Under such a Chief Figure, the "incoherency of action,"
instead of diminishing, as Friedrich had feared, rose
daily towards its maximum; and latterly became extreme.
instead of diminishing, as Friedrich had feared, rose
daily towards its maximum; and latterly became extreme.
Thomas Carlyle
Time gained is much, in these desperate
"circumstances. The news from Torgau and Dresden, Coper
"my Secretary" (Coper mein Segreter, kind of lieutenant to
Eicliel*) "will send him. You (Er) must inform my Brother"
(Prince Henri) "of everything; whom I have declared Gen-
"eralissimo of the Army. To repair this bad luck altogether,
"is not possible: but what my Brother shall command, must
"be done: -- the Army swears to my Nephew" (King hence-
forth).
"This is all the advice, in these unhappy circumstances,
"I am in a condition to give. Had I still had resources, I
"would have stayed by them (so wehre ich darbeigeblieben). --
Friedrich. "**
All this done, the wearied Friedrich flung himself
into his truss of dry straw; and was seen sound asleep
there, a single sentry at the door, by some high Generals
that ventured to look in. On the morrow he crossed to
Reitwein; by tomorrow night, there had 23,000 of his
fugitives come in to him; -- but this is now to be Finck's
affair, not his! That day, too (for the Paper seems to
be misdated), he signed, and despatched to Schmettau,
* See Pren<<8, i. 349, in. 442.
** Exact Copy, two exact Copies, in Preuss (i. 450, and again, n. 215).
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? 184 FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XIX.
13th Aug. 1759.
Commandant in Dresden, a Missive, which proved more
fatal than either of the others; and brought, or helped
to bring, very bitter fruits for him, before long:
To Lieutenant-General von Schmettau (at Dresden).
"Reitwein, 14th" (probably'l3th) "August 1759.
"You will perhaps have heard of the Check" (FEchec,
Kunersdorfto wit! ) "I have met with from the Russian Army
"on the 13th" (12th, if you had the Almanac at hand) "of
"this month. Though at bottom our affairs in regard to the
"Enemy here are not desperate, I find I shall not now be able
"to make any detachment for your assistance. Should the
"Austrians attempt anything against Dresden, therefore,
"you will see if there are means of maintaining yourself;
"failing which, it will behove you to try and obtain a favour-
"able Capitulation, -- to wit, Liberty to withdraw, with the
"whole Garrison, Moneys, Magazines, Hospital and all that
"we have at Dresden, either to Berlin or elsewhither, so as to
"join some Corps of my Troops.
"As a fit of illness (maladie, alas! ) "has come on me,--
"which I do not think will have dangerous results, -- I
"have for the present left the command of my Troops to
"Lieutenant-General von Finck; whose Orders you are to
"execute as if coming to you directly from myself. On this
"I pray God to have you in his holy and worthy keep-
"ing. --F. "*
At Berlin, on this 13th, -- with the Five Couriers coming
in successively (and not in the order of their despatch, but the
fatal Fifth arriving some time ahead of the Fourth, who still
spoke of progress and victory), -- there was such a day as
Sulzer (ach mein lieber Sulzer! ) had never seen in the world.
'"Ahove 50,000 human beings on the Palace Esplanade and
"'streets about;' swaying hither and thither, in agony of
"expectation, in alternate paroxysm of joy and of terror and
"woe; often enough the opposite paroxysms simultaneous in
"the different groups, and men crushed down in despair met
"by men leaping into the air for very gladness:" Sulzer
(whose sympathy is of very aesthetic type) 'would not, for any
* Freuss, n. L'rJiundenbuch, p. 13.
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? CHAP. IV. ] BATTLE OF KUNERSDORF. 185
13th Aug. 1759.
'consideration, have missed such a scene. '* The 'scene' is
much obliged to you, mein Lieber! --
Practically we find, in Rodenbeck, or straggling else-
where, this Note: "On the Day after KunersdorfV Queen and
"Court fly to Magdeburg: this is their second flight. Their
"first was on Haddick's Visit, October 1757; but after Ross-
"bach they soon returned, and Berlin and the Court were
"then extremely gay: different gentlemen, French and
"others of every Nation, fallen prisoners, made the Queen's
"soirees the finest in the world for splendour and variety, at
"that time. "**
One other Note we save, for the sake of poor Major Kleist,
'Poet of the Spring,' as he was then called. A valiant,
punctual Soldier, and with a turn for Literature as well; who
wrote really pleasant fine things, new at that time and
rapturously welcome, though too much in the sentimental
vein for the times which have followed. Major Kleist, --
there is a General Kleist, a Colonel Kleist of the Green
Hussars (called Griine Kleist, a terrible cutting fellow): --
this is not Griine Kleist; this is the Poet of The Spring; whose
fate at Kunersdorf made a tragic impression in all intelligent
circles of Teutschland. Here is Kriele's Note (abridged):
"Christian Ewald von Kleist, 'Poet of the Spring'" (a
Pommern gentleman, now in his forty-fourth year), "was of
"Finck's Division; had come on, after those Eight Battalions
"took the first Russian battery" (that is, Muhlberg); "and
"had been assisting, with zeal, at the taking of three
"other batteries, regardless of twelve contusions, which he
"gradually got. At the third battery, he was farther badly
"hurt on the left arm and the right. Took his Colonel's place
"nevertheless, whom he now saw fall; led the regiment
"muthig forward on the fourth battery. A case-shot smashed
"his right leg to pieces; he fell from his horse" (hour not
given, shall we say 3 p. m. ); "sank, exclaiming: 'Kinder, My
'"children, don't forsake your King! ' and fainted there.
"Was carried to rear and leftward; laid down on some dry
"spot in the Elsbruch, not far from the Kuhgrund, and a
* briefe der Schweitzer Bodmor, Sulzer, Gessner; aus Gleim's Hterdri-
schcm Nachlasse: herausgegeben uon Wilhelm Korle (Zilrlch, 1804), pp.
316-319.
*? ROdenbeck, I. 390; &c. &c.
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? 186 FRIEDR1CH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XIX.
13th Aug. 1759.
"Surgeon brought. The Surgeon, while examining, was
"torn away by case-shot: Kleist lay bleeding without help.
"A friend of his, Pfau" (who told Kriele), "one of Finck's
"Generals, came riding that way: Kleist called to him;
"asked how the Battle went; uncommonly glad to hear we
"are still progressive. Pfau undertook, and tried his utmost,
"for a carriage to Kleist; did send one of Finck's own car-
riages; but after such delays that the Prussians were now
"yielding: poor Kleist's had become Russian ground, and
"the carriage could not get in.
"Kleist lay helpless; no luck worse than his. In the
"evening, Cossacks came round him; stript him stark naked;
"threw him, face foremost, into the nearest swampy place,
"and went their way. One of these devils had something so
"absurd and Teniers-like in the face of him, that Kleist, in
"his pains, could not help laughing at remembrance of it.
"In the night some Russian Hussars, human and not Cossack,
"found Kleist in this situation; took him to a dry place; put
"a cloak over him, kindled a watch-fire for themselves, and
"gave him water and bread. Towards morning they hastened
"away, throwing an 8 groschen stuck" (nine-penny piece,
shilling, say half-crown) "on his cloak, -- with human fare-
"well. But Cossacks again came; again stript him naked
"and bare. Towards noon of the 13th, Kleist contrived to
"attract some Russian Cavalry troop passing that way, and
"got speech of the Captain (one Fackelberg, a German);
"who at once set about helping him; -- and had him actually
"sent into Frankfurt, in a carriage, that evening. To the
"House of a Professor Nikolai; where was plenty of surgery
"and watchful affection. After near thirty hours of such a
"lair, his wounds seemed still curable; there was hope for
"ten days. In the tenth night (22d-23d August), the shivered
"pieces of bone disunited themselves; cut an artery, --
"which, after many trials, could not be tied. August 24th,
"at 2 in the morning, he died. -- Great sorrow. August 26th,
"there was soldiers funeral; poor Kleist's coffin borne by
"twelve Russian grenadiers; very many Russian Officers at-
"tending, who had come from the Camp for that end; one
"Russian Staff-Officer of them unbuckling his own sword
"to lay on the bier, as there was want of one. King Friedrich
"had Kleist's Portrait hung in the Garnison Kirche. Free-
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? CHAP. IV. ] BATTLE OP KTJNERSDORF. 187
131 h Aug. 1759.
"mason Lodge, in 1788, set up a monument to him,"* --
which still stands on the Frankfort pavement, and is now in
sadly ruinous state.
The Prussian loss, in this Battle, was, besides all
the cannon and field-equipages: 6,000 killed, 13,000
wounded (of which latter, 2,000 badly, who fell to the
Russians as prisoners); in all, about 19,000 men. Nor
was the Russian loss much lighter; of Russians and
Austrians together, near 18,000, as Tempelhof counts:
"which will not surprise your Majesty," reports Soltikof
to his Czarina; "who are aware that the King of Prussia
"sells his defeats at a dear rate. " And privately Solti-
kof was heard to say, "Let me fight but another such
"Victory, and I may go to Petersburg with the news
"of it myself, with the staff in my hand. " The joy at
Petersburg, striving not to be braggart or immodest,
was solemn, steady and superlative: a great feat indeed
for Russia, this Victory over such a King, -- though
a kind of grudge, that it was due to Loudon, dwelt, in
spite of Loudon's politic silence on that point, un-
pleasantly in the background. The chase they had shamefully neglected. It is said, certain Russian Of-
ficers, who had charge of that business, stept into a
peasant's cottage to consult on it; contrived somehow
to find tolerable liquor there; and sat drinking instead. **
* Kriele, pp. 39-43.
** Preuss, ii. 217.
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? 188 FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED. [B00K XIX.
16th Aug. --15th Sept. 1759.
CHAPTER V.
SAXONY WITHOUT DEFENCE: SCHMETTAU SURRENDERS
DRESDEN.
Friedrich's despair did not last quite four days.
On the fourth day, -- day after leaving Reitwein, --
there is this little Document, which still exists, of more
comfortable tenor: "My dear Major-General vonWunsch,
"--Your Letter of the 16th to Lieutenant-General von
"Finck punctually arrived here: and for the future, as
"I am now recovered from my illness, you have to
"address your Reports directly to Myself. -- F. "*
Finding that, except Tottleben, warily reconnoitering
with a few Cossacks, no Russians showed themselves
at Reitwein; that the Russians were encamping and
entrenching on the Wine-Hills south of Frankfurt, not
meaning anything immediate, -- he took heart again;
ranked his 23,000; sent for General Kleist from Pom-
mer n with his Anti-Swedish handful (leave the Swedes
alone, as usual in time of crisis); considered that artil-
leries and furnishings could come to him from Berlin,
which is but 50 miles; that there still lay possibility
ahead, and that, though only a miracle could save him,
he would try it to the very last.
A great relief, this of coming to oneself again!
"Till death, then; -- rage on, ye elements, and black
* "Madlitz," on the road to Fiirstenwalde, "17th August:" in Prenss,
Friedrich der Grosse; cine historische Pnrtrait-Skizse (kind of Lecture, so
let us call it, if again citing it; Lecture delivered, on Friedrich's Birthday,
to Majesty and Staff-Officers as Audience, Berlin, 24th January 1855), p. 18.
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? CHAP, V. ] SAXONY WITHOUT DEFENCE. 189
16th Aug. --15th Sept. 1759.
savageries! " Friedrich's humour is not despondent, now
or afterwards; though, at this time, it is very sad, very
angry, and, as it were, scorning even to hope: but he
is, at all times, of beautifully practical turn; and has,
in his very despair, a sobriety of eyesight, and a fixed
steadiness of holding to his purpose, which are of rare
quality. His utterances to D'Argens, about this time
and onward, -- brief hints, spontaneous, almost un-
conscious, -- give curious testimony of his glooms and
moody humours. Of which the reader shall see some-
thing. For the present, he is in deep indignation with
his poor Troops, among other miseries. "Actual running
away! " he will have it to be; and takes no account of
thirst, hunger, heat, utter weariness and physical im-
possibility! This lasts for some weeks. But in general
there is nothing of this injustice to those about him.
In general, nothing even of gloom is manifested; on
the contrary, cheerfulness, brisk hope, a strangely con-
tinual succession of hopes (mostly illusory); -- though,
within, there is traceable very great sorrow, weariness
and misery. A fixed darkness, as of Erebus, is grown
habitual to him; but is strictly shut up, little of it
shown to others, or even, in a sense, to himself. He is
as a traveller overtaken by the Night and its tempests
and rain-deluges, but refusing to pause; who is wetted
to the bone, and does not care farther for rain. A
traveller grown familiar with the howling solitudes;
aware that the Storm-winds do not pity, that Darkness
is the dead Earth's Shadow: -- a most lone soul of a
man; but continually toiling forward, as if the brightest
goal and haven were near and in view.
Once more the world was certain of Friedrich's
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? 190 FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED, [book XIX.
16th Aug. --15th Sept. 1756.
ruin; -- Friedrich himself we have seen certain of it,
for some few desperate hours: -- but the world and
he, as had been repeatedly the world's case, were both
disappointed. Intrinsically there could be little doubt
but Friedrich's enemies might now have ruined him,
had they been diligent about it. Now again, and now
more than ever, they have the winning-post in sight.
At small distance is the goal and purpose of all these
four-years battlings and marchings, and ten-years sub-
terranean plottings and intriguings. He himself says
deliberately, "They had only to give him the finishing
"stroke (coup-de-grdce). "* But they never gave him
that stroke; could not do it, though heartily desirous.
Which was, and is, matter of surprise to an observant
public.
The cause of failure may be considered to have
been, in good part, Daun and his cunctations. Daun's
zeal was unquestionable; ardent and continual is Daun's
desire to succeed: but to try it at his own risk was
beyond his power. He expected always to succeed by
help of others: and to show them an example, and go
vigorously to work himself, was what he never could
resolve on. Could play only Fabius Cunctator, it would
seem; and never was that part less wanted than now!
Under such a Chief Figure, the "incoherency of action,"
instead of diminishing, as Friedrich had feared, rose
daily towards its maximum; and latterly became extreme.
The old Lernean Hydra had many heads; but they
belonged all to one body. The many heads of this
Anti-Friedrich Hydra had withal each its own body,
and separate set of notions and advantages. Friedrich
was at least a unity; his whole strength going one way,
* (Euvres de Frideric, v. 20.
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? CHAP, V. ] SAXONY WITHOUT DEFENCE. 191
16th Aug. -- 15th Sept. 1759.
and at all moments, under his own sole command. The
value of this circumstance is incalculable; this is the
saving-clause of Pitt and his England (Pitt also a des-
potic sovereign, though a temporary one); this, second
only to Friedrich's great gifts from Nature, and the
noble use he makes of them, is above all others the
circumstance that saved him in such a duel with the
Hydras.
On the back of Kunersdorf, accordingly, there was
not only no finishing stroke upon Friedrich, but, for
two months, no stroke or serious attempt whatever in
those neighbourhoods where Friedrich is. There are
four Armies hereabouts: The Grand Russian, hanging
by Frankfurt; Friedrich at Furstenwalde (whitherward
he marched from Reitwein, August 16th), at Fiirsten-
walde, or farther south, guarding Berlin; -- then, un-
hurt yet by battle of any kind, there are the Grand
Daunish or Mark-Lissa Army, and Prince Henri's of
Schmottseifen. Of which latter Two the hitchings and
manoeuverings from time to time become vivid, and
never altogether cease; but in no case come to anything.
Above two-months scientific flourishing of weapons,
strategic counter-dancing; but no stroke struck, or result
achieved, except on Daun's part irreparable waste of
time: -- all readers would feel it inhuman to be burdened
with any notice of such things. One march of Prince
Henri's, which was of a famous and decisive character,
we will attend to, when it comes, that is, were the end
of September at hand; the rest must be imagined as a
general strategic dance in those frontier parts, -- Silesia
to rearward on one side, the Lausitz and Frankfurt on
the other, -- and must go on, silently for most part,
in the background of the reader's fancy. Indeed, Saxony
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? 192 FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XK.
16th Aug. --15th Sept. 1759.
is the scene of action; Friedrich, Henri, Soltikof, Daun,
comparatively inactive, for the next six weeks and
more.
Some days before Kunersdorf, Daun personally, with
I will forget how many thousands, had made a move to
northward from Mark-Lissa, 60 miles or so, through
Sagan Country; and lies about Priebus, waiting there
ever since. Priebus is some 40 miles north of Gorlitz,
about 60 west of Glogau, south of Frankfurt 80. This
is where the Master-Smith, having various irons in the
fire, may be handiest for clutching them out, and forging
at them, as they become successively hot. Daun, as
Master-Smith, has at least three objects in view. The
first is, as always, Reconquest of Silesia: this is ob-
structed by Prince Henri, who sits, watchful on the
threshold, at Schmottseifen yonder. The second is, as
last year, Capture of Dresden: which is much the more
feasible at present, -- there being, except the Garrisons,
no Prussian force whatever in Saxony; and a Reichs
Army now actually there at last, after its long haggling
about its Magazines; and above all, a Friedrich with
his hands full elsewhere. To keep Friedrich's hands
full, -- in other words, to keep the Russians sticking
to him, -- that is the third object: or indeed we may
call it the first, second and third; for Daun is well
aware that unless Soltikof can manage to keep Fried-
rich busy, Silesia, Saxony and all else becomes im-
possible.
Ever since the fortunate junction of Loudon with
Soltikof, Daun has sat, and still sits, expectant; elabor-
ately calculative, gathering Magazines in different parts,
planting out-parties, this way, that way, with an eye to
these three objects, all or each, -- especially to the
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? CHAP, V. ] SAXONY WITHOUT DEFENCE. 193
16th Aug. --15th Sept. 1759.
third object, which he discerns to be all and each.
Daun was elaborately calculative with these views: but
to try any military action, upon Prince Henri for example,
or bestir himself otherwise than in driving provender
forward, and marching detachments hither and thither
to the potentially fit and fittest posts, was not in Daun's
way, -- so much the worse for Daun, in his present
course of enterprise.
Prince Henri had lain quiet at Schmottseifen, waiting
his Brother's adventure; did not hear the least tidings
of him till six days after Kunersdorf, and then only by
rumour; hideous, and though still dubious, too much of
it probable! On the very day of Kunersdorf, Henri had
begun effecting some improvements on his right flank,
-- always a sharply strategic, most expert creature, --
and made a great many motions, which would be un-
intelligible here. * Henri feels now that upon him lies
a world of duties; and foremost of all, the instant duty
of endeavouring to open communication with his Brother.
Many marches, in consequence; much intricate marching
and manceuvering between Daun and him: of which,
when we come to Henri's great March (of 25th Sep-
tember), there may be again some hint.
For the present, let readers take their Map, and
endeavour to fix the following dates and localities in
their mind. Here, in summary, are the King's various
Marches, and Two successive Encampments, two only,
during those Six Weeks of forced inaction, while he is
obliged to stand watching the Russians, and to witness
so many complicacies and disasters in the distance;
which he struggles much and fruitlessly to hinder or help:
* Detailed, every fibre of them (as is the soul-confusing custom there)
in Tempelhof, in. 228 et seq.
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. XI. 13
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? 194 PRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XIX.
16th Aug. --15th Sept. 1759.
"Encampment First (Fiirstenwalde, August 18th-30th).
"Friedrich left Keitwein, August 16th; 17th, he is at Madlitz"
(Note to Wunsch written there, which we read); "18th, to
"Fiirstenwalde, and encamp. Fiirstenwalde is on the Spree,
"straight between Frankfurt and Berlin; 25 miles from the
"former, 35 from the latter. Here for near a fortnight. At
"first, much in alarm about the Russians and Berlin; but
"gradually ascertaining that the Russians intend nothing.
"In effect, all this while Soltikof lay at Lossow, 10 miles
"south of Frankfurt, with his right on Oder; totally motion-
"less, inactive, except listening, often rather gloomily, to
"Daun's and Montalembert's suasive eloquences and advices,
"-- and once, August 22d, in the little Town of Guben,
"holding Conference with Daun" (of which by and by. )
"In consequence of which, August 28th, Soltikof and his
"Russians and Austrians got under way again; southward,
"but only a few marches: first to Miillrose, then to Liebe-
"rose: -- whom, the instant he heard of their movements,
"Friedrich, August 30th, hastened to follow; but had not to
"follow very far. Whereupon ensues
"Encampment Second (Waldau, till September I5th.
"August 30th, Friedrich, we say, rose from Fiirstenwalde;
"hastened to follow this Russian movement, and keep within
"wind of it: up the valley of the Spree; first to Miillrose
"neighbourhood" (where the Russians, loitering some time,
"spoiled the canal locks of the Friedrich-Wilhelm Canal, if
nothing more), -- "thence to Lieberose neighbourhood;
"Waldau, the King's new place of encampment, -- Waldau,
"with Spree Forest to rear of it: silent both parties till Sep-
"tember 15th, when Soltikof did fairly march, not towards
"Berlin, but quite in the opposite direction. "
By the middle of September, when the Russians
did get on foot, and moved eastward; especially on and
after September 25th, when Henri made his famous
March westward; then it will behove us to return to
Friedrich and these localities. For the present, we
must turn to Saxony, where, and not here, the scene
of action is. Take, farther, only the following bits of
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? CHAP. V. ] SAXONY WITHOUT DEFENCE. 195
16th Aug. -- 15th Sept. 1759.
Note, which will now be readable. First, these Utter-
ances to D'Argens; direct glimpses into the heavy-laden,
indeed hag-ridden and nearly desperate inner man of
Friedrich, during the first three weeks after his defeat
at Kunersdorf:
The King to Marquis D'Argens (at Berlin): Six Notes.
10. "Madlitz" (road from Reitwein to Fiirstenwalde),
"16th August 1759. We have been unfortunate, my dear
"Marquis; but not by my fault. The victory was ours, and
"would even have been a complete one, when our infantry
"lost patience, and at the wrong moment abandoned the field
"of battle. The enemy today is on march to Miillrose, to
"unite with Haddick" (not to Miillrose for ten days yet;
Haddick had already got united with them). "The Russian
"infantry is almost totally destroyed. Of my own wrecks,
"all that I have been able to assemble amounts to 32,000
"men; with these I am pushing on to throw myself across
"the enemy's road, and either perish or save the Capital.
"That is not what you" (youBerliners) "will call a deficiency
"of resolution.
"For the event I cannot answer. If I had more lives than
"one, I would sacrifice them all to my Country. But if this
"stroke fail, I think I am clear-scores with her, and that it
"will be permissible to look a little to myself. There are
"limits to everything. I support my misfortune; courage
"not abated by it: but I am well resolved, after this stroke
"if it fail, to open an outgate for myself" (that small glass-
tube which never quits me), "and no longer be the sport of
"any chance. "
2o. Fiirstenwalde, 20th August. ** "Remain at Berlin, or
"retire to Potsdam; in a little while there will come some
"catastrophe; it is not fit that you suffer by it. If things
"take a good turn, you can be back to Berlin" (from Pots-
"dam) "in four hours. If ill-luck still pursue us, go to
"Hanover or to Zelle, where you can provide for your
"safety.
"I protest to you that, in this late Action, I did what
"was humanly possible to conquer; but my people" -- Oh,
your Majesty!
13*
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? 196 FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XIX.
16th Aug. --15th Sept. 1759.
3o. Filrstenwalde, 21st August. * * "The enemy is in-
"trenching himself near Frankfurt; a sign he intends no
"attempt. If you will do me the pleasure to come out hither,
"you can in all safety. Bring your bed with you; bring my
"Cook Noel; and I will have you a little chamber ready.
"You will be my consolation and my hope. " --
This day, -- let readers mark the circumstance, --
Friedrich, in better spirits, detaches Wunsch with some poor
6,000, totry if he can be of help in Saxony; where the Reichs
Army, now arrived in force, and with nothing whatever in the
field against them, is taking all the Northward Garrison-
Towns, and otherwise proceeding at a high rate. Too pos-
sibly with an eye towards Dresden itself! Wunsch sets out,
August 21st. * And we shall hear of him in those Saxon
Countries before long.
4o. Filrstenwalde, 22d August. "Yesterday I wrote to you "to come; but today I forbid it. Daun is at Kotbus; he is
"marching on Ltiben and Berlin" (nothing like so rash! ). --
"Fly these unhappy Countries! -- This news obliges me
"again to attack the Russians between here and Frankfurt.
"You may imagine if this is a desperate resolution. It is the
"sole hope that remains to me, of not being cut off from
"Berlin on the one side or the other. I will give the dis-
"couraged troops some brandy" -- alas! -- "but I promise
"myself nothing of success. My one consolation is that I
"shall die sword in hand. "
5? . Same place and day (after a Letter from D'Argens).
"You make the panegyric, mon cher, of an Army that does
"not deserve any. The soldiers had good limbs to run with,
"none to attack the enemy. " (Alas, your Majesty; after
"fifteen hours of such marching and fighting! )
"For certain I will fight; butdon*t flatter yourself about
"the event. A happy chance alone can help us. Go, in
"God's name, to Tangermunde" (since the Royal Family
went, D'Argens and many Berliners are thinking of flight),
"to Tangermunde, where you will be well; and wait there
"how Destiny shall have disposed of us. I will go to
"reconnoitre the enemy tomorrow. Next day, if there is
"anything to do, we will try it. But if the enemy still holds
* Tempelhof, in. 211.
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? CHAP. V. ] SAXONY WITHOUT DEFENCE. 197
16th Aug. --15th Sept. 1759.
"to the Wine-Hills of Frankfurt, I shall never dare to attack
"him.
"No, the torment of Tantalus, the pains of Prometheus,
"the doom of Sisyphus, were nothing like what I suffer for
"the last ten days" (from Kunersdorf till now, when destruc-
tion has to be warded off again, and the force wanting).
"Death is sweet in comparison to such a life. Have com-
"passion on me and itj and believe that I still keep to myself
"a great many evil things, not wishing to afflict or disquiet
"anybody with them; and that I would not counsel you to
"fly these unlucky Countries, if I had any ray of hope.
"Adieu, mon cher. "
Four days after, August 25th, from this same Fiirsten-
walde, the Russians still continuing stagnant, Friedrich de-
spatches, to Schmettau, Commandant of Dresden (by some
industrious hand, for the roads are all blocked), a Second
Letter, "That Dresden is of the highest moment; that in
"case of Siege there, relief" (Wunsch, namely, and perhaps
more that may follow) "is on the road; and that Schmettau
"must defend himself to the utmost. " Let us hope this
Second Missive may counteract the too despondent First,
which we read above, should that have produced discourage-
ment in Schmettau! * -- D'Argens does run to Wolfenbiittel;
stays there till September 9th. Nothing more from Friedrich
till 4th September, when matters are well cooled again.
6?
"circumstances. The news from Torgau and Dresden, Coper
"my Secretary" (Coper mein Segreter, kind of lieutenant to
Eicliel*) "will send him. You (Er) must inform my Brother"
(Prince Henri) "of everything; whom I have declared Gen-
"eralissimo of the Army. To repair this bad luck altogether,
"is not possible: but what my Brother shall command, must
"be done: -- the Army swears to my Nephew" (King hence-
forth).
"This is all the advice, in these unhappy circumstances,
"I am in a condition to give. Had I still had resources, I
"would have stayed by them (so wehre ich darbeigeblieben). --
Friedrich. "**
All this done, the wearied Friedrich flung himself
into his truss of dry straw; and was seen sound asleep
there, a single sentry at the door, by some high Generals
that ventured to look in. On the morrow he crossed to
Reitwein; by tomorrow night, there had 23,000 of his
fugitives come in to him; -- but this is now to be Finck's
affair, not his! That day, too (for the Paper seems to
be misdated), he signed, and despatched to Schmettau,
* See Pren<<8, i. 349, in. 442.
** Exact Copy, two exact Copies, in Preuss (i. 450, and again, n. 215).
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? 184 FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XIX.
13th Aug. 1759.
Commandant in Dresden, a Missive, which proved more
fatal than either of the others; and brought, or helped
to bring, very bitter fruits for him, before long:
To Lieutenant-General von Schmettau (at Dresden).
"Reitwein, 14th" (probably'l3th) "August 1759.
"You will perhaps have heard of the Check" (FEchec,
Kunersdorfto wit! ) "I have met with from the Russian Army
"on the 13th" (12th, if you had the Almanac at hand) "of
"this month. Though at bottom our affairs in regard to the
"Enemy here are not desperate, I find I shall not now be able
"to make any detachment for your assistance. Should the
"Austrians attempt anything against Dresden, therefore,
"you will see if there are means of maintaining yourself;
"failing which, it will behove you to try and obtain a favour-
"able Capitulation, -- to wit, Liberty to withdraw, with the
"whole Garrison, Moneys, Magazines, Hospital and all that
"we have at Dresden, either to Berlin or elsewhither, so as to
"join some Corps of my Troops.
"As a fit of illness (maladie, alas! ) "has come on me,--
"which I do not think will have dangerous results, -- I
"have for the present left the command of my Troops to
"Lieutenant-General von Finck; whose Orders you are to
"execute as if coming to you directly from myself. On this
"I pray God to have you in his holy and worthy keep-
"ing. --F. "*
At Berlin, on this 13th, -- with the Five Couriers coming
in successively (and not in the order of their despatch, but the
fatal Fifth arriving some time ahead of the Fourth, who still
spoke of progress and victory), -- there was such a day as
Sulzer (ach mein lieber Sulzer! ) had never seen in the world.
'"Ahove 50,000 human beings on the Palace Esplanade and
"'streets about;' swaying hither and thither, in agony of
"expectation, in alternate paroxysm of joy and of terror and
"woe; often enough the opposite paroxysms simultaneous in
"the different groups, and men crushed down in despair met
"by men leaping into the air for very gladness:" Sulzer
(whose sympathy is of very aesthetic type) 'would not, for any
* Freuss, n. L'rJiundenbuch, p. 13.
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? CHAP. IV. ] BATTLE OF KUNERSDORF. 185
13th Aug. 1759.
'consideration, have missed such a scene. '* The 'scene' is
much obliged to you, mein Lieber! --
Practically we find, in Rodenbeck, or straggling else-
where, this Note: "On the Day after KunersdorfV Queen and
"Court fly to Magdeburg: this is their second flight. Their
"first was on Haddick's Visit, October 1757; but after Ross-
"bach they soon returned, and Berlin and the Court were
"then extremely gay: different gentlemen, French and
"others of every Nation, fallen prisoners, made the Queen's
"soirees the finest in the world for splendour and variety, at
"that time. "**
One other Note we save, for the sake of poor Major Kleist,
'Poet of the Spring,' as he was then called. A valiant,
punctual Soldier, and with a turn for Literature as well; who
wrote really pleasant fine things, new at that time and
rapturously welcome, though too much in the sentimental
vein for the times which have followed. Major Kleist, --
there is a General Kleist, a Colonel Kleist of the Green
Hussars (called Griine Kleist, a terrible cutting fellow): --
this is not Griine Kleist; this is the Poet of The Spring; whose
fate at Kunersdorf made a tragic impression in all intelligent
circles of Teutschland. Here is Kriele's Note (abridged):
"Christian Ewald von Kleist, 'Poet of the Spring'" (a
Pommern gentleman, now in his forty-fourth year), "was of
"Finck's Division; had come on, after those Eight Battalions
"took the first Russian battery" (that is, Muhlberg); "and
"had been assisting, with zeal, at the taking of three
"other batteries, regardless of twelve contusions, which he
"gradually got. At the third battery, he was farther badly
"hurt on the left arm and the right. Took his Colonel's place
"nevertheless, whom he now saw fall; led the regiment
"muthig forward on the fourth battery. A case-shot smashed
"his right leg to pieces; he fell from his horse" (hour not
given, shall we say 3 p. m. ); "sank, exclaiming: 'Kinder, My
'"children, don't forsake your King! ' and fainted there.
"Was carried to rear and leftward; laid down on some dry
"spot in the Elsbruch, not far from the Kuhgrund, and a
* briefe der Schweitzer Bodmor, Sulzer, Gessner; aus Gleim's Hterdri-
schcm Nachlasse: herausgegeben uon Wilhelm Korle (Zilrlch, 1804), pp.
316-319.
*? ROdenbeck, I. 390; &c. &c.
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? 186 FRIEDR1CH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XIX.
13th Aug. 1759.
"Surgeon brought. The Surgeon, while examining, was
"torn away by case-shot: Kleist lay bleeding without help.
"A friend of his, Pfau" (who told Kriele), "one of Finck's
"Generals, came riding that way: Kleist called to him;
"asked how the Battle went; uncommonly glad to hear we
"are still progressive. Pfau undertook, and tried his utmost,
"for a carriage to Kleist; did send one of Finck's own car-
riages; but after such delays that the Prussians were now
"yielding: poor Kleist's had become Russian ground, and
"the carriage could not get in.
"Kleist lay helpless; no luck worse than his. In the
"evening, Cossacks came round him; stript him stark naked;
"threw him, face foremost, into the nearest swampy place,
"and went their way. One of these devils had something so
"absurd and Teniers-like in the face of him, that Kleist, in
"his pains, could not help laughing at remembrance of it.
"In the night some Russian Hussars, human and not Cossack,
"found Kleist in this situation; took him to a dry place; put
"a cloak over him, kindled a watch-fire for themselves, and
"gave him water and bread. Towards morning they hastened
"away, throwing an 8 groschen stuck" (nine-penny piece,
shilling, say half-crown) "on his cloak, -- with human fare-
"well. But Cossacks again came; again stript him naked
"and bare. Towards noon of the 13th, Kleist contrived to
"attract some Russian Cavalry troop passing that way, and
"got speech of the Captain (one Fackelberg, a German);
"who at once set about helping him; -- and had him actually
"sent into Frankfurt, in a carriage, that evening. To the
"House of a Professor Nikolai; where was plenty of surgery
"and watchful affection. After near thirty hours of such a
"lair, his wounds seemed still curable; there was hope for
"ten days. In the tenth night (22d-23d August), the shivered
"pieces of bone disunited themselves; cut an artery, --
"which, after many trials, could not be tied. August 24th,
"at 2 in the morning, he died. -- Great sorrow. August 26th,
"there was soldiers funeral; poor Kleist's coffin borne by
"twelve Russian grenadiers; very many Russian Officers at-
"tending, who had come from the Camp for that end; one
"Russian Staff-Officer of them unbuckling his own sword
"to lay on the bier, as there was want of one. King Friedrich
"had Kleist's Portrait hung in the Garnison Kirche. Free-
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? CHAP. IV. ] BATTLE OP KTJNERSDORF. 187
131 h Aug. 1759.
"mason Lodge, in 1788, set up a monument to him,"* --
which still stands on the Frankfort pavement, and is now in
sadly ruinous state.
The Prussian loss, in this Battle, was, besides all
the cannon and field-equipages: 6,000 killed, 13,000
wounded (of which latter, 2,000 badly, who fell to the
Russians as prisoners); in all, about 19,000 men. Nor
was the Russian loss much lighter; of Russians and
Austrians together, near 18,000, as Tempelhof counts:
"which will not surprise your Majesty," reports Soltikof
to his Czarina; "who are aware that the King of Prussia
"sells his defeats at a dear rate. " And privately Solti-
kof was heard to say, "Let me fight but another such
"Victory, and I may go to Petersburg with the news
"of it myself, with the staff in my hand. " The joy at
Petersburg, striving not to be braggart or immodest,
was solemn, steady and superlative: a great feat indeed
for Russia, this Victory over such a King, -- though
a kind of grudge, that it was due to Loudon, dwelt, in
spite of Loudon's politic silence on that point, un-
pleasantly in the background. The chase they had shamefully neglected. It is said, certain Russian Of-
ficers, who had charge of that business, stept into a
peasant's cottage to consult on it; contrived somehow
to find tolerable liquor there; and sat drinking instead. **
* Kriele, pp. 39-43.
** Preuss, ii. 217.
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? 188 FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED. [B00K XIX.
16th Aug. --15th Sept. 1759.
CHAPTER V.
SAXONY WITHOUT DEFENCE: SCHMETTAU SURRENDERS
DRESDEN.
Friedrich's despair did not last quite four days.
On the fourth day, -- day after leaving Reitwein, --
there is this little Document, which still exists, of more
comfortable tenor: "My dear Major-General vonWunsch,
"--Your Letter of the 16th to Lieutenant-General von
"Finck punctually arrived here: and for the future, as
"I am now recovered from my illness, you have to
"address your Reports directly to Myself. -- F. "*
Finding that, except Tottleben, warily reconnoitering
with a few Cossacks, no Russians showed themselves
at Reitwein; that the Russians were encamping and
entrenching on the Wine-Hills south of Frankfurt, not
meaning anything immediate, -- he took heart again;
ranked his 23,000; sent for General Kleist from Pom-
mer n with his Anti-Swedish handful (leave the Swedes
alone, as usual in time of crisis); considered that artil-
leries and furnishings could come to him from Berlin,
which is but 50 miles; that there still lay possibility
ahead, and that, though only a miracle could save him,
he would try it to the very last.
A great relief, this of coming to oneself again!
"Till death, then; -- rage on, ye elements, and black
* "Madlitz," on the road to Fiirstenwalde, "17th August:" in Prenss,
Friedrich der Grosse; cine historische Pnrtrait-Skizse (kind of Lecture, so
let us call it, if again citing it; Lecture delivered, on Friedrich's Birthday,
to Majesty and Staff-Officers as Audience, Berlin, 24th January 1855), p. 18.
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? CHAP, V. ] SAXONY WITHOUT DEFENCE. 189
16th Aug. --15th Sept. 1759.
savageries! " Friedrich's humour is not despondent, now
or afterwards; though, at this time, it is very sad, very
angry, and, as it were, scorning even to hope: but he
is, at all times, of beautifully practical turn; and has,
in his very despair, a sobriety of eyesight, and a fixed
steadiness of holding to his purpose, which are of rare
quality. His utterances to D'Argens, about this time
and onward, -- brief hints, spontaneous, almost un-
conscious, -- give curious testimony of his glooms and
moody humours. Of which the reader shall see some-
thing. For the present, he is in deep indignation with
his poor Troops, among other miseries. "Actual running
away! " he will have it to be; and takes no account of
thirst, hunger, heat, utter weariness and physical im-
possibility! This lasts for some weeks. But in general
there is nothing of this injustice to those about him.
In general, nothing even of gloom is manifested; on
the contrary, cheerfulness, brisk hope, a strangely con-
tinual succession of hopes (mostly illusory); -- though,
within, there is traceable very great sorrow, weariness
and misery. A fixed darkness, as of Erebus, is grown
habitual to him; but is strictly shut up, little of it
shown to others, or even, in a sense, to himself. He is
as a traveller overtaken by the Night and its tempests
and rain-deluges, but refusing to pause; who is wetted
to the bone, and does not care farther for rain. A
traveller grown familiar with the howling solitudes;
aware that the Storm-winds do not pity, that Darkness
is the dead Earth's Shadow: -- a most lone soul of a
man; but continually toiling forward, as if the brightest
goal and haven were near and in view.
Once more the world was certain of Friedrich's
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? 190 FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED, [book XIX.
16th Aug. --15th Sept. 1756.
ruin; -- Friedrich himself we have seen certain of it,
for some few desperate hours: -- but the world and
he, as had been repeatedly the world's case, were both
disappointed. Intrinsically there could be little doubt
but Friedrich's enemies might now have ruined him,
had they been diligent about it. Now again, and now
more than ever, they have the winning-post in sight.
At small distance is the goal and purpose of all these
four-years battlings and marchings, and ten-years sub-
terranean plottings and intriguings. He himself says
deliberately, "They had only to give him the finishing
"stroke (coup-de-grdce). "* But they never gave him
that stroke; could not do it, though heartily desirous.
Which was, and is, matter of surprise to an observant
public.
The cause of failure may be considered to have
been, in good part, Daun and his cunctations. Daun's
zeal was unquestionable; ardent and continual is Daun's
desire to succeed: but to try it at his own risk was
beyond his power. He expected always to succeed by
help of others: and to show them an example, and go
vigorously to work himself, was what he never could
resolve on. Could play only Fabius Cunctator, it would
seem; and never was that part less wanted than now!
Under such a Chief Figure, the "incoherency of action,"
instead of diminishing, as Friedrich had feared, rose
daily towards its maximum; and latterly became extreme.
The old Lernean Hydra had many heads; but they
belonged all to one body. The many heads of this
Anti-Friedrich Hydra had withal each its own body,
and separate set of notions and advantages. Friedrich
was at least a unity; his whole strength going one way,
* (Euvres de Frideric, v. 20.
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? CHAP, V. ] SAXONY WITHOUT DEFENCE. 191
16th Aug. -- 15th Sept. 1759.
and at all moments, under his own sole command. The
value of this circumstance is incalculable; this is the
saving-clause of Pitt and his England (Pitt also a des-
potic sovereign, though a temporary one); this, second
only to Friedrich's great gifts from Nature, and the
noble use he makes of them, is above all others the
circumstance that saved him in such a duel with the
Hydras.
On the back of Kunersdorf, accordingly, there was
not only no finishing stroke upon Friedrich, but, for
two months, no stroke or serious attempt whatever in
those neighbourhoods where Friedrich is. There are
four Armies hereabouts: The Grand Russian, hanging
by Frankfurt; Friedrich at Furstenwalde (whitherward
he marched from Reitwein, August 16th), at Fiirsten-
walde, or farther south, guarding Berlin; -- then, un-
hurt yet by battle of any kind, there are the Grand
Daunish or Mark-Lissa Army, and Prince Henri's of
Schmottseifen. Of which latter Two the hitchings and
manoeuverings from time to time become vivid, and
never altogether cease; but in no case come to anything.
Above two-months scientific flourishing of weapons,
strategic counter-dancing; but no stroke struck, or result
achieved, except on Daun's part irreparable waste of
time: -- all readers would feel it inhuman to be burdened
with any notice of such things. One march of Prince
Henri's, which was of a famous and decisive character,
we will attend to, when it comes, that is, were the end
of September at hand; the rest must be imagined as a
general strategic dance in those frontier parts, -- Silesia
to rearward on one side, the Lausitz and Frankfurt on
the other, -- and must go on, silently for most part,
in the background of the reader's fancy. Indeed, Saxony
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? 192 FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XK.
16th Aug. --15th Sept. 1759.
is the scene of action; Friedrich, Henri, Soltikof, Daun,
comparatively inactive, for the next six weeks and
more.
Some days before Kunersdorf, Daun personally, with
I will forget how many thousands, had made a move to
northward from Mark-Lissa, 60 miles or so, through
Sagan Country; and lies about Priebus, waiting there
ever since. Priebus is some 40 miles north of Gorlitz,
about 60 west of Glogau, south of Frankfurt 80. This
is where the Master-Smith, having various irons in the
fire, may be handiest for clutching them out, and forging
at them, as they become successively hot. Daun, as
Master-Smith, has at least three objects in view. The
first is, as always, Reconquest of Silesia: this is ob-
structed by Prince Henri, who sits, watchful on the
threshold, at Schmottseifen yonder. The second is, as
last year, Capture of Dresden: which is much the more
feasible at present, -- there being, except the Garrisons,
no Prussian force whatever in Saxony; and a Reichs
Army now actually there at last, after its long haggling
about its Magazines; and above all, a Friedrich with
his hands full elsewhere. To keep Friedrich's hands
full, -- in other words, to keep the Russians sticking
to him, -- that is the third object: or indeed we may
call it the first, second and third; for Daun is well
aware that unless Soltikof can manage to keep Fried-
rich busy, Silesia, Saxony and all else becomes im-
possible.
Ever since the fortunate junction of Loudon with
Soltikof, Daun has sat, and still sits, expectant; elabor-
ately calculative, gathering Magazines in different parts,
planting out-parties, this way, that way, with an eye to
these three objects, all or each, -- especially to the
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? CHAP, V. ] SAXONY WITHOUT DEFENCE. 193
16th Aug. --15th Sept. 1759.
third object, which he discerns to be all and each.
Daun was elaborately calculative with these views: but
to try any military action, upon Prince Henri for example,
or bestir himself otherwise than in driving provender
forward, and marching detachments hither and thither
to the potentially fit and fittest posts, was not in Daun's
way, -- so much the worse for Daun, in his present
course of enterprise.
Prince Henri had lain quiet at Schmottseifen, waiting
his Brother's adventure; did not hear the least tidings
of him till six days after Kunersdorf, and then only by
rumour; hideous, and though still dubious, too much of
it probable! On the very day of Kunersdorf, Henri had
begun effecting some improvements on his right flank,
-- always a sharply strategic, most expert creature, --
and made a great many motions, which would be un-
intelligible here. * Henri feels now that upon him lies
a world of duties; and foremost of all, the instant duty
of endeavouring to open communication with his Brother.
Many marches, in consequence; much intricate marching
and manceuvering between Daun and him: of which,
when we come to Henri's great March (of 25th Sep-
tember), there may be again some hint.
For the present, let readers take their Map, and
endeavour to fix the following dates and localities in
their mind. Here, in summary, are the King's various
Marches, and Two successive Encampments, two only,
during those Six Weeks of forced inaction, while he is
obliged to stand watching the Russians, and to witness
so many complicacies and disasters in the distance;
which he struggles much and fruitlessly to hinder or help:
* Detailed, every fibre of them (as is the soul-confusing custom there)
in Tempelhof, in. 228 et seq.
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. XI. 13
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? 194 PRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XIX.
16th Aug. --15th Sept. 1759.
"Encampment First (Fiirstenwalde, August 18th-30th).
"Friedrich left Keitwein, August 16th; 17th, he is at Madlitz"
(Note to Wunsch written there, which we read); "18th, to
"Fiirstenwalde, and encamp. Fiirstenwalde is on the Spree,
"straight between Frankfurt and Berlin; 25 miles from the
"former, 35 from the latter. Here for near a fortnight. At
"first, much in alarm about the Russians and Berlin; but
"gradually ascertaining that the Russians intend nothing.
"In effect, all this while Soltikof lay at Lossow, 10 miles
"south of Frankfurt, with his right on Oder; totally motion-
"less, inactive, except listening, often rather gloomily, to
"Daun's and Montalembert's suasive eloquences and advices,
"-- and once, August 22d, in the little Town of Guben,
"holding Conference with Daun" (of which by and by. )
"In consequence of which, August 28th, Soltikof and his
"Russians and Austrians got under way again; southward,
"but only a few marches: first to Miillrose, then to Liebe-
"rose: -- whom, the instant he heard of their movements,
"Friedrich, August 30th, hastened to follow; but had not to
"follow very far. Whereupon ensues
"Encampment Second (Waldau, till September I5th.
"August 30th, Friedrich, we say, rose from Fiirstenwalde;
"hastened to follow this Russian movement, and keep within
"wind of it: up the valley of the Spree; first to Miillrose
"neighbourhood" (where the Russians, loitering some time,
"spoiled the canal locks of the Friedrich-Wilhelm Canal, if
nothing more), -- "thence to Lieberose neighbourhood;
"Waldau, the King's new place of encampment, -- Waldau,
"with Spree Forest to rear of it: silent both parties till Sep-
"tember 15th, when Soltikof did fairly march, not towards
"Berlin, but quite in the opposite direction. "
By the middle of September, when the Russians
did get on foot, and moved eastward; especially on and
after September 25th, when Henri made his famous
March westward; then it will behove us to return to
Friedrich and these localities. For the present, we
must turn to Saxony, where, and not here, the scene
of action is. Take, farther, only the following bits of
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? CHAP. V. ] SAXONY WITHOUT DEFENCE. 195
16th Aug. -- 15th Sept. 1759.
Note, which will now be readable. First, these Utter-
ances to D'Argens; direct glimpses into the heavy-laden,
indeed hag-ridden and nearly desperate inner man of
Friedrich, during the first three weeks after his defeat
at Kunersdorf:
The King to Marquis D'Argens (at Berlin): Six Notes.
10. "Madlitz" (road from Reitwein to Fiirstenwalde),
"16th August 1759. We have been unfortunate, my dear
"Marquis; but not by my fault. The victory was ours, and
"would even have been a complete one, when our infantry
"lost patience, and at the wrong moment abandoned the field
"of battle. The enemy today is on march to Miillrose, to
"unite with Haddick" (not to Miillrose for ten days yet;
Haddick had already got united with them). "The Russian
"infantry is almost totally destroyed. Of my own wrecks,
"all that I have been able to assemble amounts to 32,000
"men; with these I am pushing on to throw myself across
"the enemy's road, and either perish or save the Capital.
"That is not what you" (youBerliners) "will call a deficiency
"of resolution.
"For the event I cannot answer. If I had more lives than
"one, I would sacrifice them all to my Country. But if this
"stroke fail, I think I am clear-scores with her, and that it
"will be permissible to look a little to myself. There are
"limits to everything. I support my misfortune; courage
"not abated by it: but I am well resolved, after this stroke
"if it fail, to open an outgate for myself" (that small glass-
tube which never quits me), "and no longer be the sport of
"any chance. "
2o. Fiirstenwalde, 20th August. ** "Remain at Berlin, or
"retire to Potsdam; in a little while there will come some
"catastrophe; it is not fit that you suffer by it. If things
"take a good turn, you can be back to Berlin" (from Pots-
"dam) "in four hours. If ill-luck still pursue us, go to
"Hanover or to Zelle, where you can provide for your
"safety.
"I protest to you that, in this late Action, I did what
"was humanly possible to conquer; but my people" -- Oh,
your Majesty!
13*
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? 196 FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XIX.
16th Aug. --15th Sept. 1759.
3o. Filrstenwalde, 21st August. * * "The enemy is in-
"trenching himself near Frankfurt; a sign he intends no
"attempt. If you will do me the pleasure to come out hither,
"you can in all safety. Bring your bed with you; bring my
"Cook Noel; and I will have you a little chamber ready.
"You will be my consolation and my hope. " --
This day, -- let readers mark the circumstance, --
Friedrich, in better spirits, detaches Wunsch with some poor
6,000, totry if he can be of help in Saxony; where the Reichs
Army, now arrived in force, and with nothing whatever in the
field against them, is taking all the Northward Garrison-
Towns, and otherwise proceeding at a high rate. Too pos-
sibly with an eye towards Dresden itself! Wunsch sets out,
August 21st. * And we shall hear of him in those Saxon
Countries before long.
4o. Filrstenwalde, 22d August. "Yesterday I wrote to you "to come; but today I forbid it. Daun is at Kotbus; he is
"marching on Ltiben and Berlin" (nothing like so rash! ). --
"Fly these unhappy Countries! -- This news obliges me
"again to attack the Russians between here and Frankfurt.
"You may imagine if this is a desperate resolution. It is the
"sole hope that remains to me, of not being cut off from
"Berlin on the one side or the other. I will give the dis-
"couraged troops some brandy" -- alas! -- "but I promise
"myself nothing of success. My one consolation is that I
"shall die sword in hand. "
5? . Same place and day (after a Letter from D'Argens).
"You make the panegyric, mon cher, of an Army that does
"not deserve any. The soldiers had good limbs to run with,
"none to attack the enemy. " (Alas, your Majesty; after
"fifteen hours of such marching and fighting! )
"For certain I will fight; butdon*t flatter yourself about
"the event. A happy chance alone can help us. Go, in
"God's name, to Tangermunde" (since the Royal Family
went, D'Argens and many Berliners are thinking of flight),
"to Tangermunde, where you will be well; and wait there
"how Destiny shall have disposed of us. I will go to
"reconnoitre the enemy tomorrow. Next day, if there is
"anything to do, we will try it. But if the enemy still holds
* Tempelhof, in. 211.
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? CHAP. V. ] SAXONY WITHOUT DEFENCE. 197
16th Aug. --15th Sept. 1759.
"to the Wine-Hills of Frankfurt, I shall never dare to attack
"him.
"No, the torment of Tantalus, the pains of Prometheus,
"the doom of Sisyphus, were nothing like what I suffer for
"the last ten days" (from Kunersdorf till now, when destruc-
tion has to be warded off again, and the force wanting).
"Death is sweet in comparison to such a life. Have com-
"passion on me and itj and believe that I still keep to myself
"a great many evil things, not wishing to afflict or disquiet
"anybody with them; and that I would not counsel you to
"fly these unlucky Countries, if I had any ray of hope.
"Adieu, mon cher. "
Four days after, August 25th, from this same Fiirsten-
walde, the Russians still continuing stagnant, Friedrich de-
spatches, to Schmettau, Commandant of Dresden (by some
industrious hand, for the roads are all blocked), a Second
Letter, "That Dresden is of the highest moment; that in
"case of Siege there, relief" (Wunsch, namely, and perhaps
more that may follow) "is on the road; and that Schmettau
"must defend himself to the utmost. " Let us hope this
Second Missive may counteract the too despondent First,
which we read above, should that have produced discourage-
ment in Schmettau! * -- D'Argens does run to Wolfenbiittel;
stays there till September 9th. Nothing more from Friedrich
till 4th September, when matters are well cooled again.
6?
