Perhaps not
quite, my tough old friend; recover yourself a little, and we
shall see!
quite, my tough old friend; recover yourself a little, and we
shall see!
Thomas Carlyle
" answer Valori,
and the French; -- and study to make improvements,
reinforcements, in their Rhine Army. And they do,
at least, change the General of their Middle-Rhine
Army, -- that is to say, recal Prince Conti out of
Italy, where he has distinguished himself, and send
Maillebois thither in his stead, -- who likewise dis-
tinguishes himself there, if that could be a comfort to
us! Whether the distinguished Conti will maintain that
Frankfurt Country in spite of the Austrians and their
Election movements, is still a question with Friedrich,
though Valori continued assuring him (always till July
came) that it was beyond question. "Siege of Tournay,
vigorous Campaign in the Netherlands (for behoof of
Britannic George)! " this is the grand French program
for the Year. This good intention was achieved, on
the French part; but this, like Aaron's-rod among the
serpents, proved to have eaten the others as it wriggled
along! -- #
Those Maillebois-D'Ahremberg affairs throw a damp
on the Bavarian Question withal; -- in fact, settle the
Bavarian Question; her Hungarian Majesty, tired of the
delays, having ordered Bathyani to shoulder arms
again, and bring a decision. Bathyani, with Baren-
klau to right of him, and Browne (our old Silesian
friend) to left, goes sweeping across those Seckendorf-
Se'gur posts, and without difficulty tumbles everything
to ruin, at a grand rate. The traitor Seckendorf had
made such a choice of posts, -- left unaltered by Drum
Thorring; -- what could French valour do? Nothing;
neither French valour, nor Bavarian want of valour,
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? CHAP. VI. ] VALORI ON AN ELECTIONEERING MISSION. 103
28th March 1745.
could do anything but whirl to the right-about, at sight
of the Austrian Sweeping-Apparatus; and go off ex-
plosively, as in former instances, at a rate almost
unique in military annals. Finished within three weeks
or so! -- We glance only at two points of it. March 21st, Bathyani stood to arms (to besoms we might call
it), Browne on the left, Barenklau on the right: it was
March 21st when Bathyani started from Passau, up
the Donau Countries; -- and within the week coming,
see:
"Vilshofen, 28th March 1745. Here, at the mouth of the
"Vils River (between Inn and Iser), is the first considerable
"Post; garrison some 4,000; Hessians and Prince Friedrich
"the main part, -- who have their share of valour, I dare say;
"but with such news out ofHessen, not to speak of the pro-
spects in this Country, are probably in poorish spirits for
"acting. General Browne summons them in Vilshofen, this
"day; and, on their negative, storms in upon them, bursts
"them to pieces; upon which they beat chamade. But the
"Croats, who are foremost, care nothing for chamade; go
"plundering, slaughtering; burn the poor Town; butcher"
(inround numbers) "3,000 of the poor Hessians; and wound
"General Browne himself, while he too vehemently inter-
"feres. "* This was the finale of those 6,000 Hessians, and
indeed their principal function, while in French pay; -- and
must have been, we can judge how surprising to Prince
Friedrich, and to his Papa on hearing of it! Note another
point.
Precisely about this time twelvemonth, 'March 16th,
1746,' the same Prince Friedrich, with remainder of those
Hessians, now again completed to 6,000, and come back with
emphasis to the Britannic side of things, was -- marching
out of Edinburgh, in much state, with streamers, kettle-
drums, Highness's coaches, horses, led-horses, on an un-
* Adelung, iv. 356, and the half-intelligible Foot-note in Ranke,
in. 220.
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? 104 SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [book XV.
\
15th April 1745.
expected errand. * Toward Stirling, Perth: towards Killie-
crankie, and raising of what is called 'the Siege of Blair in
Athol' (most minute of 'sieges,' but subtending a great angle
there andthen);--much of unexpected, and nearer home than
'Tournay and the Netherlands Campaign,' having happened
to Britannic George in the course of this year 17451 "Really
"very fine troops, those Hessians" (observes my orthodox
Whig friend): "they carry swords as well as guns and bayo-
"nets; their uniform is blue turned up with white: the
"Hussar part of them, about 500, have scimitars of a great
"length; small horses, mostly black, of Swedish breed;
"swift durable little creatures, with long tails. " Honours,
dinners, to his Serene Highness had been numerous, during
the three weeks we had him in Edinburgh; "especially that
"Ball, February 21st (o. s. ), eve of his Consort the Princess
"Mary's Birthday" (eve of birthday, 'let us dance the auspi-
'cious morning in') "was, for affluence of Nobility and Gentry
"of both sexes," a sublime thing. * *
Pfaffenhofen, April 15th. "Unfortunate Se'gur, the Se'gur
"of Linz three years ago,--whose conduct was great, accord "ing to Valori, but powerless against traitors and fate, --
"was again, once more, unfortunate in those parts. Unfor-
"tunate Segur drew up at Pfaffenhofen (centre of the Coun-
"try, many miles from Vilshofen) to defend himself, when
"fallenupon by Barenklau, in that manner; but could not,
"though with masterly demeanour; and had to retreat three
"days, with his face to the enemy, so to speak, fighting and
"manoeuvering all the way: no shelter for him either but
"Miinchen, and that a most temporary one. Instead of tak-
ing Straubingen, taking Passau, perhaps of pushing on to
"Vienna itself, this is what we have already come to. No
"Rhine Army, Middle-Rhine Army, Coigny, Maiilebois,
"Conti, whoever it was, would send us the least reinforce-
"ment, when shrieked to. No outlook whatever but rapid
"withdrawal, retreat to the Rhine Army, since it will not stir
"to help us. **
* Henderson (Whig Eye-witness), History of the Rebellion, 1745 and
1746 (London, 1748, reprint from the Edinburgh edition), pp. 104, 106, 107.
? ? Adelung, iv. 360.
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? CHAP. VI. ] VALORI ON AN ELECTIONEERING MISSION. 105
iM April 1745.
"The young Kur-Baiern is still polite, grateful" (to us
French), "overwhelms us with politeness; but flies to Augs-
burg, as his Father used to do. Notable, however, his poor
"fat Tittle Mother won't, this time: 'No, I will stay here, I
"'for one, and have done with flying and running; we have
"'had enough of that! ' Seckendorf, quite gone from Court
"in this crisis, reappears, about the middle of April, in ques-
"tionable capacity; at a place called Fiissen, not far off, at
"the foot of the Tyrol Hills; -- where certain Austrian Dig-
"nitaries seem also to be enjoying a picturesque Easter! Yes
"indeed: and, on April 22a', there is signed a 'Peace of Fiissen'
"there; general amicable As-you-were, between Austria and
"Bavaria ('Renounce your Anti-Pragmatic moonshine for-
"'evermore, vote for our Grand-Duke; there is your Bavaria
'"back, poor wretches! ') -- and Seckendorf, it is presum-
able, will get his Turkish arrears liquidated.
"The Bavarian Intricacy, which once excelled human
"power, is settled, then. Carteret andHaslang tried it in
"vain" (dreadfulheterodox intentions of secularising Salz-
burg, secularising Passau, Regensburg, and loud tremulous
denial of such);? "Carteret and Wilhelm ofHessen" (Con-
ferences of Hanau, which ruined Carteret), "in vain; King
"Friedrich, and many Kings, in vain: a thing nobody could
"settle; -- and it has at last settled itself, as the generality
"of ill-guided and unlucky things do, by collapse. Delirium
"once out, the law of gravity acts; and there the mad matter
"lies. "
"Bought by Austria, that old villain! " cry the
French. Friedrich does not think the Austrians bought
Seckendorf, having no money at present; but guesses
they may have given him to understand that a certain
large arrear of payment due ever since those Turkish
Wars, -- when Seckendorf, instead of payment, was
lodged in the Fortress of Gratz, and almost got his
head cut off, -- should now be paid down in cash, or
authentic Paper-money, if matters become amicable. *
* (Evvres da Frederic, m. 22; Seckendorfs Leben, pp. 367-376.
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? 106 SECOND SILESIAN WAH. [book XV.
22d April 1745.
As they have done, in Friedrich's despite; -- who
seems angrier at the old stager for this particular ill-
turn than for all the other many, and long remembers
it, as will appear.
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? CHAP, vn. ] FRIEDRICH IN SILESIA; UNUSUALLY BUSY. 107
IStli March -- 11th May 1745.
CHAPTER VII.
FRIEDRICH IN SILESIA; UNUSUALLY BUSY.
Here, sure enough, are sad new intricacies in the
Diplomatic, hypothetic sphere of things; and clouds
piling themselves ahead, in a very minatory manner to
King Friedrich. Let King Friedrich, all the more,
get his Fighting Arrangements made perfect. Diplomacy
is clouds; beating of your enemies is sea and land.
Austria and the Gazetteer world consider Friedrich to
be as good as finished: but that is privately far from
being Friedrich's own opinion; -- though these occur-
rences are heavy and dismal to him, as none of us can
now fancy.
Herr Ranke has got access, in the Archives, to a
series of private utterances by Friedrich, -- Letters
from him, of a franker nature than usual, and letting
us far deeper into his mind; -- which must have been
well worth reading in the original, in their fully dated
and developed condition. From Herr Ranke's Frag-
mentary Excerpts, let us, thankful for what we have
got, select one or two. The Letters are to Minister
Podewils at Berlin; written from Silesia (Neisse and
neighbourhood), where, since the middle of March,
Friedrich has been, personally pushing-on his Army
Preparations, while the above sinister things befel.
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? 108
SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [book XV.
15th March --11th May 1745.
King Friedrich to Podewils in Berlin (under various
dates, March -- April 1745).
Neisse, 29thMarch. ** "We find ourselves in a great crisis.
"If we don't, by mediation of England, get Peace, our ene-
"mies from diflerent sides" (Saxony, Austria, who knows if
notRussia withal! ) "will come plunging in against me. Peace
"I cannot force them to. But if they must have War, we will
"either beat them, or none of us will see Berlin again. " *
April (no day given). * * "In any case, I have my troops
"well together. The sicknesses are ceasing; the recruit-
"ments are coming in: shortly all will be complete. That
"does not hinder us from making Peace, if it will only come;
"but, in the contrary case, nobody can accuse me of neglecting
"what was necessary. "
April 11th (still from Neisse). * * "I toil day and night to
"improve our situation. The soldiers will do their duty.
"There is none among us who will not rather have his back-
"bone broken than give up one foot-breadth of ground. They
"must either grant us a good Peace, or we will surpass our-
"selves by miracles of daring; and force the enemy to accept
"it from us. "
April 20th. "Our situation is disagreeable; constrained, a
"kind of spasm: but my determination is taken. If we needs
"must fight, we will do it like men driven desperate. Never
"was there a greater peril than that I am now in. Time, at its
"own pleasure, will untie this knot; or Destiny, if there is
"one, determine the event. The game I play is so high, one
"cannot contemplate the issue with cold blood. Pray for the
"return of my good luck. " -- Two days hence, the poor young
Kur-Baiern, deaf to the French seductions] and exertions
which were intense, had signed his 'Peace of Fiissen'(22d
April 1745), -- a finale to France on the German Field, as
may be feared! The other Fragments we will give a little
farther on.
Friedrich had left Berlin for Silesia, March 15th;
rather sooner than he counted on, -- Old Leopold
* Ranke, in. 236 et acq.
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? CHAP. vn. ] FKIEDHlCH IN SILESIA; UKUSUALLY BUSY. 109
15th March -- 11th May 1745.
pleading to be let home. At Glogau, at Breslau, there
had been the due inspecting: Friedrich got to Neisse
on the 23d (Bathyani just stirring in that Bavarian
Business, Vilshofen and the Hessians close ahead); and
on the 27th, had dismissed Old Leopold, with thanks
and sympathies, -- sent him home, "to recover his
health. " Leopold's health is probably suffering; but
his heart and spirits still more. Poor old man, he has
just lost, -- the other week, '5th February' last, --
his poor old Wife, at Dessau; and is broken down
with grief. The soft silk lining of his hard Existence,
in all parts of it, is torn away. Apothecary Fos's
Daughter, Reich's Princess, Princess of Dessau, called by whatever name, she had been the truest of Wives;
'used to attend him in all his Campaigns, for above
fifty years back. ' "Gone, now, forever gone! " -- Old
Leopold had wells of strange sorrow in the rugged
heart of him, -- sorrow, and still better things, --
which he does not wear on his sleeve. Here is an
incident I never can forget; -- dating twelve or
thirteen years ago (as is computable), 'middle of
July 1732. '
"Louisa, Leopold's eldest Daughter, Wife of Victor Leo-
pold, reigning Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg, lay dying of a
"decline. " Still only twenty-three, poor Lady, though mar-
ried seven years ago; -- the end now evidently drawing nigh.
"A few days before her death, --? perhaps some attendant
"sorrowfully asking, 'Can we do nothing, then? '--she was
"heard to say, 'If! could see my Father at the head of his
"'Regiment, yet once! '" -- Halle, where the Regiment lies,
is some thirty or more miles off; and King Friedrich Wilhelm,
I suppose would have to be written to: -- Leopold was ready
the soonest possible; and, "at a set hour, marched, in all
"pomp with banner flying, music playing, into the Schlosshof
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? 110 SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [book XV.
15th March-- 11th May 1745.
"(Palace Court) of Bernburg; and did the due salutations and
"manceuverings, -- his poor Daughter sitting at her window,
"till they ended;" -- figure them, the last glitter of those
muskets, the last wail of that band-music! -- "The Regiment
"was then marched to the Waisenhaus (Orphanhouse), where
"the common men were treated with bread and beer; all
"the Officers dining at the Prince's Table. All the Officers,
"except Leopold alone, who stole away out of the crowd; sat
"himself upon the balustrade of the Saale Bridge, and wept
"into the river. "* Leopold is now on the edge of se-
venty; ready to think all is finished with him.
Perhaps not
quite, my tough old friend; recover yourself a little, and we
shall see!
Old Leopold is hardly home at Dessau, when new
Pandour tempests, tides of ravaging War, again come
beating against the Giant Mountains, pouring through
all passes; from utmost Jablunka, westward by Jagern-
dorf to Glatz, huge influx of wild riding hordes, each
with some support of Austrian grenadiers, cannoniers;
threatening to submerge Silesia. Precursors, Friedrich
need not doubt, of a strenuous regular attempt that
way. Hungarian Majesty's fixed intention, hope and
determination is, To expel him straightway from Silesia.
Her Patent circulates, these three months; calling on
all men to take note of that fixed fact, especially on
all Silesian men to note it well, and shift their al-
legiance accordingly. Silesian men, in great majority,
-- our friend the Mayor of Landshut, for example? --
are believed to have no inclination towards change:
and whoever has, had clearly better not show any till
he see! ** --
* Leben (12mo; not RannfVs but Anonymous like his), p. 234 n.
** In Ranke (m. 234), there is vestige of some intended "voluntary
subscription by the common people of Glatz," for Friedrich's behoof; --
contrariwise, in Orlich (u. 380, "6th February 1745," from the Dessau
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? CHAP. VII. ] FRIEDRICH IN SILESIA; UNUSUALLY BUSY. Ill
15th March -- 11th May 1745.
Friedrich's thousandfold preliminary orderings,
movements, rearrangings in his Army matters, must
not detain us here; -- still less his dealings with the
Pandour element, which is troublesome, rather than
dangerous. Vigilance, wise swift determination, valour
drilled to its work, can deal with phenomena of that
nature, though never so furious and innumerable. Not
a cheering service for drilled valour, but a very need-
ful one. Continual bickerings and skirmishings fell
out, sometimes rising to sharp fight on the small scale:
-- Austrian grenadiers with cannon are on that Height
to left, and also on this to right, meaning to cut off
our march; the difficult landscape furnished out, far
and wide, with Pandour companies in position: you
must dash in, my Burschen; seize me that cannon-
battery yonder; master such and such a post, -- there
is the heart of all that network of armed doggery; slit
asunder that, the network wholly will tumble over the
Hills again. Which is always done, on the part of the
Prussian Burschen; though sometimes not without dif-
ficulty. -- His Majesty is forming Magazines at Neisse,
Brieg, and the principal Fortresses in those parts;
driving on all manner of preparations at the rapidest
rate of speed, and looking with his own eyes into
everything. The regiments are about what we may
call complete, arithmetically and otherwise; the cavalry
show good perfection in their new mode of maneuver-
ing; -- it is to be hoped the Fighting Apparatus
generally will give fair account of itself when the
Archives), notice of one individual, suspected of stirring for Austria, whom
"you are to put under lock and key;" -- but he runs off, and has no successor, that I hear of.
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? 112 SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [bOOKXv.
21st April 1741.
time comes. Our one anchor of hope, as now more
and more appears.
On the Pandour element he first tried (under
General Hautcharmoi, with Winterfeld as chief active
hand) a direct outburst or two, with a view to slash
them home at once. But finding that it was of no
use, as they always reappeared in new multitudes, he
renounced that; took to calling in his remoter outposts;
and, except where Magazines or the like remained to
be cared for, let the Pandours baffle about, checked
only by the fortified Towns, and more and more
submerge the Hill Country. Prince Karl, to be ex-
pected in the form of lion, mysteriously uncertain on
which side coming to invade us, -- he, and not the
innumerable weasel kind, is our important matter! By
the end of April (news of the Peace of Fussen coming
withal), Friedrich had quitted Neisse; lay cantoned, in
Neisse Valley (between Frankenstein and Patschkau,
'able to assemble in forty-eight hours'); studying, with
his whole strength, to be ready for the mysterious
Prince Karl, on whatever side he might arrive; -- and
disregarding the Pandours in comparison.
The points of inrush, the tideways of these Pandour De-
luges seem to be mainly three. Direct through the Jablunka,
upon Ratibor Country, is the first and chief; less direct
(partly supplied by refluences fromRatibor, whenRatibor is
found not to answer), a second disembogues by Jagerndorf; a
third, the westernmost, by Landshut. Three main ingresses:
at each of which there fall out little Fights; which are still
celebrated in the Prussian Books, and indeed well deserve
reading by soldiers that would know their trade. In the
Ratibor parts, the invasive leader is a GeneralKaroly, with
12,000 under him, who are the wildest horde of all: "Karoly
"lodges in a wood: for himself there is a tent; his companions
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? CHAP. TO. ] FRIEDRICH IN SILESIA; UNUSUALLY BUSY. 113
21st April 1745.
"sleep under trees, or under the open sky, by the edge of
"morasses. " * It was against this Karoly and his horde that
Hautcharmoi's little expedition, or express attacking party to
drive them home again, was shot out (8th--21st April).
Which did its work very prettily; Winterfeld, chief hand in
it, crowning the matter by a "Fight of Wiirbitz," ** -- where
Winterfeld, cutting the taproot, in his usual electric way,
tumbles Karoly quite into the morasses, and clears the country
of him for a time. For a time; though for a time only; --
Karoly or others returning in a week or two, to a still higher
extent of thousands; mischievous as ever in those Ratibor-
Namslau countries. Upon which, Friedrich, finding this an
endless business, and nothing like the most important, gives
it up for the present; calls-in his remoter detachments; has
his Magazines carted home to the Fortress Towns, -- Karoly
trying, once or so, to hinder in that operation, but only again
getting his crown broken. *** Or if carting be too difficult,
still do not waste your Magazine: -- Margraf Karl, for in-
stance, is ordered to Jagerndorf with his Detachment, "to eat
"the Magazine;" hungry Pandours looking on, till he finish.
On which occasion a renowned little Fight took place (Fight
of Neustadt, or of Jagerndorf-Neustadt), as shall be mentioned
farther on.
So that, for certain weeks to come, the Tolpatcheries had
free course, in those Frontier parts; and were left to rove
about, under check only of the Garrison Towns; Friedrich
being obliged to look elsewhere after higher perils, which
were now coming in view. In which favourable circumstances,
Karoly and Consorts did, at last, make one stroke in those
Ratibor countries; that of Kosel, which was greatly con-
solatory, f "By treachery of an Ensign who had deserted to
"them '(provoked by rigour of discipline, or some intolerable
thing), "they glided stealthily, one nightj across the ditches,
"intoKosel' (ahalf-fortified place, Prussian works only half-
finished): which, being the Key of the Oder in those parts,
they reckoned a glorious conquest; of good omen, and worthy
aife-Deums at Vienna. And they did eagerly, without the
least molestation, labour to complete the Prussian works at
* Ranke, m. 244. ** Orlich, ii. 136 (21st April).
Fight of Mocker," May 4th (Orlich, u. 141).
t 26th May 1743 (Orlich, n. 156-158).
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. VIII. 8
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? 114 SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [book XV.
15th March -- 11th May 1745.
Kosel: "One garrison already ours! "-- which was not had
from them without battering (and I believe, burning), when
General von Nassau came to inquire after it, in Autumn next.
Friedrich had always hoped that the Saxons, who
are not yet in declared War with him, though bound
by Treaty to assist the Queen of Hungary under cer-
tain conditions, would not venture on actual Invasion
of his Territories; but in this, as readers anticipate,
Friedrich finds himself mistaken. Weissenfels is
hastening from the Leitmeritz north-western quarter,
where he has wintered, to join Prince Karl, who is
gathering himself from Olmutz and his south-eastern
home region; their full intention is to invade Silesia
together, and they hope now at length to make an end
of Friedrich and it. These Pandour hordes, supported
by the necessary grenadiers and cannoniers, are sent
as vanguard; these cannot themselves beat him; but
they may induce him (which they do not) to divide
his Force; they may, in part, burn him away as by
slow fire, after which he will be the easier to beat.
Instead of which, Friedrich, leaving the Pandours to
their luck, lies concentrated in Neisse Valley; watch-
ing, with all his faculties, Prince Karl's own advent
(coming on like Fate, indubitable, yet involved in
mysteries hitherto); and is perilously sensible that only
in giving that a good reception is there any hope left
him.
Prince Karl, 'who arrived in Olmutz, April 30th,'
commands in chief again, -- saddened, poor man, by
the loss of his young Wife, in December last; willing
to still his grief in action for the cause she loved; --
but old Traun is not with him this year: which is a
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? CHAJ? . VH. ] PRIEDRICH IN SILESIA; UNUSUALLY BUSY. 115
15th March -- 11th May 1745.
still more material circumstance. Traun is to go this
year, under cloak not of Prince Karl, but of Grand-
Duke Franz, to clear those Frankfurt countries for
the Kaiserwahl and him. Prince Conti lies there, with
his famous 'Middle-Rhine Army' (D'Ahremberg, from
the western parts, not nearly so diligent upon him as
one could wish); and must, at all rates, be cleared
away. Traun, taking command of Bathyani's Army
(now that it has finished the Bavarian job), is prepar-
ing to push down upon Conti, while Bathyani (who is
to supersede the laggard DAhremberg) shall push
vigorously up; -- and before summer is over, we shall
hear of Traun again, and Conti will have heard! --
Friedrich's indignation, on learning that the Saxons
were actually on march, and gradually that they in-
tended to invade him, was great; and the whole matter
is portentously enigmatic to him, as he lies vigilant in
Neisse Valley, waiting on the When and the How.
Indignation; --and yet there is need of caution withal.
To be ready for events, the Old Dessauer has, as one
sure measure, been requested to take charge, once
more, of a "Camp of Observation" on the Saxon
Frontier (as of old, in 1741); and has given his con-
sent:* "Camp of Magdeburg," "Camp of Dieskau;"
for it had various names and figures; checkings of
your hand, then layings of it on, heavier, lighter, and
again heavier, according to one's various readings of
the Saxon Mystery; and we shall hear enough about
it, intermittently, till December coming: when it ended
in a way we shall not forget! -- On which take this
Note:
? "April 25th," consents (Orlich. n. 130).
8*
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? 116 SECOND SILESIAK WAK. [book XV.
15th March-- 11th May 1745.
"The Camp of Observation was to have begun, May 1st;
"did begin somewhat later, 'near Magdeburg,' not too close
'' on the Frontier, nor in too alarming strength; was reinforced
"to about 30,000; in which state (middle of August) "it
"stept forward to Wieskau, then to Dieskau, close on the
"Saxon Border; and became, -- with a Saxon Camp lying
"close opposite, and War formally threatened, or almost
"declared, on Saxony by Friedrich, -- an alarmingly serious
"matter. Friedrich, however, again checked his hand; and
"did not consummate till November -- December. But did
"then consummate; greatly against his will; and in a way
''flamingly visible to all men! " *
Friedrich's own incidental utterances (what more
we have of Fractions from the Podewils Letters), in
such portentous aspect of affairs, may now be worth
giving. It is not now to Jordan that he writes, gaily
unbosoming himself, as in the First War, -- poor
Jordan lies languishing, these many months; con-
sumptive, too evidently dying: -- Not to Jordan,
this time; nor is the theme "gloire" now, but a far
different!
Friedrich to Podewils (as before, April--May 1745).
April 20th or so, Orders are come to Berlin (orders, to
Podewils's horror at such a thought), Whitherward, should
Berlin be assaulted, the Official Boards, the Preciosities and
household gods are to betake themselves: -- to Magdeburg,
all these, which is an impregnable place; to Stettin, the Two
Queens, and Royal Family, if they like it better. Podewils in
horror, 'hair standing on end,' writes thereupon to Eichel,
That he hopes the management, 'in a certain contingency,'
will be given to Minister Boden; he Podewils, with his hair
in that posture, being quite unequal to it. Friedrich answers:
"April 26th. ** 'I can understand how you are getting
"' uneasy, you Berliners. I have the most to lose of you all;
* Orlich, n. ISO, 209, 210; Helden-Geschichte, n. 1224-26; i. 1117.
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? CHAP, vn. ] FRIEDRICH IN SILESIA; UNUSUALLY BUSY. 117
15th March--11th May 1745.
"' but I am quiet, and prepared for events. If the Saxons take
"'part,' as they surely will, 'in the Invasion of Silesia, and we
"'beat them, I am determined to plunge into Saxony. For
"'great maladies, there need great remedies. Either I will
"'maintain my all, or else lose my all. ' (Hear it, friend; and
"understand it, -- with hair lying flat! ) 'It is true, the dis-
"'affection of the Russian Court, on such trifling grounds,
"' was not to be expected; and great misfortune can befal us.
"'Well; a year or two sooner, a year or two later, -- it is not
"' worth one's while to bother about the very worst. If things
"'take the better turn, our condition will be surer and firmer
"'than it was before. If we have nothing to reproach our-
"selves with, neither need we fret and plague ourselves
"'about bad events, which can happen to any man. ' -- 'I am
"'causing despatch a secret Order for Boden' (on you know
"what), 'which you will not deliver him till I give sign. '" --
On hearing of the Peace of Fiissen, perhaps a day or so later,
Friedrich again writes:
"April" (no distinct date; Neisse still? Quits Neisse, April
28th). ** "Peace of Fiissen, Bavaria turned against me V 'I
"' can say nothing to it, -- except, There has come what had
"' to come. To me remains only to possess myself in patience.
"'If all alliances, resources, and negotiations fail, and all
"' conjunctures go against me, I prefer to perish with honour,
"'rather than lead an inglorious life deprived of all dignity.
"'My ambition whispers me that I have done more than
"' another to the building up of my House, and have played a
'"distinguished part among the crowned heads of Europe.
"'To maintain myself there, has become as it were a per-
'"sonal duty; which I will fulfil at the expense of my happi-
"'ness and my life. I have no choice left: I will maintain my
"'power, or it may go to ruin, and the Prussian name be
"'buried under it. If the enemy attempt anything upon us,
"'we will either beat him, or we will all be hewed to pieces,
"'for the sake of our Country, and the renown of Branden-
"'burg. No other counsel can I listen to. '"
Same Letter, or another f (Herr Ranke having his caprices! )
* * "You are a good man, my Podewils, and do what can be
"expected of you" (Podewils has been apologising for his
terrors; and referring hopefully'to Providence'): "Perform
"faithfully the given work on your side, as I on mine; for
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? 118 SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [book XT.
15th March --11th May 1745.
"the rest, let what you call 'Providence' decide as it likes:"
-- (tine Providence aveugle? Ranke, who alone knows, gives
"bhnde Vorsehung. " What an utterance, on the part of this
little Titan! Consider it as exceptional with him, unusual,
accidental to the hard moment, and perhaps not so impious as
it looks! ) -- "Neither our prudence nor our courage shall be
"liable to blame; but only circumstances that would not
"favour us. **
"I prepare myself for every event. Fortune may be kind
"or be unkind, it shall neither dishearten me nor uplift me. If
"I am to perish, let it be with honour, and sword in hand.
"What the issue is to be -- Well, what pleases Heaven, or
"the Other Party (J'ai jete le bonnet par dessus les moulins)!
"Adieu, my dearPodewils; become as good a philosopher as
"you are a politician; and learn from a man who does not go
"to Eisner's Preaching" (fashionable at the time), "that one
"must oppose to ill fortune abrow of iron; and, during this
"life, renounce all happiness, all acquisitions, possessions
"and lying shows, none of which will follow us beyond the
"grave. "*
"By what points the Austrian-Saxon Armament
will come through upon us?
and the French; -- and study to make improvements,
reinforcements, in their Rhine Army. And they do,
at least, change the General of their Middle-Rhine
Army, -- that is to say, recal Prince Conti out of
Italy, where he has distinguished himself, and send
Maillebois thither in his stead, -- who likewise dis-
tinguishes himself there, if that could be a comfort to
us! Whether the distinguished Conti will maintain that
Frankfurt Country in spite of the Austrians and their
Election movements, is still a question with Friedrich,
though Valori continued assuring him (always till July
came) that it was beyond question. "Siege of Tournay,
vigorous Campaign in the Netherlands (for behoof of
Britannic George)! " this is the grand French program
for the Year. This good intention was achieved, on
the French part; but this, like Aaron's-rod among the
serpents, proved to have eaten the others as it wriggled
along! -- #
Those Maillebois-D'Ahremberg affairs throw a damp
on the Bavarian Question withal; -- in fact, settle the
Bavarian Question; her Hungarian Majesty, tired of the
delays, having ordered Bathyani to shoulder arms
again, and bring a decision. Bathyani, with Baren-
klau to right of him, and Browne (our old Silesian
friend) to left, goes sweeping across those Seckendorf-
Se'gur posts, and without difficulty tumbles everything
to ruin, at a grand rate. The traitor Seckendorf had
made such a choice of posts, -- left unaltered by Drum
Thorring; -- what could French valour do? Nothing;
neither French valour, nor Bavarian want of valour,
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? CHAP. VI. ] VALORI ON AN ELECTIONEERING MISSION. 103
28th March 1745.
could do anything but whirl to the right-about, at sight
of the Austrian Sweeping-Apparatus; and go off ex-
plosively, as in former instances, at a rate almost
unique in military annals. Finished within three weeks
or so! -- We glance only at two points of it. March 21st, Bathyani stood to arms (to besoms we might call
it), Browne on the left, Barenklau on the right: it was
March 21st when Bathyani started from Passau, up
the Donau Countries; -- and within the week coming,
see:
"Vilshofen, 28th March 1745. Here, at the mouth of the
"Vils River (between Inn and Iser), is the first considerable
"Post; garrison some 4,000; Hessians and Prince Friedrich
"the main part, -- who have their share of valour, I dare say;
"but with such news out ofHessen, not to speak of the pro-
spects in this Country, are probably in poorish spirits for
"acting. General Browne summons them in Vilshofen, this
"day; and, on their negative, storms in upon them, bursts
"them to pieces; upon which they beat chamade. But the
"Croats, who are foremost, care nothing for chamade; go
"plundering, slaughtering; burn the poor Town; butcher"
(inround numbers) "3,000 of the poor Hessians; and wound
"General Browne himself, while he too vehemently inter-
"feres. "* This was the finale of those 6,000 Hessians, and
indeed their principal function, while in French pay; -- and
must have been, we can judge how surprising to Prince
Friedrich, and to his Papa on hearing of it! Note another
point.
Precisely about this time twelvemonth, 'March 16th,
1746,' the same Prince Friedrich, with remainder of those
Hessians, now again completed to 6,000, and come back with
emphasis to the Britannic side of things, was -- marching
out of Edinburgh, in much state, with streamers, kettle-
drums, Highness's coaches, horses, led-horses, on an un-
* Adelung, iv. 356, and the half-intelligible Foot-note in Ranke,
in. 220.
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? 104 SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [book XV.
\
15th April 1745.
expected errand. * Toward Stirling, Perth: towards Killie-
crankie, and raising of what is called 'the Siege of Blair in
Athol' (most minute of 'sieges,' but subtending a great angle
there andthen);--much of unexpected, and nearer home than
'Tournay and the Netherlands Campaign,' having happened
to Britannic George in the course of this year 17451 "Really
"very fine troops, those Hessians" (observes my orthodox
Whig friend): "they carry swords as well as guns and bayo-
"nets; their uniform is blue turned up with white: the
"Hussar part of them, about 500, have scimitars of a great
"length; small horses, mostly black, of Swedish breed;
"swift durable little creatures, with long tails. " Honours,
dinners, to his Serene Highness had been numerous, during
the three weeks we had him in Edinburgh; "especially that
"Ball, February 21st (o. s. ), eve of his Consort the Princess
"Mary's Birthday" (eve of birthday, 'let us dance the auspi-
'cious morning in') "was, for affluence of Nobility and Gentry
"of both sexes," a sublime thing. * *
Pfaffenhofen, April 15th. "Unfortunate Se'gur, the Se'gur
"of Linz three years ago,--whose conduct was great, accord "ing to Valori, but powerless against traitors and fate, --
"was again, once more, unfortunate in those parts. Unfor-
"tunate Segur drew up at Pfaffenhofen (centre of the Coun-
"try, many miles from Vilshofen) to defend himself, when
"fallenupon by Barenklau, in that manner; but could not,
"though with masterly demeanour; and had to retreat three
"days, with his face to the enemy, so to speak, fighting and
"manoeuvering all the way: no shelter for him either but
"Miinchen, and that a most temporary one. Instead of tak-
ing Straubingen, taking Passau, perhaps of pushing on to
"Vienna itself, this is what we have already come to. No
"Rhine Army, Middle-Rhine Army, Coigny, Maiilebois,
"Conti, whoever it was, would send us the least reinforce-
"ment, when shrieked to. No outlook whatever but rapid
"withdrawal, retreat to the Rhine Army, since it will not stir
"to help us. **
* Henderson (Whig Eye-witness), History of the Rebellion, 1745 and
1746 (London, 1748, reprint from the Edinburgh edition), pp. 104, 106, 107.
? ? Adelung, iv. 360.
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? CHAP. VI. ] VALORI ON AN ELECTIONEERING MISSION. 105
iM April 1745.
"The young Kur-Baiern is still polite, grateful" (to us
French), "overwhelms us with politeness; but flies to Augs-
burg, as his Father used to do. Notable, however, his poor
"fat Tittle Mother won't, this time: 'No, I will stay here, I
"'for one, and have done with flying and running; we have
"'had enough of that! ' Seckendorf, quite gone from Court
"in this crisis, reappears, about the middle of April, in ques-
"tionable capacity; at a place called Fiissen, not far off, at
"the foot of the Tyrol Hills; -- where certain Austrian Dig-
"nitaries seem also to be enjoying a picturesque Easter! Yes
"indeed: and, on April 22a', there is signed a 'Peace of Fiissen'
"there; general amicable As-you-were, between Austria and
"Bavaria ('Renounce your Anti-Pragmatic moonshine for-
"'evermore, vote for our Grand-Duke; there is your Bavaria
'"back, poor wretches! ') -- and Seckendorf, it is presum-
able, will get his Turkish arrears liquidated.
"The Bavarian Intricacy, which once excelled human
"power, is settled, then. Carteret andHaslang tried it in
"vain" (dreadfulheterodox intentions of secularising Salz-
burg, secularising Passau, Regensburg, and loud tremulous
denial of such);? "Carteret and Wilhelm ofHessen" (Con-
ferences of Hanau, which ruined Carteret), "in vain; King
"Friedrich, and many Kings, in vain: a thing nobody could
"settle; -- and it has at last settled itself, as the generality
"of ill-guided and unlucky things do, by collapse. Delirium
"once out, the law of gravity acts; and there the mad matter
"lies. "
"Bought by Austria, that old villain! " cry the
French. Friedrich does not think the Austrians bought
Seckendorf, having no money at present; but guesses
they may have given him to understand that a certain
large arrear of payment due ever since those Turkish
Wars, -- when Seckendorf, instead of payment, was
lodged in the Fortress of Gratz, and almost got his
head cut off, -- should now be paid down in cash, or
authentic Paper-money, if matters become amicable. *
* (Evvres da Frederic, m. 22; Seckendorfs Leben, pp. 367-376.
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? 106 SECOND SILESIAN WAH. [book XV.
22d April 1745.
As they have done, in Friedrich's despite; -- who
seems angrier at the old stager for this particular ill-
turn than for all the other many, and long remembers
it, as will appear.
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? CHAP, vn. ] FRIEDRICH IN SILESIA; UNUSUALLY BUSY. 107
IStli March -- 11th May 1745.
CHAPTER VII.
FRIEDRICH IN SILESIA; UNUSUALLY BUSY.
Here, sure enough, are sad new intricacies in the
Diplomatic, hypothetic sphere of things; and clouds
piling themselves ahead, in a very minatory manner to
King Friedrich. Let King Friedrich, all the more,
get his Fighting Arrangements made perfect. Diplomacy
is clouds; beating of your enemies is sea and land.
Austria and the Gazetteer world consider Friedrich to
be as good as finished: but that is privately far from
being Friedrich's own opinion; -- though these occur-
rences are heavy and dismal to him, as none of us can
now fancy.
Herr Ranke has got access, in the Archives, to a
series of private utterances by Friedrich, -- Letters
from him, of a franker nature than usual, and letting
us far deeper into his mind; -- which must have been
well worth reading in the original, in their fully dated
and developed condition. From Herr Ranke's Frag-
mentary Excerpts, let us, thankful for what we have
got, select one or two. The Letters are to Minister
Podewils at Berlin; written from Silesia (Neisse and
neighbourhood), where, since the middle of March,
Friedrich has been, personally pushing-on his Army
Preparations, while the above sinister things befel.
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? 108
SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [book XV.
15th March --11th May 1745.
King Friedrich to Podewils in Berlin (under various
dates, March -- April 1745).
Neisse, 29thMarch. ** "We find ourselves in a great crisis.
"If we don't, by mediation of England, get Peace, our ene-
"mies from diflerent sides" (Saxony, Austria, who knows if
notRussia withal! ) "will come plunging in against me. Peace
"I cannot force them to. But if they must have War, we will
"either beat them, or none of us will see Berlin again. " *
April (no day given). * * "In any case, I have my troops
"well together. The sicknesses are ceasing; the recruit-
"ments are coming in: shortly all will be complete. That
"does not hinder us from making Peace, if it will only come;
"but, in the contrary case, nobody can accuse me of neglecting
"what was necessary. "
April 11th (still from Neisse). * * "I toil day and night to
"improve our situation. The soldiers will do their duty.
"There is none among us who will not rather have his back-
"bone broken than give up one foot-breadth of ground. They
"must either grant us a good Peace, or we will surpass our-
"selves by miracles of daring; and force the enemy to accept
"it from us. "
April 20th. "Our situation is disagreeable; constrained, a
"kind of spasm: but my determination is taken. If we needs
"must fight, we will do it like men driven desperate. Never
"was there a greater peril than that I am now in. Time, at its
"own pleasure, will untie this knot; or Destiny, if there is
"one, determine the event. The game I play is so high, one
"cannot contemplate the issue with cold blood. Pray for the
"return of my good luck. " -- Two days hence, the poor young
Kur-Baiern, deaf to the French seductions] and exertions
which were intense, had signed his 'Peace of Fiissen'(22d
April 1745), -- a finale to France on the German Field, as
may be feared! The other Fragments we will give a little
farther on.
Friedrich had left Berlin for Silesia, March 15th;
rather sooner than he counted on, -- Old Leopold
* Ranke, in. 236 et acq.
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? CHAP. vn. ] FKIEDHlCH IN SILESIA; UKUSUALLY BUSY. 109
15th March -- 11th May 1745.
pleading to be let home. At Glogau, at Breslau, there
had been the due inspecting: Friedrich got to Neisse
on the 23d (Bathyani just stirring in that Bavarian
Business, Vilshofen and the Hessians close ahead); and
on the 27th, had dismissed Old Leopold, with thanks
and sympathies, -- sent him home, "to recover his
health. " Leopold's health is probably suffering; but
his heart and spirits still more. Poor old man, he has
just lost, -- the other week, '5th February' last, --
his poor old Wife, at Dessau; and is broken down
with grief. The soft silk lining of his hard Existence,
in all parts of it, is torn away. Apothecary Fos's
Daughter, Reich's Princess, Princess of Dessau, called by whatever name, she had been the truest of Wives;
'used to attend him in all his Campaigns, for above
fifty years back. ' "Gone, now, forever gone! " -- Old
Leopold had wells of strange sorrow in the rugged
heart of him, -- sorrow, and still better things, --
which he does not wear on his sleeve. Here is an
incident I never can forget; -- dating twelve or
thirteen years ago (as is computable), 'middle of
July 1732. '
"Louisa, Leopold's eldest Daughter, Wife of Victor Leo-
pold, reigning Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg, lay dying of a
"decline. " Still only twenty-three, poor Lady, though mar-
ried seven years ago; -- the end now evidently drawing nigh.
"A few days before her death, --? perhaps some attendant
"sorrowfully asking, 'Can we do nothing, then? '--she was
"heard to say, 'If! could see my Father at the head of his
"'Regiment, yet once! '" -- Halle, where the Regiment lies,
is some thirty or more miles off; and King Friedrich Wilhelm,
I suppose would have to be written to: -- Leopold was ready
the soonest possible; and, "at a set hour, marched, in all
"pomp with banner flying, music playing, into the Schlosshof
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? 110 SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [book XV.
15th March-- 11th May 1745.
"(Palace Court) of Bernburg; and did the due salutations and
"manceuverings, -- his poor Daughter sitting at her window,
"till they ended;" -- figure them, the last glitter of those
muskets, the last wail of that band-music! -- "The Regiment
"was then marched to the Waisenhaus (Orphanhouse), where
"the common men were treated with bread and beer; all
"the Officers dining at the Prince's Table. All the Officers,
"except Leopold alone, who stole away out of the crowd; sat
"himself upon the balustrade of the Saale Bridge, and wept
"into the river. "* Leopold is now on the edge of se-
venty; ready to think all is finished with him.
Perhaps not
quite, my tough old friend; recover yourself a little, and we
shall see!
Old Leopold is hardly home at Dessau, when new
Pandour tempests, tides of ravaging War, again come
beating against the Giant Mountains, pouring through
all passes; from utmost Jablunka, westward by Jagern-
dorf to Glatz, huge influx of wild riding hordes, each
with some support of Austrian grenadiers, cannoniers;
threatening to submerge Silesia. Precursors, Friedrich
need not doubt, of a strenuous regular attempt that
way. Hungarian Majesty's fixed intention, hope and
determination is, To expel him straightway from Silesia.
Her Patent circulates, these three months; calling on
all men to take note of that fixed fact, especially on
all Silesian men to note it well, and shift their al-
legiance accordingly. Silesian men, in great majority,
-- our friend the Mayor of Landshut, for example? --
are believed to have no inclination towards change:
and whoever has, had clearly better not show any till
he see! ** --
* Leben (12mo; not RannfVs but Anonymous like his), p. 234 n.
** In Ranke (m. 234), there is vestige of some intended "voluntary
subscription by the common people of Glatz," for Friedrich's behoof; --
contrariwise, in Orlich (u. 380, "6th February 1745," from the Dessau
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? CHAP. VII. ] FRIEDRICH IN SILESIA; UNUSUALLY BUSY. Ill
15th March -- 11th May 1745.
Friedrich's thousandfold preliminary orderings,
movements, rearrangings in his Army matters, must
not detain us here; -- still less his dealings with the
Pandour element, which is troublesome, rather than
dangerous. Vigilance, wise swift determination, valour
drilled to its work, can deal with phenomena of that
nature, though never so furious and innumerable. Not
a cheering service for drilled valour, but a very need-
ful one. Continual bickerings and skirmishings fell
out, sometimes rising to sharp fight on the small scale:
-- Austrian grenadiers with cannon are on that Height
to left, and also on this to right, meaning to cut off
our march; the difficult landscape furnished out, far
and wide, with Pandour companies in position: you
must dash in, my Burschen; seize me that cannon-
battery yonder; master such and such a post, -- there
is the heart of all that network of armed doggery; slit
asunder that, the network wholly will tumble over the
Hills again. Which is always done, on the part of the
Prussian Burschen; though sometimes not without dif-
ficulty. -- His Majesty is forming Magazines at Neisse,
Brieg, and the principal Fortresses in those parts;
driving on all manner of preparations at the rapidest
rate of speed, and looking with his own eyes into
everything. The regiments are about what we may
call complete, arithmetically and otherwise; the cavalry
show good perfection in their new mode of maneuver-
ing; -- it is to be hoped the Fighting Apparatus
generally will give fair account of itself when the
Archives), notice of one individual, suspected of stirring for Austria, whom
"you are to put under lock and key;" -- but he runs off, and has no successor, that I hear of.
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? 112 SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [bOOKXv.
21st April 1741.
time comes. Our one anchor of hope, as now more
and more appears.
On the Pandour element he first tried (under
General Hautcharmoi, with Winterfeld as chief active
hand) a direct outburst or two, with a view to slash
them home at once. But finding that it was of no
use, as they always reappeared in new multitudes, he
renounced that; took to calling in his remoter outposts;
and, except where Magazines or the like remained to
be cared for, let the Pandours baffle about, checked
only by the fortified Towns, and more and more
submerge the Hill Country. Prince Karl, to be ex-
pected in the form of lion, mysteriously uncertain on
which side coming to invade us, -- he, and not the
innumerable weasel kind, is our important matter! By
the end of April (news of the Peace of Fussen coming
withal), Friedrich had quitted Neisse; lay cantoned, in
Neisse Valley (between Frankenstein and Patschkau,
'able to assemble in forty-eight hours'); studying, with
his whole strength, to be ready for the mysterious
Prince Karl, on whatever side he might arrive; -- and
disregarding the Pandours in comparison.
The points of inrush, the tideways of these Pandour De-
luges seem to be mainly three. Direct through the Jablunka,
upon Ratibor Country, is the first and chief; less direct
(partly supplied by refluences fromRatibor, whenRatibor is
found not to answer), a second disembogues by Jagerndorf; a
third, the westernmost, by Landshut. Three main ingresses:
at each of which there fall out little Fights; which are still
celebrated in the Prussian Books, and indeed well deserve
reading by soldiers that would know their trade. In the
Ratibor parts, the invasive leader is a GeneralKaroly, with
12,000 under him, who are the wildest horde of all: "Karoly
"lodges in a wood: for himself there is a tent; his companions
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? CHAP. TO. ] FRIEDRICH IN SILESIA; UNUSUALLY BUSY. 113
21st April 1745.
"sleep under trees, or under the open sky, by the edge of
"morasses. " * It was against this Karoly and his horde that
Hautcharmoi's little expedition, or express attacking party to
drive them home again, was shot out (8th--21st April).
Which did its work very prettily; Winterfeld, chief hand in
it, crowning the matter by a "Fight of Wiirbitz," ** -- where
Winterfeld, cutting the taproot, in his usual electric way,
tumbles Karoly quite into the morasses, and clears the country
of him for a time. For a time; though for a time only; --
Karoly or others returning in a week or two, to a still higher
extent of thousands; mischievous as ever in those Ratibor-
Namslau countries. Upon which, Friedrich, finding this an
endless business, and nothing like the most important, gives
it up for the present; calls-in his remoter detachments; has
his Magazines carted home to the Fortress Towns, -- Karoly
trying, once or so, to hinder in that operation, but only again
getting his crown broken. *** Or if carting be too difficult,
still do not waste your Magazine: -- Margraf Karl, for in-
stance, is ordered to Jagerndorf with his Detachment, "to eat
"the Magazine;" hungry Pandours looking on, till he finish.
On which occasion a renowned little Fight took place (Fight
of Neustadt, or of Jagerndorf-Neustadt), as shall be mentioned
farther on.
So that, for certain weeks to come, the Tolpatcheries had
free course, in those Frontier parts; and were left to rove
about, under check only of the Garrison Towns; Friedrich
being obliged to look elsewhere after higher perils, which
were now coming in view. In which favourable circumstances,
Karoly and Consorts did, at last, make one stroke in those
Ratibor countries; that of Kosel, which was greatly con-
solatory, f "By treachery of an Ensign who had deserted to
"them '(provoked by rigour of discipline, or some intolerable
thing), "they glided stealthily, one nightj across the ditches,
"intoKosel' (ahalf-fortified place, Prussian works only half-
finished): which, being the Key of the Oder in those parts,
they reckoned a glorious conquest; of good omen, and worthy
aife-Deums at Vienna. And they did eagerly, without the
least molestation, labour to complete the Prussian works at
* Ranke, m. 244. ** Orlich, ii. 136 (21st April).
Fight of Mocker," May 4th (Orlich, u. 141).
t 26th May 1743 (Orlich, n. 156-158).
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. VIII. 8
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? 114 SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [book XV.
15th March -- 11th May 1745.
Kosel: "One garrison already ours! "-- which was not had
from them without battering (and I believe, burning), when
General von Nassau came to inquire after it, in Autumn next.
Friedrich had always hoped that the Saxons, who
are not yet in declared War with him, though bound
by Treaty to assist the Queen of Hungary under cer-
tain conditions, would not venture on actual Invasion
of his Territories; but in this, as readers anticipate,
Friedrich finds himself mistaken. Weissenfels is
hastening from the Leitmeritz north-western quarter,
where he has wintered, to join Prince Karl, who is
gathering himself from Olmutz and his south-eastern
home region; their full intention is to invade Silesia
together, and they hope now at length to make an end
of Friedrich and it. These Pandour hordes, supported
by the necessary grenadiers and cannoniers, are sent
as vanguard; these cannot themselves beat him; but
they may induce him (which they do not) to divide
his Force; they may, in part, burn him away as by
slow fire, after which he will be the easier to beat.
Instead of which, Friedrich, leaving the Pandours to
their luck, lies concentrated in Neisse Valley; watch-
ing, with all his faculties, Prince Karl's own advent
(coming on like Fate, indubitable, yet involved in
mysteries hitherto); and is perilously sensible that only
in giving that a good reception is there any hope left
him.
Prince Karl, 'who arrived in Olmutz, April 30th,'
commands in chief again, -- saddened, poor man, by
the loss of his young Wife, in December last; willing
to still his grief in action for the cause she loved; --
but old Traun is not with him this year: which is a
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? CHAJ? . VH. ] PRIEDRICH IN SILESIA; UNUSUALLY BUSY. 115
15th March -- 11th May 1745.
still more material circumstance. Traun is to go this
year, under cloak not of Prince Karl, but of Grand-
Duke Franz, to clear those Frankfurt countries for
the Kaiserwahl and him. Prince Conti lies there, with
his famous 'Middle-Rhine Army' (D'Ahremberg, from
the western parts, not nearly so diligent upon him as
one could wish); and must, at all rates, be cleared
away. Traun, taking command of Bathyani's Army
(now that it has finished the Bavarian job), is prepar-
ing to push down upon Conti, while Bathyani (who is
to supersede the laggard DAhremberg) shall push
vigorously up; -- and before summer is over, we shall
hear of Traun again, and Conti will have heard! --
Friedrich's indignation, on learning that the Saxons
were actually on march, and gradually that they in-
tended to invade him, was great; and the whole matter
is portentously enigmatic to him, as he lies vigilant in
Neisse Valley, waiting on the When and the How.
Indignation; --and yet there is need of caution withal.
To be ready for events, the Old Dessauer has, as one
sure measure, been requested to take charge, once
more, of a "Camp of Observation" on the Saxon
Frontier (as of old, in 1741); and has given his con-
sent:* "Camp of Magdeburg," "Camp of Dieskau;"
for it had various names and figures; checkings of
your hand, then layings of it on, heavier, lighter, and
again heavier, according to one's various readings of
the Saxon Mystery; and we shall hear enough about
it, intermittently, till December coming: when it ended
in a way we shall not forget! -- On which take this
Note:
? "April 25th," consents (Orlich. n. 130).
8*
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? 116 SECOND SILESIAK WAK. [book XV.
15th March-- 11th May 1745.
"The Camp of Observation was to have begun, May 1st;
"did begin somewhat later, 'near Magdeburg,' not too close
'' on the Frontier, nor in too alarming strength; was reinforced
"to about 30,000; in which state (middle of August) "it
"stept forward to Wieskau, then to Dieskau, close on the
"Saxon Border; and became, -- with a Saxon Camp lying
"close opposite, and War formally threatened, or almost
"declared, on Saxony by Friedrich, -- an alarmingly serious
"matter. Friedrich, however, again checked his hand; and
"did not consummate till November -- December. But did
"then consummate; greatly against his will; and in a way
''flamingly visible to all men! " *
Friedrich's own incidental utterances (what more
we have of Fractions from the Podewils Letters), in
such portentous aspect of affairs, may now be worth
giving. It is not now to Jordan that he writes, gaily
unbosoming himself, as in the First War, -- poor
Jordan lies languishing, these many months; con-
sumptive, too evidently dying: -- Not to Jordan,
this time; nor is the theme "gloire" now, but a far
different!
Friedrich to Podewils (as before, April--May 1745).
April 20th or so, Orders are come to Berlin (orders, to
Podewils's horror at such a thought), Whitherward, should
Berlin be assaulted, the Official Boards, the Preciosities and
household gods are to betake themselves: -- to Magdeburg,
all these, which is an impregnable place; to Stettin, the Two
Queens, and Royal Family, if they like it better. Podewils in
horror, 'hair standing on end,' writes thereupon to Eichel,
That he hopes the management, 'in a certain contingency,'
will be given to Minister Boden; he Podewils, with his hair
in that posture, being quite unequal to it. Friedrich answers:
"April 26th. ** 'I can understand how you are getting
"' uneasy, you Berliners. I have the most to lose of you all;
* Orlich, n. ISO, 209, 210; Helden-Geschichte, n. 1224-26; i. 1117.
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? CHAP, vn. ] FRIEDRICH IN SILESIA; UNUSUALLY BUSY. 117
15th March--11th May 1745.
"' but I am quiet, and prepared for events. If the Saxons take
"'part,' as they surely will, 'in the Invasion of Silesia, and we
"'beat them, I am determined to plunge into Saxony. For
"'great maladies, there need great remedies. Either I will
"'maintain my all, or else lose my all. ' (Hear it, friend; and
"understand it, -- with hair lying flat! ) 'It is true, the dis-
"'affection of the Russian Court, on such trifling grounds,
"' was not to be expected; and great misfortune can befal us.
"'Well; a year or two sooner, a year or two later, -- it is not
"' worth one's while to bother about the very worst. If things
"'take the better turn, our condition will be surer and firmer
"'than it was before. If we have nothing to reproach our-
"selves with, neither need we fret and plague ourselves
"'about bad events, which can happen to any man. ' -- 'I am
"'causing despatch a secret Order for Boden' (on you know
"what), 'which you will not deliver him till I give sign. '" --
On hearing of the Peace of Fiissen, perhaps a day or so later,
Friedrich again writes:
"April" (no distinct date; Neisse still? Quits Neisse, April
28th). ** "Peace of Fiissen, Bavaria turned against me V 'I
"' can say nothing to it, -- except, There has come what had
"' to come. To me remains only to possess myself in patience.
"'If all alliances, resources, and negotiations fail, and all
"' conjunctures go against me, I prefer to perish with honour,
"'rather than lead an inglorious life deprived of all dignity.
"'My ambition whispers me that I have done more than
"' another to the building up of my House, and have played a
'"distinguished part among the crowned heads of Europe.
"'To maintain myself there, has become as it were a per-
'"sonal duty; which I will fulfil at the expense of my happi-
"'ness and my life. I have no choice left: I will maintain my
"'power, or it may go to ruin, and the Prussian name be
"'buried under it. If the enemy attempt anything upon us,
"'we will either beat him, or we will all be hewed to pieces,
"'for the sake of our Country, and the renown of Branden-
"'burg. No other counsel can I listen to. '"
Same Letter, or another f (Herr Ranke having his caprices! )
* * "You are a good man, my Podewils, and do what can be
"expected of you" (Podewils has been apologising for his
terrors; and referring hopefully'to Providence'): "Perform
"faithfully the given work on your side, as I on mine; for
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? 118 SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [book XT.
15th March --11th May 1745.
"the rest, let what you call 'Providence' decide as it likes:"
-- (tine Providence aveugle? Ranke, who alone knows, gives
"bhnde Vorsehung. " What an utterance, on the part of this
little Titan! Consider it as exceptional with him, unusual,
accidental to the hard moment, and perhaps not so impious as
it looks! ) -- "Neither our prudence nor our courage shall be
"liable to blame; but only circumstances that would not
"favour us. **
"I prepare myself for every event. Fortune may be kind
"or be unkind, it shall neither dishearten me nor uplift me. If
"I am to perish, let it be with honour, and sword in hand.
"What the issue is to be -- Well, what pleases Heaven, or
"the Other Party (J'ai jete le bonnet par dessus les moulins)!
"Adieu, my dearPodewils; become as good a philosopher as
"you are a politician; and learn from a man who does not go
"to Eisner's Preaching" (fashionable at the time), "that one
"must oppose to ill fortune abrow of iron; and, during this
"life, renounce all happiness, all acquisitions, possessions
"and lying shows, none of which will follow us beyond the
"grave. "*
"By what points the Austrian-Saxon Armament
will come through upon us?
