Itsmarchingsandsiegings,amongthoseNorthwesternplaces,notoneofthemcapableofstandingaboveafewdays’siege,areworthnomention,excepttoParishHistory:enoughthat,bylittleafterthemiddleofAugust,Zweibruckhadgotalltheseplaces,"Free—
withdrawal"thetermsforall;andthat,exceptitbethefollowingfeatureintheirSiegeofTorgau,featuremainlyBiographic,andbelongingtoacertainColonelWolfersdorfconcerned,thereisnotoneofthoseSiegesnowworthamoment’sattentionfromalmostanymortal。ThisistheTorgaufeature,——featureofhumannature,soldieringunderdifficulties:——
COLONELVONWOLFERSDORFBEAUTIFULLYDEFENDSHIMSELFINTORGAU
(August9th—14th)。TwodaysafterLeipzigwashad,thereappearedatTorgauaBodyofPandours,2,000andmore;whoattemptedsomekindofscaladeonTorgauanditssmallGarrison(of700orso),——
whereareaMagazine,aHospitalandotherproperties:notcapable,byanygarrison,ofstandingregularsiege;butimportanttodefendtillyouhavepropertermsoffered。ThemultitudinousPandours,ifIremember,madearushintotheSuburbs,intheirusualvociferousway;butweremetbythe700silentPrussians,——silentexceptthroughtheirfire—armsandfield—pieces,——insoeloquentastyleassoonconvincedthePandourmind,andsentittravellingagain。
Andintheeveningofthesameday(August9th),ColonelWolfersdorfarrives,asnewCommandant,andwithreinforcements,smallthoughconsiderableinthecircumstances。
Wolfersdorf,onedimlygathers,hadmarchedfromWittenbergonthiserrand;thewholeforceinTorgauisnowofabout3,000,stillwithonlyfield—cannon,butwithaCaptainoverthem;——who,asisevident,setshimselfinaveryearnestmannertodohisutmostindefenceoftheplace。NextmorningReichsGeneralKleefeld("Cloverfield"),with6or8,000PandourandRegular,summonsWolfersdorf:"Surrenderinstantly;or——!""Wewillexpectyou!"
answersWolfersdorf。Whereupon,samemorning(August10th),generalstorm;stormNo。1:beautifullyhandledbyWolfersdorf;whotakesitinrear(toitsastonishment),aswellasinfront;andsendsitoffinhaste。Onthemorrow,Saturday,asecondfollowed;andonSundayathird;bothlikewisebeautifullyhandled。Thisthirdstorm,readerssee,was"Sunday,August12th:"averybusystormfuldayatTorgauhere,——andalso,forsomeothersofus,duringtheheatsofKunersdorf,overthehorizonfaraway!Wolfersdorftumblesbackallstorms;furthermoremakesmischievoussallies:
adestructive,skilledperson;altogetherprompt,fertileinexpedients;andevidentlyisnottobemanagedbyKleefeld。SothatPrincevonStolberg,SecondtosupremeZweibruckhimself,hastotakeitinhand。And,MONDAY,13th,atbreakofday,Stolbergarriveswithatrainofbatteringgunsand6,000newpeople;summonsWolfersdorf:"No,"asbefore。Stormshim,afourthtime;likewise"No,"asbefore:
attacks,thereupon,hisElbeBridge,andhisRedoubtacrosstheRiver;findsaWolfersdorfpartyrushdestructive]yintohisrearthere。Andhastowithdraw,andtrybatteringfrombehindtheElbeDam。Continuesthis,violentlyforabouttwohours;tillagainWolfersdorf,whosepoorfieldpieces,theonlyartilleryhehas,"cannotreachsofarwithleadenballs"(theironballsaredone,andthepowderitselfisalmostdone),manages,byaflankattack,toquenchthisalso。Whichproducesentiresilence,andconsiderableprivatereflection,onthepartofindignantStolberg。
Stolbergoffershimthefavorablesttermsdevisable:"Withdrawfreely,withallyourhonors,allyourproperties;onlywithdraw!"
WhichWolfersdorf,hispowderandballbeinginsuchastateofebb,andnoreliefpossible,agreesto;withstipulationsverystrictastoeveryparticular。[InAnonymousofHamburg(iii。350)theCapitulation,"August14th。"givenINEXTENSO。]
COLONELVONWOLFERSDORFWITHDRAWS,ALSOBEAUTIFULLY(August15th)。
Accordingly,Wednesday,August15th,ateightinthemorning,WolfersdorfbytheElbeGatemovesout;acrossElbeBridge,andtheRedoubtwhichisonthefarthershoreyonder。NearthisRedoubt,StolbergandmanyofhisGeneralOfficersarewaitingtoseehimgo。Hegoesinstate;flagsflying,musicplaying。BattalionHessen—Cassel,followedbyallourPackages,Hospitalconvalescents,King’sArtillery,andwhateveristheKing’sorours,marchesfirst。Nextcomes,asrear—guardtoallthis,BattalionGrollmann;——alongwithwhichisWolfersdorfhimself,knowingGrollmannforaticklisharticle(Saxonsmainly);
followedontheheelbyBattalionHofmann,andlastlybyBattalionSalmuth,trustyPrussiansbothofthese。
BattalionHessen—CasselandtheBaggagesarethroughtheRedoubt,PrinceofStolberghandsomelysalutingassaluted。Butnow,onBattalionGrollmann’scomingup,Stolberg’sAdjutantcriesoutwithaloudvoiceofproclamation,manyOfficersrepeatingandenforcing:"WhoeverisabraveSaxon,whoeveristruetohisKaiser,orwasoftheReichsArmy,lethimstepout:
Durchlauchtwillgivehimprotection!"AtsoundofwhichGrollmannquiversasifstruckbyelectricity;andinstantlybeginsdissolving;——dissolves,ineffect,nearlyall,andisintheactofvanishinglikeadream!Wolfersdorfisapromptman;andneedstobeso。Wolfersdorf,inOlympianrage,instantlystopsshort;
drawspistol:"Iwillshootdeadeverymanthatquitsrank!"
vociferateshe;anddoes,withhispistol,makeinstantexampleofone;invitingeverytruePrussiantodothelike:"Jagers,Hussars,aducatforeverytraitoryoushootdown!"continuesWolfersdorf(andpunctuallypaiditafterwards):unabletopreventanalmosttotaldissolutionofGrollmann。Forsomeminutes,thereisasceneindescribable:stormofvociferation,menace,musket—shot,pistol—
shot;Grollmanndisappearingoneveryside,——"behindtheRedoubt,undertheBridge,intoElbeBoats,underthecloaksoftheCroats;"
——inspiteofWolfersdorf’sOlympianragesandefforts。
Atsightoftheshooting,PrinceStolberg,ahotman,hadsaidindignantly,"Herr,thatwillbedangerousforyou(DASWIRDNICHT
GUTGEHN)!"Wolfersdorfnotregardinghimawhit;regardingonlyGrollmann,andhisownhotbusinessofcoercingitataducatperhead。Grollmanngone,andBattalionHofmanninduesequencecomeup,Wolfersdorf——whohassentanAdjutant,withorder,"Hessen—
Cassel,HALT"——givesBattalionHofmannthesethreewordsofcommand:"WholeBattalion,halt!——Front!——Makeready!"(withduesimultaneousclickofeveryfirelock,onutteranceofthatlast);——
andturningtoPrinceStolberg,withabrow,withatoneofvoice:
"Durchlaucht,Article9oftheCapitulationisexpressonthispoint;’ALLDESERTIONSTRICTLYPROHIBITED;NODESERTERTOBE
RECEIVEDEITHERONTHEIMPERIALORONTHEPRUSSIANSIDE!’
[Durchlauchtsilentlygives,wesuppose,somefaintsniff。]
SinceyourDurchlauchtdoesnotkeeptheCapitulation,neitherwillIregarditfarther。IwillnowtakeyouandyourSuiteprisoners,returnintotheTown,andagainbegindefendingmyself。BesogoodasridedirectlyintothatRedoubt,orIwillpresent,andgivefire!"
AdangerousmomentfortheDurchlauchtofStolberg;
BattalionSalmuthactuallytakingpossessionofthewallagain;
Hofmannherewithitspoisedfirelockonthecock,"ready"forthatfourthword,asaboveindicated。AGeneralLusinskyofStolberg’strain,masterofthoseCroats,andanAustrianoffigure,remarksveryseriously:"EverypointoftheCapitulationmustbekept!"
UponwhichDurchlauchthastorenounceandrepent;eagerlyassistsinrecoveringGrollmann,restoresit(littletheworse,littletheFEWER);willgiveWolfersdorf"COMMANDoftheAustrianEscortyouaretohave",andeverysatisfactionandassurance;——wishfulonlytogetridofWolfersdorf。WhothereuponmarchestoWittenberg,withcolorsflyingagain,andanamementionableeversince。
[Templehof,iii。201—204;Seyfarth,ii。562n。,and
Beylagen,ii。587;Militair—Lexikon,iv。283。]
ThisWolfersdorfwashimselfaPirnaSaxon;servingPolishMajesty,asMajor,inthatPirnatime;perhapsnoadmirerof"FeldmarschallBruhl"andCompany?——atanyrate,hetookPrussianservice,asthenofferedhim;andthisishisstyleofkeepingit。Adecidedlycleversoldier,andcomesout,henceforth,moreandmoreassuch,——
unhappilynotforlong。WastakenatMaxen,hetoo,aswillbeseen。Rose,inaftertimes,tobeLieutenant—General,andamanfamousinthePrussianmilitarycircles;butgivenalways,theysay,totakethestraightline(orshortestdistancebetweenselfandobject),inregardtomilitarymatters,torecruitingandthelike,andthusgettinghimselfintotroublewiththeCivilOfficials。
Wolfersdorf,atWittenbergorfartheron,hadaflatteringwordfromtheKing;applaudinghiseffectiveproceduresatTorgau;
andorderinghim,shouldWittenbergfall(asitdid,August23d),tojoinWunsch,whoiscomingwithasmallPartytotryandhelpinthosedestitutelocalities。WunschtheKinghaddetached(21stAugust),asweheardalready。FincktheKingfinds,farther,thathecandetach(fromWaldauCountry,September7th);[Tempelhof,iii。211,237。]Russiansbeingsolanguid,andSaxonyfallenintosuchaperilouspredicament。
"FewdaysafterKunersdorf,"saysaNote,whichshouldbeinsertedhere,"therehadfallenoutasmallNavalmatter,whichwillbeconsolatorytoFriedrich,andgototheothersideoftheaccount,whenhehearsofit:KunersdorfwasSunday,August12th;thiswasSaturdayandSundayfollowing。BesidestheirGrandBrestFleet,withnewFlat—bottoms,andworld—famousland—preparationsgoingonatVannes,forInvasionofproudAlbion,allwhichareatpresentunderHawke’sstrictkeeping,theFrenchhave,eversinceSpringlast,afinesubsidiaryFleetatToulon,ofveryexultanthopesatonetime;whichnowcometofinis。
"SEA—FIGHT(PROPERLYSEA—HUNTOF200MILES),INTHECADIZWATERS,AUGUST18th—19th。ThefineToulonFleet,whichexpectedatonetime,Pitt’sshipsbeingsoscatteredovertheworld,tobe’mistressoftheMediterranean,’hasfounditself,onthecontrary(suchwerePitt’sresourcesandpromptitudes);coopedinharborallSummer;Boscawenwatchingitintheusualstrictway。Noegresspossible;till,inthesultryweather(8thJuly—4thAugust),Boscawen’sneedoffreshprovisions,freshwaterandofmakingsomerepairs,tookhimtoGibraltar,andgavetheToulonFleetatransientopportunity,whichitmadeuseof。
"August17th,at8intheevening,Boscawen,atGibraltar(someofhisshipsstillindeshabilleorunderrepair),washastilyapprisedbyoneofhisFrigates,ThattheToulonFleethadsailed;
beenseenvisiblyatCeutaPointsomanyhoursago。’Meaning,’asBoscawenguesses,’tobethroughtheStraitsthisverynight!’
Bypowerofdespatch,thedeshabilleshipswererapidlygotbuttonedtogether(inabouttwohours);andby10P。M。allwereundersail。Andsoonwereinhotchase;thegame,beingnowinview,——goingatitsutmostthroughtheStraits,asanticipated。
At7nextmorning(Saturday,August18th)BoscawengotclutchoftheToulonFleet;stillwelleastofCadiz,somewhereintheTrafalgarwaters,Ishouldguess。HereBoscawenfoughtandchasedtheToulonFleetfor24hourscoming;droveitfinallyashore,atLagosonthecoastofPortugal,withfiveofitsbigshipsburntortaken,itscrewsandothershipsflyingbylandandwater,itspoorAdmiralmortallywounded;andtheToulonFleetaruinedarticle。
Thewindhadbeencapricious,herefresh,therecalm;nowfavoringthehunters,nowthehunted;bothFleetshaddroppedintwo。DelaClue,theFrenchAdmiral,complainedbitterlyhowhisCaptainslagged,orshoreoffandforsookhim。Boscawenhimself,whoforhisownsharehadgoneatiteagle—like,washeardgrumbling,aboutwantofspeedinsomepeople;andsaid:’Itiswell;butitmighthavebeenbetter!’[Beatson,ii。313—319;ib。iii。237—238,DelaClue,theFrenchAdmiral’sDespatch;——Boscawen’sDespatch,&c。,inGentleman’sMagazine,xxix。434。]
"DelaClue——fallenlongagofromallnotionsof’dominatingtheMediterranean’——hadmodestlyintendedtogetthrough,onanyterms,intotheOcean;mightthen,ifpossible,havejoinedtheGrand’InvasionSquadron,’nowlyingatBrest,tillVannesandthefurnishingsareready,orhavetriedtobetroublesomeintherearofHawke,whoisblockadingallthat。Amodestoutlookincomparison;——andthisiswhatitalsohascometo。AsfortheGrandInvasionSquadron,AdmiralConflans,commandingit,stillholdsnphisheadinBrestHarbor,andtalksbig。MakeslittleofRodney’shavocontheFlat—bottomsatHavre,’WillsoonhaveFlat—bottomsagain:andyoushallsee!’——ifonlyHawke,andwindandweatherandFortune,willpermit。"
AUSTRIANREICHSARMYDOESITSCROWNINGFEAT
(August26th—September4th):DIARYOFWHATIS
CALLEDTHE"SIEGE"OFDRESDEN。
Sincethefirstweeksof,AugusttherehavebeenAustriandetachments,Wehla’sCorps,Brentano’sCorps,enteringSaxonyfromthenortheastorDaun—wardside,andpostingthemselvesinthestrongpointslookingtowardsDresden;waitingtheretilltheReichsArmyshouldcaptureitsLeipzigs,Torgaus,Wittenbergs,androllforwardfromnorthwest。ToallwhichitiseasytofancywhatanimpetuswasgivenbyKunersdorfandAugust12th;thebusiness,afterthat,goingondouble—quick,andpointingtoimmediatepracticalindustryonDresden。TheReichsArmyhastenstosettleitsnorthwesternTowns,putsduegarrisonineach,leavesa10or12,000movableforgeneralprotection,inthoseparts;and,August23d,marchesforDresden。Thereareonlysome15,000leftofitnow;almosthalftheReichsArmydrunkupinthatmanner;werenotDaunnowspeedingforthhisMaguirewithafresh12,000;whoistocommandtheWehlasandBrentanosaswell。And,ineffect,tobeAustrianChief,andasregardspracticalmatters,ManagerofthisimportantEnterprise,——all—importanttoDaunjustnow。SchmettauinDresdenseesclearlywhatmischiefisathand。
ToDaunthisSiegeofDresdenisthealphatowhateveromegastheremaybe:heandhisSoltikofaretositwaitingthis;andcanattemptnothingbuteatingofprovender,tillthisbeachieved。
AstheSiegewasreallyimportant,thoughnotquitethealphatoallomegas,andhasinitcuriouspointsaudphysiognomictraits,wewillinvitereaderstosometransientinspectionofit,——theratherasthereexistamplecontemporaryNarratives,DIARIUMSandauthenticrecords,torenderthatpossibleandeasy。[InTEMPELHOF
(iii。210—216—222)completeandcarefulNarrative;inANONYMOUSOF
HAMBURG(iii。371—377)express"DAY—BOOK"bysomeEye—witnessinDresden。]’
"EversincetherumorofKunersdorf,"saysoneDiarium,compiledoutofmany,"inthelasttwoweeksofAugust,Schmettau’sneedofvigilanceanddiligencehasbeenontheincrease,hisoutlooksbecominggrimmerandgrimmer。HehasapoorishGarrisonfornumber(3,700inall[Schmettau’sLEBEN(byhisSon),p。408。]),andnotofthebestquality;desertersagoodfewofthem:willingenoughforstrokes;fightingfellowsall,andofadventurousturn,butuncertainastoloyaltyinacaseofpinch。Hehasendlessstoresintheplace;foroneitem,almostamillionsterlingofreadymoney。PoorSchmettau,ifheknewit,hassuddenlybecometheLeonidasofthiscampaign,DresdenitsThermopylae;and"——Butreaderscanconceivethesituation。
"AUGUST20th,SchmettauquitstheNeustadt,ornorthernpartofDresden,whichliesbeyondtheRiver:unimportantthat,andindefensiblewithgarrisonnotadequate;SchmettauwillstrengthentheRiver—bank,blowuptheStoneBridgeifnecessary,andrestricthimselftoDresdenProper。TheCourtishere;SchmettaudoesnothopethattheCourtcanavertaSiegefromhim;buthefailsnottotry,inthatwaytoo,andmayatleastgaintime。
"AUGUST25th,HehasaMineputunderthemainarchoftheBridge:
’mineill—made,uncertainofeffect,’reportstheOfficerwhomhesenttoinspectit。Butitwasnevertried,themererumorofitkeptoffattacksonthatside。Sameday,August25th,SchmettaureceivesthatunfortunateRoyalMissive[Tempelhof,iii。208;
Schmettau’sLEBEN(p。421)has"August27th。"]writteninthedarkdaysofReitwein,morrowofKunersdorf(14thor13thAugust),"
whichwereadabove。"ThatthereisanotherLetterontheroadforhim,indicating’Reliefshallbetried,’isunknowntoSchmettau,andfatallycontinuesunknown。WhileSchmettauisreadingthis(August25th),GeneralWunschhasbeenontheroadfourdays:
WunschandWolfersdorfwithabout8,000,attheirquickestpace,andinafinewingedframeofmindwithal,arespeedingon:
willcrossElbeatMeissento—morrownight,——didSchmettauonlyknow。Peoplesayhedid,inthewayofrumor,understandthatKunersdorfhadnotbeenthefatalthingitwasthought;andthateffortswouldbemadebyaKinglikehis。Inhisplaceonemighthave,atleast,shotoutaspyortwo?Buthedidnot,thenorafterwards。
"Already,eversincethearrivalofWehlaandBrentanointhoseparts,hehasbeenlaboringundermanyuncertainties;toomanyforaLeonidas!HangingbetweenYesandNo,evenaboutthatofquittingtheNeustadt,forexample:carryingoverportionsofhisgoods,butneverheartilythewhole;unabletoresolve;nowliftingvisiblytheBridgepavement,thenagainvisiblyrestoringit;——and,I
think,thoughthecontraryisasserted,hehadatlasttoleaveintheNeustadtagreatdealofstores,horse—provenderandother,notneedfultohimatpresent,orimpossibletocarry,whendubietygotended。HehasputamineundertheBridge;butknowsitwillnotgooff。
"Schmettauhasbeeninmanywars,butthisisacasethattrieshissoldierqualitiesasnoneotherhaseverdone。Acaseofendlessintricacy,——ifhebequiteequaltoit;whichperhapshewasnotaltogether。NobodyeverdoubtedSchmettau’shighqualitiesasamanandcaptain;butherearerequisitetheveryhighest,andtheseSchmettauhasnot。Theresultwasverytragical;Isuppose,apaintoFriedrichallhislifeafter;andcertainlytoSchmettauallhis。ThisisSaturdaynight,25thAugust:beforeTuesdayweek(September4th)therewillhavesadthingsarrived,irremediabletoSchmettau。HadSchmettaudecidedtodefendhimself,Dresdenhadnotbeentaken。WhatapitySchmettauhadnotbeensparedthisMissive,calculatedtoproducemeredoubt!Whetherhecouldnot,andshouldnot,afteratendaysofinquiryandnewdiscernment,havebeenabletoreadtheKing’struemeaning,aswellastheKing’smomentaryhumor,inthisfatalDocument,thereisnodeciding。
Sureenough,hedidnotreadtheKing’struemeaninginit,butonlytheKing’smomentaryhumor;didnotfranklysetaboutdefendinghimselftothedeath,——or’seeing’inthatway’whetherhecouldnotdefendhimself,’——withagoodcapitulationlyingintherear,afterhehad。
"SUNDAY,AUGUST26th,Trumpetatthegates。MessengerfromZweibruckisintroducedblindfold;bringsformalSummonstoSchmettau。Summonsdulytruculent:’Resistancevain;themoreyouresist,theworseitwillbe,——andthereisaworst[thatofbeingdeliveredtotheCroats,andmassacredeveryman],ofwhichwhyshouldIspeak?EspeciallyifinanythingyoufailofyourdutytotheKur—Prinz[ElectoralPrinceandHeir—Apparent,poorcrook—
backedyoungGentleman,whohasanexcellentsprightlyWife,afriendofFriedrich’sanddaughterofthelateKaiserKarlVII。,whomweusedsobeautifully],imaginewhatyourfatewillbe!’——TowhichSchmettauanswers:’CanDurchlauchtthinkusignorantofthecommonrulesofbehaviortoPersonsofthatRank?Fortherest,Durchlauchtknowswhatourdutieshereare,andwoulddespiseusifwedidNOTdothem;’——and,inshort,ouransweragainis,inpoliteforms,’Pooh,pooh;youmaygoyourway!’UponwhichtheMessengerisblindfoldedagain;andSchmettausetshimselfinhotearnesttoclearingouthisgoodsfromtheNeustadt;buildingwithhugeintertwistedcross—beamsandstoneandearth—massesaBatteryathisownendoftheBridge,batteriesoneachsideofit,belowandabove;——lockstheGates;andispassionatelybusyallSunday,——
thoughdivineservicegoesonasusual。
"HardlywerethePrussiangunsgotaway,whenCroatpeopleinquantitycamein,andbeganbuildingaBatteryattheirendoftheBridge,themaindefence—workbeingoldPrussianmeal—barrels,handilyfilledwithearth。’Ifyoufireonecannon—ballacrossonus,’saidSchmettau,’IwillbombardtheNeustadtintoflameinfewminutes[IhaveonlytoaimatourHayMagazineyonder]:bewarned!
’Nordidtheyoncefirefromthatside;ElectoralHighnesswithalandRoyalPalacebeingquitecontiguousbehindthePrussianBridge—
Battery。ElectoralHighnessandHouseholdarepolitelytreated,makepoliteanswertoeverything;intendgoingdownintothe’APOTHEKE’(Kitchensuite),orvaultedpartofthePalace,andwilllodgetherewhenthecannonadebegins。
"ThissameSUNDAY,AUGUST26th,Maguirearrived;andsetinstantlytobuildinghisbridgeatPillnitz,alittlewayaboveDresden:
atUebigau,alittlebelowDresden,theReichsfolkhaveanother。
Reichsfolk,Zweibruckinperson,comeallinonWednesday;
postthemselvesthere,tonorthandwestoftheCity。Whatismoreimportant,thesiege—guns,asuperbstock,aresteadilyfloating,throughthePirnaregions,hitherward;gettohandonFridaynext,thefifthdayhence。[Tempelhof,p。210。]Korbitz(half—wayouttoKesselsdorf)isDurchlaucht’shead—quarter:——ChiefGeneralisDurchlaucht,conspicuouslyhe,atleastintheory,andshallhavealltheglory;thoughMaguire,glancingonthesecannon,wereitnothingmore,hasprobablyagooddealtosay。Maguiretoo,I
observe,takespostonthatnorthorKesselsdorfside;
contiguousfortheHeadGeneral。WehlaandBrentanopostthemselvesonthesouthorup—streamside;itistheythathandinthesiege—
guns:batteriesarealreadyeverywheremarkedout,13cannon—
batteriesand5howitzer。Inshort,fromthemorrowofthattruculentSummons,MondaymorningtoThursday,thereishotstirofmultifariouspreparationonSchmettau’spart;andcontinualpouringinofthehostileforce,whoarealsopreparingattheutmost。
Thursday,theSiege,ifitcanbecalledaSiege,begins。
Gradually,andasfollows:——
"THURSDAYMORNING(August30th),Schmettau,whois,nightandday,’palisadingtheRiver,’andmuchelse,——discloses(thatis,BreakofDaydisclosesonhispart)totheDresdenpublicahugeGallows,black,huge,ofimpressiveaspect;labelled’ForPlunderers,MutineersandtheirHelpers。’[ANONYMOUSOFHAMBURG,iii。373。]
TheAustrianheavygunsarenotyetinbattery;butmultitudesoflooseCroatpeoplegoswarmingabouteverywhere,andthereisplentifulfiringfromsuchartilleriesastheyhave。ThissameThursdaymorning,twoorthreebattalionsofthemrushintothePirnaSuburb;attackthePrussianGuard—partiesthere。
SchmettauinstantlydespatchesCaptainKollasandaTrumpet:——
’Durchlaucht,havethegoodnesstorecalltheseCroatParties;
otherwisetheSuburbgoesintoflame!AnddirectlyonarrivalofthisMessenger,mayitpleaseDurchlaucht。Forwehavecomputedthetime;andwillnotwaitbeyondwhatisreasonableforhisreturn!’
Zweibruckismereindignationandastonishment;’willburnHalle,’
burnQuedlinburg,Berlinitself,andutterlyruintheKingofPrussia’sDominioningeneral:——therejoindertowhichis,burningofPirnaSuburb,aspredicted;seventyhousesofit,thisevening,atsixo’clock。
"Onwardfromwhichtimethereisonbothsides,especiallyonSchmettau’s,diligentartillerypractice;cannonadekeptupwhereverSchmettaucanseetheenemybusy;enemyrespondingwithwhatartilleryhehas:——notmuchdamagedone,Ishouldthink,thoughagreatdealofnoise;andforoneday(Saturday,September1st),ourDiaristnotes,’Notsafetowalkthestreetsthisday。’
But,ineffect,theSiege,astheycallit,——whichfelldeadonthefifthday,andwasneverwellalive——consistsmainlyofmenaceandcounter—menace,inthewayofbargain—makingandnegotiation;——and,sofarasIcangather,thatsuperbParkofAustrianArtillery,thoughbuiltintobatteries,andtalkedaboutinabullyingmanner,wasnotfiredfromatall。
"Schmettauaffectstowardstheenemy(andtowardshimself,Idaresay)anairofironfirmness;butinternallyhasnosuchfeeling,——
’CallsaCouncilofWar,’andthelike。CouncilofWar,onsightofthatKing’sMissive,confirmshimwithonevoice:’Surely,surely,Excellenz;nodefencepossible!’Whichisaprophecyandafulfilment,bothinone。WhySchmettaudidnotshootforthaspyortwo,toascertainforhimWhat,orwhetherNothingwhatever,waspassingoutsideDresden?Ineverunderstand!BeyondhisownWalls,theworldisavacancyandblanktoSchmettau,andheseemscontentitshouldbeso。
"SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER2d。ThoughSchmettau’scannonadewasveryloud,andhadbeensoallnight,divineservicewasheldasusual,streetssafeagain,——Austrians,Isuppose,notfiringwithcannon。
About4P。M。,afteragreatdealofpowderspent,GeneralMaguire,steppingoutonElbeBridge,blowsorbeatsAppeal,threetimes;
’wishesamoment’sconversationwithhisExcellency。’Grantedatonce;witnessesattendingonbothsides。’Defenceisimpossible;
inthenameofhumanity,consider!’urgesMaguire。’Defencetothelastmanofusiscertain,’answersSchmettau,fromtheteethoutwards;——but,intheend,engagestoputonpaper,incasehe,byextremityofill—luck,haveatanytimetoacoeptterms,whathistermswillinflexiblybe。Uponwhichthereis’ArmisticetillTo—morrow:’andMaguire,Idoubtnot,reportsjoyfullyonthisfeelingoftheenemy’spulse。ZweibruckandMaguireareverywellawareofwhatispassingintheseneighborhoods(GeneralWunschbackatWittenbergbyforcedmarches;blewitopeninanhour);
andaregrowinghighlyanxiousthatDresdenonanytermsweretheirs。
"MONDAY,SEPTEMBER3d,Thedeath—dayoftheSiege;anuncommonlybusyday,——thoughArmisticelastedperfecttill3P。M。,andsooncamebackmoreperfectthanever。ASiegenotkilledbycannon,butbymedicalindustry。Letusnotewithbrevitythesuccessivesymptomsandappliances。AboutseveninthemorningMaguirehadhisMessengerinDresden,’YourExcellency’sPaperready?’
’Nearlyready,’answersSchmettau;’wewillsenditbyaMessengerofourown。’AndaboutelevenofthedayMaguiredoesgetit;——thesameCaptainKollas(whosenamewerecollect)handingitin;
andstatue—likewaitingAnswer。’Pshaw,thiswillneverdo,’
ejaculatesMaguire;’termsirrationallyhigh!’CaptainKollas’knowsnothingofwhatisINthePaper;andischargedonlytobringaWrittenAnswerfromExcellenz。’Excellenz,beforewriting,’willhavetoconsultwithDurchlaucht;’can,however,asifconfidentiallyandfromfeelingsoffriendship,canassureyou,Sir,onmyhonor,ThattheGarrisonwillbedeliveredtotheCroats,andeverymanofitputtothesword。’TheGarrisonwillexpectthat(WIRDDASERWARTEN),’saidKollas,statue—like;
andwithdrew,withtheproperbow。[Tempelhof,iii。211。]
SomethinginterestingtousintheseMilitarydiplomaticpassages,withtheirsquare—elbowedfashions,andpolitenessstiffasiron!
"NottillthreeoftheafternoondoestheWrittenAnswerreachSchmettau:’SuchTermsnevercouldbeaccepted。’——’Good,’answersSchmettau:’Toourlastbreathnootherswillbeoffered。’
Andcommencescannonadingagain,notveryviolently,butwiththeorder,’Goon,then,nightandday!’
"About10atnight,GeneralGuasco,atruculentkindofman,whomI
havemetwithupanddown,butnotadmittedtomemory,beatsAppealontheBridge:’InformtheCommandantthattherewillnowstraightway13batteriesofcannon,and5dittoofhowitzersopenonhim,unlesshebethinkshimself!’WhichdreadfulmessageistakentoSchmettau。’Wishthegentlemangood—evening,’ordersSchmettau;’andsaywewillanswerwith100guns。’UponwhichGuascovanishes;——butreturnsinnotmanyminutes,milderintone;
requests’asightofthatWrittenPaperofTermsagain。’’Thereitstillis,’answersSchmettau,’notaltered,norevershallbe。’
AndthereisArmisticeagain:——andtheSiege,asturnsout,hasfireditslastshot;andispainfullyexpiringinparoxysmsofnegotiation,whichcontinueagoodmanyhours。Schmettaustrivestounderstandclearlythathisterms(oftheKing’sownsuggesting,asSchmettauflattershimself)areaccepted:nordoesDurchlauchttakeuponhimtorefuseinanypoint;butheisstrangelyslowtosign,stillhopingtomendmatters。
"Muchhitheringandthitheringtherewas,till4nextmorning(DurchlauchthasimportantnewsfromTorgau,atthatmoment);
till11nextday;till4intheafternoonandlater,——Guascoandotherscomingwithmessageaftermessage,hastyandconciliatory:
(Durchlauchtatsuchadistance,hissignaturenotyetcome;butbepatient;allisright,uponmyhonor!’VerygreathurryevidentonthepartofGuascoandCompany;but,nothingsuspectedbySchmettau。Till,duskordarknessthreateningnowtosupervene,MaguireandSchmettauwithrespectivesuiteshaveaConferenceontheBridge,——’rainfallingveryheavy。’Durchlaucht’ssignature,Maguireisastonishedtosay,hasnotyetcome;hutMaguirepledgeshishonor’thatallshallbekeptwithoutchicane;’andadds’whattosomeofusseemednotsuperfluousafterwards),’Iamincapableofactingfalselyorwithchicane。’Infact,till9intheeveningtherewasnosignaturebyDurchlaucht;butabout6,onsuchpledgebyMaguireofhishandandhishonor,theSiegeentirelygaveuptheghost;andDresdenbelongedtoAustria。TuesdayEvening,4thSeptember,1759;Sunjustsetting,couldanybodyseehimfortherain。
"Schmettauhadbeenover—hasty;whatneedhadSchmettauofhaste?
Thetermshadnotyetgotsignature,perfectionofsettlementoneverypoint;norweretheyatallwellkept,whentheydid!
Considerableflurry,temporaryblindness,needlesshurry,andneglectofsymptomsandprecautions,mustbeimputedtopoorSchmettau;whosetroublesbeganfromthismoment,andwentonincreasing。TheAustriansarealreadybesettingElbeBridge,rootinguptheherring—bonebalks;andapproachingourBlock—
house,——soonerthanwasexpected。Butthatisnothing。OnopeningthePirnaGatetoshareitwiththeAustrians,Friedrich’sSpy(soonerhadnotbeenpossibletotheman)waswaiting;whohandedSchmettauthatSecondLetterofFriedrich’s,’Courage;thereisreliefontheroad!’PoorSchmettau!"
WhatCaptainKollasandthePrussianGarrisonthoughtofallthis,THEYwereperhapsshyofsaying,andweatsuchdistancearenotinformed,——exceptbyonesymptom:that,ofColonelHoffman,Schmettau’sSecond,whoseindignationdoesbecometragicallyevident。Hoffman,aruggedPrussianveteran,isindignantattheCapitulationitself;doublyandtreblyindignanttofindtheAustriansonElbeBridge,busyraisingourBalksandBattery:
"HowisthisSir?"inquiresheofCaptainSydow,whoisonguardatthePrussianend;"Howdaredyoumakethischange,withoutacquaintingtheSecondinCommand?Orderoutyourmen,andcomealongwithmetocleartheBridgeagain!"Sydowhesitates,haggles;
indignantHoffman,growingloudasthunder,pullsoutapistol,fatal—lookingtodisobedientSydow;whocallstohismen,orwhosemenspringoutuncalled;andshootHoffmandown,——sendtwoballsthroughhim,sothathediedat8thatnight。Withnoiseenough,thenandafterwards。Wasdrunk,saidSchmettau’speople。
Friedrichanswered,onreportofit:"IthinkasHoffmandid。Ifhewas’drunk,’itispitytheGovernorandalltheGarrisonhadnotbeenso,tohavecometothesamejudgment,ashe。"[P。S。inAutographofLettertoSchmettau,"Waldau,11thSeptember,1759"
(Preuss,ii。;Urkundenbuch,p。45)。]
Friedrich’sunbearablefeelings,ofgriefandindignation,inregardtoallthisDresdenmatter,——whicharenotexpressedexceptcoldlyinbusinessform,——canbefanciedbyallreaders。Oneofthemosttragicalbitsofill—luckthateverbefellhim。Averysorestroke,inhispresentcondition;asignallossandaffront。
Andmostofall,unbearabletothinkhownarrowlyithasmissedbeingasignaltriumph;——missedactuallybyasinglehair’s—
breadth,whichisasgoodasbyamile,orbyathousandmiles!
Soonafter9o’olockthatevening,Durchlauchtinpersoncamerollingthroughourbatteryandtheherring—bonebalks,tovisitElectoralHighness,——whichwasnotquitethelegaltimeeither,DurchlauchthadnotbeenhalfanhourwithElectoralHighness,whenabreathlessCouriercamein:"GeneralWunschwithintenmiles[tookTorgauinnotime,asDurchlauchtwellknows,foraweekpast];andwillbeherebeforewesleep!"Durchlauchtplungedout,overtheherring—bonebalksagain(whichmanycarpentersarebusylifting);andtheElectoralHighnesses,inlikemanner,hurryofftoToplitzthatsamenight,aboutanhourafter。WhataTuesdayNight!PoorHoffmanisdeadat8o’clock;theSaxonRoyalties,since11,aregallopingforPirna,forToplitz;DurchlauchtofZweibruckwesawhurryoffanhourbeforethem,——Capitulationsignaturenotyetdry,andtermsofitbeginningtobebroken;
andWunschreportedtobewithintenmiles!
TheWunschreportisperfectlycorrect。WunschisatGrossenhaynthisevening;allinafierymoodofswiftness,hispeopleandhe;
——andindeeditis,bychance,oneofWolfersdorf’simpetuositiesthathassentthenewssofast。WunschhadbeenasswiftwithTorgauashewaswithWittenberg:heblewoutthepoorReichsGarrisontherebyinstantstorm,andpackeditofftoLeipzig,underchargeof"anOfficerandTrumpet:"——hehad,greatlyagainsthiswill,toresttwodaysthereforafewindispensablecannonfromMagdeburg。Cannononcecome,Wunsch,burningfordeliveranceofDresden,hadagainstartedathisswiftest,"Monday,3dSeptember[deathdayoftheSiege],veryearly。"
"Heisunder8,000;butheisdeterminedtodoit;——andwouldhavedoneit,thinkjudges,halfthinksZweibruckhimself:suchafireinthatWunschandhisCorpsasisverydangerousindeed。At4thismorning,Zweibruckheardofhisbeingonmarch:’numbersuncertain’
——(numbersseeminglynottheimportantpoint,——blowsanynumberofusaboutourbusiness!)——andsincethatmomentZweibruckhasdriventhecapitulationatsuchapace;thoughtheflurriedSchmettaususpectednothing。
"AfternoonofTUESDAY,4th,Wunsch,approachingGrossenhayn,haddetachedWolfersdorfwith100lighthorserightwardstoGrodel,aboatingVillageonElbeshore,ToseeknewsofDresden;alsotoseeifboatsareprocurableforcarryingourartilleryupthither。
AtGrodel,Wolfersdorffindsnoboatsthatwillavail:butcertainboat—people,newfromDresden,reportthatnocapitulationhadbeenpublishedwhentheyleft,butthatitwasunderstoodtobegoingon。NewspurtoWolfersdorfandWunsch。WolfersdorfhearsfartherinthisVillage,ThattherearesomethirtyAustrianhorseinGrossenhayn:——’PossiblethesemayescapeGeneralWunsch!’thinksWolfersdorf;anddecidestohavethem。Takesthirtymenofhisown;
orderstheotherseventytoholdrightward,gatherwhatintelligenceisgoing,andfollowmoreleisurely;andbreaksofffortheGrossenhayn—DresdenHighway,tointerceptthosefellows。
"Gettingtothehighway,Wolfersdorfdoesseethefellows;
seesalso,——withwhatdegreeofhorrorIdonotknow,——thatthereareatleast100ofthemagainsthis30!HorrorwilldonothingforWolfersdorf,norarehisother70nowwithinreach。Puttingaboldfaceonthematter,hecommands,Stentor—like,asifitwereallafact:’Grenadiers,march;Dragoons,torightforwards,WHEEL;
Hussars,FORWARD:MARCH!’——anddoesterrificallydashforwardwiththethirtyHussars,orlastitemoftheinvoice;leavingtheotherstofollow。TheAustriansdrawbridlewithamazement;fireofftheircarbines;taketotheirheels,anddonotstopformore。
Wolfersdorfcaptures68ofthem,forbehoofofGrossenhayn;
andsendstheremaining32gallopinghome。[Tempelhof,iii。214。]
WhobringtheabovenewstoDurchlauchtofZweibruck:’12,000ofthem,mayitpleaseyourDurchlaucht;suchtheaccountswehad!’——
FancypoorSchmettau’sfeelings!
"OnthemorrowDresdenwasrousedfromitssleepbyloudfiringandbattle,audibleonthenorthsideoftheRiver:’beforedaybreak,andallday。’ItisWunschimpetuouslybusyinthewoodycountriesthere。DurchlauchthadshotoutGeneralsandDivisions,Brentano,Wehla,thisGeneralandthenthat,tointerceptWunsch:thesethefieryWunsch——almostasiftheyhadbeencombustiblematerialcomingtoquenchfire——repelsanddashesback,inawonderfulmanner,GeneralafterGeneralofthem。Andislordofthefieldallday:——butcannotheartheleastwordfromDresden;whichisasurprisingcircumstance。
"IntheafternoonWunschsummonsMaguireintheNeustadt:
’Willansweryouintwohours,’saidMaguire。WunschthereuponisforattackingtheirtwoPontoonElbe—Bridges;stillresoluteforDresden,——andordersWolfersdorfononeofthem,theUebigauBridge,whofindstheenemyliftingitatanyrate,andmakesthemdoitfaster。Butnightisnowsinking;fromSchmettaunotawordorsign。’Silenceoverthere,allday;notasinglecannontoorfrom,’sayWunschandWolfersdorftooneanother。’Schmettaumusthavecapitulated!’concludethey,andwithdrawinthenight—time,stillthunderousifmolested;bivouacatGrossenhayn,aftertwenty—
fourhoursofcontinualmarchandbattle,nottimeevenforasnatchoffood。[BERICHTVONDERACTIONDESGENERAL—MAJORSVON
WUNSCH,BEYREICHENBERG,DEN5SEPEMBER,1759inSeyfarth,
Beylagen,ii。606—608。]
"RestingatGrossenhayn,expressreachesWunschfromhisCommandantatTorgau:’KleefeldiscomeonmefromLeipzigwith14,000;
Icannotlongholdout,unlessrelieved。’Wunschtakestheroadagain;twomarches,eachoftwentymiles。ReachesTorgaulate;
takespostintheruinsoftheNorthSuburb,findshemustfightKleefeld。Refresheshismen’withakegofwineperCompany,’
surelyajudiciousstep;andsendstoWolfersdorf,whohastherear—guard,’Beherewithmeto—morrowat10。’Wolfersdorfstartsat4,ishereat10:andWunsch,havingscannedKleefeldandhisPosition[aPositionstrongIFyouaredexteroustomanoeuvreinit;capableofbeingruinousifyouarenot,——partofthePositionofabiggerBATTLEOFTORGAU,whichiscoming],——fliesatKleefeldandhis14,000likeacat—o’—mountain;takeshimontheleftflank:——Kleefeldandsuchoverplusofthousandsarestandingalittletowest—and—southofTorgau,withtheENTEFANG[adesolatebigreedymere,orPLACEOFDUCKS,stillofferingtheidleTorgaueramelancholysportthere]asaprotectiontotheirright;butwithnoevolution—talent,ornoneincomparisontoWunsch’s;——andaccordinglyarecuttopiecesbyWunsch,andblowntothewinds,astheirfellowshaveallbeen。"[HOFBERCHTVONDERAM8SEPTEMBER,1759,BEYTORGAU,VORGEFALLENENACTION:inSeyfarth,
Beylagen,ii。609,610。Tempelhof,iii。219—222。]
Wunsch,absoluteFateforbidding,couldnotsaveDresden:butheisherelordoftheNorthernregionsagain,——nothingbutLeipzignowintheenemy’shand;——andcanawaitFinck,whoisonmarchwithastrongerpartytobeginbusinesshere。Itisreckoned,therearefewmorebrilliantlittlebitsofSoldieringthanthisofWunsch’s。
Allthemore,ashismen,formostpart,werenotPrussian,butmiscellaneousForeignspiritsofuncertainfealty:rovingfellows,ofafightingturn,attractedbyFriedrich’sfame,andunderaCaptainwhohadtheartofkeepingthemintune。Wunschhasbeensoldiering,inadiligentthoughdimmiscellaneousway,thesefive—
and—twentyyears;foughtintheoldTurkWars,underdisastrousSeckendorf,——WunschapooryoungWurtembergensign,visibiybusythere(1737—1739))aswasthissameSchmettau,inthecharacterofstaff—officer,farenoughapartfromWunschatthattime!——foughtafterwards,intheBavarianservice,intheDutch,atRoucoux,atLauffeld,againunderdisastrouspeople。Couldnever,undersuch,findanythingbutsubalternworkallthiswhile;wasgladtoserve,undertheeyeofFriedrich,asColonelofaFreeCorps;whichhehasdonewithmuchdiligenceandgrowingdistinction:tillnow,atthelonglast,hischancedoescome;andheshowshimselfasarealGeneral。Possiblyahighcareerlyingahead;——amanthatmaybeveryvaluabletoFriedrich,whohasnowsofewsuchleft?FatehadagaindecidedotherwiseforWunsch;inwhatwaywillbeseenbeforethisCampaignends:"aninfernalCampaign,"accordingtoFriedrich,"CETTECAMPAGNEINFERNALE。"
Finck,whomFriedrichhadjustdetachedfromWaldau(September6th)
withanew8or6,000,tocommandinchiefinthoseparts,and,alongwithWunsch,putDresdenoutofrisk,asitwere,——FinckdoesatleastjoinWunsch,asweshallmentioninalittle。AndtheseTwo,withsuchWolfersdorfsandpeopleunderthem,didprovecapableofmakingfrontagainstReichsfolkingreatoverplusofnumber。NorarefartherSIEGESofthoseNorthernGarrisons,butrecapturesofthem,thenewsonehearsfromSaxonyhenceforth;——
onlythatDresdenisfatallygone。Irrecoverably,asturnedout,andinthatunbearablemanner。Hereistheconcludingscene:——
DRESDEN,SATURDAY,SEPTEMBER8th;EXITSCHMETTAU。"Athousandtimesover,Schmettaumusthaveaskedhimself,’WhywasIinsuchahurry?WithoutcauseforitI,onlyMaguirehavingcause!’——TheCapitulationhadbeenendedinahuddle,withoutsignature:
anunwiseCapitulation;anditwasscandalouslyillkept。
SchmettauwasnottohavemarchedtillMonday,10th,——sixcleardaysforpackingandpreparing;——but,practically,hehastomakethreeservehim;andtogohalf—packed,ornotpackedatall。
Endlesschicanesdoarise,’uponmyhonor!’——noteventhe800
wagonsarereadyforus;’Can’tyourbaggagesgoinboats,then?’
’No,norshall!’answersSchmettau,withblazingeyes,andheartreadytoburst;aSchmettaulivingallthiswhileasinPurgatory,orworse。SuchbullyingsfromtruculentGuasco,whoisnowwithoutmuzzle。Capitulation,mostimperfectinitself,isavowedlyinfringed:King’sArtillery,——whichwehadhaggledfor,andendedby’hopingfor,’toMaguirethatrainyevening:whywereweinsuchahurry,too,andblindtoMaguire’shurry!——King’sArtillery,accordingtoDurchlauchtofZweibruck,whenheactuallysignedwithinthewalls,is’NICHTACCORDIRT(Notgranted),excepttheFieldpart。’King’sregimentalfurnishings,allandsundry,were’ACCORDIRT,andwithoutvisitation,’——butonsecondthoughts,theAustrianOfficialsareofopiniontheremustreallybevisitation,mustbeinspection。’MaynotsomeofthembelongtoPolishMajesty?’Inwhichsadprocessofinspectiontherewasincrediblewaste,Schmettauprotesting;andabovehalfofthenewuniformswerelosttous。Our80pontoons,whichwereexpresslybargainedfor,arebrazenlydeniedus:’20ofthemareSaxon,’crytheAustrians:’whoknowsiftheyarenotalmostallSaxon,’——uponmyhonor!Atthisrate,onlywaitadayortwo,andfewerwagonsthan800willbeneeded!thinksSchmettau;andconsentsto18river—
boats;Boatsinpart,then;andletusmarchatonce。Accordingly,"SATURDAY,8th,at5inthemorning,Schmettau,withgoodsandpeople,doesatlastfileout:acrossElbeBridgethroughtheNeustadt;Prussiansfivedeep;adoublerankofAustrians,rangedoneachside,in’espalier’theycallit,——espalierwithgapsiniteveryhereandthere,towhatpurposeissoonevident。Themarchwassodisposed(likewiseforapurpose)that,allalong,therewereoneortwoCompaniesofPrussianFoot;andthenintheinterval,carriages,cannon,cavalryandhussars。
Schmettau’scarriageiswiththerear—guard,MadamSchmettau’swellinthevan:——intwoothercarriagesaretwoPrussianWar—and—DomainMinisters。[ANONYMOUSOFHAMBURG,III。376。]’ManagersofSaxonFinance,’theseTwo;——whowillhavetomanageelsewherethaninDresdenhenceforth。Zinnow,Borck,theysitveritablythere,withtheirmultiformAccountPapers:ofwhomIknowabsolutelynothing,——except(ifanybodycared)thatZinnow,who’diedofapoplexyinJunefollowing,’isprobablyofpursyred—nosedtype;andthatBorck,forcertain,hasaveryfinefaceandfigure;
delicacy,cheerfuldignity,perfectgentlemanhoodinshort,writtenoneveryfeatureofhim;aspaintedbyPesne,andengravedbySchmidt,formyaccidentalbehoof。[FredericusWilhelmusBorck(Pesnepinxit,1732;Schmidt,sculpturRegis,sculpsit,Berolini,1764):anexcellentPrintandPortrait。]Curioustothinkofthatelaboratecourt—coatandflowingperiwig,withthisspecificBorck,’oldastheDevil’(whomIhavehadmuchtroubletoidentify),formingvisiblepartofthisdismalProcession:thebrighteyeofBorcknotsmilingasusual,butclouded,thoughimpassive!ButthatofBorckorhisLimnersisnotthepoint。
"ThePrussianshavebeendividedintosmallsections,withamassofbaggage—wagonsandcavalrybetweeneverytwo。Andnosooneristhemassgotinmovement,thanthererisesfromtheAustrianpart,andcontinuesalltheway,loudinvitation,’WhosoeverisabraveSaxon,abraveAustrian,Reichsman,cometous!Gapsintheespalier,don’tyousee!’AndSchmettau,intherear,withbaggageandcavalryintervening,——nobodycanreachSchmettau。Hereisawayofkeepingyourbargain!ThePrussianOfficersstrugglestoutly:
butarebellowedat,struckat,menacedbybayonetandbullet,——
noneofthemshot,Ithink,butagoodseveralofthemcutandwounded;——theAustrianOfficersthemselvesinpassionatepointsbehavingshamefully,’Yes,shootthemdown,the(wereitnothingelse)hereticdogs;’andbeingthroughoutevidentlyinahotshiveryframeofmind,forgetfulofthelaws。SeldomwassuchaProcession;spite,rageandlawlessrevengeblazingoutmoreandmore。Onthewhole,theredeserted,throughthosegapsoftheespalier,abouthalfofthewholeGarrison。OnMadamSchmettau’shammercloththeresat,intheSchmettaulivery,ahard—featuredman,recognizablebykeeneyesaslatelyaNailer,oftheNailerGuildhere;whohadbeenaspyforSchmettau,andbroughtmanypersonsintotrouble:himtheyteardown,andtramplehitherandthither,——atlast,intosomeGuard—housenearby。"[TheSchmettauDIARIUMinANONYMOUSOFHAMBURG,iii。364—376(correctedchieflyfromTEMPELHOF):Protest,andCorrespondenceinconsequence,isinSeyfarth,Beylagen,ii。611—621;in
Helden—Geschichte,&c。&c。]
Schmettau’sprotestagainstallthisisvehement,solemnlycircumstantial:but,exceptinregardtothetrampledNailer(Zweibruckonthatpoint"heartilysorryfortheinsulttoyourExcellency’slivery;andherethemanis,withathousandapologies"),Schmettaugotnoredress。NorhadFriedrichany,noworhenceforth。Friedrichdidatonce,moretotestifyhisdisgustthanforanybenefit,orderSchmettau:"HaltatWittenberg,notatMagdeburgaswaspretendedtobebargained。DismissyourEscortofAustriansthere;bidthemhomeatonce,andoutofyoursight。"
SchmettauhimselfheorderedtoBerlin,toidlewaiting。
NeveragainemployedSchmettau:forsixteenyearsthattheylivedtogether,neversawhisfacemore。
Schmettau’sill—fortunewasmuchpitied,assurelyitdeservedtobe,byallmen。AboutFriedrich’sseveritytherewas,andstilloccasionallyis,controversyheld。IntowhichweshallnotenterforYesorforNo。"Youareliketherestofthem!"writesFriedrichtohim;"whenthemomentcomesforshowingfirmness,youfailinit。"["Waldau,10thSeptember,1759:"inPreuss,ii。
URKUNDEN。p。44。]FriedrichexpectsofotherswhatallSoldiersprofess,——andwhatisinfactthesoulofallnoblenessintheirtrade,——butwhatonlyFriedrichhimself,andaselectfew,areinthehabitofactuallyperforming。Triedbythestandardofcommonpractice,Schmettauisclearlyabsolvable;abrokenveteran,deservingalmosttears。ButthatisnotthestandardwhichitwillbesafeforaKingofmentogoby。Friedrich,Ishouldsay,wouldbeorderedbyhisOffice,ifNatureherselfdidnotorderhim,topitchhisidealveryhigh;andtoberatherRhadamanthineinjudgingaboutit。Friedrichwasneveraccusedofover—generositytotheunfortunateamonghisCaptains。
AftertheWar,Schmettau,hisconductstillathemeofargument,wasreducedtotheInvalidList:agenowsixty—seven,buthealthandheartstillveryfresh,ashepleaded;complainingthathecouldnotliveonhisretiringPensionof300poundsayear。
"BethankfulyouhavenothadyourheadstruckoffbysentenceofCourt—Martial,"answeredFriedrich。Schmettau,aftersomefarthertroublesfromCourtquarters,retiredtoBrandenburg,andtherelivedsilent,poorbuthonorable,forhisremainingfifteenyears。
MadamSchmettaucameoutverybeautifulinthosebadcircumstances:
cheery,thrifty,fullofloyalpatience;aconstantsunshinetoherpoorman,whomshehadprecededoutofDresdeninthewaywesaw。
Schmettauwasveryquiet,stillstudiousofWarmatters;
[SeeLeben(byhisSon,"CaptainSchmettau;"
amodestintelligentBook),pp。440—447。]"senttheKing"once,——in1772,whilePolishPrussia,andHowitcouldbefortified,weretheinterestingsubject,——"aJOURNAL,"whichhehadelaboratedforhimself,"OFTHEMARCHESOFKARLTWELFTHINWESTPREUSSEN;"whichwaswellreceived:"ApparentlytheKingnotangrywithmefarther?"
thoughtSchmettau。Acompletelyretiredoldman;studious,social,——thebestmenoftheArmystillhisfriendsandfamiliars:——nor,inhisownmind,anymutinyagainsthisChief;thisalsohasitsbeautyinahumanlife,myfriend。SolongasMadamSchmettaulived,itwaswell;afterherdeath,notwell,darkrather,andgrowingdarker:andinaboutthreeyearsSchmettaufollowed(27thOctober,1775),whitherthatgoodsoulhadgone。TheelderBrother——whowasadistinguishedAcademician,aswellasFeldmarschallandNegotiator——haddiedatBerlin,inVoltaire’stime,1751。EachofthoseSchmettaushadaSon,inthePrussianArmy,whowroteBooks,oreachashortBook,stillworthreading。[BavarianWarof1778,bytheFeldmarschall’sSon;adthis
Lebenwehavejustbeenciting,bytheLieutenant—
General’s。]Butwemustreturn。
Ontheverymorrow,September5th,DaunheardoftheglorioussuccessatDresden;hadnotexpectedittillaboutthe10thatsoonest。FromTriebelhesendsthenewsatgalloptoLieberoseandSoltikof:"Rejoicewithus,Excellenz:didnotIpredictit?
SilesiaandSaxonybothareours;fruitschieflyofyournoblesuccesses。Oh,continuethemaverylittle!""Umph!"answersSoltikof,notwithmuchenthusiasm:"Sendusmealsteadily;
andgainyou,Excellenz’sself,somenoblesuccess!"Friedrichdidnothearofitforalmostaweeklater;nottillMonday,10th,——asacertainsmallAnecdotewouldofitselfindicate。
SundayEvening,9thSeptember,GeneralFinck,withhisnew6,000,hasteningontojoinWunschforreliefofDresden,hadgottoGrossenhayn;andwasputtinguphistents,whentheOutpostsbroughthiminanAustrianOfficer,whohadcomewithaTrumpeterinquiringfortheGeneral。TheAustrianOfficer"isinquestofproperlodgingsforGeneralSchmettauandGarrison[fancyFinck’ssuddenstare!];——lastnighttheylodgedatGross—Dobritz,tolerablytotheirmind:butthequestionfortheEscortis,Wheretolodgethisnight,ifyourExcellencycouldadviseme?""Herr,IwilladviseyoutogobacktoGross—Dobritzontheinstant,"answersFinckgrimly;"IshallbeobligedtomakeyouandyourTrumpetprisoners,otherwise!"ExitAustrianOfficer。Thatsameevening,too,CaptainKollas,carryingSchmettau’ssadnewstotheKing,callsonFinckinpassing;givesdismaldetailsoftheCapitulationandtheAustrianwayofkeepingit;fillingFinck’smindwithsorrowfulindignation。[Tempelhof,iii。237。]
Finck——letusaddhere,thoughindateitbelongsalittleelsewhere——pusheson,nottheless,tojoinWunschatTorgau;
joinsWunsch,straightwayrecapturesLeipzig,garrisonprisoners(September13th):recapturesallthosenorthwesterngarrisons,——
multitudinousReichsfolktrying,once,tofighthim,inanamazinglyloud,butotherwisehelplessway("ACTIONOFKORBITZ"
theycallit);cannonadingfarandwideallday,andmanoeuvringabout,herebitteninupon,theretryingtobite,overmanyleaguesofCountry;principallyunderHaddick’sleading;[HOFBERICHTVON
DERAM21SEPTEMBERBEYKORBITZ(inMeissenCountry,southofElbe;
KrogistooisaVillageinthiswide—spread"Action")VORGEFALLENEN
ACTION(Seyfarth,Beylagen,ii。621—630)。
Tempelhof,iii。248,258。]whosawgoodtodrawoffDresden—wardnextday,andleaveFinckmasterinthoseregions。ToDaun’ssadastonishment,——inamomentofcrisis,——asweshallhearfartheron!
SothatSaxonyisnotyetconqueredtoDaun;Saxony,no,norindeedwillbe:——butDresdenis。FriedrichnevercouldrecoverDresden;
thoughhehoped,andatintervalstriedhard,foralongwhiletocome。
ChapterVI。
PRINCEHENRIMAKESAMARCHOFFIFTYHOURS;
THERUSSIANSCANNOTFINDLODGINGINSILESIA。
TheeyesofallhadbeenbentonDresdenlatterly;andtherehadoccurredagreatdealofdetachingthitherward,andofmarchingthereandthence,aswehavepartlyseen。Andtheendis,Dresden,andtoappearanceSaxonyalongwithit,isDaun’s。HasnotDaungoodreasonnowtobeproudofthecunctatorymethod?Neverdidhisgamestandbetter;andallhasbeengainedatotherpeople’sexpense。Daunhasnotplayedonetrumpcard;itisthoseobligingRussiansthathaveplayedallthetrumps,andreducedtheEnemytonothing。Onlycontinuethatwisecourse,——andcartmeal,withyourwholestrength,fortheRussians!——
SafebehindthepoolsofLieberose,FriedrichbetweenthemandBerlin,liethosedearRussians;extending,Daunandthey,likeanimpassablemilitarydike,withspursofOutpostsandcunninglydevisedDetachments,farandwide,——frombeyondBoberorutmostCrossenontheeast,toHoyerswerdainElbeCountryonthewest;——
dikeofeightymileslong,andinsomeeasternpartsofalmosteightybroad;soelaborateisDaun’sdetachingquality,incasesofmoment。"TheKing’sbrokenArmyononesideofus,"calculatesDaun;"PrinceHenri’sontheother;incommunicativethey;
reducedtoisolation,powerlesseitherorbothofthemagainstsuchodds。Theyshallwaitthere,pleaseHeaven,tillSaxonybequitefinished。Zweibruck,andourDetachmentsandMaguires,letthemfinishSaxony,whileSoltikofkeepstheKingbusy。Saxonyfinished,howwilleitherPrinceorKingattempttorecoverit!Afterwhich,Silesiaforus;——andweshallthenbenearourMagazineswithal,andthisseverestressofcartingwillabateorcease。"Infact,theseseemsoundcalculations:Friedrichis24,000;Henri38,000;
themilitarydikeis,ofAustrians75,000,ofRussiansandAustrianstogether120,000。DaunmayfairlycalculateonsucceedingbeautifullythisYear:Saxonyhisaltogether;andinSilesiasomeGlogauorstrongTowntaken,andRussiansandAustrianswinteringtogetherinthatCountry。
IfonlyDaundonotTOOmuchsparehistrumpcards!Butthereissuchathingasexcessonthatsidetoo:andperhapsitiseventhemoreruinouskind,——andiscertainlythemoredespisedbygoodjudges,thoughthemultitudeofbadmaynoticeitless。Daunisunweariedinhisvigilantes,inhisinfinitecartingsofprovisionforhimselfandSoltikof,——longchainsofMagazines,bigandlittle,atGuben,atGorlitz,atBautzen,Zittau,Friedland;
anddoes,aidedbyFrenchMontalembert,allthatmancantokeepthosedearstupidRussiansintune。
Daun’sproblemofcartingprovisions,andguardinghismultifariousposts,andsourcesofmealanddefence,isnotwithoutitsdifficulties。EspeciallywithaPrinceHenriopposite;whohasasuperlativemanoeuvringtalentofhisown,andanindustrynotinferiortoDaun’sinthatway。Accordingly,eversinceAugust11th—13th,whenDaunmovednorthwardtoTriebel,andHenrishotoutdetachmentsparalleltohim,"tosecuretheBoberandourrightflank,andtrytoregaincommunicationwiththeKing,"——stillmore,eversinceAugust22d,whenDaunundertookthatonerouscartageofmealforSoltikofaswellasself,themanoeuvringandmutualfencingandparrying,betweenHenriandhim,hasbeengettinglivelierandlivelier。FainwouldDaunsecurehisnumerousRoadsandMagazines;assiduouslydoesHenrithreatenhiminthesepoints,andtryallmeanstoregaincommunicationwithhisBrother。
DaunhasMagazinesandinterestseverywhere;Henriiseverywherediligenttoactonthem。
Dauninperson,eversinceKunersdorftime,hasbeenatTriebel;
HenrimovedtoSaganafterhim,buthasleftalieutenantatSchmottseifen,asDaunhasatMark—Lissa:——herearestillnewplanets,andsecondaryditto,withrevolvingmoons。Inshort,itistwointerpenetratingsolarsystems,gyrating,osculatiugandcolliding,overaspaceofseveralthousandsquaremiles,——withanintricacy,withanembroiledabstrusenessPtolemeanormore!
Whichindeedthesoldierwhowouldknowhisbusiness——(andnotknowingit,isnotheofallsolecismsinthisworldthemostflagrant?)——oughttostudy,outofTempelhofandtheBooks;
butwhich,exceptinitsresults,nootherreadercouldendure。
Theresultwewillmakeapointofgathering:carefullyriddleddown,therearewithalinthedetailsfiveorsixlittlepassageswhichhavesomeshadowofinteresttous;theseletusnote,andcarefullyomittherest:——
OFFOUQUETATLANDSHUT。"FouquetwastwiceattackedatLandshut;
butmadealuckyfigurebothtimes。AttackfirstwasbyDeville:
attacksecondbyHarsch。EarlyinJuly,notlongafterFriedrichhadleftforSchmottseifen,rashDeville(arashcreature,andthenagainalaggard,swiftwhereheshouldbeslow,andVICEVERSA)
againmadetrialonLandshutandFouquet;butwasbeautifullydealtwith;takeninrear,inflank,orIforgethowtaken,butsentgallopingthroughthePassesagain,withalossofmanyPrisoners,mostofhisfurnitures,andallhispresenceofmind:whomDaunthereuponsummonedoutofthoseparts,’HitherwardtoMark—LissawithyourCorps;leaveFouquetalone!’[HOFBERICHTVONDEN
UNTERNEHMUNGENDESFOUQUETSCHENCORPS,IMJULIUS1759:inSeyfarth,Beylagen,ii。582—586。]
"Afterwhich,Fouquet,thingsbeingaltogetherquietroundhim,wassummoned,withmostpartofhisforce,toSchmottseifen;
leftGeneralGoltz(amanwehavemetbefore)toguardLandshut;
andwasinfairhopesofprovinghelpfultoPrinceHenri,——whenHarsch[Harschbyhimselfthistime,notHarschandDevilleasusual]thoughtherewashisopportunity;andcamewithagreatapparatus,asiftoswallowLandshutwhole。SothatFouquethadtohurryoffreinforcementsthither;andatlengthtogohimself,leavingStutterheiminhissteadatSchmottseifen。Goltz,however,withhissmallhandful,stoodwelltohiswork。AndtherefelloutsharpfencingsatLandshut:——especiallyoneviolentattackonouroutposts;theAustriansquitetriumphant;till’acoupleofcannonopenonthemfromthenextHill,’——tillsomeviolentWernerorotherchargeinuponthemwithPrussianHussars;——adesperatetussle,thatspecialoneofWerner’s;notonlysabresflashingfuriouslyonbothsides,butbuttsofpistolsandblowsontheface:[Tempelhof,iii。233:31stAugust。]till,inshort,Harschfindshecanmakenothingofit,andhastakenhimselfaway,beforeFouquetcome。"ThisGoltz,hereplayingAnti—Harsch,istheGoltzwho,withWinterfeld,Schmettauandothers,wasinthatmelancholyZittaumarch,ofthePrinceofPrussia’s,in1757:itwasGoltzbywhomtheKingsenthisfinishingcompliment,"Youdeserve,allofyou,tobetriedbyCourt—Martial,andtoloseyourheads!"
GoltzismainlyconcernedwithFouquetandSilesia,inlatetimes;
andweshallhearofhimonceagain。FouquetdidnotreturntoSchmottseifen;norwasmolestedagaininLandshutthisyear,thoughhesoonhadtodetach,fortheKing’suse,partofhisLandshutforce,andhadotherSilesianbusinesswhichfelltohim。
FORTRESSOFPEITZ。ThepoorFortressofPeitzwastakenagain;——doreadersrememberit,"onthedayofZorndorf,"lastyear?
"Thisyear,afortnightafterKunersdorf,thesameoldHalf—payGentlemanwithhisFive—and—fortyInvalidshaveagainbeensetadrift,’withthehonorsofwar,’pooroldcreatures;lestbypossibilitytheyafflictthedearRussiansandourmeal—cartsupyonder。[Tempelhof,iii。231:27thAugust。]IwillforgetwhotookPeitz:perhapsHaddick,ofwhomwehavelatelyheardsomuch?
HewascaptorofBerlinin1757,didtheInroadonBerlinthatyear,——andproducedRossbachshortlyafter。Peitz,ifhedidPeitz,wasHaddick’slastsuccessintheworld。Haddickhasbeenmostindustrious,’guardingtheRussianflank,’——standingbetweentheKingandit,duringthatSoltikofmarchtoMullrose,toLieberose;
butthatoncedone,andtheKingsettledatWaldau,HaddickwasorderedtoSaxony,againstWunschandFinck:——andreadersknowalreadywhathemadeoftheseTwointhe’ActionatKorbitz,September21st,’——andshallhearsoonwhatbefellHaddickhimselfinconsequence。"
COLONELHORDTISCAPTURED。"ItwasinthatfinalmarchingofSoltikoftoLieberosethatadistinguishedEx—Swede,ColonelHordt,oftheFreeCorpsHORDT,wastakenprisoner。AtTrebatsch;
hangingonSoltikof’srightflankonthatoccasion。ItwasnotHaddick,itwasaswarmofCossackswholaidHordtfast;hishorsehavinggonetothegirthsinabog。[MemoiresduComtedeHordt(aBerlin,1789),ii。53—58(notdatedorintelligiblethere):inTempelhof(iii。235,236)clearaccount,"Trebatsch,September4th。"]Hordt,anEx—Swedeofdistinction,——aRoyalistExile,onwhoseheadtheSwedeshavesetaprice(hadgoneinto’Brahe’sPlot,’yearssince,PlotonbehalfofthepoorSwedishKing,whichcostBrahehislife),——Hordtnowmighthavefaredill,hadnotFriedrichbeenemphatic,’Touchahairofhim,retaliationfollowsontheinstant!’HewascarriedtoPetersburg;
’laytwenty—sixmonthsandthreedays’insolitarydurancethere;
andwemayhearawordfromhimagain。"
ZIETHENALMOSTCAPTURED。"PrinceHenri,inthelastdaysofAugust,marchedtoSaganinperson;[Tempelhof,iii。231:29thAugust。]
Ziethenalongwithhim;multifariouslymanoeuvring’toregaincommunicationwiththeKing。’Ofcourse,withnowantofcounter—
manoeuvring,ofvigilantoutposts,cunninglydeviseddetachmentsandassiduoussmallmeasuresonthepartofDaun。Who,oneday,haddeterminedonamoreconsiderablething;thatofcuttingoutZiethenfromtheSaganneighborhood。Andwouldhavedoneit,theysay,——hadnothebeentoocunctatory。September2d,Ziethen,whoispostedinthelittletownofSorau,hadverynearlybeencutoff。
InSorau,westward,Daun—ward,ofSaganashortday?smarch:
theresatZiethen,consciousofnothingparticular,——withDaunsecretlymarchingonhim;Dauninperson,fromthewest,andtwoothersfromthenorthandfromthesouth,whoaretobesimultaneousonSorauandtheZietheners。Awell—laidscheme;