' Kappel does not know; 'Master is of strict wilful
"turn; -- Master would grumble and growl sometimes about
"the peasant people, and how a nobleman has now no power
"overthem, in comparison.
"turn; -- Master would grumble and growl sometimes about
"the peasant people, and how a nobleman has now no power
"overthem, in comparison.
Thomas Carlyle
It is October 5th, day, or
rather night of the day, of Friedrich's arrival there-
* Temgelhof, v. 349.
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? CHAP. t? . ] TRAITOR WARKOTSCH. 227
5th Oct. -- 30th Nov. 1761.
abouts; most of his Army ahead of him, and the re-
mainder all under way. Friedrich and the rearward
part of his Army are filing about, in that new Strehlen-
ward movement of theirs, under cloud of night, in the
intricate Hill-and-Dale Country, to post themselves to
the best advantage for their double object, of covering
Breslau and Neisse both. Kappel loquitur; abridged
by Kiister, whom we abridge:
"Monday Night, October 5th, 1761, The King, with two or
"three attendants, still ahead of his Army, appeared atSchon-
"brunn, a Schloss and Village, five or six miles south from
"Strehlen;* and did the owner, Baron von Warkotsch, an
"acquaintance of his, the honour of lodging there. Before
"bed-time, -- if indeed the King intended bed at all, meaning
"to be off in four hours hence, -- Friedrich inquired of War-
"kotsch for 'a trusty man, well acquainted with the roads in
"this Country. ' Warkotsch mentioned Kappel, his own
"Groom; one who undoubtedly knew every road of the
"Country; and who had always behaved as a trusty fellow in
"the seven years he had been with him. 'Let me see him,'
"said the King. Kappel was sent up, about midnight, King
"still dressed; sitting on a sofa, by the fire: Kappel's look
"was satisfactory; Kappel knows several roads to Strehlen,
"in the darkest night: 'It is the footpath which goes so-and-
"so that I want' (forFriedrich knows this Country intimately:
"readers remember his world-famous Camp of Strehlen, with
"all the diplomacies of Europe gathered there, through sum-
"mer, in the train of Mollwitz). 'Ja, Ihro Majestat, I know
"it! ' 'Be ready, then, at 4. '
"Before the stroke of 4, Kappel was at the door, on
"Master's best horse; the King's Groom too, and led horse, a
"nimble little gray, were waiting. As 4 struck, Friedrich
"came down, Warkotsch with him, 'Unspeakable the honour
"you have done my poor house! ' Besides the King's Groom,
"there were a Chamberlain, an Adjutant, and two mounted
* This is the Warkotsch Schdnbrunn; not the other near Schweidnitz,
as Archenholtz believes: see Avchenholz, n. 287, and the bit of myth he has
gone into in consequence,
15*
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? 228 FEIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
5th Oct. --30th Nov. 1761.
"Chasers (reitende Jager), which latter had each a lighted
"lantern: in all seven persons, including Kappel and the
"King. 'Go before us on foot with your lanterns,' said the
"King. Very dark it was. 'And overnight the Army had
"arrived all about; some of them just coming in, on different
"roads and paths. The King walked above two miles, and
"looked how the Regiments were, without speaking a word.
"At last, as the cannons came up, and were still in full
"motion, the King said: 'Sharp, sharp, Bursche; it will be
"March directly. ' 'March? The Devil it will; we are just
"coming into Camp! " said a cannonier, not knowing itwas the
"King.
"then ordered, 'Blow out the lanterns; to horseback now! '
"and mounted, as we all did. Me he bade keep five steps
"ahead, five and not more, that he might see me; for it was
"very dark. Not far from the Lordship Casserey, where there
"is a Watermill, the King asked me, 'Haven't you missed
"the Bridge here? ' (a King that does not forget roads and
"topographies which may come to concern him! ) -- and bade
"us ride with the utmost silence, and make no jingle. As day
"broke, we were in sight of Strehlen, near by the Farm of
"Treppendorf. 'And do you know where the Kallenberg
"lies? ' said the King: 'It must be to left of the Town, near
'' the Hills; bring us thither! '
"When we got on the Kallenberg, it was not quite day;
"and we had to halt for more light. After some time, the
"King said to his Groom, 'Give me my perspective! ' looked
"slowly all round for a good while, and then said, 'I see no
"Austrians! ' -- (ground all at our choice, then; we know
"where to choose! ) 'The King then asked me if I knew the
"road to' -- in fact, to several places, which, in a Parish
History of those parts, would be abundantly interesting; but
must be entirely omitted here. * * * "The King called
"his Chamberlain; gave some sign, which meant 'Beer-
"money to Kappel! ' -- and I got four eight-groschen pieces"
(three shillings odd; a rich reward in those days); "and was
"bid tell my Master, 'That the King thanked him for the
"good quarters, and assured him of his favour. '
"Riding back across country, Kappel, some four or five
"miles homeward, came upon the 'whole Prussian Army,'
Walked on still a little while;
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? CHAP. IX. ] TRAITOR WARKOTSCff. 229
5th Oct. --30th Nov. 1761.
"struggling forward in their various Columns. Two Generals,
"-- one of them Krusemark, King's Adjutant (Colonel Kruse-
"mark, notGreneral, asKappel thinks, who came to know him
"some weeks after), -- had him brought up: to whom he
"gave account of himself, how he had been escorting the
"King, and where he had left his Majesty. 'Behind Strehlen,
"say you? Breslau road? Devil knows whither we shall all
"have to go yet! ' observed Krusemark, and left Kappel
"free. "*
In those weeks, Colberg Siege, Pitt's Catastrophe,
and high things are impending, or completed, else-
where: but this is the one thing noticeable hereabouts.
In regard to Strehlen, and Friedrich's history there,
what we have to say turns all upon this Kappel and
Warkotsch: and, -- after mentioning only that Fried-
rich's lodging is not in Strehlen proper, but in Woisel-
witz, a village or suburb almost half a mile off, and
very negligently guarded -- we have to record an
Adventure which then made a great deal of noise in
the world.
Warkotsch is a rich lord; Schonbrunn only one of
five or six different Estates which he has in those
parts; though, not many years ago, being younger
brother, he was a Captain in the Austrian service (Re-
giment Bottn, if you are particular); and lay in Olmiitz,
-- with very dull outlooks; not improved, I should
judge, by the fact that Silesia and the Warkotsch con-
nexions were become Prussian since this junior entered
the Austrian Army. The junior had sown his wild
oats, and was already getting gray in the beard, in
that dull manner, when, about seven years ago, his
* Kiister, Lebeus-Rettwigen, pp. 66-76.
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? 230 FR1EDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
5th Oct. --30th Nov. 1761.
Elder Brother, to whom Friedrich had always been kind, fell unwell; and, in the end of 1755, died: where-
upon the junior saw himself Heir; and entered on a
new phase of things. Quitted his Captaincy, quitted
his allegiance; and was settled here peaceably under
his new King in 1756, a little while before this War
broke out. And, at Schonbrunn, October 5th, 1761,
has had his Majesty himself for guest.
Warkotsch was not long in riding over to Strehlen
to pay his court, as in duty bound, for the honour of
such a Visit; and from that time, Kappel, every day or
two, had to attend him thither. The King had always
had a favour for Warkotsch's late Brother, as an ex-
cellent Silesian Landlord and Manager, whose fine
Domains were in an exemplary condition; as, under
the new Warkotsch too, they have continued to be.
Always a gracious Majesty to this Warkotsch as well;
who is an old soldier withal, and man of sense and in-
genuity; acceptable to Friedrich, and growing more
and more familiar among Friedrich's circle of Officers
now at Strehlen.
To Strehlen is Warkotsch's favourite ride; in the
solitary country, quite a charming adjunct to your
usual dull errand out for air and exercise. Kappel,
too, remarks about this time that he (Kappel) gets
once and again, and ever more frequently, a Letter to
carry over to Siebenhuben, a Village three or four
miles off; the Letter always for one Schmidt, who is
Catholic Curate there; Letter under envelope, well
sealed, -- and consisting of two pieces, if you finger
it judiciously. And, what is curious, the Letter never
has any address; Master merely orders, "Punctual; for
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? CHAP. IX. ] TRAITOR WARKOTSCH. 231
5th Oct. -- 30th Nov. 1761.
Curatus Schmidt, you know! " What can this be?
thinks Kappel. Some secret, doubtless; perhaps some
intrigue, which Madam must not know of, -- "Ach,
Herr Baron; and at your age, -- fifty, I am sure! "
Kappel, a solid fellow, concerned for groom-business
alone, punctually carries his Letters; takes charge of
the Responses too, which never have any Address; and
does not too much trouble himself with curiosities of
an impertinent nature.
To these external phenomena I will at present only
add this internal one: That an old Brother Officer of
Warkotsch's, a Colonel Wallis, with Hussars, is now
lying at Heinrichau, -- say, 10 miles from Strehlen,
and about 10 from Schonbrunn too, or a mile more if
you take the Siebenhuben way; and that all these mis-
sives, through Curatus Schmidt, are for Wallis the
Hussar Colonel, and must be a secret, not from Madam
alone! How a Baron, hitherto of honour, could all at
once become turpissimus, the Superlative of Scoundrels?
This is even the reason, -- the prize is so super-
lative.
"Monday Night, November 30th, 1761" (night bitter cold),
"Kappel finds himself sitting mounted, and holding Master's
"horse, in Strehlen, more exactly in Woiselwitz, a Suburb of
"Strehlen, near the King's door, -- Majesty's travelling-
"coach drawn out there, symbol that Strehlen is ending,
"general departure towards Breslau now nigh. Not to
"Kappel's sorrow, perhaps, waiting in the cold there. Kappel
"waits, hour after hour; Master taking his ease with the
"King's people, regardless of the horses and me, in this
"shivery weather; -- and one must not walk about either, for
"disturbing the King's sleep! Not till midnight does Master
"emerge, and the freezing Kappel and quadrupeds get under
"way. Under way, Master breaks out into singular talk
"about the King's lodging: Was ever anything so careless;
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? 232 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
5th Oct. --30th Nov. 1761.
"nothing but two sentries in the King's anteroom; thirteen
"all the soldiers that are in Woiselwitz; Strehlen not avail-
able in less than twenty minutes: nothing but woods,
"haggly glens and hills, all on to Heinrichau: How easy to
"snatch off his Majesty! 'Um Gottes Willen, my Lord, don't
"speak so: think if a patrolling Prussian were to hear it, in
"the dark! ' Pooh, pooh, answers the Herr Baron.
"At Schonbrunn, in the short hours, Kappel finds Frau
"Kappel in a state of unappeasable curiosity: 'What can it
"be? Curatus Schmidt was here all afternoon; much in haste
"to see Master; had to go at last, -- for the Church-service,
"this St. Andrew's Eve. And only think, though he sat with
"My Lady hours and hours, he left this Letter with me:
"" "Give it to your Husband, for my Lord, the instant they
"come; and say I must have an Answer tomorrow morning
"at 7. "" Left it with me, not with My Lady; -- My Lady not
"to know of it! ' 'Tush, woman! ' But Frau Kappel has been,
"Letter; has applied to two fellow-servants, one after the
"other, who can read writing, 'Breakitup, willyou! ' But
"they would not. Practical Kappel takes the Letter up to
"Master's room; delivers it, with the Message. 'What,
"Curatus Schmidt! ' interrupts My Lady, who was sitting
"there: 'Herr Good-man, what is that? ' 'That is a Letter
"to me,' answers the Good-man: 'What have you to do with
"it? ' Upon which My Lady flounces out in a huff, and the
"Herr Baron sets about writing his Answer, whatever it
"may be.
"Kappel and Frau are gone to bed, Frau still eloquent
"upon the mystery of Curatus Schmidt, when his Lordship
"taps at their door; enters in the dark: 'This is for the Cura-
"tus, at 7 o'clock tomorrow; I leave it on the table here: be
"in time, like a good Kappel! ' Kappel promises his Un-
"appeasable that he will actually open this Piece before
"delivery of it; upon which she appeases herself, and they
"both fall asleep. Kappel is on foot betimes next morning.
"Kappel quietly pockets his Letter; still more quietly, from
"a neighbouring room, pockets his Master's big Seal (Pet-
"schaft), with a view to resealing: he then steps out; giving
"his Bursch" (Apprentice or Under-Groom) "order to be
"ready in so many minutes, 'You and these two horses'
"herself, unappeasably
about, ever since she got this
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? chAP. IX. ] TRAITOR WARKOTSCH.
5th Oct. -- 3Oth Nov. 1761.
"(specific for speed); and, in the interim, walks over, with
"Letter and Petschaft, to the Reverend Herr Gerlach's, for
"some preliminary business. Kappel is Catholic; Warkotsch,
"Protestant; Herr Gerlach is Protestant preacher in the
"Village of Schonbrunn,--much hated by Warkotsch, whose
"standing order is: 'Don't go near that insolent fellow;' but
"known by Kappel to be a just man, faithful in difficulties of
"the weak against the strong. Gerlach, not yet out of bed,
"listens to the awful story: reads the horrid missive; War-
"kotsch to Colonel Wallis: 'You can seize the King, living
"or dead, this night! "--hesitates about copying it (asKappel
"wishes, for a good purpose); but is encouraged by his Wife,
"and soon writes a Copy. This Copy Kappel sticks into the
"old cover, seals as usual; and, with the Original safe in his "own pocket, returns to the stables now. His Bursch and he "mount; after a little, he orders his Bursch: 'Bursch, ride
"you to Siebenhuben and Curatus Schmidt, with this sealed
"Letter; you, and say nothing. I was to have gone myself,
"but cannot; be speedy, be discreet! ' And the Bursch dashes
"off for Siebenhuben with the sealed Copy, for Schmidt,
"Warkotsch, Wallis and Company's behoof; Kappel riding,
"at a still better pace, to Strehlen with the Original, for
"behoof of the King's Majesty.
"At Strehlen, King's Majesty not yet visible, Kappel has
"great difficulties in the anteroom among the sentry people.
"But he persists, insists: 'Read my Letter, then! ' which they
"dare not do; which only Colonel Krusemark, the Adjutant,
"perhaps dare. They take him to Krusemark. Krusemark
"reads, all aghast; locks up Kappel; runs to the King; re-
"turns, muffles Kappel in soldier's cloak and cap, and leads
"him in. The King, looking into Kappel's face, intoKap:
"pel's clear story and the Warkotsch handwriting, needed
"only a few questions; and the fit orders, as to Warkotsch
"and Company, were soon given: dangerous engineers now
"fallen harmless, blown up by their own petard. One of the
"King's first questions was: 'But how have I offended War-
"kotsch?
' Kappel does not know; 'Master is of strict wilful
"turn; -- Master would grumble and growl sometimes about
"the peasant people, and how a nobleman has now no power
"overthem, in comparison. ' 'Are you a Protestant? ' 'No,
"your Majesty, Catholic' 'See, ihr Herren,' said the King to
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? 234
FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE
OVERWHELMED. [b. 5th Oct. --30tll N<
[BOOK XX.
Nov. 1761.
"those about him; 'Warkotsch is a Protestant; his Curatus
"Schmidt is a Catholic; and this man is a Catholic: there are
"villains and honest people in every creed! '
"Atnoon, that day, Warkotsch had sat down to dinner,
"comfortably in his dressing-gown, nobody but the goodBa-
"roness there; whenRittmeisterRabenau suddenlydescended
on the Schloss and dining-room with dragoons: 'In arrest,
"Herr Baron; I am sorry you must go with me to Brieg! '
"Warkotsch, a strategic fellow, kept countenance to Wife
"and Rittmeister, in this sudden fall of the thunderbolt:
"'Yes, Herr Rittmeister; it is that mass of Corn I was to fur-
"nish' (showing him an actual order of that kind), 'and I am
"behind my time with it! Nobody can help his luck. Take a
"bit of dinner with us, any way! ' Rittmeister refused; but the
"Baroness too pressed him; he at length satdown. Warkotsch
"iwent 'to dress;' first of all, to give orders about his best
"horse; but was shocked to find that the dragoons were a
"hundred, and that every outgate was beset. Returning half-
"dressed, with an air of baffled hospitality:'Herr Rittmeister,
"our Schloss must not be disgraced; here are your brave fel-
"lows waiting, and nothingof refreshment ready for them. I
"have given order at the Tavern in the Village; send them
"down; there they shall drink better luck to me, and have a
"-- and in few minutes more, Warkotsch is in the Woods,
"galloping like Epsom, towards Wallis; and Rabenau can
"only arrest Madam (who knows nothing), and return in a
'baffled state.
"Schmidt too got away. The party sent after Schmidt
"found him in the little Town ofNimptsch, half way home
'again from his Wallis errand; comfortably dining with some
'innocent hospitable people there. Schmidt could not con-
'ceal his confusion; but pleading piteously a necessity of na-
"ture, was with difficulty admitted to the -- to the Abtritt so-
called; and there, by some long pole or rake-handle,
"vanished wholly through a never-imagined aperture, and
'' was no more heard of in the upper world. The Prussian sol-
'diery does not seem expert in thief-taking.
"Warkotsch came back about midnight that same Tues-
"day, 500 Wallis Hussars escorting him; and took away his
"ready moneys, near 5,000/. in gold, reports Frau Kappel,
Stupid Rabenau again consents:
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? chAP. ee. ] traitor wArrotsch. 235
5th Oct. -- 30th Nov. 1761.
"who witnessed the ghastly operation (Hussars in greatter-
"ror, in haste, and unconscionably greedy as to sharing); --
"after which our next news of him, the last of any clear
"authenticity, is this Note to his poor Wife, which was read in
"the Law Procedures on him six months hence: 'My Child
"(Mein Kind), -- The accursed thought I took up against my
"King has overwhelmed me in boundless misery. From the
"top of the highest hill I cannot see the limits of it. Farewell;
"I am in the farthest border of Turkey. -- WArkotsch. " ' *
Schmidt and he, after patient trial, were both of
them beheaded and quartered, -- in pasteboard effigy,
-- in the Salt Ring (Great Square) of Breslau, May
1762: -- in pasteboard, Friedrich liked it better than
the other way. "Meinetwegen" wrote he, sanctioning
the execution, "For aught I care; the Portraits will
likely be as worthless as the Originals," Rittmeister
Rabenau had got off with a few days' arrest, and the
remark, uEr ist ein dummer Teufel (You are a stupid
devil)! " Warkotsch's Estates, all and sundry, deduct-
ing the Baroness's jointure, which was punctually paid
her, were confiscated to the King, -- and by him were
made over to the Schools of Breslau and Glogau, which,
I doubt not, enjoy them to this day. Reverend Gerlach
in Schonbrunn, Kappel and Kappel's Bursch, were all
attended to, and properly rewarded, though there are
rumours to the contrary. Hussar-Colonel Wallis got
no public promotion, though it is not doubted the
Head People had been well cognisant of his ingenious
intentions. Official Vienna, like mankind in general,
shuddered to own him; the great Counts Wallis at
Vienna published in the Newspapers, "Our House has
no connexion with that gentleman;" -- and, in fact,
* Kiister, Lebens-Rettungen, p. 88: Kiister, p. 65-188 (for the general
Narrative); Tempelhof, v. 346, &c. &c.
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? 286 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Uth-lCth Doc. 1761.
he was of Irish breed, it seems, the name of him
WalVsch (or Walsh), if one cared. Warkotsch died at
Raab (this side the farthest corner of Turkey), in 1769:
his poor Baroness had vanished from Silesia five years
before, probably to join him. He had some pension
or aliment from the Austrian Court; small or not so
small is a disputed point.
And this is, more minutely than need have been,
in authentic form only too diffuse, the once world-
famous Warkotsch Tragedy or Wellnigh-Tragic Melo-
drama; which is still interesting and a matter of study,
of pathos and minute controversy, to the patriot and
antiquary in Prussian Countries, though here we might
have been briefer about it. It would, indeed, have
"finished the War at once;" and on terms delightful
to Austria and its Generals near by. But so would
any unit of the million balls and bullets which have
whistled round that same Royal Head, and have, every
unit of them, missed like Warkotsch! Particular
Heads, royal and other, meant for use in the scheme
of things, are not to be hit on any terms till the use
is had.
Friedrich settled in Breslau for the Winter, De-
cember 9th. From Colberg bad news meet him in
Breslau; bad and ever worse: Colberg, not Warkotsch,
is the interesting matter there, for a fortnight coming,
-- till Colberg end, it also irremediable. The Russian
hope on Colberg is, long since, limited to that of famine.
We said the conveyance of Supplies, across such a
Hundred Miles of wilderness, from Stettin thither, with
Russians and the Winter gainsaying, was the difficulty.
Our short Note continues:
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? CHAP. IX. ] TRAITOR WARKOTSCH. 237
9th-16th Dec. 1761.
"In fact, it is the impossibility: trial after trial goes on, in
"a strenuous manner, but without success. October 13th,
"Green Kleist tries; October 22d, Knobloch and even Platen
"try. For the next two months, there is trial on trial made
"(Hussar Kleist, Knobloch, Thadden, Platen), not without
"furious fencing, struggling; but with no success. There are,
"in wait at the proper places, 15,000 Russians waylaying.
"Winter comes early, and unusually severe: such marchings,
"such endeavourings and endurances, -- without success! "For darkness, cold, grim difficulty, fierce resistance to it,
"one reads few things like this of Colberg. 'The snow lies
"'ell-deep,' says Archenholtz; 'snow-tempests, sleet, frost:
"'a country wasted and hungered out; wants fuelwood;
'"has not even salt. The soldier's bread is a block of
"'ice; impracticable to human teeth till you thaw it, --
"'which is only possible by night. ' The Russian ships dis-
appear (17th October); November 2d, Butturlin, leaving
"reinforcements without stint, vanishes towards Poland. The
"day before Butturlin went, there had been solemn summons
"upon Eugen, 'Surrender honourably, we once more bid
'"you; never will we leave this ground, till Colberg is ours! '
"'Vain to propose it! ' answers Eugen, as before. The Rus-
sians too are clearly in great misery of want; though with
"better roads open for them; and Romanzow's obstinacy is
"extreme.
"Night of November 14th-15th, Eugen, his horse-fodder
"being entirely done, and Heyde's magazines worn almost
"out, is obliged to glide mysteriously, circuitously from his
"Camp, and go to try the task himself. The most difficult of
"marches, gloriously executed; which avails to deliver Eugen,
"and lightens the pressure on Heyde's small store. Eugen, in
"a way Tempelhoi cannot enough admire, gets clear away.
"Joins with Platen, collects Provision; tries to send Provision
"in, but withouteffect. By the King's order, is to try it himself
"in a collective form. Had Heyde food, he would care
"little.
"Romanzow, who is now in Eugen's old Camp, summons
"the Veteran; they say, it is 'for the twenty-fifth time,' -- not
"yet quite the last. Heyde consults his people: 'Kameraden,
"'what think you should I do? ' 'Thun Sie's durchaus nicht,
"' Herr Obrist, Do not a whit of it, Herr Colonel: we will de-
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? 238
FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
9th-16th Dec. 1761.
"'fend ourselves as long as we have bread and powder. ' * It
"is grim frost; Heyde pours water on his walls. Eomanzow
"tries storm; the walls are glass; the garrison has powder,
'' though on half rations as to bread: storm is of no effect. By
"has again a march of the most consummate kind; December
"12th, gets to the Russian entrenchment; storms aRussian re-
"doubt, and fights inexpressibly; but it will not do. With-
"draws; leaves Colberg to its fate. Next morning, Heyde
"gets his twenty-sixth summons; reflects on it two days; and
"then (December 16th), his biscuit done, decides to 'march
"out, with music playing, arms shouldered, and the honours
"of war. '** Adieu to the old Hero; who, we hope, will not
stay long in Russian prison.
"What a Place of Arms for us! " thinks Romanzow;
-- "though, indeed, for Campaign 1762, at this late
time of year, it will not so much avail us. " No; --
and for 1763, who knows if you will need it then!
Six weeks ago, Prince Henri and Daun had finished
their Saxon Campaign in a much more harmless man-
ner. November bth, Daun, after infinite rallying,
marshalling, re-arranging, and counselling with Loudon,
who has sat so long quiescent on the Heights at Kunzen-
dorf, ready to aid and reinforce, did at length (nothing
of "rashness" chargeable on Daun) make "a general
attack on Prince Henri's outposts," in the Meissen or
Mulda-Elbe Country, "from Rosswein all across to
Siebeneichen;" simultaneous attack, 15 miles wide, or
I know not how wide, but done with vigour; and, after
a stiff struggle in the small way, drove them all in; --
* Seyfarth, in. 28; Archenholtz, n. 304.
** Tempelhof, v. 351-377; Archenholtz, n. 294-307; especially the Sey farth Bcylagen above cited.
December 6th, starts;
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? CHAP. IX. ] TRAITOR WARKOTSCH. 239
9th-16th Dec. 1761.
in, all of them, more or less; -- and then did nothing
farther whatever. Henri had to contract his quarters,
and stand alertly on his guard: but nothing came.
"Shall have to winter in straiter quarters, behind
the Mulda, not astride of it as formerly; that is all. "
And so the Campaign in Saxony had ended, "without,
"in the whole course of it" (say the Books), "either
"party gaining any essential advantage over the
"other. "*
* Seyfarth, m. 54; Tempelhof, v. 275 et seq. (ibid. pp. 263-280 for the
Campaign at large, in all breadth of detail).
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? 240
FEIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Oct. 17C1. --July 1762.
CHAPTER X.
FRIEDRICH IN BRESLAU; HAS NEWS FROM PETERSBURG.
Since December 9th, Friedrich is in Breslau, in
some remainder of his ruined Palace there; and is re-
presented to us, in Books, as sitting amid ruins; no
prospect ahead of him but ruin. Withdrawn from So-
ciety; looking fixedly on the gloomiest future. Sees
hardly anybody; speaks, except it be on business,
nothing. "One day," I have read somewhere, "General
"Lentulus dined with him; and there was not a word
"uttered at all. " The Anecdote-Books have Dialogues
withZiethen; Ziethen still trusting in Divine Providence;
King trusting only in the iron Destinies, and the stern
refuge of Death with honour: Dialogues evidently sym-
bolical only. In fact, this is not, or is not altogether,
the King's common humour. He has his two Nephews
with him (the elder, old enough to learn soldiering, is
to be of next Campaign under him); he is not without
society when he likes, -- never without employment
whether he like or not; and in the blackest murk of
despondencies has his Turk and other Illusions, which
seem to be brighter this Year than ever. * .
For certain, the King is making all preparation, as
if victory might still crown him: though of practical
hope he, doubtless often enough, has little or none.
England seems about deserting him; a most sad and
unexpected change has befallen there: great Pitt thrown
* Letters to Henri: in Schdning, m. (sayriiis).
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?
rather night of the day, of Friedrich's arrival there-
* Temgelhof, v. 349.
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? CHAP. t? . ] TRAITOR WARKOTSCH. 227
5th Oct. -- 30th Nov. 1761.
abouts; most of his Army ahead of him, and the re-
mainder all under way. Friedrich and the rearward
part of his Army are filing about, in that new Strehlen-
ward movement of theirs, under cloud of night, in the
intricate Hill-and-Dale Country, to post themselves to
the best advantage for their double object, of covering
Breslau and Neisse both. Kappel loquitur; abridged
by Kiister, whom we abridge:
"Monday Night, October 5th, 1761, The King, with two or
"three attendants, still ahead of his Army, appeared atSchon-
"brunn, a Schloss and Village, five or six miles south from
"Strehlen;* and did the owner, Baron von Warkotsch, an
"acquaintance of his, the honour of lodging there. Before
"bed-time, -- if indeed the King intended bed at all, meaning
"to be off in four hours hence, -- Friedrich inquired of War-
"kotsch for 'a trusty man, well acquainted with the roads in
"this Country. ' Warkotsch mentioned Kappel, his own
"Groom; one who undoubtedly knew every road of the
"Country; and who had always behaved as a trusty fellow in
"the seven years he had been with him. 'Let me see him,'
"said the King. Kappel was sent up, about midnight, King
"still dressed; sitting on a sofa, by the fire: Kappel's look
"was satisfactory; Kappel knows several roads to Strehlen,
"in the darkest night: 'It is the footpath which goes so-and-
"so that I want' (forFriedrich knows this Country intimately:
"readers remember his world-famous Camp of Strehlen, with
"all the diplomacies of Europe gathered there, through sum-
"mer, in the train of Mollwitz). 'Ja, Ihro Majestat, I know
"it! ' 'Be ready, then, at 4. '
"Before the stroke of 4, Kappel was at the door, on
"Master's best horse; the King's Groom too, and led horse, a
"nimble little gray, were waiting. As 4 struck, Friedrich
"came down, Warkotsch with him, 'Unspeakable the honour
"you have done my poor house! ' Besides the King's Groom,
"there were a Chamberlain, an Adjutant, and two mounted
* This is the Warkotsch Schdnbrunn; not the other near Schweidnitz,
as Archenholtz believes: see Avchenholz, n. 287, and the bit of myth he has
gone into in consequence,
15*
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? 228 FEIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
5th Oct. --30th Nov. 1761.
"Chasers (reitende Jager), which latter had each a lighted
"lantern: in all seven persons, including Kappel and the
"King. 'Go before us on foot with your lanterns,' said the
"King. Very dark it was. 'And overnight the Army had
"arrived all about; some of them just coming in, on different
"roads and paths. The King walked above two miles, and
"looked how the Regiments were, without speaking a word.
"At last, as the cannons came up, and were still in full
"motion, the King said: 'Sharp, sharp, Bursche; it will be
"March directly. ' 'March? The Devil it will; we are just
"coming into Camp! " said a cannonier, not knowing itwas the
"King.
"then ordered, 'Blow out the lanterns; to horseback now! '
"and mounted, as we all did. Me he bade keep five steps
"ahead, five and not more, that he might see me; for it was
"very dark. Not far from the Lordship Casserey, where there
"is a Watermill, the King asked me, 'Haven't you missed
"the Bridge here? ' (a King that does not forget roads and
"topographies which may come to concern him! ) -- and bade
"us ride with the utmost silence, and make no jingle. As day
"broke, we were in sight of Strehlen, near by the Farm of
"Treppendorf. 'And do you know where the Kallenberg
"lies? ' said the King: 'It must be to left of the Town, near
'' the Hills; bring us thither! '
"When we got on the Kallenberg, it was not quite day;
"and we had to halt for more light. After some time, the
"King said to his Groom, 'Give me my perspective! ' looked
"slowly all round for a good while, and then said, 'I see no
"Austrians! ' -- (ground all at our choice, then; we know
"where to choose! ) 'The King then asked me if I knew the
"road to' -- in fact, to several places, which, in a Parish
History of those parts, would be abundantly interesting; but
must be entirely omitted here. * * * "The King called
"his Chamberlain; gave some sign, which meant 'Beer-
"money to Kappel! ' -- and I got four eight-groschen pieces"
(three shillings odd; a rich reward in those days); "and was
"bid tell my Master, 'That the King thanked him for the
"good quarters, and assured him of his favour. '
"Riding back across country, Kappel, some four or five
"miles homeward, came upon the 'whole Prussian Army,'
Walked on still a little while;
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? CHAP. IX. ] TRAITOR WARKOTSCff. 229
5th Oct. --30th Nov. 1761.
"struggling forward in their various Columns. Two Generals,
"-- one of them Krusemark, King's Adjutant (Colonel Kruse-
"mark, notGreneral, asKappel thinks, who came to know him
"some weeks after), -- had him brought up: to whom he
"gave account of himself, how he had been escorting the
"King, and where he had left his Majesty. 'Behind Strehlen,
"say you? Breslau road? Devil knows whither we shall all
"have to go yet! ' observed Krusemark, and left Kappel
"free. "*
In those weeks, Colberg Siege, Pitt's Catastrophe,
and high things are impending, or completed, else-
where: but this is the one thing noticeable hereabouts.
In regard to Strehlen, and Friedrich's history there,
what we have to say turns all upon this Kappel and
Warkotsch: and, -- after mentioning only that Fried-
rich's lodging is not in Strehlen proper, but in Woisel-
witz, a village or suburb almost half a mile off, and
very negligently guarded -- we have to record an
Adventure which then made a great deal of noise in
the world.
Warkotsch is a rich lord; Schonbrunn only one of
five or six different Estates which he has in those
parts; though, not many years ago, being younger
brother, he was a Captain in the Austrian service (Re-
giment Bottn, if you are particular); and lay in Olmiitz,
-- with very dull outlooks; not improved, I should
judge, by the fact that Silesia and the Warkotsch con-
nexions were become Prussian since this junior entered
the Austrian Army. The junior had sown his wild
oats, and was already getting gray in the beard, in
that dull manner, when, about seven years ago, his
* Kiister, Lebeus-Rettwigen, pp. 66-76.
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? 230 FR1EDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
5th Oct. --30th Nov. 1761.
Elder Brother, to whom Friedrich had always been kind, fell unwell; and, in the end of 1755, died: where-
upon the junior saw himself Heir; and entered on a
new phase of things. Quitted his Captaincy, quitted
his allegiance; and was settled here peaceably under
his new King in 1756, a little while before this War
broke out. And, at Schonbrunn, October 5th, 1761,
has had his Majesty himself for guest.
Warkotsch was not long in riding over to Strehlen
to pay his court, as in duty bound, for the honour of
such a Visit; and from that time, Kappel, every day or
two, had to attend him thither. The King had always
had a favour for Warkotsch's late Brother, as an ex-
cellent Silesian Landlord and Manager, whose fine
Domains were in an exemplary condition; as, under
the new Warkotsch too, they have continued to be.
Always a gracious Majesty to this Warkotsch as well;
who is an old soldier withal, and man of sense and in-
genuity; acceptable to Friedrich, and growing more
and more familiar among Friedrich's circle of Officers
now at Strehlen.
To Strehlen is Warkotsch's favourite ride; in the
solitary country, quite a charming adjunct to your
usual dull errand out for air and exercise. Kappel,
too, remarks about this time that he (Kappel) gets
once and again, and ever more frequently, a Letter to
carry over to Siebenhuben, a Village three or four
miles off; the Letter always for one Schmidt, who is
Catholic Curate there; Letter under envelope, well
sealed, -- and consisting of two pieces, if you finger
it judiciously. And, what is curious, the Letter never
has any address; Master merely orders, "Punctual; for
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? CHAP. IX. ] TRAITOR WARKOTSCH. 231
5th Oct. -- 30th Nov. 1761.
Curatus Schmidt, you know! " What can this be?
thinks Kappel. Some secret, doubtless; perhaps some
intrigue, which Madam must not know of, -- "Ach,
Herr Baron; and at your age, -- fifty, I am sure! "
Kappel, a solid fellow, concerned for groom-business
alone, punctually carries his Letters; takes charge of
the Responses too, which never have any Address; and
does not too much trouble himself with curiosities of
an impertinent nature.
To these external phenomena I will at present only
add this internal one: That an old Brother Officer of
Warkotsch's, a Colonel Wallis, with Hussars, is now
lying at Heinrichau, -- say, 10 miles from Strehlen,
and about 10 from Schonbrunn too, or a mile more if
you take the Siebenhuben way; and that all these mis-
sives, through Curatus Schmidt, are for Wallis the
Hussar Colonel, and must be a secret, not from Madam
alone! How a Baron, hitherto of honour, could all at
once become turpissimus, the Superlative of Scoundrels?
This is even the reason, -- the prize is so super-
lative.
"Monday Night, November 30th, 1761" (night bitter cold),
"Kappel finds himself sitting mounted, and holding Master's
"horse, in Strehlen, more exactly in Woiselwitz, a Suburb of
"Strehlen, near the King's door, -- Majesty's travelling-
"coach drawn out there, symbol that Strehlen is ending,
"general departure towards Breslau now nigh. Not to
"Kappel's sorrow, perhaps, waiting in the cold there. Kappel
"waits, hour after hour; Master taking his ease with the
"King's people, regardless of the horses and me, in this
"shivery weather; -- and one must not walk about either, for
"disturbing the King's sleep! Not till midnight does Master
"emerge, and the freezing Kappel and quadrupeds get under
"way. Under way, Master breaks out into singular talk
"about the King's lodging: Was ever anything so careless;
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? 232 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
5th Oct. --30th Nov. 1761.
"nothing but two sentries in the King's anteroom; thirteen
"all the soldiers that are in Woiselwitz; Strehlen not avail-
able in less than twenty minutes: nothing but woods,
"haggly glens and hills, all on to Heinrichau: How easy to
"snatch off his Majesty! 'Um Gottes Willen, my Lord, don't
"speak so: think if a patrolling Prussian were to hear it, in
"the dark! ' Pooh, pooh, answers the Herr Baron.
"At Schonbrunn, in the short hours, Kappel finds Frau
"Kappel in a state of unappeasable curiosity: 'What can it
"be? Curatus Schmidt was here all afternoon; much in haste
"to see Master; had to go at last, -- for the Church-service,
"this St. Andrew's Eve. And only think, though he sat with
"My Lady hours and hours, he left this Letter with me:
"" "Give it to your Husband, for my Lord, the instant they
"come; and say I must have an Answer tomorrow morning
"at 7. "" Left it with me, not with My Lady; -- My Lady not
"to know of it! ' 'Tush, woman! ' But Frau Kappel has been,
"Letter; has applied to two fellow-servants, one after the
"other, who can read writing, 'Breakitup, willyou! ' But
"they would not. Practical Kappel takes the Letter up to
"Master's room; delivers it, with the Message. 'What,
"Curatus Schmidt! ' interrupts My Lady, who was sitting
"there: 'Herr Good-man, what is that? ' 'That is a Letter
"to me,' answers the Good-man: 'What have you to do with
"it? ' Upon which My Lady flounces out in a huff, and the
"Herr Baron sets about writing his Answer, whatever it
"may be.
"Kappel and Frau are gone to bed, Frau still eloquent
"upon the mystery of Curatus Schmidt, when his Lordship
"taps at their door; enters in the dark: 'This is for the Cura-
"tus, at 7 o'clock tomorrow; I leave it on the table here: be
"in time, like a good Kappel! ' Kappel promises his Un-
"appeasable that he will actually open this Piece before
"delivery of it; upon which she appeases herself, and they
"both fall asleep. Kappel is on foot betimes next morning.
"Kappel quietly pockets his Letter; still more quietly, from
"a neighbouring room, pockets his Master's big Seal (Pet-
"schaft), with a view to resealing: he then steps out; giving
"his Bursch" (Apprentice or Under-Groom) "order to be
"ready in so many minutes, 'You and these two horses'
"herself, unappeasably
about, ever since she got this
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? chAP. IX. ] TRAITOR WARKOTSCH.
5th Oct. -- 3Oth Nov. 1761.
"(specific for speed); and, in the interim, walks over, with
"Letter and Petschaft, to the Reverend Herr Gerlach's, for
"some preliminary business. Kappel is Catholic; Warkotsch,
"Protestant; Herr Gerlach is Protestant preacher in the
"Village of Schonbrunn,--much hated by Warkotsch, whose
"standing order is: 'Don't go near that insolent fellow;' but
"known by Kappel to be a just man, faithful in difficulties of
"the weak against the strong. Gerlach, not yet out of bed,
"listens to the awful story: reads the horrid missive; War-
"kotsch to Colonel Wallis: 'You can seize the King, living
"or dead, this night! "--hesitates about copying it (asKappel
"wishes, for a good purpose); but is encouraged by his Wife,
"and soon writes a Copy. This Copy Kappel sticks into the
"old cover, seals as usual; and, with the Original safe in his "own pocket, returns to the stables now. His Bursch and he "mount; after a little, he orders his Bursch: 'Bursch, ride
"you to Siebenhuben and Curatus Schmidt, with this sealed
"Letter; you, and say nothing. I was to have gone myself,
"but cannot; be speedy, be discreet! ' And the Bursch dashes
"off for Siebenhuben with the sealed Copy, for Schmidt,
"Warkotsch, Wallis and Company's behoof; Kappel riding,
"at a still better pace, to Strehlen with the Original, for
"behoof of the King's Majesty.
"At Strehlen, King's Majesty not yet visible, Kappel has
"great difficulties in the anteroom among the sentry people.
"But he persists, insists: 'Read my Letter, then! ' which they
"dare not do; which only Colonel Krusemark, the Adjutant,
"perhaps dare. They take him to Krusemark. Krusemark
"reads, all aghast; locks up Kappel; runs to the King; re-
"turns, muffles Kappel in soldier's cloak and cap, and leads
"him in. The King, looking into Kappel's face, intoKap:
"pel's clear story and the Warkotsch handwriting, needed
"only a few questions; and the fit orders, as to Warkotsch
"and Company, were soon given: dangerous engineers now
"fallen harmless, blown up by their own petard. One of the
"King's first questions was: 'But how have I offended War-
"kotsch?
' Kappel does not know; 'Master is of strict wilful
"turn; -- Master would grumble and growl sometimes about
"the peasant people, and how a nobleman has now no power
"overthem, in comparison. ' 'Are you a Protestant? ' 'No,
"your Majesty, Catholic' 'See, ihr Herren,' said the King to
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? 234
FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE
OVERWHELMED. [b. 5th Oct. --30tll N<
[BOOK XX.
Nov. 1761.
"those about him; 'Warkotsch is a Protestant; his Curatus
"Schmidt is a Catholic; and this man is a Catholic: there are
"villains and honest people in every creed! '
"Atnoon, that day, Warkotsch had sat down to dinner,
"comfortably in his dressing-gown, nobody but the goodBa-
"roness there; whenRittmeisterRabenau suddenlydescended
on the Schloss and dining-room with dragoons: 'In arrest,
"Herr Baron; I am sorry you must go with me to Brieg! '
"Warkotsch, a strategic fellow, kept countenance to Wife
"and Rittmeister, in this sudden fall of the thunderbolt:
"'Yes, Herr Rittmeister; it is that mass of Corn I was to fur-
"nish' (showing him an actual order of that kind), 'and I am
"behind my time with it! Nobody can help his luck. Take a
"bit of dinner with us, any way! ' Rittmeister refused; but the
"Baroness too pressed him; he at length satdown. Warkotsch
"iwent 'to dress;' first of all, to give orders about his best
"horse; but was shocked to find that the dragoons were a
"hundred, and that every outgate was beset. Returning half-
"dressed, with an air of baffled hospitality:'Herr Rittmeister,
"our Schloss must not be disgraced; here are your brave fel-
"lows waiting, and nothingof refreshment ready for them. I
"have given order at the Tavern in the Village; send them
"down; there they shall drink better luck to me, and have a
"-- and in few minutes more, Warkotsch is in the Woods,
"galloping like Epsom, towards Wallis; and Rabenau can
"only arrest Madam (who knows nothing), and return in a
'baffled state.
"Schmidt too got away. The party sent after Schmidt
"found him in the little Town ofNimptsch, half way home
'again from his Wallis errand; comfortably dining with some
'innocent hospitable people there. Schmidt could not con-
'ceal his confusion; but pleading piteously a necessity of na-
"ture, was with difficulty admitted to the -- to the Abtritt so-
called; and there, by some long pole or rake-handle,
"vanished wholly through a never-imagined aperture, and
'' was no more heard of in the upper world. The Prussian sol-
'diery does not seem expert in thief-taking.
"Warkotsch came back about midnight that same Tues-
"day, 500 Wallis Hussars escorting him; and took away his
"ready moneys, near 5,000/. in gold, reports Frau Kappel,
Stupid Rabenau again consents:
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? chAP. ee. ] traitor wArrotsch. 235
5th Oct. -- 30th Nov. 1761.
"who witnessed the ghastly operation (Hussars in greatter-
"ror, in haste, and unconscionably greedy as to sharing); --
"after which our next news of him, the last of any clear
"authenticity, is this Note to his poor Wife, which was read in
"the Law Procedures on him six months hence: 'My Child
"(Mein Kind), -- The accursed thought I took up against my
"King has overwhelmed me in boundless misery. From the
"top of the highest hill I cannot see the limits of it. Farewell;
"I am in the farthest border of Turkey. -- WArkotsch. " ' *
Schmidt and he, after patient trial, were both of
them beheaded and quartered, -- in pasteboard effigy,
-- in the Salt Ring (Great Square) of Breslau, May
1762: -- in pasteboard, Friedrich liked it better than
the other way. "Meinetwegen" wrote he, sanctioning
the execution, "For aught I care; the Portraits will
likely be as worthless as the Originals," Rittmeister
Rabenau had got off with a few days' arrest, and the
remark, uEr ist ein dummer Teufel (You are a stupid
devil)! " Warkotsch's Estates, all and sundry, deduct-
ing the Baroness's jointure, which was punctually paid
her, were confiscated to the King, -- and by him were
made over to the Schools of Breslau and Glogau, which,
I doubt not, enjoy them to this day. Reverend Gerlach
in Schonbrunn, Kappel and Kappel's Bursch, were all
attended to, and properly rewarded, though there are
rumours to the contrary. Hussar-Colonel Wallis got
no public promotion, though it is not doubted the
Head People had been well cognisant of his ingenious
intentions. Official Vienna, like mankind in general,
shuddered to own him; the great Counts Wallis at
Vienna published in the Newspapers, "Our House has
no connexion with that gentleman;" -- and, in fact,
* Kiister, Lebens-Rettungen, p. 88: Kiister, p. 65-188 (for the general
Narrative); Tempelhof, v. 346, &c. &c.
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? 286 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Uth-lCth Doc. 1761.
he was of Irish breed, it seems, the name of him
WalVsch (or Walsh), if one cared. Warkotsch died at
Raab (this side the farthest corner of Turkey), in 1769:
his poor Baroness had vanished from Silesia five years
before, probably to join him. He had some pension
or aliment from the Austrian Court; small or not so
small is a disputed point.
And this is, more minutely than need have been,
in authentic form only too diffuse, the once world-
famous Warkotsch Tragedy or Wellnigh-Tragic Melo-
drama; which is still interesting and a matter of study,
of pathos and minute controversy, to the patriot and
antiquary in Prussian Countries, though here we might
have been briefer about it. It would, indeed, have
"finished the War at once;" and on terms delightful
to Austria and its Generals near by. But so would
any unit of the million balls and bullets which have
whistled round that same Royal Head, and have, every
unit of them, missed like Warkotsch! Particular
Heads, royal and other, meant for use in the scheme
of things, are not to be hit on any terms till the use
is had.
Friedrich settled in Breslau for the Winter, De-
cember 9th. From Colberg bad news meet him in
Breslau; bad and ever worse: Colberg, not Warkotsch,
is the interesting matter there, for a fortnight coming,
-- till Colberg end, it also irremediable. The Russian
hope on Colberg is, long since, limited to that of famine.
We said the conveyance of Supplies, across such a
Hundred Miles of wilderness, from Stettin thither, with
Russians and the Winter gainsaying, was the difficulty.
Our short Note continues:
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? CHAP. IX. ] TRAITOR WARKOTSCH. 237
9th-16th Dec. 1761.
"In fact, it is the impossibility: trial after trial goes on, in
"a strenuous manner, but without success. October 13th,
"Green Kleist tries; October 22d, Knobloch and even Platen
"try. For the next two months, there is trial on trial made
"(Hussar Kleist, Knobloch, Thadden, Platen), not without
"furious fencing, struggling; but with no success. There are,
"in wait at the proper places, 15,000 Russians waylaying.
"Winter comes early, and unusually severe: such marchings,
"such endeavourings and endurances, -- without success! "For darkness, cold, grim difficulty, fierce resistance to it,
"one reads few things like this of Colberg. 'The snow lies
"'ell-deep,' says Archenholtz; 'snow-tempests, sleet, frost:
"'a country wasted and hungered out; wants fuelwood;
'"has not even salt. The soldier's bread is a block of
"'ice; impracticable to human teeth till you thaw it, --
"'which is only possible by night. ' The Russian ships dis-
appear (17th October); November 2d, Butturlin, leaving
"reinforcements without stint, vanishes towards Poland. The
"day before Butturlin went, there had been solemn summons
"upon Eugen, 'Surrender honourably, we once more bid
'"you; never will we leave this ground, till Colberg is ours! '
"'Vain to propose it! ' answers Eugen, as before. The Rus-
sians too are clearly in great misery of want; though with
"better roads open for them; and Romanzow's obstinacy is
"extreme.
"Night of November 14th-15th, Eugen, his horse-fodder
"being entirely done, and Heyde's magazines worn almost
"out, is obliged to glide mysteriously, circuitously from his
"Camp, and go to try the task himself. The most difficult of
"marches, gloriously executed; which avails to deliver Eugen,
"and lightens the pressure on Heyde's small store. Eugen, in
"a way Tempelhoi cannot enough admire, gets clear away.
"Joins with Platen, collects Provision; tries to send Provision
"in, but withouteffect. By the King's order, is to try it himself
"in a collective form. Had Heyde food, he would care
"little.
"Romanzow, who is now in Eugen's old Camp, summons
"the Veteran; they say, it is 'for the twenty-fifth time,' -- not
"yet quite the last. Heyde consults his people: 'Kameraden,
"'what think you should I do? ' 'Thun Sie's durchaus nicht,
"' Herr Obrist, Do not a whit of it, Herr Colonel: we will de-
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? 238
FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
9th-16th Dec. 1761.
"'fend ourselves as long as we have bread and powder. ' * It
"is grim frost; Heyde pours water on his walls. Eomanzow
"tries storm; the walls are glass; the garrison has powder,
'' though on half rations as to bread: storm is of no effect. By
"has again a march of the most consummate kind; December
"12th, gets to the Russian entrenchment; storms aRussian re-
"doubt, and fights inexpressibly; but it will not do. With-
"draws; leaves Colberg to its fate. Next morning, Heyde
"gets his twenty-sixth summons; reflects on it two days; and
"then (December 16th), his biscuit done, decides to 'march
"out, with music playing, arms shouldered, and the honours
"of war. '** Adieu to the old Hero; who, we hope, will not
stay long in Russian prison.
"What a Place of Arms for us! " thinks Romanzow;
-- "though, indeed, for Campaign 1762, at this late
time of year, it will not so much avail us. " No; --
and for 1763, who knows if you will need it then!
Six weeks ago, Prince Henri and Daun had finished
their Saxon Campaign in a much more harmless man-
ner. November bth, Daun, after infinite rallying,
marshalling, re-arranging, and counselling with Loudon,
who has sat so long quiescent on the Heights at Kunzen-
dorf, ready to aid and reinforce, did at length (nothing
of "rashness" chargeable on Daun) make "a general
attack on Prince Henri's outposts," in the Meissen or
Mulda-Elbe Country, "from Rosswein all across to
Siebeneichen;" simultaneous attack, 15 miles wide, or
I know not how wide, but done with vigour; and, after
a stiff struggle in the small way, drove them all in; --
* Seyfarth, in. 28; Archenholtz, n. 304.
** Tempelhof, v. 351-377; Archenholtz, n. 294-307; especially the Sey farth Bcylagen above cited.
December 6th, starts;
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? CHAP. IX. ] TRAITOR WARKOTSCH. 239
9th-16th Dec. 1761.
in, all of them, more or less; -- and then did nothing
farther whatever. Henri had to contract his quarters,
and stand alertly on his guard: but nothing came.
"Shall have to winter in straiter quarters, behind
the Mulda, not astride of it as formerly; that is all. "
And so the Campaign in Saxony had ended, "without,
"in the whole course of it" (say the Books), "either
"party gaining any essential advantage over the
"other. "*
* Seyfarth, m. 54; Tempelhof, v. 275 et seq. (ibid. pp. 263-280 for the
Campaign at large, in all breadth of detail).
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? 240
FEIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Oct. 17C1. --July 1762.
CHAPTER X.
FRIEDRICH IN BRESLAU; HAS NEWS FROM PETERSBURG.
Since December 9th, Friedrich is in Breslau, in
some remainder of his ruined Palace there; and is re-
presented to us, in Books, as sitting amid ruins; no
prospect ahead of him but ruin. Withdrawn from So-
ciety; looking fixedly on the gloomiest future. Sees
hardly anybody; speaks, except it be on business,
nothing. "One day," I have read somewhere, "General
"Lentulus dined with him; and there was not a word
"uttered at all. " The Anecdote-Books have Dialogues
withZiethen; Ziethen still trusting in Divine Providence;
King trusting only in the iron Destinies, and the stern
refuge of Death with honour: Dialogues evidently sym-
bolical only. In fact, this is not, or is not altogether,
the King's common humour. He has his two Nephews
with him (the elder, old enough to learn soldiering, is
to be of next Campaign under him); he is not without
society when he likes, -- never without employment
whether he like or not; and in the blackest murk of
despondencies has his Turk and other Illusions, which
seem to be brighter this Year than ever. * .
For certain, the King is making all preparation, as
if victory might still crown him: though of practical
hope he, doubtless often enough, has little or none.
England seems about deserting him; a most sad and
unexpected change has befallen there: great Pitt thrown
* Letters to Henri: in Schdning, m. (sayriiis).
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