第86章
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  andwithoutwaitingsignalorfartherorders,everyinstantbeingprecious,rapidlyformshimself;andplungesdownonthesepoorpeople。\"Compactasawall,andwithanincrediblevelocity(D’UNE

  VITESSEINCROYABLE),\"saysoneofthem。FiguretheastonishmentofDauphiness;ofpoorBroglio,whocommandsthehorsehere。Takeninflank,insteadoftakingotherpeople;intercepted,notintheleastneedingtointercept!Hasnotimetoform,thoughhetriedwhathecould。OnlythetwoAustrianregimentsgotcompletelyformed;therestveryincompletely;andSeidlitz,intheblazeofrapidsteel,isinuponthem。ThetwoAustrianregiments,andtwoFrenchthatarenamed,madewhatdebatewasfeasible;——couragenowisewanting,insuchsadwantofcaptaincy;naySoubiseinpersongallopedintoit,ifthatcouldhavehelped。Butfromthefirst,thematterwashopeless;Seidlitzslashingitatsucharate,andplungingthroughitandagainthroughit,thrice,somesayfourtimes:sothat,inthespaceofhalfanhour,thislucklesscavalrywasalltumblingofftheground;plungingdown—

  hill,infullflight,acrossitsowninfantryorwhateverobstacle,Seidlitzonthehipsofit;andgallopingmadlyoverthehorizon,towardsFreiburgasitproved;andwasnotagainheardofthatday。

  Inabouthalfanhourthatbitofworkwasover;andSeidlitz,withhisrankstrimmedagain,haddrawnhimselfsouthwardalittle,intotheHollowofTageswerben,theretowaitimpendingphenomena。

  ForFriedrichwiththeInfantryisnowemergingoverJanusHill,inahighlythunderousmanner,——eighteenpiecesofartillerygoing,and\"fourbiggunstakenfromthewallsofLeipzig;\"andtherewillbeeventsanon。Itissaid,Hildburghausen,atthefirstglimpseofFriedrichoverthehill—top,whisperedtoSoubise,\"Wearelost,RoyalHighness!\"——\"Courage!\"Soubisewouldanswer;andboth,letushope,didtheirutmostinthisextremelybadpredicamenttheyhadgotinto。

  Friedrich’sartillerygoesatamurderousrate;hadcomeinview,overthehill—top,beforeSeidlitzended,——\"nothingbut,themuzzlesofitvisible\"(andthefire—torrentsfromit)touspoorFrenchbelow。Friedrich’slines;orratherhisoneline,meretipofhisleftwing,——onlysevenbattalionsinit,fiveofthemunderKeithfromthesecondorreserveline;wholecentreandrightwingstanding\"refused\"inobliquerank,invisible,BEHINDtheHill,——

  Friedrich’sline,wesay,theartillerytoitsright,shootsoutinmysteriousPrussianrhythm,inechelons,inpotences,obliquelydowntheJanus—Hillside;straight,rigid,regularasironclock—

  work;andstridestowardsus,silent,withthelightningsleepinginit:——FriedrichhasgottheflankofDauphiness,andmeanstokeepit。Onceandagainandathirdtime,poorSoubise,withhispoorregimentsmuchinanimbroglio,hereheapedononeanother,therewithwidegaps,haltbeingsosudden,——attemptstorecovertheflank,andpushesoutthisregimentandtheother,rightward,tobeevenwithFriedrich。Butseeswithdespairthatitcannotbe;

  thatFriedrichwithhisechelons,potencesandmysteriousPrussianresources,pullshimselfoutlikethepiecesofaprospect—glass,pieceafterpiece,hopelesslyfastandseeminglynoendtothem;

  andthattheflankislost,andthat——UnhappyGeneralsofDauphiness,whataphenomenonforthem!AterribleFriedrich,notfledtoMerseburgatall;butmountedthereontheJanusHill,asonhissaddle—horse,withfacequitetheotherway;——andforholster—pistol,haspluckedouttwenty—twocannon。Cladverilyinfire;Chimera—like,RIDINGtheJanusHill,inthatmanner;leftleg(orwing)ofhimspurningusintotheabysses,rightonereadytohelpatdiscretion!

  Hildburghausen,Iwillhope,doeshisutmost;Soubise,Broglio,forcertaindo。TheFrenchlineisinfront,nextthePrussians:

  poorGeneralsofDauphinessarepantingtoretrievethemselves。

  Butwithregimentsjammedinthisastonishingway,andgotcollectivelyintothelion’sthroat,whatcanbedone?

  Steady,rigidasironclock—work,thePrussianlinestridesforward;atfortypaces’distancedeliversitsfirstshockoflightning,burstsintoplatoonfire;andsocontinues,steadyattherateoffiveshotsaminute,——hardtoendurebypoormassesallinacoil。\"Theartillerytoredownwholeranksofus,\"saystheWutenbergDragoon;[HisLetterinMULLER,p。83。]\"thePrussianmusketrydidterribleexecution。\"

  Thingsbegan%owaververysoon,FrenchreelingbackfromthePrussianfire,Reichstroopsrockingveryuneasy,tornbysuchartillery;when,tocrownthematter,Seidlitz,seeingallthingsrocktothedueextent,burstsoutofTageswerbenHollow,terriblycompactandfurious,upontherearofthem。Whichsetsallthingsintoinextricabletumble;andtheBattleisbecomearoutandaridingintoruin,noBattleevermore。Lastedtwenty—fiveminutes,thissecondactofit,ortillhalf—pastfour:afterwhich,thecurtainsrapidlydescending(Night’scurtain,weretherenoother)

  covertheremainder;theonlystage—direction,EXEUNTOMNES。

  Whichfora50or60,000,riddenoverbySeidlitzHorse,wasnotquiteaneasymatter!Theyleft,ofkilledandwounded,near3,000;

  ofprisoners,5,000(Generalsamongthem8,Officers300):insum,about8,000;nottomentioncannon,67or72;withstandards,flags,kettle—drumsandmeanerbaggagesADLIBITUMinamanner。

  ThePrussianlosswas,165killed,376wounded;——betweenasixteenthandafifteenthpartoftheirs:innumberthePrussianshadbeenlittlemorethanonetothree;22,000ofallarms,——notabovehalfofwhomevercameintothefire;Seidlitzandsevenbattalionsdoingallthefightingthatwasneeded,St。Germaintriedtocovertheretreat;but\"gotbroken,\"hesays,——Mayerburstinginonhim,——andsoonwenttoslushliketheothers。

  Seldom,almostnever,notevenatCrecyorPoictiers,wasanyArmybetterbeaten。Andtruly,wemustsay,seldomdidanybetterdeserveit,sofarastheChiefPartieswent。Yes,Messieurs,thisisthePETITMARQUISDEBRANDEBOURG;youwillknowthisone,whenyoumeethimagain!Theflight,theFrenchpartofit,wastowardsFreiburgBridge;infullgallop,longafterthechasehadceased;

  crossingoftheUnstrutthere,hoarse,many—voiced,allnight;

  burningoftheBridge;foundburnt,whenFriedricharrivednextmorning。HehadencampedatObschutz,shortwayfromthefielditself。FrenchArmy,ReichsArmy,allwasgonetostaves,toutterchaoticwreck。HildburghausenwentbyNaumburg;crossedtheSaalethere;benthomewardsthroughtheWeimarCountry;onewildfloodofruin,swiftasitcouldgo;atErfurt\"onlyoneregimentwasinrank,andmarchedthroughwithdrumsbeating。\"HisArmy,whichhadbeendisgustinglyunhappyfromthefirst,andwasnowfallenfluidonthesemadterms,flowedallawayindifferentrills,eachbythecoursestraightesthome;andHildburghausenarrivingatBamberg,withhardlytheghostormutilatedskeletonofanArmy,flungdownhistruncheon,——\"AmurrainonyourReichsArmiesandregimentalchaoses!\"——andwentindignantlyhome。ReichsArmyhadtobeginatthebeginningagain;anddidnotreappearonthescenetilllatenextYear,underanewCommander,andwithslightlyimprovedconditions。

  DauphinessProperwasinnobettercase;andwouldhaveflowedhomeinlikemanner,hadnothomebeensofar,andthewayunknown。

  TwelvethousandofthemrushedstragglingthroughtheEichsfeld;

  plunderingandharrying,likeCossacksorCalmucks:\"Armyblownasunder,overacircleoffortymiles’radius,\"writesSt。Germain:

  \"hadtheEnemypursuedus,afterIgotbroken[burstinuponbyMayerandhisFree—Corpspeople]wehadbeenannihilated。

  NeverdidArmybehaveworse;thefirstcannon—salvodecidedourroutandourshame。\"[St。GermaintoVerney:differentExcerptsofLettersinthetwoweeksafterRossbachandbefore(giveninPreuss,ii。97)。]

  Intwodays’time(November7th),theFrenchhadgottoLangensalza,fifty—fivemilesfromtheBattle—fieldofRossbach;

  plundering,running,SACRE—DIEU—ing;awilddelugeofmoltenwreck,fillingtheEichsfeldwithitswastenoises,makingnighthideousanddaytoo;——inthevillagesPlacardswerestuckup,appointingNordhausenandHeiligenstadtforrallyingplace。[Muller,p。73。]

  Soubiserode,withfewattendants,allnighttowardsNordhausen,——

  eightymilesoff,footoftheBrackenCountry,wheretheRichelieuresourcesare;——Soubisewithfewattendants,facesettowardstheBrocken;himself,itislike,inasomewhathag—riddencondition。

  \"ThejoyofpoorTeutschlandatlarge,\"saysoneofmyNotes,\"andhowallGermans,PrussianandAnti—Prussianalike,flunguptheircaps,withunanimousLEBE—HOCH,atthenewsofRossbach,hasoftenbeenremarked;andindeedisstillalmosttouchingtosee。

  TheperhapsbravestNationintheworld,thoughtheleastbraggart,verycertainlyEINTAPFERESVOLK(astheirGoethecallsthem);

  solonginsulted,snubbedandtrampledon,byaluckier,notabraver:——hasnotyourexultantDauphinessgotabeautifullittledoseadministeredher;andisgoneoffinfoulshrieks,andpangsoftheinterior,——letnomanaskwhitherward!’SIUNALLEMANDPEUT

  AVOIRDEL’ESPRIT(CanaGermanpossiblyhavesharpnessofwits)?’

  Well,yes,itwouldseem:hereisoneGermangraduatewhounderstandshismedicine—chest,andthequalityofpatients!——

  Dauphinessgotnopityanywhere;plentyofepigrams,andmostlynothingbutlaughtereveninParisitself。Napoleonlongafter,whomuchadmiresFriedrich,findsthatthisVictoryofRossbachwasinevitable;’butwhatfillsmewithastonishmentandshame,’addshe,’isthatitwasgainedbysixbattalionsandthirtysquadrons[sevenproperly,andthirty—eight]oversuchamultitude!’

  [Montholon,MEMOIRES&C。DENAPOLEON(Napoleon’sPrecisdesGuerresdeFrredericII。,vii。210)。]——Itiswellknown,Napoleon,afterJena,asifJenahadnotbeenenoughforhim,toredownthefirstMonumentofRossbach,somepoorashlarPyramidorPillar,raisedbytheneighborhood,withnothingmoreafflictiveinscribedonitthanadate;andsentitoffincartsforParis(wherenostoneofiteverarrived,theThuringencarmenslinkingoff,andleavingitscatteredindifferentplacesoverthefaceofThuringeningeneral);sothattheyhadthetroubleofanewonelately。\"[Rodenbeck,Beitrage,i。

  299;ib。p。385,LithographofthepoorextinctMonumentitself。]

  FromFriedrichthe\"ArmyoftheCircles,\"thatis,DauphinessandCompany,——calledHOOPERSor\"Coopers\"(TONNELIERS),withadesperateattemptatwitbypun,——gettheirAdieuinwordswithal。

  ThisisthefamedCONGEDEL’ARMEEDESCERCLESETDESTONNELIERS;

  ashortmetricalPiece;calledbyEditorsthemostprofane,mostindecent,most&c。;andprintedwithasteriskveilsthrownovertheworstpassages。Whoshalldare,searchingandrummagingforinsightintoFriedrich,andcomplainingthatthereisnone,toliftanyportionoftheveil;andsay,\"See——Faugh!\"Thecynicism,truly,butalsotheirrepressiblehonestexultation,hasakindofepiccompleteness,andfulnessofsincerity;and,atbottom,thethingisnothinglikesowickedascarelesscommentatorshavegivenout。

  Daretolookalittle:—

  \"ADIEU,GRANDSERASEURSDEROIS,\"soitstarts:\"Adieu,grandcrushersofKings;arrogantwind—bags,Turpin,Broglio,Soubise,——

  Hildburghausenwiththegraybeard,foolishstillaswhenyourbeardwasblackintheTurk—Wartime:——briskjourneytoyouall!\"

  Thatisthefirststanza;unexceptionable,hadweroom。Thesecondstanzais,——withtheveilspartiallylifted;withprobably\"MOISE\"

  putintothefirstblank,andintothethirdsomethingoforbelongingto\"CESAR,\"——

  \"Jevowsaivucomme……

  DansdesroncesencertainlieuEutl’honneurdevoir……

  OucommeaugredesaluxureLebonNicomedeal’ecartAiguillonnaitsaflammeimpureDes……\"

  Enoughtosay,theAuthor,withawildburstofspiritualenthusiasm,singsthecharmsoftherearwardpartofcertainmen;

  andwhataroyalecstaticfelicitytheresometimesisinindisputablesurveyofthesame。HerisestotheheightsofAnti—

  Biblicalprofanity,quotingMosesontheHillofVision;sinkstothebottomlessofhumanorultra—humandepravity,quotingKingNicomedes’sexperiencesonCaesar(happilyknownonlytothelearned);and,inbrief,recognizesthatthereis,onoccasion,considerablebeautyinthatquarterofthehumanfigure,whenitturnsonyouopportunely。Amostcynicalprofaneaffair:yet,wemustsaybywayofparenthesis,onewhichgivesnocountenancetoVoltaire’satrocitiesofrumoraboutFriedrichhimselfinthismatter;thereverserather,ifwellread;beingaltogethertheoretic,scientific;singswithgustotheglowofbeautyyoufindinthatunexpectedquarter,——whileKICKINGitdeservedlyandwithenthusiasm。\"Toseethe\"——whatshallwecallit:seatofhonor,infact,\"ofyourenemy:\"hasitnotanundeniablecharm?\"Iowntoyouinconfidence,OSoubiseandCompany,thisfinelaurelIhavegot,andwassoinneedof,isnothingmoreorotherthanthesightofyour\"——FOURASTERISKS。\"Obligeme,wheneverclandestineFatebringsustogether,byshowingmethat\"——alwaysthat,ifyouwouldgivemepleasurewhenwemeet。\"Andoh,\"nextstanzasays,\"tothinkwhatourgloryisfoundedon,\"——onviewofthatunmentionableobject,Ideclaretoyou!——Andthroughotherstanzas,gettingsmuttyenough(thoughintheoryonly),whichweneednotprosecutefarther。[OEuvresdeFrederic,xii。70—73

  (WRITTENatFreiburg,6thNovember,whenhisMajestygotthither,andfoundtheBridgeburnt)。]Acertainheartinessandepicgreatnessofcynicism,life’snakednessgrownalmostasifinnocentagain;animmensesuppressedinsuppressibleHaha,onthepartofthisKing。StrangeTE—DEUMindeed。Comingfromtheveryheart,truly,asfewofthemdo;butnot,inotherpoints,recommendableatall!——Here,ofthenightbefore,issomethingbetter:——

  TOWILHELMINA。

  \"NEARWEISSENFELS[OBSCHUTZ,infact;doesnotknowyetwhattheBattlewillbeCALLED],5thNovember,1757。

  \"Atlast,mydearSister,Icanannounceyouabitofgoodnews。

  YouweredoubtlessawarethattheCooperswiththeircircleshadamindtotakeLeipzig。Iranup,andhovethembeyondSaale。TheDucdeRichelieusentthemareinforcementoftwentybattalionsandfourteensquadrons[say15,000horseandfoot];theythencalledthemselves63,000strong。YesterdayIwenttoreconnoitrethem;

  couldnotattackthemintheposttheyheld。Thishadrenderedthemrash。Todaytheycameoutwiththeintentionofattackingme;butI

  tookthestartofthem(LESAIPREVENU)。ItwasaBattleENDOUCEUR

  (softtoone’swish)。ThankstoGodIhavenotahundredmenkilled;theonlyGeneralillwoundedisMeinecke。MyBrotherHenriandGeneralSeidlitzhaveslighthurts[gun—shots,notsoslight,thatofSeidlitz]inthearm。WehavealltheEnemy’scannon,allthe……IaminfullmarchtodrivethemovertheUnstrut[alreadydriven,yourMajesty;bridgeburning]。

  \"You,mydearSister,mygood,mydivineandaffectionateSister[faithfultothebone,ingoodtruth,poorWilhelmina],whodeigntointerestyourselfinthefateofaBrotherwhoadoresyou,deignalsotoshareinmyjoy。TheinstantIhavetime,Iwilltellyoumore。Iembraceyouwithmywholeheart;Adieu。F。\"

  [OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvii。i。310。]

  ULTERIORFATEOFDAUPHINESS;FLIESOVERTHERHINEINBADFASHION:

  DAUPHINESS’SWAYSWITHTHESAXONPOPULATIONINHERDELIVERANCE—WORK。

  FriedrichhadnomorefightingwiththeFrench。November9th,atMerseburg,inallstillness,DukeFerdinandgothisBritannicCommission,hisfullPowers,fromFriedrichandthepartiesinterested;inallstillnessmadehisarrangements,asifforMagdeburgandhisGovernorshipthere,——FriedrichhasteningoffforSilesiathewhile。DukeFerdinanddidstaysixdaysinMagdeburg,inspectingorpretendingtoinspect;verypleasantwithhisSisterandtheRoyaltiesthat,arenowthere;but,atmidnightofdaysixthshotoffsilentlyonwidererrand。And,insum,onThursday,24thNovember,1757,appearedinStade,onhorsebackatmorningparadethere;intimating,towhatjoyofthepoorBrunswickGrenadiersandothers,Thathewascometotakecommand;

  thatKloster—Zevenisabolished;thatwearenotan\"ObservationArmy,\"rottinghereintheparishpound,anylonger,butan\"AlliedArmy\"(suchnowourtitle),intendingtostrikeforourselves,andgetoutofpoundstraightway!——

  \"THURSDAY,24thNOVEMBER—TUESDAY,29th。DukeFerdinanddidaccordinglypickupthereinsofthisdistractedAffair;and,inawaywonderfultosee,shotsanityintoeveryfibreofit;andkeptitsaneandroad—worthyfortheFiveYearscoming。Withasilentvelocity,anenergy,animperturbablesteadfastnessandclearinsightintocauseandeffect;whichwerecreditabletotheschoolhecamefrom;andwereaveryjoyfulsighttoPittandothersconcerned。SothatfromnextTuesday,’November29th,beforedaylight,’whenFerdinand’sbatteriesbeganplayinguponHarburg(FrenchFortressnearesttoStade),thereignoftheFrenchceasedinthoseCountries;andanastonishedRichelieuandhisFrench,lyingscatteredoveralltheWestofGermany,inreadinessfornothingbutplunder,hadtofallmoreorlessdistractedintheirturn;anddoanumberofastonishingthings。Totrythisandthat,offutile,moreorlessfranticnature;bedrivenfrompostafterpost;bedrivenacrosstheAllerfirstofall;——Richelieutogohomethereupon,andbesucceededbyonestillmoreincompetent。

  \"DECEMBER13th,afortnightafterFerdinand’sappearance,RichelieuhadgottothesafesideoftheAller(burningofZelleBridgeandZelleTownthere,hislastactinGermany);Ferdinand’squartersnowwideenough;andvigorousspeedofpreparationgoingonforfartherchase,weretheweathermended。FEBRUARY17th,1758,Ferdinandwasonfootagain;PrincedeClermont,thestillmoreincompetentsuccessorofRichelieu,gazingwide—eyeduponhim,butdoingnothingelse:andforthenextsixweekstherewasseenaoncetriumphantRichelieu—D’EstreesFrenchArmy,muchinrags,muchindisorder,interror,andhereandtherealmostindespair,——

  wingingtheirway;likecloudsofdraggledpoultrycaughtbyamastiffinthecorn。AcrossWeser,acrossEms,finallyacrosstheRhineitself,everyfeatherofthem,——theirlong—drawncackle,ofashriekytype,fillingallNatureinthosemonths;themastiffsteadilyfollowing。[Mauvillon,i。252—284(\"9thNovember,1757—1stApril,1758\");Westphalen,i。316—503(abundantlyexplicit,authenticandevenentertaining,——withtheampleCorrespondences,ib。ii。147—350);Schaper,ViemilitaireduMarechalPrinceFerdinand(2tomes,8vo,Magdebourg,1796,1799),i。7—100(acarefulBook;ofanofficialexactitude,likeWestphalen’s,——andappearstobeleftincompletelikehis)。]TotheastonishmentofPittandmankind。CanthisbethesameArmythatRoyalHighnessledtotheSeaandtheParishPound?Thesameidentically,wastedtoabouttwo—thirdsbyRoyalHighness;notadruminitchangedotherwise,onlyOneMandifferent,——andheistheimportantone!

  \"Pitt,whenthenewsofRossbachcame,awakeningthebonfiresandsteeple—bellsofEnglandtosuchapitch,hadresolvedonanemphaticmeasure:thatofsendingEnglishTroopstoreinforceourAlliedArmy,anditsnewGeneral;——suchanAllyasthatRossbachonebeingrareintheeyesofPitt。’PostponethemeetingofParliament,yetafewdays,yourMajesty,’saidPitt,’tillIgettheestimatesready!’[Thackeray,i。310。]TowhichMajestyassented,andallEnglandwithhim:’England’sownCause,’thinksPitt,withconfidence:’ourwayofConqueringAmerica,——and,inthecircumstances,ouroneway!’Englishdidland,accordingly;firstinstalmentofthem,a12,000(inAugustnext),increasedgraduallyto20,000;withnoendoffurnishingstothemandeverybody;

  withresultsagainsatisfactorytoPitt;andveryfamousintheEnglandthatthenwas,dimastheyarenowgrown。\"

  Theeffectofallwhichwas,thatPitt,withhisFerdinandsandreinforcements,foundworkfortheFrencheveronwardsfromRossbach;FrenchalsoturningasifexclusivelyuponperfidiousAlbion:andthethingbecame,inTeutschland,aselsewhere,adueloflifeanddeathbetweenthesenaturalenemies,——Teutschlandthecentreofit,——TeutschlandandtheaccessibleFrenchSea—Towns,——

  butthecircumferenceofitgoingroundfromManillaandMadrastoHavanaandQuebecagain。Wide—spreadfuriousduel;prize,Americaandlife。Bylandandsea;handsomelydonebyPittonbothelements。Landpart,wesay,wasalwaysmainlyinGermany,underFerdinand,——inHessenandtheWestphalianCountries,asfarwestasMinden,asfareastasFrankfurt—on—Mayn,generallywellnorthofRhine,wellsouthofElbe:thatwas,forfiveyearscoming,thecockpitorplaceofdeadlyfencebetweenFranceandEngland。

  Friedrich’sarenalieseastwardofthat,occasionallyplayingintoitalittle,andplayedintobyit,andalwaysinlivelysympathyandconsultationwithit:but,excepttheFrenchsubsidizings,diplomatizings。andgreatdiligenaeagainsthiminforeignCourts,Friedrichis,inpracticalrespects,freeoftheFrench;andeverafterRossbach,FerdinandandtheEnglishkeeptheminfullwork,——

  growingyearlytoofull。AheavyBusinessforEnglandandFerdinand;whichishappilykeptextraneoustoFriedrichthenceforth;tohimandus;whichisnotonthestageofhisaffairsandours,butistobeconceivedalwaysasvigorouslyproceedingalongsideofit,closebeyondthescenes,andliableatanytimetomaketragicentryonhimagain:——ofwhichweshallhavetonoticethelouderoccurrencesandcardinalphases,but,forthefuture,nothingmore。

  Soubise,whohadcreptintotheskirtsoftheRichelieuArmyinHanoverorHessenCountry,hadofcoursetotakewinginthatgeneralfrightbeforethemastiff。SoubisedidnotcrosstheRhinewithit;Soubisemadeoffeastward;[Westphalen,i。501(\"endofMarch,1758\"]。]——foundnewroostinHanau—FrankfurtCountry;

  andhadthoughtsofjoiningtheAustriansinBohemianextCampaign;

  butgotneworder,——suchthepinchesofawingedClermontwithamastiffFerdinandathispoordraggledtail;——andcamebacktotheFerdinandscene,tohelpthere;andneversawFriedrichagain。

  BothBroglioandhehadagooddealoffighting(mostlybeating)

  fromFerdinand;andagreatdealoftroubleandsorrowinthecourseofthisWar;butafterRossbachitisnotFriedrichorwe,itisFerdinandandtheDestiniesthathavetodowiththem。

  PoorSoubise,exceptthathewasthecreatureofGeneralissimaPompadour,whichhadsomethingradicallyabsurdinit,didnotdeserveallthelaughterhegot:amanofsomechivalry,somequalities。AsforBroglio,Irememberalways,notwithouthumanemotion,thetwoextremepointsofhiscareerasasoldier:

  RossbachandtheFalloftheBastille。Hewastowardsforty,whenFriedrichbestrodetheJanusHillinthatfierymanner;

  hewasturnedofseventywhen,fromthepavementsofParis,theChimeraofDemocracyroseonhim,infireofastillmorehorribledescription。

  Dauphiness—Bellona,inherspecialandinherwidestsense,hasmadeexit,then。Gone,likecloudsofdraggledpoultryhomeacrosstheRhine。ShewasthemostmaraudingArmylatelyseen,alsothemostgasconading,andhadtheleastcapacityforfighting:

  threeworsequalitiesnoarmycouldhave。Howshefought,wehaveseensufficiently。Beforetakingleaveofherforever,readers,assheisaparagoninherkind,wouldperhapstakeaglanceortwoathermaraudingqualities,——byagoodopportunitythatoffers。

  PlothoatRegensburg,thatasupremeReichsDietmayknowwhata\"deliveranceofSaxony\"thishasbeen,submitsonedaythefollowingirrefragableDocuments,\"whichhavehappened,\"notwithoutgoodindustryofmyown,\"tofallintomy[Plotho’s]

  hands。\"TheyareDocumentspartlyofepistolary,partlyofaPetitionaryform,presentedtoPolishMajesty,outofthatSaxonCountry;andhaveanAFFIDAVITqualityaboutthem,oneandall。

  1。BIGDAUPHINESS(thatis,D’Estrees)INTHEWESELCOUNTRIES,AT

  ANEARLYSTAGE,——WHILESTILLENDEAVORINGWHATSHECOULDTOBEHAVE

  WELL,HANGING1,000MARAUDERSANDTHELIKE(AprivateLetter):——

  \"COUNTYMARK,20thJUNE,1757。TheFrenchtroopsaregoingonhereinawaytoutterlyruinus。Schmidt,theirPresidentofJustice,whomtheysetupinCleve,hasgotorderstochangealltheMagistraciesoftheCountry[Protestantbynature],soasthathalfthemembersshallbeCatholic。BielefeldwasopenlyplunderedbytheFrenchforthreehourslong。YoucannotbypossibilityrepresenttoyourselfwhattheactualstateofmiseryintheseCountriesis。ASCHEFFELofryecoststhreethalerssixteengroschen[whoknowshowmanytimesitsnaturalprice!]。AndnowwearetobeforcedtoeatthespoiledmealthoseFrenchtroopsbroughtwiththem;whichisgonetosuchastatenoanimalwouldhaveit。Thispoisonedmealwearetobuyfromthem,readymoney,atthepricetheyfix;andthatfaminemayinduceus,theyareabouttostopthemills,andforciblytakeawaywhatlittlebread—

  cornwehaveleft。Godhavepityonus,anddeliverussoon!

  Nextweekwearetohaveatransitof6,000Pfalzers[Kur—Pfalz,foolishidlefellow,andKur—Baierntoo,arebothinsubsidyofFrance,asusual;6,000Pfalzersjustduehere];these,Isuppose,willsweepuscleanbare。\"[Helden—Geschichte,iv。399。]:

  WeselFortress,GateoftheRhine,couldnotbedefendedbyFriedrich:andtheHanoverIncapables,andEnglandstillallinSt。Vitus,wouldnothearofundertakingit;leftitwideopenfortheFrench;nevercouldrecoverit,orgettheRhine—Gatebarredagain,duringthewholeWar。Onehopestheyrepented;——butperhapsitwasonlyPittandDukeFerdinandthatdidso,instead!TheWeselCountrieswereatonceoccupiedbytheFrench;\"aconquestofherImperialMajesty’s;\"continuedtobeadministeredinImperialMajesty’sname,——andarethrivingasabove。

  2。DAUPHINESSPROPER(thatis,Soubise)INTHURINGEN,ATALATESTAGE:——

  \"LETTERFROMFREIBURG,SHORTLYAFTERROSSBACH。——Itwasonthe23dOctober,aSunday,thatweofFreiburghadourfirstbilletingofFrench;abodyofCavalryfromdifferentregiments[goingtotakeLeipzig,takeTorgau,whatnot]:andfromthatdayFreiburgneveremptiedofFrench,whokeptmarchingthroughitinextraordinaryquantities。Themarchinglastedfourteendays,namely,tillthe6thNovember[dayAFTERRossbach;whentheyburntourpoorBridge,andmarchedforthelasttime];andoftenthebilletingwassoheavy,thatinasinglehousetherewerefortyorfiftymen。Whoatalltimeshadtobelodgedanddietedgratis;naymanyhouseholders,overandabovetheordinarymeal,wereobligedtogivethemmoneytoo;andmanypoorpeople,whocanscarcelygettheirownbitofbread,hadtorunandbringatoncetheirsixteenoreighteengroschen[pence]worthofwine,nottospeakofcoffeeandsugar。

  Andagreatincreaseofthemischiefitwasalways,thatthesoldiersandcommonpeopledidnotunderstandoneanother’slanguage。\"——Heavybilleting;butwhatwasthat?……\"Vast,nearlyimpossible,quantitiesofforageandprovision,\"werewrungfromus,asfromalltheotherTownsandVillagesabout,\"undercontinualthreateningtoburnandrazeusfromtheearth。OftendidourFrenchColonelthreaten,’HewouldhavethecannonopenedonFreiburgstraightway。’Nay,haditstoodbyforaging,wemighthavereckonedourselveslucky。Butourstraitsincreaseddaybyday;

  andsheerplunderingbecamemoreandmoreexcessive。

  \"Therobbingandtorturingoftravellers,theplunderingandburningofSaxonVillages……AlmostalltheTownsandVillageshereaboutsaresoplunderedout,thatmanyaonenowhasnothingbutwhathecarriesonhisbody。Plunderingwasuniversal:andnosoonerwasonepartyaway,thananothercame,andstillanother;

  andoftenthesamehousewasthreeorfourtimesplundered。

  Branderode,aVillagetwoleaguesfromthis[standsontheFieldofRossbach,ifwelook],issoruinedout,thatnobodyalmosthasanythingleft:ChiefInspectorBaronvonBose’sSchlossthere,withitssplendidappointments,theyruinedutterly;tookallmoney,victuals,valuables,furniture,clothes,linenandbeds,alltheycouldcarry;whatcouldnotbecarriedaway,theycut,hewedandsmashedtopieces;brokethewine—casks;andeventoreupthedocumentsandletterstheyfoundlyingintheplace。

  BranderodeDorfwastwicesetfiretobythem;andwas,atlast,withZeuchfeld,whichisanAmtsdorf,——afterbothhadbeenplundered,——reducedtoashes。TheChurchesofBranderodeandZeuchfeld,withseveralotherChurches,wereplundered;thealtarsbroken,thealtar—clothsandothervesturescuttopieces,andthesacredvesselsandcupscarriedaway,——except[forwehaveanotarialexactness,andwillexaggeratenothing]thatinthecaseofBranderodetheysentthecupback。Ofthepollutionofthealtars,andoftheblasphemoussongsthesepeoplesanginthechurches,onecannotthinkwithouthorror。

  \"AnditwasmerelyourpretendedAlliesandProtectorsthathavedesecratedourdivineservice,utterlywastedourCountry,reducedtheinhabitantstowantanddesperation,and,inshort,havesobehavedthatyouwouldnotknowthisregionagain。TrulythesetroopshaverealizedforusmostoftheinfamiesweheardreportedoftheCossacks,andtheirravagingsinPreussenlately。

  \"ItisoneoftheirsmallestdoingsthattheyrobbedaSaxonClergyman[nameandcircumstancescanbegivenifrequired),threetimesover,onthepublicHighway;shotathim,tiedhimtoahorse’stailanddraggedhimalongwiththem;sothatheisnowlyingill,indangerofhislife。Onthewhole,itisourbelovedPastors,Clergymenmostofall,thathavebeenplunderedofeverythingtheyhad。

  \"BalgartandZschieplitz,bothVillageshalfaleaguefromthis,havelikewisebeenheavilyplundered;theyhaveevenlefttheParsonnothingbutwhatheworeonhisback。Grost,\"anotherRossbachplace,\"whichbelongstotheKammerjunkerHeldorf,haslikewise\"……OHE,SATIS!——\"Allthishappenedbetweenthe23dand3lstOctober;consequentlybeforetheBattle……InmanyVillagesyouseethetreesandfieldssprinkledwithfeathersfromthebedsthathavebeenslitup。

  \"InseveralVillagesbelongingtotheRoyalElectoralprivyCouncillorvonBruhl[whoisproperlythefountainofallthisandofmuchothermiserytous,ifweknewit!]theplunderinglikewisehadbegun;andaquantityofaboutahundredswine[soho!]hadbeencutinpieces:butinthemidstoftheirwork,theAlliesheardthatthesewereBruhlestates,andceasedtheirhavocofthem。Theseaccordinglyaretheonlylandsinallthisregionwhosefatehasbeentolerable。

  \"Theappellation,everymomentrenewed,of’Heretic!’wasthecourteousaddressfromthesepeopletoourfellow—Christians;

  ’hereticdogs(KETZERISCHEHUNDE)’wasaPRADICATalwaysintheirmouth。

  \"InWeischutz,\"amileortwofromus,uptheUnstrut,\"aFrenchColonelwhowantedtorideoutupontheworks,madethetherePastor,MagisterSchren,stoopdownbywayofhorse—block,andmountedintothesaddlefromhisback。[Messieurs,youwillkindlethewrathofmankindsomeday,andgetaterribleplucking,withthosehighwaysofyours!]

  \"Churchesareallsmashed;obscenesongsweresung,informoflitany,fromthepulpitsandaltars;whatwasdonewiththecommunion—vessels,whentheywerenotworthstealing,\"——ishideoustothereligioussense,andshallnotbementionedinhumanspeech。

  3。THEBROGLIOREINFORCEMENTCOMINGACROSSTOJOINSOUBISE,AND

  PERFORMATROSSBACH(HumblePetitionfromtheMagistratesofSangerhausen,TotheKingofPoland’sMajesty):——

  SANGERHAUSEN,23dOCTOBER,1757。——\"Scarcelyhadwe,withprofoundsubmission(ALLERUNTERTHANIGST),underdateofthe13thcurrent,representedtoyourRoyalMajestyandElectoralTranslucencyhowheavilywewerepresseddownbytheforagerequisitionsandtransitsoftroops,andtheconsequent,expenditureinfood,drinking,inoatsandhay,whichnoonepays,——whendirectlythereafter,onthe14thofOctober,anewFrenchparty,oftheFischerCorps,\"——FischerisamightyHussar,scarcelyinferiortoTurpin;,andstandsinastonishingauthoritywithRichelieu,andanArmywhoseobjectisplunder,[Ferdinand’sCorrespondente,SOEPIUS

  (Westphalen,i。40—127);&c。&c。]——\"newpartyoftheFischerCorps,ofsomesixtymenandhorse,arrivedintheTown;demandedmeat,drink,oatsaudhay,andallthingsnecessary;

  whichtheyreceivedfromus;——andnotonlypaidnotonefarthingforallthis,butfurthermoresomeofthem,insteadofthankstotheirLandlord,Rossold,forciblybrokeuphispress,drankhisbrandy,andcarriedoffaTOUTE(gather—all)withmoneyinit。

  FromaTanner,Lindauerbyname,theybargainedforabuckskin;

  andhavingtaken,wouldnotpayit。IntheRATHSKELLER(TownPublic—house)theydrankmuchwine,andgavenothingforit:nayonmarchingoff,——becausenomountedguide(REITENDERBOTE)wasathand,andthoughtheyhadbeforeexpresslysaidnonesuchwouldbeneeded,——theyrushedaboutlikedistractedpersons(WIERASENDE

  LEUTE)inthemarket—placeandinthestreets;beatthepeople,tumbledthemabout,andluggedthemalong,inaviolentmanner;

  usingabusivelanguagetoafrightfulextent,andthreateningeverymisfortune。

  \"Hardlywereweridofthisconfusionandastonishmentwhen,onOctober21st,awholeswarmofhorses,men,women,childrenandwagons,whichlikewiseallbelongedtotheFischerCorps,andwerecommandedbyFirst—LieutenantSchmidt,cameintoourTown。

  Thistroopconsistedof80men,partinfantry,partcavalry;

  withsome80work—horses,10baggage—wagons,andabout100persons,women,sickpeopleandthelike。Theystayedthewholenighthere;

  mademeat,drink,corn,hayandwhatevertheyneededbebroughtthem;andwentoffnextdaywithoutpayinganything。

  \"OurInnswerenowalmostquiteexhaustedofforageincornorhay;

  andweknewnothowweweretopaywhathadbeenspent,——whenthethirtyFrenchLightCavalry,ofwhomwe,withprofoundsubmission,onthe13thHUJUSgaveyourRoyalMajestyandElectoralTranslucencyaccount,renewedtheirvisituponus;came,underthecommandofRittmeisterdeMocu,onthe22dofOctober[whilethebaggage—wagons,work—horses,women,sick,andsoforth,werehardlygone],towardsevening,intotheTown;consumedinmeatanddrink,oatsandhay,andthelike,whattheycouldlayholdof;andnextmorningearlymarchedaway,paying,astheircustomis,nothing。

  \"Notenoughthat,——besidesthegreatforage—contribution(LIEFERUNG),whichwealready,withprofoundsubmission,notifiedtoyourRoyalMajestyandElectoralTranslucencyashavingbeenlaiduponus;andthat,byorderoftheDucdeBroglio,anewrequisitionisnowlaidonus,andwehavehadtoengageforsixty—

  fourmoresacksofwheat,andthirty—twoofrye(asisnotedunderheadA,intheenclosedcopy),——therehasfarthercomeonus,onthepartoftheReichsArmy,fromKreis—CommissariusHeldorf[whoseSchlossofGrost,weperceive,theyhavesinceburnt,bywayofthankstohim[Supra,No。2。]],thesimultaneousOrderforinstantdeliveryofForage(asunderheadB,hereenclosed)!Thusarewe,attheappointedplaces,allatoncetofurnishsuchquantities,morethanwecanraise;andknownotwhenorwhereweshall,eitherforwhathasbeenalreadyfurnished,orforwhatisstilltobe,receiveonepennyofmoney:nay,overandabove,wearetosustainthemanymarchingsoftroops,andprovidetothesamewhatmeat,drink,oats,hayandsoon,theyrequire,withouttheleastreturnofpayment!

  \"Sounendurable,and,takenalltogether,sohard(SIC)beginstheconductofthesetroops,thatprofessbeingcomeasfriendsandhelpers,toappeartous。AndHeavenaloneknowshowlong,underacontinuanceofsuchthings,thesubjects(whomtheHail—stormoflastyearhadatanyrateimpoverished)shallbeabletosupportthesame。Wewould,wereareasonabledeliveryofforagelaiduponusevenatalowprice,andtheboardandbilletofthemarchingtroopspaidtouseveninpart,layoutourwholestrengthinhelpingtobeartheburdensoftheFatherland;butifsuchthingsgoon,whichwillsoonleaveusonlybarelifeandemptyhuts,wecanlookforwardtonothingbutourruinanddestruction。But,asitisnotyourRoyalMajesty’sandElectoralTranslucency’smostgraciouswillthatwe,yourMostSupremeSelf’smostfaithfulsubjects,shouldentirelyperish,thereforewerepeatourformermostsubmissiveprayeronceagainwithhot(SIC)sorrowofmindtoHighest—the—Same;andsobmostsubmissivelyforthathelpwhichyourMostSupremeSelf,throughmostgraciousmediationwiththeDucdeRichelieu,withtheReichsArmyorwhereverelse,mightperhapsmostgraciouslyprocureforus。Who,indeepestlongingthitherwards,withthemostdeepestdevotion,remain——\"[

  Helden—Geschichte,iv。688—691。](NAMES,unfortunately,notgiven)。

  HowmanySaxonsandGermansgenerally——alas,howmanymenuniversally——crytowardscelestialluminariesofthegoverningkindwiththemostdeepestdevotion,intheirextremeneed,undertheirunsufferableinjuries;andaretrulylikedogsinthebackyardbarkingattheMoon。TheMoonwon’tcomedowntothem,andbeeatenasgreencheese;theMooncan’t!

  4。DAUPHINESSAFTERROSSBACH。\"Excise—InspectorNeitsche,atBebra,nearWeissenfels[BebraiswellaheadfromFreiburgandtheburntBridge,andagoodtwenty—fivemileswestofWeissenfels],writesTotheKingofPoland’sMajesty,9thNOVEMBER,1757:——

  \"MayitpleaseyourRoyalMajestyandElectoralTranslucency,outofyourhighestgrace,totakeknowledge,fromtheaccompanyingRegistersSUBSIGNOMARTIS[signunknowntoreadershere],ofthethingswhich,inthenameofthisTownshipofBebra,theBurgermeisterJohannAdam,withtheRathsandothersconcerned,havelaidbeforetheExcise—Inspectionhere。Asfollows:——

  \"ItwillbealreadywellknowntotheExcise—Inspectionthatonthe7thofNovember(A。C。)ofthecurrentyear[daybeforeyesterday,infact!],theFrenchArmysohandledthisplaceastohavenotonlytakenfromtheinhabitants,byopenforce,allbreadandarticlesoffood,butlikewiseallclothes,beds,linens(WASCHE),andotherportablegoods;thatithasbroken,splittopieces,andemptiedout,allchests,boxes,presses,drawers;hasshotdead,inthebackyardsandonthethatch—roofs,allmanneroffeathered—

  stock,ashens,geese,pigeons;alsocarriedforthwithitallswine,cow,sheepandhorsecattle;laidviolenthandsontheinhabitants,clappedguns,swords,pistolstotheirbreast,andthreatenedtokillthemunlesstheyshowedandbroughtoutwhatevergoodstheyhad;orelsehashuntedthemwhollyoutoftheirhouses,shootingatthem,cutting,stickingandatlastdrivingthemaway,therebytohavethefreerroomtorobandplunder:flungouthayandotherharvest—stockfromthebarnsintothemudanddung,andhadittrampledtoruinunderthehorses,feet;nay,infact,hasdealtwiththisplaceinsounpermittedawayaseventothemosthard—heartedmanmustseemcompassionable。\"——Poorfellows:CETERA

  DESUNT;butthatisenough!WhatcanaPolishMajestyandElectoralTranslucencydo?HeretooisasorrowfulhowlingtotheMoon。

  [Helden—Geschichte,iv。692。]……\"Forahundredmilesround,\"writesSt。Germain,\"theCountryisplunderedandharriedasiffirefromHeavenhadfallenonit;

  scarcelyhaveourplunderersandmaraudersleftthehousesstanding……Ileadabandofrobbers,ofassassins,fitforbreakingonthewheel;theywouldturntailatthefirstgunshot,andarealwaysreadytomutiny。IftheGovernment(LACOUR,\"withitsPompadourpresiding,veryunlikelyforsuchanenterprise!)

  \"cannotlaytheknifetotherootofallthis,wemaygiveupthenotionofWar。\"[St。Germain,afterRossbachandbefore(inPreuss,UBISUPRA)。]……

  SuchapitchhaveFrenchArmiessunkto。WhenwasthereseensuchaBellonaasDauphinessbefore?Nay,infact,sheisthesamedevil—

  servingArmythatMarechaldeSaxecommandedwithsuchtriumph,——

  MarechaldeSaxeinbetterluckforopponents;Armytheninayoungerstageofitsdevelopment。Foamingthenassweetmust,asnewwine,inthehandsofaskilfulvintner,poisonousbutbrisk;

  notrun,asnow,tothevinegarstate,intolerabletoallmortals。

  Shecannowannouncefromhercamp—theatresthereverseoftheRoucouxprogram,\"To—morrow,Messieurs,youaregoingtofight;

  ourManagerforesees\"——youwillbebeaten;andwecannotsaywhatorwherethenextPiecewillbe!Impious,licentious,high—flaringefflorescenceofalltheVicesisnottoberedeemedbytheoneQuasi—Virtueofreadinesstobeshot;——sweetofthatkind,andsourofthis,arethesamesubstance,ifyouonlywait。HowkindwastheDeviltohisSaxe;andflewawaywithhiminrose—pink,whileitwasstilltime!

  ChapterIX。

  FRIEDRICHMARCHESFORSILESIA。

  ThefameofFriedrichishighenoughagainintheGazetteerworld;

  allpeople,andtheFrenchthemselves,laughingattheirgrandiloquentDauphiness—Bellona,andwritingepigramsonSoubise。

  ButFriedrich’sdifficultiesarestillenormous。Oneenemycomingwithopenmouth,youplungeinupon,andruin,onthishand;anditonlygivesyouroomtoattemptuponanotherbiggeroneonthat。

  Soubisehehasfinishedhandsomely,forthisseason;butnowhemusttryconclusionswithPrinceKarl。Quick,towardsSilesia,afterthisgloriousVictorywhichtheGazetteersarecelebrating。

  ThenewsoutofSilesiaareominouslydoubtful,badatthebest。

  DukeBevern,onceWinterfeldwasgone,had,asweobserved,felthimselffreetoact;unchecked,butalsounsupported,bycounselofthedueheroism;andhadactedunwisely。MadedirectforSilesia,namely,wherearemeal—magazinesandstrongplaces。PrinceKarl,theysay,wasalsounwise;tooknothoughtbeforehand,orhemighthavegainedmarches,disputedrivers,Bober,Queiss,withBevern,andasgoodashinderedhimfromevergettingtoSilesia。Sosaycritics,Retzowandothers;perhapslookingtoofixedlyononesideofthequestion。Certainitis,BevernmarchedinpeacetoSilesia;

  founditbynomeansthebetterplaceithadpromisedtobe。

  PrinceKarl——Daunthereassecond,butKarlnowthedominanthand——

  wasontheheelsofBevern,marchaftermarch。PrinceKarlcutathwarthimbyonecunningmarch,inLiegnitzCountry;barringhimfromSchweidnitz,thechiefstrongholdofSilesia,andtoappearancefromBreslau,thechiefcity,too。Bevern,whodidnotwantforsoldiership,whenreducedtohisshifts,nowmadeabeautifulmanoeuvre,saythecritics;struckoutleftwards,namely,andcrossedtheOder,asifmakingforGlogau,quitebeyondPrinceKarl’ssphereofpossibility,——butturnedtoright,nottoleft,whenacross,andgotinuponBreslaufromtheotheroreastsideoftheRiver。Cunningmanoeuvre,ifyouwill,andfollowedbycunningmanoeuvres:buttheresultis,PrinceKarlhasgotSchweidnitztorear,standsbetweenBreslauandit;canbesiegeSchweidnitzwhenhelikes,andnorelieftoitpossiblethatwillnotcostabattle。

  Abattle,thinksFriedrich,iswhatBevernoughttohavetriedatfirst;awell—foughtbattlemighthavesettledeverything,andtherewasnoothergoodlikelihoodinsuchanexpedition:butnow,bydetachingreinforcementstothisgarrisonandthat,hehasweakenedhimselfbeyondrightpoweroffighting。[OEuvresdeFrederic,iv。141,159。]Schweidnitzisliabletosiege;Breslau,withitspoorwallsandmultitudinouspopulation,canstandnosiegeworthmentioning;theSilesianstrongplaces,nottospeakofmeal—magazines,areliketogoabadroad。

  Quitedominant,thisPrinceKarl;placardingandproclaiminginallplaces,accordingtothenew\"ImperialPatent,\"[In

  Helden—Geschichte,(iv。832,833),Copyofit:

  \"AbsolvedfromallpriorTreatiesbyPrussianMajesty’sattackonus,We\"&c。&c。(\"21stSept。1757\")。]ThatSilesiaisherImperialMajesty’sagain!Whichseemstobefastbecomingthefact;——unlesscontradictedbetter。Quick!

  Bevernhasnow,October1st,nomanoeuvreleftbuttodrawoutofBreslau;posthimselfonthesouthernsideofit,inasafeanglethere,marshyLoheinfront,broadOdertorear,Breslauathisright—handwithbread;andthereintrenchinghimselfbythebestmethods,waitslowly,inasittingposture,eventswhichareextensivelyonthegallopatpresent。Onefancies,HadWinterfeldbeenstillthere!ItisasbraveanArmy,30,000,ormore,aseverworesteel。Surelysomethingcouldhavebeendonewithit;——

  somethingbetterthansitwatchingtheeventsonfullgallopallround!Bevernwasaloyal,considerablyskilfulandvaliantman;

  intheBattleofLobositz,andelsewhere,wehaveseenhimbraveasalion:butperhapsintheotherkindofbraverywantedhere,he——

  Well,hiscasewashorriblydifficult;fullofintricacy。Andhesat,nodoubtinaverywretchedstate,consultingtheoracles,withevents(whicharethemselvesoracular)goingatsuchapace。

  SchweidnitzwasbesiegedOctober26th。Nadasti,with20,000,wassettodoit;PrinceKarl,with60,000,readytoprotecthim;

  PrinceBevernaskingtheoracles:——whatabitofnewsforFriedrich;breakingsuddenlytheeffulgencyofRossbachwithabarofominousblack!Friedrich,stillinthethickofpureSaxonbusiness,makesinstantarrangementforSilesiaaswell:PrinceHenri,withsuchandsuchcorps,tomaintaintheSaale,andguardSaxony;MarshalKeith,withsuchandsuch,tostepoverintoBohemia,andraisecontributionsatleast,andtreadonthetailofthebigSilesiansnake:allthisFriedrichsettleswithinaweek;

  takescertaincorpsofhisown,effectiveabout13,000;andonNovember13thmarchesfromLeipzig。RoundbyTorgau,byMuhlberg,Grossenhayn;byBautzen,Weissenberg,acrosstheQueiss,acrosstheBober;andso,withlongmarches,stridescontinuallyforward,allheartswilling,andalllimbs,thoughinthissadwinterweather,towardsreliefofSchweidnitz。

  AtGrossenhayn,fifthdayofthemarch,FriedrichlearnsthatSchweidnitzisgone。November12th—14th,Schweidnitzwentbycapitulation;contrarytoeverybody’shopeorfear;certainlyaveryshortdefenceforsuchafortress。FaultoftheCommandant,waseverybody’sfirstthought。NotprobablythebestofCommandants,saidothersgradually;buthisgarrisonhadSaxonsinit;——oneday\"180oftheminalumpthrewdowntheirarms,inthetrenches,andwentovertotheEnemy。\"Owingtowhatsoever,theplaceisgone。Suchtowers,suchcurtains,star—ramparts;suchanopulenceofcannons,stores,munitions,a30,000poundsofhardcash,oneitem。Allisgone,afterafortnight’ssiege。Whatapieceofnews,asheardbyFriedrich,comingathisutmosttowardsthesceneitself!AsseenbyBevern,too,inhisquestioningmood,itwasaneventofveryoracularnature。

  OnMonday,14th,Schweidnitzfell;Karl,withNadastireunitedtohim,wasnow80,000odd;andlostnotime。OnTuesdaynext,NOVEMBER22d,1757,\"atthreeinthemorning,\"longhoursbeforedaybreak,Karl,withhis60,000,alllearnedlyarranged,comesrollingoveruponhaplessBevern:withnoendofcannonadingandstormofwar:BATTLEOFBRESLAU,theycallit;ruinoustoBevern。

  Ofwhichweshallattemptnodescription:excepttosay,thatKarlhadfivebridgesontheLohe,cameacrosstheLohebyfiveBridges;

  andthatBevernstoodtohisarms,steadyastherocks,topreventhisgettingover,andtoentertainhimwhenover;thattherewerefiveprincipalattacks,renewedandre—renewedaslongasneedful,withtorrentsofshot,ofdeathandtumult;oversixoreightmilesofcountry,forthespaceoffifteenhours。BattlecomparableonlytoMalplaquet,saidtheAustrians;suchahurricaneofartillery,stronglyintrenchedenemyandlouddoomsdayofwar。Didnotendtillnineatnight;Austriansvictorious,moreorless,infouroftheirattacksorseparateenterprises:thatistosay,mastersoftheLohe,andoftheoutmostPrussianvillagesandpostsinfrontofthePrussiancentreandrightwing;victoriousinthatnorthernpart;——butplainlyunvictoriousinthesoutheastorPrussianleftwing,——farthestofffromBreslau,andunderZiethen’scommand,——

  wheretheyweredrivenacrosstheLoheagain,andlostprisonersandcannons,oracannon。[InSeyfarth,ThreeAccounts;

  Beylagan,ii。198,221,234etseq。]

  SomeofBevern’speople,groundingonthislattercircumstance,andthattheystillheldtheBattle—field,ormostpartofit,wrotethemselvesvictorious;——thoughinadimbriefmanner,asifconsciousofthecontrary。Whichindeedwasthefact。Atthecouncilofwar,whichhesummonedthatevening,therewereproposalsofnight—attack,andotherfiercemeasures;butBevern,rejectingtheplanforanightattackontheAustriancampastoodubious,did,inthedarkhours,throughthesilentstreetsofBreslau,withdrawhimselfacrosstheOder,instead;leaving80

  cannon,and5,000killedandwounded;anevidentlybeatenmanandArmy。Andindeeddidstraightwaydisappearpersonallyaltogether,asnolongerequaltoevents。Rodeout,namely,toreconnoitreinthegrayofhissecondsadmorning,onthisnewBankoftheOder;

  sawlittleexceptgraymist;butrodeintoaCroatoutpost,onlyonepoorgroomattendinghim;andwastheremadeprisoner:——

  intentionally,thoughtmankind;intentionally,thinksFriedrich,whowasveryangrywiththepoorman。[Preuss,ii。102。MoreexactinKutzen,DERTAGVONLEUTHEN(Breslau,1857,——anexcellentexactlittleCompilation,frommanifoldsourceswellstudied),pp。166—169,date\"24thNovember。\"]

  ThepoormanwascarriedtoVienna,ifreaderscaretoknow;

  butbeinganearCousinthere(second—cousin,noless,tothelateEmpress—Mother),wasbythehighnow—reigningEmpress—Queenreceivedinacharminglygraciousmanner,andsenthomeagainwithoutransom。\"ToStettin!\"beckonedFriedrichsternlyfromthedistance,andwouldnotseehimatall:\"ToStettin,Isay,yourofficialpostintimeofpeace!CommandmetheinvalidGarrisonthere;youarefitfornothingbetter!\"——Iwilladdoneotherthing,whichunhappilywillseemstrangetoreaders:thattherecamenowhisperofcomplaintfromBevern;meresilence,andloyalindustrywithhispoormeans,fromBevern;andthatheprovedheroicallyusefulinStettintwoyearshence,againsttheSwedes,againsttheRussiansintheSiege—of—Colbergtime;andgainedFriedrich’sfavoragain,withothergoodresults。WhichIobservewasacommonmethodwithPrussianGeneralsandsoldiers,when,unjustlyorjustly,theyfellintotroubleofthiskind;andamuchbetteronethanthatofcomplainingintheNewspapers,anddemandingCommissionsofInquiry,presidedoverbyChaosandtheFourth—Estate,nowis。

  BevernbeingwiththeCroats,thePrussianArmyfallstoGeneralKyau,asnextinrank;who(directlyintheteethoffierceordersthatarespeedinghitherforBevernandhim)marchesaway,leavingBreslautoitsfate;andmakingtowardsGlogau,astheonesurepointinthiswreckofthings。AndPrinceKarl,thatsameday,goesuponBreslau;whichisinnocasetoresistandbebombarded:

  sothatpooroldGeneralLestwitz,thePrussianCommandant,——alwaysthoughttobeavaliantoldgentleman,butwhohadbeenwoundedinthelateAction,andwasblamablydiscouraged,——tookthetermsoffered,andsurrenderedwithoutfiringagun。Garrisonandhetomarchout,in\"FreeWithdrawal;\"thesearetheterms:Garrisonwas4,000andodd,mostlySilesianrecruits;buttheremarchedhardly500outwithpoorLestwitz;theSilesianrecruits——persuadedbyconceivablemethods,thattheyweretobeprisonersofwar,andthat,inshort,AustriawasnowcometobeKingagain,andmightmakeinquiryintomen’sconduct——founditsafertotakeservicewithAustria,tovanishintoholesinBreslauorwheretheycould;

  and,forinstance,oneregiment(orbattalion,letushidethenameofit),onmarchingthroughtheGate,consistedonlyofninechiefofficersandfourmen。[Muller,SCHLACHTBEILEUTHEN(Berlin,1857,——professedlyamereabridgmentandshadowofKutzen:

  unindexedlikeit),p。12(withnameandparticulars)。]

  Therewerelost98piecesofcannon;endlessmagazinesandstoresofwar。ABreslauscandalouslygone;——aBreslaupreachingdayafternext(27th,whichwasSunday),incertainofitschurches,especiallyCardinalSchaffgotschintheDomInseldoingit,ThanksgivingSermons,asperorder,withunctionrealorofficial,\"Thatourancientsovereignsarerestoredtous:\"whichSermons——

  exceptintheSchaffgotschcase,PrinceKarlandthehighCatholicworldallthereingala——were\"sparselyattended,\"saymyauthors。

  TheAustriansareatthetopoftheirpride;andconsiderfullsurelythatSilesiaistheirs,thoughFriedrichwereheretwiceover。\"WhatisFriedrich?WebeathimatKolin。HisPrussiansatZittau,atMoys,atBreslauinthenewMalplaquet,werewebeatenbythem?Hnh!\"——andsnort(intheAustrianmess—rooms),andsnaptheirfingersatFriedrichandhiscoming。

  ItwasatGorlitz(sceneofpoorWinterfeld’sdeath)thatFriedrich,\"onNovember23d,thetenthdayofhismarch,\"firstgotrumoroftheBreslauMalplaquet:\"endlesscannonadingheardthereaboutsallyesterday!\"saidrumorfromtheeast,——moreandmoresteadily,asFriedrichhastenedforward;——andthatitwas\"avictoryforBevern。\"Till,atNaumburgontheQueiss,hegetstheactualtidings:BeverngonetotheCroats,Breslaugoing,Kyaumarchingvague;andwhatkindofvictoryitwas。

  EverfromGrossenhaynonwardstherehadbeenmessageonmessage,moreandmorerigorous,preciseandindignant,\"Dothis,dothat;

  yourDilectionshallansweritwithyourhead!\"——notonemessageofwhichreachedhisDilection,tillDilectionandFate(suchthegallopofevents)haddonethecontrary:andnowDilectionandhisheadhavemadeafinishofit。\"No,\"answersFriedrichtohimself;

  \"nottillweareallfinished!\"——andpusheson,hetoo,likeakindofFate。\"Whatdoesorcanhemean,then?\"saytheAustrians,withscornfulastonishment,andthinkhisheadmustbeturning:\"WillhebeatusoutofSilesiawithhisPotsdamGuard—Paradethen?\"

  \"POTSDAMSCHEWACHT—PARADE:\"——sotheydenominatehissmallArmy;

  andareverymirthfulintheirmess—rooms。\"Iwillattackthem,iftheystoodontheZobtenberg,iftheystoodonthesteeplesofBreslau!\"saidFriedrich;andtrampeddiligentlyforward。Dayafterday,astherealtidingsarrive,hisoutlookinSilesiaisbecomingdarkeranddarker:asternlydarkmarchthisaltogether。

  PrinceKarlhasthrownagarrisonintoLiegnitzonFriedrich’sroad;PrinceKarlliesencampedwithBreslauathisback;hasabove80,000whenfullygathered;andreignssupremeinthoseparts。

  Darkermarchthereseldomwas:allblacksavealightthatburnsinoneheart,refusingtobequenchedtilldeath。

  FriedrichsendsordersthatKyaushallbeputinarrest;

  thatZiethenshallbegeneraloftheBevernwreck,shallbringitroundbyGlogau,andrendezvouswithFriedrichataplaceandday,——Parchwitz,2dofDecembercoming;——andbesteady,myoldZiethen。

  FriedrichbrushespasttheLiegnitzGarrison,leavesLiegnitzanditatrifletotheright;arrivesatParchwitzNovember28th;andthererests,oratleasthiswearytroopsdo,tillZiethencomeup;

  theKingnotveryrestful,withsomanythingstoprearrange;

  alifeordeathcrisisnownigh。Well,itisbutdeath;anddeathhasbeenfrontedbeforenow!Wewhoareaftertheevent,onthesafesunnysideofit,canformsmallimageofthehorrorsandtheinwarddubietiestohimwhoispassingthroughit;——andhowHopeisneededtoshineheroicallyeternalinsomehearts。FireofHope,thatdoesnotissueinmereblazings,madaudacitiesandchaoticdespair,butadvanceswithitseyesopen,measuredly,countingitssteps,tothewrestling—place,——thisisagodlikething;

  muchavailabletomankindinallthebattlestheyhave;

  battleswithsteel,orofwhateversort。

  Friedrich,atParchwitz,assembledhisCaptains,andspoketothem;

  itwasthenightafterZiethencamein,nightofDecember3d,1757;

  andZiethen,nodoubt,wasthere:foritisanauthenticmeeting,thisatParchwitz,andthewordsweretakendown。

  FRIEDRICH’SSPEECHTOHISGENERALS(Parchwitz,3dDecember,1757)。

  [FromRETZOW,i。240—242(slightlyabridged)。]

  \"Itisnotunknowntoyou,MEINEHERREN,whatdisastershavebefallenhere,whilewewerebusywiththeFrenchandReichsArmy。

  Schweidnitzisgone;DukeofBevernbeaten;Breslaugone,andallourwar—storesthere;goodpartofSilesiagone:and,infact,myembarrassmentswouldbeattheinsuperablepitch,hadnotI

  boundlesstrustinyou,andyourqualities,whichhavebeensooftenmanifested,assoldiersandsonsofyourCountry。Hardlyoneamongyoubuthasdistinguishedhimselfbysomenoblymemorableaction:alltheseservicestotheStateandmeIknowwell,andwillneverforget。

  \"Iflattermyself,therefore,thatinthiscasetoonothingwillbewantingwhichtheStatehasarighttoexpectofyourvalor。

  Thehourisathand。IshouldthinkIhaddonenothing,ifIlefttheAustriansinpossessionofSilesia。Letmeappriseyou,then:

  Iintend,inspiteoftheRulesofArt,toattackPrinceKarl’sArmy,whichisnearlythriceourstrength,whereverIfindit。

  Thequestionisnotofhisnumbers,orthestrengthofhisposition:allthis,bycourage,bytheskillofourmethods,wewilltrytomakegood。ThisstepImustrisk,oreverythingislost。Wemustbeattheenemy,orperishallofusbeforehisbatteries。SoIreadthecase;soIwillactinit。

  \"MakethismydeterminationknowntoallOfficersoftheArmy;

  preparethemenforwhatworkisnowtoensue,andsaythatIholdmyselfentitledtodemandexactfulfilmentoforders。Foryou,whenIreflectthatyouarePrussians,canIthinkthatyouwillactunworthily?Butifthereshouldbeoneoranotherwhodreadstosharealldangerswithme,he,\"——continuedhisMajesty,withaninterrogativelook,andthenpausingforanswer,——\"canhavehisDischargethisevening,andshallnotsuffertheleastreproachfromme。\"——Modeststrongbassmurmur;meaning\"No,bytheEternal!\"

  ifyoulookedintotheeyesandfacesofthegroup。NeverwillRetzowJuniorforgetthatscene,andhoweffulgentlyeloquenttheveteranphysiognomieswere。

  \"Hah,Iknewit,\"saidtheKing,withhismostradiantsmile,\"noneofyouwoulddesertme!Idependonyourhelp,then;andonvictoryassure。\"——Thespeechwindsupwithaspecificpassage:

  \"TheCavalryregimentthatdoesnotontheinstant,onordergiven,dashfullplungeintotheenemy,Iwill,directlyaftertheBattle,unhorse,andmakeitaGarrisonregiment。TheInfantrybattalionwhich,meetwithwhatitmay,showstheleastsignofhesitating,losesitscolorsanditssabres,andIcutthetrimmingsfromitsuniform!Nowgood—night,Gentlemen:shortlywehaveeitherbeatentheEnemy,orweneverseeoneanotheragain。\"

  AnexcellenttemperinthisArmy;aroughveinofheroisminit,steadytothedeath;——andplentyofhopeinittoo,hopeinVaterFritz。\"Nevermind,\"thesoldiersusedtosay,inJohnDukeofMarlborough’stime,\"CorporalJohnwillgetusthroughit!\"——ThatsameeveningFriedrichrodeintotheCamp,wheretheregimentshehadwerenowallgathered,outoftheircantonments,tomarchonthemorrow。FirstregimenthecameuponwastheLife—GuardCuirassiers:themen,intheiraccustomedway,gavehimgood—

  evening,whichhecheerilyreturned。Someofthemoreveteransortasked,ruggedlyconfidential,aswellasloyal:\"Whatisthynews,then,solate?\"\"Goodnews,children(KINDER):to—morrowyouwillbeattheAustrianstightly!\"\"Thatwewill,by——!\"answeredthey。——

  \"Butthinkonlywheretheystandyonder,andhowtheyhaveintrenchedthemselves?\"saidFriedrich。\"AndiftheyhadtheDevilinfrontandallroundthem,wewillknockthemout;onlythouleaduson!\"——\"Well,Iwillseewhatyoucando:nowlayyoudown,andsleepsound;andgoodsleeptoyou!\"\"Good—night,Fritz!\"answerall;[Muller,p。21(fromKaltenhorn,ofwhomINFRA);Preuss,&c。

  &c。]asFritzamblesontothenextregiment,towhich,astoeveryone,hewillhavesomeword。

  WasitthefamousPommernregiment,thisthathenextspoketo,——

  whoansweredLoudon’ssummonstothemonce(asshallbenoticedbyandby)inawayineffable,thoughunforgettable?ManteuffelofFoot;yes,noother![Archenholtz,ii。61;andKutzen,p。35。]

  Theyhavetheirownopinionoftheircapacitiesagainstanenemy,anddonotwantforagoodconceitofthemselves。\"Well,children,howthinkyouitwillbeto—morrow?Theyaretwiceasstrongaswe。\"\"Neverthoumindthat;therearenoPommernersamongthem;

  thouknowestwhatthePommernerscando!\"——FRIEDRICH:\"Yea,truly,thatdoI;otherwiseIdurstnotriskthebattle。Nowgoodsleeptoyou!to—morrow,then,weshalleitherhavebeatentheEnemyorelsebealldead。\"\"Yea,\"answeredthewholeregiment;\"dead,orelsetheEnemybeaten:\"andsowenttodeepsleep,prefacetoadeeperformanyofthem,——asbeseemsbravemen。Inthisworlditmuchbeseemsthebraveman,uncertainaboutsomanythings,tobecertainofhimselfforonething。

  ThesesnatchesofCampDialogue,muchmoretheSpeechpreservedtousbyRetzowJunior,appeartobetrue;thoughastothedates,thecircumstances,therehasbeendebating。[Kutzen,pp。175—181。]

  OtherAnecdotes,dubiousormore,stillfloataboutinquantity;——

  ofwhichletusgiveonlyone;thatoftheDeserter(whichhasmeritasamyth)。\"Whatmadetheedesert,then?\"\"Hm,alas,yourMajesty,weweregotsodownintheworld,andhadsuchatimeofit!\"——\"Well,tryitonedaymore;andifwecannotmendmatters,thouandIwillbothdesert。\"

  AlearnedDoctor,oneofthemostrecentonthesematters,isastonishedwhytheHistoriesofFriedrichshouldbesuchdrearyreading,andFriedrichhimselfsoprosaic,barrenanobject;

  andlaystheblameupontheAge,insensibletorealgreatness;

  ledawaybyclap—trapNapoleonisms,regardlessofexpense。

  UponwhichSmelfungustakeshimup,withatwitch:——

  \"Tomysadmind,HerrDoctor,itseemsascribablerathertotheDryasdustoftheseAges,especiallytothePrussianDryasdust,sittingcomfortableinhisAcademies,wavingsublimelyhislongearsashetrampleshumanHeroismsintounintelligiblepipe—clayanddrearycontinentsofsandandcinders,withtheDoctorsallapplauding。

  \"HadthesacredPoet,ormanofrealHumanGenius,beenathiswork,forthethousandyearslastpast,insteadofidlyfiddlingfarawayfromhiswork,——whichsurelyisdefinableasbeingverymainly,ThatofINTERPRETINGhumanHeroisms;ofpainfullyextricating,andextortingfromthecircumambientchaosofmuddybabble,rumorandmendacity,somenotinconceivablehumananddivineImageofthem,moreandmoreclear,completeandcredibleformankind(poormankinddumblylookinguptohimforguidance,astowhatitshallthinkofGodandofMeninthisSceneofThings),——Icalculate,weshouldbythistimehavehadadifferentFriedrichofit;OHeavens,adifferentworldofit,insomanyrespects!

  \"MyesteemedHerrDoctor,itistoopainfulasubject。

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