have been in Council of War; and, on deliberation, have decided to
come out of their defences; to quit their strong Camp, which lies so
eligibly, ahead of Breslau and arear of Lissa and of Schweidnitz Water
yonder; to cross Schweidnitz Water, leave Lissa behind them; and meet
this offensively aggressive Friedrich in pitched fight. Several had
voted, No, why stir?--Daun especially, and others with emphasis. "No
need of fighting at all," said Daun: "we can defend Schweidnitz Water;
ruin him before he ever get across." "Defend? Be assaulted by an Army
like his?" urges Lucchesi, the other Chief General: "It is totally
unworthy of us! We have gained the game; all the honors ours; let us
have done with it. Give him battle, since he fortunately wishes it; we
finish him, and gloriously finish the War too!" So argued Lucchesi, with
vivacity, persistency,--to his own ill luck, but evidently with approval
from Prince Karl. Everybody sees, this is the way to Prince Karl's favor
at present. "Have not I reconquered Silesia?" thinks Prince Karl to
himself; and beams applause on the high course, not the low prudent one.
[Kutzen, pp. 45-48.] In a word, the Austrians decide on stepping out to
meet Friedrich in open battle: it was the first time they ever did so;
and it was likewise the last.
Sunday, December 4th, at four in the morning, Friedrich has marched
from Parchwitz, straight towards the Austrian Camp; [Muller, p. 26.]
he hears, one can fancy with what pleasure, that the Austrians are
advancing towards him, and will not need to be forced in their strong
position. His march is in four columns, Friedrich in the vanguard;
quarters to be Neumarkt, a little Town about fourteen miles off. Within
some miles of Neumarkt, early in the afternoon, he learns that there are
a thousand Croats in the place, the Austrian Bakery at work there, and
engineer people marking out an Austrian Camp. "On the Height beyond
Neumarkt, that will be?" thinks Friedrich; for he knows this ground,
having often done reviews here; to Breslau all the way on both hands,
not a rood of it but is familiar to him. Which was a singular advantage,
say the critics; and a point the Austrian Council of War should have
taken more thought of.
Friedrich, before entering Neumarkt, sends a regiment to ride quietly
round it on both sides, and to seize that Height he knows of. Height
once seized, or ready for seizing, he bursts the barrier of Neumarkt;
dashes in upon the thousand Croats; flings out the Croats in extreme
hurry, musketry and sabre acting on them; they find their Height beset,
their retreat cut off, and that they must vanish. Of the 1,000 Croats,
"569 were taken prisoners, and 120 slain," in this unexpected sweeping
out of Neumarkt. Better still, in Neumarkt is found the Austrian Bakery,
set up and in full work;--delivers you 80,000 bread-rations hot-and-hot,
which little expected to go such a road. On the Height, the Austrian
stakes and engineer-tools were found sticking in the ground; so hasty
had the flight been.
How Prince Karl came to expose his Bakery, his staff of life so far
ahead of him? Prince Karl, it is clear, was a little puffed up with high
thoughts at this time. The capture of Schweidnitz, the late "Malplaquet"
(poorish Anti-Bevern Malplaquet), capture of Breslau, and the low and
lost condition of Friedrich's Silesian affairs, had more or less turned
everybody's head,--everybody's except Feldmarschall Daun's alone:--and
witty mess-tables, we already said, were in the daily habit of mocking
at Friedrich's march towards them with aggressive views, and called his
insignificant little Army the "Potsdam Guard-Parade." [Cogniazzo, ii.
417-422.] That was the common triumphant humor; naturally shared in by
Prince Karl; the ready way to flatter him being to sing in that tune.
Nobody otherwise can explain, and nobody in any wise can justify, Prince
Karl's ignorance of Friedrich's advance, his almost voluntary losing of
his staff-of-life in that manner.
MAP TO GO HERE--FACING PAGE 48, BOOK 18 continuation----
Prince Karl's soldiers have each (in the cold form) three days,
provision in their haversacks: they have come across the Weistritz River
(more commonly called Schweidnitz Water), which was also the height of
contemptuous imprudence; and lie encamped, this night,--in long line,
not ill-chosen (once the River IS behind),--perpendicular to Friedrich's
march, some ten miles ahead of him. Since crossing, they had learned
with surprise, How their Bakery and Croats had been snapt up; that
Friedrich was not at a distance, but near;--and that arrangements could
not be made too soon! Their position intersects the Great Road at right
angles, as we hint; and has villages, swamps, woody knolls; especially,
on each wing, good defences. Their right wing leans on Nypern and its
impassable peat-bogs, a Village two or three miles north from the Great
Road; their centre is close behind another Village called Leuthen, about
as far south from it: length of their bivouac is about five miles; which
will become six or so, had Nadasti once taken post, who is to form the
left wing, and go down as far as Sagschutz, southward of Leuthen. Seven
battalions are in this Village of Leuthen, eight in Nypern, all the
Villages secured; woods, scraggy abatis, redoubts, not forgotten: their
cannon are numerous, though of light calibre. Friedrich has at least
71 heavy pieces; and 10 of them are formidably heavy,--brought from
the walls of Glogau, with terrible labor to Ziethen; but with excellent
effect, on this occasion and henceforth. They got the name of "Boomers,
Bellowers (DIE BRUMMER)," those Ten. Friedrich was in great straits
about artillery; and Retzow Senior recommended this hauling up of the
Ten Bellowers, which became celebrated in the years coming. And now we
are on the Battle-ground, and must look into the Battle itself, if we
can.
Chapter X.--BATTLE OF LEUTHEN.
From Neumarkt, on Monday, long before day, the Prussians, all but a
small party left there to guard the Bakery and Army Properties, are out
again; in four columns; towards what may lie ahead. Friedrich, as usual
in such cases, for obvious reasons, rides with the vanguard. To Borne,
the first Village on the Highway, is some seven or eight miles. The air
is damp, the dim incipiences of dawn struggling among haze; a little
way on this side Borne, we come on ranks of cavalry drawn across the
Highway, stretching right and left into the dim void: Austrian Army
this, then? Push up to it; see what it is, at least.
It proves to be poor General Nostitz, with his three Saxon regiments
of dragoons, famous since Kolin-day, and a couple of Hussar regiments,
standing here as outpost;--who ought to have been more alert; but they
could not see through the dark, and so, instead of catching, are
caught. The Prussians fall upon them, front and flank, tumble them into
immediate wreck; drive the whole outpost at full gallop home, through
Borne, upon Nypern and the right wing,--without news except of this
symbolical sort. Saxon regiments are quite ruined, "540 of them
prisoners" (poor Nostitz himself not prisoner, but wounded to death
[Died in Breslau, the twelfth day after (Seyfarth, ii. 362).]); and the
ground clear in this quarter.
Friedrich, on the farther side of Borne, calls halt, till the main body
arrive; rides forward, himself and staff, to the highest of a range or
suite of knolls, some furlongs ahead; sees there in full view, far
and wide, the Austrians drawn up before him. From Nypern to Sagschuitz
yonder; miles in length; and so distinct, while the light mended and the
hazes faded, "that you could have counted them [through your glasses],
man by man." A highly interesting sight to Friedrich; who continues
there in the profoundest study, and calls up some horse regiments of the
vanguard to maintain this Height and the range of Heights running south
from it. And there, I think, the King is mainly to be found, looking now
at the Austrians, now at his own people, for some three hours to come.
His plan of Battle is soon clear to him: Nypern, with its bogs and
scrags, on the Austrian right wing, is tortuous impossible ground, as he
well remembers, no good prospect for us there: better ground for us on
their left yonder, at Leuthen, even at Sagschutz farther south, whither
they are stretching themselves. Attempt their left wing; try our
"Oblique Order" upon that, with all the skill that is in us; perhaps
we can do it rightly this time, and prosper accordingly! That is
Friedrich's plan of action. The four columns once got to Borne
shall fall into two; turn to the right, and go southward, ever
southward:--they are to become our two Lines of Battle, were they once
got to the right point southward. Well opposite Sagschutz, that will be
the point for facing to left, and marching up,--in "Oblique Order," with
the utmost faculty they have!
"The Oblique Order, SCHRAGE STELLUNG," let the hasty reader pause to
understand, "is an old plan practised by Epaminondas, and revived by
Friedrich,--who has tried it in almost all his Battles more or less,
from Hohenfriedberg forward to Prag, Kolin, Rossbach; but never could,
in all points, get it rightly done till now, at Leuthen, in the highest
time of need. "It is a particular manoeuvre," says Archenholtz, rather
sergeant-wise, "which indeed other troops are now [1793] in the habit of
imitating; but which, up to this present time, none but Prussian troops
can execute with the precision and velocity indispensable to it. You
divide your line into many pieces; you can push these forward stairwise,
so that they shall halt close to one another," obliquely, to either
hand; and so, on a minimum of ground, bring your mass of men to the
required point at the required angle. Friedrich invented this mode
of getting into position; by its close ranking, by its depth, and the
manner of movement used, it had some resemblance to the "Macedonian
Phalanx,"--chiefly in the latter point, I should guess; for when arrived
at its place, it is no deeper than common. "Forming itself in this way,
a mass of troops takes up in proportion very little ground; and it
shows in the distance, by reason of the mixed uniforms and standards, a
totally chaotic mass of men heaped on one another," going in rapid
mazes this way and that. "But it needs only that the Commander lift
his finger; instantly this living coil of knotted intricacies develops
itself in perfect order, and with a speed like that of mountain rivers
when the ice breaks,"--is upon its Enemy. [Archenholtz, i. 209.]
"Your Enemy is ranked as here, in long line, three or two to one. You
march towards him, but keep him uncertain as to how you will attack;
then do on a sudden march up, not parallel to him, but oblique, at an
angle of 45 degrees,--swift, vehement, in overpowering numbers, on the
wing you have chosen. Roll that wing together, ruined, in upon its own
line, you may roll the whole five miles of line into disorder and ruin,
and always be in overpowering number at the point of dispute. Provided,
only, you are swift enough about it, sharp enough! But extraordinary
swiftness, sharpness, precision is the indispensable condition;--by no
means try it otherwise; none but Prussians, drilled by an Old Dessauer,
capable of doing it. This is the SCHRAGE ORDNUNG, about which there has
been such commentating and controversying among military people: whether
Friedrich invented it, whether Caesar did it, how Epaminondas, how
Alexander at Arbela; how"--Which shall not in the least concern us on
this occasion.
The four columns rustled themselves into two, and turned southward on
the two sides of Borne;--southward henceforth, for about two hours; as
if straight towards the Magic Mountain, the Zobtenberg, far off, which
is conspicuous over all that region. Their steadiness, their swiftness
and exactitude were unsurpassable. "It was a beautiful sight," says
Tempelhof, an eye-witness: "The heads of the columns were constantly on
the same level, and at the distance necessary for forming; all flowed
on exact, as if in a review. And you could read in the eyes of our brave
troops the noble temper they were in." [Tempelhof, i. 288, 287.] I know
not at what point of their course, or for how long, but it was from
the column nearest him, which is to be first line, that the King heard,
borne on the winds amid their field-music, as they marched there, the
sound of Psalms,--many-voiced melody of a Church Hymn, well known to
him; which had broken out, band accompanying, among those otherwise
silent men. The fact is very certain, very strange to me: details not
very precise, except that here, as specimen, is a verse of their Hymn:--
"Grant that with zeal and skill, this day, I do
What me to do behooves, what thou command'st me to;
Grant that I do it sharp, at point of moment fit,
And when I do it, grant me good success in it."
"Gieb dass ich thu' mit Fleiss was mir zu thun gebuhret,
Wozu mich dein Befehl in meinem Stande fuhret,
Gieb dass ich's thue bald, zu der Zeit da ich's soll;
Und wenn ich's thu', so gieb dass es gerathe wohl."
["HYMN-BOOK of Porst" (Prussian Sternhold-and-Hopkins), "p. 689:" cited
in Preuss, ii. 107.]
One has heard the voice of waters, one has paused in the mountains at
the voice of far-off Covenanter psalms; but a voice like this, breaking
the commanded silences, one has not heard. "Shall we order that to
cease, your Majesty?" "By no means," said the King; whose hard heart
seems to have been touched by it, as might well be. Indeed there is in
him, in those grim days, a tone as of trust in the Eternal, as of real
religious piety and faith, scarcely noticeable elsewhere in his History.
His religion, and he had in withered forms a good deal of it, if we
will look well, being almost always in a strictly voiceless state,--nay,
ultra-voiceless, or voiced the wrong way, as is too well known. "By
no means!" answered he: and a moment after, said to some one, Ziethen
probably: "With men like these, don't you think I shall have victory
this day!"
The loss of their Saxon Forepost proved more important to the Austrians
than it seemed;--not computable in prisoners, or killed and wounded. The
Height named Scheuberg,--"Borne Rise" (so we might call it, which has
got its Pillar of memorial since, with gilt Victory atop [Not till
1854 (Kutzen, pp. 194, 195).];--where Friedrich now is and where
the Austrians are not, is at once a screen and a point of vision to
Friedrich. By loss of their Nostitz Forepost, they had lost view of
Friedrich, and never could recover view of him; could not for hours
learn distinctly what he was about; and when he did come in sight again,
it was in a most unexpected place! On the farther side of Borne, edge of
the big expanse of open country there, Friedrich has halted; ridden with
his adjutants to the top of "the Scheuberg (Shy-HILL)," as the Books
call it, though it is more properly a blunt Knoll or "Rise,"--the
nearest of a Chain of Knolls, or swells in the ground, which runs from
north to south on that part.
Except the Zobtenberg, rising blue and massive, on the southern horizon
(famous mythologic Mountain, reminding you of an ARTHUR'S SEAT in shape
too, only bigger and solitary), this Country, for many miles round,
has nothing that could be called a Hill; it is definable as a bare
wide-waving champaign, with slight bumps on it, or slow heavings and
sinkings. Country mostly under culture, though it is of sandy quality;
one or two sluggish brooks in it; and reedy meres or mires, drained in
our day. It is dotted with Hamlets of the usual kind; and has patches
of scraggy fir. Your horizon, even where bare, is limited, owing to the
wavy heavings of the ground; windmills and church-belfries are your only
resource, and even these, from about Leuthen and the Austrian position,
leave the Borne quarter mostly invisible to you. Leuthen Belfry, the
same which may have stood a hundred years before this Battle, ends in
a small tile-roof, open only at the gables:--"Leuthen Belfry," says a
recent Tourist, "is of small resource for a view. To south you can see
some distance, Sagschutz, Lobetintz and other Hamlets, amid scraggy
fir-patches, and meadows, once miry pools; but to north you are soon
shut in by a swell or slow rise, with two windmills upon it [important
to readers at present]; and to eastward [Breslau side and Lissa side],
or to westward [Friedrich's side], one has no view, except of the old
warped rafters and their old mouldy tiles within few inches; or, if
by audacious efforts at each end, to the risk of your neck, you get a
transient peep, it is stopt, far short of Borne, by the slow irregular
heavings, with or without fir about them." [Tourist's Note, PENES ME.]
In short, Friedrich keeps possession of that Borne ridge of Knolls,
escorted by Cavalry in good numbers; twinkling about in an enigmatic
way:--"Prussian right wing yonder," think the Austrians--"whitherward,
or what can they mean?"--and keeps his own columns and the Austrian
lines in view; himself and his movements invisible, or worse, to the
Austrian Generals from any spy-glass or conjecture they can employ.
The Austrian Generals are in windmills, on church-belfries, here, there;
diligently scanning the abstruse phenomenon, of which so little can
be seen. Daun, who had always been against this adventure, thinks it
probable the vanished Prussians are retiring southward: for Bohemia and
our Magazines probably. "These good people are smuggling off (DIE GUTEN
LEUTE PASCHEN AB)," said he: "let them go in peace." [Muller, p. 36.]
Daun, that morning, in his reconnoitrings, had asked of a peasant, "What
is that, then?" (meaning the top of a Village-steeple in the distance,
but thought by the peasant to be meaning something nearer hand). "That
is the Hill our King chases the Austrians over, when he is reviewing
here!" Which Daun reported at head-quarters with a grin. [Nicolai,
_Anekdoten,_ iv. 34.]
Lucchesi, on the other hand, scanning those Borne Hills, and the cavalry
of Friedrich's escort twinkling hither and thither on them, becomes
convinced to a moral certainty, That yonder is the Prussian Vanguard,
probable extremity of left wing; and that he, Lucchesi, here at Nypern,
is to be attacked. "Attacked, you?" said one Montazet, French Agent or
Emissary here: "unless they were snipes, it is impossible!" But Lucchesi
saw it too well.
He sends to say that such is the evident fact, and that he, Lucchesi, is
not equal to it, but must have large reinforcement of Horse to his right
wing. "Tush!" answer Prince Karl and Daun; and return only argument,
verbal consolation, to distressed Lucchesi. Lucchesi sends a second
message, more passionately pressing, to the like effect; also with the
like return. Upon which he sends a third message, quite passionate: "If
Cavalry do not come, I will not be responsible for the issue!" And now
Daun does collect the required reinforcement; "all the reserve of Horse,
and a great many from the left wing;"--and, Daun himself heading them,
goes off at a swift trot; to look into Lucchesi and his distresses,
three or four miles to right, five or six from where the danger lies.
Now is Friedrich's golden moment.
Wending always south, on their western or invisible side of those
Knolls, Friedrich's people have got to about the level, or LATITUDE as
we might call it, of Nadasti's left. To Radaxdorf, namely, to Lobetintz,
or still farther south, and perhaps a mile to west of Nadasti. Friedrich
has mounted to Lobetintz Windmill; and judges that the time is come.
Daun and Cavalry once got to support their right wing, and our south
latitude being now sufficient, Friedrich, swift as Prussian manoeuvring
can do it, falls with all his strength upon their left wing. Forms in
oblique order,--horse, foot, artillery, all perfect in their paces;
and comes streaming over the Knolls at Sagschutz, suddenly like a
fire-deluge on Nadasti, who had charge there, and was expecting no such
adventure! How Friedrich did the forming in oblique order was at that
time a mystery known only to Friedrich and his Prussians: but soldiers
of all countries, gathering the secret from him, now understand it, and
can learnedly explain it to such as are curious. Will readers take a
touch more of the DRILL-SERGEANT?
"You go stairwise (EN ECHELON)," says he: "first battalion starts,
second stands immovable till the first have done fifty steps; at the
fifty-first, second battalion also steps along; third waiting for ITS
fifty-first step. First battalion [rightmost battalion or leftmost,
as the case may be; rightmost in this Leuthen case] doing fifty steps
before the next stirs, and each battalion in succession punctually doing
the same:" march along on these terms,--or halt at either end, while you
advance at the other,--it is evident you will swing yourself out of the
parallel position into any degree of obliquity. And furthermore,
merely by halting and facing half round at the due intervals, you
shove yourself to right or to left as required (always to right in this
Leuthen case): and so--provided you CAN march as a pair of compasses
would--you will, in the given number of minutes, impinge upon your
Enemy's extremity at the required angle, and overlap him to the required
length: whereupon, At him, in flank, in front, and rear, and see if he
can stand it! "A beautiful manoeuvre" says Captain Archenholtz; "devised
by Friedrich," by Friedrich inheriting Epaminondas and the Old Dessauer;
"and which perhaps only Friedrich's men, to this day, could do with the
requisite perfection."
Nadasti, a skilful War-Captain, especially with Horse, was beautifully
posted about Sagschutz; his extreme left folded up EN POTENCE there
(elbow of it at Sagschutz, forearm of it running to Gohlau eastward);
POTENCE ending in firwood Knolls with Croat musketeers, in ditches,
ponds, difficult ground, especially towards Gohlau. He has a strong
battery, 14 pieces, on the Height to rear of him, at the angle or elbow
of his POTENCE; strong abatis, well manned in front to rightwards: upon
this, and upon the Croats in the firwood, the Prussians intend their
attack. General Wedell is there, Prince Moritz as chief, with six
battalions, and their batteries, battery of 10 Brummers and another;
Ziethen also and Horse: coming on, in swift fire-flood, and at an
angle of forty-five degrees. Most unexpected, strange to behold! From
southwest yonder; about one o'clock of the day.
Nadasti, though astonished at the Prussian fire-deluge, stands to his
arms; makes, in front, vigorous defence; and even takes, in some sort,
the initiative,--that is, dashes out his Cavalry on Ziethen, before
Ziethen has charged. Ziethen's Horse, who are rightmost of the
Prussians: and are bare to the right,--ground offering no bush, no brook
there (though Ziethen, foreseeing such defect, has a clump of infantry
near by to mend it),--reel back under this first shock, coming downhill
upon them; and would have fared badly, had not the clump of infantry
instantly opened fire on the Nadasti visitors, and poured it in such
floods upon them, that they, in their turn, had to reel back. Back they,
well out of range;--and leave Ziethen free for a counter-attack shortly,
on easier terms, which was successful to him. For, during that first
tussle of his, the Prussian Infantry, to left of Ziethen, has attacked
the Sagschutz Firwood; clears that of Croats; attacks Nadasti's line,
breaks it, their Brummer battery potently assisting, and the rage
of Wedell and everybody being extreme. So that, in spite of the fine
ground, Nadasti is in a bad way, on the extreme left or outmost point
of his POTENCE, or tactical KNEE. Round the knee-pan or angle of his
POTENCE, where is the abatis, he fares still worse. Abatis, beswept by
those ten Brummers and other Batteries, till bullet and bayonet can act
on it, speedily gives way. "They were mere Wurtembergers, these; and
could not stand!" cried the Austrians apologetically, at a great rate,
afterwards; as if anybody could well have stood.
Indisputably the Wurtembergers and the abatis are gone; and the
Brandenburgers, storming after them, storm Nadasti's interior battery of
14 pieces; and Nadasti's affairs are rapidly getting desperate in this
quarter. Figure Prince Karl's scouts, galloping madly to recall that
Daun Cavalry! Austrian Battalions, plenty of them, rush down to help
Nadasti; but they are met by the crowding fugitives, the chasing
Prussians; are themselves thrown into disorder, and can do no good
whatever. They arrive on the ground flurried, blown; have not the
least time to take breath and order: the fewest of them ever got fairly
ranked, none of them ever stood above one push: all goes rolling wildly
back upon the centre about Leuthen. Chaos come on us;--and all for mere
lack of time: could Nadasti but once stretch out one minute into twenty!
But he cannot. Nadasti does not himself lose head; skilfully covers the
retreat, trying to rally once and again. Not for the first few furlongs,
till the ditches, till the firwood, quagmires are all done, could
Ziethen, now on the open ground, fairly hew in; "take whole battalions
prisoners;" drive the crowd in an altogether stormy manner; and wholly
confound the matter in this part.
Prince Karl, his messengers flying madly, has struggled as man seldom
did to put himself in some posture about Leuthen, to get up some
defences there. Leuthen itself, the churchyard of it especially, is on
the defensive. Men are bringing cannon to the windmills, to the
swelling ground on the north side of Leuthen; they dig ditches, build
batteries,--could they but make Time halt, and Friedrich with him, for
one quarter of an hour. But they cannot. By the extreme of diligence,
the Austrians have in some measure swung themselves into a new position,
or imperfect Line round Leuthen as a centre,--Lucchesi, voluntarily
or by order, swinging southwards on the one hand; Nadasti swinging
northwards by compulsion;--new Line at an angle say of 75 degrees to
the old one. And here, for an hour more, there was stiff fighting,
the stiffest of the day;--of which, take one direct glimpse, from the
Austrian side, furnished by a Young Gentleman famous afterwards:--
Leuthen, let us premise, is a long Hamlet of the usual littery
sort; with two rows, in some parts three, of farm-houses, barns,
cattle-stalls; with Church, or even with two Churches, a Protestant
and a Catholic; goes from east to west above a mile in length. With the
wrecks of Nadasti tumbling into it pell-mell from the southeast, and
Lucchesi desperately endeavoring to swing round from the northwest,
not quite incoherently, and the Prussian fire-storm for accompaniment,
Leuthen is probably the most chaotic place in the Planet Earth during
that hour or so (from half-past two to half-past three) while the agony
lasted. At one o'clock Nadasti was attacked; at two he is tumbling
in mid-career towards Leuthen: I guess the date of this Excerpt, or
testimony by a Notable Eye-witness, may be half-past two; crisis of the
agony just about to begin: and before four it was all finished again.
Eye-witness is the young Prince de Ligne, now Captain in an Austrian
Regiment of Foot; and standing here in this perilous posture, having
been called in as part of the Reserve. He says:--
"Cry had risen for the Reserve," in which was my regiment, "and that it
must come on as fast as possible,"--to Leuthen, west of us yonder. "We
ran what we could run. Our Lieutenant-Colonel fell killed almost at the
first; beyond this we lost our Major, and indeed all the Officers but
three,--three only, and about eleven or twelve of the Voluuteer or Cadet
kind. We had crossed two successive ditches, which lay in an orchard to
left of the first houses in Leuthen; and were beginning to form in
front of the Village. But there was no standing of it. Besides a general
cannonade such as can hardly be imagined, there was a rain of case-shot
upon this Battalion, of which I, as there was no Colonel left, had to
take command; and a third Battalion of the Royal Prussian Foot-guards,
which had already made several of our regiments pass that kind of
muster, gave, at a distance of eighty paces, the liveliest fire on us.
It stood as if on the parade-ground, that third Battalion, and waited
for us, without stirring.
"The Austrian regiment Andlau, at our right hand, could not get itself
formed properly by reason of the houses; it was standing thirty deep,
and sometimes its shot hit us on the back. On my left the Austrian
regiment Merci ran its ways; and I was glad of that, in comparison.
By no method or effort could I get the dragoons of Bathyani, who stood
fifty yards in rear of me, to cut in a little, and help me out,"--no
good cutting hereabouts, think the dragoons of Bathyani. "My soldiers,
who were still tired with running, and had no cannon (these either from
necessity or choice they had left behind), were got scattered, fewer in
number, and were fighting mainly out of sullenness. More our honor, than
the notion of doing good in the affair, prevented us from running off.
An Ensign of the regiment Arberg helped me awhile to form, from his and
my own fragments, a kind of line; but he was shot down. Two Officers
of the Grenadiers brought me what they still had. Some Hungarians,
too, were luckily got together. But at last, as, with all helps and the
remnants of my own brave Battalion, I had come down to at most 200, I
drew back to the Height where the Windmill is," [Kutzen p. 103 (from
"Prince de Ligne's DIARY, i. 63, German Translation").]--where many have
drawn back, and are standing in sheltered places, a hundred deep, say
our Books.
Stiff fighting at Leuthen; especially furious till Leuthen Churchyard,
a place with high stone walls, was got. Leuthen Village, we observe, was
crammed with Austrians spitting fire from every coign of vantage; Church
and Churchyard especially are a citadel of death. Cannon playing from
the Windmill Heights, too;--moments are inestimable. The Prussian
Commander (name charitably hidden) at Leuthen Churchyard seems to
hesitate in the murderous fire-deluge: Major Mollendorf, namable
from that day forward, growling, "No time this for study," dashes out
himself, "EIN ANDRER MANN (Follow me, whoever is a man)!"--smashes in
the Church-Gate of the place, nine muskets blazing on him through it;
smashes, after a desperate struggle, the Austrians clean out of it, and
conquers the citadel. [Muller, p. 42.]
The Austrians, on confused terms, made stiff dispute in this second
position for about an hour. The Prussian Reserve was ordered up by
Friedrich; the Prussian left wing, which had stood "refused," about
Radaxdorf, till now: at one time nearly all the Prussians were in fire.
Friedrich is here, is there, wherever the press was greatest; "Prince
Ferdinand," whom we now and then find named, as a diligent little
fellow, and ascertain to be here in this and other Battles of
Friedrich's,--"Prince Ferdinand at one time pointed his cannon on
the Bush or Fir-Clump of Radaxdorf;--an aide-de-camp came to him with
message: "You are firing on the King; the King is yonder!" At which
Ferdinand [his dear little Brother] ERSCHRACK," or almost fainted with
terror. [Kutzen, p. 110.]
Stiff dispute; and had the Austrians possessed the Prussian dexterity in
manoeuvring, and a Friedrich been among them,--perhaps? But on their own
terms, there was from the first little hope in it. "Behind the Windmills
they are a hundred men deep;" by and by, your Windmills, riddled to
pieces, have to be abandoned; the Prussian left wing rushing on with
bayonets, will not all of you have to go? Lucchesi, with his abundant
Cavalry, seeing this latter movement and the Prussian flank bare in that
part, will do a stroke upon them;--and this proved properly the finale
of the matter, finale to both Lucchesi and it.
The Prussian flank was to appearance bare in that leftward quarter; but
only to appearance: Driesen with the left wing of Horse is in a Hollow
hard by; strictly charged by Friedrich to protect said flank, and take
nothing else in hand. Driesen lets Lucchesi gallop by, in this career
of his; then emerges, ranked, and comes storming in upon Lucchesi's
back,--entirely confounding his astonished Cavalry and their career.
Astonished Cavalry, bullet-storm on this side of them, edge of sword
on that, take wing in all directions (or all except to west and south)
quite over the horizon; Lucchesi himself gets killed,--crosses a still
wider horizon, poor man. He began the ruin, and he ends it. For now
Driesen takes the bared Austrians in flank, in rear; and all goes
tumbling here too, and in few minutes is a general deluge rearward
towards Saara and Lissa side.
At Saara the Austrians, sun just sinking, made a third attempt to stand;
but it was hopelessly faint this time; went all asunder at the first
push; and flowed then, torrent-wise, towards all its Bridges over the
Schweidnitz Water, towards Breslau by every method. There are four
Bridges, Stabelwitz below Lissa; Goldschmieden, Hermannsdorf, above; and
the main one at Lissa itself, a standing Bridge on the Highroad (also
of wood); and by this the chief torrent flows; Prussian horse pursuing
vigorously; Prussian Infantry drawn up at Saara, resting some minutes,
after such a day's work. [Archenholtz, i. 209; Seyfarth, _ Beylagen,_
ii. 243-252 (by an eye-witness, intelligent succinct Account of the
Battle and previous March; ib. 252-272, of the Sieges &c. following);
Preuss, ii. 112, &c.; Tempelhof, i. 276.]
Truly a memorable bit of work; no finer done for a hundred years, or for
hundreds of years; and the results of it manifold, immediate and remote.
About 10,000 Austrians are left on the field, 3,000 of them slain;
prisoners already 12,000, in a short time 21,000; flags 51, cannon
116;--"Conquest of Silesia" gone to water; Prince Karl and Austria
fallen from their high hopes in one day. The Prussians lost in killed
1,141, in wounded 5,118; 85 had been taken prisoners about Sagschutz and
Gohlau, in the first struggle there. [Kutzen, pp. 118, 125.] There and
at Leuthen Village had been the two tough passages; about an hour each;
in three hours the Battle was done. "MEINE HERREN," said Friedrich that
night at parole, "after such a spell of work, you deserve rest. This day
will bring the renown of your name, and of the Nation's, to the latest
posterity."
High and low had shone this day; especially these four: Ziethen,
Driesen, Retzow,--and above all Moritz of Dessau. Riding up the line, as
night fell, Friedrich, in passing Moritz and the right wing, drew bridle
for an instant: "I congratulate you on the Victory, Herr Feldmarschall!"
cried he cheerily, and with emphasis on the last word. Moritz, still
very busy, answered slightly; and Friedrich repeated louder, "Don't
you hear that I congratulate you, Herr FELDMARSCHALL!"--a glad sound to
Moritz, who ever since Kolin had stood rather in the shadow. "You have
helped me, and performed every order, as none ever did before in any
battle," added the grateful King.
Riding up the line, all now grown dusky, Friedrich asks, "Any battalion
a mind to follow me to Lissa?" Three battalions volunteering, follow
him; three are plenty. At Saara, on the Great Road, things are fallen
utterly dark. "Landlord, bring a lantern, and escort." Landlord of the
poor Tavern at Saara escorts obediently; lantern in his right hand,
left hand holding by the King's stirrup-leather,--King (Excellency or
General, as the Landlord thinks him) wishing to speak with the man. Will
the reader consent to their Dialogue, which is dullish, but singular to
have in an authentic form, with Nicolai as voucher? [_Anekdoten_, iii.
231-235.] Like some poor old horse-shoe, ploughed up on the field. Two
farthings worth of rusty old iron; now little other than a curve
of brown rust: but it galloped at the Battle of Leuthen; that is
something!--
KING. "Come near; catch me by the stirrup-leather [Landlord with lantern
does so]. We are on the Breslau Great Road, that goes through Lissa, are
n't we?"
LANDLORD. "Yea, Excellenz."
KING. "Who are you?"
LANDLORD. "Your Excellenz, I am the KRATSCHMER [Silesian for Landlord]
at Saara."
KING. "You have had a great deal to suffer, I suppose."
LANDLORD. "ACH, your Excellenz, had not I! For the last eight-and-forty
hours, since the Austrians came across Schweidnitz Water, my poor house
has been crammed to the door with them, so many servants they have; and
such a bullying and tumbling:--they have driven me half mad; and I am
clean plundered out."
KING. "I am sorry indeed to hear that!--Were there Generals too in your
house? What said they? Tell me, then."
LANDLORD. "With pleasure, your Excellenz. Well; yesterday noon, I had
Prince Karl in my parlor, and his Adjutants and people all crowding
about. Such a questioning and bothering! Hundreds came dashing in, and
other hundreds were sent out: in and out they went all night; no sooner
was one gone, than ten came. I had to keep a roaring fire in the kitchen
all night; so many Officers crowding to it to warm themselves. And
they talked and babbled this and that. One would say, That our King
was coming on, then, 'with his Potsdam Guard-Parade.' Another answers,
'OACH, he dare n't come! He will run for it; we will let him run.' But
now my delight is, our King has paid them their fooleries so prettily
this afternoon!"
KING. "When got you rid of your high guests?"
LANDLORD. "About nine this morning the Prince got to horse; and not long
after three, he came past again, with a swarm of Officers; all going
full speed for Lissa. So full of bragging when they came; and now they
were off, wrong side foremost! I saw how it was. And ever after him, the
flood of them ran, Highroad not broad enough,--an hour and more before
it ended. Such a pell-mell, such a welter, cavalry and musketeers all
jumbled: our King must have given them a dreadful lathering. That
is what they have got by their bragging and their lying,--for, your
Excellenz, these people said too, 'Our King was forsaken by his own
Generals, all his first people had gone and left him:' what I never in
this world will believe."
KING (not liking even rumor of that kind). "There you are right; never
can such a thing be believed of my Army."
LANDLORD (whom this "MY" has transfixed). "MEIN GOTT, you are our
GNADIGSTER KONIG (most gracious King) yourself! Pardon, pardon, if, in
my stupidity, I have--"
KING. "No, you are an honest man:--probably a Protestant?"
LANDLORD. "JOA, JOA, IHR MAJESTAT, I am of your Majesty's creed!"
Crack-crack! At this point the Dialogue is cut short by sudden
musket-shots from the woody fields to right; crackle of about twelve
shots in all; which hurt nothing but some horse's feet,--had been aimed
at the light, and too low. Instantly the light is blown out, and there
is a hunting out of Croats; Lissa or environs not evacuated yet,
it seems; and the King's Entrance takes place under volleyings and
cannonadings.
King rides directly to the Schloss, which is still a fine handsome
house, off the one street of that poor Village,--north side of street;
well railed off, and its old ditches and defences now trimmed into
flower-plots. The Schloss is full of Austrian Officers, bustling about,
intending to quarter, when the King enters. They, and the force they
still had in Lissa, could easily have taken him: but how could they
know? Friedrich was surprised; but had to put the best face on it. [In
Kutzen (pp. 121, 209 et seq.) explanation of the true circumstances, and
source of the mistake.] "BON SOIR, MESSIEURS!" said he, with a gay
tone, stepping in: "Is there still room left, think you?" The Austrians,
bowing to the dust, make way reverently to the divinity that hedges a
King of this sort; mutely escort him to the best room (such the popular
account); and for certain make off, they and theirs, towards the Bridge,
which lies a little farther east, at the end of the Village.
Weistritz or Schweidnitz Water is a biggish muddy stream in that part;
gushing and eddying; not voiceless, vexed by mills and their weirs. Some
firing there was from Croats in the lower houses of the Village, and
they had a cannon at the farther bridge-end; but they were glad to get
away, and vanish in the night; muddy Weistritz singing hoarse adieu to
their cannon and them. Prussian grenadiers plunged indignant into the
houses; made short work of the musketries there. In few minutes every
Croat and Austrian was across, or silenced otherwise too well; Prussian
cannon now going in the rear of them, and continuing to go,--such had
been the order, "till the powder you have is done." Fire of musketry and
occasional cannon lasts all night, from the Lissa or Prussian side of
the River,--"lest they burn this Bridge, or attempt some mischief." A
thing far from their thoughts, in present circumstances.
The Prussian host at Saara, hearing these noises, took to its arms
again; and marched after the King. Thick darkness; silence; tramp,
tramp:--a Prussian grenadier broke out, with solemn tenor voice again,
into Church-Music; a known Church-Hymn, of the homely TE-DEUM kind;
in which five-and-twenty thousand other voices, and all the regimental
bands, soon join:--
"Nun dunket alle Gott
Mit Herzen, Mund und Handen,
Der grosse Dinge thut
An uns und allen Enden." [Muller, p. 48.]
"Now thank God, one and all,
With heart, with voice, with hands-a,
Who wonders great hath done
To us and to all lands-a."
And thus they advance; melodious, far-sounding, through the hollow
Night, once more in a highly remarkable manner. A pious people, of
right Teutsch stuff, tender though stout; and, except perhaps Oliver
Cromwell's handful of Ironsides, probably the most perfect soldiers ever
seen hitherto. Arriving at the end of Lissa, and finding all safe as
it should be there, they make their bivouac, their parallelogram of two
lines, miles long across the fields, left wing resting on Lissa, right
on Guckerwitz; and--having, I should think, at least tobacco to depend
on, with abundant stick-fires, and healthy joyful hearts--pass the night
in a thankful, comfortable manner.
Leuthen was the most complete of all Friedrich's victories; two hours
more of daylight, as Friedrich himself says, and it would have been the
most decisive of this century. [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ iv. 167.] As it
was, the ruin of this big Army, 80,000 against 30,000, ["89,200 was
the Austrian strength before the Battle" (deduct the Garrisons of
Schweidnitz and Liegnitz): Preuss, ii. 109 (from the STAFF-OFFICERS).]
was as good as total; and a world of Austrian hopes suddenly collapsed;
and all their Silesian Apparatus, making sure of Silesia beyond an IF,
was tumbled into wreck,--by this one stroke it had got, smiting the
corner-stone of it as if with unexpected lightning. On the morrow after
Leuthen, Friedrich laid siege to Breslau; Karl had left a garrison of
17,000 in it, and a stout Captain, one Sprecher, determined on defence:
such interests hung on Breslau, such immensities of stores were in it,
had there been nothing else. Friedrich, pushing with all his strength,
in spite of bad weather and of Sprecher's industrious defence, got it
in twelve days. [7th-19th December: DIARIUM, &c. of it in
_Helden-Geschichte,_ iv. 955-961.] Sprecher had posted placards on the
gallows and up and down, terrifically proclaiming that any man convicted
of mentioning surrender should be instantly hanged: but Friedrich's
bombardment was strong, his assaults continual; and the ditches were
threatening to freeze. On the seventh day of the siege, a Laboratorium
blew up; on the ninth, a Powder-Magazine, carrying a lump of the rampart
away with it. Sprecher had to capitulate: Prisoners of War, we 17,000;
our cannons, ammunitions (most opulent, including what we took from
Bevern lately); these, we and Breslau altogether, alas, it is all yours
again. Liegnitz Garrison, seeing no hope, consented to withdraw on
leave. [26th December: _Helden-Geschichte,_ iv. 1016.] Schweidnitz
cannot be besieged till Spring come: except Schweidnitz, Maria Theresa,
the high Kaiserinn, has no foot of ground in Silesia, which she thought
to be hers again. Gone utterly, Patents and all; Schweidnitz alone
waiting till spring. To the lively joy of Silesia in general; to the
thrice-lively sorrow and alarm of certain individuals, leading Catholic
Ecclesiastics mainly, who had misread the signs of the times in late
months! There is one Schaffgotsch, Archbishop or head-man of them,
especially, who is now in a bad way. Never was such royal favor; never
such ingratitude, say the Books at wearisome length. Schaffgotsch was
a showy man of quality, nephew of the quondam Austrian Governor, whom
Friedrich, across a good deal of Papal and other opposition, got pushed
into the Catholic Primacy, and took some pains to make comfortable
there,--Order of the Black Eagle, guest at Potsdam, and the
like;--having a kind of fancy for the airy Schaffgotsch, as well
as judging him suitable for this Silesian High-Priesthood, with his
moderate ideas and quality ways,--which I have heard were a little
dissolute withal. To the whole of which Schaffgotsch proved signally
traitorous and ingrate; and had plucked off the Black Eagle (say the
Books, nearly breathless over such a sacrilege) on some public occasion,
prior to Leuthen, and trampled it under his feet, the unworthy fellow.
Schaffgotsch's pathetic Letter to Friedrich, in the new days posterior
to Leuthen, and Friedrich's contemptuous inexorable answer, we could
give, but do not: why should we? O King, I know your difficulties, and
what epoch it is. But, of a truth, your airy dissolute Schaffgotsch, as
a grateful "Archbishop and Grand-Vicar," is almost uglier to me than as
a Traitor ungrateful for it; and shall go to the Devil in his own way!
They would not have him in Austria; he was not well received at Rome;
happily died before long. [Preuss, ii. 113, 114; Kutzen, pp. 12,
155-160, for the real particculars.] Friedrich was not cruel to
Schaffgotsch or the others, contemptuously mild rather; but he knew
henceforth what to expect of them, and slightly changed this and that in
his Silesian methods in consequence.
Of Prince Karl let us add a word. On the morrow after Leuthen, Captain
Prince de Ligne and old Papa D'Ahremberg could find little or no Army;
they stept across to Grabschen, a village on the safe side of the
Lohe, and there found Karl and Daun: "rather silent, both; one of
them looking, 'Who would have thought it!' the other, 'Did n't I tell
you?'"--and knowing nothing, they either, where the Army was. Army was,
in fact, as yet nowhere. "Croat fellows, in this Farmstead of ours,"
says De Ligne, "had fallen to shooting pigeons." The night had been
unusually dark; the Austrian Army had squatted into woods, into
office-houses, farm-villages, over a wide space of country; and only as
the day rose, began to dribble in. By count, they are still 50,000; but
heart-broken, beaten as men seldom were. "What sound is that?" men asked
yesterday at Brieg, forty miles off; and nobody could say, except that
it was some huge Battle, fateful of Silesia and the world. Breslau had
it louder; Breslau was still more anxious. "What IS all that?" asked
somebody (might be Deblin the Shoemaker, for anything I know) of an
Austrian sentry there: "That? That is the Prussians giving us such a
beating as we never had." What news for Deblin the Shoemaker, if he is
still above ground!--
"Prince Karl, gathering his distracted fragments, put 17,000 into
Breslau by way of ample garrison there; and with the rest made off
circuitously for Schweidnitz; thence for Landshut, and down the
Mountains, home to Konigsgratz,--self and Army in the most wrecked
condition. Chased by Ziethen; Ziethen (sticking always to the hocks of
them,' as Friedrich eagerly enjoins on him; or sometimes it is, 'sitting
on the breeches of them:' for about a fortnight to come. [Eleven Royal
Autographs: in Blumenthal, _Life of De Ziethen_ (ii. 94-111), a feeble
incorrect Translation of them.] Ziethen took 2,000 prisoners; no end of
baggages, of wagons left in the difficult places: wild weather even for
Ziethen, still more for Karl, among the Silesian-Bohemian Hill-roads:
heavy rains, deep muds, then sudden glass, with cutting snow-blasts: 'An
Army not a little dilapidated,' writes Prince Karl, almost with tears in
his eyes; (Army without linens, without clothes; in condition truly sad
and pitiable; and has always, so close are the enemy, to encamp, though
without tents.' [Kutzen, p. 134 ("Prince Karl to the Kaiser, December
14th").]. Did not get to Konigsgratz, and safe shelter, for ten days
more. Counted, at Konigsgratz in the Christmas time, 37,000 rank and
file,--'22,000 of whom are gone to hospital,' by the Doctor's report.
"Universal astonishment, indignation, even incredulity, is the humor
at Vienna: the high Kaiserinn herself, kept in the dark for some time,
becomes dimly aware; and by Kaiser Franz's own advice she relieves
Prince Karl from his military employments, and appoints Daun instead.
Prince Karl withdrew to his Government of the Netherlands; and with the
aid of generous liquors, and what natural magnanimity he had, spent
a noiseless life thenceforth; Sword laid entirely on the shelf; and
immortal Glory, as of Alexander and the like, quite making its exit from
the scene, convivial or other. 'The first General in the world,' so
he used to be ten years ago, in Austria, in England, Holland, the
thrice-greatest of Generals: but now he has tried Friedrich in Five
pitched Battles (Czaslau, Hohenfriedberg, Sohr, then Prag, then
Leuthen);--been beaten every time, under every form of circumstance; and
now, at Leuthen, the fifth beating is such, no public, however ignorant,
can stand it farther. The ignorant public changes its long-eared
eulogies into contumeliously horrid shrieks of condemnation; in which
one is still farther from joining. 'That crossing of the Rhine,' says
Friedrich, 'was a BELLE CHOSE; but flatterers blew him into dangerous
self-conceit; besides, he was ill-obeyed, as others of us have been.'
["Prince de Ligne, _Memoires sur Frederic_ (Berlin, 1789), p. 38"
(Preuss, ii. 112).] Adieu to him, poor red-faced soul;--and good liquor
to him,--at least if he can take it in moderation!"
The astonishment of all men, wise and simple, at this sudden oversetting
of the scene of things, and turning of the gazetteer-diplomatic theatre
bottom uppermost, was naturally extreme, especially in gazetteer
and diplomatic circles; and the admiration, willing or unwilling, of
Friedrich, in some most essential points of him, rose to a high pitch.
Better soldier, it is clear, has not been heard of in the modern ages.
Heroic constancy, courage superior to fate: several clear features of a
hero;--pity he were such a liar withal, and ignorant of common honesty;
thought the simple sort, in a bewildered manner, endeavoring to forget
the latter features, or think them not irreconcilable. Military judges
of most various quality, down to this day, pronounce Leuthen to be
essentially the finest Battle of the century; and indeed one of the
prettiest feats ever done by man in his Fighting Capacity. Napoleon,
for instance, who had run over these Battles of Friedrich (apparently
somewhat in haste, but always with a word upon them which is worth
gathering from such a source), speaks thus of Leuthen: "This Battle is
a masterpiece of movements, of manoeuvres, and of resolution; enough
to immortalize Friedrich, and rank him among the greatest Generals.
Manifests, in the highest degree, both his moral qualities and his
military." [Montholon, _ Memoires &c., de Napoleon,_ vii. 211. This
Napoleon SUMMARY OF FRIEDRICH'S CAMPAIGNS, and these brief Bits of
Criticism, are pleasant reading, though the fruit evidently of slight
study, and do credit to Napoleon perhaps still more than to Friedrich.]
How the English Walpoles, in Parliament and out of it; how the Prussian
Sulzers, D'Argenses, the Gazetteer and vague public, may have spoken
and written at that time, when the matter was fresh and on everybody's
tongue,--judge still by two small symptoms which we have to show:--
1. A LETTER OF FRIEDRICH'S TO D'ARGENS (Durgoy, near Breslau, 19th
December, 1757).--"Your friendship seduces you, MON CHER; I am but a
paltry knave (POLISSON) in comparison with 'Alexander,' and not worthy
to tie the shoe-latchets of 'Caesar'! Necessity, who is the mother of
industry, has made me act, and have recourse to desperate remedies in
evils of a like nature.
"We have got here [this day, by capitulation of Breslau] from
fourteen to fifteen thousand prisoners: so that, in all, I have above
twenty-three thousand of the Queen's troops in my hands, fifteen
Generals, and above seven hundred Officers. 'T is a plaster on my
wounds, but it is far enough from healing them.
"I am now about marching to the Mountain region, to settle the chain of
quarters there; and if you will come, you will find the roads free and
safe. I was sorry at the Abbe's treason,"--paltry De Prades, of whom we
heard enough already. [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ xix. 47.]
2. A POTTERY-APOTHEOSIS OF FRIEDRICH.--"There stands on this
mantel-piece," says one of my Correspondents, the amiable Smelfungus, in
short, whom readers are acquainted with, "a small China Mug, not of bad
shape; declaring itself, in one obscure corner, to be made at Worcester,
'R. I., Worcester, 1757' (late in the season, I presume, demand being
brisk); which exhibits, all round it, a diligent Potter's-Apotheosis
of Friedrich, hastily got up to meet the general enthusiasm of English
mankind. Worth, while it lasts unbroken, a moment's inspection from you
in hurrying along.
"Front side, when you take our Mug by the handle for drinking from it,
offers a poor well-meant China Portrait, labelled KING OF PRUSSIA: Copy
of Friedrich's Portrait by Pesne, twenty years too young for the time,
smiling out nobly upon you; upon whom there descends with rapidity a
small Genius (more like a Cupid who had hastily forgotten his bow, and
goes headforemost on another errand) to drop a wreath on this deserving
head;--wreath far too small for ever getting on (owing to distance,
let us hope), though the artless Painter makes no sign; and indeed both
Genius and wreath, as he gives them, look almost like a big insect,
which the King will be apt to treat harshly if he notice it. On the
opposite side, again, separated from Friedrich's back by the handle,
is an enormous image of Fame, with wings filling half the Mug, with two
trumpets going at once (a bass, probably, and a treble), who flies
with great ease; and between her eager face end the unexpectant one of
Friedrich (who is 180 degrees off, and knows nothing of it) stands
a circular Trophy, or Imbroglio of drums, pikes, muskets, cannons,
field-flags and the like; very slightly tied together,--the knot,
if there is one, being hidden by some fantastic bit of scroll or
escutcheon, with a Fame and ONE trumpet scratched on it;--and high out
of the Imbroglio rise three standards inscribed with Names, which we
perceive are intended to be names of Friedrich's Victories; standards
notable at this day, with Names which I will punctually give you.
"Standard first, which flies to the westward or leftward, has
'Reisberg' (no such place on this distracted globe, but meaning Bevern's
REICHENBERG, perhaps),--'Reisberg,' 'Prague,' 'Collin.' Middle standard
curves beautifully round its staff, and gives us to read, 'Welham'
(non-extant, too; may mean WELMINA or Lobositz), 'Rossbach' (very good),
'Breslau' (poor Bevern's, thought a VICTORY in Worcester at this time!).
Standard third, which flies to eastward or right hand, has 'Neumark'
(that is, NEUMARKT and the Austrian Bread-ovens, 4th December); 'Lissa'
(not yet LEUTHEN in English nomenclature); and 'Breslau' again, which
means the capture of Breslau CITY this time, and is a real success,
7th-19th December;--giving us the approximate date, Christmas, 1757, to
this hasty Mug. A Mug got up for temporary English enthusiasm, and the
accidental instruction of posterity. It is of tolerable China; holds a
good pint, 'To the Protestant Hero, with all the honors;'--and offers,
in little, a curious eyehole into the then England, with its then lights
and notions, which is now so deep-hidden from us, under volcanic ashes,
French Revolutions, and the wrecks of a Hundred very decadent Years."
Chapter XI.--WINTER IN BRESLAU: THIRD CAMPAIGN OPENS.
Friedrich, during those grand victories, is suffering sadly in health,
"COLIQUE DEPUIS HUIT JOURS, neither sleep nor appetite;" "eight months
of mere anguishes and agitations do wear one down." He is tired too, he
says, of the mere business-talk, coarse and rugged, which has been his
allotment lately; longs for some humanly roofed kind of lodging, and
a little talk that shall have flavor in it. [Letters of his to Prince
Henri (December 26th, &c.: _ OEuvres,_ xxvi. 167, 169; Stenzel, v:
123).] The troops once all in their Winter-quarters, he sits down in
Breslau as his own wintering-place: place of relaxation,--of rest, or
at least of changed labor,--no man needing it more. There for some
three months he had a tolerable time; perhaps, by contrast, almost a
delightful. Readers must imagine it; we have no details allowed us, nor
any time for them even if we had.
There come various visitors, various gayeties,--King's Birthday (January
24th); quality Balls, "at which Royal Majesty sometimes deigned to
show himself." A lively Breslau, in comparison. Sister Amelia paid a
beautiful visit of a fortnight or more: Sister Amelia, and along with
her, two married Cousins (once Margravines of Schwedt), whose Husbands,
little Brother Ferdinand, and Eugen of Wurtemberg, are wintering
here. The Marquis d'Argens, how exquisitely treated we shall see, is a
principal figure; Excellency Mitchell, deep in very important
business just now, is another. Reader de Catt (he who once, in a Dutch
River-Boat, got into conversation with the snuffy gentleman in black
wig) made his new appearance, this Winter,--needed now, since De Prades
is off. "Should you have known me again?" asked Friedrich. "Hardly, in
that dress; besides, your Majesty looks thinner." "That I can believe,
with the cursed life I have been leading!" [Rodenbeck, i. 285.] There
came also, day not given, a Captain Guichard ("Major Quintus Icilius"
that is to be) with his new Book on the Art Military of the Ancients,
MEMOIRES MILITAIRES SUR LES GRECS ET LES ROMAINS; [a La Haye, 2 tomes,
4to, 1757 (Nicolai, _Anekdoten,_ vi. 134)] which cannot but be welcome
to Friedrich. A solid account of that matter, by the first man who ever
understood both War and Greek. Far preferable to Folard's, a man without
Greek at all, and with military ideas not a little fantastic here and
there. Of Captain Guichard, were his Book once read, and himself a
little known, there will be more to say. For the present, fancy
him retained as supernumerary:--and in regard to Friedrich's Winter
generally, accept the following small hints, small but direct:--
FRIEDRICH TO D'ARGENS (three different times).
1. ON THE ROAD TO LEUTHEN "(Torgau, 15th November 1757).... I have
been obliged to have the Abbe arrested [De Prades, of whom enough, long
since]; he has been playing the spy, and I have many evident proofs of
it. That is very infamous and very ungrateful.--I have made a prodigious
quantity of verses (PRODIGIEUSEMENT DE VERS). If I live, I will show
them you in Winter-quarters: if I perish, they are bequeathed to you,
and I have ordered that they be put into your hand....
"Adieu, my dear Marquis. I fancy you to be in bed: don't rot there;--and
remember you have promised to join me in Winter-quarters;"--on this
latter point Friedrich is very urgent, amiably eager; prepared to wrap
the poor Marquis in cotton, and carry him and lodge him, like glass with
care. [_OEuvres de Frederic,_] xix, 43.] For example:--
2. WHILE SETTLING THE WINTER-QUARTERS ("Striegau, 26th December, 1757:"
Siege of Breslau done ten days ago).... "What a pleasure to hear you
are coming! Your travelling you can do in your own way. I have chosen a
party of Light Horse (JAGER), who will appear at Berlin to conduct
you. You can make short journeys: the first to Frankfurt, the second to
Crossen, the third to Grunberg, fourth to Glogau, fifth to Parchwitz,
sixth to Breslau. I have directed that horses be ordered for you, that
your rooms be warmed everywhere, and good fowls ready on all roads.
Your apartment in this House [Royal House in Breslau, which the King has
built for himself years ago] is carpeted, hermetically shut. You shall
suffer nothing from draughts or from noise." [Ib. xix. 48.]--Lucky
Marquis; what a Landlord! Came accordingly; stayed till deep in
April,--waiting latterly for weather, I perceive; long after the King
himself was off. Thus:--
3. FRIEDRICH ON THE FIELD AGAIN FOR FIVE WEEKS PAST ("Munsterberg,
23d April, 1758"). "Adieu, dear Marquis; I fancy you are now in Berlin
again. Go to Charlottenburg whenever and how you like; take care of
yourself; and be ready for the beginning of October next!--As to me, MON
CHER, I am off to fight windmills and ostriches (AUTRUCHES), that is,
Russians and Austrians (AUTRICHIENS). Adieu, MON CHER." [_OEuvres de
Frederic,_ xix. 49.]
There circulated in the Newspapers, this Winter, something of what was
called a LETTER from Friedrich to Maria Theresa, formally proposing
Peace, after these magnificent successes. And certainly, of all things
in the Earth, Friedrich would have best liked Peace, this year, last
year, and for the next five years: "Go home, then, good neighbors; don't
break into my house, don't cut my poor throat, and we will be friends
again!" Friedrich, it appears, had actually, finding or making
opportunity, sent some polite Letter, of pacific tenor, in his light
clever way, to that address;--not without momentary hopes of perhaps
getting good from it. [In PREUSS, ii. 130 (Friedrich's Letter mostly
given;--bearer a Prince van Lobkowitz, prisoner at Leuthen, now going
home on handsome terms) Stenzel, v. 124 (for the PER-CONTRA feeling).]
And the Kaiserinn herself, Austria's high Mother, did, they say, after
such a Leuthen coming on the back of such a Rossbach, feel discouraged;
but the Pompadour (not France's Mother, whatever she might be to France)
was of far other mind: "Do not speak of it, MA REINE! Double or quits,
that is our game: can we yield for a little ill-luck? Never!"
France dismisses its D'Argenson, "What Armies are these of his; flying
home on us, like draggled poultry, across the Rhine!"--summons the famed
Belleisle to be War-Minister, and give things an eagle-quality: ["26th
February, 1758" (BARBIER, iv. 258).] France engages to pay its subsidies
better (France now the general paying party, Austria, Sweden, Russia
itself, all looking to France,--would she were as punctual as England
used to be!),--in a word, engages to be magnanimous extremely, and will
hear of nothing but persistence. "Shall not we reap, then, where there
is such a harvest standing white to us?" Kaunitz admits that there never
will again be such a chance.--Peace, it is clear enough, will not be got
of these people by any Letter, or human device whatever, except simply
by uttermost, more or less miraculous fighting for it. Friedrich is
profoundly aware of this fact;--is busy completing his Army: 145,000
for the field, this Year, 53,000 the Silesian part, "a good many of
them Austrian deserters;" [Stenzel, v. 155.] and is closing an important
Subsidy Treaty with England,--of which more anon.
And if this is the mood in France and Austria, think what Russia's will
be! The Czarina is not dead of dropsy, as some had expected, but, on
the contrary, alive, and fiercer than ever; furious against Apraxin, and
determined that Fermor, his successor, shall defy Winter, and begin
work at once. She has indignantly dismissed Apraxin (to be tried by
Court-Martial, he); dismisses Bestuchef the Chancellor; appoints a new
General, Fermor by name; orders Fermor to go and lose not a moment, now
in the depth of Winter since it was not done in the crown of Summer, and
take possession of East Preussen in her name.
Which Fermor does; 16th January, crosses the border again, 31,000 in
all, without opposition except from the frost; plants himself up and
down,--only two poor Prussian battalions there; who retire, with their
effects, especially "with seven wagons of money." January 22d, Fermor
enters Konigsberg; publishes no end of proclamations, manifestoes,
rescripts, to inform the poor people, trembling at the Cossack
atrocities of last Year, "That his august Sovereign Elizabeth of All
the Russias has now become Proprietress of East Preussen, which shall be
perfectly protected and exquisitely well-governed henceforth; and that
all men of official or social position have, accordingly, to come and
take the oath to her, with the due alacrity and punctuality, at their
peril."
No man is willing for the operation, most men shudder at it; but who can
help them? Surely it was an unblessed operation. Poor souls, one pities
them; for at heart they were, and continued, loyal to their own King;
thoroughly abhorrent of becoming Russian, as Czarish Majesty has
thoroughly resolved they shall. Some few absconded, leaving their
property as spoil; the rest swore, with mental reservation, with shifts,
such as they could devise:--for example, some were observed to swear
with gloves on; the right hand, which they held up, was a mere right
FIST with a stuffed glove at the end of it,--SO help me Beelzebub (or
whoever is the recording Angel here)! [_Helden-Geschichte,_ v. 141-149:
Preuss, ii. 145, iii. 578, iv. 477, &c.] And thus does Preussen, with
astonishment, as by the spell of a Czarina Circe, find itself changed
suddenly to Russian: and does not recover the old human form till four
years hence,--when, again suddenly, as we shall see, the Circe and her
wand chance to get broken.
Friedrich could not mend or prevent this bad Business; but was so
disgusted with it, he never set foot in East Preussen again,--never
could bear to behold it, after such a transformation into temporary
Russian shape. I cannot say he abhorred this constrained Oath as I
should have done: on the contrary, in the first spurt of indignation, he
not only protested aloud, but made reprisals,--"Swear ME those Saxons,
then!" said he; and some poor magistrates of towns, and official
people, had to make a figure of swearing (if not allegiance altogether,
allegiance for the time being), in the same sad fashion, till one's
humor cooled again. [Preuss, ii. 163: Oath given in _Helden-Geschichte,_
v. 631.] East Preussen, lost in this way, held by its King as before, or
more passionately now than ever; still loved Friedrich, say the Books;
but it is Russia's for the present, and the mischief is done. East
Preussen itself, Circe Czarina cherishing it as her own, had a much
peaceabler time: in secret it even sent moneys, recruits, numerous young
volunteers to Friedrich; much more, hopes and prayers. But his disgust
with the late transformation by enchantment was inexpiable.
It was May or June, as had been anticipated, before the Russian main
Army made its practical appearance in those parts. Fermor had, in the
interim, seized Thorn, seized Elbing ("No offence, magnanimous Polacks,
it is only for a time!"),--and would fain have had Dantzig too, but
Dantzig would n't. Not till June 16th did the unwieldy mass (on paper
104,000, and in effect, and exclusive of Cossack rabble, about 75,000)
get on way; and begin slowly staggering westward. Very slowly, and amid
incendiary fire and horrid cruelty, as heretofore;--and in August coming
we shall be sure to hear of it.
Lehwald was just finishing with the Swedes,--had got them all bottled up
in Stralsund again, about New-Year's time, when these Russians crossed
into Preussen. We said nothing of the Swedish so-called Campaign of last
Year;--and indeed are bound to be nearly silent of that and of all
the others. Five Campaigns of them, or at least Four and a half; such
Campaigns as were never made before or since. Of Campaign 1757, the
memorable feature is, that of the whole "Swedish Division," as the
laughing Newspapers called it, which was "put to flight by five Berlin
Postilions;"--substantially a truth, as follows:--
"Night of September 12th-13th, 1757, the Swedes, 22,000 strong, did at
last begin business; crossed Peene River, the boundary between their
Pommern and ours; and, having nothing but some fractions of Militia
to oppose them, soon captured the Redoubts there; spread over Prussian
Pommern, and on into the Uckermark; diligently raising contributions,
to a heavy amount. No less than 90,000 pounds in all for this poor
Province; though, by a strange accident, 60,000 pounds proved to be the
actual sum.
"Towards the end of October they had got as much as 60,000 pounds from
the northern parts of Uckermark, Prentzlow being their head-quarter
during that operation; and they now sent out a Detachment of 200
grenadiers and 100 dragoons towards Zehdenick, another little Town, some
forty miles farther south, there to wring out the remaining sum. The
Detachment marched by night, not courting notice; but people had heard
of its coming; and five Prussian Postilions,--shifty fellows, old
hussars it may be, at any rate skilful on the trumpet, and furnished
with hussar jackets and an old pistol each, determined to do something
for their Country. The Swedish Detachment had not marched many miles,
when,--after or before some flourishes of martial trumpeting,--there
verily fell on the Swedish flank, out of a clump of dark wood, five
shots, and wounded one man. To the astonishment and panic of the other
two hundred and ninety-nine; who made instant retreat, under new shots
and trumpet-tones, as if it were from five whole hussar regiments;
retreat double-quick, to Prentzlow; alarm waxing by the speed; alarm
spreading at Prentzlow itself: so that the whole Division got to its
feet, recrossed the Peene; and Uckermark had nothing more to pay, for
that bout! This is not a fable, such as go in the Newspapers," adds my
Authority, "but an accurate fact:" [_ Helden-Geschichte,_ iv. 764, 807;
Archenholtz, i. 160.]--probably, in our day, the alone memorable one of
that "Swedish War."
"The French," says another of my Notes, "who did the subsidying all
round (who paid even the Russian Subsidy, though in Austria's name), had
always an idea that the Swedes--22,000 stout men, this year, 4,000 of
them cavalry--might be made to co-operate with the Russians; with them
or with somebody; and do something effective in the way of destroying
Friedrich. And besides their subsidies and bribings, the French
took incredible pains with this view; incessantly contriving,
correspondencing, and running to and fro between the parties: [For
example: M. le Marquis de Montalembert, CORRESPONDANCE AVEC &c., ETANT
EMPLOYE PAR LE ROI DE FRANCE A L'ARMEE SUEDOISE, 1757-1761 ("with the
Swedish Army," yes, and sometimes with the Russian,--and sometimes on
the French Coasts, ardently fortifying against Pitt and his Descents
there:--a very intelligent, industrious, observant man; still amusing
to read, if one were idler), A LONDRES (evidently Paris), 1777, 3 vols.
small 8vo. Then, likewise very intelligent, there is a Montazet, a
Mortaigne, a Caulaiucourt; a CAMPAGNE DES RUSSES EN 1757; &c. &c.,--in
short, a great deal of fine faculty employed there in spinning ropes
from sand.] but had not, even from the Russians and Czarish Majesty,
much of a result, and from the Swedes had absolutely none at all. By
French industry and flagitation, the Swedish Army was generally kept
up to about 20,000: the soldiers were expert with their fighting-tools,
knew their field-exercise well; had fine artillery, and were stout
hardy fellows: but the guidance of them was wonderful. 'They had no
field-commissariat,' says one Observer, 'no field-bakery, no magazines,
no pontoons, no light troops; and,' among the Higher Officers, 'no
subordination.' [Archenholtz, i. 158.] Were, in short, commanded by
nobody in particular. Commanded by Senator Committee-men in Stockholm;
and, on the field, by Generals anxious to avoid responsibility; who,
instead of acting, held continual Councils of War. The history of their
Campaigns, year after year, is, in summary, this:--
"Late in the season (always late, War-Offices at home, and Captaincies
here, being in such a state), they emerged from Stralsund, an
impregnable place of their own,--where the men, I observe, have had
to live on dried fishy substances, instead of natural boiled oatmeal;
[Montalembert, i. 32-37, 335. 394, &c. (that of the demand for Neise
PORRIDGE, which interested me, I cannot find again).] and have died
extensively in consequence:--they march from Stralsund, a forty or
thirty miles, till they reach the Swedish-Pommern boundary, Peene River;
a muddy sullen stream, flowing through quagmire meadows, which are miles
broad, on each shore. River unfordable everywhere; only to be crossed
in four or five places, where paved causeways are. The Swedes, with
deliberation, cross Peene; after some time, capture the bits of
Redoubts, and the one or two poor Prussian Towns upon it; Anklam
Redoubt, PEENE-MUNDE (Peene-mouth) Redoubt; and rove forward into
Prussian Pommern, or over into the Uckermark, for fifty, for a hundred
miles; exacting contributions; foraging what they can; making the poor
country-people very miserable, and themselves not happy,--their soldiers
'growing yearly more plunderous,' says Archenholtz, 'till at length they
got, though much shyer of murder, to resemble Cossacks,' in regard to
other pleas of the crown.
"There is generally some fractional regiment or two of Prussian force,
left under some select General Manteuffel, Colonel Belling; who hangs
diligently on the skirts of them, exploding by all opportunities. There
have been Country Militias voluntarily got on foot, for the occasion;
five or six small regiments of them; officered by Prussian Veterans of
the Squirearchy in those parts; who do excellent service. The Governor
of Stettin, Bevern, our old Silesian friend, strikes out now and then,
always vigilant, prompt and effective, on a chance offering. This,
through Summer, is what opposition can be made: and the Swedes, without
magazines, scout-service, or the like military appliances, but willing
enough to fight [when they can see], and living on their shifts, will
rove inward, perhaps 100 miles; say southwestward, say southeastward
[towards Ruppin, which we used to know],--they love to keep Mecklenburg
usually on their flank, which is a friendly Country. Small fights befall
them, usually beatings; never anything considerable. That is their
success through Summer.
"Then, in Autumn, some remnant more of Prussian regulars arrive,
disposable now for that service; upon which the Swedes are driven over
Peene again (quite sure to be driven, when the River with its quagmires
freezes); lose Anklam Redoubt, Peene-munde Redoubt; lose Demmin, Wollin;
are followed into Swedish Pommern, oftenest to the gates of Stralsund,
and are locked up there, there and in Rugen adjoining, till a new
season arrive."--This year (1757-1758), Lehwald, on turning the key of
Stralsund, might have done a fine feat; frost having come suddenly, and
welded Rugen to mainland. "What is to hinder you from starving them into
surrender?" signifies Friedrich, hastily: "Besiege me Stralsund!" Which
Lehwald did; but should have been quicker about it; or the thaw came
too soon, and admitted ships with provision again. Upon which Lehwald
resigned, to a General Graf von Dohna; and went home, as grown too old:
and Dohna kept them bottled there till the usual Russian Advent (deep in
June); by which time, what with limited stockfish diet, what with
sore labor (breaking of the ice, whenever frost reappeared) and other
hardship, more than half of them had died.--"Every new season there
was a new General tried; but without the least improvement. There
was mockery enough, complaint enough; indignant laughter in Stockholm
itself; and the Dalecarlians thought of revolting: but the Senator
Committee-men held firm, ballasted by French gold, for four years.
"The Prussian Militias are a fine trait of the matter; about fifteen
regiments in different parts;--about five in Pommern, which set
the example; which were suddenly raised last Autumn by the STANDE
themselves, drilled in Stettin continually, while the Swedes were
under way, and which stood ready for some action, under veterans of the
squirearchy, when the Swedes arrived. They were kept up through the
War. The STANDE even raised a little fleet, [Archenholtz, i. 110.] river
fleet and coast fleet, twelve gunboats, with a powerful carronade in
each, and effective men and captain; a great check on plundering and
coast mischief, till the Swedes, who are naval, at last made an effort
and destroyed them all."
Friedrich was very sensible of these procedures on the part of his
STANDE; and perhaps readers are not prepared for such, or for others
of the like, which we could produce elsewhere, in a Country without
Constitution to speak of. Friedrich raises no new taxes,--except upon
himself exclusively, and these to the very blood:--Friedrich gets no
Life-and-Fortune Addresses of the vocal or printed sort, but only of
the acted. Very much the preferable kind, where possible, to all parties
concerned. These poor militias and flotillas one cheerfully puts on
record; cheerfully nothing else, in regard to such a Swedish War;--nor
shall we henceforth insult the human memory by another word upon it that
is not indispensable.
OF THE ENGLISH SUBSIDY.
One of Friedrich's most important affairs, at present,--vitally
connected with his Army and its furnishings, which is the
all-important,--was his Subsidy Treaty with England. It is the third
treaty he has signed with England in regard to this War; the second in
regard to subsidy for it; and it is the first that takes real practical
effect. It had cost difficulty in adjusting, not a little correspondence
and management from Mitchell; for the King is very shy about subsidy,
though grim necessity prescribes it as inevitable; and his pride, and
his reflections on the last Subsidy Treaty, "One Million sterling, Army
of Observation, and Fleet in the Baltic," instead of which came Zero and
Kloster-Zeven, have made him very sensitive. However, all difficulties
are got over; Plenipotentiary Knyphausen, Pitt, Britannic Majesty and
everybody striving to be rational and practical; and at London, 11th
April, 1758, Subsidy Treaty, admirably brief and to the point, is
finished: [In four short Articles; given in _ Helden-Geschichte,_ v. 16,
17.] "That Friedrich shall have Four Million Thalers, that is, 670,000
pounds; payable in London to his order, in October, this Year; which
sum Friedrich engages to spend wholly in maintenance and increase of his
Army for behoof of the common object;--neither party to dream of making
the least shadow of peace or truce without the other." Of Baltic Fleet,
there is nothing said; nor, in regard to that, was anything done, this
year or afterwards; highly important as it would have been to Friedrich,
with the Navies so called of both Sweden and Russia doing their worst
upon him. "Why not spare me a small English squadron, and blow these
away?" Nor was the why ever made clear to him; the private why being,
that Czarish Majesty had, last year, intimated to Britannic, "Any such
step on your part will annihilate the now old friendship of Russia and
England, and be taken as a direct declaration of War!"--which Britannic
Majesty, for commercial and miscellaneous reasons, hoped always might be
avoided. Be silent, therefore, on that of Baltic Fleet.
In all the spoken or covenanted points the Treaty was accurately kept:
670,000 pounds, two-thirds of a million very nearly, will, in punctual
promptitude, come to Friedrich's hand, were October here. And in regard
to Ferdinand (a point left silent, this too), Friedrich's expectations
were exceeded, not the contrary, so long as Pitt endured. This is the
Third English-Prussian Treaty of the Seven-Years War, as we said above;
and it is the First that took practical effect: this was followed by
three others, year after year, of precisely the same tenor, which
were likewise practical and punctually kept,--the last of them, "12th
December, 1760," had reference to Subsidy for 1761:--and before another
came, Pitt was out. So that, in all, Friedrich had Four Subsidies;
670,000 pounds x4=2,680,000 pounds of English money altogether:--and it
is computed by some, there was never as much good fighting otherwise had
out of all the 800,000,000 pounds we have funded in that peculiar
line of enterprise. [First Treaty, 16th January, 1756 (is in
_Helden-Geschichte,_ iii. 681), "We will oppose by arms any foreign
Armament entering Germany;" Second Treaty, 11th January, 1757 (never
published till 1802), is in Scholl, iii. 30-32: "one million subsidy,
a Fleet &c." (not KEPT at all); after which, Third Treaty (the FIRST
really issuing in subsidy and performance) is 11th April, 1758 (given in
_Helden-Geschichte,_ v. 17); Fourth (really SECOND), 7th December, 1758
(Ib. v. 752); Fifth (THIRD), 9th November, 1759; Sixth (FOURTH), 12th
December, 1760. See PREUSS, ii. 124 n.]
Pitt had no difficulty with his Parliament, or with his Public, in
regard to this Subsidy; the contrary rather. Seldom, if ever, was
England in such a heat of enthusiasm about any Foreign Man as about
Friedrich in these months since Rossbach and what had followed.
Celebrating this "Protestant Hero," authentic new Champion of
Christendom; toasting him, with all the honors, out of its Worcester and
other Mugs, very high indeed. Take these Three Clippings from the old
Newspapers, omitting all else; and rekindle these, by good inspection
and consideration, into feeble symbolic lamps of an old illumination,
now fallen so extinct.
No. 1. REVEREND MR. WHITFIELD AND THE PROTESTANT HERO. "Monday, January
2d," 1758, "was observed as a Day of Thanksgiving, at the Chapel in
Tottenham-Court Road [brand-new Chapel, still standing and acting,
though now in a dingier manner], by Mr. Whitfield's people, for the
signal Victories gained by the King of Prussia over his Enemies.
[_Gentleman's Magazine,_ xxviii. (for 1758), p. 41.]--'Why rage the
Heathen; why do the people imagine a vain thing? Sinful beings we,
perilously sunk in sin against the Most High:--but they, do they think
that, by earthly propping and hoisting, their unblessed Chimera, with
his Three Hats, can sweep away the Eternal Stars!'"--In this strain,
I suppose: Protestant Hero and Heaven's long-suffering Patiences and
Mercies in raising up such a one for a backsliding generation; doubtless
with much unction by Mr. Whitfield.
No. 2. KING OF PRUSSIA'S BIRTHDAY (Tuesday, January 24th). "This
being the Birthday of the King of Prussia, who then entered into the
forty-seventh year of his age, the same was observed with illuminations
and other demonstrations of joy;"--throughout the Cities of London
and Westminster, "great rejoicings and illuminations," it appears,
[_Gentleman's Magazine,_ xxviii. (for 1758), p. 43; and vol. xxix.
p. 42, for next year's birthday, and p. 81 for another kind of
celebration.]--now shining so feebly at a century's distance!--No. 3 is
still more curious; and has deserved from us a little special inquiring
into.
No. 3. MISS BARBARA WYNDHAM'S SUBSIDY. "March 13th, 1758,"--while Pitt
and Knyphausen are busy on the Subsidy Treaty, still not out with it,
the Newspapers suddenly announce,--
"Miss Bab. Wyndham, of Salisbury, sister of Henry Wyndham, Esq., of that
City, a maiden lady of ample fortune, has ordered her banker to prepare
the sum of 1,000 pounds to be immediately remitted, in her own name,
as a present to the King of Prussia." [_ London Chronicle,_ March
14th-16th, 1758; _ Lloyd's Evening Post;_ &c. &c.] Doubtless to the King
of Prussia's surprise, and that of London Society, which would not want
for commentaries on such a thing!
Before long, the Subsidy Treaty being now out, and the Wyndham topic new
again, London Society reads, in the same Newspaper, a Documentary Piece,
calculated to help in its commentaries. There is good likelihood of
guess, though no certainty now attainable, that the "English Lady"
referred to may be Miss Bab. herself;--of whose long-vanished biography,
and brisk, airy, nomadic ways, we catch hereby a faint shadow,
momentary, but conceivable, and sufficient for us:--
"TO THE AUTHORS OF THE LONDON CHRONICLE. _London Chronicle,_ of
13th-15th April, 1758.
"The following Account, which is a real fact, will serve to show with
what punctuality and exactness the King of Prussia attends to the most
minute affairs, and how open he is to applications from all persons.
"An English Lady being possessed of actions [shares] in the Embden
Company, and having occasion to raise money on them, repaired to Antwerp
[some two years ago, as will be seen], and made application for that
purpose to a Director of the Company, established there by the King of
Prussia for the managing all affairs relative thereto. This person," Van
Erthorn the name of him, "very willingly entered into treaty with her;
but the sum he offered to lend being far short of what the actions would
bring, and he also insisting on forfeiture of her right in them, if not
redeemed in twelve months,--she broke off with him, and had recourse to
some merchants at Antwerp, who were inclinable to treat with her on much
more equitable terms. The proceeding necessarily brought the parties
before this Director for receiving his sanction, which was essential to
the solidity of the agreement; and he, finding he was like to lose the
advantage he had flattered himself with, disputed the authenticity of
the actions, and thereby threw her into such discredit, as to render all
attempts to raise money on them ineffectual. Upon this the Lady wrote a
Letter by the common post to his Majesty of Prussia, accompanied with
a Memorial complaining of the treatment she had received from the
Director; and she likewise enclosed the actions themselves in another
letter to a friend at Berlin. By the return of the post, his Majesty
condescended to answer her Letter; and the actions were returned
authenticated; which so restored her credit, that in a few hours all
difficulties were removed relating to the transaction she had in
hand; and it is more than probable the Director has felt his Majesty's
resentment for his ill-behavior.--The Lady's Letter was as follows:--
"'ANTWERP, 19th February, 1756.
"'SIR,--Having had the happiness to pay my court to your Majesty
during a pretty long residence at Berlin [say in Voltaire's time; Miss
Barbara's "Embden Company," I observe, was the first of the two, date
1750; that of 1753 is not hers], and to receive such marks of favor from
their Majesties the Queens [a Barbara capable of shining in the Royal
soirees at Monbijou, of talking to, or of, your Voltaires and lions,
and investing moneys in the new Embden Company] as I shall ever retain
a grateful sense of,--I presume to flatter myself that your Majesty will
not be offended at the respectful liberty I have taken in laying before
you my complaints against one Van Erthorn, a Director of the Embden
China Company, whose bad behavior to me, as set forth in my Memorial,
hath forced me to make a very long and expensive stay at this place;
and, as the considerable interest I have in that Company may farther
subject me to his caprices, I cannot forbear laying my grievances at
the foot of your Majesty's throne; most respectfully supplicating your
Majesty that you would be graciously pleased to give orders that
this Director shall not act towards me for the future as he hath done
hitherto.
"'I hope for this favor from your Majesty's sovereign equity; and I
shall never cease offering up my ardent prayers for the prosperity of
your glorious reign; having the honor to be, with the most respectful
zeal, Sir, your Majesty's most humble, most obedient, and most devoted
servant, * * *'
"THE KING OF PRUSSIA'S ANSWER.
"'POTSDAM, 26th February, 1756.
"'MADAM,--I received the Letter of the 19th instant, which you thought
proper to write to me; and was not a little displeased to hear of the
bad behavior of one of the Directors of the Asiatic Company of Embden
towards you, of which you were forced to complain. I shall direct your
grievances to be examined, and have just now despatched my orders for
that purpose to Lenz, my President of the Chamber of East Friesland,'
Chief Judge in those parts. [Seyfarth, ii. 139.] 'You may assure
yourself the strictest justice shall be done you that the case will
admit. God keep you in his holy protection. FRIEDRICH.'"
Whether this refers to Miss Barbara or not, there is no affirming.
But the interesting point is, Friedrich did receive and accept Miss
Barbara's 1,000 pounds. The Prussian account, which calls her "an
English JUNGFRAU, LADY SALISBURY, who actually sent a sum of money,"
[Preuss, ii. 124, whose reference is merely _ "Gentleman's Magazine_
for 1758." Both in the ANNUAL REGISTER of that Year (i. 86),and in the
_Gentleman's Magazine,_ pp. 142, 177, the above Paragraph and Letters
are copied from the Newspapers, but without the smallest commentary
(there or elsewhere), or any mention of a "Lady Salisbury."] would not
itself be satisfactory: but, by good chance, there is still living, in
Salisbury City, a very aged Gentleman, well known for his worth, and
intelligence on such matters, who, being inquired of, makes reply at
once: That the First Earl of Malmesbury (who was of his acquaintance,
and had many anecdotes and reminiscences of Friedrich, all noted down,
it was understood, with diplomatic exactitude, but never yet published
or become accessible) did, as "I well remember, among other things,
mention the King's telling him that he," the King, "had received a
Thousand Pounds from Miss Wyndham; with a part of which he had bought
the Flute then in his hand." [Letter from John Fowler, Esq., "Salisbury,
2d April, 1860," to a Friend of mine (PENES ME): of Barbara's identity,
or otherwise, with the Antwerp Embden Lady, Mr. F. can say nothing.]
Which latter circumstance, too, is curious. For, at all times, however
straitened Friedrich's Exchequer might be, it was his known habit,
during this War, to have always, before the current year ended, the ways
and means completely settled and provided for the year coming; so that
everything could be at once paid in money (good money or bad,--good
still up to this date);--And nothing was observed to fall short, so much
as the customary liberality of his gifts to those about him. I infer,
therefore: Friedrich had decided to lay out this 1,000 pounds in what he
would call luxuries, chiefly gifts,--and, among other things, had said
to himself, "I will have a new flute, too!" Probably one of his last;
for I understand he had, by this time (Malmesbury's time, 1772),
ceased much playing, and ceased altogether not long after. [Preuss, i.
371-373.]
James Harris, First Earl of Malmesbury, was Resident at Berlin, 1772:
that is all the date we have for the King's saying, "And with part of
it I bought this Flute!" Date of Lord Malmesbury's mention of it at
Salisbury, we have none,--likeliest there might be various dates;
a thing mentioned more than once, and not improvable by dating.
The Wyndhams still live in the Close of Salisbury; a respected and
well-known Family; record of them (none of Barbara there, or elsewhere
except here) to be found in the County Histories. [Britton's _Beauties
of England and Wales,_ _xv. part ii. p. 118; Hoare's _Salisbury_
_(mistaken, p. 815); &c.] I only know farther, Barbara died May, 1765,
"aged and wealthy," and "with the bulk of her fortune endowed a Charity,
to be called 'Wyndham College,'" [ANNUAL REGISTER (for 1765), viii.
86.]--which I hope still flourishes. Enough on this small Wyndham
matter; which is nearly altogether English, but in which Friedrich too
has his indefeasible property.
FRIEDRICH, AS INDEED PITT'S PEOPLE AND OTHERS HAVE DONE, TAKES THE FIELD
UNCOMMONLY EARLY: FRIEDRICH GOES UPON SCHWEIDNITZ, SCHWEIDNITZ, AS THE
PREFACE TO WHATEVER HIS CAMPAIGN MAY BE.