But why weary you with such
"details of my labours and my sorrows?
"details of my labours and my sorrows?
Thomas Carlyle
That is
the sad fact; which, since the middle of August, has been
becoming visibly certain.
Second Siege of Colberg, August 26th. "Under siege again,
"that poor Place; and this time the Russians seem to have
"made a vow that take it they will. Siege by land and by
"sea; land-troops direct from Petersburg, 15,000 in all (8,000
"of them came by ship), with endless artillery; and near 40
"Russian and Swedish ships-of-war, bigand little, blacken * Archenholtz, n. 114; Berichl von der am 20. August 1760 bey Strehla
torgefallenen Action (Seyfarth, htylagen, a. 703-719).
** Letter in Sehoning, n. 396, "Hermsdorf" (Hennannsdorf) "27th
August 1760. "
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? 80 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
17tn-27th Aug. 1760.
"ing the waters of poor Colberg. August 26th" (the day be-
fore Friedrich's writing as above), "they have got all things
"adjusted, -- the land-troops covered by redoubts to rear-
"ward, ships moored in their battering-places; -- and begin
"such a bombardment and firing of redhot balls, upon Col-
"berg, as was rarely seen. To which, one can only hope
"oldHeyde will set a face of gray-steel character, as usual;
"and prove a difficult article to deal with, till one get some
"relief contrived for him. " *
* Archenholtz, iI. 116: In llelden-Geschichte (vi. 73'83), "Tagebuch of
Siege, 26th August--18th September," and other details.
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? CHAr. IV. ] DAUN AND FRIEDRICH.
3OU Aug. -- 18th Sept. 1760.
CHAPTER IV.
DAUN IN WRESTLE WITH FRIEDRICH IN THE SILESIAN
HILLS.
In spite of Friedrich's forebodings, an extraordinary
recoil, in all Anti-Friedrich affairs, ensued upon Lieg-
nitz; everything taking the backward course, from
which it hardly recovered, or indeed did not recover at
all, during the rest of this Campaign. Details on the
subsequent Daun-Friedrich movements, -- which went
all aback for Daun, Daun driven into the Hills again, Friedrich hopeful to cut off his bread, and drive him
quite through the Hills, and home again, -- are not
permitted us. No human intellect in our day could
busy itself with understanding these thousandfold
marchings, manceuverings, assaults, surprisals, sudden
facings about (retreat changed to advance); nor could
the powerfullest human memory, not exclusively devoted
to study the Art Military under Friedrich, remember
them when understood. For soldiers, desirous not to be
sham-soldiers, they are a recommendable exercise; for
them I do advise Tempelhof and the excellent German
Narratives and Records. But in regard to others -- A
sample has been given: multiply that by the ten, by
the three-score and ten; let the ingenuous imagination
get from it what will suffice. Our first duty here to
poor readers, is to elicit from that sea of small things
the fractions which are cardinal, or which give human
Carlylr, Frederick the Great. XII. 6
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? 82 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
30th Aug. -- 18th Sept. 1760.
physiognomy and memorability to it; and carefully sup-
press all the rest.
Understand, then, that there is a general going-back
on the Austrian and Russian part. Czernichef we
already saw at once retire over the Oder. Soltikof
bodily, the second day after, deaf to Montalembert, lifts
himself to rearward; takes post behind bogs and bushy
grounds more and more inaccessible;* followed by
Prince Henri with his best impressiveness for a week
longer, till he seem sufficiently remote and peaceably-
minded: "Making home for Poland, he," thinks the
sanguine King; "leave Goltz with 12,000 to watch
"him. The rest of the Army over hither! " Which is
done, August 27th; General Forcade taking charge,
instead of Henri, -- who is gone, that day or next, to
Breslau, for his health's sake. "Prince Henri really
"ill," say some; "Not so ill, but in the sulks," say
others: --partly true, both theories, it is now thought;
impossible to settle in what degree true. Evident it is,
Henri sat quiescent in Breslau, following regimen, in
more or less pathetic humour, for two or three months
to come; went afterwards to Glogau, and had private
theatricals; and was no more heard of in this Cam-
paign. Greatly to his Brother's loss and regret; who
is often longing for "your recovery" (and return hither),
to no purpose.
Soltikof does, in his heart, intend for Poland; but
has to see the Siege of Colberg finish first; and, in
decency even to the Austrians, would linger a little:
"Willing I always, if only you prove feasible! " Which
occasions such negotiating, and messaging across the
Oder, for the next six weeks, as -- as shall be omitted
? "August 18th, to Trebnitz, on the road to Militach" (Tempelhof, iv. 167).
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? CHAP. Iv. ] DAUN AND FRIEDRICH. 83
30th Aug. 1760.
in this place. By intense suasion of Montalembert, Sol-
tikof even consents to undertake some sham movement
on Glogau, thereby to alleviate his Austrians across the
River; and staggers gradually forward a little in that
direction: -- sham merely; for he has not a siege-gun,
nor the least possibility on Glogau; and Goltz with
the 12,000 will sufficiently take care of him in that
quarter.
Friedrich, on junction with Forcade, has risen to
perhaps 50,000; and is now in some condition against
the Daun-Loudon-Lacy Armies, which cannot be double
his number. These still hang about, in the Breslau-
Parchwitz region; gloomy of humour; and seem to be
aiming at Schweidnitz, -- if that could still prove pos-
sible with a Friedrich present. Which it by no means
does; though they try it by their best combinations; --
by "a powerful Chain of Army-posts, isolating Schweid-
"nitz, and uniting Daun and Loudon;" by "a Camp
"on the Zobtenberg, as crown of the same;" -- and
put Friedrich on his mettle. Who, after survey of said
Chain, executes (night of August 30th) a series of
beautiful manoeuvres on it, which unexpectedly con-
clude its existence:-- "with unaccountable hardihood"
(as Archenholtz has it, physiognomically true to Fried-
rich's general style just now, if a little incorrect as to
the case in hand), "sees good to march direct, once for
"all, athwart said Chain; right across its explosive
"cannonadings and it, -- counter-cannonading, and
"marching rapidly on; such a march for insolence, say
"the Austrians! "* Till, in this way, the insolent King
* Archenholtz (n. 115-116); who is in a hurry, dateless, and rather
confuses a subsequent day (September 18th) with this "night of August
30th. " See Be(joti), n. 26; and still better, Tempelhof, iv. 203.
6*
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? 84 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
18th Sept. 1760.
has Schweidnitz under his protective hand again; and
forces the Chain to coil itself wholly together, and roll
into the Hills for a safe lodging. Whither he again
follows it: with continual changes of position, vying in
inaccessibility with your own; threatening your meal-
wagons; trampling on your skirts in this or the other
dangerous manner; marching insolently up to your
very nose, more than once ("Dittmannsdorf, September
"18th," for a chief instance), and confusing your best
schemes. *
This "insolent" style of management, says Archen-
holtz, was practised by Julius Ca? sar on the Gauls;
and since his time by nobody, -- till Friedrich, his
studious scholar and admirer, revived it "against another
"enemy. " "It is of excellent efficacy," adds Tempel-
hof; "it disheartens your adversary, and especially his
"common people, and has the reverse effect on your
"own; confuses him in endless apprehensions, and details
"of self-defence; so that he can form no plan of his
"own, and his overpowering resources become useless
"to him. " Excellent efficacy, -- only you must be
equal to doing it; not unequal, which might be very
fatal to you!
For about five weeks, Friedrich, eminently prac-
tising this style, has a most complex multifarious
Briarean wrestle with big Daun and his Lacy-Loudon
satellites; who have a troublesome time, running hither,
thither, under danger of slaps, and finding nowhere an
available mistake made. The scene is that intricate
Hill-Country between Schweidnitz and Glatz (kind of
glacis from Schweidnitz to the Glatz Mountains): Daun,
* Tempelhof, iv. 193-231; &c. &c. : in Anonymous of Hamburg, iv. 222-
235, "Diary of the Austrian Army " (3d'8th September).
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? CHAP. Iv. ] DAUN AND FRIEDRICH. 85
38th Sept. -- ilh Oct. 1760.
generally speaking, has his back on Glatz, Friedrich
on Schweidnitz; and we hear of encampings at Kun-
zendorf, at Bunzelwitz, at Burkersdorf, -- places which
will be more famous in a coming Year. Daun makes
no complaint of his Lacy-Loudon or other satellite
people; who are diligently circumambient all of them,
as bidden; but are unable, like Daun himself, to do the
least good; and have perpetually, Daun and they, a
bad life of it beside this Neighbour. The outer world,
especially the Vienna outer world, is naturally a little
surprised: "How is this, Feldmarschall Daun? Can you
"do absolutely nothing with him, then; but sit pinned
"in the Hills, eating sour herbs! "
In the Russians appears no help. Soltikof on Glo-
gau, we know what that amounts to! Soltikof is evi-
dently intending home, and nothing else. To all Aus-
trian proposals, -- and they have been manifold, as
poor Montalembert knows too well, -- the answer of
Soltikof was and is: "Above 90,000 of you circling
about, helping one another to do Nothing. Happy
were you, not a doubt of it, could we be wiled across
to you, to get worried in your stead! " Daun begins
to be extremely ill off; provisions scarce, are far away
in Bohemia; and the roads daily more insecure, Fried-
rich aiming evidently to get command of them alto-
gether. Think of such an issue to our once-flourishing
Campaign 1760! Daun is vigilance itself against such
fatality; and will do anything, except risk a Fight.
Here, however, is the fatal posture: Since September
18th, Daun sees himself considerably cut off from Glatz,
his provision-road more and more insecure; -- and for
fourteen days onward, the King and he have got into
a dead-lock, and sit looking into one another's faces;
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? 86 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
18th Sept. --4th Oct. 1760.
Daun in a more and more distressed mood, his pro-
vender becoming so uncertain, and the Winter season
drawing nigh. The sentries are in mutual view: each
Camp could cannonade the other; but what good were
it? By a tacit understanding they don't. The sentries,
outposts, and vedettes forbear musketry; on the con-
trary, exchange tobaccos sometimes, and have a snatch
of conversation. Daun is growing more and more un-
happy. To which of the gods, if not to Soltikof again,
can he apply?
Friedrich himself, successful so far, is abundantly
dissatisfied with such a kind of success; -- and indeed
seems to be less thankful to his stars than in present
circumstances he ought. Profoundly wearied we find
him, worn down into utter disgust in the Small War
of Posts: "Here we still are, nose to nose," exclaims
he (see Letters to Henri), "both of us in unattackable
"camps. This Campaign appears to me more unsup-
"portable than any of the foregoing. Take what trouble
"and care I like, I can't advance a step in regard to
"great interests; I succeed only in trifles. " "Oh for
"good news of your health: I am without all assistance
"here; the Army must divide again before long, and I
"have none to intrust it to. "*
And to D'Argens, in the same bad days: "Yes, yes, "I escaped a great danger there" (at Liegnitz). "In a
"common War, it would have signified something; but
"in this it is a mere skirmish; my position little im-
proved by it. I will not sing Jeremiads to you; nor
"speak of my fears and anxieties, but can assure you
"they are great. The crisis I am in has taken another
"shape; but as yet nothing decides it, nor can the de-
* Schoning, u. 416.
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? CHAP. Iv. ] DAUN AND FRIEDRICH. 87
18th Sept. -- 4th Oct. 1760.
"velopment of it be foreseen. I am getting consumed
"by slow fever; I am like a living body losing limb
"after limb. Heaven stand by us: we need it much. "t
* * "You talk always of my person, of my dangers.
"Need I tell you, it is not necessary that I live; but
"it is that I do my duty, and fight for my Country
"to save it if possible. In many little things I have
"had luck: I think of taking for my motto, Maximus
"in minimis, et minimus in maximis. A worse Campaign
"than any of the others: I know not sometimes what
"will become of it.
But why weary you with such
"details of my labours and my sorrows? My spirits
"have forsaken me. All gaiety is buried with the
"Loved Noble Ones whom my heart was bound to.
"Adieu. "
Or, again, to Henri: 'Berlin? Yes; I am trying
'something in bar of that. Have a bad time of it, in
'the interim. "Our means, my dear Brother, are so
"eaten away; far too short for opposing the prodigious
"number of our enemies set against us: -- if we must
"fall, let us date our destruction from the infamous
"Day of Maxen! "
Is in such health, too, all the while: "Am a little
"better, thank you; yet have still the" -- what shall
we say (dreadful biliary affair)? -- "hemorrhoides "aveugles: nothing that, were it not for the disquietudes
"I feel: but all ends in this world, and so will these. "
"* * I flatter myself your health is recovering. For
"these three days in continuance I have had so terrible
"a cramp, I thought it would choke me; -- it is now
"a little gone. No wonder the chagrins and continual
t (Euvres de Frederic, nx. 193 ("Dittmannsdorf, 18th September," day
after, or day of finishing, that cannonade).
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? 88 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
18th Sept. -- 4th Oct. 1760.
"disquietudes I live in should undermine and at length
"overturn the robustest constitution. " *
Friedrich, we observe, has heard of certain Russian-
Austrian intentions on Berlin; but, after intense con-
sideration, resolves that it will behove him to continue
here, and try to dislodge Daun, or help Hunger to dis-
lodge him; which will be the remedy for Berlin and all
things else. There are news from Colberg of welcome
tenor; could Daun be sent packing, Soltikof, it is pro-
bable, will not be in much alacrity for Berlin! -- Sep-
tember 18th, at Dittmannsdorf, was the first day of
Daun's dead-lock: ever since, he has had to sit, more
and more hampered, pinned to the Hills, eating sour
herbs; nothing but Hunger ahead, and a retreat (battle
we will not dream of), likely to be very ruinous, with
a Friedrich sticking to the wings of it. Here is the
Note on Colberg:
September 18th, Colberg Siege raised. "The same September
"18th, what a day at Colberg too! It is the twenty-fourth day
"of the continual bombardment there. Colberg is black ashes,
"most of its houses ruins, not a house in it uninjured. But
"Heyde and his poor Garrison, busy day and night, walk
"about in it as if fire-proof; with a great deal of battle still
"left in them. The King, I know not whether Heyde is
"aware, has contrived something of relief; General Werner
"coming: -- the fittest of men, if there be possibility. When,
"see, September 18th, uneasy motion in the Russian en-
"trenchments (for the Russians too are entrenched against
"attack): Something that has surprised the Russians yonder.
"Climb, some of you, to the highest surviving steeple, highest
"chimney-top if no steeple survive: -- 'Yonder is Werner
"come to our relief, oh God the Merciful! '"
"Werner, with 5,000, was detached from Glogau (Sep?
? Schoning, n. 419: "2d October. " Ibid. n. 410: "16th September. "
Ibid. n. 408.
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? CHAP. Iv. ] DAUN AND FEIEDRICH.
18th Sept. -- 4th Oct. 1760.
"tember 5th), from Goltz's small Corps there; has come as
"on wings, 200 miles in thirteen days. And attacks now, as
"with wings,the astonished Russian 15,000, whowere looking
"for nothing like him, -- with wings, with claws, and with
"beak; and in a highly aquiline manner, fierce, swift, skil-
"ful, storms these entrenched Russians straightway, scatters
"them to pieces, -- and next day is in Colberg, the Siege
"raising itself with great precipitation; leaving all its ar-
"tilleries and furnitures, rushing on shipboard all of it that
"can get, -- the very ships-of-war, says Archenholtz, hur-
"rying dangerously out to sea, as if the Prussian Hussars
"defence, and ditto rescue; which has drawn the world's at-
"tention. "*
Heyde's defence of Colberg, Werner's swift rescue of it,
are very celebrated this Autumn. Medals were struck in
honour of them at Berlin, not at Friedrich's expense, but
under Friedrich's patronage; who purchased silver or gold
copies, and gave them about. Veteran Heyde had a Letter
from his Majesty, and one of these gold Medals; -- what an
honour! I do not hear that Heyde got any other reward, or
that he needed any. A beautiful old Hero, voiceless in His-
tory; though very visible in that remote sphere, if you care
to look.
That is the news from Colberg; comfortable to
Friedrich; not likely to inspire Soltikof with new ala-
crity in behalf of Daun. It remains to us only to add,
that Friedrich, with a view to quicken Daun, shot out
(September 24th, after nightfall, and with due mystery)
a Detachment towards Neisse, --4,000 or so, who call
themselves 15,000, and affect to be for Mahren ultimate-
ly. "For Mahren, and my bit of daily bread! " Daun
may well think; and did for some time think, or partly
did. Pushed off one small detachment really thither,
to look after Mahren; and (September 29th) pushed off
glorious Werner! A beautiful
1 I J - l_H_ _t* Seyfarth, n. 634; Archenholtz, n. 116: in Helden-Geschichle, (yi. 73-
83), Tagebuch. ot Siege.
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? 90 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
3d Oct. 1760.
another bigger; Lacy namely, with 15,000, pretending
to be thither, -- but who, the instant they were out of
Friedrich's sight, have whirled, at a rapid pace, quite
into the opposite direction: as will shortly be seen!
Daun has now other irons in the fire. Daun, ever since
this fatal Dead-lock in the Hills, has been shrieking
hoarsely to the Eussians, day and night; who at last
take pity on him, -- or find something feasible in his
proposals.
The Russians make a Raid on Berlin, for Relief of Daun,
and their own Behoof (October 3d-12th, 1760).
Powerful entreaties, influences are exercised at
Petersburg, and here in the Russian Camp: "Noble
Russian Excellencies, for the love of Heaven, take this
man off my windpipe! A sally into Brandenburg: oh,
could not you? Lacy shall accompany; seizure of Berlin,
were it only for one day! " Soltikof has fallen sick,--
and, indeed, practically vanishes from our affairs, at
this point; -- Termor, who has command in the interim,
finally consents: "Our poor siege of Colberg, what an
end is come to it! What an end is the whole Campaign
like to have! Let us at least try this of Berlin, since
our hands are empty. " The joy of Daun, of Montalem-
bert, and of everybody in Austrian Court and Camp
may be conceived.
Russians to the amount of 20,000, Czernichef Com-
mander; Tottleben, Second in command, a clever sol-
dier, who knows Berlin: these are to start from Sagan
Country, on this fine Expedition, and to push on at
the very top of their speed. September 20th, Tott-
leben, with 3,000 of them as Vanguard, does accordingly
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? CHAP. Iv. ]
3d Oct. 1760.
DAUN AND FRIEDRICH.
91cross Oder, at Beuthen in Sagan Country; and strides
forward direct upon Berlin: Lacy, with 15,000, has
started from Silesia, we saw how, above a week later
(September 29th), but at a still more furious rate of
speed. Soltikof, -- theoretically Soltikof, but practi-
cally Fermor, should the dim German Books be am-
biguous to any studious creature, -- with the Main
Army (which by itself is still a 20,000 odd), moves to
Frankfurt, to support the swift Expedition, and be
within two marches of it. Here surely is a feasibility!
Berlin, for defence, has nothing but weak palisades;
and of effective garrison 1,200 men.
And feasible, in a sort, this thing did prove; indis-
putably delivering Daun from strangulation in the Sile-
sian Mountains; filling the Gazetteer mind with loud
emotion of an empty nature; and very much affecting
many poor people in Berlin and neighbourhood. Making
a big Chapter in Berlin Local History; ;though com-
pressible to small bulk for strangers, who have no spe-
cific sympathies in that locality.
"Friday, 3d October 1760, Tottleben, with his hasty Van-
"guard of 3,000, preceded by hastier rumour, comes circling
"round Berlin environs; takes post at the Halle Gate" (west
side of the City); "summons Rochow" (the same old Com-
mandant of Haddick's time);-- "requires instant admittance;
"ransom of Four million Thalers, and other impossible things.
"Berlin has been putting itself in some posture; repairing its
"palisades, throwing up bits of redoubts in front of the gates;
"and, though sounding with alarms and uncertainties, shows
"a fine spirit of readiness for the emergency. Rochow is still
"Commandant, the same old Rochow who shrunk so question-
"ably in Haddick's time: butRochow has noCourt to tremble
"for at present; Queen and Royal Family, Archives, Principal
"Ministries, Directorium in a body, went all to Magdeburg
"again, on the Kunersdorf Disaster last year, and are safe
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? 92 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
I 4th-7th Oct. 1760.
"from such insults. The spirit of the population, it appears,
"even of the rich classes, some of whom are very rich, is extra-
"ordinary. BesidesRochow, moreover,there are,by accident,
"certain Generals inBerlin: Seidlitz and two others, recover-
"ing from their Kunersdorf hurts, who step into the breach
"with heart admirably willing, if with limbs still lame. Then
"there is old FieldmarshalLehwald" (Anti-Russian at Gross
Jagersdorf,but dismissed as too old), "who is official Governor
"of Berlin, who succeeded poor Keith in that honourable
"office: all these were strong for defence; -- and do not now
"grudge, great men as they are, to take each his Gate of Ber-
"lin, his small redoubt thrown up there, and pass the night
"and the day in doing his utmost with it.
"Rochow refuses the surrender and the Four-millions
"pure specie; and Tottleben, about 3P. m. in an intermittent
"way, and about 5 in a constant, begins bombarding, --
"grenadoes, red-hot balls, what he can; -- and continues the
"same till 3 next morning. Without result to speak of; Seid-
"litz and Consorts making good counter-play; the poor old
"1,200 of Garrison growing almost young again with energy,
"under their Seidlitzes; and the population zealously
"cooperating, especially quenching all fires that rose. What
"greatly contributed withal was the arrival of Prince Eugen
"overnight. Eugen of Wiirtemberg" (cadet of that bad Duke)
"had been engaged driving home the Swedes, but instantly
"quitted that with a 5,000 he had; and has marched this day,
"-- his Vanguard has, mostly Horse, whom the Foot will
"follow tomorrow, -- a distance of forty miles, on this fine
"errand. Delicate manceuvering, by these wearied horse-
"men, to enter Berlin amid uncertain jostlings, under the
"shine of Russian bombardment; ecstatic welcome to them,
"when they did get in, -- instant subscription for fat oxen
"to them; a just abundance of beef to them, of generous
"beer 1 nope not more than an abundance: phenomena
"which, with others of the like, could be dwelt on, had we
"room. *
"Tottleben, under these omens, found it would not do;
"wended off towards his Czernichef, next morning; eastward
* Tempelhof, iv. 266-290; Arcbenboltz, n. 122-148; llelden-Gescludite,
vI. 103 149, 350-352; &c. &c.
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? CHAP. Iv. ] DAUN AND FRIEDRICH. 93
4th-7th Oct. 1760.
"again as far as Copenik, Prince Eugeii attending him in a
"minatory manner: and, in Berlin for the moment, the bad
"ten hours were over. For four days more, the fate of things
"hung dubious; hope soon fading again, but not quite going
"out till the fifth day. And this, in fact, was mainly all of
"bombardment that the City had to suffer; though its fate of
"capture was not to be averted. Is not Tottleben gone?
"Yes; but Lacy, marching at a rate he never did before (ex-
"cept fromBischofswerda), is arrived in the environs this same
"evening, cautious but furious. The King is far away; what
"are Eugen's 5,000 against these?
"On the other hand, Hiilsen, leaving his Saxon affairs to
"their chance, -- which, alas, are about extinct, at any rate;
"except Wittenberg, all Saxony gone from us! -- Hiilsen is
"on winged march hitherward with about9,000. 'How would
"the King come on wings, like an eagle from the Blue, if he
"were but aware! ' thought everybody, and said. Hiilsen
"did arrive on the 8th; so that there are now 14,000 of us.
"Hiilsen did; -- but no King could; the King isjust starting
"(October 4th, the King, on these bad rumours about Saxony,
"about Berlin, quitted the attempt on Daun; October 7th, "got on march hitherward; has finished his first march
"hitherward, --Daun gradually preparing to attend him in
"the distance),-- when Hiilsen arrives. And here are all
"their Lacys, Czernichefs fairly assembled; five to two of us,
"--35,000 of them against our 14,000.
"Hiilsen and Eugen, drawn out in their skilfullest way,
"manoeuvered about, all this Wednesday 8th; attempted, did
"not attempt; found on candid examination, That 14,000
"versus 35,000 ran a great risk of being worsted; that, in
"such case, the fate of the City might be still more frightful;
"and that, on the whole, their one course was that of with-
drawing to Spandau, and leaving poor Berlin to capitulate
"as it could. Capitulation starts again with Tottleben that
"same night; Gotzkowsky, a magnanimous Citizen and
"Merchant-Prince, stepping forth with beautiful courageous
"furtherances of every kind; and it ends better than one
"could have hoped: Ransom -- not of Four-millions pure
"specie (which would have been 600,000/. ): 'Gracious Sir, it
"is beyond our utmost possibility! ' -- but of One and a Half
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? 94 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
9th-12th Oct. 1760.
"million in modern Ephraim coin; with a 30,000/. of douceur-
"money to the common man, Russian and Austrian, for his
"forbearance;-- 'for the rest, we are at your Excellency's
"mercy, in a manner! ' And so,
"Thursday, October ,9th, About 7 in the morning, Tottleben
"marches in; exactly six days since he first came circling
"to the Halle Gate, and began bombarding. Tottleben,
"knowing Friedrieh, knew the value of despatch; and, they
"say, was privately no enemy to Berlin, remembering old
'' grateful days here. For Tottleben has himself been in diffi-
"culties; indeed, was never long out of them, during the long
"stormy life he had. Not aEussian at all; thoughl suppose
"Father of the now Russian Tottlebens whom one hears of:
"this one was a poor Saxon Gentleman, Page once to poor
"old drunken Weissenfels, whom, for a certain fair soul's
"sake, we sigh to remember! Weissenfels dying, Tottleben
"became a soldier of Polish Majesty's; -- acceptable soldier,
"but disagreed with Briihl, for which nobody will like him
"worse.
the sad fact; which, since the middle of August, has been
becoming visibly certain.
Second Siege of Colberg, August 26th. "Under siege again,
"that poor Place; and this time the Russians seem to have
"made a vow that take it they will. Siege by land and by
"sea; land-troops direct from Petersburg, 15,000 in all (8,000
"of them came by ship), with endless artillery; and near 40
"Russian and Swedish ships-of-war, bigand little, blacken * Archenholtz, n. 114; Berichl von der am 20. August 1760 bey Strehla
torgefallenen Action (Seyfarth, htylagen, a. 703-719).
** Letter in Sehoning, n. 396, "Hermsdorf" (Hennannsdorf) "27th
August 1760. "
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? 80 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
17tn-27th Aug. 1760.
"ing the waters of poor Colberg. August 26th" (the day be-
fore Friedrich's writing as above), "they have got all things
"adjusted, -- the land-troops covered by redoubts to rear-
"ward, ships moored in their battering-places; -- and begin
"such a bombardment and firing of redhot balls, upon Col-
"berg, as was rarely seen. To which, one can only hope
"oldHeyde will set a face of gray-steel character, as usual;
"and prove a difficult article to deal with, till one get some
"relief contrived for him. " *
* Archenholtz, iI. 116: In llelden-Geschichte (vi. 73'83), "Tagebuch of
Siege, 26th August--18th September," and other details.
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? CHAr. IV. ] DAUN AND FRIEDRICH.
3OU Aug. -- 18th Sept. 1760.
CHAPTER IV.
DAUN IN WRESTLE WITH FRIEDRICH IN THE SILESIAN
HILLS.
In spite of Friedrich's forebodings, an extraordinary
recoil, in all Anti-Friedrich affairs, ensued upon Lieg-
nitz; everything taking the backward course, from
which it hardly recovered, or indeed did not recover at
all, during the rest of this Campaign. Details on the
subsequent Daun-Friedrich movements, -- which went
all aback for Daun, Daun driven into the Hills again, Friedrich hopeful to cut off his bread, and drive him
quite through the Hills, and home again, -- are not
permitted us. No human intellect in our day could
busy itself with understanding these thousandfold
marchings, manceuverings, assaults, surprisals, sudden
facings about (retreat changed to advance); nor could
the powerfullest human memory, not exclusively devoted
to study the Art Military under Friedrich, remember
them when understood. For soldiers, desirous not to be
sham-soldiers, they are a recommendable exercise; for
them I do advise Tempelhof and the excellent German
Narratives and Records. But in regard to others -- A
sample has been given: multiply that by the ten, by
the three-score and ten; let the ingenuous imagination
get from it what will suffice. Our first duty here to
poor readers, is to elicit from that sea of small things
the fractions which are cardinal, or which give human
Carlylr, Frederick the Great. XII. 6
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? 82 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
30th Aug. -- 18th Sept. 1760.
physiognomy and memorability to it; and carefully sup-
press all the rest.
Understand, then, that there is a general going-back
on the Austrian and Russian part. Czernichef we
already saw at once retire over the Oder. Soltikof
bodily, the second day after, deaf to Montalembert, lifts
himself to rearward; takes post behind bogs and bushy
grounds more and more inaccessible;* followed by
Prince Henri with his best impressiveness for a week
longer, till he seem sufficiently remote and peaceably-
minded: "Making home for Poland, he," thinks the
sanguine King; "leave Goltz with 12,000 to watch
"him. The rest of the Army over hither! " Which is
done, August 27th; General Forcade taking charge,
instead of Henri, -- who is gone, that day or next, to
Breslau, for his health's sake. "Prince Henri really
"ill," say some; "Not so ill, but in the sulks," say
others: --partly true, both theories, it is now thought;
impossible to settle in what degree true. Evident it is,
Henri sat quiescent in Breslau, following regimen, in
more or less pathetic humour, for two or three months
to come; went afterwards to Glogau, and had private
theatricals; and was no more heard of in this Cam-
paign. Greatly to his Brother's loss and regret; who
is often longing for "your recovery" (and return hither),
to no purpose.
Soltikof does, in his heart, intend for Poland; but
has to see the Siege of Colberg finish first; and, in
decency even to the Austrians, would linger a little:
"Willing I always, if only you prove feasible! " Which
occasions such negotiating, and messaging across the
Oder, for the next six weeks, as -- as shall be omitted
? "August 18th, to Trebnitz, on the road to Militach" (Tempelhof, iv. 167).
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? CHAP. Iv. ] DAUN AND FRIEDRICH. 83
30th Aug. 1760.
in this place. By intense suasion of Montalembert, Sol-
tikof even consents to undertake some sham movement
on Glogau, thereby to alleviate his Austrians across the
River; and staggers gradually forward a little in that
direction: -- sham merely; for he has not a siege-gun,
nor the least possibility on Glogau; and Goltz with
the 12,000 will sufficiently take care of him in that
quarter.
Friedrich, on junction with Forcade, has risen to
perhaps 50,000; and is now in some condition against
the Daun-Loudon-Lacy Armies, which cannot be double
his number. These still hang about, in the Breslau-
Parchwitz region; gloomy of humour; and seem to be
aiming at Schweidnitz, -- if that could still prove pos-
sible with a Friedrich present. Which it by no means
does; though they try it by their best combinations; --
by "a powerful Chain of Army-posts, isolating Schweid-
"nitz, and uniting Daun and Loudon;" by "a Camp
"on the Zobtenberg, as crown of the same;" -- and
put Friedrich on his mettle. Who, after survey of said
Chain, executes (night of August 30th) a series of
beautiful manoeuvres on it, which unexpectedly con-
clude its existence:-- "with unaccountable hardihood"
(as Archenholtz has it, physiognomically true to Fried-
rich's general style just now, if a little incorrect as to
the case in hand), "sees good to march direct, once for
"all, athwart said Chain; right across its explosive
"cannonadings and it, -- counter-cannonading, and
"marching rapidly on; such a march for insolence, say
"the Austrians! "* Till, in this way, the insolent King
* Archenholtz (n. 115-116); who is in a hurry, dateless, and rather
confuses a subsequent day (September 18th) with this "night of August
30th. " See Be(joti), n. 26; and still better, Tempelhof, iv. 203.
6*
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? 84 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
18th Sept. 1760.
has Schweidnitz under his protective hand again; and
forces the Chain to coil itself wholly together, and roll
into the Hills for a safe lodging. Whither he again
follows it: with continual changes of position, vying in
inaccessibility with your own; threatening your meal-
wagons; trampling on your skirts in this or the other
dangerous manner; marching insolently up to your
very nose, more than once ("Dittmannsdorf, September
"18th," for a chief instance), and confusing your best
schemes. *
This "insolent" style of management, says Archen-
holtz, was practised by Julius Ca? sar on the Gauls;
and since his time by nobody, -- till Friedrich, his
studious scholar and admirer, revived it "against another
"enemy. " "It is of excellent efficacy," adds Tempel-
hof; "it disheartens your adversary, and especially his
"common people, and has the reverse effect on your
"own; confuses him in endless apprehensions, and details
"of self-defence; so that he can form no plan of his
"own, and his overpowering resources become useless
"to him. " Excellent efficacy, -- only you must be
equal to doing it; not unequal, which might be very
fatal to you!
For about five weeks, Friedrich, eminently prac-
tising this style, has a most complex multifarious
Briarean wrestle with big Daun and his Lacy-Loudon
satellites; who have a troublesome time, running hither,
thither, under danger of slaps, and finding nowhere an
available mistake made. The scene is that intricate
Hill-Country between Schweidnitz and Glatz (kind of
glacis from Schweidnitz to the Glatz Mountains): Daun,
* Tempelhof, iv. 193-231; &c. &c. : in Anonymous of Hamburg, iv. 222-
235, "Diary of the Austrian Army " (3d'8th September).
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? CHAP. Iv. ] DAUN AND FRIEDRICH. 85
38th Sept. -- ilh Oct. 1760.
generally speaking, has his back on Glatz, Friedrich
on Schweidnitz; and we hear of encampings at Kun-
zendorf, at Bunzelwitz, at Burkersdorf, -- places which
will be more famous in a coming Year. Daun makes
no complaint of his Lacy-Loudon or other satellite
people; who are diligently circumambient all of them,
as bidden; but are unable, like Daun himself, to do the
least good; and have perpetually, Daun and they, a
bad life of it beside this Neighbour. The outer world,
especially the Vienna outer world, is naturally a little
surprised: "How is this, Feldmarschall Daun? Can you
"do absolutely nothing with him, then; but sit pinned
"in the Hills, eating sour herbs! "
In the Russians appears no help. Soltikof on Glo-
gau, we know what that amounts to! Soltikof is evi-
dently intending home, and nothing else. To all Aus-
trian proposals, -- and they have been manifold, as
poor Montalembert knows too well, -- the answer of
Soltikof was and is: "Above 90,000 of you circling
about, helping one another to do Nothing. Happy
were you, not a doubt of it, could we be wiled across
to you, to get worried in your stead! " Daun begins
to be extremely ill off; provisions scarce, are far away
in Bohemia; and the roads daily more insecure, Fried-
rich aiming evidently to get command of them alto-
gether. Think of such an issue to our once-flourishing
Campaign 1760! Daun is vigilance itself against such
fatality; and will do anything, except risk a Fight.
Here, however, is the fatal posture: Since September
18th, Daun sees himself considerably cut off from Glatz,
his provision-road more and more insecure; -- and for
fourteen days onward, the King and he have got into
a dead-lock, and sit looking into one another's faces;
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? 86 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
18th Sept. --4th Oct. 1760.
Daun in a more and more distressed mood, his pro-
vender becoming so uncertain, and the Winter season
drawing nigh. The sentries are in mutual view: each
Camp could cannonade the other; but what good were
it? By a tacit understanding they don't. The sentries,
outposts, and vedettes forbear musketry; on the con-
trary, exchange tobaccos sometimes, and have a snatch
of conversation. Daun is growing more and more un-
happy. To which of the gods, if not to Soltikof again,
can he apply?
Friedrich himself, successful so far, is abundantly
dissatisfied with such a kind of success; -- and indeed
seems to be less thankful to his stars than in present
circumstances he ought. Profoundly wearied we find
him, worn down into utter disgust in the Small War
of Posts: "Here we still are, nose to nose," exclaims
he (see Letters to Henri), "both of us in unattackable
"camps. This Campaign appears to me more unsup-
"portable than any of the foregoing. Take what trouble
"and care I like, I can't advance a step in regard to
"great interests; I succeed only in trifles. " "Oh for
"good news of your health: I am without all assistance
"here; the Army must divide again before long, and I
"have none to intrust it to. "*
And to D'Argens, in the same bad days: "Yes, yes, "I escaped a great danger there" (at Liegnitz). "In a
"common War, it would have signified something; but
"in this it is a mere skirmish; my position little im-
proved by it. I will not sing Jeremiads to you; nor
"speak of my fears and anxieties, but can assure you
"they are great. The crisis I am in has taken another
"shape; but as yet nothing decides it, nor can the de-
* Schoning, u. 416.
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? CHAP. Iv. ] DAUN AND FRIEDRICH. 87
18th Sept. -- 4th Oct. 1760.
"velopment of it be foreseen. I am getting consumed
"by slow fever; I am like a living body losing limb
"after limb. Heaven stand by us: we need it much. "t
* * "You talk always of my person, of my dangers.
"Need I tell you, it is not necessary that I live; but
"it is that I do my duty, and fight for my Country
"to save it if possible. In many little things I have
"had luck: I think of taking for my motto, Maximus
"in minimis, et minimus in maximis. A worse Campaign
"than any of the others: I know not sometimes what
"will become of it.
But why weary you with such
"details of my labours and my sorrows? My spirits
"have forsaken me. All gaiety is buried with the
"Loved Noble Ones whom my heart was bound to.
"Adieu. "
Or, again, to Henri: 'Berlin? Yes; I am trying
'something in bar of that. Have a bad time of it, in
'the interim. "Our means, my dear Brother, are so
"eaten away; far too short for opposing the prodigious
"number of our enemies set against us: -- if we must
"fall, let us date our destruction from the infamous
"Day of Maxen! "
Is in such health, too, all the while: "Am a little
"better, thank you; yet have still the" -- what shall
we say (dreadful biliary affair)? -- "hemorrhoides "aveugles: nothing that, were it not for the disquietudes
"I feel: but all ends in this world, and so will these. "
"* * I flatter myself your health is recovering. For
"these three days in continuance I have had so terrible
"a cramp, I thought it would choke me; -- it is now
"a little gone. No wonder the chagrins and continual
t (Euvres de Frederic, nx. 193 ("Dittmannsdorf, 18th September," day
after, or day of finishing, that cannonade).
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? 88 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
18th Sept. -- 4th Oct. 1760.
"disquietudes I live in should undermine and at length
"overturn the robustest constitution. " *
Friedrich, we observe, has heard of certain Russian-
Austrian intentions on Berlin; but, after intense con-
sideration, resolves that it will behove him to continue
here, and try to dislodge Daun, or help Hunger to dis-
lodge him; which will be the remedy for Berlin and all
things else. There are news from Colberg of welcome
tenor; could Daun be sent packing, Soltikof, it is pro-
bable, will not be in much alacrity for Berlin! -- Sep-
tember 18th, at Dittmannsdorf, was the first day of
Daun's dead-lock: ever since, he has had to sit, more
and more hampered, pinned to the Hills, eating sour
herbs; nothing but Hunger ahead, and a retreat (battle
we will not dream of), likely to be very ruinous, with
a Friedrich sticking to the wings of it. Here is the
Note on Colberg:
September 18th, Colberg Siege raised. "The same September
"18th, what a day at Colberg too! It is the twenty-fourth day
"of the continual bombardment there. Colberg is black ashes,
"most of its houses ruins, not a house in it uninjured. But
"Heyde and his poor Garrison, busy day and night, walk
"about in it as if fire-proof; with a great deal of battle still
"left in them. The King, I know not whether Heyde is
"aware, has contrived something of relief; General Werner
"coming: -- the fittest of men, if there be possibility. When,
"see, September 18th, uneasy motion in the Russian en-
"trenchments (for the Russians too are entrenched against
"attack): Something that has surprised the Russians yonder.
"Climb, some of you, to the highest surviving steeple, highest
"chimney-top if no steeple survive: -- 'Yonder is Werner
"come to our relief, oh God the Merciful! '"
"Werner, with 5,000, was detached from Glogau (Sep?
? Schoning, n. 419: "2d October. " Ibid. n. 410: "16th September. "
Ibid. n. 408.
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? CHAP. Iv. ] DAUN AND FEIEDRICH.
18th Sept. -- 4th Oct. 1760.
"tember 5th), from Goltz's small Corps there; has come as
"on wings, 200 miles in thirteen days. And attacks now, as
"with wings,the astonished Russian 15,000, whowere looking
"for nothing like him, -- with wings, with claws, and with
"beak; and in a highly aquiline manner, fierce, swift, skil-
"ful, storms these entrenched Russians straightway, scatters
"them to pieces, -- and next day is in Colberg, the Siege
"raising itself with great precipitation; leaving all its ar-
"tilleries and furnitures, rushing on shipboard all of it that
"can get, -- the very ships-of-war, says Archenholtz, hur-
"rying dangerously out to sea, as if the Prussian Hussars
"defence, and ditto rescue; which has drawn the world's at-
"tention. "*
Heyde's defence of Colberg, Werner's swift rescue of it,
are very celebrated this Autumn. Medals were struck in
honour of them at Berlin, not at Friedrich's expense, but
under Friedrich's patronage; who purchased silver or gold
copies, and gave them about. Veteran Heyde had a Letter
from his Majesty, and one of these gold Medals; -- what an
honour! I do not hear that Heyde got any other reward, or
that he needed any. A beautiful old Hero, voiceless in His-
tory; though very visible in that remote sphere, if you care
to look.
That is the news from Colberg; comfortable to
Friedrich; not likely to inspire Soltikof with new ala-
crity in behalf of Daun. It remains to us only to add,
that Friedrich, with a view to quicken Daun, shot out
(September 24th, after nightfall, and with due mystery)
a Detachment towards Neisse, --4,000 or so, who call
themselves 15,000, and affect to be for Mahren ultimate-
ly. "For Mahren, and my bit of daily bread! " Daun
may well think; and did for some time think, or partly
did. Pushed off one small detachment really thither,
to look after Mahren; and (September 29th) pushed off
glorious Werner! A beautiful
1 I J - l_H_ _t* Seyfarth, n. 634; Archenholtz, n. 116: in Helden-Geschichle, (yi. 73-
83), Tagebuch. ot Siege.
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? 90 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
3d Oct. 1760.
another bigger; Lacy namely, with 15,000, pretending
to be thither, -- but who, the instant they were out of
Friedrich's sight, have whirled, at a rapid pace, quite
into the opposite direction: as will shortly be seen!
Daun has now other irons in the fire. Daun, ever since
this fatal Dead-lock in the Hills, has been shrieking
hoarsely to the Eussians, day and night; who at last
take pity on him, -- or find something feasible in his
proposals.
The Russians make a Raid on Berlin, for Relief of Daun,
and their own Behoof (October 3d-12th, 1760).
Powerful entreaties, influences are exercised at
Petersburg, and here in the Russian Camp: "Noble
Russian Excellencies, for the love of Heaven, take this
man off my windpipe! A sally into Brandenburg: oh,
could not you? Lacy shall accompany; seizure of Berlin,
were it only for one day! " Soltikof has fallen sick,--
and, indeed, practically vanishes from our affairs, at
this point; -- Termor, who has command in the interim,
finally consents: "Our poor siege of Colberg, what an
end is come to it! What an end is the whole Campaign
like to have! Let us at least try this of Berlin, since
our hands are empty. " The joy of Daun, of Montalem-
bert, and of everybody in Austrian Court and Camp
may be conceived.
Russians to the amount of 20,000, Czernichef Com-
mander; Tottleben, Second in command, a clever sol-
dier, who knows Berlin: these are to start from Sagan
Country, on this fine Expedition, and to push on at
the very top of their speed. September 20th, Tott-
leben, with 3,000 of them as Vanguard, does accordingly
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? CHAP. Iv. ]
3d Oct. 1760.
DAUN AND FRIEDRICH.
91cross Oder, at Beuthen in Sagan Country; and strides
forward direct upon Berlin: Lacy, with 15,000, has
started from Silesia, we saw how, above a week later
(September 29th), but at a still more furious rate of
speed. Soltikof, -- theoretically Soltikof, but practi-
cally Fermor, should the dim German Books be am-
biguous to any studious creature, -- with the Main
Army (which by itself is still a 20,000 odd), moves to
Frankfurt, to support the swift Expedition, and be
within two marches of it. Here surely is a feasibility!
Berlin, for defence, has nothing but weak palisades;
and of effective garrison 1,200 men.
And feasible, in a sort, this thing did prove; indis-
putably delivering Daun from strangulation in the Sile-
sian Mountains; filling the Gazetteer mind with loud
emotion of an empty nature; and very much affecting
many poor people in Berlin and neighbourhood. Making
a big Chapter in Berlin Local History; ;though com-
pressible to small bulk for strangers, who have no spe-
cific sympathies in that locality.
"Friday, 3d October 1760, Tottleben, with his hasty Van-
"guard of 3,000, preceded by hastier rumour, comes circling
"round Berlin environs; takes post at the Halle Gate" (west
side of the City); "summons Rochow" (the same old Com-
mandant of Haddick's time);-- "requires instant admittance;
"ransom of Four million Thalers, and other impossible things.
"Berlin has been putting itself in some posture; repairing its
"palisades, throwing up bits of redoubts in front of the gates;
"and, though sounding with alarms and uncertainties, shows
"a fine spirit of readiness for the emergency. Rochow is still
"Commandant, the same old Rochow who shrunk so question-
"ably in Haddick's time: butRochow has noCourt to tremble
"for at present; Queen and Royal Family, Archives, Principal
"Ministries, Directorium in a body, went all to Magdeburg
"again, on the Kunersdorf Disaster last year, and are safe
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 92 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
I 4th-7th Oct. 1760.
"from such insults. The spirit of the population, it appears,
"even of the rich classes, some of whom are very rich, is extra-
"ordinary. BesidesRochow, moreover,there are,by accident,
"certain Generals inBerlin: Seidlitz and two others, recover-
"ing from their Kunersdorf hurts, who step into the breach
"with heart admirably willing, if with limbs still lame. Then
"there is old FieldmarshalLehwald" (Anti-Russian at Gross
Jagersdorf,but dismissed as too old), "who is official Governor
"of Berlin, who succeeded poor Keith in that honourable
"office: all these were strong for defence; -- and do not now
"grudge, great men as they are, to take each his Gate of Ber-
"lin, his small redoubt thrown up there, and pass the night
"and the day in doing his utmost with it.
"Rochow refuses the surrender and the Four-millions
"pure specie; and Tottleben, about 3P. m. in an intermittent
"way, and about 5 in a constant, begins bombarding, --
"grenadoes, red-hot balls, what he can; -- and continues the
"same till 3 next morning. Without result to speak of; Seid-
"litz and Consorts making good counter-play; the poor old
"1,200 of Garrison growing almost young again with energy,
"under their Seidlitzes; and the population zealously
"cooperating, especially quenching all fires that rose. What
"greatly contributed withal was the arrival of Prince Eugen
"overnight. Eugen of Wiirtemberg" (cadet of that bad Duke)
"had been engaged driving home the Swedes, but instantly
"quitted that with a 5,000 he had; and has marched this day,
"-- his Vanguard has, mostly Horse, whom the Foot will
"follow tomorrow, -- a distance of forty miles, on this fine
"errand. Delicate manceuvering, by these wearied horse-
"men, to enter Berlin amid uncertain jostlings, under the
"shine of Russian bombardment; ecstatic welcome to them,
"when they did get in, -- instant subscription for fat oxen
"to them; a just abundance of beef to them, of generous
"beer 1 nope not more than an abundance: phenomena
"which, with others of the like, could be dwelt on, had we
"room. *
"Tottleben, under these omens, found it would not do;
"wended off towards his Czernichef, next morning; eastward
* Tempelhof, iv. 266-290; Arcbenboltz, n. 122-148; llelden-Gescludite,
vI. 103 149, 350-352; &c. &c.
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? CHAP. Iv. ] DAUN AND FRIEDRICH. 93
4th-7th Oct. 1760.
"again as far as Copenik, Prince Eugeii attending him in a
"minatory manner: and, in Berlin for the moment, the bad
"ten hours were over. For four days more, the fate of things
"hung dubious; hope soon fading again, but not quite going
"out till the fifth day. And this, in fact, was mainly all of
"bombardment that the City had to suffer; though its fate of
"capture was not to be averted. Is not Tottleben gone?
"Yes; but Lacy, marching at a rate he never did before (ex-
"cept fromBischofswerda), is arrived in the environs this same
"evening, cautious but furious. The King is far away; what
"are Eugen's 5,000 against these?
"On the other hand, Hiilsen, leaving his Saxon affairs to
"their chance, -- which, alas, are about extinct, at any rate;
"except Wittenberg, all Saxony gone from us! -- Hiilsen is
"on winged march hitherward with about9,000. 'How would
"the King come on wings, like an eagle from the Blue, if he
"were but aware! ' thought everybody, and said. Hiilsen
"did arrive on the 8th; so that there are now 14,000 of us.
"Hiilsen did; -- but no King could; the King isjust starting
"(October 4th, the King, on these bad rumours about Saxony,
"about Berlin, quitted the attempt on Daun; October 7th, "got on march hitherward; has finished his first march
"hitherward, --Daun gradually preparing to attend him in
"the distance),-- when Hiilsen arrives. And here are all
"their Lacys, Czernichefs fairly assembled; five to two of us,
"--35,000 of them against our 14,000.
"Hiilsen and Eugen, drawn out in their skilfullest way,
"manoeuvered about, all this Wednesday 8th; attempted, did
"not attempt; found on candid examination, That 14,000
"versus 35,000 ran a great risk of being worsted; that, in
"such case, the fate of the City might be still more frightful;
"and that, on the whole, their one course was that of with-
drawing to Spandau, and leaving poor Berlin to capitulate
"as it could. Capitulation starts again with Tottleben that
"same night; Gotzkowsky, a magnanimous Citizen and
"Merchant-Prince, stepping forth with beautiful courageous
"furtherances of every kind; and it ends better than one
"could have hoped: Ransom -- not of Four-millions pure
"specie (which would have been 600,000/. ): 'Gracious Sir, it
"is beyond our utmost possibility! ' -- but of One and a Half
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 94 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
9th-12th Oct. 1760.
"million in modern Ephraim coin; with a 30,000/. of douceur-
"money to the common man, Russian and Austrian, for his
"forbearance;-- 'for the rest, we are at your Excellency's
"mercy, in a manner! ' And so,
"Thursday, October ,9th, About 7 in the morning, Tottleben
"marches in; exactly six days since he first came circling
"to the Halle Gate, and began bombarding. Tottleben,
"knowing Friedrieh, knew the value of despatch; and, they
"say, was privately no enemy to Berlin, remembering old
'' grateful days here. For Tottleben has himself been in diffi-
"culties; indeed, was never long out of them, during the long
"stormy life he had. Not aEussian at all; thoughl suppose
"Father of the now Russian Tottlebens whom one hears of:
"this one was a poor Saxon Gentleman, Page once to poor
"old drunken Weissenfels, whom, for a certain fair soul's
"sake, we sigh to remember! Weissenfels dying, Tottleben
"became a soldier of Polish Majesty's; -- acceptable soldier,
"but disagreed with Briihl, for which nobody will like him
"worse.
