第95章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"History of Friedrich II of Prussia",免费读到尾

  Itsmarchingsandsiegings,amongthoseNorthwesternplaces,notoneofthemcapableofstandingaboveafewdays’siege,areworthnomention,excepttoParishHistory:enoughthat,bylittleafterthemiddleofAugust,Zweibruckhadgotalltheseplaces,\"Free—

  withdrawal\"thetermsforall;andthat,exceptitbethefollowingfeatureintheirSiegeofTorgau,featuremainlyBiographic,andbelongingtoacertainColonelWolfersdorfconcerned,thereisnotoneofthoseSiegesnowworthamoment’sattentionfromalmostanymortal。ThisistheTorgaufeature,——featureofhumannature,soldieringunderdifficulties:——

  COLONELVONWOLFERSDORFBEAUTIFULLYDEFENDSHIMSELFINTORGAU

  (August9th—14th)。TwodaysafterLeipzigwashad,thereappearedatTorgauaBodyofPandours,2,000andmore;whoattemptedsomekindofscaladeonTorgauanditssmallGarrison(of700orso),——

  whereareaMagazine,aHospitalandotherproperties:notcapable,byanygarrison,ofstandingregularsiege;butimportanttodefendtillyouhavepropertermsoffered。ThemultitudinousPandours,ifIremember,madearushintotheSuburbs,intheirusualvociferousway;butweremetbythe700silentPrussians,——silentexceptthroughtheirfire—armsandfield—pieces,——insoeloquentastyleassoonconvincedthePandourmind,andsentittravellingagain。

  Andintheeveningofthesameday(August9th),ColonelWolfersdorfarrives,asnewCommandant,andwithreinforcements,smallthoughconsiderableinthecircumstances。

  Wolfersdorf,onedimlygathers,hadmarchedfromWittenbergonthiserrand;thewholeforceinTorgauisnowofabout3,000,stillwithonlyfield—cannon,butwithaCaptainoverthem;——who,asisevident,setshimselfinaveryearnestmannertodohisutmostindefenceoftheplace。NextmorningReichsGeneralKleefeld(\"Cloverfield\"),with6or8,000PandourandRegular,summonsWolfersdorf:\"Surrenderinstantly;or——!\"\"Wewillexpectyou!\"

  answersWolfersdorf。Whereupon,samemorning(August10th),generalstorm;stormNo。1:beautifullyhandledbyWolfersdorf;whotakesitinrear(toitsastonishment),aswellasinfront;andsendsitoffinhaste。Onthemorrow,Saturday,asecondfollowed;andonSundayathird;bothlikewisebeautifullyhandled。Thisthirdstorm,readerssee,was\"Sunday,August12th:\"averybusystormfuldayatTorgauhere,——andalso,forsomeothersofus,duringtheheatsofKunersdorf,overthehorizonfaraway!Wolfersdorftumblesbackallstorms;furthermoremakesmischievoussallies:

  adestructive,skilledperson;altogetherprompt,fertileinexpedients;andevidentlyisnottobemanagedbyKleefeld。SothatPrincevonStolberg,SecondtosupremeZweibruckhimself,hastotakeitinhand。And,MONDAY,13th,atbreakofday,Stolbergarriveswithatrainofbatteringgunsand6,000newpeople;summonsWolfersdorf:\"No,\"asbefore。Stormshim,afourthtime;likewise\"No,\"asbefore:

  attacks,thereupon,hisElbeBridge,andhisRedoubtacrosstheRiver;findsaWolfersdorfpartyrushdestructive]yintohisrearthere。Andhastowithdraw,andtrybatteringfrombehindtheElbeDam。Continuesthis,violentlyforabouttwohours;tillagainWolfersdorf,whosepoorfieldpieces,theonlyartilleryhehas,\"cannotreachsofarwithleadenballs\"(theironballsaredone,andthepowderitselfisalmostdone),manages,byaflankattack,toquenchthisalso。Whichproducesentiresilence,andconsiderableprivatereflection,onthepartofindignantStolberg。

  Stolbergoffershimthefavorablesttermsdevisable:\"Withdrawfreely,withallyourhonors,allyourproperties;onlywithdraw!\"

  WhichWolfersdorf,hispowderandballbeinginsuchastateofebb,andnoreliefpossible,agreesto;withstipulationsverystrictastoeveryparticular。[InAnonymousofHamburg(iii。350)theCapitulation,\"August14th。\"givenINEXTENSO。]

  COLONELVONWOLFERSDORFWITHDRAWS,ALSOBEAUTIFULLY(August15th)。

  Accordingly,Wednesday,August15th,ateightinthemorning,WolfersdorfbytheElbeGatemovesout;acrossElbeBridge,andtheRedoubtwhichisonthefarthershoreyonder。NearthisRedoubt,StolbergandmanyofhisGeneralOfficersarewaitingtoseehimgo。Hegoesinstate;flagsflying,musicplaying。BattalionHessen—Cassel,followedbyallourPackages,Hospitalconvalescents,King’sArtillery,andwhateveristheKing’sorours,marchesfirst。Nextcomes,asrear—guardtoallthis,BattalionGrollmann;——alongwithwhichisWolfersdorfhimself,knowingGrollmannforaticklisharticle(Saxonsmainly);

  followedontheheelbyBattalionHofmann,andlastlybyBattalionSalmuth,trustyPrussiansbothofthese。

  BattalionHessen—CasselandtheBaggagesarethroughtheRedoubt,PrinceofStolberghandsomelysalutingassaluted。Butnow,onBattalionGrollmann’scomingup,Stolberg’sAdjutantcriesoutwithaloudvoiceofproclamation,manyOfficersrepeatingandenforcing:\"WhoeverisabraveSaxon,whoeveristruetohisKaiser,orwasoftheReichsArmy,lethimstepout:

  Durchlauchtwillgivehimprotection!\"AtsoundofwhichGrollmannquiversasifstruckbyelectricity;andinstantlybeginsdissolving;——dissolves,ineffect,nearlyall,andisintheactofvanishinglikeadream!Wolfersdorfisapromptman;andneedstobeso。Wolfersdorf,inOlympianrage,instantlystopsshort;

  drawspistol:\"Iwillshootdeadeverymanthatquitsrank!\"

  vociferateshe;anddoes,withhispistol,makeinstantexampleofone;invitingeverytruePrussiantodothelike:\"Jagers,Hussars,aducatforeverytraitoryoushootdown!\"continuesWolfersdorf(andpunctuallypaiditafterwards):unabletopreventanalmosttotaldissolutionofGrollmann。Forsomeminutes,thereisasceneindescribable:stormofvociferation,menace,musket—shot,pistol—

  shot;Grollmanndisappearingoneveryside,——\"behindtheRedoubt,undertheBridge,intoElbeBoats,underthecloaksoftheCroats;\"

  ——inspiteofWolfersdorf’sOlympianragesandefforts。

  Atsightoftheshooting,PrinceStolberg,ahotman,hadsaidindignantly,\"Herr,thatwillbedangerousforyou(DASWIRDNICHT

  GUTGEHN)!\"Wolfersdorfnotregardinghimawhit;regardingonlyGrollmann,andhisownhotbusinessofcoercingitataducatperhead。Grollmanngone,andBattalionHofmanninduesequencecomeup,Wolfersdorf——whohassentanAdjutant,withorder,\"Hessen—

  Cassel,HALT\"——givesBattalionHofmannthesethreewordsofcommand:\"WholeBattalion,halt!——Front!——Makeready!\"(withduesimultaneousclickofeveryfirelock,onutteranceofthatlast);——

  andturningtoPrinceStolberg,withabrow,withatoneofvoice:

  \"Durchlaucht,Article9oftheCapitulationisexpressonthispoint;’ALLDESERTIONSTRICTLYPROHIBITED;NODESERTERTOBE

  RECEIVEDEITHERONTHEIMPERIALORONTHEPRUSSIANSIDE!’

  [Durchlauchtsilentlygives,wesuppose,somefaintsniff。]

  SinceyourDurchlauchtdoesnotkeeptheCapitulation,neitherwillIregarditfarther。IwillnowtakeyouandyourSuiteprisoners,returnintotheTown,andagainbegindefendingmyself。BesogoodasridedirectlyintothatRedoubt,orIwillpresent,andgivefire!\"

  AdangerousmomentfortheDurchlauchtofStolberg;

  BattalionSalmuthactuallytakingpossessionofthewallagain;

  Hofmannherewithitspoisedfirelockonthecock,\"ready\"forthatfourthword,asaboveindicated。AGeneralLusinskyofStolberg’strain,masterofthoseCroats,andanAustrianoffigure,remarksveryseriously:\"EverypointoftheCapitulationmustbekept!\"

  UponwhichDurchlauchthastorenounceandrepent;eagerlyassistsinrecoveringGrollmann,restoresit(littletheworse,littletheFEWER);willgiveWolfersdorf\"COMMANDoftheAustrianEscortyouaretohave\",andeverysatisfactionandassurance;——wishfulonlytogetridofWolfersdorf。WhothereuponmarchestoWittenberg,withcolorsflyingagain,andanamementionableeversince。

  [Templehof,iii。201—204;Seyfarth,ii。562n。,and

  Beylagen,ii。587;Militair—Lexikon,iv。283。]

  ThisWolfersdorfwashimselfaPirnaSaxon;servingPolishMajesty,asMajor,inthatPirnatime;perhapsnoadmirerof\"FeldmarschallBruhl\"andCompany?——atanyrate,hetookPrussianservice,asthenofferedhim;andthisishisstyleofkeepingit。Adecidedlycleversoldier,andcomesout,henceforth,moreandmoreassuch,——

  unhappilynotforlong。WastakenatMaxen,hetoo,aswillbeseen。Rose,inaftertimes,tobeLieutenant—General,andamanfamousinthePrussianmilitarycircles;butgivenalways,theysay,totakethestraightline(orshortestdistancebetweenselfandobject),inregardtomilitarymatters,torecruitingandthelike,andthusgettinghimselfintotroublewiththeCivilOfficials。

  Wolfersdorf,atWittenbergorfartheron,hadaflatteringwordfromtheKing;applaudinghiseffectiveproceduresatTorgau;

  andorderinghim,shouldWittenbergfall(asitdid,August23d),tojoinWunsch,whoiscomingwithasmallPartytotryandhelpinthosedestitutelocalities。WunschtheKinghaddetached(21stAugust),asweheardalready。FincktheKingfinds,farther,thathecandetach(fromWaldauCountry,September7th);[Tempelhof,iii。211,237。]Russiansbeingsolanguid,andSaxonyfallenintosuchaperilouspredicament。

  \"FewdaysafterKunersdorf,\"saysaNote,whichshouldbeinsertedhere,\"therehadfallenoutasmallNavalmatter,whichwillbeconsolatorytoFriedrich,andgototheothersideoftheaccount,whenhehearsofit:KunersdorfwasSunday,August12th;thiswasSaturdayandSundayfollowing。BesidestheirGrandBrestFleet,withnewFlat—bottoms,andworld—famousland—preparationsgoingonatVannes,forInvasionofproudAlbion,allwhichareatpresentunderHawke’sstrictkeeping,theFrenchhave,eversinceSpringlast,afinesubsidiaryFleetatToulon,ofveryexultanthopesatonetime;whichnowcometofinis。

  \"SEA—FIGHT(PROPERLYSEA—HUNTOF200MILES),INTHECADIZWATERS,AUGUST18th—19th。ThefineToulonFleet,whichexpectedatonetime,Pitt’sshipsbeingsoscatteredovertheworld,tobe’mistressoftheMediterranean,’hasfounditself,onthecontrary(suchwerePitt’sresourcesandpromptitudes);coopedinharborallSummer;Boscawenwatchingitintheusualstrictway。Noegresspossible;till,inthesultryweather(8thJuly—4thAugust),Boscawen’sneedoffreshprovisions,freshwaterandofmakingsomerepairs,tookhimtoGibraltar,andgavetheToulonFleetatransientopportunity,whichitmadeuseof。

  \"August17th,at8intheevening,Boscawen,atGibraltar(someofhisshipsstillindeshabilleorunderrepair),washastilyapprisedbyoneofhisFrigates,ThattheToulonFleethadsailed;

  beenseenvisiblyatCeutaPointsomanyhoursago。’Meaning,’asBoscawenguesses,’tobethroughtheStraitsthisverynight!’

  Bypowerofdespatch,thedeshabilleshipswererapidlygotbuttonedtogether(inabouttwohours);andby10P。M。allwereundersail。Andsoonwereinhotchase;thegame,beingnowinview,——goingatitsutmostthroughtheStraits,asanticipated。

  At7nextmorning(Saturday,August18th)BoscawengotclutchoftheToulonFleet;stillwelleastofCadiz,somewhereintheTrafalgarwaters,Ishouldguess。HereBoscawenfoughtandchasedtheToulonFleetfor24hourscoming;droveitfinallyashore,atLagosonthecoastofPortugal,withfiveofitsbigshipsburntortaken,itscrewsandothershipsflyingbylandandwater,itspoorAdmiralmortallywounded;andtheToulonFleetaruinedarticle。

  Thewindhadbeencapricious,herefresh,therecalm;nowfavoringthehunters,nowthehunted;bothFleetshaddroppedintwo。DelaClue,theFrenchAdmiral,complainedbitterlyhowhisCaptainslagged,orshoreoffandforsookhim。Boscawenhimself,whoforhisownsharehadgoneatiteagle—like,washeardgrumbling,aboutwantofspeedinsomepeople;andsaid:’Itiswell;butitmighthavebeenbetter!’[Beatson,ii。313—319;ib。iii。237—238,DelaClue,theFrenchAdmiral’sDespatch;——Boscawen’sDespatch,&c。,inGentleman’sMagazine,xxix。434。]

  \"DelaClue——fallenlongagofromallnotionsof’dominatingtheMediterranean’——hadmodestlyintendedtogetthrough,onanyterms,intotheOcean;mightthen,ifpossible,havejoinedtheGrand’InvasionSquadron,’nowlyingatBrest,tillVannesandthefurnishingsareready,orhavetriedtobetroublesomeintherearofHawke,whoisblockadingallthat。Amodestoutlookincomparison;——andthisiswhatitalsohascometo。AsfortheGrandInvasionSquadron,AdmiralConflans,commandingit,stillholdsnphisheadinBrestHarbor,andtalksbig。MakeslittleofRodney’shavocontheFlat—bottomsatHavre,’WillsoonhaveFlat—bottomsagain:andyoushallsee!’——ifonlyHawke,andwindandweatherandFortune,willpermit。\"

  AUSTRIANREICHSARMYDOESITSCROWNINGFEAT

  (August26th—September4th):DIARYOFWHATIS

  CALLEDTHE\"SIEGE\"OFDRESDEN。

  Sincethefirstweeksof,AugusttherehavebeenAustriandetachments,Wehla’sCorps,Brentano’sCorps,enteringSaxonyfromthenortheastorDaun—wardside,andpostingthemselvesinthestrongpointslookingtowardsDresden;waitingtheretilltheReichsArmyshouldcaptureitsLeipzigs,Torgaus,Wittenbergs,androllforwardfromnorthwest。ToallwhichitiseasytofancywhatanimpetuswasgivenbyKunersdorfandAugust12th;thebusiness,afterthat,goingondouble—quick,andpointingtoimmediatepracticalindustryonDresden。TheReichsArmyhastenstosettleitsnorthwesternTowns,putsduegarrisonineach,leavesa10or12,000movableforgeneralprotection,inthoseparts;and,August23d,marchesforDresden。Thereareonlysome15,000leftofitnow;almosthalftheReichsArmydrunkupinthatmanner;werenotDaunnowspeedingforthhisMaguirewithafresh12,000;whoistocommandtheWehlasandBrentanosaswell。And,ineffect,tobeAustrianChief,andasregardspracticalmatters,ManagerofthisimportantEnterprise,——all—importanttoDaunjustnow。SchmettauinDresdenseesclearlywhatmischiefisathand。

  ToDaunthisSiegeofDresdenisthealphatowhateveromegastheremaybe:heandhisSoltikofaretositwaitingthis;andcanattemptnothingbuteatingofprovender,tillthisbeachieved。

  AstheSiegewasreallyimportant,thoughnotquitethealphatoallomegas,andhasinitcuriouspointsaudphysiognomictraits,wewillinvitereaderstosometransientinspectionofit,——theratherasthereexistamplecontemporaryNarratives,DIARIUMSandauthenticrecords,torenderthatpossibleandeasy。[InTEMPELHOF

  (iii。210—216—222)completeandcarefulNarrative;inANONYMOUSOF

  HAMBURG(iii。371—377)express\"DAY—BOOK\"bysomeEye—witnessinDresden。]’

  \"EversincetherumorofKunersdorf,\"saysoneDiarium,compiledoutofmany,\"inthelasttwoweeksofAugust,Schmettau’sneedofvigilanceanddiligencehasbeenontheincrease,hisoutlooksbecominggrimmerandgrimmer。HehasapoorishGarrisonfornumber(3,700inall[Schmettau’sLEBEN(byhisSon),p。408。]),andnotofthebestquality;desertersagoodfewofthem:willingenoughforstrokes;fightingfellowsall,andofadventurousturn,butuncertainastoloyaltyinacaseofpinch。Hehasendlessstoresintheplace;foroneitem,almostamillionsterlingofreadymoney。PoorSchmettau,ifheknewit,hassuddenlybecometheLeonidasofthiscampaign,DresdenitsThermopylae;and\"——Butreaderscanconceivethesituation。

  \"AUGUST20th,SchmettauquitstheNeustadt,ornorthernpartofDresden,whichliesbeyondtheRiver:unimportantthat,andindefensiblewithgarrisonnotadequate;SchmettauwillstrengthentheRiver—bank,blowuptheStoneBridgeifnecessary,andrestricthimselftoDresdenProper。TheCourtishere;SchmettaudoesnothopethattheCourtcanavertaSiegefromhim;buthefailsnottotry,inthatwaytoo,andmayatleastgaintime。

  \"AUGUST25th,HehasaMineputunderthemainarchoftheBridge:

  ’mineill—made,uncertainofeffect,’reportstheOfficerwhomhesenttoinspectit。Butitwasnevertried,themererumorofitkeptoffattacksonthatside。Sameday,August25th,SchmettaureceivesthatunfortunateRoyalMissive[Tempelhof,iii。208;

  Schmettau’sLEBEN(p。421)has\"August27th。\"]writteninthedarkdaysofReitwein,morrowofKunersdorf(14thor13thAugust),\"

  whichwereadabove。\"ThatthereisanotherLetterontheroadforhim,indicating’Reliefshallbetried,’isunknowntoSchmettau,andfatallycontinuesunknown。WhileSchmettauisreadingthis(August25th),GeneralWunschhasbeenontheroadfourdays:

  WunschandWolfersdorfwithabout8,000,attheirquickestpace,andinafinewingedframeofmindwithal,arespeedingon:

  willcrossElbeatMeissento—morrownight,——didSchmettauonlyknow。Peoplesayhedid,inthewayofrumor,understandthatKunersdorfhadnotbeenthefatalthingitwasthought;andthateffortswouldbemadebyaKinglikehis。Inhisplaceonemighthave,atleast,shotoutaspyortwo?Buthedidnot,thenorafterwards。

  \"Already,eversincethearrivalofWehlaandBrentanointhoseparts,hehasbeenlaboringundermanyuncertainties;toomanyforaLeonidas!HangingbetweenYesandNo,evenaboutthatofquittingtheNeustadt,forexample:carryingoverportionsofhisgoods,butneverheartilythewhole;unabletoresolve;nowliftingvisiblytheBridgepavement,thenagainvisiblyrestoringit;——and,I

  think,thoughthecontraryisasserted,hehadatlasttoleaveintheNeustadtagreatdealofstores,horse—provenderandother,notneedfultohimatpresent,orimpossibletocarry,whendubietygotended。HehasputamineundertheBridge;butknowsitwillnotgooff。

  \"Schmettauhasbeeninmanywars,butthisisacasethattrieshissoldierqualitiesasnoneotherhaseverdone。Acaseofendlessintricacy,——ifhebequiteequaltoit;whichperhapshewasnotaltogether。NobodyeverdoubtedSchmettau’shighqualitiesasamanandcaptain;butherearerequisitetheveryhighest,andtheseSchmettauhasnot。Theresultwasverytragical;Isuppose,apaintoFriedrichallhislifeafter;andcertainlytoSchmettauallhis。ThisisSaturdaynight,25thAugust:beforeTuesdayweek(September4th)therewillhavesadthingsarrived,irremediabletoSchmettau。HadSchmettaudecidedtodefendhimself,Dresdenhadnotbeentaken。WhatapitySchmettauhadnotbeensparedthisMissive,calculatedtoproducemeredoubt!Whetherhecouldnot,andshouldnot,afteratendaysofinquiryandnewdiscernment,havebeenabletoreadtheKing’struemeaning,aswellastheKing’smomentaryhumor,inthisfatalDocument,thereisnodeciding。

  Sureenough,hedidnotreadtheKing’struemeaninginit,butonlytheKing’smomentaryhumor;didnotfranklysetaboutdefendinghimselftothedeath,——or’seeing’inthatway’whetherhecouldnotdefendhimself,’——withagoodcapitulationlyingintherear,afterhehad。

  \"SUNDAY,AUGUST26th,Trumpetatthegates。MessengerfromZweibruckisintroducedblindfold;bringsformalSummonstoSchmettau。Summonsdulytruculent:’Resistancevain;themoreyouresist,theworseitwillbe,——andthereisaworst[thatofbeingdeliveredtotheCroats,andmassacredeveryman],ofwhichwhyshouldIspeak?EspeciallyifinanythingyoufailofyourdutytotheKur—Prinz[ElectoralPrinceandHeir—Apparent,poorcrook—

  backedyoungGentleman,whohasanexcellentsprightlyWife,afriendofFriedrich’sanddaughterofthelateKaiserKarlVII。,whomweusedsobeautifully],imaginewhatyourfatewillbe!’——TowhichSchmettauanswers:’CanDurchlauchtthinkusignorantofthecommonrulesofbehaviortoPersonsofthatRank?Fortherest,Durchlauchtknowswhatourdutieshereare,andwoulddespiseusifwedidNOTdothem;’——and,inshort,ouransweragainis,inpoliteforms,’Pooh,pooh;youmaygoyourway!’UponwhichtheMessengerisblindfoldedagain;andSchmettausetshimselfinhotearnesttoclearingouthisgoodsfromtheNeustadt;buildingwithhugeintertwistedcross—beamsandstoneandearth—massesaBatteryathisownendoftheBridge,batteriesoneachsideofit,belowandabove;——lockstheGates;andispassionatelybusyallSunday,——

  thoughdivineservicegoesonasusual。

  \"HardlywerethePrussiangunsgotaway,whenCroatpeopleinquantitycamein,andbeganbuildingaBatteryattheirendoftheBridge,themaindefence—workbeingoldPrussianmeal—barrels,handilyfilledwithearth。’Ifyoufireonecannon—ballacrossonus,’saidSchmettau,’IwillbombardtheNeustadtintoflameinfewminutes[IhaveonlytoaimatourHayMagazineyonder]:bewarned!

  ’Nordidtheyoncefirefromthatside;ElectoralHighnesswithalandRoyalPalacebeingquitecontiguousbehindthePrussianBridge—

  Battery。ElectoralHighnessandHouseholdarepolitelytreated,makepoliteanswertoeverything;intendgoingdownintothe’APOTHEKE’(Kitchensuite),orvaultedpartofthePalace,andwilllodgetherewhenthecannonadebegins。

  \"ThissameSUNDAY,AUGUST26th,Maguirearrived;andsetinstantlytobuildinghisbridgeatPillnitz,alittlewayaboveDresden:

  atUebigau,alittlebelowDresden,theReichsfolkhaveanother。

  Reichsfolk,Zweibruckinperson,comeallinonWednesday;

  postthemselvesthere,tonorthandwestoftheCity。Whatismoreimportant,thesiege—guns,asuperbstock,aresteadilyfloating,throughthePirnaregions,hitherward;gettohandonFridaynext,thefifthdayhence。[Tempelhof,p。210。]Korbitz(half—wayouttoKesselsdorf)isDurchlaucht’shead—quarter:——ChiefGeneralisDurchlaucht,conspicuouslyhe,atleastintheory,andshallhavealltheglory;thoughMaguire,glancingonthesecannon,wereitnothingmore,hasprobablyagooddealtosay。Maguiretoo,I

  observe,takespostonthatnorthorKesselsdorfside;

  contiguousfortheHeadGeneral。WehlaandBrentanopostthemselvesonthesouthorup—streamside;itistheythathandinthesiege—

  guns:batteriesarealreadyeverywheremarkedout,13cannon—

  batteriesand5howitzer。Inshort,fromthemorrowofthattruculentSummons,MondaymorningtoThursday,thereishotstirofmultifariouspreparationonSchmettau’spart;andcontinualpouringinofthehostileforce,whoarealsopreparingattheutmost。

  Thursday,theSiege,ifitcanbecalledaSiege,begins。

  Gradually,andasfollows:——

  \"THURSDAYMORNING(August30th),Schmettau,whois,nightandday,’palisadingtheRiver,’andmuchelse,——discloses(thatis,BreakofDaydisclosesonhispart)totheDresdenpublicahugeGallows,black,huge,ofimpressiveaspect;labelled’ForPlunderers,MutineersandtheirHelpers。’[ANONYMOUSOFHAMBURG,iii。373。]

  TheAustrianheavygunsarenotyetinbattery;butmultitudesoflooseCroatpeoplegoswarmingabouteverywhere,andthereisplentifulfiringfromsuchartilleriesastheyhave。ThissameThursdaymorning,twoorthreebattalionsofthemrushintothePirnaSuburb;attackthePrussianGuard—partiesthere。

  SchmettauinstantlydespatchesCaptainKollasandaTrumpet:——

  ’Durchlaucht,havethegoodnesstorecalltheseCroatParties;

  otherwisetheSuburbgoesintoflame!AnddirectlyonarrivalofthisMessenger,mayitpleaseDurchlaucht。Forwehavecomputedthetime;andwillnotwaitbeyondwhatisreasonableforhisreturn!’

  Zweibruckismereindignationandastonishment;’willburnHalle,’

  burnQuedlinburg,Berlinitself,andutterlyruintheKingofPrussia’sDominioningeneral:——therejoindertowhichis,burningofPirnaSuburb,aspredicted;seventyhousesofit,thisevening,atsixo’clock。

  \"Onwardfromwhichtimethereisonbothsides,especiallyonSchmettau’s,diligentartillerypractice;cannonadekeptupwhereverSchmettaucanseetheenemybusy;enemyrespondingwithwhatartilleryhehas:——notmuchdamagedone,Ishouldthink,thoughagreatdealofnoise;andforoneday(Saturday,September1st),ourDiaristnotes,’Notsafetowalkthestreetsthisday。’

  But,ineffect,theSiege,astheycallit,——whichfelldeadonthefifthday,andwasneverwellalive——consistsmainlyofmenaceandcounter—menace,inthewayofbargain—makingandnegotiation;——and,sofarasIcangather,thatsuperbParkofAustrianArtillery,thoughbuiltintobatteries,andtalkedaboutinabullyingmanner,wasnotfiredfromatall。

  \"Schmettauaffectstowardstheenemy(andtowardshimself,Idaresay)anairofironfirmness;butinternallyhasnosuchfeeling,——

  ’CallsaCouncilofWar,’andthelike。CouncilofWar,onsightofthatKing’sMissive,confirmshimwithonevoice:’Surely,surely,Excellenz;nodefencepossible!’Whichisaprophecyandafulfilment,bothinone。WhySchmettaudidnotshootforthaspyortwo,toascertainforhimWhat,orwhetherNothingwhatever,waspassingoutsideDresden?Ineverunderstand!BeyondhisownWalls,theworldisavacancyandblanktoSchmettau,andheseemscontentitshouldbeso。

  \"SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER2d。ThoughSchmettau’scannonadewasveryloud,andhadbeensoallnight,divineservicewasheldasusual,streetssafeagain,——Austrians,Isuppose,notfiringwithcannon。

  About4P。M。,afteragreatdealofpowderspent,GeneralMaguire,steppingoutonElbeBridge,blowsorbeatsAppeal,threetimes;

  ’wishesamoment’sconversationwithhisExcellency。’Grantedatonce;witnessesattendingonbothsides。’Defenceisimpossible;

  inthenameofhumanity,consider!’urgesMaguire。’Defencetothelastmanofusiscertain,’answersSchmettau,fromtheteethoutwards;——but,intheend,engagestoputonpaper,incasehe,byextremityofill—luck,haveatanytimetoacoeptterms,whathistermswillinflexiblybe。Uponwhichthereis’ArmisticetillTo—morrow:’andMaguire,Idoubtnot,reportsjoyfullyonthisfeelingoftheenemy’spulse。ZweibruckandMaguireareverywellawareofwhatispassingintheseneighborhoods(GeneralWunschbackatWittenbergbyforcedmarches;blewitopeninanhour);

  andaregrowinghighlyanxiousthatDresdenonanytermsweretheirs。

  \"MONDAY,SEPTEMBER3d,Thedeath—dayoftheSiege;anuncommonlybusyday,——thoughArmisticelastedperfecttill3P。M。,andsooncamebackmoreperfectthanever。ASiegenotkilledbycannon,butbymedicalindustry。Letusnotewithbrevitythesuccessivesymptomsandappliances。AboutseveninthemorningMaguirehadhisMessengerinDresden,’YourExcellency’sPaperready?’

  ’Nearlyready,’answersSchmettau;’wewillsenditbyaMessengerofourown。’AndaboutelevenofthedayMaguiredoesgetit;——thesameCaptainKollas(whosenamewerecollect)handingitin;

  andstatue—likewaitingAnswer。’Pshaw,thiswillneverdo,’

  ejaculatesMaguire;’termsirrationallyhigh!’CaptainKollas’knowsnothingofwhatisINthePaper;andischargedonlytobringaWrittenAnswerfromExcellenz。’Excellenz,beforewriting,’willhavetoconsultwithDurchlaucht;’can,however,asifconfidentiallyandfromfeelingsoffriendship,canassureyou,Sir,onmyhonor,ThattheGarrisonwillbedeliveredtotheCroats,andeverymanofitputtothesword。’TheGarrisonwillexpectthat(WIRDDASERWARTEN),’saidKollas,statue—like;

  andwithdrew,withtheproperbow。[Tempelhof,iii。211。]

  SomethinginterestingtousintheseMilitarydiplomaticpassages,withtheirsquare—elbowedfashions,andpolitenessstiffasiron!

  \"NottillthreeoftheafternoondoestheWrittenAnswerreachSchmettau:’SuchTermsnevercouldbeaccepted。’——’Good,’answersSchmettau:’Toourlastbreathnootherswillbeoffered。’

  Andcommencescannonadingagain,notveryviolently,butwiththeorder,’Goon,then,nightandday!’

  \"About10atnight,GeneralGuasco,atruculentkindofman,whomI

  havemetwithupanddown,butnotadmittedtomemory,beatsAppealontheBridge:’InformtheCommandantthattherewillnowstraightway13batteriesofcannon,and5dittoofhowitzersopenonhim,unlesshebethinkshimself!’WhichdreadfulmessageistakentoSchmettau。’Wishthegentlemangood—evening,’ordersSchmettau;’andsaywewillanswerwith100guns。’UponwhichGuascovanishes;——butreturnsinnotmanyminutes,milderintone;

  requests’asightofthatWrittenPaperofTermsagain。’’Thereitstillis,’answersSchmettau,’notaltered,norevershallbe。’

  AndthereisArmisticeagain:——andtheSiege,asturnsout,hasfireditslastshot;andispainfullyexpiringinparoxysmsofnegotiation,whichcontinueagoodmanyhours。Schmettaustrivestounderstandclearlythathisterms(oftheKing’sownsuggesting,asSchmettauflattershimself)areaccepted:nordoesDurchlauchttakeuponhimtorefuseinanypoint;butheisstrangelyslowtosign,stillhopingtomendmatters。

  \"Muchhitheringandthitheringtherewas,till4nextmorning(DurchlauchthasimportantnewsfromTorgau,atthatmoment);

  till11nextday;till4intheafternoonandlater,——Guascoandotherscomingwithmessageaftermessage,hastyandconciliatory:

  (Durchlauchtatsuchadistance,hissignaturenotyetcome;butbepatient;allisright,uponmyhonor!’VerygreathurryevidentonthepartofGuascoandCompany;but,nothingsuspectedbySchmettau。Till,duskordarknessthreateningnowtosupervene,MaguireandSchmettauwithrespectivesuiteshaveaConferenceontheBridge,——’rainfallingveryheavy。’Durchlaucht’ssignature,Maguireisastonishedtosay,hasnotyetcome;hutMaguirepledgeshishonor’thatallshallbekeptwithoutchicane;’andadds’whattosomeofusseemednotsuperfluousafterwards),’Iamincapableofactingfalselyorwithchicane。’Infact,till9intheeveningtherewasnosignaturebyDurchlaucht;butabout6,onsuchpledgebyMaguireofhishandandhishonor,theSiegeentirelygaveuptheghost;andDresdenbelongedtoAustria。TuesdayEvening,4thSeptember,1759;Sunjustsetting,couldanybodyseehimfortherain。

  \"Schmettauhadbeenover—hasty;whatneedhadSchmettauofhaste?

  Thetermshadnotyetgotsignature,perfectionofsettlementoneverypoint;norweretheyatallwellkept,whentheydid!

  Considerableflurry,temporaryblindness,needlesshurry,andneglectofsymptomsandprecautions,mustbeimputedtopoorSchmettau;whosetroublesbeganfromthismoment,andwentonincreasing。TheAustriansarealreadybesettingElbeBridge,rootinguptheherring—bonebalks;andapproachingourBlock—

  house,——soonerthanwasexpected。Butthatisnothing。OnopeningthePirnaGatetoshareitwiththeAustrians,Friedrich’sSpy(soonerhadnotbeenpossibletotheman)waswaiting;whohandedSchmettauthatSecondLetterofFriedrich’s,’Courage;thereisreliefontheroad!’PoorSchmettau!\"

  WhatCaptainKollasandthePrussianGarrisonthoughtofallthis,THEYwereperhapsshyofsaying,andweatsuchdistancearenotinformed,——exceptbyonesymptom:that,ofColonelHoffman,Schmettau’sSecond,whoseindignationdoesbecometragicallyevident。Hoffman,aruggedPrussianveteran,isindignantattheCapitulationitself;doublyandtreblyindignanttofindtheAustriansonElbeBridge,busyraisingourBalksandBattery:

  \"HowisthisSir?\"inquiresheofCaptainSydow,whoisonguardatthePrussianend;\"Howdaredyoumakethischange,withoutacquaintingtheSecondinCommand?Orderoutyourmen,andcomealongwithmetocleartheBridgeagain!\"Sydowhesitates,haggles;

  indignantHoffman,growingloudasthunder,pullsoutapistol,fatal—lookingtodisobedientSydow;whocallstohismen,orwhosemenspringoutuncalled;andshootHoffmandown,——sendtwoballsthroughhim,sothathediedat8thatnight。Withnoiseenough,thenandafterwards。Wasdrunk,saidSchmettau’speople。

  Friedrichanswered,onreportofit:\"IthinkasHoffmandid。Ifhewas’drunk,’itispitytheGovernorandalltheGarrisonhadnotbeenso,tohavecometothesamejudgment,ashe。\"[P。S。inAutographofLettertoSchmettau,\"Waldau,11thSeptember,1759\"

  (Preuss,ii。;Urkundenbuch,p。45)。]

  Friedrich’sunbearablefeelings,ofgriefandindignation,inregardtoallthisDresdenmatter,——whicharenotexpressedexceptcoldlyinbusinessform,——canbefanciedbyallreaders。Oneofthemosttragicalbitsofill—luckthateverbefellhim。Averysorestroke,inhispresentcondition;asignallossandaffront。

  Andmostofall,unbearabletothinkhownarrowlyithasmissedbeingasignaltriumph;——missedactuallybyasinglehair’s—

  breadth,whichisasgoodasbyamile,orbyathousandmiles!

  Soonafter9o’olockthatevening,Durchlauchtinpersoncamerollingthroughourbatteryandtheherring—bonebalks,tovisitElectoralHighness,——whichwasnotquitethelegaltimeeither,DurchlauchthadnotbeenhalfanhourwithElectoralHighness,whenabreathlessCouriercamein:\"GeneralWunschwithintenmiles[tookTorgauinnotime,asDurchlauchtwellknows,foraweekpast];andwillbeherebeforewesleep!\"Durchlauchtplungedout,overtheherring—bonebalksagain(whichmanycarpentersarebusylifting);andtheElectoralHighnesses,inlikemanner,hurryofftoToplitzthatsamenight,aboutanhourafter。WhataTuesdayNight!PoorHoffmanisdeadat8o’clock;theSaxonRoyalties,since11,aregallopingforPirna,forToplitz;DurchlauchtofZweibruckwesawhurryoffanhourbeforethem,——Capitulationsignaturenotyetdry,andtermsofitbeginningtobebroken;

  andWunschreportedtobewithintenmiles!

  TheWunschreportisperfectlycorrect。WunschisatGrossenhaynthisevening;allinafierymoodofswiftness,hispeopleandhe;

  ——andindeeditis,bychance,oneofWolfersdorf’simpetuositiesthathassentthenewssofast。WunschhadbeenasswiftwithTorgauashewaswithWittenberg:heblewoutthepoorReichsGarrisontherebyinstantstorm,andpackeditofftoLeipzig,underchargeof\"anOfficerandTrumpet:\"——hehad,greatlyagainsthiswill,toresttwodaysthereforafewindispensablecannonfromMagdeburg。Cannononcecome,Wunsch,burningfordeliveranceofDresden,hadagainstartedathisswiftest,\"Monday,3dSeptember[deathdayoftheSiege],veryearly。\"

  \"Heisunder8,000;butheisdeterminedtodoit;——andwouldhavedoneit,thinkjudges,halfthinksZweibruckhimself:suchafireinthatWunschandhisCorpsasisverydangerousindeed。At4thismorning,Zweibruckheardofhisbeingonmarch:’numbersuncertain’

  ——(numbersseeminglynottheimportantpoint,——blowsanynumberofusaboutourbusiness!)——andsincethatmomentZweibruckhasdriventhecapitulationatsuchapace;thoughtheflurriedSchmettaususpectednothing。

  \"AfternoonofTUESDAY,4th,Wunsch,approachingGrossenhayn,haddetachedWolfersdorfwith100lighthorserightwardstoGrodel,aboatingVillageonElbeshore,ToseeknewsofDresden;alsotoseeifboatsareprocurableforcarryingourartilleryupthither。

  AtGrodel,Wolfersdorffindsnoboatsthatwillavail:butcertainboat—people,newfromDresden,reportthatnocapitulationhadbeenpublishedwhentheyleft,butthatitwasunderstoodtobegoingon。NewspurtoWolfersdorfandWunsch。WolfersdorfhearsfartherinthisVillage,ThattherearesomethirtyAustrianhorseinGrossenhayn:——’PossiblethesemayescapeGeneralWunsch!’thinksWolfersdorf;anddecidestohavethem。Takesthirtymenofhisown;

  orderstheotherseventytoholdrightward,gatherwhatintelligenceisgoing,andfollowmoreleisurely;andbreaksofffortheGrossenhayn—DresdenHighway,tointerceptthosefellows。

  \"Gettingtothehighway,Wolfersdorfdoesseethefellows;

  seesalso,——withwhatdegreeofhorrorIdonotknow,——thatthereareatleast100ofthemagainsthis30!HorrorwilldonothingforWolfersdorf,norarehisother70nowwithinreach。Puttingaboldfaceonthematter,hecommands,Stentor—like,asifitwereallafact:’Grenadiers,march;Dragoons,torightforwards,WHEEL;

  Hussars,FORWARD:MARCH!’——anddoesterrificallydashforwardwiththethirtyHussars,orlastitemoftheinvoice;leavingtheotherstofollow。TheAustriansdrawbridlewithamazement;fireofftheircarbines;taketotheirheels,anddonotstopformore。

  Wolfersdorfcaptures68ofthem,forbehoofofGrossenhayn;

  andsendstheremaining32gallopinghome。[Tempelhof,iii。214。]

  WhobringtheabovenewstoDurchlauchtofZweibruck:’12,000ofthem,mayitpleaseyourDurchlaucht;suchtheaccountswehad!’——

  FancypoorSchmettau’sfeelings!

  \"OnthemorrowDresdenwasrousedfromitssleepbyloudfiringandbattle,audibleonthenorthsideoftheRiver:’beforedaybreak,andallday。’ItisWunschimpetuouslybusyinthewoodycountriesthere。DurchlauchthadshotoutGeneralsandDivisions,Brentano,Wehla,thisGeneralandthenthat,tointerceptWunsch:thesethefieryWunsch——almostasiftheyhadbeencombustiblematerialcomingtoquenchfire——repelsanddashesback,inawonderfulmanner,GeneralafterGeneralofthem。Andislordofthefieldallday:——butcannotheartheleastwordfromDresden;whichisasurprisingcircumstance。

  \"IntheafternoonWunschsummonsMaguireintheNeustadt:

  ’Willansweryouintwohours,’saidMaguire。WunschthereuponisforattackingtheirtwoPontoonElbe—Bridges;stillresoluteforDresden,——andordersWolfersdorfononeofthem,theUebigauBridge,whofindstheenemyliftingitatanyrate,andmakesthemdoitfaster。Butnightisnowsinking;fromSchmettaunotawordorsign。’Silenceoverthere,allday;notasinglecannontoorfrom,’sayWunschandWolfersdorftooneanother。’Schmettaumusthavecapitulated!’concludethey,andwithdrawinthenight—time,stillthunderousifmolested;bivouacatGrossenhayn,aftertwenty—

  fourhoursofcontinualmarchandbattle,nottimeevenforasnatchoffood。[BERICHTVONDERACTIONDESGENERAL—MAJORSVON

  WUNSCH,BEYREICHENBERG,DEN5SEPEMBER,1759inSeyfarth,

  Beylagen,ii。606—608。]

  \"RestingatGrossenhayn,expressreachesWunschfromhisCommandantatTorgau:’KleefeldiscomeonmefromLeipzigwith14,000;

  Icannotlongholdout,unlessrelieved。’Wunschtakestheroadagain;twomarches,eachoftwentymiles。ReachesTorgaulate;

  takespostintheruinsoftheNorthSuburb,findshemustfightKleefeld。Refresheshismen’withakegofwineperCompany,’

  surelyajudiciousstep;andsendstoWolfersdorf,whohastherear—guard,’Beherewithmeto—morrowat10。’Wolfersdorfstartsat4,ishereat10:andWunsch,havingscannedKleefeldandhisPosition[aPositionstrongIFyouaredexteroustomanoeuvreinit;capableofbeingruinousifyouarenot,——partofthePositionofabiggerBATTLEOFTORGAU,whichiscoming],——fliesatKleefeldandhis14,000likeacat—o’—mountain;takeshimontheleftflank:——Kleefeldandsuchoverplusofthousandsarestandingalittletowest—and—southofTorgau,withtheENTEFANG[adesolatebigreedymere,orPLACEOFDUCKS,stillofferingtheidleTorgaueramelancholysportthere]asaprotectiontotheirright;butwithnoevolution—talent,ornoneincomparisontoWunsch’s;——andaccordinglyarecuttopiecesbyWunsch,andblowntothewinds,astheirfellowshaveallbeen。\"[HOFBERCHTVONDERAM8SEPTEMBER,1759,BEYTORGAU,VORGEFALLENENACTION:inSeyfarth,

  Beylagen,ii。609,610。Tempelhof,iii。219—222。]

  Wunsch,absoluteFateforbidding,couldnotsaveDresden:butheisherelordoftheNorthernregionsagain,——nothingbutLeipzignowintheenemy’shand;——andcanawaitFinck,whoisonmarchwithastrongerpartytobeginbusinesshere。Itisreckoned,therearefewmorebrilliantlittlebitsofSoldieringthanthisofWunsch’s。

  Allthemore,ashismen,formostpart,werenotPrussian,butmiscellaneousForeignspiritsofuncertainfealty:rovingfellows,ofafightingturn,attractedbyFriedrich’sfame,andunderaCaptainwhohadtheartofkeepingthemintune。Wunschhasbeensoldiering,inadiligentthoughdimmiscellaneousway,thesefive—

  and—twentyyears;foughtintheoldTurkWars,underdisastrousSeckendorf,——WunschapooryoungWurtembergensign,visibiybusythere(1737—1739))aswasthissameSchmettau,inthecharacterofstaff—officer,farenoughapartfromWunschatthattime!——foughtafterwards,intheBavarianservice,intheDutch,atRoucoux,atLauffeld,againunderdisastrouspeople。Couldnever,undersuch,findanythingbutsubalternworkallthiswhile;wasgladtoserve,undertheeyeofFriedrich,asColonelofaFreeCorps;whichhehasdonewithmuchdiligenceandgrowingdistinction:tillnow,atthelonglast,hischancedoescome;andheshowshimselfasarealGeneral。Possiblyahighcareerlyingahead;——amanthatmaybeveryvaluabletoFriedrich,whohasnowsofewsuchleft?FatehadagaindecidedotherwiseforWunsch;inwhatwaywillbeseenbeforethisCampaignends:\"aninfernalCampaign,\"accordingtoFriedrich,\"CETTECAMPAGNEINFERNALE。\"

  Finck,whomFriedrichhadjustdetachedfromWaldau(September6th)

  withanew8or6,000,tocommandinchiefinthoseparts,and,alongwithWunsch,putDresdenoutofrisk,asitwere,——FinckdoesatleastjoinWunsch,asweshallmentioninalittle。AndtheseTwo,withsuchWolfersdorfsandpeopleunderthem,didprovecapableofmakingfrontagainstReichsfolkingreatoverplusofnumber。NorarefartherSIEGESofthoseNorthernGarrisons,butrecapturesofthem,thenewsonehearsfromSaxonyhenceforth;——

  onlythatDresdenisfatallygone。Irrecoverably,asturnedout,andinthatunbearablemanner。Hereistheconcludingscene:——

  DRESDEN,SATURDAY,SEPTEMBER8th;EXITSCHMETTAU。\"Athousandtimesover,Schmettaumusthaveaskedhimself,’WhywasIinsuchahurry?WithoutcauseforitI,onlyMaguirehavingcause!’——TheCapitulationhadbeenendedinahuddle,withoutsignature:

  anunwiseCapitulation;anditwasscandalouslyillkept。

  SchmettauwasnottohavemarchedtillMonday,10th,——sixcleardaysforpackingandpreparing;——but,practically,hehastomakethreeservehim;andtogohalf—packed,ornotpackedatall。

  Endlesschicanesdoarise,’uponmyhonor!’——noteventhe800

  wagonsarereadyforus;’Can’tyourbaggagesgoinboats,then?’

  ’No,norshall!’answersSchmettau,withblazingeyes,andheartreadytoburst;aSchmettaulivingallthiswhileasinPurgatory,orworse。SuchbullyingsfromtruculentGuasco,whoisnowwithoutmuzzle。Capitulation,mostimperfectinitself,isavowedlyinfringed:King’sArtillery,——whichwehadhaggledfor,andendedby’hopingfor,’toMaguirethatrainyevening:whywereweinsuchahurry,too,andblindtoMaguire’shurry!——King’sArtillery,accordingtoDurchlauchtofZweibruck,whenheactuallysignedwithinthewalls,is’NICHTACCORDIRT(Notgranted),excepttheFieldpart。’King’sregimentalfurnishings,allandsundry,were’ACCORDIRT,andwithoutvisitation,’——butonsecondthoughts,theAustrianOfficialsareofopiniontheremustreallybevisitation,mustbeinspection。’MaynotsomeofthembelongtoPolishMajesty?’Inwhichsadprocessofinspectiontherewasincrediblewaste,Schmettauprotesting;andabovehalfofthenewuniformswerelosttous。Our80pontoons,whichwereexpresslybargainedfor,arebrazenlydeniedus:’20ofthemareSaxon,’crytheAustrians:’whoknowsiftheyarenotalmostallSaxon,’——uponmyhonor!Atthisrate,onlywaitadayortwo,andfewerwagonsthan800willbeneeded!thinksSchmettau;andconsentsto18river—

  boats;Boatsinpart,then;andletusmarchatonce。Accordingly,\"SATURDAY,8th,at5inthemorning,Schmettau,withgoodsandpeople,doesatlastfileout:acrossElbeBridgethroughtheNeustadt;Prussiansfivedeep;adoublerankofAustrians,rangedoneachside,in’espalier’theycallit,——espalierwithgapsiniteveryhereandthere,towhatpurposeissoonevident。Themarchwassodisposed(likewiseforapurpose)that,allalong,therewereoneortwoCompaniesofPrussianFoot;andthenintheinterval,carriages,cannon,cavalryandhussars。

  Schmettau’scarriageiswiththerear—guard,MadamSchmettau’swellinthevan:——intwoothercarriagesaretwoPrussianWar—and—DomainMinisters。[ANONYMOUSOFHAMBURG,III。376。]’ManagersofSaxonFinance,’theseTwo;——whowillhavetomanageelsewherethaninDresdenhenceforth。Zinnow,Borck,theysitveritablythere,withtheirmultiformAccountPapers:ofwhomIknowabsolutelynothing,——except(ifanybodycared)thatZinnow,who’diedofapoplexyinJunefollowing,’isprobablyofpursyred—nosedtype;andthatBorck,forcertain,hasaveryfinefaceandfigure;

  delicacy,cheerfuldignity,perfectgentlemanhoodinshort,writtenoneveryfeatureofhim;aspaintedbyPesne,andengravedbySchmidt,formyaccidentalbehoof。[FredericusWilhelmusBorck(Pesnepinxit,1732;Schmidt,sculpturRegis,sculpsit,Berolini,1764):anexcellentPrintandPortrait。]Curioustothinkofthatelaboratecourt—coatandflowingperiwig,withthisspecificBorck,’oldastheDevil’(whomIhavehadmuchtroubletoidentify),formingvisiblepartofthisdismalProcession:thebrighteyeofBorcknotsmilingasusual,butclouded,thoughimpassive!ButthatofBorckorhisLimnersisnotthepoint。

  \"ThePrussianshavebeendividedintosmallsections,withamassofbaggage—wagonsandcavalrybetweeneverytwo。Andnosooneristhemassgotinmovement,thanthererisesfromtheAustrianpart,andcontinuesalltheway,loudinvitation,’WhosoeverisabraveSaxon,abraveAustrian,Reichsman,cometous!Gapsintheespalier,don’tyousee!’AndSchmettau,intherear,withbaggageandcavalryintervening,——nobodycanreachSchmettau。Hereisawayofkeepingyourbargain!ThePrussianOfficersstrugglestoutly:

  butarebellowedat,struckat,menacedbybayonetandbullet,——

  noneofthemshot,Ithink,butagoodseveralofthemcutandwounded;——theAustrianOfficersthemselvesinpassionatepointsbehavingshamefully,’Yes,shootthemdown,the(wereitnothingelse)hereticdogs;’andbeingthroughoutevidentlyinahotshiveryframeofmind,forgetfulofthelaws。SeldomwassuchaProcession;spite,rageandlawlessrevengeblazingoutmoreandmore。Onthewhole,theredeserted,throughthosegapsoftheespalier,abouthalfofthewholeGarrison。OnMadamSchmettau’shammercloththeresat,intheSchmettaulivery,ahard—featuredman,recognizablebykeeneyesaslatelyaNailer,oftheNailerGuildhere;whohadbeenaspyforSchmettau,andbroughtmanypersonsintotrouble:himtheyteardown,andtramplehitherandthither,——atlast,intosomeGuard—housenearby。\"[TheSchmettauDIARIUMinANONYMOUSOFHAMBURG,iii。364—376(correctedchieflyfromTEMPELHOF):Protest,andCorrespondenceinconsequence,isinSeyfarth,Beylagen,ii。611—621;in

  Helden—Geschichte,&c。&c。]

  Schmettau’sprotestagainstallthisisvehement,solemnlycircumstantial:but,exceptinregardtothetrampledNailer(Zweibruckonthatpoint\"heartilysorryfortheinsulttoyourExcellency’slivery;andherethemanis,withathousandapologies\"),Schmettaugotnoredress。NorhadFriedrichany,noworhenceforth。Friedrichdidatonce,moretotestifyhisdisgustthanforanybenefit,orderSchmettau:\"HaltatWittenberg,notatMagdeburgaswaspretendedtobebargained。DismissyourEscortofAustriansthere;bidthemhomeatonce,andoutofyoursight。\"

  SchmettauhimselfheorderedtoBerlin,toidlewaiting。

  NeveragainemployedSchmettau:forsixteenyearsthattheylivedtogether,neversawhisfacemore。

  Schmettau’sill—fortunewasmuchpitied,assurelyitdeservedtobe,byallmen。AboutFriedrich’sseveritytherewas,andstilloccasionallyis,controversyheld。IntowhichweshallnotenterforYesorforNo。\"Youareliketherestofthem!\"writesFriedrichtohim;\"whenthemomentcomesforshowingfirmness,youfailinit。\"[\"Waldau,10thSeptember,1759:\"inPreuss,ii。

  URKUNDEN。p。44。]FriedrichexpectsofotherswhatallSoldiersprofess,——andwhatisinfactthesoulofallnoblenessintheirtrade,——butwhatonlyFriedrichhimself,andaselectfew,areinthehabitofactuallyperforming。Triedbythestandardofcommonpractice,Schmettauisclearlyabsolvable;abrokenveteran,deservingalmosttears。ButthatisnotthestandardwhichitwillbesafeforaKingofmentogoby。Friedrich,Ishouldsay,wouldbeorderedbyhisOffice,ifNatureherselfdidnotorderhim,topitchhisidealveryhigh;andtoberatherRhadamanthineinjudgingaboutit。Friedrichwasneveraccusedofover—generositytotheunfortunateamonghisCaptains。

  AftertheWar,Schmettau,hisconductstillathemeofargument,wasreducedtotheInvalidList:agenowsixty—seven,buthealthandheartstillveryfresh,ashepleaded;complainingthathecouldnotliveonhisretiringPensionof300poundsayear。

  \"BethankfulyouhavenothadyourheadstruckoffbysentenceofCourt—Martial,\"answeredFriedrich。Schmettau,aftersomefarthertroublesfromCourtquarters,retiredtoBrandenburg,andtherelivedsilent,poorbuthonorable,forhisremainingfifteenyears。

  MadamSchmettaucameoutverybeautifulinthosebadcircumstances:

  cheery,thrifty,fullofloyalpatience;aconstantsunshinetoherpoorman,whomshehadprecededoutofDresdeninthewaywesaw。

  Schmettauwasveryquiet,stillstudiousofWarmatters;

  [SeeLeben(byhisSon,\"CaptainSchmettau;\"

  amodestintelligentBook),pp。440—447。]\"senttheKing\"once,——in1772,whilePolishPrussia,andHowitcouldbefortified,weretheinterestingsubject,——\"aJOURNAL,\"whichhehadelaboratedforhimself,\"OFTHEMARCHESOFKARLTWELFTHINWESTPREUSSEN;\"whichwaswellreceived:\"ApparentlytheKingnotangrywithmefarther?\"

  thoughtSchmettau。Acompletelyretiredoldman;studious,social,——thebestmenoftheArmystillhisfriendsandfamiliars:——nor,inhisownmind,anymutinyagainsthisChief;thisalsohasitsbeautyinahumanlife,myfriend。SolongasMadamSchmettaulived,itwaswell;afterherdeath,notwell,darkrather,andgrowingdarker:andinaboutthreeyearsSchmettaufollowed(27thOctober,1775),whitherthatgoodsoulhadgone。TheelderBrother——whowasadistinguishedAcademician,aswellasFeldmarschallandNegotiator——haddiedatBerlin,inVoltaire’stime,1751。EachofthoseSchmettaushadaSon,inthePrussianArmy,whowroteBooks,oreachashortBook,stillworthreading。[BavarianWarof1778,bytheFeldmarschall’sSon;adthis

  Lebenwehavejustbeenciting,bytheLieutenant—

  General’s。]Butwemustreturn。

  Ontheverymorrow,September5th,DaunheardoftheglorioussuccessatDresden;hadnotexpectedittillaboutthe10thatsoonest。FromTriebelhesendsthenewsatgalloptoLieberoseandSoltikof:\"Rejoicewithus,Excellenz:didnotIpredictit?

  SilesiaandSaxonybothareours;fruitschieflyofyournoblesuccesses。Oh,continuethemaverylittle!\"\"Umph!\"answersSoltikof,notwithmuchenthusiasm:\"Sendusmealsteadily;

  andgainyou,Excellenz’sself,somenoblesuccess!\"Friedrichdidnothearofitforalmostaweeklater;nottillMonday,10th,——asacertainsmallAnecdotewouldofitselfindicate。

  SundayEvening,9thSeptember,GeneralFinck,withhisnew6,000,hasteningontojoinWunschforreliefofDresden,hadgottoGrossenhayn;andwasputtinguphistents,whentheOutpostsbroughthiminanAustrianOfficer,whohadcomewithaTrumpeterinquiringfortheGeneral。TheAustrianOfficer\"isinquestofproperlodgingsforGeneralSchmettauandGarrison[fancyFinck’ssuddenstare!];——lastnighttheylodgedatGross—Dobritz,tolerablytotheirmind:butthequestionfortheEscortis,Wheretolodgethisnight,ifyourExcellencycouldadviseme?\"\"Herr,IwilladviseyoutogobacktoGross—Dobritzontheinstant,\"answersFinckgrimly;\"IshallbeobligedtomakeyouandyourTrumpetprisoners,otherwise!\"ExitAustrianOfficer。Thatsameevening,too,CaptainKollas,carryingSchmettau’ssadnewstotheKing,callsonFinckinpassing;givesdismaldetailsoftheCapitulationandtheAustrianwayofkeepingit;fillingFinck’smindwithsorrowfulindignation。[Tempelhof,iii。237。]

  Finck——letusaddhere,thoughindateitbelongsalittleelsewhere——pusheson,nottheless,tojoinWunschatTorgau;

  joinsWunsch,straightwayrecapturesLeipzig,garrisonprisoners(September13th):recapturesallthosenorthwesterngarrisons,——

  multitudinousReichsfolktrying,once,tofighthim,inanamazinglyloud,butotherwisehelplessway(\"ACTIONOFKORBITZ\"

  theycallit);cannonadingfarandwideallday,andmanoeuvringabout,herebitteninupon,theretryingtobite,overmanyleaguesofCountry;principallyunderHaddick’sleading;[HOFBERICHTVON

  DERAM21SEPTEMBERBEYKORBITZ(inMeissenCountry,southofElbe;

  KrogistooisaVillageinthiswide—spread\"Action\")VORGEFALLENEN

  ACTION(Seyfarth,Beylagen,ii。621—630)。

  Tempelhof,iii。248,258。]whosawgoodtodrawoffDresden—wardnextday,andleaveFinckmasterinthoseregions。ToDaun’ssadastonishment,——inamomentofcrisis,——asweshallhearfartheron!

  SothatSaxonyisnotyetconqueredtoDaun;Saxony,no,norindeedwillbe:——butDresdenis。FriedrichnevercouldrecoverDresden;

  thoughhehoped,andatintervalstriedhard,foralongwhiletocome。

  ChapterVI。

  PRINCEHENRIMAKESAMARCHOFFIFTYHOURS;

  THERUSSIANSCANNOTFINDLODGINGINSILESIA。

  TheeyesofallhadbeenbentonDresdenlatterly;andtherehadoccurredagreatdealofdetachingthitherward,andofmarchingthereandthence,aswehavepartlyseen。Andtheendis,Dresden,andtoappearanceSaxonyalongwithit,isDaun’s。HasnotDaungoodreasonnowtobeproudofthecunctatorymethod?Neverdidhisgamestandbetter;andallhasbeengainedatotherpeople’sexpense。Daunhasnotplayedonetrumpcard;itisthoseobligingRussiansthathaveplayedallthetrumps,andreducedtheEnemytonothing。Onlycontinuethatwisecourse,——andcartmeal,withyourwholestrength,fortheRussians!——

  SafebehindthepoolsofLieberose,FriedrichbetweenthemandBerlin,liethosedearRussians;extending,Daunandthey,likeanimpassablemilitarydike,withspursofOutpostsandcunninglydevisedDetachments,farandwide,——frombeyondBoberorutmostCrossenontheeast,toHoyerswerdainElbeCountryonthewest;——

  dikeofeightymileslong,andinsomeeasternpartsofalmosteightybroad;soelaborateisDaun’sdetachingquality,incasesofmoment。\"TheKing’sbrokenArmyononesideofus,\"calculatesDaun;\"PrinceHenri’sontheother;incommunicativethey;

  reducedtoisolation,powerlesseitherorbothofthemagainstsuchodds。Theyshallwaitthere,pleaseHeaven,tillSaxonybequitefinished。Zweibruck,andourDetachmentsandMaguires,letthemfinishSaxony,whileSoltikofkeepstheKingbusy。Saxonyfinished,howwilleitherPrinceorKingattempttorecoverit!Afterwhich,Silesiaforus;——andweshallthenbenearourMagazineswithal,andthisseverestressofcartingwillabateorcease。\"Infact,theseseemsoundcalculations:Friedrichis24,000;Henri38,000;

  themilitarydikeis,ofAustrians75,000,ofRussiansandAustrianstogether120,000。DaunmayfairlycalculateonsucceedingbeautifullythisYear:Saxonyhisaltogether;andinSilesiasomeGlogauorstrongTowntaken,andRussiansandAustrianswinteringtogetherinthatCountry。

  IfonlyDaundonotTOOmuchsparehistrumpcards!Butthereissuchathingasexcessonthatsidetoo:andperhapsitiseventhemoreruinouskind,——andiscertainlythemoredespisedbygoodjudges,thoughthemultitudeofbadmaynoticeitless。Daunisunweariedinhisvigilantes,inhisinfinitecartingsofprovisionforhimselfandSoltikof,——longchainsofMagazines,bigandlittle,atGuben,atGorlitz,atBautzen,Zittau,Friedland;

  anddoes,aidedbyFrenchMontalembert,allthatmancantokeepthosedearstupidRussiansintune。

  Daun’sproblemofcartingprovisions,andguardinghismultifariousposts,andsourcesofmealanddefence,isnotwithoutitsdifficulties。EspeciallywithaPrinceHenriopposite;whohasasuperlativemanoeuvringtalentofhisown,andanindustrynotinferiortoDaun’sinthatway。Accordingly,eversinceAugust11th—13th,whenDaunmovednorthwardtoTriebel,andHenrishotoutdetachmentsparalleltohim,\"tosecuretheBoberandourrightflank,andtrytoregaincommunicationwiththeKing,\"——stillmore,eversinceAugust22d,whenDaunundertookthatonerouscartageofmealforSoltikofaswellasself,themanoeuvringandmutualfencingandparrying,betweenHenriandhim,hasbeengettinglivelierandlivelier。FainwouldDaunsecurehisnumerousRoadsandMagazines;assiduouslydoesHenrithreatenhiminthesepoints,andtryallmeanstoregaincommunicationwithhisBrother。

  DaunhasMagazinesandinterestseverywhere;Henriiseverywherediligenttoactonthem。

  Dauninperson,eversinceKunersdorftime,hasbeenatTriebel;

  HenrimovedtoSaganafterhim,buthasleftalieutenantatSchmottseifen,asDaunhasatMark—Lissa:——herearestillnewplanets,andsecondaryditto,withrevolvingmoons。Inshort,itistwointerpenetratingsolarsystems,gyrating,osculatiugandcolliding,overaspaceofseveralthousandsquaremiles,——withanintricacy,withanembroiledabstrusenessPtolemeanormore!

  Whichindeedthesoldierwhowouldknowhisbusiness——(andnotknowingit,isnotheofallsolecismsinthisworldthemostflagrant?)——oughttostudy,outofTempelhofandtheBooks;

  butwhich,exceptinitsresults,nootherreadercouldendure。

  Theresultwewillmakeapointofgathering:carefullyriddleddown,therearewithalinthedetailsfiveorsixlittlepassageswhichhavesomeshadowofinteresttous;theseletusnote,andcarefullyomittherest:——

  OFFOUQUETATLANDSHUT。\"FouquetwastwiceattackedatLandshut;

  butmadealuckyfigurebothtimes。AttackfirstwasbyDeville:

  attacksecondbyHarsch。EarlyinJuly,notlongafterFriedrichhadleftforSchmottseifen,rashDeville(arashcreature,andthenagainalaggard,swiftwhereheshouldbeslow,andVICEVERSA)

  againmadetrialonLandshutandFouquet;butwasbeautifullydealtwith;takeninrear,inflank,orIforgethowtaken,butsentgallopingthroughthePassesagain,withalossofmanyPrisoners,mostofhisfurnitures,andallhispresenceofmind:whomDaunthereuponsummonedoutofthoseparts,’HitherwardtoMark—LissawithyourCorps;leaveFouquetalone!’[HOFBERICHTVONDEN

  UNTERNEHMUNGENDESFOUQUETSCHENCORPS,IMJULIUS1759:inSeyfarth,Beylagen,ii。582—586。]

  \"Afterwhich,Fouquet,thingsbeingaltogetherquietroundhim,wassummoned,withmostpartofhisforce,toSchmottseifen;

  leftGeneralGoltz(amanwehavemetbefore)toguardLandshut;

  andwasinfairhopesofprovinghelpfultoPrinceHenri,——whenHarsch[Harschbyhimselfthistime,notHarschandDevilleasusual]thoughtherewashisopportunity;andcamewithagreatapparatus,asiftoswallowLandshutwhole。SothatFouquethadtohurryoffreinforcementsthither;andatlengthtogohimself,leavingStutterheiminhissteadatSchmottseifen。Goltz,however,withhissmallhandful,stoodwelltohiswork。AndtherefelloutsharpfencingsatLandshut:——especiallyoneviolentattackonouroutposts;theAustriansquitetriumphant;till’acoupleofcannonopenonthemfromthenextHill,’——tillsomeviolentWernerorotherchargeinuponthemwithPrussianHussars;——adesperatetussle,thatspecialoneofWerner’s;notonlysabresflashingfuriouslyonbothsides,butbuttsofpistolsandblowsontheface:[Tempelhof,iii。233:31stAugust。]till,inshort,Harschfindshecanmakenothingofit,andhastakenhimselfaway,beforeFouquetcome。\"ThisGoltz,hereplayingAnti—Harsch,istheGoltzwho,withWinterfeld,Schmettauandothers,wasinthatmelancholyZittaumarch,ofthePrinceofPrussia’s,in1757:itwasGoltzbywhomtheKingsenthisfinishingcompliment,\"Youdeserve,allofyou,tobetriedbyCourt—Martial,andtoloseyourheads!\"

  GoltzismainlyconcernedwithFouquetandSilesia,inlatetimes;

  andweshallhearofhimonceagain。FouquetdidnotreturntoSchmottseifen;norwasmolestedagaininLandshutthisyear,thoughhesoonhadtodetach,fortheKing’suse,partofhisLandshutforce,andhadotherSilesianbusinesswhichfelltohim。

  FORTRESSOFPEITZ。ThepoorFortressofPeitzwastakenagain;——doreadersrememberit,\"onthedayofZorndorf,\"lastyear?

  \"Thisyear,afortnightafterKunersdorf,thesameoldHalf—payGentlemanwithhisFive—and—fortyInvalidshaveagainbeensetadrift,’withthehonorsofwar,’pooroldcreatures;lestbypossibilitytheyafflictthedearRussiansandourmeal—cartsupyonder。[Tempelhof,iii。231:27thAugust。]IwillforgetwhotookPeitz:perhapsHaddick,ofwhomwehavelatelyheardsomuch?

  HewascaptorofBerlinin1757,didtheInroadonBerlinthatyear,——andproducedRossbachshortlyafter。Peitz,ifhedidPeitz,wasHaddick’slastsuccessintheworld。Haddickhasbeenmostindustrious,’guardingtheRussianflank,’——standingbetweentheKingandit,duringthatSoltikofmarchtoMullrose,toLieberose;

  butthatoncedone,andtheKingsettledatWaldau,HaddickwasorderedtoSaxony,againstWunschandFinck:——andreadersknowalreadywhathemadeoftheseTwointhe’ActionatKorbitz,September21st,’——andshallhearsoonwhatbefellHaddickhimselfinconsequence。\"

  COLONELHORDTISCAPTURED。\"ItwasinthatfinalmarchingofSoltikoftoLieberosethatadistinguishedEx—Swede,ColonelHordt,oftheFreeCorpsHORDT,wastakenprisoner。AtTrebatsch;

  hangingonSoltikof’srightflankonthatoccasion。ItwasnotHaddick,itwasaswarmofCossackswholaidHordtfast;hishorsehavinggonetothegirthsinabog。[MemoiresduComtedeHordt(aBerlin,1789),ii。53—58(notdatedorintelligiblethere):inTempelhof(iii。235,236)clearaccount,\"Trebatsch,September4th。\"]Hordt,anEx—Swedeofdistinction,——aRoyalistExile,onwhoseheadtheSwedeshavesetaprice(hadgoneinto’Brahe’sPlot,’yearssince,PlotonbehalfofthepoorSwedishKing,whichcostBrahehislife),——Hordtnowmighthavefaredill,hadnotFriedrichbeenemphatic,’Touchahairofhim,retaliationfollowsontheinstant!’HewascarriedtoPetersburg;

  ’laytwenty—sixmonthsandthreedays’insolitarydurancethere;

  andwemayhearawordfromhimagain。\"

  ZIETHENALMOSTCAPTURED。\"PrinceHenri,inthelastdaysofAugust,marchedtoSaganinperson;[Tempelhof,iii。231:29thAugust。]

  Ziethenalongwithhim;multifariouslymanoeuvring’toregaincommunicationwiththeKing。’Ofcourse,withnowantofcounter—

  manoeuvring,ofvigilantoutposts,cunninglydeviseddetachmentsandassiduoussmallmeasuresonthepartofDaun。Who,oneday,haddeterminedonamoreconsiderablething;thatofcuttingoutZiethenfromtheSaganneighborhood。Andwouldhavedoneit,theysay,——hadnothebeentoocunctatory。September2d,Ziethen,whoispostedinthelittletownofSorau,hadverynearlybeencutoff。

  InSorau,westward,Daun—ward,ofSaganashortday?smarch:

  theresatZiethen,consciousofnothingparticular,——withDaunsecretlymarchingonhim;Dauninperson,fromthewest,andtwoothersfromthenorthandfromthesouth,whoaretobesimultaneousonSorauandtheZietheners。Awell—laidscheme;

点击下载App,搜索"History of Friedrich II of Prussia",免费读到尾