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Thomas Carlyle
[book TO.
9th March 1U1.
but was not, -- in retaliation for some severity of
General Browne's in the interim (picking up of two
Silesian Noblemen, suspected of Prussian tendency,
and locking them in Briinn over the Hills), -- and
had to go to Berlin, till that was repaired. To the
wounded Artillery-General there was every tenderness
shown, but he died in few days. The other Prisoners
were marched to the Ciistrin-Stettin quarter; "and
many of them took Prussian service. "
And this is the Scalade of Glogau: a shining feat
of those days; which had great rumour in the Gazettes,
and over all the then feverish Nations, though it has
now fallen dim again, as feats do. Its importance at
that time, its utility to Friedrich's affairs, was un-
deniable; and it filled Friedrich with the highest satis-
faction, and with admiration to overflowing. Done,
9th March 1741; in one hour, the very earliest of the
day.
Goltz posted back to Schweidnitz with the news;
got thither about 5 p. m. ; and was received, naturally,
with open arms. Friedrich in person marched out, next
morning, to make Feu-de-joie and Te-Deum-ing; --
there was Royal Letter to Leopold, which flamed
through all the Newspapers, and can still be read in
innumerable Books; Letter omissible in this place.
We remark only how punctual the King is, to reward
in money as well as praise and not the high only, but
the low that had deserved: to Prince Leopold he pre-
sents 2,000/. ; to each private soldier who had been of
the storm, say half-a-guinea, -- doubling and qua-
drupling, in the special cases, to as high as twenty
guineas, of our present money. To the old Gazetteers,
and their readers everywhere, this of Glogau is a very
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? CHAP. IX. ] FRIEDRICH RETURNS TO SILESIA. 299
Mh March--2d April 1741.
effulgent business; bursting out on them, like sudden
Bude-light, in the uncertain stagnancy and expectancy
of mankind. Friedrich himself writes of it to the Old
Dessauer:
"The more I think of the Glogau business, the more im-
"portant I find it. Prince Leopold has achieved the prettiest
"military stroke (die schbnste Action) that has been done in
"this Century. From my heart I congratulate you on having
"such a Son. In boldness of resolution, in plan, in execu-
tion, it is alike admirable; and quite gives a turn to my
"affairs. "*
And indeed, it is a perfect example of Prussian dis-
cipline, and military quality in all kinds; such as it
would be difficult to match elsewhere. Most potently
correct; coming out everywhere with the completeness
and exactitude of mathematics; and has in it such a
fund of martial fire, not only ready to blaze out (which
can be exampled elsewhere), but capable of bottling
itself in, and of lying silently ready. Which is much
rarer; and very essential in soldiering! Due a little to
the Old Dessauer, may we not say, as well as to the
Young? Friedrich Wilhelm is fallen silent; but his
heavy labours, and military and other drillings to Prus-
sian mankind, still speak with an audible voice.
About three weeks after this of Glogau, Leopold
the Old Dessauer, over in Brandenburg, does another
thing which is important to Friedrich, and of great
rumour in the world. Steps out, namely, with a force
of 36,000 men, horse, foot and artillery, completely
equipped in all points; and takes Camp, at this early
season, at a place called Gottin, not far from Magde-
* Date, 13th March 1741 (Orlich, i. 77).
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? 300 FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [bOOKDI.
9th March--2d April Ml
burg, handy at once for Saxony and for Hanover; and
continues there encamped, -- "merely for review pur-
poses. " Readers can figure what an astonishment it
was to Kur-Sachsen and British George; and how it
struck the wind out of their Russian Partition-Dream,
and awoke them to a sense of the awful fact! --
Capable of being slit in pieces, and themselves par-
titioned, at a day's warning, as it were! It was on
April 2d, that Leopold, with the first division of the
36,000, planted his flag near Gottin. No doubt it
was the "detestable Project," that had brought him out,
at so early a season for tent life, and nobody could
then guess why. He steadily paraded here, all summer;
keeping his 36,000 well in drill, since there was nothing
else needed of him.
The Camp at Gottin flamed greatly abroad through
the timorous imaginations of mankind, that Year; and
in the Newspapers are many details of it. And, be-
sides the important general fact, there is still one little
point worth special mention: namely, that old Field-
marshal Katte (Father of poor Lieutenant Katte whom
we knew) was of it; and perhaps even got his death
by it: "Chief Commander of the Cavalry here," such
honour had he; but died at his post, in a couple of
months, "at Rekahn, May 31st;"* poor old gentleman,
perhaps unequal to the hardships of field-life at so
early a season of the year.
Friedrich takes the Field, with some Pomp; goes into the
Mountains, -- but comes fast back.
At Glogau there was Homaging, on the very mor-
row after the storm; on the second day, the superfluous
* Milituir-Lexikon, ii. 254.
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? CHAP. IX. ] FRIEDRICH RETURNS TO SILESIA. 301
9tli March--2d April 1741.
regiments marched off: no want of vigorous activity to
settle matters on their new footing there. General
Kalkstein (Friedrich's old Tutor, whom readers have
forgotten again) is to be Commandant of Glogau; an
office of honour, which can be done by deputy except
in cases of real stress. The place is to be thoroughly
new-fortified, --- which important point they commit to
Engineer Wallrave, a strong-headed heavy-built Dutch
Officer, long since acquired to the service, on account
of his excellence in that line; who did, now and after-
wards, a great deal of excellent engineering for Fried-
rich; but for himself (being of deep stomach withal,
and of life too dissolute) made a tragic thing of it
ultimately. As will be seen, if we have leisure.
In seven or eight days, Prince Leopold, having
wound up his Glogau affairs, and completed the new
preliminaries there, joins the King at Schweidnitz. In
the highest favour, as was natural. Kalkstein is to
take a main hand in the Siege of Neisse; for which
operation it is hoped there will soon be weather, if not
favourable yet supportable. What of the force was
superfluous at Glogau had at once marched off, as we
observed; and is now getting re-distributed where need-
ful. There is much shifting about; strengthening of
posts, giving up of posts: the whole of which readers
shall imagine for themselves, -- except only two points
that are worth remembering: First, that Kalkstein with
about 12,000 takes post at Grotkau, some twenty-five
miles north of Neisse, ready to move on, and open
trenches, when required: and second, that Holstein-
Beck gets posted at Frankenstein (chief place of that
Baumgarten Skirmish), say thirty-five miles west-by-
north of Neisse; and has some 8 or 10,000 Horse and
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? 302 FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [bookIII.
9th March --23d April 1741.
Foot thereabouts, spread up and down, -- who will be
much wanted, and not procurable, on an occasion that
is coming.
Friedrich has given up the Jablunka Pass; called-
in the Jablunka and remoter posts; anxious to concen-
trate, before the Enemy get nigh. That is the King's
notion; and surely a reasonable one; the area of the
Prussian Army, as I guess it from the Maps, being
above 2,000 square miles, beginning at Breslau only
and leaving out Glogau. Schwerin thinks differently;
but without good basis. Both are agreed, The Aus-
trian Army cannot take the field till the forage come,"
till the new grass spring, which its cavalry find con-
venient. That is the fair supposition; but in that both
are mistaken, and Schwerin the more dangerously of
the two. --' Meanwhile, the Pandour swarms are ob-
servably getting rifer, and of stormier quality; and
they seem to harbour farther to the East than formerly,
and not to come all out of Glatz. Which perhaps are
symptomatic circumstances? The worst effect of these
preliminary Pandour clouds is, Your scout-service can-
not live among them; they hinder reconnoitring, and
keep the Enemy veiled from you. Of that sore mis-
chief Friedrich had, first and last, ample experience at
their hands! This is but the first instalment of Pandonrs
to Friedrich; and the mere foretaste of what they can
do in the veiling way.
Behind the Mountains, in this manner, all is inane
darkness to Friedrich and Schwerin. They know only
that Neipperg is rendezvousing at Olmutz; and judge
that he will still spend many weeks upon it; the real
facts being: That Neipperg, -- "who arrived inOlmiitz
on the 10th of March," the very day while Glogau
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? CHAP. IX. ] FRIEDRICH RETURNS TO SILESIA. 303
27th March 1741.
was Homaging, -- has been, he and those above him
and those under him, driving preparations forward at
a furious rate. That Neipperg held, -- I think at
Steinberg his hithermost post, some twenty miles hither
of Olmiitz, -- a Council of War, "all the Generals
and even Lentulus from Glatz, present at it," day not
given; where the unanimous decision was, "March
straightway; save Neisse, since Glogau is gone! " --
and in fine, That on the 26th, Neipperg took the road
accordingly, "in spite of furious snow blowing in his
face;" and is ever since (30,000 strong, says rumour,
but perhaps 10,000 of them mere Pandours) unweariedly
climbing the Mountains, laboriously jingling forward
with his heavy guns and ammunition-wagons: "con-
tending with the steep snowy icy roads;" -- intent
upon saving Neisse. This is the fact; profoundly un-
known to Friedrich and Schwerin; who will be much
surprised, when it becomes patent to them at the wrong
time.
Schweidnitz, 27th March. This day Friedrich, with
considerable apparatus, pomp and processional cym-
balling, greatly the reverse of his ulterior use and
wont in such cases, quitted Schweidnitz and his Alga-
rottis; solemnly opening Campaign in this manner; and
drove off for Ottmachau, having work there for to-morrow.
The Siege of Neisse is now to proceed forthwith;
trenches to be opened, April 4th. Friedrich is still of
opinion, that his posts lie too wide apart; that espe-
cially Schwerin, who is spread among the Hills in
Jagerndorf Country, ought to come down, and take
closer order for covering the Siege. * Schwerin answers,
* (Enures de Frederic, ii. 70.
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? 304 FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [bOOKXII.
29th March 1741.
That if the King will spare him a reinforcement of
eight squadrons and nine battalions (say 1,200 Horse,
9,000 Foot), he will maintain himself where he is,
and no Enemy shall get across the Mountains at all.
That is Schwerin's notion; who surely is something of
a judge. Friedrich assents; will himself conduct the
reinforcement to Schwerin, and survey matters, with
his own eyes, up yonder. Friedrich marches from
Ottmachau, accordingly, 29th March; -- Kalkstein,
Holstein-Beck, and others are to be rendezvoused
before Neisse, in the interim; trenches ready for
opening on the sixth day hence; -- and in this man-
ner, climbs these Mountains, and sees Jagerndorf
Country for the first time.
Beautiful blue world of Hills, ridge piled on ridge
behind that Neisse region; fruitful valleys lapped is
them, with grim stone Castles and busy little Towns
disclosing themselves as we advance: that is Jagern-
dorf Country, -- which Uncle George of Anspach,
hundreds of years ago, purchased with his own money;
which we have now come to lay hold of as his Heir!
Friedrich, I believe, thinks little of all this, and does
not remember Uncle George at all. But such are the
facts; and the Country, regarded or not, is very blue
and beautiful, with the Spring sun shining on it; or
with the sudden Spring storms gathering wildly on the
peaks, as if for permanent investiture, but vanishing
again straightway, leaving only a powdering of snow.
He met Schwerin at Neustadt, half way to Jagern-
dorf; whither they proceeded next day. "What news
have you of the Enemy? " was Friedrich's first question.
Schwerin has no news whatever; only that the Enemy
is far off, hanging in long thin straggle from Olmiitz
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? CHAP. IX. ] FRIEDRICH RETURNS TO SILESIA. 305
2d-10th April 1741.
westward. "I have a spy out," said Schwerin; "but
he has not returned yet," -- nor ever will, he might
have added. An invincible Predecessor has compelled
what next follows into human intelligibility, and into
the Diary Form, for their behoof; --'readers of an
idler turn can skip: but this confused hurry-scurry of
marches issues in something which all will have to
attend to.
"Jagerndorf, 2d April 1741. This is the day when the Old
"Dessauer makes appearance with the first brigades of his
"Camp at Gottin. Fnedrich is satisfied with What he has seen
"of Jagerndorf matters; and intends returning towards
"Neisse, there to commence on the 4th. He is giving his
"final orders, and on the point of setting off, when-- Seven
"Austrian Deserters, 'dragoons of Lichtenstein,' come in;
"and report, That Neipperg's Army is within a few miles!
"And scarcely had they done answering and explaining, when
"sounds rise of musketry and cannon, from our outposts on
"that side; intimating that here is Neipperg's Army itself.
"Seldom in his life was Friedrich in an uglier situation. In
"Jagerndorf, an open Town, are only some three or four
"thousand men, 'with three fieldpieces, and as much powder
"as will charge them forty times. ' Happily these proved
"only the Pandour outskirts of Neippergs Army, scouring
"about to reconnoitre, and not difficult to beat; the real
"body of it is ascertained to be at Freudenthal, fifteen miles
"to westward, south westward; making towards Neisse, it is
"guessed, by the other or western road, which is the nearer
"to Glatz and to the Austrian force there.
"Had Neipperg known what was in Jagerndorf -- ! But he
"does not know. He marches on, next morning, at his usual
"slow rate; wide clouds of Pandours accompanying and pre-
ceding him; skirmishing in upon all places" (upon Jagern-
dorf, for instance, though fifteen miles wide of their road),
"to ascertain if Prussians are there. One can judge whether
"Friedrich and Schwerin were thankful when the huge alarm
"produced nothing! 'The mountain,' as Friedrich says,
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. VI. 20
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? 306 FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [book III.
2d-10th April 1741.
"'gave birth to a mouse;' -- nay it was a'mouse'of essential
"vital use toFriedrich andSchwerin; a warning, That they
"must instantly collect themselves, men and goods; and
"begone one and all out of these parts, double-quick towards
"Neisse. Not now with the hope of besieging Neisse, -- fax
"from that; --ftut of getting their wide-scattered posts to-
"gether thereabouts, and escaping destruction in detail!
"April Headquarters Neustadt. By violent exertion,
"with the sacrifice only of some remote little storehouses, all
"is rendezvoused at Jagerndorf, within two days: and this
"day they march; King and vanguard reaching Neustadt,
"some twenty-five miles forward, some twenty still from
"Neisse. At Neustadt, the posts that had stood in that
"neighbourhood are all assembled, and march with the King
'' tomorrow. Of Neipperg, except by transitory contact with
"his Pandour clouds, they have seen nothing: his road is
"pretty much parallel to theirs, and some fifteen miles left-
"ward, Glatzward; goes through Zuckmantel, Ziegenhals,
"straight upon Neisse. * Neipperg's men are wearied with
"the long climb out of Mam-en; and he struggles towards
"Neisse as the first object; -- holding upon Glatz and Len-
"tulus with his left. Numerous orders have been speeded
"from the King's quarters, at Jagerndorf, and here at Neu-
"stadt; order especially to Holstein-Beck at Frankenstein,
"and to Kalkstein at Grotkau, How they are to unite, first
"with one another; and then to cross Neisse River, and unite
"with the King, -- to which end there is already a Bridge
"laid for them, or about to be laid in good time.
"April 5th, Headquarters Steinau. Steinau is a little Town,
"twenty miles east of Neisse, on the road to Kosel" (strongish
place, on the Oder, some forty miles farther east): "here
"Friedrich, with the main body, take their quarters; rear-
"guard being still at Neustadt. Temporary Bridge there is,
"ready or all but ready, at Sorgau" (twelve miles to north of
* Zuckmantel, "Twitch-Cloak," occurs more than once as a Town's
name in those regions: name which, says my Dryasdust without smile
visible, it got from robberies done on travellers, "twitchings of your
cloak with stand-and-deliver, as you cross those wild mountain spaces.
(Zeiller, Beschreibnng des Konigreichs Boheim: Frankfurt, 1650; -- a rather
worthless old Book, like the rest of Zeiller's in that kind. )
? ?
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? CHAP. IX. ] FMEDRICH RETURNS TO SILESIA. 307
2d-10th April 1741.
us, on our left): "by this Kalkstein, with his 10,000, comes
"punctually across; while other brigades from theKosel side
"are also punctual in getting in; which is a great comfort:
"but of Holstein-Beck there is no vestige, nor did there ever
"appear any. Holstein, 'whom none of the repeated orders
"sent him could reach,', says Friedrich, 'remained com-
"fortably in his quarters; and looked at the Enemy rushing
"past him to right and left, without troubling his head with
"them. ' * The too easy-minded Holstein! Austrian Deserters
"inform us, That General Neipperg arrived today with his
"Army in Neisse; and has there been joined by Lentulus with
"the Glatz force, chiefly cavalry, a good many thousands.
"We may be attacked, then, this very night, if they are
"diligent? Friedrich marks out ground and plan in such case,
"and how and where each is to rank himself. There came
"nothing of attack: but the poor little Village of Steinau,
"with so many troops in it and baggage-drivers stumbling
"about, takes fire; burns to ashes; 'and we had great diffi-
culty in saving the artillery and powder through the narrow
"streets, with the houses all burning on each hand. '" Fancy
it, -- and the poor shrieking inhabitants; gone to silence long
since with their shrieks, not the least whisper left of them.
"The Prussians bivouack on the field, each in the place that
"has been marked out. Night extremely cold. "
In this poor Steinau was a Schloss, which also went up in
fire; disclosing certain mysteries of an almost mythical nature
to the German Public. It was the Schloss of a Grafin von
Callenberg; a dreadful old Dowager of Medea-Messalina
type, who "always wore pistols about her;" pistols, and
latterly, with more and more constancy, a brandy-bottle; --
who has been much on the tongues of men for a generation
back. Herr Niissler (readers recollect shifty Niissler) knew
her, in the way of business, at one time; with pity, if also
with horror. Some weeks ago, she was, by the Austrian
Commandant at Neisse, summoned out of this Schloss, as in
correspondence with Prussian Officers: peasants breaking in,
tied her with ropes to the bed where she was; put bed and her
into a farm-cart, and in that scandalous manner delivered her
at Neisse to the Commandant; by which adventure, and its
rages and unspeakabilities, the poor old Callenberg is since
* CEwres do Frederic, ii. 70.
20*
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? 308 FIRST SIXESIAN WAR. [book XII.
2d-10th April 1741.
dead. And now the very Schloss is dead; and there is finis to
a human dust-vortex, such as is sometimes noisy for a time.
Perhaps Niissler may again pass that way, if we wait*
"April 6th, Headquarters Friedland. To Friedland on
"the 6th; -- and do not, as expected, get away next morning.
"Friedland is ten miles down the Neisse, which makes a bend
"of near ninety degrees opposite Steinau; and runs thence
"straight north for the Oder, which it reaches some dozen
"miles or more above Brieg. Both Steinau and Friedland are
"a good distance from the River; Friedland, the nearer of >
"the two, with Sorgau Bridge direct west of it, is perhaps
"eight miles from that important structure. There, being
"now tolerably rendezvoused, and in strength for action,
"Friedrich purposes to cross Neisse River tomorrow; hoping
"perhaps to meet Holstein-Beck, and incorporate him;
"anxious, at any rate, to get between the Austrians and
"Ohlau, where his heavy Artillery, his Ammunition, not to
"mention other indispensables, are lying. The peculiarity
"of Neipperg at this time is, that the ground he occupies
"bears no proportion to the ground he commands. His re-
"gular Horse are supposed to be the best in the world; and of
"the Pandour kind, who live, horse and man, mainly upon
"nothing(which means upon theft), his supplies are unlimited.
"He sits like a volcanic reservoir, therefore, not like a com-
"mon fire of such and such intensity and power to bum; --
"casts the ashes of him, on all sides, to many miles distance
"Friday, 1th April, Friedland (still Headquarters). Un-
luckily, on trying, there is no passage to be had at Sorgao.
"The Officer on charge there still holds the Bridge, but has
"been obliged to break away the farther end of it; 'Lentnlus
"and Dragoons, several thousands strong' (such is the report),
"having taken post there. Friedrich commands that the
"Bridge be reinstated; fieldpieces to defend it; Prince Leo-
"pold to cross, and clear the ways. All Friday, Friedrich
"waiting at Friedland, was spent in these details. Leopold
"in due force started for Sorgau, himself with Cavalry in the
"van; Leopold did storm across, and go charging and
"fencing, some space, on the other side; but, seeing that it
"was in truth Lentulus, and Dragoons without limit, had to
"send report accordingly; and then to wind himself to this
* Bilsching, Beytrage, ii. 273 ot sqq.
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? CHAP. IX. ] FRIEDRICH RETURNS TO SILESIA. 309
2d-10th April 1741.
"side again, on new order from the King. What is to be
"done, then? Here is no crossing. Friedrich decides to go
"down the River; he himself to L6 wen, perhaps near twenty
"miles fajrther down, but where there is a Bridge andHigh-
"way leading over; Prince Leopold, with the neavier divi-
"sions and baggages, to Michelau, some miles nearer, and
"there to build nis Pontoons and cross. Which was effected,
"with success. And so,
"Saturday, 8th April, With great punctuality, the King
"and Leopold met at Michelau, both well across the Neisse.
"Here on Pontoons, Leopold had got across about noon; and
"precisely as he was finishing, tie King's Column, which
"had crossed at Lowen, and come up the left bank again,
"arrived. The King, much content with Leopold's be-
haviour, nominates him General of Infantry, a stage higher
"in promotion, there and then. Brieg Blockade is, as
"natural, given up; the Blockading Body joining with the
"King, this morning, while he passed that way. From
"Holstein-Beck not the least whisper, --nor to him, if we
"knew it.
"Neipperg has quitted Neisse; but walks invisible within
"clouds of Pandours; nothing but guessing as toNeipperg's
"motions. Rightly swift, and awake to his business, Neipperg
"might have done, might still do, a stroke upon us here.
"But he takes it easy; marches hardly five miles a day, since
"he quitted Neisse again. From Michelau, Friedrich for his
"part turns southwestward, in quest of Holstein and other
"interests; marches towards Grotkau, not intending much
"farther that night. Thick snow blowing in their faces, no-
'' thing to be seen ahead, the Prussian column tramps along. *
"In Leipe, a little Hamlet sidewards of the road, short way
"from Grotkau, our Hussar Vanguard had found Austrian
"Hussars; captured forty, and from them learned that the
"Austrian Army is in Grotkau; that they took Grotkau half
"an hour before, and are there! A poor Lieutenant Mitschepfal
"(whom I think Friedrich used to know in Reinsberg) lay in
"Grotkau, 'with some sixty recruits and deserters,' says
"Friedrich, -- and with several hundreds of camp-labourers
"(intended for the trenches, which will not now be opened):
"--Mitschepfal made a stout defence; but, after three hours
* (Euvres do Frederic, ii. 156.
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? 310 FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [book HI.
2<l-10th April 1741.
"of it, had to give in: and there is nothing now for us at
"G-rotkau. 'Halt,' therefore! Neipperg is evidently pushing
"towards Ohlau, towards Breslau, though in a leisurely
"way; there it will behove us to get the start of him, if
"humanly possible: To the right about, therefore, without
"delay! The Prussians repass Leipe (much to the wonder of
"its simple people); get along, some seven miles farther, on
"the road for Ohlau; and quarter, that night, in what handy
"villages there are; the King's Corps in two Villages, which
"he calls 'Pogrel and Alsen "-- which are to be found still
on the Map as "Pogarell and Alzenau," on the road from
Lowen towards Ohlau. *
This is the end of that March into the Mountains,
with Neisse Siege hanging triumphant ahead. These
are the King's quarters, this wintry Spring night,
Saturday 8th April 1741; and it is to be guessed there
is more of care than of sleep provided for him there.
Seldom, in his life, was Friedrich in a more critical
position; and he well knows it, none better. And
could have his remorses upon it, -- were these of the
least use in present circumstances. Here are two
Letters which he wrote that night; veiling, we per-
ceive, a very grim world of thoughts; betokening, how-
ever, a mind made up. Jordan, Prince August Wil-
helm Heir-Apparent, and other fine individuals who
shone in the Schweidnitz circle lately, are in Breslau,
safe sheltered against this bad juncture; Maupertuis
was not so lucky as to go with them.
The King to Prince August Wilhelm (in Breslau).
"Pogarell, 8th April 1741.
"My dearest Brother, -- The Enemy has just got into
"Silesia; We are not more than a mile (quart de miUe) from
"them. To-morrow must decide our fortune.
"If I die, do not forget a Brother who has always loved
"you very tenderly. I recommend to you my most dear
"Mother, my Domestics, and my First Battalion (Lifeguard
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? CHAP. IX. ] PRIEDRICH RETURNS TO SILESIA. 311
iid-lOth April 1741.
of Foot, men picked from his own old Ruppin Regiment and
from the disbanded Giants, star of all the Battalions). *
". Eichel and Schuhmacher" (Two of the Three Clerks) "are
"informed of all my testamentary wishes. Remember me ai-
rways, you; but console yourself for my death: the glory of
''J the Prussian arms, and the honour of the House have set me
"in action, and will guide me to my last moment. You are
"my sole Heir: I recommend to you, in dying, those whom
"I have the most loved during my life: Keyserling, Jordan,
"Wartensleben; Hacke, who is a very honest man; Freders-
"dorf" (Factotum), "and Eichel, in whom you may place
"entire confidence. I bequeath 8,000 crowns (1,200/. ), which
"I have with me, to my Domestics; but all that I have else-
"where depends on you. To each of my Brothers and Sisters
"make a present in my name; a thousand affectionate regards
"(amittis et compliments) to my Sister of Baireuth. You know
"what I think on their score; and you know better than I
"could tell you, the tenderness and all the sentiments of most
"inviolable friendship with which I am,
"Dearest Brother,
"Your faithful Brother and Servant till death,
"FeDERIC. "**
The King to M. Jordan (in Breslau).
"Pogarell, 8th April 1741.
"My dear Jordan, -- We are going to fight tomorrow.
"Thou knowest the chances of war; the life of Kings not more
'regarded than that of private people. I know not what will
8 happen to me.
"If my destiny is finished, remember a friend, who loves
"thee always tenderly: if Heaven prolong my days, I will
"write to thee after tomorrow, and thou wilt hear of our
"actory. Adieu, dear friend; I shall love thee till death. --
"Federic. "***
The King, we incidentally discover somewhere,
"hid no sleep that night;" none, "nor the next night
either," -- such a crisis coming, still not come.
* See Preuss, i. 144, iv. 309; Nicolai, Beschreibwig von Berlin, iii. 1252.
'"* (Euvres de Frediric, xxvi. 85; List'of Friedrich's Testamentary ar-
rangenents in Note there, -- Six in all, at different times, besides this.
*** 'Euvres de Frtderic, xvii. 98.
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? 312
FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [book III.
10th April 1741.
CHAPTER X.
BATTLE OF MOLLWITZ.
"Tomorrow," Sunday, did not prove the Day of
Fight, after all. Being a day of wild drifting snow,
so that you could not see twenty paces, there was
nothing for it but to sit quiet. The King makes all his
dispositions; sketches out punctually, to the last item,
where each is to station himself, how the Army is to
advance in Four Columns, ready for Neipperg wherever
he may be, -- towards Ohlau at any rate, whither it
is not doubted Neipperg is bent. These snowy six-
and-thirty hours at Pogarell were probably, since the
Custrin time, the most anxious of Friedrich's life.
Neipperg, for his part, struggles forward a few
miles, this Sunday, April 9th; the Prussians rest under
shelter in the wild weather. Neipperg's headquarters,
this night, are a small Village or Hamlet, called Moll-
witz; there and in the adjacent Hamlets, chiefly ir
Laugwitz and Griiningen, his Army lodges itself: --
he is now fairly got between us and Ohlau, -- if, ii
the blowing drift, we knew it, or he knew it. But, h
this confusion of the elements, neither party knows)(
the other: Neipperg has appointed that tomoiw,
Monday 10th, shall be a rest-day: -- appointmmt
which could by no means be kept, as it turned mt!
Friedrich had despatched messengers to Ohlau, 'hat
the force there should join him; messengers arc all
captured. The like message had already goffi to
Brieg, some days before, and the Blockading Boly, a
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? GHAP. X. ] BATTLE OF MOLLWITZ. 313
10th April 1741.
good few thousands strong, quitted Brieg, as we saw,
and effected their junction with him. All day, this
Sunday 9th, it still snows and blows; you cannot see
a yard before you. No hope now of Holstein-Beck.
Not the least news from any quarter; Ohlau uncertain,
too likely the wrong way: What is to be done? We
are cut off from our Magazines, have only provision
for one other day. "Had this weather lasted," says
an Austrian reporter of these things, "his Majesty
"would have passed his time very ill. "*
Of the Battle of Mollwitz, as indeed of all Fried-
rich's Battles, there are ample accounts new and old, of
perfect authenticity and scientific exactitude; so that
in regard to military points the due clearness is, on
study, completely attainable. But as to personal or
human details, we are driven back upon a miscellany
of sources; most of which, indeed all of which except
Nicolai, when he sparingly gives us anything, are of
questionable nature; and, without intending to be
dishonest, do run out into the mythical, and require to
be used with caution. The latest and notablest of
these, in regard to Mollwitz, is the Pamphlet of a Dr.
Fuchs; from which, in spite of its amazing quality,
we expect to glean a serviceable item here and there. **
It is definable as probably the most chaotic Pamphlet
* Feldzuge der Preussen (the complete Title is, Sammlung ungedruckter
Nachrichten so die Geschichte der Fetdziige der Preussen von 1740 bis 1779
erldutern, or in English words, Collection of imprinted Narratives which
elucidate the Prnsdan Campaigns from 1740 to 1779: 5 Voll. Dresden,
1782-5), i. 33. Excellent Narratives, modest, brief, effective (from Private
Diaries and the like; many of them given also in Scyfnrth); well worth
perusal by the studious military man, and creditably characteristic of the
Prussian writers of them, and actors in them.
** Jnbelschrift znr Feier (Centenary) der Schlacht bei Mollwitz, 10 April
1741, von Dr. Medicina; Fuchs (Brieg, 10th April 1841).
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9th March 1U1.
but was not, -- in retaliation for some severity of
General Browne's in the interim (picking up of two
Silesian Noblemen, suspected of Prussian tendency,
and locking them in Briinn over the Hills), -- and
had to go to Berlin, till that was repaired. To the
wounded Artillery-General there was every tenderness
shown, but he died in few days. The other Prisoners
were marched to the Ciistrin-Stettin quarter; "and
many of them took Prussian service. "
And this is the Scalade of Glogau: a shining feat
of those days; which had great rumour in the Gazettes,
and over all the then feverish Nations, though it has
now fallen dim again, as feats do. Its importance at
that time, its utility to Friedrich's affairs, was un-
deniable; and it filled Friedrich with the highest satis-
faction, and with admiration to overflowing. Done,
9th March 1741; in one hour, the very earliest of the
day.
Goltz posted back to Schweidnitz with the news;
got thither about 5 p. m. ; and was received, naturally,
with open arms. Friedrich in person marched out, next
morning, to make Feu-de-joie and Te-Deum-ing; --
there was Royal Letter to Leopold, which flamed
through all the Newspapers, and can still be read in
innumerable Books; Letter omissible in this place.
We remark only how punctual the King is, to reward
in money as well as praise and not the high only, but
the low that had deserved: to Prince Leopold he pre-
sents 2,000/. ; to each private soldier who had been of
the storm, say half-a-guinea, -- doubling and qua-
drupling, in the special cases, to as high as twenty
guineas, of our present money. To the old Gazetteers,
and their readers everywhere, this of Glogau is a very
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? CHAP. IX. ] FRIEDRICH RETURNS TO SILESIA. 299
Mh March--2d April 1741.
effulgent business; bursting out on them, like sudden
Bude-light, in the uncertain stagnancy and expectancy
of mankind. Friedrich himself writes of it to the Old
Dessauer:
"The more I think of the Glogau business, the more im-
"portant I find it. Prince Leopold has achieved the prettiest
"military stroke (die schbnste Action) that has been done in
"this Century. From my heart I congratulate you on having
"such a Son. In boldness of resolution, in plan, in execu-
tion, it is alike admirable; and quite gives a turn to my
"affairs. "*
And indeed, it is a perfect example of Prussian dis-
cipline, and military quality in all kinds; such as it
would be difficult to match elsewhere. Most potently
correct; coming out everywhere with the completeness
and exactitude of mathematics; and has in it such a
fund of martial fire, not only ready to blaze out (which
can be exampled elsewhere), but capable of bottling
itself in, and of lying silently ready. Which is much
rarer; and very essential in soldiering! Due a little to
the Old Dessauer, may we not say, as well as to the
Young? Friedrich Wilhelm is fallen silent; but his
heavy labours, and military and other drillings to Prus-
sian mankind, still speak with an audible voice.
About three weeks after this of Glogau, Leopold
the Old Dessauer, over in Brandenburg, does another
thing which is important to Friedrich, and of great
rumour in the world. Steps out, namely, with a force
of 36,000 men, horse, foot and artillery, completely
equipped in all points; and takes Camp, at this early
season, at a place called Gottin, not far from Magde-
* Date, 13th March 1741 (Orlich, i. 77).
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? 300 FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [bOOKDI.
9th March--2d April Ml
burg, handy at once for Saxony and for Hanover; and
continues there encamped, -- "merely for review pur-
poses. " Readers can figure what an astonishment it
was to Kur-Sachsen and British George; and how it
struck the wind out of their Russian Partition-Dream,
and awoke them to a sense of the awful fact! --
Capable of being slit in pieces, and themselves par-
titioned, at a day's warning, as it were! It was on
April 2d, that Leopold, with the first division of the
36,000, planted his flag near Gottin. No doubt it
was the "detestable Project," that had brought him out,
at so early a season for tent life, and nobody could
then guess why. He steadily paraded here, all summer;
keeping his 36,000 well in drill, since there was nothing
else needed of him.
The Camp at Gottin flamed greatly abroad through
the timorous imaginations of mankind, that Year; and
in the Newspapers are many details of it. And, be-
sides the important general fact, there is still one little
point worth special mention: namely, that old Field-
marshal Katte (Father of poor Lieutenant Katte whom
we knew) was of it; and perhaps even got his death
by it: "Chief Commander of the Cavalry here," such
honour had he; but died at his post, in a couple of
months, "at Rekahn, May 31st;"* poor old gentleman,
perhaps unequal to the hardships of field-life at so
early a season of the year.
Friedrich takes the Field, with some Pomp; goes into the
Mountains, -- but comes fast back.
At Glogau there was Homaging, on the very mor-
row after the storm; on the second day, the superfluous
* Milituir-Lexikon, ii. 254.
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? CHAP. IX. ] FRIEDRICH RETURNS TO SILESIA. 301
9tli March--2d April 1741.
regiments marched off: no want of vigorous activity to
settle matters on their new footing there. General
Kalkstein (Friedrich's old Tutor, whom readers have
forgotten again) is to be Commandant of Glogau; an
office of honour, which can be done by deputy except
in cases of real stress. The place is to be thoroughly
new-fortified, --- which important point they commit to
Engineer Wallrave, a strong-headed heavy-built Dutch
Officer, long since acquired to the service, on account
of his excellence in that line; who did, now and after-
wards, a great deal of excellent engineering for Fried-
rich; but for himself (being of deep stomach withal,
and of life too dissolute) made a tragic thing of it
ultimately. As will be seen, if we have leisure.
In seven or eight days, Prince Leopold, having
wound up his Glogau affairs, and completed the new
preliminaries there, joins the King at Schweidnitz. In
the highest favour, as was natural. Kalkstein is to
take a main hand in the Siege of Neisse; for which
operation it is hoped there will soon be weather, if not
favourable yet supportable. What of the force was
superfluous at Glogau had at once marched off, as we
observed; and is now getting re-distributed where need-
ful. There is much shifting about; strengthening of
posts, giving up of posts: the whole of which readers
shall imagine for themselves, -- except only two points
that are worth remembering: First, that Kalkstein with
about 12,000 takes post at Grotkau, some twenty-five
miles north of Neisse, ready to move on, and open
trenches, when required: and second, that Holstein-
Beck gets posted at Frankenstein (chief place of that
Baumgarten Skirmish), say thirty-five miles west-by-
north of Neisse; and has some 8 or 10,000 Horse and
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? 302 FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [bookIII.
9th March --23d April 1741.
Foot thereabouts, spread up and down, -- who will be
much wanted, and not procurable, on an occasion that
is coming.
Friedrich has given up the Jablunka Pass; called-
in the Jablunka and remoter posts; anxious to concen-
trate, before the Enemy get nigh. That is the King's
notion; and surely a reasonable one; the area of the
Prussian Army, as I guess it from the Maps, being
above 2,000 square miles, beginning at Breslau only
and leaving out Glogau. Schwerin thinks differently;
but without good basis. Both are agreed, The Aus-
trian Army cannot take the field till the forage come,"
till the new grass spring, which its cavalry find con-
venient. That is the fair supposition; but in that both
are mistaken, and Schwerin the more dangerously of
the two. --' Meanwhile, the Pandour swarms are ob-
servably getting rifer, and of stormier quality; and
they seem to harbour farther to the East than formerly,
and not to come all out of Glatz. Which perhaps are
symptomatic circumstances? The worst effect of these
preliminary Pandour clouds is, Your scout-service can-
not live among them; they hinder reconnoitring, and
keep the Enemy veiled from you. Of that sore mis-
chief Friedrich had, first and last, ample experience at
their hands! This is but the first instalment of Pandonrs
to Friedrich; and the mere foretaste of what they can
do in the veiling way.
Behind the Mountains, in this manner, all is inane
darkness to Friedrich and Schwerin. They know only
that Neipperg is rendezvousing at Olmutz; and judge
that he will still spend many weeks upon it; the real
facts being: That Neipperg, -- "who arrived inOlmiitz
on the 10th of March," the very day while Glogau
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? CHAP. IX. ] FRIEDRICH RETURNS TO SILESIA. 303
27th March 1741.
was Homaging, -- has been, he and those above him
and those under him, driving preparations forward at
a furious rate. That Neipperg held, -- I think at
Steinberg his hithermost post, some twenty miles hither
of Olmiitz, -- a Council of War, "all the Generals
and even Lentulus from Glatz, present at it," day not
given; where the unanimous decision was, "March
straightway; save Neisse, since Glogau is gone! " --
and in fine, That on the 26th, Neipperg took the road
accordingly, "in spite of furious snow blowing in his
face;" and is ever since (30,000 strong, says rumour,
but perhaps 10,000 of them mere Pandours) unweariedly
climbing the Mountains, laboriously jingling forward
with his heavy guns and ammunition-wagons: "con-
tending with the steep snowy icy roads;" -- intent
upon saving Neisse. This is the fact; profoundly un-
known to Friedrich and Schwerin; who will be much
surprised, when it becomes patent to them at the wrong
time.
Schweidnitz, 27th March. This day Friedrich, with
considerable apparatus, pomp and processional cym-
balling, greatly the reverse of his ulterior use and
wont in such cases, quitted Schweidnitz and his Alga-
rottis; solemnly opening Campaign in this manner; and
drove off for Ottmachau, having work there for to-morrow.
The Siege of Neisse is now to proceed forthwith;
trenches to be opened, April 4th. Friedrich is still of
opinion, that his posts lie too wide apart; that espe-
cially Schwerin, who is spread among the Hills in
Jagerndorf Country, ought to come down, and take
closer order for covering the Siege. * Schwerin answers,
* (Enures de Frederic, ii. 70.
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? 304 FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [bOOKXII.
29th March 1741.
That if the King will spare him a reinforcement of
eight squadrons and nine battalions (say 1,200 Horse,
9,000 Foot), he will maintain himself where he is,
and no Enemy shall get across the Mountains at all.
That is Schwerin's notion; who surely is something of
a judge. Friedrich assents; will himself conduct the
reinforcement to Schwerin, and survey matters, with
his own eyes, up yonder. Friedrich marches from
Ottmachau, accordingly, 29th March; -- Kalkstein,
Holstein-Beck, and others are to be rendezvoused
before Neisse, in the interim; trenches ready for
opening on the sixth day hence; -- and in this man-
ner, climbs these Mountains, and sees Jagerndorf
Country for the first time.
Beautiful blue world of Hills, ridge piled on ridge
behind that Neisse region; fruitful valleys lapped is
them, with grim stone Castles and busy little Towns
disclosing themselves as we advance: that is Jagern-
dorf Country, -- which Uncle George of Anspach,
hundreds of years ago, purchased with his own money;
which we have now come to lay hold of as his Heir!
Friedrich, I believe, thinks little of all this, and does
not remember Uncle George at all. But such are the
facts; and the Country, regarded or not, is very blue
and beautiful, with the Spring sun shining on it; or
with the sudden Spring storms gathering wildly on the
peaks, as if for permanent investiture, but vanishing
again straightway, leaving only a powdering of snow.
He met Schwerin at Neustadt, half way to Jagern-
dorf; whither they proceeded next day. "What news
have you of the Enemy? " was Friedrich's first question.
Schwerin has no news whatever; only that the Enemy
is far off, hanging in long thin straggle from Olmiitz
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? CHAP. IX. ] FRIEDRICH RETURNS TO SILESIA. 305
2d-10th April 1741.
westward. "I have a spy out," said Schwerin; "but
he has not returned yet," -- nor ever will, he might
have added. An invincible Predecessor has compelled
what next follows into human intelligibility, and into
the Diary Form, for their behoof; --'readers of an
idler turn can skip: but this confused hurry-scurry of
marches issues in something which all will have to
attend to.
"Jagerndorf, 2d April 1741. This is the day when the Old
"Dessauer makes appearance with the first brigades of his
"Camp at Gottin. Fnedrich is satisfied with What he has seen
"of Jagerndorf matters; and intends returning towards
"Neisse, there to commence on the 4th. He is giving his
"final orders, and on the point of setting off, when-- Seven
"Austrian Deserters, 'dragoons of Lichtenstein,' come in;
"and report, That Neipperg's Army is within a few miles!
"And scarcely had they done answering and explaining, when
"sounds rise of musketry and cannon, from our outposts on
"that side; intimating that here is Neipperg's Army itself.
"Seldom in his life was Friedrich in an uglier situation. In
"Jagerndorf, an open Town, are only some three or four
"thousand men, 'with three fieldpieces, and as much powder
"as will charge them forty times. ' Happily these proved
"only the Pandour outskirts of Neippergs Army, scouring
"about to reconnoitre, and not difficult to beat; the real
"body of it is ascertained to be at Freudenthal, fifteen miles
"to westward, south westward; making towards Neisse, it is
"guessed, by the other or western road, which is the nearer
"to Glatz and to the Austrian force there.
"Had Neipperg known what was in Jagerndorf -- ! But he
"does not know. He marches on, next morning, at his usual
"slow rate; wide clouds of Pandours accompanying and pre-
ceding him; skirmishing in upon all places" (upon Jagern-
dorf, for instance, though fifteen miles wide of their road),
"to ascertain if Prussians are there. One can judge whether
"Friedrich and Schwerin were thankful when the huge alarm
"produced nothing! 'The mountain,' as Friedrich says,
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. VI. 20
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? 306 FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [book III.
2d-10th April 1741.
"'gave birth to a mouse;' -- nay it was a'mouse'of essential
"vital use toFriedrich andSchwerin; a warning, That they
"must instantly collect themselves, men and goods; and
"begone one and all out of these parts, double-quick towards
"Neisse. Not now with the hope of besieging Neisse, -- fax
"from that; --ftut of getting their wide-scattered posts to-
"gether thereabouts, and escaping destruction in detail!
"April Headquarters Neustadt. By violent exertion,
"with the sacrifice only of some remote little storehouses, all
"is rendezvoused at Jagerndorf, within two days: and this
"day they march; King and vanguard reaching Neustadt,
"some twenty-five miles forward, some twenty still from
"Neisse. At Neustadt, the posts that had stood in that
"neighbourhood are all assembled, and march with the King
'' tomorrow. Of Neipperg, except by transitory contact with
"his Pandour clouds, they have seen nothing: his road is
"pretty much parallel to theirs, and some fifteen miles left-
"ward, Glatzward; goes through Zuckmantel, Ziegenhals,
"straight upon Neisse. * Neipperg's men are wearied with
"the long climb out of Mam-en; and he struggles towards
"Neisse as the first object; -- holding upon Glatz and Len-
"tulus with his left. Numerous orders have been speeded
"from the King's quarters, at Jagerndorf, and here at Neu-
"stadt; order especially to Holstein-Beck at Frankenstein,
"and to Kalkstein at Grotkau, How they are to unite, first
"with one another; and then to cross Neisse River, and unite
"with the King, -- to which end there is already a Bridge
"laid for them, or about to be laid in good time.
"April 5th, Headquarters Steinau. Steinau is a little Town,
"twenty miles east of Neisse, on the road to Kosel" (strongish
place, on the Oder, some forty miles farther east): "here
"Friedrich, with the main body, take their quarters; rear-
"guard being still at Neustadt. Temporary Bridge there is,
"ready or all but ready, at Sorgau" (twelve miles to north of
* Zuckmantel, "Twitch-Cloak," occurs more than once as a Town's
name in those regions: name which, says my Dryasdust without smile
visible, it got from robberies done on travellers, "twitchings of your
cloak with stand-and-deliver, as you cross those wild mountain spaces.
(Zeiller, Beschreibnng des Konigreichs Boheim: Frankfurt, 1650; -- a rather
worthless old Book, like the rest of Zeiller's in that kind. )
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? CHAP. IX. ] FMEDRICH RETURNS TO SILESIA. 307
2d-10th April 1741.
us, on our left): "by this Kalkstein, with his 10,000, comes
"punctually across; while other brigades from theKosel side
"are also punctual in getting in; which is a great comfort:
"but of Holstein-Beck there is no vestige, nor did there ever
"appear any. Holstein, 'whom none of the repeated orders
"sent him could reach,', says Friedrich, 'remained com-
"fortably in his quarters; and looked at the Enemy rushing
"past him to right and left, without troubling his head with
"them. ' * The too easy-minded Holstein! Austrian Deserters
"inform us, That General Neipperg arrived today with his
"Army in Neisse; and has there been joined by Lentulus with
"the Glatz force, chiefly cavalry, a good many thousands.
"We may be attacked, then, this very night, if they are
"diligent? Friedrich marks out ground and plan in such case,
"and how and where each is to rank himself. There came
"nothing of attack: but the poor little Village of Steinau,
"with so many troops in it and baggage-drivers stumbling
"about, takes fire; burns to ashes; 'and we had great diffi-
culty in saving the artillery and powder through the narrow
"streets, with the houses all burning on each hand. '" Fancy
it, -- and the poor shrieking inhabitants; gone to silence long
since with their shrieks, not the least whisper left of them.
"The Prussians bivouack on the field, each in the place that
"has been marked out. Night extremely cold. "
In this poor Steinau was a Schloss, which also went up in
fire; disclosing certain mysteries of an almost mythical nature
to the German Public. It was the Schloss of a Grafin von
Callenberg; a dreadful old Dowager of Medea-Messalina
type, who "always wore pistols about her;" pistols, and
latterly, with more and more constancy, a brandy-bottle; --
who has been much on the tongues of men for a generation
back. Herr Niissler (readers recollect shifty Niissler) knew
her, in the way of business, at one time; with pity, if also
with horror. Some weeks ago, she was, by the Austrian
Commandant at Neisse, summoned out of this Schloss, as in
correspondence with Prussian Officers: peasants breaking in,
tied her with ropes to the bed where she was; put bed and her
into a farm-cart, and in that scandalous manner delivered her
at Neisse to the Commandant; by which adventure, and its
rages and unspeakabilities, the poor old Callenberg is since
* CEwres do Frederic, ii. 70.
20*
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? 308 FIRST SIXESIAN WAR. [book XII.
2d-10th April 1741.
dead. And now the very Schloss is dead; and there is finis to
a human dust-vortex, such as is sometimes noisy for a time.
Perhaps Niissler may again pass that way, if we wait*
"April 6th, Headquarters Friedland. To Friedland on
"the 6th; -- and do not, as expected, get away next morning.
"Friedland is ten miles down the Neisse, which makes a bend
"of near ninety degrees opposite Steinau; and runs thence
"straight north for the Oder, which it reaches some dozen
"miles or more above Brieg. Both Steinau and Friedland are
"a good distance from the River; Friedland, the nearer of >
"the two, with Sorgau Bridge direct west of it, is perhaps
"eight miles from that important structure. There, being
"now tolerably rendezvoused, and in strength for action,
"Friedrich purposes to cross Neisse River tomorrow; hoping
"perhaps to meet Holstein-Beck, and incorporate him;
"anxious, at any rate, to get between the Austrians and
"Ohlau, where his heavy Artillery, his Ammunition, not to
"mention other indispensables, are lying. The peculiarity
"of Neipperg at this time is, that the ground he occupies
"bears no proportion to the ground he commands. His re-
"gular Horse are supposed to be the best in the world; and of
"the Pandour kind, who live, horse and man, mainly upon
"nothing(which means upon theft), his supplies are unlimited.
"He sits like a volcanic reservoir, therefore, not like a com-
"mon fire of such and such intensity and power to bum; --
"casts the ashes of him, on all sides, to many miles distance
"Friday, 1th April, Friedland (still Headquarters). Un-
luckily, on trying, there is no passage to be had at Sorgao.
"The Officer on charge there still holds the Bridge, but has
"been obliged to break away the farther end of it; 'Lentnlus
"and Dragoons, several thousands strong' (such is the report),
"having taken post there. Friedrich commands that the
"Bridge be reinstated; fieldpieces to defend it; Prince Leo-
"pold to cross, and clear the ways. All Friday, Friedrich
"waiting at Friedland, was spent in these details. Leopold
"in due force started for Sorgau, himself with Cavalry in the
"van; Leopold did storm across, and go charging and
"fencing, some space, on the other side; but, seeing that it
"was in truth Lentulus, and Dragoons without limit, had to
"send report accordingly; and then to wind himself to this
* Bilsching, Beytrage, ii. 273 ot sqq.
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? CHAP. IX. ] FRIEDRICH RETURNS TO SILESIA. 309
2d-10th April 1741.
"side again, on new order from the King. What is to be
"done, then? Here is no crossing. Friedrich decides to go
"down the River; he himself to L6 wen, perhaps near twenty
"miles fajrther down, but where there is a Bridge andHigh-
"way leading over; Prince Leopold, with the neavier divi-
"sions and baggages, to Michelau, some miles nearer, and
"there to build nis Pontoons and cross. Which was effected,
"with success. And so,
"Saturday, 8th April, With great punctuality, the King
"and Leopold met at Michelau, both well across the Neisse.
"Here on Pontoons, Leopold had got across about noon; and
"precisely as he was finishing, tie King's Column, which
"had crossed at Lowen, and come up the left bank again,
"arrived. The King, much content with Leopold's be-
haviour, nominates him General of Infantry, a stage higher
"in promotion, there and then. Brieg Blockade is, as
"natural, given up; the Blockading Body joining with the
"King, this morning, while he passed that way. From
"Holstein-Beck not the least whisper, --nor to him, if we
"knew it.
"Neipperg has quitted Neisse; but walks invisible within
"clouds of Pandours; nothing but guessing as toNeipperg's
"motions. Rightly swift, and awake to his business, Neipperg
"might have done, might still do, a stroke upon us here.
"But he takes it easy; marches hardly five miles a day, since
"he quitted Neisse again. From Michelau, Friedrich for his
"part turns southwestward, in quest of Holstein and other
"interests; marches towards Grotkau, not intending much
"farther that night. Thick snow blowing in their faces, no-
'' thing to be seen ahead, the Prussian column tramps along. *
"In Leipe, a little Hamlet sidewards of the road, short way
"from Grotkau, our Hussar Vanguard had found Austrian
"Hussars; captured forty, and from them learned that the
"Austrian Army is in Grotkau; that they took Grotkau half
"an hour before, and are there! A poor Lieutenant Mitschepfal
"(whom I think Friedrich used to know in Reinsberg) lay in
"Grotkau, 'with some sixty recruits and deserters,' says
"Friedrich, -- and with several hundreds of camp-labourers
"(intended for the trenches, which will not now be opened):
"--Mitschepfal made a stout defence; but, after three hours
* (Euvres do Frederic, ii. 156.
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? 310 FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [book HI.
2<l-10th April 1741.
"of it, had to give in: and there is nothing now for us at
"G-rotkau. 'Halt,' therefore! Neipperg is evidently pushing
"towards Ohlau, towards Breslau, though in a leisurely
"way; there it will behove us to get the start of him, if
"humanly possible: To the right about, therefore, without
"delay! The Prussians repass Leipe (much to the wonder of
"its simple people); get along, some seven miles farther, on
"the road for Ohlau; and quarter, that night, in what handy
"villages there are; the King's Corps in two Villages, which
"he calls 'Pogrel and Alsen "-- which are to be found still
on the Map as "Pogarell and Alzenau," on the road from
Lowen towards Ohlau. *
This is the end of that March into the Mountains,
with Neisse Siege hanging triumphant ahead. These
are the King's quarters, this wintry Spring night,
Saturday 8th April 1741; and it is to be guessed there
is more of care than of sleep provided for him there.
Seldom, in his life, was Friedrich in a more critical
position; and he well knows it, none better. And
could have his remorses upon it, -- were these of the
least use in present circumstances. Here are two
Letters which he wrote that night; veiling, we per-
ceive, a very grim world of thoughts; betokening, how-
ever, a mind made up. Jordan, Prince August Wil-
helm Heir-Apparent, and other fine individuals who
shone in the Schweidnitz circle lately, are in Breslau,
safe sheltered against this bad juncture; Maupertuis
was not so lucky as to go with them.
The King to Prince August Wilhelm (in Breslau).
"Pogarell, 8th April 1741.
"My dearest Brother, -- The Enemy has just got into
"Silesia; We are not more than a mile (quart de miUe) from
"them. To-morrow must decide our fortune.
"If I die, do not forget a Brother who has always loved
"you very tenderly. I recommend to you my most dear
"Mother, my Domestics, and my First Battalion (Lifeguard
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? CHAP. IX. ] PRIEDRICH RETURNS TO SILESIA. 311
iid-lOth April 1741.
of Foot, men picked from his own old Ruppin Regiment and
from the disbanded Giants, star of all the Battalions). *
". Eichel and Schuhmacher" (Two of the Three Clerks) "are
"informed of all my testamentary wishes. Remember me ai-
rways, you; but console yourself for my death: the glory of
''J the Prussian arms, and the honour of the House have set me
"in action, and will guide me to my last moment. You are
"my sole Heir: I recommend to you, in dying, those whom
"I have the most loved during my life: Keyserling, Jordan,
"Wartensleben; Hacke, who is a very honest man; Freders-
"dorf" (Factotum), "and Eichel, in whom you may place
"entire confidence. I bequeath 8,000 crowns (1,200/. ), which
"I have with me, to my Domestics; but all that I have else-
"where depends on you. To each of my Brothers and Sisters
"make a present in my name; a thousand affectionate regards
"(amittis et compliments) to my Sister of Baireuth. You know
"what I think on their score; and you know better than I
"could tell you, the tenderness and all the sentiments of most
"inviolable friendship with which I am,
"Dearest Brother,
"Your faithful Brother and Servant till death,
"FeDERIC. "**
The King to M. Jordan (in Breslau).
"Pogarell, 8th April 1741.
"My dear Jordan, -- We are going to fight tomorrow.
"Thou knowest the chances of war; the life of Kings not more
'regarded than that of private people. I know not what will
8 happen to me.
"If my destiny is finished, remember a friend, who loves
"thee always tenderly: if Heaven prolong my days, I will
"write to thee after tomorrow, and thou wilt hear of our
"actory. Adieu, dear friend; I shall love thee till death. --
"Federic. "***
The King, we incidentally discover somewhere,
"hid no sleep that night;" none, "nor the next night
either," -- such a crisis coming, still not come.
* See Preuss, i. 144, iv. 309; Nicolai, Beschreibwig von Berlin, iii. 1252.
'"* (Euvres de Frediric, xxvi. 85; List'of Friedrich's Testamentary ar-
rangenents in Note there, -- Six in all, at different times, besides this.
*** 'Euvres de Frtderic, xvii. 98.
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? 312
FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [book III.
10th April 1741.
CHAPTER X.
BATTLE OF MOLLWITZ.
"Tomorrow," Sunday, did not prove the Day of
Fight, after all. Being a day of wild drifting snow,
so that you could not see twenty paces, there was
nothing for it but to sit quiet. The King makes all his
dispositions; sketches out punctually, to the last item,
where each is to station himself, how the Army is to
advance in Four Columns, ready for Neipperg wherever
he may be, -- towards Ohlau at any rate, whither it
is not doubted Neipperg is bent. These snowy six-
and-thirty hours at Pogarell were probably, since the
Custrin time, the most anxious of Friedrich's life.
Neipperg, for his part, struggles forward a few
miles, this Sunday, April 9th; the Prussians rest under
shelter in the wild weather. Neipperg's headquarters,
this night, are a small Village or Hamlet, called Moll-
witz; there and in the adjacent Hamlets, chiefly ir
Laugwitz and Griiningen, his Army lodges itself: --
he is now fairly got between us and Ohlau, -- if, ii
the blowing drift, we knew it, or he knew it. But, h
this confusion of the elements, neither party knows)(
the other: Neipperg has appointed that tomoiw,
Monday 10th, shall be a rest-day: -- appointmmt
which could by no means be kept, as it turned mt!
Friedrich had despatched messengers to Ohlau, 'hat
the force there should join him; messengers arc all
captured. The like message had already goffi to
Brieg, some days before, and the Blockading Boly, a
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? GHAP. X. ] BATTLE OF MOLLWITZ. 313
10th April 1741.
good few thousands strong, quitted Brieg, as we saw,
and effected their junction with him. All day, this
Sunday 9th, it still snows and blows; you cannot see
a yard before you. No hope now of Holstein-Beck.
Not the least news from any quarter; Ohlau uncertain,
too likely the wrong way: What is to be done? We
are cut off from our Magazines, have only provision
for one other day. "Had this weather lasted," says
an Austrian reporter of these things, "his Majesty
"would have passed his time very ill. "*
Of the Battle of Mollwitz, as indeed of all Fried-
rich's Battles, there are ample accounts new and old, of
perfect authenticity and scientific exactitude; so that
in regard to military points the due clearness is, on
study, completely attainable. But as to personal or
human details, we are driven back upon a miscellany
of sources; most of which, indeed all of which except
Nicolai, when he sparingly gives us anything, are of
questionable nature; and, without intending to be
dishonest, do run out into the mythical, and require to
be used with caution. The latest and notablest of
these, in regard to Mollwitz, is the Pamphlet of a Dr.
Fuchs; from which, in spite of its amazing quality,
we expect to glean a serviceable item here and there. **
It is definable as probably the most chaotic Pamphlet
* Feldzuge der Preussen (the complete Title is, Sammlung ungedruckter
Nachrichten so die Geschichte der Fetdziige der Preussen von 1740 bis 1779
erldutern, or in English words, Collection of imprinted Narratives which
elucidate the Prnsdan Campaigns from 1740 to 1779: 5 Voll. Dresden,
1782-5), i. 33. Excellent Narratives, modest, brief, effective (from Private
Diaries and the like; many of them given also in Scyfnrth); well worth
perusal by the studious military man, and creditably characteristic of the
Prussian writers of them, and actors in them.
** Jnbelschrift znr Feier (Centenary) der Schlacht bei Mollwitz, 10 April
1741, von Dr. Medicina; Fuchs (Brieg, 10th April 1841).
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