NeisseliesdeepenoughinPrussianenvironment;likeBrieg,likeGlogau,strictlyblockaded;ourpoststhereabouts,amongtheMountains,thoughttobeimpregnable。Nevertheless,whatnewthingisthis?HereareswarmsoflooseHussar—Pandourpeople,wildAustrianIrregulars,whocomepouringoutofGlatzCountry;
disturbingthePrussianpoststowardsthatquarter;anddonotletuswantforSmallWar(KLEINEKRIEG)socalled。GeneralBrowne,itappears,isgotbacktoGlatzatthisearlyseason,heandaGeneralLentulusbusythere;andthesearethecomplimentstheysend!Averytroublesomesetoffellows,infestingone’spurlieusinwingedpredatoryfashion;swoopingdownlikeacloudofvulturousharpiesonthesudden;fierceenough,ifthechancefavor;thentowingagain,ifitdonot。Communication,especiallyreconnoitring,isnotsafeintheirneighborhood。PrussianInfantry,eveninsmallparties,generallybeatsthem;PrussianHorsenot,butisoftenerbeaten,——notdrilledforthisrabbleandtheirways。Inpitchedfighttheyarenotdangerous,ratheraredespicabletothedisciplinedman;butcan,onoccasion,doagreatdealofmischief。
Thus,itwasnotlongafterFriedrich’scomingintotheseparts,whenhelearntwithsorrowthataBodyof\"500Horseand500Foot\"
(orsayitwereonly300ofeachkind,whichisthefact[Orlich,i。79;OEuvresdeFrederic,ii。68。])hadeludedourpostsintheMountains,andactuallygotintoNeisse。
\"TheFootwillbeoflittleconsequence,\"writesFriedrich;
\"buttheHorse,whichwilldisturbourcommunications,areaconsiderablemischief。\"Thiswasonthe5thofMarch。Andaboutaweekbefore,onthe27thofFebruary,therehadwell—nighafargraverthingbefallen,——namelythecaptureofFriedrichhimself,andthesuddenendofalltheseoperations。
SKIRMISHOFBAUMGARTEN,27thFEBRUARY,1741。
InmostoftheAnecdote—Booksthereusedtofigure,andstilldoes,insistingonsomebelieffromsimplepersons,awonderfulStoryinveryvaguecondition:Howonce\"intheSilesianWars,\"theKing,inthoseUpperNeisseregions,intheWarthadistrictbetweenGlatzandNeisse,was,oneday,withinaninchofbeingtaken,——cloudsofHussarssuddenlyrisingroundhim,asherodereconnoitring,withnexttonoescort,onlyanadjutantorsoinattendance。Howheshotaway,keepingwellintheshade;anderelongwhiskedintoaConventorAbbey,thebeautifulAbbeyofKamenzinthoseparts;
andfoundTobiasStusche,excellentAbbotoftheplace,towhomhecandidlydisclosedhissituation。HowtheexcellentTobiasthereuponinstantlyorderedthebellstoberungforamassextraordinary,Monksnotknowingwhy;and,afterbells,madehisappearanceinhighcostume,muchtothewonderofhisMonks,withaSECONDAbbot,alsoinhighcostume,butofshortishstature,whomtheyneversawbeforeorafter。WhichtwoAbbots,oratleastTobias,proceededtodotheso—calleddivineofficethereandthen;
lettingloosethebigchantespecially,andthegrowloforgans,inasingularlyexpressivemanner。HowthePandoursarrivedincloudsmeanwhile;entered,insearchingparties,moreorlessreverentofthemass;searchedhighandlow;butfoundnothing,andwereobligedtotakeTobias’sblessingatlast,andgotheirways。
HowtheSecondAbbotthereuponsworeeternalfriendshipwithTobias,intheprivateapartments;androdeoffas——asarescuedMajesty,determinedtobemorecautiousinPandourCountriesforthefuture![Hildebrandt,Anekdoten,i。1—7。
PandourproperisaFOOT—soldier(tallraw—bonedill—washedbiped,incopiousTurkbreeches,ratherbarishinthetoppartsofhim;
carriesaverylongmusket,andhasseveralpistolsandbutcher’s—
knivesstuckinhisgirdle):specificallyafootman;butreaderswillpermitmetousehimwithal,ashere,inthegenericsense。]——
Whichstory,astothebodyofit,isallmyth;though,asisoftenestthecase,thereliesinitsomesouloffacttoo。
TheHistory—Books,whichhadnotmuchheededthelittlefact,wouldhavenothingtodowiththisaccountofit。NeverthelessthepeoplestucktotheirMyth;sothatDryasdust(inpunishmentforhissinfulblindnesstothehumananddivinesignificanceoffacts)wasdriventoinvestigatethebusiness;anddidatlastvictoriouslybringithometothesmalloccurrencenowcalledSKIRMISHOF
BAUMGARTEN,whichhadnearlybecomesogreatintheHistoryoftheWorld,——tothefollowingeffect。
TherearetwoValleyswithroadsthatleadfromthatSouthwestquarterofSilesiatowardsGlatz,eachwithalittleTownattheendofit,lookingupintoit:Warthathenameoftheone:
Silberbergthatoftheother。ThroughtheWarthaValley,whichissouthernmost,youngNeisseRivercomesrushingdown,——thebluemountainsthereaboutsverypretty,onaclearspringday,saysmytouringfriend。BothatWartha,andatSilberbergthelittleTownwhichlooksintothemouthofthenorthernmostValley,thePrussianshaveapost。OldDerschau,MalplaquetDerschau,withheadquartersatFrankenstein,somesevenoreightmilesnearerSchweidnitz,hasnotfailedinthatprecaution。FriedrichwishedtovisitSilberbergandWartha;setoutaccordingly,27thFebruary,withsmallescort,carelesslyasusual:thePandourpeoplehadwindofit;knewhishabitsonsuchoccasions;and,glidingthroughotherroadlessvalleys,underanadventurousCaptain,haddeterminedtowhirlhimoff。Andtheywereinfactnotfarfromsucceeding,hadnotamistakehappened。
Silberberg,andWarthathesouthernmost,whichstandsupontheNeisseRiver(rushingoutthereintotheplainercountry),areeachaboutsevenoreightmilesfromFrankenstein,theHead—quarters;
andtherearerelaysofposts,capableofsupportingoneanother,allthewayfromFrankensteintoeach。FriedrichrodetoSilberbergfirst;examinedthepost,founditright;thenrodeacrosstoWartha,sevenoreightmilessouthward;examinedWarthalikewise;
afterwhich,hesatdowntodinnerinthatlittleTown,withanOfficerortwoforcompany,——having,Isuppose,foundallrightinboththeposts。Inthewayhither,hehadmadesomechangeintherelayarrangements,whichatfirstinvolvedsomediminutionofhisownescort,andthensomemarchingaboutandredistributing:
sothat,externally,itseemedasifthePrincipalRelay—partywerenowmarchingonBaumgarten,anintermediateVillage,——atleastsothePandourCaptainunderstandsthemovementsgoingon;andcrouchesintotheduethicketsinconsequence,notdoubtingbuttheKinghimselfisforBaumgarten,andwillbeathandpresently。
Principalrelay—party,asquadronofSchulenburg’sDragoons,withastupidMajoroverthem,isnotquitegotintoBaumgarten,when\"withhorriblecriesthePandourCaptainwithabout500horse,\"
plungesoutofcover,directuponthethroatofit:andFriedrich,atWartha,isbutjustbegundiningwhentumultofdistantmusketrybreaksinuponhim。WithFriedrichhimself,atthistime,asI
count,theremightbe150Horse;inWarthapostitselfareatleast\"fortyhussarsandfiftyfoot。\"Bynomeans\"nothingbutasingleadjutant,\"astheMythbears。
ThestupidMajoroughttohavebeatenthisrabble,thoughabovetwotooneofhim。Buthecouldnot,thoughhetriedconsiderably;
onthecontrary,hewashimselfbeaten;obligedtomakeoff,leaving\"tendragoonskilled,sixteenprisoners,onestandardandtwokettle—drums:\"——victorvandallthisplunder,yePandourgentry;butevidentlynoKing。ThePandourgentry,ontheinstant,madeofftoo,alarmbeingabroad;gotintosomeside—valley,withtheirprisonersanddrum—and—standardhonors,andvanishedfromviewofmankind。
Friedrichhadstartedfromdinner;gothisescortunderway,withthefortyhussarsandthefiftyfoot,andwhatsmallforcewasattainable;andhurriedtowardsthescene。Hedidsee,bytheroad,anotherstrongishpartyofPandours;dashedthemacrosstheNeisseRiveroutofsight;——but,gettingtoBaumgarten,foundthefieldsilent,andtendeadmenuponit。\"IalwaystoldyouthoseSchulenburgDragoonsweregoodfornothing!\"writeshetotheOldDessauer;butgraduallywithal,oncomparingnotes,findswhatadangerhehadrun,andhowrashandfoolishhehadbeen。
\"AnETOURDERIE(foolishtrick),\"hecallsit,writingtoJordan;
\"ablackeye;\"andwillavoidthelike。Viennagotitstwokettle—
drumsandflag;extremelygladtoseethem;andevensangTE—DEUM
uponthem,togeneraledification。[Orlich,i。62—64。]ThisisthenakedprimordialsubstanceoutofwhichtheaboveMythgrewtoitspresentluxurianceinthepopularimagination。Place,thelittleVillageofBaumgarten;day,27thFebruary,1741。OfTobiasStuscheortheConventofKamenz,notoneauthenticwordonthisoccasion。
Tobiasdidgetpromotions,favorsincomingyears:aworthyAbbot,deservingpromotionongeneralgrounds;andmasterofaConventverypicturesque,buttwelvemilesfromthepresentsceneofaction。
ASPECTSOFBRESLAU。
FriedrichavoidedvisitingBreslau,probablyforthereasonsabovegiven;thoughthereareimportantinterestsofhisthere,especiallyhischiefMagazine;andissuesofmomentaresilentlyworkingforward。HerearecontemporaryExcerpts(inabridgedform),whichareauthentic,andofsignificancetoalivelyreader:——
\"BRESLAU,MIDDLEOFJANUARY,1741。ThePrussianEnvoy,HerrvonGotter,hadappearedhere,returningfromVienna;Gotter,andthenBorck,whomadenosecretinBreslausociety,Thatnottheslightesthopeofapeaceableresultexisted,associetymighthaveflattereditself;butthatwarandbattlewouldhavetodecidethismatter。ASaxonAmbassadorwasalsohere,waitingsometime;
messagethoughttobeinsignificant:——probablysomevagueadmonitorystuffagainfromKur—Sachsen(PolishKing,sonofAugusttheStrong,averyinsignificantman),whoactsasREICHS—VICARIUS
inthoseNorthernparts。\"Forthereaderistoknow,thereareReichs—Vicarsmorethanone(naymorethantwoonthisoccasion,withconsiderablejarringgoingonaboutthem);andIcouldsaymuchabouttheirdignities,limits,duties,[Adelung,ii。143,&c。;
Kohler,Reichs—Historie,pp。585—589。]——ifindeedtherewereanyduties,exceptdramaticones!ButtheReichitself,andVicarshipalongwithit,arefallenintoanearlyimaginarycondition;andtheRegensburgDiet(notPrincesnow,butmereDelegatesofPrinces,mostlyBombazinePeople),which,\"eversince1663,\"hassatcontinual,insteadofnowandthen,isbecomeanEnchantedPiggery,strangetolookupon,underthoseearneststars。\"AsKingFriedrichdidnotcallatGreslau,\"afterthoseNeissebombardments,butrolledpast,straighthomewards,thethreeExcellenciesalldeparted,——BorckandGottertoBerlin,theSaxonhomeagainwithhisinsignificantmessage。
\"JANUARY19th。Schwerintoowashereinthecourseofthewinter,toseehowthemagazinesandotherwar—preparationsweregoingon:
Breslauoutwardlyandinwardlyiswhirlingwithbusiness,andoffersphenomena。Forinstance,itisknownthattheArmy—Chest,heapsofsilverandgoldinit,liesintheScultetGarden—House,wheretheKinglodged;andthatonlyonesentrywalksthere,andthatintheguard—houseitself,whichissomewayoff,thereareonlythirtymen。January19th,about9oftheclock,[Helden—Geschichte,i。700。]alarmrises,That2,000DIEBS—GESINDEL(CollectiveThief—rabbleofBreslauanddependencies)arecloseby;intendingastrokeuponsaidGarden—
HouseandArmy—Chest!Perhapsthisrumorsprangofitsownaccord;
——orperhapsnotquite?Ithadbeenveryrife;andranhigh;notwithoutremonstrancesinTown—Hall,andthelike,whichwecanimagine。Issuewas,TheOfficeronpostatScultet’sloadedhistreasureincarts;conveyedit,thatsamenight,totheinterioroftheCity,infacttotheOBERAMTS—HAUS(Government—Housethatwas);
——whichdoubtlesswasastepintherightdirection。FornowtheTwoFeld—Kriegs—CommissariatGentlemen(oneofwhomistheexpertMunchow,sonofouroldCustrinfriend),supremePrussianAuthoritieshere,dolikewiseshiftoutoftheirinns;andtakeoldSchaffgotsch’sapartmentsinthesameOberamts—Haus;mutelysymbollingthatperhapsTHEYarelikelytobecomeakindofGovernment。Andthereadercanconceivehow,insuchanelement,thefunctionofgoverningwouldofitselffallmoreandmoreintotheirhands。Theywereconsummatelypolite,discreet,friendlytowardsallpeople;anddidineffectmanagetheirbusiness,tax—
gatheringsinmoneyandinkind,withaperfectionandprecisionwhichmadetheevilaminimum。
\"FEBRUARY17th……Thisdayalso,therearrivedatBreslau,byboatuptheOder,tenheavycannon,threemortars,andammunitionofpowder,bombshells,balls,asmuchasloadedfiftywagons;
thewholeofwhichwere,inlikemanner,forwardedtoOhlau。
Thisday,asonotherdaysbeforeandafter。GreatMagazinesforminghere;theMilitarychieflyatOhlau;atBreslautheProvenderpart,——andthislatterundernoteworthycircumstances。
IntheDom—Island,namely;whichisdefinable(inacaseofsuchnecessity)asbeing’outsidethewalls。’EspeciallyastheReverendFathershavemostlyglidedintocorners,andlefttheplacevacant。
IntheDom—Island,itcertainlyis;andsuchastock,——allboughtformoneydown,andspurredforwardwhiletheroadswereunderfrost,——’suchastockaswasnotthoughttobeinallSilesia,’
saysexaggerativewonder。ThevacantedificesintheDom—Islandarefilledtotheneckwithmealandcorn;thePrussianbrigadenowquarteringthere(’withoutthewalls,’inasense)toguardthesame。AndintheBishop’sGarden[poorSinzendorf,farenoughawayandinnowantofitjustnow]aremerehay—mows,biggerthanhouses:whocanobject,——inacaseofnecessity?Noman,unlesshepoliticallymeddle,ismeddledwith;politicallymeddling,youareatoncepickedup;asoneortwoare,——clappedintogentlearrest,or,likeoldSchaffgotsch,andevenSinzendorfbeforelong,requestedtoleavetheCountrytillitgetsettled。Rigorthereis,butnotintentionalinjusticeonMunchow’spart,andthereisastudiousavoidanceofharshmanner。
\"FEBRUARY—MARCH。ConsiderablerecruitinginSchlesien:sixhundredrecruitshaveenlistedinBreslaualone。AlsohisPrussianMajestyhassentasupplyofProtestantPreachers,ordainedfortheoccasion,toministerwhereneeded;——whichispiouslyacknowledgedasagodsendinvariouspartsofSilesia。Twelvecamefirst,allBerliners;soonafterwards,othersfromdifferentparts,till,intheend,therewereaboutSixtyinall。Rigorous,punctiliousavoidanceofoffencetotheCatholicminorities,orofwhateverleastthingSilesianLawdoesnotpermit,isenjoineduponthem;
’topreachinbarnsortown—halls,wherebyLawyouhavenoChurch。’Theirsalaryisabout30poundsayear;theyareallputundersupervisionoftheChaplainofMargrafKarl’sRegiment\"(ajudiciousChaplain,Ihavenodoubt,andfittobeaBishop);
andsofarasappears,merebenefitisgotofthembySchlesienaswellasbyFriedrich,inthisfunction。FriedrichiscarefultokeepthebalancelevelbetweenCatholicandProtestant;butithashungatsuchanangle,foralongwhilepast!Ingeneral,weobservetheCatholicDignitaries,andthezealousorfanaticofthatcreed,especiallytheJesuits,areapttobeagainsthim:
asforthenon—fanatic,theyexpectbettergovernment,secularadvantage;theselatterweighdoubtfully,andwithlessweightwhicheverway。Inthegeneralpopulation,whoareProtestant,herecognizesfriends;——andhassentthemSixtyPreachers,whichbyLawwastheirduelongsince。Herefollowtwolittletraits,comicortragi—comic,withwhichwecanconclude:——
\"DetachedJesuitparties,hereandthere,seemtohavemischiefinhandinasmallway,encouragingdesertersandthelike;——andwekeepaneyeonthem。Nodiscontentelsewhere,atleastnoneaudible;onthecontrary,muchenlistingonthepartoftheSilesianyouth,withothergoodsymptoms。ButintheDom,thereis,singulartosay,aGoblinfoundwalking,onenight;——advancing,notwithairsfromHeaven,uponthePrussiansentrythere!ThePrussiansentryhandlesarms;pokesdeterminedlyintotheGoblin,andfindinghimsolid,evermoredeterminedly,tilltheGoblinshrieked’JesusMaria!’andwashauledtotheGuard—houseforinvestigation。\"AweakGoblin;doubtlessofthevaletkind;worthonlyalittlewhipping;buttestifieswhatthespiritis。
\"Anothertime,twodeserterFrenchmengettinghanged[suchthelawinaggravatedcases],certainpoliteJesuits,whohadbypermissionbeenprayingandextreme—unctioningaboutthem,cametothanktheColonelafterallwasover。Colonel,agravepracticalman,needsno’thanks;’would,however,’adviseyourReverencestoteachyourpeoplethatperjuryisnotpermissible,thatanoathswornoughttobekept;’andinfine’wouldadviseyouHolyFathershereabouts,andothers,tohaveacarelestyougetinto’——Andtwitchinghisreins,rodeawaywithoutsayingintowhat。\"[Helden—
Geschichte,i。723。]
AUSTRIAISSTANDINGTOARMS。
Schwerinhasbeendoinghisbestinthisinterim;collectingmagazineswithdoublediligencewhiletheroadsarehard,takinguptheKey—positionsfarandwide,fromtheJablunkaroundtotheFrontierValleysofGlatzagain。HewasthroughJablunka,atonetime;onintoMahren,asfarasOlmutz;levyingcontributions,emittingpatents:butastointimidatingherHungarianMajesty,ifthatwastheintention,orchanginghermindatall,thatisnottheissuegot。Austriahasstillstrength,andPragmaticSanctionandtheLawsofNaturehave!VeryfixedisherHungarianMajesty’sdetermination,topartwithnoinchofTerritory,buttodrivetheintrusivePrussianshomewellpunished。
Howshehasgotthefundsis,tothisday,amystery;——unlessGeorgeandWalpole,fromtheirSecret—ServiceMoneys,havesmuggledhersomewhat。?FortheParliamentisnotsitting,andtherewillbesuchjargonings,suchdelays:apreliminary100,000pounds,saybydegrees200,000pounds,——weshouldnotmissit,andinherMajesty’shandsitwouldgofar!HintsintheEnglishDryasdustwehave;butnothingdefinite;andwearelefttoourguesses。[Tindal(XX。497)saysexpressly200,000pounds,butgivesnodateorotherparticular。]Aromanticstory,firstsetcurrentbyVoltaire,hasgonetheroundoftheworld,andstillappearsinallHistories:
HowinEnglandtherewasaSubscriptionsetonfootforherHungarianMajesty;outcomeoftheenthusiasmofEnglishLadiesofquality,——oldSarahDuchessofMarlboroughputtingdownhernamefor40,000pounds,orindeedputtingdownthereadysumitself;
magnanimousveteranthatshewas。Voltairesays,omittingdateandcircumstance,butspeakingasifitwereindubitable,andathingyoucouldseewitheyes:\"TheDuchessofMarlborough,widowofhimwhohadfoughtforKarlVI。[andwithsuchsignalreturnsofgratitudefromthesaidKarlVI。],assembledtheprincipalLadiesofLondon;whoengagedtofurnish100,000poundsamongthem;theDuchessherselfputtingdown[ENDEPOSA,tablingINCORPORE]40,000
poundsofit。TheQueenofHungaryhadthegreatnessofsoultorefusethismoney;——needingonly,assheintimated,whattheNationinParliamentassembledmightpleasetoofferher。\"[Voltaire,OEuvres(SiecledeLouisXV。,c。6),xxviii。79。]
Oneissorrytorunathwartsuchapieceofmutualmagnanimity;
butthefactis,onconsideringalittleandaskingevidence,itturnsouttobemythical。OneDilworth,aninnocentEnglishsoul(fromwhomourgrandfathersusedtolearnARITHMETIC,Ithink),writingonthespotsomeyearsafterVoltaire,hasthisusefulpassage:\"Itisthegreatfailingofastrongimaginationtocatchgreedilyatwonders。Voltairewasmisinformed;andwouldperhapslearn,byasecondinquiry,atruthlesssplendidandamusing。
AContributionwas,byNews—writersupontheirownauthority,fruitlesslyproposed。Itendedinnothing:theParliamentvotedasupply;\"——thatdidit,Mr。Dilworth;suppliesenough,andmanyofthem!\"Fruitlessly,byNews—writersontheirownauthority;\"
thatisthesadfact。[TheLifeandHeroickActionsofFrederickIII。(SIC,acommonblunder),byW。H。
Dilworth,M。A。(London,1758),p。25。ApoorlittleBook,oneofmanycomingoutonthatsubjectjustthen(forareasonweshallseeongettingthither);whichcontains,ofavailablenow,theabovesentenceandnomore。Indeeditsbrethren,oneofthembySamnelJohnson(IMPRANSUS,theimprisonedgiant),donotevencontainthat,andhavegonewhollytozero。——NeitherlittleDilworthnorbigVoltairegivetheleastshadowofspecificdate;
butbothevidentlymeanSpring,1742(not1741)。]
Itiscertain,littleGeorge,whoconsidersPragmaticSanctionastheKeystoneofNatureinamanner,hasbeenventuringfardeeperthanpurseforthatadorableobject;andindeedhasbeendiving,secretly,inmuddierwatersthanweexpected,toadangerousextent,onbehalfofit,atthisverytime。InthefirstdaysofMarch,FriedrichhasheardfromhisMinisteratPetersburgofaDETESTABLEPROJECT,[Orlich,i。83(scrapofNotetoOldDessauer;
nodateallowedus;\"earlyinMarch\")。]——projectfor\"PartitioningthePrussianKingdom,\"noless;forfairlycuttingintoFriedrich,andparinghimdowntothesafepitch,asanenemytoPragmaticandmankind。Theysay,aTreaty,DraughtofaTreaty,forthatexpressobject,isnowready;andliesatPetersburg,onlywaitingsignature。HereisaProject!Contractingparties(Russiansignaturestillwanting)are:Kur—Sachsen;herHungarianMajesty;
KingGeorge;andthatRegentAnne(MRS。AntonUlrich,sotospeak),whositsinahuddleofundress,impatientofPoliticalobjects,butsensibletothecharmsofhandsomemen。TothecharmsofCountLynar,especially:thehandsomestofDanishnoblemen(moreanancientRomanthanaDane),whomthePolishMajesty,calculatingcauseandeffect,haddespatchedtoher,withthatview,inthedeadofwinterlately。Towhomshehasgivenear;——dismissingherMunnich,aswesawabove;——andisreadyforsigning,orperhapshassigned![OEuvresdeFrederic,ii。68。]
Friedrich’sastonishment,onhearingofthis\"detestableProject,\"
wasgreat。However,hetakeshismeasuresonit;——rightluckythathehastheOldDessauer,andmachineryforactingonKur—SachsenandtheBritannicMajesty。\"Getyourmachineryingear!\"isnaturallyhisfirstorder。AndtheOldDessauerdoesit,witheffect:ofwhichbyandby。
NeverdidIhear,beforeorsince,ofsuchaplungeintothemuddyunfathomable,onthepartoflittleGeorge,whowasanhonorablecreature,anddubitativetoexcess:andtrulythisrashplungemighthavecosthimdear,hadnothedirectlyscrambledoutagain。
OrdidFriedrichexaggeratetohimselfhisUncle’srealshareinthematter?Ialwaysguess,therehadbeenmoreofloosetalk,ofhypothesisandfondhope,inregardtoGeorge’sshare,thanofdeterminatefactorprocedureonhisownpart。Thetransaction,havinghadtobedroppedonthesudden,remainssomewhatdark;
but,insubstance,itisnotdoubtful;[Tindal,xx。497。]andParliamentitselftookafterwardstopokingintoit,thoughwithlittleeffect。Kur—Sachsen’sobjectsintheadventurewereoftheearth,earthy;butonGeorge’spartitwaspureadorationofPragmaticSanction,anxietyfortheKeystoneofNature,andlestChaoscomeagain。Incomparisonwithsuchtranscendentdivings,whatisalittleSecret—Servicemoney!——
TheCountLynarofthisadventure,whohadwell—nighdonesuchafeatinDiplomacy,mayturnuptransientlyagain。Aconspicuous,moreorlessridiculouspersonofthosetimes。Busching(ourGeographicalfriend)hadgonewithhim,asExcellency’sChaplain,inthisRussianJourney;whichisamemorableonetoBusching;
andstillpresentsvividly,throughhisBook,thosehaggardBalticCoastsinmidwinter,toreaderswhohavebusinessthere。Suchajourneyforgrimnessofoutlook,uponpine—tuftsandfrozensand;
forcold(theCount’sverytobacco—pipefreezinginhismouth),forhardship,forbadlodging,andextremityofdirtintheunfreezablekinds,asseldomwas。Theymet,onedayontheroad,aLordHyndford,EnglishAmbassadorjustreturningfromPetersburg,withhisfourgonsandvehicles,andarrangementsforsleepandvictual,inanenviablyluxuriouscondition,——whomweshallmeet,toourcost。Theysaw,inthebody,oldField—marshalLacy,anddinedwithhim,atRiga;whoadvisedbrandyschnapps;areciperejectedbyBusching。Andothermemorabilia,whichbyaccidenthangaboutthisLynar。[Busching,Beitrage,vi。132—164。]——
AllthroughRegentAnne’stimehecontinuedadangerousobjecttoFriedrich;anditwasareliefwhenElizabethCATINbecameAutocrat,insteadofDeshabilleAnneandherLynar。Adieutohim,forfifteenyearsormore。
OfFriedrich’smilitaryoperations,ofhismagazines,posts,diligentplanningsandgallopingsabout,inthoseweeks;ofallthisthereadercanformsomenotionbylookingonthemapandrememberingwhathasgonebefore:butthatsubterraneangrowlingwhichattendedhim,propheticofEarthquake,thatuniversalbreakingforthofBedlams,nowfallensoextinct,noreadercanimagine。Bedlamstotallyextincttoeverybody;butwhichwerethenveryreal,andragedwideastheworld,highasthestars,toahideousdegreeamongthethensonsofmen;——unimaginablenowbyanymortal。
And,alas,thisisoneofthegranddifficultiesformyreadersandme;Friedrich’sLife—elementhavingfallenintosuchadismalcondition。Mostdismal,dark,ugly,thatAustrian—SuccessionBusiness,anditsworld—widebattlings,throttlingsandintriguings:notDismalSwamp,underacoverlidofLondonFog,couldbeuglier!ASectionof\"History\"socalled,whichhumannatureshrinksfrom;ofwhichtheextantgenerationalreadyknowsnothing,andisimpatientofhearinganything!Truly,OblivionisveryduetosuchanEpoch:andfrommefarbeittoawaken,beyondneed,itssordidBedlams,happilyextinct。ButwithoutLife—
element,noLifecanbeintelligible;andtillFriedrichandoneortwoothersareextricatedfromit,DismalSwampcannotbequitefilledin。Courage,reader!——OurConstitutionalHistorianmakesthisfartherreflection:——
\"Englishmoneys,desperateRussianintrigues,TreatiesmadeandTreatiesbroken——IfinsteadofPragmaticSanctionwithelevenPotentatesguaranteeing,MariaTheresahadatthistimehad200,000
soldiersandafulltreasury(asPrinceEugeneusedtoadvisethelateKaiser),howdifferentmightithavebeenwithher,andwiththewholeworldthatfellupononeanother’sthroatsinherquarrel!SomeeightyearsofthemostdisastrousWar;andexceptthefallingofSilesiatoitsnewplace,noresultgainedbyit。
Waratanyrateinevitable,youobject?English—SpanishWarhavingbeenobligedtokindleitself;Frenchsuretofallin,ontheSpanishside;suretofalluponHanover,sosoonasbeatenatsea,andthustoinvolveallEurope?Well,itistoolikely。But,eveninthatcase,thepoorEnglishwouldhavegoneupontheirnecessarySpanishWar,bythedirectroadandwiththeireyesopen,insteadofsomnambulatingandstumblingoverthechimney—tops;andthesettlementmighthavecomefarsooner,andfarcheapertomankind。
——Nay,wearetoadmitthatthenewplaceforSilesiawas,likewise,theplaceappointeditbyjustHeaven;andFriedrich’stoowasanecessaryWar。HeavenmakesuseofShadow—huntingKaiserstoo;anditswaysinthismadworldarethroughthegreatDeep。\"
THEYOUNGDESSAUERCAPTURESGLOGAU(MARCH9th);THEOLD
DESSAUER,BYHISCAMPOFGOTTIN(APRIL2d),CHECKMATES
CERTAINDESIGNINGPERSONS。
MoneysomewhereherHungarianMajestyhasgot;thatisonethingevident。ShehasanactualArmyonfoot,\"drawnoutofItaly,\"orwhenceshecould;formidableArmy,saysrumor,andgettingwellequipped;——andherearethePandourPrecursorsofit,comingdownlikestorm—cloudsthroughtheGlatzvalleys;——nearlyfinishingtheWarforheratastroke,theotherday,hadaccidentfavored;——andhavethrownreinforcementof600intoNeisse。Friedrichisnotinsensibletothesethings;andamidsuchalarmsfromfarandfromnear,isbecomingeagertohave,atleast,Glogauinhishand。
Glogau,heisofopinion,couldnow,andshould,straightwaybedone。
Glogauisnotastrongplace;afteralltherepairing,itcouldstandlittlesiege,werewecarelessofhurtingit。ButWallisisobstinate;refusesFreeWithdrawal;willholdouttotheuttermost,thoughhismealisrunninglow。Hepretendsthereisreliefcoming;
reliefjustathand;andonce,inmidnighttime,\"letsoffarocketandfiressixguns,\"alarmingPrinceLeopoldasifreliefwerejustintheneighborhood。Atoughindustriousmilitaryman;stifftohispurpose,andnotwithoutshift。
Friedrichthinkstheplacemightbehadbyassault:\"Opentrenches;
setyourbatteriesgoing,whichneednotinjuretheTown;needonlyalarmWallis,andTERRIFYit;then,undercoverofthisnoiseandfeintofcannonading,stormwithvigor。\"Leopold,theYoungDessauer,iscautious;wantspetardsifhemuststorm,wantstwonewbattalionsifhemustopentrenches;——hegetstheserequisites,andisstillcunctatory。Friedrichhashimselfgotthenotion,\"fromclearintelligence,\"trueornot,thatrelieftoGlogauisactuallyonway;andundersuchimminences,Russianandother,insoticklishastateoftheworld,hebecomesmoreandmoreimpatientthatthisthingweredone。InthefirstweekofMarch,stillhurryingaboutoninspection—business,hewrites,fromfourorfivedifferentplaces(\"MollwitznearBrieg\"isoneofthem,aVillageweshallsoonknowbetter),NoteafterNotetoLeopold;
whostillmakesdifficulties,andisnotyetperfecttothelastfinishinhispreparations。\"Preparations!\"answersFriedrichimpatiently(dateMOLLWITZ,5thMARCH,thethirdorfourthimpatientNotehehassent);andadds,justwhilequittingMollwitzforOhlau,thisPostscriptinhisownhand:——
P。S。\"Iamsorryyouhavenotunderstoodme!Theyhave,inBohmen,aregularenterpriseonhandfortherescueofGlogau。IhaveInfantryenoughtomeetthem;butCavalryisquitewanting。
Youmusttherefore,withoutdelay,beginthesiege。Letusfinishthere,Iprayyou!\"[Orlich,i。70。]
Andnextday,Monday6th,tocutthemattershort,hedespatcheshisGeneral—AdjutantGoltzinperson(thedistanceisaboveseventymiles),withthisNotewhollyinautograph,whichnothingvocalonLeopold’spartwillanswer:——
\"OHLAU,6thMARCH。AsIamcertainlyinformedthattheEnemywillmakesomeattempt,Iherebywithalldistinctnesscommand,That,sosoonasthepetardsarecome[whichtheyare],youattackGlogau。
AndyoumustmakeyourArrangement(DISPOSITION)formorethanoneattack;sothatifonefail,theothershallcertainlysucceed。
Ihopeyouwillputoffnolonger;——otherwisetheblameofallthemischiefthatmightariseoutoflongerdelaymustlieonyoualone。\"[Ib。i。71。]
GoltzarrivedwiththisemphaticPiece,TuesdayEvening,afterhiscourseofseventymiles:thisdidatlastrouseourcautiousYoungDessauer;andsothereisnextobtainable,onmuchcompression,thefollowingauthenticExcerpt:——
\"GLOGAU,8thMARCH,1741。HisDurchlauchtthePrinceLeopoldsummonedalltheGeneralsatnoon;andinformedthemThat,thisverynight,Glogaumustbewon。HegavethemtheirInstructionsinwriting:whereeachwastoposthimself;withwhatdetachments;
howtoproceed。TherearetobethreeAttacks:oneupstream,comingonwiththeRivertoitsright;onedownstream,Rivertoitsleft;andathirdfromthelandwardside,perpendiculartotheothertwo。Theverycaptainsthatshallgoforemostarespecified;
atwhathoureachistoleavequarters,sothatallbereadysimultaneously,waitinginthepostsassigned;——againstwhatpointstoadvanceoutofthese,andstormRampartandWall。Places,times,particulars,everythingisfixedwithmathematicalexactitude:
’Besteady,becorrect,especiallybesilent;andsofarasLawofNaturewillpermit,besimultaneous!WhenthebigsteepleofGlogaupealsMidnight,——Forward,withthefirststroke;withthesecond,muchmorewiththetwelfthstroke,beoneandallofyou,intheutmostsilence,advancing!And,underpainofdeath,twothings:
Notoneshottillyouarein;Noplunderingwhenyouare。’——Inthismanneristhesilentthree—sidedavalanchetobeletgo。
Whereupon\",saysmyDryasdust,\"theGeneralsretired;andhad,foroneitem,theirfire—armsallcleanedandnew—loaded。\"
[Helden—Geschichte,i。823;ii。165。]
WithoutplansofGlogau,andmoredetailandstudythanthereaderwouldconsentto,therecannoNarrativebegiven。GlogauhasRamparts,dueRing—fence,palisadedandrepairedbyWallis;
insideofthisisanoldTown—Wall,whichwillneedpetards:
thereareabout1,000menunderWallis,andaltogetherontheworks,nottocountamortarortwo,fifty—eightbigguns。
ThereadermustconceiveapoorTownunderblockade,inthewintrynight—time,withitstoughCountWallis;ill—offforthenecessariesoflife;Townshroudedindarkness,andcreepingquietlytoitsbed。Thisontheonehand:andontheotherhand,Prussianbattalionsmarchingup,at10o’clockorlater,withtheutmostsoftnessofstep;\"takingpostbehindtheordinaryfield—
watches;\"andatlength,allstandingranked,intheinvisibledark;silent,likemachinery,likeasleepingavalanche:Husht!——
Nosentryfromthewallsdreamsofsuchathing。\"Twelve!\"singsoutthesteepleofGlogau;andingrimwhisperthewordis,\"VORWARTS!\"andthethree—wingedavalancheisinmotion。
Theyreachtheirglacises,theirditches,coveredways,correctasmathematics;tearoutchevaux—de—frise,hewdownpalisades,inthegivennumberofminutes:Swift,yeRegiment’s—carpenters;
smiteyourbest!Fourcannon—shotdonowboomoutuponthem;
whichgohighovertheirheads,littledreaminghowcloseathandtheyare。Theglacisisthirtyfeethigh,ofstiffslope,andslipperywithfrost:nomatter,theavalanche,ledonbyLeopoldinperson,byMargrafKarltheKing’sCousin,byAdjutantGoltzandthechiefpersonages,rushesupwithstrangeimpetus;hewsdownasecondpalisade;surgesin;——Wallis’ssentriesextinct,ordriventotheirmainguards。Thereisasingularfireinthebesiegingparty。Forexample,FourGrenadiers,——IthinkofthisFirstColumn,whichsucceededsooner,certainlyoftheRegimentGlasenapp,——fourgrenadiers,owingtoslipperyorotheraccidents,inclimbingtheglacis,hadfallenafewstepsbehindthegeneralbody;andongettingtothetop,tookthewrongcourse,andrushedalongrightwardinsteadofleftward。Rightward,thefirstthingtheycomeuponisamassofAustriansstillrankedinarms;fifty—twomen,asitturnedout,withtheirCaptainoverthem。SlightstutterensuesonthepartoftheFourGrenadiers;buttheygiveoneanotherthehint,anddashforward:\"Prisoners?\"asktheysternly,asifallPrussiahadbeenattheirrear。Thefifty—two,inthedarkness,inthedangerandalarm,answer\"Yes。\"——\"Pilearms,then!\"Threeofthegrenadiersstandtoseethatdone;thefourthrunsoffforforce,andhappilygetsbackwithitbeforethecomedyhadbecometragicforhiscomrades。\"Imustmakeacquaintancewiththesefourmen,\"writesFriedrich,onhearingofit;andhedidrewardthembypresent,bypromotiontosergeantcy(toensigncyoneofthem),orwhatelsetheywerefitfor。GrenadiersofGlasenapp:thesearethemenFriedrichheardswearing—inunderhiswindow,onememorablemorningwhenheburstintotears!Athalf—pastTwelve,theRamparts,onallsides,areours。
TheGatesoftheTown,underaxeandpetard,canmakelittleresistance,toLeopold’sColumnortheothertwo。AholeissooncutintheTown—Gate,whereLeopoldis;andgallantWallis,whohadralliedbehindit,withhisArtillery—Generalandwhattheycouldgettogether,firesthroughtheopening,killsfourmen;butisthen(byorder,andnottillthen)firedupon,andobligedtodrawback,withhisArtillery—Generalmortallyhurt。Insideheattemptsanotherrally,some200withhim;andhereandthereperhapsahouse—windowtriestogiveshot;butitistonopurpose,nottheleaststandcanbemade。PoorWallisisrapidlysweptback,intotheMarket—place,intotheMainGuard—house;andtherepilesarms:
\"Glogauyours,IhrHerren,andweprisonersofWar!\"ThesteeplehadnotyetquitestruckOne。Herehasbeenagoodhour’s—work!
Glogau,asinadream,orhalfawake,andtimidlypeepingfrombehindwindow—curtains,findsthatitisaTowntaken。Glogaueasilyconsolesitself,Ihear,orevenisgenerallyglad;
Prussiandisciplinebeingsoperfect,andingressnowfreeforthenecessariesoflife。Therewasnoplundering;nottheleastinsult:
notownsmanwashurt;noteveninhouseswheresoldiershadtriedfiringfromwindows。ThePrussianBattalionsrendezvousintheMarket—place,andgopeaceablyabouttheirpatrolling,andotherbusiness;andmeddlewithnothingelse。Theylost,inkilled,tenmen;hadofkilledandwounded,forty—eight;theAustriansrathermore。[Orlich,i。75,78;Helden—Geschichte,
i。829;irreconcilableotherwise,insomeslightpoints。]
Walliswastohavebeensetfreeonparole;butwasnot,——inretaliationforsomeseverityofGeneralBrowne’sintheinterim(pickingupoftwoSilesianNoblemen,suspectedofPrussiantendency,andlockingtheminBrunnovertheHills),——andhadtogotoBerlin,tillthatwasrepaired。TothewoundedArtillery—Generaltherewaseverytendernessshown,buthediedinfewdays。——TheotherPrisonersweremarchedtotheCustrin—Stettinquarter;\"andmanyofthemtookPrussianservice。\"
AndthisistheScaladeofGlogau:ashiningfeatofthosedays;
whichhadgreatrumorintheGazettes,andoverallthethenfeverishNations,thoughithasnowfallendimagain,asfeatsdo。
Itsimportanceatthattime,itsutilitytoFriedrich’saffairs,wasundeniable;anditfilledFriedrichwiththehighestsatisfaction,andwithadmirationtooverflowing。Done9thMarch,1741;inonehour,theveryearliestoftheday。
GoltzpostedbacktoSchweidnitzwiththenews;gotthitherabout5P。M。;andwasreceived,naturally,withopenarms。Friedrichinpersonmarchedout,nextmorning,tomakeFEU—DE—JOIEandTE—DEUM—ing;——therewasRoyalLettertoLeopold,whichflamedthroughalltheNewspapers,andcanstillbereadininnumerableBooks;Letteromissibleinthisplace。WeremarkonlyhowpunctualtheKingis,torewardinmoneyaswellaspraise,andnotthehighonly,butthelowthathaddeserved:toPrinceLeopoldhepresents2,000pounds;toeachprivatesoldierwhohadbeenofthestorm,sayhalfaguinea,——doublingandquadrupling,inthespecialcases,toashighastwentyguineas,ofourpresentmoney。TotheoldGazetteers,andtheirreaderseverywhere,thisofGlogauisaveryeffulgentbusiness;burstingoutonthem,likesuddenBude—light,intheuncertainstagnancyandexpectancyofmankind。FriedrichhimselfwritesofittotheOldDessauer:——
\"ThemoreIthinkoftheGlogaubusiness,themoreimportantIfindit。PrinceLeopoldhasachievedtheprettiestmilitarystroke(DIE
SCHONSTEACTION)thathasbeendoneinthisCentury。FrommyheartIcongratulateyouonhavingsuchaSon。Inboldnessofresolution,inplan,inexecution,itisalikeadmirable;andquitegivesaturntomyaffairs。\"[Date,13thMarch,1741(Orlich,i。77)。]
Andindeed,itisaperfectexampleofPrussiandiscipline,andmilitaryqualityinallkinds;suchasitwouldbedifficulttomatchelsewhere。Mostpotentlycorrect;comingouteverywherewiththecompletenessandexactitudeofmathematics;andhasinitsuchafundofmartialfire,notonlyreadytoblazeout(whichcanbeexampledelsewhere),butcapableofbottlingitselfIN,andoflyingsilentlyready。Whichismuchrarer;andveryessentialinsoldiering!DuealittletotheOLDDessauer,maywenotsay,aswellastotheYoung?FriedrichWilhelmisfallensilent;buthisheavylabors,andmilitaryandotherdrillingstoPrussianmankind,stillspeakwithanaudiblevoice。
AboutthreeweeksafterthisofGlogau,LeopoldtheOldDessauer,overinBrandenburg,doesanotherthingwhichisimportanttoFriedrich,andofgreatrumorintheworld。Stepsout,namely,withaforceof36,000men,horse,footandartillery,completelyequippedinallpoints;andtakesCamp,atthisearlyseason,ataplacecalledGottin,notfarfromMagdeburg,handyatonceforSaxonyandforHanover;andcontinuesthereencamped,——\"merelyforreviewpurposes。\"ReaderscanfigurewhatanastonishmentitwastoKur—SachsenandBritishGeorge;andhowitstruckthewindoutoftheirRussianPartition—Dream,andawokethemtoasenseoftheawfulfact!——Capableofbeingslitinpieces,andthemselvespartitioned,ataday’swarning,asitwere!ItwasonApril2d,thatLeopold,withthefirstdivisionofthe36,000,plantedhisflagnearGottin。Nodoubtitwasthe\"detestableProject\"thathadbroughthimout,atsoearlyaseasonfortent—life,andnobodycouldthenguesswhy。Hesteadilyparadedhere,allsummer;
keepinghis36,000wellindrill,sincetherewasnothingelseneededofhim。
TheCampatGottinflamedgreatlyabroadthroughthetimorousimaginationsofmankind,thatYear;andintheNewspapersaremanydetailsofit。And,besidestheimportantgeneralfact,thereisstillonelittlepointworthspecialmention:namely,thatoldField—marshalKatte(FatherofpoorLieutenantKattewhomweknew)
wasofit;andperhapsevengothisdeathbyit:\"ChiefCommanderoftheCavalryhere,\"suchhonorhadhe;butdiedathispost,inacoupleofmonths,\"atRekahn,May31st;\"[Militair—
Lexikon,ii。254。]pooroldgentleman,perhapsunequaltothehardshipsoffield—lifeatsoearlyaseasonoftheyear。
FRIEDRICHTAKESTHEFIELD,WITHSOMEPOMP;GOESINTOTHEMOUNTAINS,——BUTCOMESFASTBACK。
AtGlogautherewasHomaging,ontheverymorrowafterthestorm;
onthesecondday,thesuperfluousregimentsmarchedoff:nowantofvigorousactivitytosettlemattersontheirnewfootingthere。
GeneralKalkstein(Friedrich’soldTutor,whomreadershaveforgottenagain)istobeCommandantofGlogau;anofficeofhonor,whichcanbedonebydeputyexceptincasesofrealstress。
Theplaceistobethoroughlynew—fortified,——whichimportantpointtheycommittoEngineerWallrave,astrong—headedheavy—builtDutchOfficer,longsinceacquiredtotheservice,onaccountofhisexcellenceinthatline;whodid,nowandafterwards,agreatdealofexcellentengineeringforFriedrich;butforhimself(beingofdeepstomachwithal,andoflifetoodissolute)madeatragicthingofitultimately。Aswillbeseen,ifwehaveleisure。
Insevenoreightdays,PrinceLeopoldhavingwounduphisGlogauaffairs,andcompletedthenewpreliminariesthere,joinstheKingatSchweidnitz。Inthehighestfavor,aswasnatural。KalksteinistotakeamainhandintheSiegeofNeisse;forwhichoperationitishopedtherewillsoonbeweather,ifnotfavorableyetsupportable。WhatoftheforcewassuperfluousatGlogauhadatoncemarchedoff,asweobserved;andisnowgettingre—distributedwhereneedful。Thereismuchshiftingabout;strengtheningofposts,givingupofposts:thewholeofwhichreadersshallimagineforthemselves,——exceptonlytwopointsthatareworthremembering:
FIRST,thatKalksteinwithabout12,000takespostatGrotkau,sometwenty—fivemilesnorthofNeisse,readytomoveon,andopentrenches,whenrequired:andSECOND,thatHolstein—BeckgetspostedatFrankenstein(chiefplaceofthatBaumgartenSkirmish),saythirty—fivemileswest—by—northofNeisse;andhassome8or10,000
HorseandFootthereabouts,spreadupanddown,——whowillbemuchwanted,andnotprocurable,onanoccasionthatiscoming。
FriedrichhasgivenuptheJablunkaPass;calledintheJablunkaandremoterposts;anxioustoconcentrate,beforetheEnemygetnigh。ThatistheKing’snotion;andsurelyareasonableone;
theAREAofthePrussianArmy,asIguessitfromtheMaps,beingabove2,000squaremiles,beginningatBreslauonly,andleavingoutGlogau。Schwerinthinksdifferently,butwithoutgoodbasis。
Bothareagreed,\"TheAustrianArmycannottakethefieldtilltheforagecome,\"tillthenewgrassspring,whichitscavalryfindconvenient。Thatisthefairsupposition;butinthatbotharemistaken,andSchwerinthemoredangerouslyofthetwo。——Meanwhile,thePandourswarmsareobservablygettingrifer,andofstormierquality;andtheyseemtoharborfarthertotheEastthanformerly,andnottocomealloutofGlatz。Whichperhapsaresymptomaticcircumstances?TheworsteffectofthesepreliminaryPandourcloudsis,Yourscout—servicecannotliveamongthem;theyhinderreconnoitring,andkeeptheEnemyveiledfromyou。OfthatsoremischiefFriedrichhad,firstandlast,ampleexperienceattheirhands!ThisisbutthefirstinstalmentofPandourstoFriedrich;
andthemereforetasteofwhattheycandointheveilingway。
BehindtheMountains,inthismanner,allisinanedarknesstoFriedrichandSchwerin。TheyknowonlythatNeippergisrendezvousingatOlmutz;andjudgethathewillstillspendmanyweeksuponit;therealfactsbeing:ThatNeipperg——\"whoarrivedinOlmutzonthe10thofMarch,\"theverydaywhileGlogauwashomaging——hasbeen,heandthoseabovehimandthoseunderhim,drivingpreparationsforwardatafuriousrate。ThatNeippergheld——IthinkatSteinberghishithermostpost,sometwentymileshitherofOlmutz——aCouncilofWar,\"alltheGeneralsandevenLentulusfromGlatz,presentatit,\"daynotgiven;wheretheunanimousdecisionwas,\"Marchstraightway;saveNeisse,sinceGlogauisgone!\"——andinfine,Thatonthe26th,Neippergtooktheroadaccordingly,\"inspiteoffurioussnowblowinginhisface;\"
andiseversince(30,000strong,saysrumor,butperhaps10,000ofthemmerePandours)unweariedlyclimbingtheMountains,laboriouslyjinglingforwardwithhisheavygunsandammunition—wagons;
\"contendingwiththesteepsnowyicyroads;\"intentuponsavingNeisse。Thisisthefact;profoundlyunknowntoFriedrichandSchwerin;whowillbemuchsurprised,whenitbecomespatenttothematthewrongtime。
SCHWEIDNITZ,27thMARCH。ThisdayFriedrich,withconsiderableapparatus,pompandprocessionalcymballing,greatlythereverseofhisulterioruseandwontinsuchcases,quittedSchweidnitzandhisAlgarottis;solemnlyopeningCampaigninthismanner;anddroveoffforOttmachau,havingworkthereforto—morrow。
TheSiegeofNeisseisnowtoproceedforthwith;trenchestobeopenedApril4th。Friedrichisstillofopinion,thathispostslietoowideapart;thatespeciallySchwerin,whoisspreadamongtheHillsinJagerndorfCountry,oughttocomedown,andtakecloserorderforcoveringthesiege。[OEuvresdeFrederic,ii。70。]Schwerinanswers,ThatiftheKingwillsparehimareinforcementofeightsquadronsandninebattalions(say1,200
Horse,9,000Foot),hewillmaintainhimselfwhereheis,andnoEnemyshallgetacrosstheMountainsatall。ThatisSchwerin’snotion;whosurelyissomethingofajudge。Friedrichassents;willhimselfconductthereinforcementtoSchwerin,andsurveymatters,withhisowneyes,upyonder。FriedrichmarchesfromOttmachau,accordingly,29thMarch;——Kalkstein,Holstein—Beck,andothersaretoberendezvousedbeforeNeisse,intheinterim;trenchesreadyforopeningonthesixthdayhence;——andinthismanner,climbstheseMountains,andseesJagerndorfCountryforthefirsttime。
BeautifulblueworldofHills,ridgepiledonridgebehindthatNeisseregion;fruitfulvalleyslappedinthem,withgrimstoneCastlesandbusylittleTownsdisclosingthemselvesasweadvance:
thatisJagerndorfCountry,——whichUncleGeorgeofAnspach,hundredsofyearsago,purchasedwithhisownmoney;whichwehavenowcometolayholdofashisHeir!Friedrich,Ibelieve,thinkslittleofallthis,anddoesnotrememberUncleGeorgeatall。
Butsucharethefacts;andtheCountry,regardedornot,isveryblueandbeautiful,withtheSpringsunshiningonit;orwiththesuddenSpringstormsgatheringwildlyonthepeaks,asifforpermanentinvestiture,butvanishingagainstraightway,leavingonlyapowderingofsnow。
HemetSchwerinatNeustadt,half—waytoJagerndorf;whithertheyproceedednextday。\"WhatnewshaveyouoftheEnemy?\"wasFriedrich’sfirstquestion。Schwerinhasnonewswhatever;onlythattheEnemyisfaroff,hanginginlongthinstragglefromOlmutzwestward。\"Ihaveaspyout,\"saidSchwerin;\"buthehasnotreturnedyet,\"——noreverwill,hemighthaveadded。IfdiligentreaderswillnowtaketotheirMap,andattenddaybyday,aninvinciblePredecessorhascompelledwhatnextfollowsintohumanintelligibility,andintotheDiaryForm,fortheirbehoof;——
readersofanidlerturncanskip:butthisconfusedhurry—scurryofmarchesissuesinsomethingwhichallwillhavetoattendto。
\"JAGERNDORF,2dAPRIL,1741。ThisisthedaywhentheOldDessauermakesappearancewiththefirstbrigadesofhisCampatGottin。
FriedrichissatisfiedwithwhathehasseenofJagerndorfmatters;
andintendsreturningtowardsNeisse,theretocommenceonthe4th。
Heisgivinghisfinalorders,andonthepointofsettingoff,when——SevenAustrianDeserters,’DragoonsofLichtenstein,’comein;andreport,ThatNeipperg’sArmyiswithinafewmiles!
Andscarcelyhadtheydoneansweringandexplaining,whensoundsriseofmusketryandcannon,fromouroutpostsonthatside;
intimatingthathereisNeipperg’sArmyitself。SeldominhislifewasFriedrichinanugliersituation。InJagerndorf,anopenTown,areonlysomethreeorfourthousandmen,’withthreefield—pieces,andasmuchpowderaswillchargethemfortytimes。’HappilytheseprovedonlythePandouroutskirtsofNeipperg’sArmy,scouringabouttoreconnoitre,andnotdifficulttobeat;therealbodyofitisascertainedtobeatFreudenthal,fifteenmilestowestward,southwestward;makingtowardsNeisse,itisguessed,bytheotherorwesternroad,whichisthenearertoGlatzandtotheAustrianforcethere。
\"HadNeippergknownwhatwasinJagerndorf——!Buthedoesnotknow。
Hemarcheson,nextmorning,athisusualslowrate;widecloudsofPandoursaccompanyingandprecedinghim;skirmishinginuponallplaces[uponJagerndorf,forinstance,thoughfifteenmileswideoftheirroad],toascertainifPrussiansarethere。OnecanjudgewhetherFriedrichandSchwerinwerethankfulwhenthehugealarmproducednothing!’Themountain,’asFriedrichsays,’gavebirthtoamouse;’——nayitwasa’mouse’ofessentialvitalusetoFriedrichandSchwerin;awarning,Thattheymustinstantlycollectthemselves,menandgoods;andbegoneoneandalloutoftheseparts,double—quicktowardsNeisse。NotnowwiththehopeofbesiegingNeisse,——farfromthat;——butofgettingtheirwide—
scatteredpoststogetherthereabouts,andescapingdestructionindetail!
\"APRIL4th,HEAD—QUARTERSNEUSTADT。Byviolentexertion,withthesacrificeonlyofsomeremotelittlestorehouses,allisrendezvousedatJagerndorf,withintwodays;andthisdaytheymarch;KingandvanguardreachingNeustadt,sometwenty—fivemilesforward,sometwentystillfromNeisse。AtNeustadt,thepoststhathadstoodinthatneighborhoodareallassembled,andmarchwiththeKingto—morrow。OfNeipperg,exceptbytransitorycontactwithhisPandourclouds,theyhaveseennothing:hisroadisprettymuchparalleltotheirs,andsomefifteenmilesleftward,Glatzward;
goesthroughZuckmantel,Ziegenhals,straightuponNeisse。
[Zuckmantel,\"Twitch—Cloak,\"occursmorethanonceasaTown’snameinthoseregions:namewhich,saysmyDryasdustwithoutsmilevisible,itgotfromrobberiesdoneontravellers,\"twitchingsofyourcloak,\"withstand—and—deliver,asyoucrossthosewildmountainspaces。(Zeiller,BeschreibungdesKonigreichsBoheim,Frankfurt,1650;——aratherworthlessoldBook,liketherestofZeiller’sinthatkind。)]Neipperg’smenareweariedwiththelongclimboutofMahren;andhestrugglestowardsNeisseasthefirstobject;——holdinguponGlatzandLentuluswithhisleft。NumerousordershavebeenspeededfromtheKing’squarters,atJagerndorf,andhereatNeustadt;orderespeciallytoHolstein—BeckatFrankenstein,andtoKalksteinatGrotkau,Howtheyaretounite,firstwithoneanother;andthentocrossNeisseRiver,andunitewiththeKing,——towhichendthereisalreadyaBridgelaidforthem,orabouttobelaidingoodtime。
\"APRIL5th,HEAD—QUARTERSSTEINAU。SteinauisalittleTowntwentymileseastofNeisse,ontheroadtoKosel[strongishplace,ontheOder,somefortymilesfarthereast]:hereFriedrich,withthemainbody,taketheirquarters;rearguardbeingstillatNeustadt。
TemporaryBridgethereis,readyorallbutready,atSorgau[twelvemilestonorthofus,onourleft]:bythisKalkstein,withhis10,000,comespunctuallyacross;whileotherbrigadesfromtheKoselsidearealsopunctualingettingin;whichisagreatcomfort:butofHolstein—Beckthereisnovestige,nordidthereeverappearany。Holstein,’whomnoneoftherepeatedorderssenthimcouldreach,’saysFriedrich,’remainedcomfortablyinhisquarters;andlookedattheEnemyrushingpasthimtorightandleft,withouttroublinghisheadwiththem。’[OEuvresdeFrederic,ii。70。]Thetooeasy—mindedHolstein!
AustrianDesertersinformus,ThatGeneralNeippergarrivedto—daywithhisArmyinNeisse;andhastherebeenjoinedbyLentuluswiththeGlatzforce,chieflycavalry,agoodmanythousands。Wemaybeattacked,then,thisverynight,iftheyarediligent?Friedrichmarksoutgroundandplaninsuchcase,andhowandwhereeachistorankhimself。Therecamenothingofattack;butthepoorlittleVillageofSteinau,withsomanytroopsinitandbaggage—driversstumblingabout,takesfire;burnstoashes;’andwehadgreatdifficultyinsavingtheartilleryandpowderthroughthenarrowstreets,withthehousesallburningoneachhand。’\"Fancyit,——andthepoorshriekinginhabitants;gonetosilencelongsincewiththeirshrieks,nottheleastwhisperleftofthem。\"ThePrussiansbivouaconthefield,eachintheplacethathasbeenmarkedout。
Nightextremelycold。\"
InthispoorSteinauwasaSchloss,whichalsowentupinfire;
disclosingcertainmysteriesofanalmostmythicalnaturetotheGermanPublic。ItwastheSchlossofaGrafinvonCallenberg,adreadfuloldDowagerofMedea—Messalinatype,who\"alwaysworepistolsabouther;\"pistols,andlatterly,withmoreandmoreconstancy,abrandy—bottle;——whohasbeenmuchonthetonguesofmenforagenerationback。HerrNussler(readersrecollectshiftyNussler)knewher,inthewayofbusiness,atonetime;withpity,ifalsowithhorror。Someweeksago,shewas,bytheAustrianCommandantatNeisse,summonedoutofthisSchloss,asincorrespondencewithPrussianOfficers:peasantsbreakingin,tiedherwithropestothebedwhereshewas;putbedandherintoafarm—cart,andinthatscandalousmannerdeliveredheratNeissetotheCommandant;bywhichadventure,anditsragesandunspeakabilities,thepooroldCallenbergissincedead。AndnowtheverySchlossisdead;andthereisfinistoahumandust—
vortex,suchasissometimesnoisyforatime。PerhapsNusslermayagainpassthatway,ifwewait。[Busching,Beitrage,ii。273etseqq。]
\"APRIL6th,HEAD—QUARTERSFRIEDLAND。ToFriedlandonthe6th。,——anddonot,asexpected,getawaynextmorning。FriedlandistenmilesdowntheNeisse,whichmakesabendofnearninetydegreesoppositeSteinau;andrunsthencestraightnorthfortheOder,whichitreachessomedozenmilesormoreaboveBrieg。BothSteinauandFriedlandareagooddistancefromtheRiver;Friedland,thenearerofthetwo,withSorgauBridgedirectwestofit,isperhapseightmilesfromthatimportantstructure。There,beingnowtolerablyrendezvoused,andinstrengthforaction,FriedrichpurposestocrossNeisseRiverto—morrow;hopingperhapstomeetHolstein—Beck,andincorporatehim;anxious,atanyrate,togetbetweentheAustriansandOhlau,wherehisheavyArtillery,hisAmmunition,nottomentionotherindispensables,arelying。ThepeculiarityofNeippergatthistimeis,thatthegroundheoccupiesbearsnoproportiontothegroundhecommands。HisregularHorsearesupposedtobethebestintheworld;andofthePandourkind,wholive,horseandman,mainlyuponnothing(whichmeansupontheft),hissuppliesareunlimited。Hesitslikeavolcanicreservoir,therefore,notlikeacommonfireofsuchandsuchintensityandpowertoburn;——caststheashesofhim,onallsides,tomanymilesdistance。
\"FRIDAY7thAPRIL,FRIEDLAND(stillHead—quarters)。Unluckily,ontrying,thereisnopassagetobehadatSorgau。TheOfficeronchargetherestillholdstheBridge,buthasbeenobligedtobreakawaythefartherendofit;’LentulusandDragoons,severalthousandsstrong’(suchisthereport),havingtakenpostthere。
FriedrichcommandsthattheBridgebereinstated;field—piecestodefendit;PrinceLeopoldtocross,andcleartheways。AllFriday,FriedrichwaitingatFriedland,wasspentinthesedetails。
LeopoldindueforcestartedforSorgau,himselfwithCavalryinthevan;Leopolddidstormacross,andgochargingandfencing,somespace,ontheotherside;but,seeingthatitwasintruthLentulus,andDragoonswithoutlimit,hadtosendreportaccordingly;andthentowindhimselftothissideagain,onneworderfromtheKing。Whatistobedone,then?Hereisnocrossing。
FriedrichdecidestogodowntheRiver;hehimselftoLowen,perhapsneartwentymilesfartherdown,butwherethereisaBridgeandHighwayleadingover;PrinceLeopold,withtheheavierdivisionsandbaggages,toMichelau,somemilesnearer,andtheretobuildhisPontoonsandcross。Whichwaseffected,withsuccess。
Andso,\"SATURDAY,8thAPRIL,Withgreatpunctuality,theKingandLeopoldmetatMichelau,bothwellacrosstheNeisse。HereonPontoons,Leopoldhadgotacrossaboutnoon;andpreciselyashewasfinishing,theKing’sColumn,whichhadcrossedatLowen,andcomeuptheleftbankagain,arrived。TheKing,muchcontentwithLeopold’sbehavior,nominateshimGeneralofInfantry,astagehigherinpromotion,thereandthen。BriegBlockadeis,asnatural,givenup;theBlockadingBodyjoiningwiththeKing,thismorning,whilehepassedthatway。FromHolstein—Becknottheleastwhisper,——nortohim,ifweknewit。
\"NeipperghasquittedNeisse;butwalksinvisiblewithincloudsofPandours;nothingbutguessingastoNeipperg’smotions。
Rightlyswift,audawaketohisbusiness,Neippergmighthavedone,mightstilldo,astrokeuponushere。Buthetakesiteasy;
marcheshardlyfivemilesaday,sincehequittedNeisseagain。
FromMichelau,Friedrichforhispartturnssouthwestward,inquestofHolsteinandotherinterests;marchestowardsGrotkau,notintendingmuchfartherthatnight。Thicksnowblowingintheirfaces,nothingtobeseenahead,thePrussiancolumntrampsalong。
[OEuvresdeFrederic,ii。156。]InLeipe,alittleHamletsidewardsoftheroad,shortwayfromGrotkau,ourHussarVanguardhadfoundAustrianHussars;capturedforty,andfromthemlearnedthattheAustrianArmyisinGrotkau;thattheytookGrotkauhalfanhourbefore,andarethere!ApoorLieutenantMitschepfal(whomIthinkFriedrichusedtoknowinReinsberg)layinGrotkau,’withsomesixtyrecruitsanddeserters,’saysFriedrich,——andwithseveralhundredsofcamp—laborers(intendedforthetrenches,whichwillnotnowbeopened):——Mitschepfalmadeastoutdefence;but,afterthreehoursofit,hadtogivein:andthereisnothingnowforusatGrotkau。’Halt,’therefore!NeippergisevidentlypushingtowardsOhlau,towardsBreslau,thoughinaleisurelyway;thereitwillbehooveustogetthestartofhim,ifhumanlypossible:Totherightabout,therefore,withoutdelay!
ThePrussiansrepassLeipe(muchtothewonderofitssimplepeople);getalong,somesevenmilesfarther,ontheroadforOhlau;andquarter,thatnight,inwhathandyvillagesthereare;
theKing’sCorpsintwoVillages,whichhecalls’PogrelandAlsen,’\"——whicharetobefoundstillontheMapas\"PogarellandAlzenau,\"ontheroadfromLowentowardsOhlau。
ThisistheendofthatMarchintotheMountains,withNeisseSiegehangingtriumphantahead。ThesearetheKing’squarters,thiswintrySpringnight,Saturday,8thApril,1741;anditistobeguessedthereismoreofcarethanofsleepprovidedforhimthere。
Seldom,inhislife,wasFriedrichinamorecriticalposition;
andhewellknowsit,nonebetter。Andcouldhavehisremorsesuponit,——weretheseoftheleastuseinpresentcircumstances。HerearetwoLetterswhichhewrotethatnight;veiling,weperceive,averygrimworldofthoughts;betokening,however,amindmadeup。
Jordan,PrinceAugustWilhelmHeir—Apparent,andotherfineindividualswhoshoneintheSchweidnitzcirclelately,areinBreslau,safeshelteredagainstthisbadjuncture;Maupertuiswasnotsoluckyastogowiththem。
THEKINGTOPRINCEAUGUSTWILHELM(inBreslau)。
\"POGARELL,8thApril,1741。
\"MYDEARESTBROTHER,——TheEnemyhasjustgotintoSilesia;wearenotmorethanamile(QUARTDEMILLE)fromthem。To—morrowmustdecideourfortune。
\"IfIdie,donotforgetaBrotherwhohasalwayslovedyouverytenderly。IrecommendtoyoumymostdearMother,myDomestics,andmyFirstBattalion[LIFEGUARDOFFOOT,menpickedfromhisownoldRuppinRegimentandfromthedisbandedGiants,starofalltheBattalions]。[SeePreuss,i。144,iv。309;Nicolai,
BeschreibungvonBerlin,iii,1252。]EichelandSchuhmacher[TwooftheThreeClerks]areinformedofallmytestamentarywishes。Remembermealways,you;butconsoleyourselfformydeath:thegloryofthePrussianArms,andthehonoroftheHousehavesetmeinaction,andwillguidemetomylastmoment。
YouaremysoleHeir:Irecommendtoyou,indying,thosewhomI
havethemostlovedduringmylife:Keyserling,Jordan,Wartensleben;Hacke,whoisaveryhonestman;Fredersdorf[Factotum],andEichel,inwhomyoumayplaceentireconfidence。
Ibequeath8,000crowns(1,200pounds,whichIhavewithme,tomyDomestics;butallthatIhaveelsewheredependsonyou。ToeachofmyBrothersandSistersmakeapresentinmyname;athousandaffectionateregards(AMITIESETCOMPLIMENTS)tomySisterofBaireuth。YouknowwhatIthinkontheirscore;andyouknowbetterthanIcouldtellyou,thetendernessandallthesentimentsofmostinviolablefriendshipwithwhichIam,dearestBrother,\"YourfaithfulBrotherandServanttilldeath,\"FEDERIC。\"
[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvi。85;ListofFriedrich’sTestamentaryarrangementsinNotethere,——Sixinall,atdifferenttimes,besidesthis。]
THEKINGTOM。JORDAN(inBreslau)。
\"POGARELL,8thApril,1741。
\"MyDEARJORDAN,———Wearegoingtofightto—morrow。Thouknowestthechancesofwar;thelifeofKingsnotmoreregardedthanthatofprivatepeople。Iknownotwhatwillhappentome。
\"Ifmydestinyisfinished,rememberafriend,wholovestheealwaystenderly:ifHeavenprolongmydays,Iwillwritetotheeafterto—morrow,andthouwilthearofourvictory。Adieu,dearfriend;Ishalllovetheetilldeath。
\"FEDERIC。\"
[Ib。xvii。98。]
TheKing,weincidentallydiscoversomewhere,\"hadnosleepthatnight;\"none,\"northenextnighteither,\"——suchacrisiscoming,stillnotcome。
ChapterX。
BATTLEOFMOLLWITZ。
\"To—morrow,\"Sunday,didnotprovetheDayofFight,afterall。
Beingadayofwilddriftingsnow,sothatyoucouldnotseetwentypaces,therewasnothingforitbuttositquiet。TheKingmakesallhisdispositions;sketchesoutpunctually,tothelastitem,whereeachistostationhimself,howtheArmyistoadvanceinFourColumns,readyforNeippergwhereverhemaybe,——towardsOhlauatanyrate,whitheritisnotdoubtedNeippergisbent。