Daun, we said, is now arrived in those
parts: Daun and the Reich together are near 100,000;
Daun some 60,000, -- Loudon having stayed behind,
and gone southward, for a stroke on Kosel (if Goltz
will permit, which he won't at all!
parts: Daun and the Reich together are near 100,000;
Daun some 60,000, -- Loudon having stayed behind,
and gone southward, for a stroke on Kosel (if Goltz
will permit, which he won't at all!
Thomas Carlyle
hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.
hathitrust.
org/access_use#pd-google
? 98 FRIEDEICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
9th-12thOct. l760.
"the generous Gotzkowsky said in his heart, 'No;' and
"again pleaded and prevailed. Ephraim and Itzig, foul
"swollen creatures, were not broached at all; and their grati-
"tude was, That, at a future day, Gotzkowsky's day of bank-
"ruptcy, they were hardest of any on Gotzkowsky.
"Archenholtz and the Books are enthusiastically copious
"upon Gotzkowsky and his procedures: but we must be silent.
"This Anecdote only, in regard to Freedom of the Press,--
"to the so-called 'air we breathe, not having which we die! '
"Would modern Friends of Progress believe it? Because, in
"former stages of this War, the Berlin Newspapers have had
"offensive expressions (scarcely noticeable to the microscope,
"in our day, and below calculation for smallness) upon the
"Russian and Austrian Sovereigns or Peoples, -- the Able
"Editors (there are only Two) shall now in person, here in the
"Market-place of Berlin, actually run the gauntlet for it, --
'"run the rods (Gassen-laufen'), as the fashion now is; --
"which is worse than gauntlet, not to speak of the ignominy.
"That is the barbaric Russian notion: 'Who are you, ill-in-
"formed insolent persons, that give a loose to your tongue in
"that manner? Strip to the waistband, swift! Here is the true
"career opened for you: on each hand, one hundred sharp
"rods ranked waiting you; run your courses there, -- nohurry
"more than you like! ' The alternative of death, I suppose,
"was open to these Editors; Roman death at least, and mar-
"tyrdom for a new Faith (Faith in the Loose Tongue), very
"sacred to the Democratic Ages now at hand. But nobody
"seems to have thought of it; Editors and Public took the
"thing as a sorrow incident to this dangerous Profession of
"the Tongue Loose (or looser than usual); which nobody yet
"knew to be divine. The Editors made passionate enough
"lamentation, in the stript state; one ot them, with loud
"weeping, pulled off his wig, showed ice-gray hair; 'I am in
'"my 68th year! ' But it seems nothing would have steaded
"them, had not Gotzkowsky been busy interceding. By
"virtue of whom there was pardon privately in readiness: to
"the icegray Editor complete pardon; to the junior, quasi-
"complete; only a few switches to assert the principle, and
"dismissal with admonition. " *
* Hclden-Geschichlc, vi. 103-148; Rftdenbeck, n. 41-54; Archenholtz,
ii. 130-147; Preuss, ubi supra; &c. &c.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. Iv. ] DAUN AND FRIEDRICH. 99
9th-12th Oct. 1760.
The pleasant part of the fact is, that Gotzkowsky's
powerful intercessions were thenceforth no farther
needed. The same day, Saturday, October 11th, a
few hours after this of the Gassen-laufen, news arrived
full gallop: "The King is coming! " After which it
was beautiful to see how all things got to the gallop;
and in a no-time Berlin was itself again. That same
evening, Saturday, Lacy took the road, with extra-
ordinary velocity, towards Torgau Country, where the
Reichsfolk, in Hiilsen's absence, are supreme; and, the
second evening after, was got 60 miles thitherward.
His joint dominion had been of Two days. On the
morning of Sunday 12th, went Tottleben, who had
businesses, settlements of ransom and the like, before
marching. Tottleben, too, made uncommon despatch;
marched, as did all these invasive Russians, at the rate
of thirty miles a day; their Main Army likewise moving
off from Frankfurt to a safer distance. Friedrich was
still five marches off; but there seemed not a moment
to lose.
The Russian spoilings during the retreat were more
horrible than ever: "The gallows gaping for us; and
only this one opportunity, if even this! " thought the
agitated Cossack to himself. Our poor friend Niissler
had a sad tale to tell of them;* as who had not?
Terror and murder, incendiary fire and other worse
unnameable abominations of the Pit. One old Half-
pay gentleman, whom I somewhat respect, desperately
barricaded himself, amid his domestics and tenantries,
Wife and Daughters assisting: "Human Russian Offi-
cers can enter here; Cossacks no, but shall kill us
* In Biisching, Beytraqe, I. 400, 401, account of their sacking of Niiss-
ler's pleasant home and estate, "Weissensee, near Berlin. "
7*
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 100 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
15tb. -17th Oct. 1760.
first. Not a Cossack till all of us are lying dead! "*
And kept his word; the human Russians owning it to
be proper.
In Guben Country, "at Gross-Muckro, October
15th," the day after passing Guben, Friedrich first
heard for certain, That the Russians had been in Ber-
lin, and also that they were gone, and that all was
over. He made two marches farther, -- not now direct
for Berlin, but direct for Saxony and it; -- to Lubben,
50 or 60 miles straight south of Berlin; and halted
there some days, to adjust himself for a new sequel.
"These are the things," exclaims he, sorrowfully, to
DArgens, "which I have been in dread of since Win-
"ter last; this is what gave the dismal tone to my
"Letters to you. It has required not less than all my
"philosophy to endure the reverses, the provocations,
"the outrages, and the whole scene of atrocious things
"that have come to pass. "** Friedrich's grief about
Berlin we need not paint; though there were murmurs
afterwards, "Why did not he start sooner? " which he
could not, in strict reason, though aware that these
savageries were on march. He had hoped the Eugen-
Hiilsen appliances, even should all else fail, might keep
them at bay. And indeed, in regard to these latter,
it turned only on a hair. Montalembert calculating,
vows, on his oath, "Can assure you, M. l'Ambassadeur,
"puis Men vous assurer comme si fe'tais devant Dieu, as
"if I stood before God,"*** that, from first to last, it
was my doing; that, but for me, at the very last, the
* Archenholtz, n. 150.
** (Euvres de FrUirie, xix, 199: "22d Oct. "
*** Montalembert, n. 108.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. nr. ] DAUN AND FRIEDRICH. 101
17th Oct. 1760.
Russians, on sight of Hiilsen and Eugen, and no Lacy
come, would have marched away!
Friedrich's orderings and adjustings, dated Liihben,
where his Army rested after this news from Berlin,
were manifold; and a good deal still of wrecks from
the Berlin Business fell to his share. For instance,
one thing he had at once ordered: "Your Bill of a
Million-and-half to the Russians, don't pay it, or any
part of it! When Bamberg was ransomed, Spring gone
a year, -- Reich and Kaiser, did they respect our
Bill we had on Bamberg? Did not they cancel it,
and flatly refuse? " Friedrich is positive on the point,
"Reprisal our clear remedy! " But Berlin itself was
in alarm, for perhaps another Russian visit; Berlin
and Gotzkowsky were humbly positive the other way.
Upon which a visit of Gotzkowsky to the Royal Camp:
"Merchants' Bills are a sacred thing, Your Majesty! "
urged Gotzkowsky. Who, in his zeal for the matter,
undertook dangerous visits to the Russian Quarters,
and a great deal of trouble, peril and expense, during
the weeks following. Magnanimous Gotzkowsky, "in
"mere bribes to the Russian Officials, spent about
"6,000/. of his own," for one item. But he had at
length convinced his Majesty that Merchants' Bills were
a sacred thing, in spite of Bamberg and desecrative
individualities; and that this Million-and-half must be
paid. Friedrich was struck with Gotzkowsky and his
view of the facts. Friedrich, from his own distressed
funds, handed to Gotzkowsky the necessary Million-
and-half, commanding only profound silence about it;
and to Gotzkowsky himself a present of 150,000 thalers
(20,0001. odd. ); * and so the matter did at last end. y
? Arclionhollz, u. 146.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 102 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
17th Oct. 1760.
It had been a costly business to Berlin, and to the
King, and to the poor harried Country. To Berlin,
bombardment of ten hours; alarm of discursive siege-
work in the environs for five days; foreign yoke for
three days; lost money to the amounts above stated;
what loss in wounds to body or to peace of mind, or
whether any loss that way, nobody has counted. The
Berlin people rose to a more than Roman height of
temper, testifies D'Argens;* so that perhaps it was a
gain. The King's Magazines and War-furnitures about
Berlin are wasted utterly, -- Arsenal itself not blown
up, we well know why; -- and much Hunnish ruin in
Charlottenburg, with damage to Antiques, -- for which
latter clause there shall, in a few months, be reprisal,
if it please the Powers!
Of all this, Montalembert declares, "Before God,
that he, Montalembert, is and was the mainspring. "
And indeed, Tempelhof, without censure of Montalem-
bert and his vocation, but accurately computing time
and circumstance, comes to the same conclusion; -- as
thus: "October 8th, seeing no Lacy come, Czernichef,
"had it not been for Montalembert's eloquence, had
"fixed for returning to Cbpenik: whom cautious Lacy
"would have been obliged to imitate. Suppose Czer-
"nichef had, October 9th, got to Copenik, -- Eugen
"and Hiilsen remain at Berlin; Czernichef could not
"have got back thither before the 11th; on the 11th
"was news of Friedrich's coming; which set all on
"gallop to the right about. "** So that really, before
God, it seems Montalembert must have the merit of
? (Euvres de Frederic, xix. 195-199: i"D'Argens to the King: Berlin,
19th October 1760," -- an interesting Letter of details.
** Tempelhof, iv. 277.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. iv. l DAUN AND FRIEDRICH. 103
17th Oct. 1760.
this fine achievement: -- the one fruit, so far as I can
discover, of his really excellent reasonings, eloquences,
patiences, sown broadcast, four or five long years, on
such a field as fine human talent never had before. I
declare to you, M. l'Ambassadeur, this excellent vulture-
swoop on Berlin, and burning or reburning of the Pea-
santry of the Mark, is due solely to one poor zealous
gentleman! --
What was next to follow out of this, -- in Torgau
neighbourhood, where Daun now stands expectant, --
poor M. de Montalembert was far from anticipating;
and will be in no haste to claim the merit of before
God or man.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 104 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
20th Oct. -- 3d Nov. 1760.
CHAPTER V.
BATTLE OF TORGAU.
After Hiilsen's fine explosion on the Diirrenberg,
August 20th, on the incompetent Reichs Generals, there
had followed nothing eminent; new futilities, attempt-
ings and desistings, advancings and recoilings, on the
part of the Reich; Hulsen solidly maintaining himself,
in defence of his Torgau Magazine and Saxon interests
in those regions, against such overwhelming odds, till
relief and reinforcement for them and him should arrive;
and gaining time, which was all he could aim at in such
circumstances. Had the Torgau Magazine been bigger,
perhaps Hulsen might have sat there to the end. But
having solidly eaten out said Magazine, what could
Hulsen do but again move rearward? * Above all, on
the alarm from Berlin, which called him off double-
quick, things had to go their old road in that quarter.
Weak Torgau was taken, weak Wittenberg besieged.
Leipzig, Torgau, Wittenberg, all that Country, by the
time the Russians left Berlin, was again the Reich's.
Eugen and Hulsen, . hastening for relief of Wittenberg,
the instant Berlin was free, found Wittenberg a heap
of ruins, out of which the Prussian garrison, very hunger
urging, had issued the day before, as prisoners of war.
Nothing more to be done by Eugen, but take post,
within reach of Magdeburg and victual, and wait new
Order from the King.
* Hofbericht von dem Riickzug des General-Lieutenants von Hitlsen o<<s
dem Layer bey Torgau (ia Seyfarth, Beylagen, u. 755-784).
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. v. ] BATTLE OF TORGAU. 105
20th Oct. --3d Nov. 1760.
The King is very unquestionably coming on; leaves
Liibben thitherward October 20th. * With full fixity
of purpose as usual; but with as gloomy an outlook as
ever before.
Daun, we said, is now arrived in those
parts: Daun and the Reich together are near 100,000;
Daun some 60,000, -- Loudon having stayed behind,
and gone southward, for a stroke on Kosel (if Goltz
will permit, which he won't at all! ), -- and the Reich
35,000. Saxony is all theirs; cannot they maintain
Saxony? Not a Town or a Magazine now belongs to
Friedrich there, and he is in number as 1 to 2. "Main-
tain Saxony; indisputably you can! " that is the express
Vienna Order, as Friedrich happens to know. The
Russians themselves have taken Camp again, and wait
visibly, about Landsberg and the Warta Country, till
they see Daun certain of executing said Order; upon
which they intend, they also, to winter in those Elbe
Prussian parts, and conjointly to crush Friedrich into
great confinement indeed. Friedrich is aware of this
Vienna Order; which is a kind of comfort in the cir-
cumstances. The intentions of the hungry Russians,
too, are legible to Friedrich; and he is much resolved
that said Order shall be impossible to Daun. "Were
it to be possible, we are landless. Where are our re-
cruits, our magazines, our resources for a new Cam-
paign? We may as well die, as suffer that to be pos-
sible! " Such is Friedrich's fixed view. He says to
D'Argens:
"You, as a follower of Epicurus, put a value on
"life; as for me, I regard death from the Stoic point
* Rbdenbeck, n. 35: in Anonymous of Hamburg (iv. 241-245) Friedrich's
Two Marches, towards and from Berlin (7th-17th October, to Lttbben;
thence, 20th October--3d November, to Torgau).
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 106 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
20th Oct. -- 3d Nov. 1760.
"of view. Never shall I see the moment that forces
"me to make a disadvantageous Peace; no persuasion,
"no eloquence, shall ever induce me to sign my dis-
honour. Either I will bury myself under the ruins
"of my Country, or if that consolation appears too
"sweet to the Destiny that persecutes me, I shall know
"how to put an end to my misfortunes when it is im-
possible to bear them any longer. I have acted,
"and continue to act, according to that interior voice
"of conscience and of honour which directs all my steps:
"my conduct shall be, in every time, conformable to
"those principles. After having sacrificed my youth to
"my Father, my ripe years to my Country, I think I
"have acquired the right to dispose of my old age. I
"have told you, and I repeat it, Never shall my hand
"sign a humiliating Peace. Finish this Campaign I
"certainly will, resolved to dare all, and to try the
"most desperate things either to succeed or to find a
"glorious end (fin glorieuse). " *
Friedrich had marched from Liibben, after three-
days settling of affairs, October 20th; arrived at Jessen,
on the Elbe, within wind of Wittenberg, in two days
more. "He formed a small magazine at Diiben," says
Archenholtz; "and was of a velocity, a sharpness," --
like lightning, in a manner! Friedrich is uncommonly
dangerous when crushed into a corner, in this way; and
Daun knows that he is. Friedrich's manqeuverings
upon Daun -- all readers can anticipate the general
type of them. The studious military reader, if England
boasts any such, will find punctual detail of them in
* (Euvres de Frederic, xix. 202 ("Kemberg, 28th October 1760," a week
and a day before Torgau).
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. v. ] BATTLE OF TORGAU. 107
26lh Oct. 1760.
Tempelhof and the German Books. For our poor ob-
jects, here is a Summary which may suffice:
From Liibben, having winded up these bad businesses, --
and reinforced Goltz, at Glogau, to a 20,000 for Silesia's sake,
to look towards Kosel and Loudon's attempts there, -- Fried-
rich gathered himself into proper concentration; and with all
the strength now left to him, pushed forward (20th October)
towards Wittenberg, and recovery of those lost Saxon Coun-
tries. To Wittenberg from Liibben is some 60miles; -- can
be done, nearly, in a couple of days. With the King, after
Goltz is furnished, there are about 30,000; Eugen andHiilsen,
not idle for their own part, wait in those far Western or Ultra-
Wittenberg regions (in and beyond Dessau Country), to join
him with their 14,000, when they get signal. Joined with
these, he will be 44,000; he will then cross Elbe somewhere,
probably not where Daun and the Reich imagine, and be in
contact with his Problem; with what a pitch of willingness
nobody need be told! Daun, in Torgau Country, has one of
the best positions; nor is Daun a man for getting flurried.
The poor Reichs Army, though it once flattered itself with
intending to dispute Friedrich's passage of the Elbe, and did
make some detachings and manoeuverings that way, on his
approach to Wittenberg (October 22d-23d), -- took a safer
view, on his actual arrival there, on his re-seizure of that
ruined place, and dangerous attitude on the right bank below
and above. Safer view, on salutary second thoughts; -- and
fell back Leipzig-way, southward toDiiben, 30 or 40 miles.
Whence rapidly to Leipzig itself, 30 or 40 more, on his actu-
ally putting down his bridges over Elbe. Friedrich's crossing-
place was Schanzhaus, in Dessau Country, between Roslau and Klikau, 12 or 15 miles below Wittenberg; about midway
between Wittenberg and the inflow of the Mulda into Elbe.
He crossed j October 26th, no enemy within wind at all; Daun
at Torgau in his inexpugnable Camp, Reichsfolk at Diiben,
making towards Leipzig at their best pace. And is now
wholly between Elbe and Mulda; nothing but Mulda and the
Anhalt Countries and the Halle Country now to rear of him.
At Jonitz, next march southward, he finds the Eugen-
Hiilsen people ready. We said they had not been idle while
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 108 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
a-Ji. li Oct. 1760.
waiting signal: of which here is one pretty instance. Eugen's
Brother, supreme Reigning Duke of Wiirtemberg, -- whom
we parted with at Fulda, last Winter, on sore terms; but who
again, zealous creature, heads his own little Army in French-
Austrian service, in still more eclipsed circumstances ("No
subsidy at all, this Year, say your august Majesties? Well,
I must do without: a volunteer; and shall need only what I
can make by forced contributions! " which of course he is dili- gent to levy wherever possible), -- has latterly taken Halle
ountryin hand, very busy raising contributions there: and
Eugen hears, not without interest, that certain regiments or
detachments of his, pushed out, are lying here, there, super-
intending that salutary work, --within clutch, perhaps, of
Kleist the Hussar! Eugen despatches Kleist upon him; who
pounces with his usual fierce felicity upon these people. To
such alarm of his poor Serenity and poor Army, that Serenity
flies off homeward at once, and out of these Wars altogether;
where he never had other than the reverse of business to be,
and where he has played such a farce-tragedy for four years
back. Eugen has been heard to speak, -- theoretically, and
in excited moments, -- of "running such a fellow through the
body, were one near him:" but it is actually Eugen in person
that sends him home from these Wars: which may be counted
a not unfraternal or unpatriotic procedure; being of indisput-
able benefit to the poor Sovereign man himself, and to every-
body concerned with him. *
Hearing that Friedrich was across, Daun came westward
that same day (October 26th), and planted himself at Eilen-
burg; concluding that the Reichsfolk would now be in jeo-
pardy first of all. Which was partly the fact; and indeed this
Daun movement rather accelerated the completion of it.
Without this the Reichs Army might have lived another day.
It had quitted Duben (which is well ahead of Eilenburg), and
gone for Leipzig, at 1 in the morning, so soon as news could
reach it, at the gallop, That Friedrich was across. And now
Friedrich, seeingDaun out in this manner, judged that a junc-
tion was contemplated; and that one could not be too swift in
preventing it. October 29th, with one diligent march, Fried-
rich posted himself at Diiben; there, between Daun and the
Reichsfolk, detached Hiilsen with a considerable force to visit
these latter in Leipzig itself; and began with all diligence form-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. v. ] BATTLE OF TORGAU. 109
2d Nov. 1760.
ing "a small Magazine inDiiben," Magdeburg and the cur-
rent of the Elbe being hitherto his only resource inthat kind.
By the time of Hiilsen's return, this little operation will be
well forward, and Daun will have declared himself a little.
Hiilsen, evening of October 30th, found Leipzig in con-
siderable emotion, the Reichsfolk taking refuge in it: not the
least inclined to stand a push, when Hiilsen presented himself.
Night of 30th-31st, there was summoning and menacing;
Reich endeavouring to answer in firm style; but all the while
industriously packing up to go. By 5 in the morning, things
had come to extremity; -- morning, happily for some of us,
was dark mist. But about 5 o'clock, Hiilsen (or Hiilsen's Second) coming on with menace of fire and sword upon these
poorEeichspeople, found the Reichspeople wholly vanished
in the mist. Gone bodily; in full march for the spurs of the
Metal-Mountain Range again; -- concluding, for the fourth
time, an extremely contemptible Campaign. Daun, with the
King ahead of him, made not the least attempt to help them in
their Leipzig difficulty; but retired to his strong Camp at Tor-
gau; feels his work to lie there, -- asFriedrich perceives of
him, with some interest.
Hiilsen left a little garrison in Leipzig (friend
Quintus a part of it);* and returned to the King;
whose small Magazine at Diiben, and other small affairs
there, -- Magdeburg with boats, and the King with
wagons, having been so diligent in carrying grain
thither, -- are now about completed. From Daun's
returning to Torgau, Friedrich infers that the cautious
man has got Order from Court to maintain Torgau at
all costs, -- to risk a battle rather than go. "Good:
he shall have one! " thinks Friedrich. And, November
2d, in four columns, marches towards Torgau; to
Schilda, that night, which is some seven miles on the
southward side of Torgau. The King, himself in the
vanguard as usual, has watched with eager questioning
* Tempelhof, iv. 290.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 110 FRIEDEICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
2d Nov. 1760.
eye the courses of Daun's advanced parties, and by
what routes they retreat; discerns for certain that
Daun has no views upon Duben or our little Magazine;
and that the tug of wrestle for Torgau, which is to
crown this Campaign into conquest of Saxony, or
shatter it into zero like its foregoers on the Austrian
part, and will be of death-or-life nature on the Prus-
sian part, ought to ensue to-morrow. Forward, then!
This Camp of Torgau is not a new place to Daun.
It was Prince Henri's Camp, last Autumn; where Daun
tried all his efforts to no purpose; and though hugely
outnumbering the Prince, could make absolutely
nothing of it. Nothing, or less; and was flowing back to Dresden and the Bohemian Frontier, uncheered by
anything, till that comfortable Maxen Incident turned
up. Daun well knows the strength of this position.
Torgau and the Block of Hill to West, called Hill of
Siptitz: -- Hiilsen, too, stood here this Summer; not
to mention Finck and Wunsch, and their beating the
Reichspeople here. A Hill and Post of great strength;
not unfamiliar to many Prussians, nor to Friedrich's
studious considerations, though his knowledge of it was
not personal on all points; -- as Tomorrow taught
him, somewhat to his cost.
"Tourists, from Weimar and the Thiiringian Countries,"
says a Notebook, sometimes useful to us, "have most likely
"omitted Rossbach, in their screaming railway flight east-
"ward; and done little inLeipzig but endeavour to eat dinner,
"and, still more vainly, to snatch a little sleep in the inhuman
"dormitories of the Country. Next morning, screaming
"Dresdenward, they might, especially if military, pause at
"Oschatz, a stage or two Defore Meissen, where again are ob-
"jects of interest. You can look at Hubertsburg, if given
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. v. ] BATTLE OF TORGAU. Ill
2d Nov 1760.
"that way, -- a Royal Schloss, memorable on several
"grounds; -- at Hubertsburg, and at other features, in the
"neighbourhood of Oschatz. This done, or this left not done,
"you strike off leftward, that is northward, in some open ve-
"hicle, for survey of Torgau and its vicinities and environs.
"Not above fifteen miles for you; a drive singular and plea-
"sant; time enough to return and be in Dresden for dinner.
"Torgau is a fine solid old Town; Prussian military now
"abundant in it. In ancient Heathen times, I suppose, it
"meant the Gau, or District, of Thor; Capital of that Gau, --
"part of which, now under Christian or quasi-Christian cir-
"cumstances, you have just been traversing, with Elbe on
"your right hand. Innocent rural aspects of Humanity,
"Boor's life, Gentry's life, all the way, not in any holiday
"equipment; on the contrary, somewhat unkempt and
"scraggy, but all the more honest and inoffensive. There is
"sky, earth, air, and freedom for your own reflexions: are-
"ally agreeable kind of Gau; pleasant, though in part ugly.
"Large tracts of it are pine-wood, with pleasant Villages and
"fine arable expanses interspersed. Schilda and many Vil-
"lages you leave to right and left. Old-fashioned Villages,
"with their village industries visible around; labouring each
"in its kind, -- not too fast; probably with extincttobacco-
"pipe hanging over its chin(kalt-rauchend, "smoking cold,"
"as they phrase it).
"Schilda has an absurd celebrity among the Germans: it
"is the Gotham of Teutschland; a fountain of old broad-grins,
"and homely and hearty rustic banter; welling up from the
"serious extinct Ages to our own day; ". Scfaftbiirger" (Inhabi-
"tant of Schilda) meaning still, among all the Teutsch popula-
tions, a man of calmly obstinate whims and delusions, of no-
"tions altogether contrary to fact, and agreeable to himself
"only; resolutely pushing his way through life on those
"terms: amid horse-laughter, naturally, and general wagging
"of beards from surrounding mankind. Extinct mirth, notto
"be growled at or despised, in Ages running to the shallow,
"which have lost their mirth, ana become all one snigger of
"mock-mirth. For it is observable, the more solemn is your
"background of dark, the brighter is the play of all human
"genialities and coruscations on it, -- of genial mirth espe-
cially, in the hour for mirth. Who the Doctor Bordel of
?
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 112 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
2d Nov. 1760.
"Schilda was, I do not know: but they have had their Bordel,
"as Gotham had; -- probably various Bordels; industrious to
"pick up those Spiritual fruits of the earth. For the records
"are still abundant and current; fully more alive than those
"of Gotham here are. -- And yonder, then, is actually
"Schilda of the absurd fame. A small, cheerful-looking
"human Village, in its Island among the Woods; you see it
"lying to the left: -- a clean brick-slate congeries, with faint
"smoke-canopy hanging over it, indicating frugal dinner-
"kettles on the simmer; -- and you remember kindly those
"good old grinnings, over good Schiltbiirger, good Wise Men
"of Gotham, and their learned Chroniclers, and unlearned
"Peasant Producers, who have contributed a wrinkle of
"human Fun to the earnest face of Life.
"After Schilda, and before, you traverse long tracts of
"Pine Forest, all under forest management; with long
"straight stretches of sandy road (one of which is your own),
"straight like red tape-strings, intersecting the wide soli-
"tudes: dangerous to your topographies, for the finger-posts
"are not always there, and human advice you can get none.
"Nothing but the stripe of blue sky overhead, and the brown
"one of tape (or sand) under your feet: the trees poor and
"mean for most part, but so innumerable, and all so silent,
"watching you all like mute witnesses, mutely whispering to-
gether; no voice but their combined whisper or big forest
"sough audible to you in the world: -- on the whole, your soli-
"tary ride there proves, unexpectedly, a singular deliverance
"from the mad railway, and its iron bedlamisms andshrieking
"discords and precipitances; and is soothing, and pensively
"welcome, though sad enough, and in outward features ugly
"enough. No wild boars are now in these woods, no chance
"of a wolf:"-- what concerns us more is, thatFriedrich's
columns, on the 3d of November, had to march-up through
these long lanes, or tape-stripes of the Torgau Forest; and
that one important column, one or more, took the wrong turn
at some point, and was dangerously wanting at the expected
moment! --
"Torgau itself stands near Elbe; on the shoulder, eastern
"or Elbe-ward shoulder, of a big mass of Knoll, or broad
"Height, called ofSiptitz, the main Eminence of the Gau.
"Shoulder, I called it, of this Height of Siptitz; but more pro-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CUA1-. v. ] BATTLE OP TORGAL'.
? 98 FRIEDEICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
9th-12thOct. l760.
"the generous Gotzkowsky said in his heart, 'No;' and
"again pleaded and prevailed. Ephraim and Itzig, foul
"swollen creatures, were not broached at all; and their grati-
"tude was, That, at a future day, Gotzkowsky's day of bank-
"ruptcy, they were hardest of any on Gotzkowsky.
"Archenholtz and the Books are enthusiastically copious
"upon Gotzkowsky and his procedures: but we must be silent.
"This Anecdote only, in regard to Freedom of the Press,--
"to the so-called 'air we breathe, not having which we die! '
"Would modern Friends of Progress believe it? Because, in
"former stages of this War, the Berlin Newspapers have had
"offensive expressions (scarcely noticeable to the microscope,
"in our day, and below calculation for smallness) upon the
"Russian and Austrian Sovereigns or Peoples, -- the Able
"Editors (there are only Two) shall now in person, here in the
"Market-place of Berlin, actually run the gauntlet for it, --
'"run the rods (Gassen-laufen'), as the fashion now is; --
"which is worse than gauntlet, not to speak of the ignominy.
"That is the barbaric Russian notion: 'Who are you, ill-in-
"formed insolent persons, that give a loose to your tongue in
"that manner? Strip to the waistband, swift! Here is the true
"career opened for you: on each hand, one hundred sharp
"rods ranked waiting you; run your courses there, -- nohurry
"more than you like! ' The alternative of death, I suppose,
"was open to these Editors; Roman death at least, and mar-
"tyrdom for a new Faith (Faith in the Loose Tongue), very
"sacred to the Democratic Ages now at hand. But nobody
"seems to have thought of it; Editors and Public took the
"thing as a sorrow incident to this dangerous Profession of
"the Tongue Loose (or looser than usual); which nobody yet
"knew to be divine. The Editors made passionate enough
"lamentation, in the stript state; one ot them, with loud
"weeping, pulled off his wig, showed ice-gray hair; 'I am in
'"my 68th year! ' But it seems nothing would have steaded
"them, had not Gotzkowsky been busy interceding. By
"virtue of whom there was pardon privately in readiness: to
"the icegray Editor complete pardon; to the junior, quasi-
"complete; only a few switches to assert the principle, and
"dismissal with admonition. " *
* Hclden-Geschichlc, vi. 103-148; Rftdenbeck, n. 41-54; Archenholtz,
ii. 130-147; Preuss, ubi supra; &c. &c.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. Iv. ] DAUN AND FRIEDRICH. 99
9th-12th Oct. 1760.
The pleasant part of the fact is, that Gotzkowsky's
powerful intercessions were thenceforth no farther
needed. The same day, Saturday, October 11th, a
few hours after this of the Gassen-laufen, news arrived
full gallop: "The King is coming! " After which it
was beautiful to see how all things got to the gallop;
and in a no-time Berlin was itself again. That same
evening, Saturday, Lacy took the road, with extra-
ordinary velocity, towards Torgau Country, where the
Reichsfolk, in Hiilsen's absence, are supreme; and, the
second evening after, was got 60 miles thitherward.
His joint dominion had been of Two days. On the
morning of Sunday 12th, went Tottleben, who had
businesses, settlements of ransom and the like, before
marching. Tottleben, too, made uncommon despatch;
marched, as did all these invasive Russians, at the rate
of thirty miles a day; their Main Army likewise moving
off from Frankfurt to a safer distance. Friedrich was
still five marches off; but there seemed not a moment
to lose.
The Russian spoilings during the retreat were more
horrible than ever: "The gallows gaping for us; and
only this one opportunity, if even this! " thought the
agitated Cossack to himself. Our poor friend Niissler
had a sad tale to tell of them;* as who had not?
Terror and murder, incendiary fire and other worse
unnameable abominations of the Pit. One old Half-
pay gentleman, whom I somewhat respect, desperately
barricaded himself, amid his domestics and tenantries,
Wife and Daughters assisting: "Human Russian Offi-
cers can enter here; Cossacks no, but shall kill us
* In Biisching, Beytraqe, I. 400, 401, account of their sacking of Niiss-
ler's pleasant home and estate, "Weissensee, near Berlin. "
7*
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 100 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
15tb. -17th Oct. 1760.
first. Not a Cossack till all of us are lying dead! "*
And kept his word; the human Russians owning it to
be proper.
In Guben Country, "at Gross-Muckro, October
15th," the day after passing Guben, Friedrich first
heard for certain, That the Russians had been in Ber-
lin, and also that they were gone, and that all was
over. He made two marches farther, -- not now direct
for Berlin, but direct for Saxony and it; -- to Lubben,
50 or 60 miles straight south of Berlin; and halted
there some days, to adjust himself for a new sequel.
"These are the things," exclaims he, sorrowfully, to
DArgens, "which I have been in dread of since Win-
"ter last; this is what gave the dismal tone to my
"Letters to you. It has required not less than all my
"philosophy to endure the reverses, the provocations,
"the outrages, and the whole scene of atrocious things
"that have come to pass. "** Friedrich's grief about
Berlin we need not paint; though there were murmurs
afterwards, "Why did not he start sooner? " which he
could not, in strict reason, though aware that these
savageries were on march. He had hoped the Eugen-
Hiilsen appliances, even should all else fail, might keep
them at bay. And indeed, in regard to these latter,
it turned only on a hair. Montalembert calculating,
vows, on his oath, "Can assure you, M. l'Ambassadeur,
"puis Men vous assurer comme si fe'tais devant Dieu, as
"if I stood before God,"*** that, from first to last, it
was my doing; that, but for me, at the very last, the
* Archenholtz, n. 150.
** (Euvres de FrUirie, xix, 199: "22d Oct. "
*** Montalembert, n. 108.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. nr. ] DAUN AND FRIEDRICH. 101
17th Oct. 1760.
Russians, on sight of Hiilsen and Eugen, and no Lacy
come, would have marched away!
Friedrich's orderings and adjustings, dated Liihben,
where his Army rested after this news from Berlin,
were manifold; and a good deal still of wrecks from
the Berlin Business fell to his share. For instance,
one thing he had at once ordered: "Your Bill of a
Million-and-half to the Russians, don't pay it, or any
part of it! When Bamberg was ransomed, Spring gone
a year, -- Reich and Kaiser, did they respect our
Bill we had on Bamberg? Did not they cancel it,
and flatly refuse? " Friedrich is positive on the point,
"Reprisal our clear remedy! " But Berlin itself was
in alarm, for perhaps another Russian visit; Berlin
and Gotzkowsky were humbly positive the other way.
Upon which a visit of Gotzkowsky to the Royal Camp:
"Merchants' Bills are a sacred thing, Your Majesty! "
urged Gotzkowsky. Who, in his zeal for the matter,
undertook dangerous visits to the Russian Quarters,
and a great deal of trouble, peril and expense, during
the weeks following. Magnanimous Gotzkowsky, "in
"mere bribes to the Russian Officials, spent about
"6,000/. of his own," for one item. But he had at
length convinced his Majesty that Merchants' Bills were
a sacred thing, in spite of Bamberg and desecrative
individualities; and that this Million-and-half must be
paid. Friedrich was struck with Gotzkowsky and his
view of the facts. Friedrich, from his own distressed
funds, handed to Gotzkowsky the necessary Million-
and-half, commanding only profound silence about it;
and to Gotzkowsky himself a present of 150,000 thalers
(20,0001. odd. ); * and so the matter did at last end. y
? Arclionhollz, u. 146.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 102 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
17th Oct. 1760.
It had been a costly business to Berlin, and to the
King, and to the poor harried Country. To Berlin,
bombardment of ten hours; alarm of discursive siege-
work in the environs for five days; foreign yoke for
three days; lost money to the amounts above stated;
what loss in wounds to body or to peace of mind, or
whether any loss that way, nobody has counted. The
Berlin people rose to a more than Roman height of
temper, testifies D'Argens;* so that perhaps it was a
gain. The King's Magazines and War-furnitures about
Berlin are wasted utterly, -- Arsenal itself not blown
up, we well know why; -- and much Hunnish ruin in
Charlottenburg, with damage to Antiques, -- for which
latter clause there shall, in a few months, be reprisal,
if it please the Powers!
Of all this, Montalembert declares, "Before God,
that he, Montalembert, is and was the mainspring. "
And indeed, Tempelhof, without censure of Montalem-
bert and his vocation, but accurately computing time
and circumstance, comes to the same conclusion; -- as
thus: "October 8th, seeing no Lacy come, Czernichef,
"had it not been for Montalembert's eloquence, had
"fixed for returning to Cbpenik: whom cautious Lacy
"would have been obliged to imitate. Suppose Czer-
"nichef had, October 9th, got to Copenik, -- Eugen
"and Hiilsen remain at Berlin; Czernichef could not
"have got back thither before the 11th; on the 11th
"was news of Friedrich's coming; which set all on
"gallop to the right about. "** So that really, before
God, it seems Montalembert must have the merit of
? (Euvres de Frederic, xix. 195-199: i"D'Argens to the King: Berlin,
19th October 1760," -- an interesting Letter of details.
** Tempelhof, iv. 277.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. iv. l DAUN AND FRIEDRICH. 103
17th Oct. 1760.
this fine achievement: -- the one fruit, so far as I can
discover, of his really excellent reasonings, eloquences,
patiences, sown broadcast, four or five long years, on
such a field as fine human talent never had before. I
declare to you, M. l'Ambassadeur, this excellent vulture-
swoop on Berlin, and burning or reburning of the Pea-
santry of the Mark, is due solely to one poor zealous
gentleman! --
What was next to follow out of this, -- in Torgau
neighbourhood, where Daun now stands expectant, --
poor M. de Montalembert was far from anticipating;
and will be in no haste to claim the merit of before
God or man.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 104 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
20th Oct. -- 3d Nov. 1760.
CHAPTER V.
BATTLE OF TORGAU.
After Hiilsen's fine explosion on the Diirrenberg,
August 20th, on the incompetent Reichs Generals, there
had followed nothing eminent; new futilities, attempt-
ings and desistings, advancings and recoilings, on the
part of the Reich; Hulsen solidly maintaining himself,
in defence of his Torgau Magazine and Saxon interests
in those regions, against such overwhelming odds, till
relief and reinforcement for them and him should arrive;
and gaining time, which was all he could aim at in such
circumstances. Had the Torgau Magazine been bigger,
perhaps Hulsen might have sat there to the end. But
having solidly eaten out said Magazine, what could
Hulsen do but again move rearward? * Above all, on
the alarm from Berlin, which called him off double-
quick, things had to go their old road in that quarter.
Weak Torgau was taken, weak Wittenberg besieged.
Leipzig, Torgau, Wittenberg, all that Country, by the
time the Russians left Berlin, was again the Reich's.
Eugen and Hulsen, . hastening for relief of Wittenberg,
the instant Berlin was free, found Wittenberg a heap
of ruins, out of which the Prussian garrison, very hunger
urging, had issued the day before, as prisoners of war.
Nothing more to be done by Eugen, but take post,
within reach of Magdeburg and victual, and wait new
Order from the King.
* Hofbericht von dem Riickzug des General-Lieutenants von Hitlsen o<<s
dem Layer bey Torgau (ia Seyfarth, Beylagen, u. 755-784).
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. v. ] BATTLE OF TORGAU. 105
20th Oct. --3d Nov. 1760.
The King is very unquestionably coming on; leaves
Liibben thitherward October 20th. * With full fixity
of purpose as usual; but with as gloomy an outlook as
ever before.
Daun, we said, is now arrived in those
parts: Daun and the Reich together are near 100,000;
Daun some 60,000, -- Loudon having stayed behind,
and gone southward, for a stroke on Kosel (if Goltz
will permit, which he won't at all! ), -- and the Reich
35,000. Saxony is all theirs; cannot they maintain
Saxony? Not a Town or a Magazine now belongs to
Friedrich there, and he is in number as 1 to 2. "Main-
tain Saxony; indisputably you can! " that is the express
Vienna Order, as Friedrich happens to know. The
Russians themselves have taken Camp again, and wait
visibly, about Landsberg and the Warta Country, till
they see Daun certain of executing said Order; upon
which they intend, they also, to winter in those Elbe
Prussian parts, and conjointly to crush Friedrich into
great confinement indeed. Friedrich is aware of this
Vienna Order; which is a kind of comfort in the cir-
cumstances. The intentions of the hungry Russians,
too, are legible to Friedrich; and he is much resolved
that said Order shall be impossible to Daun. "Were
it to be possible, we are landless. Where are our re-
cruits, our magazines, our resources for a new Cam-
paign? We may as well die, as suffer that to be pos-
sible! " Such is Friedrich's fixed view. He says to
D'Argens:
"You, as a follower of Epicurus, put a value on
"life; as for me, I regard death from the Stoic point
* Rbdenbeck, n. 35: in Anonymous of Hamburg (iv. 241-245) Friedrich's
Two Marches, towards and from Berlin (7th-17th October, to Lttbben;
thence, 20th October--3d November, to Torgau).
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 106 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
20th Oct. -- 3d Nov. 1760.
"of view. Never shall I see the moment that forces
"me to make a disadvantageous Peace; no persuasion,
"no eloquence, shall ever induce me to sign my dis-
honour. Either I will bury myself under the ruins
"of my Country, or if that consolation appears too
"sweet to the Destiny that persecutes me, I shall know
"how to put an end to my misfortunes when it is im-
possible to bear them any longer. I have acted,
"and continue to act, according to that interior voice
"of conscience and of honour which directs all my steps:
"my conduct shall be, in every time, conformable to
"those principles. After having sacrificed my youth to
"my Father, my ripe years to my Country, I think I
"have acquired the right to dispose of my old age. I
"have told you, and I repeat it, Never shall my hand
"sign a humiliating Peace. Finish this Campaign I
"certainly will, resolved to dare all, and to try the
"most desperate things either to succeed or to find a
"glorious end (fin glorieuse). " *
Friedrich had marched from Liibben, after three-
days settling of affairs, October 20th; arrived at Jessen,
on the Elbe, within wind of Wittenberg, in two days
more. "He formed a small magazine at Diiben," says
Archenholtz; "and was of a velocity, a sharpness," --
like lightning, in a manner! Friedrich is uncommonly
dangerous when crushed into a corner, in this way; and
Daun knows that he is. Friedrich's manqeuverings
upon Daun -- all readers can anticipate the general
type of them. The studious military reader, if England
boasts any such, will find punctual detail of them in
* (Euvres de Frederic, xix. 202 ("Kemberg, 28th October 1760," a week
and a day before Torgau).
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. v. ] BATTLE OF TORGAU. 107
26lh Oct. 1760.
Tempelhof and the German Books. For our poor ob-
jects, here is a Summary which may suffice:
From Liibben, having winded up these bad businesses, --
and reinforced Goltz, at Glogau, to a 20,000 for Silesia's sake,
to look towards Kosel and Loudon's attempts there, -- Fried-
rich gathered himself into proper concentration; and with all
the strength now left to him, pushed forward (20th October)
towards Wittenberg, and recovery of those lost Saxon Coun-
tries. To Wittenberg from Liibben is some 60miles; -- can
be done, nearly, in a couple of days. With the King, after
Goltz is furnished, there are about 30,000; Eugen andHiilsen,
not idle for their own part, wait in those far Western or Ultra-
Wittenberg regions (in and beyond Dessau Country), to join
him with their 14,000, when they get signal. Joined with
these, he will be 44,000; he will then cross Elbe somewhere,
probably not where Daun and the Reich imagine, and be in
contact with his Problem; with what a pitch of willingness
nobody need be told! Daun, in Torgau Country, has one of
the best positions; nor is Daun a man for getting flurried.
The poor Reichs Army, though it once flattered itself with
intending to dispute Friedrich's passage of the Elbe, and did
make some detachings and manoeuverings that way, on his
approach to Wittenberg (October 22d-23d), -- took a safer
view, on his actual arrival there, on his re-seizure of that
ruined place, and dangerous attitude on the right bank below
and above. Safer view, on salutary second thoughts; -- and
fell back Leipzig-way, southward toDiiben, 30 or 40 miles.
Whence rapidly to Leipzig itself, 30 or 40 more, on his actu-
ally putting down his bridges over Elbe. Friedrich's crossing-
place was Schanzhaus, in Dessau Country, between Roslau and Klikau, 12 or 15 miles below Wittenberg; about midway
between Wittenberg and the inflow of the Mulda into Elbe.
He crossed j October 26th, no enemy within wind at all; Daun
at Torgau in his inexpugnable Camp, Reichsfolk at Diiben,
making towards Leipzig at their best pace. And is now
wholly between Elbe and Mulda; nothing but Mulda and the
Anhalt Countries and the Halle Country now to rear of him.
At Jonitz, next march southward, he finds the Eugen-
Hiilsen people ready. We said they had not been idle while
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 108 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
a-Ji. li Oct. 1760.
waiting signal: of which here is one pretty instance. Eugen's
Brother, supreme Reigning Duke of Wiirtemberg, -- whom
we parted with at Fulda, last Winter, on sore terms; but who
again, zealous creature, heads his own little Army in French-
Austrian service, in still more eclipsed circumstances ("No
subsidy at all, this Year, say your august Majesties? Well,
I must do without: a volunteer; and shall need only what I
can make by forced contributions! " which of course he is dili- gent to levy wherever possible), -- has latterly taken Halle
ountryin hand, very busy raising contributions there: and
Eugen hears, not without interest, that certain regiments or
detachments of his, pushed out, are lying here, there, super-
intending that salutary work, --within clutch, perhaps, of
Kleist the Hussar! Eugen despatches Kleist upon him; who
pounces with his usual fierce felicity upon these people. To
such alarm of his poor Serenity and poor Army, that Serenity
flies off homeward at once, and out of these Wars altogether;
where he never had other than the reverse of business to be,
and where he has played such a farce-tragedy for four years
back. Eugen has been heard to speak, -- theoretically, and
in excited moments, -- of "running such a fellow through the
body, were one near him:" but it is actually Eugen in person
that sends him home from these Wars: which may be counted
a not unfraternal or unpatriotic procedure; being of indisput-
able benefit to the poor Sovereign man himself, and to every-
body concerned with him. *
Hearing that Friedrich was across, Daun came westward
that same day (October 26th), and planted himself at Eilen-
burg; concluding that the Reichsfolk would now be in jeo-
pardy first of all. Which was partly the fact; and indeed this
Daun movement rather accelerated the completion of it.
Without this the Reichs Army might have lived another day.
It had quitted Duben (which is well ahead of Eilenburg), and
gone for Leipzig, at 1 in the morning, so soon as news could
reach it, at the gallop, That Friedrich was across. And now
Friedrich, seeingDaun out in this manner, judged that a junc-
tion was contemplated; and that one could not be too swift in
preventing it. October 29th, with one diligent march, Fried-
rich posted himself at Diiben; there, between Daun and the
Reichsfolk, detached Hiilsen with a considerable force to visit
these latter in Leipzig itself; and began with all diligence form-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. v. ] BATTLE OF TORGAU. 109
2d Nov. 1760.
ing "a small Magazine inDiiben," Magdeburg and the cur-
rent of the Elbe being hitherto his only resource inthat kind.
By the time of Hiilsen's return, this little operation will be
well forward, and Daun will have declared himself a little.
Hiilsen, evening of October 30th, found Leipzig in con-
siderable emotion, the Reichsfolk taking refuge in it: not the
least inclined to stand a push, when Hiilsen presented himself.
Night of 30th-31st, there was summoning and menacing;
Reich endeavouring to answer in firm style; but all the while
industriously packing up to go. By 5 in the morning, things
had come to extremity; -- morning, happily for some of us,
was dark mist. But about 5 o'clock, Hiilsen (or Hiilsen's Second) coming on with menace of fire and sword upon these
poorEeichspeople, found the Reichspeople wholly vanished
in the mist. Gone bodily; in full march for the spurs of the
Metal-Mountain Range again; -- concluding, for the fourth
time, an extremely contemptible Campaign. Daun, with the
King ahead of him, made not the least attempt to help them in
their Leipzig difficulty; but retired to his strong Camp at Tor-
gau; feels his work to lie there, -- asFriedrich perceives of
him, with some interest.
Hiilsen left a little garrison in Leipzig (friend
Quintus a part of it);* and returned to the King;
whose small Magazine at Diiben, and other small affairs
there, -- Magdeburg with boats, and the King with
wagons, having been so diligent in carrying grain
thither, -- are now about completed. From Daun's
returning to Torgau, Friedrich infers that the cautious
man has got Order from Court to maintain Torgau at
all costs, -- to risk a battle rather than go. "Good:
he shall have one! " thinks Friedrich. And, November
2d, in four columns, marches towards Torgau; to
Schilda, that night, which is some seven miles on the
southward side of Torgau. The King, himself in the
vanguard as usual, has watched with eager questioning
* Tempelhof, iv. 290.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 110 FRIEDEICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
2d Nov. 1760.
eye the courses of Daun's advanced parties, and by
what routes they retreat; discerns for certain that
Daun has no views upon Duben or our little Magazine;
and that the tug of wrestle for Torgau, which is to
crown this Campaign into conquest of Saxony, or
shatter it into zero like its foregoers on the Austrian
part, and will be of death-or-life nature on the Prus-
sian part, ought to ensue to-morrow. Forward, then!
This Camp of Torgau is not a new place to Daun.
It was Prince Henri's Camp, last Autumn; where Daun
tried all his efforts to no purpose; and though hugely
outnumbering the Prince, could make absolutely
nothing of it. Nothing, or less; and was flowing back to Dresden and the Bohemian Frontier, uncheered by
anything, till that comfortable Maxen Incident turned
up. Daun well knows the strength of this position.
Torgau and the Block of Hill to West, called Hill of
Siptitz: -- Hiilsen, too, stood here this Summer; not
to mention Finck and Wunsch, and their beating the
Reichspeople here. A Hill and Post of great strength;
not unfamiliar to many Prussians, nor to Friedrich's
studious considerations, though his knowledge of it was
not personal on all points; -- as Tomorrow taught
him, somewhat to his cost.
"Tourists, from Weimar and the Thiiringian Countries,"
says a Notebook, sometimes useful to us, "have most likely
"omitted Rossbach, in their screaming railway flight east-
"ward; and done little inLeipzig but endeavour to eat dinner,
"and, still more vainly, to snatch a little sleep in the inhuman
"dormitories of the Country. Next morning, screaming
"Dresdenward, they might, especially if military, pause at
"Oschatz, a stage or two Defore Meissen, where again are ob-
"jects of interest. You can look at Hubertsburg, if given
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. v. ] BATTLE OF TORGAU. Ill
2d Nov 1760.
"that way, -- a Royal Schloss, memorable on several
"grounds; -- at Hubertsburg, and at other features, in the
"neighbourhood of Oschatz. This done, or this left not done,
"you strike off leftward, that is northward, in some open ve-
"hicle, for survey of Torgau and its vicinities and environs.
"Not above fifteen miles for you; a drive singular and plea-
"sant; time enough to return and be in Dresden for dinner.
"Torgau is a fine solid old Town; Prussian military now
"abundant in it. In ancient Heathen times, I suppose, it
"meant the Gau, or District, of Thor; Capital of that Gau, --
"part of which, now under Christian or quasi-Christian cir-
"cumstances, you have just been traversing, with Elbe on
"your right hand. Innocent rural aspects of Humanity,
"Boor's life, Gentry's life, all the way, not in any holiday
"equipment; on the contrary, somewhat unkempt and
"scraggy, but all the more honest and inoffensive. There is
"sky, earth, air, and freedom for your own reflexions: are-
"ally agreeable kind of Gau; pleasant, though in part ugly.
"Large tracts of it are pine-wood, with pleasant Villages and
"fine arable expanses interspersed. Schilda and many Vil-
"lages you leave to right and left. Old-fashioned Villages,
"with their village industries visible around; labouring each
"in its kind, -- not too fast; probably with extincttobacco-
"pipe hanging over its chin(kalt-rauchend, "smoking cold,"
"as they phrase it).
"Schilda has an absurd celebrity among the Germans: it
"is the Gotham of Teutschland; a fountain of old broad-grins,
"and homely and hearty rustic banter; welling up from the
"serious extinct Ages to our own day; ". Scfaftbiirger" (Inhabi-
"tant of Schilda) meaning still, among all the Teutsch popula-
tions, a man of calmly obstinate whims and delusions, of no-
"tions altogether contrary to fact, and agreeable to himself
"only; resolutely pushing his way through life on those
"terms: amid horse-laughter, naturally, and general wagging
"of beards from surrounding mankind. Extinct mirth, notto
"be growled at or despised, in Ages running to the shallow,
"which have lost their mirth, ana become all one snigger of
"mock-mirth. For it is observable, the more solemn is your
"background of dark, the brighter is the play of all human
"genialities and coruscations on it, -- of genial mirth espe-
cially, in the hour for mirth. Who the Doctor Bordel of
?
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 112 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
2d Nov. 1760.
"Schilda was, I do not know: but they have had their Bordel,
"as Gotham had; -- probably various Bordels; industrious to
"pick up those Spiritual fruits of the earth. For the records
"are still abundant and current; fully more alive than those
"of Gotham here are. -- And yonder, then, is actually
"Schilda of the absurd fame. A small, cheerful-looking
"human Village, in its Island among the Woods; you see it
"lying to the left: -- a clean brick-slate congeries, with faint
"smoke-canopy hanging over it, indicating frugal dinner-
"kettles on the simmer; -- and you remember kindly those
"good old grinnings, over good Schiltbiirger, good Wise Men
"of Gotham, and their learned Chroniclers, and unlearned
"Peasant Producers, who have contributed a wrinkle of
"human Fun to the earnest face of Life.
"After Schilda, and before, you traverse long tracts of
"Pine Forest, all under forest management; with long
"straight stretches of sandy road (one of which is your own),
"straight like red tape-strings, intersecting the wide soli-
"tudes: dangerous to your topographies, for the finger-posts
"are not always there, and human advice you can get none.
"Nothing but the stripe of blue sky overhead, and the brown
"one of tape (or sand) under your feet: the trees poor and
"mean for most part, but so innumerable, and all so silent,
"watching you all like mute witnesses, mutely whispering to-
gether; no voice but their combined whisper or big forest
"sough audible to you in the world: -- on the whole, your soli-
"tary ride there proves, unexpectedly, a singular deliverance
"from the mad railway, and its iron bedlamisms andshrieking
"discords and precipitances; and is soothing, and pensively
"welcome, though sad enough, and in outward features ugly
"enough. No wild boars are now in these woods, no chance
"of a wolf:"-- what concerns us more is, thatFriedrich's
columns, on the 3d of November, had to march-up through
these long lanes, or tape-stripes of the Torgau Forest; and
that one important column, one or more, took the wrong turn
at some point, and was dangerously wanting at the expected
moment! --
"Torgau itself stands near Elbe; on the shoulder, eastern
"or Elbe-ward shoulder, of a big mass of Knoll, or broad
"Height, called ofSiptitz, the main Eminence of the Gau.
"Shoulder, I called it, of this Height of Siptitz; but more pro-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:29 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CUA1-. v. ] BATTLE OP TORGAL'.
