We can fancy the face very
impressive
upon Valori in
these circumstances.
these circumstances.
Thomas Carlyle
?
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? 152 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book xm.
5th Feb. --5th April 1742.
Poor Polish Majesty, -- poor Karl Albert, above all, now
"Kaiser Karl VII. ," with nothing but those French for breath
to his nostrils! With his fine French Army of the Oriflamme,
Karl Albert should have pushed along last Autumn; and not
merely "read the Paper" which Friedrich sent him to that
effect, " and then laid it aside. " They will never have another
chance, his French and he, -- unless we call this again a
chance; which they are again squandering! Linz went by
capitulation; January 24th, the very day of one's "Election
as they called it: and ever since that day of Linz, the series
of disasters has continued rapid and uniform in those parts.
Linz gone, the rest of the French posts did not even wait to
capitulate; but crackled all off, they and our Conquests on
the Donau, like a train of gun-powder, and left the ground
bare. And General von Barenklau (Bear's-claw), with the
hideous fellow called Mentzel, Colonel of Pandours, they have
broken through into Bavaria itself, from the Tyrol; climbing
by Berchtesgaden and the wild Salzburg Mountains, regard-
less of Winter, and of poor Bavarian militia-folk; -- and have
taken Miinchen, one's very Capital, one's very House and
Home! -- Poor Karl Albert, -- and, what is again remarkable,
it was the very day while he was getting "crowned" at Frank-
furt, "with Oriental pomp," that Mentzel was about entering
Miinchen with his Pandours. * And this poor Archduke of the
Austrias, King of Bohemia, Kaiser of the Holy Romish Reich
Teutsch by Nation, is becoming Titular merely, and owns
next to nothing in these extensive Sovereignties. Judge if
there is not call for despatch on all sides! -- The Polish Ma-
jesty sent instant rather angry order to his Saxons, "Forward,
with you; what else! We would be King in Mahren! "
The Saxons then have to march forward; but we can fancy
with what a will. Rutowsky flings up his command on this
Order (let us hope, from rheumatism partly), and goes home;
leaving the Chevalier de Saxe to preside in room of him. As
for Polastron, he produces Order from Broglio, "Iglau got,
return straightway;" must and will cross over into Bohemia
again; and does. Nay, the Comtede Saxe had, privately in
his pocket, a Commission to supersede Polastron, and take
command himself, should Polastron make difficulties about
* Coronation was February 12th; Capitulation to Mentzel, "Miinchen,
February 13th," is in Guerre de Bohime, ii. 56-59.
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? CHAP. x. l MORAVIAN FORAY. 153
5th Feb. --5th April 1742.
turning back. Poor Pola8tron made no difficulties: Maurice
and he vanish accordingly from this Adventure, and only
the unwilling Saxons remain with Friedrich. Poor Polastron
("a poor weak creature," says Friedrich, "fitter for his bre-
"viary than anything else") fell sick, from the hardships of
campaigning; and soon diea, in those Bohemian parts. Mau-
rice i3 heard of, some weeks hence, besieging Eger; -- very
handsomely capturing Eger: * -- on which service Broglio
had ordered him after his return. The former Commandant
of the Siege, not very progressive, had just died; and Broglio,
with reason (all the more for his late Moravian procedures)
was passionate to have done there. One of the first auspicious
exploits of Maurice, that of Eger; which paved the way to his
French fortunes, and more or less sublime glories, in this War.
Friedrich recognised his ingenuities, impetuosities, and supe-
rior talent in war; wrote highflown Letters of praises, now
and then, in years coming; but, we may guess, would hardly
wish to meet Maurice in the way of joint-stock business
again.
Friedrich submerges the Moravian Countries; but cannot Briinn,
which is the indispensable point.
February 19th, these sad Iglau matters once settled, Frie-
drich, followed by the Saxons, plunges forward into Moravia;
spreads himself over the country, levying heavy contribu-
tions , with strict discipline nevertheless; intent to get hold of
Briinn and its Spielberg, if he could. Briinn is the strong
place of Moravia; has a garrison of 6 or 7,000; still better,
has the valiant Roth, whom we knew in Neisse once, for Com-
mandant: Briinn will not be had gratis.
Schwerin, with a Detachment of 5,000 horse and foot, Po-
sadowsky, Ziethen, Schmettau Junior commanding under
him, has dashed along far in the van; towards Upper Austria,
through the Town of Horn, towards Vienna itself; levying,
he also, heavy contributions, -- with a hand of iron, and not
much of a glove on it, as we judge. There is a grim enough
Proclamation (in the name of a "frightfully injured Kaiser,"
as well as Kaiser's Ally), still extant, bearing Sehwerin's
signature, and the date "Stein, 26th February 1712. " ** Stein
* 19th April 1742 (Guerre de Boheme, ii. 78-85).
** In Helden-Geschichte, ii. 556.
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? 154 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book XIII.
5th Feb. --5th April 1742.
is on the Donau, a mile or two from Krems, and twice as far
from Mautern, where the now Kaiser was in Autumn last.
Forty and odd miles short of Vienna: this proved thePisgah
of Schwerin in that direction, as it had done of Karl Albert.
Ziethen with his Hussars coursed some 20 miles farther, on the
Vienna Highway; and got the length of Stockerau; a small
Town, notable slightly, ever since, as the Prussian Nan-plus-
ultra in that line.
Meanwhile, Prince Lobkowitz is rallying; has quitted
Budweis and the Bohemian Bogs, for some check of these
insolences. Lobkowitz, rallying to himself what Vienna force
there is, comes, now in good strength, to Waidhofen (rearward
of Horn, far rearward of Stein and Stockerau), so that Ziethen
and Schwerin have to draw homeward again. Lobkowitz
fortifies himself in Waidhofen; gathers Magazines there, as if
towards weightier enterprises. For indeed much is rallying,
in a dangerous manner; and Moravia is now far other than
when Friedrich planned this Expedition. And at Vienna,
25th February last, there was held Secret Council, and (much
to Robinson's regret) a quite high Resolution come to, --
which Friedrich gets to know of, and does not forget again.
The Saxnns have no Cannon for Briinn, cannot afford any; there
is a high Resolution taken at Vienna (February 25th): Fried-
rich quits the Moravian Enterprise.
Friedrich keeps his Headquarter, all this while, closer and
closer upon Briinn. First, chiefly at a Town called Znaim,
on the River Taya; many-branched river, draining all those
North-western parts; which sends its winding waters down to
Presburg, -- latterly in junction with those of the Morawa
from North, which washes Olmiitz, drains the Northern and
Eastern parts, and gives the Country its name of "Moravia. "
Briinn lies north-east of Friedrich, while in Znaim, some fifty
miles; the Saxon headquarter is at Kromau, midway towards
that City. After Znaim, he shifts inward, to Selowitz, still
in the same Taya Valley, but much nearer Briinn; and there
continues. *
Striving hard for Briinn; striving hard, under difficulties,
* At Znaim, 19th February -- 9th March; at Selowitz, 13th March --
5th April (ROdenbeck, i. 65).
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? CHAP. X. ]| MORAVIAN FORAY. 155
5th Feb. --5th April 1742.
for so many things distant and near; we may fancy him busy
enough; -- and are surprised at the fractions of light Jordan
Correspondence which he still finds time for. Pretty bits of
Letters, in prose and doggerel, from and to those Moravian
Villages; Jordan, "twicea week," bearing the main weight;
Friedrich, oftener than one could hope, flinging some word
of answer, -- very intent on Berlin gossip, we can notice.
"Vattel is still here, your Majesty,"* insinuates Jordan: --
young Vattel, afterwards of the Droit des Genu, whom his Ma-
jesty might have kept, but did not. -- What more of your
D'Argens, then; anything in your D'Argens? Friedrich will
ask. "For certain, D'Argens is full of esprit," answers Jordan,
in a dextrous way; and How the Effulgent of Wiirtemberg
"has quarrelled outright with her D'Argens, and will not eat
off silver (d' argent), lest she have to name him by accident! "
-- with other gossip, in a fine brief airy form, at which Jordan
excels. Cheering the rare leisure hour, in one's Tent at Selo-
witz, Pohrlitz, Irrlitz, far away! -- There are also orders
about Cicero and Books. Of Business for most part, or of pri-
vate feelings, nothing: Berlin gossip, and Books for one's
reading, are the staple. But to return.
Out from Headquarters, diligent operations shoot forth,
far enough, along those Taya-Morawa Valleys, where Hunga-
rian "Insurgents" are beginning to be dangerous. South of
Briinn, all round Briinn, are diligent operations, frequent
skirmishings, constant strict levyings of contributions. The
saving operation, Friedrich well sees, would be to get hold of
Briinn: but, unluckily, How? Vigilant Both scorns all sum-
moning; sallies continually in a dangerous manner; and at
length, when closer pressed, burns all the Villages round him:
"we counted as many as sixteen villages laid in ashes," says
Friedrich. Here is small comfort of outlook.
And then the Saxons, at Kromau or wherever they may
be: no end of trouble and vexation with these Saxons. Their
quarters are not fairly allotted, they say; we make exchange
of quarters, without improvement noticeable. "One fine day,
"on some slight alarm, they came rushing over to us, all in
"panic; ruined, merely by Pandour noises, had not we
"inarched them back, and reinstated them. " Friedrich sends
* CEuvres, xvii. 163, &c.
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? 156 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book xm.
5th Feb. --5th April 1742.
to Silesia for reinforcements of his own, which he can depend
upon. Sends to Silesia, to Glatz and the Young Dessauer;
-- nay to Brandenburg and the Old Dessauer, ultimately.
Finding Roth would not yield, he has sent to Dresden for
Siege Artillery: Polish Majesty there, titular "King of Mo-
ravia," answers that he cannot meet the expense of carriage.
"He had just purchased a green diamond which would have
"carried them thither and back again:" What can be done
with such a man? -- And by this time, early in March, Hunga-
rian "Moriamur pro liege" begins to show itself. Clouds of
Hungarian Insurgents, of the Tolpatch, Pandour sort, mount
over the Carpathians on us, all round the east, from south to
north; and threaten to penetrate Silesia itself. So that we
have to sweep laboriously the Morawa-Taya Valleys; and
undertake first one and then another outroad, or sharp swift
sally, against those troublesome barbarians.
And more serious still, Prince Karl and the regular Army,
quickened by such Khevenhiiller-Barenklau successes in the
Donau Countries, are beginning to stir. Prince Karl, re-
turning from Vienna and its consultations, took command,
4th March; * with whom has come old Graf von Konigseck,
an experienced head to advise with; Prince Karl is in motion,
skirting us southward, about Waidhofen, where Lobkowitz
lay waiting him with Magazines ready. Rumour says, the
force in those parts is already 40,000, with more daily coming
in. Friedrich has of his own, apart from the Saxons, some
24,000. Prince Karl, with so many heavy troops, and with
unlimited supply of light, is very capable of doing mischief:
he has orders (and Friedrich now knows of it) To go in upon
us; -- such their decision in Secret Council at Vienna, on
the 25th of February last, That he must go and fight us: --
"Better we met him with fewer thrums on our hands! " thinks
Friedrich; and beckons the Old Dessauer out of Brandenburg
withal. "Swift, your Serenity; hitherward with 20,000!
Which the Old Dessauer (having 30,000 to pick from, late
Camp-of-G6ttin people) at once sets about. Will be a secu-
rity, in any event! ** To finish with Brtinn, Friedrich has sent
for Siege-Artillery of his own; he urges Chevalier de Saxe to
close with him round Briinn, and batter it energetically into
* Helden-Geschichle, ii. 557.
** Orlich, i. 221: Date of the Order, "13th March 1742. "
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? chap. X. ] MORAVIAN FORAY. 157
30th March 1742.
swift surrender. Is it not the one thing needful? Chevalier
de Saxe admits, half - promises; does not perform. Being
again urged, Why have not you performed? he answers,
"Alas, your Majesty, here are Orders for me to join Marshal
Broglio at Prag, and retire altogether out of this! "
"Altogether out of it," thinks Friedrich to himself: "may
all the Powers be thanked! Then I too, without disgrace, can
go altogether out of it; -- and it shall be a sharp eye that sees
me in joint-stock with you again, M. le Chevalier. " Friedrich
has written in his History, and Valori used to hear him often
say in words, Never were tidings welcomer than these, that
the Saxons were about to desert him in this manner. Go;
and may all the Devils -- But we will not fall into profane
swearing. It is proper to get out of this Enterprise at one's
best speed, and never get into the like of it again! Friedrich
(on this strange Saxon revelation, 30th March) takes instant
order for assembling at Wischau again, for departing towards
Olmiitz; thence homewards, with deliberate celerity, by the
Landskron mountain-country, Tribau, Zwittau, Leutomischl,
and the way he came. He has countermanded his Silesian
reinforcements; these and the rest shall rendezvous at Chru-
dim in Bohemia; whitherwards the Two Dessauers are bound:
-- in Briinn, with its wrecked environs, famed Spielberg
looking down from its conical height, and sixteen villages in
ashes, Roth shall do his own way henceforth.
The Saxons pushed straight homewards; did not
"rejoin Broglio," rejoin anybody,-- had, in fact, done
with this First Silesian War, as it proved; and were
ready for the opposite side, on a Second falling out!
Their march, this time, was long and harassing, --
sad bloody passage in it, from Pandours and hostile
Village-people, almost at starting, "four Companies of
"our Rearguard cut down to nine men; Village burnt,
"and Villagers exterminated (sic), by the rescuing
"party. " * They arrived at Leitmeritz and their own
Border, "hardly above 8,000 effective. " Naturally, in
* Details in Helden-Geschichle, ii. 606: in &c. &c.
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? 158 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book XIII.
30th March 1742.
a highly indignant humour; and much disposed to
blame somebody. To the poor Polish Non- Moravian
Majesty, enlightened by his Briihls and Staff-Officers,
it became a fixed truth that the blame was all Fried-
rich's, -- "starving us, marching us about! " -- that
Friedrich's conduct to us was abominable, and deserved
fixed resentment. Which accordingly it got, from the
simple Polish Majesty, otherwise a good-natured crea-
ture; -- got, and kept. To Friedrich's very great
astonishment, and to his considerable disadvantage,
long after!
Friedrich's look, when Valori met him again coming
home from this Moravian Futility, was "farouche" fierce
and dark; his laugh bitter, sardonic; harsh mockery,
contempt and suppressed rage, looking through all he
said. A proud young King, getting instructed in several
things, by the stripes of experience. Look in that
young Portrait by Pesne, the full cheeks, and fine
mouth capable of truculence withal, the brow not un-
used to knit itself, and the eyes flashing out in sharp
diligent inspection, of a somewhat commanding nature.
We can fancy the face very impressive upon Valori in
these circumstances. Poor Valori has had dreadful
work; running to and fro, with his equipages breaking,
his servants falling all sick, his invaluable D'Arget
(Valori's chief Secretary, whom mark) quite disabled;
and Valori's troubles are not done. He has been to
Prag lately; is returning futile, as usual. Driving
through the Mountains to rejoin Friedrich, he meets
the Prussians in retreat; learns that the Pandours, ex-
tremely voracious, are ahead; that he had better turn,
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? CHAP. X. ] MORAVIAN FORAY. 159
5th-lTth April 1742.
and wait for his Majesty about Ckrudim in the Elbe
region, upon highways, and within reach of Prag.
Friedrich, on the 5th of April, is in full march out
of the Moravian countries, -- which are now getting
submerged in deluges of Pandours; towards the above-
said Chrudim, whereabouts his Magazines lie, where
privately he intends to wait for Prince Karl, and that
Vienna Order of the 25th February, with hands clearer
of thrums. The march goes in proper columns, dislo-
cations; Prince Dietrich, on the right, with a separate
Corps, bent elsewhither than to Chrudim, keeps off the
Pandours. A march laborious, mountainous, on roads
of such quality; but except baggage-difficulties and the
like, nothing material going wrong. "On the 13th"
(April), "we marched to Zwittau, over the Mountain
"of Schonhengst. The passage over this Mountain is
"very steep; but not so impracticable as it had been
"represented; because the cannon and wagons can be
"drawn round the sides of it. "* Yes; -- and readers
may (in fancy) look about them from the top; for we
shall go this road again, sixteen years hence; hardly
in happier circumstances! --
Friedrich gets to Chrudim, April 17th; there meets
the Young Dessauer with his forces: by and by the Old
Dessauer, too, comes to an Interview there (of which
shortly). The Old Dessauer, -- his 20,000 not with
lim, at the moment, but left resting some way behind,
till he return, -- is to go eastward with part of them;
eastward, Troppau-Jablunka way, and drive those Pan-
dour Insurgencies to their own side of the Mountains:
a job Old Leopold likes better than that of the G-ottin
Camp of last year. Other part of the 20,000 is to
* Stille, p. 86.
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? 160 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book XIII.
17th April 1742.
reinforce Young Leopold and the King, and go into
cantonments and "refreshment-quarters" here at Chru-
dim. Here, living on Bohemia, with Silesia at their
back, shall the Troops repose a little; and be ready
for Prince Karl, if he will come on. That is what
Friedrich looks to, as the main Consolation left.
In Moravia, now overrun with Pandours, precursors
of Prince Karl, he has left Prince Dietrich of Anhalt,
able still to maintain himself, with Olmiitz as Head-
quarters, for a calculated term of days: Dietrich is,
with all diligence, to collect Magazines for that
Jablunka-Troppau Service, and march thither to his
Father with the same (cutting his way through those
Pandour swarms); and leaving Mahren as bare as pos-
sible, for Prince Karl's behoof. All which Prince
Dietrich does, in a gallant, soldierlike, prudent and
valiant manner, -- with details of danger well fronted,
of prompt dexterity, of difficulty overcome; which might
be interesting to soldier students, if there were among
us any such species; but cannot be dwelt upon here.
It is a march of 60 or 70 miles (north-east, not north-
west as Friedrich's had been), through continual Pan-
dours, perils and difficulties: -- met in the due way
by Prince Dietrich, whose toils and valours had been
of distinguished quality in this Moravian Business.
Take one example, not of very serious nature (in the
present March to Troppau):
"Olischau, evening of April 2\st. Just as we were getting
"into Olischau" (still only in the environs of Olmiitz), "the
"Vanguard of Prince Karl's Army appeared on the Heights.
"It did not attack; but retired, Olmiitz way, for the night.
"Prince Dietrich, not doubting but it would return next dav,
"made the necessary preparations over-night. Nothing of it
"returned next day; Prince Dietrich, therefore, in the night
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? OHAP. X. ] MORAVIAN FORAY. 161
17th April 1743.
"of April 22d, pushed forward his Bick-wagons, meal-wagons;
"heavy baggage, peaceably to Sternberg; and, at dawn on
"the morrow, followed with his army, Cavalry ahead, Infantry
"to rear;" nothing whatever happening, -- unless this be a
kind of thing: -- "Our Infantry had scarcely got the last
"bridge broken down after passing it, when the roofs of
"Olischau seemed as it were to blow up; the Inhabitants
"simultaneously seizing that moment, and firing, with violent
"diligence, a prodigious number of shot at us, -- no one of
"which, owing to their hurry and the distance, took any
"effect;"* but only testified what their valedictory humour
"was.
Or again -- (Place, this time, is Ungarisch-Brod, near
Goding on the Moravian-Hungarian Frontier, date March
13(4; one of those swift Outroads, against Insurgents or
"Hungarian Militias" threatening to gather): --* * " Goding
"on our Moravian side of the Border, and then Skalitz on their
"Hungarian, being thus finished, we make for Ungarisch-
"Brod," the next nucleus of Insurgency. And there is the
following minute phenomenon, ? -- fit for a picturesque human
memory: "As this, from Skalitz to Ungarisch-Brod, is a long
"march, and the roads were almost impassable, Prince
"Dietrich with his Corps did not arrive till after dark. So
"that, having sufficiently blocked the place with parties of
"horse and foot, he had, in spite of thick-falling snow, to wait
"under the open sky for daylight. In which circumstances,
"allthat were not on sentry lay down on their arms;" slept
heartily, we hope; "and there was half an ell of snow on them,
"when day broke. " ** When day broke, and they shook them-
selves to their feet again, -- to the astonishment of
Ungarisch-Brod! * *
There had been fine passages of arms, throughout,
in this Business, round Briinn, in the March home,
and elsewhere; and Friedrich is well contented with
the conduct of his men and generals, -- and dwells
afterwards with evident satisfaction on some of the
* Stille, p. 50.
** Bericht Don der Unternehmung des &c. (in Seyfarth, Beylage, i. p. 508).
Carlj/e, Frederick the Great. VII. 11
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? 162 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [bOOK XIII.
17th April 1742.
feats they did. * I am sorry to say, General Schwerin
has taken pique at this preference of the Old Dessauer
for the Troppau Anti-Pandour Operation; and is home
in a huff; not to reappear in active life for some years
to come. "The Little Marlborough," -- so they call
him (for he was at Blenheim, and has abrupt hot ways),
-- will not participate in Prince Karl's consolatory
Visit, then! Better so, thinks Friedrich perhaps (re-
membering Mollwitz): "This is the freak of an Imi-
tation Anglais! " sneers he, in mentioning it to Jordan.
-- Friedrich's Synopsis of this Moravian Failure of an
Expedition, in answer to Jordan's curiosity about it,
-- curiosity implied, not expressed by the modest
Jordan, -- is characteristic:
"Moravia, which is a very bad Country, could not be held,
"owing to want of victual; and the Town of Briinn could not
"betaken, because the Saxons had no cannon, and when you
"wish to enter a Town, you must first make a hole to get in
"by. Besides, the Country has been reduced to such a state,
"that the Enemy cannot subsist in it, and you will soon see
"him leave it. There is your little military lesson; I would
"not have you at a loss what to think of our Operations; or
"what to say, should other people talk of them in your
"presence! " **
"Winter Campaigns," says Friedrich elsewhere, much in
earnest, and looking back on this thing long afterwards,
* For instance, Truchsess von Waldbnrg's fine bit of Spartanism (14th
March, at Leach, near Brtinn, near Amterlilz withal), which was much cele-
brated; King himself, from Selowitz, heard the cannonading (Seyfarth,
Deiilage, i. 518-520). Selchow's feat (ib. 521). Fouquet's (this is the Cap-
tain Fouquet, with "my two candles, Sir," of the old Ciistrin-Prison time;
who is dear to Friedrich ever since, and to the end): "Account of Fouquet's
Grenadier Battalion" to and at Fulnek, January -- April 1742 (is in Fcld-
zitge der Preussen, i. 176-184); especially his March from Fulnek, home-
wards, part of Prince Dietrich's that way (in Seyfarth, Beylage, i. 510-515).
With various others (in Seyfarth and Feldzuge): well worth reading till
you understand them.
** Friedrich to Jordan ((Entires, xvii. 196), Chrudim, 5th May 1742.
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? CHAP. X. ] MORAVIAN FORAY. 163
17th April 1742.
"Winter Campaigns are bad, and should always be avoided,
"except in cases of necessity. The best Army in the world is
'liable to be ruined by them. I myself have made more
"Winter Campaigns than any General of this Age; but there
"were reasons. Thus:
"In 1740," Winter Campaign which we saw, "there were
"hardly above two Austrian regiments inSilesia, at KarlVI. 's
"death. Being determined to assert my right to that Duchy,
"I had to try it at once, in winter, and carry the war, if pos-
sible, to the Banks of the Neisse. Had I waited till spring,
"we must have begun the war between Crossen and Glogau;
"what was now to be gained by one march would then have
"cost us three or four campaigns. A sufficient reason, this,
"for campaigning in winter.
"If I did not succeed in the Winter Campaign of 1742,"
Campaign which we have just got out of, "which I made with
"a design to deliver the Elector of Bavaria's Country, then
"overrun by Austria, it was because the French acted like
"fools, and the Saxons like traitors. " Mark that deliberate
opinion.
"In 1745-6," Winter Campaign which we expect to see,
"the Austrians having got Silesia, it was necessary to drive
"them out. The Saxons and they had formed a design to
"enter my Hereditary Dominions, to destroy them with fire
"and sword. I was beforehand with them. 1 carried the War
"into the heart of Saxony. " *
Digesting many bitter-enough thoughts, Friedrich
has cantoned about Chrudim; expecting, in grim com-
posed humour, the one Consolation there can now be.
February 25th, as readers well know, the Majesty of
Hungary and her Aulic Council had decided, "One
stroke more, 0 Excellency Robinson; one Battle more
for our Silesian jewel of the crown! If beaten, we will
* Military Instructions written by &c. "translated by an Officer" (Lon-
don. 1762), pp. 171, 172. One of the best, or altogether the beat, of Fried-
rich's excellent little Books, written successively (thrice-priim(e, could
they have been kept so) for the Instruction of his Officers. Is to be found
now in iEuvres rfe Frederic, xxviii. (that is vol. i. of the "CEuvres Mill-
taires," which occupy 3 voll. ), pp. 4 et sqq.
11*
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? 164 FIRST SDLESIAN WAR ENDS. [bOOKXIII.
17th April 1742.
then give it up; Oh, not till then! " Robinson and
Hyndford, -- imagination may faintly represent their
feelings, on the wilful downbreak of Klein-Schnellen-
dorf; or what clamour and urgency the Majesty of
Britain and they have been making ever since. But
they could carry it no further: "One stroke more! "
At Chrudim, and to the right and the left of it,
sprinkled about in long, very thin, elliptic shape (thirty
or forty miles long, but capable of coalescing "within
eight-and-forty hours"), there lies Friedrich: the Elbe
Eiver is behind him; beyond Elbe are his Magazines,
at Konigsgr&tz, Nimburg, Podiebrad, Pardubitz; the
Giant Mountains, and world of Bohemian Hills, closing-
in the background, far off: that is his position, if
readers will consult their Map. The consolatory Visit,
he privately thinks, cannot be till the grass come; that
is, not till June, two months hence; but there also he
was a little mistaken.
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? CHAP. XI. ] NUSSLER, THE OLD DESSAUER, WALRAVE. 165
Ma. . - 1742.
CHAPTER XI.
NUSSLER IN NEISSE, WITH THE OLD DESSAUER AND
WALRAVE.
The Old Dessauer with part of his 20,000,-- aided
by Boy Dietrich (Knabe, "Knave Dietrich," as one
might fondly call him) and the Moravian Meal-wagons,
-- accomplished his Troppau-Jablunka Problem per-
fectly well; cleaning the Mountains, and keeping them
clean, of that Pandour rabble,' as he was the man to
do. Nor would his Expedition require mentioning
farther, -- were it not for some slight passages of a
purely Biographical character; first of all, for certain
rubs which befel between his Majesty and him. For
example, once, before that Interview at Chrudim, just
on entering Bohemia thitherward, Old Leopold had
seen good to alter his march-route; and, -- on better
information, as he thought it, which proved to be
worse, -- had taken a road not prescribed to him.
Hearing of which, Friedrich reins him up into the
right course, in this sharp manner:
"Chrudim, 21 st April. I am greatly surprised that your
"Serenity, as an old Officer, does not more accurately follow
"my orders which I give you. If you were skilfuller than
"Caesar, and did not with strict accuracy observe my orders,
"all else were of no help to me. I hope this Notice, once for
"all, will be enough; and that in time coming you will give no
"further causes to complain. " *
Friedrich, on their meeting at Chrudim, was the
same man as ever<- But the old Son of Gunpowder
* King to Fttrst Leopold (OHich, i. 219-221).
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? 166 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book XIII.
May 1742.
stood taciturn, rigorous, in military business attitude,
in the King's presence; had not forgotten the passage;
and indeed he kept it in mind for long months after.
And during all this Ober-Schlesien time, had the hidden
grudge in his heart; -- doing his day's work with
scrupulous punctuality; all the more scrupulous, they
say. Friedrich tried, privately through Leopold Junior,
some slight touches of assuagement; but without effect;
and left the Senior to Time, and to his own methods
of cooling again.
Besides that of keeping down Hungarian enterprises
in the Mountains, Old Leopold had, as would appear,
to take some general superintendence in Ober-Schlesien;
and especially looks after the new Fortification-work
going on in those parts. Which latter function brought
him often to Neisse, and into contact with the ugly
Walrave, Engineer-in-Chief there. A much older and
much worthier acquaintance of ours, Herr Boundary-
Commissioner Nussler, happens also to be in Neisse; --
waiting for those Saxon Gentlemen; who are unpunctual
to a degree, and never come (nor in fact ever will, if
Nussler knew it). Luckily Nussler kept a Notebook;
and Bilsching ultimately got it, condensed it, printed
it; -- whereby (what is rare, in these Dryasdust laby-
rinths, inane spectralities and cinder-mountains) there
is sudden eyesight vouchsafed; and we discern veritably,
far off, brought face to face for an instant, this and
that!
? 152 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book xm.
5th Feb. --5th April 1742.
Poor Polish Majesty, -- poor Karl Albert, above all, now
"Kaiser Karl VII. ," with nothing but those French for breath
to his nostrils! With his fine French Army of the Oriflamme,
Karl Albert should have pushed along last Autumn; and not
merely "read the Paper" which Friedrich sent him to that
effect, " and then laid it aside. " They will never have another
chance, his French and he, -- unless we call this again a
chance; which they are again squandering! Linz went by
capitulation; January 24th, the very day of one's "Election
as they called it: and ever since that day of Linz, the series
of disasters has continued rapid and uniform in those parts.
Linz gone, the rest of the French posts did not even wait to
capitulate; but crackled all off, they and our Conquests on
the Donau, like a train of gun-powder, and left the ground
bare. And General von Barenklau (Bear's-claw), with the
hideous fellow called Mentzel, Colonel of Pandours, they have
broken through into Bavaria itself, from the Tyrol; climbing
by Berchtesgaden and the wild Salzburg Mountains, regard-
less of Winter, and of poor Bavarian militia-folk; -- and have
taken Miinchen, one's very Capital, one's very House and
Home! -- Poor Karl Albert, -- and, what is again remarkable,
it was the very day while he was getting "crowned" at Frank-
furt, "with Oriental pomp," that Mentzel was about entering
Miinchen with his Pandours. * And this poor Archduke of the
Austrias, King of Bohemia, Kaiser of the Holy Romish Reich
Teutsch by Nation, is becoming Titular merely, and owns
next to nothing in these extensive Sovereignties. Judge if
there is not call for despatch on all sides! -- The Polish Ma-
jesty sent instant rather angry order to his Saxons, "Forward,
with you; what else! We would be King in Mahren! "
The Saxons then have to march forward; but we can fancy
with what a will. Rutowsky flings up his command on this
Order (let us hope, from rheumatism partly), and goes home;
leaving the Chevalier de Saxe to preside in room of him. As
for Polastron, he produces Order from Broglio, "Iglau got,
return straightway;" must and will cross over into Bohemia
again; and does. Nay, the Comtede Saxe had, privately in
his pocket, a Commission to supersede Polastron, and take
command himself, should Polastron make difficulties about
* Coronation was February 12th; Capitulation to Mentzel, "Miinchen,
February 13th," is in Guerre de Bohime, ii. 56-59.
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? CHAP. x. l MORAVIAN FORAY. 153
5th Feb. --5th April 1742.
turning back. Poor Pola8tron made no difficulties: Maurice
and he vanish accordingly from this Adventure, and only
the unwilling Saxons remain with Friedrich. Poor Polastron
("a poor weak creature," says Friedrich, "fitter for his bre-
"viary than anything else") fell sick, from the hardships of
campaigning; and soon diea, in those Bohemian parts. Mau-
rice i3 heard of, some weeks hence, besieging Eger; -- very
handsomely capturing Eger: * -- on which service Broglio
had ordered him after his return. The former Commandant
of the Siege, not very progressive, had just died; and Broglio,
with reason (all the more for his late Moravian procedures)
was passionate to have done there. One of the first auspicious
exploits of Maurice, that of Eger; which paved the way to his
French fortunes, and more or less sublime glories, in this War.
Friedrich recognised his ingenuities, impetuosities, and supe-
rior talent in war; wrote highflown Letters of praises, now
and then, in years coming; but, we may guess, would hardly
wish to meet Maurice in the way of joint-stock business
again.
Friedrich submerges the Moravian Countries; but cannot Briinn,
which is the indispensable point.
February 19th, these sad Iglau matters once settled, Frie-
drich, followed by the Saxons, plunges forward into Moravia;
spreads himself over the country, levying heavy contribu-
tions , with strict discipline nevertheless; intent to get hold of
Briinn and its Spielberg, if he could. Briinn is the strong
place of Moravia; has a garrison of 6 or 7,000; still better,
has the valiant Roth, whom we knew in Neisse once, for Com-
mandant: Briinn will not be had gratis.
Schwerin, with a Detachment of 5,000 horse and foot, Po-
sadowsky, Ziethen, Schmettau Junior commanding under
him, has dashed along far in the van; towards Upper Austria,
through the Town of Horn, towards Vienna itself; levying,
he also, heavy contributions, -- with a hand of iron, and not
much of a glove on it, as we judge. There is a grim enough
Proclamation (in the name of a "frightfully injured Kaiser,"
as well as Kaiser's Ally), still extant, bearing Sehwerin's
signature, and the date "Stein, 26th February 1712. " ** Stein
* 19th April 1742 (Guerre de Boheme, ii. 78-85).
** In Helden-Geschichte, ii. 556.
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? 154 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book XIII.
5th Feb. --5th April 1742.
is on the Donau, a mile or two from Krems, and twice as far
from Mautern, where the now Kaiser was in Autumn last.
Forty and odd miles short of Vienna: this proved thePisgah
of Schwerin in that direction, as it had done of Karl Albert.
Ziethen with his Hussars coursed some 20 miles farther, on the
Vienna Highway; and got the length of Stockerau; a small
Town, notable slightly, ever since, as the Prussian Nan-plus-
ultra in that line.
Meanwhile, Prince Lobkowitz is rallying; has quitted
Budweis and the Bohemian Bogs, for some check of these
insolences. Lobkowitz, rallying to himself what Vienna force
there is, comes, now in good strength, to Waidhofen (rearward
of Horn, far rearward of Stein and Stockerau), so that Ziethen
and Schwerin have to draw homeward again. Lobkowitz
fortifies himself in Waidhofen; gathers Magazines there, as if
towards weightier enterprises. For indeed much is rallying,
in a dangerous manner; and Moravia is now far other than
when Friedrich planned this Expedition. And at Vienna,
25th February last, there was held Secret Council, and (much
to Robinson's regret) a quite high Resolution come to, --
which Friedrich gets to know of, and does not forget again.
The Saxnns have no Cannon for Briinn, cannot afford any; there
is a high Resolution taken at Vienna (February 25th): Fried-
rich quits the Moravian Enterprise.
Friedrich keeps his Headquarter, all this while, closer and
closer upon Briinn. First, chiefly at a Town called Znaim,
on the River Taya; many-branched river, draining all those
North-western parts; which sends its winding waters down to
Presburg, -- latterly in junction with those of the Morawa
from North, which washes Olmiitz, drains the Northern and
Eastern parts, and gives the Country its name of "Moravia. "
Briinn lies north-east of Friedrich, while in Znaim, some fifty
miles; the Saxon headquarter is at Kromau, midway towards
that City. After Znaim, he shifts inward, to Selowitz, still
in the same Taya Valley, but much nearer Briinn; and there
continues. *
Striving hard for Briinn; striving hard, under difficulties,
* At Znaim, 19th February -- 9th March; at Selowitz, 13th March --
5th April (ROdenbeck, i. 65).
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? CHAP. X. ]| MORAVIAN FORAY. 155
5th Feb. --5th April 1742.
for so many things distant and near; we may fancy him busy
enough; -- and are surprised at the fractions of light Jordan
Correspondence which he still finds time for. Pretty bits of
Letters, in prose and doggerel, from and to those Moravian
Villages; Jordan, "twicea week," bearing the main weight;
Friedrich, oftener than one could hope, flinging some word
of answer, -- very intent on Berlin gossip, we can notice.
"Vattel is still here, your Majesty,"* insinuates Jordan: --
young Vattel, afterwards of the Droit des Genu, whom his Ma-
jesty might have kept, but did not. -- What more of your
D'Argens, then; anything in your D'Argens? Friedrich will
ask. "For certain, D'Argens is full of esprit," answers Jordan,
in a dextrous way; and How the Effulgent of Wiirtemberg
"has quarrelled outright with her D'Argens, and will not eat
off silver (d' argent), lest she have to name him by accident! "
-- with other gossip, in a fine brief airy form, at which Jordan
excels. Cheering the rare leisure hour, in one's Tent at Selo-
witz, Pohrlitz, Irrlitz, far away! -- There are also orders
about Cicero and Books. Of Business for most part, or of pri-
vate feelings, nothing: Berlin gossip, and Books for one's
reading, are the staple. But to return.
Out from Headquarters, diligent operations shoot forth,
far enough, along those Taya-Morawa Valleys, where Hunga-
rian "Insurgents" are beginning to be dangerous. South of
Briinn, all round Briinn, are diligent operations, frequent
skirmishings, constant strict levyings of contributions. The
saving operation, Friedrich well sees, would be to get hold of
Briinn: but, unluckily, How? Vigilant Both scorns all sum-
moning; sallies continually in a dangerous manner; and at
length, when closer pressed, burns all the Villages round him:
"we counted as many as sixteen villages laid in ashes," says
Friedrich. Here is small comfort of outlook.
And then the Saxons, at Kromau or wherever they may
be: no end of trouble and vexation with these Saxons. Their
quarters are not fairly allotted, they say; we make exchange
of quarters, without improvement noticeable. "One fine day,
"on some slight alarm, they came rushing over to us, all in
"panic; ruined, merely by Pandour noises, had not we
"inarched them back, and reinstated them. " Friedrich sends
* CEuvres, xvii. 163, &c.
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? 156 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book xm.
5th Feb. --5th April 1742.
to Silesia for reinforcements of his own, which he can depend
upon. Sends to Silesia, to Glatz and the Young Dessauer;
-- nay to Brandenburg and the Old Dessauer, ultimately.
Finding Roth would not yield, he has sent to Dresden for
Siege Artillery: Polish Majesty there, titular "King of Mo-
ravia," answers that he cannot meet the expense of carriage.
"He had just purchased a green diamond which would have
"carried them thither and back again:" What can be done
with such a man? -- And by this time, early in March, Hunga-
rian "Moriamur pro liege" begins to show itself. Clouds of
Hungarian Insurgents, of the Tolpatch, Pandour sort, mount
over the Carpathians on us, all round the east, from south to
north; and threaten to penetrate Silesia itself. So that we
have to sweep laboriously the Morawa-Taya Valleys; and
undertake first one and then another outroad, or sharp swift
sally, against those troublesome barbarians.
And more serious still, Prince Karl and the regular Army,
quickened by such Khevenhiiller-Barenklau successes in the
Donau Countries, are beginning to stir. Prince Karl, re-
turning from Vienna and its consultations, took command,
4th March; * with whom has come old Graf von Konigseck,
an experienced head to advise with; Prince Karl is in motion,
skirting us southward, about Waidhofen, where Lobkowitz
lay waiting him with Magazines ready. Rumour says, the
force in those parts is already 40,000, with more daily coming
in. Friedrich has of his own, apart from the Saxons, some
24,000. Prince Karl, with so many heavy troops, and with
unlimited supply of light, is very capable of doing mischief:
he has orders (and Friedrich now knows of it) To go in upon
us; -- such their decision in Secret Council at Vienna, on
the 25th of February last, That he must go and fight us: --
"Better we met him with fewer thrums on our hands! " thinks
Friedrich; and beckons the Old Dessauer out of Brandenburg
withal. "Swift, your Serenity; hitherward with 20,000!
Which the Old Dessauer (having 30,000 to pick from, late
Camp-of-G6ttin people) at once sets about. Will be a secu-
rity, in any event! ** To finish with Brtinn, Friedrich has sent
for Siege-Artillery of his own; he urges Chevalier de Saxe to
close with him round Briinn, and batter it energetically into
* Helden-Geschichle, ii. 557.
** Orlich, i. 221: Date of the Order, "13th March 1742. "
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? chap. X. ] MORAVIAN FORAY. 157
30th March 1742.
swift surrender. Is it not the one thing needful? Chevalier
de Saxe admits, half - promises; does not perform. Being
again urged, Why have not you performed? he answers,
"Alas, your Majesty, here are Orders for me to join Marshal
Broglio at Prag, and retire altogether out of this! "
"Altogether out of it," thinks Friedrich to himself: "may
all the Powers be thanked! Then I too, without disgrace, can
go altogether out of it; -- and it shall be a sharp eye that sees
me in joint-stock with you again, M. le Chevalier. " Friedrich
has written in his History, and Valori used to hear him often
say in words, Never were tidings welcomer than these, that
the Saxons were about to desert him in this manner. Go;
and may all the Devils -- But we will not fall into profane
swearing. It is proper to get out of this Enterprise at one's
best speed, and never get into the like of it again! Friedrich
(on this strange Saxon revelation, 30th March) takes instant
order for assembling at Wischau again, for departing towards
Olmiitz; thence homewards, with deliberate celerity, by the
Landskron mountain-country, Tribau, Zwittau, Leutomischl,
and the way he came. He has countermanded his Silesian
reinforcements; these and the rest shall rendezvous at Chru-
dim in Bohemia; whitherwards the Two Dessauers are bound:
-- in Briinn, with its wrecked environs, famed Spielberg
looking down from its conical height, and sixteen villages in
ashes, Roth shall do his own way henceforth.
The Saxons pushed straight homewards; did not
"rejoin Broglio," rejoin anybody,-- had, in fact, done
with this First Silesian War, as it proved; and were
ready for the opposite side, on a Second falling out!
Their march, this time, was long and harassing, --
sad bloody passage in it, from Pandours and hostile
Village-people, almost at starting, "four Companies of
"our Rearguard cut down to nine men; Village burnt,
"and Villagers exterminated (sic), by the rescuing
"party. " * They arrived at Leitmeritz and their own
Border, "hardly above 8,000 effective. " Naturally, in
* Details in Helden-Geschichle, ii. 606: in &c. &c.
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? 158 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book XIII.
30th March 1742.
a highly indignant humour; and much disposed to
blame somebody. To the poor Polish Non- Moravian
Majesty, enlightened by his Briihls and Staff-Officers,
it became a fixed truth that the blame was all Fried-
rich's, -- "starving us, marching us about! " -- that
Friedrich's conduct to us was abominable, and deserved
fixed resentment. Which accordingly it got, from the
simple Polish Majesty, otherwise a good-natured crea-
ture; -- got, and kept. To Friedrich's very great
astonishment, and to his considerable disadvantage,
long after!
Friedrich's look, when Valori met him again coming
home from this Moravian Futility, was "farouche" fierce
and dark; his laugh bitter, sardonic; harsh mockery,
contempt and suppressed rage, looking through all he
said. A proud young King, getting instructed in several
things, by the stripes of experience. Look in that
young Portrait by Pesne, the full cheeks, and fine
mouth capable of truculence withal, the brow not un-
used to knit itself, and the eyes flashing out in sharp
diligent inspection, of a somewhat commanding nature.
We can fancy the face very impressive upon Valori in
these circumstances. Poor Valori has had dreadful
work; running to and fro, with his equipages breaking,
his servants falling all sick, his invaluable D'Arget
(Valori's chief Secretary, whom mark) quite disabled;
and Valori's troubles are not done. He has been to
Prag lately; is returning futile, as usual. Driving
through the Mountains to rejoin Friedrich, he meets
the Prussians in retreat; learns that the Pandours, ex-
tremely voracious, are ahead; that he had better turn,
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? CHAP. X. ] MORAVIAN FORAY. 159
5th-lTth April 1742.
and wait for his Majesty about Ckrudim in the Elbe
region, upon highways, and within reach of Prag.
Friedrich, on the 5th of April, is in full march out
of the Moravian countries, -- which are now getting
submerged in deluges of Pandours; towards the above-
said Chrudim, whereabouts his Magazines lie, where
privately he intends to wait for Prince Karl, and that
Vienna Order of the 25th February, with hands clearer
of thrums. The march goes in proper columns, dislo-
cations; Prince Dietrich, on the right, with a separate
Corps, bent elsewhither than to Chrudim, keeps off the
Pandours. A march laborious, mountainous, on roads
of such quality; but except baggage-difficulties and the
like, nothing material going wrong. "On the 13th"
(April), "we marched to Zwittau, over the Mountain
"of Schonhengst. The passage over this Mountain is
"very steep; but not so impracticable as it had been
"represented; because the cannon and wagons can be
"drawn round the sides of it. "* Yes; -- and readers
may (in fancy) look about them from the top; for we
shall go this road again, sixteen years hence; hardly
in happier circumstances! --
Friedrich gets to Chrudim, April 17th; there meets
the Young Dessauer with his forces: by and by the Old
Dessauer, too, comes to an Interview there (of which
shortly). The Old Dessauer, -- his 20,000 not with
lim, at the moment, but left resting some way behind,
till he return, -- is to go eastward with part of them;
eastward, Troppau-Jablunka way, and drive those Pan-
dour Insurgencies to their own side of the Mountains:
a job Old Leopold likes better than that of the G-ottin
Camp of last year. Other part of the 20,000 is to
* Stille, p. 86.
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? 160 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book XIII.
17th April 1742.
reinforce Young Leopold and the King, and go into
cantonments and "refreshment-quarters" here at Chru-
dim. Here, living on Bohemia, with Silesia at their
back, shall the Troops repose a little; and be ready
for Prince Karl, if he will come on. That is what
Friedrich looks to, as the main Consolation left.
In Moravia, now overrun with Pandours, precursors
of Prince Karl, he has left Prince Dietrich of Anhalt,
able still to maintain himself, with Olmiitz as Head-
quarters, for a calculated term of days: Dietrich is,
with all diligence, to collect Magazines for that
Jablunka-Troppau Service, and march thither to his
Father with the same (cutting his way through those
Pandour swarms); and leaving Mahren as bare as pos-
sible, for Prince Karl's behoof. All which Prince
Dietrich does, in a gallant, soldierlike, prudent and
valiant manner, -- with details of danger well fronted,
of prompt dexterity, of difficulty overcome; which might
be interesting to soldier students, if there were among
us any such species; but cannot be dwelt upon here.
It is a march of 60 or 70 miles (north-east, not north-
west as Friedrich's had been), through continual Pan-
dours, perils and difficulties: -- met in the due way
by Prince Dietrich, whose toils and valours had been
of distinguished quality in this Moravian Business.
Take one example, not of very serious nature (in the
present March to Troppau):
"Olischau, evening of April 2\st. Just as we were getting
"into Olischau" (still only in the environs of Olmiitz), "the
"Vanguard of Prince Karl's Army appeared on the Heights.
"It did not attack; but retired, Olmiitz way, for the night.
"Prince Dietrich, not doubting but it would return next dav,
"made the necessary preparations over-night. Nothing of it
"returned next day; Prince Dietrich, therefore, in the night
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? OHAP. X. ] MORAVIAN FORAY. 161
17th April 1743.
"of April 22d, pushed forward his Bick-wagons, meal-wagons;
"heavy baggage, peaceably to Sternberg; and, at dawn on
"the morrow, followed with his army, Cavalry ahead, Infantry
"to rear;" nothing whatever happening, -- unless this be a
kind of thing: -- "Our Infantry had scarcely got the last
"bridge broken down after passing it, when the roofs of
"Olischau seemed as it were to blow up; the Inhabitants
"simultaneously seizing that moment, and firing, with violent
"diligence, a prodigious number of shot at us, -- no one of
"which, owing to their hurry and the distance, took any
"effect;"* but only testified what their valedictory humour
"was.
Or again -- (Place, this time, is Ungarisch-Brod, near
Goding on the Moravian-Hungarian Frontier, date March
13(4; one of those swift Outroads, against Insurgents or
"Hungarian Militias" threatening to gather): --* * " Goding
"on our Moravian side of the Border, and then Skalitz on their
"Hungarian, being thus finished, we make for Ungarisch-
"Brod," the next nucleus of Insurgency. And there is the
following minute phenomenon, ? -- fit for a picturesque human
memory: "As this, from Skalitz to Ungarisch-Brod, is a long
"march, and the roads were almost impassable, Prince
"Dietrich with his Corps did not arrive till after dark. So
"that, having sufficiently blocked the place with parties of
"horse and foot, he had, in spite of thick-falling snow, to wait
"under the open sky for daylight. In which circumstances,
"allthat were not on sentry lay down on their arms;" slept
heartily, we hope; "and there was half an ell of snow on them,
"when day broke. " ** When day broke, and they shook them-
selves to their feet again, -- to the astonishment of
Ungarisch-Brod! * *
There had been fine passages of arms, throughout,
in this Business, round Briinn, in the March home,
and elsewhere; and Friedrich is well contented with
the conduct of his men and generals, -- and dwells
afterwards with evident satisfaction on some of the
* Stille, p. 50.
** Bericht Don der Unternehmung des &c. (in Seyfarth, Beylage, i. p. 508).
Carlj/e, Frederick the Great. VII. 11
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? 162 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [bOOK XIII.
17th April 1742.
feats they did. * I am sorry to say, General Schwerin
has taken pique at this preference of the Old Dessauer
for the Troppau Anti-Pandour Operation; and is home
in a huff; not to reappear in active life for some years
to come. "The Little Marlborough," -- so they call
him (for he was at Blenheim, and has abrupt hot ways),
-- will not participate in Prince Karl's consolatory
Visit, then! Better so, thinks Friedrich perhaps (re-
membering Mollwitz): "This is the freak of an Imi-
tation Anglais! " sneers he, in mentioning it to Jordan.
-- Friedrich's Synopsis of this Moravian Failure of an
Expedition, in answer to Jordan's curiosity about it,
-- curiosity implied, not expressed by the modest
Jordan, -- is characteristic:
"Moravia, which is a very bad Country, could not be held,
"owing to want of victual; and the Town of Briinn could not
"betaken, because the Saxons had no cannon, and when you
"wish to enter a Town, you must first make a hole to get in
"by. Besides, the Country has been reduced to such a state,
"that the Enemy cannot subsist in it, and you will soon see
"him leave it. There is your little military lesson; I would
"not have you at a loss what to think of our Operations; or
"what to say, should other people talk of them in your
"presence! " **
"Winter Campaigns," says Friedrich elsewhere, much in
earnest, and looking back on this thing long afterwards,
* For instance, Truchsess von Waldbnrg's fine bit of Spartanism (14th
March, at Leach, near Brtinn, near Amterlilz withal), which was much cele-
brated; King himself, from Selowitz, heard the cannonading (Seyfarth,
Deiilage, i. 518-520). Selchow's feat (ib. 521). Fouquet's (this is the Cap-
tain Fouquet, with "my two candles, Sir," of the old Ciistrin-Prison time;
who is dear to Friedrich ever since, and to the end): "Account of Fouquet's
Grenadier Battalion" to and at Fulnek, January -- April 1742 (is in Fcld-
zitge der Preussen, i. 176-184); especially his March from Fulnek, home-
wards, part of Prince Dietrich's that way (in Seyfarth, Beylage, i. 510-515).
With various others (in Seyfarth and Feldzuge): well worth reading till
you understand them.
** Friedrich to Jordan ((Entires, xvii. 196), Chrudim, 5th May 1742.
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? CHAP. X. ] MORAVIAN FORAY. 163
17th April 1742.
"Winter Campaigns are bad, and should always be avoided,
"except in cases of necessity. The best Army in the world is
'liable to be ruined by them. I myself have made more
"Winter Campaigns than any General of this Age; but there
"were reasons. Thus:
"In 1740," Winter Campaign which we saw, "there were
"hardly above two Austrian regiments inSilesia, at KarlVI. 's
"death. Being determined to assert my right to that Duchy,
"I had to try it at once, in winter, and carry the war, if pos-
sible, to the Banks of the Neisse. Had I waited till spring,
"we must have begun the war between Crossen and Glogau;
"what was now to be gained by one march would then have
"cost us three or four campaigns. A sufficient reason, this,
"for campaigning in winter.
"If I did not succeed in the Winter Campaign of 1742,"
Campaign which we have just got out of, "which I made with
"a design to deliver the Elector of Bavaria's Country, then
"overrun by Austria, it was because the French acted like
"fools, and the Saxons like traitors. " Mark that deliberate
opinion.
"In 1745-6," Winter Campaign which we expect to see,
"the Austrians having got Silesia, it was necessary to drive
"them out. The Saxons and they had formed a design to
"enter my Hereditary Dominions, to destroy them with fire
"and sword. I was beforehand with them. 1 carried the War
"into the heart of Saxony. " *
Digesting many bitter-enough thoughts, Friedrich
has cantoned about Chrudim; expecting, in grim com-
posed humour, the one Consolation there can now be.
February 25th, as readers well know, the Majesty of
Hungary and her Aulic Council had decided, "One
stroke more, 0 Excellency Robinson; one Battle more
for our Silesian jewel of the crown! If beaten, we will
* Military Instructions written by &c. "translated by an Officer" (Lon-
don. 1762), pp. 171, 172. One of the best, or altogether the beat, of Fried-
rich's excellent little Books, written successively (thrice-priim(e, could
they have been kept so) for the Instruction of his Officers. Is to be found
now in iEuvres rfe Frederic, xxviii. (that is vol. i. of the "CEuvres Mill-
taires," which occupy 3 voll. ), pp. 4 et sqq.
11*
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? 164 FIRST SDLESIAN WAR ENDS. [bOOKXIII.
17th April 1742.
then give it up; Oh, not till then! " Robinson and
Hyndford, -- imagination may faintly represent their
feelings, on the wilful downbreak of Klein-Schnellen-
dorf; or what clamour and urgency the Majesty of
Britain and they have been making ever since. But
they could carry it no further: "One stroke more! "
At Chrudim, and to the right and the left of it,
sprinkled about in long, very thin, elliptic shape (thirty
or forty miles long, but capable of coalescing "within
eight-and-forty hours"), there lies Friedrich: the Elbe
Eiver is behind him; beyond Elbe are his Magazines,
at Konigsgr&tz, Nimburg, Podiebrad, Pardubitz; the
Giant Mountains, and world of Bohemian Hills, closing-
in the background, far off: that is his position, if
readers will consult their Map. The consolatory Visit,
he privately thinks, cannot be till the grass come; that
is, not till June, two months hence; but there also he
was a little mistaken.
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? CHAP. XI. ] NUSSLER, THE OLD DESSAUER, WALRAVE. 165
Ma. . - 1742.
CHAPTER XI.
NUSSLER IN NEISSE, WITH THE OLD DESSAUER AND
WALRAVE.
The Old Dessauer with part of his 20,000,-- aided
by Boy Dietrich (Knabe, "Knave Dietrich," as one
might fondly call him) and the Moravian Meal-wagons,
-- accomplished his Troppau-Jablunka Problem per-
fectly well; cleaning the Mountains, and keeping them
clean, of that Pandour rabble,' as he was the man to
do. Nor would his Expedition require mentioning
farther, -- were it not for some slight passages of a
purely Biographical character; first of all, for certain
rubs which befel between his Majesty and him. For
example, once, before that Interview at Chrudim, just
on entering Bohemia thitherward, Old Leopold had
seen good to alter his march-route; and, -- on better
information, as he thought it, which proved to be
worse, -- had taken a road not prescribed to him.
Hearing of which, Friedrich reins him up into the
right course, in this sharp manner:
"Chrudim, 21 st April. I am greatly surprised that your
"Serenity, as an old Officer, does not more accurately follow
"my orders which I give you. If you were skilfuller than
"Caesar, and did not with strict accuracy observe my orders,
"all else were of no help to me. I hope this Notice, once for
"all, will be enough; and that in time coming you will give no
"further causes to complain. " *
Friedrich, on their meeting at Chrudim, was the
same man as ever<- But the old Son of Gunpowder
* King to Fttrst Leopold (OHich, i. 219-221).
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? 166 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book XIII.
May 1742.
stood taciturn, rigorous, in military business attitude,
in the King's presence; had not forgotten the passage;
and indeed he kept it in mind for long months after.
And during all this Ober-Schlesien time, had the hidden
grudge in his heart; -- doing his day's work with
scrupulous punctuality; all the more scrupulous, they
say. Friedrich tried, privately through Leopold Junior,
some slight touches of assuagement; but without effect;
and left the Senior to Time, and to his own methods
of cooling again.
Besides that of keeping down Hungarian enterprises
in the Mountains, Old Leopold had, as would appear,
to take some general superintendence in Ober-Schlesien;
and especially looks after the new Fortification-work
going on in those parts. Which latter function brought
him often to Neisse, and into contact with the ugly
Walrave, Engineer-in-Chief there. A much older and
much worthier acquaintance of ours, Herr Boundary-
Commissioner Nussler, happens also to be in Neisse; --
waiting for those Saxon Gentlemen; who are unpunctual
to a degree, and never come (nor in fact ever will, if
Nussler knew it). Luckily Nussler kept a Notebook;
and Bilsching ultimately got it, condensed it, printed
it; -- whereby (what is rare, in these Dryasdust laby-
rinths, inane spectralities and cinder-mountains) there
is sudden eyesight vouchsafed; and we discern veritably,
far off, brought face to face for an instant, this and
that!
