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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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