFlosstoFriedrichto—morrow。Hen—Flossstruggles,painfullymeanderingandoozing,alongthenorthernside(sometimesclose,sometimesnot)ofourChainofKnolls:alongthesouthsideofit(inourtime,throughthemiddleofit)goestheHighwaytoReppen["FromthatHighwaywillhisattackcome!"thoughttheRussians,alwaystillto—day]:onthenorth,toLeissow,toTrettin,"whereFriedrichisnowonsurvey,"govariouswheel—tracks,butnofirmroad。AmostintricateunlovelyCountry。Witheredbent—grasses,heath,perhapsgorse,andonbothsidesagreatdealofstragglingForest—wood,reachingeastward,andespeciallysouthward,formanymiles。
"Fortherest,"toourill—luckinthisplace,"theBattlefieldofKunersdorfhashadapeculiarfateintheworld;thatofbeingblownawaybythewinds!Thethensceneofthingsexistsnolonger;
thedescriptionsintheOldBooksaregonehopelesslyirrecognizable。Inourtime,thereisnotanywhereatractmorepurelyoftumbledsand,thanallthisbetweenKunersdorfandDamVorstadt;andyoujudge,withoutaidofrecordortradition,thatitisgreatlyalteredfortheworsesinceFriedrich’stime,——somerabbit—colony,orotherthelikeinsignificancy,eatingouttheroots,tillallvegetationdied,andthewindgotholdandsetitdancing;——andthat,in1759,whenRussianhumanbeingstookitforaCamp,itmusthavebeenatleastcoherent,moreorless;
covered,heldtogetherbysomefilmofscrubbyvegetation;
notblowingaboutineverywindasnow!KunersdorfstandswithitsnorthernendpushedintothatKUHGRUND(Cow—Hollow);whichmustthenhavebeenagrassyplace。EastwardofKunersdorfthegroundhasstillsomeskinofpeat,andstickstogether:butwestward,allthatthreemiles,itisameretumultofsand—hills,tumbledaboutineverydirection(sodiligenthavetheconiesbeen,andthenthewinds);nogullet,ordefinitecutorhollow,nowtraceableanywhere,butonlyanendlessimbrogliooftwistedsand—heapsandsand—hollows,whichcontinuallyalterinthewind—storms。
Sandwholly,and——exceptthestrongpavedHighwaythatnowrunsthroughit(toReppen,MeseritzandthePolishFrontier,andisstronglypavedtillitgetthroughKunersdorf)——chaoticwholly;
asceneofheapedbarrennessandhorror,nottobematchedbutinSahara;thefeaturesoftheBattlequiteblownaway,andindecipherableinourtime。
"Ahundredyearsago,itwouldhavesometatteredskin,——ofpeat,ofheatheranddwarfwhins,withthesandcroppingoutonlyhereandthere。SoonehastofigureitinSoltikof’sday,——beforetheconiesruinedit。Whichwasnottillwithinthelastsixtyyears,asappears。Kriele’sBook(in1801)stillgivesnohintofchange:
theKUHGRUND,whichnowhasnothingbutdrysandforthemostindustriousruminant,isstillaplaceofsucculenceandherbageinKriele’stime;’DeepWay,’where’atonepointtwocartscouldnotpass,’wasnotyetblownoutofexistence,buthasstill’aWellinit’forKriele;HOHLEGRUND(sincecalledLoudon’sHollow),withtheJewHillandJewChurchyardbeyond,seemtolerableenoughplacestoKriele。ProbablynotunlikewhatthesurroundingCountrystillis。ACountryofpoorvillages,andofwildground,flatgenerally,andbuttolerablygreen;withlakelets,bushes,scrubs,andintricatemeanderinglittlerunletsandoozelets;andingeneralwithmoreofForestsocalledthannowis:——thisisKunersdorfChainofKnolls;Soltikof’sIntrenchedCampatpresent;
destinedtobecomeveryfamousintheworld,afterlyingsolongobscureunderOderanditsrages。"[TOURIST’SNOTE(Autumnn,1852)。]
FromtheKnollsofTrettin,thatSaturdayafternoon,FriedrichtakesviewoftheRussianCamp。Alllyingbrightenoughthere;
fromMuhlbergtoJudenberg,convenienttoourglass;betweenusandtheeveningSun。Batteriesmostabundant,difficultiesgreat:
Soltikofjustaheadhere,72,000:LoudonattheRedGrangeyonder,ontheirextremeleft,with18,000more。Anuncommonlystrongpositionfor90,000against50,000。OnethingstrikesFriedrich:
Onfrontinthisnorthernside,closebythebaseoftheRussianCamp,runs——forthepresentawayFROMOder,butintendingtojoinitelsewhere——apaltrylittleBrook,"Hen—Floss"socalled,withatleasttwosuccessiveMillsonit(KLEINEMUHLE,GROSSEMUHLE);
andonthenorthernshoreofit,spillingitselfoutintoawetwastecalledELSBRUCH(AlderWaste),whichisespeciallynotabletoFriedrich。ALDERWaste?Watery,scrubby;nopassagethere,thinksFriedrich;whichhisPeasantwiththewater—jugconfirms。"Tellme,however,"inquiresFriedrich,withstrictness,"FromtheRedGrangeyonder,whereGeneralLoudonis,ifyouwishedtogetovertotheHOHLEGRUND,ortotheJudenberg,wouldyoucrossthatHen—Floss?"
"Itisnotcrossable,yourMajesty;onehastogoroundquitewestwardbytheDam。""What,fromRotheVorwerktoBigHollow,nopassage,sayyou;nocrossing?""None,yourMajesty,"insiststhePeasant;——whoisnotawarethattheRussianshavemadeoneoffirmtrestlesandlogs,anduseitdailyforhighwaythere;anerrorofsomeinteresttoFriedrichwithinthenexttwenty—fourhours!
Friedrichhimselfdoesnotknowthisbitofground:butthereiswithhim,besidesthePeasant,aMajorLinden,whoseRegimentusedtolieinFrankfurt,ofwhomFriedrichmakesminutequestioning。
Lindenanswersconfidently;hasbeenoverallthistractahundredtimes;"butknowsitonlyasahunter,"saysTempelhof,[Tempelhof,iii。186。]"notasasoldier,"whichheoughttohavedone。
HisanswersaresupposedtohavemisledFriedrichonvariouspoints,anddonehimessentialdamage。Friedrich’sviewofthecase,thatevening,isbynomeanssodespondentasmightbeimagined:heregardsthethingasdifficult,notasimpossible,——
andoneofhisanxietiesis,thathebenotbalkedoftryingitstraightway。RetiringtohishutinBischofsee,hemakestwoDispositions,ofadmirableclearness,brevity,andcalculatedfortwocontingencies:[GiveninTempelhof,iii。182,183。]Thatoftheenemyretaininghisnowposture;andThatoftheenemymakingoffforReppen;——whichlatterdoesnotatallconcernus,asmattersturned!Oftheformerthecoursewillunfolditselftous,inpractice,shortly。At2A。M。Friedrichwillbeonfootagain,at3
onmarchagain。——Thelastphenomenon,atBischofseethisnight,issomesuddenglareofdisastrouslightrisingoverthewoods:——
"RussiansburningKunersdorf!"asneighborsaresorrytohear。
ThatisthefinaleofmuchRussianrearrangingandtumbling,thisday;thatbarbarousburningofKunersdorf,beforegoingtobed。
To—morrowvariousotherpoorVillagesgotburntbythem,whichtheyhadbetterhaveleftstanding。
TheRussians,onhearingthatFriedrichwasacrossatGoritz,andcomingonthemfromthenorthside,notfromFrankfurtbytheReppenHighway,wereingreatagitation。Notthrownintoterror,butintomanifoldhaste,knowingwhathastyadversarytherewas。
Endlessreadjustmentstheyhavetomake;adayoftumultuousbusinesswiththeRussians,thisSaturday,llth,whenthenewsreachedthem。"Theyinvertedtheirfront[sayalltheBooksbutFriedrich’sown]:NotcomingbytheReppenHighway,then!"thinkthey。Andthereuponchangedreartofront,asatZorndorf,butmoreelaborately;——whichIshouldnotmention,wereitnotthatherebytheirlate"rightwingontheMuhlberg"has,instrictspeech,becometheir"left,"andthereisambiguityanddiscrepancyinsomeoftheBooks,shouldanypoorreadertaketostudyingthemonthismatter。Changedtheirfront;whichinvolvesmuchinteriorchanging;
readjustingofbatteriesandthelike。ThatofburningKunersdorfwasthebarbaricwindingupofallthis:barbaric,and,inthemilitarysense,absurd;poorKunersdorfcouldhavebeenburntatanymoment,ifneedful;andtotheRussiansthekeepingofitstandingwastheprofitablething,asanimpedimenttoFriedrichinhisadvancethere。Theyhavelaiditflatandpermeable;ashesallofit,——excepttheChurchonly,whichisofstone;notsocombustible,andmayhaveuseswithal。Hasperhapsservedastemporarylock—up,prisonforthenight,tosomeofthoseFrankfurtDeputationsandtheirtroublesomewailings;andmayserveastemporaryhospitalto—morrow,whoknows?
ReadjustmentsintheRussianCampweremanifold:buttheseareasnothing,inthetumultuousbusinessoftheday。Cartingoftheirbaggage,everyarticleofvalue,tothatsafeWagenburgintheRiver;drivingofcattle,——theverydrivingofcattlethroughFrankfurt,endlessherdsofthem,gatheredbytheCossacksfromfarandwide,"lastedforfour—and—twentyhours。"OxeninFrankfurtthatdaywereattherateoftenshillingsperhead。Oftenenoughyouwereofferedafull—grownyoungsteerforaloafofbread;
naytheCossacks,whentherewasabsolutelynobidder,wouldslaughterdowntheanimal,leaveitscarcassinthestreets,andsellthehideforaTYMPF,——fivepence(verybadsilveratpresent)。