第78章
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  Butafirebeingkindled,whichconsistedoftar—barrels,fagots,tables,tubs,&c。,hewasconsumedinabouthalfanhour。\"

  [OldNewspapers(Gentleman’sMagazine,

  xxvi。409)。]

  ThatistheiremploymentonTower—Hill,overyonder,whileMitchellisgettingunderwaytoseeFriedrich。

  MitchellcontinuedatPotsdamoverFriday;andwasstillineagerconsultationthatnight,whentheKingsaidtohim,withacertainexpressivenessofglance:\"BONSOIR,then;——To—morrowmorningaboutfour!\"Andonthemorrow,Saturday,28th,Mitchellreportshurriedly:——

  \"……AmjustreturnedtoBerlin,intimetowritetoyourLordship。

  Thismorning,betweenfourandfive,ItookleaveoftheKingofPrussia。HrwentimmediatelyupontheParade;mountedonhorseback;

  and,afteraveryshortexerciseofhisTroops,puthimselfattheirhead;andmarcheddirectlyforBelitz[half—waytoBrietzen,TREUENbrietzenastheycallit];where,To—morrow,hewillentertheSaxonTerritory,\"——as,attheirrespectivepoints,histwootherColumnswill;——andbegin,whoshallsaywhatterriblegame;

  incalculabletoyourLordshipandme,withsuchOperationsafootonTower—Hill![MitchellPapers,vi。804(\"ToLordHolderness,28thAugust,1756\")。]——

  SevenHussarRegimentsofDukeFerdinand’sColumngotthelengthofLeipzigthatSundayEvening,29th;andtookpossessionoftheplace。[InHelden—Geschichte,iii。731,his\"Proclamation\"there,29thAugust,1756。]DukeFerdinandtorightoftheKing,DukeofBrunswick—Beverntoleft,——theThreeColumnscrosstheBorder,atpoints,say80milesfromoneanother;

  occasionally,onthemarch,bendingtorightwardsandleftwards,totakeintheprincipalTowns,andmakesettlementsthere,thetwomightbeaboveahundredmilesfromFriedrichoneachhand。ThelengthofmarchforeachColumn,——Ferdinand\"fromLeipzig,byChemnitz,Freyberg,Dippoldiswalde,totheVillageofCotta\"(Pirnaneighborhood,southofElbe);Bevern,\"throughtheLausitz,byBautzen,toLohmen\"(sameneighborhood,northofElbe);

  KingFriedrich,toDresden,bythecourseoftheElbeitself,wasnotfarfromequal,andmaybecalledabout150miles。Theymarchedwithdiligence,notwithhurry;hadtheirpauses,rest—days,whenbusinessrequired。Theygottotheirground,withthesimultaneousnessappointed,ontheeleventhortwelfthday。

  ThemiddleColumn,undertheKing,whereMarshalKeithissecondincommand,goesbyTorgau(detachingMoritzofDessautopickupWittenberg,andruintheslightworksthere);crossestheElbeatTorgau,September2d;marches,cantoningitselfdayafterday,alongthesouthernbankoftheRiver;leavesMeissentotheleft,I

  perceive,doesnotpassthroughMeissen;comesfirstatWilsdrufongroundwherewehavebeen,——andportionsofit,Idoubtnot,werebilletedinKesselsdorf;andwouldtakeaglanceattheoldField,iftheyhadtime。ThereisstrictdisciplineinalltheColumns;

  theauthoritiescomplyingonsummons,andarrangingwhatisneedful。Nobodyresists;town—guardsatoncegroundarms,andthereisnosoldiervisible;soldiersallebbingaway,whitherwardweguess。[Helden—Geschichte,iii。732,733;

  OEuvresdeFrederic,iv。81。]

  AtWilsdruf,Friedrichfirstlearnsforcertain,thattheSaxonArmy,withKing,withBruhlandotherchiefpersonages,arewithdrawntoPirna,totheinexpugnableKonigsteinandRock—

  Country。TheSaxonArmyhadbegunassemblingthere,September1st,directlyonthenewsthatFriedrichwasacrosstheBorder;

  September9th,onFriedrich’sapproach,theKingandDignitariesmoveoffthither,fromDresden,outofhisway。ExcellencyBrogliohasputthemonthatplan。WhichmayhaveitscomplexitiesforFriedrich,hopesBroglio,——thoughperhapsitsstillgreaterforsomeotherpartiesconcerned!ForBruhlandPolishMajesty,aswillappearbyandby,nothingcouldhaveturnedoutworse。

  MeanwhileFriedrichpusheson:\"Forward,allthesame。\"PolishMajesty,datingfromStruppen,inthePirnaCountry,hasbegunaCorrespondencewithFriedrich,verypoliteonbothhands;andhisAdjutant—General,theChevalierMeagher(\"ChevalierdeMARRE,\"asValoricallshim,——MA’AR,ashecallshimselfinIrish),hasjusthad,atWilsdruf,aninterviewwithFriedrich;butisfarfromhavinggotsettlementonthetermshewished。PolishMajestymagnanimouslyassentingto\"aRoadthroughhisCountryformilitarypurposes;\"offers\"thestrictestNeutrality,strictestfriendshipeven;hasdone,andwilldo,noinjurywhatevertohisPrussianMajesty——[\"DidweeverSIGNanything?\"whispercomfortablyBruhlandhetooneanother];——expects,therefore,thathisPrussianMajestywillmarchon,whitherheisbound;andleavehimunmolestedhere。\"[Helden—Geschichte,

  iii。774。]

  ThatwasMeagher’smessage;thatisthepurportofallhisPolishMajesty’sElevenLetterstoFriedrich,whichprecedeorfollow,——

  reiteratingwithacertainovineobstinacy,insensibletotimeorchange,ThatsuchisPolishMajesty’sfixednotion:

  \"Strictneutrality,friendshipeven;andleavemeunmolestedhere。\"

  [InOEuvresdeFrederic,iv。235—260(\"29thAugust—10thSeptember—18thSeptember,\"1756),arecollectednow,theElevenLetters,withtheirAnswers。]\"Strictneutrality,yes:

  butdisperseyourArmy,then,\"answersFriedrich;sendyourArmybacktoitscantonments:ImustmyselfhavethekeepingofmyHighway,lestIloseit,asin1744。\"ThisisFriedrich’sanswer;

  thisatfirst,andforsometimecoming;though,astheaspectschange,andthedangerouselementsheapthemselveshigher,Friedrich’sanswerwillrisewiththem,andhisterms,liketheSibyl’s,becomeworseandworse。ThisistheutmostthatMeagher,atWilsdruf,canmakeofit;andthis,inconceivablecircumstances,willgrowlessandless。

  Nextday,September9th,Friedrich,withsomeBattalions,enteredDresden,mostofhisColumntakingCampnearby;GeneralWylichhadenteredyesterday,andisalreadyCommandantthere。Friedrichsends,byFeldmarschallKeith,highestOfficerofhisColumn,hishomagestoherPolishMajesty:——nothinggivenusofKeith’sInterview;exceptbyaside—wind,\"ThatMajestycomplainedofthosePrussianSentrieswalkingaboutincertainofhercorridors\"(withaneyetoSomething,itmaybefeared!)——ofwhich,doubtless,Keithundertooktomakereport。FriedrichhimselfwaitsupontheJuniorPrinces,whoarelefthere:ispoliteandgraciousasever,thoughstrict,andwithbusinessenough;lodges,forhisownpart,\"intheGarden—HouseofPrincessMoczinska;\"——andnextmorningleadsoffhisColumn,ashortmarcheastward,tothePirnaCountry;where,ontherightandontheleft,FerdinandatCotta,BevernatLohmen(ifreaderswilllookontheirMap),hefindstheotherTwointheirduepositions。Head—quarterisGross—Sedlitz(westernmostskirtoftheRock—region);andwillhavetocontinueso,muchlongerthanhadbeenexpected。

  TheDiplomaticworldinDresdenisingreatemotion;moreespeciallyjustatpresent。Thismorning,beforeleaving,Friedrichhadtodoanexceedinglystrictthing:securetheOriginalsofthoseMenzelDocuments。Originalsindispensabletohim,forjustifyinghisnewproceduresuponSaxony。Sothattherehasbeen,atthePalace,aScenethismorningofaveryhighanddissonantnature,——\"MarshalKeith\"init,\"MarshalKeithmakingasecondvisit\"(saysomelooseandfalseAccounts);——thefactsbeingstrictlyasfollows。

  FarfromremovingthosePrussiansentriescomplainedoflastnight,hereseemstobeadoublestrengthofthemthismorning。AndherPolishMajesty,asevere,hard—featuredoldLady,hasbeenfilledwithindignantamazementbyaPrussianOfficer——MajorvonWangenheim,Ibelieveitis——requiring,intheKingofPrussia’sname,theKeysofthatArchive—room;PrussianMajestyabsolutelyneedingsight,foralittlewhile,ofcertainPapersthere。

  \"Enterthatroom?ArchivesofacrownedHead?Letmeseethelivingmortalthatwilldaretodoit!\"——onefanciestheindignantPolishMajesty’sanswer;andhow,callingformaterials,she\"openlysealedthedoorinquestion,\"inWangenheim’spresence。AsthisisacelebratedPassage,whichhasbeenreportedinseverallooseways,letustakeitfromtheprimarysource,Chancerystyleandall。GrafvonSternberg,AustrianExcellency,writingfromthespotandatthehour,informshisownCourt,andthroughthatallCourts,inthesesolemnlyOfficialterms:——

  \"DRESDEN,10thSEPTEMBER,1756。TheQueen’sMajesty,thisforenoon,hascalledtoheralltheForeignMinistersnowatDresden;andinHighestOwnPersonhassignifiedtous,How,thePrussianintrusionsandhostilitiesbeingalreadyknown,HighestsaidQueen’sMajestywouldnowsimplystatewhathadfarthertakenplacethismorning:——

  \"HighestsaidQueen’sMajesty,towit,had,inherownname,requestedtheKingofPrussia,inconformitywithhisassurances[byKeith,yesternight]ofpayingeveryregardforHerandtheRoyalFamily,ToremovethePrussianSentriespacingaboutinthoseCorridors,\"——CorridorswhichleadtotheSecretArchives,importanttosomeofus!——\"Insteadofwhich,thesaidKinghadnotonlydoubledhisSentriesthere;butalso,byanOfficer,demandedtheKeysoftheArchive—apartment[justalludedto]!AndastheQueen’sMajesty,forsecurityofallwritingsthere,offeredtosealtheDoorofitherself,anddidso,thereandthen,——thesaidOfficerhadsolittlerespect,thatheclappedhisownsealthereontoo。

  \"Norwashecontenttherewith,\"——notbyanymeans!——\"butthesameOfficer[havingbeenwithWylich,Commandanthere]cameback,ashorttimeafter,andmadeforopeningoftheDoorhimself。

  WhichbeingannouncedtotheQueen’sMajesty,sheinherownperson(HOCHSTDIESELBE,Highest—the—Same)wentoutagain;andstandingbeforetheDoor,informedhim,’HowHighest—the—SamehadtoomuchregardtohisPrussianMajesty’sgivenassurance,tobelievethatsuchordercouldproceedfromtheKing。’AstheOfficer,however,replied,’Thathewassorrytohavesuchanordertoexecute;

  butthattheorderwasseriousandprecise;andthathe,bynotexecutingit,wouldexposehimselftothegreatestresponsibility,\"

  HerMajestycontinuedstandingbeforetheDoor;andsaidtotheOfficer,’Ifhemeanttouseforce,hemightuponHermakehisbeginning。’\"Thereisforyou,HerrWangenheim!——

  \"UponwhichsaidOfficerhadgoneaway,toreportanewtotheKing[Ithink,onlytoWylichtheCommandant;Kingnowadozenmilesoff,notsoeasilyreportedto,andhismindknown];andinthemeanwhileHerMajestyhadcalledtoherthePrussianandEnglishAmbassadors[MahlzahnandStormont;sorrybothofthem,buthowentirelyresourceless,——especiallyMahlzahn!],andhadrepresentedandrepeatedtothemtheabove;beseechingthatbytheirremonstrancesandpersuasionstheywouldinducetheKingofPrussia,conformablywithhisgivenassurance,toforbear。

  Instead,however,ofanyfruitfromsuchremonstrancesandurgencies,finalOrdercame,’That,Queen’sMajesty’sownHighestPersonnotwithstanding,forcemustbeused。’

  \"WhereuponherMajesty,toavoidactualmistreatment,hadbeenobligedto\"——tobecomepassive,and,noKeysbeingprocurablefromher,seeasmithwithhispicklocksgivethesePrussiansadmission。

  Legation—SecretaryPlessmannwasthere(Menzelonefanciessitting,ratherpale,inanadjacentroom[Supra,p。266。]);andtheyknewwhattodo。TheirsmithopenstherequiredBoxforthem(oneofseveral\"alllyingpackedforWarsaw,\"saysFriedrich);fromwhichsoontakingwhattheyneeded,WangenheimandWylichwithdrewwiththeirbooty,andreadershavethefruitofittothisday。

  \"Whichunheard—ofprocedure,bepleased,yourExcellencies,toreporttoyourrespectiveCourts。\"[GesammelteNachrichten,i。222(or\"No。26\"ofthatCollection);

  OEuvresdeFrederic,iv。83。]

  PooroldLady,whatasituation!AndIbelievesheneversawherpooroldHusbandagain。ThedayhewenttoPirna(morningofyesterday,September9th,Friedrichenteringintheevening),thesepoorSpouseshad,littledreamingofit,takenleaveofoneanotherforevermore。SuchprofitliesinyourBruhl。KingsandQueensthatwillbegovernedbyaJesuitGuarini,andaBruhloftheTwelveTailors,sometimespaydearforit。They,ortheirrepresentatives,aresuretodoso。KingsandQueens,——yes,andifthatwereall:

  buttheirpoorCountriestoo?TheirCountries;——well,theirCountriesdidnothateBeelzebub,inhisvariousshapes,ENOUGH。

  TheirCountriesshouldhavebeeninwatchagainstBeelzebubintheshapeofBruhls;——watching,andalso\"praying\"inaheroicmanner,nowfallenobsoleteintheseimpioustimes!

  ChapterV。

  FRIEDRICHBLOCKADESTHESAXONSINPIRNACOUNTRY。

  Friedrichreckonshimselftohave65,000meninSaxony。SchwerinisissuingfromSilesia,throughtheGlatzMountains,forBohemia,attheheadof40,000。TheAustrianforceisinferiorinquantity,andfarfromready:——Two\"Camps\"inBohemiatheyhave;thechiefoneunderBrowne(looking,orintending,thisSaxonway),andasmallerunderPiccolomini,intheKonigshof—Kolinregion:——ifwellrunintofromfrontandrear,bothBrowneandPiccolominimightbebeautifullyhandled;andagashbecutinAustria,whichmightinclinehertobeatpeaceagain!NothinghindersbutthispaltryCampoftheSaxons;itselfonly18,000strong,butinaCountryofsuchstrength。Andthisdoeshinder,effectuallywhileitcontinues:\"HowmarchtoBohemia,andleavetheroadblockedinourrear?\"

  TheSaxonCampdidcontinue,——unmanageablebyanymethod,forfiveweekstocome;theseasonofwar—operationsgone,bythattime:——

  andFriedrich’sFirstCampaign,renderedmostlyfruitlessinthismanner,willbynomeanschecktheAustriantruculencies,asbyhisvelocityhehopedtodo。No;but,onthecontrary,willrousetheAustrians,FrenchandallEnemies,toatenfoldpitchoftemper。

  Andbringuponhimself,fromanastonishedandmisunderstandingPublic,suchtempestsandworld—tornadoesofloud—roaringobloquy,asevenhe,Friedrich,hadneverenduredbefore。

  ToreadersofatouringhabitthisSaxonCountryisperhapswellknown。Forthelasthalf—centuryithasbeengrowingmoreandmorefamous,underthenameof\"SaxonSwitzerland(SACHSISCHE

  SCHWEITZ),\"insteadof\"MisnianHighlands(MEISSNISCHEHOCHLAND),\"

  whichitusedtobecalled。AbeautifulenoughandextremelyruggedCountry;interestingtothepicturesquemind。Beginsrising,insoftHills,onbothsidesoftheElbe,afewmileseastofDresden,asyouascendtheRiver;tillitrisesintoHillsofwildcharacter,gettingeverwilder,andrivenintowondrouschasmsandprecipices。Extends,sayalmosttwentymilesuptheRiver,toTetschenandbeyond,inthiseasterndirection;andwithperhapstenmilesofbreadthoneachsideoftheRiver:areaoftheRock—

  region,therefore,isperhapssomefourhundredsquaremiles。

  TheFalkenberg(whatweshouldcallHAWKSCRAG)northeastwardintheLausitz,theSchneeberg(SNOWMOUNTAIN),southeastwardontheBohemianborder,areaboutthirty—fivemilesapart:thesetwoarebothreckonedtobeinit,——itslastoutpostsonthateasternside。

  Butthelimitsofitarefixedbycustomonly,anddependonnonaturalcondition。

  WemightdefineitastheSandstoneNECKoftheMetalMountains:aratherlowerblock,ofSandstone,intercalatedintotheMetal—

  Mountainrange,whichotherwise,onbothhands,ishigher,andofharderrocks。Southward(asSHOULDERtothissandstoneNECK)lies,continuous,broadandhigh,the\"Metal—Mountainrange\"speciallysocalled:northwardandnortheastwardthererise,beyondthatFalkenberg,manymountains,solitaryoringroups,——\"theMetalMountains\"fadingouthereinto\"theLausitzHills,\"stillinfinepicturesquefashion,whichareNorthernBordertothegreatBohemian\"BasinoftheElba,\"afteryouemergefromthisSandstoneCountry。

  SaxonSwitzerlandisnotveryhighanywhere;2,000feetisanotabledegreeofheight:butitistornandtumbledintostonelabyrinths,chasmsandwindingrock—walls,asfewregionsare。

  Growspinewood,tothetopmostheight;pine—treesfaraloftlookquietlydownuponyou,oversheerprecipices,onyourintricatepath。OntheslopesoftheHillsisgrassenough;intheintervalsareVillagesandhusbandries,arecornandmilkforthelaboriousnatives,——whodependmainlyonquarrying,andpine—forestwork:

  pinesandfree—stone,raftsoflongslimpines,andbigstonebarges,arewhatoneseesupontheRiverthere。ANote,notverygeological,saysofit:——

  \"ElbesweepsfreelythroughthisCountry,foragesandaeonspast;

  curlinghimselfalittleintosnake—figure,andwithincreasedvelocity,butsilentmostly,andtrimtotheedge,afineflint—

  coloredriver;——thoughinaeonslonganterior,itmusthavebeenaverydifferentmatterfortorrentsandwater—power。TheCountryisonehugeBlockofSandstone,somanysquaremilesofthatmaterial;

  ribbed,channelled,tornandquarried,inthismanner,bytheever—

  busyelements,foramillionofAgespast!ChieflybytheElbehimself,sincehegottobeaRiver,andbecamecosmicandpersonal;ceasingtobeamerewaterychaosofLakesandDelugeshereabouts。FortheSandstonewasofvariousdegreesofhardness;

  tenaciousasmarblesomepartsofit,softalmostassandotherparts。Andtheprimordialdiluviumsandworld—oldtorrents,greatandsmall,rushingdownfromtheBohemianHighlands,fromtheSaxonMetalMountains,withsuchstorming,gurglingandswashing,havesweptawaythesoftparts,andleftthehardstandinginthischaoticmanner,andbequeatheditalltotheElbe,andthecommonfrostsandrainsofthesehumanages。

  \"Elbehasnowatrimcourse;butElbetooisbusyquarryingandmining,wherenotartificiallyheldin;——andyounoticeateveryoutletofaBrookfromtheinterior,northsideandsouthside,howbusytheBrookhasbeen。Boring,grinding,undermining;muchhelpedbythefrosts,bytherains。AEonsago,theBrookwasalake,intheinterior;butwaseverymomentlaboringtogetout;tillithascutforitselfthatmountaingullet,orsheer—downchasm,andbroughtoutwithitanAlluviumorDelta,——onwhich,sinceAdam’stime,humancreatureshavebuiltaHamlet。Thatistheorigin,orunwrittenhistory,ofmosthamletsandcultivatedspotsyoufallinwithhere:theyarethewasteshavingsoftheBrook,workingmillionsofyears,foritsownobjectofgettingintotheElbeinlevelcircumstances。Ploughedfields,notwithoutfertility,areintheinterior,ifyouascendthatBrook;theHamlet,atthedeltaormouthofit,isasifbuiltuponitsTONGUEandintoitsGULLET:

  thinkhowpicturesque,intheNovemberrains,forexample!

  \"Theroad\"oneroad,\"fromDresdentoAussig,toLobositz,Budin,Prag,runsuptheriver—brink(southbrink);or,inourday,asPrag—DresdenRailway,thundersthroughthosesolitudes;strangelyawakeningtheirechoes;andinvitingeventhebewilderedTouristtoreflect,ifhecould。ThebewilderedTouristseesrock—wallsheaven—highonbothhandsofhim;Riverandherushingonbetween,bylawofgravitation,lawofennui(whicharelawsofNatureboth),withanarrowstripofskyinfullgallopoverhead;andhaslittleencouragementtoreflect,exceptuponhisownsorrows,anddeliriouscircumstances,physicalandmoral。’Howmuchhappier,wereIlyinginmybed!’thinksthebewilderedTourist;——doesstrivewithaltoadmirethePicturesque,butwithlittlesuccess;

  noticesthe’BASTEI(Bastion),’andotherrigorouslyprescribedpointsoftheSublimeandBeautiful,whicharetobe’done。’

  ThatyouwillhavetoDO,myfriend:stepout,youwillhavetogoonthatPinnacle,withindifferentHotelattached;onthatironbalcony,aloftamongthecloudsyonder;andshuddertoprojectoverElbe—floodfromsuchaltitudes,admiringthePicturesqueinprescribedmanner。

  \"ThisCountryhasforitspermanentuses,timber,free—stone,modicumofmilkandhaver,serviceabletothegenerality;——andtohisPolishMajesty,atpresent,itisastheveryArkofNoah:

  pricelessatthisjuncture;beingthestrongestmilitarycountryintheworld。Excellentstrengthinit;expressFortresses;especiallyoneFortresscalledtheKonigstein,notfarfromSchandau,ofatoweringprecipitousnature,with’awell900feetdeep’init,andpleasantVillageoutsideatthebase;——Fortresswhichisstill,inourday,reckonedasafeplacefortheSaxonArchivesandpreciosities。Impregnabletogunpowderartillery;nottobehadexceptbyhunger。Andthen,fartherdowntheRiver,closebyPirna,presidingoverPirna,asthatKonigsteininsomesortdoesoverSchandau,istheSonnenstein:SonnensteintoowasaFortressinthosedaysofFriedrich,butnotimpregnable,ifjudgedworthtaking。TheAustrianstookit,ayearortwohence;Friedrichretookit,dismantledit:’theSonnensteinisnowaMadhouse,’saytheGuide—books。

  \"Sonnensteinstandscloseeastorup—streamofPirna,whichisatownof5,000souls,bymuchthelargestinthoseparts;

  Konigsteinalittledown—streamofSchandau,whichlatterisontheoppositeornorthsideoftheRiver。ThesearethetwochiefTowns,whichdoallthetradeofthisregion;picturesqueplacesboth:——

  theTouristremembersPirna?Standingonitssleektableorstair—

  step,bytheRiver’sedge;wellabovefloodmark;green,shaggyorfringymountainslookingdownonittorearward;infront,beyondtheRiver,nothingvisiblebutmile—longcream—coloredrock—wall,withbushesatbottomandtop,wallquarriedbyElbe,asyoucansee。Pirnaisnearthebeginning[properlyEND,butwestartfromDresden]orwesternextremityofSaxonSchweitz。Schandau,almostattheoppositeoreasternextremity,isstillmorepicturesque;

  standingonthedeltaofalittleBrook,withhighrock—cliffs,withgarden—shrubberies,sandedwalks,tuftsofforest—umbrage;

  abright—painted,almostOPERATIC—lookingplace,——withspa—waters,ifIrecollect:\"yestruly,andthe\"BathSeason\"makingitspackagesingreathaste,breakingupprematurely,thisYear(1756)!——

  DirectlyonarrivingatGross—Sedlitz,FriedrichtakesocularsurveyofthisCountry,whichisalreadynotunknowntohim。

  HefindsthattheSaxonshavesecuredthemselveswithintheMountains;arockystreamlet,BrookofGottleube,whichissuesintoElbejustbetweenGross—Sedlitzandthem,\"throughadellofeightyorahundredfeetdeep,\"servingastheirfirstdefence;wellinfrontofthemererockyHeightsandprecipicesbehindit,whichstretchcontinuouslyalongtosouthward,sixmilesormore,fromPirnaandthesouthbrinkofElbe。AtLangen—Hennersdorf,whichisthesouthernmostpart,theseHeightsmakeanelbowinwards,byLeopoldshayn,towardstheKonigstein,whichisbutfourmilesoff;

  heretootheSaxonsaredefendedbyaBrook(runningstraighttowardsKonigstein,thisone)infrontoftheirHeights;andstanddefensive,inthisway,alongarock—bulwarkoftenmileslong:

  thepassesallsecuredbybatteries,byabatis,palisades,mileaftermile,asFriedrichridesobservantleftward:behindthem,Elberushingswifterthroughhisrock—wallsyonder,withchasmsandintricategorges;defendingtheminexpugnablytorear。Sixmileslongofnaturalbulwark(sixtoHennersdorf),wherethegrossoftheSaxonslie;thentoKonigsteinfourothermiles,sufficiently,ifmoresparsely,besetbythem。\"Nostrongerpositionintheworld,\"Friedrichthinks;[OEuvresdeFrederic,iv。83,84(notaverydistinctAccount;andfarfromaccurateinthedetails,——whichareleftwithouteffectualcorrectioneveninthebestEditions)。]——andthatitisimpossibletoforcethisplace,withoutalossoflifedisproportionateeventoitsimportanceatpresent。NottosaythattheSaxonswillmaketermsalltheeasier,BEFOREbloodshedrisebetweenus;——andfurthermorethatHunger(forweheartheyhaveprovisiononlyfortwoweeks)mayitselfsoondoit。\"Wedgethemin,therefore;blockeveryoutgate,everyentrance;nothingtogetin,exceptgraduallyHunger。Hunger,andonourpartrationalOffers,willsuffice。\"

  ThatisFriedrich’splan;goodinitself,——thoughtheovineobstinacy,andothercircumstances,retardedtheexecutionofittoanunexpectedextent,lamentabletoFriedrichandtosomeothers。

  ThePrussian—Saxonmilitaryoperationsforthenextfiveweeksneednotdetainus。TheirrespectivepositionsontheHeightsbehindthatBrookGottleube,andontheplainerCountryinfrontofit,——

  HowthePrussianslie,firstDivisionofthem,fromGross—SedlitztoZehist,undertheKing;thensecondDivisionfromZehisttoCotta,andonwardby\"theRothschenke\"(RED—HOUSETavern),byMarkersbach,andsparselyasfarasHellendorfonthePragHighway;

  inbrief,wherealltheDivisionsofthemlie,andunderwhom;

  andwherethePrussians,watchingElbeitself,haveBatteriesandPostsonthenorthsideofit:allthisismarkedontheMap;

  ——tosatisfyingenuouscuriosity,shoulditmaketourinthoseparts。TowhichaddonlythesestragglesofNote,asfartherelucidative:——

  \"TheSaxons,betweenElbeandtheirLines,possessaboutthirtysquaremilesofcountry。FromPirnaorSonnensteintoKonigstein,asthecrowflies,maybefivemileseasttowest;butbyLangen—

  Hennersdorf,andtheelbowthere,itwillbeten:atKonigstein,moreover,Elbemakesanabruptturnnorthwardforacoupleofmiles,insteadofwestwardasheretofore,turningabruptlywestwardagainafterthat:sothattheSaxon’Camp’orOccupancyhere,isanirregularTrapezium,withPirnaandKonigsteinforvertices,andwithareaestimableasabove,——ploughable,afairportionofit,andnotwithoutcornofitsown。Sothatthe’twoweeks’provision’

  spunthemselvesout(shortallowanceaiding)totwomonths,beforeactualfaminecame……\"TheHigh—roadfromtheLausitzpartscrossesElbeatPirna;

  fallsintotheDresden—PragHigh—roadthere;andfromPirnatowardsToplitz,forthefirstfewmiles,thislatterrunsthroughthePrussianPosts;butwemayguessitisnotmuchtravelledatpresent。NorthofElbe,too,thePrussianshavebatteriesonthefitpoints;detachmentsofdueforce,fromGross—SedlitzBridge—of—

  PontoonsallroundtoSchandau,orbeyond;couldfireupontheKonigstein,acrosstheRiver:theyhavepluggeduptheSaxonpositioneverywhere。TheyhaveaBatteryespecially,andstrongpost,tocannonadetheBridgeatPirna,shouldtheSaxonsthinkoftryingthere。ItisnowtheoneSaxonorevenHalf—SaxonBridge;

  SonnensteinandPirnacommandtheSaxonendofit,astrongbatterythePrussianend:aBridgelyingmainlyidle,likethegeneralHighwaytoToplitzatthistime。BeyondtheKonigstein,again,ataplacecalledWendisch—Fahre(WENDS’—FERRY),thePrussianshave,bymeansofboatsswingingwideatanchorontheswiftcurrent,whatiscalledaFlying—bridge,withwhichthenorthsidecancommunicatewiththesouth。TheyhaveapostatNieder—Raden(OBER

  Raden,railwaystationinourtime,isonthesouthside):

  NetherRadenisaninterestinglittleHamlet,mostlyinvisibletomankind(builtintheTHROATofthestonechasmsthere),fromwhichyoubeginmountingtotheBASTEIfaraloft。ARadentobenoted,bytheTouristandus。\"

  Little,orevennothing,offightingthereis:whyshouldtherebe?

  Themilitaryoperationsareadead—lock,andrequirenoword。

  Thirtythousand,halfofthePrussianForce,lie,vigilantaslynxes,blockadinghere;otherhalf,32,000,underMarshalKeith,havemarchedforwardtoAussig,toNollendorfontheBohemianfrontier,tocleartheways,andlookintoanyAustrianmotionthereabouts,——withwhom,withsomePandourdetachmentofwhom,DukeFerdinand,leadingthevanguard,hashadalittlebrushamongtheHills;smitingthemhomeagain,inhisusualcreditableway(September13th);andtakingCampatPeterswalde,heandothersoftheForce,thatnight。[OEuvresdeFrederic,

  iv。85;ANONYMOUSOFHAMBURG,i。19。]ItiswiththisKeithArmy,withthisifwithany,thatadventuresaretobelookedforatpresent。

  PolishMajesty’sHead—quartersareatStruppen,wellinthecentreoftheSaxonlines;\"goesalwaystotheKonigsteintosleep。\"

  PolishMajesty’sowntableis,byFriedrich’spermissionforthatspecialobject,suppliedADLIBITUM:butthecommonmenwereatonceputonshortallowance,whichgrowsalwaystheshorter。

  PolishMajestycorrespondswithFriedrich,aswesaw;andaboveall,sendsburningMessagestoAustria,toFrance,toeveryEuropeanCourt,chargedwithmereshrieks:\"Helpme;arobberhasme!\"Inwhichsense,Excellenciesofallkinds,especiallyoneLordStormont,theEnglishExcellency,dailyrunningoutfromDresdentoGross—Sedlitz,arepassionatelyindustriouswithFriedrich;whoiseagerenoughtocomply,werethereanysafemeanspossible。

  Buttherearenone。Unfortunately,too,itappearstheAustriansareastir;FeldmarschallBrowneactuallyfurbishinghimselfatPragyonderwithaneyehitherward,andextraordinaryhasteandspiritshown:whichobligesFriedrichtoriseinhisdemands;

  ovineobstinacy,ontheotherside,naturallyincreasingfromthesamecause。

  \"PolishMajesty,wesay,haslibertytobringinproviantforselfandsuite,rigorouslyfornomortalmore;andheliveswell,intheculinarysense,——surelyformostpart’inhisdressing—gown,’too,poorloosecollapsedsoul!Bruhlandhehaveplentyofformalbusiness:buttheironerealbusinessisthatofcrying,byestafettesandeveryconceivablemethod,toAustria,’Getusoutofthis!’TowhichAustriahasanswered,’Yes;onlypatience,andbesteady!’——Friedrich’shead—quartersareatSedlitz;andthenegotiatingandrespondingwhichhehas,transcendsimagination。

  Hisfirsthopewas,PolishMajestymightbepersuadedtojoinwithhim;——onthebackofthat,certainty,graduallycoming,thatPolishMajestyneverwould;andthattheAustrianswouldendeavorarescue,weretheyonceready。Starvation,ortheAustrians,whichwillbefirsthere?isthequestion;andFriedrichstudiestothinkitwillbetheformer。Atallevents,havingsettledonthestarvationmethod,andseenthatallhispostsareright,weperceivehedoesnotstickclosebySedlitz;butrunsnowhithernowthither;isatTorgau,whereanimportantestablishment,kindofNewGovernmentforSaxony,ontheFinanceside,isorganizingitself。WhathisworkwithAmbassadorswas,andhowdelicatethehandlingneeded,think!\"——HereisanotherClipping:——……\"PolishMajestypassesthedayatStruppen,amidmanyvainnoisesofSoldiering,ofDiplomatizing;thenightalwaysatKonigstein,andfinallybothdayandnight,——quiteluxuriouslyaccommodated,Bruhlandhe,totheveryendofthisAffair。

  TowardsStruppen[thisisweeksfartheron,butwegiveithere],——

  ComtedeBroglio[OldBroglio’selderSon,youngerisintheMilitaryline],whoisAmbassadortohisSaxon—PolishMajesty,setsoutfromDresdenforaninterviewwithsaidMajesty。AtthePrussianlines,heisinformed,’Yes,youcango;but,withoutourKing’sOrder,youcannotreturn。’’What?TheMostChristianMajesty’sAmbassador,andtreatedinthisway?IwillgotowherethePolishKingis,andIwillreturntomyownKing,sooftenasI

  findbusiness:stopmeatyourperil!’andthreatenedandargued,andmadeadealofblusterousnoise;——fartoomuch,thinksValori;

  thinkthePrussianOfficers,whoaresorry,butinflexible。

  MargrafKarl,Commandantoftheplace,inabsenceofKingFriedrich(whoisgonelately,onaBusinessweshallhearof),earnestlydissuadedExcellencyBroglio;butitwastonopurpose。NextdayBroglioappearedinhisstate—carriage,formallydemandingentrance,freethoroughfare:’Doyoudarerefuseme?’’Yes,’

  answeredMargrafKarl;’wedoandmust。’IndignantBroglioreappeared,nextday,onfoot;Lieutenant—GeneralPrinceFriedrichEugenofWurtembergthechiefmanincharge:’Doyoudare?’

  ’Indubitably,Yes;’——andBrogliostillpushingonincredulous,Eugenactuallyraisedhisarm,——elbowandfore—armacrossthebreastofMostChristianMajesty’sAmbassador,——whorecoiled,toDresden,inmerewhirlwindsoffire;andmadethemostofit[unwisely,thinksValori]inwritingtoCourt。[Valori,ii。349,209,353(\"Wednesday,6thOctober,\"thedayofit,seemingly);

  ib。i。312,&c。]Court,inhighdudgeon,commandedValoritoquitBerlinwithouttakingleave。Valori,inhisprivatecapacity,wroteanAdieu;[Friedrich’skindLetterinanswertoit,\"2dNovember,1756,\"inValori,i。313。]andinhispublic,asthefactstood,ThathewasgonewithoutAdieu。\"

  AndtheDauphiness,daughterofthoseinjuredPolishMajesties,fellonherknees(Pompadourpermittingandencouraging)atthefeetofMostChristianMajesty;onherknees,allinpassionoftears;cravedhelpandprotectiontoherlovedoldMother,inthenameofNatureandofallKings:couldanyKingresist?AndhisPompadourwasbusy:\"ThinkofthatnobleEmpress,whocallsmeCOUSINANDDEARPRINCESS;thinkofthatinsolentPrussianRobber:

  Ah,yourMajesty:\"—andKingLouis,thoughnotahatingman,didprivatelydislikeFriedrich;andevilspeechesofFriedrich’shadbeenreportedtohim。And,inshort,theupshotwas:KingLouis,boundonlyto24,000forhelpofAustria,determinedtosend,anddidsend,above100,000acrosstheRhine,nextYear,forthatobject;aswillbeseen。AndallFrenchmen——allexceptBelleisle,whoisold——arecharmedwiththesenewenergeticmeasures,andbeautifulnewAustrianconnections。

  Certainitis,theAustriansarecoming,herImperialMajestybentwithallhermightonreliefofthoseSaxonmartyrs;whichindeedisreliefofherself,asshewellperceives:\"Courage,myfriends;

  endureyetalittle!\"MessengerssmugglethemselvesthroughtheMountainpaths,andgoandreturn,thoughwithdifficulty。

  SinceSeptember19th,theCorrespondencewithPolishMajestyhasceased:nopersuadingofthePolishMajesty。Winterfeldwenttwicetohim;conferredatlarge,Bruhlforbiddentobethere,ontheactualstringenciesandurgenciesofFactbetweentheTwoCountries;butitwaswithnoresultatall。PolishMajestyhasnottheleastintentionthatSaxonyshallbeevenaHighwayforFriedrich,ifatanytimePolishMajestycanhinderit:

  \"Neutrality,\"therefore,willnotdoforFriedrich;hedemandsAlliance,practicalPartnership;andtothathisPolishMajestyiscompletelyabhorrent。Diplomatizingmaycease;nothingbutwrestleoffightwillsettlethismatter。

  Friedrich,abletogetnothingfromtheSovereignofSaxony,isreducedtograspSaxonyitself:andwecanobservehimdoingit;

  alwaysthecloser,alwaysthemorecarefully,asthecomplicacydeepens,andtheobstinacybecomesmoredangerousandprovoking。

  Whatalternativeisthere?OnfirstenteringSaxony,Friedrichhadmadenosecretthathewasnotamerebirdofpassagethere。

  AtTorgau,therewasatoncea\"Field—Commissariat\"established,withPrussianOfficialsofeminencetoadminister,theMilitaryChesttobedepositedthere,andTorgautobeputinastateofdefence。Torgau,ourSaxonMetropolisofWar—Finance,isbecomingmoreandmoretheMetropolisofSaxonFinanceingeneral。

  SaxonOfficialswereliable,fromthefirst,tobesuspended,onFriedrich’sorder。SaxonFinance—Officials,ofallkinds,werefromthefirstinstructed,thattillfarthernoticetheremustbenodisbursementswithoutKingFriedrich’ssanction。And,infact,KingFriedrichfullyintendsthatSaxonyistohelphimallitcan;

  andthatiteitherwillorelseshall,inthisdirepressureofperplexity,whichisdueinsuchadegreetotheconductoftheSaxonGovernmentfortwelveyearspast。WouldSaxonygowithhiminanyformofconsent,howmuchmoreconvenienttoFriedrich!

  ButSaxonywillnot;PolishMajesty,nothimselfsufferinghunger,isobstinateasthedecreesofFate(orassheep,whentoomuchputupon),regardlessofconsiderations;——and,infine,hereisBrowneactuallyafoot;comingtorelievePolishMajesty!——TheAustrianshaduncommonlybestirredthemselves:——

  Theactivity,thezealofallranks,eversincethisexpeditionintoSaxony,andclutchingofSaxonybythethroat,contemporarywitnessesdeclaretohavebeenextraordinary。\"HorsesforPiccolomini’sCavalry,——theyhadscarcelygottheirhorses,nottospeakoftrainingthem,nottospeakofcannonandtheheavierrequisites,whenSchwerinbeganmarchingoutofGlatzonPiccolomini。AstothecannonforBrowneandhim,draught—cattleseemabsolutelyunprocurable。WhereuponMariaTheresaflingsopenherownImperialStuds:’There,yokethesetoourcannon;letthemgotheirswiftest;’——whichawokesuchanenthusiasm,thatnoblemenandpeasantscrowdedforwardwiththeircoach—horsesandtheircart—horses,torelayBrowne,allthroughBohemia,atdifferentstages;andthecannonandequipmentsmovetotheirplacesatthegallop,inamanner,\"[Archenholtz,i。24。]——andevenBrowne,atthebaseoftheMetalMountains,hasgotmostofhisequipments。

  AndisastirtowardsPirna(Armyof60,000,rumorsays),forreliefoftheSaxonmartyrs。Friedrich’scomplexitiesaregettingdaybydaymorestringent。

  FromthemiddleofSeptember,MarshalKeith,aswasobserved,withHalfofthePrussians,DukeFerdinandofBrunswickunderhim,hasbeenontheBohemianslopeoftheMetalMountains;securingtheroads,townsandpassesthereabouts,andlookingoutfortheadvanceofMarshalBrownefromtheinteriorparts。TownofAussig,andtheRiver—road(castleofTetschen,onitshighrockknowntoTourists,whichalwaysneedstobetakenonsuchoccasions),theseKeithhassecured。LiesencampedfromPeterswaldetoAussig,themiddleormainstrengthofhimbeingintheHamletofJohnsdorf(discoverable,ifreaderslike):thereliesKeith,fifteenmilesinlength;likeastrap,orbar,thrownacrossthebackofthatMetal—

  MountainRange,——orpartofitsback;fortherangeisverybroad,andthereismuchinequality,andmanytroughs,bigandlittle,partialandgeneral,inthecrossingofit。AtractwhichmyreadersandIhavecrossedbeforenow,bythe\"Pascopol\"orPost—

  roadandotherwise;andshalloftenhavetocross!

  Browne,vigorouslyastirintheinterior(cannonandequipmentscomingbyrelaysatsuchapace),isdailyadvancing,withhisbestspeed:inthelastdaysofSeptember,BrowneisencampedatBudin;

  maycrosstheEgerRiveranyday,andwillthenbewithintwomarchesofKeith。HisintentionstowardsPirnaCountryarefixedandsure;buttheplanorroutehewilltakeisunknowntoeverybody,andindeedtoBrownehimself,tillheseenearathandandconsider。Browne’sproblem,hehimselfknows,isabundantlyabstruse,——borderingontheimpossible;buthewilltryhisbest。

  TogetwithinreachoftheSaxonsisalmostimpossibletoBrowne,evenweretherenoKeiththere。Asgoodasimpossiblealtogether,byanylineofmarch,whileKeithisafootinthoseparts。

  ByAussig,downtheRiver,straightfortheinterioroftheirCamp,itisflatlyimpossible:bythesouthorsoutheastcorneroftheirCamp(Gottleubeway),orbythenortheast(bySchandauway,rightbankofElbe),itisvirtuallyso,——atleastwithoutbeatingKeith。

  CouldonebeatKeithindeed;——butthatwillnotbeeasy!Andthat,unluckily,isthepreliminarytoeverything。

  \"BytheHellendorf—Hennersdorfside,inthewasteswhereGottleubeBrookgathersitself,Brownemighthaveachance。There,onthatsoutheastcorneroftheirCamp,wereheoncetheretoattackthePrussiansfromwithout,whiletheSaxonsburstupfromwithin,——

  there,\"thinksagoodjudge,\"ismuchthefavorablestplace。

  ButunlessBrowne’sArmyhadwings,howisitevertogetthere?

  AcrossthoseMetal—Mountainranges,barredbyKeith:——byAussig,withtherocksoverhangingElbeRiverandhim,hecannotgoinauycase。WeretherenoKeith,indeed(buttherealwaysis,standingreadyonthespring),onemightholdtoleftward,andbystolenmarches,swift,farroundabout——!

  \"BySchandauregion,northsideoftheElbe,isBrowne’seasiest,andindeedonefeasible,pointofapproach,——noPrussiansatpresentbetweenhimandthat;theroadopen,thoughafarcircuitnorthwardforBrowne,——werehetocrosstheElbeinLeitmeritzcircle,andmarchwithvelocity?Thattoowillbedifficult,——

  nearlyimpossibleinsightofKeith。Andwerethatevendone,theegressfortheSaxons,bySchandauside,isthroughstraitmountaingorges,intricatesteeppasses,crossingsoftheElbe:whatforceofSaxonsorofAustrianswilldrivethePrussiansfromtheirredoubtsandbatteriesthere?\"[OEuvresdeFrederic,iv。86,93,96。]

  Browne’sproblemisnoneofthefeasiblest:buthisordersarestrict,\"RelievetheSaxons,atallrisks。\"AndBrowne,oneoftheablestsoldiersliviug(\"YourImperialMajesty’sbestgeneral,\"

  saidthedyingKhevenhullerlongsince),willdohisutmostuponit。Friedrichdoesnotthinktheenterpriseverydangerous,——

  beatingofKeiththeindispensablepreliminarytoit;butwillnaturallyhimselfgoandlookintoit。

  Tuesday,September28th,FriedrichquitsPirnaCountrybythePragHighway;makingdueinspectionofhisPostsashegoesalong;

  and,theoutmostoftheseoncepast,drivesrapidlyuptheMountains;gets,withsmallescort,throughPeterswaldeontoJohnsdorfthatnight。DoesnotthinkthisKeithpositiongood;

  breaksupthis\"CampofJohnsdorf\"bodilynextmorning;andmarchesdowntheMountains,directtowardsBrowne;who,wehear,isaboutcrossingtheEger(hisPontoonsnowcomeatlast),andwillhimselfbeontheadvance。FromTurmitz,apoormountainhamletinthehollowoftheHills,whichishead—quartersthatnight,themarchproceedsagain;Friedrichwiththevanguard;Army,Ithink,onvariouscountry—roads,onbothhands;tillallgetupontheGreatRoadagain,——Prag—Toplitz—DresdenPost—road;whichiscalled,speciallyinthispartofit,andlooselyinwhole,\"ThePascopol,\"

  andleadsdowndirecttoBudinandBrowne。

  \"A’Pascopol’famedinmilitaryannals,\"saysourTourist。\"Itisaroadwithmanywindings,manyprecipitoussweepsofupanddown;

  roadprecipitousinstructure;——offersviewstotheloverofwildNature:hugelonesomeHillsscatteredinthedistance;

  wasteexpansesnearerhand,andfutileattemptsatmoorishagriculture;butlittleelsethatiscomfortable。IntimesofPeace,youwillmeet,atlongintervals,somepost—vehiclestrugglingforwardundermelancholycircumstances;somecart,ordilapidatedmongrelbetweencartandbasket,withaleanoxharnessedtoit,andscarecrowdriver,ladenwithpit—coal,——whichyouwishsafehome,andthatthescarecrowweregettingwarmedbyit。ButinWar—timethesteeproadislivelier;thecommonInvasionroadbetweenSaxonyandBohemia;wholeArmiessweepingoverit,andtheirthousand—foldwagonsandnoisesmakingclangorenough……OneofthoseHollows,onthePascopol,isJoachimsthal,withitsoldSilverMines;yieldingcoinswhichwereinrequestwithtraders,thesilverbeingfine。’LetmyducatbeaJoachimsthalone,then!’theoldtraderwouldsay:’aJOACHIMSTHAL—ER;’or,forbrevity,a’THAL—ER;’whenceTHALER,andatlastDOLLAR(almightyandotherwise),——nowgoingroundtheworld![Busching,

  Erdbeschreibung,v。178。]PascopolfinishesinWelminaTownship。FromthelasthamletinWelmina,attheneckofthelastHill,stepdownwardonemile,holdingrathertotheleft,youwillcomeontheinnocentVillageofLobositz,itspoorcorn—millsandhuckster—shopsallpeaceablyunknownasyet,whichissoontobecomeveryfamous。\"

  TheCountry—roadswhereFriedrich’sArmyisonmarch,Ishouldthink,aremostlyonthemountinghand。Forhere,fromTurmitz,isatroughagain;thoughthelastconsiderableone;andonthecrestofthat,weshalllookdownupontheBohemianPlainsandthegrandBasinoftheElbe,——throughvariousscrubbyvillageswhicharenotnameworthy;throughonecalledKletschen,whichforacertainreasonis。CrossingtheshoulderofKletschenberg(HILLofthisKletschen),whichabutsuponthePascopol,——yonderinbrightsunshineisyourbeautifulexpansiveBasinoftheElbe,andthegreenBohemianPlains,revealedforamoment。Friedrichsnatcheshisglass,notwithpicturesqueobject:\"See,yonderisFeldmarschallBrowne,then!Incampyonder,downbyLobositz,nottenmilesfromus,——[itismosttrue;Brownemarchedthismorning,longbeforetheSun;crossedEger,andpitchedcampatnoon]——

  Good!\"thinksFriedrich。AndpushesdownintothePascopol,intothehollowsandminortroughs,whichhideBrownehenceforth,tillwearequitenear。

  Quitenear,throughWelminaandacertainfinalgapoftheHills,Friedrichwiththevanguarddoesemerge,\"anhourbeforesunset;\"

  overhangingBrowne;notaboveamilefromtheCampofBrowne。

  AverylargeCamp,thatofBrowne’s,flankedtorightbytheElbe;

  goesfromSulowitz,throughLobositz,toWelhotencloseonElbe;——

  andhaspropertiesextremelywellworthstudyingjustnow!

  \"Friedrich\"theBookssay,\"bivouacsbyafireofsticks,\"shortwaydownonthesouthernslopeoftheHill;andtillsunsetandafter,haseye—glass,brain,andfacultiesandactivitiessufficientlyoccupiedfortherestofthenight;——hisDivisionsgraduallytakingpostbehindhim,underarms;\"nottillmidnight,theveryrearmostofthem。\"[\"Tuesday,28thSeptember,lefttheCampatSedlitz,with8battalions20squadrons,toJohnsdorf:

  29th,toTurmitz,——BrowneistopasstheEgertomorrow。FromthetopsofthePascopol(30th),SEEanAustrianCampinthePlainofLobositz。Vanguardbivouacsinthe’neck’ofthetwoHillsoralittlebeyond。\"PRUSSIANACCOUNTOFCAMPAIGN1756(in

  GesammelteNachrichten,i。844—845,840—858);AnonymousofHamburg;

  &c。&c。]

  ChapterVI。

  BATTLEOFLOBOSITZ。

  Welmina,——orReschni—Aujest,lastpertinentofWelmina(butwewilltakeFriedrich’snameforit),offerstothescrutinizingeyenothing,inourday,butsomebewilderedmemoryof\"AlteFritz\"

  clingingobstinatelyeventothePeasantmindthereabouts。Asleepylitteryplace;somebiggishhaggarduntrimmedtrees,somebroken—

  backedsleepy—lookingthatchedhouses,notincontact,andeachasfarasmightbewithitsbackturnedontheother,andcloakedinitsownlitterandprivacy。Probablynohumancreaturewillbevisible,asyoupassthrough。Muchstrawlyingabout,chieflywherethefewgaunttreeslookdownonit(cattlegladofanyshelter):

  infact,itismainlyanextincttumultofstraw;nothingalive,asyoupass,butafewpooroxenlanguidlysaunteringupanddown,findingmuchtotrample,littletoeat。TheCzechPopulations(wereitnotforthat\"QuestionoftheNationalities\")arenotverybeautiful!

  ClosesouthofthispoorHamletisabigHill,conspicuouswiththreepeaks;quiteattheotherbaseofwhich,agoodwaydown,liesLobositz,themainVillageinthoseparts;aplacenowofassiduouscorn—millandfruittrade;andoneofthestationsontheDresden—PragRailway。ThisHilliswhatLloydcallstheLobosch;

  [Major—GeneralLloyd,HistoryofthelateWarinGermany,1756—1759(3vols。4to,London,1781),i。2—11。]twintowhich,onlyflatter,isLloyd’s\"HomolkaHill\"(HillofRADOSTITZinmoremodernPlansandBooks)。ConspicuousHeights,andimportanttoushere,——thoughIdidnotfindthePeasantsmuchknowthemunderthosenames。BythesouthernshoulderofthisLoboschHillrunstheroadfromWelminatoLobositz,withbranchestowardsmanyothervillages。Toyourrightorsouthernhand,shortwaysouthward,risestheotherHill,whichLloydcallsHomolkaHill;

  thegaporintervalbetweenHomolkaandLobosch,perhapsafurlonginextent,isessentiallythePASSthroughthoseuplands。

  Thispass,Friedrich,atthefirstmoment,madesureof;

  fillingthesamewithbattalions,theretobivouac。HelikewisepromptlylaidholdofthetwoHills,highLoboschtohisleft,andlowerHomolkatoright;whichprecautionarymeasureitisreckonedafaultinBrownetohaveneglected,thatnight;faultforwhichhesmartedonthemorrow。

  Fromthisuplandpass,orneckbetweenthetwoMountains,Friedrich’sbattalionswouldhavehadafineview,hadthemorningshoneforthem:Lobositz,Leitmeritz,Melnick;agreatfertileValley,orexpanseoffruitfulcountry,manymilesinbreadthandlength;Elbe,likeasilverstripe,windinggrandlythroughthefinestofallhiscountries,beforeduckinghimselfintotherock—

  tumultsofthatPirnadistrict。ThemountaingorgesofPragandMoldauRiver,southofMelnick,liehiddenunderthehorizon,orvisibleonlyaspeaks,thirtymilesandmoretosoutheastward;

  abrightcountryintervening,sprinkledwithsteepledtowns。

  Tonorthwestward,faraway,aretheLausitzMountains,rankedinlooseorder,butmassive,makingakindofrange:andasoutpoststothemintheirscatteredstate,Hillsofgoodheightandaspectarescatteredallabout,andbreaktheuniformityofthePlain。

  NowhereinNorthGermanycouldthePrussianbattalionshaveafinerview,——ifthemorningwerefine,andifviewsweretheirobject。

  Themorning,firstinOctober,wasnotfine;anditwasfarotherthanscenerythatthePrussianbattalionshadinhand!——Friday,1stOctober,1756,Dayshouldhavebroken:butwhereisday?Atseveninthemorning(andontilleleven),thickmistlayovertheplain;

  thinfogtotheveryhill—tops;sothatyoucannotseeahundredyardsahead。Lobositzisvisibleonlyasthroughacrape;

  fartheron,nothingbutgraysea;underwhich,whattheAustriansaredoing,orwhetherthereareanyAustrians,whocansay?

  LeftwardontheLobosch—Hillside,aswereconnoitre,somePandoursarenoticeable,nestledinthevineyardsthere:——thatsunwardsideoftheLoboschisallvineyards,belongingtothedifferentLobositzers:scrubbyvineyards,allinabrownpluckedstateatthisseason。Vineyardspartedbylowstonewalls,saythreeorfourfeethigh(partedbyhurdles,orbytinytrenches,inourday,andthestonewallsmerestonefacings):therearethePandourscrouched,andgivefireinakneelingposturewhenyouapproach。

  Lowerdown,nearLobositzitself,flickeringsasofHorsesquadrons,probablyHussarparties,twinkledubiousinthewaveringmist。Problemwraptinmist;nothingtobeseen;andalldependsonjudgingitwithaccuracy!Sevenbytheclock:Deploy,atanyrate;

  letuscoverourpost;andbeinreadinessforevents。

  Friedrich’svanguardofitselfnearlyfillsthatneck,orspacebetweentheLoboschandHomolkaHills。HespreadshisInfantryand\"hundredfield—pieces,\"inpart,rightwardsalongtheHomolkaHill;

  butchieflyleftwardsalongtheLobosch,wheretheirnearestdutyistodriveoffthosePandours。Alwaysasanewbattalion,pushingfartherleftward,comesuponitsground,thePandoursgivefireonit;——anditonthePandours;tilltheLeftWingiscomplete,andalltheLoboschis,inthismanner,acracklingofPandourmusketry。andanti—musketry。RightWing,steadytoitsgunsontheHomolka,hasasyetnothingtodo。ThosewingsofInfantryaretwolinesdeep;theCavalry,inthreelines,isbetweentheminthecentre;noroomforCavalryelsewhere,exceptontheoutskirtssomefringingoflighthorse,tobereadyforemergencies。

  ThePandourfiring,exceptforthenoiseofit,doesnotamounttomuch;theycantakenoaim,saysLloyd,crouchingbehindtheirstonefences;andthePrussianBattalions,steadilypushingdownwards,trampleouttheirsputtering,andcleartheLoboschofthemtoasafedistance。Butthegroundisintricate,sowraptinmistforthepresent。Thatcracklinglastsforhours;decisiveofnothing;andthemistalso,andone’sanxiousguessingsandscrutinizings,lastsinawaveringfitfulmanner。

  Once,forsometime,inthewaveringofthemist,therewasseen,downintheplainoppositeourcentre,abodyofCavalry。Horseforcertain:saytensquadronsofthem,or1,500Horse;continuallymanoeuvring,changingshape;nowinmoreranks,nowinfewer;

  sometimes\"checkerwise,\"formedlikeadraught—board;shootingoutwings:theycareerabout,oneseesnotwhither,orvanishagainintothemistbehind。\"Browne’srear—guardthis,thatwearecomeupon,\"thinksFriedrich;\"thesesquattedPandours,backedbyHorse,mustbehisrear—guard,thatareamusingus:BrowneandtheArmyareoff;crossingtheElbe,hasteningtowardstheSchandau,thePirnaquarter,whilewestandbickeringandidlysputteringhere!\"

  ——Wearyofsuchidlebusiness,FriedrichordersforwardTwentyofhisSquadronsfromthecentrestation:\"ChargemethoseAustrianHorse,andletusfinishthis。\"TheTwentySquadrons,precededbyapairoffield—pieces,movedownhill;storminupontheAustrianparty,stormitfuriouslyintothemist;arefuriouslychasingit,——whenunexpectedcannon—batteries,destructivecase—shot,awakenontheirleftflank(batteriesfromLobositz,onemayguess);

  andforcethemtodrawback。Todrawback,withsomeloss;andrankagain,inanindignantlyblowncondition,atthefootoftheirHill。Indignant;afterbriefbreathing,theytryitoncemore。

  \"Don’ttryit!\"Friedrichhadsentouttotellthem:forthemistwasclearing;andFriedrich,onthehigherground,sawnewimportantphenomena:butitwastoolate。FortheTwentySquadronsareagaindashingforward;sweepingdownwhateverisbeforethem:

  inspiteofcannon—volleys,theyplungedeeperanddeeperintothemist;comeupon\"aditchtwelvefeetbroad\"(bigswampydrain,suchasarestillfoundthere,grass—greeninsummer—time);clearsaidditch;forwardstilldeeperintothemist:andafterthreehundredyards,comeuponasecondfarworse\"ditch;\"plainlyimpassablethisone,——\"ditch\"theycallit,thoughitisinfactavilesedgyBrook,oozingalongthere(theMORELLBACH,considerableBrook,lazilywanderingtowardsLobositz,whereitdisemboguesinratherswifterfashion);——andaresalutedwithcannon,fromthefartherside;andseeserriedranksunderthegauzeofmist:Browne’sArmy,infact!TheTwentySquadronshavetorecoiloutofshot—range,thefaster,thebetter;withalossofagoodmanymen,inthosetwocharges。FriedrichordersthemupHillagain;muchregretfulofthissecondcharge,whichhewishedtohinder;andpoststhemtorearward,——wheretheystandsilent,theunconsciousstoic—

  philosophersinbuff,andhavelittlefartherservicethroughtherestoftheday。

  Itisnow11o’clock;themistallclearingoff;andFriedrich,beforethatsecondcharge,hadagrowingviewofthePlainanditscondition。Beyondquestion,thereisBrowne;notinretreat,byanymeans;butinfullarray;numerous,andhispositionverystrong。

  Ranked,unattackablemostly,behindthatoozyBrook,orBACHofMorell;whichhasonlytwonarrowBridges,cannonplentyonboth:

  oneBridgefromthesouthpartstoSulowitz(OURroadtoSulowitzanditwouldbebyRadostitzandtheHomolka);andthenoneotherBridge,connectingSulowitzwithLobositz,——whichlatterisBrowne’sownBridge,unitingrightwingandleftofBrowne,sotospeak;andisstillmoreunattackable,inthecircumstances。

  WhatwillFriedrichdecideonattempting?

  ThatoozyMorellBrookissuesonBrowne’ssideofLobositz,cuttingBrowneintwo;butisotherwiseallinBrowne’sfavor。

  BrowneextendsthroughLobositz;andbeyondit,curvesuptoWelhotenontheRiver—brink;atLobositzarevisibleconsiderableredoubts,cannon—batteriesandmuchregularinfantry。Brownewillbedifficulttoforceyonder,intheLobositzpart;butyonderalonecanhebetried。HeispushingupmoreInfantrythatway;

  consciousprobablyofthatfact,——andthattheLoboschHillisnothis,butanother’s。WhatwouldnotBrownenowgivefortheLoboschHill!Yesternighthemighthavehaditgratis,inamanner;

  andindeeddidtryslightly,withhisPandourpeople(durstnotatgreaterexpense),——whohavenowceasedsputtering,andcowerextinctinthelowervineyardsthere。Browne,atanyrate,israpidlystrengtheninghisrightwing,whichhasholdofLobositz;

  pushingforwardinthatquarter,——wheretheBrookwithalisoffirmerbottomandmorewadable。ThithertooisFriedrichbent。

  SothatLobositzisnowthekeyoftheBattle;therewillthetugofwarnowbe。

  Friedrich’scavalryisgonealltorearward。HisrightwingholdstheHomolkaHill,——thattoowouldnowbevaluabletoBrowne;

  andcannotbehadgratis,asyesternight!Friedrich’sleftwingisontheLobosch;Pandoursprettywellextinctbeforeit,butnowfromWelhotenquarternewRegularscomingonthither,——asifBrownewouldstilltaketheLobosch?Whichwouldbevictorytohim;butisnotnowpossibletoBrowne。Norwilllongseemso;——Friedrichhavingotherworkinviewforhim;——meaningnowtotakeLobositz,insteadoflosingtheLoboschtohim!FriedrichpushesouthisLeftWingstillfartherleftward,leftwardanddownwardwithal,toclearthosevineyard—fencescompletelyoftheiroccupants,PandourorRegular,oldornew。Thisisdone;thevineyard—fencesswept;——andthesweepingsdriven,inamoreandmorestormyfashion,towardsWelhotenandLobositz;theLoboschfallingquitedesperateforBrowne。

  HenceforthFriedrichdirectsallhisindustrytotakingLobositz;

  Browne,tothedefendingofit,whichhedoeswithgreatvigorandfire;hisbatteries,redoubts,doingtheiruttermost,andhisbattalionsrushingon,massofthemaftermass,atquickmarch,obstinate,fiercetoadegree,intheheightoftemper;andshowingsuchfightasweneverhadofthembefore。Friedrich’sLeftWingandBrowne’sRightnowhaveittodecidebetweenthem;——anyattemptBrownemakeswithhisLeftthroughSulowitz(asheoncedid,andonceonly)isinstantlyrepressedbycannonfromtheHomolkaHill。

  AndtherestoftheBattle,orrathertheBattleitself,——forallhithertohasbeenpickeeringandgropinginthemist,——maybemadeconceivableinfewwords。

  FriedrichordersthesecondlineofhisLeftWingtomarchupandjoinwiththefirst;RightWing,shovingITStwolinesintoone,isnowtocovertheLoboschaswell。LeftWing,incondensedcondition,shallfalldownonLobositz,anddoitsbest。Theyarenowclearofthevineyard—works;thegroundisleveller,thoughstillsloping,——athreefurlongsfromtheVillage,andsomewhattowardstheElbe,whenBrowne’sbattalionsfirstcameextensivelytoclosegrips;fierceenough(aswassaid);thetoughestwrestleyethadwiththoseAustrians,——comingonwithsteadyfury,undersuchforceofcannon;withironramrodstoo,andimprovedways,likeourown。Butnothingcouldavailthem;thecounter—furybeingsogreat。TheyhadtogoattheWelhotenpart,andeventorun,——

  plungingintoElbe,agoodfewofthem,anddrowningthere,inthevainhopetoswim。\"Neverhavemytroops,\"saysFriedrich,\"donesuchmiraclesofvalor,cavalryaswellasinfantry,sinceIhadthehonortocommandthem。Bythisdead—liftachievement(TOURDE

  FORCE)Ihaveseenwhattheycando。\"[LettertoSchwerin,\"Lobositz,2dAugust,1756\"(Retzow,i。64);RELATIONDELA

  CAMPAGNE,1756,thatis,PRUSSIANACCOUNT(inGesammelteNachrichten),i。848。Lloyd,UTSUPRA,i。2—11(whohassolidinformationatfirsthand,havingbeenanactorintheseWars。Amanofgreatnaturalsagacityandinsight;decidedlyluminousandoriginal,thoughofsomewhatcrabbedtempernowandthen;amanwellworthhearingonthisandonwhateverelsehehandles)。Tempelhof,GESCHICHTEDESSIEBENJAHRIGENKRIEGES(whichisatfirstamereTranslationofLloyd,nothingnewinitbutcertainnotesandcriticismsonLloyd;whenLloydends,Tempelhof,PrussianMajorandProfessor,alearned,intelligent,butdiffuseman,offarinferiortalenttoLloyd,continuesandcompletesonhisownfooting:sixverythin4tos,Berlin,1794),i。38(Battle,withFOOTNOTES),andib。51(CRITICISMofLloyd)。PrussianandAustrianAccountsinHelden—Geschichte,iii。

  800etseq。ManyNarrativesinFELDZUGE,andtheBEYLAGEtoSeyfarth;&c。&c。]

  Infine,aftersomethreehoursmoreofdesperatetuggingandstruggling,cannononbothsidesgoingatagreatrate,andinfinitemusketry(\"ninetycartridgesamanonourPrussianside,andammunitionfallingdone\"),notwithoutbayonet—pushings,andsmitingswiththebuttofyourmusket,theAustriansaredrivenintoLobositz;arefuriouslypushedthere,and,inspiteofnewbattalionscomingtotherescue,arefairlypushedthrough。

  TheseVillage—streetsaretoonarrowfornewbattalionsfromBrowne;\"muchoftheVillageshouldhavebeenburntbeforehand,\"

  saycooljudges。Andnow,sureenough,itdoesgetburnt;

  Lobositzisnowallonfire,byPrussianindustry。SothattheAustrianshavetoquititinstantly;andrushoffingreatdisorder;keyoftheBattle,orBattleitself,quitelosttothem。

  ThePrussianinfantry,ledbytheDukeofBrunswick—Bevern(\"GovernorofStettin,\"oneoftheDuke—Ferdinandcousinry,frugalandvaliant),gavethehighestsatisfaction;seldomwassuchfiring,suchfuriouspushing;theyhadspentninetycartridgesaman;wereatlastquiteoutofcartridges;sothatBevernhadtosay,\"Strikeinwithbayonets,MEINEKINDER;butt—ends,orwhatwehave;HERAN!\"OurGrenadiersweremainlytheythatburntLobositz。

  \"Howsalutarynowwouldithavebeen,\"saysEpimetheusLloyd,\"hadBrownehadasmallbatteryontheothersideoftheElbe;\"

  wherebyhemighthavetakentheminflank,andshornthemintothewind!EpimetheusmarksthisbatteryonhisPlan;andiswisebehindhand,atacheaprate。

  Browne’sRightWing,andprobablyhisArmywithit,wouldhavegonemuchtoperdition,nowthatLobositzwasbecomePrussian,——hadnotBrowne,inthenickofthemoment,madeamasterlymovement:

  pushedforwardhisCentreandLeftWing,numerousbattalionsstillfresh,tointerposebetweenthechasingPrussiansandthosefugitives。ThePrussians,infantryonly,cannotchaseonsuchterms;thePrussiancavalry,weknow,isfarrearwardonthehighground。Browneretiresamileortwo,——southward,Budin—ward,——notchased;andtherehalts,andrearrangeshimself;thinkingwhatfartherhewilldo。Hisaiminfightinghadonlybeentodefendhimself;andinthathumbleaimhehasfailed。ChaseofthePrussiansoverthatHomolka—Loboschcountry,withthehighgroundsrearwardandtheMetalMountainsintheirhands,hecouldinnoeventhaveattempted。

  Thequestionnowis:WillhegobacktoBudin;orwillhetryfarthertowardsSchandau?Naturepointstotheformercourse,insuchcircumstances;Friedrich,bywayofassisting,doesathingmuchadmiredbyLloyd;——detachesBevernwithastrongpartysouthward,outofLobositz,whichisnowhis,tolayholdofTschirskowitz,lyingBudin—ward,butbeyondtheBudinRoad。

  Whichfeat,whenBrownehearsofit,meanstohim,\"GoingtocutmeofffromBudin,then?Frommyammunition—stores,frommyverybread—cupboard!\"Andhemarchesthatsamemidnight,silently,ingoodorder,backtoBudin。Heisnotmuchruined;naythePrussianlossisnumericallygreater:\"3,308killedandwounded,onthePrussianside;ontheAustrian,2,984,withthreecannontakenandtwostandards。\"Notruinedatall;butfoiled,frustrated;andhastodeviseearnestly,\"Whatnext?\"Oncerearranged,hemaystilltry。

  TheBattlelastedsevenhours;thelastfourofitveryhot,tillLobositzwaswonandlost。Itwasabout5P。M。whenBrownefiredhisretreat—cannon:——cannonhappenedtobeloaded(saytheAnecdote—Books,mythicallygivennowandthen);Friedrich,weariedenough,hadflunghimselfintohiscarriageforamoment’srest,orthankfulreflection;andofallplaces,theballoftheretreat—

  cannonlightedTHERE。BetweenFriedrich’sfeet,ashelayreclining,——saytheAnecdote—Books,whomnobodyisboundtobelieve。

  OnthestrengthofthosetwoPrussiancharges,whichhadretiredfromcase—shotontheirflank,andhadnotwings,forgettingoversedgeandooze,Austriapretendedtoclaimthevictory。

  \"Twochargesrepelledbyourgallanthorse;Lobositz,indeed,wasgotonfire,andwehadnothingforitbuttowithdraw;butwetookanewposition,andonlyleftthatforwantofwater;\"——withthelikeexcuses。\"Essentiallyaclearvictory,\"saidtheAustrians;

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