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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/2119-h.zip b/2119-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..52d73b4 --- /dev/null +++ b/2119-h.zip diff --git a/2119-h/2119-h.htm b/2119-h/2119-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7e8a0c6 --- /dev/null +++ b/2119-h/2119-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9211 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + History of Friedrich II. Of Prussia, Volume 19, by Thomas Carlyle + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. +XIX. (of XXI.), by Thomas Carlyle + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. XIX. (of XXI.) + Frederick The Great--Friedrich Like to be Overwhelmed in + The Seven-Years War--1759-1760 + +Author: Thomas Carlyle + +Release Date: June 13, 2008 [EBook #2119] +Last Updated: November 30, 2012 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. *** + + + + +Produced by D.R. Thompson and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II OF PRUSSIA, Volume 19 + </h1> + <h2> + FREDERICK THE GREAT + </h2> + <h2> + by Thomas Carlyle + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Contents + </h2> + <div class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> <big><b>BOOK XIX.—FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE + OVERWHELMED IN THE SEVEN-YEARS WAR.—1759-1760.</b></big> </a><br /><br /> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> <b>Chapter I.—PRELIMINARIES TO A FOURTH + CAMPAIGN.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> OF THE SMALL-WAR IN SPRING, 1759. THERE ARE + FIVE DISRUPTIONS OF THAT GRAND CORDON (February-April); AND FERDINAND OF + BRUNSWICK FIGHTS HIS BATTLE OF BERGEN (April 13th). </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> <b>Chapter II.—GENERAL DOHNA; DICTATOR + WEDELL: BATTLE OF ZULLICHAU.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> DICTATOR WEDELL FIGHTS HIS BATTLE (Monday, 23d + July, 1759), WITHOUT SUCCESS. </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> <b>Chapter III.—FRIEDRICH IN PERSON + ATTEMPTS THE RUSSIAN PROBLEM; NOT WITH SUCCESS</b>. </a><br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0004"> <b>Chapter IV.—BATTLE OF KUNERSDORF.</b> </a><br /><br /> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> <b>Chapter V.—SAXONY WITHOUT DEFENCE: + SCHMETTAU SURRENDERS DRESDEN.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> THE "REICHS ARMY" 80 CALLED HAS ENTERED + SAXONY, UNDER FINE OMENS; DOES SOME FEATS OF SIEGING (August 7th-23d),—WITH + AN EYE ON DRESDEN AS THE CROWNING ONE. </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> + AUSTRIAN REICHS ARMY DOES ITS CROWNING FEAT (August 26th-September 4th): + DIARY OF WHAT IS CALLED THE "SIEGE" OF DRESDEN. </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> <b>Chapter VI.—PRINCE HENRI MAKES A MARCH + OF FIFTY HOURS; THE RUSSIANS CANNOT FIND LODGING IN SILESIA.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> DAUN, SOLTIKOF AND COMPANY AGAIN HAVE A + COLLOQUY (Bautzen, September 15th); AFTER WHICH EVERYBODY STARTS ON HIS + SPECIAL COURSE OF ACTION. </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> FRIEDRICH + MANAGES (September 24th-October 24th) TO GET THE RUSSIANS SENT HOME; AND + HIMSELF FALLS LAMED WITH GOUT. </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> <b>Chapter VII.—FRIEDRICH REAPPEARS ON THE + FIELD, AND IN SEVEN DAYS AFTER COMES THE CATASTROPHE OF MAXEN.</b> </a><br /><br /> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> <b>Chapter VIII.—MISCELLANEA IN + WINTER-QUARTERS, 1759-1760.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> SERENE HIGHNESS OF WURTEMBERG, AT FULDA + (November 30th, 1759), IS JUST ABOUT "FIRING VICTORIA," AND GIVING A + BALL TO BEAUTY AND FASHION, IN HONOR OF A CERTAIN EVENT;—BUT IS + UNPLEASANTLY INTERRUPTED. </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0017"> WHAT IS + PERPETUAL PRESIDENT MAUPERTUIS DOING, ALL THIS WHILE? IS HE STILL IN + BERLIN; OR WHERE IN THE UNIVERSE IS HE? ALAS, POOR MAUPERTUIS! </a><br /> + <a href="#link2H_4_0018"> GRAND FRENCH INVASION-SCHEME COMES ENTIRELY TO + WRECK (Quiberon Bay, 20th November, 1759): OF CONTROLLER-GENERAL + SILHOUETTE, AND THE OUTLOOKS OF FRANCE, FINANCIAL AND OTHER. </a><br /> + <a href="#link2H_4_0019"> FRIEDRICH, STRANGE TO SAY, PUBLISHES + (March-June, 1760) AN EDITION OF HIS POEMS. QUESTION, "WHO WROTE + Matinees du Roi de Prusse?"—FOR THE SECOND, AND POSITIVELY THE + LAST TIME. </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0020"> PEACE-NEGOTIATIONS + HOPEFUL TO FRIEDRICH ALL THROUGH WINTER; BUT THE FRENCH WON'T. VOLTAIRE, + AND HIS STYLE OF CORRESPONDING. </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0021"> + VOLTAIRE ON FRIEDRICH, TO DIFFERENT THIRD-PARTIES, DURING THIS WAR. </a><br /> + <a href="#link2H_4_0022"> VOLTAIRE ON SURROUNDING OBJECTS, CHIEFLY ON + MAUPERTUIS, AND THE BATTLES. </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0023"> + FRIEDRICH TO VOLTAIRE, BEFORE AND DURING THESE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. </a><br /> + <a href="#link2H_4_0024"> FRIEDRICH HAS SENT LORD MARISCHAL TO SPAIN: + OTHER FOND HOPES OF FRIEDRICH'S. </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> <b>Chapter IX.—PRELIMINARIES TO A FIFTH + CAMPAIGN.</b> </a> <br /> + </div> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + BOOK XIX.—FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED IN THE SEVEN-YEARS WAR.—1759-1760. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter I.—PRELIMINARIES TO A FOURTH CAMPAIGN. + </h2> + <p> + The posting of the Five Armies this Winter—Five of them in Germany, + not counting the Russians, who have vanished to Cimmeria over the horizon, + for their months of rest—is something wonderful, and strikes the + picturesque imagination. Such a Chain of Posts, for length, if for nothing + else! From the centre of Bohemia eastward, Daun's Austrians are spread all + round the western Silesian Border and the southeastern Saxon; waited on by + Prussians, in more or less proximity. Next are the Reichsfolk; scattered + over Thuringen and the Franconian Countries; fronting partly into Hessen + and Duke Ferdinand's outskirts:—the main body of Duke Ferdinand is + far to westward, in Munster Country, vigilant upon Contades, with the + Rhine between. Contades and Soubise,—adjoining on the Reichsfolk are + these Two French Armies: Soubise's, some 25,000, in Frankfurt-Ems Country, + between the Mayn and the Lahn, with its back to the Rhine; then Contades, + onward to Maes River and the Dutch Borders, with his face to the Rhine,—and + Duke Ferdinand observant of him on the other side. That is the "CORDON of + Posts" or winter-quarters this Year. "From the Giant Mountains and the + Metal Mountains, to the Ocean;—to the mouth of Rhine," may we not + say; "and back again to the Swiss Alps or springs of Rhine, that + Upper-Rhine Country being all either French or Austrian, and a basis for + Soubise?" [Archenholtz, i. 306.] Not to speak of Ocean itself, and its + winged War-Fleets, lonesomely hovering and patrolling; or of the Americas + and Indies beyond! + </p> + <p> + "This is such a Chain of mutually vigilant Winter-quarters," says + Archenholtz, "as was never drawn in Germany, or in Europe, before." Chain + of about 300,000 fighting men, poured out in that lengthy manner. Taking + their winter siesta there, asleep with one eye open, till reinforced for + new business of death and destruction against Spring. Pathetic surely, as + well as picturesque. "Three Campaigns there have already been," sighs the + peaceable observer: "Three Campaigns, surely furious enough; Eleven + Battles in them," [Stenzel, v. 185. This, I suppose, would be his + enumeration: LOBOSITZ (1756); PRAG, KOLIN, Hastenbeck, Gross-Jagersdorf, + ROSSBACH, Breslau, LEUTHEN, (1757); Crefeld, ZORNDORF, HOCHKIRCH (1758): + "eleven hitherto in all."] a Prag, a Kolin, Leuthen, Rossbach;—must + there still be others, then, to the misery of poor mankind?" thus sigh + many peaceful persons. Not considering what are, and have been, the rages, + the iniquities, the loud and silent deliriums, the mad blindnesses and + sins of mankind; and what amount, of CALCINING these may reasonably take. + Not calcinable in three Campaigns at all, it would appear! Four more + Campaigns are needed: then there will be innocuous ashes in quantity; and + a result unexpected, and worth marking in World-History. + </p> + <p> + It is notably one of Friedrich's fond hopes,—of which he keeps up + several, as bright cloud-hangings in the haggard inner world he now has,—that + Peace is just at hand; one right struggle more, and Peace must come! And + on the part of Britannic George and him, repeated attempts were made,—one + in the end of this Year 1759;—but one and all of them proved futile, + and, unless for accidental reasons, need not be mentioned here. Many men, + in all nations, long for Peace; but there are Three Women at the top of + the world who do not; their wrath, various in quality, is great in + quantity, and disasters do the reverse of appeasing it. + </p> + <p> + The French people, as is natural, are weary of a War which yields them + mere losses and disgraces; "War carried on for Austrian whims, which + likewise seem to be impracticable!" think they. And their Bernis himself, + Minister of Foreign Affairs, who began this sad French-Austrian Adventure, + has already been remonstrating with Kaunitz, and grumbling anxiously, + "Could not the Swedes, or somebody, be got to mediate? Such a War is too + ruinous!" Hearing which, the Pompadour is shocked at the favorite creature + of her hands; hastens to dismiss him ("Be Cardinal then, you ingrate of a + Bernis; disappear under that Red Hat!")—and appoints, in his stead, + one Choiseul (known hitherto as STAINVILLE, Comte de Stainville, French + Excellency at Vienna, but now made Duke on this promotion), Duc de + Choiseul; [Minister of Foreign Affairs, "11th November, 1758" (Barbier, + iv. 294).] who is a Lorrainer, or Semi-Austrian, by very birth; and + probably much fitter for the place. A swift, impetuous kind of man, this + Choiseul, who is still rather young than otherwise; plenty of proud spirit + in him, of shifts, talent of the reckless sort; who proved very notable in + France for the next twenty years. + </p> + <p> + French trade being ruined withal, money is running dreadfully low: but + they appoint a new Controller-General; a M. de Silhouette, who is thought + to have an extraordinary creative genius in Finance. Had he but a + Fortunatus-Purse, how lucky were it! With Fortunatus Silhouette as + purse-holder, with a fiery young Choiseul on this hand, and a fiery old + Belleisle on that, Pompadour meditates great things this Year,—Invasions + of England; stronger German Armies; better German Plans, and slashings + home upon Hanover itself, or the vital point;—and flatters herself, + and her poor Louis, that there is on the anvil, for 1759, such a French + Campaign as will perhaps astonish Pitt and another insolent King. Very + fixed, fell and feminine is the Pompadour's humor in this matter. Nor is + the Czarina's less so; but more, if possible; unappeasable except by + death. Imperial Maria Theresa has masculine reasons withal; great hopes, + too, of late. Of the War's ending till flat impossibility stop it, there + is no likelihood. + </p> + <p> + To Pitt this Campaign 1759, in spite of bad omens at the outset, proved + altogether splendid: but greatly the reverse on Friedrich's side; to whom + it was the most disastrous and unfortunate he had yet made, or did ever + make. Pitt at his zenith in public reputation; Friedrich never so low + before, nothing seemingly but extinction near ahead, when this Year ended. + The truth is, apart from his specific pieces of ill-luck, there had now + begun for Friedrich a new rule of procedure, which much altered his + appearance in the world. Thrice over had he tried by the aggressive or + invasive method; thrice over made a plunge at the enemy's heart, hoping so + to disarm or lame him: but that, with resources spent to such a degree, is + what he cannot do a fourth time: he is too weak henceforth to think of + that. + </p> + <p> + Prussia has always its King, and his unrivalled talent; but that is pretty + much the only fixed item: Prussia VERSUS France, Austria, Russia, Sweden + and the German Reich, what is it as a field of supplies for war! Except + its King, these are failing, year by year; and at a rate fatally SWIFT in + comparison. Friedrich cannot now do Leuthens, Rossbachs; far-shining feats + of victory, which astonish all the world. His fine Prussian veterans have + mostly perished; and have been replaced by new levies and recruits; who + are inferior both in discipline and native quality;—though they have + still, people say, a noteworthy taste of the old Prussian sort in them; + and do, in fact, fight well to the last. But "it is observable," says + Retzow somewhere, and indeed it follows from the nature of the case, "that + while the Prussian Army presents always its best kind of soldiers at the + beginning of a war, Austria, such are its resources in population, always + improves in that particular, and its best troops appear in the last + campaigns." In a word, Friedrich stands on the defensive henceforth; + disputing his ground inch by inch: and is reduced, more and more, to + battle obscurely with a hydra-coil of enemies and impediments; and to do + heroisms which make no noise in the Gazettes. And, alas, which cannot + figure in History either,—what is more a sorrow to me here! + </p> + <p> + Friedrich, say all judges of soldiership and human character who have + studied Friedrich sufficiently, "is greater than ever," in these four + Years now coming. [Berenhorst, in <i>Kriegskunst;</i> Retzow; &c.] And + this, I have found more and more to be a true thing; verifiable and + demonstrable in time and place,—though, unluckily for us, hardly in + this time or this place at all! A thing which cannot, by any method, be + made manifest to the general reader; who delights in shining summary + feats, and is impatient of tedious preliminaries and investigations,—especially + of MAPS, which are the indispensablest requisite of all. A thing, in + short, that belongs peculiarly to soldier-students; who can undergo the + dull preliminaries, most dull but most inexorably needed; and can follow + out, with watchful intelligence, and with a patience not to be wearied, + the multifarious topographies, details of movements and manoeuvrings, year + after year, on such a Theatre of War. What is to be done with it here! If + we could, by significant strokes, indicate, under features true so far as + they went, the great wide fire-flood that was raging round the world; if + we could, carefully omitting very many things, omit of the things + intelligible and decipherable that concern Friedrich himself, nothing that + had meaning: IF indeed—! But it is idle preluding. Forward again, + brave reader, under such conditions as there are! + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's Winter in Breslau was of secluded, silent, sombre character, + this time; nothing of stir in it but from work only: in marked contrast + with the last, and its kindly visitors and gayeties. A Friedrich given up + to his manifold businesses, to his silent sorrows. "I have passed my + winter like a Carthusian monk," he writes to D'Argens: "I dine alone; I + spend my life in reading and writing; and I do not sup. When one is sad, + it becomes at last too burdensome to hide one's grief continually; and it + is better to give way to it by oneself, than to carry one's gloom into + society. Nothing solaces me but the vigorous application required in + steady and continuous labor. This distraction does force one to put away + painful ideas, while it lasts: but, alas, no sooner is the work done, than + these fatal companions present themselves again, as if livelier than ever. + Maupertuis was right: the sum of evil does certainly surpass that of good:—but + to me it is all one; I have almost nothing more to lose; and my few + remaining days, what matters it much of what complexion they be?" + ["Breslau, 1st March, 1759," To D'Argens (<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xix. + 56).] + </p> + <p> + The loss of his Wilhelmina, had there been no other grief, has darkened + all his life to Friedrich. Readers are not prepared for the details of + grief we could give, and the settled gloom of mind they indicate. A loss + irreparable and immeasurable; the light of life, the one loved heart that + loved him, gone. His passionate appeals to Voltaire to celebrate for him + in verse his lost treasure, and at least make her virtues immortal, are + perhaps known to readers: [ODE SUR LA MORT DE S. A. S. MADAME LA PRINCESSE + DE BAREITH (in <i>OEuvres de Voltaire,</i> xviii. 79-86): see Friedrich's + Letter to him (6th November, 1758); with Voltaire's VERSES in Answer (next + month); Friedrich's new Letter (Breslau, 23d January 1759), demanding + something more,—followed by the ODE just cited (Ib. lxxii. 402; + lxxviii. 82, 92; or <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxiii. 20-24: &c.) + alas, this is a very feeble kind of immortality, and Friedrich too well + feels it such. All Winter he dwells internally on the sad matter, though + soon falling silent on it to others. + </p> + <p> + The War is ever more dark and dismal to him; a wearing, harassing, nearly + disgusting task; on which, however, depends life or death. This Year, he + "expects to have 300,000 enemies upon him;" and "is, with his utmost + effort, getting up 150,000 to set against them." Of business, in its many + kinds, there can be no lack! In the intervals he also wrote considerably: + one of his Pieces is a SERMON ON THE LAST JUDGMENT; handed to Reader De + Catt, one evening:—to De Catt's surprise, and to ours; the Voiceless + in a dark Friedrich trying to give itself some voice in this way! [<i>OEuvres + de Frederic,</i> xv. 1-10 (see Preuss's PREFACE there; Formey, <i>SOUVENIRS,</i> + i. 37; &c. &c.)] Another Piece, altogether practical, and done + with excellent insight, brevity, modesty, is ON TACTICS; [REFLEXIONS SUR + LA TACTIQUE: in <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxviii. 153-166.]—properly + it might be called, "Serious very Private Thoughts," thrown on paper, and + communicated only to two or three, "On the new kind of Tactics necessary + with those Austrians and their Allies," who are in such overwhelming + strength. "To whose continual sluggishness, and strange want of concert, + to whose incoherency of movements, languor of execution, and other + enormous faults, we have owed, with some excuse for our own faults, our + escaping of destruction hitherto,"—but had better NOT trust that way + any longer! Fouquet is one of the highly select, to whom he communicates + this Piece; adding along with it, in Fouquet's case, an affectionate + little Note, and, in spite of poverty, some New-year's Gift, as usual,—the + "Widow's Mite [300 pounds, we find]; receive it with the same heart with + which it was set apart for you: a small help, which you may well have need + of, in these calamitous times." ["Breslau, 23d December, 1758;" with + Fouquet's Answer, 2d January, 1759: in <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xx. + 114-117.] Fouquet much admires the new Tactical Suggestions;—seems + to think, however, that the certainly practicable one is, in particular, + the last, That of "improving our Artillery to some equality with theirs." + For which, as may appear, the King has already been taking thought, in + more ways than one. + </p> + <p> + Finance is naturally a heavy part of Friedrich's Problem; the part which + looks especially impossible, from our point of vision! In Friedrich's + Country, the War Budget does not differ from the Peace one. Neither is any + borrowing possible; that sublime Art, of rolling over on you know not whom + the expenditure, needful or needless, of your heavy-laden self, had not + yet—though England is busy at it—been invented among Nations. + Once, or perhaps twice, from the STANDE of some willing Province, + Friedrich negotiated some small Loan; which was punctually repaid when + Peace came, and was always gratefully remembered. But these are as + nothing, in face of such expenses; and the thought how he did contrive on + the Finance side, is and was not a little wonderful. An ingenious + Predecessor, whom I sometimes quote, has expressed himself in these words:— + </p> + <p> + "Such modicum of Subsidy [he is speaking of the English Subsidy in 1758], + how useful will it prove in a Country bred everywhere to Spartan thrift, + accustomed to regard waste as sin, and which will lay out no penny except + to purpose! I guess the Prussian Exchequer is, by this time, much on the + ebb; idle precious metals tending everywhere towards the melting-pot. At + what precise date the Friedrich-Wilhelm balustrades, and enormous silver + furnitures, were first gone into, Dryasdust has not informed me: but we + know they all went; as they well might. To me nothing is so wonderful as + Friedrich's Budget during this War. One day it will be carefully + investigated, elucidated and made conceivable and certain to mankind: but + that as yet is far from being the case. We walk about in it with + astonishment; almost, were it possible, with incredulity. Expenditure on + this side, work done on that: human nature, especially British human + nature, refuses to conceive it. Never in this world, before or since, was + the like. The Friedrich miracles in War are great; but those in Finance + are almost greater. Let Dryasdust bethink him; and gird his flabby loins + to this Enterprise; which is very behooveful in these Californian times!"— + </p> + <p> + The general Secret of Prussian Thrift, I do fear, is lost from the world. + And how an Army of about 200,000, in field and garrison, could be kept on + foot, and in some ability to front combined Europe, on about Three Million + Sterling annually ("25 million THALERS"=3,150,000 pounds, that is the + steady War-Budget of those years), remains to us inconceivable enough;—mournfully + miraculous, as it were; and growing ever more so in the Nugget-generations + that now run. Meanwhile, here are what hints I could find, on the Origins + of that modest Sum, which also are a wonder: [Preuss, ii. 388-392; + Stenzel, v. 137-141.]— + </p> + <p> + "The hoarded Prussian Moneys, or 'TREASURES' [two of them, KLEINE SCHATZ, + GROSSE SCHATZ, which are rigidly saved in Peace years, for incidence of + War], being nearly run out, there had come the English Subsidy: this, with + Saxony, and the Home revenues and remnants of SCHATZ had sufficed for + 1758; but will no longer suffice. Next to Saxony, the English Subsidy + (670,000 pounds due the second time this year) was always Friedrich's + principal resource: and in the latter years of the War, I observe, it was + nearly twice the amount of what all his Prussian Countries together, in + their ravaged and worn-out state, could yield him. In and after 1759, + besides Home Income, which is gradually diminishing, and English Subsidy, + which is a steady quantity, Friedrich's sources of revenue are mainly Two:— + </p> + <p> + "FIRST, there is that of wringing money from your Enemies, from those that + have deserved ill of you,—such of them as you can come at. Enemies, + open or secret, even Ill-wishers, we are not particular, provided only + they lie within arm's-length. Under this head fall principally three + Countries (and their three poor Populations, in lieu of their + Governments): Saxony, Mecklenburg (or the main part of it, + Mecklenburg-SCHWERIN), and Anhalt; from these three there is a continual + forced supply of money and furnishings. Their demerits to Friedrich differ + much in intensity; nor is his wringing of them—which in the cases of + Mecklenburg and Saxony increases year by year to the nearly intolerable + pitch—quite in the simple ratio of their demerits; but in a compound + ratio of that and of his indignation and of his wants. + </p> + <p> + "Saxony, as Prime Author of this War, was from the first laid hold of, + collared tightly: 'Pay the shot, then, what you can' (in the end it was + almost what you cannot)! As to Mecklenburg-Schwerin, the grudge against + Prussia was of very old standing, some generations now; and the present + Duke, not a very wise Sovereign more than his Ancestors, had always been + ill with Friedrich; willing to spite and hurt him when possible: in Reichs + Diet he, of all German Princes, was the first that voted for Friedrich's + being put to Ban of the Reich,—he; and his poor People know since + whether that was a wise step! The little Anhalt Princes, too, all the + Anhalts, Dessau, Bernburg, Cothen, Zerbst [perhaps the latter partially + excepted, for a certain Russian Lady's sake], had voted, or at least had + ambiguously half-voted, in favor of the Ban, and done other unfriendly + things; and had now to pay dear for their bits of enmities. Poor souls, + they had but One Vote among them all Four;—and they only half gave + it, tremulously pulling it back again. I should guess it was their terrors + mainly, and over-readiness to reckon Friedrich a sinking ship; and to leap + from the deck of him,—with a spurn which he took for insolent! The + Anhalt-Dessauers particularly, who were once of his very Army, half + Prussians for generations back, he reckoned to have used him scandalously + ill. + </p> + <p> + "This Year the requisition on the Four Anhalts—which they submit to + patiently, as people who have leapt into the wrong ship—is, in + precise tale: of money, 330,000 thalers (about 50,000 pounds); recruits, + 2,200; horses, 1,800. In Saxony, besides the fixed Taxes, strict + confiscation of Meissen Potteries and every Royalty, there were exacted + heavy 'Contributions,' more and more heavy, from the few opulent Towns, + chiefly from Leipzig; which were wrung out, latterly, under great + severities,—'chief merchants of Leipzig all clapt in prison, kept on + bread-and-water till they yielded,'—AS great severities as would + suffice, but NOT greater; which also was noted. Unfortunate chief + merchants of Leipzig,—with Bruhl and Polish Majesty little likely to + indemnify them! Unfortunate Country altogether. An intelligent Saxon, who + is vouched for as impartial, bears witness as follows: 'And this I know, + that the oppressions and plunderings of the Austrians and Reichsfolk, in + Saxony, turned all hearts away from them; and it was publicly said, We had + rather bear the steady burden of the Prussians than such help as these our + pretended Deliverers bring.' [Stenzel (citing from KRIEGSKANZLEI, which I + have not), v. 137 n.] Whereby, on the whole, the poor Country got its back + broken, and could never look up in the world since. Resource FIRST was + abundantly severe. + </p> + <p> + "Resource SECOND is strangest of all;—and has given rise to + criticism enough! It is no other than that of issuing base money; mixing + your gold and silver coin with copper,—this, one grieves to say, is + the Second and extreme resource. A rude method—would we had a better—of + suspending Cash-payments, and paying by bank-notes instead!' thinks + Friedrich, I suppose. From his Prussian Mints, from his Saxon [which are + his for the present], and from the little Anhalt-Bernburg Mint [of which + he expressly purchased the sad privilege,—for we are not a Coiner, + we are a King reduced to suspend Cash-payments, for the time being], + Friedrich poured out over all Germany, in all manner of kinds, huge + quantities of bad Coin. This, so long as it would last, is more and more a + copious fountain of supply. This, for the first time, has had to appear as + an item in War-Budget 1759: and it fails in no following, but expands more + and more. It was done through Ephraim, the not lovely Berlin Jew, whom we + used to hear of in Voltaire's time;—through Ephraim and two others, + Ephraim as President: in return for a net Sum, these shall have privilege + to coin such and such amounts, so and so alloyed; shall pay to General + Tauentzien, Army Treasurer, at fixed terms, the Sums specified: 'Go, and + do it; our Mint-Officers sharply watching you; Mint-Officers, and General + Tauentzien [with a young Herr Lessing, as his Chief Clerk, of whom the + King knows nothing]; Go, ye unlovely!' And Ephraim and Company are making + a great deal of money by the unlovely job. Ephraim is the pair of tongs, + the hand, and the unlovely job, are a royal man's. Alas, yes. And none of + us knows better than King Friedrich, perhaps few of us as well, how little + lovely a job it was; how shockingly UNkingly it was,—though a + practice not unknown to German Kings and Kinglets before his time, and + since down almost to ours. [In STENZEL (v. 141) enumeration of eight or + nine unhappy Potentates, who were busy with it in those same years.] In + fact, these are all unkingly practices;—and the English Subsidy + itself is distasteful to a proud Friedrich: but what, in those + circumstances, can any Friedrich do? + </p> + <p> + "The first coinages of Ephraim had, it seems, in them about 3-7ths of + copper; something less than the half, and more than the third,"—your + gold sovereign grown to be worth 28s. 6d. "But yearly it grew worse; and + in 1762 [English Subsidy having failed] matters had got inverted; and + there was three times as much copper as silver. Commerce, as was natural, + went rocking and tossing, as on a sea under earthquakes; but there was + always ready money among Friedrich's soldiers, as among no other: nor did + the common people, or retail purchasers, suffer by it. 'Hah, an + Ephraimite!' they would say, grinning not ill-humoredly, at sight of one + of these pieces; some of which they had more specifically named + 'BLUE-GOWNS' [owing to a tint of blue perceivable, in spite of the + industrious plating in real silver, or at least "boiling in some solution" + of it]; these they would salute with this rhyme, then current:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Von aussen schon, van innen schlimm; + Von aussen Friedrich, von innen Ephraim. + Outside noble, inside slim: + Outside Friedrich, inside Ephraim. +</pre> + <p> + "By this time, whatever of money, from any source, can be scraped together + in Friedrich's world, flows wholly into the Army-Chest, as the real + citadel of life. In these latter years of the War, beginning, I could + guess, from 1759, all Civil expenditures, and wages of Officials, cease to + be paid in money; nobody of that kind sees the color even of bad coin; but + is paid only in 'Paper Assignments,' in Promises to Pay 'after the Peace.' + These Paper Documents made no pretence to the rank of Currency: such + holders of them as had money, or friends, and could wait, got punctual + payment when the term did arrive; but those that could not, suffered + greatly; having to negotiate their debentures on ruinous terms,—sometimes + at an expense of three-fourths.—I will add Friedrich's practical + Schedule of Amounts from all these various Sources; and what Friedrich's + own view of the Sources was, when he could survey them from the safe + distance. + </p> + <p> + "SCHEDULE OF AMOUNTS [say for 1761]. To make up the Twenty-five Million + thalers, necessary for the Army, there are:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "From our Prussian Countries, ruined, harried as THALERS + they have been,.......... 4 millions only. + From Saxony and the other Wringings, ..... 7 millions. + English Subsidy (4 of good gold; becoppered + into double),........... 8 " + From Ephraim and his Farm of the Mint + (MUNZ-PATENT), .......... 7 " +</pre> + <p> + In sum Twenty-six Millions; leaving you one Million of margin,—and + always a plenty of cash in hand for incidental sundries. [Preuss, ii. + 388.] + </p> + <p> + "Friedrich's own view of these sad matters, as he closes his <i>History of + the Seven-Years War</i> [at "Berlin, 17th December, 1763"], is in these + words: 'May Heaven grant,—if Heaven deign to look down on the paltry + concerns of men,—that the unalterable and flourishing destiny of + this Country preserve the Sovereigns who shall govern it from the scourges + and calamities which Prussia has suffered in these times of trouble and + subversion; that they may never again be forced to recur to the violent + and fatal remedies which we (L'ON) have been obliged to employ in + maintenance of the State against the ambitious hatred of the Sovereigns of + Europe, who wished to annihilate the House of Brandenburg, and exterminate + from the world whatever bore the Prussian name!'" [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + v. 234.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + OF THE SMALL-WAR IN SPRING, 1759. THERE ARE FIVE DISRUPTIONS OF THAT GRAND + CORDON (February-April); AND FERDINAND OF BRUNSWICK FIGHTS HIS BATTLE OF + BERGEN (April 13th). + </h2> + <p> + Friedrich, being denied an aggressive course this Year, by no means sits + idly expectant and defensive in the interim; but, all the more vigorously, + as is observable, from February onwards, strikes out from him on every + side: endeavoring to spoil the Enemy's Magazines, and cripple his + operations in that way. So that there was, all winter through, a good deal + of Small-War (some of it not Small), of more importance than usual,—chiefly + of Friedrich's originating, with the above view, or of Ferdinand his + Ally's, on a still more pressing score. And, on the whole, that immense + Austrian-French Cordon, which goes from the Carpathians to the Ocean, had + by no means a quiet time; but was broken into, and violently hurled back, + in different parts: some four, or even five, attacks upon it in all; three + of them by Prince Henri,—in two of which Duke Ferdinand's people + co-operated; the business being for mutual behoof. These latter Three were + famous in the world, that Winter; and indeed are still recognizable as + brilliant procedures of their kind; though, except dates and results, we + can afford almost nothing of them here. These Three, intended chiefly + against Reichs people and their Posts and Magazines, fell out on the + western and middle part of the Cordon. Another attack was in the extreme + eastward, and was for Friedrich's own behoof; under Fouquet's management;—intended + against the Austrian-Moravian Magazines and Preparations, but had little + success. Still another assault, or invasive outroad, northward against the + Russian Magazines, there also was; of which by and by. Besides all which, + and more memorable than all, Duke Ferdinand, for vital reasons of his own, + fought a Battle this Spring, considerable Battle, and did NOT gain it; + which made great noise in the world. + </p> + <p> + It is not necessary the reader should load his memory with details of all + these preliminary things; on the contrary, it is necessary that he keep + his memory clear for the far more important things that lie ahead of + these, and entertain these in a summary way, as a kind of foreground to + what is coming. Perhaps the following Fractions of Note, which put matters + in something of Chronological or Synoptical form, will suffice him, or + more than suffice. He is to understand that the grand tug of War, this + Year, gradually turns out not to be hereabouts, nor with Daun and his + adjacencies at all, but with the Russians, who arrive from the opposite + Northern quarter; and that all else will prove to be merely prefatory and + nugatory in comparison. + </p> + <p> + JANUARY 2d, 1759: FRANKFURT-ON-MAYN, THOUGH IT IS A REICHSTADT, FINDS + ITSELF SUDDENLY BECOME FRENCH. "Prince de Soubise lies between Mayn and + Lahn, with his 25,000; beautifully safe and convenient,—though ill + off for a place-of-arms in those parts. Opulent Frankfurt, on his right; + how handy would that be, were not Reichs Law so express! Marburg, Giessen + are outposts of his; on which side one of Ferdinand's people, Prince von + Ysenburg, watches him with an 8 or 10,000, capable of mischief in that + quarter. + </p> + <p> + "On the Eve of New-year's day, or on the auspicious Day itself, Soubise + requests, of the Frankfurt Authorities, permission for a regiment of his + to march through that Imperial City. To which, by law and theory, the + Imperial City can say Yes or No; but practically cannot, without grave + inconvenience, say other than Yes, though most Frankfurters wish it could. + 'Yes,' answer the Frankfurt Magnates; Yes surely, under the known + conditions. Tuesday, January 2d, about 5 in the morning, while all is + still dark in Frankfurt, regiment Nassau appears, accordingly, at the + Sachsenhausen Gate, Town-guard people all ready to receive it and escort + it through; and is admitted as usual. Quite as usual: but instead of being + escorted through, it orders, in calm peremptory voice, the Town-guard, To + ground arms; with calm rapidity proceeds to admit ten other regiments or + battalions, six of them German; seizes the artillery on the Walls, seizes + all the other Gates:—and poor Frankfurt finds itself tied hand and + foot, almost before it is out of bed! Done with great exactitude, with the + minimum of confusion, and without a hurt skin to anybody. The Inhabitants + stood silent, gazing; the Town-guard laid down their arms, and went home. + Totally against Law; but cleverly done; perhaps Soubise's chief exploit in + the world; certainly the one real success the French have yet had. + </p> + <p> + "Soubise made haste to summon the Magistrates: 'Law of Necessity alone, + most honored Sirs! Reichs Law is clear against me. But all the more shall + private liberties, religions, properties, in this Imperial Free-Town, be + sacred to us. Defence against any aggression: and the strictest discipline + observed. Depend on me, I bid you!'—And kept his word to an + honorable degree, they say; or in absence, made it be kept, during the + Four Years that follow. Most Frankfurters are, at heart, Anti-French: but + Soubise's affability was perfect; and he gave evening parties of a sublime + character; the Magistrates all appearing there, in their square perukes + and long gowns, with a mournful joy." [Tempelhof, iii. 7-8; Stenzel, v. + 198-200.] + </p> + <p> + Soubise soon went home, to assist in important businesses,—Invasion + of England, no less; let England look to itself this Summer!—and + Broglio succeeded him, as Army-Captain in the Frankfurt parts; with + laurels accruing, more or less. Soubise, like Broglio, began with + Rossbach; Soubise ends with Frankfurt, for the present; where Broglio also + gains his chief laurels, as will shortly be seen. Frankfurt is a great + gain to France, though an illicit one. It puts a bar on Duke Ferdinand in + that quarter; secures a starting-point for attacks on Hessen, Hanover; for + co-operation with Contades and the Lower Rhine. It is the one success + France has yet had in this War, or pretty much that it ever had in it. Due + to Prince de Soubise, in that illegal fashion.—A highly remarkable + little Boy, now in his tenth year, Johann Wolfgang Goethe, has his + wondering eyes on these things: and, short while hence, meets daily, on + the stairs and lobbies at home, a pleasant French Official Gentlemen who + is quartered there; between whom and Papa occur rubs,—as readers may + remember, and shall hear in April coming. + </p> + <p> + GRAND CORDON DISRUPTED: ERFURT COUNTRY, 16th FEBRUARY-2d MARCH. "About six + weeks after this Frankfurt achievement, certain Reichsfolk and Austrian + Auxiliaries are observed to be cutting down endless timber, '18,800 + palisades, 6,000 trees of 60 feet,' and other huge furnishings, from the + poor Duke of Gotha's woods; evidently meaning to fortify themselves in + Erfurt. Upon which Prince Henri detaches a General Knobloch thitherward, + Duke Ferdinand contributing 4,000 to meet him there; which combined + expedition, after some sharp knocking and shoving, entirely disrooted the + Austrians and Reichsfolk, and sent them packing. Had them quite torn out + by the end of the month; and had planned to 'attack them on two sides at + once' (March 2d), with a view of swallowing them whole,—when they + (these Reichs Volscians, in such a state of flutter) privately hastened + off, one and all of them, the day before." [Narrative, in <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> + v. 1022 et seq.] + </p> + <p> + This was BREAKAGE FIRST of the Grand Cordon; an explosive hurling of it + back out of those Erfurt parts. Done by Prince Henri's people, in concert + with Duke Ferdinand's,—who were mutually interested in the thing. + </p> + <p> + BREAKAGE SECOND: ERFURT-FULDA COUNTRY, 31st MARCH-8th APRIL. "About the + end of March, these intrusive Austrian Reichsfolk made some attempt to + come back into those Countries; but again got nothing but hard knocks; and + gave up the Erfurt project. For, close following on this FIRST, there was + a SECOND still deeper and rougher Breakage, in those same regions; the + Hereditary Prince of Brunswick dashing through, on a special Errand of + Ferdinand's own [of which presently], with an 8 or 10,000, in his usual + fiery manner; home into the very bowels of the Reich (April 3d, and for a + week onward); and returning with 'above 2,000 prisoners' in hand; + especially with a Reich well frightened behind him;—still in time + for Duke Ferdinand's Adventure [in fact, for his Battle of Bergen, of + which we are to hear]. Had been well assisted by Prince Henri, who 'made + dangerous demonstrations in the distance,' and was extremely diligent—though + the interest was chiefly Ferdinand's this time." [Tempelhof, iii. 19-22.]—Contemporary + with that FIRST Erfurt Business, there went on, 300 miles away from it, in + the quite opposite direction, another of the same;—too curious to be + omitted. + </p> + <p> + ACROSS THE POLISH FRONTIER: FEBRUARY, 24th-MARCH 4th. "In the end of + February, General Wobersnow, an active man, was detached from Glogau, over + into Poland, Posen way, To overturn the Russian provision operations + thereabouts; in particular, to look into a certain high-flying Polack, a + Prince Sulkowski of those parts; who with all diligence is gathering food, + in expectation of the Russian advent; and indeed has formally 'declared + War against the King of Prussia;' having the right, he says, as a Polish + Magnate, subject only to his own high thought in such affairs. The + Russians and their wars are dear to Sulkowski. He fell prisoner in their + cause, at Zorndorf, last Autumn; was stuck, like all the others, Soltikoff + himself among them, into the vaulted parts of Custrin Garrison: 'I am + sorry I have no Siberia for you,' said Friedrich, looking, not in a benign + way, on the captive Dignitaries, that hot afternoon; 'go to Custrin, and + see what you have provided for yourselves!' Which they had to do; nothing, + for certain days, but cellarage to lodge in; King inexorable, deaf to + remonstrance. Which possibly may have contributed to kindle Sulkowski into + these extremely high proceedings. + </p> + <p> + "At any rate, Wobersnow punctually looks in upon him: seizes his + considerable stock of Russian proviants; his belligerent force, his high + person itself; and in one luckless hour snuffs him out from the list of + potentates. His belligerent force, about 1,000 Polacks, were all + compelled, 'by the cudgel, say my authorities, to take Prussian service + [in garrison regiments, and well scattered about, I suppose]; his own high + person found itself sitting locked in Glogau, left to its reflections. Sat + thus 'till the War ended,' say some; certainly till the Sulkowski War had + been sufficiently exploded by the laughter of mankind." Here are, + succinctly, the dates of this small memorability:— + </p> + <p> + "End of February, Wobersnow gathers, at Glogau, a force of about 8,000 + horse and foot. Marches, 24th FEBRUARY, over Oder Bridge, straight into + Poland; that same night, to the neighborhood of Lissa and Reisen + (Sulkowski's dominion), about thirty miles northeast of Glogau. Sulkowski + done next day;—part of the capture is 'fifteen small guns.' + Wobersnow goes, next, for Posen; arrives, 28th FEBRUARY; destroys Russian + Magazine, ransoms Jews. Shoots out other detachments on the Magazine + Enterprise;—detaches Platen along the Warta, where are picked up + various items, among others 'eighty tuns of brandy,'—but himself + proceeds no farther than Posen. MARCH 4th, sets out again from Posen, + homewards." [NACHRICHT VON DER UNTERNEHMUNG DES GENERAL-MAJORS VON + WOBERSNOW IN POLEN, IM FEB. UND MARZ. 1759: in Seyfarth, <i>Beylagen,</i> + ii. 526-529. <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> v. 829.] We shall hear again of + Wobersnow, in a much more important way, before long. + </p> + <p> + To the Polish Republic so called, Friedrich explained politely, not + apologetically: "Since you allow the Russians to march through you in + attack of me, it is evident to your just minds that the attacked party + must have similar privilege." "Truly!" answered they, in their just minds, + generally; and I made no complaint about Sulkowski (though Polish Majesty + and Primate endeavored to be loud about "Invasion" and the like):—and + indeed Polish Republic was lying, for a long while past, as if + broken-backed, on the public highway, a Nation anarchic every fibre of it, + and under the feet and hoofs of travelling Neighbors, especially of + Russian Neighbors; and is not now capable of saying much for itself in + such cases, or of doing anything at all. + </p> + <p> + FRANKFURT COUNTRY, APRIL 13th: DUKE FERDINAND'S BATTLE OF BERGEN. "Duke + Ferdinand, fully aware what a stroke that seizure of Frankfurt was to him, + resolved to risk a long march at this bad season, and attempt to drive the + French out. Contades was absent in Paris,—no fear of an attack from + Contades's Army; Broglio's in Frankfurt, grown now to about 35,000, can + perhaps be beaten if vigorously attacked. Ferdinand appoints a rendezvous + at Fulda, of various Corps, Prince Ysenburg's and others, that lie + nearest, Hessians many of them, Hanoverians others; proceeds, himself, to + Fulda, with a few attendants [a drive of about 200 miles];—having + left Lord George Sackville [mark the sad name of him!]—Sackville, + head of the English, and General Sporken, a Hanoverian,—to take + charge in Munster Country, during his absence. It was from Fulda that he + shot out the Hereditary Prince on that important Errand we lately spoke + of, under the head of 'BREAKAGE SECOND,'—namely, to clear his right + flank, and scare the Reich well off him, while he should be marching on + Frankfurt. All which, Henri assisting from the distance, the Hereditary + Prince performed to perfection,—and was back (APRIL 8th) in + excellent time for the Battle. + </p> + <p> + "Ferdinand stayed hardly a day in Fulda, ranking himself and getting on + the road. Did his long march of above 100 miles without accident or loss + of time;—of course, scaring home the Broglio Outposts in haste + enough, and awakening Broglio's attention in a high degree;—and + arrives, Thursday, April 12th, at Windecken, a Village about fifteen miles + northeast of Frankfurt; where he passes the night under arms; intending + Battle on the morrow. Broglio is all assembled, 35,000 strong; his + Assailant, with the Hereditary Prince come in, counts rather under 30,000. + Broglio is posted in, and on both sides of, Bergen, a high-lying Village, + directly on Ferdinand's road to Frankfurt. Windecken is about fifteen + miles from Frankfurt; Bergen about six:—idle Tourists of our time, + on their return from Homburg to that City, leave Bergen a little on their + left. The ground is mere hills, woody dales, marshy brooks; Broglio's + position, with its Village, and Hill, and ravines and advantages, is the + choicest of the region; and Broglio's methods, procedures and arrangements + in it are applauded by all judges. + </p> + <p> + "FRIDAY, 13th APRIL, 1759, Ferdinand is astir by daybreak; comes on, along + one of those woody balleys, pickeering, reconnoitring;—in the end, + directly up the Hill of Bergen; straight upon the key-point. It is about + 10 A.M., when the batteries and musketries awaken there; very loud indeed, + for perhaps two hours or more. Prince von Ysenburg is leader of + Ferdinand's attacking party. Their attack is hot and fierce, and they + stick to it steadily; though garden-hedges, orchards and impediments are + many, and Broglio, with, much cannon helping, makes vigorous defence. + These Ysenburgers fought till their cartridges were nearly spent, and + Ysenburg himself lay killed; but could not take Bergen. Nor could the + Hereditary Prince; who, in aid of them, tried it in flank, with his own + usual impetuosity rekindling theirs, and at first with some success; but + was himself taken in flank by Broglio's Reserve, and obliged to desist. No + getting of Bergen by that method. + </p> + <p> + "Military critics say coolly, 'You should have smashed it well with + cannon, first [which Ferdinand had not in stock here]; and especially have + flung grenadoes into it, till it was well in flame: impossible otherwise!' + [Mauvillon, ii. 19.] The Ysenburgers and Hereditary Prince withdraw. No + pursuit of them; or almost less than none; for the one or two French + regiments that tried it (against order), nearly got cut up. Broglio, like + a very Daun at Kolin, had strictly forbidden all such attempts: 'On no + temptation quit your ground!' + </p> + <p> + "The Battle, after this, lay quiet all afternoon; Ferdinand still in + sight; motioning much, to tempt French valor into chasing of him. But all + in vain: Broglio, though his subalterns kept urging, remonstrating, was + peremptory not to stir. Whereupon, towards evening, across certain woody + Heights, perhaps still with some hope of drawing him out, Ferdinand made + some languid attempt on Broglio's wing, or wings;—and this also + failing, had to give up the affair. He continued cannonading till deep in + the night; withdrew to Windecken: and about two next morning, marched for + home,—still with little or no pursuit: but without hope of Frankfurt + henceforth. And, in fact, has a painful Summer ahead. + </p> + <p> + "Ferdinand had lost 5 cannon, and of killed and wounded 2,500; the French + counted their loss at about 1,900. [Mauvillon, ii. 10-19; Tempelhof, iii. + 26-31.] The joy of France over this immense victory was extraordinary. + Broglio was made Prince of the Reich, Marechal de France; would have been + raised to the stars, had one been able,—for the time being. 'And + your immense victory,' so sneered the by-standers, 'consists in not being + beaten, under those excellent conditions;—perhaps victory is a + rarity just now!'" + </p> + <p> + This is the Battle which our Boy-Friend Johann Wolfgang watched with such + interest, from his garret-window, hour after hour; all Frankfurt simmering + round him, in such a whirlpool of self-contradictory emotions; till + towards evening, when, in long rows of carts, poor wounded Hessians and + Hanoverians came jolting in, and melted every heart into pity, into + wailing sorrow, and eagerness to help. A little later, Papa Goethe, + stepping downstairs, came across the Official French Gentleman; who said + radiantly: "Doubtless you congratulate yourself and us on this victory to + his Majesty's arms." "Not a whit (KEINESWEGS)," answers Papa Goethe, a + stiff kind of man, nowise in the mood of congratulating: "on the contrary, + I wish they had chased you to the Devil, though I had had to go too!" + Which was a great relief to his feelings, though a dangerous one in the + circumstances. [Goethe's WERKE (Stuttgart und Tubingen, 1829), xxiv. + (DICHTUNG UND WAHRHEIT, i.), 153-157.] + </p> + <p> + BREAKAGE THIRD: OVER THE METAL MOUNTAINS INTO BOHMEN (APRIL 14th-20th). + "Ferdinand's Battle was hardly ending, when Prince Henri poured across the + Mountains,—in two columns, Hulsen leading the inferior or rightmost + one,—into Leitmeritz-Eger Country; and made a most successful + business of the Austrian Magazines he found there. Magazines all filled; + Enemy all galloping for Prag:—Daun himself, who is sitting vigilant, + far in the interior, at Jaromirtz this month past, was thrown into huge + flurry, for some days! Speedy Henri (almost on the one condition of BEING + speedy) had his own will of the Magazines: burnt, Hulsen and he, 'about + 600,000 pounds worth' of Austrian provender in those parts, 'what would + have kept 50,000 men five months in bread' (not to mention hay at all); + gave the Enemy sore slaps (caught about 3,000 of him, NOT yet got on + gallop for Prag); burnt his 200 boats on the Elbe:—forced him to + begin anew at the beginning; and did, in effect, considerably lame and + retard certain of his operations through the Summer. Speedy Henri marched + for home April 20th; and was all across the Mountains April 23d: a + profitable swift nine days." [Tempelhof iii. 47-53; <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> + v. 963-966.]—And on the sixth day hence he will have something + similar, and still more important, on foot. A swift man, when he must! + </p> + <p> + BREAKAGE FOURTH: INTO MAHREN (APRIL 16th-21st). "This is Fouquet's + attempt, alluded to above; of which—as every reader must be + satisfied with Small-War—we will give only the dates. Fouquet, + ranking at Leobschutz, in Neisse Country, did break through into Mahren, + pushing the Austrians before him; but found the Magazines either emptied, + or too inaccessible for any worth they had;—could do nothing on the + Magazines; and returned without result; home at Leobschutz again on the + fifth day." [<i> Helden-Geschichte,</i> v. 958-963; Tempelhof, iii. + 44-47.] This, however, had a sequel for Fouquet; which, as it brought the + King himself into those neighborhoods, we shall have to mention, farther + on. + </p> + <p> + BREAKAGE FIFTH: INTO FRANKEN (MAY 5th-JUNE 1st). "This was Prince Henri's + Invasion of the Bamberg-Nurnberg Countries; a much sharper thing than in + any former Year. Much the most famous, and," luckily for us, "the last of + the Small-War affairs for the present. Started,—from Tschopau + region, Bamberg way,—April 29th-May 5th. In Three Columns: Finck + leftmost, and foremost (Finck had marched April 29th, pretending to mean + for Bohemia); after whom Knobloch; and (May 5th) the Prince himself. Who + has an eye to the Reichs Magazines and Preparations, as usual;—nay, + an eye to their Camp of Rendezvous, and to a fight with their + miscellaneous Selves and Auxiliaries, if they will stand fight. 'You will + have to leave Saxony, and help us with the Russians, soon: beat those + Reichs people first!' urged the King; 'well beaten, they will not trouble + Saxony for a while.' If they will stand fight? But they would not at all. + They struck their tents everywhere; burnt their own Magazines, in some + cases; and only went mazing hither and thither,—gravitating all upon + Nurnberg, and an impregnable Camp which they have in that neighborhood. + Supreme Zweibruck was himself with them; many Croats, Austrians, led by + Maguire and others; all marching, whirling at a mighty rate; with a + countenance sometimes of vigor, but always with Nurnberg Camp in rear. + There was swift marching, really beautiful manoeuvring here and there; + sharp bits of fighting, too, almost in the battle-form:—Maguire + tried, or was for trying, a stroke with Finck; but made off hastily, glad + to get away. [Templehof, iii. 64.] May 11th, at Himmelskron in Baireuth, + one Riedesel of theirs had fairly to ground arms, self and 2,500, and + become prisoners of war." Much of this manoeuvring and scuffling was in + Baireuth Territory. Twice, or even thrice, Prince Henri was in Baireuth + Town: "marched through Baireuth," say the careless Old Books. Through + Baireuth:—No Wilhelmina now there, with her tremulous melodies of + welcome! Wilhelminn's loves, and terrors for her loved, are now all still. + Perhaps her poor Daughter of Wurtemberg, wandering unjustly disgraced, is + there; Papa, the Widower Margraf, is for marrying again: [Married 20th + September, 1759 (a Brunswick Princess, Sister's-daughter of his late + Wife); died within four years.]—march on, Prince Henri! + </p> + <p> + "In Bamberg," says a Note from Archenholtz, "the Reichs troops burnt their + Magazine; and made for Nurnberg, as usual; but left some thousand or two + of Croats, who would not yet. Knobloch and his Prussians appeared shortly + after; summoned Bamberg, which agreed to receive them; and were for taking + possession; but found the Croats determined otherwise. Fight ensued; fight + in the streets; which, in hideousness of noises, if in nothing else, was + beyond parallel. The inhabitants sat all quaking in their cellars; not an + inhabitant was to be seen: a City dead,—and given up to the demons, + in this manner. Not for some hours were the Croats got entirely trampled + out. Bamberg, as usual, became a Prussian place-of-arms; was charged to + pay ransom of 40,000 pounds;—'cannot possibly!'—did pay some + 14,000 pounds, and gave bills for the remainder." [Archenholtz. i. + 371-373.] Which bills, let us mark withal, the Kaiser in Reichs Diet + decreed to be invalid: "Don't pay them!" A thing not forgotten by + Friedrich;—though it is understood the Bambergers, lest worse might + happen, privately paid their bills. "The Expedition lasted, in whole, not + quite four weeks: June 1st, Prince Henri was at the Saxon frontier again; + the German world all ringing loud,—in jubilation, counter-jubilation + and a great variety of tones,—with the noise of what he had done. A + sharp swift man; and, sure enough, has fluttered the Reichs Volscians in + their Corioli to an unexpected degree." [Seyfarth, <i>Beylagen,</i> ii. + 537-563; BERICHT VON DER UNTERNEHMUNG DES PRINZEN HEINRICH IN FRANKEN, IM + JAHR, 1759; <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> v. 1033-1039; Tempelhof,????, et + seq.]—-[COPY ILLEGIBLE PAGE 203,] + </p> + <p> + A Colonel Wunsch (Lieutenant-Colonel of the Free Corps WUNSCH) + distinguished himself in this Expedition; The beginning of notably great + things to him in the few following months. Wunsch is a Wurtemberger by + birth; has been in many services, always in subaltern posts, and, this + year, will testify strangely how worthy he was of the higher. What a Year, + this of 1759, to stout old Wunsch! In the Spring, here has he just seen + his poor son, Lieutenant Wunsch, perish in one of these scuffles; in + Autumn, he will see himself a General, shining suddenly bright, to his + King and to all the world; before Winter, he will be Prisoner to Austria, + and eclipsed for the rest of this war!—Kleist, of the GREEN HUSSARS, + also made a figure here; and onwards rapidly ever higher; to the top of + renown in his business:—fallen heir to Mayer's place, as it were. A + Note says: "Poor Mayer of the Free Corps does not ride with the Prince on + this occasion. Mayer, dangerously worn down with the hard services of last + Year, and himself a man of too sleepless temper, caught a fever in the + New-year time; and died within few days: burnt away before his time; much + regretted by his Brethren of the Army, and some few others. Gone in this + way; with a high career just opening on him at the long last! Mayer was of + Austrian, of half Spanish birth; a musical, really melodious, + affectionate, but indignant, wildly stormful mortal; and had had + adventures without end. Something of pathos, of tragedy, in the wild Life + of him. [Still worth reading: in Pauli (our old watery BRANDENBURG-HISTORY + Friend). <i>Leben grosser Helden</i> (Halle, 1759-1764, 9 vols.), iii. + 142-188;—much the best Piece in that still rather watery (or windy) + Collection, which, however, is authentic, and has some tolerable + Portraits.] A man of considerable genius, military and other:—genius + in the sleepless kind, which is not the best kind; sometimes a very bad + kind. The fame of Friedrich invites such people from all sides of the + world; and this was no doubt a sensible help to him."—But enough of + all this. + </p> + <p> + Here, surely, is abundance of preliminary Small-War, on the part of a + Friedrich reduced to the defensive!—Fouquet's Sequel, hinted at + above, was to this effect. On Fouquet's failing to get hold of the + Moravian Magazines, and returning to his Post at Leobschutz, a certain + rash General Deville, who is Austrian chief in those parts, hastily rushed + through the Jagerndorf Hills, and invaded Fouquet. Only for a few days; + and had very bad success, in that bit of retaliation. The King, who is in + Landshut, in the middle of his main cantonments, hastened over to + Leobschutz with reinforcement to Fouquet; in the thought that a + finishing-stroke might be done on this Deville;—and would have done + it, had not the rash man plunged off again (May 1st, or the night before); + homewards, at full speed. So that Friedrich, likewise at full speed, could + catch nothing of him; but merely cannonade him in the Passes of + Zuckmantel, and cut off his rear-guard of Croats. Poor forlorn of Croats, + whom he had left in some bushy Chasm; to gain him a little time, and then + to perish if THEY must! as Tempelhof remarks. [Tempelhof, iii. 56.] Upon + which Friedrich returned to Landshut; and Fouquet had peace again. + </p> + <p> + It was from this Landshut region, where his main cantonments are, that + Friedrich had witnessed all these Inroads, or all except the very earliest + of them; the first Erfurt one, and the Wobersnow-Sulkowski. He had quitted + Breslau in the end of March, and gone to his cantonments; quickened + thither, probably, by a stroke that had befallen him at Griefenberg, on + his Silesian side of the Cordon. At Griefenberg stood the Battalion + Duringshofen, with its Colonel of the same name,—grenadier people of + good quality, perhaps near 1,000 in whole. Which Battalion, General Beck, + after long preliminary study of it, from his Bohemian side,—marching + stealthily on it, one night (March 25-26th), by two or more roads, with + 8,000 men, and much preliminary Croat-work,—contrived to envelop + wholly, and carry off with him, before help could come up. This, I + suppose, had quickened Friedrich's arrival. He has been in that region + ever since,—in Landshut for the last week or two; and returns + thither after the Deville affair. + </p> + <p> + And at Landshut,—which is the main Pass into Bohemia or from it, and + is the grand observatory-point at present,—he will have to remain + till the first days of July; almost three months. Watching, and waiting on + the tedious Daun, who has the lifting of the curtain this Year! Daun had + come to Jaromirtz, to his cantonments, "March 24th" (almost simultaneously + with Friedrich to his); expecting Friedrich's Invasion, as usual. Long + days sat Daun, expecting the King in Bohemia:—"There goes he, at + last!" thought Daun, on Prince Henri's late flamy appearance there + (BREAKAGE THIRD we labelled it);—and Daun had hastily pushed a + Division thitherward, double-quick, to secure Prag; but found it was only + the Magazines. "Above four millions worth [600,000 pounds, counting the + THALERS into sterling], above four millions worth of bread and forage gone + to ashes, and the very boats burnt? Well; the poor Reichsfolk, or our poor + Auxiliaries to them, will have empty haversacks:—but it is not + Prag!" thinks Daun. + </p> + <p> + At what exact point of time Daun came to see that Friedrich was not + intending Invasion, and would, on the contrary, require to be invaded, I + do not know. But it must have been an interesting discovery to Daun, if he + foreshadowed to himself what results it would have on him: "Taking the + defensive, then? And what is to become of one's Cunctatorship in that + case!" Yes, truly. Cunctatorship is not now the trade needed; there is + nothing to be made of playing Fabius-Cunctator:—and Daun's fame + henceforth is a diminishing quantity. The Books say he "wasted above five + weeks in corresponding with the Russian Generals." In fact, he had now + weeks enough on hand; being articulately resolved (and even commanded by + Kriegshofrath) to do nothing till the Russians came up;—and also + (INarticulately and by command of Nature) to do as little as possible + after! This Year, and indeed all years following, the Russians are to be + Daun's best card. + </p> + <p> + Waiting for three months here till the curtain rose, it was Friedrich that + had to play Cunctator. A wearisome task to him, we need not doubt. But he + did it with anxious vigilance; ever thinking Daun would try something, + either on Prince Henri or on him, and that the Play would begin. But the + Play did not. There was endless scuffling and bickering of Outposts; much + hitching and counter-hitching, along that Bohemian-Silesian Frontier,—Daun + gradually hitching up, leftwards, northwards, to be nearer his Russians; + Friedrich counter-hitching, and, in the end, detaching against the + Russians, as they approached in actuality. The details of all which would + break the toughest patience. Not till July came, had both parties got into + the Lausitz; Daun into an impregnable Camp near Mark-Lissa (in Gorlitz + Country); Friedrich, opposite and eastward of him, into another at + Schmottseifen:—still after which, as the Russians still were not + come, the hitching (if we could concern ourselves with it), the maze of + strategic shuffling and counter-dancing, as the Russians get nearer, will + become more intricate than ever. + </p> + <p> + Except that of General Beck on Battalion Duringshofen,—if that was + meant as retaliatory, and was not rather an originality of Beck's, who is + expert at such strokes,—Daun, in return for all these injurious + Assaults and Breakages, tried little or no retaliation; and got absolutely + none. Deville attempted once, as we saw; Loudon once, as perhaps we shall + see: but both proved futile. For the present absolutely none. Next Year + indeed, Loudon, on Fouquet at Landshut—But let us not anticipate! + Just before quitting Landshut for Schmottseifen, Friedrich himself rode + into Bohemia, to look more narrowly; and held Trautenau, at the bottom of + the Pass, for a day or two—But the reader has had enough of + Small-War! Of the present Loudon attempt, Friedrich, writing to Brother + Henri, who is just home from his Franconian Invasion (BREAKAGE FIFTH), has + a casual word, which we will quote. "Reich-Hennersdorf" is below Landshut, + farther down the Pass; "Liebau" still farther down,—and its + "Gallows," doubtless, is on some knoll in the environs! + </p> + <p> + REICH-HENNERSDORF, 9th JUNE. "My congratulations on the excellent success + you have had [out in Frankenland yonder]! Your prisoners, we hear, are + 3,000; the desertion and confusion in the Reichs Army are affirmed to be + enormous:—I give those Reichs fellows two good months [scarcely took + so long] to be in a condition to show face again. As for ourselves, I can + send you nothing but contemptibilities. We have never yet had the beatific + vision of Him with the Hat and Consecrated Sword [Papal Daun, that is]; + they amuse us with the Sieur Loudon instead;—who, three days ago + [7th July, two days] did us the honor of a visit, at the Gallows of + Liebau. He was conducted out again, with all the politeness imaginable, on + to near Schatzlar," well over the Bohemian Border; "where we flung a score + of cannon volleys into the"—into the "DERRIERE of him, and everybody + returned home." [In SCHONING, ii. 65: "9th June, 1759."] + </p> + <p> + Perhaps the only points now noticeable in this tedious Landshut interim, + are Two, hardly noticed then at all by an expectant world. The first is: + That in the King's little inroad down to Trautenau, just mentioned, four + cannon drawn by horses were part of the King's fighting gear,—the + first appearance of Horse Artillery in the world. "A very great + invention," says the military mind: "guns and carriages are light, and + made of the best material for strength; the gunners all mounted as + postilions to them. Can scour along, over hill and dale, wherever horse + can; and burst out, on the sudden, where nobody was expecting artillery. + Devised in 1758; ready this Year, four light six-pounders; tried first in + the King's raid down to Trautenau [June 29th-30th]. Only four pieces as + yet. But these did so well, there were yearly more. Imitated by the + Austrians, and gradually by all the world." [Seyfarth, ii. 543.] + </p> + <p> + The second fact is: That Herr Guichard (Author of that fine Book on the + War-methods of the Greeks and Romans) is still about Friedrich, as he has + been for above a year past, if readers remember; and, during those tedious + weeks, is admitted to a great deal of conversation with the King. Readers + will consent to this Note on Guichard; and this shall be our ultimatum on + the wearisome Three Months at Landshut. + </p> + <p> + MAJOR QUINTUS ICILIUS. "Guichard is by birth a Magdeburger, age now + thirty-four; a solid staid man, with a good deal of hard faculty in him, + and of culture unusual for a soldier. A handy, sagacious, learned and + intelligent man; whom Friedrich, in the course of a year's experience, has + grown to see willingly about him. There is something of positive in + Guichard, of stiff and, as it were, GRITTY, which might have offended a + weaker taste; but Friedrich likes the rugged sense of the man; his real + knowledge on certain interesting heads; and the precision with which the + known and the not rightly known are divided from one another, in Guichard. + </p> + <p> + "Guichard's business about the King has been miscellaneous, not worth + mention hitherto; but to appearance was well done. Of talk they are + beginning to have more and more; especially at Landshut here, in these + days of waiting; a great deal of talk on the Wars of the Ancients, + Guichard's Book naturally leading to that subject. One night, datable + accidentally about the end of May, the topic happened to be Pharsalia, and + the excellent conduct of a certain Centurion of the Tenth Legion, who, + seeing Pompey's people about to take him in flank, suddenly flung himself + into oblique order [SCHRAGE STELLUNG, as we did at Leutheu], thereby + outflanking Pompey's people, and ruining their manoeuvre and them. 'A + dexterous man, that Quintus Icilius the Centurion!' observed Friedrich. + 'Ah, yes: but excuse me, your Majesty, his name was Quintus Caecilius,' + said Guichard. 'No, it was Icilius,' said the King, positive to his + opinion on that small point; which Guichard had not the art to let drop; + though, except assertion and counter-assertion, what could be made of it + there? Or of what use was it anywhere? + </p> + <p> + "Next day, Guichard came with the book [what "Book" nobody would ever yet + tell me], and putting his finger on the passage, 'See, your Majesty: + Quintus CAEcilius!' extinguished his royal opponent. 'Hm,' answered + Friedrich: 'so?—Well, you shall be Quintus Icilius, at any rate!' + And straightway had him entered on the Army Books 'as Major Quintus + Icilius;' his Majorship is to be dated '10th April, 1758' (to give him + seniority); and from and after this '26th May, 1759,' he is to command the + late Du Verger's Free-Battalion. All which was done:—the War-Offices + somewhat astonished at such advent of an antique Roman among them; but + writing as bidden, the hand being plain, and the man an undeniable + article. Onward from which time there is always a 'Battalion Quintus' on + their Books, instead of Battalion Du Verger; by degrees two Batallions + Quintus, and at length three, and Quintus become a Colonel:—at which + point the War ended; and the three Free-Battalions Quintus, like all + others of the same type, were discharged." This is the authentic origin of + the new name Quintus, which Guichard got, to extinction of the old; + substantially this, as derived from Quintus himself,—though in the + precise details of it there are obscurities, never yet solved by the + learned. Nicolai, for example, though he had the story from Quintus in + person, who was his familiar acquaintance, and often came to see him at + Berlin, does not, with his usual punctuality, say, nor even confess that + he has forgotten, what Book it was that Quintus brought with him to + confute the King on their Icilius-Caecilius controversy; Nicolai only + says, that he, for his part, in the fields of Roman Literature and + History, knows only three Quintus-Iciliuses, not one of whom is of the + least likelihood; and in fact, in the above summary, I have had to INVERT + my Nicolai on one point, to make the story stick together. [Nicolai, <i>Anekdoten,</i> + vi. 129-145.] + </p> + <p> + "Quintus had been bred for the clerical profession; carefully, at various + Universities, Leyden last of all; and had even preached, as candidate for + license,—I hope with moderate orthodoxy;—though he soon + renounced that career. Exchanged it for learned and vigorous general + study, with an eye to some College Professorship instead. He was still + hardly twenty-three, when, in 1747, the new Stadtholder," Prince of + Orange, whom we used to know, "who had his eye upon him as a youth of + merit, graciously undertook to get him placed at Utrecht, in a vacancy + which had just occurred there,—whither the Prince was just bound, on + some ceremonial visit of a high nature. The glad Quintus, at that time + Guichard and little thinking of such an alias, hastened to set off in the + Prince's train; but could get no conveyance, such was the press of people + all for Utrecht. And did not arrive till next day,—and found + quarter, with difficulty, in the garret of some overflowing Inn. + </p> + <p> + "In the lower stories of his Inn, solitary Guichard, when night fell, + heard a specific GAUDEAMUS going on; and inquired what it was. 'A company + of Professors, handselling a newly appointed Professor;'—appointed, + as the next question taught, to the very Chair poor Quintus had come for! + Serene Highness could not help himself; the Utrechters were so bent on the + thing. Quintus lay awake, all night, in his truckle-bed; and gloomily + resolved to have done with Professorships, and become a soldier. 'If your + Serene Highness do still favor me,' said Quintus next day, 'I solicit, as + the one help for me, an ensign's commission!'—And persisted + rigorously, in spite of all counsellings, promises and outlooks on the + professorial side of things. So that Serene Highness had to grant him his + commission; and Quintus was a soldier thenceforth. Fought, more or less, + in the sad remainder of that Cumberland-Saxe War; and after the Peace of + 1748 continued in the Dutch service. Where, loath to be idle, he got his + learned Books out again, and took to studying thoroughly the Ancient Art + of War. After years of this, it had grown so hopeful that he proceeded to + a Book upon it; and, by degrees, determined that he must get to certain + Libraries in England, before finishing. In 1754, on furlough, graciously + allowed and continued, he came to London accordingly; finished his + manuscript there (printed at the Hague 1757 [<i>Memoires Militaires sur + les &c.</i> (a La Haye, 1757: 2 vols. 4to);—was in the 5th + edition when I last heard of it.]): and new War having now begun, went + over (probably with English introductions) as volunteer to Duke Ferdinand. + By Duke Ferdinand he was recommended to Friedrich, the goal of all his + efforts, as of every vagrant soldier's in those times:—and here at + last, as Quintus Icilius, he has found permanent billet, a Battalion and + gradually three Battalions, and will not need to roam any farther. + </p> + <p> + "They say, what is very credible, that Quintus proved an active, stout and + effectual soldier, in his kind; and perhaps we may hear of some of his + small-war adventures by and by: that he was a studious, hard-headed, + well-informed man, and had written an excellent Book on his subject, is + still abundantly clear. Readers may look in the famous Gibbon's <i>Autobiography,</i> + or still better in the Guichard Book itself, if they want evidence. The + famous Gibbon was drilling and wheeling, very peaceably indeed, in the + Hampshire Militia, in those wild years of European War. Hampshire Militia + served as key, or glossary in a sort, to this new Book of Guichard's, + which Gibbon eagerly bought and studied; and it, was Guichard, ALIAS + Quintus Icilius, who taught Gibbon all he ever knew of Ancient War, at + least all the teaching he ever had of it, for his renowned DECLINE AND + FALL." [See Gibbon's <i>Works</i> (4to, London, 1796: <i>Memoirs of my + Life and Writings</i>], i. 97; and (<i>Extraits de mes Lectures</i>), ii. + 52-54, of dates May 14th-26th, 1762,—during which days Gibbon is + engaged in actual reading of the <i>Memoires Militaires;</i> and already + knows the Author by his ALIAS of Quintus Icilius, "a man of eminent + sagacity and insight, who was in the Dutch, and is now, I believe, in the + Prussian service." + </p> + <p> + It was in the last days of June that Daun, after many litchings, got into + more decisive general movement northward; and slowly but steadily planted + himself at Mark-Lissa in the Lausitz: upon which, after some survey of the + phenomenon, Friedrich got to Schmottseifen, opposite him, July 10th. + Friedrich, on noticing such stir, had ridden down to Trautenau (June + 29th-30th), new Horse-Artillery attending, to look closer into Daun's + affairs; and, seeing what they were, had thereupon followed. Above a month + before this, Friedrich had detached a considerable force against the + Russians,—General Dohna, of whom in next Chapter:—and both + Daun and he again sit waiting, till they see farther. Rapid Friedrich is + obliged to wait; watching Daun and the Dohna-Russian adventure: slow Daun + will continue to wait and watch there, long weeks and months, after that + is settled, that and much else, fully to his mind! Each is in his + impregnable Camp; and each, Daun especially, has his Divisions and + Detachments hovering round him, near or far, on different strategic + errands; each Main-Camp like a planet with various moons—Mark-Lissa + especially, a kind of sun with planets and comets and planetary moons:—of + whose intricate motions and counter-motions, mostly unimportant to us, we + promised to take no notice, in face of such a crisis just at hand. + </p> + <p> + By the 6th of July, slow Daun had got hitched into his Camp of Mark-Lissa; + and four days after, Friedrich attending him, was in Schmottseifen: where + again was pause; and there passed nothing mentionable, even on Friedrich's + score; and till July was just ending, the curtain did not fairly rise. + Panse of above two weeks on Friedrich's part, and of almost three months + on Daun's. Mark-Lissa, an impregnable Camp, is on the Lausitz Border; with + Saxony, Silesia, Bohemia all converging hereabouts, and Brandenburg itself + in the vicinity,—there is not a better place for waiting on events. + Here, accordingly, till well on in September, Daun sat immovable; not even + hitching now,—only shooting out Detachments, planetary, cometary, at + a great rate, chiefly on his various Russian errands. + </p> + <p> + Daun, as we said, had been uncomfortably surprised to find, by degrees, + that Invasion was not Friedrich's plan this Year; that the dramatic parts + are redistributed, and that the playing of Fabius-Cunctator will not now + serve one's turn. Daun, who may well be loath to believe such a thing, + clings to his old part, and seems very lazy to rise and try another. In + fact, he does not rise, properly speaking, or take up his new part at all. + This Year, and all the following, he waits carefully till the Russian Lion + come; will then endeavor to assist,—or even do jackal, which will be + safer still. The Russians he intends shall act lion; he himself modestly + playing the subaltern but much safer part! Diligent to flatter the lion; + will provide him guidances, and fractional sustenances, in view of the + coming hunt; will eat the lion's leavings, once the prey is slaughtered. + This really was, in some sort, Daun's yearly game, so long as it would + last!— + </p> + <p> + July ending, and the curtain fairly risen, we shall have to look at + Friedrich with our best eyesight. Preparatory to which, there is, on + Friedrich's part, ever since the middle of June, this Anti-Russian Dohna + adventure going on:—of which, at first, and till about the time of + getting to Schmottseifen, he had great hopes; great, though of late + rapidly sinking again:—into which we must first throw a glance, as + properly the opening scene. + </p> + <p> + Fouquet has been left at Landshut, should the Daun remnants still in + Bohemia think of invading. Fouquet is about rooting himself rather firmly + into that important Post; fortifying various select Hills round Landshut, + with redoubts, curtains, communications; so as to keep ward there, + inexpugnable to a much stronger force. There for about a year, with + occasional short sallies, on errands that arise, Fouquet sat successfully + vigilant; resisting the Devilles, Becks, Harsches; protecting Glatz and + the Passes of Silesia: in about a year we shall hear of his fortunes + worsening, and of a great catastrophe to him in that Landshut Post. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich allowed the Reichsfolk "two good months," after all that + flurrying and havoc done on them, "before they could show face in Saxony." + They did take about that time; and would have taken more, had not Prince + Henri been called away by other pressing occasions in Friedrich's own + neighborhood; and Saxony, for a good while (end of June to beginning of + September), been left almost bare of Prussian troops. Which encourages the + Reichs Army to hurry afield in very unprepared condition,—still + rather within the two months. End of July, Light people of them push + across to Halberstadt or Halle Country; and are raising Contributions, and + plundering diligently, if nothing else. Of which we can take no notice + farther: if the reader can recollect it, well; if not, also well. The poor + Reichs Army nominally makes a figure this Year, but nominally only; the + effective part of it, now and henceforth, being Austrian Auxiliaries, and + the Reichs part as flaccid and insignificant as ever. + </p> + <p> + Prince Henri's call to quit Saxony was this. Daun, among the numerous + Detachments he was making, of which we can take no notice, had shot out + Two (rather of COMETARY type, to use our old figure),—which every + reader must try to keep in mind. Two Detachments, very considerable: + Haddick (who grew at last to 20,000), and Loudon (16,000); who are + hovering about mysteriously over the Lausitz;—intending what? Their + intention, Friedrich thinks, especially Haddick's intention, may be + towards Brandenburg, and even Berlin: wherefore he has summoned Henri to + look after it. Henri, resting in cantonments about Tschopau and Dresden, + after the late fatigues, and idle for the moment, hastens to obey; and is + in Bautzen neighborhood, from about the end of June and onward. + Sufficiently attentive to Haddick and Loudon: who make no attempt on + Brandenburg; having indeed, as Friedrich gradually sees, and as all of us + shall soon see, a very different object in view!— + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter II.—GENERAL DOHNA; DICTATOR WEDELL: BATTLE OF ZULLICHAU. + </h2> + <p> + The Russian Lion, urged by Vienna and Versailles, made his entry, this + Year, earlier than usual,—coming now within wind of Mark-Lissa, as + we see;—and has stirred Daun into motion, Daun and everybody. From + the beginning of April, the Russians, hibernating in the interior parts of + Poland, were awake, and getting slowly under way. April 24th, the Vanguard + of 10,000 quitted Thorn; June 1st, Vanguard is in Posen; followed by a + First Division and a Second, each of 30,000. They called it "Soltikof + crossing the Weichsel with 100,000 men;" but, exclusive of the Cossack + swarms, there were not above 76,000 regulars: nor was Soltikof their + Captain just at first; our old friend Fermor was, and continued to be till + Soltikof, in a private capacity, reached Posen (June 29th), and produced + his new commission. At Fermor's own request, as Fermor pretended,—who + was skilled in Petersburg politics, and with a cheerful face served + thenceforth as Soltikof's second. + </p> + <p> + At Posen, as on the road thither, they find Sulkowski's and the other + burnt provenders abundantly replaced: it is evident they intend, in + concert with Daun, to enclose Friedrich between two fires, and do + something considerable. Whether on Brandenburg or Silesia, is not yet + known to Friedrich. Friedrich, since the time they crossed Weichsel, has + given them his best attention; and more than once has had schemes on their + Magazines and them,—once a new and bigger Scheme actually afoot, + under Wobersnow again, our Anti-Sulkowski friend; but was obliged to turn + the force elsewhither, on alarms that rose. He himself cannot quit the + centre of the work; his task being to watch Daun, and especially, should + Daun attempt nothing else, to prevent junction of Soltikof and him. + </p> + <p> + Daun still lies torpid, or merely hitching about; but now when the + Russians are approaching Posen, and the case becomes pressing, Friedrich, + as is usual to him, draws upon the Anti-Swedish resource, upon the Force + he has in Pommern. That is to say, orders General Dohna, who has the + Swedes well driven in at present, to quit Stralsund Country, to leave the + ineffectual Swedes with some very small attendance; and to march—with + certain reinforcements that are arriving (Wobersnow already, Hulsen with + 10,000 out of Saxony in few days)—direct against the Russians; and + at once go in upon them. Try to burn their Magazines again; or, equally + good, to fall vigorously on some of their separate Divisions, and cut them + off in the vagrant state;—above all, to be vigorous, be rapid, + sharp, and do something effectual in that quarter. These were Dohna's + Instructions. Dohna has 18,000; Hulsen, with his 10,000, is industriously + striding forward, from the farther side of Saxony; Wobersnow, with at + least his own fine head, is already there. Friedrich, watching in the + Anti-Junction position, ready for the least chance that may turn up. + </p> + <p> + Dohna marched accordingly; but was nothing like rapid enough: an old man, + often in ill health too; and no doubt plenty of impediments about him. He + consumed some time rallying at Stargard; twelve days more at Landsberg, on + the Warta, settling his provision matters: in fine, did not get to Posen + neighborhood till June 23d, three weeks after the Russian Vanguard of + 10,000 had fixed itself there, and other Russian parties were daily + dropping in. Dohna was 15,000, a Wobersnow with him: had he gone at once + on Posen, as Wobersnow urged, it is thought he might perhaps have ruined + this Vanguard and the Russian Magazine; which would have been of signal + service for the remaining Campaign. But he preferred waiting for Hulsen + and the 10,000, who did not arrive for seven or eight days more; by which + time Soltikof and most of the Russian Divisions had got in;—and the + work was become as good as hopeless, on those languid terms. Dohna did try + upon the Magazine, said to be ill guarded in some Suburb of Posen; crossed + the Warta with that view, found no Magazine; recrossed the Warta; and went + manoeuvring about, unable to do the least good on Soltikof or his + Magazines or operations. Friedrich was still in Landshut region, just + about quitting it,—just starting on that little Trautenau + Expedition, with his Four Pieces of Horse-Artillery (June 29th), when the + first ill news of Dohna came in; which greatly disappointed Friedrich, and + were followed by worse, instead of better. + </p> + <p> + The end was, Soltikof, being now all ready, winded himself out of Posen + one day, veiled by Cossacks; and, to Dohna's horror, had got, or was in + the act of getting, between Dohna and Brandenburg; which necessitated new + difficult manoeuvres from Dohna. Soltikof too can manoeuvre a little: + Soltikof edges steadily forward; making for Crossen-on-Oder, where he + expects to find Austrians (Haddick and Loudon, if Friedrich could yet + guess it), with 30,000 odd, especially with provision, which is wearing + scarce with him. Twice or so there was still a pretty opportunity for + Dohna on him; but Dohna never could resolve about it in time. Back and + ever back goes Dohna; facing Soltikof; but always hitching back; latterly + in Brandenburg ground, the Russians and he;—having no provision, he + either. In fine, July 17th (one week after Friedrich had got to + Schmottseifen), Dohna finds himself at the little Town of Zullichau + (barely in time to snatch it before Soltikof could), within thirty miles + of Crossen; and nothing but futility behind and before. [Tempelhof, iii, + 78-88; <i> Helden-Geschichte,</i> v. 835-847.] + </p> + <p> + We can imagine Friedrich's daily survey of all this; his gloomy + calculations what it will soon amount to if it last. He has now no + Winterfeld, Schwerin, no Keith, Retzow, Moritz:—whom has he? His + noblest Captains are all gone; he must put up with the less noble. One + Wedell, Lieutenant-General, had lately recommended himself to the royal + mind by actions of a prompt daring. The royal mind, disgusted with these + Dohna hagglings, and in absolute necessity of finding somebody that had + resolution, and at least ordinary Prussian skill, hoped Wedell was the + man. And determined, the crisis being so urgent, to send Wedell in the + character of ALTER-EGO, or "with the powers of a Roman Dictator," as the + Order expressed it. [Given in Preuss, ii. 207, 208; in Stenzel, v. 212, + other particulars.] Dictator Wedell is to supersede Dohna; shall go, at + his own swift pace, fettered by nobody;—and, at all hazards, shall + attack Soltikof straightway, and try to beat him. "You are grown too old + for that intricate hard work; go home a little, and recover your health," + the King writes to Dohna. And to the Dohna Army, "Obey this man, all and + sundry of you, as you would myself;" the man's private Order being, "Go in + upon Soltikof; attack him straightway; let us have done with this + wriggling and haggling." Date of this Order is "Camp at Schmottseifen, + 20th July, 1759." The purpose of such high-flown Title, and solemnity of + nomination, was mainly, it appears, to hush down any hesitation or + surprise among the Dohna Generals, which, as Wedell was "the youngest + Lieutenant-General of the Army," might otherwise have been possible. + </p> + <p> + Wedell, furnished with some small escort and these Documents, arrives in + Camp Sunday Evening, 22d July:—poor Dohna has not the least word or + look of criticism; and every General, suppressing whatever thoughts there + may be, prepares to yield loyal obedience to Dictator Wedell. "Wobersnow + was the far better soldier of the two!" murmured the Opposition party, + then and long afterwards, [Retzow, &c.]—all the more, as + Wobersnow's behavior under it was beautiful, and his end tragical, as will + be seen. Wobersnow I perceive to have been a valiant sharp-striking man, + with multifarious resources in his head; who had faithfully helped in + these operations, and I believe been urgent to quicken them. But what I + remember best of him is his hasty admirable contrivance for field-bakery + in pressing circumstances,—the substance of which shall not be + hidden from a mechanical age:— + </p> + <p> + "You construct six slight square iron frames, each hinged to the other; + each, say, two feet square, or the breadth of two common tiles, and shaped + on the edges so as to take in tiles;—tiles are to be found on every + human cottage. This iron frame, when you hook it together, becomes the + ghost of a cubic box, and by the help of twelve tiles becomes a compact + field-oven; and you can bake with it, if you have flour and water, and a + few sticks. The succinctest oven ever heard of; for your operation done, + and your tiles flung out again, it is capable of all folding flat like a + book." [Retzow, ii. 82 n.] Never till now had Wobersnow's oven been at + fault: but in these Polish Villages, all of mere thatched hovels, there + was not a tile to be found; and the Bakery, with astonishment, saw itself + unable to proceed. + </p> + <p> + Wedell arrived Sunday evening, 22d July; had crossed Oder at + Tschischerzig,—some say by Crossen Bridge; no matter which. Dohna's + Camp is some thirty miles west of Crossen; in and near the small Town + called Zullichau, where his head-quarter is. In those dull peaty + Countries, on the right, which is thereabouts the NORTHERN (not eastern), + bank of Oder; between the Oder and the Warta; some seventy miles + south-by-east of Landsberg, and perhaps as far southwest of Posen: thither + has Dohna now got with his futile manoeuvrings. Soltikof, drawn up amid + scrubby woods and sluggish intricate brooks, is about a mile to east of + him. + </p> + <p> + Poor Dohna demits at once; and, I could conjecture, vanishes that very + night; glad to be out of such a thing. Painfully has Dohna manoeuvred for + weeks past; falling back daily; only anxious latterly that Soltikof, who + daily tries it, do not get to westward of him on the Frankfurt road, and + so end this sad shuffle. Soltikof as yet has not managed that ultimate + fatality; Dohna, by shuffling back, does at least contrive to keep between + Frankfurt and him;—will not try attacking him, much as Wobersnow + urges it. Has agreed twice or oftener, on Wobersnow's urgency: "Yes, yes; + we have a chance," Dohna would answer; "only let us rest till to-morrow, + and be fresh!" by which time the opportunity was always gone again. + </p> + <p> + Wedell had arrived with a grenadier battalion and some horse for escort; + had picked up 150 Russian prisoners by the way. Retzow has understood he + came in with a kind of state; and seemed more or less inflated; conscious + of representing the King's person, and being a Roman Dictator,—though + it is a perilously difficult office too, and requires more than a Letter + of Instructions to qualify you for it! This is not Leonidas Wedell, whom + readers once knew; poor Leonidas is dead long since, fell in the Battle of + Sohr, soon after the heroic feat of Ziethen's and his at Elbe-Teinitz + (Defence of Elbe against an Army); this is Leonidas's elder Brother. + Friedrich had observed his fiery ways on the day of Leuthen: "Hah, a new + Winterfeld perhaps?" thought Friedrich, "All the Winterfeld I now have!"—which + proved a fond hope. Wedell's Dictatorship began this Sunday towards + sunset; and lasted—in practical fact, it lasted one day. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + DICTATOR WEDELL FIGHTS HIS BATTLE (Monday, 23d July, 1759), WITHOUT + SUCCESS. + </h2> + <p> + Monday morning early, Wedell is on the heights, reconnoitring Soltikof; + cannot see much of him, the ground being so woody; does see what he takes + to be Soltikof's left wing; and judges that Soltikof will lie quiet for + this day. Which was far from a right reading of Soltikof; the fact being + that Soltikof, in long columns and divisions, beginning with his right + wing, was all on march since daybreak; what Wedell took for Soltikof's + "left wing" being Soltikof's rear-guard and baggage, waiting till the + roads cleared. Wedell, having settled everything on the above footing, + returns to Zullichau about 10 o'clock; and about 11, Soltikof, miles long, + disengaged from the bushy hollows, makes his appearance on the open + grounds of Palzig: he, sure enough (though Wedell can hardly believe it),—five + or six miles to northeast yonder; tramping diligently along, making for + Crossen and the Oder Bridge;—and is actually got ahead of us, at + last! + </p> + <p> + This is what Wedell cannot suffer, cost what it may. Wedell's orders were, + in such case, Attack the Russians. Wedell instantly took his measures; not + unskilfully, say judges,—though the result proved disappointing; and + Wobersnow himself earnestly dissuaded: "Too questionable, I should doubt! + Soltikof is 70,000, and has no end of Artillery; we are 26,000, and know + not if we can bring a single gun to where Soltikof is!" [Tempelhof, iii. + 132-134.] + </p> + <p> + Wedell's people have already, of their own accord, got to arms again; + stand waiting his orders on this new emergency. No delay in Wedell or in + them. "May not it be another Rossbach (if we are lucky)?" thinks Wedell: + "Cannot we burst in on their flank, as they march yonder, those awkward + fellows; and tumble them into heaps?" The differences were several-fold: + First, that Friedrich and Seidlitz are not here. Many brave men we have, + and skilful; but not a master and man like these Two. Secondly, that there + is no Janus Hill to screen our intentions; but that the Russians have us + in full view while we make ready. Thirdly, and still more important, that + we do not know the ground, and what hidden inaccessibilities lie ahead. + This last is judged to have been the killing circumstance. Between the + Russians and us there is a paltry little Brook, or line of quagmire; + scarcely noticeable here, but passable nowhere except at the Village-Mill + of Kay, by one poor Bridge there. And then, farther inwards, as shelter of + the Russians, there is another quaggy Brook, branch of the above, which is + without bridge altogether. Hours will be required to get 26,000 people + marched up there, not to speak of heavy guns at all. + </p> + <p> + The 26,000 march with their usual mathematical despatch: Manteuffel and + the Vanguard strike in with their sharpest edge, foot and horse, direct on + the Head of the Russian Column, Manteuffel leading on, so soon as his few + battalions and squadrons are across. Head means BRAIN (or life) to this + Russian Column; and these Manteuffel people go at it with extraordinary + energy. The Russian Head gives way; infantry and cavalry:—their + cavalry was driven quite to rear, and never came in sight again after this + of Manteuffel. But the Russians have abundance of Reserves; also of room + to manoeuvre in,—no lack of ground open, and ground defensible + (Palzig Village and Churchyard, for example);—above all, they have + abundance of heavy guns. + </p> + <p> + Well in recoil from Manteuffel and his furies, the beaten Russians succeed + in forming "a long Line behind Palzig Village," with that Second, slighter + or Branch Quagmire between them and us; they get the Village beset, and + have the Churchyard of it lined with batteries,—say seventy guns. + Manteuffel, unsupported, has to fall back;—unwillingly, and not + chased or in disorder,—towards Kay-Mill again; where many are by + this time across. Hulsen, with the Centre, attacks now, as the Vanguard + had done; with a will, he too: Wobersnow, all manner of people attack; + time after time, for about four hours coming: and it proves all in vain, + on that Churchyard and new Line. Without cannon, we are repulsed, torn + away by those Russian volcano-batteries; never enough of us at once! + </p> + <p> + Hulsen, Wobersnow, everybody in detail is repulsed, or finds his success + unavailing. Poor Wobersnow did wonders; but he fell, killed. Gone he; and + has left so few of his like: a man that could ill be spared at present!—Day + is sinking; we find we have lost, in killed, wounded and prisoners, some + 6,000 men. "About sunset,"—flaming July sun going down among the + moorlands on such a scene,—Wedell gives it up; retires slowly + towards Kay Bridge. Slowly; not chased, or molested; Soltikof too glad to + be rid of him. Soltikof's one aim is, and was, towards Crossen; towards + Austrian Junction, and something to live upon. Soltikof's loss of men is + reckoned to be heavier even than Wedell's: but he could far better afford + it. He has gained his point; and the price is small in comparison. Next + day he enters Crossen on triumphant terms. + </p> + <p> + Poor Wedell had returned over Kay-Mill Bridge, in the night-time after his + Defeat. On the morrow (Tuesday, 24th, day of Soltikof's glad entry), + Wedell crosses Oder; at Tschischerzig, the old place of Sunday evening + last,—in how different a humor, this time!—and in a day more, + posts himself opposite to Crossen Bridge, five or six miles south; and + again sits watchful of Soltikof there. At Crossen, triumphant Soltikof has + found no Austrian Junction, nor anything additional to live upon. A very + disappointing circumstance to Soltikof; "Austrian Junction still a + problem, then; a thing in the air? And perhaps the King of Prussia taking + charge of it now!" Soltikof, more and more impatient, after waiting some + days, decided Not to cross Oder by that Bridge;—"shy of crossing + anywhere [think the French Gentlemen, Montazet, Montalembert], to the King + of Prussia's side!" [Stenzel, iv. 215 (indistinct, and giving a WRONG + citation of "Montalembert, ii. 87").] Which is not unlikely, though the + King is above 100 miles off him, and has Daun on his hands. Certain + enough, keeping the River between him and any operations of the King, + Soltikof set out for Frankfurt, forty or fifty miles farther down. In the + hope probably of finding something of human provender withal? July 30th, + one week after his Battle, the vanguard of him is there. + </p> + <p> + Thus, in two days, or even in one, has Wedell's Dictatorship ended. Easy + to say scoffingly, "Would it had never begun!" Friedrich knows that, and + Wedell knows it;—AFTER the event everybody knows it! Friedrich said + nothing of reproachful; the reverse rather,—"I dreaded something of + the kind; it is not your fault;" [TO WEDELL, FROM THE KING, + "Schmottseifen, July 24th. 1759" (in Schoning, ii. 118).]—ordered + Wedell to watch diligently at Crossen Bridge, and be ready on farther + signal. The Wedell Problem, in such ruined condition, has now fallen to + Friedrich himself. + </p> + <p> + This is the BATTLE OF ZULLICHAU (afternoon of 23d July, 1759); the + beginning of immense disasters in this Campaign. Battle called also of KAY + and of PALZIG, those also being main localities in it. It was lost, not by + fault of Wedell's people, who spent themselves nobly upon it, nor perhaps + by fault of Wedell himself, but principally, if not solely, by those two + paltry Brooks, or threads of Quagmire, one of which turns Kay-Mill; + memorable Brooks in this Campaign, 1759. [Tempelhof, iii. 125-131.] + </p> + <p> + Close in the same neighborhood, there is another equally contemptible + Brook, making towards Oder, and turning the so-called Krebsmuhle, which + became still more famous to the whole European Public twenty years hence. + KREBS-MUHLE (Crab-Mill), as yet quite undistinguished among Mills; + belonging to a dusty individual called Miller Arnold, with a dusty Son of + his own for Miller's Lad: was it at work this day? Or had the terrible + sound from Palzig quenched its clacking?— + </p> + <p> + Some three weeks ago (4th-6th JULY), there occurred a sudden sharp thing + at Havre-de-Grace on the French Coast, worth a word from us in this place. + The Montazets, Montalemberts, watching, messaging about, in the + Austrian-Russian Courts and Camps, assiduously keeping their Soltikofs in + tune, we can observe how busy they are. Soubise with his Invasion of + England, all the French are very busy; they have conquered Hessen from + Duke Ferdinand, and promise themselves a glorious Campaign, after that + Seizure of Frankfurt. Soubise, intent on his new Enterprise, is really + making ardent preparations: at Vanues in the Morbihan, such rendezvousing + and equipping;—especially at Havre, no end of flat-bottomed boats + getting built; and much bluster and agitation among the weaker sorts in + both Nations. Whereupon,— + </p> + <p> + "JULY 1st [just in the days while Friedrich was first trying Horse + Artillery], Rear-Admiral Rodney sails from Portsmouth with a few Frigates, + and Six Bomb-ketches [FIREDRAKE, BASILISK, BLAST, and such nomenclatures + [List of him, in Beatson, <i>Naval and Military Memoirs</i> (London, + 1804), ii. 241; his Despatch excellently brief, ib. ii. 323]]; and in the + afternoon of Tuesday, 3d, arrives in the frith or bay of Havre. Steers + himself properly into 'the Channel of Honfleur' before dark; and + therefrom, with his Firedrake, Basilisk and Company, begins such a + bombardment of Havre and the flat-bottomed manufactories as was quite + surprising. Fifty-two incessant hours of it, before he thought poor Havre + had enough. Poor Havre had been on fire six times; the flat manufactory + (unquenchable) I know not how many; all the inhabitants off in despair; + and the Garrison building this battery to no purpose, then that; no + salvation for them but in Rodney's 'mortars getting too hot.' He had fired + of shells 1,900, of carcasses, 1,150: from Wednesday about sunrise till + Friday about 8 A.M.,—about time now for breakfast; which I hope + everybody had, after such a stretch of work. 'No damage to speak of,' said + the French Gazetteers; 'we will soon refit everything!' But they never + did; and nothing came of Havre henceforth. Vannes was always, and is now + still more, to be the main place; only that Hawke—most unexpectedly, + for one fancied all their ships employed in distant parts—rides + there with a Channel Fleet of formidable nature; and the previous question + always is: 'Cannot we beat Hawke? Can we! Or will not he perhaps go, of + himself, when the rough weather comes?'" + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter III.—FRIEDRICH IN PERSON ATTEMPTS THE RUSSIAN PROBLEM; NOT + WITH SUCCESS. + </h2> + <p> + Before Wedell's catastrophe, the Affair of those Haddick-Loudon + Detachments had become a little plainer to Friedrich. The intention, he + begins to suspect, is not for Berlin at all; but for junction with + Soltikof,—at Crossen, or wherever it may be. This is in fact their + real purpose; and this, beyond almost Berlin itself, it is in the highest + degree important to prevent! Important; and now as if become impossible! + </p> + <p> + Prince Henri had come to Bautzen with his Army, specially to look after + Loudon and Haddick; and he has, all this while, had Finck with some 10,000 + diligently patrolling to westward of them, guarding Berlin; he himself + watching from the southern side,—where, as on the western, there was + no danger from them. Some time before Wedell's affair, Friedrich had + pushed out Eugen of Wurtemberg to watch these people on the eastern side;—suspicious + that thitherward lay their real errand. Eugen had but 6,000; and, except + in conjunction with Finck and Henri, could do nothing,—nor can, now + when Friedrich's suspicion turns out to be fatally true. Friedrich had + always the angry feeling that Finck and Prince Henri were the blameworthy + parties in what now ensued; that they, who were near, ought to have + divined these people's secret, and spoiled it in time; not have left it to + him who was far off, and so busy otherwise. To the last, that was his + fixed private opinion; by no means useful to utter,—especially at + present, while attempting the now very doubtful enterprise himself, and + needing all about him to be swift and zealous. This is one of Friedrich's + famous labors, this of the Haddick-Loudon junction with Soltikof; + strenuous short spasm of effort, of about a week's continuance; full of + fiery insight, velocity, energy; still admired by judges, though it was + unsuccessful, or only had half success. Difficult to bring home, in any + measure, to the mind of modern readers, so remote from it. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich got the news of Zullichau next day, July 24th;—and + instantly made ready. The case is critical; especially this Haddick-Loudon + part of it: add 30 or 36,000 Austrians to Soltikof, how is he then to be + dealt with? A case stringently pressing:—and the resources for it + few and scattered. For several days past, Haddick, and Loudon under him, + whose motions were long enigmatic, have been marching steadily eastward + through the Lausitz,—with the evident purpose of joining Soltikof; + unless Wedell could forbid. Wedell ahead was the grand opposition;—Finck, + Henri, Wurtemberg, as good as useless;—and Wedell being now struck + down, these Austrians will go, especially Loudon will, at a winged rate. + They are understood to be approaching Sagan Country; happily, as yet, well + to westward of it, and from Sagan Town well NORTH-westward;—but all + accounts of them are vague, dim: they are an obscure entity to Friedrich, + but a vitally important one. Sagan Town may be about 70 miles northward of + where Friedrich now is: from Sagan, were they once in the meridian of + Sagan, their road is free eastward and northward;—to Crossen is + about 60 miles north-by-east from Sagan, to Frankfurt near 100 north. + Sagan is on the Bober; Bober, in every event, is between the Austrians and + their aim. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich feels that, however dangerous to quit Daun's neighborhood, he + must, he in person, go at once. And who, in the interim, will watch Daun + and his enterprises? Friedrich's reflections are: "Well, in the crisis of + the moment, Saxony—though there already are marauding Bodies of + Reichsfolk in it—must still be left to itself for a time; or cannot + Finck and his 10,000 look to it? Henri, with his Army, now useless at + Bautzen, shall instantly rendezvous at Sagan; his Army to go with me, + against the Russians and their Haddick-Loudons; Henri to Schmottseifen, + instead of me, and attend to Daun; Henri, I have no other left! Finck and + his 10,000 must take charge of Saxony, such charge as he can:—how + lucky those Spring Forays, which destroyed the Reichs Magazines! Whereby + there is no Reichs Army yet got into Saxony (nothing but preliminary + pulses and splashings of it); none yet, nor like to be quite at once." + That is Friedrich's swift plan. + </p> + <p> + Henri rose on the instant, as did everybody concerned: July 29th, Henri + and Army were at Sagan; Army waiting for the King; Henri so far on his + road to Schmottseifen. He had come to Sagan "by almost the rapidest + marches ever heard of,"—or ever till some others of Henri's own, + which he made in that neighborhood soon. Punctual, he, to his day; as are + Eugen of Wurtemberg's people, and all Detachments and Divisions: Friedrich + himself arrives at Sagan that same 29th, "about midnight,"—and finds + plenty of work waiting: no sleep these two nights past; and none coming + just yet! A most swift rendezvous. The speed of everybody has been, and + needs still to be, intense. + </p> + <p> + This rendezvous at Sagan—intersection of Henri and Friedrich, bound + different roads (the Brothers, I think, did not personally meet, Henri + having driven off for Schmottseifen by a shorter road)—was SUNDAY, + JULY 29th. Following which, are six days of such a hunt for those Austrian + reynards as seldom or never was! Most vehement, breathless, baffling hunt; + half of it spent in painfully beating cover, in mere finding and losing. + Not rightly successful, after all. So that, on the eighth day hence, + AUGUST 6th, at Mullrose, near Frankfurt, 80 miles from Sagan, there is a + second rendezvous,—rendezvous of Wedell and Friedrich, who do not + now "intersect," but meet after the hunt is done;—and in the + interim, there has been a wonderful performance, though an unsuccessful. + Friedrich never could rightly get hold of his Austrians. Once only, at + Sommerfeld, a long march northwest of Sagan, he came upon some outskirts + of them. And in general, in those latter eight days, especially in the + first six of them, there is, in that Kotbus-Sagan Country, such an + intersecting, checking, pushing and multifarious simmering of marches, on + the part of half a dozen Strategic Entities, Friedrich the centre of them, + as—as, I think, nobody but an express soldier-student, well + furnished with admiration for this particular Soldier, would consent to + have explained to him. One of the maziest, most unintelligible whirls of + marching; inextricable Sword Dance, or Dance of the Furies,—five of + them (that is the correct number: Haddick, Loudon, Friedrich, Wurtemberg, + Wedell);—and it is flung down for us, all in a huddle, in these + inhuman Books (which have several errors of the press, too): let no man + rashly insist with himself on understanding it, unless he have need! + Humanly pulled straight, not inhumanly flung down at random, here the + essentials of it are,—in very brief state:— + </p> + <p> + "SAGAN, MONDAY, 30th JULY. Friedrich is at Sagan, since midnight last, + busier and busier;" beating cover, as we termed it, and getting his hounds + (his new Henri-Army) in leash; "endeavoring, especially, to get tidings of + those Austrian people; who are very enigmatic,—Loudon a dexterous + man,—and have hung up such a curtain of Pandours between Friedrich + and them as is nearly impenetrable. In the course of this Monday Friedrich + ascertains that they are verily on the road; coming eastward, for + Sommerfeld,—'thence for Crossen!' he needs no ghost to tell him. + Wherefore, + </p> + <p> + "TUESDAY, SAGAN TO NAUMBURG. Tuesday before daybreak Friedrich too is on + the road: northwestward; in full march towards Naumburg on Bober, meaning + to catch the Bridge from them there. March of the swiftest; he himself is + ahead, as usual, with the Vanguard of Horse. He reaches Naumburg + (northward, a march of 20 miles); finds, not Haddick or Loudon, but a + Detachment of theirs: which he at once oversets with his cavalry, and + chases,—marking withal that 'westward is the way they run.' + Westward; and that we are still ahead, thank Heaven! + </p> + <p> + "Before his Infantry are all up, or are well rested in Naumburg, Friedrich + ascertains, on more precise tidings, that the Austrians are in Sommerfeld, + to westward (again a 20 miles); and judges That, no doubt, they will bear + off more to leftward, by Guben probably, and try to avoid him,—unless + he can still catch them in Sommerfeld. About nightfall he marches for + Sommerfeld, at his swiftest; arrives Wednesday early; finds—alas!— + </p> + <p> + "SOMMERFELD, WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 1st, Friedrich finds that Loudon + was there last night,—preterite tense, alas; the question now being, + Where is he!" In fact, Loudon had written yesterday to Daun (Letter still + extant, "Sommerfeld, July 31st"), That "being swift and light," consisting + of horse for most part, "he may probably effect Junction this very night;"—but + has altered his mind very much, on sight of these fugitives from Naumburg, + since! And has borne off more to leftward. Straight north now, and at a + very brisk pace; being now all of horse;—and has an important + conference with Haddick at Guben, when they arrive there. "Not in + Sommerfeld?" thinks Friedrich (earnestly surveying, through this slit he + has made in the Pandour veil): "Gone to Guben most likely, bearing off + from us to leftward?"—Which was the fact; though not the whole fact. + And indeed the chase is now again fallen uncertain, and there has to be + some beating of covers. For one thing, he learns to-day (August 1st) that + the Russians are gone to Frankfurt: "Follow them, you Wedell,"—orders + Friedrich: them we shall have to go into,—however this hunt end!— + </p> + <p> + "To Markersdorf, Thursday, August 2d. Friedrich takes the road for Guben; + reaches Markersdorf (twenty miles' march, still seven or eight from + Guben); falls upon—What phenomenon is this? The Austrian heavy + Train; meal-wagons not a few, and a regiment of foot in charge of it;—but + going the wrong way, not TOWARDS the Russians, but from them! What on + earth can this be? This is Haddick,—if Friedrich could yet clearly + know it,—Haddick and Train, who for his own part has given up the + junction enterprise. At Guben, some hours ago, he had conference with + Loudon; and this was the conclusion arrived at: 'Impossible, with that + King so near! You, Herr Loudon, push on, without heavy baggage, and with + the Cavalry altogether: you can get in, almost 20,000 strong; I, with the + Infantry, with the meal and heavy guns, will turn, and make for the + Lausitz again!' + </p> + <p> + "This mysterious Austrian Train, going the wrong way, Friedrich attacks, + whatever it be (hoping, I suppose, it might be the Austrians altogether); + chases it vigorously; snatches all the meal-wagons, and about 1,000 + prisoners. Uncertain still what it is,—if not the Austrians + altogether? To his sorrow, he finds, on pushing farther into it, that it + is only Haddick and the Infantry; that Loudon, with the 20,000 Horse, will + have gone off for Frankfurt;—irretrievably ahead, the swift Loudon,—ever + careering northward all this while, since that afternoon at Sommerfeld, + when the fugitives altered his opinion: a now unattainable Loudon. In the + course of Thursday night, Friedrich has satisfied himself that the Loudon + junction is a thing as good as done;—in effect, Loudon did get to + Frankfurt, morning of August 3d, and joined the Russians there; and about + the same time, or only a few hours sooner, Friedrich, by symptoms, has + divined that his hunt has ended, in this rather unsuccessful way; and that + chasing of Haddick is not the road to go." [Tempelhof, iii. 135-139.] + </p> + <p> + Not Haddick now; with or without their Austrians, it shall be the Russians + now! Two days ago (Wednesday, as was mentioned), before sight of those + enigmatic meal-wagons, Friedrich had learned that the Russians were to be + in Frankfurt again; and had ordered Wedell to march thitherward, at any + rate. Which Wedell is doing, all this Thursday and the four following + days. As does likewise, from and after "FRIDAY, AUGUST 3d, 1 A.M." (hunt + then over), Friedrich himself,—renouncing Haddick and the hunt. + Straight towards Frankfurt thenceforth; head-quarters Beeskow that night; + next night, Mullrose, whither Wedell is appointed, within twelve miles of + Frankfurt. This is the end of Friedrich's sore Chase and March; burnt + deeply into his own weary brain, if ours still refuse it admittance! Here, + of utterly fatigued tone, is a Note of his, chiefly on business, to + Minister Finkenstein. Indeed there are, within the next ten days, Three + successive Notes to Finkenstein, which will be worth reading in their due + places. This is the First of them:— + </p> + <p> + THE KING TO GRAF VON FINKENSTEIN (at Berlin). + </p> + <p> + "BEESKOW, 3d August,1759." + </p> + <p> + "I am just arrived here, after cruel and frightful marchings [CHECKS + HIMSELF, HOWEVER]. There is nothing desperate in all that; and I believe + the noise and disquietude this hurly-burly has caused will be the worst of + it. Show this Letter to everybody, that it may be known the State is not + undefended. I have made above 1,000 prisoners from Haddick. All his + meal-wagons have been taken. Finck, I believe, will keep an eye on him," + and secure Berlin from attempts of his. "This is all I can say. + </p> + <p> + "To-morrow I march to within two leagues of Frankfurt [to Mullrose, + namely]. Katte [the Minister who has charge of such things] must send me + instantly Two Hundred Wispels [say tons] of Meal, and Bakers One Hundred, + to Furstenwalde. I shall encamp at Wulkow. I am very tired. For six nights + I have not closed an eye. Farewell.—F." + </p> + <p> + During the above intricate War-Dance of Five,—the day while + Friedrich was at Sommerfeld, the day before he came in sight of Haddick's + meal-wagons going the wrong road,—there went on, at Minden, on the + Weser, three hundred miles away, a beautiful feat of War, in the highest + degree salutary to Duke Ferdinand and Britannic Majesty's Ministry; feat + which requires a word from us here. A really splendid Victory, this of + Minden, August 1st: French driven headlong through the Passes there; their + "Conquest of Hanover and Weser Country" quite exploded and flung over the + horizon; and Duke Ferdinand relieved from all his distresses, and lord of + the ascendant again in those parts. Highly interesting to Friedrich;—especially + to Prince Henri; whose apprehensions about Ferdinand and the old Richelieu + Hastenbeck-Halberstadt time returning on us, have been very great; and who + now, at Schmottseifen, fires FEU-DE-JOIE for it with all his heart. This + is a Battle still of some interest to English readers. But can English + readers consent to halt in this hot pinch of the Friedrich crisis; and + read the briefest thing which is foreign to it? Alas, I fear they can;—and + will insert the Note here:— + </p> + <p> + BATTLE OF MINDEN: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1st, 1759.—-"Ever since Bergen, + things have gone awry with Ferdinand, and in spite of skilful management, + of hard struggles and bright sparkles of success, he has had a bad + Campaign of it. The French, it would seem, are really got into better + fighting order; Belleisle's exertions as War-Minister have been almost + wonderful,—in some respects, TOO wonderful, as we shall hear!—and + Broglio and Contades, in comparison with Clermont and Soubise, have real + soldier qualities. Contades, across Rhine again, in those Weser Countries, + who is skilful in his way, and is pricked on by emulation of Broglio, has + been spreading himself out steadily progressive there; while Broglio, + pushing along from Frankfurt-on-Mayn, has conquered Hessen; is into + Hanover; on the edge of conquering Hanover,—which how is Ferdinand + to hinder? Ferdinand has got two, if not three Armies to deal with, and in + number is not much superior to one. If he run to save Hanover from + Broglio, he loses Westphalia: Osnabruck (his magazine)? Munster, + Lippstadt,—Contades, if left to himself, will take these, after + short siege; and will nestle himself there, and then advance, not like a + transitory fever-fit, but like visible death, on Hanover. Ferdinand, rapid + yet wary, manoeuvred his very best among those interests of his, on the + left bank of Weser; but after the surprisal of Minden from him + (brilliantly done by Broglio, and the aid of a treacherous peasant), + especially after the capture of Osnabruck, his outlooks are gloomy to a + degree: and at Versailles, and at Minden where Contades has established + himself, 'the Conquest of Hanover' (beautiful counterweight to all one's + losses in America or elsewhere) is regarded as a certainty of this Year. + </p> + <p> + "For the last ten days of July, about Minden, the manoeuvring, especially + on Ferdinand's part, had been intense; a great idea in the head of + Ferdinand, more or less unintelligible to Contades. Contades, with some + 30,000, which is the better half of his force, has taken one of the + unassailablest positions. He lies looking northward, his right wing on the + Weser with posts to Minden (Minden perhaps a mile northeastward there), on + his left impassable peat-bogs and quagmires; in front a quaggy River or + impassable black Brook, called the Bastau, coming from the westward, which + disembogues at Minden: [Sketch of Plan, p. 238]—there lies Contades, + as if in a rabbit-hole, say military men; for defence, if that were the + sole object, no post can be stronger. Contades has in person say 30,000; + and round him, on both sides of the Weser, are Broglio with 20,000; + besides other Divisions, I know not how many, besieging Munster, capturing + Osnabruck (our hay magazine), attempting Lippstadt by surprise (to no + purpose), and diligently working forward, day by day, to Ferdinand's ruin + in those Minden regions. Three or four Divisions busy in that manner;—and + above all, we say, he has Broglio with a 20,000 on the right or east bank + of the Weser,—who, if Ferdinand quit him even for a day, seems to + have Hanover at discretion, and can march any day upon Hanover City, where + his light troops have already been more than once. Why does n't Ferdinand + cross Weser, re-cross Weser; coerce Broglio back; and save Hanover? cry + the Gazetteers and a Public of weak judgment. Pitt's Public is inclined to + murmur about Ferdinand; Pitt himself never. Ferdinand persists in sticking + by Minden neighborhood,—and, in a scarcely accountable way, + manoeuvring there, shooting out therefrom what mischief he can upon the + various Contades people in their sieges and the like. + </p> + <p> + "On Contades himself he can pretend to do nothing,—except hoodwink + him, entice him out, and try to get a chance on him. But for his own + subsistence and otherwise, he is very lively;—snatches, by a sudden + stroke, Bremen City: 'Yes truly, Bremen is a Reichstadt; nor shall YOU + snatch it, as you did Frankfurt; but I will, instead; and my English + proviant-ships shall have a sure haven henceforth!' Snatches Bremen by one + sudden stroke; RE-snatches Osnabruck by another ('our magazine + considerably INCREASED since you have had it, many thanks!'); does lose + Munster, to his sorrow; but nevertheless sticks by his ground here;—nay + detaches his swift-cutting Nephew, the Hereditary Prince, who is growing + famous for such things, to cut out Contades's strong post to southward + (Gohfeld, ten miles up the Weser), which guards his meal-wagons, after + their long journey from the south. That is Contades's one weak point, in + this posture of things: his meal is at Cassel, seventy miles off. Broglio + and he see clearly, 'Till we can get a new magazine much nearer Hanover, + or at lowest, can clear out these people from infesting us here, there is + no moving northward!' To both Contades and Broglio that is an evident + thing: the corollary to which is, They must fight Ferdinand; must watch + lynx-like till a chance turn up of beating him in fight. That is their + outlook; and Ferdinand knows it is,—and manoeuvres accordingly. + Military men admire much, not his movements only, but his clear insight + into Contades's and Broglio's temper of mind, and by what methods they + were to be handled, they and his own affairs together, and brought whither + he wanted them. [In MAUVILLON (ii. 41-44) minute account of all that.] + </p> + <p> + "This attempt on Gohfeld was a serious mischief to Contades, if it + succeeded. But the detaching of the Prince of Brunswick on it, and + weakening one's too weak Army, 'What a rashness, what an oversight!' + thinks Contades (as Ferdinand wished him to do): 'Is our skilful enemy, in + this extreme embarrassment, losing head, then? Look at his left wing + yonder [General Wangenheim, sitting behind batteries, in his Village of + Todtenhausen, looking into Minden from the north]:—Wangenheim's left + leans on the Weser, yes; but Wangenheim's right, observe, has no support + within three miles of it: tear Wangenheim out, Ferdinand's flank is bare!' + These things seemed to Contades the very chance he had been waiting for; + and brought him triumphantly out of his rabbit-hole, into the Heath of + Minden, as Ferdinand hoped they would do. + </p> + <p> + "And so, TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 31st, things being now all ripe, upwards of + 50,000 French are industriously in motion. Contades has nineteen bridges + ready on the Bastau Brook, in front of him; TATTOO this night, in + Contades's Camp, is to mean GENERAL MARCH, 'March, all of you, across + these nineteen Bridges, to your stations on the Plain or Heath of Minden + yonder,—and be punctual, like the clock!' Broglio crosses Weser by + the town Bridge, ranks himself opposite Todtenhausen; and through the + livelong night there is, on the part of the 50,000 French, a very great + marching and deploying. Contades and Broglio together are 51,400 foot and + horse. Ferdinand's entire force will be near 46,000; but on the day of + Battle he is only 36,000,—having detached the Hereditary Prince on + Gohfeld, in what view we know.—The BATTLE OF MINDEN, called also of + TONHAUSEN (meaning TODTENhausen), which hereupon fell out, has still its + fame in the world; and, I perceive, is well worth study by the soldier + mind: though nothing but the rough outline of it is possible here. + </p> + <p> + "Ferdinand's posts extend from the Weser river and Todtenhausen round by + Stemmern, Holzhausen, to Hartum and the Bog of Bastau (the chief part of + him towards Bastau),—in various Villages, and woody patches and + favorable spots; all looking in upon Minden, from a distance of five or + seven miles; forming a kind of arc, with Minden for centre. He will march + up in eight Columns; of course, with wide intervals between them,—wide, + but continually narrowing as he advances; which will indeed be ruinous + gaps, if Ferdinand wait to be attacked; but which will coalesce close + enough, if he be speedy upon Contades. For Contades's line is also of + arc-like or almost semicircular form, behind it Minden as centre; Minden, + which is at the intersection of Weser and the Brook; his right flank is on + Weser, Broglio VERSUS Wangenheim the extreme right; his left, with + infantry and artillery, rests on that black Brook of Bastau with its + nineteen Bridges. As the ground on both wings is rough, not so fit for + Cavalry, Contades puts his Cavalry wholly in the centre: they are the + flower of the French Army, about 10,000 horse in all; firm open ground + ahead of them there, with strong batteries, masses of infantry to support + on each flank; batteries to ply with cross-fire any assailant that may + come on. Broglio, we said, is right wing; strong in artillery and + infantry. Broglio is to root out Waugenheim: after which,—or even + before which, if Wangenheim is kept busy and we are nimble,—what + becomes of Ferdinand's left flank, with a gap of three miles between + Wangenheim and him, and 10,000 chosen horse to take advantage of it! Had + the French been of Prussian dexterity and nimbleness in marching, it is + very possible something might have come of this latter circumstance: but + Ferdinand knows they are not; and intends to take good care of his flank. + </p> + <p> + "Contades and his people were of willing mind; but had no skill in + 'marchiug up:' and, once got across the Bastau by their nineteen Bridges, + they wasted many hours:—'Too far, am I? not far enough? Too close? + not close enough?'—and broiled about, in much hurry and confusion, + all night. Fight was to have begun at 5 in the morning. Broglio was in his + place, silently looking into Wangenheim, by five o'clock; but + unfortunately did nothing upon Wangenheim ('Not ready you, I see!'), + except cannonade a little;—and indeed all through did nothing + ('Still not ready you others!'); which surely was questionable conduct, + though not reckoned so at Versailles, when the case came to be argued + there. As to the Contades people, across those nineteen Bridges, they had + a baffling confused night; and were by no means correctly on their ground + at sunrise, nor at 7 o'clock, nor at 8; and were still mending themselves + when the shock came, and time was done. + </p> + <p> + "The morning is very misty; but Ferdinand has himself been out examining + since the earliest daybreak: his orders last night were, 'Cavalry be + saddled at 1 in the morning,'—having a guess that there would be + work, as he now finds there will. From 5 A.M. Ferdinand is issuing from + his Camp, flowing down eastward, beautifully concentric, closing on + Contades; horse NOT in centre, but English Infantry in centre (Six + Battalions, or Six REGIMENTS by English reckoning); right opposite those + 10,000 Horse of Contades's, the sight of whom seems to be very animating + to them. The English Cavalry stand on the right wing, at the Village of + Hartum: Lord George Sackville had not been very punctual in saddling at 1 + o'clock; but he is there, ranked on the ground, at 8,—in what humor + nobody knows; sulky and flabby, I should rather guess. English Tourists, + idle otherwise, may take a look at Hartum on the south side, as the spot + where a very ugly thing occurred that day. + </p> + <p> + "Soon after 8 the Fight begins: attack, by certain Hessians, on Hahlen and + its batteries; attempt to drive the French out of Hahlen, as the first + thing,—which does not succeed at once (indeed took three attacks in + all); and perhaps looks rather tedious to those Six English Battalions. + Ferdinand's order to them was, 'You shall march up to attack, you Six, on + sound of drum;' but, it seems, they read it, 'BY sound of drum;' 'Beating + our own drums; yes, of course!'—and, being weary of this Hahlen + work, or fancying they had no concern with it, strode on, double-quick, + without waiting for Hahlen at all! To the horror of their Hanoverian + comrades, who nevertheless determined to follow as second line. 'The + Contades cross-fire of artillery, battery of 30 guns on one flank, of 36 + on the other, does its best upon this forward-minded Infantry, but they + seem to heed it little; walk right forward; and, to the astonishment of + those French Horse and of all the world, entirely break and ruin the + charge made on them, and tramp forward in chase of the same. The 10,000 + Horse feel astonished, insulted; and rush out again, furiously charging; + the English halt and serry themselves: 'No fire till they are within forty + paces;' and then such pouring torrents of it as no horse or man can + endure. Rally after rally there is, on the part of those 10,000; mass + after mass of them indignantly plunges on,—again, ever again, about + six charges in all;—but do not break the English lines: one of them + (regiment Mestrede-Camp, raised to a paroxysm) does once get through, + across the first line, but is blown back in dreadful circumstances by the + second. After which they give it up, as a thing that cannot be done. And + rush rearward, hither, thither, the whole seventy-five squadrons of them; + and 'between their two wings of infantry are seen boiling in complete + disorder.' + </p> + <p> + "This has lasted about an hour: this is essentially the soul of the Fight,—though + there wanted not other activities, to right of it and to left, on both + sides; artilleries going at a mighty rate on both wings; and + counter-artilleries (superlative practice 'by Captain Phillips' on OUR + right wing); Broglio cannonading Wangenheim very loudly, but with little + harm done or suffered, on their right wing. Wangenheim is watchful of that + gap between Ferdinand and him, till it close itself sufficiently. Their + right-wing Infantry did once make some attempt there; but the Prussian + Horse—(always a small body of Prussians serve in this Allied Army)—shot + out, and in a brilliant manner swept them home again. + </p> + <p> + PLAN OF BATTLE HERE—PAGE 239,—— + </p> + <p> + Artillery and that pretty charge of Prussian Horse are all one remembers, + except this of the English and Hanover Foot in the centre: 'an + unsurpassable thing,' says Tempelhof (though it so easily might have been + a fatal!)—which has set Contades's centre boiling, and reduced + Contades altogether to water, as it were. Contades said bitterly: 'I have + seen what I never thought to be possible,—a single line of infantry + break through three lines of cavalry ranked in order of battle, and tumble + them to ruin!' [Stenzel, v. 204.] + </p> + <p> + "This was the feat, this hour's work in the centre, the essential soul of + the Fight:—and had Lord George Sackville, General of the Horse, come + on when galloped for and bidden, here had been such a ruin, say all + judges, as seldom came upon an Army. Lord George—everlasting + disgrace and sorrow on the name of him—could not see his way to + coming on; delayed, haggled; would not even let Granby, his lieutenant, + come; not for a second Adjutant, not for a third; never came on at all; + but rode to the Prince, asking, 'How am I to come on?' Who, with a + politeness I can never enough admire, did not instantly kill him, but + answered, in mild tone, 'Milord, the opportunity is now past!' Whereby + Contades escaped ruin, and was only beaten. By about 10 in the morning all + was over. When a man's centre is gone to water, no part of him is far from + the fluid state. Contades retreated into his rabbit-hole by those nineteen + bridges,—well tormented, they say, by Captain Phillips's artillery, + till he got beyond the knolls again. Broglio, who had never been in + musket-fire at all, but had merely barked on Wangenheim all morning, + instead of biting, covered the retreat, and withdrew into Minden. And we + are a beaten Army,—thanks to Lord George, not an annihilated one. + Our loss being only 7,086 (with heavy guns, colors, cavalry flags and the + like); theirs being 2,822,—full half of it falling on those rash Six + Battalions. [Mauvillon, ii. 44-60; Tempelhof, iii. 154-179, &c. &c.: + and <i>Proceedings of a Court-Martial, held at the Horse-Guards, 7th-24th + March and 25th March-5th April, 1760, in Trial of Lord George Sackville</i> + (London, 1760)]. In Knesebeck, <i>Ferdinand wahrend des siebenjahrigen + Krieges</i> (i. 395), Ferdinand's Letter to Friedrich of "July 31st;" and + (i. 398-418 and ii. 33-36) many special details about Sackville and + "August 1st." + </p> + <p> + "And what is this one hears from Gohfeld in the evening? The Hereditary + Prince, busy there on us during the very hours of Minden, has blown our + rear-guard division to the winds there;—and we must move southward, + one and all of us, without a moment's delay! Out of this rabbit-hole the + retreat by rearward is through a difficult country, the Westphalian Gates + so called; fatal to Varus's Legions long ago. Contades got under way that + very night; lost most of his baggage, all his conquests, that + shadow-conquest of Hanover, and more than all his glories (Versailles + shrieking on him, 'Resign you; let Broglio be chief,);—and, on the + whole, jumbled homeward hither and thither, gravitating towards the Rhine, + nothing but Wesel to depend on in those parts, as heretofore. Broglio + retreated Frankfurt-way, also as usual, though not quite so far; and at + Versailles had clearly the victory. Zealous Belleisle could not protect + his Contades; it is not known whether he privately blamed Contades or + blamed Broglio for loss of Minden. Zealous old man, what a loss to himself + withal had Minden been! That shadow-conquest of Hanover is quite vanished: + and worse, in Ferdinand's spoil were certain LETTERS from Belleisle to + Contades, inculcating strange things;—for example, 'IL FAUT FAIRE UN + DESERT DU PAYS [all Hessen, I think, lest Ferdinand advance on you] DEVANT + L'ARMEE,' and the like. Which Ferdinand saw good to publish, and which + resounded rather hideously through the general mind." [Were taken at + Detmold (Tempelhof, iii. 223); Old Newspapers full of Excerpts from them, + in the weeks following.] + </p> + <p> + Ignominious Sackville was tried by Court-martial; cashiered, declared + incapable of again serving his Majesty "in any military capacity;"—perhaps + a mild way of signifying that he wanted the common courage of a soldier? + Zealous Majesty, always particular in soldier matters, proclaimed it + officially to be "a sentence worse than death;" and furthermore, with his + own royal hand, taking the pen himself, struck out Sackville from the List + of Privy-Councillors. Proper surely, and indispensable;—and should + have been persisted in, like Fate; which, in a new Reign, it was not! For + the rest, there was always, and is, something of enigma in Sackville's + palpably bad case. It is difficult to think that a Sackville wanted common + courage. This Sackville fought duels with propriety; in private life, he + was a surly, domineering kind of fellow, and had no appearance of wanting + spirit. It is known, he did not love Duke Ferdinand; far from it! May not + he have been of peculiarly sour humor that morning, the luckless fool; + sulky against Ferdinand, and his "saddling at one o'clock;" sulky against + himself, against the world and mankind; and flabbily disinclined to heroic + practices for the moment? And the moment came; and the man was not there, + except in that foggy, flabby and forever ruinous condition! Archenholtz, + alone of Writers, judges that he expressly wanted to spoil the Battle of + Minden and Ferdinand's reputation, and to get appointed Commander in his + stead. Wonderful; but may have some vestige of basis, too! True, this + Sackville was as fit to lead the courses of the stars as to lead armies. + But such a Sackville has ambition, and, what is fatally more peculiar to + him, a chance for unfolding it;—any blockhead has an ambition + capable, if you encourage it sufficiently, of running to the infinite. + Enough of this particular blockhead; and may it be long before we see his + like again!— + </p> + <p> + The English Cavalry was in a rage with Sackville. Of the English Infantry, + Historians say, what is not now much heard of in this Country, "That these + unsurpassable Six [in industrious valor unsurpassable, though they mistook + orders, and might have fared badly!] are ever since called the Minden + Regiments; that they are the 12th, 20th, 23d, 25th, 37th and 51st of the + British Line; and carry 'Minden' on their colors," [Kausler, <i>Schlachter, + </i> &c. p, 587.]—with silent profit, I hope! + </p> + <p> + Fancy how Pitt's public, lately gloomy and dubious, blazed aloft into + joyful certainty again! Pitt's outlooks have been really gloomy all this + season; nor are the difficulties yet ended, though we hope they will end. + Let us add this other bit of Synchronism, which is still of adverse + aspect, over Seas; and will be pungently interesting to Pitt and England, + when they come to hear of it. + </p> + <p> + "BEFORE QUEBEC, JULY 31st, 1759. This same Evening, at Quebec, on the + other side of the Atlantic,—evening at Quebec, 9 or 10 at night for + Contades and his nineteen Bridges,—there is a difficult affair going + on. Above and below the Falls of Montmorenci, and their outflow into the + St. Lawrence: attempt on General Wolfe's part to penetrate through upon + the French, under Marquis de Montcalm, French Commander-in-chief, and to + get a stroke at Quebec and him. From the south side of the St. Lawrence, + nothing can be done upon Quebec, such the distance over. From Isle + d'Orleans and the north side, it is also impossible hitherto. Easy enough + to batter the Lower Town, from your ships and redoubts: but the High Town + towers aloft on its sheer pinnacles, inaccessible even to cannon; looks + down on the skilfulest British Admiral and Fleet as if with an air of + indifference,—trying him on dark nights with fire-ships, fire-rafts, + the cunningest kinds of pyrotechny, which he skilfully tows aside. + </p> + <p> + "A strenuous thing, this of Wolfe's; though an unsuccessful. Towards + evening, the end of it; all Quebec assembled on the southern ramparts, + witnessing with intense interest; the sublime Falls of Montmorenci gushing + on, totally indifferent. For about a month past, General Wolfe, with the + proper equipments, and about 10,000 men, naval and military, who was + expressly selected by Pitt to besiege Quebec, and is dying to succeed, has + been trying every scheme to get into contact with it:—to no purpose, + so lofty, chasmy, rocky is the ground, cut by mountainous precipices and + torrent streams, branches of the grand St. Lawrence River; so skilfully + taken advantage of by Montcalm and his people, who are at home here, and + in regulars nearly equal Wolfe, not to speak of Savages and Canadians, + Wolfe's plan of the 31st was not ill laid; and the execution has been + zealous, seamen and landsmen alike of willing mind;—but it met with + accidents. Accidents in boating; then a still worse accident on landing; + the regiment of grenadiers, which crossed below the Falls, having, so soon + as landed, rushed off on the redoubt there on their own score, without + waiting for the two brigades that were to cross and co-operate ABOVE the + Falls! Which cut Wolfe to the heart; and induced him, especially as the + tide was making again, to give up the enterprise altogether, and recall + everybody, while it was yet time. [<i>Gentleman's Magazine</i> for 1759, + pp. 470-473; Thackeray, i. 488.] Wolfe is strict in discipline; loves the + willing mind, none more, and can kindle it among those about him; but he + loves discipline withal, and knows how fatal the too willing may be. For + six weeks more there is toil on the back of toil everywhere for poor + Wolfe. He falls into fevers, into miseries, almost into broken heart;—nothing + sure to him but that of doing his own poor utmost to the very death. After + six weeks, we shall perhaps hear of him again. Gliding swiftly towards + death; but also towards victory and the goal of all his wishes." + </p> + <p> + And now, after this flight half round the world, it is time we return to + Oder Country, and a Friedrich on the edge of formidable things there. Next + day after Beeskow, where we left him, he duly arrived at Mullrose; was + joined by Wedell there, August 6th; and is now at Wulkow,—"encamped + between Lebus and Wulkow," as we hear elsewhere;—quite in the + environs of Frankfurt and of great events. + </p> + <p> + FRIEDRICH TO GRAF VON FINKENSTEIN (Second Note). + </p> + <p> + WULKOW, 8th August, 1759. + </p> + <p> + "If you hear of firing to-morrow, don't be surprised; it is our rejoicing + for the Battle of Minden. I believe I shall have to keep you in suspense + some days yet. I have many arrangements to make; I find great difficulties + to surmount,—and it is required to save our Country, not to lose it: + I ought both to be more prudent and more enterprising than ever. In a + word, I will do and undertake whatever I find feasible and possible. With + all that, I see myself in the necessity of making haste, to check the + designs Haddick may have on Berlin. Adieu, MON CHER. In a little, you will + have either a DE PROFUNDIS or a TE DEUM.—F." [<i>OEuvres de + Frederic, </i> xxv. 305, 306.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter IV.—BATTLE OF KUNERSDORF. + </h2> + <p> + Sunday, July 29th, at Frankfurt-on-Oder divine worship was broken in upon, + and the poor City thrown into consternation, by actual advent, or as good + as advent, of the Russians: "On the Crossen road, close by; coming, come!" + And they did undeniably appear, next morning, in force; on the opposite, + eastern or Kunersdorf side of the River, on the top of the Oder-Dam there; + and demanded instant admission, under penalty of general death by fire. + </p> + <p> + Within the Town stood Major Arnim, a Veteran of those parts, with 400 + militia; these, with their muskets and with two cannon, are the only + defence of Frankfurt, The Town has Gates; but its walls, I doubt, are + mainly garden-walls and house-walls. On the eastern side, the River, + especially if you have cannon on the Bridge, gives it something of + protection; but on the western and all other sides, it is overhung by + heights. This Frankfurt, like its bigger Namesake on the Mayn, is known as + a busy trading place, its Fairs much frequented in those Eastern parts; + and is believed by the Russians to be far richer than it is. The reader, + as there happens to be ocular testimony extant, [Johann Zudwig Kriele, + SCHLACHT BEI KUNERSDORF, MIT &C. (Berlin, 1801). Kriele was subsequent + Pastor in the Parish, an excellent intelligent man: has compiled in brief + form, with an elaborate Chart too, a clear account of everything, in the + Battle and before and after it.] may like to see a little how they behaved + there. + </p> + <p> + "Arnim, taking survey of the Russian Party, values it, or what he can see + of it, at 1,000 [they really were 6,000]; keeps his Drawbridge up; and + answers stoutly enough, 'No.' Upon which, from the Oder-Dam, there flies + off one fiery grenado; one and no more,—which alighted in the house + of 'Mrs. Thielicke, a Baker's Widow, who was standing at the door;'—killed + poor Mrs. Thielicke, blew the house considerably to wreck, but did not set + fire to it. Amim, all the Magistrates entreating him for the love of + Heaven to leave them, is secretly shoving off his two cannon to the + Northern Gate; and in fact is making his packages with full speed: 'Push + for Custrin,' thinks Arnim, and save selves and cannon, since no good is + to be done here!' + </p> + <p> + "It was about 11 A.M. when the Thielicke grenado fell: obstinate Arnim + would by no means go; only packed all the faster. A second summons came: + still, No. For the third and last time the Russians then summon: + 'Grenadoes, a hundred more of them lie ready, unless—!' 'We will, we + will; O merciful servant of Czarish Majesty!' passionately signify the + Magistrates. But Arnim is still negative, still keeps the Bridge up. One + of the hundred does go, by way of foretaste: this lighted 'near the Ober + Kirche, in the chimney of the Town Musikus;' brought the chimney crashing + down on him [fancy a man with some fineness of ear]; tore the house a good + deal to pieces, but again did not set it on fire. 'Your obstinate Town can + be bombarded, then,—cannot it?' observed the Russian Messenger.—'Give + us Free Withdrawal!' proposes Amim. 'No; you to be Prisoners of War; Town + at Czarish Majesty's discretion.' 'Never,' answers Arnim (to the outward + ear).—'Go, oh, for the love of Heaven, go!' cry all Official people. + </p> + <p> + "Arnim, deaf to clamor, but steadily diligent in getting ready, does at + last go; through the Lebus Suburb, quick march; steady, yet at his best + step;—taking the Town-keys in his pocket, and leaving the Drawbridge + up. One is sorry for poor Arnim and his 400 Militia; whose conduct was + perfect, under difficulties and alarms; but proved unsuccessful. The + terrified Magistrates, finding their Keys gone, and the conflagrative + Russians at their gates, got blacksmiths on the instant; smote down, by + chisel and mallet, the locked Drawbridge, smote open the Gates: 'Enter, O + gracious Sirs; and may Czarish Majesty have mercy on us!' So that Arnim + had small start for marchers on foot; and was overtaken about half-way. + Would not yield still, though the odds were overwhelming; drew himself out + on the best ground discoverable; made hot resistance; hot and skilful; but + in vain. About six in the evening, Arnim and Party were brought back, + Prisoners, to Frankfurt again,—self, surviving men, cannons and all + (self in a wounded state);—and 'were locked in various Brew-houses;' + little of careful surgery, I should fear. Poor Arnim; man could do no + more; and he has been unfortunate." + </p> + <p> + It is by no means our intention to describe the Iliad of miseries, the + agitations, terrors and disquietudes, the tribulation and utter harrowing + to despair, which poor Frankfurt underwent, incessantly from that day + forward, for about five weeks to come. "The furnishings of victual + [Russian stock quite out] were to an inconceivable amount; surrender of + arms, of linens, cloths, of everything useful to a hungry Army; above all + things, of horses, so that at last there were but four horses left in all + Frankfurt; and"—But we must not go into details. + </p> + <p> + "On the second day, besides all this," what will be significant of it all, + "there was exacted 'ransom of 600,000 thalers (90,000 pounds), or you + shall be delivered to the Cossacks!' Frankfurt has not above 12,000 + inhabitants within its bounds; here is a sudden poll-tax of 7 pounds 10s. + per head. Frankfurt has not such a sum; the most rigorous collection did + not yield above the tenth part of it. And more than once those sanguinary + vagabonds were openly drawn out, pitch-link in hand: 'The 90,000 pounds or—!' + Civic Presidency Office in Frankfurt was not a bed of roses. The poor + Magistrates rushed distractedly about; wrung out moneys to the last drop; + moneys, and in the end plate from those that had it; went in tearful + deputation to General Soltikof,—a severe proud kind of man, capable + perhaps of being flattered,—who usually locked them up instead. + Magistrates were locked in Russian ward, at one time, for almost a week; + sat in the blazing sun; if you try for the shade of a tree, the sentry + handles arms upon you;—and were like to die. To me, Kriele, it is a + miracle how the most of us lived; nay we never really wanted food, so kind + was Providence, so generous our poor neighbors out of all the Towns round. + The utmost of money that could be raised was 6,000 pounds; nothing but + some little of plate, and our Bill for the remainder. Soltikof, a high + kind of gentleman, saw at last how it stood; let the Magistrates out of + ward; sent back the plate—'Nothing of that!'—nay, Czarish + Majesty was herself generous; and FORGAVE the Bill, on our petition, next + Year. Cossacks, indeed, were a plunderous wild crew; but the Russians kept + them mostly without the gates. The regular Russians were civil and + orderly, officers and men,—greatly beyond the Austrians in + behavior." [Kriele, <i>Schlacht bei Kunersdorf;</i> pp. 1-15 (in + compressed state).] By these few traits conceive Frankfurt: this, now + forgotten in most books, is a background on which things were transacted + still memorable to everybody. + </p> + <p> + "Friday, August 3d, General Loudon came to hand: arrived early, in the + Guben (or Western) Suburb, his 18,000 and he. In high spirits naturally, + and somewhat exultant to have evaded Friedrich; but found a reception that + surprised him. The Russians had been living in the hope of junction; but + still more vividly in that of meal. 'Auxiliaries; humph,—only 18,000 + of them; how much welcomer had been as many hundredweights of meal!' + Loudon had pushed his baggage direct into Frankfurt; and likewise a + requisition of such and such proviants, weights of meal and the like, in + exuberant amount, to be furnished straightway by the City: neither of + which procedures would the Russians hear of for a moment. 'Out with you!' + said they roughly to the baggage-people: 'quarter in the Guben Suburb, or + where you like; not here!' And with regard to the requisition of proviant, + they answered in a scornful angry key, 'Proviant? You too without it? You + have not brought us meal, according to covenant; instead of meal, you + bring us 18,000 new eaters, most of them on horse-back,—Satan thank + you! From Frankfurt be very certain you can get no ounce of meal; + Frankfurt is our own poor meal-bag, dreadfully scanty: stay outside, and + feed where and how you can!' + </p> + <p> + "All this, Loudon, though of hot temper, easily capable of rising to the + fierce point, had to endure in silence, for the common interest. Loudon's + own table is furnished from Frankfurt; no other Austrian man's: all others + have to shift how they can. Sad requisitioning needed, and sad plunder to + supplement it: the Austrian behavior was very bad, say the Frankfurters; + 'in particular, they had burnt gradually all the corn-mills in the + country; within many miles not one mill standing when they left us,'—and + four horses all the conveyance power we had. Soltikof lodges in great + pomp, much soldiery and cannon parading before his doors; not an + undignified man, or an inhuman or essentially foolish, but very high in + his ways, and distasteful to Austrian dignitaries." + </p> + <p> + The Russian Army lies mainly across Oder; encamped on the Judenberg, and + eastward there, along the Heights, near three miles, to Kunersdorf and + beyond. They expect Friedrich at the gates of Frankfurt shortly; know well + that they cannot defend Frankfurt. They calculate that Friedrich will + attack them in their Judenberg Encampment, but hope they are nearly ready + for him there. Loudon, from the Guben Suburb, will hasten across, at any + moment;—welcome on such fighting occasion, though ill seen when the + question is of eating! The Russians have their Wagenburg on an Island + southward, farther up the River; they have three Pontoon Bridges leading + thither, a free retreat should they be beaten. And in the mean while are + intrenching themselves, as only Daun would,—cannon and redoubts all + round those Heights;—and except it be screwing Frankfurt to do its + impossible duty, and carting provender with all the horses except four, + have not much farther to do but wait till the King come. Which will be + speedily, it is probable!— + </p> + <p> + Wednesday, August 8th, Russian and Austrian Generals, a cheerful party of + them, had rendezvoused at FISCHERS MUHLE; a Mill not yet burnt, and a + pleasant Tavern as well; in one of the prettiest valleys in the Western + Environs;—intending to dine there, and have a pleasant day. But the + Miller's Boy runs in upon them, wide-eyed, "HIMMEL UND ERDE, Prussian + Hussars!" It was in verity Prussian Hussars; the King of Prussia with them + in person. He is come out reconnoitring,—the day after his arrival + in those parts. The pleasuring Generals, Russian and Austrian, sprang to + horseback at their swiftest,—hope of dinner gone futile, except to + the intervening Prussian Hussars;—and would have all been captured, + but for that Miller's Boy; whose Mill too was burnt before long. This + gallop home of the undined Generals into Frankfurt was the first news we + poor Frankfurters had of the King's arrival. + </p> + <p> + The King has been punctual to his reckoning: he picked up Wedell at + Mullrose,—not too cordial to Wedell's people: "None of you speak to + those beaten wretches," ordered he; "till perhaps they wipe off their + Zullichau stain!" On the 7th, Friedrich advanced to Frankfurt + neighborhood; took Camp between Wulkow and Lebus;—and has just been + out reconnoitring. And has raised, fancy what emotion in poor Frankfurt + lying under its nightmare! "Next day, August 9th, from Wulkow-Lebus hand, + we" of Frankfurt, "heard a great firing; cannon-salvos, musket-volleys: + 'Nothing of fight,' the Russian Officers told us; 'it is the King of + Prussia doing joy-fire for Minden,' of which we till now knew nothing." + </p> + <p> + Friedrich, on survey of this Russian-Austrian Army, some 90,000 in number, + with such posts, artilleries, advantages, judges that he, counting only + 40,000, is not strong enough. And, indeed, had so anticipated, and already + judged; and, accordingly, has Finck on march hitherward again,—Berlin + must take its risk, Saxony must shift for itself in the interim. Finck is + due in two days,—not here at Lebus precisely, but at another place + appointed; Finck will raise him to 50,000; and then business can begin! + Contrary to Russian expectation, Friedrich does not attack Frankfurt; + seems quite quiet in his cantonments;—he is quietly (if one knew it) + making preparations farther down the River. About Reitwein, between this + and Custrin, there arrangements are proceeding, by no means of a showy + sort. + </p> + <p> + The Russian-Austrian Army quits Frankfurt, leaving only some hundreds of + garrison: Loudon moves across, Soltikof across; to the Oder-Dam and + farther; and lie, powerfully intrenched, on those Kunersdorf Heights, and + sandy Moorlands, which go eastward at right-angles to Oder-Dam. One of the + strongest Camps imaginable. All round there, to beyond Kunersdorf and back + again, near three miles each way, they have a ring of redoubts, and + artillery without end. And lie there, in order of battle, or nearly so; + ready for Friedrich, when he shall attack, through Frankfurt or otherwise. + They face to the North (Reitwein way, as it happens); to their rear, and + indeed to their front, only not so close, are woods and intricate wilds. + Loudon has the left flank; that is to say, Loudon's left hand is towards + the Oder-Dam and Frankfurt; he lies at the ROTHE VORWERK ("Red Grange," a + Farmstead much mentioned just now); rather to northwestward of the Jew + Hill and Jew Churchyard (JUDENBERG and JUDENKIRCHHOF, likewise much + mentioned); and in advance of the general Mass. Soltikof's head-quarter, I + rather understand, is on the right wing; probably in Kunersdorf itself, or + beyond that Village; there, at least, our highly important Russian right + wing is; there, elaborately fortified; and, half a mile farther, ends,—on + the edge of steep dells; the Russian brink of which is strongly fringed + with cannon, while beyond, on the farther brink, they have built an + abatis; so making assurance doubly sure. Looking to the northward all + these 90,000; their left rather southward of Frankfurt Bridge, over which + Friedrich will probably arrive. Leftward, somewhat to rearward, they have + bridges of their own; should anything sinister befall; three bridges which + lead into that Oder Island, and the Russian Wagenburg there. + </p> + <p> + August 10th, Finck, punctual to time, arrives in the neighborhood of + Reitwein (which is some ten miles down stream from Lebus, from Frankfurt + perhaps fifteen); Friedrich, the same day, is there before him; eager to + complete the Bridges, and get to business. One Bridge is of pontoons; one + of "Oder-boats floated up from Custrin." Bridges are not begun till + nightfall, lest eyes be abroad; are ready in the minimum of time. And so, + during the same night of the 10th, all the Infantry, with their + artilleries and battle-furnitures, pour over in two columns; the Cavalry, + at the due point of time, riding by a ford short way to the right. And at + four, in the gray of the August morning (Saturday, 11th August, 1759), all + persons and things find themselves correctly across; ranked there, in + those barren, much-indented "Pasture-grounds of Goritz" or of OEtscher; + intending towards Kunersdorf; ready for unfolding into order of battle + there. They leave their heavy baggage at Goritz, Wunsch to guard the + Bridges and it; and, in succinct condition, are all under way. At one in + the afternoon we are got to Leissow and Bischofsee; scrubby hamlets (as + the rest all are), not above two miles from Kunersdorf. The August day is + windless, shiny, sultry; man and horse are weary with the labors, and with + the want of sleep: we decide to bivouac here, and rest on the scrubby + surface, heather or whatever it is, till to-morrow. + </p> + <p> + Finck is Vanguard, ahead short way, and with his left on a bit of lake or + bog; the Army is in two lines, with its right on Leissow, and has Cavalry + in the kind of wood which there is to rear. Friedrich, having settled the + positions, rides out reconnoitring; hither, thither, over the Heights of + Trettin. "The day being still hot, he suffers considerably from thirst [it + is our one Anecdote] in that arid tract: at last a Peasant does bring him, + direct from the fountain, a jug of pure cold water; whom, lucky man, the + King rewarded with a thaler; and not only so, but, the man being + intelligent of the localities, took with him to answer questions." Readers + too may desire to gain some knowledge of the important ground now under + survey. + </p> + <p> + "Frankfurt, a very ancient Town, not a very beautiful," says my Note, + "stands on an alluvium which has been ground down from certain clay Hills + on the left bank of Oder. It counted about 12,000 inhabitants in + Friedrich's time; has now perhaps about 20,000; not half the bulk of its + namesake on the Mayn; but with Three great Fairs annually, and much trade + of the rough kind. On this left or west bank of Oder the country is + arable, moderately grassy and umbrageous, the prospect round you not + unpleasant; but eastward, over the River, nothing can be more in contrast. + Oder is of swift current, of turbid color, as it rolls under Frankfurt + Bridge,—Wooden Bridge, with Dam Suburb at the end;—a River + treeless, desolate, as you look up and down; which has, evidently, often + changed its course, since grinding down that alluvium as site for + Frankfurt; and which, though now holding mainly to northward, is still + given to be erratic, and destructive on the eastern low grounds,—had + not the Frankfurters built an 'Oder-Dam' on that side; a broad strong + Earth-mound, running for many miles, and confining its floods. Beyond the + Dam there are traces of an 'Old Oder (ALTE ODER);' and, in fact, Oder, in + primeval and in recent time, has gone along, many-streamed; indenting, + quarrying, leaving lakelets, quagmires, miscellaneous sandy tumult, at a + great rate, on that eastern shore. Making of it one of the unloveliest + scenes of chaotic desolation anywhere to be met with;—fallen + unlovelier than ever in our own more recent times. + </p> + <p> + "What we call the Heights of Kunersdorf is a broad Chain of Knolls; coming + out, at right-angles, or as a kind of spur, from the eastern high grounds; + direct towards Oder and Frankfurt. Mill-Hill (MUHLBERG) is the root or + easternmost part of this spur. From the Muhlberg, over Kunersdorf, to + Oder-Dam, which is the whole length of the spur, or Chain of Knolls, will + be little short of four miles; the breadth of the Chain is nowhere one + mile,—which is its grand defect as a Camp: 'too narrow for + manoeuvring in.' Here, atop and on the three sides of this Block of + Knolls, was fought the furious Battle of Kunersdorf [to be fought + to-morrow], one of the most furious ever known. A Block of Knolls + memorable ever since. + </p> + <p> + "To all appearance: it was once some big Island or chain of Islands in the + Oder deluges: it is still cut with sudden hollows,—KUHGRUND + (Cow-Hollow), TIEFE WEG (Deep Way), and westernmost of all, and most + important for us here, HOHLE GRUND (Big Hollow, let us call it; 'LOUDON'S + Hollow' people subsequently called it);—and is everywhere strangely + tumbled up into knolls blunt or sharp, the work of primeval Oder in his + rages. In its highest knolls,—of which let readers note specially + the Spitzberg, the Muhlberg, the Judenberg,—it rises nowhere to 150 + feet; perhaps the general height of it may be about 100. On each side of + it, especially on the north, the Country is of most intricate character: + bushy, scraggy, with brooklets or muddy oozings wandering about, + especially with a thing called the HUNERFLIESS (Hen-Floss), which springs + in the eastern woods, and has inconceivable difficulty to get into Oder,—if + it get at all! This was a sore Floss to Friedrich to-morrow. Hen-Floss + struggles, painfully meandering and oozing, along the northern side + (sometimes close, sometimes not) of our Chain of Knolls: along the south + side of it (in our time, through the middle of it) goes the Highway to + Reppen ["From that Highway will his attack come!" thought the Russians, + always till to-day]: on the north, to Leissow, to Trettin," where + Friedrich is now on survey, "go various wheel-tracks, but no firm road. A + most intricate unlovely Country. Withered bent-grasses, heath, perhaps + gorse, and on both sides a great deal of straggling Forest-wood, reaching + eastward, and especially southward, for many miles. + </p> + <p> + "For the rest," to our ill-luck in this place, "the Battlefield of + Kunersdorf has had a peculiar fate in the world; that of being blown away + by the winds! The then scene of things exists no longer; the descriptions + in the Old Books are gone hopelessly irrecognizable. In our time, there is + not anywhere a tract more purely of tumbled sand, than all this between + Kunersdorf and Dam Vorstadt; and you judge, without aid of record or + tradition, that it is greatly altered for the worse since Friedrich's + time,—some rabbit-colony, or other the like insignificancy, eating + out the roots, till all vegetation died, and the wind got hold and set it + dancing;—and that, in 1759, when Russian human beings took it for a + Camp, it must have been at least coherent, more or less; covered, held + together by some film of scrubby vegetation; not blowing about in every + wind as now! Kunersdorf stands with its northern end pushed into that + KUHGRUND (Cow-Hollow); which must then have been a grassy place. Eastward + of Kunersdorf the ground has still some skin of peat, and sticks together: + but westward, all that three miles, it is a mere tumult of sand-hills, + tumbled about in every direction (so diligent have the conies been, and + then the winds); no gullet, or definite cut or hollow, now traceable + anywhere, but only an endless imbroglio of twisted sand-heaps and + sand-hollows, which continually alter in the wind-storms. Sand wholly, and—except + the strong paved Highway that now runs through it (to Reppen, Meseritz and + the Polish Frontier, and is strongly paved till it get through Kunersdorf)—chaotic + wholly; a scene of heaped barrenness and horror, not to be matched but in + Sahara; the features of the Battle quite blown away, and indecipherable in + our time. + </p> + <p> + "A hundred years ago, it would have some tattered skin,—of peat, of + heather and dwarf whins, with the sand cropping out only here and there. + So one has to figure it in Soltikof's day,—before the conies ruined + it. Which was not till within the last sixty years, as appears. Kriele's + Book (in 1801) still gives no hint of change: the KUHGRUND, which now has + nothing but dry sand for the most industrious ruminant, is still a place + of succulence and herbage in Kriele's time; 'Deep Way,' where 'at one + point two carts could not pass,' was not yet blown out of existence, but + has still 'a Well in it' for Kriele; HOHLE GRUND (since called Loudon's + Hollow), with the Jew Hill and Jew Churchyard beyond, seem tolerable + enough places to Kriele. Probably not unlike what the surrounding Country + still is. A Country of poor villages, and of wild ground, flat generally, + and but tolerably green; with lakelets, bushes, scrubs, and intricate + meandering little runlets and oozelets; and in general with more of Forest + so called than now is:—this is Kunersdorf Chain of Knolls; + Soltikof's Intrenched Camp at present; destined to become very famous in + the world, after lying so long obscure under Oder and its rages." + [TOURIST'S NOTE (Autumnn, 1852).] + </p> + <p> + From the Knolls of Trettin, that Saturday afternoon, Friedrich takes view + of the Russian Camp. All lying bright enough there; from Muhlberg to + Judenberg, convenient to our glass; between us and the evening Sun. + Batteries most abundant, difficulties great: Soltikof just ahead here, + 72,000: Loudon at the Red Grange yonder, on their extreme left, with + 18,000 more. An uncommonly strong position for 90,000 against 50,000. One + thing strikes Friedrich: On front in this northern side, close by the base + of the Russian Camp, runs—for the present away FROM Oder, but + intending to join it elsewhere—a paltry little Brook, "Hen-Floss" so + called, with at least two successive Mills on it (KLEINE MUHLE, GROSSE + MUHLE); and on the northern shore of it, spilling itself out into a wet + waste called ELSBRUCH (Alder Waste), which is especially notable to + Friedrich. ALDER Waste? Watery, scrubby; no passage there, thinks + Friedrich; which his Peasant with the water-jug confirms. "Tell me, + however," inquires Friedrich, with strictness, "From the Red Grange + yonder, where General Loudon is, if you wished to get over to the HOHLE + GRUND, or to the Judenberg, would you cross that Hen-Floss?" "It is not + crossable, your Majesty; one has to go round quite westward by the Dam." + "What, from Rothe Vorwerk to Big Hollow, no passage, say you; no + crossing?" "None, your Majesty," insists the Peasant;—who is not + aware that the Russians have made one of firm trestles and logs, and use + it daily for highway there; an error of some interest to Friedrich within + the next twenty-four hours! + </p> + <p> + Friedrich himself does not know this bit of ground: but there is with him, + besides the Peasant, a Major Linden, whose Regiment used to lie in + Frankfurt, of whom Friedrich makes minute questioning. Linden answers + confidently; has been over all this tract a hundred times; "but knows it + only as a hunter," says Tempelhof, [Tempelhof, iii. 186.] "not as a + soldier," which he ought to have done. His answers are supposed to have + misled Friedrich on various points, and done him essential damage. + Friedrich's view of the case, that evening, is by no means so despondent + as might be imagined: he regards the thing as difficult, not as + impossible,—and one of his anxieties is, that he be not balked of + trying it straightway. Retiring to his hut in Bischofsee, he makes two + Dispositions, of admirable clearness, brevity, and calculated for two + contingencies: [Given in Tempelhof, iii. 182, 183.] That of the enemy + retaining his now posture; and That of the enemy making off for Reppen;—which + latter does not at all concern us, as matters turned! Of the former the + course will unfold itself to us, in practice, shortly. At 2 A.M. Friedrich + will be on foot again, at 3 on march again.—The last phenomenon, at + Bischofsee this night, is some sudden glare of disastrous light rising + over the woods:—"Russians burning Kunersdorf!" as neighbors are + sorry to hear. That is the finale of much Russian rearranging and + tumbling, this day; that barbarous burning of Kunersdorf, before going to + bed. To-morrow various other poor Villages got burnt by them, which they + had better have left standing. + </p> + <p> + The Russians, on hearing that Friedrich was across at Goritz, and coming + on them from the north side, not from Frankfurt by the Reppen Highway, + were in great agitation. Not thrown into terror, but into manifold haste, + knowing what hasty adversary there was. Endless readjustments they have to + make; a day of tumultuous business with the Russians, this Saturday, 11th, + when the news reached them. "They inverted their front [say all the Books + but Friedrich's own]: Not coming by the Reppen Highway, then!" think they. + And thereupon changed rear to front, as at Zorndorf, but more elaborately;—which + I should not mention, were it not that hereby their late "right wing on + the Muhlberg" has, in strict speech, become their "left," and there is + ambiguity and discrepancy in some of the Books, should any poor reader + take to studying them on this matter. Changed their front; which involves + much interior changing; readjusting of batteries and the like. That of + burning Kunersdorf was the barbaric winding up of all this: barbaric, and, + in the military sense, absurd; poor Kunersdorf could have been burnt at + any moment, if needful; and to the Russians the keeping of it standing was + the profitable thing, as an impediment to Friedrich in his advance there. + They have laid it flat and permeable; ashes all of it,—except the + Church only, which is of stone; not so combustible, and may have uses + withal. Has perhaps served as temporary lock-up, prison for the night, to + some of those Frankfurt Deputations and their troublesome wailings; and + may serve as temporary hospital to-morrow, who knows? + </p> + <p> + Readjustments in the Russian Camp were manifold: but these are as nothing, + in the tumultuous business of the day. Carting of their baggage, every + article of value, to that safe Wagenburg in the River; driving of cattle,—the + very driving of cattle through Frankfurt, endless herds of them, gathered + by the Cossacks from far and wide, "lasted for four-and-twenty hours." + Oxen in Frankfurt that day were at the rate of ten shillings per head. + Often enough you were offered a full-grown young steer for a loaf of + bread; nay the Cossacks, when there was absolutely no bidder, would + slaughter down the animal, leave its carcass in the streets, and sell the + hide for a TYMPF,—fivepence (very bad silver at present). Never + before or since was seen in Frankfurt such a Saturday, for bellowing and + braying, and raging and tumulting, all through the day and through the + night; ushering in such a Sunday too! + </p> + <p> + Sunday about 3 in the morning, Friedrich is on march again,—Russians + still in their place; and Disposition FIRST, not SECOND at all, to be our + rule of action! Friedrich, in Two Columns, marches off, eastward through + the woods, as if for Reppen quite away from the Russians and their + Muhlberg; but intending to circle round at the due point, and come down + upon their right flank there (left flank, as he persists to call it), out + of the woods, and clasp it in his arms in an impressive, unexpected way. + In Two Columns; which are meant, as usual, to be the Two Lines of Battle: + Seidlitz, with chosen Cavalry, is at the head of Column First, and will be + Left Wing, were we on the ground; Eugen of Wurtemberg, closing the rear of + Column First, will, he, or Finck and he together, be Right Wing. That is + the order of march;—order of BATTLE, we shall find, had to alter + itself somewhat, for reasons extremely valid! + </p> + <p> + Finck with his 12,000 is to keep his present ground; to have two good + batteries got ready, each on its knoll ahead, which shall wait silent in + the interim: Finck to ride out reconnoitring, with many General Officers, + and to make motions and ostentations; in a word, to persuade the Russians + that here is the Main Army coming on from the north. All which Finck does; + avoiding, as his orders were, any firing, or serious commencement of + business, till the King reappear out of the woods. The Russians give Finck + and his General Officers a cannon salvo, here and there, without effect, + and get no answer. "The King does not see his way, then, after all?" think + the Russians. Their Cossacks go scouring about; on the southern side, + "burn Schwetig and Reipzig," without the least advantage to themselves: + most of the Cavalry, and a regiment or two of excellent Austrian + Grenadiers, are with Loudon, near the Red Grange, in front of the Russian + extreme left;—but will have stept over into Big Hollow at a moment + of crisis! + </p> + <p> + The King's march, through the Forest of Reppen, was nothing like so + expeditious as had been expected. There are thickets, intricacies, + runlets, boggy oozes; indifferent to one man well mounted, but vitally + important to 30,000 with heavy cannon to bring on. Boggy oozings + especially,—there is one dirty stream or floss (HUNERFLIESS, + Hen-Floss) which wanders dismally through those recesses, issuing from the + far south, with dirty daughters dismally wandering into it, and others + that cannot get into it (being of the lake kind): these, in their weary, + circling, recircling course towards Oder,—FAULE LAACKE (Foul Lake, + LITHER-MERE, as it were), Foul Bridge, Swine's Nook (SCHWEINEBUCKT), and + many others,—occasion endless difficulty. Whether Major Linden was + shot that day, or what became of him after, I do not know: but it was pity + he had not studied the ground with a soldier's eye instead of a hunter's! + Plumping suddenly, at last, upon Hen-Floss itself, Friedrich has to turn + angularly; angularly, which occasions great delay: the heavy cannon + (wall-guns brought from Custrin) have twelve horses each, and cannot turn + among the trees, but have to be unyoked, reyoked, turned round by hand:—in + short, it was eight in the morning before Friedrich arrived at the edge of + the wood, on the Klosterberg, Walckberg, and other woody BERGS or knolls, + within reach of Muhlberg, and behind the preliminary abatis there (abatis + which was rather of service to him than otherwise);—and began + privately building his batteries. + </p> + <p> + At eight o'clock he, with Column First, which is now becoming Line First + (CENTRE of Line First, if we reckon Finck as RIGHT-WING), is there; busy + in that manner: Column Second, which was to have been Rear Line, is still + a pretty way behind; and has many difficulties before it gets into + Kunersdorf neighborhood, or can (having wriggled itself into a kind of + LEFT-WING) co-operate on the Russian Position from the south side. On the + north side, Finck has been ready these five hours.—Friedrich speeds + the building of his batteries: "Silent, too; the Russians have not yet + noticed us!" By degrees the Russians do notice something; shoot out + Cossacks to reconnoitre. Cossacks in quantity; who are so insolent, and + venture so very near, our gunners on the north battery give them a blast + of satisfactory grape-shot; one and then another, four blasts in all, + satisfactory to the gunner mind,—till the King's self, with a look, + with a voice, came galloping: "Silence, will you!" The Russians took no + offence; still considering Finck to be the main thing and Friedrich some + scout party,—till at last, + </p> + <p> + Half-past eleven, everything being ready on the Walck Hill, Friedrich's + batteries opened there, in a sudden and volcanic way. Volcanically + answered by the Russians, as soon as possible; who have 72 guns on this + Muhlberg, and are nothing loath. Upon whom Finck's battery is opening from + the north, withal: Friedrich has 60 cannon hereabouts; on the Walckberg, + on the LITTLE Spitzberg (called SEIDLITZ HILL ever since); all playing + diligently on the head and south shoulder of this Muhlberg: while Finck's + battery opens on the north shoulder (could he but get near enough). + Volcanic to a degree all these; nor are the Russians wanting, though they + get more and more astonished: Tempelhof, who was in it, says he never, + except at Torgau next Year, heard a louder cannonade. Loud exceedingly; + and more or less appalling to the Russian imagination: but not destructive + in proportion; the distance being too considerable,—"1,950 paces at + the nearest," as Tempelhof has since ascertained by measuring. Friedrich's + two batteries, however, as they took the Russians in the flank or by + enfilade, did good execution. "The Russian guns were ill-pointed; the + Russian batteries wrong-built; batteries so built as did not allow them + sight of the Hollow they were meant to defend." [Tempelhof, iii. 186, + 187.] + </p> + <p> + After above half an hour of this, Friedrich orders storm of the Muhlberg: + Forward on it, with what of enfilading it has had! Eight grenadier + Battalions, a chosen vanguard appointed for the work (names of Battalions + all given, and deathless in the Prussian War-Annals), tramp forth on this + service: cross the abatis, which the Russian grenadoes have mostly burnt; + down into the Hollow. Steady as planets; "with a precision and coherency," + says Tempelhof, "which even on the parade-ground would have deserved + praises. Once well in the Hollow, they suffer nothing; though the blind + Russian fire, going all over their heads, rages threefold:" suffered + nothing in the Hollow; nor till they reached almost the brow of the + Muhlberg, and were within a hundred steps of the Russian guns. These were + the critical steps, these final ones; such torrents of grape-shot and + musket-shot and sheer death bursting out, here at last, upon the Eight + Battalions, as they come above ground. Who advanced, unwavering, all the + faster,—speed one's only safety. They poured into the Russian + gunners and musketry battalions one volley of choicest quality, which had + a shaking effect; then, with level bayonets, plunge on the batteries: + which are all empty before we can leap into them; artillery-men, musketeer + battalions, all on wing; general whirlpool spreading. And so, in ten + minutes, the Muhlberg and its guns are ours. Ever since Zorndorf, an idea + had got abroad, says Tempelhof, that the Russians would die instead of + yielding; but it proved far otherwise here. Down as far as Kunersdorf, + which may be about a mile westward, the Russians are all in a whirl; at + best hanging in tatters and clumps, their Officers struggling against the + flight; "mixed groups you would see huddled together a hundred men deep." + The Russian Left Wing is beaten: had we our cannon up here, our cavalry up + here, the Russian Army were in a bad way! + </p> + <p> + This is a glorious beginning; completed, I think, as far almost as + Kunersdorf by one o'clock: and could the iron continue to be struck while + it is at white-heat as now, the result were as good as certain. That was + Friedrich's calculation: but circumstances which he had not counted on, + some which he could not count on, sadly retarded the matter. His Left Wing + (Rear Line, which should now have been Left Wing) from southward, his + Right Wing from northward, and Finck farther west, were now on the instant + to have simultaneously closed upon the beaten Russians, and crushed them + altogether. The Right Wing, conquerors of the Muhlberg, are here: but + neither Finck nor the Left can be simultaneous with them. Finck and his + artillery are much retarded with the Flosses and poor single Bridges; and + of the Left Wing there are only some Vanguard Regiments capable of helping + ("who drove out the Russians from Kunersdorf Churchyard," as their first + feat),—no Main Body yet for a long while. Such impediments, such + intricacies of bog and bush! The entire Wing does at last get to the + southeast of Kunersdorf, free of the wood; but finds (contrary to Linden + with his hunter eye) an intricate meshwork of meres and straggling lakes, + two of them in the burnt Village itself; no passing of these except on + narrow isthmuses, which necessitate change of rank and re-change; and our + Left Wing cannot, with all its industry, "march up," that is, arrive at + the enemy in fighting line, without the painfulest delays. + </p> + <p> + And then the getting forward of our cannon! On the Muhlberg itself the + seventy-two Russian guns, "owing to difference of calibre," or + artillery-men know what, cannot be used by us: a few light guns, Tempelhof + to one of them, a poor four in all, with perhaps 100 shot to each, did, by + the King's order, hasten to the top of the Muhlberg; and never did + Tempelhof see a finer chance for artillery than there. Soft sloping + ground, with Russians simmering ahead of you, all the way down to + Kunersdorf, a mile long: by horizontal pointing, you had such reboundings + (RICOCHETS); and carried beautiful execution! Tempelhof soon spent his + hundred shots: but it was not at once that any of our sixty heavy guns + could be got up thither. Twelve horses to each: fancy it, and what + baffling delays here and elsewhere;—and how the Russian whirlpool + was settling more and more, in the interim! And had, in part, settled; in + part, got through to the rear, and been replaced by fresh troops! + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's activities, and suppressed and insuppressible impatiences in + this interval, are also conceivable, though not on record for us. The + swiftest of men; tied down, in this manner, with the blaze of perfect + victory ahead, were the moments NOT running out! Slower or faster, he + thinks (I suppose), the victory is his; and that he must possess his soul + till things do arrive. It was in one and more of those embargoed intervals + that he wrote to Berlin [Preuss, ii. 212 n.] (which is waiting, as if for + life or death, the issue of this scene, sixty miles distant): "Russians + beaten; rejoice with me!" Four successive couriers, I believe, with + messages to that effect; and at last a Fifth with dolefully contrary news!— + </p> + <p> + In proportion as the cannon and other necessaries gradually got in, the + Fight flamed up from its embers more and more: and there ensued,—the + Russians being now ranked again (fronting eastward now) "in many lines," + and very fierce,—a second still deadlier bout; Friedrich furiously + diligent on their front and right flank; Finck, from the Alder Waste, + battering and charging (uphill, and under difficulties from those Flosses + and single Bridges) on their left flank. This too, after long deadly + efforts on the Prussian part, ended again clearly in their favor; their + enemies broken a second time, and driven not only out of Kunersdorf and + the Kuhgrund, but some say almost to the foot of the Judenberg,—what + can only be very partially true. Broken portions of the Russian left + flank,—some of Finck's people, in their victorious wrath, may have + chased these very far: but it is certain the general Russian mass rallied + again a long way short of the Judenberg;—though, the ground being + all obliterated by the rabbits and the winds, nobody can now know with + exactitude where. + </p> + <p> + And indeed the Battle, from this point onwards, becomes blurred and + confused to us, only its grosser features visible henceforth. Where the + "Big Spitzberg" was (so terribly important soon), nobody can now tell me, + except from maps. London's motions too are obscure, though important. I + believe his grenadiers had not yet been in the fire; but am certain they + are now come out of Big Hollow; fresh for the rescue; and have taken front + rank in this Second Rally that is made. Loudon's Cavalry Loudon himself + has in hand, and waits with them in a fit place. He has 18,000 fresh men; + and an eye like few others on a field of war. Loudon's 18,000 are fresh: + of the Prussians that can by no means be said. I should judge it must be 3 + of the afternoon. The day is windless, blazing; one of the hottest August + days; and "nobody, for twelve hours past, could command a drink of water:" + very fresh the poor Prussians cannot be! They have done two bouts of + excellent fighting; tumbled the Russians well back, stormed many + batteries; and taken in all 180 cannon. + </p> + <p> + At this stage, it appears, Finck and many Generals, Seidlitz among the + others, were of opinion that, in present circumstances, with troops so + tired, and the enemy nearly certain to draw off, if permitted, here had + been enough for one day, and that there ought to be pause till to-morrow. + Friedrich knew well the need of rest; but Friedrich, impatient of things + half-done, especially of Russians half-beaten, would not listen to this + proposal; which was reckoned upon him as a grave and tragic fault, all the + rest of his life; though favorable judges, who were on the ground, + Tempelhof for one, [Tempelhof, iii. 194.] are willing to prove that + pausing here—at the point we had really got to, a little beyond the + Kuhgrund, namely; and not a couple of miles westward, at the foot of the + Jew Hill, where vague rumor puts us—was not feasible or reasonable. + Friedrich considers with himself, "Our left wing has hardly yet been in + fire!" calls out the entire left wing, foot and horse: these are to emerge + from their meshwork of Lakes about Kunersdorf, and bear a hand along with + us on the Russian front here,—especially to sweep away that raging + Battery they have on the Big Spitzberg, and make us clear of it. The Big + Spitzberg lies to south and ahead of the Russian right as now ranked; + fatally covers their right flank, and half ruins the attack in front. Big + Spitzberg is blown irrecognizable in our time; but it was then an + all-important thing. + </p> + <p> + The left-wing Infantry thread their lake-labyrinth, the soonest possible; + have to rank again on the hither side, under a tearing fire from that + Spitzberg; can then at last, and do, storm onwards, upwards; but cannot, + with their best efforts, take the Spitzberg: and have to fall back under + its floods of tearing case-shot, and retire out of range. To Friedrich's + blank disappointment: "Try it you, then, Seidlitz; you saved us at + Zorndorf!" Seidlitz, though it is an impossible problem to storm batteries + with horse, does charge in for the Russian flank, in spite of its covering + battery: but the torrents of grape-shot are insufferable; the Seidlitz + people, torn in gaps, recoil, whirl round, and do not rank again till + beyond the Lakes of Kunersdorf. Seidlitz himself has got wounded, and has + had to be carried away. + </p> + <p> + And, in brief, from this point onwards all goes aback with the Prussians + more and more. Repeated attempts on that Spitzberg battery prove vain; to + advance without it is impossible. Friedrich's exertions are passionate, + almost desperate; rallying, animating, new-ordering; everywhere in the + hottest of the fire. "Thrice he personally led on the main attack." He has + had two horses shot down under him; mounting a third, this too gets a + bullet in an artery of the neck, and is about falling, when two Adjutants + save the King. In his waistcoat-pocket some small gold case (ETUI) has got + smitten flat by a bullet, which would otherwise have ended matters. The + people about him remonstrate on such exposure of a life beyond value; he + answers curtly, "We must all of us try every method here, to win the + Battle: I, like every other, must stand to my duty here!" These, and a + second brief word or two farther on, are all of articulate that we hear + from him this day. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's wearied battalions here on the Heights, while the Spitzberg to + left goes so ill, fight desperately; but cannot prevail farther; and in + spite of Friedrich's vehement rallyings and urgings, gradually lose + ground,—back at last to Kunersdorf and the Kuhgrund again. The + Loudon grenadiers, and exclaimed masses of fresh Russians, are not to be + broken, but advance and advance. Fancy the panting death-labors, and + spasmodic toilings and bafflings, of those poor Prussians and their King! + Nothing now succeeding; the death-agony now come; all hearts growing + hopeless; only one heart still seeing hope. The Spitzberg is impossible; + tried how often I know not. Finck, from the Alder Waste, with his + Infantry, attacks, and again attacks; without success: "Let the Cavalry go + round, then, and try there. Seidlitz we have not; you Eugen of Wurtemberg + lead them!" Eugen leads them (cuirassiers, or we will forget what); round + by the eastern end of the Muhlberg; then westward, along the Alder Waste; + finally southward, against the Russian flank, himself foremost, and at the + gallop for charging:—Eugen, "looking round, finds his men all gone," + and has to gallop the other way, gets wounded to boot. Puttkammer, with + Hussars, then tried it; Puttkammer was shot dead, and his Hussars too + could do nothing. + </p> + <p> + Back, slowly back, go the Prussians generally, nothing now succeeds with + them. Back to the Kuhgrund again; fairly over the steep brow there; the + Russians serrying their ranks atop, rearranging their many guns. There, + once more, rose frightful struggle; desperate attempt by the fordone + Prussians to retake that Height. "Lasted fifteen minutes, line to line not + fifty yards asunder;" such musketry,—our last cartridges withal. + Ardent Prussian parties trying to storm up; few ever getting to the top, + none ever standing there alive one minute. This was the death-agony of the + Battle. Loudon, waiting behind the Spitzberg, dashes forward now, towards + the Kuhgrund and our Left Flank. At sight of which a universal feeling + shivers through the Prussian heart, "Hope ended, then!"—and their + solid ranks rustle everywhere; and melt into one wild deluge, ebbing from + the place as fast as it can. + </p> + <p> + It is towards six o'clock; the sweltering Sun is now fallen low and + veiled; gray evening sinking over those wastes. "N'Y A-T-IL DONC PAS UN + BOUGRE DE BOULET QUI PUISSE M'ATTEINDREE (Is there no one b—— + of a ball that can reach me, then)?" exclaimed Friedrich in despair. Such + a day he had never thought to see. The pillar of the State, the Prussian + Army itself, gone to chaos in this manner. Friedrich still passionately + struggles, exhorts, commands, entreats even with tears, "Children, don't + forsake me, in this pinch (KINDER, VERLASSET HEUTE MICH, EUREN KONIG, + EUREN VATER, NICHT)!" [Kriele, p. 169.]—but all ears are deaf. On + the Muhlberg one regiment still stood by their guns, covering the retreat. + But the retreat is more and more a flight; "no Prussian Army was ever seen + in such a state." At the Bridges of that Hen-Floss, there was such a + crowding, all our guns got jammed; and had to be left, 165 of them of + various calibre, and the whole of the Russian 180 that were once in our + hands. Had the chase been vigorous, this Prussian Army had been heard of + no more. But beyond the Muhlberg, there was little or no pursuit; through + the wood the Army, all in chaos, but without molestation otherwise, made + for its Oder Bridges by the way it had come. [Tempelhof, iii. 179-200; + Retzow, ii. 80-115: in Seyfarth, <i>Beylagen,</i> ii. 589-598, <i> Bericht + von der am 12 August, 1759 bey Kunersdorf vorgefallenen Schlacht</i> + (Official); and IB. 598-603, <i>Beschreibung der &c.</i> (by a Private + Hand): lucidly accurate both.] + </p> + <p> + Friedrich was among the last to quit the ground. He seemed stupefied by + the excess of his emotions; in no haste to go; uncertain whether he would + go at all. His adjutants were about him, and a small party of Ziethen + Hussars under Captain Prittwitz. Wild swarms of Cossacks approached the + place. "PRITTWITZ, ICH BIN VERLOREN (Prittwitz, I am lost)!" remarked he. + "NEIN, IHRO MAJESTAT!" answered Prittwitz with enthusiasm; charged + fiercely, he and his few, into the swarms of Cossacks; cut them about, + held them at bay, or sent them else-whither, while the Adjutants seized + Friedrich's bridle, and galloped off with him. At OEtscher and the + Bridges, Friedrich found of his late Army not quite 3,000 men. Even Wunsch + is not there till next morning. Wunsch with his Party had, early in the + afternoon, laid hold of Frankfurt, as ordered; made the garrison + prisoners, blocked the Oder Bridge; poor Frankfurt tremulously thanking + Heaven for him, and for such an omen. In spite of their Wagenburg and + these Pontoon-Bridges, it appears, there would have been no retreat for + the Russians except into Wunsch's cannon: Wagenburg way, latish in the + afternoon, there was such a scramble of runaways and retreating baggage, + all was jammed into impassability; scarcely could a single man get + through. In case of defeat, the Russian Army would have had no chance but + surrender or extermination. [Tempelhof, iii. 194: in Retzow (ii. 110) is + some dubious traditionary stuff on the matter.] At dark, however, Wunsch + had summons, so truculent in style, he knew what it meant; and answering + in words peremptorily, "No" with a like emphasis, privately got ready + again, and at midnight disappeared. Got to Reitwein without accident. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich found at OEtscher nothing but huts full of poor wounded men, and + their miseries and surgeries;—he took shelter, himself, in a hut + "which had been plundered by Cossacks" (in the past days), but which had + fewer wounded than others, and could be furnished with some bundles of dry + straw. Kriele has a pretty Anecdote, with names and particulars, of two + poor Lieutenants, who were lying on the floor, as he entered this hut. + They had lain there for many hours; the Surgeons thinking them desperate; + which Friedrich did not. "ACH KINDER, Alas, children, you are badly + wounded, then?" "JA, your Majesty: but how goes the Battle?" (Answer, + evasive on this point): "Are you bandaged, though? Have you been let + blood?" "NEIN, EUER MAJESTAT, KEIN TEUFEL WILL UNS VERBINDEN (Not a devil + of them would bandage us)!" Upon which there is a Surgeon instantly + brought; reprimanded for neglect: "Desperate, say you? These are young + fellows; feel that hand, and that; no fever there: Nature in such cases + does wonders!" Upon which the leech had to perform his function; and the + poor young fellows were saved,—and did new fighting, and got new + wounds, and had Pensions when the War ended. [Kriele, pp. 169, 170; and in + all the Anecdote-Books.] This appears to have been Friedrich's first work + in that hut at OEtscher. Here next is a Third Autograph to Finkenstein, + written in that hut, probably the first of several Official things there:— + </p> + <p> + THE KING TO GRAF VAN FINKENSTEIN (at Berlin): Third Note. + </p> + <p> + OETSCHER, "12th August," 1759. + </p> + <p> + "I attacked the Enemy this morning about eleven; we beat him back to the + JUDENKIRCHHOF (Jew Churchyard,"—a mistake, but now of no moment), + "near Frankfurt. All my troops came into action, and have done wonders. I + reassembled them three times; at length, I was myself nearly taken + prisoner; and we had to quit the Field. My coat is riddled with bullets, + two horses were killed under me;—my misfortune is, that I am still + alive. Our loss is very considerable. Of an Army of 48,000 men, I have, at + this moment while I write, not more than 3,000 together; and am no longer + master of my forces. In Berlin you will do well to think of your safety. + It is a great calamity; and I will not survive it: the consequences of + this Battle will be worse than the Battle itself. I have no resources + more; and, to confess the truth, I hold all for lost. I will not survive + the destruction of my Country. Farewell forever (ADIEU POUR JAMAIS).—F." + [In orig. "CE 12," no other date (<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxv. 306).] + </p> + <p> + Another thing, of the same tragic character, is that of handing over this + Army to Finck's charge. Order there is to Finck of that tenor: and along + with it the following notable Autograph,—a Friedrich taking leave + both of Kingship and of life. The Autograph exists; but has no date,—date + of the Order would probably be still OETSCHER, 12th AUGUST; date of the + Autograph, REITWEIN (across the River), next day. + </p> + <p> + FRIEDRICH TO LIEUT.-GENERAL FINCK (at OEtscher or Reitwein). + </p> + <p> + "General Finck gets a difficult commission; the unlucky Army which I give + up to him is no longer in condition to make head against the Russians. + Haddick will now start for Berlin, perhaps Loudon too; if General Finck go + after these, the Russians will fall on his rear; if he continue on the + Oder, he gets Haddick on his flank (SO KRIGT ER DEN HADEK DISS SEIT):—however, + I believe, should Loudon go for Berlin, he might attack Loudon, and try to + beat him: this, if it succeeded, would be a stand against misfortune, and + hold matters up. Time gained is much, in these desperate circumstances. + The news from Torgau and Dresden, Coper my Secretary (COPER MEIN + SEGRETER," kind of lieutenant to Eichel [See Preuss, i. 349, iii. 442.]) + "will send him. You (ER) must inform my Brother [Prince Henri] of + everything; whom I have declared Generalissimo of the Army. To repair this + bad luck altogether is not possible: but what my Brother shall command, + must be done:—the Army swears to my Nephew [King henceforth]. + </p> + <p> + "This is all the advice, in these unhappy circumstances, I am in a + condition to give. Had I still had resources, I would have stayed by them + (SO WEHRE ICH DARBEI GEBLIEBEN). + </p> + <p> + "FRIEDRICH" [Exact Copy, two exact copies, in PREUSS (i. 450, and again, + ii. 215).] + </p> + <p> + All this done, the wearied Friedrich flung himself into his truss of dry + straw; and was seen sound asleep there, a single sentry at the door, by + some high Generals that ventured to look in. On the morrow he crossed to + Reitwein; by to-morrow night, there had 23,000 of his fugitives come in to + him;—but this is now to be Finck's affair, not his! That day, too + (for the Paper seems to be misdated), he signed, and despatched to + Schmettau, Commandant in Dresden, a Missive, which proved more fatal than + either of the others; and brought, or helped to bring, very bitter fruits + for him, before long:— + </p> + <p> + TO LIEUTENANT-GENERAL VON SCHMETTAU (at Dresden). + </p> + <p> + "REITWEIN, 14th [probably 13th] August, 1759. + </p> + <p> + "You will perhaps have heard of the Check [L'ECHEC, Kunersdorf to wit!] I + have met with from the Russian Army on the 13th [12th, if you have the + Almanac at hand] of this month. Though at bottom our affairs in regard to + the Enemy here are not desperate, I find I shall not now be able to make + any detachment for your assistance. Should the Austrians attempt anything + against Dresden, therefore, you will see if there are means of maintaining + yourself; failing which, it will behoove you to try and obtain a favorable + Capitulation,—to wit, Liberty to withdraw, with the whole Garrison, + Moneys, Magazines, Hospital and all that we have at Dresden, either to + Berlin or else-whither, so as to join some Corps of my Troops. + </p> + <p> + "As a fit of illness [MALADIE, alas!] has come on me,—which I do not + think will have dangerous results,—I have for the present left the + command of my Troops to Lieutenant-General von Finck; whose Orders you are + to execute as if coming to you directly from myself. On this I pray God to + have you in his holy and worthy keeping.—F." [Preuss, ii. <i>Urkundenbuch,</i> + p. 43.] + </p> + <p> + At Berlin, on this 13th,—with the Five Couriers coming in + successively (and not in the order of their despatch, but the fatal Fifth + arriving some time AHEAD of the Fourth, who still spoke of progress and + victory),—there was such a day as Sulzer (ACH MEIN LIEBER SULZER!) + had never seen in the world. "'Above 50,000 human beings on the Palace + Esplanade and streets about;' swaying hither and thither, in agony of + expectation, in alternate paroxysm of joy and of terror and woe; often + enough the opposite paroxysms simultaneous in the different groups, and + men crushed down in despair met by men leaping into the air for very + gladness:" Sulzer (whose sympathy is of very aesthetic type) "would not, + for any consideration, have missed such a scene." [<i>Briefe der + Schweitzer Bodmer, Sulzer, Gessner; aus Gleim's literarischen Nachlasse: + herausgegeben von Wilhelm Korte</i> (Zurich, 1804), pp. 316-319.] The + "scene" is much obliged to you, MEIN LIEBER!— + </p> + <p> + Practically we find, in Rodenbeck, or straggling elsewhere, this Note: "On + the day after Kunersdorf, Queen and Court fly to Magdeburg: this is their + second flight. Their first was on Haddick's Visit, October, 1757; but + after Rossbach they soon returned, and Berlin and the Court were then + extremely gay: different gentlemen, French and others of every Nation, + fallen prisoners, made the Queen's soirees the finest in the world for + splendor and variety, at that time." [Rodenbeck, i. 390; &c. &c.] + </p> + <p> + One other Note we save, for the sake of poor Major Kleist, "Poet of the + Spring," as he was then called. A valiant, punctual Soldier, and with a + turn for Literature as well; who wrote really pleasant fine things, new at + that time and rapturously welcome, though too much in the sentimental vein + for the times which have followed. Major Kleist,—there is a General + Kleist, a Colonel Kleist of the Green Hussars (called GRUNE Kleist, a + terrible cutting fellow):—this is not Grune Kleist; this is the Poet + of THE SPRING; whose fate at Kunersdorf made a tragic impression in all + intelligent circles of Teutschland. Here is Kriele's Note (abridged):— + </p> + <p> + "Christian Ewald von Kleist, 'Poet of the Spring' [a Pommern gentleman, + now in his forty-fourth year], was of Finck's Division; had come on, after + those Eight Battalions took the first Russian battery [that is, Muhlberg]; + and had been assisting, with zeal, at the taking of three other batteries, + regardless of twelve contusions, which he gradually got. At the third + battery, he was farther badly hurt on the left arm and the right. Took his + Colonel's place nevertheless, whom he now saw fall; led the regiment + MUTHIG forward on the fourth battery. A case-shot smashed his right leg to + pieces; he fell from his horse [hour not given, shall we say 3 P.M.]; + sank, exclaiming: 'KINDER, My children, don't forsake your King!' and + fainted there. Was carried to rear and leftward; laid down on some dry + spot in the Elsbruch, not far from the Kuhgrund, and a Surgeon brought. + The Surgeon, while examining, was torn away by case-shot: Kleist lay + bleeding without help. A friend of his, Pfau [who told Kriele], one of + Finck's Generals, came riding that way: Kleist called to him; asked how + the Battle went; uncommonly glad to hear we are still progressive. Pfau + undertook, and tried his utmost, for a carriage to Kleist; did send one of + Finck's own carriages; but after such delays that the Prussians were now + yielding: poor Kleist's had become Russian ground, and the carriage could + not get in. + </p> + <p> + "Kleist lay helpless; no luck worse than his. In the evening, Cossacks + came round him; stript him stark-naked; threw him, face foremost, into the + nearest swampy place, and went their way. One of these devils had + something so absurd and Teniers-like in the face of him, that Kleist, in + his pains, could not help laughing at remembrance of it. In the night some + Russian Hussars, human and not Cossack, found Kleist in this situation; + took him to a dry place; put a cloak over him, kindled a watch-fire for + themselves, and gave him water and bread. Towards morning they hastened + away, throwing an 8-GROSCHEN STUCK [ninepenny piece, shilling, say + half-crown] on his cloak,—with human farewell. But Cossacks again + came; again stript him naked and bare. Towards noon of the 13th, Kleist + contrived to attract some Russian Cavalry troop passing that way, and got + speech of the Captain (one Fackelberg, a German); who at once set about + helping him;—and had him actually sent into Frankfurt, in a + carriage, that evening. To the House of a Professor Nikolai; where was + plenty of surgery and watchful affection. After near thirty hours of such + a lair, his wounds seemed still curable; there was hope for ten days. In + the tenth night (22d-23d August), the shivered pieces of bone disunited + themselves; cut an artery,—which, after many trials, could not be + tied. August 24th, at two in the morning, he died.—Great sorrow. + August 26th, there was soldier's funeral; poor Kleist's coffin borne by + twelve Russian grenadiers; very many Russian Officers attending, who had + come from the Camp for that end; one Russian Staff-Officer of them + unbuckling his own sword to lay on the bier, as there was want of one. + King Friedrich had Kleist's Portrait hung in the Garnison Kirche. + Freemason Lodge, in 1788, set up a monument to him," [Kriele, pp. 39-43.]—which + still stands on the Frankfurt pavement, and is now in sadly ruinous state. + </p> + <p> + The Prussian loss, in this Battle, was, besides all the cannon and + field-equipages: 6,000 killed, 13,000 wounded (of which latter, 2,000 + badly, who fell to the Russians as prisoners); in all, about 19,000 men. + Nor was the Russian loss much lighter; of Russians and Austrians together, + near 18,000, as Tempelhof counts: "which will not surprise your Majesty," + reports Soltikof to his Czarina; "who are aware that the King of Prussia + sells his defeats at a dear rate." And privately Soltikof was heard to + say, "Let me fight but another such Victory, and I may go to Petersburg + with the news of it myself, with the staff in my hand." The joy at + Petersburg, striving not to be braggart or immodest, was solemn, steady + and superlative: a great feat indeed for Russia, this Victory over such a + King,—though a kind of grudge, that it was due to Loudon, dwelt, in + spite of Loudon's politic silence on that point, unpleasantly in the + background. The chase they had shamefully neglected. It is said, certain + Russian Officers, who had charge of that business stept into a peasant's + cottage to consult on it; contrived somehow to find tolerable liquor + there; and sat drinking instead. [Preuss, ii. 217.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter V.—SAXONY WITHOUT DEFENCE: SCHMETTAU SURRENDERS DRESDEN. + </h2> + <p> + Friedrich's despair did not last quite four days. On the fourth day,—day + after leaving Reitwein,—there is this little Document, which still + exists, of more comfortable tenor: "My dear Major-General von Wunsch,—Your + Letter of the 16th to Lieutenant-General von Finck punctually arrived + here: and for the future, as I am now recovered from my illness, you have + to address your Reports directly to Myself.—F." ["Madlitz," on the + road to Furstenwalde, "17th August:" in Preuss, <i>Friedrich der Grosse; + eine historische Portrait-Skizze</i> (kind of LECTURE, so let us call it, + if again citing it; Lecture delivered, on Friedrich's Birthday, to Majesty + and Staff-Officers as Audience, Berlin, 24th January, 1855), p. 18.] + Finding that, except Tottleben warily reconnoitring with a few Cossacks, + no Russians showed themselves at Reitwein; that the Russians were + encamping and intrenching on the Wine-Hills south of Frankfurt, not + meaning anything immediate,—he took heart again; ranked his 23,000; + sent for General Kleist from Pommern with his Anti-Swedish handful (leave + the Swedes alone, as usual in time of crisis); considered that artilleries + and furnishings could come to him from Berlin, which is but 60 miles; that + there still lay possibility ahead, and that, though only a miracle could + save him, he would try it to the very last. + </p> + <p> + A great relief, this of coming to oneself again! "Till death, then;—rage + on, ye elements and black savageries!" Friedrich's humor is not + despondent, now or afterwards; though at this time it is very sad, very + angry, and, as it were, scorning even to hope: but he is at all times of + beautifully practical turn; and has, in his very despair, a sobriety of + eyesight, and a fixed steadiness of holding to his purpose, which are of + rare quality. His utterances to D'Argens, about this time and onward,—brief + hints, spontaneous, almost unconscious,—give curious testimony of + his glooms and moody humors. Of which the reader shall see something. For + the present, he is in deep indignation with his poor Troops, among other + miseries. "Actual running away!" he will have it to be; and takes no + account of thirst, hunger, heat, utter weariness and physical + impossibility! This lasts for some weeks. But in general there is nothing + of this injustice to those about him. In general, nothing even of gloom is + manifested; on the contrary, cheerfulness, brisk hope, a strangely + continual succession of hopes (mostly illusory);—though, within, + there is traceable very great sorrow, weariness and misery. A fixed + darkness, as of Erebus, is grown habitual to him; but is strictly shut up, + little of it shown to others, or even, in a sense, to himself. He is as a + traveller overtaken by the Night and its tempests and rain-deluges, but + refusing to pause; who is wetted to the bone, and does not care farther + for rain. A traveller grown familiar with the howling solitudes; aware + that the Storm-winds do not pity, that Darkness is the dead Earth's + Shadow:—a most lone soul of a man; but continually toiling forward, + as if the brightest goal and haven were near and in view. + </p> + <p> + Once more the world was certain of Friedrich's ruin;—Friedrich + himself we have seen certain of it, for some few desperate hours:—but + the world and he, as had been repeatedly the world's case, were both + disappointed. Intrinsically there could be little doubt but Friedrich's + enemies might now have ruined him, had they been diligent about it. Now + again, and now more than ever, they have the winning-post in sight. At + small distance is the goal and purpose of all these four years' battlings + and marchings, and ten years' subterranean plottings and intriguings. He + himself says deliberately, "They had only to give him the finishing stroke + (COUP-DE-GRACE)." [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> v. 20.] But they never gave + him that stroke; could not do it, though heartily desirous. Which was, and + is, matter of surprise to an observant public. + </p> + <p> + The cause of failure may be considered to have been, in good part, Daun + and his cunctations. Daun's zeal was unquestionable; ardent and continual + is Daun's desire to succeed: but to try it at his own risk was beyond his + power. He expected always to succeed by help of others: and to show them + an example, and go vigorously to work himself, was what he never could + resolve on. Could play only Fabius Cunctator, it would seem; and never was + that part less wanted than now! Under such a Chief Figure, the + "incoherency of action," instead of diminishing, as Friedrich had feared, + rose daily towards its maximum; and latterly became extreme. The old + Lernean Hydra had many heads; but they belonged all to one body. The many + heads of this Anti-Friedrich Hydra had withal each its own body, and + separate set of notions and advantages. Friedrich was at least a unity; + his whole strength going one way, and at all moments, under his own sole + command. The value of this circumstance is incalculable; this is the + saving-clause of Pitt and his England (Pitt also a despotic sovereign, + though a temporary one); this, second only to Friedrich's great gifts from + Nature, and the noble use he makes of them, is above all others the + circumstance that saved him in such a duel with the Hydras. + </p> + <p> + On the back of Kunersdorf, accordingly, there was not only no finishing + stroke upon Friedrich, but for two months no stroke or serious attempt + whatever in those neighborhoods where Friedrich is. There are four Armies + hereabouts: The Grand Russian, hanging by Frankfurt; Friedrich at + Furstenwalde (whitherward he marched from Reitwein August 16th), at + Furstenwalde or farther south, guarding Berlin;—then, unhurt yet by + battle of any kind, there are the Grand Daunish or Mark-Lissa Army, and + Prince Henri's of Schmottseifen. Of which latter Two the hitchings and + manoeuvrings from time to time become vivid, and never altogether cease; + but in no case come to anything. Above two months' scientific flourishing + of weapons, strategic counter-dancing; but no stroke struck, or result + achieved, except on Daun's part irreparable waste of time:—all + readers would feel it inhuman to be burdened with any notice of such + things. One march of Prince Henri's, which was of a famous and decisive + character, we will attend to, when it comes, that is, were the end of + September at hand; the rest must be imagined as a general strategic dance + in those frontier parts,—Silesia to rearward on one side, the + Lausitz and Frankfurt on the other,—and must go on, silently for + most part, in the background of the reader's fancy. Indeed, Saxony is the + scene of action; Friedrich, Henri, Soltikof, Daun, comparatively inactive + for the next six weeks and more. + </p> + <p> + Some days before Kunersdorf, Daun personally, with I will forget how many + thousands, had made a move to northward from Mark-Lissa, 60 miles or so, + through Sagan Country; and lies about Priebus, waiting there ever since. + Priebus is some 40 miles north of Gorlitz, about 60 west of Glogau, south + of Frankfurt 80. This is where the Master-Smith, having various irons in + the fire, may be handiest for clutching them out, and forging at them, as + they become successively hot. Daun, as Master-Smith, has at least three + objects in view. The FIRST is, as always, Reconquest of Silesia: this is + obstructed by Prince Henri, who sits, watchful on the threshold, at + Schmottseifen yonder. The SECOND is, as last year, Capture of Dresden: + which is much the more feasible at present,—there being, except the + Garrisons, no Prussian force whatever in Saxony; and a Reichs Army now + actually there at last, after its long haggling about its Magazines; and + above all, a Friedrich with his hands full elsewhere. To keep Friedrich's + hands full,—in other words, to keep the Russians sticking to him,—that + is the THIRD object: or indeed we may call it the first, second and third; + for Daun is well aware that unless Soltikof can manage to keep Friedrich + busy, Silesia, Saxony and all else becomes impossible. + </p> + <p> + Ever since the fortunate junction of Loudon with Soltikof, Daun has sat, + and still sits, expectant; elaborately calculative, gathering Magazines in + different parts, planting out-parties, this way, that way, with an eye to + these three objects, all or each,—especially to the third object, + which he discerns to be all AND each. Daun was elaborately calculative + with these views: but to try any military action, upon Prince Henri for + example, or bestir himself otherwise than in driving provender forward, + and marching detachments hither and thither to the potentially fit and + fittest posts, was not in Daun's way,—so much the worse for Daun, in + his present course of enterprise. + </p> + <p> + Prince Henri had lain quiet at Schmottseifen, waiting his Brother's + adventure; did not hear the least tidings of him till six days after + Kunersdorf, and then only by rumor; hideous, and, though still dubious, + too much of it probable! On the very day of Kunersdorf, Henri had begun + effecting some improvements on his right flank,—always a sharply + strategic, most expert creature,—and made a great many motions, + which would be unintelligible here. [Detailed, every fibre of them (as is + the soul-confusing custom there), in Tempelhof, iii. 228 et seq.] Henri + feels now that upon him lies a world of duties; and foremost of all, the + instant duty of endeavoring to open communication with his Brother. Many + marches, in consequence; much intricate marching and manoeuvring between + Daun and him: of which, when we come to Henri's great March (of 25th + September), there may be again some hint. + </p> + <p> + For the present, let readers take their Map, and endeavor to fix the + following dates and localities in their mind. Here, in summary, are the + King's various Marches, and Two successive Encampments, two only, during + those Six Weeks of forced inaction, while he is obliged to stand watching + the Russians, and to witness so many complicacies and disasters in the + distance; which he struggles much and fruitlessly to hinder or help:— + </p> + <p> + ENCAMPMENT 1st (Furstenwalde, August 18th-30th). Friedrich left Reitwein + AUGUST 16th; 17th, he is at Madlitz [Note to Wunsch written there, which + we read]; 18th, to Furstenwalde, and encamp. Furstenwalde is on the Spree, + straight between Frankfurt and Berlin; 25 miles from the former, 35 from + the latter. Here for near a fortnight. At first, much in alarm about the + Russians and Berlin; but gradually ascertaining that the Russians intend + nothing. + </p> + <p> + "In effect, all this while Soltikof lay at Lossow, 10 miles south of + Frankfurt, with his right on Oder; totally motionless, inactive, except + listening, often rather gloomily, to Daun's and Montalembert's suasive + eloquences and advices,—and once, August 22d, in the little Town of + Guben, holding Conference with Daun [of which by and by]. In consequence + of which, AUGUST 28th, Soltikof and his Russians and Austrians got under + way again; southward, but only a few marches: first to Mullrose, then to + Lieberose:—whom, the instant he heard of their movements, Friedrich, + August 30th, hastened to follow; but had not to follow very far. Whereupon + ensues, + </p> + <p> + "ENCAMPMENT SECOND (Waldau, till September 15th). AUGUST 30th, Friedrich, + we say, rose from Furstenwalde; hastened to follow this Russian movement, + and keep within wind of it: up the valley of the Spree; first to Mullrose + neighborhood [where the Russians, loitering some time, spoiled the + canal-locks of the Friedrich-Wilhelm Canal, if nothing more],—thence + to Lieberose neighborhood; Waldau, the King's new place of encampment,—Waldau, + with Spree Forest to rear of it: silent both parties till September 15th, + when Soltikof did fairly march, not towards Berlin, but quite in the + opposite direction." + </p> + <p> + By the middle of September, when the Russians did get on foot, and moved + eastward; especially on and after September 25th, when Henri made his + famous March westward; then it will behoove us to return to Friedrich and + these localities. For the present we must turn to Saxony, where, and not + here, the scene of action is. Take, farther, only the following bits of + Note, which will now be readable. First, these Utterances to D'Argens; + direct glimpses into the heavy-laden, indeed hag-ridden and nearly + desperate inner man of Friedrich, during the first three weeks after his + defeat at Kunersdorf:— + </p> + <p> + THE KING TO MARQUIS D'ARGENS (at Berlin): Six Notes. + </p> + <p> + 1. "MADLITZ [road from Reitwein to Furstenwalde], 16th AUGUST, 1759. We + have been unfortunate, my dear Marquis; but not, by my fault. The victory + was ours, and would even have been a complete one, when our infantry lost + patience, and at the wrong moment abandoned the field of battle. The enemy + to-day is on march to Mullrose, to unite with Haddick [not to Mullrose for + ten days yet; Haddick had already got united with THEM]. The Russian + infantry is almost totally destroyed. Of my own wrecks, all that I have + been able to assemble amounts to 32,000 men; with these I am pushing on to + throw myself across the enemy's road, and either perish or save the + Capital. That is not what you [you Berliners] will call a deficiency of + resolution. + </p> + <p> + "For the event I cannot answer. If I had more lives than one, I would + sacrifice them all to my Country. But if this stroke fail, I think I am + clear-scores with her, and that it will be permissible to look a little to + myself. There are limits to everything. I support my misfortune; courage + not abated by it: but I am well resolved, after this stroke, if it fail, + to open an outgate for myself [that small glass tube which never quits + me], and no longer be the sport of any chance." + </p> + <p> + 2. Furstenwalde, 20th AUGUST.... "Remain at Berlin, or retire to Potsdam; + in a little while there will come some catastrophe: it is not fit that you + suffer by it. If things take a good turn, you can be back to Berlin [from + Potsdam] in four hours. If ill-luck still pursue us, go to Hanover or to + Zelle, where you can provide for your safety. + </p> + <p> + "I protest to you, that in this late Action I did what was humanly + possible to conquer; but my people"—Oh, your Majesty! + </p> + <p> + 3. FURSTENWALDE, 21st AUGUST.... "The enemy is intrenching himself near + Frankfurt; a sign he intends no attempt. If you will do me the pleasure to + come out hither, you can in all safety. Bring your bed with you; bring my + Cook Noel; and I will have you a little chamber ready. You will be my + consolation and my hope."— + </p> + <p> + This day,—let readers mark the circumstance,—Friedrich, in + better spirits, detaches Wunsch with some poor 6,000, to try if he can be + of help in Saxony; where the Reichs Army, now arrived in force, and with + nothing whatever in the field against them, is taking all the Northward + Garrison-Towns, and otherwise proceeding at a high rate. Too possibly with + an eye towards Dresden itself! Wunsch sets out August 21st. [Tempelhof, + iii. 211.] And we shall hear of him in those Saxon Countries before long. + </p> + <p> + 4. FURSTENWALDE, 22d AUGUST. "Yesterday I wrote to you to come; but to-day + I forbid it. Daun is at Kotbus; he is marching on Luben and Berlin + [nothing like so rash!].—Fly these unhappy Countries!—This + news obliges me again to attack the Russians between here and Frankfurt. + You may imagine if this is a desperate resolution. It is the sole hope + that remains to me, of not being cut off from Berlin on the one side or + the other. I will give the discouraged troops some brandy"—alas!—"but + I promise myself nothing of success. My one consolation is, that I shall + die sword in hand." + </p> + <p> + 5. SAME PLACE AND DAY (after a Letter FROM D'Argens). "You make the + panegyric, MON CHER, of an Army that does not deserve any. The soldiers + had good limbs to run with, none to attack the enemy. [Alas, your Majesty; + after fifteen hours of such marching and fighting!] + </p> + <p> + "For certain I will fight; but don't flatter yourself about the event. A + happy chance alone can help us. Go, in God's name, to Tangermunde [since + the Royal Family went, D'Argens and many Berliners are thinking of + flight], to Tangermunde, where you will be well; and wait there how + Destiny shall have disposed of us. I will go to reconnoitre the enemy + to-morrow. Next day, if there is anything to do, we will try it. But if + the enemy still holds to the Wine-Hills of Frankfurt, I shall never dare + to attack him. + </p> + <p> + "No, the torment of Tantalus, the pains of Prometheus, the doom of + Sisyphus, were nothing like what I suffer for the last ten days [from + Kunersdorf till now, when destruction has to be warded off again, and the + force wanting]. Death is sweet in comparison to such a life. Have + compassion on me and it; and believe that I still keep to myself a great + many evil things, not wishing to afflict or disquiet anybody with them; + and that I would not counsel you to fly these unlucky Countries, if I had + any ray of hope. Adieu, MON CHER." + </p> + <p> + Four days after, AUGUST 25th, from this same Furstenwalde, the Russians + still continuing stagnant, Friedrich despatches to Schmettau, Commandant + of Dresden (by some industrious hand, for the roads are all blocked), a + Second Letter, "That Dresden is of the highest moment; that in case of + Siege there, relief [Wunsch, namely, and perhaps more that may follow] is + on the road; and that Schmettau must defend himself to the utmost." Let us + hope this Second Missive may counteract the too despondent First, which we + read above, should that have produced discouragement in Schmettau! [Second + Letter is given in <i>Schmettau's Leben,</i> pp. 436, 437.]—D'Argens + does run to Wolfenbuttel; stays there till September 9th. Nothing more + from Friedrich till 4th September, when matters are well cooled again. + </p> + <p> + 6. WALDAU, 4th SEPTEMBER. "I think Berlin is now in safety; you may return + thither. The Barbarians [Russians] are in the Lausitz; I keep by the side + of them, between them and Berlin, so that there is nothing to fear for the + Capital. The imminency of danger is past; but there will still be many bad + moments to get through, before reaching the end of the Campaign. These, + however, only regard myself; never mind these. My martyrdom will last two + months yet; then the snows and the ices will end it." [<i>OEuvres de + Frederic,</i> xix. 78, 82, 83, 85, 86.] + </p> + <p> + Thus at Furstenwalde, then at Waldau, keeping guard, forlorn but resolute, + against the intrusive Russian-Austrian deluges, Friedrich stands painfully + vigilant and expectant,—still for about a fortnight more. With bad + news coming to him latterly, as we shall hear. He is in those old moorland + Wusterhausen Countries, once so well known under far other circumstances. + Thirty years ago, in fine afternoons, we used to gallop with poor Duhan de + Jandun, after school-tasks done, towards Mittenwalde, Furstenwalde and the + furzy environs, far and wide; at home, our Sister and Mother waiting with + many troubles and many loves, and Papa sleeping, Pan-like, under the + shadow of his big tree:—Thirty years ago, ah me, gone like a dream + is all that; and there is solitude and desolation and the Russian-Austrian + death-deluges instead! These, I suppose, were Friedrich's occasional + remembrances; silent always, in this locality and time. The Sorrows of + WERTER, of the GIAOUR, of the Dyspeptic Tailor in multifarious forms, are + recorded in a copious heart-rending manner, and have had their meed of + weeping from a sympathetic Public: but there are still a good few Sorrows + which lie wrapt in silence, and have never applied there for an idle tear!—Let + us look now into Daun's side of things. + </p> + <p> + DAUM, AFTER NEGOTIATION, HAS AN INTERVIEW WITH SOLTIKOF (at Guben, August + 22d).—"Daun, who had moved to Priebus, with a view to be nearer + Soltikof, had scarcely got his tent pitched there (August 13th), when a + breathless horseman rode in, with a Note from Loudon, dated the night + before: 'King of Prussia beaten, to the very bone, beyond mistake this + time,—utterly ruined, if one may judge!' What a vision of the + Promised Land! Delighted Daun moves forward, one march, to Triebel on the + morrow; to be one march nearer the scene of glory, and endeavor to forge + this biggest of the hot irons to advantage. + </p> + <p> + "At Triebel Soltikof's own account, elucidated by oral messengers, + eye-witnesses, and, in short, complete conspectus of this ever memorable + Victory, await the delighted Daun. Who despatches messengers, one and + another; Lacy, the first, not succeeding quite: To congratulate with + enthusiasm the most illustrious of Generals; who has beaten King Friedrich + as none else ever did or could; beaten to the edge of extinction;—especially + to urge him upon trampling out this nearly extinct King, before he gleam + up again. Soltikof understands the congratulations very well; but as to + that of trampling out, snorts an indignant negative: 'Nay, you, why don't + you try it? Surely it is more your business than my Imperial Mistress's or + mine. We have wrenched two victories from him this season. Kay and + Kunersdorf have killed near the half of us: go you in, and wrench + something!' This is Soltikof's logic; which no messenger of Daun's, Lacy + or another, aided by never such melodies and suasions from Montalembert + and Loudon, who are permanently diligent that way, can shake. + </p> + <p> + "And truly it is irrefragable. How can Daun, if himself merely + speculative, calculative, hope that Soltikof will continue acting? Men who + have come to help you in a heavy job of work need example. If you wish me + to weep, be grieved yourself first of all. Soltikof angrily wipes his + countenance at this point, and insists on a few tears from Daun. Without + metaphor, Soltikof has shot away all his present ammunition, his staff of + bread is quite precarious in these parts; and Soltikof thinks always, 'Is + it my business, then, or is it yours?' + </p> + <p> + "Soltikof has intrenched himself on the Wine-Hills at Lossow, comfortably + out of Friedrich's way, and contiguous to Oder and the provision-routes; + sits there, angrily deaf to the voice of the charmer; nothing to be + charmed out of him, but gusts of indignation, instead of consent. A proud, + high-going, indignant kind of man, with a will of his own. And sees well + enough what is what, in all this symphony of the Lacys, the Montalemberts + and surrounding adorers. Montalembert, who is here this season, our French + best man (unprofitable Swedes must put up with an inferior hand), is + extremely persuasive, tries all the arts of French rhetoric, but effects + nothing. 'To let the Austrians come in for the finishing stroke,—-Excellence, + it will be to let them gain, in History, a glory which is of your earning. + Daun and Austria, not Soltikof and Russia, will be said to have + extinguished this pestilent King; whom History will have to remember!' + [Choiseul's Letter (not DUC de Choiseul, but COMTE, now Minister at + Vienna) to Montalembert, "Vienna, 16th August;" and Montalembert's Answer, + "Lieberhausen [means LIEBEROSE], 31st August, 1759:" in Montalembert, <i>Correspondance,</i> + ii. 58-65.] 'With all my heart,' answers Soltikof; 'I make the Austrians + and History perfectly welcome! Monsieur, my ammunition is in Posen; my + bread is fallen scarce; in Frankfurt can you find me one horse more?' + Indignant Soltikof is not to be taken by chaff; growls now and then, if + you stir him to the bottom: 'Why should we, who are volunteer assistants, + take all the burden of the work? I will fall back to Posen, and home to + Poland and East Preussen, if this last much longer.' + </p> + <p> + "Austria has a good deal disgusted these Soltikofs and Russian Chief + Officers;—who are not so stupid as Austria supposes. Austria's + steady wish is, 'Let them do their function of cat's-paw for us; we are + here to eat the chestnuts; not, if we can help it, to burn our own poor + fingers for them!' After every Campaign hitherto, Austria has been in use + to raise eager accusations at Petersburg; and get the Apraxins, Fermors + into trouble: this is not the way to conciliate Russian General Officers. + Austria, taught probably by Daun, now tries the other tack: heaps Soltikof + with eulogies, flatteries, magnificent presents. All which Soltikof + accepts, but with a full sense of what they mean. An unmanageable + Soltikof; his answer always,—'Your turn now to fight a victory! I + will go my ways to Posen again, if you don't.' And, in these current + weeks, in Soltikof's audience-room, if anybody were curious about it, we + could present a very lively solicitation going on, with answers very gruff + and negatory. No suasion of Montalembert, Lacy, and Daun Embassies, backed + by diamond-hilted swords, and splendor of gifts from Vienna itself, able + to prevail on the barbarous people. + </p> + <p> + "Daun at length resolves to go in person; solicits an Interview with the + distinguished Russian Conqueror; gets it, meets Soltikof at Guben, + half-way house between Frankfurt and Triebel; select suite attending both + Excellencies (August 22d); and exerts whatever rhetoric is in him on the + barbarous man. The barbarous man is stiff as brass; but Daun comes into + all his conditions: 'Saxony, Silesia,—Excellenz, we have them both + within clutch; such our exquisite angling and manoeuvring, in concert with + your immortal victory, which truly gives the life-breath to everything. + Oh, suffer us to clutch them: keep that King away from us; and see if they + are not ours, Saxony first, Silesia next! Provisions of meal? I will + myself undertake to furnish bread for you [though I have to cart it from + Bohemia all the way, and am myself terribly off; but fixed to do the + impossible]; ration of bread shall fail no Russian man, while you escort + us as protective friend. Towards Saxony first, where the Reichs Army is, + and not a Prussian in the field; the very Garrisons mostly gone by this + time. Dresden is to be besieged, within a week; Dresden itself is ours, if + only YOU please! Come into the Lausitz with us, Magazines are there, + loaves in abundance: Saxony done, Dresden ours, cannot we turn to Silesia + together; besiege Glogau together (I am myself about trying Neisse, by + Harsch again); capture Glogau as well as Neisse; and crown the + successfulest campaign that ever was? Oh, Excellenz—!'" + </p> + <p> + In a word, Excellenz, strictly fixing that condition of the loaves, + consents. Will get ready to leave those Frankfurt Wine-Hills in about a + week. "But the loaves, you recollect: no Bread, no Russian!" Daun returns + to Triebel a victorious man,—though with an onerous condition + incumbent. Tempelhof, minutely computing, finds that to cart from Bohemia + such a cipher of human rations daily into these parts, will surpass all + the vehiculatory power of Daun. [Tempelhof, iii. 225.]' + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE "REICHS ARMY" 80 CALLED HAS ENTERED SAXONY, UNDER FINE OMENS; DOES + SOME FEATS OF SIEGING (August 7th-23d),—WITH AN EYE ON DRESDEN AS + THE CROWNING ONE. + </h2> + <p> + The Reichs Army, though it had been so tumbled about, in Spring, with such + havoc on its magazines and preparations, could not wait to refit itself, + except superficially; and showed face over the Mountains almost earlier + than usual. The chance was so unique: a Saxony left to its mere Garrisons,—as + it continued to be, for near two months this Year. On such golden + opportunity the Reichs Army—first, in light mischievous precursor + parties, who roamed as far as Halle or even as Halberstadt; then the Army + itself, well or ill appointed, under Generalissimo the Prince von + Zweibruck,—did come on, winding through Thuringen towards the + Northwestern Towns; various Austrian Auxiliary-Corps making appearance on + the Dresden side. Eight Austrian regiments, as a permanency, are in the + Reichs Army itself. Commander, or part Commander, of the eight is (what + alone I find noteworthy in them) "Herr General Thomas von Blonquet:" Irish + by nation, says a foot-note; [Seyfarth, ii. 831 n.]—sure enough some + adventurous "Thomas PLUNKET," visible this once, soldiering, in those + circumstances; never heard of by a sympathetic reader before or after. It + was while the King was hunting the Haddick-Loudon people in Sagan Country + in such vehement fashion, that Zweibruck came trumpeting into Saxony,—King, + Prince Henri and everybody, well occupied otherwise, far away! + </p> + <p> + The Reichs Army has a camp at Naumburg (Rossbach neighborhood): and has + light troops out in Halle neighborhood; which have seized Halle; are very + severe upon Halle, and other places thereabouts, till chased away. August + 7th, the Reichs Army begirt Leipzig; summoned the weak garrison there. It + is a Town capable of ruin, but not of defence: "Free-withdrawal," proposes + the Reichs Army,—and upon these terms gets hold of Leipzig, for the + time being. Leipzig, Torgau, Wittenberg; in a fortnight or less, all the + Prussian posts in those parts fall to the Reichs Army. Its marchings and + siegings, among those Northwestern places, not one of them capable of + standing above a few days' siege, are worth no mention, except to Parish + History: enough that, by little after the middle of August, Zweibruck had + got all these places, "Free-withdrawal" the terms for all; and that, + except it be the following feature in their Siege of Torgau, feature + mainly Biographic, and belonging to a certain Colonel Wolfersdorf + concerned, there is not one of those Sieges now worth a moment's attention + from almost any mortal. This is the Torgau feature,—feature of human + nature, soldiering under difficulties:— + </p> + <p> + COLONEL VON WOLFERSDORF BEAUTIFULLY DEFENDS HIMSELF IN TORGAU (August + 9th-14th). Two days after Leipzig was had, there appeared at Torgau a Body + of Pandours, 2,000 and more; who attempted some kind of scalade on Torgau + and its small Garrison (of 700 or so),—where are a Magazine, a + Hospital and other properties: not capable, by any garrison, of standing + regular siege; but important to defend till you have proper terms offered. + The multitudinous Pandours, if I remember, made a rush into the Suburbs, + in their usual vociferous way; but were met by the 700 silent Prussians,—silent + except through their fire-arms and field-pieces,—in so eloquent a + style as soon convinced the Pandour mind, and sent it travelling again. + And in the evening of the same day (August 9th), Colonel Wolfersdorf + arrives, as new Commandant, and with reinforcements, small though + considerable in the circumstances. + </p> + <p> + Wolfersdorf, one dimly gathers, had marched from Wittenberg on this + errand; the whole force in Torgau is now of about 3,000, still with only + field-cannon, but with a Captain over them;—who, as is evident, sets + himself in a very earnest manner to do his utmost in defence of the place. + Next morning Reichs General Kleefeld ("Cloverfield"), with 6 or 8,000 + Pandour and Regular, summons Wolfersdorf: "Surrender instantly; or—!" + "We will expect you!" answers Wolfersdorf. Whereupon, same morning (August + 10th), general storm; storm No. 1: beautifully handled by Wolfersdorf; who + takes it in rear (to its astonishment), as well as in front; and sends it + off in haste. On the morrow, Saturday, a second followed; and on Sunday a + third; both likewise beautifully handled. This third storm, readers see, + was "Sunday, August 12th:" a very busy stormful day at Torgau here,—and + also, for some others of us, during the heats of Kunersdorf, over the + horizon far away! Wolfersdorf tumbles back all storms; furthermore makes + mischievous sallies: a destructive, skilled person; altogether prompt, + fertile in expedients; and evidently is not to be managed by Kleefeld. So + that Prince von Stolberg, Second to supreme Zweibruck himself, has to take + it in hand. And, + </p> + <p> + MONDAY, 13th, at break of day, Stolberg arrives with a train of battering + guns and 6,000 new people; summons Wolfersdorf: "No," as before. Storms + him, a fourth time; likewise "No," as before: attacks, thereupon, his Elbe + Bridge, and his Redoubt across the River; finds a Wolfersdorf party rush + destructively into his rear there. And has to withdraw, and try battering + from behind the Elbe Dam. Continues this, violently for about two hours; + till again Wolfersdorf, whose poor fieldpieces, the only artillery he has, + "cannot reach so far with leaden balls" (the iron balls are done, and the + powder itself is almost done), manages, by a flank attack, to quench this + also. Which produces entire silence, and considerable private reflection, + on the part of indignant Stolberg. Stolberg offers him the favorablest + terms devisable: "Withdraw freely, with all your honors, all your + properties; only withdraw!" Which Wolfersdorf, his powder and ball being + in such a state of ebb, and no relief possible, agrees to; with + stipulations very strict as to every particular. [In <i>Anonymous of + Hamburg</i> (iii. 350) the Capitulation, "August 14th." given IN EXTENSO.] + </p> + <p> + COLONEL VON WOLFERSDORF WITHDRAWS, ALSO BEAUTIFULLY (August 15th). + Accordingly, Wednesday, August 15th, at eight in the morning, Wolfersdorf + by the Elbe Gate moves out; across Elbe Bridge, and the Redoubt which is + on the farther shore yonder. Near this Redoubt, Stolberg and many of his + General Officers are waiting to see him go. He goes in state; flags + flying, music playing. Battalion Hessen-Cassel, followed by all our + Packages, Hospital convalescents, King's Artillery, and whatever is the + King's or ours, marches first. Next comes, as rear-guard to all this, + Battalion Grollmann;—along with which is Wolfersdorf himself, + knowing Grollmann for a ticklish article (Saxons mainly); followed on the + heel by Battalion Hofmann, and lastly by Battalion Salmuth, trusty + Prussians both of these. + </p> + <p> + Battalion Hessen-Cassel and the Baggages are through the Redoubt, Prince + of Stolberg handsomely saluting as saluted. But now, on Battalion + Grollmann's coming up, Stolberg's Adjutant cries out with a loud voice of + proclamation, many Officers repeating and enforcing: "Whoever is a brave + Saxon, whoever is true to his Kaiser, or was of the Reichs Army, let him + step out: Durchlaucht will give him protection!" At sound of which + Grollmann quivers as if struck by electricity; and instantly begins + dissolving;—dissolves, in effect, nearly all, and is in the act of + vanishing like a dream! Wolfersdorf is a prompt man; and needs to be so. + Wolfersdorf, in Olympian rage, instantly stops short; draws pistol: "I + will shoot dead every man that quits rank!" vociferates he; and does, with + his pistol, make instant example of one; inviting every true Prussian to + do the like: "Jagers, Hussars, a ducat for every traitor you shoot down!" + continues Wolfersdorf (and punctually paid it afterwards): unable to + prevent an almost total dissolution of Grollmann. For some minutes, there + is a scene indescribable: storm of vociferation, menace, musket-shot, + pistol-shot; Grollmann disappearing on every side,—"behind the + Redoubt, under the Bridge, into Elbe Boats, under the cloaks of the + Croats;"—in spite of Wolfersdorf's Olympian rages and efforts. + </p> + <p> + At sight of the shooting, Prince Stolberg, a hot man, had said + indignantly, "Herr, that will be dangerous for you (DAS WIRD NICHT GUT + GEHN)!" Wolfersdorf not regarding him a whit; regarding only Grollmann, + and his own hot business of coercing it at a ducat per head. Grollmann + gone, and Battalion Hofmann in due sequence come up, Wolfersdorf—who + has sent an Adjutant, with order, "Hessen-Cassel, HALT"—gives + Battalion Hofmann these three words of command: "Whole Battalion, halt!—Front!—Make + ready!" (with due simultaneous click of every firelock, on utterance of + that last);—and turning to Prince Stolberg, with a brow, with a tone + of voice: "Durchlaucht, Article 9 of the Capitulation is express on this + point; 'ALL DESERTION STRICTLY PROHIBITED; NO DESERTER TO BE RECEIVED + EITHER ON THE IMPERIAL OR ON THE PRUSSIAN SIDE!' [Durchlaucht silently + gives, we suppose, some faint sniff.] Since your Durchlaucht does not keep + the Capitulation, neither will I regard it farther. I will now take you + and your Suite prisoners, return into the Town, and again begin defending + myself. Be so good as ride directly into that Redoubt, or I will present, + and give fire!" + </p> + <p> + A dangerous moment for the Durchlaucht of Stolberg; Battalion Salmuth + actually taking possession of the wall again; Hofmann here with its poised + firelock on the cock, "ready" for that fourth word, as above indicated. A + General Lusinsky of Stolberg's train, master of those Croats, and an + Austrian of figure, remarks very seriously: "Every point of the + Capitulation must be kept!" Upon which Durchlaucht has to renounce and + repent; eagerly assists in recovering Grollmann, restores it (little the + worse, little the FEWER); will give Wolfersdorf "COMMAND of the Austrian + Escort you are to have", and every satisfaction and assurance;—wishful + only to get rid of Wolfersdorf. Who thereupon marches to Wittenberg, with + colors flying again, and a name mentionable ever since. [Templehof, iii. + 201-204; Seyfarth, ii. 562 n., and <i> Beylagen,</i> ii. 587; <i>Militair-Lexikon,</i> + iv. 283.] + </p> + <p> + This Wolfersdorf was himself a Pirna Saxon; serving Polish Majesty, as + Major, in that Pirna time; perhaps no admirer of "Feldmarschall Bruhl" and + Company?—at any rate, he took Prussian service, as then offered him; + and this is his style of keeping it. A decidedly clever soldier, and comes + out, henceforth, more and more as such,—unhappily not for long. Was + taken at Maxen, he too, as will be seen. Rose, in after times, to be + Lieutenant-General, and a man famous in the Prussian military circles; but + given always, they say, to take the straight line (or shortest distance + between self and object), in regard to military matters, to recruiting and + the like, and thus getting himself into trouble with the Civil Officials. + </p> + <p> + Wolfersdorf, at Wittenberg or farther on, had a flattering word from the + King; applauding his effective procedures at Torgau; and ordering him, + should Wittenberg fall (as it did, August 23d), to join Wunsch, who is + coming with a small Party to try and help in those destitute localities. + Wunsch the King had detached (21st August), as we heard already. Finck the + King finds, farther, that he can detach (from Waldau Country, September + 7th); [Tempelhof, iii. 211, 237.] Russians being so languid, and Saxony + fallen into such a perilous predicament. + </p> + <p> + "Few days after Kunersdorf," says a Note, which should be inserted here, + "there had fallen out a small Naval matter, which will be consolatory to + Friedrich, and go to the other side of the account, when he hears of it: + Kunersdorf was Sunday, August 12th; this was Saturday and Sunday + following. Besides their Grand Brest Fleet, with new Flat-bottoms, and + world-famous land-preparations going on at Vannes, for Invasion of proud + Albion, all which are at present under Hawke's strict keeping, the French + have, ever since Spring last, a fine subsidiary Fleet at Toulon, of very + exultant hopes at one time; which now come to finis. + </p> + <p> + "SEA-FIGHT (PROPERLY SEA-HUNT OF 200 MILES), IN THE CADIZ WATERS, AUGUST + 18th-19th. The fine Toulon Fleet, which expected at one time, Pitt's ships + being so scattered over the world, to be 'mistress of the Mediterranean,' + has found itself, on the contrary (such were Pitt's resources and + promptitudes); cooped in harbor all Summer; Boscawen watching it in the + usual strict way. No egress possible; till, in the sultry weather (8th + July-4th August), Boscawen's need of fresh provisions, fresh water and of + making some repairs, took him to Gibraltar, and gave the Toulon Fleet a + transient opportunity, which it made use of. + </p> + <p> + "August 17th, at 8 in the evening, Boscawen, at Gibraltar (some of his + ships still in deshabille or under repair), was hastily apprised by one of + his Frigates, That the Toulon Fleet had sailed; been seen visibly at Ceuta + Point so many hours ago. 'Meaning,' as Boscawen guesses, 'to be through + the Straits this very night!' By power of despatch, the deshabille ships + were rapidly got buttoned together (in about two hours); and by 10 P.M. + all were under sail. And soon were in hot chase; the game, being now in + view,—going at its utmost through the Straits, as anticipated. At 7 + next morning (Saturday, August 18th) Boscawen got clutch of the Toulon + Fleet; still well east of Cadiz, somewhere in the Trafalgar waters, I + should guess. Here Boscawen fought and chased the Toulon Fleet for 24 + hours coming; drove it finally ashore, at Lagos on the coast of Portugal, + with five of its big ships burnt or taken, its crews and other ships + flying by land and water, its poor Admiral mortally wounded; and the + Toulon Fleet a ruined article. The wind had been capricious, here fresh, + there calm; now favoring the hunters, now the hunted; both Fleets had + dropped in two. De la Clue, the French Admiral, complained bitterly how + his Captains lagged, or shore off and forsook him. Boscawen himself, who + for his own share had gone at it eagle-like, was heard grumbling, about + want of speed in some people; and said: 'It is well; but it might have + been better!' [Beatson, ii. 313-319; ib. iii. 237-238, De la Clue, the + French Admiral's Despatch;—Boscawen's Despatch, &c., in <i>Gentleman's + Magazine,</i> xxix. 434.] + </p> + <p> + "De la Clue—fallen long ago from all notions of 'dominating the + Mediterranean'—had modestly intended to get through, on any terms, + into the Ocean; might then, if possible, have joined the Grand 'Invasion + Squadron,' now lying at Brest, till Vannes and the furnishings are ready, + or have tried to be troublesome in the rear of Hawke, who is blockading + all that. A modest outlook in comparison;—and this is what it also + has come to. As for the Grand Invasion Squadron, Admiral Conflans, + commanding it, still holds up his head in Brest Harbor, and talks big. + Makes little of Rodney's havoc on the Flat-bottoms at Havre, 'Will soon + have Flat-bottoms again: and you shall see!'—if only Hawke, and wind + and weather and Fortune, will permit." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + AUSTRIAN REICHS ARMY DOES ITS CROWNING FEAT (August 26th-September 4th): + DIARY OF WHAT IS CALLED THE "SIEGE" OF DRESDEN. + </h2> + <p> + Since the first weeks of, August there have been Austrian detachments, + Wehla's Corps, Brentano's Corps, entering Saxony from the northeast or + Daun-ward side, and posting themselves in the strong points looking + towards Dresden; waiting there till the Reichs Army should capture its + Leipzigs, Torgaus, Wittenbergs, and roll forward from northwest. To all + which it is easy to fancy what an impetus was given by Kunersdorf and + August 12th; the business, after that, going on double-quick, and pointing + to immediate practical industry on Dresden. The Reichs Army hastens to + settle its northwestern Towns, puts due garrison in each, leaves a 10 or + 12,000 movable for general protection, in those parts; and, August 23d, + marches for Dresden. There are only some 15,000 left of it now; almost + half the Reichs Army drunk up in that manner; were not Daun now speeding + forth his Maguire with a fresh 12,000; who is to command the Wehlas and + Brentanos as well. And, in effect, to be Austrian Chief, and as regards + practical matters, Manager of this important Enterprise,—all-important + to Daun just now. Schmettau in Dresden sees clearly what mischief is at + hand. + </p> + <p> + To Daun this Siege of Dresden is the alpha to whatever omegas there may + be: he and his Soltikof are to sit waiting this; and can attempt nothing + but eating of provender, till this be achieved. As the Siege was really + important, though not quite the alpha to all omegas, and has in it curious + points and physiognomic traits, we will invite readers to some transient + inspection of it,—the rather as there exist ample contemporary + Narratives, DIARIUMS and authentic records, to render that possible and + easy. [In TEMPELHOF (iii. 210-216-222) complete and careful Narrative; in + ANONYMOUS OF HAMBURG (iii. 371-377) express "DAY-BOOK" by some Eye-witness + in Dresden.]' + </p> + <p> + "Ever since the rumor of Kunersdorf," says one Diarium, compiled out of + many, "in the last two weeks of August, Schmettau's need of vigilance and + diligence has been on the increase, his outlooks becoming grimmer and + grimmer. He has a poorish Garrison for number (3,700 in all [Schmettau's + LEBEN (by his Son), p. 408.]), and not of the best quality; deserters a + good few of them: willing enough for strokes; fighting fellows all, and of + adventurous turn, but uncertain as to loyalty in a case of pinch. He has + endless stores in the place; for one item, almost a million sterling of + ready money. Poor Schmettau, if he knew it, has suddenly become the + Leonidas of this campaign, Dresden its Thermopylae; and"—But readers + can conceive the situation. + </p> + <p> + "AUGUST 20th, Schmettau quits the Neustadt, or northern part of Dresden, + which lies beyond the River: unimportant that, and indefensible with + garrison not adequate; Schmettau will strengthen the River-bank, blow up + the Stone Bridge if necessary, and restrict himself to Dresden Proper. The + Court is here; Schmettau does not hope that the Court can avert a Siege + from him; but he fails not to try, in that way too, and may at least gain + time. + </p> + <p> + "AUGUST 25th, He has a Mine put under the main arch of the Bridge: 'mine + ill-made, uncertain of effect,' reports the Officer whom he sent to + inspect it. But it was never tried, the mere rumor of it kept off attacks + on that side. Same day, August 25th, Schmettau receives that unfortunate + Royal Missive [Tempelhof, iii. 208; Schmettau's LEBEN (p. 421) has "August + 27th."] written in the dark days of Reitwein, morrow of Kunersdorf (14th + or 13th August)," which we read above. "That there is another Letter on + the road for him, indicating 'Relief shall be tried,' is unknown to + Schmettau, and fatally continues unknown. While Schmettau is reading this + (August 25th), General Wunsch has been on the road four days: Wunsch and + Wolfersdorf with about 8,000, at their quickest pace, and in a fine winged + frame of mind withal, are speeding on: will cross Elbe at Meissen + to-morrow night,—did Schmettau only know. People say he did, in the + way of rumor, understand that Kunersdorf had not been the fatal thing it + was thought; and that efforts would be made by a King like his. In his + place one might have, at least, shot out a spy or two? But he did not, + then or afterwards. + </p> + <p> + "Already, ever since the arrival of Wehla and Brentano in those parts, he + has been laboring under many uncertainties; too many for a Leonidas! + Hanging between Yes and No, even about that of quitting the Neustadt, for + example: carrying over portions of his goods, but never heartily the + whole; unable to resolve; now lifting visibly the Bridge pavement, then + again visibly restoring it;—and, I think, though the contrary is + asserted, he had at last to leave in the Neustadt a great deal of stores, + horse-provender and other, not needful to him at present, or impossible to + carry, when dubiety got ended. He has put a mine under the Bridge; but + knows it will not go off. + </p> + <p> + "Schmettau has been in many wars, but this is a case that tries his + soldier qualities as none other has ever done. A case of endless + intricacy,—if he be quite equal to it; which perhaps he was not + altogether. Nobody ever doubted Schmettau's high qualities as a man and + captain; but here are requisite the very highest, and these Schmettau has + not. The result was very tragical; I suppose, a pain to Friedrich all his + life after; and certainly to Schmettau all his. This is Saturday night, + 25th August: before Tuesday week (September 4th) there will have sad + things arrived, irremediable to Schmettau. Had Schmettau decided to defend + himself, Dresden had not been taken. What a pity Schmettau had not been + spared this Missive, calculated to produce mere doubt! Whether he could + not, and should not, after a ten days of inquiry and new discernment, have + been able to read the King's true meaning, as well as the King's momentary + humor, in this fatal Document, there is no deciding. Sure enough, he did + not read the King's true meaning in it, but only the King's momentary + humor; did not frankly set about defending himself to the death,—or + 'seeing' in that way 'whether he could not defend himself,'—with a + good capitulation lying in the rear, after he had. + </p> + <p> + "SUNDAY, AUGUST 26th, Trumpet at the gates. Messenger from Zweibruck is + introduced blindfold; brings formal Summons to Schmettau. Summons duly + truculent: 'Resistance vain; the more you resist, the worse it will be,—and + there is a worst [that of being delivered to the Croats, and massacred + every man], of which why should I speak? Especially if in anything you + fail of your duty to the Kur-Prinz [Electoral Prince and Heir-Apparent, + poor crook-backed young Gentleman, who has an excellent sprightly Wife, a + friend of Friedrich's and daughter of the late Kaiser Karl VII., whom we + used so beautifully], imagine what your fate will be!'—To which + Schmettau answers: 'Can Durchlaucht think us ignorant of the common rules + of behavior to Persons of that Rank? For the rest, Durchlaucht knows what + our duties here are, and would despise us if we did NOT do them;'—and, + in short, our answer again is, in polite forms, 'Pooh, pooh; you may go + your way!' Upon which the Messenger is blindfolded again; and Schmettau + sets himself in hot earnest to clearing out his goods from the Neustadt; + building with huge intertwisted cross-beams and stone and earth-masses a + Battery at his own end of the Bridge, batteries on each side of it, below + and above;—locks the Gates; and is passionately busy all Sunday,—though + divine service goes on as usual. + </p> + <p> + "Hardly were the Prussian guns got away, when Croat people in quantity + came in, and began building a Battery at their end of the Bridge, the main + defence-work being old Prussian meal-barrels, handily filled with earth. + 'If you fire one cannon-ball across on us,' said Schmettau, 'I will + bombard the Neustadt into flame in few minutes [I have only to aim at our + Hay Magazine yonder]: be warned! 'Nor did they once fire from that side; + Electoral Highness withal and Royal Palace being quite contiguous behind + the Prussian Bridge-Battery. Electoral Highness and Household are politely + treated, make polite answer to everything; intend going down into the + 'APOTHEKE' (Kitchen suite), or vaulted part of the Palace, and will lodge + there when the cannonade begins. + </p> + <p> + "This same SUNDAY, AUGUST 26th, Maguire arrived; and set instantly to + building his bridge at Pillnitz, a little way above Dresden: at Uebigau, a + little below Dresden, the Reichsfolk have another. Reichsfolk, Zweibruck + in person, come all in on Wednesday; post themselves there, to north and + west of the City. What is more important, the siege-guns, a superb stock, + are steadily floating, through the Pirna regions, hitherward; get to hand + on Friday next, the fifth day hence. [Tempelhof, p. 210.] Korbitz + (half-way out to Kesselsdorf) is Durchlaucht's head-quarter:—Chief + General is Durchlaucht, conspicuously he, at least in theory, and shall + have all the glory; though Maguire, glancing on these cannon, were it + nothing more, has probably a good deal to say. Maguire too, I observe, + takes post on that north or Kesselsdorf side; contiguous for the Head + General. Wehla and Brentano post themselves on the south or up-stream + side; it is they that hand in the siege-guns: batteries are already + everywhere marked out, 13 cannon-batteries and 5 howitzer. In short, from + the morrow of that truculent Summons, Monday morning to Thursday, there is + hot stir of multifarious preparation on Schmettau's part; and continual + pouring in of the hostile force, who are also preparing at the utmost. + Thursday, the Siege, if it can be called a Siege, begins. Gradually, and + as follows:— + </p> + <p> + "THURSDAY MORNING (August 30th), Schmettau, who is, night and day, + 'palisading the River,' and much else,—discloses (that is, Break of + Day discloses on his part) to the Dresden public a huge Gallows, black, + huge, of impressive aspect; labelled 'For Plunderers, Mutineers and their + Helpers.' [ANONYMOUS OF HAMBURG, iii. 373.] The Austrian heavy guns are + not yet in battery; but multitudes of loose Croat people go swarming about + everywhere, and there is plentiful firing from such artilleries as they + have. This same Thursday morning, two or three battalions of them rush + into the Pirna Suburb; attack the Prussian Guard-parties there. Schmettau + instantly despatches Captain Kollas and a Trumpet:—'Durchlaucht, + have the goodness to recall these Croat Parties; otherwise the Suburb goes + into flame! And directly on arrival of this Messenger, may it please + Durchlaucht. For we have computed the time; and will not wait beyond what + is reasonable for his return!' Zweibruck is mere indignation and + astonishment; 'will burn Halle,' burn Quedlinburg, Berlin itself, and + utterly ruin the King of Prussia's Dominion in general:—the + rejoinder to which is, burning of Pirna Suburb, as predicted; seventy + houses of it, this evening, at six o'clock. + </p> + <p> + "Onward from which time there is on both sides, especially on Schmettau's, + diligent artillery practice; cannonade kept up wherever Schmettau can see + the enemy busy; enemy responding with what artillery he has:—not + much damage done, I should think, though a great deal of noise; and for + one day (Saturday, September 1st), our Diarist notes, 'Not safe to walk + the streets this day.' But, in effect, the Siege, as they call it,—which + fell dead on the fifth day, and was never well alive—consists mainly + of menace and counter-menace, in the way of bargain-making and + negotiation;—and, so far as I can gather, that superb Park of + Austrian Artillery, though built into batteries, and talked about in a + bullying manner, was not fired from at all. + </p> + <p> + "Schmettau affects towards the enemy (and towards himself, I dare say) an + air of iron firmness; but internally has no such feeling,—'Calls a + Council of War,' and the like. Council of War, on sight of that King's + Missive, confirms him with one voice: 'Surely, surely, Excellenz; no + defence possible!' Which is a prophecy and a fulfilment, both in one. Why + Schmettau did not shoot forth a spy or two, to ascertain for him What, or + whether Nothing whatever, was passing outside Dresden? I never understand! + Beyond his own Walls, the world is a vacancy and blank to Schmettau, and + he seems content it should be so. + </p> + <p> + "SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2d. Though Schmettau's cannonade was very loud, and had + been so all night, divine service was held as usual, streets safe again,—Austrians, + I suppose, not firing with cannon. About 4 P.M., after a great deal of + powder spent, General Maguire, stepping out on Elbe Bridge, blows or beats + Appeal, three times; 'wishes a moment's conversation with his Excellency.' + Granted at once; witnesses attending on both sides. 'Defence is + impossible; in the name of humanity, consider!' urges Maguire. 'Defence to + the last man of us is certain,' answers Schmettau, from the teeth + outwards;—but, in the end, engages to put on paper, in case he, by + extremity of ill-luck, have at any time to accept terms, what his terms + will inflexibly be. Upon which there is 'Armistice till To-morrow:' and + Maguire, I doubt not, reports joyfully on this feeling of the enemy's + pulse. Zweibruck and Maguire are very well aware of what is passing in + these neighborhoods (General Wunsch back at Wittenberg by forced marches; + blew it open in an hour); and are growing highly anxious that Dresden on + any terms were theirs. + </p> + <p> + "MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3d, The death-day of the Siege; an uncommonly busy day,—though + Armistice lasted perfect till 3 P.M., and soon came back more perfect than + ever. A Siege not killed by cannon, but by medical industry. Let us note + with brevity the successive symptoms and appliances. About seven in the + morning Maguire had his Messenger in Dresden, 'Your Excellency's Paper + ready?' 'Nearly ready,' answers Schmettau; 'we will send it by a Messenger + of our own.' And about eleven of the day Maguire does get it;—the + same Captain Kollas (whose name we recollect) handing it in; and + statue-like waiting Answer. 'Pshaw, this will never do,' ejaculates + Maguire; 'terms irrationally high!' Captain Kollas 'knows nothing of what + is IN the Paper; and is charged only to bring a Written Answer from + Excellenz.' Excellenz, before writing, 'will have to consult with + Durchlaucht;' can, however, as if confidentially and from feelings of + friendship, can assure you, Sir, on my honor, That the Garrison will be + delivered to the Croats, and every man of it put to the sword. 'The + Garrison will expect that (WIRD DAS ERWARTEN),' said Kollas, statue-like; + and withdrew, with the proper bow. [Tempelhof, iii. 211.] Something + interesting to us in these Military diplomatic passages, with their + square-elbowed fashions, and politeness stiff as iron! + </p> + <p> + "Not till three of the afternoon does the Written Answer reach Schmettau: + 'Such Terms never could be accepted.'—'Good,' answers Schmettau: 'To + our last breath no others will be offered.' And commences cannonading + again, not very violently, but with the order, 'Go on, then, night and + day!' + </p> + <p> + "About 10 at night, General Guasco, a truculent kind of man, whom I have + met with up and down, but not admitted to memory, beats Appeal on the + Bridge: 'Inform the Commandant that there will now straightway 13 + batteries of cannon, and 5 ditto of howitzers open on him, unless he + bethinks himself!' Which dreadful message is taken to Schmettau. 'Wish the + gentleman good-evening,' orders Schmettau; 'and say we will answer with + 100 guns.' Upon which Guasco vanishes;—but returns in not many + minutes, milder in tone; requests 'a sight of that Written Paper of Terms + again.' 'There it still is,' answers Schmettau, 'not altered, nor ever + shall be.' And there is Armistice again:—and the Siege, as turns + out, has fired its last shot; and is painfully expiring in paroxysms of + negotiation, which continue a good many hours. Schmettau strives to + understand clearly that his terms (of the King's own suggesting, as + Schmettau flatters himself) are accepted: nor does Durchlaucht take upon + him to refuse in any point; but he is strangely slow to sign, still hoping + to mend matters. + </p> + <p> + "Much hithering and thithering there was, till 4 next morning (Durchlaucht + has important news from Torgau, at that moment); till 11 next day; till 4 + in the afternoon and later,—Guasco and others coming with message + after message, hasty and conciliatory: (Durchlaucht at such a distance, + his signature not yet come; but be patient; all is right, upon my honor!' + Very great hurry evident on the part of Guasco and Company; but, nothing + suspected by Schmettau. Till, dusk or darkness threatening now to + supervene, Maguire and Schmettau with respective suites have a Conference + on the Bridge,—'rain falling very heavy.' Durchlaucht's signature, + Maguire is astonished to say, has not yet come; hut Maguire pledges his + honor 'that all shall be kept without chicane;' and adds 'what to some of + us seemed not superfluous afterwards), 'I am incapable of acting falsely + or with chicane.' In fact, till 9 in the evening there was no signature by + Durchlaucht; but about 6, on such pledge by Maguire of his hand and his + honor, the Siege entirely gave up the ghost; and Dresden belonged to + Austria. Tuesday Evening, 4th September, 1759; Sun just setting, could + anybody see him for the rain. + </p> + <p> + "Schmettau had been over-hasty; what need had Schmettau of haste? The + terms had not yet got signature, perfection of settlement on every point; + nor were they at all well kept, when they did! Considerable flurry, + temporary blindness, needless hurry, and neglect of symptoms and + precautions, must be imputed to poor Schmettau; whose troubles began from + this moment, and went on increasing. The Austrians are already besetting + Elbe Bridge, rooting up the herring-bone balks; and approaching our + Block-house,—sooner than was expected. But that is nothing. On + opening the Pirna Gate to share it with the Austrians, Friedrich's Spy + (sooner had not been possible to the man) was waiting; who handed + Schmettau that Second Letter of Friedrich's, 'Courage; there is relief on + the road!' Poor Schmettau!" + </p> + <p> + What Captain Kollas and the Prussian Garrison thought of all this, THEY + were perhaps shy of saying, and we at such distance are not informed,—except + by one symptom: that, of Colonel Hoffman, Schmettau's Second, whose + indignation does become tragically evident. Hoffman, a rugged Prussian + veteran, is indignant at the Capitulation itself; doubly and trebly + indignant to find the Austrians on Elbe Bridge, busy raising our Balks and + Battery: "How is this Sir?" inquires he of Captain Sydow, who is on guard + at the Prussian end; "How dared you make this change, without acquainting + the Second in Command? Order out your men, and come along with me to clear + the Bridge again!" Sydow hesitates, haggles; indignant Hoffman, growing + loud as thunder, pulls out a pistol, fatal-looking to disobedient Sydow; + who calls to his men, or whose men spring out uncalled; and shoot Hoffman + down,—send two balls through him, so that he died at 8 that night. + With noise enough, then and afterwards. Was drunk, said Schmettau's + people. Friedrich answered, on report of it: "I think as Hoffman did. If + he was 'drunk,' it is pity the Governor and all the Garrison had not been + so, to have come to the same judgment, as he." [P.S. in Autograph of + Letter to Schmettau, "Waldau, 11th September, 1759" (Preuss, ii.; <i>Urkundenbuch,</i> + p. 45).] Friedrich's unbearable feelings, of grief and indignation, in + regard to all this Dresden matter,—which are not expressed except + coldly in business form,—can be fancied by all readers. One of the + most tragical bits of ill-luck that ever befell him. A very sore stroke, + in his present condition; a signal loss and affront. And most of all, + unbearable to think how narrowly it has missed being a signal triumph;—missed + actually by a single hair's-breadth, which is as good as by a mile, or by + a thousand miles! + </p> + <p> + Soon after 9 o'clock that evening, Durchlaucht in person came rolling + through our battery and the herring-bone balks, to visit Electoral + Highness,—which was not quite the legal time either, Durchlaucht had + not been half an hour with Electoral Highness, when a breathless Courier + came in: "General Wunsch within ten miles [took Torgau in no time, as + Durchlaucht well knows, for a week past]; and will be here before we + sleep!" Durchlaucht plunged out, over the herring-bone balks again (which + many carpenters are busy lifting); and the Electoral Highnesses, in like + manner, hurry off to Toplitz that same night, about an hour after. What a + Tuesday Night! Poor Hoffman is dead at 8 o'clock; the Saxon Royalties, + since 11, are galloping for Pirna, for Toplitz; Durchlaucht of Zweibruck + we saw hurry off an hour before them,—Capitulation signature not yet + dry, and terms of it beginning to be broken; and Wunsch reported to be + within ten miles! + </p> + <p> + The Wunsch report is perfectly correct. Wunsch is at Grossenhayn this + evening; all in a fiery mood of swiftness, his people and he;—and + indeed it is, by chance, one of Wolfersdorf's impetuosities that has sent + the news so fast. Wunsch had been as swift with Torgau as he was with + Wittenberg: he blew out the poor Reichs Garrison there by instant storm, + and packed it off to Leipzig, under charge of "an Officer and Trumpet:"—he + had, greatly against his will, to rest two days there for a few + indispensable cannon from Magdeburg. Cannon once come, Wunsch, burning for + deliverance of Dresden, had again started at his swiftest, "Monday, 3d + September [death day of the Siege], very early." + </p> + <p> + "He is under 8,000; but he is determined to do it;—and would have + done it, think judges, half thinks Zweibruck himself: such a fire in that + Wunsch and his Corps as is very dangerous indeed. At 4 this morning, + Zweibruck heard of his being on march: 'numbers uncertain'—(numbers + seemingly not the important point,—blows any number of us about our + business!)—and since that moment Zweibruck has driven the + capitulation at such a pace; though the flurried Schmettau suspected + nothing. + </p> + <p> + "Afternoon of TUESDAY, 4th, Wunsch, approaching Grossenhayn, had detached + Wolfersdorf with 100 light horse rightwards to Grodel, a boating Village + on Elbe shore, To seek news of Dresden; also to see if boats are + procurable for carrying our artillery up thither. At Grodel, Wolfersdorf + finds no boats that will avail: but certain boat-people, new from Dresden, + report that no capitulation had been published when they left, but that it + was understood to be going on. New spur to Wolfersdorf and Wunsch. + Wolfersdorf hears farther in this Village, That there are some thirty + Austrian horse in Grossenhayn:—'Possible these may escape General + Wunsch!' thinks Wolfersdorf; and decides to have them. Takes thirty men of + his own; orders the other seventy to hold rightward, gather what + intelligence is going, and follow more leisurely; and breaks off for the + Grossenhayn-Dresden Highway, to intercept those fellows. + </p> + <p> + "Getting to the highway, Wolfersdorf does see the fellows; sees also,—with + what degree of horror I do not know,—that there are at least 100 of + them against his 30! Horror will do nothing for Wolfersdorf, nor are his + other 70 now within reach. Putting a bold face on the matter, he commands, + Stentor-like, as if it were all a fact: 'Grenadiers, march; Dragoons, to + right forwards, WHEEL; Hussars, FORWARD: MARCH!'—and does + terrifically dash forward with the thirty Hussars, or last item of the + invoice; leaving the others to follow. The Austrians draw bridle with + amazement; fire off their carbines; take to their heels, and do not stop + for more. Wolfersdorf captures 68 of them, for behoof of Grossenhayn; and + sends the remaining 32 galloping home. [Tempelhof, iii. 214.] Who bring + the above news to Durchlaucht of Zweibruck: '12,000 of them, may it please + your Durchlaucht; such the accounts we had!'—Fancy poor Schmettau's + feelings! + </p> + <p> + "On the morrow Dresden was roused from its sleep by loud firing and + battle, audible on the north side of the River: 'before daybreak, and all + day.' It is Wunsch impetuously busy in the woody countries there. + Durchlaucht had shot out Generals and Divisions, Brentano, Wehla, this + General and then that, to intercept Wunsch: these the fiery Wunsch—almost + as if they had been combustible material coming to quench fire—repels + and dashes back, in a wonderful manner, General after General of them. And + is lord of the field all day:—but cannot hear the least word from + Dresden; which is a surprising circumstance. + </p> + <p> + "In the afternoon Wunsch summons Maguire in the Neustadt: 'Will answer you + in two hours,' said Maguire. Wunsch thereupon is for attacking their two + Pontoon Elbe-Bridges; still resolute for Dresden,—and orders + Wolfersdorf on one of them, the Uebigau Bridge, who finds the enemy + lifting it at any rate, and makes them do it faster. But night is now + sinking; from Schmettau not a word or sign. 'Silence over there, all day; + not a single cannon to or from,' say Wunsch and Wolfersdorf to one + another. 'Schmettau must have capitulated!' conclude they, and withdraw in + the night-time, still thunderous if molested; bivouac at Grossenhayn, + after twenty-four hours of continual march and battle, not time even for a + snatch of food. [BERICHT VON DER ACTION DES GENERAL-MAJORS VON WUNSCH, BEY + REICHENBERG, DEN 5 SEPTEMBER, 1759 in Seyfarth, <i>Beylagen,</i> ii. + 606-608.] + </p> + <p> + "Resting at Grossenhayn, express reaches Wunsch from his Commandant at + Torgau: 'Kleefeld is come on me from Leipzig with 14,000; I cannot long + hold out, unless relieved.' Wunsch takes the road again; two marches, each + of twenty miles. Reaches Torgau late; takes post in the ruins of the North + Suburb, finds he must fight Kleefeld. Refreshes his men 'with a keg of + wine per Company,' surely a judicious step; and sends to Wolfersdorf, who + has the rear-guard, 'Be here with me to-morrow at 10.' Wolfersdorf starts + at 4, is here at 10: and Wunsch, having scanned Kleefeld and his Position + [a Position strong IF you are dexterous to manoeuvre in it; capable of + being ruinous if you are not,—part of the Position of a bigger + BATTLE OF TORGAU, which is coming],—flies at Kleefeld and his 14,000 + like a cat-o'-mountain; takes him on the left flank:—Kleefeld and + such overplus of thousands are standing a little to west-and-south of + Torgau, with the ENTEFANG [a desolate big reedy mere, or PLACE OF DUCKS, + still offering the idle Torgauer a melancholy sport there] as a protection + to their right; but with no evolution-talent, or none in comparison to + Wunsch's;—and accordingly are cut to pieces by Wunsch, and blown to + the winds, as their fellows have all been." [HOFBERCHT VON DER AM 8 + SEPTEMBER, 1759, BEY TORGAU, VORGEFALLENEN ACTION: in Seyfarth, <i> + Beylagen,</i> ii. 609, 610. Tempelhof, iii. 219-222.] + </p> + <p> + Wunsch, absolute Fate forbidding, could not save Dresden: but he is here + lord of the Northern regions again,—nothing but Leipzig now in the + enemy's hand;—and can await Finck, who is on march with a stronger + party to begin business here. It is reckoned, there are few more brilliant + little bits of Soldiering than this of Wunsch's. All the more, as his men, + for most part, were not Prussian, but miscellaneous Foreign spirits of + uncertain fealty: roving fellows, of a fighting turn, attracted by + Friedrich's fame, and under a Captain who had the art of keeping them in + tune. Wunsch has been soldiering, in a diligent though dim miscellaneous + way, these five-and-twenty years; fought in the old Turk Wars, under + disastrous Seckendorf,—Wunsch a poor young Wurtemberg ensign, + visibly busy there (1737-1739)) as was this same Schmettau, in the + character of staff-officer, far enough apart from Wunsch at that time!—fought + afterwards, in the Bavarian service, in the Dutch, at Roucoux, at + Lauffeld, again under disastrous people. Could never, under such, find + anything but subaltern work all this while; was glad to serve, under the + eye of Friedrich, as Colonel of a Free Corps; which he has done with much + diligence and growing distinction: till now, at the long last, his chance + does come; and he shows himself as a real General. Possibly a high career + lying ahead;—a man that may be very valuable to Friedrich, who has + now so few such left? Fate had again decided otherwise for Wunsch; in what + way will be seen before this Campaign ends: "an infernal Campaign," + according to Friedrich, "CETTE CAMPAGNE INFERNALE." + </p> + <p> + Finck, whom Friedrich had just detached from Waldau (September 6th) with a + new 8 or 6,000, to command in chief in those parts, and, along with + Wunsch, put Dresden out of risk, as it were,—Finck does at least + join Wunsch, as we shall mention in a little. And these Two, with such + Wolfersdorfs and people under them, did prove capable of making front + against Reichsfolk in great overplus of number. Nor are farther SIEGES of + those Northern Garrisons, but recaptures of them, the news one hears from + Saxony henceforth;—only that Dresden is fatally gone. Irrecoverably, + as turned out, and in that unbearable manner. Here is the concluding + scene:— + </p> + <p> + DRESDEN, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8th; EXIT SCHMETTAU. "A thousand times over, + Schmettau must have asked himself, 'Why was I in such a hurry? Without + cause for it I, only Maguire having cause!'—The Capitulation had + been ended in a huddle, without signature: an unwise Capitulation; and it + was scandalously ill kept. Schmettau was not to have marched till Monday, + 10th,—six clear days for packing and preparing;—but, + practically, he has to make three serve him; and to go half-packed, or not + packed at all. Endless chicanes do arise, 'upon my honor!'—not even + the 800 wagons are ready for us; 'Can't your baggages go in boats, then?' + 'No, nor shall!' answers Schmettau, with blazing eyes, and heart ready to + burst; a Schmettau living all this while as in Purgatory, or worse. Such + bullyings from truculent Guasco, who is now without muzzle. Capitulation, + most imperfect in itself, is avowedly infringed: King's Artillery,—which + we had haggled for, and ended by 'hoping for,' to Maguire that rainy + evening: why were we in such a hurry, too, and blind to Maguire's hurry!—King's + Artillery, according to Durchlaucht of Zweibruck, when he actually signed + within the walls, is 'NICHT ACCORDIRT (Not granted), except the Field + part.' King's regimental furnishings, all and sundry, were 'ACCORDIRT, and + without visitation,'—but on second thoughts, the Austrian Officials + are of opinion there must really be visitation, must be inspection. 'May + not some of them belong to Polish Majesty?' In which sad process of + inspection there was incredible waste, Schmettau protesting; and above + half of the new uniforms were lost to us. Our 80 pontoons, which were + expressly bargained for, are brazenly denied us: '20 of them are Saxon,' + cry the Austrians: 'who knows if they are not almost all Saxon,'—upon + my honor! At this rate, only wait a day or two, and fewer wagons than 800 + will be needed! thinks Schmettau; and consents to 18 river-boats; Boats in + part, then; and let us march at once. Accordingly, + </p> + <p> + "SATURDAY, 8th, at 5 in the morning, Schmettau, with goods and people, + does at last file out: across Elbe Bridge through the Neustadt; Prussians + five deep; a double rank of Austrians, ranged on each side, in 'espalier' + they call it,—espalier with gaps in it every here and there, to what + purpose is soon evident. The march was so disposed (likewise for a + purpose) that, all along, there were one or two Companies of Prussian + Foot; and then in the interval, carriages, cannon, cavalry and hussars. + Schmettau's carriage is with the rear-guard, Madam Schmettau's well in the + van:—in two other carriages are two Prussian War-and-Domain + Ministers. [ANONYMOUS OF HAMBURG, III. 376.] 'Managers of Saxon Finance,' + these Two;—who will have to manage elsewhere than in Dresden + henceforth. Zinnow, Borck, they sit veritably there, with their multiform + Account Papers: of whom I know absolutely nothing,—except (if + anybody cared) that Zinnow, who 'died of apoplexy in June following,' is + probably of pursy red-nosed type; and that Borck, for certain, has a very + fine face and figure; delicacy, cheerful dignity, perfect gentlemanhood in + short, written on every feature of him; as painted by Pesne, and engraved + by Schmidt, for my accidental behoof. [<i>Fredericus Wilhelmus Borck + (Pesne pinxit,</i> 1732; <i>Schmidt, sculptur Regis, sculpsit, Berolini,</i> + 1764): an excellent Print and Portrait.] Curious to think of that + elaborate court-coat and flowing periwig, with this specific Borck, 'old + as the Devil' (whom I have had much trouble to identify), forming visible + part of this dismal Procession: the bright eye of Borck not smiling as + usual, but clouded, though impassive! But that of Borck or his Limners is + not the point. + </p> + <p> + "The Prussians have been divided into small sections, with a mass of + baggage-wagons and cavalry between every two. And no sooner is the mass + got in movement, than there rises from the Austrian part, and continues + all the way, loud invitation, 'Whosoever is a brave Saxon, a brave + Austrian, Reichsman, come to us! Gaps in the espalier, don't you see!' And + Schmettau, in the rear, with baggage and cavalry intervening,—nobody + can reach Schmettau. Here is a way of keeping your bargain! The Prussian + Officers struggle stoutly: but are bellowed at, struck at, menaced by + bayonet and bullet,—none of them shot, I think, but a good several + of them cut and wounded;—the Austrian Officers themselves in + passionate points behaving shamefully, 'Yes, shoot them down, the (were it + nothing else) heretic dogs;' and being throughout evidently in a hot + shivery frame of mind, forgetful of the laws. Seldom was such a + Procession; spite, rage and lawless revenge blazing out more and more. On + the whole, there deserted, through those gaps of the espalier, about half + of the whole Garrison. On Madam Schmettau's hammercloth there sat, in the + Schmettau livery, a hard-featured man, recognizable by keen eyes as lately + a Nailer, of the Nailer Guild here; who had been a spy for Schmettau, and + brought many persons into trouble: him they tear down, and trample hither + and thither,—at last, into some Guard-house near by." [The Schmettau + DIARIUM in ANONYMOUS OF HAMBURG, iii. 364-376 (corrected chiefly from + TEMPELHOF): Protest, and Correspondence in consequence, is in Seyfarth, <i>Beylagen,</i> + ii. 611-621; in <i> Helden-Geschichte,</i> &c. &c.] + </p> + <p> + Schmettau's protest against all this is vehement, solemnly circumstantial: + but, except in regard to the trampled Nailer (Zweibruck on that point + "heartily sorry for the insult to your Excellency's livery; and here the + man is, with a thousand apologies"), Schmettau got no redress. Nor had + Friedrich any, now or henceforth. Friedrich did at once, more to testify + his disgust than for any benefit, order Schmettau: "Halt at Wittenberg, + not at Magdeburg as was pretended to be bargained. Dismiss your Escort of + Austrians there; bid them home at once, and out of your sight." Schmettau + himself he ordered to Berlin, to idle waiting. Never again employed + Schmettau: for sixteen years that they lived together, never saw his face + more. + </p> + <p> + Schmettau's ill-fortune was much pitied, as surely it deserved to be, by + all men. About Friedrich's severity there was, and still occasionally is, + controversy held. Into which we shall not enter for Yes or for No. "You + are like the rest of them!" writes Friedrich to him; "when the moment + comes for showing firmness, you fail in it." ["Waldau, 10th September, + 1759:" in Preuss, ii. URKUNDEN. p. 44.] Friedrich expects of others what + all Soldiers profess,—and what is in fact the soul of all nobleness + in their trade,—but what only Friedrich himself, and a select few, + are in the habit of actually performing. Tried by the standard of common + practice, Schmettau is clearly absolvable; a broken veteran, deserving + almost tears. But that is not the standard which it will be safe for a + King of men to go by. Friedrich, I should say, would be ordered by his + Office, if Nature herself did not order him, to pitch his ideal very high; + and to be rather Rhadamanthine in judging about it. Friedrich was never + accused of over-generosity to the unfortunate among his Captains. + </p> + <p> + After the War, Schmettau, his conduct still a theme of argument, was + reduced to the Invalid List: age now sixty-seven, but health and heart + still very fresh, as he pleaded; complaining that he could not live on his + retiring Pension of 300 pounds a year. "Be thankful you have not had your + head struck off by sentence of Court-Martial," answered Friedrich. + Schmettau, after some farther troubles from Court quarters, retired to + Brandenburg, and there lived silent, poor but honorable, for his remaining + fifteen years. Madam Schmettau came out very beautiful in those bad + circumstances: cheery, thrifty, full of loyal patience; a constant + sunshine to her poor man, whom she had preceded out of Dresden in the way + we saw. Schmettau was very quiet, still studious of War matters; [See <i>Leben</i> + (by his Son, "Captain Schmettau;" a modest intelligent Book), pp. + 440-447.] "sent the King" once,—in 1772, while Polish Prussia, and + How it could be fortified, were the interesting subject,—"a + JOURNAL," which he had elaborated for himself, "OF THE MARCHES OF KARL + TWELFTH IN WEST PREUSSEN;" which was well received: "Apparently the King + not angry with me farther?" thought Schmettau. A completely retired old + man; studious, social,—the best men of the Army still his friends + and familiars:—nor, in his own mind, any mutiny against his Chief; + this also has its beauty in a human life, my friend. So long as Madam + Schmettau lived, it was well; after her death, not well, dark rather, and + growing darker: and in about three years Schmettau followed (27th October, + 1775), whither that good soul had gone. The elder Brother—who was a + distinguished Academician, as well as Feldmarschall and Negotiator—had + died at Berlin, in Voltaire's time, 1751. Each of those Schmettaus had a + Son, in the Prussian Army, who wrote Books, or each a short Book, still + worth reading. [<i>Bavarian War of 1778,</i> by the Feldmarschall's Son; + ad this <i>Leben</i> we have just been citing, by the + Lieutenant-General's.] But we must return. + </p> + <p> + On the very morrow, September 5th, Daun heard of the glorious success at + Dresden; had not expected it till about the 10th at soonest. From Triebel + he sends the news at gallop to Lieberose and Soltikof: "Rejoice with us, + Excellenz: did not I predict it? Silesia and Saxony both are ours; fruits + chiefly of your noble successes. Oh, continue them a very little!" "Umph!" + answers Soltikof, not with much enthusiasm: "Send us meal steadily; and + gain you, Excellenz's self, some noble success!" Friedrich did not hear of + it for almost a week later; not till Monday, 10th,—as a certain + small Anecdote would of itself indicate. + </p> + <p> + Sunday Evening, 9th September, General Finck, with his new 6,000, + hastening on to join Wunsch for relief of Dresden, had got to Grossenhayn; + and was putting up his tents, when the Outposts brought him in an Austrian + Officer, who had come with a Trumpeter inquiring for the General. The + Austrian Officer "is in quest of proper lodgings for General Schmettau and + Garrison [fancy Finck's sudden stare!];—last night they lodged at + Gross-Dobritz, tolerably to their mind: but the question for the Escort + is, Where to lodge this night, if your Excellency could advise me?" "Herr, + I will advise you to go back to Gross-Dobritz on the instant," answers + Finck grimly; "I shall be obliged to make you and your Trumpet prisoners, + otherwise!" Exit Austrian Officer. That same evening, too, Captain Kollas, + carrying Schmettau's sad news to the King, calls on Finck in passing; + gives dismal details of the Capitulation and the Austrian way of keeping + it; filling Finck's mind with sorrowful indignation. [Tempelhof, iii. + 237.] + </p> + <p> + Finck—let us add here, though in date it belongs a little elsewhere—pushes + on, not the less, to join Wunsch at Torgau; joins Wunsch, straightway + recaptures Leipzig, garrison prisoners (September 13th): recaptures all + those northwestern garrisons,—multitudinous Reichsfolk trying, once, + to fight him, in an amazingly loud, but otherwise helpless way ("ACTION OF + KORBITZ" they call it); cannonading far and wide all day, and manoeuvring + about, here bitten in upon, there trying to bite, over many leagues of + Country; principally under Haddick's leading; [HOFBERICHT VON DER AM 21 + SEPTEMBER BEY KORBITZ (in Meissen Country, south of Elbe; Krogis too is a + Village in this wide-spread "Action") VORGEFALLENEN ACTION (Seyfarth, <i>Beylagen,</i> + ii. 621-630). Tempelhof, iii. 248, 258.] who saw good to draw off + Dresden-ward next day, and leave Finck master in those regions. To Daun's + sad astonishment,—in a moment of crisis,—as we shall hear + farther on! So that Saxony is not yet conquered to Daun; Saxony, no, nor + indeed will be:—but Dresden is. Friedrich never could recover + Dresden; though he hoped, and at intervals tried hard, for a long while to + come. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VI.—PRINCE HENRI MAKES A MARCH OF FIFTY HOURS; THE RUSSIANS + CANNOT FIND LODGING IN SILESIA. + </h2> + <p> + The eyes of all had been bent on Dresden latterly; and there had occurred + a great deal of detaching thitherward, and of marching there and thence, + as we have partly seen. And the end is, Dresden, and to appearance Saxony + along with it, is Daun's. Has not Daun good reason now to be proud of the + cunctatory method? Never did his game stand better; and all has been + gained at other people's expense. Daun has not played one trump card; it + is those obliging Russians that have played all the trumps, and reduced + the Enemy to nothing. Only continue that wise course,—and cart meal, + with your whole strength, for the Russians!— + </p> + <p> + Safe behind the pools of Lieberose, Friedrich between them and Berlin, lie + those dear Russians; extending, Daun and they, like an impassable military + dike, with spurs of Outposts and cunningly devised Detachments, far and + wide,—from beyond Bober or utmost Crossen on the east, to + Hoyerswerda in Elbe Country on the west;—dike of eighty miles long, + and in some eastern parts of almost eighty broad; so elaborate is Daun's + detaching quality, in cases of moment. "The King's broken Army on one side + of us," calculates Daun; "Prince Henri's on the other; incommunicative + they; reduced to isolation, powerless either or both of them against such + odds. They shall wait there, please Heaven, till Saxony be quite finished. + Zweibruck, and our Detachments and Maguires, let them finish Saxony, while + Soltikof keeps the King busy. Saxony finished, how will either Prince or + King attempt to recover it! After which, Silesia for us;—and we + shall then be near our Magazines withal, and this severe stress of carting + will abate or cease." In fact, these seem sound calculations: Friedrich is + 24,000; Henri 38,000; the military dike is, of Austrians 75,000, of + Russians and Austrians together 120,000. Daun may fairly calculate on + succeeding beautifully this Year: Saxony his altogether; and in Silesia + some Glogau or strong Town taken, and Russians and Austrians wintering + together in that Country. + </p> + <p> + If only Daun do not TOO much spare his trump cards! But there is such a + thing as excess on that side too: and perhaps it is even the more ruinous + kind,—and is certainly the more despised by good judges, though the + multitude of bad may notice it less. Daun is unwearied in his vigilantes, + in his infinite cartings of provision for himself and Soltikof,—long + chains of Magazines, big and little, at Guben, at Gorlitz, at Bautzen, + Zittau, Friedland; and does, aided by French Montalembert, all that man + can to keep those dear stupid Russians in tune. + </p> + <p> + Daun's problem of carting provisions, and guarding his multifarious posts, + and sources of meal and defence, is not without its difficulties. + Especially with a Prince Henri opposite; who has a superlative manoeuvring + talent of his own, and an industry not inferior to Daun's in that way. + Accordingly, ever since August 11th-13th, when Daun moved northward to + Triebel, and Henri shot out detachments parallel to him, "to secure the + Bober and our right flank, and try to regain communication with the King,"—still + more, ever since August 22d, when Daun undertook that onerous cartage of + meal for Soltikof as well as self, the manoeuvring and mutual fencing and + parrying, between Henri and him, has been getting livelier and livelier. + Fain would Daun secure his numerous Roads and Magazines; assiduously does + Henri threaten him in these points, and try all means to regain + communication with his Brother. Daun has Magazines and interests + everywhere; Henri is everywhere diligent to act on them. + </p> + <p> + Daun in person, ever since Kunersdorf time, has been at Triebel; Henri + moved to Sagan after him, but has left a lieutenant at Schmottseifen, as + Daun has at Mark-Lissa:—here are still new planets, and secondary + ditto, with revolving moons. In short, it is two interpenetrating solar + systems, gyrating, osculating and colliding, over a space of several + thousand square miles,—with an intricacy, with an embroiled + abstruseness Ptolemean or more! Which indeed the soldier who would know + his business—(and not knowing it, is not he of all solecisms in this + world the most flagrant?)—ought to study, out of Tempelhof and the + Books; but which, except in its results, no other reader could endure. The + result we will make a point of gathering: carefully riddled down, there + are withal in the details five or six little passages which have some + shadow of interest to us; these let us note, and carefully omit the rest:— + </p> + <p> + OF FOUQUET AT LANDSHUT. "Fouquet was twice attacked at Landshut; but made + a lucky figure both times. Attack first was by Deville: attack second by + Harsch. Early in July, not long after Friedrich had left for + Schmottseifen, rash Deville (a rash creature, and then again a laggard, + swift where he should be slow, and VICE VERSA) again made trial on + Landshut and Fouquet; but was beautifully dealt with; taken in rear, in + flank, or I forget how taken, but sent galloping through the Passes again, + with a loss of many Prisoners, most of his furnitures, and all his + presence of mind: whom Daun thereupon summoned out of those parts, + 'Hitherward to Mark-Lissa with your Corps; leave Fouquet alone!' + [HOFBERICHT VON DEN UNTERNEHMUNGEN DES FOUQUETSCHEN CORPS, IM JULIUS 1759: + in Seyfarth, Beylagen, ii. 582-586.] + </p> + <p> + "After which, Fouquet, things being altogether quiet round him, was + summoned, with most part of his force, to Schmottseifen; left General + Goltz (a man we have met before) to guard Landshut; and was in fair hopes + of proving helpful to Prince Henri,—when Harsch [Harsch by himself + this time, not Harsch and Deville as usual] thought here was his + opportunity; and came with a great apparatus, as if to swallow Landshut + whole. So that Fouquet had to hurry off reinforcements thither; and at + length to go himself, leaving Stutterheim in his stead at Schmottseifen. + Goltz, however, with his small handful, stood well to his work. And there + fell out sharp fencings at Landshut:—especially one violent attack + on our outposts; the Austrians quite triumphant; till 'a couple of cannon + open on them from the next Hill,'—till some violent Werner or other + charge in upon them with Prussian Hussars;—a desperate tussle, that + special one of Werner's; not only sabres flashing furiously on both sides, + but butts of pistols and blows on the face: [Tempelhof, iii. 233: 31st + August.] till, in short, Harsch finds he can make nothing of it, and has + taken himself away, before Fouquet come." This Goltz, here playing + Anti-Harsch, is the Goltz who, with Winterfeld, Schmettau and others, was + in that melancholy Zittau march, of the Prince of Prussia's, in 1757: it + was Goltz by whom the King sent his finishing compliment, "You deserve, + all of you, to be tried by Court-Martial, and to lose your heads!" Goltz + is mainly concerned with Fouquet and Silesia, in late times; and we shall + hear of him once again. Fouquet did not return to Schmottseifen; nor was + molested again in Landshut this year, though he soon had to detach, for + the King's use, part of his Landshut force, and had other Silesian + business which fell to him. + </p> + <p> + FORTRESS OF PEITZ. The poor Fortress of Peitz was taken again;—do + readers remember it, "on the day of Zorndorf," last year? "This year, a + fortnight after Kunersdorf, the same old Half-pay Gentleman with his + Five-and-forty Invalids have again been set adrift, 'with the honors of + war,' poor old creatures; lest by possibility they afflict the dear + Russians and our meal-carts up yonder. [Tempelhof, iii. 231: 27th August.] + I will forget who took Peitz: perhaps Haddick, of whom we have lately + heard so much? He was captor of Berlin in 1757, did the Inroad on Berlin + that year,—and produced Rossbach shortly after. Peitz, if he did + Peitz, was Haddick's last success in the world. Haddick has been most + industrious, 'guarding the Russian flank,'—standing between the King + and it, during that Soltikof march to Mullrose, to Lieberose; but that + once done, and the King settled at Waldau, Haddick was ordered to Saxony, + against Wunsch and Finck:—and readers know already what he made of + these Two in the 'Action at Korbitz, September 21st,'—and shall hear + soon what befell Haddick himself in consequence." + </p> + <p> + COLONEL HORDT IS CAPTURED. "It was in that final marching of Soltikof to + Lieberose that a distinguished Ex-Swede, Colonel Hordt, of the Free Corps + HORDT, was taken prisoner. At Trebatsch; hanging on Soltikof's right flank + on that occasion. It was not Haddick, it was a swarm of Cossacks who laid + Hordt fast; his horse having gone to the girths in a bog. [<i>Memoires du + Comte de Hordt</i> (a Berlin, 1789), ii. 53-58 (not dated or intelligible + there): in Tempelhof (iii. 235, 236) clear account, "Trebatsch, September + 4th."] Hordt, an Ex-Swede of distinction,—a Royalist Exile, on whose + head the Swedes have set a price (had gone into 'Brahe's Plot,' years + since, Plot on behalf of the poor Swedish King, which cost Brahe his + life),—Hordt now might have fared ill, had not Friedrich been + emphatic, 'Touch a hair of him, retaliation follows on the instant!' He + was carried to Petersburg; 'lay twenty-six months and three days' in + solitary durance there; and we may hear a word from him again." + </p> + <p> + ZIETHEN ALMOST CAPTURED. "Prince Henri, in the last days of August, + marched to Sagan in person; [Tempelhof, iii. 231: 29th August.] Ziethen + along with him; multifariously manoeuvring 'to regain communication with + the King.' Of course, with no want of counter-manoeuvring, of vigilant + outposts, cunningly devised detachments and assiduous small measures on + the part of Daun. Who, one day, had determined on a more considerable + thing; that of cutting out Ziethen from the Sagan neighborhood. And would + have done it, they say,—had not he been too cunctatory. September + 2d, Ziethen, who is posted in the little town of Sorau, had very nearly + been cut off. In Sorau, westward, Daun-ward, of Sagan a short day's march: + there sat Ziethen, conscious of nothing particular,—with Daun + secretly marching on him; Daun in person, from the west, and two others + from the north and from the south, who are to be simultaneous on Sorau and + the Zietheners. A well-laid scheme; likely to have finished Ziethen + satisfactorily, who sat there aware of nothing. But it all miswent: Daun, + on the road, noticed some trifling phenomenon (Prussian party of horse, or + the like), which convinced his cautious mind that all was found out; that + probably a whole Prussian Army, instead of a Ziethen only, was waiting at + Sorau; upon which Daun turned home again, sorry that he could not turn the + other two as well. The other two were stronger than Ziethen, could they + have come upon him by surprise; or have caught him before he got through a + certain Pass, or bit of bad ground, with his baggage. But Ziethen, by some + accident, or by his own patrols, got notice; loaded his baggage instantly; + and was through the Pass, or half through it, and in a condition to give + stroke for stroke with interest, when his enemies came up. Nothing could + be done upon Ziethen; who marched on, he and all his properties, safe to + Sagan that night,—owing to Daun's over-caution, and to Ziethen's own + activity and luck." [Tempelhof, iii. 233.] + </p> + <p> + All this was prior to the loss of Dresden. During the crisis of that, when + everybody was bestirring himself, Prince Henri made extraordinary + exertions: "Much depends on me; all on me!" sighed Henri. A cautious + little man; but not incapable of risking, in the crisis of a game for life + and death. Friedrich and he are wedged asunder by that dike of Russians + and Austrians, which goes from Bober river eastward, post after post, to + Hoyerswerda westward, eighty miles along the Lausitz-Brandenburg Frontier, + rooting itself through the Lausitz into Bohemia, and the sources of its + meal. Friedrich and he cannot communicate except by spies ("the first + JAGER," or regular express "from the King, arrived September 13th" [Ib. + iii. 207.]): but both are of one mind; both are on one problem, "What is + to be done with that impassable dike?"—and co-operate + sympathetically without communicating. What follows bears date AFTER the + loss of Dresden, but while Henri still knew only of the siege,—that + JAGER of the 13th first brought him news of the loss. + </p> + <p> + "A day or two after Ziethen's adventure, Henri quits Sagan, to move + southward for a stroke at the Bohemian-Lausitz magazines; a stroke, and + series of strokes. SEPTEMBER 8th, Ziethen and (in Fouquet's absence at + Landshut) Stutterheim are pushed forward into the Zittau Country; first of + all upon Friedland,—the Zittau Friedland, for there are Friedlands + many! SEPTEMBER 9th, Stutterheim summons Friedland, gets it; gets the bit + of magazine there; and next day hastens on to Zittau. Is refused surrender + of Zittau; learns, however, that the magazine has been mostly set on + wheels again, and is a stage forward on the road to Bohemia; whitherward + Stutterheim, quitting Zittau as too tedious, hastens after it, and next + day catches it, or the unburnt remains of it. A successful Stutterheim. + Nor is Ziethen idle in the mean while; Ziethen and others; whom no Deville + or Austrian Party thinks itself strong enough to meddle with, Prince Henri + being so near. + </p> + <p> + "Here is a pretty tempest in the heart of our Bohemian meal-conduit! + Continue that, and what becomes of Soltikof and me? Daun is off from + Triebel Country to this dangerous scene; indignantly cashiers Deville, + 'Why did not you attack these Ziethen people? Had not you 10,000, Sir?' + Cashiers poor Deville for not attacking;—does not himself attack: + but carts away the important Gorlitz magazine, to Bautzen, which is the + still more important one; sits down on the lid of that (according to + wont); shoots out O'Donnell (an Irish gentleman, Deville's successor), and + takes every precaution. Prince Henri, in presence of O'Donnell, coalesces + again; walks into Gorlitz; encamps there, on the Landskron and other + Heights (Moys Hill one of them, poor Winterfeld's Hill!),—and + watches a little how matters will turn, and whether Daun, severely + vigilant from Bautzen, seated on the lid of his magazine, will not perhaps + rise." + </p> + <p> + First and last, Daun in this business has tried several things; but there + was pretty much always, and emphatically there now is, only one thing that + could be effectual: To attack Prince Henri, and abolish him from those + countries;—as surely might have been possible, with twice his + strength at your disposal?—This, though sometimes he seemed to be + thinking of such a thing, Daun never would try: for which the subsequent + FACTS, and all good judges, were and are inexorably severe on Daun. + Certain it is, no rashness could have better spilt Daun's game than did + this extreme caution. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + DAUN, SOLTIKOF AND COMPANY AGAIN HAVE A COLLOQUY (Bautzen, September + 15th); AFTER WHICH EVERYBODY STARTS ON HIS SPECIAL COURSE OF ACTION. + </h2> + <p> + Soltikof's disgust at this new movement of Daun's was great and indignant. + "Instead of going at the King, and getting some victory for himself, he + has gone to Bautzen, and sat down on his meal-bags! Meal? Is it to be a + mere fighting for meal? I will march to-morrow for Poland, for Preussen, + and find plenty of meal!" And would have gone, they say, had not Mercury, + in the shape of Montalembert with his most zealous rhetoric, intervened; + and prevailed with difficulty. "One hour of personal interview with + Excellency Daun," urges Montalembert; "one more!" "No," answers Soltikof.—"Alas, + then, send your messenger!" To which last expedient Soltikof does assent, + and despatches Romanzof on the errand. + </p> + <p> + SEPTEMBER 15th, at Bautzen, at an early hour, there is meeting + accordingly; not Romanzof, Soltikof's messenger, alone, but Zweibruck in + person, Daun in person; and most earnest council is held. "A noble Russian + gentleman sees how my hands are bound," pleads Daun. "Will not Excellency + Soltikof, who disdains idleness, go himself upon Silesia, upon Glogau for + instance, and grant me a few days?" "No," answers Romanzof; "Excellency + Soltikof by himself will not. Let Austria furnish Siege-Artillery; daily + meal I need not speak of; 10,000 fresh Auxiliaries beyond those we have: + on these terms Excellency Soltikof will perhaps try it; on lower terms, + positively not." "Well then, yes!" answers Daun, not without qualms of + mind. Daun has a horror at weakening himself to that extent; but what can + he do? "General Campitelli, with the 10,000, let him march this night, + then; join with General Loudon where you please to order: Excellency + Soltikof shall see that in every point I conform." [Tempelhof, iii. + 247-249.]—An important meeting to us, this at Bautzen; and breaks up + the dead-lock into three or more divergent courses of activity; which it + will now behoove us to follow, with the best brevity attainable. "Bautzen, + Saturday, 15th September, early in the morning," that is the date of the + important Colloquy. And precisely eight-and-forty hours before, "on + Thursday, 13th, about 10 A.M.", in the western Environs of Quebec, there + has fallen out an Event, quite otherwise important in the History of + Mankind! Of which readers shall have some notice at a time more + convenient.— + </p> + <p> + Romanzof returning with such answer, Soltikof straightway gathers himself, + September 15th-16th, and gets on march. To Friedrich's joy; who hopes it + may be homeward; waits two days at Waldau, for the Yes or No. On the + second day, alas, it is No: "Going for Silesia, I perceive; thither, by a + wide sweep northward, which they think will be safer!" Upon which + Friedrich also rises; follows, with another kind of speed than Soltikof's; + and, by one of his swift clutchings, lays hold of Sagan, which he, if + Soltikof has not, sees to be a key-point in this operation. Easy for + Soltikof to have seized this key-point, key of the real road to Glogau; + easy for Loudon and the new 10,000 to have rendezvoused there: but nobody + has thought of doing it. A few Croats were in the place, who could make no + debate. + </p> + <p> + From Sagan Friedrich and Henri are at length in free communication; Sagan + to the Landskron at Gorlitz is some fifty miles of country, now fallen + vacant. From Henri, from Fouquet (the dangers of Landshut being over), + Friedrich is getting what reinforcement they can spare (September + 20th-24th); will then push forward again, industriously sticking to the + flanks of Soltikof, thrusting out stumbling-blocks, making his march very + uncomfortable. + </p> + <p> + Strange to say, from Sagan, while waiting two days for these + reinforcements, there starts suddenly to view, suddenly for Friedrich and + us, an incipient Negotiation about Peace! Actual Proposal that way (or as + good as actual, so Voltaire thinks it), on the part of Choiseul and + France; but as yet in Voltaire's name only, by a sure though a backstairs + channel, of his discovering. Of which, and of the much farther + corresponding that did actually follow on it, we purpose to say something + elsewhere, at a better time. Meanwhile Voltaire's announcement of it to + the King has just come in, through a fair and high Hand: how Friedrich + receives it, what Friedrich's inner feeling is, and has been for a + fortnight past—Here are some private utterances of his, throwing a + straggle of light on those points:— + </p> + <p> + FOUR LETTERS OF FRIEDRICH'S (10th-24th September). + </p> + <p> + No. 1. TO PRINCE FERDINAND (at Berlin). Poor little Ferdinand, the King's + Brother, fallen into bad health, has retired from the Wars, and gone to + Berlin; much an object of anxiety to the King, who diligently corresponds + with the dear little man,—giving earnest medical advices, and + getting Berlin news in return. + </p> + <p> + "WALDAU, 10th September, 1759. + </p> + <p> + "Since my last Letter, Dresden has capitulated,—the very day while + Wunsch was beating Maguire at The Barns (north side of Dresden, September + 5th) day AFTER the capitulation]. Wunsch went back to Torgau, which St. + Andre, with 14,000 Reichs-people under him, was for retaking; him too + Wunsch beat, took all his tents, kettles, haversacks and utensils, 300 + prisoners, six cannon and some standards. Finck is uniting with Wunsch; + they will march on the Prince of Zweibruck, and retake Dresden [hopes + always, for a year and more, to have Dresden back very soon]. I trust + before long to get all these people gathered round Dresden, and our own + Country rid of them: that, I take it, will be the end of the Campaign. + </p> + <p> + "Many compliments to the Prince of Wurtemberg [wounded at Kunersdorf], and + to all our wounded Generals: I hope Seidlitz is now out of danger: that + bleeding fit (EBULLITION DE SANG) will cure him of the cramp in his jaw, + and of his colics; and as he is in bed, he won't take cold. I hope the + viper-broth will do you infinite good; be assiduous in patching your + constitution, while there is yet some fine weather left: I dread the + winter for you; take a great deal of care against cold. I have still a + couple of cruel months ahead of me before ending this Campaign. Within + that time, there will be, God knows what upshot." [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + xxvi. 544.]—This is "September 10th:" the day of Captain Kollas's + arrival with his bad Dresden news; Daun and Soltikof profoundly quiet for + three days more. + </p> + <p> + No. 2. TO THE DUCHESS OF SACHSEN-GOTHA (at Gotha). Voltaire has enclosed + his Peace-Proposal to that Serene Lady, always a friend of Friedrich's and + his; to whom Friedrich, directly on receipt of it, makes answer:— + </p> + <p> + "SAGAN, 22d September, 1759. + </p> + <p> + "MADAM,—I receive on all occasions proofs of your goodness, to which + I am as sensible as a chivalrous man can be. Certainly it is not through + your hands, Madam, that my Correspondence with V. [with Voltaire, if one + durst write it in full] ought to be made to pass! Nevertheless, in present + circumstances, I will presume to beg that you would forward to him the + Answer here enclosed, on which I put no Address. The difficulty of + transmitting Letters has made me choose my Brother," Ferdinand, at Berlin, + "to have this conveyed to your hand. + </p> + <p> + "If I gave bridle to my feelings, now would be the moment for developing + them; but in these critical times I judge it better not; and will restrict + myself to simple assurances of—" F. + </p> + <p> + No. 3. TO VOLTAIRE, at the Delices (so her Serene Highness will address + it). Here is part of the Enclosure to "V." Friedrich is all for Peace; but + keeps on his guard with such an Ambassador, and writes in a proud, light, + only half-believing style:— + </p> + <p> + "SAGAN, 22d September, 1759. + </p> + <p> + "The Duchess of Sachsen-Gotha sends me your Letter. I never received your + packet of the 29th: communications all interrupted here; with much trouble + I get this passed on to you, if it is happy enough to pass. + </p> + <p> + "My position is not so desperate as my enemies give out. I expect to + finish my Campaign tolerably; my courage is not sunk:—it appears, + however, there is talk of Peace. All I can say of positive on this article + is, That I have honor for ten; and that, whatever misfortune befall me, I + feel myself incapable of doing anything to wound, the least in the world, + this principle,—which is so sensitive and delicate for one who + thinks like a gentleman (PENSE EN PREUX CHEVALIER); and so little regarded + by rascally politicians, who think like tradesmen. + </p> + <p> + "I know nothing of what you have been telling me about [your backstairs + channels, your Duc de Choiseul and his humors]: but for making Peace there + are two conditions which I never will depart from: 1. To make it + conjointly with my faithful Allies [Hessen and England; I have no other]; + 2. To make it honorable and glorious. Observe you, I have still honor + remaining; I will preserve that, at the price of my blood. + </p> + <p> + "If your people want Peace, let them propose nothing to me which + contradicts the delicacy of my sentiments. I am in the convulsions of + military operations; I do as the gamblers who are in ill-luck, and + obstinately set themselves against Fortune. I have forced her to return to + me, more than once, like a fickle mistress, when she had run away. My + opponents are such foolish people, in the end I bid fair to catch some + advantage over them: but, happen whatsoever his Sacred Majesty Chance may + please, I don't disturb myself about it. Up to this point, I have a clear + conscience in regard to the misfortunes that have come to me. As to you, + the Battle of Minden, that of Cadiz" (Boscawen VERSUS De la Clue; Toulon + Fleet running out, and caught by the English, as we saw), these things + perhaps, "and the loss of Canada, are arguments capable of restoring + reason to the French, who had got confused by the Austrian hellebore. + </p> + <p> + "This is my way of thinking. You do not find me made of rose-water: but + Henri Quatre, Louis Quatorze,—my present enemies even, whom I could + cite [Maria Theresa, twenty years ago, when your Belleisle set out to cut + her in Four],—were of no softer temper either. Had I been born a + private man, I would yield everything for the love of Peace; but one has + to take the tone of one's position. This is all I can tell you at present. + In three or four weeks the ways of correspondence will be freer.—F." + [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxiii. 60, 61.] + </p> + <p> + No. 4. TO PRINCE FERDINAND. Two days later: has got on foot again,—end + of his first march upon Soltikof again:— + </p> + <p> + "BAUNAU, 24th September, 1759. + </p> + <p> + "Thank you for the news you send of the wounded Officers," Wurtemberg, + Seidlitz and the others. "You may well suppose that in the pass things are + at, I am not without cares, inquietudes, anxieties; it is the frightfulest + crisis I have had in my life. This is the moment for dying unless one + conquer. Daun and my Brother Henri are marching side by side [not + exactly!]. It is possible enough all these Armies may assemble hereabouts, + and that a general Battle may decide our fortune and the Peace. Take care + of your health, dear Brother.—F." [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxvi. + 545.] + </p> + <p> + Baunau is on Silesian ground, as indeed Sagan itself is; at Baunau + Friedrich already, just on arriving, has done a fine move on Soltikof, and + surprisingly flung the toll-gate in Soltikof's face. As we shall see by + and by;—and likewise that Prince Henri, who emerges to-morrow + morning (September 25th), has not been "marching side by side with Daun," + but at a pretty distance from that gentleman!— + </p> + <p> + Soltikof is a man of his word; otherwise one suspects he already saw his + Siege of Glogau to be impossible. Russians are not very skilful at the + War-minuet: fancy what it will be dancing to such a partner! Friedrich, + finding they are for Glogau, whisks across the Oder, gets there before + them: "No Glogau for you!" They stand agape for some time; then think + "Well then Breslau!" Friedrich again whisks across from them, farther up, + and is again ahead of them when they cross: "No Breslau either!" In + effect, it is hopeless; and we may leave the two manoeuvring in those + waste parts, astride of Oder, or on the eastern bank of it, till a fitter + opportunity; and attend to Henri, who is now the article in risk. + </p> + <p> + Zweibruck's report of himself, on that day of the general Colloquy, was + not in the way of complaint, like that of the Russians, though there did + remain difficulties. "Dresden gloriously ours; Maguire Governor there, and + everything secure; upon my honor. But in the northwest part, those Fincks + and Wunsches, Excellenz?"—And the actual truth is, Wunsch has taken + Leipzig, day before yesterday (September 13th), as Daun sorrowfully knows, + by news come in overnight. And six days hence (September 21st), Finck and + Wunsch together will do their "ACTION OF KORBITZ," and be sending Haddick + a bad road! These things Zweibruck knows only in part; but past experience + gives him ominous presentiment, as it may well do; and he thinks + decidedly: "Excellenz, more Austrian troops are indispensable there; in + fact, your Excellenz's self, were that possible; which one feels it is + not, in the presence of these Russians!" + </p> + <p> + Russians and Reichsfolk, these are a pair of thumbscrews on both thumbs of + Daun; screwing the cunctation out of him; painfully intimating: "Get rid + of this Prince Henri; you must, you must!" And, in the course of the next + eight days Daun has actually girt himself to this great enterprise. Goaded + on, I could guess, by the "Action of Korbitz" (done on Friday, thirty + hours ago); the news of which, and that Haddick, instead of extinguishing + Finck, is retreating from him upon Dresden,—what a piece of news! + thinks Daun: "You, Zweibruck, Haddick, Maguire and Company, you are 36,000 + in Saxony; Finck has not 12,000 in the field: How is this?"—and + indignantly dismisses Haddick altogether: "Go, Sir, and attend to your + health!" [Tempelhof, iii. 276, 258-261.] News poignantly astonishing to + Daun, as would seem;—like an ox-goad in the lazy rear of Daun. + Certain it is, Daun had marched out to Gorlitz in collected form; and, on + Saturday afternoon, SEPTEMBER 22d is personally on the Heights (not Moys + Hill, I should judge, but other points of vision), taking earnest survey + of Prince Henri's position on the Landskron there. "To-morrow morning we + attack that Camp," thinks Daun; "storm Prince Henri and it: be rid of him, + at any price!" [Ib. iii. 253-256 (for the March now ensuing): iii. + 228-234, 241-247 (for Henri's anterior movements).] + </p> + <p> + "To-morrow morning," yes:—but this afternoon, and earlier, Prince + Henri has formed a great resolution, his plans all laid, everything in + readiness; and it is not here you will find Prince Henri to-morrow. This + is his famous March of Fifty Hours, this that we are now come to; which + deserves all our attention,—and all Daun's much more! Prince Henri + was habitually a man cautious in War; not aggressive, like his Brother, + but defensive, frugal of risks, and averse to the lion-springs usual with + some people; though capable of them, too, in the hour of need. Military + men are full of wonder at the bold scheme he now fell upon; and at his + style of executing it. Hardly was Daun gone home to his meditations on the + storm of the Landskron to-morrow, and tattoo beaten in Prince Henri's Camp + there, when, at 8 that Saturday evening, issuing softly, with a minimum of + noise, in the proper marching columns, baggage-columns, Henri altogether + quitted this Camp; and vanished like a dream. Into the Night; men and + goods, every item:—who shall say whitherward? Leaving only a few + light people to keep up the watch-fires and sentry-cries, for behoof of + Daun! Let readers here, who are in the secret, watch him a little from + afar. + </p> + <p> + Straight northward goes Prince Henri, down Neisse Valley, 20 miles or so, + to Rothenburg; in columns several-fold, with much delicate arranging, + which was punctually followed: and in the course of to-morrow Prince Henri + is bivouacked, for a short rest of three hours,—hidden in unknown + space, 20 miles from Daun, when Daun comes marching up to storm him on the + Landskron! Gone veritably; but whitherward Daun cannot form the least + guess. Daun can only keep his men under arms there, all day; while his + scouts gallop far and wide,—bringing in this false guess and the + other; and at length returning with the eminently false one, misled by + some of Henri's baggage-columns, which have to go many routes, That the + Prince is on march for Glogau:—"Gone northeast; that way went his + wagons; these we saw with our eyes." "Northeast? Yes, to Glogau possibly + enough," thinks Daun: "Or may not he, cunning as he is and full of feints, + intend a stroke on Bautzen, in my absence?"—and hastens thither + again, and sits down on the Magazine-lid, glad to find nothing wrong + there. + </p> + <p> + This is all that Daun hears of Henri for the next four days. Plenty of bad + news from Saxony in these four days: the Finck-Haddick Action of Korbitz, + a dismal certainty before one started,—and Haddick on his road to + some Watering Place by this time! But no trace of Henri farther; since + that of the wagons wending northeast. "Gone to Glogau, to his Brother: no + use in pushing him, or trying to molest him there!" thinks Daun; and + waits, in stagnant humor, chewing the cud of bitter enough thoughts, till + confirmation of that guess arrive:—as it never will in this world! + Read an important Note:— + </p> + <p> + "To northward of Bautzen forty miles, and to westward forty miles, the + country is all Daun's; only towards Glogau, with the Russians and + Friedrich thereabouts, does it become disputable, or offer Prince Henri + any chance. Nevertheless it is not to Glogau, it is far the reverse, that + the nimble Henri has gone. Resting himself at Rothenburg 'three hours' + (speed is of all things the vitalest), Prince Henri starts again, SUNDAY + afternoon, straight westward this time. Marches, with his best swiftness, + with his best arrangements, through many sleeping Villages, to Klitten, + not a wakeful one: a march of 18 miles from Rothenburg;—direct for + the Saxon side of things, instead of the Silesian, as Daun had made sure. + </p> + <p> + "At Klitten, MONDAY morning, bivouac again, for a few hours,—'has no + Camp, only waits three hours,' is Archenholtz's phrase: but I suppose the + meaning is, Waits till the several Columns, by their calculated routes, + have all got together; and till the latest in arriving has had 'three + hours' of rest,—the earliest having perhaps gone on march again, in + the interim? There are 20 miles farther, still straight west, to + Hoyerswerda, where the outmost Austrian Division is: 'Forward towards + that; let us astonish General Wehla and his 3,000, and our March is over!' + All this too Prince Henri manages; never anything more consummate, more + astonishing to Wehla and his Master. + </p> + <p> + "Wehla and Brentano, readers perhaps remember them busy, from the Pirna + side, at the late Siege of Dresden. Siege gloriously done, Wehla was + ordered to Hoyerswerda, on the northwest frontier; Brentano to a different + point in that neighborhood; where Brentano escaped ruin, and shall not be + mentioned; but Wehla suddenly found it, and will require a word. Wehla, of + all people on the War-theatre, had been the least expecting disturbance. + He is on the remotest western flank; to westward of him nothing but Torgau + and the Finck-Wunsch people, from whom is small likelihood of danger: from + the eastern what danger can there be? A Letter of Dauns, some days ago, + had expressly informed him that, to all appearance, there was none. + </p> + <p> + "And now suddenly, on the Tuesday morning, What is this? Prussians + reported to be visible in the Woods! 'Impossible!' answered Wehla;—did + get ready, however, what he could; Croat Regiments, pieces of Artillery + behind the Elster River and on good points; laboring more and more + diligently, as the news proved true. But all his efforts were to no + purpose. General Lentulus with his Prussians (the mute Swiss Lentulus, + whom we sometimes meet), who has the Vanguard this day, comes streaming + out of the woods across the obstacles; cannonades Wehla both in front and + rear; entirely swallows Wehla and Corps: 600 killed; the General himself, + with 28 Field-Officers, and of subalterns and privates 1,785, falling + prisoners to us; and the remainder scattered on the winds, galloping each + his own road towards covert and a new form of life. Wehla is eaten, in + this manner, Tuesday, September 25th:—metaphorically speaking, the + March of Fifty Hours ends in a comfortable twofold meal + (military-cannibal, as well as of common culinary meat), and in + well-deserved rest." [Tempelhof, iii. 255, 256; Seyfarth, <i>Beylagen;</i> + &c.] + </p> + <p> + The turning-point of the Campaign is reckoned to be this March of Henri's; + one of the most extraordinary on record. Prince Henri had a very fast + March INTO these Silesian-Lausitz Countries, early in July, [Seyfarth, ii. + 545.] and another very fast, from Bautzen, to intersect with + Schmottseifen, in the end of July: but these were as nothing compared with + the present. Tempelhof, the excellent solid man,—but who puts all + things, big and little, on the same level of detail, and has unparalleled + methods of arranging (what he reckons to be "arranging"), and no vestige + of index,—is distressingly obscure on this grand Incident; but at + length, on compulsion, does yield clear account. [Tempelhof, iii. + 253-258.] In Archenholtz it is not DATED at all; who merely says as + follows: "Most extraordinary march ever made; went through 50 miles of + Country wholly in the Enemy's possession; lasted 56 hours, in which long + period there was no camp pitched, and only twice a rest of three hours + allowed the troops. During the other fifty hours the march, day and night, + continually proceeded. Ended (NO date) in surprise of General Wehla at + Hoyerswerda, cutting up 600 of his soldiers, and taking 1,800 prisoners. + Kalkreuth, since so famous," in the Anti-Napoleon Wars, "was the Prince's + Adjutant." [Archenholtz, i. 426.] + </p> + <p> + This is probably Prince Henri's cleverest feat,—though he did a + great many of clever; and his Brother used to say, glancing towards him, + "There is but one of us that never committed a mistake." A highly + ingenious dexterous little man in affairs of War, sharp as needles, + vehement but cautious; though of abstruse temper, thin-skinned, + capricious, and giving his Brother a great deal of trouble with his + jealousies and shrewish whims. By this last consummate little operation he + has astonished Daun as much as anybody ever did; shorn his elaborate + tissue of cunctations into ruin and collapse at one stroke; and in effect, + as turns out, wrecked his campaign for this Year. + </p> + <p> + Daun finds there is now no hope of Saxony, unless he himself at once + proceed thither. At once thither;—and leave Glogau and the Russians + to their luck,—which in such case, what is it like to be? Probably, + to Daun's own view, ominous enough; but he has no alternative. To this + pass has the March of Fifty Hours brought us. There is such a thing as + being too cunctatory, is not there, your Excellency? Every mortal, and + more especially every Feldmarschall, ought to strike the iron while it is + hot. The remainder of this Campaign, we will hope, can be made + intelligible in a more summary manner. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + FRIEDRICH MANAGES (September 24th-October 24th) TO GET THE RUSSIANS SENT + HOME; AND HIMSELF FALLS LAMED WITH GOUT. + </h2> + <p> + Friedrich's manoeuvres against Soltikof,—every reader is prepared to + hear that Soltikof was rendered futile by them: and none but military + readers could take delight in the details. Two beautiful short-cuts he + made upon Soltikof; pulled him up both times in mid career, as with hard + check-bit. The first time was at Zobelwitz: September 24th, Friedrich cut + across from Sagan, which is string to bow of the Russian march; posted + himself on the Heights of Zobelwitz, of Baunau, Milkau (at Baunau + Friedrich will write a LETTER this night, if readers bethink themselves; + Milkau is a place he may remember for rain-deluges, in the First Silesian + War [Supra, p. 323; ib. vol. vii. p. 311.]): "Let the Russians, if they + now dare, try the Pass of Neustadtel here!" A fortunate hour, when he got + upon this ground. Quartermaster-General Stoffel, our old Custrin + acquaintance, is found marking out a Camp with a view to that Pass of + Neustadtel; [Tempelhof, iii. 293; Retzow, ii. 163.] is, greatly astonished + to find the Prussian Army emerge on him there; and at once vanishes, with + his Hussar-Cossack retinues. "September 24th," it is while Prince Henri + was on the last moiety of his March of Fifty Hours. This severe twitch + flung Soltikof quite out from Glogau,—was like to fling him home + altogether, had it not been for Montalembert's eloquence;—did fling + him across the Oder. Where, again thanks to Montalembert, he was circling + on with an eye to Breslau, when Friedrich, by the diameter, suddenly laid + bridges, crossed at Koben, and again brought Soltikof to halt, as by + turnpike suddenly shut: "Must pay first; must beat us first!" + </p> + <p> + These things had raised Friedrich's spirits not a little. Getting on the + Heights of Zobelwitz, he was heard to exclaim, "This is a lucky day; worth + more to me than a battle with victory." [Retzow, ii. 163.] Astonishing how + he blazed out again, quite into his old pride and effulgence, after this, + says Retzow. Had been so meek, so humbled, and even condescended to ask + advice or opinion from some about him. Especially "from two Captains," + says the Opposition Retzow, whose heads were nearly turned by this + sunburst from on high. Captain Marquart and another,—I believe, he + did employ them about Routes and marking of Camps, which Retzow calls + consulting: a King fallen tragically scarce of persons to consult; all his + Winterfelds, Schwerins, Keiths and Council of Peers now vanished, and + nothing but some intelligent-looking Captain Marquart, or the like, to + consult:—of which Retzow, in his splenetic Opposition humor, does + not see the tragedy, but rather the comedy: how the poor Captains found + their favor to be temporary, conditional, and had to collapse again. One + of them wrote an "ESSAY on the COUP-D'OEIL MILITAIRE," over which Retzow + pretends to weep. This was Friedrich's marginal Note upon the MS., when + submitted to his gracious perusal: "You (ER) will do better to acquire the + Art of marking Camps than to write upon the Military Stroke of Eye." + Beautifully written too, says Retzow; but what, in the eyes of this King, + is beautiful writing, to knowing your business well? No friend he to + writing, unless you have got something really special, and urgent to be + written. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich crassed the Oder twice. Took Soltikof on both sides of the Oder, + cut him out of this fond expectation, then of that; led him, we perceive, + a bad life. Latterly the scene was on the right bank; Sophienthal, Koben, + Herrnstadt and other poor places,—on that big eastern elbow, where + Oder takes his final bend, or farewell of Poland. Ground, naturally, of + some interest to Friedrich: ground to us unknown; but known to Friedrich + as the ground where Karl XII. gave Schulenburg his beating, ["Near Guhrau" + (while chasing August the Strong and him out of Poland), "12th October, + 1704:" vague account of it, dateless, and as good as placeless, in + Voltaire (<i>Charles Douse,</i> liv. iii.), <i>OEuvres,</i> xxx. 142-145.] + which produced the "beautiful retreat" of Schulenburg. The old + Feldmarschall Schulenburg whom we used to hear of once,—whose + Nephew, a pipeclayed little gentleman, was well known to Friedrich and us. + </p> + <p> + For the rest, I do not think he feels this out-manoeuvring of the Russians + very hard work. Already, from Zobelwitz Country, 25th September, day of + Henri at Hoyerswerda, Friedrich had written to Fouquet: "With 21,000 your + beaten and maltreated Servant has hindered an Army of 50,000 from + attacking him, and compelled them to retire on Neusatz!" Evidently much + risen in hope; and Henri's fine news not yet come to hand. By degrees, + Soltikof, rendered futile, got very angry; especially when Daun had to go + for Saxony. "Meal was becoming impossible, at any rate," whimpers Daun: "O + Excellency, do but consider, with the nobleness natural to you! Our Court + will cheerfully furnish money, instead of meal."—"Money? My people + cannot eat money!" growled Soltikof, getting more and more angry; + threatening daily to march for Posen and his own meal-stores. What a time + of it has Montalembert, has the melancholy Loudon, with temper so hot! + </p> + <p> + At Sophienthal, October 10th, Friedrich falls ill of gout;—absolutely + lamed; for three weeks cannot stir from his room. Happily the outer + problem is becoming easier and easier; almost bringing its own solution. + At Sophienthal the lame Friedrich takes to writing about CHARLES XII. AND + HIS MILITARY CHARACTER,—not a very illuminative Piece, on the first + perusal, but I intend to read it again; [REFLEXIONS SUR LES TALENS + MILITAIRES ET SUR LE CARACTERE DE CHARLES XII. (<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + vii. 69-88).]—which at least helps him to pass the time. Soltikof, + more and more straitened, meal itself running low, gets angrier and + angrier. His treatment of the Country, Montalembert rather encouraging, is + described as "horrible." One day he takes the whim, whim or little more, + of seizing Herrnstadt; a small Town, between the Two Armies, where the + Prussians have a Free Battalion. The Prussian Battalion resists; drives + Soltikof's people back. "Never mind," think they: "a place of no + importance to us; and Excellency Soltikof has ridden else-whither." By + ill-luck, in the afternoon, Excellency Soltikof happened to mention the + place again. Hearing that the Prussians still have it, Soltikof mounts + into a rage; summons the place, with answer still No; thereupon orders + instant bombardment of it, fiery storms of grenadoes for it; and has the + satisfaction of utterly burning poor Herrnstadt; the Prussian Free-Corps + still continuing obstinate. It was Soltikof's last act in those parts, and + betokens a sulphurous state of humor. + </p> + <p> + Next morning (October 24th), he took the road for Posen, and marched + bodily home. [Tempelhof, iii. 299, 291-300 (general account, abundantly + minute).] Home verily, in spite of Montalembert and all men. "And for me, + what orders has Excellency?" Loudon had anxiously inquired, on the eve of + that event. "None whatever!" answered Excellency: "Do your own pleasure; + go whithersoever seems good to you." And Loudon had to take a wide sweep + round, by Kalish, through the western parts of Poland; and get home to the + Troppau-Teschen Country as he best could. + </p> + <p> + By Kalish, by Czenstochow, Cracow, poor Loudon had to go: a dismal march + of 300 miles or more,—waited on latterly by Fouquet, with Werner, + Goltz and others, on the Silesian Border; whom Friedrich had ordered + thither for such end. Whom Loudon skilfully avoided to fight; having + already, by desertion and by hardships, lost half his men on the road. + Glad enough to get home and under roof, with his 20,000 gone to 10,000; + and to make bargain with Fouquet: "Truce, then, through Winter; neither of + us to meddle with the other, unless after a fortnight's warning given." + [Tempelhof, iii. 328-331.] NOVEMBER 1st, a month before this, the King, + carried on a litter by his soldiers, had quitted Sophienthal; and, + crossing the River by Koben, got to Glogau. [Rodenbeck, i. 396.] The + greater part of his force, 13,000 under Hulsen, he had immediately sent on + for Saxony; he himself intending to wait recovery in Glogau, with this + Silesian wing of the business happily brought to finis for the present. + </p> + <p> + On the Saxon side, too, affairs are in such a course that the King can be + patient at Glogau till he get well. Everything is prosperous in Saxony + since that March on Hoyerswerda; Henri, with his Fincks and Wunsches, + beautifully posted in the Meissen-Torgau region; no dislodging of him, let + Daun, with his big mass of forces, try as he may. Daun, through the month + of October, is in various Camps, in Schilda last of all: Henri + successively in two; in Strehla for some ten days; then in Torgau for + about three weeks, carefully intrenched, [Tempelhof. iii. 276, 281, 284 + (Henri in Strehla, October 4th-17th; thence to Torgau: 22d October, Daun + "quits his Camp of Belgern" for that of Schilda, which was his last in + those parts).]—where traces of him will turn up (not too + opportunely) next year. Daun, from whatever Camp, goes laboring on this + side and on that; on every side the deft Henri is as sharp as needles; + nothing to be made of him by the cunning movements and contrivances of + Daun. Very fine manoeuvring it was, especially on Henri's part; a charm to + the soldier mind;—given minutely in Tempelhof, and capable of being + followed (if you have Maps and Patience) into the last details. + Instructive really to the soldier;—but must be, almost all, omitted + here. One beautiful slap to Duke d'Ahremberg (a poor old friend of Daun's + and ours) we will remember: "Action of Pretsch" they call it; defeat, + almost capture of poor D'Ahremberg; who had been sent to dislodge the + Prince, by threatening his supplies, and had wheeled, accordingly, + eastward, wide away; but, to his astonishment, found, after a march or + two, Three select Prussian Corps emerging on him, by front, by rear, by + flank, with Horse-artillery (quasi-miraculous) bursting out on hill-tops, + too,—and, in short, nothing for it but to retreat, or indeed to run, + in a considerably ruinous style: poor D'Ahremberg! [Seyfarth (<i>Beylagen,</i> + ii. 634-637), "HOFBERICHT VON DER AM 29 OCTOBER, 1759, BEY MEURO [chiefly + BEY PRETSCH] VORGEFALLENEN ACTION;" ib. ii. 543 n.] On the whole, Daun is + reduced to a panting condition; and knows not what to do. His plans were + intrinsically bad, says Tempelhof; without beating Henri in battle, which + he cannot bring himself to attempt, he, in all probability, will, were it + only for difficulties of the commissariat kind, have to fall back + Dresden-ward, and altogether take himself away. [Tempelhof, iii. 287-289.] + </p> + <p> + After this sad slap at Pretsch, Daun paused for consideration; took to + palisading himself to an extraordinary degree, slashing the Schilda + Forests almost into ruin for this end; and otherwise sat absolutely quiet. + Little to be done but take care of oneself. Daun knows withal of Hulsen's + impending advent with the Silesian 13,000;—November 2d, Hulsen is + actually at Muskau, and his 13,000 magnified by rumor to 20,000. Hearing + of which, Daun takes the road (November 4th); quits his gloriously + palisaded Camp of Schilda; feels that retreat on Dresden, or even home to + Bohemia altogether, is the one course left. + </p> + <p> + And now, the important Bautzen Colloquy of SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15th, + having here brought its three or more Courses of Activity to a pause,—we + will glance at the far more important THURSDAY, 13th, other side the + Ocean:— + </p> + <p> + ABOVE QUEBEC, NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 12th-13th, In profound silence, on the + stream of the St. Lawrence far away, a notable adventure is going on. + Wolfe, from two points well above Quebec ("As a last shift, we will try + that way"), with about 5,000 men, is silently descending in boats; with + purpose to climb the Heights somewhere on this side the City, and be in + upon it, if Fate will. An enterprise of almost sublime nature; very great, + if it can succeed. The cliffs all beset to his left hand, Montcalm in + person guarding Quebec with his main strength. + </p> + <p> + Wolfe silently descends; mind made up; thoughts hushed quiet into one + great thought; in the ripple of the perpetual waters, under the grim + cliffs and the eternal stars. Conversing with his people, he was heard to + recite some passages of Gray's ELEGY, lately come out to those parts; of + which, says an ear-witness, he expressed his admiration to an enthusiastic + degree: "Ah, these are tones of the Eternal Melodies, are not they? A man + might thank Heaven had he such a gift; almost as WE might for succeeding + here, Gentlemen!" [Professor Robison, then a Naval Junior, in the boat + along with Wolfe, afterwards a well-known Professor of Natural Philosophy + at Edinburgh, was often heard, by persons whom I have heard again, to + repeat this Anecdote. See Playfair, BIOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNT OF PROFESSOR + ROBISON,—in <i>Transactions</i> of Royal Society of Edinburgh, vii. + 495 et seq.] Next morning (Thursday, 13th September, 1759), Wolfe, with + his 5,000, is found to have scrambled up by some woody Neck in the + heights, which was not quite precipitous; has trailed one cannon with him, + the seamen busy bringing up another; and by 10 of the clock stands ranked + (really somewhat in the Friedrich way, though on a small scale); ready at + all points for Montcalm, but refusing to be over-ready. + </p> + <p> + Montcalm, on first hearing of him, had made haste: "OUI, JE LES VOIS OU + ILS NE DOIVENT PAS ETRE; JE VAIS LES E'CRASER (to smash them)!" said he, + by way of keeping his people in heart. And marches up, beautifully + skilful, neglecting none of his advantages. Has numerous Canadian + sharpshooters, preliminary Indians in the bushes, with a provoking fire: + "Steady!" orders Wolfe; "from you not one shot till they are within thirty + yards." And Montcalm, volleying and advancing, can get no response, more + than from Druidic stones; till at thirty yards the stones become vocal,—and + continue so at a dreadful rate; and, in a space of seventeen minutes, have + blown Montcalm's regulars, and the gallant Montcalm himself, and their + second in command, and their third, into ruin and destruction. In about + seven minutes more the agony was done; "English falling on with the + bayonet, Highlanders with the claymore;" fierce pursuit, rout total:—and + Quebec and Canada as good as finished. The thing is yet well known to + every Englishman; [The military details of it seem to be very ill known + (witness Colonel Beatson's otherwise rather careful Pamphlet, THE PLAINS + OF ABRAHAM, written quite lately, which we are soon to cite farther); and + they would well deserve describing in the SEYFARTH-BEYLAGEN, or even in + the TEMPELHOF way,—could an English Officer, on the spot as this + Colonel was, be found to do it!—Details are in Beatson (quite + another "Beatson"), <i>Naval and Military History,</i> ii. 300-308; in <i>Gentleman's + Magazine</i> for 1759, the Despatches and particulars: see also Walpole, + <i>George the Second,</i> iii. 217-222.] and how Wolfe himself died in it, + his beautiful death. + </p> + <p> + Truly a bit of right soldierhood, this Wolfe. Manages his small resources + in a consummate manner; invents, contrives, attempts and re-attempts, + irrepressible by difficulty or discouragement, How could a Friedrich + himself have managed this Quebec in a more artistic way? The small Battle + itself, 5,000 to a side, and such odds of Savagery and Canadians, reminds + you of one of Friedrich's: wise arrangements; exact foresight, preparation + corresponding; caution with audacity; inflexible discipline, silent till + its time come, and then blazing out as we see. The prettiest soldiering I + have heard of among the English for several generations. Amherst, + Commander-in-chief, is diligently noosing, and tying up, the French + military settlements, Niagara, Ticonderoga; Canada all round: but this is + the heart or windpipe of it; keep this firm, and, in the circumstances, + Canada is yours. + </p> + <p> + Colonel Reatson, in his recent Pamphlet, THE PLAINS OF ABRAHAM,—which, + especially on the military side, is distressingly ignorant and shallow, + though NOT intentionally incorrect anywhere,—gives Extracts from a + Letter of Montcalm's ("Quebec, 24th August, 1759"), which is highly worth + reading, had we room. It predicts to a hair's-breadth, not only the way + "M. Wolfe, if he understands his trade, will take to beat and ruin me if + we meet in fight;" but also,—with a sagacity singular to look at, in + the years 1775-1777, and perhaps still more in the years 1860-1863,—what + will be the consequences to those unruly English, Colonial and other. "If + he beat me here, France has lost America utterly," thinks Montcalm: "Yes;—and + one's only consolation is, In ten years farther, America will be in revolt + against England!" Montcalm's style of writing is not exemplary; but his + power of faithful observation, his sagacity, and talent of prophecy are so + considerable, we are tempted to give the IPSISSIMA VERBA of his long + Letter in regard to those two points,—the rather as it seems to have + fallen much out of sight in our day:— + </p> + <p> + MONTCALM TO A COUSIN IN FRANCE. + </p> + <p> + "CAMP BEFORE QUEBEC, 24th August, 1759. + </p> + <p> + "MONSIEUR ET CHER COUSIN,—Here I am, for more than three months + past, at handgrips with M. Wolfe; who ceases not day or night to bombard + Quebec, with a fury which is almost unexampled in the Siege of a Place one + intends to retain after taking it."... Will never take it in that way, + however, by attacking from the River or south shore; only ruins us, but + does not enrich himself. Not an inch nearer his object than he was three + months ago; and in one month more the equinoctial storms will blow his + Fleet and him away.—Quebec, then, and the preservation of the + Colony, you think, must be as good as safe?" Alas, the fact is far + otherwise. The capture of Quebec depends on what we call a stroke-of-hand—[But + let us take to the Original now, for Prediction First]:— + </p> + <p> + "La prise de Quebec depend d'un coup de main. Les Anglais sont maitres de + la riviere: ils n'ont qu'a effectuer une descente sur la rive ou cette + Ville, sans fortifications et sans defense, est situee. Les voila en etat + de me presenter la bataille; que je ne pourrais plus refuser, et que je ne + devrais pas gagner. M. Wolfe, en effet, s'il entend son metier, n'a qu'a + essuyer le premier feu, venir ensuite a grands pas sur mon armee, faire a + bout portant sa decharge; mes Canadiens, sans discipline, sourds a la voix + du tambour et des instrumens militaires, deranges pa cette escarre, ne + sauront plus reprendre leurs rangs. Ils sont d'ailleurs sans baionettes + pour repondre a celles de l'ennemi: il ne leur reste qu'a fuir,—et + me voila battu sans ressource. [This is a curiously exact Prediction! I + won't survive, however; defeat here, in this stage of our affairs, means + loss of America altogether:] il est des situations ou il ne reste plus a + un General que de perir avec honneur.... Mes sentimens sont francais, et + ils le seront jusque dans le tombeau, si dans le tombeau on est encore + quelque chose. + </p> + <p> + "Je me consolerai du moins de ma defaite, et de la perte de la Colonie, + par l'intime persuasion ou je suis [Prediction Second, which is still more + curious], que cette defaite vaudra, un jour, a ma Patrie plus qu'une + victoire; et que le vainqueur, en s'agrandissant, trouvera un tombeau dans + son agrandissement meme. + </p> + <p> + "Ce que j'avance ici, mon cher Cousin, vous paraitra un paradoxe: mais un + moment de reflexion politique, un coup d'oeil sur la situation des choses + en Amerique, et la verite de mon opinion brillera dans tout son jour. + [Nobody will obey, unless necessity compel him: VOILA LES HOMMES; GENE of + any kind a nuisance to them; and of all men in the world LES ANGLAIS are + the most impatient of obeying anybody.] Mais si ce sont-la les Anglais de + l'Europe, c'est encore plus les Anglais d'Amerique. Une grande partie de + ces Colons sont les enfans de ces hommes qui s'expatrierent dans ces temps + de trouble ou l'ancienne Angleterre, en proie aux divisions, etait + attaquee dans ses privileges et droits; et allerent chercher en Amerique + une terre ou ils pussent vivre et mourir libres et presque independants:—et + ces enfans n'ont pas degenere des sentimens republicains de leurs peres. + D'autres sont des hommes ennemis de tout frein, de tout assujetissement, + que le gouvernement y a transportes pour leurs crimes, D'autres, enfin, + sont un ramas de differentes nations de l'Europe, qui tiennent tres-peu a + l'ancienne Angleterre par le coeur et le sentiment; tous, en general, ne + ce soucient gueres du Roi ni du Parlement d'Angleterre. + </p> + <p> + "Je les connais bien,—non sur des rapports etrangers, mais sur des + correspondances et des informations secretes, que j'ai moi-meme menagees; + et dont, un jour, si Dieu me prete vie, je pourrai faire usage a + l'avantage de ma Patrie. Pour surcroit de bonheur pour eux, tous ces + Colons sont parvenues, dans un etat tres-florissant; ils sont nombreux et + riches:—ils recueillent dans le sein de leur patrie toutes les + necessites de la vie. L'ancienne Angleterre a ete assez sotte, et assez + dupe, pour leur laisser etablir chez eux les arts, les metiers, les + manufactures:—c'est a dire, qu'elle leur a laisse briser la chaine + de besoins qui les liait, qui les attachait a elle, et qui les fait + dependants. Aussi toutes ces Colonies Anglaises auraient-elles depuis + longtemps secoue le joug, chaque province aurait forme une petite + republique independante, si la crainte de voir les Francais a leur Porte + n'avait ete un frein qui les avait retenu. Maitres pour maitres, ils ont + pefere leurs compatriotes aux etrangers; prenant cependant pour maxime de + n'obeir que le moins qu'ils pourraient. Mais que le Canada vint a etre + conquis, et que les Canadiens et ces Colons ne fussent plus qu'une seul + peuple,—et la premiere occasion ou l'ancienne Angleterre semblerait + toucher a leurs interets, croyez-vous, mon cher Cousin, que ces Colons + obeiront? Et qu'auraient-ils a craindre en se revoltant?... Je suis si sur + de ce que j'ecris, que je ne donnerais pas dix ans apres la conquete du + Canada pour en voir l'accomplissement. + </p> + <p> + "Voila ce que, comme Francais, me console aujourd'hui du danger imminent, + que court ma Patrie, de voir cette Colonie perdue pour elle." [In Beatson, + Lieutenant-Colonel R.E., <i>The Plains of Abraham; Notes original and + selected</i> (Gibraltar, Garrison Library Press, 1858), pp. 38 et seq.] + Extract from <i>"Lettres de M. le Marquis de Montcalm a MM. De Berryer et + De la Mole:</i> 1757-1759 (Londres, 1777),"—which is not in the + British-Museum Library, on applying; and seems to be a forgotten Book. + (NOTE OF FIRST EDITION, 1865.) + </p> + <p> + "A Copy is in the BOSTON ATHENAEUM LIBRARY, New-England: it is a Pamphlet + rather than a Book; contains Two Letters to Berryer MINISTRE DE LA MARINE, + besides this to Mole the Cousin: Publisher is the noted J. Almon,—in + French and English." (From <i>Boston Sunday Courier,</i> of 19th April, + 1868, where this Letter is reproduced.) + </p> + <p> + In the Temple Library, London, I have since found a Copy: and, on strict + survey, am obliged to pronounce the whole Pamphlet a FORGERY,—especially + the Two Letters to "Berryer MINISTER OF MARINE;" who was not yet Minister + of anything, nor thought of as likely to be, for many months after the + date of these Letters addressed to him as such! Internal evidence too, + were such at all wanted, is abundant in these BERRYER Letters; which are + of gross and almost stupid structure in comparison to the MOLE one. As + this latter has already got into various Books, and been argued of in + Parliaments and high places (Lord Shelburne asserting it to be spurious, + Lord Mansfield to be genuine: REPORT OF PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES in <i>Gentleman's + Magazine</i> for NOVEMBER and for DECEMBER, 1777, pp. 515, 560),—it + may be allowed to continue here in the CONDEMNED state. Forger, probably, + some Ex-Canadian, or other American ROYALIST, anxious to do the Insurgent + Party and their British Apologists an ill turn, in that critical year;—had + shot off his Pamphlet to voracious Almon; who prints without preface or + criticism, and even without correcting the press. (NOTE OF JULY, 1868.) + </p> + <p> + Montcalm had been in the Belleisle RETREAT FROM PRAG (December, 1742); in + the terrible EXILLES Business (July, 1747), where the Chevalier de + Belleisle and 4 or 5,000 lost their lives in about an hour. Captain Cook + was at Quebec, Master in the Royal Navy; "sounding the River, and putting + down buoys." Bougainville, another famous Navigator, was Aide-de-Camp of + Montcalm. There have been far-sounding Epics built together on less basis + than lies ready here, in this CAPTURE OF QUEBEC;—which itself, as + the Decision that America is to be English and not French, is surely an + Epoch in World-History! Montcalm was 48 when he perished; Wolfe 33. + Montcalm's skull is in the Ursulines Convent at Quebec,—shown to the + idly curious to this day. [Lieutenant-Colonel Beatson, pp. 28, 15.] + </p> + <p> + It was on October 17th,—while Friedrich lay at Sophienthal, lamed of + gout, and Soltikof had privately fixed for home (went that day week),—that + this glorious bit of news reached England. It was only three days after + that other, bad and almost hopeless news, from the same quarter; news of + poor Wolfe's Repulse, on the other or eastern side of Quebec, July 31st, + known to us already, not known in England till October 14th. Heightened by + such contrast, the news filled all men with a strange mixture of emotions. + "The incidents of Dramatic Fiction," says one who was sharer in it, "could + not have been conducted with more address to lead an audience from + despondency to sudden exultation, than Accident had here prepared to + excite the passions of a whole People. They despaired; they triumphed; and + they wept,—for Wolfe had fallen in the hour of victory! Joy, grief, + curiosity, astonishment, were painted in every countenance: the more they + inquired, the higher their admiration rose. Not an incident but was heroic + and affecting." [Walpole, iii. 219.] America ours; but the noble Wolfe now + not! + </p> + <p> + What Pitt himself said of these things, we do not much hear. On the + meeting of his Parliament, about a month hence, his Speech, somebody + having risen to congratulate and eulogize him, is still recognizably of + royal quality, if we evoke it from the Walpole Notes. Very modest, very + noble, true; and with fine pieties and magnanimities delicately audible in + it: "Not a week all Summer but has been a crisis, in which I have not + known whether I should not be torn to pieces, instead of being commended, + as now by the Honorable Member. The hand of Divine Providence; the more a + man is versed in business, the more he everywhere traces that!... Success + has given us unanimity, not unanimity success. For my own poor share, I + could not have dared as I have done, except in these times. Other + Ministers have hoped as well, but have not been so circumstanced to dare + so much.... I think the stone almost rolled to the top of the hill; but + let us have a care; it may rebound, and hideously drag us down with it + again." [Ib. iii. 225; Thackeray, i. 446.] + </p> + <p> + The essential truth, moreover, is, Pitt has become King of England; so + lucky has poor England, in its hour of crisis, again been. And the + difference between an England guided by some kind of Friedrich (temporary + Friedrich, absolute, though of insecure tenure), and by a Newcastle and + the Clack of Tongues, is very great! But for Pitt, there had been no + Wolfe, no Amherst; Duke Ferdinand had been the Royal Highness of + Cumberland,—and all things going round him in St. Vitus, at their + old rate. This man is a King, for the time being,—King really of the + Friedrich type;—and rules, Friedrich himself not more despotically, + where need is. Pitt's War-Offices, Admiralties, were not of themselves + quick-going entities; but Pitt made them go. Slow-paced Lords in Office + have remonstrated, on more than one occasion: "Impossible, Sir; these + things cannot be got ready at the time you order!" "My Lord, they + indispensably must," Pitt would answer (a man always reverent of coming + facts, knowing how inexorable they are); and if the Negative continued + obstinate in argument, he has been known to add: "My Lord, to the King's + service, it is a fixed necessity of time. Unless the time is kept, I will + impeach your Lordship!" Your Lordship's head will come to lie at your + Lordship's feet! Figure a poor Duke of Newcastle, listening to such a + thing;—and knowing that Pitt will do it; and that he can, such is + his favor with universal England;—and trembling and obeying. + War-requisites for land and for sea are got ready with a Prussian + punctuality,—at what multiple of the Prussian expense, is a smaller + question for Pitt. + </p> + <p> + It is about eighteen months ago that Pownal, Governor of New England, a + kind of half-military person, not without sound sense, though sadly + intricate of utterance,—of whom Pitt, just entering on Office, has, + I suppose, asked an opinion on America, as men do of Learned Counsel on an + impending Lawsuit of magnitude,—had answered, in his long-winded, + intertwisted, nearly inextricable way, to the effect, "Sir, I incline to + fear, on the whole, that the Action will NOT lie,—that, on the + whole, the French will eat America from us in spite of our teeth." [In + THACKERAY, ii. 421-452, Pownal's intricate REPORT (his "DISCOURSE," or + whatever he calls it, "ON THE DEFENCE OF THE INLAND FRONTIERS," his &c. + &c.), of date "15th January, 1758."] January 15th, 1758, that is the + Pownal Opinion-of-Counsel;—and on September 13th, 1759, this is what + we have practically come to. And on September 7th, 1760: within twelve + months more,—Amherst, descending the Rapids from Ticonderoga side, + and two other little Armies, ascending from Quebec and Louisburg, to meet + him at Montreal, have proved punctual almost to an hour; and are in + condition to extinguish, by triple pressure (or what we call noosing), the + French Governor-General in Montreal, a Monsieur de Vaudreuil, and his + Montreal and his Canada altogether; and send the French bodily home out of + those Continents. [Capitulation between Amherst and Vaudreuil ("Montreal, + 8th September, 1760"), in 55 Articles: in BEATSON, iii. 274-283.] Which + may dispense us from speaking farther on the subject. + </p> + <p> + From the Madras region, too, from India and outrageous Lally, the news are + good. Early in Spring last, poor Lally,—a man of endless talent and + courage, but of dreadfully emphatic loose tongue, in fact of a blazing + ungoverned Irish turn of mind,—had instantly, on sight of some small + Succors from Pitt, to raise his siege of Madras, retire to Pondicherry; + and, in fact, go plunging and tumbling downhill, he and his India with + him, at an ever-faster rate, till they also had got to the Abyss. "My + policy is in these five words, NO ENGLISHMAN IN THIS PENINSULA," wrote he, + a year ago, on landing in India; and now it is to be No FRENCHMAN, and + there is one word in the five to be altered!—Of poor Lally, zealous + and furious over-much, and nearly the most unfortunate and worst-used "man + of genius" I ever read of, whose lion-like struggles against French + Official people, and against Pitt's Captains and their sea-fights and + siegings, would deserve a volume to themselves, we have said, and can here + say, as good as nothing,—except that they all ended, for Lally and + French India, in total surrender, 16th January, 1761; and that Lally, some + years afterwards, for toils undergone and for services done, got, when + accounts came to be liquidated, death on the scaffold. Dates I give below. + [28th April, 1758, Lands at Pondicherry; instantly proceeds upon Fort St. + David. 2d June, 1758, Takes it: meant to have gone now on Madras; but + finds he has no money;—goes extorting money from Black Potentates + about, Rajah of Travancore, &c., in a violent and extraordinary style; + and can get little. Nevertheless, 14th December, 1758, Lays Siege to + Madras.] + </p> + <p> + 16th February, 1759, Is obliged to quit trenches at Madras, and retire + dismally upon Pondicherry,—to mere indigence, mutiny ("ten + mutinies"), Official conspiracy, and chaos come again. + </p> + <p> + 22d January, 1760, Makes outrush on Wandewash, and the English posted + there; is beaten, driven back into Pondicherry. April, 1760, Is besieged + in Pondicherry. 16th January, 1761, Is taken, Pondicherry, French India + and he;—to Madras he, lest the French Official party kill him, as + they attempt to do. + </p> + <p> + 23d September, 1761, arrives, prisoner, in England: thence, on parole, to + France and Paris, 21st October. November, 1762, To Bastille; waits trial + nineteen months; trial lasts two years. 6th May, 1766, To be BEHEADED,—9th + May was. [See BEATSON, ii. 369-372, 96-110, &c.; Voltaire (FRAGMENTS + SUR L'INDE) in <i>OEuvres,</i> xxix. 183-253; BIOGRAPHIC UNIVERSELLE, + Lally.] + </p> + <p> + "Gained Fontenoy for us," said many persons;—undoubtedly gained + various things for us, fought for us Berserkir-like on all occasions; + hoped, in the end, to be Marechal de France, and undertook a Championship + of India, which issues in this way! America and India, it is written, are + both to be Pitt's. Let both, if possible, remain silent to us henceforth. + </p> + <p> + As to the Invasion-of-England Scheme, Pitt says he does not expect the + French will invade us; but if they do, he is ready. [Speech, 4th November, + supra.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VII.—FRIEDRICH REAPPEARS ON THE FIELD, AND IN SEVEN DAYS + AFTER COMES THE CATASTROPHE OF MAXEN. + </h2> + <p> + November 6th-8th, Daun had gone to Meissen Country: fairly ebbing + homeward; Henri following, with Hulsen joined,—not vehemently + attacking the rhinoceros, but judiciously pricking him forward. Daun goes + at his slowest step: in many divisions, covering a wide circuit; sticking + to all the strong posts, till his own time for quitting them: slow, + sullenly cautious; like a man descending dangerous precipices back + foremost, and will not be hurried. So it had lasted about a week; Daun for + the last four days sitting restive, obstinate, but Henri pricking into him + more and more, till the rhinoceros seemed actually about lifting himself,—when + Friedrich in person arrived in his Brother's Camp. [Tempelhof, iii. + 301-305.] + </p> + <p> + At the Schloss of Herschstein, a mile or two behind Lommatsch, which is + Henri's head-quarter (still to westward of Meissen; Daun hanging on, seven + or eight miles to southeastward ahead; loath to go, but actually obliged),—it + was there, Tuesday, November 13th, that the King met his Brother again. A + King free of his gout; in joyful spirits; and high of humor,—like a + man risen indignant, once more got to his feet, after three months' + oppressions and miseries from the unworthy. "Too high," mourns Retzow, in + a gloomy tone, as others do in perhaps a more indulgent one. Beyond doubt, + Friedrich's farther procedures in this grave and weighty Daun business + were more or less imprudent; of a too rapid and rash nature; and turned + out bitterly unlucky to him. "Had he left the management to Henri!" sighed + everybody, after the unlucky event. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich had not arrived above four-and-twenty hours, when news came in: + "The Austrians in movement again; actually rolling off Dresden-ward + again." "Haha, do they smell me already!" laughed he: "Well, I will send + Daun to the Devil,"—not adding, "if I can." And instantly ordered + sharp pursuit,—and sheer stabbing with the ox-goad, not soft and + delicate pricking, as Henri's lately. [Retzow, ii. 168; Tempelhof, iii. + 306.] Friedrich, in fact; was in a fiery condition against Daun: "You + trampled on me, you heavy buffalo, these three months; but that is over + now!"—and took personally the vanguard in this pursuit. And had a + bit of hot fighting in the Village of Korbitz (scene of that Finck-Haddick + "Action," 21st September last, and of poor Haddick's ruin, and retirement + to the Waters);—where the Austrians now prove very fierce and + obstinate; and will not go, till well slashed into, and torn out by sheer + beating:—which was visibly a kind of comfort to the King's humor. + "Our Prussians do still fight, then, much as formerly! And it was all a + hideous Nightmare, all that, and Daylight and Fact are come, and Friedrich + is himself again!" + </p> + <p> + They say Prince Henri took the liberty of counselling him, even of + entreating him: "Leave well alone; why run risks?" said Henri. Daun, it + was pretty apparent, had no outlook at the present but that of sauntering + home to Bohmen; leaving Dresden to be an easy prey again, and his whole + Campaign to fall futile, as the last had. Under Henri's gentle driving he + would have gone slower; but how salutary, if he only went! These were + Henri's views: but Friedrich was not in the slow humor; impatient to be in + Dresden; "will be quartered there in a week," writes he, "and more at + leisure than now." ["Wilsdruf, 17th November, 1759," and still more "19th + November," Friedrich to Voltaire in high spirits that way (<i>OEuvres de + Frederic,</i> xxiii. 66).] He is thinking of Leuthen, of Rossbach, of + Campaign 1757, so gloriously restored after ruin; and, in the fire of his + soul, is hoping to do something similar a second time. That is Retzow's + notion: who knows but there may be truth in it? A proud Friedrich, got on + his feet again after such usage;—nay, who knows whether it was quite + so unwise to be impressive on the slow rhinoceros, and try to fix some + thorn in his snout, or say (figuratively), to hobble his hind-feet; which, + I am told, would have been beautifully ruinous; and, though riskish, was + not impossible? [Tempelhof, iii. 311, &c.] Ill it indisputably turned + out; and we have, with brevity, to say how, and leave readers to their + judgment of it. + </p> + <p> + It was in the Village of Krogis, about six miles forward, on the + Meissen-Freyberg road, a mile or two on from Korbitz, and directly after + the fierce little tussle in that Village,—that Friedrich, his blood + still up, gave the Order for Maxen, which proved so unlucky to him. Wunsch + had been shot off in pursuit of the beaten Austrians; but they ran too + fast; and Wunsch came back without farther result, still early in the day. + Back as far as Krogis, where the next head-quarter is to be;—and + finds the King still in a fulminant condition; none the milder, it is + likely, by Wunsch's returning without result. "Go straight to General + Finck; bid him march at once!" orders the King; and rapidly gives Wunsch + the instructions Finck is to follow. Finck and his Corps are near Nossen, + some ten miles ahead of Krogis, some twenty west from Dresden. There, + since yesterday, stands Finck, infesting the left or western flank of the + Austrians,—what was their left, and will be again, when they call + halt and face round on us:—Let Finck now march at once, quite round + that western flank; by Freyberg, Dippoldiswalde, thence east to Maxen; + plant himself at Maxen (a dozen miles south of Dresden, among the rocky + hills), and stick diligently in the rear of those Austrians, cutting off, + or threatening to cut off, their communications with Bohemia, and block + the Pirna Country for them. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich calculates that, if Daun is for retreating by Pirna Country, + this will, at lowest, be a method to quicken him in that movement; or + perhaps it may prove a method to cut off such retreat altogether, and + force Daun to go circling by the Lausitz Hills and Wildernesses, exposed + to tribulations which may go nigh to ruin him. That is Friedrich's proud + thought: "an unfortunate Campaign; winding up, nevertheless, as 1757 did, + in blazes of success!" And truly, if Friedrich could have made himself + into Two; and, while flashing and charging in Daun's front, have been in + command at Maxen in Daun's rear,—Friedrich could have made a pretty + thing of this waxen Enterprise; and might in good part have realized his + proud program. But there is no getting two Friedrichs. Finck, a General of + approved quality, he is the nearest approach we can make to a second + Friedrich;—and he, ill-luck too super-adding itself, proves + tragically inadequate. And sets all the world, and Opposition Retzow, + exclaiming, "See: Pride goes before a fall!"— + </p> + <p> + At 3 in the afternoon, Friedrich, intensely surveying from the heights of + Krogis the new Austrian movements and positions, is astonished, not + agreeably ("What, still only here, Herr General!"), by a personal visit + from Finck. Finck finds the Maxen business intricate, precarious; wishes + farther instructions, brings forward this objection and that. Friedrich at + last answers, impatiently: "You know I can't stand making of difficulties + (ER WEISS DASS ICH DIE DIFFICULTATEN NICHT LEIDEN KANN; MACHE DASS ER FORT + KOMMT); contrive to get it done!" With which poor comfort Finck has to + ride back to Nossen; and scheme out his dispositions overnight. + </p> + <p> + Next morning, Thursday, 15th, Finck gets on march; drives the Reichsfolk + out of Freyberg; reaches Dippoldiswalde:—"Freyberg is to be my + Magazine," considers Finck; "Dippoldiswalde my half-way house; Four + Battalions of my poor Eighteen shall stand there, and secure the + meal-carts." Friday, 16th, Finck has his Vanguard, Wunsch leading it, in + possession of Maxen and the Heights; and on Saturday gets there himself, + with all his people and equipments. I should think about 12,000 men: in a + most intersected, intertwisted Hill Country; full of gullets, dells and + winding brooks;—it is forecourt of the Pirna rocks, our celebrated + Camp of Gahmig lies visible to north, Dohna and the Rothwasser bounding us + to east;—in grim November weather, some snow falling, or + snow-powder, alternating with sleet and glazing frosts: by no means a + beautiful enterprise to Finck. Nor one of his own choosing, had one a + choice in such cases. + </p> + <p> + To Daun nothing could be more unwelcome than this news of Finck, embattled + there at Maxen in the inextricable Hill Country, direct on the road of + Daun's meal-carts and Bohemian communications. And truly withal,—what + Daun does not yet hear, but can guess,—there is gone, in supplement + or as auxiliary to Finck, a fierce Hussar party, under GRUNE Kleist, their + fiercest Hussar since Mayer died; who this very day, at Aussig, burns + Daun's first considerable Magazine; and has others in view for the same + fate. [Friedrich's second Letter to Voltaire, Wilsdruf, "19th November, + 1759."] An evident thing to Daun, that Finck being there, meal has ceased. + </p> + <p> + On the instant, Daun falls back on Dresden; Saturday, 17th, takes post in + the Dell of Plauen (PLAUEN'SCHE GRUND); an impassable Chasm, with sheer + steeps on both sides, stretching southward from Dresden in front of the + Hill Country: thither Daun marches, there to consider what is to be done + with Finck. Amply safe this position is; none better in the world: a + Village, Plauen, and a Brook, Weistritz, in the bottom of this exquisite + Chasm; sheer rock-walls on each side,—high especially on the Daun, + or south side;—head-quarters can be in Dresden itself; room for your + cavalry on the plain ground between Dresden and the Chasm. A post both + safe and comfortable; only you must not loiter in making up your mind as + to Finck; for Friedrich has followed on the instant. Friedrich's + head-quarter is already Wilsdruf, which an hour or two ago was Daun's: at + Kesselsdorf vigilant Ziethen is vanguard. So that Friedrich looks over on + you from the northern brow of your Chasm; delays are not good near such a + neighbor. + </p> + <p> + Daun—urged on by Lacy, they say—is not long in deciding that, + in this strait, the short way out will be to attack Finck in the Hills. + Daun is in the Hills, as well as Finck (this Plauen Chasm is the + boundary-ditch of the Hills): Daun with 27,000 horse and foot, moving on + from this western part; 3,000 light people (one Sincere the leader of + them) moving simultaneously from Dresden itself, that is, from northward + or northwestward; 12,000 Reichsfolk, horse and foot, part of them already + to southeastward of Finck, other part stealing on by the Elbe bank + thitherward: here, from three different points of the compass, are 42,000. + These simultaneously dashing in, from west, north, south, upon Finck, may + surely give account of his 12,000 and him! If only we can keep Friedrich + dark upon it; which surely our Pandours will contrive to do. + </p> + <p> + Finck, directly on arriving at Maxen, had reported himself to the King; + and got answer before next morning: "Very well; but draw in those Four + Battalions you have left in Dippoldiswalde; hit with the whole of your + strength, when a chance offers." Which order Finck, literally and not too + willingly, obeys; leaves only some light remnant in Dippoldiswalde, and + reinforcement to linger within reach, till a certain Bread-convoy come to + him, which will be due next morning (Monday, 19th); and which does then + safely get home, though under annoyances from cannonading in the distance. + </p> + <p> + SUNDAY, 18th, Finck fails not to reconnoitre from the highest Hill-top; to + inquire by every method: he finds, for certain, that the enemy are coming + in upon him. With his own eyes he sees Reichsfolk marching, in quantity, + southeastward by the Elbe shore: "Intending towards Dohna, as is like?"—and + despatched Wunsch, who, accordingly, drove them out of Dohna. Of all this + Finck, at once, sent word to Friedrich. Who probably enough received the + message; but who would get no new knowledge from it,—vigilant + Ziethen having, by Austrian deserters and otherwise, discovered this of + the Reichsfolk; and furthermore that Sincere with 3,000 was in motion, + from the north, upon Finck. Sunday evening, Friedrich despatches Ziethen's + Report; which punctually came to Finck's hand; but was the last thing he + received from Friedrich, or Friedrich from him. The intervening Pandours + picked up all the rest. The Ziethen REPORT, of two or three lines, most + succinct but sufficient, like a cutting of hard iron, is to be read in + many Books: we may as well give the Letter and it:— + </p> + <p> + FRIEDRICH'S LETTER (WILSDRUF, 18th NOVEMBER, 1759). "My dear + General-Lieutenant von Finck,—I send you the enclosed Report from + General Ziethen, showing what is the lie of matters as seen from this + side; and leave the whole to your disposition and necessary measures. I am + your well-affectioned King,—F." The Enclosure is as follows:— + </p> + <p> + GENERAL ZIETHEN'S REPORT (KESSELSDORF, 18th NOVEMBER, 1759). "To your + Royal Majesty, send [no pronoun "I" allowed] herewith a Corporal, who has + deserted from the Austrians. He says, Sincere with the Reserve did march + with the Reichs Army; but a league behind it, and turned towards + Dippoldiswalde. General Brentano [Wehla's old comrade, luckier than + Wehla], as this Deserter heard last night in Daun's head-quarter,—which + is in the southern Suburb of Dresden, in the Countess Moschinska's Garden,—was + yesterday to have been in Dohlen [looking into our outposts from the + hither side of their Plauen Dell], but was not there any longer," as our + Deserter passed, "and it was said that he had gone to Maxen at three in + the afternoon." [Tempelhof, iii. 309.] + </p> + <p> + Thus curtly is Finck authorized to judge for himself in the new + circumstances. Marginally is added, in Friedrich's own hand: "ER WIRD + ENTWEDER MIT DEN REICHERN ODER MIT SICEREN EINEN GANG HABEN,—Either + with the Reichers or with Sincere you will have a bout, I suppose." + </p> + <p> + MAP FACING PAGE 350, BOOK XIX GOES HERE—— + </p> + <p> + Finck, from his own Hill-top, on Sunday and Monday, sees all this of + Ziethen, and much more. Sees the vanguard of Daun himself approaching + Dippoldiswalde, cannonading his meal-carts as they issue there; on all + sides his enemies encompassing him like bees;—and has a + sphinx-riddle on his mind, such as soldier seldom had. Shall he manoeuvre + himself out, and march away, bread-carts, baggages and all entire? There + is still time, and perfect possibility, by Dippoldiswalde there, or by + other routes and methods. But again, did not his Majesty expect, do not + these words "a bout" still seem to expect, a bit of fighting with somebody + or other? Finck was an able soldier, and his skill and courage well known; + but probably another kind of courage was wanted this day, of which Finck + had not enough. Finck was not king of this matter; Finck was under a King + who perhaps misjudged the matter. If Finck saw no method of doing other + than hurt and bad service to his King by staying here, Finck should have + had the courage to come away, and front the King's unreasonable anger, + expecting redress one day, or never any redress. That was Finck's duty: + but everybody sees how hard it was for flesh and blood. + </p> + <p> + Finck, truer to the letter than to the spirit, determined to remain. Did, + all that Monday, his best to prepare himself; called in his outposts ("Was + not I ordered?" thinks Finck, too literally); and sees his multitudes of + enemies settle round him;—Daun alone has 27,000 men, who take camp + at Dippoldiswalde; and in sum-total they are as 4 to 1 of Finck:—a + Finck still resolute of face, though internally his thoughts may be + haggard enough. Doubtless he hopes, too, that Friedrich will do something:—unaware + that none of his messages reach Friedrich. As for Daun, having seen his + people safely encamped here, he returns to Dresden for the night, to see + that Friedrich is quiet. Friedrich is quiet enough: Daun, at seven next + morning (TUESDAY, 20th), appeared on the ground again; and from all sides + Finck is assaulted,—from Daun's side nearest and soonest, with + Daun's best vigor. + </p> + <p> + Dippoldiswalde is some seven miles from Maxen. Difficult hill-road all the + way: but the steepest, straitest and worst place is at Reinhartsgrimma, + the very first Hamlet after you are out of Dippoldiswalde. There is a + narrow gullet there, overhung with heights all round. The roads are + slippery, glazed with sleet and frost; Cavalry, unroughened, make sad + sliding and sprawling; hardly the Infantry are secure on their feet: a + terrible business getting masses of artillery-wagons, horse and man, + through such a Pass! It is thought, had Finck garnished this Pass of + Reinhartsgrimma, with the proper batteries, the proper musketries, Daun + never would have got through. Finck had not a gun or a man in it: "Had not + I order?" said he,—again too literally. As it was, Daun, sliding and + sprawling in the narrow steeps, had difficulties almost too great; and, + they say, would have given it up, had it not been that a certain Major + urged, "Can be done, Excellenz, and shall!" and that the temper of his + soldiers was everywhere excellent. Unfortunate Finck had no artillery to + bear on Daun's transit through the Pass. Nothing but some weak body of + hussars and infantry stood looking into it, from the Hill of Hausdorf: + even these might have given him some slight hindrance; but these were + played upon by endless Pandours, "issuing from a wood near by," with + musketries, and at length with cannon batteries, one and another;—and + had to fall back, or to be called back, to Maxen Hill, where the main + force is. + </p> + <p> + In the course of yesterday, by continual reconnoitring, by Austrian + deserters, and intense comparison of symptoms, Finck had completely + ascertained where the Enemy's Three Attacks were to be,—"on Maxen, + from Dippoldiswalde, Trohnitz, Dohna, simultaneously three attacks," it + appears;—and had with all his skill arranged himself on the Maxen + summits to meet these. He stands now elaborately divided into Three groups + against those Three simultaneities; forming (sadly wide apart, one would + say, for such a force as Finck's) a very obtuse-angled triangle:—the + obtuse vertex of which (if readers care to look on their Map) is Trohnitz, + the road Brentano and Sincere are coming. On the base-angles, Maxen and + Dohna, Finck expects Daun and the Reich. From Trohnitz to Maxen is near + two miles; from Maxen to Dohna above four. At Dohna stands Wunsch against + the Reich; Finck himself at Maxen, expecting Daun, as the pith of the + whole affair. In this triangular way stands Finck at the topmost heights + of the country,—"Maxen highest, but Hausdorf only a little lower,"—and + has not thought of disputing the climb upwards. Too literal an eye to his + orders: alas, he was not himself king, but only king's deputy! + </p> + <p> + The result is, about 11 A.M., as I obscurely gather, Daun has conquered + the climb; Daun's musketries begin to glitter on the top of Hausdorf; and + 26 or 32 heavy cannon open their throats there; and the Three Attacks + break loose. Finck's Maxen batteries (scarcely higher than Daun's, and far + inferior in weight) respond with all diligence, the poor regimental + fieldpieces helping what they can. Mutual cannonade, very loud for an hour + and half; terrific, but doing little mischief; after which Daun's + musketries (the ground now sufficiently clear to Daun), which are the + practical thing, begin opening, first from one point, then from another: + and there ensues, for five hours coming, at Maxen and at the other two + points of Finck's triangle, such a series of explosive chargings, + wheelings, worryings and intricate death-wrestlings, as it would provoke + every reader to attempt describing to him. Except indeed he were a + soldier, bound to know the defence of posts; in which case I could fairly + promise him that there are means of understanding the affair, and that he + might find benefit in it. [Tempelhof, iii. 307-317. JOURNAL UND NACHRICHT + VON DER GEFANGENNEHMUNG DES FINCK'SCHEN CORPS BEY MAXEN, IM JAHRE 1759 + (Seyfarth, <i>Beylagen,</i> ii. 637-654).] + </p> + <p> + Daun's Grenadiers, and Infantry generally, are in triumphant spirits; + confident of victory, as they may reasonably be. Finck's people, too, + behave well, some of them conspicuously well, though in gloomier mood; and + make stubborn fight, successful here and there, but, as a whole, not + capable of succeeding. By 3 in the afternoon, the Austrians have forced + the Maxen Post; they "enter Maxen with great shoutings;" extrude the + obstinate Prussian remnants; and, before long, have the poor Village "on + fire in every part." Finck retreating northward to Schmorsdorf, towards + the obtuse angle of his triangle, if haply there may be help in that + quarter for him. Daun does not push him much; has Maxen safely burning in + every part. + </p> + <p> + From Schmorsdorf Finck pushes out a Cavalry charge on Brentano. "Could we + but repulse Brentano yonder," thinks he, "I might have those Four + Battalions to hand, and try again!" But Brentano makes such cannonading, + the Cavalry swerve to a Hollow on their right; then find they have not + ground, and retire quite fruitless. Finck's Cavalry, and the Cavalry + generally, with their horses all sliding on the frosty mountain-gnarls, + appear to be good for little this day. Brentano, victorious over the + Cavalry, comes on with such storm, he sweeps through the obtuse angle, + home upon Finck; and sweeps him out of Schmorsdorf Village to Schmorsdorf + Hill, there to take refuge, as the night sinks,—and to see himself, + if his wild heart will permit him to be candid, a ruined man. Of the Three + Attacks, Two have completely succeeded on him; only Wunsch, at Dohna, + stands victorious; he has held back the Reich all day, and even chased it + home to its posts on the Rothwasser (RED WATER), multitudinous as it was. + </p> + <p> + Finck's mood, as the November shadows gathered on him,—the equal + heart may at least pity poor Finck! His resolution is fixed: "Cut + ourselves through, this night: Dohna is ours: other side that Red Water + there are roads;—perish or get through!" And the Generals (who are + rallied now "on the Heights of Falkenhain and Bloschwitz," midway between + Maxen and Dohna) get that Order from him. And proceed to arrange for + executing it,—though with outlook more and more desperate, as their + scouts report that every pass and post on the Red Water is beset by + Reichsfolk. "Wunsch, with the Cavalry, he at least may thread his way out, + under cloud of night, by the opposite or Daun side," calculates Finck. And + Wunsch sets out accordingly: a very questionable, winding, subterranean + march; difficult in the extreme,—the wearied SLIPshod horses going + at a snail's pace; and, in the difficult passes, needing to be dragged + through with bridle and even to be left altogether:—in which, + withal, it will prove of no use for Wunsch to succeed! Finck's Generals + endeavoring to rank and rearrange through the night, find that their very + cartridges are nearly spent, and that of men, such wounding, such + deserting has there been, they have, at this time, by precise count, 2,836 + rank and file. Evidently desperate. + </p> + <p> + At daylight, Daun's cannon beginning again from the Maxen side, Finck + sends to capitulate. "Absolute surrender," answers Daun: "prisoners of + war, and you shall keep your private baggage. General Wunsch with the + Cavalry, he too must turn back and surrender!" Finck pleaded hard, on this + last score: "General Wunsch, as head of the Cavalry, is not under me; is + himself chief in that department." But it was of no use: Wunsch had to + return (not quite got through Daun's Lines, after such a night), and to + surrender, like everybody else. Like Eight other Generals; like + Wolfersdorf of Torgau, and many a brave Officer and man. Wednesday + morning, 21st November, 1769: it is Finck's fourth day on Maxen; his last + in the Prussian Service. + </p> + <p> + That same Wednesday Afternoon there were ranked in the GROSSE GARTEN at + Dresden, of dejected Prussian Prisoners from Maxen, what exact number was + never known: the Austrians said 15,000; but nobody well believed them; + their last certain instalment being only, in correct numbers, 2,836. + Besides the killed, wounded and already captured, many had deserted, many + had glided clear off. It is judged that Friedrich lost, by all these + causes, about 12,000 men. Gone wholly,—with their equipments and + appurtenances wholly, which are not worth counting in comparison. Finck + and the other Generals, 8 of them, and 529 Officers,—Finck, Wunsch, + Wolfersdorf, Mosel (of the Olmutz Convoy), not to mention others of known + worth, this is itself a sore loss to Friedrich, and in present + circumstances an irreparable. [Seyfarth, ii. 576; in <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> + (v. 1115), the Vienna Account.] + </p> + <p> + The outburst and paroxysm of Gazetteer rumor, which arose in Europe over + this, must be left to the imagination; still more the whirlwind of + astonishment, grief, remorse and indignation that raged in the heart of + Friedrich on first hearing of it. "The Caudine Forks;" "Scene of Pirna + over again, in reverse form;" "Is not your King at last over with it?" + said and sang multifariously the Gazetteers. As counter-chorus to which, + in a certain Royal Heart: "That miserable purblind Finck, unequal to his + task;—that overhasty I, who drove him upon it! This disgrace, loss + nigh ruinous; in fine, this infernal Campaign (CETTE CAMPAGNE INFEMALE)!" + The Anecdote-Books abound in details of Friedrich's behavior at Wilsdruf + that day; mythical all, or in good part, but symbolizing a case that is + conceivable to everybody. Or would readers care to glance into the very + fact with their own eyes? As happens to be possible. + </p> + <p> + 1. BEFORE MAXEN: FRIEDRICH TO D'ARGENS AND OTHERS. + </p> + <p> + TO D'ARGENS (Krogis, 15th November, order for Maxen just given). + "Yesterday I joined the Army [day before yesterday, but took the field + yesterday], and Daun decamped. I have followed him thus far, and will + continue it to the frontiers of Bohemia. Our measures are so taken [Finck, + to wit], that he will not get out of Saxony without considerable losses. + Yesterday cost him 500 men taken at Korgis here. Every movement he makes + will cost him as many." [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xix. 101.] + </p> + <p> + TO VOLTAIRE (Wilsdruf, 17th November). "We are verging on the end of our + Campaign: and I will write to you in eight days from Dresden, with more + composure and coherency than now." [Ib. xxiii. 66.] + </p> + <p> + TO THE SAME (Wilsdruf, 19th November). "The Austrians are packing off to + Bohemia,—where, in reprisal for the incendiary operations they have + done in my countries, I have burnt them two big magazines. I render the + beatified Hero's retreat as difficult as possible; and I hope he will come + upon some bad adventures within a few days." [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + xxiii. 66.] + </p> + <p> + SAME DAY AND PLACE, TO D'ARGENS. A volley of most rough-paced off-hand + Rhyming, direct from the heart; "Ode [as he afterwards terms it, or + irrepressible extempore LILT] TO FORTUNE:" + </p> + <p> + "MARQUIS, QUEL CHANGEMENT, what a change! I, a poor heretic creature, + never blessed by the Holy Father; indeed, little frequenting Church, nor + serving either Baal or the God of Israel; held down these many months, and + reported by more than one shaven scoundrel [priest-pamphleteer at Vienna] + to be quite extinct, and gone vagabond over the world,—see how + capricious Fortune, after all her hundred preferences of my rivals, lifts + me with helpful hand from the deep, and packs this Hero of the Hat and + Sword,—whom Popes have blessed what they could, and who has walked + in Pilgrimage before now [to Marienzell once, I believe, publicly at + Vienna],—out of Saxony; panting, harassed goes he, like a stranger + dog from some kitchen where the cook had flogged him out!" [Ib. xix. + 103-106.]... (A very exultant Lilt, and with a good deal more of the + chanticleer in it than we are used to in this King!) + </p> + <p> + 2. AFTER MAXEN. + </p> + <p> + TO D'ARGENS (Wilsdruf, 22d November). "Do with that [some small piece of + business] whatever you like, my dear Marquis. I am so stupefied (E'TOURDI) + with the misfortune which has befallen General Finck, that I cannot + recover from my astonishment. It deranges all my measures; it cuts me to + the quick. Ill-luck, which persecutes my old age, has followed me from the + Mark [Kunersdorf, in the Mark of Brandenburg] to Saxony. I will still + strive what I can. The little ODE I sent you, addressed TO FORTUNE, had + been written too soon! One should not sing victory till the battle is + over. I am so crushed down by these incessant reverses and disasters, that + I wish a thousand times I were dead; and from day to day I grow wearier of + dwelling in a body worn out and condemned to suffer. I am writing to you + in the first moment of my grief. Astonishment, sorrow, indignation, scorn, + all blended together, lacerate my soul. Let us get to the end, then, of + this execrable Campaign; I will then write to you what is to become of me; + and we will arrange the rest. Pity me;—ad make no noise about me; + bad news go fast enough of themselves. Adieu, dear Marquis." [<i>OEuvres + de Frederic, </i> xix. 107.] + </p> + <p> + All this, of course, under such pressing call of actualities, had very + soon to transform itself into silence; into new resolution, and + determinate despatch of business. But the King retained a bitter memory of + it all his days. To Finck he was inexorable:—ordered him, the first + thing on his return from Austrian Captivity, Trial by Court-Martial; which + (Ziethen presiding, June, 1763) censured Finck in various points, and gave + him, in supplement to the Austrian detention, a Year's Imprisonment in + Spandau. No ray of pity visible for him, then or afterwards, in the Royal + mind. So that the poor man had to beg his dismissal; get it, and go to + Denmark for new promotion and appreciation.—"Far too severe!" + grumbled the Opposition voices, with secret counter-severity. And truly it + would have been more beautiful to everybody, for the moment, to have made + matters soft to poor Finck,—had Friedrich ever gone on that score + with his Generals and Delegates; which, though the reverse of a cruel man, + he never did. And truly, as we often observe, the Laws of Fact are still + severer than Friedrich was:—so that, in the long-run, perhaps it is + beautifulest of all for a King, who is just, to be rhadamanthine in + important cases. + </p> + <p> + Exulting Daun, instead of Bohemia for winter-quarters, pushes out now for + the prize of Saxony itself. Daun orders Beck to attack suddenly another + Outpost of Friedrich's, which stands rearward of him at Meissen, under a + General Dierecke,—the same whom, as Colonel Dierecke, we saw march + out of flamy Zittau, summer gone two years. Beck goes in accordingly, 3d + December; attacks Dierecke, not by surprise, but with overwhelming + superiority; no reinforcement possible: Dierecke is on the wrong side of + the Elbe, no retreat or reinforcement for him; has to fight fiercely all + day, Meissen Bridge being in a broken state; then, at night, to ship his + people across in Elbe boats, which are much delayed by the floating ice, + so that daylight found 1,500 of them still on that northern side; all of + whom, with General Dierecke himself, were made prisoners by Beck. + [Tempelhof, iii. 321: "3d-4th December, 1759."] A comfortable supplement + to Maxen, though not of the same magnificence. + </p> + <p> + After which, Daun himself issued minatory from the Plauen Chasm; + expecting, as all the world did, that Friedrich, who is 36,000 of + Unfortunate against, say, 72,000 of Triumphant, will, under penalty, take + himself away. But it proved otherwise. "If you beat us, Excellency + Feldmarschall, yes; but till then—!" Friedrich draws out in + battalia; Leo in wild ragged state and temper, VERSUS Bos in the reverse: + "Come on; then!" Rhinoceros Bos, though in a high frame of mind, dare not, + on cool survey; but retires behind the Plauen Chasm again. Will at least + protect Dresden from recapture; and wait here, in the interim; carting his + provision out of Bohemia,—which is a rough business, with Elbe + frozen, and the passes in such a choked wintry state. Upon whom Friedrich, + too, has to wait under arms, in grim neighborhood, for six weeks to come: + such a time as poor young Archenholtz never had before or after. + [Archenholtz, ii. 11-13.] It was well beyond New-year's day before + Friedrich could report of himself, and then only in a sense, as will be + seen: "We retired to this poor cottage [cottage still standing, in the + little Town of Freyberg]; Daun did the like; and this unfortunate + Campaign, as all things do, came actually to an end." + </p> + <p> + Daun holds Dresden and the Dell of Plauen; but Saxony, to the world's + amazement, he is as far as ever from holding. "Daun's front is a small arc + of a circle, bending round from Dresden to Dippoldiswalde; Friedrich is at + Freyberg in a bigger concave arc, concentric to Daun, well overlapping + Daun on that southward or landward side, and ready for him, should he stir + out; Kesselsdorf is his nearest post to Daun; and the Plauen Chasm for + boundary, which was not overpassed by either." In Dresden, and the patch + of hill-country to the southeastward of it by Elbe side, which is instep + or glacis of the Pirna rock-country, seventy square miles or so, there + rules Daun; and this—with its heights of Gahmig, valuable as a + defence for Dresden against Austria, but not otherwise of considerable + value—was all that Daun this year, or pretty much in any coming + year, could realize of conquest in Saxony. + </p> + <p> + Fabius Cunctator has not succeeded, as the public expected. In fact, ever + since that of Hochkirch and the Papal Hat, he has been a waning man, more + and more questionable to the undiscerning public. Maxen was his last gleam + upwards; a round of applause rose again on Maxen, feeble in comparison + with Hochkirch, but still arguing hope,—which, after this, more and + more died out; so that in two years more, poor Madam Daun, going to + Imperial Levee, "had her state-carriage half filled with nightcaps, thrown + into it by the Vienna people, in token of her husband's great talent for + sleep." [Archenholtz (Anno 1762, "last Siege of Schweidnitz").] + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VIII.—MISCELLANEA IN WINTER-QUARTERS, 1759-1760. + </h2> + <p> + Friedrich was very loath to quit the field this Winter. In spite of Maxen + and ill-luck and the unfavorablest weather, it still was, for about two + months, his fixed purpose to recapture Dresden first, and drive Daun home. + "Had I but a 12,000 of Auxiliaries to guard my right flank, while trying + it!" said he. Ferdinand magnanimously sent him the Hereditary Prince with + 12,000, who stayed above two months; ["Till February 15th;" List of the + Regiments (German all), in SEYFARTH, ii. 578 n.] and Friedrich did march + about, attempting that way, [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> v. 32. Old + Newspaper rumors: in <i>Gentleman's Magazine,</i> xxix. 605, "29th + December," &c.]—pushed forward to Maguire and Dippoldiswalde, + looked passionately into Maguire on all sides; but found him, in those + frozen chasms, and rock-labyrinths choked with snow, plainly unattackable; + him and everybody, in such frost-element;—and renounced the + passionate hope. + </p> + <p> + It was not till the middle of January that Friedrich put his troops into + partial cantonments, Head-quarter Freyberg; troops still mainly in the + Villages from Wilsdruf and southward, close by their old Camp there. Camp + still left standing, guarded by Six Battalions; six after six, alternating + week about: one of the grimmest camps in Nature; the canvas roofs grown + mere ice-plates, the tents mere sanctuaries of frost:—never did poor + young Archenholtz see such industry in dragging wood-fuel, such boiling of + biscuits in broken ice, such crowding round the embers to roast one side + of you, while the other was freezing. [Archenholtz (UT SUPRA), ii. 11-15.] + But Daun's people, on the opposite side of Plauen Dell, did the like; + their tents also were left standing in the frozen state, guarded by + alternating battalions, no better off than their Prussian neighbors. This + of the Tents, and Six frost-bitten Battalions guarding them, lasted till + April. An extraordinary obstinacy on the part both of Daun and of + Friedrich; alike jealous of even seeming to yield one inch more of ground. + </p> + <p> + The Hereditary Prince, with his 12,000, marched home again in February; + indeed, ever after the going into cantonments, all use of the Prince and + his Force here visibly ceased; and, on the whole, no result whatever + followed those strenuous antagonisms, and frozen tents left standing for + three months; and things remained practically what they were. So that, as + the grand "Peace Negotiations" also came to nothing, we might omit this of + Winter-quarters altogether; and go forward to the opening of Campaign + Fifth;—were it not that characteristic features do otherwise occur + in it, curious little unveilings of the secret hopes and industries of + Friedrich:—besides which, there have minor private events fallen + out, not without interest to human readers. For whose behoof mainly a + loose intercalary Chapter may be thrown together here. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + SERENE HIGHNESS OF WURTEMBERG, AT FULDA (November 30th, 1759), IS JUST + ABOUT "FIRING VICTORIA," AND GIVING A BALL TO BEAUTY AND FASHION, IN HONOR + OF A CERTAIN EVENT;—BUT IS UNPLEASANTLY INTERRUPTED. + </h2> + <p> + November 21st, the very day while Finck was capitulating in the Hills of + Maxen, Duke Ferdinand, busy ever since his Victory at Minden, did, after a + difficult Siege of Munster, Siege by Imhof, with Ferdinand protecting him, + get Munster into hand again, which was reckoned a fine success to him. + Very busy has the Duke been: industriously reaping the fruits of his + Victory at Minden; and this, the conclusive rooting out of the French from + that Westphalian region, is a very joyful thing; and puts Ferdinand in + hopes of driving them over the Mayn altogether. Which some think he would + have done; had not he, with magnanimous oblivion of self and wishes, + agreed to send the Hereditary Prince and those 12,000 to assist in + Friedrich's affairs, looking upon that as the vital point in these Allied + Interests. Friedrich's attempts, we have said, turned out impossible; nor + would the Hereditary Prince and his 12,000, though a good deal talked + about in England and elsewhere, [Walpole, <i>George Second,</i> iii. 248 + (in a sour Opposition tone); &c. &c.] require more than mention; + were it not that on the road thither, at Fulda ("Fulda is half-way house + to Saxony," thinks Ferdinand, "should Pitt and Britannic Majesty be + pleased to consent, as I dare presume they will"), the Hereditary Prince + had, in his swift way, done a thing useful for Ferdinand himself, and + which caused a great emotion, chiefly of laughter, over the world, in + those weeks. + </p> + <p> + "No Enemy of Friedrich's," says my Note, "is of feller humor than the + Serenity of Wurtemberg, Karl Eugen, Reigning Duke of that unfortunate + Country; for whom, in past days, Friedrich had been so fatherly, and + really took such pains. 'Fatherly? STEP-fatherly, you mean; and for his + own vile uses!' growled the Serenity of Wurtemberg:—always an + ominous streak of gloom in that poor man; streak which is spread now to + whole skies of boiling darkness, owing to deliriums there have been! + Enough, Karl Eugen, after divorcing his poor Wife, had distinguished + himself by a zeal without knowledge, beyond almost all the enemies of + Friedrich;—and still continues in that bad line of industry. His + poor Wife he has made miserable in some measure; also himself; and, in a + degree, his poor soldiers and subjects, who are with him by compulsion in + this Enterprise. The Wurtembergers are Protestants of old type; and want + no fighting against 'the Protestant Hero,' but much the reverse! Serene + Karl had to shoot a good few of these poor people, before they would march + at all; and his procedures were indeed, and continued to be, of a very + crying nature, though his poor Populations took them silently. Always + something of perverse in this Serene Highness; has it, I think, by kind. + </p> + <p> + "Besides his quota to the Reich, Karl Eugen has 12,000 more on foot,—and + it is of them we are treating at present. In 1757 he had lent these troops + to the Empress Queen, for a consideration; it was they that stood on the + Austrian left, at Leuthen; and were the first that got beaten, and had to + cease standing,—as the Austrians were abundantly loud in + proclaiming. To the disgust of Serene Highness: 'Which of you did stand, + then? Was it their blame, led as they were?' argued he. And next year, + 1758, after Crefeld, he took his 12,000 to the French ('subsidy,' or + consideration, 'to be paid in SALT,' it appears [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + v. 10.]); with whom they marched about, and did nothing considerable. The + Serenity had pleaded, 'I must command them myself!' 'You?' said Belleisle, + and would not hear of it. Next year again, however, that is 1759, the Duke + was positive, 'I must;' Belleisle not less so, 'You cannot;'—till + Minden fell out; and then, in the wreck of Contades, Belleisle had to + consent. Serenity of Wurtemberg, at that late season, took the field + accordingly; and Broglio now has him at Fulda, 'To cut off Ferdinand from + Cassel;' to threaten Ferdinand's left flank and his provision-carts in + that quarter. May really become unpleasant there to Ferdinand;—and + ought to be cut out by the Hereditary Prince. 'To Fulda, then, and cut him + out!' + </p> + <p> + "FULDA, FRIDAY, 30th NOVEMBER, 1759. Serene Highness is lying here for a + week past; abundantly strong for the task on hand,—has his own + 12,000, supplemented by 1,000 French Light Horse;—but is widely + scattered withal, posted in a kind of triangular form; his main posts + being Fulda itself, and a couple of others, each thirty miles from Fulda, + and five miles from one another,—with 'patrols to connect them,' + better or worse. Abundantly strong for the task, and in perfect security; + and indeed intends this day to 'fire VICTORIA' for the Catastrophe at + Maxen, and in the evening will give a Ball in farther honor of so salutary + an event:—when, about 9 A.M., news arrives at the gallop, + 'Brunswickers in full march; are within an hour of the Town-Bridge!' + Figure to what flurry of Serene Highness; of the victoria-shooting + apparatus; of busy man-milliner people, and the Beauty and Fashion of + Fulda in general! + </p> + <p> + "The night before, a rumor of the French Post being driven in by somebody + had reached Serene Highness; who gave some vague order, not thinking it of + consequence. Here, however, is the Fact come to hand in a most urgent and + undeniable manner! Serene Highness gets on horseback; but what can that + help? One cannon (has nothing but light cannon) he does plant on the + Bridge; but see, here come premonitory bomb-shells one and another, + terrifying to the mind;—and a single Hessian dragoon, plunging + forward on the one unready cannon, and in the air making horrid circles,—the + gunners leave said cannon to him, take to their heels; and the Bridge is + open. The rest of the affair can be imagined. Retreat at our swiftest, + 'running fight,' we would fain call it, by various roads; lost two flags, + two cannon; prisoners were above 1,200, many of them Officers. 'A merciful + Providence saved the Duke's Serene Person from hurt,' say the Stuttgard + Gazetteers: which was true,—Serene Highness having been inspired to + gallop instantly to rearward and landward, leaving an order to somebody, + 'Do the best you can!' + </p> + <p> + "So that the Ball is up; dress-pumps and millineries getting all locked + into their drawers again,—with abundance of te-hee-ing (I hope, + mostly in a light vein) from the fair creatures disappointed of their + dance for this time. Next day Serene Highness drew farther back, and next + day again farther,—towards Frankenland and home, as the surest + place;—and was no more heard of in those localities." [Buchholz, ii. + 332; Mauvillon, ii. 80; <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> v. 1184-1193; Old + Newspapers, in <i>Gentleman's Magazine,</i> xxix. 603.] + </p> + <p> + Making his first exit, not yet quite his final, from the War-Theatre, amid + such tempests of haha-ing and te-hee-ing. With what thoughts in his own + lofty opaque mind;—like a crowned mule, of such pace and carriage, + who had unexpectedly stepped upon galvanic wires!— + </p> + <p> + As to those poor Wurtembergers, and their notion of the "Protestant Hero," + I remark farther, that there is a something of real truth in it. + Friedrich's Creed, or Theory of the Universe, differed extremely, in many + important points, from that of Dr. Martin Luther: but in the vital + all-essential point, what we may call the heart's core of all Creeds which + are human, human and not simious or diabolic, the King and the Doctor were + with their whole heart at one: That it is not allowable, that it is + dangerous and abominable, to attempt believing what is not true. In that + sense, Friedrich, by nature and position, was a Protestant, and even the + chief Protestant in the world. What kind of "Hero," in this big War of + his, we are gradually learning;—in which too, if you investigate, + there is not wanting something of "PROTESTANT Heroism," even in the narrow + sense. For it does appear,—Maria Theresa having a real fear of God, + and poor Louis a real fear of the Devil, whom he may well feel to be + getting dangerous purchase over him,—some hope-gleams of acting upon + Schism, and so meriting Heaven, did mingle with their high terrestrial + combinations, on this unique opportunity, more than are now supposed in + careless History-Books. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + WHAT IS PERPETUAL PRESIDENT MAUPERTUIS DOING, ALL THIS WHILE? IS HE STILL + IN BERLIN; OR WHERE IN THE UNIVERSE IS HE? ALAS, POOR MAUPERTUIS! + </h2> + <p> + In the heat of this Campaign, "July 27th,"—some four days after the + Battle of Zullichau, just while Friedrich was hurrying off for that + Intersection at Sagan, and breathless Hunt of Loudon and Haddick,—poor + Maupertuis had quitted this world. July 27th, 1759; at Basel, on the Swiss + Borders, in his friend Bernouilli's house, after long months of sickness + painfully spent there. And our poor Perpetual President, at rest now from + all his Akakia burns, and pains and labors in flattening the Earth and + otherwise, is gone. + </p> + <p> + Many beautifuler men have gone within the Year, of whom we can say + nothing. But this is one whose grandly silent, and then occasionally + fulminant procedures, Akakia controversies, Olympian solemnities and flamy + pirouettings under the contradiction of sinners, we once saw; and think + with a kind of human pathos that we shall see no more. From his goose of + an adorer, La Beaumelle, I have riddled out the following particulars, + chiefly chronological,—and offer them to susceptible readers. La + Beaumelle is, in a sort, to be considered the speaker; or La Beaumelle and + this Editor in concert. + </p> + <p> + FINAL PILGRIMAGE OF THE PERPETUAL PRESIDENT. "Maupertuis had quitted + Berlin soon after Voltaire. That threat of visiting Voltaire with pistols,—to + be met by 'my syringe and vessel of dishonor' on Voltaire's part,—was + his last memorability in Berlin. His last at that time; or indeed + altogether, for he saw little of Berlin farther. + </p> + <p> + "End of April, 1753, he got leave of absence; set out homewards, for + recovery of health. Was at Paris through summer and autumn: very taciturn + in society; 'preferred pretty women to any man of science;' would + sententiously say a strong thing now and then, 'bitter but not without + BONHOMIE,' shaking slightly his yellow wig. Disdainful, to how high a + degree, of AKAKIA brabbles, and Voltaire gossip for or against! In winter + went to St. Malo; found his good Father gone; but a loving Sister still + there. + </p> + <p> + "June, 1754, the King wrote to him, 'VENEZ VITE, Come quickly:' July, + 1754, he came accordingly, [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xx. 49.] saw + Berlin again; did nothing noticeable there, except get worse in health; + and after eleven months, June, 1756, withdrew again on leave,—never + to return this time, though he well intended otherwise. But at St. Malo, + when, after a month or two of Paris, he got thither (Autumn, 1756), and + still more, next summer, 1757, when he thought of leaving St. Malo,—what + wars, and rumors of war, all over the world! + </p> + <p> + "June, 1757, he went to Bordeaux, intending to take ship for Hamburg, and + return; but the sea was full of English cruisers [Pitt's Descents lying in + store for St. Malo itself]. No getting to Berlin by the Hamburg or sea + route! 'Never mind, then,' wrote the King: 'Improve your health; go to + Italy, if you can.' + </p> + <p> + "Summer, 1757, Maupertuis made for Italy; got as far as Toulouse;—stayed + there till May following; sad, tragically stoical; saying, sparingly, and + rather to women than men, strong things, admired by the worthier sort. + Renounced thoughts of Italy: 'Europe bleeding, and especially France and + Prussia, how go idly touring?' + </p> + <p> + "May, 1758, Maupertuis left Toulouse: turned towards Berlin; slow, sad, + circuitous;—never to arrive. Saw Narbonne, Montpellier, Nimes; with + what meditations! At Lyons, under honors sky-high, health getting worse, + stays two months; vomits clots of blood there. Thence, July 24th, to + Neufchatel and the Lord Marischal; happy there for three months. Hears + there of Professor Konig's death (AKAKIA Konig): 'One scoundrel less in + the world,' ejaculated he; 'but what is one!'—October 16th, to the + road again, to Basel; stays perforce, in Bernouilli's house there, all + Winter; health falling lower and lower. + </p> + <p> + "April, 1759, one day he has his carriage at the door ('Homeward, at all + rates!'): but takes violent spasms in the carriage; can't; can no farther + in this world. Lingers here, under kind care, for above three months more: + dying slowly, most painfully. With much real stoicism; not without a + stiff-jointed algebraic kind of piety, almost pathetic in its sort. 'Two + Capuchins from a neighboring Convent daily gave him consolations,' not + entirely satisfactory; for daily withal, 'unknown to the Capuchins, he + made his Valet, who was a Protestant, read to him from the Geneva Bible;'—and + finds many things hard to the human mind. July 27th, 1759, he died." [La + Beaumelle, <i>Vie de Maupertuis,</i> pp. 196-216.] + </p> + <p> + Poor Maupertuis; a man of rugged stalwart type; honest; of an ardor, an + intelligence, not to be forgotten for La Beaumelle's pulings over them. A + man of good and even of high talent; unlucky in mistaking it for the + highest! His poor Wife, a born Borck,—hastening from Berlin, but + again and again delayed by industry of kind friends, and at last driving + on in spite of everything,—met, in the last miles, his Hearse and + Funeral Company. Adieu, a pitying adieu to him forever,—and even to + his adoring La Beaumelle, who is rather less a blockhead than he generally + seems. + </p> + <p> + This of the Two Capuchins, the last consummation of collapse in man, is + what Voltaire cannot forget, but crows over with his shrillest mockery; + and seldom mentions Maupertuis without that last touch to his life-drama. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + GRAND FRENCH INVASION-SCHEME COMES ENTIRELY TO WRECK (Quiberon Bay, 20th + November, 1759): OF CONTROLLER-GENERAL SILHOUETTE, AND THE OUTLOOKS OF + FRANCE, FINANCIAL AND OTHER. + </h2> + <p> + On the very day of Maxen, Tuesday, November 20th, the grand French + Invasion found its terminus,—not on the shores of Britain, but of + Brittany, to its surprise. We saw Rodney burn the Flat-bottom manufactory + at Havre; Boscawen chase the Toulon Squadron, till it ended on the rocks + of Lagos. From January onwards, as was then mentioned, Hawke had been + keeping watch, off Brest Harbor, on Admiral Conflans, who presides there + over multifarious preparations, with the last Fleet France now has. At + Vannes, where Hawke likewise has ships watching, are multifarious + preparations; new Flat-bottoms, 18,000 troops,—could Conflans and + they only get to sea. At the long last, they did get;—in manner + following:— + </p> + <p> + "November 9th, a wild gale of wind had blown Hawke out of sight; away home + to Torbay, for the moment. 'Now is the time!' thought Conflans, and put to + sea (November 14th); met by Hawke, who had weighed from Torbay to his + duty; and who, of course, crowded every sail, after hearing that Conflans + was out. At break of day, November 20th [in the very hours when poor Finck + was embattling himself round Maxen, and Daun sprawling up upon him through + the Passes], Hawke had had signal, 'A Fleet in sight;' and soon after, + 'Conflans in sight,'—and the day of trial come. + </p> + <p> + "Conflans is about the strength of Hawke, and France expects much of him; + but he is not expecting Hawke. Conflans is busy, at this moment, in the + mouth of Quiberon Bay, opening the road for Vannes and the 18,000;—in + hot chase, at the moment, of a Commodore Duff and his small Squadron, who + have been keeping watch there, and are now running all they can. On a + sudden, to the astonishment of Conflans, this little Squadron whirls + round, every ship of it (with a sky-rending cheer, could he hear it), and + commences chasing! Conflans, taking survey, sees that it is Hawke; he, + sure enough, coming down from windward yonder at his highest speed; and + that chasing will not now be one's business!— + </p> + <p> + "About 11 A.M. Hawke is here; eight of his vanward ships are sweeping on + for action. Conflans, at first, had determined to fight Hawke; and drew up + accordingly, and did try a little: but gradually thought better of it; and + decided to take shelter in the shoaly coasts and nooks thereabouts, which + were unknown to Hawke, and might ruin him if he should pursue, the day + being short, and the weather extremely bad. Weather itself almost to be + called a storm. 'Shoreward, then; eastward, every ship!' became, + ultimately, Conflans's plan. On the whole, it was 2 in the afternoon + before Hawke, with those vanward Eight, could get clutch of Conflans. And + truly he did then strike his claws into him in a thunderously fervid + manner, he and all hands, in spite of the roaring weather:—a man of + falcon, or accipitral, nature as well as name. + </p> + <p> + "Conflans himself fought well; as did certain of the others,—all, + more or less, so long as their plan continued steady:—thunderous + miscellany of cannon and tempest; Conflans with his plan steady, or + Conflans with his plan wavering, VERSUS those vanward Eight, for two hours + or more. But the scene was too dreadful; this ship sinking, that obliged + to strike; things all going awry for Conflans. Hawke, in his own Flagship, + bore down specially on Conflans in his,—who did wait, and exchange a + couple of broadsides; but then sheered off, finding it so heavy. French + Vice-Admiral next likewise gave Hawke a broadside; one only, and sheered + off, satisfied with the return. Some Four others, in succession, did the + like; 'One blast, as we hurry by' (making for the shore, mostly)! So that + Hawke seemed swallowed in volcanoes (though, indeed, their firing was very + bad, such a flurry among them), and his Blue Flag was invisible for some + time, and various ships were hastening to help him,—till a Fifth + French ship coming up with her broadside, Hawke answered her in particular + (LA SUPERBE, a Seventy-four) with all his guns together; which sent the + poor ship to the bottom, in a hideously sudden manner. One other (the + THESEE) had already sunk in fighting; two (the SOLEIL and the HEROS) were + already running for it,—the HEROS in a very unheroic manner! But on + this terrible plunge-home of the SUPERBE, the rest all made for the shore;—and + escaped into the rocky intricacies and the darkness. Four of Conflans's + ships were already gone,—struck, sunk, or otherwise extinct,—when + darkness fell, and veiled Conflans and his distresses. 'Country people, to + the number of 10,000,' crowded on the shore, had been seen watching the + Battle; and, 'as sad witnesses of the White Flag's disgrace,' disappeared + into the interior." [Beatson, ii. 327-345: and Ib. iii. 244-250. In <i>Gentleman's + Magazine,</i> (xxix. 557), "A Chaplain's Letter," &c.] + </p> + <p> + It was such a night as men never witnessed before. Walpole says: "The + roaring of the elements was redoubled by the thunder from our ships; and + both concurred in that scene of horror to put a period to the Navy and + hopes of France. Seven ships of the line got into the River Vilaine [lay + there fourteen months, under strict watching, till their backs were + broken, "thumping against the shallow bottom every tide," and only "three, + with three frigates," ever got out again]; eight more escaped to different + ports," into the River Charente ultimately. "Conflans's own ship and + another were run on shore, and burnt. One we took." Two, with their crews, + had gone to the bottom; one under Hawke's cannon; one partly by its own + mismanagement. "Two of ours were lost in the storm [chasing that SOLEIL + and HEROS], but the crews saved. Lord Howe, who attacked LA FORMIDABLE, + bore down on her with such violence, that her prow forced in his lower + tier of guns. Captain Digby, in the DUNKIRK, received the fire of twelve + of the enemy's ships, and lost not a man. Keppel's was full of water, and + he thought it sinking: a sudden squall emptied his ship; but he was + informed all his powder was wet; 'Then,' said he, 'I am sorry I am safe.' + They came and told him a small quantity was undamaged; 'Very well,' said + he; 'then attack again.' Not above eight of our ships were engaged in + obtaining that decisive victory. The Invasion was heard of no more." + [Walpole, <i>George Second,</i> iii. 232.—Here is the List, + accurately riddled out: 1. FORMIDABLE, struck (about 4 P.M.): 2. THESEE, + sunk (by a tumble it made, while in action, under an unskilful Captain): + 3. SUPERBE, sunk: 4. HEROS, struck; could not he boarded, such weather; + and recommenced next day, but had to run and strand itself, and be burnt + by the English;—as did (5.) the SOLEIL ROYAL (Conflans's Flagship), + Conflans and crew (like those of the HEROS) getting out in time.] + </p> + <p> + Invasion had been fully intended, and even, in these final days, + considerably expected. In the old London Newspapers we read this notice: + MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19th: "To-day there came Three Expresses,"—Three + Expresses, with what haste in their eyes, testifying successively of + Conflans's whereabouts. But it was believed that Hawke would still manage. + And, at any rate, Pitt wore such a look,—and had, in fact, made such + preparation on the coasts, even in failure of Hawke,—there was no + alarm anywhere. Indignation rather;—and naturally, when the news did + come, what an outburst of Illumination in the windows and the hearts of + men! + </p> + <p> + "Hawke continued watching the mouths of the Vilaine and Charente Rivers + for a good while after, and without interruption henceforth,—till + the storms of Winter had plainly closed them for one season. Supplies of + fresh provisions had come to him from England all Summer; but were stopped + latterly by the wild weather. Upon which, in the Fleet, arose this gravely + pathetic Stave of Sea-Poetry, with a wrinkle of briny humor grinning in + it:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Till Hawke did bang Monsieur Conflans [CONGFLANG], + You sent us beef and beer; + Now Monsieur's beat, we've nought to eat, + Since you have nought to fear." [Beatson, ii. 342 n.] +</pre> + <p> + The French mode of taking this catastrophe was rather peculiar. Hear + Barbier, an Eye-witness; dating PARIS, DECEMBER, 1759: "Since the first + days of December, there has been cried, and sold in the streets, a Printed + Detail of all that concerns the GRAND INVASION projected this long while: + to wit, the number of Ships of the Line, of Frigates, Galiots,—among + others 500 Flat-bottomed Boats, which are to carry over, and land in + England, more than 54,000 men;—with list of the Regiments, and + number of the King's Guards, that are also to go: there are announced for + Generals-in-Chief, M. le Prince de Conti [do readers remember him since + the Broglio-Maillebois time, and how King Louis prophesied in autograph + that he would be "the Grand Conti" one day?]—Prince de Conti, Prince + de Soubise [left his Conquest of Frankfurt for this greater Enterprise], + and Milord Thomont [Irish Jacobite, whom I don't know]. As sequel to this + Detail, there is a lengthy Song on the DISEMBARKMENT IN ENGLAND, and the + fear the English must have of it!" Calculated to astonish the practical + forensic mind. + </p> + <p> + "It is inconceivable", continues he, "how they have permitted such a Piece + to be printed; still more to be cried, and sold price one halfpenny (DEUX + LIARDS). This Song is indecent, in the circumstances of the actual news + from our Fleet at Brest (20th of last month);—in regard to which bad + adventure M. le Marquis de Conflans has come to Versailles, to justify + himself, and throw the blame on M. le Marquis de Beauffremont [his + Rear-Admiral, now safe in the Charente, with eight of our poor ships]. + Such things are the more out of place, as we are in a bad enough position,—no + Flat-bottoms stirring from the ports, no Troops of the MAISON DU ROI + setting out; and have reason to believe that we are now to make no such + attempt." [Barbier, iv. 336.] + </p> + <p> + Silhouette, the Controller-General, was thought to have a creative genius + in finance: but in the eighth month of his gestation, what phenomena are + these? October 26th, there came out Four Decrees of Council, setting + forth, That, "as the expenses of the War exceed not only the King's + ordinary revenues, but the extraordinaries he has had to lay on his + people, there is nothing for it but," in fact, Suspension of Payment; + actual Temporary Bankruptcy:—"Cannot pay you; part of you not for a + year, others of you not till the War end; will give you 5 per cent + interest instead." Coupled with which, by the same creative genius, is a + Declaration in the King's name, "That the King compels nobody, but does + invite all and sundry of loyal mind to send their Plate (on loan, of + course, and with due receipt for it) to the Mint to be coined, lest + Majesty come to have otherwise no money,"—his very valets, as is + privately known, having had no wages from him for ten months past. + </p> + <p> + Whereupon the rich Princes of the Blood, Due d'Orleans foremost, and + Official persons, Pompadour, Belleisle, Choiseul, do make an effort; and + everybody that has Plate feels uneasily that he cannot use it, and that he + ought to send it. And, November 5th, the King's own Plate, packed + ostentatiously in carts, went to the Mint;—the Dauphiness, noble + Saxon Lady, had already volunteered with a silver toilet-table of hers, + brand-new and of exquisite costly pattern; but the King forbade her. On + such examples, everybody had to make an effort, or uneasily try to make + one. King Friedrich, eight days after Maxen, is somewhat amused at these + proceedings in the distance:— + </p> + <p> + "The kettles and spoons of the French seem to me a pleasant resource, for + carrying on War!" writes he to D'Argens. ["Wilsdruf, 28th November, 1759," + <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xix. 108.] "A bit of mummery to act on the + public feeling, I suppose. The result of it will be small: but as the + Belleisle LETTERS [taken in Contades's baggage, after Minden, and printed + by Duke Ferdinand for public edification] make always such an outcry about + poverty, those people are trying to impose on their enemies, and persuade + them that the carved and chiselled silver of the Kingdom will suffice for + making a vigorous Campaign. I see nothing else that can have set them on + imagining the farce they are now at. There is Munster taken from them by + the English-Hanoverian people; it is affirmed that the French, on the + 25th, quitted Giessen, to march on Friedberg and repass the Rhine [might + possibly have done so;—but the Hereditary Prince and his 12,000 come + to be needed elsewhere!]—Poor we are opposite our enemies here, + cantoned in the Villages about; the last truss of straw, the last loaf of + bread will decide which of us is to remain in Saxony. And as the Austrians + are extremely squeezed together, and can get nothing out of Bohmen,"—one + hopes it will not be they! + </p> + <p> + All through November, this sending of Plate, I never knew with what + net-result of moneys coinable, goes on in Paris; till, at the highest + tables, there is nothing of silver dishes left;—and a new crockery + kind (rather clumsy; "CULS NOIRS," as we derisively call them, pigment of + BOTTOM part being BLACK) has had to be contrived instead. Under what + astonishments abroad and at home, and in the latter region under what + execrations on Silhouette, may be imagined. "TOUT LE MONDE JURE BEAUCOUP + CONTRE M. DE SILHOUETTE, All the world swears much against him," says + Barbier;—but I believe probably he was much to be pitied: "A + creative genius, you; and this is what you come to?" + </p> + <p> + November 22d, the poor man got dismissed; France swearing at him, I know + not to what depth; but howling and hissing, evidently, with all its might. + The very tailors and milliners took him up,—trousers without + pockets, dresses without flounce or fold, which they called A LA + SILHOUETTE:—and, to this day, in France and Continental Countries, + the old-fashioned Shadow-Profile (mere outline, and vacant black) is + practically called a SILHOUETTE. So that the very Dictionaries have him; + and, like bad Count Reinhart, or REYNARD, of earlier date, he has become a + Noun Appellative, and is immortalized in that way. The first of that + considerable Series of Creative Financiers, Abbe Terray and the rest,—brought + in successively with blessings, and dismissed with cursings and hissings,—who + end in Calonne, Lomenie de Brienne, and what Mirabeau Pere called "the + General Overturn (CULBUTE GENERALE)." Thitherward, privately, straight + towards the General Overturn, is France bound;—and will arrive in + about thirty years. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + FRIEDRICH, STRANGE TO SAY, PUBLISHES (March-June, 1760) AN EDITION OF HIS + POEMS. QUESTION, "WHO WROTE Matinees du Roi de Prusse?"—FOR THE + SECOND, AND POSITIVELY THE LAST TIME. + </h2> + <p> + In this avalanche of impending destructions, what can be more surprising + than to hear of the Editing of Poems on his Majesty's part! Actual + publication of that OEuvre de Poesie, for which Voltaire, poor gentleman, + suffered such tribulation seven years ago. Now coming out from choice: + Reprint of it, not now to the extent of twelve copies for highly special + friends, but in copious thousands, for behoof of mankind at large! The + thing cost Friedrich very little meditating, and had become necessary,—and + to be done with speed. + </p> + <p> + Readers recollect the OEUVRE DE POESIE, and satirical hits said to be in + it. At Paris, about New-year's time 1760, some helpful Hand had contrived + to bring out, under the pretended date "Potsdam," a cheap edition of that + interesting Work. [<i>"OEuvres du Philosophe de Sans-Souci:"</i> 1 vol. 12 + mo, "Potsdam [PARIS, in truth], 1760."] Merely in the way of theft, as + appeared to cursory readers, to D'Argens, for example: [His Letter to the + King, <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xix. 138.] but, in deeper fact, for the + purpose of apprising certain Crowned Heads, friendly and hostile,—Czarish + Majesty and George II. of England the main two,—what this poetizing + King was pleased to think of them in his private moments. D'Argens + declares himself glad of this theft, so exquisitely clever is the Book. + But Friedrich knows better: "March 17th, when a Copy of it came to him," + Friedrich sees well what is meant,—and what he himself has to do in + it. He instantly sets about making a few suppressions, changes of phrase; + sends the thing to D'Argens: "Publish at once, with a little prefatory + word." And, at the top of his speed, D'Argens has, in three weeks' time, + the suitable AVANT-PROPOS, or AVIS AU LIBRAIRE, "circulating in great + quantities, especially in London and Petersburg" ("Thief Editor has + omitted; and, what is far more, has malignantly interpolated: here is the + poor idle Work itself, not a Counterfeit of it, if anybody care to read + it"), and an Orthodox Edition ready. [Came out April 9th [see MITCHELL, + ii. 153], "and a second finer Edition in June:" in <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + x. p. x, xix. 137 n., 138; especially in PREUSS, i. 467, 468 (if you will + compare him with HIMSELF on these different occasions, and patiently wind + out his bit of meaning), all manner of minutest details.] The diligent + Pirate Booksellers, at Amsterdam, at London, copiously reproduced this + authorized Berlin Edition too,—or added excerpts from it to their + reprints of the Paris one, by way of various-readings. And everybody read + and compared, what nobody will now do; theme, and treatment of theme, + being both now so heartily indifferent to us. + </p> + <p> + Who the Perpetrator of this Parisian maleficence was, remained dark;—and + would not be worth inquiring into at all, except for two reasons + intrinsically trifling, but not quite without interest to readers of our + time. First, that Voltaire, whom some suspected (some, never much + Friedrich, that I hear of), appears to have been perfectly innocent;—and + indeed had been incapacitated for guilt, by Schmidt and Freytag, and their + dreadful Frankfurt procedures! This is reason FIRST; poor Voltaire mutely + asking us, Not to load him with more sins than his own. Reason SECOND is, + that, by a singular opportunity, there has, in these very months, [Spring, + 1863.] a glimmering of light risen on it to this Editor; illustrating two + other points as well, which readers here are acquainted with, some time + ago, as riddles of the insignificant sort. The DEMON NEWSWRITER, with his + "IDEA" of Friedrich, and the "MATINEES DU ROI DE PRUSSE:" readers + recollect both those Productions; both enigmatic as to authorship;—but + both now become riddles which can more or less be read. + </p> + <p> + For the surprising circumstance (though in certain periods, when the realm + of very Chaos re-emerges, fitfully, into upper sunshine now and then, + nothing ought to surprise one as happening there) is, That, only a few + months ago, the incomparable MATINEES (known to my readers five years + since) has found a new Editor and reviver. Editor illuminated "by the + Secretary of the Great Napoleon," "by discovery of manuscripts," "by the + Duc de Rovigo," and I know not what; animated also, it is said, by + religious views. And, in short, the MATINEES is again abroad upon the + world,—"your London Edition twice reprinted in Germany, by the + Jesuit party since" (much good may it do the Jesuit party!)—a + MATINEES again in comfortable circumstances, as would seem. Probably the + longest-eared Platitude now walking the Earth, though there are a good + many with ears long. Unconscious, seemingly, that it has been killed + thrice and four times already; and that indeed, except in the realm of + Nightmare, it never was alive, or needed any killing; belief in it, doubt + upon it (I must grieve to inform the Duc de Rovigo and honorable persons + concerned), being evidence conclusive that you have not yet the faintest + preliminary shadow of correct knowledge about Friedrich or his habits or + affairs, and that you ought first to try and acquire some. + </p> + <p> + To me argument on this subject would have been too unendurable. But + argument there was on it, by persons capable and willing, more than one: + and in result this surprising brand-new London moon-calf of a MATINEES was + smitten through, and slit in pieces, for the fifth time,—as if that + could have hurt it much! "MIT DER DUMMHEIT," sings Schiller; "Human + Stupidity is stronger than the very Gods." However, in the course of these + new inspections into matters long since obsolete, there did—what may + truly be considered as a kind of profit by this Resuscitating of the + moon-calf MATINEES upon afflicted mankind, and is a net outcome from it, + real, though very small—some light rise as to the origin and genesis + of MATINEES; some twinkles of light, and, in the utterly dark element, did + disclose other monstrous extinct shapes looming to right and left of said + monster: and, in a word, the Authorship of MATINEES, and not of MATINEES + only, becomes now at last faintly visible or guessable. To one of those + industrious Matadors, as we may call them, Slayers of this moon-calf for + the fourth or fifth time, I owe the following Note; which, on verifying, I + can declare to be trustworthy:— + </p> + <p> + "The Author of MATINEES, it is nearly certain", says my Correspondent, "is + actually a 'M. de Bonneville,'—contrary to what you wrote five years + ago. [A.D. 1858 (SUPRA, v. 165, 166).] Not indeed the Bonneville who is + found in Dictionaries, who is visibly impossible; but a Bonneville of the + preceding generation, who was Marechal de Saxe's Adjutant or Secretary, + old enough to have been the Uncle or the Father of that revolutionary + Bonneville. Marechal de Saxe died November 30th, 1750; this senior + Bonneville, still a young man, had been with him to Potsdam on visit + there. Bonneville, conscious of genius, and now out of employment, + naturally went thither again; lived a good deal there, or went between + France and there: and authentic History knows of him, by direct evidence, + and by reflex, the following Three Facts (the SECOND of them itself + threefold), of which I will distinguish the indubitable from the + inferentially credible or as good as certain:— + </p> + <p> + "1. Indubitable, That Bonneville sold to Friedrich certain Papers, + military Plans, or the like, of the late Marechal and was paid for them; + but by no means met the recognition his genius saw itself to merit. These + things are certain, though not dated, or datable except as of the year + 1750 or 1751. After which, for above twenty years, Bonneville entered upon + a series of adventures, caliginous, underground, for most part; + 'soldiering in America,' 'writing anonymous Pamphlets or Books,' roaming + wide over the world; and led a busy but obscure and uncertain life, + hanging by Berlin as a kind of centre, or by Paris and Berlin as his two + centres; and had a miscellaneous series of adventures, subterranean many + of them, unluminous all of them, not courting the light; which lie now in + naturally a very dark condition. Dimly discernible, however, in the + general dusk of Bonneville, dim and vague of outline, but definitely + steady beyond what could have been expected, it does appear farther,—what + alone entitles Bonneville to the least memory here, or anywhere in Nature + now or henceforth,— + </p> + <p> + "2. Inferentially credible, That, shortly after that first rebuff in + Potsdam, he, not another, in 1752, was your 'DEMON NEWSWRITER,' whom we + gazed at, some time since, devoutly crossing ourselves, for a little + while! + </p> + <p> + "Likewise that, in 1759-1760, after or before his American wanderings, he, + the same Bonneville, as was suspected at the time, ["Nicolai, <i>Ueber + Zimmermanns Fragmente,</i> i. 181, 182, ii. 253, 254. Sketch of what is + authentically known about Bonneville: 'suspected both of MATINEES and of + the Stolen EDITION.'"] stole and edited this surreptitious mischief-making + <i>OEuvres du Philosophe de Sans-Souci</i> (Paris or Lyon, pretending to + be 'Potsdam,' January, 1760)," which we are now considering!" Encouraged, + probably enough, by Choiseul himself, who, in any case, is now known to + have been the promoter of this fine bit of mischief, [Choiseul's own Note, + "To M. de Malesherbes, DIRECTEUR DE LA LIBRAIRE, 10th December, 1759: 'By + every method screen the King's Government from being suspected;—and + get the Edition out at once.'" (Published in the <i>Constitutionnel, </i> + 2d December, 1850, by M. Sainte-Beuve; copied in Preuss, <i>OEuvres de + Frederic,</i> xix. 168 n.)]—and who may thereupon [or may as + probably, NOT "thereupon," if it were of the least consequence to gods or + men] have opened to Bonneville a new military career in America? Career + which led to as good as nothing; French soldiering in America being done + for, in the course of 1760. Upon which Bonneville would return to his old + haunts, to his old subterranean industries in Paris and Berlin. + </p> + <p> + "And that, finally, in 1765, he, as was again suspected at the time, + ["Nicolai, Ueber Zimmermanns Fragmente, i. 181, 182, ii. 253, 254. Sketch + of what is authentically known about Bonneville: 'suspected both of + MATINEES and of the Stolen EDITION.'"] he and no other, did write those + MATINEES, which appeared next year in print (1766), and many times since; + and have just been reprinted, as a surprising new discovery, at London, in + Spring, 1863. + </p> + <p> + "3. Again indubitable, That either after or before those Editorial + exploits, Bonneville had sold the Marechal de Saxe's Plans and Papers, + which were already the King's, to some second person, and been a second + time paid for them. And was, in regard to this Swindling exploit, found + out; and by reason of that sale, or for what reason is not known, was put + into Spandau, and, one hopes, ended his life there." ["Nicolai, UBI SUPRA;—and + besides him, only the two following references, out of half a cart-load: + 1. Bachaumont, MEMOIRES SECRETES, '7th February, 1765' (see Barbier, <i>Dictionnaire + des Anonymes,</i> Matinees), who calls MATINEES 'a development of the IDEE + DE LA PERSONNE,' &c. (that is, of your 'DEMON NEWSWRITER;' already + known to Bachaumont, this 'IDEE,' it seems, as well as the MATINEES in + Manuscript). 2. LETTER of Grimm to Duchess of Sachsen-Gotha [OUR Duchess], + dated 'Paris, 15th April, 1765:' not in printed <i>Correspondance de + Grimm,</i> but still in the Archives of Gotha, in company with a MS. of + MATINEES, probably the oldest extant (see,—in the GRENZBOTEN + Periodical, Leipzig, 1863, pp. 473-484, 500-519,—K. SAMWER, who is + Chief MALLEUS of this new London moon-calf, and will inform the curious of + every particular)]." + </p> + <p> + MATINEES was first printed 1766 (no place), and seven or eight times + since, in different Countries; twice or thrice over, as "an interesting + new discovery:"—very wearisome to this Editor; who read MATINEES (in + poor LONDON print, that too) many years ago,—with complete + satisfaction as to Matinees, and sincere wish not to touch it again even + with a pair of tongs;—and has since had three "priceless MSS. of it" + offered him, at low rates, as a guerdon to merit. + </p> + <p> + Fact No. 2, which alone concerns us here,—and which, in its three + successive stages, does curiously cohere with itself and with other + things,—comes, therefore, not by direct light, which indeed, by the + nature of the case, would be impossible. Not by direct light, but by + various reflex lights, and convergence of probabilities old and new, which + become the stronger the better they are examined; and may be considered as + amounting to what is called a moral certainty,—"certain" enough for + an inquiry of that significance. To a kind of moral certainty: kind of + moral consolation too; only One individual of Adam's Posterity, not Three + or more, having been needed in these multifarious acts of scoundrelism; + and that One receiving payment, or part payment, so prompt and + appropriate, in the shape of a permanent cannon-ball at his ankle. + </p> + <p> + This is the one profit my readers or I have yet derived from the late + miraculous Resuscitation of MATINEES ROYALES; the other items of profit in + that Enterprise shall belong, not to us in the least measure, but to + Bonneville, and to his well or ill disposed Coadjutors and Copartners in + the Adventure. Adieu to it, and to him and to them, forever and a day! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0020" id="link2H_4_0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PEACE-NEGOTIATIONS HOPEFUL TO FRIEDRICH ALL THROUGH WINTER; BUT THE FRENCH + WON'T. VOLTAIRE, AND HIS STYLE OF CORRESPONDING. + </h2> + <p> + This Winter there was talk of Peace, more specifically than ever. November + 15th, at the Hague, as a neutral place, there had been, by the two + Majesties, Britannic and Prussian, official DECLARATION, "We, for our + part, deeply lament these horrors, and are ready to treat of Peace." This + Declaration was presented November 15th, 1759, by Prince Ludwig of + Brunswick (Head General of the Dutch, and a Brother of Prince Ferdinand + our General's, suitable for such case), to the Austrian-French + Excellencies at the Hague. By whom it had been received with the due + politeness, "Will give it our profoundest consideration;" [DECLARATION (by + the two Majesties) that they are ready to treat of Peace, 15th November, + 1759, presented by, &c. (as above); ANSWER from France, in stingy + terms, and not till 3d April, 1760: are in <i>London Gazette;</i> in <i>Gentleman's + Magazine,</i> xxix. 603, xxx. 188; in &c. &c.]—which indeed + the French, for some time, privately did; though the Austrians privately + had no need to do so, being already fixed for a negative response to the + proposal. But hereby rose actual talk of a "Congress;" and wagging of + Diplomatic wigs as to where it shall be. "In Breda," said some; "Breda a + place used to Congresses." "Why not in Nanci here?" said poor old + Ex-Polish Stanislaus, alive to the calls of benevolence, poor old Titular + soul. Others said "Leipzig;" others "Augsburg;"—and indeed in + Augsburg, according to the Gazetteers, at one time, there were + "upholsterers busy getting ready the apartments." So that, with such rumor + in the Diplomatic circles, the Gazetteer and outer world was full of + speculation upon Peace; and Friedrich had lively hopes of it, and had been + hoping three months before, as we transiently saw, though again it came to + nothing. All to nothing; and is not, in itself, worth the least attention + from us here,—a poor extinct fact, loud in those months and filling + the whole world, now silent and extinct to everybody,—except, + indeed, that it offers physiognomic traits here and there of a certain + King, and of those about him. For which reason we will dwell on it a few + minutes longer. + </p> + <p> + Nobody, in that Winter 1759-1760, could guess where, or from whom, this + big world-interesting Peace-Negotiation had its birth; as everybody now + can, when nobody now is curious on the question! At Sagan, in September + last, we all saw the small private source of it, its first outspurt into + daylight; and read Friedrich's ANSWERS to Voltaire and the noble Duchess + on it:—for the sake of which Two private Correspondents, and of + Friedrich's relation to them, possibly a few more Excerpts may still have + a kind of interest, now when the thing corresponded on has ceased to have + any. To the Duchess, a noble-minded Lady, beautifully zealous to help if + she could, by whose hand these multifarious Peace-Papers have to pass, + this is always Friedrich's fine style in transmitting them. Out of many + specimens, following that of Sagan which we gave, here are the Next Three:— + </p> + <p> + FRIEDRICH TO THE DUCHESS OF SACHSEN-GOTHA (Three other Letters on the + "Peace"). + </p> + <p> + 1. "WILSDRUF, 21st November, 1759 [day after Maxen, SURRENDER was THIS + morning—of which he has not heard]. + </p> + <p> + "MADAM,—Nothing but your generosities and your indulgence could + justify my incongruity [INCONGRUITE, in troubling you with the Enclosed]. + You will have it, Madam, that I shall still farther abuse those bounties, + which are so precious to me: at least remember that it is by your order, + if I forward through your hand this Letter, which does not merit such + honor. + </p> + <p> + "Chance, which so insolently mocks the projects of men, and delights to + build up and then pull down, has led us about, thus far,—to the end + of the Campaign [not quite ended yet, if we knew]. The Austrians are girt + in by the Elbe on this side; I have had two important Magazines of theirs + in Bohemia destroyed [Kleist's doing]. There have been some bits of + fighting (AFFAIRES), that have turned entirely to our advantage:—so + that I am in hopes of forcing M. Daun to repass the Elbe, to abandon + Dresden, and to take the road for Zittau and Bohemia. + </p> + <p> + "I talk to you, Madam, of what I am surrounded with; of what, being in + your neighborhood, may perhaps have gained your attention. I could go to + much greater length, if my heart dared to explain itself on the sentiments + of admiration, gratitude and esteem, with which I am,—Madam my + Cousin,—Your most faithful Cousin, Friend and Servant,—F." + </p> + <p> + 2. + </p> + <p> + "FREYBERG, 18th December, 1759. + </p> + <p> + "MADAM,—You spoil me so by your indulgence, you so accustom me to + have obligations to you, that I reproach myself a hundred times with this + presumption. Certainly I should not continue to enclose these Letters to + your care, had not I the hope that perhaps the Correspondence may be of + some use to England, and even to Europe,—for without doubt Peace is + the desirable, the natural and happy state for all Nations. It is to + accelerate Peace, Madam, that I abuse your generosities. This motive + excuses me to myself for the incongruity of my procedures. + </p> + <p> + "The goodness you have to take interest in my situation obliges me to give + you some account of it. We have undergone all sorts of misfortune here + [Maxen, what not], at the moment we were least expecting them. + Nevertheless, there remains to us courage and hope; here are Auxiliaries + [Hereditary Prince and 12,000] on the point of arriving; there is reason + to think that the end of our Campaign will be less frightful than seemed + likely three weeks ago. May you, Madam, enjoy all the happiness that I + wish you. May all the world become acquainted with your virtues, imitate + them, and admire you as I do. May you be persuaded that...—F." + </p> + <p> + 3. + </p> + <p> + "FREYBERG, 16th February, 1760. + </p> + <p> + "MADAM,—It is to my great regret that I importune Your Highness so + often with my Letters. Your bounties, Madam, have spoiled me;—it + will teach you to be more chary of them to others. I regard you as an + estimable Friend, to whose friendship I have recourse in straits. The + question is still Peace, Madam; and were not the object of my + importunities so beautiful, Madam, I should be inexcusable."—Goes + then into practical considerations, about "Cocceji" (King's Aide-de-Camp, + once Keith's, who carries this Letter), about a "Herr von Edelsheim," a + "Bailli de Froulay", and the possible "Conditions of Peace,"—not of + consequence to us just now. [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xviii. 174, 173, + 172. Correspondence on this subject lasts from 22d September, 1759, to 8th + May, 1760: IB. pp. 170-186. In that final Letter of 8th May is the phrase, + hardly worth restoring to its real ownership, though the context + considerably redeems it there,—"the prejudice I can't get rid of, + that, in war, DIEU EST POUR LES GROS ESCADRONS."] + </p> + <p> + As to Voltaire again, and the new Friedrich-Voltaire Style of + Correspondence, something more of detail will be requisite. Ever since the + black days of 1757, when poor Wilhelmina, with Rossbach and Leuthen still + hidden from her in a future gloomy as death, desperately brought Voltaire + to bear upon Cardinal Tencin in this matter, without success, there has + been a kind of regular corresponding between Voltaire and Friedrich; + characteristic on both sides. A pair of Lovers hopelessly estranged and + divorced; and yet, in a sense, unique and priceless to one another. The + Past, full of heavenly radiances, which issued, alas, in flames and sooty + conflagrations as of Erebus,—let us forget it, and be taught by it! + The Past is painful, and has been too didactic to some of us: but here + still is the Present with its Future; better than blank nothing. Pleasant + to hear the sound of that divine voice of my loved one, were it only in + commonplace remarks on the weather,—perhaps intermixed with secret + gibings on myself:—let us hear it while we can, amid those + world-wide crashing discords and piping whirlwinds of war. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich sends his new Verses or light Proses, which he is ever and anon + throwing off; Voltaire sends his, mostly in print, and of more elaborate + turn: they talk on matters that are passing round them, round this King, + the centre of them,—Friedrich usually in a rather swaggering way + (lest his Correspondent think of blabbing), and always with something of + banter audible in him;—as has Voltaire too, but in a finer TREBLE + tone, being always female in this pretty duet of parted lovers. It rarely + comes to any scolding between them; but there is or can be nothing of + cordiality. Nothing, except in the mutual admiration, which one perceives + to be sincere on both sides; and also, in the mutual practical + estrangement: "Nothing more of you,—especially of YOU, Madam,—as + a practical domestic article!" + </p> + <p> + After long reading, with Historical views, in this final section of the + Friedrich-Voltaire Correspondence, at first so barren otherwise and of + little entertainment, one finds that this too, when once you CAN "read" it + (that is to say, when the scene and its details are visible to you), + becomes highly dramatic, Shakspearean-comic or more, for this is Nature's + self, who far excels even Shakspeare;—and that the inextricably dark + condition of these Letters is a real loss to the ingenuous reader, and + especially to the student of Friedrich. Among the frequently recurring + topics, one that oftenest turns up on Voltaire's side is that of Peace: + Oh, if your Majesty would but make Peace! Does it depend on me? thinks + Friedrich always; and is, at last, once provoked to say so:— + </p> + <p> + FRIEDRICH TO VOLTAIRE. + </p> + <p> + "REICH-HENNERSDORF, 2d July, 1759, [shortly before Schmottseifen, while + waiting Daun's slow movements]. + </p> + <p> + "Asking ME for Peace: there is a bitter joke!—[In verse, this; + flings off a handful of crackers on the BIEN-AIME, whose Chamberlain you + are, on the HONGROISE QUI'IL ADORE, on the Russian QUE J'ABHORRE;—then + continues in prose]: + </p> + <p> + "It is to him," the Well-beloved Louis, "that you must address yourself, + or to his Amboise in Petticoats [his Pompadour, acting the + Cardinal-Premier on this occasion]. But these people have their heads + filled with ambitious projects: these people are the difficulty; they wish + to be the sovereign arbiters of sovereigns;—and that is what persons + of my way of thinking will by no means put up with. I love Peace quite as + much as you could wish; but I want it good, solid and honorable. Socrates + or Plato would have thought as I do on this subject, had they found + themselves placed in the accursed position which is now mine in the world. + </p> + <p> + "Think you there is any pleasure in leading this dog of a life [CHIENNE, + she-dog]? In seeing and causing the butchery of people you know nothing + of; in losing daily those you do know and love; in seeing perpetually your + reputation exposed to the caprices of chance; in passing year after year + in disquietudes and apprehensions; in risking, without end, your life and + your fortune? + </p> + <p> + "I know right well the value of tranquillity, the sweets of society, the + charms of life; and I love to be happy, as much as anybody whatever. But + much as I desire these blessings, I will not purchase them by basenesses + and infamies. Philosophy enjoins us to do our duty; faithfully to serve + our Country, at the price of our blood, of our repose, and of every + sacrifice that can be required of us. The illustrious ZADIG went through a + good many adventures which were not to his taste, CANDIDE the like; and + nevertheless took their misfortune in patience. What finer example to + follow than that of those heroes? + </p> + <p> + "Take my word, our 'curt jackets,' as you call them [HABITS ECOURTES, + peculiar to the Prussian soldier at that time], are as good as your red + heels, as the Hungarian pelisses, and the green frocks of the Roxelans + [Russians]. We are actually on the heels of the latter [at least poor + Dohna is, and poor Dictator Wedell will be, not with the effect + anticipated!]—who by their stupidities give us fine chance. You will + see I shall get out of the scrape this Year too, and deliver myself both + from the Greens and the Dirty-Whites [Austrian color of coat]. My neighbor + of the Sacred Hat,—I think, in spite of Holy Father's benediction, + the Holy Ghost must have inspired him the reverse way; he seems to have a + great deal of lead in his bottom.... F." [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + xxiii. 53.] + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE IN ANSWER. + </p> + <p> + "THE DELICES," guessed to be some time in "August, 1759." + </p> + <p> + "In whatever state you are, it is very certain that you are a great man. + It is not to weary your Majesty that I now write; it is to confess myself,—on + condition you will give me absolution! I have betrayed you; that is the + fact"—(really guilty this time, and HAVE shown something of your + writing; as your Majesty, oh how unjustly, is often suspecting that I do, + and with mischievous intention, instead of good, ah, Sire!)—In fact, + I have received that fine "MARCUS-AURELIUS" Letter (Letter we have just + read); exquisite Piece, though with biting "JUVENAL" qualities in it too; + and have shown it, keeping back the biting parts, to a beautiful gillflirt + of the Court, MINAUDIERE (who seems to be a Mistress of Choiseul's), who + is here attending Tissot for her health: MINAUDIERE charmed with it; + insists on my sending to Choiseul, "He admires the King of Prussia, as he + does all nobleness and genius; send it!" And I did so;—and look + here, what an Answer from Choiseul (Answer lost): and may it not have a + fine effect, and perhaps bring Peace—Oh, forgive me, Sire. But read + that Note of the great man. "Try if you can decipher his writing. One may + have very honest sentiments, and a great deal of ESPRIT, and yet write + like a cat.... + </p> + <p> + "Sire, there was once a lion and a mouse (RAT); the mouse fell in love + with the lion, and went to pay him court. The lion, tired of it, gave him + a little scrape with his paw. The mouse withdrew into his mouse-hole + (SOURICIERE); but he still loved the lion; and seeing one day a net they + were spreading out to catch the lion and kill him, he gnawed asunder one + mesh of it. Sire, the mouse kisses very humbly your beautiful claws, in + all submissiveness:—he will never die between two Capuchins, as, at + Bale, the mastiff (DOGUE) of St. Malo has done [27th July last]. He would + have wished to die beside his lion. Believe that the mouse was more + attached than the mastiff."—V. [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxiii. + 59, 60.] + </p> + <p> + To which we saw the Answer, pair of Answers, at Sagan, in September last. + This Note from Choiseul, conveyed by Voltaire, appears to have been the + trifling well-spring from which all those wide-spread waters of + Negotiation flowed. Pitt, when applied to, on the strength of Friedrich's + hopes from this small Document of Choiseul's, was of course ready, "How + welcome every chance of a just Peace!" and agreed to the Joint Declaration + at the Hague; and took what farther trouble I know not,—probably + less sanguine of success than Friedrich. Friedrich was ardently + industrious in the affair; had a great deal of devising and directing on + it, a great deal of corresponding with Voltaire and the Duchess, only + small fractions of which are now left. He searched out, or the Duchess of + Sachsen-Gotha did it for him, a proper Secret Messenger for Paris: Secret + Messenger, one Baron von Edelsheim, properly veiled, was to consult a + certain Bailli de Froulay, a friend of Friedrich's in Paris;—which + loyal-hearted Bailli did accordingly endeavor there; but made out nothing. + Only much vague talking; part of it, or most of it, subdolous on + Choiseul's side. Pitt would hear of no Peace which did not include Prussia + as well as England: some said this was the cause of failure;—the + real cause was that Choiseul never had any serious intention of + succeeding. Light Choiseul, a clever man, but an unwise, of the sort + called "dashing," had entertained the matter merely in the optative form,—and + when it came nearer, wished to use it for making mischief between Pitt and + Friedrich, and for worming out Edelsheim's secrets, if he had any,—for + which reason he finally threw Edelsheim into the Bastille for a few days. + [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> v. 38-41, detailed account of the Affair.] + </p> + <p> + About the end of March I guess it to have been that Choiseul, by way of + worming out poor Edelsheim's secrets, flung him into the Bastille for a + day or two. Already in December foregoing, we have seen Choiseul's + Black-Artist busy upon the Stolen EDITION of Friedrich's Verses. A + Choiseul full of intrigues; adroit enough, ambitious enough; restlessly + industrious in making mischief, if there were nothing else to be made; who + greatly disgusted Friedrich, now and afterwards. + </p> + <p> + And this was what the grand Voltaire Pacification came to, though it + filled the world with temporary noise, and was so interesting to Voltaire + and another. What a heart-affecting generosity, humility and dulcet pathos + in that of the poor Mouse gnawing asunder a mesh of the Lion's net! There + is a good deal of that throughout, on the Voltaire side,—that is to + say, while writing to Friedrich. But while writing of him, to third + parties, sometimes almost simultaneously, the contrast of styles is not a + little startling; and the beautiful affectionately chirping Mouse is seen + suddenly to be an injured Wild-cat with its fur up. All readers of + Voltaire are aware of this; and how Voltaire handles his "LUC" (mysterious + nickname for KING FRIEDRICH ), when Luc's back is turned. For alas, there + is no man or thing but has its wrong side too; least of all, a Voltaire,—doing + TREBLE voice withal, if you consider it, in such a Duet of estranged + Lovers! Suppose we give these few Specimens,—treble mostly, and a + few of bass as well,—to illustrate the nature of this Duet, and of + the noises that went on round it, in a war-convulsed world? And first of + all, concerning the enigma "What is Luc?" + </p> + <p> + What the LUC in Voltaire is? Shocking explanations have been hit upon: but + Wagniere (WAGNER, an intelligent Swiss man), Voltaire's old Secretary, + gives this plain reading of the riddle: "M. de Voltaire had, at The + Delices [near by Ferney, till the Chateau got built], a big Ape, of + excessively mischievous turn; who used to throw stones at the passers-by, + and sometimes would attack with its teeth friend or foe alike. One day it + thrice over bit M. de Voltaire's own leg. He had called it LUC (Luke); and + in conversation with select friends, as also in Letters to such, he + sometimes designated the King of Prussia by that nickname: 'HE is like my + Luc here; bites whoever caresses him!'—In 1756 M. de Voltaire, + having still on his heart the Frankfurt Outrage, wrote curious MEMOIRES + [ah, yes, VIE PRIVEE]; and afterwards wished to burn them; but a Copy had + been stolen from him in 1768,"—and they still afflict the poor + world. + </p> + <p> + To the same effect speaks Johannes von Muller: "Voltaire had an Ape called + Luc; and the spiteful man, in thus naming the King, meant to stigmatize + him as the mere APE of greater men; as one without any greatness of his + own."—No; LUC was mischievous, flung stones after passengers; had, + according to Clogenson, "bitten Voltaire himself, while being caressed by + him;" that was the analogy in Voltaire's mind. Preuss says, this Nickname + first occurs "12th December, 1757." Suppose 11th December to have been the + day of getting one's leg bitten thrice over; and that, in bed next + morning,—stiff, smarting, fretful against the sad ape-tricks and + offences of this life,—before getting up to one's Works and + Correspondences, the angry similitude had shot, slightly fulgurous and + consolatory, athwart the gloom of one's mood? [Longchamp et Wagniere <i>Memoires,</i> + i. 34; Johannes von Muller, <i>Works </i> (12mo, Stuttgard, 1821), xxxi. + 140 (LETTERS TO HIS BROTHER, No, 218, "July, 1796"); Clogenson's Note, in + <i>OEuvres de Voltaire,</i> lxxvii. 103; Preuss, ii. 71.] That will + account for Luc. + </p> + <p> + Many of the Voltaire-Friedrich LETTERS are lost; and the remainder lie in + sad disorder in all the Editions, their sequence unintelligible without + lengthy explanation. So that the following Snatches cannot well be + arranged here in the way of Choral Strophe and Antistrophe, as would have + been desirable. We shall have to group them loosely under heads; with less + respect to date than to subject-matter, and to the reader's convenience + for understanding them. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VOLTAIRE ON FRIEDRICH, TO DIFFERENT THIRD-PARTIES, DURING THIS WAR. + </h2> + <p> + TO D'ARGENTAL (Has not yet heard of LEUTHEN, which happened five days + before).... "I have tasted the vengeance of consoling the King of Prussia, + and that is enough for me. He goes beating on the one side, and getting + beaten on the other: except for another miracle [like Rossbach], he will + be ruined. Better have really been a philosopher, as he pretended to be." + [<i>OEuvres de Voltaire,</i> lxvii. 139 ("The Delices, 10th December, + 1757").] + </p> + <p> + TO THE REVEREND COMTE DE BERNIS (outwardly still our flourishing + Prime-Minister, by grace of Pompadour, but soon to be extinguished under a + Red Hat. Date is six days before ZORNDORF).... "I cannot imagine how some + people have gone into suspecting that my heart might have the weakness to + lean a little towards WHOM you know, towards my Ingrate that was! One is + bound to have politeness; but one has memory as well;—and one is + attached, as warmly as superfluously, to the Good Cause, which it belongs + only to you to defend. Certain it is, poor I am not like the three-fourths + of the Germans in these days [since ROSSBACH, above all]! I have + everywhere seen Ladies'-fans with the Prussian Eagle painted on them, + eating the FLEUR-DE-LIS; the Hanover Horse giving a kick to M. de + Richelieu's bottom; a Courier carrying a bottle of Queen-of-Hungary Water + to Madame de Pompadour. My Nieces shall certainly not have that fashion of + Fans, at my poor little DELICES, whither I am just returning." [Ib. + lxxvii. 35 ("Soleure, 19th August, 1758").] + </p> + <p> + TO MADAME D'ARGENTAL (on occasion of MINDEN: Kunersdorf three days ago, + but not yet heard of).... "Truly, Madame, when M. de Contades leads to the + butchery all the descendants of our ancient chevaliers, and sets them to + attack eighty pieces of cannon [not in the least, if you knew it; the + reverse, if you knew it],—as Don Quixote did the windmills! This + horrible day pierces my soul. I am French to excess, especially since + those new favors [not worth mentioning here], which I owe to my divine + Angels and to M. le Duc de Choiseul. + </p> + <p> + "Luc—you know who Luc is [as do we]—is probably giving Battle + to the Austrians and Russians [KUNERSDORF, 12th; three days ago, did it, + and was beaten to your mind], at the moment while I have the honor of + writing to you; at least, he told me such was his Royal intention. If they + beat him, as may happen, what a shame for us to have been beaten by the + Duke of Brunswick! I wish you knew this Duke [as I have done; a Duke of no + ESPRIT, no gift of tongue, in fact no talent at all that I could discern], + you would be much astonished; and would say, 'The people whom he beats + must be great blockheads.' The truth of the fact is, that all these troops + are better disciplined than ours:" [<i>OEuvres de Voltaire,</i> lxxviii, + 186, 187 ("Delices, 15th August, 1759").]—Yes indeed, my esteemed + Voltaire; and also, perhaps, that ESPRIT, or gift of tongue, is not the + sole gift for Battles and Campaigns?— + </p> + <p> + TO D'ARGENTAL (seventh day after KUNERSDORF: "mouse upon lion's net" + nearly contemporaneous). "At last, then, I think my Russians must be near + Great Glogau [might have been, one thinks, after such a Kunersdorf; did + not start for a month yet; never could get very near at all]. Who would + have thought that Barberina [Mackenzie's Dancer once; sent to Glogau, + Cocceji and she, when their marriage became public] was going to be + besieged by the Russians, and in Glogau: O Destiny!— + </p> + <p> + "I don't love Luc, far from it: I never will pardon him his infamous + procedure with my Niece [at Frankfurt that time]; nor the face he has to + write me flattering things twice a month; without having ever repaired his + wrongs. I desire much his entire humiliation, the chastisement of the + sinner; whether his eternal damnation. I don't quite know." [Ib. lxxviii. + 195 ("19th August, 1759").] (Hear, hear!) + </p> + <p> + TO THE SAME (a month after MAXEN: "Peace" Negotiation very lively). ... + "Meanwhile, if Luc could be punished before this happy Peace! If, by this + last stroke of General Beck [tussle with Dierecke at Meissen, 4th + December, capture of Dierecke and 1,500; stroke not of an overwhelming + nature, but let us be thankful for our mercies], which has opened the road + from the Lausitz to Berlin [alas, not in the least], some Haddick could + pay Berlin a visit again! You see, in Tragedy I wish always to have crime + punished. + </p> + <p> + "There is talk of a great Battle fought the 6th [not a word of truth in + it] between Luc and him of the Consecrated Hat: said to have been very + murderous. I interest myself very much in this Piece" now playing under + the Sun. "Whenever the Austrians have any advantage, Kaunitz says to + Madame de Bentinck [litigant wandering Lady, known to me at Berlin and + elsewhere], 'Write that to our Friend Voltaire.' Whenever Luc has the + least success, he tells me, 'I have battered the oppressors of mankind. + Dear Angel, in these horrors I am the only one that has room to laugh:—and + yet I don't laugh either; owing to the CULS-NOIRS [base crockery; one's + Dinner Plate all vanished [Supra, p. 374.]], to the Annuities, Lotteries, + and to Pondicherry,—for I am always afraid about that latter!" + (Going, that, for certain; going, gone, and your East Indies along with + it!) [<i>OEuvres de Voltaire,</i> lxxviii. 346 ("22d December, 1759").] + </p> + <p> + TO PERPETUAL SECRETARY FORMEY (in forwarding a "Letter left with me"). + "Health and peace, Monsieur; and be SECRETAIRE ETERNEL. Your King is + always a man unique, astonishing, inimitable. He makes charming verses, in + times when another could not write a line of prose; he deserves to be + happy: but will he be so? And if not, what becomes of you? For my own + part, I will not die between two Capuchins. Hardly worth while, exalting + one's soul for such a future as that. What a stupid and detestable farce + this world is!" [Ib. lxxviii. 348 (from SOUVENIRS D'UN CITOYEN, i. 302), + "11th January 1760."] + </p> + <p> + TO D'ARGENTAL ("Peace" Negotiations still at their briskest),... "But, my + dear Angel, you will see on Tuesday the great man who has turned my head + (DONT JE SUIS FOU), M. le Duc de Choiseul. The Letters he honors me with + enchant me. God will bless him, don't doubt it,"—after all! "We have + at Pondicherry a Lally, a devil of an Irish spirit,—who will cost + me, sooner or later, above 20,000 livres annually [have rents in our INDIA + COMPANY, say 1,000 pounds a year, as my Angels know], which used to be the + readiest item of my Pittance. But M. le Duc de Choiseul will triumph over + Luc in one way or other; then what joy! I suppose he shows you my + impertinent reveries. Do you know, Luc is so mad, that I don't despair of + bringing him to reason [persuading him to give up Cleve, and knuckle as he + should, in this Peace Affair]. That were what I should call the true + Comedy! I should like to have your advices on the conduct of that Dramatic + Piece." [<i>OEuvres de Voltaire,</i> lxxviii. 375 ("Delices, 15th + February, 1760").] + </p> + <p> + The late "mouse" gnawing its mesh of net, what a subtle and mighty hunter + has it grown! This of Cleve, however, and of knuckling, would not do. Hear + the stiff Answer that comes: "'Conditions of Peace,' do you call them? The + people that propose such can have no wish to see Peace. What a logic + theirs! 'I might yield the Country of Cleve, because the inhabitants are + stupid'! What would your Ministers say if one required the Province of + Champagne from them, because the Proverb says, Ninety-nine sheep and one + Champagner make a Hundred head of cattle?" [Friedrich to Voltaire, + "Freyberg, 3d April, 1760:" <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxiii. 73, 74.] + </p> + <p> + AGAIN TO D'ARGENTAL (three or four months after; Luc having proved + obstinate, and still unsuccessful).... "I conjure you make use of all your + eloquence to tell him [the supreme Duc de Choiseul], that if Luc misgo, it + will be no misfortune to France. That Brandenburg will always remain an + Electorate; that it is good there be no Elector in it strong enough to do + without the protection of our King; and that all the Princes of the Empire + will always have recourse to that august protection Most Christian + Majesty's] CONTRA L'AQUILA GRIFAGNA,—were the Prussian Kingship but + abolished. Nota bene, if Luc were discomfited this Year, we should have + Peace next Winter." [<i>OEuvres de Voltaire,</i> lxxix. 110 ("July, + 1760").] + </p> + <p> + TO SUPREME CHOISEUL (a year later).... "He has been a bad man, this Luc; + and now, if one were to bet,—by the law of probability it would be 3 + to 1 that Luc will go to pot (SERA PERDU), with his rhymings and his + banterings, and his injustices and politics, all as bad as himself." [Ib. + lxxx. 313 ("Chateau de Ferney, 13th July, 1761").] + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0022" id="link2H_4_0022"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VOLTAIRE ON SURROUNDING OBJECTS, CHIEFLY ON MAUPERTUIS, AND THE BATTLES. + </h2> + <p> + TO D'ALEMBERT (in the Rossbach-Leuthen interval: on the Battle of BRESLAU, + 22d November, 1757; called by the Austrians "a Malplaquet," and believed + by Voltaire to be a Malplaquet and more). ... "The Austrians do avenge us, + and humble us [us, and our miserable Rossbachs], in a terrible manner. + Thirteen attacks on the Prussian intrenchments, lasted six hours; never + was Victory bloodier, or more horribly beautiful [in the brain of certain + men]. We pretty French fellows, we are more expeditious, our job is done + in five minutes. The King of Prussia is always writing me Verses, now like + a desperado, now like a hero; and as for me, I try to live like a + philosopher in my hermitage. He has obtained what he always wished: to + beat the French, to be admired by them, to mock them; but the Austrians + are mocking him in a very serious way. Our shame of November 5th has given + him glory; and with such glory, which is but transient and dearly bought, + he must content himself. He will lose his own Countries, with those he has + seized, unless the French again discover [which they will] the secret of + losing all their Armies, as they did in 1741." [Ib. Lxxvii. 133, 134 + ("Delices, 6th December, 1757," day after Leuthen).] + </p> + <p> + TO CLAIRAUT, THE MATHEMATICIAN (Maupertuis lately dead). An excellent + Treatise, this you have sent me, Monsieur! "Your war with the Geometers on + the subject of this Comet appears to me like a war of the gods in Olympus, + while on Earth there is going on a fight of dogs and cats.... Would to + Heaven our friend Moreau-Maupertuis had cultivated his art like you! That + he had predicted comets, instead of exalting his soul to predict the + future; of dissecting the brains of giants to know the nature of the soul; + of japanning people with pitch to cure them of every malady; of + persecuting Konig; and of dying between Two Capuchins" (dead three weeks + ago, on those terms, poor soul)! [<i>OEuvres de Voltaire,</i> lxxviii. 191 + ("Delices, 19th August, 1759").] + </p> + <p> + TO D'ALEMBERT (a week later).... "What say you of Maupertuis dying between + Two Capuchins! He was ill, this long while, of a repletion of pride; but I + had not reckoned him either a hypocrite or an imbecile. I don't advise you + ever to go and fill his place at Berlin; you would repent that. I am + Astolpho warning Roger (Ruggiero) not to trust himself to the Enchantress + Alcina; but Roger was unadvisable." [Ib. lxxviii. 197 ("Delices, 25th + August, 1759").] + </p> + <p> + TO THE SAME (two years later: Luc, on certain grounds, may as well be + saved). "With regard to Luc, though I have my just causes of anger against + him, I own to you, in my quality of Frenchman and thinking being, I am + glad that a certain most Orthodox House has not swallowed Germany, and + that the Jesuits are not confessing in Berlin. Over towards the Danube + superstition is very powerful.... The INFAME—You are well aware that + I speak of superstition only; for as to the Christian religion, I respect + and love it, like you. Courage, Brethren! Preach with force, and write + with address: God will bless you.—Protect, you my Brother, the Widow + Calas all you can! She is a poor weak-minded Huguenot, but her Husband was + the victim of the WHITE PENITENTS. It is the concern of Human Nature that + the Fanatics of Toulouse be confounded." (The case of Calas, SECOND act of + it, getting on the scene: a case still memorable to everybody. Stupendous + bit of French judicature; and Voltaire's noblest outburst, into mere + transcendent blaze of pity, virtuous wrath, and determination to bring + rescue and help against the whole world.) [<i>OEuvres de Voltaire,</i> + lxxviii. 52, 53 ("Ferney, 28th November, 1762").] + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0023" id="link2H_4_0023"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + FRIEDRICH TO VOLTAIRE, BEFORE AND DURING THESE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. + </h2> + <p> + AT SCHMOTTSEIFEN, FIVE DAYS BEFORE ZULLICHAU, TEN DAYS BEFORE THAT HUNT OF + LOUDON AND HADDICK (Voltaire, under rebuke for indiscretion, has been + whimpering a little. My discreet Niece burnt those LAST verses, Sire; no + danger there, at least! Truculent Bishop Something-AC tried to attack your + Majesty; but was done for by a certain person). Friedrich answers: "In + truth, you are a singular creature. When I think of scolding you, you say + two words, and the reproach expires. Impossible to scold you, even when + you deserve it.... + </p> + <p> + "As to your Niece, let her burn me or roast me, I care little. Nor are you + to think me so sensitive to what your Bishops in IC or in AC may say of + me. I have the lot of all actors who play in public; applauded by some, + despised by others. One must prepare oneself for satires, for calumnies, + for a multitude of lies, which will be sent abroad into currency against + one: but need that trouble my tranquillity? I go my road; I do nothing + against the interior voice of my conscience; and I concern myself very + little in what way my actions paint themselves in the brain of beings, not + always very thinking, with two legs and without feathers." + ["Schmottseifen, 18th July, 1759;" <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxiii. 55, + 56.] + </p> + <p> + AT WILSDRUF, JUST BEFORE MAXEN (an exultant exuberant curious Letter; too + long for insertion,—part of it given above).... "For your Tragedy of + SOCRATE, thanks. At Paris they are going to burn it, the wretched fools,—not + aware that absurd fanaticism is their dominant vice. Better burn the dose + of medicine, however, than the useful Doctor. I, can I join myself to that + set? If I bite you, as you complain, it is without my knowledge. But I am + surrounded with enemies, one hitting me, another pricking me, another + daubing me with mud;—patience at last yields, and one flies abroad + into a general rage, too indiscriminate perhaps." + </p> + <p> + You talk of my Verses on Rossbach (my ADIEU TO THE HOOPERS on finding + their Bridge burnt [Supra, p. 21.]). "This Campaign I have had no beatific + vision, in the style of Moses. The barbarous Cossacks and Tartars, + infamous to look at on any side, have burnt and ravaged countries, and + committed atrocious inhumanities. This is all I saw of THEM. Such + melancholy spectacles don't tend to raise one's spirits. [Breaks off into + metre:] LA FORTUNE INCONSTANTE ET FIERE, Fortune inconstant and proud. + Does not treat her suitors Always in an equal manner. Those fools called + heroes, who run the country, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Ces fous nommes heros, et qui courent les champs, + Couverts de sang et de poussiere, + Voltaire, n'ont pas tous les ans + La faceur de voir le derriere + De leurs ennemis insolents. +</pre> + <p> + Can't expect that pleasure every year"!... + </p> + <p> + Maupertuis, say you? "Don't trouble the ashes of the dead; let the grave + at least put an end to your unjust hatreds. Reflect that even Kings make + peace after long battling; cannot you ever make it? I think you would be + capable, like Orpheus, of descending to Hell, not to soften Pluto and + bring back your beautiful Emilie, but to pursue into that Abode of Woe an + enemy whom your wrath has only too much persecuted in the world: for + shame!" [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxiii. 61-65 ("Wilsdruf, 17th + November, 1759").]—and rebukes him, more than once elsewhere, in + very serious terms. + </p> + <p> + IN WINTER-QUARTERS, ON PEACE AND THE STOLEN EDITION. (Starts in verse, + which we abridge:) With how many laurels you have covered yourself in all + the fields of Literature! One laurel yet is wanting to the brow of + Voltaire. If, as the crown of so many perfect works, he could by a skilful + manoeuvre bring back Peace, I, and Europe with me, would think that his + masterpiece! [Takes to prose:] + </p> + <p> + "This is my thought and all Europe's. Virgil made as fine Verses as you; + but he never made a Peace. It will be a distinction you will have over all + your brethren of Parnassus, if you succeed. + </p> + <p> + "I know not who has betrayed me, and thought of printing [the EDITION;—not + you, surely!] a pack of rhapsodies which were good enough to amuse myself, + but were never meant for publication. After all, I am so used to + treacheries and bad manoeuvres,"—what matters this insignificant + one? + </p> + <p> + "I know not who the Bredow is [whom you speak of having met]; but he has + told you true. The sword and death have made frightful ravages among us. + And the worst is, we are not yet at the end of the tragedy. You may judge + what effect these cruel shocks made on me. I wrap myself in my stoicism, + the best I can. Flesh and blood revolt against such tyrannous command; but + it must be followed. If you saw me, you would scarcely know me again: I am + old, broken, gray-headed, wrinkled; I am losing my teeth and my gayety: if + this go on, there will be nothing of me left, but the mania of making + verses, and an inviolable attachment to my duties and to the few virtuous + men whom I know." [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxiii. 69 ("Freyberg, 24th + Feb. 1760").] + </p> + <p> + IN WINTER-QUARTERS, A MONTH LATER (comes still on "Peace" again). ... "I + will have you paid that bit of debt [perhaps of postage or the like], that + Louis of the Mill (Louis du Moulin," at Fontenoy, who got upon a Windmill + with his Dauphin, and caught that nickname from the common men) "may have + wherewithal to make war on me. Add tenth-penny tax to your tax of + twentieth-penny; impose new capitations, make titular offices to get + money; do, in a word, whatever you like. In spite of all your efforts, you + will not get a Peace signed by my hands, except on conditions honorable to + my Nation. Your people, blown up with self-conceit and folly, may depend + on these words. Adieu, live happy; and while you make all your efforts to + destroy Prussia, think that nobody has less deserved it than I, either of + you or of your French." [Ib. xxiii. 72 ("Freyberg, 20th March, 1760").] + </p> + <p> + STILL IN WINTER-QUARTERS (on "Peace" still; but begins with "Maupertuis," + which is all we will give). "What rage animates you against Maupertuis? + You accuse HIM of having published that Furtive EDITION. Know that his + Copy, well sealed by him, arrived here after his death, and that he was + incapable of such an indiscretion. [Breaks into verse:] + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Leave in peace the cold ashes of Maupertuis: + Truth can defend him, and will. + His soul was faithful and noble: + He pardoned you that scandalous Akakia (CE VIL LIBELLE + QUE VOTRE FUREUR CRIMINELLE + PRIT SOIN CHEZ MOI DE GRIFFONER); he did:— + And you? Shame on such delirium as Voltaire's! + What, this beautiful, what, this grand genius, + Whom I admired with transport, + Soils himself with calumny, and is ferocious on the dead? + Flocking together, in the air uttering cries of joy, + Vile ravens pounce down upon sepulchres, + And make their prey of corpses:"— +</pre> + <p> + Blush, repent, alas! + </p> + <p> + These Specimens will suffice. "The King of Prussia?" Voltaire would + sometimes say: "He is as potent and as malignant as the Devil; but he is + also as unhappy, not knowing friendship,"—having such a chance, too, + with some of us! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0024" id="link2H_4_0024"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + FRIEDRICH HAS SENT LORD MARISCHAL TO SPAIN: OTHER FOND HOPES OF + FRIEDRICH'S. + </h2> + <p> + In the beginning of this Year, 1759, Earl Marischal had been called out of + his Neufchatel stagnancy, and launched into the Diplomatic field again; + sent on mission into Spain, namely. The case was this: Ferdinand VI. of + Spain (he who would not pay Friedrich the old Spanish debt, but sent him + merino rams, and a jar of Queen-Dowager snuff) had fallen into one of his + gloomy fits, and was thought to be dying;—did, in fact, die, in a + state nearly mad, on the 10th August following. By Treaty of + Aix-la-Chapelle, and by all manner of Treaties, Carlos of Naples, his + Half-Brother (Termagant's Baby Carlos, whom we all knew), was to succeed + him in Spain; Don Philip, the next Brother, now of Parma and Piacenza, was + to follow as King in Naples,—ceding those two litigious Duchies to + Austria, after all. Friedrich, vividly awake to every chance, foresaw, in + case of such disjunctures in Italy, good likelihood of quarrel there. And + has despatched the experienced old Marischal to be on the ground, and have + his eyes open. Marischal knows Spain very well; and has often said, "He + left a dear old friend there, the Sun." Marischal was under way, about + New-year's time; but lingered by the road, waiting how Ferdinand would + turn,—and having withal an important business of his own, as he + sauntered on. Did not arrive, I think, till Summer was at hand, and his + dear Old Friend coming out in vigor. + </p> + <p> + August 10th, 1759, Ferdinand died; and the same day Carlos became King of + Spain. But, instead of giving Naples to Don Philip, Carlos gave it to a + junior Son of his own; and left poor Philip to content himself with Parma + and Piacenza, as heretofore. Clear against the rights of Austria; Treaty + of Aix-la-Chapelle is perfectly explicit on that point! Will not Austria + vindicate its claim? Politicians say, Austria might have recovered not + only Parma and Piacenza, but the kingdom of Naples itself,—no France + at present able to hinder it, no Spain ever able. But Austria, contrary to + expectation, would not: a Country tenacious enough of its rights, real and + imaginary; greedy enough of Italy, but of Silesia much more! The matter + was deliberated in Council at Vienna; but the result was magnanimously, + No. "Finish this Friedrich first; finish this Silesia. Nothing else till + that!" + </p> + <p> + The Marischal's legationary function, therefore, proved a sinecure; no + Carlos needing Anti-Austrian assistance from Friedrich or another; Austria + magnanimously having let him alone. Doubtless a considerable + disappointment to Friedrich. Industrious Friedrich had tried, on the other + side of this affair, Whether the King of Sardinia, once an adventurous + fighting kind of man, could not be stirred up, having interests involved? + But no; he too, grown old, devotional, apprehensive, held by his rosaries, + and answered, No. Here is again a hope reasonable to look at, but which + proves fallacious. + </p> + <p> + Marischal continued in Spain, corresponding, sending news (the Prussian + Archives alone know what), for nearly a couple of years. [Returned "April, + 1762" (Friedrich's Letter to him, "10th April, 1762:" in <i>OEuvres de + Frederic,</i> xx. 285).] His Embassy had one effect, which is of interest + to us here. On his way out, he had gone by London, with a view of getting + legal absolution for his Jacobitism,—so far, at least, as to be able + to inherit the Earldom of Kintore, which is likely to fall vacant soon. By + blood it is his, were the Jacobite incapacities withdrawn. Kintore is a + cadet branch of the Keiths; "John, younger Son of William Sixth Lord + Marischal," was the first Kintore. William Sixth's younger Son, yes;—and + William's Father, a man always venerable to me, had (A.D. 1593) founded + Marischal College, Aberdeen,—where, for a few, in those stern + granite Countries, the Diviner Pursuits are still possible (thank God and + this Keith) on frugal oatmeal. MARISCHAL-COLLEGE Keith, or FIFTH Lord + Marischal, was grandfather's grandfather of our Potsdam Friend, who is + tenth and last. [Douglas's <i>Scotch Peerage,</i> pp. 448 et seq., 387 et + seq.] Honor to the brave and noble, now fallen silent under foot NOT of + the nobler! In a word, the fourth Kintore was about dying childless; and + Marischal had come by London on that heritage business. + </p> + <p> + He carried, naturally, the best recommendations. Britannic Majesty, Pitt + and everybody met him with welcome and furtherance; what he wished was + done, and in such a style of promptness and cordiality, Pitt pushing it + through, as quite gained the heart of old Marischal. And it is not + doubted, though particulars have not been published, That he sent + important Spanish notices to Pitt, in these years;-and especially informed + him that King Carlos and the French Bourbon had signed a FAMILY COMPACT + (15th August, 1761), or solemn covenant, to stand by one another as + brothers. Which was thenceforth, to Pitt privately, an important fact, as + perhaps we shall see; though to other men it was still only a painful + rumor and dubiety. Whether the old Marischal informed him, That King + Carlos hated the English; that he never had, in his royal mind, forgiven + that insult of Commodore Martin's (watch laid on the table, in the Bay of + Naples, long ago), I do not know; but that also was a fact. A diligent, + indignant kind of man, this Carlos, I am told; by no means an undeserving + King of Spain, though his Portraits declare him an ugly: we will leave him + in the discreet Marischal's hands, with the dear Old Friend shining + equally on both. + </p> + <p> + Singular to see how, in so veracious an intellect as Friedrich's, so many + fallacies of hope are constantly entertained. War in Italy, on quarrel + with King Carlos; Peace with France and the Pompadour, by help of + Edelsheim and the Bailli de Froulay; Peace with Russia and the INFAME + CATIN, by help of English briberies (Friedrich sent an agent this winter + with plenty of English guineas, but he got no farther than the Frontier, + not allowed even to try): sometimes, as again this winter, it is hope of + Denmark joining him (in alarm against the Russian views on Holstein; but + that, too, comes to nothing); above all, there is perennially, budding out + yearly, the brighter after every disappointment, a hope in the Grand Turk + and his adherencies. Grand Turk, or failing him, the Cham of Tartary,—for + certain, some of these will be got to fasten on the heels of Austria, of + Russia; and create a favorable diversion? Friedrich took an immense deal + of trouble about this latter hope. It is almost pathetic to see with what + a fond tenacity he clings to it; and hopes it over again, every new Spring + and Summer. [Preuss, ii. 121 et seq., 292 &c.; Schoning, ii. iii. + PASSIM.] + </p> + <p> + The hope that an INFAME CATIN might die some day (for she is now deep in + chaotic ailments, deepish even in brandy) seems never to have struck him; + at least there is nowhere any articulate hint of it,—the + eagle-flight of one's imagination soaring far above such a pettiness! Hope + is very beautiful; and even fallacious hope, in such a Friedrich. The one + hope that did not deceive him, was hope in his own best exertion to the + very death; and no fallacy ever for a moment slackened him in that. Stand + to thyself: in the wide domain of Imagination, there is no other certainty + of help. No other certainty;—and yet who knows through what + pettinesses Heaven may send help! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter IX.—PRELIMINARIES TO A FIFTH CAMPAIGN. + </h2> + <p> + It was April 25th before Friedrich quitted Freyberg, and took Camp; not + till the middle of June that anything of serious Movement came. Much + discouragement prevails in his Army, we hear: and indeed, it must be + owned, the horoscope of these Campaigns grows yearly darker. Only + Friedrich himself must not be discouraged! Nor is;—though there + seldom lay ahead of any man a more dangerous-looking Year than this that + is now dimly shaping itself to Friedrich. His fortune seems to have + quitted him; his enemies are more confident than ever. + </p> + <p> + This Year, it seems, they have bethought them of a new device against him. + "We have 90 million Population," count they; "he has hardly 5; in the end, + he must run out of men! Let us cease exchanging prisoners with him." At + Jagerndorf, in April, 1758 (just before our march to Olmutz), there had + been exchange; not without haggles; but this was the last on Austria's + part. Cartel of the usual kind, values punctually settled: a Field-marshal + is worth 3,000 common men, or 1,500 pounds; Colonel worth 130 men, or 65 + pounds; common man is worth 10s. sterling, not a high figure. + [Archenholtz, ii. 53.] The Russians haggled still more, no keeping of them + to their word; but they tried it a second time, last year (October, 1759); + and by careful urging and guiding, were got dragged through it, and the + prisoners on both sides sent to their colors again. After which, it was a + settled line of policy, "No more exchanging or cartelling; we will starve + him out in that article!" And had Friedrich had nothing but his own 5 + millions to go upon, though these contributed liberally, he had in truth + been starved out. Nor could Saxony, with Mecklenburg, Anhalt, Erfurt, and + their 10,000 men a year, have supplied him,—"had not there," says + Archenholtz (a man rather fond of superlatives),— + </p> + <p> + "Had not there risen a Recruiting system," or Crimping system, "the like + of which for kind and degree was never seen in the Earth before. + Prisoners, captive soldiers, if at all likely fellows, were by every means + persuaded, and even compelled, to take Prussian service. Compelled, cudgel + in hand," says Archenholtz (who is too indiscriminating, I can see,—for + there were Pfalzers, Wurtembergers, Reichsfolk, who had FIRST been + compelled the other way): "not asked if they wished to serve, but dragged + to the Prussian colors, obliged to swear there, and fight against, their + countrymen." Say at least, against their countrymen's Governors, + contumacious Serene Highnesses of Wurtemberg, Mecklenburg and the like. + Wurtemberg, we mentioned lately, had to shoot a good few of his first levy + against the Protestant Champion, before they would march at all!—I + am sorry for these poor men; and wish the Reich had been what it once was, + a Veracity and Practical Reality, not an Imaginary Entity and hideously + contemptible Wiggery, as it now is! Contemptible, and hideous as well;—setting + itself up on that, fundamental mendacity; which is eternally tragical, + though little regarded in these days, and which entails mendacities + without end on parties concerned!—But, apart from all this, certain + it is, + </p> + <p> + "The whole German Reich was deluged with secret Prussian Enlisters. The + greater part of these were not actual Officers at all, but hungry + Adventurers, who had been bargained with, and who, for their own profit, + allowed themselves every imaginable art to pick up men. Head and centre of + them was the Prussian Colonel Colignon," one of the Free-Corps people; "a + man formed by nature for this business [what a beautiful man!]—who + gave all the others their directions, and taught them by his own example. + Colignon himself," in winter-time, "travelled about in all manner of + costumes and characters; persuading hundreds of people into the Prussian + service. He not only promised Commissions, but gave such,—nominating + loose young fellows (LAFFEN), students, merchants' clerks and the like, to + Lieutenancies and Captaincies in the Prussian Army [about as likely as in + the Seraphim and Cherubim, had they known it]: in the Infantry, in the + Cuirassiers, in the Hussars,—it is all one, you have only to choose. + The renown of the Prussian arms was so universal, and combined with the + notion of rich booty, that Colignon's Commission-manufactory was + continually busy. No need to provide marching-money, hand-money [shillings + for earnest]; Colignon's recruits travelled mostly of will and at their + own charge. In Franken, in Schwaben, in the Rhine Countries, a dissolute + son would rob his father,—as shopmen their masters' tills, and + managers their cash-boxes,—and hie off to those magnanimous Prussian + Officials, who gave away companies like kreutzers, and had a value for + young fellows of spirit. They hastened to Magdeburg with their + Commissions; where they were received as common recruits, and put by force + into the regiments suitable. No use in resisting: the cudgel and the + drill-sergeant,"—who doubts it?—"till complete submission. By + this and other methods Colignon and his helpers are reckoned to have + raised for the King, in the course of this War, about 60,000 recruits." + [Archenholtz, ii. 53.] + </p> + <p> + This Year, Daun, though his reputation is on the decline lately, is to + have the chief command, as usual; the Grand Army, with Saxony for field of + conquest, and the Reichsfolk to assist, is to be Daun's. But, what is + reckoned an important improvement, Loudon is to have a separate command, + and Army of his own. Loudon, hot of temper, melancholic, shy, is not a man + to recommend himself to Kriegshofrath people; but no doubt Imperial + Majesty has had her own wise eye on him. His merits are so undeniable; the + need of some Commander NOT of the Cunctator type is become so very + pressing. "Army of Silesia, 50,000;" that is to be Loudon's, with 40,000 + Russians to co-operate and unite themselves with Loudon; and try actually + for conquest of Silesia, this Year; while Daun, conquering Saxony, keeps + the King busy. + </p> + <p> + At Petersburg, Versailles, Vienna, much planning there has been, and + arduous consulting: first at Petersburg, in time and in importance, where + Montalembert has again been very urgent in regard to those poor Swedish + people, and the getting of them turned to some kind of use: "Stettin in + conjunction with the Swedes; oh, listen to reason, and take Stettin!" + "Would not Dantzig by ourselves be the advisable thing?" answers Soltikof: + "Dantzig is an important Town, and the grand Baltic Haven; and would be so + convenient for our Preussen, since we have determined to maintain that + fine Conquest." So thinks Czarish Majesty, as well as Soltikof, privately, + though there are difficulties as to Dantzig; and, in fine, except Colberg + over again, there can be nothing attempted of sieging thereabouts. A Siege + of Colberg, however, there is actually to be: Second Siege,—if + perhaps it will prove luckier than the First was, two years since? Naval + Armament Swedish-Russian, specific Land Armament wholly Russian, are to do + this Second Siege, at a favorable time; except by wishes, Soltikof will + not be concerned in it; nor, it is to be hoped, shall we,—in such + pressure of haste as is probably ahead for us. + </p> + <p> + "Silesia would be the place for sieges!" say the Vienna people always; and + Imperial Majesty is very urgent; and tries all methods,—eloquence, + flatteries, bribes,—to bring Petersburg to that view. Which is at + last adopted; heartily by Czarish Majesty, ever ready for revenge on + Friedrich, the more fatal and the more direct, the better. Heartily by + her; not so heartily by Soltikof and her Army people, who know the + Austrian habits; and privately decide on NOT picking chestnuts from the + fire, while the other party's paws keep idle, and only his jaws are ready. + </p> + <p> + Of Small-War there is nothing or little to be said; indeed there occurs + almost none. Roving Cossack-Parties, under one Tottleben, whom we shall + hear of otherwise, infest Pommern, bickering with the Prussian posts + there; not ravaging as formerly, Tottleben being a civilized kind of man. + One of these called at the Castle of Schwedt, one day; found Prince Eugen + of Wurtemberg there (nearly recovered of his Kunersdorf wounds), who is a + Son-in-law of the House, married to a Daughter of Schwedt;—ancestor + of the now Russian Czars too, had anybody then known it. Him these + Cossacks carried off with them, a march or two; then, taking his bond for + a certain ransom, let him go. Bond and bondholder being soon after + captured by the Prussians, Eugen paid no ransom; so that to us his + adventure is without moment, though it then made some noise among the + Gazetteers. + </p> + <p> + Two other little passages, and only two, we will mention; which have in + themselves a kind of memorability. First, that of General Czetteritz and + the MANUSCRIPT he lost. Of posts across the Elbe I find none mentionable + here, and believe there is none, except only Czetteritz's; who stands at + Cosdorf, well up towards Torgau Country, as sentry over Torgau and the + Towns there. On Czetteritz there was, in February, an attempt made by the + active General Beck, whom Daun had detached for that object. Extremely + successful, according to the Austrian Gazetteers; but in reality amounting + to as good as nothing:—Surprisal of Czetteritz's first vedette, in + the dawn of a misty February morning (February 21st, 1760); non-surprisal + of his second, which did give fire and alarm, whereupon debate; and + Czetteritz springing into his saddle; retreat of his people to rearward, + with loss of 7 Officers and 200 prisoners;—but ending in re-advance, + with fresh force, a few hours after; [Seyfarth, ii. 655.]—in repulse + of Beck, in recovery of Cosdorf, and a general state of AS-YOU-WERE in + that part. A sputter of Post-War, not now worth mentioning at all,—except + only for one small circumstance: That in the careering and swift ordering, + such as there was, on the rear-guard especially, Major-General + Czetteritz's horse happened to fall; whereby not only was the General + taken prisoner, but his quarters got plundered, and in his luggage,—what + is the notable circumstance,—there was found a small Manuscript, + MILITAIRISCHE INSTRUKZION FUR DIE GENERALE, such as every Prussian General + has, and is bound to keep religiously secret.[Stands now in <i>OEuvres de + Frederic,</i> xxviii. 3 et. seq.; was finished (the revisal of it was), by + the King, "2d April, 1748)" see PREUSS, i. 478-480; and (<i>OEuvres de + Frederic,</i> xxviii. PREFACE, for endless indistinct details about the + translations and editions of it. London Edition, 1818, calls itself the + FIFTH.] This, carried to Daun's head-quarters, was duly prized, copied; + and in the course of a year came to print, in many shapes and places; was + translated into English, under the Title, MILITARY INSTRUCTIONS BY THE + KING OF PRUSSIA, in 1762 (and again, hardly so WELL, in 1797); and still + languidly circulates among the studious of our soldiers. Not a little + admired by some of them; and unfortunately nearly all they seem to know of + this greatest of modern Soldiers. [See, for example, in <i>Life of General + Sir Charles Napier, by his Brother</i> (London, 1857), iii. 365 and + elsewhere,—one of the best judges in the world expressing his joy + and admiration on discovery of Friedrich; discovery, if you read well, + which amounts to these INSTRUCTIONS, and no more.] + </p> + <p> + Next, about a month after, we have something to report of Loudon from + Silesia, or rather of the Enemies he meets there; for it is not a + victorious thing. But it means a starting of the Campaign by an Austrian + invasion of Silesia; long before sieging time, while all these + Montalembert-Soltikof pleadings and counter-pleadings hang dubious at + Petersburg, and Loudon's "Silesian Army" is still only in a nascent or + theoretic state, and only Loudon himself is in a practical one. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich has always Fouquet at Landshut, in charge of the Silesian + Frontier; whose outposts, under Goltz as head of these, stretch, by + Neisse, far eastward, through the Hills to utmost Mahren; Fouquet's own + head-quarter being generally Landshut, the main gate of the Country. + Fouquet, long since, rooted himself rather firmly into that important + post; has a beautiful ring of fortified Hills around Landshut; battery + crossing battery, girdling it with sure destruction, under an expert + Fouquet,—but would require 30,000 men to keep it, instead of 13,000, + which is Fouquet's allotment. Upon whom Loudon is fully intending a stroke + this Year. Fouquet, as we know, has strenuously managed to keep ward there + for a twelvemonth past; in spite, often enough, of new violent invadings + and attemptings (violent, miscellaneous, but intermittent) by the Devilles + and others;—and always under many difficulties of his own, and + vicissitudes in his employment: a Fouquet coming and going, waxing and + waning, according to the King's necessities, and to the intermittency or + constancy of pressures on Landshut. Under Loudon, this Year, Fouquet will + have harder times than ever;—in the end, too hard! But will resist, + judge how by the following small sample:— + </p> + <p> + "Besides Fouquet and his 13,000," says my Note, "the Silesian Garrisons + are all vigilant, are or ought to be; and there are far eastward of him, + for guarding of the Jagerndorf-Troppau Border, some 4 or 6,000, scattered + about, under Lieutenant-General Goltz, in various Hill Posts,—the + chief Post of which, Goltz's own, is the little Town of Neustadt, + northward of Jagerndorf [where we have billeted in the old Silesian Wars]: + Goltz's Neustadt is the chief; and Leobschutz, southwestward of it, under + 'General Le Grand' [once the Major GRANT of Kolin Battle, if readers + remember him, "Your Majesty and I cannot take the Battery ourselves!"] is + probably the second in importance. Loudon, cantoned along the Moravian + side of the Border, perceives that he can assemble 32,000 foot and horse; + that the Prussians are 13,000 PLUS 6,000; that Silesia can be invaded with + advantage, were the weather come. And that, in any kind of weather, Goltz + and his straggle of posts might be swept into the interior, perhaps picked + up and pocketed altogether, if Loudon were sharp enough. Swept into the + interior Goltz was; by no means pocketed altogether, as he ought to have + been! + </p> + <p> + "MARCH 13th, 1760, Loudon orders general muster hereabouts for the 15th, + everybody to have two days, bread and forage; and warns Goltz, as bound in + honor: 'Excellenz, to-morrow is March 14th; to-morrow our pleasant time of + Truce is out,—the more the pity for both of us!' 'Yea, my esteemed + neighbor Excellenz!' answers Goltz, with the proper compliments; but + judges that his esteemed neighbor is intending mischief almost + immediately. Goltz instantly sends orders to all his posts: 'You, Herr + General Grant, you at Leobschutz, and all the rest of you, make your + packages; march without delay; rendezvous at Steinau and Upper Glogau [far + different from GREAT-Glogau], Neisse-ward; swift!' And would have himself + gone on the 14th, but could not,—his poor little Bakery not being + here, nor wagons for his baggages quite to be collected in a moment,—and + it was Saturday, 15th, 5 A.M., that Goltz appointed himself to march. + </p> + <p> + "The last time we saw General Goltz was on the Green of Bautzen, above two + years ago,—when he delivered that hard message to the King's Brother + and his party, 'You deserve to be tried by Court-martial, and have your + heads cut off!' He was of that sad Zittau business of the late Prince of + Prussia's,—Goltz, Winterfeld, Ziethen, Schmettau and others? + Winterfeld and the Prince are both dead; Schmettau is fallen into + disaster; Goltz is still in good esteem with the King. A stalwart, swift, + flinty kind of man, to judge by the Portraits of him; considerable + obstinacy, of a tacitly intelligent kind, in that steady eye, in that + droop of the eyebrows towards the strong cheek-bones; plenty of sleeping + fire in Lieutenant-General Goltz. + </p> + <p> + "His principal force, on this occasion, is one Infantry Regiment; REGIMENT + MANTEUFFEL:—readers perhaps recollect that stout Pommern Regiment, + Manteuffel of Foot, and the little Dialogue it had with the King himself, + on the eve of Leuthen: 'Good-night, then, Fritz! To-morrow all dead, or + else the Enemy beaten.' Their conduct, I have heard, was very shining at + Leuthen, where everybody shone; and since then they have been plunging + about through the death-element in their old rugged way,—and + re-emerge here into definite view again, under Lieutenant-General Goltz, + issuing from the north end of Neustadt, in the dim dawn of a cold spring + morning, March 15th, 5 A.M.; weather latterly very wet, as I learn. They + intend Neisse-way, with their considerable stock of baggage-wagons; a + company of Dragoons is to help in escorting: party perhaps about 2,000 in + all. Goltz will have his difficulties this day; and has calculated on + them. And, indeed, at the first issuing, here they already are. + </p> + <p> + "Loudon, with about 5,000 horse,—four Regiments drawn up here, and + by and by with a fifth (happily not with the grenadiers, as he had + calculated, who are detained by broken bridges, waters all in flood from + the rain),—is waiting for him, at the very environs of Neustadt. + Loudon, by a trumpet, politely invites him to surrender, being so + outnumbered; Goltz, politely thanking, disregards it, and marches on: + Loudon escorting, in an ominous way; till, at Buchelsdorf, the fifth + Regiment (best in the Austrian service) is seen drawn out across the + highway, plainly intimating, No thoroughfare to Goltz and Pommern. Loudon + sends a second trumpet: 'Surrender prisoners; honorablest terms; keep all + your baggage: refuse, and you are cut down every man.' 'You shall yourself + hear the answer,' said Goltz. Goltz leads this second trumpet to the + front; and, in Pommern dialect, makes known what General Loudon's proposal + is. The Pommerners answer, as one man, a No of such emphasis as I have + never heard; in terms which are intensely vernacular, it seems, and which + do at this day astonish the foreign mind: 'We will for him something, WIR + WOLLEN IHM WAS—' But the powers of translation and even of + typography fail; and feeble paraphrase must give it: 'We will for him + SOMETHING INEFFABLE CONCOCT,' of a surprisingly contrary kind! 'WIR WOLLEN + IHM WAS' (with ineffable dissyllabic verb governing it)! growled one + indignant Pommerner; 'and it ran like file-fire along the ranks,' says + Archenholtz; everybody growling it, and bellowing it, in fierce bass + chorus, as the indubitable vote of Pommern in those circumstances. + </p> + <p> + "Loudon's trumpet withdrew. Pommern formed square round its baggage; + Loudon's 5,000 came thundering in, fit to break adamant; but met such a + storm of bullets from Pommern, they stopped about ten paces short, in + considerable amazement, and wheeled back. Tried it again, still more + amazement; the like a third time; every time in vain. After which, Pommern + took the road again, with vanguard, rearguard; and had peace for certain + miles,—Loudon gloomily following, for a new chance. How many times + Loudon tried again, and ever again, at good places, I forget,—say + six times in all. Between Siebenhufen and Steinau, in a dirty defile, the + jewel of the road for Loudon, who tried his very best there, one of our + wagons broke down; the few to rear of it, eighteen wagons and some country + carts, had to be left standing. Nothing more of Pommern was left there or + anywhere. Near Steinau there, Loudon gave it up as desperate, and went his + way. His loss, they say, was 300 killed, 500 wounded; Pommern's was 35 + killed, and above 100 left wounded or prisoners. One of the stiffest day's + works I have known: some twelve miles of march, in every two an attack. + Pommern has really concocted something surprising, and kept its promise to + Loudon! 'Thou knowest what the Pommerners can do,' said they once to their + own King. An obstinate, strong-boned, heavy-browed people; not so stupid + as you think. More or less of Jutish or Anglish type; highly deficient in + the graces of speech, and, I should judge, with little call to + Parliamentary Eloquence." [Preuss, ii. 241 (incorrect in some small + points); Archenholtz, ii. 61; Seyfarth, ii. 640, and <i>Beylagen,</i> ii. + 657-660; Tempelhof, iv. 8-10; in ANONYMOUS OF HAMBURG (iv. 68) the + Austrian account.] + </p> + <p> + Friedrich is, this Year, considered by the generality of mankind, to be + ruined: "Lost 60,000 men last Campaign; was beaten twice; his luck is + done; what is to become of him?" say his enemies, and even the impartial + Gazetteer, with joy or sorrow. Among his own people there is gloom or + censure; hard commentaries on Maxen: "So self-willed, high, and deaf to + counsel from Prince Henri!" Henri himself, they say, is sullen; + threatening, as he often does, to resign "for want of health;" and as he + quite did, for a while, in the end of this Campaign, or interval between + this and next. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich has, with incredible diligence, got together his finance (copper + in larger dose than ever, Jew Ephraim presiding as usual); and, as if by + art-magic, has on their feet 100,000 men against his enemy's 280,000. Some + higher Officers are secretly in bad spirits; but the men know nothing of + discouragement. Friedrich proclaims to them at marching, "For every cannon + you capture, 100 ducats; for every flag, 50; for every standard (cavalry + flag), 40;"—which sums, as they fell due, were accordingly paid + thenceforth. [Stenzel, v. 236, 237; ib. 243.] But Friedrich, too, is + abundantly gloomy, if that could help him; which he knows well it cannot, + and strictly hides it from all but a few;—or all but D'Argens almost + alone, to whom it can do no harm. Read carefully by the light of + contemporary occurrences, not vaguely in the vacant haze, as the Editors + give it, his correspondence with D'Argens becomes interesting almost to a + painful degree: an unaffected picture of one of the bravest human souls + weighed down with dispiriting labors and chagrins, such as were seldom + laid on any man; almost beyond bearing, but incurable, and demanding to be + borne. Wilhelmina is away, away; to D'Argens alone of mortals does he + whisper of these things; and to him not wearisomely, or with the least + prolixity, but in short sharp gusts, seldom now with any indignation, + oftenest with a touch of humor in them, not soliciting any sympathy, nor + expecting nearly as much as he will get from the faithful D'Argens. + </p> + <p> + "I am unfortunate and old, dear Marquis; that is why they persecute me: + God knows what my future is to be this Year! I grieve to resemble + Cassandra with my prophecies; but how augur well of the desperate + situation we are in, and which goes on growing worse? I am so gloomy + to-day, I will cut short.... Write to me when you have nothing better to + do; and don't forget a poor Philosopher who, perhaps to expiate his + incredulity, is doomed to find his Purgatory in THIS world." [<i>OEuvres + de Frederic,</i> xix. 138, 139 ("Freyberg, 20th March, 1760").]... To + another Friend, in the way of speech, he more deliberately says: "The + difficulties I had, last Campaign, were almost infinite: such a multitude + of enemies acting against me; Pommern, Brandenburg, Saxony, Frontiers of + Silesia, alike in danger, often enough all at one time. If I escaped + absolute destructiou, I must impute it chiefly to the misconduct of my + enemies; who gained such advantages, but had not the sense to follow them + up. Experience often corrects people of their blunders: I cannot expect to + profit by anything of that kind; on their part, in the course of this + Campaign:" judge if it will be a light one, MON CHER. [To Mitchell, one + evening, "Camp of Schlettau, May 23d" (Mitchell, ii. 159).] + </p> + <p> + The symptoms we decipher in these Letters, and otherwise, are those of a + man drenched in misery; but used to his black element, unaffectedly + defiant of it, or not at the pains to defy it; occupied only to do his + very utmost in it, with or without success, till the end come. Prometheus, + chained on the Ocean-cliffs, with the New Ruling-Powers in the upper hand, + and their vultures gradually eating him; dumb Time and dumb Space looking + on, apparently with small sympathy: Prometheus and other Titans, now and + then, have touched the soul of some AEschylus, and drawn tones of + melodious sympathy, far heard among mankind. But with this new Titan it is + not so: nor, upon the whole, with the proper Titan, in this world, is it + usually so; the world being a—what shall we say?—a poorish + kind of world, and its melodies and dissonances, its loves and its hatreds + worth comparatively little in the long-run. Friedrich does wonderfully + without sympathy from almost anybody; and the indifference with which he + walks along, under such a cloud of sulky stupidities, of mendacities and + misconceptions from the herd of mankind, is decidedly admirable to me. + </p> + <p> + But let us look into the Campaign itself. Perhaps—contrary to the + world's opinion, and to Friedrich's own when, in ultra-lucid moments, he + gazes into it in the light of cold arithmetic, and finds the aspect of it + "frightful"—this Campaign will be a little luckier to him than the + last? Unluckier it cannot well be:—or if so, it will at least be + final to him! + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, +Vol. XIX. (of XXI.), by Thomas Carlyle + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. *** + +***** This file should be named 2119-h.htm or 2119-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/1/2119/ + +Produced by D.R. Thompson + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. XIX. (of XXI.) + Frederick The Great--Friedrich Like to be Overwhelmed in + The Seven-Years War--1759-1760 + +Author: Thomas Carlyle + +Posting Date: June 13, 2008 [EBook #2119] +Release Date: March, 2000 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. *** + + + + +Produced by D.R. Thompson + + + + + +HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. OF PRUSSIA + +FREDERICK THE GREAT + +By Thomas Carlyle + + + + +BOOK XIX.--FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED IN THE SEVEN-YEARS +WAR.--1759-1760. + + + + +Chapter I.--PRELIMINARIES TO A FOURTH CAMPAIGN. + +The posting of the Five Armies this Winter--Five of them in Germany, not +counting the Russians, who have vanished to Cimmeria over the horizon, +for their months of rest--is something wonderful, and strikes the +picturesque imagination. Such a Chain of Posts, for length, if for +nothing else! From the centre of Bohemia eastward, Daun's Austrians are +spread all round the western Silesian Border and the southeastern +Saxon; waited on by Prussians, in more or less proximity. Next are +the Reichsfolk; scattered over Thuringen and the Franconian Countries; +fronting partly into Hessen and Duke Ferdinand's outskirts:--the main +body of Duke Ferdinand is far to westward, in Munster Country, vigilant +upon Contades, with the Rhine between. Contades and Soubise,--adjoining +on the Reichsfolk are these Two French Armies: Soubise's, some 25,000, +in Frankfurt-Ems Country, between the Mayn and the Lahn, with its back +to the Rhine; then Contades, onward to Maes River and the Dutch Borders, +with his face to the Rhine,--and Duke Ferdinand observant of him on the +other side. That is the "CORDON of Posts" or winter-quarters this Year. +"From the Giant Mountains and the Metal Mountains, to the Ocean;--to the +mouth of Rhine," may we not say; "and back again to the Swiss Alps or +springs of Rhine, that Upper-Rhine Country being all either French or +Austrian, and a basis for Soubise?" [Archenholtz, i. 306.] Not to speak +of Ocean itself, and its winged War-Fleets, lonesomely hovering and +patrolling; or of the Americas and Indies beyond! + +"This is such a Chain of mutually vigilant Winter-quarters," says +Archenholtz, "as was never drawn in Germany, or in Europe, before." +Chain of about 300,000 fighting men, poured out in that lengthy manner. +Taking their winter siesta there, asleep with one eye open, till +reinforced for new business of death and destruction against Spring. +Pathetic surely, as well as picturesque. "Three Campaigns there have +already been," sighs the peaceable observer: "Three Campaigns, surely +furious enough; Eleven Battles in them," [Stenzel, v. 185. This, +I suppose, would be his enumeration: LOBOSITZ (1756); PRAG, KOLIN, +Hastenbeck, Gross-Jagersdorf, ROSSBACH, Breslau, LEUTHEN, (1757); +Crefeld, ZORNDORF, HOCHKIRCH (1758): "eleven hitherto in all."] a Prag, +a Kolin, Leuthen, Rossbach;--must there still be others, then, to +the misery of poor mankind?" thus sigh many peaceful persons. Not +considering what are, and have been, the rages, the iniquities, the loud +and silent deliriums, the mad blindnesses and sins of mankind; and what +amount, of CALCINING these may reasonably take. Not calcinable in three +Campaigns at all, it would appear! Four more Campaigns are needed: then +there will be innocuous ashes in quantity; and a result unexpected, and +worth marking in World-History. + +It is notably one of Friedrich's fond hopes,--of which he keeps up +several, as bright cloud-hangings in the haggard inner world he now +has,--that Peace is just at hand; one right struggle more, and Peace +must come! And on the part of Britannic George and him, repeated +attempts were made,--one in the end of this Year 1759;--but one and all +of them proved futile, and, unless for accidental reasons, need not be +mentioned here. Many men, in all nations, long for Peace; but there are +Three Women at the top of the world who do not; their wrath, various in +quality, is great in quantity, and disasters do the reverse of appeasing +it. + +The French people, as is natural, are weary of a War which yields them +mere losses and disgraces; "War carried on for Austrian whims, which +likewise seem to be impracticable!" think they. And their Bernis +himself, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who began this sad French-Austrian +Adventure, has already been remonstrating with Kaunitz, and grumbling +anxiously, "Could not the Swedes, or somebody, be got to mediate? Such +a War is too ruinous!" Hearing which, the Pompadour is shocked at the +favorite creature of her hands; hastens to dismiss him ("Be Cardinal +then, you ingrate of a Bernis; disappear under that Red Hat!")--and +appoints, in his stead, one Choiseul (known hitherto as STAINVILLE, +Comte de Stainville, French Excellency at Vienna, but now made Duke on +this promotion), Duc de Choiseul; [Minister of Foreign Affairs, +"11th November, 1758" (Barbier, iv. 294).] who is a Lorrainer, or +Semi-Austrian, by very birth; and probably much fitter for the place. A +swift, impetuous kind of man, this Choiseul, who is still rather young +than otherwise; plenty of proud spirit in him, of shifts, talent of the +reckless sort; who proved very notable in France for the next twenty +years. + +French trade being ruined withal, money is running dreadfully low: +but they appoint a new Controller-General; a M. de Silhouette, who is +thought to have an extraordinary creative genius in Finance. Had he but +a Fortunatus-Purse, how lucky were it! With Fortunatus Silhouette as +purse-holder, with a fiery young Choiseul on this hand, and a fiery +old Belleisle on that, Pompadour meditates great things this +Year,--Invasions of England; stronger German Armies; better German +Plans, and slashings home upon Hanover itself, or the vital point;--and +flatters herself, and her poor Louis, that there is on the anvil, for +1759, such a French Campaign as will perhaps astonish Pitt and another +insolent King. Very fixed, fell and feminine is the Pompadour's humor +in this matter. Nor is the Czarina's less so; but more, if possible; +unappeasable except by death. Imperial Maria Theresa has masculine +reasons withal; great hopes, too, of late. Of the War's ending till flat +impossibility stop it, there is no likelihood. + +To Pitt this Campaign 1759, in spite of bad omens at the outset, proved +altogether splendid: but greatly the reverse on Friedrich's side; to +whom it was the most disastrous and unfortunate he had yet made, or did +ever make. Pitt at his zenith in public reputation; Friedrich never so +low before, nothing seemingly but extinction near ahead, when this Year +ended. The truth is, apart from his specific pieces of ill-luck, there +had now begun for Friedrich a new rule of procedure, which much altered +his appearance in the world. Thrice over had he tried by the aggressive +or invasive method; thrice over made a plunge at the enemy's heart, +hoping so to disarm or lame him: but that, with resources spent to such +a degree, is what he cannot do a fourth time: he is too weak henceforth +to think of that. + +Prussia has always its King, and his unrivalled talent; but that is +pretty much the only fixed item: Prussia VERSUS France, Austria, Russia, +Sweden and the German Reich, what is it as a field of supplies for war! +Except its King, these are failing, year by year; and at a rate fatally +SWIFT in comparison. Friedrich cannot now do Leuthens, Rossbachs; +far-shining feats of victory, which astonish all the world. His fine +Prussian veterans have mostly perished; and have been replaced by new +levies and recruits; who are inferior both in discipline and native +quality;--though they have still, people say, a noteworthy taste of the +old Prussian sort in them; and do, in fact, fight well to the last. But +"it is observable," says Retzow somewhere, and indeed it follows from +the nature of the case, "that while the Prussian Army presents always +its best kind of soldiers at the beginning of a war, Austria, such are +its resources in population, always improves in that particular, and its +best troops appear in the last campaigns." In a word, Friedrich stands +on the defensive henceforth; disputing his ground inch by inch: and is +reduced, more and more, to battle obscurely with a hydra-coil of enemies +and impediments; and to do heroisms which make no noise in the Gazettes. +And, alas, which cannot figure in History either,--what is more a sorrow +to me here! + +Friedrich, say all judges of soldiership and human character who have +studied Friedrich sufficiently, "is greater than ever," in these four +Years now coming. [Berenhorst, in _Kriegskunst;_ Retzow; &c.] And +this, I have found more and more to be a true thing; verifiable and +demonstrable in time and place,--though, unluckily for us, hardly in +this time or this place at all! A thing which cannot, by any method, +be made manifest to the general reader; who delights in shining +summary feats, and is impatient of tedious preliminaries and +investigations,--especially of MAPS, which are the indispensablest +requisite of all. A thing, in short, that belongs peculiarly to +soldier-students; who can undergo the dull preliminaries, most dull but +most inexorably needed; and can follow out, with watchful intelligence, +and with a patience not to be wearied, the multifarious topographies, +details of movements and manoeuvrings, year after year, on such a +Theatre of War. What is to be done with it here! If we could, by +significant strokes, indicate, under features true so far as they went, +the great wide fire-flood that was raging round the world; if we could, +carefully omitting very many things, omit of the things intelligible and +decipherable that concern Friedrich himself, nothing that had meaning: +IF indeed--! But it is idle preluding. Forward again, brave reader, +under such conditions as there are! + +Friedrich's Winter in Breslau was of secluded, silent, sombre character, +this time; nothing of stir in it but from work only: in marked contrast +with the last, and its kindly visitors and gayeties. A Friedrich given +up to his manifold businesses, to his silent sorrows. "I have passed my +winter like a Carthusian monk," he writes to D'Argens: "I dine alone; I +spend my life in reading and writing; and I do not sup. When one is sad, +it becomes at last too burdensome to hide one's grief continually; and +it is better to give way to it by oneself, than to carry one's gloom +into society. Nothing solaces me but the vigorous application required +in steady and continuous labor. This distraction does force one to put +away painful ideas, while it lasts: but, alas, no sooner is the work +done, than these fatal companions present themselves again, as if +livelier than ever. Maupertuis was right: the sum of evil does certainly +surpass that of good:--but to me it is all one; I have almost nothing +more to lose; and my few remaining days, what matters it much of what +complexion they be?" ["Breslau, 1st March, 1759," To D'Argens (_OEuvres +de Frederic,_ xix. 56).] + +The loss of his Wilhelmina, had there been no other grief, has darkened +all his life to Friedrich. Readers are not prepared for the details of +grief we could give, and the settled gloom of mind they indicate. A loss +irreparable and immeasurable; the light of life, the one loved heart +that loved him, gone. His passionate appeals to Voltaire to celebrate +for him in verse his lost treasure, and at least make her virtues +immortal, are perhaps known to readers: [ODE SUR LA MORT DE S. A. S. +MADAME LA PRINCESSE DE BAREITH (in _OEuvres de Voltaire,_ xviii. 79-86): +see Friedrich's Letter to him (6th November, 1758); with Voltaire's +VERSES in Answer (next month); Friedrich's new Letter (Breslau, 23d +January 1759), demanding something more,--followed by the ODE just +cited (Ib. lxxii. 402; lxxviii. 82, 92; or _OEuvres de Frederic,_ +xxiii. 20-24: &c.) alas, this is a very feeble kind of immortality, and +Friedrich too well feels it such. All Winter he dwells internally on the +sad matter, though soon falling silent on it to others. + +The War is ever more dark and dismal to him; a wearing, harassing, +nearly disgusting task; on which, however, depends life or death. This +Year, he "expects to have 300,000 enemies upon him;" and "is, with his +utmost effort, getting up 150,000 to set against them." Of business, +in its many kinds, there can be no lack! In the intervals he also wrote +considerably: one of his Pieces is a SERMON ON THE LAST JUDGMENT; handed +to Reader De Catt, one evening:--to De Catt's surprise, and to ours; the +Voiceless in a dark Friedrich trying to give itself some voice in this +way! [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ xv. 1-10 (see Preuss's PREFACE there; +Formey, _SOUVENIRS,_ i. 37; &c. &c.)] Another Piece, altogether +practical, and done with excellent insight, brevity, modesty, is ON +TACTICS; [REFLEXIONS SUR LA TACTIQUE: in _OEuvres de Frederic,_ xxviii. +153-166.]--properly it might be called, "Serious very Private Thoughts," +thrown on paper, and communicated only to two or three, "On the new kind +of Tactics necessary with those Austrians and their Allies," who are +in such overwhelming strength. "To whose continual sluggishness, and +strange want of concert, to whose incoherency of movements, languor of +execution, and other enormous faults, we have owed, with some excuse for +our own faults, our escaping of destruction hitherto,"--but had better +NOT trust that way any longer! Fouquet is one of the highly select, +to whom he communicates this Piece; adding along with it, in Fouquet's +case, an affectionate little Note, and, in spite of poverty, some +New-year's Gift, as usual,--the "Widow's Mite [300 pounds, we find]; +receive it with the same heart with which it was set apart for you: a +small help, which you may well have need of, in these calamitous times." +["Breslau, 23d December, 1758;" with Fouquet's Answer, 2d January, 1759: +in _OEuvres de Frederic,_ xx. 114-117.] Fouquet much admires the new +Tactical Suggestions;--seems to think, however, that the certainly +practicable one is, in particular, the last, That of "improving our +Artillery to some equality with theirs." For which, as may appear, the +King has already been taking thought, in more ways than one. + +Finance is naturally a heavy part of Friedrich's Problem; the part which +looks especially impossible, from our point of vision! In Friedrich's +Country, the War Budget does not differ from the Peace one. Neither is +any borrowing possible; that sublime Art, of rolling over on you know +not whom the expenditure, needful or needless, of your heavy-laden self, +had not yet--though England is busy at it--been invented among Nations. +Once, or perhaps twice, from the STANDE of some willing Province, +Friedrich negotiated some small Loan; which was punctually repaid when +Peace came, and was always gratefully remembered. But these are as +nothing, in face of such expenses; and the thought how he did contrive +on the Finance side, is and was not a little wonderful. An ingenious +Predecessor, whom I sometimes quote, has expressed himself in these +words:-- + +"Such modicum of Subsidy [he is speaking of the English Subsidy in +1758], how useful will it prove in a Country bred everywhere to Spartan +thrift, accustomed to regard waste as sin, and which will lay out no +penny except to purpose! I guess the Prussian Exchequer is, by this +time, much on the ebb; idle precious metals tending everywhere towards +the melting-pot. At what precise date the Friedrich-Wilhelm balustrades, +and enormous silver furnitures, were first gone into, Dryasdust has +not informed me: but we know they all went; as they well might. To me +nothing is so wonderful as Friedrich's Budget during this War. One day +it will be carefully investigated, elucidated and made conceivable and +certain to mankind: but that as yet is far from being the case. We +walk about in it with astonishment; almost, were it possible, with +incredulity. Expenditure on this side, work done on that: human nature, +especially British human nature, refuses to conceive it. Never in this +world, before or since, was the like. The Friedrich miracles in War are +great; but those in Finance are almost greater. Let Dryasdust bethink +him; and gird his flabby loins to this Enterprise; which is very +behooveful in these Californian times!"-- + +The general Secret of Prussian Thrift, I do fear, is lost from the +world. And how an Army of about 200,000, in field and garrison, could +be kept on foot, and in some ability to front combined Europe, on about +Three Million Sterling annually ("25 million THALERS"=3,150,000 +pounds, that is the steady War-Budget of those years), remains to us +inconceivable enough;--mournfully miraculous, as it were; and growing +ever more so in the Nugget-generations that now run. Meanwhile, here are +what hints I could find, on the Origins of that modest Sum, which also +are a wonder: [Preuss, ii. 388-392; Stenzel, v. 137-141.]-- + +"The hoarded Prussian Moneys, or 'TREASURES' [two of them, KLEINE +SCHATZ, GROSSE SCHATZ, which are rigidly saved in Peace years, for +incidence of War], being nearly run out, there had come the English +Subsidy: this, with Saxony, and the Home revenues and remnants of SCHATZ +had sufficed for 1758; but will no longer suffice. Next to Saxony, +the English Subsidy (670,000 pounds due the second time this year) was +always Friedrich's principal resource: and in the latter years of the +War, I observe, it was nearly twice the amount of what all his Prussian +Countries together, in their ravaged and worn-out state, could yield +him. In and after 1759, besides Home Income, which is gradually +diminishing, and English Subsidy, which is a steady quantity, +Friedrich's sources of revenue are mainly Two:-- + +"FIRST, there is that of wringing money from your Enemies, from those +that have deserved ill of you,--such of them as you can come at. +Enemies, open or secret, even Ill-wishers, we are not particular, +provided only they lie within arm's-length. Under this head fall +principally three Countries (and their three poor Populations, in lieu +of their Governments): Saxony, Mecklenburg (or the main part of it, +Mecklenburg-SCHWERIN), and Anhalt; from these three there is a continual +forced supply of money and furnishings. Their demerits to Friedrich +differ much in intensity; nor is his wringing of them--which in the +cases of Mecklenburg and Saxony increases year by year to the nearly +intolerable pitch--quite in the simple ratio of their demerits; but in a +compound ratio of that and of his indignation and of his wants. + +"Saxony, as Prime Author of this War, was from the first laid hold of, +collared tightly: 'Pay the shot, then, what you can' (in the end it was +almost what you cannot)! As to Mecklenburg-Schwerin, the grudge against +Prussia was of very old standing, some generations now; and the present +Duke, not a very wise Sovereign more than his Ancestors, had always +been ill with Friedrich; willing to spite and hurt him when possible: +in Reichs Diet he, of all German Princes, was the first that voted for +Friedrich's being put to Ban of the Reich,--he; and his poor People know +since whether that was a wise step! The little Anhalt Princes, too, +all the Anhalts, Dessau, Bernburg, Cothen, Zerbst [perhaps the latter +partially excepted, for a certain Russian Lady's sake], had voted, or +at least had ambiguously half-voted, in favor of the Ban, and done other +unfriendly things; and had now to pay dear for their bits of enmities. +Poor souls, they had but One Vote among them all Four;--and they only +half gave it, tremulously pulling it back again. I should guess it was +their terrors mainly, and over-readiness to reckon Friedrich a sinking +ship; and to leap from the deck of him,--with a spurn which he took for +insolent! The Anhalt-Dessauers particularly, who were once of his very +Army, half Prussians for generations back, he reckoned to have used him +scandalously ill. + +"This Year the requisition on the Four Anhalts--which they submit to +patiently, as people who have leapt into the wrong ship--is, in precise +tale: of money, 330,000 thalers (about 50,000 pounds); recruits, 2,200; +horses, 1,800. In Saxony, besides the fixed Taxes, strict confiscation +of Meissen Potteries and every Royalty, there were exacted heavy +'Contributions,' more and more heavy, from the few opulent Towns, +chiefly from Leipzig; which were wrung out, latterly, under great +severities,--'chief merchants of Leipzig all clapt in prison, kept +on bread-and-water till they yielded,'--AS great severities as would +suffice, but NOT greater; which also was noted. Unfortunate chief +merchants of Leipzig,--with Bruhl and Polish Majesty little likely to +indemnify them! Unfortunate Country altogether. An intelligent Saxon, +who is vouched for as impartial, bears witness as follows: 'And this +I know, that the oppressions and plunderings of the Austrians and +Reichsfolk, in Saxony, turned all hearts away from them; and it was +publicly said, We had rather bear the steady burden of the Prussians +than such help as these our pretended Deliverers bring.' [Stenzel +(citing from KRIEGSKANZLEI, which I have not), v. 137 n.] Whereby, on +the whole, the poor Country got its back broken, and could never look up +in the world since. Resource FIRST was abundantly severe. + +"Resource SECOND is strangest of all;--and has given rise to criticism +enough! It is no other than that of issuing base money; mixing your gold +and silver coin with copper,--this, one grieves to say, is the Second +and extreme resource. A rude method--would we had a better--of +suspending Cash-payments, and paying by bank-notes instead!' thinks +Friedrich, I suppose. From his Prussian Mints, from his Saxon [which are +his for the present], and from the little Anhalt-Bernburg Mint [of which +he expressly purchased the sad privilege,--for we are not a Coiner, +we are a King reduced to suspend Cash-payments, for the time being], +Friedrich poured out over all Germany, in all manner of kinds, huge +quantities of bad Coin. This, so long as it would last, is more and +more a copious fountain of supply. This, for the first time, has had to +appear as an item in War-Budget 1759: and it fails in no following, +but expands more and more. It was done through Ephraim, the not lovely +Berlin Jew, whom we used to hear of in Voltaire's time;--through Ephraim +and two others, Ephraim as President: in return for a net Sum, these +shall have privilege to coin such and such amounts, so and so alloyed; +shall pay to General Tauentzien, Army Treasurer, at fixed terms, the +Sums specified: 'Go, and do it; our Mint-Officers sharply watching you; +Mint-Officers, and General Tauentzien [with a young Herr Lessing, as +his Chief Clerk, of whom the King knows nothing]; Go, ye unlovely!' And +Ephraim and Company are making a great deal of money by the unlovely +job. Ephraim is the pair of tongs, the hand, and the unlovely job, are a +royal man's. Alas, yes. And none of us knows better than King Friedrich, +perhaps few of us as well, how little lovely a job it was; how +shockingly UNkingly it was,--though a practice not unknown to German +Kings and Kinglets before his time, and since down almost to ours. [In +STENZEL (v. 141) enumeration of eight or nine unhappy Potentates, who +were busy with it in those same years.] In fact, these are all unkingly +practices;--and the English Subsidy itself is distasteful to a proud +Friedrich: but what, in those circumstances, can any Friedrich do? + +"The first coinages of Ephraim had, it seems, in them about 3-7ths of +copper; something less than the half, and more than the third,"--your +gold sovereign grown to be worth 28s. 6d. "But yearly it grew worse; and +in 1762 [English Subsidy having failed] matters had got inverted; +and there was three times as much copper as silver. Commerce, as was +natural, went rocking and tossing, as on a sea under earthquakes; but +there was always ready money among Friedrich's soldiers, as among no +other: nor did the common people, or retail purchasers, suffer by it. +'Hah, an Ephraimite!' they would say, grinning not ill-humoredly, at +sight of one of these pieces; some of which they had more specifically +named 'BLUE-GOWNS' [owing to a tint of blue perceivable, in spite of +the industrious plating in real silver, or at least "boiling in +some solution" of it]; these they would salute with this rhyme, then +current:-- + + "Von aussen schon, van innen schlimm; + Von aussen Friedrich, von innen Ephraim. + Outside noble, inside slim: + Outside Friedrich, inside Ephraim. + +"By this time, whatever of money, from any source, can be scraped +together in Friedrich's world, flows wholly into the Army-Chest, as the +real citadel of life. In these latter years of the War, beginning, I +could guess, from 1759, all Civil expenditures, and wages of Officials, +cease to be paid in money; nobody of that kind sees the color even of +bad coin; but is paid only in 'Paper Assignments,' in Promises to Pay +'after the Peace.' These Paper Documents made no pretence to the rank of +Currency: such holders of them as had money, or friends, and could wait, +got punctual payment when the term did arrive; but those that could +not, suffered greatly; having to negotiate their debentures on +ruinous terms,--sometimes at an expense of three-fourths.--I will +add Friedrich's practical Schedule of Amounts from all these various +Sources; and what Friedrich's own view of the Sources was, when he could +survey them from the safe distance. + +"SCHEDULE OF AMOUNTS [say for 1761]. To make up the Twenty-five Million +thalers, necessary for the Army, there are:-- + + "From our Prussian Countries, ruined, harried as THALERS + they have been,.......... 4 millions only. + From Saxony and the other Wringings, ..... 7 millions. + English Subsidy (4 of good gold; becoppered + into double),........... 8 " + From Ephraim and his Farm of the Mint + (MUNZ-PATENT), .......... 7 " + +In sum Twenty-six Millions; leaving you one Million of margin,--and +always a plenty of cash in hand for incidental sundries. [Preuss, ii. +388.] + +"Friedrich's own view of these sad matters, as he closes his _History +of the Seven-Years War_ [at "Berlin, 17th December, 1763"], is in these +words: 'May Heaven grant,--if Heaven deign to look down on the paltry +concerns of men,--that the unalterable and flourishing destiny of this +Country preserve the Sovereigns who shall govern it from the scourges +and calamities which Prussia has suffered in these times of trouble and +subversion; that they may never again be forced to recur to the violent +and fatal remedies which we (L'ON) have been obliged to employ in +maintenance of the State against the ambitious hatred of the Sovereigns +of Europe, who wished to annihilate the House of Brandenburg, and +exterminate from the world whatever bore the Prussian name!'" [_OEuvres +de Frederic,_ v. 234.] + + + + +OF THE SMALL-WAR IN SPRING, 1759. THERE ARE FIVE DISRUPTIONS OF THAT +GRAND CORDON (February-April); AND FERDINAND OF BRUNSWICK FIGHTS HIS +BATTLE OF BERGEN (April 13th). + +Friedrich, being denied an aggressive course this Year, by no means +sits idly expectant and defensive in the interim; but, all the more +vigorously, as is observable, from February onwards, strikes out from +him on every side: endeavoring to spoil the Enemy's Magazines, and +cripple his operations in that way. So that there was, all winter +through, a good deal of Small-War (some of it not Small), of more +importance than usual,--chiefly of Friedrich's originating, with the +above view, or of Ferdinand his Ally's, on a still more pressing score. +And, on the whole, that immense Austrian-French Cordon, which goes from +the Carpathians to the Ocean, had by no means a quiet time; but was +broken into, and violently hurled back, in different parts: some four, +or even five, attacks upon it in all; three of them by Prince Henri,--in +two of which Duke Ferdinand's people co-operated; the business being for +mutual behoof. These latter Three were famous in the world, that Winter; +and indeed are still recognizable as brilliant procedures of their kind; +though, except dates and results, we can afford almost nothing of them +here. These Three, intended chiefly against Reichs people and their +Posts and Magazines, fell out on the western and middle part of +the Cordon. Another attack was in the extreme eastward, and was for +Friedrich's own behoof; under Fouquet's management;--intended against +the Austrian-Moravian Magazines and Preparations, but had little +success. Still another assault, or invasive outroad, northward against +the Russian Magazines, there also was; of which by and by. Besides all +which, and more memorable than all, Duke Ferdinand, for vital reasons of +his own, fought a Battle this Spring, considerable Battle, and did NOT +gain it; which made great noise in the world. + +It is not necessary the reader should load his memory with details of +all these preliminary things; on the contrary, it is necessary that he +keep his memory clear for the far more important things that lie ahead +of these, and entertain these in a summary way, as a kind of foreground +to what is coming. Perhaps the following Fractions of Note, which put +matters in something of Chronological or Synoptical form, will suffice +him, or more than suffice. He is to understand that the grand tug of +War, this Year, gradually turns out not to be hereabouts, nor with Daun +and his adjacencies at all, but with the Russians, who arrive from the +opposite Northern quarter; and that all else will prove to be merely +prefatory and nugatory in comparison. + +JANUARY 2d, 1759: FRANKFURT-ON-MAYN, THOUGH IT IS A REICHSTADT, FINDS +ITSELF SUDDENLY BECOME FRENCH. "Prince de Soubise lies between Mayn and +Lahn, with his 25,000; beautifully safe and convenient,--though ill off +for a place-of-arms in those parts. Opulent Frankfurt, on his right; how +handy would that be, were not Reichs Law so express! Marburg, Giessen +are outposts of his; on which side one of Ferdinand's people, Prince von +Ysenburg, watches him with an 8 or 10,000, capable of mischief in that +quarter. + +"On the Eve of New-year's day, or on the auspicious Day itself, Soubise +requests, of the Frankfurt Authorities, permission for a regiment of his +to march through that Imperial City. To which, by law and theory, the +Imperial City can say Yes or No; but practically cannot, without grave +inconvenience, say other than Yes, though most Frankfurters wish it +could. 'Yes,' answer the Frankfurt Magnates; Yes surely, under the known +conditions. Tuesday, January 2d, about 5 in the morning, while all is +still dark in Frankfurt, regiment Nassau appears, accordingly, at the +Sachsenhausen Gate, Town-guard people all ready to receive it and escort +it through; and is admitted as usual. Quite as usual: but instead +of being escorted through, it orders, in calm peremptory voice, the +Town-guard, To ground arms; with calm rapidity proceeds to admit ten +other regiments or battalions, six of them German; seizes the artillery +on the Walls, seizes all the other Gates:--and poor Frankfurt finds +itself tied hand and foot, almost before it is out of bed! Done with +great exactitude, with the minimum of confusion, and without a hurt skin +to anybody. The Inhabitants stood silent, gazing; the Town-guard laid +down their arms, and went home. Totally against Law; but cleverly done; +perhaps Soubise's chief exploit in the world; certainly the one real +success the French have yet had. + +"Soubise made haste to summon the Magistrates: 'Law of Necessity alone, +most honored Sirs! Reichs Law is clear against me. But all the more +shall private liberties, religions, properties, in this Imperial +Free-Town, be sacred to us. Defence against any aggression: and the +strictest discipline observed. Depend on me, I bid you!'--And kept his +word to an honorable degree, they say; or in absence, made it be kept, +during the Four Years that follow. Most Frankfurters are, at heart, +Anti-French: but Soubise's affability was perfect; and he gave evening +parties of a sublime character; the Magistrates all appearing there, in +their square perukes and long gowns, with a mournful joy." [Tempelhof, +iii. 7-8; Stenzel, v. 198-200.] + +Soubise soon went home, to assist in important businesses,--Invasion of +England, no less; let England look to itself this Summer!--and Broglio +succeeded him, as Army-Captain in the Frankfurt parts; with laurels +accruing, more or less. Soubise, like Broglio, began with Rossbach; +Soubise ends with Frankfurt, for the present; where Broglio also gains +his chief laurels, as will shortly be seen. Frankfurt is a great gain to +France, though an illicit one. It puts a bar on Duke Ferdinand in that +quarter; secures a starting-point for attacks on Hessen, Hanover; for +co-operation with Contades and the Lower Rhine. It is the one success +France has yet had in this War, or pretty much that it ever had in it. +Due to Prince de Soubise, in that illegal fashion.--A highly remarkable +little Boy, now in his tenth year, Johann Wolfgang Goethe, has his +wondering eyes on these things: and, short while hence, meets daily, on +the stairs and lobbies at home, a pleasant French Official Gentlemen who +is quartered there; between whom and Papa occur rubs,--as readers may +remember, and shall hear in April coming. + +GRAND CORDON DISRUPTED: ERFURT COUNTRY, 16th FEBRUARY-2d MARCH. "About +six weeks after this Frankfurt achievement, certain Reichsfolk and +Austrian Auxiliaries are observed to be cutting down endless timber, +'18,800 palisades, 6,000 trees of 60 feet,' and other huge furnishings, +from the poor Duke of Gotha's woods; evidently meaning to fortify +themselves in Erfurt. Upon which Prince Henri detaches a General +Knobloch thitherward, Duke Ferdinand contributing 4,000 to meet him +there; which combined expedition, after some sharp knocking and shoving, +entirely disrooted the Austrians and Reichsfolk, and sent them packing. +Had them quite torn out by the end of the month; and had planned to +'attack them on two sides at once' (March 2d), with a view of swallowing +them whole,--when they (these Reichs Volscians, in such a state of +flutter) privately hastened off, one and all of them, the day before." +[Narrative, in _Helden-Geschichte,_ v. 1022 et seq.] + +This was BREAKAGE FIRST of the Grand Cordon; an explosive hurling of +it back out of those Erfurt parts. Done by Prince Henri's people, in +concert with Duke Ferdinand's,--who were mutually interested in the +thing. + +BREAKAGE SECOND: ERFURT-FULDA COUNTRY, 31st MARCH-8th APRIL. "About the +end of March, these intrusive Austrian Reichsfolk made some attempt to +come back into those Countries; but again got nothing but hard knocks; +and gave up the Erfurt project. For, close following on this FIRST, +there was a SECOND still deeper and rougher Breakage, in those same +regions; the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick dashing through, on a +special Errand of Ferdinand's own [of which presently], with an 8 or +10,000, in his usual fiery manner; home into the very bowels of the +Reich (April 3d, and for a week onward); and returning with 'above +2,000 prisoners' in hand; especially with a Reich well frightened behind +him;--still in time for Duke Ferdinand's Adventure [in fact, for his +Battle of Bergen, of which we are to hear]. Had been well assisted by +Prince Henri, who 'made dangerous demonstrations in the distance,' and +was extremely diligent--though the interest was chiefly Ferdinand's this +time." [Tempelhof, iii. 19-22.]--Contemporary with that FIRST Erfurt +Business, there went on, 300 miles away from it, in the quite opposite +direction, another of the same;--too curious to be omitted. + +ACROSS THE POLISH FRONTIER: FEBRUARY, 24th-MARCH 4th. "In the end of +February, General Wobersnow, an active man, was detached from Glogau, +over into Poland, Posen way, To overturn the Russian provision +operations thereabouts; in particular, to look into a certain +high-flying Polack, a Prince Sulkowski of those parts; who with all +diligence is gathering food, in expectation of the Russian advent; and +indeed has formally 'declared War against the King of Prussia;' having +the right, he says, as a Polish Magnate, subject only to his own +high thought in such affairs. The Russians and their wars are dear to +Sulkowski. He fell prisoner in their cause, at Zorndorf, last Autumn; +was stuck, like all the others, Soltikoff himself among them, into the +vaulted parts of Custrin Garrison: 'I am sorry I have no Siberia for +you,' said Friedrich, looking, not in a benign way, on the captive +Dignitaries, that hot afternoon; 'go to Custrin, and see what you have +provided for yourselves!' Which they had to do; nothing, for certain +days, but cellarage to lodge in; King inexorable, deaf to remonstrance. +Which possibly may have contributed to kindle Sulkowski into these +extremely high proceedings. + +"At any rate, Wobersnow punctually looks in upon him: seizes his +considerable stock of Russian proviants; his belligerent force, his high +person itself; and in one luckless hour snuffs him out from the list +of potentates. His belligerent force, about 1,000 Polacks, were all +compelled, 'by the cudgel, say my authorities, to take Prussian service +[in garrison regiments, and well scattered about, I suppose]; his +own high person found itself sitting locked in Glogau, left to its +reflections. Sat thus 'till the War ended,' say some; certainly till +the Sulkowski War had been sufficiently exploded by the laughter of +mankind." Here are, succinctly, the dates of this small memorability:-- + +"End of February, Wobersnow gathers, at Glogau, a force of about 8,000 +horse and foot. Marches, 24th FEBRUARY, over Oder Bridge, straight +into Poland; that same night, to the neighborhood of Lissa and Reisen +(Sulkowski's dominion), about thirty miles northeast of Glogau. +Sulkowski done next day;--part of the capture is 'fifteen small guns.' +Wobersnow goes, next, for Posen; arrives, 28th FEBRUARY; destroys +Russian Magazine, ransoms Jews. Shoots out other detachments on the +Magazine Enterprise;--detaches Platen along the Warta, where are picked +up various items, among others 'eighty tuns of brandy,'--but himself +proceeds no farther than Posen. MARCH 4th, sets out again from Posen, +homewards." [NACHRICHT VON DER UNTERNEHMUNG DES GENERAL-MAJORS VON +WOBERSNOW IN POLEN, IM FEB. UND MARZ. 1759: in Seyfarth, _Beylagen,_ ii. +526-529. _Helden-Geschichte,_ v. 829.] We shall hear again of Wobersnow, +in a much more important way, before long. + +To the Polish Republic so called, Friedrich explained politely, not +apologetically: "Since you allow the Russians to march through you in +attack of me, it is evident to your just minds that the attacked party +must have similar privilege." "Truly!" answered they, in their just +minds, generally; and I made no complaint about Sulkowski (though Polish +Majesty and Primate endeavored to be loud about "Invasion" and the +like):--and indeed Polish Republic was lying, for a long while past, as +if broken-backed, on the public highway, a Nation anarchic every fibre +of it, and under the feet and hoofs of travelling Neighbors, especially +of Russian Neighbors; and is not now capable of saying much for itself +in such cases, or of doing anything at all. + +FRANKFURT COUNTRY, APRIL 13th: DUKE FERDINAND'S BATTLE OF BERGEN. "Duke +Ferdinand, fully aware what a stroke that seizure of Frankfurt was to +him, resolved to risk a long march at this bad season, and attempt +to drive the French out. Contades was absent in Paris,--no fear of an +attack from Contades's Army; Broglio's in Frankfurt, grown now to about +35,000, can perhaps be beaten if vigorously attacked. Ferdinand appoints +a rendezvous at Fulda, of various Corps, Prince Ysenburg's and others, +that lie nearest, Hessians many of them, Hanoverians others; proceeds, +himself, to Fulda, with a few attendants [a drive of about 200 +miles];--having left Lord George Sackville [mark the sad name +of him!]--Sackville, head of the English, and General Sporken, a +Hanoverian,--to take charge in Munster Country, during his absence. It +was from Fulda that he shot out the Hereditary Prince on that important +Errand we lately spoke of, under the head of 'BREAKAGE SECOND,'--namely, +to clear his right flank, and scare the Reich well off him, while he +should be marching on Frankfurt. All which, Henri assisting from the +distance, the Hereditary Prince performed to perfection,--and was back +(APRIL 8th) in excellent time for the Battle. + +"Ferdinand stayed hardly a day in Fulda, ranking himself and getting on +the road. Did his long march of above 100 miles without accident or loss +of time;--of course, scaring home the Broglio Outposts in haste enough, +and awakening Broglio's attention in a high degree;--and arrives, +Thursday, April 12th, at Windecken, a Village about fifteen miles +northeast of Frankfurt; where he passes the night under arms; intending +Battle on the morrow. Broglio is all assembled, 35,000 strong; his +Assailant, with the Hereditary Prince come in, counts rather under +30,000. Broglio is posted in, and on both sides of, Bergen, a high-lying +Village, directly on Ferdinand's road to Frankfurt. Windecken is about +fifteen miles from Frankfurt; Bergen about six:--idle Tourists of our +time, on their return from Homburg to that City, leave Bergen a little +on their left. The ground is mere hills, woody dales, marshy brooks; +Broglio's position, with its Village, and Hill, and ravines and +advantages, is the choicest of the region; and Broglio's methods, +procedures and arrangements in it are applauded by all judges. + +"FRIDAY, 13th APRIL, 1759, Ferdinand is astir by daybreak; comes on, +along one of those woody balleys, pickeering, reconnoitring;--in the +end, directly up the Hill of Bergen; straight upon the key-point. It is +about 10 A.M., when the batteries and musketries awaken there; very loud +indeed, for perhaps two hours or more. Prince von Ysenburg is leader of +Ferdinand's attacking party. Their attack is hot and fierce, and they +stick to it steadily; though garden-hedges, orchards and impediments are +many, and Broglio, with, much cannon helping, makes vigorous defence. +These Ysenburgers fought till their cartridges were nearly spent, and +Ysenburg himself lay killed; but could not take Bergen. Nor could the +Hereditary Prince; who, in aid of them, tried it in flank, with his own +usual impetuosity rekindling theirs, and at first with some success; but +was himself taken in flank by Broglio's Reserve, and obliged to desist. +No getting of Bergen by that method. + +"Military critics say coolly, 'You should have smashed it well with +cannon, first [which Ferdinand had not in stock here]; and especially +have flung grenadoes into it, till it was well in flame: impossible +otherwise!' [Mauvillon, ii. 19.] The Ysenburgers and Hereditary Prince +withdraw. No pursuit of them; or almost less than none; for the one or +two French regiments that tried it (against order), nearly got cut up. +Broglio, like a very Daun at Kolin, had strictly forbidden all such +attempts: 'On no temptation quit your ground!' + +"The Battle, after this, lay quiet all afternoon; Ferdinand still in +sight; motioning much, to tempt French valor into chasing of him. But +all in vain: Broglio, though his subalterns kept urging, remonstrating, +was peremptory not to stir. Whereupon, towards evening, across certain +woody Heights, perhaps still with some hope of drawing him out, +Ferdinand made some languid attempt on Broglio's wing, or wings;--and +this also failing, had to give up the affair. He continued cannonading +till deep in the night; withdrew to Windecken: and about two next +morning, marched for home,--still with little or no pursuit: but without +hope of Frankfurt henceforth. And, in fact, has a painful Summer ahead. + +"Ferdinand had lost 5 cannon, and of killed and wounded 2,500; the +French counted their loss at about 1,900. [Mauvillon, ii. 10-19; +Tempelhof, iii. 26-31.] The joy of France over this immense victory was +extraordinary. Broglio was made Prince of the Reich, Marechal de France; +would have been raised to the stars, had one been able,--for the time +being. 'And your immense victory,' so sneered the by-standers, 'consists +in not being beaten, under those excellent conditions;--perhaps victory +is a rarity just now!'" + +This is the Battle which our Boy-Friend Johann Wolfgang watched with +such interest, from his garret-window, hour after hour; all Frankfurt +simmering round him, in such a whirlpool of self-contradictory emotions; +till towards evening, when, in long rows of carts, poor wounded Hessians +and Hanoverians came jolting in, and melted every heart into pity, into +wailing sorrow, and eagerness to help. A little later, Papa Goethe, +stepping downstairs, came across the Official French Gentleman; who said +radiantly: "Doubtless you congratulate yourself and us on this victory +to his Majesty's arms." "Not a whit (KEINESWEGS)," answers Papa Goethe, +a stiff kind of man, nowise in the mood of congratulating: "on the +contrary, I wish they had chased you to the Devil, though I had had to +go too!" Which was a great relief to his feelings, though a dangerous +one in the circumstances. [Goethe's WERKE (Stuttgart und Tubingen, +1829), xxiv. (DICHTUNG UND WAHRHEIT, i.), 153-157.] + +BREAKAGE THIRD: OVER THE METAL MOUNTAINS INTO BOHMEN (APRIL 14th-20th). +"Ferdinand's Battle was hardly ending, when Prince Henri poured across +the Mountains,--in two columns, Hulsen leading the inferior or rightmost +one,--into Leitmeritz-Eger Country; and made a most successful business +of the Austrian Magazines he found there. Magazines all filled; Enemy +all galloping for Prag:--Daun himself, who is sitting vigilant, far in +the interior, at Jaromirtz this month past, was thrown into huge flurry, +for some days! Speedy Henri (almost on the one condition of BEING +speedy) had his own will of the Magazines: burnt, Hulsen and he, 'about +600,000 pounds worth' of Austrian provender in those parts, 'what would +have kept 50,000 men five months in bread' (not to mention hay at all); +gave the Enemy sore slaps (caught about 3,000 of him, NOT yet got on +gallop for Prag); burnt his 200 boats on the Elbe:--forced him to begin +anew at the beginning; and did, in effect, considerably lame and retard +certain of his operations through the Summer. Speedy Henri marched +for home April 20th; and was all across the Mountains April 23d: a +profitable swift nine days." [Tempelhof iii. 47-53; _Helden-Geschichte,_ +v. 963-966.]--And on the sixth day hence he will have something similar, +and still more important, on foot. A swift man, when he must! + +BREAKAGE FOURTH: INTO MAHREN (APRIL 16th-21st). "This is Fouquet's +attempt, alluded to above; of which--as every reader must be satisfied +with Small-War--we will give only the dates. Fouquet, ranking at +Leobschutz, in Neisse Country, did break through into Mahren, pushing +the Austrians before him; but found the Magazines either emptied, or too +inaccessible for any worth they had;--could do nothing on the Magazines; +and returned without result; home at Leobschutz again on the fifth +day." [_ Helden-Geschichte,_ v. 958-963; Tempelhof, iii. 44-47.] This, +however, had a sequel for Fouquet; which, as it brought the King himself +into those neighborhoods, we shall have to mention, farther on. + +BREAKAGE FIFTH: INTO FRANKEN (MAY 5th-JUNE 1st). "This was Prince +Henri's Invasion of the Bamberg-Nurnberg Countries; a much sharper thing +than in any former Year. Much the most famous, and," luckily for us, +"the last of the Small-War affairs for the present. Started,--from +Tschopau region, Bamberg way,--April 29th-May 5th. In Three Columns: +Finck leftmost, and foremost (Finck had marched April 29th, pretending +to mean for Bohemia); after whom Knobloch; and (May 5th) the Prince +himself. Who has an eye to the Reichs Magazines and Preparations, as +usual;--nay, an eye to their Camp of Rendezvous, and to a fight with +their miscellaneous Selves and Auxiliaries, if they will stand fight. +'You will have to leave Saxony, and help us with the Russians, soon: +beat those Reichs people first!' urged the King; 'well beaten, they +will not trouble Saxony for a while.' If they will stand fight? But they +would not at all. They struck their tents everywhere; burnt their +own Magazines, in some cases; and only went mazing hither and +thither,--gravitating all upon Nurnberg, and an impregnable Camp which +they have in that neighborhood. Supreme Zweibruck was himself with +them; many Croats, Austrians, led by Maguire and others; all marching, +whirling at a mighty rate; with a countenance sometimes of vigor, but +always with Nurnberg Camp in rear. There was swift marching, really +beautiful manoeuvring here and there; sharp bits of fighting, too, +almost in the battle-form:--Maguire tried, or was for trying, a stroke +with Finck; but made off hastily, glad to get away. [Templehof, iii. +64.] May 11th, at Himmelskron in Baireuth, one Riedesel of theirs had +fairly to ground arms, self and 2,500, and become prisoners of war." +Much of this manoeuvring and scuffling was in Baireuth Territory. Twice, +or even thrice, Prince Henri was in Baireuth Town: "marched through +Baireuth," say the careless Old Books. Through Baireuth:--No Wilhelmina +now there, with her tremulous melodies of welcome! Wilhelminn's loves, +and terrors for her loved, are now all still. Perhaps her poor Daughter +of Wurtemberg, wandering unjustly disgraced, is there; Papa, the +Widower Margraf, is for marrying again: [Married 20th September, 1759 +(a Brunswick Princess, Sister's-daughter of his late Wife); died within +four years.]--march on, Prince Henri! + +"In Bamberg," says a Note from Archenholtz, "the Reichs troops burnt +their Magazine; and made for Nurnberg, as usual; but left some thousand +or two of Croats, who would not yet. Knobloch and his Prussians appeared +shortly after; summoned Bamberg, which agreed to receive them; and were +for taking possession; but found the Croats determined otherwise. Fight +ensued; fight in the streets; which, in hideousness of noises, if in +nothing else, was beyond parallel. The inhabitants sat all quaking in +their cellars; not an inhabitant was to be seen: a City dead,--and given +up to the demons, in this manner. Not for some hours were the Croats +got entirely trampled out. Bamberg, as usual, became a Prussian +place-of-arms; was charged to pay ransom of 40,000 pounds;--'cannot +possibly!'--did pay some 14,000 pounds, and gave bills for the +remainder." [Archenholtz. i. 371-373.] Which bills, let us mark withal, +the Kaiser in Reichs Diet decreed to be invalid: "Don't pay them!" +A thing not forgotten by Friedrich;--though it is understood the +Bambergers, lest worse might happen, privately paid their bills. "The +Expedition lasted, in whole, not quite four weeks: June 1st, Prince +Henri was at the Saxon frontier again; the German world all ringing +loud,--in jubilation, counter-jubilation and a great variety of +tones,--with the noise of what he had done. A sharp swift man; and, +sure enough, has fluttered the Reichs Volscians in their Corioli to an +unexpected degree." [Seyfarth, _Beylagen,_ ii. 537-563; BERICHT VON +DER UNTERNEHMUNG DES PRINZEN HEINRICH IN FRANKEN, IM JAHR, 1759; +_Helden-Geschichte,_ v. 1033-1039; Tempelhof,????, et seq.]---[COPY +ILLEGIBLE PAGE 203,] + +A Colonel Wunsch (Lieutenant-Colonel of the Free Corps WUNSCH) +distinguished himself in this Expedition; The beginning of notably great +things to him in the few following months. Wunsch is a Wurtemberger by +birth; has been in many services, always in subaltern posts, and, this +year, will testify strangely how worthy he was of the higher. What a +Year, this of 1759, to stout old Wunsch! In the Spring, here has he just +seen his poor son, Lieutenant Wunsch, perish in one of these scuffles; +in Autumn, he will see himself a General, shining suddenly bright, to +his King and to all the world; before Winter, he will be Prisoner to +Austria, and eclipsed for the rest of this war!--Kleist, of the GREEN +HUSSARS, also made a figure here; and onwards rapidly ever higher; to +the top of renown in his business:--fallen heir to Mayer's place, as it +were. A Note says: "Poor Mayer of the Free Corps does not ride with +the Prince on this occasion. Mayer, dangerously worn down with the hard +services of last Year, and himself a man of too sleepless temper, caught +a fever in the New-year time; and died within few days: burnt away +before his time; much regretted by his Brethren of the Army, and some +few others. Gone in this way; with a high career just opening on him at +the long last! Mayer was of Austrian, of half Spanish birth; a musical, +really melodious, affectionate, but indignant, wildly stormful mortal; +and had had adventures without end. Something of pathos, of tragedy, +in the wild Life of him. [Still worth reading: in Pauli (our old watery +BRANDENBURG-HISTORY Friend). _Leben grosser Helden_ (Halle, 1759-1764, +9 vols.), iii. 142-188;--much the best Piece in that still rather +watery (or windy) Collection, which, however, is authentic, and has +some tolerable Portraits.] A man of considerable genius, military +and other:--genius in the sleepless kind, which is not the best kind; +sometimes a very bad kind. The fame of Friedrich invites such people +from all sides of the world; and this was no doubt a sensible help to +him."--But enough of all this. + +Here, surely, is abundance of preliminary Small-War, on the part of a +Friedrich reduced to the defensive!--Fouquet's Sequel, hinted at above, +was to this effect. On Fouquet's failing to get hold of the Moravian +Magazines, and returning to his Post at Leobschutz, a certain rash +General Deville, who is Austrian chief in those parts, hastily rushed +through the Jagerndorf Hills, and invaded Fouquet. Only for a few days; +and had very bad success, in that bit of retaliation. The King, who is +in Landshut, in the middle of his main cantonments, hastened over +to Leobschutz with reinforcement to Fouquet; in the thought that a +finishing-stroke might be done on this Deville;--and would have done it, +had not the rash man plunged off again (May 1st, or the night before); +homewards, at full speed. So that Friedrich, likewise at full speed, +could catch nothing of him; but merely cannonade him in the Passes +of Zuckmantel, and cut off his rear-guard of Croats. Poor forlorn of +Croats, whom he had left in some bushy Chasm; to gain him a little time, +and then to perish if THEY must! as Tempelhof remarks. [Tempelhof, iii. +56.] Upon which Friedrich returned to Landshut; and Fouquet had peace +again. + +It was from this Landshut region, where his main cantonments are, +that Friedrich had witnessed all these Inroads, or all except the very +earliest of them; the first Erfurt one, and the Wobersnow-Sulkowski. He +had quitted Breslau in the end of March, and gone to his cantonments; +quickened thither, probably, by a stroke that had befallen him at +Griefenberg, on his Silesian side of the Cordon. At Griefenberg +stood the Battalion Duringshofen, with its Colonel of the same +name,--grenadier people of good quality, perhaps near 1,000 in whole. +Which Battalion, General Beck, after long preliminary study of it, +from his Bohemian side,--marching stealthily on it, one night (March +25-26th), by two or more roads, with 8,000 men, and much preliminary +Croat-work,--contrived to envelop wholly, and carry off with him, before +help could come up. This, I suppose, had quickened Friedrich's arrival. +He has been in that region ever since,--in Landshut for the last week or +two; and returns thither after the Deville affair. + +And at Landshut,--which is the main Pass into Bohemia or from it, and is +the grand observatory-point at present,--he will have to remain till the +first days of July; almost three months. Watching, and waiting on the +tedious Daun, who has the lifting of the curtain this Year! Daun +had come to Jaromirtz, to his cantonments, "March 24th" (almost +simultaneously with Friedrich to his); expecting Friedrich's Invasion, +as usual. Long days sat Daun, expecting the King in Bohemia:--"There +goes he, at last!" thought Daun, on Prince Henri's late flamy appearance +there (BREAKAGE THIRD we labelled it);--and Daun had hastily pushed a +Division thitherward, double-quick, to secure Prag; but found it was +only the Magazines. "Above four millions worth [600,000 pounds, counting +the THALERS into sterling], above four millions worth of bread +and forage gone to ashes, and the very boats burnt? Well; the +poor Reichsfolk, or our poor Auxiliaries to them, will have empty +haversacks:--but it is not Prag!" thinks Daun. + +At what exact point of time Daun came to see that Friedrich was not +intending Invasion, and would, on the contrary, require to be invaded, I +do not know. But it must have been an interesting discovery to Daun, if +he foreshadowed to himself what results it would have on him: "Taking +the defensive, then? And what is to become of one's Cunctatorship in +that case!" Yes, truly. Cunctatorship is not now the trade needed; there +is nothing to be made of playing Fabius-Cunctator:--and Daun's fame +henceforth is a diminishing quantity. The Books say he "wasted above +five weeks in corresponding with the Russian Generals." In fact, he +had now weeks enough on hand; being articulately resolved (and even +commanded by Kriegshofrath) to do nothing till the Russians came +up;--and also (INarticulately and by command of Nature) to do as little +as possible after! This Year, and indeed all years following, the +Russians are to be Daun's best card. + +Waiting for three months here till the curtain rose, it was Friedrich +that had to play Cunctator. A wearisome task to him, we need not doubt. +But he did it with anxious vigilance; ever thinking Daun would try +something, either on Prince Henri or on him, and that the Play would +begin. But the Play did not. There was endless scuffling and +bickering of Outposts; much hitching and counter-hitching, along that +Bohemian-Silesian Frontier,--Daun gradually hitching up, leftwards, +northwards, to be nearer his Russians; Friedrich counter-hitching, +and, in the end, detaching against the Russians, as they approached in +actuality. The details of all which would break the toughest patience. +Not till July came, had both parties got into the Lausitz; Daun into +an impregnable Camp near Mark-Lissa (in Gorlitz Country); Friedrich, +opposite and eastward of him, into another at Schmottseifen:--still +after which, as the Russians still were not come, the hitching (if we +could concern ourselves with it), the maze of strategic shuffling and +counter-dancing, as the Russians get nearer, will become more intricate +than ever. + +Except that of General Beck on Battalion Duringshofen,--if that was +meant as retaliatory, and was not rather an originality of Beck's, who +is expert at such strokes,--Daun, in return for all these injurious +Assaults and Breakages, tried little or no retaliation; and got +absolutely none. Deville attempted once, as we saw; Loudon once, as +perhaps we shall see: but both proved futile. For the present absolutely +none. Next Year indeed, Loudon, on Fouquet at Landshut--But let us not +anticipate! Just before quitting Landshut for Schmottseifen, Friedrich +himself rode into Bohemia, to look more narrowly; and held Trautenau, at +the bottom of the Pass, for a day or two--But the reader has had enough +of Small-War! Of the present Loudon attempt, Friedrich, writing to +Brother Henri, who is just home from his Franconian Invasion (BREAKAGE +FIFTH), has a casual word, which we will quote. "Reich-Hennersdorf" is +below Landshut, farther down the Pass; "Liebau" still farther down,--and +its "Gallows," doubtless, is on some knoll in the environs! + +REICH-HENNERSDORF, 9th JUNE. "My congratulations on the excellent +success you have had [out in Frankenland yonder]! Your prisoners, we +hear, are 3,000; the desertion and confusion in the Reichs Army are +affirmed to be enormous:--I give those Reichs fellows two good months +[scarcely took so long] to be in a condition to show face again. As for +ourselves, I can send you nothing but contemptibilities. We have never +yet had the beatific vision of Him with the Hat and Consecrated +Sword [Papal Daun, that is]; they amuse us with the Sieur Loudon +instead;--who, three days ago [7th July, two days] did us the honor of +a visit, at the Gallows of Liebau. He was conducted out again, with all +the politeness imaginable, on to near Schatzlar," well over the Bohemian +Border; "where we flung a score of cannon volleys into the"--into the +"DERRIERE of him, and everybody returned home." [In SCHONING, ii. 65: +"9th June, 1759."] + +Perhaps the only points now noticeable in this tedious Landshut interim, +are Two, hardly noticed then at all by an expectant world. The first is: +That in the King's little inroad down to Trautenau, just mentioned, four +cannon drawn by horses were part of the King's fighting gear,--the first +appearance of Horse Artillery in the world. "A very great invention," +says the military mind: "guns and carriages are light, and made of the +best material for strength; the gunners all mounted as postilions to +them. Can scour along, over hill and dale, wherever horse can; and burst +out, on the sudden, where nobody was expecting artillery. Devised in +1758; ready this Year, four light six-pounders; tried first in the +King's raid down to Trautenau [June 29th-30th]. Only four pieces as +yet. But these did so well, there were yearly more. Imitated by the +Austrians, and gradually by all the world." [Seyfarth, ii. 543.] + +The second fact is: That Herr Guichard (Author of that fine Book on the +War-methods of the Greeks and Romans) is still about Friedrich, as he +has been for above a year past, if readers remember; and, during those +tedious weeks, is admitted to a great deal of conversation with the +King. Readers will consent to this Note on Guichard; and this shall be +our ultimatum on the wearisome Three Months at Landshut. + +MAJOR QUINTUS ICILIUS. "Guichard is by birth a Magdeburger, age now +thirty-four; a solid staid man, with a good deal of hard faculty in him, +and of culture unusual for a soldier. A handy, sagacious, learned and +intelligent man; whom Friedrich, in the course of a year's experience, +has grown to see willingly about him. There is something of positive in +Guichard, of stiff and, as it were, GRITTY, which might have offended a +weaker taste; but Friedrich likes the rugged sense of the man; his real +knowledge on certain interesting heads; and the precision with which +the known and the not rightly known are divided from one another, in +Guichard. + +"Guichard's business about the King has been miscellaneous, not worth +mention hitherto; but to appearance was well done. Of talk they are +beginning to have more and more; especially at Landshut here, in these +days of waiting; a great deal of talk on the Wars of the Ancients, +Guichard's Book naturally leading to that subject. One night, datable +accidentally about the end of May, the topic happened to be Pharsalia, +and the excellent conduct of a certain Centurion of the Tenth Legion, +who, seeing Pompey's people about to take him in flank, suddenly flung +himself into oblique order [SCHRAGE STELLUNG, as we did at Leutheu], +thereby outflanking Pompey's people, and ruining their manoeuvre and +them. 'A dexterous man, that Quintus Icilius the Centurion!' observed +Friedrich. 'Ah, yes: but excuse me, your Majesty, his name was Quintus +Caecilius,' said Guichard. 'No, it was Icilius,' said the King, positive +to his opinion on that small point; which Guichard had not the art to +let drop; though, except assertion and counter-assertion, what could be +made of it there? Or of what use was it anywhere? + +"Next day, Guichard came with the book [what "Book" nobody would ever +yet tell me], and putting his finger on the passage, 'See, your Majesty: +Quintus CAEcilius!' extinguished his royal opponent. 'Hm,' answered +Friedrich: 'so?--Well, you shall be Quintus Icilius, at any rate!' +And straightway had him entered on the Army Books 'as Major Quintus +Icilius;' his Majorship is to be dated '10th April, 1758' (to give him +seniority); and from and after this '26th May, 1759,' he is to +command the late Du Verger's Free-Battalion. All which was done:--the +War-Offices somewhat astonished at such advent of an antique Roman +among them; but writing as bidden, the hand being plain, and the man an +undeniable article. Onward from which time there is always a 'Battalion +Quintus' on their Books, instead of Battalion Du Verger; by degrees +two Batallions Quintus, and at length three, and Quintus become a +Colonel:--at which point the War ended; and the three Free-Battalions +Quintus, like all others of the same type, were discharged." This is +the authentic origin of the new name Quintus, which Guichard got, to +extinction of the old; substantially this, as derived from Quintus +himself,--though in the precise details of it there are obscurities, +never yet solved by the learned. Nicolai, for example, though he had +the story from Quintus in person, who was his familiar acquaintance, and +often came to see him at Berlin, does not, with his usual punctuality, +say, nor even confess that he has forgotten, what Book it was that +Quintus brought with him to confute the King on their Icilius-Caecilius +controversy; Nicolai only says, that he, for his part, in the fields of +Roman Literature and History, knows only three Quintus-Iciliuses, +not one of whom is of the least likelihood; and in fact, in the above +summary, I have had to INVERT my Nicolai on one point, to make the story +stick together. [Nicolai, _Anekdoten,_ vi. 129-145.] + +"Quintus had been bred for the clerical profession; carefully, at +various Universities, Leyden last of all; and had even preached, as +candidate for license,--I hope with moderate orthodoxy;--though he soon +renounced that career. Exchanged it for learned and vigorous general +study, with an eye to some College Professorship instead. He was still +hardly twenty-three, when, in 1747, the new Stadtholder," Prince of +Orange, whom we used to know, "who had his eye upon him as a youth of +merit, graciously undertook to get him placed at Utrecht, in a vacancy +which had just occurred there,--whither the Prince was just bound, on +some ceremonial visit of a high nature. The glad Quintus, at that time +Guichard and little thinking of such an alias, hastened to set off in +the Prince's train; but could get no conveyance, such was the press of +people all for Utrecht. And did not arrive till next day,--and found +quarter, with difficulty, in the garret of some overflowing Inn. + +"In the lower stories of his Inn, solitary Guichard, when night fell, +heard a specific GAUDEAMUS going on; and inquired what it was. +'A company of Professors, handselling a newly appointed +Professor;'--appointed, as the next question taught, to the very Chair +poor Quintus had come for! Serene Highness could not help himself; the +Utrechters were so bent on the thing. Quintus lay awake, all night, in +his truckle-bed; and gloomily resolved to have done with Professorships, +and become a soldier. 'If your Serene Highness do still favor me,' +said Quintus next day, 'I solicit, as the one help for me, an ensign's +commission!'--And persisted rigorously, in spite of all counsellings, +promises and outlooks on the professorial side of things. So that Serene +Highness had to grant him his commission; and Quintus was a soldier +thenceforth. Fought, more or less, in the sad remainder of that +Cumberland-Saxe War; and after the Peace of 1748 continued in the Dutch +service. Where, loath to be idle, he got his learned Books out again, +and took to studying thoroughly the Ancient Art of War. After years of +this, it had grown so hopeful that he proceeded to a Book upon it; and, +by degrees, determined that he must get to certain Libraries in +England, before finishing. In 1754, on furlough, graciously allowed and +continued, he came to London accordingly; finished his manuscript there +(printed at the Hague 1757 [_Memoires Militaires sur les &c._ (a La +Haye, 1757: 2 vols. 4to);--was in the 5th edition when I last heard of +it.]): and new War having now begun, went over (probably with English +introductions) as volunteer to Duke Ferdinand. By Duke Ferdinand he +was recommended to Friedrich, the goal of all his efforts, as of every +vagrant soldier's in those times:--and here at last, as Quintus +Icilius, he has found permanent billet, a Battalion and gradually three +Battalions, and will not need to roam any farther. + +"They say, what is very credible, that Quintus proved an active, stout +and effectual soldier, in his kind; and perhaps we may hear of some of +his small-war adventures by and by: that he was a studious, hard-headed, +well-informed man, and had written an excellent Book on his subject, +is still abundantly clear. Readers may look in the famous Gibbon's +_Autobiography,_ or still better in the Guichard Book itself, if +they want evidence. The famous Gibbon was drilling and wheeling, very +peaceably indeed, in the Hampshire Militia, in those wild years of +European War. Hampshire Militia served as key, or glossary in a sort, +to this new Book of Guichard's, which Gibbon eagerly bought and studied; +and it, was Guichard, ALIAS Quintus Icilius, who taught Gibbon all he +ever knew of Ancient War, at least all the teaching he ever had of it, +for his renowned DECLINE AND FALL." [See Gibbon's _Works_ (4to, London, +1796: _Memoirs of my Life and Writings_], i. 97; and (_Extraits de mes +Lectures_), ii. 52-54, of dates May 14th-26th, 1762,--during which days +Gibbon is engaged in actual reading of the _Memoires Militaires;_ and +already knows the Author by his ALIAS of Quintus Icilius, "a man of +eminent sagacity and insight, who was in the Dutch, and is now, I +believe, in the Prussian service." + +It was in the last days of June that Daun, after many litchings, got +into more decisive general movement northward; and slowly but steadily +planted himself at Mark-Lissa in the Lausitz: upon which, after some +survey of the phenomenon, Friedrich got to Schmottseifen, opposite +him, July 10th. Friedrich, on noticing such stir, had ridden down to +Trautenau (June 29th-30th), new Horse-Artillery attending, to look +closer into Daun's affairs; and, seeing what they were, had thereupon +followed. Above a month before this, Friedrich had detached a +considerable force against the Russians,--General Dohna, of whom in next +Chapter:--and both Daun and he again sit waiting, till they see farther. +Rapid Friedrich is obliged to wait; watching Daun and the Dohna-Russian +adventure: slow Daun will continue to wait and watch there, long weeks +and months, after that is settled, that and much else, fully to his +mind! Each is in his impregnable Camp; and each, Daun especially, +has his Divisions and Detachments hovering round him, near or far, on +different strategic errands; each Main-Camp like a planet with various +moons--Mark-Lissa especially, a kind of sun with planets and comets and +planetary moons:--of whose intricate motions and counter-motions, mostly +unimportant to us, we promised to take no notice, in face of such a +crisis just at hand. + +By the 6th of July, slow Daun had got hitched into his Camp of +Mark-Lissa; and four days after, Friedrich attending him, was in +Schmottseifen: where again was pause; and there passed nothing +mentionable, even on Friedrich's score; and till July was just ending, +the curtain did not fairly rise. Panse of above two weeks on Friedrich's +part, and of almost three months on Daun's. Mark-Lissa, an impregnable +Camp, is on the Lausitz Border; with Saxony, Silesia, Bohemia all +converging hereabouts, and Brandenburg itself in the vicinity,--there is +not a better place for waiting on events. Here, accordingly, till +well on in September, Daun sat immovable; not even hitching now,--only +shooting out Detachments, planetary, cometary, at a great rate, chiefly +on his various Russian errands. + +Daun, as we said, had been uncomfortably surprised to find, by degrees, +that Invasion was not Friedrich's plan this Year; that the dramatic +parts are redistributed, and that the playing of Fabius-Cunctator will +not now serve one's turn. Daun, who may well be loath to believe such +a thing, clings to his old part, and seems very lazy to rise and try +another. In fact, he does not rise, properly speaking, or take up his +new part at all. This Year, and all the following, he waits carefully +till the Russian Lion come; will then endeavor to assist,--or even do +jackal, which will be safer still. The Russians he intends shall act +lion; he himself modestly playing the subaltern but much safer part! +Diligent to flatter the lion; will provide him guidances, and fractional +sustenances, in view of the coming hunt; will eat the lion's leavings, +once the prey is slaughtered. This really was, in some sort, Daun's +yearly game, so long as it would last!-- + +July ending, and the curtain fairly risen, we shall have to look at +Friedrich with our best eyesight. Preparatory to which, there is, on +Friedrich's part, ever since the middle of June, this Anti-Russian Dohna +adventure going on:--of which, at first, and till about the time of +getting to Schmottseifen, he had great hopes; great, though of late +rapidly sinking again:--into which we must first throw a glance, as +properly the opening scene. + +Fouquet has been left at Landshut, should the Daun remnants still in +Bohemia think of invading. Fouquet is about rooting himself rather +firmly into that important Post; fortifying various select Hills round +Landshut, with redoubts, curtains, communications; so as to keep ward +there, inexpugnable to a much stronger force. There for about a year, +with occasional short sallies, on errands that arise, Fouquet sat +successfully vigilant; resisting the Devilles, Becks, Harsches; +protecting Glatz and the Passes of Silesia: in about a year we shall +hear of his fortunes worsening, and of a great catastrophe to him in +that Landshut Post. + +Friedrich allowed the Reichsfolk "two good months," after all that +flurrying and havoc done on them, "before they could show face in +Saxony." They did take about that time; and would have taken more, +had not Prince Henri been called away by other pressing occasions in +Friedrich's own neighborhood; and Saxony, for a good while (end of June +to beginning of September), been left almost bare of Prussian troops. +Which encourages the Reichs Army to hurry afield in very unprepared +condition,--still rather within the two months. End of July, Light +people of them push across to Halberstadt or Halle Country; and are +raising Contributions, and plundering diligently, if nothing else. Of +which we can take no notice farther: if the reader can recollect it, +well; if not, also well. The poor Reichs Army nominally makes a figure +this Year, but nominally only; the effective part of it, now and +henceforth, being Austrian Auxiliaries, and the Reichs part as flaccid +and insignificant as ever. + +Prince Henri's call to quit Saxony was this. Daun, among the numerous +Detachments he was making, of which we can take no notice, had shot +out Two (rather of COMETARY type, to use our old figure),--which every +reader must try to keep in mind. Two Detachments, very considerable: +Haddick (who grew at last to 20,000), and Loudon (16,000); who are +hovering about mysteriously over the Lausitz;--intending what? Their +intention, Friedrich thinks, especially Haddick's intention, may be +towards Brandenburg, and even Berlin: wherefore he has summoned Henri to +look after it. Henri, resting in cantonments about Tschopau and Dresden, +after the late fatigues, and idle for the moment, hastens to obey; +and is in Bautzen neighborhood, from about the end of June and onward. +Sufficiently attentive to Haddick and Loudon: who make no attempt on +Brandenburg; having indeed, as Friedrich gradually sees, and as all of +us shall soon see, a very different object in view!-- + + + + + +Chapter II.--GENERAL DOHNA; DICTATOR WEDELL: BATTLE OF ZULLICHAU. + +The Russian Lion, urged by Vienna and Versailles, made his entry, this +Year, earlier than usual,--coming now within wind of Mark-Lissa, as we +see;--and has stirred Daun into motion, Daun and everybody. From the +beginning of April, the Russians, hibernating in the interior parts +of Poland, were awake, and getting slowly under way. April 24th, the +Vanguard of 10,000 quitted Thorn; June 1st, Vanguard is in Posen; +followed by a First Division and a Second, each of 30,000. They called +it "Soltikof crossing the Weichsel with 100,000 men;" but, exclusive +of the Cossack swarms, there were not above 76,000 regulars: nor was +Soltikof their Captain just at first; our old friend Fermor was, and +continued to be till Soltikof, in a private capacity, reached Posen +(June 29th), and produced his new commission. At Fermor's own request, +as Fermor pretended,--who was skilled in Petersburg politics, and with a +cheerful face served thenceforth as Soltikof's second. + +At Posen, as on the road thither, they find Sulkowski's and the other +burnt provenders abundantly replaced: it is evident they intend, in +concert with Daun, to enclose Friedrich between two fires, and do +something considerable. Whether on Brandenburg or Silesia, is not yet +known to Friedrich. Friedrich, since the time they crossed Weichsel, +has given them his best attention; and more than once has had schemes on +their Magazines and them,--once a new and bigger Scheme actually afoot, +under Wobersnow again, our Anti-Sulkowski friend; but was obliged to +turn the force elsewhither, on alarms that rose. He himself cannot quit +the centre of the work; his task being to watch Daun, and especially, +should Daun attempt nothing else, to prevent junction of Soltikof and +him. + +Daun still lies torpid, or merely hitching about; but now when +the Russians are approaching Posen, and the case becomes pressing, +Friedrich, as is usual to him, draws upon the Anti-Swedish resource, +upon the Force he has in Pommern. That is to say, orders General Dohna, +who has the Swedes well driven in at present, to quit Stralsund Country, +to leave the ineffectual Swedes with some very small attendance; and to +march--with certain reinforcements that are arriving (Wobersnow already, +Hulsen with 10,000 out of Saxony in few days)--direct against the +Russians; and at once go in upon them. Try to burn their Magazines +again; or, equally good, to fall vigorously on some of their separate +Divisions, and cut them off in the vagrant state;--above all, to be +vigorous, be rapid, sharp, and do something effectual in that quarter. +These were Dohna's Instructions. Dohna has 18,000; Hulsen, with his +10,000, is industriously striding forward, from the farther side of +Saxony; Wobersnow, with at least his own fine head, is already there. +Friedrich, watching in the Anti-Junction position, ready for the least +chance that may turn up. + +Dohna marched accordingly; but was nothing like rapid enough: an old +man, often in ill health too; and no doubt plenty of impediments about +him. He consumed some time rallying at Stargard; twelve days more at +Landsberg, on the Warta, settling his provision matters: in fine, did +not get to Posen neighborhood till June 23d, three weeks after the +Russian Vanguard of 10,000 had fixed itself there, and other Russian +parties were daily dropping in. Dohna was 15,000, a Wobersnow with him: +had he gone at once on Posen, as Wobersnow urged, it is thought he might +perhaps have ruined this Vanguard and the Russian Magazine; which would +have been of signal service for the remaining Campaign. But he preferred +waiting for Hulsen and the 10,000, who did not arrive for seven or eight +days more; by which time Soltikof and most of the Russian Divisions had +got in;--and the work was become as good as hopeless, on those languid +terms. Dohna did try upon the Magazine, said to be ill guarded in some +Suburb of Posen; crossed the Warta with that view, found no Magazine; +recrossed the Warta; and went manoeuvring about, unable to do the least +good on Soltikof or his Magazines or operations. Friedrich was still in +Landshut region, just about quitting it,--just starting on that little +Trautenau Expedition, with his Four Pieces of Horse-Artillery (June +29th), when the first ill news of Dohna came in; which greatly +disappointed Friedrich, and were followed by worse, instead of better. + +The end was, Soltikof, being now all ready, winded himself out of Posen +one day, veiled by Cossacks; and, to Dohna's horror, had got, or was in +the act of getting, between Dohna and Brandenburg; which necessitated +new difficult manoeuvres from Dohna. Soltikof too can manoeuvre a +little: Soltikof edges steadily forward; making for Crossen-on-Oder, +where he expects to find Austrians (Haddick and Loudon, if Friedrich +could yet guess it), with 30,000 odd, especially with provision, +which is wearing scarce with him. Twice or so there was still a pretty +opportunity for Dohna on him; but Dohna never could resolve about it +in time. Back and ever back goes Dohna; facing Soltikof; but always +hitching back; latterly in Brandenburg ground, the Russians and +he;--having no provision, he either. In fine, July 17th (one week after +Friedrich had got to Schmottseifen), Dohna finds himself at the little +Town of Zullichau (barely in time to snatch it before Soltikof could), +within thirty miles of Crossen; and nothing but futility behind and +before. [Tempelhof, iii, 78-88; _ Helden-Geschichte,_ v. 835-847.] + +We can imagine Friedrich's daily survey of all this; his gloomy +calculations what it will soon amount to if it last. He has now no +Winterfeld, Schwerin, no Keith, Retzow, Moritz:--whom has he? His +noblest Captains are all gone; he must put up with the less noble. One +Wedell, Lieutenant-General, had lately recommended himself to the royal +mind by actions of a prompt daring. The royal mind, disgusted with these +Dohna hagglings, and in absolute necessity of finding somebody that had +resolution, and at least ordinary Prussian skill, hoped Wedell was the +man. And determined, the crisis being so urgent, to send Wedell in the +character of ALTER-EGO, or "with the powers of a Roman Dictator," as the +Order expressed it. [Given in Preuss, ii. 207, 208; in Stenzel, v. 212, +other particulars.] Dictator Wedell is to supersede Dohna; shall go, +at his own swift pace, fettered by nobody;--and, at all hazards, shall +attack Soltikof straightway, and try to beat him. "You are grown too +old for that intricate hard work; go home a little, and recover your +health," the King writes to Dohna. And to the Dohna Army, "Obey this +man, all and sundry of you, as you would myself;" the man's private +Order being, "Go in upon Soltikof; attack him straightway; let us have +done with this wriggling and haggling." Date of this Order is "Camp at +Schmottseifen, 20th July, 1759." The purpose of such high-flown Title, +and solemnity of nomination, was mainly, it appears, to hush down any +hesitation or surprise among the Dohna Generals, which, as Wedell was +"the youngest Lieutenant-General of the Army," might otherwise have been +possible. + +Wedell, furnished with some small escort and these Documents, arrives +in Camp Sunday Evening, 22d July:--poor Dohna has not the least word +or look of criticism; and every General, suppressing whatever thoughts +there may be, prepares to yield loyal obedience to Dictator Wedell. +"Wobersnow was the far better soldier of the two!" murmured the +Opposition party, then and long afterwards, [Retzow, &c.]--all the more, +as Wobersnow's behavior under it was beautiful, and his end tragical, as +will be seen. Wobersnow I perceive to have been a valiant sharp-striking +man, with multifarious resources in his head; who had faithfully helped +in these operations, and I believe been urgent to quicken them. But +what I remember best of him is his hasty admirable contrivance for +field-bakery in pressing circumstances,--the substance of which shall +not be hidden from a mechanical age:-- + +"You construct six slight square iron frames, each hinged to the other; +each, say, two feet square, or the breadth of two common tiles, and +shaped on the edges so as to take in tiles;--tiles are to be found on +every human cottage. This iron frame, when you hook it together, becomes +the ghost of a cubic box, and by the help of twelve tiles becomes a +compact field-oven; and you can bake with it, if you have flour and +water, and a few sticks. The succinctest oven ever heard of; for your +operation done, and your tiles flung out again, it is capable of all +folding flat like a book." [Retzow, ii. 82 n.] Never till now had +Wobersnow's oven been at fault: but in these Polish Villages, all of +mere thatched hovels, there was not a tile to be found; and the Bakery, +with astonishment, saw itself unable to proceed. + +Wedell arrived Sunday evening, 22d July; had crossed Oder at +Tschischerzig,--some say by Crossen Bridge; no matter which. Dohna's +Camp is some thirty miles west of Crossen; in and near the small +Town called Zullichau, where his head-quarter is. In those dull +peaty Countries, on the right, which is thereabouts the NORTHERN (not +eastern), bank of Oder; between the Oder and the Warta; some seventy +miles south-by-east of Landsberg, and perhaps as far southwest of Posen: +thither has Dohna now got with his futile manoeuvrings. Soltikof, drawn +up amid scrubby woods and sluggish intricate brooks, is about a mile to +east of him. + +Poor Dohna demits at once; and, I could conjecture, vanishes that very +night; glad to be out of such a thing. Painfully has Dohna manoeuvred +for weeks past; falling back daily; only anxious latterly that Soltikof, +who daily tries it, do not get to westward of him on the Frankfurt +road, and so end this sad shuffle. Soltikof as yet has not managed that +ultimate fatality; Dohna, by shuffling back, does at least contrive to +keep between Frankfurt and him;--will not try attacking him, much as +Wobersnow urges it. Has agreed twice or oftener, on Wobersnow's urgency: +"Yes, yes; we have a chance," Dohna would answer; "only let us rest till +to-morrow, and be fresh!" by which time the opportunity was always gone +again. + +Wedell had arrived with a grenadier battalion and some horse for escort; +had picked up 150 Russian prisoners by the way. Retzow has understood +he came in with a kind of state; and seemed more or less inflated; +conscious of representing the King's person, and being a Roman +Dictator,--though it is a perilously difficult office too, and requires +more than a Letter of Instructions to qualify you for it! This is not +Leonidas Wedell, whom readers once knew; poor Leonidas is dead long +since, fell in the Battle of Sohr, soon after the heroic feat of +Ziethen's and his at Elbe-Teinitz (Defence of Elbe against an Army); +this is Leonidas's elder Brother. Friedrich had observed his fiery +ways on the day of Leuthen: "Hah, a new Winterfeld perhaps?" thought +Friedrich, "All the Winterfeld I now have!"--which proved a fond hope. +Wedell's Dictatorship began this Sunday towards sunset; and lasted--in +practical fact, it lasted one day. + + + + +DICTATOR WEDELL FIGHTS HIS BATTLE (Monday, 23d July, 1759), WITHOUT +SUCCESS. + +Monday morning early, Wedell is on the heights, reconnoitring Soltikof; +cannot see much of him, the ground being so woody; does see what he +takes to be Soltikof's left wing; and judges that Soltikof will lie +quiet for this day. Which was far from a right reading of Soltikof; the +fact being that Soltikof, in long columns and divisions, beginning with +his right wing, was all on march since daybreak; what Wedell took for +Soltikof's "left wing" being Soltikof's rear-guard and baggage, waiting +till the roads cleared. Wedell, having settled everything on the above +footing, returns to Zullichau about 10 o'clock; and about 11, Soltikof, +miles long, disengaged from the bushy hollows, makes his appearance on +the open grounds of Palzig: he, sure enough (though Wedell can hardly +believe it),--five or six miles to northeast yonder; tramping diligently +along, making for Crossen and the Oder Bridge;--and is actually got +ahead of us, at last! + +This is what Wedell cannot suffer, cost what it may. Wedell's orders +were, in such case, Attack the Russians. Wedell instantly took his +measures; not unskilfully, say judges,--though the result proved +disappointing; and Wobersnow himself earnestly dissuaded: "Too +questionable, I should doubt! Soltikof is 70,000, and has no end of +Artillery; we are 26,000, and know not if we can bring a single gun to +where Soltikof is!" [Tempelhof, iii. 132-134.] + +Wedell's people have already, of their own accord, got to arms again; +stand waiting his orders on this new emergency. No delay in Wedell or in +them. "May not it be another Rossbach (if we are lucky)?" thinks Wedell: +"Cannot we burst in on their flank, as they march yonder, those awkward +fellows; and tumble them into heaps?" The differences were several-fold: +First, that Friedrich and Seidlitz are not here. Many brave men we have, +and skilful; but not a master and man like these Two. Secondly, that +there is no Janus Hill to screen our intentions; but that the Russians +have us in full view while we make ready. Thirdly, and still +more important, that we do not know the ground, and what hidden +inaccessibilities lie ahead. This last is judged to have been the +killing circumstance. Between the Russians and us there is a paltry +little Brook, or line of quagmire; scarcely noticeable here, but +passable nowhere except at the Village-Mill of Kay, by one poor Bridge +there. And then, farther inwards, as shelter of the Russians, there +is another quaggy Brook, branch of the above, which is without bridge +altogether. Hours will be required to get 26,000 people marched up +there, not to speak of heavy guns at all. + +The 26,000 march with their usual mathematical despatch: Manteuffel and +the Vanguard strike in with their sharpest edge, foot and horse, direct +on the Head of the Russian Column, Manteuffel leading on, so soon as his +few battalions and squadrons are across. Head means BRAIN (or life) +to this Russian Column; and these Manteuffel people go at it with +extraordinary energy. The Russian Head gives way; infantry and +cavalry:--their cavalry was driven quite to rear, and never came in +sight again after this of Manteuffel. But the Russians have abundance +of Reserves; also of room to manoeuvre in,--no lack of ground open, and +ground defensible (Palzig Village and Churchyard, for example);--above +all, they have abundance of heavy guns. + +Well in recoil from Manteuffel and his furies, the beaten Russians +succeed in forming "a long Line behind Palzig Village," with that +Second, slighter or Branch Quagmire between them and us; they get the +Village beset, and have the Churchyard of it lined with batteries,--say +seventy guns. Manteuffel, unsupported, has to fall back;--unwillingly, +and not chased or in disorder,--towards Kay-Mill again; where many +are by this time across. Hulsen, with the Centre, attacks now, as the +Vanguard had done; with a will, he too: Wobersnow, all manner of people +attack; time after time, for about four hours coming: and it proves +all in vain, on that Churchyard and new Line. Without cannon, we are +repulsed, torn away by those Russian volcano-batteries; never enough of +us at once! + +Hulsen, Wobersnow, everybody in detail is repulsed, or finds his success +unavailing. Poor Wobersnow did wonders; but he fell, killed. Gone he; +and has left so few of his like: a man that could ill be spared at +present!--Day is sinking; we find we have lost, in killed, wounded and +prisoners, some 6,000 men. "About sunset,"--flaming July sun going down +among the moorlands on such a scene,--Wedell gives it up; retires slowly +towards Kay Bridge. Slowly; not chased, or molested; Soltikof too glad +to be rid of him. Soltikof's one aim is, and was, towards Crossen; +towards Austrian Junction, and something to live upon. Soltikof's loss +of men is reckoned to be heavier even than Wedell's: but he could far +better afford it. He has gained his point; and the price is small in +comparison. Next day he enters Crossen on triumphant terms. + +Poor Wedell had returned over Kay-Mill Bridge, in the night-time after +his Defeat. On the morrow (Tuesday, 24th, day of Soltikof's glad entry), +Wedell crosses Oder; at Tschischerzig, the old place of Sunday evening +last,--in how different a humor, this time!--and in a day more, posts +himself opposite to Crossen Bridge, five or six miles south; and again +sits watchful of Soltikof there. At Crossen, triumphant Soltikof has +found no Austrian Junction, nor anything additional to live upon. A +very disappointing circumstance to Soltikof; "Austrian Junction still +a problem, then; a thing in the air? And perhaps the King of Prussia +taking charge of it now!" Soltikof, more and more impatient, after +waiting some days, decided Not to cross Oder by that Bridge;--"shy of +crossing anywhere [think the French Gentlemen, Montazet, Montalembert], +to the King of Prussia's side!" [Stenzel, iv. 215 (indistinct, and +giving a WRONG citation of "Montalembert, ii. 87").] Which is not +unlikely, though the King is above 100 miles off him, and has Daun +on his hands. Certain enough, keeping the River between him and any +operations of the King, Soltikof set out for Frankfurt, forty or fifty +miles farther down. In the hope probably of finding something of human +provender withal? July 30th, one week after his Battle, the vanguard of +him is there. + +Thus, in two days, or even in one, has Wedell's Dictatorship ended. Easy +to say scoffingly, "Would it had never begun!" Friedrich knows that, +and Wedell knows it;--AFTER the event everybody knows it! Friedrich said +nothing of reproachful; the reverse rather,--"I dreaded something of the +kind; it is not your fault;" [TO WEDELL, FROM THE KING, "Schmottseifen, +July 24th. 1759" (in Schoning, ii. 118).]--ordered Wedell to watch +diligently at Crossen Bridge, and be ready on farther signal. The Wedell +Problem, in such ruined condition, has now fallen to Friedrich himself. + +This is the BATTLE OF ZULLICHAU (afternoon of 23d July, 1759); the +beginning of immense disasters in this Campaign. Battle called also of +KAY and of PALZIG, those also being main localities in it. It was lost, +not by fault of Wedell's people, who spent themselves nobly upon it, nor +perhaps by fault of Wedell himself, but principally, if not solely, +by those two paltry Brooks, or threads of Quagmire, one of which turns +Kay-Mill; memorable Brooks in this Campaign, 1759. [Tempelhof, iii. +125-131.] + +Close in the same neighborhood, there is another equally contemptible +Brook, making towards Oder, and turning the so-called Krebsmuhle, which +became still more famous to the whole European Public twenty years +hence. KREBS-MUHLE (Crab-Mill), as yet quite undistinguished among +Mills; belonging to a dusty individual called Miller Arnold, with a +dusty Son of his own for Miller's Lad: was it at work this day? Or had +the terrible sound from Palzig quenched its clacking?-- + +Some three weeks ago (4th-6th JULY), there occurred a sudden sharp thing +at Havre-de-Grace on the French Coast, worth a word from us in this +place. The Montazets, Montalemberts, watching, messaging about, in the +Austrian-Russian Courts and Camps, assiduously keeping their Soltikofs +in tune, we can observe how busy they are. Soubise with his Invasion of +England, all the French are very busy; they have conquered Hessen from +Duke Ferdinand, and promise themselves a glorious Campaign, after that +Seizure of Frankfurt. Soubise, intent on his new Enterprise, is +really making ardent preparations: at Vanues in the Morbihan, +such rendezvousing and equipping;--especially at Havre, no end of +flat-bottomed boats getting built; and much bluster and agitation among +the weaker sorts in both Nations. Whereupon,-- + +"JULY 1st [just in the days while Friedrich was first trying Horse +Artillery], Rear-Admiral Rodney sails from Portsmouth with a few +Frigates, and Six Bomb-ketches [FIREDRAKE, BASILISK, BLAST, and such +nomenclatures [List of him, in Beatson, _Naval and Military Memoirs_ +(London, 1804), ii. 241; his Despatch excellently brief, ib. ii. 323]]; +and in the afternoon of Tuesday, 3d, arrives in the frith or bay of +Havre. Steers himself properly into 'the Channel of Honfleur' before +dark; and therefrom, with his Firedrake, Basilisk and Company, begins +such a bombardment of Havre and the flat-bottomed manufactories as was +quite surprising. Fifty-two incessant hours of it, before he thought +poor Havre had enough. Poor Havre had been on fire six times; the flat +manufactory (unquenchable) I know not how many; all the inhabitants off +in despair; and the Garrison building this battery to no purpose, then +that; no salvation for them but in Rodney's 'mortars getting too hot.' +He had fired of shells 1,900, of carcasses, 1,150: from Wednesday about +sunrise till Friday about 8 A.M.,--about time now for breakfast; which +I hope everybody had, after such a stretch of work. 'No damage to speak +of,' said the French Gazetteers; 'we will soon refit everything!' But +they never did; and nothing came of Havre henceforth. Vannes was always, +and is now still more, to be the main place; only that Hawke--most +unexpectedly, for one fancied all their ships employed in distant +parts--rides there with a Channel Fleet of formidable nature; and the +previous question always is: 'Cannot we beat Hawke? Can we! Or will not +he perhaps go, of himself, when the rough weather comes?'" + + + + +Chapter III.--FRIEDRICH IN PERSON ATTEMPTS THE RUSSIAN PROBLEM; NOT WITH +SUCCESS. + +Before Wedell's catastrophe, the Affair of those Haddick-Loudon +Detachments had become a little plainer to Friedrich. The intention, +he begins to suspect, is not for Berlin at all; but for junction with +Soltikof,--at Crossen, or wherever it may be. This is in fact their real +purpose; and this, beyond almost Berlin itself, it is in the highest +degree important to prevent! Important; and now as if become impossible! + +Prince Henri had come to Bautzen with his Army, specially to look after +Loudon and Haddick; and he has, all this while, had Finck with some +10,000 diligently patrolling to westward of them, guarding Berlin; he +himself watching from the southern side,--where, as on the western, +there was no danger from them. Some time before Wedell's affair, +Friedrich had pushed out Eugen of Wurtemberg to watch these people on +the eastern side;--suspicious that thitherward lay their real errand. +Eugen had but 6,000; and, except in conjunction with Finck and Henri, +could do nothing,--nor can, now when Friedrich's suspicion turns out to +be fatally true. Friedrich had always the angry feeling that Finck and +Prince Henri were the blameworthy parties in what now ensued; that they, +who were near, ought to have divined these people's secret, and spoiled +it in time; not have left it to him who was far off, and so busy +otherwise. To the last, that was his fixed private opinion; by no means +useful to utter,--especially at present, while attempting the now very +doubtful enterprise himself, and needing all about him to be swift +and zealous. This is one of Friedrich's famous labors, this of the +Haddick-Loudon junction with Soltikof; strenuous short spasm of effort, +of about a week's continuance; full of fiery insight, velocity, energy; +still admired by judges, though it was unsuccessful, or only had half +success. Difficult to bring home, in any measure, to the mind of modern +readers, so remote from it. + +Friedrich got the news of Zullichau next day, July 24th;--and instantly +made ready. The case is critical; especially this Haddick-Loudon part of +it: add 30 or 36,000 Austrians to Soltikof, how is he then to be dealt +with? A case stringently pressing:--and the resources for it few and +scattered. For several days past, Haddick, and Loudon under him, whose +motions were long enigmatic, have been marching steadily eastward +through the Lausitz,--with the evident purpose of joining +Soltikof; unless Wedell could forbid. Wedell ahead was the grand +opposition;--Finck, Henri, Wurtemberg, as good as useless;--and Wedell +being now struck down, these Austrians will go, especially Loudon will, +at a winged rate. They are understood to be approaching Sagan Country; +happily, as yet, well to westward of it, and from Sagan Town well +NORTH-westward;--but all accounts of them are vague, dim: they are an +obscure entity to Friedrich, but a vitally important one. Sagan Town may +be about 70 miles northward of where Friedrich now is: from Sagan, were +they once in the meridian of Sagan, their road is free eastward and +northward;--to Crossen is about 60 miles north-by-east from Sagan, to +Frankfurt near 100 north. Sagan is on the Bober; Bober, in every event, +is between the Austrians and their aim. + +Friedrich feels that, however dangerous to quit Daun's neighborhood, he +must, he in person, go at once. And who, in the interim, will watch Daun +and his enterprises? Friedrich's reflections are: "Well, in the crisis +of the moment, Saxony--though there already are marauding Bodies of +Reichsfolk in it--must still be left to itself for a time; or cannot +Finck and his 10,000 look to it? Henri, with his Army, now useless at +Bautzen, shall instantly rendezvous at Sagan; his Army to go with me, +against the Russians and their Haddick-Loudons; Henri to Schmottseifen, +instead of me, and attend to Daun; Henri, I have no other left! Finck +and his 10,000 must take charge of Saxony, such charge as he can:--how +lucky those Spring Forays, which destroyed the Reichs Magazines! Whereby +there is no Reichs Army yet got into Saxony (nothing but preliminary +pulses and splashings of it); none yet, nor like to be quite at once." +That is Friedrich's swift plan. + +Henri rose on the instant, as did everybody concerned: July 29th, Henri +and Army were at Sagan; Army waiting for the King; Henri so far on his +road to Schmottseifen. He had come to Sagan "by almost the rapidest +marches ever heard of,"--or ever till some others of Henri's own, which +he made in that neighborhood soon. Punctual, he, to his day; as are +Eugen of Wurtemberg's people, and all Detachments and Divisions: +Friedrich himself arrives at Sagan that same 29th, "about +midnight,"--and finds plenty of work waiting: no sleep these two nights +past; and none coming just yet! A most swift rendezvous. The speed of +everybody has been, and needs still to be, intense. + +This rendezvous at Sagan--intersection of Henri and Friedrich, bound +different roads (the Brothers, I think, did not personally meet, Henri +having driven off for Schmottseifen by a shorter road)--was SUNDAY, JULY +29th. Following which, are six days of such a hunt for those Austrian +reynards as seldom or never was! Most vehement, breathless, baffling +hunt; half of it spent in painfully beating cover, in mere finding and +losing. Not rightly successful, after all. So that, on the eighth day +hence, AUGUST 6th, at Mullrose, near Frankfurt, 80 miles from Sagan, +there is a second rendezvous,--rendezvous of Wedell and Friedrich, who +do not now "intersect," but meet after the hunt is done;--and in the +interim, there has been a wonderful performance, though an unsuccessful. +Friedrich never could rightly get hold of his Austrians. Once only, at +Sommerfeld, a long march northwest of Sagan, he came upon some outskirts +of them. And in general, in those latter eight days, especially in +the first six of them, there is, in that Kotbus-Sagan Country, such an +intersecting, checking, pushing and multifarious simmering of marches, +on the part of half a dozen Strategic Entities, Friedrich the centre +of them, as--as, I think, nobody but an express soldier-student, well +furnished with admiration for this particular Soldier, would consent to +have explained to him. One of the maziest, most unintelligible whirls +of marching; inextricable Sword Dance, or Dance of the Furies,--five +of them (that is the correct number: Haddick, Loudon, Friedrich, +Wurtemberg, Wedell);--and it is flung down for us, all in a huddle, in +these inhuman Books (which have several errors of the press, too): let +no man rashly insist with himself on understanding it, unless he have +need! Humanly pulled straight, not inhumanly flung down at random, here +the essentials of it are,--in very brief state:-- + +"SAGAN, MONDAY, 30th JULY. Friedrich is at Sagan, since midnight last, +busier and busier;" beating cover, as we termed it, and getting his +hounds (his new Henri-Army) in leash; "endeavoring, especially, to get +tidings of those Austrian people; who are very enigmatic,--Loudon a +dexterous man,--and have hung up such a curtain of Pandours between +Friedrich and them as is nearly impenetrable. In the course of this +Monday Friedrich ascertains that they are verily on the road; coming +eastward, for Sommerfeld,--'thence for Crossen!' he needs no ghost to +tell him. Wherefore, + +"TUESDAY, SAGAN TO NAUMBURG. Tuesday before daybreak Friedrich too is +on the road: northwestward; in full march towards Naumburg on Bober, +meaning to catch the Bridge from them there. March of the swiftest; +he himself is ahead, as usual, with the Vanguard of Horse. He reaches +Naumburg (northward, a march of 20 miles); finds, not Haddick or Loudon, +but a Detachment of theirs: which he at once oversets with his cavalry, +and chases,--marking withal that 'westward is the way they run.' +Westward; and that we are still ahead, thank Heaven! + +"Before his Infantry are all up, or are well rested in Naumburg, +Friedrich ascertains, on more precise tidings, that the Austrians are in +Sommerfeld, to westward (again a 20 miles); and judges That, no doubt, +they will bear off more to leftward, by Guben probably, and try to avoid +him,--unless he can still catch them in Sommerfeld. About nightfall +he marches for Sommerfeld, at his swiftest; arrives Wednesday early; +finds--alas!-- + +"SOMMERFELD, WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 1st, Friedrich finds that Loudon +was there last night,--preterite tense, alas; the question now being, +Where is he!" In fact, Loudon had written yesterday to Daun (Letter +still extant, "Sommerfeld, July 31st"), That "being swift and light," +consisting of horse for most part, "he may probably effect Junction +this very night;"--but has altered his mind very much, on sight of these +fugitives from Naumburg, since! And has borne off more to leftward. +Straight north now, and at a very brisk pace; being now all of +horse;--and has an important conference with Haddick at Guben, when +they arrive there. "Not in Sommerfeld?" thinks Friedrich (earnestly +surveying, through this slit he has made in the Pandour veil): "Gone +to Guben most likely, bearing off from us to leftward?"--Which was +the fact; though not the whole fact. And indeed the chase is now again +fallen uncertain, and there has to be some beating of covers. For one +thing, he learns to-day (August 1st) that the Russians are gone to +Frankfurt: "Follow them, you Wedell,"--orders Friedrich: them we shall +have to go into,--however this hunt end!-- + +"To Markersdorf, Thursday, August 2d. Friedrich takes the road for +Guben; reaches Markersdorf (twenty miles' march, still seven or eight +from Guben); falls upon--What phenomenon is this? The Austrian heavy +Train; meal-wagons not a few, and a regiment of foot in charge of +it;--but going the wrong way, not TOWARDS the Russians, but from them! +What on earth can this be? This is Haddick,--if Friedrich could yet +clearly know it,--Haddick and Train, who for his own part has given up +the junction enterprise. At Guben, some hours ago, he had conference +with Loudon; and this was the conclusion arrived at: 'Impossible, with +that King so near! You, Herr Loudon, push on, without heavy baggage, and +with the Cavalry altogether: you can get in, almost 20,000 strong; I, +with the Infantry, with the meal and heavy guns, will turn, and make for +the Lausitz again!' + +"This mysterious Austrian Train, going the wrong way, Friedrich +attacks, whatever it be (hoping, I suppose, it might be the Austrians +altogether); chases it vigorously; snatches all the meal-wagons, and +about 1,000 prisoners. Uncertain still what it is,--if not the Austrians +altogether? To his sorrow, he finds, on pushing farther into it, that +it is only Haddick and the Infantry; that Loudon, with the 20,000 +Horse, will have gone off for Frankfurt;--irretrievably ahead, the swift +Loudon,--ever careering northward all this while, since that +afternoon at Sommerfeld, when the fugitives altered his opinion: a now +unattainable Loudon. In the course of Thursday night, Friedrich has +satisfied himself that the Loudon junction is a thing as good as +done;--in effect, Loudon did get to Frankfurt, morning of August 3d, and +joined the Russians there; and about the same time, or only a few hours +sooner, Friedrich, by symptoms, has divined that his hunt has ended, +in this rather unsuccessful way; and that chasing of Haddick is not the +road to go." [Tempelhof, iii. 135-139.] + +Not Haddick now; with or without their Austrians, it shall be the +Russians now! Two days ago (Wednesday, as was mentioned), before sight +of those enigmatic meal-wagons, Friedrich had learned that the +Russians were to be in Frankfurt again; and had ordered Wedell to march +thitherward, at any rate. Which Wedell is doing, all this Thursday +and the four following days. As does likewise, from and after "FRIDAY, +AUGUST 3d, 1 A.M." (hunt then over), Friedrich himself,--renouncing +Haddick and the hunt. Straight towards Frankfurt thenceforth; +head-quarters Beeskow that night; next night, Mullrose, whither Wedell +is appointed, within twelve miles of Frankfurt. This is the end of +Friedrich's sore Chase and March; burnt deeply into his own weary brain, +if ours still refuse it admittance! Here, of utterly fatigued tone, is a +Note of his, chiefly on business, to Minister Finkenstein. Indeed there +are, within the next ten days, Three successive Notes to Finkenstein, +which will be worth reading in their due places. This is the First of +them:-- + +THE KING TO GRAF VON FINKENSTEIN (at Berlin). + +"BEESKOW, 3d August,1759." + +"I am just arrived here, after cruel and frightful marchings [CHECKS +HIMSELF, HOWEVER]. There is nothing desperate in all that; and I believe +the noise and disquietude this hurly-burly has caused will be the worst +of it. Show this Letter to everybody, that it may be known the State is +not undefended. I have made above 1,000 prisoners from Haddick. All his +meal-wagons have been taken. Finck, I believe, will keep an eye on him," +and secure Berlin from attempts of his. "This is all I can say. + +"To-morrow I march to within two leagues of Frankfurt [to Mullrose, +namely]. Katte [the Minister who has charge of such things] must send +me instantly Two Hundred Wispels [say tons] of Meal, and Bakers One +Hundred, to Furstenwalde. I shall encamp at Wulkow. I am very tired. For +six nights I have not closed an eye. Farewell.--F." + +During the above intricate War-Dance of Five,--the day while Friedrich +was at Sommerfeld, the day before he came in sight of Haddick's +meal-wagons going the wrong road,--there went on, at Minden, on the +Weser, three hundred miles away, a beautiful feat of War, in the highest +degree salutary to Duke Ferdinand and Britannic Majesty's Ministry; feat +which requires a word from us here. A really splendid Victory, this of +Minden, August 1st: French driven headlong through the Passes there; +their "Conquest of Hanover and Weser Country" quite exploded and flung +over the horizon; and Duke Ferdinand relieved from all his distresses, +and lord of the ascendant again in those parts. Highly interesting +to Friedrich;--especially to Prince Henri; whose apprehensions about +Ferdinand and the old Richelieu Hastenbeck-Halberstadt time returning +on us, have been very great; and who now, at Schmottseifen, fires +FEU-DE-JOIE for it with all his heart. This is a Battle still of some +interest to English readers. But can English readers consent to halt +in this hot pinch of the Friedrich crisis; and read the briefest thing +which is foreign to it? Alas, I fear they can;--and will insert the Note +here:-- + +BATTLE OF MINDEN: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1st, 1759.---"Ever since Bergen, +things have gone awry with Ferdinand, and in spite of skilful +management, of hard struggles and bright sparkles of success, he has +had a bad Campaign of it. The French, it would seem, are really got into +better fighting order; Belleisle's exertions as War-Minister have +been almost wonderful,--in some respects, TOO wonderful, as we shall +hear!--and Broglio and Contades, in comparison with Clermont and +Soubise, have real soldier qualities. Contades, across Rhine again, in +those Weser Countries, who is skilful in his way, and is pricked on +by emulation of Broglio, has been spreading himself out steadily +progressive there; while Broglio, pushing along from Frankfurt-on-Mayn, +has conquered Hessen; is into Hanover; on the edge of conquering +Hanover,--which how is Ferdinand to hinder? Ferdinand has got two, if +not three Armies to deal with, and in number is not much superior +to one. If he run to save Hanover from Broglio, he loses Westphalia: +Osnabruck (his magazine)? Munster, Lippstadt,--Contades, if left to +himself, will take these, after short siege; and will nestle himself +there, and then advance, not like a transitory fever-fit, but like +visible death, on Hanover. Ferdinand, rapid yet wary, manoeuvred his +very best among those interests of his, on the left bank of Weser; but +after the surprisal of Minden from him (brilliantly done by Broglio, +and the aid of a treacherous peasant), especially after the capture of +Osnabruck, his outlooks are gloomy to a degree: and at Versailles, +and at Minden where Contades has established himself, 'the Conquest +of Hanover' (beautiful counterweight to all one's losses in America or +elsewhere) is regarded as a certainty of this Year. + +"For the last ten days of July, about Minden, the manoeuvring, +especially on Ferdinand's part, had been intense; a great idea in the +head of Ferdinand, more or less unintelligible to Contades. Contades, +with some 30,000, which is the better half of his force, has taken one +of the unassailablest positions. He lies looking northward, his +right wing on the Weser with posts to Minden (Minden perhaps a mile +northeastward there), on his left impassable peat-bogs and quagmires; +in front a quaggy River or impassable black Brook, called the Bastau, +coming from the westward, which disembogues at Minden: [Sketch of Plan, +p. 238]--there lies Contades, as if in a rabbit-hole, say military men; +for defence, if that were the sole object, no post can be stronger. +Contades has in person say 30,000; and round him, on both sides of the +Weser, are Broglio with 20,000; besides other Divisions, I know not +how many, besieging Munster, capturing Osnabruck (our hay magazine), +attempting Lippstadt by surprise (to no purpose), and diligently working +forward, day by day, to Ferdinand's ruin in those Minden regions. Three +or four Divisions busy in that manner;--and above all, we say, he has +Broglio with a 20,000 on the right or east bank of the Weser,--who, if +Ferdinand quit him even for a day, seems to have Hanover at discretion, +and can march any day upon Hanover City, where his light troops have +already been more than once. Why does n't Ferdinand cross Weser, +re-cross Weser; coerce Broglio back; and save Hanover? cry the +Gazetteers and a Public of weak judgment. Pitt's Public is inclined +to murmur about Ferdinand; Pitt himself never. Ferdinand persists in +sticking by Minden neighborhood,--and, in a scarcely accountable way, +manoeuvring there, shooting out therefrom what mischief he can upon the +various Contades people in their sieges and the like. + +"On Contades himself he can pretend to do nothing,--except hoodwink +him, entice him out, and try to get a chance on him. But for his own +subsistence and otherwise, he is very lively;--snatches, by a sudden +stroke, Bremen City: 'Yes truly, Bremen is a Reichstadt; nor shall YOU +snatch it, as you did Frankfurt; but I will, instead; and my English +proviant-ships shall have a sure haven henceforth!' Snatches Bremen +by one sudden stroke; RE-snatches Osnabruck by another ('our magazine +considerably INCREASED since you have had it, many thanks!'); does lose +Munster, to his sorrow; but nevertheless sticks by his ground here;--nay +detaches his swift-cutting Nephew, the Hereditary Prince, who is growing +famous for such things, to cut out Contades's strong post to southward +(Gohfeld, ten miles up the Weser), which guards his meal-wagons, after +their long journey from the south. That is Contades's one weak point, +in this posture of things: his meal is at Cassel, seventy miles off. +Broglio and he see clearly, 'Till we can get a new magazine much nearer +Hanover, or at lowest, can clear out these people from infesting us +here, there is no moving northward!' To both Contades and Broglio +that is an evident thing: the corollary to which is, They must fight +Ferdinand; must watch lynx-like till a chance turn up of beating him in +fight. That is their outlook; and Ferdinand knows it is,--and manoeuvres +accordingly. Military men admire much, not his movements only, but his +clear insight into Contades's and Broglio's temper of mind, and by what +methods they were to be handled, they and his own affairs together, and +brought whither he wanted them. [In MAUVILLON (ii. 41-44) minute account +of all that.] + +"This attempt on Gohfeld was a serious mischief to Contades, if it +succeeded. But the detaching of the Prince of Brunswick on it, and +weakening one's too weak Army, 'What a rashness, what an oversight!' +thinks Contades (as Ferdinand wished him to do): 'Is our skilful enemy, +in this extreme embarrassment, losing head, then? Look at his left wing +yonder [General Wangenheim, sitting behind batteries, in his Village of +Todtenhausen, looking into Minden from the north]:--Wangenheim's left +leans on the Weser, yes; but Wangenheim's right, observe, has no support +within three miles of it: tear Wangenheim out, Ferdinand's flank is +bare!' These things seemed to Contades the very chance he had been +waiting for; and brought him triumphantly out of his rabbit-hole, into +the Heath of Minden, as Ferdinand hoped they would do. + +"And so, TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 31st, things being now all ripe, upwards +of 50,000 French are industriously in motion. Contades has nineteen +bridges ready on the Bastau Brook, in front of him; TATTOO this night, +in Contades's Camp, is to mean GENERAL MARCH, 'March, all of you, across +these nineteen Bridges, to your stations on the Plain or Heath of Minden +yonder,--and be punctual, like the clock!' Broglio crosses Weser by +the town Bridge, ranks himself opposite Todtenhausen; and through the +livelong night there is, on the part of the 50,000 French, a very great +marching and deploying. Contades and Broglio together are 51,400 foot +and horse. Ferdinand's entire force will be near 46,000; but on the day +of Battle he is only 36,000,--having detached the Hereditary Prince on +Gohfeld, in what view we know.--The BATTLE OF MINDEN, called also of +TONHAUSEN (meaning TODTENhausen), which hereupon fell out, has still its +fame in the world; and, I perceive, is well worth study by the soldier +mind: though nothing but the rough outline of it is possible here. + +"Ferdinand's posts extend from the Weser river and Todtenhausen round by +Stemmern, Holzhausen, to Hartum and the Bog of Bastau (the chief part +of him towards Bastau),--in various Villages, and woody patches and +favorable spots; all looking in upon Minden, from a distance of five +or seven miles; forming a kind of arc, with Minden for centre. He +will march up in eight Columns; of course, with wide intervals between +them,--wide, but continually narrowing as he advances; which will +indeed be ruinous gaps, if Ferdinand wait to be attacked; but which will +coalesce close enough, if he be speedy upon Contades. For Contades's +line is also of arc-like or almost semicircular form, behind it Minden +as centre; Minden, which is at the intersection of Weser and the Brook; +his right flank is on Weser, Broglio VERSUS Wangenheim the extreme +right; his left, with infantry and artillery, rests on that black Brook +of Bastau with its nineteen Bridges. As the ground on both wings is +rough, not so fit for Cavalry, Contades puts his Cavalry wholly in the +centre: they are the flower of the French Army, about 10,000 horse in +all; firm open ground ahead of them there, with strong batteries, masses +of infantry to support on each flank; batteries to ply with cross-fire +any assailant that may come on. Broglio, we said, is right wing; strong +in artillery and infantry. Broglio is to root out Waugenheim: after +which,--or even before which, if Wangenheim is kept busy and we are +nimble,--what becomes of Ferdinand's left flank, with a gap of three +miles between Wangenheim and him, and 10,000 chosen horse to take +advantage of it! Had the French been of Prussian dexterity and +nimbleness in marching, it is very possible something might have come of +this latter circumstance: but Ferdinand knows they are not; and intends +to take good care of his flank. + +"Contades and his people were of willing mind; but had no skill in +'marchiug up:' and, once got across the Bastau by their nineteen +Bridges, they wasted many hours:--'Too far, am I? not far enough? +Too close? not close enough?'--and broiled about, in much hurry and +confusion, all night. Fight was to have begun at 5 in the morning. +Broglio was in his place, silently looking into Wangenheim, by five +o'clock; but unfortunately did nothing upon Wangenheim ('Not ready you, +I see!'), except cannonade a little;--and indeed all through did nothing +('Still not ready you others!'); which surely was questionable conduct, +though not reckoned so at Versailles, when the case came to be argued +there. As to the Contades people, across those nineteen Bridges, they +had a baffling confused night; and were by no means correctly on their +ground at sunrise, nor at 7 o'clock, nor at 8; and were still mending +themselves when the shock came, and time was done. + +"The morning is very misty; but Ferdinand has himself been out examining +since the earliest daybreak: his orders last night were, 'Cavalry be +saddled at 1 in the morning,'--having a guess that there would be work, +as he now finds there will. From 5 A.M. Ferdinand is issuing from +his Camp, flowing down eastward, beautifully concentric, closing on +Contades; horse NOT in centre, but English Infantry in centre (Six +Battalions, or Six REGIMENTS by English reckoning); right opposite those +10,000 Horse of Contades's, the sight of whom seems to be very animating +to them. The English Cavalry stand on the right wing, at the Village of +Hartum: Lord George Sackville had not been very punctual in saddling at +1 o'clock; but he is there, ranked on the ground, at 8,--in what humor +nobody knows; sulky and flabby, I should rather guess. English Tourists, +idle otherwise, may take a look at Hartum on the south side, as the spot +where a very ugly thing occurred that day. + +"Soon after 8 the Fight begins: attack, by certain Hessians, on Hahlen +and its batteries; attempt to drive the French out of Hahlen, as the +first thing,--which does not succeed at once (indeed took three +attacks in all); and perhaps looks rather tedious to those Six English +Battalions. Ferdinand's order to them was, 'You shall march up to +attack, you Six, on sound of drum;' but, it seems, they read it, 'BY +sound of drum;' 'Beating our own drums; yes, of course!'--and, being +weary of this Hahlen work, or fancying they had no concern with it, +strode on, double-quick, without waiting for Hahlen at all! To the +horror of their Hanoverian comrades, who nevertheless determined to +follow as second line. 'The Contades cross-fire of artillery, battery +of 30 guns on one flank, of 36 on the other, does its best upon this +forward-minded Infantry, but they seem to heed it little; walk right +forward; and, to the astonishment of those French Horse and of all +the world, entirely break and ruin the charge made on them, and +tramp forward in chase of the same. The 10,000 Horse feel astonished, +insulted; and rush out again, furiously charging; the English halt and +serry themselves: 'No fire till they are within forty paces;' and then +such pouring torrents of it as no horse or man can endure. Rally after +rally there is, on the part of those 10,000; mass after mass of them +indignantly plunges on,--again, ever again, about six charges in +all;--but do not break the English lines: one of them (regiment +Mestrede-Camp, raised to a paroxysm) does once get through, across the +first line, but is blown back in dreadful circumstances by the second. +After which they give it up, as a thing that cannot be done. And rush +rearward, hither, thither, the whole seventy-five squadrons of them; +and 'between their two wings of infantry are seen boiling in complete +disorder.' + +"This has lasted about an hour: this is essentially the soul of the +Fight,--though there wanted not other activities, to right of it and to +left, on both sides; artilleries going at a mighty rate on both wings; +and counter-artilleries (superlative practice 'by Captain Phillips' on +OUR right wing); Broglio cannonading Wangenheim very loudly, but +with little harm done or suffered, on their right wing. Wangenheim is +watchful of that gap between Ferdinand and him, till it close itself +sufficiently. Their right-wing Infantry did once make some attempt +there; but the Prussian Horse--(always a small body of Prussians serve +in this Allied Army)--shot out, and in a brilliant manner swept them +home again. + +PLAN OF BATTLE HERE--PAGE 239,---- + +Artillery and that pretty charge of Prussian Horse are all one +remembers, except this of the English and Hanover Foot in the centre: +'an unsurpassable thing,' says Tempelhof (though it so easily might have +been a fatal!)--which has set Contades's centre boiling, and reduced +Contades altogether to water, as it were. Contades said bitterly: +'I have seen what I never thought to be possible,--a single line of +infantry break through three lines of cavalry ranked in order of battle, +and tumble them to ruin!' [Stenzel, v. 204.] + +"This was the feat, this hour's work in the centre, the essential soul +of the Fight:--and had Lord George Sackville, General of the Horse, +come on when galloped for and bidden, here had been such a ruin, say all +judges, as seldom came upon an Army. Lord George--everlasting disgrace +and sorrow on the name of him--could not see his way to coming on; +delayed, haggled; would not even let Granby, his lieutenant, come; not +for a second Adjutant, not for a third; never came on at all; but rode +to the Prince, asking, 'How am I to come on?' Who, with a politeness I +can never enough admire, did not instantly kill him, but answered, +in mild tone, 'Milord, the opportunity is now past!' Whereby Contades +escaped ruin, and was only beaten. By about 10 in the morning all was +over. When a man's centre is gone to water, no part of him is far +from the fluid state. Contades retreated into his rabbit-hole by those +nineteen bridges,--well tormented, they say, by Captain Phillips's +artillery, till he got beyond the knolls again. Broglio, who had never +been in musket-fire at all, but had merely barked on Wangenheim all +morning, instead of biting, covered the retreat, and withdrew into +Minden. And we are a beaten Army,--thanks to Lord George, not an +annihilated one. Our loss being only 7,086 (with heavy guns, colors, +cavalry flags and the like); theirs being 2,822,--full half of it +falling on those rash Six Battalions. [Mauvillon, ii. 44-60; Tempelhof, +iii. 154-179, &c. &c.: and _Proceedings of a Court-Martial, held at the +Horse-Guards, 7th-24th March and 25th March-5th April, 1760, in Trial of +Lord George Sackville_ (London, 1760)]. In Knesebeck, _Ferdinand wahrend +des siebenjahrigen Krieges_ (i. 395), Ferdinand's Letter to Friedrich of +"July 31st;" and (i. 398-418 and ii. 33-36) many special details about +Sackville and "August 1st." + +"And what is this one hears from Gohfeld in the evening? The Hereditary +Prince, busy there on us during the very hours of Minden, has blown our +rear-guard division to the winds there;--and we must move southward, +one and all of us, without a moment's delay! Out of this rabbit-hole +the retreat by rearward is through a difficult country, the Westphalian +Gates so called; fatal to Varus's Legions long ago. Contades got under +way that very night; lost most of his baggage, all his conquests, that +shadow-conquest of Hanover, and more than all his glories (Versailles +shrieking on him, 'Resign you; let Broglio be chief,);--and, on the +whole, jumbled homeward hither and thither, gravitating towards the +Rhine, nothing but Wesel to depend on in those parts, as heretofore. +Broglio retreated Frankfurt-way, also as usual, though not quite so far; +and at Versailles had clearly the victory. Zealous Belleisle could +not protect his Contades; it is not known whether he privately blamed +Contades or blamed Broglio for loss of Minden. Zealous old man, what a +loss to himself withal had Minden been! That shadow-conquest of Hanover +is quite vanished: and worse, in Ferdinand's spoil were certain LETTERS +from Belleisle to Contades, inculcating strange things;--for example, +'IL FAUT FAIRE UN DESERT DU PAYS [all Hessen, I think, lest Ferdinand +advance on you] DEVANT L'ARMEE,' and the like. Which Ferdinand saw good +to publish, and which resounded rather hideously through the general +mind." [Were taken at Detmold (Tempelhof, iii. 223); Old Newspapers full +of Excerpts from them, in the weeks following.] + +Ignominious Sackville was tried by Court-martial; cashiered, +declared incapable of again serving his Majesty "in any military +capacity;"--perhaps a mild way of signifying that he wanted the common +courage of a soldier? Zealous Majesty, always particular in soldier +matters, proclaimed it officially to be "a sentence worse than death;" +and furthermore, with his own royal hand, taking the pen himself, struck +out Sackville from the List of Privy-Councillors. Proper surely, and +indispensable;--and should have been persisted in, like Fate; which, +in a new Reign, it was not! For the rest, there was always, and is, +something of enigma in Sackville's palpably bad case. It is difficult +to think that a Sackville wanted common courage. This Sackville fought +duels with propriety; in private life, he was a surly, domineering kind +of fellow, and had no appearance of wanting spirit. It is known, he did +not love Duke Ferdinand; far from it! May not he have been of peculiarly +sour humor that morning, the luckless fool; sulky against Ferdinand, and +his "saddling at one o'clock;" sulky against himself, against the +world and mankind; and flabbily disinclined to heroic practices for the +moment? And the moment came; and the man was not there, except in that +foggy, flabby and forever ruinous condition! Archenholtz, alone of +Writers, judges that he expressly wanted to spoil the Battle of Minden +and Ferdinand's reputation, and to get appointed Commander in his stead. +Wonderful; but may have some vestige of basis, too! True, this Sackville +was as fit to lead the courses of the stars as to lead armies. But such +a Sackville has ambition, and, what is fatally more peculiar to him, a +chance for unfolding it;--any blockhead has an ambition capable, if you +encourage it sufficiently, of running to the infinite. Enough of this +particular blockhead; and may it be long before we see his like again!-- + +The English Cavalry was in a rage with Sackville. Of the English +Infantry, Historians say, what is not now much heard of in this Country, +"That these unsurpassable Six [in industrious valor unsurpassable, +though they mistook orders, and might have fared badly!] are ever since +called the Minden Regiments; that they are the 12th, 20th, 23d, 25th, +37th and 51st of the British Line; and carry 'Minden' on their colors," +[Kausler, _Schlachter, _ &c. p, 587.]--with silent profit, I hope! + +Fancy how Pitt's public, lately gloomy and dubious, blazed aloft into +joyful certainty again! Pitt's outlooks have been really gloomy all this +season; nor are the difficulties yet ended, though we hope they will +end. Let us add this other bit of Synchronism, which is still of +adverse aspect, over Seas; and will be pungently interesting to Pitt and +England, when they come to hear of it. + +"BEFORE QUEBEC, JULY 31st, 1759. This same Evening, at Quebec, on the +other side of the Atlantic,--evening at Quebec, 9 or 10 at night for +Contades and his nineteen Bridges,--there is a difficult affair going +on. Above and below the Falls of Montmorenci, and their outflow into the +St. Lawrence: attempt on General Wolfe's part to penetrate through upon +the French, under Marquis de Montcalm, French Commander-in-chief, and to +get a stroke at Quebec and him. From the south side of the St. Lawrence, +nothing can be done upon Quebec, such the distance over. From Isle +d'Orleans and the north side, it is also impossible hitherto. Easy +enough to batter the Lower Town, from your ships and redoubts: but the +High Town towers aloft on its sheer pinnacles, inaccessible even to +cannon; looks down on the skilfulest British Admiral and Fleet as if +with an air of indifference,--trying him on dark nights with fire-ships, +fire-rafts, the cunningest kinds of pyrotechny, which he skilfully tows +aside. + +"A strenuous thing, this of Wolfe's; though an unsuccessful. Towards +evening, the end of it; all Quebec assembled on the southern ramparts, +witnessing with intense interest; the sublime Falls of Montmorenci +gushing on, totally indifferent. For about a month past, General Wolfe, +with the proper equipments, and about 10,000 men, naval and military, +who was expressly selected by Pitt to besiege Quebec, and is dying to +succeed, has been trying every scheme to get into contact with it:--to +no purpose, so lofty, chasmy, rocky is the ground, cut by mountainous +precipices and torrent streams, branches of the grand St. Lawrence +River; so skilfully taken advantage of by Montcalm and his people, who +are at home here, and in regulars nearly equal Wolfe, not to speak of +Savages and Canadians, Wolfe's plan of the 31st was not ill laid; and +the execution has been zealous, seamen and landsmen alike of willing +mind;--but it met with accidents. Accidents in boating; then a still +worse accident on landing; the regiment of grenadiers, which crossed +below the Falls, having, so soon as landed, rushed off on the redoubt +there on their own score, without waiting for the two brigades that were +to cross and co-operate ABOVE the Falls! Which cut Wolfe to the heart; +and induced him, especially as the tide was making again, to give up +the enterprise altogether, and recall everybody, while it was yet time. +[_Gentleman's Magazine_ for 1759, pp. 470-473; Thackeray, i. 488.] Wolfe +is strict in discipline; loves the willing mind, none more, and can +kindle it among those about him; but he loves discipline withal, and +knows how fatal the too willing may be. For six weeks more there is toil +on the back of toil everywhere for poor Wolfe. He falls into fevers, +into miseries, almost into broken heart;--nothing sure to him but that +of doing his own poor utmost to the very death. After six weeks, we +shall perhaps hear of him again. Gliding swiftly towards death; but also +towards victory and the goal of all his wishes." + +And now, after this flight half round the world, it is time we return +to Oder Country, and a Friedrich on the edge of formidable things there. +Next day after Beeskow, where we left him, he duly arrived at Mullrose; +was joined by Wedell there, August 6th; and is now at Wulkow,--"encamped +between Lebus and Wulkow," as we hear elsewhere;--quite in the environs +of Frankfurt and of great events. + + +FRIEDRICH TO GRAF VON FINKENSTEIN (Second Note). + +WULKOW, 8th August, 1759. + +"If you hear of firing to-morrow, don't be surprised; it is our +rejoicing for the Battle of Minden. I believe I shall have to keep you +in suspense some days yet. I have many arrangements to make; I find +great difficulties to surmount,--and it is required to save our Country, +not to lose it: I ought both to be more prudent and more enterprising +than ever. In a word, I will do and undertake whatever I find feasible +and possible. With all that, I see myself in the necessity of making +haste, to check the designs Haddick may have on Berlin. Adieu, MON CHER. +In a little, you will have either a DE PROFUNDIS or a TE DEUM.--F." +[_OEuvres de Frederic, _ xxv. 305, 306.] + + + + +Chapter IV.--BATTLE OF KUNERSDORF. + +Sunday, July 29th, at Frankfurt-on-Oder divine worship was broken in +upon, and the poor City thrown into consternation, by actual advent, +or as good as advent, of the Russians: "On the Crossen road, close by; +coming, come!" And they did undeniably appear, next morning, in force; +on the opposite, eastern or Kunersdorf side of the River, on the top +of the Oder-Dam there; and demanded instant admission, under penalty of +general death by fire. + +Within the Town stood Major Arnim, a Veteran of those parts, with 400 +militia; these, with their muskets and with two cannon, are the only +defence of Frankfurt, The Town has Gates; but its walls, I doubt, are +mainly garden-walls and house-walls. On the eastern side, the River, +especially if you have cannon on the Bridge, gives it something of +protection; but on the western and all other sides, it is overhung by +heights. This Frankfurt, like its bigger Namesake on the Mayn, is known +as a busy trading place, its Fairs much frequented in those Eastern +parts; and is believed by the Russians to be far richer than it is. The +reader, as there happens to be ocular testimony extant, [Johann Zudwig +Kriele, SCHLACHT BEI KUNERSDORF, MIT &C. (Berlin, 1801). Kriele was +subsequent Pastor in the Parish, an excellent intelligent man: has +compiled in brief form, with an elaborate Chart too, a clear account of +everything, in the Battle and before and after it.] may like to see a +little how they behaved there. + +"Arnim, taking survey of the Russian Party, values it, or what he can +see of it, at 1,000 [they really were 6,000]; keeps his Drawbridge up; +and answers stoutly enough, 'No.' Upon which, from the Oder-Dam, there +flies off one fiery grenado; one and no more,--which alighted in the +house of 'Mrs. Thielicke, a Baker's Widow, who was standing at the +door;'--killed poor Mrs. Thielicke, blew the house considerably to +wreck, but did not set fire to it. Amim, all the Magistrates entreating +him for the love of Heaven to leave them, is secretly shoving off his +two cannon to the Northern Gate; and in fact is making his packages +with full speed: 'Push for Custrin,' thinks Arnim, and save selves and +cannon, since no good is to be done here!' + +"It was about 11 A.M. when the Thielicke grenado fell: obstinate Arnim +would by no means go; only packed all the faster. A second summons +came: still, No. For the third and last time the Russians then summon: +'Grenadoes, a hundred more of them lie ready, unless--!' 'We will, we +will; O merciful servant of Czarish Majesty!' passionately signify the +Magistrates. But Arnim is still negative, still keeps the Bridge up. One +of the hundred does go, by way of foretaste: this lighted 'near the +Ober Kirche, in the chimney of the Town Musikus;' brought the chimney +crashing down on him [fancy a man with some fineness of ear]; tore the +house a good deal to pieces, but again did not set it on fire. 'Your +obstinate Town can be bombarded, then,--cannot it?' observed the Russian +Messenger.--'Give us Free Withdrawal!' proposes Amim. 'No; you to +be Prisoners of War; Town at Czarish Majesty's discretion.' 'Never,' +answers Arnim (to the outward ear).--'Go, oh, for the love of Heaven, +go!' cry all Official people. + +"Arnim, deaf to clamor, but steadily diligent in getting ready, does at +last go; through the Lebus Suburb, quick march; steady, yet at his best +step;--taking the Town-keys in his pocket, and leaving the Drawbridge +up. One is sorry for poor Arnim and his 400 Militia; whose conduct was +perfect, under difficulties and alarms; but proved unsuccessful. The +terrified Magistrates, finding their Keys gone, and the conflagrative +Russians at their gates, got blacksmiths on the instant; smote down, by +chisel and mallet, the locked Drawbridge, smote open the Gates: 'Enter, +O gracious Sirs; and may Czarish Majesty have mercy on us!' So that +Arnim had small start for marchers on foot; and was overtaken about +half-way. Would not yield still, though the odds were overwhelming; drew +himself out on the best ground discoverable; made hot resistance; hot +and skilful; but in vain. About six in the evening, Arnim and Party +were brought back, Prisoners, to Frankfurt again,--self, surviving men, +cannons and all (self in a wounded state);--and 'were locked in various +Brew-houses;' little of careful surgery, I should fear. Poor Arnim; man +could do no more; and he has been unfortunate." + +It is by no means our intention to describe the Iliad of miseries, +the agitations, terrors and disquietudes, the tribulation and utter +harrowing to despair, which poor Frankfurt underwent, incessantly from +that day forward, for about five weeks to come. "The furnishings of +victual [Russian stock quite out] were to an inconceivable amount; +surrender of arms, of linens, cloths, of everything useful to a hungry +Army; above all things, of horses, so that at last there were but four +horses left in all Frankfurt; and"--But we must not go into details. + +"On the second day, besides all this," what will be significant of it +all, "there was exacted 'ransom of 600,000 thalers (90,000 pounds), or +you shall be delivered to the Cossacks!' Frankfurt has not above 12,000 +inhabitants within its bounds; here is a sudden poll-tax of 7 pounds +10s. per head. Frankfurt has not such a sum; the most rigorous +collection did not yield above the tenth part of it. And more than once +those sanguinary vagabonds were openly drawn out, pitch-link in hand: +'The 90,000 pounds or--!' Civic Presidency Office in Frankfurt was not a +bed of roses. The poor Magistrates rushed distractedly about; wrung out +moneys to the last drop; moneys, and in the end plate from those that +had it; went in tearful deputation to General Soltikof,--a severe proud +kind of man, capable perhaps of being flattered,--who usually locked +them up instead. Magistrates were locked in Russian ward, at one time, +for almost a week; sat in the blazing sun; if you try for the shade of +a tree, the sentry handles arms upon you;--and were like to die. To me, +Kriele, it is a miracle how the most of us lived; nay we never really +wanted food, so kind was Providence, so generous our poor neighbors out +of all the Towns round. The utmost of money that could be raised was +6,000 pounds; nothing but some little of plate, and our Bill for the +remainder. Soltikof, a high kind of gentleman, saw at last how it +stood; let the Magistrates out of ward; sent back the plate--'Nothing of +that!'--nay, Czarish Majesty was herself generous; and FORGAVE the Bill, +on our petition, next Year. Cossacks, indeed, were a plunderous wild +crew; but the Russians kept them mostly without the gates. The regular +Russians were civil and orderly, officers and men,--greatly beyond the +Austrians in behavior." [Kriele, _Schlacht bei Kunersdorf;_ pp. 1-15 (in +compressed state).] By these few traits conceive Frankfurt: this, now +forgotten in most books, is a background on which things were transacted +still memorable to everybody. + +"Friday, August 3d, General Loudon came to hand: arrived early, in the +Guben (or Western) Suburb, his 18,000 and he. In high spirits naturally, +and somewhat exultant to have evaded Friedrich; but found a reception +that surprised him. The Russians had been living in the hope of +junction; but still more vividly in that of meal. 'Auxiliaries; +humph,--only 18,000 of them; how much welcomer had been as many +hundredweights of meal!' Loudon had pushed his baggage direct into +Frankfurt; and likewise a requisition of such and such proviants, +weights of meal and the like, in exuberant amount, to be furnished +straightway by the City: neither of which procedures would the +Russians hear of for a moment. 'Out with you!' said they roughly to the +baggage-people: 'quarter in the Guben Suburb, or where you like; not +here!' And with regard to the requisition of proviant, they answered +in a scornful angry key, 'Proviant? You too without it? You have not +brought us meal, according to covenant; instead of meal, you bring us +18,000 new eaters, most of them on horse-back,--Satan thank you! From +Frankfurt be very certain you can get no ounce of meal; Frankfurt is our +own poor meal-bag, dreadfully scanty: stay outside, and feed where and +how you can!' + +"All this, Loudon, though of hot temper, easily capable of rising to +the fierce point, had to endure in silence, for the common interest. +Loudon's own table is furnished from Frankfurt; no other Austrian man's: +all others have to shift how they can. Sad requisitioning needed, and +sad plunder to supplement it: the Austrian behavior was very bad, say +the Frankfurters; 'in particular, they had burnt gradually all the +corn-mills in the country; within many miles not one mill standing +when they left us,'--and four horses all the conveyance power we had. +Soltikof lodges in great pomp, much soldiery and cannon parading before +his doors; not an undignified man, or an inhuman or essentially foolish, +but very high in his ways, and distasteful to Austrian dignitaries." + +The Russian Army lies mainly across Oder; encamped on the Judenberg, and +eastward there, along the Heights, near three miles, to Kunersdorf and +beyond. They expect Friedrich at the gates of Frankfurt shortly; know +well that they cannot defend Frankfurt. They calculate that Friedrich +will attack them in their Judenberg Encampment, but hope they are nearly +ready for him there. Loudon, from the Guben Suburb, will hasten across, +at any moment;--welcome on such fighting occasion, though ill seen +when the question is of eating! The Russians have their Wagenburg on an +Island southward, farther up the River; they have three Pontoon Bridges +leading thither, a free retreat should they be beaten. And in the +mean while are intrenching themselves, as only Daun would,--cannon and +redoubts all round those Heights;--and except it be screwing Frankfurt +to do its impossible duty, and carting provender with all the horses +except four, have not much farther to do but wait till the King come. +Which will be speedily, it is probable!-- + +Wednesday, August 8th, Russian and Austrian Generals, a cheerful party +of them, had rendezvoused at FISCHERS MUHLE; a Mill not yet burnt, and a +pleasant Tavern as well; in one of the prettiest valleys in the Western +Environs;--intending to dine there, and have a pleasant day. But the +Miller's Boy runs in upon them, wide-eyed, "HIMMEL UND ERDE, Prussian +Hussars!" It was in verity Prussian Hussars; the King of Prussia with +them in person. He is come out reconnoitring,--the day after his arrival +in those parts. The pleasuring Generals, Russian and Austrian, sprang to +horseback at their swiftest,--hope of dinner gone futile, except to the +intervening Prussian Hussars;--and would have all been captured, but +for that Miller's Boy; whose Mill too was burnt before long. This gallop +home of the undined Generals into Frankfurt was the first news we poor +Frankfurters had of the King's arrival. + +The King has been punctual to his reckoning: he picked up Wedell at +Mullrose,--not too cordial to Wedell's people: "None of you speak to +those beaten wretches," ordered he; "till perhaps they wipe off +their Zullichau stain!" On the 7th, Friedrich advanced to Frankfurt +neighborhood; took Camp between Wulkow and Lebus;--and has just been +out reconnoitring. And has raised, fancy what emotion in poor Frankfurt +lying under its nightmare! "Next day, August 9th, from Wulkow-Lebus hand, +we" of Frankfurt, "heard a great firing; cannon-salvos, musket-volleys: +'Nothing of fight,' the Russian Officers told us; 'it is the King of +Prussia doing joy-fire for Minden,' of which we till now knew nothing." + +Friedrich, on survey of this Russian-Austrian Army, some 90,000 in +number, with such posts, artilleries, advantages, judges that he, +counting only 40,000, is not strong enough. And, indeed, had so +anticipated, and already judged; and, accordingly, has Finck on march +hitherward again,--Berlin must take its risk, Saxony must shift for +itself in the interim. Finck is due in two days,--not here at Lebus +precisely, but at another place appointed; Finck will raise him to +50,000; and then business can begin! Contrary to Russian expectation, +Friedrich does not attack Frankfurt; seems quite quiet in his +cantonments;--he is quietly (if one knew it) making preparations +farther down the River. About Reitwein, between this and Custrin, there +arrangements are proceeding, by no means of a showy sort. + +The Russian-Austrian Army quits Frankfurt, leaving only some hundreds +of garrison: Loudon moves across, Soltikof across; to the Oder-Dam and +farther; and lie, powerfully intrenched, on those Kunersdorf Heights, +and sandy Moorlands, which go eastward at right-angles to Oder-Dam. One +of the strongest Camps imaginable. All round there, to beyond Kunersdorf +and back again, near three miles each way, they have a ring of redoubts, +and artillery without end. And lie there, in order of battle, or nearly +so; ready for Friedrich, when he shall attack, through Frankfurt or +otherwise. They face to the North (Reitwein way, as it happens); to +their rear, and indeed to their front, only not so close, are woods and +intricate wilds. Loudon has the left flank; that is to say, Loudon's +left hand is towards the Oder-Dam and Frankfurt; he lies at the ROTHE +VORWERK ("Red Grange," a Farmstead much mentioned just now); rather +to northwestward of the Jew Hill and Jew Churchyard (JUDENBERG and +JUDENKIRCHHOF, likewise much mentioned); and in advance of the general +Mass. Soltikof's head-quarter, I rather understand, is on the right +wing; probably in Kunersdorf itself, or beyond that Village; there, at +least, our highly important Russian right wing is; there, elaborately +fortified; and, half a mile farther, ends,--on the edge of steep dells; +the Russian brink of which is strongly fringed with cannon, while +beyond, on the farther brink, they have built an abatis; so making +assurance doubly sure. Looking to the northward all these 90,000; their +left rather southward of Frankfurt Bridge, over which Friedrich will +probably arrive. Leftward, somewhat to rearward, they have bridges of +their own; should anything sinister befall; three bridges which lead +into that Oder Island, and the Russian Wagenburg there. + +August 10th, Finck, punctual to time, arrives in the neighborhood of +Reitwein (which is some ten miles down stream from Lebus, from Frankfurt +perhaps fifteen); Friedrich, the same day, is there before him; eager +to complete the Bridges, and get to business. One Bridge is of pontoons; +one of "Oder-boats floated up from Custrin." Bridges are not begun till +nightfall, lest eyes be abroad; are ready in the minimum of time. And +so, during the same night of the 10th, all the Infantry, with their +artilleries and battle-furnitures, pour over in two columns; the +Cavalry, at the due point of time, riding by a ford short way to the +right. And at four, in the gray of the August morning (Saturday, 11th +August, 1759), all persons and things find themselves correctly across; +ranked there, in those barren, much-indented "Pasture-grounds of Goritz" +or of OEtscher; intending towards Kunersdorf; ready for unfolding into +order of battle there. They leave their heavy baggage at Goritz, Wunsch +to guard the Bridges and it; and, in succinct condition, are all under +way. At one in the afternoon we are got to Leissow and Bischofsee; +scrubby hamlets (as the rest all are), not above two miles from +Kunersdorf. The August day is windless, shiny, sultry; man and horse are +weary with the labors, and with the want of sleep: we decide to bivouac +here, and rest on the scrubby surface, heather or whatever it is, till +to-morrow. + +Finck is Vanguard, ahead short way, and with his left on a bit of lake +or bog; the Army is in two lines, with its right on Leissow, and has +Cavalry in the kind of wood which there is to rear. Friedrich, having +settled the positions, rides out reconnoitring; hither, thither, +over the Heights of Trettin. "The day being still hot, he suffers +considerably from thirst [it is our one Anecdote] in that arid tract: at +last a Peasant does bring him, direct from the fountain, a jug of pure +cold water; whom, lucky man, the King rewarded with a thaler; and not +only so, but, the man being intelligent of the localities, took with him +to answer questions." Readers too may desire to gain some knowledge of +the important ground now under survey. + +"Frankfurt, a very ancient Town, not a very beautiful," says my Note, +"stands on an alluvium which has been ground down from certain clay +Hills on the left bank of Oder. It counted about 12,000 inhabitants in +Friedrich's time; has now perhaps about 20,000; not half the bulk of +its namesake on the Mayn; but with Three great Fairs annually, and much +trade of the rough kind. On this left or west bank of Oder the country +is arable, moderately grassy and umbrageous, the prospect round you +not unpleasant; but eastward, over the River, nothing can be more in +contrast. Oder is of swift current, of turbid color, as it rolls under +Frankfurt Bridge,--Wooden Bridge, with Dam Suburb at the end;--a River +treeless, desolate, as you look up and down; which has, evidently, +often changed its course, since grinding down that alluvium as site for +Frankfurt; and which, though now holding mainly to northward, is still +given to be erratic, and destructive on the eastern low grounds,--had +not the Frankfurters built an 'Oder-Dam' on that side; a broad strong +Earth-mound, running for many miles, and confining its floods. Beyond +the Dam there are traces of an 'Old Oder (ALTE ODER);' and, in fact, +Oder, in primeval and in recent time, has gone along, many-streamed; +indenting, quarrying, leaving lakelets, quagmires, miscellaneous sandy +tumult, at a great rate, on that eastern shore. Making of it one of +the unloveliest scenes of chaotic desolation anywhere to be met +with;--fallen unlovelier than ever in our own more recent times. + +"What we call the Heights of Kunersdorf is a broad Chain of Knolls; +coming out, at right-angles, or as a kind of spur, from the eastern high +grounds; direct towards Oder and Frankfurt. Mill-Hill (MUHLBERG) is +the root or easternmost part of this spur. From the Muhlberg, over +Kunersdorf, to Oder-Dam, which is the whole length of the spur, or Chain +of Knolls, will be little short of four miles; the breadth of the Chain +is nowhere one mile,--which is its grand defect as a Camp: 'too narrow +for manoeuvring in.' Here, atop and on the three sides of this Block +of Knolls, was fought the furious Battle of Kunersdorf [to be fought +to-morrow], one of the most furious ever known. A Block of Knolls +memorable ever since. + +"To all appearance: it was once some big Island or chain of Islands +in the Oder deluges: it is still cut with sudden hollows,--KUHGRUND +(Cow-Hollow), TIEFE WEG (Deep Way), and westernmost of all, and +most important for us here, HOHLE GRUND (Big Hollow, let us call it; +'LOUDON'S Hollow' people subsequently called it);--and is everywhere +strangely tumbled up into knolls blunt or sharp, the work of primeval +Oder in his rages. In its highest knolls,--of which let readers note +specially the Spitzberg, the Muhlberg, the Judenberg,--it rises nowhere +to 150 feet; perhaps the general height of it may be about 100. On each +side of it, especially on the north, the Country is of most intricate +character: bushy, scraggy, with brooklets or muddy oozings wandering +about, especially with a thing called the HUNERFLIESS (Hen-Floss), which +springs in the eastern woods, and has inconceivable difficulty to +get into Oder,--if it get at all! This was a sore Floss to Friedrich +to-morrow. Hen-Floss struggles, painfully meandering and oozing, along +the northern side (sometimes close, sometimes not) of our Chain of +Knolls: along the south side of it (in our time, through the middle +of it) goes the Highway to Reppen ["From that Highway will his attack +come!" thought the Russians, always till to-day]: on the north, to +Leissow, to Trettin," where Friedrich is now on survey, "go various +wheel-tracks, but no firm road. A most intricate unlovely Country. +Withered bent-grasses, heath, perhaps gorse, and on both sides a great +deal of straggling Forest-wood, reaching eastward, and especially +southward, for many miles. + +"For the rest," to our ill-luck in this place, "the Battlefield of +Kunersdorf has had a peculiar fate in the world; that of being blown +away by the winds! The then scene of things exists no longer; the +descriptions in the Old Books are gone hopelessly irrecognizable. In our +time, there is not anywhere a tract more purely of tumbled sand, than +all this between Kunersdorf and Dam Vorstadt; and you judge, without aid +of record or tradition, that it is greatly altered for the worse since +Friedrich's time,--some rabbit-colony, or other the like insignificancy, +eating out the roots, till all vegetation died, and the wind got hold +and set it dancing;--and that, in 1759, when Russian human beings +took it for a Camp, it must have been at least coherent, more or less; +covered, held together by some film of scrubby vegetation; not blowing +about in every wind as now! Kunersdorf stands with its northern end +pushed into that KUHGRUND (Cow-Hollow); which must then have been a +grassy place. Eastward of Kunersdorf the ground has still some skin of +peat, and sticks together: but westward, all that three miles, it is a +mere tumult of sand-hills, tumbled about in every direction (so diligent +have the conies been, and then the winds); no gullet, or definite cut or +hollow, now traceable anywhere, but only an endless imbroglio of twisted +sand-heaps and sand-hollows, which continually alter in the wind-storms. +Sand wholly, and--except the strong paved Highway that now runs through +it (to Reppen, Meseritz and the Polish Frontier, and is strongly paved +till it get through Kunersdorf)--chaotic wholly; a scene of heaped +barrenness and horror, not to be matched but in Sahara; the features of +the Battle quite blown away, and indecipherable in our time. + +"A hundred years ago, it would have some tattered skin,--of peat, of +heather and dwarf whins, with the sand cropping out only here and there. +So one has to figure it in Soltikof's day,--before the conies ruined +it. Which was not till within the last sixty years, as appears. Kriele's +Book (in 1801) still gives no hint of change: the KUHGRUND, which now +has nothing but dry sand for the most industrious ruminant, is still a +place of succulence and herbage in Kriele's time; 'Deep Way,' where 'at +one point two carts could not pass,' was not yet blown out of existence, +but has still 'a Well in it' for Kriele; HOHLE GRUND (since called +Loudon's Hollow), with the Jew Hill and Jew Churchyard beyond, seem +tolerable enough places to Kriele. Probably not unlike what the +surrounding Country still is. A Country of poor villages, and of wild +ground, flat generally, and but tolerably green; with lakelets, bushes, +scrubs, and intricate meandering little runlets and oozelets; and in +general with more of Forest so called than now is:--this is Kunersdorf +Chain of Knolls; Soltikof's Intrenched Camp at present; destined to +become very famous in the world, after lying so long obscure under Oder +and its rages." [TOURIST'S NOTE (Autumnn, 1852).] + +From the Knolls of Trettin, that Saturday afternoon, Friedrich takes +view of the Russian Camp. All lying bright enough there; from Muhlberg +to Judenberg, convenient to our glass; between us and the evening Sun. +Batteries most abundant, difficulties great: Soltikof just ahead here, +72,000: Loudon at the Red Grange yonder, on their extreme left, with +18,000 more. An uncommonly strong position for 90,000 against 50,000. +One thing strikes Friedrich: On front in this northern side, close by +the base of the Russian Camp, runs--for the present away FROM Oder, but +intending to join it elsewhere--a paltry little Brook, "Hen-Floss" so +called, with at least two successive Mills on it (KLEINE MUHLE, GROSSE +MUHLE); and on the northern shore of it, spilling itself out into a +wet waste called ELSBRUCH (Alder Waste), which is especially notable +to Friedrich. ALDER Waste? Watery, scrubby; no passage there, thinks +Friedrich; which his Peasant with the water-jug confirms. "Tell me, +however," inquires Friedrich, with strictness, "From the Red Grange +yonder, where General Loudon is, if you wished to get over to the HOHLE +GRUND, or to the Judenberg, would you cross that Hen-Floss?" "It is not +crossable, your Majesty; one has to go round quite westward by the +Dam." "What, from Rothe Vorwerk to Big Hollow, no passage, say you; no +crossing?" "None, your Majesty," insists the Peasant;--who is not aware +that the Russians have made one of firm trestles and logs, and use it +daily for highway there; an error of some interest to Friedrich within +the next twenty-four hours! + +Friedrich himself does not know this bit of ground: but there is with +him, besides the Peasant, a Major Linden, whose Regiment used to lie in +Frankfurt, of whom Friedrich makes minute questioning. Linden answers +confidently; has been over all this tract a hundred times; "but knows +it only as a hunter," says Tempelhof, [Tempelhof, iii. 186.] "not as a +soldier," which he ought to have done. His answers are supposed to +have misled Friedrich on various points, and done him essential damage. +Friedrich's view of the case, that evening, is by no means so despondent +as might be imagined: he regards the thing as difficult, not as +impossible,--and one of his anxieties is, that he be not balked of +trying it straightway. Retiring to his hut in Bischofsee, he makes two +Dispositions, of admirable clearness, brevity, and calculated for two +contingencies: [Given in Tempelhof, iii. 182, 183.] That of the +enemy retaining his now posture; and That of the enemy making off for +Reppen;--which latter does not at all concern us, as matters turned! Of +the former the course will unfold itself to us, in practice, shortly. At +2 A.M. Friedrich will be on foot again, at 3 on march again.--The last +phenomenon, at Bischofsee this night, is some sudden glare of disastrous +light rising over the woods:--"Russians burning Kunersdorf!" as +neighbors are sorry to hear. That is the finale of much Russian +rearranging and tumbling, this day; that barbarous burning of +Kunersdorf, before going to bed. To-morrow various other poor Villages +got burnt by them, which they had better have left standing. + +The Russians, on hearing that Friedrich was across at Goritz, and coming +on them from the north side, not from Frankfurt by the Reppen Highway, +were in great agitation. Not thrown into terror, but into manifold +haste, knowing what hasty adversary there was. Endless readjustments +they have to make; a day of tumultuous business with the Russians, this +Saturday, 11th, when the news reached them. "They inverted their front +[say all the Books but Friedrich's own]: Not coming by the Reppen +Highway, then!" think they. And thereupon changed rear to front, as at +Zorndorf, but more elaborately;--which I should not mention, were it +not that hereby their late "right wing on the Muhlberg" has, in strict +speech, become their "left," and there is ambiguity and discrepancy in +some of the Books, should any poor reader take to studying them on this +matter. Changed their front; which involves much interior changing; +readjusting of batteries and the like. That of burning Kunersdorf was +the barbaric winding up of all this: barbaric, and, in the military +sense, absurd; poor Kunersdorf could have been burnt at any moment, +if needful; and to the Russians the keeping of it standing was the +profitable thing, as an impediment to Friedrich in his advance there. +They have laid it flat and permeable; ashes all of it,--except the +Church only, which is of stone; not so combustible, and may have uses +withal. Has perhaps served as temporary lock-up, prison for the night, +to some of those Frankfurt Deputations and their troublesome wailings; +and may serve as temporary hospital to-morrow, who knows? + +Readjustments in the Russian Camp were manifold: but these are as +nothing, in the tumultuous business of the day. Carting of their +baggage, every article of value, to that safe Wagenburg in the River; +driving of cattle,--the very driving of cattle through Frankfurt, +endless herds of them, gathered by the Cossacks from far and wide, +"lasted for four-and-twenty hours." Oxen in Frankfurt that day were +at the rate of ten shillings per head. Often enough you were offered a +full-grown young steer for a loaf of bread; nay the Cossacks, when there +was absolutely no bidder, would slaughter down the animal, leave its +carcass in the streets, and sell the hide for a TYMPF,--fivepence (very +bad silver at present). Never before or since was seen in Frankfurt such +a Saturday, for bellowing and braying, and raging and tumulting, all +through the day and through the night; ushering in such a Sunday too! + +Sunday about 3 in the morning, Friedrich is on march again,--Russians +still in their place; and Disposition FIRST, not SECOND at all, to be +our rule of action! Friedrich, in Two Columns, marches off, eastward +through the woods, as if for Reppen quite away from the Russians and +their Muhlberg; but intending to circle round at the due point, and come +down upon their right flank there (left flank, as he persists to call +it), out of the woods, and clasp it in his arms in an impressive, +unexpected way. In Two Columns; which are meant, as usual, to be the Two +Lines of Battle: Seidlitz, with chosen Cavalry, is at the head of +Column First, and will be Left Wing, were we on the ground; Eugen of +Wurtemberg, closing the rear of Column First, will, he, or Finck and he +together, be Right Wing. That is the order of march;--order of BATTLE, +we shall find, had to alter itself somewhat, for reasons extremely +valid! + +Finck with his 12,000 is to keep his present ground; to have two good +batteries got ready, each on its knoll ahead, which shall wait silent +in the interim: Finck to ride out reconnoitring, with many General +Officers, and to make motions and ostentations; in a word, to persuade +the Russians that here is the Main Army coming on from the north. All +which Finck does; avoiding, as his orders were, any firing, or serious +commencement of business, till the King reappear out of the woods. The +Russians give Finck and his General Officers a cannon salvo, here and +there, without effect, and get no answer. "The King does not see his +way, then, after all?" think the Russians. Their Cossacks go scouring +about; on the southern side, "burn Schwetig and Reipzig," without the +least advantage to themselves: most of the Cavalry, and a regiment or +two of excellent Austrian Grenadiers, are with Loudon, near the Red +Grange, in front of the Russian extreme left;--but will have stept over +into Big Hollow at a moment of crisis! + +The King's march, through the Forest of Reppen, was nothing like so +expeditious as had been expected. There are thickets, intricacies, +runlets, boggy oozes; indifferent to one man well mounted, but vitally +important to 30,000 with heavy cannon to bring on. Boggy oozings +especially,--there is one dirty stream or floss (HUNERFLIESS, Hen-Floss) +which wanders dismally through those recesses, issuing from the far +south, with dirty daughters dismally wandering into it, and others that +cannot get into it (being of the lake kind): these, in their weary, +circling, recircling course towards Oder,--FAULE LAACKE (Foul Lake, +LITHER-MERE, as it were), Foul Bridge, Swine's Nook (SCHWEINEBUCKT), and +many others,--occasion endless difficulty. Whether Major Linden was shot +that day, or what became of him after, I do not know: but it was pity he +had not studied the ground with a soldier's eye instead of a hunter's! +Plumping suddenly, at last, upon Hen-Floss itself, Friedrich has to +turn angularly; angularly, which occasions great delay: the heavy cannon +(wall-guns brought from Custrin) have twelve horses each, and cannot +turn among the trees, but have to be unyoked, reyoked, turned round by +hand:--in short, it was eight in the morning before Friedrich arrived +at the edge of the wood, on the Klosterberg, Walckberg, and other woody +BERGS or knolls, within reach of Muhlberg, and behind the preliminary +abatis there (abatis which was rather of service to him than +otherwise);--and began privately building his batteries. + +At eight o'clock he, with Column First, which is now becoming Line First +(CENTRE of Line First, if we reckon Finck as RIGHT-WING), is there; +busy in that manner: Column Second, which was to have been Rear Line, is +still a pretty way behind; and has many difficulties before it gets into +Kunersdorf neighborhood, or can (having wriggled itself into a kind of +LEFT-WING) co-operate on the Russian Position from the south side. On +the north side, Finck has been ready these five hours.--Friedrich speeds +the building of his batteries: "Silent, too; the Russians have not yet +noticed us!" By degrees the Russians do notice something; shoot out +Cossacks to reconnoitre. Cossacks in quantity; who are so insolent, and +venture so very near, our gunners on the north battery give them a blast +of satisfactory grape-shot; one and then another, four blasts in all, +satisfactory to the gunner mind,--till the King's self, with a look, +with a voice, came galloping: "Silence, will you!" The Russians took no +offence; still considering Finck to be the main thing and Friedrich some +scout party,--till at last, + +Half-past eleven, everything being ready on the Walck Hill, Friedrich's +batteries opened there, in a sudden and volcanic way. Volcanically +answered by the Russians, as soon as possible; who have 72 guns on this +Muhlberg, and are nothing loath. Upon whom Finck's battery is opening +from the north, withal: Friedrich has 60 cannon hereabouts; on the +Walckberg, on the LITTLE Spitzberg (called SEIDLITZ HILL ever since); +all playing diligently on the head and south shoulder of this Muhlberg: +while Finck's battery opens on the north shoulder (could he but get near +enough). Volcanic to a degree all these; nor are the Russians wanting, +though they get more and more astonished: Tempelhof, who was in it, says +he never, except at Torgau next Year, heard a louder cannonade. Loud +exceedingly; and more or less appalling to the Russian imagination: +but not destructive in proportion; the distance being too +considerable,--"1,950 paces at the nearest," as Tempelhof has since +ascertained by measuring. Friedrich's two batteries, however, as they +took the Russians in the flank or by enfilade, did good execution. +"The Russian guns were ill-pointed; the Russian batteries wrong-built; +batteries so built as did not allow them sight of the Hollow they were +meant to defend." [Tempelhof, iii. 186, 187.] + +After above half an hour of this, Friedrich orders storm of the +Muhlberg: Forward on it, with what of enfilading it has had! Eight +grenadier Battalions, a chosen vanguard appointed for the work (names of +Battalions all given, and deathless in the Prussian War-Annals), tramp +forth on this service: cross the abatis, which the Russian grenadoes +have mostly burnt; down into the Hollow. Steady as planets; "with +a precision and coherency," says Tempelhof, "which even on the +parade-ground would have deserved praises. Once well in the Hollow, +they suffer nothing; though the blind Russian fire, going all over their +heads, rages threefold:" suffered nothing in the Hollow; nor till they +reached almost the brow of the Muhlberg, and were within a hundred steps +of the Russian guns. These were the critical steps, these final ones; +such torrents of grape-shot and musket-shot and sheer death bursting +out, here at last, upon the Eight Battalions, as they come above ground. +Who advanced, unwavering, all the faster,--speed one's only safety. They +poured into the Russian gunners and musketry battalions one volley of +choicest quality, which had a shaking effect; then, with level bayonets, +plunge on the batteries: which are all empty before we can leap +into them; artillery-men, musketeer battalions, all on wing; general +whirlpool spreading. And so, in ten minutes, the Muhlberg and its guns +are ours. Ever since Zorndorf, an idea had got abroad, says Tempelhof, +that the Russians would die instead of yielding; but it proved far +otherwise here. Down as far as Kunersdorf, which may be about a mile +westward, the Russians are all in a whirl; at best hanging in tatters +and clumps, their Officers struggling against the flight; "mixed groups +you would see huddled together a hundred men deep." The Russian Left +Wing is beaten: had we our cannon up here, our cavalry up here, the +Russian Army were in a bad way! + +This is a glorious beginning; completed, I think, as far almost as +Kunersdorf by one o'clock: and could the iron continue to be struck +while it is at white-heat as now, the result were as good as certain. +That was Friedrich's calculation: but circumstances which he had not +counted on, some which he could not count on, sadly retarded the matter. +His Left Wing (Rear Line, which should now have been Left Wing) from +southward, his Right Wing from northward, and Finck farther west, +were now on the instant to have simultaneously closed upon the beaten +Russians, and crushed them altogether. The Right Wing, conquerors of the +Muhlberg, are here: but neither Finck nor the Left can be simultaneous +with them. Finck and his artillery are much retarded with the Flosses +and poor single Bridges; and of the Left Wing there are only some +Vanguard Regiments capable of helping ("who drove out the Russians from +Kunersdorf Churchyard," as their first feat),--no Main Body yet for +a long while. Such impediments, such intricacies of bog and bush! The +entire Wing does at last get to the southeast of Kunersdorf, free of the +wood; but finds (contrary to Linden with his hunter eye) an intricate +meshwork of meres and straggling lakes, two of them in the burnt +Village itself; no passing of these except on narrow isthmuses, which +necessitate change of rank and re-change; and our Left Wing cannot, with +all its industry, "march up," that is, arrive at the enemy in fighting +line, without the painfulest delays. + +And then the getting forward of our cannon! On the Muhlberg itself +the seventy-two Russian guns, "owing to difference of calibre," or +artillery-men know what, cannot be used by us: a few light guns, +Tempelhof to one of them, a poor four in all, with perhaps 100 shot to +each, did, by the King's order, hasten to the top of the Muhlberg; and +never did Tempelhof see a finer chance for artillery than there. Soft +sloping ground, with Russians simmering ahead of you, all the way +down to Kunersdorf, a mile long: by horizontal pointing, you had such +reboundings (RICOCHETS); and carried beautiful execution! Tempelhof soon +spent his hundred shots: but it was not at once that any of our sixty +heavy guns could be got up thither. Twelve horses to each: fancy it, and +what baffling delays here and elsewhere;--and how the Russian whirlpool +was settling more and more, in the interim! And had, in part, settled; +in part, got through to the rear, and been replaced by fresh troops! + +Friedrich's activities, and suppressed and insuppressible impatiences +in this interval, are also conceivable, though not on record for us. The +swiftest of men; tied down, in this manner, with the blaze of perfect +victory ahead, were the moments NOT running out! Slower or faster, he +thinks (I suppose), the victory is his; and that he must possess his +soul till things do arrive. It was in one and more of those embargoed +intervals that he wrote to Berlin [Preuss, ii. 212 n.] (which is +waiting, as if for life or death, the issue of this scene, sixty miles +distant): "Russians beaten; rejoice with me!" Four successive couriers, +I believe, with messages to that effect; and at last a Fifth with +dolefully contrary news!-- + +In proportion as the cannon and other necessaries gradually got in, the +Fight flamed up from its embers more and more: and there ensued,--the +Russians being now ranked again (fronting eastward now) "in many lines," +and very fierce,--a second still deadlier bout; Friedrich furiously +diligent on their front and right flank; Finck, from the Alder Waste, +battering and charging (uphill, and under difficulties from those +Flosses and single Bridges) on their left flank. This too, after long +deadly efforts on the Prussian part, ended again clearly in their +favor; their enemies broken a second time, and driven not only out of +Kunersdorf and the Kuhgrund, but some say almost to the foot of the +Judenberg,--what can only be very partially true. Broken portions of the +Russian left flank,--some of Finck's people, in their victorious wrath, +may have chased these very far: but it is certain the general Russian +mass rallied again a long way short of the Judenberg;--though, the +ground being all obliterated by the rabbits and the winds, nobody can +now know with exactitude where. + +And indeed the Battle, from this point onwards, becomes blurred and +confused to us, only its grosser features visible henceforth. Where the +"Big Spitzberg" was (so terribly important soon), nobody can now +tell me, except from maps. London's motions too are obscure, though +important. I believe his grenadiers had not yet been in the fire; but am +certain they are now come out of Big Hollow; fresh for the rescue; +and have taken front rank in this Second Rally that is made. Loudon's +Cavalry Loudon himself has in hand, and waits with them in a fit place. +He has 18,000 fresh men; and an eye like few others on a field of war. +Loudon's 18,000 are fresh: of the Prussians that can by no means be +said. I should judge it must be 3 of the afternoon. The day is windless, +blazing; one of the hottest August days; and "nobody, for twelve hours +past, could command a drink of water:" very fresh the poor Prussians +cannot be! They have done two bouts of excellent fighting; tumbled the +Russians well back, stormed many batteries; and taken in all 180 cannon. + +At this stage, it appears, Finck and many Generals, Seidlitz among the +others, were of opinion that, in present circumstances, with troops so +tired, and the enemy nearly certain to draw off, if permitted, here +had been enough for one day, and that there ought to be pause till +to-morrow. Friedrich knew well the need of rest; but Friedrich, +impatient of things half-done, especially of Russians half-beaten, would +not listen to this proposal; which was reckoned upon him as a grave and +tragic fault, all the rest of his life; though favorable judges, who +were on the ground, Tempelhof for one, [Tempelhof, iii. 194.] are +willing to prove that pausing here--at the point we had really got to, a +little beyond the Kuhgrund, namely; and not a couple of miles westward, +at the foot of the Jew Hill, where vague rumor puts us--was not feasible +or reasonable. Friedrich considers with himself, "Our left wing has +hardly yet been in fire!" calls out the entire left wing, foot +and horse: these are to emerge from their meshwork of Lakes about +Kunersdorf, and bear a hand along with us on the Russian front +here,--especially to sweep away that raging Battery they have on the Big +Spitzberg, and make us clear of it. The Big Spitzberg lies to south and +ahead of the Russian right as now ranked; fatally covers their right +flank, and half ruins the attack in front. Big Spitzberg is blown +irrecognizable in our time; but it was then an all-important thing. + +The left-wing Infantry thread their lake-labyrinth, the soonest +possible; have to rank again on the hither side, under a tearing fire +from that Spitzberg; can then at last, and do, storm onwards, upwards; +but cannot, with their best efforts, take the Spitzberg: and have to +fall back under its floods of tearing case-shot, and retire out of +range. To Friedrich's blank disappointment: "Try it you, then, Seidlitz; +you saved us at Zorndorf!" Seidlitz, though it is an impossible problem +to storm batteries with horse, does charge in for the Russian flank, +in spite of its covering battery: but the torrents of grape-shot are +insufferable; the Seidlitz people, torn in gaps, recoil, whirl round, +and do not rank again till beyond the Lakes of Kunersdorf. Seidlitz +himself has got wounded, and has had to be carried away. + +And, in brief, from this point onwards all goes aback with the Prussians +more and more. Repeated attempts on that Spitzberg battery prove +vain; to advance without it is impossible. Friedrich's exertions +are passionate, almost desperate; rallying, animating, new-ordering; +everywhere in the hottest of the fire. "Thrice he personally led on +the main attack." He has had two horses shot down under him; mounting +a third, this too gets a bullet in an artery of the neck, and is about +falling, when two Adjutants save the King. In his waistcoat-pocket some +small gold case (ETUI) has got smitten flat by a bullet, which would +otherwise have ended matters. The people about him remonstrate on such +exposure of a life beyond value; he answers curtly, "We must all of +us try every method here, to win the Battle: I, like every other, must +stand to my duty here!" These, and a second brief word or two farther +on, are all of articulate that we hear from him this day. + +Friedrich's wearied battalions here on the Heights, while the Spitzberg +to left goes so ill, fight desperately; but cannot prevail farther; and +in spite of Friedrich's vehement rallyings and urgings, gradually lose +ground,--back at last to Kunersdorf and the Kuhgrund again. The Loudon +grenadiers, and exclaimed masses of fresh Russians, are not to be +broken, but advance and advance. Fancy the panting death-labors, and +spasmodic toilings and bafflings, of those poor Prussians and their +King! Nothing now succeeding; the death-agony now come; all hearts +growing hopeless; only one heart still seeing hope. The Spitzberg is +impossible; tried how often I know not. Finck, from the Alder Waste, +with his Infantry, attacks, and again attacks; without success: "Let the +Cavalry go round, then, and try there. Seidlitz we have not; you Eugen +of Wurtemberg lead them!" Eugen leads them (cuirassiers, or we will +forget what); round by the eastern end of the Muhlberg; then westward, +along the Alder Waste; finally southward, against the Russian flank, +himself foremost, and at the gallop for charging:--Eugen, "looking +round, finds his men all gone," and has to gallop the other way, gets +wounded to boot. Puttkammer, with Hussars, then tried it; Puttkammer was +shot dead, and his Hussars too could do nothing. + +Back, slowly back, go the Prussians generally, nothing now succeeds with +them. Back to the Kuhgrund again; fairly over the steep brow there; the +Russians serrying their ranks atop, rearranging their many guns. There, +once more, rose frightful struggle; desperate attempt by the fordone +Prussians to retake that Height. "Lasted fifteen minutes, line to line +not fifty yards asunder;" such musketry,--our last cartridges withal. +Ardent Prussian parties trying to storm up; few ever getting to the top, +none ever standing there alive one minute. This was the death-agony of +the Battle. Loudon, waiting behind the Spitzberg, dashes forward now, +towards the Kuhgrund and our Left Flank. At sight of which a universal +feeling shivers through the Prussian heart, "Hope ended, then!"--and +their solid ranks rustle everywhere; and melt into one wild deluge, +ebbing from the place as fast as it can. + +It is towards six o'clock; the sweltering Sun is now fallen low and +veiled; gray evening sinking over those wastes. "N'Y A-T-IL DONC PAS +UN BOUGRE DE BOULET QUI PUISSE M'ATTEINDREE (Is there no one b---- of a +ball that can reach me, then)?" exclaimed Friedrich in despair. Such a +day he had never thought to see. The pillar of the State, the Prussian +Army itself, gone to chaos in this manner. Friedrich still passionately +struggles, exhorts, commands, entreats even with tears, "Children, don't +forsake me, in this pinch (KINDER, VERLASSET HEUTE MICH, EUREN KONIG, +EUREN VATER, NICHT)!" [Kriele, p. 169.]--but all ears are deaf. On the +Muhlberg one regiment still stood by their guns, covering the retreat. +But the retreat is more and more a flight; "no Prussian Army was ever +seen in such a state." At the Bridges of that Hen-Floss, there was such +a crowding, all our guns got jammed; and had to be left, 165 of them of +various calibre, and the whole of the Russian 180 that were once in our +hands. Had the chase been vigorous, this Prussian Army had been heard +of no more. But beyond the Muhlberg, there was little or no pursuit; +through the wood the Army, all in chaos, but without molestation +otherwise, made for its Oder Bridges by the way it had come. [Tempelhof, +iii. 179-200; Retzow, ii. 80-115: in Seyfarth, _Beylagen,_ ii. 589-598, +_ Bericht von der am 12 August, 1759 bey Kunersdorf vorgefallenen +Schlacht_ (Official); and IB. 598-603, _Beschreibung der &c._ (by a +Private Hand): lucidly accurate both.] + +Friedrich was among the last to quit the ground. He seemed stupefied +by the excess of his emotions; in no haste to go; uncertain whether +he would go at all. His adjutants were about him, and a small party +of Ziethen Hussars under Captain Prittwitz. Wild swarms of Cossacks +approached the place. "PRITTWITZ, ICH BIN VERLOREN (Prittwitz, I am +lost)!" remarked he. "NEIN, IHRO MAJESTAT!" answered Prittwitz with +enthusiasm; charged fiercely, he and his few, into the swarms of +Cossacks; cut them about, held them at bay, or sent them else-whither, +while the Adjutants seized Friedrich's bridle, and galloped off with +him. At OEtscher and the Bridges, Friedrich found of his late Army not +quite 3,000 men. Even Wunsch is not there till next morning. Wunsch +with his Party had, early in the afternoon, laid hold of Frankfurt, +as ordered; made the garrison prisoners, blocked the Oder Bridge; poor +Frankfurt tremulously thanking Heaven for him, and for such an omen. In +spite of their Wagenburg and these Pontoon-Bridges, it appears, there +would have been no retreat for the Russians except into Wunsch's cannon: +Wagenburg way, latish in the afternoon, there was such a scramble of +runaways and retreating baggage, all was jammed into impassability; +scarcely could a single man get through. In case of defeat, the +Russian Army would have had no chance but surrender or extermination. +[Tempelhof, iii. 194: in Retzow (ii. 110) is some dubious traditionary +stuff on the matter.] At dark, however, Wunsch had summons, so truculent +in style, he knew what it meant; and answering in words peremptorily, +"No" with a like emphasis, privately got ready again, and at midnight +disappeared. Got to Reitwein without accident. + +Friedrich found at OEtscher nothing but huts full of poor wounded men, +and their miseries and surgeries;--he took shelter, himself, in a hut +"which had been plundered by Cossacks" (in the past days), but which had +fewer wounded than others, and could be furnished with some bundles of +dry straw. Kriele has a pretty Anecdote, with names and particulars, of +two poor Lieutenants, who were lying on the floor, as he entered this +hut. They had lain there for many hours; the Surgeons thinking them +desperate; which Friedrich did not. "ACH KINDER, Alas, children, you +are badly wounded, then?" "JA, your Majesty: but how goes the Battle?" +(Answer, evasive on this point): "Are you bandaged, though? Have you +been let blood?" "NEIN, EUER MAJESTAT, KEIN TEUFEL WILL UNS VERBINDEN +(Not a devil of them would bandage us)!" Upon which there is a Surgeon +instantly brought; reprimanded for neglect: "Desperate, say you? These +are young fellows; feel that hand, and that; no fever there: Nature +in such cases does wonders!" Upon which the leech had to perform his +function; and the poor young fellows were saved,--and did new fighting, +and got new wounds, and had Pensions when the War ended. [Kriele, pp. +169, 170; and in all the Anecdote-Books.] This appears to have been +Friedrich's first work in that hut at OEtscher. Here next is a Third +Autograph to Finkenstein, written in that hut, probably the first of +several Official things there:-- + + +THE KING TO GRAF VAN FINKENSTEIN (at Berlin): Third Note. + +OETSCHER, "12th August," 1759. + +"I attacked the Enemy this morning about eleven; we beat him back to the +JUDENKIRCHHOF (Jew Churchyard,"--a mistake, but now of no moment), "near +Frankfurt. All my troops came into action, and have done wonders. I +reassembled them three times; at length, I was myself nearly taken +prisoner; and we had to quit the Field. My coat is riddled with bullets, +two horses were killed under me;--my misfortune is, that I am still +alive. Our loss is very considerable. Of an Army of 48,000 men, I have, +at this moment while I write, not more than 3,000 together; and am no +longer master of my forces. In Berlin you will do well to think of +your safety. It is a great calamity; and I will not survive it: the +consequences of this Battle will be worse than the Battle itself. I have +no resources more; and, to confess the truth, I hold all for lost. I +will not survive the destruction of my Country. Farewell forever +(ADIEU POUR JAMAIS).--F." [In orig. "CE 12," no other date (_OEuvres de +Frederic,_ xxv. 306).] + +Another thing, of the same tragic character, is that of handing over +this Army to Finck's charge. Order there is to Finck of that tenor: and +along with it the following notable Autograph,--a Friedrich taking +leave both of Kingship and of life. The Autograph exists; but has no +date,--date of the Order would probably be still OETSCHER, 12th AUGUST; +date of the Autograph, REITWEIN (across the River), next day. + +FRIEDRICH TO LIEUT.-GENERAL FINCK (at OEtscher or Reitwein). + +"General Finck gets a difficult commission; the unlucky Army which +I give up to him is no longer in condition to make head against the +Russians. Haddick will now start for Berlin, perhaps Loudon too; if +General Finck go after these, the Russians will fall on his rear; if +he continue on the Oder, he gets Haddick on his flank (SO KRIGT ER DEN +HADEK DISS SEIT):--however, I believe, should Loudon go for Berlin, he +might attack Loudon, and try to beat him: this, if it succeeded, would +be a stand against misfortune, and hold matters up. Time gained is much, +in these desperate circumstances. The news from Torgau and Dresden, +Coper my Secretary (COPER MEIN SEGRETER," kind of lieutenant to Eichel +[See Preuss, i. 349, iii. 442.]) "will send him. You (ER) must inform my +Brother [Prince Henri] of everything; whom I have declared Generalissimo +of the Army. To repair this bad luck altogether is not possible: but +what my Brother shall command, must be done:--the Army swears to my +Nephew [King henceforth]. + +"This is all the advice, in these unhappy circumstances, I am in a +condition to give. Had I still had resources, I would have stayed by +them (SO WEHRE ICH DARBEI GEBLIEBEN). + +"FRIEDRICH" [Exact Copy, two exact copies, in PREUSS (i. 450, and again, +ii. 215).] + +All this done, the wearied Friedrich flung himself into his truss of dry +straw; and was seen sound asleep there, a single sentry at the door, by +some high Generals that ventured to look in. On the morrow he crossed to +Reitwein; by to-morrow night, there had 23,000 of his fugitives come in +to him;--but this is now to be Finck's affair, not his! That day, too +(for the Paper seems to be misdated), he signed, and despatched to +Schmettau, Commandant in Dresden, a Missive, which proved more fatal +than either of the others; and brought, or helped to bring, very bitter +fruits for him, before long:-- + +TO LIEUTENANT-GENERAL VON SCHMETTAU (at Dresden). + +"REITWEIN, 14th [probably 13th] August, 1759. + +"You will perhaps have heard of the Check [L'ECHEC, Kunersdorf to wit!] +I have met with from the Russian Army on the 13th [12th, if you have the +Almanac at hand] of this month. Though at bottom our affairs in regard +to the Enemy here are not desperate, I find I shall not now be able to +make any detachment for your assistance. Should the Austrians attempt +anything against Dresden, therefore, you will see if there are means +of maintaining yourself; failing which, it will behoove you to try and +obtain a favorable Capitulation,--to wit, Liberty to withdraw, with +the whole Garrison, Moneys, Magazines, Hospital and all that we have at +Dresden, either to Berlin or else-whither, so as to join some Corps of +my Troops. + +"As a fit of illness [MALADIE, alas!] has come on me,--which I do not +think will have dangerous results,--I have for the present left the +command of my Troops to Lieutenant-General von Finck; whose Orders you +are to execute as if coming to you directly from myself. On this I +pray God to have you in his holy and worthy keeping.--F." [Preuss, ii. +_Urkundenbuch,_ p. 43.] + +At Berlin, on this 13th,--with the Five Couriers coming in successively +(and not in the order of their despatch, but the fatal Fifth arriving +some time AHEAD of the Fourth, who still spoke of progress and +victory),--there was such a day as Sulzer (ACH MEIN LIEBER SULZER!) +had never seen in the world. "'Above 50,000 human beings on the Palace +Esplanade and streets about;' swaying hither and thither, in agony of +expectation, in alternate paroxysm of joy and of terror and woe; often +enough the opposite paroxysms simultaneous in the different groups, and +men crushed down in despair met by men leaping into the air for very +gladness:" Sulzer (whose sympathy is of very aesthetic type) "would +not, for any consideration, have missed such a scene." [_Briefe der +Schweitzer Bodmer, Sulzer, Gessner; aus Gleim's literarischen Nachlasse: +herausgegeben von Wilhelm Korte_ (Zurich, 1804), pp. 316-319.] The +"scene" is much obliged to you, MEIN LIEBER!-- + +Practically we find, in Rodenbeck, or straggling elsewhere, this Note: +"On the day after Kunersdorf, Queen and Court fly to Magdeburg: this is +their second flight. Their first was on Haddick's Visit, October, 1757; +but after Rossbach they soon returned, and Berlin and the Court were +then extremely gay: different gentlemen, French and others of every +Nation, fallen prisoners, made the Queen's soirees the finest in the +world for splendor and variety, at that time." [Rodenbeck, i. 390; &c. +&c.] + +One other Note we save, for the sake of poor Major Kleist, "Poet of the +Spring," as he was then called. A valiant, punctual Soldier, and with a +turn for Literature as well; who wrote really pleasant fine things, new +at that time and rapturously welcome, though too much in the sentimental +vein for the times which have followed. Major Kleist,--there is a +General Kleist, a Colonel Kleist of the Green Hussars (called GRUNE +Kleist, a terrible cutting fellow):--this is not Grune Kleist; this +is the Poet of THE SPRING; whose fate at Kunersdorf made a tragic +impression in all intelligent circles of Teutschland. Here is Kriele's +Note (abridged):-- + +"Christian Ewald von Kleist, 'Poet of the Spring' [a Pommern gentleman, +now in his forty-fourth year], was of Finck's Division; had come on, +after those Eight Battalions took the first Russian battery [that is, +Muhlberg]; and had been assisting, with zeal, at the taking of three +other batteries, regardless of twelve contusions, which he gradually +got. At the third battery, he was farther badly hurt on the left arm and +the right. Took his Colonel's place nevertheless, whom he now saw fall; +led the regiment MUTHIG forward on the fourth battery. A case-shot +smashed his right leg to pieces; he fell from his horse [hour not given, +shall we say 3 P.M.]; sank, exclaiming: 'KINDER, My children, don't +forsake your King!' and fainted there. Was carried to rear and leftward; +laid down on some dry spot in the Elsbruch, not far from the Kuhgrund, +and a Surgeon brought. The Surgeon, while examining, was torn away by +case-shot: Kleist lay bleeding without help. A friend of his, Pfau [who +told Kriele], one of Finck's Generals, came riding that way: Kleist +called to him; asked how the Battle went; uncommonly glad to hear we are +still progressive. Pfau undertook, and tried his utmost, for a carriage +to Kleist; did send one of Finck's own carriages; but after such delays +that the Prussians were now yielding: poor Kleist's had become Russian +ground, and the carriage could not get in. + +"Kleist lay helpless; no luck worse than his. In the evening, Cossacks +came round him; stript him stark-naked; threw him, face foremost, into +the nearest swampy place, and went their way. One of these devils had +something so absurd and Teniers-like in the face of him, that Kleist, +in his pains, could not help laughing at remembrance of it. In the +night some Russian Hussars, human and not Cossack, found Kleist in this +situation; took him to a dry place; put a cloak over him, kindled a +watch-fire for themselves, and gave him water and bread. Towards morning +they hastened away, throwing an 8-GROSCHEN STUCK [ninepenny piece, +shilling, say half-crown] on his cloak,--with human farewell. But +Cossacks again came; again stript him naked and bare. Towards noon of +the 13th, Kleist contrived to attract some Russian Cavalry troop passing +that way, and got speech of the Captain (one Fackelberg, a German); +who at once set about helping him;--and had him actually sent into +Frankfurt, in a carriage, that evening. To the House of a Professor +Nikolai; where was plenty of surgery and watchful affection. After near +thirty hours of such a lair, his wounds seemed still curable; there was +hope for ten days. In the tenth night (22d-23d August), the shivered +pieces of bone disunited themselves; cut an artery,--which, after +many trials, could not be tied. August 24th, at two in the morning, +he died.--Great sorrow. August 26th, there was soldier's funeral; poor +Kleist's coffin borne by twelve Russian grenadiers; very many Russian +Officers attending, who had come from the Camp for that end; one Russian +Staff-Officer of them unbuckling his own sword to lay on the bier, as +there was want of one. King Friedrich had Kleist's Portrait hung in the +Garnison Kirche. Freemason Lodge, in 1788, set up a monument to him," +[Kriele, pp. 39-43.]--which still stands on the Frankfurt pavement, and +is now in sadly ruinous state. + +The Prussian loss, in this Battle, was, besides all the cannon and +field-equipages: 6,000 killed, 13,000 wounded (of which latter, 2,000 +badly, who fell to the Russians as prisoners); in all, about 19,000 +men. Nor was the Russian loss much lighter; of Russians and Austrians +together, near 18,000, as Tempelhof counts: "which will not surprise +your Majesty," reports Soltikof to his Czarina; "who are aware that +the King of Prussia sells his defeats at a dear rate." And privately +Soltikof was heard to say, "Let me fight but another such Victory, and +I may go to Petersburg with the news of it myself, with the staff in my +hand." The joy at Petersburg, striving not to be braggart or immodest, +was solemn, steady and superlative: a great feat indeed for Russia, this +Victory over such a King,--though a kind of grudge, that it was due +to Loudon, dwelt, in spite of Loudon's politic silence on that point, +unpleasantly in the background. The chase they had shamefully neglected. +It is said, certain Russian Officers, who had charge of that business +stept into a peasant's cottage to consult on it; contrived somehow to +find tolerable liquor there; and sat drinking instead. [Preuss, ii. +217.] + + + + +Chapter V.--SAXONY WITHOUT DEFENCE: SCHMETTAU SURRENDERS DRESDEN. + +Friedrich's despair did not last quite four days. On the fourth +day,--day after leaving Reitwein,--there is this little Document, which +still exists, of more comfortable tenor: "My dear Major-General von +Wunsch,--Your Letter of the 16th to Lieutenant-General von Finck +punctually arrived here: and for the future, as I am now recovered from +my illness, you have to address your Reports directly to Myself.--F." +["Madlitz," on the road to Furstenwalde, "17th August:" in Preuss, +_Friedrich der Grosse; eine historische Portrait-Skizze_ (kind of +LECTURE, so let us call it, if again citing it; Lecture delivered, on +Friedrich's Birthday, to Majesty and Staff-Officers as Audience, Berlin, +24th January, 1855), p. 18.] Finding that, except Tottleben warily +reconnoitring with a few Cossacks, no Russians showed themselves at +Reitwein; that the Russians were encamping and intrenching on the +Wine-Hills south of Frankfurt, not meaning anything immediate,--he took +heart again; ranked his 23,000; sent for General Kleist from Pommern +with his Anti-Swedish handful (leave the Swedes alone, as usual in time +of crisis); considered that artilleries and furnishings could come to +him from Berlin, which is but 60 miles; that there still lay possibility +ahead, and that, though only a miracle could save him, he would try it +to the very last. + +A great relief, this of coming to oneself again! "Till death, then;--rage +on, ye elements and black savageries!" Friedrich's humor is not +despondent, now or afterwards; though at this time it is very sad, very +angry, and, as it were, scorning even to hope: but he is at all times of +beautifully practical turn; and has, in his very despair, a sobriety of +eyesight, and a fixed steadiness of holding to his purpose, which are +of rare quality. His utterances to D'Argens, about this time and +onward,--brief hints, spontaneous, almost unconscious,--give curious +testimony of his glooms and moody humors. Of which the reader shall +see something. For the present, he is in deep indignation with his poor +Troops, among other miseries. "Actual running away!" he will have it to +be; and takes no account of thirst, hunger, heat, utter weariness and +physical impossibility! This lasts for some weeks. But in general there +is nothing of this injustice to those about him. In general, nothing +even of gloom is manifested; on the contrary, cheerfulness, brisk hope, +a strangely continual succession of hopes (mostly illusory);--though, +within, there is traceable very great sorrow, weariness and misery. A +fixed darkness, as of Erebus, is grown habitual to him; but is strictly +shut up, little of it shown to others, or even, in a sense, to himself. +He is as a traveller overtaken by the Night and its tempests and +rain-deluges, but refusing to pause; who is wetted to the bone, and does +not care farther for rain. A traveller grown familiar with the howling +solitudes; aware that the Storm-winds do not pity, that Darkness is the +dead Earth's Shadow:--a most lone soul of a man; but continually toiling +forward, as if the brightest goal and haven were near and in view. + +Once more the world was certain of Friedrich's ruin;--Friedrich himself +we have seen certain of it, for some few desperate hours:--but the world +and he, as had been repeatedly the world's case, were both disappointed. +Intrinsically there could be little doubt but Friedrich's enemies might +now have ruined him, had they been diligent about it. Now again, and now +more than ever, they have the winning-post in sight. At small distance +is the goal and purpose of all these four years' battlings and +marchings, and ten years' subterranean plottings and intriguings. He +himself says deliberately, "They had only to give him the finishing +stroke (COUP-DE-GRACE)." [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ v. 20.] But they never +gave him that stroke; could not do it, though heartily desirous. Which +was, and is, matter of surprise to an observant public. + +The cause of failure may be considered to have been, in good part, +Daun and his cunctations. Daun's zeal was unquestionable; ardent and +continual is Daun's desire to succeed: but to try it at his own risk was +beyond his power. He expected always to succeed by help of others: and +to show them an example, and go vigorously to work himself, was what he +never could resolve on. Could play only Fabius Cunctator, it would seem; +and never was that part less wanted than now! Under such a Chief Figure, +the "incoherency of action," instead of diminishing, as Friedrich had +feared, rose daily towards its maximum; and latterly became extreme. The +old Lernean Hydra had many heads; but they belonged all to one body. The +many heads of this Anti-Friedrich Hydra had withal each its own body, +and separate set of notions and advantages. Friedrich was at least a +unity; his whole strength going one way, and at all moments, under his +own sole command. The value of this circumstance is incalculable; this +is the saving-clause of Pitt and his England (Pitt also a despotic +sovereign, though a temporary one); this, second only to Friedrich's +great gifts from Nature, and the noble use he makes of them, is above +all others the circumstance that saved him in such a duel with the +Hydras. + +On the back of Kunersdorf, accordingly, there was not only no finishing +stroke upon Friedrich, but for two months no stroke or serious attempt +whatever in those neighborhoods where Friedrich is. There are four +Armies hereabouts: The Grand Russian, hanging by Frankfurt; Friedrich +at Furstenwalde (whitherward he marched from Reitwein August 16th), at +Furstenwalde or farther south, guarding Berlin;--then, unhurt yet by +battle of any kind, there are the Grand Daunish or Mark-Lissa Army, and +Prince Henri's of Schmottseifen. Of which latter Two the hitchings and +manoeuvrings from time to time become vivid, and never altogether +cease; but in no case come to anything. Above two months' scientific +flourishing of weapons, strategic counter-dancing; but no stroke +struck, or result achieved, except on Daun's part irreparable waste of +time:--all readers would feel it inhuman to be burdened with any notice +of such things. One march of Prince Henri's, which was of a famous and +decisive character, we will attend to, when it comes, that is, were +the end of September at hand; the rest must be imagined as a general +strategic dance in those frontier parts,--Silesia to rearward on one +side, the Lausitz and Frankfurt on the other,--and must go on, silently +for most part, in the background of the reader's fancy. Indeed, Saxony +is the scene of action; Friedrich, Henri, Soltikof, Daun, comparatively +inactive for the next six weeks and more. + +Some days before Kunersdorf, Daun personally, with I will forget how +many thousands, had made a move to northward from Mark-Lissa, 60 miles +or so, through Sagan Country; and lies about Priebus, waiting there +ever since. Priebus is some 40 miles north of Gorlitz, about 60 west of +Glogau, south of Frankfurt 80. This is where the Master-Smith, having +various irons in the fire, may be handiest for clutching them out, and +forging at them, as they become successively hot. Daun, as Master-Smith, +has at least three objects in view. The FIRST is, as always, Reconquest +of Silesia: this is obstructed by Prince Henri, who sits, watchful on +the threshold, at Schmottseifen yonder. The SECOND is, as last year, +Capture of Dresden: which is much the more feasible at present,--there +being, except the Garrisons, no Prussian force whatever in Saxony; and +a Reichs Army now actually there at last, after its long haggling about +its Magazines; and above all, a Friedrich with his hands full elsewhere. +To keep Friedrich's hands full,--in other words, to keep the Russians +sticking to him,--that is the THIRD object: or indeed we may call it the +first, second and third; for Daun is well aware that unless Soltikof +can manage to keep Friedrich busy, Silesia, Saxony and all else becomes +impossible. + +Ever since the fortunate junction of Loudon with Soltikof, Daun has sat, +and still sits, expectant; elaborately calculative, gathering Magazines +in different parts, planting out-parties, this way, that way, with +an eye to these three objects, all or each,--especially to the third +object, which he discerns to be all AND each. Daun was elaborately +calculative with these views: but to try any military action, upon +Prince Henri for example, or bestir himself otherwise than in driving +provender forward, and marching detachments hither and thither to the +potentially fit and fittest posts, was not in Daun's way,--so much the +worse for Daun, in his present course of enterprise. + +Prince Henri had lain quiet at Schmottseifen, waiting his Brother's +adventure; did not hear the least tidings of him till six days after +Kunersdorf, and then only by rumor; hideous, and, though still dubious, +too much of it probable! On the very day of Kunersdorf, Henri had +begun effecting some improvements on his right flank,--always a sharply +strategic, most expert creature,--and made a great many motions, which +would be unintelligible here. [Detailed, every fibre of them (as is +the soul-confusing custom there), in Tempelhof, iii. 228 et seq.] Henri +feels now that upon him lies a world of duties; and foremost of all, the +instant duty of endeavoring to open communication with his Brother. Many +marches, in consequence; much intricate marching and manoeuvring between +Daun and him: of which, when we come to Henri's great March (of 25th +September), there may be again some hint. + +For the present, let readers take their Map, and endeavor to fix the +following dates and localities in their mind. Here, in summary, are the +King's various Marches, and Two successive Encampments, two only, +during those Six Weeks of forced inaction, while he is obliged to stand +watching the Russians, and to witness so many complicacies and disasters +in the distance; which he struggles much and fruitlessly to hinder or +help:-- + +ENCAMPMENT 1st (Furstenwalde, August 18th-30th). Friedrich left Reitwein +AUGUST 16th; 17th, he is at Madlitz [Note to Wunsch written there, which +we read]; 18th, to Furstenwalde, and encamp. Furstenwalde is on the +Spree, straight between Frankfurt and Berlin; 25 miles from the former, +35 from the latter. Here for near a fortnight. At first, much in alarm +about the Russians and Berlin; but gradually ascertaining that the +Russians intend nothing. + +"In effect, all this while Soltikof lay at Lossow, 10 miles south of +Frankfurt, with his right on Oder; totally motionless, inactive, except +listening, often rather gloomily, to Daun's and Montalembert's suasive +eloquences and advices,--and once, August 22d, in the little Town of +Guben, holding Conference with Daun [of which by and by]. In consequence +of which, AUGUST 28th, Soltikof and his Russians and Austrians got under +way again; southward, but only a few marches: first to Mullrose, then +to Lieberose:--whom, the instant he heard of their movements, Friedrich, +August 30th, hastened to follow; but had not to follow very far. +Whereupon ensues, + +"ENCAMPMENT SECOND (Waldau, till September 15th). AUGUST 30th, +Friedrich, we say, rose from Furstenwalde; hastened to follow this +Russian movement, and keep within wind of it: up the valley of the +Spree; first to Mullrose neighborhood [where the Russians, loitering +some time, spoiled the canal-locks of the Friedrich-Wilhelm Canal, if +nothing more],--thence to Lieberose neighborhood; Waldau, the King's new +place of encampment,--Waldau, with Spree Forest to rear of it: silent +both parties till September 15th, when Soltikof did fairly march, not +towards Berlin, but quite in the opposite direction." + +By the middle of September, when the Russians did get on foot, and moved +eastward; especially on and after September 25th, when Henri made his +famous March westward; then it will behoove us to return to Friedrich +and these localities. For the present we must turn to Saxony, where, and +not here, the scene of action is. Take, farther, only the following +bits of Note, which will now be readable. First, these Utterances to +D'Argens; direct glimpses into the heavy-laden, indeed hag-ridden and +nearly desperate inner man of Friedrich, during the first three weeks +after his defeat at Kunersdorf:-- + + +THE KING TO MARQUIS D'ARGENS (at Berlin): Six Notes. + +1. "MADLITZ [road from Reitwein to Furstenwalde], 16th AUGUST, 1759. +We have been unfortunate, my dear Marquis; but not, by my fault. The +victory was ours, and would even have been a complete one, when our +infantry lost patience, and at the wrong moment abandoned the field of +battle. The enemy to-day is on march to Mullrose, to unite with Haddick +[not to Mullrose for ten days yet; Haddick had already got united with +THEM]. The Russian infantry is almost totally destroyed. Of my own +wrecks, all that I have been able to assemble amounts to 32,000 men; +with these I am pushing on to throw myself across the enemy's road, and +either perish or save the Capital. That is not what you [you Berliners] +will call a deficiency of resolution. + +"For the event I cannot answer. If I had more lives than one, I would +sacrifice them all to my Country. But if this stroke fail, I think I am +clear-scores with her, and that it will be permissible to look a little +to myself. There are limits to everything. I support my misfortune; +courage not abated by it: but I am well resolved, after this stroke, +if it fail, to open an outgate for myself [that small glass tube which +never quits me], and no longer be the sport of any chance." + +2. Furstenwalde, 20th AUGUST.... "Remain at Berlin, or retire to +Potsdam; in a little while there will come some catastrophe: it is not +fit that you suffer by it. If things take a good turn, you can be back +to Berlin [from Potsdam] in four hours. If ill-luck still pursue us, go +to Hanover or to Zelle, where you can provide for your safety. + +"I protest to you, that in this late Action I did what was humanly +possible to conquer; but my people"--Oh, your Majesty! + +3. FURSTENWALDE, 21st AUGUST.... "The enemy is intrenching himself near +Frankfurt; a sign he intends no attempt. If you will do me the pleasure +to come out hither, you can in all safety. Bring your bed with you; +bring my Cook Noel; and I will have you a little chamber ready. You will +be my consolation and my hope."-- + +This day,--let readers mark the circumstance,--Friedrich, in better +spirits, detaches Wunsch with some poor 6,000, to try if he can be of +help in Saxony; where the Reichs Army, now arrived in force, and with +nothing whatever in the field against them, is taking all the Northward +Garrison-Towns, and otherwise proceeding at a high rate. Too possibly +with an eye towards Dresden itself! Wunsch sets out August 21st. +[Tempelhof, iii. 211.] And we shall hear of him in those Saxon Countries +before long. + +4. FURSTENWALDE, 22d AUGUST. "Yesterday I wrote to you to come; but +to-day I forbid it. Daun is at Kotbus; he is marching on Luben and +Berlin [nothing like so rash!].--Fly these unhappy Countries!--This news +obliges me again to attack the Russians between here and Frankfurt. You +may imagine if this is a desperate resolution. It is the sole hope that +remains to me, of not being cut off from Berlin on the one side or the +other. I will give the discouraged troops some brandy"--alas!--"but I +promise myself nothing of success. My one consolation is, that I shall +die sword in hand." + +5. SAME PLACE AND DAY (after a Letter FROM D'Argens). "You make the +panegyric, MON CHER, of an Army that does not deserve any. The soldiers +had good limbs to run with, none to attack the enemy. [Alas, your +Majesty; after fifteen hours of such marching and fighting!] + +"For certain I will fight; but don't flatter yourself about the event. A +happy chance alone can help us. Go, in God's name, to Tangermunde [since +the Royal Family went, D'Argens and many Berliners are thinking of +flight], to Tangermunde, where you will be well; and wait there how +Destiny shall have disposed of us. I will go to reconnoitre the enemy +to-morrow. Next day, if there is anything to do, we will try it. But if +the enemy still holds to the Wine-Hills of Frankfurt, I shall never dare +to attack him. + +"No, the torment of Tantalus, the pains of Prometheus, the doom of +Sisyphus, were nothing like what I suffer for the last ten days [from +Kunersdorf till now, when destruction has to be warded off again, and +the force wanting]. Death is sweet in comparison to such a life. Have +compassion on me and it; and believe that I still keep to myself a great +many evil things, not wishing to afflict or disquiet anybody with them; +and that I would not counsel you to fly these unlucky Countries, if I +had any ray of hope. Adieu, MON CHER." + +Four days after, AUGUST 25th, from this same Furstenwalde, the Russians +still continuing stagnant, Friedrich despatches to Schmettau, Commandant +of Dresden (by some industrious hand, for the roads are all blocked), a +Second Letter, "That Dresden is of the highest moment; that in case of +Siege there, relief [Wunsch, namely, and perhaps more that may follow] +is on the road; and that Schmettau must defend himself to the utmost." +Let us hope this Second Missive may counteract the too despondent +First, which we read above, should that have produced discouragement +in Schmettau! [Second Letter is given in _Schmettau's Leben,_ pp. 436, +437.]--D'Argens does run to Wolfenbuttel; stays there till September +9th. Nothing more from Friedrich till 4th September, when matters are +well cooled again. + +6. WALDAU, 4th SEPTEMBER. "I think Berlin is now in safety; you may +return thither. The Barbarians [Russians] are in the Lausitz; I keep by +the side of them, between them and Berlin, so that there is nothing to +fear for the Capital. The imminency of danger is past; but there will +still be many bad moments to get through, before reaching the end of +the Campaign. These, however, only regard myself; never mind these. My +martyrdom will last two months yet; then the snows and the ices will end +it." [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ xix. 78, 82, 83, 85, 86.] + +Thus at Furstenwalde, then at Waldau, keeping guard, forlorn but +resolute, against the intrusive Russian-Austrian deluges, Friedrich +stands painfully vigilant and expectant,--still for about a fortnight +more. With bad news coming to him latterly, as we shall hear. He is in +those old moorland Wusterhausen Countries, once so well known under far +other circumstances. Thirty years ago, in fine afternoons, we used +to gallop with poor Duhan de Jandun, after school-tasks done, towards +Mittenwalde, Furstenwalde and the furzy environs, far and wide; at home, +our Sister and Mother waiting with many troubles and many loves, and +Papa sleeping, Pan-like, under the shadow of his big tree:--Thirty years +ago, ah me, gone like a dream is all that; and there is solitude and +desolation and the Russian-Austrian death-deluges instead! These, I +suppose, were Friedrich's occasional remembrances; silent always, in +this locality and time. The Sorrows of WERTER, of the GIAOUR, of the +Dyspeptic Tailor in multifarious forms, are recorded in a copious +heart-rending manner, and have had their meed of weeping from a +sympathetic Public: but there are still a good few Sorrows which lie +wrapt in silence, and have never applied there for an idle tear!--Let us +look now into Daun's side of things. + +DAUM, AFTER NEGOTIATION, HAS AN INTERVIEW WITH SOLTIKOF (at Guben, +August 22d).--"Daun, who had moved to Priebus, with a view to be nearer +Soltikof, had scarcely got his tent pitched there (August 13th), when +a breathless horseman rode in, with a Note from Loudon, dated the night +before: 'King of Prussia beaten, to the very bone, beyond mistake this +time,--utterly ruined, if one may judge!' What a vision of the Promised +Land! Delighted Daun moves forward, one march, to Triebel on the morrow; +to be one march nearer the scene of glory, and endeavor to forge this +biggest of the hot irons to advantage. + +"At Triebel Soltikof's own account, elucidated by oral messengers, +eye-witnesses, and, in short, complete conspectus of this ever memorable +Victory, await the delighted Daun. Who despatches messengers, one and +another; Lacy, the first, not succeeding quite: To congratulate with +enthusiasm the most illustrious of Generals; who has beaten King +Friedrich as none else ever did or could; beaten to the edge of +extinction;--especially to urge him upon trampling out this nearly +extinct King, before he gleam up again. Soltikof understands the +congratulations very well; but as to that of trampling out, snorts an +indignant negative: 'Nay, you, why don't you try it? Surely it is more +your business than my Imperial Mistress's or mine. We have wrenched two +victories from him this season. Kay and Kunersdorf have killed near the +half of us: go you in, and wrench something!' This is Soltikof's logic; +which no messenger of Daun's, Lacy or another, aided by never such +melodies and suasions from Montalembert and Loudon, who are permanently +diligent that way, can shake. + +"And truly it is irrefragable. How can Daun, if himself merely +speculative, calculative, hope that Soltikof will continue acting? Men +who have come to help you in a heavy job of work need example. If you +wish me to weep, be grieved yourself first of all. Soltikof angrily +wipes his countenance at this point, and insists on a few tears +from Daun. Without metaphor, Soltikof has shot away all his present +ammunition, his staff of bread is quite precarious in these parts; and +Soltikof thinks always, 'Is it my business, then, or is it yours?' + +"Soltikof has intrenched himself on the Wine-Hills at Lossow, +comfortably out of Friedrich's way, and contiguous to Oder and the +provision-routes; sits there, angrily deaf to the voice of the charmer; +nothing to be charmed out of him, but gusts of indignation, instead of +consent. A proud, high-going, indignant kind of man, with a will of +his own. And sees well enough what is what, in all this symphony of the +Lacys, the Montalemberts and surrounding adorers. Montalembert, who is +here this season, our French best man (unprofitable Swedes must put up +with an inferior hand), is extremely persuasive, tries all the arts of +French rhetoric, but effects nothing. 'To let the Austrians come in +for the finishing stroke,---Excellence, it will be to let them gain, +in History, a glory which is of your earning. Daun and Austria, not +Soltikof and Russia, will be said to have extinguished this pestilent +King; whom History will have to remember!' [Choiseul's Letter (not +DUC de Choiseul, but COMTE, now Minister at Vienna) to Montalembert, +"Vienna, 16th August;" and Montalembert's Answer, "Lieberhausen [means +LIEBEROSE], 31st August, 1759:" in Montalembert, _Correspondance,_ ii. +58-65.] 'With all my heart,' answers Soltikof; 'I make the Austrians and +History perfectly welcome! Monsieur, my ammunition is in Posen; my +bread is fallen scarce; in Frankfurt can you find me one horse more?' +Indignant Soltikof is not to be taken by chaff; growls now and then, +if you stir him to the bottom: 'Why should we, who are volunteer +assistants, take all the burden of the work? I will fall back to Posen, +and home to Poland and East Preussen, if this last much longer.' + +"Austria has a good deal disgusted these Soltikofs and Russian Chief +Officers;--who are not so stupid as Austria supposes. Austria's steady +wish is, 'Let them do their function of cat's-paw for us; we are here to +eat the chestnuts; not, if we can help it, to burn our own poor fingers +for them!' After every Campaign hitherto, Austria has been in use to +raise eager accusations at Petersburg; and get the Apraxins, Fermors +into trouble: this is not the way to conciliate Russian General +Officers. Austria, taught probably by Daun, now tries the other tack: +heaps Soltikof with eulogies, flatteries, magnificent presents. All +which Soltikof accepts, but with a full sense of what they mean. An +unmanageable Soltikof; his answer always,--'Your turn now to fight a +victory! I will go my ways to Posen again, if you don't.' And, in these +current weeks, in Soltikof's audience-room, if anybody were curious +about it, we could present a very lively solicitation going on, with +answers very gruff and negatory. No suasion of Montalembert, Lacy, and +Daun Embassies, backed by diamond-hilted swords, and splendor of gifts +from Vienna itself, able to prevail on the barbarous people. + +"Daun at length resolves to go in person; solicits an Interview with +the distinguished Russian Conqueror; gets it, meets Soltikof at Guben, +half-way house between Frankfurt and Triebel; select suite attending +both Excellencies (August 22d); and exerts whatever rhetoric is in him +on the barbarous man. The barbarous man is stiff as brass; but Daun +comes into all his conditions: 'Saxony, Silesia,--Excellenz, we have +them both within clutch; such our exquisite angling and manoeuvring, in +concert with your immortal victory, which truly gives the life-breath to +everything. Oh, suffer us to clutch them: keep that King away from us; +and see if they are not ours, Saxony first, Silesia next! Provisions of +meal? I will myself undertake to furnish bread for you [though I have to +cart it from Bohemia all the way, and am myself terribly off; but fixed +to do the impossible]; ration of bread shall fail no Russian man, while +you escort us as protective friend. Towards Saxony first, where the +Reichs Army is, and not a Prussian in the field; the very Garrisons +mostly gone by this time. Dresden is to be besieged, within a week; +Dresden itself is ours, if only YOU please! Come into the Lausitz with +us, Magazines are there, loaves in abundance: Saxony done, Dresden ours, +cannot we turn to Silesia together; besiege Glogau together (I am myself +about trying Neisse, by Harsch again); capture Glogau as well as Neisse; +and crown the successfulest campaign that ever was? Oh, Excellenz--!'" + +In a word, Excellenz, strictly fixing that condition of the loaves, +consents. Will get ready to leave those Frankfurt Wine-Hills in about +a week. "But the loaves, you recollect: no Bread, no Russian!" Daun +returns to Triebel a victorious man,--though with an onerous condition +incumbent. Tempelhof, minutely computing, finds that to cart from +Bohemia such a cipher of human rations daily into these parts, will +surpass all the vehiculatory power of Daun. [Tempelhof, iii. 225.]' + + + + +THE "REICHS ARMY" 80 CALLED HAS ENTERED SAXONY, UNDER FINE OMENS; DOES +SOME FEATS OF SIEGING (August 7th-23d),--WITH AN EYE ON DRESDEN AS THE +CROWNING ONE. + +The Reichs Army, though it had been so tumbled about, in Spring, with +such havoc on its magazines and preparations, could not wait to refit +itself, except superficially; and showed face over the Mountains almost +earlier than usual. The chance was so unique: a Saxony left to its mere +Garrisons,--as it continued to be, for near two months this Year. On +such golden opportunity the Reichs Army--first, in light mischievous +precursor parties, who roamed as far as Halle or even as Halberstadt; +then the Army itself, well or ill appointed, under Generalissimo the +Prince von Zweibruck,--did come on, winding through Thuringen towards +the Northwestern Towns; various Austrian Auxiliary-Corps making +appearance on the Dresden side. Eight Austrian regiments, as a +permanency, are in the Reichs Army itself. Commander, or part Commander, +of the eight is (what alone I find noteworthy in them) "Herr General +Thomas von Blonquet:" Irish by nation, says a foot-note; [Seyfarth, ii. +831 n.]--sure enough some adventurous "Thomas PLUNKET," visible +this once, soldiering, in those circumstances; never heard of by a +sympathetic reader before or after. It was while the King was hunting +the Haddick-Loudon people in Sagan Country in such vehement fashion, +that Zweibruck came trumpeting into Saxony,--King, Prince Henri and +everybody, well occupied otherwise, far away! + +The Reichs Army has a camp at Naumburg (Rossbach neighborhood): and has +light troops out in Halle neighborhood; which have seized Halle; are +very severe upon Halle, and other places thereabouts, till chased away. +August 7th, the Reichs Army begirt Leipzig; summoned the weak +garrison there. It is a Town capable of ruin, but not of defence: +"Free-withdrawal," proposes the Reichs Army,--and upon these terms gets +hold of Leipzig, for the time being. Leipzig, Torgau, Wittenberg; in +a fortnight or less, all the Prussian posts in those parts fall to +the Reichs Army. Its marchings and siegings, among those Northwestern +places, not one of them capable of standing above a few days' siege, are +worth no mention, except to Parish History: enough that, by little +after the middle of August, Zweibruck had got all these places, +"Free-withdrawal" the terms for all; and that, except it be the +following feature in their Siege of Torgau, feature mainly Biographic, +and belonging to a certain Colonel Wolfersdorf concerned, there is +not one of those Sieges now worth a moment's attention from almost any +mortal. This is the Torgau feature,--feature of human nature, soldiering +under difficulties:-- + +COLONEL VON WOLFERSDORF BEAUTIFULLY DEFENDS HIMSELF IN TORGAU (August +9th-14th). Two days after Leipzig was had, there appeared at Torgau a +Body of Pandours, 2,000 and more; who attempted some kind of scalade on +Torgau and its small Garrison (of 700 or so),--where are a Magazine, a +Hospital and other properties: not capable, by any garrison, of standing +regular siege; but important to defend till you have proper terms +offered. The multitudinous Pandours, if I remember, made a rush into the +Suburbs, in their usual vociferous way; but were met by the 700 silent +Prussians,--silent except through their fire-arms and field-pieces,--in +so eloquent a style as soon convinced the Pandour mind, and sent it +travelling again. And in the evening of the same day (August 9th), +Colonel Wolfersdorf arrives, as new Commandant, and with reinforcements, +small though considerable in the circumstances. + +Wolfersdorf, one dimly gathers, had marched from Wittenberg on this +errand; the whole force in Torgau is now of about 3,000, still with only +field-cannon, but with a Captain over them;--who, as is evident, sets +himself in a very earnest manner to do his utmost in defence of the +place. Next morning Reichs General Kleefeld ("Cloverfield"), with 6 or +8,000 Pandour and Regular, summons Wolfersdorf: "Surrender instantly; +or--!" "We will expect you!" answers Wolfersdorf. Whereupon, same +morning (August 10th), general storm; storm No. 1: beautifully handled +by Wolfersdorf; who takes it in rear (to its astonishment), as well as +in front; and sends it off in haste. On the morrow, Saturday, a second +followed; and on Sunday a third; both likewise beautifully handled. +This third storm, readers see, was "Sunday, August 12th:" a very busy +stormful day at Torgau here,--and also, for some others of us, during +the heats of Kunersdorf, over the horizon far away! Wolfersdorf tumbles +back all storms; furthermore makes mischievous sallies: a destructive, +skilled person; altogether prompt, fertile in expedients; and evidently +is not to be managed by Kleefeld. So that Prince von Stolberg, Second to +supreme Zweibruck himself, has to take it in hand. And, + +MONDAY, 13th, at break of day, Stolberg arrives with a train of +battering guns and 6,000 new people; summons Wolfersdorf: "No," as +before. Storms him, a fourth time; likewise "No," as before: attacks, +thereupon, his Elbe Bridge, and his Redoubt across the River; finds a +Wolfersdorf party rush destructively into his rear there. And has to +withdraw, and try battering from behind the Elbe Dam. Continues this, +violently for about two hours; till again Wolfersdorf, whose poor +fieldpieces, the only artillery he has, "cannot reach so far with leaden +balls" (the iron balls are done, and the powder itself is almost done), +manages, by a flank attack, to quench this also. Which produces entire +silence, and considerable private reflection, on the part of indignant +Stolberg. Stolberg offers him the favorablest terms devisable: "Withdraw +freely, with all your honors, all your properties; only withdraw!" Which +Wolfersdorf, his powder and ball being in such a state of ebb, and no +relief possible, agrees to; with stipulations very strict as to every +particular. [In _Anonymous of Hamburg_ (iii. 350) the Capitulation, +"August 14th." given IN EXTENSO.] + +COLONEL VON WOLFERSDORF WITHDRAWS, ALSO BEAUTIFULLY (August 15th). +Accordingly, Wednesday, August 15th, at eight in the morning, +Wolfersdorf by the Elbe Gate moves out; across Elbe Bridge, and the +Redoubt which is on the farther shore yonder. Near this Redoubt, +Stolberg and many of his General Officers are waiting to see him go. +He goes in state; flags flying, music playing. Battalion Hessen-Cassel, +followed by all our Packages, Hospital convalescents, King's Artillery, +and whatever is the King's or ours, marches first. Next comes, as +rear-guard to all this, Battalion Grollmann;--along with which is +Wolfersdorf himself, knowing Grollmann for a ticklish article (Saxons +mainly); followed on the heel by Battalion Hofmann, and lastly by +Battalion Salmuth, trusty Prussians both of these. + +Battalion Hessen-Cassel and the Baggages are through the Redoubt, +Prince of Stolberg handsomely saluting as saluted. But now, on Battalion +Grollmann's coming up, Stolberg's Adjutant cries out with a loud voice +of proclamation, many Officers repeating and enforcing: "Whoever is a +brave Saxon, whoever is true to his Kaiser, or was of the Reichs Army, +let him step out: Durchlaucht will give him protection!" At sound of +which Grollmann quivers as if struck by electricity; and instantly +begins dissolving;--dissolves, in effect, nearly all, and is in the act +of vanishing like a dream! Wolfersdorf is a prompt man; and needs to be +so. Wolfersdorf, in Olympian rage, instantly stops short; draws pistol: +"I will shoot dead every man that quits rank!" vociferates he; and +does, with his pistol, make instant example of one; inviting every true +Prussian to do the like: "Jagers, Hussars, a ducat for every traitor you +shoot down!" continues Wolfersdorf (and punctually paid it afterwards): +unable to prevent an almost total dissolution of Grollmann. For some +minutes, there is a scene indescribable: storm of vociferation, menace, +musket-shot, pistol-shot; Grollmann disappearing on every side,--"behind +the Redoubt, under the Bridge, into Elbe Boats, under the cloaks of the +Croats;"--in spite of Wolfersdorf's Olympian rages and efforts. + +At sight of the shooting, Prince Stolberg, a hot man, had said +indignantly, "Herr, that will be dangerous for you (DAS WIRD NICHT GUT +GEHN)!" Wolfersdorf not regarding him a whit; regarding only Grollmann, +and his own hot business of coercing it at a ducat per head. Grollmann +gone, and Battalion Hofmann in due sequence come up, Wolfersdorf--who +has sent an Adjutant, with order, "Hessen-Cassel, HALT"--gives +Battalion Hofmann these three words of command: "Whole Battalion, +halt!--Front!--Make ready!" (with due simultaneous click of every +firelock, on utterance of that last);--and turning to Prince Stolberg, +with a brow, with a tone of voice: "Durchlaucht, Article 9 of the +Capitulation is express on this point; 'ALL DESERTION STRICTLY +PROHIBITED; NO DESERTER TO BE RECEIVED EITHER ON THE IMPERIAL OR ON +THE PRUSSIAN SIDE!' [Durchlaucht silently gives, we suppose, some faint +sniff.] Since your Durchlaucht does not keep the Capitulation, neither +will I regard it farther. I will now take you and your Suite prisoners, +return into the Town, and again begin defending myself. Be so good as +ride directly into that Redoubt, or I will present, and give fire!" + +A dangerous moment for the Durchlaucht of Stolberg; Battalion Salmuth +actually taking possession of the wall again; Hofmann here with its +poised firelock on the cock, "ready" for that fourth word, as above +indicated. A General Lusinsky of Stolberg's train, master of those +Croats, and an Austrian of figure, remarks very seriously: "Every +point of the Capitulation must be kept!" Upon which Durchlaucht has to +renounce and repent; eagerly assists in recovering Grollmann, restores +it (little the worse, little the FEWER); will give Wolfersdorf "COMMAND +of the Austrian Escort you are to have", and every satisfaction and +assurance;--wishful only to get rid of Wolfersdorf. Who thereupon +marches to Wittenberg, with colors flying again, and a name mentionable +ever since. [Templehof, iii. 201-204; Seyfarth, ii. 562 n., and _ +Beylagen,_ ii. 587; _Militair-Lexikon,_ iv. 283.] + +This Wolfersdorf was himself a Pirna Saxon; serving Polish Majesty, as +Major, in that Pirna time; perhaps no admirer of "Feldmarschall Bruhl" +and Company?--at any rate, he took Prussian service, as then offered +him; and this is his style of keeping it. A decidedly clever soldier, +and comes out, henceforth, more and more as such,--unhappily not for +long. Was taken at Maxen, he too, as will be seen. Rose, in after times, +to be Lieutenant-General, and a man famous in the Prussian military +circles; but given always, they say, to take the straight line (or +shortest distance between self and object), in regard to military +matters, to recruiting and the like, and thus getting himself into +trouble with the Civil Officials. + +Wolfersdorf, at Wittenberg or farther on, had a flattering word from the +King; applauding his effective procedures at Torgau; and ordering him, +should Wittenberg fall (as it did, August 23d), to join Wunsch, who is +coming with a small Party to try and help in those destitute localities. +Wunsch the King had detached (21st August), as we heard already. Finck +the King finds, farther, that he can detach (from Waldau Country, +September 7th); [Tempelhof, iii. 211, 237.] Russians being so languid, +and Saxony fallen into such a perilous predicament. + +"Few days after Kunersdorf," says a Note, which should be inserted here, +"there had fallen out a small Naval matter, which will be consolatory to +Friedrich, and go to the other side of the account, when he hears of +it: Kunersdorf was Sunday, August 12th; this was Saturday and Sunday +following. Besides their Grand Brest Fleet, with new Flat-bottoms, and +world-famous land-preparations going on at Vannes, for Invasion of +proud Albion, all which are at present under Hawke's strict keeping, the +French have, ever since Spring last, a fine subsidiary Fleet at Toulon, +of very exultant hopes at one time; which now come to finis. + +"SEA-FIGHT (PROPERLY SEA-HUNT OF 200 MILES), IN THE CADIZ WATERS, AUGUST +18th-19th. The fine Toulon Fleet, which expected at one time, Pitt's +ships being so scattered over the world, to be 'mistress of the +Mediterranean,' has found itself, on the contrary (such were Pitt's +resources and promptitudes); cooped in harbor all Summer; Boscawen +watching it in the usual strict way. No egress possible; till, in +the sultry weather (8th July-4th August), Boscawen's need of fresh +provisions, fresh water and of making some repairs, took him to +Gibraltar, and gave the Toulon Fleet a transient opportunity, which it +made use of. + +"August 17th, at 8 in the evening, Boscawen, at Gibraltar (some of his +ships still in deshabille or under repair), was hastily apprised by one +of his Frigates, That the Toulon Fleet had sailed; been seen visibly at +Ceuta Point so many hours ago. 'Meaning,' as Boscawen guesses, 'to +be through the Straits this very night!' By power of despatch, the +deshabille ships were rapidly got buttoned together (in about two +hours); and by 10 P.M. all were under sail. And soon were in hot chase; +the game, being now in view,--going at its utmost through the Straits, +as anticipated. At 7 next morning (Saturday, August 18th) Boscawen got +clutch of the Toulon Fleet; still well east of Cadiz, somewhere in the +Trafalgar waters, I should guess. Here Boscawen fought and chased the +Toulon Fleet for 24 hours coming; drove it finally ashore, at Lagos on +the coast of Portugal, with five of its big ships burnt or taken, +its crews and other ships flying by land and water, its poor Admiral +mortally wounded; and the Toulon Fleet a ruined article. The wind had +been capricious, here fresh, there calm; now favoring the hunters, +now the hunted; both Fleets had dropped in two. De la Clue, the French +Admiral, complained bitterly how his Captains lagged, or shore off and +forsook him. Boscawen himself, who for his own share had gone at it +eagle-like, was heard grumbling, about want of speed in some people; +and said: 'It is well; but it might have been better!' [Beatson, +ii. 313-319; ib. iii. 237-238, De la Clue, the French Admiral's +Despatch;--Boscawen's Despatch, &c., in _Gentleman's Magazine,_ xxix. +434.] + +"De la Clue--fallen long ago from all notions of 'dominating the +Mediterranean'--had modestly intended to get through, on any terms, +into the Ocean; might then, if possible, have joined the Grand 'Invasion +Squadron,' now lying at Brest, till Vannes and the furnishings are +ready, or have tried to be troublesome in the rear of Hawke, who is +blockading all that. A modest outlook in comparison;--and this is +what it also has come to. As for the Grand Invasion Squadron, Admiral +Conflans, commanding it, still holds up his head in Brest Harbor, and +talks big. Makes little of Rodney's havoc on the Flat-bottoms at Havre, +'Will soon have Flat-bottoms again: and you shall see!'--if only Hawke, +and wind and weather and Fortune, will permit." + + + + +AUSTRIAN REICHS ARMY DOES ITS CROWNING FEAT (August 26th-September 4th): +DIARY OF WHAT IS CALLED THE "SIEGE" OF DRESDEN. + +Since the first weeks of, August there have been Austrian detachments, +Wehla's Corps, Brentano's Corps, entering Saxony from the northeast +or Daun-ward side, and posting themselves in the strong points looking +towards Dresden; waiting there till the Reichs Army should capture its +Leipzigs, Torgaus, Wittenbergs, and roll forward from northwest. To all +which it is easy to fancy what an impetus was given by Kunersdorf +and August 12th; the business, after that, going on double-quick, and +pointing to immediate practical industry on Dresden. The Reichs Army +hastens to settle its northwestern Towns, puts due garrison in each, +leaves a 10 or 12,000 movable for general protection, in those parts; +and, August 23d, marches for Dresden. There are only some 15,000 left +of it now; almost half the Reichs Army drunk up in that manner; were +not Daun now speeding forth his Maguire with a fresh 12,000; who is to +command the Wehlas and Brentanos as well. And, in effect, to be Austrian +Chief, and as regards practical matters, Manager of this important +Enterprise,--all-important to Daun just now. Schmettau in Dresden sees +clearly what mischief is at hand. + +To Daun this Siege of Dresden is the alpha to whatever omegas there may +be: he and his Soltikof are to sit waiting this; and can attempt nothing +but eating of provender, till this be achieved. As the Siege was really +important, though not quite the alpha to all omegas, and has in it +curious points and physiognomic traits, we will invite readers to +some transient inspection of it,--the rather as there exist ample +contemporary Narratives, DIARIUMS and authentic records, to render that +possible and easy. [In TEMPELHOF (iii. 210-216-222) complete and careful +Narrative; in ANONYMOUS OF HAMBURG (iii. 371-377) express "DAY-BOOK" by +some Eye-witness in Dresden.]' + +"Ever since the rumor of Kunersdorf," says one Diarium, compiled out of +many, "in the last two weeks of August, Schmettau's need of vigilance +and diligence has been on the increase, his outlooks becoming grimmer +and grimmer. He has a poorish Garrison for number (3,700 in all +[Schmettau's LEBEN (by his Son), p. 408.]), and not of the best quality; +deserters a good few of them: willing enough for strokes; fighting +fellows all, and of adventurous turn, but uncertain as to loyalty in a +case of pinch. He has endless stores in the place; for one item, almost +a million sterling of ready money. Poor Schmettau, if he knew it, has +suddenly become the Leonidas of this campaign, Dresden its Thermopylae; +and"--But readers can conceive the situation. + +"AUGUST 20th, Schmettau quits the Neustadt, or northern part of Dresden, +which lies beyond the River: unimportant that, and indefensible with +garrison not adequate; Schmettau will strengthen the River-bank, blow up +the Stone Bridge if necessary, and restrict himself to Dresden Proper. +The Court is here; Schmettau does not hope that the Court can avert a +Siege from him; but he fails not to try, in that way too, and may at +least gain time. + +"AUGUST 25th, He has a Mine put under the main arch of the Bridge: 'mine +ill-made, uncertain of effect,' reports the Officer whom he sent to +inspect it. But it was never tried, the mere rumor of it kept off +attacks on that side. Same day, August 25th, Schmettau receives that +unfortunate Royal Missive [Tempelhof, iii. 208; Schmettau's LEBEN (p. +421) has "August 27th."] written in the dark days of Reitwein, morrow of +Kunersdorf (14th or 13th August)," which we read above. "That there is +another Letter on the road for him, indicating 'Relief shall be tried,' +is unknown to Schmettau, and fatally continues unknown. While Schmettau +is reading this (August 25th), General Wunsch has been on the road four +days: Wunsch and Wolfersdorf with about 8,000, at their quickest pace, +and in a fine winged frame of mind withal, are speeding on: will cross +Elbe at Meissen to-morrow night,--did Schmettau only know. People say +he did, in the way of rumor, understand that Kunersdorf had not been +the fatal thing it was thought; and that efforts would be made by a King +like his. In his place one might have, at least, shot out a spy or two? +But he did not, then or afterwards. + +"Already, ever since the arrival of Wehla and Brentano in those parts, +he has been laboring under many uncertainties; too many for a Leonidas! +Hanging between Yes and No, even about that of quitting the Neustadt, +for example: carrying over portions of his goods, but never heartily the +whole; unable to resolve; now lifting visibly the Bridge pavement, +then again visibly restoring it;--and, I think, though the contrary +is asserted, he had at last to leave in the Neustadt a great deal of +stores, horse-provender and other, not needful to him at present, or +impossible to carry, when dubiety got ended. He has put a mine under the +Bridge; but knows it will not go off. + +"Schmettau has been in many wars, but this is a case that tries his +soldier qualities as none other has ever done. A case of endless +intricacy,--if he be quite equal to it; which perhaps he was not +altogether. Nobody ever doubted Schmettau's high qualities as a man and +captain; but here are requisite the very highest, and these Schmettau +has not. The result was very tragical; I suppose, a pain to Friedrich +all his life after; and certainly to Schmettau all his. This is Saturday +night, 25th August: before Tuesday week (September 4th) there will have +sad things arrived, irremediable to Schmettau. Had Schmettau decided to +defend himself, Dresden had not been taken. What a pity Schmettau had +not been spared this Missive, calculated to produce mere doubt! Whether +he could not, and should not, after a ten days of inquiry and new +discernment, have been able to read the King's true meaning, as well +as the King's momentary humor, in this fatal Document, there is no +deciding. Sure enough, he did not read the King's true meaning in it, +but only the King's momentary humor; did not frankly set about defending +himself to the death,--or 'seeing' in that way 'whether he could not +defend himself,'--with a good capitulation lying in the rear, after he +had. + +"SUNDAY, AUGUST 26th, Trumpet at the gates. Messenger from Zweibruck is +introduced blindfold; brings formal Summons to Schmettau. Summons duly +truculent: 'Resistance vain; the more you resist, the worse it will +be,--and there is a worst [that of being delivered to the Croats, and +massacred every man], of which why should I speak? Especially if in +anything you fail of your duty to the Kur-Prinz [Electoral Prince and +Heir-Apparent, poor crook-backed young Gentleman, who has an excellent +sprightly Wife, a friend of Friedrich's and daughter of the late Kaiser +Karl VII., whom we used so beautifully], imagine what your fate will +be!'--To which Schmettau answers: 'Can Durchlaucht think us ignorant +of the common rules of behavior to Persons of that Rank? For the rest, +Durchlaucht knows what our duties here are, and would despise us if we +did NOT do them;'--and, in short, our answer again is, in polite +forms, 'Pooh, pooh; you may go your way!' Upon which the Messenger is +blindfolded again; and Schmettau sets himself in hot earnest to clearing +out his goods from the Neustadt; building with huge intertwisted +cross-beams and stone and earth-masses a Battery at his own end of the +Bridge, batteries on each side of it, below and above;--locks the Gates; +and is passionately busy all Sunday,--though divine service goes on as +usual. + +"Hardly were the Prussian guns got away, when Croat people in quantity +came in, and began building a Battery at their end of the Bridge, the +main defence-work being old Prussian meal-barrels, handily filled with +earth. 'If you fire one cannon-ball across on us,' said Schmettau, 'I +will bombard the Neustadt into flame in few minutes [I have only to aim +at our Hay Magazine yonder]: be warned! 'Nor did they once fire from +that side; Electoral Highness withal and Royal Palace being quite +contiguous behind the Prussian Bridge-Battery. Electoral Highness and +Household are politely treated, make polite answer to everything; intend +going down into the 'APOTHEKE' (Kitchen suite), or vaulted part of the +Palace, and will lodge there when the cannonade begins. + +"This same SUNDAY, AUGUST 26th, Maguire arrived; and set instantly to +building his bridge at Pillnitz, a little way above Dresden: at Uebigau, +a little below Dresden, the Reichsfolk have another. Reichsfolk, +Zweibruck in person, come all in on Wednesday; post themselves there, +to north and west of the City. What is more important, the siege-guns, +a superb stock, are steadily floating, through the Pirna regions, +hitherward; get to hand on Friday next, the fifth day hence. [Tempelhof, +p. 210.] Korbitz (half-way out to Kesselsdorf) is Durchlaucht's +head-quarter:--Chief General is Durchlaucht, conspicuously he, at least +in theory, and shall have all the glory; though Maguire, glancing on +these cannon, were it nothing more, has probably a good deal to say. +Maguire too, I observe, takes post on that north or Kesselsdorf side; +contiguous for the Head General. Wehla and Brentano post themselves on +the south or up-stream side; it is they that hand in the siege-guns: +batteries are already everywhere marked out, 13 cannon-batteries and 5 +howitzer. In short, from the morrow of that truculent Summons, Monday +morning to Thursday, there is hot stir of multifarious preparation on +Schmettau's part; and continual pouring in of the hostile force, who are +also preparing at the utmost. Thursday, the Siege, if it can be called a +Siege, begins. Gradually, and as follows:-- + +"THURSDAY MORNING (August 30th), Schmettau, who is, night and day, +'palisading the River,' and much else,--discloses (that is, Break of +Day discloses on his part) to the Dresden public a huge Gallows, black, +huge, of impressive aspect; labelled 'For Plunderers, Mutineers and +their Helpers.' [ANONYMOUS OF HAMBURG, iii. 373.] The Austrian heavy +guns are not yet in battery; but multitudes of loose Croat people go +swarming about everywhere, and there is plentiful firing from such +artilleries as they have. This same Thursday morning, two or three +battalions of them rush into the Pirna Suburb; attack the Prussian +Guard-parties there. Schmettau instantly despatches Captain Kollas and a +Trumpet:--'Durchlaucht, have the goodness to recall these Croat Parties; +otherwise the Suburb goes into flame! And directly on arrival of this +Messenger, may it please Durchlaucht. For we have computed the time; and +will not wait beyond what is reasonable for his return!' Zweibruck is +mere indignation and astonishment; 'will burn Halle,' burn Quedlinburg, +Berlin itself, and utterly ruin the King of Prussia's Dominion in +general:--the rejoinder to which is, burning of Pirna Suburb, as +predicted; seventy houses of it, this evening, at six o'clock. + +"Onward from which time there is on both sides, especially on +Schmettau's, diligent artillery practice; cannonade kept up wherever +Schmettau can see the enemy busy; enemy responding with what artillery +he has:--not much damage done, I should think, though a great deal of +noise; and for one day (Saturday, September 1st), our Diarist notes, +'Not safe to walk the streets this day.' But, in effect, the Siege, +as they call it,--which fell dead on the fifth day, and was never well +alive--consists mainly of menace and counter-menace, in the way of +bargain-making and negotiation;--and, so far as I can gather, that +superb Park of Austrian Artillery, though built into batteries, and +talked about in a bullying manner, was not fired from at all. + +"Schmettau affects towards the enemy (and towards himself, I dare say) +an air of iron firmness; but internally has no such feeling,--'Calls a +Council of War,' and the like. Council of War, on sight of that King's +Missive, confirms him with one voice: 'Surely, surely, Excellenz; no +defence possible!' Which is a prophecy and a fulfilment, both in one. +Why Schmettau did not shoot forth a spy or two, to ascertain for him +What, or whether Nothing whatever, was passing outside Dresden? I never +understand! Beyond his own Walls, the world is a vacancy and blank to +Schmettau, and he seems content it should be so. + +"SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2d. Though Schmettau's cannonade was very loud, and +had been so all night, divine service was held as usual, streets safe +again,--Austrians, I suppose, not firing with cannon. About 4 P.M., +after a great deal of powder spent, General Maguire, stepping out on +Elbe Bridge, blows or beats Appeal, three times; 'wishes a moment's +conversation with his Excellency.' Granted at once; witnesses attending +on both sides. 'Defence is impossible; in the name of humanity, +consider!' urges Maguire. 'Defence to the last man of us is certain,' +answers Schmettau, from the teeth outwards;--but, in the end, engages to +put on paper, in case he, by extremity of ill-luck, have at any time +to accept terms, what his terms will inflexibly be. Upon which there is +'Armistice till To-morrow:' and Maguire, I doubt not, reports joyfully +on this feeling of the enemy's pulse. Zweibruck and Maguire are very +well aware of what is passing in these neighborhoods (General Wunsch +back at Wittenberg by forced marches; blew it open in an hour); and are +growing highly anxious that Dresden on any terms were theirs. + +"MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3d, The death-day of the Siege; an uncommonly busy +day,--though Armistice lasted perfect till 3 P.M., and soon came back +more perfect than ever. A Siege not killed by cannon, but by medical +industry. Let us note with brevity the successive symptoms and +appliances. About seven in the morning Maguire had his Messenger in +Dresden, 'Your Excellency's Paper ready?' 'Nearly ready,' answers +Schmettau; 'we will send it by a Messenger of our own.' And about eleven +of the day Maguire does get it;--the same Captain Kollas (whose name we +recollect) handing it in; and statue-like waiting Answer. 'Pshaw, this +will never do,' ejaculates Maguire; 'terms irrationally high!' Captain +Kollas 'knows nothing of what is IN the Paper; and is charged only to +bring a Written Answer from Excellenz.' Excellenz, before writing, 'will +have to consult with Durchlaucht;' can, however, as if confidentially +and from feelings of friendship, can assure you, Sir, on my honor, That +the Garrison will be delivered to the Croats, and every man of it put +to the sword. 'The Garrison will expect that (WIRD DAS ERWARTEN),' said +Kollas, statue-like; and withdrew, with the proper bow. [Tempelhof, iii. +211.] Something interesting to us in these Military diplomatic passages, +with their square-elbowed fashions, and politeness stiff as iron! + +"Not till three of the afternoon does the Written Answer reach +Schmettau: 'Such Terms never could be accepted.'--'Good,' answers +Schmettau: 'To our last breath no others will be offered.' And commences +cannonading again, not very violently, but with the order, 'Go on, then, +night and day!' + +"About 10 at night, General Guasco, a truculent kind of man, whom I have +met with up and down, but not admitted to memory, beats Appeal on +the Bridge: 'Inform the Commandant that there will now straightway 13 +batteries of cannon, and 5 ditto of howitzers open on him, unless he +bethinks himself!' Which dreadful message is taken to Schmettau. 'Wish +the gentleman good-evening,' orders Schmettau; 'and say we will answer +with 100 guns.' Upon which Guasco vanishes;--but returns in not many +minutes, milder in tone; requests 'a sight of that Written Paper of +Terms again.' 'There it still is,' answers Schmettau, 'not altered, nor +ever shall be.' And there is Armistice again:--and the Siege, as turns +out, has fired its last shot; and is painfully expiring in paroxysms +of negotiation, which continue a good many hours. Schmettau strives +to understand clearly that his terms (of the King's own suggesting, as +Schmettau flatters himself) are accepted: nor does Durchlaucht take +upon him to refuse in any point; but he is strangely slow to sign, still +hoping to mend matters. + +"Much hithering and thithering there was, till 4 next morning +(Durchlaucht has important news from Torgau, at that moment); till 11 +next day; till 4 in the afternoon and later,--Guasco and others coming +with message after message, hasty and conciliatory: (Durchlaucht at such +a distance, his signature not yet come; but be patient; all is right, +upon my honor!' Very great hurry evident on the part of Guasco and +Company; but, nothing suspected by Schmettau. Till, dusk or darkness +threatening now to supervene, Maguire and Schmettau with respective +suites have a Conference on the Bridge,--'rain falling very heavy.' +Durchlaucht's signature, Maguire is astonished to say, has not yet come; +hut Maguire pledges his honor 'that all shall be kept without chicane;' +and adds 'what to some of us seemed not superfluous afterwards), 'I am +incapable of acting falsely or with chicane.' In fact, till 9 in the +evening there was no signature by Durchlaucht; but about 6, on such +pledge by Maguire of his hand and his honor, the Siege entirely gave +up the ghost; and Dresden belonged to Austria. Tuesday Evening, 4th +September, 1759; Sun just setting, could anybody see him for the rain. + +"Schmettau had been over-hasty; what need had Schmettau of haste? The +terms had not yet got signature, perfection of settlement on every +point; nor were they at all well kept, when they did! Considerable +flurry, temporary blindness, needless hurry, and neglect of symptoms +and precautions, must be imputed to poor Schmettau; whose troubles began +from this moment, and went on increasing. The Austrians are already +besetting Elbe Bridge, rooting up the herring-bone balks; and +approaching our Block-house,--sooner than was expected. But that is +nothing. On opening the Pirna Gate to share it with the Austrians, +Friedrich's Spy (sooner had not been possible to the man) was waiting; +who handed Schmettau that Second Letter of Friedrich's, 'Courage; there +is relief on the road!' Poor Schmettau!" + +What Captain Kollas and the Prussian Garrison thought of all this, +THEY were perhaps shy of saying, and we at such distance are not +informed,--except by one symptom: that, of Colonel Hoffman, Schmettau's +Second, whose indignation does become tragically evident. Hoffman, a +rugged Prussian veteran, is indignant at the Capitulation itself; doubly +and trebly indignant to find the Austrians on Elbe Bridge, busy raising +our Balks and Battery: "How is this Sir?" inquires he of Captain Sydow, +who is on guard at the Prussian end; "How dared you make this change, +without acquainting the Second in Command? Order out your men, and come +along with me to clear the Bridge again!" Sydow hesitates, haggles; +indignant Hoffman, growing loud as thunder, pulls out a pistol, +fatal-looking to disobedient Sydow; who calls to his men, or whose men +spring out uncalled; and shoot Hoffman down,--send two balls through +him, so that he died at 8 that night. With noise enough, then and +afterwards. Was drunk, said Schmettau's people. Friedrich answered, on +report of it: "I think as Hoffman did. If he was 'drunk,' it is pity the +Governor and all the Garrison had not been so, to have come to the same +judgment, as he." [P.S. in Autograph of Letter to Schmettau, "Waldau, +11th September, 1759" (Preuss, ii.; _Urkundenbuch,_ p. 45).] Friedrich's +unbearable feelings, of grief and indignation, in regard to all this +Dresden matter,--which are not expressed except coldly in business +form,--can be fancied by all readers. One of the most tragical bits +of ill-luck that ever befell him. A very sore stroke, in his present +condition; a signal loss and affront. And most of all, unbearable +to think how narrowly it has missed being a signal triumph;--missed +actually by a single hair's-breadth, which is as good as by a mile, or +by a thousand miles! + +Soon after 9 o'clock that evening, Durchlaucht in person came rolling +through our battery and the herring-bone balks, to visit Electoral +Highness,--which was not quite the legal time either, Durchlaucht had +not been half an hour with Electoral Highness, when a breathless Courier +came in: "General Wunsch within ten miles [took Torgau in no time, as +Durchlaucht well knows, for a week past]; and will be here before we +sleep!" Durchlaucht plunged out, over the herring-bone balks again +(which many carpenters are busy lifting); and the Electoral Highnesses, +in like manner, hurry off to Toplitz that same night, about an hour +after. What a Tuesday Night! Poor Hoffman is dead at 8 o'clock; the +Saxon Royalties, since 11, are galloping for Pirna, for Toplitz; +Durchlaucht of Zweibruck we saw hurry off an hour before +them,--Capitulation signature not yet dry, and terms of it beginning to +be broken; and Wunsch reported to be within ten miles! + +The Wunsch report is perfectly correct. Wunsch is at Grossenhayn this +evening; all in a fiery mood of swiftness, his people and he;--and +indeed it is, by chance, one of Wolfersdorf's impetuosities that has +sent the news so fast. Wunsch had been as swift with Torgau as he was +with Wittenberg: he blew out the poor Reichs Garrison there by instant +storm, and packed it off to Leipzig, under charge of "an Officer and +Trumpet:"--he had, greatly against his will, to rest two days there for +a few indispensable cannon from Magdeburg. Cannon once come, Wunsch, +burning for deliverance of Dresden, had again started at his swiftest, +"Monday, 3d September [death day of the Siege], very early." + +"He is under 8,000; but he is determined to do it;--and would have done +it, think judges, half thinks Zweibruck himself: such a fire in that +Wunsch and his Corps as is very dangerous indeed. At 4 this morning, +Zweibruck heard of his being on march: 'numbers uncertain'--(numbers +seemingly not the important point,--blows any number of us about our +business!)--and since that moment Zweibruck has driven the capitulation +at such a pace; though the flurried Schmettau suspected nothing. + +"Afternoon of TUESDAY, 4th, Wunsch, approaching Grossenhayn, had +detached Wolfersdorf with 100 light horse rightwards to Grodel, a +boating Village on Elbe shore, To seek news of Dresden; also to see if +boats are procurable for carrying our artillery up thither. At Grodel, +Wolfersdorf finds no boats that will avail: but certain boat-people, new +from Dresden, report that no capitulation had been published when they +left, but that it was understood to be going on. New spur to Wolfersdorf +and Wunsch. Wolfersdorf hears farther in this Village, That there are +some thirty Austrian horse in Grossenhayn:--'Possible these may escape +General Wunsch!' thinks Wolfersdorf; and decides to have them. Takes +thirty men of his own; orders the other seventy to hold rightward, +gather what intelligence is going, and follow more leisurely; and breaks +off for the Grossenhayn-Dresden Highway, to intercept those fellows. + +"Getting to the highway, Wolfersdorf does see the fellows; sees +also,--with what degree of horror I do not know,--that there are +at least 100 of them against his 30! Horror will do nothing for +Wolfersdorf, nor are his other 70 now within reach. Putting a bold face +on the matter, he commands, Stentor-like, as if it were all a fact: +'Grenadiers, march; Dragoons, to right forwards, WHEEL; Hussars, +FORWARD: MARCH!'--and does terrifically dash forward with the thirty +Hussars, or last item of the invoice; leaving the others to follow. The +Austrians draw bridle with amazement; fire off their carbines; take to +their heels, and do not stop for more. Wolfersdorf captures 68 of them, +for behoof of Grossenhayn; and sends the remaining 32 galloping home. +[Tempelhof, iii. 214.] Who bring the above news to Durchlaucht of +Zweibruck: '12,000 of them, may it please your Durchlaucht; such the +accounts we had!'--Fancy poor Schmettau's feelings! + +"On the morrow Dresden was roused from its sleep by loud firing and +battle, audible on the north side of the River: 'before daybreak, and +all day.' It is Wunsch impetuously busy in the woody countries there. +Durchlaucht had shot out Generals and Divisions, Brentano, Wehla, +this General and then that, to intercept Wunsch: these the fiery +Wunsch--almost as if they had been combustible material coming to quench +fire--repels and dashes back, in a wonderful manner, General after +General of them. And is lord of the field all day:--but cannot hear the +least word from Dresden; which is a surprising circumstance. + +"In the afternoon Wunsch summons Maguire in the Neustadt: 'Will answer +you in two hours,' said Maguire. Wunsch thereupon is for attacking +their two Pontoon Elbe-Bridges; still resolute for Dresden,--and orders +Wolfersdorf on one of them, the Uebigau Bridge, who finds the enemy +lifting it at any rate, and makes them do it faster. But night is now +sinking; from Schmettau not a word or sign. 'Silence over there, all +day; not a single cannon to or from,' say Wunsch and Wolfersdorf to one +another. 'Schmettau must have capitulated!' conclude they, and withdraw +in the night-time, still thunderous if molested; bivouac at Grossenhayn, +after twenty-four hours of continual march and battle, not time even for +a snatch of food. [BERICHT VON DER ACTION DES GENERAL-MAJORS VON WUNSCH, +BEY REICHENBERG, DEN 5 SEPTEMBER, 1759 in Seyfarth, _Beylagen,_ ii. +606-608.] + +"Resting at Grossenhayn, express reaches Wunsch from his Commandant at +Torgau: 'Kleefeld is come on me from Leipzig with 14,000; I cannot long +hold out, unless relieved.' Wunsch takes the road again; two marches, +each of twenty miles. Reaches Torgau late; takes post in the ruins of +the North Suburb, finds he must fight Kleefeld. Refreshes his men +'with a keg of wine per Company,' surely a judicious step; and sends to +Wolfersdorf, who has the rear-guard, 'Be here with me to-morrow at +10.' Wolfersdorf starts at 4, is here at 10: and Wunsch, having scanned +Kleefeld and his Position [a Position strong IF you are dexterous to +manoeuvre in it; capable of being ruinous if you are not,--part of +the Position of a bigger BATTLE OF TORGAU, which is coming],--flies at +Kleefeld and his 14,000 like a cat-o'-mountain; takes him on the left +flank:--Kleefeld and such overplus of thousands are standing a little to +west-and-south of Torgau, with the ENTEFANG [a desolate big reedy mere, +or PLACE OF DUCKS, still offering the idle Torgauer a melancholy sport +there] as a protection to their right; but with no evolution-talent, or +none in comparison to Wunsch's;--and accordingly are cut to pieces +by Wunsch, and blown to the winds, as their fellows have all been." +[HOFBERCHT VON DER AM 8 SEPTEMBER, 1759, BEY TORGAU, VORGEFALLENEN +ACTION: in Seyfarth, _ Beylagen,_ ii. 609, 610. Tempelhof, iii. +219-222.] + +Wunsch, absolute Fate forbidding, could not save Dresden: but he is +here lord of the Northern regions again,--nothing but Leipzig now in +the enemy's hand;--and can await Finck, who is on march with a stronger +party to begin business here. It is reckoned, there are few more +brilliant little bits of Soldiering than this of Wunsch's. All the more, +as his men, for most part, were not Prussian, but miscellaneous Foreign +spirits of uncertain fealty: roving fellows, of a fighting turn, +attracted by Friedrich's fame, and under a Captain who had the art of +keeping them in tune. Wunsch has been soldiering, in a diligent though +dim miscellaneous way, these five-and-twenty years; fought in the old +Turk Wars, under disastrous Seckendorf,--Wunsch a poor young Wurtemberg +ensign, visibly busy there (1737-1739)) as was this same Schmettau, in +the character of staff-officer, far enough apart from Wunsch at that +time!--fought afterwards, in the Bavarian service, in the Dutch, at +Roucoux, at Lauffeld, again under disastrous people. Could never, under +such, find anything but subaltern work all this while; was glad to +serve, under the eye of Friedrich, as Colonel of a Free Corps; which he +has done with much diligence and growing distinction: till now, at the +long last, his chance does come; and he shows himself as a real General. +Possibly a high career lying ahead;--a man that may be very valuable +to Friedrich, who has now so few such left? Fate had again decided +otherwise for Wunsch; in what way will be seen before this Campaign +ends: "an infernal Campaign," according to Friedrich, "CETTE CAMPAGNE +INFERNALE." + +Finck, whom Friedrich had just detached from Waldau (September 6th) with +a new 8 or 6,000, to command in chief in those parts, and, along with +Wunsch, put Dresden out of risk, as it were,--Finck does at least +join Wunsch, as we shall mention in a little. And these Two, with such +Wolfersdorfs and people under them, did prove capable of making front +against Reichsfolk in great overplus of number. Nor are farther SIEGES +of those Northern Garrisons, but recaptures of them, the news one +hears from Saxony henceforth;--only that Dresden is fatally gone. +Irrecoverably, as turned out, and in that unbearable manner. Here is the +concluding scene:-- + +DRESDEN, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8th; EXIT SCHMETTAU. "A thousand times +over, Schmettau must have asked himself, 'Why was I in such a hurry? +Without cause for it I, only Maguire having cause!'--The Capitulation +had been ended in a huddle, without signature: an unwise Capitulation; +and it was scandalously ill kept. Schmettau was not to have marched +till Monday, 10th,--six clear days for packing and preparing;--but, +practically, he has to make three serve him; and to go half-packed, or +not packed at all. Endless chicanes do arise, 'upon my honor!'--not +even the 800 wagons are ready for us; 'Can't your baggages go in boats, +then?' 'No, nor shall!' answers Schmettau, with blazing eyes, and heart +ready to burst; a Schmettau living all this while as in Purgatory, or +worse. Such bullyings from truculent Guasco, who is now without muzzle. +Capitulation, most imperfect in itself, is avowedly infringed: King's +Artillery,--which we had haggled for, and ended by 'hoping for,' to +Maguire that rainy evening: why were we in such a hurry, too, and blind +to Maguire's hurry!--King's Artillery, according to Durchlaucht of +Zweibruck, when he actually signed within the walls, is 'NICHT ACCORDIRT +(Not granted), except the Field part.' King's regimental furnishings, +all and sundry, were 'ACCORDIRT, and without visitation,'--but on second +thoughts, the Austrian Officials are of opinion there must really be +visitation, must be inspection. 'May not some of them belong to Polish +Majesty?' In which sad process of inspection there was incredible waste, +Schmettau protesting; and above half of the new uniforms were lost to +us. Our 80 pontoons, which were expressly bargained for, are brazenly +denied us: '20 of them are Saxon,' cry the Austrians: 'who knows if they +are not almost all Saxon,'--upon my honor! At this rate, only wait a day +or two, and fewer wagons than 800 will be needed! thinks Schmettau; and +consents to 18 river-boats; Boats in part, then; and let us march at +once. Accordingly, + +"SATURDAY, 8th, at 5 in the morning, Schmettau, with goods and people, +does at last file out: across Elbe Bridge through the Neustadt; +Prussians five deep; a double rank of Austrians, ranged on each side, in +'espalier' they call it,--espalier with gaps in it every here and there, +to what purpose is soon evident. The march was so disposed (likewise for +a purpose) that, all along, there were one or two Companies of Prussian +Foot; and then in the interval, carriages, cannon, cavalry and hussars. +Schmettau's carriage is with the rear-guard, Madam Schmettau's well +in the van:--in two other carriages are two Prussian War-and-Domain +Ministers. [ANONYMOUS OF HAMBURG, III. 376.] 'Managers of Saxon +Finance,' these Two;--who will have to manage elsewhere than in +Dresden henceforth. Zinnow, Borck, they sit veritably there, with their +multiform Account Papers: of whom I know absolutely nothing,--except (if +anybody cared) that Zinnow, who 'died of apoplexy in June following,' +is probably of pursy red-nosed type; and that Borck, for certain, has +a very fine face and figure; delicacy, cheerful dignity, perfect +gentlemanhood in short, written on every feature of him; as painted by +Pesne, and engraved by Schmidt, for my accidental behoof. [_Fredericus +Wilhelmus Borck (Pesne pinxit,_ 1732; _Schmidt, sculptur Regis, +sculpsit, Berolini,_ 1764): an excellent Print and Portrait.] Curious +to think of that elaborate court-coat and flowing periwig, with this +specific Borck, 'old as the Devil' (whom I have had much trouble to +identify), forming visible part of this dismal Procession: the bright +eye of Borck not smiling as usual, but clouded, though impassive! But +that of Borck or his Limners is not the point. + +"The Prussians have been divided into small sections, with a mass of +baggage-wagons and cavalry between every two. And no sooner is the mass +got in movement, than there rises from the Austrian part, and continues +all the way, loud invitation, 'Whosoever is a brave Saxon, a brave +Austrian, Reichsman, come to us! Gaps in the espalier, don't you +see!' And Schmettau, in the rear, with baggage and cavalry +intervening,--nobody can reach Schmettau. Here is a way of keeping your +bargain! The Prussian Officers struggle stoutly: but are bellowed at, +struck at, menaced by bayonet and bullet,--none of them shot, I think, +but a good several of them cut and wounded;--the Austrian Officers +themselves in passionate points behaving shamefully, 'Yes, shoot them +down, the (were it nothing else) heretic dogs;' and being throughout +evidently in a hot shivery frame of mind, forgetful of the laws. Seldom +was such a Procession; spite, rage and lawless revenge blazing out +more and more. On the whole, there deserted, through those gaps of +the espalier, about half of the whole Garrison. On Madam Schmettau's +hammercloth there sat, in the Schmettau livery, a hard-featured man, +recognizable by keen eyes as lately a Nailer, of the Nailer Guild here; +who had been a spy for Schmettau, and brought many persons into trouble: +him they tear down, and trample hither and thither,--at last, into some +Guard-house near by." [The Schmettau DIARIUM in ANONYMOUS OF HAMBURG, +iii. 364-376 (corrected chiefly from TEMPELHOF): Protest, and +Correspondence in consequence, is in Seyfarth, _Beylagen,_ ii. 611-621; +in _ Helden-Geschichte,_ &c. &c.] + +Schmettau's protest against all this is vehement, solemnly +circumstantial: but, except in regard to the trampled Nailer (Zweibruck +on that point "heartily sorry for the insult to your Excellency's +livery; and here the man is, with a thousand apologies"), Schmettau got +no redress. Nor had Friedrich any, now or henceforth. Friedrich did at +once, more to testify his disgust than for any benefit, order Schmettau: +"Halt at Wittenberg, not at Magdeburg as was pretended to be bargained. +Dismiss your Escort of Austrians there; bid them home at once, and out +of your sight." Schmettau himself he ordered to Berlin, to idle waiting. +Never again employed Schmettau: for sixteen years that they lived +together, never saw his face more. + +Schmettau's ill-fortune was much pitied, as surely it deserved to be, +by all men. About Friedrich's severity there was, and still occasionally +is, controversy held. Into which we shall not enter for Yes or for No. +"You are like the rest of them!" writes Friedrich to him; "when the +moment comes for showing firmness, you fail in it." ["Waldau, 10th +September, 1759:" in Preuss, ii. URKUNDEN. p. 44.] Friedrich expects of +others what all Soldiers profess,--and what is in fact the soul of all +nobleness in their trade,--but what only Friedrich himself, and a select +few, are in the habit of actually performing. Tried by the standard +of common practice, Schmettau is clearly absolvable; a broken veteran, +deserving almost tears. But that is not the standard which it will +be safe for a King of men to go by. Friedrich, I should say, would be +ordered by his Office, if Nature herself did not order him, to pitch +his ideal very high; and to be rather Rhadamanthine in judging about it. +Friedrich was never accused of over-generosity to the unfortunate among +his Captains. + +After the War, Schmettau, his conduct still a theme of argument, was +reduced to the Invalid List: age now sixty-seven, but health and heart +still very fresh, as he pleaded; complaining that he could not live on +his retiring Pension of 300 pounds a year. "Be thankful you have not had +your head struck off by sentence of Court-Martial," answered Friedrich. +Schmettau, after some farther troubles from Court quarters, retired +to Brandenburg, and there lived silent, poor but honorable, for his +remaining fifteen years. Madam Schmettau came out very beautiful in +those bad circumstances: cheery, thrifty, full of loyal patience; a +constant sunshine to her poor man, whom she had preceded out of Dresden +in the way we saw. Schmettau was very quiet, still studious of War +matters; [See _Leben_ (by his Son, "Captain Schmettau;" a modest +intelligent Book), pp. 440-447.] "sent the King" once,--in 1772, while +Polish Prussia, and How it could be fortified, were the interesting +subject,--"a JOURNAL," which he had elaborated for himself, "OF THE +MARCHES OF KARL TWELFTH IN WEST PREUSSEN;" which was well received: +"Apparently the King not angry with me farther?" thought Schmettau. A +completely retired old man; studious, social,--the best men of the +Army still his friends and familiars:--nor, in his own mind, any mutiny +against his Chief; this also has its beauty in a human life, my friend. +So long as Madam Schmettau lived, it was well; after her death, +not well, dark rather, and growing darker: and in about three years +Schmettau followed (27th October, 1775), whither that good soul had +gone. The elder Brother--who was a distinguished Academician, as well +as Feldmarschall and Negotiator--had died at Berlin, in Voltaire's time, +1751. Each of those Schmettaus had a Son, in the Prussian Army, who +wrote Books, or each a short Book, still worth reading. [_Bavarian War +of 1778,_ by the Feldmarschall's Son; ad this _Leben_ we have just been +citing, by the Lieutenant-General's.] But we must return. + +On the very morrow, September 5th, Daun heard of the glorious success +at Dresden; had not expected it till about the 10th at soonest. From +Triebel he sends the news at gallop to Lieberose and Soltikof: "Rejoice +with us, Excellenz: did not I predict it? Silesia and Saxony both are +ours; fruits chiefly of your noble successes. Oh, continue them a very +little!" "Umph!" answers Soltikof, not with much enthusiasm: "Send us +meal steadily; and gain you, Excellenz's self, some noble success!" +Friedrich did not hear of it for almost a week later; not till Monday, +10th,--as a certain small Anecdote would of itself indicate. + +Sunday Evening, 9th September, General Finck, with his new 6,000, +hastening on to join Wunsch for relief of Dresden, had got to +Grossenhayn; and was putting up his tents, when the Outposts brought him +in an Austrian Officer, who had come with a Trumpeter inquiring for +the General. The Austrian Officer "is in quest of proper lodgings for +General Schmettau and Garrison [fancy Finck's sudden stare!];--last +night they lodged at Gross-Dobritz, tolerably to their mind: but +the question for the Escort is, Where to lodge this night, if your +Excellency could advise me?" "Herr, I will advise you to go back to +Gross-Dobritz on the instant," answers Finck grimly; "I shall be obliged +to make you and your Trumpet prisoners, otherwise!" Exit Austrian +Officer. That same evening, too, Captain Kollas, carrying Schmettau's +sad news to the King, calls on Finck in passing; gives dismal details +of the Capitulation and the Austrian way of keeping it; filling Finck's +mind with sorrowful indignation. [Tempelhof, iii. 237.] + +Finck--let us add here, though in date it belongs a little +elsewhere--pushes on, not the less, to join Wunsch at Torgau; joins +Wunsch, straightway recaptures Leipzig, garrison prisoners (September +13th): recaptures all those northwestern garrisons,--multitudinous +Reichsfolk trying, once, to fight him, in an amazingly loud, but +otherwise helpless way ("ACTION OF KORBITZ" they call it); cannonading +far and wide all day, and manoeuvring about, here bitten in upon, +there trying to bite, over many leagues of Country; principally under +Haddick's leading; [HOFBERICHT VON DER AM 21 SEPTEMBER BEY KORBITZ +(in Meissen Country, south of Elbe; Krogis too is a Village in this +wide-spread "Action") VORGEFALLENEN ACTION (Seyfarth, _Beylagen,_ +ii. 621-630). Tempelhof, iii. 248, 258.] who saw good to draw off +Dresden-ward next day, and leave Finck master in those regions. To +Daun's sad astonishment,--in a moment of crisis,--as we shall hear +farther on! So that Saxony is not yet conquered to Daun; Saxony, no, nor +indeed will be:--but Dresden is. Friedrich never could recover Dresden; +though he hoped, and at intervals tried hard, for a long while to come. + + + + +Chapter VI.--PRINCE HENRI MAKES A MARCH OF FIFTY HOURS; THE RUSSIANS +CANNOT FIND LODGING IN SILESIA. + +The eyes of all had been bent on Dresden latterly; and there had +occurred a great deal of detaching thitherward, and of marching there +and thence, as we have partly seen. And the end is, Dresden, and to +appearance Saxony along with it, is Daun's. Has not Daun good reason now +to be proud of the cunctatory method? Never did his game stand better; +and all has been gained at other people's expense. Daun has not played +one trump card; it is those obliging Russians that have played all +the trumps, and reduced the Enemy to nothing. Only continue that wise +course,--and cart meal, with your whole strength, for the Russians!-- + +Safe behind the pools of Lieberose, Friedrich between them and Berlin, +lie those dear Russians; extending, Daun and they, like an impassable +military dike, with spurs of Outposts and cunningly devised Detachments, +far and wide,--from beyond Bober or utmost Crossen on the east, to +Hoyerswerda in Elbe Country on the west;--dike of eighty miles long, +and in some eastern parts of almost eighty broad; so elaborate is Daun's +detaching quality, in cases of moment. "The King's broken Army on +one side of us," calculates Daun; "Prince Henri's on the other; +incommunicative they; reduced to isolation, powerless either or both +of them against such odds. They shall wait there, please Heaven, till +Saxony be quite finished. Zweibruck, and our Detachments and Maguires, +let them finish Saxony, while Soltikof keeps the King busy. Saxony +finished, how will either Prince or King attempt to recover it! After +which, Silesia for us;--and we shall then be near our Magazines withal, +and this severe stress of carting will abate or cease." In fact, these +seem sound calculations: Friedrich is 24,000; Henri 38,000; the military +dike is, of Austrians 75,000, of Russians and Austrians together +120,000. Daun may fairly calculate on succeeding beautifully this Year: +Saxony his altogether; and in Silesia some Glogau or strong Town taken, +and Russians and Austrians wintering together in that Country. + +If only Daun do not TOO much spare his trump cards! But there is such +a thing as excess on that side too: and perhaps it is even the more +ruinous kind,--and is certainly the more despised by good judges, +though the multitude of bad may notice it less. Daun is unwearied in +his vigilantes, in his infinite cartings of provision for himself +and Soltikof,--long chains of Magazines, big and little, at Guben, +at Gorlitz, at Bautzen, Zittau, Friedland; and does, aided by French +Montalembert, all that man can to keep those dear stupid Russians in +tune. + +Daun's problem of carting provisions, and guarding his multifarious +posts, and sources of meal and defence, is not without its difficulties. +Especially with a Prince Henri opposite; who has a superlative +manoeuvring talent of his own, and an industry not inferior to Daun's +in that way. Accordingly, ever since August 11th-13th, when Daun moved +northward to Triebel, and Henri shot out detachments parallel to +him, "to secure the Bober and our right flank, and try to regain +communication with the King,"--still more, ever since August 22d, when +Daun undertook that onerous cartage of meal for Soltikof as well as +self, the manoeuvring and mutual fencing and parrying, between Henri and +him, has been getting livelier and livelier. Fain would Daun secure his +numerous Roads and Magazines; assiduously does Henri threaten him +in these points, and try all means to regain communication with +his Brother. Daun has Magazines and interests everywhere; Henri is +everywhere diligent to act on them. + +Daun in person, ever since Kunersdorf time, has been at Triebel; Henri +moved to Sagan after him, but has left a lieutenant at Schmottseifen, +as Daun has at Mark-Lissa:--here are still new planets, and secondary +ditto, with revolving moons. In short, it is two interpenetrating solar +systems, gyrating, osculating and colliding, over a space of +several thousand square miles,--with an intricacy, with an embroiled +abstruseness Ptolemean or more! Which indeed the soldier who would know +his business--(and not knowing it, is not he of all solecisms in this +world the most flagrant?)--ought to study, out of Tempelhof and the +Books; but which, except in its results, no other reader could endure. +The result we will make a point of gathering: carefully riddled down, +there are withal in the details five or six little passages which have +some shadow of interest to us; these let us note, and carefully omit the +rest:-- + +OF FOUQUET AT LANDSHUT. "Fouquet was twice attacked at Landshut; but +made a lucky figure both times. Attack first was by Deville: attack +second by Harsch. Early in July, not long after Friedrich had left for +Schmottseifen, rash Deville (a rash creature, and then again a laggard, +swift where he should be slow, and VICE VERSA) again made trial on +Landshut and Fouquet; but was beautifully dealt with; taken in rear, +in flank, or I forget how taken, but sent galloping through the Passes +again, with a loss of many Prisoners, most of his furnitures, and all +his presence of mind: whom Daun thereupon summoned out of those parts, +'Hitherward to Mark-Lissa with your Corps; leave Fouquet alone!' +[HOFBERICHT VON DEN UNTERNEHMUNGEN DES FOUQUETSCHEN CORPS, IM JULIUS +1759: in Seyfarth, Beylagen, ii. 582-586.] + +"After which, Fouquet, things being altogether quiet round him, was +summoned, with most part of his force, to Schmottseifen; left General +Goltz (a man we have met before) to guard Landshut; and was in fair +hopes of proving helpful to Prince Henri,--when Harsch [Harsch by +himself this time, not Harsch and Deville as usual] thought here was his +opportunity; and came with a great apparatus, as if to swallow Landshut +whole. So that Fouquet had to hurry off reinforcements thither; and at +length to go himself, leaving Stutterheim in his stead at Schmottseifen. +Goltz, however, with his small handful, stood well to his work. And +there fell out sharp fencings at Landshut:--especially one violent +attack on our outposts; the Austrians quite triumphant; till 'a couple +of cannon open on them from the next Hill,'--till some violent Werner +or other charge in upon them with Prussian Hussars;--a desperate tussle, +that special one of Werner's; not only sabres flashing furiously on both +sides, but butts of pistols and blows on the face: [Tempelhof, iii. 233: +31st August.] till, in short, Harsch finds he can make nothing of it, +and has taken himself away, before Fouquet come." This Goltz, here +playing Anti-Harsch, is the Goltz who, with Winterfeld, Schmettau and +others, was in that melancholy Zittau march, of the Prince of Prussia's, +in 1757: it was Goltz by whom the King sent his finishing compliment, +"You deserve, all of you, to be tried by Court-Martial, and to lose +your heads!" Goltz is mainly concerned with Fouquet and Silesia, in late +times; and we shall hear of him once again. Fouquet did not return to +Schmottseifen; nor was molested again in Landshut this year, though he +soon had to detach, for the King's use, part of his Landshut force, and +had other Silesian business which fell to him. + +FORTRESS OF PEITZ. The poor Fortress of Peitz was taken again;--do +readers remember it, "on the day of Zorndorf," last year? "This year, +a fortnight after Kunersdorf, the same old Half-pay Gentleman with his +Five-and-forty Invalids have again been set adrift, 'with the honors +of war,' poor old creatures; lest by possibility they afflict the +dear Russians and our meal-carts up yonder. [Tempelhof, iii. 231: 27th +August.] I will forget who took Peitz: perhaps Haddick, of whom we have +lately heard so much? He was captor of Berlin in 1757, did the Inroad on +Berlin that year,--and produced Rossbach shortly after. Peitz, if he did +Peitz, was Haddick's last success in the world. Haddick has been most +industrious, 'guarding the Russian flank,'--standing between the King +and it, during that Soltikof march to Mullrose, to Lieberose; but +that once done, and the King settled at Waldau, Haddick was ordered to +Saxony, against Wunsch and Finck:--and readers know already what he made +of these Two in the 'Action at Korbitz, September 21st,'--and shall hear +soon what befell Haddick himself in consequence." + +COLONEL HORDT IS CAPTURED. "It was in that final marching of Soltikof +to Lieberose that a distinguished Ex-Swede, Colonel Hordt, of the Free +Corps HORDT, was taken prisoner. At Trebatsch; hanging on Soltikof's +right flank on that occasion. It was not Haddick, it was a swarm of +Cossacks who laid Hordt fast; his horse having gone to the girths in +a bog. [_Memoires du Comte de Hordt_ (a Berlin, 1789), ii. 53-58 +(not dated or intelligible there): in Tempelhof (iii. 235, 236) +clear account, "Trebatsch, September 4th."] Hordt, an Ex-Swede of +distinction,--a Royalist Exile, on whose head the Swedes have set a +price (had gone into 'Brahe's Plot,' years since, Plot on behalf of the +poor Swedish King, which cost Brahe his life),--Hordt now might have +fared ill, had not Friedrich been emphatic, 'Touch a hair of him, +retaliation follows on the instant!' He was carried to Petersburg; 'lay +twenty-six months and three days' in solitary durance there; and we may +hear a word from him again." + +ZIETHEN ALMOST CAPTURED. "Prince Henri, in the last days of August, +marched to Sagan in person; [Tempelhof, iii. 231: 29th August.] Ziethen +along with him; multifariously manoeuvring 'to regain communication with +the King.' Of course, with no want of counter-manoeuvring, of vigilant +outposts, cunningly devised detachments and assiduous small measures on +the part of Daun. Who, one day, had determined on a more considerable +thing; that of cutting out Ziethen from the Sagan neighborhood. And +would have done it, they say,--had not he been too cunctatory. September +2d, Ziethen, who is posted in the little town of Sorau, had very nearly +been cut off. In Sorau, westward, Daun-ward, of Sagan a short day's +march: there sat Ziethen, conscious of nothing particular,--with Daun +secretly marching on him; Daun in person, from the west, and two others +from the north and from the south, who are to be simultaneous on Sorau +and the Zietheners. A well-laid scheme; likely to have finished Ziethen +satisfactorily, who sat there aware of nothing. But it all miswent: +Daun, on the road, noticed some trifling phenomenon (Prussian party +of horse, or the like), which convinced his cautious mind that all was +found out; that probably a whole Prussian Army, instead of a Ziethen +only, was waiting at Sorau; upon which Daun turned home again, sorry +that he could not turn the other two as well. The other two were +stronger than Ziethen, could they have come upon him by surprise; or +have caught him before he got through a certain Pass, or bit of bad +ground, with his baggage. But Ziethen, by some accident, or by his own +patrols, got notice; loaded his baggage instantly; and was through the +Pass, or half through it, and in a condition to give stroke for stroke +with interest, when his enemies came up. Nothing could be done upon +Ziethen; who marched on, he and all his properties, safe to Sagan that +night,--owing to Daun's over-caution, and to Ziethen's own activity and +luck." [Tempelhof, iii. 233.] + +All this was prior to the loss of Dresden. During the crisis of that, +when everybody was bestirring himself, Prince Henri made extraordinary +exertions: "Much depends on me; all on me!" sighed Henri. A cautious +little man; but not incapable of risking, in the crisis of a game for +life and death. Friedrich and he are wedged asunder by that dike of +Russians and Austrians, which goes from Bober river eastward, post +after post, to Hoyerswerda westward, eighty miles along the +Lausitz-Brandenburg Frontier, rooting itself through the Lausitz +into Bohemia, and the sources of its meal. Friedrich and he cannot +communicate except by spies ("the first JAGER," or regular express "from +the King, arrived September 13th" [Ib. iii. 207.]): but both are of one +mind; both are on one problem, "What is to be done with that impassable +dike?"--and co-operate sympathetically without communicating. What +follows bears date AFTER the loss of Dresden, but while Henri still knew +only of the siege,--that JAGER of the 13th first brought him news of the +loss. + +"A day or two after Ziethen's adventure, Henri quits Sagan, to move +southward for a stroke at the Bohemian-Lausitz magazines; a stroke, and +series of strokes. SEPTEMBER 8th, Ziethen and (in Fouquet's absence at +Landshut) Stutterheim are pushed forward into the Zittau Country; first +of all upon Friedland,--the Zittau Friedland, for there are Friedlands +many! SEPTEMBER 9th, Stutterheim summons Friedland, gets it; gets the +bit of magazine there; and next day hastens on to Zittau. Is refused +surrender of Zittau; learns, however, that the magazine has been mostly +set on wheels again, and is a stage forward on the road to Bohemia; +whitherward Stutterheim, quitting Zittau as too tedious, hastens after +it, and next day catches it, or the unburnt remains of it. A successful +Stutterheim. Nor is Ziethen idle in the mean while; Ziethen and others; +whom no Deville or Austrian Party thinks itself strong enough to meddle +with, Prince Henri being so near. + +"Here is a pretty tempest in the heart of our Bohemian meal-conduit! +Continue that, and what becomes of Soltikof and me? Daun is off from +Triebel Country to this dangerous scene; indignantly cashiers Deville, +'Why did not you attack these Ziethen people? Had not you 10,000, Sir?' +Cashiers poor Deville for not attacking;--does not himself attack: but +carts away the important Gorlitz magazine, to Bautzen, which is the +still more important one; sits down on the lid of that (according to +wont); shoots out O'Donnell (an Irish gentleman, Deville's successor), +and takes every precaution. Prince Henri, in presence of O'Donnell, +coalesces again; walks into Gorlitz; encamps there, on the Landskron +and other Heights (Moys Hill one of them, poor Winterfeld's Hill!),--and +watches a little how matters will turn, and whether Daun, severely +vigilant from Bautzen, seated on the lid of his magazine, will not +perhaps rise." + +First and last, Daun in this business has tried several things; but +there was pretty much always, and emphatically there now is, only one +thing that could be effectual: To attack Prince Henri, and abolish him +from those countries;--as surely might have been possible, with twice +his strength at your disposal?--This, though sometimes he seemed to be +thinking of such a thing, Daun never would try: for which the subsequent +FACTS, and all good judges, were and are inexorably severe on Daun. +Certain it is, no rashness could have better spilt Daun's game than did +this extreme caution. + + + + +DAUN, SOLTIKOF AND COMPANY AGAIN HAVE A COLLOQUY (Bautzen, September +15th); AFTER WHICH EVERYBODY STARTS ON HIS SPECIAL COURSE OF ACTION. + +Soltikof's disgust at this new movement of Daun's was great and +indignant. "Instead of going at the King, and getting some victory for +himself, he has gone to Bautzen, and sat down on his meal-bags! Meal? +Is it to be a mere fighting for meal? I will march to-morrow for Poland, +for Preussen, and find plenty of meal!" And would have gone, they say, +had not Mercury, in the shape of Montalembert with his most zealous +rhetoric, intervened; and prevailed with difficulty. "One hour of +personal interview with Excellency Daun," urges Montalembert; "one +more!" "No," answers Soltikof.--"Alas, then, send your messenger!" To +which last expedient Soltikof does assent, and despatches Romanzof on +the errand. + +SEPTEMBER 15th, at Bautzen, at an early hour, there is meeting +accordingly; not Romanzof, Soltikof's messenger, alone, but Zweibruck +in person, Daun in person; and most earnest council is held. "A noble +Russian gentleman sees how my hands are bound," pleads Daun. "Will not +Excellency Soltikof, who disdains idleness, go himself upon Silesia, +upon Glogau for instance, and grant me a few days?" "No," answers +Romanzof; "Excellency Soltikof by himself will not. Let Austria +furnish Siege-Artillery; daily meal I need not speak of; 10,000 fresh +Auxiliaries beyond those we have: on these terms Excellency Soltikof +will perhaps try it; on lower terms, positively not." "Well then, yes!" +answers Daun, not without qualms of mind. Daun has a horror at weakening +himself to that extent; but what can he do? "General Campitelli, with the +10,000, let him march this night, then; join with General Loudon where +you please to order: Excellency Soltikof shall see that in every point +I conform." [Tempelhof, iii. 247-249.]--An important meeting to us, this +at Bautzen; and breaks up the dead-lock into three or more divergent +courses of activity; which it will now behoove us to follow, with the +best brevity attainable. "Bautzen, Saturday, 15th September, early in +the morning," that is the date of the important Colloquy. And precisely +eight-and-forty hours before, "on Thursday, 13th, about 10 A.M.", in +the western Environs of Quebec, there has fallen out an Event, quite +otherwise important in the History of Mankind! Of which readers shall +have some notice at a time more convenient.-- + +Romanzof returning with such answer, Soltikof straightway gathers +himself, September 15th-16th, and gets on march. To Friedrich's joy; who +hopes it may be homeward; waits two days at Waldau, for the Yes or +No. On the second day, alas, it is No: "Going for Silesia, I perceive; +thither, by a wide sweep northward, which they think will be safer!" +Upon which Friedrich also rises; follows, with another kind of speed +than Soltikof's; and, by one of his swift clutchings, lays hold of +Sagan, which he, if Soltikof has not, sees to be a key-point in this +operation. Easy for Soltikof to have seized this key-point, key of +the real road to Glogau; easy for Loudon and the new 10,000 to have +rendezvoused there: but nobody has thought of doing it. A few Croats +were in the place, who could make no debate. + +From Sagan Friedrich and Henri are at length in free communication; +Sagan to the Landskron at Gorlitz is some fifty miles of country, now +fallen vacant. From Henri, from Fouquet (the dangers of Landshut being +over), Friedrich is getting what reinforcement they can spare (September +20th-24th); will then push forward again, industriously sticking to the +flanks of Soltikof, thrusting out stumbling-blocks, making his march +very uncomfortable. + +Strange to say, from Sagan, while waiting two days for these +reinforcements, there starts suddenly to view, suddenly for Friedrich +and us, an incipient Negotiation about Peace! Actual Proposal that way +(or as good as actual, so Voltaire thinks it), on the part of Choiseul +and France; but as yet in Voltaire's name only, by a sure though a +backstairs channel, of his discovering. Of which, and of the much +farther corresponding that did actually follow on it, we purpose to say +something elsewhere, at a better time. Meanwhile Voltaire's announcement +of it to the King has just come in, through a fair and high Hand: how +Friedrich receives it, what Friedrich's inner feeling is, and has been +for a fortnight past--Here are some private utterances of his, throwing +a straggle of light on those points:-- + + +FOUR LETTERS OF FRIEDRICH'S (10th-24th September). + +No. 1. TO PRINCE FERDINAND (at Berlin). Poor little Ferdinand, the +King's Brother, fallen into bad health, has retired from the Wars, and +gone to Berlin; much an object of anxiety to the King, who diligently +corresponds with the dear little man,--giving earnest medical advices, +and getting Berlin news in return. + +"WALDAU, 10th September, 1759. + +"Since my last Letter, Dresden has capitulated,--the very day while +Wunsch was beating Maguire at The Barns (north side of Dresden, +September 5th) day AFTER the capitulation]. Wunsch went back to Torgau, +which St. Andre, with 14,000 Reichs-people under him, was for retaking; +him too Wunsch beat, took all his tents, kettles, haversacks and +utensils, 300 prisoners, six cannon and some standards. Finck is uniting +with Wunsch; they will march on the Prince of Zweibruck, and retake +Dresden [hopes always, for a year and more, to have Dresden back very +soon]. I trust before long to get all these people gathered round +Dresden, and our own Country rid of them: that, I take it, will be the +end of the Campaign. + +"Many compliments to the Prince of Wurtemberg [wounded at Kunersdorf], +and to all our wounded Generals: I hope Seidlitz is now out of danger: +that bleeding fit (EBULLITION DE SANG) will cure him of the cramp in his +jaw, and of his colics; and as he is in bed, he won't take cold. I hope +the viper-broth will do you infinite good; be assiduous in patching your +constitution, while there is yet some fine weather left: I dread the +winter for you; take a great deal of care against cold. I have still a +couple of cruel months ahead of me before ending this Campaign. +Within that time, there will be, God knows what upshot." [_OEuvres de +Frederic,_ xxvi. 544.]--This is "September 10th:" the day of Captain +Kollas's arrival with his bad Dresden news; Daun and Soltikof profoundly +quiet for three days more. + +No. 2. TO THE DUCHESS OF SACHSEN-GOTHA (at Gotha). Voltaire has enclosed +his Peace-Proposal to that Serene Lady, always a friend of Friedrich's +and his; to whom Friedrich, directly on receipt of it, makes answer:-- + +"SAGAN, 22d September, 1759. + +"MADAM,--I receive on all occasions proofs of your goodness, to which I +am as sensible as a chivalrous man can be. Certainly it is not through +your hands, Madam, that my Correspondence with V. [with Voltaire, if +one durst write it in full] ought to be made to pass! Nevertheless, in +present circumstances, I will presume to beg that you would forward to +him the Answer here enclosed, on which I put no Address. The difficulty +of transmitting Letters has made me choose my Brother," Ferdinand, at +Berlin, "to have this conveyed to your hand. + +"If I gave bridle to my feelings, now would be the moment for developing +them; but in these critical times I judge it better not; and will +restrict myself to simple assurances of--" F. + +No. 3. TO VOLTAIRE, at the Delices (so her Serene Highness will address +it). Here is part of the Enclosure to "V." Friedrich is all for Peace; +but keeps on his guard with such an Ambassador, and writes in a proud, +light, only half-believing style:-- + +"SAGAN, 22d September, 1759. + +"The Duchess of Sachsen-Gotha sends me your Letter. I never received +your packet of the 29th: communications all interrupted here; with much +trouble I get this passed on to you, if it is happy enough to pass. + +"My position is not so desperate as my enemies give out. I expect to +finish my Campaign tolerably; my courage is not sunk:--it appears, +however, there is talk of Peace. All I can say of positive on this +article is, That I have honor for ten; and that, whatever misfortune +befall me, I feel myself incapable of doing anything to wound, the least +in the world, this principle,--which is so sensitive and delicate for +one who thinks like a gentleman (PENSE EN PREUX CHEVALIER); and so +little regarded by rascally politicians, who think like tradesmen. + +"I know nothing of what you have been telling me about [your backstairs +channels, your Duc de Choiseul and his humors]: but for making Peace +there are two conditions which I never will depart from: 1. To make +it conjointly with my faithful Allies [Hessen and England; I have no +other]; 2. To make it honorable and glorious. Observe you, I have still +honor remaining; I will preserve that, at the price of my blood. + +"If your people want Peace, let them propose nothing to me which +contradicts the delicacy of my sentiments. I am in the convulsions +of military operations; I do as the gamblers who are in ill-luck, and +obstinately set themselves against Fortune. I have forced her to return +to me, more than once, like a fickle mistress, when she had run away. My +opponents are such foolish people, in the end I bid fair to catch some +advantage over them: but, happen whatsoever his Sacred Majesty Chance +may please, I don't disturb myself about it. Up to this point, I have a +clear conscience in regard to the misfortunes that have come to me. +As to you, the Battle of Minden, that of Cadiz" (Boscawen VERSUS De la +Clue; Toulon Fleet running out, and caught by the English, as we saw), +these things perhaps, "and the loss of Canada, are arguments capable +of restoring reason to the French, who had got confused by the Austrian +hellebore. + +"This is my way of thinking. You do not find me made of rose-water: but +Henri Quatre, Louis Quatorze,--my present enemies even, whom I could +cite [Maria Theresa, twenty years ago, when your Belleisle set out to +cut her in Four],--were of no softer temper either. Had I been born a +private man, I would yield everything for the love of Peace; but one +has to take the tone of one's position. This is all I can tell you +at present. In three or four weeks the ways of correspondence will be +freer.--F." [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ xxiii. 60, 61.] + +No. 4. TO PRINCE FERDINAND. Two days later: has got on foot again,--end +of his first march upon Soltikof again:-- + +"BAUNAU, 24th September, 1759. + +"Thank you for the news you send of the wounded Officers," Wurtemberg, +Seidlitz and the others. "You may well suppose that in the pass things +are at, I am not without cares, inquietudes, anxieties; it is the +frightfulest crisis I have had in my life. This is the moment for dying +unless one conquer. Daun and my Brother Henri are marching side by side +[not exactly!]. It is possible enough all these Armies may assemble +hereabouts, and that a general Battle may decide our fortune and +the Peace. Take care of your health, dear Brother.--F." [_OEuvres de +Frederic,_ xxvi. 545.] + +Baunau is on Silesian ground, as indeed Sagan itself is; at Baunau +Friedrich already, just on arriving, has done a fine move on Soltikof, +and surprisingly flung the toll-gate in Soltikof's face. As we shall +see by and by;--and likewise that Prince Henri, who emerges to-morrow +morning (September 25th), has not been "marching side by side with +Daun," but at a pretty distance from that gentleman!-- + +Soltikof is a man of his word; otherwise one suspects he already saw his +Siege of Glogau to be impossible. Russians are not very skilful at the +War-minuet: fancy what it will be dancing to such a partner! Friedrich, +finding they are for Glogau, whisks across the Oder, gets there before +them: "No Glogau for you!" They stand agape for some time; then think +"Well then Breslau!" Friedrich again whisks across from them, farther +up, and is again ahead of them when they cross: "No Breslau either!" In +effect, it is hopeless; and we may leave the two manoeuvring in those +waste parts, astride of Oder, or on the eastern bank of it, till a +fitter opportunity; and attend to Henri, who is now the article in risk. + +Zweibruck's report of himself, on that day of the general Colloquy, was +not in the way of complaint, like that of the Russians, though there did +remain difficulties. "Dresden gloriously ours; Maguire Governor there, +and everything secure; upon my honor. But in the northwest part, those +Fincks and Wunsches, Excellenz?"--And the actual truth is, Wunsch +has taken Leipzig, day before yesterday (September 13th), as Daun +sorrowfully knows, by news come in overnight. And six days hence +(September 21st), Finck and Wunsch together will do their "ACTION OF +KORBITZ," and be sending Haddick a bad road! These things Zweibruck +knows only in part; but past experience gives him ominous presentiment, +as it may well do; and he thinks decidedly: "Excellenz, more Austrian +troops are indispensable there; in fact, your Excellenz's self, were +that possible; which one feels it is not, in the presence of these +Russians!" + +Russians and Reichsfolk, these are a pair of thumbscrews on both thumbs +of Daun; screwing the cunctation out of him; painfully intimating: "Get +rid of this Prince Henri; you must, you must!" And, in the course of the +next eight days Daun has actually girt himself to this great enterprise. +Goaded on, I could guess, by the "Action of Korbitz" (done on Friday, +thirty hours ago); the news of which, and that Haddick, instead of +extinguishing Finck, is retreating from him upon Dresden,--what a piece +of news! thinks Daun: "You, Zweibruck, Haddick, Maguire and Company, +you are 36,000 in Saxony; Finck has not 12,000 in the field: How is +this?"--and indignantly dismisses Haddick altogether: "Go, Sir, and +attend to your health!" [Tempelhof, iii. 276, 258-261.] News poignantly +astonishing to Daun, as would seem;--like an ox-goad in the lazy rear of +Daun. Certain it is, Daun had marched out to Gorlitz in collected form; +and, on Saturday afternoon, SEPTEMBER 22d is personally on the Heights +(not Moys Hill, I should judge, but other points of vision), taking +earnest survey of Prince Henri's position on the Landskron there. +"To-morrow morning we attack that Camp," thinks Daun; "storm Prince +Henri and it: be rid of him, at any price!" [Ib. iii. 253-256 (for +the March now ensuing): iii. 228-234, 241-247 (for Henri's anterior +movements).] + +"To-morrow morning," yes:--but this afternoon, and earlier, Prince +Henri has formed a great resolution, his plans all laid, everything in +readiness; and it is not here you will find Prince Henri to-morrow. This +is his famous March of Fifty Hours, this that we are now come to; which +deserves all our attention,--and all Daun's much more! Prince Henri was +habitually a man cautious in War; not aggressive, like his Brother, but +defensive, frugal of risks, and averse to the lion-springs usual with +some people; though capable of them, too, in the hour of need. Military +men are full of wonder at the bold scheme he now fell upon; and at his +style of executing it. Hardly was Daun gone home to his meditations +on the storm of the Landskron to-morrow, and tattoo beaten in Prince +Henri's Camp there, when, at 8 that Saturday evening, issuing +softly, with a minimum of noise, in the proper marching columns, +baggage-columns, Henri altogether quitted this Camp; and vanished like +a dream. Into the Night; men and goods, every item:--who shall say +whitherward? Leaving only a few light people to keep up the watch-fires +and sentry-cries, for behoof of Daun! Let readers here, who are in the +secret, watch him a little from afar. + +Straight northward goes Prince Henri, down Neisse Valley, 20 miles +or so, to Rothenburg; in columns several-fold, with much delicate +arranging, which was punctually followed: and in the course of to-morrow +Prince Henri is bivouacked, for a short rest of three hours,--hidden in +unknown space, 20 miles from Daun, when Daun comes marching up to storm +him on the Landskron! Gone veritably; but whitherward Daun cannot form +the least guess. Daun can only keep his men under arms there, all day; +while his scouts gallop far and wide,--bringing in this false guess and +the other; and at length returning with the eminently false one, misled +by some of Henri's baggage-columns, which have to go many routes, That +the Prince is on march for Glogau:--"Gone northeast; that way went his +wagons; these we saw with our eyes." "Northeast? Yes, to Glogau possibly +enough," thinks Daun: "Or may not he, cunning as he is and full of +feints, intend a stroke on Bautzen, in my absence?"--and hastens thither +again, and sits down on the Magazine-lid, glad to find nothing wrong +there. + +This is all that Daun hears of Henri for the next four days. Plenty of +bad news from Saxony in these four days: the Finck-Haddick Action of +Korbitz, a dismal certainty before one started,--and Haddick on his +road to some Watering Place by this time! But no trace of Henri farther; +since that of the wagons wending northeast. "Gone to Glogau, to his +Brother: no use in pushing him, or trying to molest him there!" thinks +Daun; and waits, in stagnant humor, chewing the cud of bitter enough +thoughts, till confirmation of that guess arrive:--as it never will in +this world! Read an important Note:-- + +"To northward of Bautzen forty miles, and to westward forty miles, +the country is all Daun's; only towards Glogau, with the Russians and +Friedrich thereabouts, does it become disputable, or offer Prince Henri +any chance. Nevertheless it is not to Glogau, it is far the reverse, +that the nimble Henri has gone. Resting himself at Rothenburg 'three +hours' (speed is of all things the vitalest), Prince Henri starts again, +SUNDAY afternoon, straight westward this time. Marches, with his best +swiftness, with his best arrangements, through many sleeping +Villages, to Klitten, not a wakeful one: a march of 18 miles from +Rothenburg;--direct for the Saxon side of things, instead of the +Silesian, as Daun had made sure. + +"At Klitten, MONDAY morning, bivouac again, for a few hours,--'has no +Camp, only waits three hours,' is Archenholtz's phrase: but I suppose +the meaning is, Waits till the several Columns, by their calculated +routes, have all got together; and till the latest in arriving has had +'three hours' of rest,--the earliest having perhaps gone on march again, +in the interim? There are 20 miles farther, still straight west, to +Hoyerswerda, where the outmost Austrian Division is: 'Forward towards +that; let us astonish General Wehla and his 3,000, and our March +is over!' All this too Prince Henri manages; never anything more +consummate, more astonishing to Wehla and his Master. + +"Wehla and Brentano, readers perhaps remember them busy, from the Pirna +side, at the late Siege of Dresden. Siege gloriously done, Wehla +was ordered to Hoyerswerda, on the northwest frontier; Brentano to a +different point in that neighborhood; where Brentano escaped ruin, and +shall not be mentioned; but Wehla suddenly found it, and will require +a word. Wehla, of all people on the War-theatre, had been the least +expecting disturbance. He is on the remotest western flank; to westward +of him nothing but Torgau and the Finck-Wunsch people, from whom is +small likelihood of danger: from the eastern what danger can there be? A +Letter of Dauns, some days ago, had expressly informed him that, to all +appearance, there was none. + +"And now suddenly, on the Tuesday morning, What is this? Prussians +reported to be visible in the Woods! 'Impossible!' answered Wehla;--did +get ready, however, what he could; Croat Regiments, pieces of Artillery +behind the Elster River and on good points; laboring more and more +diligently, as the news proved true. But all his efforts were to no +purpose. General Lentulus with his Prussians (the mute Swiss Lentulus, +whom we sometimes meet), who has the Vanguard this day, comes streaming +out of the woods across the obstacles; cannonades Wehla both in front +and rear; entirely swallows Wehla and Corps: 600 killed; the General +himself, with 28 Field-Officers, and of subalterns and privates 1,785, +falling prisoners to us; and the remainder scattered on the winds, +galloping each his own road towards covert and a new form of life. +Wehla is eaten, in this manner, Tuesday, September 25th:--metaphorically +speaking, the March of Fifty Hours ends in a comfortable twofold +meal (military-cannibal, as well as of common culinary meat), and in +well-deserved rest." [Tempelhof, iii. 255, 256; Seyfarth, _Beylagen;_ +&c.] + +The turning-point of the Campaign is reckoned to be this March of +Henri's; one of the most extraordinary on record. Prince Henri had a +very fast March INTO these Silesian-Lausitz Countries, early in July, +[Seyfarth, ii. 545.] and another very fast, from Bautzen, to intersect +with Schmottseifen, in the end of July: but these were as nothing +compared with the present. Tempelhof, the excellent solid man,--but who +puts all things, big and little, on the same level of detail, and has +unparalleled methods of arranging (what he reckons to be "arranging"), +and no vestige of index,--is distressingly obscure on this grand +Incident; but at length, on compulsion, does yield clear account. +[Tempelhof, iii. 253-258.] In Archenholtz it is not DATED at all; +who merely says as follows: "Most extraordinary march ever made; went +through 50 miles of Country wholly in the Enemy's possession; lasted 56 +hours, in which long period there was no camp pitched, and only twice a +rest of three hours allowed the troops. During the other fifty hours the +march, day and night, continually proceeded. Ended (NO date) in surprise +of General Wehla at Hoyerswerda, cutting up 600 of his soldiers, +and taking 1,800 prisoners. Kalkreuth, since so famous," in the +Anti-Napoleon Wars, "was the Prince's Adjutant." [Archenholtz, i. 426.] + +This is probably Prince Henri's cleverest feat,--though he did a great +many of clever; and his Brother used to say, glancing towards him, +"There is but one of us that never committed a mistake." A highly +ingenious dexterous little man in affairs of War, sharp as needles, +vehement but cautious; though of abstruse temper, thin-skinned, +capricious, and giving his Brother a great deal of trouble with his +jealousies and shrewish whims. By this last consummate little operation +he has astonished Daun as much as anybody ever did; shorn his elaborate +tissue of cunctations into ruin and collapse at one stroke; and in +effect, as turns out, wrecked his campaign for this Year. + +Daun finds there is now no hope of Saxony, unless he himself at once +proceed thither. At once thither;--and leave Glogau and the Russians +to their luck,--which in such case, what is it like to be? Probably, to +Daun's own view, ominous enough; but he has no alternative. To this pass +has the March of Fifty Hours brought us. There is such a thing as being +too cunctatory, is not there, your Excellency? Every mortal, and more +especially every Feldmarschall, ought to strike the iron while it +is hot. The remainder of this Campaign, we will hope, can be made +intelligible in a more summary manner. + + + + +FRIEDRICH MANAGES (September 24th-October 24th) TO GET THE RUSSIANS SENT +HOME; AND HIMSELF FALLS LAMED WITH GOUT. + +Friedrich's manoeuvres against Soltikof,--every reader is prepared to +hear that Soltikof was rendered futile by them: and none but military +readers could take delight in the details. Two beautiful short-cuts he +made upon Soltikof; pulled him up both times in mid career, as with hard +check-bit. The first time was at Zobelwitz: September 24th, Friedrich +cut across from Sagan, which is string to bow of the Russian march; +posted himself on the Heights of Zobelwitz, of Baunau, Milkau (at Baunau +Friedrich will write a LETTER this night, if readers bethink themselves; +Milkau is a place he may remember for rain-deluges, in the First +Silesian War [Supra, p. 323; ib. vol. vii. p. 311.]): "Let the Russians, +if they now dare, try the Pass of Neustadtel here!" A fortunate hour, +when he got upon this ground. Quartermaster-General Stoffel, our old +Custrin acquaintance, is found marking out a Camp with a view to that +Pass of Neustadtel; [Tempelhof, iii. 293; Retzow, ii. 163.] is, greatly +astonished to find the Prussian Army emerge on him there; and at once +vanishes, with his Hussar-Cossack retinues. "September 24th," it is +while Prince Henri was on the last moiety of his March of Fifty Hours. +This severe twitch flung Soltikof quite out from Glogau,--was like +to fling him home altogether, had it not been for Montalembert's +eloquence;--did fling him across the Oder. Where, again thanks to +Montalembert, he was circling on with an eye to Breslau, when Friedrich, +by the diameter, suddenly laid bridges, crossed at Koben, and again +brought Soltikof to halt, as by turnpike suddenly shut: "Must pay first; +must beat us first!" + +These things had raised Friedrich's spirits not a little. Getting on +the Heights of Zobelwitz, he was heard to exclaim, "This is a lucky +day; worth more to me than a battle with victory." [Retzow, ii. 163.] +Astonishing how he blazed out again, quite into his old pride and +effulgence, after this, says Retzow. Had been so meek, so humbled, +and even condescended to ask advice or opinion from some about him. +Especially "from two Captains," says the Opposition Retzow, whose heads +were nearly turned by this sunburst from on high. Captain Marquart and +another,--I believe, he did employ them about Routes and marking of +Camps, which Retzow calls consulting: a King fallen tragically scarce of +persons to consult; all his Winterfelds, Schwerins, Keiths and Council +of Peers now vanished, and nothing but some intelligent-looking Captain +Marquart, or the like, to consult:--of which Retzow, in his splenetic +Opposition humor, does not see the tragedy, but rather the comedy: how +the poor Captains found their favor to be temporary, conditional, and +had to collapse again. One of them wrote an "ESSAY on the COUP-D'OEIL +MILITAIRE," over which Retzow pretends to weep. This was Friedrich's +marginal Note upon the MS., when submitted to his gracious perusal: "You +(ER) will do better to acquire the Art of marking Camps than to write +upon the Military Stroke of Eye." Beautifully written too, says Retzow; +but what, in the eyes of this King, is beautiful writing, to knowing +your business well? No friend he to writing, unless you have got +something really special, and urgent to be written. + +Friedrich crassed the Oder twice. Took Soltikof on both sides of the +Oder, cut him out of this fond expectation, then of that; led him, +we perceive, a bad life. Latterly the scene was on the right bank; +Sophienthal, Koben, Herrnstadt and other poor places,--on that big +eastern elbow, where Oder takes his final bend, or farewell of Poland. +Ground, naturally, of some interest to Friedrich: ground to us unknown; +but known to Friedrich as the ground where Karl XII. gave Schulenburg +his beating, ["Near Guhrau" (while chasing August the Strong and him out +of Poland), "12th October, 1704:" vague account of it, dateless, and as +good as placeless, in Voltaire (_Charles Douse,_ liv. iii.), _OEuvres,_ +xxx. 142-145.] which produced the "beautiful retreat" of Schulenburg. +The old Feldmarschall Schulenburg whom we used to hear of once,--whose +Nephew, a pipeclayed little gentleman, was well known to Friedrich and +us. + +For the rest, I do not think he feels this out-manoeuvring of the +Russians very hard work. Already, from Zobelwitz Country, 25th +September, day of Henri at Hoyerswerda, Friedrich had written to +Fouquet: "With 21,000 your beaten and maltreated Servant has hindered +an Army of 50,000 from attacking him, and compelled them to retire on +Neusatz!" Evidently much risen in hope; and Henri's fine news not yet +come to hand. By degrees, Soltikof, rendered futile, got very +angry; especially when Daun had to go for Saxony. "Meal was becoming +impossible, at any rate," whimpers Daun: "O Excellency, do but consider, +with the nobleness natural to you! Our Court will cheerfully furnish +money, instead of meal."--"Money? My people cannot eat money!" growled +Soltikof, getting more and more angry; threatening daily to march for +Posen and his own meal-stores. What a time of it has Montalembert, has +the melancholy Loudon, with temper so hot! + +At Sophienthal, October 10th, Friedrich falls ill of gout;--absolutely +lamed; for three weeks cannot stir from his room. Happily the outer +problem is becoming easier and easier; almost bringing its own solution. +At Sophienthal the lame Friedrich takes to writing about CHARLES XII. +AND HIS MILITARY CHARACTER,--not a very illuminative Piece, on the +first perusal, but I intend to read it again; [REFLEXIONS SUR LES TALENS +MILITAIRES ET SUR LE CARACTERE DE CHARLES XII. (_OEuvres de Frederic,_ +vii. 69-88).]--which at least helps him to pass the time. Soltikof, more +and more straitened, meal itself running low, gets angrier and angrier. +His treatment of the Country, Montalembert rather encouraging, is +described as "horrible." One day he takes the whim, whim or little more, +of seizing Herrnstadt; a small Town, between the Two Armies, where the +Prussians have a Free Battalion. The Prussian Battalion resists; +drives Soltikof's people back. "Never mind," think they: "a place of no +importance to us; and Excellency Soltikof has ridden else-whither." By +ill-luck, in the afternoon, Excellency Soltikof happened to mention the +place again. Hearing that the Prussians still have it, Soltikof mounts +into a rage; summons the place, with answer still No; thereupon orders +instant bombardment of it, fiery storms of grenadoes for it; and has the +satisfaction of utterly burning poor Herrnstadt; the Prussian Free-Corps +still continuing obstinate. It was Soltikof's last act in those parts, +and betokens a sulphurous state of humor. + +Next morning (October 24th), he took the road for Posen, and marched +bodily home. [Tempelhof, iii. 299, 291-300 (general account, abundantly +minute).] Home verily, in spite of Montalembert and all men. "And for +me, what orders has Excellency?" Loudon had anxiously inquired, on the +eve of that event. "None whatever!" answered Excellency: "Do your own +pleasure; go whithersoever seems good to you." And Loudon had to take +a wide sweep round, by Kalish, through the western parts of Poland; and +get home to the Troppau-Teschen Country as he best could. + +By Kalish, by Czenstochow, Cracow, poor Loudon had to go: a dismal march +of 300 miles or more,--waited on latterly by Fouquet, with Werner, Goltz +and others, on the Silesian Border; whom Friedrich had ordered thither +for such end. Whom Loudon skilfully avoided to fight; having already, by +desertion and by hardships, lost half his men on the road. Glad enough +to get home and under roof, with his 20,000 gone to 10,000; and to make +bargain with Fouquet: "Truce, then, through Winter; neither of us +to meddle with the other, unless after a fortnight's warning given." +[Tempelhof, iii. 328-331.] NOVEMBER 1st, a month before this, the King, +carried on a litter by his soldiers, had quitted Sophienthal; and, +crossing the River by Koben, got to Glogau. [Rodenbeck, i. 396.] The +greater part of his force, 13,000 under Hulsen, he had immediately sent +on for Saxony; he himself intending to wait recovery in Glogau, with +this Silesian wing of the business happily brought to finis for the +present. + +On the Saxon side, too, affairs are in such a course that the King +can be patient at Glogau till he get well. Everything is prosperous +in Saxony since that March on Hoyerswerda; Henri, with his Fincks and +Wunsches, beautifully posted in the Meissen-Torgau region; no dislodging +of him, let Daun, with his big mass of forces, try as he may. Daun, +through the month of October, is in various Camps, in Schilda last of +all: Henri successively in two; in Strehla for some ten days; then in +Torgau for about three weeks, carefully intrenched, [Tempelhof. iii. +276, 281, 284 (Henri in Strehla, October 4th-17th; thence to Torgau: 22d +October, Daun "quits his Camp of Belgern" for that of Schilda, which was +his last in those parts).]--where traces of him will turn up (not too +opportunely) next year. Daun, from whatever Camp, goes laboring on this +side and on that; on every side the deft Henri is as sharp as needles; +nothing to be made of him by the cunning movements and contrivances of +Daun. Very fine manoeuvring it was, especially on Henri's part; a charm +to the soldier mind;--given minutely in Tempelhof, and capable of +being followed (if you have Maps and Patience) into the last details. +Instructive really to the soldier;--but must be, almost all, omitted +here. One beautiful slap to Duke d'Ahremberg (a poor old friend of +Daun's and ours) we will remember: "Action of Pretsch" they call +it; defeat, almost capture of poor D'Ahremberg; who had been sent to +dislodge the Prince, by threatening his supplies, and had wheeled, +accordingly, eastward, wide away; but, to his astonishment, found, after +a march or two, Three select Prussian Corps emerging on him, by front, +by rear, by flank, with Horse-artillery (quasi-miraculous) bursting out +on hill-tops, too,--and, in short, nothing for it but to retreat, +or indeed to run, in a considerably ruinous style: poor D'Ahremberg! +[Seyfarth (_Beylagen,_ ii. 634-637), "HOFBERICHT VON DER AM 29 OCTOBER, +1759, BEY MEURO [chiefly BEY PRETSCH] VORGEFALLENEN ACTION;" ib. ii. 543 +n.] On the whole, Daun is reduced to a panting condition; and knows not +what to do. His plans were intrinsically bad, says Tempelhof; without +beating Henri in battle, which he cannot bring himself to attempt, +he, in all probability, will, were it only for difficulties of the +commissariat kind, have to fall back Dresden-ward, and altogether take +himself away. [Tempelhof, iii. 287-289.] + +After this sad slap at Pretsch, Daun paused for consideration; took +to palisading himself to an extraordinary degree, slashing the Schilda +Forests almost into ruin for this end; and otherwise sat absolutely +quiet. Little to be done but take care of oneself. Daun knows withal of +Hulsen's impending advent with the Silesian 13,000;--November 2d, Hulsen +is actually at Muskau, and his 13,000 magnified by rumor to 20,000. +Hearing of which, Daun takes the road (November 4th); quits his +gloriously palisaded Camp of Schilda; feels that retreat on Dresden, or +even home to Bohemia altogether, is the one course left. + +And now, the important Bautzen Colloquy of SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER +15th, having here brought its three or more Courses of Activity to a +pause,--we will glance at the far more important THURSDAY, 13th, other +side the Ocean:-- + +ABOVE QUEBEC, NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 12th-13th, In profound silence, on the +stream of the St. Lawrence far away, a notable adventure is going on. +Wolfe, from two points well above Quebec ("As a last shift, we will try +that way"), with about 5,000 men, is silently descending in boats; with +purpose to climb the Heights somewhere on this side the City, and be +in upon it, if Fate will. An enterprise of almost sublime nature; +very great, if it can succeed. The cliffs all beset to his left hand, +Montcalm in person guarding Quebec with his main strength. + +Wolfe silently descends; mind made up; thoughts hushed quiet into one +great thought; in the ripple of the perpetual waters, under the grim +cliffs and the eternal stars. Conversing with his people, he was heard +to recite some passages of Gray's ELEGY, lately come out to those +parts; of which, says an ear-witness, he expressed his admiration to an +enthusiastic degree: "Ah, these are tones of the Eternal Melodies, are +not they? A man might thank Heaven had he such a gift; almost as WE +might for succeeding here, Gentlemen!" [Professor Robison, then a Naval +Junior, in the boat along with Wolfe, afterwards a well-known Professor +of Natural Philosophy at Edinburgh, was often heard, by persons whom I +have heard again, to repeat this Anecdote. See Playfair, BIOGRAPHICAL +ACCOUNT OF PROFESSOR ROBISON,--in _Transactions_ of Royal Society of +Edinburgh, vii. 495 et seq.] Next morning (Thursday, 13th September, +1759), Wolfe, with his 5,000, is found to have scrambled up by some +woody Neck in the heights, which was not quite precipitous; has trailed +one cannon with him, the seamen busy bringing up another; and by 10 of +the clock stands ranked (really somewhat in the Friedrich way, though +on a small scale); ready at all points for Montcalm, but refusing to be +over-ready. + +Montcalm, on first hearing of him, had made haste: "OUI, JE LES VOIS OU +ILS NE DOIVENT PAS ETRE; JE VAIS LES E'CRASER (to smash them)!" said +he, by way of keeping his people in heart. And marches up, beautifully +skilful, neglecting none of his advantages. Has numerous Canadian +sharpshooters, preliminary Indians in the bushes, with a provoking fire: +"Steady!" orders Wolfe; "from you not one shot till they are within +thirty yards." And Montcalm, volleying and advancing, can get no +response, more than from Druidic stones; till at thirty yards the stones +become vocal,--and continue so at a dreadful rate; and, in a space +of seventeen minutes, have blown Montcalm's regulars, and the gallant +Montcalm himself, and their second in command, and their third, into +ruin and destruction. In about seven minutes more the agony was done; +"English falling on with the bayonet, Highlanders with the claymore;" +fierce pursuit, rout total:--and Quebec and Canada as good as finished. +The thing is yet well known to every Englishman; [The military details +of it seem to be very ill known (witness Colonel Beatson's otherwise +rather careful Pamphlet, THE PLAINS OF ABRAHAM, written quite lately, +which we are soon to cite farther); and they would well deserve +describing in the SEYFARTH-BEYLAGEN, or even in the TEMPELHOF +way,--could an English Officer, on the spot as this Colonel was, be +found to do it!--Details are in Beatson (quite another "Beatson"), +_Naval and Military History,_ ii. 300-308; in _Gentleman's Magazine_ +for 1759, the Despatches and particulars: see also Walpole, _George the +Second,_ iii. 217-222.] and how Wolfe himself died in it, his beautiful +death. + +Truly a bit of right soldierhood, this Wolfe. Manages his small +resources in a consummate manner; invents, contrives, attempts and +re-attempts, irrepressible by difficulty or discouragement, How could a +Friedrich himself have managed this Quebec in a more artistic way? The +small Battle itself, 5,000 to a side, and such odds of Savagery and +Canadians, reminds you of one of Friedrich's: wise arrangements; exact +foresight, preparation corresponding; caution with audacity; inflexible +discipline, silent till its time come, and then blazing out as we see. +The prettiest soldiering I have heard of among the English for several +generations. Amherst, Commander-in-chief, is diligently noosing, and +tying up, the French military settlements, Niagara, Ticonderoga; Canada +all round: but this is the heart or windpipe of it; keep this firm, and, +in the circumstances, Canada is yours. + +Colonel Reatson, in his recent Pamphlet, THE PLAINS OF ABRAHAM,--which, +especially on the military side, is distressingly ignorant and shallow, +though NOT intentionally incorrect anywhere,--gives Extracts from a +Letter of Montcalm's ("Quebec, 24th August, 1759"), which is highly +worth reading, had we room. It predicts to a hair's-breadth, not only +the way "M. Wolfe, if he understands his trade, will take to beat and +ruin me if we meet in fight;" but also,--with a sagacity singular to +look at, in the years 1775-1777, and perhaps still more in the years +1860-1863,--what will be the consequences to those unruly English, +Colonial and other. "If he beat me here, France has lost America +utterly," thinks Montcalm: "Yes;--and one's only consolation is, In ten +years farther, America will be in revolt against England!" Montcalm's +style of writing is not exemplary; but his power of faithful +observation, his sagacity, and talent of prophecy are so considerable, +we are tempted to give the IPSISSIMA VERBA of his long Letter in regard +to those two points,--the rather as it seems to have fallen much out of +sight in our day:-- + +MONTCALM TO A COUSIN IN FRANCE. + +"CAMP BEFORE QUEBEC, 24th August, 1759. + +"MONSIEUR ET CHER COUSIN,--Here I am, for more than three months past, +at handgrips with M. Wolfe; who ceases not day or night to bombard +Quebec, with a fury which is almost unexampled in the Siege of a Place +one intends to retain after taking it."... Will never take it in that +way, however, by attacking from the River or south shore; only ruins us, +but does not enrich himself. Not an inch nearer his object than he was +three months ago; and in one month more the equinoctial storms will +blow his Fleet and him away.--Quebec, then, and the preservation of +the Colony, you think, must be as good as safe?" Alas, the fact is +far otherwise. The capture of Quebec depends on what we call a +stroke-of-hand--[But let us take to the Original now, for Prediction +First]:-- + +"La prise de Quebec depend d'un coup de main. Les Anglais sont maitres +de la riviere: ils n'ont qu'a effectuer une descente sur la rive ou +cette Ville, sans fortifications et sans defense, est situee. Les voila +en etat de me presenter la bataille; que je ne pourrais plus refuser, +et que je ne devrais pas gagner. M. Wolfe, en effet, s'il entend son +metier, n'a qu'a essuyer le premier feu, venir ensuite a grands pas +sur mon armee, faire a bout portant sa decharge; mes Canadiens, sans +discipline, sourds a la voix du tambour et des instrumens militaires, +deranges pa cette escarre, ne sauront plus reprendre leurs rangs. Ils +sont d'ailleurs sans baionettes pour repondre a celles de l'ennemi: il +ne leur reste qu'a fuir,--et me voila battu sans ressource. [This is a +curiously exact Prediction! I won't survive, however; defeat here, in +this stage of our affairs, means loss of America altogether:] il est +des situations ou il ne reste plus a un General que de perir avec +honneur.... Mes sentimens sont francais, et ils le seront jusque dans le +tombeau, si dans le tombeau on est encore quelque chose. + +"Je me consolerai du moins de ma defaite, et de la perte de la Colonie, +par l'intime persuasion ou je suis [Prediction Second, which is still +more curious], que cette defaite vaudra, un jour, a ma Patrie plus +qu'une victoire; et que le vainqueur, en s'agrandissant, trouvera un +tombeau dans son agrandissement meme. + +"Ce que j'avance ici, mon cher Cousin, vous paraitra un paradoxe: mais +un moment de reflexion politique, un coup d'oeil sur la situation des +choses en Amerique, et la verite de mon opinion brillera dans tout son +jour. [Nobody will obey, unless necessity compel him: VOILA LES HOMMES; +GENE of any kind a nuisance to them; and of all men in the world LES +ANGLAIS are the most impatient of obeying anybody.] Mais si ce sont-la +les Anglais de l'Europe, c'est encore plus les Anglais d'Amerique. +Une grande partie de ces Colons sont les enfans de ces hommes qui +s'expatrierent dans ces temps de trouble ou l'ancienne Angleterre, en +proie aux divisions, etait attaquee dans ses privileges et droits; et +allerent chercher en Amerique une terre ou ils pussent vivre et mourir +libres et presque independants:--et ces enfans n'ont pas degenere des +sentimens republicains de leurs peres. D'autres sont des hommes +ennemis de tout frein, de tout assujetissement, que le gouvernement y +a transportes pour leurs crimes, D'autres, enfin, sont un ramas de +differentes nations de l'Europe, qui tiennent tres-peu a l'ancienne +Angleterre par le coeur et le sentiment; tous, en general, ne ce +soucient gueres du Roi ni du Parlement d'Angleterre. + +"Je les connais bien,--non sur des rapports etrangers, mais sur +des correspondances et des informations secretes, que j'ai moi-meme +menagees; et dont, un jour, si Dieu me prete vie, je pourrai faire usage +a l'avantage de ma Patrie. Pour surcroit de bonheur pour eux, tous ces +Colons sont parvenues, dans un etat tres-florissant; ils sont nombreux +et riches:--ils recueillent dans le sein de leur patrie toutes les +necessites de la vie. L'ancienne Angleterre a ete assez sotte, et assez +dupe, pour leur laisser etablir chez eux les arts, les metiers, les +manufactures:--c'est a dire, qu'elle leur a laisse briser la chaine +de besoins qui les liait, qui les attachait a elle, et qui les fait +dependants. Aussi toutes ces Colonies Anglaises auraient-elles depuis +longtemps secoue le joug, chaque province aurait forme une petite +republique independante, si la crainte de voir les Francais a leur Porte +n'avait ete un frein qui les avait retenu. Maitres pour maitres, ils ont +pefere leurs compatriotes aux etrangers; prenant cependant pour maxime +de n'obeir que le moins qu'ils pourraient. Mais que le Canada vint a +etre conquis, et que les Canadiens et ces Colons ne fussent plus +qu'une seul peuple,--et la premiere occasion ou l'ancienne Angleterre +semblerait toucher a leurs interets, croyez-vous, mon cher Cousin, que +ces Colons obeiront? Et qu'auraient-ils a craindre en se revoltant?... +Je suis si sur de ce que j'ecris, que je ne donnerais pas dix ans apres +la conquete du Canada pour en voir l'accomplissement. + +"Voila ce que, comme Francais, me console aujourd'hui du danger +imminent, que court ma Patrie, de voir cette Colonie perdue pour elle." +[In Beatson, Lieutenant-Colonel R.E., _The Plains of Abraham; Notes +original and selected_ (Gibraltar, Garrison Library Press, 1858), pp. +38 et seq.] Extract from _"Lettres de M. le Marquis de Montcalm a MM. De +Berryer et De la Mole:_ 1757-1759 (Londres, 1777),"--which is not in the +British-Museum Library, on applying; and seems to be a forgotten Book. +(NOTE OF FIRST EDITION, 1865.) + +"A Copy is in the BOSTON ATHENAEUM LIBRARY, New-England: it is a +Pamphlet rather than a Book; contains Two Letters to Berryer MINISTRE +DE LA MARINE, besides this to Mole the Cousin: Publisher is the noted J. +Almon,--in French and English." (From _Boston Sunday Courier,_ of 19th +April, 1868, where this Letter is reproduced.) + +In the Temple Library, London, I have since found a Copy: and, on +strict survey, am obliged to pronounce the whole Pamphlet a +FORGERY,--especially the Two Letters to "Berryer MINISTER OF MARINE;" +who was not yet Minister of anything, nor thought of as likely to be, +for many months after the date of these Letters addressed to him as +such! Internal evidence too, were such at all wanted, is abundant in +these BERRYER Letters; which are of gross and almost stupid structure in +comparison to the MOLE one. As this latter has already got into various +Books, and been argued of in Parliaments and high places (Lord Shelburne +asserting it to be spurious, Lord Mansfield to be genuine: REPORT OF +PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES in _Gentleman's Magazine_ for NOVEMBER and for +DECEMBER, 1777, pp. 515, 560),--it may be allowed to continue here +in the CONDEMNED state. Forger, probably, some Ex-Canadian, or other +American ROYALIST, anxious to do the Insurgent Party and their British +Apologists an ill turn, in that critical year;--had shot off his +Pamphlet to voracious Almon; who prints without preface or criticism, +and even without correcting the press. (NOTE OF JULY, 1868.) + +Montcalm had been in the Belleisle RETREAT FROM PRAG (December, 1742); +in the terrible EXILLES Business (July, 1747), where the Chevalier de +Belleisle and 4 or 5,000 lost their lives in about an hour. Captain +Cook was at Quebec, Master in the Royal Navy; "sounding the River, +and putting down buoys." Bougainville, another famous Navigator, was +Aide-de-Camp of Montcalm. There have been far-sounding Epics built +together on less basis than lies ready here, in this CAPTURE OF +QUEBEC;--which itself, as the Decision that America is to be English and +not French, is surely an Epoch in World-History! Montcalm was 48 when +he perished; Wolfe 33. Montcalm's skull is in the Ursulines Convent +at Quebec,--shown to the idly curious to this day. [Lieutenant-Colonel +Beatson, pp. 28, 15.] + +It was on October 17th,--while Friedrich lay at Sophienthal, lamed +of gout, and Soltikof had privately fixed for home (went that day +week),--that this glorious bit of news reached England. It was only +three days after that other, bad and almost hopeless news, from the same +quarter; news of poor Wolfe's Repulse, on the other or eastern side +of Quebec, July 31st, known to us already, not known in England till +October 14th. Heightened by such contrast, the news filled all men with +a strange mixture of emotions. "The incidents of Dramatic Fiction," +says one who was sharer in it, "could not have been conducted with more +address to lead an audience from despondency to sudden exultation, than +Accident had here prepared to excite the passions of a whole People. +They despaired; they triumphed; and they wept,--for Wolfe had fallen in +the hour of victory! Joy, grief, curiosity, astonishment, were +painted in every countenance: the more they inquired, the higher +their admiration rose. Not an incident but was heroic and affecting." +[Walpole, iii. 219.] America ours; but the noble Wolfe now not! + +What Pitt himself said of these things, we do not much hear. On the +meeting of his Parliament, about a month hence, his Speech, somebody +having risen to congratulate and eulogize him, is still recognizably of +royal quality, if we evoke it from the Walpole Notes. Very modest, very +noble, true; and with fine pieties and magnanimities delicately audible +in it: "Not a week all Summer but has been a crisis, in which I have +not known whether I should not be torn to pieces, instead of being +commended, as now by the Honorable Member. The hand of Divine +Providence; the more a man is versed in business, the more he everywhere +traces that!... Success has given us unanimity, not unanimity success. +For my own poor share, I could not have dared as I have done, except in +these times. Other Ministers have hoped as well, but have not been so +circumstanced to dare so much.... I think the stone almost rolled to the +top of the hill; but let us have a care; it may rebound, and hideously +drag us down with it again." [Ib. iii. 225; Thackeray, i. 446.] + +The essential truth, moreover, is, Pitt has become King of England; +so lucky has poor England, in its hour of crisis, again been. And +the difference between an England guided by some kind of Friedrich +(temporary Friedrich, absolute, though of insecure tenure), and by a +Newcastle and the Clack of Tongues, is very great! But for Pitt, +there had been no Wolfe, no Amherst; Duke Ferdinand had been the Royal +Highness of Cumberland,--and all things going round him in St. Vitus, at +their old rate. This man is a King, for the time being,--King really of +the Friedrich type;--and rules, Friedrich himself not more despotically, +where need is. Pitt's War-Offices, Admiralties, were not of themselves +quick-going entities; but Pitt made them go. Slow-paced Lords in Office +have remonstrated, on more than one occasion: "Impossible, Sir; these +things cannot be got ready at the time you order!" "My Lord, they +indispensably must," Pitt would answer (a man always reverent of coming +facts, knowing how inexorable they are); and if the Negative continued +obstinate in argument, he has been known to add: "My Lord, to the King's +service, it is a fixed necessity of time. Unless the time is kept, I +will impeach your Lordship!" Your Lordship's head will come to lie at +your Lordship's feet! Figure a poor Duke of Newcastle, listening to such +a thing;--and knowing that Pitt will do it; and that he can, such is his +favor with universal England;--and trembling and obeying. War-requisites +for land and for sea are got ready with a Prussian punctuality,--at what +multiple of the Prussian expense, is a smaller question for Pitt. + +It is about eighteen months ago that Pownal, Governor of New England, +a kind of half-military person, not without sound sense, though sadly +intricate of utterance,--of whom Pitt, just entering on Office, has, I +suppose, asked an opinion on America, as men do of Learned Counsel on +an impending Lawsuit of magnitude,--had answered, in his long-winded, +intertwisted, nearly inextricable way, to the effect, "Sir, I incline to +fear, on the whole, that the Action will NOT lie,--that, on the +whole, the French will eat America from us in spite of our teeth." [In +THACKERAY, ii. 421-452, Pownal's intricate REPORT (his "DISCOURSE," or +whatever he calls it, "ON THE DEFENCE OF THE INLAND FRONTIERS," his &c. +&c.), of date "15th January, 1758."] January 15th, 1758, that is the +Pownal Opinion-of-Counsel;--and on September 13th, 1759, this is what +we have practically come to. And on September 7th, 1760: within twelve +months more,--Amherst, descending the Rapids from Ticonderoga side, and +two other little Armies, ascending from Quebec and Louisburg, to meet +him at Montreal, have proved punctual almost to an hour; and are in +condition to extinguish, by triple pressure (or what we call noosing), +the French Governor-General in Montreal, a Monsieur de Vaudreuil, and +his Montreal and his Canada altogether; and send the French bodily home +out of those Continents. [Capitulation between Amherst and Vaudreuil +("Montreal, 8th September, 1760"), in 55 Articles: in BEATSON, iii. +274-283.] Which may dispense us from speaking farther on the subject. + +From the Madras region, too, from India and outrageous Lally, the news +are good. Early in Spring last, poor Lally,--a man of endless talent and +courage, but of dreadfully emphatic loose tongue, in fact of a blazing +ungoverned Irish turn of mind,--had instantly, on sight of some small +Succors from Pitt, to raise his siege of Madras, retire to Pondicherry; +and, in fact, go plunging and tumbling downhill, he and his India with +him, at an ever-faster rate, till they also had got to the Abyss. "My +policy is in these five words, NO ENGLISHMAN IN THIS PENINSULA," wrote +he, a year ago, on landing in India; and now it is to be No FRENCHMAN, +and there is one word in the five to be altered!--Of poor Lally, zealous +and furious over-much, and nearly the most unfortunate and worst-used +"man of genius" I ever read of, whose lion-like struggles against French +Official people, and against Pitt's Captains and their sea-fights and +siegings, would deserve a volume to themselves, we have said, and can +here say, as good as nothing,--except that they all ended, for Lally and +French India, in total surrender, 16th January, 1761; and that Lally, +some years afterwards, for toils undergone and for services done, got, +when accounts came to be liquidated, death on the scaffold. Dates I give +below. [28th April, 1758, Lands at Pondicherry; instantly proceeds +upon Fort St. David. 2d June, 1758, Takes it: meant to have gone now +on Madras; but finds he has no money;--goes extorting money from +Black Potentates about, Rajah of Travancore, &c., in a violent and +extraordinary style; and can get little. Nevertheless, 14th December, +1758, Lays Siege to Madras.] + +16th February, 1759, Is obliged to quit trenches at Madras, and retire +dismally upon Pondicherry,--to mere indigence, mutiny ("ten mutinies"), +Official conspiracy, and chaos come again. + +22d January, 1760, Makes outrush on Wandewash, and the English posted +there; is beaten, driven back into Pondicherry. April, 1760, Is besieged +in Pondicherry. 16th January, 1761, Is taken, Pondicherry, French India +and he;--to Madras he, lest the French Official party kill him, as they +attempt to do. + +23d September, 1761, arrives, prisoner, in England: thence, on parole, +to France and Paris, 21st October. November, 1762, To Bastille; waits +trial nineteen months; trial lasts two years. 6th May, 1766, To be +BEHEADED,--9th May was. [See BEATSON, ii. 369-372, 96-110, &c.; Voltaire +(FRAGMENTS SUR L'INDE) in _OEuvres,_ xxix. 183-253; BIOGRAPHIC +UNIVERSELLE, Lally.] + +"Gained Fontenoy for us," said many persons;--undoubtedly gained various +things for us, fought for us Berserkir-like on all occasions; hoped, +in the end, to be Marechal de France, and undertook a Championship of +India, which issues in this way! America and India, it is written, +are both to be Pitt's. Let both, if possible, remain silent to us +henceforth. + +As to the Invasion-of-England Scheme, Pitt says he does not expect +the French will invade us; but if they do, he is ready. [Speech, 4th +November, supra.] + + + + +Chapter VII.--FRIEDRICH REAPPEARS ON THE FIELD, AND IN SEVEN DAYS AFTER +COMES THE CATASTROPHE OF MAXEN. + +November 6th-8th, Daun had gone to Meissen Country: fairly ebbing +homeward; Henri following, with Hulsen joined,--not vehemently attacking +the rhinoceros, but judiciously pricking him forward. Daun goes at his +slowest step: in many divisions, covering a wide circuit; sticking +to all the strong posts, till his own time for quitting them: slow, +sullenly cautious; like a man descending dangerous precipices back +foremost, and will not be hurried. So it had lasted about a week; Daun +for the last four days sitting restive, obstinate, but Henri pricking +into him more and more, till the rhinoceros seemed actually about +lifting himself,--when Friedrich in person arrived in his Brother's +Camp. [Tempelhof, iii. 301-305.] + +At the Schloss of Herschstein, a mile or two behind Lommatsch, which +is Henri's head-quarter (still to westward of Meissen; Daun hanging on, +seven or eight miles to southeastward ahead; loath to go, but actually +obliged),--it was there, Tuesday, November 13th, that the King met his +Brother again. A King free of his gout; in joyful spirits; and high of +humor,--like a man risen indignant, once more got to his feet, after +three months' oppressions and miseries from the unworthy. "Too high," +mourns Retzow, in a gloomy tone, as others do in perhaps a more +indulgent one. Beyond doubt, Friedrich's farther procedures in this +grave and weighty Daun business were more or less imprudent; of a too +rapid and rash nature; and turned out bitterly unlucky to him. "Had +he left the management to Henri!" sighed everybody, after the unlucky +event. + +Friedrich had not arrived above four-and-twenty hours, when news came +in: "The Austrians in movement again; actually rolling off Dresden-ward +again." "Haha, do they smell me already!" laughed he: "Well, I will send +Daun to the Devil,"--not adding, "if I can." And instantly ordered sharp +pursuit,--and sheer stabbing with the ox-goad, not soft and delicate +pricking, as Henri's lately. [Retzow, ii. 168; Tempelhof, iii. 306.] +Friedrich, in fact; was in a fiery condition against Daun: "You +trampled on me, you heavy buffalo, these three months; but that is over +now!"--and took personally the vanguard in this pursuit. And had a bit +of hot fighting in the Village of Korbitz (scene of that Finck-Haddick +"Action," 21st September last, and of poor Haddick's ruin, and +retirement to the Waters);--where the Austrians now prove very fierce +and obstinate; and will not go, till well slashed into, and torn out by +sheer beating:--which was visibly a kind of comfort to the King's humor. +"Our Prussians do still fight, then, much as formerly! And it was all +a hideous Nightmare, all that, and Daylight and Fact are come, and +Friedrich is himself again!" + +They say Prince Henri took the liberty of counselling him, even of +entreating him: "Leave well alone; why run risks?" said Henri. Daun, +it was pretty apparent, had no outlook at the present but that of +sauntering home to Bohmen; leaving Dresden to be an easy prey again, and +his whole Campaign to fall futile, as the last had. Under Henri's gentle +driving he would have gone slower; but how salutary, if he only went! +These were Henri's views: but Friedrich was not in the slow humor; +impatient to be in Dresden; "will be quartered there in a week," writes +he, "and more at leisure than now." ["Wilsdruf, 17th November, 1759," +and still more "19th November," Friedrich to Voltaire in high spirits +that way (_OEuvres de Frederic,_ xxiii. 66).] He is thinking of Leuthen, +of Rossbach, of Campaign 1757, so gloriously restored after ruin; and, +in the fire of his soul, is hoping to do something similar a second +time. That is Retzow's notion: who knows but there may be truth in it? A +proud Friedrich, got on his feet again after such usage;--nay, who knows +whether it was quite so unwise to be impressive on the slow rhinoceros, +and try to fix some thorn in his snout, or say (figuratively), to hobble +his hind-feet; which, I am told, would have been beautifully ruinous; +and, though riskish, was not impossible? [Tempelhof, iii. 311, &c.] Ill +it indisputably turned out; and we have, with brevity, to say how, and +leave readers to their judgment of it. + +It was in the Village of Krogis, about six miles forward, on the +Meissen-Freyberg road, a mile or two on from Korbitz, and directly after +the fierce little tussle in that Village,--that Friedrich, his blood +still up, gave the Order for Maxen, which proved so unlucky to him. +Wunsch had been shot off in pursuit of the beaten Austrians; but they +ran too fast; and Wunsch came back without farther result, still early +in the day. Back as far as Krogis, where the next head-quarter is to +be;--and finds the King still in a fulminant condition; none the milder, +it is likely, by Wunsch's returning without result. "Go straight to +General Finck; bid him march at once!" orders the King; and rapidly +gives Wunsch the instructions Finck is to follow. Finck and his Corps +are near Nossen, some ten miles ahead of Krogis, some twenty west from +Dresden. There, since yesterday, stands Finck, infesting the left or +western flank of the Austrians,--what was their left, and will be again, +when they call halt and face round on us:--Let Finck now march at once, +quite round that western flank; by Freyberg, Dippoldiswalde, thence east +to Maxen; plant himself at Maxen (a dozen miles south of Dresden, among +the rocky hills), and stick diligently in the rear of those Austrians, +cutting off, or threatening to cut off, their communications with +Bohemia, and block the Pirna Country for them. + +Friedrich calculates that, if Daun is for retreating by Pirna Country, +this will, at lowest, be a method to quicken him in that movement; or +perhaps it may prove a method to cut off such retreat altogether, and +force Daun to go circling by the Lausitz Hills and Wildernesses, exposed +to tribulations which may go nigh to ruin him. That is Friedrich's proud +thought: "an unfortunate Campaign; winding up, nevertheless, as 1757 +did, in blazes of success!" And truly, if Friedrich could have made +himself into Two; and, while flashing and charging in Daun's front, have +been in command at Maxen in Daun's rear,--Friedrich could have made +a pretty thing of this waxen Enterprise; and might in good part have +realized his proud program. But there is no getting two Friedrichs. +Finck, a General of approved quality, he is the nearest approach we can +make to a second Friedrich;--and he, ill-luck too super-adding itself, +proves tragically inadequate. And sets all the world, and Opposition +Retzow, exclaiming, "See: Pride goes before a fall!"-- + +At 3 in the afternoon, Friedrich, intensely surveying from the heights +of Krogis the new Austrian movements and positions, is astonished, not +agreeably ("What, still only here, Herr General!"), by a personal visit +from Finck. Finck finds the Maxen business intricate, precarious; wishes +farther instructions, brings forward this objection and that. Friedrich +at last answers, impatiently: "You know I can't stand making of +difficulties (ER WEISS DASS ICH DIE DIFFICULTATEN NICHT LEIDEN KANN; +MACHE DASS ER FORT KOMMT); contrive to get it done!" With which +poor comfort Finck has to ride back to Nossen; and scheme out his +dispositions overnight. + +Next morning, Thursday, 15th, Finck gets on march; drives the Reichsfolk +out of Freyberg; reaches Dippoldiswalde:--"Freyberg is to be my +Magazine," considers Finck; "Dippoldiswalde my half-way house; Four +Battalions of my poor Eighteen shall stand there, and secure the +meal-carts." Friday, 16th, Finck has his Vanguard, Wunsch leading it, in +possession of Maxen and the Heights; and on Saturday gets there himself, +with all his people and equipments. I should think about 12,000 men: in +a most intersected, intertwisted Hill Country; full of gullets, dells +and winding brooks;--it is forecourt of the Pirna rocks, our celebrated +Camp of Gahmig lies visible to north, Dohna and the Rothwasser +bounding us to east;--in grim November weather, some snow falling, or +snow-powder, alternating with sleet and glazing frosts: by no means a +beautiful enterprise to Finck. Nor one of his own choosing, had one a +choice in such cases. + +To Daun nothing could be more unwelcome than this news of Finck, +embattled there at Maxen in the inextricable Hill Country, direct on +the road of Daun's meal-carts and Bohemian communications. And truly +withal,--what Daun does not yet hear, but can guess,--there is gone, in +supplement or as auxiliary to Finck, a fierce Hussar party, under GRUNE +Kleist, their fiercest Hussar since Mayer died; who this very day, at +Aussig, burns Daun's first considerable Magazine; and has others in view +for the same fate. [Friedrich's second Letter to Voltaire, Wilsdruf, +"19th November, 1759."] An evident thing to Daun, that Finck being +there, meal has ceased. + +On the instant, Daun falls back on Dresden; Saturday, 17th, takes post +in the Dell of Plauen (PLAUEN'SCHE GRUND); an impassable Chasm, with +sheer steeps on both sides, stretching southward from Dresden in front +of the Hill Country: thither Daun marches, there to consider what is +to be done with Finck. Amply safe this position is; none better in the +world: a Village, Plauen, and a Brook, Weistritz, in the bottom of this +exquisite Chasm; sheer rock-walls on each side,--high especially on the +Daun, or south side;--head-quarters can be in Dresden itself; room for +your cavalry on the plain ground between Dresden and the Chasm. A post +both safe and comfortable; only you must not loiter in making up your +mind as to Finck; for Friedrich has followed on the instant. Friedrich's +head-quarter is already Wilsdruf, which an hour or two ago was Daun's: +at Kesselsdorf vigilant Ziethen is vanguard. So that Friedrich looks +over on you from the northern brow of your Chasm; delays are not good +near such a neighbor. + +Daun--urged on by Lacy, they say--is not long in deciding that, in this +strait, the short way out will be to attack Finck in the Hills. Daun is +in the Hills, as well as Finck (this Plauen Chasm is the boundary-ditch +of the Hills): Daun with 27,000 horse and foot, moving on from this +western part; 3,000 light people (one Sincere the leader of them) +moving simultaneously from Dresden itself, that is, from northward or +northwestward; 12,000 Reichsfolk, horse and foot, part of them already +to southeastward of Finck, other part stealing on by the Elbe bank +thitherward: here, from three different points of the compass, are +42,000. These simultaneously dashing in, from west, north, south, upon +Finck, may surely give account of his 12,000 and him! If only we can +keep Friedrich dark upon it; which surely our Pandours will contrive to +do. + +Finck, directly on arriving at Maxen, had reported himself to the King; +and got answer before next morning: "Very well; but draw in those Four +Battalions you have left in Dippoldiswalde; hit with the whole of your +strength, when a chance offers." Which order Finck, literally and not +too willingly, obeys; leaves only some light remnant in Dippoldiswalde, +and reinforcement to linger within reach, till a certain Bread-convoy +come to him, which will be due next morning (Monday, 19th); and which +does then safely get home, though under annoyances from cannonading in +the distance. + +SUNDAY, 18th, Finck fails not to reconnoitre from the highest Hill-top; +to inquire by every method: he finds, for certain, that the enemy are +coming in upon him. With his own eyes he sees Reichsfolk marching, in +quantity, southeastward by the Elbe shore: "Intending towards Dohna, as +is like?"--and despatched Wunsch, who, accordingly, drove them out of +Dohna. Of all this Finck, at once, sent word to Friedrich. Who probably +enough received the message; but who would get no new knowledge from +it,--vigilant Ziethen having, by Austrian deserters and otherwise, +discovered this of the Reichsfolk; and furthermore that Sincere with +3,000 was in motion, from the north, upon Finck. Sunday evening, +Friedrich despatches Ziethen's Report; which punctually came to Finck's +hand; but was the last thing he received from Friedrich, or Friedrich +from him. The intervening Pandours picked up all the rest. The Ziethen +REPORT, of two or three lines, most succinct but sufficient, like a +cutting of hard iron, is to be read in many Books: we may as well give +the Letter and it:-- + +FRIEDRICH'S LETTER (WILSDRUF, 18th NOVEMBER, 1759). "My dear +General-Lieutenant von Finck,--I send you the enclosed Report from +General Ziethen, showing what is the lie of matters as seen from this +side; and leave the whole to your disposition and necessary measures. I +am your well-affectioned King,--F." The Enclosure is as follows:-- + +GENERAL ZIETHEN'S REPORT (KESSELSDORF, 18th NOVEMBER, 1759). "To your +Royal Majesty, send [no pronoun "I" allowed] herewith a Corporal, who +has deserted from the Austrians. He says, Sincere with the Reserve did +march with the Reichs Army; but a league behind it, and turned towards +Dippoldiswalde. General Brentano [Wehla's old comrade, luckier than +Wehla], as this Deserter heard last night in Daun's head-quarter,--which +is in the southern Suburb of Dresden, in the Countess Moschinska's +Garden,--was yesterday to have been in Dohlen [looking into our outposts +from the hither side of their Plauen Dell], but was not there any +longer," as our Deserter passed, "and it was said that he had gone to +Maxen at three in the afternoon." [Tempelhof, iii. 309.] + +Thus curtly is Finck authorized to judge for himself in the new +circumstances. Marginally is added, in Friedrich's own hand: "ER WIRD +ENTWEDER MIT DEN REICHERN ODER MIT SICEREN EINEN GANG HABEN,--Either +with the Reichers or with Sincere you will have a bout, I suppose." + +MAP FACING PAGE 350, BOOK XIX GOES HERE---- + +Finck, from his own Hill-top, on Sunday and Monday, sees all this of +Ziethen, and much more. Sees the vanguard of Daun himself approaching +Dippoldiswalde, cannonading his meal-carts as they issue there; on all +sides his enemies encompassing him like bees;--and has a sphinx-riddle +on his mind, such as soldier seldom had. Shall he manoeuvre himself out, +and march away, bread-carts, baggages and all entire? There is still +time, and perfect possibility, by Dippoldiswalde there, or by other +routes and methods. But again, did not his Majesty expect, do not these +words "a bout" still seem to expect, a bit of fighting with somebody or +other? Finck was an able soldier, and his skill and courage well known; +but probably another kind of courage was wanted this day, of which Finck +had not enough. Finck was not king of this matter; Finck was under a +King who perhaps misjudged the matter. If Finck saw no method of doing +other than hurt and bad service to his King by staying here, Finck +should have had the courage to come away, and front the King's +unreasonable anger, expecting redress one day, or never any redress. +That was Finck's duty: but everybody sees how hard it was for flesh and +blood. + +Finck, truer to the letter than to the spirit, determined to remain. +Did, all that Monday, his best to prepare himself; called in his +outposts ("Was not I ordered?" thinks Finck, too literally); and sees +his multitudes of enemies settle round him;--Daun alone has 27,000 men, +who take camp at Dippoldiswalde; and in sum-total they are as 4 to 1 of +Finck:--a Finck still resolute of face, though internally his thoughts +may be haggard enough. Doubtless he hopes, too, that Friedrich will do +something:--unaware that none of his messages reach Friedrich. As for +Daun, having seen his people safely encamped here, he returns to Dresden +for the night, to see that Friedrich is quiet. Friedrich is quiet +enough: Daun, at seven next morning (TUESDAY, 20th), appeared on the +ground again; and from all sides Finck is assaulted,--from Daun's side +nearest and soonest, with Daun's best vigor. + +Dippoldiswalde is some seven miles from Maxen. Difficult hill-road +all the way: but the steepest, straitest and worst place is +at Reinhartsgrimma, the very first Hamlet after you are out of +Dippoldiswalde. There is a narrow gullet there, overhung with heights +all round. The roads are slippery, glazed with sleet and frost; Cavalry, +unroughened, make sad sliding and sprawling; hardly the Infantry +are secure on their feet: a terrible business getting masses of +artillery-wagons, horse and man, through such a Pass! It is thought, had +Finck garnished this Pass of Reinhartsgrimma, with the proper batteries, +the proper musketries, Daun never would have got through. Finck had not +a gun or a man in it: "Had not I order?" said he,--again too literally. +As it was, Daun, sliding and sprawling in the narrow steeps, had +difficulties almost too great; and, they say, would have given it up, +had it not been that a certain Major urged, "Can be done, Excellenz, and +shall!" and that the temper of his soldiers was everywhere excellent. +Unfortunate Finck had no artillery to bear on Daun's transit through the +Pass. Nothing but some weak body of hussars and infantry stood looking +into it, from the Hill of Hausdorf: even these might have given him +some slight hindrance; but these were played upon by endless Pandours, +"issuing from a wood near by," with musketries, and at length with +cannon batteries, one and another;--and had to fall back, or to be +called back, to Maxen Hill, where the main force is. + +In the course of yesterday, by continual reconnoitring, by Austrian +deserters, and intense comparison of symptoms, Finck had completely +ascertained where the Enemy's Three Attacks were to be,--"on Maxen, +from Dippoldiswalde, Trohnitz, Dohna, simultaneously three attacks," +it appears;--and had with all his skill arranged himself on the Maxen +summits to meet these. He stands now elaborately divided into Three +groups against those Three simultaneities; forming (sadly wide apart, +one would say, for such a force as Finck's) a very obtuse-angled +triangle:--the obtuse vertex of which (if readers care to look on their +Map) is Trohnitz, the road Brentano and Sincere are coming. On the +base-angles, Maxen and Dohna, Finck expects Daun and the Reich. From +Trohnitz to Maxen is near two miles; from Maxen to Dohna above four. At +Dohna stands Wunsch against the Reich; Finck himself at Maxen, expecting +Daun, as the pith of the whole affair. In this triangular way stands +Finck at the topmost heights of the country,--"Maxen highest, but +Hausdorf only a little lower,"--and has not thought of disputing the +climb upwards. Too literal an eye to his orders: alas, he was not +himself king, but only king's deputy! + +The result is, about 11 A.M., as I obscurely gather, Daun has conquered +the climb; Daun's musketries begin to glitter on the top of Hausdorf; +and 26 or 32 heavy cannon open their throats there; and the Three +Attacks break loose. Finck's Maxen batteries (scarcely higher than +Daun's, and far inferior in weight) respond with all diligence, the poor +regimental fieldpieces helping what they can. Mutual cannonade, very +loud for an hour and half; terrific, but doing little mischief; after +which Daun's musketries (the ground now sufficiently clear to Daun), +which are the practical thing, begin opening, first from one point, then +from another: and there ensues, for five hours coming, at Maxen and at +the other two points of Finck's triangle, such a series of explosive +chargings, wheelings, worryings and intricate death-wrestlings, as it +would provoke every reader to attempt describing to him. Except indeed +he were a soldier, bound to know the defence of posts; in which case +I could fairly promise him that there are means of understanding the +affair, and that he might find benefit in it. [Tempelhof, iii. 307-317. +JOURNAL UND NACHRICHT VON DER GEFANGENNEHMUNG DES FINCK'SCHEN CORPS BEY +MAXEN, IM JAHRE 1759 (Seyfarth, _Beylagen,_ ii. 637-654).] + +Daun's Grenadiers, and Infantry generally, are in triumphant spirits; +confident of victory, as they may reasonably be. Finck's people, too, +behave well, some of them conspicuously well, though in gloomier mood; +and make stubborn fight, successful here and there, but, as a whole, not +capable of succeeding. By 3 in the afternoon, the Austrians have forced +the Maxen Post; they "enter Maxen with great shoutings;" extrude the +obstinate Prussian remnants; and, before long, have the poor Village "on +fire in every part." Finck retreating northward to Schmorsdorf, towards +the obtuse angle of his triangle, if haply there may be help in that +quarter for him. Daun does not push him much; has Maxen safely burning +in every part. + +From Schmorsdorf Finck pushes out a Cavalry charge on Brentano. "Could +we but repulse Brentano yonder," thinks he, "I might have those Four +Battalions to hand, and try again!" But Brentano makes such cannonading, +the Cavalry swerve to a Hollow on their right; then find they have not +ground, and retire quite fruitless. Finck's Cavalry, and the Cavalry +generally, with their horses all sliding on the frosty mountain-gnarls, +appear to be good for little this day. Brentano, victorious over the +Cavalry, comes on with such storm, he sweeps through the obtuse +angle, home upon Finck; and sweeps him out of Schmorsdorf Village to +Schmorsdorf Hill, there to take refuge, as the night sinks,--and to see +himself, if his wild heart will permit him to be candid, a ruined man. +Of the Three Attacks, Two have completely succeeded on him; only Wunsch, +at Dohna, stands victorious; he has held back the Reich all day, +and even chased it home to its posts on the Rothwasser (RED WATER), +multitudinous as it was. + +Finck's mood, as the November shadows gathered on him,--the equal heart +may at least pity poor Finck! His resolution is fixed: "Cut ourselves +through, this night: Dohna is ours: other side that Red Water there are +roads;--perish or get through!" And the Generals (who are rallied now +"on the Heights of Falkenhain and Bloschwitz," midway between Maxen and +Dohna) get that Order from him. And proceed to arrange for executing +it,--though with outlook more and more desperate, as their scouts +report that every pass and post on the Red Water is beset by Reichsfolk. +"Wunsch, with the Cavalry, he at least may thread his way out, under +cloud of night, by the opposite or Daun side," calculates Finck. And +Wunsch sets out accordingly: a very questionable, winding, subterranean +march; difficult in the extreme,--the wearied SLIPshod horses going at +a snail's pace; and, in the difficult passes, needing to be dragged +through with bridle and even to be left altogether:--in which, withal, +it will prove of no use for Wunsch to succeed! Finck's Generals +endeavoring to rank and rearrange through the night, find that their +very cartridges are nearly spent, and that of men, such wounding, such +deserting has there been, they have, at this time, by precise count, +2,836 rank and file. Evidently desperate. + +At daylight, Daun's cannon beginning again from the Maxen side, Finck +sends to capitulate. "Absolute surrender," answers Daun: "prisoners of +war, and you shall keep your private baggage. General Wunsch with the +Cavalry, he too must turn back and surrender!" Finck pleaded hard, on +this last score: "General Wunsch, as head of the Cavalry, is not under +me; is himself chief in that department." But it was of no use: Wunsch +had to return (not quite got through Daun's Lines, after such a night), +and to surrender, like everybody else. Like Eight other Generals; like +Wolfersdorf of Torgau, and many a brave Officer and man. Wednesday +morning, 21st November, 1769: it is Finck's fourth day on Maxen; his +last in the Prussian Service. + +That same Wednesday Afternoon there were ranked in the GROSSE GARTEN at +Dresden, of dejected Prussian Prisoners from Maxen, what exact number +was never known: the Austrians said 15,000; but nobody well believed +them; their last certain instalment being only, in correct numbers, +2,836. Besides the killed, wounded and already captured, many had +deserted, many had glided clear off. It is judged that Friedrich +lost, by all these causes, about 12,000 men. Gone wholly,--with their +equipments and appurtenances wholly, which are not worth counting +in comparison. Finck and the other Generals, 8 of them, and 529 +Officers,--Finck, Wunsch, Wolfersdorf, Mosel (of the Olmutz Convoy), +not to mention others of known worth, this is itself a sore loss to +Friedrich, and in present circumstances an irreparable. [Seyfarth, ii. +576; in _Helden-Geschichte,_ (v. 1115), the Vienna Account.] + +The outburst and paroxysm of Gazetteer rumor, which arose in Europe +over this, must be left to the imagination; still more the whirlwind of +astonishment, grief, remorse and indignation that raged in the heart of +Friedrich on first hearing of it. "The Caudine Forks;" "Scene of Pirna +over again, in reverse form;" "Is not your King at last over with it?" +said and sang multifariously the Gazetteers. As counter-chorus to which, +in a certain Royal Heart: "That miserable purblind Finck, unequal to his +task;--that overhasty I, who drove him upon it! This disgrace, loss nigh +ruinous; in fine, this infernal Campaign (CETTE CAMPAGNE INFEMALE)!" +The Anecdote-Books abound in details of Friedrich's behavior at Wilsdruf +that day; mythical all, or in good part, but symbolizing a case that is +conceivable to everybody. Or would readers care to glance into the very +fact with their own eyes? As happens to be possible. + + +1. BEFORE MAXEN: FRIEDRICH TO D'ARGENS AND OTHERS. + +TO D'ARGENS (Krogis, 15th November, order for Maxen just given). +"Yesterday I joined the Army [day before yesterday, but took the field +yesterday], and Daun decamped. I have followed him thus far, and will +continue it to the frontiers of Bohemia. Our measures are so taken +[Finck, to wit], that he will not get out of Saxony without considerable +losses. Yesterday cost him 500 men taken at Korgis here. Every movement +he makes will cost him as many." [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ xix. 101.] + +TO VOLTAIRE (Wilsdruf, 17th November). "We are verging on the end of our +Campaign: and I will write to you in eight days from Dresden, with more +composure and coherency than now." [Ib. xxiii. 66.] + +TO THE SAME (Wilsdruf, 19th November). "The Austrians are packing off +to Bohemia,--where, in reprisal for the incendiary operations they have +done in my countries, I have burnt them two big magazines. I render the +beatified Hero's retreat as difficult as possible; and I hope he +will come upon some bad adventures within a few days." [_OEuvres de +Frederic,_ xxiii. 66.] + +SAME DAY AND PLACE, TO D'ARGENS. A volley of most rough-paced off-hand +Rhyming, direct from the heart; "Ode [as he afterwards terms it, or +irrepressible extempore LILT] TO FORTUNE:" + +"MARQUIS, QUEL CHANGEMENT, what a change! I, a poor heretic creature, +never blessed by the Holy Father; indeed, little frequenting Church, nor +serving either Baal or the God of Israel; held down these many months, +and reported by more than one shaven scoundrel [priest-pamphleteer at +Vienna] to be quite extinct, and gone vagabond over the world,--see +how capricious Fortune, after all her hundred preferences of my rivals, +lifts me with helpful hand from the deep, and packs this Hero of the Hat +and Sword,--whom Popes have blessed what they could, and who has walked +in Pilgrimage before now [to Marienzell once, I believe, publicly at +Vienna],--out of Saxony; panting, harassed goes he, like a stranger +dog from some kitchen where the cook had flogged him out!" [Ib. xix. +103-106.]... (A very exultant Lilt, and with a good deal more of the +chanticleer in it than we are used to in this King!) + + +2. AFTER MAXEN. + +TO D'ARGENS (Wilsdruf, 22d November). "Do with that [some small piece +of business] whatever you like, my dear Marquis. I am so stupefied +(E'TOURDI) with the misfortune which has befallen General Finck, that +I cannot recover from my astonishment. It deranges all my measures; +it cuts me to the quick. Ill-luck, which persecutes my old age, has +followed me from the Mark [Kunersdorf, in the Mark of Brandenburg] +to Saxony. I will still strive what I can. The little ODE I sent you, +addressed TO FORTUNE, had been written too soon! One should not sing +victory till the battle is over. I am so crushed down by these incessant +reverses and disasters, that I wish a thousand times I were dead; +and from day to day I grow wearier of dwelling in a body worn out and +condemned to suffer. I am writing to you in the first moment of my +grief. Astonishment, sorrow, indignation, scorn, all blended together, +lacerate my soul. Let us get to the end, then, of this execrable +Campaign; I will then write to you what is to become of me; and we will +arrange the rest. Pity me;--ad make no noise about me; bad news go fast +enough of themselves. Adieu, dear Marquis." [_OEuvres de Frederic, _ +xix. 107.] + +All this, of course, under such pressing call of actualities, had +very soon to transform itself into silence; into new resolution, and +determinate despatch of business. But the King retained a bitter memory +of it all his days. To Finck he was inexorable:--ordered him, the first +thing on his return from Austrian Captivity, Trial by Court-Martial; +which (Ziethen presiding, June, 1763) censured Finck in various +points, and gave him, in supplement to the Austrian detention, a +Year's Imprisonment in Spandau. No ray of pity visible for him, then +or afterwards, in the Royal mind. So that the poor man had to beg +his dismissal; get it, and go to Denmark for new promotion and +appreciation.--"Far too severe!" grumbled the Opposition voices, with +secret counter-severity. And truly it would have been more beautiful to +everybody, for the moment, to have made matters soft to poor Finck,--had +Friedrich ever gone on that score with his Generals and Delegates; +which, though the reverse of a cruel man, he never did. And truly, as +we often observe, the Laws of Fact are still severer than Friedrich +was:--so that, in the long-run, perhaps it is beautifulest of all for a +King, who is just, to be rhadamanthine in important cases. + +Exulting Daun, instead of Bohemia for winter-quarters, pushes out now +for the prize of Saxony itself. Daun orders Beck to attack suddenly +another Outpost of Friedrich's, which stands rearward of him at Meissen, +under a General Dierecke,--the same whom, as Colonel Dierecke, we +saw march out of flamy Zittau, summer gone two years. Beck goes in +accordingly, 3d December; attacks Dierecke, not by surprise, but with +overwhelming superiority; no reinforcement possible: Dierecke is on +the wrong side of the Elbe, no retreat or reinforcement for him; has to +fight fiercely all day, Meissen Bridge being in a broken state; then, at +night, to ship his people across in Elbe boats, which are much delayed +by the floating ice, so that daylight found 1,500 of them still on that +northern side; all of whom, with General Dierecke himself, were made +prisoners by Beck. [Tempelhof, iii. 321: "3d-4th December, 1759."] A +comfortable supplement to Maxen, though not of the same magnificence. + +After which, Daun himself issued minatory from the Plauen Chasm; +expecting, as all the world did, that Friedrich, who is 36,000 of +Unfortunate against, say, 72,000 of Triumphant, will, under penalty, +take himself away. But it proved otherwise. "If you beat us, Excellency +Feldmarschall, yes; but till then--!" Friedrich draws out in battalia; +Leo in wild ragged state and temper, VERSUS Bos in the reverse: "Come +on; then!" Rhinoceros Bos, though in a high frame of mind, dare not, on +cool survey; but retires behind the Plauen Chasm again. Will at least +protect Dresden from recapture; and wait here, in the interim; carting +his provision out of Bohemia,--which is a rough business, with Elbe +frozen, and the passes in such a choked wintry state. Upon whom +Friedrich, too, has to wait under arms, in grim neighborhood, for six +weeks to come: such a time as poor young Archenholtz never had before +or after. [Archenholtz, ii. 11-13.] It was well beyond New-year's day +before Friedrich could report of himself, and then only in a sense, as +will be seen: "We retired to this poor cottage [cottage still standing, +in the little Town of Freyberg]; Daun did the like; and this unfortunate +Campaign, as all things do, came actually to an end." + +Daun holds Dresden and the Dell of Plauen; but Saxony, to the world's +amazement, he is as far as ever from holding. "Daun's front is a small +arc of a circle, bending round from Dresden to Dippoldiswalde; Friedrich +is at Freyberg in a bigger concave arc, concentric to Daun, well +overlapping Daun on that southward or landward side, and ready for him, +should he stir out; Kesselsdorf is his nearest post to Daun; and the +Plauen Chasm for boundary, which was not overpassed by either." In +Dresden, and the patch of hill-country to the southeastward of it by +Elbe side, which is instep or glacis of the Pirna rock-country, seventy +square miles or so, there rules Daun; and this--with its heights of +Gahmig, valuable as a defence for Dresden against Austria, but not +otherwise of considerable value--was all that Daun this year, or pretty +much in any coming year, could realize of conquest in Saxony. + +Fabius Cunctator has not succeeded, as the public expected. In fact, +ever since that of Hochkirch and the Papal Hat, he has been a waning +man, more and more questionable to the undiscerning public. Maxen was +his last gleam upwards; a round of applause rose again on Maxen, feeble +in comparison with Hochkirch, but still arguing hope,--which, after +this, more and more died out; so that in two years more, poor Madam +Daun, going to Imperial Levee, "had her state-carriage half filled +with nightcaps, thrown into it by the Vienna people, in token of her +husband's great talent for sleep." [Archenholtz (Anno 1762, "last Siege +of Schweidnitz").] + + + + +Chapter VIII.--MISCELLANEA IN WINTER-QUARTERS, 1759-1760. + +Friedrich was very loath to quit the field this Winter. In spite of +Maxen and ill-luck and the unfavorablest weather, it still was, for +about two months, his fixed purpose to recapture Dresden first, and +drive Daun home. "Had I but a 12,000 of Auxiliaries to guard my right +flank, while trying it!" said he. Ferdinand magnanimously sent him +the Hereditary Prince with 12,000, who stayed above two months; ["Till +February 15th;" List of the Regiments (German all), in SEYFARTH, ii. +578 n.] and Friedrich did march about, attempting that way, [_OEuvres de +Frederic,_ v. 32. Old Newspaper rumors: in _Gentleman's Magazine,_ +xxix. 605, "29th December," &c.]--pushed forward to Maguire and +Dippoldiswalde, looked passionately into Maguire on all sides; but +found him, in those frozen chasms, and rock-labyrinths choked with snow, +plainly unattackable; him and everybody, in such frost-element;--and +renounced the passionate hope. + +It was not till the middle of January that Friedrich put his troops into +partial cantonments, Head-quarter Freyberg; troops still mainly in the +Villages from Wilsdruf and southward, close by their old Camp there. +Camp still left standing, guarded by Six Battalions; six after six, +alternating week about: one of the grimmest camps in Nature; the canvas +roofs grown mere ice-plates, the tents mere sanctuaries of frost:--never +did poor young Archenholtz see such industry in dragging wood-fuel, such +boiling of biscuits in broken ice, such crowding round the embers to +roast one side of you, while the other was freezing. [Archenholtz (UT +SUPRA), ii. 11-15.] But Daun's people, on the opposite side of Plauen +Dell, did the like; their tents also were left standing in the frozen +state, guarded by alternating battalions, no better off than their +Prussian neighbors. This of the Tents, and Six frost-bitten Battalions +guarding them, lasted till April. An extraordinary obstinacy on the part +both of Daun and of Friedrich; alike jealous of even seeming to yield +one inch more of ground. + +The Hereditary Prince, with his 12,000, marched home again in February; +indeed, ever after the going into cantonments, all use of the Prince +and his Force here visibly ceased; and, on the whole, no result whatever +followed those strenuous antagonisms, and frozen tents left standing for +three months; and things remained practically what they were. So that, +as the grand "Peace Negotiations" also came to nothing, we might omit +this of Winter-quarters altogether; and go forward to the opening of +Campaign Fifth;--were it not that characteristic features do otherwise +occur in it, curious little unveilings of the secret hopes and +industries of Friedrich:--besides which, there have minor private events +fallen out, not without interest to human readers. For whose behoof +mainly a loose intercalary Chapter may be thrown together here. + + + + +SERENE HIGHNESS OF WURTEMBERG, AT FULDA (November 30th, 1759), IS JUST +ABOUT "FIRING VICTORIA," AND GIVING A BALL TO BEAUTY AND FASHION, IN +HONOR OF A CERTAIN EVENT;--BUT IS UNPLEASANTLY INTERRUPTED. + +November 21st, the very day while Finck was capitulating in the Hills of +Maxen, Duke Ferdinand, busy ever since his Victory at Minden, did, after +a difficult Siege of Munster, Siege by Imhof, with Ferdinand protecting +him, get Munster into hand again, which was reckoned a fine success to +him. Very busy has the Duke been: industriously reaping the fruits +of his Victory at Minden; and this, the conclusive rooting out of the +French from that Westphalian region, is a very joyful thing; and puts +Ferdinand in hopes of driving them over the Mayn altogether. Which some +think he would have done; had not he, with magnanimous oblivion of self +and wishes, agreed to send the Hereditary Prince and those 12,000 to +assist in Friedrich's affairs, looking upon that as the vital point in +these Allied Interests. Friedrich's attempts, we have said, turned out +impossible; nor would the Hereditary Prince and his 12,000, though +a good deal talked about in England and elsewhere, [Walpole, _George +Second,_ iii. 248 (in a sour Opposition tone); &c. &c.] require more +than mention; were it not that on the road thither, at Fulda ("Fulda is +half-way house to Saxony," thinks Ferdinand, "should Pitt and Britannic +Majesty be pleased to consent, as I dare presume they will"), the +Hereditary Prince had, in his swift way, done a thing useful for +Ferdinand himself, and which caused a great emotion, chiefly of +laughter, over the world, in those weeks. + +"No Enemy of Friedrich's," says my Note, "is of feller humor than the +Serenity of Wurtemberg, Karl Eugen, Reigning Duke of that unfortunate +Country; for whom, in past days, Friedrich had been so fatherly, and +really took such pains. 'Fatherly? STEP-fatherly, you mean; and for his +own vile uses!' growled the Serenity of Wurtemberg:--always an ominous +streak of gloom in that poor man; streak which is spread now to whole +skies of boiling darkness, owing to deliriums there have been! Enough, +Karl Eugen, after divorcing his poor Wife, had distinguished himself +by a zeal without knowledge, beyond almost all the enemies of +Friedrich;--and still continues in that bad line of industry. His poor +Wife he has made miserable in some measure; also himself; and, in a +degree, his poor soldiers and subjects, who are with him by compulsion +in this Enterprise. The Wurtembergers are Protestants of old type; and +want no fighting against 'the Protestant Hero,' but much the reverse! +Serene Karl had to shoot a good few of these poor people, before they +would march at all; and his procedures were indeed, and continued to be, +of a very crying nature, though his poor Populations took them silently. +Always something of perverse in this Serene Highness; has it, I think, +by kind. + +"Besides his quota to the Reich, Karl Eugen has 12,000 more on +foot,--and it is of them we are treating at present. In 1757 he had lent +these troops to the Empress Queen, for a consideration; it was they +that stood on the Austrian left, at Leuthen; and were the first that +got beaten, and had to cease standing,--as the Austrians were abundantly +loud in proclaiming. To the disgust of Serene Highness: 'Which of you +did stand, then? Was it their blame, led as they were?' argued he. +And next year, 1758, after Crefeld, he took his 12,000 to the French +('subsidy,' or consideration, 'to be paid in SALT,' it appears [_OEuvres +de Frederic,_ v. 10.]); with whom they marched about, and did nothing +considerable. The Serenity had pleaded, 'I must command them myself!' +'You?' said Belleisle, and would not hear of it. Next year again, +however, that is 1759, the Duke was positive, 'I must;' Belleisle not +less so, 'You cannot;'--till Minden fell out; and then, in the wreck of +Contades, Belleisle had to consent. Serenity of Wurtemberg, at that late +season, took the field accordingly; and Broglio now has him at Fulda, +'To cut off Ferdinand from Cassel;' to threaten Ferdinand's left flank +and his provision-carts in that quarter. May really become unpleasant +there to Ferdinand;--and ought to be cut out by the Hereditary Prince. +'To Fulda, then, and cut him out!' + +"FULDA, FRIDAY, 30th NOVEMBER, 1759. Serene Highness is lying here for a +week past; abundantly strong for the task on hand,--has his own 12,000, +supplemented by 1,000 French Light Horse;--but is widely scattered +withal, posted in a kind of triangular form; his main posts being Fulda +itself, and a couple of others, each thirty miles from Fulda, and five +miles from one another,--with 'patrols to connect them,' better or +worse. Abundantly strong for the task, and in perfect security; and +indeed intends this day to 'fire VICTORIA' for the Catastrophe at Maxen, +and in the evening will give a Ball in farther honor of so salutary an +event:--when, about 9 A.M., news arrives at the gallop, 'Brunswickers +in full march; are within an hour of the Town-Bridge!' Figure to what +flurry of Serene Highness; of the victoria-shooting apparatus; of busy +man-milliner people, and the Beauty and Fashion of Fulda in general! + +"The night before, a rumor of the French Post being driven in by +somebody had reached Serene Highness; who gave some vague order, not +thinking it of consequence. Here, however, is the Fact come to hand in +a most urgent and undeniable manner! Serene Highness gets on horseback; +but what can that help? One cannon (has nothing but light cannon) he +does plant on the Bridge; but see, here come premonitory bomb-shells +one and another, terrifying to the mind;--and a single Hessian dragoon, +plunging forward on the one unready cannon, and in the air making horrid +circles,--the gunners leave said cannon to him, take to their heels; and +the Bridge is open. The rest of the affair can be imagined. Retreat at +our swiftest, 'running fight,' we would fain call it, by various roads; +lost two flags, two cannon; prisoners were above 1,200, many of them +Officers. 'A merciful Providence saved the Duke's Serene Person from +hurt,' say the Stuttgard Gazetteers: which was true,--Serene Highness +having been inspired to gallop instantly to rearward and landward, +leaving an order to somebody, 'Do the best you can!' + +"So that the Ball is up; dress-pumps and millineries getting all locked +into their drawers again,--with abundance of te-hee-ing (I hope, mostly +in a light vein) from the fair creatures disappointed of their dance +for this time. Next day Serene Highness drew farther back, and next day +again farther,--towards Frankenland and home, as the surest place;--and +was no more heard of in those localities." [Buchholz, ii. 332; +Mauvillon, ii. 80; _Helden-Geschichte,_ v. 1184-1193; Old Newspapers, +in _Gentleman's Magazine,_ xxix. 603.] + +Making his first exit, not yet quite his final, from the War-Theatre, +amid such tempests of haha-ing and te-hee-ing. With what thoughts in his +own lofty opaque mind;--like a crowned mule, of such pace and carriage, +who had unexpectedly stepped upon galvanic wires!-- + +As to those poor Wurtembergers, and their notion of the "Protestant +Hero," I remark farther, that there is a something of real truth in it. +Friedrich's Creed, or Theory of the Universe, differed extremely, in +many important points, from that of Dr. Martin Luther: but in the vital +all-essential point, what we may call the heart's core of all Creeds +which are human, human and not simious or diabolic, the King and the +Doctor were with their whole heart at one: That it is not allowable, +that it is dangerous and abominable, to attempt believing what is +not true. In that sense, Friedrich, by nature and position, was a +Protestant, and even the chief Protestant in the world. What kind of +"Hero," in this big War of his, we are gradually learning;--in which +too, if you investigate, there is not wanting something of "PROTESTANT +Heroism," even in the narrow sense. For it does appear,--Maria Theresa +having a real fear of God, and poor Louis a real fear of the Devil, +whom he may well feel to be getting dangerous purchase over him,--some +hope-gleams of acting upon Schism, and so meriting Heaven, did mingle +with their high terrestrial combinations, on this unique opportunity, +more than are now supposed in careless History-Books. + + + + +WHAT IS PERPETUAL PRESIDENT MAUPERTUIS DOING, ALL THIS WHILE? IS HE +STILL IN BERLIN; OR WHERE IN THE UNIVERSE IS HE? ALAS, POOR MAUPERTUIS! + +In the heat of this Campaign, "July 27th,"--some four days after the +Battle of Zullichau, just while Friedrich was hurrying off for that +Intersection at Sagan, and breathless Hunt of Loudon and Haddick,--poor +Maupertuis had quitted this world. July 27th, 1759; at Basel, on the +Swiss Borders, in his friend Bernouilli's house, after long months of +sickness painfully spent there. And our poor Perpetual President, at +rest now from all his Akakia burns, and pains and labors in flattening +the Earth and otherwise, is gone. + +Many beautifuler men have gone within the Year, of whom we can say +nothing. But this is one whose grandly silent, and then occasionally +fulminant procedures, Akakia controversies, Olympian solemnities and +flamy pirouettings under the contradiction of sinners, we once saw; and +think with a kind of human pathos that we shall see no more. From his +goose of an adorer, La Beaumelle, I have riddled out the following +particulars, chiefly chronological,--and offer them to susceptible +readers. La Beaumelle is, in a sort, to be considered the speaker; or La +Beaumelle and this Editor in concert. + +FINAL PILGRIMAGE OF THE PERPETUAL PRESIDENT. "Maupertuis had quitted +Berlin soon after Voltaire. That threat of visiting Voltaire with +pistols,--to be met by 'my syringe and vessel of dishonor' on Voltaire's +part,--was his last memorability in Berlin. His last at that time; or +indeed altogether, for he saw little of Berlin farther. + +"End of April, 1753, he got leave of absence; set out homewards, +for recovery of health. Was at Paris through summer and autumn: very +taciturn in society; 'preferred pretty women to any man of science;' +would sententiously say a strong thing now and then, 'bitter but not +without BONHOMIE,' shaking slightly his yellow wig. Disdainful, to how +high a degree, of AKAKIA brabbles, and Voltaire gossip for or against! +In winter went to St. Malo; found his good Father gone; but a loving +Sister still there. + +"June, 1754, the King wrote to him, 'VENEZ VITE, Come quickly:' July, +1754, he came accordingly, [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ xx. 49.] saw Berlin +again; did nothing noticeable there, except get worse in health; and +after eleven months, June, 1756, withdrew again on leave,--never to +return this time, though he well intended otherwise. But at St. Malo, +when, after a month or two of Paris, he got thither (Autumn, 1756), +and still more, next summer, 1757, when he thought of leaving St. +Malo,--what wars, and rumors of war, all over the world! + +"June, 1757, he went to Bordeaux, intending to take ship for Hamburg, +and return; but the sea was full of English cruisers [Pitt's Descents +lying in store for St. Malo itself]. No getting to Berlin by the Hamburg +or sea route! 'Never mind, then,' wrote the King: 'Improve your health; +go to Italy, if you can.' + +"Summer, 1757, Maupertuis made for Italy; got as far as +Toulouse;--stayed there till May following; sad, tragically stoical; +saying, sparingly, and rather to women than men, strong things, admired +by the worthier sort. Renounced thoughts of Italy: 'Europe bleeding, and +especially France and Prussia, how go idly touring?' + +"May, 1758, Maupertuis left Toulouse: turned towards Berlin; slow, sad, +circuitous;--never to arrive. Saw Narbonne, Montpellier, Nimes; with +what meditations! At Lyons, under honors sky-high, health getting worse, +stays two months; vomits clots of blood there. Thence, July 24th, to +Neufchatel and the Lord Marischal; happy there for three months. Hears +there of Professor Konig's death (AKAKIA Konig): 'One scoundrel less in +the world,' ejaculated he; 'but what is one!'--October 16th, to the +road again, to Basel; stays perforce, in Bernouilli's house there, all +Winter; health falling lower and lower. + +"April, 1759, one day he has his carriage at the door ('Homeward, at +all rates!'): but takes violent spasms in the carriage; can't; can no +farther in this world. Lingers here, under kind care, for above three +months more: dying slowly, most painfully. With much real stoicism; not +without a stiff-jointed algebraic kind of piety, almost pathetic in +its sort. 'Two Capuchins from a neighboring Convent daily gave him +consolations,' not entirely satisfactory; for daily withal, 'unknown to +the Capuchins, he made his Valet, who was a Protestant, read to him from +the Geneva Bible;'--and finds many things hard to the human mind. July +27th, 1759, he died." [La Beaumelle, _Vie de Maupertuis,_ pp. 196-216.] + +Poor Maupertuis; a man of rugged stalwart type; honest; of an ardor, an +intelligence, not to be forgotten for La Beaumelle's pulings over them. +A man of good and even of high talent; unlucky in mistaking it for the +highest! His poor Wife, a born Borck,--hastening from Berlin, but again +and again delayed by industry of kind friends, and at last driving on +in spite of everything,--met, in the last miles, his Hearse and Funeral +Company. Adieu, a pitying adieu to him forever,--and even to his adoring +La Beaumelle, who is rather less a blockhead than he generally seems. + +This of the Two Capuchins, the last consummation of collapse in man, is +what Voltaire cannot forget, but crows over with his shrillest +mockery; and seldom mentions Maupertuis without that last touch to his +life-drama. + + + + +GRAND FRENCH INVASION-SCHEME COMES ENTIRELY TO WRECK (Quiberon Bay, 20th +November, 1759): OF CONTROLLER-GENERAL SILHOUETTE, AND THE OUTLOOKS OF +FRANCE, FINANCIAL AND OTHER. + +On the very day of Maxen, Tuesday, November 20th, the grand French +Invasion found its terminus,--not on the shores of Britain, but +of Brittany, to its surprise. We saw Rodney burn the Flat-bottom +manufactory at Havre; Boscawen chase the Toulon Squadron, till it ended +on the rocks of Lagos. From January onwards, as was then mentioned, +Hawke had been keeping watch, off Brest Harbor, on Admiral Conflans, +who presides there over multifarious preparations, with the last Fleet +France now has. At Vannes, where Hawke likewise has ships watching, +are multifarious preparations; new Flat-bottoms, 18,000 troops,--could +Conflans and they only get to sea. At the long last, they did get;--in +manner following:-- + +"November 9th, a wild gale of wind had blown Hawke out of sight; away +home to Torbay, for the moment. 'Now is the time!' thought Conflans, and +put to sea (November 14th); met by Hawke, who had weighed from Torbay +to his duty; and who, of course, crowded every sail, after hearing that +Conflans was out. At break of day, November 20th [in the very hours when +poor Finck was embattling himself round Maxen, and Daun sprawling up +upon him through the Passes], Hawke had had signal, 'A Fleet in sight;' +and soon after, 'Conflans in sight,'--and the day of trial come. + +"Conflans is about the strength of Hawke, and France expects much of +him; but he is not expecting Hawke. Conflans is busy, at this moment, +in the mouth of Quiberon Bay, opening the road for Vannes and the +18,000;--in hot chase, at the moment, of a Commodore Duff and his small +Squadron, who have been keeping watch there, and are now running all +they can. On a sudden, to the astonishment of Conflans, this little +Squadron whirls round, every ship of it (with a sky-rending cheer, could +he hear it), and commences chasing! Conflans, taking survey, sees that +it is Hawke; he, sure enough, coming down from windward yonder at his +highest speed; and that chasing will not now be one's business!-- + +"About 11 A.M. Hawke is here; eight of his vanward ships are sweeping on +for action. Conflans, at first, had determined to fight Hawke; and drew +up accordingly, and did try a little: but gradually thought better +of it; and decided to take shelter in the shoaly coasts and nooks +thereabouts, which were unknown to Hawke, and might ruin him if he +should pursue, the day being short, and the weather extremely bad. +Weather itself almost to be called a storm. 'Shoreward, then; eastward, +every ship!' became, ultimately, Conflans's plan. On the whole, it was +2 in the afternoon before Hawke, with those vanward Eight, could get +clutch of Conflans. And truly he did then strike his claws into him in +a thunderously fervid manner, he and all hands, in spite of the roaring +weather:--a man of falcon, or accipitral, nature as well as name. + +"Conflans himself fought well; as did certain of the others,--all, more +or less, so long as their plan continued steady:--thunderous miscellany +of cannon and tempest; Conflans with his plan steady, or Conflans with +his plan wavering, VERSUS those vanward Eight, for two hours or more. +But the scene was too dreadful; this ship sinking, that obliged to +strike; things all going awry for Conflans. Hawke, in his own Flagship, +bore down specially on Conflans in his,--who did wait, and exchange a +couple of broadsides; but then sheered off, finding it so heavy. French +Vice-Admiral next likewise gave Hawke a broadside; one only, and sheered +off, satisfied with the return. Some Four others, in succession, did +the like; 'One blast, as we hurry by' (making for the shore, mostly)! So +that Hawke seemed swallowed in volcanoes (though, indeed, their firing +was very bad, such a flurry among them), and his Blue Flag was invisible +for some time, and various ships were hastening to help him,--till a +Fifth French ship coming up with her broadside, Hawke answered her in +particular (LA SUPERBE, a Seventy-four) with all his guns together; +which sent the poor ship to the bottom, in a hideously sudden manner. +One other (the THESEE) had already sunk in fighting; two (the SOLEIL and +the HEROS) were already running for it,--the HEROS in a very unheroic +manner! But on this terrible plunge-home of the SUPERBE, the rest all +made for the shore;--and escaped into the rocky intricacies and the +darkness. Four of Conflans's ships were already gone,--struck, sunk, +or otherwise extinct,--when darkness fell, and veiled Conflans and his +distresses. 'Country people, to the number of 10,000,' crowded on the +shore, had been seen watching the Battle; and, 'as sad witnesses of the +White Flag's disgrace,' disappeared into the interior." [Beatson, ii. +327-345: and Ib. iii. 244-250. In _Gentleman's Magazine,_ (xxix. 557), +"A Chaplain's Letter," &c.] + +It was such a night as men never witnessed before. Walpole says: "The +roaring of the elements was redoubled by the thunder from our ships; and +both concurred in that scene of horror to put a period to the Navy and +hopes of France. Seven ships of the line got into the River Vilaine +[lay there fourteen months, under strict watching, till their backs +were broken, "thumping against the shallow bottom every tide," and only +"three, with three frigates," ever got out again]; eight more escaped +to different ports," into the River Charente ultimately. "Conflans's own +ship and another were run on shore, and burnt. One we took." Two, with +their crews, had gone to the bottom; one under Hawke's cannon; one +partly by its own mismanagement. "Two of ours were lost in the storm +[chasing that SOLEIL and HEROS], but the crews saved. Lord Howe, who +attacked LA FORMIDABLE, bore down on her with such violence, that her +prow forced in his lower tier of guns. Captain Digby, in the DUNKIRK, +received the fire of twelve of the enemy's ships, and lost not a man. +Keppel's was full of water, and he thought it sinking: a sudden squall +emptied his ship; but he was informed all his powder was wet; 'Then,' +said he, 'I am sorry I am safe.' They came and told him a small quantity +was undamaged; 'Very well,' said he; 'then attack again.' Not above +eight of our ships were engaged in obtaining that decisive victory. +The Invasion was heard of no more." [Walpole, _George Second,_ iii. +232.--Here is the List, accurately riddled out: 1. FORMIDABLE, struck +(about 4 P.M.): 2. THESEE, sunk (by a tumble it made, while in action, +under an unskilful Captain): 3. SUPERBE, sunk: 4. HEROS, struck; could +not he boarded, such weather; and recommenced next day, but had to run +and strand itself, and be burnt by the English;--as did (5.) the SOLEIL +ROYAL (Conflans's Flagship), Conflans and crew (like those of the HEROS) +getting out in time.] + +Invasion had been fully intended, and even, in these final days, +considerably expected. In the old London Newspapers we read this notice: +MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19th: "To-day there came Three Expresses,"--Three +Expresses, with what haste in their eyes, testifying successively of +Conflans's whereabouts. But it was believed that Hawke would still +manage. And, at any rate, Pitt wore such a look,--and had, in fact, made +such preparation on the coasts, even in failure of Hawke,--there was no +alarm anywhere. Indignation rather;--and naturally, when the news did +come, what an outburst of Illumination in the windows and the hearts of +men! + +"Hawke continued watching the mouths of the Vilaine and Charente Rivers +for a good while after, and without interruption henceforth,--till the +storms of Winter had plainly closed them for one season. Supplies of +fresh provisions had come to him from England all Summer; but were +stopped latterly by the wild weather. Upon which, in the Fleet, arose +this gravely pathetic Stave of Sea-Poetry, with a wrinkle of briny humor +grinning in it:-- + + Till Hawke did bang Monsieur Conflans [CONGFLANG], + You sent us beef and beer; + Now Monsieur's beat, we've nought to eat, + Since you have nought to fear." [Beatson, ii. 342 n.] + +The French mode of taking this catastrophe was rather peculiar. Hear +Barbier, an Eye-witness; dating PARIS, DECEMBER, 1759: "Since the first +days of December, there has been cried, and sold in the streets, a +Printed Detail of all that concerns the GRAND INVASION projected this +long while: to wit, the number of Ships of the Line, of Frigates, +Galiots,--among others 500 Flat-bottomed Boats, which are to carry over, +and land in England, more than 54,000 men;--with list of the Regiments, +and number of the King's Guards, that are also to go: there are +announced for Generals-in-Chief, M. le Prince de Conti [do readers +remember him since the Broglio-Maillebois time, and how King Louis +prophesied in autograph that he would be "the Grand Conti" one +day?]--Prince de Conti, Prince de Soubise [left his Conquest of +Frankfurt for this greater Enterprise], and Milord Thomont [Irish +Jacobite, whom I don't know]. As sequel to this Detail, there is a +lengthy Song on the DISEMBARKMENT IN ENGLAND, and the fear the English +must have of it!" Calculated to astonish the practical forensic mind. + +"It is inconceivable", continues he, "how they have permitted such +a Piece to be printed; still more to be cried, and sold price one +halfpenny (DEUX LIARDS). This Song is indecent, in the circumstances of +the actual news from our Fleet at Brest (20th of last month);--in regard +to which bad adventure M. le Marquis de Conflans has come to Versailles, +to justify himself, and throw the blame on M. le Marquis de Beauffremont +[his Rear-Admiral, now safe in the Charente, with eight of our poor +ships]. Such things are the more out of place, as we are in a bad enough +position,--no Flat-bottoms stirring from the ports, no Troops of the +MAISON DU ROI setting out; and have reason to believe that we are now to +make no such attempt." [Barbier, iv. 336.] + +Silhouette, the Controller-General, was thought to have a creative +genius in finance: but in the eighth month of his gestation, what +phenomena are these? October 26th, there came out Four Decrees of +Council, setting forth, That, "as the expenses of the War exceed not +only the King's ordinary revenues, but the extraordinaries he has had to +lay on his people, there is nothing for it but," in fact, Suspension of +Payment; actual Temporary Bankruptcy:--"Cannot pay you; part of you not +for a year, others of you not till the War end; will give you 5 per cent +interest instead." Coupled with which, by the same creative genius, is a +Declaration in the King's name, "That the King compels nobody, but does +invite all and sundry of loyal mind to send their Plate (on loan, of +course, and with due receipt for it) to the Mint to be coined, lest +Majesty come to have otherwise no money,"--his very valets, as is +privately known, having had no wages from him for ten months past. + +Whereupon the rich Princes of the Blood, Due d'Orleans foremost, and +Official persons, Pompadour, Belleisle, Choiseul, do make an effort; and +everybody that has Plate feels uneasily that he cannot use it, and that +he ought to send it. And, November 5th, the King's own Plate, packed +ostentatiously in carts, went to the Mint;--the Dauphiness, noble +Saxon Lady, had already volunteered with a silver toilet-table of hers, +brand-new and of exquisite costly pattern; but the King forbade her. On +such examples, everybody had to make an effort, or uneasily try to make +one. King Friedrich, eight days after Maxen, is somewhat amused at these +proceedings in the distance:-- + +"The kettles and spoons of the French seem to me a pleasant resource, +for carrying on War!" writes he to D'Argens. ["Wilsdruf, 28th November, +1759," _OEuvres de Frederic,_ xix. 108.] "A bit of mummery to act on the +public feeling, I suppose. The result of it will be small: but as +the Belleisle LETTERS [taken in Contades's baggage, after Minden, and +printed by Duke Ferdinand for public edification] make always such +an outcry about poverty, those people are trying to impose on their +enemies, and persuade them that the carved and chiselled silver of the +Kingdom will suffice for making a vigorous Campaign. I see nothing else +that can have set them on imagining the farce they are now at. There is +Munster taken from them by the English-Hanoverian people; it is affirmed +that the French, on the 25th, quitted Giessen, to march on Friedberg +and repass the Rhine [might possibly have done so;--but the Hereditary +Prince and his 12,000 come to be needed elsewhere!]--Poor we are +opposite our enemies here, cantoned in the Villages about; the last +truss of straw, the last loaf of bread will decide which of us is to +remain in Saxony. And as the Austrians are extremely squeezed together, +and can get nothing out of Bohmen,"--one hopes it will not be they! + +All through November, this sending of Plate, I never knew with what +net-result of moneys coinable, goes on in Paris; till, at the highest +tables, there is nothing of silver dishes left;--and a new crockery kind +(rather clumsy; "CULS NOIRS," as we derisively call them, pigment of +BOTTOM part being BLACK) has had to be contrived instead. Under what +astonishments abroad and at home, and in the latter region under what +execrations on Silhouette, may be imagined. "TOUT LE MONDE JURE BEAUCOUP +CONTRE M. DE SILHOUETTE, All the world swears much against him," says +Barbier;--but I believe probably he was much to be pitied: "A creative +genius, you; and this is what you come to?" + +November 22d, the poor man got dismissed; France swearing at him, I +know not to what depth; but howling and hissing, evidently, with all +its might. The very tailors and milliners took him up,--trousers +without pockets, dresses without flounce or fold, which they called A LA +SILHOUETTE:--and, to this day, in France and Continental Countries, +the old-fashioned Shadow-Profile (mere outline, and vacant black) is +practically called a SILHOUETTE. So that the very Dictionaries have him; +and, like bad Count Reinhart, or REYNARD, of earlier date, he has become +a Noun Appellative, and is immortalized in that way. The first of +that considerable Series of Creative Financiers, Abbe Terray and the +rest,--brought in successively with blessings, and dismissed with +cursings and hissings,--who end in Calonne, Lomenie de Brienne, and +what Mirabeau Pere called "the General Overturn (CULBUTE GENERALE)." +Thitherward, privately, straight towards the General Overturn, is France +bound;--and will arrive in about thirty years. + + + + +FRIEDRICH, STRANGE TO SAY, PUBLISHES (March-June, 1760) AN EDITION OF +HIS POEMS. QUESTION, "WHO WROTE Matinees du Roi de Prusse?"--FOR THE +SECOND, AND POSITIVELY THE LAST TIME. + +In this avalanche of impending destructions, what can be more surprising +than to hear of the Editing of Poems on his Majesty's part! Actual +publication of that OEuvre de Poesie, for which Voltaire, poor +gentleman, suffered such tribulation seven years ago. Now coming out +from choice: Reprint of it, not now to the extent of twelve copies for +highly special friends, but in copious thousands, for behoof of mankind +at large! The thing cost Friedrich very little meditating, and had +become necessary,--and to be done with speed. + +Readers recollect the OEUVRE DE POESIE, and satirical hits said to be +in it. At Paris, about New-year's time 1760, some helpful Hand had +contrived to bring out, under the pretended date "Potsdam," a +cheap edition of that interesting Work. [_"OEuvres du Philosophe de +Sans-Souci:"_ 1 vol. 12 mo, "Potsdam [PARIS, in truth], 1760."] Merely +in the way of theft, as appeared to cursory readers, to D'Argens, for +example: [His Letter to the King, _OEuvres de Frederic,_ xix. 138.] +but, in deeper fact, for the purpose of apprising certain Crowned Heads, +friendly and hostile,--Czarish Majesty and George II. of England the +main two,--what this poetizing King was pleased to think of them in +his private moments. D'Argens declares himself glad of this theft, so +exquisitely clever is the Book. But Friedrich knows better: "March 17th, +when a Copy of it came to him," Friedrich sees well what is meant,--and +what he himself has to do in it. He instantly sets about making a few +suppressions, changes of phrase; sends the thing to D'Argens: "Publish +at once, with a little prefatory word." And, at the top of his speed, +D'Argens has, in three weeks' time, the suitable AVANT-PROPOS, or AVIS +AU LIBRAIRE, "circulating in great quantities, especially in London +and Petersburg" ("Thief Editor has omitted; and, what is far more, +has malignantly interpolated: here is the poor idle Work itself, not a +Counterfeit of it, if anybody care to read it"), and an Orthodox Edition +ready. [Came out April 9th [see MITCHELL, ii. 153], "and a second finer +Edition in June:" in _OEuvres de Frederic,_ x. p. x, xix. 137 n., 138; +especially in PREUSS, i. 467, 468 (if you will compare him with +HIMSELF on these different occasions, and patiently wind out his bit +of meaning), all manner of minutest details.] The diligent Pirate +Booksellers, at Amsterdam, at London, copiously reproduced this +authorized Berlin Edition too,--or added excerpts from it to their +reprints of the Paris one, by way of various-readings. And everybody +read and compared, what nobody will now do; theme, and treatment of +theme, being both now so heartily indifferent to us. + +Who the Perpetrator of this Parisian maleficence was, remained +dark;--and would not be worth inquiring into at all, except for two +reasons intrinsically trifling, but not quite without interest to +readers of our time. First, that Voltaire, whom some suspected (some, +never much Friedrich, that I hear of), appears to have been perfectly +innocent;--and indeed had been incapacitated for guilt, by Schmidt and +Freytag, and their dreadful Frankfurt procedures! This is reason FIRST; +poor Voltaire mutely asking us, Not to load him with more sins than his +own. Reason SECOND is, that, by a singular opportunity, there has, in +these very months, [Spring, 1863.] a glimmering of light risen on it to +this Editor; illustrating two other points as well, which readers here +are acquainted with, some time ago, as riddles of the insignificant +sort. The DEMON NEWSWRITER, with his "IDEA" of Friedrich, and the +"MATINEES DU ROI DE PRUSSE:" readers recollect both those Productions; +both enigmatic as to authorship;--but both now become riddles which can +more or less be read. + +For the surprising circumstance (though in certain periods, when the +realm of very Chaos re-emerges, fitfully, into upper sunshine now and +then, nothing ought to surprise one as happening there) is, That, only +a few months ago, the incomparable MATINEES (known to my readers five +years since) has found a new Editor and reviver. Editor illuminated "by +the Secretary of the Great Napoleon," "by discovery of manuscripts," "by +the Duc de Rovigo," and I know not what; animated also, it is said, by +religious views. And, in short, the MATINEES is again abroad upon the +world,--"your London Edition twice reprinted in Germany, by the Jesuit +party since" (much good may it do the Jesuit party!)--a MATINEES again +in comfortable circumstances, as would seem. Probably the longest-eared +Platitude now walking the Earth, though there are a good many with ears +long. Unconscious, seemingly, that it has been killed thrice and four +times already; and that indeed, except in the realm of Nightmare, it +never was alive, or needed any killing; belief in it, doubt upon it +(I must grieve to inform the Duc de Rovigo and honorable persons +concerned), being evidence conclusive that you have not yet the faintest +preliminary shadow of correct knowledge about Friedrich or his habits or +affairs, and that you ought first to try and acquire some. + +To me argument on this subject would have been too unendurable. But +argument there was on it, by persons capable and willing, more than one: +and in result this surprising brand-new London moon-calf of a MATINEES +was smitten through, and slit in pieces, for the fifth time,--as if +that could have hurt it much! "MIT DER DUMMHEIT," sings Schiller; "Human +Stupidity is stronger than the very Gods." However, in the course of +these new inspections into matters long since obsolete, there did--what +may truly be considered as a kind of profit by this Resuscitating of the +moon-calf MATINEES upon afflicted mankind, and is a net outcome from it, +real, though very small--some light rise as to the origin and genesis of +MATINEES; some twinkles of light, and, in the utterly dark element, did +disclose other monstrous extinct shapes looming to right and left of +said monster: and, in a word, the Authorship of MATINEES, and not of +MATINEES only, becomes now at last faintly visible or guessable. To +one of those industrious Matadors, as we may call them, Slayers of this +moon-calf for the fourth or fifth time, I owe the following Note; which, +on verifying, I can declare to be trustworthy:-- + +"The Author of MATINEES, it is nearly certain", says my Correspondent, +"is actually a 'M. de Bonneville,'--contrary to what you wrote five +years ago. [A.D. 1858 (SUPRA, v. 165, 166).] Not indeed the Bonneville +who is found in Dictionaries, who is visibly impossible; but a +Bonneville of the preceding generation, who was Marechal de Saxe's +Adjutant or Secretary, old enough to have been the Uncle or the Father +of that revolutionary Bonneville. Marechal de Saxe died November 30th, +1750; this senior Bonneville, still a young man, had been with him to +Potsdam on visit there. Bonneville, conscious of genius, and now out of +employment, naturally went thither again; lived a good deal there, or +went between France and there: and authentic History knows of him, by +direct evidence, and by reflex, the following Three Facts (the SECOND of +them itself threefold), of which I will distinguish the indubitable from +the inferentially credible or as good as certain:-- + +"1. Indubitable, That Bonneville sold to Friedrich certain Papers, +military Plans, or the like, of the late Marechal and was paid for them; +but by no means met the recognition his genius saw itself to merit. +These things are certain, though not dated, or datable except as of +the year 1750 or 1751. After which, for above twenty years, Bonneville +entered upon a series of adventures, caliginous, underground, for most +part; 'soldiering in America,' 'writing anonymous Pamphlets or Books,' +roaming wide over the world; and led a busy but obscure and uncertain +life, hanging by Berlin as a kind of centre, or by Paris and Berlin +as his two centres; and had a miscellaneous series of adventures, +subterranean many of them, unluminous all of them, not courting +the light; which lie now in naturally a very dark condition. Dimly +discernible, however, in the general dusk of Bonneville, dim and vague +of outline, but definitely steady beyond what could have been expected, +it does appear farther,--what alone entitles Bonneville to the least +memory here, or anywhere in Nature now or henceforth,-- + +"2. Inferentially credible, That, shortly after that first rebuff in +Potsdam, he, not another, in 1752, was your 'DEMON NEWSWRITER,' whom +we gazed at, some time since, devoutly crossing ourselves, for a little +while! + +"Likewise that, in 1759-1760, after or before his American wanderings, +he, the same Bonneville, as was suspected at the time, ["Nicolai, _Ueber +Zimmermanns Fragmente,_ i. 181, 182, ii. 253, 254. Sketch of what is +authentically known about Bonneville: 'suspected both of MATINEES and +of the Stolen EDITION.'"] stole and edited this surreptitious +mischief-making _OEuvres du Philosophe de Sans-Souci_ (Paris or +Lyon, pretending to be 'Potsdam,' January, 1760)," which we are now +considering!" Encouraged, probably enough, by Choiseul himself, who, in +any case, is now known to have been the promoter of this fine bit of +mischief, [Choiseul's own Note, "To M. de Malesherbes, DIRECTEUR DE +LA LIBRAIRE, 10th December, 1759: 'By every method screen the King's +Government from being suspected;--and get the Edition out at once.'" +(Published in the _Constitutionnel, _ 2d December, 1850, by M. +Sainte-Beuve; copied in Preuss, _OEuvres de Frederic,_ xix. 168 +n.)]--and who may thereupon [or may as probably, NOT "thereupon," if it +were of the least consequence to gods or men] have opened to Bonneville +a new military career in America? Career which led to as good as +nothing; French soldiering in America being done for, in the course of +1760. Upon which Bonneville would return to his old haunts, to his old +subterranean industries in Paris and Berlin. + +"And that, finally, in 1765, he, as was again suspected at the time, +["Nicolai, Ueber Zimmermanns Fragmente, i. 181, 182, ii. 253, 254. +Sketch of what is authentically known about Bonneville: 'suspected both +of MATINEES and of the Stolen EDITION.'"] he and no other, did write +those MATINEES, which appeared next year in print (1766), and many times +since; and have just been reprinted, as a surprising new discovery, at +London, in Spring, 1863. + +"3. Again indubitable, That either after or before those Editorial +exploits, Bonneville had sold the Marechal de Saxe's Plans and Papers, +which were already the King's, to some second person, and been a second +time paid for them. And was, in regard to this Swindling exploit, found +out; and by reason of that sale, or for what reason is not known, was +put into Spandau, and, one hopes, ended his life there." ["Nicolai, UBI +SUPRA;--and besides him, only the two following references, out of half +a cart-load: 1. Bachaumont, MEMOIRES SECRETES, '7th February, 1765' (see +Barbier, _Dictionnaire des Anonymes,_ Matinees), who calls MATINEES +'a development of the IDEE DE LA PERSONNE,' &c. (that is, of your 'DEMON +NEWSWRITER;' already known to Bachaumont, this 'IDEE,' it seems, as +well as the MATINEES in Manuscript). 2. LETTER of Grimm to Duchess of +Sachsen-Gotha [OUR Duchess], dated 'Paris, 15th April, 1765:' not in +printed _Correspondance de Grimm,_ but still in the Archives of Gotha, +in company with a MS. of MATINEES, probably the oldest extant (see,--in +the GRENZBOTEN Periodical, Leipzig, 1863, pp. 473-484, 500-519,--K. +SAMWER, who is Chief MALLEUS of this new London moon-calf, and will +inform the curious of every particular)]." + +MATINEES was first printed 1766 (no place), and seven or eight times +since, in different Countries; twice or thrice over, as "an interesting +new discovery:"--very wearisome to this Editor; who read MATINEES (in +poor LONDON print, that too) many years ago,--with complete satisfaction +as to Matinees, and sincere wish not to touch it again even with a pair +of tongs;--and has since had three "priceless MSS. of it" offered him, +at low rates, as a guerdon to merit. + +Fact No. 2, which alone concerns us here,--and which, in its three +successive stages, does curiously cohere with itself and with other +things,--comes, therefore, not by direct light, which indeed, by the +nature of the case, would be impossible. Not by direct light, but by +various reflex lights, and convergence of probabilities old and new, +which become the stronger the better they are examined; and may be +considered as amounting to what is called a moral certainty,--"certain" +enough for an inquiry of that significance. To a kind of moral +certainty: kind of moral consolation too; only One individual of Adam's +Posterity, not Three or more, having been needed in these multifarious +acts of scoundrelism; and that One receiving payment, or part payment, +so prompt and appropriate, in the shape of a permanent cannon-ball at +his ankle. + +This is the one profit my readers or I have yet derived from the late +miraculous Resuscitation of MATINEES ROYALES; the other items of profit +in that Enterprise shall belong, not to us in the least measure, but to +Bonneville, and to his well or ill disposed Coadjutors and Copartners in +the Adventure. Adieu to it, and to him and to them, forever and a day! + + + + +PEACE-NEGOTIATIONS HOPEFUL TO FRIEDRICH ALL THROUGH WINTER; BUT THE +FRENCH WON'T. VOLTAIRE, AND HIS STYLE OF CORRESPONDING. + +This Winter there was talk of Peace, more specifically than ever. +November 15th, at the Hague, as a neutral place, there had been, by the +two Majesties, Britannic and Prussian, official DECLARATION, "We, for +our part, deeply lament these horrors, and are ready to treat of Peace." +This Declaration was presented November 15th, 1759, by Prince Ludwig of +Brunswick (Head General of the Dutch, and a Brother of Prince Ferdinand +our General's, suitable for such case), to the Austrian-French +Excellencies at the Hague. By whom it had been received with the due +politeness, "Will give it our profoundest consideration;" [DECLARATION +(by the two Majesties) that they are ready to treat of Peace, 15th +November, 1759, presented by, &c. (as above); ANSWER from France, in +stingy terms, and not till 3d April, 1760: are in _London Gazette;_ in +_Gentleman's Magazine,_ xxix. 603, xxx. 188; in &c. &c.]--which indeed +the French, for some time, privately did; though the Austrians privately +had no need to do so, being already fixed for a negative response to the +proposal. But hereby rose actual talk of a "Congress;" and wagging of +Diplomatic wigs as to where it shall be. "In Breda," said some; "Breda +a place used to Congresses." "Why not in Nanci here?" said poor old +Ex-Polish Stanislaus, alive to the calls of benevolence, poor old +Titular soul. Others said "Leipzig;" others "Augsburg;"--and indeed +in Augsburg, according to the Gazetteers, at one time, there were +"upholsterers busy getting ready the apartments." So that, with such +rumor in the Diplomatic circles, the Gazetteer and outer world was full +of speculation upon Peace; and Friedrich had lively hopes of it, and had +been hoping three months before, as we transiently saw, though again it +came to nothing. All to nothing; and is not, in itself, worth the least +attention from us here,--a poor extinct fact, loud in those months and +filling the whole world, now silent and extinct to everybody,--except, +indeed, that it offers physiognomic traits here and there of a certain +King, and of those about him. For which reason we will dwell on it a few +minutes longer. + +Nobody, in that Winter 1759-1760, could guess where, or from whom, this +big world-interesting Peace-Negotiation had its birth; as everybody now +can, when nobody now is curious on the question! At Sagan, in September +last, we all saw the small private source of it, its first outspurt into +daylight; and read Friedrich's ANSWERS to Voltaire and the noble +Duchess on it:--for the sake of which Two private Correspondents, and +of Friedrich's relation to them, possibly a few more Excerpts may still +have a kind of interest, now when the thing corresponded on has ceased +to have any. To the Duchess, a noble-minded Lady, beautifully zealous to +help if she could, by whose hand these multifarious Peace-Papers have to +pass, this is always Friedrich's fine style in transmitting them. Out of +many specimens, following that of Sagan which we gave, here are the Next +Three:-- + + +FRIEDRICH TO THE DUCHESS OF SACHSEN-GOTHA (Three other Letters on the +"Peace"). + +1. "WILSDRUF, 21st November, 1759 [day after Maxen, SURRENDER was THIS +morning--of which he has not heard]. + +"MADAM,--Nothing but your generosities and your indulgence could justify +my incongruity [INCONGRUITE, in troubling you with the Enclosed]. You +will have it, Madam, that I shall still farther abuse those bounties, +which are so precious to me: at least remember that it is by your order, +if I forward through your hand this Letter, which does not merit such +honor. + +"Chance, which so insolently mocks the projects of men, and delights to +build up and then pull down, has led us about, thus far,--to the end of +the Campaign [not quite ended yet, if we knew]. The Austrians are girt +in by the Elbe on this side; I have had two important Magazines of +theirs in Bohemia destroyed [Kleist's doing]. There have been some bits +of fighting (AFFAIRES), that have turned entirely to our advantage:--so +that I am in hopes of forcing M. Daun to repass the Elbe, to abandon +Dresden, and to take the road for Zittau and Bohemia. + +"I talk to you, Madam, of what I am surrounded with; of what, being in +your neighborhood, may perhaps have gained your attention. I could go +to much greater length, if my heart dared to explain itself on the +sentiments of admiration, gratitude and esteem, with which I am,--Madam +my Cousin,--Your most faithful Cousin, Friend and Servant,--F." + + +2. + +"FREYBERG, 18th December, 1759. + +"MADAM,--You spoil me so by your indulgence, you so accustom me to have +obligations to you, that I reproach myself a hundred times with this +presumption. Certainly I should not continue to enclose these Letters to +your care, had not I the hope that perhaps the Correspondence may be of +some use to England, and even to Europe,--for without doubt Peace is +the desirable, the natural and happy state for all Nations. It is to +accelerate Peace, Madam, that I abuse your generosities. This motive +excuses me to myself for the incongruity of my procedures. + +"The goodness you have to take interest in my situation obliges me to +give you some account of it. We have undergone all sorts of misfortune +here [Maxen, what not], at the moment we were least expecting them. +Nevertheless, there remains to us courage and hope; here are Auxiliaries +[Hereditary Prince and 12,000] on the point of arriving; there is reason +to think that the end of our Campaign will be less frightful than seemed +likely three weeks ago. May you, Madam, enjoy all the happiness that I +wish you. May all the world become acquainted with your virtues, imitate +them, and admire you as I do. May you be persuaded that...--F." + + +3. + +"FREYBERG, 16th February, 1760. + +"MADAM,--It is to my great regret that I importune Your Highness so +often with my Letters. Your bounties, Madam, have spoiled me;--it +will teach you to be more chary of them to others. I regard you as an +estimable Friend, to whose friendship I have recourse in straits. +The question is still Peace, Madam; and were not the object of my +importunities so beautiful, Madam, I should be inexcusable."--Goes then +into practical considerations, about "Cocceji" (King's Aide-de-Camp, +once Keith's, who carries this Letter), about a "Herr von Edelsheim," +a "Bailli de Froulay", and the possible "Conditions of Peace,"--not of +consequence to us just now. [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ xviii. 174, 173, +172. Correspondence on this subject lasts from 22d September, 1759, to +8th May, 1760: IB. pp. 170-186. In that final Letter of 8th May is the +phrase, hardly worth restoring to its real ownership, though the context +considerably redeems it there,--"the prejudice I can't get rid of, that, +in war, DIEU EST POUR LES GROS ESCADRONS."] + +As to Voltaire again, and the new Friedrich-Voltaire Style of +Correspondence, something more of detail will be requisite. Ever since +the black days of 1757, when poor Wilhelmina, with Rossbach and Leuthen +still hidden from her in a future gloomy as death, desperately brought +Voltaire to bear upon Cardinal Tencin in this matter, without success, +there has been a kind of regular corresponding between Voltaire and +Friedrich; characteristic on both sides. A pair of Lovers hopelessly +estranged and divorced; and yet, in a sense, unique and priceless to one +another. The Past, full of heavenly radiances, which issued, alas, in +flames and sooty conflagrations as of Erebus,--let us forget it, and be +taught by it! The Past is painful, and has been too didactic to some +of us: but here still is the Present with its Future; better than blank +nothing. Pleasant to hear the sound of that divine voice of my loved +one, were it only in commonplace remarks on the weather,--perhaps +intermixed with secret gibings on myself:--let us hear it while we can, +amid those world-wide crashing discords and piping whirlwinds of war. + +Friedrich sends his new Verses or light Proses, which he is ever and +anon throwing off; Voltaire sends his, mostly in print, and of more +elaborate turn: they talk on matters that are passing round them, round +this King, the centre of them,--Friedrich usually in a rather swaggering +way (lest his Correspondent think of blabbing), and always with +something of banter audible in him;--as has Voltaire too, but in a finer +TREBLE tone, being always female in this pretty duet of parted lovers. +It rarely comes to any scolding between them; but there is or can be +nothing of cordiality. Nothing, except in the mutual admiration, which +one perceives to be sincere on both sides; and also, in the mutual +practical estrangement: "Nothing more of you,--especially of YOU, +Madam,--as a practical domestic article!" + +After long reading, with Historical views, in this final section of the +Friedrich-Voltaire Correspondence, at first so barren otherwise and of +little entertainment, one finds that this too, when once you CAN "read" +it (that is to say, when the scene and its details are visible to +you), becomes highly dramatic, Shakspearean-comic or more, for this +is Nature's self, who far excels even Shakspeare;--and that the +inextricably dark condition of these Letters is a real loss to the +ingenuous reader, and especially to the student of Friedrich. Among the +frequently recurring topics, one that oftenest turns up on Voltaire's +side is that of Peace: Oh, if your Majesty would but make Peace! Does it +depend on me? thinks Friedrich always; and is, at last, once provoked to +say so:-- + + +FRIEDRICH TO VOLTAIRE. + +"REICH-HENNERSDORF, 2d July, 1759, [shortly before Schmottseifen, while +waiting Daun's slow movements]. + +"Asking ME for Peace: there is a bitter joke!--[In verse, this; flings +off a handful of crackers on the BIEN-AIME, whose Chamberlain you are, +on the HONGROISE QUI'IL ADORE, on the Russian QUE J'ABHORRE;--then +continues in prose]: + +"It is to him," the Well-beloved Louis, "that you must address +yourself, or to his Amboise in Petticoats [his Pompadour, acting the +Cardinal-Premier on this occasion]. But these people have their heads +filled with ambitious projects: these people are the difficulty; they +wish to be the sovereign arbiters of sovereigns;--and that is what +persons of my way of thinking will by no means put up with. I love +Peace quite as much as you could wish; but I want it good, solid and +honorable. Socrates or Plato would have thought as I do on this subject, +had they found themselves placed in the accursed position which is now +mine in the world. + +"Think you there is any pleasure in leading this dog of a life [CHIENNE, +she-dog]? In seeing and causing the butchery of people you know nothing +of; in losing daily those you do know and love; in seeing perpetually +your reputation exposed to the caprices of chance; in passing year after +year in disquietudes and apprehensions; in risking, without end, your +life and your fortune? + +"I know right well the value of tranquillity, the sweets of society, the +charms of life; and I love to be happy, as much as anybody whatever. But +much as I desire these blessings, I will not purchase them by basenesses +and infamies. Philosophy enjoins us to do our duty; faithfully to serve +our Country, at the price of our blood, of our repose, and of every +sacrifice that can be required of us. The illustrious ZADIG went through +a good many adventures which were not to his taste, CANDIDE the like; +and nevertheless took their misfortune in patience. What finer example +to follow than that of those heroes? + +"Take my word, our 'curt jackets,' as you call them [HABITS ECOURTES, +peculiar to the Prussian soldier at that time], are as good as your red +heels, as the Hungarian pelisses, and the green frocks of the Roxelans +[Russians]. We are actually on the heels of the latter [at least +poor Dohna is, and poor Dictator Wedell will be, not with the effect +anticipated!]--who by their stupidities give us fine chance. You will +see I shall get out of the scrape this Year too, and deliver myself +both from the Greens and the Dirty-Whites [Austrian color of coat]. +My neighbor of the Sacred Hat,--I think, in spite of Holy Father's +benediction, the Holy Ghost must have inspired him the reverse way; he +seems to have a great deal of lead in his bottom.... F." [_OEuvres de +Frederic,_ xxiii. 53.] + +VOLTAIRE IN ANSWER. + +"THE DELICES," guessed to be some time in "August, 1759." + +"In whatever state you are, it is very certain that you are a great +man. It is not to weary your Majesty that I now write; it is to confess +myself,--on condition you will give me absolution! I have betrayed you; +that is the fact"--(really guilty this time, and HAVE shown something of +your writing; as your Majesty, oh how unjustly, is often suspecting that +I do, and with mischievous intention, instead of good, ah, Sire!)--In +fact, I have received that fine "MARCUS-AURELIUS" Letter (Letter we have +just read); exquisite Piece, though with biting "JUVENAL" qualities in +it too; and have shown it, keeping back the biting parts, to a beautiful +gillflirt of the Court, MINAUDIERE (who seems to be a Mistress of +Choiseul's), who is here attending Tissot for her health: MINAUDIERE +charmed with it; insists on my sending to Choiseul, "He admires the King +of Prussia, as he does all nobleness and genius; send it!" And I did +so;--and look here, what an Answer from Choiseul (Answer lost): and +may it not have a fine effect, and perhaps bring Peace--Oh, forgive me, +Sire. But read that Note of the great man. "Try if you can decipher +his writing. One may have very honest sentiments, and a great deal of +ESPRIT, and yet write like a cat.... + +"Sire, there was once a lion and a mouse (RAT); the mouse fell in love +with the lion, and went to pay him court. The lion, tired of it, gave +him a little scrape with his paw. The mouse withdrew into his mouse-hole +(SOURICIERE); but he still loved the lion; and seeing one day a net they +were spreading out to catch the lion and kill him, he gnawed asunder one +mesh of it. Sire, the mouse kisses very humbly your beautiful claws, +in all submissiveness:--he will never die between two Capuchins, as, +at Bale, the mastiff (DOGUE) of St. Malo has done [27th July last]. He +would have wished to die beside his lion. Believe that the mouse was +more attached than the mastiff."--V. [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ xxiii. 59, +60.] + +To which we saw the Answer, pair of Answers, at Sagan, in September +last. This Note from Choiseul, conveyed by Voltaire, appears to have +been the trifling well-spring from which all those wide-spread waters +of Negotiation flowed. Pitt, when applied to, on the strength of +Friedrich's hopes from this small Document of Choiseul's, was of course +ready, "How welcome every chance of a just Peace!" and agreed to the +Joint Declaration at the Hague; and took what farther trouble I know +not,--probably less sanguine of success than Friedrich. Friedrich was +ardently industrious in the affair; had a great deal of devising and +directing on it, a great deal of corresponding with Voltaire and the +Duchess, only small fractions of which are now left. He searched out, or +the Duchess of Sachsen-Gotha did it for him, a proper Secret Messenger +for Paris: Secret Messenger, one Baron von Edelsheim, properly veiled, +was to consult a certain Bailli de Froulay, a friend of Friedrich's in +Paris;--which loyal-hearted Bailli did accordingly endeavor there; but +made out nothing. Only much vague talking; part of it, or most of it, +subdolous on Choiseul's side. Pitt would hear of no Peace which did +not include Prussia as well as England: some said this was the cause +of failure;--the real cause was that Choiseul never had any serious +intention of succeeding. Light Choiseul, a clever man, but an unwise, +of the sort called "dashing," had entertained the matter merely in the +optative form,--and when it came nearer, wished to use it for making +mischief between Pitt and Friedrich, and for worming out Edelsheim's +secrets, if he had any,--for which reason he finally threw Edelsheim +into the Bastille for a few days. [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ v. 38-41, +detailed account of the Affair.] + +About the end of March I guess it to have been that Choiseul, by way of +worming out poor Edelsheim's secrets, flung him into the Bastille for +a day or two. Already in December foregoing, we have seen Choiseul's +Black-Artist busy upon the Stolen EDITION of Friedrich's Verses. A +Choiseul full of intrigues; adroit enough, ambitious enough; restlessly +industrious in making mischief, if there were nothing else to be made; +who greatly disgusted Friedrich, now and afterwards. + +And this was what the grand Voltaire Pacification came to, though +it filled the world with temporary noise, and was so interesting to +Voltaire and another. What a heart-affecting generosity, humility and +dulcet pathos in that of the poor Mouse gnawing asunder a mesh of the +Lion's net! There is a good deal of that throughout, on the Voltaire +side,--that is to say, while writing to Friedrich. But while writing of +him, to third parties, sometimes almost simultaneously, the contrast +of styles is not a little startling; and the beautiful affectionately +chirping Mouse is seen suddenly to be an injured Wild-cat with its fur +up. All readers of Voltaire are aware of this; and how Voltaire handles +his "LUC" (mysterious nickname for KING FRIEDRICH ), when Luc's back is +turned. For alas, there is no man or thing but has its wrong side too; +least of all, a Voltaire,--doing TREBLE voice withal, if you consider +it, in such a Duet of estranged Lovers! Suppose we give these few +Specimens,--treble mostly, and a few of bass as well,--to illustrate +the nature of this Duet, and of the noises that went on round it, in a +war-convulsed world? And first of all, concerning the enigma "What is +Luc?" + +What the LUC in Voltaire is? Shocking explanations have been hit +upon: but Wagniere (WAGNER, an intelligent Swiss man), Voltaire's old +Secretary, gives this plain reading of the riddle: "M. de Voltaire had, +at The Delices [near by Ferney, till the Chateau got built], a big +Ape, of excessively mischievous turn; who used to throw stones at the +passers-by, and sometimes would attack with its teeth friend or foe +alike. One day it thrice over bit M. de Voltaire's own leg. He had +called it LUC (Luke); and in conversation with select friends, as also +in Letters to such, he sometimes designated the King of Prussia by that +nickname: 'HE is like my Luc here; bites whoever caresses him!'--In 1756 +M. de Voltaire, having still on his heart the Frankfurt Outrage, wrote +curious MEMOIRES [ah, yes, VIE PRIVEE]; and afterwards wished to burn +them; but a Copy had been stolen from him in 1768,"--and they still +afflict the poor world. + +To the same effect speaks Johannes von Muller: "Voltaire had an Ape +called Luc; and the spiteful man, in thus naming the King, meant to +stigmatize him as the mere APE of greater men; as one without any +greatness of his own."--No; LUC was mischievous, flung stones after +passengers; had, according to Clogenson, "bitten Voltaire himself, while +being caressed by him;" that was the analogy in Voltaire's mind. Preuss +says, this Nickname first occurs "12th December, 1757." Suppose 11th +December to have been the day of getting one's leg bitten thrice over; +and that, in bed next morning,--stiff, smarting, fretful against the sad +ape-tricks and offences of this life,--before getting up to one's Works +and Correspondences, the angry similitude had shot, slightly fulgurous +and consolatory, athwart the gloom of one's mood? [Longchamp et Wagniere +_Memoires,_ i. 34; Johannes von Muller, _Works _ (12mo, Stuttgard, +1821), xxxi. 140 (LETTERS TO HIS BROTHER, No, 218, "July, 1796"); +Clogenson's Note, in _OEuvres de Voltaire,_ lxxvii. 103; Preuss, ii. +71.] That will account for Luc. + +Many of the Voltaire-Friedrich LETTERS are lost; and the remainder +lie in sad disorder in all the Editions, their sequence unintelligible +without lengthy explanation. So that the following Snatches cannot well +be arranged here in the way of Choral Strophe and Antistrophe, as would +have been desirable. We shall have to group them loosely under heads; +with less respect to date than to subject-matter, and to the reader's +convenience for understanding them. + + +VOLTAIRE ON FRIEDRICH, TO DIFFERENT THIRD-PARTIES, DURING THIS WAR. + +TO D'ARGENTAL (Has not yet heard of LEUTHEN, which happened five days +before).... "I have tasted the vengeance of consoling the King of +Prussia, and that is enough for me. He goes beating on the one side, and +getting beaten on the other: except for another miracle [like Rossbach], +he will be ruined. Better have really been a philosopher, as he +pretended to be." [_OEuvres de Voltaire,_ lxvii. 139 ("The Delices, 10th +December, 1757").] + +TO THE REVEREND COMTE DE BERNIS (outwardly still our flourishing +Prime-Minister, by grace of Pompadour, but soon to be extinguished under +a Red Hat. Date is six days before ZORNDORF).... "I cannot imagine +how some people have gone into suspecting that my heart might have the +weakness to lean a little towards WHOM you know, towards my Ingrate that +was! One is bound to have politeness; but one has memory as well;--and +one is attached, as warmly as superfluously, to the Good Cause, which +it belongs only to you to defend. Certain it is, poor I am not like the +three-fourths of the Germans in these days [since ROSSBACH, above all]! +I have everywhere seen Ladies'-fans with the Prussian Eagle painted on +them, eating the FLEUR-DE-LIS; the Hanover Horse giving a kick to M. +de Richelieu's bottom; a Courier carrying a bottle of Queen-of-Hungary +Water to Madame de Pompadour. My Nieces shall certainly not have +that fashion of Fans, at my poor little DELICES, whither I am just +returning." [Ib. lxxvii. 35 ("Soleure, 19th August, 1758").] + +TO MADAME D'ARGENTAL (on occasion of MINDEN: Kunersdorf three days ago, +but not yet heard of).... "Truly, Madame, when M. de Contades leads to +the butchery all the descendants of our ancient chevaliers, and sets +them to attack eighty pieces of cannon [not in the least, if you knew +it; the reverse, if you knew it],--as Don Quixote did the windmills! +This horrible day pierces my soul. I am French to excess, especially +since those new favors [not worth mentioning here], which I owe to my +divine Angels and to M. le Duc de Choiseul. + +"Luc--you know who Luc is [as do we]--is probably giving Battle to the +Austrians and Russians [KUNERSDORF, 12th; three days ago, did it, +and was beaten to your mind], at the moment while I have the honor of +writing to you; at least, he told me such was his Royal intention. If +they beat him, as may happen, what a shame for us to have been beaten by +the Duke of Brunswick! I wish you knew this Duke [as I have done; a Duke +of no ESPRIT, no gift of tongue, in fact no talent at all that I could +discern], you would be much astonished; and would say, 'The people whom +he beats must be great blockheads.' The truth of the fact is, that all +these troops are better disciplined than ours:" [_OEuvres de Voltaire,_ +lxxviii, 186, 187 ("Delices, 15th August, 1759").]--Yes indeed, my +esteemed Voltaire; and also, perhaps, that ESPRIT, or gift of tongue, is +not the sole gift for Battles and Campaigns?-- + +TO D'ARGENTAL (seventh day after KUNERSDORF: "mouse upon lion's net" +nearly contemporaneous). "At last, then, I think my Russians must be +near Great Glogau [might have been, one thinks, after such a Kunersdorf; +did not start for a month yet; never could get very near at all]. Who +would have thought that Barberina [Mackenzie's Dancer once; sent to +Glogau, Cocceji and she, when their marriage became public] was going to +be besieged by the Russians, and in Glogau: O Destiny!-- + +"I don't love Luc, far from it: I never will pardon him his infamous +procedure with my Niece [at Frankfurt that time]; nor the face he has to +write me flattering things twice a month; without having ever repaired +his wrongs. I desire much his entire humiliation, the chastisement of +the sinner; whether his eternal damnation. I don't quite know." [Ib. +lxxviii. 195 ("19th August, 1759").] (Hear, hear!) + +TO THE SAME (a month after MAXEN: "Peace" Negotiation very lively). ... +"Meanwhile, if Luc could be punished before this happy Peace! If, by +this last stroke of General Beck [tussle with Dierecke at Meissen, 4th +December, capture of Dierecke and 1,500; stroke not of an overwhelming +nature, but let us be thankful for our mercies], which has opened the +road from the Lausitz to Berlin [alas, not in the least], some Haddick +could pay Berlin a visit again! You see, in Tragedy I wish always to +have crime punished. + +"There is talk of a great Battle fought the 6th [not a word of truth in +it] between Luc and him of the Consecrated Hat: said to have been very +murderous. I interest myself very much in this Piece" now playing under +the Sun. "Whenever the Austrians have any advantage, Kaunitz says to +Madame de Bentinck [litigant wandering Lady, known to me at Berlin and +elsewhere], 'Write that to our Friend Voltaire.' Whenever Luc has the +least success, he tells me, 'I have battered the oppressors of mankind. +Dear Angel, in these horrors I am the only one that has room to +laugh:--and yet I don't laugh either; owing to the CULS-NOIRS [base +crockery; one's Dinner Plate all vanished [Supra, p. 374.]], to the +Annuities, Lotteries, and to Pondicherry,--for I am always afraid about +that latter!" (Going, that, for certain; going, gone, and your East +Indies along with it!) [_OEuvres de Voltaire,_ lxxviii. 346 ("22d +December, 1759").] + +TO PERPETUAL SECRETARY FORMEY (in forwarding a "Letter left with me"). +"Health and peace, Monsieur; and be SECRETAIRE ETERNEL. Your King is +always a man unique, astonishing, inimitable. He makes charming verses, +in times when another could not write a line of prose; he deserves to +be happy: but will he be so? And if not, what becomes of you? For my own +part, I will not die between two Capuchins. Hardly worth while, exalting +one's soul for such a future as that. What a stupid and detestable farce +this world is!" [Ib. lxxviii. 348 (from SOUVENIRS D'UN CITOYEN, i. 302), +"11th January 1760."] + +TO D'ARGENTAL ("Peace" Negotiations still at their briskest),... "But, +my dear Angel, you will see on Tuesday the great man who has turned my +head (DONT JE SUIS FOU), M. le Duc de Choiseul. The Letters he honors +me with enchant me. God will bless him, don't doubt it,"--after all! "We +have at Pondicherry a Lally, a devil of an Irish spirit,--who will cost +me, sooner or later, above 20,000 livres annually [have rents in our +INDIA COMPANY, say 1,000 pounds a year, as my Angels know], which used +to be the readiest item of my Pittance. But M. le Duc de Choiseul will +triumph over Luc in one way or other; then what joy! I suppose he shows +you my impertinent reveries. Do you know, Luc is so mad, that I don't +despair of bringing him to reason [persuading him to give up Cleve, and +knuckle as he should, in this Peace Affair]. That were what I should +call the true Comedy! I should like to have your advices on the +conduct of that Dramatic Piece." [_OEuvres de Voltaire,_ lxxviii. 375 +("Delices, 15th February, 1760").] + +The late "mouse" gnawing its mesh of net, what a subtle and mighty +hunter has it grown! This of Cleve, however, and of knuckling, would +not do. Hear the stiff Answer that comes: "'Conditions of Peace,' do you +call them? The people that propose such can have no wish to see Peace. +What a logic theirs! 'I might yield the Country of Cleve, because the +inhabitants are stupid'! What would your Ministers say if one required +the Province of Champagne from them, because the Proverb says, +Ninety-nine sheep and one Champagner make a Hundred head of cattle?" +[Friedrich to Voltaire, "Freyberg, 3d April, 1760:" _OEuvres de +Frederic,_ xxiii. 73, 74.] + +AGAIN TO D'ARGENTAL (three or four months after; Luc having proved +obstinate, and still unsuccessful).... "I conjure you make use of all +your eloquence to tell him [the supreme Duc de Choiseul], that if Luc +misgo, it will be no misfortune to France. That Brandenburg will always +remain an Electorate; that it is good there be no Elector in it strong +enough to do without the protection of our King; and that all the +Princes of the Empire will always have recourse to that august +protection Most Christian Majesty's] CONTRA L'AQUILA GRIFAGNA,--were +the Prussian Kingship but abolished. Nota bene, if Luc were discomfited +this Year, we should have Peace next Winter." [_OEuvres de Voltaire,_ +lxxix. 110 ("July, 1760").] + +TO SUPREME CHOISEUL (a year later).... "He has been a bad man, this Luc; +and now, if one were to bet,--by the law of probability it would be 3 +to 1 that Luc will go to pot (SERA PERDU), with his rhymings and his +banterings, and his injustices and politics, all as bad as himself." +[Ib. lxxx. 313 ("Chateau de Ferney, 13th July, 1761").] + + +VOLTAIRE ON SURROUNDING OBJECTS, CHIEFLY ON MAUPERTUIS, AND THE BATTLES. + +TO D'ALEMBERT (in the Rossbach-Leuthen interval: on the Battle of +BRESLAU, 22d November, 1757; called by the Austrians "a Malplaquet," and +believed by Voltaire to be a Malplaquet and more). ... "The Austrians +do avenge us, and humble us [us, and our miserable Rossbachs], in a +terrible manner. Thirteen attacks on the Prussian intrenchments, lasted +six hours; never was Victory bloodier, or more horribly beautiful +[in the brain of certain men]. We pretty French fellows, we are more +expeditious, our job is done in five minutes. The King of Prussia is +always writing me Verses, now like a desperado, now like a hero; and +as for me, I try to live like a philosopher in my hermitage. He has +obtained what he always wished: to beat the French, to be admired by +them, to mock them; but the Austrians are mocking him in a very serious +way. Our shame of November 5th has given him glory; and with such glory, +which is but transient and dearly bought, he must content himself. He +will lose his own Countries, with those he has seized, unless the French +again discover [which they will] the secret of losing all their Armies, +as they did in 1741." [Ib. Lxxvii. 133, 134 ("Delices, 6th December, +1757," day after Leuthen).] + + +TO CLAIRAUT, THE MATHEMATICIAN (Maupertuis lately dead). An excellent +Treatise, this you have sent me, Monsieur! "Your war with the Geometers +on the subject of this Comet appears to me like a war of the gods in +Olympus, while on Earth there is going on a fight of dogs and cats.... +Would to Heaven our friend Moreau-Maupertuis had cultivated his art +like you! That he had predicted comets, instead of exalting his soul +to predict the future; of dissecting the brains of giants to know the +nature of the soul; of japanning people with pitch to cure them of every +malady; of persecuting Konig; and of dying between Two Capuchins" (dead +three weeks ago, on those terms, poor soul)! [_OEuvres de Voltaire,_ +lxxviii. 191 ("Delices, 19th August, 1759").] + +TO D'ALEMBERT (a week later).... "What say you of Maupertuis dying +between Two Capuchins! He was ill, this long while, of a repletion of +pride; but I had not reckoned him either a hypocrite or an imbecile. +I don't advise you ever to go and fill his place at Berlin; you would +repent that. I am Astolpho warning Roger (Ruggiero) not to trust himself +to the Enchantress Alcina; but Roger was unadvisable." [Ib. lxxviii. 197 +("Delices, 25th August, 1759").] + +TO THE SAME (two years later: Luc, on certain grounds, may as well +be saved). "With regard to Luc, though I have my just causes of anger +against him, I own to you, in my quality of Frenchman and thinking +being, I am glad that a certain most Orthodox House has not swallowed +Germany, and that the Jesuits are not confessing in Berlin. Over towards +the Danube superstition is very powerful.... The INFAME--You are +well aware that I speak of superstition only; for as to the Christian +religion, I respect and love it, like you. Courage, Brethren! Preach +with force, and write with address: God will bless you.--Protect, you +my Brother, the Widow Calas all you can! She is a poor weak-minded +Huguenot, but her Husband was the victim of the WHITE PENITENTS. It +is the concern of Human Nature that the Fanatics of Toulouse be +confounded." (The case of Calas, SECOND act of it, getting on the +scene: a case still memorable to everybody. Stupendous bit of French +judicature; and Voltaire's noblest outburst, into mere transcendent +blaze of pity, virtuous wrath, and determination to bring rescue and +help against the whole world.) [_OEuvres de Voltaire,_ lxxviii. 52, 53 +("Ferney, 28th November, 1762").] + + +FRIEDRICH TO VOLTAIRE, BEFORE AND DURING THESE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. + +AT SCHMOTTSEIFEN, FIVE DAYS BEFORE ZULLICHAU, TEN DAYS BEFORE THAT HUNT +OF LOUDON AND HADDICK (Voltaire, under rebuke for indiscretion, has been +whimpering a little. My discreet Niece burnt those LAST verses, Sire; +no danger there, at least! Truculent Bishop Something-AC tried to attack +your Majesty; but was done for by a certain person). Friedrich answers: +"In truth, you are a singular creature. When I think of scolding you, +you say two words, and the reproach expires. Impossible to scold you, +even when you deserve it.... + +"As to your Niece, let her burn me or roast me, I care little. Nor are +you to think me so sensitive to what your Bishops in IC or in AC may +say of me. I have the lot of all actors who play in public; applauded +by some, despised by others. One must prepare oneself for satires, +for calumnies, for a multitude of lies, which will be sent abroad into +currency against one: but need that trouble my tranquillity? I go my +road; I do nothing against the interior voice of my conscience; and I +concern myself very little in what way my actions paint themselves in +the brain of beings, not always very thinking, with two legs and without +feathers." ["Schmottseifen, 18th July, 1759;" _OEuvres de Frederic,_ +xxiii. 55, 56.] + +AT WILSDRUF, JUST BEFORE MAXEN (an exultant exuberant curious Letter; +too long for insertion,--part of it given above).... "For your Tragedy +of SOCRATE, thanks. At Paris they are going to burn it, the wretched +fools,--not aware that absurd fanaticism is their dominant vice. Better +burn the dose of medicine, however, than the useful Doctor. I, can I +join myself to that set? If I bite you, as you complain, it is without +my knowledge. But I am surrounded with enemies, one hitting me, another +pricking me, another daubing me with mud;--patience at last yields, and +one flies abroad into a general rage, too indiscriminate perhaps." + +You talk of my Verses on Rossbach (my ADIEU TO THE HOOPERS on finding +their Bridge burnt [Supra, p. 21.]). "This Campaign I have had no +beatific vision, in the style of Moses. The barbarous Cossacks and +Tartars, infamous to look at on any side, have burnt and ravaged +countries, and committed atrocious inhumanities. This is all I saw of +THEM. Such melancholy spectacles don't tend to raise one's spirits. +[Breaks off into metre:] LA FORTUNE INCONSTANTE ET FIERE, Fortune +inconstant and proud. Does not treat her suitors Always in an equal +manner. Those fools called heroes, who run the country, + + Ces fous nommes heros, et qui courent les champs, + Couverts de sang et de poussiere, + Voltaire, n'ont pas tous les ans + La faceur de voir le derriere + De leurs ennemis insolents. + +Can't expect that pleasure every year"!... + +Maupertuis, say you? "Don't trouble the ashes of the dead; let the grave +at least put an end to your unjust hatreds. Reflect that even Kings make +peace after long battling; cannot you ever make it? I think you would +be capable, like Orpheus, of descending to Hell, not to soften Pluto and +bring back your beautiful Emilie, but to pursue into that Abode of Woe +an enemy whom your wrath has only too much persecuted in the world: for +shame!" [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ xxiii. 61-65 ("Wilsdruf, 17th November, +1759").]--and rebukes him, more than once elsewhere, in very serious +terms. + +IN WINTER-QUARTERS, ON PEACE AND THE STOLEN EDITION. (Starts in verse, +which we abridge:) With how many laurels you have covered yourself in +all the fields of Literature! One laurel yet is wanting to the brow +of Voltaire. If, as the crown of so many perfect works, he could by a +skilful manoeuvre bring back Peace, I, and Europe with me, would think +that his masterpiece! [Takes to prose:] + +"This is my thought and all Europe's. Virgil made as fine Verses as you; +but he never made a Peace. It will be a distinction you will have over +all your brethren of Parnassus, if you succeed. + +"I know not who has betrayed me, and thought of printing [the +EDITION;--not you, surely!] a pack of rhapsodies which were good enough +to amuse myself, but were never meant for publication. After all, I +am so used to treacheries and bad manoeuvres,"--what matters this +insignificant one? + +"I know not who the Bredow is [whom you speak of having met]; but he has +told you true. The sword and death have made frightful ravages among +us. And the worst is, we are not yet at the end of the tragedy. You may +judge what effect these cruel shocks made on me. I wrap myself in my +stoicism, the best I can. Flesh and blood revolt against such tyrannous +command; but it must be followed. If you saw me, you would scarcely know +me again: I am old, broken, gray-headed, wrinkled; I am losing my teeth +and my gayety: if this go on, there will be nothing of me left, but the +mania of making verses, and an inviolable attachment to my duties and +to the few virtuous men whom I know." [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ xxiii. 69 +("Freyberg, 24th Feb. 1760").] + +IN WINTER-QUARTERS, A MONTH LATER (comes still on "Peace" again). ... +"I will have you paid that bit of debt [perhaps of postage or the like], +that Louis of the Mill (Louis du Moulin," at Fontenoy, who got upon a +Windmill with his Dauphin, and caught that nickname from the common men) +"may have wherewithal to make war on me. Add tenth-penny tax to your tax +of twentieth-penny; impose new capitations, make titular offices to get +money; do, in a word, whatever you like. In spite of all your efforts, +you will not get a Peace signed by my hands, except on conditions +honorable to my Nation. Your people, blown up with self-conceit and +folly, may depend on these words. Adieu, live happy; and while you make +all your efforts to destroy Prussia, think that nobody has less deserved +it than I, either of you or of your French." [Ib. xxiii. 72 ("Freyberg, +20th March, 1760").] + +STILL IN WINTER-QUARTERS (on "Peace" still; but begins with +"Maupertuis," which is all we will give). "What rage animates you +against Maupertuis? You accuse HIM of having published that Furtive +EDITION. Know that his Copy, well sealed by him, arrived here after his +death, and that he was incapable of such an indiscretion. [Breaks into +verse:] + + Leave in peace the cold ashes of Maupertuis: + Truth can defend him, and will. + His soul was faithful and noble: + He pardoned you that scandalous Akakia (CE VIL LIBELLE + QUE VOTRE FUREUR CRIMINELLE + PRIT SOIN CHEZ MOI DE GRIFFONER); he did:-- + And you? Shame on such delirium as Voltaire's! + What, this beautiful, what, this grand genius, + Whom I admired with transport, + Soils himself with calumny, and is ferocious on the dead? + Flocking together, in the air uttering cries of joy, + Vile ravens pounce down upon sepulchres, + And make their prey of corpses:"-- + +Blush, repent, alas! + +These Specimens will suffice. "The King of Prussia?" Voltaire would +sometimes say: "He is as potent and as malignant as the Devil; but he +is also as unhappy, not knowing friendship,"--having such a chance, too, +with some of us! + + + + +FRIEDRICH HAS SENT LORD MARISCHAL TO SPAIN: OTHER FOND HOPES OF +FRIEDRICH'S. + +In the beginning of this Year, 1759, Earl Marischal had been called +out of his Neufchatel stagnancy, and launched into the Diplomatic field +again; sent on mission into Spain, namely. The case was this: Ferdinand +VI. of Spain (he who would not pay Friedrich the old Spanish debt, but +sent him merino rams, and a jar of Queen-Dowager snuff) had fallen into +one of his gloomy fits, and was thought to be dying;--did, in fact, +die, in a state nearly mad, on the 10th August following. By Treaty of +Aix-la-Chapelle, and by all manner of Treaties, Carlos of Naples, his +Half-Brother (Termagant's Baby Carlos, whom we all knew), was to succeed +him in Spain; Don Philip, the next Brother, now of Parma and Piacenza, +was to follow as King in Naples,--ceding those two litigious Duchies to +Austria, after all. Friedrich, vividly awake to every chance, foresaw, +in case of such disjunctures in Italy, good likelihood of quarrel there. +And has despatched the experienced old Marischal to be on the ground, +and have his eyes open. Marischal knows Spain very well; and has often +said, "He left a dear old friend there, the Sun." Marischal was under +way, about New-year's time; but lingered by the road, waiting how +Ferdinand would turn,--and having withal an important business of his +own, as he sauntered on. Did not arrive, I think, till Summer was at +hand, and his dear Old Friend coming out in vigor. + +August 10th, 1759, Ferdinand died; and the same day Carlos became King +of Spain. But, instead of giving Naples to Don Philip, Carlos gave it +to a junior Son of his own; and left poor Philip to content himself with +Parma and Piacenza, as heretofore. Clear against the rights of Austria; +Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle is perfectly explicit on that point! Will +not Austria vindicate its claim? Politicians say, Austria might have +recovered not only Parma and Piacenza, but the kingdom of Naples +itself,--no France at present able to hinder it, no Spain ever able. But +Austria, contrary to expectation, would not: a Country tenacious enough +of its rights, real and imaginary; greedy enough of Italy, but of +Silesia much more! The matter was deliberated in Council at Vienna; but +the result was magnanimously, No. "Finish this Friedrich first; finish +this Silesia. Nothing else till that!" + +The Marischal's legationary function, therefore, proved a sinecure; +no Carlos needing Anti-Austrian assistance from Friedrich or another; +Austria magnanimously having let him alone. Doubtless a considerable +disappointment to Friedrich. Industrious Friedrich had tried, on +the other side of this affair, Whether the King of Sardinia, once +an adventurous fighting kind of man, could not be stirred up, having +interests involved? But no; he too, grown old, devotional, apprehensive, +held by his rosaries, and answered, No. Here is again a hope reasonable +to look at, but which proves fallacious. + +Marischal continued in Spain, corresponding, sending news (the Prussian +Archives alone know what), for nearly a couple of years. [Returned +"April, 1762" (Friedrich's Letter to him, "10th April, 1762:" in +_OEuvres de Frederic,_ xx. 285).] His Embassy had one effect, which is +of interest to us here. On his way out, he had gone by London, with a +view of getting legal absolution for his Jacobitism,--so far, at least, +as to be able to inherit the Earldom of Kintore, which is likely to +fall vacant soon. By blood it is his, were the Jacobite incapacities +withdrawn. Kintore is a cadet branch of the Keiths; "John, younger Son +of William Sixth Lord Marischal," was the first Kintore. William Sixth's +younger Son, yes;--and William's Father, a man always venerable to me, +had (A.D. 1593) founded Marischal College, Aberdeen,--where, for a +few, in those stern granite Countries, the Diviner Pursuits are still +possible (thank God and this Keith) on frugal oatmeal. MARISCHAL-COLLEGE +Keith, or FIFTH Lord Marischal, was grandfather's grandfather of our +Potsdam Friend, who is tenth and last. [Douglas's _Scotch Peerage,_ +pp. 448 et seq., 387 et seq.] Honor to the brave and noble, now fallen +silent under foot NOT of the nobler! In a word, the fourth Kintore was +about dying childless; and Marischal had come by London on that heritage +business. + +He carried, naturally, the best recommendations. Britannic Majesty, Pitt +and everybody met him with welcome and furtherance; what he wished was +done, and in such a style of promptness and cordiality, Pitt pushing +it through, as quite gained the heart of old Marischal. And it is +not doubted, though particulars have not been published, That he sent +important Spanish notices to Pitt, in these years;-and especially +informed him that King Carlos and the French Bourbon had signed a FAMILY +COMPACT (15th August, 1761), or solemn covenant, to stand by one another +as brothers. Which was thenceforth, to Pitt privately, an important +fact, as perhaps we shall see; though to other men it was still only a +painful rumor and dubiety. Whether the old Marischal informed him, That +King Carlos hated the English; that he never had, in his royal mind, +forgiven that insult of Commodore Martin's (watch laid on the table, in +the Bay of Naples, long ago), I do not know; but that also was a fact. A +diligent, indignant kind of man, this Carlos, I am told; by no means an +undeserving King of Spain, though his Portraits declare him an ugly: +we will leave him in the discreet Marischal's hands, with the dear Old +Friend shining equally on both. + +Singular to see how, in so veracious an intellect as Friedrich's, so +many fallacies of hope are constantly entertained. War in Italy, on +quarrel with King Carlos; Peace with France and the Pompadour, by help +of Edelsheim and the Bailli de Froulay; Peace with Russia and the INFAME +CATIN, by help of English briberies (Friedrich sent an agent this winter +with plenty of English guineas, but he got no farther than the Frontier, +not allowed even to try): sometimes, as again this winter, it is hope of +Denmark joining him (in alarm against the Russian views on Holstein; but +that, too, comes to nothing); above all, there is perennially, budding +out yearly, the brighter after every disappointment, a hope in the +Grand Turk and his adherencies. Grand Turk, or failing him, the Cham of +Tartary,--for certain, some of these will be got to fasten on the heels +of Austria, of Russia; and create a favorable diversion? Friedrich took +an immense deal of trouble about this latter hope. It is almost pathetic +to see with what a fond tenacity he clings to it; and hopes it over +again, every new Spring and Summer. [Preuss, ii. 121 et seq., 292 &c.; +Schoning, ii. iii. PASSIM.] + +The hope that an INFAME CATIN might die some day (for she is now deep +in chaotic ailments, deepish even in brandy) seems never to have +struck him; at least there is nowhere any articulate hint of it,--the +eagle-flight of one's imagination soaring far above such a pettiness! +Hope is very beautiful; and even fallacious hope, in such a Friedrich. +The one hope that did not deceive him, was hope in his own best exertion +to the very death; and no fallacy ever for a moment slackened him in +that. Stand to thyself: in the wide domain of Imagination, there is no +other certainty of help. No other certainty;--and yet who knows through +what pettinesses Heaven may send help! + + + + +Chapter IX.--PRELIMINARIES TO A FIFTH CAMPAIGN. + +It was April 25th before Friedrich quitted Freyberg, and took Camp; not +till the middle of June that anything of serious Movement came. Much +discouragement prevails in his Army, we hear: and indeed, it must +be owned, the horoscope of these Campaigns grows yearly darker. Only +Friedrich himself must not be discouraged! Nor is;--though there seldom +lay ahead of any man a more dangerous-looking Year than this that is +now dimly shaping itself to Friedrich. His fortune seems to have quitted +him; his enemies are more confident than ever. + +This Year, it seems, they have bethought them of a new device against +him. "We have 90 million Population," count they; "he has hardly 5; in +the end, he must run out of men! Let us cease exchanging prisoners with +him." At Jagerndorf, in April, 1758 (just before our march to Olmutz), +there had been exchange; not without haggles; but this was the last on +Austria's part. Cartel of the usual kind, values punctually settled: a +Field-marshal is worth 3,000 common men, or 1,500 pounds; Colonel worth +130 men, or 65 pounds; common man is worth 10s. sterling, not a high +figure. [Archenholtz, ii. 53.] The Russians haggled still more, no +keeping of them to their word; but they tried it a second time, last +year (October, 1759); and by careful urging and guiding, were got +dragged through it, and the prisoners on both sides sent to their colors +again. After which, it was a settled line of policy, "No more exchanging +or cartelling; we will starve him out in that article!" And had +Friedrich had nothing but his own 5 millions to go upon, though these +contributed liberally, he had in truth been starved out. Nor could +Saxony, with Mecklenburg, Anhalt, Erfurt, and their 10,000 men a year, +have supplied him,--"had not there," says Archenholtz (a man rather fond +of superlatives),-- + +"Had not there risen a Recruiting system," or Crimping system, "the +like of which for kind and degree was never seen in the Earth before. +Prisoners, captive soldiers, if at all likely fellows, were by +every means persuaded, and even compelled, to take Prussian +service. Compelled, cudgel in hand," says Archenholtz (who is too +indiscriminating, I can see,--for there were Pfalzers, Wurtembergers, +Reichsfolk, who had FIRST been compelled the other way): "not asked if +they wished to serve, but dragged to the Prussian colors, obliged to +swear there, and fight against, their countrymen." Say at least, +against their countrymen's Governors, contumacious Serene Highnesses of +Wurtemberg, Mecklenburg and the like. Wurtemberg, we mentioned lately, +had to shoot a good few of his first levy against the Protestant +Champion, before they would march at all!--I am sorry for these poor +men; and wish the Reich had been what it once was, a Veracity and +Practical Reality, not an Imaginary Entity and hideously contemptible +Wiggery, as it now is! Contemptible, and hideous as well;--setting +itself up on that, fundamental mendacity; which is eternally tragical, +though little regarded in these days, and which entails mendacities +without end on parties concerned!--But, apart from all this, certain it +is, + +"The whole German Reich was deluged with secret Prussian Enlisters. +The greater part of these were not actual Officers at all, but hungry +Adventurers, who had been bargained with, and who, for their own profit, +allowed themselves every imaginable art to pick up men. Head and centre +of them was the Prussian Colonel Colignon," one of the Free-Corps +people; "a man formed by nature for this business [what a beautiful +man!]--who gave all the others their directions, and taught them by his +own example. Colignon himself," in winter-time, "travelled about in all +manner of costumes and characters; persuading hundreds of people +into the Prussian service. He not only promised Commissions, but gave +such,--nominating loose young fellows (LAFFEN), students, merchants' +clerks and the like, to Lieutenancies and Captaincies in the Prussian +Army [about as likely as in the Seraphim and Cherubim, had they known +it]: in the Infantry, in the Cuirassiers, in the Hussars,--it is all +one, you have only to choose. The renown of the Prussian arms was so +universal, and combined with the notion of rich booty, that Colignon's +Commission-manufactory was continually busy. No need to provide +marching-money, hand-money [shillings for earnest]; Colignon's recruits +travelled mostly of will and at their own charge. In Franken, in +Schwaben, in the Rhine Countries, a dissolute son would rob his +father,--as shopmen their masters' tills, and managers their +cash-boxes,--and hie off to those magnanimous Prussian Officials, who +gave away companies like kreutzers, and had a value for young fellows +of spirit. They hastened to Magdeburg with their Commissions; where they +were received as common recruits, and put by force into the regiments +suitable. No use in resisting: the cudgel and the drill-sergeant,"--who +doubts it?--"till complete submission. By this and other methods +Colignon and his helpers are reckoned to have raised for the King, in +the course of this War, about 60,000 recruits." [Archenholtz, ii. 53.] + +This Year, Daun, though his reputation is on the decline lately, is to +have the chief command, as usual; the Grand Army, with Saxony for field +of conquest, and the Reichsfolk to assist, is to be Daun's. But, what is +reckoned an important improvement, Loudon is to have a separate command, +and Army of his own. Loudon, hot of temper, melancholic, shy, is not a +man to recommend himself to Kriegshofrath people; but no doubt Imperial +Majesty has had her own wise eye on him. His merits are so undeniable; +the need of some Commander NOT of the Cunctator type is become so very +pressing. "Army of Silesia, 50,000;" that is to be Loudon's, with +40,000 Russians to co-operate and unite themselves with Loudon; and +try actually for conquest of Silesia, this Year; while Daun, conquering +Saxony, keeps the King busy. + +At Petersburg, Versailles, Vienna, much planning there has been, and +arduous consulting: first at Petersburg, in time and in importance, +where Montalembert has again been very urgent in regard to those poor +Swedish people, and the getting of them turned to some kind of use: +"Stettin in conjunction with the Swedes; oh, listen to reason, and +take Stettin!" "Would not Dantzig by ourselves be the advisable thing?" +answers Soltikof: "Dantzig is an important Town, and the grand Baltic +Haven; and would be so convenient for our Preussen, since we have +determined to maintain that fine Conquest." So thinks Czarish Majesty, +as well as Soltikof, privately, though there are difficulties as to +Dantzig; and, in fine, except Colberg over again, there can be nothing +attempted of sieging thereabouts. A Siege of Colberg, however, there is +actually to be: Second Siege,--if perhaps it will prove luckier than +the First was, two years since? Naval Armament Swedish-Russian, +specific Land Armament wholly Russian, are to do this Second Siege, at a +favorable time; except by wishes, Soltikof will not be concerned in +it; nor, it is to be hoped, shall we,--in such pressure of haste as is +probably ahead for us. + +"Silesia would be the place for sieges!" say the Vienna people always; +and Imperial Majesty is very urgent; and tries all methods,--eloquence, +flatteries, bribes,--to bring Petersburg to that view. Which is at +last adopted; heartily by Czarish Majesty, ever ready for revenge on +Friedrich, the more fatal and the more direct, the better. Heartily +by her; not so heartily by Soltikof and her Army people, who know the +Austrian habits; and privately decide on NOT picking chestnuts from +the fire, while the other party's paws keep idle, and only his jaws are +ready. + +Of Small-War there is nothing or little to be said; indeed there occurs +almost none. Roving Cossack-Parties, under one Tottleben, whom we shall +hear of otherwise, infest Pommern, bickering with the Prussian posts +there; not ravaging as formerly, Tottleben being a civilized kind of +man. One of these called at the Castle of Schwedt, one day; found Prince +Eugen of Wurtemberg there (nearly recovered of his Kunersdorf +wounds), who is a Son-in-law of the House, married to a Daughter of +Schwedt;--ancestor of the now Russian Czars too, had anybody then known +it. Him these Cossacks carried off with them, a march or two; then, +taking his bond for a certain ransom, let him go. Bond and bondholder +being soon after captured by the Prussians, Eugen paid no ransom; so +that to us his adventure is without moment, though it then made some +noise among the Gazetteers. + +Two other little passages, and only two, we will mention; which have in +themselves a kind of memorability. First, that of General Czetteritz and +the MANUSCRIPT he lost. Of posts across the Elbe I find none mentionable +here, and believe there is none, except only Czetteritz's; who stands at +Cosdorf, well up towards Torgau Country, as sentry over Torgau and the +Towns there. On Czetteritz there was, in February, an attempt made +by the active General Beck, whom Daun had detached for that object. +Extremely successful, according to the Austrian Gazetteers; but in +reality amounting to as good as nothing:--Surprisal of Czetteritz's +first vedette, in the dawn of a misty February morning (February 21st, +1760); non-surprisal of his second, which did give fire and alarm, +whereupon debate; and Czetteritz springing into his saddle; retreat of +his people to rearward, with loss of 7 Officers and 200 prisoners;--but +ending in re-advance, with fresh force, a few hours after; [Seyfarth, +ii. 655.]--in repulse of Beck, in recovery of Cosdorf, and a general +state of AS-YOU-WERE in that part. A sputter of Post-War, not now worth +mentioning at all,--except only for one small circumstance: That in +the careering and swift ordering, such as there was, on the rear-guard +especially, Major-General Czetteritz's horse happened to fall; whereby +not only was the General taken prisoner, but his quarters got plundered, +and in his luggage,--what is the notable circumstance,--there was found +a small Manuscript, MILITAIRISCHE INSTRUKZION FUR DIE GENERALE, such +as every Prussian General has, and is bound to keep religiously +secret.[Stands now in _OEuvres de Frederic,_ xxviii. 3 et. seq.; was +finished (the revisal of it was), by the King, "2d April, 1748)" see +PREUSS, i. 478-480; and (_OEuvres de Frederic,_ xxviii. PREFACE, for +endless indistinct details about the translations and editions of it. +London Edition, 1818, calls itself the FIFTH.] This, carried to Daun's +head-quarters, was duly prized, copied; and in the course of a year came +to print, in many shapes and places; was translated into English, under +the Title, MILITARY INSTRUCTIONS BY THE KING OF PRUSSIA, in 1762 (and +again, hardly so WELL, in 1797); and still languidly circulates among +the studious of our soldiers. Not a little admired by some of them; and +unfortunately nearly all they seem to know of this greatest of modern +Soldiers. [See, for example, in _Life of General Sir Charles Napier, by +his Brother_ (London, 1857), iii. 365 and elsewhere,--one of the best +judges in the world expressing his joy and admiration on discovery +of Friedrich; discovery, if you read well, which amounts to these +INSTRUCTIONS, and no more.] + +Next, about a month after, we have something to report of Loudon from +Silesia, or rather of the Enemies he meets there; for it is not a +victorious thing. But it means a starting of the Campaign by an +Austrian invasion of Silesia; long before sieging time, while all these +Montalembert-Soltikof pleadings and counter-pleadings hang dubious at +Petersburg, and Loudon's "Silesian Army" is still only in a nascent or +theoretic state, and only Loudon himself is in a practical one. + +Friedrich has always Fouquet at Landshut, in charge of the Silesian +Frontier; whose outposts, under Goltz as head of these, stretch, by +Neisse, far eastward, through the Hills to utmost Mahren; Fouquet's own +head-quarter being generally Landshut, the main gate of the Country. +Fouquet, long since, rooted himself rather firmly into that important +post; has a beautiful ring of fortified Hills around Landshut; battery +crossing battery, girdling it with sure destruction, under an expert +Fouquet,--but would require 30,000 men to keep it, instead of 13,000, +which is Fouquet's allotment. Upon whom Loudon is fully intending a +stroke this Year. Fouquet, as we know, has strenuously managed to +keep ward there for a twelvemonth past; in spite, often enough, of +new violent invadings and attemptings (violent, miscellaneous, but +intermittent) by the Devilles and others;--and always under many +difficulties of his own, and vicissitudes in his employment: a +Fouquet coming and going, waxing and waning, according to the King's +necessities, and to the intermittency or constancy of pressures on +Landshut. Under Loudon, this Year, Fouquet will have harder times than +ever;--in the end, too hard! But will resist, judge how by the following +small sample:-- + +"Besides Fouquet and his 13,000," says my Note, "the Silesian Garrisons +are all vigilant, are or ought to be; and there are far eastward of +him, for guarding of the Jagerndorf-Troppau Border, some 4 or 6,000, +scattered about, under Lieutenant-General Goltz, in various Hill +Posts,--the chief Post of which, Goltz's own, is the little Town of +Neustadt, northward of Jagerndorf [where we have billeted in the +old Silesian Wars]: Goltz's Neustadt is the chief; and Leobschutz, +southwestward of it, under 'General Le Grand' [once the Major GRANT of +Kolin Battle, if readers remember him, "Your Majesty and I cannot take +the Battery ourselves!"] is probably the second in importance. Loudon, +cantoned along the Moravian side of the Border, perceives that he can +assemble 32,000 foot and horse; that the Prussians are 13,000 PLUS +6,000; that Silesia can be invaded with advantage, were the weather +come. And that, in any kind of weather, Goltz and his straggle of +posts might be swept into the interior, perhaps picked up and pocketed +altogether, if Loudon were sharp enough. Swept into the interior Goltz +was; by no means pocketed altogether, as he ought to have been! + +"MARCH 13th, 1760, Loudon orders general muster hereabouts for the 15th, +everybody to have two days, bread and forage; and warns Goltz, as bound +in honor: 'Excellenz, to-morrow is March 14th; to-morrow our pleasant +time of Truce is out,--the more the pity for both of us!' 'Yea, +my esteemed neighbor Excellenz!' answers Goltz, with the proper +compliments; but judges that his esteemed neighbor is intending mischief +almost immediately. Goltz instantly sends orders to all his posts: 'You, +Herr General Grant, you at Leobschutz, and all the rest of you, make +your packages; march without delay; rendezvous at Steinau and Upper +Glogau [far different from GREAT-Glogau], Neisse-ward; swift!' And would +have himself gone on the 14th, but could not,--his poor little Bakery +not being here, nor wagons for his baggages quite to be collected in a +moment,--and it was Saturday, 15th, 5 A.M., that Goltz appointed himself +to march. + +"The last time we saw General Goltz was on the Green of Bautzen, above +two years ago,--when he delivered that hard message to the King's +Brother and his party, 'You deserve to be tried by Court-martial, and +have your heads cut off!' He was of that sad Zittau business of the late +Prince of Prussia's,--Goltz, Winterfeld, Ziethen, Schmettau and others? +Winterfeld and the Prince are both dead; Schmettau is fallen into +disaster; Goltz is still in good esteem with the King. A stalwart, +swift, flinty kind of man, to judge by the Portraits of him; +considerable obstinacy, of a tacitly intelligent kind, in that steady +eye, in that droop of the eyebrows towards the strong cheek-bones; +plenty of sleeping fire in Lieutenant-General Goltz. + +"His principal force, on this occasion, is one Infantry Regiment; +REGIMENT MANTEUFFEL:--readers perhaps recollect that stout Pommern +Regiment, Manteuffel of Foot, and the little Dialogue it had with the +King himself, on the eve of Leuthen: 'Good-night, then, Fritz! To-morrow +all dead, or else the Enemy beaten.' Their conduct, I have heard, was +very shining at Leuthen, where everybody shone; and since then they +have been plunging about through the death-element in their old +rugged way,--and re-emerge here into definite view again, under +Lieutenant-General Goltz, issuing from the north end of Neustadt, in the +dim dawn of a cold spring morning, March 15th, 5 A.M.; weather latterly +very wet, as I learn. They intend Neisse-way, with their considerable +stock of baggage-wagons; a company of Dragoons is to help in escorting: +party perhaps about 2,000 in all. Goltz will have his difficulties this +day; and has calculated on them. And, indeed, at the first issuing, here +they already are. + +"Loudon, with about 5,000 horse,--four Regiments drawn up here, and +by and by with a fifth (happily not with the grenadiers, as he had +calculated, who are detained by broken bridges, waters all in flood +from the rain),--is waiting for him, at the very environs of Neustadt. +Loudon, by a trumpet, politely invites him to surrender, being so +outnumbered; Goltz, politely thanking, disregards it, and marches on: +Loudon escorting, in an ominous way; till, at Buchelsdorf, the fifth +Regiment (best in the Austrian service) is seen drawn out across the +highway, plainly intimating, No thoroughfare to Goltz and Pommern. +Loudon sends a second trumpet: 'Surrender prisoners; honorablest terms; +keep all your baggage: refuse, and you are cut down every man.' 'You +shall yourself hear the answer,' said Goltz. Goltz leads this second +trumpet to the front; and, in Pommern dialect, makes known what General +Loudon's proposal is. The Pommerners answer, as one man, a No of such +emphasis as I have never heard; in terms which are intensely vernacular, +it seems, and which do at this day astonish the foreign mind: 'We will +for him something, WIR WOLLEN IHM WAS--' But the powers of translation +and even of typography fail; and feeble paraphrase must give it: 'We +will for him SOMETHING INEFFABLE CONCOCT,' of a surprisingly contrary +kind! 'WIR WOLLEN IHM WAS' (with ineffable dissyllabic verb governing +it)! growled one indignant Pommerner; 'and it ran like file-fire along +the ranks,' says Archenholtz; everybody growling it, and bellowing +it, in fierce bass chorus, as the indubitable vote of Pommern in those +circumstances. + +"Loudon's trumpet withdrew. Pommern formed square round its baggage; +Loudon's 5,000 came thundering in, fit to break adamant; but met such +a storm of bullets from Pommern, they stopped about ten paces short, +in considerable amazement, and wheeled back. Tried it again, still +more amazement; the like a third time; every time in vain. After which, +Pommern took the road again, with vanguard, rearguard; and had peace for +certain miles,--Loudon gloomily following, for a new chance. How many +times Loudon tried again, and ever again, at good places, I forget,--say +six times in all. Between Siebenhufen and Steinau, in a dirty defile, +the jewel of the road for Loudon, who tried his very best there, one of +our wagons broke down; the few to rear of it, eighteen wagons and some +country carts, had to be left standing. Nothing more of Pommern was left +there or anywhere. Near Steinau there, Loudon gave it up as desperate, +and went his way. His loss, they say, was 300 killed, 500 wounded; +Pommern's was 35 killed, and above 100 left wounded or prisoners. One +of the stiffest day's works I have known: some twelve miles of march, in +every two an attack. Pommern has really concocted something surprising, +and kept its promise to Loudon! 'Thou knowest what the Pommerners can +do,' said they once to their own King. An obstinate, strong-boned, +heavy-browed people; not so stupid as you think. More or less of Jutish +or Anglish type; highly deficient in the graces of speech, and, I should +judge, with little call to Parliamentary Eloquence." [Preuss, ii. 241 +(incorrect in some small points); Archenholtz, ii. 61; Seyfarth, ii. +640, and _Beylagen,_ ii. 657-660; Tempelhof, iv. 8-10; in ANONYMOUS OF +HAMBURG (iv. 68) the Austrian account.] + +Friedrich is, this Year, considered by the generality of mankind, to be +ruined: "Lost 60,000 men last Campaign; was beaten twice; his luck is +done; what is to become of him?" say his enemies, and even the impartial +Gazetteer, with joy or sorrow. Among his own people there is gloom or +censure; hard commentaries on Maxen: "So self-willed, high, and deaf +to counsel from Prince Henri!" Henri himself, they say, is sullen; +threatening, as he often does, to resign "for want of health;" and as he +quite did, for a while, in the end of this Campaign, or interval between +this and next. + +Friedrich has, with incredible diligence, got together his finance +(copper in larger dose than ever, Jew Ephraim presiding as usual); and, +as if by art-magic, has on their feet 100,000 men against his enemy's +280,000. Some higher Officers are secretly in bad spirits; but the men +know nothing of discouragement. Friedrich proclaims to them at marching, +"For every cannon you capture, 100 ducats; for every flag, 50; for +every standard (cavalry flag), 40;"--which sums, as they fell due, +were accordingly paid thenceforth. [Stenzel, v. 236, 237; ib. 243.] But +Friedrich, too, is abundantly gloomy, if that could help him; which he +knows well it cannot, and strictly hides it from all but a few;--or all +but D'Argens almost alone, to whom it can do no harm. Read carefully by +the light of contemporary occurrences, not vaguely in the vacant +haze, as the Editors give it, his correspondence with D'Argens becomes +interesting almost to a painful degree: an unaffected picture of one +of the bravest human souls weighed down with dispiriting labors and +chagrins, such as were seldom laid on any man; almost beyond bearing, +but incurable, and demanding to be borne. Wilhelmina is away, away; to +D'Argens alone of mortals does he whisper of these things; and to him +not wearisomely, or with the least prolixity, but in short sharp gusts, +seldom now with any indignation, oftenest with a touch of humor in them, +not soliciting any sympathy, nor expecting nearly as much as he will get +from the faithful D'Argens. + +"I am unfortunate and old, dear Marquis; that is why they persecute +me: God knows what my future is to be this Year! I grieve to resemble +Cassandra with my prophecies; but how augur well of the desperate +situation we are in, and which goes on growing worse? I am so gloomy +to-day, I will cut short.... Write to me when you have nothing better +to do; and don't forget a poor Philosopher who, perhaps to expiate his +incredulity, is doomed to find his Purgatory in THIS world." [_OEuvres +de Frederic,_ xix. 138, 139 ("Freyberg, 20th March, 1760").]... To +another Friend, in the way of speech, he more deliberately says: +"The difficulties I had, last Campaign, were almost infinite: such a +multitude of enemies acting against me; Pommern, Brandenburg, Saxony, +Frontiers of Silesia, alike in danger, often enough all at one time. +If I escaped absolute destructiou, I must impute it chiefly to the +misconduct of my enemies; who gained such advantages, but had not the +sense to follow them up. Experience often corrects people of their +blunders: I cannot expect to profit by anything of that kind; on their +part, in the course of this Campaign:" judge if it will be a light +one, MON CHER. [To Mitchell, one evening, "Camp of Schlettau, May 23d" +(Mitchell, ii. 159).] + +The symptoms we decipher in these Letters, and otherwise, are those of +a man drenched in misery; but used to his black element, unaffectedly +defiant of it, or not at the pains to defy it; occupied only to do +his very utmost in it, with or without success, till the end come. +Prometheus, chained on the Ocean-cliffs, with the New Ruling-Powers in +the upper hand, and their vultures gradually eating him; dumb Time and +dumb Space looking on, apparently with small sympathy: Prometheus and +other Titans, now and then, have touched the soul of some AEschylus, +and drawn tones of melodious sympathy, far heard among mankind. But with +this new Titan it is not so: nor, upon the whole, with the proper +Titan, in this world, is it usually so; the world being a--what shall +we say?--a poorish kind of world, and its melodies and dissonances, +its loves and its hatreds worth comparatively little in the long-run. +Friedrich does wonderfully without sympathy from almost anybody; and +the indifference with which he walks along, under such a cloud of sulky +stupidities, of mendacities and misconceptions from the herd of mankind, +is decidedly admirable to me. + +But let us look into the Campaign itself. Perhaps--contrary to the +world's opinion, and to Friedrich's own when, in ultra-lucid moments, he +gazes into it in the light of cold arithmetic, and finds the aspect of +it "frightful"--this Campaign will be a little luckier to him than the +last? Unluckier it cannot well be:--or if so, it will at least be final +to him! + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, +Vol. XIX. (of XXI.), by Thomas Carlyle + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. *** + +***** This file should be named 2119.txt or 2119.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/1/2119/ + +Produced by D.R. Thompson + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thompson <drthom@ihug.co.nz> + + + + + +BOOK XIX. + +FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED IN +THE SEVEN-YEARS WAR. + +1759-1760. + + +Chapter I. + +PRELIMINARIES TO A FOURTH CAMPAIGN. + +The posting of the Five Armies this Winter--Five of them in +Germany, not counting the Russians, who have vanished to Cimmeria +over the horizon, for their months of rest--is something wonderful, +and strikes the picturesque imagination. Such a Chain of Posts, for +length, if for nothing else! From the centre of Bohemia eastward, +Daun's Austrians are spread all round the western Silesian Border +and the southeastern Saxon; waited on by Prussians, in more or less +proximity. Next are the Reichsfolk; scattered over Thuringen and +the Franconian Countries; fronting partly into Hessen and Duke +Ferdinand's outskirts:--the main body of Duke Ferdinand is far to +westward, in Munster Country, vigilant upon Contades, with the +Rhine between. Contades and Soubise,--adjoining on the Reichsfolk +are these Two French Armies: Soubise's, some 25,000, in Frankfurt- +Ems Country, between the Mayn and the Lahn, with its back to the +Rhine; then Contades, onward to Maes River and the Dutch Borders, +with his face to the Rhine,--and Duke Ferdinand observant of him on +the other side. That is the "CORDON of Posts" or winter-quarters +this Year. "From the Giant Mountains and the Metal Mountains, to +the Ocean;--to the mouth of Rhine," may we not say; "and back again +to the Swiss Alps or springs of Rhine, that Upper-Rhine Country +being all either French or Austrian, and a basis for Soubise?" +[Archenholtz, i. 306.] Not to speak of Ocean itself, and its winged +War-Fleets, lonesomely hovering and patrolling; or of the Americas +and Indies beyond! + +"This is such a Chain of mutually vigilant Winter-quarters," says +Archenholtz, "as was never drawn in Germany, or in Europe, before." +Chain of about 300,000 fighting men, poured out in that lengthy +manner. Taking their winter siesta there, asleep with one eye open, +till reinforced for new business of death and destruction against +Spring. Pathetic surely, as well as picturesque. "Three Campaigns +there have already been," sighs the peaceable observer: +"Three Campaigns, surely furious enough; Eleven Battles in them," +[Stenzel, v. 185. This, I suppose, would be his enumeration: +LOBOSITZ (1756); PRAG, KOLIN, Hastenbeck, Gross-Jagersdorf, +ROSSBACH, Breslau, LEUTHEN, (1757); Crefeld, ZORNDORF, HOCHKIRCH +(1758): "eleven hitherto in all."] a Prag, a Kolin, Leuthen, +Rossbach;--must there still be others, then, to the misery of poor +mankind?" thus sigh many peaceful persons. Not considering what +are, and have been, the rages, the iniquities, the loud and silent +deliriums, the mad blindnesses and sins of mankind; and what +amount, of CALCINING these may reasonably take. Not calcinable in +three Campaigns at all, it would appear! Four more Campaigns are +needed: then there will be innocuous ashes in quantity; and a +result unexpected, and worth marking in World-History. + +It is notably one of Friedrich's fond hopes,--of which he keeps up +several, as bright cloud-hangings in the haggard inner world he now +has,--that Peace is just at hand; one right struggle more, and +Peace must come! And on the part of Britannic George and him, +repeated attempts were made,--one in the end of this Year +1759;--but one and all of them proved futile, and, unless for +accidental reasons, need not be mentioned here. Many men, in all +nations, long for Peace; but there are Three Women at the top of +the world who do not; their wrath, various in quality, is great in +quantity, and disasters do the reverse of appeasing it. + +The French people, as is natural, are weary of a War which yields +them mere losses and disgraces; "War carried on for Austrian whims, +which likewise seem to be impracticable!" think they. And their +Bernis himself, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who began this sad +French-Austrian Adventure, has already been remonstrating with +Kaunitz, and grumbling anxiously, "Could not the Swedes, or +somebody, be got to mediate? Such a War is too ruinous!" Hearing +which, the Pompadour is shocked at the favorite creature of her +hands; hastens to dismiss him ("Be Cardinal then, you ingrate of a +Bernis; disappear under that Red Hat!")--and appoints, in his +stead, one Choiseul (known hitherto as STAINVILLE, Comte de +Stainville, French Excellency at Vienna, but now made Duke on this +promotion), Duc de Choiseul; [Minister of Foreign Affairs, "11th +November, 1758" (Barbier, iv. 294).] who is a Lorrainer, or Semi- +Austrian, by very birth; and probably much fitter for the place. +A swift, impetuous kind of man, this Choiseul, who is still rather +young than otherwise; plenty of proud spirit in him, of shifts, +talent of the reckless sort; who proved very notable in France for +the next twenty years. + +French trade being ruined withal, money is running dreadfully low: +but they appoint a new Controller-General; a M. de Silhouette, who +is thought to have an extraordinary creative genius in Finance. +Had he but a Fortunatus-Purse, how lucky were it! With Fortunatus +Silhouette as purse-holder, with a fiery young Choiseul on this +hand, and a fiery old Belleisle on that, Pompadour meditates great +things this Year,--Invasions of England; stronger German Armies; +better German Plans, and slashings home upon Hanover itself, or the +vital point;--and flatters herself, and her poor Louis, that there +is on the anvil, for 1759, such a French Campaign as will perhaps +astonish Pitt and another insolent King. Very fixed, fell and +feminine is the Pompadour's humor in this matter. Nor is the +Czarina's less so; but more, if possible; unappeasable except by +death. Imperial Maria Theresa has masculine reasons withal; +great hopes, too, of late. Of the War's ending till flat +impossibility stop it, there is no likelihood. + +To Pitt this Campaign 1759, in spite of bad omens at the outset, +proved altogether splendid: but greatly the reverse on Friedrich's +side; to whom it was the most disastrous and unfortunate he had yet +made, or did ever make. Pitt at his zenith in public reputation; +Friedrich never so low before, nothing seemingly but extinction +near ahead, when this Year ended. The truth is, apart from his +specific pieces of ill-luck, there had now begun for Friedrich a +new rule of procedure, which much altered his appearance in the +world. Thrice over had he tried by the aggressive or invasive +method; thrice over made a plunge at the enemy's heart, hoping so +to disarm or lame him: but that, with resources spent to such a +degree, is what he cannot do a fourth time: he is too weak +henceforth to think of that. + +Prussia has always its King, and his unrivalled talent; but that is +pretty much the only fixed item: Prussia VERSUS France, Austria, +Russia, Sweden and the German Reich, what is it as a field of +supplies for war! Except its King, these are failing, year by year; +and at a rate fatally SWIFT in comparison. Friedrich cannot now do +Leuthens, Rossbachs; far-shining feats of victory, which astonish +all the world. His fine Prussian veterans have mostly perished; +and have been replaced by new levies and recruits; who are inferior +both in discipline and native quality;--though they have still, +people say, a noteworthy taste of the old Prussian sort in them; +and do, in fact, fight well to the last. But "it is observable," +says Retzow somewhere, and indeed it follows from the nature of the +case, "that while the Prussian Army presents always its best kind +of soldiers at the beginning of a war, Austria, such are its +resources in population, always improves in that particular, and +its best troops appear in the last campaigns." In a word, Friedrich +stands on the defensive henceforth; disputing his ground inch by +inch: and is reduced, more and more, to battle obscurely with a +hydra-coil of enemies and impediments; and to do heroisms which +make no noise in the Gazettes. And, alas, which cannot figure in +History either,--what is more a sorrow to me here! + +Friedrich, say all judges of soldiership and human character who +have studied Friedrich sufficiently, "is greater than ever," in +these four Years now coming. [Berenhorst, in <italic> Kriegskunst; +<end italic> Retzow; &c.] And this, I have found more and more to +be a true thing; verifiable and demonstrable in time and place,-- +though, unluckily for us, hardly in this time or this place at all! +A thing which cannot, by any method, be made manifest to the +general reader; who delights in shining summary feats, and is +impatient of tedious preliminaries and investigations,--especially +of MAPS, which are the indispensablest requisite of all. A thing, +in short, that belongs peculiarly to soldier-students; who can +undergo the dull preliminaries, most dull but most inexorably +needed; and can follow out, with watchful intelligence, and with a +patience not to be wearied, the multifarious topographies, details +of movements and manoeuvrings, year after year, on such a Theatre +of War. What is to be done with it here! If we could, by +significant strokes, indicate, under features true so far as they +went, the great wide fire-flood that was raging round the world; +if we could, carefully omitting very many things, omit of the +things intelligible and decipherable that concern Friedrich +himself, nothing that had meaning: IF indeed--! But it is idle +preluding. Forward again, brave reader, under such conditions as +there are! + +Friedrich's Winter in Breslau was of secluded, silent, sombre +character, this time; nothing of stir in it but from work only: +in marked contrast with the last, and its kindly visitors and +gayeties. A Friedrich given up to his manifold businesses, to his +silent sorrows. "I have passed my winter like a Carthusian monk," +he writes to D'Argens: "I dine alone; I spend my life in reading +and writing; and I do not sup. When one is sad, it becomes at last +too burdensome to hide one's grief continually; and it is better to +give way to it by oneself, than to carry one's gloom into society. +Nothing solaces me but the vigorous application required in steady +and continuous labor. This distraction does force one to put away +painful ideas, while it lasts: but, alas, no sooner is the work +done, than these fatal companions present themselves again, as if +livelier than ever. Maupertuis was right: the sum of evil does +certainly surpass that of good:--but to me it is all one; I have +almost nothing more to lose; and my few remaining days, what +matters it much of what complexion they be?" ["Breslau, 1st March, +1759," To D'Argens (<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> +xix. 56).] + +The loss of his Wilhelmina, had there been no other grief, has +darkened all his life to Friedrich. Readers are not prepared for +the details of grief we could give, and the settled gloom of mind +they indicate. A loss irreparable and immeasurable; the light of +life, the one loved heart that loved him, gone. His passionate +appeals to Voltaire to celebrate for him in verse his lost +treasure, and at least make her virtues immortal, are perhaps known +to readers: [ODE SUR LA MORT DE S. A. S. MADAME LA PRINCESSE DE +BAREITH (in <italic> OEuvres de Voltaire, <end italic> xviii. +79-86): see Friedrich's Letter to him (6th November, 1758); +with Voltaire's VERSES in Answer (next month); Friedrich's new +Letter (Breslau, 23d January 1759), demanding something more,-- +followed by the ODE just cited (Ib. lxxii. 402; lxxviii. 82, 92; +or <italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> xxiii. 20-24: &c.] +alas, this is a very feeble kind of immortality, and Friedrich too +well feels it such. All Winter he dwells internally on the sad +matter, though soon falling silent on it to others. + +The War is ever more dark and dismal to him; a wearing, harassing, +nearly disgusting task; on which, however, depends life or death. +This Year, he "expects to have 300,000 enemies upon him;" and "is, +with his utmost effort, getting up 150,000 to set against them." +Of business, in its many kinds, there can be no lack! In the +intervals he also wrote considerably: one of his Pieces is a SERMON +ON THE LAST JUDGMENT; handed to Reader De Catt, one evening:--to De +Catt's surprise, and to ours; the Voiceless in a dark Friedrich +trying to give itself some voice in this way! [<italic> OEuvres de +Frederic, <end italic> xv. 1-10 (see Preuss's PREFACE there; +Formey, <italic> SOUVENIRS, <end italic> i. 37; &c. &c.] Another +Piece, altogether practical, and done with excellent insight, +brevity, modesty, is ON TACTICS; [REFLEXIONS SUR LA TACTIQUE: +in <italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> xxviii. 153-166.]-- +properly it might be called, "Serious very Private Thoughts," +thrown on paper, and communicated only to two or three, "On the new +kind of Tactics necessary with those Austrians and their Allies," +who are in such overwhelming strength. "To whose continual +sluggishness, and strange want of concert, to whose incoherency of +movements, languor of execution, and other enormous faults, we have +owed, with some excuse for our own faults, our escaping of +destruction hitherto,"--but had better NOT trust that way any +longer! Fouquet is one of the highly select, to whom he +communicates this Piece; adding along with it, in Fouquet's case, +an affectionate little Note, and, in spite of poverty, some +New-year's Gift, as usual,--the "Widow's Mite [300 pounds, we +find]; receive it with the same heart with which it was set apart +for you: a small help, which you may well have need of, in these +calamitous times." ["Breslau, 23d December, 1758;" with Fouquet's +Answer, 2d January, 1759: in <italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end +italic> xx. 114-117.] Fouquet much admires the new Tactical +Suggestions;--seems to think, however, that the certainly +practicable one is, in particular, the last, That of "improving our +Artillery to some equality with theirs." For which, as may appear, +the King has already been taking thought, in more ways than one. + +Finance is naturally a heavy part of Friedrich's Problem; the part +which looks especially impossible, from our point of vision! +In Friedrich's Country, the War Budget does not differ from the +Peace one. Neither is any borrowing possible; that sublime Art, of +rolling over on you know not whom the expenditure, needful or +needless, of your heavy-laden self, had not yet--though England is +busy at it--been invented among Nations. Once, or perhaps twice, +from the STANDE of some willing Province, Friedrich negotiated some +small Loan; which was punctually repaid when Peace came, and was +always gratefully remembered. But these are as nothing, in face of +such expenses; and the thought how he did contrive on the Finance +side, is and was not a little wonderful. An ingenious Predecessor, +whom I sometimes quote, has expressed himself in these words:-- + +"Such modicum of Subsidy [he is speaking of the English Subsidy in +1758], how useful will it prove in a Country bred everywhere to +Spartan thrift, accustomed to regard waste as sin, and which will +lay out no penny except to purpose! I guess the Prussian Exchequer +is, by this time, much on the ebb; idle precious metals tending +everywhere towards the melting-pot. At what precise date the +Friedrich-Wilhelm balustrades, and enormous silver furnitures, were +first gone into, Dryasdust has not informed me: but we know they +all went; as they well might. To me nothing is so wonderful as +Friedrich's Budget during this War. One day it will be carefully +investigated, elucidated and made conceivable and certain to +mankind: but that as yet is far from being the case. We walk about +in it with astonishment; almost, were it possible, with +incredulity. Expenditure on this side, work done on that: +human nature, especially British human nature, refuses to conceive +it. Never in this world, before or since, was the like. +The Friedrich miracles in War are great; but those in Finance are +almost greater. Let Dryasdust bethink him; and gird his flabby +loins to this Enterprise; which is very behooveful in these +Californian times!"-- + +The general Secret of Prussian Thrift, I do fear, is lost from the +world. And how an Army of about 200,000, in field and garrison, +could be kept on foot, and in some ability to front combined +Europe, on about Three Million Sterling annually ("25 million +THALERS"=3,150,000 pounds, that is the steady War-Budget of those +years), remains to us inconceivable enough;--mournfully miraculous, +as it were; and growing ever more so in the Nugget-generations that +now run. Meanwhile, here are what hints I could find, on the +Origins of that modest Sum, which also are a wonder: [Preuss, ii. +388-392; Stenzel, v. 137-141.]-- + +"The hoarded Prussian Moneys, or 'TREASURES' [two of them, KLEINE +SCHATZ, GROSSE SCHATZ, which are rigidly saved in Peace years, for +incidence of War], being nearly run out, there had come the English +Subsidy: this, with Saxony, and the Home revenues and remnants of +SCHATZ had sufficed for 1758; but will no longer suffice. Next to +Saxony, the English Subsidy (670,000 pounds due the second time +this year) was always Friedrich's principal resource: and in the +latter years of the War, I observe, it was nearly twice the amount +of what all his Prussian Countries together, in their ravaged and +worn-out state, could yield him. In and after 1759, besides Home +Income, which is gradually diminishing, and English Subsidy, which +is a steady quantity, Friedrich's sources of revenue are +mainly Two:-- + +"FIRST, there is that of wringing money from your Enemies, from +those that have deserved ill of you,--such of them as you can come +at. Enemies, open or secret, even Ill-wishers, we are not +particular, provided only they lie within arm's-length. Under this +head fall principally three Countries (and their three poor +Populations, in lieu of their Governments): Saxony, Mecklenburg (or +the main part of it, Mecklenburg-SCHWERIN), and Anhalt; from these +three there is a continual forced supply of money and furnishings. +Their demerits to Friedrich differ much in intensity; nor is his +wringing of them--which in the cases of Mecklenburg and Saxony +increases year by year to the nearly intolerable pitch--quite in +the simple ratio of their demerits; but in a compound ratio of that +and of his indignation and of his wants. + +"Saxony, as Prime Author of this War, was from the first laid hold +of, collared tightly: 'Pay the shot, then, what you can' (in the +end it was almost what you cannot)! As to Mecklenburg-Schwerin, the +grudge against Prussia was of very old standing, some generations +now; and the present Duke, not a very wise Sovereign more than his +Ancestors, had always been ill with Friedrich; willing to spite and +hurt him when possible: in Reichs Diet he, of all German Princes, +was the first that voted for Friedrich's being put to Ban of the +Reich,--he; and his poor People know since whether that was a wise +step! The little Anhalt Princes, too, all the Anhalts, Dessau, +Bernburg, Cothen, Zerbst [perhaps the latter partially excepted, +for a certain Russian Lady's sake], had voted, or at least had +ambiguously half-voted, in favor of the Ban, and done other +unfriendly things; and had now to pay dear for their bits of +enmities. Poor souls, they had but One Vote among them all Four;-- +and they only half gave it, tremulously pulling it back again. +I should guess it was their terrors mainly, and over-readiness to +reckon Friedrich a sinking ship; and to leap from the deck of him, +--with a spurn which he took for insolent! The Anhalt-Dessauers +particularly, who were once of his very Army, half Prussians for +generations back, he reckoned to have used him scandalously ill. + +"This Year the requisition on the Four Anhalts--which they submit +to patiently, as people who have leapt into the wrong ship--is, in +precise tale: of money, 330,000 thalers (about 50,000 pounds); +recruits, 2,200; horses, 1,800. In Saxony, besides the fixed Taxes, +strict confiscation of Meissen Potteries and every Royalty, there +were exacted heavy 'Contributions,' more and more heavy, from the +few opulent Towns, chiefly from Leipzig; which were wrung out, +latterly, under great severities,--'chief merchants of Leipzig all +clapt in prison, kept on bread-and-water till they yielded,'--AS +great severities as would suffice, but NOT greater; which also was +noted. Unfortunate chief merchants of Leipzig,--with Bruhl and +Polish Majesty little likely to indemnify them! Unfortunate Country +altogether. An intelligent Saxon, who is vouched for as impartial, +bears witness as follows: 'And this I know, that the oppressions +and plunderings of the Austrians and Reichsfolk, in Saxony, turned +all hearts away from them; and it was publicly said, We had rather +bear the steady burden of the Prussians than such help as these our +pretended Deliverers bring.' [Stenzel (citing from KRIEGSKANZLEI, +which I have not), v. 137 n.] Whereby, on the whole, the poor +Country got its back broken, and could never look up in the world +since. Resource FIRST was abundantly severe. + +"Resource SECOND is strangest of all;--and has given rise to +criticism enough! It is no other than that of issuing base money; +mixing your gold and silver coin with copper,--this, one grieves to +say, is the Second and extreme resource. (A rude method--would we +had a better--of suspending Cash-payments, and paying by bank-notes +instead!' thinks Friedrich, I suppose. From his Prussian Mints, +from his Saxon [which are his for the present], and from the little +Anhalt-Bernburg Mint [of which he expressly purchased the sad +privilege,--for we are not a Coiner, we are a King reduced to +suspend Cash-payments, for the time being], Friedrich poured out +over all Germany, in all manner of kinds, huge quantities of bad +Coin. This, so long as it would last, is more and more a copious +fountain of supply. This, for the first time, has had to appear as +an item in War-Budget 1759: and it fails in no following, but +expands more and more. It was done through Ephraim, the not lovely +Berlin Jew, whom we used to hear of in Voltaire's time;--through +Ephraim and two others, Ephraim as President: in return for a net +Sum, these shall have privilege to coin such and such amounts, so +and so alloyed; shall pay to General Tauentzien, Army Treasurer, at +fixed terms, the Sums specified: 'Go, and do it; our Mint-Officers +sharply watching you; Mint-Officers, and General Tauentzien [with a +young Herr Lessing, as his Chief Clerk, of whom the King knows +nothing]; Go, ye unlovely!' And Ephraim and Company are making a +great deal of money by the unlovely job. Ephraim is the pair of +tongs, the hand, and the unlovely job, are a royal man's. +Alas, yes. And none of us knows better than King Friedrich, perhaps +few of us as well, how little lovely a job it was; how shockingly +UNkingly it was,--though a practice not unknown to German Kings and +Kinglets before his time, and since down almost to ours. +[In STENZEL (v. 141) enumeration of eight or nine unhappy +Potentates, who were busy with it in those same years.] In fact, +these are all unkingly practices;--and the English Subsidy itself +is distasteful to a proud Friedrich: but what, in those +circumstances, can any Friedrich do? + +"The first coinages of Ephraim had, it seems, in them about 3-7ths +of copper; something less than the half, and more than the third," +--your gold sovereign grown to be worth 28s. 6d. "But yearly it +grew worse; and in 1762 [English Subsidy having failed] matters had +got inverted; and there was three times as much copper as silver. +Commerce, as was natural, went rocking and tossing, as on a sea +under earthquakes; but there was always ready money among +Friedrich's soldiers, as among no other: nor did the common people, +or retail purchasers, suffer by it. 'Hah, an Ephraimite!' they +would say, grinning not ill-humoredly, at sight of one of these +pieces; some of which they had more specifically named 'BLUE-GOWNS' +[owing to a tint of blue perceivable, in spite of the industrious +plating in real silver, or at least "boiling in some solution" of +it]; these they would salute with this rhyme, then current:-- + +<italic> "Von aussen schon, van innen schlimm; + Von aussen Friedrich, von innen Ephraim. <end italic> + Outside noble, inside slim: + Outside Friedrich, inside Ephraim. + +"By this time, whatever of money, from any source, can be scraped +together in Friedrich's world, flows wholly into the Army-Chest, as +the real citadel of life. In these latter years of the War, +beginning, I could guess, from 1759, all Civil expenditures, and +wages of Officials, cease to be paid in money; nobody of that kind +sees the color even of bad coin; but is paid only in 'Paper +Assignments,' in Promises to Pay 'after the Peace.' These Paper +Documents made no pretence to the rank of Currency: such holders of +them as had money, or friends, and could wait, got punctual payment +when the term did arrive; but those that could not, suffered +greatly; having to negotiate their debentures on ruinous terms,-- +sometimes at an expense of three-fourths.--I will add Friedrich's +practical Schedule of Amounts from all these various Sources; +and what Friedrich's own view of the Sources was, when he could +survey them from the safe distance. + +"SCHEDULE OF AMOUNTS [say for 1761]. To make up the Twenty-five +Million thalers, necessary for the Army, there are:-- + +"From our Prussian Countries, ruined, harried as THALERS + they have been, . . . . . . . . . . 4 millions only. + From Saxony and the other Wringings, . . . . . 7 millions. + English Subsidy (4 of good gold; becoppered + into double), . . . . . . . . . . . 8 " + From Ephraim and his Farm of the Mint + (MUNZ-PATENT), . . . . . . . . . . 7 " + +In sum Twenty-six Millions; leaving you one Million of margin,-- +and always a plenty of cash in hand for incidental sundries. +[Preuss, ii. 388.] + +"Friedrich's own view of these sad matters, as he closes his +<italic> History of the Seven-Years War <end italic> [at "Berlin, +17th December, 1763"], is in these words: 'May Heaven grant,--if +Heaven deign to look down on the paltry concerns of men,--that the +unalterable and flourishing destiny of this Country preserve the +Sovereigns who shall govern it from the scourges and calamities +which Prussia has suffered in these times of trouble and +subversion; that they may never again be forced to recur to the +violent and fatal remedies which we (L'ON) have been obliged to +employ in maintenance of the State against the ambitious hatred of +the Sovereigns of Europe, who wished to annihilate the House of +Brandenburg, and exterminate from the world whatever bore the +Prussian name!'" [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> +v. 234.] + + +OF THE SMALL-WAR IN SPRING, 1759. THERE ARE FIVE DISRUPTIONS +OF THAT GRAND CORDON (February-April); AND FERDINAND OF +BRUNSWICK FIGHTS HIS BATTLE OF BERGEN (April 13th). + +Friedrich, being denied an aggressive course this Year, by no means +sits idly expectant and defensive in the interim; but, all the more +vigorously, as is observable, from February onwards, strikes out +from him on every side: endeavoring to spoil the Enemy's Magazines, +and cripple his operations in that way. So that there was, all +winter through, a good deal of Small-War (some of it not Small), of +more importance than usual,--chiefly of Friedrich's originating, +with the above view, or of Ferdinand his Ally's, on a still more +pressing score. And, on the whole, that immense Austrian-French +Cordon, which goes from the Carpathians to the Ocean, had by no +means a quiet time; but was broken into, and violently hurled back, +in different parts: some four, or even five, attacks upon it in +all; three of them by Prince Henri,--in two of which Duke +Ferdinand's people co-operated; the business being for mutual +behoof. These latter Three were famous in the world, that Winter; +and indeed are still recognizable as brilliant procedures of their +kind; though, except dates and results, we can afford almost +nothing of them here. These Three, intended chiefly against Reichs +people and their Posts and Magazines, fell out on the western and +middle part of the Cordon. Another attack was in the extreme +eastward, and was for Friedrich's own behoof; under Fouquet's +management;--intended against the Austrian-Moravian Magazines and +Preparations, but had little success. Still another assault, or +invasive outroad, northward against the Russian Magazines, there +also was; of which by and by. Besides all which, and more memorable +than all, Duke Ferdinand, for vital reasons of his own, fought a +Battle this Spring, considerable Battle, and did NOT gain it; +which made great noise in the world. + +It is not necessary the reader should load his memory with details +of all these preliminary things; on the contrary, it is necessary +that he keep his memory clear for the far more important things +that lie ahead of these, and entertain these in a summary way, as a +kind of foreground to what is coming. Perhaps the following +Fractions of Note, which put matters in something of Chronological +or Synoptical form, will suffice him, or more than suffice. He is +to understand that the grand tug of War, this Year, gradually turns +out not to be hereabouts, nor with Daun and his adjacencies at all, +but with the Russians, who arrive from the opposite Northern +quarter; and that all else will prove to be merely prefatory and +nugatory in comparison. + +JANUARY 2d, 1759: FRANKFURT-ON-MAYN, THOUGH IT IS A REICHSTADT, +FINDS ITSELF SUDDENLY BECOME FRENCH. "Prince de Soubise lies +between Mayn and Lahn, with his 25,000; beautifully safe and +convenient,--though ill off for a place-of-arms in those parts. +Opulent Frankfurt, on his right; how handy would that be, were not +Reichs Law so express! Marburg, Giessen are outposts of his; +on which side one of Ferdinand's people, Prince von Ysenburg, +watches him with an 8 or 10,000, capable of mischief in +that quarter. + +"On the Eve of New-year's day, or on the auspicious Day itself, +Soubise requests, of the Frankfurt Authorities, permission for a +regiment of his to march through that Imperial City. To which, by +law and theory, the Imperial City can say Yes or No; +but practically cannot, without grave inconvenience, say other than +Yes, though most Frankfurters wish it could. 'Yes,' answer the +Frankfurt Magnates; Yes surely, under the known conditions. +Tuesday, January 2d, about 5 in the morning, while all is still +dark in Frankfurt, regiment Nassau appears, accordingly, at the +Sachsenhausen Gate, Town-guard people all ready to receive it and +escort it through; and is admitted as usual. Quite as usual: but +instead of being escorted through, it orders, in calm peremptory +voice, the Town-guard, To ground arms; with calm rapidity proceeds +to admit ten other regiments or battalions, six of them German; +seizes the artillery on the Walls, seizes all the other Gates:--and +poor Frankfurt finds itself tied hand and foot, almost before it is +out of bed! Done with great exactitude, with the minimum of +confusion, and without a hurt skin to anybody. The Inhabitants +stood silent, gazing; the Town-guard laid down their arms, and went +home. Totally against Law; but cleverly done; perhaps Soubise's +chief exploit in the world; certainly the one real success the +French have yet had. + +"Soubise made haste to summon the Magistrates: 'Law of Necessity +alone, most honored Sirs! Reichs Law is clear against me. But all +the more shall private liberties, religions, properties, in this +Imperial Free-Town, be sacred to us. Defence against any +aggression: and the strictest discipline observed. Depend on me, I +bid you!'--And kept his word to an honorable degree, they say; +or in absence, made it be kept, during the Four Years that follow. +Most Frankfurters are, at heart, Anti-French: but Soubise's +affability was perfect; and he gave evening parties of a sublime +character; the Magistrates all appearing there, in their square +perukes and long gowns, with a mournful joy." [Tempelhof, iii. 7-8; +Stenzel, v. 198-200.] + +Soubise soon went home, to assist in important businesses,-- +Invasion of England, no less; let England look to itself this +Summer!--and Broglio succeeded him, as Army-Captain in the +Frankfurt parts; with laurels accruing, more or less. Soubise, like +Broglio, began with Rossbach; Soubise ends with Frankfurt, for the +present; where Broglio also gains his chief laurels, as will +shortly be seen. Frankfurt is a great gain to France, though an +illicit one. It puts a bar on Duke Ferdinand in that quarter; +secures a starting-point for attacks on Hessen, Hanover; +for co-operation with Contades and the Lower Rhine. It is the one +success France has yet had in this War, or pretty much that it ever +had in it. Due to Prince de Soubise, in that illegal fashion.-- +A highly remarkable little Boy, now in his tenth year, Johann +Wolfgang Goethe, has his wondering eyes on these things: and, short +while hence, meets daily, on the stairs and lobbies at home, a +pleasant French Official Gentlemen who is quartered there; + ------page 195 Book XIX-----^ [sic]----------- + +between whom and Papa occur rubs,--as readers may remember, and +shall hear in April coming. + +GRAND CORDON DISRUPTED: ERFURT COUNTRY, 16th FEBRUARY-2d MARCH. +"About six weeks after this Frankfurt achievement, certain +Reichsfolk and Austrian Auxiliaries are observed to be cutting down +endless timber, '18,800 palisades, 6,000 trees of 60 feet,' and +other huge furnishings, from the poor Duke of Gotha's woods; +evidently meaning to fortify themselves in Erfurt. Upon which +Prince Henri detaches a General Knobloch thitherward, Duke +Ferdinand contributing 4,000 to meet him there; which combined +expedition, after some sharp knocking and shoving, entirely +disrooted the Austrians and Reichsfolk, and sent them packing. +Had them quite torn out by the end of the month; and had planned to +'attack them on two sides at once' (March 2d), with a view of +swallowing them whole,--when they (these Reichs Volscians, in such +a state of flutter) privately hastened off, one and all of them, +the day before." [Narrative, in <italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end +italic> v. 1022 et seq.] + +This was BREAKAGE FIRST of the Grand Cordon; an explosive hurling +of it back out of those Erfurt parts. Done by Prince Henri's +people, in concert with Duke Ferdinand's,--who were mutually +interested in the thing. + +BREAKAGE SECOND: ERFURT-FULDA COUNTRY, 31st MARCH-8th APRIL. +"About the end of March, these intrusive Austrian Reichsfolk made +some attempt to come back into those Countries; but again got +nothing but hard knocks; and gave up the Erfurt project. For, close +following on this FIRST, there was a SECOND still deeper and +rougher Breakage, in those same regions; the Hereditary Prince of +Brunswick dashing through, on a special Errand of Ferdinand's own +[of which presently], with an 8 or 10,000, in his usual fiery +manner; home into the very bowels of the Reich (April 3d, and for a +week onward); and returning with 'above 2,000 prisoners' in hand; +especially with a Reich well frightened behind him;--still in time +for Duke Ferdinand's Adventure [in fact, for his Battle of Bergen, +of which we are to hear]. Had been well assisted by Prince Henri, +who 'made dnngerous demonstrations in the distance,' and was +extremely diligent--though the interest was chiefly Ferdinand's +this time." [Tempelhof, iii. 19-22.]--Contemporary with that FIRST +Erfurt Business, there went on, 300 miles away from it, in the +quite opposite direction, another of the same;--too curious to +be omitted. + +ACROSS THE POLISH FRONTIER: FEBRUARY, 24th-MARCH 4th. "In the end +of February, General Wobersnow, an active man, was detached from +Glogau, over into Poland, Posen way, To overturn the Russian +provision operations thereabouts; in particular, to look into a +certain high-flying Polack, a Prince Sulkowski of those parts; +who with all diligence is gathering food, in expectation of the +Russian advent; and indeed has formally 'declared War against the +King of Prussia;' having the right, he says, as a Polish Magnate, +subject only to his own high thought in such affairs. The Russians +and their wars are dear to Sulkowski. He fell prisoner in their +cause, at Zorndorf, last Autumn; was stuck, like all the others, +Soltikoff himself among them, into the vaulted parts of Custrin +Garrison: 'I am sorry I have no Siberia for you,' said Friedrich, +looking, not in a benign way, on the captive Dignitaries, that hot +afternoon; 'go to Custrin, and see what you have provided for +yourselves!' Which they had to do; nothing, for certain days, but +cellarage to lodge in; King inexorable, deaf to remonstrance. +Which possibly may have contributed to kindle Sulkowski into these +extremely high proceedings. + +"At any rate, Wobersnow punctually looks in upon him: seizes his +considerable stock of Russian proviants; his belligerent force, his +high person itself; and in one luckless hour snuffs him out from +the list of potentates. His belligerent force, about 1,000 Polacks, +were all compelled, 'by the cudgel, say my authorities, to take +Prussian service [in garrison regiments, and well scattered about, +I suppose]; his own high person found itself sitting locked in +Glogau, left to its reflections. Sat thus 'till the War ended,' say +some; certainly till the Sulkowski War had been sufficiently +exploded by the laughter of mankind." Here are, succinctly, the +dates of this small memorability:-- + +"End of February, Wobersnow gathers, at Glogau, a force of about +8,000 horse and foot. Marches, 24th FEBRUARY, over Oder Bridge, +straight into Poland; that same night, to the neighborhood of Lissa +and Reisen (Sulkowski's dominion), about thirty miles northeast of +Glogau. Sulkowski done next day;--part of the capture is 'fifteen +small guns.' Wobersnow goes, next, for Posen; arrives, 28th +FEBRUARY; destroys Russian Magazine, ransoms Jews. Shoots out other +detachments on the Magazine Enterprise;--detaches Platen along the +Warta, where are picked up various items, among others 'eighty tuns +of brandy,'--but himself proceeds no farther than Posen. MARCH 4th, +sets out again from Posen, homewards." [NACHRICHT VON DER +UNTERNEHMUNG DES GENERAL-MAJORS VON WOBERSNOW IN POLEN, IM FEB. UND +MARZ. 1759: in Seyfarth, <italic> Beylagen, <end italic> ii. +526-529. <italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> v. 829.] We shall +hear again of Wobersnow, in a much more important way, before long. + +To the Polish Republic so called, Friedrich explained politely, not +apologetically: "Since you allow the Russians to march through you +in attack of me, it is evident to your just minds that the attacked +party must have similar privilege." "Truly!" answered they, in +their just minds, generally; and I made no complaint about +Sulkowski (though Polish Majesty and Primate endeavored to be loud +about "Invasion" and the like):--and indeed Polish Republic was +lying, for a long while past, as if broken-backed, on the public +highway, a Nation anarchic every fibre of it, and under the feet +and hoofs of travelling Neighbors, especially of Russian Neighbors; +and is not now capable of saying much for itself in such cases, or +of doing anything at all. + +FRANKFURT COUNTRY, APRIL 13th: DUKE FERDINAND'S BATTLE OF BERGEN. +"Duke Ferdinand, fully aware what a stroke that seizure of +Frankfurt was to him, resolved to risk a long march at this bad +season, and attempt to drive the French out. Contades was absent in +Paris,--no fear of an attack from Contades's Army; Broglio's in +Frankfurt, grown now to about 35,000, can perhaps be beaten if +vigorously attacked. Ferdinand appoints a rendezvous at Fulda, of +various Corps, Prince Ysenburg's and others, that lie nearest, +Hessians many of them, Hanoverians others; proceeds, himself, to +Fulda, with a few attendants [a drive of about 200 miles];--having +left Lord George Sackville [mark the sad name of him!]--Sackville, +head of the English, and General Sporken, a Hanoverian,--to take +charge in Munster Country, during his absence. It was from Fulda +that he shot out the Hereditary Prince on that important Errand we +lately spoke of, under the head of 'BREAKAGE SECOND,'--namely, to +clear his right flank, and scare the Reich well off him, while he +should be marching on Frankfurt. All which, Henri assisting from +the distance, the Hereditary Prince performed to perfection,--and +was back (APRIL 8th) in excellent time for the Battle. + +"Ferdinand stayed hardly a day in Fulda, ranking himself and +getting on the road. Did his long march of above 100 miles without +accident or loss of time;--of course, scaring home the Broglio +Outposts in haste enough, and awakening Broglio's attention in a +high degree;--and arrives, Thursday, April 12th, at Windecken, a +Village about fifteen miles northeast of Frankfurt; where he passes +the night under arms; intending Battle on the morrow. Broglio is +all assembled, 35,000 strong; his Assailant, with the Hereditary +Prince come in, counts rather under 30,000. Broglio is posted in, +and on both sides of, Bergen, a high-lying Village, directly on +Ferdinand's road to Frankfurt. Windecken is about fifteen miles +from Frankfurt; Bergen about six:--idle Tourists of our time, on +their return from Homburg to that City, leave Bergen a little on +their left. The ground is mere hills, woody dales, marshy brooks; +Broglio's position, with its Village, and Hill, and ravines and +advantages, is the choicest of the region; and Broglio's methods, +procedures and arrangements in it are applauded by all judges. + +"FRIDAY, 13th APRIL, 1759, Ferdinand is astir by daybreak; comes +on, along one of those woody balleys, pickeering, reconnoitring;-- +in the end, directly up the Hill of Bergen; straight upon the +key-point. It is about 10 A.M., when the batteries and musketries +awaken there; very loud indeed, for perhaps two hours or more. +Prince von Ysenburg is leader of Ferdinand's attacking party. +Their attack is hot and fierce, and they stick to it steadily; +though garden-hedges, orchards and impediments are many, and +Broglio, with, much cannon helping, makes vigorous defence. +These Ysenburgers fought till their cartridges were nearly spent, +and Ysenburg himself lay killed; but could not take Bergen. +Nor could the Hereditary Prince; who, in aid of them, tried it in +flank, with his own usual impetuosity rekindling theirs, and at +first with some success; but was himself taken in flank by +Broglio's Reserve, and obliged to desist. No getting of Bergen by +that method. + +"Military critics say coolly, 'You should have smashed it well with +cannon, first [which Ferdinand had not in stock here]; +and especially have flung grenadoes into it, till it was well in +flame: impossible otherwise!' [Mauvillon, ii. 19.] The Ysenburgers +and Hereditary Prince withdraw. No pursuit of them; or almost less +than none; for the one or two French regiments that tried it +(against order), nearly got cut up. Broglio, like a very Daun at +Kolin, had strictly forbidden all such attempts: 'On no temptation +quit your ground!' + +"The Battle, after this, lay quiet all afternoon; Ferdinand still +in sight; motioning much, to tempt French valor into chasing of +him. But all in vain: Broglio, though his subalterns kept urging, +remonstrating, was peremptory not to stir. Whereupon, towards +evening, across certain woody Heights, perhaps still with some hope +of drawing him out, Ferdinand made some languid attempt on +Broglio's wing, or wings;--and this also failing, had to give up +the affair. He continued cannonading till deep in the night; +withdrew to Windecken: and about two next morning, marched for +home,--still with little or no pursuit: but without hope of +Frankfurt henceforth. And, in fact, has a painful Summer ahead. + +"Ferdinand had lost 5 cannon, and of killed and wounded 2,500; +the French counted their loss at about 1,900. [Mauvillon, ii. +10-19; Tempelhof, iii. 26-31.] The joy of France over this immense +victory was extraordinary. Broglio was made Prince of the Reich, +Marechal de France; would have been raised to the stars, had one +been able,--for the time being. 'And your immense victory,' so +sneered the by-standers, 'consists in not being beaten, under those +excellent conditions;--perhaps victory is a rarity just now!'" + +This is the Battle which our Boy-Friend Johann Wolfgang watched +with such interest, from his garret-window, hour after hour; +all Frankfurt simmering round him, in such a whirlpool of self- +contradictory emotions; till towards evening, when, in long rows of +carts, poor wounded Hessians and Hanoverians came jolting in, and +melted every heart into pity. into wailing sorrow, and eagerness to +help. A little later, Papa Goethe, stepping downstairs, came across +the Official French Gentleman; who said radiantly: "Doubtless you +congratulate yourself and us on this victory to his Majesty's +arms." "Not a whit (KEINESWEGS)," answers Papa Goethe, a stiff kind +of man, nowise in the mood of congratulating: "on the contrary, I +wish they had chased you to the Devil, though I had had to go too!" +Which was a great relief to his feelings, though a dangerous one in +the circumstances. [Goethe's WERKE (Stuttgart und Tubingen, 1829), +xxiv. (DICHTUNG UND WAHRHEIT, i.), 153-157.] + +BREAKAGE THIRD: OVER THE METAL MOUNTAINS INTO BOHMEN (APRIL +14th-20th). "Ferdinand's Battle was hardly ending, when Prince +Henri poured across the Mountains,--in two columns, Hulsen leading +the inferior or rightmost one,--into Leitmeritz-Eger Country; +and made a most successful business of the Austrian Magazines he +found there. Magazines all filled; Enemy all galloping for Prag:-- +Daun himself, who is sitting vigilant, far in the interior, at +Jaromirtz this month past, was thrown into huge flurry, for some +days! Speedy Henri (almost on the one condition of BEING speedy) +had his own will of the Magazines: burnt, Hulsen and he, 'about +600,000 pounds worth' of Austrian provender in those parts, 'what +would have kept 50,000 men five months in bread' (not to mention +hay at all); gave the Enemy sore slaps (caught about 3,000 of him, +NOT yet got on gallop for Prag); burnt his 200 boats on the Elbe:-- +forced him to begin anew at the beginning; and did, in effect, +considerably lame and retard certain of his operations through the +Summer. Speedy Henri marched for home April 20th; and was all +across the Mountains April 23d: a profitable swift nine days." +[Tempelhof iii. 47-53; <italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> +v. 963-966.]--And on the sixth day hence he will have something +similar, and still more important, on foot. A swift man, when +he must! + +BREAKAGE FOURTH: INTO MAHREN (APRIL 16th-21st). "This is Fouquet's +attempt, alluded to above; of which--as every reader must be +satisfied with Small-War--we will give only the dates. +Fouquet, ranking at Leobschutz, in Neisse Country, did break +through into Mahren, pushing the Austrians before him; but found +the Magazines either emptied, or too inaccessible for any worth +they had;--could do nothing on the Magazines; and returned without +result; home at Leobschutz again on the fifth day." [<italic> +Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> v. 958-963; Tcmpelhof, iii. 44-47.] +This, however, had a sequel for Fouquet; which, as it brought the +King himself into those neighborhoods, we shall have to mention, +farther on. + +BREAKAGE FIFTH: INTO FRANKEN (MAY 5th-JUNE 1st). "This was Prince +Henri's Invasion of the Bamberg-Nurnberg Countries; a much sharper +thing than in any former Year. Much the most famous, and," luckily +for us, "the last of the Small-War affairs for the present. +Started,--from Tschopau region, Bamberg way,--April 29th-May 5th. +In Three Columns: Finck leftmost, and foremost (Finck had marched +April 29th, pretending to mean for Bohemia); after whom Knobloch; +and (May 5th) the Prince himself. Who has an eye to the Reichs +Magazines and Preparations, as usual;--nay, an eye to their Camp of +Rendezvous, and to a fight with their miscellaneous Selves and +Auxiliaries, if they will stand fight. 'You will have to leave +Saxony, and help us with the Russians, soon: beat those Reichs +people first!' urged the King; 'well beaten, they will not trouble +Saxony for a while.' If they will stand fight? But they would not +at all. They struck their tents everywhere; burnt their own +Magazines, in some cases; and only went mazing hither and thither, +--gravitating all upon Nurnberg, and an impregnable Camp which they +have in that neighborhood. Supreme Zweibruck was himself with them; +many Croats, Austrians, led by Maguire and others; all marching, +whirling at a mighty rate; with a countenance sometimes of vigor, +but always with Nurnberg Camp in rear. There was swift marching, +really beautiful manoeuvring here and there; sharp bits of +fighting, too, almost in the battle-form:--Maguire tried, or was +for trying, a stroke with Finck; but made off hastily, glad to get +away. [Templehof, iii. 64.] May 11th, at Himmelskron in Baireuth, +one Riedesel of theirs had fairly to ground arms, self and 2,500, +and become prisoners of war." Much of this manoeuvring and +scuffling was in Baireuth Territory. Twice, or even thrice, Prince +Henri was in Baireuth Town: "marched through Baireuth," say the +careless Old Books. Through Baireuth:--No Wilhelmina now there, +with her tremulous melodies of welcome! Wilhelminn's loves, and +terrors for her loved, are now all still. Perhaps her poor Daughter +of Wurtemberg, wandering unjustly disgraced, is there; Papa, the +Widower Margraf, is for marrying again: [Married 20th September, +1759 (a Brunswick Princess, Sister's-daughter of his late Wife); +died within four years.]--march on, Prince Henri! + +"In Bamberg," says a Note from Archenholtz, "the Reichs troops +burnt their Magazine; and made for Nurnberg, as usual; but left +some thousand or two of Croats, who would not yet. Knobloch and his +Prussians appeared shortly after; summoned Bamberg, which agreed to +receive them; and were for taking possession; but found the Croats +determined otherwise. Fight ensued; fight in the streets; which, in +hideousness of noises, if in nothing else, was beyond parallel. +The inhabitants sat all quaking in their cellars; not an inhabitant +was to be seen: a City dead,--and given up to the demons, in this +manner. Not for some hours were the Croats got entirely trampled +out. Bamberg, as usual, became a Prussian place-of-arms; +was charged to pay ransom of 40,000 pounds;--'cannot possibly!'-- +did pay some 14,000 pounds, and gave bills for the remainder." +[Archenholtz. i. 371-373.] Which bills, let us mark withal, the +Kaiser in Reichs Diet decreed to be invalid: "Don't pay them!" +A thing not forgotten by Friedrich;--though it is understood the +Bambergers, lest worse might happen, privately paid their bills. +"The Expedition lasted, in whole, not quite four weeks: June 1st, +Prince Henri was at the Saxon frontier again; the German world all +ringing loud,--in jubilation, counter-jubilation and a great +variety of tones,--with the noise of what he had done. A sharp +swift man; and, sure enough, has fluttered the Reichs Volscians in +their Corioli to an unexpected degree." [Seyfarth, <italic> +Beylagen, <end italic> ii. 537-563; BERICHT VON DER UNTERNEHMUNG +DES PRINZEN HEINRICH IN FRANKEN, IM JAHR, 1759; <italic> Helden- +Geschichte, <end italic> v. 1033-1039; Tempelhof, ????, et seq.] +---COPY ILLEGIBLE. PAGE 203, BOOK XIX-------------^^^-- + + +A Colonel Wunsch (Lieutenant-Colonel of the Free Corps WUNSCH) +distinguished himself in this Expedition; The beginning of notably +great things to him in the few following months. Wunsch is a +Wurtemberger by birth; has been in many services, always in +subaltern posts, and, this year, will testify strangely how worthy +he was of the higher. What a Year, this of 1759, to stout old +Wunsch! In the Spring, here has he just seen his poor son, +Lieutenant Wunsch, perish in one of these scuffles; in Autumn, he +will see himself a General, shining suddenly bright, to his King +and to all the world; before Winter, he will be Prisoner to +Austria, and eclipsed for the rest of this war!--Kleist, of the +GREEN HUSSARS, also made a figure here; and onwards rapidly ever +higher; to the top of renown in his business:--fallen heir to +Mayer's place, as it were. A Note says: "Poor Mayer of the Free +Corps does not ride with the Prince on this occasion. +Mayer, dangerously worn down with the hard services of last Year, +and himself a man of too sleepless temper, caught a fever in the +New-year time; and died within few days: burnt away before his +time; much regretted by his Brethren of the Army, and some few +others. Gone in this way; with a high career just opening on him at +the long last! Mayer was of Austrian, of half Spanish birth; +a musical, really melodious, affectionate, but indignant, wildly +stormful mortal; and had had adventures without end. Something of +pathos, of tragedy, in the wild Life of him. [Still worth reading: +in Pauli (our old watery BRANDENBURG-HISTORY Friend). <italic> +Leben grosser Helden <end italic> (Halle, 1759-1764, 9 vols.), iii. +142-188;--much the best Piece in that still rather watery (or +windy) Collection, which, however, is authentic, and has some +tolerable Portraits.] A man of considerable genius, military and +other:--genius in the sleepless kind, which is not the best kind; +sometimes a very bad kind. The fame of Friedrich invites such +people from all sides of the world; and this was no doubt a +sensible help to him."--But enough of all this. + +Here, surely, is abundance of preliminary Small-War, on the part of +a Friedrich reduced to the defensive!--Fouquet's Sequel, hinted at +above, was to this effect. On Fouquet's failing to get hold of the +Moravian Magazines, and returning to his Post at Leobschutz, a +certain rash General Deville, who is Austrian chief in those parts, +hastily rushed through the Jagerndorf Hills, and invaded Fouquet. +Only for a few days; and had very bad success, in that bit of +retaliation. The King, who is in Landshut, in the middle of his +main cantonments, hastened over to Leobschutz with reinforcement to +Fouquet; in the thought that a finishing-stroke might be done on +this Deville;--and would have done it, had not the rash man plunged +off again (May 1st, or the night before); homewards, at full speed. +So that Friedrich, likewise at full speed, could catch nothing of +him; but merely cannonade him in the Passes of Zuckmantel, and cut +off his rear-guard of Croats. Poor forlorn of Croats, whom he had +left in some bushy Chasm; to gain him a little time, and then to +perish if THEY must! as Tempelhof remarks. [Tempelhof, iii. 56.] +Upon which Friedrich returned to Landshut; and Fouquet had +peace again. + +It was from this Landshut region, where his main cantonments are, +that Friedrich had witnessed all these Inroads, or all except the +very earliest of them; the first Erfurt one, and the Wobersnow- +Sulkowski. He had quitted Breslau in the end of March, and gone to +his cantonments; quickened thither, probably, by a stroke that had +befallen him at Griefenberg, on his Silesian side of the Cordon. +At Griefenberg stood the Battalion Duringshofen, with its Colonel +of the same name,--grenadier people of good quality, perhaps near +1,000 in whole. Which Battalion, General Beck, after long +preliminary study of it, from his Bohemian side,--marching +stealthily on it, one night (March 25-26th), by two or more roads, +with 8,000 men, and much preliminary Croat-work,--contrived to +envelop wholly, and carry off with him, before help could come up. +This, I suppose, had quickened Friedrich's arrival. He has been in +that region ever since,--in Landshut for the last week or two; +and returns thither after the Deville affair. + +And at Landshut,--which is the main Pass into Bohemia or from it, +and is the grand observatory-point at present,--he will have to +remain till the first days of July; almost three months. +Watching, and waiting on the tedious Daun, who has the lifting of +the curtain this Year! Daun had come to Jaromirtz, to his +cantonments, "March 24th" (almost simultaneously with Friedrich to +his); expecting Friedrich's Invasion, as usual. Long days sat Daun, +expecting the King in Bohemia:--"There goes he, at last!" thought +Daun, on Prince Henri's late flamy appearance there (BREAKAGE THIRD +we labelled it);--and Daun had hastily pushed a Division +thitherward, double-quick, to secure Prag; but found it was only +the Magazines. "Above four millions worth [600,000 pounds, counting +the THALERS into sterling], above four millions worth of bread and +forage gone to ashes, and the very boats burnt? Well; the poor +Reichsfolk, or our poor Auxiliaries to them, will have empty +haversacks:--but it is not Prag!" thinks Daun. + +At what exact point of time Daun came to see that Friedrich was not +intending Invasion, and would, on the contrary, require to be +invaded, I do not know. But it must have been an interesting +discovery to Daun, if he foreshadowed to himself what results it +would have on him: "Taking the defensive, then? And what is to +become of one's Cunctatorship in that case!" Yes, truly. +Cunctatorship is not now the trade needed; there is nothing to be +made of playing Fabius-Cunctator:--and Daun's fame henceforth is a +diminishing quantity. The Books say he "wasted above five weeks in +corresponding with the Russian Generals." In fact, he had now weeks +enough on hand; being articulately resolved (and even commanded by +Kriegshofrath) to do nothing till the Russians came up;--and also +(INarticulately and by command of Nature) to do as little as +possible after! This Year, and indeed all years following, the +Russians are to be Daun's best card. + +Waiting for three months here till the curtain rose, it was +Friedrich that had to play Cunctator. A wearisome task to him, we +need not doubt. But he did it with anxious vigilance; ever thinking +Daun would try something, either on Prince Henri or on him, and +that the Play would begin. But the Play did not. There was endless +scuffling and bickering of Outposts; much hitching and counter- +hitching, along that Bohemian-Silesian Frontier,--Daun gradually +hitching up, leftwards, northwards, to be nearer his Russians; +Friedrich counter-hitching, and, in the end, detaching against the +Russians, as they approached in actuality. The details of all which +would break the toughest patience. Not till July came, had both +parties got into the Lausitz; Daun into an impregnable Camp near +Mark-Lissa (in Gorlitz Country); Friedrich, opposite and eastward +of him, into another at Schmottseifen:--still after which, as the +Russians still were not come, the hitching (if we could concern +ourselves with it), the maze of strategic shuffling and counter- +dancing, as the Russians get nearer, will become more intricate +than ever. + +Except that of General Beck on Battalion Duringshofen,--if that was +meant as retaliatory, and was not rather an originality of Beck's, +who is expert at such strokes,--Daun, in return for all these +injurious Assaults and Breakages, tried little or no retaliation; +and got absolutely none. Deville attempted once, as we saw; +Loudon once, as perhaps we shall see: but both proved futile. +For the present absolutely none. Next Year indeed, Loudon, on +Fouquet at Landshut-- But let us not anticipate! Just before +quitting Landshut for Schmottseifen, Friedrich himself rode into +Bohemia, to look more narrowly; and held Trautenau, at the bottom +of the Pass, for a day or two--But the reader has had enough of +Small-War! Of the present Loudon attempt, Friedrich, writing to +Brother Henri, who is just home from his Franconian Invasion +(BREAKAGE FIFTH), has a casual word, which we will quote. +"Reich-Hennersdorf" is below Landshut, farther down the Pass; +"Liebau" still farther down,--and its "Gallows," doubtless, is on +some knoll in the environs! + +REICH-HENNERSDORF, 9th JUNE. "My congratulations on the excellent +success you have had [out in Frankenland yonder]! Your prisoners, +we hear, are 3,000; the desertion and confusion in the Reichs Army +are affirmed to be enormous:--I give those Reichs fellows two good +months [scarcely took so long] to be in a condition to show face +again. As for ourselves, I can send you nothing but +contemptibilities. We have never yet had the beatific vision of Him +with the Hat and Consecrated Sword [Papal Daun, that is]; +they amuse us with the Sieur Loudon instead;--who, three days ago +[7th July, two days] did us the honor of a visit, at the Gallows of +Liebau. He was conducted out again, with all the politeness +imaginable, on to near Schatzlar," well over the Bohemian Border; +"where we flung a score of cannon volleys into the"--into the +"DERRIERE of him, and everybody returned home." [In SCHONING, ii. +65: "9th June, 1759."] + +Perhaps the only points now noticeable in this tedious Landshut +interim, are Two, hardly noticed then at all by an expectant world. +The first is: That in the King's little inroad down to Trautenau, +just mentioned, four cannon drawn by horses were part of the King's +fighting gear,--the first appearance of Horse Artillery in the +world. "A very great invention," says the military mind: "guns and +carriages are light, and made of the best material for strength; +the gunners all mounted as postilions to them. Can scour along, +over hill and dale, wherever horse can; and burst out, on the +sudden, where nobody was expecting artillery. Devised in 1758; +ready this Year, four light six-pounders; tried first in the King's +raid down to Trautenau [June 29th-30th]. Only four pieces as yet. +But these did so well, there were yearly more. Imitated by the +Austrians, and gradually by all the world." [Seyfarth, ii. 543.] + +The second fact is: That Herr Guichard (Author of that fine Book on +the War-methods of the Greeks and Romans) is still about Friedrich, +as he has been for above a year past, if readers remember; +and, during those tedious weeks, is admitted to a great deal of +conversation with the King. Readers will consent to this Note on +Guichard; and this shall be our ultimatum on the wearisome Three +Months at Landshut. + +MAJOR QUINTUS ICILIUS. "Guichard is by birth a Magdeburger, age now +thirty-four; a solid staid man, with a good deal of hard faculty in +him, and of culture unusual for a soldier. A handy, sagacious, +learned and intelligent man; whom Friedrich, in the course of a +year's experience, has grown to see willingly about him. There is +something of positive in Guichard, of stiff and, as it were, +GRITTY, which might have offended a weaker taste; but Friedrich +likes the rugged sense of the man; his real knowledge on certain +interesting heads; and the precision with which the known and the +not rightly known are divided from one another, in Guichard. + +"Guichard's business about the King has been miscellaneous, not +worth mention hitherto; but to appearance was well done. Of talk +they are beginning to have more and more; especially at Landshut +here, in these days of waiting; a great deal of talk on the Wars of +the Ancients, Guichard's Book naturally leading to that subject. +One night, datable accidentally about the end of May, the topic +happened to be Pharsalia, and the excellent conduct of a certain +Centurion of the Tenth Legion, who, seeing Pompey's people about to +take him in flank, suddenly flung himself into oblique order +[SCHRAGE STELLUNG, as we did at Leutheu], thereby outflanking +Pompey's people, and ruining their manoeuvre and them. 'A dexterous +man, that Quintus Icilius the Centurion!' observed Friedrich. 'Ah, +yes: but excuse me, your Majesty, his name was Quintus Caecilius,' +said Guichard. 'No, it was Icilius,' said the King, positive to his +opinion on that small point; which Guichard had not the art to let +drop; though, except assertion and counter-assertion, what could be +made of it there? Or of what use was it anywhere? + +"Next day, Guichard came with the book [what "Book" nobody would +ever yet tell me], and putting his finger on the passage, 'See, +your Majesty: Quintus CAEcilius!' extinguished his royal opponent. +'Hm,' answered Friedrich: 'so?--Well, you shall be Quintus Icilius, +at any rate!' And straightway had him entered on the Army Books 'as +Major Quintus Icilius;' his Majorship is to be dated '10th April, +1758' (to give him seniority); and from and after this '26th May, +1759,' he is to command the late Du Verger's Free-Battalion. +All which was done:--the War-Offices somewhat astonished at such +advent of an antique Roman among them; but writing as bidden, the +hand being plain, and the man an undeniable article. Onward from +which time there is always a 'Battalion Quintus' on their Books, +instead of Battalion Du Verger; by degrees two Batallions Quintus, +and at length three, and Quintus become a Colonel:--at which point +the War ended; and the three Free-Battalions Quintus, like all +others of the same type, were discharged." This is the authentic +origin of the new name Quintus, which Guichard got, to extinction +of the old; substantially this, as derived from Quintus himself,-- +though in the precise details of it there are obscurities, never +yet solved by the learned. Nicolai, for example, though he had the +story from Quintus in person, who was his familiar acquaintance, +and often came to see him at Berlin, does not, with his usual +punctuality, say, nor even confess that he has forgotten, what Book +it was that Quintus brought with him to confute the King on their +Icilius-Caecilius controversy; Nicolai only says, that he, for his +part, in the fields of Roman Literature and History, knows only +three Quintus-Iciliuses, not one of whom is of the least +likelihood; and in fact, in the above summary, I have had to INVERT +my Nicolai on one point, to make the story stick together. +[Nicolai, <italic> Anekdoten, <end italic> vi. 129-145.] + +"Quintus had been bred for the clerical profession; carefully, at +various Universities, Leyden last of all; and had even preached, as +candidate for license,--I hope with moderate orthodoxy;--though he +soon renounced that career. Exchanged it for learned and vigorous +general study, with an eye to some College Professorship instead. +He was still hardly twenty-three, when, in 1747, the new +Stadtholder," Prince of Orange, whom we used to know, "who had his +eye upon him as a youth of merit, graciously undertook to get him +placed at Utrecht, in a vacancy which had just occurred there,-- +whither the Prince was just bound, on some ceremonial visit of a +high nature. The glad Quintus, at that time Guichard and little +thinking of such an alias, hastened to set off in the Prince's +train; but could get no conveyance, such was the press of people +all for Utrecht. And did not arrive till next day,--and found +quarter, with difficulty, in the garret of some overflowing Inn. + +"In the lower stories of his Inn, solitary Guichard, when night +fell, heard a specific GAUDEAMUS going on; and inquired what it +was. 'A company of Professors, handselling a newly appointed +Professor;'--appointed, as the next question taught, to the very +Chair poor Quintus had come for! Serene Highness could not help +himself; the Utrechters were so bent on the thing. Quintus lay +awake, all night, in his truckle-bed; and gloomily resolved to have +done with Professorships, and become a soldier. 'If your Serene +Highness do still favor me,' said Quintus next day, 'I solicit, as +the one help for me, an ensign's commission!'--And persisted +rigorously, in spite of all counsellings, promises and outlooks on +the professorial side of things. So that Serene Highness had to +grant him his commission; and Quintus was a soldier thenceforth. +Fought, more or less, in the sad remainder of that Cumberland-Saxe +War; and after the Peace of 1748 continued in the Dutch service. +Where, loath to be idle, he got his learned Books out again, and +took to studying thoroughly the Ancient Art of War. After years of +this, it had grown so hopeful that he proceeded to a Book upon it; +and, by degrees, determined that he must get to certain Libraries +in England, before finishing. In 1754, on furlough, graciously +allowed and continued, he came to London accordingly; finished his +manuscript there (printed at the Hague 1757 [<italic> Memoires +Militaires sur les &c. <end italic> (a La Haye, 1757: 2 vols. +4to);--was in the 5th edition when I last heard of it.]): and new +War having now begun, went over (probably with English +introductions) as volunteer to Duke Ferdinand. By Duke Ferdinand he +was recommended to Friedrich, the goal of all his efforts, as of +every vagrant soldier's in those times:--and here at last, as +Quintus Icilius, he has found permanent billet, a Battalion and +gradually three Battalions, and will not need to roam any farther. + +"They say, what is very credible, that Quintus proved an active, +stout and effectual soldier, in his kind; and perhaps we may hear +of some of his small-war adventures by and by: that he was a +studious, hard-headed, well-informed man, and had written an +excellent Book on his subject, is still abundantly clear. +Readers may look in the famous Gibbon's <italic> Autobiography, +<end italic> or still better in the Guichard Book itself, if they +want evidence. The famous Gibbon was drilling and wheeling, very +peaceably indeed, in the Hampshire Militia, in those wild years of +European War. Hampshire Militia served as key, or glossary in a +sort, to this new Book of Guichard's, which Gibbon eagerly bought +and studied; and it, was Guichard, ALIAS Quintus Icilius, who +taught Gibbon all he ever knew of Ancient War, at least all the +teaching he ever had of it, for his renowned DECLINE AND FALL." +[See Gibbon's <italic> Works <end italic> (4to, London, 1796: +<italic> Memoirs of my Life and Writings <end italic>), i. 97; +and (<italic> Extraits de mes Lectures <end italic>), ii. 52-54, of +dates May 14th-26th, 1762,--during which days Gibbon is engaged in +actual reading of the <italic> Memoires Militaires; <end italic> +and already knows the Author by his ALIAS of Quintus Icilius, "a +man of eminent sagacity and insight, who was in the Dutch, and is +now, I believe, in the Prussian service." + +It was in the last days of June that Daun, after many litchings, +got into more decisive general movement northward; and slowly but +steadily planted himself at Mark-Lissa in the Lausitz: upon which, +after some survey of the phenomenon, Friedrich got to +Schmottseifen, opposite him, July 10th. Friedrich, on noticing such +stir, had ridden down to Trautenau (June 29th-30th), new Horse- +Artillery attending, to look closer into Daun's affairs; +and, seeing what they were, had thereupon followed. Above a month +before this, Friedrich had detached a considerable force against +the Russians,--General Dohna, of whom in next Chapter:--and both +Daun and he again sit waiting, till they see farther. +Rapid Friedrich is obliged to wait; watching Daun and the Dohna- +Russian adventure: slow Daun will continue to wait and watch there, +long weeks and months, after that is settled, that and much else, +fully to his mind! Each is in his impregnable Camp; and each, Daun +especially, has his Divisions and Detachments hovering round him, +near or far, on different strategic errands; each Main-Camp like a +planet with various moons--Mark-Lissa especially, a kind of sun +with planets and comets and planetary moons:--of whose intricate +motions and counter-motions, mostly unimportant to us, we promised +to take no notice, in face of such a crisis just at hand. + +By the 6th of July, slow Daun had got hitched into his Camp of +Mark-Lissa; and four days after, Friedrich attending him, was in +Schmottseifen: where again was pause; and there passed nothing +mentionable, even on Friedrich's score; and till July was just +ending, the curtain did not fairly rise. Panse of above two weeks +on Friedrich's part, and of almost three months on Daun's. +Mark-Lissa, an impregnable Camp, is on the Lausitz Border; +with Saxony, Silesia, Bohemia all converging hereabouts, and +Brandenburg itself in the vicinity,--there is not a better place +for waiting on events. Here, accordingly, till well on in +September, Daun sat immovable; not even hitching now,--only +shooting out Detachments, planetary, cometary, at a great rate, +chiefly on his various Russian errands. + +Daun, as we said, had been uncomfortably surprised to find, by +degrees, that Invasion was not Friedrich's plan this Year; that the +dramatic parts are redistributed, and that the playing of Fabius- +Cunctator will not now serve one's turn. Daun, who may well be +loath to believe such a thing, clings to his old part, and seems +very lazy to rise and try another. In fact, he does not rise, +properly speaking, or take up his new part at all. This Year, and +all the following, he waits carefully till the Russian Lion come; +will then endeavor to assist,--or even do jackal, which will be +safer still. The Russians he intends shall act lion; he himself +modestly playing the subaltern but much safer part! Diligent to +flatter the lion; will provide him guidances, and fractional +sustenances, in view of the coming hunt; will eat the lion's +leavings, once the prey is slaughtered. This really was, in some +sort, Daun's yearly game, so long as it would last!-- + +July ending, and the curtain fairly risen, we shall have to look at +Friedrich with our best eyesight. Preparatory to which, there is, +on Friedrich's part, ever since the middle of June, this Anti- +Russian Dohna adventure going on:--of which, at first, and till +about the time of getting to Schmottseifen, he had great hopes; +great, though of late rapidly sinking again:--into which we must +first throw a glance, as properly the opening scene. + +Fouquet has been left at Landshut, should the Daun remnants still +in Bohemia think of invading. Fouquet is about rooting himself +rather firmly into that important Post; fortifying various select +Hills round Landshut, with redoubts, curtains, communications; +so as to keep ward there, inexpugnable to a much stronger force. +There for about a year, with occasional short sallies, on errands +that arise, Fouquet sat successfully vigilant; resisting the +Devilles, Becks, Harsches; protecting Glatz and the Passes of +Silesia: in about a year we shall hear of his fortunes worsening, +and of a great catastrophe to him in that Landshut Post. + +Friedrich allowed the Reichsfolk "two good months," after all that +flurrying and havoc done on them, "before they could show face in +Saxony." They did take about that time; and would have taken more, +had not Prince Henri been called away by other pressing occasions +in Friedrich's own neighborhood; and Saxony, for a good while (end +of June to beginning of September), been left almost bare of +Prussian troops. Which encourages the Reichs Army to hurry afield +in very unprepared condition,--still rather within the two months. +End of July, Light people of them push across to Halberstadt or +Halle Country; and are raising Contributions, and plundering +diligently, if nothing else. Of which we can take no notice +farther: if the reader can recollect it, well; if not, also well. +The poor Reichs Army nominally makes a figure this Year, but +nominally only; the effective part of it, now and henceforth, being +Austrian Auxiliaries, and the Reichs part as flaccid and +insignificant as ever. + +Prince Henri's call to quit Saxony was this. Daun, among the +numerous Detachments he was making, of which we can take no notice, +had shot out Two (rather of COMETARY type, to use our old figure), +--which every reader must try to keep in mind. Two Detachments, +very considerable: Haddick (who grew at last to 20,000), and Loudon +(16,000); who are hovering about mysteriously over the Lausitz;-- +intending what? Their intention, Friedrich thinks, especially +Haddick's intention, may be towards Brandenburg, and even Berlin: +wherefore he has summoned Henri to look after it. Henri, resting in +cantonments about Tschopau and Dresden, after the late fatigues, +and idle for the moment, hastens to obey; and is in Bautzen +neighborhood, from about the end of June and onward. Sufficiently +attentive to Haddick and Loudon: who make no attempt on +Brandenburg; having indeed, as Friedrich gradually sees, and as all +of us shall soon see, a very different object in view!-- + + + +Chapter II. + +GENERAL DOHNA; DICTATOR WEDELL: BATTLE OF ZULLICHAU. + +The Russian Lion, urged by Vienna and Versailles, made his entry, +this Year, earlier than usual,--coming now within wind of Mark- +Lissa, as we see;--and has stirred Daun into motion, Daun and +everybody. From the beginning of April, the Russians, hibernating +in the interior parts of Poland, were awake, and getting slowly +under way. April 24th, the Vanguard of 10,000 quitted Thorn; +June 1st, Vanguard is in Posen; followed by a First Division and a +Second, each of 30,000. They called it "Soltikof crossing the +Weichsel with 100,000 men;" but, exclusive of the Cossack swarms, +there were not above 76,000 regulars: nor was Soltikof their +Captain just at first; our old friend Fermor was, and continued to +be till Soltikof, in a private capacity, reached Posen (June 29th), +and produced his new commission. At Fermor's own request, as Fermor +pretended,--who was skilled in Petersburg politics, and with a +cheerful face served thenceforth as Soltikof's second. + +At Posen, as on the road thither, they find Sulkowski's and the +other burnt provenders abundantly replaced: it is evident they +intend, in concert with Daun, to enclose Friedrich between two +fires, and do something considerable. Whether on Brandenburg or +Silesia, is not yet known to Friedrich. Friedrich, since the time +they crossed Weichsel, has given them his best attention; and more +than once has had schemes on their Magazines and them,--once a new +and bigger Scheme actually afoot, under Wobersnow again, our Anti- +Sulkowski friend; but was obliged to turn the force elsewhither, on +alarms that rose. He himself cannot quit the centre of the work; +his task being to watch Daun, and especially, should Daun attempt +nothing else, to prevent junction of Soltikof and him. + +Daun still lies torpid, or merely hitching about; but now when the +Russians are approaching Posen, and the case becomes pressing, +Friedrich, as is usual to him, draws upon the Anti-Swedish +resource, upon the Force he has in Pommern. That is to say, orders +General Dohna, who has the Swedes well driven in at present, to +quit Stralsund Country, to leave the ineffectual Swedes with some +very small attendance; and to march--with certain reinforcements +that are arriving (Wobersnow already, Hulsen with 10,000 out of +Saxony in few days)--direct against the Russians; and at once go in +upon them. Try to burn their Magazines again; or, equally good, to +fall vigorously on some of their separate Divisions, and cut them +off in the vagrant state;--above all, to be vigorous, be rapid, +sharp, and do something effectual in that quarter. These were +Dohna's Instructions. Dohna has 18,000; Hulsen, with his 10,000, is +industriously striding forward, from the farther side of Saxony; +Wobersnow, with at least his own fine head, is already there. +Friedrich, watching in the Anti-Junction position, ready for the +least chance that may turn up. + +Dohna marched accordingly; but was nothing like rapid enough: +an old man, often in ill health too; and no doubt plenty of +impediments about him. He consumed some time rallying at Stargard; +twelve days more at Landsberg, on the Warta, settling his provision +matters: in fine, did not get to Posen neighborhood till June 23d, +three weeks after the Russian Vanguard of 10,000 had fixed itself +there, and other Russian parties were daily dropping in. Dohna was +15,000, a Wobersnow with him: had he gone at once on Posen, as +Wobersnow urged, it is thought he might perhaps have ruined this +Vanguard and the Russian Magazine; which would have been of signal +service for the remaining Campaign. But he preferred waiting for +Hulsen and the 10,000, who did not arrive for seven or eight days +more; by which time Soltikof and most of the Russian Divisions had +got in;--and the work was become as good as hopeless, on those +languid terms. Dohna did try upon the Magazine, said to be ill +guarded in some Suburb of Posen; crossed the Warta with that view, +found no Magazine; recrossed the Warta; and went manoeuvring about, +unable to do the least good on Soltikof or his Magazines or +operations. Friedrich was still in Landshut region, just about +quitting it,--just starting on that little Trautenau Expedition, +with his Four Pieces of Horse-Artillery (June 29th), when the first +ill news of Dohna came in; which greatly disappointed Friedrich, +and were followed by worse, instead of better. + +The end was, Soltikof, being now all ready, winded himself out of +Posen one day, veiled by Cossacks; and, to Dohna's horror, had got, +or was in the act of getting, between Dohna and Brandenburg; +which necessitated new difficult manoeuvres from Dohna. +Soltikof too can manoeuvre a little: Soltikof edges steadily +forward; making for Crossen-on-Oder, where he expects to find +Austrians (Haddick and Loudon, if Friedrich could yet guess it), +with 30,000 odd, especially with provision, which is wearing scarce +with him. Twice or so there was still a pretty opportunity for +Dohna on him; but Dohna never could resolve about it in time. +Back and ever back goes Dohna; facing Soltikof; but always hitching +back; latterly in Brandenburg ground, the Russians and he;--having +no provision, he either. In fine, July 17th (one week after +Friedrich had got to Schmottseifen), Dohna finds himself at the +little Town of Zullichau (barely in time to snatch it before +Soltikof could), within thirty miles of Crossen; and nothing but +futility behind and before. [Tempelhof, iii, 78-88; <italic> +Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> v. 835-847.] + +We can imagine Friedrich's daily survey of all this; his gloomy +calculations what it will soon amount to if it last. He has now no +Winterfeld, Schwerin, no Keith, Retzow, Moritz:--whom has he? +His noblest Captains are all gone; he must put up with the less +noble. One Wedell, Lieutenant-General, had lately recommended +himself to the royal mind by actions of a prompt daring. The royal +mind, disgusted with these Dohna hagglings, and in absolute +necessity of finding somebody that had resolution, and at least +ordinary Prussian skill, hoped Wedell was the man. And determined, +the crisis being so urgent, to send Wedell in the character of +ALTER-EGO, or "with the powers of a Roman Dictator," as the Order +expressed it. [Given in Preuss, ii. 207, 208; in Stenzel, v. 212, +other particulars.] Dictator Wedell is to supersede Dohna; +shall go, at his own swift pace, fettered by nobody;--and, at all +hazards, shall attack Soltikof straightway, and try to beat him. +"You are grown too old for that intricate hard work; go home a +little, and recover your health," the King writes to Dohna. And to +the Dohna Army, "Obey this man, all and sundry of you, as you would +myself;" the man's private Order being, "Go in upon Soltikof; +attack him straightway; let us have done with this wriggling and +haggling." Date of this Order is "Camp at Schmottseifen, 20th July, +1759." The purpose of such high-flown Title, and solemnity of +nomination, was mainly, it appears, to hush down any hesitation or +surprise among the Dohna Generals, which, as Wedell was "the +youngest Lieutenant-General of the Army," might otherwise have +been possible. + +Wedell, furnished with some small escort and these Documents, +arrives in Camp Sunday Evening, 22d July:--poor Dohna has not the +least word or look of criticism; and every General, suppressing +whatever thoughts there may be, prepares to yield loyal obedience +to Dictator Wedell. "Wobersnow was the far better soldier of the +two!" murmured the Opposition party, then and long afterwards, +[Retzow, &c.]--all the more, as Wobersnow's behavior under it was +beautiful, and his end tragical, as will be seen. Wobersnow I +perceive to have been a valiant sharp-striking man, with +multifarious resources in his head; who had faithfully helped in +these operations, and I believe been urgent to quicken them. +But what I remember best of him is his hasty admirable contrivance +for field-bakery in pressing circumstances,--the substance of which +shall not be hidden from a mechanical age:-- + +"You construct six slight square iron frames, each hinged to the +other; each, say, two feet square, or the breadth of two common +tiles, and shaped on the edges so as to take in tiles;--tiles are +to be found on every human cottage. This iron frame, when you hook +it together, becomes the ghost of a cubic box, and by the help of +twelve tiles becomes a compact field-oven; and you can bake with +it, if you have flour and water, and a few sticks. The succinctest +oven ever heard of; for your operation done, and your tiles flung +out again, it is capable of all folding flat like a book." +[Retzow, ii. 82 n.] Never till now had Wobersnow's oven been at +fault: but in these Polish Villages, all of mere thatched hovels, +there was not a tile to be found; and the Bakery, with +astonishment, saw itself unable to proceed. + +Wedell arrived Sunday evening, 22d July; had crossed Oder at +Tschischerzig,--some say by Crossen Bridge; no matter which. +Dohna's Camp is some thirty miles west of Crossen; in and near the +small Town called Zullichau, where his head-quarter is. In those +dull peaty Countries, on the right, which is thereabouts the +NORTHERN (not eastern), bank of Oder; between the Oder and the +Warta; some seventy miles south-by-east of Landsberg, and perhaps +as far southwest of Posen: thither has Dohna now got with his +futile manoeuvrings. Soltikof, drawn up amid scrubby woods and +sluggish intricate brooks, is about a mile to east of him. + +Poor Dohna demits at once; and, I could conjecture, vanishes that +very night; glad to be out of such a thing. Painfully has Dohna +manoeuvred for weeks past; falling back daily; only anxious +latterly that Soltikof, who daily tries it, do not get to westward +of him on the Frankfurt road, and so end this sad shuffle. +Soltikof as yet has not managed that ultimate fatality; Dohna, by +shuffling back, does at least contrive to keep between Frankfurt +and him;--will not try attacking him, much as Wobersnow urges it. +Has agreed twice or oftener, on Wobersnow's urgency: "Yes, yes; +we have a chance," Dohna would answer; "only let us rest till +to-morrow, and be fresh!" by which time the opportunity was always +gone again. + +Wedell had arrived with a grenadier battalion and some horse for +escort; had picked up 150 Russian prisoners by the way. Retzow has +understood he came in with a kind of state; and seemed more or less +inflated; conscious of representing the King's person, and being a +Roman Dictator,--though it is a perilously difficult office too, +and requires more than a Letter of Instructions to qualify you for +it! This is not Leonidas Wedell, whom readers once knew; +poor Leonidas is dead long since, fell in the Battle of Sohr, soon +after the heroic feat of Ziethen's and his at Elbe-Teinitz (Defence +of Elbe against an Army); this is Leonidas's elder Brother. +Friedrich had observed his fiery ways on the day of Leuthen: +"Hah, a new Winterfeld perhaps?" thought Friedrich, "All the +Winterfeld I now have!"--which proved a fond hope. Wedell's +Dictatorship began this Sunday towards sunset; and lasted--in +practical fact, it lasted one day. + + +DICTATOR WEDELL FIGHTS HIS BATTLE (Monday, 23d July, 1759), +WITHOUT SUCCESS. + +Monday morning early, Wedell is on the heights, reconnoitring +Soltikof; cannot see much of him, the ground being so woody; +does see what he takes to be Soltikof's left wing; and judges that +Soltikof will lie quiet for this day. Which was far from a right +reading of Soltikof; the fact being that Soltikof, in long columns +and divisions, beginning with his right wing, was all on march +since daybreak; what Wedell took for Soltikof's "left wing" being +Soltikof's rear-guard and baggage, waiting till the roads cleared. +Wedell, having settled everything on the above footing, returns to +Zullichau about 10 o'clock; and about 11, Soltikof, miles long, +disengaged from the bushy hollows, makes his appearance on the open +grounds of Palzig: he, sure enough (though Wedell can hardly +believe it),--five or six miles to northeast yonder; +tramping diligently along, making for Crossen and the Oder Bridge; +--and is actually got ahead of us, at last! + +This is what Wedell cannot suffer, cost what it may. +Wedell's orders were, in such case, Attack the Russians. +Wedell instantly took his measures; not unskilfully, say judges,-- +though the result proved disappointing; and Wobersnow himself +earnestly dissuaded: "Too questionable, I should doubt! Soltikof is +70,000, and has no end of Artillery; we are 26,000, and know not if +we can bring a single gun to where Soltikof is!" [Tempelhof, iii. +132-134.] + +Wedell's people have already, of their own accord, got to arms +again; stand waiting his orders on this new emergency. No delay in +Wedell or in them. "May not it be another Rossbach (if we are +lucky)?" thinks Wedell: "Cannot we burst in on their flank, as they +march yonder, those awkward fellows; and tumble them into heaps?" +The differences were several-fold: First, that Friedrich and +Seidlitz are not here. Many brave men we have, and skilful; but not +a master and man like these Two. Secondly, that there is no Janus +Hill to screen our intentions; but that the Russians have us in +full view while we make ready. Thirdly, and still more important, +that we do not know the ground, and what hidden inaccessibilities +lie ahead. This last is judged to have been the killing +circumstance. Between the Russians and us there is a paltry little +Brook, or line of quagmire; scarcely noticeable here, but passable +nowhere except at the Village-Mill of Kay, by one poor Bridge +there. And then, farther inwards, as shelter of the Russians, there +is another quaggy Brook, branch of the above, which is without +bridge altogether. Hours will be required to get 26,000 people +marched up there, not to speak of heavy guns at all. + +The 26,000 march with their usual mathematical despatch: Manteuffel +and the Vanguard strike in with their sharpest edge, foot and +horse, direct on the Head of the Russian Column, Manteuffel leading +on, so soon as his few battalions and squadrons are across. +Head means BRAIN (or life) to this Russian Column; and these +Manteuffel people go at it with extraordinary energy. The Russian +Head gives way; infantry and cavalry:--their cavalry was driven +quite to rear, and never came in sight again after this of +Manteuffel. But the Russians have abundance of Reserves; also of +room to manoeuvre in,--no lack of ground open, and ground +defensible (Palzig Village and Churchyard, for example);--above +all, they have abundance of heavy guns. + +Well in recoil from Manteuffel and his furies, the beaten Russians +succeed in forming "a long Line behind Palzig Village," with that +Second, slighter or Branch Quagmire between them and us; they get +the Village beset, and have the Churchyard of it lined with +batteries,--say seventy guns. Manteuffel, unsupported, has to fall +back;--unwillingly, and not chased or in disorder,--towards Kay- +Mill again; where many are by this time across. Hulsen, with the +Centre, attacks now, as the Vanguard had done; with a will, he too: +Wobersnow, all manner of people attack; time after time, for about +four hours coming: and it proves all in vain, on that Churchyard +and new Line. Without cannon, we are repulsed, torn away by those +Russian volcano-batteries; never enough of us at once! + +Hulsen, Wobersnow, everybody in detail is repulsed, or finds his +success unavailing. Poor Wobersnow did wonders; but he fell, +killed. Gone he; and has left so few of his like: a man that could +ill be spared at present!--Day is sinking; we find we have lost, in +killed, wounded and prisoners, some 6,000 men. "About sunset,"-- +flaming July sun going down among the moorlands on such a scene,-- +Wedell gives it up; retires slowly towards Kay Bridge. Slowly; +not chased, or molested; Soltikof too glad to be rid of him. +Soltikof's one aim is, and was, towards Crossen; towards Austrian +Junction, and something to live upon. Soltikof's loss of men is +reckoned to be heavier even than Wedell's: but he could far better +afford it. He has gained his point; and the price is small in +comparison. Next day he enters Crossen on triumphant terms. + +Poor Wedell had returned over Kay-Mill Bridge, in the night-time +after his Defeat. On the morrow (Tuesday, 24th, day of Soltikof's +glad entry), Wedell crosses Oder; at Tschischerzig, the old place +of Sunday evening last,--in how different a humor, this time!--and +in a day more, posts himself opposite to Crossen Bridge, five or +six miles south; and again sits watchful of Soltikof there. +At Crossen, triumphant Soltikof has found no Austrian Junction, nor +anything additional to live upon. A very disappointing circumstance +to Soltikof; "Austrian Junction still a problem, then; a thing in +the air? And perhaps the King of Prussia taking charge of it now!" +Soltikof, more and more impatient, after waiting some days, decided +Not to cross Oder by that Bridge;--"shy of crossing anywhere [think +the French Gentlemen, Montazet, Montalembert], to the King of +Prussia's side!" [Stenzel, iv. 215 (indistinct, and giving a WRONG +citation of "Montalembert, ii. 87").] Which is not unlikely, though +the King is above 100 miles off him, and has Daun on his hands. +Certain enough, keeping the River between him and any operations of +the King, Soltikof set out for Frankfurt, forty or fifty miles +farther down. In the hope probably of finding something of human +provender withal? July 30th, one week after his Battle, the +vanguard of him is there. + +Thus, in two days, or even in one, has Wedell's Dictatorship ended. +Easy to say scoffingly, "Would it had never begun!" Friedrich knows +that, and Wedell knows it;--AFTER the event everybody knows it! +Friedrich said nothing of reproachful; the reverse rather,-- +"I dreaded something of the kind; it is not your fault;" +[TO WEDELL, FROM THE KING, "Schmottseifen, July 24th. 1759" (in +Schoning, ii. 118).]--ordered Wedell to watch diligently at Crossen +Bridge, and be ready on farther signal. The Wedell Problem, in such +ruined condition, has now fallen to Friedrich himself. + +This is the BATTLE OF ZULLICHAU (afternoon of 23d July, 1759); +the beginning of immense disasters in this Campaign. Battle called +also of KAY and of PALZIG, those also being main localities in it. +It was lost, not by fault of Wedell's people, who spent themselves +nobly upon it, nor perhaps by fault of Wedell himself, but +principally, if not solely, by those two paltry Brooks, or threads +of Quagmire, one of which turns Kay-Mill; memorable Brooks in this +Campaign, 1759. [Tempelhof, iii. 125-131.] + +Close in the same neighborhood, there is another equally +contemptible Brook, making towards Oder, and turning the so-called +Krebsmuhle, which became still more famous to the whole European +Public twenty years hence. KREBS-MUHLE (Crab-Mill), as yet quite +undistinguished among Mills; belonging to a dusty individual called +Miller Arnold, with a dusty Son of his own for Miller's Lad: was it +at work this day? Or had the terrible sound from Palzig quenched +its clacking?-- + +Some three weeks ago (4th-6th JULY), there occurred a sudden sharp +thing at Havre-de-Grace on the French Coast, worth a word from us +in this place. The Montazets, Montalemberts, watching, messaging +about, in the Austrian-Russian Courts and Camps, assiduously +keeping their Soltikofs in tune, we can observe how busy they are. +Soubise with his Invasion of England, all the French are very busy; +they have conquered Hessen from Duke Ferdinand, and promise +themselves a glorious Campaign, after that Seizure of Frankfurt. +Soubise, intent on his new Enterprise, is really making ardent +preparations: at Vanues in the Morbihan, such rendezvousing and +equipping;--especially at Havre, no end of flat-bottomed boats +getting built; and much bluster and agitation among the weaker +sorts in both Nations. Whereupon,-- + +"JULY 1st [just in the days while Friedrich was first trying Horse +Artillery], Rear-Admiral Rodney sails from Portsmouth with a few +Frigates, and Six Bomb-ketches [FIREDRAKE, BASILISK, BLAST, and +such nomenclatures [List of him, in Beatson, <italic> Naval and +Military Memoirs <end italic> (London, 1804), ii. 241; his Despatch +excellently brief, ib. ii. 323]]; and in the afternoon of Tuesday, +3d, arrives in the frith or bay of Havre. Steers himself properly +into 'the Channel of Honfleur' before dark; and therefrom, with his +Firedrake, Basilisk and Company, begins such a bombardment of Havre +and the flat-bottomed manufactories as was quite surprising. +Fifty-two incessant hours of it, before he thought poor Havre had +enough. Poor Havre had been on fire six times; the flat manufactory +(unquenchable) I know not how many; all the inhabitants off in +despair; and the Garrison building this battery to no purpose, then +that; no salvation for them but in Rodney's 'mortars getting too +hot.' He had fired of shells 1,900, of carcasses, 1,150: +from Wednesday about sunrise till Friday about 8 A.M.,--about time +now for breakfast; which I hope everybody had, after such a stretch +of work. 'No damage to speak of,' said the French Gazetteers; +'we will soon refit everything!' But they never did; and nothing +came of Havre henceforth. Vannes was always, and is now still more, +to be the main place; only that Hawke--most unexpectedly, for one +fancied all their ships employed in distant parts--rides there with +a Channel Fleet of formidable nature; and the previous question +always is: 'Cannot we beat Hawke? Can we! Or will not he perhaps +go, of himself, when the rough weather comes?'" + + + +Chapter III. + +FRIEDRICH IN PERSON ATTEMPTS THE RUSSIAN PROBLEM; NOT WITH SUCCESS. + +Before Wedell's catastrophe, the Affair of those Haddick-Loudon +Detachments had become a little plainer to Friedrich. +The intention, he begins to suspect, is not for Berlin at all; +but for junction with Soltikof,--at Crossen, or wherever it may be. +This is in fact their real purpose; and this, beyond almost Berlin +itself, it is in the highest degree important to prevent! +Important; and now as if become impossible! + +Prince Henri had come to Bautzen with his Army, specially to look +after Loudon and Haddick; and he has, all this while, had Finck +with some 10,000 diligently patrolling to westward of them, +guarding Berlin; he himself watching from the southern side,-- +where, as on the western, there was no danger from them. Some time +before Wedell's affair, Friedrich had pushed out Eugen of +Wurtemberg to watch these people on the eastern side;--suspicious +that thitherward lay their real errand. Eugen had but 6,000; +and, except in conjunction with Finck and Henri, could do nothing, +--nor can, now when Friedrich's suspicion turns out to be fatally +true. Friedrich had always the angry feeling that Finck and Prince +Henri were the blameworthy parties in what now ensued; that they, +who were near, ought to have divined these people's secret, and +spoiled it in time; not have left it to him who was far off, and so +busy otherwise. To the last, that was his fixed private opinion; +by no means useful to utter,--especially at present, while +attempting the now very doubtful enterprise himself, and needing +all about him to be swift and zealous. This is one of Friedrich's +famous labors, this of the Haddick-Loudon junction with Soltikof; +strenuous short spasm of effort, of about a week's continuance; +full of fiery insight, velocity, energy; still admired by judges, +though it was unsuccessful, or only had half success. Difficult to +bring home, in any measure, to the mind of modern readers, so +remote from it. + +Friedrich got the news of Zullichau next day, July 24th;--and +instantly made ready. The case is critical; especially this +Haddick-Loudon part of it: add 30 or 36,000 Austrians to Soltikof, +how is he then to be dealt with? A case stringently pressing:--and +the resources for it few and scattered. For several days past, +Haddick, and Loudon under him, whose motions were long enigmatic, +have been marching steadily eastward through the Lausitz,--with the +evident purpose of joining Soltikof; unless Wedell could forbid. +Wedell ahead was the grand opposition;--Finck, Henri, Wurtemberg, +as good as useless;--and Wedell being now struck down, these +Austrians will go, especially Loudon will, at a winged rate. +They are understood to be approaching Sagan Country; happily, as +yet, well to westward of it, and from Sagan Town well +NORTH-westward;--but all accounts of them are vague, dim: they are +an obscure entity to Friedrich, but a vitally important one. +Sagan Town may be about 70 miles northward of where Friedrich now +is: from Sagan, were they once in the meridian of Sagan, their road +is free eastward and northward;--to Crossen is about 60 miles +north-by-east from Sagan, to Frankfurt near 100 north. Sagan is on +the Bober; Bober, in every event, is between the Austrians and +their aim. + +Friedrich feels that, however dangerous to quit Daun's +neighborhood, he must, he in person, go at once. And who, in the +interim, will watch Daun and his enterprises? Friedrich's +reflections are: "Well, in the crisis of the moment, Saxony--though +there already are marauding Bodies of Reichsfolk in it--must still +be left to itself for a time; or cannot Finck and his 10,000 look +to it? Henri, with his Army, now useless at Bautzen, shall +instantly rendezvous at Sagan; his Army to go with me, against the +Russians and their Haddick-Loudons; Henri to Schmottseifen, instead +of me, and attend to Daun; Henri, I have no other left! Finck and +his 10,000 must take charge of Saxony, such charge as he can:--how +lucky those Spring Forays, which destroyed the Reichs Magazines! +Whereby there is no Reichs Army yet got into Saxony (nothing but +preliminary pulses and splashings of it); none yet, nor like to be +quite at once." That is Friedrich's swift plan. + +Henri rose on the instant, as did everybody concerned: July 29th, +Henri and Army were at Sagan; Army waiting for the King; Henri so +far on his road to Schmottseifen. He had come to Sagan "by almost +the rapidest marches ever heard of,"--or ever till some others of +Henri's own, which he made in that neighborhood soon. Punctual, he, +to his day; as are Eugen of Wurtemberg's people, and all +Detachments and Divisions: Friedrich himself arrives at Sagan that +same 29th, "about midnight,"--and finds plenty of work waiting: +no sleep these two nights past; and none coming just yet! A most +swift rendezvous. The speed of everybody has been, and needs still +to be, intense. + +This rendezvous at Sagan--intersection of Henri and Friedrich, +bound different roads (the Brothers, I think, did not personally +meet, Henri having driven off for Schmottseifen by a shorter road) +--was SUNDAY, JULY 29th. Following which, are six days of such a +hunt for those Austrian reynards as seldom or never was! +Most vehement, breathless, baffling hunt; half of it spent in +painfully beating cover, in mere finding and losing. Not rightly +successful, after all. So that, on the eighth day hence, AUGUST +6th, at Mullrose, near Frankfurt, 80 miles from Sagan, there is a +second rendezvous,--rendezvous of Wedell and Friedrich, who do not +now "intersect," but meet after the hunt is done;--and in the +interim, there has been a wonderful performance, though an +unsuccessful. Friedrich never could rightly get hold of his +Austrians. Once only, at Sommerfeld, a long march northwest of +Sagan, he came upon some outskirts of them. And in general, in +those latter eight days, especially in the first six of them, there +is, in that Kotbus-Sagan Country, such an intersecting, checking, +pushing and multifarious simmering of marches, on the part of half +a dozen Strategic Entities, Friedrich the centre of them, as--as, I +think, nobody but an express soldier-student, well furnished with +admiration for this particular Soldier, would consent to have +explained to him. One of the maziest, most unintelligible whirls of +marching; inextricable Sword Dance, or Dance of the Furies,--five +of them (that is the correct number: Haddick, Loudon, Friedrich, +Wurtemberg, Wedell);--and it is flung down for us, all in a huddle, +in these inhuman Books (which have several errors of the press, +too): let no man rashly insist with himself on understanding it, +unless he have need! Humanly pulled straight, not inhumanly flung +down at random, here the essentials of it are,--in very +brief state:-- + +"SAGAN, MONDAY, 30th JULY. Friedrich is at Sagan, since midnight +last, busier and busier;" beating cover, as we termed it, and +getting his hounds (his new Henri-Army) in leash; "endeavoring, +especially, to get tidings of those Austrian people; who are very +enigmatic,--Loudon a dexterous man,--and have hung up such a +curtain of Pandours between Friedrich and them as is nearly +impenetrable. In the course of this Monday Friedrich ascertains +that they are verily on the road; coming eastward, for Sommerfeld, +--'thence for Crossen!' he needs no ghost to tell him. Wherefore, + +"TUESDAY, SAGAN TO NAUMBURG. Tuesday before daybreak Friedrich too +is on the road: northwestward; in full march towards Naumburg on +Bober, meaning to catch the Bridge from them there. March of the +swiftest; he himself is ahead, as usual, with the Vanguard of +Horse. He reaches Naumburg (northward, a march of 20 miles); +finds, not Haddick or Loudon, but a Detachment of theirs: which he +at once oversets with his cavalry, and chases,--marking withal that +'westward is the way they run.' Westward; and that we are still +ahead, thank Heaven! + +"Before his Infantry are all up, or are well rested in Naumburg, +Friedrich ascertains, on more precise tidings, that the Austrians +are in Sommerfeld, to westward (again a 20 miles); and judges That, +no doubt, they will bear off more to leftward, by Guben probably, +and try to avoid him,--unless he can still catch them in +Sommerfeld. About nightfall he marches for Sommerfeld, at his +swiftest; arrives Wednesday early; finds--alas!-- + +"SOMMERFELD, WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUGUST 1st, Friedrich finds that +Loudon was there last night,--preterite tense, alas; the question +now being, Where is he!" In fact, Loudon had written yesterday to +Daun (Letter still extant, "Sommerfeld, July 31st"), That "being +swift and light," consisting of horse for most part, "he may +probably effect Junction this very night;"--but has altered his +mind very much, on sight of these fugitives from Naumburg, since! +And has borne off more to leftward. Straight north now, and at a +very brisk pace; being now all of horse;--and has an important +conference with Haddick at Guben, when they arrive there. "Not in +Sommerfeld?" thinks Friedrich (earnestly surveying, through this +slit he has made in the Pandour veil): "Gone to Guben most likely, +bearing off from us to leftward?"--Which was the fact; though not +the whole fact. And indeed the chase is now again fallen uncertain, +and there has to be some beating of covers. For one thing, he +learns to-day (August 1st) that the Russians are gone to Frankfurt: +"Follow them, you Wedell,"--orders Friedrich: them we shall have to +go into,--however this hunt end!-- + +"To Markersdorf, Thursday, August 2d. Friedrich takes the road for +Guben; reaches Markersdorf (twenty miles' march, still seven or +eight from Guben); falls upon--What phenomenon is this? +The Austrian heavy Train; meal-wagons not a few, and a regiment of +foot in charge of it;--but going the wrong way, not TOWARDS the +Russians, but from them! What on earth can this be? This is +Haddick,--if Friedrich could yet clearly know it,--Haddick and +Train, who for his own part has given up the junction enterprise. +At Guben, some hours ago, he had conference with Loudon; and this +was the conclusion arrived at: 'Impossible, with that King so near! +You, Herr Loudon, push on, without heavy baggage, and with the +Cavalry altogether: you can get in, almost 20,000 strong; I, with +the Infantry, with the meal and heavy guns, will turn, and make for +the Lausitz again!' + +"This mysterious Austrian Train, going the wrong way, Friedrich +attacks, whatever it be (hoping, I suppose, it might be the +Austrians altogether); chases it vigorously; snatches all the meal- +wagons, and about 1,000 prisoners. Uncertain still what it is,--if +not the Austrians altogether? To his sorrow, he finds, on pushing +farther into it, that it is only Haddick and the Infantry; +that Loudon, with the 20,000 Horse, will have gone off for +Frankfurt;--irretrievably ahead, the swift Loudon,--ever careering +northward all this while, since that afternoon at Sommerfeld, when +the fugitives altered his opinion: a now unattainable Loudon. +In the course of Thursday night, Friedrich has satisfied himself +that the Loudon junction is a thing as good as done;--in effect, +Loudon did get to Frankfurt, morning of August 3d, and joined the +Russians there; and about the same time, or only a few hours +sooner, Friedrich, by symptoms, has divined that his hunt has +ended, in this rather unsuccessful way; and that chasing of Haddick +is not the road to go." [Tempelhof, iii. 135-139.] + +Not Haddick now; with or without their Austrians, it shall be the +Russians now! Two days ago (Wednesday, as was mentioned), before +sight of those enigmatic meal-wagons, Friedrich had learned that +the Russians were to be in Frankfurt again; and had ordered Wedell +to march thitherward, at any rate. Which Wedell is doing, all this +Thursday and the four following days. As does likewise, from and +after "FRIDAY, AUGUST 3d, 1 A.M." (hunt then over), Friedrich +himself,--renouncing Haddick and the hunt. Straight towards +Frankfurt thenceforth; head-quarters Beeskow that night; +next night, Mullrose, whither Wedell is appointed, within twelve +miles of Frankfurt. This is the end of Friedrich's sore Chase and +March; burnt deeply into his own weary brain, if ours still refuse +it admittance! Here, of utterly fatigued tone, is a Note of his, +chiefly on business, to Minister Finkenstein. Indeed there are, +within the next ten days, Three successive Notes to Finkenstein, +which will be worth reading in their due places. This is the First +of them:-- + +THE KING TO GRAF VON FINKENSTEIN (at Berlin). + +"BEESKOW, 3d August,1759." + +"I am just arrived here, after cruel and frightful marchings +[CHECKS HIMSELF, HOWEVER]. There is nothing desperate in all that; +and I believe the noise and disquietude this hurly-burly has caused +will be the worst of it. Show this Letter to everybody, that it may +be known the State is not undefended. I have made above 1,000 +prisoners from Haddick. All his meal-wagons have been taken. +Finck, I believe, will keep an eye on him," and secure Berlin from +attempts of his. "This is all I can say. + +"To-morrow I march to within two leagues of Frankfurt [to Mullrose, +namely]. Katte [the Minister who has charge of such things] must +send me instantly Two Hundred Wispels [say tons] of Meal, and +Bakers One Hundred, to Furstenwalde. I shall encamp at Wulkow. I am +very tired. For six nights I have not closed an eye. Farewell.--F." + +During the above intricate War-Dance of Five,--the day while +Friedrich was at Sommerfeld, the day before he came in sight of +Haddick's meal-wagons going the wrong road,--there went on, at +Minden, on the Weser, three hundred miles away, a beautiful feat of +War, in the highest degree salutary to Duke Ferdinand and Britannic +Majesty's Ministry; feat which requires a word from us here. +A really splendid Victory, this of Minden, August 1st: +French driven headlong through the Passes there; their "Conquest of +Hanover and Weser Country" quite exploded and flung over the +horizon; and Duke Ferdinand relieved from all his distresses, and +lord of the ascendant again in those parts. Highly interesting to +Friedrich;--especially to Prince Henri; whose apprehensions about +Ferdinand and the old Richelieu Hastenbeck-Halberstadt time +returning on us, have been very great; and who now, at +Schmottseifen, fires FEU-DE-JOIE for it with all his heart. This is +a Battle still of some interest to English readers. But can English +readers consent to halt in this hot pinch of the Friedrich crisis; +and read the briefest thing which is foreign to it? Alas, I fear +they can;--and will insert the Note here:-- + +BATTLE OF MINDEN: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1st, 1759.---"Ever since +Bergen, things have gone awry with Ferdinand, and in spite of +skilful management, of hard struggles and bright sparkles of +success, he has had a bad Campaign of it. The French, it would +seem, are really got into better fighting order; Belleisle's +exertions as War-Minister have been almost wonderful,--in some +respects, TOO wonderful, as we shall hear!--and Broglio and +Contades, in comparison with Clermont and Soubise, have real +soldier qualities. Contades, across Rhine again, in those Weser +Countries, who is skilful in his way, and is pricked on by +emulation of Broglio, has been spreading himself out steadily +progressive there; while Broglio, pushing along from Frankfurt-on- +Mayn, has conquered Hessen; is into Hanover; on the edge of +conqueriug Hanover,--which how is Ferdinand to hinder? +Ferdinand has got two, if not three Armies to deal with, and in +number is not mnch superior to one. If he run to save Hanover from +Broglio, he loses Westphalia: Osnabruck (his magazine)? Munster, +Lippstadt,--Contades, if left to himself, will take these, after +short siege; and will nestle himself there, and then advance, not +like a transitory fever-fit, but like visible death, on Hanover. +Ferdinand, rapid yet wary, manoeuvred his very best among those +interests of his, on the left bank of Weser; but after the +surprisal of Minden from him (brilliantly done by Broglio, and the +aid of a treacherous peasant), especially after the capture of +Osnabruck, his outlooks are gloomy to a degree: and at Versailles, +and at Minden where Contades has established himself, 'the Conquest +of Hanover' (beautiful counterweight to all one's losses in America +or elsewhere) is regarded as a certainty of this Year. + +"For the last ten days of July, about Minden, the manoeuvring, +especially on Ferdinand's part, had been intense; a great idea in +the head of Ferdinand, more or less unintelligible to Contades. +Contades, with some 30,000, which is the better half of his force, +has taken one of the unassailablest positions. He lies looking +northward, his right wing on the Weser with posts to Minden (Minden +perhaps a mile northeastward there), on his left impassable peat- +bogs and quagmires; in front a quaggy River or impassable black +Brook, called the Bastau, coming from the westward, which +disembogues at Minden: [Sketch of Plan, p. 238]--there lies +Contades, as if in a rabbit-hole, say military men; for defence, if +that were the sole object, no post can be stronger. Contades has in +person say 30,000; and round him, on both sides of the Weser, are +Broglio with 20,000; besides other Divisions, I know not how many, +besieging Munster, capturing Osnabruck (our hay magazine), +attempting Lippstadt by surprise (to no purpose), and diligently +working forward, day by day, to Ferdinand's ruin in those Minden +regions. Three or four Divisions busy in that manner;--and above +all, we say, he has Broglio with a 20,000 on the right or east bank +of the Weser,--who, if Ferdinand quit him even for a day, seems to +have Hanover at discretion, and can march any day upon Hanover +City, where his light troops have already been more than once. +Why does n't Ferdinand cross Weser, re-cross Weser; coerce Broglio +back; and save Hanover? cry the Gazetteers and a Public of weak +judgment. Pitt's Public is inclined to murmur about Ferdinand; +Pitt himself never. Ferdinand persists in sticking by Minden +neighborhood,--and, in a scarcely accountable way, manoeuvring +there, shooting out therefrom what mischief he can upon the various +Contades people in their sieges and the like. + +"On Contades himself he can pretend to do nothing,--except hoodwink +him, entice him out, and try to get a chance on him. But for his +own subsistence and otherwise, he is very lively;--snatches, by a +sudden stroke, Bremen City: 'Yes truly, Bremen is a Reichstadt; +nor shall YOU snatch it, as you did Frankfurt; but I will, instead; +and my English proviant-ships shall have a sure haven henceforth!' +Snatches Bremen by one sudden stroke; RE-snatches Osnabruck by +another ('our magazine considerably INCREASED since you have had +it, many thanks!'); does lose Munster, to his sorrow; +but nevertheless sticks by his ground here;--nay detaches his +swift-cutting Nephew, the Hereditary Prince, who is growing famous +for such things, to cut out Contades's strong post to southward +(Gohfeld, ten miles up the Weser), which guards his meal-wagons, +after their long journey from the south. That is Contades's one +weak point, in this posture of things: his meal is at Cassel, +seventy miles off. Broglio and he see clearly, 'Till we can get a +new magazine much nearer Hanover, or at lowest, can clear out these +people from infesting us here, there is no moving northward!' +To both Contades and Broglio that is an evident thing: +the corollary to which is, They must fight Ferdinand; must watch +lynx-like till a chance turn up of beating him in fight. That is +their outlook; and Ferdinand knows it is,--and manoeuvres +accordingly. Military men admire much, not his movements only, but +his clear insight into Contades's and Broglio's temper of mind, and +by what methods they were to be handled, they and his own affairs +together, and brought whither he wanted them. [In MAUVILLON (ii. +41-44) minute account of all that.] + +"This attempt on Gohfeld was a serious mischief to Contades, if it +succeeded. But the detaching of the Prince of Brunswick on it, and +weakening one's too weak Army, 'What a rashness, what an +oversight!' thinks Contades (as Ferdinand wished him to do): +'Is our skilful enemy, in this extreme embarrassment, losing head, +then? Look at his left wing yonder [General Wangenheim, sitting +behind batteries, in his Village of Todtenhausen, looking into +Minden from the north]:--Wangenheim's left leans on the Weser, yes; +but Wangenheim's right, observe, has no support within three miles +of it: tear Wangenheim out, Ferdinand's flank is bare!' +These things seemed to Contades the very chance he had been waiting +for; and brought him triumphantly out of his rabbit-hole, into the +Heath of Minden, as Ferdinand hoped they would do. + +"And so, TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 31st, things being now all ripe, +upwards of 50,000 French are industriously in motion. Contades has +nineteen bridges ready on the Bastau Brook, in front of him; +TATTOO this night, in Contades's Camp, is to mean GENERAL MARCH, +'March, all of you, across these nineteen Bridges, to your stations +on the Plain or Heath of Minden yonder,--and be punctual, like the +clock!' Broglio crosses Weser by the town Bridge, ranks himself +opposite Todtenhausen; and through the livelong night there is, on +the part of the 50,000 French, a very great marching and deploying. +Contades and Broglio together are 51,400 foot and horse. +Ferdinand's entire force will be near 46,000; but on the day of +Battle he is only 36,000,--having detached the Hereditary Prince on +Gohfeld, in what view we know.--The BATTLE OF MINDEN, called also +of TONHAUSEN (meaning TODTENhausen), which hereupon fell out, has +still its fame in the world; and, I perceive, is well worth study +by the soldier mind: though nothing but the rough outline of it is +possible here. + +"Ferdinand's posts extend from the Weser river and Todtenhausen +round by Stemmern, Holzhausen, to Hartum and the Bog of Bastau (the +chief part of him towards Bastau),--in various Villages, and woody +patches and favorable spots; all looking in upon Minden, from a +distance of five or seven miles; forming a kind of arc, with Minden +for centre. He will march up in eight Columns; of course, with wide +intervals between them,--wide, but continually narrowing as he +advances; which will indeed be ruinous gaps, if Ferdinand wait to +be attacked; but which will coalesce close enough, if he be speedy +upon Contades. For Contades's line is also of arc-like or almost +semicircular form, behind it Minden as centre; Minden, which is at +the intersection of Weser and the Brook; his right flank is on +Weser, Broglio VERSUS Wangenheim the extreme right; his left, with +infantry and artillery, rests on that black Brook of Bastau with +its nineteen Bridges. As the ground on both wings is rough, not so +fit for Cavalry, Contades puts his Cavalry wholly in the centre: +they are the flower of the French Army, about 10,000 horse in all; +firm open ground ahead of them there, with strong batteries, masses +of infantry to support on each flank; batteries to ply with cross- +fire any assailant that may come on. Broglio, we said, is right +wing; strong in artillery and infantry. Broglio is to root out +Waugenheim: after which,--or even before which, if Wangenheim is +kept busy and we are nimble,--what becomes of Ferdinand's left +flank, with a gap of three miles between Wangenheim and him, and +10,000 chosen horse to take advantage of it! Had the French been of +Prussian dexterity and nimbleness in marching, it is very possible +something might have come of this latter circumstance: but +Ferdinand knows they are not; and intends to take good care of +his flank. + +"Contades and his people were of willing mind; but had no skill in +'marchiug up:' and, once got across the Bastau by their nineteen +Bridges, they wasted many hours:--'Too far, am I? not far enough? +Too close? not close enough?'--and broiled about, in much hurry and +confusion, all night. Fight was to have begun at 5 in the morning. +Broglio was in his place, silently looking into Wangenheim, by five +o'clock; but unfortunately did nothing upon Wangenheim ('Not ready +you, I see!'), except cannonade a little;--and indeed all through +did nothing ('Still not ready you others!'); which surely was +questionable conduct, though not reckoned so at Versailles, when +the case came to be argued there. As to the Contades people, across +those nineteen Bridges, they had a baffling confused night; +and were by no means correctly on their ground at sunrise, nor at +7 o'clock, nor at 8; and were still mending themselves when the +shock came, and time was done. + +"The morning is very misty; but Ferdinand has himself been out +examining since the earliest daybreak: his orders last night were, +'Cavalry be saddled at 1 in the morning,'--having a guess that +there would be work, as he now finds there will. From 5 A.M. +Ferdinand is issuing from his Camp, flowing down eastward, +beautifully concentric, closing on Contades; horse NOT in centre, +but English Infantry in centre (Six Battalions, or Six REGIMENTS by +English reckoning); right opposite those 10,000 Horse of +Contades's, the sight of whom seems to be very animating to them. +The English CavaIry stand on the right wing, at the Village of +Hartum: Lord George Sackville had not been very punctual in +saddling at 1 o'clock; but he is there, ranked on the ground, at 8, +--in what humor nobody knows; sulky and flabby, I should rather +guess. English Tourists, idle otherwise, may take a look at Hartum +on the south side, as the spot where a very ugly thing occurred +that day. + +"Soon after 8 the Fight begins: attack, by certain Hessians, on +Hahlen and its batteries; attempt to drive the French out of +Hahlen, as the first thing,--which does not succeed at once (indeed +took three attacks in all); and perhaps looks rather tedious to +those Six English Battalions. Ferdinand's order to them was, 'You +shall march up to attack, you Six, on sound of drum;' but, it +seems, they read it, 'BY sound of drum;' 'Beating our own drums; +yes, of course!'--and, being weary of this Hahlen work, or fancying +they had no concern with it, strode on, double-quick, without +waiting for Hahlen at all! To the horror of their Hanoverian +comrades, who nevertheless determined to follow as second line. +'The Contades cross-fire of artillery, battery of 30 guns on one +flank, of 36 on the other, does its best upon this forward-minded +Infantry, but they seem to heed it little; walk right forward; +and, to the astonishment of those French Horse and of all the +world, entirely break and ruin the charge made on them, and tramp +forward in chase of the same. The 10,000 Horse feel astonished, +insulted; and rush out again, furiously charging; the English halt +and serry themselves: 'No fire till they are within forty paces;' +and then such pouring torrents of it as no horse or man can endure. +Rally after rally there is, on the part of those 10,000; mass after +mass of them indignantly plunges on,--again, ever again, about six +charges in all;--but do not break the English lines: one of them +(regiment Mestrede-Camp, raised to a paroxysm) does once get +through, across the first line, but is blown back in dreadful +circumstances by the second. After which they give it up, as a +thing that cannot be done. And rush rearward, hither, thither, the +whole seventy-five squadrons of them; and 'between their two wings +of infantry are seen boiling in complete disorder.' + +"This has lasted about an hour: this is essentially the soul of the +Fight,--though there wanted not other activities, to right of it +and to left, on both sides; artilleries going at a mighty rate on +both wings; and counter-artilleries (superlative practice 'by +Captain Phillips' on OUR right wing); Broglio cannonading +Wangenheim very loudly, but with little harm done or suffered, on +their right wing. Wangenheim is watchful of that gap between +Ferdinand and him, till it close itself sufficiently. Their right- +wing Infantry did once make some attempt there; but the Prussian +Horse--(always a small body of Prussians serve in this Allied +Army)--shot out, and in a brilliant manner swept them home again. + +PLAN OF BATTLE HERE--PAGE 239, BOOK X1X--------------- + +Artillery and that pretty charge of Prussian Horse are all one +remembers, except this of the English and Hanover Foot in the +centre: 'an unsurpassable thing,' says Tempelhof (though it so +easily might have been a fatal!)--which has set Contades's centre +boiling, and reduced Contades altogether to water, as it were. +Contades said bitterly: 'I have seen what I never thought to be +possible,--a single line of infantry break through three lines of +cavalry ranked in order of battle, and tumble them to ruin!' +[Stenzel, v. 204.] + +"This was the feat, this hour's work in the centre, the essential +soul of the Fight:--and had Lord George Sackville, General of the +Horse, come on when galloped for and bidden, here had been such a +ruin, say all judges, as seldom came upon an Army. Lord +George--everlasting disgrace and sorrow on the name of him--could +not see his way to coming on; delayed, haggled; would not even let +Granby, his lieutenant, come; not for a second Adjutant, not for a +third; never came on at all; but rode to the Prince, asking, 'How +am I to come on?' Who, with a politeness I can never enough admire, +did not instantly kill him, but answered, in mild tone, 'Milord, +the opportunity is now past!' Whereby Contades escaped ruin, and +was only beaten. By about 10 in the morning all was over. When a +man's centre is gone to water, no part of him is far from the fluid +state. Contades retreated into his rabbit-hole by those nineteen +bridges,--well tormented, they say, by Captain Phillips's +artillery, till he got beyond the knolls again. Broglio, who had +never been in musket-fire at all, but had merely barked on +Wangenheim all morning, instead of biting, covered the retreat, and +withdrew into Minden. And we are a beaten Army,--thanks to Lord +George, not an annihilated one. Our loss being only 7,086 (with +heavy guns, colors, cavalry flags and the like); theirs being +2,822,--full half of it falling on those rash Six Battalions. +[Mauvillon, ii. 44-60; Tempelhof, iii. 154-179, &c. &c.: +and <italic> Proceedings of a Court-Martial, held at the Horse- +Guards, 7th-24th March and 25th March-5th April, 1760, in Trial of +Lord George Sackville <end italic> (London, 1760). In Knesebeck, +<italic> Ferdinand wahrend des siebenjahrigen Krieges <end italic> +(i. 395), Ferdinand's Letter to Friedrich of "July 31st;" and +(i. 398-418 and ii. 33-36) many special details about Sackville and +"August 1st." + +"And what is this one hears from Gohfeld in the evening? +The Hereditary Prince, busy there on us during the very hours of +Minden, has blown our rear-guard division to the winds there;--and +we must move southward, one and all of us, without a moment's +delay! Out of this rabbit-hole the retreat by rearward is through a +difficult country, the Westphalian Gates so called; fatal to +Varus's Legions long ago. Contades got under way that very night; +lost most of his baggage, all his conquests, that shadow-conquest +of Hanover, and more than all his glories (Versailles shrieking on +him, 'Resign you; let Broglio be chief,);--and, on the whole, +jumbled homeward hither and thither, gravitating towards the Rhine, +nothing but Wesel to depend on in those parts, as heretofore. +Broglio retreated Frankfurt-way, also as usual, though not quite so +far; and at Versailles had clearly the victory. Zealous Belleisle +could not protect his Contades; it is not known whether he +privately blamed Contades or blamed Broglio for loss of Minden. +Zealous old man, what a loss to himself withal had Minden been! +That shadow-conquest of Hanover is quite vanished: and worse, in +Ferdinand's spoil were certain LETTERS from Belleisle to Contades, +inculcating strange things;--for example, 'IL FAUT FAIRE UN DESERT +DU PAYS [all Hessen, I think, lest Ferdinand advance on you] DEVANT +L'ARMEE,' and the like. Which Ferdinand saw good to publish, and +which resounded rather hideously through the general mind." +[Were taken at Detmold (Tempelhof, iii. 223); Old Newspapers full +of Excerpts from them, in the weeks following.] + +Ignominious Sackville was tried by Court-martial; cashiered, +declared incapable of again serving his Majesty "in any military +capacity;"--perhaps a mild way of signifying that he wanted the +common courage of a soldier? Zealous Majesty, always particular in +soldier matters, proclaimed it officially to be "a sentence worse +than death;" and furthermore, with his own royal hand, taking the +pen himself, struck out Sackville from the List of Privy- +Councillors. Proper surely, and indispensable;--and should have +been persisted in, like Fate; which, in a new Reign, it was not! +For the rest, there was always, and is, something of enigma in +Sackville's palpably bad case. It is difficult to think that a +Sackville wanted common courage. This Sackville fought duels with +propriety; in private life, he was a surly, domineering kind of +fellow, and had no appearance of wanting spirit. It is known, he +did not love Duke Ferdinand; far from it! May not he have been of +peculiarly sour humor that morning, the luckless fool; +sulky against Ferdinand, and his "saddling at one o'clock;" +sulky against himself, against the world and mankind; and flabbily +disinclined to heroic practices for the moment? And the moment +came; and the man was not there, except in that foggy, flabby and +forever ruinous condition! Archenholtz, alone of Writers, judges +that he expressly wanted to spoil the Battle of Minden and +Ferdinand's reputation, and to get appointed Commander in his +stead. Wonderful; but may have some vestige of basis, too! +True, this Sackville was as fit to lead the courses of the stars as +to lead armies. But such a Sackville has ambition, and, what is +fatally more peculiar to him, a chance for unfolding it;--any +blockhead has an ambition capable, if you encourage it +sufficiently, of running to the infinite. Enough of this particular +blockhead; and may it be long before we see his like again!-- + +The English Cavalry was in a rage with Sackville. Of the English +Infantry, Historians say, what is not now much heard of in this +Country, "That these unsurpassable Six [in industrious valor +unsurpassable, though they mistook orders, and might have fared +badly!] are ever since called the Minden Regiments; that they are +the 12th, 20th, 23d, 25th, 37th and 51st of the British Line; +and carry 'Minden' on their colors," [Kausler, <italic> Schlachter, +<end italic> &c. p, 587.]--with silent profit, I hope! + +Fancy how Pitt's public, lately gloomy and dubious, blazed aloft +into joyful certainty again! Pitt's outlooks have been really +gloomy all this season; nor are the difficulties yet ended, though +we hope they will end. Let us add this other bit of Synchronism, +which is still of adverse aspect, over Seas; and will be pungently +interesting to Pitt and England, when they come to hear of it. + +"BEFORE QUEBEC, JULY 31st, 1759. This same Evening, at Quebec, on +the other side of the Atlantic,--evening at Quebec, 9 or 10 at +night for Contades and his nineteen Bridges,--there is a difficult +affair going on. Above and below the Falls of Montmorenci, and +their outflow into the St. Lawrence: attempt on General Wolfe's +part to penetrate through upon the French, under Marquis de +Montcalm, French Commander-in-chief, and to get a stroke at Quebec +and him. From the south side of the St. Lawrence, nothing can be +done upon Quebec, such the distance over. From Isle d'Orleans and +the north side, it is also impossible hitherto. Easy enough to +batter the Lower Town, from your ships and redoubts: but the High +Town towers aloft on its sheer pinnacles, inaccessible even to +cannon; looks down on the skilfulest British Admiral and Fleet as +if with an air of indifference,--trying him on dark nights with +fire-ships, fire-rafts, the cunningest kinds of pyrotechny, which +he skilfully tows aside. + +"A strenuous thing, this of Wolfe's; though an unsuccessful. +Towards evening, the end of it; all Quebec assembled on the +southern ramparts, witnessing with intense interest; the sublime +Falls of Montmorenci gushing on, totally indifferent. For about a +month past, General Wolfe, with the proper equipments, and about +10,000 men, naval and military, who was expressly selected by Pitt +to besiege Quebec, and is dying to succeed, has been trying every +scheme to get into contact with it:--to no purpose, so lofty, +chasmy, rocky is the ground, cut by mountainous precipices and +torrent streams, branches of the grand St. Lawrence River; +so skilfully taken advantage of by Montcalm and his people, who are +at home here, and in regulars nearly equal Wolfe, not to speak of +Savages and Canadians, Wolfe's plan of the 31st was not ill laid; +and the execution has been zealous, seamen and landsmen alike of +willing mind;--but it met with accidents. Accidents in boating; +then a still worse accident on landing; the regiment of grenadiers, +which crossed below the Falls, having, so soon as landed, rushed +off on the redoubt there on their own score, without waiting for +the two brigades that were to cross and co-operate ABOVE the Falls! +Which cut Wolfe to the heart; and induced him, especially as the +tide was making again, to give up the enterprise altogether, and +recall everybody, while it was yet time. [<italic> Gentleman's +Magazine <end italic> for 1759, pp. 470-473; Thackeray, i. 488.] +Wolfe is strict in discipline; loves the willing mind, none more, +and can kindle it among those about him; but he loves discipline +withal, and knows how fatal the too willing may be. For six weeks +more there is toil on the back of toil everywhere for poor Wolfe. +He falls into fevers, into miseries, almost into broken heart;-- +nothing sure to him but that of doing his own poor utmost to the +very death. After six weeks, we shall perhaps hear of him again. +Gliding swiftly towards death; but also towards victory and the +goal of all his wishes." + +And now, after this flight half round the world, it is time we +return to Oder Country, and a Friedrich on the edge of formidable +things there. Next day after Beeskow, where we left him, he duly +arrived at Mullrose; was joined by Wedell there, August 6th; and is +now at Wulkow,--"encamped between Lebus and Wulkow," as we hear +elsewhere;--quite in the environs of Frankfurt and of great events. + + +FRIEDRICH TO GRAF VON FINKENSTEIN (Second Note). + +WULKOW, 8th August, 1759. + +"If you hear of firing to-morrow, don't be surprised; it is our +rejoicing for the Battle of Minden. I believe I shall have to keep +you in suspense some days yet. I have many arrangements to make; +I find great difficulties to surmount,--and it is required to save +our Country, not to lose it: I ought both to be more prudent and +more enterprising than ever. In a word, I will do and undertake +whatever I find feasible and possible. With all that, I see myself +in the necessity of making haste, to check the designs Haddick may +have on Berlin. Adieu, MON CHER. In a little, you will have either +a DE PROFUNDIS or a TE DEUM.--F." [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, +<end italic> xxv. 305, 306.] + + + +Chapter IV. + +BATTLE OF KUNERSDORF. + +Sunday, July 29th, at Frankfurt-on-Oder divine worship was broken +in upon, and the poor City thrown into consternation, by actual +advent, or as good as advent, of the Russians: "On the Crossen +road, close by; coming, come!" And they did undeniably appear, next +morning, in force; on the opposite, eastern or Kunersdorf side of +the River, on the top of the Oder-Dam there; and demanded instant +admission, under penalty of general death by fire. + +Within the Town stood Major Arnim, a Veteran of those parts, with +400 militia; these, with their muskets and with two cannon, are the +only defence of Frankfurt, The Town has Gates; but its walls, I +doubt, are mainly garden-walls and house-walls. On the eastern +side, the River, especially if you have cannon on the Bridge, gives +it somethiug of protection; but on the western and all other sides, +it is overhung by heights. This Frankfurt, like its bigger Namesake +on the Mayn, is known as a busy trading place, its Fairs much +frequented in those Eastern parts; and is believed by the Russians +to be far richer than it is. The reader, as there happens to be +ocular testimony extant, [Johann Zudwig Kriele, SCHLACHT BEI +KUNERSDORF, MIT &C. (Berlin, 1801). Kriele was subsequent Pastor in +the Parish, an excellent intelligent man: has compiled in brief +form, with an elaborate Chart too, a clear account of everything, +in the Battle and before and after it.] may like to see a little +how they behaved there. + +"Arnim, taking survey of the Russian Party, values it, or what he +can see of it, at 1,000 [they really were 6,000]; keeps his +Drawbridge up; and answers stoutly enough, 'No.' Upon which, from +the Oder-Dam, there flies off one fiery grenado; one and no more,-- +which alighted in the house of 'Mrs. Thielicke, a Baker's Widow, +who was standing at the door;'--killed poor Mrs. Thielicke, blew +the house considerably to wreck, but did not set fire to it. +Amim, all the Magistrates entreating him for the love of Heaven to +leave them, is secretly shoving off his two cannon to the Northern +Gate; and in fact is making his packages with full speed: 'Push for +Custrin,' thinks Arnim, and save selves and cannon, since no good +is to be done here!' + +"It was about 11 A.M. when the Thielicke grenado fell: obstinate +Arnim would by no means go; only packed all the faster. A second +summons came: still, No. For the third and last time the Russians +then summon: 'Grenadoes, a hundred more of them lie ready, +unless--!' 'We will, we will; O merciful servant of Czarish +Majesty!' passionately signify the Magistrates. But Arnim is still +negative, still keeps the Bridge up. One of the hundred does go, by +way of foretaste: this lighted 'near the Ober Kirche, in the +chimney of the Town Musikus;' brought the chimney crashing down on +him [fancy a man with some fineness of ear]; tore the house a good +deal to pieces, but again did not set it on fire. 'Your obstinate +Town can be bombarded, then,--cannot it?' observed the Russian +Messenger.--'Give us Free Withdrawal!' proposes Amim. 'No; you to +be Prisoners of War; Town at Czarish Majesty's discretion.' +'Never,' answers Arnim (to the outward ear).--'Go, oh, for the love +of Heaven, go!' cry all Official people. + +"Arnim, deaf to clamor, but steadily diligent in getting ready, +does at last go; through the Lebus Suburb, quick march; steady, yet +at his best step;--taking the Town-keys in his pocket, and leaving +the Drawbridge up. One is sorry for poor Arnim and his 400 Militia; +whose conduct was perfect, under difficulties and alarms; +but proved unsuccessful. The terrified Magistrates, finding their +Keys gone, and the conflagrative Russians at their gates, got +blacksmiths on the instant; smote down, by chisel and mallet, the +locked Drawbridge, smote open the Gates: 'Enter, O gracious Sirs; +and may Czarish Majesty have mercy on us!' So that Arnim had small +start for marchers on foot; and was overtaken about half-way. +Would not yield still, though the odds were overwhelming; +drew himself out on the best ground discoverable; made hot +resistance; hot and skilful; but in vain. About six in the evening, +Arnim and Party were brought back, Prisoners, to Frankfurt again,-- +self, surviving men, cannons and all (self in a wounded state);-- +and 'were locked in various Brew-houses;' little of careful +surgery, I should fear. Poor Arnim; man could do no more; and he +has been unfortunate." + +It is by no means our intention to describe the Iliad of miseries, +the agitations, terrors and disquietudes, the tribulation and utter +harrowing to despair, which poor Frankfurt underwent, incessantly +from that day forward, for about five weeks to come. +"The furnishings of victual [Russian stock quite out] were to an +inconceivable amount; surrender of arms, of linens, cloths, of +everything useful to a hungry Army; above all things, of horses, so +that at last there were but four horses left in all Frankfurt; +and"--But we must not go into details. + +"On the second day, besides all this," what will be significant of +it all, "there was exacted 'ransom of 600,000 thalers (90,000 +pounds), or you shall be delivered to the Cossacks!' Frankfurt has +not above 12,000 inhabitants within its bounds; here is a sudden +poll-tax of 7 pounds 10s. per head. Frankfurt has not such a sum; +the most rigorous collection did not yield above the tenth part of +it. And more than once those sanguinary vagabonds were openly drawn +out, pitch-link in hand: 'The 90,000 pounds or--!' Civic Presidency +Office in Frankfurt was not a bed of roses. The poor Magistrates +rushed distractedly about; wrung out moneys to the last drop; +moneys, and in the end plate from those that had it; went in +tearful deputation to General Soltikof,--a severe proud kind of +man, capable perhaps of being flattered,--who usually locked them +up instead. Magistrates were locked in Russian ward, at one time, +for almost a week; sat in the blazing sun; if you try for the shade +of a tree, the sentry handles arms upon you;--and were like to die. +To me, Kriele, it is a miracle how the most of us lived; nay we +never really wanted food, so kind was Providence, so generous our +poor neighbors out of all the Towns round. The utmost of money that +could be raised was 6,000 pounds; nothing but some little of plate, +and our Bill for the remainder. Soltikof, a high kind of gentleman, +saw at last how it stood; let the Magistrates out of ward; sent +back the plate--'Nothing of that!'--nay, Czarish Majesty was +herself generous; and FORGAVE the Bill, on our petition, next Year. +Cossacks, indeed, were a plunderous wild crew; but the Russians +kept them mostly without the gates. The regular Russians were civil +and orderly, officers and men,--greatly beyond the Austrians in +behavior." [Kriele, <italic> Schlacht bei Kunersdorf; <end italic> +pp. 1-15 (in compressed state).] By these few traits conceive +Frankfurt: this, now forgotten in most books, is a background on +which things were transacted still memorable to everybody. + +"Friday, August 3d, General Loudon came to hand: arrived early, in +the Guben (or Western) Suburb, his 18,000 and he. In high spirits +naturally, and somewhat exultant to have evaded Friedrich; +but found a reception that surprised him. The Russians had been +living in the hope of junction; but still more vividly in that of +meal. 'Auxiliaries; humph,--only 18,000 of them; how much welcomer +had been as many hundredweights of meal!' Loudon had pushed his +baggage direct into Frankfurt; and likewise a requisition of such +and such proviants, weights of meal and the like, in exuberant +amount, to be furnished straightway by the City: neither of which +procedures would the Russians hear of for a moment. 'Out with you!' +said they roughly to the baggage-people: 'quarter in the Guben +Suburb, or where you like; not here!' And with regard to the +requisition of proviant, they answered in a scornful angry key, +'Proviant? You too without it? You have not brought us meal, +according to covenant; instead of meal, you bring us 18,000 new +eaters, most of them on horse-back,--Satan thank you! From +Frankfurt be very certain you can get no ounce of meal; Frankfurt +is our own poor meal-bag, dreadfully scanty: stay outside, and feed +where and how you can!' + +"All this, Loudon, though of hot temper, easily capable of rising +to the fierce point, had to endure in silence, for the common +interest. Loudon's own table is furnished from Frankfurt; no other +Austrian man's: all others have to shift how they can. +Sad requisitioning needed, and sad plunder to supplement it: +the Austrian behavior was very bad, say the Frankfurters; +'in particular, they had burnt gradually all the corn-mills in the +country; within many miles not one mill standing when they left +us,'--and four horses all the conveyance power we had. +Soltikof lodges in great pomp, much soldiery and cannon parading +before his doors; not an undignified man, or an inhuman or +essentially foolish, but very high in his ways, and distasteful to +Austrian dignitaries." + +The Russian Army lies mainly across Oder; encamped on the +Judenberg, and eastward there, along the Heights, near three miles, +to Kunersdorf and beyond. They expect Friedrich at the gates of +Frankfurt shortly; know well that they cannot defend Frankfurt. +They calculate that Friedrich will attack them in their Judenberg +Encampment, but hope they are nearly ready for him there. +Loudon, from the Guben Suburb, will hasten across, at any moment;-- +welcome on such fighting occasion, though ill seen when the +question is of eating! The Russians have their Wagenburg on an +Island southward, farther up the River; they have three Pontoon +Bridges leading thither, a free retreat should they be beaten. +And in the mean while are intrenching themselves, as only Daun +would,--cannon and redoubts all round those Heights;--and except it +be screwing Frankfurt to do its impossible duty, and carting +provender with all the horses except four, have not much farther to +do but wait till the King come. Which will be speedily, it +is probable!-- + +Wednesday, August 8th, Russian and Austrian Generals, a cheerful +party of them, had rendezvoused at FISCHERS MUHLE; a Mill not yet +burnt, and a pleasant Tavern as well; in one of the prettiest +valleys in the Western Environs;--intending to dine there, and have +a pleasant day. But the Miller's Boy runs in upon them, wide-eyed, +"HIMMEL UND ERDE, Prussian Hussars!" It was in verity Prussian +Hussars; the King of Prussia with them in person. He is come out +reconnoitring,--the day after his arrival in those parts. +The pleasuring Generals, Russian and Austrian, sprang to horseback +at their swiftest,--hope of dinner gone futile, except to the +intervening Prussian Hussars;--and would have all been captured, +but for that Miller's Boy; whose Mill too was burnt before long. +This gallop home of the undined Generals into Frankfurt was the +first news we poor Frankfurters had of the King's arrival. + +The King has been punctual to his reckoning: he picked up Wedell at +Mullrose,--not too cordial to Wedell's people: "None of you speak +to those beaten wretches," ordered he; "till perhaps they wipe off +their Zullichau stain!" On the 7th, Friedrich advanced to Frankfurt +neighborhood; took Camp between Wulkow and Lebus;--and has just +been out reconnoitring. And has raised, fancy what emotion in poor +Frankfurt lying under its nightmare! "Next day, August 9th, from +Wulkow-Lebus hand, we" of Frankfurt, "heard a great firing; +cannon-salvos, musket-volleys: 'Nothing of fight,' the Russian +Officers told us; 'it is the King of Prussia doing joy-fire for +Minden,' of which we till now knew nothing." + +Friedrich, on survey of this Russian-Austrian Army, some 90,000 in +number, with such posts, artilleries, advantages, judges that he, +counting only 40,000, is not strong enough. And, indeed, had so +anticipated, and already judged; and, accordingly, has Finck on +march hitherward again,--Berlin must take its risk, Saxony must +shift for itself in the interim. Finck is due in two days,--not +here at Lebus precisely, but at another place appointed; Finck will +raise him to 50,000; and then business can begin! Contrary to +Russian expectation, Friedrich does not attack Frankfurt; +seems quite quiet in his cantonments;--he is quietly (if one knew +it) making preparations farther down the River. About Reitwein, +between this and Custrin, there arrangements are proceeding, by no +means of a showy sort. + +The Russian-Austrian Army quits Frankfurt, leaving only some +hundreds of garrison: Loudon moves across, Soltikof across; to the +Oder-Dam and farther; and lie, powerfully intrenched, on those +Kunersdorf Heights, and sandy Moorlands, which go eastward at +right-angles to Oder-Dam. One of the strongest Camps imaginable. +All round there, to beyond Kunersdorf and back again, near three +miles each way, they have a ring of redoubts, and artillery without +end. And lie there, in order of battle, or nearly so; ready for +Friedrich, when he shall attack, through Frankfurt or otherwise. +They face to the North (Reitwein way, as it happens); to their +rear, and indeed to their front, only not so close, are woods and +intricate wilds. Loudon has the left flank; that is to say, +Loudon's left hand is towards the Oder-Dam and Frankfurt; he lies +at the ROTHE VORWERK ("Red Grange," a Farmstead much mentioned just +now); rather to northwestward of the Jew Hill and Jew Churchyard +(JUDENBERG and JUDENKIRCHHOF, likewise much mentioned); and in +advance of the general Mass. Soltikof's head-quarter, I rather +understand, is on the right wing; probably in Kunersdorf itself, or +beyond that Village; there, at least, our highly important Russian +right wing is; there, elaborately fortified; and, half a mile +farther, ends,--on the edge of steep dells; the Russian brink of +which is strongly fringed with cannon, while beyond, on the farther +brink, they have built an abatis; so making assurance doubly sure. +Looking to the northward all these 90,000; their left rather +southward of Frankfurt Bridge, over which Friedrich will probably +arrive. Leftward, somewhat to rearward, they have bridges of their +own; should anything sinister befall; three bridges which lead into +that Oder Island, and the Russian Wagenburg there. + +August 10th, Finck, punctual to time, arrives in the neighborhood +of Reitwein (which is some ten miles down stream from Lebus, from +Frankfurt perhaps fifteen); Friedrich, the same day, is there +before him; eager to complete the Bridges, and get to business. +One Bridge is of pontoons; one of "Oder-boats floated up from +Custrin." Bridges are not begun till nightfall, lest eyes be +abroad; are ready in the minimum of time. And so, during the same +night of the 10th, all the Infantry, with their artilleries and +battle-furnitures, pour over in two columns; the Cavalry, at the +due point of time, riding by a ford short way to the right. And at +four, in the gray of the August morning (Saturday, 11th August, +1759), all persons and things find themselves correctly across; +ranked there, in those barren, much-indented "Pasture-grounds of +Goritz" or of OEtscher; intending towards Kunersdorf; ready for +unfolding into order of battle there. They leave their heavy +baggage at Goritz, Wunsch to guard the Bridges and it; and, in +succinct condition, are all under way. At one in the afternoon we +are got to Leissow and Bischofsee; scrubby hamlets (as the rest all +are), not above two miles from Kunersdorf. The August day is +windless, shiny, sultry; man and horse are weary with the labors, +and with the want of sleep: we decide to bivouac here, and rest on +the scrubby surface, heather or whatever it is, till to-morrow. + +Finck is Vanguard, ahead short way, and with his left on a bit of +lake or bog; the Army is in two lines, with its right on Leissow, +and has Cavalry in the kind of wood which there is to rear. +Friedrich, having settled the positions, rides out reconnoitring; +hither, thither, over the Heights of Trettin. "The day being still +hot, he suffers considerably from thirst [it is our one Anecdote] +in that arid tract: at last a Peasant does bring him, direct from +the fountain, a jug of pure cold water; whom, lucky man, the King +rewarded with a thaler; and not only so, but, the man being +intelligent of the localities, took with him to answer questions." +Readers too may desire to gain some knowledge of the important +ground now under survey. + +"Frankfurt, a very ancient Town, not a very beautiful," says my +Note, "stands on an alluvium which has been ground down from +certain clay Hills on the left bank of Oder. It counted about +12,000 inhabitants in Friedrich's time; has now perhaps about +20,000; not half the bulk of its namesake on the Mayn; but with +Three great Fairs annually, and much trade of the rough kind. +On this left or west bank of Oder the country is arable, moderately +grassy and umbrageous, the prospect round you not unpleasant; +but eastward, over the River, nothing can be more in contrast. +Oder is of swift current, of turbid color, as it rolls under +Frankfurt Bridge,--Wooden Bridge, with Dam Suburb at the end;--a +River treeless, desolate, as you look up and down; which has, +evidently, often changed its course, since grinding down that +alluvium as site for Frankfurt; and which, though now holding +mainly to northward, is still given to be erratic, and destructive +on the eastern low grounds,--had not the Frankfurters built an +'Oder-Dam' on that side; a broad strong Earth-mound, running for +many miles, and confining its floods. Beyond the Dam there are +traces of an 'Old Oder (ALTE ODER);' and, in fact, Oder, in +primeval and in recent time, has gone along, many-streamed; +indenting, quarrying, leaving lakelets, quagmires, miscellaneous +sandy tumult, at a great rate, on that eastern shore. Making of it +one of the unloveliest scenes of chaotic desolation anywhere to be +met with;--fallen unlovelier than ever in our own more +recent times. + +"What we call the Heights of Kunersdorf is a broad Chain of Knolls; +coming out, at right-angles, or as a kind of spur, from the eastern +high grounds; direct towards Oder and Frankfurt. +Mill-Hill (MUHLBERG) is the root or easternmost part of this spur. +From the Muhlberg, over Kunersdorf, to Oder-Dam, which is the whole +length of the spur, or Chain of Knolls, will be little short of +four miles; the breadth of the Chain is nowhere one mile,--which is +its grand defect as a Camp: 'too narrow for manoeuvring in.' +Here, atop and on the three sides of this Block of Knolls, was +fought the furious Battle of Kunersdorf [to be fought to-morrow], +one of the most furious ever known. A Block of Knolls memorable +ever since. + +"To all appearance: it was once some big Island or chain of Islands +in the Oder deluges: it is still cut with sudden hollows,--KUHGRUND +(Cow-Hollow), TIEFE WEG (Deep Way), and westernmost of all, and +most important for us here, HOHLE GRUND (Big Hollow, let us call +it; 'LOUDON'S Hollow' people subsequently called it);--and is +everywhere strangely tumbled up into knolls blunt or sharp, the +work of primeval Oder in his rages. In its highest knolls,--of +which let readers note specially the Spitzberg, the Muhlberg, the +Judenberg,--it rises nowhere to 150 feet; perhaps the general +height of it may be about 100. On each side of it, especially on +the north, the Country is of most intricate character: +bushy, scraggy, with brooklets or muddy oozings wandering about, +especially with a thing called the HUNERFLIESS (Hen-Floss), which +springs in the eastern woods, and has inconceivable difficulty to +get into Oder,--if it get at all! This was a sore Floss to +Friedrich to-morrow. Hen-Floss struggles, painfully meandering and +oozing, along the northern side (sometimes close, sometimes not) of +our Chain of Knolls: along the south side of it (in our time, +through the middle of it) goes the Highway to Reppen ["From that +Highway will his attack come!" thought the Russians, always till +to-day]: on the north, to Leissow, to Trettin," where Friedrich is +now on survey, "go various wheel-tracks, but no firm road. A most +intricate unlovely Country. Withered bent-grasses, heath, perhaps +gorse, and on both sides a great deal of straggling Forest-wood, +reaching eastward, and especially southward, for many miles. + +"For the rest," to our ill-luck in this place, "the Battlefield of +Kunersdorf has had a peculiar fate in the world; that of being +blown away by the winds! The then scene of things exists no longer; +the descriptions in the Old Books are gone hopelessly +irrecognizable. In our time, there is not anywhere a tract more +purely of tumbled sand, than all this between Kunersdorf and Dam +Vorstadt; and you judge, without aid of record or tradition, that +it is greatly altered for the worse since Friedrich's time,--some +rabbit-colony, or other the like insignificancy, eating out the +roots, till all vegetation died, and the wind got hold and set it +dancing;--and that, in 1759, when Russian human beings took it for +a Camp, it must have been at least coherent, more or less; +covered, held together by some film of scrubby vegetation; +not blowing about in every wind as now! Kunersdorf stands with its +northern end pushed into that KUHGRUND (Cow-Hollow); which must +then have been a grassy place. Eastward of Kunersdorf the ground +has still some skin of peat, and sticks together: but westward, all +that three miles, it is a mere tumult of sand-hills, tumbled about +in every direction (so diligent have the conies been, and then the +winds); no gullet, or definite cut or hollow, now traceable +anywhere, but only an endless imbroglio of twisted sand-heaps and +sand-hollows, which continually alter in the wind-storms. +Sand wholly, and--except the strong paved Highway that now runs +through it (to Reppen, Meseritz and the Polish Frontier, and is +strongly paved till it get through Kunersdorf)--chaotic wholly; +a scene of heaped barrenness and horror, not to be matched but in +Sahara; the features of the Battle quite blown away, and +indecipherable in our time. + +"A hundred years ago, it would have some tattered skin,--of peat, +of heather and dwarf whins, with the sand cropping out only here +and there. So one has to figure it in Soltikof's day,--before the +conies ruined it. Which was not till within the last sixty years, +as appears. Kriele's Book (in 1801) still gives no hint of change: +the KUHGRUND, which now has nothing but dry sand for the most +industrious ruminant, is still a place of succulence and herbage in +Kriele's time; 'Deep Way,' where 'at one point two carts could not +pass,' was not yet blown out of existence, but has still 'a Well in +it' for Kriele; HOHLE GRUND (since called Loudon's Hollow), with +the Jew Hill and Jew Churchyard beyond, seem tolerable enough +places to Kriele. Probably not unlike what the surrounding Country +still is. A Country of poor villages, and of wild ground, flat +generally, and but tolerably green; with lakelets, bushes, scrubs, +and intricate meandering little runlets and oozelets; and in +general with more of Forest so called than now is:--this is +Kunersdorf Chain of Knolls; Soltikof's Intrenched Camp at present; +destined to become very famous in the world, after lying so long +obscure under Oder and its rages." [TOURIST'S NOTE (Autumnn, 1852).] + +From the Knolls of Trettin, that Saturday afternoon, Friedrich +takes view of the Russian Camp. All lying bright enough there; +from Muhlberg to Judenberg, convenient to our glass; between us and +the evening Sun. Batteries most abundant, difficulties great: +Soltikof just ahead here, 72,000: Loudon at the Red Grange yonder, +on their extreme left, with 18,000 more. An uncommonly strong +position for 90,000 against 50,000. One thing strikes Friedrich: +On front in this northern side, close by the base of the Russian +Camp, runs--for the present away FROM Oder, but intending to join +it elsewhere --a paltry little Brook, "Hen-Floss" so called, with +at least two successive Mills on it (KLEINE MUHLE, GROSSE MUHLE); +and on the northern shore of it, spilling itself out into a wet +waste called ELSBRUCH (Alder Waste), which is especially notable to +Friedrich. ALDER Waste? Watery, scrubby; no passage there, thinks +Friedrich; which his Peasant with the water-jug confirms. "Tell me, +however," inquires Friedrich, with strictness, "From the Red Grange +yonder, where General Loudon is, if you wished to get over to the +HOHLE GRUND, or to the Judenberg, would you cross that Hen-Floss?" +"It is not crossable, your Majesty; one has to go round quite +westward by the Dam." " What, from Rothe Vorwerk to Big Hollow, no +passage, say you; no crossing?" "None, your Majesty," insists the +Peasant;--who is not aware that the Russians have made one of firm +trestles and logs, and use it daily for highway there; an error of +some interest to Friedrich within the next twenty-four hours! + +Friedrich himself does not know this bit of ground: but there is +with him, besides the Peasant, a Major Linden, whose Regiment used +to lie in Frankfurt, of whom Friedrich makes minute questioning. +Linden answers confidently; has been over all this tract a hundred +times; "but knows it only as a hunter," says Tempelhof, [Tempelhof, +iii. 186.] "not as a soldier," which he ought to have done. +His answers are supposed to have misled Friedrich on various +points, and done him essential damage. Friedrich's view of the +case, that evening, is by no means so despondent as might be +imagined: he regards the thing as difficult, not as impossible,-- +and one of his anxieties is, that he be not balked of trying it +straightway. Retiring to his hut in Bischofsee, he makes two +Dispositions, of admirable clearness, brevity, and calculated for +two contingencies: [Given in Tempelhof, iii. 182, 183.] That of the +enemy retaining his now posture; and That of the enemy making off +for Reppen;--which latter does not at all concern us, as matters +turned! Of the former the course will unfold itself to us, in +practice, shortly. At 2 A.M. Friedrich will be on foot again, at 3 +on march again.--The last phenomenon, at Bischofsee this night, is +some sudden glare of disastrous light rising over the woods:-- +"Russians burning Kunersdorf!" as neighbors are sorry to hear. +That is the finale of much Russian rearranging and tumbling, this +day; that barbarous burning of Kunersdorf, before going to bed. +To-morrow various other poor Villages got burnt by them, which they +had better have left standing. + +The Russians, on hearing that Friedrich was across at Goritz, and +coming on them from the north side, not from Frankfurt by the +Reppen Highway, were in great agitation. Not thrown into terror, +but into manifold haste, knowing what hasty adversary there was. +Endless readjustments they have to make; a day of tumultuous +business with the Russians, this Saturday, llth, when the news +reached them. "They inverted their front [say all the Books but +Friedrich's own]: Not coming by the Reppen Highway, then!" think +they. And thereupon changed rear to front, as at Zorndorf, but more +elaborately;--which I should not mention, were it not that hereby +their late "right wing on the Muhlberg" has, in strict speech, +become their "left," and there is ambiguity and discrepancy in some +of the Books, should any poor reader take to studying them on this +matter. Changed their front; which involves much interior changing; +readjusting of batteries and the like. That of burning Kunersdorf +was the barbaric winding up of all this: barbaric, and, in the +military sense, absurd; poor Kunersdorf could have been burnt at +any moment, if needful; and to the Russians the keeping of it +standing was the profitable thing, as an impediment to Friedrich in +his advance there. They have laid it flat and permeable; ashes all +of it,--except the Church only, which is of stone; not so +combustible, and may have uses withal. Has perhaps served as +temporary lock-up, prison for the night, to some of those Frankfurt +Deputations and their troublesome wailings; and may serve as +temporary hospital to-morrow, who knows? + +Readjustments in the Russian Camp were manifold: but these are as +nothing, in the tumultuous business of the day. Carting of their +baggage, every article of value, to that safe Wagenburg in the +River; driving of cattle,--the very driving of cattle through +Frankfurt, endless herds of them, gathered by the Cossacks from far +and wide, "lasted for four-and-twenty hours." Oxen in Frankfurt +that day were at the rate of ten shillings per head. Often enough +you were offered a full-grown young steer for a loaf of bread; +nay the Cossacks, when there was absolutely no bidder, would +slaughter down the animal, leave its carcass in the streets, and +sell the hide for a TYMPF,--fivepence (very bad silver at present). +Never before or since was seen in Frankfurt such a Saturday, for +bellowing and braying, and raging and tumulting, all through the +day and through the night; ushering in such a Sunday too! + +Sunday about 3 in the morning, Friedrich is on march again,-- +Russians still in their place; and Disposition FIRST, not SECOND at +all, to be our rule of action! Friedrich, in Two Columns, marches +off, eastward through the woods, as if for Reppen quite away from +the Russians and their Muhlberg; but intending to circle round at +the due point, and come down upon their right flank there (left +flank, as he persists to call it), out of the woods, and clasp it +in his arms in an impressive, unexpected way. In Two Columns; +which are meant, as usual, to be the Two Lines of Battle: Seidlitz, +with chosen Cavalry, is at the head of Column First, and will be +Left Wing, were we on the ground; Eugen of Wurtemberg, closing the +rear of Column First, will, he, or Finck and he together, be Right +Wing. That is the order of march;--order of BATTLE, we shall find, +had to alter itself somewhat, for reasons extremely valid! + +Finck with his 12,000 is to keep his present ground; to have two +good batteries got ready, each on its knoll ahead, which shall wait +silent in the interim: Finck to ride out reconnoitring, with many +General Officers, and to make motions and ostentations; in a word, +to persuade the Russians that here is the Main Army coming on from +the north. All which Finck does; avoiding, as his orders were, any +firing, or serious commencement of business, till the King reappear +out of the woods. The Russians give Finck and his General Officers +a cannon salvo, here and there, without effect, and get no answer. +"The King does not see his way, then, after all?" think the +Russians. Their Cossacks go scouring about; on the southern side, +"burn Schwetig and Reipzig," without the least advantage to +themselves: most of the Cavalry, and a regiment or two of excellent +Austrian Grenadiers, are with Loudon, near the Red Grange, in front +of the Russian extreme left;--but will have stept over into Big +Hollow at a moment of crisis! + +The King's march, through the Forest of Reppen, was nothing like so +expeditious as had been expected. There are thickets, intricacies, +runlets, boggy oozes; indifferent to one man well mounted, but +vitally important to 30,000 with heavy cannon to bring on. +Boggy oozings especially,--there is one dirty stream or floss +(HUNERFLIESS, Hen-Floss) which wanders dismally through those +recesses, issuing from the far south, with dirty daughters dismally +wandering into it, and others that cannot get into it (being of the +lake kind): these, in their weary, circling, recircling course +towards Oder,--FAULE LAACKE (Foul Lake, LITHER-MERE, as it were), +Foul Bridge, Swine's Nook (SCHWEINEBUCKT), and many others,-- +occasion endless difficulty. Whether Major Linden was shot that +day, or what became of him after, I do not know: but it was pity he +had not studied the ground with a soldier's eye instead of a +hunter's! Plumping suddenly, at last, upon Hen-Floss itself, +Friedrich has to turn angularly; angularly, which occasions great +delay: the heavy cannon (wall-guns brought from Custrin) have +twelve horses each, and cannot turn among the trees, but have to be +unyoked, reyoked, turned round by hand:--in short, it was eight in +the morning before Friedrich arrived at the edge of the wood, on +the Klosterberg, Walckberg, and other woody BERGS or knolls, within +reach of Muhlberg, and behind the preliminary abatis there (abatis +which was rather of service to him than otherwise);--and began +privately building his batteries. + +At eight o'clock he, with Column First, which is now becoming Line +First (CENTRE of Line First, if we reckon Finck as RIGHT-WING), is +there; busy in that manner: Column Second, which was to have been +Rear Line, is still a pretty way behind; and has many difficulties +before it gets into Kunersdorf neighborhood, or can (having +wriggled itself into a kind of LEFT-WING) co-operate on the Russian +Position from the south side. On the north side, Finck has been +ready these five hours.--Friedrich speeds the building of his +batteries: "Silent, too; the Russians have not yet noticed us!" +By degrees the Russians do notice something; shoot out Cossacks to +reconnoitre. Cossacks in quantity; who are so insolent, and venture +so very near, our gunners on the north battery give them a blast of +satisfactory grape-shot; one aud then another, four blasts in all, +satisfactory to the gunner mind,--till the King's self, with a +look, with a voice, came galloping: "Silence, will you!" +The Russians took no offence; still considering Finck to be the +main thing and Friedrich some scout party,--till at last, + +Half-past eleven, everything being ready on the Walck Hill, +Friedrich's batteries opened there, in a sudden and volcanic way. +Volcanically answered by the Russians, as soon as possible; +who have 72 guns on this Muhlberg, and are nothing loath. Upon whom +Finck's battery is opening from the north, withal: Friedrich has 60 +cannon hereabouts; on the Walckberg, on the LITTLE Spitzberg +(called SEIDLITZ HILL ever since); all playing diligently on the +head and south shoulder of this Muhlberg: while Finck's battery +opens on the north shoulder (could he but get near enough). +Volcanic to a degree all these; nor are the Russians wanting, +though they get more and more astonished: Tempelhof, who was in it, +says he never, except at Torgau next Year, heard a louder +cannonade. Loud exceedingly; and more or less appalling to the +Russian imagination: but not destructive in proportion; +the distance being too considerable,--"1,950 paces at the nearest," +as Tempelhof has since ascertained by measuring. Friedrich's two +batteries, however, as they took the Russians in the flank or by +enfilade, did good execution. "The Russian guns were ill-pointed; +the Russian batteries wrong-built; batteries so built as did not +allow them sight of the Hollow they were meant to defend." +[Tempelhof, iii. 186, 187.] + +After above half an hour of this, Friedrich orders storm of the +Muhlberg: Forward on it, with what of enfilading it has had! Eight +grenadier Battalions, a chosen vanguard appointed for the work +(names of Battalions all given, and deathless in the Prussian War- +Annals), tramp forth on this service: cross the abatis, which the +Russian grenadoes have mostly burnt; down into the Hollow. +Steady as planets; "with a precision and coherency," says +Tempelhof, "which even on the parade-ground would have deserved +praises. Once well in the Hollow, they suffer nothing; though the +blind Russian fire, going all over their heads, rages threefold:" +suffered nothing in the Hollow; nor till they reached almost the +brow of the Muhlberg, and were within a hundred steps of the +Russian guns. These were the critical steps, these final ones; +such torrents of grape-shot and musket-shot and sheer death +bursting out, here at last, upon the Eight Battalions, as they come +above ground. Who advanced, unwavering, all the faster,--speed +one's only safety. They poured into the Russian gunners and +musketry battalions one volley of choicest quality, which had a +shaking effect; then, with level bayonets, plunge on the batteries: +which are all empty before we can leap into them; artillery-men, +musketeer battalions, all on wing; general whirlpool spreading. +And so, in ten minutes, the Muhlberg and its guns are ours. +Ever since Zorndorf, an idea had got abroad, says Tempelhof, that +the Russians would die instead of yielding; but it proved far +otherwise here. Down as far as Kunersdorf, which may be about a +mile westward, the Russians are all in a whirl; at best hanging in +tatters and clumps, their Officers struggling against the flight; +"mixed groups you would see huddled together a hundred men deep." +The Russian Left Wing is beaten: had we our cannon up here, our +cavalry up here, the Russian Army were in a bad way! + +This is a glorious beginning; completed, I think, as far almost as +Kunersdorf by one o'clock: and could the iron continue to be struck +while it is at white-heat as now, the result were as good as +certain. That was Friedrich's calculation: but circumstances which +he had not counted on, some which he could not count on, sadly +retarded the matter. His Left Wing (Rear Line, which should now +have been Left Wing) from southward, his Right Wing from northward, +and Finck farther west, were now on the instant to have +simultaneously closed upon the beaten Russians, and crushed them +altogether. The Right Wing, conquerors of the Muhlberg, are here: +but neither Finck nor the Left can be simultaneous with them. +Finck and his artillery are much retarded with the Flosses and poor +single Bridges; and of the Left Wing there are only some Vanguard +Regiments capable of helping ("who drove out the Russians from +Kunersdorf Churchyard," as their first feat),--no Main Body yet for +a long while. Such impediments, such intricacies of bog and bush! +The entire Wing does at last get to the southeast of Kunersdorf, +free of the wood; but finds (contrary to Linden with his hunter +eye) an intricate meshwork of meres and straggling lakes, two of +them in the burnt Village itself; no passing of these except on +narrow isthmuses, which necessitate change of rank and re-change; +and our Left Wing cannot, with all its industry, "march up," +that is, arrive at the enemy in fighting line, without the +painfulest delays. + +And then the getting forward of our cannon! On the Muhlberg itself +the seventy-two Russian guns, "owing to difference of calibre," or +artillery-men know what, cannot be used by us: a few light guns, +Tempelhof to one of them, a poor four in all, with perhaps 100 shot +to each, did, by the King's order, hasten to the top of the +Muhlberg; and never did Tempelhof see a finer chance for artillery +than there. Soft sloping ground, with Russians simmering ahead of +you, all the way down to Kunersdorf, a mile long: by horizontal +pointing, you had such reboundings (RICOCHETS); and carried +beautiful execution! Tempelhof soon spent his hundred shots: but it +was not at once that any of our sixty heavy guns could be got up +thither. Twelve horses to each: fancy it, and what baffling delays +here and elsewhere;--and how the Russian whirlpool was settling +more and more, in the interim! And had, in part, settled; in part, +got through to the rear, and been replaced by fresh troops! + +Friedrich's activities, and suppressed and insuppressible +impatiences in this interval, are also conceivable, though not on +record for us. The swiftest of men; tied down, in this manner, with +the blaze of perfect victory ahead, were the moments NOT running +out! Slower or faster, he thinks (I suppose), the victory is his; +and that he must possess his soul till things do arrive. It was in +one and more of those embargoed intervals that he wrote to Berlin +[Preuss, ii. 212 n.] (which is waiting, as if for life or death, +the issue of this scene, sixty miles distant): "Russians beaten; +rejoice with me!" Four successive couriers, I believe, with +messages to that effect; and at last a Fifth with dolefully +contrary news!-- + +In proportion as the cannon and other necessaries gradually got in, +the Fight flamed up from its embers more aud more: and there +ensued,--the Russians being now ranked again (fronting eastward +now) "in many lines," and very fierce,--a second still deadlier +bout; Friedrich furiously diligent on their front and right flank; +Finck, from the Alder Waste, battering and charging (uphill, and +under difficulties from those Flosses and single Bridges) on their +left flank. This too, after long deadly efforts on the Prussian +part, ended again clearly in their favor; their enemies broken a +second time, and driven not only out of Kunersdorf and the +Kuhgrund, but some say almost to the foot of the Judenberg,--what +can only be very partially true. Broken portions of the Russian +left flank,--some of Finck's people, in their victorious wrath, may +have chased these very far: but it is certain the general Russian +mass rallied again a long way short of the Judenberg;--though, the +ground being all obliterated by the rabbits and the winds, nobody +can now know with exactitude where. + +And indeed the Battle, from this point onwards, becomes blurred and +confused to us, only its grosser features visible henceforth. +Where the "Big Spitzberg" was (so terribly important soon), nobody +can now tell me, except from maps. London's motions too are +obscure, though important. I believe his grenadiers had not yet +been in the fire; but am certain they are now come out of Big +Hollow; fresh for the rescue; and have taken front rank in this +Second Rally that is made. Loudon's Cavalry Loudon himself has in +hand, and waits with them in a fit place. He has 18,000 fresh men; +and an eye like few others on a field of war. Loudon's 18,000 are +fresh: of the Prussians that can by no means be said. I should +judge it must be 3 of the afternoon. The day is windless, blazing; +one of the hottest August days; and "nobody, for twelve hours past, +could command a drink of water:" very fresh the poor Prussians +cannot be! They have done two bouts of excellent fighting; +tumbled the Russians well back, stormed many batteries; and taken +in all 180 cannon. + +At this stage, it appears, Finck and many Generals, Seidlitz among +the others, were of opinion that, in present circumstances, with +troops so tired, and the enemy nearly certain to draw off, if +permitted, here had been enough for one day, and that there ought +to be pause till to-morrow. Friedrich knew well the need of rest; +but Friedrich, impatient of things half-done, especially of +Russians half-beaten, would not listen to this proposal; which was +reckoned upon him as a grave and tragic fault, all the rest of his +life; though favorable judges, who were on the ground, Tempelhof +for one, [Tempelhof, iii. 194.] are williug to prove that pausing +here--at the point we had really got to, a little beyond the +Kuhgrund, namely; and not a couple of miles westward, at the foot +of the Jew Hill, where vague rumor puts us--was not feasible or +reasonable. Friedrich considers with himself, "Our left wing has +hardly yet been in fire!" calls out the entire left wing, foot and +horse: these are to emerge from their meshwork of Lakes about +Kunersdorf, and bear a hand along with us on the Russian front +here,--especially to sweep away that raging Battery they have on +the Big Spitzberg, and make us clear of it. The Big Spitzberg lies +to south and ahead of the Russian right as now ranked; +fatally covers their right flank, and half ruins the attack in +front. Big Spitzberg is blown irrecognizable in our time; but it +was then an all-important thing. + +The left-wing Infantry thread their lake-labyrinth, the soonest +possible; have to rank again on the hither side, under a tearing +fire from that Spitzberg; can then at last, and do, storm onwards, +upwards; but cannot, with their best efforts, take the Spitzberg: +and have to fall back under its floods of tearing case-shot, and +retire out of range. To Friedrich's blank disappointment: "Try it +you, then, Seidlitz; you saved us at Zorndorf!" Seidlitz, though it +is an impossible problem to storm batteries with horse, does charge +in for the Russian flank, in spite of its covering battery: but the +torrents of grape-shot are insufferable; the Seidlitz people, torn +in gaps, recoil, whirl round, and do not rank again till beyond the +Lakes of Kunersdorf. Seidlitz himself has got wounded, and has had +to be carried away. + +And, in brief, from this point onwards all goes aback with the +Prussians more and more. Repeated attempts on that Spitzberg +battery prove vain; to advance without it is impossible. +Friedrich's exertions are passionate, almost desperate; +rallying, animating, new-ordering; everywhere in the hottest of the +fire. "Thrice he personally led on the main attack." He has had two +horses shot down under him; mounting a third, this too gets a +bullet in an artery of the neck, and is about falling, when two +Adjutants save the King. In his waistcoat-pocket some small gold +case (ETUI) has got smitten flat by a bullet, which would otherwise +have ended matters. The people about him remonstrate on such +exposure of a life beyond value; he answers curtly, "We must all of +us try every method here, to win the Battle: I, like every other, +must stand to my duty here!" These, and a second brief word or two +farther on, are all of articulate that we hear from him this day. + +Friedrich's wearied battalions here on the Heights, while the +Spitzberg to left goes so ill, fight desperately; but cannot +prevail farther; and in spite of Friedrich's vehement rallyings +and urgings, gradually lose ground,--back at last to Kunersdorf and +the Kuhgrund again. The Loudon grenadiers, and exclaimed masses of +fresh Russians, are not to be broken, but advance and advance. +Fancy the panting death-labors, and spasmodic toilings and +bafflings, of those poor Prussians and their King! Nothing now +succeeding; the death-agony now come; all hearts growing hopeless; +only one heart still seeing hope. The Spitzberg is impossible; +tried how often I know not. Finck, from the Alder Waste, with his +Infantry, attacks, and again attacks; without success: "Let the +Cavalry go round, then, and try there. Seidlitz we have not; +you Eugen of Wurtemberg lead them!" Eugen leads them (cuirassiers, +or we will forget what); round by the eastern end of the Muhlberg; +then westward, along the Alder Waste; finally southward, against +the Russian flank, himself foremost, and at the gallop for +charging:--Eugen, "looking round, finds his men all gone," and has +to gallop the other way, gets wounded to boot. Puttkammer, with +Hussars, then tried it; Puttkammer was shot dead, and his Hussars +too could do nothing. + +Back, slowly back, go the Prussians generally, nothing now succeeds +with them. Back to the Kuhgrund again; fairly over the steep brow +there; the Russians serrying their ranks atop, rearranging their +many guns. There, once more, rose frightful struggle; +desperate attempt by the fordone Prussians to retake that Height. +"Lasted fifteen minutes, line to line not fifty yards asunder;" +such musketry,--our last cartridges withal. Ardent Prussian parties +trying to storm up; few ever getting to the top, none ever standing +there alive one minute. This was the death-agony of the Battle. +Loudon, waiting behind the Spitzberg, dashes forward now, towards +the Kuhgrund and our Left Flank. At sight of which a universal +feeling shivers through the Prussian heart, "Hope ended, then!"-- +and their solid ranks rustle everywhere; and melt into one wild +deluge, ebbing from the place as fast as it can. + +It is towards six o'clock; the sweltering Sun is now fallen low and +veiled; gray evening sinking over those wastes. "N'Y A-T-IL DONC +PAS UN BOUGRE DE BOULET QUI PUISSE M'ATTEINDREE (Is there no one +b-- of a ball that can reach me, then)?" exclaimed Friedrich in +despair. Such a day he had never thought to see. The pillar of the +State, the Prussian Army itself, gone to chaos in this manner. +Friedrich still passionately struggles, exhorts, commands, entreats +even with tears, "Children, don't forsake me, in this pinch +(KINDER, VERLASSET HEUTE MICH, EUREN KONIG, EUREN VATER, NICHT)!" +[Kriele, p. 169.]--but all ears are deaf. On the Muhlberg one +regiment still stood by their guns, covering the retreat. But the +retreat is more and more a flight; "no Prussian Army was ever seen +in such a state." At the Bridges of that Hen-Floss, there was such +a crowding, all our guns got jammed; and had to be left, 165 of +them of various calibre, and the whole of the Russian 180 that were +once in our hands. Had the chase been vigorous, this Prussian Army +had been heard of no more. But beyond the Muhlberg, there was +little or no pursuit; through the wood the Army, all in chaos, but +without molestation otherwise, made for its Oder Bridges by the way +it had come. [Tempelhof, iii. 179-200; Retzow, ii. 80-115: +in Seyfarth, <italic> Beylagen, <end italic> ii. 589-598, <italic> +Bericht von der am 12 August, 1759 bey Kunersdorf vorgefallenen +Schlacht <end italic> (Official); and IB. 598-603, <italic> +Beschreibung der &c. <end italic> (by a Private Hand): lucidly +accurate both.] + +Friedrich was among the last to quit the ground. He seemed +stupefied by the excess of his emotions; in no haste to go; +uncertain whether he would go at all. His adjutants were about him, +and a small party of Ziethen Hussars under Captain Prittwitz. +Wild swarms of Cossacks approached the place. "PRITTWITZ, ICH BIN +VERLOREN (Prittwitz, I am lost)!" remarked he. "NEIN, IHRO +MAJESTAT!" answered Prittwitz with enthusiasm; charged fiercely, he +and his few, into the swarms of Cossacks; cut them about, held them +at bay, or sent them else-whither, while the Adjutants seized +Friedrich's bridle, and galloped off with him. At OEtscher and the +Bridges, Friedrich found of his late Army not quite 3,000 men. +Even Wunsch is not there till next morning. Wunsch with his Party +had, early in the afternoon, laid hold of Frankfurt, as ordered; +made the garrison prisoners, blocked the Oder Bridge; +poor Frankfurt tremulously thanking Heaven for him, and for such an +omen. In spite of their Wagenburg and these Pontoon-Bridges, it +appears, there would have been no retreat for the Russians except +into Wunsch's cannon: Wagenburg way, latish in the afternoon, there +was such a scramble of runaways and retreating baggage, all was +jammed into impassability; scarcely could a single man get through. +In case of defeat, the Russian Army would have had no chance but +surrender or extermination. [Tempelhof, iii. 194: in Retzow (ii. +110) is some dubious traditionary stuff on the matter.] At dark, +however, Wunsch had summons, so truculent in style, he knew what it +meant; and answering in words peremptorily, "No" with a like +emphasis, privately got ready again, and at midnight disappeared. +Got to Reitwein without accident. + +Friedrich found at OEtscher nothing but huts full of poor wounded +men, and their miseries and surgeries;--he took shelter, himself, +in a hut "which had been plundered by Cossacks" (in the past days), +but which had fewer wounded than others, and could be furnished +with some bundles of dry straw. Kriele has a pretty Anecdote, with +names and particulars, of two poor Lieutenants, who were lying on +the floor, as he entered this hut. They had lain there for many +hours; the Surgeons thinking them desperate; which Friedrich did +not. "ACH KINDER, Alas, children, you are badly wounded, then?" +"JA, your Majesty: but how goes the Battle?" (Answer, evasive on +this point): "Are you bandaged, though? Have you been let blood?" +"NEIN, EUER MAJESTAT, KEIN TEUFEL WILL UNS VERBINDEN (Not a devil +of them would bandage us)!" Upon which there is a Surgeon instantly +brought; reprimanded for neglect: "Desperate, say you? These are +young fellows; feel that hand, and that; no fever there: Nature in +such cases does wonders!" Upon which the leech had to perform his +function; and the poor young fellows were saved,--and did new +fighting, and got new wounds, and had Pensions when the War ended. +[Kriele, pp. 169, 170; and in all the Anecdote-Books.] This appears +to have been Friedrich's first work in that hut at OEtscher. +Here next is a Third Autograph to Finkenstein, written in that hut, +probably the first of several Official things there:-- + + +THE KING TO GRAF VAN FINKENSTEIN (at Berlin): Third Note. + +OETSCHER, "12th August," 1759. + +"I attacked the Enemy this morning about eleven; we beat him back +to the JUDENKIRCHHOF (Jew Churchyard,"--a mistake, but now of no +moment), "near Frankfurt. All my troops came into action, and have +done wonders. I reassembled them three times; at length, I was +myself nearly taken prisoner; and we had to quit the Field. My coat +is riddled with bullets, two horses were killed under me;--my +misfortune is, that I am still alive. Our loss is very +considerable. Of an Army of 48,000 men, I have, at this moment +while I write, not more than 3,000 together; and am no longer +master of my forces. In Berlin you will do well to think of your +safety. It is a great calamity; and I will not survive it: +the consequences of this Battle will be worse than the Battle +itself. I have no resources more; and, to confess the truth, I hold +all for lost. I will not survive the destruction of my Country. +Farewell forever (ADIEU POUR JAMAIS).--F." [In orig. "CE 12," no +other date (<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> xxv. 306).] + +Another thing, of the same tragic character, is that of handing +over this Army to Finck's charge. Order there is to Finck of that +tenor: and along with it the following notable Autograph,--a +Friedrich taking leave both of Kingship and of life. The Autograph +exists; but has no date,--date of the Order would probably be still +OETSCHER, 12th AUGUST; date of the Autograph, REITWEIN (across the +River), next day. + + FRIEDRICH TO LIEUT.-GENERAL FINCK (at OEtscher or Reitwein). + +"General Finck gets a difficult commission; the unlucky Army which +I give up to him is no longer in condition to make head against the +Russians. Haddick will now start for Berlin, perhaps Loudon too; +if General Finck go after these, the Russians will fall on his +rear; if he continue on the Oder, he gets Haddick on his flank (SO +KRIGT ER DEN HADEK DISS SEIT):--however, I believe, should Loudon +go for Berlin, he might attack Loudon, and try to beat him: this, +if it succeeded, would be a stand against misfortune, and hold +matters up. Time gained is much, in these desperate circumstances. +The news from Torgau and Dresden, Coper my Secretary (COPER MEIN +SEGRETER," kind of lieutenant to Eichel [See Preuss, i. 349, iii. +442.]) "will send him. You (ER) must inform my Brother [Prince +Henri] of everything; whom I have declared Generalissimo of the +Army. To repair this bad luck altogether is not possible: but what +my Brother shall command, must be done:--the Army swears to my +Nephew [King henceforth]. + +"This is all the advice, in these unhappy circumstances, I am in a +condition to give. Had I still had resources, I would have stayed +by them (SO WEHRE ICH DARBEI GEBLIEBEN). + +"FRIEDRICH" +[Exact Copy, two exact copies, in PREUSS (i. 450, and again, +ii. 215).] + +All this done, the wearied Friedrich flung himself into his truss +of dry straw; and was seen sound asleep there, a single sentry at +the door, by some high Generals that ventured to look in. On the +morrow he crossed to Reitwein; by to-morrow night, there had 23,000 +of his fugitives come in to him;--but this is now to be Finck's +affair, not his! That day, too (for the Paper seems to be +misdated), he signed, and despatched to Schmettau, Commandant in +Dresden, a Missive, which proved more fatal than either of the +others; and brought, or helped to bring, very bitter fruits for +him, before long:-- + +TO LIEUTENANT-GENERAL VON SCHMETTAU (at Dresden). + +"REITWEIN, 14th [probably 13th] August, 1759. + +"You will perhaps have heard of the Check [L'ECHEC, Kunersdorf to +wit!] I have met with from the Russian Army on the 13th [12th, if +you have the Almanac at hand] of this month. Though at bottom our +affairs in regard to the Enemy here are not desperate, I find I +shall not now be able to make any detachment for your assistance. +Should the Austrians attempt anything against Dresden, therefore, +you will see if there are means of maintaining yourself; +failing which, it will behoove you to try and obtain a favorable +Capitulation,--to wit, Liberty to withdraw, with the whole +Garrison, Moneys, Magazines, Hospital and all that we have at +Dresden, either to Berlin or else-whither, so as to join some Corps +of my Troops. + +"As a fit of illness [MALADIE, alas!] has come on me,--which I do +not think will have dangerous results,--I have for the present left +the command of my Troops to Lieutenant-General von Finck; +whose Orders you are to execute as if coming to you directly from +myself. On this I pray God to have you in his holy and worthy +keeping.--F." [Preuss, ii. <italic> Urkundenbuch, <end italic> +p. 43.] + +At Berlin, on this 13th,--with the Five Couriers coming in +successively (and not in the order of their despatch, but the fatal +Fifth arriving some time AHEAD of the Fourth, who still spoke of +progress and victory),--there was such a day as Sulzer (ACH MEIN +LIEBER SULZER!) had never seen in the world. "'Above 50,000 human +beings on the Palace Esplanade and streets about;' swaying hither +and thither, in agony of expectation, in alternate paroxysm of joy +and of terror and woe; often enough the opposite paroxysms +simultaneous in the different groups, and men crushed down in +despair met by men leaping into the air for very gladness:" Sulzer +(whose sympathy is of very aesthetic type) "would not, for any +consideration, have missed such a scene." [<italic> Briefe der +Schweitzer Bodmer, Sulzer, Gessner; aus Gleim's literarischen +Nachlasse: herausgegeben von Wilhelm Korte <end italic> (Zurich, +1804), pp. 316-319.] The "scene" is much obliged to you, +MEIN LIEBER!-- + +Practically we find, in Rodenbeck, or straggling elsewhere, this +Note: "On the day after Kunersdorf, Queen and Court fly to +Magdeburg: this is their second flight. Their first was on +Haddick's Visit, October, 1757; but after Rossbach they soon +returned, and Berlin and the Court were then extremely gay: +different gentlemen, French and others of every Nation, fallen +prisoners, made the Queen's soirees the finest in the world for +splendor and variety, at that time." [Rodenbeck, i. 390; &c. &c.] + +One other Note we save, for the sake of poor Major Kleist, "Poet of +the Spring," as he was then called. A valiant, punctual Soldier, +and with a turn for Literature as well; who wrote really pleasant +fine things, new at that time and rapturously welcome, though too +much in the sentimental vein for the times which have followed. +Major Kleist,--there is a General Kleist, a Colonel Kleist of the +Green Hussars (called GRUNE Kleist, a terrible cutting fellow):-- +this is not Grune Kleist; this is the Poet of THE SPRING; +whose fate at Kunersdorf made a tragic impression in all +intelligent circles of Teutschland. Here is Kriele's Note +(abridged):-- + +"Christian Ewald von Kleist, 'Poet of the Spring' [a Pommern +gentleman, now in his forty-fourth year], was of Finck's Division; +had come on, after those Eight Battalions took the first Russian +battery [that is, Muhlberg]; and had been assisting, with zeal, at +the taking of three other batteries, regardless of twelve +contusions, which he gradually got. At the third battery, he was +farther badly hurt on the left arm and the right. Took his +Colonel's place nevertheless, whom he now saw fall; led the +regiment MUTHIG forward on the fourth battery. A case-shot smashed +his right leg to pieces; he fell from his horse [hour not given, +shall we say 3 P.M.]; sank, exclaiming: 'KINDER, My children, don't +forsake your King!' and fainted there. Was carried to rear and +leftward; laid down on some dry spot in the Elsbruch, not far from +the Kuhgrund, and a Surgeon brought. The Surgeon, while examining, +was torn away by case-shot: Kleist lay bleeding without help. +A friend of his, Pfau [who told Kriele], one of Finck's Generals, +came riding that way: Kleist called to him; asked how the Battle +went; uncommonly glad to hear we are still progressive. +Pfau undertook, and tried his utmost, for a carriage to Kleist; +did send one of Finck's own carriages; but after such delays that +the Prussians were now yielding: poor Kleist's had become Russian +ground, and the carriage could not get in. + +"Kleist lay helpless; no luck worse than his. In the evening, +Cossacks came round him; stript him stark-naked; threw him, face +foremost, into the nearest swampy place, and went their way. One of +these devils had something so absurd and Teniers-like in the face +of him, that Kleist, in his pains, could not help laughing at +remembrance of it. In the night some Russian Hussars, human and not +Cossack, found Kleist in this situation; took him to a dry place; +put a cloak over him, kindled a watch-fire for themselves, and gave +him water and bread. Towards morning they hastened away, throwing +an 8-GROSCHEN STUCK [ninepenny piece, shilling, say half-crown] on +his cloak,--with human farewell. But Cossacks again came; +again stript him naked and bare. Towards noon of the 13th, Kleist +contrived to attract some Russian Cavalry troop passing that way, +and got speech of the Captain (one Fackelberg, a German); who at +once set about helping him;--and had him actually sent into +Frankfurt, in a carriage, that evening. To the House of a Professor +Nikolai; where was plenty of surgery and watchful affection. +After near thirty hours of such a lair, his wounds seemed still +curable; there was hope for ten days. In the tenth night (22d-23d +August), the shivered pieces of bone disunited themselves; cut an +artery,--which, after many trials, could not be tied. August 24th, +at two in the morning, he died.--Great sorrow. August 26th, there +was soldier's funeral; poor Kleist's coffin borne by twelve Russian +grenadiers; very many Russian Officers attending, who had come from +the Camp for that end; one Russian Staff-Officer of them unbuckling +his own sword to lay on the bier, as there was want of one. +King Friedrich had Kleist's Portrait hung in the Garnison Kirche. +Freemason Lodge, in 1788, set up a monument to him," [Kriele, pp. +39-43.]--which still stands on the Frankfurt pavement, and is now +in sadly ruinous state. + +The Prussian loss, in this Battle, was, besides all the cannon and +field-equipages: 6,000 killed, 13,000 wounded (of which latter, +2,000 badly, who fell to the Russians as prisoners); in all, about +19,000 men. Nor was the Russian loss much lighter; of Russians and +Austrians together, near 18,000, as Tempelhof counts: "which will +not surprise your Majesty," reports Soltikof to his Czarina; +"who are aware that the King of Prussia sells his defeats at a dear +rate." And privately Soltikof was heard to say, "Let me fight but +another such Victory, and I may go to Petersburg with the news of +it myself, with the staff in my hand." The joy at Petersburg, +striving not to be braggart or immodest, was solemn, steady and +superlative: a great feat indeed for Russia, this Victory over such +a King,--though a kind of grudge, that it was due to Loudon, dwelt, +in spite of Loudon's politic silence on that point, unpleasantly in +the background. The chase they had shamefully neglected. It is +said, certain Russian Officers, who had charge of that business +stept into a peasant's cottage to consult on it; contrived somehow +to find tolerable liquor there; and sat drinking instead. [Preuss, +ii. 217.] + + + +Chapter V. + +SAXONY WITHOUT DEFENCE: SCHMETTAU SURRENDERS DRESDEN. + +Friedrich's despair did not last quite four days. On the fourth +day,--day after leaving Reitwein,--there is this little Document, +which still exists, of more comfortable tenor: "My dear Major- +General von Wunsch,--Your Letter of the 16th to Lieutenant-General +von Finck punctually arrived here: and for the future, as I am now +recovered from my illness, you have to address your Reports +directly to Myself.--F." ["Madlitz," on the road to Furstenwalde, +"17th August:" in Preuss, <italic> Friedrich der Grosse; eine +historische Portrait-Skizze <end italic> (kind of LECTURE, so let +us call it, if again citing it; Lecture delivered, on Friedrich's +Birthday, to Majesty and Staff-Officers as Audience, Berlin, 24th +January, 1855), p. 18.] Finding that, except Tottleben warily +reconnoitring with a few Cossacks, no Russians showed themselves at +Reitwein; that the Russians were encamping and intrenching on the +Wine-Hills south of Frankfurt, not meaning anything immediate,--he +took heart again; ranked his 23,000; sent for General Kleist from +Pommern with his Anti-Swedish handful (leave the Swedes alone, as +usual in time of crisis); considered that artilleries and +furnishings could come to him from Berlin, which is but 60 miles; +that there still lay possibility ahead, and that, though only a +miracle could save him, he would try it to the very last. + +A great relief, this of coming to oneself again! "Till death, +then;--rage on, ye elements and black savageries!" Friedrich's +humor is not despondent, now or afterwards; though at this time it +is very sad, very angry, and, as it were, scorning even to hope: +but he is at all times of beautifully practical turn; and has, in +his very despair, a sobriety of eyesight, and a fixed steadiness of +holding to his purpose, which are of rare quality. His utterances +to D'Argens, about this time and onward,--brief hints, spontaneous, +almost unconscious,--give curious testimony of his glooms and moody +humors. Of which the reader shall see something. For the present, +he is in deep indignation with his poor Troops, among other +miseries. "Actual running away!" he will have it to be; and takes +no account of thirst, hunger, heat, utter weariness and physical +impossibility! This lasts for some weeks. But in general there is +nothing of this injustice to those about him. In general, nothing +even of gloom is manifested; on the contrary, cheerfulness, brisk +hope, a strangely continual succession of hopes (mostly illusory); +--though, within, there is traceable very great sorrow, weariness +and misery. A fixed darkness, as of Erebus, is grown habitual to +him; but is strictly shut up, little of it shown to others, or +even, in a sense, to himself. He is as a traveller overtaken by the +Night and its tempests and rain-deluges, but refusing to pause; +who is wetted to the bone, and does not care farther for rain. +A traveller grown familiar with the howling solitudes; aware that +the Storm-winds do not pity, that Darkness is the dead Earth's +Shadow:--a most lone soul of a man; but continually toiling +forward, as if the brightest goal and haven were near and in view. + +Once more the world was certain of Friedrich's ruin;--Friedrich +himself we have seen certain of it, for some few desperate hours:-- +but the world and he, as had been repeatedly the world's case, were +both disappointed. Intrinsically there could be little doubt but +Friedrich's enemies might now have ruined him, had they been +diligent about it. Now again, and now more than ever, they have the +winning-post in sight. At small distance is the goal and purpose of +all these four years' battlings and marchings, and ten years' +subterranean plottings and intriguings. He himself says +deliberately, "They had only to give him the finishing stroke +(COUP-DE-GRACE)." [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> +v. 20.] But they never gave him that stroke; could not do it, +though heartily desirous. Which was, and is, matter of surprise to +an observant public. + +The cause of failure may be considered to have been, in good part, +Daun and his cunctations. Daun's zeal was unquestionable; +ardent and continual is Daun's desire to succeed: but to try it at +his own risk was beyond his power. He expected always to succeed by +help of others: and to show them an example, and go vigorously to +work himself, was what he never could resolve on. Could play only +Fabius Cunctator, it would seem; and never was that part less +wanted than now! Under such a Chief Figure, the "incoherency of +action," instead of diminishing, as Friedrich had feared, rose +daily towards its maximum; and latterly became extreme. The old +Lernean Hydra had many heads; but they belonged all to one body. +The many heads of this Anti-Friedrich Hydra had withal each its own +body, and separate set of notions and advantages. Friedrich was at +least a unity; his whole strength going one way, and at all +moments, under his own sole command. The value of this circumstance +is incalculable; this is the saving-clause of Pitt and his England +(Pitt also a despotic sovereign, though a temporary one); +this, second only to Friedrich's great gifts from Nature, and the +noble use he makes of them, is above all others the circumstance +that saved him in such a duel with the Hydras. + +On the back of Kunersdorf, accordingly, there was not only no +finishing stroke upon Friedrich, but for two months no stroke or +serious attempt whatever in those neighborhoods where Friedrich is. +There are four Armies hereabouts: The Grand Russian, hanging by +Frankfurt; Friedrich at Furstenwalde (whitherward he marched from +Reitwein August 16th), at Furstenwalde or farther south, guarding +Berlin;--then, unhurt yet by battle of any kind, there are the +Grand Daunish or Mark-Lissa Army, and Prince Henri's of +Schmottseifen. Of which latter Two the hitchings and manoeuvrings +from time to time become vivid, and never altogether cease; but in +no case come to anything. Above two months' scientific flourishing +of weapons, strategic counter-dancing; but no stroke struck, or +result achieved, except on Daun's part irreparable waste of time:-- +all readers would feel it inhuman to be burdened with any notice of +such things. One march of Prince Henri's, which was of a famous and +decisive character, we will attend to, when it comes, that is, were +the end of September at hand; the rest must be imagined as a +general strategic dance in those frontier parts,--Silesia to +rearward on one side, the Lausitz and Frankfurt on the other,--and +must go on, silently for most part, in the background of the +reader's fancy. Indeed, Saxony is the scene of action; +Friedrich, Henri, Soltikof, Daun, comparatively inactive for the +next six weeks and more. + +Some days before Kunersdorf, Daun personally, with I will forget +how many thousands, had made a move to northward from Mark-Lissa, +60 miles or so, through Sagan Country; and lies about Priebus, +waiting there ever since. Priebus is some 40 miles north of +Gorlitz, about 60 west of Glogau, south of Frankfurt 80. This is +where the Master-Smith, having various irons in the fire, may be +handiest for clutching them out, and forging at them, as they +become successively hot. Daun, as Master-Smith, has at least three +objects in view. The FIRST is, as always, Reconquest of Silesia: +this is obstructed by Prince Henri, who sits, watchful on the +threshold, at Schmottseifen yonder. The SECOND is, as last year, +Capture of Dresden: which is much the more feasible at present,-- +there being, except the Garrisons, no Prussian force whatever in +Saxony; and a Reichs Army now actually there at last, after its +long haggling about its Magazines; and above all, a Friedrich with +his hands full elsewhere. To keep Friedrich's hands full,--in other +words, to keep the Russians sticking to him,--that is the THIRD +object: or indeed we may call it the first, second and third; +for Daun is well aware that unless Soltikof can manage to keep +Friedrich busy, Silesia, Saxony and all else becomes impossible. + +Ever since the fortunate junction of Loudon with Soltikof, Daun has +sat, and still sits, expectant; elaborately calculative, gathering +Magazines in different parts, planting out-parties, this way, that +way, with an eye to these three objects, all or each,--especially +to the third object, which he discerns to be all AND each. Daun was +elaborately calculative with these views: but to try any military +action, upon Prince Henri for example, or bestir himself otherwise +than in driving provender forward, and marching detachments hither +and thither to the potentially fit and fittest posts, was not in +Daun's way,--so much the worse for Daun, in his present course +of enterprise. + +Prince Henri had lain quiet at Schmottseifen, waiting his Brother's +adventure; did not hear the least tidings of him till six days +after Kunersdorf, and then only by rumor; hideous, and, though +still dubious, too much of it probable! On the very day of +Kunersdorf, Henri had begun effecting some improvements on his +right flank,--always a sharply strategic, most expert creature,-- +and made a great many motions, which would be unintelligible here. +[Detailed, every fibre of them (as is the soul-confusing custom +there), in Tempelhof, iii. 228 et seq.] Henri feels now that upon +him lies a world of duties; and foremost of all, the instant duty +of endeavoring to open communication with his Brother. +Many marches, in consequence; much intricate marching and +manoeuvring between Daun and him: of which, when we come to Henri's +great March (of 25th September), there may be again some hint. + +For the present, let readers take their Map, and endeavor to fix +the following dates and localities in their mind. Here, in summary, +are the King's various Marches, and Two successive Encampments, two +only, during those Six Weeks of forced inaction, while he is +obliged to stand watching the Russians, and to witness so many +complicacies and disasters in the distance; which he struggles much +and fruitlessly to hinder or help:-- + +ENCAMPMENT 1st (Furstenwalde, August 18th-30th). Friedrich left +Reitwein AUGUST 16th; 17th, he is at Madlitz [Note to Wunsch +written there, which we read]; 18th, to Furstenwalde, and encamp. +Furstenwalde is on the Spree, straight between Frankfurt and +Berlin; 25 miles from the former, 35 from the latter. Here for near +a fortnight. At first, much in alarm about the Russians and Berlin; +but gradually ascertaining that the Russians intend nothing. + +"In effect, all this while Soltikof lay at Lossow, 10 miles south +of Frankfurt, with his right on Oder; totally motionless, inactive, +except listening, often rather gloomily, to Daun's and +Montalembert's suasive eloquences and advices,--and once, August +22d, in the little Town of Guben, holding Conference with Daun [of +which by and by]. In consequence of which, AUGUST 28th, Soltikof +and his Russians and Austrians got under way again; southward, but +only a few marches: first to Mullrose, then to Lieberose:--whom, +the instant he heard of their movements, Friedrich, August 30th, +hastened to follow; but had not to follow very far. +Whereupon ensues + +"ENCAMPMENT SECOND (Waldau, till September 15th). AUGUST 30th, +Friedrich, we say, rose from Furstenwalde; hastened to follow this +Russian movement, and keep within wind of it: up the valley of the +Spree; first to Mullrose neighborhood [where the Russians, +loitering some time, spoiled the canal-locks of the Friedrich- +Wilhelm Canal, if nothing more],--thence to Lieberose neighborhood; +Waldau, the King's new place of encampment,--Waldau, with Spree +Forest to rear of it: silent both parties till September 15th, when +Soltikof did fairly march, not towards Berlin, but quite in the +opposite direction." + +By the middle of September, when the Russians did get on foot, and +moved eastward; especially on and after September 25th, when Henri +made his famous March westward; then it will behoove us to return +to Friedrich and these localities. For the present we must turn to +Saxony, where, and not here, the scene of action is. Take, farther, +only the following bits of Note, which will now be readable. +First, these Utterances to D'Argens; direct glimpses into the +heavy-laden, indeed hag-ridden and nearly desperate inner man of +Friedrich, during the first three weeks after his defeat +at Kunersdorf:-- + + +THE KING TO MARQUIS D'ARGENS (at Berlin): Six Notes. + +1. "MADLITZ [road from Reitwein to Furstenwalde], 16th AUGUST, +1759. We have been unfortunate, my dear Marquis; but not, by my +fault. The victory was ours, and would even have been a complete +one, when our infantry lost patience, and at the wrong moment +abandoned the field of battle. The enemy to-day is on march to +Mullrose, to unite with Haddick [not to Mullrose for ten days yet; +Haddick had already got united with THEM]. The Russian infantry is +almost totally destroyed. Of my own wrecks, all that I have been +able to assemble amounts to 32,000 men; with these I am pushing on +to throw myself across the enemy's road, and either perish or save +the Capital. That is not what you [you Berliners] will call a +deficiency of resolution. + +"For the event I cannot answer. If I had more lives than one, I +would sacrifice them all to my Country. But if this stroke fail, I +think I am clear-scores with her, and that it will be permissible +to look a little to myself. There are limits to everything. +I support my misfortune; courage not abated by it: but I am well +resolved, after this stroke, if it fail, to open an outgate for +myself [that small glass tube which never quits me], and no longer +be the sport of any chance." + +2. Furstenwalde, 20th AUGUST. ... "Remain at Berlin, or retire to +Potsdam; in a little while there will come some catastrophe: it is +not fit that you suffer by it. If things take a good turn, you can +be back to Berlin [from Potsdam] in four hours. If ill-luck still +pursue us, go to Hanover or to Zelle, where you can provide for +your safety. + +"I protest to you, that in this late Action I did what was humanly +possible to conquer; but my people"--Oh, your Majesty! + +3. FURSTENWALDE, 21st AUGUST. ... "The enemy is intrenching himself +near Frankfurt; a sign he intends no attempt. If you will do me the +pleasure to come out hither, you can in all safety. Bring your bed +with you; bring my Cook Noel; and I will have you a little chamber +ready. You will be my consolation and my hope."-- + +This day,--let readers mark the circumstance,--Friedrich, in better +spirits, detaches Wunsch with some poor 6,000, to try if he can be +of help in Saxony; where the Reichs Army, now arrived in force, and +with nothing whatever in the field against them, is taking all the +Northward Garrison-Towns, and otherwise proceeding at a high rate. +Too possibly with an eye towards Dresden itself! Wunsch sets out +August 21st. [Tempelhof, iii. 211.] And we shall hear of him in +those Saxon Countries before long. + +4. FURSTENWALDE, 22d AUGUST. "Yesterday I wrote to you to come; +but to-day I forbid it. Daun is at Kotbus; he is marching on Luben +and Berlin [nothing like so rash!].--Fly these unhappy Countries!-- +This news obliges me again to attack the Russians between here and +Frankfurt. You may imagine if this is a desperate resolution. It is +the sole hope that remains to me, of not being cut off from Berlin +on the one side or the other. I will give the discouraged troops +some brandy"--alas!--"but I promise myself nothing of success. +My one consolation is, that I shall die sword in hand." + +5. SAME PLACE AND DAY (after a Letter FROM D'Argens). "You make the +panegyric, MON CHER, of an Army that does not deserve any. +The soldiers had good limbs to run with, none to attack the enemy. +[Alas, your Majesty; after fifteen hours of such marching +and fighting!] + +"For certain I will fight; but don't flatter yourself about the +event. A happy chance alone can help us. Go, in God's name, to +Tangermunde [since the Royal Family went, D'Argens and many +Berliners are thinking of flight], to Tangermunde, where you will +be well; and wait there how Destiny shall have disposed of us. +I will go to reconnoitre the enemy to-morrow. Next day, if there is +anything to do, we will try it. But if the enemy still holds to the +Wine-Hills of Frankfurt, I shall never dare to attack him. + +"No, the torment of Tantalus, the pains of Prometheus, the doom of +Sisyphus, were nothing like what I suffer for the last ten days +[from Kunersdorf till now, when destruction has to be warded off +again, and the force wanting]. Death is sweet in comparison to such +a life. Have compassion on me and it; and believe that I still keep +to myself a great many evil things, not wishing to afflict or +disquiet anybody with them; and that I would not counsel you to fly +these unlucky Countries, if I had any ray of hope. +Adieu, MON CHER." + +Four days after, AUGUST 25th, from this same Furstenwalde, the +Russians still continuing stagnant, Friedrich despatches to +Schmettau, Commandant of Dresden (by some industrious hand, for the +roads are all blocked), a Second Letter, "That Dresden is of the +highest moment; that in case of Siege there, relief [Wunsch, +namely, and perhaps more that may follow] is on the road; and that +Schmettau must defend himself to the utmost." Let us hope this +Second Missive may counteract the too despondent First, which we +read above, should that have produced discouragement in Schmettau! +[Second Letter is given in <italic> Schmettau's Leben, <end italic> +pp. 436, 437.]--D'Argens does run to Wolfenbuttel; stays there till +September 9th. Nothing more from Friedrich till 4th September, when +matters are well cooled again. + +6. WALDAU, 4th SEPTEMBER. "I think Berlin is now in safety; you may +return thither. The Barbarians [Russians] are in the Lausitz; +I keep by the side of them, between them and Berlin, so that there +is nothing to fear for the Capital. The imminency of danger is +past; but there will still be many bad moments to get through, +before reaching the end of the Campaign. These, however, only +regard myself; never mind these. My martyrdom will last two months +yet; then the snows and the ices will end it." [<italic> OEuvres de +Frederic, <end italic> xix. 78, 82, 83, 85, 86.] + +Thus at Furstenwalde, then at Waldau, keeping guard, forlorn but +resolute, against the intrusive Russian-Austrian deluges, Friedrich +stands painfully vigilant and expectant,--still for about a +fortnight more. With bad news coming to him latterly, as we shall +hear. He is in those old moorland Wusterhausen Countries, once so +well known under far other circumstances. Thirty years ago, in fine +afternoons, we used to gallop with poor Duhan de Jandun, after +school-tasks done, towards Mittenwalde, Furstenwalde and the furzy +environs, far and wide; at home, our Sister and Mother waiting with +many troubles and many loves, and Papa sleeping, Pan-like, under +the shadow of his big tree:--Thirty years ago, ah me, gone like a +dream is all that; and there is solitude and desolation and the +Russian-Austrian death-deluges instead! These, I suppose, were +Friedrich's occasional remembrances; silent always, in this +locality and time. The Sorrows of WERTER, of the GIAOUR, of the +Dyspeptic Tailor in multifarious forms, are recorded in a copious +heart-rending manner, and have had their meed of weeping from a +sympathetic Public: but there are still a good few Sorrows which +lie wrapt in silence, and have never applied there for an idle +tear!--Let us look now into Daun's side of things. + +DAUM, AFTER NEGOTIATION, HAS AN INTERVIEW WITH SOLTIKOF (at Guben, +August 22d).--"Daun, who had moved to Priebus, with a view to be +nearer Soltikof, had scarcely got his tent pitched there {August +13th), when a breathless horseman rode in, with a Note from Loudon, +dated the night before: 'King of Prussia beaten, to the very bone, +beyond mistake this time,--utterly ruined, if one may judge!' +What a vision of the Promised Land! Delighted Daun moves forward, +one march, to Triebel on the morrow; to be one march nearer the +scene of glory, and endeavor to forge this biggest of the hot irons +to advantage. + +"At Triebel Soltikof's own account, elucidated by oral messengers, +eye-witnesses, and, in short, complete conspectus of this ever +memorable Victory, await the delighted Daun. Who despatches +messengers, one and another; Lacy, the first, not succeeding quite: +To congratulate with enthusiasm the most illustrious of Generals; +who has beaten King Friedrich as none else ever did or could; +beaten to the edge of extinction;--especially to urge him upon +trampling out this nearly extinct King, before he gleam up again. +Soltikof understands the congratulations very well; but as to that +of trampling out, snorts an indignant negative: 'Nay, you, why +don't you try it? Surely it is more your business than my Imperial +Mistress's or mine. We have wrenched two victories from him this +season. Kay and Kunersdorf have killed near the half of us: go you +in, and wrench something!' This is Soltikof's logic; which no +messenger of Daun's, Lacy or another, aided by never such melodies +and suasions from Montalembert and Loudon, who are permanently +diligent that way, can shake. + +"And truly it is irrefragable. How can Daun, if himself merely +speculative, calculative, hope that Soltikof will continue acting? +Men who have come to help you in a heavy job of work need example. +If you wish me to weep, be grieved yourself first of all. +Soltikof angrily wipes his countenance at this point, and insists +on a few tears from Daun. Without metaphor, Soltikof has shot away +all his present ammunition, his staff of bread is quite precarious +in these parts; and Soltikof thinks always, 'Is it my business, +then, or is it yours?' + +"Soltikof has intrenched himself on the Wine-Hills at Lossow, +comfortably out of Friedrich's way, and contiguous to Oder and the +provision-routes; sits there, angrily deaf to the voice of the +charmer; nothing to be charmed out of him, but gusts of +indignation, instead of consent. A proud, high-going, indignant +kind of man, with a will of his own. And sees well enough what is +what, in all this symphony of the Lacys, the Montalemberts and +surrounding adorers. Montalembert, who is here this season, our +French best man (unprofitable Swedes must put up with an inferior +hand), is extremely persuasive, tries all the arts of French +rhetoric, but effects nothing. 'To let the Austrians come in for +the finishing stroke,---Excellence, it will be to let them gain, in +History, a glory which is of your earning. Daun and Austria, not +Soltikof and Russia, will be said to have extinguished this +pestilent King; whom History will have to remember!' [Choiseul's +Letter (not DUC de Choiseul, but COMTE, now Minister at Vienna) to +Montalembert, "Vienna, 16th August;" and Montalembert's Answer, +"Lieberhausen [means LIEBEROSE], 31st August, 1759:" in +Montalembert, <italic> Correspondance, <end italic> ii. 58-65.] +'With all my heart,' answers Soltikof; 'I make the Austrians and +History perfectly welcome! Monsieur, my ammunition is in Posen; +my bread is fallen scarce; in Frankfurt can you find me one horse +more?' Indignant Soltikof is not to be taken by chaff; growls now +and then, if you stir him to the bottom: 'Why should we, who are +volunteer assistants, take all the burden of the work? I will fall +back to Posen, and home to Poland and East Preussen, if this last +much longer.' + +"Austria has a good deal disgusted these Soltikofs and Russian +Chief Officers;--who are not so stupid as Austria supposes. +Austria's steady wish is, 'Let them do their function of cat's-paw +for us; we are here to eat the chestnuts; not, if we can help it, +to burn our own poor fingers for them!' After every Campaign +hitherto, Austria has been in use to raise eager accusations at +Petersburg; and get the Apraxins, Fermors into trouble: this is not +the way to conciliate Russian General Officers. Austria, taught +probably by Daun, now tries the other tack: heaps Soltikof with +eulogies, flatteries, magnificent presents. All which Soltikof +accepts, but with a full sense of what they mean. An unmanageable +Soltikof; his answer always,--'Your turn now to fight a victory! +I will go my ways to Posen again, if you don't.' And, in these +current weeks, in Soltikof's audience-room, if anybody were curious +about it, we could present a very lively solicitation going on, +with answers very gruff and negatory. No suasion of Montalembert, +Lacy, and Daun Embassies, backed by diamond-hilted swords, and +splendor of gifts from Vienna itself, able to prevail on the +barbarous people. + +"Daun at length resolves to go in person; solicits an Interview +with the distinguished Russian Conqueror; gets it, meets Soltikof +at Guben, half-way house between Frankfurt and Triebel; +select suite attending both Excellencies (August 22d); and exerts +whatever rhetoric is in him on the barbarous man. + + + +The barbarous man is stiff as brass; but Daun comes into all his +conditions: 'Saxony, Silesia,--Excellenz, we have them both within +clutch; such our exquisite angling and manoeuvring, in concert with +your immortal victory, which truly gives the life-breath to +everything. Oh, suffer us to clutch them: keep that King away from +us; and see if they are not ours, Saxony first, Silesia next! +Provisions of meal? I will myself undertake to furnish bread for +you [though I have to cart it from Bohemia all the way, and am +myself terribly off; but fixed to do the impossible]; ration of +bread shall fail no Russian man, while you escort us as protective +friend. Towards Saxony first, where the Reichs Army is, and not a +Prussian in the field; the very Garrisons mostly gone by this time. +Dresden is to be besieged, within a week; Dresden itself is ours, +if only YOU please! Come into the Lausitz with us, Magazines are +there, loaves in abundance: Saxony done, Dresden ours, cannot we +turn to Silesia together; besiege Glogau together (I am myself +about trying Neisse, by Harsch again); capture Glogau as well as +Neisse; and crown the successfulest campaign that ever was? +Oh, Excellenz--!'" + +In a word, Excellenz, strictly fixing that condition of the loaves, +consents. Will get ready to leave those Frankfurt Wine-Hills in +about a week. "But the loaves, you recollect: no Bread, no +Russian!" Daun returns to Triebel a victorious man,--though with an +onerous condition incumbent. Tempelhof, minutely computing, finds +that to cart from Bohemia such a cipher of human rations daily into +these parts, will surpass all the vehiculatory power of Daun. +[Tempelhof, iii. 225.]' + + +THE "REICHS ARMY" 80 CALLED HAS ENTERED SAXONY, UNDER FINE OMENS; +DOES SOME FEATS OF SIEGING (August 7th-23d), +--WITH AN EYE ON DRESDEN AS THE CROWNING ONE. + +The Reichs Army, though it had been so tumbled about, in Spring, +with such havoc on its magazines and preparations, could not wait +to refit itself, except superficially; and showed face over the +Mountains almost earlier than usual. The chance was so unique: +a Saxony left to its mere Garrisons,--as it continued to be, for +near two months this Year. On such golden opportunity the Reichs +Army--first, in light mischievous precursor parties, who roamed as +far as Halle or even as Halberstadt; then the Army itself, well or +ill appointed, under Generalissimo the Prince von Zweibruck,--did +come on, winding through Thuringen towards the Northwestern Towns; +various Austrian Auxiliary-Corps making appearance on the Dresden +side. Eight Austrian regiments, as a permanency, are in the Reichs +Army itself. Commander, or part Commander, of the eight is (what +alone I find noteworthy in them) "Herr General Thomas von +Blonquet:" Irish by nation, says a foot-note; [Seyfarth, ii. +831 n.]--sure enough some adventurous "Thomas PLUNKET," visible +this once, soldiering, in those circumstances; never heard of by a +sympathetic reader before or after. It was while the King was +hunting the Haddick-Loudon people in Sagan Country in such vehement +fashion, that Zweibruck came trumpeting into Saxony,--King, Prince +Henri and everybody, well occupied otherwise, far away! + +The Reichs Army has a camp at Naumburg (Rossbach neighborhood): +and has light troops out in Halle neighborhood; which have seized +Halle; are very severe upon Halle, and other places thereabouts, +till chased away. August 7th, the Reichs Army begirt Leipzig; +summoned the weak garrison there. It is a Town capable of ruin, but +not of defence: "Free-withdrawal," proposes the Reichs Army,--and +upon these terms gets hold of Leipzig, for the time being. +Leipzig, Torgau, Wittenberg; in a fortnight or less, all the +Prussian posts in those parts fall to the Reichs Army. +Its marchings and siegings, among those Northwestern places, not +one of them capable of standing above a few days' siege, are worth +no mention, except to Parish History: enough that, by little after +the middle of August, Zweibruck had got all these places, "Free- +withdrawal" the terms for all; and that, except it be the following +feature in their Siege of Torgau, feature mainly Biographic, and +belonging to a certain Colonel Wolfersdorf concerned, there is not +one of those Sieges now worth a moment's attention from almost any +mortal. This is the Torgau feature,--feature of human nature, +soldiering under difficulties:-- + +COLONEL VON WOLFERSDORF BEAUTIFULLY DEFENDS HIMSELF IN TORGAU +(August 9th-14th). Two days after Leipzig was had, there appeared +at Torgau a Body of Pandours, 2,000 and more; who attempted some +kind of scalade on Torgau and its small Garrison (of 700 or so),-- +where are a Magazine, a Hospital and other properties: not capable, +by any garrison, of standing regular siege; but important to defend +till you have proper terms offered. The multitudinous Pandours, if +I remember, made a rush into the Suburbs, in their usual vociferous +way; but were met by the 700 silent Prussians,--silent except +through their fire-arms and field-pieces,--in so eloquent a style +as soon convinced the Pandour mind, and sent it travelling again. +And in the evening of the same day (August 9th), Colonel +Wolfersdorf arrives, as new Commandant, and with reinforcements, +small though considerable in the circumstances. + +Wolfersdorf, one dimly gathers, had marched from Wittenberg on this +errand; the whole force in Torgau is now of about 3,000, still with +only field-cannon, but with a Captain over them;--who, as is +evident, sets himself in a very earnest manner to do his utmost in +defence of the place. Next morning Reichs General Kleefeld +("Cloverfield"), with 6 or 8,000 Pandour and Regular, summons +Wolfersdorf: "Surrender instantly; or--!" "We will expect you!" +answers Wolfersdorf. Whereupon, same morning (August 10th), general +storm; storm No. 1: beautifully handled by Wolfersdorf; who takes +it in rear (to its astonishment), as well as in front; and sends it +off in haste. On the morrow, Saturday, a second followed; and on +Sunday a third; both likewise beautifully handled. This third +storm, readers see, was "Sunday, August 12th:" a very busy stormful +day at Torgau here,--and also, for some others of us, during the +heats of Kunersdorf, over the horizon far away! Wolfersdorf tumbles +back all storms; furthermore makes mischievous sallies: +a destructive, skilled person; altogether prompt, fertile in +expedients; and evidently is not to be managed by Kleefeld. So that +Prince von Stolberg, Second to supreme Zweibruck himself, has to +take it in hand. And, + +MONDAY, 13th, at break of day, Stolberg arrives with a train of +battering guns and 6,000 new people; summons Wolfersdorf: "No," as +before. Storms him, a fourth time; likewise "No," as before: +attacks, thereupon, his Elbe Bridge, and his Redoubt across the +River; finds a Wolfersdorf party rush destructive]y into his rear +there. And has to withdraw, and try battering from behind the Elbe +Dam. Continues this, violently for about two hours; till again +Wolfersdorf, whose poor fieldpieces, the only artillery he has, +"cannot reach so far with leaden balls" (the iron balls are done, +and the powder itself is almost done), manages, by a flank attack, +to quench this also. Which produces entire silence, and +considerable private reflection, on the part of indignant Stolberg. +Stolberg offers him the favorablest terms devisable: "Withdraw +freely, with all your honors, all your properties; only withdraw!" +Which Wolfersdorf, his powder and ball being in such a state of +ebb, and no relief possible, agrees to; with stipulations very +strict as to every particular. [In <italic> Anonymous of Hamburg +<end italic> (iii. 350) the Capitulation, "August 14th." given +IN EXTENSO.] + +COLONEL VON WOLFERSDORF WITHDRAWS, ALSO BEAUTIFULLY (August 15th). +Accordingly, Wednesday, August 15th, at eight in the morning, +Wolfersdorf by the Elbe Gate moves out; across Elbe Bridge, and the +Redoubt which is on the farther shore yonder. Near this Redoubt, +Stolberg and many of his General Officers are waiting to see him +go. He goes in state; flags flying, music playing. Battalion +Hessen-Cassel, followed by all our Packages, Hospital +convalescents, King's Artillery, and whatever is the King's or +ours, marches first. Next comes, as rear-guard to all this, +Battalion Grollmann;--along with which is Wolfersdorf himself, +knowing Grollmann for a ticklish article (Saxons mainly); +followed on the heel by Battalion Hofmann, and lastly by Battalion +Salmuth, trusty Prussians both of these. + +Battalion Hessen-Cassel and the Baggages are through the Redoubt, +Prince of Stolberg handsomely saluting as saluted. But now, on +Battalion Grollmann's coming up, Stolberg's Adjutant cries out with +a loud voice of proclamation, many Officers repeating and +enforcing: "Whoever is a brave Saxon, whoever is true to his +Kaiser, or was of the Reichs Army, let him step out: +Durchlaucht will give him protection!" At sound of which Grollmann +quivers as if struck by electricity; and instantly begins +dissolving;--dissolves, in effect, nearly all, and is in the act of +vanishing like a dream! Wolfersdorf is a prompt man; and needs to +be so. Wolfersdorf, in Olympian rage, instantly stops short; +draws pistol: "I will shoot dead every man that quits rank!" +vociferates he; and does, with his pistol, make instant example of +one; inviting every true Prussian to do the like: "Jagers, Hussars, +a ducat for every traitor you shoot down!" continues Wolfersdorf +(and punctually paid it afterwards): unable to prevent an almost +total dissolution of Grollmann. For some minutes, there is a scene +indescribable: storm of vociferation, menace, musket-shot, pistol- +shot; Grollmann disappearing on every side,--"behind the Redoubt, +under the Bridge, into Elbe Boats, under the cloaks of the Croats;" +--in spite of Wolfersdorf's Olympian rages and efforts. + +At sight of the shooting, Prince Stolberg, a hot man, had said +indignantly, "Herr, that will be dangerous for you (DAS WIRD NICHT +GUT GEHN)!" Wolfersdorf not regarding him a whit; regarding only +Grollmann, and his own hot business of coercing it at a ducat per +head. Grollmann gone, and Battalion Hofmann in due sequence come +up, Wolfersdorf--who has sent an Adjutant, with order, "Hessen- +Cassel, HALT"--gives Battalion Hofmann these three words of +command: "Whole Battalion, halt!--Front!--Make ready!" (with due +simultaneous click of every firelock, on utterance of that last);-- +and turning to Prince Stolberg, with a brow, with a tone of voice: +"Durchlaucht, Article 9 of the Capitulation is express on this +point; 'ALL DESERTION STRICTLY PROHIBITED; NO DESERTER TO BE +RECEIVED EITHER ON THE IMPERIAL OR ON THE PRUSSIAN SIDE!' +[Durchlaucht silently gives, we suppose, some faint sniff.] +Since your Durchlaucht does not keep the Capitulation, neither will +I regard it farther. I will now take you and your Suite prisoners, +return into the Town, and again begin defending myself. Be so good +as ride directly into that Redoubt, or I will present, and +give fire!" + +A dangerous moment for the Durchlaucht of Stolberg; +Battalion Salmuth actually taking possession of the wall again; +Hofmann here with its poised firelock on the cock, "ready" for that +fourth word, as above indicated. A General Lusinsky of Stolberg's +train, master of those Croats, and an Austrian of figure, remarks +very seriously: "Every point of the Capitulation must be kept!" +Upon which Durchlaucht has to renounce and repent; eagerly assists +in recovering Grollmann, restores it (little the worse, little the +FEWER); will give Wolfersdorf "COMMAND of the Austrian Escort you +are to have", and every satisfaction and assurance;--wishful only +to get rid of Wolfersdorf. Who thereupon marches to Wittenberg, +with colors flying again, and a name mentionable ever since. +[Templehof, iii. 201-204; Seyfarth, ii. 562 n., and <italic> +Beylagen, <end italic> ii. 587; <italic> Militair-Lexikon, <end +italic> iv. 283.] + +This Wolfersdorf was himself a Pirna Saxon; serving Polish Majesty, +as Major, in that Pirna time; perhaps no admirer of "Feldmarschall +Bruhl" and Company?--at any rate, he took Prussian service, as then +offered him; and this is his style of keeping it. A decidedly +clever soldier, and comes out, henceforth, more and more as such,-- +unhappily not for long. Was taken at Maxen, he too, as will be +seen. Rose, in after times, to be Lieutenant-General, and a man +famous in the Prussian military circles; but given always, they +say, to take the straight line (or shortest distance between self +and object), in regard to military matters, to recruiting and the +like, and thus getting himself into trouble with the +Civil Officials. + +Wolfersdorf, at Wittenberg or farther on, had a flattering word +from the King; applauding his effective procedures at Torgau; +and ordering him, should Wittenberg fall (as it did, August 23d), +to join Wunsch, who is coming with a small Party to try and help in +those destitute localities. Wunsch the King had detached (21st +August), as we heard already. Finck the King finds, farther, that +he can detach (from Waldau Country, September 7th); [Tempelhof, +iii. 211, 237.] Russians being so languid, and Saxony fallen into +such a perilous predicament. + +"Few days after Kunersdorf," says a Note, which should be inserted +here, "there had fallen out a small Naval matter, which will be +consolatory to Friedrich, and go to the other side of the account, +when he hears of it: Kunersdorf was Sunday, August 12th; this was +Saturday and Sunday following. Besides their Grand Brest Fleet, +with new Flat-bottoms, and world-famous land-preparations going on +at Vannes, for Invasion of proud Albion, all which are at present +under Hawke's strict keeping, the French have, ever since Spring +last, a fine subsidiary Fleet at Toulon, of very exultant hopes at +one time; which now come to finis. + +"SEA-FIGHT (PROPERLY SEA-HUNT OF 200 MILES), IN THE CADIZ WATERS, +AUGUST 18th-19th. The fine Toulon Fleet, which expected at one +time, Pitt's ships being so scattered over the world, to be +'mistress of the Mediterranean,' has found itself, on the contrary +(such were Pitt's resources and promptitudes); cooped in harbor all +Summer; Boscawen watching it in the usual strict way. No egress +possible; till, in the sultry weather (8th July-4th August), +Boscawen's need of fresh provisions, fresh water and of making some +repairs, took him to Gibraltar, and gave the Toulon Fleet a +transient opportunity, which it made use of. + +"August 17th, at 8 in the evening, Boscawen, at Gibraltar (some of +his ships still in deshabille or under repair), was hastily +apprised by one of his Frigates, That the Toulon Fleet had sailed; +been seen visibly at Ceuta Point so many hours ago. 'Meaning,' as +Boscawen guesses, 'to be through the Straits this very night!' +By power of despatch, the deshabille ships were rapidly got +buttoned together (in about two hours); and by 10 P.M. all were +under sail. And soon were in hot chase; the game, being now in +view,--going at its utmost through the Straits, as anticipated. +At 7 next morning (Saturday, August 18th) Boscawen got clutch of +the Toulon Fleet; still well east of Cadiz, somewhere in the +Trafalgar waters, I should guess. Here Boscawen fought and chased +the Toulon Fleet for 24 hours coming; drove it finally ashore, at +Lagos on the coast of Portugal, with five of its big ships burnt or +taken, its crews and other ships flying by land and water, its poor +Admiral mortally wounded; and the Toulon Fleet a ruined article. +The wind had been capricious, here fresh, there calm; now favoring +the hunters, now the hunted; both Fleets had dropped in two. De la +Clue, the French Admiral, complained bitterly how his Captains +lagged, or shore off and forsook him. Boscawen himself, who for his +own share had gone at it eagle-like, was heard grumbling, about +want of speed in some people; and said: 'It is well; but it might +have been better!' [Beatson, ii. 313-319; ib. iii. 237-238, De la +Clue, the French Admiral's Despatch;--Boscawen's Despatch, &c., in +<italic> Gentleman's Magazine, <end italic> xxix. 434.] + +"De la Clue--fallen long ago from all notions of 'dominating the +Mediterranean'--had modestly intended to get through, on any terms, +into the Ocean; might then, if possible, have joined the Grand +'Invasion Squadron,' now lying at Brest, till Vannes and the +furnishings are ready, or have tried to be troublesome in the rear +of Hawke, who is blockading all that. A modest outlook in +comparison;--and this is what it also has come to. As for the Grand +Invasion Squadron, Admiral Conflans, commanding it, still holds np +his head in Brest Harbor, and talks big. Makes little of Rodney's +havoc on the Flat-bottoms at Havre, 'Will soon have Flat-bottoms +again: and you shall see!'--if only Hawke, and wind and weather and +Fortune, will permit." + + +AUSTRIAN REICHS ARMY DOES ITS CROWNING FEAT +(August 26th-September 4th): DIARY OF WHAT IS +CALLED THE "SIEGE" OF DRESDEN. + +Since the first weeks of, August there have been Austrian +detachments, Wehla's Corps, Brentano's Corps, entering Saxony from +the northeast or Daun-ward side, and posting themselves in the +strong points looking towards Dresden; waiting there till the +Reichs Army should capture its Leipzigs, Torgaus, Wittenbergs, and +roll forward from northwest. To all which it is easy to fancy what +an impetus was given by Kunersdorf and August 12th; the business, +after that, going on double-quick, and pointing to immediate +practical industry on Dresden. The Reichs Army hastens to settle +its northwestern Towns, puts due garrison in each, leaves a 10 or +12,000 movable for general protection, in those parts; and, August +23d, marches for Dresden. There are only some 15,000 left of it +now; almost half the Reichs Army drunk up in that manner; were not +Daun now speeding forth his Maguire with a fresh 12,000; who is to +command the Wehlas and Brentanos as well. And, in effect, to be +Austrian Chief, and as regards practical matters, Manager of this +important Enterprise,--all-important to Daun just now. Schmettau in +Dresden sees clearly what mischief is at hand. + +To Daun this Siege of Dresden is the alpha to whatever omegas there +may be: he and his Soltikof are to sit waiting this; and can +attempt nothing but eating of provender, till this be achieved. +As the Siege was really important, though not quite the alpha to +all omegas, and has in it curious points aud physiognomic traits, +we will invite readers to some transient inspection of it,--the +rather as there exist ample contemporary Narratives, DIARIUMS and +authentic records, to render that possible and easy. [In TEMPELHOF +(iii. 210-216-222) complete and careful Narrative; in ANONYMOUS OF +HAMBURG (iii. 371-377) express "DAY-BOOK" by some Eye-witness +in Dresden.]' + +"Ever since the rumor of Kunersdorf," says one Diarium, compiled +out of many, "in the last two weeks of August, Schmettau's need of +vigilance and diligence has been on the increase, his outlooks +becoming grimmer and grimmer. He has a poorish Garrison for number +(3,700 in all [Schmettau's LEBEN (by his Son), p. 408.]), and not +of the best quality; deserters a good few of them: willing enough +for strokes; fighting fellows all, and of adventurous turn, but +uncertain as to loyalty in a case of pinch. He has endless stores +in the place; for one item, almost a million sterling of ready +money. Poor Schmettau, if he knew it, has suddenly become the +Leonidas of this campaign, Dresden its Thermopylae; and"--But +readers can conceive the situation. + +"AUGUST 20th, Schmettau quits the Neustadt, or northern part of +Dresden, which lies beyond the River: unimportant that, and +indefensible with garrison not adequate; Schmettau will strengthen +the River-bank, blow up the Stone Bridge if necessary, and restrict +himself to Dresden Proper. The Court is here; Schmettau does not +hope that the Court can avert a Siege from him; but he fails not to +try, in that way too, and may at least gain time. + +"AUGUST 25th, He has a Mine put under the main arch of the Bridge: +'mine ill-made, uncertain of effect,' reports the Officer whom he +sent to inspect it. But it was never tried, the mere rumor of it +kept off attacks on that side. Same day, August 25th, Schmettau +receives that unfortunate Royal Missive [Tempelhof, iii. 208; +Schmettau's LEBEN (p. 421) has "August 27th."] written in the dark +days of Reitwein, morrow of Kunersdorf (14th or 13th August)," +which we read above. "That there is another Letter on the road for +him, indicating 'Relief shall be tried,' is unknown to Schmettau, +and fatally continues unknown. While Schmettau is reading this +(August 25th), General Wunsch has been on the road four days: +Wunsch and Wolfersdorf with about 8,000, at their quickest pace, +and in a fine winged frame of mind withal, are speeding on: +will cross Elbe at Meissen to-morrow night,--did Schmettau only +know. People say he did, in the way of rumor, understand that +Kunersdorf had not been the fatal thing it was thought; and that +efforts would be made by a King like his. In his place one might +have, at least, shot out a spy or two? But he did not, then +or afterwards. + +"Already, ever since the arrival of Wehla and Brentano in those +parts, he has been laboring under many uncertainties; too many for +a Leonidas! Hanging between Yes and No, even about that of quitting +the Neustadt, for example: carrying over portions of his goods, but +never heartily the whole; unable to resolve; now lifting visibly +the Bridge pavement, then again visibly restoring it;--and, I +think, though the contrary is asserted, he had at last to leave in +the Neustadt a great deal of stores, horse-provender and other, not +needful to him at present, or impossible to carry, when dubiety got +ended. He has put a mine under the Bridge; but knows it will not +go off. + +"Schmettau has been in many wars, but this is a case that tries his +soldier qualities as none other has ever done. A case of endless +intricacy,--if he be quite equal to it; which perhaps he was not +altogether. Nobody ever doubted Schmettau's high qualities as a man +and captain; but here are requisite the very highest, and these +Schmettau has not. The result was very tragical; I suppose, a pain +to Friedrich all his life after; and certainly to Schmettau all +his. This is Saturday night, 25th August: before Tuesday week +(September 4th) there will have sad things arrived, irremediable to +Schmettau. Had Schmettau decided to defend himself, Dresden had not +been taken. What a pity Schmettau had not been spared this Missive, +calculated to produce mere doubt! Whether he could not, and should +not, after a ten days of inquiry and new discernment, have been +able to read the King's true meaning, as well as the King's +momentary humor, in this fatal Document, there is no deciding. +Sure enough, he did not read the King's true meaning in it, but +only the King's momentary humor; did not frankly set about +defending himself to the death,--or 'seeing' in that way 'whether +he could not defend himself,'--with a good capitulation lying in +the rear, after he had. + +"SUNDAY, AUGUST 26th, Trumpet at the gates. Messenger from +Zweibruck is introduced blindfold; brings formal Summons to +Schmettau. Summons duly truculent: 'Resistance vain; the more you +resist, the worse it will be,--and there is a worst [that of being +delivered to the Croats, and massacred every man], of which why +should I speak? Especially if in anything you fail of your duty to +the Kur-Prinz [Electoral Prince and Heir-Apparent, poor crook- +backed young Gentleman, who has an excellent sprightly Wife, a +friend of Friedrich's and daughter of the late Kaiser Karl VII., +whom we used so beautifully], imagine what your fate will be!'--To +which Schmettau answers: 'Can Durchlaucht think us ignorant of the +common rules of behavior to Persons of that Rank? For the rest, +Durchlaucht knows what our duties here are, and would despise us if +we did NOT do them;'--and, in short, our answer again is, in polite +forms, 'Pooh, pooh; you may go your way!' Upon which the Messenger +is blindfolded again; and Schmettau sets himself in hot earnest to +clearing out his goods from the Neustadt; building with huge +intertwisted cross-beams and stone and earth-masses a Battery at +his own end of the Bridge, batteries on each side of it, below and +above;--locks the Gates; and is passionately busy all Sunday,-- +though divine service goes on as usual. + +"Hardly were the Prussian guns got away, when Croat people in +quantity came in, and began building a Battery at their end of the +Bridge, the main defence-work being old Prussian meal-barrels, +handily filled with earth. 'If you fire one cannon-ball across on +us,' said Schmettau, 'I will bombard the Neustadt into flame in few +minutes [I have only to aim at our Hay Magazine yonder]: be warned! +'Nor did they once fire from that side; Electoral Highness withal +and Royal Palace being quite contiguous behind the Prussian Bridge- +Battery. Electoral Highness and Household are politely treated, +make polite answer to everything; intend going down into the +'APOTHEKE' (Kitchen suite), or vaulted part of the Palace, and will +lodge there when the cannonade begins. + +"This same SUNDAY, AUGUST 26th, Maguire arrived; and set instantly +to building his bridge at Pillnitz, a little way above Dresden: +at Uebigau, a little below Dresden, the Reichsfolk have another. +Reichsfolk, Zweibruck in person, come all in on Wednesday; +post themselves there, to north and west of the City. What is more +important, the siege-guns, a superb stock, are steadily floating, +through the Pirna regions, hitherward; get to hand on Friday next, +the fifth day hence. [Tempelhof, p. 210.] Korbitz (half-way out to +Kesselsdorf) is Durchlaucht's head-quarter:--Chief General is +Durchlaucht, conspicuously he, at least in theory, and shall have +all the glory; though Maguire, glancing on these cannon, were it +nothing more, has probably a good deal to say. Maguire too, I +observe, takes post on that north or Kesselsdorf side; +contiguous for the Head General. Wehla and Brentano post themselves +on the south or up-stream side; it is they that hand in the siege- +guns: batteries are already everywhere marked out, 13 cannon- +batteries and 5 howitzer. In short, from the morrow of that +truculent Summons, Monday morning to Thursday, there is hot stir of +multifarious preparation on Schmettau's part; and continual pouring +in of the hostile force, who are also preparing at the utmost. +Thursday, the Siege, if it can be called a Siege, begins. +Gradually, and as follows:-- + +"THURSDAY MORNING (August 30th), Schmettau, who is, night and day, +'palisading the River,' and much else,--discloses (that is, Break +of Day discloses on his part) to the Dresden public a huge Gallows, +black, huge, of impressive aspect; labelled 'For Plunderers, +Mutineers and their Helpers.' [ANONYMOUS OF HAMBURG, iii. 373.] +The Austrian heavy guns are not yet in battery; but multitudes of +loose Croat people go swarming about everywhere, and there is +plentiful firing from such artilleries as they have. This same +Thursday morning, two or three battalions of them rush into the +Pirna Suburb; attack the Prussian Guard-parties there. +Schmettau instantly despatches Captain Kollas and a Trumpet:-- +'Durchlaucht, have the goodness to recall these Croat Parties; +otherwise the Suburb goes into flame! And directly on arrival of +this Messenger, may it please Durchlaucht. For we have computed the +time; and will not wait beyond what is reasonable for his return!' +Zweibruck is mere indignation and astonishment; 'will burn Halle,' +burn Quedlinburg, Berlin itself, and utterly ruin the King of +Prussia's Dominion in general:--the rejoinder to which is, burning +of Pirna Suburb, as predicted; seventy houses of it, this evening, +at six o'clock. + +"Onward from which time there is on both sides, especially on +Schmettau's, diligent artillery practice; cannonade kept up +wherever Schmettau can see the enemy busy; enemy responding with +what artillery he has:--not much damage done, I should think, +though a great deal of noise; and for one day (Saturday, September +1st), our Diarist notes, 'Not safe to walk the streets this day.' +But, in effect, the Siege, as they call it,--which fell dead on the +fifth day, and was never well alive--consists mainly of menace and +counter-menace, in the way of bargain-making and negotiation;--and, +so far as I can gather, that superb Park of Austrian Artillery, +though built into batteries, and talked about in a bullying manner, +was not fired from at all. + +"Schmettau affects towards the enemy (and towards himself, I dare +say) an air of iron firmness; but internally has no such feeling,-- +'Calls a Council of War,' and the like. Council of War, on sight of +that King's Missive, confirms him with one voice: 'Surely, surely, +Excellenz; no defence possible!' Which is a prophecy and a +fulfilment, both in one. Why Schmettau did not shoot forth a spy or +two, to ascertain for him What, or whether Nothing whatever, was +passing outside Dresden? I never understand! Beyond his own Walls, +the world is a vacancy and blank to Schmettau, and he seems content +it should be so. + +"SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2d. Though Schmettau's cannonade was very loud, +and had been so all night, divine service was held as usual, +streets safe again,--Austrians, I suppose, not firing with cannon. +About 4 P.M., after a great deal of powder spent, General Maguire, +stepping out on Elbe Bridge, blows or beats Appeal, three times; +'wishes a moment's conversation with his Excellency.' Granted at +once; witnesses attending on both sides. 'Defence is impossible; +in the name of humanity, consider!' urges Maguire. 'Defence to the +last man of us is certain,' answers Schmettau, from the teeth +outwards;--but, in the end, engages to put on paper, in case he, by +extremity of ill-luck, have at any time to acoept terms, what his +terms will inflexibly be. Upon which there is 'Armistice till +To-morrow:' and Maguire, I doubt not, reports joyfully on this +feeling of the enemy's pulse. Zweibruck and Maguire are very well +aware of what is passing in these neighborhoods (General Wunsch +back at Wittenberg by forced marches; blew it open in an hour); +and are growing highly anxious that Dresden on any terms +were theirs. + +"MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3d, The death-day of the Siege; an uncommonly +busy day,--though Armistice lasted perfect till 3 P.M., and soon +came back more perfect than ever. A Siege not killed by cannon, but +by medical industry. Let us note with brevity the successive +symptoms and appliances. About seven in the morning Maguire had his +Messenger in Dresden, 'Your Excellency's Paper ready?' +'Nearly ready,' answers Schmettau; 'we will send it by a Messenger +of our own.' And about eleven of the day Maguire does get it;--the +same Captain Kollas (whose name we recollect) handing it in; +and statue-like waiting Answer. 'Pshaw, this will never do,' +ejaculates Maguire; 'terms irrationally high!' Captain Kollas +'knows nothing of what is IN the Paper; and is charged only to +bring a Written Answer from Excellenz.' Excellenz, before writing, +'will have to consult with Durchlaucht;' can, however, as if +confidentially and from feelings of friendship, can assure you, +Sir, on my honor, That the Garrison will be delivered to the +Croats, and every man of it put to the sword. 'The Garrison will +expect that (WIRD DAS ERWARTEN),' said Kollas, statue-like; +and withdrew, with the proper bow. [Tempelhof, iii. 211.] +Something interesting to us in these Military diplomatic passages, +with their square-elbowed fashions, and politeness stiff as iron! + +"Not till three of the afternoon does the Written Answer reach +Schmettau: 'Such Terms never could be accepted.'--'Good,' answers +Schmettau: 'To our last breath no others will be offered.' +And commences cannonading again, not very violently, but with the +order, 'Go on, then, night and day!' + +"About 10 at night, General Guasco, a truculent kind of man, whom I +have met with up and down, but not admitted to memory, beats Appeal +on the Bridge: 'Inform the Commandant that there will now +straightway 13 batteries of cannon, and 5 ditto of howitzers open +on him, unless he bethinks himself!' Which dreadful message is +taken to Schmettau. 'Wish the gentleman good-evening,' orders +Schmettau; 'and say we will answer with 100 guns.' Upon which +Guasco vanishes;--but returns in not many minutes, milder in tone; +requests 'a sight of that Written Paper of Terms again.' 'There it +still is,' answers Schmettau, 'not altered, nor ever shall be.' +And there is Armistice again:--and the Siege, as turns out, has +fired its last shot; and is painfully expiring in paroxysms of +negotiation, which continue a good many hours. Schmettau strives to +understand clearly that his terms (of the King's own suggesting, as +Schmettau flatters himself) are accepted: nor does Durchlaucht take +upon him to refuse in any point; but he is strangely slow to sign, +still hoping to mend matters. + +"Much hithering and thithering there was, till 4 next morning +(Durchlaucht has important news from Torgau, at that moment); +till 11 next day; till 4 in the afternoon and later,--Guasco and +others coming with message after message, hasty and conciliatory: +(Durchlaucht at such a distance, his signature not yet come; but be +patient; all is right, upon my honor!' Very great hurry evident on +the part of Guasco and Company; but, nothing suspected by +Schmettau. Till, dusk or darkness threatening now to supervene, +Maguire and Schmettau with respective suites have a Conference on +the Bridge,--'rain falling very heavy.' Durchlaucht's signature, +Maguire is astonished to say, has not yet come; hut Maguire pledges +his honor 'that all shall be kept without chicane;' and adds 'what +to some of us seemed not superfluous afterwards), 'I am incapable +of acting falsely or with chicane.' In fact, till 9 in the evening +there was no signature by Durchlaucht; but about 6, on such pledge +by Maguire of his hand and his honor, the Siege entirely gave up +the ghost; and Dresden belonged to Austria. Tuesday Evening, +4th September, 1759; Sun just setting, could anybody see him for +the rain. + +"Schmettau had been over-hasty; what need had Schmettau of haste? +The terms had not yet got signature, perfection of settlement on +every point; nor were they at all well kept, when they did! +Considerable flurry, temporary blindness, needless hurry, and +neglect of symptoms and precautions, must be imputed to poor +Schmettau; whose troubles began from this moment, and went on +increasing. The Austrians are already besetting Elbe Bridge, +rooting up the herring-bone balks; and approaching our Block- +house,--sooner than was expected. But that is nothing. On opening +the Pirna Gate to share it with the Austrians, Friedrich's Spy +(sooner had not been possible to the man) was waiting; who handed +Schmettau that Second Letter of Friedrich's, 'Courage; there is +relief on the road!' Poor Schmettau!" + +What Captain Kollas and the Prussian Garrison thought of all this, +THEY were perhaps shy of saying, and we at such distance are not +informed,--except by one symptom: that, of Colonel Hoffman, +Schmettau's Second, whose indignation does become tragically +evident. Hoffman, a rugged Prussian veteran, is indignant at the +Capitulation itself; doubly and trebly indignant to find the +Austrians on Elbe Bridge, busy raising our Balks and Battery: +"How is this Sir?" inquires he of Captain Sydow, who is on guard at +the Prussian end; "How dared you make this change, without +acquainting the Second in Command? Order out your men, and come +along with me to clear the Bridge again!" Sydow hesitates, haggles; +indignant Hoffman, growing loud as thunder, pulls out a pistol, +fatal-looking to disobedient Sydow; who calls to his men, or whose +men spring out uncalled; and shoot Hoffman down,--send two balls +through him, so that he died at 8 that night. With noise enough, +then and afterwards. Was drunk, said Schmettau's people. +Friedrich answered, on report of it: "I think as Hoffman did. If he +was 'drunk,' it is pity the Governor and all the Garrison had not +been so, to have come to the same judgment, as he." [P.S. in +Autograph of Letter to Schmettau, "Waldau, 11th September, 1759" +(Preuss, ii.; <italic> Urkundenbuch, <end italic> p. 45).] +Friedrich's unbearable feelings, of grief and indignation, in +regard to all this Dresden matter,--which are not expressed except +coldly in business form,--can be fancied by all readers. One of the +most tragical bits of ill-luck that ever befell him. A very sore +stroke, in his present condition; a signal loss and affront. +And most of all, unbearable to think how narrowly it has missed +being a signal triumph;--missed actually by a single hair's- +breadth, which is as good as by a mile, or by a thousand miles! + +Soon after 9 o'olock that evening, Durchlaucht in person came +rolling through our battery and the herring-bone balks, to visit +Electoral Highness,--which was not quite the legal time either, +Durchlaucht had not been half an hour with Electoral Highness, when +a breathless Courier came in: "General Wunsch within ten miles +[took Torgau in no time, as Durchlaucht well knows, for a week +past]; and will be here before we sleep!" Durchlaucht plunged out, +over the herring-bone balks again (which many carpenters are busy +lifting); and the Electoral Highnesses, in like manner, hurry off +to Toplitz that same night, about an hour after. What a Tuesday +Night! Poor Hoffman is dead at 8 o'clock; the Saxon Royalties, +since 11, are galloping for Pirna, for Toplitz; Durchlaucht of +Zweibruck we saw hurry off an hour before them,--Capitulation +signature not yet dry, and terms of it beginning to be broken; +and Wunsch reported to be within ten miles! + +The Wunsch report is perfectly correct. Wunsch is at Grossenhayn +this evening; all in a fiery mood of swiftness, his people and he; +--and indeed it is, by chance, one of Wolfersdorf's impetuosities +that has sent the news so fast. Wunsch had been as swift with +Torgau as he was with Wittenberg: he blew out the poor Reichs +Garrison there by instant storm, and packed it off to Leipzig, +under charge of "an Officer and Trumpet:"--he had, greatly against +his will, to rest two days there for a few indispensable cannon +from Magdeburg. Cannon once come, Wunsch, burning for deliverance +of Dresden, had again started at his swiftest, "Monday, 3d +September [death day of the Siege], very early." + +"He is under 8,000; but he is determined to do it;--and would have +done it, think judges, half thinks Zweibruck himself: such a fire +in that Wunsch and his Corps as is very dangerous indeed. At 4 this +morning, Zweibruck heard of his being on march: 'numbers uncertain' +--(numbers seemingly not the important point,--blows any number of +us about our business!)--and since that moment Zweibruck has driven +the capitulation at such a pace; though the flurried Schmettau +suspected nothing. + +"Afternoon of TUESDAY, 4th, Wunsch, approaching Grossenhayn, had +detached Wolfersdorf with 100 light horse rightwards to Grodel, a +boating Village on Elbe shore, To seek news of Dresden; also to see +if boats are procurable for carrying our artillery up thither. +At Grodel, Wolfersdorf finds no boats that will avail: but certain +boat-people, new from Dresden, report that no capitulation had been +published when they left, but that it was understood to be going +on. New spur to Wolfersdorf and Wunsch. Wolfersdorf hears farther +in this Village, That there are some thirty Austrian horse in +Grossenhayn:--'Possible these may escape General Wunsch!' thinks +Wolfersdorf; and decides to have them. Takes thirty men of his own; +orders the other seventy to hold rightward, gather what +intelligence is going, and follow more leisurely; and breaks off +for the Grossenhayn-Dresden Highway, to intercept those fellows. + +"Getting to the highway, Wolfersdorf does see the fellows; +sees also,--with what degree of horror I do not know,--that there +are at least 100 of them against his 30! Horror will do nothing for +Wolfersdorf, nor are his other 70 now within reach. Putting a bold +face on the matter, he commands, Stentor-like, as if it were all a +fact: 'Grenadiers, march; Dragoons, to right forwards, WHEEL; +Hussars, FORWARD: MARCH!'--and does terrifically dash forward with +the thirty Hussars, or last item of the invoice; leaving the others +to follow. The Austrians draw bridle with amazement; fire off their +carbines; take to their heels, and do not stop for more. +Wolfersdorf captures 68 of them, for behoof of Grossenhayn; +and sends the remaining 32 galloping home. [Tempelhof, iii. 214.] +Who bring the above news to Durchlaucht of Zweibruck: '12,000 of +them, may it please your Durchlaucht; such the accounts we had!'-- +Fancy poor Schmettau's feelings! + +"On the morrow Dresden was roused from its sleep by loud firing and +battle, audible on the north side of the River: 'before daybreak, +and all day.' It is Wunsch impetuously busy in the woody countries +there. Durchlaucht had shot out Generals and Divisions, Brentano, +Wehla, this General and then that, to intercept Wunsch: these the +fiery Wunsch--almost as if they had been combustible material +coming to quench fire--repels and dashes back, in a wonderful +manner, General after General of them. And is lord of the field all +day:--but cannot hear the least word from Dresden; which is a +surprising circumstance. + +"In the afternoon Wunsch summons Maguire in the Neustadt: +'Will answer you in two hours,' said Maguire. Wunsch thereupon is +for attacking their two Pontoon Elbe-Bridges; still resolute for +Dresden,--and orders Wolfersdorf on one of them, the Uebigau +Bridge, who finds the enemy lifting it at any rate, and makes them +do it faster. But night is now sinking; from Schmettau not a word +or sign. 'Silence over there, all day; not a single cannon to or +from,' say Wunsch and Wolfersdorf to one another. 'Schmettau must +have capitulated!' conclude they, and withdraw in the night-time, +still thunderous if molested; bivouac at Grossenhayn, after twenty- +four hours of continual march and battle, not time even for a +snatch of food. [BERICHT VON DER ACTION DES GENERAL-MAJORS VON +WUNSCH, BEY REICHENBERG, DEN 5 SEPEMBER, 1759 in Seyfarth, <italic> +Beylagen, <end italic> ii. 606-608.] + +"Resting at Grossenhayn, express reaches Wunsch from his Commandant +at Torgau: 'Kleefeld is come on me from Leipzig with 14,000; +I cannot long hold out, unless relieved.' Wunsch takes the road +again; two marches, each of twenty miles. Reaches Torgau late; +takes post in the ruins of the North Suburb, finds he must fight +Kleefeld. Refreshes his men 'with a keg of wine per Company,' +surely a judicious step; and sends to Wolfersdorf, who has the +rear-guard, 'Be here with me to-morrow at 10.' Wolfersdorf starts +at 4, is here at 10: and Wunsch, having scanned Kleefeld and his +Position [a Position strong IF you are dexterous to manoeuvre in +it; capable of being ruinous if you are not,--part of the Position +of a bigger BATTLE OF TORGAU, which is coming],--flies at Kleefeld +and his 14,000 like a cat-o'-mountain; takes him on the left +flank:--Kleefeld and such overplus of thousands are standing a +little to west-and-south of Torgau, with the ENTEFANG [a desolate +big reedy mere, or PLACE OF DUCKS, still offering the idle Torgauer +a melancholy sport there] as a protection to their right; but with +no evolution-talent, or none in comparison to Wunsch's;--and +accordingly are cut to pieces by Wunsch, and blown to the winds, as +their fellows have all been." [HOFBERCHT VON DER AM 8 SEPTEMBER, +1759, BEY TORGAU, VORGEFALLENEN ACTION: in Seyfarth, <italic> +Beylagen, <end italic> ii. 609, 610. Tempelhof, iii. 219-222.] + +Wunsch, absolute Fate forbidding, could not save Dresden: but he is +here lord of the Northern regions again,--nothing but Leipzig now +in the enemy's hand;--and can await Finck, who is on march with a +stronger party to begin business here. It is reckoned, there are +few more brilliant little bits of Soldiering than this of Wunsch's. +All the more, as his men, for most part, were not Prussian, but +miscellaneous Foreign spirits of uncertain fealty: roving fellows, +of a fighting turn, attracted by Friedrich's fame, and under a +Captain who had the art of keeping them in tune. Wunsch has been +soldiering, in a diligent though dim miscellaneous way, these five- +and-twenty years; fought in the old Turk Wars, under disastrous +Seckendorf,--Wunsch a poor young Wurtemberg ensign, visibiy busy +there (1737-1739)) as was this same Schmettau, in the character of +staff-officer, far enough apart from Wunsch at that time!--fought +afterwards, in the Bavarian service, in the Dutch, at Roucoux, at +Lauffeld, again under disastrous people. Could never, under such, +find anything but subaltern work all this while; was glad to serve, +under the eye of Friedrich, as Colonel of a Free Corps; which he +has done with much diligence and growing distinction: till now, at +the long last, his chance does come; and he shows himself as a real +General. Possibly a high career lying ahead;--a man that may be +very valuable to Friedrich, who has now so few such left? Fate had +again decided otherwise for Wunsch; in what way will be seen before +this Campaign ends: "an infernal Campaign," according to Friedrich, +"CETTE CAMPAGNE INFERNALE." + +Finck, whom Friedrich had just detached from Waldau (September 6th) +with a new 8 or 6,000, to command in chief in those parts, and, +along with Wunsch, put Dresden out of risk, as it were,--Finck does +at least join Wunsch, as we shall mention in a little. And these +Two, with such Wolfersdorfs and people under them, did prove +capable of making front against Reichsfolk in great overplus of +number. Nor are farther SIEGES of those Northern Garrisons, but +recaptures of them, the news one hears from Saxony henceforth;-- +only that Dresden is fatally gone. Irrecoverably, as turned out, +and in that unbearable manner. Here is the concluding scene:-- + +DRESDEN, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8th; EXIT SCHMETTAU. "A thousand times +over, Schmettau must have asked himself, 'Why was I in such a +hurry? Without cause for it I, only Maguire having cause!'--The +Capitulation had been ended in a huddle, without signature: +an unwise Capitulation; and it was scandalously ill kept. +Schmettau was not to have marched till Monday, 10th,--six clear +days for packing and preparing;--but, practically, he has to make +three serve him; and to go half-packed, or not packed at all. +Endless chicanes do arise, 'upon my honor!'--not even the 800 +wagons are ready for us; 'Can't your baggages go in boats, then?' +'No, nor shall!' answers Schmettau, with blazing eyes, and heart +ready to burst; a Schmettau living all this while as in Purgatory, +or worse. Such bullyings from truculent Guasco, who is now without +muzzle. Capitulation, most imperfect in itself, is avowedly +infringed: King's Artillery,--which we had haggled for, and ended +by 'hoping for,' to Maguire that rainy evening: why were we in such +a hurry, too, and blind to Maguire's hurry!--King's Artillery, +according to Durchlaucht of Zweibruck, when he actually signed +within the walls, is 'NICHT ACCORDIRT (Not granted), except the +Field part.' King's regimental furnishings, all and sundry, were +'ACCORDIRT, and without visitation,'--but on second thoughts, the +Austrian Officials are of opinion there must really be visitation, +must be inspection. 'May not some of them belong to Polish +Majesty?' In which sad process of inspection there was incredible +waste, Schmettau protesting; and above half of the new uniforms +were lost to us. Our 80 pontoons, which were expressly bargained +for, are brazenly denied us: '20 of them are Saxon,' cry the +Austrians: 'who knows if they are not almost all Saxon,'--upon my +honor! At this rate, only wait a day or two, and fewer wagons than +800 will be needed! thinks Schmettau; and consents to 18 river- +boats; Boats in part, then; and let us march at once. Accordingly, + +"SATURDAY, 8th, at 5 in the morning, Schmettau, with goods and +people, does at last file out: across Elbe Bridge through the +Neustadt; Prussians five deep; a double rank of Austrians, ranged +on each side, in 'espalier' they call it,--espalier with gaps in it +every here and there, to what purpose is soon evident. The march +was so disposed (likewise for a purpose) that, all along, there +were one or two Companies of Prussian Foot; and then in the +interval, carriages, cannon, cavalry and hussars. +Schmettau's carriage is with the rear-guard, Madam Schmettau's well +in the van:--in two other carriages are two Prussian War-and-Domain +Ministers. [ANONYMOUS OF HAMBURG, III. 376.] 'Managers of Saxon +Finance,' these Two;--who will have to manage elsewhere than in +Dresden henceforth. Zinnow, Borck, they sit veritably there, with +their multiform Account Papers: of whom I know absolutely nothing, +--except (if anybody cared) that Zinnow, who 'died of apoplexy in +June following,' is probably of pursy red-nosed type; and that +Borck, for certain, has a very fine face and figure; +delicacy, cheerful dignity, perfect gentlemanhood in short, written +on every feature of him; as painted by Pesne, and engraved by +Schmidt, for my accidental behoof. [<italic> Fredericus Wilhelmus +Borck (Pesne pinxit, <end italic> 1732; <italic> Schmidt, sculptur +Regis, sculpsit, Berolini, <end italic> 1764): an excellent Print +and Portrait.] Curious to think of that elaborate court-coat and +flowing periwig, with this specific Borck, 'old as the Devil' (whom +I have had much trouble to identify), forming visible part of this +dismal Procession: the bright eye of Borck not smiling as usual, +but clouded, though impassive! But that of Borck or his Limners is +not the point. + +"The Prussians have been divided into small sections, with a mass +of baggage-wagons and cavalry between every two. And no sooner is +the mass got in movement, than there rises from the Austrian part, +and continues all the way, loud invitation, 'Whosoever is a brave +Saxon, a brave Austrian, Reichsman, come to us! Gaps in the +espalier, don't you see!' And Schmettau, in the rear, with baggage +and cavalry intervening,--nobody can reach Schmettau. Here is a way +of keeping your bargain! The Prussian Officers struggle stoutly: +but are bellowed at, struck at, menaced by bayonet and bullet,-- +none of them shot, I think, but a good several of them cut and +wounded;--the Austrian Officers themselves in passionate points +behaving shamefully, 'Yes, shoot them down, the (were it nothing +else) heretic dogs;' and being throughout evidently in a hot +shivery frame of mind, forgetful of the laws. Seldom was such a +Procession; spite, rage and lawless revenge blazing out more and +more. On the whole, there deserted, through those gaps of the +espalier, about half of the whole Garrison. On Madam Schmettau's +hammercloth there sat, in the Schmettau livery, a hard-featured +man, recognizable by keen eyes as lately a Nailer, of the Nailer +Guild here; who had been a spy for Schmettau, and brought many +persons into trouble: him they tear down, and trample hither and +thither,--at last, into some Guard-house near by." [The Schmettau +DIARIUM in ANONYMOUS OF HAMBURG, iii. 364-376 (corrected chiefly +from TEMPELHOF): Protest, and Correspondence in consequence, is in +Seyfarth, <italic> Beylagen, <end italic> ii. 611-621; in <italic> +Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> &c. &c.] + +Schmettau's protest against all this is vehement, solemnly +circumstantial: but, except in regard to the trampled Nailer +(Zweibruck on that point "heartily sorry for the insult to your +Excellency's livery; and here the man is, with a thousand +apologies"), Schmettau got no redress. Nor had Friedrich any, now +or henceforth. Friedrich did at once, more to testify his disgust +than for any benefit, order Schmettau: "Halt at Wittenberg, not at +Magdeburg as was pretended to be bargained. Dismiss your Escort of +Austrians there; bid them home at once, and out of your sight." +Schmettau himself he ordered to Berlin, to idle waiting. +Never again employed Schmettau: for sixteen years that they lived +together, never saw his face more. + +Schmettau's ill-fortune was much pitied, as surely it deserved to +be, by all men. About Friedrich's severity there was, and still +occasionally is, controversy held. Into which we shall not enter +for Yes or for No. "You are like the rest of them!" writes +Friedrich to him; "when the moment comes for showing firmness, you +fail in it." ["Waldau, 10th September, 1759:" in Preuss, ii. +URKUNDEN. p. 44.] Friedrich expects of others what all Soldiers +profess,--and what is in fact the soul of all nobleness in their +trade,--but what only Friedrich himself, and a select few, are in +the habit of actually performing. Tried by the standard of common +practice, Schmettau is clearly absolvable; a broken veteran, +deserving almost tears. But that is not the standard which it will +be safe for a King of men to go by. Friedrich, I should say, would +be ordered by his Office, if Nature herself did not order him, to +pitch his ideal very high; and to be rather Rhadamanthine in +judging about it. Friedrich was never accused of over-generosity to +the unfortunate among his Captains. + +After the War, Schmettau, his conduct still a theme of argument, +was reduced to the Invalid List: age now sixty-seven, but health +and heart still very fresh, as he pleaded; complaining that he +could not live on his retiring Pension of 300 pounds a year. +"Be thankful you have not had your head struck off by sentence of +Court-Martial," answered Friedrich. Schmettau, after some farther +troubles from Court quarters, retired to Brandenburg, and there +lived silent, poor but honorable, for his remaining fifteen years. +Madam Schmettau came out very beautiful in those bad circumstances: +cheery, thrifty, full of loyal patience; a constant sunshine to her +poor man, whom she had preceded out of Dresden in the way we saw. +Schmettau was very quiet, still studious of War matters; +[See <italic> Leben <end italic> (by his Son, "Captain Schmettau;" +a modest intelligent Book), pp. 440-447.] "sent the King" once,--in +1772, while Polish Prussia, and How it could be fortified, were the +interesting subject,--"a JOURNAL," which he had elaborated for +himself, "OF THE MARCHES OF KARL TWELFTH IN WEST PREUSSEN;" which +was well received: "Apparently the King not angry with me farther?" +thought Schmettau. A completely retired old man; studious, social, +--the best men of the Army still his friends and familiars:--nor, +in his own mind, any mutiny against his Chief; this also has its +beauty in a human life, my friend. So long as Madam Schmettau +lived, it was well; after her death, not well, dark rather, and +growing darker: and in about three years Schmettau followed (27th +October, 1775), whither that good soul had gone. The elder Brother +--who was a distinguished Academician, as well as Feldmarschall and +Negotiator--had died at Berlin, in Voltaire's time, 1751. Each of +those Schmettaus had a Son, in the Prussian Army, who wrote Books, +or each a short Book, still worth reading. [<italic> Bavarian War +of 1778, <end italic> by the Feldmarschall's Son; ad this <italic> +Leben <end italic> we have just been citing, by the Lieutenant- +General's.] But we must return. + +On the very morrow, September 5th, Daun heard of the glorious +success at Dresden; had not expected it till about the 10th at +soonest. From Triebel he sends the news at gallop to Lieberose and +Soltikof: "Rejoice with us, Excellenz: did not I predict it? +Silesia and Saxony both are ours; fruits chiefly of your noble +successes. Oh, continue them a very little!" "Umph!" answers +Soltikof, not with much enthusiasm: "Send us meal steadily; +and gain you, Excellenz's self, some noble success!" Friedrich did +not hear of it for almost a week later; not till Monday, 10th,--as +a certain small Anecdote would of itself indicate. + +Sunday Evening, 9th September, General Finck, with his new 6,000, +hastening on to join Wunsch for relief of Dresden, had got to +Grossenhayn; and was putting up his tents, when the Outposts +brought him in an Austrian Officer, who had come with a Trumpeter +inquiring for the General. The Austrian Officer "is in quest of +proper lodgings for General Schmettau and Garrison [fancy Finck's +sudden stare!];--last night they lodged at Gross-Dobritz, tolerably +to their mind: but the question for the Escort is, Where to lodge +this night, if your Excellency could advise me?" "Herr, I will +advise you to go back to Gross-Dobritz on the instant," answers +Finck grimly; "I shall be obliged to make you and your Trumpet +prisoners, otherwise!" Exit Austrian Officer. That same evening, +too, Captain Kollas, carrying Schmettau's sad news to the King, +calls on Finck in passing; gives dismal details of the Capitulation +and the Austrian way of keeping it; filling Finck's mind with +sorrowful indignation. [Tempelhof, iii. 237.] + +Finck--let us add here, though in date it belongs a little +elsewhere--pushes on, not the less, to join Wunsch at Torgau; +joins Wunsch, straightway recaptures Leipzig, garrison prisoners +(September 13th): recaptures all those northwestern garrisons,-- +multitudinous Reichsfolk trying, once, to fight him, in an +amazingly loud, but otherwise helpless way ("ACTION OF KORBITZ" +they call it); cannonading far and wide all day, and manoeuvring +about, here bitten in upon, there trying to bite, over many leagues +of Country; principally under Haddick's leading; [HOFBERICHT VON +DER AM 21 SEPTEMBER BEY KORBITZ (in Meissen Country, south of Elbe; +Krogis too is a Village in this wide-spread "Action") VORGEFALLENEN +ACTION (Seyfarth, <italic> Beylagen, <end italic> ii. 621-630). +Tempelhof, iii. 248, 258.] who saw good to draw off Dresden-ward +next day, and leave Finck master in those regions. To Daun's sad +astonishment,--in a moment of crisis,--as we shall hear farther on! +So that Saxony is not yet conquered to Daun; Saxony, no, nor indeed +will be:--but Dresden is. Friedrich never could recover Dresden; +though he hoped, and at intervals tried hard, for a long while +to come. + + + +Chapter VI. + +PRINCE HENRI MAKES A MARCH OF FIFTY HOURS; +THE RUSSIANS CANNOT FIND LODGING IN SILESIA. + +The eyes of all had been bent on Dresden latterly; and there had +occurred a great deal of detaching thitherward, and of marching +there and thence, as we have partly seen. And the end is, Dresden, +and to appearance Saxony along with it, is Daun's. Has not Daun +good reason now to be proud of the cunctatory method? Never did his +game stand better; and all has been gained at other people's +expense. Daun has not played one trump card; it is those obliging +Russians that have played all the trumps, and reduced the Enemy to +nothing. Only continue that wise course,--and cart meal, with your +whole strength, for the Russians!-- + +Safe behind the pools of Lieberose, Friedrich between them and +Berlin, lie those dear Russians; extending, Daun and they, like an +impassable military dike, with spurs of Outposts and cunningly +devised Detachments, far and wide,--from beyond Bober or utmost +Crossen on the east, to Hoyerswerda in Elbe Country on the west;-- +dike of eighty miles long, and in some eastern parts of almost +eighty broad; so elaborate is Daun's detaching quality, in cases of +moment. "The King's broken Army on one side of us," calculates +Daun; "Prince Henri's on the other; incommunicative they; +reduced to isolation, powerless either or both of them against such +odds. They shall wait there, please Heaven, till Saxony be quite +finished. Zweibruck, and our Detachments and Maguires, let them +finish Saxony, while Soltikof keeps the King busy. Saxony finished, +how will either Prince or King attempt to recover it! After which, +Silesia for us;--and we shall then be near our Magazines withal, +and this severe stress of carting will abate or cease." In fact, +these seem sound calculations: Friedrich is 24,000; Henri 38,000; +the military dike is, of Austrians 75,000, of Russians and +Austrians together 120,000. Daun may fairly calculate on succeeding +beautifully this Year: Saxony his altogether; and in Silesia some +Glogau or strong Town taken, and Russians and Austrians wintering +together in that Country. + +If only Daun do not TOO much spare his trump cards! But there is +such a thing as excess on that side too: and perhaps it is even the +more ruinous kind,--and is certainly the more despised by good +judges, though the multitude of bad may notice it less. Daun is +unwearied in his vigilantes, in his infinite cartings of provision +for himself and Soltikof,--long chains of Magazines, big and +little, at Guben, at Gorlitz, at Bautzen, Zittau, Friedland; +and does, aided by French Montalembert, all that man can to keep +those dear stupid Russians in tune. + +Daun's problem of carting provisions, and guarding his multifarious +posts, and sources of meal and defence, is not without its +difficulties. Especially with a Prince Henri opposite; who has a +superlative manoeuvring talent of his own, and an industry not +inferior to Daun's in that way. Accordingly, ever since August +11th-13th, when Daun moved northward to Triebel, and Henri shot out +detachments parallel to him, "to secure the Bober and our right +flank, and try to regain communication with the King,"--still more, +ever since August 22d, when Daun undertook that onerous cartage of +meal for Soltikof as well as self, the manoeuvring and mutual +fencing and parrying, between Henri and him, has been getting +livelier and livelier. Fain would Daun secure his numerous Roads +and Magazines; assiduously does Henri threaten him in these points, +and try all means to regain communication with his Brother. +Daun has Magazines and interests everywhere; Henri is everywhere +diligent to act on them. + +Daun in person, ever since Kunersdorf time, has been at Triebel; +Henri moved to Sagan after him, but has left a lieutenant at +Schmottseifen, as Daun has at Mark-Lissa:--here are still new +planets, and secondary ditto, with revolving moons. In short, it is +two interpenetrating solar systems, gyrating, osculatiug and +colliding, over a space of several thousand square miles,--with an +intricacy, with an embroiled abstruseness Ptolemean or more! +Which indeed the soldier who would know his business--(and not +knowing it, is not he of all solecisms in this world the most +flagrant?)--ought to study, out of Tempelhof and the Books; +but which, except in its results, no other reader could endure. +The result we will make a point of gathering: carefully riddled +down, there are withal in the details five or six little passages +which have some shadow of interest to us; these let us note, and +carefully omit the rest:-- + +OF FOUQUET AT LANDSHUT. "Fouquet was twice attacked at Landshut; +but made a lucky figure both times. Attack first was by Deville: +attack second by Harsch. Early in July, not long after Friedrich +had left for Schmottseifen, rash Deville (a rash creature, and then +again a laggard, swift where he should be slow, and VICE VERSA) +again made trial on Landshut and Fouquet; but was beautifully dealt +with; taken in rear, in flank, or I forget how taken, but sent +galloping through the Passes again, with a loss of many Prisoners, +most of his furnitures, and all his presence of mind: whom Daun +thereupon summoned out of those parts, 'Hitherward to Mark-Lissa +with your Corps; leave Fouquet alone!' [HOFBERICHT VON DEN +UNTERNEHMUNGEN DES FOUQUETSCHEN CORPS, IM JULIUS 1759: in Seyfarth, +Beylagen, ii. 582-586.] + +"After which, Fouquet, things being altogether quiet round him, was +summoned, with most part of his force, to Schmottseifen; +left General Goltz (a man we have met before) to guard Landshut; +and was in fair hopes of proving helpful to Prince Henri,--when +Harsch [Harsch by himself this time, not Harsch and Deville as +usual] thought here was his opportunity; and came with a great +apparatus, as if to swallow Landshut whole. So that Fouquet had to +hurry off reinforcements thither; and at length to go himself, +leaving Stutterheim in his stead at Schmottseifen. Goltz, however, +with his small handful, stood well to his work. And there fell out +sharp fencings at Landshut:--especially one violent attack on our +outposts; the Austrians quite triumphant; till 'a couple of cannon +open on them from the next Hill,'--till some violent Werner or +other charge in upon them with Prussian Hussars;--a desperate +tussle, that special one of Werner's; not only sabres flashing +furiously on both sides, but butts of pistols and blows on the +face: [Tempelhof, iii. 233: 31st August.] till, in short, Harsch +finds he can make nothing of it, and has taken himself away, before +Fouquet come." This Goltz, here playing Anti-Harsch, is the Goltz +who, with Winterfeld, Schmettau and others, was in that melancholy +Zittau march, of the Prince of Prussia's, in 1757: it was Goltz by +whom the King sent his finishing compliment, "You deserve, all of +you, to be tried by Court-Martial, and to lose your heads!" +Goltz is mainly concerned with Fouquet and Silesia, in late times; +and we shall hear of him once again. Fouquet did not return to +Schmottseifen; nor was molested again in Landshut this year, though +he soon had to detach, for the King's use, part of his Landshut +force, and had other Silesian business which fell to him. + +FORTRESS OF PEITZ. The poor Fortress of Peitz was taken again;--do +readers remember it, "on the day of Zorndorf," last year? +"This year, a fortnight after Kunersdorf, the same old Half-pay +Gentleman with his Five-and-forty Invalids have again been set +adrift, 'with the honors of war,' poor old creatures; lest by +possibility they afflict the dear Russians and our meal-carts up +yonder. [Tempelhof, iii. 231: 27th August.] I will forget who took +Peitz: perhaps Haddick, of whom we have lately heard so much? +He was captor of Berlin in 1757, did the Inroad on Berlin that +year,--and produced Rossbach shortly after. Peitz, if he did Peitz, +was Haddick's last success in the world. Haddick has been most +industrious, 'guarding the Russian flank,'--standing between the +King and it, during that Soltikof march to Mullrose, to Lieberose; +but that once done, and the King settled at Waldau, Haddick was +ordered to Saxony, against Wunsch and Finck:--and readers know +already what he made of these Two in the 'Action at Korbitz, +September 21st,'--and shall hear soon what befell Haddick himself +in consequence." + +COLONEL HORDT IS CAPTURED. "It was in that final marching of +Soltikof to Lieberose that a distinguished Ex-Swede, Colonel Hordt, +of the Free Corps HORDT, was taken prisoner. At Trebatsch; +hanging on Soltikof's right flank on that occasion. It was not +Haddick, it was a swarm of Cossacks who laid Hordt fast; his horse +having gone to the girths in a bog. [<italic> Memoires du Comte de +Hordt <end italic> (a Berlin, 1789), ii. 53-58 (not dated or +intelligible there): in Tempelhof (iii. 235, 236) clear account, +"Trebatsch, September 4th."] Hordt, an Ex-Swede of distinction,--a +Royalist Exile, on whose head the Swedes have set a price (had gone +into 'Brahe's Plot,' years since, Plot on behalf of the poor +Swedish King, which cost Brahe his life),--Hordt now might have +fared ill, had not Friedrich been emphatic, 'Touch a hair of him, +retaliation follows on the instant!' He was carried to Petersburg; +'lay twenty-six months and three days' in solitary durance there; +and we may hear a word from him again." + +ZIETHEN ALMOST CAPTURED. "Prince Henri, in the last days of August, +marched to Sagan in person; [Tempelhof, iii. 231: 29th August.] +Ziethen along with him; multifariously manoeuvring 'to regain +communication with the King.' Of course, with no want of counter- +manoeuvring, of vigilant outposts, cunningly devised detachments +and assiduous small measures on the part of Daun. Who, one day, had +determined on a more considerable thing; that of cutting out +Ziethen from the Sagan neighborhood. And would have done it, they +say,--had not he been too cunctatory. September 2d, Ziethen, who is +posted in the little town of Sorau, had very nearly been cut off. +In Sorau, westward, Daun-ward, of Sagan a short day?s march: +there sat Ziethen, conscious of nothing particular,--with Daun +secretly marching on him; Daun in person, from the west, and two +others from the north and from the south, who are to be +simultaneous on Sorau and the Zietheners. A well-laid scheme; +likely to have finished Ziethen satisfactorily, who sat there aware +of nothing. But it all miswent: Daun, on the road, noticed some +trifling phenomenon (Prussian party of horse, or the like), which +convinced his cautious mind that all was found out; that probably a +whole Prussian Army, instead of a Ziethen only, was waiting at +Sorau; upon which Daun turned home again, sorry that he could not +turn the other two as well. The other two were stronger than +Ziethen, could they have come upon him by surprise; or have caught +him before he got through a certain Pass, or bit of bad ground, +with his baggage. But Ziethen, by some accident, or by his own +patrols, got notice; loaded his baggage instantly; and was through +the Pass, or half through it, and in a condition to give stroke for +stroke with interest, when his enemies came up. Nothing could be +done upon Ziethen; who marched on, he and all his properties, safe +to Sagan that night,--owing to Daun's over-caution, and to +Ziethen's own activity and luck." [Tempelhof, iii. 233.] + +All this was prior to the loss of Dresden. During the crisis of +that, when everybody was bestirring himself, Prince Henri made +extraordinary exertions: "Much depends on me; all on me!" sighed +Henri. A cautious little man; but not incapable of risking, in the +crisis of a game for life and death. Friedrich and he are wedged +asunder by that dike of Russians and Austrians, which goes from +Bober river eastward, post after post, to Hoyerswerda westward, +eighty miles along the Lausitz-Brandenburg Frontier, rooting itself +through the Lausitz into Bohemia, and the sources of its meal. +Friedrich and he cannot communicate except by spies ("the first +JAGER," or regular express "from the King, arrived September 13th" +[Ib. iii. 207.]): but both are of one mind; both are on one +problem, "What is to be done with that impassable dike?"--and +co-operate sympathetically without communicating. What follows +bears date AFTER the loss of Dresden, but while Henri still knew +only of the siege,--that JAGER of the 13th first brought him news +of the loss. + +"A day or two after Ziethen's adventure, Henri quits Sagan, to move +southward for a stroke at the Bohemian-Lausitz magazines; a stroke, +and series of strokes. SEPTEMBER 8th, Ziethen and (in Fouquet's +absence at Landshut) Stutterheim are pushed forward into the Zittau +Country; first of all upon Friedland,--the Zittau Friedland, for +there are Friedlands many! SEPTEMBER 9th, Stutterheim summons +Friedland, gets it; gets the bit of magazine there; and next day +hastens on to Zittau. Is refused surrender of Zittau; +learns, however, that the magazine has been mostly set on wheels +again, and is a stage forward on the road to Bohemia; +whitherward Stutterheim, quitting Zittau as too tedious, hastens +after it, and next day catches it, or the unburnt remains of it. +A successful Stutterheim. Nor is Ziethen idle in the mean while; +Ziethen and others; whom no Deville or Austrian Party thinks itself +strong enough to meddle with, Prince Henri being so near. + +"Here is a pretty tempest in the heart of our Bohemian meal- +conduit! Continue that, and what becomes of Soltikof and me? Daun +is off from Triebel Country to this dangerous scene; indignantly +cashiers Deville, 'Why did not you attack these Ziethen people? +Had not you 10,000, Sir?' Cashiers poor Deville for not attacking; +--does not himself attack: but carts away the important Gorlitz +magazine, to Bautzen, which is the still more important one; +sits down on the lid of that (according to wont); shoots out +O'Donnell (an Irish gentleman, Deville's successor), and takes +every precaution. Prince Henri, in presence of O'Donnell, coalesces +again; walks into Gorlitz; encamps there, on the Landskron and +other Heights (Moys Hill one of them, poor Winterfeld's Hill!),-- +and watches a little how matters will turn, and whether Daun, +severely vigilant from Bautzen, seated on the lid of his magazine, +will not perhaps rise." + +First and last, Daun in this business has tried several things; +but there was pretty much always, and emphatically there now is, +only one thing that could be effectual: To attack Prince Henri, and +abolish him from those countries;--as surely might have been +possible, with twice his strength at your disposal?--This, though +sometimes he seemed to be thinking of such a thing, Daun never +would try: for which the subsequent FACTS, and all good judges, +were and are inexorably severe on Daun. Certain it is, no rashness +could have better spilt Daun's game than did this extreme caution. + + +DAUN, SOLTIKOF AND COMPANY AGAIN HAVE A COLLOQUY +(Bautzen, September 15th); AFTER WHICH EVERYBODY +STARTS ON HIS SPECIAL COURSE OF ACTION. + +Soltikof's disgust at this new movement of Daun's was great and +indignant. "Instead of going at the King, and getting some victory +for himself, he has gone to Bautzen, and sat down on his meal-bags! +Meal? Is it to be a mere fighting for meal? I will march to-morrow +for Poland, for Preussen, and find plenty of meal!" And would have +gone, they say, had not Mercury, in the shape of Montalembert with +his most zealous rhetoric, intervened; and prevailed with +difficulty. "One hour of personal interview with Excellency Daun," +urges Montalembert; "one more!" "No," answers Soltikof.--"Alas, +then, send your messenger!" To which last expedient Soltikof does +assent, and despatches Romanzof on the errand. + +SEPTEMBER 15th, at Bautzen, at an early hour, there is meeting +accordingly; not Romanzof, Soltikof's messenger, alone, but +Zweibruck in person, Daun in person; and most earnest council is +held. "A noble Russian gentleman sees how my hands are bound," +pleads Daun. "Will not Excellency Soltikof, who disdains idleness, +go himself upon Silesia, upon Glogau for instance, and grant me a +few days?" "No," answers Romanzof; "Excellency Soltikof by himself +will not. Let Austria furnish Siege-Artillery; daily meal I need +not speak of; 10,000 fresh Auxiliaries beyond those we have: +on these terms Excellency Soltikof will perhaps try it; on lower +terms, positively not." "Well then, yes!" answers Daun, not without +qualms of mind. Daun has a horror at weakening himself to that +extent; but what can he do? "General Campitelli, with the 10,000, +let him march this night, then; join with General Loudon where you +please to order: Excellency Soltikof shall see that in every point +I conform." [Tempelhof, iii. 247-249.]--An important meeting to us, +this at Bautzen; and breaks up the dead-lock into three or more +divergent courses of activity; which it will now behoove us to +follow, with the best brevity attainable. "Bautzen, Saturday, 15th +September, early in the morning," that is the date of the important +Colloquy. And precisely eight-and-forty hours before, "on Thursday, +13th, about 10 A.M.", in the western Environs of Quebec, there has +fallen out an Event, quite otherwise important in the History of +Mankind! Of which readers shall have some notice at a time +more convenient.-- + +Romanzof returning with such answer, Soltikof straightway gathers +himself, September 15th-16th, and gets on march. To Friedrich's +joy; who hopes it may be homeward; waits two days at Waldau, for +the Yes or No. On the second day, alas, it is No: "Going for +Silesia, I perceive; thither, by a wide sweep northward, which they +think will be safer!" Upon which Friedrich also rises; follows, +with another kind of speed than Soltikof's; and, by one of his +swift clutchings, lays hold of Sagan, which he, if Soltikof has +not, sees to be a key-point in this operation. Easy for Soltikof to +have seized this key-point, key of the real road to Glogau; +easy for Loudon and the new 10,000 to have rendezvoused there: +but nobody has thought of doing it. A few Croats were in the place, +who could make no debate. + +From Sagan Friedrich and Henri are at length in free communication; +Sagan to the Landskron at Gorlitz is some fifty miles of country, +now fallen vacant. From Henri, from Fouquet (the dangers of +Landshut being over), Friedrich is getting what reinforcement they +can spare (September 20th-24th); will then push forward again, +industriously sticking to the flanks of Soltikof, thrusting out +stumbling-blocks, making his march very uncomfortable. + +Strange to say, from Sagan, while waiting two days for these +reinforcements, there starts suddenly to view, suddenly for +Friedrich and us, an incipient Negotiation about Peace! +Actual Proposal that way (or as good as actual, so Voltaire thinks +it), on the part of Choiseul and France; but as yet in Voltaire's +name only, by a sure though a backstairs channel, of his +discovering. Of which, and of the much farther corresponding that +did actually follow on it, we purpose to say something elsewhere, +at a better time. Meanwhile Voltaire's announcement of it to the +King has just come in, through a fair and high Hand: how Friedrich +receives it, what Friedrich's inner feeling is, and has been for a +fortnight past--Here are some private utterances of his, throwing a +straggle of light on those points:-- + + +FOUR LETTERS OF FRIEDRICH'S (10th-24th September). + +No. 1. TO PRINCE FERDINAND (at Berlin). Poor little Ferdinand, the +King's Brother, fallen into bad health, has retired from the Wars, +and gone to Berlin; much an object of anxiety to the King, who +diligently corresponds with the dear little man,--giving earnest +medical advices, and getting Berlin news in return. + +"WALDAU, 10th September, 1759. + +"Since my last Letter, Dresden has capitulated,--the very day while +Wunsch was beating Maguire at The Barns [north side of Dresden, +September 5th) day AFTER the capitulation]. Wunsch went back to +Torgau, which St. Andre, with 14,000 Reichs-people under him, was +for retaking; him too Wunsch beat, took all his tents, kettles, +haversacks and utensils, 300 prisoners, six cannon and some +standards. Finck is uniting with Wunsch; they will march on the +Prince of Zweibruck, and retake Dresden [hopes always, for a year +and more, to have Dresden back very soon]. I trust before long to +get all these people gathered round Dresden, and our own Country +rid of them: that, I take it, will be the end of the Campaign. + +"Many compliments to the Prince of Wurtemberg [wounded at +Kunersdorf], and to all our wounded Generals: I hope Seidlitz is +now out of danger: that bleeding fit (EBULLITION DE SANG) will cure +him of the cramp in his jaw, and of his colics; and as he is in +bed, he won't take cold. I hope the viper-broth will do you +infinite good; be assiduous in patching your constitution, while +there is yet some fine weather left: I dread the winter for you; +take a great deal of care against cold. I have still a couple of +cruel months ahead of me before ending this Campaign. Within that +time, there will be, God knows what upshot." [<italic> OEuvres de +Frederic, <end italic> xxvi. 544.]--This is "September 10th:" the +day of Captain Kollas's arrival with his bad Dresden news; Daun and +Soltikof profoundly quiet for three days more. + +No. 2. TO THE DUCHESS OF SACHSEN-GOTHA (at Gotha). Voltaire has +enclosed his Peace-Proposal to that Serene Lady, always a friend of +Friedrich's and his; to whom Friedrich, directly on receipt of it, +makes answer:-- + +"SAGAN, 22d September, 1759. + +"MADAM,--I receive on all occasions proofs of your goodness, to +which I am as sensible as a chivalrous man can be. Certainly it is +not through your hands, Madam, that my Correspondence with V. [with +Voltaire, if one durst write it in full] ought to be made to pass! +Nevertheless, in present circumstances, I will presume to beg that +you would forward to him the Answer here enclosed, on which I put +no Address. The difficulty of transmitting Letters has made me +choose my Brother," Ferdinand, at Berlin, "to have this conveyed to +your hand. + +"If I gave bridle to my feelings, now would be the moment for +developing them; but in these critical times I judge it better not; +and will restrict myself to simple assurances of--" F. + +No. 3. TO VOLTAIRE, at the Delices (so her Serene Highness will +address it). Here is part of the Enclosure to "V." Friedrich is all +for Peace; but keeps on his guard with such an Ambassador, and +writes in a proud, light, only half-believing style:-- + +"SAGAN, 22d September, 1759. + +"The Duchess of Sachsen-Gotha sends me your Letter. I never +received your packet of the 29th: communications all interrupted +here; with much trouble I get this passed on to you, if it is happy +enough to pass. + +"My position is not so desperate as my enemies give out. I expect +to finish my Campaign tolerably; my courage is not sunk:--it +appears, however, there is talk of Peace. All I can say of positive +on this article is, That I have honor for ten; and that, whatever +misfortune befall me, I feel myself incapable of doing anything to +wound, the least in the world, this principle,--which is so +sensitive and delicate for one who thinks like a gentleman (PENSE +EN PREUX CHEVALIER); and so little regarded by rascally +politicians, who think like tradesmen. + +"I know nothing of what you have been telling me about [your +backstairs channels, your Duc de Choiseul and his humors]: but for +making Peace there are two conditions which I never will depart +from: 1. To make it conjointly with my faithful Allies [Hessen and +England; I have no other]; 2. To make it honorable and glorious. +Observe you, I have still honor remaining; I will preserve that, at +the price of my blood. + +"If your people want Peace, let them propose nothing to me which +contradicts the delicacy of my sentiments. I am in the convulsions +of military operations; I do as the gamblers who are in ill-luck, +and obstinately set themselves against Fortune. I have forced her +to return to me, more than once, like a fickle mistress, when she +had run away. My opponents are such foolish people, in the end I +bid fair to catch some advantage over them: but, happen whatsoever +his Sacred Majesty Chance may please, I don't disturb myself about +it. Up to this point, I have a clear conscience in regard to the +misfortunes that have come to me. As to you, the Battle of Minden, +that of Cadiz" (Boscawen VERSUS De la Clue; Toulon Fleet running +out, and caught by the English, as we saw), these things perhaps, +"and the loss of Canada, are arguments capable of restoring reason +to the French, who had got confused by the Austrian hellebore. + +"This is my way of thinking. You do not find me made of rose-water: +but Henri Quatre, Louis Quatorze,--my present enemies even, whom I +could cite [Maria Theresa, twenty years ago, when your Belleisle +set out to cut her in Four],--were of no softer temper either. +Had I been born a private man, I would yield everything for the +love of Peace; but one has to take the tone of one's position. +This is all I can tell you at present. In three or four weeks the +ways of correspondence will be freer.--F." [<italic> OEuvres de +Frederic, <end italic> xxiii. 60, 61.] + +No. 4. TO PRINCE FERDINAND. Two days later: has got on foot again, +--end of his first march upon Soltikof again:-- + +"BAUNAU, 24th September, 1759. + +"Thank you for the news you send of the wounded Officers," +Wurtemberg, Seidlitz and the others. "You may well suppose that in +the pass things are at, I am not without cares, inquietudes, +anxieties; it is the frightfulest crisis I have had in my life. +This is the moment for dying unless one conquer. Daun and my +Brother Henri are marching side by side [not exactly!]. It is +possible enough all these Armies may assemble hereabouts, and that +a general Battle may decide our fortune and the Peace. Take care of +your health, dear Brother.--F." [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end +italic> xxvi. 545.] + +Baunau is on Silesian ground, as indeed Sagan itself is; at Baunau +Friedrich already, just on arriving, has done a fine move on +Soltikof, and surprisingly flung the toll-gate in Soltikof's face. +As we shall see by and by;--and likewise that Prince Henri, who +emerges to-morrow morning (September 25th), has not been "marching +side by side with Daun," but at a pretty distance from +that gentleman!-- + +Soltikof is a man of his word; otherwise one suspects he already +saw his Siege of Glogau to be impossible. Russians are not very +skilful at the War-minuet: fancy what it will be dancing to such a +partner! Friedrich, finding they are for Glogau, whisks across the +Oder, gets there before them: "No Glogau for you!" They stand agape +for some time; then think "Well then Breslau!" Friedrich again +whisks across from them, farther up, and is again ahead of them +when they cross: "No Breslau either!" In effect, it is hopeless; +and we may leave the two manoeuvring in those waste parts, astride +of Oder, or on the eastern bank of it, till a fitter opportunity; +and attend to Henri, who is now the article in risk. + +Zweibruck's report of himself, on that day of the general Colloquy, +was not in the way of complaint, like that of the Russians, though +there did remain difficulties. "Dresden gloriously ours; +Maguire Governor there, and everything secure; upon my honor. +But in the northwest part, those Fincks and Wunsches, Excellenz?"-- +And the actual truth is, Wunsch has taken Leipzig, day before +yesterday (September 13th), as Daun sorrowfully knows, by news come +in overnight. And six days hence (September 21st), Finck and Wunsch +together will do their "ACTION OF KORBITZ," and be sending Haddick +a bad road! These things Zweibruck knows only in part; but past +experience gives him ominous presentiment, as it may well do; +and he thinks decidedly: "Excellenz, more Austrian troops are +indispensable there; in fact, your Excellenz's self, were that +possible; which one feels it is not, in the presence of +these Russians!" + +Russians and Reichsfolk, these are a pair of thumbscrews on both +thumbs of Daun; screwing the cunctation out of him; painfully +intimating: "Get rid of this Prince Henri; you must, you must!" +And, in the course of the next eight days Daun has actually girt +himself to this great enterprise. Goaded on, I could guess, by the +"Action of Korbitz " (done on Friday, thirty hours ago); the news +of which, and that Haddick, instead of extinguishing Finck, is +retreating from him upon Dresden,--what a piece of news! thinks +Daun: "You, Zweibruck, Haddick, Maguire and Company, you are 36,000 +in Saxony; Finck has not 12,000 in the field: How is this?"--and +indignantly dismisses Haddick altogether: "Go, Sir, and attend to +your health!" [Tempelhof, iii. 276, 258-261.] News poignantly +astonishing to Daun, as would seem;--like an ox-goad in the lazy +rear of Daun. Certain it is, Daun had marched out to Gorlitz in +collected form; and, on Saturday afternoon, SEPTEMBER 22d is +personally on the Heights (not Moys Hill, I should judge, but other +points of vision), taking earnest survey of Prince Henri's position +on the Landskron there. "To-morrow morning we attack that Camp," +thinks Daun; "storm Prince Henri and it: be rid of him, at any +price!" [Ib. iii. 253-256 (for the March now ensuing): +iii. 228-234, 241-247 (for Henri's anterior movements).] + +"To-morrow morning," yes:--but this afternoon, and earlier, Prince +Henri has formed a great resolution, his plans all laid, everything +in readiness; and it is not here you will find Prince Henri +to-morrow. This is his famous March of Fifty Hours, this that we +are now come to; which deserves all our attention,--and all Daun's +much more! Prince Henri was habitually a man cautious in War; +not aggressive, like his Brother, but defensive, frugal of risks, +and averse to the lion-springs usual with some people; +though capable of them, too, in the hour of need. Military men are +full of wonder at the bold scheme he now fell upon; and at his +style of executing it. Hardly was Daun gone home to his meditations +on the storm of the Landskron to-morrow, and tattoo beaten in +Prince Henri's Camp there, when, at 8 that Saturday evening, +issuing softly, with a minimum of noise, in the proper marching +columns, baggage-columns, Henri altogether quitted this Camp; +and vanished like a dream. Into the Night; men and goods, every +item:--who shall say whitherward? Leaving only a few light people +to keep up the watch-fires and sentry-cries, for behoof of Daun! +Let readers here, who are in the secret, watch him a little +from afar. + +Straight northward goes Prince Henri, down Neisse Valley, 20 miles +or so, to Rothenburg; in columns several-fold, with much delicate +arranging, which was punctually followed: and in the course of +to-morrow Prince Henri is bivouacked, for a short rest of three +hours,--hidden in unknown space, 20 miles from Daun, when Daun +comes marching up to storm him on the Landskron! Gone veritably; +but whitherward Daun cannot form the least guess. Daun can only +keep his men under arms there, all day; while his scouts gallop far +and wide,--bringing in this false guess and the other; and at +length returning with the eminently false one, misled by some of +Henri's baggage-columns, which have to go many routes, That the +Prince is on march for Glogau:--"Gone northeast; that way went his +wagons; these we saw with our eyes." "Northeast? Yes, to Glogau +possibly enough," thinks Daun: "Or may not he, cunning as he is and +full of feints, intend a stroke on Bautzen, in my absence?"--and +hastens thither again, and sits down on the Magazine-lid, glad to +find nothing wrong there. + +This is all that Daun hears of Henri for the next four days. +Plenty of bad news from Saxony in these four days: the Finck- +Haddick Action of Korbitz, a dismal certainty before one started,-- +and Haddick on his road to some Watering Place by this time! But no +trace of Henri farther; since that of the wagons wending northeast. +"Gone to Glogau, to his Brother: no use in pushing him, or trying +to molest him there!" thinks Daun; and waits, in stagnant humor, +chewing the cud of bitter enough thoughts, till confirmation of +that guess arrive:--as it never will in this world! Read an +important Note:-- + +"To northward of Bautzen forty miles, and to westward forty miles, +the country is all Daun's; only towards Glogau, with the Russians +and Friedrich thereabouts, does it become disputable, or offer +Prince Henri any chance. Nevertheless it is not to Glogau, it is +far the reverse, that the nimble Henri has gone. Resting himself at +Rothenburg 'three hours' (speed is of all things the vitalest), +Prince Henri starts again, SUNDAY afternoon, straight westward this +time. Marches, with his best swiftness, with his best arrangements, +through many sleeping Villages, to Klitten, not a wakeful one: a +march of 18 miles from Rothenburg;--direct for the Saxon side of +things, instead of the Silesian, as Daun had made sure. + +"At Klitten, MONDAY morning, bivouac again, for a few hours,--'has +no Camp, only waits three hours,' is Archenholtz's phrase: but I +suppose the meaning is, Waits till the several Columns, by their +calculated routes, have all got together; and till the latest in +arriving has had 'three hours' of rest,--the earliest having +perhaps gone on march again, in the interim? There are 20 miles +farther, still straight west, to Hoyerswerda, where the outmost +Austrian Division is: 'Forward towards that; let us astonish +General Wehla and his 3,000, and our March is over!' All this too +Prince Henri manages; never anything more consummate, more +astonishing to Wehla and his Master. + +"Wehla and Brentano, readers perhaps remember them busy, from the +Pirna side, at the late Siege of Dresden. Siege gloriously done, +Wehla was ordered to Hoyerswerda, on the northwest frontier; +Brentano to a different point in that neighborhood; where Brentano +escaped ruin, and shall not be mentioned; but Wehla suddenly found +it, and will require a word. Wehla, of all people on the War- +theatre, had been the least expecting disturbance. He is on the +remotest western flank; to westward of him nothing but Torgau and +the Finck-Wunsch people, from whom is small likelihood of danger: +from the eastern what danger can there be? A Letter of Dauns, some +days ago, had expressly informed him that, to all appearance, there +was none. + +"And now suddenly, on the Tuesday morning, What is this? +Prussians reported to be visible in the Woods! 'Impossible!' +answered Wehla;--did get ready, however, what he could; +Croat Regiments, pieces of Artillery behind the Elster River and on +good points; laboring more and more diligently, as the news proved +true. But all his efforts were to no purpose. General Lentulus with +his Prussians (the mute Swiss Lentulus, whom we sometimes meet), +who has the Vanguard this day, comes streaming out of the woods +across the obstacles; cannonades Wehla both in front and rear; +entirely swallows Wehla and Corps: 600 killed; the General himself, +with 28 Field-Officers, and of subalterns and privates 1,785, +falling prisoners to us; and the remainder scattered on the winds, +galloping each his own road towards covert and a new form of life. +Wehla is eaten, in this manner, Tuesday, September 25th:-- +metaphorically speaking, the March of Fifty Hours ends in a +comfortable twofold meal (military-cannibal, as well as of common +culinary meat), and in well-deserved rest." [Tempelhof, iii. 255, +256; Seyfarth, <italic> Beylagen; <end italic> &c.] + +The turning-point of the Campaign is reckoned to be this March of +Henri's; one of the most extraordinary on record. Prince Henri had +a very fast March INTO these Silesian-Lausitz Countries, early in +July, [Seyfarth, ii. 545.] and another very fast, from Bautzen, to +intersect with Schmottseifen, in the end of July: but these were as +nothing compared with the present. Tempelhof, the excellent solid +man,--but who puts all things, big and little, on the same level of +detail, and has unparalleled methods of arranging (what he reckons +to be "arranging"), and no vestige of index,--is distressingly +obscure on this grand Incident; but at length, on compulsion, does +yield clear account. [Tempelhof, iii. 253-258.] In Archenholtz it +is not DATED at all; who merely says as follows: "Most +extraordinary march ever made; went through 50 miles of Country +wholly in the Enemy's possession; lasted 56 hours, in which long +period there was no camp pitched, and only twice a rest of three +hours allowed the troops. During the other fifty hours the march, +day and night, continually proceeded. Ended (NO date) in surprise +of General Wehla at Hoyerswerda, cutting up 600 of his soldiers, +and taking 1,800 prisoners. Kalkreuth, since so famous," in the +Anti-Napoleon Wars, "was the Prince's Adjutant." [Archenholtz, +i. 426.] + +This is probably Prince Henri's cleverest feat,--though he did a +great many of clever; and his Brother used to say, glancing towards +him, "There is but one of us that never committed a mistake." +A highly ingenious dexterous little man in affairs of War, sharp as +needles, vehement but cautious; though of abstruse temper, thin- +skinned, capricious, and giving his Brother a great deal of trouble +with his jealousies and shrewish whims. By this last consummate +little operation he has astonished Daun as much as anybody ever +did; shorn his elaborate tissue of cunctations into ruin and +collapse at one stroke; and in effect, as turns out, wrecked his +campaign for this Year. + +Daun finds there is now no hope of Saxony, unless he himself at +once proceed thither. At once thither;--and leave Glogau and the +Russians to their luck,--which in such case, what is it like to be? +Probably, to Daun's own view, ominous enough; but he has no +alternative. To this pass has the March of Fifty Hours brought us. +There is such a thing as being too cunctatory, is not there, your +Excellency? Every mortal, and more especially every Feldmarschall, +ought to strike the iron while it is hot. The remainder of this +Campaign, we will hope, can be made intelligible in a more +summary manner. + + +FRIEDRICH MANAGES (September 24th-October 24th) TO GET THE +RUSSIANS SENT HOME; AND HIMSELF FALLS LAMED WITH GOUT. + +Friedrich's manoeuvres against Soltikof,--every reader is prepared +to hear that Soltikof was rendered futile by them: and none but +military readers could take delight in the details. Two beautiful +short-cuts he made upon Soltikof; pulled him up both times in mid +career, as with hard check-bit. The first time was at Zobelwitz: +September 24th, Friedrich cut across from Sagan, which is string to +bow of the Russian march; posted himself on the Heights of +Zobelwitz, of Baunau, Milkau (at Baunau Friedrich will write a +LETTER this night, if readers bethink themselves; Milkau is a place +he may remember for rain-deluges, in the First Silesian War [Supra, +p. 323; ib. vol. vii. p. 311.]): "Let the Russians, if they now +dare, try the Pass of Neustadtel here!" A fortunate hour, when he +got upon this ground. Quartermaster-General Stoffel, our old +Custrin acquaintance, is found marking out a Camp with a view to +that Pass of Neustadtel; [Tempelhof, iii. 293; Retzow, ii. 163.] +is, greatly astonished to find the Prussian Army emerge on him +there; and at once vanishes, with his Hussar-Cossack retinues. +"September 24th," it is while Prince Henri was on the last moiety +of his March of Fifty Hours. This severe twitch flung Soltikof +quite out from Glogau,--was like to fling him home altogether, had +it not been for Montalembert's eloquence;--did fling him across the +Oder. Where, again thanks to Montalembert, he was circling on with +an eye to Breslau, when Friedrich, by the diameter, suddenly laid +bridges, crossed at Koben, and again brought Soltikof to halt, as +by turnpike suddenly shut: "Must pay first; must beat us first!" + +These things had raised Friedrich's spirits not a little. +Getting on the Heights of Zobelwitz, he was heard to exclaim, "This +is a lucky day; worth more to me than a battle with victory." +[Retzow, ii. 163.] Astonishing how he blazed out again, quite into +his old pride and effulgence, after this, says Retzow. Had been so +meek, so humbled, and even condescended to ask advice or opinion +from some about him. Especially "from two Captains," says the +Opposition Retzow, whose heads were nearly turned by this sunburst +from on high. Captain Marquart and another,--I believe, he did +employ them about Routes and marking of Camps, which Retzow calls +consulting: a King fallen tragically scarce of persons to consult; +all his Winterfelds, Schwerins, Keiths and Council of Peers now +vanished, and nothing but some intelligent-looking Captain +Marquart, or the like, to consult:--of which Retzow, in his +splenetic Opposition humor, does not see the tragedy, but rather +the comedy: how the poor Captains found their favor to be +temporary, conditional, and had to collapse again. One of them +wrote an "ESSAY on the COUP-D'OEIL MILITAIRE," over which Retzow +pretends to weep. This was Friedrich's marginal Note upon the MS., +when submitted to his gracious perusal: "You (ER) will do better to +acquire the Art of marking Camps than to write upon the Military +Stroke of Eye." Beautifully written too, says Retzow; but what, in +the eyes of this King, is beautiful writing, to knowing your +business well? No friend he to writing, unless you have got +something really special, and urgent to be written. + +Friedrich crassed the Oder twice. Took Soltikof on both sides of +the Oder, cut him out of this fond expectation, then of that; +led him, we perceive, a bad life. Latterly the scene was on the +right bank; Sophienthal, Koben, Herrnstadt and other poor places,-- +on that big eastern elbow, where Oder takes his final bend, or +farewell of Poland. Ground, naturally, of some interest to +Friedrich: ground to us unknown; but known to Friedrich as the +ground where Karl XII. gave Schulenburg his beating, ["Near Guhrau" +(while chasing August the Strong and him out of Poland), "12th +October, 1704:" vague account of it, dateless, and as good as +placeless, in Voltaire (<italic> Charles Douse, <end italic> liv. +iii.), <italic> OEuvres, <end italic> xxx. 142-145.] which produced +the "beautiful retreat" of Schulenburg. The old Feldmarschall +Schulenburg whom we used to hear of once,--whose Nephew, a +pipeclayed little gentleman, was well known to Friedrich and us. + +For the rest, I do not think he feels this out-manoeuvring of the +Russians very hard work. Already, from Zobelwitz Country, 25th +September, day of Henri at Hoyerswerda, Friedrich had written to +Fouquet: "With 21,000 your beaten and maltreated Servant has +hindered an Army of 50,000 from attacking him, and compelled them +to retire on Neusatz!" Evidently much risen in hope; and Henri's +fine news not yet come to hand. By degrees, Soltikof, rendered +futile, got very angry; especially when Daun had to go for Saxony. +"Meal was becoming impossible, at any rate," whimpers Daun: +"O Excellency, do but consider, with the nobleness natural to you! +Our Court will cheerfully furnish money, instead of meal."--"Money? +My people cannot eat money!" growled Soltikof, getting more and +more angry; threatening daily to march for Posen and his own meal- +stores. What a time of it has Montalembert, has the melancholy +Loudon, with temper so hot! + +At Sophienthal, October 10th, Friedrich falls ill of gout;-- +absolutely lamed; for three weeks cannot stir from his room. +Happily the outer problem is becoming easier and easier; +almost bringing its own solution. At Sophienthal the lame Friedrich +takes to writing about CHARLES XII. AND HIS MILITARY CHARACTER,-- +not a very illuminative Piece, on the first perusal, but I intend +to read it again; [REFLEXIONS SUR LES TALENS MILITAIRES ET SUR LE +CARACTERE DE CHARLES XII. (<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end +italic> vii. 69-88).]--which at least helps him to pass the time. +Soltikof, more and more straitened, meal itself running low, gets +angrier and angrier. His treatment of the Country, Montalembert +rather encouraging, is described as "horrible." One day he takes +the whim, whim or little more, of seizing Herrnstadt; a small Town, +between the Two Armies, where the Prussians have a Free Battalion. +The Prussian Battalion resists; drives Soltikof's people back. +"Never mind," think they: "a place of no importance to us; +and Excellency Soltikof has ridden else-whither." By ill-luck, in +the afternoon, Excellency Soltikof happened to mention the place +again. Hearing that the Prussians still have it, Soltikof mounts +into a rage; summons the place, with answer still No; thereupon +orders instant bombardment of it, fiery storms of grenadoes for it; +and has the satisfaction of utterly burning poor Herrnstadt; +the Prussian Free-Corps still continuing obstinate. It was +Soltikof's last act in those parts, and betokens a sulphurous state +of humor. + +Next morning (October 24th), he took the road for Posen, and +marched bodily home. [Tempelhof, iii. 299, 291-300 (general +account, abundantly minute).] Home verily, in spite of Montalembert +and all men. "And for me, what orders has Excellency?" Loudon had +anxiously inquired, on the eve of that event. "None whatever!" +answered Excellency: "Do your own pleasure; go whithersoever seems +good to you." And Loudon had to take a wide sweep round, by Kalish, +through the western parts of Poland; and get home to the Troppau- +Teschen Country as he best could. + +By Kalish, by Czenstochow, Cracow, poor Loudon had to go: a dismal +march of 300 miles or more,--waited on latterly by Fouquet, with +Werner, Goltz and others, on the Silesian Border; whom Friedrich +had ordered thither for such end. Whom Loudon skilfully avoided to +fight; having already, by desertion and by hardships, lost half his +men on the road. Glad enough to get home and under roof, with his +20,000 gone to 10,000; and to make bargain with Fouquet: +"Truce, then, through Winter; neither of us to meddle with the +other, unless after a fortnight's warning given." [Tempelhof, iii. +328-331.] NOVEMBER 1st, a month before this, the King, carried on a +litter by his soldiers, had quitted Sophienthal; and, crossing the +River by Koben, got to Glogau. [Rodenbeck, i. 396.] The greater +part of his force, 13,000 under Hulsen, he had immediately sent on +for Saxony; he himself intending to wait recovery in Glogau, with +this Silesian wing of the business happily brought to finis for +the present. + +On the Saxon side, too, affairs are in such a course that the King +can be patient at Glogau till he get well. Everything is prosperous +in Saxony since that March on Hoyerswerda; Henri, with his Fincks +and Wunsches, beautifully posted in the Meissen-Torgau region; +no dislodging of him, let Daun, with his big mass of forces, try as +he may. Daun, through the month of October, is in various Camps, in +Schilda last of all: Henri successively in two; in Strehla for some +ten days; then in Torgau for about three weeks, carefully +intrenched, [Tempelhof. iii. 276, 281, 284 (Henri in Strehla, +October 4th-17th; thence to Torgau: 22d October, Daun "quits his +Camp of Belgern" for that of Schilda, which was his last in those +parts).]--where traces of him will turn up (not too opportunely) +next year. Daun, from whatever Camp, goes laboring on this side +and on that; on every side the deft Henri is as sharp as needles; +nothing to be made of him by the cunning movements and contrivances +of Daun. Very fine manoeuvring it was, especially on Henri's part; +a charm to the soldier mind;--given minutely in Tempelhof, and +capable of being followed (if you have Maps and Patience) into the +last details. Instructive really to the soldier;--but must be, +almost all, omitted here. One beautiful slap to Duke d'Ahremberg (a +poor old friend of Daun's and ours) we will remember: "Action of +Pretsch" they call it; defeat, almost capture of poor D'Ahremberg; +who had been sent to dislodge the Prince, by threatening his +supplies, and had wheeled, accordingly, eastward, wide away; +but, to his astonishment, found, after a march or two, Three select +Prussian Corps emerging on him, by front, by rear, by flank, with +Horse-artillery (quasi-miraculous) bursting out on hill-tops, too, +--and, in short, nothing for it but to retreat, or indeed to run, +in a considerably ruinous style: poor D'Ahremberg! [Seyfarth +(<italic> Beylagen, <end italic> ii. 634-637), "HOFBERICHT VON DER +AM 29 OCTOBER, 1759, BEY MEURO [chiefly BEY PRETSCH] VORGEFALLENEN +ACTION;" ib. ii. 543 n.] On the whole, Daun is reduced to a panting +condition; and knows not what to do. His plans were intrinsically +bad, says Tempelhof; without beating Henri in battle, which he +cannot bring himself to attempt, he, in all probability, will, were +it only for difficulties of the commissariat kind, have to fall +back Dresden-ward, and altogether take himself away. [Tempelhof, +iii. 287-289.] + +After this sad slap at Pretsch, Daun paused for consideration; +took to palisading himself to an extraordinary degree, slashing the +Schilda Forests almost into ruin for this end; and otherwise sat +absolutely quiet. Little to be done but take care of oneself. +Daun knows withal of Hulsen's impending advent with the Silesian +13,000;--November 2d, Hulsen is actually at Muskau, and his 13,000 +magnified by rumor to 20,000. Hearing of which, Daun takes the road +(November 4th); quits his gloriously palisaded Camp of Schilda; +feels that retreat on Dresden, or even home to Bohemia altogether, +is the one course left. + +And now, the important Bautzen Colloquy of SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER +15th, having here brought its three or more Courses of Activity to +a pause,--we will glance at the far more important THURSDAY, 13th, +other side the Ocean:-- + +ABOVE QUEBEC, NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 12th-13th, In profound silence, on +the stream of the St. Lawrence far away, a notable adventure is +going on. Wolfe, from two points well above Quebec ("As a last +shift, we will try that way"), with about 5,000 men, is silently +descending in boats; with purpose to climb the Heights somewhere on +this side the City, and be in upon it, if Fate will. An enterprise +of almost sublime nature; very great, if it can succeed. The cliffs +all beset to his left hand, Montcalm in person guarding Quebec with +his main strength. + +Wolfe silently descends; mind made up; thoughts hushed quiet into +one great thought; in the ripple of the perpetual waters, under the +grim cliffs and the eternal stars. Conversing with his people, he +was heard to recite some passages of Gray's ELEGY, lately come out +to those parts; of which, says an ear-witness, he expressed his +admiration to an enthusiastic degree: "Ah, these are tones of the +Eternal Melodies, are not they? A man might thank Heaven had he +such a gift; almost as WE might for succeeding here, Gentlemen!" +[Professor Robison, then a Naval Junior, in the boat along with +Wolfe, afterwards a well-known Professor of Natural Philosophy at +Edinburgh, was often heard, by persons whom I have heard again, to +repeat this Anecdote. See Playfair, BIOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNT OF +PROFESSOR ROBISON,--in <italic> Transactions <end italic> of Royal +Society of Edinburgh, vii. 495 et seq.] Next morning (Thursday, +13th September, 1759), Wolfe, with his 5,000, is found to have +scrambled up by some woody Neck in the heights, which was not quite +precipitous; has trailed one cannon with him, the seamen busy +bringiug up another; and by 10 of the clock stands ranked (really +somewhat in the Friedrich way, though on a small scale); ready at +all poiuts for Montcalm, but refusing to be over-ready. + +Montcalm, on first hearing of him, had made haste: "OUI, JE LES +VOIS OU ILS NE DOIVENT PAS ETRE; JE VAIS LES E'CRASER (to smash +them)!" said he, by way of keeping his people in heart. And marches +up, beautifully skilful, neglecting none of his advantages. +Has numerous Canadian sharpshooters, preliminary Indians in the +bushes, with a provoking fire: "Steady!" orders Wolfe; "from you +not one shot till they are within thirty yards." And Montcalm, +volleying and advancing, can get no response, more than from +Druidic stones; till at thirty yards the stones become vocal,--and +continue so at a dreadful rate; and, in a space of seventeen +minutes, have blown Montcalm's regulars, and the gallant Montcalm +himself, and their second in command, and their third, into ruin +and destruction. In about seven minutes more the agony was done; +"English falling on with the bayonet, Highlanders with the +claymore;" fierce pursuit, rout total:--and Quebec and Canada as +good as finished. The thing is yet well known to every Englishman; +[The military details of it seem to be very ill known (witness +Colonel Beatson's otherwise rather careful Pamphlet, THE PLAINS OF +ABRAHAM, written quite lately, which we are soon to cite farther); +and they would well deserve describing in the SEYFARTH-BEYLAGEN, or +even in the TEMPELHOF way,--could an English Officer, on the spot +as this Colonel was, be found to do it!--Details are in Beatson +(quite another "Beatson"), <italic> Naval and Military History, +<end italic> ii. 300-308; in <italic> Gentleman's Magazine <end +italic> for 1759, the Despatches and particulars: see also Walpole, +<italic> George the Second, <end italic> iii. 217-222.] and how +Wolfe himself died in it, his beautiful death. + +Truly a bit of right soldierhood, this Wolfe. Manages his small +resources in a consummate manner; invents, contrives, attempts and +re-attempts, irrepressible by difficulty or discouragement, How +could a Friedrich himself have managed this Quebec in a more +artistic way? The small Battle itself, 5,000 to a side, and such +odds of Savagery and Canadians, reminds you of one of Friedrich's: +wise arrangements; exact foresight, preparation corresponding; +caution with audacity; inflexible discipline, silent till its time +come, and then blazing out as we see. The prettiest soldiering I +have heard of among the English for several generations. +Amherst, Commander-in-chief, is diligently noosing, and tying up, +the French military settlements, Niagara, Ticonderoga; Canada all +round: but this is the heart or windpipe of it; keep this firm, +and, in the circumstances, Canada is yours. + +Colonel Reatson, in his recent Pamphlet, THE PLAINS OF +ABRAHAM,--which, especially on the military side, is distressingly +ignorant and shallow, though NOT intentionally incorrect +anywhere,--gives Extracts from a Letter of Montcalm's ("Quebec, +24th August, 1759"), which is highly worth reading, had we room. It +predicts to a hair's-breadth, not only the way "M. Wolfe, if he +understands his trade, will take to beat and ruin me if we meet in +fight;" +but also,--with a sagacity singular to look at, in the years +1775-1777, and perhaps still more in the years 1860-1863,--what +will be the consequences to those unruly English, Colonial and +other. "If he beat me here, France has lost America utterly," +thinks Montcalm: "Yes;--and one's only consolation is, In ten years +farther, America will be in revolt against England!" +Montcalm's style of writing is not exemplary; but his power of +faithful observation, his sagacity, and talent of prophecy are so +considerable, we are tempted to give the IPSISSIMA VERBA of his +long Letter in regard to those two points,--the rather as it seems +to have fallen much out of sight in our day:-- + +MONTCALM TO A COUSIN IN FRANCE. + +"CAMP BEFORE QUEBEC, 24th August, 1759. + +"MONSIEUR ET CHER COUSIN,--Here I am, for more than three months +past, at handgrips with M. Wolfe; who ceases not day or night to +bombard Quebec, with a fury which is almost unexampled in the Siege +of a Place one intends to retain after taking it." ... Will never +take it in that way, however, by attacking from the River or south +shore; only ruins us, but does not enrich himself. Not an inch +nearer his object than he was three months ago; and in one month +more the equinoctial storms will blow his Fleet and him away.-- +Quebec, then, and the preservation of the Colony, you think, must +be as good as safe?" Alas, the fact is far otherwise. The capture +of Quebec depends on what we call a stroke-of-hand--[But let us +take to the Original now, for Prediction First]:-- + +"La prise de Quebec depend d'un coup de main. Les Anglais sont +maitres de la riviere: ils n'ont qu'a effectuer une descente sur la +rive ou cette Ville, sans fortifications et sans defense, est +situee. Les voila en etat de me presenter la bataille; que je ne +pourrais plus refuser, et que je ne devrais pas gagner. M. Wolfe, +en effet, s'il entend son metier, n'a qu'a essuyer le premier feu, +venir ensuite a grands pas sur mon armee, faire a bout portant sa +decharge; mes Canadiens, sans discipline, sourds a la voix du +tambour et des instrumens militaires, deranges pa cette escarre, ne +sauront plus reprendre leurs rangs. Ils sont d'ailleurs sans +baionettes pour repondre a celles de l'ennemi: il ne leur reste +qu'a fuir,--et me voila battu sans ressource. [This is a curiously +exact Prediction! I won't survive, however; defeat here, in this +stage of our affairs, means loss of America altogether:] il est des +situations ou il ne reste plus a un General que de perir avec +honneur. ... Mes sentimens sont francais, et ils le seront jusque +dans le tombeau, si dans le tombeau on est encore quelque chose. + +"Je me consolerai du moins de ma defaite, et de la perte de la +Colonie, par l'intime persuasion ou je suis [Prediction Second, +which is still more curious], que cette defaite vaudra, un jour, a +ma Patrie plus qu'une victoire; et que le vainqueur, en +s'agrandissant, trouvera un tombeau dans son agrandissement meme. + +"Ce que j'avance ici, mon cher Cousin, vous paraitra un paradoxe: +mais un moment de reflexion politique, un coup d'oeil sur la +situation des choses en Amerique, et la verite de mon opinion +brillera dans tout son jour. [Nobody will obey, unless necessity +compel him: VOILA LES HOMMES; GENE of any kind a nuisance to them; +and of all men in the world LES ANGLAIS are the most impatient of +obeying anybody.] Mais si ce sont-la les Anglais de l'Europe, c'est +encore plus les Anglais d'Amerique. Une grande partie de ces Colons +sont les enfans de ces hommes qui s'expatrierent dans ces temps de +trouble ou l'ancienne Angleterre, en proie aux divisions, etait +attaquee dans ses privileges et droits; et allerent chercher en +Amerique une terre ou ils pussent vivre et mourir libres et presque +independants:--et ces enfans n'ont pas degenere des sentimens +republicains de leurs peres. D'autres sont des hommes ennemis de +tout frein, de tout assujetissement, que le gouvernement y a +transportes pour leurs crimes, D'autres, enfin, sont un ramas de +differentes nations de l'Europe, qui tiennent tres-peu a l'ancienne +Angleterre par le coeur et le sentiment; tous, en general, ne ce +soucient gueres du Roi ni du Parlement d'Angleterre. + +"Je les connais bien,--non sur des rapports etrangers, mais sur des +correspondances et des informations secretes, que j'ai moi-meme +menagees; et dont, un jour, si Dieu me prete vie, je pourrai faire +usage a l'avantage de ma Patrie. Pour surcroit de bonheur pour eux, +tous ces Colons sont parvenues, dans un etat tres-florissant; +ils sont nombreux et riches:--ils recueillent dans le sein de leur +patrie toutes les necessites de la vie. L'ancienne Angleterre a ete +assez sotte, et assez dupe, pour leur laisser etablir chez eux les +arts, les metiers, les manufactures:--c'est a dire, qu'elle leur a +laisse briser la chaine de besoins qui les liait, qui les attachait +a elle, et qui les fait dependants. Aussi toutes ces Colonies +Anglaises auraient-elles depuis longtemps secoue le joug, chaque +province aurait forme une petite republique independante, si la +crainte de voir les Francais a leur Porte n'avait ete un frein qui +les avait retenu. Maitres pour maitres, ils ont pefere leurs +compatriotes aux etrangers; prenant cependant pour maxime de +n'obeir que le moins qu'ils pourraient. Mais que le Canada vint a +etre conquis, et que les Canadiens et ces Colons ne fussent plus +qu'une seul peuple,--et la premiere occasion ou l'ancienne +Angleterre semblerait toucher a leurs interets, croyez-vous, mon +cher Cousin, que ces Colons obeiront? Et qu'auraient-ils a craindre +en se revoltant? ... Je suis si sur de ce que j'ecris, que je ne +donnerais pas dix ans apres la conquete du Canada pour en voir +l'accomplissement. + +"Voila ce que, comme Francais, me console aujourd'hui du danger +imminent, que court ma Patrie, de voir cette Colonie perdue pour +elle." [In Beatson, Lieutenant-Colonel R.E., <italic> The Plains of +Abraham; Notes original and selected <end italic> (Gibraltar, +Garrison Library Press, 1858), pp. 38 et seq.: Extract from +<italic> "Lettres de M. le Marquis de Montcalm a MM. De Berryer et +De la Mole: <end italic> 1757-1759 (Londres, 1777),"--which is not +in the British-Museum Library, on applying; and seems to be a +forgotten Book. (NOTE OF FIRST EDITION, 1865.) + +"A Copy is in the BOSTON ATHENAEUM LIBRARY, New-England: it is a +Pamphlet rather than a Book; contains Two Letters to Berryer +MINISTRE DE LA MARINE, besides this to Mole the Cousin: Publisher +is the noted J. Almon,--in French and English." (From <italic> +Boston Sunday Courier, <end italic> of 19th April, 1868, where this +Letter is reproduced.) + +In the Temple Library, London, I have since found a Copy: and, on +strict survey, am obliged to pronounce the whole Pamphlet a +FORGERY,--especially the Two Letters to "Berryer MINISTER OF +MARINE;" who was not yet Minister of anything, nor thought of as +likely to be, for many months after the date of these Letters +addressed to him as such! Internal evidence too, were such at all +wanted, is abundant in these BERRYER Letters; which are of gross +and almost stupid structure in comparison to the MOLE one. As this +latter has already got into various Books, and been argued of in +Parliaments and high places (Lord Shelburne asserting it to be +spurious, Lord Mansfield to be genuine: REPORT OF PARLIAMENTARY +DEBATES in <italic> Gentleman's Magazine <end italic> for NOVEMBER +and for DECEMBER, 1777, pp. 515, 560),--it may be allowed to +continue here in the CONDEMNED state. Forger, probably, some +Ex-Canadian, or other American ROYALIST, anxious to do the +Insurgent Party and their British Apologists an ill turn, in that +critical year;--had shot off his Pamphlet to voracious Almon; who +prints without preface or criticism, and even without correcting +the press. (NOTE OF JULY, 1868.)] + +Montcalm had been in the Belleisle RETREAT FROM PRAG (December, +1742); in the terrible EXILLES Business (July, 1747), where the +Chevalier de Belleisle and 4 or 5,000 lost their lives in about an +hour. Captain Cook was at Quebec, Master in the Royal Navy; +"sounding the River, and putting down buoys." Bougainville, another +famous Navigator, was Aide-de-Camp of Montcalm. There have been +far-sounding Epics built together on less basis than lies ready +here, in this CAPTURE OF QUEBEC;--which itself, as the Decision +that America is to be English and not French, is surely an Epoch in +World-History! Montcalm was 48 when he perished; Wolfe 33. +Montcalm's skull is in the Ursulines Convent at Quebec,--shown to +the idly curious to this day. [Lieutenant-Colonel Beatson, +pp. 28, 15.] + +It was on October 17th,--while Friedrich lay at Sophienthal, lamed +of gout, and Soltikof had privately fixed for home (went that day +week),--that this glorious bit of news reached England. It was only +three days after that other, bad and almost hopeless news, from the +same quarter; news of poor Wolfe's Repulse, on the other or eastern +side of Quebec, July 31st, known to us already, not known in +England till October 14th. Heightened by such contrast, the news +filled all men with a strange mixture of emotions. "The incidents +of Dramatic Fiction," says one who was sharer in it, "could not +have been conducted with more address to lead an audience from +despondency to sudden exultation, than Accident had here prepared +to excite the passions of a whole People. They despaired; they +triumphed; and they wept,--for Wolfe had fallen in the hour of +victory! Joy, grief, curiosity, astonishment, were painted in every +countenance: the more they inquired, the higher their admiration +rose. Not an incident but was heroic and affecting." [Walpole, iii. +219.] America ours; but the noble Wolfe now not! + +What Pitt himself said of these things, we do not much hear. On the +meeting of his Parliament, about a month hence, his Speech, +somebody having risen to congratulate and eulogize him, is still +recognizably of royal quality, if we evoke it from the Walpole +Notes. Very modest, very noble, true; and with fine pieties and +magnanimities delicately audible in it: "Not a week all Summer but +has been a crisis, in which I have not known whether I should not +be torn to pieces, instead of being commended, as now by the +Honorable Member. The hand of Divine Providence; the more a man is +versed in business, the more he everywhere traces that! ... +Success has given us unanimity, not unanimity success. For my own +poor share, I could not have dared as I have done, except in these +times. Other Ministers have hoped as well, but have not been so +circumstanced to dare so much. ... I think the stone almost rolled +to the top of the hill; but let us have a care; it may rebound, and +hideously drag us down with it again." [Ib. iii. 225; Thackeray, +i. 446.] + +The essential truth, moreover, is, Pitt has become King of England; +so lucky has poor England, in its hour of crisis, again been. +And the difference between an England guided by some kind of +Friedrich (temporary Friedrich, absolute, though of insecure +tenure), and by a Newcastle and the Clack of Tongues, is very +great! But for Pitt, there had been no Wolfe, no Amherst; +Duke Ferdinand had been the Royal Highness of Cumberland,--and all +things going round him in St. Vitus, at their old rate. This man is +a King, for the time being,--King really of the Friedrich type;-- +and rules, Friedrich himself not more despotically, where need is. +Pitt's War-Offices, Admiralties, were not of themselves quick-going +entities; but Pitt made them go. Slow-paced Lords in Office have +remonstrated, on more than one occasion: "Impossible, Sir; these +things cannot be got ready at the time you order!" "My Lord, they +indispensably must," Pitt would answer (a man always reverent of +coming facts, knowing how inexorable they are); and if the Negative +continued obstinate in argument, he has been known to add: +"My Lord, to the King's service, it is a fixed necessity of time. +Unless the time is kept, I will impeach your Lordship!" +Your Lordship's head will come to lie at your Lordship's feet! +Figure a poor Duke of Newcastle, listening to such a thing;--and +knowing that Pitt will do it; and that he can, such is his favor +with universal England;--and trembling and obeying. War-requisites +for land and for sea are got ready with a Prussian punctuality,-- +at what multiple of the Prussian expense, is a smaller question +for Pitt. + +It is about eighteen months ago that Pownal, Governor of New +England, a kind of half-military person, not without sound sense, +though sadly intricate of utterance,--of whom Pitt, just entering +on Office, has, I suppose, asked an opinion on America, as men do +of Learned Counsel on an impending Lawsuit of magnitude,--had +answered, in his long-winded, intertwisted, nearly inextricable +way, to the effect, "Sir, I incline to fear, on the whole, that the +Action will NOT lie,--that, on the whole, the French will eat +America from us in spite of our teeth." [In THACKERAY, ii. 421-452, +Pownal's intricate REPORT (his "DISCOURSE," or whatever he calls +it, "ON THE DEFENCE OF THE INLAND FRONTIERS," his &c. &c.), of date +"15th January, 1758."] January 15th, 1758, that is the Pownal +Opinion-of-Counsel;--and on September 13th, 1759, this is what we +have practically come to. And on September 7th, 1760: within +twelve months more,--Amherst, descending the Rapids from +Ticonderoga side, and two other little Armies, ascending from +Quebec and Louisburg, to meet him at Montreal, have proved punctual +almost to an hour; and are in condition to extinguish, by triple +pressure (or what we call noosing), the French Governor-General in +Montreal, a Monsieur de Vaudreuil, and his Montreal and his Canada +altogether; and send the French bodily home out of those +Continents. [Capitulation between Amherst and Vaudreuil ("Montreal, +8th September, 1760"), in 55 Articles: in BEATSON, iii. 274-283.] +Which may dispense us from speaking farther on the subject. + +From the Madras region, too, from India and outrageous Lally, the +news are good. Early in Spring last, poor Lally,--a man of endless +talent and courage, but of dreadfully emphatic loose tongue, in +fact of a blazing ungoverned Irish turn of mind,--had instantly, on +sight of some small Succors from Pitt, to raise his siege of +Madras, retire to Pondicherry; and, in fact, go plunging and +tumbling downhill, he and his India with him, at an ever-faster +rate, till they also had got to the Abyss. "My policy is in these +five words, NO ENGLISHMAN IN THIS PENINSULA," wrote he, a year ago, +on landing in India; and now it is to be No FRENCHMAN, and there is +one word in the five to be altered!--Of poor Lally, zealous and +furious over-much, and nearly the most unfortunate and worst-used +"man of genius" I ever read of, whose lion-like struggles against +French Official people, and against Pitt's Captains and their sea- +fights and siegings, would deserve a volume to themselves, we have +said, and can here say, as good as nothing,--except that they all +ended, for Lally and French India, in total surrender, 16th +January, 1761; and that Lally, some years afterwards, for toils +undergone and for services done, got, when accounts came to be +liquidated, death on the scaffold. Dates I give below. [28th April, +1758, Lands at Pondicherry; instantly proceeds upon Fort St. David. +2d June, 1758, Takes it: meant to have gone now on Madras; but +finds he has no money;--goes extorting money from Black Potentates +about, Rajah of Travancore, &c., in a violent and extraordinary +style; and can get little. Nevertheless, 14th December, 1758, Lays +Siege to Madras. + +16th February, 1759, Is obliged to quit trenches at Madras, and +retire dismally upon Pondicherry,--to mere indigence, mutiny ("ten +mutinies"), Official conspiracy, and chaos come again. + +22d January, 1760, Makes outrush on Wandewash, and the English +posted there; is beaten, driven back into Pondicherry. April, 1760, +Is besieged in Pondicherry. 16th January, 1761, Is taken, +Pondicherry, French India and he;--to Madras he, lest the French +Official party kill him, as they attempt to do. + +23d September, 1761, arrives, prisoner, in England: thence, on +parole, to France and Paris, 21st October. November, 1762, To +Bastille; waits trial nineteen months; trial lasts two years. 6th +May, 1766, To be BEHEADED,--9th May was. See BEATSON, ii. 369-372, +96-110, &c.; Voltaire (FRAGMENTS SUR L'INDE) in <italic> OEuvres, +<end italic> xxix. 183-253; BIOGRAPHIC UNIVERSELLE, Lally.] + +"Gained Fontenoy for us," said many persons;--undoubtedly gained +various things for us, fought for us Berserkir-like on all +occasions; hoped, in the end, to be Marechal de France, and +undertook a Championship of India, which issues in this way! +America and India, it is written, are both to be Pitt's. Let both, +if possible, remain silent to us henceforth. + +As to the Invasion-of-England Scheme, Pitt says he does not expect +the French will invade us; but if they do, he is ready. [Speech, +4th November, supra.] + + +Chapter VII. + +FRIEDRICH REAPPEARS ON THE FIELD, AND IN SEVEN DAYS +AFTER COMES THE CATASTROPHE OF MAXEN. + +November 6th-8th, Daun had gone to Meissen Country: fairly ebbing +homeward; Henri following, with Hulsen joined,--not vehemently +attacking the rhinoceros, but judiciously pricking him forward. +Daun goes at his slowest step: in many divisions, covering a wide +circuit; sticking to all the strong posts, till his own time for +quitting them: slow, sullenly cautious; like a man descending +dangerous precipices back foremost, and will not be hurried. So it +had lasted about a week; Daun for the last four days sitting +restive, obstinate, but Henri pricking into him more and more, till +the rhinoceros seemed actually about lifting himself,--when +Friedrich in person arrived in his Brother's Camp. [Tempelhof, iii. +301-305.] + +At the Schloss of Herschstein, a mile or two behind Lommatsch, +which is Henri's head-quarter (still to westward of Meissen; +Daun hanging on, seven or eight miles to southeastward ahead; +loath to go, but actually obliged),--it was there, Tuesday, +November 13th, that the King met his Brother again. A King free of +his gout; in joyful spirits; and high of humor,--like a man risen +indignant, once more got to his feet, after three months' +oppressions and miseries from the unworthy. "Too high," mourns +Retzow, in a gloomy tone, as others do in perhaps a more indulgent +one. Beyond doubt, Friedrich's farther procedures in this grave and +weighty Daun business were more or less imprudent; of a too rapid +and rash nature; and turned out bitterly unlucky to him. "Had he +left the management to Henri!" sighed everybody, after the +unlucky event. + +Friedrich had not arrived above four-and-twenty hours, when news +came in: "The Austrians in movement again; actually rolling off +Dresden-ward again." "Haha, do they smell me already!" laughed he: +"Well, I will send Daun to the Devil,"--not adding, "if I can." +And instantly ordered sharp pursuit,--and sheer stabbing with the +ox-goad, not soft and delicate pricking, as Henri's lately. +[Retzow, ii. 168; Tempelhof, iii. 306.] Friedrich, in fact; was in +a fiery condition against Daun: "You trampled on me, you heavy +buffalo, these three months; but that is over now!"--and took +personally the vanguard in this pursuit. And had a bit of hot +fighting in the Village of Korbitz (scene of that Finck-Haddick +"Action," 21st September last, and of poor Haddick's ruin, and +retirement to the Waters);--where the Austrians now prove very +fierce and obstinate; and will not go, till well slashed into, and +torn out by sheer beating:--which was visibly a kind of comfort to +the King's humor. "Our Prussians do still fight, then, much as +formerly! And it was all a hideous Nightmare, all that, and +Daylight and Fact are come, and Friedrich is himself again!" + +They say Prince Henri took the liberty of counselling him, even of +entreating him: "Leave well alone; why run risks?" said Henri. +Daun, it was pretty apparent, had no outlook at the present but +that of sauntering home to Bohmen; leaving Dresden to be an easy +prey again, and his whole Campaign to fall futile, as the last had. +Under Henri's gentle driving he would have gone slower; but how +salutary, if he only went! These were Henri's views: but Friedrich +was not in the slow humor; impatient to be in Dresden; "will be +quartered there in a week," writes he, "and more at leisure than +now." ["Wilsdruf, 17th November, 1759," and still more "19th +November," Friedrich to Voltaire. in high spirits that way +(<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> xxiii. 66).] He is +thinking of Leuthen, of Rossbach, of Campaign 1757, so gloriously +restored after ruin; and, in the fire of his soul, is hoping to do +something similar a second time. That is Retzow's notion: who knows +but there may be truth in it? A proud Friedrich, got on his feet +again after such usage;--nay, who knows whether it was quite so +unwise to be impressive on the slow rhinoceros, and try to fix some +thorn in his snout, or say (figuratively), to hobble his hind-feet; +which, I am told, would have been beautifully ruinous; and, though +riskish, was not impossible? [Tempelhof, iii. 311, &c.] Ill it +indisputably turned out; and we have, with brevity, to say how, and +leave readers to their judgment of it. + +It was in the Village of Krogis, about six miles forward, on the +Meissen-Freyberg road, a mile or two on from Korbitz, and directly +after the fierce little tussle in that Village,--that Friedrich, +his blood still up, gave the Order for Maxen, which proved so +unlucky to him. Wunsch had been shot off in pursuit of the beaten +Austrians; but they ran too fast; and Wunsch came back without +farther result, still early in the day. Back as far as Krogis, +where the next head-quarter is to be;--and finds the King still in +a fulminant condition; none the milder, it is likely, by Wunsch's +returning without result. "Go straight to General Finck; bid him +march at once!" orders the King; and rapidly gives Wunsch the +instructions Finck is to follow. Finck and his Corps are near +Nossen, some ten miles ahead of Krogis, some twenty west from +Dresden. There, since yesterday, stands Finck, infesting the left +or western flank of the Austrians,--what was their left, and will +be again, when they call halt and face round on us:--Let Finck now +march at once, quite round that western flank; by Freyberg, +Dippoldiswalde, thence east to Maxen; plant himself at Maxen (a +dozen miles south of Dresden, among the rocky hills), and stick +diligently in the rear of those Austrians, cutting off, or +threatening to cut off, their communications with Bohemia, and +block the Pirna Country for them. + +Friedrich calculates that, if Daun is for retreating by Pirna +Country, this will, at lowest, be a method to quicken him in that +movement; or perhaps it may prove a method to cut off such retreat +altogether, and force Daun to go circling by the Lausitz Hills and +Wildernesses, exposed to tribulations which may go nigh to ruin +him. That is Friedrich's proud thought: "an unfortunate Campaign; +winding up, nevertheless, as 1757 did, in blazes of success!" +And truly, if Friedrich could have made himself into Two; +and, while flashing and charging in Daun's front, have been in +command at Maxen in Daun's rear,--Friedrich could have made a +pretty thing of this waxen Enterprise; and might in good part have +realized his proud program. But there is no getting two Friedrichs. +Finck, a General of approved quality, he is the nearest approach we +can make to a second Friedrich;--and he, ill-luck too super-adding +itself, proves tragically inadequate. And sets all the world, and +Opposition Retzow, exclaiming, "See: Pride goes before a fall!"-- + +At 3 in the afternoon, Friedrich, intensely surveying from the +heights of Krogis the new Austrian movements and positions, is +astonished, not agreeably ("What, still only here, Herr General!"), +by a personal visit from Finck. Finck finds the Maxen business +intricate, precarious; wishes farther instructions, brings forward +this objection and that. Friedrich at last answers, impatiently: +"You know I can't stand making of difficulties (ER WEISS DASS ICH +DIE DIFFICULTATEN NICHT LEIDEN KANN; MACHE DASS ER FORT KOMMT); +contrive to get it done!" With which poor comfort Finck has to ride +back to Nossen; and scheme out his dispositions overnight. + +Next morning, Thursday, 15th, Finck gets on march; drives the +Reichsfolk out of Freyberg; reaches Dippoldiswalde:--"Freyberg is +to be my Magazine," considers Finck; "Dippoldiswalde my half-way +house; Four Battalions of my poor Eighteen shall stand there, and +secure the meal-carts." Friday, 16th, Finck has his Vanguard, +Wunsch leading it, in possession of Maxen and the Heights; and on +Saturday gets there himself, with all his people and equipments. +I should think about 12,000 men: in a most intersected, +intertwisted Hill Country; full of gullets, dells and winding +brooks;--it is forecourt of the Pirna rocks, our celebrated Camp of +Gahmig lies visible to north, Dohna and the Rothwasser bounding us +to east;--in grim November weather, some snow falling, or snow- +powder, alternating with sleet and glazing frosts: by no means a +beautiful enterprise to Finck. Nor one of his own choosing, had one +a choice in such cases. + +To Daun nothing could be more unwelcome than this news of Finck, +embattled there at Maxen in the inextricable Hill Country, direct +on the road of Daun's meal-carts and Bohemian communications. +And truly withal,--what Daun does not yet hear, but can guess,-- +there is gone, in supplement or as auxiliary to Finck, a fierce +Hussar party, under GRUNE Kleist, their fiercest Hussar since Mayer +died; who this very day, at Aussig, burns Daun's first considerable +Magazine; and has others in view for the same fate. [Friedrich's +second Letter to Voltaire, Wilsdruf, "19th November, 1759."] +An evident thing to Daun, that Finck being there, meal has ceased. + +On the instant, Daun falls back on Dresden; Saturday, 17th, takes +post in the Dell of Plauen (PLAUEN'SCHE GRUND); an impassable +Chasm, with sheer steeps on both sides, stretching southward from +Dresden in front of the Hill Country: thither Daun marches, there +to consider what is to be done with Finck. Amply safe this position +is; none better in the world: a Village, Plauen, and a Brook, +Weistritz, in the bottom of this exquisite Chasm; sheer rock-walls +on each side,--high especially on the Daun, or south side;--head- +quarters can be in Dresden itself; room for your cavalry on the +plain ground between Dresden and the Chasm. A post both safe and +comfortable; only you must not loiter in making up your mind as to +Finck; for Friedrich has followed on the instant. Friedrich's head- +quarter is already Wilsdruf, which an hour or two ago was Daun's: +at Kesselsdorf vigilant Ziethen is vanguard. So that Friedrich +looks over on you from the northern brow of your Chasm; delays are +not good near such a neighbor. + +Daun--urged on by Lacy, they say--is not long in deciding that, in +this strait, the short way out will be to attack Finck in the +Hills. Daun is in the Hills, as well as Finck (this Plauen Chasm is +the boundary-ditch of the Hills): Daun with 27,000 horse and foot, +moving on from this western part; 3,000 light people (one Sincere +the leader of them) moving simultaneously from Dresden itself, that +is, from northward or northwestward; 12,000 Reichsfolk, horse and +foot, part of them already to southeastward of Finck, other part +stealing on by the Elbe bank thitherward: here, from three +different points of the compass, are 42,000. These simultaneously +dashing in, from west, north, south, upon Finck, may surely give +account of his 12,000 and him! If only we can keep Friedrich dark +upon it; which surely our Pandours will contrive to do. + +Finck, directly on arriving at Maxen, had reported himself to the +King; and got answer before next morning: "Very well; but draw in +those Four Battalions you have left in Dippoldiswalde; hit with the +whole of your strength, when a chance offers." Which order Finck, +literally and not too willingly, obeys; leaves only some light +remnant in Dippoldiswalde, and reinforcement to linger within +reach, till a certain Bread-convoy come to him, which will be due +next morning (Monday, 19th); and which does then safely get home, +though under annoyances from cannonading in the distance. + +SUNDAY, 18th, Finck fails not to reconnoitre from the highest Hill- +top; to inquire by every method: he finds, for certain, that the +enemy are coming in upon him. With his own eyes he sees Reichsfolk +marching, in quantity, southeastward by the Elbe shore: "Intending +towards Dohna, as is like?"--and despatched Wunsch, who, +accordingly, drove them out of Dohna. Of all this Finck, at once, +sent word to Friedrich. Who probably enough received the message; +but who would get no new knowledge from it,--vigilant Ziethen +having, by Austrian deserters and otherwise, discovered this of the +Reichsfolk; and furthermore that Sincere with 3,000 was in motion, +from the north, upon Finck. Sunday evening, Friedrich despatches +Ziethen's Report; which punctually came to Finck's hand; but was +the last thing he received from Friedrich, or Friedrich from him. +The intervening Pandours picked up all the rest. The Ziethen +REPORT, of two or three lines, most succinct but sufficient, like a +cutting of hard iron, is to be read in many Books: we may as well +give the Letter and it:-- + +FRIEDRICH'S LETTER (WILSDRUF, 18th NOVEMBER, 1759). "My dear +General-Lieutenant von Finck,--I send you the enclosed Report from +General Ziethen, showing what is the lie of matters as seen from +this side; and leave the whole to your disposition and necessary +measures. I am your well-affectioned King,--F." The Enclosure is +as follows:-- + +GENERAL ZIETHEN'S REPORT (KESSELSDORF, 18th NOVEMBER, 1759). +"To your Royal Majesty, send [no pronoun "I" allowed] herewith a +Corporal, who has deserted from the Austrians. He says, Sincere +with the Reserve did march with the Reichs Army; but a league +behind it, and turned towards Dippoldiswalde. General Brentano +[Wehla's old comrade, luckier than Wehla], as this Deserter heard +last night in Daun's head-quarter,--which is in the southern Suburb +of Dresden, in the Countess Moschinska's Garden,--was yesterday to +have been in Dohlen [looking into our outposts from the hither side +of their Plauen Dell], but was not there any longer," as our +Deserter passed, "and it was said that he had gone to Maxen at +three in the afternoon." [Tempelhof, iii. 309.] + +Thus curtly is Finck authorized to judge for himself in the new +circumstances. Marginally is added, in Friedrich's own hand: +"ER WIRD ENTWEDER MIT DEN REICHERN ODER MIT SICEREN EINEN GANG +HABEN,--Either with the Reichers or with Sincere you will have a +bout, I suppose." + +MAP FACING PAGE 350, BOOK XIX GOES HERE----------- + +Finck, from his own Hill-top, on Sunday and Monday, sees all this +of Ziethen, and much more. Sees the vanguard of Daun himself +approaching Dippoldiswalde, cannonading his meal-carts as they +issue there; on all sides his enemies encompassing him like bees;-- +and has a sphinx-riddle on his mind, such as soldier seldom had. +Shall he manoeuvre himself out, and march away, bread-carts, +baggages and all entire? There is still time, and perfect +possibility, by Dippoldiswalde there, or by other routes and +methods. But again, did not his Majesty expect, do not these words +"a bout" still seem to expect, a bit of fighting with somebody or +other? Finck was an able soldier, and his skill and courage well +known; but probably another kind of courage was wanted this day, of +which Finck had not enough. Finck was not king of this matter; +Finck was under a King who perhaps misjudged the matter. If Finck +saw no method of doing other than hurt and bad service to his King +by staying here, Finck should have had the courage to come away, +and front the King's unreasonable anger, expecting redress one day, +or never any redress. That was Finck's duty: but everybody sees how +hard it was for flesh and blood. + +Finck, truer to the letter than to the spirit, determined to +remain. Did, all that Monday, his best to prepare himself; called +in his outposts ("Was not I ordered?" thinks Finck, too literally); +and sees his multitudes of enemies settle round him;--Daun alone +has 27,000 men, who take camp at Dippoldiswalde; and in sum-total +they are as 4 to 1 of Finck:--a Finck still resolute of face, +though internally his thoughts may be haggard enough. Doubtless he +hopes, too, that Friedrich will do something:--unaware that none of +his messages reach Friedrich. As for Daun, having seen his people +safely encamped here, he returns to Dresden for the night, to see +that Friedrich is quiet. Friedrich is quiet enough: Daun, at seven +next morning (TUESDAY, 20th), appeared on the ground again; and +from all sides Finck is assaulted,--from Daun's side nearest and +soonest, with Daun's best vigor. + +Dippoldiswalde is some seven miles from Maxen. Difficult hill-road +all the way: but the steepest, straitest and worst place is at +Reinhartsgrimma, the very first Hamlet after you are out of +Dippoldiswalde. There is a narrow gullet there, overhung with +heights all round. The roads are slippery, glazed with sleet and +frost; Cavalry, unroughened, make sad sliding and sprawling; +hardly the Infantry are secure on their feet: a terrible business +getting masses of artillery-wagons, horse and man, through such a +Pass! It is thought, had Finck garnished this Pass of +Reinhartsgrimma, with the proper batteries, the proper musketries, +Daun never would have got through. Finck had not a gun or a man in +it: "Had not I order?" said he,--again too literally. As it was, +Daun, sliding and sprawling in the narrow steeps, had difficulties +almost too great; and, they say, would have given it up, had it not +been that a certain Major urged, "Can be done, Excellenz, and +shall!" and that the temper of his soldiers was everywhere +excellent. Unfortunate Finck had no artillery to bear on Daun's +transit through the Pass. Nothing but some weak body of hussars and +infantry stood looking into it, from the Hill of Hausdorf: +even these might have given him some slight hindrance; but these +were played upon by endless Pandours, "issuing from a wood near +by," with musketries, and at length with cannon batteries, one and +another;--and had to fall back, or to be called back, to Maxen +Hill, where the main force is. + +In the course of yesterday, by continual reconnoitring, by Austrian +deserters, and intense comparison of symptoms, Finck had completely +ascertained where the Enemy's Three Attacks were to be,--"on Maxen, +from Dippoldiswalde, Trohnitz, Dohna, simultaneously three +attacks," it appears;--and had with all his skill arranged himself +on the Maxen summits to meet these. He stands now elaborately +divided into Three groups against those Three simultaneities; +forming (sadly wide apart, one would say, for such a force as +Finck's) a very obtuse-angled triangle:--the obtuse vertex of which +(if readers care to look on their Map) is Trohnitz, the road +Brentano and Sincere are coming. On the base-angles, Maxen and +Dohna, Finck expects Daun and the Reich. From Trohnitz to Maxen is +near two miles; from Maxen to Dohna above four. At Dohna stands +Wunsch against the Reich; Finck himself at Maxen, expecting Daun, +as the pith of the whole affair. In this triangular way stands +Finck at the topmost heights of the country,--"Maxen highest, but +Hausdorf only a little lower,"--and has not thought of disputing +the climb upwards. Too literal an eye to his orders: alas, he was +not himself king, but only king's deputy! + +The result is, about 11 A.M., as I obscurely gather, Daun has +conquered the climb; Daun's musketries begin to glitter on the top +of Hausdorf; and 26 or 32 heavy cannon open their throats there; +and the Three Attacks break loose. Finck's Maxen batteries +(scarcely higher than Daun's, and far inferior in weight) respond +with all diligence, the poor regimental fieldpieces helping what +they can. Mutual cannonade, very loud for an hour and half; +terrific, but doing little mischief; after which Daun's musketries +(the ground now sufficiently clear to Daun), which are the +practical thing, begin opening, first from one point, then from +another: and there ensues, for five hours coming, at Maxen and at +the other two points of Finck's triangle, such a series of +explosive chargings, wheelings, worryings and intricate death- +wrestlings, as it would provoke every reader to attempt describing +to him. Except indeed he were a soldier, bound to know the defence +of posts; in which case I could fairly promise him that there are +means of understanding the affair, and that he might find benefit +in it. [Tempelhof, iii. 307-317. JOURNAL UND NACHRICHT VON DER +GEFANGENNEHMUNG DES FINCK'SCHEN CORPS BEY MAXEN, IM JAHRE 1759 +(Seyfarth, <italic> Beylagen, <end italic> ii. 637-654).] + +Daun's Grenadiers, and Infantry generally, are in triumphant +spirits; confident of victory, as they may reasonably be. +Finck's people, too, behave well, some of them conspicuously well, +though in gloomier mood; and make stubborn fight, successful here +and there, but, as a whole, not capable of succeeding. By 3 in the +afternoon, the Austrians have forced the Maxen Post; they "enter +Maxen with great shoutings;" extrude the obstinate Prussian +remnants; and, before long, have the poor Village "on fire in every +part." Finck retreating northward to Schmorsdorf, towards the +obtuse angle of his triangle, if haply there may be help in that +quarter for him. Daun does not push him much; has Maxen safely +burning in every part. + +From Schmorsdorf Finck pushes out a Cavalry charge on Brentano. +"Could we but repulse Brentano yonder," thinks he, "I might have +those Four Battalions to hand, and try again!" But Brentano makes +such cannonading, the Cavalry swerve to a Hollow on their right; +then find they have not ground, and retire quite fruitless. +Finck's Cavalry, and the Cavalry generally, with their horses all +sliding on the frosty mountain-gnarls, appear to be good for little +this day. Brentano, victorious over the Cavalry, comes on with such +storm, he sweeps through the obtuse angle, home upon Finck; +and sweeps him out of Schmorsdorf Village to Schmorsdorf Hill, +there to take refuge, as the night sinks,--and to see himself, if +his wild heart will permit him to be candid, a ruined man. Of the +Three Attacks, Two have completely succeeded on him; only Wunsch, +at Dohna, stands victorious; he has held back the Reich all day, +and even chased it home to its posts on the Rothwasser (RED WATER), +multitudinous as it was. + +Finck's mood, as the November shadows gathered on him,--the equal +heart may at least pity poor Finck! His resolution is fixed: +"Cut ourselves through, this night: Dohna is ours: other side that +Red Water there are roads;--perish or get through!" And the +Generals (who are rallied now "on the Heights of Falkenhain and +Bloschwitz," midway between Maxen and Dohna) get that Order from +him. And proceed to arrange for executing it,--though with outlook +more and more desperate, as their scouts report that every pass and +post on the Red Water is beset by Reichsfolk. "Wunsch, with the +Cavalry, he at least may thread his way out, under cloud of night, +by the opposite or Daun side," calculates Finck. And Wunsch sets +out accordingly: a very questionable, winding, subterranean march; +difficult in the extreme,--the wearied SLIPshod horses going at a +snail's pace; and, in the difficult passes, needing to be dragged +through with bridle and even to be left altogether:--in which, +withal, it will prove of no use for Wunsch to succeed! +Finck's Generals endeavoring to rank and rearrange through the +night, find that their very cartridges are nearly spent, and that +of men, such wounding, such deserting has there been, they have, at +this time, by precise count, 2,836 rank and file. +Evidently desperate. + +At daylight, Daun's cannon beginning again from the Maxen side, +Finck sends to capitulate. "Absolute surrender," answers Daun: +"prisoners of war, and you shall keep your private baggage. +General Wunsch with the Cavalry, he too must turn back and +surrender!" Finck pleaded hard, on this last score: +"General Wunsch, as head of the Cavalry, is not under me; +is himself chief in that department." But it was of no use: +Wunsch had to return (not quite got through Daun's Lines, after +such a night), and to surrender, like everybody else. Like Eight +other Generals; like Wolfersdorf of Torgau, and many a brave +Officer and man. Wednesday morning, 21st November, 1769: it is +Finck's fourth day on Maxen; his last in the Prussian Service. + +That same Wednesday Afternoon there were ranked in the GROSSE +GARTEN at Dresden, of dejected Prussian Prisoners from Maxen, what +exact number was never known: the Austrians said 15,000; but nobody +well believed them; their last certain instalment being only, in +correct numbers, 2,836. Besides the killed, wounded and already +captured, many had deserted, many had glided clear off. It is +judged that Friedrich lost, by all these causes, about 12,000 men. +Gone wholly,--with their equipments and appurtenances wholly, which +are not worth counting in comparison. Finck and the other Generals, +8 of them, and 529 Officers,--Finck, Wunsch, Wolfersdorf, Mosel (of +the Olmutz Convoy), not to mention others of known worth, this is +itself a sore loss to Friedrich, and in present circumstances an +irreparable. [Seyfarth, ii. 576; in <italic> Helden-Geschichte, +<end italic> (v. 1115), the Vienna Account.] + +The outburst and paroxysm of Gazetteer rumor, which arose in Europe +over this, must be left to the imagination; still more the +whirlwind of astonishment, grief, remorse and indignation that +raged in the heart of Friedrich on first hearing of it. +"The Caudine Forks;" "Scene of Pirna over again, in reverse form;" +"Is not your King at last over with it?" said and sang +multifariously the Gazetteers. As counter-chorus to which, in a +certain Royal Heart: "That miserable purblind Finck, unequal to his +task;--that overhasty I, who drove him upon it! This disgrace, loss +nigh ruinous; in fine, this infernal Campaign (CETTE CAMPAGNE +INFEMALE)!" The Anecdote-Books abound in details of Friedrich's +behavior at Wilsdruf that day; mythical all, or in good part, but +symbolizing a case that is conceivable to everybody. Or would +readers care to glance into the very fact with their own eyes? +As happens to be possible. + + +1. BEFORE MAXEN: FRIEDRICH TO D'ARGENS AND OTHERS. + +TO D'ARGENS (Krogis, 15th November, order for Maxen just given). +"Yesterday I joined the Army [day before yesterday, but took the +field yesterday], and Daun decamped. I have followed him thus far, +and will continue it to the frontiers of Bohemia. Our measures are +so taken [Finck, to wit], that he will not get out of Saxony +without considerable losses. Yesterday cost him 500 men taken at +Korgis here. Every movement he makes will cost him as many." +[<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> xix. 101.] + +TO VOLTAIRE (Wilsdruf, 17th November). "We are verging on the +end of our Campaign: and I will write to you in eight days from +Dresden, with more composure and coherency than now." +[Ib. xxiii. 66.] + +TO THE SAME (Wilsdruf, 19th November). "The Austrians are packing +off to Bohemia,--where, in reprisal for the incendiary operations +they have done in my countries, I have burnt them two big +magazines. I render the beatified Hero's retreat as difficult as +possible; and I hope he will come upon some bad adventures within a +few days." [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> xxiii. 66.] + +SAME DAY AND PLACE, TO D'ARGENS. A volley of most rough-paced +off-hand Rhyming, direct from the heart; "Ode [as he afterwards +terms it, or irrepressible extempore LILT] TO FORTUNE:" + +"MARQUIS, QUEL CHANGEMENT, what a change! I, a poor heretic +creature, never blessed by the Holy Father; indeed, little +frequenting Church, nor serving either Baal or the God of Israel; +held down these many months, and reported by more than one shaven +scoundrel [priest-pamphleteer at Vienna] to be quite extinct, and +gone vagabond over the world,--see how capricious Fortune, after +all her hundred preferences of my rivals, lifts me with helpful +hand from the deep, and packs this Hero of the Hat and Sword,--whom +Popes have blessed what they could, and who has walked in +Pilgrimage before now [to Marienzell once, I believe, publicly at +Vienna],--out of Saxony; panting, harassed goes he, like a stranger +dog from some kitchen where the cook had flogged him out!" +[Ib. xix. 103-106.] ... (A very exultant Lilt, and with a good deal +more of the chanticleer in it than we are used to in this King!) + + +2. AFTER MAXEN. + +TO D'ARGENS (Wilsdruf, 22d November). "Do with that [some small +piece of business] whatever you like, my dear Marquis. I am so +stupefied (E'TOURDI) with the misfortune which has befallen General +Finck, that I cannot recover from my astonishment. It deranges all +my measures; it cuts me to the quick. Ill-luck, which persecutes my +old age, has followed me from the Mark [Kunersdorf, in the Mark of +Brandenburg] to Saxony. I will still strive what I can. The little +ODE I sent you, addressed TO FORTUNE, had been written too soon! +One should not sing victory till the battle is over. I am so +crushed down by these incessant reverses and disasters, that I wish +a thousand times I were dead; and from day to day I grow wearier of +dwelling in a body worn out and condemned to suffer. I am writing +to you in the first moment of my grief. Astonishment, sorrow, +indignation, scorn, all blended together, lacerate my soul. Let us +get to the end, then, of this execrable Campaign; I will then write +to you what is to become of me; and we will arrange the rest. +Pity me;--ad make no noise about me; bad news go fast enough of +themselves. Adieu, dear Marquis." [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, +<end italic> xix. 107.] + +All this, of course, under such pressing call of actualities, had +very soon to transform itself into silence; into new resolution, +and determinate despatch of business. But the King retained a +bitter memory of it all his days. To Finck he was inexorable:-- +ordered him, the first thing on his return from Austrian Captivity, +Trial by Court-Martial; which (Ziethen presiding, June, 1763) +censured Finck in various points, and gave him, in supplement to +the Austrian detention, a Year's Imprisonment in Spandau. No ray of +pity visible for him, then or afterwards, in the Royal mind. +So that the poor man had to beg his dismissal; get it, and go to +Denmark for new promotion and appreciation.--"Far too severe!" +grumbled the Opposition voices, with secret counter-severity. +And truly it would have been more beautiful to everybody, for the +moment, to have made matters soft to poor Finck,--had Friedrich +ever gone on that score with his Generals and Delegates; +which, though the reverse of a cruel man, he never did. And truly, +as we often observe, the Laws of Fact are still severer than +Friedrich was:--so that, in the long-run, perhaps it is +beautifulest of all for a King, who is just, to be rhadamanthine in +important cases. + +Exulting Daun, instead of Bohemia for winter-quarters, pushes out +now for the prize of Saxony itself. Daun orders Beck to attack +suddenly another Outpost of Friedrich's, which stands rearward of +him at Meissen, under a General Dierecke,--the same whom, as +Colonel Dierecke, we saw march out of flamy Zittau, summer gone two +years. Beck goes in accordingly, 3d December; attacks Dierecke, not +by surprise, but with overwhelming superiority; no reinforcement +possible: Dierecke is on the wrong side of the Elbe, no retreat or +reinforcement for him; has to fight fiercely all day, Meissen +Bridge being in a broken state; then, at night, to ship his people +across in Elbe boats, which are much delayed by the floating ice, +so that daylight found 1,500 of them still on that northern side; +all of whom, with General Dierecke himself, were made prisoners by +Beck. [Tempelhof, iii. 321: "3d-4th December, 1759."] A comfortable +supplement to Maxen, though not of the same magnificence. + +After which, Daun himself issued minatory from the Plauen Chasm; +expecting, as all the world did, that Friedrich, who is 36,000 of +Unfortunate against, say, 72,000 of Triumphant, will, under +penalty, take himself away. But it proved otherwise. "If you beat +us, Excellency Feldmarschall, yes; but till then--!" +Friedrich draws out in battalia; Leo in wild ragged state and +temper, VERSUS Bos in the reverse: "Come on; then!" Rhinoceros Bos, +though in a high frame of mind, dare not, on cool survey; +but retires behind the Plauen Chasm again. Will at least protect +Dresden from recapture; and wait here, in the interim; carting his +provision out of Bohemia,--which is a rough business, with Elbe +frozen, and the passes in such a choked wintry state. Upon whom +Friedrich, too, has to wait under arms, in grim neighborhood, for +six weeks to come: such a time as poor young Archenholtz never had +before or after. [Archenholtz, ii. 11-13.] It was well beyond +New-year's day before Friedrich could report of himself, and then +only in a sense, as will be seen: "We retired to this poor cottage +[cottage still standing, in the little Town of Freyberg]; Daun did +the like; and this unfortunate Campaign, as all things do, came +actually to an end." + +Daun holds Dresden and the Dell of Plauen; but Saxony, to the +world's amazement, he is as far as ever from holding. "Daun's front +is a small arc of a circle, bending round from Dresden to +Dippoldiswalde; Friedrich is at Freyberg in a bigger concave arc, +concentric to Daun, well overlapping Daun on that southward or +landward side, and ready for him, should he stir out; Kesselsdorf +is his nearest post to Daun; and the Plauen Chasm for boundary, +which was not overpassed by either." In Dresden, and the patch of +hill-country to the southeastward of it by Elbe side, which is +instep or glacis of the Pirna rock-country, seventy square miles or +so, there rules Daun; and this--with its heights of Gahmig, +valuable as a defence for Dresden against Austria, but not +otherwise of considerable value--was all that Daun this year, or +pretty much in any coming year, could realize of conquest +in Saxony. + +Fabius Cunctator has not succeeded, as the public expected. +In fact, ever since that of Hochkirch and the Papal Hat, he has +been a waning man, more and more questionable to the undiscerning +public. Maxen was his last gleam upwards; a round of applause rose +again on Maxen, feeble in comparison with Hochkirch, but still +arguing hope,--which, after this, more and more died out; so that +in two years more, poor Madam Daun, going to Imperial Levee, "had +her state-carriage half filled with nightcaps, thrown into it by +the Vienna people, in token of her husband's great talent for +sleep." [Archenholtz (Anno 1762, "last Siege of Schweidnitz").] + + + +Chapter VIII. + +MISCELLANEA IN WINTER-QUARTERS, 1759-1760. + +Friedrich was very loath to quit the field this Winter. In spite of +Maxen and ill-luck and the unfavorablest weather, it still was, for +about two months, his fixed purpose to recapture Dresden first, and +drive Daun home. "Had I but a 12,000 of Auxiliaries to guard my +right flank, while trying it!" said he. Ferdinand magnanimously +sent him the Hereditary Prince with 12,000, who stayed above two +months; ["Till February 15th;" List of the Regiments (German all), +in SEYFARTH, ii. 578 n.] and Friedrich did march about, attempting +that way, [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> v. 32. +Old Newspaper rumors: in <italic> Gentleman's Magazine, <end +italic> xxix. 605, "29th December," &c.]--pushed forward to Maguire +and Dippoldiswalde, looked passionately into Maguire on all sides; +but found him, in those frozen chasms, and rock-labyrinths choked +with snow, plainly unattackable; him and everybody, in such frost- +element;--and renounced the passionate hope. + +It was not till the middle of January that Friedrich put his troops +into partial cantonments, Head-quarter Freyberg; troops still +mainly in the Villages from Wilsdruf and southward, close by their +old Camp there. Camp still left standing, guarded by Six +Battalions; six after six, alternating week about: one of the +grimmest camps in Nature; the canvas roofs grown mere ice-plates, +the tents mere sanctuaries of frost:--never did poor young +Archenholtz see such industry in dragging wood-fuel, such boiling +of biscuits in broken ice, such crowding round the embers to roast +one side of you, while the other was freezing. [Archenholtz (UT +SUPRA), ii. 11-15.] But Daun's people, on the opposite side of +Plauen Dell, did the like; their tents also were left standing in +the frozen state, guarded by alternating battalions, no better off +than their Prussian neighbors. This of the Tents, and Six frost- +bitten Battalions guarding them, lasted till April. +An extraordinary obstinacy on the part both of Daun and of +Friedrich; alike jealous of even seeming to yield one inch more +of ground. + +The Hereditary Prince, with his 12,000, marched home again in +February; indeed, ever after the going into cantonments, all use of +the Prince and his Force here visibly ceased; and, on the whole, no +result whatever followed those strenuous antagonisms, and frozen +tents left standing for three months; and things remained +practically what they were. So that, as the grand "Peace +Negotiations" also came to nothing, we might omit this of Winter- +quarters altogether; and go forward to the opening of Campaign +Fifth;--were it not that characteristic features do otherwise occur +in it, curious little unveilings of the secret hopes and industries +of Friedrich:--besides which, there have minor private events +fallen out, not without interest to human readers. For whose behoof +mainly a loose intercalary Chapter may be thrown together here. + + +SERENE HIGHNESS OF WURTEMBERG, AT FULDA (November 30th, 1759), +IS JUST ABOUT "FIRING VICTORIA," AND GIVING A BALL TO BEAUTY AND +FASHION, IN HONOR OF A CERTAIN EVENT;--BUT IS UNPLEASANTLY INTERRUPTED. + +November 21st, the very day while Finck was capitulating in the +Hills of Maxen, Duke Ferdinand, busy ever since his Victory at +Minden, did, after a difficult Siege of Munster, Siege by Imhof, +with Ferdinand protecting him, get Munster into hand again, which +was reckoned a fine success to him. Very busy has the Duke been: +industriously reaping the fruits of his Victory at Minden; +and this, the conclusive rooting out of the French from that +Westphalian region, is a very joyful thing; and puts Ferdinand in +hopes of driving them over the Mayn altogether. Which some think he +would have done; had not he, with magnanimous oblivion of self and +wishes, agreed to send the Hereditary Prince and those 12,000 to +assist in Friedrich's affairs, looking upon that as the vital point +in these Allied Interests. Friedrich's attempts, we have said, +turned out impossible; nor would the Hereditary Prince and his +12,000, though a good deal talked about in England and elsewhere, +[Walpole, <italic> George Second, <end italic> iii. 248 (in a sour +Opposition tone); &c. &c.] require more than mention; were it not +that on the road thither, at Fulda ("Fulda is half-way house to +Saxony," thinks Ferdinand, "should Pitt and Britannic Majesty be +pleased to consent, as I dare presume they will"), the Hereditary +Prince had, in his swift way, done a thing useful for Ferdinand +himself, and which caused a great emotion, chiefly of laughter, +over the world, in those weeks. + +"No Enemy of Friedrich's," says my Note, "is of feller humor than +the Serenity of Wurtemberg, Karl Eugen, Reigning Duke of that +unfortunate Country; for whom, in past days, Friedrich had been so +fatherly, and really took such pains. 'Fatherly? STEP-fatherly, you +mean; and for his own vile uses!' growled the Serenity of +Wurtemberg:--always an ominous streak of gloom in that poor man; +streak which is spread now to whole skies of boiling darkness, +owing to deliriums there have been! Enough, Karl Eugen, after +divorcing his poor Wife, had distinguished himself by a zeal +without knowledge, beyond almost all the enemies of Friedrich;--and +still continues in that bad line of industry. His poor Wife he has +made miserable in some measure; also himself; and, in a degree, his +poor soldiers and subjects, who are with him by compulsion in this +Enterprise. The Wurtembergers are Protestants of old type; and want +no fighting against 'the Protestant Hero,' but much the reverse! +Serene Karl had to shoot a good few of these poor people, before +they would march at all; and his procedures were indeed, and +continued to be, of a very crying nature, though his poor +Populations took them silently. Always something of perverse in +this Serene Highness; has it, I think, by kind. + +"Besides his quota to the Reich, Karl Eugen has 12,000 more on +foot,--and it is of them we are treating at present. In 1757 he had +lent these troops to the Empress Queen, for a consideration; it was +they that stood on the Austrian left, at Leuthen; and were the +first that got beaten, and had to cease standing,--as the Austrians +were abundantly loud in proclaiming. To the disgust of Serene +Highness: 'Which of you did stand, then? Was it their blame, led as +they were?' argued he. And next year, 1758, after Crefeld, he took +his 12,000 to the French ('subsidy,' or consideration, 'to be paid +in SALT,' it appears [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> +v. 10.]); with whom they marched about, and did nothing +considerable. The Serenity had pleaded, 'I must command them +myself!' 'You?' said Belleisle, and would not hear of it. Next year +again, however, that is 1759, the Duke was positive, 'I must;' +Belleisle not less so, 'You cannot;'--till Minden fell out; +and then, in the wreck of Contades, Belleisle had to consent. +Serenity of Wurtemberg, at that late season, took the field +accordingly; and Broglio now has him at Fulda, 'To cut off +Ferdinand from Cassel;' to threaten Ferdinand's left flank and his +provision-carts in that quarter. May really become unpleasant there +to Ferdinand;--and ought to be cut out by the Hereditary Prince. +'To Fulda, then, and cut him out!' + +"FULDA, FRIDAY, 30th NOVEMBER, 1759. Serene Highness is lying here +for a week past; abundantly strong for the task on hand,--has his +own 12,000, supplemented by 1,000 French Light Horse;--but is +widely scattered withal, posted in a kind of triangular form; +his main posts being Fulda itself, and a couple of others, each +thirty miles from Fulda, and five miles from one another,--with +'patrols to connect them,' better or worse. Abundantly strong for +the task, and in perfect security; and indeed intends this day to +'fire VICTORIA' for the Catastrophe at Maxen, and in the evening +will give a Ball in farther honor of so salutary an event:--when, +about 9 A.M., news arrives at the gallop, 'Brunswickers in full +march; are within an hour of the Town-Bridge!' Figure to what +flurry of Serene Highness; of the victoria-shooting apparatus; +of busy man-milliner people, and the Beauty and Fashion of Fulda +in general! + +"The night before, a rumor of the French Post being driven in by +somebody had reached Serene Highness; who gave some vague order, +not thinking it of consequence. Here, however, is the Fact come to +hand in a most urgent and undeniable manner! Serene Highness gets +on horseback; but what can that help? One cannon (has nothing but +light cannon) he does plant on the Bridge; but see, here come +premonitory bomb-shells one and another, terrifying to the mind;-- +and a single Hessian dragoon, plunging forward on the one unready +cannon, and in the air making horrid circles,--the gunners leave +said cannon to him, take to their heels; and the Bridge is open. +The rest of the affair can be imagined. Retreat at our swiftest, +'running fight,' we would fain call it, by various roads; lost two +flags, two cannon; prisoners were above 1,200, many of them +Officers. 'A merciful Providence saved the Duke's Serene Person +from hurt,' say the Stuttgard Gazetteers: which was true,--Serene +Highness having been inspired to gallop instantly to rearward and +landward, leaving an order to somebody, 'Do the best you can!' + +"So that the Ball is up; dress-pumps and millineries getting all +locked into their drawers again,--with abundance of te-hee-ing +(I hope, mostly in a light vein) from the fair creatures +disappointed of their dance for this time. Next day Serene Highness +drew farther back, and next day again farther,--towards Frankenland +and home, as the surest place;--and was no more heard of in those +localities." [Buchholz, ii. 332; Mauvillon, ii. 80; <italic> +Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> v. 1184-1193; Old Newspapers, in +<italic> Gentleman's Magazine, <end italic> xxix. 603.] + +Making his first exit, not yet quite his final, from the War- +Theatre, amid such tempests of haha-ing and te-hee-ing. With what +thoughts in his own lofty opaque mind;--like a crowned mule, of +such pace and carriage, who had unexpectedly stepped upon +galvanic wires!-- + +As to those poor Wurtembergers, and their notion of the "Protestant +Hero," I remark farther, that there is a something of real truth in +it. Friedrich's Creed, or Theory of the Universe, differed +extremely, in many important points, from that of Dr. Martin +Luther: but in the vital all-essential point, what we may call the +heart's core of all Creeds which are human, human and not simious +or diabolic, the King and the Doctor were with their whole heart at +one: That it is not allowable, that it is dangerous and abominable, +to attempt believing what is not true. In that sense, Friedrich, by +nature and position, was a Protestant, and even the chief +Protestant in the world. What kind of "Hero," in this big War of +his, we are gradually learning;--in which too, if you investigate, +there is not wanting something of "PROTESTANT Heroism," even in the +narrow sense. For it does appear,--Maria Theresa having a real fear +of God, and poor Louis a real fear of the Devil, whom he may well +feel to be getting dangerous purchase over him,--some hope-gleams +of acting upon Schism, and so meriting Heaven, did mingle with +their high terrestrial combinations, on this unique opportunity, +more than are now supposed in careless History-Books. + + +WHAT IS PERPETUAL PRESIDENT MAUPERTUIS DOING, ALL THIS WHILE? +IS HE STILL IN BERLIN; OR WHERE IN THE UNIVERSE IS HE? +ALAS, POOR MAUPERTUIS! + +In the heat of this Campaign, "July 27th,"- some four days after +the Battle of Zullichau, just while Friedrich was hurrying off for +that Intersection at Sagan, and breathless Hunt of Loudon and +Haddick,--poor Maupertuis had quitted this world. July 27th, 1759; +at Basel, on the Swiss Borders, in his friend Bernouilli's house, +after long months of sickness painfully spent there. And our poor +Perpetual President, at rest now from all his Akakia burns, and +pains and labors in flattening the Earth and otherwise, is gone. + +Many beautifuler men have gone within the Year, of whom we can say +nothing. But this is one whose grandly silent, and then +occasionally fulminant procedures, Akakia controversies, Olympian +solemnities and flamy pirouettings under the contradiction of +sinners, we once saw; and think with a kind of human pathos that we +shall see no more. From his goose of an adorer, La Beaumelle, I +have riddled out the following particulars, chiefly chronological, +--and offer them to susceptible readers. La Beaumelle is, in a +sort, to be considered the speaker; or La Beaumelle and this Editor +in concert. + +FINAL PILGRIMAGE OF THE PERPETUAL PRESIDENT. "Maupertuis had +quitted Berlin soon after Voltaire. That threat of visiting +Voltaire with pistols,--to be met by 'my syringe and vessel of +dishonor' on Voltaire's part,--was his last memorability in Berlin. +His last at that time; or indeed altogether, for he saw little of +Berlin farther. + +"End of April, 1753, he got leave of absence; set out homewards, +for recovery of health. Was at Paris through summer and autumn: +very taciturn in society; 'preferred pretty women to any man of +science;' would sententiously say a strong thing now and then, +'bitter but not without BONHOMIE,' shaking slightly his yellow wig. +Disdainful, to how high a degree, of AKAKIA brabbles, and Voltaire +gossip for or against! In winter went to St. Malo; found his good +Father gone; but a loving Sister still there. + +"June, 1754, the King wrote to him, 'VENEZ VITE, Come quickly:' +July, 1754, he came accordingly, [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, +<end italic> xx. 49.] saw Berlin again; did nothing noticeable +there, except get worse in health; and after eleven months, June, +1756, withdrew again on leave,--never to return this time, though +he well intended otherwise. But at St. Malo, when, after a month or +two of Paris, he got thither (Autumn, 1756), and still more, next +summer, 1757, when he thought of leaving St. Malo,--what wars, and +rumors of war, all over the world! + +"June, 1757, he went to Bordeaux, intending to take ship for +Hamburg, and return; but the sea was full of English cruisers +[Pitt's Descents lying in store for St. Malo itself]. No getting to +Berlin by the Hamburg or sea route! 'Never mind, then,' wrote the +King: 'Improve your health; go to Italy, if you can.' + +"Summer, 1757, Maupertuis made for Italy; got as far as Toulouse;-- +stayed there till May following; sad, tragically stoical; +saying, sparingly, and rather to women than men, strong things, +admired by the worthier sort. Renounced thoughts of Italy: +'Europe bleeding, and especially France and Prussia, how go +idly touring?' + +"May, 1758, Maupertuis left Toulouse: turned towards Berlin; +slow, sad, circuitous;--never to arrive. Saw Narbonne, Montpellier, +Nimes; with what meditations! At Lyons, under honors sky-high, +health getting worse, stays two months; vomits clots of blood +there. Thence, July 24th, to Neufchatel and the Lord Marischal; +happy there for three months. Hears there of Professor Konig's +death (AKAKIA Konig): 'One scoundrel less in the world,' ejaculated +he; 'but what is one!'--October 16th, to the road again, to Basel; +stays perforce, in Bernouilli's house there, all Winter; +health falling lower and lower. + +"April, 1759, one day he has his carriage at the door ('Homeward, +at all rates!'): but takes violent spasms in the carriage; can't; +can no farther in this world. Lingers here, under kind care, for +above three months more: dying slowly, most painfully. With much +real stoicism; not without a stiff-jointed algebraic kind of piety, +almost pathetic in its sort. 'Two Capuchins from a neighboring +Convent daily gave him consolations,' not entirely satisfactory; +for daily withal, 'unknown to the Capuchins, he made his Valet, who +was a Protestant, read to him from the Geneva Bible;'--and finds +many things hard to the human mind. July 27th, 1759, he died." +[La Beaumelle, <italic> Vie de Maupertuis, <end italic> +pp. 196-216.] + +Poor Maupertuis; a man of rugged stalwart type; honest; of an +ardor, an intelligence, not to be forgotten for La Beaumelle's +pulings over them. A man of good and even of high talent; +unlucky in mistaking it for the highest! His poor Wife, a born +Borck,--hastening from Berlin, but again and again delayed by +industry of kind friends, and at last driving on in spite of +everything,--met, in the last miles, his Hearse and Funeral +Company. Adieu, a pitying adieu to him forever,--and even to his +adoring La Beaumelle, who is rather less a blockhead than he +generally seems. + +This of the Two Capuchins, the last consummation of collapse in +man, is what Voltaire cannot forget, but crows over with his +shrillest mockery; and seldom mentions Maupertuis without that last +touch to his life-drama. + + +GRAND FRENCH INVASION-SCHEME COMES ENTIRELY TO WRECK +(Quiberon Bay, 20th November, 1759): OF CONTROLLER-GENERAL +SILHOUETTE, AND THE OUTLOOKS OF FRANCE, FINANCIAL AND OTHER. + +On the very day of Maxen, Tuesday, November 20th, the grand French +Invasion found its terminus,--not on the shores of Britain, but of +Brittany, to its surprise. We saw Rodney burn the Flat-bottom +manufactory at Havre; Boscawen chase the Toulon Squadron, till it +ended on the rocks of Lagos. From January onwards, as was then +mentioned, Hawke had been keeping watch, off Brest Harbor, on +Admiral Conflans, who presides there over multifarious +preparations, with the last Fleet France now has. At Vannes, where +Hawke likewise has ships watching, are multifarious preparations; +new Flat-bottoms, 18,000 troops,--could Conflans and they only get +to sea. At the long last, they did get;--in manner following:-- + +"November 9th, a wild gale of wind had blown Hawke out of sight; +away home to Torbay, for the moment. 'Now is the time!' thought +Conflans, and put to sea (November 14th); met by Hawke, who had +weighed from Torbay to his duty; and who, of course, crowded every +sail, after hearing that Conflans was out. At break of day, +November 20th [in the very hours when poor Finck was embattling +himself round Maxen, and Daun sprawling up upon him through the +Passes], Hawke had had signal, 'A Fleet in sight;' and soon after, +'Conflans in sight,'--and the day of trial come. + +"Conflans is about the strength of Hawke, and France expects much +of him; but he is not expecting Hawke. Conflans is busy, at this +moment, in the mouth of Quiberon Bay, opening the road for Vannes +and the 18,000;--in hot chase, at the moment, of a Commodore Duff +and his small Squadron, who have been keeping watch there, and are +now running all they can. On a sudden, to the astonishment of +Conflans, this little Squadron whirls round, every ship of it (with +a sky-rending cheer, could he hear it), and commences chasing! +Conflans, taking survey, sees that it is Hawke; he, sure enough, +coming down from windward yonder at his highest speed; and that +chasing will not now be one's business!-- + +"About 11 A.M. Hawke is here; eight of his vanward ships are +sweeping on for action. Conflans, at first, had determined to fight +Hawke; and drew up accordingly, and did try a little: but gradually +thought better of it; and decided to take shelter in the shoaly +coasts and nooks thereabouts, which were unknown to Hawke, and +might ruin him if he should pursue, the day being short, and the +weather extremely bad. Weather itself almost to be called a storm. +'Shoreward, then; eastward, every ship!' became, ultimately, +Conflans's plan. On the whole, it was 2 in the afternoon hefore +Hawke, with those vanward Eight, could get clutch of Conflans. And +truly he did then strike his claws into him in a thunderously +fervid manner, he and all hands, in spite of the roaring weather:-- +a man of falcon, or accipitral, nature as well as name. + +"Conflans himself fought well; as did certain of the others,--all, +more or less, so long as their plan continued steady:--thunderous +miscellany of cannon and tempest; Conflans with his plan steady, or +Conflans with his plan wavering, VERSUS those vanward Eight, for +two hours or more. But the scene was too dreadful; this ship +sinking, that obliged to strike; things all going awry for +Conflans. Hawke, in his own Flagship, bore down specially on +Conflans in his,--who did wait, and exchange a couple of +broadsides; but then sheered off, finding it so heavy. French Vice- +Admiral next likewise gave Hawke a broadside; one only, and sheered +off, satisfied with the return. Some Four others, in succession, +did the like; 'One blast, as we hurry by' (making for the shore, +mostly)! So that Hawke seemed swallowed in volcanoes (though, +indeed, their firing was very bad, such a flurry among them), and +his Blue Flag was invisible for some time, and various ships were +hastening to help him,--till a Fifth French ship coming up with her +broadside, Hawke answered her in particular (LA SUPERBE, a Seventy- +four) with all his guns together; which sent the poor ship to the +bottom, in a hideously sudden manner. One other (the THESEE) had +already sunk in fighting; two (the SOLEIL and the HEROS) were +already running for it,--the HEROS in a very unheroic manner! +But on this terrible plunge-home of the SUPERBE, the rest all made +for the shore;--and escaped into the rocky intricacies and the +darkness. Four of Conflans's ships were already gone,--struck, +sunk, or otherwise extinct,--when darkness fell, and veiled +Conflans and his distresses. 'Country people, to the number of +10,000,' crowded on the shore, had been seen watching the Battle; +and, 'as sad witnesses of the White Flag's disgrace,' disappeared +into the interior." [Beatson, ii. 327-345: and Ib. iii. 244-250. +In <italic> Gentleman's Magazine, <end italic> (xxix. 557), +"A Chaplain's Letter," &c.] + +It was such a night as men never witnessed before. Walpole says: +"The roaring of the elements was redoubled by the thunder from our +ships; and both concurred in that scene of horror to put a period +to the Navy and hopes of France. Seven ships of the line got into +the River Vilaine [lay there fourteen months, under strict +watching, till their backs were broken, "thumping against the +shallow bottom every tide," and only "three, with three frigates," +ever got out again]; eight more escaped to different ports," into +--PAGE 371 BOOK XIX---NO OPENING QUOTES FOR THESE CLOSING--^---- + + +the River Charente ultimately. "Conflans's own ship and another +were run on shore, and burnt. One we took." Two, with their crews, +had gone to the bottom; one under Hawke's cannon; one partly by its +own mismanagement. "Two of ours were lost in the storm [chasing +that SOLEIL and HEROS], but the crews saved. Lord Howe, who +attacked LA FORMIDABLE, bore down on her with such violence, that +her prow forced in his lower tier of guns. Captain Digby, in the +DUNKIRK, received the fire of twelve of the enemy's ships, and lost +not a man. Keppel's was full of water, and he thought it sinking: +a sudden squall emptied his ship; but he was informed all his +powder was wet; 'Then,' said he, 'I am sorry I am safe.' They came +and told him a small quantity was undamaged; 'Very well,' said he; +'then attack again.' Not above eight of our ships were engaged in +obtaining that decisive victory. The Invasion was heard of no +more." [Walpole, <italic> George Second, <end italic> iii. 232.-- +Here is the List, accurately riddled out: 1. FORMIDABLE, struck +(about 4 P.M.): 2. THESEE, sunk (by a tumble it made, while in +action, under an unskilful Captain): 3. SUPERBE, sunk: 4. HEROS, +struck; could not he boarded, such weather; and recommenced next +day, but had to run and strand itself, and be burnt by the +English;--as did (5.) the SOLEIL ROYAL (Conflans's Flagship), +Conflans and crew (like those of the HEROS) getting out in time.] + +Invasion had been fully intended, and even, in these final days, +considerably expected. In the old London Newspapers we read this +notice: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19th: "To-day there came Three +Expresses,"--Three Expresses, with what haste in their eyes, +testifying successively of Conflans's whereabouts. But it was +believed that Hawke would still manage. And, at any rate, Pitt wore +such a look,--and had, in fact, made such preparation on the +coasts, even in failure of Hawke,--there was no alarm anywhere. +Indignation rather;--and naturally, when the news did come, what an +outburst of Illumination in the windows and the hearts of men! + +"Hawke continued watching the mouths of the Vilaine and Charente +Rivers for a good while after, and without interruption henceforth, +--till the storms of Winter had plainly closed them for one season. +Supplies of fresh provisions had come to him from England all +Summer; but were stopped latterly by the wild weather. Upon which, +in the Fleet, arose this gravely pathetic Stave of Sea-Poetry, with +a wrinkle of briny humor grinning in it:-- + + Till Hawke did bang Monsieur Conflans [CONGFLANG], + You sent us beef and beer; + Now Monsieur's beat, we've nought to eat, + Since you have nought to fear." [Beatson, ii. 342 n.] + +The French mode of taking this catastrophe was rather peculiar. +Hear Barbier, an Eye-witness; dating PARIS, DECEMBER, 1759: +"Since the first days of December, there has been cried, and sold +in the streets, a Printed Detail of all that concerns the GRAND +INVASION projected this long while: to wit, the number of Ships of +the Line, of Frigates, Galiots,--among others 500 Flat-bottomed +Boats, which are to carry over, and land in England, more than +54,000 men;--with list of the Regiments, and number of the King's +Guards, that are also to go: there are announced for Generals-in- +Chief, M. le Prince de Conti [do readers remember him since the +Broglio-Maillebois time, and how King Louis prophesied in autograph +that he would be "the Grand Conti" one day?]--Prince de Conti, +Prince de Soubise [left his Conquest of Frankfurt for this greater +Enterprise], and Milord Thomont [Irish Jacobite, whom I don't +know]. As sequel to this Detail, there is a lengthy Song on the +DISEMBARKMENT IN ENGLAND, and the fear the English must have of +it!" Calculated to astonish the practical forensic mind. + +"It is inconceivable", continues he, "how they have permitted such +a Piece to be printed; still more to be cried, and sold price one +halfpenny (DEUX LIARDS). This Song is indecent, in the +circumstances of the actual news from our Fleet at Brest (20th of +last month);--in regard to which bad adventure M. le Marquis de +Conflans has come to Versailles, to justify himself, and throw the +blame on M. le Marquis de Beauffremont [his Rear-Admiral, now safe +in the Charente, with eight of our poor ships]. Such things are the +more out of place, as we are in a bad enough position,--no Flat- +bottoms stirring from the ports, no Troops of the MAISON DU ROI +setting out; and have reason to believe that we are now to make no +such attempt." [Barbier, iv. 336.] + +Silhouette, the Controller-General, was thought to have a creative +genius in finance: but in the eighth month of his gestation, what +phenomena are these? October 26th, there came out Four Decrees of +Council, setting forth, That, "as the expenses of the War exceed +not only the King's ordinary revenues, but the extraordinaries he +has had to lay on his people, there is nothing for it but," in +fact, Suspension of Payment; actual Temporary Bankruptcy:--"Cannot +pay you; part of you not for a year, others of you not till the War +end; will give you 5 per cent interest instead." Coupled with +which, by the same creative genius, is a Declaration in the King's +name, "That the King compels nobody, but does invite all and sundry +of loyal mind to send their Plate (on loan, of course, and with due +receipt for it) to the Mint to be coined, lest Majesty come to have +otherwise no money,"--his very valets, as is privately known, +having had no wages from him for ten months past. + +Whereupon the rich Princes of the Blood, Due d'Orleans foremost, +and Official persons, Pompadour, Belleisle, Choiseul, do make an +effort; and everybody that has Plate feels uneasily that he cannot +use it, and that he ought to send it. And, November 5th, the King's +own Plate, packed ostentatiously in carts, went to the Mint;--the +Dauphiness, noble Saxon Lady, had already volunteered with a silver +toilet-table of hers, brand-new and of exquisite costly pattern; +but the King forbade her. On such examples, everybody had to make +an effort, or uneasily try to make one. King Friedrich, eight +days after Maxen, is somewhat amused at these proceedings in +the distance:-- + +"The kettles and spoons of the French seem to me a pleasant +resource, for carrying on War!" writes he to D'Argens. ["Wilsdruf, +28th November, 1759," <italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> +xix. 108.] "A bit of mummery to act on the public feeling, I +suppose. The result of it will be small: but as the Belleisle +LETTERS [taken in Contades's baggage, after Minden, and printed by +Duke Ferdinand for public edification] make always such an outcry +about poverty, those people are trying to impose on their enemies, +and persuade them that the carved and chiselled silver of the +Kingdom will suffice for making a vigorous Campaign. I see nothing +else that can have set them on imagining the farce they are now at. +There is Munster taken from them by the English-Hanoverian people; +it is affirmed that the French, on the 25th, quitted Giessen, to +march on Friedberg and repass the Rhine [might possibly have done +so;--but the Hereditary Prince and his 12,000 come to be needed +elsewhere!]--Poor we are opposite our enemies here, cantoned in the +Villages about; the last truss of straw, the last loaf of bread +will decide which of us is to remain in Saxony. And as the +Austrians are extremely squeezed together, and can get nothing out +of Bohmen,"--one hopes it will not be they! + +All through November, this sending of Plate, I never knew with what +net-result of moneys coinable, goes on in Paris; till, at the +highest tables, there is nothing of silver dishes left;-- and a new +crockery kind (rather clumsy; "CULS NOIRS," as we derisively call +them, pigment of BOTTOM part being BLACK) has had to be contrived +instead. Under what astonishments abroad and at home, and in the +latter region under what execrations on Silhouette, may be +imagined. "TOUT LE MONDE JURE BEAUCOUP CONTRE M. DE SILHOUETTE, All +the world swears much against him," says Barbier;--but I believe +probably he was much to be pitied: "A creative genius, you; and +this is what you come to?" + +November 22d, the poor man got dismissed; France swearing at him, I +know not to what depth; but howling and hissing, evidently, with +all its might. The very tailors and milliners took him up,-- +trousers without pockets, dresses without flounce or fold, which +they called A LA SILHOUETTE:--and, to this day, in France and +Continental Countries, the old-fashioned Shadow-Profile (mere +outline, and vacant black) is practically called a SILHOUETTE. +So that the very Dictionaries have him; and, like bad Count +Reinhart, or REYNARD, of earlier date, he has become a Noun +Appellative, and is immortalized in that way. The first of that +considerable Series of Creative Financiers, Abbe Terray and the +rest,--brought in successively with blessings, and dismissed with +cursings and hissings,--who end in Calonne, Lomenie de Brienne, and +what Mirabeau Pere called "the General Overturn (CULBUTE +GENERALE)." Thitherward, privately, straight towards the General +Overturn, is France bound;--and will arrive in about thirty years. + + +FRIEDRICH, STRANGE TO SAY, PUBLISHES (March-June, 1760) +AN EDITION OF HIS POEMS. QUESTION, "WHO WROTE Matinees +du Roi de Prusse?"--FOR THE SECOND, AND POSITIVELY THE LAST TIME. + +In this avalanche of impending destructions, what can be more +surprising than to hear of the Editing of Poems on his Majesty's +part! Actual publication of that OEuvre de Poesie, for which +Voltaire, poor gentleman, suffered such tribulation seven years +ago. Now coming out from choice: Reprint of it, not now to the +extent of twelve copies for highly special friends, but in copious +thousands, for behoof of mankind at large! The thing cost Friedrich +very little meditating, and had become necessary,--and to be done +with speed. + +Readers recollect the OEUVRE DE POESIE, and satirical hits said to +be in it. At Paris, about New-year's time 1760, some helpful Hand +had contrived to bring out, under the pretended date "Potsdam," a +cheap edition of that interesting Work. [<italic> "OEuvres du +Philosophe de Sans-Souci:" <end italic> 1 vol. 12 mo, "Potsdam +[PARIS, in truth], 1760."] Merely in the way of theft, as appeared +to cursory readers, to D'Argens, for example: [His Letter to the +King, <italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> xix. 138.] but, in +deeper fact, for the purpose of apprising certain Crowned Heads, +friendly and hostile,--Czarish Majesty and George II. of England +the main two,--what this poetizing King was pleased to think of +them in his private moments. D'Argens declares himself glad of this +theft, so exquisitely clever is the Book. But Friedrich knows +better: "March 17th, when a Copy of it came to him," Friedrich sees +well what is meant,--and what he himself has to do in it. +He instantly sets about making a few suppressions, changes of +phrase; sends the thing to D'Argens: "Publish at once, with a +little prefatory word." And, at the top of his speed, D'Argens has, +in three weeks' time, the suitable AVANT-PROPOS, or AVIS AU +LIBRAIRE, "circulating in great quantities, especially in London +and Petersburg" ("Thief Editor has omitted; and, what is far more, +has malignantly interpolated: here is the poor idle Work itself, +not a Counterfeit of it, if anybody care to read it"), and an +Orthodox Edition ready. [Came out April 9th [see MITCHELL, ii. +153], and a second finer Edition in June:" in <italic> OEuvres de +Frederic, <end italic> x. p. x, xix. 137 n., 138; especially in +PREUSS, i. 467, 468 (if you will compare him with HIMSELF on these +different occasions, and patiently wind out his bit of meaning), +all manner of minutest details.] The diligent Pirate Booksellers, +at Amsterdam, at London, copiously reproduced this authorized +Berlin Edition too,--or added excerpts from it to their reprints of +the Paris one, by way of various-readings. And everybody read and +compared, what nobody will now do; theme, and treatment of theme, +being both now so heartily indifferent to us. + +Who the Perpetrator of this Parisian maleficence was, remained +dark;--and would not be worth inquiring into at all, except for two +reasons intrinsically trifling, but not quite without interest to +readers of our time. First, that Voltaire, whom some suspected +(some, never much Friedrich, that I hear of), appears to have been +perfectly innocent;--and indeed had been incapacitated for guilt, +by Schmidt and Freytag, and their dreadful Frankfurt procedures! +This is reason FIRST; poor Voltaire mutely asking us, Not to load +him with more sins than his own. Reason SECOND is, that, by a +singular opportunity, there has, in these very months, [Spring, +1863.] a glimmering of light risen on it to this Editor; +illustrating two other points as well, which readers here are +acquainted with, some time ago, as riddles of the insignificant +sort. The DEMON NEWSWRITER, with his "IDEA" of Friedrich, and the +"MATINEES DU ROI DE PRUSSE:" readers recollect both those +Productions; both enigmatic as to authorship;--but both now become +riddles which can more or less be read. + +For the surprising circumstance (though in certain periods, when +the realm of very Chaos re-emerges, fitfully, into upper sunshine +now and then, nothing ought to surprise one as happening there) is, +That, only a few months ago, the incomparable MATINEES (known to my +readers five years since) has found a new Editor and reviver. +Editor illuminated "by the Secretary of the Great Napoleon," "by +discovery of manuscripts," "by the Duc de Rovigo," and I know not +what; animated also, it is said, by religious views. And, in short, +the MATINEES is again abroad upon the world,--"your London Edition +twice reprinted in Germany, by the Jesuit party since" (much good +may it do the Jesuit party!)--a MATINEES again in comfortable +circumstances, as would seem. Probably the longest-eared Platitude +now walking the Earth, though there are a good many with ears long. +Unconscious, seemingly, that it has been killed thrice and four +times already; and that indeed, except in the realm of Nightmare, +it never was alive, or needed any killing; belief in it, doubt upon +it (I must grieve to inform the Duc de Rovigo and honorable persons +concerned), being evidence conclusive that you have not yet the +faintest preliminary shadow of correct knowledge about Friedrich +or his habits or affairs, and that you ought first to try and +acquire some. + +To me argument on this subject would have been too unendurable. +But argument there was on it, by persons capable and willing, more +than one: and in result this surprising brand-new London moon-calf +of a MATINEES was smitten through, and slit in pieces, for the +fifth time,--as if that could have hurt it much! "MIT DER +DUMMHEIT," sings Schiller; "Human Stupidity is stronger than the +very Gods." However, in the course of these new inspections into +matters long since obsolete, there did--what may truly be +considered as a kind of profit by this Resuscitating of the moon- +calf MATINEES upon afflicted mankind, and is a net outcome from it, +real, though very small--some light rise as to the origin and +genesis of MATINEES; some twinkles of light, and, in the utterly +dark element, did disclose other monstrous extinct shapes looming +to right and left of said monster: and, in a word, the Authorship +of MATINEES, and not of MATINEES only, becomes now at last faintly +visible or guessable. To one of those industrious Matadors, as we +may call them, Slayers of this moon-calf for the fourth or fifth +time, I owe the following Note; which, on verifying, I can declare +to be trustworthy:-- + +"The Author of MATINEES, it is nearly certain", says my +Correspondent, "is actually a 'M. de Bonneville,'--contrary to what +you wrote five years ago. [A.D. 1858 (SUPRA, v. 165, 166).] +Not indeed the Bonneville who is found in Dictionaries, who is +visibly impossible; but a Bonneville of the preceding generation, +who was Marechal de Saxe's Adjutant or Secretary, old enough to +have been the Uncle or the Father of that revolutionary Bonneville. +Marechal de Saxe died November 30th, 1750; this senior Bonneville, +still a young man, had been with him to Potsdam on visit there. +Bonneville, conscious of genius, and now out of employment, +naturally went thither again; lived a good deal there, or went +between France and there: and authentic History knows of him, by +direct evidence, and by reflex, the following Three Facts (the +SECOND of them itself threefold), of which I will distinguish +the indubitable from the inferentially credible or as good +as certain:-- + +"1. Indubitable, That Bonneville sold to Friedrich certain Papers, +military Plans, or the like, of the late Marechal and was paid for +them; but by no means met the recognition his genius saw itself to +merit. These things are certain, though not dated, or datable +except as of the year 1750 or 1751. After which, for above twenty +years, Bonneville entered upon a series of adventures, caliginous, +underground, for most part; 'soldiering in America,' 'writing +anonymous Pamphlets or Books,' roaming wide over the world; and led +a busy but obscure and uncertain life, hanging by Berlin as a kind +of centre, or by Paris and Berlin as his two centres; and had a +miscellaneous series of adventures, subterranean many of them, +unluminous all of them, not courting the light; which lie now in +naturally a very dark condition. Dimly discernible, however, in the +general dusk of Bonneville, dim and vague of outline, but +definitely steady beyond what could have been expected, it does +appear farther,--what alone entitles Bonneville to the least memory +here, or anywhere in Nature now or henceforth,-- + +"2. Inferentially credible, That, shortly after that first rebuff +in Potsdam, he, not another, in 1752, was your 'DEMON NEWSWRITER,' +whom we gazed at, some time since, devoutly crossing ourselves, for +a little while! + +"Likewise that, in 1759-1760, after or before his American +wanderings, he, the same Bonneville, as was suspected at the time, +["Nicolai, <italic> Ueber Zimmermanns Fragmente, <end italic> i. +181, 182, ii. 253, 254. Sketch of what is authentically known about +Bonneville: 'suspected both of MATINEES and of the Stolen +EDITION.'"] stole and edited this surreptitious mischief-making +<italic> OEuvres du Philosophe de Sans-Souci <end italic> (Paris or +Lyon, pretending to be 'Potsdam,' January, 1760)," which we are now +considering! "Encouraged, probably enough, by Choiseul himself, +who, in any case, is now known to have been the promoter of this +fine bit of mischief, [Choiseul's own Note, "To M. de Malesherbes, +DIRECTEUR DE LA LIBRAIRE, 10th December, 1759: 'By every method +screen the King's Government from being suspected;--and get the +Edition out at once.'" (Published in the <italic> Constitutionnel, +<end italic> 2d December, 1850, by M. Sainte-Beuve; copied in +Preuss, <italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> xix. 168 n.)]-- +and who may thereupon [or may as probably, NOT "thereupon," if it +were of the least consequence to gods or men] have opened to +Bonneville a new military career in America? Career which led to as +good as nothing; French soldiering in America being done for, in +the course of 1760. Upon which Bonneville would return to his old +haunts, to his old subterranean industries in Paris and Berlin. + +"And that, finally, in 1765, he, as was again suspected at the +time, ["Nicolai, Ueber Zimmermanns Fragmente, i. 181, 182, ii. 253, +254. Sketch of what is authentically known about Bonneville: +'suspected both of MATINEES and of the Stolen EDITION.'"] he and no +other, did write those MATINEES, which appeared next year in print +(1766), and many times since; and have just been reprinted, as a +surprising new discovery, at London, in Spring, 1863. + +"3. Again indubitable, That either after or before those Editorial +exploits, Bonneville had sold the Marechal de Saxe's Plans and +Papers, which were already the King's, to some second person, and +been a second time paid for them. And was, in regard to this +Swindling exploit, found out; and by reason of that sale, or for +what reason is not known, was put into Spandau, and, one hopes, +ended his life there." ["Nicolai, UBI SUPRA;--and besides him, only +the two following references, out of half a cart-load: +1. Bachaumont, MEMOIRES SECRETES, '7th February, 1765' (see +Barbier, <italic> Dictionnaire des Anonymes, <end italic> § +Matinees), who calls MATINEES 'a development of the IDEE DE LA +PERSONNE,' &c. (that is, of your 'DEMON NEWSWRITER;' already known +to Bachaumont, this 'IDEE,' it seems, as well as the MATINEES in +Manuscript). 2. LETTER of Grimm to Duchess of Sachsen-Gotha [OUR +Duchess], dated 'Paris, 15th April, 1765:' not in printed <italic> +Correspondance de Grimm, <end italic> but still in the Archives of +Gotha, in company with a MS. of MATINEES, probably the oldest +extant (see,--in the GRENZBOTEN Periodical, Leipzig, 1863, +pp. 473-484, 500-519,--K. SAMWER, who is Chief MALLEUS of this +new London moon-calf, and will inform the curious of +every particular)." + +MATINEES was first printed 1766 (no place), and seven or eight +times since, in different Countries; twice or thrice over, as "an +interesting new discovery:"--very wearisome to this Editor; who +read MATINEES (in poor LONDON print, that too) many years ago,-- +with complete satisfaction as to Matinees, and sincere wish not to +touch it again even with a pair of tongs;--and has since had three +"priceless MSS. of it" offered him, at low rates, as a guerdon +to merit.] + +Fact No. 2, which alone concerns us here,--and which, in its three +successive stages, does curiously cohere with itself and with other +things,--comes, therefore, not by direct light, which indeed, by +the nature of the case, would be impossible. Not by direct light, +but by various reflex lights, and convergence of probabilities old +and new, which become the stronger the better they are examined; +and may be considered as amounting to what is called a moral +certainty,--"certain" enough for an inquiry of that significance. +To a kind of moral certainty: kind of moral consolation too; +only One individual of Adam's Posterity, not Three or more, having +been needed in these multifarious acts of scoundrelism; and that +One receiving payment, or part payment, so prompt and appropriate, +in the shape of a permanent cannon-ball at his ankle. + +This is the one profit my readers or I have yet derived from the +late miraculous Resuscitation of MATINEES ROYALES; the other items +of profit in that Enterprise shall belong, not to us in the least +measure, but to Bonneville, and to his well or ill disposed +Coadjutors and Copartners in the Adventure. Adieu to it, aud to him +and to them, forever and a day! + + +PEACE-NEGOTIATIONS HOPEFUL TO FRIEDRICH ALL THROUGH WINTER; +BUT THE FRENCH WON'T. VOLTAIRE, AND HIS STYLE OF CORRESPONDING. + +This Winter there was talk of Peace, more specifically than ever. +November 15th, at the Hague, as a neutral place, there had been, by +the two Majesties, Britannic and Prussian, official DECLARATION, +"We, for our part, deeply lament these horrors, and are ready to +treat of Peace." This Declaration was presented November 15th, +1759, by Prince Ludwig of Brunswick (Head General of the Dutch, and +a Brother of Prince Ferdinand our General's, suitable for such +case), to the Austrian-French Excellencies at the Hague. By whom it +had been received with the due politeness, "Will give it our +profoundest consideration;" [DECLARATION (by the two Majesties) +that they are ready to treat of Peace, 15th November, 1759, +presented by, &c. (as above); ANSWER from France, in stingy terms, +and not till 3d April, 1760: are in <italic> London Gazette; +<end italic> in <italic> Gentleman's Magazine, <end italic> xxix. +603, xxx. 188; in &c. &c.]--which indeed the French, for some time, +privately did; though the Austrians privately had no need to do so, +being already fixed for a negative response to the proposal. +But hereby rose actual talk of a "Congress;" and wagging of +Diplomatic wigs as to where it shall be. "In Breda," said some; +"Breda a place used to Congresses." "Why not in Nanci here?" said +poor old Ex-Polish Stanislaus, alive to the calls of benevolence, +poor old Titular soul. Others said "Leipzig;" others "Augsburg;"-- +and indeed in Augsburg, according to the Gazetteers, at one time, +there were "upholsterers busy getting ready the apartments." +So that, with such rumor in the Diplomatic circles, the Gazetteer +and outer world was full of speculation upon Peace; and Friedrich +had lively hopes of it, and had been hoping three months before, as +we transiently saw, though again it came to nothing. All to +nothing; and is not, in itself, worth the least attention from us +here,--a poor extinct fact, loud in those months and filling the +whole world, now silent and extinct to everybody,--except, indeed, +that it offers physiognomic traits here and there of a certain +King, and of those about him. For which reason we will dwell on it +a few minutes longer. + +Nobody, in that Winter 1759-1760, could guess where, or from whom, +this big world-interesting Peace-Negotiation had its birth; +as everybody now can, when nobody now is curious on the question! +At Sagan, in September last, we all saw the small private source of +it, its first outspurt into daylight; and read Friedrich's ANSWERS +to Voltaire and the noble Duchess on it:--for the sake of which Two +private Correspondents, and of Friedrich's relation to them, +possibly a few more Excerpts may still have a kind of interest, now +when the thing corresponded on has ceased to have any. To the +Duchess, a noble-minded Lady, beautifully zealous to help if she +could, by whose hand these multifarious Peace-Papers have to pass, +this is always Friedrich's fine style in transmitting them. Out of +many specimens, following that of Sagan which we gave, here are the +Next Three:-- + + +FRIEDRICH TO THE DUCHESS OF SACHSEN-GOTHA +(Three other Letters on the "Peace"). + +1. +"WILSDRUF, 21st November, 1759 [day after Maxen, +SURRENDER was THIS morning--of which he has not heard]. + +"MADAM,--Nothing but your generosities and your indulgence could +justify my incongruity [INCONGRUITE, in troubling you with the +Enclosed]. You will have it, Madam, that I shall still farther +abuse those bounties, which are so precious to me: at least +remember that it is by your order, if I forward through your hand +this Letter, which does not merit such honor. + +"Chance, which so insolently mocks the projects of men, and +delights to build up and then pull down, has led us about, thus +far,--to the end of the Campaign [not quite ended yet, if we knew]. +The Austrians are girt in by the Elbe on this side; I have had two +important Magazines of theirs in Bohemia destroyed [Kleist's +doing]. There have been some bits of fighting (AFFAIRES), that have +turned entirely to our advantage:--so that I am in hopes of forcing +M. Daun to repass the Elbe, to abandon Dresden, and to take the +road for Zittau and Bohemia. + +"I talk to you, Madam, of what I am surrounded with; of what, being +in your neighborhood, may perhaps have gained your attention. +I could go to much greater length, if my heart dared to explain +itself on the sentiments of admiration, gratitude and esteem, with +which I am,--Madam my Cousin,--Your most faithful Cousin, Friend +and Servant,--F." + + +2. + +"FREYBERG, 18th December, 1759. + +"MADAM,--You spoil me so by your indulgence, you so accustom me to +have obligations to you, that I reproach myself a hundred times +with this presumption. Certainly I should not continue to enclose +these Letters to your care, had not I the hope that perhaps the +Correspondence may be of some use to England, and even to Europe,-- +for without doubt Peace is the desirable, the natural and happy +state for all Nations. It is to accelerate Peace, Madam, that I +abuse your generosities. This motive excuses me to myself for the +incongruity of my procedures. + +"The goodness you have to take interest in my situation obliges me +to give you some account of it. We have undergone all sorts of +misfortune here [Maxen, what not], at the moment we were least +expecting them. Nevertheless, there remains to us courage and hope; +here are Auxiliaries [Hereditary Prince and 12,000] on the point of +arriving; there is reason to think that the end of our Campaign +will be less frightful than seemed likely three weeks ago. May you, +Madam, enjoy all the happiness that I wish you. May all the world +become acquainted with your virtues, imitate them, and admire you +as I do. May you be persuaded that ...--F." + + +3. + +"FREYBERG, 16th February, 1760. + +"MADAM,--It is to my great regret that I importune Your Highness so +often with my Letters. Your bounties, Madam, have spoiled me;--it +will teach you to be more chary of them to others. I regard you as +an estimable Friend, to whose friendship I have recourse in +straits. The question is still Peace, Madam; and were not the +object of my importunities so beautiful, Madam, I should be +inexcusable."--Goes then into practical considerations, about +"Cocceji" (King's Aide-de-Camp, once Keith's, who carries this +Letter), about a "Herr von Edelsheim," a "Bailli de Froulay", and +the possible "Conditions of Peace,"--not of consequence to us just +now. [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> xviii. 174, 173, +172. Correspondence on this subject lasts from 22d September, 1759, +to 8th May, 1760: IB. pp. 170-186. In that final Letter of 8th May +is the phrase, hardly worth restoring to its real ownership, though +the context considerably redeems it there,--"the prejudice I can't +get rid of, that, in war, DIEU EST POUR LES GROS ESCADRONS."] + +As to Voltaire again, and the new Friedrich-Voltaire Style of +Correspondence, something more of detail will be requisite. +Ever since the black days of 1757, when poor Wilhelmina, with +Rossbach and Leuthen still hidden from her in a future gloomy as +death, desperately brought Voltaire to bear upon Cardinal Tencin in +this matter, without success, there has been a kind of regular +corresponding between Voltaire and Friedrich; characteristic on +both sides. A pair of Lovers hopelessly estranged and divorced; +and yet, in a sense, unique and priceless to one another. The Past, +full of heavenly radiances, which issued, alas, in flames and sooty +conflagrations as of Erebus,--let us forget it, and be taught by +it! The Past is painful, and has been too didactic to some of us: +but here still is the Present with its Future; better than blank +nothing. Pleasant to hear the sound of that divine voice of my +loved one, were it only in commonplace remarks on the weather,-- +perhaps intermixed with secret gibings on myself:--let us hear it +while we can, amid those world-wide crashing discords and piping +whirlwinds of war. + +Friedrich sends his new Verses or light Proses, which he is ever +and anon throwing off; Voltaire sends his, mostly in print, and of +more elaborate turn: they talk on matters that are passing round +them, round this King, the centre of them,--Friedrich usually in a +rather swaggering way (lest his Correspondent think of blabbing), +and always with something of banter audible in him;--as has +Voltaire too, but in a finer TREBLE tone, being always female in +this pretty duet of parted lovers. It rarely comes to any scolding +between them; but there is or can be nothing of cordiality. +Nothing, except in the mutual admiration, which one perceives to be +sincere on both sides; and also, in the mutual practical +estrangement: "Nothing more of you,--especially of YOU, Madam,--as +a practical domestic article!" + +After long reading, with Historical views, in this final section of +the Friedrich-Voltaire Correspondence, at first so barren otherwise +and of little entertainment, one finds that this too, when once you +CAN "read" it (that is to say, when the scene and its details are +visible to you), becomes highly dramatic, Shakspearean-comic or +more, for this is Nature's self, who far excels even Shakspeare;-- +and that the inextricably dark condition of these Letters is a real +loss to the ingenuous reader, and especially to the student of +Friedrich. Among the frequently recurring topics, one that oftenest +turns up on Voltaire's side is that of Peace: Oh, if your Majesty +would but make Peace! Does it depend on me? thinks Friedrich +always; and is, at last, once provoked to say so:-- + + +FRIEDRICH TO VOLTAIRE. + +"REICH-HENNERSDORF, 2d July, 1759, +[shortly before Schmottseifen, while waiting Daun's slow movements]. + +"Asking ME for Peace: there is a bitter joke!--[In verse, this; +flings off a handful of crackers on the BIEN-AIME, whose +Chamberlain you are, on the HONGROISE QUI'IL ADORE, on the Russian +QUE J'ABHORRE;--then continues in prose]: + +"It is to him," the Well-beloved Louis, "that you must address +yourself, or to his Amboise in Petticoats [his Pompadour, acting +the Cardinal-Premier on this occasion]. But these people have their +heads filled with ambitious projects: these people are the +difficulty; they wish to be the sovereign arbiters of sovereigns;-- +and that is what persons of my way of thinking will by no means put +up with. I love Peace quite as much as you could wish; but I want +it good, solid and honorable. Socrates or Plato would have thought +as I do on this subject, had they found themselves placed in the +accursed position which is now mine in the world. + +"Think you there is any pleasure in leading this dog of a life +[CHIENNE, she-dog]? In seeing and causing the butchery of people +you know nothing of; in losing daily those you do know and love; +in seeing perpetually your reputation exposed to the caprices of +chance; in passing year after year in disquietudes and +apprehensions; in risking, without end, your life and your fortune? + +"I know right well the value of tranquillity, the sweets of +society, the charms of life; and I love to be happy, as much as +anybody whatever. But much as I desire these blessings, I will not +purchase them by basenesses and infamies. Philosophy enjoins us to +do our duty; faithfully to serve our Country, at the price of our +blood, of our repose, and of every sacrifice that can be required +of us. The illustrious ZADIG went through a good many adventures +which were not to his taste, CANDIDE the like; and nevertheless +took their misfortune in patience. What finer example to follow +than that of those heroes? + +"Take my word, our 'curt jackets,' as you call them [HABITS +ECOURTES, peculiar to the Prussian soldier at that time], are as +good as your red heels, as the Hungarian pelisses, and the green +frocks of the Roxelans [Russians]. We are actually on the heels of +the latter [at least poor Dohna is, and poor Dictator Wedell will +be, not with the effect anticipated!]--who by their stupidities +give us fine chance. You will see I shall get out of the scrape +this Year too, and deliver myself both from the Greens and the +Dirty-Whites [Austrian color of coat]. My neighbor of the Sacred +Hat,--I think, in spite of Holy Father's benediction, the Holy +Ghost must have inspired him the reverse way; he seems to have a +great deal of lead in his bottom. ... F." [<italic> OEuvres de +Frederic, <end italic> xxiii. 53.] + +VOLTAIRE IN ANSWER. + +"THE DELICES," guessed to be some time in "August, 1759." + +"In whatever state you are, it is very certain that you are a +great man. It is not to weary your Majesty that I now write; it is +to confess myself,--on condition you will give me absolution! +I have betrayed you; that is the fact"--(really guilty this time, +and HAVE shown something of your writing; as your Majesty, oh how +unjustly, is often suspecting that I do, and with mischievous +intention, instead of good, ah, Sire!)--In fact, I have received +that fine "MARCUS-AURELIUS" Letter (Letter we have just read); +exquisite Piece, though with biting "JUVENAL" qualities in it too; +and have shown it, keeping back the biting parts, to a beautiful +gillflirt of the Court, MINAUDIERE (who seems to be a Mistress of +Choiseul's), who is here attending Tissot for her health: +MINAUDIERE charmed with it; insists on my sending to Choiseul, "He +admires the King of Prussia, as he does all nobleness and genius; +send it!" And I did so;--and look here, what an Answer from +Choiseul (Answer lost): and may it not have a fine effect, and +perhaps bring Peace--Oh, forgive me, Sire. But read that Note of +the great man. "Try if you can decipher his writing. One may have +very honest sentiments, and a great deal of ESPRIT, and yet write +like a cat. ... + +"Sire, there was once a lion and a mouse (RAT); the mouse fell in +love with the lion, and went to pay him court. The lion, tired of +it, gave him a little scrape with his paw. The mouse withdrew into +his mouse-hole (SOURICIERE); but he still loved the lion; +and seeing one day a net they were spreading out to catch the lion +and kill him, he gnawed asunder one mesh of it. Sire, the mouse +kisses very humbly your beautiful claws, in all submissiveness:--he +will never die between two Capuchins, as, at Bale, the mastiff +(DOGUE) of St. Malo has done [27th July last]. He would have wished +to die beside his lion. Believe that the mouse was more attached +than the mastiff."--V. [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> +xxiii. 59, 60.] + +To which we saw the Answer, pair of Answers, at Sagan, in September +last. This Note from Choiseul, conveyed by Voltaire, appears to +have been the trifling well-spring from which all those wide-spread +waters of Negotiation flowed. Pitt, when applied to, on the +strength of Friedrich's hopes from this small Document of +Choiseul's, was of course ready, "How welcome every chance of a +just Peace!" and agreed to the Joint Declaration at the Hague; +and took what farther trouble I know not,--probably less sanguine +of success than Friedrich. Friedrich was ardently industrious in +the affair; had a great deal of devising and directing on it, a +great deal of corresponding with Voltaire and the Duchess, only +small fractions of which are now left. He searched out, or the +Duchess of Sachsen-Gotha did it for him, a proper Secret Messenger +for Paris: Secret Messenger, one Baron von Edelsheim, properly +veiled, was to consult a certain Bailli de Froulay, a friend of +Friedrich's in Paris;--which loyal-hearted Bailli did accordingly +endeavor there; but made out nothing. Only much vague talking; +part of it, or most of it, subdolous on Choiseul's side. Pitt would +hear of no Peace which did not include Prussia as well as England: +some said this was the cause of failure;--the real cause was that +Choiseul never had any serious intention of succeeding. +Light Choiseul, a clever man, but an unwise, of the sort called +"dashing," had entertained the matter merely in the optative form, +--and when it came nearer, wished to use it for making mischief +between Pitt and Friedrich, and for worming out Edelsheim's +secrets, if he had any,--for which reason he finally threw +Edelsheim into the Bastille for a few days. [<italic> OEuvres de +Frederic, <end italic> v. 38-41, detailed account of the Affair.] + +About the end of March I guess it to have been that Choiseul, by +way of worming out poor Edelsheim's secrets, flung him into the +Bastille for a day or two. Already in December foregoing, we have +seen Choiseul's Black-Artist busy upon the Stolen EDITION of +Friedrich's Verses. A Choiseul full of intrigues; adroit enough, +ambitious enough; restlessly industrious in making mischief, if +there were nothing else to be made; who greatly disgusted +Friedrich, now and afterwards. + +And this was what the grand Voltaire Pacification came to, though +it filled the world with temporary noise, and was so interesting to +Voltaire and another. What a heart-affecting generosity, humility +and dulcet pathos in that of the poor Mouse gnawing asunder a mesh +of the Lion's net! There is a good deal of that throughout, on the +Voltaire side,--that is to say, while writing to Friedrich. +But while writing of him, to third parties, sometimes almost +simultaneously, the contrast of styles is not a little startling; +and the beautiful affectionately chirping Mouse is seen suddenly to +be an injured Wild-cat with its fur up. All readers of Voltaire are +aware of this; and how Voltaire handles his "LUC" (mysterious +nickname for KING FRIEDRICH ), when Luc's back is turned. For alas, +there is no man or thing but has its wrong side too; least of all, +a Voltaire,--doing TREBLE voice withal, if you consider it, in such +a Duet of estranged Lovers! Suppose we give these few Specimens,-- +treble mostly, and a few of bass as well,--to illustrate the nature +of this Duet, and of the noises that went on round it, in a war- +convulsed world? And first of all, concerning the enigma "What +is Luc?" + +What the LUC in Voltaire is? Shocking explanations have been hit +upon: but Wagniere (WAGNER, an intelligent Swiss man), Voltaire's +old Secretary, gives this plain reading of the riddle: "M. de +Voltaire had, at The Delices [near by Ferney, till the Chateau got +built], a big Ape, of excessively mischievous turn; who used to +throw stones at the passers-by, and sometimes would attack with its +teeth friend or foe alike. One day it thrice over bit M. de +Voltaire's own leg. He had called it LUC (Luke); and in +conversation with select friends, as also in Letters to such, he +sometimes designated the King of Prussia by that nickname: 'HE is +like my Luc here; bites whoever caresses him!'--In 1756 M. de +Voltaire, having still on his heart the Frankfurt Outrage, wrote +curious MEMOIRES [ah, yes, VIE PRIVEE]; and afterwards wished to +burn them; but a Copy had been stolen from him in 1768,"--and they +still afflict the poor world. + +To the same effect speaks Johannes von Muller: "Voltaire had an Ape +called Luc; and the spiteful man, in thus naming the King, meant to +stigmatize him as the mere APE of greater men; as one without any +greatness of his own."--No; LUC was mischievous, flung stones after +passengers; had, according to Clogenson, "bitten Voltaire himself, +while being caressed by him;" that was the analogy in Voltaire's +mind. Preuss says, this Nickname first occurs "12th December, +1757." Suppose 11th December to have been the day of getting one's +leg bitten thrice over; and that, in bed next morning,--stiff, +smarting, fretful against the sad ape-tricks and offences of this +life,--before getting up to one's Works and Correspondences, the +angry similitude had shot, slightly fulgurous and consolatory, +athwart the gloom of one's mood? [Longchamp et Wagniere <italic> +Memoires, <end italic> i. 34; Johannes von Muller, <italic> Works +<end italic> (12mo, Stuttgard, 1821), xxxi. 140 (LETTERS TO HIS +BROTHER, No, 218, "July, 1796"); Clogenson's Note, in <italic> +OEuvres de Voltaire, <end italic> lxxvii. 103; Preuss, ii. 71.] +That will account for Luc. + +Many of the Voltaire-Friedrich LETTERS are lost; and the remainder +lie in sad disorder in all the Editions, their sequence +unintelligible without lengthy explanation. So that the following +Snatches cannot well be arranged here in the way of Choral Strophe +and Antistrophe, as would have been desirable. We shall have to +group them loosely under heads; with less respect to date than +to subject-matter, and to the reader's convenience for +understanding them. + + +VOLTAIRE ON FRIEDRICH, TO DIFFERENT THIRD-PARTIES, DURING THIS WAR. + +TO D'ARGENTAL (Has not yet heard of LEUTHEN, which happened five +days before). ... "I have tasted the vengeance of consoling the +King of Prussia, and that is enough for me. He goes beating on the +one side, and getting beaten on the other: except for another +miracle [like Rossbach], he will be ruined. Better have really been +a philosopher, as he pretended to be." [<italic> OEuvres de +Voltaire, <end italic> lxvii. 139 ("The Delices, 10th +December, 1757").] + +TO THE REVEREND COMTE DE BERNIS (outwardly still our flourishing +Prime-Minister, by grace of Pompadour, but soon to be extinguished +under a Red Hat. Date is six days before ZORNDORF). ... "I cannot +imagine how some people have gone into suspecting that my heart +might have the weakness to lean a little towards WHOM you know, +towards my Ingrate that was! One is bound to have politeness; +but one has memory as well;--and one is attached, as warmly as +superfluously, to the Good Cause, which it belongs only to you to +defend. Certain it is, poor I am not like the three-fourths of the +Germans in these days [since ROSSBACH, above all]! I have +everywhere seen Ladies'-fans with the Prussian Eagle painted on +them, eating the FLEUR-DE-LIS; the Hanover Horse giving a kick to +M. de Richelieu's bottom; a Courier carrying a bottle of Queen-of- +Hungary Water to Madame de Pompadour. My Nieces shall certainly not +have that fashion of Fans, at my poor little DELICES, whither I am +just returning." [Ib. lxxvii. 35 ("Soleure, 19th August, 1758").] + +TO MADAME D'ARGENTAL (on occasion of MINDEN: Kunersdorf three days +ago, but not yet heard of). ... "Truly, Madame, when M. de Contades +leads to the butchery all the descendants of our ancient +chevaliers, and sets them to attack eighty pieces of cannon [not in +the least, if you knew it; the reverse, if you knew it],--as Don +Quixote did the windmills! This horrible day pierces my soul. I am +French to excess, especially since those new favors [not worth +mentioning here], which I owe to my divine Angels and to M. le Duc +de Choiseul. + +"Luc--you know who Luc is [as do we]--is probably giving Battle to +the Austrians and Russians [KUNERSDORF, 12th; three days ago, did +it, and was beaten to your mind], at the moment while I have the +honor of writing to you; at least, he told me such was his Royal +intention. If they beat him, as may happen, what a shame for us to +have been beaten by the Duke of Brunswick! I wish you knew this +Duke [as I have done; a Duke of no ESPRIT, no gift of tongue, in +fact no talent at all that I could discern], you would be much +astonished; and would say, 'The people whom he beats must be great +blockheads.' The truth of the fact is, that all these troops are +better disciplined than ours:" [<italic> OEuvres de Voltaire, <end +italic> lxxviii, 186, 187 ("Delices, 15th August, 1759").]--Yes +indeed, my esteemed Voltaire; and also, perhaps, that ESPRIT, or +gift of tongue, is not the sole gift for Battles and Campaigns?-- + +TO D'ARGENTAL (seventh day after KUNERSDORF: "mouse upon lion's +net" nearly contemporaneous). "At last, then, I think my Russians +must be near Great Glogau [might have been, one thinks, after such +a Kunersdorf; did not start for a month yet; never could get very +near at all]. Who would have thought that Barberina [Mackenzie's +Dancer once; sent to Glogau, Cocceji and she, when their marriage +became public} was going to be besieged by the Russians, and in +Glogau: O Destiny!-- + +"I don't love Luc, far from it: I never will pardon him his +infamous procedure with my Niece [at Frankfurt that time]; nor the +face he has to write me flattering things twice a month; +without having ever repaired his wrongs. I desire much his entire +humiliation, the chastisement of the sinner; whether his eternal +damnation. I don't quite know." [Ib. lxxviii. 195 ("19th August, +1759").] (Hear, hear!) + +TO THE SAME (a month after MAXEN: "Peace" Negotiation very lively). +... "Meanwhile, if Luc could be punished before this happy Peace! +If, by this last stroke of General Beck [tussle with Dierecke at +Meissen, 4th December, capture of Dierecke and 1,500; stroke not of +an overwhelming nature, but let us be thankful for our mercies], +which has opened the road from the Lausitz to Berlin [alas, not in +the least], some Haddick could pay Berlin a visit again! You see, +in Tragedy I wish always to have crime punished. + +"There is talk of a great Battle fought the 6th [not a word of +truth in it] between Luc and him of the Consecrated Hat: said to +have been very murderous. I interest myself very much in this +Piece" now playing under the Sun. "Whenever the Austrians have any +advantage, Kaunitz says to Madame de Bentinck [litigant wandering +Lady, known to me at Berlin and elsewhere], 'Write that to our +Friend Voltaire.' Whenever Luc has the least success, he tells me, +'I have battered the oppressors of mankind. Dear Angel, in these +horrors I am the only one that has room to laugh:--and yet I don't +laugh either; owing to the CULS-NOIRS [base crockery; one's Dinner +Plate all vanished [Supra, p. 374.]], to the Annuities, Lotteries, +and to Pondicherry,--for I am always afraid about that latter!" +(Going, that, for certain; going, gone, and your East Indies along +with it!) [<italic> OEuvres de Voltaire, <end italic> lxxviii. 346 +("22d December, 1759").] + +TO PERPETUAL SECRETARY FORMEY (in forwarding a "Letter left with +me"). "Health and peace, Monsieur; and be SECRETAIRE ETERNEL. +Your King is always a man unique, astonishing, inimitable. He makes +charming verses, in times when another could not write a line of +prose; he deserves to be happy: but will he be so? And if not, what +becomes of you? For my own part, I will not die between two +Capuchins. Hardly worth while, exalting one's soul for such a +future as that. What a stupid and detestable farce this world is!" +[Ib. lxxviii. 348 (from SOUVENIRS D'UN CITOYEN, i. 302), "11th +January 1760."] + +TO D'ARGENTAL ("Peace" Negotiations still at their briskest), ... +"But, my dear Angel, you will see on Tuesday the great man who has +turned my head (DONT JE SUIS FOU), M. le Duc de Choiseul. +The Letters he honors me with enchant me. God will bless him, don't +doubt it,"--after all! "We have at Pondicherry a Lally, a devil of +an Irish spirit,--who will cost me, sooner or later, above 20,000 +livres annually [have rents in our INDIA COMPANY, say 1,000 pounds +a year, as my Angels know], which used to be the readiest item of +my Pittance. But M. le Duc de Choiseul will triumph over Luc in one +way or other; then what joy! I suppose he shows you my impertinent +reveries. Do you know, Luc is so mad, that I don't despair of +bringing him to reason [persuading him to give up Cleve, and +knuckle as he should, in this Peace Affair]. That were what I +should call the true Comedy! I should like to have your advices on +the conduct of that Dramatic Piece." [<italic> OEuvres de Voltaire, +<end italic> lxxviii. 375 ("Delices, 15th February, 1760").] + +The late "mouse" gnawing its mesh of net, what a subtle and mighty +hunter has it grown! This of Cleve, however, and of knuckling, +would not do. Hear the stiff Answer that comes: "'Conditions of +Peace,' do you call them? The people that propose such can have no +wish to see Peace. What a logic theirs! 'I might yield the Country +of Cleve, because the inhabitants are stupid'! What would your +Ministers say if one required the Province of Champagne from them, +because the Proverb says, Ninety-nine sheep and one Champagner make +a Hundred head of cattle?" [Friedrich to Voltaire, "Freyberg, 3d +April, 1760:" <italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> xxiii. +73, 74.] + +FAULT ON CDISC--REFERENCE/FOOTNOTE ILLEGIBLE--P.394-BOOK XIX---- +------------------------------------------------------------- + +AGAIN TO D'ARGENTAL (three or four months after; Luc having proved +obstinate, and still unsuccessful). ... "I conjure you make use of +all your eloquence to tell him [the supreme Duc de Choiseul], that +if Luc misgo, it will be no misfortune to France. That Brandenburg +will always remain an Electorate; that it is good there be no +Elector in it strong enough to do without the protection of our +King; and that all the Princes of the Empire will always have +recourse to that august protection (Most Christian Majesty's] +CONTRA L'AQUILA GRIFAGNA,--were the Prussian Kingship but +abolished. Nota bene, if Luc were discomfited this Year, we should +have Peace next Winter." [<italic> OEuvres de Voltaire, <end +italic> lxxix. 110 ("July, 1760").] + +TO SUPREME CHOISEUL (a year later). ... "He has been a bad man, +this Luc; and now, if one were to bet,--by the law of probability +it would be 3 to 1 that Lnc will go to pot (SERA PERDU), with his +rhymings and his banterings, and his injustices and politics, all +as bad as himself." [Ib. lxxx. 313 ("Chateau de Ferney, 13th July, +1761").] + + +VOLTAIRE ON SURROUNDING OBJECTS, CHIEFLY ON MAUPERTUIS, AND THE BATTLES. + +TO D'ALEMBERT (in the Rossbach-Leuthen interval: on the Battle of +BRESLAU, 22d November, 1757; called by the Austrians "a +Malplaquet," and believed by Voltaire to be a Malplaquet and more). +... "The Austrians do avenge us, and humble us [us, and our +miserable Rossbachs], in a terrible manner. Thirteen attacks on the +Prussian intrenchments, lasted six hours; never was Victory +bloodier, or more horribly beautiful [in the brain of certain men]. +We pretty French fellows, we are more expeditious, our job is done +in five minutes. The King of Prussia is always writing me Verses, +now like a desperado, now like a hero; and as for me, I try to live +like a philosopher in my hermitage. He has obtained what he always +wished: to beat the French, to be admired by them, to mock them; +but the Austrians are mocking him in a very serious way. Our shame +of November 5th has given him glory; and with such glory, which is +but transient and dearly bought, he must content himself. He will +lose his own Countries, with those he has seized, unless the French +again discover [which they will] the secret of losing all their +Armies, as they did in 1741." [Ib. Lxxvii. 133, 134 ("Delices, 6th +December, 1757," day after Leuthen).] + +--FAULT ON CDISC AS ABOVE--P.395 BOOK XIX------- + + +TO CLAIRAUT, THE MATHEMATICIAN (Maupertuis lately dead). An +excellent Treatise, this you have sent me, Monsieur! "Your war with +the Geometers on the subject of this Comet appears to me like a war +of the gods in Olympus, while on Earth there is going on a fight of +dogs and cats. ... Would to Heaven our friend Moreau-Maupertuis had +cultivated his art like you! That he had predicted comets, instead +of exalting his soul to predict the future; of dissecting the +brains of giants to know the nature of the soul; of japanning +people with pitch to cure them of every malady; of persecuting +Konig; and of dying between Two Capuchins" (dead three weeks ago, +on those terms, poor soul)! [<italic> OEuvres de Voltaire, <end +italic> lxxviii. 191 ("Delices, 19th August, 1759").] + +TO D'ALEMBERT (a week later). ... "What say you of Maupertuis dying +between Two Capuchins! He was ill, this long while, of a repletion +of pride; but I had not reckoned him either a hypocrite or an +imbecile. I don't advise you ever to go and fill his place at +Berlin; you would repent that. I am Astolpho warning Roger +(Ruggiero) not to trust himself to the Enchantress Alcina; but +Roger was unadvisable." [Ib. lxxviii. 197 ("Delices, 25th August, +1759").] + +TO THE SAME (two years later: Luc, on certain grounds, may as well +be saved). "With regard to Luc, though I have my just causes of +anger against him, I own to you, in my quality of Frenchman and +thinking being, I am glad that a certain most Orthodox House has +not swallowed Germany, and that the Jesuits are not confessing in +Berlin. Over towards the Danube superstition is very powerful. ... +The INFAME--You are well aware that I speak of superstition only; +for as to the Christian religion, I respect and love it, like you. +Courage, Brethren! Preach with force, and write with address: +God will bless you.--Protect, you my Brother, the Widow Calas all +you can! She is a poor weak-minded Huguenot, but her Husband was +the victim of the WHITE PENITENTS. It is the concern of Human +Nature that the Fanatics of Toulouse be confounded." (The case of +Calas, SECOND act of it, getting on the scene: a case still +memorable to everybody. Stupendous bit of French judicature; and +Voltaire's noblest outburst, into mere transcendent blaze of pity, +virtuous wrath, and determination to bring rescue and help against +the whole world.) [<italic> OEuvres de Voltaire, <end italic> +lxxviii. 52, 53 ("Ferney, 28th November, 1762").] + + +FRIEDRICH TO VOLTAIRE, BEFORE AND DURING THESE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. + +AT SCHMOTTSEIFEN, FIVE DAYS BEFORE ZULLICHAU, TEN DAYS BEFORE THAT +HUNT OF LOUDON AND HADDICK (Voltaire, under rebuke for +indiscretion, has been whimpering a little. My discreet Niece burnt +those LAST verses, Sire; no danger there, at least! Truculent +Bishop Something-AC tried to attack your Majesty; but was done for +by a certain person). Friedrich answers: "In truth, you are a +singular creature. When I think of scolding you, you say two words, +and the reproach expires. Impossible to scold you, even when you +deserve it. ... + +"As to your Niece, let her burn me or roast me, I care little. +Nor are you to think me so sensitive to what your Bishops in IC or +in AC may say of me. I have the lot of all actors who play in +public; applauded by some, despised by others. One must prepare +oneself for satires, for calumnies, for a multitude of lies, which +will be sent abroad into currency against one: but need that +trouble my tranquillity? I go my road; I do nothing against the +interior voice of my conscience; and I concern myself very little +in what way my actions paint themselves in the brain of beings, not +always very thinking, with two legs and without feathers." +["Schmottseifen, 18th July, 1759;" <italic> OEuvres de Frederic, +<end italic> xxiii. 55, 56.] + +AT WILSDRUF, JUST BEFORE MAXEN (an exultant exuberant curious +Letter; too long for insertion,--part of it given above). ... +"For your Tragedy of SOCRATE, thanks. At Paris they are going to +burn it, the wretched fools,--not aware that absurd fanaticism is +their dominant vice. Better burn the dose of medicine, however, +than the useful Doctor. I, can I join myself to that set? If I bite +you, as you complain, it is without my knowledge. But I am +surrounded with enemies, one hitting me, another pricking me, +another daubing me with mud;--patience at last yields, and one +flies abroad into a general rage, too indiscriminate perhaps." + +You talk of my Verses on Rossbach (my ADIEU TO THE HOOPERS on +finding their Bridge burnt [Supra, p. 21.]). "This Campaign I have +had no beatific vision, in the style of Moses. The barbarous +Cossacks and Tartars, infamous to look at on any side, have burnt +and ravaged countries, and committed atrocious inhumanities. +This is all I saw of THEM. Such melancholy spectacles don't tend to +raise one's spirits. [Breaks off into metre:] LA FORTUNE +INCONSTANTE ET FIERE, Fortune inconstant and proud. Does not treat +her suitors Always in an equal manner. Those fools called heroes, +who run the country, + +<italic> Ces fous nommes heros, et qui courent les champs, + Couverts de sang et de poussiere, + Voltaire, n'ont pas tous les ans + La faceur de voir le derriere + De leurs ennemis insolents. <end italic> + +Can't expect that pleasure every year"! ... + +Maupertuis, say you? "Don't trouble the ashes of the dead; let the +grave at least put an end to your unjust hatreds. Reflect that even +Kings make peace after long battling; cannot you ever make it? +I think you would be capable, like Orpheus, of descending to Hell, +not to soften Pluto and bring back your beautiful Emilie, but to +pursue into that Abode of Woe an enemy whom your wrath has only too +much persecuted in the world: for shame!" [<italic> OEuvres de +Frederic, <end italic> xxiii. 61-65 ("Wilsdruf, 17th November, +1759").]--and rebukes him, more than once elsewhere, in very +serious terms. + +IN WINTER-QUARTERS, ON PEACE AND THE STOLEN EDITION. (Starts in +verse, which we abridge:) With how many laurels you have covered +yourself in all the fields of Literature! One laurel yet is wanting +to the brow of Voltaire. If, as the crown of so many perfect works, +he could by a skilful manoeuvre bring back Peace, I, and Europe +with me, would think that his masterpiece! [Takes to prose:] + +"This is my thought and all Europe's. Virgil made as fine Verses as +you; but he never made a Peace. It will be a distinction you will +have over all your brethren of Parnassus, if you succeed. + +"I know not who has betrayed me, and thought of printing [the +EDITION;--not you, surely!] a pack of rhapsodies which were good +enough to amuse myself, but were never meant for publication. +After all, I am so used to treacheries and bad manoeuvres,"--what +matters this insignificant one? + +"I know not who the Bredow is [whom you speak of having met]; +but he has told you true. The sword and death have made frightful +ravages among us. And the worst is, we are not yet at the end of +the tragedy. You may judge what effect these cruel shocks made on +me. I wrap myself in my stoicism, the best I can. Flesh and blood +revolt against such tyrannous command; but it must be followed. +If you saw me, you would scarcely know me again: I am old, broken, +gray-headed, wrinkled; I am losing my teeth and my gayety: if this +go on, there will be nothing of me left, but the mania of making +verses, and an inviolable attachment to my duties and to the few +virtuous men whom I know." [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end +italic> xxiii. 69 ("Freyberg, 24th Feb. 1760").] + +IN WINTER-QUARTERS, A MONTH LATER (comes still on "Peace" again). +... "I will have you paid that bit of debt [perhaps of postage or +the like], that Louis of the Mill (Louis du Moulin," at Fontenoy, +who got upon a Windmill with his Dauphin, and caught that nickname +from the common men) "may have wherewithal to make war on me. +Add tenth-penny tax to your tax of twentieth-penny; impose new +capitations, make titular offices to get money; do, in a word, +whatever you like. In spite of all your efforts, you will not get a +Peace signed by my hands, except on conditions honorable to my +Nation. Your people, blown up with self-conceit and folly, may +depend on these words. Adieu, live happy; and while you make all +your efforts to destroy Prussia, think that nobody has less +deserved it than I, either of you or of your French." [Ib. xxiii. +72 ("Freyberg, 20th March, 1760").] + +STILL IN WINTER-QUARTERS (on "Peace" still; but begins with +"Maupertuis," which is all we will give). "What rage animates you +against Maupertuis? You accuse HIM of having published that Furtive +EDITION. Know that his Copy, well sealed by him, arrived here after +his death, and that he was incapable of such an indiscretion. +[Breaks into verse:] + + Leave in peace the cold ashes of Maupertuis: + Truth can defend him, and will. + His soul was faithful and noble: + He pardoned you that scandalous Akakia (CE VIL LIBELLE + QUE VOTRE FUREUR CRIMINELLE + PRIT SOIN CHEZ MOI DE GRIFFONER); he did:-- + And you? Shame on such delirium as Voltaire's! + What, this beautiful, what, this grand genius, + Whom I admired with transport, + Soils himself with calumny, and is ferocious on the dead? + Flocking together, in the air uttering cries of joy, + Vile ravens pounce down upon sepulchres, + And make their prey of corpses:"-- + +Blush, repent, alas! + +These Specimens will suffice. "The King of Prussia?" Voltaire would +sometimes say: "He is as potent and as malignant as the Devil; +but he is also as unhappy, not knowing friendship,"--having such a +chance, too, with some of us! + + +FRIEDRICH HAS SENT LORD MARISCHAL TO SPAIN: OTHER FOND HOPES OF FRIEDRICH'S. + +In the beginning of this Year, 1759, Earl Marischal had been called +out of his Neufchatel stagnancy, and launched into the Diplomatic +field again; sent on mission into Spain, namely. The case was this: +Ferdinand VI. of Spain (he who would not pay Friedrich the old +Spanish debt, but sent him merino rams, and a jar of Queen-Dowager +snuff) had fallen into one of his gloomy fits, and was thought to +be dying;--did, in fact, die, in a state nearly mad, on the 10th +August following. By Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, and by all manner +of Treaties, Carlos of Naples, his Half-Brother (Termagant's Baby +Carlos, whom we all knew), was to succeed him in Spain; Don Philip, +the next Brother, now of Parma and Piacenza, was to follow as King +in Naples,--ceding those two litigious Duchies to Austria, after +all. Friedrich, vividly awake to every chance, foresaw, in case of +such disjunctures in Italy, good likelihood of quarrel there. +And has despatched the experienced old Marischal to be on the +ground, and have his eyes open. Marischal knows Spain very well; +and has often said, "He left a dear old friend there, the Sun." +Marischal was under way, about New-year's time; but lingered by the +road, waiting how Ferdinand would turn,--and having withal an +important business of his own, as he sauntered on. Did not arrive, +I think, till Summer was at hand, and his dear Old Friend coming +out in vigor. + +August 10th, 1759, Ferdinand died; and the same day Carlos became +King of Spain. But, instead of giving Naples to Don Philip, Carlos +gave it to a junior Son of his own; and left poor Philip to content +himself with Parma and Piacenza, as heretofore. Clear against the +rights of Austria; Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle is perfectly explicit +on that point! Will not Austria vindicate its claim? Politicians +say, Austria might have recovered not only Parma and Piacenza, but +the kingdom of Naples itself,--no France at present able to hinder +it, no Spain ever able. But Austria, contrary to expectation, would +not: a Country tenacious enough of its rights, real and imaginary; +greedy enough of Italy, but of Silesia much more! The matter was +deliberated in Council at Vienna; but the result was magnanimously, +No. "Finish this Friedrich first; finish this Silesia. Nothing else +till that!" + +The Marischal's legationary function, therefore, proved a sinecure; +no Carlos needing Anti-Austrian assistance from Friedrich or +another; Austria magnanimously having let him alone. Doubtless a +considerable disappointment to Friedrich. Industrious Friedrich had +tried, on the other side of this affair, Whether the King of +Sardinia, once an adventurous fighting kind of man, could not be +stirred up, having interests involved? But no; he too, grown old, +devotional, apprehensive, held by his rosaries, and answered, No. +Here is again a hope reasonable to look at, but which +proves fallacious. + +Marischal continued in Spain, corresponding, sending news (the +Prussian Archives alone know what), for nearly a couple of years. +[Returned "April, 1762" (Friedrich's Letter to him, "10th April, +1762:" in <italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> xx. 285).] +His Embassy had one effect, which is of interest to us here. On his +way out, he had gone by London, with a view of getting legal +absolution for his Jacobitism,--so far, at least, as to be able to +inherit the Earldom of Kintore, which is likely to fall vacant +soon. By blood it is his, were the Jacobite incapacities withdrawn. +Kintore is a cadet branch of the Keiths; "John, younger Son of +William Sixth Lord Marischal," was the first Kintore. +William Sixth's younger Son, yes;--and William's Father, a man +always venerable to me, had (A.D. 1593) founded Marischal College, +Aberdeen,--where, for a few, in those stern granite Countries, the +Diviner Pursuits are still possible (thank God and this Keith) on +frugal oatmeal. MARISCHAL-COLLEGE Keith, or FIFTH Lord Marischal, +was grandfather's grandfather of our Potsdam Friend, who is tenth +and last. [Douglas's <italic> Scotch Peerage, <end italic> pp. 448 +et seq., 387 et seq.] Honor to the brave and noble, now fallen +silent under foot NOT of the nobler! In a word, the fourth Kintore +was about dying childless; and Marischal had come by London on that +heritage business. + +He carried, naturally, the best recommendations. Britannic Majesty, +Pitt and everybody met him with welcome and furtherance; what he +wished was done, and in such a style of promptness and cordiality, +Pitt pushing it through, as quite gained the heart of old +Marischal. And it is not doubted, though particulars have not been +published, That he sent important Spanish notices to Pitt, in these +years;-and especially informed him that King Carlos and the French +Bourbon had signed a FAMILY COMPACT (15th August, 1761), or solemn +covenant, to stand by one another as brothers. Which was +thenceforth, to Pitt privately, an important fact, as perhaps we +shall see; though to other men it was still only a painful rumor +and dubiety. Whether the old Marischal informed him, That King +Carlos hated the English; that he never had, in his royal mind, +forgiven that insult of Commodore Martin's (watch laid on the +table, in the Bay of Naples, long ago), I do not know; but that +also was a fact. A diligent, indignant kind of man, this Carlos, +I am told; by no means an undeserving King of Spain, though his +Portraits declare him an ugly: we will leave him in the discreet +Marischal's hands, with the dear Old Friend shining equally +on both. + +Singular to see how, in so veracious an intellect as Friedrich's, +so many fallacies of hope are constantly entertained. War in Italy, +on quarrel with King Carlos; Peace with France and the Pompadour, +by help of Edelsheim and the Bailli de Froulay; Peace with Russia +and the INFAME CATIN, by help of English briberies (Friedrich sent +an agent this winter with plenty of English guineas, but he got no +farther than the Frontier, not allowed even to try): sometimes, as +again this winter, it is hope of Denmark joining him (in alarm +against the Russian views on Holstein; but that, too, comes to +nothing); above all, there is perennially, budding out yearly, the +brighter after every disappointment, a hope in the Grand Turk and +his adherencies. Grand Turk, or failing him, the Cham of Tartary,-- +for certain, some of these will be got to fasten on the heels of +Austria, of Russia; and create a favorable diversion? +Friedrich took an immense deal of trouble about this latter hope. +It is almost pathetic to see with what a fond tenacity he clings to +it; and hopes it over again, every new Spring and Summer. +[Preuss, ii. 121 et seq., 292 &c.; Schoning, ii. iii. PASSIM.] + +The hope that an INFAME CATIN might die some day (for she is now +deep in chaotic ailments, deepish even in brandy) seems never to +have struck him; at least there is nowhere any articulate hint of +it,--the eagle-flight of one's imagination soaring far above such a +pettiness! Hope is very beautiful; and even fallacious hope, in +such a Friedrich. The one hope that did not deceive him, was hope +in his own best exertion to the very death; and no fallacy ever for +a moment slackened him in that. Stand to thyself: in the wide +domain of Imagination, there is no other certainty of help. +No other certainty;--and yet who knows through what pettinesses +Heaven may send help! + + + +Chapter IX. + +PRELIMINARIES TO A FIFTH CAMPAIGN. + +It was April 25th before Friedrich quitted Freyberg, and took Camp; +not till the middle of June that anything of serious Movement came. +Much discouragement prevails in his Army, we hear: and indeed, it +must be owned, the horoscope of these Campaigns grows yearly +darker. Only Friedrich himself must not be discouraged! Nor is;-- +though there seldom lay ahead of any man a more dangerous-looking +Year than this that is now dimly shaping itself to Friedrich. +His fortune seems to have quitted him; his enemies are more +confident than ever. + +This Year, it seems, they have bethought them of a new device +against him. "We have 90 million Population," count they; "he has +hardly 5; in the end, he must run out of men! Let us cease +exchanging prisoners with him." At Jagerndorf, in April, 1758 (just +before our march to Olmutz), there had been exchange; not without +haggles; but this was the last on Austria's part. Cartel of the +usual kind, values punctually settled: a Field-marshal is worth +3,000 common men, or 1,500 pounds; Colonel worth 130 men, or 65 +pounds; common man is worth 10s. sterling, not a high figure. +[Archenholtz, ii. 53.] The Russians haggled still more, no keeping +of them to their word; but they tried it a second time, last year +(October, 1759); and by careful urging and guiding, were got +dragged through it, and the prisoners on both sides sent to their +colors again. After which, it was a settled line of policy, "No +more exchanging or cartelling; we will starve him out in that +article!" And had Friedrich had nothing but his own 5 millions to +go upon, though these contributed liberally, he had in truth been +starved out. Nor could Saxony, with Mecklenburg, Anhalt, Erfurt, +and their 10,000 men a year, have supplied him,--"had not there," +says Archenholtz (a man rather fond of superlatives),-- + +"Had not there risen a Recruiting system," or Crimping system, "the +like of which for kind and degree was never seen in the Earth +before. Prisoners, captive soldiers, if at all likely fellows, were +by every means persuaded, and even compelled, to take Prussian +service. Compelled, cudgel in hand," says Archenholtz (who is too +indiscriminating, I can see,--for there were Pfalzers, +Wurtembergers, Reichsfolk, who had FIRST been compelled the other +way): "not asked if they wished to serve, but dragged to the +Prussian colors, obliged to swear there, and fight against, their +countrymen." Say at least, against their countrymen's Governors, +contumacious Serene Highnesses of Wurtemberg, Mecklenburg and the +like. Wurtemberg, we mentioned lately, had to shoot a good few of +his first levy against the Protestant Champion, before they would +march at all!--I am sorry for these poor men; and wish the Reich +had been what it once was, a Veracity and Practical Reality, not an +Imaginary Entity and hideously contemptible Wiggery, as it now is! +Contemptible, and hideous as well;--setting itself up on that, +fundamental mendacity; which is eternally tragical, though little +regarded in these days, and which entails mendacities without end +on parties concerned!--But, apart from all this, certain it is, + +"The whole German Reich was deluged with secret Prussian Enlisters. +The greater part of these were not actual Officers at all, but +hungry Adventurers, who had been bargained with, and who, for their +own profit, allowed themselves every imaginable art to pick up men. +Head and centre of them was the Prussian Colonel Colignon," one of +the Free-Corps people; "a man formed by nature for this business +[what a beautiful man!]--who gave all the others their directions, +and taught them by his own example. Colignon himself," in winter- +time, "travelled about in all manner of costumes and characters; +persuading hundreds of people into the Prussian service. He not +only promised Commissions, but gave such,--nominating loose young +fellows (LAFFEN), students, merchants' clerks and the like, to +Lieutenancies and Captaincies in the Prussian Army [about as likely +as in the Seraphim and Cherubim, had they known it]: in the +Infantry, in the Cuirassiers, in the Hussars,--it is all one, you +have only to choose. The renown of the Prussian arms was so +universal, and combined with the notion of rich booty, that +Colignon's Commission-manufactory was continually busy. No need to +provide marching-money, hand-money [shillings for earnest]; +Colignon's recruits travelled mostly of will and at their own +charge. In Franken, in Schwaben, in the Rhine Countries, a +dissolute son would rob his father,--as shopmen their masters' +tills, and managers their cash-boxes,--and hie off to those +magnanimous Prussian Officials, who gave away companies like +kreutzers, and had a value for young fellows of spirit. +They hastened to Magdeburg with their Commissions; where they were +received as common recruits, and put by force into the regiments +suitable. No use in resisting: the cudgel and the drill-sergeant," +--who doubts it?--"till complete submission. By this and other +methods Colignon and his helpers are reckoned to have raised for +the King, in the course of this War, about 60,000 recruits." +[Archenholtz, ii. 53.] + +This Year, Daun, though his reputation is on the decline lately, is +to have the chief command, as usual; the Grand Army, with Saxony +for field of conquest, and the Reichsfolk to assist, is to be +Daun's. But, what is reckoned an important improvement, Loudon is +to have a separate command, and Army of his own. Loudon, hot of +temper, melancholic, shy, is not a man to recommend himself to +Kriegshofrath people; but no doubt Imperial Majesty has had her own +wise eye on him. His merits are so undeniable; the need of some +Commander NOT of the Cunctator type is become so very pressing. +"Army of Silesia, 50,000;" that is to be Loudon's, with 40,000 +Russians to co-operate and unite themselves with Loudon; and try +actually for conquest of Silesia, this Year; while Daun, conquering +Saxony, keeps the King busy. + +At Petersburg, Versailles, Vienna, much planning there has been, +and arduous consulting: first at Petersburg, in time and in +importance, where Montalembert has again been very urgent in regard +to those poor Swedish people, and the getting of them turned to +some kind of use: "Stettin in conjunction with the Swedes; +oh, listen to reason, and take Stettin!" "Would not Dantzig by +ourselves be the advisable thing?" answers Soltikof: "Dantzig is an +important Town, and the grand Baltic Haven; and would be so +convenient for our Preussen, since we have determined to maintain +that fine Conquest." So thinks Czarish Majesty, as well as +Soltikof, privately, though there are difficulties as to Dantzig; +and, in fine, except Colberg over again, there can be nothing +attempted of sieging thereabouts. A Siege of Colberg, however, +there is actually to be: Second Siege,--if perhaps it will prove +luckier than the First was, two years since? Naval Armament +Swedish-Russian, specific Land Armament wholly Russian, are to do +this Second Siege, at a favorable time; except by wishes, Soltikof +will not be concerned in it; nor, it is to be hoped, shall we,--in +such pressure of haste as is probably ahead for us. + +"Silesia would be the place for sieges!" say the Vienna people +always; and Imperial Majesty is very urgent; and tries all methods, +--eloquence, flatteries, bribes,--to bring Petersburg to that view. +Which is at last adopted; heartily by Czarish Majesty, ever ready +for revenge on Friedrich, the more fatal and the more direct, the +better. Heartily by her; not so heartily by Soltikof and her Army +people, who know the Austriau habits; and privately decide on NOT +picking chestnuts from the fire, while the other party's paws keep +idle, and only his jaws are ready. + +Of Small-War there is nothing or little to be said; indeed there +occurs almost none. Roving Cossack-Parties, under one Tottleben, +whom we shall hear of otherwise, infest Pommern, bickering with the +Prussian posts there; not ravaging as formerly, Tottleben being a +civilized kind of man. One of these called at the Castle of +Schwedt, one day; found Prince Eugen of Wurtemberg there (nearly +recovered of his Kunersdorf wounds), who is a Son-in-law of the +House, married to a Daughter of Schwedt;--ancestor of the now +Russian Czars too, had anybody then known it. Him these Cossacks +carried off with them, a march or two; then, taking his bond for a +certain ransom, let him go. Bond and bondholder being soon after +captured by the Prussians, Eugen paid no ransom; so that to us his +adventure is without moment, though it then made some noise among +the Gazetteers. + +Two other little passages, and only two, we will mention; +which have in themselves a kind of memorability. First, that of +General Czetteritz and the MANUSCRIPT he lost. Of posts across the +Elbe I find none mentionable here, and believe there is none, +except only Czetteritz's; who stands at Cosdorf, well up towards +Torgau Country, as sentry over Torgau and the Towns there. +On Czetteritz there was, in February, an attempt made by the active +General Beck, whom Daun had detached for that object. +Extremely successful, according to the Austrian Gazetteers; but in +reality amounting to as good as nothing:--Surprisal of Czetteritz's +first vedette, in the dawn of a misty February morning (February +21st, 1760); non-surprisal of his second, which did give fire and +alarm, whereupon debate; and Czetteritz springing into his saddle; +retreat of his people to rearward, with loss of 7 Officers and 200 +prisoners;--but ending in re-advance, with fresh force, a few hours +after; [Seyfarth, ii. 655.]--in repulse of Beck, in recovery of +Cosdorf, and a general state of AS-YOU-WERE in that part. A sputter +of Post-War, not now worth mentioning at all,--except only for one +small circumstance: That in the careering and swift ordering, such +as there was, on the rear-guard especially, Major-General +Czetteritz's horse happened to fall; whereby not only was the +General taken prisoner, but his quarters got plundered, and in his +luggage,--what is the notable circumstance,--there was found a +small Manuscript, MILITAIRISCHE INSTRUKZION FUR DIE GENERALE, such +as every Prussian General has, and is bound to keep religiously +secret.[Stands now in <italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> +xxviii. 3 et. seq.; was finished (the revisal of it was), hy the +King, "2d April, 1748:" see PREUSS, i. 478-480; and (<italic> +OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> xxviii. PREFACE, for endless +indistinct details about the translations and editions of it. +London Edition, 1818, calls itself the FIFTH.] This, carried to +Daun's head-quarters, was duly prized, copied; and in the course of +a year came to print, in many shapes and places; was translated +into English, under the Title, MILITARY INSTRUCTIONS BY THE KING OF +PRUSSIA, in 1762 (and again, hardly so WELL, in 1797); and still +languidly circulates among the studious of our soldiers. Not a +little admired by some of them; and unfortunately nearly all they +seem to know of this greatest of modern Soldiers. [See, for +example, in <italic> Life of General Sir Charles Napier, by his +Brother <end italic> (London, 1857), iii. 365 and elsewhere,--one +of the best judges in the world expressing his joy and admiration +on discovery of Friedrich; discovery, if you read well, which +amounts to these INSTRUCTIONS, and no more.] + +Next, about a month after, we have something to report of Loudon +from Silesia, or rather of the Enemies he meets there; for it is +not a victorious thing. But it means a starting of the Campaign by +an Austrian invasion of Silesia; long before sieging time, while +all these Montalembert-Soltikof pleadings and counter-pleadings +hang dubious at Petersburg, and Loudon's "Silesian Army" is still +only in a nascent or theoretic state, and only Loudon himself is in +a practical one. + +Friedrich has always Fouquet at Landshut, in charge of the Silesian +Frontier; whose outposts, under Goltz as head of these, stretch, by +Neisse, far eastward, through the Hills to utmost Mahren; +Fouquet's own head-quarter being generally Landshut, the main gate +of the Country. Fouquet, long since, rooted himself rather firmly +into that important post; has a beautiful ring of fortified Hills +around Landshut; battery crossing battery, girdling it with sure +destruction, under an expert Fouquet,--but would require 30,000 men +to keep it, instead of 13,000, which is Fouquet's allotment. +Upon whom Loudon is fully intending a stroke this Year. Fouquet, as +we know, has strenuously managed to keep ward there for a +twelvemonth past; in spite, often enough, of new violent invadings +and attemptings (violent, miscellaneous, but intermittent) by the +Devilles and others;--and always under many difficulties of his +own, and vicissitudes in his employment: a Fouquet coming and +going, waxing and waning, according to the King's necessities, and +to the intermittency or constancy of pressures on Landshut. +Under Loudon, this Year, Fouquet will have harder times than ever; +--in the end, too hard! But will resist, judge how by the following +small sample:-- + +"Besides Fouquet and his 13,000," says my Note, "the Silesian +Garrisons are all vigilant, are or ought to be; and there are far +eastward of him, for guarding of the Jagerndorf-Troppau Border, +some 4 or 6,000, scattered about, under Lieutenant-General Goltz, +in various Hill Posts,--the chief Post of which, Goltz's own, is +the little Town of Neustadt, northward of Jagerndorf [where we have +billeted in the old SileSian Wars]: Goltz's Neustadt is the chief; +and Leobschutz, southwestward of it, under 'General Le Grand' [once +the Major GRANT of Kolin Battle, if readers remember him, "Your +Majesty and I cannot take the Battery ourselves!"] is probably the +second in importance. Loudon, cantoned along the Moravian side of +the Border, perceives that he can assemble 32,000 foot and horse; +that the Prussians are 13,000 PLUS 6,000; that Silesia can be +invaded with advantage, were the weather come. And that, in any +kind of weather, Goltz and his straggle of posts might be swept +into the interior, perhaps picked up and pocketed altogether, if +Loudon were sharp enough. Swept into the interior Goltz was; by no +means pocketed altogether, as he ought to have been! + +"MARCH 13th, 1760, Loudon orders general muster hereabouts for the +15th, everybody to have two days, bread and forage; and warns +Goltz, as bound in honor: 'Excellenz, to-morrow is March 14th; +to-morrow our pleasant time of Truce is out,--the more the pity for +both of us!' 'Yea, my esteemed neighbor Excellenz!' answers Goltz, +with the proper compliments; but judges that his esteemed neighbor +is intending mischief almost immediately. Goltz instantly sends +orders to all his posts: 'You, Herr General Grant, you at +Leobschutz, and all the rest of you, make your packages; +march without delay; rendezvous at Steinau and Upper Glogau [far +different from GREAT-Glogau], Neisse-ward; swift!' And would have +himself gone on the 14th, but could not,--his poor little Bakery +not being here, nor wagons for his baggages quite to be collected +in a moment,--and it was Saturday, 15th, 5 A.M., that Goltz +appointed himself to march. + +"The last time we saw General Goltz was on the Green of Bautzen, +above two years ago,--when he delivered that hard message to the +King's Brother and his party, 'You deserve to be tried by Court- +martial, and have your heads cut off!' He was of that sad Zittau +business of the late Prince of Prussia's,--Goltz, Winterfeld, +Ziethen, Schmettau and others? Winterfeld and the Prince are both +dead; Schmettau is fallen into disaster; Goltz is still in good +esteem with the King. A stalwart, swift, flinty kind of man, to +judge by the Portraits of him; considerable obstinacy, of a tacitly +intelligent kind, in that steady eye, in that droop of the eyebrows +towards the strong cheek-bones; plenty of sleeping fire in +Lieutenant-General Goltz. + +"His principal force, on this occasion, is one Infantry Regiment; +REGIMENT MANTEUFFEL:--readers perhaps recollect that stout Pommern +Regiment, Manteuffel of Foot, and the little Dialogue it had with +the King himself, on the eve of Leuthen: 'Good-night, then, Fritz! +To-morrow all dead, or else the Enemy beaten.' Their conduct, I +have heard, was very shining at Leuthen, where everybody shone; +and since then they have been plunging about through the death- +element in their old rugged way,--and re-emerge here into definite +view again, under Lieutenant-General Goltz, issuing from the north +end of Neustadt, in the dim dawn of a cold spring morning, March +15th, 5 A.M.; weather latterly very wet, as I learn. They intend +Neisse-way, with their considerable stock of baggage-wagons; a +company of Dragoons is to help in escorting: party perhaps about +2,000 in all. Goltz will have his difficulties this day; and has +calculated on them. And, indeed, at the first issuing, here they +already are. + +"Loudon, with about 5,000 horse,--four Regiments drawn up here, and +by and by with a fifth (happily not with the grenadiers, as he had +calculated, who are detained by broken bridges, waters all in flood +from the rain),--is waiting for him, at the very environs of +Neustadt. Loudon, by a trumpet, politely invites him to surrender, +being so outnumbered; Goltz, politely thanking, disregards it, and +marches on: Loudon escorting, in an ominous way; till, at +Buchelsdorf, the fifth Regiment (best in the Austrian service) is +seen drawn out across the highway, plainly intimating, No +thoroughfare to Goltz and Pommern. Loudon sends a second trumpet: +'Surrender prisoners; honorablest terms; keep all your baggage: +refuse, and you are cut down every man.' 'You shall yourself hear +the answer,' said Goltz. Goltz leads this second trumpet to the +front; and, in Pommern dialect, makes known what General Loudon's +proposal is. The Pommerners answer, as one man, a No of such +emphasis as I have never heard; in terms which are intensely +vernacular, it seems, and which do at this day astonish the foreign +mind: 'We will for him something, WIR WOLLEN IHM WAS--' But the +powers of translation and even of typography fail; and feeble +paraphrase must give it: 'We will for him SOMETHING INEFFABLE +CONCOCT,' of a surprisingly contrary kind! 'WIR WOLLEN IHM WAS' +(with ineffable dissyllabic verb governing it)! growled one +indignant Pommerner; 'and it ran like file-fire along the ranks,' +says Archenholtz; everybody growling it, and bellowing it, in +fierce bass chorus, as the indubitable vote of Pommern in +those circumstances. + +"Loudon's trumpet withdrew. Pommern formed square round its +baggage; Loudon's 5,000 came thundering in, fit to break adamant; +but met such a storm of bullets from Pommern, they stopped about +ten paces short, in considerable amazement, and wheeled back. +Tried it again, still more amazement; the like a third time; +every time in vain. After which, Pommern took the road again, with +vanguard, rearguard; and had peace for certain miles,--Loudon +gloomily following, for a new chance. How many times Loudon tried +again, and ever again, at good places, I forget,--say six times in +all. Between Siebenhufen and Steinau, in a dirty defile, the jewel +of the road for Loudon, who tried his very best there, one of our +wagons broke down; the few to rear of it, eighteen wagons and some +country carts, had to be left standing. Nothing more of Pommern was +left there or anywhere. Near Steinau there, Loudon gave it up as +desperate, and went his way. His loss, they say, was 300 killed, +500 wounded; Pommern's was 35 killed, and above 100 left wounded or +prisoners. One of the stiffest day's works I have known: +some twelve miles of march, in every two an attack. Pommern has +really concocted something surprising, and kept its promise to +Loudon! 'Thou knowest what the Pommerners can do,' said they once +to their own King. An obstinate, strong-boned, heavy-browed people; +not so stupid as you think. More or less of Jutish or Anglish type; +highly deficient in the graces of speech, and, I should judge, with +little call to Parliamentary Eloquence." [Preuss, ii. 241 +(incorrect in some small points); Archenholtz, ii. 61; Seyfarth, +ii. 640, and <italic> Beylagen, <end italic> ii. 657-660; +Tempelhof, iv. 8-10; in ANONYMOUS OF HAMBURG (iv. 68) the +Austrian account.] + +Friedrich is, this Year, considered by the generality of mankind, +to be ruined: "Lost 60,000 men last Campaign; was beaten twice; his +luck is done; what is to become of him?" say his enemies, and even +the impartial Gazetteer, with joy or sorrow. Among his own people +there is gloom or censure; hard commentaries on Maxen: "So self- +willed, high, and deaf to counsel from Prince Henri!" Henri +himself, they say, is sullen; threatening, as he often does, to +resign "for want of health;" and as he quite did, for a while, in +the end of this Campaign, or interval between this and next. + +Friedrich has, with incredible diligence, got together his finance +(copper in larger dose than ever, Jew Ephraim presiding as usual); +and, as if by art-magic, has on their feet 100,000 men against his +enemy's 280,000. Some higher Officers are secretly in bad spirits; +but the men know nothing of discouragement. Friedrich proclaims to +them at marching, "For every cannon you capture, 100 ducats; for +every flag, 50; for every standard (cavalry flag), 40;"--which +sums, as they fell due, were accordingly paid thenceforth. +[Stenzel, v. 236, 237; ib. 243.] But Friedrich, too, is abundantly +gloomy, if that could help him; which he knows well it cannot, and +strictly hides it from all but a few;--or all but D'Argens almost +alone, to whom it can do no harm. Read carefully by the light of +contemporary occurrences, not vaguely in the vacant haze, as the +Editors give it, his correspondence with D'Argens becomes +interesting almost to a painful degree: an unaffected picture of +one of the bravest human souls weighed down with dispiriting labors +and chagrins, such as were seldom laid on any man; almost beyond +bearing, but incurable, and demanding to be borne. Wilhelmina is +away, away; to D'Argens alone of mortals does he whisper of these +things; and to him not wearisomely, or with the least prolixity, +but in short sharp gusts, seldom now with any indignation, oftenest +with a touch of humor in them, not soliciting any sympathy, nor +expecting nearly as much as he will get from the faithful D'Argens. + +"I am unfortunate and old, dear Marquis; that is why they persecute +me: God knows what my future is to be this Year! I grieve to +resemble Cassandra with my prophecies; but how augur well of the +desperate situation we are in, and which goes on growing worse? +I am so gloomy to-day, I will cut short. ... Write to me when you +have nothing better to do; and don't forget a poor Philosopher who, +perhaps to expiate his incredulity, is doomed to find his Purgatory +in THIS world." [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> xix. +138, 139 ("Freyberg, 20th March, 1760").] ... To another Friend, in +the way of speech, he more deliberately says: "The difficulties I +had, last Campaign, were almost infinite: such a multitude of +enemies acting against me; Pommern, Brandenburg, Saxony, Frontiers +of Silesia, alike in danger, often enough all at one time. If I +escaped absolute destructiou, I must impute it chiefly to the +misconduct of my enemies; who gained such advantages, but had not +the sense to follow them up. Experience often corrects people of +their blunders: I cannot expect to profit by anything of that kind; +on their part, in the course of this Campaign:" judge if it will be +a light one, MON CHER. [To Mitchell, one evening, "Camp of +Schlettau, May 23d" (Mitchell, ii. 159).] + +The symptoms we decipher in these Letters, and otherwise, are those +of a man drenched in misery; but used to his black element, +unaffectedly defiant of it, or not at the pains to defy it; +occupied only to do his very utmost in it, with or without success, +till the end come. Prometheus, chained on the Ocean-cliffs, with +the New Ruling-Powers in the upper hand, and their vultures +gradually eating him; dumb Time and dumb Space looking on, +apparently with small sympathy: Prometheus and other Titans, now +and then, have touched the soul of some AEschylus, and drawn tones +of melodious sympathy, far heard among mankind. But with this new +Titan it is not so: nor, upon the whole, with the proper Titan, in +this world, is it usually so; the world being a--what shall we +say?--a poorish kind of world, and its melodies and dissonances, +its loves and its hatreds worth comparatively little in the long- +run. Friedrich does wonderfully without sympathy from almost +anybody; and the indifference with which he walks along, under such +a cloud of sulky stupidities, of mendacities and misconceptions +from the herd of mankind, is decidedly admirable to me. + +But let us look into the Campaign itself. Perhaps--contrary to the +world's opinion, and to Friedrich's own when, in ultra-lucid +moments, he gazes into it in the light of cold arithmetic, and +finds the aspect of it "frightful"--this Campaign will be a little +luckier to him than the last? Unluckier it cannot well be:--or if +so, it will at least be final to him! + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Etext History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 19 + diff --git a/old/19frd10.zip b/old/19frd10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6d02e3e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/19frd10.zip |