Matters turned-out as
Friedrich
Wilhelm had dreaded
?
?
Thomas Carlyle
FSrster, 1.
165; Faasmann, Leben und Thaten des allerdurchUnchtig-
tten . Sec. Kdnigt von Prewsen Frederifi Wi\helxni (IIambur|jj und Brealau,
J786), pp. 223, 319,
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? 154 friedbich's apprenticeship, first stage, [book Iv.
'1718-1723.
shrieks of the flunkey world. For Nature, when she
makes a Spartan, means a good deal by it; and does
not expect instant applauses, but only gradual and
lasting.
"For my own part," exclaims a certain Editor once, "I
"perceive well there was never yet any great Empire founded,
"Roman, English, down to Prussian or Dutch, nor in fact any
"great mass of work got achieved under the Sun, but it was
"founded even upon this humble-looking quality of Thrift,
"and became achievable in virtue of the same. Which will
"seem a strange doctrine, in these days of gold-nuggets, rail-
"way-fortunes, and miraculous sumptuosities regardless of
"expense. Earnest readers are invited to consider it, never-
"theless. Though new, it is very old; and a sad meaning
"lies in it to us of these times! That you have squandered in
"idle fooleries, building where there was no basis, your Hun-
"dred-thousand Sterling, your Eight-hundred MillionSterling,
"is to me a comparatively small matter. You may still again
"become rich, if you have at last become wise. But if you
"have wasted your capacity of strenuous devoutly valiant
"labour, of patience, perseverance, self-denial, faith in the
"causes of effects; alas, if your once just judgment of what is
"worth something and what is worth nothing, has been
"wasted, and your silent steadfast reliance on the general
"veracities, of yourself and of things, is no longer there,--
"then indeed you have had a loss! You are,in fact, an entirely
"bankrupt individual; as you will find by and by. Yes; and
"though you had California in fee-simple; and could buy all
"the upholsteries, groceries, funded-properties, temporary
"(very temporary) landed-properties of the world, at one
"swoop, it would avail you nothing. Henceforth for you no
"harvests in the Seedfield of this Universe, which reserves its
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? CHAP. Iv. ] his majesty's WATS. 155
1713-1723.
"salutary bounties, and noble heaven-sent gifts, for quite
"other than you; and I would not give a pin's value for all
"you will ever reap there. Mere imaginary harvests, sacks of
"nuggets and the like; empty as the east-wind; -- with all
"the Demons laughing at you! Do you consider that Nature
"too is a swollen flunkey, hungry for vails; and can be taken-
"in with your sublime airs of sumptuosity, and the large bal-
"ance you actually have in Lombard-street? Go to the --
''General Cesspool, with your nuggets and your ducats! "
The flunkey world, much stript of its plush and
fat perquisites, accuses Friedrich Wilhelm bitterly of
avarice and the cognate vices. But it is not so; in-
trinsically, in the main, his procedure is to be defined
as honourable thrift, -- verging towards avarice here
and there; as poor human virtues usually lean to one
side or the other! He can be magnificent enough too,
and grudges no expense, when the occasion seems
worthy. If the occasion is inevitable, and yet not
quite worthy, I have known him have recourse to
strange shifts. The Czar Peter, for example, used to
be rather often in the Prussian Dominions, oftenest on
business of his own: such a man is to be royally de-
frayed while with us; yet one would wish it done
cheap. Posthorses, "two-hundred and eighty-seven at
every station," he has from the Community; but the
rest of his expenses, from Memel all the way to We-
sel? Friedrich Wilhelm's marginal response to his
Finanz-Directorium, requiring orders once on that sub-
ject, runs in the following strange tenour: "Yes, all
the way (except Berlin, which I take upon myself);
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? 156 fmedrich's apprenticeship, first stage, [book Iv.
1718-1722.
and observe, you contrive to do it for 6,000 thalers
(900/. )," -- which is uncommonly cheap, about 11. per
mile; -- "won't allow you one other penny (nit einen
Pfennig gebe mehr dazu); but you are (sollen Sie)" this
is the remarkable point, "to give out in the world
that it costs me from Thirty to Forty Thousand! "*
So that here is the Majesty of Prussia, who beyond
all men abhors lies, giving orders to tell one? Alas,
yes; a kind of lie, or fib (white fib, or even gray),
the pinch of Thrift compelling! But what a window
into the artless inner-man of his Majesty, even that
gray fib; -- not done by oneself, but ordered to be
done by the servant, as if that were cheaper!
"Verging upon avarice," sure enough: but, unless
we are unjust and unkind, he can by no means be
described as a Miser King. He collects what is his;
gives you accurately what is yours. For wages paid
he will see work done: he will ascertain more and
more that the work done be work needful for him;
and strike it off, if not. A Spartan man, as we said,
-- though probably he knew as little of the Spartans
as the Spartans did of him. But Nature is still capable
of such products: if in Hellas long ages since, why not
in Brandenburg now?
? 1717: FSrtter, 1. 218.
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? CHAP, v. ] PRIEDRICH WILHELM'S ONE WAR.
157
1713-1723.
CHAPTER V.
FRIEDRICH WILHELM'S ONE WAR.
One of Fritz's earliest strong impressions from the
outer world chanced to be of War, -- so it chanced,
though he had shown too little taste that way, and
could not, as yet, understand such phenomena; -- and
there must have been much semi-articulate questioning
and dialoguing with Dame de Roucoulles, on his part,
about the matter now going on.
In the year 1715, little Fritz's third year, came
grand doings, not of drill only, but of actual war and
fighting: the "Stralsund Expedition," Friedrich Wil-
helm's one feat in that kind. Huge rumour of which
fills naturally the maternal heart, the Berlin Palace
drawing-rooms; and occupies, with new vivid interests,
all imaginations young and old. For the actual battle-
drums are now beating, the big cannon-wains are
creaking under way; and military men take farewell,
and march, tramp, tramp; Majesty in grenadier-guard
uniform at their head: horse, foot and artillery; north-
ward to Stralsund on the Baltic shore, where a terrible
human Lion has taken-up his lair lately. Charles XH
of Sweden, namely; he has broken-out of Turkish
Bender or Demotica, and ended his obstinate torpor,
at last; has ridden fourteen or sixteen days, he and a
groom or two, through desolate steppes and mountaii*
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? 158 fmedrich's apprenticeship, first stage, [book Iv.
22dNov. l7H.
wildernesses, through crowded dangerous cities; --
"came by Vienna and by Cassel; then through Pom-
mern;" leaving his "royal train of two-thousand per-
sons" to follow at its leisure. He, for his part, has
ridden without pause, forward, ever forward, in darkest
incognito, the indefatigable man; -- and finally, on
Old-Hallowmas Eve (22d-llth November 1714), far in
the night, a Horseman, with two others still following
him, travel-splashed, and "white with snow," drew
bridle at the gate of Stralsund; and, to the surprise of
the Swedish sentinel there, demanded instant admission
to the Governor. The Governor, at first a little surly
of humour, saw gradually how it was; sprang out of
bed, and embraced the knees of the snowy man; Stral-
sund in general sprang out of bed, and illuminated it-
self, that same Hallow-Eve: -- and in brief, Charles
XTT. , after five years of eclipse, has reappeared upon
the stage of things; and menaces the world, in his old
fashion, from that City. From which it becomes urgent
to many parties, and at last to Friedrich Wilhelm him-
self, that he be dislodged.
The root of this Stralsund story belongs to the
former reign, as did the grand apparition of Charles XII.
on the theatre of European History, and the terror and
astonishment he created there. He is now thirty-three
years old; and only the winding-up, both of him and
of the Stralsund story, falls within our present field.
Fifteen years ago, it was like the bursting of a cataract
of bombshells in a dull ballroom, the sudden appearance
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? CHAP. V. ] FKEEDRICH WliHELM's ONE WAR. 159
1713. '
of this young fighting Swede among the luxurious
Kings and Kinglets of the North, all lounging about
and languidly minuetting in that manner, regardless of
expense! Friedrich IV. of Denmark rejoicing over
red-wine; August the Strong gradually producing his
"three-hundred and fifty-four bastards;"* these and
other neighbours had confidently stept in, on various
pretexts; thinking to help themselves from the young
man's properties, who was still a minor; when the
young minor suddenly developed himself as a major
and maximus, and turned-out to be such a Fire-King
among them!
In consequence of which there had been no end of
Northern troubles; and all through the Louis-Four-
teenth or Marlborough grand "Succession War," a spe-
cial "Northern War" had burnt or smouldered on its
own score; Swedes versus Saxons, Russians and Danes,
bickering in weary intricate contest, and keeping those
Northern regions in smoke if not on fire. Charles XII. ,
for the last five years (ever since Pultawa, and the
summer of 1709), had lain obstinately dormant in Tur-
key; urging the Turks to destroy Czar Peter. Which
they absolutely could not, though they now and then
tried; and Viziers not a few lost their heads in conse-
quence. Charles lay sullenly dormant; Danes mean-
while operating upon his Holstein interests and ad-
joining territories; Saxons, Russians battering conti-
nually at Swedish Pommern, continually marching
thither, and then marching home again, without suc-
? Memoiret deBareitk (Wilhelmlna's Book, Londrea, 1812), 1. 111.
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? 160 frtedrich's apprenticeship, first stage, [book it.
1713-1723.
cess, -- always through the Brandenburg Territory, as
they needs must. Which latter circumstance Friedrich
Wilhelm, while yet only Crown-Prince, had seen with
natural displeasure, could that have helped it . But
Charles XII. would not yield a whit; sent orders per-
emptorily, from his bed at Bender or Demotica, that
there must be no surrender. Neither could the sluggish
enemy compel surrender.
So that, at length, it had grown a feeble wearisome
welter of inextricable strifes, with worn-out combatants,
exhausted of all but their animosity; and seemed as if
it would never end. Inveterate ineffective war; ruinous
to all good interests in those parts. What miseries had
Holstein from it, which last to our own day! Mecklen-
burg also it involved in sore troubles, which lasted
long enough, as we shall see. But Brandenburg, above
all, may be impatient; Brandenburg, which has no
business with it except that of unlucky neighbourhood.
One of Friedrich Wilhelm's very first operations, as
King, was to end this ugly state of matters, which he
had witnessed with impatience, as Prince, for a long
while.
He had hailed even the Treaty of Utrecht with
welcome, in hopes it might at least end these Northern
brabbles. This the Treaty of Utrecht tried to do, but
could not: however, it gave him back his Prussian
Fighting Men; -- which he has already increased by
six regiments, raised, we may perceive, on the ruins
of his late court-flunkeys and dismissed goldsticks: --
with these Friedrich Wilhelm will try to end it himself,
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? CHAP. v. J FRTEDRICII WILHELM's OKE WAR. 101
1714.
These he at once ordered to form a Camp on his
frontier, close to that theatre of contest; and signified
now with emphasis, in the beginning of 1713, that he
decidedly wished there were peace in those Pommern
regions. Negotiations in consequence;* very wide
negotiations, Louis XIV. and theKaiser lending hand,
to pacify these fighting Northern Kings and their Czar:
at length the Holstein Government, representing their
sworn ally, Charles XII. , on the occasion, made an
offer which seemed promising. They proposed that
Stettin and its dependencies, the strong frontier Town,
and, as it were, key of Swedish Pommern, should be
evacuated by the Swedes, and be garrisoned by neutral
troops, Prussians and Holsteiners in equal number;
which neutral troops shall prohibit any hostile attack
of Pommern from without, Sweden engaging not to
make any attack through Pommern from within. That
will be as good as peace in Pommern, till we get a
general Swedish Peace. With which Friedrich Wil-
helm gladly complies. '**
Unhappily, however, the Swedish Commandant in
Stettin would not give-up the place, on any represen-
tative or secondary authority; not without an express
order in his King's own hand. Which, as his King
was far away, in abstruse Turkish circumstances and
localities, could not be had at the moment; and involved
new difficulties and uncertainties, new delay which
might itself be fatal. The end was, the Russians and
? 10th June 1713: Buchholz, i. 21.
? ? 22d June 1713; Buchholz, i. 21.
Qarlyle, Frederic the Great. II, 11
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? 162 friedrich's apprenticeship, first STAGE, [bookvI.
1713-1723.
Saxons had to cannonade the man out by regular siege:
they then gave-up the Town to Prussia and Holstein;
but required first to be paid their expenses incurred in
sieging it, -- 400,000 thalers, as they computed and
demonstrated, or somewhere about 60,0001, of our
money.
Friedrich Wilhelm paid the money (Holstein not
having a groschen); took possession of the Town, and
dependent towns and forts; intending well to keep
them till repaid. This was in October 1713; and ever
since, there has been actual tranquillity in those parts:
the embers of the Northern War may still burn or
smoulder elsewhere, but here they are quite extinct
.
At first, it was a joint possession of Stettin, Holsteiners
and Prussians in equal number; and if Friedrich Wil-
helm had been sure of his money, so it would have
continued. But the Holsteiners had paid nothing;
Charles XH. 's sanction never could be expressly got,
and the Holsteiners were mere dependents of his.
Better to increase our Prussian force, by degrees; and,
in some good way, with a minimum of violence, get
the Holsteiners squeezed out of Stettin? Friedrich
Wilhelm has so ordered, and contrived. The Prussian
force having now gradually increased to double in this
important garrison, the Holsteiners are quietly dis-
armed, one night, and ordered to depart, under penal-
ties; -- which was done. Holding such a pawn-ticket
as Stettin, buttoned in our own pocket, we count now
on being paid our 60,0001, before parting with it.
Matters turned-out as Friedrich Wilhelm had dreaded
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? CHAP, v. ] FRIEDRICH WILHELM's ONE WAE. 163
3714.
they might. Here is Charles XII. come back; inflexible
as cold Swedish Iron; will not hear of any Treaty
dealing with his properties in that manner: Is he a
bankrupt, then, that you will sell his towns by auction?
Charles does not, at heart, believe that Friedrich Wil-
helm ever really paid the 60,000/. ; Charles demands,
for his own part, to have his own Swedish Town of
Stettin restored to him; and has not the least intention,
or indeed ability, to pay money. Vain to answer:
"Stettin, for the present, is not a Swedish Town; it is
a Prussian Pawn-ticket! " -- There was much negotia-
tion, correspondence; Louis XIV. and the Kaiser step-
ping-in again to produce settlement . To no purpose.
Louis, gallant old Bankrupt, tried hard to take Charles's
part with effect. But he had, himself, no money
now; could only try finessing by ambassadors, try a
little menacing by them; neither of which profited.
Friedrich Wilhelm, wanting only peace on his borders,
after fifteen years of extraneous uproar there, has paid
60,0001, in hard cash to have it: repay him that sum,
with promise of peace on his borders, he will then quit
Stettin; till then not. Big words, from a French Am-
bassador in big wig, will not suffice: "Bullying goes
for nothing (Bange machen gilt nicht)" -- the thing
covenanted-for will need to be done! Poor Louis the
Great, whom we now call "Banh'upt-Grea. t," died
while these affairs were pending; while Charles, his
ally, was arguing and battling against all the world,
with only a grandiloquent Ambassador to help him
from Louis. "J'cti trop aime la guerre," said Louis at
11*
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? 164 FREBDRICh's APPRENTICESHIP, FIRST STAGE. fBOOKW.
'1718-1723.
his death, addressing a new small Louis (five-years
old), his great-grandson and successor: "I have been
too fond of war; do not imitate me in that, fie nimitez
pas en cela. "* Which counsel also, as we shall see,
was considerably lost in air.
Friedrich Wilhelm had a true personal regard for
Charles XII. , a man made in many respects after his
own heart; and would fain have persuaded him into
softer behaviour. But it was to no purpose. Charles
would not listen to reasons of policy; or believe that
his estate was bankrupt, or that his towns could be
put in pawn. Danes, Saxons, Russians, even George I.
of England (George having just bought, of the Danish
King, who had got hold of it, a great Hanover bargain,
Bremen and Verden, on cheap terms, from the quasi-
bankrupt estate of poor Charles), -- have to combine
against him, and see to put him down. Among whom
Prussia, at length actually attacked by Charles in the
Stettin regions, has reluctantly to take the lead in that
repressive movement. On the 28th of April 1715,
Friedrich Wilhelm declares war against Charles; is
already on march, with a great force, towards Stettin,
to coerce and repress said Charles. No help for it, so
sore as it goes against us: "Why will the very King
whom I most respect compel me to be his enemy? "
said Friedrich Wilhelm. **
One of Friedrich Wilhelm's originalities is bis fare-
? 1st September 1715.
*? (Entires de FrHiric (JIUtoire de Brandebourg), i. 132; Buchholz, 1. 28.
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? CHAP. V. ] FRIEDRICH WILHELM'S ONE WAK. 165
1715.
well Order and Instruction, to his Three chief Ministers,
on this occasion. Hgen, Dohna, Prinzen, tacit dusky
figures, whom we meet in Prussian Books, and never
gain the least idea of, except as of grim, rather cunning,
most reserved antiquarian gentlemen, -- a kind of
human iron-safes, solemnly filled (under triple and
quadruple patent-locks) with what, alas, has now all
grown waste-paper, dust and cobweb, to us: -- these
Three reserved cunning Gentlemen are to keep a
thrice-watchful eye on all subordinate boards and per-
sons, and see well that nobody nod or do amiss. Brief
weekly report to his Majesty will be expected; staf-
fettes, should cases of hot haste occur: any questions
of yours are "to be put on a sheet of paper folded-
down, to which I can write marginalia:" if nothing
particular is passing, "nit schreiben, you don't write. "
Pay-out no money, except what falls due by the Books;
none; -- if an extraordinary case for payment arise,
consult my Wife, and she must sign her order for it.
Generally in matters of any moment, consult my Wife;
but her only, "except her and the Privy Councillors,
"no mortal is to poke into my affairs:" I say no mor-
tal, "sonst kein Mensch. "
"My Wife shall be told of all things," he says else-
where, "and counsel asked of her. " The rugged Pater-
familias, but the human one! "And as I am a man,"
continues he, "and may be shot dead, I command you
"and all to take care of Fritz (fur Fritz zu sorgen), as
"God shall reward you. And I give you all, Wife to
"begin with, my curse (meinen Fluch), that God may
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? 1G6 friedrich's apprenticeship, first stage. [BOOK IV.
1718-1723.
"punish you in Time and Eternity, if you do not, after
"my death," -- do what, O Heavens? -- "bury me
"in the vault of the Schlosskirche," Palace-Church at
Berlin! "And you shall make no grand to-do (kein
"Festhi) on the occasion. On your body and life, no
"festivals and ceremonials, except that the regiments
"one after the other fire a volley over me. " Is not
this an ursine man-of-genius, in some sort, as we once
defined him? He adds suddenly, and concludes: "I am
"assured you will manage everything with all the ex-
actness in the world; for which I shall ever zealously,
"as long as I live, be your friend. "* . '
Russians, Saxons affected to intend joining Fried-
rich Wilhelm in his Pommern expedition; and of the
latter there did, under a so-called Field-Marshal von
Wackerbarth, of high plumes and titles, some four-
thousand, -- of whom only Colonel von Seckendorf,
commanding one of the horse-regiments, is remarkable
to us, -- come and serve. The rest, and all the Rus-
sians, he was as well pleased to have at a distance.
Some sixteen-thousand Danes joined him, too, with the
King of Denmark at their head; very furious, all,
against the Swedish-iron Hero; but they were remarked
to do almost no real service, except at sea a little
against the Swedish ships. George I. also had a fleet
in the Baltic; but only "to protect English commerce. "
On the whole, the Siege of Stralsund, to which the
Campaign pretty soon reduced itself, was done mainly
? 26th April 1715: Cosmars und Klaproths Staatsrath, <<. 223 (InStenzel,
ii. 269).
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? CHAP. v. ] JFRIEDRICH WILHELM's ONE WAR. 167
1718.
by Friedrich Wilhelm. He staid two months in Stettin,
getting all his preliminaries completed: his good Queen,
Wife "Feekin," was with him, for some time, I know
not whether now or afterwards. In the end of June,
he issued from Stettin; took the interjacent outpost
places; and then opened ground before Stralsund,
where, in a few days more, the Danes joined him. It
was now the middle of July: a combined army of
well-nigh Forty-thousand against Charles; who, to man
his works, musters about the fourth part of that
number. *
Stralsund, with its outer lines and inner, with its
marshes, ditches, ramparts and abundant cannon to
them, and leaning, one side of it, on the deep sea,
which Swedish ships command as yet, is very strong.
Wallenstein, we know, once tried it with furious as-
sault, with bombardment, sap and storm; swore he
would have it, "though it hung by a chain from
Heaven;" but could not get it, after all his volcanic
raging; and was driven away, partly by the Swedes
and armed Townsfolk, chiefly by the marsh-fevers and
continuous rains. Stralsund has been taken, since that,
by Prussian sieging; as old men, from the Great Elec-
tor's time, still remember. ** To Louis Fourteenth's
menacing Ambassador, Friedrich Wilhelm seems to
intimate that indeed big bullying words will not take
it, but that Prussian guns and men, on a just ground,
still may.
? Paull, vill. 85-101; Bnchholz, 1. 31-39; FSfster, Ii. 34-39; Stenzel,
Ul. 272-278.
? ? lOth-lSth October 1678 (P>>qli, v. 203, 206).
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? 168 friedrich's apprenticeship. FIRST STAGE, [book Iv.
1713-1723.
The details of this Siege of Stralsund are all on re-
cord, and had once a certain fame in the world; but
except as a distant echo, must not concern us here. It
lasted till mid-winter, under continual fierce counter-
movements and desperate sallies from the Swedish Lion,
standing at bay there against all the world. But Fried-
rich Wilhelm was vigilance itself; and he had his An-
halt-Dessaus with him, his Borcks, Buddenbrocks,
Finkensteins, veteran men and captains, who had
learned their art under Marlborough and Eugene. The
Lion King's fierce sallies, and desperate valour, could
not avail. Point after point was lost for him. Koppen, a Prussian Lieutenant-Colonel, native to the place, who
has bathed in those waters in his youth, remembers
that, by wading to the chin, you could get round the
extremity of Charles's main outer line. Koppen states
his project, gets it approved of; -- wades accordingly,
with a select party, under cloud of night (4th of No-
vember, eve of Gunpowder-day, a most cold-hot job);
other ranked Prussian battalions awaiting intently out-
side, with shouldered firelock, invisible in the dark,
what will become of him. Koppen wades successfully;
seizes the first battery of said line, -- masters said line
with its batteries, the outside battalions and he. Irre-
pressibly, with horrible uproar from without and from
within; the flying Swedes scarcely getting-up the Town-
drawbridge, as he chased them. That important line
is lost to Charles.
Next they took the Isle of Riigen from him, which
shuts-up the harbour. Leopold of Anhalt-Dessau, our
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? CHAP, v. ] PRIEDRICH WILHELM'S ONE WAR. 169
1715.
rugged friend, in Danish boats, which were but ill
navigated, contrives, about a week after that Koppen
feat, to effect a landing on Rugen, at nightfall; beats-
off the weak Swedish party; -- entrenches, palisades
himself to the teeth, and lies down under arms. That
latter was a wise precaution. For, about four in the
morning, Charles comes in person, with eight pieces of
cannon and four-thousand horse and foot: Charles is
struck with amazement at the palisade and ditch
("Mein Gott, who would have expected this! " he was
heard murmuring); dashes, like a fire-flood, against
ditch and palisade; tears at the pales himself, which
prove impregnable to his cannon and him. He storms
and rages forward, again and again, now here, now
there; but is met everywhere by steady deadly mus-
ketry; and has to retire, fruitless, about daybreak, him-
self wounded, and leaving his eight cannons, and four-
hundred slain.
Poor Charles, there had been no sleep for him that
night, and little for very many nights: "on getting to
"horse, on the shore at Stralsund, he fainted repeated-
"ly; fell out of one faint into another; but such was
"his rage, he always recovered himself, and got on
"horseback again. "* Poor Charles: a bit of right
royal Swedish-German stuff, after his kind; and tragi-
cally ill bested now at last! This is his exit he is
now making, -- still in a consistent manner. It is
fifteen years now since he waded ashore at Copen-
hagen, and first heard the bullets whistle round him,
t Bflchiioi)! , j. q? ,
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? 170 friedrich's APPRENTICESHIP, FIRST STAGE, [book Iv.
1718-1723.
Since which time, what a course has he run; crash-
ing athwart all manner of ranked armies, diplomatic
combinations, right onward, like a cannon-ball; tearing-
off many solemn wigs in those Northern parts, and
scattering them upon the winds, -- even as he did his
own full-buttom wig, impatiently, on that first day at
Copenhagen, finding it unfurthersome for actual busi-
ness in battle. *
In about a month hence, the last important horn-
work is forced; Charles, himself seen fiercely fighting
on the place, is swept back from his last hornwork;
and the general storm, now altogether irresistible, is
evidently at hand. On entreaty from his followers,
entreaty often renewed, with tears even (it is said) and
on bended knees, Charles at last consents to go. He
left no orders for surrender; would not name the word;
"left only ambiguous vague orders. " But on the 19th
December 1715, he does actually depart; gets on
board a little boat, towards a Swedish frigate, which is
lying above a mile out; the whole road to which, be-
tween Riigen and the mainland, is now solid ice, and
has to be cut as he proceeds. This slow operation,
which lasted all day, was visible, and its meaning well
known, in the besiegers' lines. The King of Den-
mark saw it; and brought a battery to bear upon it;
his thought had always been, that Charles should be
captured or killed in Stralsund, and not allowed to get
away. Friedrich Wilhelm was of quite another mind,
and had even used secret influences to that effect;
? KBhler: Mumbehistigungen, xlv. 213,
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tten . Sec. Kdnigt von Prewsen Frederifi Wi\helxni (IIambur|jj und Brealau,
J786), pp. 223, 319,
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? 154 friedbich's apprenticeship, first stage, [book Iv.
'1718-1723.
shrieks of the flunkey world. For Nature, when she
makes a Spartan, means a good deal by it; and does
not expect instant applauses, but only gradual and
lasting.
"For my own part," exclaims a certain Editor once, "I
"perceive well there was never yet any great Empire founded,
"Roman, English, down to Prussian or Dutch, nor in fact any
"great mass of work got achieved under the Sun, but it was
"founded even upon this humble-looking quality of Thrift,
"and became achievable in virtue of the same. Which will
"seem a strange doctrine, in these days of gold-nuggets, rail-
"way-fortunes, and miraculous sumptuosities regardless of
"expense. Earnest readers are invited to consider it, never-
"theless. Though new, it is very old; and a sad meaning
"lies in it to us of these times! That you have squandered in
"idle fooleries, building where there was no basis, your Hun-
"dred-thousand Sterling, your Eight-hundred MillionSterling,
"is to me a comparatively small matter. You may still again
"become rich, if you have at last become wise. But if you
"have wasted your capacity of strenuous devoutly valiant
"labour, of patience, perseverance, self-denial, faith in the
"causes of effects; alas, if your once just judgment of what is
"worth something and what is worth nothing, has been
"wasted, and your silent steadfast reliance on the general
"veracities, of yourself and of things, is no longer there,--
"then indeed you have had a loss! You are,in fact, an entirely
"bankrupt individual; as you will find by and by. Yes; and
"though you had California in fee-simple; and could buy all
"the upholsteries, groceries, funded-properties, temporary
"(very temporary) landed-properties of the world, at one
"swoop, it would avail you nothing. Henceforth for you no
"harvests in the Seedfield of this Universe, which reserves its
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? CHAP. Iv. ] his majesty's WATS. 155
1713-1723.
"salutary bounties, and noble heaven-sent gifts, for quite
"other than you; and I would not give a pin's value for all
"you will ever reap there. Mere imaginary harvests, sacks of
"nuggets and the like; empty as the east-wind; -- with all
"the Demons laughing at you! Do you consider that Nature
"too is a swollen flunkey, hungry for vails; and can be taken-
"in with your sublime airs of sumptuosity, and the large bal-
"ance you actually have in Lombard-street? Go to the --
''General Cesspool, with your nuggets and your ducats! "
The flunkey world, much stript of its plush and
fat perquisites, accuses Friedrich Wilhelm bitterly of
avarice and the cognate vices. But it is not so; in-
trinsically, in the main, his procedure is to be defined
as honourable thrift, -- verging towards avarice here
and there; as poor human virtues usually lean to one
side or the other! He can be magnificent enough too,
and grudges no expense, when the occasion seems
worthy. If the occasion is inevitable, and yet not
quite worthy, I have known him have recourse to
strange shifts. The Czar Peter, for example, used to
be rather often in the Prussian Dominions, oftenest on
business of his own: such a man is to be royally de-
frayed while with us; yet one would wish it done
cheap. Posthorses, "two-hundred and eighty-seven at
every station," he has from the Community; but the
rest of his expenses, from Memel all the way to We-
sel? Friedrich Wilhelm's marginal response to his
Finanz-Directorium, requiring orders once on that sub-
ject, runs in the following strange tenour: "Yes, all
the way (except Berlin, which I take upon myself);
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? 156 fmedrich's apprenticeship, first stage, [book Iv.
1718-1722.
and observe, you contrive to do it for 6,000 thalers
(900/. )," -- which is uncommonly cheap, about 11. per
mile; -- "won't allow you one other penny (nit einen
Pfennig gebe mehr dazu); but you are (sollen Sie)" this
is the remarkable point, "to give out in the world
that it costs me from Thirty to Forty Thousand! "*
So that here is the Majesty of Prussia, who beyond
all men abhors lies, giving orders to tell one? Alas,
yes; a kind of lie, or fib (white fib, or even gray),
the pinch of Thrift compelling! But what a window
into the artless inner-man of his Majesty, even that
gray fib; -- not done by oneself, but ordered to be
done by the servant, as if that were cheaper!
"Verging upon avarice," sure enough: but, unless
we are unjust and unkind, he can by no means be
described as a Miser King. He collects what is his;
gives you accurately what is yours. For wages paid
he will see work done: he will ascertain more and
more that the work done be work needful for him;
and strike it off, if not. A Spartan man, as we said,
-- though probably he knew as little of the Spartans
as the Spartans did of him. But Nature is still capable
of such products: if in Hellas long ages since, why not
in Brandenburg now?
? 1717: FSrtter, 1. 218.
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? CHAP, v. ] PRIEDRICH WILHELM'S ONE WAR.
157
1713-1723.
CHAPTER V.
FRIEDRICH WILHELM'S ONE WAR.
One of Fritz's earliest strong impressions from the
outer world chanced to be of War, -- so it chanced,
though he had shown too little taste that way, and
could not, as yet, understand such phenomena; -- and
there must have been much semi-articulate questioning
and dialoguing with Dame de Roucoulles, on his part,
about the matter now going on.
In the year 1715, little Fritz's third year, came
grand doings, not of drill only, but of actual war and
fighting: the "Stralsund Expedition," Friedrich Wil-
helm's one feat in that kind. Huge rumour of which
fills naturally the maternal heart, the Berlin Palace
drawing-rooms; and occupies, with new vivid interests,
all imaginations young and old. For the actual battle-
drums are now beating, the big cannon-wains are
creaking under way; and military men take farewell,
and march, tramp, tramp; Majesty in grenadier-guard
uniform at their head: horse, foot and artillery; north-
ward to Stralsund on the Baltic shore, where a terrible
human Lion has taken-up his lair lately. Charles XH
of Sweden, namely; he has broken-out of Turkish
Bender or Demotica, and ended his obstinate torpor,
at last; has ridden fourteen or sixteen days, he and a
groom or two, through desolate steppes and mountaii*
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? 158 fmedrich's apprenticeship, first stage, [book Iv.
22dNov. l7H.
wildernesses, through crowded dangerous cities; --
"came by Vienna and by Cassel; then through Pom-
mern;" leaving his "royal train of two-thousand per-
sons" to follow at its leisure. He, for his part, has
ridden without pause, forward, ever forward, in darkest
incognito, the indefatigable man; -- and finally, on
Old-Hallowmas Eve (22d-llth November 1714), far in
the night, a Horseman, with two others still following
him, travel-splashed, and "white with snow," drew
bridle at the gate of Stralsund; and, to the surprise of
the Swedish sentinel there, demanded instant admission
to the Governor. The Governor, at first a little surly
of humour, saw gradually how it was; sprang out of
bed, and embraced the knees of the snowy man; Stral-
sund in general sprang out of bed, and illuminated it-
self, that same Hallow-Eve: -- and in brief, Charles
XTT. , after five years of eclipse, has reappeared upon
the stage of things; and menaces the world, in his old
fashion, from that City. From which it becomes urgent
to many parties, and at last to Friedrich Wilhelm him-
self, that he be dislodged.
The root of this Stralsund story belongs to the
former reign, as did the grand apparition of Charles XII.
on the theatre of European History, and the terror and
astonishment he created there. He is now thirty-three
years old; and only the winding-up, both of him and
of the Stralsund story, falls within our present field.
Fifteen years ago, it was like the bursting of a cataract
of bombshells in a dull ballroom, the sudden appearance
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? CHAP. V. ] FKEEDRICH WliHELM's ONE WAR. 159
1713. '
of this young fighting Swede among the luxurious
Kings and Kinglets of the North, all lounging about
and languidly minuetting in that manner, regardless of
expense! Friedrich IV. of Denmark rejoicing over
red-wine; August the Strong gradually producing his
"three-hundred and fifty-four bastards;"* these and
other neighbours had confidently stept in, on various
pretexts; thinking to help themselves from the young
man's properties, who was still a minor; when the
young minor suddenly developed himself as a major
and maximus, and turned-out to be such a Fire-King
among them!
In consequence of which there had been no end of
Northern troubles; and all through the Louis-Four-
teenth or Marlborough grand "Succession War," a spe-
cial "Northern War" had burnt or smouldered on its
own score; Swedes versus Saxons, Russians and Danes,
bickering in weary intricate contest, and keeping those
Northern regions in smoke if not on fire. Charles XII. ,
for the last five years (ever since Pultawa, and the
summer of 1709), had lain obstinately dormant in Tur-
key; urging the Turks to destroy Czar Peter. Which
they absolutely could not, though they now and then
tried; and Viziers not a few lost their heads in conse-
quence. Charles lay sullenly dormant; Danes mean-
while operating upon his Holstein interests and ad-
joining territories; Saxons, Russians battering conti-
nually at Swedish Pommern, continually marching
thither, and then marching home again, without suc-
? Memoiret deBareitk (Wilhelmlna's Book, Londrea, 1812), 1. 111.
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? 160 frtedrich's apprenticeship, first stage, [book it.
1713-1723.
cess, -- always through the Brandenburg Territory, as
they needs must. Which latter circumstance Friedrich
Wilhelm, while yet only Crown-Prince, had seen with
natural displeasure, could that have helped it . But
Charles XII. would not yield a whit; sent orders per-
emptorily, from his bed at Bender or Demotica, that
there must be no surrender. Neither could the sluggish
enemy compel surrender.
So that, at length, it had grown a feeble wearisome
welter of inextricable strifes, with worn-out combatants,
exhausted of all but their animosity; and seemed as if
it would never end. Inveterate ineffective war; ruinous
to all good interests in those parts. What miseries had
Holstein from it, which last to our own day! Mecklen-
burg also it involved in sore troubles, which lasted
long enough, as we shall see. But Brandenburg, above
all, may be impatient; Brandenburg, which has no
business with it except that of unlucky neighbourhood.
One of Friedrich Wilhelm's very first operations, as
King, was to end this ugly state of matters, which he
had witnessed with impatience, as Prince, for a long
while.
He had hailed even the Treaty of Utrecht with
welcome, in hopes it might at least end these Northern
brabbles. This the Treaty of Utrecht tried to do, but
could not: however, it gave him back his Prussian
Fighting Men; -- which he has already increased by
six regiments, raised, we may perceive, on the ruins
of his late court-flunkeys and dismissed goldsticks: --
with these Friedrich Wilhelm will try to end it himself,
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? CHAP. v. J FRTEDRICII WILHELM's OKE WAR. 101
1714.
These he at once ordered to form a Camp on his
frontier, close to that theatre of contest; and signified
now with emphasis, in the beginning of 1713, that he
decidedly wished there were peace in those Pommern
regions. Negotiations in consequence;* very wide
negotiations, Louis XIV. and theKaiser lending hand,
to pacify these fighting Northern Kings and their Czar:
at length the Holstein Government, representing their
sworn ally, Charles XII. , on the occasion, made an
offer which seemed promising. They proposed that
Stettin and its dependencies, the strong frontier Town,
and, as it were, key of Swedish Pommern, should be
evacuated by the Swedes, and be garrisoned by neutral
troops, Prussians and Holsteiners in equal number;
which neutral troops shall prohibit any hostile attack
of Pommern from without, Sweden engaging not to
make any attack through Pommern from within. That
will be as good as peace in Pommern, till we get a
general Swedish Peace. With which Friedrich Wil-
helm gladly complies. '**
Unhappily, however, the Swedish Commandant in
Stettin would not give-up the place, on any represen-
tative or secondary authority; not without an express
order in his King's own hand. Which, as his King
was far away, in abstruse Turkish circumstances and
localities, could not be had at the moment; and involved
new difficulties and uncertainties, new delay which
might itself be fatal. The end was, the Russians and
? 10th June 1713: Buchholz, i. 21.
? ? 22d June 1713; Buchholz, i. 21.
Qarlyle, Frederic the Great. II, 11
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? 162 friedrich's apprenticeship, first STAGE, [bookvI.
1713-1723.
Saxons had to cannonade the man out by regular siege:
they then gave-up the Town to Prussia and Holstein;
but required first to be paid their expenses incurred in
sieging it, -- 400,000 thalers, as they computed and
demonstrated, or somewhere about 60,0001, of our
money.
Friedrich Wilhelm paid the money (Holstein not
having a groschen); took possession of the Town, and
dependent towns and forts; intending well to keep
them till repaid. This was in October 1713; and ever
since, there has been actual tranquillity in those parts:
the embers of the Northern War may still burn or
smoulder elsewhere, but here they are quite extinct
.
At first, it was a joint possession of Stettin, Holsteiners
and Prussians in equal number; and if Friedrich Wil-
helm had been sure of his money, so it would have
continued. But the Holsteiners had paid nothing;
Charles XH. 's sanction never could be expressly got,
and the Holsteiners were mere dependents of his.
Better to increase our Prussian force, by degrees; and,
in some good way, with a minimum of violence, get
the Holsteiners squeezed out of Stettin? Friedrich
Wilhelm has so ordered, and contrived. The Prussian
force having now gradually increased to double in this
important garrison, the Holsteiners are quietly dis-
armed, one night, and ordered to depart, under penal-
ties; -- which was done. Holding such a pawn-ticket
as Stettin, buttoned in our own pocket, we count now
on being paid our 60,0001, before parting with it.
Matters turned-out as Friedrich Wilhelm had dreaded
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? CHAP, v. ] FRIEDRICH WILHELM's ONE WAE. 163
3714.
they might. Here is Charles XII. come back; inflexible
as cold Swedish Iron; will not hear of any Treaty
dealing with his properties in that manner: Is he a
bankrupt, then, that you will sell his towns by auction?
Charles does not, at heart, believe that Friedrich Wil-
helm ever really paid the 60,000/. ; Charles demands,
for his own part, to have his own Swedish Town of
Stettin restored to him; and has not the least intention,
or indeed ability, to pay money. Vain to answer:
"Stettin, for the present, is not a Swedish Town; it is
a Prussian Pawn-ticket! " -- There was much negotia-
tion, correspondence; Louis XIV. and the Kaiser step-
ping-in again to produce settlement . To no purpose.
Louis, gallant old Bankrupt, tried hard to take Charles's
part with effect. But he had, himself, no money
now; could only try finessing by ambassadors, try a
little menacing by them; neither of which profited.
Friedrich Wilhelm, wanting only peace on his borders,
after fifteen years of extraneous uproar there, has paid
60,0001, in hard cash to have it: repay him that sum,
with promise of peace on his borders, he will then quit
Stettin; till then not. Big words, from a French Am-
bassador in big wig, will not suffice: "Bullying goes
for nothing (Bange machen gilt nicht)" -- the thing
covenanted-for will need to be done! Poor Louis the
Great, whom we now call "Banh'upt-Grea. t," died
while these affairs were pending; while Charles, his
ally, was arguing and battling against all the world,
with only a grandiloquent Ambassador to help him
from Louis. "J'cti trop aime la guerre," said Louis at
11*
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? 164 FREBDRICh's APPRENTICESHIP, FIRST STAGE. fBOOKW.
'1718-1723.
his death, addressing a new small Louis (five-years
old), his great-grandson and successor: "I have been
too fond of war; do not imitate me in that, fie nimitez
pas en cela. "* Which counsel also, as we shall see,
was considerably lost in air.
Friedrich Wilhelm had a true personal regard for
Charles XII. , a man made in many respects after his
own heart; and would fain have persuaded him into
softer behaviour. But it was to no purpose. Charles
would not listen to reasons of policy; or believe that
his estate was bankrupt, or that his towns could be
put in pawn. Danes, Saxons, Russians, even George I.
of England (George having just bought, of the Danish
King, who had got hold of it, a great Hanover bargain,
Bremen and Verden, on cheap terms, from the quasi-
bankrupt estate of poor Charles), -- have to combine
against him, and see to put him down. Among whom
Prussia, at length actually attacked by Charles in the
Stettin regions, has reluctantly to take the lead in that
repressive movement. On the 28th of April 1715,
Friedrich Wilhelm declares war against Charles; is
already on march, with a great force, towards Stettin,
to coerce and repress said Charles. No help for it, so
sore as it goes against us: "Why will the very King
whom I most respect compel me to be his enemy? "
said Friedrich Wilhelm. **
One of Friedrich Wilhelm's originalities is bis fare-
? 1st September 1715.
*? (Entires de FrHiric (JIUtoire de Brandebourg), i. 132; Buchholz, 1. 28.
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? CHAP. V. ] FRIEDRICH WILHELM'S ONE WAK. 165
1715.
well Order and Instruction, to his Three chief Ministers,
on this occasion. Hgen, Dohna, Prinzen, tacit dusky
figures, whom we meet in Prussian Books, and never
gain the least idea of, except as of grim, rather cunning,
most reserved antiquarian gentlemen, -- a kind of
human iron-safes, solemnly filled (under triple and
quadruple patent-locks) with what, alas, has now all
grown waste-paper, dust and cobweb, to us: -- these
Three reserved cunning Gentlemen are to keep a
thrice-watchful eye on all subordinate boards and per-
sons, and see well that nobody nod or do amiss. Brief
weekly report to his Majesty will be expected; staf-
fettes, should cases of hot haste occur: any questions
of yours are "to be put on a sheet of paper folded-
down, to which I can write marginalia:" if nothing
particular is passing, "nit schreiben, you don't write. "
Pay-out no money, except what falls due by the Books;
none; -- if an extraordinary case for payment arise,
consult my Wife, and she must sign her order for it.
Generally in matters of any moment, consult my Wife;
but her only, "except her and the Privy Councillors,
"no mortal is to poke into my affairs:" I say no mor-
tal, "sonst kein Mensch. "
"My Wife shall be told of all things," he says else-
where, "and counsel asked of her. " The rugged Pater-
familias, but the human one! "And as I am a man,"
continues he, "and may be shot dead, I command you
"and all to take care of Fritz (fur Fritz zu sorgen), as
"God shall reward you. And I give you all, Wife to
"begin with, my curse (meinen Fluch), that God may
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? 1G6 friedrich's apprenticeship, first stage. [BOOK IV.
1718-1723.
"punish you in Time and Eternity, if you do not, after
"my death," -- do what, O Heavens? -- "bury me
"in the vault of the Schlosskirche," Palace-Church at
Berlin! "And you shall make no grand to-do (kein
"Festhi) on the occasion. On your body and life, no
"festivals and ceremonials, except that the regiments
"one after the other fire a volley over me. " Is not
this an ursine man-of-genius, in some sort, as we once
defined him? He adds suddenly, and concludes: "I am
"assured you will manage everything with all the ex-
actness in the world; for which I shall ever zealously,
"as long as I live, be your friend. "* . '
Russians, Saxons affected to intend joining Fried-
rich Wilhelm in his Pommern expedition; and of the
latter there did, under a so-called Field-Marshal von
Wackerbarth, of high plumes and titles, some four-
thousand, -- of whom only Colonel von Seckendorf,
commanding one of the horse-regiments, is remarkable
to us, -- come and serve. The rest, and all the Rus-
sians, he was as well pleased to have at a distance.
Some sixteen-thousand Danes joined him, too, with the
King of Denmark at their head; very furious, all,
against the Swedish-iron Hero; but they were remarked
to do almost no real service, except at sea a little
against the Swedish ships. George I. also had a fleet
in the Baltic; but only "to protect English commerce. "
On the whole, the Siege of Stralsund, to which the
Campaign pretty soon reduced itself, was done mainly
? 26th April 1715: Cosmars und Klaproths Staatsrath, <<. 223 (InStenzel,
ii. 269).
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? CHAP. v. ] JFRIEDRICH WILHELM's ONE WAR. 167
1718.
by Friedrich Wilhelm. He staid two months in Stettin,
getting all his preliminaries completed: his good Queen,
Wife "Feekin," was with him, for some time, I know
not whether now or afterwards. In the end of June,
he issued from Stettin; took the interjacent outpost
places; and then opened ground before Stralsund,
where, in a few days more, the Danes joined him. It
was now the middle of July: a combined army of
well-nigh Forty-thousand against Charles; who, to man
his works, musters about the fourth part of that
number. *
Stralsund, with its outer lines and inner, with its
marshes, ditches, ramparts and abundant cannon to
them, and leaning, one side of it, on the deep sea,
which Swedish ships command as yet, is very strong.
Wallenstein, we know, once tried it with furious as-
sault, with bombardment, sap and storm; swore he
would have it, "though it hung by a chain from
Heaven;" but could not get it, after all his volcanic
raging; and was driven away, partly by the Swedes
and armed Townsfolk, chiefly by the marsh-fevers and
continuous rains. Stralsund has been taken, since that,
by Prussian sieging; as old men, from the Great Elec-
tor's time, still remember. ** To Louis Fourteenth's
menacing Ambassador, Friedrich Wilhelm seems to
intimate that indeed big bullying words will not take
it, but that Prussian guns and men, on a just ground,
still may.
? Paull, vill. 85-101; Bnchholz, 1. 31-39; FSfster, Ii. 34-39; Stenzel,
Ul. 272-278.
? ? lOth-lSth October 1678 (P>>qli, v. 203, 206).
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? 168 friedrich's apprenticeship. FIRST STAGE, [book Iv.
1713-1723.
The details of this Siege of Stralsund are all on re-
cord, and had once a certain fame in the world; but
except as a distant echo, must not concern us here. It
lasted till mid-winter, under continual fierce counter-
movements and desperate sallies from the Swedish Lion,
standing at bay there against all the world. But Fried-
rich Wilhelm was vigilance itself; and he had his An-
halt-Dessaus with him, his Borcks, Buddenbrocks,
Finkensteins, veteran men and captains, who had
learned their art under Marlborough and Eugene. The
Lion King's fierce sallies, and desperate valour, could
not avail. Point after point was lost for him. Koppen, a Prussian Lieutenant-Colonel, native to the place, who
has bathed in those waters in his youth, remembers
that, by wading to the chin, you could get round the
extremity of Charles's main outer line. Koppen states
his project, gets it approved of; -- wades accordingly,
with a select party, under cloud of night (4th of No-
vember, eve of Gunpowder-day, a most cold-hot job);
other ranked Prussian battalions awaiting intently out-
side, with shouldered firelock, invisible in the dark,
what will become of him. Koppen wades successfully;
seizes the first battery of said line, -- masters said line
with its batteries, the outside battalions and he. Irre-
pressibly, with horrible uproar from without and from
within; the flying Swedes scarcely getting-up the Town-
drawbridge, as he chased them. That important line
is lost to Charles.
Next they took the Isle of Riigen from him, which
shuts-up the harbour. Leopold of Anhalt-Dessau, our
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? CHAP, v. ] PRIEDRICH WILHELM'S ONE WAR. 169
1715.
rugged friend, in Danish boats, which were but ill
navigated, contrives, about a week after that Koppen
feat, to effect a landing on Rugen, at nightfall; beats-
off the weak Swedish party; -- entrenches, palisades
himself to the teeth, and lies down under arms. That
latter was a wise precaution. For, about four in the
morning, Charles comes in person, with eight pieces of
cannon and four-thousand horse and foot: Charles is
struck with amazement at the palisade and ditch
("Mein Gott, who would have expected this! " he was
heard murmuring); dashes, like a fire-flood, against
ditch and palisade; tears at the pales himself, which
prove impregnable to his cannon and him. He storms
and rages forward, again and again, now here, now
there; but is met everywhere by steady deadly mus-
ketry; and has to retire, fruitless, about daybreak, him-
self wounded, and leaving his eight cannons, and four-
hundred slain.
Poor Charles, there had been no sleep for him that
night, and little for very many nights: "on getting to
"horse, on the shore at Stralsund, he fainted repeated-
"ly; fell out of one faint into another; but such was
"his rage, he always recovered himself, and got on
"horseback again. "* Poor Charles: a bit of right
royal Swedish-German stuff, after his kind; and tragi-
cally ill bested now at last! This is his exit he is
now making, -- still in a consistent manner. It is
fifteen years now since he waded ashore at Copen-
hagen, and first heard the bullets whistle round him,
t Bflchiioi)! , j. q? ,
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? 170 friedrich's APPRENTICESHIP, FIRST STAGE, [book Iv.
1718-1723.
Since which time, what a course has he run; crash-
ing athwart all manner of ranked armies, diplomatic
combinations, right onward, like a cannon-ball; tearing-
off many solemn wigs in those Northern parts, and
scattering them upon the winds, -- even as he did his
own full-buttom wig, impatiently, on that first day at
Copenhagen, finding it unfurthersome for actual busi-
ness in battle. *
In about a month hence, the last important horn-
work is forced; Charles, himself seen fiercely fighting
on the place, is swept back from his last hornwork;
and the general storm, now altogether irresistible, is
evidently at hand. On entreaty from his followers,
entreaty often renewed, with tears even (it is said) and
on bended knees, Charles at last consents to go. He
left no orders for surrender; would not name the word;
"left only ambiguous vague orders. " But on the 19th
December 1715, he does actually depart; gets on
board a little boat, towards a Swedish frigate, which is
lying above a mile out; the whole road to which, be-
tween Riigen and the mainland, is now solid ice, and
has to be cut as he proceeds. This slow operation,
which lasted all day, was visible, and its meaning well
known, in the besiegers' lines. The King of Den-
mark saw it; and brought a battery to bear upon it;
his thought had always been, that Charles should be
captured or killed in Stralsund, and not allowed to get
away. Friedrich Wilhelm was of quite another mind,
and had even used secret influences to that effect;
? KBhler: Mumbehistigungen, xlv. 213,
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