Friedrich stayed only three weeks at home; moving about, from Berlin to
Potsdam, to Reinsberg and back: all the gay world is in Berlin, at this
Carnival time; but Friedrich has more to do with business, of a manifold
and over-earnest nature, than with Carnival gayeties. French Valori
is here, "my fat Valori," who is beginning to be rather a favorite
of Friedrich's: with Excellency Valori, and with the other Foreign
Excellencies, there was diplomatic passaging in these weeks; and we
gather from Valori, in the inverse way (Valori fallen sulky), that it
was not ill done on Friedrich's part. He had some private consultation
with the Old Dessauer, too; "probably on military points," thinks
Valori. At least there was noticed more of the drill-sergeant than
before, in his handling of the Army, when he returned to Silesia,
continues the sulky one. "Troops and generals did not know him
again,"--so excessively strict was he grown, on the sudden. And truly
"he got into details which were beneath, not only a Prince who has
great views, but even a simple Captain of Infantry,"--according to my
(Valori's) military notions and experiences! [Valori, i. 99.]--
The truth is, Friedrich begins to see, more clearly than he did with
GLOIRE dazzling him, that his position is an exceedingly grave one, full
of risk, in the then mood and condition of the world; that he, in the
whole world, has no sure friend but his Army; and that in regard to IT
he cannot be too vigilant! The world is ominous to this youngest of the
Kings more than to another. Sounds as of general Political Earthquake
grumble audibly to him from the deeps: all Europe likely, in any event,
to get to loggerheads on this Austrian Pragmatic matter; the Nations
all watching HIM, to see what he will make of it:--fugleman he to the
European Nations, just about bursting up on such an adventure. It may
be a glorious position, or a not glorious; but, for certain, it is a
dangerous one, and awfully solitary!--
Fuglemen the world and its Nations always have, when simultaneously
bent any-whither, wisely or unwisely; and it is natural that the most
adventurous spirit take that post. Friedrich has not sought the post;
but following his own objects, has got it; and will be ignominiously
lost, and trampled to annihilation under the hoofs of the world, if he
do not mind! To keep well ahead;--to be rapid as possible; that were
good:--to step aside were still better! And Friedrich we find is very
anxious for that; "would be content with the Duchy of Glogau, and join
Austria;" but there is not the least chance that way. His Special Envoy
to Vienna, Gotter, and along with him Borck the regular Minister, are
come home; all negotiation hopeless at Vienna; and nothing but indignant
war-preparation going on there, with the most animated diligence, and
more success than had seemed possible. That is the law of Friedrich's
Silesian Adventure: "Forward, therefore, on these terms; others there
are not: waste no words!" Friedrich recognizes to himself what the
law is; pushes stiffly forward, with a fine silence on all that is not
practical, really with a fine steadiness of hope, and audacity against
discouragements. Of his anxieties, which could not well be wanting, but
which it is royal to keep strictly under lock and key, of these there is
no hint to Jordan or to anybody; and only through accidental chinks, on
close scrutiny, can we discover that they exist. Symptom of despondency,
of misgiving or repenting about his Enterprise, there is none anywhere,
Friedrich's fine gifts of SILENCE (which go deeper than the lips) are
noticeable here, as always; and highly they availed Friedrich in leading
his life, though now inconvenient to Biographers writing of the same!--
It was not on matters of drill, as Valori supposes, that Friedrich
had been consulting with the Old Dessauer: this time it was on another
matter. Friedrich has two next Neighbors greatly interested, none more
so, in the Pragmatic Question: Kur-Sachsen, Polish King, a foolish
greedy creature, who is extremely uncertain about his course in it (and
indeed always continued so, now against Friedrich, now for him, and
again against); and Kur-Hanover, our little George of England, whose
course is certain as that of the very stars, and direct against
Friedrich at this time, as indeed, at all times not exceptional, it is
apt to be. Both these Potentates must be attended to, in one's absence;
method to be gentle but effectual; the Old Dessauer to do it:--and
this is what these consultings had turned upon; and in a month or two,
readers, and an astonished Gazetteer world, will see what comes of them.
It was February 19th when Friedrich left Berlin; the 21st he spends
at Glogau, inspecting the Blockade there, and not ill content with the
measures taken: "Press that Wallis all you can," enjoins he: "Hunger
seems to be slow about it! Summon him again, were your new Artillery
come up; threaten with bombardment; but spare the Town, if possible.
Artillery is coming: let us have done here, and soon!" Next day he
arrives, not at Breslau as some had expected, but at Schweidnitz
sidewards; a strong little Town, at least an elaborately fortified, of
which we shall hear much in time coming. It lies a day's ride west of
Breslau: and will be quieter for business than a big gazing Capital
would be,--were Breslau even one's own city; which it is not, though
perhaps tending to be. Breslau is in transition circumstances at
present; a little uncertain WHOSE it is, under its Munchows and
new managers: Breslau he did not visit at all on this occasion. To
Schweidnitz certain new regiments had been ordered, there to be
disposed of in reinforcing: there, "in the Count Hoberg's Mansion,"
he principally lodges for six weeks to come; shooting out on continual
excursions; but always returning to Schweidnitz, as the centre, again.
Algarotti, home from Turin (not much of a success there, but always
melodious for talk), had travelled with him; Algarotti, and not long
after, Jordan and Maupertuis, bear him company, that the vacant moments
too be beautiful. We can fancy he has a very busy, very anxious, but not
an unpleasant time. He goes rapidly about, visiting his posts,--chiefly
about the Neisse Valley; Neisse being the prime object, were the weather
once come for siege-work. He is in many Towns (specified in RODENBECK
and the Books, but which may be anonymous here); doubtless on many
Steeples and Hill-tops; questioning intelligent natives, diligently
using his own eyes: intent to make personal acquaintance with this new
Country,--where, little as he yet dreams of it, the deadly struggles
of his Life lie waiting him, and which he will know to great perfection
before all is done!
Neisse lies deep enough in Prussian environment; like Brieg, like
Glogau, strictly blockaded; our posts thereabouts, among the Mountains,
thought to be impregnable. Nevertheless, what new thing is this? Here
are swarms of loose Hussar-Pandour people, wild Austrian Irregulars, who
come pouring out of Glatz Country; disturbing the Prussian posts towards
that quarter; and do not let us want for Small War (KLEINE KRIEG) so
called. General Browne, it appears, is got back to Glatz at this
early season, he and a General Lentulus busy there; and these are the
compliments they send! A very troublesome set of fellows, infesting
one's purlieus in winged predatory fashion; swooping down like a cloud
of vulturous harpies on the sudden; fierce enough, if the chance
favor; then to wing again, if it do not. Communication, especially
reconnoitring, is not safe in their neighborhood. Prussian Infantry,
even in small parties, generally beats them; Prussian Horse not, but is
oftener beaten,--not drilled for this rabble and their ways. In pitched
fight they are not dangerous, rather are despicable to the disciplined
man; but can, on occasion, do a great deal of mischief.
Thus, it was not long after Friedrich's coming into these parts, when
he learnt with sorrow that a Body of "500 Horse and 500 Foot" (or say it
were only 300 of each kind, which is the fact [Orlich, i. 79; _OEuvres
de Frederic,_ ii. 68.]) had eluded our posts in the Mountains, and
actually got into Neisse. "The Foot will be of little consequence,"
writes Friedrich; "but the Horse, which will disturb our communications,
are a considerable mischief." This was on the 5th of March. And about a
week before, on the 27th of February, there had well-nigh a far graver
thing befallen,--namely the capture of Friedrich himself, and the sudden
end of all these operations.
SKIRMISH OF BAUMGARTEN, 27th FEBRUARY, 1741.
In most of the Anecdote-Books there used to figure, and still does,
insisting on some belief from simple persons, a wonderful Story in very
vague condition: How once "in the Silesian Wars," the King, in those
Upper Neisse regions, in the Wartha district between Glatz and Neisse,
was, one day, within an inch of being taken,--clouds of Hussars suddenly
rising round him, as he rode reconnoitring, with next to no escort, only
an adjutant or so in attendance. How he shot away, keeping well in the
shade; and erelong whisked into a Convent or Abbey, the beautiful Abbey
of Kamenz in those parts; and found Tobias Stusche, excellent Abbot
of the place, to whom he candidly disclosed his situation. How the
excellent Tobias thereupon instantly ordered the bells to be rung for
a mass extraordinary, Monks not knowing why; and, after bells, made
his appearance in high costume, much to the wonder of his Monks, with a
SECOND Abbot, also in high costume, but of shortish stature, whom
they never saw before or after. Which two Abbots, or at least Tobias,
proceeded to do the so-called divine office there and then; letting
loose the big chant especially, and the growl of organs, in a singularly
expressive manner. How the Pandours arrived in clouds meanwhile;
entered, in searching parties, more or less reverent of the mass;
searched high and low; but found nothing, and were obliged to take
Tobias's blessing at last, and go their ways. How the Second Abbot
thereupon swore eternal friendship with Tobias, in the private
apartments; and rode off as--as a rescued Majesty, determined to be more
cautious in Pandour Countries for the future! [Hildebrandt, _Anekdoten,_
i. 1-7. Pandour proper is a FOOT-soldier (tall raw-boned ill-washed
biped, in copious Turk breeches, rather barish in the top parts of him;
carries a very long musket, and has several pistols and butcher's-knives
stuck in his girdle): specifically a footman; but readers will permit me
to use him withal, as here, in the generic sense.]--Which story, as to
the body of it, is all myth; though, as is oftenest the case, there
lies in it some soul of fact too. The History-Books, which had not much
heeded the little fact, would have nothing to do with this account of
it. Nevertheless the people stuck to their Myth; so that Dryasdust (in
punishment for his sinful blindness to the human and divine significance
of facts) was driven to investigate the business; and did at last
victoriously bring it home to the small occurrence now called SKIRMISH
OF BAUMGARTEN, which had nearly become so great in the History of the
World,--to the following effect.
There are two Valleys with roads that lead from that Southwest quarter
of Silesia towards Glatz, each with a little Town at the end of it,
looking up into it: Wartha the name of the one: Silberberg that of the
other. Through the Wartha Valley, which is southernmost, young Neisse
River comes rushing down,--the blue mountains thereabouts very pretty,
on a clear spring day, says my touring friend. Both at Wartha, and
at Silberberg the little Town which looks into the mouth of the
northernmost Valley, the Prussians have a post. Old Derschau, Malplaquet
Derschau, with headquarters at Frankenstein, some seven or eight miles
nearer Schweidnitz, has not failed in that precaution. Friedrich wished
to visit Silberberg and Wartha; set out accordingly, 27th February, with
small escort, carelessly as usual: the Pandour people had wind of it;
knew his habits on such occasions; and, gliding through other roadless
valleys, under an adventurous Captain, had determined to whirl him
off. And they were in fact not far from succeeding, had not a mistake
happened.
Silberberg, and Wartha the southernmost, which stands upon the Neisse
River (rushing out there into the plainer country), are each about
seven or eight miles from Frankenstein, the Head-quarters; and there
are relays of posts, capable of supporting one another, all the way from
Frankenstein to each. Friedrich rode to Silberberg first; examined the
post, found it right; then rode across to Wartha, seven or eight miles
southward; examined Wartha likewise; after which, he sat down to dinner
in that little Town, with an Officer or two for company,--having, I
suppose, found all right in both the posts. In the way hither, he had
made some change in the relay arrangements, which at first involved
some diminution of his own escort, and then some marching about and
redistributing: so that, externally, it seemed as if the Principal
Relay-party were now marching on Baumgarten, an intermediate
Village,--at least so the Pandour Captain understands the movements
going on; and crouches into the due thickets in consequence, not
doubting but the King himself is for Baumgarten, and will be at hand
presently. Principal relay-party, a squadron of Schulenburg's Dragoons,
with a stupid Major over them, is not quite got into Baumgarten, when
"with horrible cries the Pandour Captain with about 500 horse," plunges
out of cover, direct upon the throat of it: and Friedrich, at Wartha,
is but just begun dining when tumult of distant musketry breaks in upon
him. With Friedrich himself, at this time, as I count, there might be
150 Horse; in Wartha post itself are at least "forty hussars and fifty
foot." By no means "nothing but a single adjutant," as the Myth bears.
The stupid Major ought to have beaten this rabble, though above two
to one of him. But he could not, though he tried considerably; on the
contrary, he was himself beaten; obliged to make off, leaving
"ten dragoons killed, sixteen prisoners, one standard and two
kettle-drums:"--victory and all this plunder, ye Pandour gentry; but
evidently no King. The Pandour gentry, on the instant, made off too,
alarm being abroad; got into some side-valley, with their prisoners and
drum-and-standard honors, and vanished from view of mankind.
Friedrich had started from dinner; got his escort under way, with the
forty hussars and the fifty foot, and what small force was attainable;
and hurried towards the scene. He did see, by the road, another
strongish party of Pandours; dashed them across the Neisse River out of
sight;--but, getting to Baumgarten, found the field silent, and ten dead
men upon it. "I always told you those Schulenburg Dragoons were good
for nothing!" writes he to the Old Dessauer; but gradually withal,
on comparing notes, finds what a danger he had run, and how rash and
foolish he had been. "An ETOURDERIE (foolish trick)," he calls it,
writing to Jordan; "a black eye;" and will avoid the like. Vienna got
its two kettle-drums and flag; extremely glad to see them; and even sang
TE-DEUM upon them, to general edification. [Orlich, i. 62-64.] This is
the naked primordial substance out of which the above Myth grew to its
present luxuriance in the popular imagination. Place, the little Village
of Baumgarten; day, 27th February, 1741. Of Tobias Stusche or the
Convent of Kamenz, not one authentic word on this occasion. Tobias
did get promotions, favors in coming years: a worthy Abbot, deserving
promotion on general grounds; and master of a Convent very picturesque,
but twelve miles from the present scene of action.
ASPECTS OF BRESLAU.
Friedrich avoided visiting Breslau, probably for the reasons above
given; though there are important interests of his there, especially his
chief Magazine; and issues of moment are silently working forward. Here
are contemporary Excerpts (in abridged form), which are authentic, and
of significance to a lively reader:--
"BRESLAU, MIDDLE OF JANUARY, 1741. The Prussian Envoy, Herr von Gotter,
had appeared here, returning from Vienna; Gotter, and then Borck, who
made no secret in Breslau society, That not the slightest hope of a
peaceable result existed, as society might have flattered itself; but
that war and battle would have to decide this matter. A Saxon
Ambassador was also here, waiting some time; message thought to
be insignificant:--probably some vague admonitory stuff again from
Kur-Sachsen (Polish King, son of August the Strong, a very insignificant
man), who acts as REICHS-VICARIUS in those Northern parts." For the
reader is to know, there are Reichs-Vicars more than one (nay more than
two on this occasion, with considerable jarring going on about them);
and I could say much about their dignities, limits, duties, [Adelung,
ii. 143, &c.; Kohler, _Reichs-Historie,_ pp. 585-589.]--if indeed
there were any duties, except dramatic ones! But the Reich itself, and
Vicarship along with it, are fallen into a nearly imaginary condition;
and the Regensburg Diet (not Princes now, but mere Delegates of Princes,
mostly Bombazine People), which, "ever since 1663," has sat continual,
instead of now and then, is become an Enchanted Piggery, strange to
look upon, under those earnest stars. "As King Friedrich did not call
at Greslau," after those Neisse bombardments, but rolled past, straight
homewards, the three Excellencies all departed,--Borck and Gotter to
Berlin, the Saxon home again with his insignificant message.
"JANUARY 19th. Schwerin too was here in the course of the winter, to
see how the magazines and other war-preparations were going on: Breslau
outwardly and inwardly is whirling with business, and offers phenomena.
For instance, it is known that the Army-Chest, heaps of silver and gold
in it, lies in the Scultet Garden-House, where the King lodged; and that
only one sentry walks there, and that in the guard-house itself, which
is some way off, there are only thirty men. January 19th, about 9 of
the clock, [_Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 700.] alarm rises, That 2,000
DIEBS-GESINDEL (Collective Thief-rabble of Breslau and dependencies)
are close by; intending a stroke upon said Garden-House and Army-Chest!
Perhaps this rumor sprang of its own accord;--or perhaps not quite?
It had been very rife; and ran high; not without remonstrances in
Town-Hall, and the like, which we can imagine. Issue was, The Officer on
post at Scultet's loaded his treasure in carts; conveyed it, that
same night, to the interior of the City, in fact to the OBERAMTS-HAUS
(Government-House that was);--which doubtless was a step in the right
direction. For now the Two Feld-Kriegs-Commissariat Gentlemen (one of
whom is the expert Munchow, son of our old Custrin friend), supreme
Prussian Authorities here, do likewise shift out of their inns; and
take old Schaffgotsch's apartments in the same Oberamts-Haus; mutely
symbolling that perhaps THEY are likely to become a kind of Government.
And the reader can conceive how, in such an element, the function of
governing would of itself fall more and more into their hands. They were
consummately polite, discreet, friendly towards all people; and did in
effect manage their business, tax-gatherings in money and in kind, with
a perfection and precision which made the evil a minimum.
"FEBRUARY 17th.... This day also, there arrived at Breslau, by boat up
the Oder, ten heavy cannon, three mortars, and ammunition of powder,
bombshells, balls, as much as loaded fifty wagons; the whole of which
were, in like manner, forwarded to Ohlau. This day, as on other days
before and after. Great Magazines forming here; the Military chiefly at
Ohlau; at Breslau the Provender part,--and this latter under noteworthy
circumstances. In the Dom-Island, namely; which is definable (in a
case of such necessity) as being 'outside the walls.' Especially as the
Reverend Fathers have mostly glided into corners, and left the place
vacant. In the Dom-Island, it certainly is; and such a stock,--all
bought for money down, and spurred forward while the roads were under
frost,--'such a stock as was not thought to be in all Silesia,' says
exaggerative wonder. The vacant edifices in the Dom-Island are filled to
the neck with meal and corn; the Prussian brigade now quartering there
('without the walls,' in a sense) to guard the same. And in the Bishop's
Garden [poor Sinzendorf, far enough away and in no want of it just now]
are mere hay-mows, bigger than houses: who can object,--in a case
of necessity? No man, unless he politically meddle, is meddled
with; politically meddling, you are at once picked up; as one or two
are,--clapped into gentle arrest, or, like old Schaffgotsch, and even
Sinzendorf before long, requested to leave the Country till it get
settled. Rigor there is, but not intentional injustice on Munchow's
part, and there is a studious avoidance of harsh manner.
"FEBRUARY-MARCH. Considerable recruiting in Schlesien: six hundred
recruits have enlisted in Breslau alone. Also his Prussian Majesty has
sent a supply of Protestant Preachers, ordained for the occasion, to
minister where needed;--which is piously acknowledged as a godsend
in various parts of Silesia. Twelve came first, all Berliners; soon
afterwards, others from different parts, till, in the end, there were
about Sixty in all. Rigorous, punctilious avoidance of offence to the
Catholic minorities, or of whatever least thing Silesian Law does not
permit, is enjoined upon them; 'to preach in barns or town-halls, where
by Law you have no Church.' Their salary is about 30 pounds a year;
they are all put under supervision of the Chaplain of Margraf Karl's
Regiment" (a judicious Chaplain, I have no doubt, and fit to be a
Bishop); and so far as appears, mere benefit is got of them by Schlesien
as well as by Friedrich, in this function. Friedrich is careful to keep
the balance level between Catholic and Protestant; but it has hung
at such an angle, for a long while past! In general, we observe
the Catholic Dignitaries, and the zealous or fanatic of that creed,
especially the Jesuits, are apt to be against him: as for the
non-fanatic, they expect better government, secular advantage; these
latter weigh doubtfully, and with less weight whichever way. In the
general population, who are Protestant, he recognizes friends;--and has
sent them Sixty Preachers, which by Law was their due long since.
Here follow two little traits, comic or tragi-comic, with which we can
conclude:--
"Detached Jesuit parties, here and there, seem to have mischief in hand
in a small way, encouraging deserters and the like;--and we keep an
eye on them. No discontent elsewhere, at least none audible; on the
contrary, much enlisting on the part of the Silesian youth, with other
good symptoms. But in the Dom, there is, singular to say, a Goblin found
walking, one night;--advancing, not with airs from Heaven, upon
the Prussian sentry there! The Prussian sentry handles arms; pokes
determinedly into the Goblin, and finding him solid, ever more
determinedly, till the Goblin shrieked 'Jesus Maria!' and was hauled
to the Guard-house for investigation." A weak Goblin; doubtless of the
valet kind; worth only a little whipping; but testifies what the spirit
is.
"Another time, two deserter Frenchmen getting hanged [such the law in
aggravated cases], certain polite Jesuits, who had by permission been
praying and extreme-unctioning about them, came to thank the Colonel
after all was over. Colonel, a grave practical man, needs no 'thanks;'
would, however, 'advise your Reverences to teach your people that
perjury is not permissible, that an oath sworn ought to be kept;' and
in fine 'would advise you Holy Fathers hereabouts, and others, to have
a care lest you get into'--And twitching his reins, rode away without
saying into what." [_Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 723.]
AUSTRIA IS STANDING TO ARMS.
Schwerin has been doing his best in this interim; collecting magazines
with double diligence while the roads are hard, taking up the
Key-positions far and wide, from the Jablunka round to the Frontier
Valleys of Glatz again. He was through Jablunka, at one time; on into
Mahren, as far as Olmutz; levying contributions, emitting patents: but
as to intimidating her Hungarian Majesty, if that was the intention, or
changing her mind at all, that is not the issue got. Austria has still
strength, and Pragmatic Sanction and the Laws of Nature have! Very
fixed is her Hungarian Majesty's determination, to part with no inch of
Territory, but to drive the intrusive Prussians home well punished.
How she has got the funds is, to this day, a mystery;--unless George and
Walpole, from their Secret-Service Moneys, have smuggled her somewhat?
For the Parliament is not sitting, and there will be such jargonings,
such delays: a preliminary 100,000 pounds, say by degrees 200,000
pounds,--we should not miss it, and in her Majesty's hands it would go
far! Hints in the English Dryasdust we have; but nothing definite; and
we are left to our guesses. [Tindal (XX. 497) says expressly 200,000
pounds, but gives no date or other particular.] A romantic story, first
set current by Voltaire, has gone the round of the world, and still
appears in all Histories: How in England there was a Subscription set
on foot for her Hungarian Majesty; outcome of the enthusiasm of English
Ladies of quality,--old Sarah Duchess of Marlborough putting down her
name for 40,000 pounds, or indeed putting down the ready sum itself;
magnanimous veteran that she was. Voltaire says, omitting date and
circumstance, but speaking as if it were indubitable, and a thing you
could see with eyes: "The Duchess of Marlborough, widow of him who had
fought for Karl VI. [and with such signal returns of gratitude from the
said Karl VI.], assembled the principal Ladies of London; who engaged to
furnish 100,000 pounds among them; the Duchess herself putting down [EN
DEPOSA, tabling IN CORPORE] 40,000 pounds of it. The Queen of Hungary
had the greatness of soul to refuse this money;--needing only, as she
intimated, what the Nation in Parliament assembled might please to offer
her." [Voltaire, _OEuvres (Siecle de Louis XV.,_ c. 6), xxviii. 79.]
One is sorry to run athwart such a piece of mutual magnanimity; but the
fact is, on considering a little and asking evidence, it turns out to
be mythical. One Dilworth, an innocent English soul (from whom our
grandfathers used to learn ARITHMETIC, I think), writing on the spot
some years after Voltaire, has this useful passage: "It is the great
failing of a strong imagination to catch greedily at wonders. Voltaire
was misinformed; and would perhaps learn, by a second inquiry, a truth
less splendid and amusing. A Contribution was, by News-writers upon
their own authority, fruitlessly proposed. It ended in nothing: the
Parliament voted a supply;"--that did it, Mr. Dilworth; supplies enough,
and many of them! "Fruitlessly, by News-writers on their own authority;"
that is the sad fact. [_The Life and Heroick Actions of Frederick III._
(SIC, a common blunder), by W. H. Dilworth, M.A. (London, 1758), p. 25.
A poor little Book, one of many coming out on that subject just then
(for a reason we shall see on getting thither); which contains, of
available now, the above sentence and no more. Indeed its brethren, one
of them by Samnel Johnson (IMPRANSUS, the imprisoned giant), do not even
contain that, and have gone wholly to zero.--Neither little Dilworth
nor big Voltaire give the least shadow of specific date; but both
evidently mean Spring, 1742 (not 1741).]
It is certain, little George, who considers Pragmatic Sanction as the
Keystone of Nature in a manner, has been venturing far deeper than
purse for that adorable object; and indeed has been diving, secretly, in
muddier waters than we expected, to a dangerous extent, on behalf of it,
at this very time. In the first days of March, Friedrich has heard
from his Minister at Petersburg of a DETESTABLE PROJECT, [Orlich, i.
83 (scrap of Note to Old Dessauer; no date allowed us; "early in
March").]--project for "Partitioning the Prussian Kingdom," no less; for
fairly cutting into Friedrich, and paring him down to the safe pitch,
as an enemy to Pragmatic and mankind. They say, a Treaty, Draught of a
Treaty, for that express object, is now ready; and lies at Petersburg,
only waiting signature. Here is a Project! Contracting parties (Russian
signature still wanting) are: Kur-Sachsen; her Hungarian Majesty; King
George; and that Regent Anne (MRS. Anton Ulrich, so to speak), who sits
in a huddle of undress, impatient of Political objects, but sensible to
the charms of handsome men. To the charms of Count Lynar, especially:
the handsomest of Danish noblemen (more an ancient Roman than a Dane),
whom the Polish Majesty, calculating cause and effect, had despatched to
her, with that view, in the dead of winter lately. To whom she has
given ear;--dismissing her Munnich, as we saw above;--and is ready
for signing, or perhaps has signed! [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ ii. 68.]
Friedrich's astonishment, on hearing of this "detestable Project," was
great. However, he takes his measures on it;--right lucky that he
has the Old Dessauer, and machinery for acting on Kur-Sachsen and the
Britannic Majesty. "Get your machinery in gear!" is naturally his first
order. And the Old Dessauer does it, with effect: of which by and by.
Never did I hear, before or since, of such a plunge into the muddy
unfathomable, on the part of little George, who was an honorable
creature, and dubitative to excess: and truly this rash plunge might
have cost him dear, had not he directly scrambled out again. Or did
Friedrich exaggerate to himself his Uncle's real share in the matter? I
always guess, there had been more of loose talk, of hypothesis and fond
hope, in regard to George's share, than of determinate fact or procedure
on his own part. The transaction, having had to be dropped on the
sudden, remains somewhat dark; but, in substance, it is not doubtful;
[Tindal, xx. 497.] and Parliament itself took afterwards to poking into
it, though with little effect. Kur-Sachsen's objects in the adventure
were of the earth, earthy; but on George's part it was pure adoration of
Pragmatic Sanction, anxiety for the Keystone of Nature, and lest Chaos
come again. In comparison with such transcendent divings, what is a
little Secret-Service money!--
The Count Lynar of this adventure, who had well-nigh done such a feat
in Diplomacy, may turn up transiently again. A conspicuous, more or less
ridiculous person of those times. Busching (our Geographical friend) had
gone with him, as Excellency's Chaplain, in this Russian Journey; which
is a memorable one to Busching; and still presents vividly, through
his Book, those haggard Baltic Coasts in midwinter, to readers who have
business there. Such a journey for grimness of outlook, upon pine-tufts
and frozen sand; for cold (the Count's very tobacco-pipe freezing in
his mouth), for hardship, for bad lodging, and extremity of dirt in the
unfreezable kinds, as seldom was. They met, one day on the road, a Lord
Hyndford, English Ambassador just returning from Petersburg, with his
fourgons and vehicles, and arrangements for sleep and victual, in an
enviably luxurious condition,--whom we shall meet, to our cost. They
saw, in the body, old Field-marshal Lacy, and dined with him, at Riga;
who advised brandy schnapps; a recipe rejected by Busching. And other
memorabilia, which by accident hang about this Lynar. [Busching,
_Beitrage,_ vi. 132-164.]--All through Regent Anne's time he continued a
dangerous object to Friedrich; and it was a relief when Elizabeth CATIN
became Autocrat, instead of Deshabille Anne and her Lynar. Adieu to him,
for fifteen years or more.
Of Friedrich's military operations, of his magazines, posts, diligent
plannings and gallopings about, in those weeks; of all this the reader
can form some notion by looking on the map and remembering what has gone
before: but that subterranean growling which attended him, prophetic
of Earthquake, that universal breaking forth of Bedlams, now fallen so
extinct, no reader can imagine. Bedlams totally extinct to everybody;
but which were then very real, and raged wide as the world, high as the
stars, to a hideous degree among the then sons of men;--unimaginable now
by any mortal.
And, alas, this is one of the grand difficulties for my readers and me;
Friedrich's Life-element having fallen into such a dismal condition.
Most dismal, dark, ugly, that Austrian-Succession Business, and its
world-wide battlings, throttlings and intriguings: not Dismal Swamp,
under a coverlid of London Fog, could be uglier! A Section of "History"
so called, which human nature shrinks from; of which the extant
generation already knows nothing, and is impatient of hearing anything!
Truly, Oblivion is very due to such an Epoch: and from me far be it to
awaken, beyond need, its sordid Bedlams, happily extinct. But without
Life-element, no Life can be intelligible; and till Friedrich and one or
two others are extricated from it, Dismal Swamp cannot be quite filled
in. Courage, reader!--Our Constitutional Historian makes this farther
reflection:--
"English moneys, desperate Russian intrigues, Treaties made and
Treaties broken--If instead of Pragmatic Sanction with eleven Potentates
guaranteeing, Maria Theresa had at this time had 200,000 soldiers and
a full treasury (as Prince Eugene used to advise the late Kaiser), how
different might it have been with her, and with the whole world that
fell upon one another's throats in her quarrel! Some eight years of the
most disastrous War; and except the falling of Silesia to its new
place, no result gained by it. War at any rate inevitable, you object?
English-Spanish War having been obliged to kindle itself; French sure
to fall in, on the Spanish side; sure to fall upon Hanover, so soon as
beaten at sea, and thus to involve all Europe? Well, it is too likely.
But, even in that case, the poor English would have gone upon their
necessary Spanish War, by the direct road and with their eyes open,
instead of somnambulating and stumbling over the chimney-tops; and the
settlement might have come far sooner, and far cheaper to mankind.--Nay,
we are to admit that the new place for Silesia was, likewise, the place
appointed it by just Heaven; and Friedrich's too was a necessary War.
Heaven makes use of Shadow-hunting Kaisers too; and its ways in this mad
world are through the great Deep."
THE YOUNG DESSAUER CAPTURES GLOGAU (MARCH 9th); THE OLD DESSAUER, BY HIS
CAMP OF GOTTIN (APRIL 2d), CHECKMATES CERTAIN DESIGNING PERSONS.
Money somewhere her Hungarian Majesty has got; that is one thing
evident. She has an actual Army on foot, "drawn out of Italy," or whence
she could; formidable Army, says rumor, and getting well equipped;--and
here are the Pandour Precursors of it, coming down like storm-clouds
through the Glatz valleys;--nearly finishing the War for her at
a stroke, the other day, had accident favored;--and have thrown
reinforcement of 600 into Neisse. Friedrich is not insensible to these
things; and amid such alarms from far and from near, is becoming eager
to have, at least, Glogau in his hand. Glogau, he is of opinion, could
now, and should, straightway be done.
Glogau is not a strong place; after all the repairing, it could stand
little siege, were we careless of hurting it. But Wallis is obstinate;
refuses Free Withdrawal; will hold out to the uttermost, though his meal
is running low. He pretends there is relief coming; relief just at hand;
and once, in midnight time, "lets off a rocket and fires six guns,"
alarming Prince Leopold as if relief were just in the neighborhood. A
tough industrious military man; stiff to his purpose, and not without
shift.
Friedrich thinks the place might be had by assault: "Open trenches; set
your batteries going, which need not injure the Town; need only alarm
Wallis, and TERRIFY it; then, under cover of this noise and feint
of cannonading, storm with vigor." Leopold, the Young Dessauer, is
cautious; wants petards if he must storm, wants two new battalions if he
must open trenches;--he gets these requisites, and is still cunctatory.
Friedrich has himself got the notion, "from clear intelligence," true
or not, that relief to Glogau is actually on way; and under such
imminences, Russian and other, in so ticklish a state of the world, he
becomes more and more impatient that this thing were done. In the first
week of March, still hurrying about on inspection-business, he writes,
from four or five different places ("Mollwitz near Brieg" is one of
them, a Village we shall soon know better), Note after Note to Leopold;
who still makes difficulties, and is not yet perfect to the last finish
in his preparations. "Preparations!" answers Friedrich impatiently (date
MOLLWITZ, 5th MARCH, the third or fourth impatient Note he has sent);
and adds, just while quitting Mollwitz for Ohlau, this Postscript in his
own hand:--
P.S. "I am sorry you have not understood me! They have, in Bohmen, a
regular enterprise on hand for the rescue of Glogau. I have Infantry
enough to meet them; but Cavalry is quite wanting. You must therefore,
without delay, begin the siege. Let us finish there, I pray you!"
[Orlich, i. 70.]
And next day, Monday 6th, to cut the matter short, he despatches his
General-Adjutant Goltz in person (the distance is above seventy miles),
with this Note wholly in autograph, which nothing vocal on Leopold's
part will answer:--
"OHLAU, 6th MARCH. As I am certainly informed that the Enemy will make
some attempt, I hereby with all distinctness command, That, so soon as
the petards are come [which they are], you attack Glogau. And you must
make your Arrangement (DISPOSITION) for more than one attack; so that if
one fail, the other shall certainly succeed. I hope you will put off no
longer;--otherwise the blame of all the mischief that might arise out of
longer delay must lie on you alone." [Ib. i. 71.]
Goltz arrived with this emphatic Piece, Tuesday Evening, after his
course of seventy miles: this did at last rouse our cautious Young
Dessauer; and so there is next obtainable, on much compression, the
following authentic Excerpt:--
"GLOGAU, 8th MARCH, 1741. His Durchlaucht the Prince Leopold summoned
all the Generals at noon; and informed them That, this very night,
Glogau must be won. He gave them their Instructions in writing: where
each was to post himself; with what detachments; how to proceed. There
are to be three Attacks: one up stream, coming on with the River to its
right; one down stream, River to its left; and a third from the landward
side, perpendicular to the other two. The very captains that shall go
foremost are specified; at what hour each is to leave quarters, so that
all be ready simultaneously, waiting in the posts assigned;--against
what points to advance out of these, and storm Rampart and Wall. Places,
times, particulars, everything is fixed with mathematical exactitude:
'Be steady, be correct, especially be silent; and so far as Law of
Nature will permit, be simultaneous! When the big steeple of Glogau
peals Midnight,--Forward, with the first stroke; with the second, much
more with the twelfth stroke, be one and all of you, in the utmost
silence, advancing! And, under pain of death, two things: Not one shot
till you are in; No plundering when you are.'--In this manner is
the silent three-sided avalanche to be let go. Whereupon", says my
Dryasdust, "the Generals retired; and had, for one item, their fire-arms
all cleaned and new-loaded." [_Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 823; ii. 165.]
Without plans of Glogau, and more detail and study than the reader would
consent to, there can no Narrative be given. Glogau has Ramparts, due
Ring-fence, palisaded and repaired by Wallis; inside of this is an old
Town-Wall, which will need petards: there are about 1,000 men under
Wallis, and altogether on the works, not to count a mortar or two,
fifty-eight big guns. The reader must conceive a poor Town under
blockade, in the wintry night-time, with its tough Count Wallis; ill-off
for the necessaries of life; Town shrouded in darkness, and creeping
quietly to its bed. This on the one hand: and on the other hand,
Prussian battalions marching up, at 10 o'clock or later, with the utmost
softness of step; "taking post behind the ordinary field-watches;" and
at length, all standing ranked, in the invisible dark; silent, like
machinery, like a sleeping avalanche: Husht!--No sentry from the walls
dreams of such a thing. "Twelve!" sings out the steeple of Glogau; and
in grim whisper the word is, "VORWARTS!" and the three-winged avalanche
is in motion.
They reach their glacises, their ditches, covered ways, correct as
mathematics; tear out chevaux-de-frise, hew down palisades, in the given
number of minutes: Swift, ye Regiment's-carpenters; smite your best!
Four cannon-shot do now boom out upon them; which go high over their
heads, little dreaming how close at hand they are. The glacis is thirty
feet high, of stiff slope, and slippery with frost: no matter, the
avalanche, led on by Leopold in person, by Margraf Karl the King's
Cousin, by Adjutant Goltz and the chief personages, rushes up with
strange impetus; hews down a second palisade; surges in;--Wallis's
sentries extinct, or driven to their main guards. There is a singular
fire in the besieging party. For example, Four Grenadiers,--I think of
this First Column, which succeeded sooner, certainly of the Regiment
Glasenapp,--four grenadiers, owing to slippery or other accidents, in
climbing the glacis, had fallen a few steps behind the general body; and
on getting to the top, took the wrong course, and rushed along rightward
instead of leftward. Rightward, the first thing they come upon is a mass
of Austrians still ranked in arms; fifty-two men, as it turned out, with
their Captain over them. Slight stutter ensues on the part of the
Four Grenadiers; but they give one another the hint, and dash forward:
"Prisoners?" ask they sternly, as if all Prussia had been at their
rear. The fifty-two, in the darkness, in the danger and alarm, answer
"Yes."--"Pile arms, then!" Three of the grenadiers stand to see that
done; the fourth runs off for force, and happily gets back with it
before the comedy had become tragic for his comrades. "I must make
acquaintance with these four men," writes Friedrich, on hearing of
it; and he did reward them by present, by promotion to sergeantcy (to
ensigncy one of them), or what else they were fit for. Grenadiers of
Glasenapp: these are the men Friedrich heard swearing-in under his
window, one memorable morning when he burst into tears! At half-past
Twelve, the Ramparts, on all sides, are ours.
The Gates of the Town, under axe and petard, can make little resistance,
to Leopold's Column or the other two. A hole is soon cut in the
Town-Gate, where Leopold is; and gallant Wallis, who had rallied behind
it, with his Artillery-General and what they could get together, fires
through the opening, kills four men; but is then (by order, and not till
then) fired upon, and obliged to draw back, with his Artillery-General
mortally hurt. Inside he attempts another rally, some 200 with him; and
here and there perhaps a house-window tries to give shot; but it is
to no purpose, not the least stand can be made. Poor Wallis is rapidly
swept back, into the Market-place, into the Main Guard-house; and there
piles arms: "Glogau yours, Ihr Herren, and we prisoners of War!" The
steeple had not yet quite struck One. Here has been a good hour's-work!
Glogau, as in a dream, or half awake, and timidly peeping from behind
window-curtains, finds that it is a Town taken. Glogau easily consoles
itself, I hear, or even is generally glad; Prussian discipline being so
perfect, and ingress now free for the necessaries of life. There was
no plundering; not the least insult: no townsman was hurt; not even
in houses where soldiers had tried firing from windows. The Prussian
Battalions rendezvous in the Market-place, and go peaceably about their
patrolling, and other business; and meddle with nothing else. They
lost, in killed, ten men; had of killed and wounded, forty-eight; the
Austrians rather more. [Orlich, i. 75, 78; _Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 829;
irreconcilable otherwise, in some slight points.] Wallis was to have
been set free on parole; but was not,--in retaliation for some severity
of General Browne's in the interim (picking up of two Silesian Noblemen,
suspected of Prussian tendency, and locking them in Brunn over the
Hills),--and had to go to Berlin, till that was repaired. To the wounded
Artillery-General there was every tenderness shown, but he died in few
days.--The other Prisoners were marched to the Custrin-Stettin quarter;
"and many of them took Prussian service."
And this is the Scalade of Glogau: a shining feat of those days; which
had great rumor in the Gazettes, and over all the then feverish Nations,
though it has now fallen dim again, as feats do. Its importance at that
time, its utility to Friedrich's affairs, was undeniable; and it
filled Friedrich with the highest satisfaction, and with admiration to
overflowing. Done 9th March, 1741; in one hour, the very earliest of the
day.
Goltz posted back to Schweidnitz with the news; got thither about 5
P.M.; and was received, naturally, with open arms. Friedrich in person
marched out, next morning, to make FEU-DE-JOIE and TE-DEUM-ing;--there
was Royal Letter to Leopold, which flamed through all the Newspapers,
and can still be read in innumerable Books; Letter omissible in this
place. We remark only how punctual the King is, to reward in money as
well as praise, and not the high only, but the low that had deserved: to
Prince Leopold he presents 2,000 pounds; to each private soldier who had
been of the storm, say half a guinea,--doubling and quadrupling, in the
special cases, to as high as twenty guineas, of our present money. To
the old Gazetteers, and their readers everywhere, this of Glogau is a
very effulgent business; bursting out on them, like sudden Bude-light,
in the uncertain stagnancy and expectancy of mankind. Friedrich himself
writes of it to the Old Dessauer:--
"The more I think of the Glogau business, the more important I find it.
Prince Leopold has achieved the prettiest military stroke (DIE SCHONSTE
ACTION) that has been done in this Century. From my heart I congratulate
you on having such a Son. In boldness of resolution, in plan, in
execution, it is alike admirable; and quite gives a turn to my affairs."
[Date, 13th March, 1741 (Orlich, i. 77).]
And indeed, it is a perfect example of Prussian discipline, and military
quality in all kinds; such as it would be difficult to match elsewhere.
Most potently correct; coming out everywhere with the completeness and
exactitude of mathematics; and has in it such a fund of martial fire,
not only ready to blaze out (which can be exampled elsewhere), but
capable of bottling itself IN, and of lying silently ready. Which is
much rarer; and very essential in soldiering! Due a little to the OLD
Dessauer, may we not say, as well as to the Young? Friedrich Wilhelm is
fallen silent; but his heavy labors, and military and other drillings to
Prussian mankind, still speak with an audible voice.
About three weeks after this of Glogau, Leopold the Old Dessauer, over
in Brandenburg, does another thing which is important to Friedrich, and
of great rumor in the world. Steps out, namely, with a force of 36,000
men, horse, foot and artillery, completely equipped in all points; and
takes Camp, at this early season, at a place called Gottin, not far from
Magdeburg, handy at once for Saxony and for Hanover; and continues there
encamped,--"merely for review purposes." Readers can figure what an
astonishment it was to Kur-Sachsen and British George; and how it struck
the wind out of their Russian Partition-Dream, and awoke them to a sense
of the awful fact!--Capable of being slit in pieces, and themselves
partitioned, at a day's warning, as it were! It was on April 2d, that
Leopold, with the first division of the 36,000, planted his flag near
Gottin. No doubt it was the "detestable Project" that had brought him
out, at so early a season for tent-life, and nobody could then guess
why. He steadily paraded here, all summer; keeping his 36,000 well in
drill, since there was nothing else needed of him.
The Camp at Gottin flamed greatly abroad through the timorous
imaginations of mankind, that Year; and in the Newspapers are many
details of it. And, besides the important general fact, there is still
one little point worth special mention: namely, that old Field-marshal
Katte (Father of poor Lieutenant Katte whom we knew) was of it; and
perhaps even got his death by it: "Chief Commander of the Cavalry here,"
such honor had he; but died at his post, in a couple of months, "at
Rekahn, May 31st;" [_Militair-Lexikon,_ ii. 254.] poor old gentleman,
perhaps unequal to the hardships of field-life at so early a season of
the year.
FRIEDRICH TAKES THE FIELD, WITH SOME POMP; GOES INTO THE MOUNTAINS,--BUT
COMES FAST BACK.
At Glogau there was Homaging, on the very morrow after the storm; on the
second day, the superfluous regiments marched off: no want of vigorous
activity to settle matters on their new footing there. General Kalkstein
(Friedrich's old Tutor, whom readers have forgotten again) is to be
Commandant of Glogau; an office of honor, which can be done by
deputy except in cases of real stress. The place is to be thoroughly
new-fortified,--which important point they commit to Engineer Wallrave,
a strong-headed heavy-built Dutch Officer, long since acquired to the
service, on account of his excellence in that line; who did, now and
afterwards, a great deal of excellent engineering for Friedrich; but for
himself (being of deep stomach withal, and of life too dissolute) made a
tragic thing of it ultimately. As will be seen, if we have leisure.
In seven or eight days, Prince Leopold having wound up his Glogau
affairs, and completed the new preliminaries there, joins the King at
Schweidnitz. In the highest favor, as was natural. Kalkstein is to take
a main hand in the Siege of Neisse; for which operation it is hoped
there will soon be weather, if not favorable yet supportable. What
of the force was superfluous at Glogau had at once marched off, as we
observed; and is now getting re-distributed where needful. There is much
shifting about; strengthening of posts, giving up of posts: the whole of
which readers shall imagine for themselves,--except only two points that
are worth remembering: FIRST, that Kalkstein with about 12,000 takes
post at Grotkau, some twenty-five miles north of Neisse, ready to move
on, and open trenches, when required: and SECOND, that Holstein-Beck
gets posted at Frankenstein (chief place of that Baumgarten Skirmish),
say thirty-five miles west-by-north of Neisse; and has some 8 or 10,000
Horse and Foot thereabouts, spread up and down,--who will be much
wanted, and not procurable, on an occasion that is coming.
Friedrich has given up the Jablunka Pass; called in the Jablunka and
remoter posts; anxious to concentrate, before the Enemy get nigh. That
is the King's notion; and surely a reasonable one; the AREA of the
Prussian Army, as I guess it from the Maps, being above 2,000 square
miles, beginning at Breslau only, and leaving out Glogau. Schwerin
thinks differently, but without good basis. Both are agreed, "The
Austrian Army cannot take the field till the forage come," till the
new grass spring, which its cavalry find convenient. That is the fair
supposition; but in that both are mistaken, and Schwerin the more
dangerously of the two.--Meanwhile, the Pandour swarms are observably
getting rifer, and of stormier quality; and they seem to harbor farther
to the East than formerly, and not to come all out of Glatz. Which
perhaps are symptomatic circumstances? The worst effect of these
preliminary Pandour clouds is, Your scout-service cannot live among
them; they hinder reconnoitring, and keep the Enemy veiled from you. Of
that sore mischief Friedrich had, first and last, ample experience at
their hands! This is but the first instalment of Pandours to Friedrich;
and the mere foretaste of what they can do in the veiling way.
Behind the Mountains, in this manner, all is inane darkness to Friedrich
and Schwerin. They know only that Neipperg is rendezvousing at Olmutz;
and judge that he will still spend many weeks upon it; the real facts
being: That Neipperg--"who arrived in Olmutz on the 10th of March," the
very day while Glogau was homaging--has been, he and those above him and
those under him, driving preparations forward at a furious rate. That
Neipperg held--I think at Steinberg his hithermost post, some twenty
miles hither of Olmutz--a Council of War, "all the Generals and even
Lentulus from Glatz, present at it," day not given; where the unanimous
decision was, "March straightway; save Neisse, since Glogau is
gone!"--and in fine, That on the 26th, Neipperg took the road
accordingly, "in spite of furious snow blowing in his face;" and is
ever since (30,000 strong, says rumor, but perhaps 10,000 of them mere
Pandours) unweariedly climbing the Mountains, laboriously jingling
forward with his heavy guns and ammunition-wagons; "contending with the
steep snowy icy roads;" intent upon saving Neisse. This is the
fact; profoundly unknown to Friedrich and Schwerin; who will be much
surprised, when it becomes patent to them at the wrong time.
SCHWEIDNITZ, 27th MARCH. This day Friedrich, with considerable
apparatus, pomp and processional cymballing, greatly the reverse of
his ulterior use and wont in such cases, quitted Schweidnitz and his
Algarottis; solemnly opening Campaign in this manner; and drove off for
Ottmachau, having work there for to-morrow.
The Siege of Neisse is now to proceed forthwith; trenches to be opened
April 4th. Friedrich is still of opinion, that his posts lie too wide
apart; that especially Schwerin, who is spread among the Hills in
Jagerndorf Country, ought to come down, and take closer order for
covering the siege. [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ ii. 70.] Schwerin answers,
That if the King will spare him a reinforcement of eight squadrons and
nine battalions (say 1,200 Horse, 9,000 Foot), he will maintain himself
where he is, and no Enemy shall get across the Mountains at all. That
is Schwerin's notion; who surely is something of a judge. Friedrich
assents; will himself conduct the reinforcement to Schwerin, and survey
matters, with his own eyes, up yonder. Friedrich marches from Ottmachau,
accordingly, 29th March;--Kalkstein, Holstein-Beck, and others are to be
rendezvoused before Neisse, in the interim; trenches ready for opening
on the sixth day hence;--and in this manner, climbs these Mountains, and
sees Jagerndorf Country for the first time.
Beautiful blue world of Hills, ridge piled on ridge behind that Neisse
region; fruitful valleys lapped in them, with grim stone Castles
and busy little Towns disclosing themselves as we advance: that is
Jagerndorf Country,--which Uncle George of Anspach, hundreds of years
ago, purchased with his own money; which we have now come to lay hold of
as his Heir! Friedrich, I believe, thinks little of all this, and
does not remember Uncle George at all. But such are the facts; and the
Country, regarded or not, is very blue and beautiful, with the Spring
sun shining on it; or with the sudden Spring storms gathering wildly
on the peaks, as if for permanent investiture, but vanishing again
straightway, leaving only a powdering of snow.
He met Schwerin at Neustadt, half-way to Jagerndorf; whither they
proceeded next day. "What news have you of the Enemy?" was Friedrich's
first question. Schwerin has no news whatever; only that the Enemy is
far off, hanging in long thin straggle from Olmutz westward. "I have a
spy out," said Schwerin; "but he has not returned yet,"--nor ever will,
he might have added. If diligent readers will now take to their Map,
and attend day by day, an invincible Predecessor has compelled what next
follows into human intelligibility, and into the Diary Form, for
their behoof;--readers of an idler turn can skip: but this confused
hurry-scurry of marches issues in something which all will have to
attend to.
"JAGERNDORF, 2d APRIL, 1741. This is the day when the Old Dessauer makes
appearance with the first brigades of his Camp at Gottin. Friedrich
is satisfied with what he has seen of Jagerndorf matters; and intends
returning towards Neisse, there to commence on the 4th. He is giving
his final orders, and on the point of setting off, when--Seven Austrian
Deserters, 'Dragoons of Lichtenstein,' come in; and report, That
Neipperg's Army is within a few miles! And scarcely had they done
answering and explaining, when sounds rise of musketry and cannon,
from our outposts on that side; intimating that here is Neipperg's Army
itself. Seldom in his life was Friedrich in an uglier situation. In
Jagerndorf, an open Town, are only some three or four thousand men,
'with three field-pieces, and as much powder as will charge them forty
times.' Happily these proved only the Pandour outskirts of Neipperg's
Army, scouring about to reconnoitre, and not difficult to beat; the
real body of it is ascertained to be at Freudenthal, fifteen miles to
westward, southwestward; making towards Neisse, it is guessed, by the
other or western road, which is the nearer to Glatz and to the Austrian
force there.
"Had Neipperg known what was in Jagerndorf--! But he does not know.
He marches on, next morning, at his usual slow rate; wide clouds of
Pandours accompanying and preceding him; skirmishing in upon all places
[upon Jagerndorf, for instance, though fifteen miles wide of their
road], to ascertain if Prussians are there. One can judge whether
Friedrich and Schwerin were thankful when the huge alarm produced
nothing! 'The mountain,' as Friedrich says, 'gave birth to a
mouse;'--nay it was a 'mouse' of essential vital use to Friedrich and
Schwerin; a warning, That they must instantly collect themselves, men
and goods; and begone one and all out of these parts, double-quick
towards Neisse. Not now with the hope of besieging Neisse,--far from
that;--but of getting their wide-scattered posts together thereabouts,
and escaping destruction in detail!
"APRIL 4th, HEAD-QUARTERS NEUSTADT. By violent exertion, with the
sacrifice only of some remote little storehouses, all is rendezvoused at
Jagerndorf, within two days; and this day they march; King and vanguard
reaching Neustadt, some twenty-five miles forward, some twenty still
from Neisse. At Neustadt, the posts that had stood in that neighborhood
are all assembled, and march with the King to-morrow. Of Neipperg,
except by transitory contact with his Pandour clouds, they have seen
nothing: his road is pretty much parallel to theirs, and some fifteen
miles leftward, Glatzward; goes through Zuckmantel, Ziegenhals, straight
upon Neisse. [Zuckmantel, "Twitch-Cloak," occurs more than once as a
Town's name in those regions: name which, says my Dryasdust without
smile visible, it got from robberies done on travellers, "twitchings of
your cloak," with stand-and-deliver, as you cross those wild mountain
spaces. (Zeiller, _Beschreibung des Konigreichs Boheim,_ Frankfurt,
1650;--a rather worthless old Book, like the rest of Zeiller's in that
kind.)] Neipperg's men are wearied with the long climb out of Mahren;
and he struggles towards Neisse as the first object;--holding upon Glatz
and Lentulus with his left. Numerous orders have been speeded from the
King's quarters, at Jagerndorf, and here at Neustadt; order especially
to Holstein-Beck at Frankenstein, and to Kalkstein at Grotkau, How they
are to unite, first with one another; and then to cross Neisse River,
and unite with the King,--to which end there is already a Bridge laid
for them, or about to be laid in good time.
"APRIL 5th, HEAD-QUARTERS STEINAU. Steinau is a little Town twenty miles
east of Neisse, on the road to Kosel [strongish place, on the Oder,
some forty miles farther east]: here Friedrich, with the main body,
take their quarters; rearguard being still at Neustadt. Temporary Bridge
there is, ready or all but ready, at Sorgau [twelve miles to north of
us, on our left]: by this Kalkstein, with his 10,000, comes punctually
across; while other brigades from the Kosel side are also punctual in
getting in; which is a great comfort: but of Holstein-Beck there is
no vestige, nor did there ever appear any. Holstein, 'whom none of
the repeated orders sent him could reach,' says Friedrich, 'remained
comfortably in his quarters; and looked at the Enemy rushing past him
to right and left, without troubling his head with them.' [_OEuvres de
Frederic,_ ii. 70.] The too easy-minded Holstein! Austrian Deserters
inform us, That General Neipperg arrived to-day with his Army in Neisse;
and has there been joined by Lentulus with the Glatz force, chiefly
cavalry, a good many thousands. We may be attacked, then, this very
night, if they are diligent? Friedrich marks out ground and plan in such
case, and how and where each is to rank himself. There came nothing of
attack; but the poor little Village of Steinau, with so many troops in
it and baggage-drivers stumbling about, takes fire; burns to ashes; 'and
we had great difficulty in saving the artillery and powder through
the narrow streets, with the houses all burning on each hand.'" Fancy
it,--and the poor shrieking inhabitants; gone to silence long since
with their shrieks, not the least whisper left of them. "The Prussians
bivouac on the field, each in the place that has been marked out. Night
extremely cold."
In this poor Steinau was a Schloss, which also went up in fire;
disclosing certain mysteries of an almost mythical nature to the German
Public. It was the Schloss of a Grafin von Callenberg, a dreadful old
Dowager of Medea-Messalina type, who "always wore pistols about
her;" pistols, and latterly, with more and more constancy, a
brandy-bottle;--who has been much on the tongues of men for a generation
back. Herr Nussler (readers recollect shifty Nussler) knew her, in the
way of business, at one time; with pity, if also with horror. Some weeks
ago, she was, by the Austrian Commandant at Neisse, summoned out of this
Schloss, as in correspondence with Prussian Officers: peasants breaking
in, tied her with ropes to the bed where she was; put bed and her into a
farm-cart, and in that scandalous manner delivered her at Neisse to the
Commandant; by which adventure, and its rages and unspeakabilities, the
poor old Callenberg is since dead. And now the very Schloss is dead; and
there is finis to a human dust-vortex, such as is sometimes noisy for
a time. Perhaps Nussler may again pass that way, if we wait. [Busching,
_Beitrage,_ ii.273 et seqq.]
"APRIL 6th, HEAD-QUARTERS FRIEDLAND. To Friedland on the 6th.,--and do
not, as expected, get away next morning. Friedland is ten miles down the
Neisse, which makes a bend of near ninety degrees opposite Steinau; and
runs thence straight north for the Oder, which it reaches some dozen
miles or more above Brieg. Both Steinau and Friedland are a good
distance from the River; Friedland, the nearer of the two, with Sorgau
Bridge direct west of it, is perhaps eight miles from that important
structure. There, being now tolerably rendezvoused, and in strength
for action, Friedrich purposes to cross Neisse River to-morrow; hoping
perhaps to meet Holstein-Beck, and incorporate him; anxious, at any
rate, to get between the Austrians and Ohlau, where his heavy Artillery,
his Ammunition, not to mention other indispensables, are lying. The
peculiarity of Neipperg at this time is, that the ground he occupies
bears no proportion to the ground he commands. His regular Horse are
supposed to be the best in the world; and of the Pandour kind, who
live, horse and man, mainly upon nothing (which means upon theft), his
supplies are unlimited. He sits like a volcanic reservoir, therefore,
not like a common fire of such and such intensity and power to
burn;--casts the ashes of him, on all sides, to many miles distance.
"FRIDAY 7th APRIL, FRIEDLAND (still Head-quarters). Unluckily, on
trying, there is no passage to be had at Sorgau. The Officer on charge
there still holds the Bridge, but has been obliged to break away the
farther end of it; 'Lentulus and Dragoons, several thousands strong'
(such is the report), having taken post there. Friedrich commands that
the Bridge be reinstated; field-pieces to defend it; Prince Leopold to
cross, and clear the ways. All Friday, Friedrich waiting at Friedland,
was spent in these details. Leopold in due force started for Sorgau,
himself with Cavalry in the van; Leopold did storm across, and go
charging and fencing, some space, on the other side; but, seeing that
it was in truth Lentulus, and Dragoons without limit, had to send report
accordingly; and then to wind himself to this side again, on new order
from the King. What is to be done, then? Here is no crossing. Friedrich
decides to go down the River; he himself to Lowen, perhaps near twenty
miles farther down, but where there is a Bridge and Highway leading
over; Prince Leopold, with the heavier divisions and baggages, to
Michelau, some miles nearer, and there to build his Pontoons and cross.
Which was effected, with success. And so,
"SATURDAY, 8th APRIL, With great punctuality, the King and Leopold met
at Michelau, both well across the Neisse. Here on Pontoons, Leopold had
got across about noon; and precisely as he was finishing, the King's
Column, which had crossed at Lowen, and come up the left bank again,
arrived. The King, much content with Leopold's behavior, nominates him
General of Infantry, a stage higher in promotion, there and then. Brieg
Blockade is, as natural, given up; the Blockading Body joining with the
King, this morning, while he passed that way. From Holstein-Beck not the
least whisper,--nor to him, if we knew it.
"Neipperg has quitted Neisse; but walks invisible within clouds of
Pandours; nothing but guessing as to Neipperg's motions. Rightly swift,
and awake to his business, Neipperg might have done, might still do, a
stroke upon us here. But he takes it easy; marches hardly five miles
a day, since he quitted Neisse again. From Michelau, Friedrich for his
part turns southwestward, in quest of Holstein and other interests;
marches towards Grotkau, not intending much farther that night. Thick
snow blowing in their faces, nothing to be seen ahead, the Prussian
column tramps along. [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ ii. 156.] In Leipe, a
little Hamlet sidewards of the road, short way from Grotkau, our Hussar
Vanguard had found Austrian Hussars; captured forty, and from them
learned that the Austrian Army is in Grotkau; that they took Grotkau
half an hour before, and are there! A poor Lieutenant Mitschepfal (whom
I think Friedrich used to know in Reinsberg) lay in Grotkau, 'with
some sixty recruits and deserters,' says Friedrich,--and with several
hundreds of camp-laborers (intended for the trenches, which will not now
be opened):--Mitschepfal made a stout defence; but, after three hours of
it, had to give in: and there is nothing now for us at Grotkau. 'Halt,'
therefore! Neipperg is evidently pushing towards Ohlau, towards Breslau,
though in a leisurely way; there it will behoove us to get the start of
him, if humanly possible: To the right about, therefore, without delay!
The Prussians repass Leipe (much to the wonder of its simple people);
get along, some seven miles farther, on the road for Ohlau; and quarter,
that night, in what handy villages there are; the King's Corps in two
Villages, which he calls 'Pogrel and Alsen,'"--which are to be found
still on the Map as "Pogarell and Alzenau," on the road from Lowen
towards Ohlau.
This is the end of that March into the Mountains, with Neisse Siege
hanging triumphant ahead. These are the King's quarters, this wintry
Spring night, Saturday, 8th April, 1741; and it is to be guessed there
is more of care than of sleep provided for him there. Seldom, in his
life, was Friedrich in a more critical position; and he well knows it,
none better. And could have his remorses upon it,--were these of the
least use in present circumstances. Here are two Letters which he
wrote that night; veiling, we perceive, a very grim world of thoughts;
betokening, however, a mind made up. Jordan, Prince August Wilhelm
Heir-Apparent, and other fine individuals who shone in the Schweidnitz
circle lately, are in Breslau, safe sheltered against this bad juncture;
Maupertuis was not so lucky as to go with them.
THE KING TO PRINCE AUGUST WILHELM (in Breslau).
"POGARELL, 8th April, 1741.
"MY DEAREST BROTHER,--The Enemy has just got into Silesia; we are not
more than a mile (QUART DE MILLE) from them. To-morrow must decide our
fortune.
"If I die, do not forget a Brother who has always loved you very
tenderly. I recommend to you my most dear Mother, my Domestics, and my
First Battalion [LIFEGUARD OF FOOT, men picked from his own old Ruppin
Regiment and from the disbanded Giants, star of all the Battalions].
[See Preuss, i. 144, iv. 309; Nicolai, _Beschreibung von Berlin,_ iii,
1252.] Eichel and Schuhmacher [Two of the Three Clerks] are informed
of all my testamentary wishes. Remember me always, you; but console
yourself for my death: the glory of the Prussian Arms, and the honor of
the House have set me in action, and will guide me to my last moment.
You are my sole Heir: I recommend to you, in dying, those whom I have
the most loved during my life: Keyserling, Jordan, Wartensleben; Hacke,
who is a very honest man; Fredersdorf [Factotum], and Eichel, in whom
you may place entire confidence. I bequeath 8,000 crowns (1,200 pounds,
which I have with me), to my Domestics; but all that I have elsewhere
depends on you. To each of my Brothers and Sisters make a present in
my name; a thousand affectionate regards (AMITIES ET COMPLIMENTS) to my
Sister of Baireuth. You know what I think on their score; and you know
better than I could tell you, the tenderness and all the sentiments of
most inviolable friendship with which I am, dearest Brother,
"Your faithful Brother and Servant till death,
"FEDERIC." [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ xxvi. 85; List of Friedrich's
Testamentary arrangements in Note there,--Six in all, at different
times, besides this.]
THE KING TO M. JORDAN (in Breslau).
"POGARELL, 8th April, 1741.
"My DEAR JORDAN,---We are going to fight to-morrow. Thou knowest the
chances of war; the life of Kings not more regarded than that of private
people. I know not what will happen to me.
"If my destiny is finished, remember a friend, who loves thee always
tenderly: if Heaven prolong my days, I will write to thee after
to-morrow, and thou wilt hear of our victory. Adieu, dear friend; I
shall love thee till death.
"FEDERIC." [Ib. xvii. 98.]
The King, we incidentally discover somewhere, "had no sleep that night;"
none, "nor the next night either,"--such a crisis coming, still not
come.