第83章
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  [InPreuss,ii。58,thepungentlittleAutographinfull。]AndatoncerecallsMoritz,andappointsthePrinceofPrussiatogoandtakecommand。Whodirectlywent;——amostimportantstepfortheKing’sinterestsandhisown。Whosefortunesinthatbusinessweshallseebeforelong!——

  AtLeitmeritztheKingcontinuesfourweeks,withhisArmypartedinthisway;waitinghowtheendlesshostileelement,whichbegirdleshishorizonallround,willshapeitselfintocombinations,thathemaysetuponthelikeliestortheneedfulestofthese,whenonceithasdiscloseditself。Horizonallroundisblackenough:Austrians,French,Swedes,Russians,ReichsArmy;

  closeruponhimornotsoclose,allarerollingin:Saxony,theLausitzandSilesia,Brandenburgitself,itisuncertainwhichofthesemaysoonestrequirehisactivepresence。

  TheverydayafterhisarrivalinLeitmeritz,——Tuesday,28thJune,whilethatjunctionwithKeithwasgoingon,andthetroopsweredefilingalongtheBridgeforjunctionwithKeith,——aheavysorrowhadbefallenhim,whichheyetknewnotof。AnirreparableDomesticloss;sadcomplementtotheseMilitaryandotherPublicdisasters。

  QueenSophieDorothee,aboutwhosehealthhehadbeenanxious,buthadagainbeensetquiet,diedatBerlinthatday。[Monbijou,28thJune,1757;bornatHanover,27thMarch,1687。]Inherseventy—

  firstyear:ofnodefiniteviolentdisease;worndownwithchagrinsandapprehensions,inthisblackwhirlpoolofPublictroubles。

  Sofarasappears,thenewscameonFriedrichbysurprise:——\"badcough,\"wehearof,andofhisanxietiesaboutit,intheSpringtime;thenagainof\"improvement,recovery,inthefineweather;\"——

  nothought,justnow,ofsuchanevent:andhetookitwithadepthofaffliction,whichmylessinformedreadersarefarfromexpectingofhim。

  July2d,thenewscame:Kingwithdrewintoprivacy;toweepandbewailunderthisnewpungencyofgrief,superaddedtosomanyothers。Mitchellsays:\"Fortwodayshehadnolevee;onlythePrincesdinedwithhim[PrincesHenriandFerdinand;PrinceofPrussiaisgonetoJung—Bunzlau,wouldgetthesadmessagethere,amonghisothertroubles]:yesterday,July3d,Kingsentformeintheafternoon,——thefirsttimehehasseenanybodysincethenewscame:——Ihadthehonortoremainwithhimsomehoursinhiscloset。

  ImustowntoyourLordshipIwasmostsensiblyafflictedtoseehimindulginghisgrief,andgivingwaytothewarmestfilialaffections;recallingtomindthemanyobligationshehadtoherlateMajesty;allshehadsuffered,andhownoblysheboreit;

  thegoodshedidtoeverybody;theonecomforthenowhad,tothinkofhavingtriedtomakeherlastyearsmoreagreeable。\"

  [PapersandMemoirs,i。253;DespatchtoHolderness,4thJuly(slightlyabridged);——seeib。i。357—359

  (PrivateJournal)。Westphalen,ii。14。SeeOEuvresdeFrederic,iv。182。]Inthethickofpublicbusiness,thiskindofmoodtoMitchellseemstohavelastedallthetimeofLeitmeritz,whichisaboutthreeweeksyet:Mitchell’sNote—booksandDespatches,inthatpart,haveafineBiographicinterest;

  thewhollyhumanFriedrichwhollyvisibletousthereasheseldomis。GoingoverhispastLifetoMitchell;brief,candid,pioustobothhisParents;——inexpressiblysad;likemoonlightonthegraveofone’sMother,silentthat,whilesomuchelseistoonoisy!

  ThisFriedrich,uponwhomthewholeworldhasrisenlikeamadSorcerer’s—Sabbath,howsafeheoncelayinhiscradle,liketherestofus,mother’slovewrappinghimsoft:——andnow!

  Thesethoughtscommingleinaverytragicwaywiththeavalancheofpublicdisasterswhichisthunderingdownonallsides。Warmtearsthemeedofthisnewsorrow;smallincompass,butgreaterinpoignancythanalltheresttogether。\"MypooroldMother,oh,myMother,thatsolovedmealways,andwouldhavegivenherownlifetosheltermine!\"——ItwasatLeitmeritz,asIguess,thatMitchellfirstmadedecisiveacquaintance,whatwemayalmostcallintimacy,withtheKing:wealreadydefinedhimasasagacious,long—headed,loyal—hearteddiplomaticgentleman,Scotchbybirthandbyturnofcharacter;abundantlypolite,vigilant,discreet,andwithafundofgeneralsenseandruggedveracityofmind;whomFriedrichatoncerecognizedforwhathewas,andmuchtookto,findingaheartyreturnwithal;sothattheyweresoonwellwithoneanother,andcontinuedso。Mitchell,asorderswere,\"attendedtheKing’sperson\"allthroughthisWar,sometimesintheblazeofbattleitselfandnothingbutcannon—shotgoing,ifitsochanced;andhaspreserved,inhismultifariousPapers,agreatmanytraitsofFriedrichnottobemetwithelsewhere。

  Mitchell’soccasionalsociety,conversationwithamanofsenseandmanlycharacter,whichFriedrichalwaysmuchloved,was,nodoubt,aresourcetoFriedrichinhislonelyroamingsandvicissitudesinthosedarkyears。NootherBritishAmbassadoreverhadthelucktopleasehimorbepleasedbyhim,——mostofthem,asEx—ExchequerLeggeandthelikeEx—Parliamentarypeople,heseemstohaveconsidereddull,obstinate,woodenfellows,offantastic,abruptratherabstrusekindofcharacter,notworthdeciphering;——someofthem,asHanburyWilliams,withthemischievoustic(morelikegalvanismorSt。—Vitus’—dance)whichhecalled\"wit,\"andtheinconvenientturnforplottingandintriguing,Friedrichcouldnotendureatall,buthadthemassoonaspossiblerecalled,——ofcourse,notwithoutdetestationontheirpart。

  AtLeitmeritz,itappears,hekeptwithdrawntohisclosetagooddeal;gavehimselfuptohissorrowsandhisthoughts;wouldsitmanyhoursdrownedintears,weepingbitterlylikeachildorawoman。Thisisstrangetosomereaders;butitistrue,——andoughttoaltercertaincurrentnotions。Friedrich,flashinglikeclearsteeluponevildoersandmendaciousunjustpersonsandtheirworks,isnotbynatureacruelman,then,oranunfeeling,asRumorreports?Reader,no,farthereverse;——andpublicRumor,asyoumayhaveremarked,isapttobeanextremeblockhead,fulloffuryandstupidityonsuchpoints,andhadmuchbetterholditstonguetillitknowinsomemeasure。Extremesensibilityisnotsuretobeamerit;thoughitissuretobereckonedone,bythegreedydimfellowslookingidlyon:but,inanycase,thedegreeofitthatdwelt(privately,formostpart)inFriedrichwasgreat;andtohimselfitseemedasadratherthanjoyfulfact。Speakingofthismatter,longafterwards,toGarve,aSilesianPhilosopher,withwhomheusedtoconverseatBreslau,hesays;——orletdullGarvehimselfreportit,intheliteralthird—person:——

  \"Andherein,I,\"theHerrGarve(venturingtodispute,orqualify,ononeofhisMajesty’sfavoritetopics),\"believe,liestherealgroundof’happiness:’itisthecapacityandopportunitytoaccomplishgreatthings。ThistheKingwouldnotallow;butsaid,ThatIdidnotsufficientlytakeintoaccountthenaturalfeelings,differentindifferentpeople,which,whenpainful,imbitteredthelifeofthehighestasofthelowest。That,inhisownlife,hehadexperiencedthedeepestsufferingsofthiskind:’And,’addedhe,withatouchingtoneofkindnessandfamiliarity,whichneveroccurredagaininhisinterviewswithme,’ifyou(ER)knew,forinstance,whatIunderwentonthedeathofmyMother,youwouldseethatIhavebeenasunhappyasanyother,andunhappierthanothers,becauseofthegreatersensibilityIhad(WEILICHMEHR

  EMPFINDLICHKEITGEHABTHABE)。’\"[FragmentezurSchilderungdesGeistes,desCharaktersundderRegierungFriedrichsdesZweiten,vonChristianGarve(Breslau,1798),i。

  314—316。AnunexpectedlydullBook(Garvehavingtalentandreputation);kindofmonotonousPreachmentuponFriedrich’scharacter:almostnothingbuttheabovefractionnowderivablefromit。]

  ThereneedednotthisnewcalamityinFriedrich’slotjustnow!

  Fromallpointsofthecompass,hisenemies,heldinchecksolong,arefloatingon:theconfluenceofdisastersandill—tidings,atthistime,verygreat。FromJung—Bunzlau,closeby,hisBrother’saccountsarebad;andgroweverworse,——aswillbeseen!OntheextremeWest,\"July3d,\"whileFriedrichatLeitmeritzsatweepingforhisMother,theFrenchtakeEmbdenfromhim;\"July5th,\"theRussians,Memel,ontheutmostEast。June30th,sixdaysbefore,theRussians,afterasmanymonthsofhaggling,didcrosstheBorder;37,000ofthemonthispoint;andsettobombardingMemelfromlandandsea。PoorMemel(garrisononly700)answeredveryfiercely,\"sanktwooftheirgunboats\"andthelike;buttheendwasaswesee,——FeldmarschallLehwaldabletogivenorelief。

  Fortherewereabove70,000otherRussians(FeldmarschallApraxinwiththeselatter,andCossacksandCalmucksmorethanenough)

  crossingelsewhere,southinTilsitCountry,uponoldLehwald。

  [Helden—Geschichte,iv。407—413。]

  Lehwald,with30,000,insuchcircumstances——whatistobecomeofPreussenandhim!Nearerhand,theAustrians,theFrench,theveryReichsArmy,donowseemintentonbusiness。

  TheReichsExecutionArmy,wesawhowMayerandtheBattleofPraghadcheckeditinthebirth—pangs;andgivenrisetopangsofanothersort;thepoorReichsCirclesgenerallyexclaiming,\"What!

  Bringthewarintoourownborders?BringtheKingofPrussiaonourownthroats!\"——andstoppingshortintheirenlistmentsandpreparations;invainforAustrianOfficialstourgethem。

  Watchingthere,withawe—struckeye,whilethe12,000bombsflewintoPrag。

  TheBattleofKolinhasreversedallthat;andthepooroldReichisagainbentonbusinessintheExecutionway。Drumming,committeeing,projecting,andendeavoring,withallhermight,inallquarters;and,fromandaftertheeventofKolin,holdingvisibleEncampment,intheNurnbergCountry;fractionsofactualtroopsassemblingthere。\"OnthePlainsofFurth,betweenFurthandFarrenbach,eastsidetheRiverRegnitz,therewastheCamppitched,\"saysmyAnonymousFriend;whogivesmeacheerfulCopperplateofthething:redpennons,blue,andbrightmixedcolors;generals,tents;order—of—battle,andrespectiverallyingpoints:withBambergCountryinfront,andthepeaksofthePineMountainslyingpleasantlybehind:asightforthecurious。

  [J。F。S。(whomInamedANONYMOUSOFHAMBURGlongsince;whohasboileddown,withgreatdiligence,theoldNewspapers,andgivesagreatmanydates,notes,&c。,withoutIndex),i。211,224(theCopperplate)。]ItisthesamegroundwhereMayerwascareeringlately;neighboringnobilityandgentrygladtocomeingala,anddancewithMayer。Hither,allthroughJuly,comecontingentsstragglingin,thickerandthicker;\"August8th,\"thingsnowaboutcomplete,theBishopofBambergcametotakesurveyoftheReichs—

  Heer(Bishop’sremarksnotgiven);August10th,cametheyoungreigningDukeofHildburghausen(Duke’sgrand—uncleistobeCommander),onlikeerrand;August11th)theReichs—Heergotonmarch。Westwardho!——readerswillseetowardswhat。

  AtrulyELENDE,ormiserable,ReichsExecutionArmy(astheMISprinterhadmadeit);butgivingloudvoiceintheGazettes;

  andurgedbyeveryconsiderationtodosomethingforitself。

  PrinceofHildburghausen——ageneralofsmallmerit,thoughhehasrisenintheAustrianservice,andwehaveseenhimwithSeckendorfinoldTurktimes——has,forhisKaiser’ssake,takenthecommand;

  sensibleperhapsthatgloryisnotlikelytoberifehere;

  butwillingtomakehimselfuseful。KaiserandAustriaurge,everywhere,withalltheirmight:PrinceofHessen—Darmstadt,wholayontheWeissenberglately,oneofKeith’sdistinguishedsecondsthereandaPrussianOfficeroflongstanding,has,onKaiser’sorder,quittedallthat,andbecomeHildburghausen’ssecondhere,intheCampofFurth;thinkingthepathofdutylaythatway,——

  thoughhisWife,oneofthenoblewomenofherage,thoughtverydifferently。[HerLettertoFriedrich,\"Berlin,30thOctober,1757,\"OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvii。ii。135。]

  AsimilarKaiser’sorder,backedbywhatLaw—thunderlayintheReich,hadgoneoutagainstFriedrich’sownBrothers,andagainsteveryReichsPrincewhowasinFriedrich’sservice;but,excepthimofHessen—Darmstadt,noneofthemhadmuchminded。[InOrlich,FurstMoritzvonAnhaltDessau(Berlin,1842),pp。74,75,PrinceMoritz’srathermournfulLetteronthesubject,withFriedrich’ssharpAnswer。]Ididnothearthathisstrategictalentwasmomentous:butPrussiahadtaughthimtheroutineofrightsoldiering,surelytosmallpurpose;

  andFriedrich,nodoubt,glancedindignantlyatthissmallthing,amongthemanybigones。

  FromabouttheendofJune,theReichsArmykeptdribblingin:

  themostinferiorArmyintheworld;nopartofitwelldrilled,mostofitnotdrilledatall;andforvarietyincolor,condition,method,andmilitaryandpecuniaryandotheroutfit,beggaringdescription。Hildburghausendoeshisutmost;Kaiserthelike。

  Thenumbershouldhavefarexceeded50,000;butwasnot,onthefield,ofabovehalfthatnumber:25,000;addatleast8,000

  Austriantroops,tworegimentsofthemcavalry;goodthese8,000,therestbad,——thatwastheReichsExecutionArmy;mostinferioramongArmies;andconsiderablepartofit,alltheProtestantpart,privatelywishingwelltoFriedrich,theysay。DrillsitselfmultifariouslyinthatCampbetweenFurthandFarrenbach,ontheeastsideofRegnitzRiver。FancywhatasighttoWilhelmina,ifsheeverdrovethatway;whichIthinkshehardlywould。

  TheBaireuthcontingentitselfisthere;theMargrafwouldhaveheldoutstiffonthatpoint;butFriedrichhimselfadvisedcompliance。MargrafofAnspach——perversetipplingcreature,illwithhisWife,Idoubt——hasjoyfullysenthislegalhundreds;

  willvotefortheReichsBanagainstthisworstofGermans,whomhehasforBrother—in—law。DarkdaysintheheartofWilhelmina,thoseoftheCampatFurth。Dayswhichgroweverdarker,withstrangeflashingsoutofempyreanlightningfromthatshrilltrueheart;

  nopeacemore,tillthenobleheroinedie!——

  ThisELENDEReichs—Heer,miserable\"ArmyoftheCircles,\"ismockinglycalled\"theHoopers,Coopers(TONNELIERS),\"andgetsquizzingenough,underthatandothertitles,fromanOppositionPublic。FarotherfromtheFrenchandAustrians;whoarebentthatitshoulddofeatsintheworld,andproveimpressiveonarobberKing。Thustoo,\"forDeliveranceofSaxony,\"toco—operatewithReichs—Heerinthatsacredobject,thankstothezealofPompadour,PrincedeSoubisehasgottogether,inElsass,asupplementary30,000(40,330saidTheory,butFactneverquitesomany):andispassingthemacrosstheRhine,inFrankfurtCountry,allthroughJuly,whilethedrillingatFurthgoeson。Withthese,Soubise,simultaneouslygettingunderway,willsteernortheastward;

  jointheReichs—HeeraboutErfurt,beforeAugustend;and——andweshallseewhatbecomesofthecombinedSoubiseandReichsArmyafterthat!

  Itmustbeowned,theFrench,Pompadourandloveofgloryurging,arediligentsincetheeventofKolin。InselectParisiancircles,theSoubiseArmy,oreventhatofD’Estreesaltogether,——producedbythetearsofafilialDauphiness,——isregardedasaquasi—

  sacred,oruncommonlynoblething;andiscalledbyhername,\"L’ARMEEDELADAUPHINE;\"orforshortness\"LADAUPHINE\"withoutadjunct。Thus,likeakindofchivalrousBellona,vengeanceinherrighthand,tearsandfireinhereyes,theDAUPHINESSadvances;

  andwilljoinReichs—HeeratErfurtbeforeAugustend。SuchthewillofPompadour;Richelieuencouraging,forreasonsofhisown。

  Soubise,Iunderstand,isprivatelyinpiqueagainstpoorD’Estrees;[\"ReappearedunexpectedlyinParis[fromD’Estree’sArmy],22dJune\"(fourdaysafterKolin):gotupthisDAUPHINESS

  ARMY,byaidofPompadour,withRichelieu,&c。:BARBIER,iv。227,231。Richelieu\"busyatStrasburglately\"(29thJuly:Collini’sVOLTAIRE,p。191)。]andintendstoeclipsehimbyahigherstyleofdiligence;thoughD’Estreestooisdoinghisbest。

  July3d,wesawtheD’EstreespeopletakingEmbden;D’Estrees,quietsolonginhisCampatBielefeld,hadatoncebestirredhimself,Kolinbeingdone;——shotoutadetachmentleftwards,andEmbdenhadcapitulatedthatday。AdieutotheShippingIntereststhere,andtootherpleasantthings!\"July9th,aftersunset,\"

  D’EstreeshimselfgotonmarchfromBielefeld;setforth,inthecoolofnight,60,000strong,and10,000moretojoinhimbytheroad(therestareleftasgarrisons,reserves,——1,000maraudersofthemswingasmonitorypendulums,ontheirvarioustrees,foroneitem),——directtowardsHanoverandRoyalHighnessofCumberland;

  whoretreats,andhasretreated,behindtheEms,theWeser,back,everback;and,toappearance,willmakeabadfinishyonder。

  ToFriedrich,waitingatLeitmeritz,allthesethingsaregloomilyknown;butthemostpressingofthemisthatoftheAustriansandJung—Bunzlaucloseby。LetusgivesomeutterancesofhistoWilhelmina,nearlyallwehaveofdirectfromhiminthattime;

  andthenhastentothePrinceofPrussiathere:——

  FRIEDRICHTOWILHELMINA(atBaireuth)。

  LEITMERITZ,1stJULY,1757……\"Sensibleasheartcanbetothetenderinterestyoudeigntotakeinwhatconcernsme。DearSister,fearnothingonmyscore:menarealwaysinthehandofwhatwecallFate\"(\"Predestination,GNADENWAHL,\"——Pardonus,Papa!——\"CE

  QU’ONNOMMELEDESTIN);accidentswillbefallpeople,walkingonthestreets,sittingintheirroom,lyingintheirbed;andtherearemanywhoescapetheperilsofwar……Ithink,throughHessenwillbethesafestrouteforyourLetters,tillwesee;andnottowritejustnowexceptonoccasionsofimportance。Hereisapieceincipher;anonymous,\"——intendedfortheNewspapers,orsomesuchroad。

  JULY5th。\"ByaCourierofPlotho’s,returningtoRegensburg[whopassesnearyou],IwritetoapprisemydearSisterofthenewmiserywhichoverwhelmsus。WehavenolongeraMother。Thislossputsthecrownonmysorrows。Iamobligedtoact;andhavenottimetogivefreecoursetomytears。Judge,Iprayyou,ofthesituationofafeelingheartputtosocruelatrial。Alllossesintheworldarecapableofbeingremedied;butthosewhichDeathcausesarebeyondthereachofhope。\"

  JULY7th。\"Youaretoogood;Iamashamedtoabuseyourindulgence。

  Butdo,sinceyouwill,trytosoundtheFrench,whatconditionsofPeacetheywoulddemand;onemightjudgeastotheirintentions。

  SendthatMirabeau(CEM。DEMIRABEAU)toFrance。WillinglywillI

  paytheexpense。Hemayofferasmuchasfivemillionthalers[750,000pounds]totheFavorite[yes,eventothePompadour]forPeacealone。Ofcourse,hisutmostdiscretionwillbeneeded;\"

  ——shouldtheEnglishgettheleastwindofit!ButiftheyaregonetoSt。Vitus,andfailineverypoint,whatcanonedo?

  CEM。DEMIRABEAU,readerswillbesurprisedtolearn,isanUncleofthegreatMirabeau’s;whohasfallenintorovingcourses,goneabroadinsolvent;and\"directstheOperaatBaireuth,\"intheseyears!——OneLetterwewillgiveinfull:——

  \"LEITMERITZ,13thJnly,1757。

  \"MYDEARESTSISTER,——YourLetterhasarrived:IseeinityourregretsfortheirreparablelosswehavehadofthebestandworthiestMotherinthisworld。Iamsostruckdownwithalltheseblowsfromwithinandwithout,thatIfeelmyselfinasortofStupefaction。

  \"TheFrenchhavejustlaidholdofFriesland[seizedEmbden,July3d];areabouttopasstheWeser:theyhaveinstigatedtheSwedestodeclareWaragainstme;theSwedesaresending17,000men[rathermoreifanything;buttheyprovedbeautifullyineffectual]

  intoPommern,\"——willbeburdensometoStralsundandthepoorcountrypeoplemainly;havingnoCaptainoverthembutahydra—

  headedNationalPalaverathome,andaLong—polewithCocked—hatonithereathand。\"TheRussiansarebesiegingMemel[havetakenit,tendaysago]:Lehwaldhasthemonhisfrontandinhisrear。

  TheTroopsoftheReich,\"fromyourPlainsofFurthyonder,\"arealsoabouttomarch。AllthiswillforcemetoevacuateBohemia,sosoonasthatcrowdofEnemiesgetsintomotion。

  \"IamfirmlyresolvedontheextremesteffortstosavemyCountry。

  Weshallsee(QUITTEAVOIR)ifFortunewilltakeanewthought,orifshewillentirelyturnherbackuponme。HappythemomentwhenI

  tooktotrainingmyselfinphilosophy!Thereisnothingelsethatcansustainthesoulinasituationlikemine。Ispreadouttoyou,dearSister,thedetailofmysorrows:ifthesethingsregardedonlymyself,Icouldstanditwithcomposure;butIamboundGuardianofthesafetyandhappinessofaPeoplewhichhasbeenputundermycharge。Thereliesthestingofit:andIshallhavetoreproachmyselfwitheveryfault,if,bydelayorbyover—haste,I

  occasionthesmallestaccident;allthemoreas,atpresent,anyfaultmaybecapital。

  \"Whatabusiness!HereisthelibertyofGermany,andthatProtestantCauseforwhichsomuchbloodhasbeenshed;herearethoseTwogreatInterestsagainatstake;andthepinchofthishugegameissuch,thatanunluckyquarterofanhourmayestablishoverGermanythetyrannousdominationoftheHouseofAustriaforever!Iaminthecaseofatravellerwhoseeshimselfsurroundedandreadytobeassassinatedbyatroopofcut—throats,whointendtosharehisspoils。SincetheLeagueofCambrai[1508—1510,withaPopeinitandaKaiserandMostChristianKing,iniquitouslyswornagainstpoorVenice;——tonopurpose,ashappilyappears],thereisnoexampleofsuchaConspiracyasthatinfamousTriumvirate[Austria,France,Russia]nowformsagainstme。Wasiteverseenbefore,thatthreegreatPrinceslaidplotinconcerttodestroyaFourth,whohaddonenothingagainstthem?IhavenothadtheleastquarreleitherwithFranceorwithRussia,stilllesswithSweden。If,incommonlife,threecitizenstookitintotheirheadstofallupontheirneighbor,andburnhishouseabouthim,theyverycertainly,bysentenceoftribunal,wouldbebrokenonthewheel。What!andwillSovereigns,whomaintainthesetribunalsandtheselawsintheirStates,givesuchexampletotheirsubjects?……Happy,mydearSister,istheobscureman,whosegoodsensefromyouthupwards,hasrenouncedallsortsofglory;

  who,inhissafelowplace,hasnonetoenvyhim,andwhosefortunedoesnotexcitethecupidityofscoundrels!

  \"Butthesereflectionsarevain。Wehavetobewhatourbirth,whichdecides,hasmadeusinenteringuponthisworld。Ireckonedthat,beingKing,itbeseemedmetothinkasaSovereign;andI

  tookforprinciple,thatthereputationofaPrinceoughttobedearertohimthanlife。Theyhaveplottedagainstme;theCourtofViennahasgivenitselfthelibertyoftryingtomaltreatme;

  myhonorcommandedmenottosufferit。WehavecometoWar;agangofrobbersfallsonme,pistolinhand:thatistheadventurewhichhashappenedtome。Theremedyisdifficult:indesperatediseasestherearenomethodsbutdesperateones。

  \"Ibegathousandpardons,dearSister:inthesethreelongpagesI

  talktoyouofnothingbutmytroublesandaffairs。Astrangeabuseitwouldbeofanyotherperson’sfriendship。Butyours,mydearSister,yoursisknowntome;andIampersuadedyouarenotimpatientwhenIopenmyhearttoyou:——aheartwhichisyoursaltogether;beingfilledwithsentimentsofthetenderestesteem,withwhichIam,mydearestSister,your[intruth,affectionateBrotheratalltimes]F。\"

  [OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvii。i。294,295,296—298。]

  PRINCEAUGUSTWILHELMFINDSABADPROBLEMATJUNG—BUNZLAU;

  ANDDOESITBADLY:FRIEDRICHTHEREUPONHASTORISEFROM

  LEITMERITZ,ANDTAKETHEFIELDELSEWHERE,INBITTERHASTE

  ANDIMPATIENCE,WITHOUTLOOKSWORSETHANEVER。

  ThePrinceofPrussia’sEnterprisehaditsintricacies;but,bygoodmanagement,wascapableofbeingdone。Atleast,soFriedrichthought;——though,intruth,itwouldhavebeenbetterhadFriedrichgonehimself,sincethechiefpressurehappenedtofallthere!

  ThePrincehastoretire,Parthian—like,asslowlyaspossible,withthelateKolinorMoritz—BevernArmy,towardstheLausitz,keepinghiseyeuponSilesiathewhile;ofcoursesecuringthepassesandstrongplacesinhispassage,fordefenceofhisownrearatlowest;especiallysecuringZittau,afineopulentTown,wherehischiefMagazineis,fedfromSilesianow。TheArmyisingoodstrength(guess30,000),witheveryequipmentcomplete,indiscipline,inhealthandinheart,suchasbeseemsaPrussianArmy,——probablylongingrather,ifitventuretolongorwishforanythingnotyetcommanded,tohaveastrokeatthoseAustriansagain,andpaythemsomethingtowardsthatlateKolinscore。

  ThePrincearrivedatJung—Bunzlau,June30th;Winterfeldwithhim,and,athisownrequest,Schmettau。TheAustrianshavenotyetstirred:iftheydo,itmaybeupontheKing,itmaybeuponthePrince:inthreeorevenintwomarches,PrinceandKingcanbetogether,——theKingonlytoohappy,inthepresentoppressivecoilofdoubts,tofindtheAustriansreadyforanewpassageofbattle,andanimmediatedecision。TheAustriansdid,infact,breakout,——

  seemingly,atfirst,upontheKing;butinrealityuponthePrince,whomtheyjudgesafergame;andthematterbecamemuchmorecriticaluponhimthanhadbeenexpected。

  ThePrincewasthoughttohaveagoodjudgment(toomuchtalkinit,wesometimesfeared),andfairknowledgeinmilitarymatters。

  TheKing,notquitebythePrince’schoice,hasgivenhimWinterfeldforMentor;Winterfeld,whohasanexcellentmilitaryheadinsuchmatters,andaheartfirmassteel,——almostlikeasecondselfintheKing’sestimation。ExcellentWinterfeld;——butthentherearealsoSchmettau,Bevernandothers,possiblyinprivatenottoowellaffectedtothisWinterfeld。Infact,thereisratheramultitudeofCounsellers;——andaningenuousfine—spiritedPrince,perhapsmorecapableofeloquenceontheOppositionside,thanofcondensingintorealwisdomamultitudeofcounsels,whenthecrisisrises,andtheaffairbecomesreallydifficult。

  Crisisdidrise:thevictoriousAustrians,aftersuchdelay,hadfinallymadeuptheirmindstopressthisonealittle,thisoneratherthantheKing,andhanguponhisskirts;DaunandPrinceKarlsetoutafterhim,justaboutthetimeofhisarrival,——

  \"70,000strong,\"thePrincehears;includingplentyofPandours。

  Certainitis,thepoorPrince’sminddidflounderagooddeal;

  andhisproceduressucceededextremelyillonthisoccasion。

  Certain,too,thattheywereextremelyill—takenathead—quarters:

  andthatheevendiedsoonafter,——chieflyofbrokenheart,saidthecensoriousworld。ItiswellknownhowEuroperangwiththematterforalongwhile;andBookswereprinted,andDocuments,andCOLLECTIONSBYAMASTER’SHAND。[LettresSecretestouchantlaDeniereGuerre;deMaindeMaitre;diviseesendeuxparties(FrancfortetAmsterdam,1772):thisisthePrince’sownStatement,Proofinhand。ByfartheclearestAccountisinSchmettau’sLeben(byhisSon),pp。353—384。

  SeealsoPreuss,ii。57—61,andespeciallyii。407。]We,whocanspendbutapageortwoonit,mustcarefullystandbytheessentialpart。

  \"JUNE30th—JULY3d,PrinceatJung—Bunzlau,inchiefcommand。

  BesidesWinterfeld,theGeneralsunderhimareZiethen,Schmettau,Fouquet,Retzow,Goltz,andtwootherswhoneednotbeofouracquaintance。Impossibletostaythere,thinksthePrince,thinkseverybody;andtheyshifttoNeuschloss,westwardthirtymiles。

  July1st,DaunhadcrossedtheElbe(Daunletussayforbrevity,thoughitisDaunandKarl,orevenKarlandDaun,Karlbeingchief,andcapableofsayingsoattimes,thoughDaunisverysplendentsinceKolin),——crossedtheElbeaboveBrandeis;

  Nadasti,withprecursorPandours,nowwithinanhour’smarchofJung—Bunzlau;——anditwastimetogo。

  \"JULY3d—6th,AtNeuschloss,whichisthoughtastrongposition,keyofthelocalitiesthere,andnearerFriedrichtoo,thePrincestayednotquitefourdays;shiftedtoBohm(BohmISCH)Leipa,JULY

  7th,——ratherofffromLeitmeritz,butamarchtowardsZittau,wheretheprovisionsare。’Abadchange,’saidthePrince’sfriendsafterwards;(changeadvisedbyWinterfeld,——whonevermentionedthatcircumstancetohisMajesty,manyashedidmention,notinthebestway!’——PrincegetstoBohmLeipaJuly7th;staysthere,inquestionablecircumstances,ninedays。

  \"BohmLeipaisstillnotabovethirtymilesnortheastwardoftheKing;anditisaboutthesamedistancesouthwestwardfromZittau,outofwhichfineTown,partlybycross—roads,thePrincegetshisprovisionsonthismarch。FromZittauhitherward,asfarasthelittleTownofGabel,whichliesabouthalfway,thereisbroadHighRoad,thegreatSouthernKAISER—STRASSE:fromGabel,forBohmLeipa,youhavetocrosssouthwestwardbycountryroads;thekeystowhich,especiallyGabel,thePrincehasnotfailedtosecurebypropergarrisonparties。Andso,foraboutaweek,notquiteuncomfortably,hecontinuesatBohmLeipa;gettinginhisconvoysfromZittau。DiligentlyscanningthePandourstragglingsandsputteringsroundhim,whichareclearlyontheincreasinghand。

  DiligentlycorrespondingwiththeKing,meanwhile;whomuchdiscouragesundueapprehension,orretreatmovementtillthelastpinch。’Edgingbackward,andagainbackward,youcomebounceuponBerlinoneday,andwillthenhavetohalt!’——whichisnotpleasanttothePrince。But,indisputably,thePandourspurtsonhimdobecomePandourgushings,withregularsalsonoticeable:itiscertaintheAustriansareout,——pretendingfirsttomeantheKingandLeitmeritz;butknowingbetter,andmeaningthePrinceandBohmLeipaallthewhile。\"——Bywayofsupplement,takeDaun’spositionsintheinterim:——

  DaunandKarlwereatPodschernitz26thJune;1stJuly,crosstheElbe,aboveBrandeis(Nadastinowwithinanhour’smarchofJung—

  Bunzlau);7thJuly(daywhilethePrinceisflittingtoBohmLeipa),DaunisthroughJung—BunzlautoMunchengratz;thencetoLiebenau;14th,toNiemes,notabovefourmilesfromthePrince’srightmostoutpost(rightmostoreastmost,whichlooksawayfromhisBrother);whileacoupleofadvancedparties,BeckandMaguire,hoveronhisflankZittau—ward,andNadasti(ifheknewit)ispushingontorear。

  \"THURSDAY,14thJULY,Aboutsixintheevening,atBohmLeipa,distinctcannon—thunderisheardfromnortheast:’EvidentlyGabelgettingcannonaded,andourwagonconvoy[empty,goingtoZittauformeal,GeneralPuttkammerescorting]isinadangerousstate!’

  Andbyandbyhussarpartiesofourscomein,witharticulatenewstothatbadeffect:’Gabelunderhotattackofregulars;

  Puttkammerwithhis3,000vigorouslydefending,willexpecttoberelievedwithinnotmanyhours!’Herehasthecrisiscome。

  Crisissureenough;——andthePrince,tomeetit,summonsthatrefugeoftheirresolute,aCouncilofWar。

  \"Winterfeld,whoisjustcomehomeinthesemoments,didnotattend;——not,tillthreenextmorning。Winterfeldhadgonetobed;

  fairly’tireddead,’withlongmarchingandhurryingabout。TothepoorPrincetherearethreecoursesvisible。CourseFIRST,ThatofjoiningtheKingatLeitmeritz。Gabel,Zittaulostinthatcase;

  gamegivenup;——receptionlikelytobebadatLeitmeritz!

  CourseSECOND,——thecourseFriedrichhimselfwouldatoncehavegoneupon,andbeenalreadywellaheadwith,——ThatofinstantlytakingmeasuresforthereliefofPuttkammer。DisputeGabeltothelast;retreat,onlossofit,Parthian—like,toZittau,bythatbroadHighway,shortandbroad,wholedistancehenceonlythirtymiles。’Thirtymiles,’saythemultitudeofCounsellors:’Yes,butthefirstfifteen,TOGabel,iscross—road,hilly,difficult;

  theyhaveusinflank!’’Weare25,000,’urgesthePrince;

  ’fifteenmilesisnotmuch!’Thethinghaditsdifficulties:

  thePrincehimself,itappears,faintlythoughtitfeasible:

  ’25,000we;20,000they;onlyfifteenmiles,’saidhe。ButthevarietyofCounsellors:’Cross—roads,defiles,flank—march,dangerous,’saidthey。Andsothethirdcourse,whichwasincomparablytheworst,foundfavorinCouncilofWar:ThatofleavingGabelandPuttkammertotheirfate;andofpushingoffforZittauleftwardsthroughthesafeHills,byKamnitz,Kreywitz,Rumburg;——which,ifthereaderlook,isbyacircuitous,nayquiteparaboliccourse,twiceorthriceasfar:——’InthatmannerletussaveZittauandourMainBody!’saidtheCouncilofWar。Yes,myfriends:acannon—ball,endeavoringtogetintoZittaufromthetown—ditch,wouldhavetotakeaparaboliccourse;——andthecannon—

  ballwouldbespeedyuponit,andnothaveHillroadstogoby!

  ThisnotableparaboliccircuitofnarrowsteeproadsmayhaveitsdifficultiesforanArmyanditsbaggages!\"Enough,thepoorPrinceadoptedthatworstthirdcourse;andevenmadenodespatchingettingintoit;anditprovedruinoustoZittau,andtomuchelse,hisownlifepartlyincluded。

  \"JULY16th—22d。Thursdaynight,orFriday3A。M。,thatthirdandincomparablyworstcoursewasadopted:Gabel,Puttkammerwithhiswagons,ensigns,kettledrums,allthishastosurrenderinaday:

  HighRoadtoZittau,fortheAustrians,isasmoothmarch,whentheyliketogatherfullythere,andstart。AndintheHills,withtheirjoltsandprecipitouswindings,infestedtoobyPandours,thepoorPrussianMainBody,onitswideparaboliccircuit,hasatimeofit!Losesitspontoons,losesmostofitsbaggage;obligedtosetfire,nottothePandours,buttoyourownwagons,andnecessariesofarmylife;encampsonbleakheights;nofood,notevenwater;roadquitelost,roadtoberediscoveredorinvented;

  Pandourssputteringonyououtofeverybushandhollow,yourpeasantwagonerscuttingtracesandgallopingoff:——sucharethephenomenaofthatmarchbycircuitleftward,onthepoorPrince’spart。Marchbegan,soonaftermidnight,SATURDAY,16th,Schmettauasvanguard;and\"——

  And,infine,byFRIDAY,22d,afternotquiteaweekofit,thePrince,curvingfromnorthward(inparaboliccourse,LESSspeedythanthecannon—ball’swouldhavebeen)intosightofZittau,——

  behold,therearetheAustriansfarandwidetoleftofus,encampedimpregnablebehindtheNeisseRiverthere!TheyhavegottheEckart’sHill,whichcommandsZittau:——andhowtogetintoZittauandourmagazines,andhowtosubsistifwewerein?

  ThepoorPrincetakespostonwhatHeightsthereare,onhisownsideoftheNeisse;lookswistfullydownuponZittau,askingHow?

  AboutstrokeofnoontheAustrians,fromtheirEckartsberg,doathingwhichwasmuchtalkedof。Theyopenbatteryofred—hotballsuponZittau;kindletheroofsofit,shingle—roofsindryJuly;

  setZittauallonblaze,the10,000innocentsoulsshriekinginvaintoHeavenandEarth;andbeforesunset,Zittauisashesandred—hotwalls,notZittaubutacinder—heap,——PrussianGarrisonnothurt,norMagazineasyet;Garrisonbusywithbuckets,Ishouldguess,butbeginningtofindtheairgrowveryhot。Onthemorrowmorning,Zittauisasmoulderingcinder—heap,hotterandhottertothePrussianGarrison;anddoesnotexistasaCity。

  OneofthemostinhumanactionseverheardofinWar,shrieksuniversalGermany;asksitselfwhatcouldhavesetachivalrousKarluponthisdevil—likeprocedure?\"ProtestantsthesepoorZittauerswere;shoneincommerce;nosuchweaving,industrying,inallTeutschlandelsewhere:Hah!Aneye—sorrow,they,withtheircommerce,theirweavingsandindustryings,toAustrianPapists,whocannotweaveortrade?\"thatwasfinallytheguessofsomepersons;——wideofthemark,wemaywelljudge。PrinceXavierofSaxony,presentintheCamptoo,madenoremonstrance,saidothers。

  Alas,myfriends,whatcouldXavierprobablyavail,thefoolishfellow,withonlythreeregiments?PrinceKarl,itwasafterwardsevident,couldhavegotZittauunburnt;andcouldevenhavekeptthePrussiansoutofZittaualtogether。ZittausurelywouldhavebeenveryusefultoPrinceKarl。Butovernight(letustrytofancyitso),notknowingthePrussianpossibilities,PrinceKarl,screwedtothedevilishpoint,hadgothisfurnaceslighted,hisred—hotballsready;andso,hurriedonbyhisPrideandbyhisotherDevils,had,——TherearedevilishthingssometimesdoneinWar。Andwholecitiesaremadeashesbythem。Forcertain,hereisastrangewayofcommencingyour\"DeliveranceofSaxony\"!

  AndPrinceKarlcarries,truly,abrand—markfromthisconflagration,andwilltillallmemoryofhimcease。AstoZittau,itrebuiltitself。Zittauisaliveagain;astrongstonecity,inourday。Onitsnew—builtTown—housestandsagain\"BENEFACEREET

  MALEAUDIREREGIUMEST,Todowell,andbeillspokenof,isthepartofkings\"[AsayingofAlexandertheGreat’s(Plutarch,inALEXANDRE)。](amazinglytrueofthem,——whentheyarenotshams)。

  WhattimesforHerrnhuth;preparingforitsChristianSabbath,undertheseomensnearby!

  ThePrinceofPrussiatellsus,he\"earlynextmorning(Saturday,23dJuly)hadhistentspitched;\"whichwasbutanunavailingprocedure,withpoorZittaugonesucharoad。\"BringusbreadoutofthatruinedZittau,\"orderedthePrince:hisDetachmentreturnsineffectual,\"Sohot,wecannotmarchin。\"AndtheGarrisonColonel(oneDiereckeandfivebattalionsaregarrison)sendsoutword:

  \"Sohot,wecannotstandit。\"\"Standityetaverylittle;and——!\"

  answersthePrince:butDiereckeandbattalionscannot,oratleastcannotlongenough;andsettomarchingout。Infirmorder,Ihavenodoubt,andwithsomemodicumofbread:butthetumblingofcertainburntwallspartedColonelandmen,inasadway。

  Colonelhimself,withthecolors,withthehonors(noneofhispeople,itseems,thoughtheywerescatteredloose),waspickedupbyanAustrianparty,andmadeprisoner。Amiserablebusiness,thisofZittau!

  Next,evening,Sunday,afterdark,PrinceofPrussiastrikeshistentsagain;rollsoffinaveryunsuccinctcondition;

  happilyunchased,forheadmitsthatchasewouldhavebeenruinous。

  OfftowardsLobau(whatnightsforZinzendorfandHerrnhuth,assuchthingstumblepastthem!);thencetowardsBautzen;andarrivesinthemostlugubrioustornconditionanyPrussianGeneraleverstoodin。ReachesBautzenonthoseterms;——andiswarnedthathisBrotherwillbethereinadayortwo。

  OnemayfancyFriedrich’sindignation,astonishmentandgrief,whenheheardofthatmarchtowardsZittauthroughtheHillsbyaparaboliccourse;theissueofwhichistoognessablebyFriedrich。

  HehimselfinstantlyrisesfromLeitmeritz;starts,infitdivisions,bythePascopol,bytheElbepasses,forPirna;

  and,leavingMoritzofDessauwitha10,000tosecurethePassesaboutPirna,andKeithtocomeonwiththeMagazines,hastensacrossforBautzen,tolookintotheseadvancingtriumphantAustrians,thesestrangePrussianproceedings。Onfirsthearingofthatside—march,hisaugurieshadbeenbadenough;[LettertoWilhelmina\"Linay,22dJuly\"(seconddayofthemarchfromLeitmeritz);OEuvres,xxvii。i。298。]buttheeventhasfarsurpassedthem。Zittaugone;theArmyhurryinghome,asifinflight,inthatwreckedcondition;thedoorofSaxony,doorofSilesialeftwideopen,——Daunhasonlytochoose!Daybyday,asFriedrichadvancedtorepairthatmischief,thenewsofithavegrownworseonhim。Daysrifeotherwiseinmerebadnews。

  TheRussiansinMemel,Preussenattheirfeet;Soubise’sFrenchandtheReich’sArmypushingonforErfurt,to\"deliverSaxony,\"

  onthatwesternside:andfromtheFrench—Englishsceneofoperations——InthosesamebaddaysRoyalHighnessofCumberlandhasbeendoingafeatworthnoticeintheaboveconnection!Readthis,fromanauthenticsource:——

  \"HASTENBECK,22d—26thJULY,1757。RoyalHighness,hitchingbackandback,hadgottoHameln,astrongplaceofhisonthesafesideoftheWeser;anddidatlast,Hanoveritselfbeingnownigh,callhalt;andresolvetomakeastand。July22d[verydaywhilethePrinceofPrussiacameinsightofZittau,withtheAustrianshangingoverit],RoyalHighnesstookpostinthatfavorablevicinityofHameln;atperfectleisuretoselecthisground:

  andtheresatwaitingD’Estrees,——swampsforourrightwing,andtheWesernotfaroff;smallHamletofHastenbeckinfront,andawoodyknollforourleft;——totallyinactiveforfourdayslong;

  attemptingnothinguponD’Estreesandhisintricateshufflings,butlookingidlynoonwardtothecoursesofthesun,tillD’Estreesshouldcomeup。RoyalHighnessismuchswollenintoobesity,intoflabbytorpor;achangedmansinceFontenoytimes;shockinglyinactive,theysay,inthispostatHastenbeck。D’Estrees,too,isridiculouslycautious,’hasmanoeuvredfifteendaysinadvancingaboutasmanyBritishmiles。’D’Estreesdidatlastcomeup(July25th),nearlytwotooneofRoyalHighness,——72,000somecounthim,butconsiderablyanarchicinparts,overwhelmedwithCourtGeneralsandPrincesoftheBlood,foroneitem;——anddecidesonattacking,nextmorning。D’Estreesdulywenttoreconnoitre,butunluckily’hadmistsuddenlyfalling。’’Well;wemustattack,allthesame!’

  \"Andso,26thJULY,Tuesday,thereensuedaBATTLEOFHASTENBECK:

  theabsurdestBattleintheworld;andwhichought,infairness,tohavebeenlostbyBOTH,thoughRoyalHighnessalonehadtheillluck。BothCaptainsbehavedverypoorly;andeachofthemhadasubalternwhobehavedwell。D’Estrees,withhis70,000VERSUS

  40,000postedthere,knowsnothingofRoyalHighness’sposition;

  seesonlyRoyalHighness’sleftwingonthatwoodyHeight;

  andafterhoursofpreliminarycannonading,sendsoutGeneralChevertuponthat。Chevert,hissubaltern[abitofrightsoldier—

  stuff,theChevertwhomweknewatPrag,inoldBelleisletimes],goesuponitlikefury;whomtheBrunswickGrenadiersresistinlikehumor,hotterandhotter。Somehardfightingthere,onRoyalHighness’sleft;Chevertveryfiery,Grenadiersveryobstinate;

  till,onthecentre,westward,inRoyalHighness’schiefbatterythere,somesparkwentthewrongway,andapowder—wagonshotitselfaloftwithhideousblazeandroar;andintheconfusion,theFrenchrushedin,andthebatterywaslost。WhichdiscouragedtheGrenadiers;sothatChevertmadesomeprogressuponthem,ontheirwoodyHeight,andbegantohaveconfidenthope。

  \"HadChevertknown,orhadD’Estreesknown,therewas,closebehindsaidHeight,aHollow,throughwhichtheseGrenadiersmighthavebeentakeninrear。DangerousHollow,muchneglectedbyRoyalHighness,whohasonlyGeneralBreitenbachwithaweakpartythere。

  ThisBreitenbach,happeningtohaveaheadofhisown,andfindingnothingtodointhatHollowortorightward,burstsout,ofhisownaccord,onChevert’sleftflank;cannonading,volleying,horse—

  charging;——thesoundofwhich(’Hah,Frenchtheretoo!’)struckadampthroughRoyalHighness,whoinstantlyorderedretreat,andtooktheroad。Whatsingularill—luckthatsoundofBreitenbachtoRoyalHighness!Forobserve,theEFFECTofBreitenbach,——whichwas,torecoverthelostbattery(gallantyoungPrinceofBrunswick,’HereditaryPrince,’orDukethatistobe,strikinginuponitwithbayonet—chargeattherightmoment),madeD’Estreestoorderretreat!’Battlelost,’thinksD’Estrees;——andwithgoodcause,hadBreitenbachbeensupportedatall。Butnosubalterndurst;

  andRoyalHighnesshimselfwasnotovertakable,sofarontheroad。

  RoyalHighnessweptonhearing;theBrunswickGrenadierstooaresaidtohavewept(forrage);andprobablyBreitenbachandtheHereditaryPrince。\"[Mauvillon,i。228;AnonymousofHamburg,i。206(whogivesaPlanandallmannerofdetails,ifneededbyanybody);Kausler;&c。&c。]

  ThisisthelastofRoyalHighness’sexploitsinWar。Theretreathadbeenordered\"ToHanover;\"butthebaggagebymistaketooktheroadforMinden;andRoyalHighnessfollowedthither,——muchthesamewhatroadheorittakes。FriedrichmightstillhopehewouldretreatonMagdeburg;40,000goodsoldiersmightfindaCaptainthere,andbevaluableagainstaD’EstreesandSoubiseinthoseparts。Butno;itwasthroughBremenCountry,toStade,intotheSea,thatRoyalHighness,byillluck,retreated!HehasstillonegreatvexationtogiveFriedrich,——tousalmostacomfort,knowingwhatfollowedoutofit;——andwillhavetobementionedoneothertimeinthisHistory,andthengooverourhorizonaltogether。

  WhetherFriedrichhadheardofHastenbeckthedayhisBrotherandhemet(July29th,atBautzen),Idonotknow:butitislikelyenoughhemayhavegotthenewsthatverymorning;whichwasnotcalculatedtoincreaseone’sgoodhumor!HismeetingwiththePrinceisroyal,notfraternal,asallmenhaveheard。Letusgivewithbrevity,fromSchmettauJunior,theexactfeaturesofit;

  andleavethecandidreader,whohasformedtohimselfsomenotionofkingshipanditssorrowsandsternconditions(havingperhapshimselfsomethingofkingly,inasmallpotentialway),tointerpretthematter,andmakewhathecanofit:——

  \"BAUTZEN,29thJULY,1757。TheKingwithreinforcementiscominghither,fromtheDresdenside;totakeupthereinsofthisdishevelledZittauArmy;tospeedwithitagainsttheAustrians,and,ifhumanlypossible,lockthedoorsofSilesiaandSaxonyagain,andchasetheintrudersaway。PrinceofPrussiaandtheotherGeneralshavenotice,thenightbefore:’At4A。M。to—morrow(29th),waithisMajesty。’PrinceandGeneralswaitaccordingly,alltherebutGoltzandWinterfeld;theynot,whichisnoted。

  \"Foraboveanhour,noKing;PrinceandGeneralsrideforward:——

  thereistheKingcoming;PrinceHenri,DukeFerdinandofBrunswickandothersinhistrain。King,noticingthem,atabout300pacesdistance,drewbridle;PrinceofPrussiadidthelike,trainandhesalutingwiththeirhats,asdidtheKing’straininreturn。

  Kingdidnotsalute;——onthecontrary,heturnedhishorseroundanddismounted,asdideverybodyelseonsuchsignal。Kinglaydownontheground,asifwaitingthearrivalofhisVanguard;andbadeWinterfeldandGoltzsitbyhim。\"PoorPrinceofPrussia,andbatteredheavy—ladenGenerals!\"Afteraminuteortwo,GoltzcameoverandwhisperedtothePrince。’Hither,MEINEHERREN,allofyou;amessagefromhisMajesty!’criedthePrince。Whereupon,toGeneralsandPrince,Goltzdelivered,inequableofficialtone,theseaffectingwords:’HisMajestycommandsmetoinformyourRoyalHighness,Thathehascausetobegreatlydiscontentedwithyou;thatyoudeservetohaveaCourt—martialheldoveryou,whichwouldsentenceyouandallyourGeneralstodeath;butthathisMajestywillnotcarrythemattersofar,beingunabletoforgetthatintheChiefGeneralhehasaBrother!’\"[Schmettau,pp。384,385。]

  ThePrinceanswered,HewantedonlyaCourt—martial,andthelike,instifftone。HereistheLetterhewritesnextdaytohisBrother,withtheAnswer:——

  PRINCEOFPRUSSIATOTHEKING。

  \"BAUTERN,30thJuly,1757。

  \"MYDEARBROTHER,——TheLettersyouhavewrittenme,andthereceptionIyesterdaymetwith,aresufficientproofthat,inyouropinion,Ihaveruinedmyhonorandreputation。Thisgrieves,butitdoesnotcrushme,asinmyownmindIamnotconsciousoftheleastreproach。IamperfectlyconvincedthatIdidnotactbycaprice:Ididnotfollowthecounselsofpeopleincapableofgivinggoodones;IhavedonewhatIthoughttobesuitablestfortheArmy。AllyourGeneralswilldomethatjustice。

  \"Ireckonituselesstobegofyoutohavemyconductinvestigated:

  thiswouldbeafavoryouwoulddome;soIcannotexpectit。

  Myhealthhasbeenweakenedbythesefatigues,stillmorebythesechagrins。IhavegonetolodgeintheTown,torecruitmyself。

  \"IhaverequestedtheDukeofBeverntopresenttheArmyReports;

  hecangiveyouexplanationofeverything。Beassured,mydearBrother,thatinspiteofthemisfortuneswhichoverwhelmme,andwhichIhavenotdeserved,IshallneverceasetobeattachedtotheState;andasafaithfulmemberofthesame,myjoywillbeperfectwhenIlearnthehappyissueofyourEnterprises。Ihavethehonortobe\"

  AUGUSTWILHELM。

  MaindeMaitre,p。21。]

  KING’SANSWER,THESAMEDAY。

  \"CAMPNEARBAUTZEN,30thJuly,1757。

  \"MYDEARBROTHER,——Yourbadguidancehasgreatlyderangedmyaffairs。ItisnottheEnemy,itisyourill—judgedmeasuresthathavedonemeallthismischief。MyGeneralsareinexcusable;

  eitherforadvisingyousoill,orinpermittingyoutofollowresolutionssounwise。Yourearsareaccustomedtolistentothetalkofflatterersonly。Daunhasnotflatteredyou;——beholdtheconsequences。Inthisaadsituation,nothingisleftformebuttryingthelastextremity。Imustgoandgivebattle;andifwecannotconquer,wemustallofushaveourselveskilled。

  \"Idonotcomplainofyourheart;butIdoofyourincapaciy,ofyourwantofjudgmentinnotchoosingbettermethods。Amanwho[likeme;markthephrase,fromsuchaquarter!]hasbutafewdaystoliveneednotdissemble。Iwishyoubetterfortunethanminehasbeen:andthatallthemiseriesandbadadventuresyouhavehadmayteachyoutotreatimportantthingswithmoreofcare,moreofsense,andmoreofresolution。ThegreaterpartofthemisfortuneswhichInowseetobenearcomesonlyfromyou。YouandyourChildrenwillbemoreoverwhelmedbythemthanI。BepersuadedneverthelessthatIhavealwayslovedyou,andthatwiththesesentimentsIshalldie。FRIEDRICH。\"

  [MAINDEMAITRE,p。22。]

  AstheKingwentofftotheHeightsofWeissenberg,Zittauway,toencampthereagainsttheAustrians,thatsameevening,thePrincedidnotanswerthisLetter,——exceptbyaskingverballythroughLieutenant—ColonelLentulus(amuteSwissfigure,muchabouttheKing,whooftenturnsupintheseHistories),\"forleavetoreturntoDresdenbythefirstescort。\"——\"Dependsonhimself;——anescortisgoingthisnight!answeredFriedrich。AndthePrincewentaccordingly;and,bytwostages,gotintoDresdenwithhisescortonthemorrow。Andhad,notyetconsciousofit,quittedtheFieldofWaraltogether;andwassoonabouttoquittheworld,anddie,poorPrince。Diedwithinayear,12thJune,1758,atOranienburg,besidehisFamily,wherehehadlatterlybeen。[Preuss,ii。60

  (ib。78)。]——Winterfeldwasalreadygone,sixmonthsbeforehim;

  Goltzwent,notlongafterhim;theotherZittauGeneralsallsurvivedthisWar。

  ThepoorPrince’sfate,asnatural,wasmuchpitied;andFriedrich,tothisday,isgrowledatfor\"inhumantreatment\"andsoon。

  Intowhichquestionwedonotenter,excepttosaythatFriedrichtoohadhissorrows;andthatprobablyhisconcludingwords,\"withthesesentimentsIshalldie,\"wereperfectlytrue。MAINDEMAITRE

  wentwidelyabroadovertheworld。ThepoorPrince’swordsandprocedureswereeagerlycaughtupbyascrutinizingpublic,——andsomeoftheformerwerenottooguarded。AtDresden,hesaid,onemorning,callingonaGeneralFinckwhomweshallhearofagain:

  \"Foursuchdisagreeing,thin—skinned,high—pacing(UNEINIGE,PIQUIRTE)GeneralsasFouquet,Schmettau,WinterfeldandGoltz,aboutyou,whatwastobedone!\"saidthePrincetoFinck。

  [Preuss,ii。79n。:seeib。60,78。]

  HisWife,whenatlasthecametoOranienburg,nursedhimfondly;

  thatisonecomfortablefact。PrinceHenri,tothelast,hadprivatelyagrudgeofpeculiarintensity,onthisscore,againstallthepeccantparties,Kingnotexcepted。Asindeedhewasapttohave,onvariousscores,thejealous,toovehementlittleman。

  Friedrich’shumoratthistimeIcanguesstohavebeenwell—nighdesperate。Hetalksonceof\"ahorse,ontoomuchprovocation,gettingthebitbetweenitsteeth;regardlessthenceforthofchasmsandprecipices:\"[LettertoWilhelmina,\"Linay,22dJuly\"(citedabove)。]——thoughhehimselfnevercarriesittothatlength;

  andalwayshasawatchfuleye,whenathisswiftest!

  FromWeissenberg,thatnight,hedrivesinthePandoursonZittauandtheEckartsberg——buttheAustriansdon’tcomeout。And,forthreeweeksinthisfiercenecessityofbeingspeedy,hecannotgetonerightstrokeattheAustrians;whositinexpugnableupontheirEckart’sHill,bristlingwithcannon;andcaninnowaybemanoeuvreddown,orforcedorenticedintoBattle。Abaffling,bitterlyimpatientthreeweeks;——twoofthemtheworsttwo,hespendsatWeissenbergitself,chasingPandours,andscufflingonthesurface,tillKeithandtheMagazine—traincomeup;——

  evenwritingVersesnowandthen,whenthehoursgetunendurableotherwise!

  TheinstantKeithandtheMagazinesarecomehestartsforBernstadt;56,000strongafterthisjunction:——andaPrussianOfficer,dating\"Bernstadtel[BernstadtonthenowMaps],21stAugust,1757,\"sendsusthisaccount;whichalsoisbutofpreliminarynature:——

  \"AUGUST15th,MajestyleftWeissenberg,andmarchedhither,muchtotheenemy’sastonishment,whohadlainperfectlyquietforafortnightpast,fancyingtheywereamastiffonthedoor—sillofSilesia:littlethinkingtobetrampledoninthisunceremoniousway!GeneralBeck,whenourhussarsofthevanguardmadeappearance,hadtosaddleandrideasforlife,leavingeveryragofbaggage,andfortyofhisPandourscaptive。Ourhussarsstucktohim,chasinghimintoOstritz,wheretheysurprisedGeneralNadastiatdinner;anddidastillbetterstrokeofbusiness:

  Nadastihimselfcouldscarcelyleaponhorsebackandgetoff;

  leftallhisfieldequipage,coaches,horses,kitchen—utensils,flunkiesseventy—twoinnumber,——and,whatwasworstofall,asecretbox,inwhichwerefoundcertainDresdenCorrespondencesofahighlytreasonouscharacter,whichnowthewriterstheremayquaketothinkof;\"——ifFriedrich,orwe,couldtakemuchnotieeofthem,inthispressofhurries![Helden—Geschichte,iv。595—599。]

  Nextday,August16th,FriedrichdetachedfivebattalionstoGorlitz;——PrinceKarl(hecallsitDAUN)stillcampingontheEckartsberg;——andhimself,about4P。M。,withthemainArmy,marcheduptothoseAustriansontheirHill,toseeiftheywouldfight。[OEuvresdeFrederic,iv。137。]

  No,theywouldn’t:theymerelyhustledthemselvesroundsoastofacehim;facehim,andevenflankhimwithcannon—batteriesifhecametoonear。Steepground,\"precipitonsfrontofrocks,\"insomeplaces。\"Ahollowbeforetheirfront;VillageofWittgenauthere,andthreeroadsthroughit,ONEofthemwithwidthforwheels;\"

  Daunsittinginaccessible,inshort。Nextday,Winterfeld,withadetachedDivision,crossedtheNeisse,triedNadasti:

  \"AttackNadasti,onhiswoodyknollatHirschfeldyonder;theywillhavetoriseandsavehim!\"Invain,thattoo;theyletNadastitakehisownluck:forfourdays(16th—20thAugust)everythingwastried,invain。

  NoBattletobehadfromtheseAustrians。Anditwouldhavebeensoinfinitelyconvenienttous:Reich’sArmyandSoubise’sFrencharenowintheactualprecinctsofErfurt(August25th,Soubisetookquarterthere);RoyalHighnessofCumberlandisstaggeringbackintotheSea;Richelieu’sFrench(notD’Estreesanymore,D’Estreesbeingsupersededinthisstrangeway)areaiming,itisthought,towardsMagdeburg,hadtheyoncedonewithRoyalHighness;

  SwedesaregettingholdofPommern;Russians,inhugeforce,ofPreussen:howcomfortabletohavehadourAustriansfinishedbeforegoingupontheothers!Forfourdaysmore(August20th—24th),FriedricharrangeshisArmyforwatchingtheAustrians,andguardingSilesia;——BevernandWinterfeldtotakecommandinhisabsence:——and,August25th,hastomarch;withasmallDivision,which,atDresden,hewillincreasebyMoritz’s,nowneedlessinthePirnaCountry;towardsThuringen;tolookintoSoubiseandtheReich’sArmy,asathingthatabsolutelycannotwait。ArrivesinDresden,Monday,August29th;and——OrlettheoldNewspaperreportit,withthefeaturesoflife:——

  \"DRESDEN,29thAUGUST,1757,Thisday,aboutnoon,hisMajesty,withapartofhisArmyfromtheUpperLausitz,arrivedattheNeustadthere。ThoughthekitchenhadbeenappointedtobesetupatwhattheycallTheBarns(DIESCHEUNEN),hisMajestywaspleasedtoalightinKonigsbruckStreet,atthenewHouseofBruhl’sChamberlain,Haller;andtherepassedthenight。Tuesdayevening,30th,hisMajestytheKing,withhisLifeguardsofHorseandofFoot,alsowiththeGens—d’ArmesandotherBattalions,marchedthroughtheCity,aboutamileoutontheFreibergroad,andtookquarterinKleinHamberg。The3lst,alltheArmyfollowed,\"——apoor23,000,Moritzandhe,thatwasall![\"22,360\"(Templehof,i。228)。]——\"theKing’sfield—equipage,whichhadbeentakenfromtheBruhlPalaceandpackedintwelvewagons,wentwiththem。\"

  [Rodenbeck,p。316;Preuss,ii。84n;Mitchell’sInterview(MemoirsandPapers,i。270)。]

  ChapterVI。

  DEATHOFWINTERFELD。

  BeforegoinguponthisforlornmarchofFriedrich’s,oneoftheforlornestasonofAdameverhad,wemustspeakofathingwhichbefelltorearward,whilethemarchwasonlyhalfdone,andwhichgreatlyinfluenceditandallthatfollowed。ItwastheseventhdayofFriedrich’smarch,notaboveeightymilesofityetdone,whenWinterfeldperishedinfight。NoWinterfeldnowtooccupytheAustriansinhisabsence;tostandbetweenSilesiaandthem,orassisthimfartherinhislonesomestruggleagainsttheworld。

  Letusspendamomentontheexitofthatbraveman:Bernstadt,GorlitzCountry,September7th,1757。

  TheBevernArmy,36,000strong,isstillthereinitsplaceintheLausitz,nearGorlitz;PrinceKarlliesquietinhisnearZittau,eversinceheburntthatTown,andstoodfourdaysinarmsunattackablebyFriedrichwithprospectofadvantage。TheCourtofViennacannotcomprehendthisstateofinactivity:\"Twotoone,andamereBevernagainstyou,theKingfarawayinSaxonyuponhisdesperateAnti—Frenchmissionthere:whynotgoinuponthisBevern?TheFrench,whomwearebyeverycourierpassionatelyimportuningtosweepSaxonyclear,whatwilltheysayofthisstrangemodeofsweepingSilesiaclear?\"MariaTheresaandherKriegs—Hofratharemuchexercisedwiththesethoughts,andwithFrenchandotherremonstrancesthatcome。MariaTheresaandherKriegs—HofrathatlengthdespatchtheirsupremeKaunitz,GrafKaunitzinperson,tostirupPrinceKarl,andlookintothematterwithhisownwiseeyesandgreatheart:PrinceKarl,bywayoftreattothishighgentleman,determinesondoingsomethingstrikinguponBevern。

  BevernlieswithhismainbodyaboutGorlitz,inandtowestwardofGorlitz,apleasantTownontheleftbankoftheNeisse(readersknowtherearefourNeisses,andwhichofthemthisis),withfinehillycountryallround,bulkysolitaryHeightsandMountainsrisingoutoffruitfulplains,——twoHochkirchs(HIGH—KIRKS),forexample,areinthisregion,oneofwhichwillbecomeextremelynotablenextyear:——BevernhasastrongcampleaningonthedueHeightshere,withGorlitzinitslap;andbeyondGorlitz,ontherightbankoftheNeisse,unitedtohimbyaBridge,hehasplacedWinterfeldwith10,000,wholieswithhisbacktoGorlitz,properbrooksandfencibleplacesflankinghim,hasaDorf(THORP)calledMoysinHISlap;and,someshortfurlongbeyondMoys,a2,000ofhisgrenadiersplantedonthetopofaHillcalledtheMoysberg,calledalsotheHolzberg(WOODHILL)andJakelsberg,ofwhichthereaderistotakenotice。Fineoutpost,withproperbatteriesatop,withhussarsquadronsandhussarpicketssprinkledabout;

  whichcommandsafaroutlooktowardsSilesia,andinmarchingthither,orincontinuinghere,isusefultohaveinhand,——wereitnotalittletoodistantfromthemainbody。ItisthisJakelsberg,capableofbeingsnatchedifoneissuddenenough,thatPrinceKarldecideson:itmaybegoodformuchorforlittletoPrinceKarl;

  and,ifevenfornothing,itwillbeabrilliantaffrontuponWinterfeldandBevern,andmoreorlesscharmingtoKaunitz。

  Winterfeld,theardententerprisingman,King’sotherself,isthoughttobethemainspringofaffairshere(smallthankstohimprivatelyfromBevern,addsome):andisstationedintheextremevan,aswesee;Winterfeldisengagedinmanythingsbesidesthecareofthispost;andindeedwhereacriticalthingistobedone,wecanimagineWinterfeldgoesuponit。\"WemusttrytostayheretilltheKinghasfinishedinSaxony!\"saysWinterfeldalways。

  TowhichBevernreplies,\"Excellent,truly;buthow?\"BevernhashisprovenderatDresden,sadlyfaroff;hastoholdBautzengarrisoned,andgetsmuchtroublewithhisconvoys。BetterinSilesia,withourmagazinesathand,thinksBevern,lessmindfulofotherconsiderations。

  Tuesday,September6th,PrinceKarlsendsNadastitotherightbankoftheRiver,forwarduponMoys,todotheJakelsbergbeforedayto—morrow:onlysome2,000grenadiersonit;Nadastihaswithhim15,000,somecount20,000ofallarms,artilleryinplenty;

  surelysufficientfortheJakelsberg;andDaunadvances,withthemainbody,ontheothersideoftheRiver,tobewithinreach,shouldMoysleadtomoreseriousconsequences。Nadastidiligentlymarchesallday;postshimselfatnightwithinfewmilesofMoys;

  getshiscannontotheproperHills(GALLOWSHillandothers),hisCroatstotheproperWoods;and,beforedaylightonthemorrow,meanstobeginupontheMoysHillandits2,000grenadiers。

  Wednesdaymorning,atthesethour,Nadasti,withartilleryburstingoutandquiveringbattle—lines,isatworkaccordingly;

  hurlsup1,000Croatsforoneitem,andregularstotheamountof\"fortycompaniesinthreelines。\"Thegrenadiers,somewhatastonished,forthemorningwasmistyandtheirhussar—postshadcomehastilyin,stoodupontheirguard,likePrussianmen;

  hurledbackthe1,000Croatsfastenough;stubbornlyrepulsedtheregularstoo,andtumbledthemdownhillwithbullet—stormforaccompaniment;gallantlyfoilingthisfirstattemptofNadasti’s。

  OfcourseNadastiwillmakeanother,willmakeeverothers;captureoftheJakelsbergcanhardlybedoubtfultoNadasti。

  WinterfeldwasnotatMoys,hewasatGorlitz,justgotinfromescortinganimportantmeal—convoyhitheroutofBautzen;andwasinconferencewithBevern,whenrumoroftheseCroatattackscameinatthegallopfromMoys。Winterfeldmadelittleoftherumors:

  hehadheardofsomeattackintended,butitwastohavebeenovernight,andhasnotbeen。\"MereforagingofCroatrabble,likeyesterday’s!\"saidWinterfeld,andcontinuedhispresentbusiness。

  Infewminutesthesoundofheavycannonadingconvincedhim。

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