Friedrich stayed hardly one day in Neissen Country; Silesia, in the jaws
of destruction, requiring such speed from him. His new Series of Marches
thitherward, for the next two weeks especially, with Daun and Lacy, and
at last with Loudon too, for escort, are still more singular than
the foregoing; a fortnight of Soldier History such as is hardly to be
paralleled elsewhere. Of his inward gloom one hears nothing. But the
Problem itself approaches to the desperate; needing daily new invention,
new audacity, with imminent destruction overhanging it throughout. A
March distinguished in Military Annals;--but of which it is not for us
to pretend treating. Military readers will find it in TEMPELHOF, and
the supplementary Books from time to time cited here. And, for our own
share, we can only say, that Friedrich's labors strike us as abundantly
Herculean; more Alcides-like than ever,--the rather as hopes of any
success have sunk lower than ever. A modern Alcides, appointed to
confront Tartarus itself, and be victorious over the Three-headed Dog.
Daun, Lacy, Loudon coming on you simultaneously, open-mouthed, are a
considerable Tartarean Dog! Soldiers judge that the King's resources of
genius were extremely conspicuous on this occasion; and to all men it is
in evidence that seldom in the Arena of this Universe, looked on by the
idle Populaces and by the eternal Gods and Antigods (called Devils), did
a Son of Adam fence better for himself, now and throughout.
This, his Third march to Silesia in 1760, is judged to be the most
forlorn and ominous Friedrich ever made thither; real peril, and ruin
to Silesia and him, more imminent than even in the old Leuthen days.
Difficulties, complicacies very many, Friedrich can foresee: a Daun's
Army and a Lacy's for escort to us; and such a Silesia when we do
arrive. And there is one complicacy more which he does not yet know of;
that of Loudon waiting ahead to welcome him, on crossing the Frontier,
and increase his escort thenceforth!--Or rather, let us say, Friedrich,
thanks to the despondent Henri and others, has escaped a great Silesian
Calamity;--of which he will hear, with mixed emotions, on arriving at
Bunzlau on the Silesian Frontier, six days after setting out. Since the
loss of Glatz (July 26th), Friedrich has no news of Loudon; supposes
him to be trying something upon Neisse, to be adjusting with his slow
Russians; and, in short, to be out of the dismal account-current just at
present. That is not the fact in regard to Loudon; that is far from the
fact.
LOUDON IS TRYING A STROKE-OF-HAND ON BRESLAU, IN THE GLATZ FASHION, IN
THE INTERIM (July 30th-August 3d).
Hardly above six hours after taking Glatz, swift Loudon, no Daun now
tethering him (Daun standing, or sitting, "in relief of Dresden" far
off), was on march for Breslau--Vanguard of him "marched that same
evening (July 26th):" in the liveliest hope of capturing Breslau;
especially if Soltikof, to whom this of Glatz ought to be a fine
symbol and pledge, make speed to co-operate. Soltikof is in no violent
enthusiasm about Glatz; anxious rather about his own Magazine at Posen,
and how to get it carted out of Henri's way, in case of our advancing
towards some Silesian Siege. "If we were not ruined last year, it was
n't Daun's fault!" growls he often; and Montalembert has need of all
his suasive virtues (which are wonderful to look at, if anybody cared
to look at them, all flung into the sea in this manner) for keeping the
barbarous man in any approach to harmony. The barbarous man had, after
haggle enough, adjusted himself for besieging Glogau; and is surly to
hear, on the sudden (order from Petersburg reinforcing Loudon), that it
is Breslau instead. "Excellenz, it is not Cunctator Daun this time, it
is fiery Loudon." "Well, Breslau, then!" answers Soltikof at last, after
much suasion. And marches thither; [Tempelhof, iv. 87-89 ("Rose from
Posen, July 26th").] faster than usual, quickened by new temporary
hopes, of Montalembert's raising or one's own: "What a place-of-arms,
and place of victual, would Breslau be for us, after all!"
And really mends his pace, mends it ever more, as matters grow
stringent; and advances upon Breslau at his swiftest: "To rendezvous
with Loudon under the walls there,--within the walls very soon, and
ourselves chief proprietor!"--as may be hoped. Breslau has a garrison of
4,000, only 1,000 of them stanch; and there are, among other bad items,
9,000 Austrian Prisoners in it. A big City with weak walls: another
place to defend than rock-hewn little Glatz,--if there be no better than
a D'O for Commandant in it! But perhaps there is.
"WEDNESDAY, 30th JULY, Loudon's Vanguard arrived at Breslau; next day
Loudon himself;--and besieged Breslau very violently, according to his
means, till the Sunday following. Troops he has plenty, 40,000 odd,
which he gives out for 50 or even 60,000; not to speak of Soltikof,
'with 75,000' (read 45,000), striding on in a fierce and dreadful manner
to meet him here. 'Better surrender to Christian Austrians, had not
you?' Loudon's Artillery is not come up, it is only struggling on from
Glatz; Soltikof of his own has no Siege-Artillery; and Loudon judges
that heavy-footed Soltikof, waited on by an alert Prince Henri, is a
problematic quantity in this enterprise. 'Speedy oneself; speedy
and fiery!' thinks Loudon: 'by violence of speed, of bullying and
bombardment, perhaps we can still do it!' And Loudon tried all these
things to a high stretch; but found in Tauentzien the wrong man.
"THURSDAY, 31st, Loudon, who has two bridges over Oder, and the
Town begirt all round, summons Tauentzien in an awful sounding tone:
'Consider, Sir: no defence possible; a trading Town, you ought not to
attempt defence of it: surrender on fair terms, or I shall, which God
forbid, be obliged to burn you and it from the face of the world!'
'Pooh, pooh,' answers Tauentzien, in brief polite terms; 'you yourselves
had no doubt it was a Garrison, when we besieged you here, on the heel
of Leuthen; had you? Go to!'--Fiery Loudon cannot try storm, the Town
having Oder and a wet ditch round it. He gets his bombarding batteries
forward, as the one chance he has, aided by bullying. And to-morrow,
"FRIDAY, AUGUST 1st, sends, half officially, half in the friendly way,
dreadful messages again: a warning to the Mayor of Breslau (which was
not signed by Loudon), 'Death and destruction, Sir, unless'--!--warning
to the Mayor; and, by the same private half-official messenger, a new
summons to Tauentzien: 'Bombardment infallible; universal massacre by
Croats; I will not spare the child in its mother's womb.' 'I am not with
child,' said Tauentzien, 'nor are my soldiers! What is the use of such
talk?' And about 10 that night, Loudon does accordingly break out into
all the fire of bombardment he is master of. Kindles the Town in various
places, which were quenched again by Tauentzien's arrangements; kindles
especially the King's fine Dwelling-house (Palace they call it), and
adjacent streets, not quenchable till Palace and they are much ruined.
Will this make no impression? Far too little.
"Next morning Loudon sends a private messenger of conciliatory tone:
'Any terms your Excellency likes to name. Only spare me the general
massacre, and child in the mother's womb!' From all which Tauentzien
infers that you are probably short of ammunition; and that his outlooks
are improving. That day he gets guns brought to bear on General Loudon's
own quarter; blazes into Loudon's sitting-room, so that Loudon has
to shift else-whither. No bombardment ensues that night; nor next day
anything but desultory cannonading, and much noise and motion;--and at
night, SUNDAY, 3d, everything falls quiet, and, to the glad amazement
of everybody, Loudon has vanished." [Tempelhof, iv. 90-100; Archenholtz,
ii. 89-94; HOFBERICHT VON DER BELAGERUNG VON BRESLAU IM AUGUST 1760 (in
Seyfarth, _Beylagen,_ ii. 688-698); also in _Helden-Geschichte,_ vi.
299-309: in _Anonymous of Hamburg_ (iv. 115-124), that is, in the OLD
NEWSPAPERS, extremely particular account, How "not only the finest Horse
in Breslau, and the finest House [King's Palace], but the handsomest
Man, and, alas, also the prettiest Girl [poor Jungfer Muller,
shattered by a bomb-shell on the streets], were destroyed in this short
Siege,"--world-famous for the moment. Preuss, ii. 246.]
Loudon had no other shift left. This Sunday his Russians are still five
days distant; alert Henri, on the contrary, is, in a sense, come to
hand. Crossed the Katzbach River this day, the Vanguard of him did, at
Parchwitz; and fell upon our Bakery; which has had to take the road.
"Guard the Bakery, all hands there," orders Loudon; "off to Striegau
and the Hills with it;"--and is himself gone thither after it, leaving
Breslau, Henri and the Russians to what fate may be in store for them.
Henri has again made one of his winged marches, the deft creature,
though the despondent; "march of 90 miles in three days [in the last
three, from Glogau, 90; in the whole, from Landsberg, above 200], and
has saved the State," says Retzow. "Made no camping, merely bivouacked;
halting for a rest four or five hours here and there;" [Retzow, ii.
230 (very vague); in Tempelhof (iv. 89, 90, 95-97) clear and specific
account.] and on August 5th is at Lissa (this side the Field of
Leuthen); making Breslau one of the gladdest of cities.
So that Soltikof, on arriving (village of Hundsfeld, August 8th), by the
other side of the River, finds Henri's advanced guards intrenched
over there, in Old Oder; no Russian able to get within five miles of
Breslau,--nor able to do more than cannonade in the distance, and ask
with indignation, "Where are the siege-guns, then; where is General
Loudon? Instead of Breslau capturable, and a sure Magazine for us, here
is Henri, and nothing but steel to eat!" And the Soltikof risen into
Russian rages, and the Montalembert sunk in difficulties: readers can
imagine these. Indignant Soltikof, deaf to suasion, with this dangerous
Henri in attendance, is gradually edging back; always rather back, with
an eye to his provisions, and to certain bogs and woods he knows of. But
we will leave the Soltikof-Henri end of the line, for the opposite end,
which is more interesting.--To Friedrich, till he got to Silesia itself,
these events are totally unknown. His cunctatory Henri, by this winged
march, when the moment came, what a service has he done!--
Tauentzien's behavior, also, has been superlative at Breslau; and was
never forgotten by the King. A very brave man, testifies Lessing of him;
true to the death: "Had there come but three, to rally with the King
under a bush of the forest, Tauentzien would have been one." Tauentzien
was on the ramparts once, in this Breslau pinch, giving orders; a
bomb burst beside him, did not injure him. "Mark that place," said
Tauentzien; and clapt his hat on it, continuing his orders, till a more
permanent mark were put. In that spot, as intended through the next
thirty years, he now lies buried. [_Militair-Lexikon,_ iv. 72-75;
Lessing's _Werke;_ &c. &c.]
FRIEDRICH ON MARCH, FOR THE THIRD TIME, TO RESCUE SILESIA (August
1st-15th).
AUGUST 1st, Friedrich crossed the Elbe at Zehren, in the Schieritz
vicinity, as near Meissen as he could; but it had to be some six miles
farther down, such the liabilities to Austrian disturbance. All are
across that morning by 5 o'clock (began at 2); whence we double back
eastward, and camp that night at Dallwitz,--are quietly asleep there,
while Loudon's bombardment bursts out on Breslau, far away! At Dallwitz
we rest next day, wait for our Bakeries and Baggages; and SUNDAY, AUGUST
3d, at 2 in the morning, set forth on the forlornest adventure in the
world.
The arrangements of the March, foreseen and settled beforehand to the
last item, are of a perfection beyond praise;--as is still visible in
the General Order, or summary of directions given out; which, to this
day, one reads with a kind of satisfaction like that derivable from
the Forty-seventh of Euclid: clear to the meanest capacity, not a word
wanting in it, not a word superfluous, solid as geometry. "The Army
marches always in Three Columns, left Column foremost: our First Line of
Battle [in case we have fighting] is this foremost Column; Second Line
is the Second Column; Reserve is the Third. All Generals' chaises,
money-wagons, and regimental Surgeons' wagons remain with their
respective Battalions; as do the Heavy Batteries with the Brigades to
which they belong. When the march is through woody country, the Cavalry
regiments go in between the Battalions [to be ready against Pandour
operations and accidents].
"With the First Column, the Ziethen Hussars and Free-Battalion Courbiere
have always the vanguard; Mohring Hussars and Free-Battalion Quintus
[speed to you, learned friend!] the rear-guard. With the Second Column
always the Dragoon regiments Normann and Krockow have the vanguard;
Regiment Czetteritz [Dragoons, poor Czetteritz himself, with his lost
MANUSCRIPT, is captive since February last], the rear-guard. With the
Third Column always the Dragoon regiment Holstein as head, and the ditto
Finkenstein to close the Column.--During every march, however, there
are to be of the Second Column 2 Battalions joined with Column Third; so
that the Third Column consists of 10 Battalions, the Second of 6, while
on march.
"Ahead of each Column go three Pontoon Wagons; and daily are 50
work-people allowed them, who are immediately to lay Bridge, where it is
necessary. The rear-guard of each Column takes up these Bridges again;
brings them on, and returns them to the head of the Column, when the
Army has got to camp. In the Second Column are to be 500 wagons, and
also in the Third 500, so shared that each battalion gets an equal
number. The battalions--" [In TEMPELHOF (iv. 125, 126) the entire
Piece.]... This may serve as specimen.
The March proceeded through the old Country; a little to left of the
track in June past: Roder Water, Pulsnitz Water; Kamenz neighborhood,
Bautzen neighborhood,--Bunzlau on Silesian ground. Daun, at
Bischofswerda, had foreseen this March; and, by his Light people, had
spoiled the Road all he could; broken all the Bridges, HALF-felled the
Woods (to render them impassable). Daun, the instant he heard of the
actual March, rose from Bischofswerda: forward, forward always, to be
ahead of it, however rapid; Lacy, hanging on the rear of it, willing to
give trouble with his Pandour harpies, but studious above all that it
should not whirl round anywhere and get upon his, Lacy's, own throat.
One of the strangest marches ever seen. "An on-looker, who had observed
the march of these different Armies," says Friedrich, "would have
thought that they all belonged to one leader. Feldmarschall Daun's he
would have taken for the Vanguard, the King's for the main Army, and
General Lacy's for the Rear-guard." [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ v. 56.]
Tempelhof says: "It is given only to a Friedrich to march on those
terms; between Two hostile Armies, his equals in strength, and a Third
[Loudon's, in Striegau Country] waiting ahead."
The March passed without accident of moment; had not, from Lacy or Daun,
any accident whatever. On the second day, an Aide-de-Camp of Daun's
was picked up, with Letters from Lacy (back of the cards visible to
Friedrich). Once,--it is the third day of the March (August 6th, village
of Rothwasser to be quarter for the night),--on coming toward Neisse
River, some careless Officer, trusting to peasants, instead of examining
for himself and building a bridge, drove his Artillery-wagons into the
so-called ford of Neisse; which nearly swallowed the foremost of them in
quicksands. Nearly, but not completely; and caused a loss of five or six
hours to that Second Column. So that darkness came on Column Second in
the woody intricacies; and several hundreds of the deserter kind took
the opportunity of disappearing altogether. An unlucky, evidently too
languid Officer; though Friedrich did not annihilate the poor fellow,
perhaps did not rebuke him at all, but merely marked it in elucidation
of his qualities for time coming." This miserable village of Rothwasser"
(head-quarters after the dangerous fording of Neisse), says Mitchell,
"stands in the middle of a wood, almost as wild and impenetrable as
those in North America. There was hardly ground enough cleared about it
for the encampment of the troops." [Mitchell, ii. 190; Tempelhof, iv.
131.] THURSDAY, AUGUST 7th, Friedrich--traversing the whole Country,
but more direct, by Konigsbruck and Kamenz this time--is at Bunzlau
altogether. "Bunzlau on the Bober;" the SILESIAN Bunzlau, not the
Bohemian or any of the others. It is some 30 miles west of Liegnitz,
which again lies some 40 northwest of Schweidnitz and the Strong Places.
Friedrich has now done 100 miles of excellent marching; and he has still
a good spell more to do,--dragging "2,000 heavy wagons" with him, and
across such impediments within and without. Readers that care to study
him, especially for the next few days, will find it worth their while.
Tempelhof gives, as usual, a most clear Account, minute to a degree;
which, supplemented by Mitchell and a Reimann Map, enables us as it were
to accompany, and to witness with our eyes. Hitherto a March toilsome in
the extreme, in spite of everything done to help it; starting at 3 or
at 2 in the morning; resting to breakfast in some shady place, while
the sun is high, frugally cooking under the shady woods,--"BURSCHEN
ABZUKOCHEN here," as the Order pleasantly bears. All encamped now, at
Bunzlau in Silesia, on Thursday evening, with a very eminent week's work
behind them. "In the last five days, above 100 miles of road, and such
road; five considerable rivers in it"--Bober, Queiss, Neisse, Spree,
Elbe; and with such a wagon-train of 2,000 teams. [Tempelhof, iv.
123-150.]
Proper that we rest a day here; in view of the still swifter marchings
and sudden dashings about, which lie ahead. It will be by extremely
nimble use of all the limbs we have,--hands as well as feet,--if any
good is to come of us now! Friedrich is aware that Daun already holds
Striegau "as an outpost [Loudon thereabouts, unknown to Friedrich],
these several days;" and that Daun personally is at Schmottseifen, in
our own old Camp there, twenty or thirty miles to south of us, and has
his Lacy to leftward of him, partly even to rearward: rather in advance
of US, both of them,--if we were for Landshut; which we are not. "Be
swift enough, may not we cut through to Jauer, and get ahead of Daun?"
counts Friedrich: "To Jauer, southeast of us, from Bunzlau here, is 40
miles; and to Jauer it is above 30 east for Daun: possible to be
there before Daun! Jauer ours, thence to the Heights of Striegau
and Hohenfriedberg Country, within wind of Schweidnitz, of Breslau:
magazines, union with Prince Henri, all secure thereby?" So reckons the
sanguine Friedrich; unaware that Loudon, with his corps of 35,000, has
been summoned hitherward; which will make important differences! Loudon,
Beck with a smaller Satellite Corps, both these, unknown to Friedrich,
lie ready on the east of him: Loudon's Army on the east; Daun's,
Lacy's on the south and west; three big Armies, with their Satellites,
gathering in upon this King: here is a Three-headed Dog, in the Tartarus
of a world he now has! On the fourth side of him is Oder, and
the Russians, who are also perhaps building Bridges, by way of a
supplementary or fourth head.
AUGUST 9th (BUNZLAU TO GOLDBERG), Friedrich, with his Three Columns
and perfect arrangements, makes a long march: from Bunzlau at 3 in the
morning; and at 5 afternoon arrives in sight of the Katzbach Valley,
with the little Town of Goldberg some miles to right. Katzbach River
is here; and Jauer, for to-morrow, still fifteen miles ahead. But on
reconnoitring here, all is locked and bolted: Lacy strong on the Hills
of Goldberg; Daun visible across the Katzbach; Daun, and behind him
Loudon, inexpugnably posted: Jauer an impossibility! We have bread only
for eight days; our Magazines are at Schweidnitz and Breslau: what is to
be done? Get through, one way or other, we needs must! Friedrich encamps
for the night; expecting an attack. If not attacked, he will make
for Liegnitz leftward; cross the Katzbach there, or farther down at
Parchwitz:--Parchwitz, Neumarkt, LEUTHEN, we have been in that country
before now:--Courage!
AUGUST 10th-11th (TO LIEGNITZ AND BACK). At 5 A.M., Sunday, August 10th,
Friedrich, nothing of attack having come, got on march again: down
his own left bank of the Katzbach, straight for Liegnitz; unopposed
altogether; not even a Pandour having attacked him overnight. But no
sooner is he under way, than Daun too rises; Daun, Loudon, close by, on
the other side of Katzbach, and keep step with us, on our right; Lacy's
light people hovering on our rear:--three truculent fellows in buckram;
fancy the feelings of the way-worn solitary fourth, whom they are
gloomily dogging in this way! The solitary fourth does his fifteen miles
to Liegnitz, unmolested by them; encamps on the Heights which look down
on Liegnitz over the south; finds, however, that the Loudon-Daun people
have likewise been diligent; that they now lie stretched out on their
right bank, three or four miles up-stream or to rearward, and what is
far worse, seven miles downwards, or ahead: that, in fact, they are a
march nearer Parchwitz than he;--and that there is again no possibility.
"Perhaps by Jauer, then, still? Out of this, and at lowest, into some
vicinity of bread, it does behoove us to be!" At 11 that night Friedrich
gets on march again; returns the way he came. And,
AUGUST 11th, At daybreak, is back to his old ground; nothing now to
oppose him but Lacy, who is gone across from Goldberg, to linger as rear
of the Daun-Loudon march. Friedrich steps across on Lacy, thirsting
to have a stroke at Lacy; who vanishes fast enough, leaving the ground
clear. Could but our baggage have come as fast as we! But our baggage,
Quintus guarding and urging, has to groan on for five hours yet; and
without it, there is no stirring. Five mortal hours;--by which time,
Daun, Lacy, Loudon are all up again; between us and Jauer, between us
and everything helpful;--and Friedrich has to encamp in Seichau,--"a
very poor Village in the Mountains," writes Mitchell, who was painfully
present there, "surrounded on all sides by Heights; on several of which,
in the evening, the Austrians took camp, separated from us by a deep
ravine only." [Mitchell, ii. 194.]
Outlooks are growing very questionable to Mitchell and everybody. "Only
four days' provisions" (in reality six), whisper the Prussian Generals
gloomily to Mitchell and to one another: "Shall we have to make for
Glogau, then, and leave Breslau to its fate? Or perhaps it will be
a second Maxen to his Majesty and us, who was so indignant with poor
Finck?" My friends, no; a Maxen like Finck's it will never be: a very
different Maxen, if any! But we hope better things.
Friedrich's situation, grasped in the Three-lipped Pincers in this
manner, is conceivable to readers. Soltikof, on the other side of Oder,
as supplementary or fourth lip, is very impatient with these three. "Why
all this dodging, and fidgeting to and fro? You are above three to one
of your enemy. Why don't you close on him at once, if you mean it at
all? The end is, He will be across Oder; and it is I that shall have the
brunt to bear: Henri and he will enclose me between two fires!" And in
fact, Henri, as we know, though Friedrich does not or only half does,
has gone across Oder, to watch Soltikof, and guard Breslau from any
attempts of his,--which are far from HIS thoughts at this moment;--a
Soltikof fuming violently at the thought of such cunctations, and of
being made cat's-paw again. "Know, however, that I understand you,"
violently fumes Soltikof, "and that I won't. I fall back into the
Trebnitz Bog-Country, on my own right bank here, and look out for my
own safety."--"Patience, your noble Excellenz," answer they always; "oh,
patience yet a little! Only yesterday (Sunday, 10th the day after his
arrival in this region), we had decided to attack and crush him; Sunday
very early: [Tempelhof, iv. 137, 148-150.] but he skipped away to
Liegnitz. Oh, be patient yet a day or two: he skips about at such a
rate!" Montalembert has to be suasive as the Muses and the Sirens.
Soltikof gloomily consents to another day or two. And even, such
his anxiety lest this swift King skip over upon HIM, pushes out a
considerable Russian Division, 24,000 ultimately, under Czernichef,
towards the King's side of things, towards Auras on Oder, namely,--there
to watch for oneself these interesting Royal movements; or even to join
with Loudon out there, if that seem the safer course, against them.
Of Czernichef at Auras we shall hear farther on,--were these Royal
movements once got completed a little.
MORNING OF AUGUST 12th, Friedrich has, in his bad lodging at Seichau,
laid a new plan of route: "Towards Schweidnitz let it be; round by
Pombsen and the southeast, by the Hill-roads, make a sweep flankward
of the enemy!"--and has people out reconnoitring the Hill-roads. Hears,
however, about 8 o'clock, That Austrians in strength are coming between
us and Goldberg! "Intending to enclose us in this bad pot of a Seichau;
no crossing of the Katzbach, or other retreat to be left us at all?"
Friedrich strikes his tents; ranks himself; is speedily in readiness
for dispute of such extremity;--sends out new patrols, however,
to ascertain. "Austrians in strength" there are NOT on the side
indicated;--whereupon he draws in again. But, on the other hand, the
Hill-roads are reported absolutely impassable for baggage; Pombsen an
impossibility, as the other places have been. So Friedrich sits down
again in Seichau to consider; does not stir all day. To Mitchell's
horror, who, "with great labor," burns all the legationary ciphers and
papers ("impossible to save the baggage if we be attacked in this hollow
pot of a camp"), and feels much relieved on finishing. [Mitchell, ii.
144; Tempelhof, iv. 144.]
Towards sunset, General Bulow, with the Second Line (second column of
march), is sent out Goldberg-way, to take hold of the passage of the
Katzbach: and at 8 that night we all march, recrossing there about 1
in the morning; thence down our left bank to Liegnitz for the second
time,--sixteen hours of it in all, or till noon of the 13th. Mitchell
had been put with the Cavalry part; and "cannot but observe to your
Lordship what a chief comfort it was in this long, dangerous and painful
March," to have burnt one's ciphers and dread secrets quite out of the
way.
And thus, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13th, about noon, we are in our old Camp;
Head-quarter in the southern suburb of Liegnitz (a wretched little
Tavern, which they still show there, on mythical terms): main part of
the Camp, I should think, is on that range of Heights, which reaches two
miles southward, and is now called "SIEGESBERG (Victory Hill)," from
a modern Monument built on it, after nearly 100 years. Here Friedrich
stays one day,--more exactly, 30 hours;--and his shifting, next time, is
extremely memorable.
BATTLE, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF LIEGNITZ, DOES ENSUE (Friday morning,
15th August, 1760).
Daun, Lacy and Loudon, the Three-lipped Pincers, have of course
followed, and are again agape for Friedrich, all in scientific postures:
Daun in the Jauer region, seven or eight miles south; Lacy about
Goldberg, as far to southwest; Loudon "between Jeschkendorf and
Koischwitz," northeastward, somewhat closer on Friedrich, with the
Katzbach intervening. That Czernichef, with an additional 24,000, to
rear of Loudon, is actually crossing Oder at Auras, with an eye to
junction, Friedrich does not hear till to-morrow. [Tempelhof, iv.
148-151; Mitchell, ii. 197.]
The scene is rather pretty, if one admired scenes. Liegnitz, a square,
handsome, brick-built Town, of old standing, in good repair (population
then, say 7,000), with fine old castellated edifices and aspects:
pleasant meeting, in level circumstances, of the Katzbach valley with
the Schwartz-wasser (BLACK-WATER) ditto, which forms the north rim of
Liegnitz; pleasant mixture of green poplars and brick towers,--as seen
from that "Victory Hill" (more likely to be "Immediate-Ruin Hill!")
where the King now is. Beyond Liegnitz and the Schwartzwasser,
northwestward, right opposite to the King's, rise other Heights called
of Pfaffendorf, which guard the two streams AFTER their uniting. Kloster
Wahlstatt, a famed place, lies visible to southeast, few miles off.
Readers recollect one Blucher "Prince of Wahlstatt," so named from one
of his Anti-Napoleon victories gained there? Wahlstatt was the scene of
an older Fight, almost six centuries older, [April 9th, 1241 (Kohler,
REICHS-HISTORIE).]--a then Prince of Liegnitz VERSUS hideous Tartar
multitudes, who rather beat him; and has been a CLOISTER Wahlstatt ever
since. Till Thursday, 14th, about 8 in the evening, Friedrich continued
in his Camp of Liegnitz. We are now within reach of a notable Passage of
War.
Friedrich's Camp extends from the Village of Schimmelwitz, fronting
the Katzbach for about two miles, northeastward, to his Head-quarter in
Liegnitz Suburb: Daun is on his right and rearward, now come within
four or five miles; Loudon to his left and frontward, four or five,
the Katzbach separating Friedrich and him; Lacy lies from Goldberg
northeastward, to within perhaps a like distance rearward: that is the
position on Thursday, 14th. Provisions being all but run out; and three
Armies, 90,000 (not to count Czernichef and his 24,000 as a fourth)
watching round our 30,000, within a few miles; there is no staying here,
beyond this day. If even this day it be allowed us? This day, Friedrich
had to draw out, and stand to arms for some hours; while the Austrians
appeared extensively on the Heights about, apparently intending an
attack; till it proved to be nothing: only an elaborate reconnoitring by
Daun; and we returned to our tents again.
Friedrich understands well enough that Daun, with the facts now before
him, will gradually form his plan, and also, from the lie of matters,
what his plan will be: many are the times Daun has elaborately
reconnoitred, elaborately laid his plan; but found, on coming to
execute, that his Friedrich was off in the interim, and the plan gone
to air. Friedrich has about 2,000 wagons to drag with him in these
swift marches: Glogau Magazine, his one resource, should Breslau and
Schweidnitz prove unattainable, is forty-five long miles northwestward.
"Let us lean upon Glogau withal," thinks Friedrich; "and let us be out
of this straightway! March to-night; towards Parchwitz, which is towards
Glogau too. Army rest till daybreak on the Heights of Pfaffendorf
yonder, to examine, to wait its luck: let the empty meal-wagons jingle
on to Glogau; load themselves there, and jingle back to us in Parchwitz
neighborhood, should Parchwitz not have proved impossible to our
manoeuvrings,--let us hope it may not!"--Daun and the Austrians having
ceased reconnoitring, and gone home, Friedrich rides with his Generals,
through Liegnitz, across the Schwartzwasser, to the Pfaffendorf Heights.
"Here, Messieurs, is our first halting-place to be: here we shall halt
till daybreak, while the meal-wagons jingle on!" And explains to them
orally where each is to take post, and how to behave. Which done, he too
returns home, no doubt a wearied individual; and at 4 of the afternoon
lies down to try for an hour or two of sleep, while all hands are busy
packing, according to the Orders given.
It is a fact recorded by Friedrich himself, and by many other people,
That, at this interesting juncture, there appeared at the King's Gate,
King hardly yet asleep, a staggering Austrian Officer, Irish by nation,
who had suddenly found good to desert the Austrian Service for the
Prussian--("Sorrow on them: a pack of"--what shall I say?)--Irish
gentleman, bursting with intelligence of some kind, but evidently deep
in liquor withal. "Impossible; the King is asleep," said the Adjutant
on duty; but produced only louder insistence from the drunk Irish
gentleman. "As much as all your heads are worth; the King's own safety,
and not a moment to lose!" What is to be done? They awaken the King:
"The man is drunk, but dreadfully in earnest, your Majesty." "Give him
quantities of weak tea [Tempelhof calls it tea, but Friedrich merely
warm water]; then examine him, and report if it is anything." Something
it was: "Your Majesty to be attacked, for certain, this night!" what his
Majesty already guessed:--something, most likely little; but nobody to
this day knows. Visible only, that his Majesty, before sunset, rode
out reconnoitring with this questionable Irish gentleman, now in a very
flaccid state; and altered nothing whatever in prior arrangements;--and
that the flaccid Irish gentleman staggers out of sight, into dusk, into
rest and darkness, after this one appearance on the stage of history.
[_OEuvres de Frederic,_ v. 63; Tempelhof, iv. 154.]
From about 8 in the evening, Friedrich's people got on march, in their
several columns, and fared punctually on; one column through the streets
of Liegnitz, others to left and to right of that; to left mainly, as
remoter from the Austrians and their listening outposts from beyond the
Katzbach River;--where the camp-fires are burning extremely distinct
to-night. The Prussian camp-fires, they too are all burning uncommonly
vivid; country people employed to feed them; and a few hussar sentries
and drummers to make the customary sounds for Daun's instruction, till
a certain hour. Friedrich's people are clearing the North Suburb of
Liegnitz, crossing the Schwartzwasser: artillery and heavy wagons all
go by the Stone-Bridge at Topferberg (POTTER-HILL) there; the lighter
people by a few pontoons farther down that stream, in the Pfaffendorf
vicinity. About one in the morning, all, even the right wing from
Schimmelwitz, are safely across.
Schwartzwasser, a River of many tails (boggy most of them, Sohnelle or
SWIFT Deichsel hardly an exception), gathering itself from the southward
for twenty or more miles, attains its maximum of north at a place called
Waldau, not far northwest of Topferberg. Towards this Waldau, Lacy is
aiming all night; thence to pounce on our "left wing,"--which he will
find to consist of those empty watch-fires merely. Down from Waldau,
past Topferberg and Pfaffendorf (PRIEST-town, or as we should call it,
"Preston"), which are all on its northern or left bank, Schwartzwasser's
course is in the form of an irregular horse-shoe; high ground to its
northern side, Liegnitz and hollows to its southern; till in an angular
way it do join Katzbach, and go with that, northward for Oder the rest
of its course. On the brow of these horse-shoe Heights,--which run
parallel to Schwartzwasser one part of them, and nearly parallel to
Katzbach another (though above a mile distant, these latter, from
IT),--Friedrich plants himself: in Order of Battle; slightly altering
some points of the afternoon's program, and correcting his Generals,
"Front rather so and so; see where their fires are, yonder!" Daun's
fires, Loudon's fires; vividly visible both:--and, singular to say,
there is nothing yonder either but a few sentries and deceptive drums!
All empty yonder too, even as our own Camp is; all gone forth, even as
we are; we resting here, and our meal-wagons jingling on Glogau way!
Excellency Mitchell, under horse-escort, among the lighter baggage,
is on Kuchelberg Heath, in scrubby country, but well north behind
Friedrich's centre: has had a dreadful march; one comfort only, that
his ciphers are all burnt. The rest of us lie down on the grass;--among
others, young Herr von Archenholtz, ensign or lieutenant in Regiment
FORCADE: who testifies that it is one of the beautifulest nights, the
lamps of Heaven shining down in an uncommonly tranquil manner; and that
almost nobody slept. The soldier-ranks all lay horizontal, musket under
arm; chatting pleasantly in an undertone, or each in silence revolving
such thoughts as he had. The Generals amble like observant spirits,
hoarsely imperative. [Archenholtz, ii. 100-111.] Friedrich's line, we
observed, is in the horse-shoe shape (or PARABOLIC, straighter than
horse-shoe), fronting the waters. Ziethen commands in that smaller
Schwartzwasser part of the line, Friedrich in the Katzbach part, which
is more in risk. And now, things being moderately in order, Friedrich
has himself sat down--I think, towards the middle or convex part of his
lines--by a watch-fire he has found there; and, wrapt in his cloak, his
many thoughts melting into haze, has sunk ito a kind of sleep. Seated on
a drum, some say; half asleep by the watch-fire, time half-past 2,--when
a Hussar Major, who has been out by the Bienowitz, the Pohlschildern
way, northward, reconnoitring, comes dashing up full speed: "The King?
where is the King?" "What is it, then?" answers the King for himself.
"Your Majesty, the Enemy in force, from Bienowitz, from Pohlschildern,
coming on our Left Wing yonder; has flung back all my vedettes: is
within 500 yards by this time!"
Friedrich springs to horse; has already an Order speeding forth,
"General Schenkendorf and his Battalion, their cannon, to the crown
of the Wolfsberg, on our left yonder; swift!" How excellent that every
battalion (as by Order that we read) "has its own share of the heavy
cannon always at hand!" ejaculate the military critics. Schenkendorf,
being nimble, was able to astonish the Enemy with volumes of case-shot
from the Wolfsberg, which were very deadly at that close distance. Other
arrangements, too minute for recital here, are rapidly done; and our
Left Wing is in condition to receive its early visitors,--Loudon or
whoever they may be. It is still dubious to the History-Books whether
Friedrich was in clear expectation of Loudon here; though of course he
would now guess it was Loudon. But there is no doubt Loudon had not the
least expectation of Friedrich; and his surprise must have been intense,
when, instead of vacant darkness (and some chance of Prussian baggage,
which he had heard of), Prussian musketries and case-shot opened on him.
Loudon had, as per order, quitted his Camp at Jeschkendorf, about the
time Friedrich did his at Schimmelwitz; and, leaving the lights all
burning, had set forward on his errand; which was (also identical with
Friedrich's), to seize the Heights of Pfaffendorf, and be ready there
when day broke, scouts having informed him that the Prussian Baggage was
certainly gone through to Topferberg,--more his scouts did not know, nor
could Loudon guess,--"We will snatch that Baggage!" thought Loudon; and
with such view has been speeding all he could; no vanguard ahead, lest
he alarm the Baggage escort: Loudon in person, with the Infantry of the
Reserve, striding on ahead, to devour any Baggage-escort there may be.
Friedrich's reconnoitring Hussar parties had confirmed this belief:
"Yes, yes!" thought Loudon. And now suddenly, instead of Baggage to
capture, here, out of the vacant darkness, is Friedrich in person, on
the brow of the Heights where we intended to form!--
Loudon's behavior, on being hurled back with his Reserve in this manner,
everybody says, was magnificent. Judging at once what the business was,
and that retreat would be impossible without ruin, he hastened instantly
to form himself, on such ground as he had,--highly unfavorable ground,
uphill in part, and room in it only for Five Battalions (5,000) of
front;--and came on again, with a great deal of impetuosity and good
skill; again and ever again, three times in all. Had partial successes;
edged always to the right to get the flank of Friedrich; but could not,
Friedrich edging conformably. From his right-hand, or northeast part,
Loudon poured in, once and again, very furious charges of Cavalry; on
every repulse, drew out new Battalions from his left and centre,
and again stormed forward: but found it always impossible. Had his
subordinates all been Loudons, it is said, there was once a fine chance
for him. By this edging always to the northeastward on his part and
Friedrich's, there had at last a considerable gap in Friedrich's Line
established itself,--not only Ziethen's Line and Friedrich's Line now
fairly fallen asunder, but, at the Village of Panten, in Friedrich's own
Line, a gap where anybody might get in. One of the Austrian Columns was
just entering Panten when the Fight began: in Panten that Column has
stood cogitative ever since; well to left of Loudon and his struggles;
but does not, till the eleventh hour, resolve to push through. At
the eleventh hour;--and lo, in the nick of time, Mollendorf (our
Leuthen-and-Hochkirch friend) got his eye on it; rushed up with infantry
and cavalry; set Panten on fire, and blocked out that possibility and
the too cogitative Column.
Loudon had no other real chance: his furious horse-charges and attempts
were met everywhere by corresponding counter-fury. Bernburg, poor
Regiment Bernburg, see what a figure it is making! Left almost alone,
at one time, among those horse-charges; spending its blood like water,
bayonet-charging, platooning as never before; and on the whole, stemming
invincibly that horse-torrent,--not unseen by Majesty, it may be hoped;
who is here where the hottest pinch is. On the third repulse, which
was worse than any before, Loudon found he had enough; and tried it no
farther. Rolled over the Katzbach, better or worse; Prussians catching
6,000 of him, but not following farther: threw up a tine battery at
Bienowitz, which sheltered his retreat from horse:--and went his ways,
sorely but not dishonorably beaten, after an hour and half of uncommonly
stiff fighting, which had been very murderous to Loudon. Loss of 10,000
to him: 4,000 killed and wounded; prisoners 6,000; 82 cannon, 28 flags,
and other items; the Prussian loss being 1,800 in whole. [Tempelhof, iv.
159.] By 5 o'clock, the Battle, this Loudon part of it, was quite over;
Loudon (35,000) wrecking himself against Friedrich's Left Wing (say half
of his Army, some 15,000) in such conclusive manner. Friedrich's Left
Wing alone has been engaged hitherto. And now it will be Ziethen's turn,
if Daun and Lacy still come on.
By 11 last night, Daun's Pandours, creeping stealthily on, across
the Katzbach, about Schimmelwitz, had discerned with amazement that
Friedrich's Camp appeared to consist only of watch-fires; and had shot
off their speediest rider to Daun, accordingly; but it was one in the
morning before Daun, busy marching and marshalling, to be ready at the
Katzbach by daylight, heard of this strange news; which probably
he could not entirely believe till seen with his own eyes. What
a spectacle! One's beautiful Plan exploded into mere imbroglio of
distraction; become one knows not what! Daun's watch-fires too had
all been left burning; universal stratagem, on both sides, going on;
producing--tragically for some of us--a TRAGEDY of Errors, or the
Mistakes of a Night! Daun sallied out again, in his collapsed, upset
condition, as soon as possible: pushed on, in the track of Friedrich;
warning Lacy to push on. Daun, though within five miles all the while,
had heard nothing of the furious Fight and cannonade; "southwest wind
having risen," so Daun said, and is believed by candid persons,--not by
the angry Vienna people, who counted it impossible: "Nonsense; you were
not deaf; but you loitered and haggled, in your usual way; perhaps not
sorry that, the brilliant Loudon should get a rebuff!"
Emerging out of Liegnitz, Daun did see, to northeastward, a vast pillar
or mass of smoke, silently mounting, but could do nothing with it.
"Cannon-smoke, no doubt; but fallen entirely silent, and not wending
hitherward at all. Poor Loudon, alas, must have got beaten!" Upon which
Daun really did try, at least upon Ziethen; but could do nothing.
Poured cavalry across the Stone-bridge at the Topferberg: who drove in
Ziethen's picket there; but were torn to pieces by Ziethen's cannon.
Ziethen across the Schwartzwasser is alert enough. How form in order
of battle here, with Ziethen's batteries shearing your columns
longitudinally, as they march up? Daun recognizes the impossibility;
wends back through Liegnitz to his Camp again, the way he had come.
Tide-hour missed again; ebb going uncommonly rapid! Lacy had been about
Waldau, to try farther up the Schwartzwasser on Ziethen's right: but the
Schwartzwasser proved amazingly boggy; not accessible on any point to
heavy people,--"owing to bogs on the bank," with perhaps poor prospect
on the other side too!
And, in fact, nothing of Lacy more than of Daun, could manage to get
across: nothing except two poor Hussar regiments; who, winding up far to
the left, attempted a snatch on the Baggage about Hummeln,--Hummeln,
or Kuchel of the Scrubs. And gave a new alarm to Mitchell, the last of
several during this horrid night; who has sat painfully blocked in
his carriage, with such a Devil's tumult, going on to eastward, and no
sight, share or knowledge to be had of it. Repeated hussar attacks there
were on the Baggage here, Loudon's hussars also trying: but Mitchell's
Captain was miraculously equal to the occasion; and had beaten them all
off. Mitchell, by magnanimous choice of his own, has been in many Fights
by the side of Friedrich; but this is the last he will ever be in or
near;--this miraculous one of Liegnitz, 3 to 4.30 A.M., Friday, August
15th, 1760.
Never did such a luck befall Friedrich before or after. He was clinging
on the edge of slippery abysses, his path hardly a foot's-breadth, mere
enemies and avalanches hanging round on every side: ruin likelier at no
moment, of his life;--and here is precisely the quasi-miracle which
was needed to save him. Partly by accident too; the best of management
crowned by the luckiest of accidents. [Tempelhof, iv. 151-171;
Archenholtz, ubi supra; HO BERICHT VON DER SCHLACHT SO AM 15 AUGUST,
1760, BEY LIEGNITZ, VORGEFALLEN (Seyfarth, _Beylagen,_ ii. 696-703); &c.
&c.]
Friedrich rested four hours on the Battle-field,--if that could be
called rest, which was a new kind of diligence highly wonderful.
Diligence of gathering up accurately the results of the Battle; packing
them into portable shape; and marching off with them in one's pocket,
so to speak. Major-General Saldern had charge of this, a man of many
talents; and did it consummately. The wounded, Austrian as well as
Prussian, are placed in the empty meal-wagons; the more slightly wounded
are set on horseback, double in possible cases: only the dead are left
lying: 100 or more meal-wagons are left, their teams needed for drawing
our 82 new cannon;--the wagons we split up, no Austrians to have them;
usable only as firewood for the poor Country-folk. The 4 or 5,000 good
muskets lying on the field, shall not we take them also? Each cavalry
soldier slings one of them across his back, each baggage driver one:
and the muskets too are taken care of. About 9 A.M., Friedrich, with
his 6,000 prisoners, new cannon-teams, sick-wagon teams, trophies,
properties, is afoot again. One of the succinctest of Kings.
I should have mentioned the joy of poor Regiment Bernburg; which
rather affected me. Loudon gone, the miracle of Battle done, and this
miraculous packing going on,--Friedrich riding about among his people,
passed along the front of Bernburg, the eye of him perhaps intimating,
"I saw you, BURSCHE;" but no word coming from him. The Bernburg
Officers, tragically tressless in their hats, stand also silent, grim as
blackened stones (all Bernburg black with gunpowder): "In us also is
no word; unless our actions perhaps speak?" But a certain Sergeant,
Fugleman, or chief Corporal, stept out, saluting reverentially:
"Regiment Bernburg, IHRO MAJESTAT--?" "Hm; well, you did handsomely.
Yes, you shall have your side-arms back; all shall be forgotten and
washed out!" "And you are again our Gracious King, then?" says the
Sergeant, with tears in his eyes.--"GEWISS, Yea, surely!" [Tempelhof,
iv. 162-164.] Upon which, fancy what a peal of sound from the ecstatic
throat and heart of this poor Regiment. Which I have often thought of;
hearing mutinous blockheads, "glorious Sons of Freedom" to their own
thinking, ask their natural commanding Officer, "Are not we as good as
thou? Are not all men equal?" Not a whit of it, you mutinous blockheads;
very far from it indeed!
This was the breaking of Friedrich's imprisonment in the deadly
rock-labyrinths; this success at Liegnitz delivered him into free field
once more. For twenty-four hours more, indeed, the chance was still full
of anxiety to him; for twenty-four hours Daun, could he have been rapid,
still had the possibilities in hand;--but only Daun's Antagonist was
usually rapid. About 9 in the morning, all road-ready, this latter
Gentleman "gave three Salvos, as Joy-fire, on the field of Liegnitz;"
and, in the above succinct shape,--leaving Ziethen to come on, "with
the prisoners, the sick-wagons and captured cannon," in the
afternoon,--marched rapidly away. For Parchwitz, with our best speed:
Parchwitz is the road to Breslau, also to Glogau,--to Breslau, if it be
humanly possible! Friedrich has but two days' bread left; on the Breslau
road, at Auras, there is Czernichef with 24,000; there are, or there
may be, the Loudon Remnants rallied again, the Lacy Corps untouched, all
Daun's Force, had Daun made any despatch at all. Which Daun seldom did.
A man slow to resolve, and seeking his luck in leisure.
All judges say, Daun ought now to have marched, on this enterprise
of still intercepting Friedrich, without loss of a moment. But he
calculated Friedrich would probably spend the day in TE-DEUM-ing on the
Field (as is the manner of some); and that, by to-morrow, things would
be clearer to one's own mind. Daun was in no haste; gave no orders,--did
not so much as send Czernichef a Letter. Czernichef got one, however.
Friedrich sent him one; that is to say, sent him one TO INTERCEPT.
Friedrich, namely, writes a Note addressed to his Brother Henri:
"Austrians totally beaten this day; now for the Russians, dear Brother;
and swift, do what we have agreed on!" [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ v. 67.]
Friedrich hands this to a Peasant, with instructions to let himself be
taken by the Russians, and give it up to save his life. Czernichef, it
is thought, got this Letter; and perhaps rumor itself, and the delays of
Daun, would, at any rate, have sent him across. Across he at once went,
with his 24,000, and burnt his Bridge. A vanished Czernichef;--though
Friedrich is not yet sure of it: and as for the wandering Austrian
Divisions, the Loudons, Lacys, all is dark to him.
So that, at Parchwitz, next morning (August 16th), the question,
"To Glogau? To Breslau?" must have been a kind of sphinx-enigma to
Friedrich; dark as that, and, in case of error, fatal. After some brief
paroxysm of consideration, Friedrich's reading was, "To Breslau, then!"
And, for hours, as the march went on, he was noticed "riding much
about," his anxieties visibly great. Till at Neumarkt (not far from the
Field of LEUTHEN), getting on the Heights there,--towards noon, I
will guess,--what a sight! Before this, he had come upon Austrian
Out-parties, Beck's or somebody's, who did not wait his attack: he saw,
at one point, "the whole Austrian Army on march (the tops of its
columns visible among the knolls, three miles off, impossible to say
whitherward);" and fared on all the faster, I suppose, such a bet
depending;--and, in fine, galloped to the Heights of Neumarkt for a
view: "Dare we believe it? Not an Austrian there!" And might be, for the
moment, the gladdest of Kings. Secure now of Breslau, of junction
with Henri: fairly winner of the bet;--and can at last pause, and take
breath, very needful to his poor Army, if not to himself, after such
a mortal spasm of sixteen days! Daun had taken the Liegnitz accident
without remark; usually a stoical man, especially in other people's
misfortunes; but could not conceal his painful astonishment on this
new occasion,--astonishment at unjust fortune, or at his own sluggardly
cunctations, is not said.
Next day (August 17th), Friedrich encamps at Hermannsdorf, head-quarter
the Schloss of Hermannsdorf, within seven miles of Breslau; continues a
fortnight there, resting his wearied people, himself not resting much,
watching the dismal miscellany of entanglements that yet remain, how
these will settle into groups,--especially what Daun and his Soltikof
will decide on. In about a fortnight, Daun's decision did become
visible; Soltikof's not in a fortnight, nor ever clearly at all. Unless
it were To keep a whole skin, and gradually edge home to his
victuals. As essentially it was, and continued to be; creating endless
negotiations, and futile overtures and messagings from Daun to
his barbarous Friend, endless suasions and troubles from poor
Montalembert,--of which it would weary every reader to hear mention,
except of the result only.
Friedrich, for his own part, is little elated with these bits of
successes at Liegnitz or since; and does not deceive himself as to
the difficulties, almost the impossibilities, that still lie ahead. In
answer to D'Argens, who has written ("at midnight," starting out of bed
"the instant the news came"), in zealous congratulation on Liegnitz,
here is a Letter of Friedrich's: well worth reading,--though it has been
oftener read than almost any other of his. A Letter which D'Argens
never saw in the original form; which was captured by the Austrians or
Cossacks; [See _OEuvres de Frederic,_ xix. 198 (D'Argens himself, "19th
October" following), and ib. 191 n.; Rodenbeck, ii. 31, 36;--mention
of it in Voltaire, Montalembert, &c.] which got copied everywhere, soon
stole into print, and is ever since extensively known.
FRIEDRICH TO MARQUIS D'ARGENS (at Berlin).
"HERMANNSDORF, near Breslau, 27th August, 1760.
"In other times, my dear Marquis, the Affair of the 15th would have
settled the Campaign; at present it is but a scratch. There will be
needed a great Battle to decide our fate: such, by all appearance, we
shall soon have; and then you may rejoice, if the event is favorable to
us. Thank you, meanwhile, for all your sympathy. It has cost a deal
of scheming, striving and much address to bring matters to this point.
Don't speak to me of dangers; the last Action costs me only a Coat
[torn, useless, only one skirt left, by some rebounding cannon-ball?]
and a Horse [shot under me]: that is not paying dear for a victory.
"In my life, I was never in so bad a posture as in this Campaign.
Believe me, miracles are still needed if I am to overcome all the
difficulties which I still see ahead. And one is growing weak withal.
'Herculean' labors to accomplish at an age when my powers are forsaking
me, my weaknesses increasing, and, to speak candidly, even hope, the
one comfort of the unhappy, begins to be wanting. You are not enough
acquainted with the posture of things, to know all the dangers that
threaten the State: I know them, and conceal them; I keep all the fears
to myself, and communicate to the Public only the hopes, and the trifle
of good news I may now and then have. If the stroke I am meditating
succeed [stroke on Daun's Anti-Schweidnitz strategies, of which anon],
then, my dear Marquis, it will be time to expand one's joy; but till
then let us not flatter ourselves, lest some unexpected bit of bad news
depress us too much.
"I live here [Schloss of Hermannsdorf, a seven miles west of Breslau]
like a Military Monk of La Trappe: endless businesses, and these done,
a little consolation from my Books. I know not if I shall outlive this
War: but should it so happen, I am firmly resolved to pass the remainder
of my life in solitude, in the bosom of Philosophy and Friendship. When
the roads are surer, perhaps you will write me oftener. I know not where
our winter-quarters this time are to be! My House in Breslau is burnt
down in the Bombardment [Loudon's, three weeks ago]. Our enemies grudge
us everything, even daylight, and air to breathe: some nook, however,
they must leave us; and if it be a safe one, it will be a true pleasure
to have you again with me.
"Well, my dear Marquis, what has become of the Peace with France
[English Peace]! Your Nation, you see, is blinder than you thought:
those fools will lose their Canada and Pondicherry, to please the Queen
of Hungary and the Czarina. Heaven grant Prince Ferdinand may pay
them for their zeal! And it will be the innocent that suffer, the poor
officers and soldiers, not the Choiseuls and--... But here is business
come on me. Adieu, dear Marquis; I embrace you.--F." [_OEuvres de
Frederic,_ xix. 191.]
Two Events, of opposite complexion, a Russian and a Saxon, Friedrich had
heard of while at Hermannsdorf, before writing as above. The Saxon Event
is the pleasant one, and comes first.
HULSEN ON THE DURRENBERG, AUGUST 20th. "August 20th, at Strehla, in that
Schlettau-Meissen Country, the Reichsfolk and Austrians made attack
on Hulsen's Posts, principal Post of them the Durrenberg (DRY-HILL)
there,--in a most extensive manner; filling the whole region with vague
artillery-thunder, and endless charges, here, there, of foot and
horse; which all issued in zero and minus quantities; Hulsen standing
beautifully to his work, and Hussar Kleist especially, at one point,
cutting in with masterly execution, which proved general overthrow
to the Reichs Project; and left Hulsen master of the field and of his
Durrenberg, PLUS 1,217 prisoners and one Prince among them, and one
cannon: a Hulsen who has actually given a kind of beating to the
Reichsfolk and Austrians, though they were 30,000 to his 10,000, and had
counted on making a new Maxen of it." [Archenholts, ii. 114; BERICHT
VON DER OM 20 AUGUST 1780 BEY STREHLA VORGEFALLONEN ACTION (Seyfarth,
_Beylagen,_ ii. 703-719).] Friedrich writes a glad laudatory Letter
to Hulsen: "Right, so; give them more of that when they apply next!"
[Letter in SCHONING, ii. 396, "Hermsdorf" (Hermannsdorf), "27th August,
1760."]
This is a bit of sunshine to the Royal mind, dark enough otherwise.
Had Friedrich got done here, right fast would he fly to the relief of
Hulsen, and recovery of Saxony. Hope, in good moments, says, "Hulsen
will be able to hold out till then!" Fear answers, "No, he cannot,
unless you get done here extremely soon!"--The Russian Event, full of
painful anxiety to Friedrich, was a new Siege of Colberg. That is the
sad fact; which, since the middle of August, has been becoming visibly
certain.
SECOND SIEGE OF COLBERG, AUGUST 26th. "Under siege again, that poor
Place; and this time the Russians seem to have made a vow that take it
they will. Siege by land and by sea; land-troops direct from Petersburg,
15,000 in all (8,000 of them came by ship), with endless artillery; and
near 40 Russian and Swedish ships-of-war, big and little, blackening the
waters of poor Colberg. August 26th [the day before Friedrich's writing
as above], they have got all things adjusted,--the land-troops covered
by redoubts to rearward, ships moored in their battering-places;--and
begin such a bombardment and firing of red-hot balls upon Colberg as was
rarely seen. To which, one can only hope old Heyde will set a face of
gray-steel character, as usual; and prove a difficult article to deal
with, till one get some relief contrived for him. [Archenholtz, ii. 116:
in _Helden-Geschichte,_ (vi.73-83), "TAGEBUCH of Siege, 26th August-18th
September," and other details.]