Before going upon this forlorn march of Friedrich's, one of the
forlornest a son of Adam ever had, we must speak of a thing which befell
to rearward, while the march was only half done, and which greatly
influenced it and all that followed. It was the seventh day of
Friedrich's march, not above eighty miles of it yet done, when
Winterfeld perished in fight. No Winterfeld now to occupy the Austrians
in his absence; to stand between Silesia and them, or assist him farther
in his lonesome struggle against the world. Let us spend a moment on the
exit of that brave man: Bernstadt, Gorlitz Country, September 7th, 1757.
The Bevern Army, 36,000 strong, is still there in its place in the
Lausitz, near Gorlitz; Prince Karl lies quiet in his near Zittau, ever
since he burnt that Town, and stood four days in arms unattackable
by Friedrich with prospect of advantage. The Court of Vienna cannot
comprehend this state of inactivity: "Two to one, and a mere Bevern
against you, the King far away in Saxony upon his desperate Anti-French
mission there: why not go in upon this Bevern? The French, whom we are
by every courier passionately importuning to sweep Saxony clear, what
will they say of this strange mode of sweeping Silesia clear?" Maria
Theresa and her Kriegs-Hofrath are much exercised with these thoughts,
and with French and other remonstrances that come. Maria Theresa and her
Kriegs-Hofrath at length despatch their supreme Kaunitz, Graf Kaunitz
in person, to stir up Prince Karl, and look into the matter with his
own wise eyes and great heart: Prince Karl, by way of treat to this high
gentleman, determines on doing something striking upon Bevern.
Bevern lies with his main body about Gorlitz, in and to westward of
Gorlitz, a pleasant Town on the left bank of the Neisse (readers know
there are four Neisses, and which of them this is), with fine hilly
country all round, bulky solitary Heights and Mountains rising out of
fruitful plains,--two Hochkirchs (HIGH-KIRKS), for example, are in this
region, one of which will become extremely notable next year:--Bevern
has a strong camp leaning on the due Heights here, with Gorlitz in its
lap; and beyond Gorlitz, on the right bank of the Neisse, united to him
by a Bridge, he has placed Winterfeld with 10,000, who lies with his
back to Gorlitz, proper brooks and fencible places flanking him, has
a Dorf (THORP) called Moys in HIS lap; and, some short furlong beyond
Moys, a 2,000 of his grenadiers planted on the top of a Hill called the
Moysberg, called also the Holzberg (WOODHILL) and Jakelsberg, of which
the reader is to take notice. Fine outpost, with proper batteries atop,
with hussar squadrons and hussar pickets sprinkled about; which commands
a far outlook towards Silesia, and in marching thither, or in continuing
here, is useful to have in hand,--were it not a little too distant from
the main body. It is this Jakelsberg, capable of being snatched if one
is sudden enough, that Prince Karl decides on: it may be good for much
or for little to Prince Karl; and, if even for nothing, it will be a
brilliant affront upon Winterfeld and Bevern, and more or less charming
to Kaunitz.
Winterfeld, the ardent enterprising man, King's other self, is thought
to be the mainspring of affairs here (small thanks to him privately
from Bevern, add some): and is stationed in the extreme van, as we see;
Winterfeld is engaged in many things besides the care of this post; and
indeed where a critical thing is to be done, we can imagine Winterfeld
goes upon it. "We must try to stay here till the King has finished in
Saxony!" says Winterfeld always. To which Bevern replies, "Excellent,
truly; but how?" Bevern has his provender at Dresden, sadly far off;
has to hold Bautzen garrisoned, and gets much trouble with his convoys.
Better in Silesia, with our magazines at hand, thinks Bevern, less
mindful of other considerations.
Tuesday, September 6th, Prince Karl sends Nadasti to the right bank of
the River, forward upon Moys, to do the Jakelsberg before day to-morrow:
only some 2,000 grenadiers on it; Nadasti has with him 15,000, some
count 20,000 of all arms, artillery in plenty; surely sufficient for the
Jakelsberg; and Daun advances, with the main body, on the other side
of the River, to be within reach, should Moys lead to more serious
consequences. Nadasti diligently marches all day; posts himself at night
within few miles of Moys; gets his cannon to the proper Hills (GALLOWS
Hill and others), his Croats to the proper Woods; and, before daylight
on the morrow, means to begin upon the Moys Hill and its 2,000
grenadiers.
Wednesday morning, at the set hour, Nadasti, with artillery bursting
out and quivering battle-lines, is at work accordingly; hurls up 1,000
Croats for one item, and regulars to the amount of "forty companies in
three lines." The grenadiers, somewhat astonished, for the morning
was misty and their hussar-posts had come hastily in, stood upon their
guard, like Prussian men; hurled back the 1,000 Croats fast enough;
stubbornly repulsed the regulars too, and tumbled them down hill with
bullet-storm for accompaniment; gallantly foiling this first attempt of
Nadasti's. Of course Nadasti will make another, will make ever others;
capture of the Jakelsberg can hardly be doubtful to Nadasti.
Winterfeld was not at Moys, he was at Gorlitz, just got in from
escorting an important meal-convoy hither out of Bautzen; and was in
conference with Bevern, when rumor of these Croat attacks came in at the
gallop from Moys. Winterfeld made little of the rumors: he had heard
of some attack intended, but it was to have been overnight, and has
not been. "Mere foraging of Croat rabble, like yesterday's!" said
Winterfeld, and continued his present business. In few minutes the sound
of heavy cannonading convinced him. "Haha, there are my guests,"
said he; "we must see if we cannot entertain them right!" sprang to
horseback, ordered on, double-quick, the three regiments nearest him,
and was off at the gallop,--too late; or, alas, too EARLY we might
rather say! Arriving at the gallop, Winterfeld found his grenadiers
and their insufficient reinforcements rolling back, the Hill lost;
Winterfeld "sprang to a fresh horse," shot his lightning glances and
energies, to his hand and that; stormfully rallied the matter, recovered
the Hill; and stormfully defended it, for, I should guess, an hour or
more; and might still have done one knows not what, had not a bullet
struck him through the breast, and suddenly ended all his doings in this
world.
Three other reasons the Prussians give for loss of their Hill, which are
of no consequence to them or to us in comparison. First, that Bevern; on
message after message, sent no reinforcement; that Winterfeld was left
to his own 10,000, and what he and they could make of it. Bevern is
jealous of Winterfeld, hint they, and willing to see his impetuous
audacity checked. Perhaps only cautious of getting into a general
action for what was intrinsically nothing? Second, that two regiments
of Infantry, whom Winterfeld detached double-quick to seize a couple of
villages (Leopoldshayn, Hermsdorf) on his right, and therefrom fusillade
Nadasti on flank, found the villages already occupied by thousands of
Croats, with regular foot and cannon-batteries, and could in nowise
seize them. This was a great reverse of advantage. Third, that an
Aide-de-Camp made a small misnomer, misreport of one word, which was
terribly important: "Bring me hither Regiment Manteuffel!" Winterfeld
had ordered. The Aide-de-Camp reported it "Grenadiers Manteuffel:" upon
which, the grenadiers, who were posted in a walled garden, an important
point to Winterfeld's right, came instantly to order; and Austrians
instantly rushed in to the vacant post, and galled Winterfeld's other
flank by their fire. [Abundant Accounts in Seyfarth, ii. (_Beylagen_),
162-163; _Helden-Geschichte,_ iv. 615-633; Retzow, i. 216-221.]
Enough, Winterfeld lay bleeding to death, the Hill was lost, Prussians
drawing off slowly and back-foremost, about two in the afternoon; upon
which the Austrians also drew off, leaving only a small party on the
Hill, who voluntarily quitted it next morning. Next morning, likewise,
Winterfeld had died. The Hill was, except as bravado, and by way
of comfort to Kaunitz, nothing for the Austrians; but the death of
Winterfeld, which had come by chance to them in the business, was
probably a great thing. Better than two pitched battles gained: who
shall say? He was a shining figure, this Winterfeld; dangerous to the
Austrians. The most shining figure in the Prussian Army, except its
Chief; and had great thoughts in his head. Prussia is not skilful to
celebrate her Heroes,--the Prussian Muse of History, choked with dry
military pipe-clay, or with husky cobwebbery and academic pedantry, how
can she?--but if Prussia can produce heroes worth celebrating, that
is the one important point. Apart from soldiership, and the outward
features which are widely different, there is traceable in Winterfeld
some kinship in soul to English Chatham his contemporary; though he has
not had the fame of Chatham.
Winterfeld was by no means universally liked; as what brave man is or
can be? Too susceptible to flattery; too this, too that. He is, one
feels always, except Friedrich only, the most shining figure in the
Prussian Army: and it was not unnatural he should be Friedrich's
one friend,--as seems to have been the case. Friedrich, when this
Job's-message reached him (in Erfurt Country, eight days hence), was
deeply affected by it. To tears, or beyond tears, as we can fancy.
"Against my multitude of enemies I may contrive resources," he was heard
to say; "but I shall find no Winterfeld again!" Adieu, my one friend,
real Peer, sole companion to my lonely pilgrimage in these perilous high
regions.
"The Prince of Prussia, contrariwise," says a miserable little Note,
which must not be withheld, "brightened up at the news: 'I shall now die
much more content, knowing that there is one so bad and dangerous man
fewer in the Army!' And, six months after, in his actual death-moments,
he exclaimed: 'I end my life, the last period of which has cost me so
much sorrow; but Winterfeld is he who shortened my days!'" [Preuss, ii.
75; citing Retzow.]--Very bitter Opposition humors circulating, in their
fashion, there as elsewhere in this world!
Bevern, the millstone of Winterfeld being off his neck, has become a
more responsible, though he feels himself a much-delivered man. Had
not liked Winterfeld, they say; or had even hated him, since those
bad Zittau times. Can now, at any rate, make for Schlesien and the
meal-magazines, when he sees good. He will find meal readier there; may
he find other things corresponding! Nobody now to keep him painfully
manoeuvring in these parts; with the King's Army nearer to him, but meal
not.
On the third day after (September 10th), Bevern, having finished
packing, took the road for Schlesien; Daun and Karl attending him;
nothing left of Daun and Karl in those Saxon Countries,--except, at
Stolpen, out Dresden-wards, some Reserve-Post or Rear-guard of 15,000,
should we chance to hear of that again. And from the end of September
onwards, Bevern's star, once somewhat bright at Reichenberg, shot
rapidly downwards, under the horizon altogether; and there came, post
after post, such news out of Schlesien,--to say nothing of that Stolpen
Party,--as Friedrich had never heard before.