第93章
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  SaganTownmaybeabout70milesnorthwardofwhereFriedrichnowis:fromSagan,weretheyonceinthemeridianofSagan,theirroadisfreeeastwardandnorthward;——toCrossenisabout60milesnorth—by—eastfromSagan,toFrankfurtnear100north。SaganisontheBober;Bober,ineveryevent,isbetweentheAustriansandtheiraim。

  Friedrichfeelsthat,howeverdangeroustoquitDaun’sneighborhood,hemust,heinperson,goatonce。Andwho,intheinterim,willwatchDaunandhisenterprises?Friedrich’sreflectionsare:\"Well,inthecrisisofthemoment,Saxony——thoughtherealreadyaremaraudingBodiesofReichsfolkinit——muststillbelefttoitselfforatime;orcannotFinckandhis10,000looktoit?Henri,withhisArmy,nowuselessatBautzen,shallinstantlyrendezvousatSagan;hisArmytogowithme,againsttheRussiansandtheirHaddick—Loudons;HenritoSchmottseifen,insteadofme,andattendtoDaun;Henri,Ihavenootherleft!Finckandhis10,000musttakechargeofSaxony,suchchargeashecan:——howluckythoseSpringForays,whichdestroyedtheReichsMagazines!

  WherebythereisnoReichsArmyyetgotintoSaxony(nothingbutpreliminarypulsesandsplashingsofit);noneyet,norliketobequiteatonce。\"ThatisFriedrich’sswiftplan。

  Henriroseontheinstant,asdideverybodyconcerned:July29th,HenriandArmywereatSagan;ArmywaitingfortheKing;HenrisofaronhisroadtoSchmottseifen。HehadcometoSagan\"byalmosttherapidestmarcheseverheardof,\"——orevertillsomeothersofHenri’sown,whichhemadeinthatneighborhoodsoon。Punctual,he,tohisday;asareEugenofWurtemberg’speople,andallDetachmentsandDivisions:FriedrichhimselfarrivesatSaganthatsame29th,\"aboutmidnight,\"——andfindsplentyofworkwaiting:

  nosleepthesetwonightspast;andnonecomingjustyet!Amostswiftrendezvous。Thespeedofeverybodyhasbeen,andneedsstilltobe,intense。

  ThisrendezvousatSagan——intersectionofHenriandFriedrich,bounddifferentroads(theBrothers,Ithink,didnotpersonallymeet,HenrihavingdrivenoffforSchmottseifenbyashorterroad)

  ——wasSUNDAY,JULY29th。Followingwhich,aresixdaysofsuchahuntforthoseAustrianreynardsasseldomorneverwas!

  Mostvehement,breathless,bafflinghunt;halfofitspentinpainfullybeatingcover,inmerefindingandlosing。Notrightlysuccessful,afterall。Sothat,ontheeighthdayhence,AUGUST

  6th,atMullrose,nearFrankfurt,80milesfromSagan,thereisasecondrendezvous,——rendezvousofWedellandFriedrich,whodonotnow\"intersect,\"butmeetafterthehuntisdone;——andintheinterim,therehasbeenawonderfulperformance,thoughanunsuccessful。FriedrichnevercouldrightlygetholdofhisAustrians。Onceonly,atSommerfeld,alongmarchnorthwestofSagan,hecameuponsomeoutskirtsofthem。Andingeneral,inthoselattereightdays,especiallyinthefirstsixofthem,thereis,inthatKotbus—SaganCountry,suchanintersecting,checking,pushingandmultifarioussimmeringofmarches,onthepartofhalfadozenStrategicEntities,Friedrichthecentreofthem,as——as,I

  think,nobodybutanexpresssoldier—student,wellfurnishedwithadmirationforthisparticularSoldier,wouldconsenttohaveexplainedtohim。Oneofthemaziest,mostunintelligiblewhirlsofmarching;inextricableSwordDance,orDanceoftheFuries,——fiveofthem(thatisthecorrectnumber:Haddick,Loudon,Friedrich,Wurtemberg,Wedell);——anditisflungdownforus,allinahuddle,intheseinhumanBooks(whichhaveseveralerrorsofthepress,too):letnomanrashlyinsistwithhimselfonunderstandingit,unlesshehaveneed!Humanlypulledstraight,notinhumanlyflungdownatrandom,heretheessentialsofitare,——inverybriefstate:——

  \"SAGAN,MONDAY,30thJULY。FriedrichisatSagan,sincemidnightlast,busierandbusier;\"beatingcover,aswetermedit,andgettinghishounds(hisnewHenri—Army)inleash;\"endeavoring,especially,togettidingsofthoseAustrianpeople;whoareveryenigmatic,——Loudonadexterousman,——andhavehungupsuchacurtainofPandoursbetweenFriedrichandthemasisnearlyimpenetrable。InthecourseofthisMondayFriedrichascertainsthattheyareverilyontheroad;comingeastward,forSommerfeld,——’thenceforCrossen!’heneedsnoghosttotellhim。Wherefore,\"TUESDAY,SAGANTONAUMBURG。TuesdaybeforedaybreakFriedrichtooisontheroad:northwestward;infullmarchtowardsNaumburgonBober,meaningtocatchtheBridgefromthemthere。Marchoftheswiftest;hehimselfisahead,asusual,withtheVanguardofHorse。HereachesNaumburg(northward,amarchof20miles);

  finds,notHaddickorLoudon,butaDetachmentoftheirs:whichheatonceoversetswithhiscavalry,andchases,——markingwithalthat’westwardisthewaytheyrun。’Westward;andthatwearestillahead,thankHeaven!

  \"BeforehisInfantryareallup,orarewellrestedinNaumburg,Friedrichascertains,onmoreprecisetidings,thattheAustriansareinSommerfeld,towestward(againa20miles);andjudgesThat,nodoubt,theywillbearoffmoretoleftward,byGubenprobably,andtrytoavoidhim,——unlesshecanstillcatchtheminSommerfeld。AboutnightfallhemarchesforSommerfeld,athisswiftest;arrivesWednesdayearly;finds——alas!——

  \"SOMMERFELD,WEDNESDAYMORNING,AUGUST1st,FriedrichfindsthatLoudonwastherelastnight,——preteritetense,alas;thequestionnowbeing,Whereishe!\"Infact,LoudonhadwrittenyesterdaytoDaun(Letterstillextant,\"Sommerfeld,July31st\"),That\"beingswiftandlight,\"consistingofhorseformostpart,\"hemayprobablyeffectJunctionthisverynight;\"——buthasalteredhismindverymuch,onsightofthesefugitivesfromNaumburg,since!

  Andhasborneoffmoretoleftward。Straightnorthnow,andataverybriskpace;beingnowallofhorse;——andhasanimportantconferencewithHaddickatGuben,whentheyarrivethere。\"NotinSommerfeld?\"thinksFriedrich(earnestlysurveying,throughthisslithehasmadeinthePandourveil):\"GonetoGubenmostlikely,bearingofffromustoleftward?\"——Whichwasthefact;thoughnotthewholefact。Andindeedthechaseisnowagainfallenuncertain,andtherehastobesomebeatingofcovers。Foronething,helearnsto—day(August1st)thattheRussiansaregonetoFrankfurt:

  \"Followthem,youWedell,\"——ordersFriedrich:themweshallhavetogointo,——howeverthishuntend!——

  \"ToMarkersdorf,Thursday,August2d。FriedrichtakestheroadforGuben;reachesMarkersdorf(twentymiles’march,stillsevenoreightfromGuben);fallsupon——Whatphenomenonisthis?

  TheAustrianheavyTrain;meal—wagonsnotafew,andaregimentoffootinchargeofit;——butgoingthewrongway,notTOWARDStheRussians,butfromthem!Whatonearthcanthisbe?ThisisHaddick,——ifFriedrichcouldyetclearlyknowit,——HaddickandTrain,whoforhisownparthasgivenupthejunctionenterprise。

  AtGuben,somehoursago,hehadconferencewithLoudon;andthiswastheconclusionarrivedat:’Impossible,withthatKingsonear!

  You,HerrLoudon,pushon,withoutheavybaggage,andwiththeCavalryaltogether:youcangetin,almost20,000strong;I,withtheInfantry,withthemealandheavyguns,willturn,andmakefortheLausitzagain!’

  \"ThismysteriousAustrianTrain,goingthewrongway,Friedrichattacks,whateveritbe(hoping,Isuppose,itmightbetheAustriansaltogether);chasesitvigorously;snatchesallthemeal—

  wagons,andabout1,000prisoners。Uncertainstillwhatitis,——ifnottheAustriansaltogether?Tohissorrow,hefinds,onpushingfartherintoit,thatitisonlyHaddickandtheInfantry;

  thatLoudon,withthe20,000Horse,willhavegoneoffforFrankfurt;——irretrievablyahead,theswiftLoudon,——evercareeringnorthwardallthiswhile,sincethatafternoonatSommerfeld,whenthefugitivesalteredhisopinion:anowunattainableLoudon。

  InthecourseofThursdaynight,FriedrichhassatisfiedhimselfthattheLoudonjunctionisathingasgoodasdone;——ineffect,LoudondidgettoFrankfurt,morningofAugust3d,andjoinedtheRussiansthere;andaboutthesametime,oronlyafewhourssooner,Friedrich,bysymptoms,hasdivinedthathishunthasended,inthisratherunsuccessfulway;andthatchasingofHaddickisnottheroadtogo。\"[Tempelhof,iii。135—139。]

  NotHaddicknow;withorwithouttheirAustrians,itshallbetheRussiansnow!Twodaysago(Wednesday,aswasmentioned),beforesightofthoseenigmaticmeal—wagons,FriedrichhadlearnedthattheRussiansweretobeinFrankfurtagain;andhadorderedWedelltomarchthitherward,atanyrate。WhichWedellisdoing,allthisThursdayandthefourfollowingdays。Asdoeslikewise,fromandafter\"FRIDAY,AUGUST3d,1A。M。\"(huntthenover),Friedrichhimself,——renouncingHaddickandthehunt。StraighttowardsFrankfurtthenceforth;head—quartersBeeskowthatnight;

  nextnight,Mullrose,whitherWedellisappointed,withintwelvemilesofFrankfurt。ThisistheendofFriedrich’ssoreChaseandMarch;burntdeeplyintohisownwearybrain,ifoursstillrefuseitadmittance!Here,ofutterlyfatiguedtone,isaNoteofhis,chieflyonbusiness,toMinisterFinkenstein。Indeedthereare,withinthenexttendays,ThreesuccessiveNotestoFinkenstein,whichwillbeworthreadingintheirdueplaces。ThisistheFirstofthem:——

  THEKINGTOGRAFVONFINKENSTEIN(atBerlin)。

  \"BEESKOW,3dAugust,1759。\"

  \"Iamjustarrivedhere,aftercruelandfrightfulmarchings[CHECKSHIMSELF,HOWEVER]。Thereisnothingdesperateinallthat;

  andIbelievethenoiseanddisquietudethishurly—burlyhascausedwillbetheworstofit。ShowthisLettertoeverybody,thatitmaybeknowntheStateisnotundefended。Ihavemadeabove1,000

  prisonersfromHaddick。Allhismeal—wagonshavebeentaken。

  Finck,Ibelieve,willkeepaneyeonhim,\"andsecureBerlinfromattemptsofhis。\"ThisisallIcansay。

  \"To—morrowImarchtowithintwoleaguesofFrankfurt[toMullrose,namely]。Katte[theMinisterwhohaschargeofsuchthings]mustsendmeinstantlyTwoHundredWispels[saytons]ofMeal,andBakersOneHundred,toFurstenwalde。IshallencampatWulkow。Iamverytired。ForsixnightsIhavenotclosedaneye。Farewell。——F。\"

  DuringtheaboveintricateWar—DanceofFive,——thedaywhileFriedrichwasatSommerfeld,thedaybeforehecameinsightofHaddick’smeal—wagonsgoingthewrongroad,——therewenton,atMinden,ontheWeser,threehundredmilesaway,abeautifulfeatofWar,inthehighestdegreesalutarytoDukeFerdinandandBritannicMajesty’sMinistry;featwhichrequiresawordfromushere。

  AreallysplendidVictory,thisofMinden,August1st:

  FrenchdrivenheadlongthroughthePassesthere;their\"ConquestofHanoverandWeserCountry\"quiteexplodedandflungoverthehorizon;andDukeFerdinandrelievedfromallhisdistresses,andlordoftheascendantagaininthoseparts。HighlyinterestingtoFriedrich;——especiallytoPrinceHenri;whoseapprehensionsaboutFerdinandandtheoldRichelieuHastenbeck—Halberstadttimereturningonus,havebeenverygreat;andwhonow,atSchmottseifen,firesFEU—DE—JOIEforitwithallhisheart。ThisisaBattlestillofsomeinteresttoEnglishreaders。ButcanEnglishreadersconsenttohaltinthishotpinchoftheFriedrichcrisis;

  andreadthebriefestthingwhichisforeigntoit?Alas,Ifeartheycan;——andwillinserttheNotehere:——

  BATTLEOFMINDEN:WEDNESDAY,AUGUST1st,1759。———\"EversinceBergen,thingshavegoneawrywithFerdinand,andinspiteofskilfulmanagement,ofhardstrugglesandbrightsparklesofsuccess,hehashadabadCampaignofit。TheFrench,itwouldseem,arereallygotintobetterfightingorder;Belleisle’sexertionsasWar—Ministerhavebeenalmostwonderful,——insomerespects,TOOwonderful,asweshallhear!——andBroglioandContades,incomparisonwithClermontandSoubise,haverealsoldierqualities。Contades,acrossRhineagain,inthoseWeserCountries,whoisskilfulinhisway,andisprickedonbyemulationofBroglio,hasbeenspreadinghimselfoutsteadilyprogressivethere;whileBroglio,pushingalongfromFrankfurt—on—

  Mayn,hasconqueredHessen;isintoHanover;ontheedgeofconqueriugHanover,——whichhowisFerdinandtohinder?

  Ferdinandhasgottwo,ifnotthreeArmiestodealwith,andinnumberisnotmnchsuperiortoone。IfheruntosaveHanoverfromBroglio,helosesWestphalia:Osnabruck(hismagazine)?Munster,Lippstadt,——Contades,iflefttohimself,willtakethese,aftershortsiege;andwillnestlehimselfthere,andthenadvance,notlikeatransitoryfever—fit,butlikevisibledeath,onHanover。

  Ferdinand,rapidyetwary,manoeuvredhisverybestamongthoseinterestsofhis,ontheleftbankofWeser;butafterthesurprisalofMindenfromhim(brilliantlydonebyBroglio,andtheaidofatreacherouspeasant),especiallyafterthecaptureofOsnabruck,hisoutlooksaregloomytoadegree:andatVersailles,andatMindenwhereContadeshasestablishedhimself,’theConquestofHanover’(beautifulcounterweighttoallone’slossesinAmericaorelsewhere)isregardedasacertaintyofthisYear。

  \"ForthelasttendaysofJuly,aboutMinden,themanoeuvring,especiallyonFerdinand’spart,hadbeenintense;agreatideaintheheadofFerdinand,moreorlessunintelligibletoContades。

  Contades,withsome30,000,whichisthebetterhalfofhisforce,hastakenoneoftheunassailablestpositions。Helieslookingnorthward,hisrightwingontheWeserwithpoststoMinden(Mindenperhapsamilenortheastwardthere),onhisleftimpassablepeat—

  bogsandquagmires;infrontaquaggyRiverorimpassableblackBrook,calledtheBastau,comingfromthewestward,whichdisemboguesatMinden:[SketchofPlan,p。238]——thereliesContades,asifinarabbit—hole,saymilitarymen;fordefence,ifthatwerethesoleobject,nopostcanbestronger。Contadeshasinpersonsay30,000;androundhim,onbothsidesoftheWeser,areBrogliowith20,000;besidesotherDivisions,Iknownothowmany,besiegingMunster,capturingOsnabruck(ourhaymagazine),attemptingLippstadtbysurprise(tonopurpose),anddiligentlyworkingforward,daybyday,toFerdinand’sruininthoseMindenregions。ThreeorfourDivisionsbusyinthatmanner;——andaboveall,wesay,hehasBrogliowitha20,000ontherightoreastbankoftheWeser,——who,ifFerdinandquithimevenforaday,seemstohaveHanoveratdiscretion,andcanmarchanydayuponHanoverCity,wherehislighttroopshavealreadybeenmorethanonce。

  Whydoesn’tFerdinandcrossWeser,re—crossWeser;coerceBroglioback;andsaveHanover?crytheGazetteersandaPublicofweakjudgment。Pitt’sPublicisinclinedtomurmuraboutFerdinand;

  Pitthimselfnever。FerdinandpersistsinstickingbyMindenneighborhood,——and,inascarcelyaccountableway,manoeuvringthere,shootingouttherefromwhatmischiefhecanuponthevariousContadespeopleintheirsiegesandthelike。

  \"OnContadeshimselfhecanpretendtodonothing,——excepthoodwinkhim,enticehimout,andtrytogetachanceonhim。Butforhisownsubsistenceandotherwise,heisverylively;——snatches,byasuddenstroke,BremenCity:’Yestruly,BremenisaReichstadt;

  norshallYOUsnatchit,asyoudidFrankfurt;butIwill,instead;

  andmyEnglishproviant—shipsshallhaveasurehavenhenceforth!’

  SnatchesBremenbyonesuddenstroke;RE—snatchesOsnabruckbyanother(’ourmagazineconsiderablyINCREASEDsinceyouhavehadit,manythanks!’);doesloseMunster,tohissorrow;

  butneverthelesssticksbyhisgroundhere;——naydetacheshisswift—cuttingNephew,theHereditaryPrince,whoisgrowingfamousforsuchthings,tocutoutContades’sstrongposttosouthward(Gohfeld,tenmilesuptheWeser),whichguardshismeal—wagons,aftertheirlongjourneyfromthesouth。ThatisContades’soneweakpoint,inthispostureofthings:hismealisatCassel,seventymilesoff。Broglioandheseeclearly,’TillwecangetanewmagazinemuchnearerHanover,oratlowest,canclearoutthesepeoplefrominfestingushere,thereisnomovingnorthward!’

  TobothContadesandBrogliothatisanevidentthing:

  thecorollarytowhichis,TheymustfightFerdinand;mustwatchlynx—liketillachanceturnupofbeatinghiminfight。Thatistheiroutlook;andFerdinandknowsitis,——andmanoeuvresaccordingly。Militarymenadmiremuch,nothismovementsonly,buthisclearinsightintoContades’sandBroglio’stemperofmind,andbywhatmethodstheyweretobehandled,theyandhisownaffairstogether,andbroughtwhitherhewantedthem。[InMAUVILLON(ii。

  41—44)minuteaccountofallthat。]

  \"ThisattemptonGohfeldwasaseriousmischieftoContades,ifitsucceeded。ButthedetachingofthePrinceofBrunswickonit,andweakeningone’stooweakArmy,’Whatarashness,whatanoversight!’thinksContades(asFerdinandwishedhimtodo):

  ’Isourskilfulenemy,inthisextremeembarrassment,losinghead,then?Lookathisleftwingyonder[GeneralWangenheim,sittingbehindbatteries,inhisVillageofTodtenhausen,lookingintoMindenfromthenorth]:——Wangenheim’sleftleansontheWeser,yes;

  butWangenheim’sright,observe,hasnosupportwithinthreemilesofit:tearWangenheimout,Ferdinand’sflankisbare!’

  ThesethingsseemedtoContadestheverychancehehadbeenwaitingfor;andbroughthimtriumphantlyoutofhisrabbit—hole,intotheHeathofMinden,asFerdinandhopedtheywoulddo。

  \"Andso,TUESDAYEVENING,JULY31st,thingsbeingnowallripe,upwardsof50,000Frenchareindustriouslyinmotion。ContadeshasnineteenbridgesreadyontheBastauBrook,infrontofhim;

  TATTOOthisnight,inContades’sCamp,istomeanGENERALMARCH,’March,allofyou,acrossthesenineteenBridges,toyourstationsonthePlainorHeathofMindenyonder,——andbepunctual,liketheclock!’BrogliocrossesWeserbythetownBridge,rankshimselfoppositeTodtenhausen;andthroughthelivelongnightthereis,onthepartofthe50,000French,averygreatmarchinganddeploying。

  ContadesandBrogliotogetherare51,400footandhorse。

  Ferdinand’sentireforcewillbenear46,000;butonthedayofBattleheisonly36,000,——havingdetachedtheHereditaryPrinceonGohfeld,inwhatviewweknow。——TheBATTLEOFMINDEN,calledalsoofTONHAUSEN(meaningTODTENhausen),whichhereuponfellout,hasstillitsfameintheworld;and,Iperceive,iswellworthstudybythesoldiermind:thoughnothingbuttheroughoutlineofitispossiblehere。

  \"Ferdinand’spostsextendfromtheWeserriverandTodtenhausenroundbyStemmern,Holzhausen,toHartumandtheBogofBastau(thechiefpartofhimtowardsBastau),——invariousVillages,andwoodypatchesandfavorablespots;alllookinginuponMinden,fromadistanceoffiveorsevenmiles;formingakindofarc,withMindenforcentre。HewillmarchupineightColumns;ofcourse,withwideintervalsbetweenthem,——wide,butcontinuallynarrowingasheadvances;whichwillindeedberuinousgaps,ifFerdinandwaittobeattacked;butwhichwillcoalescecloseenough,ifhebespeedyuponContades。ForContades’slineisalsoofarc—likeoralmostsemicircularform,behinditMindenascentre;Minden,whichisattheintersectionofWeserandtheBrook;hisrightflankisonWeser,BroglioVERSUSWangenheimtheextremeright;hisleft,withinfantryandartillery,restsonthatblackBrookofBastauwithitsnineteenBridges。Asthegroundonbothwingsisrough,notsofitforCavalry,ContadesputshisCavalrywhollyinthecentre:

  theyarethefloweroftheFrenchArmy,about10,000horseinall;

  firmopengroundaheadofthemthere,withstrongbatteries,massesofinfantrytosupportoneachflank;batteriestoplywithcross—

  fireanyassailantthatmaycomeon。Broglio,wesaid,isrightwing;stronginartilleryandinfantry。BroglioistorootoutWaugenheim:afterwhich,——orevenbeforewhich,ifWangenheimiskeptbusyandwearenimble,——whatbecomesofFerdinand’sleftflank,withagapofthreemilesbetweenWangenheimandhim,and10,000chosenhorsetotakeadvantageofit!HadtheFrenchbeenofPrussiandexterityandnimblenessinmarching,itisverypossiblesomethingmighthavecomeofthislattercircumstance:butFerdinandknowstheyarenot;andintendstotakegoodcareofhisflank。

  \"Contadesandhispeoplewereofwillingmind;buthadnoskillin’marchiugup:’and,oncegotacrosstheBastaubytheirnineteenBridges,theywastedmanyhours:——’Toofar,amI?notfarenough?

  Tooclose?notcloseenough?’——andbroiledabout,inmuchhurryandconfusion,allnight。Fightwastohavebegunat5inthemorning。

  Brogliowasinhisplace,silentlylookingintoWangenheim,byfiveo’clock;butunfortunatelydidnothinguponWangenheim(’Notreadyyou,Isee!’),exceptcannonadealittle;——andindeedallthroughdidnothing(’Stillnotreadyyouothers!’);whichsurelywasquestionableconduct,thoughnotreckonedsoatVersailles,whenthecasecametobearguedthere。AstotheContadespeople,acrossthosenineteenBridges,theyhadabafflingconfusednight;

  andwerebynomeanscorrectlyontheirgroundatsunrise,norat7o’clock,norat8;andwerestillmendingthemselveswhentheshockcame,andtimewasdone。

  \"Themorningisverymisty;butFerdinandhashimselfbeenoutexaminingsincetheearliestdaybreak:hisorderslastnightwere,’Cavalrybesaddledat1inthemorning,’——havingaguessthattherewouldbework,ashenowfindstherewill。From5A。M。

  FerdinandisissuingfromhisCamp,flowingdowneastward,beautifullyconcentric,closingonContades;horseNOTincentre,butEnglishInfantryincentre(SixBattalions,orSixREGIMENTSbyEnglishreckoning);rightoppositethose10,000HorseofContades’s,thesightofwhomseemstobeveryanimatingtothem。

  TheEnglishCavaIrystandontherightwing,attheVillageofHartum:LordGeorgeSackvillehadnotbeenverypunctualinsaddlingat1o’clock;butheisthere,rankedontheground,at8,——inwhathumornobodyknows;sulkyandflabby,Ishouldratherguess。EnglishTourists,idleotherwise,maytakealookatHartumonthesouthside,asthespotwhereaveryuglythingoccurredthatday。

  \"Soonafter8theFightbegins:attack,bycertainHessians,onHahlenanditsbatteries;attempttodrivetheFrenchoutofHahlen,asthefirstthing,——whichdoesnotsucceedatonce(indeedtookthreeattacksinall);andperhapslooksrathertedioustothoseSixEnglishBattalions。Ferdinand’sordertothemwas,’Youshallmarchuptoattack,youSix,onsoundofdrum;’but,itseems,theyreadit,’BYsoundofdrum;’’Beatingourowndrums;

  yes,ofcourse!’——and,beingwearyofthisHahlenwork,orfancyingtheyhadnoconcernwithit,strodeon,double—quick,withoutwaitingforHahlenatall!TothehorroroftheirHanoveriancomrades,whoneverthelessdeterminedtofollowassecondline。

  ’TheContadescross—fireofartillery,batteryof30gunsononeflank,of36ontheother,doesitsbestuponthisforward—mindedInfantry,buttheyseemtoheeditlittle;walkrightforward;

  and,totheastonishmentofthoseFrenchHorseandofalltheworld,entirelybreakandruinthechargemadeonthem,andtrampforwardinchaseofthesame。The10,000Horsefeelastonished,insulted;andrushoutagain,furiouslycharging;theEnglishhaltandserrythemselves:’Nofiretilltheyarewithinfortypaces;’

  andthensuchpouringtorrentsofitasnohorseormancanendure。

  Rallyafterrallythereis,onthepartofthose10,000;massaftermassofthemindignantlyplungeson,——again,everagain,aboutsixchargesinall;——butdonotbreaktheEnglishlines:oneofthem(regimentMestrede—Camp,raisedtoaparoxysm)doesoncegetthrough,acrossthefirstline,butisblownbackindreadfulcircumstancesbythesecond。Afterwhichtheygiveitup,asathingthatcannotbedone。Andrushrearward,hither,thither,thewholeseventy—fivesquadronsofthem;and’betweentheirtwowingsofinfantryareseenboilingincompletedisorder。’

  \"Thishaslastedaboutanhour:thisisessentiallythesouloftheFight,——thoughtherewantednototheractivities,torightofitandtoleft,onbothsides;artilleriesgoingatamightyrateonbothwings;andcounter—artilleries(superlativepractice’byCaptainPhillips’onOURrightwing);BrogliocannonadingWangenheimveryloudly,butwithlittleharmdoneorsuffered,ontheirrightwing。WangenheimiswatchfulofthatgapbetweenFerdinandandhim,tillitcloseitselfsufficiently。Theirright—

  wingInfantrydidoncemakesomeattemptthere;butthePrussianHorse——(alwaysasmallbodyofPrussiansserveinthisAlliedArmy)——shotout,andinabrilliantmannersweptthemhomeagain。

  PLANOFBATTLEHERE——PAGE239,BOOKX1X———————————————

  ArtilleryandthatprettychargeofPrussianHorsearealloneremembers,exceptthisoftheEnglishandHanoverFootinthecentre:’anunsurpassablething,’saysTempelhof(thoughitsoeasilymighthavebeenafatal!)——whichhassetContades’scentreboiling,andreducedContadesaltogethertowater,asitwere。

  Contadessaidbitterly:’IhaveseenwhatIneverthoughttobepossible,——asinglelineofinfantrybreakthroughthreelinesofcavalryrankedinorderofbattle,andtumblethemtoruin!’

  [Stenzel,v。204。]

  \"Thiswasthefeat,thishour’sworkinthecentre,theessentialsouloftheFight:——andhadLordGeorgeSackville,GeneraloftheHorse,comeonwhengallopedforandbidden,herehadbeensucharuin,sayalljudges,asseldomcameuponanArmy。LordGeorge——everlastingdisgraceandsorrowonthenameofhim——couldnotseehiswaytocomingon;delayed,haggled;wouldnotevenletGranby,hislieutenant,come;notforasecondAdjutant,notforathird;nevercameonatall;butrodetothePrince,asking,’HowamItocomeon?’Who,withapolitenessIcanneverenoughadmire,didnotinstantlykillhim,butanswered,inmildtone,’Milord,theopportunityisnowpast!’WherebyContadesescapedruin,andwasonlybeaten。Byabout10inthemorningallwasover。Whenaman’scentreisgonetowater,nopartofhimisfarfromthefluidstate。Contadesretreatedintohisrabbit—holebythosenineteenbridges,——welltormented,theysay,byCaptainPhillips’sartillery,tillhegotbeyondtheknollsagain。Broglio,whohadneverbeeninmusket—fireatall,buthadmerelybarkedonWangenheimallmorning,insteadofbiting,coveredtheretreat,andwithdrewintoMinden。AndweareabeatenArmy,——thankstoLordGeorge,notanannihilatedone。Ourlossbeingonly7,086(withheavyguns,colors,cavalryflagsandthelike);theirsbeing2,822,——fullhalfofitfallingonthoserashSixBattalions。

  [Mauvillon,ii。44—60;Tempelhof,iii。154—179,&c。&c。:

  andProceedingsofaCourt—Martial,heldattheHorse—

  Guards,7th—24thMarchand25thMarch—5thApril,1760,inTrialofLordGeorgeSackville(London,1760)。InKnesebeck,FerdinandwahrenddessiebenjahrigenKrieges

  (i。395),Ferdinand’sLettertoFriedrichof\"July31st;\"and(i。398—418andii。33—36)manyspecialdetailsaboutSackvilleand\"August1st。\"

  \"AndwhatisthisonehearsfromGohfeldintheevening?

  TheHereditaryPrince,busythereonusduringtheveryhoursofMinden,hasblownourrear—guarddivisiontothewindsthere;——andwemustmovesouthward,oneandallofus,withoutamoment’sdelay!Outofthisrabbit—holetheretreatbyrearwardisthroughadifficultcountry,theWestphalianGatessocalled;fataltoVarus’sLegionslongago。Contadesgotunderwaythatverynight;

  lostmostofhisbaggage,allhisconquests,thatshadow—conquestofHanover,andmorethanallhisglories(Versaillesshriekingonhim,’Resignyou;letBrogliobechief,);——and,onthewhole,jumbledhomewardhitherandthither,gravitatingtowardstheRhine,nothingbutWeseltodependoninthoseparts,asheretofore。

  BroglioretreatedFrankfurt—way,alsoasusual,thoughnotquitesofar;andatVersailleshadclearlythevictory。ZealousBelleislecouldnotprotecthisContades;itisnotknownwhetherheprivatelyblamedContadesorblamedBroglioforlossofMinden。

  Zealousoldman,whatalosstohimselfwithalhadMindenbeen!

  Thatshadow—conquestofHanoverisquitevanished:andworse,inFerdinand’sspoilwerecertainLETTERSfromBelleisletoContades,inculcatingstrangethings;——forexample,’ILFAUTFAIREUNDESERT

  DUPAYS[allHessen,Ithink,lestFerdinandadvanceonyou]DEVANT

  L’ARMEE,’andthelike。WhichFerdinandsawgoodtopublish,andwhichresoundedratherhideouslythroughthegeneralmind。\"

  [WeretakenatDetmold(Tempelhof,iii。223);OldNewspapersfullofExcerptsfromthem,intheweeksfollowing。]

  IgnominiousSackvillewastriedbyCourt—martial;cashiered,declaredincapableofagainservinghisMajesty\"inanymilitarycapacity;\"——perhapsamildwayofsignifyingthathewantedthecommoncourageofasoldier?ZealousMajesty,alwaysparticularinsoldiermatters,proclaimeditofficiallytobe\"asentenceworsethandeath;\"andfurthermore,withhisownroyalhand,takingthepenhimself,struckoutSackvillefromtheListofPrivy—

  Councillors。Propersurely,andindispensable;——andshouldhavebeenpersistedin,likeFate;which,inanewReign,itwasnot!

  Fortherest,therewasalways,andis,somethingofenigmainSackville’spalpablybadcase。ItisdifficulttothinkthataSackvillewantedcommoncourage。ThisSackvillefoughtduelswithpropriety;inprivatelife,hewasasurly,domineeringkindoffellow,andhadnoappearanceofwantingspirit。Itisknown,hedidnotloveDukeFerdinand;farfromit!Maynothehavebeenofpeculiarlysourhumorthatmorning,thelucklessfool;

  sulkyagainstFerdinand,andhis\"saddlingatoneo’clock;\"

  sulkyagainsthimself,againsttheworldandmankind;andflabbilydisinclinedtoheroicpracticesforthemoment?Andthemomentcame;andthemanwasnotthere,exceptinthatfoggy,flabbyandforeverruinouscondition!Archenholtz,aloneofWriters,judgesthatheexpresslywantedtospoiltheBattleofMindenandFerdinand’sreputation,andtogetappointedCommanderinhisstead。Wonderful;butmayhavesomevestigeofbasis,too!

  True,thisSackvillewasasfittoleadthecoursesofthestarsastoleadarmies。ButsuchaSackvillehasambition,and,whatisfatallymorepeculiartohim,achanceforunfoldingit;——anyblockheadhasanambitioncapable,ifyouencourageitsufficiently,ofrunningtotheinfinite。Enoughofthisparticularblockhead;andmayitbelongbeforeweseehislikeagain!——

  TheEnglishCavalrywasinaragewithSackville。OftheEnglishInfantry,Historianssay,whatisnotnowmuchheardofinthisCountry,\"ThattheseunsurpassableSix[inindustriousvalorunsurpassable,thoughtheymistookorders,andmighthavefaredbadly!]areeversincecalledtheMindenRegiments;thattheyarethe12th,20th,23d,25th,37thand51stoftheBritishLine;

  andcarry’Minden’ontheircolors,\"[Kausler,Schlachter,&c。p,587。]——withsilentprofit,Ihope!

  FancyhowPitt’spublic,latelygloomyanddubious,blazedaloftintojoyfulcertaintyagain!Pitt’soutlookshavebeenreallygloomyallthisseason;norarethedifficultiesyetended,thoughwehopetheywillend。LetusaddthisotherbitofSynchronism,whichisstillofadverseaspect,overSeas;andwillbepungentlyinterestingtoPittandEngland,whentheycometohearofit。

  \"BEFOREQUEBEC,JULY31st,1759。ThissameEvening,atQuebec,ontheothersideoftheAtlantic,——eveningatQuebec,9or10atnightforContadesandhisnineteenBridges,——thereisadifficultaffairgoingon。AboveandbelowtheFallsofMontmorenci,andtheiroutflowintotheSt。Lawrence:attemptonGeneralWolfe’sparttopenetratethroughupontheFrench,underMarquisdeMontcalm,FrenchCommander—in—chief,andtogetastrokeatQuebecandhim。FromthesouthsideoftheSt。Lawrence,nothingcanbedoneuponQuebec,suchthedistanceover。FromIsled’Orleansandthenorthside,itisalsoimpossiblehitherto。EasyenoughtobattertheLowerTown,fromyourshipsandredoubts:buttheHighTowntowersaloftonitssheerpinnacles,inaccessibleeventocannon;looksdownontheskilfulestBritishAdmiralandFleetasifwithanairofindifference,——tryinghimondarknightswithfire—ships,fire—rafts,thecunningestkindsofpyrotechny,whichheskilfullytowsaside。

  \"Astrenuousthing,thisofWolfe’s;thoughanunsuccessful。

  Towardsevening,theendofit;allQuebecassembledonthesouthernramparts,witnessingwithintenseinterest;thesublimeFallsofMontmorencigushingon,totallyindifferent。Foraboutamonthpast,GeneralWolfe,withtheproperequipments,andabout10,000men,navalandmilitary,whowasexpresslyselectedbyPitttobesiegeQuebec,andisdyingtosucceed,hasbeentryingeveryschemetogetintocontactwithit:——tonopurpose,solofty,chasmy,rockyistheground,cutbymountainousprecipicesandtorrentstreams,branchesofthegrandSt。LawrenceRiver;

  soskilfullytakenadvantageofbyMontcalmandhispeople,whoareathomehere,andinregularsnearlyequalWolfe,nottospeakofSavagesandCanadians,Wolfe’splanofthe31stwasnotilllaid;

  andtheexecutionhasbeenzealous,seamenandlandsmenalikeofwillingmind;——butitmetwithaccidents。Accidentsinboating;

  thenastillworseaccidentonlanding;theregimentofgrenadiers,whichcrossedbelowtheFalls,having,sosoonaslanded,rushedoffontheredoubtthereontheirownscore,withoutwaitingforthetwobrigadesthatweretocrossandco—operateABOVEtheFalls!

  WhichcutWolfetotheheart;andinducedhim,especiallyasthetidewasmakingagain,togiveuptheenterprisealtogether,andrecalleverybody,whileitwasyettime。[Gentleman’sMagazinefor1759,pp。470—473;Thackeray,i。488。]

  Wolfeisstrictindiscipline;lovesthewillingmind,nonemore,andcankindleitamongthoseabouthim;buthelovesdisciplinewithal,andknowshowfatalthetoowillingmaybe。ForsixweeksmorethereistoilonthebackoftoileverywhereforpoorWolfe。

  Hefallsintofevers,intomiseries,almostintobrokenheart;——

  nothingsuretohimbutthatofdoinghisownpoorutmosttotheverydeath。Aftersixweeks,weshallperhapshearofhimagain。

  Glidingswiftlytowardsdeath;butalsotowardsvictoryandthegoalofallhiswishes。\"

  Andnow,afterthisflighthalfroundtheworld,itistimewereturntoOderCountry,andaFriedrichontheedgeofformidablethingsthere。NextdayafterBeeskow,wherewelefthim,hedulyarrivedatMullrose;wasjoinedbyWedellthere,August6th;andisnowatWulkow,——\"encampedbetweenLebusandWulkow,\"aswehearelsewhere;——quiteintheenvironsofFrankfurtandofgreatevents。

  FRIEDRICHTOGRAFVONFINKENSTEIN(SecondNote)。

  WULKOW,8thAugust,1759。

  \"Ifyouhearoffiringto—morrow,don’tbesurprised;itisourrejoicingfortheBattleofMinden。IbelieveIshallhavetokeepyouinsuspensesomedaysyet。Ihavemanyarrangementstomake;

  Ifindgreatdifficultiestosurmount,——anditisrequiredtosaveourCountry,nottoloseit:Ioughtbothtobemoreprudentandmoreenterprisingthanever。Inaword,IwilldoandundertakewhateverIfindfeasibleandpossible。Withallthat,Iseemyselfinthenecessityofmakinghaste,tocheckthedesignsHaddickmayhaveonBerlin。Adieu,MONCHER。Inalittle,youwillhaveeitheraDEPROFUNDISoraTEDEUM。——F。\"[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxv。305,306。]

  ChapterIV。

  BATTLEOFKUNERSDORF。

  Sunday,July29th,atFrankfurt—on—Oderdivineworshipwasbrokeninupon,andthepoorCitythrownintoconsternation,byactualadvent,orasgoodasadvent,oftheRussians:\"OntheCrossenroad,closeby;coming,come!\"Andtheydidundeniablyappear,nextmorning,inforce;ontheopposite,easternorKunersdorfsideoftheRiver,onthetopoftheOder—Damthere;anddemandedinstantadmission,underpenaltyofgeneraldeathbyfire。

  WithintheTownstoodMajorArnim,aVeteranofthoseparts,with400militia;these,withtheirmusketsandwithtwocannon,aretheonlydefenceofFrankfurt,TheTownhasGates;butitswalls,I

  doubt,aremainlygarden—wallsandhouse—walls。Ontheeasternside,theRiver,especiallyifyouhavecannonontheBridge,givesitsomethiugofprotection;butonthewesternandallothersides,itisoverhungbyheights。ThisFrankfurt,likeitsbiggerNamesakeontheMayn,isknownasabusytradingplace,itsFairsmuchfrequentedinthoseEasternparts;andisbelievedbytheRussianstobefarricherthanitis。Thereader,astherehappenstobeoculartestimonyextant,[JohannZudwigKriele,SCHLACHTBEI

  KUNERSDORF,MIT&C。(Berlin,1801)。KrielewassubsequentPastorintheParish,anexcellentintelligentman:hascompiledinbriefform,withanelaborateCharttoo,aclearaccountofeverything,intheBattleandbeforeandafterit。]mayliketoseealittlehowtheybehavedthere。

  \"Arnim,takingsurveyoftheRussianParty,valuesit,orwhathecanseeofit,at1,000[theyreallywere6,000];keepshisDrawbridgeup;andanswersstoutlyenough,’No。’Uponwhich,fromtheOder—Dam,therefliesoffonefierygrenado;oneandnomore,——

  whichalightedinthehouseof’Mrs。Thielicke,aBaker’sWidow,whowasstandingatthedoor;’——killedpoorMrs。Thielicke,blewthehouseconsiderablytowreck,butdidnotsetfiretoit。

  Amim,alltheMagistratesentreatinghimfortheloveofHeaventoleavethem,issecretlyshovingoffhistwocannontotheNorthernGate;andinfactismakinghispackageswithfullspeed:’PushforCustrin,’thinksArnim,andsaveselvesandcannon,sincenogoodistobedonehere!’

  \"Itwasabout11A。M。whentheThielickegrenadofell:obstinateArnimwouldbynomeansgo;onlypackedallthefaster。Asecondsummonscame:still,No。ForthethirdandlasttimetheRussiansthensummon:’Grenadoes,ahundredmoreofthemlieready,unless——!’’Wewill,wewill;OmercifulservantofCzarishMajesty!’passionatelysignifytheMagistrates。ButArnimisstillnegative,stillkeepstheBridgeup。Oneofthehundreddoesgo,bywayofforetaste:thislighted’neartheOberKirche,inthechimneyoftheTownMusikus;’broughtthechimneycrashingdownonhim[fancyamanwithsomefinenessofear];torethehouseagooddealtopieces,butagaindidnotsetitonfire。’YourobstinateTowncanbebombarded,then,——cannotit?’observedtheRussianMessenger。——’GiveusFreeWithdrawal!’proposesAmim。’No;youtobePrisonersofWar;TownatCzarishMajesty’sdiscretion。’

  ’Never,’answersArnim(totheoutwardear)。——’Go,oh,fortheloveofHeaven,go!’cryallOfficialpeople。

  \"Arnim,deaftoclamor,butsteadilydiligentingettingready,doesatlastgo;throughtheLebusSuburb,quickmarch;steady,yetathisbeststep;——takingtheTown—keysinhispocket,andleavingtheDrawbridgeup。OneissorryforpoorArnimandhis400Militia;

  whoseconductwasperfect,underdifficultiesandalarms;

  butprovedunsuccessful。TheterrifiedMagistrates,findingtheirKeysgone,andtheconflagrativeRussiansattheirgates,gotblacksmithsontheinstant;smotedown,bychiselandmallet,thelockedDrawbridge,smoteopentheGates:’Enter,OgraciousSirs;

  andmayCzarishMajestyhavemercyonus!’SothatArnimhadsmallstartformarchersonfoot;andwasovertakenabouthalf—way。

  Wouldnotyieldstill,thoughtheoddswereoverwhelming;

  drewhimselfoutonthebestgrounddiscoverable;madehotresistance;hotandskilful;butinvain。Aboutsixintheevening,ArnimandPartywerebroughtback,Prisoners,toFrankfurtagain,——

  self,survivingmen,cannonsandall(selfinawoundedstate);——

  and’werelockedinvariousBrew—houses;’littleofcarefulsurgery,Ishouldfear。PoorArnim;mancoulddonomore;andhehasbeenunfortunate。\"

  ItisbynomeansourintentiontodescribetheIliadofmiseries,theagitations,terrorsanddisquietudes,thetribulationandutterharrowingtodespair,whichpoorFrankfurtunderwent,incessantlyfromthatdayforward,foraboutfiveweekstocome。

  \"Thefurnishingsofvictual[Russianstockquiteout]weretoaninconceivableamount;surrenderofarms,oflinens,cloths,ofeverythingusefultoahungryArmy;aboveallthings,ofhorses,sothatatlasttherewerebutfourhorsesleftinallFrankfurt;

  and\"——Butwemustnotgointodetails。

  \"Onthesecondday,besidesallthis,\"whatwillbesignificantofitall,\"therewasexacted’ransomof600,000thalers(90,000

  pounds),oryoushallbedeliveredtotheCossacks!’Frankfurthasnotabove12,000inhabitantswithinitsbounds;hereisasuddenpoll—taxof7pounds10s。perhead。Frankfurthasnotsuchasum;

  themostrigorouscollectiondidnotyieldabovethetenthpartofit。Andmorethanoncethosesanguinaryvagabondswereopenlydrawnout,pitch—linkinhand:’The90,000poundsor——!’CivicPresidencyOfficeinFrankfurtwasnotabedofroses。ThepoorMagistratesrusheddistractedlyabout;wrungoutmoneystothelastdrop;

  moneys,andintheendplatefromthosethathadit;wentintearfuldeputationtoGeneralSoltikof,——asevereproudkindofman,capableperhapsofbeingflattered,——whousuallylockedthemupinstead。MagistrateswerelockedinRussianward,atonetime,foralmostaweek;satintheblazingsun;ifyoutryfortheshadeofatree,thesentryhandlesarmsuponyou;——andwereliketodie。

  Tome,Kriele,itisamiraclehowthemostofuslived;nayweneverreallywantedfood,sokindwasProvidence,sogenerousourpoorneighborsoutofalltheTownsround。Theutmostofmoneythatcouldberaisedwas6,000pounds;nothingbutsomelittleofplate,andourBillfortheremainder。Soltikof,ahighkindofgentleman,sawatlasthowitstood;lettheMagistratesoutofward;sentbacktheplate——’Nothingofthat!’——nay,CzarishMajestywasherselfgenerous;andFORGAVEtheBill,onourpetition,nextYear。

  Cossacks,indeed,wereaplunderouswildcrew;buttheRussianskeptthemmostlywithoutthegates。TheregularRussianswerecivilandorderly,officersandmen,——greatlybeyondtheAustriansinbehavior。\"[Kriele,SchlachtbeiKunersdorf;

  pp。1—15(incompressedstate)。]BythesefewtraitsconceiveFrankfurt:this,nowforgotteninmostbooks,isabackgroundonwhichthingsweretransactedstillmemorabletoeverybody。

  \"Friday,August3d,GeneralLoudoncametohand:arrivedearly,intheGuben(orWestern)Suburb,his18,000andhe。Inhighspiritsnaturally,andsomewhatexultanttohaveevadedFriedrich;

  butfoundareceptionthatsurprisedhim。TheRussianshadbeenlivinginthehopeofjunction;butstillmorevividlyinthatofmeal。’Auxiliaries;humph,——only18,000ofthem;howmuchwelcomerhadbeenasmanyhundredweightsofmeal!’LoudonhadpushedhisbaggagedirectintoFrankfurt;andlikewisearequisitionofsuchandsuchproviants,weightsofmealandthelike,inexuberantamount,tobefurnishedstraightwaybytheCity:neitherofwhichprocedureswouldtheRussianshearofforamoment。’Outwithyou!’

  saidtheyroughlytothebaggage—people:’quarterintheGubenSuburb,orwhereyoulike;nothere!’Andwithregardtotherequisitionofproviant,theyansweredinascornfulangrykey,’Proviant?Youtoowithoutit?Youhavenotbroughtusmeal,accordingtocovenant;insteadofmeal,youbringus18,000neweaters,mostofthemonhorse—back,——Satanthankyou!FromFrankfurtbeverycertainyoucangetnoounceofmeal;Frankfurtisourownpoormeal—bag,dreadfullyscanty:stayoutside,andfeedwhereandhowyoucan!’

  \"Allthis,Loudon,thoughofhottemper,easilycapableofrisingtothefiercepoint,hadtoendureinsilence,forthecommoninterest。Loudon’sowntableisfurnishedfromFrankfurt;nootherAustrianman’s:allothershavetoshifthowtheycan。

  Sadrequisitioningneeded,andsadplundertosupplementit:

  theAustrianbehaviorwasverybad,saytheFrankfurters;

  ’inparticular,theyhadburntgraduallyallthecorn—millsinthecountry;withinmanymilesnotonemillstandingwhentheyleftus,’——andfourhorsesalltheconveyancepowerwehad。

  Soltikoflodgesingreatpomp,muchsoldieryandcannonparadingbeforehisdoors;notanundignifiedman,oraninhumanoressentiallyfoolish,butveryhighinhisways,anddistastefultoAustriandignitaries。\"

  TheRussianArmyliesmainlyacrossOder;encampedontheJudenberg,andeastwardthere,alongtheHeights,nearthreemiles,toKunersdorfandbeyond。TheyexpectFriedrichatthegatesofFrankfurtshortly;knowwellthattheycannotdefendFrankfurt。

  TheycalculatethatFriedrichwillattackthemintheirJudenbergEncampment,buthopetheyarenearlyreadyforhimthere。

  Loudon,fromtheGubenSuburb,willhastenacross,atanymoment;——

  welcomeonsuchfightingoccasion,thoughillseenwhenthequestionisofeating!TheRussianshavetheirWagenburgonanIslandsouthward,fartheruptheRiver;theyhavethreePontoonBridgesleadingthither,afreeretreatshouldtheybebeaten。

  Andinthemeanwhileareintrenchingthemselves,asonlyDaunwould,——cannonandredoubtsallroundthoseHeights;——andexceptitbescrewingFrankfurttodoitsimpossibleduty,andcartingprovenderwithallthehorsesexceptfour,havenotmuchfarthertodobutwaittilltheKingcome。Whichwillbespeedily,itisprobable!——

  Wednesday,August8th,RussianandAustrianGenerals,acheerfulpartyofthem,hadrendezvousedatFISCHERSMUHLE;aMillnotyetburnt,andapleasantTavernaswell;inoneoftheprettiestvalleysintheWesternEnvirons;——intendingtodinethere,andhaveapleasantday。ButtheMiller’sBoyrunsinuponthem,wide—eyed,\"HIMMELUNDERDE,PrussianHussars!\"ItwasinverityPrussianHussars;theKingofPrussiawiththeminperson。Heiscomeoutreconnoitring,——thedayafterhisarrivalinthoseparts。

  ThepleasuringGenerals,RussianandAustrian,sprangtohorsebackattheirswiftest,——hopeofdinnergonefutile,excepttotheinterveningPrussianHussars;——andwouldhaveallbeencaptured,butforthatMiller’sBoy;whoseMilltoowasburntbeforelong。

  ThisgallophomeoftheundinedGeneralsintoFrankfurtwasthefirstnewswepoorFrankfurtershadoftheKing’sarrival。

  TheKinghasbeenpunctualtohisreckoning:hepickedupWedellatMullrose,——nottoocordialtoWedell’speople:\"Noneofyouspeaktothosebeatenwretches,\"orderedhe;\"tillperhapstheywipeofftheirZullichaustain!\"Onthe7th,FriedrichadvancedtoFrankfurtneighborhood;tookCampbetweenWulkowandLebus;——andhasjustbeenoutreconnoitring。Andhasraised,fancywhatemotioninpoorFrankfurtlyingunderitsnightmare!\"Nextday,August9th,fromWulkow—Lebushand,we\"ofFrankfurt,\"heardagreatfiring;

  cannon—salvos,musket—volleys:’Nothingoffight,’theRussianOfficerstoldus;’itistheKingofPrussiadoingjoy—fireforMinden,’ofwhichwetillnowknewnothing。\"

  Friedrich,onsurveyofthisRussian—AustrianArmy,some90,000innumber,withsuchposts,artilleries,advantages,judgesthathe,countingonly40,000,isnotstrongenough。And,indeed,hadsoanticipated,andalreadyjudged;and,accordingly,hasFinckonmarchhitherwardagain,——Berlinmusttakeitsrisk,Saxonymustshiftforitselfintheinterim。Finckisdueintwodays,——nothereatLebusprecisely,butatanotherplaceappointed;Finckwillraisehimto50,000;andthenbusinesscanbegin!ContrarytoRussianexpectation,FriedrichdoesnotattackFrankfurt;

  seemsquitequietinhiscantonments;——heisquietly(ifoneknewit)makingpreparationsfartherdowntheRiver。AboutReitwein,betweenthisandCustrin,therearrangementsareproceeding,bynomeansofashowysort。

  TheRussian—AustrianArmyquitsFrankfurt,leavingonlysomehundredsofgarrison:Loudonmovesacross,Soltikofacross;totheOder—Damandfarther;andlie,powerfullyintrenched,onthoseKunersdorfHeights,andsandyMoorlands,whichgoeastwardatright—anglestoOder—Dam。OneofthestrongestCampsimaginable。

  Allroundthere,tobeyondKunersdorfandbackagain,nearthreemileseachway,theyhavearingofredoubts,andartillerywithoutend。Andliethere,inorderofbattle,ornearlyso;readyforFriedrich,whenheshallattack,throughFrankfurtorotherwise。

  TheyfacetotheNorth(Reitweinway,asithappens);totheirrear,andindeedtotheirfront,onlynotsoclose,arewoodsandintricatewilds。Loudonhastheleftflank;thatistosay,Loudon’slefthandistowardstheOder—DamandFrankfurt;heliesattheROTHEVORWERK(\"RedGrange,\"aFarmsteadmuchmentionedjustnow);rathertonorthwestwardoftheJewHillandJewChurchyard(JUDENBERGandJUDENKIRCHHOF,likewisemuchmentioned);andinadvanceofthegeneralMass。Soltikof’shead—quarter,Iratherunderstand,isontherightwing;probablyinKunersdorfitself,orbeyondthatVillage;there,atleast,ourhighlyimportantRussianrightwingis;there,elaboratelyfortified;and,halfamilefarther,ends,——ontheedgeofsteepdells;theRussianbrinkofwhichisstronglyfringedwithcannon,whilebeyond,onthefartherbrink,theyhavebuiltanabatis;somakingassurancedoublysure。

  Lookingtothenorthwardallthese90,000;theirleftrathersouthwardofFrankfurtBridge,overwhichFriedrichwillprobablyarrive。Leftward,somewhattorearward,theyhavebridgesoftheirown;shouldanythingsinisterbefall;threebridgeswhichleadintothatOderIsland,andtheRussianWagenburgthere。

  August10th,Finck,punctualtotime,arrivesintheneighborhoodofReitwein(whichissometenmilesdownstreamfromLebus,fromFrankfurtperhapsfifteen);Friedrich,thesameday,istherebeforehim;eagertocompletetheBridges,andgettobusiness。

  OneBridgeisofpontoons;oneof\"Oder—boatsfloatedupfromCustrin。\"Bridgesarenotbeguntillnightfall,lesteyesbeabroad;arereadyintheminimumoftime。Andso,duringthesamenightofthe10th,alltheInfantry,withtheirartilleriesandbattle—furnitures,pouroverintwocolumns;theCavalry,attheduepointoftime,ridingbyafordshortwaytotheright。Andatfour,inthegrayoftheAugustmorning(Saturday,11thAugust,1759),allpersonsandthingsfindthemselvescorrectlyacross;

  rankedthere,inthosebarren,much—indented\"Pasture—groundsofGoritz\"orofOEtscher;intendingtowardsKunersdorf;readyforunfoldingintoorderofbattlethere。TheyleavetheirheavybaggageatGoritz,WunschtoguardtheBridgesandit;and,insuccinctcondition,areallunderway。AtoneintheafternoonwearegottoLeissowandBischofsee;scrubbyhamlets(astherestallare),notabovetwomilesfromKunersdorf。TheAugustdayiswindless,shiny,sultry;manandhorsearewearywiththelabors,andwiththewantofsleep:wedecidetobivouachere,andrestonthescrubbysurface,heatherorwhateveritis,tillto—morrow。

  FinckisVanguard,aheadshortway,andwithhisleftonabitoflakeorbog;theArmyisintwolines,withitsrightonLeissow,andhasCavalryinthekindofwoodwhichthereistorear。

  Friedrich,havingsettledthepositions,ridesoutreconnoitring;

  hither,thither,overtheHeightsofTrettin。\"Thedaybeingstillhot,hesuffersconsiderablyfromthirst[itisouroneAnecdote]

  inthataridtract:atlastaPeasantdoesbringhim,directfromthefountain,ajugofpurecoldwater;whom,luckyman,theKingrewardedwithathaler;andnotonlyso,but,themanbeingintelligentofthelocalities,tookwithhimtoanswerquestions。\"

  Readerstoomaydesiretogainsomeknowledgeoftheimportantgroundnowundersurvey。

  \"Frankfurt,averyancientTown,notaverybeautiful,\"saysmyNote,\"standsonanalluviumwhichhasbeengrounddownfromcertainclayHillsontheleftbankofOder。Itcountedabout12,000inhabitantsinFriedrich’stime;hasnowperhapsabout20,000;nothalfthebulkofitsnamesakeontheMayn;butwithThreegreatFairsannually,andmuchtradeoftheroughkind。

  OnthisleftorwestbankofOderthecountryisarable,moderatelygrassyandumbrageous,theprospectroundyounotunpleasant;

  buteastward,overtheRiver,nothingcanbemoreincontrast。

  Oderisofswiftcurrent,ofturbidcolor,asitrollsunderFrankfurtBridge,——WoodenBridge,withDamSuburbattheend;——aRivertreeless,desolate,asyoulookupanddown;whichhas,evidently,oftenchangeditscourse,sincegrindingdownthatalluviumassiteforFrankfurt;andwhich,thoughnowholdingmainlytonorthward,isstillgiventobeerratic,anddestructiveontheeasternlowgrounds,——hadnottheFrankfurtersbuiltan’Oder—Dam’onthatside;abroadstrongEarth—mound,runningformanymiles,andconfiningitsfloods。BeyondtheDamtherearetracesofan’OldOder(ALTEODER);’and,infact,Oder,inprimevalandinrecenttime,hasgonealong,many—streamed;

  indenting,quarrying,leavinglakelets,quagmires,miscellaneoussandytumult,atagreatrate,onthateasternshore。Makingofitoneoftheunloveliestscenesofchaoticdesolationanywheretobemetwith;——fallenunlovelierthaneverinourownmorerecenttimes。

  \"WhatwecalltheHeightsofKunersdorfisabroadChainofKnolls;

  comingout,atright—angles,orasakindofspur,fromtheeasternhighgrounds;directtowardsOderandFrankfurt。

  Mill—Hill(MUHLBERG)istherootoreasternmostpartofthisspur。

  FromtheMuhlberg,overKunersdorf,toOder—Dam,whichisthewholelengthofthespur,orChainofKnolls,willbelittleshortoffourmiles;thebreadthoftheChainisnowhereonemile,——whichisitsgranddefectasaCamp:’toonarrowformanoeuvringin。’

  Here,atopandonthethreesidesofthisBlockofKnolls,wasfoughtthefuriousBattleofKunersdorf[tobefoughtto—morrow],oneofthemostfuriouseverknown。ABlockofKnollsmemorableeversince。

  \"Toallappearance:itwasoncesomebigIslandorchainofIslandsintheOderdeluges:itisstillcutwithsuddenhollows,——KUHGRUND

  (Cow—Hollow),TIEFEWEG(DeepWay),andwesternmostofall,andmostimportantforushere,HOHLEGRUND(BigHollow,letuscallit;’LOUDON’SHollow’peoplesubsequentlycalledit);——andiseverywherestrangelytumbledupintoknollsbluntorsharp,theworkofprimevalOderinhisrages。Initshighestknolls,——ofwhichletreadersnotespeciallytheSpitzberg,theMuhlberg,theJudenberg,——itrisesnowhereto150feet;perhapsthegeneralheightofitmaybeabout100。Oneachsideofit,especiallyonthenorth,theCountryisofmostintricatecharacter:

  bushy,scraggy,withbrookletsormuddyoozingswanderingabout,especiallywithathingcalledtheHUNERFLIESS(Hen—Floss),whichspringsintheeasternwoods,andhasinconceivabledifficultytogetintoOder,——ifitgetatall!ThiswasasoreFlosstoFriedrichto—morrow。Hen—Flossstruggles,painfullymeanderingandoozing,alongthenorthernside(sometimesclose,sometimesnot)ofourChainofKnolls:alongthesouthsideofit(inourtime,throughthemiddleofit)goestheHighwaytoReppen[\"FromthatHighwaywillhisattackcome!\"thoughttheRussians,alwaystillto—day]:onthenorth,toLeissow,toTrettin,\"whereFriedrichisnowonsurvey,\"govariouswheel—tracks,butnofirmroad。AmostintricateunlovelyCountry。Witheredbent—grasses,heath,perhapsgorse,andonbothsidesagreatdealofstragglingForest—wood,reachingeastward,andespeciallysouthward,formanymiles。

  \"Fortherest,\"toourill—luckinthisplace,\"theBattlefieldofKunersdorfhashadapeculiarfateintheworld;thatofbeingblownawaybythewinds!Thethensceneofthingsexistsnolonger;

  thedescriptionsintheOldBooksaregonehopelesslyirrecognizable。Inourtime,thereisnotanywhereatractmorepurelyoftumbledsand,thanallthisbetweenKunersdorfandDamVorstadt;andyoujudge,withoutaidofrecordortradition,thatitisgreatlyalteredfortheworsesinceFriedrich’stime,——somerabbit—colony,orotherthelikeinsignificancy,eatingouttheroots,tillallvegetationdied,andthewindgotholdandsetitdancing;——andthat,in1759,whenRussianhumanbeingstookitforaCamp,itmusthavebeenatleastcoherent,moreorless;

  covered,heldtogetherbysomefilmofscrubbyvegetation;

  notblowingaboutineverywindasnow!KunersdorfstandswithitsnorthernendpushedintothatKUHGRUND(Cow—Hollow);whichmustthenhavebeenagrassyplace。EastwardofKunersdorfthegroundhasstillsomeskinofpeat,andstickstogether:butwestward,allthatthreemiles,itisameretumultofsand—hills,tumbledaboutineverydirection(sodiligenthavetheconiesbeen,andthenthewinds);nogullet,ordefinitecutorhollow,nowtraceableanywhere,butonlyanendlessimbrogliooftwistedsand—heapsandsand—hollows,whichcontinuallyalterinthewind—storms。

  Sandwholly,and——exceptthestrongpavedHighwaythatnowrunsthroughit(toReppen,MeseritzandthePolishFrontier,andisstronglypavedtillitgetthroughKunersdorf)——chaoticwholly;

  asceneofheapedbarrennessandhorror,nottobematchedbutinSahara;thefeaturesoftheBattlequiteblownaway,andindecipherableinourtime。

  \"Ahundredyearsago,itwouldhavesometatteredskin,——ofpeat,ofheatheranddwarfwhins,withthesandcroppingoutonlyhereandthere。SoonehastofigureitinSoltikof’sday,——beforetheconiesruinedit。Whichwasnottillwithinthelastsixtyyears,asappears。Kriele’sBook(in1801)stillgivesnohintofchange:

  theKUHGRUND,whichnowhasnothingbutdrysandforthemostindustriousruminant,isstillaplaceofsucculenceandherbageinKriele’stime;’DeepWay,’where’atonepointtwocartscouldnotpass,’wasnotyetblownoutofexistence,buthasstill’aWellinit’forKriele;HOHLEGRUND(sincecalledLoudon’sHollow),withtheJewHillandJewChurchyardbeyond,seemtolerableenoughplacestoKriele。ProbablynotunlikewhatthesurroundingCountrystillis。ACountryofpoorvillages,andofwildground,flatgenerally,andbuttolerablygreen;withlakelets,bushes,scrubs,andintricatemeanderinglittlerunletsandoozelets;andingeneralwithmoreofForestsocalledthannowis:——thisisKunersdorfChainofKnolls;Soltikof’sIntrenchedCampatpresent;

  destinedtobecomeveryfamousintheworld,afterlyingsolongobscureunderOderanditsrages。\"[TOURIST’SNOTE(Autumnn,1852)。]

  FromtheKnollsofTrettin,thatSaturdayafternoon,FriedrichtakesviewoftheRussianCamp。Alllyingbrightenoughthere;

  fromMuhlbergtoJudenberg,convenienttoourglass;betweenusandtheeveningSun。Batteriesmostabundant,difficultiesgreat:

  Soltikofjustaheadhere,72,000:LoudonattheRedGrangeyonder,ontheirextremeleft,with18,000more。Anuncommonlystrongpositionfor90,000against50,000。OnethingstrikesFriedrich:

  Onfrontinthisnorthernside,closebythebaseoftheRussianCamp,runs——forthepresentawayFROMOder,butintendingtojoinitelsewhere——apaltrylittleBrook,\"Hen—Floss\"socalled,withatleasttwosuccessiveMillsonit(KLEINEMUHLE,GROSSEMUHLE);

  andonthenorthernshoreofit,spillingitselfoutintoawetwastecalledELSBRUCH(AlderWaste),whichisespeciallynotabletoFriedrich。ALDERWaste?Watery,scrubby;nopassagethere,thinksFriedrich;whichhisPeasantwiththewater—jugconfirms。\"Tellme,however,\"inquiresFriedrich,withstrictness,\"FromtheRedGrangeyonder,whereGeneralLoudonis,ifyouwishedtogetovertotheHOHLEGRUND,ortotheJudenberg,wouldyoucrossthatHen—Floss?\"

  \"Itisnotcrossable,yourMajesty;onehastogoroundquitewestwardbytheDam。\"\"What,fromRotheVorwerktoBigHollow,nopassage,sayyou;nocrossing?\"\"None,yourMajesty,\"insiststhePeasant;——whoisnotawarethattheRussianshavemadeoneoffirmtrestlesandlogs,anduseitdailyforhighwaythere;anerrorofsomeinteresttoFriedrichwithinthenexttwenty—fourhours!

  Friedrichhimselfdoesnotknowthisbitofground:butthereiswithhim,besidesthePeasant,aMajorLinden,whoseRegimentusedtolieinFrankfurt,ofwhomFriedrichmakesminutequestioning。

  Lindenanswersconfidently;hasbeenoverallthistractahundredtimes;\"butknowsitonlyasahunter,\"saysTempelhof,[Tempelhof,iii。186。]\"notasasoldier,\"whichheoughttohavedone。

  HisanswersaresupposedtohavemisledFriedrichonvariouspoints,anddonehimessentialdamage。Friedrich’sviewofthecase,thatevening,isbynomeanssodespondentasmightbeimagined:heregardsthethingasdifficult,notasimpossible,——

  andoneofhisanxietiesis,thathebenotbalkedoftryingitstraightway。RetiringtohishutinBischofsee,hemakestwoDispositions,ofadmirableclearness,brevity,andcalculatedfortwocontingencies:[GiveninTempelhof,iii。182,183。]Thatoftheenemyretaininghisnowposture;andThatoftheenemymakingoffforReppen;——whichlatterdoesnotatallconcernus,asmattersturned!Oftheformerthecoursewillunfolditselftous,inpractice,shortly。At2A。M。Friedrichwillbeonfootagain,at3

  onmarchagain。——Thelastphenomenon,atBischofseethisnight,issomesuddenglareofdisastrouslightrisingoverthewoods:——

  \"RussiansburningKunersdorf!\"asneighborsaresorrytohear。

  ThatisthefinaleofmuchRussianrearrangingandtumbling,thisday;thatbarbarousburningofKunersdorf,beforegoingtobed。

  To—morrowvariousotherpoorVillagesgotburntbythem,whichtheyhadbetterhaveleftstanding。

  TheRussians,onhearingthatFriedrichwasacrossatGoritz,andcomingonthemfromthenorthside,notfromFrankfurtbytheReppenHighway,wereingreatagitation。Notthrownintoterror,butintomanifoldhaste,knowingwhathastyadversarytherewas。

  Endlessreadjustmentstheyhavetomake;adayoftumultuousbusinesswiththeRussians,thisSaturday,llth,whenthenewsreachedthem。\"Theyinvertedtheirfront[sayalltheBooksbutFriedrich’sown]:NotcomingbytheReppenHighway,then!\"thinkthey。Andthereuponchangedreartofront,asatZorndorf,butmoreelaborately;——whichIshouldnotmention,wereitnotthatherebytheirlate\"rightwingontheMuhlberg\"has,instrictspeech,becometheir\"left,\"andthereisambiguityanddiscrepancyinsomeoftheBooks,shouldanypoorreadertaketostudyingthemonthismatter。Changedtheirfront;whichinvolvesmuchinteriorchanging;

  readjustingofbatteriesandthelike。ThatofburningKunersdorfwasthebarbaricwindingupofallthis:barbaric,and,inthemilitarysense,absurd;poorKunersdorfcouldhavebeenburntatanymoment,ifneedful;andtotheRussiansthekeepingofitstandingwastheprofitablething,asanimpedimenttoFriedrichinhisadvancethere。Theyhavelaiditflatandpermeable;ashesallofit,——excepttheChurchonly,whichisofstone;notsocombustible,andmayhaveuseswithal。Hasperhapsservedastemporarylock—up,prisonforthenight,tosomeofthoseFrankfurtDeputationsandtheirtroublesomewailings;andmayserveastemporaryhospitalto—morrow,whoknows?

  ReadjustmentsintheRussianCampweremanifold:buttheseareasnothing,inthetumultuousbusinessoftheday。Cartingoftheirbaggage,everyarticleofvalue,tothatsafeWagenburgintheRiver;drivingofcattle,——theverydrivingofcattlethroughFrankfurt,endlessherdsofthem,gatheredbytheCossacksfromfarandwide,\"lastedforfour—and—twentyhours。\"OxeninFrankfurtthatdaywereattherateoftenshillingsperhead。Oftenenoughyouwereofferedafull—grownyoungsteerforaloafofbread;

  naytheCossacks,whentherewasabsolutelynobidder,wouldslaughterdowntheanimal,leaveitscarcassinthestreets,andsellthehideforaTYMPF,——fivepence(verybadsilveratpresent)。

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