首页 >出版文学> The Life and Adventures of Baron Trenck>第23章
  Ifanyoneofhisofficershadmadearichcapture,Trenckinstantlybecamehisenemy。Hewassentoneverydangerousexpeditiontillhefell,andthecolonelbecamehisuniversalheir,forTrenckappropriatedallhecouldtohimself。Hewasreputedtobeamanmostexpertinmilitaryscience,anexcellentengineer,andtopossessanexacteyeinestimatingheightsanddistances。Inallenterpriseshewasfirst;inuredtofatigue,hisironbodycouldsupportitwithoutinconvenience。Nothingescapedhisvigilance,allwasturnedtoaccount,andwhatvalourcouldnotaccomplish,cunningsupplied。Hispridesufferedhimnottoincuranobligation,andthushewasunthankful;hisactionsallcentredinself,andashewasremarkablyfortunateinwhateverheundertook,heascribedeventhat,whichaccidentgave,toforesightandgenius。
  Yetwasheever,asanofficer,amostusefulandinestimablemantothestate。Hisrespectforhissovereign,andhiszealinherservice,wereunbounded;wheneverherglorywasatstake,hedevotedhimselfhervictim。ThisIasserttobetruth:Iknewhimwell。
  Oflittleconsequenceisittome,whetherthehistoriansofMariaTheresahave,orhavenot,misrepresentedhistalentsandthefamehedeserved。
  ThelifeofTrenckIwriteforthefollowingreasons。Hehadthehonourfirsttoform,andcommand,regulartroops,raisedinSclavonia。Thesoldiersacquiredgloryundertheirleader,andsustainedthetotteringpowerofAustria:theymadelibationsoftheirbloodinitsdefence,asdidTrenck,invariousbattles。Heservedlikeabravewarrior,withzeal,loyalty,andeffect。ThevilepersecutionsofhisenemiesatVienna,withwhomherefusedtosharetheplunderhehadmade,losthimhonour,liberty,andnotonlythepersonalpropertyhehadacquired,butlikewisethefamilypatrimonyinHungary。Hediedlikeamalefactor,illegallysentencedtoimprisonment;andknaveshaveaffirmed,andfoolshavebelieved,andbelievestill,hetooktheKingofPrussiaprisoner,andthathegrantedhimfreedominconsequenceofabribe。SohavetheloyalHungariansbeenledtosupposethatanHungarianhadreallybeenatraitor。
  Bymywritings,Iwishtoprovetothisnoblenationonthecontrary,thatTrenck,forhisloyaltydeservedcompassion,esteem,andhonourinhiscountry。ThisIhavealreadydoneintheformerpartofmyhistory。ThedeadTrenckcanspeaknomore;butitisthedutyofthelivingevertospeakindefenceofright。
  TrenckwrotehisownhistorywhilehewasconfinedinthearsenalatVienna;and,inthelasttwosheetsheopenlyrelatedthemannerinwhichhehadbeentreatedbythecouncilofwar,ofwhichCountLoewenwalde,hisgreatestenemy,waspresident。Thecount,however,foundsupporterstoopowerful,andthesesheetsweretornfromthebookandpubliclyburntatVienna。Defenceafterthisbecameimpossible:hegroanedunderthegripofhisadversaries。
  Ihavegivenaliteralcopyofthesesheetsinthefirstpartofthishistory;andIagainrepeatIamabletoprovethetruthofwhatisthereasserted,bytheacts,proceedings,andjudicialregisterswhichareinmypossession。HewasconfinedintheSpielberg,becausemuchwastobedreadedfromaninjuredman,whomtheyknewcapableofthemostdesperateenterprises。Hedieddefenceless,thesacrificeofiniquityandunjustjudges。Hedied,andhishonourremainedunprotected。Iambydutyhisdefender:
  althoughheexpiredmypersonalenemy,theauthorofnearlyalltheillsIhavesuffered。IcametotheknowledgeofhispersecutorstoolatefortheunfortunateTrenck。Andwhoarethosewhohavedividedhisspoils——whoslewhimthattheymightfattenthemselves?
  YourtitleshavebeenpaidforfromthecoffersofTrenck!Yetneithercanyourcabals,yourwealthyprotectors,yourownriches,noryourcreditatcourt,deprivemeoftherightofvindicatinghisfame。
  Ihaveboldlywritten,haveopenlyshown,thatTrenckwaspillagedbyyou;thatheservedthehouseofAustriaasaworthyman,withzeal;notincourt—martialsandcommitteesofinquiry,butfightingforhiscountry,sharingthesoldier’sglory,fallingthevictimofenvyandpower;fallingbythehandsofthosewhoareunworthyofjudgingmerit。HetaketheKingofPrussia!TheymightaswellsayhetooktheEmperorofMorocco。
  Yes,heisdead。ButshouldanymandareaffirmthattheHungarianorthePrussianTrenckwerecapableoftreason,thateitherofthemmeritedpunishmentforhavingbetrayedtheircountry,hewillnothavelongtoseekbeforehewillbeinformedthathehasdoneusbothinjustice。Afterthispreface,IshallcontinuemynarrativeontheplanIproposed。Trenck,thefather,wasamiser,yetawell—meaningman。Trencktheson,wasayouthfulsoldier,whostoodinneedofmoneytoindulgehispleasures。Manycuriouspranksheplayed,whenanensigninIknownotwhatregimentoffoot。Hewenttooneofthecollectorsofhisfather’srents,anddemandedmoney;
  thecollectorrefusedtogivehimany,andTrenckclovehisskullwithhissabre。Aprosecutionwasenteredagainsthim,but,warbreakingoutin1756,betweentheRussiansandtheTurks,heraisedasquadronofhussars,andwentwithitintotheRussianservice,contrarytothewillofhisfather。
  Inthiswarhedistinguishedhimselfhighly,andacquiredtheprotectionofField—marshalMunich。HewassosuccessfulasaleaderagainsttheTartars,thathebecameveryfamousinthearmy,andattheendofthecampaign,wasappointedmajor。
  IthappenedthatflyingpartiesofTurksapproachedhisregimentwhenonmarch,andTrenckseeingafavourablemomentforattackingthem,wenttoColonelRumin,desiringtheregimentmightbeledtothecharge,andthattheymightprofitbysofairanopportunity。
  Thecolonelanswered,"Ihavenosuchorders。"TrenckthendemandedpermissiontochargetheTurksonlywithhisownsquadron;butthiswasrefused。Hebecamefurious,forhehadneverbeenacquaintedwithcontradictionorsubordination,andcriedaloudtothesoldiers,"Iftherebeonebravemanamongyou,lethimfollowme。"
  Abouttwohundredsteppedfromtheranks;heputhimselfattheirhead,routedtheenemy,madeahorriblecarnage,andreturnedintoxicatedwithjoy,accompaniedbyprisoners,andloadedwithdisseveredheads。Oncemorearrivedinpresenceoftheregiment,heattackedthecolonel,treatedhimliketherankestcoward,calledhimopprobriousnames,withouttheotherdaringtomaketheleastresistance。Theadventure,however,becameknown;Trenckwasarrested,andorderedtobetried。Hisjudgescondemnedhimtobeshot,andthedaywasappointed,buttheeveningbeforeexecution,Field—marshalMunichpassednearthetentinwhichhewasconfined,Trencksawhim,cameforward,andsaid,"CertainlyyourexcellencywillnotsufferaforeigncavaliertodieanignominiousdeathbecausehehaschastisedacowardlyRussian!IfImustdie,atleastgivemepermissiontosaddlemyhorse,andwithmysabreinmyhand,letmefallsurroundedbytheenemy。"
  TheTartarshappenedtobeatthistimeharassingtheadvancedposts;theField—marshalshruggedhisshoulders,andwassilent。
  Trenck,notdiscouraged,added,"Iwillundertaketobringyourexcellencythreeheadsorlosemyown。Willyou,ifIdo,bepleasedtograntmemypardon?"TheField—marshalreplied,"Yes。"
  ThehorseofTrenckwasbrought:hegallopedtotheenemy,andreturnedwithinfourheadsknottedtothehorse’smane,himselfonlyslightlywoundedintheshoulder。Munichimmediatelyappointedhimmajorinanotherregiment。Variousandalmostincrediblewerehisfeats:amongothers,aTartarranhimthroughthebellywithhislance:Trenckgraspedtheprojectingendwithhishands,exertedhisprodigiousstrength,brokethelance,setspurstohishorse,andhappilyescaped。Ofthiswound,dreadfulasitwas,hewassooncured。Imyselfhaveseenthetwoscars,andcanaffirmthefact;I
  alsolearnedthis,andmanyothersin1746,fromofficerswhohadservedinthesamearmy。
  Duringthiscampaignhebehavedwithgreathonour,waswoundedbyanarrowintheleg,andgainedtheaffectionofField—marshalMunich,butexcitedtheenvyofalltheRussians。Towardstheconclusionofthewarhehadanewmisfortune;hisregimentwasincommodedonallsidesbytheenemy:heentreatedhiscolonel,forleavetoattackthem。ThecolonelwasoncemoreaRussian,andhewasrefused。
  Trenckgavehimablow,andcalledaloudtothesoldierstofollowhim。TheyhoweverbeingRussians,remainedmotionless,andhewasputunderarrest。Thecourt—martialsentencedhimtodeath,andallhopeofreprieveseemedover。Thegeneralwouldhavegrantedhispardon,butashewashimselfaforeigner,hewasfearfulofoffendingtheRussians。Thedayofexecutioncame,andhewasledtotheplaceofdeath,MunichsocontriveditthatField—marshalLowenthalshouldpassby,atthismoment,incompanywithinhislady。Trenckprofitedbytheopportunity,spokeboldly,andprevailed。Areprievewasrequested,andthesentencewaschangedintobanishmentandlabourinSiberia。
  Trenckprotestedagainstthissentence。TheField—marshalwrotetoPetersburg,andanordercamethatheshouldbebroken,andconductedoutoftheRussianterritories。Thisorderwasexecuted,andhereturnedintoHungarytohisfather。AtthisperiodheespousedthedaughterofField—marshalBaronTillier,oneofthefirstfamiliesinSwitzerland。Thetwobrothersofhiswifeeachbecamelieutenant—general,oneofwhomdiedhonourablyduringthesevenyears’war。Theotherwasmadecommander—generalinCroatia,whereheisstillliving,andisattheheadofaregimentofinfantrythatbearshisname。Trenckdidnotlivelongwithhislady。Shewaspregnant,andhetookhertohuntwithhiminamarsh:shereturnedill,anddiedwithoutleavinghimanheir。
  Havingnoopportunitytoindulgehiswarlikeinclination,becauseofthegeneralpeace,heconceivedtheprojectofextirpatingtheSclavonianbanditti。
  Trenck,toexecutethisenterprise,employedhisownpandours。Thecontestnowcommencedandactivityandcouragewerenecessarytoensuresuccessinsuchawar。Trenckseemedbornforthismurderoustrade。Dayandnighthechasedthemlikewildbeasts,killingnowone,thenanother,andwithoutdistinction,treatingthemwiththeutmostbarbarity。
  Twoincidentswillsufficientlypaintthecharacterofthisunaccountableman。HehadimpaledalivethefatherofaHarum—
  Bashaw。Oneeveninghewasgoingonpatrol,alongthebanksofabrook,whichseparatedtwoprovinces。Ontheoppositeshorewasthesonofthisimpaledfather,withhisCroats。Itwasmoonlight,andthelattercalledaloud——"Iheardthyvoice,Trenck!Thouhastimpaledmyfather!Ifthouhastaheartinthybody,comehitheroverthebridge,Iwillsendawaymyfollowers;leavethyfirearms,comeonlywiththysabre,andwewillthenseewhoshallremainthevictor。"Theagreementwasmade——andtheHarum—BashawsentawayhisCroats,andlaiddownhismusket。Trenckpassedthewoodenbridge,bothdrewtheirsabres;butTrencktreacherouslykilledhisadversarywithapistol,thathehadconcealed,afterwhichheseveredhisheadfromhisbody,tookitwithhim,andstuckituponapole。
  Oneday,whenhunting,heheardmusicinalonehousewhichbelongedtooneofhisvassals。Hewasthirsty,entered,andfoundtheguestsseatedattable。Hesatdownandatewithinthem,notknowingthiswasarendezvousforthebanditti。Ashewasseatedoppositethedoor,hesawtwoHarum—Bashawsenter。Hismusketstoodinacorner;hewasstruckwithterror,butoneofthemaddressedhimthus:—"Neitherthee,northyvassals,Trenck,haveweeverinjured,yetthoudostpursueuswithcruelty。Eatthyfill。Whenthouhastsatisfiedthyhunger,wewillthen,sabreinthyhand,seewhohasmostjusticeonhisside,andwhetherthouartascourageousasmenspeakthee。"
  Hereupontheysatdownandbegantoeatanddrinkandmakemerry。
  ThesituationofTrenckcouldnotbeverypleasant。Herecollectedthatbesidesthese,theremightbemoreoftheircompanions,without,readytofalluponhim;he,therefore,privatelydrewhispistols,heldthemunderthetablewhilehecockedthem,presentedeachhandtothebodyofaHarum—Bashaw,firedthembothatthesameinstant,oversetthetableontheguests,andescapedfromthehouse。Ashewenthehadtimetoseizeononeoftheirmuskets,whichwasstandingatthedoor。OneoftheCroatswasleftwelteringinhisblood;theotherdisengagedhimselffromthetable,andranafterTrenck,whosufferedhimtoapproach,killedhimwithinhisowngun,struckoffhisheadandbroughtithomeintriumph。Bythisactionthebandittiweredeprivedoftheirtwomostvalorouschiefs。
  Warbrokeoutaboutthistime,in1740,whenalltheHungarianstookuparmsindefenceoftheirbelovedqueen。Trenckofferedtoraiseafreecorpsofpandours,andrequestedanamnestyforthebandittiwhoshouldjoinhistroops。Hisrequestwasgranted,hepublishedtheamnesty,andbegantoraiserecruits;hethereforeenrolledhisownvassals,formedacorpsof500men,wentinsearchoftherobbers,drovethemintoastraitbetweentheSaveandSarsaws,wheretheycapitulated,and300ofthemenrolledthemselveswithhispandours。Mostofthesemenweresixfeetinheight,determined,andexperiencedsoldiers。Toindulgethemoncertainoccasionsintheirthirstofpillageweremeanswhichhesuccessfullyemployedtoleadthemwherehepleased,andtorenderthemvictorious。BymeansliketheseTrenckbecameatoncetheterroroftheenemiesofAustria,andrenderedsignalservicestohisEmpress。
  In1741,whilehewasexercisinghisregiment,acompanyfireduponTrenck,andkilledhishorse,andhisservantthatstoodbyhisside。Herantothecompany,countedone,two,three,andbeheadedthefourth。Hewascontinuingthis,whenaHarum—Bashawlefttheranks,drewhissword,andcalledaloud,"ItisIwhofireduponthee,defendthyself。"Thesoldiersstoodmotionlessspectators。
  Trenckattackedhimandhewedhimdown。Hewasproceedingtocontinuetheexecutionofthefourthman,butthewholeregimentpresentedtheirarms。Therevoltbecamegeneral,andTrenck,stillholdinghisdrawnsabre,ranamidstthem,hackingabouthimonallsides。Theexcessofhisragewasterrific;thesoldiersallcalled"Hold!"eachfellontheirknees,andpromisedobedience。Afterthisheaddressedtheminlanguagesuitabletotheircharacter,andfromthattimetheybecameinvinciblesoldierswhenevertheywereheadedbyhimself。LetthesituationofTrenckbeconsidered;hewasthechiefofabandofrobberswhosupposedtheywereauthorisedtotakewhatevertheypleasedinanenemy’scountry,abandittithathadsooftendefiedthegallows,andhadneverknownmilitarysubordination。Letsuchmenbeledtothefieldandopposedtoregulartroops。Thattheyareneveractuatedbyhonourisevident:
  theirleaderisobligedtoexcitetheiraviditybythehopeofplundertoengagetheminaction;foriftheyperceivenopersonaladvantage,theinterestofthesovereignisinsufficienttomakethemact。
  Trenckhadneedofaparticularspeciesofofficers。Theymustbedaring,yetcautious。Theyarepartisans,andmustbecapableofsupportingfatigue,desirousofdailyseekingtheenemy,andhazardingtheirlives。Ashewashimselfneverabsentatthetimeofaction,hesoonbecameacquaintedwiththosewhomhecalledoldwomen,andsentthemfromhisregiment。TheseofficersthenrepairedtoVienna,ventedtheircomplaints,andwereheard。Hisavaricepreventedhimfrommakinganydivisionofhisbootywiththosegentlemenwhoconstitutedthemilitarycourts,thusneglectingwhatwascustomaryatVienna:andinthisoriginatedtheprosecutiontowhichhefellavictim。ScarcelyhadheenteredAustriawithhistroopsbeforehefoundanopportunityofreapinglaurels。TheFrencharmywasdefeatedatLintz。Trenckpursuedthem,treatedhisprisonerswithbarbarity;and,nevergrantingquarterinbattle,theveryappearanceofhispandoursinspiredterror。
  Trenckwasagreatwarrior,andknewhowtoprofitbytheslightestadvantage。Fromthistimehebecamerenowned,gainedtheconfidenceofPrinceCharles,andtheesteemoftheField—marshalCountKevenhuller,whodiscoveredtheworthoftheman。NopartisanhadeverbeforeobtainedsomuchpowerasTrenck;heeverywherepursuedtheenemyasfarasBavaria,carryingfireandswordwhereverhewent。AsitwasknownTrenckgavenoquarter,theBavariansandtheFrenchflewatthesightofaredmantle。Pillageandmurderattendedthepandourswherevertheywent,andtheircolonelboughtupallthebootytheyacquired。Chamb,inparticular,wasasceneofadreadfulmassacre。Thecitywassetonfireandthepeopleperishedintheflames;womenandchildrenwhoendeavouredtofly,wereobligedtopassoverabridge,wheretheywerefirststripped,andafterwardsthrownintothewater。ThisactionwasoneoftheaccusationsbroughtagainstTrenckwhenhewasprosecuted,butheallegedhisjustification。
  ThebanksoftheIsertothisdayreverberategroansforthebarbaritiesofTrenck。DeckendorfandFiltzhofenfeltallhisfury。
  Inthefirstofthesetowns600Frenchprisonerscapitulated,althoughhisforceswerefourmilesdistant;butheformedakindofstrawmen,onwhichheputpandourcapsandcloaks,andsetthemupassentinels;andthegarrison,deceivedbythisstratagem,signedthecapitulation。TheservicesherenderedthearmyduringtheBavarianwararewellknowninthehistoryofMariaTheresa。Thegoodhehasdonehasbeenpassedoverinsilence,becausehediedundermisfortunes,anddidnotleavehishistorianalegacy。HewasinformedthateitheratDeckendorforFiltzhofentherewasabarrelcontaining20,000florins,concealedatthehouseofanapothecary。
  Impelledbythedesireofbooty,Trenckhastenedtotheplace,withacandleinhishand,searchingeverywhere,and,inhishurry,droppedasparkintoaquantityofgunpowder,bytheexplosionofwhichhewasdreadfullyscorched。Theycarriedhimoff,butthescarsandthegunpowderwithwhichhisskinwasblackenedrenderedhiscountenanceterrific。
  ThepresentField—marshalLaudohnwasatthattimealieutenantinhisregiment,andhappenedtobeatthedoorwhenhiscolonelwasburnt。ScarcelywasTrenckcuredbeforehisspiesinformedhimthatLaudohnhadplentyofmoney。ImmediatelyhesuspectedthatLaudohnhadfoundthebarrelofflorins,andfromthatmomenthepersecutedhimbyallimaginablearts。Wherevertherewasdangerhesenthim,attheheadof30men,against300,hopingtohavehimcutoff,andtomakehimselfhisheir。ThiswassooftenrepeatedthatLaudohnreturnedtoVienna,where,joiningthecrowdoftheenemiesofTrenck,hebecameinstrumentalinhisdestruction。Yetitiscertainthat,inthebeginning,TrenckhadshownafriendshipforLaudohn,hadgivenhimacommission,andthatthisgreatmanlearned,underthecommandofTrenck,hismilitaryprinciples。
  GeneralTillierwaslikewiseformedinthisnurseryofsoldiers,whereofficersweretaughtactivity,stratagem,andenterprise。AndwhoaremorecapableofcommandingaHungarianarmythanTillierandLaudohn?I,onedaysaidtoTrenck,whenhewasinVienna,embarrassedbyhisprosecution,andwhenhehadpublishedadefamatorywritingagainstallhisaccusers,exceptingnoman,——"YouhavealwaystoldmethatLaudohnwasoneofthemostcapableofyourofficers,andthatheisaworthyman。Whereforethendoyouclasshimamongsuchwretches?"Hereplied,"What!wouldyouhavemepraiseamanwholabours,attheheadofmyenemies,torobmeofhonour,property,andlife!"Ihaverelatedthisincidenttoprovebythetestimonyofsohonourableaman,thatTrenckwasagreatsoldier,andazealouspatriot,andthathenevertooktheKingofPrussiaprisoner,ashasbeenfalselyaffirmed,andasisstillbelievedbythemultitude。Hadsuchathinghappened,Laudohnmusthavebeenpresent,andwouldhavesupportedthischarge。
  BavariawasplunderedbyTrenck;bargeswereloadedwithgold,silver,andeffects,whichhesenttohisestatesinSclavonia;
  PrinceCharlesandCountKevenhullercountenancedhisproceedings;
  butwhenField—marshalNeupergwasattheheadofthearmy,hehadotherprinciples。HewasconnectedwithBaronTiebes,acounselloroftheHofkriegsrathwhowastheenemyofTrenck。Persecutionwasatthattimeinstitutedagainsthim,andTrenckwasimprisoned;buthedefendedhimselfsopowerfullythatinamonthhewassetatliberty。Mentzel,meanwhile,hadthecommandofthepandours;andthismanappropriatedtohimselfthefamethatTrenckhadacquiredbythewarriorshehimselfhadformed。MentzelneverwastheequalofTrenck。TrencknowincreasedthenumberofhisCroatsto4,000,fromwhom,in1743,aregimentofHungarianregularswasformed,butwhostillretainedthenameofpandours。Itwasaregimentofinfantry。Trenckalsohad600hussarsand150chasseurs,whomheequippedathisownexpense。Yet,whenthiscorpswasreduced,allwassoldfortheprofitoftheimperialtreasury,withoutbringingashillingtoaccount。
  Withacorpssonumerous,heundertookgreatenterprises。Theenemyfledwhereverheappeared。Heledthevan,raisedcontributionswhichamountedtoseveralmillions,delivereduntotheEmpress,infiveyears,7,000prisoners,FrenchandBavarian,andmorethan3,000Prussians。Heneverwasdefeated。Hegainedconfidenceamonghistroops,andwillremaininhistorythefirstmanwhorenderedthesavageCroatsefficientsoldiers。Thisitwasimpossibletoperformamongabloodthirstypeoplewithoutbeingguiltyhimselfofcruelacts。Thenecessityoftheexcesseshecommitted,whenthearmywasinwantofforage,wassoevidentthathereceivedpermissionofPrinceCharles,thoughforthishewasafterwardsprosecuted;whiletheplundersofBrenklau,Mentzel,andthewholearmy,wereneveroncequestioned。ThatTrenckadvancedmorethan100,000florinstohisregiment,Iclearlyproved,in1750。Thisproofcametoolate。Hewasdead。TheevidenceIbroughtoccasionedaquartermaster,Frederici,tobeimprisoned。Heconfessedtheembezzlementofthismoney,yetfoundsomanyfriendsamongtheenemiesofTrenckthatherefundednothing,butwasreleasedintheyear1754,whenIwasthrownintothedungeonofMagdeburg。
  Mycousin,whohadlivedlikeamiser,didnot,athisdeath,leavehalfofthepropertyhehadinheritedfromhisfather,andwhichlegallydescendedtome;itwastornfrommebyviolence。
  In1744heobligedtheFrenchtoretirebeyondtheRhine,seizedonafortnearPhillipsburg,swamacrosstheriverwith70pandours,attackedthefortifications,slewtheMarquisdeCrevecoeur,withhisownhandmannedthepost,traversedtheotherarmoftheRhine,surprisedtwoBavarianregimentsofcavalry,andbythisdaringmanoeuvre,securedthepassageoftheRhinetothewholearmy,which,butforhim,wouldnothavebeeneffected。Whereverhecame,helaidthecountryundercontribution,and,atthismomentoftriumphfortheAustrianarms,openedhimselfapassagetoentertheterritoriesofFrance。InSeptember,1744,warhavingbrokenoutbetweenAustriaandPrussia,theimperialarmywasobligedtoreturn,abandonAlsatia,andhastentothesuccouroftheAustrianstates。Trencksucceededincoveringitsretreat。ThehistoryofMariaTheresadeclaresthedamageshedidtheenemy,duringthiscampaign。HegaveproofofhiscapacityatTaborandBudweis。With300menheattackedoneofthesetowns,whichwasdefendedbythetwoPrussianregimentsofWalrabeandKreutz。Hefoundthewaterinthemoatswasdeeperthanhisspieshaddeclared,andthescalingladderstooshort:mostofthoseledtotheattackwerekilled,ordrownedinthewater,andthesmallnumberthatcrossedthemoatsweremadeprisoners。ThegarrisonofTabor,ofBudweis,andofthecastleofFrauenburg,were,nevertheless,inducedtocapitulate,andyieldthemselvesprisoners,althoughthemainbodyunderTrenckwasmorethanfivemilesdistant。Hiscorpsdidnotcomeuptillthemorrow,anditwasridiculousenoughtoseethepandoursdressedinthecapsofthePrussianfusiliersandpioneers,whichtheyworeinsteadoftheirown,andwhichtheyafterwardscontinuedtowear。
  Thecampaigntohimwasglorious,andtheenemy’swantoflighttroopsgavefreescopetohisenterprises,highlytotheirprejudice。Heneverreturnedwithoutprisoners。HepassedtheElbenearPardubitz,tookthemagazines,andwasthecauseofthegreatdearthanddesertionamongthePrussians,andofthathastyretreattowhichtheywereforced。TheKingwasatCohnwithhisheadquarters,whereIwaswithhim,whenTrenckattackedthetown,whichhemusthavecarried,hadhenotbeenwoundedbyacannon—
  ball,whichshatteredhisfoot。Hewastakenaway,theattackdidnotsucceed,andhismen,withouthim,remainedbutsomanyciphers。
  In1745,hewenttoVienna,wherehisentranceresembledatriumph。
  TheEmpressreceivedhimwithdistinction。Heappearedoncrutches;
  she,byhercondescendingspeech,inflamedhiszealtoextravagance。
  Whowouldhavesupposedthatthefavouriteofthepeoplewouldthatyearbeabandonedtothepowerofhisenemies;whohadnotrendered,duringtheirwholelives,somuchessentialservicetothestateasTrenckhaddoneinasingleday?Hereturnedtohisestate,raisedeighthundredrecruitsthathemightaidinthenextcampaign,andgathernewlaurels。Herejoinedthearmy。AtthebattleofSorauhefelluponthePrussiancamp,andseizeduponthetentoftheKing,buthecametoolatetoattacktherear,ashadbeenpreconcerted。Fredericgaveuphiscamptobeplundered,fortheCroatscouldnotbedrawnofftoattackthearmy,andtheKingwaspreparedtoreceivethem,eveniftheyshould。Inthemeantime,theimperialarmywasdefeated。
  HerewasafieldfortheenemiesofTrencktoincitethepeopleagainsthim。TheyaccusedhimofhavingmadetheKingofPrussiaaprisonerinhistent;thathealsopillagedthecampinsteadofattackingtherearofthearmy。Afterhavingendedthecampaign,hereturnedtoViennatodefendhimself。Herehefoundtwenty—threeofficers,whomheexpelledhisregiment,mostofthemforcowardiceormeanactions。Theywerereadytobearfalsetestimony。
  CounsellorWeberandGen。Loewenwalde,hadswornhisdownfall,whichtheyeffected。Trenckdespisedtheirattacks。Whilethingsremainedthus,theyinstructedoneoftheEmpress’sattendantstoprofitbyeveryopportunitytodeprivehimofherconfidence。Itwasaffirmed,Trenckisanatheist!whoneverprayedtotheholyVirgin!Theofficers,whomhehadbroken,whispereditincoffee—