Heavier
news Friedrich scarcely ever had.
news Friedrich scarcely ever had.
Thomas Carlyle
?
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? 30 FRIEDRICH NOT TO EE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
19th July 1760.
"though lasting in that violent form only four, or at the very
"utmost seven, days more, had near ruined Dresden from the
"face of the world. "
Friday 19th, "Maguire, touched to the quick by these new
"artilleries of the Prussians this morning, found good to
"mount a gun or two on the leads of the Kreuz-Kirche"
(Protestant High Church, where, before now, we have noticed
Friedrich attending quasi-divine service more than once); --
"that is to say, on the crown of Dresden; from which there is
"view into the bottom of Friedrich's trenches and operations.
"Others say, it was only two or three old Saxon cannon,
"which stand there, for firing on gala-days; and that they
"hardly fired on Friedrich more than once. For certain, this
"is one of the desirablest battery stations, -- if only Fried-
"rich will leave it alone. Which he will not for a moment;
"but brings terrific howitzers to bear on it; cannonballs,
"grenadoes; tears it to destruction, and the poor Kreuz-
"Kirche along with it. Kirche speedily all in flames, street
"after street blazing up round it, again and again for eight-
'' and-forty hours coming; hapless Dresden, during two days
"andnights, a mere volcano henceforth. " 'Bymistake, all
that, and without order of mine,' says Friedrich once; --?
meaning, I think, all that of the Kreuz-Kirche: and perhaps
wishing he could mean the bombardment altogether,* --
who nevertheless got, and gets, most of the credit of the
thing from a shocked outside world.
"This morning," same Friday 19th, "Daun is reported to
"have arrived; vanguard of him said to be at Schonfeld, over
"in Thirsty- Sweetheart Country yonder: which Friedrich,
"going to reconnoitre, finds tragically indisputable: 'There,
"for certain; only five miles from Holstein's post at the
"White Hart, and no River between; -- as the crow flies,
"hardly five from our own Camp. Perhaps it will be some
"days yet before he do anything? ' So that Friedrich per-
"sists in his bombardment, only the more, 'By fire-torture,
"then! Let the bombarded Royalties assail Maguire, and
"Maguire give in; -- it is our one chance left; and succeed
"we will and must! ' Cruel, say you? -- Ah, yes, cruel
"enough, not merciful at all. The soul of Friedrich, Iper-
* SchHning, n. 361: "To Prince Henri atGiessen" (Frankfurt Coun-
try), "23d July 1760. "
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? CHAP. n. l FRIEDRICH BESIEGES DRESDEN. '31
10th-29th July 17C0.
"ceive, is not in a bright mood at this time, but ina black
"and wrathful, worn almost desperate against the slings and
"arrows of unjust Fate: 'Ahead, I say! If everybody will
"do miracles, cannot we perhaps still manage it, in spite of
"Fate? ' Mitchell is very sorry; but will forget and forgive
"those inexorable passages of war. "
'"I cannot think of the bombardment of Dresden without
"'horror,'" says he; "'nor of many other things I have seen.
"'Misfortunes naturally sour men's temper (even royal
"men's); 'and long continued, without interval, at last ex-
"'tinguish humanity. ' We are now in a most critical and
"dangerous situation, which cannot long last: one lucky
"event, approaching to a miracle, may still save all: butthe
"extreme caution and circumspection of Marshal Daun --! "*
If Daun could be swift, and end the miseries of
Dresden, surely Dresden would be much obliged to
him. It was ten days yet, after that of the Kreuz-
Kirche, before Dresden quite got rid of its Siege: Daun
never was a sudden man. By a kind of accident, he
got Holstein hustled across the River that first night
(July 19th), -- not annihilated, as was very feasible,
but pushed home, out of his way. Whereby the North
side of Dresden is now open; and Daun has free com-
munication with Maguire.
Maguire rose thereupon to a fine pitch of spirits;
tried several things, and wished Daun to try; but with
next to no result. For two days after Holstein's de-
parture, Daun sat still, on his safe Northern shore;
stirring nothing but his own cunctations and investiga-
tions, leaving the bombardment, or cannonade, to take
its own course. One attempt he did make in concert
with Maguire (night of Monday 21st), and one attempt
only, of a serious nature; which, like the rest, was un-
successful. And would not be worth mentioning, --
* Mitchell, II. 184, 185.
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? 32 FEIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [ijoOK XX.
Kd July 1760.
except for the poor Regiment Bernbury's sake; Bern-
burg having got into strange case in consequence
of it.
"This Attempt" (Night of 21st-22d July) "was a com-
"bined sally and assault, -- Sally by Maguire's people, a
"General Nugent heading them, from the South or Plauen
"side of Dresden, and Assault by 4,000 of Daun's from the
"North side, -- upon Friedrich's Trenches. Which are to
"be burst in upon, in this double way, and swept well clear,
"as may be expected. Friedrich, however, was aware of the
"symptoms, and had people ready waiting, -- especially,
"hadltegiment Bernburg, Battalions 1st and 2d; a Regiment
"hitherto without stain.
"Bernburg accordingly, on General Nugent's entering
"their trenches from the south side, falls altogether heartily
"on General Nugent; tumbles him back, takes 200 prisoners,
"Nugent himself one of them" (who is considered to have
been the eye of the enterprise, worth many hundreds this
night): "all this Bernburg, in its usually creditable manner,
"does, as expected of it. But after, or during all this, when
"the Daun people from the north come streaming in, say
"four to one, both south and north, Bernburg looked round
"for support; and seeing none, had, after more or less of
"struggle, to retire as a defeated Bernburg, -- Austrians
"taking the battery, and ruling supreme there for some time,
"Till Wedell, or somebody with fresh Battalions, came up;
"and, rallying Bernburg to him, retook their Battery, and
"drove out the Austrians, with a heavy loss of prisoners. *
"I did not hear that Bernburg's conduct was liable to the
"least fair censure. But Friedrich's soul is severe at this
"time; demanding miracles from everybody: 'You runaway
"Bernburg, shame on you! ' -- and actually takes the swords
"from them, and cuts off their Hat-tresses: 'There! ' Which
"excited such an astonishment in the Prussian Army as was
"seldom seen before. And affected Bernburg to the length
"almost of despair, and breaking of heart, -- in a way that is
"not ridiculous to me at all, but beautiful and pathetic. Of
"which there is much talk, now and long afterwards, in
* Tempelnof, iv. 79.
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? CHAP. II. ] FRIEDRICH BESIEGES DRESDEN. 33
10th-29th July 1760.
"military circles. The sorrows of these poor Bernburgers,
"their desperate efforts to wash out this stigma, their actual
"washing of it out, not many weeks hence, and their magnifi-
"cent joy on the occasion, -- these are the one distinguishing
"point in Daun's relief of Dresden, which was otherwise
"quite a cunctatory, sedentary matter. "
Daun built three Bridges, -- he had a broad stone
one already, -- but did little or nothing with them;
and never himself came across at all. Merely shot out
nocturnal Pandour Parties, and ordered up Lacy and
the Reichsfolk to do the like, and break the night's rest
of his Enemy. He made minatory movements, one at
least, down the River, by his own shore, on Friedrich's
Ammunition Boats from Torgau, and actually inter-
cepted certain of them, which was something; but, ex-
cept this, and vague flourishings of the Pandour kind,
left Friedrich to his own course.
Friedrich bombarded for a day or two farther;
cannonaded, out of more or fewer batteries, for eight,
or I think ten days more. Attacks from Daun there
were to be, now on this side, now on that; many
rumours of attack, but, except once only (midnight
Pandours attempting the King's lodging, "a Farmhouse
near Gruna," but to their astonishment rousing the
whole Prussian Army "in the course of three minutes"*),
rumour was mainly all. For guarding his siege-lines, Friedrich has to alter his position; to shift slightly,
now fronting this way, now the other way; is "called
always at midnight" (against these nocturnal disturbances),
and "never has his clothes off. " Nevertheless, continues
* Archenholtz, n. 81 (who is very vivid, but does not date); Rodenbeck,
n. 24 (quotes similar account by another Eye-witness, and guesses it to be
"night of July 22d-23d").
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. XII. 3
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? 34 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
20th July 1760.
his bombardment, and then his cannonading, till his
own good time, which I think is till the. 26th. His
"ricochet-battery," which is good against Maguire's
people, innocent to Dresden, he continued for three
days more; -- while gathering his furnitures about
Plauen Country, making his arrangements at Meissen;
-- did not march till the night of June 29th. Alto-
gether calmly; no Daun or Austrian molesting him in
the least; his very sentries walking their rounds in the
trenches, till daylight; after which they also marched,
unmolested, Meissenward.
Unfortunate Friedrich has made nothing of Dres-
den, then. After such a June and July of it, since
he left the Meissen Country; after all these intricate
manoeuverings, hot fierce marchings and superhuman
exertions, here is he returning to Meissen Country
poorer than if he had stayed. Fouquet lost, Glatz un-
relieved -- Nay, just before marching off, what is this
new phenomenon? Is this by way of "Happy journey
to you! " Towards sunset of the 29th, exuberant joy-
firing rises far and wide from the usually quiet Aus-
trian lines, -- "Meaning what, once more? " Meaning
that Glatz is lost, your Majesty; that, instead of a
siege of many weeks (as might have been expected
with Fouquet for Commandant), it has held out, under
Fouquet's Second, only a few hours; and is gone with-
out remedy! Certain, though incredible. Imbecile
Commandant, treacherous Garrison (Austrian deserters
mainly), with stealthy Jesuits acting on them: no use
asking what. Here is the sad Narrative, in succinct
form:
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? CHAP. II. ] FRIEDRICH BESIEGES DRESDEK. 35
a>>th July 1760.
Capture of Glatz (26th July 1760).
"Loudon is a swift man, when he can get bridle; butthe
"curb-hand of Daun is often heavy on jhim. Loudon has had
"Glatz blockaded since June 7th; since June 23d, he has had
"Fouquet rooted away, and the ground clear for a Siege of
"Glatz. But had to abstain altogether, in the mean time; to
"take camp at Landshut, to march and manoeuvre about, in
"support of Daun, and that heavy-footed gallop of Daun's
"which then followed: on the whole, it was not till Friedrich
"went for Dresden that the Siege-Artillery, from Olmiitz, "could be ordered forward upon Glatz; not for a fortnight
"more that the Artillery could come; and, in spite of Lou-
"don's utmost despatch, not till break of day, July 26th, that
"the batteries could open. After which, such was Loudon's
"speed and fortune, -- and so diligent had the Jesuits been in
"those seven weeks, -- the 'Siege,' as they call it, was over
"in less than seven hours.
"One Colonel D'O" (Piedmontese by nation, an incompe-
tent person, known to loud Trenck during his detention here)
"was Commandant of Glatz, and had the principal Fortress,
"-- for there are two, one on each side the Neisse River; --
"his Second was a Colonel Quadt, by birth Prussian, seem-
"ingly not very competent he either, who had command of
"the Old Fortress, round which lies the Town of Glatz: a
"little Town, abounding in Jesuits; -- to whose Virgin, if
"readers remember, Friedrich once gave a new gown; with
"small effect on her, as would appear. The Quadt-D'O gar-
rison was 2,400, -- and, if tales are true, it had been well be-
"jesuited during those seven weeks. * At four in the morning,
"July 26th, theTiattering began on Quadt; Quadt, Iwillbe-
"lieve, responding what he could, especially from a certain
"Arrowhead Redoubt (or Fleche) he has, which ought to have
"been important to him. After four or five hours of this, there
"was mutual pause, -- as if both parties had decided upon
"breakfast before going farther.
"Quadt's Fortress is very strong, mostly hewn in the rock;
"and he has that important outwork of a Fleche; which is ex-
cellent for enfilading, as it extends well beyond the glacis;
"and, beingof rock like the rest, is also abundantly defensible.
* (Euvres de Frederic, v. 55.
3*
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? 36 FRIEDEICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
29th July 1760.
"Loudon's people, looking over into this Fleche, find it negli-
"gently guarded; Quadt at breakfast, as would seem: -- and
"directly send for Harsch, Captain of the Siege, and even for
"Loudon, the General-in-Chief. Negligently guarded, sure
"enough; nothing in the Fleche but a few sentries and these in
"the horizontal position, taking their unlawful rest there,
"after such a morning's work. 'Seize me that,' eagerly
"orders Loudon; 'hold that with firm grip! ' Which isdone;
"only to step in softly, two battalions of you, and lay hard
"hold. Incompetent Quadt, figure in what a flurry, rushing
"out to recapture his Fleche, -- explodes instead into mere
"anarchy, whole Companies of him flinging down their arms
"at their Officers' feet, and the like. So that Quadt is totally
"driven in again, Austrians along with him; and is obliged to
"beat chamade; -- D'O following the example, about an hour
"after, without even a capitulation. Was there ever seen
"such a defence! Major Unruh, one of a small minority, was
"Prussian, and stanch: here is Unruh's personal experience,
"-- testimony on D'O's Trial, I suppose, -- and now pretty
"much the one thing worth reading on this subject.
"Major Unruh testifies: 'At four in the morning, 26th July
"'1760, the Enemy began to cannonade the Old Fortress'
(that of Quadt); 'and about nine, I was ordered with 150 men
"'to clear the Envelope from Austrians. Just when I had got
'to the Damm-Gate, halt was called. I asked the Comman-
'"dant, who was behind me, which way I should march; to
"'the Crownwork or to the Envelope? Being answered, To
"'the Envelope, I found on coming out at the Field-Gate
"'nothing but an Austrian Lieutenant-Colonel and some men.
"' He called to me, " "There had been chamade beaten, and I
"' was not to run into destruction (rnich unglilcklich machen)! ""
"I offered him Quarter; and took him in effect prisoner, with
"20 of his best men; and sent him to the Commandant, with
"request that he would keep my rear free, or send me rein-
"forcement. I shot the Enemy a great many people here;
"chased him from the Field-Gate, and out of both the Enve-
lope and the Redoubt called the Crane" (that is the Fleche
itself, only that the Austrians are mostly not now there, but
gone through into the interior there! ) -- "Returning to the
"Field-Gate, I found that the Commandant had beaten
"chamade a second time; there were marching in, by this
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? CHAP. n. ] FRIEDRICH BESIEGES DRESDEN. 37
3Oth July 1760.
"Field-Gate, two battalions of the AustrianRegiment^n<7/a<<;
"I had to yield myself prisoner, and was taken to General
"Loudon. He asked me, 'Don't you know the rules of war,
"then; that you fire after chamade is beaten? ' I answered in
"my heat, 'I knew of no chamade; what poltroonery or what
"treachery had been going on, I knew not! ' Loudon an-
swered, 'You might deserve to have your head laid at your
"feet, Sir! Ami hereto inquire which of you shows bravery,
"which poltroonery? '"* A blazing Loudon, when the fire is
"up! --
After the Peace, D'O had Court-martial, which sentenced
him to death, Friedrich making it perpetual imprisonment:
"Perhaps not a traitor, only a blockhead! " thoughtFriedrich.
He had been recommended to his post by Fouquet. What
Trenck writes of him is, otherwise, mostly lies.
Thus is the southern Key of Silesia (one of the two
southern Keys, Neisse being the other) lost to Fried-
rich, for the first time; and Loudon is like to drive a
trade there. "Will absolutely nothing prosper with us,
then? " Nothing, seemingly, your Majesty!
Heavier
news Friedrich scarcely ever had. But there is no help.
This too he has to carry with him as he can into the
Meissen Country. Unsuccessful altogether; beaten on
every hand. Human talent, diligence, endeavour, is it
but as lightning smiting the Serbonian Bog? Smite to
the last, your Majesty, at any rate; let that be certain.
As it is, and has been. That is always something, that
is always a great thing.
Friedrich intends no pause in those Meissen Coun-
tries. July 30t/i, on his march northward, he detaches
Hulsen with the old 10,000 to take Camp at Schlettau
as before, and do his best for defence of Saxony against
the Reichfolks, numerous, but incompetent; he himself,
? Seyfarth, n. 652.
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? 38 FRIEDEICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
31st July 1760.
next day, passes on, leaving Meissen a little on his
right, to Schieritz, some miles farther dawn,-- intend-
ing there to cross Elbe, and make for Silesia without
loss of an hour. Need enough of speed thither; more
need than even Friedrich supposes! Yesterday, July
30th, Loudon's Vanguard came blockading Breslau,
and this day Loudon himself; -- though Friedrich
heard nothing, anticipated nothing of that dangerous
fact, for a week hence or more.
Soltikof's and Loudon's united intentions on Silesia
he has well known this long while; and has been per-
petually dunning Prince Henri on the subject, to no
purpose, -- only hoping always there would probably
be no great rapidity on the part of these discordant
Allies. Friedrich's feelings, now that the contrary is
visible, and indeed all through the Summer in regard
to the Soltikof-Loudon Business, and the Fouquet-
Henri method of dealing with it, have been painful
enough, and are growing ever more so. Cautious Henri
never would make the smallest attack on Soltikof, but
merely keep observing him; -- the end of which, what
can the end of it be? urges Friedrich always: "Con-
dense yourselves; go in upon the Russians, while they
are in separate corps;" -- and is very ill-satisfied with
the languor of procedures there. As is the Prince with
such reproaches, or implied reproaches, on said languor.
Nor is his humour cheered, when the King's bad pre-
dictions prove true. What has it come to? These
Letters of King and Prince are worth reading, -- if
indeed you can, in the confusion of Schoning (a some-
what exuberant man, loud rather than luminous); --
so curious is the Private Dialogue going on there at
all times, in the background of the stage, between the
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? CHAP. II. ] FRIEDRICH BESIEGES DRESDEN. 39
31st July 1760.
Brothers. One short specimen, extending through the
June and July just over; specimen distilled faithfully
out of that huge jumbling sea of Schoning, and rendered
legible, the reader will consent to.
Dialogue ofFriedrich and Henri (from their Private
Correspondence: June 7th -- July 29th, 1760).
Friedrich (June 7th; before his first crossing Elbe: Henri at
Sagan; he atSchlettau, scanning the waste of fatal possibili-
ties). * * "Embarrassing? Not a doubt of that! " "I own,
"the circumstances both of us are in are like to turn my head,
"three or four times a-day. " "Loudon aiming for Neisse,
"don't you think? Fouquet all in the wrong. " -- "Onehas
"nothing for it but to watch where the likelihood of the
"biggest misfortune is, and to run thither with one's whole
"strength. "
Henri. * * "I confess I am in great apprehension for
"Colberg: -- 'shall one make thither, think you? Russians,
"'8,000 as the first instalment of them, have arrived; got to
"'Posen under Fermor, June 1st: -- so the Commandant of
"'Glogau writes me (see enclosed). '"
Friedrich (June 9th). "Commandant of Glogau writes im-
possibilities: Russians are not on march yet, nor will be for
"above a week. "
"I cross Elbe, the 15th. I am compelled to undertake
"something of decisive nature, and leave the rest to chance.
"For desperate disorders desperate remedies. My bed is not
"one of roses. Heaven aid us: for human prudence finds
"itself fall short in situations so cruel and desperate as
"ours. " f
. Henri. "Hm, hm, ha" (Nothing but carefully-collected
rumours, and wire-drawn auguries from them, on the part of
Henri; very intense inspection of the chicken-bowels, --
hardly ever without a shake of the head).
Friedrich (June 26th; has heard of the Fouquet disaster).
* * "Yesterday my heart was torn to pieces" (news of
Landshut, Fouquet's downfall, there), "and I felt too sad to
t Schoning, n. 313 ("Meissen Camp, 7th June 1760"); ibid. n. 317
("9th Jane"). ?
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? 40 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
31st July 1760.
"be in a state for writing you a sensible Letter; but today,
"when I have come to myself a little again, I will send you
"my reflections. After what has happened to Fouquet, it is
"certain Loudon can have no other design but on Breslau"
(he designs Glatz first of all): "it will be the grand point,
"therefore, especially if the Russians too are bending thither,
"to save that Capital of Silesia. Surely the Turks must be in
"motion: -- if so, we are saved; if not so, we are lost! Today
"I have taken this Camp of Dobritz, in order to be more col-
"lected, and in condition to fight well, should occasion rise,--
"and in case all this that is said and written to me about the
"Turks is true" (which nothing of it was), "to be able to profit
"by it when the time comes. " f
Henri (simultaneously, June 26 th: Henri is forward from
Sagan, through Frankfurt, and got settled at Landsberg,
where he remains through the rest of the Dialogue). * *
"Tottleben, with his Cossacks, scouring about, got acheck
"from us, -- nothing like enough. " "By all my accounts,
"Soltikof, with the gross of the Russians, is marching for
"Posen. The other rumours and symptoms agree in indicat-
"ing a separate Corps, under Fermor, who is to join Tott-
"leben, and besiege Colberg: if both these Corps, theColberg
"and the Posen one, act in concert, my embarrassment will
"be extreme. " * * "1 have just had news of what has befallen
"General Fouquet. Before this stroke, your affairs were
"desperate enough; now I see but too well what we have to
"look for. " ff (Howcomforting! )
Friedrich. "Would to God your prayers for the swift cap-
"ture of Dresden had been heard; but unfortunately I must
"tell you, this stroke has failed me. " ** "Dresden has been
"reduced to ashes, third part of the Altstadt lying burnt; --
"contrary to my intentions; my orders were, To spare the
"City, and play the Artillery against the works. My Minister
"Graf von Finck will have told you what occasioned its being
"set onfire. "tft
Henri (July 26 th; Dresden Siege gone awry. ** "I am
"to keep the Russians from Frankfurt, to cover Glogau, and
"prevent a besieging of Breslau! All that, forms an over-
t Schoning, n. 311. ("Gross-DobriU, 26th June 1760").
tt Ibid. ii. 339 ("Landsberg, 26th June 1760").
ttt Ibid. n. 361 ("2d-3d July").
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? CHAP. ii. ] FRIEDRICH BESIEGES DRESDEN. 41
3lat July 1760.
"whelming problem; -- which I, with my whole heart, will
"give up to somebody abler for it than I am. " f
Friedrich (29th July; quits the Trenches of Dresden this
night). * * "I have seen with pain that you represent every-
"thing to yourself on the black side. I beg you, in the name
"of God, my dearest Brother, don't take things up in their
"blackest and worst shape: -- it is this that throws your mind
"into such an indecision, which is so lamentable. Adopt a
"resolution rather, what resolution you like, but stand by it,
"and execute it with your whole strength. I conjure you,
"take a fixed resolution; better a bad than none at all. " **
"What is possible to man, 1 will do; neither care nor con-
sideration nor effort shall be spared, to secure the result of
"my plans. The rest depends on circumstances. Amid such
"a number of enemies, one cannot always do what one will,
"but must let them prescribe. " ff
An uncomfortable little Gentleman; but full of
faculty, if one can manage to get good of it! Here,
what might have preceded all the above, and been pre-
face to it, is a pretty passage from him; a glimpse he
has had of Sans-Souci, before setting out on those
gloomy marchings and cunctatory hagglings. Henri
writes (at Torgau, April 26th, just back from Berlin
and farewell of friends):
"I mean to march the day after tomorrow. I took
"arrangements with General Fouquet" (about that long
fine-spun Chain of Posts, where we are to do such ser-
vice? ) -- "the Black Hussars cannot be here till to-
"morrow, otherwise I should have marched a day
"sooner. My Brother" (poor little invalid Ferdinand)
"charged me to lay him at your feet. I found him
"weak and thin, more so than formerly. Returning
"hither, the day before yesterday, I passed through
t Sohoning, u. 369-371 ("Landsberg, 26th July").
ft Ibid. u. 370-2 ("Leubnitz, before Dresden, 29th July 1760").
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? 42 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
3let July 1760.
"Potsdam; I went to Sans-Souci" (April 24th, 1760):
-- "all is green there; the Garden embellished, and
"seemed to me excellently kept. Though these details
"cannot occupy you at present, I thought it would give
"you pleasure to hear of them for a moment. "* Ah,
yes; all is so green and blessedly silent there: sight of
the lost Paradise, actually it, visible for a moment
yonder, far away, while one goes whirling in this
manner on the illimitable wracking winds! --
Here finally, from a distant part of the War-
Theatre, is another Note; which we will read while
Friedrich is at Schieritz. At no other place so pro-
perly; the very date of it, chief date (July 31st), being
by accident synchronous with Schieritz:
Duke Ferdinands Battle of Warburg (31st July 1760).
Duke Ferdinand has opened his difficult Campaign; and
especially, -- just while that Siege of Dresden blazed and
ended, -- has had three sharp Fights, which were then very
loud in the Gazettes, along with it. Three once famous
Actions; which unexpectedly had little or no result, and are
very much forgotten now. So that bare enumeration of them
is nearly all we are permitted here. Pitt has furnished 7,000
new English, this Campaign, -- there are now 20,000 English
in all, and a Duke Ferdinand raised to 70,000 men. Surely,
under good omens, thinks Pitt; and still more think the
Gazetteers, judging by appearances. Yes: but if Broglio
have 130,000, what will it come to? Broglio is two to one;
and has, before this, proved himself a considerable Captain.
Fight first is that of Korbach (July 10th): of Broglio,
namely, who has got across the River Ohm in Hessen (to
Ferdinand's great disgust with the GeneralImhof in command
there), and is streaming on to seize the Diemel River, and
menace Hanover; of Broglio, in successive sections, at a cer-
tain "Pass of Korbach," versus the Hereditary Prince (Erb-
* Schoning, n. 263 ("Torgau, 26th April 1760").
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? CHAP. II. ] FRIEDRICH BESIEGES DRESDEN. 43
31st July 1760.
prinz of Brunswick), who is waiting for him there in one good
section, -- and who beautifully hurls back one and another of
the Broglio sections; but cannot hurl back the whole Broglio
Army, all marching by sections that way; and has to retire,
back-foremost, fencing sharply, still in a diligently handsome
manner, though with loss. * That is the Battle of Korbacb, fought July 10th, --while Lacy streamed through Dresden,
panting to be at Plauen Chasm, safe at last.
Fight second (July 16th) was a kind of revenge on the Erb-
prinz's part: Affair of Emsdorf, six days after, in the same
neighbourhood; beautiful too, said the Gazetteers; but of
result still more insignificant. Hearing of a considerable
French Brigade posted not far off, at that Village of Emsdorf,
to guard Broglio's meal-carts there, the indignant Erbprinz
shoots off for that; light of foot, -- English horse mainly, and
Hill Scots (Berg-Schotten so-called, who have a fine free
stride, in summer weather); -- dashes in upon said Brigade
(Dragoons of Bauffremont and other picked men), who stood
firmly on the defensive; but were cut up, in an amazing
manner, root and branch, after a fierce struggle, and as it
were brought home in one's pocket. To the admiration of
military circles, -- especially of messrooms, and the junior
sort. ''Elliot's light horse" (part of the new 7,000), "whata
regiment! Unparalleled for willingness, and "audacity of
"fence; lost 125 killed," -- in fact, the loss chiefly fell on
Elliot. ** The Berg-Schotten too, -- 1 think it was here that
these kilted fellows, who had marched with such a stride,
"came home mostly riding:" poor Bauffremont Dragoons
being entirely cut up, or pocketed as prisoners, and their
horses ridden in this unexpected manner! But we must not
linger, --hardly even on Warburg, which was the third and
greatest; and has still points of memorability, though now so
obliterated.
"Warburg," says my Note on this latter, "is a pleasant
"little Hessian Town, some twenty-five miles west of Cassel,
"standing on the north or left bank of the Diemel, among
"fruitful knolls and hollows. The famous 'Battle of War-
* Manvillon, n. 106.
** Ibid. n. 109 (Prisoners got "were 2,661, including General and Offi-
cers 179," with all their furnitures whatsoever, "400horses, 8cannon,"&c. )-
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? 30 FRIEDRICH NOT TO EE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
19th July 1760.
"though lasting in that violent form only four, or at the very
"utmost seven, days more, had near ruined Dresden from the
"face of the world. "
Friday 19th, "Maguire, touched to the quick by these new
"artilleries of the Prussians this morning, found good to
"mount a gun or two on the leads of the Kreuz-Kirche"
(Protestant High Church, where, before now, we have noticed
Friedrich attending quasi-divine service more than once); --
"that is to say, on the crown of Dresden; from which there is
"view into the bottom of Friedrich's trenches and operations.
"Others say, it was only two or three old Saxon cannon,
"which stand there, for firing on gala-days; and that they
"hardly fired on Friedrich more than once. For certain, this
"is one of the desirablest battery stations, -- if only Fried-
"rich will leave it alone. Which he will not for a moment;
"but brings terrific howitzers to bear on it; cannonballs,
"grenadoes; tears it to destruction, and the poor Kreuz-
"Kirche along with it. Kirche speedily all in flames, street
"after street blazing up round it, again and again for eight-
'' and-forty hours coming; hapless Dresden, during two days
"andnights, a mere volcano henceforth. " 'Bymistake, all
that, and without order of mine,' says Friedrich once; --?
meaning, I think, all that of the Kreuz-Kirche: and perhaps
wishing he could mean the bombardment altogether,* --
who nevertheless got, and gets, most of the credit of the
thing from a shocked outside world.
"This morning," same Friday 19th, "Daun is reported to
"have arrived; vanguard of him said to be at Schonfeld, over
"in Thirsty- Sweetheart Country yonder: which Friedrich,
"going to reconnoitre, finds tragically indisputable: 'There,
"for certain; only five miles from Holstein's post at the
"White Hart, and no River between; -- as the crow flies,
"hardly five from our own Camp. Perhaps it will be some
"days yet before he do anything? ' So that Friedrich per-
"sists in his bombardment, only the more, 'By fire-torture,
"then! Let the bombarded Royalties assail Maguire, and
"Maguire give in; -- it is our one chance left; and succeed
"we will and must! ' Cruel, say you? -- Ah, yes, cruel
"enough, not merciful at all. The soul of Friedrich, Iper-
* SchHning, n. 361: "To Prince Henri atGiessen" (Frankfurt Coun-
try), "23d July 1760. "
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? CHAP. n. l FRIEDRICH BESIEGES DRESDEN. '31
10th-29th July 17C0.
"ceive, is not in a bright mood at this time, but ina black
"and wrathful, worn almost desperate against the slings and
"arrows of unjust Fate: 'Ahead, I say! If everybody will
"do miracles, cannot we perhaps still manage it, in spite of
"Fate? ' Mitchell is very sorry; but will forget and forgive
"those inexorable passages of war. "
'"I cannot think of the bombardment of Dresden without
"'horror,'" says he; "'nor of many other things I have seen.
"'Misfortunes naturally sour men's temper (even royal
"men's); 'and long continued, without interval, at last ex-
"'tinguish humanity. ' We are now in a most critical and
"dangerous situation, which cannot long last: one lucky
"event, approaching to a miracle, may still save all: butthe
"extreme caution and circumspection of Marshal Daun --! "*
If Daun could be swift, and end the miseries of
Dresden, surely Dresden would be much obliged to
him. It was ten days yet, after that of the Kreuz-
Kirche, before Dresden quite got rid of its Siege: Daun
never was a sudden man. By a kind of accident, he
got Holstein hustled across the River that first night
(July 19th), -- not annihilated, as was very feasible,
but pushed home, out of his way. Whereby the North
side of Dresden is now open; and Daun has free com-
munication with Maguire.
Maguire rose thereupon to a fine pitch of spirits;
tried several things, and wished Daun to try; but with
next to no result. For two days after Holstein's de-
parture, Daun sat still, on his safe Northern shore;
stirring nothing but his own cunctations and investiga-
tions, leaving the bombardment, or cannonade, to take
its own course. One attempt he did make in concert
with Maguire (night of Monday 21st), and one attempt
only, of a serious nature; which, like the rest, was un-
successful. And would not be worth mentioning, --
* Mitchell, II. 184, 185.
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? 32 FEIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [ijoOK XX.
Kd July 1760.
except for the poor Regiment Bernbury's sake; Bern-
burg having got into strange case in consequence
of it.
"This Attempt" (Night of 21st-22d July) "was a com-
"bined sally and assault, -- Sally by Maguire's people, a
"General Nugent heading them, from the South or Plauen
"side of Dresden, and Assault by 4,000 of Daun's from the
"North side, -- upon Friedrich's Trenches. Which are to
"be burst in upon, in this double way, and swept well clear,
"as may be expected. Friedrich, however, was aware of the
"symptoms, and had people ready waiting, -- especially,
"hadltegiment Bernburg, Battalions 1st and 2d; a Regiment
"hitherto without stain.
"Bernburg accordingly, on General Nugent's entering
"their trenches from the south side, falls altogether heartily
"on General Nugent; tumbles him back, takes 200 prisoners,
"Nugent himself one of them" (who is considered to have
been the eye of the enterprise, worth many hundreds this
night): "all this Bernburg, in its usually creditable manner,
"does, as expected of it. But after, or during all this, when
"the Daun people from the north come streaming in, say
"four to one, both south and north, Bernburg looked round
"for support; and seeing none, had, after more or less of
"struggle, to retire as a defeated Bernburg, -- Austrians
"taking the battery, and ruling supreme there for some time,
"Till Wedell, or somebody with fresh Battalions, came up;
"and, rallying Bernburg to him, retook their Battery, and
"drove out the Austrians, with a heavy loss of prisoners. *
"I did not hear that Bernburg's conduct was liable to the
"least fair censure. But Friedrich's soul is severe at this
"time; demanding miracles from everybody: 'You runaway
"Bernburg, shame on you! ' -- and actually takes the swords
"from them, and cuts off their Hat-tresses: 'There! ' Which
"excited such an astonishment in the Prussian Army as was
"seldom seen before. And affected Bernburg to the length
"almost of despair, and breaking of heart, -- in a way that is
"not ridiculous to me at all, but beautiful and pathetic. Of
"which there is much talk, now and long afterwards, in
* Tempelnof, iv. 79.
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? CHAP. II. ] FRIEDRICH BESIEGES DRESDEN. 33
10th-29th July 1760.
"military circles. The sorrows of these poor Bernburgers,
"their desperate efforts to wash out this stigma, their actual
"washing of it out, not many weeks hence, and their magnifi-
"cent joy on the occasion, -- these are the one distinguishing
"point in Daun's relief of Dresden, which was otherwise
"quite a cunctatory, sedentary matter. "
Daun built three Bridges, -- he had a broad stone
one already, -- but did little or nothing with them;
and never himself came across at all. Merely shot out
nocturnal Pandour Parties, and ordered up Lacy and
the Reichsfolk to do the like, and break the night's rest
of his Enemy. He made minatory movements, one at
least, down the River, by his own shore, on Friedrich's
Ammunition Boats from Torgau, and actually inter-
cepted certain of them, which was something; but, ex-
cept this, and vague flourishings of the Pandour kind,
left Friedrich to his own course.
Friedrich bombarded for a day or two farther;
cannonaded, out of more or fewer batteries, for eight,
or I think ten days more. Attacks from Daun there
were to be, now on this side, now on that; many
rumours of attack, but, except once only (midnight
Pandours attempting the King's lodging, "a Farmhouse
near Gruna," but to their astonishment rousing the
whole Prussian Army "in the course of three minutes"*),
rumour was mainly all. For guarding his siege-lines, Friedrich has to alter his position; to shift slightly,
now fronting this way, now the other way; is "called
always at midnight" (against these nocturnal disturbances),
and "never has his clothes off. " Nevertheless, continues
* Archenholtz, n. 81 (who is very vivid, but does not date); Rodenbeck,
n. 24 (quotes similar account by another Eye-witness, and guesses it to be
"night of July 22d-23d").
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. XII. 3
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? 34 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
20th July 1760.
his bombardment, and then his cannonading, till his
own good time, which I think is till the. 26th. His
"ricochet-battery," which is good against Maguire's
people, innocent to Dresden, he continued for three
days more; -- while gathering his furnitures about
Plauen Country, making his arrangements at Meissen;
-- did not march till the night of June 29th. Alto-
gether calmly; no Daun or Austrian molesting him in
the least; his very sentries walking their rounds in the
trenches, till daylight; after which they also marched,
unmolested, Meissenward.
Unfortunate Friedrich has made nothing of Dres-
den, then. After such a June and July of it, since
he left the Meissen Country; after all these intricate
manoeuverings, hot fierce marchings and superhuman
exertions, here is he returning to Meissen Country
poorer than if he had stayed. Fouquet lost, Glatz un-
relieved -- Nay, just before marching off, what is this
new phenomenon? Is this by way of "Happy journey
to you! " Towards sunset of the 29th, exuberant joy-
firing rises far and wide from the usually quiet Aus-
trian lines, -- "Meaning what, once more? " Meaning
that Glatz is lost, your Majesty; that, instead of a
siege of many weeks (as might have been expected
with Fouquet for Commandant), it has held out, under
Fouquet's Second, only a few hours; and is gone with-
out remedy! Certain, though incredible. Imbecile
Commandant, treacherous Garrison (Austrian deserters
mainly), with stealthy Jesuits acting on them: no use
asking what. Here is the sad Narrative, in succinct
form:
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? CHAP. II. ] FRIEDRICH BESIEGES DRESDEK. 35
a>>th July 1760.
Capture of Glatz (26th July 1760).
"Loudon is a swift man, when he can get bridle; butthe
"curb-hand of Daun is often heavy on jhim. Loudon has had
"Glatz blockaded since June 7th; since June 23d, he has had
"Fouquet rooted away, and the ground clear for a Siege of
"Glatz. But had to abstain altogether, in the mean time; to
"take camp at Landshut, to march and manoeuvre about, in
"support of Daun, and that heavy-footed gallop of Daun's
"which then followed: on the whole, it was not till Friedrich
"went for Dresden that the Siege-Artillery, from Olmiitz, "could be ordered forward upon Glatz; not for a fortnight
"more that the Artillery could come; and, in spite of Lou-
"don's utmost despatch, not till break of day, July 26th, that
"the batteries could open. After which, such was Loudon's
"speed and fortune, -- and so diligent had the Jesuits been in
"those seven weeks, -- the 'Siege,' as they call it, was over
"in less than seven hours.
"One Colonel D'O" (Piedmontese by nation, an incompe-
tent person, known to loud Trenck during his detention here)
"was Commandant of Glatz, and had the principal Fortress,
"-- for there are two, one on each side the Neisse River; --
"his Second was a Colonel Quadt, by birth Prussian, seem-
"ingly not very competent he either, who had command of
"the Old Fortress, round which lies the Town of Glatz: a
"little Town, abounding in Jesuits; -- to whose Virgin, if
"readers remember, Friedrich once gave a new gown; with
"small effect on her, as would appear. The Quadt-D'O gar-
rison was 2,400, -- and, if tales are true, it had been well be-
"jesuited during those seven weeks. * At four in the morning,
"July 26th, theTiattering began on Quadt; Quadt, Iwillbe-
"lieve, responding what he could, especially from a certain
"Arrowhead Redoubt (or Fleche) he has, which ought to have
"been important to him. After four or five hours of this, there
"was mutual pause, -- as if both parties had decided upon
"breakfast before going farther.
"Quadt's Fortress is very strong, mostly hewn in the rock;
"and he has that important outwork of a Fleche; which is ex-
cellent for enfilading, as it extends well beyond the glacis;
"and, beingof rock like the rest, is also abundantly defensible.
* (Euvres de Frederic, v. 55.
3*
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? 36 FRIEDEICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
29th July 1760.
"Loudon's people, looking over into this Fleche, find it negli-
"gently guarded; Quadt at breakfast, as would seem: -- and
"directly send for Harsch, Captain of the Siege, and even for
"Loudon, the General-in-Chief. Negligently guarded, sure
"enough; nothing in the Fleche but a few sentries and these in
"the horizontal position, taking their unlawful rest there,
"after such a morning's work. 'Seize me that,' eagerly
"orders Loudon; 'hold that with firm grip! ' Which isdone;
"only to step in softly, two battalions of you, and lay hard
"hold. Incompetent Quadt, figure in what a flurry, rushing
"out to recapture his Fleche, -- explodes instead into mere
"anarchy, whole Companies of him flinging down their arms
"at their Officers' feet, and the like. So that Quadt is totally
"driven in again, Austrians along with him; and is obliged to
"beat chamade; -- D'O following the example, about an hour
"after, without even a capitulation. Was there ever seen
"such a defence! Major Unruh, one of a small minority, was
"Prussian, and stanch: here is Unruh's personal experience,
"-- testimony on D'O's Trial, I suppose, -- and now pretty
"much the one thing worth reading on this subject.
"Major Unruh testifies: 'At four in the morning, 26th July
"'1760, the Enemy began to cannonade the Old Fortress'
(that of Quadt); 'and about nine, I was ordered with 150 men
"'to clear the Envelope from Austrians. Just when I had got
'to the Damm-Gate, halt was called. I asked the Comman-
'"dant, who was behind me, which way I should march; to
"'the Crownwork or to the Envelope? Being answered, To
"'the Envelope, I found on coming out at the Field-Gate
"'nothing but an Austrian Lieutenant-Colonel and some men.
"' He called to me, " "There had been chamade beaten, and I
"' was not to run into destruction (rnich unglilcklich machen)! ""
"I offered him Quarter; and took him in effect prisoner, with
"20 of his best men; and sent him to the Commandant, with
"request that he would keep my rear free, or send me rein-
"forcement. I shot the Enemy a great many people here;
"chased him from the Field-Gate, and out of both the Enve-
lope and the Redoubt called the Crane" (that is the Fleche
itself, only that the Austrians are mostly not now there, but
gone through into the interior there! ) -- "Returning to the
"Field-Gate, I found that the Commandant had beaten
"chamade a second time; there were marching in, by this
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? CHAP. n. ] FRIEDRICH BESIEGES DRESDEN. 37
3Oth July 1760.
"Field-Gate, two battalions of the AustrianRegiment^n<7/a<<;
"I had to yield myself prisoner, and was taken to General
"Loudon. He asked me, 'Don't you know the rules of war,
"then; that you fire after chamade is beaten? ' I answered in
"my heat, 'I knew of no chamade; what poltroonery or what
"treachery had been going on, I knew not! ' Loudon an-
swered, 'You might deserve to have your head laid at your
"feet, Sir! Ami hereto inquire which of you shows bravery,
"which poltroonery? '"* A blazing Loudon, when the fire is
"up! --
After the Peace, D'O had Court-martial, which sentenced
him to death, Friedrich making it perpetual imprisonment:
"Perhaps not a traitor, only a blockhead! " thoughtFriedrich.
He had been recommended to his post by Fouquet. What
Trenck writes of him is, otherwise, mostly lies.
Thus is the southern Key of Silesia (one of the two
southern Keys, Neisse being the other) lost to Fried-
rich, for the first time; and Loudon is like to drive a
trade there. "Will absolutely nothing prosper with us,
then? " Nothing, seemingly, your Majesty!
Heavier
news Friedrich scarcely ever had. But there is no help.
This too he has to carry with him as he can into the
Meissen Country. Unsuccessful altogether; beaten on
every hand. Human talent, diligence, endeavour, is it
but as lightning smiting the Serbonian Bog? Smite to
the last, your Majesty, at any rate; let that be certain.
As it is, and has been. That is always something, that
is always a great thing.
Friedrich intends no pause in those Meissen Coun-
tries. July 30t/i, on his march northward, he detaches
Hulsen with the old 10,000 to take Camp at Schlettau
as before, and do his best for defence of Saxony against
the Reichfolks, numerous, but incompetent; he himself,
? Seyfarth, n. 652.
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? 38 FRIEDEICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
31st July 1760.
next day, passes on, leaving Meissen a little on his
right, to Schieritz, some miles farther dawn,-- intend-
ing there to cross Elbe, and make for Silesia without
loss of an hour. Need enough of speed thither; more
need than even Friedrich supposes! Yesterday, July
30th, Loudon's Vanguard came blockading Breslau,
and this day Loudon himself; -- though Friedrich
heard nothing, anticipated nothing of that dangerous
fact, for a week hence or more.
Soltikof's and Loudon's united intentions on Silesia
he has well known this long while; and has been per-
petually dunning Prince Henri on the subject, to no
purpose, -- only hoping always there would probably
be no great rapidity on the part of these discordant
Allies. Friedrich's feelings, now that the contrary is
visible, and indeed all through the Summer in regard
to the Soltikof-Loudon Business, and the Fouquet-
Henri method of dealing with it, have been painful
enough, and are growing ever more so. Cautious Henri
never would make the smallest attack on Soltikof, but
merely keep observing him; -- the end of which, what
can the end of it be? urges Friedrich always: "Con-
dense yourselves; go in upon the Russians, while they
are in separate corps;" -- and is very ill-satisfied with
the languor of procedures there. As is the Prince with
such reproaches, or implied reproaches, on said languor.
Nor is his humour cheered, when the King's bad pre-
dictions prove true. What has it come to? These
Letters of King and Prince are worth reading, -- if
indeed you can, in the confusion of Schoning (a some-
what exuberant man, loud rather than luminous); --
so curious is the Private Dialogue going on there at
all times, in the background of the stage, between the
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? CHAP. II. ] FRIEDRICH BESIEGES DRESDEN. 39
31st July 1760.
Brothers. One short specimen, extending through the
June and July just over; specimen distilled faithfully
out of that huge jumbling sea of Schoning, and rendered
legible, the reader will consent to.
Dialogue ofFriedrich and Henri (from their Private
Correspondence: June 7th -- July 29th, 1760).
Friedrich (June 7th; before his first crossing Elbe: Henri at
Sagan; he atSchlettau, scanning the waste of fatal possibili-
ties). * * "Embarrassing? Not a doubt of that! " "I own,
"the circumstances both of us are in are like to turn my head,
"three or four times a-day. " "Loudon aiming for Neisse,
"don't you think? Fouquet all in the wrong. " -- "Onehas
"nothing for it but to watch where the likelihood of the
"biggest misfortune is, and to run thither with one's whole
"strength. "
Henri. * * "I confess I am in great apprehension for
"Colberg: -- 'shall one make thither, think you? Russians,
"'8,000 as the first instalment of them, have arrived; got to
"'Posen under Fermor, June 1st: -- so the Commandant of
"'Glogau writes me (see enclosed). '"
Friedrich (June 9th). "Commandant of Glogau writes im-
possibilities: Russians are not on march yet, nor will be for
"above a week. "
"I cross Elbe, the 15th. I am compelled to undertake
"something of decisive nature, and leave the rest to chance.
"For desperate disorders desperate remedies. My bed is not
"one of roses. Heaven aid us: for human prudence finds
"itself fall short in situations so cruel and desperate as
"ours. " f
. Henri. "Hm, hm, ha" (Nothing but carefully-collected
rumours, and wire-drawn auguries from them, on the part of
Henri; very intense inspection of the chicken-bowels, --
hardly ever without a shake of the head).
Friedrich (June 26th; has heard of the Fouquet disaster).
* * "Yesterday my heart was torn to pieces" (news of
Landshut, Fouquet's downfall, there), "and I felt too sad to
t Schoning, n. 313 ("Meissen Camp, 7th June 1760"); ibid. n. 317
("9th Jane"). ?
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? 40 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
31st July 1760.
"be in a state for writing you a sensible Letter; but today,
"when I have come to myself a little again, I will send you
"my reflections. After what has happened to Fouquet, it is
"certain Loudon can have no other design but on Breslau"
(he designs Glatz first of all): "it will be the grand point,
"therefore, especially if the Russians too are bending thither,
"to save that Capital of Silesia. Surely the Turks must be in
"motion: -- if so, we are saved; if not so, we are lost! Today
"I have taken this Camp of Dobritz, in order to be more col-
"lected, and in condition to fight well, should occasion rise,--
"and in case all this that is said and written to me about the
"Turks is true" (which nothing of it was), "to be able to profit
"by it when the time comes. " f
Henri (simultaneously, June 26 th: Henri is forward from
Sagan, through Frankfurt, and got settled at Landsberg,
where he remains through the rest of the Dialogue). * *
"Tottleben, with his Cossacks, scouring about, got acheck
"from us, -- nothing like enough. " "By all my accounts,
"Soltikof, with the gross of the Russians, is marching for
"Posen. The other rumours and symptoms agree in indicat-
"ing a separate Corps, under Fermor, who is to join Tott-
"leben, and besiege Colberg: if both these Corps, theColberg
"and the Posen one, act in concert, my embarrassment will
"be extreme. " * * "1 have just had news of what has befallen
"General Fouquet. Before this stroke, your affairs were
"desperate enough; now I see but too well what we have to
"look for. " ff (Howcomforting! )
Friedrich. "Would to God your prayers for the swift cap-
"ture of Dresden had been heard; but unfortunately I must
"tell you, this stroke has failed me. " ** "Dresden has been
"reduced to ashes, third part of the Altstadt lying burnt; --
"contrary to my intentions; my orders were, To spare the
"City, and play the Artillery against the works. My Minister
"Graf von Finck will have told you what occasioned its being
"set onfire. "tft
Henri (July 26 th; Dresden Siege gone awry. ** "I am
"to keep the Russians from Frankfurt, to cover Glogau, and
"prevent a besieging of Breslau! All that, forms an over-
t Schoning, n. 311. ("Gross-DobriU, 26th June 1760").
tt Ibid. ii. 339 ("Landsberg, 26th June 1760").
ttt Ibid. n. 361 ("2d-3d July").
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? CHAP. ii. ] FRIEDRICH BESIEGES DRESDEN. 41
3lat July 1760.
"whelming problem; -- which I, with my whole heart, will
"give up to somebody abler for it than I am. " f
Friedrich (29th July; quits the Trenches of Dresden this
night). * * "I have seen with pain that you represent every-
"thing to yourself on the black side. I beg you, in the name
"of God, my dearest Brother, don't take things up in their
"blackest and worst shape: -- it is this that throws your mind
"into such an indecision, which is so lamentable. Adopt a
"resolution rather, what resolution you like, but stand by it,
"and execute it with your whole strength. I conjure you,
"take a fixed resolution; better a bad than none at all. " **
"What is possible to man, 1 will do; neither care nor con-
sideration nor effort shall be spared, to secure the result of
"my plans. The rest depends on circumstances. Amid such
"a number of enemies, one cannot always do what one will,
"but must let them prescribe. " ff
An uncomfortable little Gentleman; but full of
faculty, if one can manage to get good of it! Here,
what might have preceded all the above, and been pre-
face to it, is a pretty passage from him; a glimpse he
has had of Sans-Souci, before setting out on those
gloomy marchings and cunctatory hagglings. Henri
writes (at Torgau, April 26th, just back from Berlin
and farewell of friends):
"I mean to march the day after tomorrow. I took
"arrangements with General Fouquet" (about that long
fine-spun Chain of Posts, where we are to do such ser-
vice? ) -- "the Black Hussars cannot be here till to-
"morrow, otherwise I should have marched a day
"sooner. My Brother" (poor little invalid Ferdinand)
"charged me to lay him at your feet. I found him
"weak and thin, more so than formerly. Returning
"hither, the day before yesterday, I passed through
t Sohoning, u. 369-371 ("Landsberg, 26th July").
ft Ibid. u. 370-2 ("Leubnitz, before Dresden, 29th July 1760").
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? 42 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
3let July 1760.
"Potsdam; I went to Sans-Souci" (April 24th, 1760):
-- "all is green there; the Garden embellished, and
"seemed to me excellently kept. Though these details
"cannot occupy you at present, I thought it would give
"you pleasure to hear of them for a moment. "* Ah,
yes; all is so green and blessedly silent there: sight of
the lost Paradise, actually it, visible for a moment
yonder, far away, while one goes whirling in this
manner on the illimitable wracking winds! --
Here finally, from a distant part of the War-
Theatre, is another Note; which we will read while
Friedrich is at Schieritz. At no other place so pro-
perly; the very date of it, chief date (July 31st), being
by accident synchronous with Schieritz:
Duke Ferdinands Battle of Warburg (31st July 1760).
Duke Ferdinand has opened his difficult Campaign; and
especially, -- just while that Siege of Dresden blazed and
ended, -- has had three sharp Fights, which were then very
loud in the Gazettes, along with it. Three once famous
Actions; which unexpectedly had little or no result, and are
very much forgotten now. So that bare enumeration of them
is nearly all we are permitted here. Pitt has furnished 7,000
new English, this Campaign, -- there are now 20,000 English
in all, and a Duke Ferdinand raised to 70,000 men. Surely,
under good omens, thinks Pitt; and still more think the
Gazetteers, judging by appearances. Yes: but if Broglio
have 130,000, what will it come to? Broglio is two to one;
and has, before this, proved himself a considerable Captain.
Fight first is that of Korbach (July 10th): of Broglio,
namely, who has got across the River Ohm in Hessen (to
Ferdinand's great disgust with the GeneralImhof in command
there), and is streaming on to seize the Diemel River, and
menace Hanover; of Broglio, in successive sections, at a cer-
tain "Pass of Korbach," versus the Hereditary Prince (Erb-
* Schoning, n. 263 ("Torgau, 26th April 1760").
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? CHAP. II. ] FRIEDRICH BESIEGES DRESDEN. 43
31st July 1760.
prinz of Brunswick), who is waiting for him there in one good
section, -- and who beautifully hurls back one and another of
the Broglio sections; but cannot hurl back the whole Broglio
Army, all marching by sections that way; and has to retire,
back-foremost, fencing sharply, still in a diligently handsome
manner, though with loss. * That is the Battle of Korbacb, fought July 10th, --while Lacy streamed through Dresden,
panting to be at Plauen Chasm, safe at last.
Fight second (July 16th) was a kind of revenge on the Erb-
prinz's part: Affair of Emsdorf, six days after, in the same
neighbourhood; beautiful too, said the Gazetteers; but of
result still more insignificant. Hearing of a considerable
French Brigade posted not far off, at that Village of Emsdorf,
to guard Broglio's meal-carts there, the indignant Erbprinz
shoots off for that; light of foot, -- English horse mainly, and
Hill Scots (Berg-Schotten so-called, who have a fine free
stride, in summer weather); -- dashes in upon said Brigade
(Dragoons of Bauffremont and other picked men), who stood
firmly on the defensive; but were cut up, in an amazing
manner, root and branch, after a fierce struggle, and as it
were brought home in one's pocket. To the admiration of
military circles, -- especially of messrooms, and the junior
sort. ''Elliot's light horse" (part of the new 7,000), "whata
regiment! Unparalleled for willingness, and "audacity of
"fence; lost 125 killed," -- in fact, the loss chiefly fell on
Elliot. ** The Berg-Schotten too, -- 1 think it was here that
these kilted fellows, who had marched with such a stride,
"came home mostly riding:" poor Bauffremont Dragoons
being entirely cut up, or pocketed as prisoners, and their
horses ridden in this unexpected manner! But we must not
linger, --hardly even on Warburg, which was the third and
greatest; and has still points of memorability, though now so
obliterated.
"Warburg," says my Note on this latter, "is a pleasant
"little Hessian Town, some twenty-five miles west of Cassel,
"standing on the north or left bank of the Diemel, among
"fruitful knolls and hollows. The famous 'Battle of War-
* Manvillon, n. 106.
** Ibid. n. 109 (Prisoners got "were 2,661, including General and Offi-
cers 179," with all their furnitures whatsoever, "400horses, 8cannon,"&c. )-
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