History of Friedrich II of Prussia - Frederick the Great Chapter VI. - Death of Winterfeld.
by Thomas Carlyle
Before going upon this forlorn march of Friedrich's, one of the
forlornest a son of Adam ever had, we must speak of a thing which
befell to rearward, while the march was only half done, and which
greatly influenced it and all that followed. It was the seventh day
of Friedrich's march, not above eighty miles of it yet done, when
Winterfeld perished in fight. No Winterfeld now to occupy the
Austrians in his absence; to stand between Silesia and them, or
assist him farther in his lonesome struggle against the world.
Let us spend a moment on the exit of that brave man: Bernstadt,
Gorlitz Country, September 7th, 1757.
The Bevern Army, 36,000 strong, is still there in its place in the
Lausitz, near Gorlitz; Prince Karl lies quiet in his near Zittau,
ever since he burnt that Town, and stood four days in arms
unattackable by Friedrich with prospect of advantage. The Court of
Vienna cannot comprehend this state of inactivity: "Two to one, and
a mere Bevern against you, the King far away in Saxony upon his
desperate Anti-French mission there: why not go in upon this
Bevern? The French, whom we are by every courier passionately
importuning to sweep Saxony clear, what will they say of this
strange mode of sweeping Silesia clear?" Maria Theresa and her
Kriegs-Hofrath are much exercised with these thoughts, and with
French and other remonstrances that come. Maria Theresa and her
Kriegs-Hofrath at length despatch their supreme Kaunitz, Graf
Kaunitz in person, to stir up Prince Karl, and look into the matter
with his own wise eyes and great heart: Prince Karl, by way of
treat to this high gentleman, determines on doing something
striking upon Bevern.
Bevern lies with his main body about Gorlitz, in and to westward of
Gorlitz, a pleasant Town on the left bank of the Neisse (readers
know there are four Neisses, and which of them this is), with fine
hilly country all round, bulky solitary Heights and Mountains
rising out of fruitful plains,--two Hochkirchs (HIGH-KIRKS), for
example, are in this region, one of which will become extremely
notable next year:--Bevern has a strong camp leaning on the due
Heights here, with Gorlitz in its lap; and beyond Gorlitz, on the
right bank of the Neisse, united to him by a Bridge, he has placed
Winterfeld with 10,000, who lies with his back to Gorlitz, proper
brooks and fencible places flanking him, has a Dorf (THORP) called
Moys in HIS lap; and, some short furlong beyond Moys, a 2,000 of
his grenadiers planted on the top of a Hill called the Moysberg,
called also the Holzberg (WOODHILL) and Jakelsberg, of which the
reader is to take notice. Fine outpost, with proper batteries atop,
with hussar squadrons and hussar pickets sprinkled about;
which commands a far outlook towards Silesia, and in marching
thither, or in continuing here, is useful to have in hand,--were it
not a little too distant from the main body. It is this Jakelsberg,
capable of being snatched if one is sudden enough, that Prince Karl
decides on: it may be good for much or for little to Prince Karl;
and, if even for nothing, it will be a brilliant affront upon
Winterfeld and Bevern, and more or less charming to Kaunitz.
Winterfeld, the ardent enterprising man, King's other self, is
thought to be the mainspring of affairs here (small thanks to him
privately from Bevern, add some): and is stationed in the extreme
van, as we see; Winterfeld is engaged in many things besides the
care of this post; and indeed where a critical thing is to be done,
we can imagine Winterfeld goes upon it. "We must try to stay here
till the King has finished in Saxony!" says Winterfeld always.
To which Bevern replies, "Excellent, truly; but how?" Bevern has
his provender at Dresden, sadly far off; has to hold Bautzen
garrisoned, and gets much trouble with his convoys. Better in
Silesia, with our magazines at hand, thinks Bevern, less mindful of
other considerations.
Tuesday, September 6th, Prince Karl sends Nadasti to the right bank
of the River, forward upon Moys, to do the Jakelsberg before day
to-morrow: only some 2,000 grenadiers on it; Nadasti has with him
15,000, some count 20,000 of all arms, artillery in plenty;
surely sufficient for the Jakelsberg; and Daun advances, with the
main body, on the other side of the River, to be within reach,
should Moys lead to more serious consequences. Nadasti diligently
marches all day; posts himself at night within few miles of Moys;
gets his cannon to the proper Hills (GALLOWS Hill and others), his
Croats to the proper Woods; and, before daylight on the morrow,
means to begin upon the Moys Hill and its 2,000 grenadiers.
Wednesday morning, at the set hour, Nadasti, with artillery
bursting out and quivering battle-lines, is at work accordingly;
hurls up 1,000 Croats for one item, and regulars to the amount of
"forty companies in three lines." The grenadiers, somewhat
astonished, for the morning was misty and their hussar-posts had
come hastily in, stood upon their guard, like Prussian men;
hurled back the 1,000 Croats fast enough; stubbornly repulsed the
regulars too, and tumbled them down hill with bullet-storm for
accompaniment; gallantly foiling this first attempt of Nadasti's.
Of course Nadasti will make another, will make ever others; capture
of the Jakelsberg can hardly be doubtful to Nadasti.
Winterfeld was not at Moys, he was at Gorlitz, just got in from
escorting an important meal-convoy hither out of Bautzen; and was
in conference with Bevern, when rumor of these Croat attacks came
in at the gallop from Moys. Winterfeld made little of the rumors:
he had heard of some attack intended, but it was to have been
overnight, and has not been. "Mere foraging of Croat rabble, like
yesterday's!" said Winterfeld, and continued his present business.
In few minutes the sound of heavy cannonading convinced him.
"Haha, there are my guests," said he; "we must see if we cannot
entertain them right!" sprang to horseback, ordered on, double-
quick, the three regiments nearest him, and was off at the gallop,
--too late; or, alas, too EARLY we might rather say! Arriving at
the gallop, Winterfeld found his grenadiers and their insufficient
reinforcements rolling back, the Hill lost; Winterfeld "sprang to a
fresh horse," shot his lightning glances and energies, to his hand
and that; stormfully rallied the matter, recovered the Hill;
and stormfully defended it, for, I should guess, an hour or more;
and might still have done one knows not what, had not a bullet
struck him through the breast, and suddenly ended all his doings in
this world.
Three other reasons the Prussians give for loss of their Hill,
which are of no consequence to them or to us in comparison.
First, that Bevern; on message after message, sent no
reinforcement; that Winterfeld was left to his own 10,000, and what
he and they could make of it. Bevern is jealous of Winterfeld, hint
they, and willing to see his impetuous audacity checked.
Perhaps only cautious of getting into a general action for what was
intrinsically nothing? Second, that two regiments of Infantry, whom
Winterfeld detached double-quick to seize a couple of villages
(Leopoldshayn, Hermsdorf) on his right, and therefrom fusillade
Nadasti on flank, found the villages already occupied by thousands
of Croats, with regular foot and cannon-batteries, and could in
nowise seize them. This was a great reverse of advantage.
Third, that an Aide-de-Camp made a small misnomer, misreport of one
word, which was terribly important: "Bring me hither Regiment
Manteuffel!" Winterfeld had ordered. The Aide-de-Camp reported it
"Grenadiers Manteuffel:" upon which, the grenadiers, who were
posted in a walled garden, an important point to Winterfeld's
right, came instantly to order; and Austrians instantly rushed in
to the vacant post, and galled Winterfeld's other flank by their
fire. [Abundant Accounts in Seyfarth, ii. ( Beylagen),
162-163; Helden-Geschichte, iv. 615-633;
Retzow, i. 216-221.]
Enough, Winterfeld lay bleeding to death, the Hill was lost,
Prussians drawing off slowly and back-foremost, about two in the
afternoon; upon which the Austrians also drew off, leaving only a
small party on the Hill, who voluntarily quitted it next morning.
Next morning, likewise, Winterfeld had died. The Hill was, except
as bravado, and by way of comfort to Kaunitz, nothing for the
Austrians; but the death of Winterfeld, which had come by chance to
them in the business, was probably a great thing. Better than two
pitched battles gained: who shall say? He was a shining figure,
this Winterfeld; dangerous to the Austrians. The most shining
figure in the Prussian Army, except its Chief; and had great
thoughts in his head. Prussia is not skilful to celebrate her
Heroes,--the Prussian Muse of History, choked with dry military
pipe-clay, or with husky cobwebbery and academic pedantry, how can
she?--but if Prussia can produce heroes worth celebrating, that is
the one important point. Apart from soldiership, and the outward
features which are widely different, there is traceable in
Winterfeld some kinship in soul to English Chatham his
contemporary; though he has not had the fame of Chatham.
Winterfeld was by no means universally liked; as what brave man is
or can be? Too susceptible to flattery; too this, too that. He is,
one feels always, except Friedrich only, the most shining figure in
the Prussian Army: and it was not unnatural he should be
Friedrich's one friend,--as seems to have been the case.
Friedrich, when this Job's-message reached him (in Erfurt Country,
eight days hence), was deeply affected by it. To tears, or beyond
tears, as we can fancy. "Against my multitude of enemies I may
contrive resources," he was heard to say; "but I shall find no
Winterfeld again!" Adieu, my one friend, real Peer, sole companion
to my lonely pilgrimage in these perilous high regions.
"The Prince of Prussia, contrariwise," says a miserable little
Note, which must not be withheld, "brightened up at the news:
'I shall now die much more content, knowing that there is one so
bad and dangerous man fewer in the Army!' And, six months after, in
his actual death-moments, he exclaimed: 'I end my life, the last
period of which has cost me so much sorrow; but Winterfeld is he
who shortened my days!'" [Preuss, ii. 75; citing Retzow.]--Very
bitter Opposition humors circulating, in their fashion, there as
elsewhere in this world!
Bevern, the millstone of Winterfeld being off his neck, has become
a more responsible, though he feels himself a much-delivered man.
Had not liked Winterfeld, they say; or had even hated him, since
those bad Zittau times. Can now, at any rate, make for Schlesien
and the meal-magazines, when he sees good. He will find meal
readier there; may he find other things corresponding! Nobody now
to keep him painfully manoeuvring in these parts; with the King's
Army nearer to him, but meal not.
On the third day after (September l0th), Bevern, having finished
packing, took the road for Schlesien; Daun and Karl attending him;
nothing left of Daun and Karl in those Saxon Countries,--except, at
Stolpen, out Dresden-wards, some Reserve-Post or Rear-guard of
15,000, should we chance to hear of that again. And from the end of
September onwards, Bevern's star, once somewhat bright at
Reichenberg, shot rapidly downwards, under the horizon altogether;
and there came, post after post, such news out of Schlesien,--
to say nothing of that Stolpen Party,--as Friedrich had never
heard before.
