NeverbeforeorsincewasseeninFrankfurtsuchaSaturday,forbellowingandbraying,andragingandtumulting,allthroughthedayandthroughthenight;usheringinsuchaSundaytoo!
Sundayabout3inthemorning,Friedrichisonmarchagain,——
Russiansstillintheirplace;andDispositionFIRST,notSECONDatall,tobeourruleofaction!Friedrich,inTwoColumns,marchesoff,eastwardthroughthewoods,asifforReppenquiteawayfromtheRussiansandtheirMuhlberg;butintendingtocircleroundattheduepoint,andcomedownupontheirrightflankthere(leftflank,ashepersiststocallit),outofthewoods,andclaspitinhisarmsinanimpressive,unexpectedway。InTwoColumns;
whicharemeant,asusual,tobetheTwoLinesofBattle:Seidlitz,withchosenCavalry,isattheheadofColumnFirst,andwillbeLeftWing,wereweontheground;EugenofWurtemberg,closingtherearofColumnFirst,will,he,orFinckandhetogether,beRightWing。Thatistheorderofmarch;——orderofBATTLE,weshallfind,hadtoalteritselfsomewhat,forreasonsextremelyvalid!
Finckwithhis12,000istokeephispresentground;tohavetwogoodbatteriesgotready,eachonitsknollahead,whichshallwaitsilentintheinterim:Fincktorideoutreconnoitring,withmanyGeneralOfficers,andtomakemotionsandostentations;inaword,topersuadetheRussiansthathereistheMainArmycomingonfromthenorth。AllwhichFinckdoes;avoiding,ashisorderswere,anyfiring,orseriouscommencementofbusiness,tilltheKingreappearoutofthewoods。TheRussiansgiveFinckandhisGeneralOfficersacannonsalvo,hereandthere,withouteffect,andgetnoanswer。
"TheKingdoesnotseehisway,then,afterall?"thinktheRussians。TheirCossacksgoscouringabout;onthesouthernside,"burnSchwetigandReipzig,"withouttheleastadvantagetothemselves:mostoftheCavalry,andaregimentortwoofexcellentAustrianGrenadiers,arewithLoudon,neartheRedGrange,infrontoftheRussianextremeleft;——butwillhavesteptoverintoBigHollowatamomentofcrisis!
TheKing’smarch,throughtheForestofReppen,wasnothinglikesoexpeditiousashadbeenexpected。Therearethickets,intricacies,runlets,boggyoozes;indifferenttoonemanwellmounted,butvitallyimportantto30,000withheavycannontobringon。
Boggyoozingsespecially,——thereisonedirtystreamorfloss(HUNERFLIESS,Hen—Floss)whichwandersdismallythroughthoserecesses,issuingfromthefarsouth,withdirtydaughtersdismallywanderingintoit,andothersthatcannotgetintoit(beingofthelakekind):these,intheirweary,circling,recirclingcoursetowardsOder,——FAULELAACKE(FoulLake,LITHER—MERE,asitwere),FoulBridge,Swine’sNook(SCHWEINEBUCKT),andmanyothers,——
occasionendlessdifficulty。WhetherMajorLindenwasshotthatday,orwhatbecameofhimafter,Idonotknow:butitwaspityhehadnotstudiedthegroundwithasoldier’seyeinsteadofahunter’s!Plumpingsuddenly,atlast,uponHen—Flossitself,Friedrichhastoturnangularly;angularly,whichoccasionsgreatdelay:theheavycannon(wall—gunsbroughtfromCustrin)havetwelvehorseseach,andcannotturnamongthetrees,buthavetobeunyoked,reyoked,turnedroundbyhand:——inshort,itwaseightinthemorningbeforeFriedricharrivedattheedgeofthewood,ontheKlosterberg,Walckberg,andotherwoodyBERGSorknolls,withinreachofMuhlberg,andbehindthepreliminaryabatisthere(abatiswhichwasratherofservicetohimthanotherwise);——andbeganprivatelybuildinghisbatteries。
Ateighto’clockhe,withColumnFirst,whichisnowbecomingLineFirst(CENTREofLineFirst,ifwereckonFinckasRIGHT—WING),isthere;busyinthatmanner:ColumnSecond,whichwastohavebeenRearLine,isstillaprettywaybehind;andhasmanydifficultiesbeforeitgetsintoKunersdorfneighborhood,orcan(havingwriggleditselfintoakindofLEFT—WING)co—operateontheRussianPositionfromthesouthside。Onthenorthside,Finckhasbeenreadythesefivehours。——Friedrichspeedsthebuildingofhisbatteries:"Silent,too;theRussianshavenotyetnoticedus!"
BydegreestheRussiansdonoticesomething;shootoutCossackstoreconnoitre。Cossacksinquantity;whoaresoinsolent,andventuresoverynear,ourgunnersonthenorthbatterygivethemablastofsatisfactorygrape—shot;oneaudthenanother,fourblastsinall,satisfactorytothegunnermind,——tilltheKing’sself,withalook,withavoice,camegalloping:"Silence,willyou!"
TheRussianstooknooffence;stillconsideringFincktobethemainthingandFriedrichsomescoutparty,——tillatlast,Half—pasteleven,everythingbeingreadyontheWalckHill,Friedrich’sbatteriesopenedthere,inasuddenandvolcanicway。
VolcanicallyansweredbytheRussians,assoonaspossible;
whohave72gunsonthisMuhlberg,andarenothingloath。UponwhomFinck’sbatteryisopeningfromthenorth,withal:Friedrichhas60
cannonhereabouts;ontheWalckberg,ontheLITTLESpitzberg(calledSEIDLITZHILLeversince);allplayingdiligentlyontheheadandsouthshoulderofthisMuhlberg:whileFinck’sbatteryopensonthenorthshoulder(couldhebutgetnearenough)。
Volcanictoadegreeallthese;noraretheRussianswanting,thoughtheygetmoreandmoreastonished:Tempelhof,whowasinit,sayshenever,exceptatTorgaunextYear,heardaloudercannonade。Loudexceedingly;andmoreorlessappallingtotheRussianimagination:butnotdestructiveinproportion;
thedistancebeingtooconsiderable,——"1,950pacesatthenearest,"
asTempelhofhassinceascertainedbymeasuring。Friedrich’stwobatteries,however,astheytooktheRussiansintheflankorbyenfilade,didgoodexecution。"TheRussiangunswereill—pointed;
theRussianbatterieswrong—built;batteriessobuiltasdidnotallowthemsightoftheHollowtheyweremeanttodefend。"
[Tempelhof,iii。186,187。]
Afterabovehalfanhourofthis,FriedrichordersstormoftheMuhlberg:Forwardonit,withwhatofenfiladingithashad!EightgrenadierBattalions,achosenvanguardappointedforthework(namesofBattalionsallgiven,anddeathlessinthePrussianWar—
Annals),trampforthonthisservice:crosstheabatis,whichtheRussiangrenadoeshavemostlyburnt;downintotheHollow。
Steadyasplanets;"withaprecisionandcoherency,"saysTempelhof,"whichevenontheparade—groundwouldhavedeservedpraises。OncewellintheHollow,theysuffernothing;thoughtheblindRussianfire,goingallovertheirheads,ragesthreefold:"
sufferednothingintheHollow;nortilltheyreachedalmostthebrowoftheMuhlberg,andwerewithinahundredstepsoftheRussianguns。Thesewerethecriticalsteps,thesefinalones;
suchtorrentsofgrape—shotandmusket—shotandsheerdeathburstingout,hereatlast,upontheEightBattalions,astheycomeaboveground。Whoadvanced,unwavering,allthefaster,——speedone’sonlysafety。TheypouredintotheRussiangunnersandmusketrybattalionsonevolleyofchoicestquality,whichhadashakingeffect;then,withlevelbayonets,plungeonthebatteries:
whichareallemptybeforewecanleapintothem;artillery—men,musketeerbattalions,allonwing;generalwhirlpoolspreading。
Andso,intenminutes,theMuhlberganditsgunsareours。
EversinceZorndorf,anideahadgotabroad,saysTempelhof,thattheRussianswoulddieinsteadofyielding;butitprovedfarotherwisehere。DownasfarasKunersdorf,whichmaybeaboutamilewestward,theRussiansareallinawhirl;atbesthangingintattersandclumps,theirOfficersstrugglingagainsttheflight;
"mixedgroupsyouwouldseehuddledtogetherahundredmendeep。"
TheRussianLeftWingisbeaten:hadweourcannonuphere,ourcavalryuphere,theRussianArmywereinabadway!
Thisisagloriousbeginning;completed,Ithink,asfaralmostasKunersdorfbyoneo’clock:andcouldtheironcontinuetobestruckwhileitisatwhite—heatasnow,theresultwereasgoodascertain。ThatwasFriedrich’scalculation:butcircumstanceswhichhehadnotcountedon,somewhichhecouldnotcounton,sadlyretardedthematter。HisLeftWing(RearLine,whichshouldnowhavebeenLeftWing)fromsouthward,hisRightWingfromnorthward,andFinckfartherwest,werenowontheinstanttohavesimultaneouslycloseduponthebeatenRussians,andcrushedthemaltogether。TheRightWing,conquerorsoftheMuhlberg,arehere:
butneitherFincknortheLeftcanbesimultaneouswiththem。
FinckandhisartilleryaremuchretardedwiththeFlossesandpoorsingleBridges;andoftheLeftWingthereareonlysomeVanguardRegimentscapableofhelping("whodroveouttheRussiansfromKunersdorfChurchyard,"astheirfirstfeat),——noMainBodyyetforalongwhile。Suchimpediments,suchintricaciesofbogandbush!
TheentireWingdoesatlastgettothesoutheastofKunersdorf,freeofthewood;butfinds(contrarytoLindenwithhishuntereye)anintricatemeshworkofmeresandstragglinglakes,twoofthemintheburntVillageitself;nopassingoftheseexceptonnarrowisthmuses,whichnecessitatechangeofrankandre—change;
andourLeftWingcannot,withallitsindustry,"marchup,"
thatis,arriveattheenemyinfightingline,withoutthepainfulestdelays。
Andthenthegettingforwardofourcannon!OntheMuhlbergitselftheseventy—twoRussianguns,"owingtodifferenceofcalibre,"orartillery—menknowwhat,cannotbeusedbyus:afewlightguns,Tempelhoftooneofthem,apoorfourinall,withperhaps100shottoeach,did,bytheKing’sorder,hastentothetopoftheMuhlberg;andneverdidTempelhofseeafinerchanceforartillerythanthere。Softslopingground,withRussianssimmeringaheadofyou,allthewaydowntoKunersdorf,amilelong:byhorizontalpointing,youhadsuchreboundings(RICOCHETS);andcarriedbeautifulexecution!Tempelhofsoonspenthishundredshots:butitwasnotatoncethatanyofoursixtyheavygunscouldbegotupthither。Twelvehorsestoeach:fancyit,andwhatbafflingdelayshereandelsewhere;——andhowtheRussianwhirlpoolwassettlingmoreandmore,intheinterim!Andhad,inpart,settled;inpart,gotthroughtotherear,andbeenreplacedbyfreshtroops!
Friedrich’sactivities,andsuppressedandinsuppressibleimpatiencesinthisinterval,arealsoconceivable,thoughnotonrecordforus。Theswiftestofmen;tieddown,inthismanner,withtheblazeofperfectvictoryahead,werethemomentsNOTrunningout!Slowerorfaster,hethinks(Isuppose),thevictoryishis;
andthathemustpossesshissoultillthingsdoarrive。ItwasinoneandmoreofthoseembargoedintervalsthathewrotetoBerlin[Preuss,ii。212n。](whichiswaiting,asifforlifeordeath,theissueofthisscene,sixtymilesdistant):"Russiansbeaten;
rejoicewithme!"Foursuccessivecouriers,Ibelieve,withmessagestothateffect;andatlastaFifthwithdolefullycontrarynews!——
Inproportionasthecannonandothernecessariesgraduallygotin,theFightflamedupfromitsembersmoreaudmore:andthereensued,——theRussiansbeingnowrankedagain(frontingeastwardnow)"inmanylines,"andveryfierce,——asecondstilldeadlierbout;Friedrichfuriouslydiligentontheirfrontandrightflank;
Finck,fromtheAlderWaste,batteringandcharging(uphill,andunderdifficultiesfromthoseFlossesandsingleBridges)ontheirleftflank。Thistoo,afterlongdeadlyeffortsonthePrussianpart,endedagainclearlyintheirfavor;theirenemiesbrokenasecondtime,anddrivennotonlyoutofKunersdorfandtheKuhgrund,butsomesayalmosttothefootoftheJudenberg,——whatcanonlybeverypartiallytrue。BrokenportionsoftheRussianleftflank,——someofFinck’speople,intheirvictoriouswrath,mayhavechasedtheseveryfar:butitiscertainthegeneralRussianmassralliedagainalongwayshortoftheJudenberg;——though,thegroundbeingallobliteratedbytherabbitsandthewinds,nobodycannowknowwithexactitudewhere。
AndindeedtheBattle,fromthispointonwards,becomesblurredandconfusedtous,onlyitsgrosserfeaturesvisiblehenceforth。
Wherethe"BigSpitzberg"was(soterriblyimportantsoon),nobodycannowtellme,exceptfrommaps。London’smotionstooareobscure,thoughimportant。Ibelievehisgrenadiershadnotyetbeeninthefire;butamcertaintheyarenowcomeoutofBigHollow;freshfortherescue;andhavetakenfrontrankinthisSecondRallythatismade。Loudon’sCavalryLoudonhimselfhasinhand,andwaitswiththeminafitplace。Hehas18,000freshmen;
andaneyelikefewothersonafieldofwar。Loudon’s18,000arefresh:ofthePrussiansthatcanbynomeansbesaid。Ishouldjudgeitmustbe3oftheafternoon。Thedayiswindless,blazing;
oneofthehottestAugustdays;and"nobody,fortwelvehourspast,couldcommandadrinkofwater:"veryfreshthepoorPrussianscannotbe!Theyhavedonetwoboutsofexcellentfighting;
tumbledtheRussianswellback,stormedmanybatteries;andtakeninall180cannon。
Atthisstage,itappears,FinckandmanyGenerals,Seidlitzamongtheothers,wereofopinionthat,inpresentcircumstances,withtroopssotired,andtheenemynearlycertaintodrawoff,ifpermitted,herehadbeenenoughforoneday,andthatthereoughttobepausetillto—morrow。Friedrichknewwelltheneedofrest;
butFriedrich,impatientofthingshalf—done,especiallyofRussianshalf—beaten,wouldnotlistentothisproposal;whichwasreckoneduponhimasagraveandtragicfault,alltherestofhislife;thoughfavorablejudges,whowereontheground,Tempelhofforone,[Tempelhof,iii。194。]arewilliugtoprovethatpausinghere——atthepointwehadreallygotto,alittlebeyondtheKuhgrund,namely;andnotacoupleofmileswestward,atthefootoftheJewHill,wherevaguerumorputsus——wasnotfeasibleorreasonable。Friedrichconsiderswithhimself,"Ourleftwinghashardlyyetbeeninfire!"callsouttheentireleftwing,footandhorse:thesearetoemergefromtheirmeshworkofLakesaboutKunersdorf,andbearahandalongwithusontheRussianfronthere,——especiallytosweepawaythatragingBatterytheyhaveontheBigSpitzberg,andmakeusclearofit。TheBigSpitzbergliestosouthandaheadoftheRussianrightasnowranked;
fatallycoverstheirrightflank,andhalfruinstheattackinfront。BigSpitzbergisblownirrecognizableinourtime;butitwasthenanall—importantthing。
Theleft—wingInfantrythreadtheirlake—labyrinth,thesoonestpossible;havetorankagainonthehitherside,underatearingfirefromthatSpitzberg;canthenatlast,anddo,stormonwards,upwards;butcannot,withtheirbestefforts,taketheSpitzberg:
andhavetofallbackunderitsfloodsoftearingcase—shot,andretireoutofrange。ToFriedrich’sblankdisappointment:"Tryityou,then,Seidlitz;yousavedusatZorndorf!"Seidlitz,thoughitisanimpossibleproblemtostormbatterieswithhorse,doeschargeinfortheRussianflank,inspiteofitscoveringbattery:butthetorrentsofgrape—shotareinsufferable;theSeidlitzpeople,torningaps,recoil,whirlround,anddonotrankagaintillbeyondtheLakesofKunersdorf。Seidlitzhimselfhasgotwounded,andhashadtobecarriedaway。
And,inbrief,fromthispointonwardsallgoesabackwiththePrussiansmoreandmore。RepeatedattemptsonthatSpitzbergbatteryprovevain;toadvancewithoutitisimpossible。
Friedrich’sexertionsarepassionate,almostdesperate;
rallying,animating,new—ordering;everywhereinthehottestofthefire。"Thricehepersonallyledonthemainattack。"Hehashadtwohorsesshotdownunderhim;mountingathird,thistoogetsabulletinanarteryoftheneck,andisaboutfalling,whentwoAdjutantssavetheKing。Inhiswaistcoat—pocketsomesmallgoldcase(ETUI)hasgotsmittenflatbyabullet,whichwouldotherwisehaveendedmatters。Thepeopleabouthimremonstrateonsuchexposureofalifebeyondvalue;heanswerscurtly,"Wemustallofustryeverymethodhere,towintheBattle:I,likeeveryother,muststandtomydutyhere!"These,andasecondbriefwordortwofartheron,areallofarticulatethatwehearfromhimthisday。
Friedrich’sweariedbattalionshereontheHeights,whiletheSpitzbergtoleftgoessoill,fightdesperately;butcannotprevailfarther;andinspiteofFriedrich’svehementrallyingsandurgings,graduallyloseground,——backatlasttoKunersdorfandtheKuhgrundagain。TheLoudongrenadiers,andexclaimedmassesoffreshRussians,arenottobebroken,butadvanceandadvance。
Fancythepantingdeath—labors,andspasmodictoilingsandbafflings,ofthosepoorPrussiansandtheirKing!Nothingnowsucceeding;thedeath—agonynowcome;allheartsgrowinghopeless;
onlyoneheartstillseeinghope。TheSpitzbergisimpossible;
triedhowoftenIknownot。Finck,fromtheAlderWaste,withhisInfantry,attacks,andagainattacks;withoutsuccess:"LettheCavalrygoround,then,andtrythere。Seidlitzwehavenot;
youEugenofWurtembergleadthem!"Eugenleadsthem(cuirassiers,orwewillforgetwhat);roundbytheeasternendoftheMuhlberg;
thenwestward,alongtheAlderWaste;finallysouthward,againsttheRussianflank,himselfforemost,andatthegallopforcharging:——Eugen,"lookinground,findshismenallgone,"andhastogalloptheotherway,getswoundedtoboot。Puttkammer,withHussars,thentriedit;Puttkammerwasshotdead,andhisHussarstoocoulddonothing。
Back,slowlyback,gothePrussiansgenerally,nothingnowsucceedswiththem。BacktotheKuhgrundagain;fairlyoverthesteepbrowthere;theRussiansserryingtheirranksatop,rearrangingtheirmanyguns。There,oncemore,rosefrightfulstruggle;
desperateattemptbythefordonePrussianstoretakethatHeight。
"Lastedfifteenminutes,linetolinenotfiftyyardsasunder;"
suchmusketry,——ourlastcartridgeswithal。ArdentPrussianpartiestryingtostormup;fewevergettingtothetop,noneeverstandingtherealiveoneminute。Thiswasthedeath—agonyoftheBattle。
Loudon,waitingbehindtheSpitzberg,dashesforwardnow,towardstheKuhgrundandourLeftFlank。AtsightofwhichauniversalfeelingshiversthroughthePrussianheart,"Hopeended,then!"——
andtheirsolidranksrustleeverywhere;andmeltintoonewilddeluge,ebbingfromtheplaceasfastasitcan。
Itistowardssixo’clock;theswelteringSunisnowfallenlowandveiled;grayeveningsinkingoverthosewastes。"N’YA—T—ILDONC
PASUNBOUGREDEBOULETQUIPUISSEM’ATTEINDREE(Istherenooneb——ofaballthatcanreachme,then)?"exclaimedFriedrichindespair。Suchadayhehadneverthoughttosee。ThepillaroftheState,thePrussianArmyitself,gonetochaosinthismanner。
Friedrichstillpassionatelystruggles,exhorts,commands,entreatsevenwithtears,"Children,don’tforsakeme,inthispinch(KINDER,VERLASSETHEUTEMICH,EURENKONIG,EURENVATER,NICHT)!"
[Kriele,p。169。]——butallearsaredeaf。OntheMuhlbergoneregimentstillstoodbytheirguns,coveringtheretreat。Buttheretreatismoreandmoreaflight;"noPrussianArmywaseverseeninsuchastate。"AttheBridgesofthatHen—Floss,therewassuchacrowding,allourgunsgotjammed;andhadtobeleft,165ofthemofvariouscalibre,andthewholeoftheRussian180thatwereonceinourhands。Hadthechasebeenvigorous,thisPrussianArmyhadbeenheardofnomore。ButbeyondtheMuhlberg,therewaslittleornopursuit;throughthewoodtheArmy,allinchaos,butwithoutmolestationotherwise,madeforitsOderBridgesbythewayithadcome。[Tempelhof,iii。179—200;Retzow,ii。80—115:
inSeyfarth,Beylagen,ii。589—598,
Berichtvonderam12August,1759beyKunersdorfvorgefallenenSchlacht(Official);andIB。598—603,
Beschreibungder&c。(byaPrivateHand):lucidlyaccurateboth。]
Friedrichwasamongthelasttoquittheground。Heseemedstupefiedbytheexcessofhisemotions;innohastetogo;
uncertainwhetherhewouldgoatall。Hisadjutantswereabouthim,andasmallpartyofZiethenHussarsunderCaptainPrittwitz。
WildswarmsofCossacksapproachedtheplace。"PRITTWITZ,ICHBIN
VERLOREN(Prittwitz,Iamlost)!"remarkedhe。"NEIN,IHRO
MAJESTAT!"answeredPrittwitzwithenthusiasm;chargedfiercely,heandhisfew,intotheswarmsofCossacks;cutthemabout,heldthematbay,orsentthemelse—whither,whiletheAdjutantsseizedFriedrich’sbridle,andgallopedoffwithhim。AtOEtscherandtheBridges,FriedrichfoundofhislateArmynotquite3,000men。
EvenWunschisnottheretillnextmorning。WunschwithhisPartyhad,earlyintheafternoon,laidholdofFrankfurt,asordered;
madethegarrisonprisoners,blockedtheOderBridge;
poorFrankfurttremulouslythankingHeavenforhim,andforsuchanomen。InspiteoftheirWagenburgandthesePontoon—Bridges,itappears,therewouldhavebeennoretreatfortheRussiansexceptintoWunsch’scannon:Wagenburgway,latishintheafternoon,therewassuchascrambleofrunawaysandretreatingbaggage,allwasjammedintoimpassability;scarcelycouldasinglemangetthrough。
Incaseofdefeat,theRussianArmywouldhavehadnochancebutsurrenderorextermination。[Tempelhof,iii。194:inRetzow(ii。
110)issomedubioustraditionarystuffonthematter。]Atdark,however,Wunschhadsummons,sotruculentinstyle,heknewwhatitmeant;andansweringinwordsperemptorily,"No"withalikeemphasis,privatelygotreadyagain,andatmidnightdisappeared。
GottoReitweinwithoutaccident。
FriedrichfoundatOEtschernothingbuthutsfullofpoorwoundedmen,andtheirmiseriesandsurgeries;——hetookshelter,himself,inahut"whichhadbeenplunderedbyCossacks"(inthepastdays),butwhichhadfewerwoundedthanothers,andcouldbefurnishedwithsomebundlesofdrystraw。KrielehasaprettyAnecdote,withnamesandparticulars,oftwopoorLieutenants,whowerelyingonthefloor,asheenteredthishut。Theyhadlainthereformanyhours;theSurgeonsthinkingthemdesperate;whichFriedrichdidnot。"ACHKINDER,Alas,children,youarebadlywounded,then?"
"JA,yourMajesty:buthowgoestheBattle?"(Answer,evasiveonthispoint):"Areyoubandaged,though?Haveyoubeenletblood?"
"NEIN,EUERMAJESTAT,KEINTEUFELWILLUNSVERBINDEN(Notadevilofthemwouldbandageus)!"UponwhichthereisaSurgeoninstantlybrought;reprimandedforneglect:"Desperate,sayyou?Theseareyoungfellows;feelthathand,andthat;nofeverthere:Natureinsuchcasesdoeswonders!"Uponwhichtheleechhadtoperformhisfunction;andthepooryoungfellowsweresaved,——anddidnewfighting,andgotnewwounds,andhadPensionswhentheWarended。
[Kriele,pp。169,170;andinalltheAnecdote—Books。]ThisappearstohavebeenFriedrich’sfirstworkinthathutatOEtscher。
HerenextisaThirdAutographtoFinkenstein,writteninthathut,probablythefirstofseveralOfficialthingsthere:——
THEKINGTOGRAFVANFINKENSTEIN(atBerlin):ThirdNote。
OETSCHER,"12thAugust,"1759。
"IattackedtheEnemythismorningabouteleven;webeathimbacktotheJUDENKIRCHHOF(JewChurchyard,"——amistake,butnowofnomoment),"nearFrankfurt。Allmytroopscameintoaction,andhavedonewonders。Ireassembledthemthreetimes;atlength,Iwasmyselfnearlytakenprisoner;andwehadtoquittheField。Mycoatisriddledwithbullets,twohorseswerekilledunderme;——mymisfortuneis,thatIamstillalive。Ourlossisveryconsiderable。OfanArmyof48,000men,Ihave,atthismomentwhileIwrite,notmorethan3,000together;andamnolongermasterofmyforces。InBerlinyouwilldowelltothinkofyoursafety。Itisagreatcalamity;andIwillnotsurviveit:
theconsequencesofthisBattlewillbeworsethantheBattleitself。Ihavenoresourcesmore;and,toconfessthetruth,Iholdallforlost。IwillnotsurvivethedestructionofmyCountry。
Farewellforever(ADIEUPOURJAMAIS)。——F。"[Inorig。"CE12,"nootherdate(OEuvresdeFrederic,xxv。306)。]
Anotherthing,ofthesametragiccharacter,isthatofhandingoverthisArmytoFinck’scharge。OrderthereistoFinckofthattenor:andalongwithitthefollowingnotableAutograph,——aFriedrichtakingleavebothofKingshipandoflife。TheAutographexists;buthasnodate,——dateoftheOrderwouldprobablybestillOETSCHER,12thAUGUST;dateoftheAutograph,REITWEIN(acrosstheRiver),nextday。
FRIEDRICHTOLIEUT。—GENERALFINCK(atOEtscherorReitwein)。
"GeneralFinckgetsadifficultcommission;theunluckyArmywhichIgiveuptohimisnolongerinconditiontomakeheadagainsttheRussians。HaddickwillnowstartforBerlin,perhapsLoudontoo;
ifGeneralFinckgoafterthese,theRussianswillfallonhisrear;ifhecontinueontheOder,hegetsHaddickonhisflank(SO
KRIGTERDENHADEKDISSSEIT):——however,Ibelieve,shouldLoudongoforBerlin,hemightattackLoudon,andtrytobeathim:this,ifitsucceeded,wouldbeastandagainstmisfortune,andholdmattersup。Timegainedismuch,inthesedesperatecircumstances。
ThenewsfromTorgauandDresden,CopermySecretary(COPERMEIN
SEGRETER,"kindoflieutenanttoEichel[SeePreuss,i。349,iii。
442。])"willsendhim。You(ER)mustinformmyBrother[PrinceHenri]ofeverything;whomIhavedeclaredGeneralissimooftheArmy。Torepairthisbadluckaltogetherisnotpossible:butwhatmyBrothershallcommand,mustbedone:——theArmyswearstomyNephew[Kinghenceforth]。
"Thisisalltheadvice,intheseunhappycircumstances,Iaminaconditiontogive。HadIstillhadresources,Iwouldhavestayedbythem(SOWEHREICHDARBEIGEBLIEBEN)。
"FRIEDRICH"
[ExactCopy,twoexactcopies,inPREUSS(i。450,andagain,ii。215)。]
Allthisdone,theweariedFriedrichflunghimselfintohistrussofdrystraw;andwasseensoundasleepthere,asinglesentryatthedoor,bysomehighGeneralsthatventuredtolookin。OnthemorrowhecrossedtoReitwein;byto—morrownight,therehad23,000
ofhisfugitivescomeintohim;——butthisisnowtobeFinck’saffair,nothis!Thatday,too(forthePaperseemstobemisdated),hesigned,anddespatchedtoSchmettau,CommandantinDresden,aMissive,whichprovedmorefatalthaneitheroftheothers;andbrought,orhelpedtobring,verybitterfruitsforhim,beforelong:——
TOLIEUTENANT—GENERALVONSCHMETTAU(atDresden)。
"REITWEIN,14th[probably13th]August,1759。
"YouwillperhapshaveheardoftheCheck[L’ECHEC,Kunersdorftowit!]IhavemetwithfromtheRussianArmyonthe13th[12th,ifyouhavetheAlmanacathand]ofthismonth。ThoughatbottomouraffairsinregardtotheEnemyherearenotdesperate,IfindI
shallnotnowbeabletomakeanydetachmentforyourassistance。
ShouldtheAustriansattemptanythingagainstDresden,therefore,youwillseeiftherearemeansofmaintainingyourself;
failingwhich,itwillbehooveyoutotryandobtainafavorableCapitulation,——towit,Libertytowithdraw,withthewholeGarrison,Moneys,Magazines,HospitalandallthatwehaveatDresden,eithertoBerlinorelse—whither,soastojoinsomeCorpsofmyTroops。
"Asafitofillness[MALADIE,alas!]hascomeonme,——whichIdonotthinkwillhavedangerousresults,——IhaveforthepresentleftthecommandofmyTroopstoLieutenant—GeneralvonFinck;
whoseOrdersyouaretoexecuteasifcomingtoyoudirectlyfrommyself。OnthisIprayGodtohaveyouinhisholyandworthykeeping。——F。"[Preuss,ii。Urkundenbuch,
p。43。]
AtBerlin,onthis13th,——withtheFiveCourierscominginsuccessively(andnotintheorderoftheirdespatch,butthefatalFiftharrivingsometimeAHEADoftheFourth,whostillspokeofprogressandvictory),——therewassuchadayasSulzer(ACHMEIN
LIEBERSULZER!)hadneverseenintheworld。"’Above50,000humanbeingsonthePalaceEsplanadeandstreetsabout;’swayinghitherandthither,inagonyofexpectation,inalternateparoxysmofjoyandofterrorandwoe;oftenenoughtheoppositeparoxysmssimultaneousinthedifferentgroups,andmencrusheddownindespairmetbymenleapingintotheairforverygladness:"Sulzer(whosesympathyisofveryaesthetictype)"wouldnot,foranyconsideration,havemissedsuchascene。"[BriefederSchweitzerBodmer,Sulzer,Gessner;ausGleim’sliterarischenNachlasse:herausgegebenvonWilhelmKorte(Zurich,1804),pp。316—319。]The"scene"ismuchobligedtoyou,MEINLIEBER!——
Practicallywefind,inRodenbeck,orstragglingelsewhere,thisNote:"OnthedayafterKunersdorf,QueenandCourtflytoMagdeburg:thisistheirsecondflight。TheirfirstwasonHaddick’sVisit,October,1757;butafterRossbachtheysoonreturned,andBerlinandtheCourtwerethenextremelygay:
differentgentlemen,FrenchandothersofeveryNation,fallenprisoners,madetheQueen’ssoireesthefinestintheworldforsplendorandvariety,atthattime。"[Rodenbeck,i。390;&c。&c。]
OneotherNotewesave,forthesakeofpoorMajorKleist,"PoetoftheSpring,"ashewasthencalled。Avaliant,punctualSoldier,andwithaturnforLiteratureaswell;whowrotereallypleasantfinethings,newatthattimeandrapturouslywelcome,thoughtoomuchinthesentimentalveinforthetimeswhichhavefollowed。
MajorKleist,——thereisaGeneralKleist,aColonelKleistoftheGreenHussars(calledGRUNEKleist,aterriblecuttingfellow):——
thisisnotGruneKleist;thisisthePoetofTHESPRING;
whosefateatKunersdorfmadeatragicimpressioninallintelligentcirclesofTeutschland。HereisKriele’sNote(abridged):——
"ChristianEwaldvonKleist,’PoetoftheSpring’[aPommerngentleman,nowinhisforty—fourthyear],wasofFinck’sDivision;
hadcomeon,afterthoseEightBattalionstookthefirstRussianbattery[thatis,Muhlberg];andhadbeenassisting,withzeal,atthetakingofthreeotherbatteries,regardlessoftwelvecontusions,whichhegraduallygot。Atthethirdbattery,hewasfartherbadlyhurtontheleftarmandtheright。TookhisColonel’splacenevertheless,whomhenowsawfall;ledtheregimentMUTHIGforwardonthefourthbattery。Acase—shotsmashedhisrightlegtopieces;hefellfromhishorse[hournotgiven,shallwesay3P。M。];sank,exclaiming:’KINDER,Mychildren,don’tforsakeyourKing!’andfaintedthere。Wascarriedtorearandleftward;laiddownonsomedryspotintheElsbruch,notfarfromtheKuhgrund,andaSurgeonbrought。TheSurgeon,whileexamining,wastornawaybycase—shot:Kleistlaybleedingwithouthelp。
Afriendofhis,Pfau[whotoldKriele],oneofFinck’sGenerals,cameridingthatway:Kleistcalledtohim;askedhowtheBattlewent;uncommonlygladtohearwearestillprogressive。
Pfauundertook,andtriedhisutmost,foracarriagetoKleist;
didsendoneofFinck’sowncarriages;butaftersuchdelaysthatthePrussianswerenowyielding:poorKleist’shadbecomeRussianground,andthecarriagecouldnotgetin。
"Kleistlayhelpless;noluckworsethanhis。Intheevening,Cossackscameroundhim;stripthimstark—naked;threwhim,faceforemost,intothenearestswampyplace,andwenttheirway。OneofthesedevilshadsomethingsoabsurdandTeniers—likeinthefaceofhim,thatKleist,inhispains,couldnothelplaughingatremembranceofit。InthenightsomeRussianHussars,humanandnotCossack,foundKleistinthissituation;tookhimtoadryplace;
putacloakoverhim,kindledawatch—fireforthemselves,andgavehimwaterandbread。Towardsmorningtheyhastenedaway,throwingan8—GROSCHENSTUCK[ninepennypiece,shilling,sayhalf—crown]onhiscloak,——withhumanfarewell。ButCossacksagaincame;
againstripthimnakedandbare。Towardsnoonofthe13th,KleistcontrivedtoattractsomeRussianCavalrytrooppassingthatway,andgotspeechoftheCaptain(oneFackelberg,aGerman);whoatoncesetabouthelpinghim;——andhadhimactuallysentintoFrankfurt,inacarriage,thatevening。TotheHouseofaProfessorNikolai;wherewasplentyofsurgeryandwatchfulaffection。
Afternearthirtyhoursofsuchalair,hiswoundsseemedstillcurable;therewashopefortendays。Inthetenthnight(22d—23dAugust),theshiveredpiecesofbonedisunitedthemselves;cutanartery,——which,aftermanytrials,couldnotbetied。August24th,attwointhemorning,hedied。——Greatsorrow。August26th,therewassoldier’sfuneral;poorKleist’scoffinbornebytwelveRussiangrenadiers;verymanyRussianOfficersattending,whohadcomefromtheCampforthatend;oneRussianStaff—Officerofthemunbucklinghisownswordtolayonthebier,astherewaswantofone。
KingFriedrichhadKleist’sPortraithungintheGarnisonKirche。
FreemasonLodge,in1788,setupamonumenttohim,"[Kriele,pp。
39—43。]——whichstillstandsontheFrankfurtpavement,andisnowinsadlyruinousstate。
ThePrussianloss,inthisBattle,was,besidesallthecannonandfield—equipages:6,000killed,13,000wounded(ofwhichlatter,2,000badly,whofelltotheRussiansasprisoners);inall,about19,000men。NorwastheRussianlossmuchlighter;ofRussiansandAustrianstogether,near18,000,asTempelhofcounts:"whichwillnotsurpriseyourMajesty,"reportsSoltikoftohisCzarina;
"whoareawarethattheKingofPrussiasellshisdefeatsatadearrate。"AndprivatelySoltikofwasheardtosay,"LetmefightbutanothersuchVictory,andImaygotoPetersburgwiththenewsofitmyself,withthestaffinmyhand。"ThejoyatPetersburg,strivingnottobebraggartorimmodest,wassolemn,steadyandsuperlative:agreatfeatindeedforRussia,thisVictoryoversuchaKing,——thoughakindofgrudge,thatitwasduetoLoudon,dwelt,inspiteofLoudon’spoliticsilenceonthatpoint,unpleasantlyinthebackground。Thechasetheyhadshamefullyneglected。Itissaid,certainRussianOfficers,whohadchargeofthatbusinesssteptintoapeasant’scottagetoconsultonit;contrivedsomehowtofindtolerableliquorthere;andsatdrinkinginstead。[Preuss,ii。217。]
ChapterV。
SAXONYWITHOUTDEFENCE:SCHMETTAUSURRENDERSDRESDEN。
Friedrich’sdespairdidnotlastquitefourdays。Onthefourthday,——dayafterleavingReitwein,——thereisthislittleDocument,whichstillexists,ofmorecomfortabletenor:"MydearMajor—
GeneralvonWunsch,——YourLetterofthe16thtoLieutenant—GeneralvonFinckpunctuallyarrivedhere:andforthefuture,asIamnowrecoveredfrommyillness,youhavetoaddressyourReportsdirectlytoMyself。——F。"["Madlitz,"ontheroadtoFurstenwalde,"17thAugust:"inPreuss,FriedrichderGrosse;einehistorischePortrait—Skizze(kindofLECTURE,soletuscallit,ifagaincitingit;Lecturedelivered,onFriedrich’sBirthday,toMajestyandStaff—OfficersasAudience,Berlin,24thJanuary,1855),p。18。]Findingthat,exceptTottlebenwarilyreconnoitringwithafewCossacks,noRussiansshowedthemselvesatReitwein;thattheRussianswereencampingandintrenchingontheWine—HillssouthofFrankfurt,notmeaninganythingimmediate,——hetookheartagain;rankedhis23,000;sentforGeneralKleistfromPommernwithhisAnti—Swedishhandful(leavetheSwedesalone,asusualintimeofcrisis);consideredthatartilleriesandfurnishingscouldcometohimfromBerlin,whichisbut60miles;
thattherestilllaypossibilityahead,andthat,thoughonlyamiraclecouldsavehim,hewouldtryittotheverylast。
Agreatrelief,thisofcomingtooneselfagain!"Tilldeath,then;——rageon,yeelementsandblacksavageries!"Friedrich’shumorisnotdespondent,noworafterwards;thoughatthistimeitisverysad,veryangry,and,asitwere,scorningeventohope:
butheisatalltimesofbeautifullypracticalturn;andhas,inhisverydespair,asobrietyofeyesight,andafixedsteadinessofholdingtohispurpose,whichareofrarequality。HisutterancestoD’Argens,aboutthistimeandonward,——briefhints,spontaneous,almostunconscious,——givecurioustestimonyofhisgloomsandmoodyhumors。Ofwhichthereadershallseesomething。Forthepresent,heisindeepindignationwithhispoorTroops,amongothermiseries。"Actualrunningaway!"hewillhaveittobe;andtakesnoaccountofthirst,hunger,heat,utterwearinessandphysicalimpossibility!Thislastsforsomeweeks。Butingeneralthereisnothingofthisinjusticetothoseabouthim。Ingeneral,nothingevenofgloomismanifested;onthecontrary,cheerfulness,briskhope,astrangelycontinualsuccessionofhopes(mostlyillusory);
——though,within,thereistraceableverygreatsorrow,wearinessandmisery。Afixeddarkness,asofErebus,isgrownhabitualtohim;butisstrictlyshutup,littleofitshowntoothers,oreven,inasense,tohimself。HeisasatravellerovertakenbytheNightanditstempestsandrain—deluges,butrefusingtopause;
whoiswettedtothebone,anddoesnotcarefartherforrain。
Atravellergrownfamiliarwiththehowlingsolitudes;awarethattheStorm—windsdonotpity,thatDarknessisthedeadEarth’sShadow:——amostlonesoulofaman;butcontinuallytoilingforward,asifthebrightestgoalandhavenwerenearandinview。
OncemoretheworldwascertainofFriedrich’sruin;——Friedrichhimselfwehaveseencertainofit,forsomefewdesperatehours:——
buttheworldandhe,ashadbeenrepeatedlytheworld’scase,werebothdisappointed。IntrinsicallytherecouldbelittledoubtbutFriedrich’senemiesmightnowhaveruinedhim,hadtheybeendiligentaboutit。Nowagain,andnowmorethanever,theyhavethewinning—postinsight。Atsmalldistanceisthegoalandpurposeofallthesefouryears’battlingsandmarchings,andtenyears’
subterraneanplottingsandintriguings。Hehimselfsaysdeliberately,"Theyhadonlytogivehimthefinishingstroke(COUP—DE—GRACE)。"[OEuvresdeFrederic,
v。20。]Buttheynevergavehimthatstroke;couldnotdoit,thoughheartilydesirous。Whichwas,andis,matterofsurprisetoanobservantpublic。
Thecauseoffailuremaybeconsideredtohavebeen,ingoodpart,Daunandhiscunctations。Daun’szealwasunquestionable;
ardentandcontinualisDaun’sdesiretosucceed:buttotryitathisownriskwasbeyondhispower。Heexpectedalwaystosucceedbyhelpofothers:andtoshowthemanexample,andgovigorouslytoworkhimself,waswhathenevercouldresolveon。CouldplayonlyFabiusCunctator,itwouldseem;andneverwasthatpartlesswantedthannow!UndersuchaChiefFigure,the"incoherencyofaction,"insteadofdiminishing,asFriedrichhadfeared,rosedailytowardsitsmaximum;andlatterlybecameextreme。TheoldLerneanHydrahadmanyheads;buttheybelongedalltoonebody。
ThemanyheadsofthisAnti—FriedrichHydrahadwithaleachitsownbody,andseparatesetofnotionsandadvantages。Friedrichwasatleastaunity;hiswholestrengthgoingoneway,andatallmoments,underhisownsolecommand。Thevalueofthiscircumstanceisincalculable;thisisthesaving—clauseofPittandhisEngland(Pittalsoadespoticsovereign,thoughatemporaryone);
this,secondonlytoFriedrich’sgreatgiftsfromNature,andthenobleusehemakesofthem,isaboveallothersthecircumstancethatsavedhiminsuchaduelwiththeHydras。
OnthebackofKunersdorf,accordingly,therewasnotonlynofinishingstrokeuponFriedrich,butfortwomonthsnostrokeorseriousattemptwhateverinthoseneighborhoodswhereFriedrichis。
TherearefourArmieshereabouts:TheGrandRussian,hangingbyFrankfurt;FriedrichatFurstenwalde(whitherwardhemarchedfromReitweinAugust16th),atFurstenwaldeorfarthersouth,guardingBerlin;——then,unhurtyetbybattleofanykind,therearetheGrandDaunishorMark—LissaArmy,andPrinceHenri’sofSchmottseifen。OfwhichlatterTwothehitchingsandmanoeuvringsfromtimetotimebecomevivid,andneveraltogethercease;butinnocasecometoanything。Abovetwomonths’scientificflourishingofweapons,strategiccounter—dancing;butnostrokestruck,orresultachieved,exceptonDaun’spartirreparablewasteoftime:——
allreaderswouldfeelitinhumantobeburdenedwithanynoticeofsuchthings。OnemarchofPrinceHenri’s,whichwasofafamousanddecisivecharacter,wewillattendto,whenitcomes,thatis,weretheendofSeptemberathand;therestmustbeimaginedasageneralstrategicdanceinthosefrontierparts,——Silesiatorearwardononeside,theLausitzandFrankfurtontheother,——andmustgoon,silentlyformostpart,inthebackgroundofthereader’sfancy。Indeed,Saxonyisthesceneofaction;
Friedrich,Henri,Soltikof,Daun,comparativelyinactiveforthenextsixweeksandmore。
SomedaysbeforeKunersdorf,Daunpersonally,withIwillforgethowmanythousands,hadmadeamovetonorthwardfromMark—Lissa,60milesorso,throughSaganCountry;andliesaboutPriebus,waitingthereeversince。Priebusissome40milesnorthofGorlitz,about60westofGlogau,southofFrankfurt80。ThisiswheretheMaster—Smith,havingvariousironsinthefire,maybehandiestforclutchingthemout,andforgingatthem,astheybecomesuccessivelyhot。Daun,asMaster—Smith,hasatleastthreeobjectsinview。TheFIRSTis,asalways,ReconquestofSilesia:
thisisobstructedbyPrinceHenri,whosits,watchfulonthethreshold,atSchmottseifenyonder。TheSECONDis,aslastyear,CaptureofDresden:whichismuchthemorefeasibleatpresent,——
therebeing,excepttheGarrisons,noPrussianforcewhateverinSaxony;andaReichsArmynowactuallythereatlast,afteritslonghagglingaboutitsMagazines;andaboveall,aFriedrichwithhishandsfullelsewhere。TokeepFriedrich’shandsfull,——inotherwords,tokeeptheRussiansstickingtohim,——thatistheTHIRD
object:orindeedwemaycallitthefirst,secondandthird;
forDauniswellawarethatunlessSoltikofcanmanagetokeepFriedrichbusy,Silesia,Saxonyandallelsebecomesimpossible。
EversincethefortunatejunctionofLoudonwithSoltikof,Daunhassat,andstillsits,expectant;elaboratelycalculative,gatheringMagazinesindifferentparts,plantingout—parties,thisway,thatway,withaneyetothesethreeobjects,alloreach,——especiallytothethirdobject,whichhediscernstobeallANDeach。Daunwaselaboratelycalculativewiththeseviews:buttotryanymilitaryaction,uponPrinceHenriforexample,orbestirhimselfotherwisethanindrivingprovenderforward,andmarchingdetachmentshitherandthithertothepotentiallyfitandfittestposts,wasnotinDaun’sway,——somuchtheworseforDaun,inhispresentcourseofenterprise。
PrinceHenrihadlainquietatSchmottseifen,waitinghisBrother’sadventure;didnotheartheleasttidingsofhimtillsixdaysafterKunersdorf,andthenonlybyrumor;hideous,and,thoughstilldubious,toomuchofitprobable!OntheverydayofKunersdorf,Henrihadbeguneffectingsomeimprovementsonhisrightflank,——alwaysasharplystrategic,mostexpertcreature,——
andmadeagreatmanymotions,whichwouldbeunintelligiblehere。
[Detailed,everyfibreofthem(asisthesoul—confusingcustomthere),inTempelhof,iii。228etseq。]Henrifeelsnowthatuponhimliesaworldofduties;andforemostofall,theinstantdutyofendeavoringtoopencommunicationwithhisBrother。
Manymarches,inconsequence;muchintricatemarchingandmanoeuvringbetweenDaunandhim:ofwhich,whenwecometoHenri’sgreatMarch(of25thSeptember),theremaybeagainsomehint。
Forthepresent,letreaderstaketheirMap,andendeavortofixthefollowingdatesandlocalitiesintheirmind。Here,insummary,aretheKing’svariousMarches,andTwosuccessiveEncampments,twoonly,duringthoseSixWeeksofforcedinaction,whileheisobligedtostandwatchingtheRussians,andtowitnesssomanycomplicaciesanddisastersinthedistance;whichhestrugglesmuchandfruitlesslytohinderorhelp:——
ENCAMPMENT1st(Furstenwalde,August18th—30th)。FriedrichleftReitweinAUGUST16th;17th,heisatMadlitz[NotetoWunschwrittenthere,whichweread];18th,toFurstenwalde,andencamp。
FurstenwaldeisontheSpree,straightbetweenFrankfurtandBerlin;25milesfromtheformer,35fromthelatter。Herefornearafortnight。Atfirst,muchinalarmabouttheRussiansandBerlin;
butgraduallyascertainingthattheRussiansintendnothing。
"Ineffect,allthiswhileSoltikoflayatLossow,10milessouthofFrankfurt,withhisrightonOder;totallymotionless,inactive,exceptlistening,oftenrathergloomily,toDaun’sandMontalembert’ssuasiveeloquencesandadvices,——andonce,August22d,inthelittleTownofGuben,holdingConferencewithDaun[ofwhichbyandby]。Inconsequenceofwhich,AUGUST28th,SoltikofandhisRussiansandAustriansgotunderwayagain;southward,butonlyafewmarches:firsttoMullrose,thentoLieberose:——whom,theinstantheheardoftheirmovements,Friedrich,August30th,hastenedtofollow;buthadnottofollowveryfar。
Whereuponensues"ENCAMPMENTSECOND(Waldau,tillSeptember15th)。AUGUST30th,Friedrich,wesay,rosefromFurstenwalde;hastenedtofollowthisRussianmovement,andkeepwithinwindofit:upthevalleyoftheSpree;firsttoMullroseneighborhood[wheretheRussians,loiteringsometime,spoiledthecanal—locksoftheFriedrich—
WilhelmCanal,ifnothingmore],——thencetoLieberoseneighborhood;
Waldau,theKing’snewplaceofencampment,——Waldau,withSpreeForesttorearofit:silentbothpartiestillSeptember15th,whenSoltikofdidfairlymarch,nottowardsBerlin,butquiteintheoppositedirection。"
BythemiddleofSeptember,whentheRussiansdidgetonfoot,andmovedeastward;especiallyonandafterSeptember25th,whenHenrimadehisfamousMarchwestward;thenitwillbehooveustoreturntoFriedrichandtheselocalities。ForthepresentwemustturntoSaxony,where,andnothere,thesceneofactionis。Take,farther,onlythefollowingbitsofNote,whichwillnowbereadable。
First,theseUtterancestoD’Argens;directglimpsesintotheheavy—laden,indeedhag—riddenandnearlydesperateinnermanofFriedrich,duringthefirstthreeweeksafterhisdefeatatKunersdorf:——
THEKINGTOMARQUISD’ARGENS(atBerlin):SixNotes。
1。"MADLITZ[roadfromReitweintoFurstenwalde],16thAUGUST,1759。Wehavebeenunfortunate,mydearMarquis;butnot,bymyfault。Thevictorywasours,andwouldevenhavebeenacompleteone,whenourinfantrylostpatience,andatthewrongmomentabandonedthefieldofbattle。Theenemyto—dayisonmarchtoMullrose,tounitewithHaddick[nottoMullrosefortendaysyet;
HaddickhadalreadygotunitedwithTHEM]。TheRussianinfantryisalmosttotallydestroyed。Ofmyownwrecks,allthatIhavebeenabletoassembleamountsto32,000men;withtheseIampushingontothrowmyselfacrosstheenemy’sroad,andeitherperishorsavetheCapital。Thatisnotwhatyou[youBerliners]willcalladeficiencyofresolution。
"FortheeventIcannotanswer。IfIhadmorelivesthanone,I
wouldsacrificethemalltomyCountry。Butifthisstrokefail,I
thinkIamclear—scoreswithher,andthatitwillbepermissibletolookalittletomyself。Therearelimitstoeverything。
Isupportmymisfortune;couragenotabatedbyit:butIamwellresolved,afterthisstroke,ifitfail,toopenanoutgateformyself[thatsmallglasstubewhichneverquitsme],andnolongerbethesportofanychance。"
2。Furstenwalde,20thAUGUST……"RemainatBerlin,orretiretoPotsdam;inalittlewhiletherewillcomesomecatastrophe:itisnotfitthatyousufferbyit。Ifthingstakeagoodturn,youcanbebacktoBerlin[fromPotsdam]infourhours。Ifill—luckstillpursueus,gotoHanoverortoZelle,whereyoucanprovideforyoursafety。
"Iprotesttoyou,thatinthislateActionIdidwhatwashumanlypossibletoconquer;butmypeople"——Oh,yourMajesty!
3。FURSTENWALDE,21stAUGUST……"TheenemyisintrenchinghimselfnearFrankfurt;asignheintendsnoattempt。Ifyouwilldomethepleasuretocomeouthither,youcaninallsafety。Bringyourbedwithyou;bringmyCookNoel;andIwillhaveyoualittlechamberready。Youwillbemyconsolationandmyhope。"——
Thisday,——letreadersmarkthecircumstance,——Friedrich,inbetterspirits,detachesWunschwithsomepoor6,000,totryifhecanbeofhelpinSaxony;wheretheReichsArmy,nowarrivedinforce,andwithnothingwhateverinthefieldagainstthem,istakingalltheNorthwardGarrison—Towns,andotherwiseproceedingatahighrate。
ToopossiblywithaneyetowardsDresdenitself!WunschsetsoutAugust21st。[Tempelhof,iii。211。]AndweshallhearofhiminthoseSaxonCountriesbeforelong。
4。FURSTENWALDE,22dAUGUST。"YesterdayIwrotetoyoutocome;
butto—dayIforbidit。DaunisatKotbus;heismarchingonLubenandBerlin[nothinglikesorash!]。——FlytheseunhappyCountries!——
ThisnewsobligesmeagaintoattacktheRussiansbetweenhereandFrankfurt。Youmayimagineifthisisadesperateresolution。Itisthesolehopethatremainstome,ofnotbeingcutofffromBerlinontheonesideortheother。Iwillgivethediscouragedtroopssomebrandy"——alas!——"butIpromisemyselfnothingofsuccess。
Myoneconsolationis,thatIshalldieswordinhand。"
5。SAMEPLACEANDDAY(afteraLetterFROMD’Argens)。"Youmakethepanegyric,MONCHER,ofanArmythatdoesnotdeserveany。
Thesoldiershadgoodlimbstorunwith,nonetoattacktheenemy。
[Alas,yourMajesty;afterfifteenhoursofsuchmarchingandfighting!]
"ForcertainIwillfight;butdon’tflatteryourselfabouttheevent。Ahappychancealonecanhelpus。Go,inGod’sname,toTangermunde[sincetheRoyalFamilywent,D’ArgensandmanyBerlinersarethinkingofflight],toTangermunde,whereyouwillbewell;andwaittherehowDestinyshallhavedisposedofus。
Iwillgotoreconnoitretheenemyto—morrow。Nextday,ifthereisanythingtodo,wewilltryit。ButiftheenemystillholdstotheWine—HillsofFrankfurt,Ishallneverdaretoattackhim。
"No,thetormentofTantalus,thepainsofPrometheus,thedoomofSisyphus,werenothinglikewhatIsufferforthelasttendays[fromKunersdorftillnow,whendestructionhastobewardedoffagain,andtheforcewanting]。Deathissweetincomparisontosuchalife。Havecompassiononmeandit;andbelievethatIstillkeeptomyselfagreatmanyevilthings,notwishingtoafflictordisquietanybodywiththem;andthatIwouldnotcounselyoutoflytheseunluckyCountries,ifIhadanyrayofhope。
Adieu,MONCHER。"
Fourdaysafter,AUGUST25th,fromthissameFurstenwalde,theRussiansstillcontinuingstagnant,FriedrichdespatchestoSchmettau,CommandantofDresden(bysomeindustrioushand,fortheroadsareallblocked),aSecondLetter,"ThatDresdenisofthehighestmoment;thatincaseofSiegethere,relief[Wunsch,namely,andperhapsmorethatmayfollow]isontheroad;andthatSchmettaumustdefendhimselftotheutmost。"LetushopethisSecondMissivemaycounteractthetoodespondentFirst,whichwereadabove,shouldthathaveproduceddiscouragementinSchmettau!
[SecondLetterisgiveninSchmettau’sLeben,
pp。436,437。]——D’ArgensdoesruntoWolfenbuttel;staystheretillSeptember9th。NothingmorefromFriedrichtill4thSeptember,whenmattersarewellcooledagain。
6。WALDAU,4thSEPTEMBER。"IthinkBerlinisnowinsafety;youmayreturnthither。TheBarbarians[Russians]areintheLausitz;
Ikeepbythesideofthem,betweenthemandBerlin,sothatthereisnothingtofearfortheCapital。Theimminencyofdangerispast;buttherewillstillbemanybadmomentstogetthrough,beforereachingtheendoftheCampaign。These,however,onlyregardmyself;nevermindthese。Mymartyrdomwilllasttwomonthsyet;thenthesnowsandtheiceswillendit。"[OEuvresdeFrederic,xix。78,82,83,85,86。]
ThusatFurstenwalde,thenatWaldau,keepingguard,forlornbutresolute,againsttheintrusiveRussian—Austriandeluges,Friedrichstandspainfullyvigilantandexpectant,——stillforaboutafortnightmore。Withbadnewscomingtohimlatterly,asweshallhear。HeisinthoseoldmoorlandWusterhausenCountries,oncesowellknownunderfarothercircumstances。Thirtyyearsago,infineafternoons,weusedtogallopwithpoorDuhandeJandun,afterschool—tasksdone,towardsMittenwalde,Furstenwaldeandthefurzyenvirons,farandwide;athome,ourSisterandMotherwaitingwithmanytroublesandmanyloves,andPapasleeping,Pan—like,undertheshadowofhisbigtree:——Thirtyyearsago,ahme,gonelikeadreamisallthat;andthereissolitudeanddesolationandtheRussian—Austriandeath—delugesinstead!These,Isuppose,wereFriedrich’soccasionalremembrances;silentalways,inthislocalityandtime。TheSorrowsofWERTER,oftheGIAOUR,oftheDyspepticTailorinmultifariousforms,arerecordedinacopiousheart—rendingmanner,andhavehadtheirmeedofweepingfromasympatheticPublic:buttherearestillagoodfewSorrowswhichliewraptinsilence,andhaveneverappliedthereforanidletear!——LetuslooknowintoDaun’ssideofthings。
DAUM,AFTERNEGOTIATION,HASANINTERVIEWWITHSOLTIKOF(atGuben,August22d)。——"Daun,whohadmovedtoPriebus,withaviewtobenearerSoltikof,hadscarcelygothistentpitchedthere{August13th),whenabreathlesshorsemanrodein,withaNotefromLoudon,datedthenightbefore:’KingofPrussiabeaten,totheverybone,beyondmistakethistime,——utterlyruined,ifonemayjudge!’
WhatavisionofthePromisedLand!DelightedDaunmovesforward,onemarch,toTriebelonthemorrow;tobeonemarchnearerthesceneofglory,andendeavortoforgethisbiggestofthehotironstoadvantage。
"AtTriebelSoltikof’sownaccount,elucidatedbyoralmessengers,eye—witnesses,and,inshort,completeconspectusofthisevermemorableVictory,awaitthedelightedDaun。Whodespatchesmessengers,oneandanother;Lacy,thefirst,notsucceedingquite:
TocongratulatewithenthusiasmthemostillustriousofGenerals;
whohasbeatenKingFriedrichasnoneelseeverdidorcould;
beatentotheedgeofextinction;——especiallytourgehimupontramplingoutthisnearlyextinctKing,beforehegleamupagain。
Soltikofunderstandsthecongratulationsverywell;butastothatoftramplingout,snortsanindignantnegative:’Nay,you,whydon’tyoutryit?SurelyitismoreyourbusinessthanmyImperialMistress’sormine。Wehavewrenchedtwovictoriesfromhimthisseason。KayandKunersdorfhavekillednearthehalfofus:goyouin,andwrenchsomething!’ThisisSoltikof’slogic;whichnomessengerofDaun’s,Lacyoranother,aidedbyneversuchmelodiesandsuasionsfromMontalembertandLoudon,whoarepermanentlydiligentthatway,canshake。
"Andtrulyitisirrefragable。HowcanDaun,ifhimselfmerelyspeculative,calculative,hopethatSoltikofwillcontinueacting?
Menwhohavecometohelpyouinaheavyjobofworkneedexample。
Ifyouwishmetoweep,begrievedyourselffirstofall。
Soltikofangrilywipeshiscountenanceatthispoint,andinsistsonafewtearsfromDaun。Withoutmetaphor,Soltikofhasshotawayallhispresentammunition,hisstaffofbreadisquiteprecariousintheseparts;andSoltikofthinksalways,’Isitmybusiness,then,orisityours?’
"SoltikofhasintrenchedhimselfontheWine—HillsatLossow,comfortablyoutofFriedrich’sway,andcontiguoustoOderandtheprovision—routes;sitsthere,angrilydeaftothevoiceofthecharmer;nothingtobecharmedoutofhim,butgustsofindignation,insteadofconsent。Aproud,high—going,indignantkindofman,withawillofhisown。Andseeswellenoughwhatiswhat,inallthissymphonyoftheLacys,theMontalembertsandsurroundingadorers。Montalembert,whoisherethisseason,ourFrenchbestman(unprofitableSwedesmustputupwithaninferiorhand),isextremelypersuasive,triesalltheartsofFrenchrhetoric,buteffectsnothing。’TolettheAustrianscomeinforthefinishingstroke,———Excellence,itwillbetoletthemgain,inHistory,aglorywhichisofyourearning。DaunandAustria,notSoltikofandRussia,willbesaidtohaveextinguishedthispestilentKing;whomHistorywillhavetoremember!’[Choiseul’sLetter(notDUCdeChoiseul,butCOMTE,nowMinisteratVienna)toMontalembert,"Vienna,16thAugust;"andMontalembert’sAnswer,"Lieberhausen[meansLIEBEROSE],31stAugust,1759:"inMontalembert,Correspondance,ii。58—65。]
’Withallmyheart,’answersSoltikof;’ImaketheAustriansandHistoryperfectlywelcome!Monsieur,myammunitionisinPosen;
mybreadisfallenscarce;inFrankfurtcanyoufindmeonehorsemore?’IndignantSoltikofisnottobetakenbychaff;growlsnowandthen,ifyoustirhimtothebottom:’Whyshouldwe,whoarevolunteerassistants,takealltheburdenofthework?IwillfallbacktoPosen,andhometoPolandandEastPreussen,ifthislastmuchlonger。’
"AustriahasagooddealdisgustedtheseSoltikofsandRussianChiefOfficers;——whoarenotsostupidasAustriasupposes。
Austria’ssteadywishis,’Letthemdotheirfunctionofcat’s—pawforus;weareheretoeatthechestnuts;not,ifwecanhelpit,toburnourownpoorfingersforthem!’AftereveryCampaignhitherto,AustriahasbeeninusetoraiseeageraccusationsatPetersburg;andgettheApraxins,Fermorsintotrouble:thisisnotthewaytoconciliateRussianGeneralOfficers。Austria,taughtprobablybyDaun,nowtriestheothertack:heapsSoltikofwitheulogies,flatteries,magnificentpresents。AllwhichSoltikofaccepts,butwithafullsenseofwhattheymean。AnunmanageableSoltikof;hisansweralways,——’Yourturnnowtofightavictory!
IwillgomywaystoPosenagain,ifyoudon’t。’And,inthesecurrentweeks,inSoltikof’saudience—room,ifanybodywerecuriousaboutit,wecouldpresentaverylivelysolicitationgoingon,withanswersverygruffandnegatory。NosuasionofMontalembert,Lacy,andDaunEmbassies,backedbydiamond—hiltedswords,andsplendorofgiftsfromViennaitself,abletoprevailonthebarbarouspeople。
"Daunatlengthresolvestogoinperson;solicitsanInterviewwiththedistinguishedRussianConqueror;getsit,meetsSoltikofatGuben,half—wayhousebetweenFrankfurtandTriebel;
selectsuiteattendingbothExcellencies(August22d);andexertswhateverrhetoricisinhimonthebarbarousman。
Thebarbarousmanisstiffasbrass;butDauncomesintoallhisconditions:’Saxony,Silesia,——Excellenz,wehavethembothwithinclutch;suchourexquisiteanglingandmanoeuvring,inconcertwithyourimmortalvictory,whichtrulygivesthelife—breathtoeverything。Oh,sufferustoclutchthem:keepthatKingawayfromus;andseeiftheyarenotours,Saxonyfirst,Silesianext!
Provisionsofmeal?Iwillmyselfundertaketofurnishbreadforyou[thoughIhavetocartitfromBohemiaalltheway,andammyselfterriblyoff;butfixedtodotheimpossible];rationofbreadshallfailnoRussianman,whileyouescortusasprotectivefriend。TowardsSaxonyfirst,wheretheReichsArmyis,andnotaPrussianinthefield;theveryGarrisonsmostlygonebythistime。
Dresdenistobebesieged,withinaweek;Dresdenitselfisours,ifonlyYOUplease!ComeintotheLausitzwithus,Magazinesarethere,loavesinabundance:Saxonydone,Dresdenours,cannotweturntoSilesiatogether;besiegeGlogautogether(IammyselfabouttryingNeisse,byHarschagain);captureGlogauaswellasNeisse;andcrownthesuccessfulestcampaignthateverwas?
Oh,Excellenz——!’"
Inaword,Excellenz,strictlyfixingthatconditionoftheloaves,consents。WillgetreadytoleavethoseFrankfurtWine—Hillsinaboutaweek。"Buttheloaves,yourecollect:noBread,noRussian!"DaunreturnstoTriebelavictoriousman,——thoughwithanonerousconditionincumbent。Tempelhof,minutelycomputing,findsthattocartfromBohemiasuchacipherofhumanrationsdailyintotheseparts,willsurpassallthevehiculatorypowerofDaun。
[Tempelhof,iii。225。]’
THE"REICHSARMY"80CALLEDHASENTEREDSAXONY,UNDERFINEOMENS;
DOESSOMEFEATSOFSIEGING(August7th—23d),——WITHANEYEONDRESDENASTHECROWNINGONE。
TheReichsArmy,thoughithadbeensotumbledabout,inSpring,withsuchhavoconitsmagazinesandpreparations,couldnotwaittorefititself,exceptsuperficially;andshowedfaceovertheMountainsalmostearlierthanusual。Thechancewassounique:
aSaxonylefttoitsmereGarrisons,——asitcontinuedtobe,forneartwomonthsthisYear。OnsuchgoldenopportunitytheReichsArmy——first,inlightmischievousprecursorparties,whoroamedasfarasHalleorevenasHalberstadt;thentheArmyitself,wellorillappointed,underGeneralissimothePrincevonZweibruck,——didcomeon,windingthroughThuringentowardstheNorthwesternTowns;
variousAustrianAuxiliary—CorpsmakingappearanceontheDresdenside。EightAustrianregiments,asapermanency,areintheReichsArmyitself。Commander,orpartCommander,oftheeightis(whataloneIfindnoteworthyinthem)"HerrGeneralThomasvonBlonquet:"Irishbynation,saysafoot—note;[Seyfarth,ii。
831n。]——sureenoughsomeadventurous"ThomasPLUNKET,"visiblethisonce,soldiering,inthosecircumstances;neverheardofbyasympatheticreaderbeforeorafter。ItwaswhiletheKingwashuntingtheHaddick—LoudonpeopleinSaganCountryinsuchvehementfashion,thatZweibruckcametrumpetingintoSaxony,——King,PrinceHenriandeverybody,welloccupiedotherwise,faraway!
TheReichsArmyhasacampatNaumburg(Rossbachneighborhood):
andhaslighttroopsoutinHalleneighborhood;whichhaveseizedHalle;areverysevereuponHalle,andotherplacesthereabouts,tillchasedaway。August7th,theReichsArmybegirtLeipzig;
summonedtheweakgarrisonthere。ItisaTowncapableofruin,butnotofdefence:"Free—withdrawal,"proposestheReichsArmy,——anduponthesetermsgetsholdofLeipzig,forthetimebeing。
Leipzig,Torgau,Wittenberg;inafortnightorless,allthePrussianpostsinthosepartsfalltotheReichsArmy。