Germain and his
Almsdorf
people, there is
not a Prussian visible in these localities to French eyes.
not a Prussian visible in these localities to French eyes.
Thomas Carlyle
All was quiet through the night, the
? "Mimoires mililaircs de Louis &c. Due de Crillon (Paris, 1791), p. ICC;"
-- as cited by Preuss, n. 88.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 206 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book xyni.
2d-4th Nov. 1757.
"French and the Reichs folk were drawn back upon
"the higher grounds, about Burgwerben and on to
"Tagwerben; and we saw their watchfires burning. "
Friedrich's Bridge meanwhile, unmolested by the enemy,
is getting ready.
Keith, looking across to Merseburg on the morrow
morning (Tuesday, Nov. 1st), whither he had marched
direct with the other Half of the Army, finds Merse-
burg Bridge destroyed, or broken; and Soubise with
batteries on the farther side, intending to dispute the
passage. Keith despatches Duke Ferdinand to Halle,
another twelve miles down, who finds Halle Bridge
destroyed in like manner, and Broglio intending to
dispute; which, however, on second thoughts, neither
of them did. Friedrich's new Bridge at Herren-Miihle
(Lordships' Milt) is of course an important point to
them; Friedrich's passage now past dispute! "Let us
fall back," say they, "and rank ourselves a little; we
are 50 or 60,000 strong; ill off for provisions, but well
able to retreat; and have permission to fight on this
side of the River. "
The combined Army, "Dauphiness," or whatever
we are to call it, does on Wednesday morning (No-
vember 2d) gather-in its cannon and outskirts, and give
up the Saale question; retire landwards to the higher
grounds some miles; and diligently get itself united,
and into order of battle better or worse, near the Village
of Miicheln (which means Kirk Michael, and is still
written "Sanct Michel" by some on this occasion).
There Dauphiness takes post, leaning on the heights,
not in a very scientific way; leaving Keith and Ferdinand to rebuild their Bridges unmolested, and all
Prussians to come across at discretion. Which they
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. Till. ] BATTLE OF ROSSEACH. 207
5th Nov. 1757.
have diligently done (2d-3d November), by their re-
spective Bridges; and on Thursday afternoon are all
across, encamped at Bedra, in close neighbourhood to
Mucheln; which Friedrich has been out reconnoitering,
and finds that he can attack next morning very early. Next morning, accordingly, "by two o'clock, with
a bright moon shining," Friedrich is on horseback, his
Army following. But on examining by moonlight, the
enemy have shifted their position; turned on their axis,
more or less, into new wood-patches, new batteries and
bogs; which has greatly mended their affair. No good
attacking them so, thinks Friedrich; and returns to his
Camp; slightly cannonaded, one wing of him, from
some battery of the enemy; and immoderately crowed
over by them: "Dare not, you see! Tried, and was
defeated! " cry their newspapers and they, -- for one
day. Friedrich lodges again in Bedra this night, others
say in Rossbach; shifts his own Camp a little; left wing
of it now at Rossbach (Horse-Brook or Beck, soon to
be a world-famous Hamlet): the effects of hunger on
the Dauphiness, so far from her supplies, will, he cal-
culates, be stronger than on him, and will bring her
to better terms shortly. Dauphiness needs bread; one
may have fine clipping at the skirts of her, if she try
retreat. That Dauphiness would play the prank she
did next morning, Friedrich lhad not ventured to cal-
culate.
Catastrophe of Dauphiness (Saturday, 5th November
1757).
Meandering Saale is on one of his big turns, as he
passes Weissenfels; turning, pretty rapidly here, from
south-eastward, which he was a dozen miles ago, round
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 208 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book XVIrt.
oita Nov. 1757.
to north-eastward or northward altogether, which he
gets to be at Merseburg, a dozen farther down. Right
across from Weissenfels, lapped in this crook of the
Saale, or washed by it on south side and on east, rises,
with extreme laziness, a dull circular lump of country,
six or eight miles in diameter; with Rossbach and half-
a-dozen other scraggy sleepy Hamlets scattered on it;
-- which, till the morning of Saturday 5th November
1757, had not been notable to any visitor. The top-
most point or points, for there are two (not discoverable
except by tradition and guess), the country-people do
call Hills, Janus-Hiigel, Piilzen-Hugel, -- Hill sensible
to wagon-horses in those bad loose tracks of sandy
mud, but unimpressive on the Tourist, who has to ad-
mit that there seldom was so flat a Hill. Rising, let
us guess, forty yards in the three or four miles it has
had. Might be called a perceptibly potbellied plain,
with more propriety; flat country, slightly puffed up;
,--, in shape not steeper than the mould of an immense
tea-saucer would be. Tea-saucer 6 miles in diameter,
100 feet in depth, and of irregular contour, which
indeed will sufficiently represent it to the reader's
mind.
Saale, at four or five miles distance, bounds this
scraggy lump on the east and on the south. Westward
and northward, springing about Miicheln on each hand,
and setting off to right and to left Saale-ward, are
what we take to be two brooks; at least are two hollows:
and behind these, the country rises higher; undulating
still on lazy terms, but now painted azure by the dis-
tance, not unpleasant to behold, with its litter all lapped
out of sight, and its poor brooks tinkling forward (as
we judge) into the Saale, Merseburg way, or reverse-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? OHAP. vm. 1 BATTLE OF ROSSBACH. 209
5th Nov. 1757.
wise into the Unstrut, the last big branch of Saale.
Southward from our Janus Height, eight or nine miles
off, may be seen some vestige of Freiburg; steeple or
gilt weathercock faintly visible, on the Unstrut yonder;
-- which I take to be Soubise's bread-basket at present.
And farther off, and opposite the mouth of the Unstrut,
well across the Saale, lies another nameable Town
(visible in clear weather, as a smoke-cloud at certain
hours, about meal-time, when the kettles are on boil),
the Town of Naumburg, -- one of several German
Naumburgs, -- the Naumburg of Gustaf Adolf; where
his slain body lay, on the night of Liitzen Battle, with
his poor Queen and others weeping over it. Naumburg
is on the other side of Saale, not of importance to
Soubise in such posture.
This is the circular block or lump of country, on
the north or north-west side of which Friedrich now
lies, and which will become, he little thinks how
memorable on the morrow. Over the heights, im-
mediately eastward of Friedrich, there is a kind of
hollow, or scooped-out place; shallow valley of some
extent, which deserves notice against tomorrow; but in
general the ground is lazily spherical, and without
noticeable hollows or valleys when fairly away from
the River. A dull blunt lump of country; made of
sand and mud, -- may have been grassy once, with
broom on it, in the pastoral times; is now under poor
plough-husbandry, arable or scratchable in all parts,
and looks rather miserable in winter-time. No vestige
of hedge on it, of shrub or bush; one tree, ugly but
big, which may have been alive in Friedrich's time,
stands not far from Rossbach Hamlet; one, and no more
discoverable in these areas.
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. X. 14
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 210 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book xviii.
5ih Nov. 1757.
Various Hamlets lie sprinkled about: very sleepy,
rusty, irregular little places; huts and cattle-stalls hud-
dled down, as if shaken from a bag; much straw, thick
thatch and crumbly mud-brick; but looking warm and
peaceable; for the Fourfooted and the Twofboted; which
latter, if you speak to them, are solid reasonable people,
with energetic German eyes and hearts, though so ill-
lodged. These Hamlets, needing shelter and spring- water, stand generally in some slight hollow, if well
up the Height, as Rossbach is; sometimes, if near the
bottom, they are nestled in a sudden dell or gash, --
work of the primeval rains, accumulating from above,
and ploughing out their way. The rains, we can see,
have been busy; but there is seldom the least stream
visible, bottom being too sandy and porous. On the
western slope, there is in our time a kind of coal, or
coal-dust, dug up; in the way of quarrying, not of
mining; and one or two big chasms of this sort are
confusedly busy; the natives mix this valuable coal-
dust with water, mould into bricks, and so use as fuel:
one of the features of these hamlets is the strange black
bricks, standing on edge about the cottage-doors, to
drip, and dry in the sun. For this or for other reasons,
the westward slope appears to be the best; and has a
major share of hamlets on it: Rossbach is high up,
and looks over upon Miicheln, and its dim belfry and
appurtenances, which lie safe across the hollow, perhaps
two miles off, --- safe from Friedrich, if there were
eatables and lodging to be had in such a place. Fried-
rich's left wing is in Rossbach. Bedra where Friedrich's
right wing is; Branderode where the Soubise right is,
then Grost, Schevenroda, Zeuchfeld, Pettstadt, Lunstadt,
-- especially Reichartswerben, where Soubise's right
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CII. IP. vIII. ] BATTLE OF ROSSBACH. 211
5th Nov. 1757.
will come to be: these the reader may take note of
in his Map. Several of them lie in ashes just then;
plundered, replundered, and at last set fire to; so busy
have Soubise's hungry people been, of late, in the Country
they came to "deliver. " The Freiburg road, the Naum-
burg road, both towards Merseburg, cross this Height;
straight like the string, Saaleby Weissenfels being the bow.
The Herrrnhms (Squire's Mansion) still stands in
Rossbach, with the littery Hamlet at its flank: a high,
pavilion-roofed, and though dilapidated, pretentious
kind of House; some kind of court round it, some kind
of hedge or screen of brushwood and brickwall: terribly
in need of the besom, it and its environment throughout.
King, I suppose, did lodge there overnight: certain it
is the Squire was absent; and the Squire's Man, three
days afterwards, reported to him as follows: * * "Satur-
day the 5th, about 8 a. m. , his Majesty mounted to
"the roof of the Herrenhaus here, some tiles having
"been removed" (for that end, or by accident, is not
said), "and saw how the French and Reichs Army
"were getting in movement," -- wriggling out of their
Camp leftwards, evidently aiming towards Grost. "In
"about an hour, near half their Army was through
"Grost, and had turned southward, rather south-east-
ward, from Grost, out in the Rossbach and Almsdorf
"region, and proceeding still towards Pettstadt," --
towards Schevenroda more precisely, not towards Pett-
stadt yet. "His Majesty looked always through the
"perspective: and to me was the grace done to be ever
"at his side, and to name for him the roads the French
"and Reichs Army was marching. " *
? Mtiller, p. 50; Rodcnbeck, p. 326.
t
14*
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 212 SEVEN-YEARS WAR EISES TO A HEIGHT, [book XvIII.
5th Nov. 1757.
The King had heard of this phenomenon hours be-
fore, and had sent out hussars and scouts upon it; but
now sees it with his eyes: -- "Going for Freiburg,
and their bread-cupboard," thinks the King; who does
not as yet make much of the movement; but will watch
it well, and calculates to have a stroke at the rear end
of it, in due season. With which view, the cavalry,
Seidlitz and Mayer, are ordered to saddle; foot regi-
ments, and all else, to be in readiness. This French-
Reichs Dauphiness is not rapid in her field-exercise;
and has a great deal of wriggling and unwinding be-
fore she can fairly pick herself out, and get forward
towards Schevenroda on the Freiburg road. In three
or in two parallel columns, artillery between them,
horse ahead, horse arear; haggling along there; --
making for their breadbaskets, thinks the King. A
body of French, horse chiefly, under St. Germain, come
out, in the Schortau-Almsdorf part, with some salvoing
and prancing, as if intending to attack about Rossbach,
where our left wing is: but his Majesty sees it to be a
pretence merely: and St. Germain, motionless, and
doing nothing but cannonade a little, seems to agree
that it is so. Dauphiness continues her slow move-
ments; King, in this Squire's Mansion of Rossbach, sits down to dinner, dinner with Officers at the usual
hour of noon, -- little dreaming what the Dauphiness
has in her head.
Truth is, the Dauphiness is in exultant spirits, this
morning; intending great things against a certain "little
Marquis of Brandenburg," to whom one does so much
honour. Generals looking down yesterday on the
King of Prussia's Camp, able to count every man in it
(and half the men being invisible, owing to bends of
-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. vIII. ] BATTLE OF ROSSBACIi. 213
5th Nov. 1757.
the ground), counted him to 10,000 or so; and had
said, "Pshaw, are not we above 50,000; let us end it!
Take him on his left. Round yonder, till we get upon
his left, and even upon his rear withal, St. Germain
cooperating on the other side of him: on left, on rear,
on front, at the same moment, is not that a sure game? "
A very ticklish game, answers surly sagacious Lloyd:
"No general will permit himself to be taken in flank
"with his eyes open; and the King of Prussia is the
"unlikeliest you could try it with! "
Trying it meanwhile they are; marching along by
the low grounds here, intending to sweep gradually
leftwards towards Janus-Hill quarter; there to sweep
home upon him, coil him up, left and rear and front,
in their boa-constrictor folds, and end his trifle of an
Army and him. "Why not, if we do our duty at all,
annihilate his trifle of an Army; take himself prisoner,
and so end it? " Report says, Soubise had really, in
some moment of enthusiasm lately, warned the Ver-
sailles populations to expect such a thing; and that the
Duchess of Orleans, forgetful of poor King Louis's pre-
sence, had, in her enthusiasm, exclaimed: "Tant mieux,
I shall at last see a King, then! " But perhaps it is a
mere French epigram, such as the winds often generate
there, and put down for fact. -- Friedrich's retreat to
Weissenfels is cut off for Friedrich: an Austrian party
has been at the Herren-Muhle Bridge this morning, has
torn it up and pitched it into the river; planks far on
to Merseburg by this time. And, in fact, unless Fried-
rich be nimble -- But that he usually is.
Friedrich's dinner had gone on with deliberation
for about two hours, Friedrich's intentions not yet
known to any, but everybody, great and small, waiting
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 214 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book xvm.
5th Nov. 1757.
eagerly for them, like greyhounds on the slip, -- when
Adjutant Gaudi, who had been on the Housetop the
while, rushes into the Dining-room faster than he ought,
and, with some tremor in his voice and eyes, reports
hastily: "At Schevenroda, at Pettstadt yonder! Enemy
has turned to left. Clearly for the left. " -- "Well,
and if he do? No flurry needed, Captain! " answered
Friedrich, -- (not in these precise words; but rebuking
Gaudi, with a look not of laughter wholly, and with a
certain question, as to the state of Gaudi's stomachic
part, which is still known in traditionary circles, but
is not mentionable here); -- and went, with due gravity,
himself to the roof, with his Officers. "To the left,
sure enough; meaning to attack us there:" the thing
Friedrich had despaired of is voluntarily coming, then;
-- and it is a thing of stern qualities withal; a wager
of life, with glorious possibilities behind.
Friedrich earnestly surveys the phenomenon for
some minutes; in some minutes, Friedrich sees his way
through it, at least into it, and how he will do it. Off,
eastward; march! Swift are his orders; almost still
swifter the fulfilment of them. Prussian Army is a
nimble article in comparison with Dauphiness! In half
an hour's time, all is packed and to the road; and, ex-
cept Mayer and certain Free-Corps or Light-Horse, to
amuse St.
Germain and his Almsdorf people, there is
not a Prussian visible in these localities to French eyes.
"At half-past two," says the Squire's Man, -- or let us
take him a sentence earlier, to lose nothing of such a
Document: "At noon his Majesty took dinner; sat till
"about two o'clock; then again went to the roof; and
"perceived that the Enemy's Army at Pettstadt were
"turning about the little Wood there north-eastward,
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VIII. ] BATTLE OF ROSSBACH. 215
511 Nov. 1757.
"as if for Lunstadt" (into the Lunstadt road); -- "such
"cannonading, too," from those Almsdorf people, "that
"the balls flew over our heads," -- or I tremulously
thought so. "At half-past two, the word was given,
"March! And good speed they made about it, in this
"Herrenhaus, and out of doors too, striking their tents,
"and cording up and trimly shouldering everything
"with incredible brevity," as if machinery were doing
it; "and at three, on the Prussian part, all was packed
"and out into the court for being carried off; and, in
"fact, the Prussian Army was on march at three. "
Seidlitz, with all his Horse, vanishing round the corner
of the Height; speeding along, invisible on his northern
slope there, straight for the Janus-Polzen Hill part;
the Infantry following, double-quick; -- well knowing,
each, what he has got to do.
But at this interesting point, the Editors, -- small
thanks to them, authentic but thrice-stupid mortals, --
cut short our Eye-witness, not so much as telling us
his name, some of them not even his date or where-
abouts; and so the curtain tumbles down (as if its
string had been cut, or suddenly eaten by unwise ani-
mals), and we are left to gray hubbub, and our own
resources at secondhand. Except only that a French
Officer, -- one of those cannonading from Almsdorf,
no doubt, -- declares that "it was like a change of
"scene in the Opera (decoration a"Opera),"* so very
rapid; and that "they all rolled off eastward at quick
time. " At extremely quick time; and soon, in the
slight hollow behind Janus Hiigel, vanished from sight
* Letter in Miller, p. 60. In Westphalen (n. 128-133) is a much superior
French Letter, intercepted somewhere, and fallen to Duke Ferdinand;
well worth reading, on Rossbach and the previous Affairs.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 216 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book XvIIL
5th Nov. 1757.
of these Almsdorf French, and of the Soubise-Hildburg-
hausen Army in general. Which latter is agreeably
surprised at the phenomenon; and draws a highly
flattering conclusion from it. "Gone, then; off at
double-quick for Merseburg; aha! " think the Soubise-
Hildburghausen people: "Double-quick you too, my
pretty men, lest they do whisk away, and we never
get a stroke at them! " --
Seidlitz, meanwhile, with his cavalry (thirty-eight
squadrons, about 4,000 horse), is rapidly doing the
order he has had. Seidlitz at a sharp military trot,
and the infantry at double-quick to keep up near him,
which they cannot quite do, are, as we have said,
making right across for the Polzen-Hill and Janus-Hill
quarter; their route the string, French route the bow;
and are invisible to the French, owing to the heights
between. Seidlitz, when he gets to the proper point
eastward, will wheel about, front to southward, and be
our left wing; infantry, as centre and right, will appear
in like manner; and -- we shall see!
The exultant Dauphiness, or Soubise-Hildburghausen
Army (let us call it, for brevity's sake, Dauphiness or
French, which it mainly was), on that rapid disappear-
ance of the Prussians, never doubted but the Prussians
were off on flight for Merseburg, to get across by the
Bridge there. Whereat Dauphiness, doubly exultant,
mended her own pace, cavalry at a sharp trot, infantry
double-quick, but unable to keep up, -- for the purpose
of capturing or intercepting the runaway Prussians.
Speed, my friends, -- if you would do a stroke upon
Friedrich, and show the Versailles people a King at
last! Thus they, hurrying on, in two parallel columns,
-- infantry, long floods of it, coming double-quick but
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VIII. ] BATTLE OP ROSSBACH. 217
5th Nov. 1767.
somewhat fallen behind; cavalry 7,000 or so, as van-
guard, -- faster and faster; sweeping forward on their
southern side of the Janus-and-Polzen slope, and now
rather climbing the same.
Seidlitz has his hussar pickets on the top, to keep
him informed as to their motions, and how far they are
got. Seidlitz, invisible on the south slope of the Polzen
Hiigel, finds about half-past 3 p. it. , that he is now
fairly ahead of Dauphiness; Seidlitz halts, wheels, comes
to the top, "Got the flank of them, sure enough! " --
and without waiting signal or farther orders, every
instant being precious, rapidly forms himself; and
plunges down on these poor people. "Compact as a
wall, and with an incredible velocity (d'une vitesse in-
croyable)" says one of them. Figure the astonishment
of Dauphiness; of poor Broglio, who commands the
horse here. Taken in flank, instead of taking other
people; intercepted, not in the least needing to intercept!
Has no time to form, though he tried what he could.
Only the two Austrian regiments got completely formed;
the rest very incompletely; and Seidlitz, in the blaze
of rapid steel, is in upon them. The two Austrian
regiments, and two French that are named, made what
debate was feasible; -- courage nowise wanting, in
such sad want of captaincy; nay Soubise in person
galloped into it, if that could have helped. But from
the first, the matter was hopeless; Seidlitz slashing it
at such a rate, and plunging through it and again
through it, thrice, some say four times: so that, in the
space of half an hour, this luckless cavalry was all
tumbling off the ground: plunging down hill, in full
flight, across its own infantry or whatever obstacle,
Seidlitz on the hips of it; and galloping madly over
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 218 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book XvIII.
5th Nov. 1757.
the horizon, towards Freiburg as it proved; and was
not again heard of that day.
In about half an hour, that bit of work was over;
and Seidlitz, with his ranks trimmed again, had drawn
himself southward a little, into the Hollow of Tages-
werben, there to wait impending phenomena. For
Friedrich with the Infantry is now emerging over
Janus Hill, in a highly thunderous manner, -- eighteen
pieces of artillery going, and "four big guns taken from
the walls of Leipzig;" and there will be events anon.
It is said, Hildburghausen, at the first glimpse of Fried-
rich over the hill-top, whispered to Soubise, "We are
lost, Royal Highness! " -- "Courage! " Soubise would
answer; and both, let us hope, did their utmost in this
extremely bad predicament they had got into.
Friedrich's artillery goes at a murderous rate; had
come in view, over the hill-top, before Seidlitz ended,
-- "nothing but the muzzles of it visible" (and the
fire-torrents from it) to us poor French below. Fried-
rich's lines; or rather his one line, mere tip of his left
wing, --only seven battalions in it, five of them under
Keith from the second or reserve line; whole centre
and right wing standing "refused," in oblique rank,
invisible, behind the Hill, -- Friedrich's line, we say,
the artillery to its right, shoots out in mysterious Prus-
sian rhythm, in echelons, in potences, obliquely down
the Janus-Hill side; straight, rigid, regular as iron
clockwork; and strides towards us, silent, with the
lightning sleeping in it: -- Friedrich has got the flank
of Dauphiness, and means to keep it. Once and again
and a third time, poor Soubise, with his poor regiments
much in an imbroglio, here heaped on one another,
there with wide gaps, halt being so sudden, -- attempts
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. vni. ] BATTLE OF ROSSBACB". 219
htu Nov. 1707.
to recover the flank, and pushes out this regiment and
the other, rightward, to be even with Friedrich. But
sees with despair that it cannot be; that Friedrich with
his echelons, potencesand mysterious Prussian resources,
pulls himself out like the pieces of a prospect-glass,
piece after piece, hopelessly fast and seemingly no end
to them; and that the flank is lost, and that -- Un-
happy Generals of Dauphiness, what a phenomenon for
them! A terrible Friedrich, not fled to Merseburg at
all; but mounted there on the Janus Hill, as on his
saddle-horse, with face quite the other way; -- and
for holster-pistol, has plucked out twenty-two cannon.
Clad verily in fire; Chimsera-like, riding the Janus
Hill, in that manner; left leg (or wing) of him spurn-
ing us into the abysses, right one ready to help at dis-
cretion!
Hildburghausen, I will hope, does his utmost; Sou-
bise, Broglio for certain do. The French line is in
front, next the Prussians: poor Generals of Dauphiness
are panting to retrieve themselves. But with regiments
jammed in this astonishing way, and got collectively
into the lion's throat, what can be done? Steady, rigid
as iron clockwork, the Prussian line strides forward;
at forty-paces distance, delivers its first shock of light-
ning, bursts into platoon fire; and so continues, steady
at the rate of five shots a minute, -- hard to endure
by poor masses all in a coil. "The artillery tore down
"whole ranks of us," says the Wurtemberg Dragoon;*
"the Prussian musketry did terrible execution. "
Things began to waver very soon, French reeling
back from the Prussian fire, Reichs troops rocking very
uneasy, torn by such artillery; when, to crown the
* His Letter in MWer, p. 83.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 220 SEVEN-YEARS WAE RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book xvm.
5th Nov. 1757.
matter, Seidlitz, seeing all things rock to the due ex-
tent, bursts out of Tageswerben Hollow, terribly com-
pact and furious, upon the rear of them. Which sets
all things into inextricable tumble; and the Battle is
become a rout and a riding into ruin, no Battle ever
more. Lasted twenty-five minutes, this second act of
it, or till half-past four: after which, the curtains rapidly
descending (Night's curtain, were there no other) cover
the remainder; the only stage-direction, Exeunt Omnes.
Which for a 50 or 60,000, ridden over by Seidlitz
Horse, was not quite an easy matter! They left, of
killed and wounded, near 3,000; of prisoners, 5,000
(Generals among them 8, Officers 300): in sum, about
8,000; not to mention cannon, 67 or 72; with stand-
ards , flags, kettledrums and meaner baggages ad libitum
in a manner. The Prussian loss was, 165 killed, 376
wounded; -- between a sixteenth and a fifteenth part of
theirs: in number the Prussians had been little more
than one to three; 22,000 of all arms, -- not above
half of whom ever came into the fire; Seidlitz and
seven battalions doing all the fighting that was needed.
St. Germain tried to cover the retreat; but "got broken,"
he says, -- Mayer bursting in on him, -- and soon
went to slush like the others.
Seldom, almost never, not even at Crecy or Poic-
tiers, was any Army better beaten. And truly, we
must say, seldom did any better deserve it, so far as the
Chief Parties went . Yes, Messieurs, this is the petit
Marquis de Brandebourg; you will know this one,
when you meet him again I The flight, the French
part of it, was towards Freiburg Bridge; in full gallop,
long after the chase had ceased; crossing of the Uustrut
there, hoarse, many-voiced, all night; burning of the
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. vIII. ] BATTLE OF EOSSBACH. 221
5th Nov. 1757.
Bridge; found burnt, when Friedrich arrived next
morning. He had encamped at Obschiitz, short way
from the field itself. French Army, Reichs Army, all
was gone to staves, to utter chaotic wreck. Hildburg-
hausen went by Naumburg; crossed the Saale there;
bent homewards through the Weimar Country; one wild
flood of ruin, swift as it could go; at Erfurt "only one
"regiment was in rank, and marched through with
"drums beating. " His Army, which had been disgust-
ingly unhappy from the first, and was now fallen fluid
on these mad terms, flowed all away in different rills,
each by the course straightest home; and Hildburg-
hausen arriving at Bamberg, with hardly the ghost
or mutilated skeleton of an Army, flung down his
truncheon, -- "A murrain on your Reichs Armies and
regimental chaoses! " -- and went indignantly home.
Reichs Army had to begin at the beginning again; and
did not reappear on the scene till late next Year, under
a new Commander, and with slightly improved conditions.
Dauphiness Proper was in no better case; and would
have flowed home in like manner, had not home been
so far, and the way unknown. Twelve thousand of
them rushed straggling through the Eichsfeld; plunder-
ing and harrying, like Cossacks or Calmucks: "Army
"blown asunder, over a circle of forty miles radius,"
writes St . Germain: "had the Enemy pursued us, after
"I got broken" (burst in upon by Mayer and his Free-
Corps people), "we had been annihilated. Never did
"Army behave worse; the first cannon salvo decided
"our rout and our shame. " *
In two-days time (November 7th), the French had
* St. Germain to Verney: different Excerpts of Letters in the two
weeks after Rossbach and before (given in Preoss, n. 97).
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 222 SEVEN-YEARS WAE RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book XvIII.
5lh Nov. 1757.
got to Langensalza, fifty-five miles from the Battlefield
of Rossbach; plundering, running, sacrc-dien-mg; a
wild deluge of molten wreck, filling the Eichsfeld with
its waste noises, making night hideous and day too;--
in the villages, Placards were stuck up, appointing
Nordhausen and Heiligenstadt for rallying-place. *
Soubise rode, with few attendants, all night to-
wards Nordhausen, -- eighty miles off, foot of the
Brocken Country, where the Richelieu resources are;
-- Soubise with few attendants, face set towards the
Brocken; himself, it is like, in a somewhat hag-ridden
condition.
"The joy of poor Teutschland at large," says one of my
Notes, "and how all Germans, Prussian and Anti-Prussian
"alike, flung up their caps, with unanimous Lebe-hoch. at the
"news of ftossbach, has often been remarked; and indeed is
"still almost touching to see. The perhaps bravest Nation in
"the world, though the least braggart, very certainly ein
"tapferes Volk (as their Goethe calls them); so long insulted,
"snubbed and trampled on, by a luckier, not a braver: -- has
"not your exultant Dauphiness got a beautiful little dose ad-
"ministered her; and is gone off in foul shrieks, and pangs of
"the interior, -- let no man ask whitherward! 'Si un Allemand
"pent avoir de Vesprit (Can a German possibly have sharpness
"of wits)? ' Well, yes, it would seem: here is one German
"graduate who understands his medicine-chest, and the
"quality of patients! -- Dauphiness got no pity anywhere;
"plenty of epigrams, and mostly nothing but laughter even in
"Paris itself. Napoleon long after, who much admires Fried-
"rich, finds that this Victory of Rossbach was inevitable; 'but
"what fills me with astonishment and shame,' adds he,'is that
"it was gained by six battalions and thirty'squadrons' (seven
"properly, and thirty-eight)'over such a multitude! '**--It is
"well known, Napoleon, after Jena, as if Jena had not been
* Miiller, p. 73. ** Montholon, Memoircs &c. fie Napoleon (Napoleon's Precis de Gverres
de Fridiric II, vn. 210).
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP, vm. ] BATTLE OF ROSSBACH. 223
5th Nov. 1757.
"enough for him, tore down the first Monument of Rossbach,
"some poor ashlar Pyramid or Pillar, raised by the neigh-
"bourhood, with nothing more afflictive inscribed on it than a
"date; and sent it off in carts for Paris (where no stone of it
"ever arrived, the Thiiringen Carmen slinking off, and leaving
"it scattered in different places over the face of Thiiringen
"in general); so that they had the trouble of a new one
"lately. "*
FromFriedrich the "Army of theCircles," that is, Dauphi-
ness and Company,--called Hoopers or "Coopers" (Tonneliers),
with a desperate attempt at wit by pun, -- get their Adieu in
words withal. This is the famed Conge" de VArme'e des Cercles
et des Tonneliers; a short metrical Piece; called by Editors the
most profane, most indecent, most &c. ; and printed with
asterisk veils thrown over the worst passages.
? "Mimoires mililaircs de Louis &c. Due de Crillon (Paris, 1791), p. ICC;"
-- as cited by Preuss, n. 88.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 206 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book xyni.
2d-4th Nov. 1757.
"French and the Reichs folk were drawn back upon
"the higher grounds, about Burgwerben and on to
"Tagwerben; and we saw their watchfires burning. "
Friedrich's Bridge meanwhile, unmolested by the enemy,
is getting ready.
Keith, looking across to Merseburg on the morrow
morning (Tuesday, Nov. 1st), whither he had marched
direct with the other Half of the Army, finds Merse-
burg Bridge destroyed, or broken; and Soubise with
batteries on the farther side, intending to dispute the
passage. Keith despatches Duke Ferdinand to Halle,
another twelve miles down, who finds Halle Bridge
destroyed in like manner, and Broglio intending to
dispute; which, however, on second thoughts, neither
of them did. Friedrich's new Bridge at Herren-Miihle
(Lordships' Milt) is of course an important point to
them; Friedrich's passage now past dispute! "Let us
fall back," say they, "and rank ourselves a little; we
are 50 or 60,000 strong; ill off for provisions, but well
able to retreat; and have permission to fight on this
side of the River. "
The combined Army, "Dauphiness," or whatever
we are to call it, does on Wednesday morning (No-
vember 2d) gather-in its cannon and outskirts, and give
up the Saale question; retire landwards to the higher
grounds some miles; and diligently get itself united,
and into order of battle better or worse, near the Village
of Miicheln (which means Kirk Michael, and is still
written "Sanct Michel" by some on this occasion).
There Dauphiness takes post, leaning on the heights,
not in a very scientific way; leaving Keith and Ferdinand to rebuild their Bridges unmolested, and all
Prussians to come across at discretion. Which they
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. Till. ] BATTLE OF ROSSEACH. 207
5th Nov. 1757.
have diligently done (2d-3d November), by their re-
spective Bridges; and on Thursday afternoon are all
across, encamped at Bedra, in close neighbourhood to
Mucheln; which Friedrich has been out reconnoitering,
and finds that he can attack next morning very early. Next morning, accordingly, "by two o'clock, with
a bright moon shining," Friedrich is on horseback, his
Army following. But on examining by moonlight, the
enemy have shifted their position; turned on their axis,
more or less, into new wood-patches, new batteries and
bogs; which has greatly mended their affair. No good
attacking them so, thinks Friedrich; and returns to his
Camp; slightly cannonaded, one wing of him, from
some battery of the enemy; and immoderately crowed
over by them: "Dare not, you see! Tried, and was
defeated! " cry their newspapers and they, -- for one
day. Friedrich lodges again in Bedra this night, others
say in Rossbach; shifts his own Camp a little; left wing
of it now at Rossbach (Horse-Brook or Beck, soon to
be a world-famous Hamlet): the effects of hunger on
the Dauphiness, so far from her supplies, will, he cal-
culates, be stronger than on him, and will bring her
to better terms shortly. Dauphiness needs bread; one
may have fine clipping at the skirts of her, if she try
retreat. That Dauphiness would play the prank she
did next morning, Friedrich lhad not ventured to cal-
culate.
Catastrophe of Dauphiness (Saturday, 5th November
1757).
Meandering Saale is on one of his big turns, as he
passes Weissenfels; turning, pretty rapidly here, from
south-eastward, which he was a dozen miles ago, round
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 208 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book XVIrt.
oita Nov. 1757.
to north-eastward or northward altogether, which he
gets to be at Merseburg, a dozen farther down. Right
across from Weissenfels, lapped in this crook of the
Saale, or washed by it on south side and on east, rises,
with extreme laziness, a dull circular lump of country,
six or eight miles in diameter; with Rossbach and half-
a-dozen other scraggy sleepy Hamlets scattered on it;
-- which, till the morning of Saturday 5th November
1757, had not been notable to any visitor. The top-
most point or points, for there are two (not discoverable
except by tradition and guess), the country-people do
call Hills, Janus-Hiigel, Piilzen-Hugel, -- Hill sensible
to wagon-horses in those bad loose tracks of sandy
mud, but unimpressive on the Tourist, who has to ad-
mit that there seldom was so flat a Hill. Rising, let
us guess, forty yards in the three or four miles it has
had. Might be called a perceptibly potbellied plain,
with more propriety; flat country, slightly puffed up;
,--, in shape not steeper than the mould of an immense
tea-saucer would be. Tea-saucer 6 miles in diameter,
100 feet in depth, and of irregular contour, which
indeed will sufficiently represent it to the reader's
mind.
Saale, at four or five miles distance, bounds this
scraggy lump on the east and on the south. Westward
and northward, springing about Miicheln on each hand,
and setting off to right and to left Saale-ward, are
what we take to be two brooks; at least are two hollows:
and behind these, the country rises higher; undulating
still on lazy terms, but now painted azure by the dis-
tance, not unpleasant to behold, with its litter all lapped
out of sight, and its poor brooks tinkling forward (as
we judge) into the Saale, Merseburg way, or reverse-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? OHAP. vm. 1 BATTLE OF ROSSBACH. 209
5th Nov. 1757.
wise into the Unstrut, the last big branch of Saale.
Southward from our Janus Height, eight or nine miles
off, may be seen some vestige of Freiburg; steeple or
gilt weathercock faintly visible, on the Unstrut yonder;
-- which I take to be Soubise's bread-basket at present.
And farther off, and opposite the mouth of the Unstrut,
well across the Saale, lies another nameable Town
(visible in clear weather, as a smoke-cloud at certain
hours, about meal-time, when the kettles are on boil),
the Town of Naumburg, -- one of several German
Naumburgs, -- the Naumburg of Gustaf Adolf; where
his slain body lay, on the night of Liitzen Battle, with
his poor Queen and others weeping over it. Naumburg
is on the other side of Saale, not of importance to
Soubise in such posture.
This is the circular block or lump of country, on
the north or north-west side of which Friedrich now
lies, and which will become, he little thinks how
memorable on the morrow. Over the heights, im-
mediately eastward of Friedrich, there is a kind of
hollow, or scooped-out place; shallow valley of some
extent, which deserves notice against tomorrow; but in
general the ground is lazily spherical, and without
noticeable hollows or valleys when fairly away from
the River. A dull blunt lump of country; made of
sand and mud, -- may have been grassy once, with
broom on it, in the pastoral times; is now under poor
plough-husbandry, arable or scratchable in all parts,
and looks rather miserable in winter-time. No vestige
of hedge on it, of shrub or bush; one tree, ugly but
big, which may have been alive in Friedrich's time,
stands not far from Rossbach Hamlet; one, and no more
discoverable in these areas.
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. X. 14
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 210 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book xviii.
5ih Nov. 1757.
Various Hamlets lie sprinkled about: very sleepy,
rusty, irregular little places; huts and cattle-stalls hud-
dled down, as if shaken from a bag; much straw, thick
thatch and crumbly mud-brick; but looking warm and
peaceable; for the Fourfooted and the Twofboted; which
latter, if you speak to them, are solid reasonable people,
with energetic German eyes and hearts, though so ill-
lodged. These Hamlets, needing shelter and spring- water, stand generally in some slight hollow, if well
up the Height, as Rossbach is; sometimes, if near the
bottom, they are nestled in a sudden dell or gash, --
work of the primeval rains, accumulating from above,
and ploughing out their way. The rains, we can see,
have been busy; but there is seldom the least stream
visible, bottom being too sandy and porous. On the
western slope, there is in our time a kind of coal, or
coal-dust, dug up; in the way of quarrying, not of
mining; and one or two big chasms of this sort are
confusedly busy; the natives mix this valuable coal-
dust with water, mould into bricks, and so use as fuel:
one of the features of these hamlets is the strange black
bricks, standing on edge about the cottage-doors, to
drip, and dry in the sun. For this or for other reasons,
the westward slope appears to be the best; and has a
major share of hamlets on it: Rossbach is high up,
and looks over upon Miicheln, and its dim belfry and
appurtenances, which lie safe across the hollow, perhaps
two miles off, --- safe from Friedrich, if there were
eatables and lodging to be had in such a place. Fried-
rich's left wing is in Rossbach. Bedra where Friedrich's
right wing is; Branderode where the Soubise right is,
then Grost, Schevenroda, Zeuchfeld, Pettstadt, Lunstadt,
-- especially Reichartswerben, where Soubise's right
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CII. IP. vIII. ] BATTLE OF ROSSBACH. 211
5th Nov. 1757.
will come to be: these the reader may take note of
in his Map. Several of them lie in ashes just then;
plundered, replundered, and at last set fire to; so busy
have Soubise's hungry people been, of late, in the Country
they came to "deliver. " The Freiburg road, the Naum-
burg road, both towards Merseburg, cross this Height;
straight like the string, Saaleby Weissenfels being the bow.
The Herrrnhms (Squire's Mansion) still stands in
Rossbach, with the littery Hamlet at its flank: a high,
pavilion-roofed, and though dilapidated, pretentious
kind of House; some kind of court round it, some kind
of hedge or screen of brushwood and brickwall: terribly
in need of the besom, it and its environment throughout.
King, I suppose, did lodge there overnight: certain it
is the Squire was absent; and the Squire's Man, three
days afterwards, reported to him as follows: * * "Satur-
day the 5th, about 8 a. m. , his Majesty mounted to
"the roof of the Herrenhaus here, some tiles having
"been removed" (for that end, or by accident, is not
said), "and saw how the French and Reichs Army
"were getting in movement," -- wriggling out of their
Camp leftwards, evidently aiming towards Grost. "In
"about an hour, near half their Army was through
"Grost, and had turned southward, rather south-east-
ward, from Grost, out in the Rossbach and Almsdorf
"region, and proceeding still towards Pettstadt," --
towards Schevenroda more precisely, not towards Pett-
stadt yet. "His Majesty looked always through the
"perspective: and to me was the grace done to be ever
"at his side, and to name for him the roads the French
"and Reichs Army was marching. " *
? Mtiller, p. 50; Rodcnbeck, p. 326.
t
14*
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 212 SEVEN-YEARS WAR EISES TO A HEIGHT, [book XvIII.
5th Nov. 1757.
The King had heard of this phenomenon hours be-
fore, and had sent out hussars and scouts upon it; but
now sees it with his eyes: -- "Going for Freiburg,
and their bread-cupboard," thinks the King; who does
not as yet make much of the movement; but will watch
it well, and calculates to have a stroke at the rear end
of it, in due season. With which view, the cavalry,
Seidlitz and Mayer, are ordered to saddle; foot regi-
ments, and all else, to be in readiness. This French-
Reichs Dauphiness is not rapid in her field-exercise;
and has a great deal of wriggling and unwinding be-
fore she can fairly pick herself out, and get forward
towards Schevenroda on the Freiburg road. In three
or in two parallel columns, artillery between them,
horse ahead, horse arear; haggling along there; --
making for their breadbaskets, thinks the King. A
body of French, horse chiefly, under St. Germain, come
out, in the Schortau-Almsdorf part, with some salvoing
and prancing, as if intending to attack about Rossbach,
where our left wing is: but his Majesty sees it to be a
pretence merely: and St. Germain, motionless, and
doing nothing but cannonade a little, seems to agree
that it is so. Dauphiness continues her slow move-
ments; King, in this Squire's Mansion of Rossbach, sits down to dinner, dinner with Officers at the usual
hour of noon, -- little dreaming what the Dauphiness
has in her head.
Truth is, the Dauphiness is in exultant spirits, this
morning; intending great things against a certain "little
Marquis of Brandenburg," to whom one does so much
honour. Generals looking down yesterday on the
King of Prussia's Camp, able to count every man in it
(and half the men being invisible, owing to bends of
-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. vIII. ] BATTLE OF ROSSBACIi. 213
5th Nov. 1757.
the ground), counted him to 10,000 or so; and had
said, "Pshaw, are not we above 50,000; let us end it!
Take him on his left. Round yonder, till we get upon
his left, and even upon his rear withal, St. Germain
cooperating on the other side of him: on left, on rear,
on front, at the same moment, is not that a sure game? "
A very ticklish game, answers surly sagacious Lloyd:
"No general will permit himself to be taken in flank
"with his eyes open; and the King of Prussia is the
"unlikeliest you could try it with! "
Trying it meanwhile they are; marching along by
the low grounds here, intending to sweep gradually
leftwards towards Janus-Hill quarter; there to sweep
home upon him, coil him up, left and rear and front,
in their boa-constrictor folds, and end his trifle of an
Army and him. "Why not, if we do our duty at all,
annihilate his trifle of an Army; take himself prisoner,
and so end it? " Report says, Soubise had really, in
some moment of enthusiasm lately, warned the Ver-
sailles populations to expect such a thing; and that the
Duchess of Orleans, forgetful of poor King Louis's pre-
sence, had, in her enthusiasm, exclaimed: "Tant mieux,
I shall at last see a King, then! " But perhaps it is a
mere French epigram, such as the winds often generate
there, and put down for fact. -- Friedrich's retreat to
Weissenfels is cut off for Friedrich: an Austrian party
has been at the Herren-Muhle Bridge this morning, has
torn it up and pitched it into the river; planks far on
to Merseburg by this time. And, in fact, unless Fried-
rich be nimble -- But that he usually is.
Friedrich's dinner had gone on with deliberation
for about two hours, Friedrich's intentions not yet
known to any, but everybody, great and small, waiting
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 214 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book xvm.
5th Nov. 1757.
eagerly for them, like greyhounds on the slip, -- when
Adjutant Gaudi, who had been on the Housetop the
while, rushes into the Dining-room faster than he ought,
and, with some tremor in his voice and eyes, reports
hastily: "At Schevenroda, at Pettstadt yonder! Enemy
has turned to left. Clearly for the left. " -- "Well,
and if he do? No flurry needed, Captain! " answered
Friedrich, -- (not in these precise words; but rebuking
Gaudi, with a look not of laughter wholly, and with a
certain question, as to the state of Gaudi's stomachic
part, which is still known in traditionary circles, but
is not mentionable here); -- and went, with due gravity,
himself to the roof, with his Officers. "To the left,
sure enough; meaning to attack us there:" the thing
Friedrich had despaired of is voluntarily coming, then;
-- and it is a thing of stern qualities withal; a wager
of life, with glorious possibilities behind.
Friedrich earnestly surveys the phenomenon for
some minutes; in some minutes, Friedrich sees his way
through it, at least into it, and how he will do it. Off,
eastward; march! Swift are his orders; almost still
swifter the fulfilment of them. Prussian Army is a
nimble article in comparison with Dauphiness! In half
an hour's time, all is packed and to the road; and, ex-
cept Mayer and certain Free-Corps or Light-Horse, to
amuse St.
Germain and his Almsdorf people, there is
not a Prussian visible in these localities to French eyes.
"At half-past two," says the Squire's Man, -- or let us
take him a sentence earlier, to lose nothing of such a
Document: "At noon his Majesty took dinner; sat till
"about two o'clock; then again went to the roof; and
"perceived that the Enemy's Army at Pettstadt were
"turning about the little Wood there north-eastward,
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VIII. ] BATTLE OF ROSSBACH. 215
511 Nov. 1757.
"as if for Lunstadt" (into the Lunstadt road); -- "such
"cannonading, too," from those Almsdorf people, "that
"the balls flew over our heads," -- or I tremulously
thought so. "At half-past two, the word was given,
"March! And good speed they made about it, in this
"Herrenhaus, and out of doors too, striking their tents,
"and cording up and trimly shouldering everything
"with incredible brevity," as if machinery were doing
it; "and at three, on the Prussian part, all was packed
"and out into the court for being carried off; and, in
"fact, the Prussian Army was on march at three. "
Seidlitz, with all his Horse, vanishing round the corner
of the Height; speeding along, invisible on his northern
slope there, straight for the Janus-Polzen Hill part;
the Infantry following, double-quick; -- well knowing,
each, what he has got to do.
But at this interesting point, the Editors, -- small
thanks to them, authentic but thrice-stupid mortals, --
cut short our Eye-witness, not so much as telling us
his name, some of them not even his date or where-
abouts; and so the curtain tumbles down (as if its
string had been cut, or suddenly eaten by unwise ani-
mals), and we are left to gray hubbub, and our own
resources at secondhand. Except only that a French
Officer, -- one of those cannonading from Almsdorf,
no doubt, -- declares that "it was like a change of
"scene in the Opera (decoration a"Opera),"* so very
rapid; and that "they all rolled off eastward at quick
time. " At extremely quick time; and soon, in the
slight hollow behind Janus Hiigel, vanished from sight
* Letter in Miller, p. 60. In Westphalen (n. 128-133) is a much superior
French Letter, intercepted somewhere, and fallen to Duke Ferdinand;
well worth reading, on Rossbach and the previous Affairs.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 216 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book XvIIL
5th Nov. 1757.
of these Almsdorf French, and of the Soubise-Hildburg-
hausen Army in general. Which latter is agreeably
surprised at the phenomenon; and draws a highly
flattering conclusion from it. "Gone, then; off at
double-quick for Merseburg; aha! " think the Soubise-
Hildburghausen people: "Double-quick you too, my
pretty men, lest they do whisk away, and we never
get a stroke at them! " --
Seidlitz, meanwhile, with his cavalry (thirty-eight
squadrons, about 4,000 horse), is rapidly doing the
order he has had. Seidlitz at a sharp military trot,
and the infantry at double-quick to keep up near him,
which they cannot quite do, are, as we have said,
making right across for the Polzen-Hill and Janus-Hill
quarter; their route the string, French route the bow;
and are invisible to the French, owing to the heights
between. Seidlitz, when he gets to the proper point
eastward, will wheel about, front to southward, and be
our left wing; infantry, as centre and right, will appear
in like manner; and -- we shall see!
The exultant Dauphiness, or Soubise-Hildburghausen
Army (let us call it, for brevity's sake, Dauphiness or
French, which it mainly was), on that rapid disappear-
ance of the Prussians, never doubted but the Prussians
were off on flight for Merseburg, to get across by the
Bridge there. Whereat Dauphiness, doubly exultant,
mended her own pace, cavalry at a sharp trot, infantry
double-quick, but unable to keep up, -- for the purpose
of capturing or intercepting the runaway Prussians.
Speed, my friends, -- if you would do a stroke upon
Friedrich, and show the Versailles people a King at
last! Thus they, hurrying on, in two parallel columns,
-- infantry, long floods of it, coming double-quick but
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VIII. ] BATTLE OP ROSSBACH. 217
5th Nov. 1767.
somewhat fallen behind; cavalry 7,000 or so, as van-
guard, -- faster and faster; sweeping forward on their
southern side of the Janus-and-Polzen slope, and now
rather climbing the same.
Seidlitz has his hussar pickets on the top, to keep
him informed as to their motions, and how far they are
got. Seidlitz, invisible on the south slope of the Polzen
Hiigel, finds about half-past 3 p. it. , that he is now
fairly ahead of Dauphiness; Seidlitz halts, wheels, comes
to the top, "Got the flank of them, sure enough! " --
and without waiting signal or farther orders, every
instant being precious, rapidly forms himself; and
plunges down on these poor people. "Compact as a
wall, and with an incredible velocity (d'une vitesse in-
croyable)" says one of them. Figure the astonishment
of Dauphiness; of poor Broglio, who commands the
horse here. Taken in flank, instead of taking other
people; intercepted, not in the least needing to intercept!
Has no time to form, though he tried what he could.
Only the two Austrian regiments got completely formed;
the rest very incompletely; and Seidlitz, in the blaze
of rapid steel, is in upon them. The two Austrian
regiments, and two French that are named, made what
debate was feasible; -- courage nowise wanting, in
such sad want of captaincy; nay Soubise in person
galloped into it, if that could have helped. But from
the first, the matter was hopeless; Seidlitz slashing it
at such a rate, and plunging through it and again
through it, thrice, some say four times: so that, in the
space of half an hour, this luckless cavalry was all
tumbling off the ground: plunging down hill, in full
flight, across its own infantry or whatever obstacle,
Seidlitz on the hips of it; and galloping madly over
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 218 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book XvIII.
5th Nov. 1757.
the horizon, towards Freiburg as it proved; and was
not again heard of that day.
In about half an hour, that bit of work was over;
and Seidlitz, with his ranks trimmed again, had drawn
himself southward a little, into the Hollow of Tages-
werben, there to wait impending phenomena. For
Friedrich with the Infantry is now emerging over
Janus Hill, in a highly thunderous manner, -- eighteen
pieces of artillery going, and "four big guns taken from
the walls of Leipzig;" and there will be events anon.
It is said, Hildburghausen, at the first glimpse of Fried-
rich over the hill-top, whispered to Soubise, "We are
lost, Royal Highness! " -- "Courage! " Soubise would
answer; and both, let us hope, did their utmost in this
extremely bad predicament they had got into.
Friedrich's artillery goes at a murderous rate; had
come in view, over the hill-top, before Seidlitz ended,
-- "nothing but the muzzles of it visible" (and the
fire-torrents from it) to us poor French below. Fried-
rich's lines; or rather his one line, mere tip of his left
wing, --only seven battalions in it, five of them under
Keith from the second or reserve line; whole centre
and right wing standing "refused," in oblique rank,
invisible, behind the Hill, -- Friedrich's line, we say,
the artillery to its right, shoots out in mysterious Prus-
sian rhythm, in echelons, in potences, obliquely down
the Janus-Hill side; straight, rigid, regular as iron
clockwork; and strides towards us, silent, with the
lightning sleeping in it: -- Friedrich has got the flank
of Dauphiness, and means to keep it. Once and again
and a third time, poor Soubise, with his poor regiments
much in an imbroglio, here heaped on one another,
there with wide gaps, halt being so sudden, -- attempts
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. vni. ] BATTLE OF ROSSBACB". 219
htu Nov. 1707.
to recover the flank, and pushes out this regiment and
the other, rightward, to be even with Friedrich. But
sees with despair that it cannot be; that Friedrich with
his echelons, potencesand mysterious Prussian resources,
pulls himself out like the pieces of a prospect-glass,
piece after piece, hopelessly fast and seemingly no end
to them; and that the flank is lost, and that -- Un-
happy Generals of Dauphiness, what a phenomenon for
them! A terrible Friedrich, not fled to Merseburg at
all; but mounted there on the Janus Hill, as on his
saddle-horse, with face quite the other way; -- and
for holster-pistol, has plucked out twenty-two cannon.
Clad verily in fire; Chimsera-like, riding the Janus
Hill, in that manner; left leg (or wing) of him spurn-
ing us into the abysses, right one ready to help at dis-
cretion!
Hildburghausen, I will hope, does his utmost; Sou-
bise, Broglio for certain do. The French line is in
front, next the Prussians: poor Generals of Dauphiness
are panting to retrieve themselves. But with regiments
jammed in this astonishing way, and got collectively
into the lion's throat, what can be done? Steady, rigid
as iron clockwork, the Prussian line strides forward;
at forty-paces distance, delivers its first shock of light-
ning, bursts into platoon fire; and so continues, steady
at the rate of five shots a minute, -- hard to endure
by poor masses all in a coil. "The artillery tore down
"whole ranks of us," says the Wurtemberg Dragoon;*
"the Prussian musketry did terrible execution. "
Things began to waver very soon, French reeling
back from the Prussian fire, Reichs troops rocking very
uneasy, torn by such artillery; when, to crown the
* His Letter in MWer, p. 83.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 220 SEVEN-YEARS WAE RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book xvm.
5th Nov. 1757.
matter, Seidlitz, seeing all things rock to the due ex-
tent, bursts out of Tageswerben Hollow, terribly com-
pact and furious, upon the rear of them. Which sets
all things into inextricable tumble; and the Battle is
become a rout and a riding into ruin, no Battle ever
more. Lasted twenty-five minutes, this second act of
it, or till half-past four: after which, the curtains rapidly
descending (Night's curtain, were there no other) cover
the remainder; the only stage-direction, Exeunt Omnes.
Which for a 50 or 60,000, ridden over by Seidlitz
Horse, was not quite an easy matter! They left, of
killed and wounded, near 3,000; of prisoners, 5,000
(Generals among them 8, Officers 300): in sum, about
8,000; not to mention cannon, 67 or 72; with stand-
ards , flags, kettledrums and meaner baggages ad libitum
in a manner. The Prussian loss was, 165 killed, 376
wounded; -- between a sixteenth and a fifteenth part of
theirs: in number the Prussians had been little more
than one to three; 22,000 of all arms, -- not above
half of whom ever came into the fire; Seidlitz and
seven battalions doing all the fighting that was needed.
St. Germain tried to cover the retreat; but "got broken,"
he says, -- Mayer bursting in on him, -- and soon
went to slush like the others.
Seldom, almost never, not even at Crecy or Poic-
tiers, was any Army better beaten. And truly, we
must say, seldom did any better deserve it, so far as the
Chief Parties went . Yes, Messieurs, this is the petit
Marquis de Brandebourg; you will know this one,
when you meet him again I The flight, the French
part of it, was towards Freiburg Bridge; in full gallop,
long after the chase had ceased; crossing of the Uustrut
there, hoarse, many-voiced, all night; burning of the
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. vIII. ] BATTLE OF EOSSBACH. 221
5th Nov. 1757.
Bridge; found burnt, when Friedrich arrived next
morning. He had encamped at Obschiitz, short way
from the field itself. French Army, Reichs Army, all
was gone to staves, to utter chaotic wreck. Hildburg-
hausen went by Naumburg; crossed the Saale there;
bent homewards through the Weimar Country; one wild
flood of ruin, swift as it could go; at Erfurt "only one
"regiment was in rank, and marched through with
"drums beating. " His Army, which had been disgust-
ingly unhappy from the first, and was now fallen fluid
on these mad terms, flowed all away in different rills,
each by the course straightest home; and Hildburg-
hausen arriving at Bamberg, with hardly the ghost
or mutilated skeleton of an Army, flung down his
truncheon, -- "A murrain on your Reichs Armies and
regimental chaoses! " -- and went indignantly home.
Reichs Army had to begin at the beginning again; and
did not reappear on the scene till late next Year, under
a new Commander, and with slightly improved conditions.
Dauphiness Proper was in no better case; and would
have flowed home in like manner, had not home been
so far, and the way unknown. Twelve thousand of
them rushed straggling through the Eichsfeld; plunder-
ing and harrying, like Cossacks or Calmucks: "Army
"blown asunder, over a circle of forty miles radius,"
writes St . Germain: "had the Enemy pursued us, after
"I got broken" (burst in upon by Mayer and his Free-
Corps people), "we had been annihilated. Never did
"Army behave worse; the first cannon salvo decided
"our rout and our shame. " *
In two-days time (November 7th), the French had
* St. Germain to Verney: different Excerpts of Letters in the two
weeks after Rossbach and before (given in Preoss, n. 97).
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 222 SEVEN-YEARS WAE RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book XvIII.
5lh Nov. 1757.
got to Langensalza, fifty-five miles from the Battlefield
of Rossbach; plundering, running, sacrc-dien-mg; a
wild deluge of molten wreck, filling the Eichsfeld with
its waste noises, making night hideous and day too;--
in the villages, Placards were stuck up, appointing
Nordhausen and Heiligenstadt for rallying-place. *
Soubise rode, with few attendants, all night to-
wards Nordhausen, -- eighty miles off, foot of the
Brocken Country, where the Richelieu resources are;
-- Soubise with few attendants, face set towards the
Brocken; himself, it is like, in a somewhat hag-ridden
condition.
"The joy of poor Teutschland at large," says one of my
Notes, "and how all Germans, Prussian and Anti-Prussian
"alike, flung up their caps, with unanimous Lebe-hoch. at the
"news of ftossbach, has often been remarked; and indeed is
"still almost touching to see. The perhaps bravest Nation in
"the world, though the least braggart, very certainly ein
"tapferes Volk (as their Goethe calls them); so long insulted,
"snubbed and trampled on, by a luckier, not a braver: -- has
"not your exultant Dauphiness got a beautiful little dose ad-
"ministered her; and is gone off in foul shrieks, and pangs of
"the interior, -- let no man ask whitherward! 'Si un Allemand
"pent avoir de Vesprit (Can a German possibly have sharpness
"of wits)? ' Well, yes, it would seem: here is one German
"graduate who understands his medicine-chest, and the
"quality of patients! -- Dauphiness got no pity anywhere;
"plenty of epigrams, and mostly nothing but laughter even in
"Paris itself. Napoleon long after, who much admires Fried-
"rich, finds that this Victory of Rossbach was inevitable; 'but
"what fills me with astonishment and shame,' adds he,'is that
"it was gained by six battalions and thirty'squadrons' (seven
"properly, and thirty-eight)'over such a multitude! '**--It is
"well known, Napoleon, after Jena, as if Jena had not been
* Miiller, p. 73. ** Montholon, Memoircs &c. fie Napoleon (Napoleon's Precis de Gverres
de Fridiric II, vn. 210).
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m83 Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP, vm. ] BATTLE OF ROSSBACH. 223
5th Nov. 1757.
"enough for him, tore down the first Monument of Rossbach,
"some poor ashlar Pyramid or Pillar, raised by the neigh-
"bourhood, with nothing more afflictive inscribed on it than a
"date; and sent it off in carts for Paris (where no stone of it
"ever arrived, the Thiiringen Carmen slinking off, and leaving
"it scattered in different places over the face of Thiiringen
"in general); so that they had the trouble of a new one
"lately. "*
FromFriedrich the "Army of theCircles," that is, Dauphi-
ness and Company,--called Hoopers or "Coopers" (Tonneliers),
with a desperate attempt at wit by pun, -- get their Adieu in
words withal. This is the famed Conge" de VArme'e des Cercles
et des Tonneliers; a short metrical Piece; called by Editors the
most profane, most indecent, most &c. ; and printed with
asterisk veils thrown over the worst passages.
