Friedrich reckons himself to have 65,000 men in Saxony. Schwerin is
issuing from Silesia, through the Glatz Mountains, for Bohemia, at the
head of 40,000. The Austrian force is inferior in quantity, and far from
ready:--Two "Camps" in Bohemia they have; the chief one under
Browne (looking, or intending, this Saxon way), and a smaller under
Piccolomini, in the Konigshof-Kolin region:--if well run into from front
and rear, both Browne and Piccolomini might be beautifully handled; and
a gash be cut in Austria, which might incline her to be at peace again!
Nothing hinders but this paltry Camp of the Saxons; itself only 18,000
strong, but in a Country of such strength. And this does hinder,
effectually while it continues: "How march to Bohemia, and leave the
road blocked in our rear?"
The Saxon Camp did continue,--unmanageable by any method, for five weeks
to come; the season of war-operations gone, by that time:--and
Friedrich's First Campaign, rendered mostly fruitless in this manner,
will by no means check the Austrian truculencies, as by his velocity he
hoped to do. No; but, on the contrary, will rouse the Austrians, French
and all Enemies, to a tenfold pitch of temper. And bring upon himself,
from an astonished and misunderstanding Public, such tempests and world-
tornadoes of loud-roaring obloquy, as even he, Friedrich, had never
endured before.
To readers of a touring habit this Saxon Country is perhaps well known.
For the last half-century it has been growing more and more famous,
under the name of "Saxon Switzerland (SACHSISCHE SCHWEITZ)," instead of
"Misnian Highlands (MEISSNISCHE HOCHLAND)," which it used to be called.
A beautiful enough and extremely rugged Country; interesting to the
picturesque mind. Begins rising, in soft Hills, on both sides of the
Elbe, a few miles east of Dresden, as you ascend the River; till it
rises into Hills of wild character, getting ever wilder, and riven into
wondrous chasms and precipices. Extends, say almost twenty miles up
the River, to Tetschen and beyond, in this eastern direction; and with
perhaps ten miles of breadth on each side of the River: area of the
Rock-region, therefore, is perhaps some four hundred square miles. The
Falkenberg (what we should call HAWKSCRAG) northeastward in the Lausitz,
the Schneeberg (SNOW MOUNTAIN), southeastward on the Bohemian border,
are about thirty-five miles apart: these two are both reckoned to be in
it,--its last outposts on that eastern side. But the limits of it are
fixed by custom only, and depend on no natural condition.
We might define it as the Sandstone NECK of the Metal Mountains: a
rather lower block, of Sandstone, intercalated into the Metal-Mountain
range, which otherwise, on both hands, is higher, and of harder rocks.
Southward (as SHOULDER to this sandstone NECK) lies, continuous, broad
and high, the "Metal-Mountain range" specially so called: northward
and northeastward there rise, beyond that Falkenberg, many mountains,
solitary or in groups,--"the Metal Mountains" fading out here into "the
Lausitz Hills," still in fine picturesque fashion, which are Northern
Border to the great Bohemian "Basin of the Elba," after you emerge from
this Sandstone Country.
Saxon Switzerland is not very high anywhere; 2,000 feet is a notable
degree of height: but it is torn and tumbled into stone labyrinths,
chasms and winding rock-walls, as few regions are. Grows pinewood, to
the topmost height; pine-trees far aloft look quietly down upon you,
over sheer precipices, on your intricate path. On the slopes of the
Hills is grass enough; in the intervals are Villages and husbandries,
are corn and milk for the laborious natives,--who depend mainly on
quarrying, and pine-forest work: pines and free-stone, rafts of long
slim pines, and big stone barges, are what one sees upon the River
there. A Note, not very geological, says of it:--
"Elbe sweeps freely through this Country, for ages and aeons past;
curling himself a little into snake-figure, and with increased
velocity, but silent mostly, and trim to the edge, a fine flint-colored
river;--though in aeons long anterior, it must have been a very
different matter for torrents and water-power. The Country is one huge
Block of Sandstone, so many square miles of that material; ribbed,
channelled, torn and quarried, in this manner, by the ever-busy
elements, for a million of Ages past! Chiefly by the Elbe himself, since
he got to be a River, and became cosmic and personal; ceasing to be a
mere watery chaos of Lakes and Deluges hereabouts. For the Sandstone was
of various degrees of hardness; tenacious as marble some parts of
it, soft almost as sand other parts. And the primordial diluviums and
world-old torrents, great and small, rushing down from the Bohemian
Highlands, from the Saxon Metal Mountains, with such storming, gurgling
and swashing, have swept away the soft parts, and left the hard standing
in this chaotic manner, and bequeathed it all to the Elbe, and the
common frosts and rains of these human ages.
"Elbe has now a trim course; but Elbe too is busy quarrying and mining,
where not artificially held in;--and you notice at every outlet of a
Brook from the interior, north side and south side, how busy the Brook
has been. Boring, grinding, undermining; much helped by the frosts, by
the rains. AEons ago, the Brook was a lake, in the interior; but was
every moment laboring to get out; till it has cut for itself that
mountain gullet, or sheer-down chasm, and brought out with it an
Alluvium or Delta,--on which, since Adam's time, human creatures have
built a Hamlet. That is the origin, or unwritten history, of most
hamlets and cultivated spots you fall in with here: they are the waste
shavings of the Brook, working millions of years, for its own object
of getting into the Elbe in level circumstances. Ploughed fields, not
without fertility, are in the interior, if you ascend that Brook; the
Hamlet, at the delta or mouth of it, is as if built upon its TONGUE
and into its GULLET: think how picturesque, in the November rains, for
example!
"The road" one road, "from Dresden to Aussig, to Lobositz, Budin, Prag,
runs up the river-brink (south brink); or, in our day, as Prag-Dresden
Railway, thunders through those solitudes; strangely awakening their
echoes; and inviting even the bewildered Tourist to reflect, if he
could. The bewildered Tourist sees rock-walls heaven-high on both hands
of him; River and he rushing on between, by law of gravitation, law of
ennui (which are laws of Nature both), with a narrow strip of sky in
full gallop overhead; and has little encouragement to reflect, except
upon his own sorrows, and delirious circumstances, physical and moral.
'How much happier, were I lying in my bed!' thinks the bewildered
Tourist;--does strive withal to admire the Picturesque, but with little
success; notices the 'BASTEI (Bastion),' and other rigorously prescribed
points of the Sublime and Beautiful, which are to be 'done.' That
you will have to DO, my friend: step out, you will have to go on that
Pinnacle, with indifferent Hotel attached; on that iron balcony, aloft
among the clouds yonder; and shudder to project over Elbe-flood from
such altitudes, admiring the Picturesque in prescribed manner.
"This Country has for its permanent uses, timber, free-stone, modicum
of milk and haver, serviceable to the generality;--and to his Polish
Majesty, at present, it is as the very Ark of Noah: priceless at this
juncture; being the strongest military country in the world. Excellent
strength in it; express Fortresses; especially one Fortress called the
Konigstein, not far from Schandau, of a towering precipitous nature,
with 'a well 900 feet deep' in it, and pleasant Village outside at the
base;--Fortress which is still, in our day, reckoned a safe place for
the Saxon Archives and preciosities. Impregnable to gunpowder artillery;
not to be had except by hunger. And then, farther down the River, close
by Pirna, presiding over Pirna, as that Konigstein in some sort does
over Schandau, is the Sonnenstein: Sonnenstein too was a Fortress in
those days of Friedrich, but not impregnable, if judged worth taking.
The Austrians took it, a year or two hence; Friedrich retook it,
dismantled it: 'the Sonnenstein is now a Madhouse,' say the Guide-books.
"Sonnenstein stands close east or up-stream of Pirna, which is a town of
5,000 souls, by much the largest in those parts; Konigstein a little
down-stream of Schandau, which latter is on the opposite or north side
of the River. These are the two chief Towns, which do all the trade of
this region; picturesque places both:--the Tourist remembers Pirna?
Standing on its sleek table or stair-step, by the River's edge; well
above floodmark; green, shaggy or fringy mountains looking down on it to
rearward; in front, beyond the River, nothing visible but mile-long
cream-colored rock-wall, with bushes at bottom and top, wall quarried by
Elbe, as you can see. Pirna is near the beginning [properly END, but we
start from Dresden] or western extremity of Saxon Schweitz. Schandau,
almost at the opposite or eastern extremity, is still more picturesque;
standing on the delta of a little Brook, with high rock-cliffs, with
garden-shrubberies, sanded walks, tufts of forest-umbrage; a bright-
painted, almost OPERATIC-looking place,--with spa-waters, if I
recollect: "yes truly, and the "Bath Season" making its packages in
great haste, breaking up prematurely, this Year (1756)!--
Directly on arriving at Gross-Sedlitz, Friedrich takes ocular survey
of this Country, which is already not unknown to him. He finds that the
Saxons have secured themselves within the Mountains; a rocky streamlet,
Brook of Gottleube, which issues into Elbe just between Gross-Sedlitz
and them, "through a dell of eighty or a hundred feet deep," serving
as their first defence; well in front of the mere rocky Heights and
precipices behind it, which stretch continuously along to southward,
six miles or more, from Pirna and the south brink of Elbe. At
Langen-Hennersdorf, which is the southernmost part, these Heights make
an elbow inwards, by Leopoldshayn, towards the Konigstein, which is but
four miles off; here too the Saxons are defended by a Brook (running
straight towards Konigstein, this one) in front of their Heights; and
stand defensive, in this way, along a rock-bulwark of ten miles long:
the passes all secured by batteries, by abatis, palisades, mile after
mile, as Friedrich rides observant leftward: behind them, Elbe rushing
swifter through his rock-walls yonder, with chasms and intricate gorges;
defending them inexpugnably to rear. Six miles long of natural bulwark
(six to Hennersdorf), where the gross of the Saxons lie; then to
Konigstein four other miles, sufficiently, if more sparsely, beset by
them. "No stronger position in the world," Friedrich thinks; [_OEuvres
de Frederic,_ iv. 83, 84 (not a very distinct Account; and far from
accurate in the details,--which are left without effectual correction
even in the best Editions).]--and that it is impossible to force this
place, without a loss of life disproportionate even to its importance
at present. Not to say that the Saxons will make terms all the easier,
BEFORE bloodshed rise between us;--and furthermore that Hunger (for
we hear they have provision only for two weeks) may itself soon do it.
"Wedge them in, therefore; block every outgate, every entrance; nothing
to get in, except gradually Hunger. Hunger, and on our part rational
Offers, will suffice." That is Friedrich's plan; good in itself,--though
the ovine obstinacy, and other circumstances, retarded the execution of
it to an unexpected extent, lamentable to Friedrich and to some others.
The Prussian-Saxon military operations for the next five weeks need not
detain us. Their respective positions on the Heights behind that Brook
Gottleube, and on the plainer Country in front of it,--
How the Prussians lie, first Division of them, from Gross-Sedlitz to
Zehist, under the King; then second Division from Zehist to Cotta, and
onward by "the Rothschenke" (RED-HOUSE Tavern), by Markersbach, and
sparsely as far as Hellendorf on the Prag Highway; in brief, where all
the Divisions of them lie, and under whom; and where the Prussians,
watching Elbe itself, have Batteries and Posts on the north side of it:
all this is marked on the Map;--to satisfy ingenuous curiosity, should
it make tour in those parts. To which add only these straggles of Note,
as farther elucidative:--
"The Saxons, between Elbe and their Lines, possess about thirty square
miles of country. From Pirna or Sonnenstein to Konigstein, as the crow
flies, may be five miles east to west; but by Langen-Hennersdorf, and
the elbow there, it will be ten: at Konigstein, moreover, Elbe makes
an abrupt turn northward for a couple of miles, instead of westward
as heretofore, turning abruptly westward again after that: so that the
Saxon 'Camp' or Occupancy here, is an irregular Trapezium, with
Pirna and Konigstein for vertices, and with area estimable as
above,--ploughable, a fair portion of it, and not without corn of its
own. So that the 'two weeks' provision' spun themselves out (short
allowance aiding) to two months, before actual famine came.
... "The High-road from the Lausitz parts crosses Elbe at Pirna; falls
into the Dresden-Prag High-road there; and from Pirna towards Toplitz,
for the first few miles, this latter runs through the Prussian Posts;
but we may guess it is not much travelled at present. North of Elbe,
too, the Prussians have batteries on the fit points; detachments of due
force, from Gross-Sedlitz Bridge-of-Pontoons all round to Schandau,
or beyond; could fire upon the Konigstein, across the River: they
have plugged up the Saxon position everywhere. They have a Battery
especially, and strong post, to cannonade the Bridge at Pirna, should
the Saxons think of trying there. It is now the one Saxon or even
Half-Saxon Bridge; Sonnenstein and Pirna command the Saxon end of it,
a strong battery the Prussian end: a Bridge lying mainly idle, like the
general Highway to Toplitz at this time. Beyond the Konigstein, again,
at a place called Wendisch-Fahre (WENDS'-FERRY), the Prussians have,
by means of boats swinging wide at anchor on the swift current, what is
called a Flying-bridge, with which the north side can communicate with
the south. They have a post at Nieder-Raden (OBER Raden, railway station
in our time, is on the south side): Nether Raden is an interesting
little Hamlet, mostly invisible to mankind (built in the THROAT of the
stone chasms there), from which you begin mounting to the BASTEI far
aloft. A Raden to be noted, by the Tourist and us."
Little, or even nothing, of fighting there is: why should there be?
The military operations are a dead-lock, and require no word. Thirty
thousand, half of the Prussian Force, lie, vigilant as lynxes,
blockading here; other half, 32,000, under Marshal Keith, have marched
forward to Aussig, to Nollendorf on the Bohemian frontier, to clear the
ways, and look into any Austrian motion thereabouts,--with whom, with
some Pandour detachment of whom, Duke Ferdinand, leading the vanguard,
has had a little brush among the Hills; smiting them home again, in his
usual creditable way (September 13th); and taking Camp at Peterswalde,
he and others of the Force, that night. [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ iv. 85;
ANONYMOUS OF HAMBURG, i. 19.] It is with this Keith Army, with this if
with any, that adventures are to be looked for at present.
Polish Majesty's Head-quarters are at Struppen, well in the centre
of the Saxon lines; "goes always to the Konigstein to sleep." Polish
Majesty's own table is, by Friedrich's permission for that special
object, supplied AD LIBITUM: but the common men were at once put
on short allowance, which grows always the shorter. Polish Majesty
corresponds with Friedrich, as we saw; and above all, sends burning
Messages to Austria, to France, to every European Court, charged with
mere shrieks: "Help me; a robber has me!" In which sense, Excellencies
of all kinds, especially one Lord Stormont, the English Excellency,
daily running out from Dresden to Gross-Sedlitz, are passionately
industrious with Friedrich; who is eager enough to comply, were there
any safe means possible. But there are none. Unfortunately, too,
it appears the Austrians are astir; Feldmarschall Browne actually
furbishing himself at Prag yonder with an eye hitherward, and
extraordinary haste and spirit shown: which obliges Friedrich to rise
in his demands; ovine obstinacy, on the other side, naturally increasing
from the same cause.
"Polish Majesty, we say, has liberty to bring in proviant for self and
suite, rigorously for no mortal more; and he lives well, in the culinary
sense,--surely for most part 'in his dressing-gown,' too, poor loose
collapsed soul! Bruhl and he have plenty of formal business: but their
one real business is that of crying, by estafettes and every conceivable
method, to Austria, 'Get us out of this!' To which Austria has answered,
'Yes; only patience, and be steady!'--Friedrich's head-quarters are at
Sedlitz; and the negotiating and responding which he has, transcends
imagination. His first hope was, Polish Majesty might be persuaded to
join with him;--on the back of that, certainty, gradually coming, that
Polish Majesty never would; and that the Austrians would endeavor a
rescue, were they once ready. Starvation, or the Austrians, which will
be first here? is the question; and Friedrich studies to think it will
be the former. At all events, having settled on the starvation method,
and seen that all his posts are right, we perceive he does not stick
close by Sedlitz; but runs now hither now thither; is at Torgau, where
an important establishment, kind of New Government for Saxony, on the
Finance side, is organizing itself. What his work with Ambassadors
was, and how delicate the handling needed, think!"--Here is another
Clipping:--
... "Polish Majesty passes the day at Struppen, amid many vain noises
of Soldiering, of Diplomatizing; the night always at Konigstein, and
finally both day and night,--quite luxuriously accommodated, Bruhl and
he, to the very end of this Affair. Towards Struppen [this is weeks
farther on, but we give it here],--Comte de Broglio [Old Broglio's elder
Son, younger is in the Military line], who is Ambassador to his
Saxon-Polish Majesty, sets out from Dresden for an interview with said
Majesty. At the Prussian lines, he is informed, 'Yes, you can go; but,
without our King's Order, you cannot return.' 'What? The Most Christian
Majesty's Ambassador, and treated in this way? I will go to where the
Polish King is, and I will return to my own King, so often as I find
business: stop me at your peril!' and threatened and argued, and made a
deal of blusterous noise;--far too much, thinks Valori; think the
Prussian Officers, who are sorry, but inflexible. Margraf Karl,
Commandant of the place, in absence of King Friedrich (who is gone
lately, on a Business we shall hear of), earnestly dissuaded Excellency
Broglio; but it was to no purpose. Next day Broglio appeared in his
state-carriage, formally demanding entrance, free thoroughfare: 'Do you
dare refuse me?' 'Yes,' answered Margraf Karl; 'we do and must.'
Indignant Broglio reappeared, next day, on foot; Lieutenant-General
Prince Friedrich Eugen of Wurtemberg the chief man in charge: 'Do you
dare?' 'Indubitably, Yes;'--and Broglio still pushing on incredulous,
Eugen actually raised his arm,--elbow and fore-arm across the breast of
Most Christian Majesty's Ambassador,--who recoiled, to Dresden, in mere
whirlwinds of fire; and made the most of it [unwisely, thinks Valori] in
writing to Court. [Valori, ii. 349, 209, 353 ("Wednesday, 6th October,"
the day of it, seemingly); ib. i. 312, &c.] Court, in high dudgeon,
commanded Valori to quit Berlin without taking leave. Valori, in his
private capacity, wrote an Adieu; [Friedrich's kind Letter in answer to
it, "2d November, 1756," in Valori, i. 313.] and in his public, as the
fact stood, That he was gone without Adieu."
And the Dauphiness, daughter of those injured Polish Majesties, fell
on her knees (Pompadour permitting and encouraging) at the feet of Most
Christian Majesty; on her knees, all in passion of tears; craved help
and protection to her loved old Mother, in the name of Nature and of all
Kings: could any King resist? And his Pompadour was busy: "Think of
that noble Empress, who calls me COUSIN AND DEAR PRINCESS; think of that
insolent Prussian Robber: Ah, your Majesty:"-and King Louis, though
not a hating man, did privately dislike Friedrich; and evil speeches
of Friedrich's had been reported to him. And, in short, the upshot was:
King Louis, bound only to 24,000 for help of Austria, determined to
send, and did send, above 100,000 across the Rhine, next Year, for that
object; as will be seen. And all Frenchmen--all except Belleisle, who
is old--are charmed with these new energetic measures, and beautiful new
Austrian connections.
Certain it is, the Austrians are coming, her Imperial Majesty bent with
all her might on relief of those Saxon martyrs; which indeed is relief
of herself, as she well perceives: "Courage, my friends; endure yet a
little!" Messengers smuggle themselves through the Mountain paths, and
go and return, though with difficulty.
Since September 19th, the Correspondence with Polish Majesty has ceased:
no persuading of the Polish Majesty. Winterfeld went twice to him;
conferred at large, Bruhl forbidden to be there, on the actual
stringencies and urgencies of Fact between the Two Countries; but it was
with no result at all. Polish Majesty has not the least intention that
Saxony shall be even a Highway for Friedrich, if at any time Polish
Majesty can hinder it: "Neutrality," therefore, will not do for
Friedrich; he demands Alliance, practical Partnership; and to that his
Polish Majesty is completely abhorrent. Diplomatizing may cease; nothing
but wrestle of fight will settle this matter.
Friedrich, able to get nothing from the Sovereign of Saxony, is reduced
to grasp Saxony itself: and we can observe him doing it; always the
closer, always the more carefully, as the complicacy deepens, and the
obstinacy becomes more dangerous and provoking. What alternative is
there? On first entering Saxony, Friedrich had made no secret that he
was not a mere bird of passage there. At Torgau, there was at once a
"Field-Commissariat" established, with Prussian Officials of eminence to
administer, the Military Chest to be deposited there, and Torgau to be
put in a state of defence. Torgau, our Saxon Metropolis of War-Finance,
is becoming more and more the Metropolis of Saxon Finance in general.
Saxon Officials were liable, from the first, to be suspended, on
Friedrich's order. Saxon Finance-Officials, of all kinds, were from
the first instructed, that till farther notice there must be no
disbursements without King Friedrich's sanction. And, in fact, King
Friedrich fully intends that Saxony is to help him all it can; and that
it either will or else shall, in this dire pressure of perplexity,
which is due in such a degree to the conduct of the Saxon Government for
twelve years past. Would Saxony go with him in any form of consent, how
much more convenient to Friedrich! But Saxony will not; Polish Majesty,
not himself suffering hunger, is obstinate as the decrees of Fate (or as
sheep, when too much put upon), regardless of considerations;--and,
in fine, here is Browne actually afoot; coming to relieve Polish
Majesty!--The Austrians had uncommonly bestirred themselves:--
The activity, the zeal of all ranks, ever since this expedition into
Saxony, and clutching of Saxony by the throat, contemporary witnesses
declare to have been extraordinary. "Horses for Piccolomini's
Cavalry,--they had scarcely got their horses, not to speak of training
them, not to speak of cannon and the heavier requisites, when Schwerin
began marching out of Glatz on Piccolomini. As to the cannon for Browne
and him, draught-cattle seem absolutely unprocurable. Whereupon Maria
Theresa flings open her own Imperial Studs: 'There, yoke these to our
cannon; let them go their swiftest;'--which awoke such an enthusiasm,
that noblemen and peasants crowded forward with their coach-horses and
their cart-horses, to relay Browne, all through Bohemia, at different
stages; and the cannon and equipments move to their places at the
gallop, in a manner," [Archenholtz, i. 24.]--and even Browne, at the
base of the Metal Mountains, has got most of his equipments. And is
astir towards Pirna (Army of 60,000, rumor says), for relief of the
Saxon martyrs. Friedrich's complexities are getting day by day more
stringent.
From the middle of September, Marshal Keith, as was observed, with Half
of the Prussians, Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick under him, has been on
the Bohemian slope of the Metal Mountains; securing the roads, towns and
passes thereabouts, and looking out for the advance of Marshal Browne
from the interior parts. Town of Aussig, and the River-road (castle of
Tetschen, on its high rock known to Tourists, which always needs to be
taken on such occasions), these Keith has secured. Lies encamped from
Peterswalde to Aussig, the middle or main strength of him being in the
Hamlet of Johnsdorf (discoverable, if readers like): there lies Keith,
fifteen miles in length; like a strap, or bar, thrown across the back of
that Metal-Mountain Range,--or part of its back; for the range is very
broad, and there is much inequality, and many troughs, big and little,
partial and general, in the crossing of it. A tract which my readers and
I have crossed before now, by the "Pascopol" or Post-road and otherwise;
and shall often have to cross!
Browne, vigorously astir in the interior (cannon and equipments coming
by relays at such a pace), is daily advancing, with his best speed: in
the last days of September, Browne is encamped at Budin; may cross the
Eger River any day, and will then be within two marches of Keith. His
intentions towards Pirna Country are fixed and sure; but the plan
or route he will take is unknown to everybody, and indeed to Browne
himself, till he see near at hand and consider. Browne's problem, he
himself knows, is abundantly abstruse,--bordering on the impossible;
but he will try his best. To get within reach of the Saxons is almost
impossible to Browne, even were there no Keith there. As good as
impossible altogether, by any line of march, while Keith is afoot in
those parts. By Aussig, down the River, straight for the interior of
their Camp, it is flatly impossible: by the south or southeast corner of
their Camp (Gottleube way), or by the northeast (by Schandau way, right
bank of Elbe), it is virtually so,--at least without beating Keith.
Could one beat Keith indeed;--but that will not be easy! And that,
unluckily, is the preliminary to everything.
"By the Hellendorf-Hennersdorf side, in the wastes where Gottleube Brook
gathers itself, Browne might have a chance. There, on that southeast
corner of their Camp, were he once there to attack the Prussians from
without, while the Saxons burst up from within,--there," thinks a good
judge, "is much the favorablest place. But unless Browne's Army had
wings, how is it ever to get there? Across those Metal-Mountain ranges,
barred by Keith:--by Aussig, with the rocks overhanging Elbe River and
him, he cannot go in any case. Were there no Keith, indeed (but there
always is, standing ready on the spring), one might hold to leftward,
and by stolen marches, swift, far round about--!
"By Schandau region, north side of the Elbe, is Browne's easiest, and
indeed one feasible, point of approach,--no Prussians at present
between him and that; the road open, though a far circuit northward for
Browne,--were he to cross the Elbe in Leitmeritz circle, and march with
velocity? That too will be difficult,--nearly impossible in sight of
Keith. And were that even done, the egress for the Saxons, by Schandau
side, is through strait mountain gorges, intricate steep passes,
crossings of the Elbe: what force of Saxons or of Austrians will drive
the Prussians from their redoubts and batteries there?" [_OEuvres de
Frederic,_ iv. 86, 93, 96.]
Browne's problem is none of the feasiblest: but his orders are strict,
"Relieve the Saxons, at all risks." And Browne, one of the ablest
soldiers living ("Your Imperial Majesty's best general," said the dying
Khevenhuller long since), will do his utmost upon it. Friedrich does
not think the enterprise very dangerous,--beating of Keith the
indispensable preliminary to it; but will naturally himself go and look
into it.
Tuesday, September 28th, Friedrich quits Pirna Country by the Prag
Highway; making due inspection of his Posts as he goes along; and, the
outmost of these once past, drives rapidly up the Mountains; gets, with
small escort, through Peterswalde on to Johnsdorf that night. Does
not think this Keith position good; breaks up this "Camp of Johnsdorf"
bodily next morning; and marches down the Mountains, direct towards
Browne; who, we hear, is about crossing the Eger (his Pontoons now
come at last), and will himself be on the advance. From Turmitz, a poor
mountain hamlet in the hollow of the Hills, which is head-quarters that
night, the march proceeds again; Friedrich with the vanguard; Army, I
think, on various country-roads, on both hands; till all get upon the
Great Road again,--Prag-Toplitz-Dresden Post-road; which is called,
specially in this part of it, and loosely in whole, "The Pascopol," and
leads down direct to Budin and Browne.
"A 'Pascopol' famed in military annals," says our Tourist. "It is a
road with many windings, many precipitous sweeps of up and down; road
precipitous in structure;--offers views to the lover of wild Nature:
huge lonesome Hills scattered in the distance; waste expanses nearer
hand, and futile attempts at moorish agriculture; but little else that
is comfortable. In times of Peace, you will meet, at long intervals,
some post-vehicle struggling forward under melancholy circumstances;
some cart, or dilapidated mongrel between cart and basket, with a lean
ox harnessed to it, and scarecrow driver, laden with pit-coal,--which
you wish safe home, and that the scarecrow were getting warmed by it.
But in War-time the steep road is livelier; the common Invasion road
between Saxony and Bohemia; whole Armies sweeping over it, and their
thousand-fold wagons and noises making clangor enough. ... One of those
Hollows, on the Pascopol, is Joachimsthal, with its old Silver Mines;
yielding coins which were in request with traders, the silver being
fine. 'Let my ducat be a Joachimsthal one, then!' the old trader would
say: 'a JOACHIMSTHAL-ER;' or, for brevity, a 'THAL-ER;' whence THALER,
and at last DOLLAR (almighty and otherwise),--now going round the world!
[Busching, _Erdbeschreibung,_v. 178.] Pascopol finishes in Welmina
Township. From the last hamlet in Welmina, at the neck of the last Hill,
step downward one mile, holding rather to the left, you will come on the
innocent Village of Lobositz, its poor corn-mills and huckster-shops all
peaceably unknown as yet, which is soon to become very famous."
The Country-roads where Friedrich's Army is on march, I should think,
are mostly on the mounting hand. For here, from Turmitz, is a trough
again; though the last considerable one; and on the crest of that, we
shall look down upon the Bohemian Plains and the grand Basin of the
Elbe,--through various scrubby villages which are not nameworthy;
through one called Kletschen, which for a certain reason is. Crossing
the shoulder of Kletschenberg (HILL of this Kletschen), which abuts upon
the Pascopol,--yonder in bright sunshine is your beautiful expansive
Basin of the Elbe, and the green Bohemian Plains, revealed for a moment.
Friedrich snatches his glass, not with picturesque object: "See, yonder
is Feldmarschall Browne, then! In camp yonder, down by Lobositz, not
ten miles from us,--[it is most true; Browne marched this morning, long
before the Sun; crossed Eger, and pitched camp at noon]--Good!" thinks
Friedrich. And pushes down into the Pascopol, into the hollows and minor
troughs, which hide Browne henceforth, till we are quite near.
Quite near, through Welmina and a certain final gap of the Hills,
Friedrich with the vanguard does emerge, "an hour before sunset;"
overhanging Browne; not above a mile from the Camp of Browne. A very
large Camp, that of Browne's, flanked to right by the Elbe; goes from
Sulowitz, through Lobositz, to Welhoten close on Elbe;--and has
properties extremely well worth studying just now! "Friedrich" the Books
say, "bivouacs by a fire of sticks," short way down on the southern
slope of the Hill; and till sunset and after, has eye-glass, brain, and
faculties and activities sufficiently occupied for the rest of the
night;--his Divisions gradually taking post behind him, under arms; "not
till midnight, the very rearmost of them." ["Tuesday, 28th September,
left the Camp at Sedlitz, with 8 battalions 20 squadrons, to Johnsdorf:
29th, to Turmitz,--Browne is to pass the Eger tomorrow. From the tops of
the Pascopol (30th), SEE an Austrian Camp in the Plain of Lobositz.
Vanguard bivouacs in the 'neck' of the two Hills or a little beyond."
PRUSSIAN ACCOUNT OF CAMPAIGN 1756 (in _Gesammelte Nachrichten_,
i. 844-845, 840-858); Anonymous of Hamburg; &c. &c.]