第108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

  OftheAttackitselfweproposetosayalmostnothing。ItconsistsofTwoParts,WiedandMollendorf,whichareintenselyReal;andofagreatmanymorewhichareScenicchiefly,——someofthemScenictothedegreeofDrury—Laneitself,asweperceive;——allcunninglydevised,andbeautifullyplayingintooneanother,boththerealandthescenic。EVENINGOFTHE20th,Friedrichisonhisground,accordingtoProgram。Friedrich——whohasnowhisMollendorfandWiedbesidehimagain,nearthisVillageofBurkersdorf;andhashiscompletelyscenicCzernichef,andpartlyscenicZiethenandothers,allintheirplacesbehindhim——quietlycrushesDaun’speopleoutofBurkersdorfVillage;andfurthermore,sosoonasNighthasfallen,burstsup,forhisownuses,BurkersdorfoldCastle,anditsobstinatehandfulofdefenders,whichwasanoisierprocess。Whichdone,hediligentlysetstotrenching,buildingbatteriesinthatpart;willhavefortyformidableguns,howitzersagoodfewofthem,readybeforesunrise。Andso,WEDNESDAY,21stJULY,1762,AllPrussiansareinmotion,farandwide;especiallyMollendorfandWied(VERSUSO’KellyandPrincedeLigne),——whichPairofPrussiansmaybedefinedratherasnearandclose;theseTwobeing,infact,thesoulofthematter,andallelsegarnitureandsemblance。About4inthemorning,Friedrich’sBatteryof40hasbegunraging;thehowitzersdiligentuponO’KellyandhisBurkersdorfHeight,——notmuchhurtingO’KellyorhisHeight,sohighwasit,butmakingaprodigiousnoiseuponO’Kelly;

  ——othersofthecannonshearinghomeonthosepalisadesandelaborations,intheWeistritzValleyinparticular,andquitetearingupaCavalryRegimentwhichwasdrawnoutthere;sothatO’Kellyhadinstantlytocallithome,inaverywreckedcondition。

  WhyO’Kellyeverputitthere——exceptthathesawnoplaceforitinhisruggedlocalities,ornouseforitanywhere——isstillamysterytotheintelligentmind。[Tempelhof,vi。107。]

  Thehowitzers,theirshellsburstingmostlyintheair,didO’Kellylittlehurt,norforhoursyetwasthereanyrealattackonBurkersdorforhim;butthenoise,thehorriddeath—blazewasprodigious,andkeptO’Kelly,likesomeothers,inanagitated,occupiedconditiontilltheirownturncame。

  ForithadbeenorderedthatWiedandMollendorfwerenottoattacktogether:nottogether,butsuccessively,——forthefollowingreasons。TOGETHER;supposeMollendorftoprosperonO’Kelly(whomheistostorm,notbythesteepfrontpartasO’Kellyfancies,buttogoroundbythewesternflankandtakehiminrear);supposeMollendorftobenearprosperingonBurkersdorfHeight,——unlessWiedtoohaveprospered,LudwigsdorfbatteriesandforceswillhaveMollendorfbytherightflank,andbetweentwofireshewillberuined;heandeverything!Ontheotherhand,letWiedtryfirst:

  ifWiedcanmanageLudwigsdorf,well:ifWiedcannot,hecomeshomeagainwithsmalldamage;andthewholeEnterpriseisoffforthepresent。ThatwasFriedrich’swisearrangement,andthereasonwhyhesobombardsO’Kellywiththunder,blankmostly。

  Andindeed,from4thismorningandtill4intheafternoon,thereissuchanoutburstandblazingseriesofScenicEffect,andthundermostlyblank,goingonfarandnearalloverthatDistrictofCountry:GeneralThisostentatiouslyspeedingoff,asifforattackonsomeimportantplace;GeneralThat,forattackonsomeother;allhandsbusy,——the20,000Russiansnotyetspeeding,butseeminglyjustabouttodoit,——andblankthundersomixedwithnotblank,andsceniceffectwithbitterreality,[Tempelhof,vi。

  105—111。]——aswasseldomseenbefore。AndnowisestDaun,nottospeakofhisO’Kellysandlieutenants,can,forthelifeofhim,saywheretherealattackistobe,oronwhathandtoturnhimself。Dauninperson,Ibelieve,isstillatTannhausen,nearthecentreofthisastonishingscene;fiveorsixmilesfromanypracticalpartofit。Anddoesorderforward,hither,thither,massesofforcetosupporttheDeLigne,theO’Kelly,amongothers,——butwhocantellwhattosupport?Daun’slieutenantswerealertsomeofthem,othersless:GeneralGuasco,forinstance,whoisinSchweidnitz,analertCommandant,with12,000pickedmen,wasdrawingout,ofhisownwill,withcertainregimentstotryFriedrich’srear:butacheckwasputonhim(somedangerousshakeofthefistfromafar),whenhehadtodrawinagain。IngeneraltheO’Kellysupportssatgazingdubiously,anddidnothingforO’Kellybutrollbackalongwithhim,whenthetimecame。ButletusfirstattendtoWied,andtheLudwigsdorf—Leuthmannsdorfpart。

  Wied,dividedintoThree,isdiligentlypushinguponLudwigsdorfbytheslackereasternascents;meetsfirmenoughbattalions,potent,dangerousandresoluteintheirstrongposts;butendeavorsfirmlytobemoredangerousthanthey。Dislodgeseverything,onhisright,onhisleft;comesinsightofthebatteriesandrankedmassesatop,whichseemtohimdifficultindeed;flatlyimpossible,iftriedonfront;butalwayssomeColonelLottum,orquick—eyedman,findssomelittlevalley,littlehollow;getsattheEnemyside—wiseandrear—wise;rushesonwithfixedbayonets,double—

  quick,toco—operatewiththefront:and,onthewhole,therearethebestnewsfromWied,andweperceiveheseeshiswaythroughtheaffair。

  Uponwhich,Mollendorfgetsinmotion,uponhisspecificerrand。

  Mollendorfhasbeensurveyinghisgroundalittle,duringtheleisurehour;especiallyexaminingwhatmodeofpassagetheremaybe,andlookingforsomeroadupthoseslackerwesternparts:

  hasfoundnoroad,butakindofsheeptrack,whichhethinkswilldo。Mollendorf,withallenergy,surmountingmanydifficulties,pushesupaccordingly;getsintohissheep—track;finds,inthesteeperpartofthistrack,thathorsescannotdrawhiscannon;

  setshismentodoit;pullsandpushes,heandthey,witharightwill;——seesoverhisleftshoulder,atacertainpoint,therankedAustrianswaitingforhimbehindtheircannon(whichmusthavebeenaninterestingglimpseofsceneryforsomemoments);tugsalong,tillheisatapointforplantinghiscannon;andthen,underhelpofthese,rushesforward,——intwoparts,perhapsinthree,butwithoneimpetusinall,——toseizetheAustrianfruitsetbeforehim。

  Surely,ifaprecious,averypricklyPomegranate,toclutchholdofondifferentsides,aftersuchaclimb!TheAustriansmakestifffight;haveabatis,multiplexdefences;andMollendorfhasafuriouswrestlewiththislastremnant,holdingoutwonderfully,——

  tillatlengththeabatisitselfcatchesfire,inthemusketry,andtheyhavetosurrender。Thismustbeaboutnoon,asIcollect:

  andFeldmarschallDaunhimselfnoworderseverybodytofallback。

  Andthetugoffightisover;——thoughFriedrich’ssceniceffectsdidnotcease;andinparticularhisbigbatteryragedtill5intheafternoon,themoretoconfirmDaun’srearwardresolutionsandquickenhismotions。Onfallofnight,Daun,everybodyhavinghadhisorders,andbeenmakinghispreparationsforsixhourspast,ebbedtotallyaway;inperfectorder,bagandbaggage。Wellawaytosouthward;andleftFriedrichquitofhim。[Tempelhof。vi。100—115:

  compareBerichtvonderbeyLeutmannsdorfden21stenJulius1762vorgefallenenAction(Seyfarth,

  Beylagen,iii。302—308);AnderweiterBerichtvonder&c。(ib。308—314);Archenholtz,&c。&c。]

  QuitofDaunforevermore,asitturnedout。Plainlyfree,atanyrate,tobeginuponSchweidnitz,wheneverheseesgood。OfthebehaviorofWied,Mollendorf,andtheirpeople,indeedofthePrussiansoneandall,whatcanbesaid,butthatitwasworthyoftheirCaptainandofthePlanningshehadmade?Whichissayingagreatdeal。\"Wegotabove14bigguns,\"reportthey;\"above1,000

  prisoners,andperhapstwiceasmanythatdesertedtousinthedaysfollowing。\"Czernichefwasfullofadmirationattheday’swork:hemarchedearlynextmorning,——ItrustwithlastinggratitudeonthepartofanobligedFriedrich。

  SomethreeweeksbeforethisofBurkersdorf,DukeFerdinand,nearaplacecalledWilhelmsthal,intheneighborhoodofCassel,inwoodybrokencountryofHillandDale,favorableforstrategiccontrivances,hadorganizedabeautifulmovementfrommanysides,hopingtooverwhelmthetoocarelessortooignorantFrench,andgainasignalvictoryoverthem:BATTLE,socalled,OF

  WILHELMSTHAL,JUNE24th,1762,beingtheresult。MauvillonnevercanforgiveacertainstupidHanoverian,whomistookhisorders;

  andongettingtohisHill—top,whichwasthecentreofalltherest,——formedhimselfwithhisBACKtothepointofattack;

  andbeganshootingcannonatnexttonothing,asiftowarntheFrench,thattheyhadbetterinstantlymakeoff!Whichtheyinstantlysetabout,withawill;andmainlysucceededin;

  nothingalldaybutmazesofintricatemarchingonbothsides,withspurtsoffighthereandthere,——endinginatrulystiffboutbetweenGranbyandaComtedeStainville,whocoveredtheretreat,andwhocouldnotbebeatenwithoutagreatdealoftrouble。

  TheresultakindofvictorytoFerdinand;butnothinglikewhatheexpected。[Mauvillon,ii。227—236;Tempelhof,vi。&c。&c。]

  SoubiseleadstheFrenchthisfinalYear;buthehasaD’Estreeswithhim(ouroldD’EstreesofHASTENBECK),whomuchhelpstheaccountcurrent;andthoughgenerallyonthedeclininghand(obligedtogiveupGottingen,toedgeawayfartherandfartheroutofHessenitself,togiveuptheWeser,andseenoshiftbutthefarthersideofFulda,withFrankfurttorear),——isnotoftencaughtnappingashereatWilhelmsthal。ThereensuedaboutthebanksoftheFulda,andthequestion,Shallwebedrivenacrossitsoonerornotsosoon?agreatdealoffightingandpushing(BattlecalledofLUTTERNBERG,BattleofJOHANNISBERG,andothers):butallreaderswilllookforwardrathertotheCANNONADEOFAMONEBURG,morepreciselyCannonadeoftheBRUCKEN—MUHLE(September2lst),whichfinishesthesewearisomedeath—wrestlings。Peaceiscoming;

  alltheworldcannowcountonthat!

  ButeisravenousforPeace;hasbeenprivatelytakingthemostunheard—ofsteps:——wrotetoKaunitz,\"PeaceatonceandwewillvoteforyourHAVINGSilesia;\"towhichKaunitz,suspectingtrickeryinartlessBute,answered,haughtilysneering,\"NohelpneededfromyourLordshipinthatmatter!\"Afterwhichrepulse,orbeforeit,ButehadappliedtotheCzar’sMinisterinLondon:

  \"CzarishMajestytohaveEastPreussenguaranteedtohim,ifhewillinsistthattheKingofPrussiaDISPENSEwithSilesia;\"

  whichtheindignantCzarrejectedwithscorn,andatoncemadehisRoyalFriendawareof;withwhatemotionontheRoyalFriend’spartwehavetransientlyseen。\"Horrorsandperfidies!\"ejaculatedhe,inourhearinglately;andregardedBute,fromthattime,asaknaveandanimbecilebothinone;noreverquiteforgaveBute’sNationeither,whichwasfarfrombeingBute’saccompliceinthisunheard—ofprocedure。\"NomoreAllianceswithEngland!\"countedhe:

  \"WhatAlliancecantherebewiththatever—fluctuatingPeople?

  To—daytheyhaveathrice—noblePitt;to—morrowathrice—paltryBute,andallgoesheels—over—headonthesudden!\"[Preuss,ii。

  308;Mitchell,ii。286。]

  Bute,atthisrateofgoing,willmanagetogetholdofPeacebeforelong。ToFriedrichhimself,aSiegeofSchweidnitzisnowfree;Schweidnitzhis,theAustrianswillhavetoquitSilesia。

  \"Theircashisout:exceptprayertotheVirgin,whatbutPeacecantheyattemptfarther?InSaxonythingswillhavegoneill,iftherebenotenoughleftustooffertheminreturnforGlatz。AndPeaceandAS—YOU—WEREmustensue!\"

  LetusgouponSchweidnitz,therefore;pausingonnoneofthesesubsidiarythings;andbebriefuponSchweidnitztoo。

  ChapterXII。

  SIEGEOFSCHWEIDNITZ:SEVENTHCAMPAIGNENDS。

  Daunbeingnowclearedaway,FriedrichinstantlyproceedsuponSchweidnitz。OrdersthenecessarySiegeMaterialstogetunderwayfromNeisse;postshisArmyintheproperplaces,betweenDaunandtheFortress,——King’shead—quarterDittmannsdorf,Armyspreadinfinelargecrescent—shape,tosouthwestofSchweidnitzsometenmiles,andasfarbetweenDaunandit;——ordershometohimhisUpper—SilesiaDetachments,\"Home,allofyou,byNeisseCountry,tomakeupforCzernichef’sdeparture;fromNeisseonwardsyoucanguardtheSiege—Ammunitionwagons!\"NaturallyhehasblockadedSchweidnitz,fromthefirst;henamesTauentzienSiege—Captain,witha10or12,000todotheSiege:\"Ahead,allofyou!\"——andinshort,AUGUST7th,withthedueadroitnessandprecautions,openshisfirstparallel;sufferinglittleornothinghithertobyaresistancewhichisrathervehement。[Tempelhof,vi。126。]

  Heexpectstohavetheplaceinacoupleofweeks——\"oneweek(HUIT

  JOUR)\"hesometimescountsit,butwasfaroutinhisreckoningastotime。

  TheSiegeofSchweidnitzoccupiedtwomostlaborious,tediousmonths;——andwouldbewearisometoeveryreadernow,asitwastoFriedricbthen,didweventureonmorethanthebriefestoutline。

  Theresistanceisvehement,veryskilful:——CommandantisGuasco(thesamewhowassotruculenttoSchmettauintheDresdentime);

  hisGarrisonisnear12,000,pickedfromallregimentsoftheAustrianArmy;hisprovisions,ammunitions,areoftheamplest;

  andhehasunderhimaschiefEngineeraM。Gribeauval,whounderstands\"counter—mining\"likenoother。Afteraboutafortnightoftrial,andoneEventintheneighborhoodwhichshallbementioned,thisofMiningandCounter—mining——thoughtheExternalSapwentrestlesslyforwardtoo,andthecannonadingwasincessantonbothsides——cametoberegardedmoreandmoreastherealmethod,andforsixorsevenweekslongerwaspersistedin,withwonderfultenacityofattemptandresistance。Friedrich’schiefMiningEngineerisalsoaFrenchman,oneLefebvre;whoispersonallytherivalofGribeauval(hisoldclass—fellowatCollege,Ialmostthink);butisnothisequalinsubterraneanwork,——orperhapsratherhasthehardertaskofit,thatofMining,insteadofCOUNTER—mining,orSPOILINGMines。Tempelhof’saccountofthesetwopeople,andtheirundergroundwrestlehere,isreallycuriousreading;——clearasdaylighttothosethatwillstudy,butofendlessexpansion(asusualinTempelhof),andfitonlytobeindicatedhere。[Tempelhof,vi。122—219;BerichtundTagebuchvonderBelagerungvonSchweidnitzvom7tenAugustbis9

  October,1762(Seyfarth,Beylagen,iii。376—479);Archenholtz,Retzow,&c。]

  TheexternalEventIpromisedtomentionisanattemptonDaun’spart(August16th)tobreakinuponFriedrich’sposition,andinterrupttheSiege,orrenderitstillimpossible。EventcalledtheBATTLEOFREICHENBACH,thoughtherewasnotmuchofbattleinit;——inwhichouroldfriendtheDukeofBrunswick—Bevern(whomwehaveseeninabeyance,andmerelyaGarrisonCommandant,foryearsback,tilltheRussiansleftStettintoitself)againplayedashiningpart。

  Daun——atTannhausen,10milestosouthwestofFriedrich,andspreadoutamongtheHills,withLoudons,Lacys,Becks,aslieutenants,andinplentyofforce,couldheresolveonusingit——hasatlast,afteramonth’smeditation,hituponaplan。PlanofflowingroundbythesouthernskirtofFriedrich,andseizingcertainHeightstothesoutheasternoropensideofSchweidnitz,——KoltschenHeightthekeyone;fromwhichhemayspreadupatwill,HeightafterHeight,totheveryZobtenbergonthateasternside,andrenderSchweidnitzanimpossibility。Theplan,peoplesay,wasgood;butrequiredrapidityofexecution,——athingDaunisnotstrongin。

  Bevern’sbehavior,too,uponwhomtheedgeofthematterfell,wasverygood。Bevern,comingonfromNeisseandUpperSilesia,hadbeenmuchmanoeuvreduponforvariousdaysbyBeck;Beck,adangerous,alertman,doinghisutmosttoseizepostafterpost,andbarBevern’sway,——meaningespecially,asultimatething,togetholdofaHeightcalledFischerberg,whichliesnearReichenbach(inthesouthernSchweidnitzvicinities),andisprefacetoKoltschenHeightandtothewholeEnterpriseofDaun。

  Inmostofwhichattempts,especiallyinthislast,Bevern,withgreatmerit,notofdexterityalone(fortheKing’sOrdershadoftentobeDISobeyedintheletter,andonlythespiritofthemheldinview),contrivedtooutmanoeuvreBeck;andbefound(August13th)alreadyfirmontheFischerberg,whenBeck,infullconfidence,camemarchingtowardsit。\"TheFischerberglosttous!\"

  Beckhadtoreport,indisappointment。\"Mustberecovered,andmygrandEnterprisenolongerputoff!\"thinksDauntohimself,instillmoredisappointment(\"LaggardthatIam!\")。——Andonthethirddayfollowing,theBATTLEOFREICHENBACHensued。Lacy,aschief,withabundantforce,andBeckandBrentanounderhim:thesearetomarch,\"RecovermethatFischerberg;itistheprefacetoKoltschenandallelse!\"[Tempelhof,vi。144。]

  MONDAY,AUGUST16th,prettyearlyintheday,Lacy,withhisBecksandBrentanos,appearedingreatforceonthewesternsideofFischerberg;plantedthemselvesthere,aboutthethreeVillagesofPeilau(Upper,NetherandMiddlePeilau,alittlewaytosouthofReichenbach),withincannon—shotofBevern;theirpurposeabundantlyclear。Behindthem,inthegorgesoftheMountains,whatisnotsoclear,layDaunandmostofhisArmy;intendingtopushthroughatonceuponKoltschenandseizethekey,werethisofFischerberghad。Lacy,afterreconnoitringalittle,spreadshistents(whichitisobservableBeckdoesnot);andallAustriansproceedtocookingtheirdinner。\"Nothingcomingofthemtillto—morrow!\"saidFriedrich,whowashere;andwenthiswayhome,onthissymptomoftheAustrianprocedures;——hardlyconsentingtoregardthemfarther,evenwhenheheardtheircannonadebegin。

  Lacy,thegeneralcomposurebeingthusestablished,anddinnerwelldone,suddenlydrewoutaboutfiveintheevening,inlongstrongline,beforetheseHamletsofPeilau,onthewesternsideoftheFischerberg;Beckprivatelypushingroundbywoodstotakeitontheeasternside:andthereensuedabundantcannonadingonthepartofLacyandBrentano,andsomeidleflourishingaboutofhorse,respondedtobyBevern;and,onthepartofLacyandBrentano,nothingelsewhatever。Morelikeatheatrefightthanarealone,saysTempelhof。Beck,however,isinearnest;hasamostdifficultmarchthroughthetangledpathlesswoods;doesarriveatlength,andbeginrealfighting,verysharpforsometime;whichmighthavebeenproductive,hadLacygiventheleasthelptoit,ashedidNOT。[Tempelhof,vi。146—151。]Beckdidhisfieriest;butgotrepulsedeverywhere。Becktriesinvariousplaces;findsswamps,impediments,fierceresistancefromtheBevernpeople;——finds,atlength,thattheKingisawake,andthatreinforcements,horse,foot,riding—artillery,arecominginatthegallop;andthathe,Beck,cannottoosoongetaway。

  NoneoftheKing’sFootpeoplecouldgetinforastroke,thoughtheycamemostlyrunning(distancefivemiles);buttheHorse—

  chargeswerebeautifullyimpressiveonLacy’stheatricalperformers,aswastheHorse—Artillerytoastillmoresurprisingdegree;andproducedanimmediateEXEUNTOMNESontheLacypart。

  Alloff;about7P。M。,——Sunjustgoingdownintheautumnsky;——andtheBattleofReichenbachathingfinished。Seeingwhich,Daunalsoimmediatelywithdrew,throughthegorgesoftheMountainsagain。

  Andforsevenweeksthenceforthsatcontemplative,withouttheleastfartherattemptatreliefofSchweidnitz。Itwasduringthosesevenweeks,sometimeafterthis,thatpoorMadamDaun,goingtoaLeveeatSchonbrunnoneday,hadhercarriagehalffilledwithsymbolicalnightcaps,successivelyflunginuponherbytheViennapeople;——symbolical;inlieuofSlashingArticles,andNewspapersthebestInstructors,whichtheyasyethavenot。

  NextdaytheJoy—fireofthePrussianstaughtGuascowhatdisasterhadhappened;andonthefifthdayafterwards(August22d),hearingnothingfartherofDaun,Guascoofferedtosurrender,ontheprincipleofFreeWithdrawal。\"No,never,\"answeredTauentzien,bytheKing’sorder:\"AsPrisonersofWaritmustbe!\"UponwhichGuascostoodtohisdefencesagain;andmaintainedhimself,——

  Gribeauvalandhedid,——withanadmirableobstinacy:thedetailsofwhichwouldbeverywearisometoreaders。Gribeauvalandhe,I

  said;forfromthistime,EngineerLefebvre,thoughhetried(withbadskill,thinksTempelhof)somebitsofassaultaboveground,tookmainlytomining,andagrandundergroundinventioncalledGLOBESDECOMPRESSION;whichhereckonedtobetherealsovereignmethod,——unluckythathewas!ImayatleastexplainwhatGLOBEDE

  COMPRESSIONis;foritbecomesfamousonthisoccasion,andnonamecouldbelessdescriptiveofthething。NotaGLOBEatall,forthatmatter,norintendedto\"compress,\"buttoEXpress,andshattertopiecesinatranscendentdegree:itis,infact,ahugecubicalmine—chamber,filledbyawoodenbox(tillFriedrich,inhishurry,taughtLefebvrethatasackwoulddoaswell),loadedwith,say,fivethousand—weightofpowder。Sufficienttoblowanyhorn—work,bastion,bulwark,intotheair,——providedyouplantitintherightplace;whichpoorLefebrenevercan。Hetried,withimmenselabor,successivelysomefouroralmostfiveofthese\"PRESSBALLS\"socalled(orVolcanoesinLittle);miningon,manyyards,15or20feetunderground(tormentedbyGribeauvalalltheway);thenatlast,explodinghisfivethousand—weight,——wouldproducea\"Funnel,\"orcrater,ofperhaps\"30yardsindiameter,\"

  but,alas,\"150yardsOFFanybastion。\"Funnelofnousetohim;——

  meresigntohimthathemustgodownintoit,andbeginthereagain;withbetteraim,ifpossible。AndthenGribeauval’stormentings;neverwerethelike!Gribeauvalhas,allroundundertheGlacis,mine—galleries,ormain—roadsforCounter—mining,readytohishand(mine—galleriesbuiltbyFriedrichwhilelatelyproprietor);thereGribeauvalishearkeningthebeatofLefebvre’spicks:\"Tenyardsfromus,thinkyou?Sixyards?Geta30

  hundredweightofchamberreadyforhim!\"Andwill,attherightmoment,blowLefebvre’sgalleryabouthisears;——sometimesburstsinuponhimbodilywithpistolandcutlass,orstillworse,withexplosivesulphur—balls,choke—potsandinfinitudesofmal—odorinstantaneouslydevelopedonLefebvre,——whichmeanwithal,\"Youwillhavetobeginagain,Monsieur!\"EnoughtodriveaLefebvreoutofhiswits。Twice,oroftener,Lefebvre,azealouscreaturebutathin—skinned,flewoutintoopenparoxysm;wept,invokedthegods,threatenedsuicide:sothatFriedrichhadtoconsolehim,\"Courage,youwillmanageit;makechicanesonGribeauval,ashedoesonyou,\"——andsuggestedthatpowder—SACKinsteadofdeal—box,whichwejustmentioned。

  Friedrich’spatienceseemstohavebeengreat;butintheendhebegantothinkthetimelong。Hewasinthreesuccessivehead—

  quarters,Dittmannsdorf,Peterswaldau,Bogendorf,nearerandnearer;atlengthquitenear(Bogendorfwithinacoupleofmiles);

  andwonderingGazetteersreportedhimonhorseback,examiningminutelytheparallelsandsiege—works,——withasingularindifferencetothecannon—ballsflyingabout(\"Noteasytohitasmallobjectwithcannon!\"),andintentonlyongivingTauentziensuggestions,admonitionsandneworders。Here,priortoBogendorf,arethreesnatchesofwriting,whichsuccessivelyhaveindicationsforus。KINGTOPRINCEHENRI:——

  PETERSWALDAU,AUGUST13th,1762(Kinghasjustshiftedhither,August10th,ontheBevern—REICHENBACHscore;continuesheretillSeptember23d)……\"Youarerighttosay,’WeourselvesareourbestAllies。’Iamofthesameopinion;nevertheless,itisacleardutyandcallofprudencetotryandalleviatetheburdenasmuchaspossible:andIowntoyou,thatif,afterallIhavewritten,thethingfailsthistime[asitdoes],IshallbeobligedtograntMAPGOESHERE——FACINGPAGE152,CHAPXII,BOOK20——————

  thatthereisnothingtobemadeofthoseTurks。\"——\"WearenowinthepressofourcrisisastoSchweidnitz。TheSiegeadvancesbeautifully:butBeckiscomehereabouts,Lacymaskedbehindhim;

  andIcannotyettellyou[nottillREICHENBACHandthe16th]

  whethertheEnemyintendssomebigadventurefordisengagingSchweidnitz,orwillcontenthimselfwithdisturbingandannoyingus。\"

  PETERSWALDAU,9thSEPTEMBER。Springs,water—threadscomingintoourminesdelayusalittle:\"bythe12th[in3days’time,littlethinkingitwouldbe30days!]Istillhopetodespatchyouacourierwiththenews,Allisover!YourNephew[PrinceofPrussia]

  isoutto—dayassistinginaforage;hebeginstokindleintofineaction。Wearenothingbutpygmiesincomparisontohim[inpointofphysicalstature];imaginetoyourselfPrinceFranz[ofBrunswick;killed,poorfellow,atHochkirch],onlytallerstill:

  thisisthefigureofhimatpresent。\"

  PETERSWALDAU,SEPTEMBER19th……\"OurSiegeweariesalltheworld;

  peoplepersecutemetoknowtheendofit;InevergetaBerlinLetterwithoutsomethingonthathead;——andIhavenoresourcemyselfbutpatience。Wedoallwecan:butIcannothindertheenemyfromdefendinghimself,andGribeauvalfrombeingacleverfellow:——soon,however,surelysoon,soon,weshallseetheend。

  OurweatherhereislikeDecember;theSeasonsareasmadasthePoliticsofEurope。Finally,mydearBrother,onemustshoveTimeon;dayfollowsday,andatlastweshallcatchtheonethatendsourlabors。Adieu;JEVOUSEMBRASSE。\"[Schoning,iii。403,430,446。]——Herefarther,fromtheSiege—grounditself,aresometraceries,scratchingsbyasurehand,whichyieldussomethingofimage。Dateisstillonly\"BEFORESchweidnitz,\"faronintheeighthweek:——

  SEPTEMBER23d。\"Thismorning,before9,theKing[directfromPeterswaldau,wherehehasbeenlodginghitherto,——musthavebreakfastedratherearly]cameintotheLineshere:——hisquarterisnowtobeatBogendorfnearhand,inaFarmhousethere。ThePrinceofPrussiawasridingwithhim,andLieutenant—ColonelvonAnhalt[theAdjutantwhomwehaveheardof]:helookedattheBattery\"

  latelyorderedbyhim;\"lookedatmanythings;rodealong,agood100yardsinsideofthevedettes;sothattheEnemynoticedhim,andfiredviolently,\"——Kingdecidedlyignoring。\"ToCaptainBeauvrye[CaptainoftheMiners]hepaidagraciouscompliment;

  MajorLefebvreheralliedalittleforlosingheart,forbunglinghisbusiness;butwasnotangrywithhim,consoledhimrather;

  banteredhimontheshabbinessofhisequipments,andmadehimagiftof400thalers(60pounds),toimprovethem。Lefebvre,Tauentzienand\"anotherGeneral\"dinedwithhimatBogendorfto—day。\"[\"CaptainGotz’sNOTE—book\"(aconspicuousCaptainhere,Note—bookstillinmanuscript,Ithink):citedinSCHONING,iii。

  453etseq。]

  SEPTEMBER24th,EARLY。\"TheKingonhorsebackviewedthetrenches,rodeclosebehindthefirstparallel,alongthemid—mostcommunication—line:theEnemycannonadedatushorribly(ERSCHRECKLICH);aballstruckdownthePagevonPirch’shorse[Pirchlaywrithing,makingmoan,——plainlyovermuch,thoughttheKing]:onPirch’saccident,too,thePrinceofPrussia’shorsemadeawildplunge,andpitcheditsrideraloftoutofthesaddle;

  peoplethoughtthePrincewasshot,andeverybodywasinhorror:

  greatwasthecommotion;onlytheKingwasheardcallingwithaclearvoice,’PIRCH,VERGISSERSEINENSATTELNICHT,——Pirch,bringyoursaddlewithyou!’\"

  ThisofPirchandthesaddleisanAnecdoteinwidecirculation;

  takensometimesasaproofofRoyalthrift;butismainlytheRoyalmodeofrebukingPirchforhisweakbehaviorintheaccidentthathadbefallen。Pirch,aningenioushandykindoffellow,famedforhispranksandtrickeriesinthosePage—days,hadmanyadventuresintheworld;——was,foronewhile,somethingofanotabilityamongtheFrench;will\"teachyouthePrussianmodeofdrill,\"andactuallygotleavetotryit\"ontheGermanRegimentsinourservice:\"[Voltaire’swonderingReportofhim(\"Ferney,7thDecember,1774\"),andFriedrich’squietAnswer(\"Berlin,28thDec。

  1774\"):inOEuvresdeFrederic,xxiii。297,301。Rodenbeck(ii。198—200)haaaslight\"BIOGRAPHY\"ofPirch。]——

  died,finally,asColonelofoneofthese,attheSiegeofGibraltar,in1783。

  SEPTEMBER25th。\"Morningandnoon,eachtimetwohours,theKingwasinhisnewbatteries;and,withgreatsatisfaction,watchedtheworkingofthem。ThisdaytheredinedwithhimthePrinceofBernburg[GeneralofBrigadehere],Tauentzien,LefebvreandDieskau\"(headoftheArtillery)。

  TheKingisalwaysridingabout;hasnow,virtually,takenchargeoftheSiegehimself。\"InBogendorf,thefirstnight,hedismissedtheGuardsentforhim;wouldhavenothingtherebutsixchasers(JAGER):\"analarmingcase!\"Afteranightortwo,therecamealways,withouthisknowledge,adragoonpartyof30horse;

  tookpostbehindBogendorfChurch,patrolledtowardsKunzendorf,Giesdorf,andhadthreepickets。\"

  SEPTEMBER28th。\"Gribeauvalhassprungaminelastnight;\"

  totallyblownupLefebvreagain!\"Engineer—LieutenantsGerhardandVonKleistwerewoundedbyourownpeople;CaptainGuyonwasshot:\"

  thingsallgoingwrong,——weather,Isuspectalso,bad。\"TheKingwasindreadfulhumor(SEHRUNGNADIG);ratedandrebukedtorightandleft:’IfitshouldlasttillJanuary,theAttackmustgoon。

  Nobodyseemstobeableforhisbusiness;Lefebvreablockhead(DUMMERTEUFEL),whoknowsnothingofmining:theGenerals,too,wherearethey?EveryGeneralhenceforthistotakehisplaceinthethirdparallel,attheheadofhisCovering—Party[mostexposedplaceofall],andstayhiswholetwenty—fourhoursthere[PrinceofAnhalt—BernburgisCovering—Partytoday;Ihope,inhispostduringthisthunder!]:TakenthePlacecanandmustbe!Wehavethemisfortune,ThatastupidEngineerwhoknowsnothingofhisarthasthedirection;andaGeneralwithoutsenseinSieginghasthecommand。EverybodyisataNONPLUS,itappears!NotallourArtillerycansilencethatFront—fire;notinasingleplacecanThirtystupidMinersgetintotheFort。’To—dayandyesterdaytheKingspokeneithertoGeneralTauentziennortoMajorLefebvre;

  Lieutenant—ColonelvonAnhalthadtogivealltheOrders。\"

  Anelectrickindofday!

  Theweatherisbecomingwet。Infact,thereensuewholeweeksofrain,——thetrenchesswimming,serviceveryhard。Guasco’sgunsaremanyofthemdismounted;noDauntobeheardof。Guascoagainandagainproposesmodifiedcapitulations;answeralways,\"PrisonersofWaronthecommonterms。\"Guascoiswearinglow:OCTOBER7th(LefebvresweatingandpuffingathislastGlobeofExpression,hopingtohitthemarkthislasttime),anaccidentalgrenadefromTauentzien,aboveground,rolledintooneofGuasco’spowder—

  vaults;blewit,andagoodspaceofWallalongwithit,intowreck;twodaysafterwhich,GuascohadfinishedhisCapitulating;

  ——andwegetdonewiththiswearisomeaffair。[Tempelhof,vi。

  122—220;TagebuchvonderBelagerungvonSchweidnitzvom7tenAugustbis9tenOctober,1762(Seyfarth,

  Beylagen,iii。376—497);Tielke,&c。&c。]GuascowasinvitedtodinewiththeKing;praisedforhisexcellentdefence。

  PrisonersofWarhisGarrisonandhe;about9,000ofthemstillontheirfeet;theirentirelosshadbeen3,552killedandwounded;

  thatofthePrussians3,033。PoorGuascodied,inKonigsberg,stillprisoner,beforethePeacecame。

  OfAustrianfightinginSilesia,thisprovedtobethelast,inthepresentControversywhichhasenduredsolong。NothoughtoffightingisinDaun;farthereverse。Daunisgettingilloffforhorse—forageinhisMountains;theweatherisbaduponhim;wehear\"hehashad,forsometimepast,12,000laborers\"palisadingandfortifyingatthePassesofBohemia:\"TrucefortheWinter\"iswhatheproposes。TowhichtheKinganswers,\"No;unlessyouretirewhollywithinBohemiaandGlatzCountry:\"thisatpresentDaungrudgedtodo;butwasforcedtoit,someweeksafterwards,bythesleetsandthesnows,hadtherebeennootherpressure。Inaboutthreeweekshence,Friedrich,leavingBevernincommandhere,andaSilesiamoreorlessadjusted,madeforSaxony;whitherimportantreinforcementshadprecededhim,——reinforcementsunderGeneralWied,theinstantitwaspossible。Saxonyhehadlongregardedasthegrandpoint,wereSchweidnitzover:\"RecaptureDresden,andtheywillhavetogiveusPeacethisveryWinter!\"Daun,alsowithreinforcements,followedhimtoSaxony,asusual;butneverquitearrived,orelsefoundmatterssettledonarriving;——andwillnotrequirefarthermentioninthisHistory。Hediedsomethreeyearshence,age60;[\"5thFebruary,1766;\"\"born24thSeptember,1705\"

  (HormayrOEster—reichischerPlutarch,ii。

  80—111)。]anhonorable,imperturbable,eupeptickindofman,sufficientlyknowntoreadersbythistime。

  FriedrichdidnotrecaptureDresden;farenoughfromthat,——thoughPeacecameallthesame。HardlyaweekafterourrecoveryofSchweidnitz,StollbergandhisReichsfolk,especiallyhisAustrians,becameunexpectedlypertuponHenri;pressedforward(October15th),inoverpoweringforce,intohisPostsaboutFreyberg,PretschendorfandthatsouthwesternReich—wardpart:

  \"NomoreinvadingsofBohemiafromyou,Monseigneur;nomoretormentingsoftheReich;hereisotherworkforyou,myPrince!\"——

  andinspiteofallPrinceHenricoulddo,drovehimback,clearoutofFreyberg;northwestward,towardsHulsenandhisreserves。

  [BerichtvondemAngriffsoam15tenOctober,1762,vanderReichs—ArmeeaufdieKongilich—PreussischenunterdemPrinzenHeinrichgeschehen(Seyfarth,Beylagen,iii。362—364)。AusfuhrlicherBerichtvonderden15tenOctober,1762,beyBrandvorgefallenenAction

  (Ib。iii。350—362)。Tempelhof,vi。238。]Givinghim,inthismanner,whatsoldierscallaslap;slapwhichmighthavebeenmoreconsiderable,hadthoseStollbergpeoplefolloweditupwithemphasis。Buttheydidnot;soalertwasHenri。Henriatonceralliedbeautifullyfromhisslap(King’sreinforcementscomingtoo,aswehavesaid);and,intendays’time,withoutanyreinforcement,paidStollbergandCompanybyastunningblow:

  BATTLEOFFREYBERG(October29th),——whichmustnotgowithoutmention,wereitonlyasPrinceHenri’ssoleBattle,andthelastofthisWar。Preparatorytowhichanditssequel,letusglanceagainatDukeFerdinandandtheEnglish—Frenchposture,——alsoforthelasttime。

  CANNONADEATAMONEBURG(2lstSeptember,1762)。\"ThecontroversiesaboutrightorleftbankoftheFuldahavebeensettledlongsinceinFerdinand’sfavor;whoproceedednexttoblockadethevariousFrenchstrongholdsinHessen;Marburg,Ziegenhayn,especiallyCassel;withaneyetobesiegingthesame,androotingtheFrenchpermanentlyout。Topreventordelaywhich,whatcanSoubiseandD’EstreesdobutsendfortheirsecondarysmallerArmy,whichisintheLower—RhineCountryunderaPrincedeConde,mostlyidleatpresent,tocomeandjointheminthecriticalregionshere。

  WhereuponnewControversyshiftingwestwardtotheMaynandNidda—

  LahnCountry,toachievesaidJunctionandtohinderit。

  Junctionwasnottobehindered。TheD’Estrees—SoubisepeopleandyoungCondemadegoodmanoeuvring,handsomefightonoccasion;

  sothatinspiteofalltheErbprinzcoulddo,theygothandsjoined;fartoostrongfortheErbprinzthenceforth;andonthelastnightofAugustwereallfairlytogether,head—quarterFriedberginFrankfurtCountry(athirtymilesnorthofFrankfurt);

  andwereearnestlyconsideringthenownothopelessquestion,’How,orbywhatroutesandmethods,pushtonorthwestward,getthroughtothoseblockadedHessianStrong—places,Casselespecially;

  andhinderFerdinand’sbesiegingthem,andquiteoutrootingusthere?’

  \"Thisisadifficultquestion,butavital。’SweeprapidlypastFerdinand,——cannotwe?Wellfrontwardoreastwardofhim,dexterouslyacrosstheLahnanditsBranches(ourlightpeoplearetorearofhim,onthissideoftheFulda,betweentheFuldaandhim):oncejoinedwiththoselightpeoplebysuchmethods,wehaveCasselahead,Ferdinandtorear,andwillmakeshortworkwiththeblockades,——theblockadeswillhavetoriseinahurry!’ThiswastheplandevisedbyD’Estrees;andrapidlysetabout;butitwasseeninto,atthefirststep,byFerdinand,whoprovedstillmorerapiduponit。Campings,counter—campings,crossingsoftheLahnbyD’Estreespeople,thenrecrossingsofit,ensuedforaboveafortnight;whicharenotformentionhere:infine,aboutthemiddleofSeptember,theD’EstreesEnterprisehadplainlybecomeimpossible,unlessitcouldgetacrosstheOhm,——aneastern,orwide—circlingnortheasternBranchoftheLahn,——where,ontherightoreasternbankofwhich,asbetterforhimthantheLahnitselfinthispart,Ferdinandnowis。’AcrosstheOhm:andthat,howcanthatbedone,theprovidentFerdinandhavinglaidholdofOhm,andsecuredeverypassofit,severaldaysago!PerhapsbyaSurprisal;

  byextremedespatch?’

  \"AmoneburgisapleasantlittleTown,aboutthirtymileseastofMarburg,——inwhichlatterwehavebeen,inveryoldtimes;lookingafterSt。Elizabeth,TeutschRitters,PhiliptheMagnanimousandotherobjects。AmoneburgstandsontheleftorwesternbankoftheOhm,withanoldSchlossinit,andaBridgenearby;bothofwhich,Ferdinand,theleftorsouthmostwingofwhosePositionontheotherbankofOhmishereabouts,hasmadedueseizureof。

  SeizureoftheBridge,firstofall,——BridgewithaMillatit(which,inconsequence,iscalledBRUCKEN—MUHLE,Bridge—Mill),——attheeasternendofthisthereisastrongRedoubt,withtheBridge—

  wayblockedandrammedaheadofit;thereFerdinandhasput200

  men;500moreareacrossinAmoneburganditsoldCastle。Unlessbysurprisalandextremedespateh,thereisclearlynohope!

  Ferdinand’shead—quarterissevenoreightmilestonorthwestofthishisBrucken—Muhleandextremeleft;nexttoBrucken—MuhleisZastrow’sDivision;next,again,isGranby’s;severalDivisionsbetweenFerdinandandit;’Doitbysurprisal,byutmostforceofvehemency!’saytheFrench。Andaccordingly,\"SEPTEMBER21st[dayoftheEquinox,1762],Anhourbeforesunrise,therebegan,quiteonthesudden,avividattackontheBrucken—

  MuhleandonAmoneburg,bycannon,bymusketry,byallmethods;

  and,inspiteofthealertandcompletelyobstinateresistance,wouldnotcease;but,onthecontrary,seemedtobeontheincreasinghand,newcannon,newmusketries;andwenton,hourafterhour,everthemorevivid。Sothat,about8inthemorning,afterthreehoursofthis,Zastrow,withhisDivision,hadtointervene:torangehimselfontheHill—topbehindthisBrucken—

  Muhle;replacetheafflicted200(manyofthemhurt,notafewkilled)byafresh200ofhisown;whoagainneededtoberelievedbeforelong。FortheFrench,whomZastrowhadtoimitateinthatrespect,keptbringingupmorecannon,evermore,asiftheywouldbringupallthecannonoftheirArmy:andthererosebetweenZastrowandthemsuchacannonade,forlengthandloudnesstogether,ashadnotbeenheardinthisWar。Mostfuriouscannonading,musketading;andseeminglynoendtoit。

  Ferdinandhimselfcameovertoascertain;founditahotthingindeed。Zastrowhadtorelievehis200everyhour:’Don’tgodowninrank,younewones,’orderedhe——’slide,leap,descendthehill—

  faceinscatteredform:rankatthebottom!’——andgenerallyabouthalfoftheold200wereleftdeadorlamedbytheirhour’swork。

  ’TheyintendtohavethisBridgefromusatanycost,’thinksFerdinand;’andatanycosttheyshallnot!’And,intheend,ordersGranbyforwardinroomofZastrow,whohashadsomeeighthoursofitnow;andrideshometolookafterhismainquarters。

  \"Itwasabout4intheafternoonwhenGranbyandhisEnglishcameintothefire;andIratherthinktheFrenchonslaughtwas,ifanything,morefuriousthanever:——Despairstridingvisiblyforwardonit,orsomethingtoolikeDespair。Amoneburgtheyhadbatteredtopieces,WallandSchloss,sothatthe500hadtogroundarms:

  butnotaninchofwayhadtheymadeupontheBridge,norwereliketomake。Granbycontinuedontheoldplan,plyingallhisdiligencesandartilleries;needingthemall。Fierceworktoadegree:’200ofyougodownonwings’(inanhourabout100willcomeback)!InEnglishFamiliesyouwillstillhearsomevaguememoryofAmoneburg,Howwehadbuiltwallsofthedead,andfiredfrombehindthem,——Frenchmoreandmorefurious,wemoreandmoreobstinate。Granbyhadstillfourhoursofit;sunset,twilight,dusk;about8,theFrench,inwhatspiritsIcanguess,ceased,andwenttheirways。Bridgeimpossible;gameup。Theyhadlost,bytheirownaccount,1,100killedandwounded;Ferdinandprobablynotfewer。\"[Mauvillon,ii。251;Helden—Geschichte,vii。432—439。]

  Andinthisloudpeal,whatnonecouldyetknow,theFrench—EnglishpartoftheSeven—YearsWarhadended。TheFrenchattemptednothingfarther;huttedthemselveswheretheywere,andwaitedinthepouringrains:Ferdinandalsohuttedhimself,inguardoftheOhm;

  whilehispeoplepliedtheirSiege—batteriesonCassel,onZiegenhayn,cannonadingtheirbestinthebadweather;——tookCassel,didnotquitetakeZiegenhayn,haditbeenofmoment;——andforabovesixweekscoming(tillNovember7th—14th[PreliminariesofPeaceSIGNED,\"Paris,November3d;\"knowntoFrenchGenerals\"November7th;\"not,OFFICIALLY,toFerdinandtill\"November14th\"

  (Mauvillon,ii。257)。]),nothingmorebutskirmishingsandsmallscuffles,notworthawordfromus,felloutbetweentheTwoPartiesthere。ThatCannonadeoftheBrucken—Muhlehadbeenfinis。

  ForsupremeBute,carelessofthegoodnewscominginonhimfromWestandfromEast,orevenratherembarrassedbythem,hadsometimeagostarteddecisivelyuponthePeaceNegotiation。

  \"September5th,\"threeweeksbeforethatofAmoneburg,\"theDukeofBedford,Bute’sPlenipotentiary,setouttowardsParis,——

  considerablyhissedonthestreetherebyasulkypopulation,\"itwouldseem;——\"butsureofsuccessinParis。ButesharedinnoneofthenationaltriumphsofthisYear。ThetransportsofrejoicingwhichburstoutonthenewsofHavana\"wereasorrowanddistresstohim。[Walpole’sGeorgetheThird,

  ii。191。]\"Havana,whatshallwedowithit?\"thoughthe;andforhisownshareansweredstiffly,\"Nothingwithit;flingitbacktothem!\"——tillsomeconsortofhispersuadedhimFloridawouldlookbetter。[Thackeray,ii。11。]OfManillaandthePhilippineshedidnotevenheartillPeacewasconcluded;hadmadetheMostCatholicCarlosapresentofthatColony,——whowouldnotevenpayoursoldierstheirManillaRansom,astoodisagreeable。SuchistheBute,suchandnoother,whomthesatiricalFateshaveappointedtocrownandfinishofftheheroicDay’s—workofsuchaPitt。Letus,ifwecanhelpit,speaknomoreofhim!FriedrichwritesbeforeleavingforSaxony:\"ThePeacebetweentheEnglishandtheFrenchismuchfartheroffthanwasthought;——somanyoppositionsdotheSpaniardsraise,orratherdotheFrench,——busydupingthisbuzzardofanEnglishMinister,whohasnotcommonsense。\"[Schoning,iii。

  480(ToHenri:\"Peterswaldau,17thOctober,1762\")。]Neverfear,yourMajesty:amanwithHavanasandManillasofthatkindtoflingaboutatrandom,iscertaintobringPeace,ifresolvedonit!——

  Wesaid,PrinceHenriralliedbeautifullyfromhislittleslapandlossofFreyberg(October15th),andthattheKingwassendingWiedwithreinforcementstohim。Infact,PrinceHenriofhimselfwasallalertness,andinstantlyappearedontheHeightsagain;

  seeminglyquiteinsanguinaryhumor,andcourtingBattle,muchmorethanwasyetreallythecase。WhichcowedStollbergfrommeddlingwithhimfarther,ashemighthavedone。NotforsometendayshadHenrifinishedhisarrangements;andthen,undercloudofnight(28th—29thOCTOBER,1762),hedidbreakforwardonthoseSpittelwaldsandMichael’sMounts,andmultipleximpregnabilitiesaboutFreyberg,inwhatwasthoughtaveryshiningmanner。

  TheBATTLEOFFREYBERG,Ithink,isfiveorsixmileslong,allonthewest,andfinallyonthesouthwestsideofFreyberg(northandnorthwestsides,withsomanybatteriesandfortifiedvillages,arejudgedunattackable);andthemainstress,veryheavyforsometime,layintheabatisoftheSpittelwald(whereSeidlitzwassublime),andabouttherootsofSt。Michael’sMount(theTOPofitStollberg,orsomefoolishGeneralofStollberg’s,hadleftempty;

  nobodytherewhenwereachedthetop),——downfromwhich,Freybergnowlyingfreeaheadofus,andtheSpittelwaldonourleftnowalsoours,wetakeStollberginrear,andturnhiminsideout。

  TheBattlelastedonlythreehours,tillStollbergandhisMaguires,CampitellisandAustrians(especiallyhisReichsfolk,whodidnoworkatall,exceptatlastrunning),wereallunderway;

  andthehopesofsomeSaxonVictorytobalanceone’sdisgracesinSilesiahadaltogethervanished。[Beschreibungderam29stenOctober,1762,beyFreybergvorgefallenenSchlacht(Seyfarth,Beylagen,iii。365—376)。

  Tempelhof,vi。235—258;Helden—Geschichte,

  vii。177—181。]

  OfAustriansandReichsfolktogetherIdimlycountabout40,000inthisAction;PrinceHenriseemstohavebeenwellunder30,000。

  [\"29battalions,60squadrons,\"VERSUS\"49battalions,68

  squadrons\"(Schoning,iii。499)。]IwillgivePrinceHenri’sDESPATCHtohisBrother(amostmodestPiece);andcannotaffordtosaymoreofthematter,——exceptthat\"Wegfurth,\"whereHenrigetsonmarchthenightbefore,lies8ormoremileswest—by—northofFreybergandtheSpittelwald,andisaboutasfarstraightsouthfromHainichen,Gellert’sbirthplace,whoafterwardsgottheWar—

  horsenowcomingintoaction,——Isometimesthink,withwhatsurprisetothatquadruped!

  PRINCEHENRITOTHEKING(Battlejustdone;KingontheroadfromSilesiahither,LettermeetshimatLowenberg)。

  \"FREYBERG,29thOctober,1762。

  \"MYDEARESTBROTHER,——Itisahappinessformetosendyoutheagreeablenews,ThatyourArmyhasthisdaygainedaconsiderableadvantageoverthecombinedAustrianandReichsArmy。Imarchedyesternight;IhadgotonthroughWegfurth,leavingSpittelwald[Tempelhof,p。237。]tomyleft,withintenttoseize[storm,ifnecessary]theHeightofSt。Michael,——whenIcameupontheEnemy’sArmy。Imadetwotrueattacks,andtwofalse:theEnemyresistedobstinately;butthesustainedvalorofyourtroopsprevailed:

  and,afterthreehoursinfire,theEnemywasobligedtoyieldeverywhere。Idon’tyetknowthenumberofPrisoners;buttheremustbeabove4,000:——theReichsArmyhaslostnexttonothing;

  thestressofeffortfelltotheAustrianshare。WehavegotquantitiesofCannonandFlags;Lieutenant—GeneralRothoftheReichsArmyisamongourPrisoners。Ireckonwehavelostfrom2to3,000men;amongthemnoOfficerofmark。Lieutenant—GeneralvonSeidlitzrenderedmethehighestservices;inaplacewheretheCavalrycouldnotact[borderoftheSpittelwald,anditsimpassableentanglementsandobstinacies],heputhimselfattheheadoftheInfantry,anddidsignalservices[hisBattlemainly,schemingandall,saysomeill—naturedprivateaccounts];

  GeneralsBellingandKleist[renownedColonelsknowntous,nowbecomeMajor—Generals]didtheirverybest。AlltheInfantrywasadmirable;notonebattalionyieldedground。MyAide—de—Camp[Kalkreuth,afamousmanintheNapoleontimeslongafter],whobringsyouthis,hadchargeofassistingtoconducttheattackthroughtheSpittelwald[anddiditwell,wecansuppose]:if,onthatground,youpleasedtohavethegoodnesstoadvancehim,I

  shouldhavemyhumblethankstogiveyou。ThereareagoodmanyOfficerswhohavedistinguishedthemselvesandbehavedwithcourage,forwhomIshallpresentsimilarrequests。Youwillpermitmetopaythosewhohavetakencannonsandflags(100ducatspercannon,50perflag,orwhateverthetariffwas:——\"Byallmannerofmeans!\"hisMajestywouldanswer]。

  \"TheEnemyisretiringtowardsDresdenandDippoldiswalde。Iamsendingathisheelsthisnight,andshallheartheresult。

  MyAide—de—Campisacquaintedwithall,andwillbeabletorenderyouaccountofeverythingyoumaywishtoknowinregardtoourpresentcircumstances。GeneralWied,Ibelieve,willcrossElbeto—morrow[GeneralWied,with10,000tohelpus,——forwhomitwastoodangeroustowait,orperhapstherewasaspuronone’sownmind?];hisarrivalwouldbe[not\"wouldhavebeen:\"CELA

  VIENDRAIT,notevenVIENDRA]veryopportuneforme。Iam,withallattachment,mydearestBrother,——yourmostdevotedServantandBrother,——HENRI。\"[Schoning,iii。491,492。]

  To—morrow,incipher,goesthefollowingDespatch:——

  \"FREYBERG,30thOctober,1762。

  \"GeneralWied[notyetcometohand,orevengotacrossElbe]

  informsme,ThatPrinceAlbertofSaxony[pushinghitherwithreinforcement,sentbyDaun]musthavecrossedElbeyesterdayatPirna[didnotshowfacehere,withhislargereinforcementstothem,orwhatwouldhavebecomeofus!];——andthatforthisreasonhe,Wied,musthimselfcross;whichhewillto—morrow。ThesamedayIamtobejoinedbysomebattalionsfromGeneralHulsen;andthedayafterto—morrow,whenGeneralWied[comingbyMeissenBridge,itappears]shallhavereachedtheKatzenhauser,thewholeofGeneralHulsen’stroopswilljoinme。DirectlythereuponIshall——\"

  [Schoning,p。493。]OrnomoreofthatsecondDespatch;Friedrich’sLETTERINRESPONSEisbetterworthgiving:——

  \"LOWENBERG,2dNovember,1762。

  \"MYDEARBROTHER,——ThearrivalofKalkreuter[sohepersistsincallinghim],andofyourLetter,mydearBrother,hasmademetwenty[nottosayforty]yearsyounger:yesterdayIwassixty,to—dayhardlyeighteen。IblessHeavenforpreservingyouinhealth(BONNESANTE,\"sowetermescapeoflesioninfight);\"andthatthingshavepassedsohappily!Youtookthegoodstepofattackingthosewhomeanttoattackyou;and,byyourgoodandsolidmeasures(DISPOSITIONS),youhaveovercomeallthedifficultiesofastrongPostandavigorousresistance。ItisaservicesoimportantrenderedbyyoutotheState,thatIcannotenoughexpressmygratitude,andwillwaittodoitinperson。

  \"KalkreuterwillexplainwhatmotionsI——……IfFortunefavorourviewsonDresden[whichitcannotintheleast,atthislateseason],weshallindubitablyhavePeacethisWinterornextSpring,——andgethonorablyoutofadifficultandperilousconjuncture,wherewehaveoftenseenourselveswithintwostepsoftotaldestruction。And,bythiswhichyouhavenowdone,toyoualonewillbelongthehonorofhavinggiventhefinalstroketoAustrianObstinacy,andlaidthefoundationsofthePublicHappiness,whichwillbetheconsequenceofPeace。——F。\"[Ib。iii。

  495,496。]

  Twodaysafterthis,November4th,FriedrichisinMeissen;

  November9th,hecomesacrosstoFreyberg;haspleasantday,——

  pleasantsurveyoftheBattle—field,HenriandSeidlitzescortingasguides。Henri,infurtheranceoftheDresdenproject,hasKleistoutontheBohemianMagazines,——\"ThatistheonewaytoclearDresdenneighborhoodofEnemies!\"thinksHenrialways。KleistburnstheconsiderablemagazineofSaatz;findsthegrandoneofLeitmeritztoowellguardedforhim:——uponwhich,insuchsnowdriftsandsleetydeluges,isnotDresdenplainlyimpossible,yourMajesty?Impossible,Friedrichadmits,——theratherashenowseesPeacetobecomingwithoutthat。FreyberghasatlastbrokenthebackofAustrianObstinacy。\"GoinupontheReich,\"FriedrichnowordersKleist,theinstantKleistishomefromhisBohemianinroad:\"InupontheReich,with6,000,inyouroldstyle!ThatwilldisposetheReichsPrincipalitiestoPeace。\"

  KleistmarchedNovember3d;kepttheReichinparoxysmtillDecember13th;——Plotho,meanwhile,proclaimingintheReichsDiet:

  \"SuchReichsPrincesaswishforPeacewithmyKingcanhaveit;

  thosethatpreferWar,theytoocanhaveit!\"Kleist,dividinghimselfinthedueartisticway,flewovertheVoigtland,ontoBamberg,ontoNurnbergitself(whichhetook,bysoundingrams’—

  horns,asitwere,havingnogunheavierthanacarbine,andheldforaweek);[Helden—Geschichte,vii。

  186—194。]——flutteringtheReichsDietnotalittle,anddisposingeverybodyforPeace。TheAustrianssawitwithpleasure,\"Wesolemnlyengagedtosavethesepoorpeopleharmless,ontheirjoiningus;——and,behold,ithasbecomethriceandfourtimesimpossible。LetthemfalloffintoPeace,likeripepears,ofthemselves;wecanthenturnroundandsay,’Saveyouharmless?

  Yes;ifyouhadn’tfallenoff!’\"

  NOVEMBER24th,allAustriansmaketrucewithFriedrich,TrucetillMarch1st;——allAustrians,andwhatissingular,withnomentionoftheReichwhatever。TheReichisdefenceless,atthefeetofKleistandhis6,000。StollbergisstillinPrussianneighborhood;andmaybepickedupanyday!StollberghastensofftodefendtheReich;

  findstheReichquiteemptyofenemiesbeforehisarrival;——andatleastsaveshisownskin。Amonthortwomore,andStollbergwilllaydownhisCommand,andthelastReichs—ExecutionArmy,playingFarce—Tragedysolong,makeitsexitfromtheTheatreofthisWorld。

  ChapterXIII。

  PEACEOFHUBERTSBURG。

  ThePrussiantroopstookWinter—quartersintheMeissen—Freybergregion,theoldSaxonground,familiartothemforthelastthreeyears:roomenoughthisWinter,\"fromPlauenandZwickau,roundbyLangensalzaagain;\"Trucewitheverybody,andnothingofdisturbancetillMarch1statsoonest。Theusualrecruitingwenton,orwaspreparingtogoon,——apartofwhichtookimmediateeffect,asweshallsee。Recruiting,refitting,\"BereadyforanewCampaign,inanycase:thereadierweare,thelessourchanceofhavingone!\"Friedrich’shead—quarterisLeipzig;buttillDecember5thhedoesnotgetthither。\"Morebusinessonmethanever!\"

  complainshe。AtLeipzighehadhisNephews,hisD’Argens;foraweekortwohisBrotherHenri;finally,hisBerlinMinisters,especiallyHerzberg,whenactualPeacecametobethematterinhand。Henri,beforethat,hadgonehome:\"Peacebeingnowthelikelihood;——Home;andrecruitone’spoorhealth,atBerlin,amongfriends!\"

  BeforegettingtoLeipzig,theKingpaidaflyingVisitatGotha;——

  probablynowtheonefractionofthesemanifoldWintermovementsandemployments,inwhichreaderscouldtakeinterest。Ofthis,astherehappenstobesomerecordleftofit,hereiswhatwillsuffice。FromMeissen,FriedrichwritestohisbrightGrand—

  Duchess,alwaysabright,highandnoblecreatureinhiseyes:

  \"Authorizedbyyourapproval[haspolitelyinquiredbeforehand],I

  shallhavetheinfinitesatisfactionofpayingmydutiesonDecember3d[fourdayshence],andofreiteratingtoyou,Madam,myliveliestandsincerestassurancesofesteemandfriendship……

  SomeofmyCommissariatpeoplehavebeenmisbehaving?

  Strictinquiryshallbehad,\"[TotheGrand—Duchess,\"Meissen,29thNovember\"(OEuvresdeFrederic,xviii。

  199)。]——andwesoonfindWAS。ButtheVisitisourfirstthing。

  TheVisittookplaceaccordingly;Seidlitz,amanknowninGothaeversincehisfinescenic—militaryprocedurestherein1757,accompaniedtheKing。Ofthelucentindividualitiesinvitedtomeethim,allarenowlosttome,exceptonePutter,areallylearnedGottingenProfessor(deepinREICHS—HISTORYandthelike),whomtheDuchesshassummonedover。BythedimlucencyofPutter,fainttomostofusasarushlightintheactofgoingout,theavailablepartofourimaginationmusttrytofigure,inakindofObliterated—Rembrandtway,thisgloriousEvening;fortherewasbutone,——December3d—4th,——Friedrichhavingtoleaveearlyonthe4th。

  HereisPutter’srecord,giveninthethirdperson:——

  \"Duringdinner,Putter,honorablypresentamongthespectatorsofthishighbusiness,wasbeckonedbytheDuchesstostepneartheKing[righthandorleft,Putterdoesnotsay];buttheKinggraciouslyturnedround,andconversedwithPutter。\"

  TheKingsaid:——

  KING。\"InGermanHistorymuchisstillburied;manyimportantDocumentsliehiddeninMonasteries。\"Putteranswered\"schicklich——

  fitly;\"thatisallweknowofPutter’sanswer。

  KING(thereupon)。\"OfBooksonReichs—HistoryIknowonlythePERE

  BARRI。\"[BarrideBeaumarchais,10vols。4to,Paris,1748:Ibelieve,anextremelyfeeblePillarofWill—o’—WispsbyNight;——asIcanexpresslytestifyPfeffeltobe(Pfeffel,AbregeChronologiquedel’Histoired’Allemagne,2vols。4to,Paris,1776),whohassucceededBarriasPatentGuidethroughthatvastSYLVASYLVARUMauditspathlessintricacies,fortheinquiringFrenchandEnglish。]

  PUTTER……\"Foreignershaveformostpartknownonly,inregardtoourHistory,aLatinworkwrittenbyStruveatJena。\"

  [BurkhardGotthelfStruve,SyntagmaHistoriaeGermanicus(1730,2vols。folio)。]

  KING。\"Struv,Struvius;himIdon’tknow。\"

  PUTTER。\"ItisapityBarrihadnotknownGerman。\"

  KING。\"BarriwasaLorrainer;BarrimusthaveknownGerman!\"——ThenturningtotheDuchess,onthishintabouttheGermanLanguage,hetoldher,\"inaringingmerrytone,How,atLeipzigonce,hehadtalkedwithGottsched[talkknowntous]onthatsubject,andhadsaidtohim,ThattheFrenchhadmanyadvantages;amongothers,thatawordcouldoftenbeusedinacomplexsignification,forwhichyouhadinGermantoscrapetogetherseveraldifferentexpressions。UponwhichGottschedhadsaid,’Wewillhavethatmended(DASWOLLENWIRNOCHMACHEN)!’ThesewordstheKingrepeatedtwiceorthrice,withsuchatonethatyoucouldwellseehowtheman’sconceithadstruckhim;\"——andinshort,asweknowalready,whatagiganticentity,consistingofwindmainly,hetookthiselevatedGottschedtobe。

  Uponwhich,Putterretiresintothehonoraryranksagain;

  silent,atleasttous,andinvisible;astherestofthisRoyalEveningatGothais。[\"Putter’sSelbstbiographie(Autobiography),p。406:\"citedinPreuss,ii。277n。]

  Here,however,istheLetterfollowingonittwodaysafter:——

  FRIEDRICHTOTHEDUCHESSOFSACHSEN—GOTHA。

  \"LEIPZIG,6thDecember,1762。

  \"MADAM,——Ishouldneverhavedone,myadorableDuchess,ifI

  renderedyouaccountofalltheimpressionswhichthefriendshipyoulavishedonmehasmadeonmyheart。Icouldwishtoansweritbyenteringintoeverythingthatcanbeagreeabletoyou[conductofmyRecruitersorCommissariatpeoplefirstofall]。ItakethelibertyofforwardingtheANSWERSwhichhavecomeintotheTwoMEMOIRESyousentme。Iammortified,Madam,ifIhavenotbeenabletofulfilcompletelyyourdesires:butifyouknewthesituationIamin,Iflattermyselfyouwouldhavesomeconsiderationforit。

  \"Ihavefoundmyselfhere[inLeipzig,aselsewhere]overwhelmedwithbusiness,andeventoadegreeIhadnotexpected。

  Meanwhile,ifIevercanmanageagaintorunoverandpayyouinpersonthehomageofaheartwhichismoreattachedtoyouthanthatofyournearrelations,assuredlyIwillnotneglectthefirstopportunitythatshallpresentitself。

  \"MessieurstheEnglish[Bute,BedfordandCompany,withtheirPreliminariessigned,andallmyWestphalianProvincesleftinaconditionweshallhearof]continuetobetray。PoorM。Mitchellhashadastrokeofapoplexyonhearingit。Itisahideousthing(CHOSEAFFREUSE);butIwillspeakofitnomore。Mayyou,Madam,enjoyalltheprosperitiesthatIwishforyou,andnotforgetaFriend,whowillbetillhisdeath,withsentimentsofthehighestesteemandthemostperfectconsideration,——Madam,yourHighness’smostfaithfulCousinandServant,FRIEDRICH。\"

  [OEuvresdeFrederic,xzvii。201。]

  Forafortnightpast,FriedrichhashadnodoubtthatgeneralPeaceisnowactuallyathand。November25th,tendaysbeforethisvisit,aSaxonPrivy—Councillor,BaronvonFritsch,who,byOrderfromhisCourt,hadprivatelybeenatViennaontheerrand,cameprivatelynext,withallspeed,toFriedrich(Meissen,November25th):

  [Rodenbeck,ii。193。]\"AustriawillingforTreaty;isyourMajestywilling?\"\"Thrice—willing,I;mytermswellknown!\"Friedrichwouldanswer,——gladdestofmankindtoseegeneralPacificationcomingtothisvexedEarthagain。TheDanceoftheFuries,waltzingitselfoff,HOMEoutofthisuppersunlight:themadBellonasteedsplungingdown,down,towardstheirAbyssesagain,foraseason!——

  ThiswasaresultwhichFriedrichhadforeseenasnearlycertaineversincetheFrenchandEnglishsignedtheirPreliminaries。

  Andtherewasonlyonethingwhichgavehimanxiety;thatofhisRhineProvincesandStrongPlaces,especiallyWesel,whichhavebeeninFrenchhandsforsixyearspast,eversinceSpring,1757。

  ButestipulatesThatthoseplacesandcountriesshallbeevacuatedbyhisChoiseul,assoonasweatherandpossibilitypermit;

  butBute,astonishingtosay,hasnotmadetheleaststipulationastowhomtheyaretobedeliveredto,——alliesorenemies,itisallonetoBute。Trulyratherashamefulomission,Pittmightindignantlythink,——andcallthewholebusinesssteadily,ashepersistedtodo,\"ashamefulPeace,\"hadtherebeennootherarticleinitbutthis;——asFriedrich,withatleastequalemphasisthoughtandfelt。And,infact,ithadthrownhimintoverygreatembarrassment,onthefirstemergenceofit。

  ForherImperialMajestybeganstraightwaytodrawtroopsintothoseneighborhoods:\"WEwilltakedelivery,ourAlliesplayingintoourhand!\"AndFriedrich,whohadnodisposabletroops,hadtodevisesomerapidexpedient;anddid。SethisFree—Corpsagentsandrecruitersinmotion:\"EnlistmethoseLightpeopleofDukeFerdinand’s,whoareallgettingdischarged;especiallythatBRITANNICLEGIONsocalled。Alltobedischarged;re—enlistthem,you;Ferdinandwillkeepthemtillyoudoit。Beswift!\"Anditisdone;——asmallbitofactualenlistmentamongthemanyprospectivethatweregoingon,aswenoticedabove。Precisedateofitnotgiven;musthavebeensoonafterNovember3d。Therewerefrom5to6,000ofthem;anditwaspromptlydone。Dividedintovariousregiments;chiefcommandofthemgiventoaColonelBauer,underwhomaColonelBeckwithwhosenamewehaveheard:these,tothesurpriseofImperialMajesty,andalarmofapacificVersailles,suddenlyappearedintheCleveCountries,handyforWesel,forGeldern;insuchposts,andinsuchforceandconditionasintimated,\"Itshallbewe,underfavor,thattakedelivery!\"

  SnatchWeselfromthem,somenight,swordinhand:thathadbeenBauer’snotion;butnothingofthatkindwasfoundnecessary;

  meredemonstrationprovedsufficient。TotheFrenchGarrisonstheonethingneedfulwastogetawayinpeace;Bauerwithhisbrowsgloomyisadangerousneighbor。PerhapstheFrenchOfficersthemselvesratherfavoredFriedrichthanhisenemies。Enough,aprivateagreement,ormutualunderstandingonwordofhonor,wascometo:and,verypublicly,atlength,onthe11thand12thdaysofMarch,1763(Peacenowsettledeverywhere),Wesel,ingreatgala,fulloffield—music,militarysalutationsandmutualdining,sawtheFrenchallfilingout,audBauerandpeoplefilingin,tothejoyofthatpoorTown。[Preuss,ii。342。]

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