History of Friedrich II of Prussia - Frederick the Great Chapter IX. - Friedrich Returns to Silesia.
by Thomas Carlyle
Friedrich stayed only three weeks at home; moving about, from
Berlin to Potsdam, to Reinsberg and back: all the gay world is in
Berlin, at this Carnival time; but Friedrich has more to do with
business, of a manifold and over-earnest nature, than with Carnival
gayeties. French Valori is here, "my fat Valori," who is beginning
to be rather a favorite of Friedrich's: with Excellency Valori, and
with the other Foreign Excellencies, there was diplomatic passaging
in these weeks; and we gather from Valori, in the inverse way
(Valori fallen sulky), that it was not ill done on Friedrich's
part. He had some private consultation with the Old Dessauer, too;
"probably on military points," thinks Valori. At least there was
noticed more of the drill-sergeant than before, in his handling of
the Army, when he returned to Silesia, continues the sulky one.
"Troops and generals did not know him again,"--so excessively
strict was he grown, on the sudden. And truly "he got into details
which were beneath, not only a Prince who has great views, but even
a simple Captain of Infantry,"--according to my (Valori's) military
notions and experiences! [Valori, i. 99.]--
The truth is, Friedrich begins to see, more clearly than he did
with GLOIRE dazzling him, that his position is an exceedingly grave
one, full of risk, in the then mood and condition of the world;
that he, in the whole world, has no sure friend but his Army;
and that in regard to IT he cannot be too vigilant! The world is
ominous to this youngest of the Kings more than to another.
Sounds as of general Political Earthquake grumble audibly to him
from the deeps: all Europe likely, in any event, to get to
loggerheads on this Austrian Pragmatic matter; the Nations all
watching HIM, to see what he will make of it:--fugleman he to the
European Nations, just about bursting up on such an adventure.
It may be a glorious position, or a not glorious; but, for certain,
it is a dangerous one, and awfully solitary!--
Fuglemen the world and its Nations always have, when simultaneously
bent any-whither, wisely or unwisely; and it is natural that the
most adventurous spirit take that post. Friedrich has not sought
the post; but following his own objects, has got it; and will be
ignominiously lost, and trampled to annihilation under the hoofs of
the world, if he do not mind! To keep well ahead;--to be rapid as
possible; that were good:--to step aside were still better!
And Friedrich we find is very anxious for that; "would be content
with the Duchy of Glogau, and join Austria;" but there is not the
least chance that way. His Special Envoy to Vienna, Gotter, and
along with him Borck the regular Minister, are come home;
all negotiation hopeless at Vienna; and nothing but indignant war-
preparation going on there, with the most animated diligence, and
more success than had seemed possible. That is the law of
Friedrich's Silesian Adventure: "Forward, therefore, on these
terms; others there are not: waste no words!" Friedrich recognizes
to himself what the law is; pushes stiffly forward, with a fine
silence on all that is not practical, really with a fine steadiness
of hope, and audacity against discouragements. Of his anxieties,
which could not well be wanting, but which it is royal to keep
strictly under lock and key, of these there is no hint to Jordan or
to anybody; and only through accidental chinks, on close scrutiny,
can we discover that they exist. Symptom of despondency, of
misgiving or repenting about his Enterprise, there is none
anywhere, Friedrich's fine gifts of SILENCE (which go deeper than
the lips) are noticeable here, as always; and highly they availed
Friedrich in leading his life, though now inconvenient to
Biographers writing of the same!--
It was not on matters of drill, as Valori supposes, that Friedrich
had been consulting with the Old Dessauer: this time it was on
another matter. Friedrich has two next Neighbors greatly
interested, none more so, in the Pragmatic Question: Kur-Sachsen,
Polish King, a foolish greedy creature, who is extremely uncertain
about his course in it (and indeed always continued so, now against
Friedrich, now for him, and again against); and Kur-Hanover, our
little George of England, whose course is certain as that of the
very stars, and direct against Friedrich at this time, as indeed,
at all times not exceptional, it is apt to be. Both these
Potentates must be attended to, in one's absence; method to be
gentle but effectual; the Old Dessauer to do it:--and this is what
these consultings had turned upon; and in a month or two, readers,
and an astonished Gazetteer world, will see what comes of them.
It was February 19th when Friedrich left Berlin; the 21st he spends
at Glogau, inspecting the Blockade there, and not ill content with
the measures taken: "Press that Wallis all you can," enjoins he:
"Hunger seems to be slow about it! Summon him again, were your new
Artillery come up; threaten with bombardment; but spare the Town,
if possible. Artillery is coming: let us have done here, and soon!"
Next day he arrives, not at Breslau as some had expected, but at
Schweidnitz sidewards; a strong little Town, at least an
elaborately fortified, of which we shall hear much in time coming.
It lies a day's ride west of Breslau: and will be quieter for
business than a big gazing Capital would be,--were Breslau even
one's own city; which it is not, though perhaps tending to be.
Breslau is in transition circumstances at present; a little
uncertain WHOSE it is, under its Munchows and new managers: Breslau
he did not visit at all on this occasion. To Schweidnitz certain
new regiments had been ordered, there to be disposed of in
reinforcing: there, "in the Count Hoberg's Mansion," he principally
lodges for six weeks to come; shooting out on continual excursions;
but always returning to Schweidnitz, as the centre, again.
Algarotti, home from Turin (not much of a success there, but always
melodious for talk), had travelled with him; Algarotti, and not
long after, Jordan and Maupertuis, bear him company, that the
vacant moments too be beautiful. We can fancy he has a very busy,
very anxious, but not an unpleasant time. He goes rapidly about,
visiting his posts,--chiefly about the Neisse Valley; Neisse being
the prime object, were the weather once come for siege-work. He is
in many Towns (specified in RODENBECK and the Books, but which may
be anonymous here); doubtless on many Steeples and Hill-tops;
questioning intelligent natives, diligently using his own eyes:
intent to make personal acquaintance with this new Country,--where,
little as he yet dreams of it, the deadly struggles of his Life lie
waiting him, and which he will know to great perfection before all
is done!
Neisse lies deep enough in Prussian environment; like Brieg, like
Glogau, strictly blockaded; our posts thereabouts, among the
Mountains, thought to be impregnable. Nevertheless, what new thing
is this? Here are swarms of loose Hussar-Pandour people, wild
Austrian Irregulars, who come pouring out of Glatz Country;
disturbing the Prussian posts towards that quarter; and do not let
us want for Small War (KLEINE KRIEG) so called. General Browne, it
appears, is got back to Glatz at this early season, he and a
General Lentulus busy there; and these are the compliments they
send! A very troublesome set of fellows, infesting one's purlieus
in winged predatory fashion; swooping down like a cloud of
vulturous harpies on the sudden; fierce enough, if the chance
favor; then to wing again, if it do not. Communication, especially
reconnoitring, is not safe in their neighborhood. Prussian
Infantry, even in small parties, generally beats them; Prussian
Horse not, but is oftener beaten,--not drilled for this rabble and
their ways. In pitched fight they are not dangerous, rather are
despicable to the disciplined man; but can, on occasion, do a great
deal of mischief.
Thus, it was not long after Friedrich's coming into these parts,
when he learnt with sorrow that a Body of "500 Horse and 500 Foot"
(or say it were only 300 of each kind, which is the fact [Orlich,
i. 79; OEuvres de Frederic, ii. 68.]) had
eluded our posts in the Mountains, and actually got into Neisse.
"The Foot will be of little consequence," writes Friedrich;
"but the Horse, which will disturb our communications, are a
considerable mischief." This was on the 5th of March. And about a
week before, on the 27th of February, there had well-nigh a far
graver thing befallen,--namely the capture of Friedrich himself,
and the sudden end of all these operations.
SKIRMISH OF BAUMGARTEN, 27th FEBRUARY, 1741.
In most of the Anecdote-Books there used to figure, and still does,
insisting on some belief from simple persons, a wonderful Story in
very vague condition: How once "in the Silesian Wars," the King, in
those Upper Neisse regions, in the Wartha district between Glatz
and Neisse, was, one day, within an inch of being taken,--clouds of
Hussars suddenly rising round him, as he rode reconnoitring, with
next to no escort, only an adjutant or so in attendance. How he
shot away, keeping well in the shade; and erelong whisked into a
Convent or Abbey, the beautiful Abbey of Kamenz in those parts;
and found Tobias Stusche, excellent Abbot of the place, to whom he
candidly disclosed his situation. How the excellent Tobias
thereupon instantly ordered the bells to be rung for a mass
extraordinary, Monks not knowing why; and, after bells, made his
appearance in high costume, much to the wonder of his Monks, with a
SECOND Abbot, also in high costume, but of shortish stature, whom
they never saw before or after. Which two Abbots, or at least
Tobias, proceeded to do the so-called divine office there and then;
letting loose the big chant especially, and the growl of organs, in
a singularly expressive manner. How the Pandours arrived in clouds
meanwhile; entered, in searching parties, more or less reverent of
the mass; searched high and low; but found nothing, and were
obliged to take Tobias's blessing at last, and go their ways.
How the Second Abbot thereupon swore eternal friendship with
Tobias, in the private apartments; and rode off as--as a rescued
Majesty, determined to be more cautious in Pandour Countries for
the future! [Hildebrandt, Anekdoten, i. 1-7.
Pandour proper is a FOOT-soldier (tall raw-boned ill-washed biped,
in copious Turk breeches, rather barish in the top parts of him;
carries a very long musket, and has several pistols and butcher's-
knives stuck in his girdle): specifically a footman; but readers
will permit me to use him withal, as here, in the generic sense.]--
Which story, as to the body of it, is all myth; though, as is
oftenest the case, there lies in it some soul of fact too.
The History-Books, which had not much heeded the little fact, would
have nothing to do with this account of it. Nevertheless the people
stuck to their Myth; so that Dryasdust (in punishment for his
sinful blindness to the human and divine significance of facts) was
driven to investigate the business; and did at last victoriously
bring it home to the small occurrence now called SKIRMISH OF
BAUMGARTEN, which had nearly become so great in the History of the
World,--to the following effect.
There are two Valleys with roads that lead from that Southwest
quarter of Silesia towards Glatz, each with a little Town at the
end of it, looking up into it: Wartha the name of the one:
Silberberg that of the other. Through the Wartha Valley, which is
southernmost, young Neisse River comes rushing down,--the blue
mountains thereabouts very pretty, on a clear spring day, says my
touring friend. Both at Wartha, and at Silberberg the little Town
which looks into the mouth of the northernmost Valley, the
Prussians have a post. Old Derschau, Malplaquet Derschau, with
headquarters at Frankenstein, some seven or eight miles nearer
Schweidnitz, has not failed in that precaution. Friedrich wished to
visit Silberberg and Wartha; set out accordingly, 27th February,
with small escort, carelessly as usual: the Pandour people had wind
of it; knew his habits on such occasions; and, gliding through
other roadless valleys, under an adventurous Captain, had
determined to whirl him off. And they were in fact not far from
succeeding, had not a mistake happened.
Silberberg, and Wartha the southernmost, which stands upon the
Neisse River (rushing out there into the plainer country), are each
about seven or eight miles from Frankenstein, the Head-quarters;
and there are relays of posts, capable of supporting one another,
all the way from Frankenstein to each. Friedrich rode to Silberberg
first; examined the post, found it right; then rode across to
Wartha, seven or eight miles southward; examined Wartha likewise;
after which, he sat down to dinner in that little Town, with an
Officer or two for company,--having, I suppose, found all right in
both the posts. In the way hither, he had made some change in the
relay arrangements, which at first involved some diminution of his
own escort, and then some marching about and redistributing:
so that, externally, it seemed as if the Principal Relay-party were
now marching on Baumgarten, an intermediate Village,--at least so
the Pandour Captain understands the movements going on; and
crouches into the due thickets in consequence, not doubting but the
King himself is for Baumgarten, and will be at hand presently.
Principal relay-party, a squadron of Schulenburg's Dragoons, with a
stupid Major over them, is not quite got into Baumgarten, when
"with horrible cries the Pandour Captain with about 500 horse,"
plunges out of cover, direct upon the throat of it: and Friedrich,
at Wartha, is but just begun dining when tumult of distant musketry
breaks in upon him. With Friedrich himself, at this time, as I
count, there might be 150 Horse; in Wartha post itself are at least
"forty hussars and fifty foot." By no means "nothing but a single
adjutant," as the Myth bears.
The stupid Major ought to have beaten this rabble, though above two
to one of him. But he could not, though he tried considerably;
on the contrary, he was himself beaten; obliged to make off,
leaving "ten dragoons killed, sixteen prisoners, one standard and
two kettle-drums:"--victorv and all this plunder, ye Pandour
gentry; but evidently no King. The Pandour gentry, on the instant,
made off too, alarm being abroad; got into some side-valley, with
their prisoners and drum-and-standard honors, and vanished from
view of mankind.
Friedrich had started from dinner; got his escort under way, with
the forty hussars and the fifty foot, and what small force was
attainable; and hurried towards the scene. He did see, by the road,
another strongish party of Pandours; dashed them across the Neisse
River out of sight;--but, getting to Baumgarten, found the field
silent, and ten dead men upon it. "I always told you those
Schulenburg Dragoons were good for nothing!" writes he to the Old
Dessauer; but gradually withal, on comparing notes, finds what a
danger he had run, and how rash and foolish he had been.
"An ETOURDERIE (foolish trick)," he calls it, writing to Jordan;
"a black eye;" and will avoid the like. Vienna got its two kettle-
drums and flag; extremely glad to see them; and even sang TE-DEUM
upon them, to general edification. [Orlich, i. 62-64.] This is the
naked primordial substance out of which the above Myth grew to its
present luxuriance in the popular imagination. Place, the little
Village of Baumgarten; day, 27th February, 1741. Of Tobias Stusche
or the Convent of Kamenz, not one authentic word on this occasion.
Tobias did get promotions, favors in coming years: a worthy Abbot,
deserving promotion on general grounds; and master of a Convent
very picturesque, but twelve miles from the present scene
of action.
ASPECTS OF BRESLAU.
Friedrich avoided visiting Breslau, probably for the reasons above
given; though there are important interests of his there,
especially his chief Magazine; and issues of moment are silently
working forward. Here are contemporary Excerpts (in abridged form),
which are authentic, and of significance to a lively reader:--
"BRESLAU, MIDDLE OF JANUARY, 1741. The Prussian Envoy, Herr von
Gotter, had appeared here, returning from Vienna; Gotter, and then
Borck, who made no secret in Breslau society, That not the
slightest hope of a peaceable result existed, as society might have
flattered itself; but that war and battle would have to decide this
matter. A Saxon Ambassador was also here, waiting some time;
message thought to be insignificant:--probably some vague
admonitory stuff again from Kur-Sachsen (Polish King, son of August
the Strong, a very insignificant man), who acts as REICHS-VICARIUS
in those Northern parts." For the reader is to know, there are
Reichs-Vicars more than one (nay more than two on this occasion,
with considerable jarring going on about them); and I could say
much about their dignities, limits, duties, [Adelung, ii. 143, &c.;
Kohler, Reichs-Historie, pp. 585-589.]--if
indeed there were any duties, except dramatic ones! But the Reich
itself, and Vicarship along with it, are fallen into a nearly
imaginary condition; and the Regensburg Diet (not Princes now, but
mere Delegates of Princes, mostly Bombazine People), which, "ever
since 1663," has sat continual, instead of now and then, is become
an Enchanted Piggery, strange to look upon, under those earnest
stars. "As King Friedrich did not call at Greslau," after those
Neisse bombardments, but rolled past, straight homewards, the three
Excellencies all departed,--Borck and Gotter to Berlin, the Saxon
home again with his insignificant message.
"JANUARY 19th. Schwerin too was here in the course of the winter,
to see how the magazines and other war-preparations were going on:
Breslau outwardly and inwardly is whirling with business, and
offers phenomena. For instance, it is known that the Army-Chest,
heaps of silver and gold in it, lies in the Scultet Garden-House,
where the King lodged; and that only one sentry walks there, and
that in the guard-house itself, which is some way off, there are
only thirty men. January 19th, about 9 of the clock,
[ Helden-Geschichte, i. 700.] alarm rises,
That 2,000 DIEBS-GESINDEL (Collective Thief-rabble of Breslau and
dependencies) are close by; intending a stroke upon said Garden-
House and Army-Chest! Perhaps this rumor sprang of its own accord;
--or perhaps not quite? It had been very rife; and ran high; not
without remonstrances in Town-Hall, and the like, which we can
imagine. Issue was, The Officer on post at Scultet's loaded his
treasure in carts; conveyed it, that same night, to the interior of
the City, in fact to the OBERAMTS-HAUS (Government-House that was);
--which doubtless was a step in the right direction. For now the
Two Feld-Kriegs-Commissariat Gentlemen (one of whom is the expert
Munchow, son of our old Custrin friend), supreme Prussian
Authorities here, do likewise shift out of their inns; and take old
Schaffgotsch's apartments in the same Oberamts-Haus; mutely
symbolling that perhaps THEY are likely to become a kind of
Government. And the reader can conceive how, in such an element,
the function of governing would of itself fall more and more into
their hands. They were consummately polite, discreet, friendly
towards all people; and did in effect manage their business, tax-
gatherings in money and in kind, with a perfection and precision
which made the evil a minimum.
"FEBRUARY 17th. ... This day also, there arrived at Breslau, by
boat up the Oder, ten heavy cannon, three mortars, and ammunition
of powder, bombshells, balls, as much as loaded fifty wagons;
the whole of which were, in like manner, forwarded to Ohlau.
This day, as on other days before and after. Great Magazines
forming here; the Military chiefly at Ohlau; at Breslau the
Provender part,--and this latter under noteworthy circumstances.
In the Dom-Island, namely; which is definable (in a case of such
necessity) as being 'outside the walls.' Especially as the Reverend
Fathers have mostly glided into corners, and left the place vacant.
In the Dom-Island, it certainly is; and such a stock,--all bought
for money down, and spurred forward while the roads were under
frost,--'such a stock as was not thought to be in all Silesia,'
says exaggerative wonder. The vacant edifices in the Dom-Island are
filled to the neck with meal and corn; the Prussian brigade now
quartering there ('without the walls,' in a sense) to guard the
same. And in the Bishop's Garden [poor Sinzendorf, far enough away
and in no want of it just now] are mere hay-mows, bigger than
houses: who can object,--in a case of necessity? No man, unless he
politically meddle, is meddled with; politically meddling, you are
at once picked up; as one or two are,--clapped into gentle arrest,
or, like old Schaffgotsch, and even Sinzendorf before long,
requested to leave the Country till it get settled. Rigor there is,
but not intentional injustice on Munchow's part, and there is a
studious avoidance of harsh manner.
"FEBRUARY-MARCH. Considerable recruiting in Schlesien: six hundred
recruits have enlisted in Breslau alone. Also his Prussian Majesty
has sent a supply of Protestant Preachers, ordained for the
occasion, to minister where needed;--which is piously acknowledged
as a godsend in various parts of Silesia. Twelve came first, all
Berliners; soon afterwards, others from different parts, till, in
the end, there were about Sixty in all. Rigorous, punctilious
avoidance of offence to the Catholic minorities, or of whatever
least thing Silesian Law does not permit, is enjoined upon them;
'to preach in barns or town-halls, where by Law you have no
Church.' Their salary is about 30 pounds a year; they are all put
under supervision of the Chaplain of Margraf Karl's Regiment" (a
judicious Chaplain, I have no doubt, and fit to be a Bishop);
and so far as appears, mere benefit is got of them by Schlesien as
well as by Friedrich, in this function. Friedrich is careful to
keep the balance level between Catholic and Protestant; but it has
hung at such an angle, for a long while past! In general, we
observe the Catholic Dignitaries, and the zealous or fanatic of
that creed, especially the Jesuits, are apt to be against him:
as for the non-fanatic, they expect better government, secular
advantage; these latter weigh doubtfully, and with less weight
whichever way. In the general population, who are Protestant, he
recognizes friends;--and has sent them Sixty Preachers, which by
Law was their due long since. Here follow two little traits, comic
or tragi-comic, with which we can conclude:--
"Detached Jesuit parties, here and there, seem to have mischief in
hand in a small way, encouraging deserters and the like;--and we
keep an eye on them. No discontent elsewhere, at least none
audible; on the contrary, much enlisting on the part of the
Silesian youth, with other good symptoms. But in the Dom, there is,
singular to say, a Goblin found walking, one night;--advancing, not
with airs from Heaven, upon the Prussian sentry there! The Prussian
sentry handles arms; pokes determinedly into the Goblin, and
finding him solid, ever more determinedly, till the Goblin shrieked
'Jesus Maria!' and was hauled to the Guard-house for
investigation." A weak Goblin; doubtless of the valet kind; worth
only a little whipping; but testifies what the spirit is.
"Another time, two deserter Frenchmen getting hanged [such the law
in aggravated cases], certain polite Jesuits, who had by permission
been praying and extreme-unctioning about them, came to thank the
Colonel after all was over. Colonel, a grave practical man, needs
no 'thanks;' would, however, 'advise your Reverences to teach your
people that perjury is not permissible, that an oath sworn ought to
be kept;' and in fine 'would advise you Holy Fathers hereabouts,
and others, to have a care lest you get into'--And twitching his
reins, rode away without saying into what." [ Helden-
Geschichte, i. 723.]
AUSTRIA IS STANDING TO ARMS.
Schwerin has been doing his best in this interim; collecting
magazines with double diligence while the roads are hard, taking up
the Key-positions far and wide, from the Jablunka round to the
Frontier Valleys of Glatz again. He was through Jablunka, at one
time; on into Mahren, as far as Olmutz; levying contributions,
emitting patents: but as to intimidating her Hungarian Majesty, if
that was the intention, or changing her mind at all, that is not
the issue got. Austria has still strength, and Pragmatic Sanction
and the Laws of Nature have! Very fixed is her Hungarian Majesty's
determination, to part with no inch of Territory, but to drive the
intrusive Prussians home well punished.
How she has got the funds is, to this day, a mystery;--unless
George and Walpole, from their Secret-Service Moneys, have smuggled
her somewhat.? For the Parliament is not sitting, and there will be
such jargonings, such delays: a preliminary 100,000 pounds, say by
degrees 200,000 pounds,--we should not miss it, and in her
Majesty's hands it would go far! Hints in the English Dryasdust we
have; but nothing definite; and we are left to our guesses. [Tindal
(XX. 497) says expressly 200,000 pounds, but gives no date or other
particular.] A romantic story, first set current by Voltaire, has
gone the round of the world, and still appears in all Histories:
How in England there was a Subscription set on foot for her
Hungarian Majesty; outcome of the enthusiasm of English Ladies of
quality,--old Sarah Duchess of Marlborough putting down her name
for 40,000 pounds, or indeed putting down the ready sum itself;
magnanimous veteran that she was. Voltaire says, omitting date and
circumstance, but speaking as if it were indubitable, and a thing
you could see with eyes: "The Duchess of Marlborough, widow of him
who had fought for Karl VI. [and with such signal returns of
gratitude from the said Karl VI.], assembled the principal Ladies
of London; who engaged to furnish 100,000 pounds among them; the
Duchess herself putting down [EN DEPOSA, tabling IN CORPORE] 40,000
pounds of it. The Queen of Hungary had the greatness of soul to
refuse this money;--needing only, as she intimated, what the Nation
in Parliament assembled might please to offer her." [Voltaire,
OEuvres (Siecle de Louis XV., c. 6),
xxviii. 79.]
One is sorry to run athwart such a piece of mutual magnanimity;
but the fact is, on considering a little and asking evidence, it
turns out to be mythical. One Dilworth, an innocent English soul
(from whom our grandfathers used to learn ARITHMETIC, I think),
writing on the spot some years after Voltaire, has this useful
passage: "It is the great failing of a strong imagination to catch
greedily at wonders. Voltaire was misinformed; and would perhaps
learn, by a second inquiry, a truth less splendid and amusing.
A Contribution was, by News-writers upon their own authority,
fruitlessly proposed. It ended in nothing: the Parliament voted a
supply;"--that did it, Mr. Dilworth; supplies enough, and many of
them! "Fruitlessly, by News-writers on their own authority;"
that is the sad fact. [ The Life and Heroick Actions of
Frederick III. (SIC, a common blunder), by W. H.
Dilworth, M.A. (London, 1758), p. 25. A poor little Book, one of
many coming out on that subject just then (for a reason we shall
see on getting thither); which contains, of available now, the
above sentence and no more. Indeed its brethren, one of them by
Samnel Johnson (IMPRANSUS, the imprisoned giant), do not even
contain that, and have gone wholly to zero.-- Neither little
Dilworth nor big Voltaire give the least shadow of specific date;
but both evidently mean Spring, 1742 (not 1741).]
It is certain, little George, who considers Pragmatic Sanction as
the Keystone of Nature in a manner, has been venturing far deeper
than purse for that adorable object; and indeed has been diving,
secretly, in muddier waters than we expected, to a dangerous
extent, on behalf of it, at this very time. In the first days of
March, Friedrich has heard from his Minister at Petersburg of a
DETESTABLE PROJECT, [Orlich, i. 83 (scrap of Note to Old Dessauer;
no date allowed us; "early in March").]--project for "Partitioning
the Prussian Kingdom," no less; for fairly cutting into Friedrich,
and paring him down to the safe pitch, as an enemy to Pragmatic and
mankind. They say, a Treaty, Draught of a Treaty, for that express
object, is now ready; and lies at Petersburg, only waiting
signature. Here is a Project! Contracting parties (Russian
signature still wanting) are: Kur-Sachsen; her Hungarian Majesty;
King George; and that Regent Anne (MRS. Anton Ulrich, so to speak),
who sits in a huddle of undress, impatient of Political objects,
but sensible to the charms of handsome men. To the charms of Count
Lynar, especially: the handsomest of Danish noblemen (more an
ancient Roman than a Dane), whom the Polish Majesty, calculating
cause and effect, had despatched to her, with that view, in the
dead of winter lately. To whom she has given ear;--dismissing her
Munnich, as we saw above;--and is ready for signing, or perhaps has
signed! [ OEuvres de Frederic, ii. 68.]
Friedrich's astonishment, on hearing of this "detestable Project,"
was great. However, he takes his measures on it;--right lucky that
he has the Old Dessauer, and machinery for acting on Kur-Sachsen
and the Britannic Majesty. "Get your machinery in gear!" is
naturally his first order. And the Old Dessauer does it, with
effect: of which by and by.
Never did I hear, before or since, of such a plunge into the muddy
unfathomable, on the part of little George, who was an honorable
creature, and dubitative to excess: and truly this rash plunge
might have cost him dear, had not he directly scrambled out again.
Or did Friedrich exaggerate to himself his Uncle's real share in
the matter? I always guess, there had been more of loose talk, of
hypothesis and fond hope, in regard to George's share, than of
determinate fact or procedure on his own part. The transaction,
having had to be dropped on the sudden, remains somewhat dark;
but, in substance, it is not doubtful; [Tindal, xx. 497.] and
Parliament itself took afterwards to poking into it, though with
little effect. Kur-Sachsen's objects in the adventure were of the
earth, earthy; but on George's part it was pure adoration of
Pragmatic Sanction, anxiety for the Keystone of Nature, and lest
Chaos come again. In comparison with such transcendent divings,
what is a little Secret-Service money!--
The Count Lynar of this adventure, who had well-nigh done such a
feat in Diplomacy, may turn up transiently again. A conspicuous,
more or less ridiculous person of those times. Busching (our
Geographical friend) had gone with him, as Excellency's Chaplain,
in this Russian Journey; which is a memorable one to Busching;
and still presents vividly, through his Book, those haggard Baltic
Coasts in midwinter, to readers who have business there. Such a
journey for grimness of outlook, upon pine-tufts and frozen sand;
for cold (the Count's very tobacco-pipe freezing in his mouth), for
hardship, for bad lodging, and extremity of dirt in the unfreezable
kinds, as seldom was. They met, one day on the road, a Lord
Hyndford, English Ambassador just returning from Petersburg, with
his fourgons and vehicles, and arrangements for sleep and victual,
in an enviably luxurious condition,--whom we shall meet, to our
cost. They saw, in the body, old Field-marshal Lacy, and dined with
him, at Riga; who advised brandy schnapps; a recipe rejected by
Busching. And other memorabilia, which by accident hang about this
Lynar. [Busching, Beitrage, vi. 132-164.]--
All through Regent Anne's time he continued a dangerous object to
Friedrich; and it was a relief when Elizabeth CATIN became
Autocrat, instead of Deshabille Anne and her Lynar. Adieu to him,
for fifteen years or more.
Of Friedrich's military operations, of his magazines, posts,
diligent plannings and gallopings about, in those weeks; of all
this the reader can form some notion by looking on the map and
remembering what has gone before: but that subterranean growling
which attended him, prophetic of Earthquake, that universal
breaking forth of Bedlams, now fallen so extinct, no reader can
imagine. Bedlams totally extinct to everybody; but which were then
very real, and raged wide as the world, high as the stars, to a
hideous degree among the then sons of men;--unimaginable now by
any mortal.
And, alas, this is one of the grand difficulties for my readers and
me; Friedrich's Life-element having fallen into such a dismal
condition. Most dismal, dark, ugly, that Austrian-Succession
Business, and its world-wide battlings, throttlings and
intriguings: not Dismal Swamp, under a coverlid of London Fog,
could be uglier! A Section of "History" so called, which human
nature shrinks from; of which the extant generation already knows
nothing, and is impatient of hearing anything! Truly, Oblivion is
very due to such an Epoch: and from me far be it to awaken, beyond
need, its sordid Bedlams, happily extinct. But without Life-
element, no Life can be intelligible; and till Friedrich and one or
two others are extricated from it, Dismal Swamp cannot be quite
filled in. Courage, reader!--Our Constitutional Historian makes
this farther reflection:--
"English moneys, desperate Russian intrigues, Treaties made and
Treaties broken--If instead of Pragmatic Sanction with eleven
Potentates guaranteeing, Maria Theresa had at this time had 200,000
soldiers and a full treasury (as Prince Eugene used to advise the
late Kaiser), how different might it have been with her, and with
the whole world that fell upon one another's throats in her
quarrel! Some eight years of the most disastrous War; and except
the falling of Silesia to its new place, no result gained by it.
War at any rate inevitable, you object? English-Spanish War having
been obliged to kindle itself; French sure to fall in, on the
Spanish side; sure to fall upon Hanover, so soon as beaten at sea,
and thus to involve all Europe? Well, it is too likely. But, even
in that case, the poor English would have gone upon their necessary
Spanish War, by the direct road and with their eyes open, instead
of somnambulating and stumbling over the chimney-tops; and the
settlement might have come far sooner, and far cheaper to mankind.
--Nay, we are to admit that the new place for Silesia was,
likewise, the place appointed it by just Heaven; and Friedrich's
too was a necessary War. Heaven makes use of Shadow-hunting Kaisers
too; and its ways in this mad world are through the great Deep."
THE YOUNG DESSAUER CAPTURES GLOGAU (MARCH 9th); THE OLD
DESSAUER, BY HIS CAMP OF GOTTIN (APRIL 2d), CHECKMATES
CERTAIN DESIGNING PERSONS.
Money somewhere her Hungarian Majesty has got; that is one thing
evident. She has an actual Army on foot, "drawn out of Italy," or
whence she could; formidable Army, says rumor, and getting well
equipped;--and here are the Pandour Precursors of it, coming down
like storm-clouds through the Glatz valleys;--nearly finishing the
War for her at a stroke, the other day, had accident favored;--and
have thrown reinforcement of 600 into Neisse. Friedrich is not
insensible to these things; and amid such alarms from far and from
near, is becoming eager to have, at least, Glogau in his hand.
Glogau, he is of opinion, could now, and should, straightway
be done.
Glogau is not a strong place; after all the repairing, it could
stand little siege, were we careless of hurting it. But Wallis is
obstinate; refuses Free Withdrawal; will hold out to the uttermost,
though his meal is running low. He pretends there is relief coming;
relief just at hand; and once, in midnight time, "lets off a rocket
and fires six guns," alarming Prince Leopold as if relief were just
in the neighborhood. A tough industrious military man; stiff to his
purpose, and not without shift.
Friedrich thinks the place might be had by assault: "Open trenches;
set your batteries going, which need not injure the Town; need only
alarm Wallis, and TERRIFY it; then, under cover of this noise and
feint of cannonading, storm with vigor." Leopold, the Young
Dessauer, is cautious; wants petards if he must storm, wants two
new battalions if he must open trenches;--he gets these requisites,
and is still cunctatory. Friedrich has himself got the notion,
"from clear intelligence," true or not, that relief to Glogau is
actually on way; and under such imminences, Russian and other, in
so ticklish a state of the world, he becomes more and more
impatient that this thing were done. In the first week of March,
still hurrying about on inspection-business, he writes, from four
or five different places ("Mollwitz near Brieg" is one of them, a
Village we shall soon know better), Note after Note to Leopold;
who still makes difficulties, and is not yet perfect to the last
finish in his preparations. "Preparations!" answers Friedrich
impatiently (date MOLLWITZ, 5th MARCH, the third or fourth
impatient Note he has sent); and adds, just while quitting Mollwitz
for Ohlau, this Postscript in his own hand:--
P.S. "I am sorry you have not understood me! They have, in Bohmen,
a regular enterprise on hand for the rescue of Glogau. I have
Infantry enough to meet them; but Cavalry is quite wanting.
You must therefore, without delay, begin the siege. Let us finish
there, I pray you!" [Orlich, i. 70.]
And next day, Monday 6th, to cut the matter short, he despatches
his General-Adjutant Goltz in person (the distance is above seventy
miles), with this Note wholly in autograph, which nothing vocal on
Leopold's part will answer:--
"OHLAU, 6th MARCH. As I am certainly informed that the Enemy will
make some attempt, I hereby with all distinctness command, That, so
soon as the petards are come [which they are], you attack Glogau.
And you must make your Arrangement (DISPOSITION) for more than one
attack; so that if one fail, the other shall certainly succeed.
I hope you will put off no longer;--otherwise the blame of all the
mischief that might arise out of longer delay must lie on you
alone." [Ib. i. 71.]
Goltz arrived with this emphatic Piece, Tuesday Evening, after his
course of seventy miles: this did at last rouse our cautious Young
Dessauer; and so there is next obtainable, on much compression, the
following authentic Excerpt:--
"GLOGAU, 8th MARCH, 1741. His Durchlaucht the Prince Leopold
summoned all the Generals at noon; and informed them That, this
very night, Glogau must be won. He gave them their Instructions in
writing: where each was to post himself; with what detachments;
how to proceed. There are to be three Attacks: one up stream,
coming on with the River to its right; one down stream, River to
its left; and a third from the landward side, perpendicular to the
other two. The very captains that shall go foremost are specified;
at what hour each is to leave quarters, so that all be ready
simultaneously, waiting in the posts assigned;--against what points
to advance out of these, and storm Rampart and Wall. Places, times,
particulars, everything is fixed with mathematical exactitude:
'Be steady, be correct, especially be silent; and so far as Law of
Nature will permit, be simultaneous! When the big steeple of Glogau
peals Midnight,--Forward, with the first stroke; with the second,
much more with the twelfth stroke, be one and all of you, in the
utmost silence, advancing! And, under pain of death, two things:
Not one shot till you are in; No plundering when you are.'--In this
manner is the silent three-sided avalanche to be let go.
Whereupon", says my Dryasdust, "the Generals retired; and had, for
one item, their fire-arms all cleaned and new-loaded."
[ Helden-Geschichte, i. 823; ii. 165.]
Without plans of Glogau, and more detail and study than the reader
would consent to, there can no Narrative be given. Glogau has
Ramparts, due Ring-fence, palisaded and repaired by Wallis;
inside of this is an old Town-Wall, which will need petards:
there are about 1,000 men under Wallis, and altogether on the
works, not to count a mortar or two, fifty-eight big guns.
The reader must conceive a poor Town under blockade, in the wintry
night-time, with its tough Count Wallis; ill-off for the
necessaries of life; Town shrouded in darkness, and creeping
quietly to its bed. This on the one hand: and on the other hand,
Prussian battalions marching up, at 10 o'clock or later, with the
utmost softness of step; "taking post behind the ordinary field-
watches;" and at length, all standing ranked, in the invisible
dark; silent, like machinery, like a sleeping avalanche: Husht!--
No sentry from the walls dreams of such a thing. "Twelve!" sings
out the steeple of Glogau; and in grim whisper the word is,
"VORWARTS!" and the three-winged avalanche is in motion.
They reach their glacises, their ditches, covered ways, correct as
mathematics; tear out chevaux-de-frise, hew down palisades, in the
given number of minutes: Swift, ye Regiment's-carpenters;
smite your best! Four cannon-shot do now boom out upon them;
which go high over their heads, little dreaming how close at hand
they are. The glacis is thirty feet high, of stiff slope, and
slippery with frost: no matter, the avalanche, led on by Leopold in
person, by Margraf Karl the King's Cousin, by Adjutant Goltz and
the chief personages, rushes up with strange impetus; hews down a
second palisade; surges in;--Wallis's sentries extinct, or driven
to their main guards. There is a singular fire in the besieging
party. For example, Four Grenadiers,--I think of this First Column,
which succeeded sooner, certainly of the Regiment Glasenapp,--four
grenadiers, owing to slippery or other accidents, in climbing the
glacis, had fallen a few steps behind the general body; and on
getting to the top, took the wrong course, and rushed along
rightward instead of leftward. Rightward, the first thing they come
upon is a mass of Austrians still ranked in arms; fifty-two men, as
it turned out, with their Captain over them. Slight stutter ensues
on the part of the Four Grenadiers; but they give one another the
hint, and dash forward: "Prisoners?" ask they sternly, as if all
Prussia had been at their rear. The fifty-two, in the darkness, in
the danger and alarm, answer "Yes."--"Pile arms, then!" Three of
the grenadiers stand to see that done; the fourth runs off for
force, and happily gets back with it before the comedy had become
tragic for his comrades. "I must make acquaintance with these four
men," writes Friedrich, on hearing of it; and he did reward them by
present, by promotion to sergeantcy (to ensigncy one of them), or
what else they were fit for. Grenadiers of Glasenapp: these are the
men Friedrich heard swearing-in under his window, one memorable
morning when he burst into tears! At half-past Twelve, the
Ramparts, on all sides, are ours.
The Gates of the Town, under axe and petard, can make little
resistance, to Leopold's Column or the other two. A hole is soon
cut in the Town-Gate, where Leopold is; and gallant Wallis, who had
rallied behind it, with his Artillery-General and what they could
get together, fires through the opening, kills four men; but is
then (by order, and not till then) fired upon, and obliged to draw
back, with his Artillery-General mortally hurt. Inside he attempts
another rally, some 200 with him; and here and there perhaps a
house-window tries to give shot; but it is to no purpose, not the
least stand can be made. Poor Wallis is rapidly swept back, into
the Market-place, into the Main Guard-house; and there piles arms:
"Glogau yours, Ihr Herren, and we prisoners of War!" The steeple
had not yet quite struck One. Here has been a good hour's-work!
Glogau, as in a dream, or half awake, and timidly peeping from
behind window-curtains, finds that it is a Town taken. Glogau
easily consoles itself, I hear, or even is generally glad;
Prussian discipline being so perfect, and ingress now free for the
necessaries of life. There was no plundering; not the least insult:
no townsman was hurt; not even in houses where soldiers had tried
firing from windows. The Prussian Battalions rendezvous in the
Market-place, and go peaceably about their patrolling, and other
business; and meddle with nothing else. They lost, in killed, ten
men; had of killed and wounded, forty-eight; the Austrians rather
more. [Orlich, i. 75, 78; Helden-Geschichte,
i. 829; irreconcilable otherwise, in some slight points.]
Wallis was to have been set free on parole; but was not,--in
retaliation for some severity of General Browne's in the interim
(picking up of two Silesian Noblemen, suspected of Prussian
tendency, and locking them in Brunn over the Hills),--and had to go
to Berlin, till that was repaired. To the wounded Artillery-General
there was every tenderness shown, but he died in few days.--The
other Prisoners were marched to the Custrin-Stettin quarter; "and
many of them took Prussian service."
And this is the Scalade of Glogau: a shining feat of those days;
which had great rumor in the Gazettes, and over all the then
feverish Nations, though it has now fallen dim again, as feats do.
Its importance at that time, its utility to Friedrich's affairs,
was undeniable; and it filled Friedrich with the highest
satisfaction, and with admiration to overflowing. Done 9th March,
1741; in one hour, the very earliest of the day.
Goltz posted back to Schweidnitz with the news; got thither about
5 P.M.; and was received, naturally, with open arms. Friedrich in
person marched out, next morning, to make FEU-DE-JOIE and
TE-DEUM-ing;--there was Royal Letter to Leopold, which flamed
through all the Newspapers, and can still be read in innumerable
Books; Letter omissible in this place. We remark only how punctual
the King is, to reward in money as well as praise, and not the high
only, but the low that had deserved: to Prince Leopold he presents
2,000 pounds; to each private soldier who had been of the storm,
say half a guinea,--doubling and quadrupling, in the special cases,
to as high as twenty guineas, of our present money. To the old
Gazetteers, and their readers everywhere, this of Glogau is a very
effulgent business; bursting out on them, like sudden Bude-light,
in the uncertain stagnancy and expectancy of mankind. Friedrich
himself writes of it to the Old Dessauer:--
"The more I think of the Glogau business, the more important I find
it. Prince Leopold has achieved the prettiest military stroke (DIE
SCHONSTE ACTION) that has been done in this Century. From my heart
I congratulate you on having such a Son. In boldness of resolution,
in plan, in execution, it is alike admirable; and quite gives a
turn to my affairs." [Date, 13th March, 1741 (Orlich, i. 77).]
And indeed, it is a perfect example of Prussian discipline, and
military quality in all kinds; such as it would be difficult to
match elsewhere. Most potently correct; coming out everywhere with
the completeness and exactitude of mathematics; and has in it such
a fund of martial fire, not only ready to blaze out (which can be
exampled elsewhere), but capable of bottling itself IN, and of
lying silently ready. Which is much rarer; and very essential in
soldiering! Due a little to the OLD Dessauer, may we not say, as
well as to the Young? Friedrich Wilhelm is fallen silent; but his
heavy labors, and military and other drillings to Prussian mankind,
still speak with an audible voice.
About three weeks after this of Glogau, Leopold the Old Dessauer,
over in Brandenburg, does another thing which is important to
Friedrich, and of great rumor in the world. Steps out, namely, with
a force of 36,000 men, horse, foot and artillery, completely
equipped in all points; and takes Camp, at this early season, at a
place called Gottin, not far from Magdeburg, handy at once for
Saxony and for Hanover; and continues there encamped,--"merely for
review purposes." Readers can figure what an astonishment it was to
Kur-Sachsen and British George; and how it struck the wind out of
their Russian Partition-Dream, and awoke them to a sense of the
awful fact!--Capable of being slit in pieces, and themselves
partitioned, at a day's warning, as it were! It was on April 2d,
that Leopold, with the first division of the 36,000, planted his
flag near Gottin. No doubt it was the "detestable Project" that had
brought him out, at so early a season for tent-life, and nobody
could then guess why. He steadily paraded here, all summer;
keeping his 36,000 well in drill, since there was nothing else
needed of him.
The Camp at Gottin flamed greatly abroad through the timorous
imaginations of mankind, that Year; and in the Newspapers are many
details of it. And, besides the important general fact, there is
still one little point worth special mention: namely, that old
Field-marshal Katte (Father of poor Lieutenant Katte whom we knew)
was of it; and perhaps even got his death by it: "Chief Commander
of the Cavalry here," such honor had he; but died at his post, in a
couple of months, "at Rekahn, May 31st;" [ Militair-
Lexikon, ii. 254.] poor old gentleman, perhaps unequal
to the hardships of field-life at so early a season of the year.
FRIEDRICH TAKES THE FIELD, WITH SOME POMP; GOES INTO THE MOUNTAINS,
--BUT COMES FAST BACK.
At Glogau there was Homaging, on the very morrow after the storm;
on the second day, the superfluous regiments marched off: no want
of vigorous activity to settle matters on their new footing there.
General Kalkstein (Friedrich's old Tutor, whom readers have
forgotten again) is to be Commandant of Glogau; an office of honor,
which can be done by deputy except in cases of real stress.
The place is to be thoroughly new-fortified,--which important point
they commit to Engineer Wallrave, a strong-headed heavy-built Dutch
Officer, long since acquired to the service, on account of his
excellence in that line; who did, now and afterwards, a great deal
of excellent engineering for Friedrich; but for himself (being of
deep stomach withal, and of life too dissolute) made a tragic thing
of it ultimately. As will be seen, if we have leisure.
In seven or eight days, Prince Leopold having wound up his Glogau
affairs, and completed the new preliminaries there, joins the King
at Schweidnitz. In the highest favor, as was natural. Kalkstein is
to take a main hand in the Siege of Neisse; for which operation it
is hoped there will soon be weather, if not favorable yet
supportable. What of the force was superfluous at Glogau had at
once marched off, as we observed; and is now getting re-distributed
where needful. There is much shifting about; strengthening of
posts, giving up of posts: the whole of which readers shall imagine
for themselves,--except only two points that are worth remembering:
FIRST, that Kalkstein with about 12,000 takes post at Grotkau, some
twenty-five miles north of Neisse, ready to move on, and open
trenches, when required: and SECOND, that Holstein-Beck gets posted
at Frankenstein (chief place of that Baumgarten Skirmish), say
thirty-five miles west-by-north of Neisse; and has some 8 or 10,000
Horse and Foot thereabouts, spread up and down,--who will be much
wanted, and not procurable, on an occasion that is coming.
Friedrich has given up the Jablunka Pass; called in the Jablunka
and remoter posts; anxious to concentrate, before the Enemy get
nigh. That is the King's notion; and surely a reasonable one;
the AREA of the Prussian Army, as I guess it from the Maps, being
above 2,000 square miles, beginning at Breslau only, and leaving
out Glogau. Schwerin thinks differently, but without good basis.
Both are agreed, "The Austrian Army cannot take the field till the
forage come," till the new grass spring, which its cavalry find
convenient. That is the fair supposition; but in that both are
mistaken, and Schwerin the more dangerously of the two.--Meanwhile,
the Pandour swarms are observably getting rifer, and of stormier
quality; and they seem to harbor farther to the East than formerly,
and not to come all out of Glatz. Which perhaps are symptomatic
circumstances? The worst effect of these preliminary Pandour clouds
is, Your scout-service cannot live among them; they hinder
reconnoitring, and keep the Enemy veiled from you. Of that sore
mischief Friedrich had, first and last, ample experience at their
hands! This is but the first instalment of Pandours to Friedrich;
and the mere foretaste of what they can do in the veiling way.
Behind the Mountains, in this manner, all is inane darkness to
Friedrich and Schwerin. They know only that Neipperg is
rendezvousing at Olmutz; and judge that he will still spend many
weeks upon it; the real facts being: That Neipperg--"who arrived in
Olmutz on the 10th of March," the very day while Glogau was
homaging--has been, he and those above him and those under him,
driving preparations forward at a furious rate. That Neipperg held
--I think at Steinberg his hithermost post, some twenty miles
hither of Olmutz--a Council of War, "all the Generals and even
Lentulus from Glatz, present at it," day not given; where the
unanimous decision was, "March straightway; save Neisse, since
Glogau is gone!"--and in fine, That on the 26th, Neipperg took the
road accordingly, "in spite of furious snow blowing in his face;"
and is ever since (30,000 strong, says rumor, but perhaps 10,000 of
them mere Pandours) unweariedly climbing the Mountains, laboriously
jingling forward with his heavy guns and ammunition-wagons;
"contending with the steep snowy icy roads;" intent upon saving
Neisse. This is the fact; profoundly unknown to Friedrich and
Schwerin; who will be much surprised, when it becomes patent to
them at the wrong time.
SCHWEIDNITZ, 27th MARCH. This day Friedrich, with considerable
apparatus, pomp and processional cymballing, greatly the reverse of
his ulterior use and wont in such cases, quitted Schweidnitz and
his Algarottis; solemnly opening Campaign in this manner; and drove
off for Ottmachau, having work there for to-morrow.
The Siege of Neisse is now to proceed forthwith; trenches to be
opened April 4th. Friedrich is still of opinion, that his posts lie
too wide apart; that especially Schwerin, who is spread among the
Hills in Jagerndorf Country, ought to come down, and take closer
order for covering the siege. [ OEuvres de Frederic,
ii. 70.] Schwerin answers, That if the King will spare him
a reinforcement of eight squadrons and nine battalions (say 1,200
Horse, 9,000 Foot), he will maintain himself where he is, and no
Enemy shall get across the Mountains at all. That is Schwerin's
notion; who surely is something of a judge. Friedrich assents; will
himself conduct the reinforcement to Schwerin, and survey matters,
with his own eyes, up yonder. Friedrich marches from Ottmachau,
accordingly, 29th March;--Kalkstein, Holstein-Beck, and others are
to be rendezvoused before Neisse, in the interim; trenches ready
for opening on the sixth day hence;--and in this manner, climbs
these Mountains, and sees Jagerndorf Country for the first time.
Beautiful blue world of Hills, ridge piled on ridge behind that
Neisse region; fruitful valleys lapped in them, with grim stone
Castles and busy little Towns disclosing themselves as we advance:
that is Jagerndorf Country,--which Uncle George of Anspach,
hundreds of years ago, purchased with his own money; which we have
now come to lay hold of as his Heir! Friedrich, I believe, thinks
little of all this, and does not remember Uncle George at all.
But such are the facts; and the Country, regarded or not, is very
blue and beautiful, with the Spring sun shining on it; or with the
sudden Spring storms gathering wildly on the peaks, as if for
permanent investiture, but vanishing again straightway, leaving
only a powdering of snow.
He met Schwerin at Neustadt, half-way to Jagerndorf; whither they
proceeded next day. "What news have you of the Enemy?" was
Friedrich's first question. Schwerin has no news whatever; only
that the Enemy is far off, hanging in long thin straggle from
Olmutz westward. "I have a spy out," said Schwerin; "but he has not
returned yet,"--nor ever will, he might have added. If diligent
readers will now take to their Map, and attend day by day, an
invincible Predecessor has compelled what next follows into human
intelligibility, and into the Diary Form, for their behoof;--
readers of an idler turn can skip: but this confused hurry-scurry
of marches issues in something which all will have to attend to.
"JAGERNDORF, 2d APRIL, 1741. This is the day when the Old Dessauer
makes appearance with the first brigades of his Camp at Gottin.
Friedrich is satisfied with what he has seen of Jagerndorf matters;
and intends returning towards Neisse, there to commence on the 4th.
He is giving his final orders, and on the point of setting off,
when--Seven Austrian Deserters, 'Dragoons of Lichtenstein,' come
in; and report, That Neipperg's Army is within a few miles!
And scarcely had they done answering and explaining, when sounds
rise of musketry and cannon, from our outposts on that side;
intimating that here is Neipperg's Army itself. Seldom in his life
was Friedrich in an uglier situation. In Jagerndorf, an open Town,
are only some three or four thousand men, 'with three field-pieces,
and as much powder as will charge them forty times.' Happily these
proved only the Pandour outskirts of Neipperg's Army, scouring
about to reconnoitre, and not difficult to beat; the real body of
it is ascertained to be at Freudenthal, fifteen miles to westward,
southwestward; making towards Neisse, it is guessed, by the other
or western road, which is the nearer to Glatz and to the Austrian
force there.
"Had Neipperg known what was in Jagerndorf--! But he does not know.
He marches on, next morning, at his usual slow rate; wide clouds of
Pandours accompanying and preceding him; skirmishing in upon all
places [upon Jagerndorf, for instance, though fifteen miles wide of
their road], to ascertain if Prussians are there. One can judge
whether Friedrich and Schwerin were thankful when the huge alarm
produced nothing! 'The mountain,' as Friedrich says, 'gave birth to
a mouse;'--nay it was a 'mouse' of essential vital use to Friedrich
and Schwerin; a warning, That they must instantly collect
themselves, men and goods; and begone one and all out of these
parts, double-quick towards Neisse. Not now with the hope of
besieging Neisse,--far from that;--but of getting their wide-
scattered posts together thereabouts, and escaping destruction
in detail!
"APRIL 4th, HEAD-QUARTERS NEUSTADT. By violent exertion, with the
sacrifice only of some remote little storehouses, all is
rendezvoused at Jagerndorf, within two days; and this day they
march; King and vanguard reaching Neustadt, some twenty-five miles
forward, some twenty still from Neisse. At Neustadt, the posts that
had stood in that neighborhood are all assembled, and march with
the King to-morrow. Of Neipperg, except by transitory contact with
his Pandour clouds, they have seen nothing: his road is pretty much
parallel to theirs, and some fifteen miles leftward, Glatzward;
goes through Zuckmantel, Ziegenhals, straight upon Neisse.
[Zuckmantel, "Twitch-Cloak," occurs more than once as a Town's name
in those regions: name which, says my Dryasdust without smile
visible, it got from robberies done on travellers, "twitchings of
your cloak," with stand-and-deliver, as you cross those wild
mountain spaces. (Zeiller, Beschreibung des Konigreichs
Boheim, Frankfurt, 1650;--a rather worthless old Book,
like the rest of Zeiller's in that kind.)] Neipperg's men are
wearied with the long climb out of Mahren; and he struggles towards
Neisse as the first object;--holding upon Glatz and Lentulus with
his left. Numerous orders have been speeded from the King's
quarters, at Jagerndorf, and here at Neustadt; order especially to
Holstein-Beck at Frankenstein, and to Kalkstein at Grotkau, How
they are to unite, first with one another; and then to cross Neisse
River, and unite with the King,--to which end there is already a
Bridge laid for them, or about to be laid in good time.
"APRIL 5th, HEAD-QUARTERS STEINAU. Steinau is a little Town twenty
miles east of Neisse, on the road to Kosel [strongish place, on the
Oder, some forty miles farther east]: here Friedrich, with the main
body, take their quarters; rearguard being still at Neustadt.
Temporary Bridge there is, ready or all but ready, at Sorgau
[twelve miles to north of us, on our left]: by this Kalkstein, with
his 10,000, comes punctually across; while other brigades from the
Kosel side are also punctual in getting in; which is a great
comfort: but of Holstein-Beck there is no vestige, nor did there
ever appear any. Holstein, 'whom none of the repeated orders sent
him could reach,' says Friedrich, 'remained comfortably in his
quarters; and looked at the Enemy rushing past him to right and
left, without troubling his head with them.' [ OEuvres de
Frederic, ii. 70.] The too easy-minded Holstein!
Austrian Deserters inform us, That General Neipperg arrived to-day
with his Army in Neisse; and has there been joined by Lentulus with
the Glatz force, chiefly cavalry, a good many thousands. We may be
attacked, then, this very night, if they are diligent? Friedrich
marks out ground and plan in such case, and how and where each is
to rank himself. There came nothing of attack; but the poor little
Village of Steinau, with so many troops in it and baggage-drivers
stumbling about, takes fire; burns to ashes; 'and we had great
difficulty in saving the artillery and powder through the narrow
streets, with the houses all burning on each hand.'" Fancy it,--and
the poor shrieking inhabitants; gone to silence long since with
their shrieks, not the least whisper left of them. "The Prussians
bivouac on the field, each in the place that has been marked out.
Night extremely cold."
In this poor Steinau was a Schloss, which also went up in fire;
disclosing certain mysteries of an almost mythical nature to the
German Public. It was the Schloss of a Grafin von Callenberg, a
dreadful old Dowager of Medea-Messalina type, who "always wore
pistols about her;" pistols, and latterly, with more and more
constancy, a brandy-bottle;--who has been much on the tongues of
men for a generation back. Herr Nussler (readers recollect shifty
Nussler) knew her, in the way of business, at one time; with pity,
if also with horror. Some weeks ago, she was, by the Austrian
Commandant at Neisse, summoned out of this Schloss, as in
correspondence with Prussian Officers: peasants breaking in, tied
her with ropes to the bed where she was; put bed and her into a
farm-cart, and in that scandalous manner delivered her at Neisse to
the Commandant; by which adventure, and its rages and
unspeakabilities, the poor old Callenberg is since dead. And now
the very Schloss is dead; and there is finis to a human dust-
vortex, such as is sometimes noisy for a time. Perhaps Nussler may
again pass that way, if we wait. [Busching, Beitrage,
ii.273 et seqq.]
"APRIL 6th, HEAD-QUARTERS FRIEDLAND. To Friedland on the 6th.,--and
do not, as expected, get away next morning. Friedland is ten miles
down the Neisse, which makes a bend of near ninety degrees opposite
Steinau; and runs thence straight north for the Oder, which it
reaches some dozen miles or more above Brieg. Both Steinau and
Friedland are a good distance from the River; Friedland, the nearer
of the two, with Sorgau Bridge direct west of it, is perhaps eight
miles from that important structure. There, being now tolerably
rendezvoused, and in strength for action, Friedrich purposes to
cross Neisse River to-morrow; hoping perhaps to meet Holstein-Beck,
and incorporate him; anxious, at any rate, to get between the
Austrians and Ohlau, where his heavy Artillery, his Ammunition, not
to mention other indispensables, are lying. The peculiarity of
Neipperg at this time is, that the ground he occupies bears no
proportion to the ground he commands. His regular Horse are
supposed to be the best in the world; and of the Pandour kind, who
live, horse and man, mainly upon nothing (which means upon theft),
his supplies are unlimited. He sits like a volcanic reservoir,
therefore, not like a common fire of such and such intensity and
power to burn;--casts the ashes of him, on all sides, to many
miles distance.
"FRIDAY 7th APRIL, FRIEDLAND (still Head-quarters). Unluckily, on
trying, there is no passage to be had at Sorgau. The Officer on
charge there still holds the Bridge, but has been obliged to break
away the farther end of it; 'Lentulus and Dragoons, several
thousands strong' (such is the report), having taken post there.
Friedrich commands that the Bridge be reinstated; field-pieces to
defend it; Prince Leopold to cross, and clear the ways. All Friday,
Friedrich waiting at Friedland, was spent in these details.
Leopold in due force started for Sorgau, himself with Cavalry in
the van; Leopold did storm across, and go charging and fencing,
some space, on the other side; but, seeing that it was in truth
Lentulus, and Dragoons without limit, had to send report
accordingly; and then to wind himself to this side again, on new
order from the King. What is to be done, then? Here is no crossing.
Friedrich decides to go down the River; he himself to Lowen,
perhaps near twenty miles farther down, but where there is a Bridge
and Highway leading over; Prince Leopold, with the heavier
divisions and baggages, to Michelau, some miles nearer, and there
to build his Pontoons and cross. Which was effected, with success.
And so,
"SATURDAY, 8th APRIL, With great punctuality, the King and Leopold
met at Michelau, both well across the Neisse. Here on Pontoons,
Leopold had got across about noon; and precisely as he was
finishing, the King's Column, which had crossed at Lowen, and come
up the left bank again, arrived. The King, much content with
Leopold's behavior, nominates him General of Infantry, a stage
higher in promotion, there and then. Brieg Blockade is, as natural,
given up; the Blockading Body joining with the King, this morning,
while he passed that way. From Holstein-Beck not the least
whisper,--nor to him, if we knew it.
"Neipperg has quitted Neisse; but walks invisible within clouds of
Pandours; nothing but guessing as to Neipperg's motions.
Rightly swift, aud awake to his business, Neipperg might have done,
might still do, a stroke upon us here. But he takes it easy;
marches hardly five miles a day, since he quitted Neisse again.
From Michelau, Friedrich for his part turns southwestward, in quest
of Holstein and other interests; marches towards Grotkau, not
intending much farther that night. Thick snow blowing in their
faces, nothing to be seen ahead, the Prussian column tramps along.
[ OEuvres de Frederic, ii. 156.] In Leipe, a
little Hamlet sidewards of the road, short way from Grotkau, our
Hussar Vanguard had found Austrian Hussars; captured forty, and
from them learned that the Austrian Army is in Grotkau; that they
took Grotkau half an hour before, and are there! A poor Lieutenant
Mitschepfal (whom I think Friedrich used to know in Reinsberg) lay
in Grotkau, 'with some sixty recruits and deserters,' says
Friedrich,--and with several hundreds of camp-laborers (intended
for the trenches, which will not now be opened):--Mitschepfal made
a stout defence; but, after three hours of it, had to give in: and
there is nothing now for us at Grotkau. 'Halt,' therefore! Neipperg
is evidently pushing towards Ohlau, towards Breslau, though in a
leisurely way; there it will behoove us to get the start of him, if
humanly possible: To the right about, therefore, without delay!
The Prussians repass Leipe (much to the wonder of its simple
people); get along, some seven miles farther, on the road for
Ohlau; and quarter, that night, in what handy villages there are;
the King's Corps in two Villages, which he calls 'Pogrel and
Alsen,'"--which are to be found still on the Map as "Pogarell and
Alzenau," on the road from Lowen towards Ohlau.
This is the end of that March into the Mountains, with Neisse Siege
hanging triumphant ahead. These are the King's quarters, this
wintry Spring night, Saturday, 8th April, 1741; and it is to be
guessed there is more of care than of sleep provided for him there.
Seldom, in his life, was Friedrich in a more critical position;
and he well knows it, none better. And could have his remorses upon
it,--were these of the least use in present circumstances. Here are
two Letters which he wrote that night; veiling, we perceive, a very
grim world of thoughts; betokening, however, a mind made up.
Jordan, Prince August Wilhelm Heir-Apparent, and other fine
individuals who shone in the Schweidnitz circle lately, are in
Breslau, safe sheltered against this bad juncture; Maupertuis was
not so lucky as to go with them.
THE KING TO PRINCE AUGUST WILHELM (in Breslau).
"POGARELL, 8th April, 1741.
"MY DEAREST BROTHER,--The Enemy has just got into Silesia; we are
not more than a mile (QUART DE MILLE) from them. To-morrow must
decide our fortune.
"If I die, do not forget a Brother who has always loved you very
tenderly. I recommend to you my most dear Mother, my Domestics, and
my First Battalion [LIFEGUARD OF FOOT, men picked from his own old
Ruppin Regiment and from the disbanded Giants, star of all the
Battalions]. [See Preuss, i. 144, iv. 309; Nicolai,
Beschreibung von Berlin, iii, 1252.] Eichel and
Schuhmacher [Two of the Three Clerks] are informed of all my
testamentary wishes. Remember me always, you; but console yourself
for my death: the glory of the Prussian Arms, and the honor of the
House have set me in action, and will guide me to my last moment.
You are my sole Heir: I recommend to you, in dying, those whom I
have the most loved during my life: Keyserling, Jordan,
Wartensleben; Hacke, who is a very honest man; Fredersdorf
[Factotum], and Eichel, in whom you may place entire confidence.
I bequeath 8,000 crowns (1,200 pounds, which I have with me, to my
Domestics; but all that I have elsewhere depends on you. To each of
my Brothers and Sisters make a present in my name; a thousand
affectionate regards (AMITIES ET COMPLIMENTS) to my Sister of
Baireuth. You know what I think on their score; and you know better
than I could tell you, the tenderness and all the sentiments of
most inviolable friendship with which I am, dearest Brother,
"Your faithful Brother and Servant till death,
"FEDERIC."
[ OEuvres de Frederic, xxvi. 85; List of
Friedrich's Testamentary arrangements in Note there,--Six in all,
at different times, besides this.]
THE KING TO M. JORDAN (in Breslau).
"POGARELL, 8th April, 1741.
"My DEAR JORDAN,---We are going to fight to-morrow. Thou knowest
the chances of war; the life of Kings not more regarded than that
of private people. I know not what will happen to me.
"If my destiny is finished, remember a friend, who loves thee
always tenderly: if Heaven prolong my days, I will write to thee
after to-morrow, and thou wilt hear of our victory. Adieu, dear
friend; I shall love thee till death.
"FEDERIC."
[Ib. xvii. 98.]
The King, we incidentally discover somewhere, "had no sleep that
night;" none, "nor the next night either,"--such a crisis coming,
still not come.
