第90章
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  Nextday,Saturday,26th,Fermor,againbroughtintosomekindofrank,andsafebeyondthequaggyZabernground,sentoutaproposal,\"ThattherebeTruceofThreeDaysforburyingthedead!\"——Dohna,whohappenedtobeGeneralincommandthere,answers,\"ThatitiscustomaryfortheVictortotakechargeofburyingtheslain;thatsuchproposalissurprising,andquiteinadmissible,inpresentcircumstances。\"Fermor,inthemeanwhile,haddrawnhimselfout,frontinghislatebattle—fieldandthemorningsun;andbegancannonadingacrosstheZabernground;

  toofaroffforhitting,butasifstillintendingfight:towhichthePrussiansrepliedwithcannon,anddrewoutbeforetheirtentsinfightingorder。Inbotharmiestherewasquestion,ortalk,ofattackinganew;butinboth\"therewaswantofammunition,\"wantofreallikelihood。OnFermor’sside,thatof\"attacking\"couldbetalkonly,andonFriedrich’s,besidesthescarcityofammunition,allcreatures,footandespeciallyhorse,weresowornoutwithyesterday’swork,itwasnotjudgedpracticallyexpedient。Awhilebeforenoon,thePrussiansretiredtotheirCampagain;

  leavingonlytheartillerytorespond,sofarasneedful,andbow—wowacrosstheZabernground,tilltheRussianslaydownagain。

  Friedrich’sHussarsknewoftheRussianWAGENBURG,orgeneralbaggagereservoirs,atKleinKamin,bythistime。TheHussarshadbeeninit,lastnight;rummagingextensively,atdiscretionforsometime;andhadbroughtawaymuchmoneyandportableplunder。

  WhyFriedrich,wholaydirectbetweenFermorandhisWagenburg,didnot,thisday,extinguishsaidWagenburg,Idonotknow;butguessitmayhavebeenafaultofomission,inthegreatwelterthiswasnowgrowntobetothewearymind。Beyondquestion,ifonehadblownupFermor’sremaininggunpowder,andcarriedofforburnthismeal—sacks,hemusthavecoweredawayallthefastertowardsLandsbergtoseekmore。OrperhapsFriedrichnowjudgeditimmaterial,andaquestiononlyofhours?

  AboutmidnightofSaturday—Sunday,thereagainrosebow—wowing,bellowingofRussiancannon;notfrombeyondtheZaberngroundthistime,norstationaryanywhere,butfromthesouthsometransientpartofit,andnotfaroff;——oneballstruckacarriageneartheKing’stent,andshatteredit。Thickmistmantleseverything,anditisdifficulttoknowwhattheRussianshaveonhandintheirsylvanseclusions。Afteratime,itbecomesmanifesttheRussiansareonretreat;windinground,throughthesouthernwoods,behindZorndorfandthecharredVillages,toKleinKamin,Landsbergway。

  Friedrich,followingnowontheheelofthem,findsallgottoKleinKamin,tobreakfastthereintheirWagenburgrefectory,——

  sharplyvigilant,manyFLECHES(littlearrow—shapedredoubts,sonamed)andmuchartilleryroundthem。Nothingconsiderabletobedoneuponthem,noworafterwards,exceptpickupstragglers,anddistresstheirrearalittle。TheKinghimself,inthefirstmovement,wasthoughttobeinalarmingperil,suchablazeofcase—shotroseuponhim,ashewentreconnoitringforemostofall。

  [Tempelhof,ii。216—238;Tielcke,ii。79—154;Archenholtz,i。

  253—264;Helden—Geschichte,v。156—179(withmanyLISTS,privateLETTERSandthelikedetails);&c。&c。]

  Andthiswas,atlast,theendofZorndorfBattle;onthethirddaythis。WasthereeverseensuchafightofTheseusandtheMinotaur!

  Theseus,rapid,dexterous,withHeaven’slightninginhiseyes,seizingtheMinotaur;lassoinghimbythehinderfoot,thenbytherighthorn;pouringsteelanddestructionintohim,theverydustdarkeningalltheair。Minotaurrefusingtodiewhenkilled;

  tumblingtoandfrouponitsTheseus;thetwoluggingandtugging,flingingoneanotherabout,anddescribingfiguresof8roundeachotherforthreedaysbeforeitended。Minotaurwalkingoffonhisownfeet,afterall。ItwasthebloodiestbattleoftheSeven—YearsWar;oneofthemostfuriouseverfought;suchragepossessingtheindividualelements;rageunusualinmodernwars。MusthavealteredFriedrich’snotionoftheRussians,whenhenextcomestospeakwithKeith。Itwasnottillthefourthdayhence(August31st),sounattackablystrongwasthispositionatKleinKamin,thattheRussianMinotaurwouldfairlygettoitsfeetasecondtime,andslowlystaggeroff,inrealearnest,LandsbergwayandKonigsbergway;——FriedrichrightgladtoleaveDohnainattendanceonit;

  andhastenoff(September2d)towardsSaxonyandPrinceHenri,wherehispresenceisnowbecomeveryneedful。

  MAPGOESHEREFACINGPAGE138,BOOKXVIII—————————

  Fermor,walkingoffinthismanner,——nottillthethirdday,naynotconclusivelytilltheseventhday,afterZorndorf,——stroveatfirsttoconsiderhimselfvictorious。\"Ipassedthenightonthefieldofbattle[orNOTfarfromit,forgoodreasons,Mutzelbeingbridgeless]:maynotI,inthelanguageofenthusiasm,beconsideredconqueror?Hereare26oftheircannon,gotwhenIcried’Arah’prematurely。(Wherethe103piecesofmyownare,andmy27

  flags,andmyArmy—chestandsundries?Droppedsomewhere;theywillprobablyturnupagain!)\"thinksFermor,——orstrivestothink,andsays。Sothat,atPetersburg,atParisandVienna,inthenextthreeweeks,therewereTE—DEUMS,Ambrosianchantings,fires—of—

  joy;andconsiderablearguingamongtheGazetteersonbothparts,——

  tillthedustsettled,andfactsappearedastheywere。Totheeffect:\"TEDEUMnonLAUDAMUS;alasno,wemustretract;anditwasgoodgunpowderthrownafterbad!\"

  Onalwayshomewards,butatitsownpace,waitedonbyDohna,goestheRussianMonster:violentlycase—shottingifyouprickintoitsrearwardparts。OnePalmbach,——underRomanzow,Ithink,whohadnottakenpartintheBattle,beingoutStettinway,andunabletojointillnow,——Palmbach,withaDetachmentof15,000,whichwasthoughtsufficientfortheobject,didtrytomakeadashonColberg,——howhappyhadweanyportontheBaltic,tofeedusinthisCountry!

  ButthoughColbergisthepaltriestcrow’s—nest(BICOQUE),accordingtoallengineers,andisdefendedonlyby700militia(theColonelofthem,oneHeyde,agrayoldHalf—pay,notyetrenownedinthesoldierworld,asheherecametobe),Palmbach,withhisbestdiligence,couldmakenothingofit;but,afterbattering,bombarding,evenscalading,andinallwaysblurtingandblazingatamightyrateforfourweeks,andwastingagreatdealofgunpowderand2,000Russianlives,withdrewonthoseremarkableterms。[InHelden—Geschichte,v。349—365

  (\"3d—3lstOctober,1758\"),acompleteandminuteJOURNALofthisFirstSiegeofColberg,whichisinterestingtoreadof,asalltheThreeofthemare。]Anddidthen,astailofFermor,whatFermorandtheRussianMonsterwasuniversallydoing,makeoffatagoodpace,——havingnothingtoliveuponfarther,——andvanishfromthoseCountries,tothereliefofDohnaandmankind。

  September2d,Friedrich,leavingallthat,hadmarchedforSaxony;

  hispresenceurgentlyrequiredthere。DaunoughttobefaronwiththeconquestofthatCountry?Mighthavehadit,sayjudges,ifhehadbeenasswiftassome。——AtZorndorf,amongtheRussianPrisonerswerecertainGenerals,Soltikof,Czernichef,SulkowskithePole,proudpeopleintheirowneyes:nolodgingforthembutthecellarsofCustrin。RussianGeneralscomplained,\"IsthisalodgingforField—Officersofrank!\"Friedrichwasnotusedtoprofaneswearing,orvituperativeoutbursts;butheansweredtotheeffect:\"Silence,yeincendiaryindividuals。Isthereachoiceleftoflodgings,andforyouaboveothers!\"Uponwhichtheylaysilentforsomedays,tillbettersuited;infact,tillexchanged,——andperhapswillsoonturnuponusagain。

  ChapterXIV。

  BATTLEOFHOCHKIRCH。

  SosoonasFriedrichquittedBohemiaandSilesiaforhisRussianEnterprise,thererosehighquestionatVienna,\"TowhatshallourDaunnowturnhimself?\"ADaun,aReichsArmy,freefornewemployment;inSaxonynotmuchtoopposethem,inSilesiaalmostnothingincomparison。\"RecaptureofSilesia?\"Yestruly;thatisthesteadypole—staratVienna。ButtheyhavenoMagazinesinSilesia,noSiege—furnitures;andtheseasonisfarspent。TheydecidethatthereshallbeastrokeuponDresden,andrecoveryofSaxony,inFriedrich’sabsence。NothingthereatpresentbutaPrinceHenri,weakinnumbers,sayonetotwooftheReichsArmybyitself。LettheReichsArmyrisenow,andadvancethroughtheMetalMountainsfromsoutheastonPrinceHenri;letDauncircleroundonhim,throughtheLausitzfromnortheast:cannottheyextinguishHenribetweenthem;snatchDresden,aweakill—fortifiedplace,bysuddenonslaught,andrecaptureSaxony?ThatwillbemagnanimoustoouraugustAllies;——andthatwillbeanexcellentscaffoldingforrecaptureofSilesianextyear。AndcannotDaunleaveaForceintheSilesianvicinities,——Devillewithsomanythousands,Harschwithsomany,——tobesiegeoneoftheirFrontierPlaces;Neisse,forexample?Siege—furniturestocomefromMahren:NeisseisnotfartherfromOlmutzthanOlmutzwasfromit。

  Thatwastheschemefallenupon;nowgettingexecutedwhileFriedrichisatZorndorfwellaway。Andthat,ifreadersfixitintelligentlyintheirmemory,willsufficetointroducetothemthefewwordsmorethatcanbeallowedushereuponit。Averyfewwords,compressedtotheutmost,——merelyasprefacetoHochkirch,whitherwemusthasten;Hochkirchbeingtheoneincidentwhich,excepttostudioussoldiers,hasnowandhereanyinterest,outoftheverymanyincidentswhich,thenandthere,weresointenselyinterestingtoallmankind。Toreaderswhoarecurious,andwilltakewiththemanypoorestauthenticOutlineoftheLocalitiesconcerned,thefollowingcondensedNotewillnotbeunintelligible。

  DAUNANDTHEREICHSARMYINVADESAXONY,INFRIEDRICH’SABSENCE。

  \"Daun,pushingoutwithhisbestspeed,alongtheBohemian—Silesianborder,hadgottoZittauAUGUST17th;whichpoorCityistobehisbasisandstorehouse;thegreatestactivityandwagoningnowvisiblethere,\"——amongtheburntwallsgettingrebuilt。Andinthesamedays,ZweibruckandhisReichsArmyarevigorouslyafoot;

  ZweibruckpushingacrosstheMetalMountains,thefastesthecan;

  intendingtoplanthimselfinPirnaCountry。NottomentionGeneralDombale,Zweibruck’sAustrianSecond;whohastheAustrian15,000

  withhim;and,bywayofpreface,hasemergedtowestward,inZwickau—TschopauCountry;calculatingthatPrinceHenriwillnotbeabletoattendtohimjustnow。AndineffectPrinceHenri,intentuponZweibruckandthePirnaCountry,takespositionintheoldPrussiangroundthere(’head—quarterGrossSeidlitz,’asin1756);

  andcanonlyleaveaDetachmentinTschopauCountrytowaituponDombale;whodoesatleastshootoutCroatparties,’quiteacrossSaxony,toHallealltheway,’andentertaintheGazetteers,ifhecandolittlerealmischief。

  \"AUGUST19th,fromZittau,Daun,aftershortpause,againpushesforward,——nothingbutZiethenattendinghiminthedistance,tillweseewhitherward;——MargrafKarlwaitingimpatient,atGrussau,tillZiethensee。[Tempelhof,ii。258,260etseq。]Daun,soonafterZittau,shootsoutLoudon,Brandenburgway,asifmagnanimouslyintending’co—operationwiththeRussians;’whichwouldgiveDaunpleasure,coulditbedonewithoutcost。

  Loudondoesdespatcha500hussarstoFrankfurt[FriedrichnowgoneforCustrin],who,Ithink,carryaLetterforFermorthere;

  butloseitbytheway,\"——forthebenefitofreaders,iftheywillwait。\"LoudoncapturesapoorlittleplaceinBrandenburgitself;

  bulliesitintosurrender,afteraday(theverydayofZorndorfBattle,’August25th’):——placecalledPeitz,garrisonedbyforty—

  fiveinvalids;whogoon’freewithdrawal,’pooroldsouls,andleavetheirexiguousstockofsalt—victualandmilitaryfurniturestoLoudon。[InHelden—Geschichte,v。229—232,the\"Capitulation\"INEXTENSO。]UponwhichLoudonwhirlsbackoutofthoseCountries;findinghisskirtstroddenonbyZiethen,——whonowseeswhatDaunandheareat;andwarnsMargrafKarl[properlyKeith,whohasnowjoinedagain,asrealpresidentorchief]ThatHITHERistheway。MargrafKarl,ontheslipforsometimepast,startsfromGrussauinstantly(Ishouldguess,notabove25,000ofallarms);leavingFouquetwithperhaps10,000todohisutmost,whenGeneralsHarschandDevillewiththeir20or30,000comeuponSilesiaandhim,——asindeedtheyarealreadydoing;

  alreadyblockadingNeisse,moreorless,withaneyetobesiegingitsosoonaspossible。

  \"Meanwhile,SereneHighnessofZweibruck,theReichsfolkandsomeAustrianswithhim,prefacedbyDombalemoretowestward,iswendingintoPirnaCountry;and,inspiteofwhatPrinceHenricando(MayorandtheFreeCorpsshiningdiligent,andHenrioneofthewatchfulestofmen),Zweibruckdoesgetin;setsMaguirewithAustriansuponbesiegingPirna,thatistosay,theSonnensteinofPirna;3d—5thSEPTEMBER,getstheSonnenstein,athoughtsoonerthanwascountedon;[InHelden—Geschichte,

  v。223—228,accountofthispoorSiege,andofthemovementsbeforeandafter。]androotshimselfthere,——’head—quartersinStruppen’

  again,’bridgeatOber—Raden’again,allasin1756;which,ifnothingelsecanwelldoit,maygivehisHighnessamomentaryinterestwithsomereadershere。PrinceHenriisatGrossSeidlitz,aliveeveryfibreofhim:butwithDauncirclingroundtonorthwardonhisleft,intendingevidentlytotakehiminflankorrear;

  withDombalealreadytorear,intheabovecircumstances,onhisright;andZweibruckhimselflyinghereinfrontfreetoact,andimpregnableifactedupon:whatisPrinceHenritodo?ItisforHenri’srear,nothisflank,thatDaunaims:AUGUST26th,Daun,whohadgottoGorlitz,amarchortwofromZittau,startedagainathisbeststepbytheBautzenHighwaytowardsMeissenBridge,a70

  or80milesdowntheElbe:thereDaunintendstocross,andtodoublebackuponDresdenandPrinceHenri;whowillthusfindhimselfenclosedbetweenTHREEfires,——iftwowerenotenough,orevenifone(theDaunoneitself,ortheZweibruckitself,nottocounttheDombale),insuchstrengthasPrinceHenrihas!

  \"AlostPrinceHenri,——iftherebenotshiftinhim,iftherebenothelpcomingtohim!PrinceHenri,seeinghowitwas,drewbackfromGrossSeidlitz;withbeautifulsuddenness,onenight;

  unmolested:inthemorning,Zweibruch’shussarsfindhimposted——————————————————————————————————^(sic)?k————————————

  inexpugnableontheHeightsofGahmig,——whichisnearerDresdenagoodstep;nearerDombale;andnotsoreadytobeenclosedbyDaun,withoutenclosureofDresdentoo。PrinceHenri’smanoeuvring,inthisdifficultsituation,istheadmirationofmilitarymen:howhestuckbyGahmig;butthrewout,inthevitalpoints,littlecamps,——’campofKesselsdorf’(aplacememorable),onthewestofDresden;andontheeast,inthenorthsuburbofDresdenitselfacrosstheRiver(shouldwehavetogoacrosstheRiverforDaun’ssake),a’strongabatis;’andneglectednothing;selfandeverybodyunderhim,livelyaseaglestomakethemselvesdangerous,Mayerinparticulardistinguishinghimselfmuch。PrinceHenriwouldhavebeenahardmorselforDaun。Butbeyondthat,thereishelpontheroad。\"

  FRIEDRICHINTERVENING,DAUNDRAWSBACK;INTRENCHESHIMSELFIN

  NEIGHBORHOODTODRESDENANDPIRNA;FRIEDRICHFOLLOWINGHIM。

  FOURARMIESSTANDINGTHERE,INDEAD—LOCK,FORAMONTH;

  WITHISSUE,AFLANK—MARCHONTHEPARTOFFRIEDRICH’SARMY,WHICHHALTSATHOCHKIRCH(September12th—October10th,1758)。

  Daun,sinceAugust26th,isstridingtowardsMeissenBridge;

  withoutrest,dayafterday,attheverytopofhisspeed,——whichI

  findis\"ninemilesaday;\"[Tempelhof,ii。261。]Bosbeingheavyoffoot,athisbest。September1st,DaunhasgotwithintenmilesofMeissenBridge,when——Hereisnews,myfriends;KingofPrussiahasbeatenourpoorRussians;willsoonbeinfullmarchthisway!

  KingofPrussiaandMargrafKarlbothbendinghitherward;attherate,say,of\"nineteenmilesaday,\"insteadofnine:——MeissenBridgeisnotthethingweshallwant!Dauninstantlycallshalt,atthisnews;waits,intrenches;and,inadayortwo,findingthenewstrue,hurriestorearwardallhecan。FromtheRussiansidetoo,DaunhasheardofZorndorf,andthegrand\"Victory\"ofFermorthere;butknowswell,bythissuddenre—emergenceoftheAnti—

  Fermor,whatkindofVictoryitis。

  WasitherewhilewaitingaboutMeissen,orwherewasit,thatDaungothisLettertoFermoransweredinthatsingularway?TheLetteroftwoweeksago,——carriedbyLoudon’sHussars,orbywhomsoever,——

  forcertain,itwasretortedorreturneduponDaun;notasiffromtheDead—LetterOffice,butwithanAnswerhelittleexpected!

  HereiswhatrecordIhave;veryvagueforawell—knownlittlefactofsparklingnature:——

  \"AcuriousLetterfellintoFriedrich’shands[Bearer,Ialwaysguess,theLoudonHussar—Captainwithhis500,pretendingtoformjunctionwithFermor],PrussianHussarspickingitupsomewhere,——

  date,place,circumstances,blurredintooblivioninthosepoorBooks;Letteritselfindisputableenough,andAnswerfollowingonit;LetterandAnswersubstantiallytothiseffect:——

  \"DAUNTOFERMOR[ProbablyfromZittau,byLoudon’sHussars]。

  \"YourExcellenzdoesnotknowthatwilyEnemyasIdo。Bynomeansgetintobattlewithsuchaone。Cautiouslymanoeuvreabout;

  detainhimthere,tillIhavegotmystrokeinSaxonydone:

  don’ttryfightinghim。DAUN。\"

  \"ANSWERASFROMFERMOR(Zorndorfoncedone,DaunbythefirstopportunitygothisAnswer,dulysigned’Fermor,’butevidentlyinacertainKing’shandwriting):——

  \"YourExcellenzwasintherighttowarnmeagainstacunningEnemy,whomyouknewbetterthanI。HerehaveItriedfightinghim,andgotbeaten。Yourunfortunate\"FERMOR。\"

  [Muller,KurzgefassteBeschreibungderdreiSchlesischenKriege(Berlin,1755);inwhom,aloneofallthereporters,isthestorygiveninanintelligibleform。ThisMuller’sBookisameritoriouslybriefSummary,incorrectinnoessentialparticular,andwithalltheBattle—Plansononecopperplate:LIEUTENANTMuller,thisone;notPROFESSORMuller,ALIASSchottmullerbyanymeans!]

  September9th,FriedrichandMargrafKarl,correcttotheirappointment,meetatGrossenhayn,somemilesnorthofMeissenanditsBridge;bywhichtimeDauniscleangoneagain,backwellaboveDresdenagain,stronglypostedatStolpen(aplaceweonceheardof,inGeneralHaddick’stime,lastYear),wellincontactwithDaun’sPirnafriendsacrosstheRiver,andoutofdangerousneighborhoods。FriedrichandtheMargrafhavefollowedDaunatquickstep;butDaunwouldpausenowhere,tillhegottoStolpen,amongthebushygulletsandchasms。September12th,FriedrichhadspeechofHenri,andthepleasureofdiningwithhiminDresden。

  Gladtomeetagain,underfortunatemanagementonbothparts;

  andwithmuchtospeakandconsultabout。

  Adayortwobefore,therehadlain(orissaidtohavelain)agrandschemeinDaun:ZweibrucktoburstoutfromPirnabydaybreak,andattacktheCampofGahmiginfront(35,000against20,000);DauntocrosstheRiveronpontoons,somehoursbefore,undercloudofnight,andbereadyonrearandleftflankofGahmig(withasmanysupplementalthousandsasyoulike):whatcansavePrinceHenri?Beautifulplan;onwhichtherewerepersonalmeetingsanddiningstogetherbyZweibruckandDaun;butnothingdone。

  [Tempelhof,ii。262—265。]Attheeleventhhour,saytheAustrianaccounts,Zweibrucksentword,\"Impossibleto—morrow;cannotgetinmyOut—Partiesintime!\"——andnextday,hereisFriedrichcome,andacollapseofeverything。Orperhapsthereneverseriouslywassuchaplan?Certainitis,DauntakescampatStolpen,aplaceknowntohim,oneofthestrongestpostsinGermany;intrencheshimselftotheteeth,——goodrear—guardtowardsZittauandtheMagazines;

  RiverandPirnaonourleftflank;Loudonstrongandbusyonourrightflank,barringtheroadtoBautzen;——andobstinatelysitsthere,averybadtoothinthejawofacertainKing;nottobeextractedbythebestkindsofforcepsandtheskilfulestart,fornearlyamonthtocome。FourArmies,Friedrich’s,Henri’s,Daun’s,Zweibruck’s,allwithinsword—strokeofeachother,——theuniversalGazetteerworldisontiptoe。ButexceptFriedrich’seagershiftingsandrubbingsuponStolpen(westside,north,andatlengthnortheastside),allisdead—lock,andnothingcomesofit。

  FriedrichhashisfoodconvenientfromDresden;butaroadtoBautzenwithaliswhathecannotdowithout;——andthereliesthesorrow,andtheACHING,asthistoothknowswell,andthisjawwell!HarschandDevillearebusyuponNeisse,haveNeisseunderblockade,perhapsuponKoseltoo,forsometimepast,[Neisse\"blockadedmoreandmore\"sinceAugust4th(Koselstillearlier,butonlybyPandourpeople);notcompletelysotillSeptember30th,oreventillOctober26th:Helden—Geschichte,

  v。268—270。]andarecartingthesiege—stocktobeginbombardment:

  aroadtoSilesia,beforeverylong,Friedrichmustandwillhave。

  Friedrich’soperationsonDauninthispostarepatientlyartful,andcurioustolookupon,butbeyonddescriptionhere:enoughtosay,thatinthesecondweekhemakeshispeoplehutthemselves(weatherwetandbad);andinthefourthweek,findingthatnothingcontrivablewouldprovokeDaunintofighting,——heloadsatDresdenprovisionsforIthinkninedays;makes,fromtwoorfromthreesides,asuddenspurtuponLoudon,whoisDaun’snorthernoutpost;

  brushesLoudonhastilyaway;andhimselftakestheroadforBautzen,byDaun’srightflank,thrownbareinthismanner。

  [Tempelhof,ii。278。]

  RoadforBautzen;whichistheroadforZittauwithal,forDaun’sbread—basket,aswellasforNeisseandHarsch!Ninedays’

  provision;thatisoursmalloutfit,thatandourownright—hands;

  andthewasteworldliesallahead。OCTOBER1st,Retzow,asvanguard,sweepsoutthefewCroatsfromBautzen,depositshismeal—wagonsthere;occupiesHochkirch,andthehillyenvironstoeast;istotakepossessionofWeissenbergespecially,andoftheStrombergHillandotherstrongpoints:whichRetzowpunctuallydoes,forgettingnothing,——exceptperhapstheStromberg,notquiterememberedintime;athingofsmallconsequenceinRetzow’sview,sinceallelsehadgoneright。

  Hearingofwhich,Daun,withastonishment,findsthathemustquitthosebeautifullychasmyfastnessesofStolpen,andlooktohisbread;whichisgettingtolieundertheenemy’sfeet,ifZittauroadbeleftyonderasitis。OCTOBER5th,aftercouncilsofwaranddeliberationenough,Daungetsunderway;[Ib。ii。279。]

  cautiously,favoredbyanightverydarkandwet,glidesthroughtorightofFriedrich’speople,softlyalongbetweenBautzenandthePirnaCountry;nobodymolestinghim,sodarkandwet:andafteroneothermarchinthoseboskysolitudes,sitsdownatKittlitz,——aheadortoeastofBautzen,ofHochkirch,ofRetzowandallFriedrich’speople;——andagainsetstopalisadingandintrenchingthere。

  Kittlitz,nearLobau,thereisDaun’snewhead—quarter;

  LobauWater,withitsintricatehollows,hislineofdefence:

  hispostsgoingoutamiletonorthandtosouthofKittlitz。

  Andsosits;oncemoreblockingZittauroad,andquietlywaitingwhatFriedrichwilldo。

  FriedrichisatBautzensincethe7th;impatientenoughtobeforward,butmustnottillasecondlargerprovision—convoyfromDresdencomein。Convoyoncein,Friedrichhastensoff,Tuesday,10thOctober,towardsWeissenbergCountry,whereRetzowis;

  sometenortwelvemilestoeastward,——Zittau—ward,ifthatchancetosuitus;Silesia—ward,asissuretosuit。Atthe\"PassofJenkowitz,\"shortwayfromBautzen,Pandoursattemptourbaggage;

  needtobebatteredoff,andagainoff:whichapprisesFriedrichthatDaun’swholeArmyisaheadintheneighborhoodsomewhere。

  Marchingon,Friedrich,fromtheknollofHochkirch,shoulderofthesouthernHills,getscompleteviewofDaun,——stretchingnorthandsouth,atrightanglestotheZittauroadsandtoFriedrich,inthewaywedescribed;——andisalittlesurprised,andIcouldguesspiqued,atseeingDauninsuchastateofforwardness。

  \"Encamphere,then!\"hesays,——here,onthisrowofHeightsparalleltoDaun,withinamileofDaun:justhere,Itellyou!

  undertheverynoseofDaun,whoisabovetwotooneofus;andseewhatDaunwilldo。Marwitz,hisfavoriteAdjutant,oneofthosefree—spokenMarwitzes,loyal,skilful,butliabletostifffits,takesthelibertytoremonstrate,argue;saysatlength,He,Marwitz,darenotbeconcernedinmarkingoutsuchanencampment;

  nothe,forhispoorpart!Andisputunderarrest;andanotherAdjutantdoesit;cannonplayingonhispeopleandhimwhileengagedintheoperation。

  Friedrich’sobstinaterashness,thisTuesdayEvening,hasnotwanteditsabundantmeedofblame,——renderedsoemphaticbywhatbefellonSaturdaymorningnext。Hissomewhattooauthoritativefixity;acertainradiancyofself—confidence,dangeroustoaman;

  hissovereigncontemptofDaun,asaninertdarkmass,whodurstundertakenothing:allthisisundeniable,andworthourrecognitioninestimatingFriedrich。Oneconsiderablyextenuatingcircumstancedoesatlastturnup,——intheshapeofanewpieceofblametotheerringFriedrich;hissuddenanger,namely,againstthemeritoriousGeneralRetzow;hisputtingRetzowunderarrestthatTuesdayEvening:\"How,GeneralRetzow?YouhavenottakenholdoftheStrombergforme!\"ThatisthesecretofRetzow:andonstudyingthegroundyouwillfindthattheStromberg,ablunttabularHill,ofgoodheight,detached,andtoweringwellupoverallthatregion,mighthaverenderedFriedrich’spositionperfectlysafe。\"SeizemetheStrombergto—morrowmorning,thefirstthing!\"

  orderedFriedrich。AndaDetachmentwentaccordingly;butfoundDaun’speoplealreadythere,——indisposedtogo;naydeterminednottogo,andgettingreinforcedtounlimitedamounts。SothattheStrombergwasleftstanding,andremainedDaun’s;furnishedwithplentyofcannonbyDaun。Retzow’sarrest,RetzowbeingasteadyfavoriteofFriedrich’s,wasonlyofafewhours:\"pardonablethatoversight,\"thinksFriedrich,thoughitcametocosthimdear。

  Fortherest,Ifind,Friedrich’skeepingofthisCamp,withouttheStromberg,wasintendedtoend,thethirddayhence:

  \"Saturday,14th,then,sinceFridayprovesimpossible!\"Friedrichhadsettled。AnditdidendSaturday,14th,thoughatanearlierHOUR,andwithotherresultsthanhadbeenexpected。Keithsaid,\"TheAustriansdeservetobehangediftheydon’tattackushere。\"

  \"Wemusthopetheyaremoreafraidofusthanevenofthegallows,\"

  answeredFriedrich。AverydangerousCamp;untenablewithouttheStromberg。Letustrytounderstandit,andDaun’spositiontoit,insomeslightdegree。

  \"Hochkirch(HIGHkirk)isanoldWendish—SaxonVillage,standingpleasantlyonitsHill—top,conspicuousformilesroundonallsides,oronallbutthesouthside,whereitabutsuponotherHeights,whichgraduallyriseintoHillsagooddealhigherthanit。TheVillagehangsconfusedly,ajumbleofcottagesandcolegarths,onthecrownandnorthslopeoftheHeight;

  thatched,inparttiled,andbuiltmostlyofroughstoneblocks,inourtime,——notofwood,asprobablyinFriedrich’s。Asolid,sluttishlycomfortable—lookingVillage;withpleasanthay—fields,orlongnarrowhay—stripes(eachvillagerhashisstripe),reachingdowntothenorthernlevels。TheChurchisnearthetop;

  Churchyard,andsomelittlespacefarther,arenearlyhorizontalground,tillthenextHeightbeginsslopingupagaintowardsthewoodyHillssouthward。Theviewfromthislittleesplanadeatop,stillbetterfromtheChurchbelfry,iswideandpretty。Freeonallsidesexceptthesouth:pleasantHeightsandHollows,ofarable,ofwood,orpasture;wellwateredbyrushingBrooks,allmakingnorthward,directforSpree(theBerlinSpree),orelseintotheLobauWater,whichisthefirstbigbranchofSpree。

  \"TheplaceisstillpartlyofWendishspeech;theParsonhastopreachonehalfoftheSundayinWend,theotherinGerman。

  AmongtheHillstosouth,\"wellworthnotingatpresent,\"isonecalledCZARNABOG,or’Devil’sHill;’wheretheWendishDevilandhisWitches(equaltoanyGermanonhisBlocksberg,orpreternaturalBrackenoftheHarz)holdtheirannualWITCHES’—

  SABBATH,——athingnottobecontemplatedwithoutashudderbytheWendishmind。Thereabouts,andclosefromHochkirchsouthward,allisshadowyintricacyofthicketandwildwood。NorthwardtoofromHochkirch,andallabout,Iperceivethescenewaswoodierthenthannow;——andmusthavelookedpicturesqueenough(hadanybodybeeninquestofthat),withthemultifariousuniforms,andtentedpeoplesprinkledfarandwideamongtheleafyred—and—yellowofOctober,1758。\"[Tourist’sNote,September,1858。]

  IntheVillageofWuischke,preciselyatthenorthernbaseofthatshaggyCzarnabogorDevil’sHill,standLoudonand3,000Croatsandgrenadiers,astheextremeleftofDaun’sposition。WuischkeisnearlystraightsouthofHochkirch;sofarwestwardhasLoudonpushedforwardwithhisCroats,hiddenamongtheHills;

  thoughDaun’sgeneralpositionliesagoodmiletoeastofFriedrich’s:——irregularlynorthandsouth,bothFriedrichandDaun;

  theformerignorantwhatCroatsandLoudonries,theremaybeamongthoseDevil’sHillstohisright;thelatternotignorant。

  Friedrich’srightwing,Keithincommandofit,stretchestoHochkirchandalittlefarther:beyondHochkirch,ithasFourflankBattalionsinpotenceform,withpropervedettesandpickets;

  andaboveall,withastrongBatteryofTwentyGuns,whichitmaintainsonthenextHeightimmediatelyadjoiningHochkirch,andperceptiblyhigherthanHochkirch。ThisisthefinisofKeithonhisright;and——exceptthosevedettes,andpicketsofFree—corpspeople,thrownoutalittlewayaheadintothebushes,onthatside——Friedrich’srightwingknowsnothingoftheshaggyelevationshorrentwithwood,whichlietosouthward;andmerelyintendstoplayitsTwentyCannonuponthem,shouldtheygivebirthtoanything。ThisisFriedrich’spostureonhisrightorsouthwing。

  FromHochkirchnorthwardornearlyso,butsprinkledaboutinallthevillagesandpointsofstrength,asfarupasDrehsaandbeyondDrehsa,tonearKotitz,alessimportantvillage,Friedrichextendsaboutfourmiles;centreatRodewitz,wherehisownhead—quarteris,abovetwomilesnorthofHochkirch。NotfarfromRodewitz,butalittletoleftandahead,standshissecondandbestBattery,ofThirtyGuns;readytoplayuponLauska,apoorvillage,anditsroadway,shouldtheAustrianstryanythingthere,orfromtheirStrombergpost,whichisagoodmilebehindLauska。Hisstrength,intheselines,somecounttobeonly28,000,orless。Fourorfivemilestonortheast,inandbehindWeissenberg(whichweusedtoknowlastsummer),liesRetzow,withperhaps10or12,000,whichwillbringhimupto40,000,weretheyproperlyjoinedwithhimasaleftwing。Daun’sforcecounts90,000;withFriedrichlyingunderhisnoseinthisinsolentmanner。

  Daun’shead—quarter,aswesaid,isKittlitz;aVillagesometwomilesshortofLobau,inthedirectionsoutheastofFriedrich;

  perhapsfivemilestosoutheastofRodewitz,Friedrich’slodging。

  ItiscloseupontheBautzen—ZittauHighway;Zittausometwentymilestosouthofit,HerrnhuthandthepacificBrethrenabouthalf—waythither。KittlitzliesmoretosouththanHochkirchitself;andDaun’soutposts,aswesaw,circlequiteroundamongthoseDevil’sHills,andenvelopFriedrich’srightflank。

  ButDaun’smainforcelieschieflynorthward,andwelltowest,ofKittlitz;paralleltoFriedrich,andeastwardofhim;

  withelaborateintrenchments;everyvillage,brook,bridge,heightandbitofgoodground,Strombergtoendwith,punctuallysecured。

  ObliquelyovertheStromberg,holdingtheStrombergandcertainVillagestosoutheastandtonorthwestofit,liesD’Ahremberg,asrightwing:about20,000he,putintoobliquepotence;lookingintoKotitz,whichisFriedrich’sextremeleft;andinagoodmeasuredividingFriedrichfromtheRetzow10,000。Andlastly,asreserve,infrontofReichenbach,eightorninemilestoeastofallthat,liesthePrinceofBaden—Durlach,25,000orso;barringRetzowonthatside,andallattemptsontheSilesianRoadthere。

  Daun’slines,notcountinginthesouthernoutpostsorDevil’s—Hillparties,areconsiderablylongerthanFriedrich’s,andalsoconsiderablydeeper。Thetwohead—quartersareaboutfivemilesapart:butthetwofronts——dividedbyabrookandgoodhollowrunninghere(oneofmanysuch,makingallforLobauWater)——arenothalfamileapart。TowardsHochkirchandthetopofthisbrook,theopposingpostsarequitecrammedcloseononeanother;

  dividedonlybytheirhollow。Manybrooks,eachwithadefinitehollow,runtinklingabouthere,swiftbutstraitenedtogetout;

  especiallyLobauWater,whichreceivesthemall,hastotakeaquitemeanderingcirclingcourse(throughDaun’squartersandbeyondthem)beforeitcandisembogueinSpree,anddecidedlysetoutforBerlinunderthatnewname。TheLandscape——seenfromHochkirchVillage,stillbetterfromtheChurch—steeplewhichliftsyouhighaboveit,andcommandsallroundexcepttothesouth,whereFriedrich’sbattery—heightquiteshutsyouin,andhideseventhoseDevil’sHillsbeyond——ischeerfulandpretty。

  Villagebelfries,steeplesandtowers;airygreenridgesofheights,andintricategreenervalleys:nowratherbarerthanyoulike。TheTouristtellsme,inFriedrich’stimetheremusthavebeenagreatdealmoreofwoodthannow。

  WHATACTUALLYBEFELLATHOCHKIRCH

  (Saturday,14thOctober,1758)。

  Friedrich,forsometime,——probablyeversinceWednesdaymorning,whenhefoundtheStrombergwasnottobehis,——haddecidedtobeoutofthisbadpost。Inwhich,clearlyenough,nothingwastobedone,unlessDaunwouldattemptsomethingelsethanmoreandmoreintrenchingandpalisadinghimself。Friedrichonthesecondday(Thursday,12th)rodeacrosstoWeissenberg,togiveRetzowhisdirections,andtakeviewoftheground:\"Saturdaynight,HerrRetzow,sooneritcannotbe[FriedrichhadaimedatFridaynight,butfindstheProvision—convoycannotpossiblybeup];

  Saturdaynight,inallsilence,wesweeproundoutofthis,——weandyou;——hurlBaden—Durlachabouthisbusiness;andareatSchopsandReichenbach,andtheSilesianHighwayopen,nextmorning,tous!\"

  [Tempelhof,ii。320。]Quietlyeverythingisspeedingontowardsthisconsummation,onFriedrich’spart。ButonDaun’spartthereis——started,Ishouldguess,ontheverysameThursday——anotherconsummationgettingready,whichistofalloutonSaturdayMORNING,fifteenhoursbeforethatother,andentirelysupersedethatother!——

  Keith’sopinion,thattheAustriansdeservetobehangediftheydon’tattackushere,isalsoLoudon’sopinionandLacy’s,andindeedeverybody’s,——andatlengthDaun’sown;whodeterminestotrysomethinghere,ifneverbeforeorafter。Thisplan,alljudgesadmit,waselaborateandgood;andwaswellexecutedtoo,——Daunhimselfpresidingoverthemostcriticalpartoftheexecution。

  AplantohaveruinedalmostanyArmy,exceptthisPrussianoneandtheCaptainitchancedtohave。Auniversalcamisado,orsurprisalofFriedrichinhisCamp,beforedaylight:everybodyknowsthatittookeffect(Hochkirch,Saturday,14thOctober,1758,5A。M。ofamistymorning);nobodyexpectsofanunassistedfellow—creaturemuchlightonsodoublydarkathing。Butthetruthis,thereareampleaccounts,exact,thoughverychaotic;andthething,steadilyexamined,tillitsessentialfeaturesextricatethemselvesfromtheunessential,provestobenotquitesounintelligible,andnothinglikesodestructive,overwhelmingandruinousaswassupposed。

  Daun’splanisveryelaborate,andincludesagreatmanycombinations;allhis90,000tocomeintoit,simultaneouslyorinsuccession。Butthefirstandgrandlyvitalpart,mainspringandfathertoalltherest,isthis:ThatDaun,inperson,afternightfallofFriday,shall,withthepickofhisforce,say30,000

  horseandfoot,withalltheirartilleriesandtools,silentlyquithisnowpositioninfrontofHochkirch,Friedrich’srightwing。

  Shallsweepoff,silentlytosouthwardandleftward,byWuischke;

  thencewestwardandnorthward,bythenorthernbaseofthoseDevilMountains,throughtheshaggyhollowsandthickwoodsthere,hithertoinhabitedbyCroatsonly,andunknowntothePrussians:

  forward,everforward,throughthenight—watchesthatway;tillhehasfairlygottotheflankofHochkirchandFriedrich:Dauntobestandingthere,allroundfromthesouthernenvironsofHochkirch,westwardthroughtheWoods,byMeschwitz,Steindorfel,andevennorthtoWaditz(ifreaderswillconsulttheirMap),silentlyenclosingFriedrich,asinthebagofanet,inthismanner;——readyeverymanandgunbyaboutfouronSaturdaymorning。AretowaitforthestrokeoffiveinHochkirchsteeple;andthereandthentobeginbusiness,——therefirst;but,onsuccessTHERE,thewhole90,000everywhere,——andtodrawthestringsonFriedrich,andbagandstranglehisastonishedpeopleandhim。

  ThedifficultyhasbeentokeepitperfectlysecretfromsovigilantamanasFriedrich:butDaunhascompletelysucceeded。

  PerhapsFriedrich’seyeshavebeenalittledimmedbycontemptofDaun:Daun,forthelasttwodaysespecially,hasbeenmorediligentthanevertopalisadehimselfoneverypoint;

  nothing,seemingly,onhandbutfellingwoods,buildingabatis,againstsomedangerousLion’s—spring。Theysayalso,hedetectedatraitorinhiscamp;traitorcarryingLetterstoFriedrichunderpretenceoffresheggs,——oneoftheeggsblown,andaNoteofDaun’sProceduressubstitutedasyolk。\"Youaredead,sirrah,\"saidDaun;\"hoistedtothehighestgallows:Arenotyou?ButputinaNoteofmydictating,andyourbeggarlylifeissaved。\"

  RetzowJunior,thoughthereisnoevidenceexceptofthecircumstantialkind,thinksthiscurrentstorymaybetrue。

  [Retzow,i。347。]Certainitis,neitherFriedrichnoranyofhispeoplehadtheleastsuspicionofDaun’sproject,tillthemomentitexplodedonthem,whentheclockatHochkirchstruckfive。

  Daun,inthelasttwodays,hadbeenfellingevenmoretreesthantheyareawareof,——thousandsoftreesinthoseDevil’swildernessestoFriedrich’sright;andhassecretlyhewnhimselfroads,passablebynightformenandammunition—wagonsthere:——andinfrontofFriedrich,especiallyHochkirchway,Daunseemsbusierthaneverfellingwood,thisFridaynight;numbersofpeoplerunningaboutwithaxes,withlanternsoverthere,asifinthepushofhurry,andmakingagreatdealofnoise。\"IntendingretreatforZittauto—morrow!\"thinksFriedrich,asthefalseegg—yolkhadtaughthim;ormerely,\"Thatpoorprecautionaryfellow!\"supposingthefalseyolkamyth。Inshort,Daunhasgotthroughhisnocturnalwildernesseswithperfectsuccess。Andstands,dreamtofbynoenemy,intheplacesappointedforhis30,000andhim;andthatpooroldclockofHochkirch,unweariedlygruntingforwardtothestrokeoffive,willstrikeupsomethingitislittleexpecting!——

  ThePrussianshavevedettes,picketsandsmalloutpostsofFree—

  corpspeoplescatteredaboutwithintheirborderofthatAustrianWood,thebodyofwhich,aboutHochkirchaseverywhereelse,belongswhollytoCroats。Ofcoursethereareguard—parties,sentriesdulyvigilant,inthebigBatterytosoutheastofHochkirch,——andalongsouthwestwardinthatPOTENCE,orfore—armofFourBattalions,whicharestationedthere。FourgoodBattalionslookingsouthwardthere,withCavalrytoright;Ziethen’sCavalry,——whosehorsesstandsaddledthroughthenight,readyalwaysforthenocturnal\"Pandourade,\"whichseldomfailsthem。There,aselsewhere,aretheduevigilances,watchmen,watch—fires。TherestofthePrussianArmyisinitsblankets,whollyasleep,whileDaunstandswaitingforthestrokeoffive。

  ThatDaun,burstinginwithhischosen30,000,willtrampledownthesleepingPrussianPOTENCEatHochkirch;captureitsbigBatterytoleft,itsVillageofHochkirchtorear,anddoextensiveruinonthewholerightwingofFriedrich;renderingFriedricheverywhereaneasyconquesttotherestofDaun’speople,whostand,farandwide,dulypostedandprepared,waitingonlytheirsignalfromHochkirch:muchofthis,allofitthathadregardtoHochkirchBatteryandVillage,andthePrussiansstationedthere,Daundidexecute。Andreaders,fromthedatatheyhavegot,mustconceivethemannerofit,——humandescriptionofthenextTwoHours,aboutHochkirch,inthethickdarknessthere,andstormfulsuddeninroad,andstormfulresistancemade,beingmanifestlyanimpossiblething。

  Nobodywas\"massacredinhisbed\"asthesympatheticgazetteersfancied;nobodywaskilled,thatIhearof,withoutarms,inhishand:butplentyofpeopleperished,fierceofhumor,onbothsides;andfromhalf—pastfivetilltowardseight,therewasageneralblazeoffierychaospushingouteverandanon,swallowedinthebellyofNightagain,suchaswasseldomseeninthisworld。

  Insteadofconfuseddetails,andwearisomeenumerationofparticulars,whichnobodywouldlistentoorunderstand,wewillgiveoneintelligentyounggentleman’sexperience,ourfriendTempelhof’s,whostoodinthispartofthePrussianLine;

  experiencedistinctandindubitabletous;andwhichwasprettyaccuratelysymbolical,Iotherwisesee,ofwhatbefellonallpointsthereabouts。Faithfullycopied,andintheessentialpartsnotevenabridged,hereitis:——

  Tempelhof,atthattimeasubalternofartillery,wasstationedwithacoupleof24—poundersinattendanceontheBattalionPlothow,whichwiththreeothersandsomecavalrylaytothesouthsideofHochkirch,formingakindoffore—armorPOTENCEtheretorightofthebigBattery,withtheirreartoHochkirch;andkeepingvedettesandFree—corpspartiesspreadoutintothewoodsandDevil’sHillsahead。Tempelhofhadrisenaboutthree,asusual;

  hadhisgunsandgunnersready;andwasstandingbythewatch—fire,\"expectingthecustomaryPandourade,\"andwhatformitwouldtakethismorning。\"Closeonfiveo’clock;andnotamousestirring!

  WearenottohaveourPandourade,then?\"Onasudden,noiseburstsout;noiseenough,sharpfireamongtheFree—corpspeople;

  firegrowingeversharper,noisier,forthenexthalf—hour,butnothingwhatevertobeseen。\"BattalionPlothowhadsoongotitsclotheson,alltothespatterdashes;andtookranktorightandleftoftheFLECHE,andofmytwoguns,infrontofitspost:

  butonaccountofthethickfogeverythingwastotallydark。

  Ifiredoffmycannons[shallwesaystraightsouthward?]tolearnwhethertherewasanythinginfrontofus。Noanswer:’Nothingthere——Pshaw,amerecrackery(GEKNACKER)ofPandoursandourFree—

  corpspeople,afterall!’Butthenoisegrewlouder,andcameevernearer;Iturnedmygunstowardsit[southward,southeastward,orperhapsaguneachway?]——andherewehadasalvoinresponse,fromsomebattalionswhoseemedtobetwohundredyardsorsoahead。

  TheBattalionPlothowhereupongavefire;ItoopliedmycannonswhatIcould,——andhadperhapsdeliveredfifteendoubleshotsfromthem,whenatonceItumbledtotheground,andlostallconsciousness\"forsomeminutesormoments。

  Awakeningwiththebloodrunningdownhisface,poorTempelhofconcludedithadbeenamusket—shotinthehead;butongettingtohishandsandknees,hefoundtheplace\"fullofAustriangrenadiers,whohadcreptinthroughourtentstorear;andthatithadbeenaknockwiththebuttofthemusketfromoneofthosefellows,andnotabullet\"thathadstruckhimdown。

  BattalionPlothow,assailedonallsides,resistedonallsides;

  andTempelhofsawfromtheground,——Isuppose,bytheembersofwatch—fires,andbyrareflashesofmusketry,fortheydidnotfiremuch,havingnoroom,butsmashedandstabbedandcut,——\"aninfantryfightwhichinmurderousintensitysurpassesimagination。

  Iwastakenprisoneratthisturn;butsoonaftergotdeliveredbyourcavalryagain。\"[Tempelhof,ii。324n。]

  Thislattercircumstance,ofbeingdeliveredbytheCavalry,Ifindtobeoffrequentoccurrenceinthatfirstactofthebusinessthere:thePrussianBattalion,surprisedonfrontandrear,alwaysmakesmurderousfightforitself:isatlastoverwhelmed,obligedtoretire,perhapsopeningitswaybybayonetcharge;——uponwhichourCavalry(Ziethen’s,andothersthatgatheredtohim)cuttinginuponthedisorderedsurprisers,cutthemintoflight,rescuetheprisoners,andforatimereinstatematters。ThePrussianbattalionsdonotrun(nobodyruns);butwhenrepulsedbytheendlessodds,rallyagain。ThebigBatteryisnottobehadofthemwithoutfierceanddoggedstruggle;andisretakenmorethanonceortwice。Stillfiercer,moredogged,wasthestruggleinHochkirchVillage;especiallyinHochkirchChurchandChurchyard,——whithertheBattalionMargraf—Karlhadflungthemselves;thepoorVillagesoontakingfireaboutthem。Soontakingfire,andcontinuingtobeasceneofcaptureandrecapture,bytheflame—light;

  whileBattalionMargraf—Karlstoodwithinvinciblestubbornness,pouringdeathfromit;nottobecompulsedbytheragingtideofAustriangrenadiers;notby\"sixAustrianbattalions,\"by\"eight,\"

  orbyneversomany。Stoodatbaythere;levellingwholemassesofthem,——tillitscartridgeswerespent,alltooneortwoperman;

  andMajorLange,theheroicCaptainofit,said,\"Weshallhavetogo,then,mymen;letuscutourselvesthrough!\"——anddidso,inanhonorablyinvinciblemanner;somebraveremnantactuallygettingthrough,withLangehimselfwoundedtodeath。

  Ithinkitwasnottilltowardssixo’clockthattherightwinggenerallybecameawarewhatthecasewas:\"MorethanaPandourade,yes;\"——thoughwhatitmightbe,inthethickfogwhichhadfallen,blottingoutallvestigesofdaylight,nobodycouldwellsay。

  RalliedBattalions,reinforcedbythisortheotherBattalionhurryingupfromleftward,alwayschargeinupontheenemy,inHochkirchorwhereverheisbusy;generallypushhimbackintotheNight;butarethenfallenupononbothflanksbyendlessnewstrength,andobligedtodrawbackinturn。AndZiethen’sHorse,inthemeanwhile,doexecution;breakinginonthetumultuousvictors;newCuirassiers,Gens—d’Armesdashinguptohelp,sosoonassaddled,andchargingwithawill:sothat,onthewhole,theenemy,variouslyattempting,couldmakenothingofusonthatwestern,orrearwardside,——thanksmainlytoZiethenandtheHorse。

  \"HadwebutwaitedtillthreeorfourofourBattalionshadgotup!\"saythePrussiannarrators。Butitisthickmist;fewyardsaheadyoucannotseeatall,unlessitbeflame;andcloseathand,allthingsandfigureswaverindistinct,——hairyoutlinesofblackershadowsonagroundofblack。

  ItmusthavebeenwhileLangewasstillfighting,perhapsbeforeLangetooktotheChurchofHochkirch,scarcelylaterthanhalf—

  pastsix(butnobodythoughtofpullingouthiswatchinsuchabusiness!)——aboutsix,orhalf—pastsix,whenKeith,whohaschargeofthiswing,andlodgessomewherebelowornorthofHochkirch,cametounderstandthathisbigBatterywastaken;thatherewassuchaPandouradeashadnotbeenbefore;andthat,ofasurety,saidBatterymustberetaken。Keithspringsonhorseback;hastilytakes\"BattalionKannacker\"andseveralremnantsofothers;

  rushesupwards,\"leavingHochkirchalittletoright;directuponthebigBattery。\"RecapturesthebigBattery。Butissetuponbyoverwhelmingmultitudes,benttohaveitback;——ispassionatefornewassistanceinthisvitalpoint;butcangetnone:hadbeen\"DISARTEDbybothhisAide—de—camps,\"sayspoorJohnTebay,awanderingEnglishhorse—soldier,whoattendshimasmountedgroom;

  \"askedtwentytimes,andtwentymore,’WherearemyAide—de—

  camps!’\"[\"CaptensCockceyandGoudy\"hecallsthem——(COCCEJIwhoseFathertheKanzlerwehaveseen,andGAUDIwhoseself),——whobothhad,insuccession,struckintoHochkirchasthelessdesperateplace,accordingtoTebay:seeTEBAY’SLETTERtoMitchell,\"Crossen,October29th\"(inMEMOIRSANDPAPERS,ii。501—505);——

  whichisprobablytrueeveryword,allowingforTebay’stemper;

  butishighlyindecipherable,thoughnotentirelysoaftermanyreadingsandresearehings。]——butcouldgetnoresponseorreinforcement;andatlength,quitesurroundedandoverwhelmed,hadtoretire;openinghiswaybythebayonet;andbeforelong,suddenlystoppingshort,——fallingdeadintoTebay’sarms;

  shotthroughtheheart。Twoshotsontherightsidehehadnotregarded;butthisontheleftsidewasfinal:Keith’sfightingsaresuddenlyalldone。Tebay,indistraction,triedmuchtobringawaythebody;butcouldbynopresentmeans;distractedly\"ridforacoach;\"found,onreturn,thattheAustrianshadtheground,andthebodyofhismaster;Hochkirch,Churchandall,nowundisputedlytheirs。

  Toappearance,itwasthisnewsofKeith’srepulse(IknownotwhetherofKeith’sDEATHasyet)thatfirstrousedFriedrichtoafullsenseofwhatwasnowgoingon,twomilestosouthofhim。

  Friedrich,accordingtohishabits,musthavebeenawakeandafootwhentheBusinessfirstbrokeout;though,forsomeconsiderabletime,treatingitasnothingbutacommoncrackeryofPandours。

  Already,findingthePandouradelouderthanusual,hehadorderedouttoitonebattalionandtheotherthatlayhandy:butnowhepushesforwardseveralbattalionsunderFranzofBrunswick(hisyoungestBrother—in—law),withMargrafKarlandPrinceMoritz:

  \"Swiftyou,toHochkirchyonder!\"——andhimselfspringsonhorsebacktodealwiththeaffair。PrinceFranzofBrunswick,pooryoungfellow,cheerilycomingon,nearHochkirchhadhisheadshornoffbyacannon—ball。MoritzofDessau,too,\"ridingwithintwentyyardsoftheAustrians,\"sodarkwasit,hesonear—sighted,gotbadlyhit,——andsoonafter,drivingtoBautzenforsurgery,wasmadeprisonerbyPandours;[InARCHENHOLTZ(i。289,290)hisdangerousadventuresontheroadtoBautzen,inthiswoundedcondition。]neverfoughtagain,\"diednextyearofcancerinthelip。\"NothingbuttriumphantAustrianshotandcannon—shotgoingyonder;thesebattalionstoohavetofallbackwithsoreloss。

  Friedrichhimself,bythistime,isforwardinthethickofthetumult,withanotherbodyofbattalions;stormingfuriouslyalong,hashishorseshotunderhim;stormsthrough,\"successfully,bytheothersideofHochkirch\"(Hochkirchtohisleft):——butfinds,asthemistgraduallysinks,aringofAustriansmassedahead,onthe——MAPGOESHERE,FACINGPAGE160,BOOKXVIII——————

  Heights;asfarasSteindorfelandfarther,ageneralcontinentofAustriansenclosingallthesouthandsouthwest;and,infact,thathereisnownothingtobedone。Thatthequestionofhisflankissettled;thatthequestionnowisofhisfront,whichtheappointedAustrianpartiesarenowuponattacking。QuestionespeciallyoftheHeightsofDrehsa,andofthePassandBrookofDrehsa(rearwardofhiscentrepart),wherehisoneretreatwilllie,Steindorfelbeingnowlost。PartfirstoftheAffairisended;Partsecondofitbegins。

  RapidlyenoughFriedrichtakeshisnewmeasures。SeizesDrehsaHeight,whichwillnowbekeyofthefield;despatchesMollendorfthither(MollendorfourcourageousLeuthenfriend);whovigorouslybestirshimself;getsholdofDrehsaHeightbeforetheenemycan;

  Ziethenco—operatingontheHeightsofKumschutz,Canitzandotherpointsofvantage。Andthus,ineffect,Friedrichpullsuphistornrightskirt(asheisdoingallhisotherskirts)intonewcompactfrontagainsttheAustrians:sothat,inthatsouthwesternpartespecially;theAustriansdonottryitfarther;but\"retireatfullgallop,\"onsightofthisswiftseizureoftheKeysbyMollendorfandZiethen。FriedrichalsodespatchesinstantordertoRetzow,tojoinhimathisspeediest。Friedricheverywhererearrangeshimself,hither,thither,withskilfulrapidity,innewLineofBattle;stillhopefultodisputewhatisleftofthefield;——longingmuchthatRetzowcouldcomeonwings。

  Bythistime(towardseight,ifImightguess)Dayhasgottheupperhand;theDaunAustriansstandvisibleontheirRingofHeightsallround,behindHochkirchandourlateBattery,ontowestwardandnorthward,asfarasSteindorfelandWaditz;——

  extremelybusyrearrangingthemselvesintosomethingofline;

  therebeingmuchconfusion,muchsimmeringaboutinclumpsandgaps,aftersuchatussle。Infrontofus,toeastward,theappointedAustrianpartiesareproceedingtoattack:butindaylight,andwithoureyesopen,itisathingofdifficulty,anddoesnotprosperasHochkirchdid。DukeD’Ahremberg,ontheirextremeright,hadinchargetoburstinuponourleft,sosoonashesawHochkirchdone:D’Ahrembergdoestry;asdoothersintheirplaces,nearDaun;butwithcomparativelylittlesuccess。

  D’Ahremberg,meetingsomethingofcheckorhindrancewherehetried,pauses,foragoodwhile,tillheseehowothersprosper。

  Theirgrandchanceistheirsuperiorityofnumber;andthefactthatFriedrichcantrynothinguponTHEM,butmuststandpainfullyonthedefensivetillRetzowcome。ToFriedrich,Retzowseemshugelyslowaboutit。Butthetruthis,Baden—Durlach,withhis20,000ofReserve,has,asperorder,madeattackonRetzow,20,000

  against12:oneofthefeeblestattacksconceivable;butsufficienttodetainRetzowtillhegetitrepulsed。RetzowisdiligentasTime,andwillbehere。

  Meanwhile,theAustriansonfrontdo,inasporadicway,attackandagainattackourbatteriesandposts;especiallythatbigBatteryofThirtyGuns,whichwehavetonorthofRodewitz。TheAustriansdotakethatBatteryatlast;andarebeginningagaintobedangerous,——theratherasD’Ahrembergseemsagaintobethinkingofbusiness。ItishightimeRetzowwerehere!FewsightscouldbegladdertoFriedrich,thanthefirstglitterofRetzow’svanguard,——horse,underPrinceEugenofWurtemberg,——beautifullywendingdownfromWeissenbergyonder;skilfullypostingthemselves,atBelgernandelsewhere,asthornsinthesidesofD’Ahremberg(sharpenough,ontrialbyD’Ahremberg)。Followed,beforelong,byRetzowhimself;serenelycrossingLobauWater;and,withgreatcelerity,andthebestofskill,likewisepostinghimself,——hopelesslytoD’Ahremberg,whotriesnothingfarther。Thesunisnowshining;

  itisnowtenoftheday。HadRetzowcomeanhoursooner;——

  eforewelostthatbigBatteryandotherthings!Buthecouldcomenosooner;bethankfulheishereatlast,insuchanoverawingmanner。

  Friedrich,judgingthatnothingnowcanbemadeoftheaffair,ordersretreat。Retreat,whichhadbeengettingschemed,Isuppose,andplannedinthegloomoftheroyalmind,eversincelossofthatbigBatteryatRodewitz。Littletooccupyhim,inthisinterim;

  exceptindignantwaiting,rigorouslysteady,andsomelanguidinterchangeofcannon—shotbetweentheparties。RetreatistoKlein—Bautzenneighborhood(newhead—quarterDoberschutz,outpostsKreckwitzandPurschwitz);fourmilesorsotonorthwest。Ratherashiftingofyourground,whichastonishesthemilitaryreadereversince,thanaretreatingsuchasthecommonrunofusexpected。

  Doneintheusualmasterlymanner;partafterpartmendingoff,Retzowstandingminatoryhere,Mollendorfminatorythere,inthesoftestquasi—rhythmicsequence;CavalryalldrawnoutbetweenBelgernandKreckwitz,baggage—wagonsfilingthroughthePassofDrehsa;——notanAustrianmeddlingwithit,lessormore;DaunandhisAustriansstandingintheirringoffivemiles,gazingintoitlikestonestatues;theirregimentsbeingstillinaconfusedstate,——andtheirDaunanextremelyslowgentleman。[Tempelhof,ii。

  319—336;Seyfarth,Beylagen,i。432—453;

  Helden—Geschichte,v。241—257;Archenholtz,&c。&c。]

  AndinthismannerFriedrich,likeacarelessswimmercaughtintheMahlstrom,hasnotgotswallowedinit;buthasmadesuchabuffetingofit,heishereoutofitagain,withoutbonebroken,——

  not,wehope,withoutinstructionfromtheadventure。Hehaslost101piecesofcannon,mostofhistentsandcamp—furniture;

  and,whatismoreirreparable,above8,000ofhisbravepeople,5,381ofthemand119Officers(KeithandMoritzfortwo)eitherdeadorcaptive。InmentheAustrianloss,itseems,isnotmuchlower,somesayisratherashadehigher;bytheirownaccount,325

  Officers,5,614rankandfile,killedandwounded,——notreckoning1,000prisonerstheylosttous,and\"atleast2,000\"whotookthatchanceofdesertingintheintricatedarkwoods。[Tempelhof,ii。

  336;butseeKausler,p。576。]

  Friedrich,allsay,tookhispunishmentinawonderfullycheerfulmanner。DeCatttheReader,enteringtohimthateveningasusual,theKingadvanced,inatragicdeclamatoryattitude;andgavehim,withpropervoiceandgesture,anappropriatepassageofRacine:——

  \"Enfinapresunan,tumerevois,Arbate,NonpluscommeautrefoiscetheureuxMithridate,Qui,deRometoujoursbalancantledestin,Tenaitentreelleetmoil’universincertain。

  Jesuisvaincu;Pompeeasaisil’avantageD’unenuitquilaissaitpeudeplaceaucourage;

  Messoldatspresquenus,dans\"——……

  NotalittletoDeCatt’scomfort。[Rodenbeck,i。354。]Duringtheretreatitself,RetzowJuniorhadcome,asPapa’sAide—de—Camp,withamessagetotheKing;foundhimontheheightsofKleinBautzen,watchingthemovements。Messagedonewith,theKingsaid,inasmilingtone,\"Daunhasplayedmeaslipperytrickto—day!\"

  \"Ihaveseenit,\"answeredRetzow;\"butitisonlyascratch,whichyourMajestywillsoonmanagetohealagain。\"——\"GLAUBTERDIES,Doyouthinkso?\"\"NotonlyI,butthewholeArmyfirmlybelieveitofyourMajesty。\"——\"Youarequiteright,\"addedtheKing,inaconfidentiallycandidway:\"WewillmanageDaun。WhatIlamentis,thenumberofbravementhathavediedthismorning。\"[Retzow,i。

  359n。]Onthemorrow,hewasheardtosaypublicly:\"Daunhasletusoutofcheck—mate;thegameisnotlostyet。Wewillrestourselveshere,afewdays;thengoforSilesia,anddeliverNeisse。\"TheAnecdote—Books(perhapsnotmythicalIy)addthis:

  \"Whereareallyourguns,though?\"saidtheKingtoanArtilleryman,standingvacantonparade,nextday。\"IHROMAJESTAT,theDevilstolethemall,lastnight!\"——\"Hm,well,wemusthavethembackfromhim。\"[Archenholtz,i。299。]

  NothingimmoderatelydepressiveinHochkirch,itappears;——though,alas,onthefourthdayafter,therecameamessagefromBaireuth;

  whichdidstrikeonedown:\"MynobleWilhelminadead;diedintheveryhourswhilewewerefightinghere!\"[OnacommonBusiness—

  LettertoPrinceHenri,\"Doberschutz,18thOctober,1758,\"isthissuddenbitofAutograph:\"GRANDDIEU,MASOEURDEBAREITH!\"——

  (Schoning,DersiebenjahrigeKrieg,nachderOriginal—

  Correspondens&c。ausdenStaats—Archiven:Potsdam,1851:i。287。)]Readersmustconceiveit:comingunexpectedmoreorless,blackassuddenuniversalhurricane,ontheheartoftheman;asorrowsacred,yetimmeasurable,irremediabletohim;asiftheskytoowerefallingonhishead,inaidofthemeanearthanditsravenings:——ofallthistherecannothingbesaidatpresent。

  Friedrich’sonereliefseemstohavebeenthenecessitylaidonhimofperpetualbattlingwithoutwardbusiness;——wemayfancy,intherapidweeksfollowing,howmuchwaslyingatalltimesinthebackgroundofhismindsuppressedintoitscaves。

  Daun,itappears,wasconsiderablyelated;spentagreatdealofhistime,sopreciousjustatpresent,inwritingdespatches,incongratulatingandbeingcongratulated;——didanelaborateTE—DEUM,orAmbrosianSong,inArtilleryandVOXHUMANA,——whichwiththeadjuncts,sayspleneticpeople,asatKolin,sensiblyassistedFriedrich’saffairs。Daunwasbynomeansofbraggartturn;buttherecognitionofhismatchlessachievementbythegazetteerpublic,whetherinexultationorinlamentation,wasloudanduniversal;

  andthejoy,inViennaandthecognatequarters,knewnoboundsforthetimebeing。Thus,amongothertokens,theHolinessofourLordthePope,blessingHeavenforsuchsuccessagainsttheHeretic,waspleasedtosendhim\"aConsecratedHatandSword,\"——suchastheoldPopeswerewont,verylongago,tobestowondistinguishedChampionsagainsttheHeathen,——(muchjeeredat,andcrowedover,byaprofaneFriedrich[OEuvresdeFrederic,

  xv。122,124,126,&c。&c。:inPREUSS,ii。196,compieteListofthesepoorPieces;whicharehearty,nothypocritical,intheircontemptuonshilarity,buthavelittleothermetit。]):\"theeffectofwhichmiraculousfurnishings,\"saysTempelhof,\"turnedouttobethattheFeldmarschallnevergainedanysuccessmore;\"infact,exceptthatsmallthingonFincknextYear,neverany,asitchanced。DaunhadwithdrawntohisoldCamp,onthedayofHochkirch;leavingonlyadetachmentonthefieldthere:itwasnotforsixorsevendaysmorethathesteptouttotheKreckwitzandPurschwitzneighborhood;morewithinsightofhisvanquishedenemy,——butnothinglikevigilantenoughofwhatmightstillbeinhim,aftersuchvanquishing!——WemustsparethisNote,forthesakeofaheroickindofman,whohadnottoomuchofrewardintheworld:——

  \"TebaycouldnotrecoverKeith’sbody:CroatshadtheplunderingofKeith;otherAustrians,notofCroatkind,carriedthedeadGeneralintoHochkirchChurch:Lacy’semotiononrecognizinghimthere,——

  likeatragicgleamofhisownyouthsuddenlybroughtbacktohim,asinstarlight,piercingandsad,fromtwentyyearsdistance,——iswellknowninBooks。Onthemorrow,Sunday,October15th,Keithhadhonorablesoldier’s—burialthere,——’twelvecannon’salvoingthrice,and’thewholeCorpsofColloredo’withtheirmusketsthrice;

  Lacyaschiefmourner,notwithouttears。Fourmonthsafter,byroyalorder,Keith’sbodywasconveyedtoBerlin;reinterredinBerlin,inastillmoresolemnpublicmanner,withallthehonors,alltheregrets;andKeithsleepsnowintheGarnison—Kirche:——farfrombonnieInverugie;thehoarsesea—windsandcavernsofDunottarsingingvaguerequiemtohishonorablelineandhim,intheimaginationsofsomefew。’MyBrotherleavesmeanoblelegacy,’

  saidtheoldLordMarischal:’lastyearhehadBohemiaunderransom;andhispersonalestateis70ducats,(about25pounds)。

  [Varnhagen,p。261。]

  \"InHochkirchChurchthereisstill,notintheChurchyardasformerly,afine,modestlyimpressiveMonumenttoKeith;modestUrnofblackmarbleonaPedestalofgray,——and,ingoldletters,anInscriptionnoteasilysurpassableinthelapidaryway:……’DUMIN

  PRAELIONONPROCULHINCINCLINATAMSUORUMACIEMMENTEMANUV0CEET

  EXEMPLORESTITUERATPUGNANSUTHEROASDECETOCCUBUIT。D。XIV。

  OCTOBRIS’Thesewordsgothroughyouliketheclangofsteel。

  [InRODENBECK,i。149。Givenalso(verynearlycorrect)inCORRESPONDEENCEOFSIRROBERTMURRAYKEITH(London,1849),i。151。

  ThisisthejuniorofthetwoDiplomaticRoberts,genealogicalcousinsofKeith;bythisone(in1771,not1776asGermanGuide—

  bookshaveit)theHochkirchMonumentwassetup。AveryinterestingCollectionofLETTERSthoseofhis;——editedwiththeusualdarkness,orrathermore。]Friedrich’ssorrowoverhim(’tears,’higheulogies,’LOUAEXTREMEMENT’)isitselfamonument。

  Twentyyearsafter,KeithhadfromhisMasteraStatue,inBerlin。

  OneofFour;totheFourmostdeserving:Schwerin(1771),Winterfeld(1777),Seidlitz(1779,Keith(when?),[Nicolai

  (BeschreibungderResidenzstadte,i。193,194)givesthesedatesfortheThree,andforKeith’snodate。]——whichstillstandintheWilhelmPlatzthere。

  \"HochkirchChurchhasbeeurebuiltinlateyears:aspapiousairyChurch,withgalleries,andrequisites,especiallywithfreeair,lightandcleanliness。Capableperhapsof1,500sitters:halfofthemWends。’Above700skeletons,inoneheap,weredugout,incuttingthenewfoundations。ThestrongouterDooroftheoldChurch,redoak,Ishouldthink,isstillretainedinthatcapacity;stillshowsperhapshalfadozenroughbigquasi—

  KEYHOLES,tornthroughitindifferentparts,anddaylightshiningin,wheretheoldbulletspassed。TheKeithMonument,perhapsfourfeethigh,isontheflaggedfloor,leftsideofthepulpit,closebythewall,——’thebenchwhereKeith’sbodylayhashadtobecasedinnewplank[zincwouldbebetter]againsttheknivesoftourists。’\"

  OldLordMarischal——George,\"MARECHALD’ECOSSE\"ashealwayssignshimself——wasbythistimeseventy—two;King’sGovernorofNeufchatel,foragoodwhilepastandtocome(1754—1763)。

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