Welmina,--or Reschni-Aujest, last pertinent of Welmina (but we will take
Friedrich's name for it), offers to the scrutinizing eye nothing, in
our day, but some bewildered memory of "Alte Fritz" clinging obstinately
even to the Peasant mind thereabouts. A sleepy littery place; some
biggish haggard untrimmed trees, some broken-backed sleepy-looking
thatched houses, not in contact, and each as far as might be with its
back turned on the other, and cloaked in its own litter and privacy.
Probably no human creature will be visible, as you pass through. Much
straw lying about, chiefly where the few gaunt trees look down on it
(cattle glad of any shelter): in fact, it is mainly an extinct tumult
of straw; nothing alive, as you pass, but a few poor oxen languidly
sauntering up and down, finding much to trample, little to eat. The
Czech Populations (were it not for that "Question of the Nationalities")
are not very beautiful!
Close south of this poor Hamlet is a big Hill, conspicuous with three
peaks; quite at the other base of which, a good way down, lies Lobositz,
the main Village in those parts; a place now of assiduous corn-mill and
fruit trade; and one of the stations on the Dresden-Prag Railway. This
Hill is what Lloyd calls the Lobosch; [Major-General Lloyd, _History
of the late War in Germany, _1756-1759 (3 vols. 4to, London, 1781), i.
2-11.] twin to which, only flatter, is Lloyd's "Homolka Hill" (Hill
of RADOSTITZ in more modern Plans and Books). Conspicuous Heights, and
important to us here,--though I did not find the Peasants much know them
under those names. By the southern shoulder of this Lobosch Hill runs
the road from Welmina to Lobositz, with branches towards many other
villages. To your right or southern hand, short way southward, rises the
other Hill, which Lloyd calls Homolka Hill; the gap or interval between
Homolka and Lobosch, perhaps a furlong in extent, is essentially the
PASS through those uplands. This pass, Friedrich, at the first moment,
made sure of; filling the same with battalions, there to bivouac. He
likewise promptly laid hold of the two Hills, high Lobosch to his left,
and lower Homolka to right; which precautionary measure it is reckoned
a fault in Browne to have neglected, that night; fault for which he
smarted on the morrow.
From this upland pass, or neck between the two Mountains, Friedrich's
battalions would have had a fine view, had the morning shone for them:
Lobositz, Leitmeritz, Melnick; a great fertile Valley, or expanse of
fruitful country, many miles in breadth and length; Elbe, like a silver
stripe, winding grandly through the finest of all his countries, before
ducking himself into the rock-tumults of that Pirna district. The
mountain gorges of Prag and Moldau River, south of Melnick, lie hidden
under the horizon, or visible only as peaks, thirty miles and more to
southeastward; a bright country intervening, sprinkled with steepled
towns. To northwestward, far away, are the Lausitz Mountains, ranked
in loose order, but massive, making a kind of range: and as outposts
to them in their scattered state, Hills of good height and aspect are
scattered all about, and break the uniformity of the Plain. Nowhere in
North Germany could the Prussian battalions have a finer view,--if the
morning were fine, and if views were their object.
The morning, first in October, was not fine; and it was far other than
scenery that the Prussian battalions had in hand!--Friday, 1st October,
1756, Day should have broken: but where is day? At seven in the morning
(and on till eleven), thick mist lay over the plain; thin fog to the
very hill-tops; so that you cannot see a hundred yards ahead. Lobositz
is visible only as through a crape; farther on, nothing but gray sea;
under which, what the Austrians are doing, or whether there are any
Austrians, who can say? Leftward on the Lobosch-Hill side, as we
reconnoitre, some Pandours are noticeable, nestled in the vineyards
there:--that sunward side of the Lobosch is all vineyards, belonging
to the different Lobositzers: scrubby vineyards, all in a brown plucked
state at this season. Vineyards parted by low stone walls, say three or
four feet high (parted by hurdles, or by tiny trenches, in our day, and
the stone walls mere stone facings): there are the Pandours crouched,
and give fire in a kneeling posture when you approach. Lower down, near
Lobositz itself, flickerings as of Horse squadrons, probably Hussar
parties, twinkle dubious in the wavering mist. Problem wrapt in mist;
nothing to be seen; and all depends on judging it with accuracy! Seven
by the clock: Deploy, at any rate; let us cover our post; and be in
readiness for events.
Friedrich's vanguard of itself nearly fills that neck, or space between
the Lobosch and Homolka Hills. He spreads his Infantry and "hundred
field-pieces," in part, rightwards along the Homolka Hill; but chiefly
leftwards along the Lobosch, where their nearest duty is to drive off
those Pandours. Always as a new battalion, pushing farther leftward,
comes upon its ground, the Pandours give fire on it;--and it on the
Pandours; till the Left Wing is complete, and all the Lobosch is, in
this manner, a crackling of Pandour musketry, and anti-musketry. Right
Wing, steady to its guns on the Homolka, has as yet nothing to do. Those
wings of Infantry are two lines deep; the Cavalry, in three lines, is
between them in the centre; no room for Cavalry elsewhere, except on the
outskirts some fringing of light horse, to be ready for emergencies.
The Pandour firing, except for the noise of it, does not amount to much;
they can take no aim, says Lloyd, crouching behind their stone fences;
and the Prussian Battalions, steadily pushing downwards, trample out
their sputtering, and clear the Lobosch of them to a safe distance.
But the ground is intricate, so wrapt in mist for the present. That
crackling lasts for hours; decisive of nothing; and the mist also, and
one's anxious guessings and scrutinizings, lasts in a wavering fitful
manner.
Once, for some time, in the wavering of the mist, there was seen, down
in the plain opposite our centre, a body of Cavalry. Horse for certain:
say ten squadrons of them, or 1,500 Horse; continually manoeuvring,
changing shape; now in more ranks, now in fewer; sometimes
"checkerwise," formed like a draught-board; shooting out wings: they
career about, one sees not whither, or vanish again into the mist
behind. "Browne's rear-guard this, that we are come upon," thinks
Friedrich; "these squatted Pandours, backed by Horse, must be his
rear-guard, that are amusing us: Browne and the Army are off; crossing
the Elbe, hastening towards the Schandau, the Pirna quarter, while we
stand bickering and idly sputtering here!"--Weary of such idle business,
Friedrich orders forward Twenty of his Squadrons from the centre
station: "Charge me those Austrian Horse, and let us finish this." The
Twenty Squadrons, preceded by a pair of field-pieces, move down hill;
storm in upon the Austrian party, storm it furiously into the mist; are
furiously chasing it,--when unexpected cannon-batteries, destructive
case-shot, awaken on their left flank (batteries from Lobositz, one may
guess); and force them to draw back. To draw back, with some loss; and
rank again, in an indignantly blown condition, at the foot of their
Hill. Indignant; after brief breathing, they try it once more.
"Don't try it!" Friedrich had sent out to tell them: for the mist
was clearing; and Friedrich, on the higher ground, saw new important
phenomena: but it was too late. For the Twenty Squadrons are again
dashing forward; sweeping down whatever is before them: in spite of
cannon-volleys, they plunge deeper and deeper into the mist; come upon
"a ditch twelve feet broad" (big swampy drain, such as are still found
there, grass-green in summer-time); clear said ditch; forward still
deeper into the mist: and after three hundred yards, come upon a second
far worse "ditch;" plainly impassable this one,--"ditch" they call it,
though it is in fact a vile sedgy Brook, oozing along there (the MORELL
BACH, considerable Brook, lazily wandering towards Lobositz, where it
disembogues in rather swifter fashion);--and are saluted with cannon,
from the farther side; and see serried ranks under the gauze of mist:
Browne's Army, in fact! The Twenty Squadrons have to recoil out of
shot-range, the faster, the better; with a loss of a good many men, in
those two charges. Friedrich orders them up Hill again; much regretful
of this second charge, which he wished to hinder; and posts them to
rearward,--where they stand silent, the unconscious stoic-philosophers
in buff, and have little farther service through the rest of the day.
It is now 11 o'clock; the mist all clearing off; and Friedrich, before
that second charge, had a growing view of the Plain and its condition.
Beyond question, there is Browne; not in retreat, by any means; but in
full array; numerous, and his position very strong. Ranked, unattackable
mostly, behind that oozy Brook, or BACH of Morell; which has only two
narrow Bridges, cannon plenty on both: one Bridge from the south parts
to Sulowitz (OUR road to Sulowitz and it would be by Radostitz and
the Homolka); and then one other Bridge, connecting Sulowitz with
Lobositz,--which latter is Browne's own Bridge, uniting right wing and
left of Browne, so to speak; and is still more unattackable, in the
circumstances. What will Friedrich decide on attempting?
That oozy Morell Brook issues on Browne's side of Lobositz, cutting
Browne in two; but is otherwise all in Browne's favor. Browne
extends through Lobositz; and beyond it, curves up to Welhoten on
the River-brink; at Lobositz are visible considerable redoubts,
cannon-batteries and much regular infantry. Browne will be difficult to
force yonder, in the Lobositz part; but yonder alone can he be tried.
He is pushing up more Infantry that way; conscious probably of that
fact,--and that the Lobosch Hill is not his, but another's. What would
not Browne now give for the Lobosch Hill! Yesternight he might have had
it gratis, in a manner; and indeed did try slightly, with his Pandour
people (durst not at greater expense),--who have now ceased sputtering,
and cower extinct in the lower vineyards there. Browne, at any rate,
is rapidly strengthening his right wing, which has hold of Lobositz;
pushing forward in that quarter,--where the Brook withal is of firmer
bottom and more wadable. Thither too is Friedrich bent. So that Lobositz
is now the key of the Battle; there will the tug of war now be.
Friedrich's cavalry is gone all to rearward. His right wing holds the
Homolka Hill,--that too would now be valuable to Browne; and cannot be
had gratis, as yesternight! Friedrich's left wing is on the Lobosch;
Pandours pretty well extinct before it, but now from Welhoten quarter
new Regulars coming on thither,--as if Browne would still take the
Lobosch? Which would be victory to him; but is not now possible to
Browne. Nor will long seem so;--Friedrich having other work in view for
him;--meaning now to take Lobositz, instead of losing the Lobosch to
him! Friedrich pushes out his Left Wing still farther leftward, leftward
and downward withal, to clear those vineyard-fences completely of
their occupants, Pandour or Regular, old or new. This is done; the
vineyard-fences swept;--and the sweepings driven, in a more and more
stormy fashion, towards Welhoten and Lobositz; the Lobosch falling quite
desperate for Browne.
Henceforth Friedrich directs all his industry to taking Lobositz;
Browne, to the defending of it, which he does with great vigor and
fire; his batteries, redoubts, doing their uttermost, and his battalions
rushing on, mass of them after mass, at quick march, obstinate, fierce
to a degree, in the height of temper; and showing such fight as we never
had of them before. Friedrich's Left Wing and Browne's Right now have it
to decide between them;--any attempt Browne makes with his Left through
Sulowitz (as he once did, and once only) is instantly repressed by
cannon from the Homolka Hill. And the rest of the Battle, or rather the
Battle itself,--for all hitherto has been pickeering and groping in the
mist,--may be made conceivable in few words.
Friedrich orders the second line of his Left Wing to march up and join
with the first; Right Wing, shoving ITS two lines into one, is now to
cover the Lobosch as well. Left Wing, in condensed condition, shall
fall down on Lobositz, and do its best. They are now clear of the
vineyard-works; the ground is leveller, though still sloping,--a three
furlongs from the Village, and somewhat towards the Elbe, when Browne's
battalions first came extensively to close grips; fierce enough (as was
said); the toughest wrestle yet had with those Austrians,--coming on
with steady fury, under such force of cannon; with iron ramrods too,
and improved ways, like our own. But nothing could avail them; the
counter-fury being so great. They had to go at the Welhoten part, and
even to run,--plunging into Elbe, a good few of them, and drowning there, in the
vain hope to swim. "Never have my troops," says Friedrich, "done such
miracles of valor, cavalry as well as infantry, since I had the honor to
command them. By this dead-lift achievement (TOUR DE FORCE) I have seen
what they can do." [Letter to Schwerin, "Lobositz, 2d August, 1756"
(Retzow, i. 64); RELATION DE LA CAMPAGNE, 1756, that is, PRUSSIAN
ACCOUNT (in _Gesammelte Nachrichten), _i. 848. Lloyd, UT SUPRA, i. 2-11
(who has solid information at first hand, having been an actor in these
Wars. A man of great natural sagacity and insight; decidedly luminous
and original, though of somewhat crabbed temper now and then; a man
well worth hearing on this and on whatever else he handles). Tempelhof,
GESCHICHTE DES SIEBENJAHRIGEN KRIEGES (which is at first a mere
Translation of Lloyd, nothing new in it but certain notes and criticisms
on Lloyd; when Lloyd ends, Tempelhof, Prussian Major and Professor, a
learned, intelligent, but diffuse man, of far inferior talent to Lloyd,
continues and completes on his own footing: six very thin 4tos, Berlin,
1794), i. 38 (Battle, with FOOTNOTES), and ib. 51 (CRITICISM of Lloyd).
Prussian and Austrian Accounts in _Helden-Geschichte, _iii. 800 et seq.
Many Narratives in FELDZUGE, and the BEYLAGE to Seyfarth; &c. &c.]
In fine, after some three hours more of desperate tugging and
struggling, cannon on both sides going at a great rate, and infinite
musketry ("ninety cartridges a man on our Prussian side, and ammunition
falling done"), not without bayonet-pushings, and smitings with the butt
of your musket, the Austrians are driven into Lobositz; are furiously
pushed there, and, in spite of new battalions coming to the rescue,
are fairly pushed through. These Village-streets are too narrow for
new battalions from Browne; "much of the Village should have been burnt
beforehand," say cool judges. And now, sure enough, it does get burnt;
Lobositz is now all on fire, by Prussian industry. So that the Austrians
have to quit it instantly; and rush off in great disorder; key of the
Battle, or Battle itself, quite lost to them.
The Prussian infantry, led by the Duke of Brunswick-Bevern ("Governor of
Stettin," one of the Duke-Ferdinand cousinry, frugal and valiant), gave
the highest satisfaction; seldom was such firing, such furious pushing;
they had spent ninety cartridges a man; were at last quite out of
cartridges; so that Bevern had to say, "Strike in with bayonets, MEINE
KINDER; butt-ends, or what we have; HERAN!" Our Grenadiers were mainly
they that burnt Lobositz. "How salutary now would it have been," says
Epimetheus Lloyd, "had Browne had a small battery on the other side of
the Elbe;" whereby he might have taken them in flank, and shorn them
into the wind! Epimetheus marks this battery on his Plan; and is wise
behindhand, at a cheap rate.
Browne's Right Wing, and probably his Army with it, would have gone much
to perdition, now that Lobositz was become Prussian,--had not Browne,
in the nick of the moment, made a masterly movement: pushed forward
his Centre and Left Wing, numerous battalions still fresh, to interpose
between the chasing Prussians and those fugitives. The Prussians,
infantry only, cannot chase on such terms; the Prussian cavalry, we
know, is far rearward on the high ground. Browne retires a mile
or two,--southward, Budin-ward,--not chased; and there halts, and
rearranges himself; thinking what farther he will do. His aim in
fighting had only been to defend himself; and in that humble aim he has
failed. Chase of the Prussians over that Homolka-Lobosch country, with
the high grounds rearward and the Metal Mountains in their hands, he
could in no event have attempted.
The question now is: Will he go back to Budin; or will he try
farther towards Schandau? Nature points to the former course, in such
circumstances; Friedrich, by way of assisting, does a thing much
admired by Lloyd;--detaches Bevern with a strong party southward, out
of Lobositz, which is now his, to lay hold of Tschirskowitz, lying
Budin-ward, but beyond the Budin Road. Which feat, when Browne hears
of it, means to him, "Going to cut me off from Budin, then? From my
ammunition-stores, from my very bread-cupboard!" And he marches that
same midnight, silently, in good order, back to Budin. He is not much
ruined; nay the Prussian loss is numerically greater: "3,308 killed and
wounded, on the Prussian side; on the Austrian, 2,984, with three cannon
taken and two standards." Not ruined at all; but foiled, frustrated; and
has to devise earnestly, "What next?" Once rearranged, he may still try.
The Battle lasted seven hours; the last four of it very hot, till
Lobositz was won and lost. It was about 5 P.M. when Browne fired his
retreat-cannon:--cannon happened to be loaded (say the Anecdote-Books,
mythically given now and then); Friedrich, wearied enough, had flung
himself into his carriage for a moment's rest, or thankful reflection;
and of all places, the ball of the retreat-cannon lighted THERE. Between
Friedrich's feet, as he lay reclining,--say the Anecdote-Books, whom
nobody is bound to believe.
On the strength of those two Prussian charges, which had retired from
case-shot on their flank, and had not wings, for getting over sedge and
ooze, Austria pretended to claim the victory. "Two charges repelled by
our gallant horse; Lobositz, indeed, was got on fire, and we had nothing
for it but to withdraw; but we took a new position, and only left
that for want of water;"--with the like excuses. "Essentially a clear
victory," said the Austrians; and sang TE-DEUM about it;--but profited
nothing by that piece of melody. The fact, considerable or not, was,
from the first, too undeniable: Browne beaten from the field. And beaten
from his attempt too (the Saxons not relievable by this method); and
lies quiet in Budin again,--with his water sure to him; but what other
advantages gained?
Here are two Letters, brief both, which we may as well read:--
1. FRIEDRICH TO WILHELMINA (at Baireuth).
"LOBOSITZ, 4th October, 1756.
"MY DEAR SISTER,--Your will is accomplished. Tired out by these
Saxon delays, I put myself at the head of my Army of Bohemia [Keith's
hitherto]; and marched from Aussig to--a Name which seemed to me of good
augury, being yours,--to the Village of Welmina [Battle was called OF
WELMINA, by the Prussians at first]. I found the Austrians here, near
Lobositz; and, after a Fight of seven hours, forced them to run. Nobody
of your acquaintance is killed, except Generals Luderitz and OErzen [who
are not of ours].
"I return you a thousand thanks for the tender part you take in my lot.
Would to Heaven the valor of my Army might procure us a stable Peace!
That ought to be the aim of War. Adieu, my dear Sister; I embrace you
tenderly, assuring you of the lively affection with which I am--F."
[_OEuvres,_ xxvii. i. 291.]
2. PRINCE OF PRUSSIA TO VALORI (who is still at Berlin, but soon going
as it proves,--Broglio's explosion at the Lines of Gross-Sedlitz being
on hand, during the King's absence, in these very hours) ["5th-6th
October" (Valori, ii. 353).]
"CAMP OF LOBOSITZ, 5th October, 1756.
"You will know the news of the day; and I am persuaded you take part
in it. All you say to me betokens the conspiracy there is for the
destruction of our Country. If that is determined in the Book of Fate,
we cannot escape it.
"Had my advice been asked, a year ago, I should have voted to preserve
the Alliance [with YOU] which we had been used to for sixteen years
[strictly for twelve, though in substance ever since 1740], and which
was by nature advantageous to us. But if my advice were asked just now,
I should answer, That the said method being now impossible, we are in
the case of a ship's captain who defends himself the best he can, and
when all resources are exhausted, has, rather than surrender on shameful
conditions, to fire the powder-magazine, and blow up his ship. You
remember that of your Francois I."--FORS L'HONNEUR; ah yes, very
well!--"Perhaps it will be my poor Children who will be the victims of
these past errors,"--for such I still think them, I for my part.
"The Gazettes enumerate the French troops that are to besiege Wesel,
Geldern [Wesel they will get gratis, poor Geldern will almost break
their heart first], and take possession of Ost-Friesland; the Russian
Declaration [Manifesto not worth reading] tells us Russia's intentions
for the next year [most truculent intentions]: we will defend ourselves
to the last drop of our blood, and perish with honor. If you have any
counsel farther, I pray you give it me.
MAP GOES HERE--BETWEEN P. 350 AND 351 Chap VII book 17
"Remain always my friend; and believe that in all situations I will
remain yours; and trying to do what my duty is, will not forfeit the
sentiments on your part which have been so precious to me. Your servant,
GUILLAUME." [Valori, ii. 204-206.]
"Pity this good Prince contemplating the downfall of his House,"
suggests Valori: "He deserved a better fate! He would be in despair to
think I had sent this Letter to your Excellency; but I thought perhaps
you would show it to the King,"--and that it might do good one day.
[Valori (to the French Minister, "12th October, 1756"), ii. 204.] The
Prussians lay in their "Camp of Lobositz," posted up and down in that
neighborhood, for a couple of weeks more; waiting whether Browne would
attempt anything farther in the fighting way; and, in fine, whether the
solution of the crisis would fall out hereabouts, or on the other side
of the Hills.