Reich's
Execution
Army to coerce, by force of
arms, this nefarious King of Prussia into making in-
stant restitution to Saxony, with ample damages on the
nail; that right be done to Kurfiirsts of this Reich.
arms, this nefarious King of Prussia into making in-
stant restitution to Saxony, with ample damages on the
nail; that right be done to Kurfiirsts of this Reich.
Thomas Carlyle
CHAP.
I.
] THE CAMPAIGN OPENS.
5
Jan. --April 1757.
slices thereabouts; Austria's share, we need not say, is
that jewel of a Silesia. Czarish Majesty, on the ex-
treme East, takes Preussen, Konigsberg-Meinel Country
in whole; adds Preussen to her as yet too narrow Ter-
ritories. Wesel-Cleve Country, from the other or
Western extremity, France will take that clipping, and
make much of it. These are quite serious business-en-
gagemente, engrossed on careful parchment, that Spring
1757, and I suppose not yet boiled down into glue,
but still to be found in dusty corners, with the tape
much faded. The high heads, making preparation on
the due scale, think them not only executable, but
indubitable, and almost as good as done. Push home
upon him, as united Posse Comitatus of Mankind; in
a sacred cause of Polish Majesty and Public Justice,
how can one malefactor resist? "Aft, n^i tres-chere Reine"
and "Oh, my dearest Princess and Cousin," what a
chance has turned up!
It is computed that there are arrayed against this
one King, under their respective Kings, Empress-
Queens, Swedish Senates, Catins and Pompadours, po-
pulations to the amount of above 100 millions, -- in
after stages, I remember to have seen "150 millions1'
loosely given as the exaggerative cipher. Of armed
soldiers actually in the field against him (against
Hanover and him), in 1757, there are, by strict count,
430,000. Friedrich's own Dominions at this time con-
tain about Five Millions of Population; of Revenue
somewhat less than Two Millions sterling. New taxes he cannot legally, and will not, lay on his People. His
Schatz (ready-money Treasure, or Hoard yearly accu-
mulating for such end) is, I doubt not, well filled, --
express amount not mentioned. Of drilled men he has,
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? G SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book Xvni.
26th--27th March 1757.
this Year, 150,000 for the field; portioned out thriftily,
-- as well beseems, against Four Invasions coming on
him from different points. In the field, 150,000 sol-
diers, probably the best that ever were; and in garri-
son, up and down (his Country being, by nature, the
least defensible of all Countries), near 40,000, which
he reckons of inferior quality. So stands the account. *
These are, arithmetically precise, his resources,? plus
only what may lie in his own head and heart, or
funded in the other heads and hearts, especially in
those 150,000, which he and his Fathers have been
diligently disciplining, to good perfection, for four
centuries come the time.
France, urged by Pompadour and the enthusiasms,
was first in the field. The French Army, in superb
equipment, though privately in poorish state of disci-
pline, took the road early in March; "March 26th and
27th," it crossed the German Border, Cleve Country
and Koln Country; had been rumoured of since Ja-
nuary and February last, as terrifically grand; and
here it now actually is, above 100,000 strong, -- 110,405, as the Army-Lists, flaming through all the
Newspapers, teach mankind. ** Bent mainly upon
Prussia, it would seem; such the will of Pompadour.
Mainly upon Prussia; Mardchal d'Estrees, crossing at
Koln, made offers even to his Britannic Majesty to be
forgiven in comparison; "Yield us a road through your
Hanover, merely a road to those Halberstadt-Magde-
* Stenzel, iv. 308, 306, v. 39; Ranke, nr. 415; Preuss, n. 389, 43,124;
&c. &c. , -- substantially true, I doubt not; but little or nothing of it so
definite and conclusively distinct as it ought, in all items, to have been,
by this time, -- had poor Dryasdust known what he was doing.
** Helden-Geschichte, iv. 391; m. 1073.
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? CHAP, i. l THE CAMPAIGN OPENS. 7
Jan. --April 1757.
burg parts, your Hanover shall have neutrality! "
"Neutrality to Hanover? " sighed Britannic Majesty:
"Alas, am not I pledged by Treaty? And, alas, withal,
how is it possible, with that America hanging over
us? " and stood true. Nor is this all, on the part of
magnanimous France: there is a Soubise getting under
way withal, Soubise and 30,000, who will reinforce the
Reich's Armament, were it on foot, and be heard of by
and by! So high runs French enthusiasm at present.
A new sting of provocation to Most Christian Majesty,
it seems, has been Friedrich's conduct in that Damiens
matter (miserable attempt, by a poor mad creature, to
assassinate, or at least draw blood upon the Most
Christian Majesty*); about which Friedrich, busy and
oblivious, had never, in common politeness, been at
the pains to condole, compliment, or take any notice
whatever. And will now take the consequences, as
due! --
The Wesel-Cleve Countries these French find aban-
doned: Friedrich's garrisons have had orders to bring
off the artillery and stores, blow up what of the works
are suitable for blowing up; and join the "Britannic
Army of Observation" which is getting itself together
in those regions. Considerable Army, Britannic wholly
in the money part: new Hanoverians so many, Bruns- wickers, Biickeburgers, Sachsen-Gothaers so many;
add those precious Hanoverian-Hessian 20,000, whom
we have had in England guarding our liberties so
long, -- who are now shipped over in a lot; fair wind
and full sea to them. Army of 60,000 on paper; of
* "Evening of 5th January 1757" (exuberantly plentiful details of it,
and of the horrible Law-procedures which followed on it: in Adelung, virr,
197-220; Barbier, &e. &c).
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? 8 SEVEN-YEAR8 WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book Xvm.
16th April 1757.
effective, more than 50,000; Headquarters now at Biele-
feld on the Weser; -- where, "April 16th," or a few
days later, Royal Highness of Cumberland comes to
take command; likely to make a fine figure against
Marechal d'Estrees and his 100,000 French! But
there was no helping it . Friedrich, through Winter,
has had Schmettau earnestly flagitating the Hanoverian
Officialities: "The Weser is wadeable in many places,
you cannot defend the Weser! " and counselling and
pleading to all lengths, -- without the least effect.
"Wants to save his own Halberstadt lands, at our
expense! " Which was the idea in London, too:
"Don't we, by Apocalyptic Newswriters and eyesight of
our own, understand the man? " Pitt is by this time
in Office, who perhaps might have judged a little
otherwise. But Pitt's seat is altogether temporary, in-
secure; the ruling deities Newcastle and Royal High-
ness, who withal are in standing quarrel. So that
Friedrich, Schmettau, Mitchell pleaded to the deaf.
Nothing but "Defend the Weser," and ignorant Fatuity
ready for the Impossible, is to be made out there.
"Cannot help it, then," thinks Friedrich, often enough,
in bad moments; "Army of Observation will have its
fate. Happily there are only 5,000 Prussians in it,
Wesel and the other garrisons given up! "
Only 5,000 Prussians: by original Engagement,
there should have been 25,000; and Friedrich's inten-
tion is even 45,000 if he prosper otherwise. For in
January 1757 (Anniversary, or nearly so, of that
Neutrality Convention last year), there had been, --
encouraged by Pitt, as I could surmise, who always
likes Friedrich, -- a definite, much closer Treaty of
Alliance, with "Subsidy of a million sterling," Anti-
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? CHAP. I. ] THE CAMPAIGN OPENS. 9
Jan. --April 1757.
Russian "Squadron of Observation in the Baltic,"
"25,000 Prussians," and other items, which I forget.
Forget the more readily, as, owing to the strange state
of England (near suffocating in its Constitutional bed-
clothes), the Treaty could not be kept at all, or serve
as rule to poor England's exertions for Friedrich this
Year; exertions which were of the willing-minded but
futile kind, going forward pellmell, not by plan, and
could reach Friedrich only in the lump, -- had there
been any "lump" of them to sum together. But Pitt
had gone out; -- we shall see what, in Pitt's absence,
there was! So that this Treaty 1757 fell quite into
the waste-basket (not to say, far deeper, by way of
"pavement" we know where! ), -- and is not mentioned
in any English Book; nor was known to exist, till
some Collector of such things printed it, in compara-
tively recent times. "* A Treaty 1757, which, except
as emblem of the then quasi-enchanted condition of
England, and as Foreshadow of Pitt's new Treaty in
January 1758, and of three others that followed and
were kept to the letter, is not of moment farther.
Reich's Thunder, slight Survey of it; with Question,
Whitherward, if anywhitherl
The thunderous fulminations in the Reich's Diet, --
an injured Saxony complaining, an insulted Kaiser,
after vain Dehortatoriums, reporting and denouncing,
"Horrors such as these: What say you, 0 Reich? " --
have been going on since September last; and amount
to boundless masses of the liveliest Parliamentary Elo-
* "M. Koch in 1802," not very perfectly (Scholl, ni. SOnj who copies
what Koch has given).
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? 10 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book XvIII.
Jan. --April 1757.
quence, now fallen extinct to all creatures. * The
Kaiser, otherwise a solid pacific gentleman, intent on
commercial operations (furnishes a good deal of our
meal, says Friedrich), is Officially extremely violent
in behalf of injured Saxony, -- that is to say, in fact,
of injured Austria, which is one's own. Kur-Mainz,
Chairman of the Diet (we remember how he was got,
and a Battle of Dettingen fought in consequence, long
since); Kur-Mainz is admitted to have the most decided
Austrian leanings: Britannic George, Austria being now in the opposite scale, finds him an unhandy Kur-
Mainz , and what profit it was to introduce false weights
into the Reich's balance that time! Not for long genera-
tions before, had the poor old semi-imaginary Reich's-
Diet risen into such paroxysms; nor did it ever again
after. Never again, in its terrestrial History, was
there such agonistic parliamentary struggle, and terrific
noise of parliamentary palaver, witnessed in the poor
Reich's Diet. Noise and struggle, rising ever higher,
peal after peal, from September 1756, when it started,
till August 1757, when it had reached its acme (as
perhaps we shall see), though it was far from ending
then, or for years to come.
Contemporary bystanders remark, on the Austrian
part, extraordinary rage and hatred against Prussia;
which is now the one point memorable. Austria is
used to speak loud in the Diet, as we have ourselves
seen: and it is again (if you dive into those old iEolus'-
Caves, at your peril) unpleasantly notable to what
pitch of fixed rage, and hot sullen hatred, Austria has
now gone; and how the tone has in it a potency of
* Given, to great lengths, in Helden-Getchickte, m. , iv. (and other
easily avoidable Books).
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? CHAP. I. ] THE CAMPAIGN OPENS. 11
Jan. --April 1757.
world-wide squealing and droning, such as you nowhere
heard before. Omnipotence of droning, edged with
shrieky squealing, which fills the Universe, not at all
in a melodious way. From the depths of the gamut to
the shrieky top again, -- a droning that has something
of porcine or wild-boar character. Figure assembled
the wild-boars of the world, all or mostly all got to-
gether, and each with a knife just stuck into its side,
by a felonious individual too well known, -- you will
have some notion of the sound of these things. Fried-
rich sometimes remonstrates: "Cannot you spare such
phraseology, unseemly to Kings? The quarrels of
Kings have to be decided by the sword; what profit in
unseemly language, Madam? " -- but, for the first year
and more, there was no abatement on the Austrian
part
.
Friedrich's own Delegate at Regensburg, a Baron
von Plotho, come of old Brandenburg kindred, is a
resolute, ready-tongued, very undaunted gentleman;
learned in Diplomacies and Reich's Law; carries his
head high, and always has his story at hand. Argument,
grounded on Reich's Law and the nature of the case,
Plotho never lacks, on spur of the hour: and is indeed
a very commendable parliamentary mastiff; and honour-
able and melodious is the bark of him, compared with
those enfuriated porcine specimens. He has Kur-
Hanover for ally on common occasions, and generally
from most Protestant members individually, or from the
Corpus Evangelicorum in mass, some feeble whimper of
support. Finds difficulty in getting his Reich's Plead-
ings printed; -- dangerous, everywhere in those Southern
Parts, to print anything whatever that is not Austrian:
so that Plotho, at length, gets printers to himself, and
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? 12 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [boos XVIII.
Jan. --April 1757.
sets up a Printing-Press in his own house at Regens-
burg. He did a great deal of sonorous pleading for
Friedrich; proud, deep-voiced, ruggedly logical; fairly
beyond the Austrian quality in many cases, -- and
always far briefer, which is another high merit. Oc-
tober coming, we purpose to look in upon Plotho for
one minute; "October 14th, 1757;" which may be
reckoned essentially the acme or turning-point of these
unpleasant thunderings. *
What good he did to Friedrich, or could have done
with the tongue of angels in such an audience, we do
not accurately know. Some good he would do even in
the Reich's-Diet there; and out of doors, over a German
public, still more; and is worth his frugal wages, -- say
1,000? . a year, printing and all other expense included!
This is a mere guess of mine, Dryasdust having been
incurious: but, to English readers, it is incredible for
what sums Friedrich got his work done, no work ever
better. Which is itself an appreciable advantage, com-
putable in pounds sterling; and is the parent of innu-
merable others which no Arithmetic or Book-keeping
by Double Entry will take hold of, and which are
indeed priceless for Nations and for persons. But this
poor old bed-ridden Reich, starting in agonistic spasm
at such rate: is it not touching, in a Corpus moribund
for so many Centuries past! The Reich is something;
though it is not much, nothing like so much as even
Kaiser Franz supposes it . Much or not so much,
Kaiser Franz wishes to secure it for himself; Friedrich
to hinder him, -- and it must be a poor something, if
not worth Plotho's wages on Friedrich's part.
It would insult the patience of every reader to go
* Helden Geschichle, iv. 745-9.
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? CHAP. I. ] THE CAMPAIGN OPENS. 13
Jan. --April 1757.
into these spasmodic tossings of the poor paralytic
Reich; or to mention the least item of them beyond
what had some result, or fraction of result, on the
world's real affairs. We shall say only, therefore, that
after tempests not a few of porcine squealing, answered
always by counter-latration on the vigilant Plotho's
part;-- squealing, chiefly, from the Reichs-Hofrath at
Vienna, the Head Tribunal of Imperial Majesty, which
sits judging and denouncing there, touched to the soul,
as if by a knife driven into its side, by those unheard-
of treatments of Saxony and disregard to our Dehorta-
toriums, and which bursts out, peal after peal, filling
the Universe, Plotho not unvigilant; -- the poor old
Reich's-Diet did at last get into an acting posture, and
determine, by clear majority of 99 against 60, that
there should be a "Reich's Execution Army" got on
foot.
Reich's Execution Army to coerce, by force of
arms, this nefarious King of Prussia into making in-
stant restitution to Saxony, with ample damages on the
nail; that right be done to Kurfiirsts of this Reich. To
such height of vigour has the Reichs-Diet gone; -- and
was voting it at Regensburg, January 10th, 1757;*
that very day when nefarious Friedrich at Berlin, case-
hardened in iniquity to such a pitch, sat writing his
Instruction to Count Finck, which we read not long since.
Simultaneous movements, unknown to one another, in
this big wrestle.
Reich's-Diet perfected its Vote; had it quite through,
and sanctioned by the Kaiser's Majesty, January 29th:
"Arming to be a triplum" (triple contingent required of
you, this time); with Romish-months (Bdmeivnonate)
of cash contribution from all and sundry (rigorously
* WeMen-9eMhi<ihle, iv. 252-302-389; Stauael, v. 32.
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? 14 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book XVIII.
Jan. --April 1757.
gathered, I should hope, where Austria has power), so
many as will cover the expense. Army to be got on
actual foot hastily, instantly if possible: an ieilende
Beichs-Executions-Armee;' so it ran, but the word eilende
(speedy) had a mischance in printing, and was struck
off into elende (contemptibly wretched): so that on all
Market-Squares and Public Places of poor Teutschland,
you read flaming Placards summoning out, not a speedy
or immediate, but 'a miserable Reich's Execution Army! '
A word which, we need not say, was laughed at by
the unfeeling part of the public; and was often called
to mind by the Reich's Execution Army's performances,
when said speedy Army did at last take the field.
For the Reich performed its Vote; actually had a
Reich's Execution Army; the last it ever had in this
world, not by any means the worst it ever had, for
they used generally to be bad. Commanders, managers
are named, Romermonate are gathered in, or the sure
prospect of them; and, through May -- June 1757,
there is busy stir, of drumming, preparing, and en-
listing, all over the Reich. End of July, we shall see
the Reich's Army in Camp; end of August, actually
in the field; and later on, a touch of its fighting withal.
Many other things the Reich tried against unfortunate
Friedrich, -- gradual advance, in fact, to Ban of the
Reich (or total anathema and cutting off from fire and
water): but in none of these, in Ban as little as any,
did it come to practical result at all, or acquire the
least title to be remembered at this day. Finis of Ban,
some eight months hence, has something of attractive
as futility, the curious Death of a Futility. Finis of
Ban (October 14th, already indicated) we may for one
moment look in upon, if there be one moment to spare;
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? CHAP. 1. 1 THE CAMPAIGN OPENS. 15
20th April -- 2d May 1757.
the rest -- readers shall fancy it; and read only of the
actuality and fighting part, which will itself be enough
for them on such a matter.
Friedrich suddenly marches on Prag.
Four Invasions, from their respective points of the
compass, north-east, north-west, south-east and south-
west: here is a formidable outlook for the one man
against whom they are all advancing open-mouthed.
The one man, -- with nothing but a Duke of Cumber-
land and his Observation Army for backing in such
duel, -- had need to look to himself! Which, we well
know, he does; wrapt in profoundly silent vigilance,
with his plans all laid. Of the Four Invasions, three,
the Russian, French, Austrian, are very large; and the
two latter, especially the last, are abundantly formidable.
The Swedish, of which there is rumouring, he hopes
may come to little, or not come at all. Nor is Russia,
though talking big, and actually getting ready above
100,000 men, so immediately alarming. Friedrich
always hopes the English, with their guineas and their
managements, will do something for him in that quarter;
and he knows, at worst, that the Russian Hundred-
Thousand will be a very slow-moving entity. The
Swedish Invasion Friedrich, for the present, leaves to
chance: and against Russia, he has sent old Marshal
Lehwald into those Baltic parts; far eastward, towards
the utmost Memel Frontier, to put the Country upon
its own defence, and make what he can of it with
30,000 men, -- West-Prussian militias a good few of
them. This is all he can spare on the Swedish-Russian
side: Austria and France are the perilous pair of enti-
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? 16 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A ftEIGHT. [book XTOI.
20th April--2d May 1757.
ties; not to be managed except by intense concentration
of stroke; and by going on them in succession, if one
have luck! --
Friedrich's motions and procedures in canton-quarters,
through Winter and in late months, have led to the belief
that he means to stand on the defensive; that the scene
of the Campaign will probably be Saxony; and that
Austria, for recovering injured Saxony, for recovering
dear Silesia, will have to take an invasive attitude.
And Austria is busy everywhere preparing with that
view. Has Tolpatcheries, and advanced Brigades, still
harassing about in the Lausitz. A great Army assembling
at Prag, -- Browne forward towards the Metal Mountains
securing posts, gathering magazines, for the crossing
into Saxony there. There, it is thought, the tug
of war will probably be. Furious, and strenuous, it is
not doubted, on this Friedrich's part: but against such
odds, what can he do? With Austrians in front, with
Russians to left, with French to right and a-rear, not
to mention Swedes and appendages: surely here, if
ever, is a lost King! --
It is by no means Friedrich's intention that Saxony
itself shall need to be invaded. Friedrich's habit is, as
his enemies might by this time be beginning to learn,
not that of standing on the defensive, but that of going
on it, as the preferable method wherever possible.
March 24th, Friedrich had quitted Dresden City; and
for a month after (headquarters Lockwitz, edge of the
Pirna Country), he had been shifting, redistributing,
his cantoned Army, -- privately into the due Divisions,
due readiness for march. Which done, on fixed days,
about the end of April, the whole Army, he himself
from Lockwitz, April 20th, -- to the surprise of Aus-
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? CHAP. I. ] THE CAMPAIGN OPENS. 17
20th April--2d May 1757. ,
tria and the world, Friedrich in three grand Columns,
Bevern out of the Lausitz, King himself over the Metal
Mountains, Schwerin out of Schlesien, is marching with
extraordinary rapidity direct for Prag; in the notion
that a right plunge into the heart of Bohemia will be the
best defence for Saxony and the other places under menace. This is a most unexpected movement; which greatly
astonishes the world-theatre, pit, boxes and gallery
alike (as Friedrich's sudden movements often do); and
which is, above all, interesting on the stage itself,
where the actors had been counting on a quite opposite
set of entries and activities! Feldmarschall Browne,
and General Konigseck (not our old friend Konigseck,
who used to drynurse in the Netherlands, but his nephew
and heir) may cease gathering Magazines, in those
Lausitz and Metal-Mountain parts: happy could they
give wings to those already gathered! Magazines, for
Austrian service, are clearly not the things wanted
there. One does not burn one's Magazines till the last
extremity; but wings they have none; and such is the
enigmatic velocity of those Prussian movements, one
seldom has time even to burn them, in the last crisis
of catastrophe! Considerable portions of that provender
fell into the Prussian throat; as much as "three-months
provision for the whole Army," count they, -- adding
to those Frontier sundries, the really important Maga-
zine which they seized at Jung-Bunzlau farther in. * It
is one among their many greater advantages from this
surprisal of the enemy, and sudden topsy-turvying of
his plans. Browne and Konigseck have to retire on
Prag at their swiftest; looking to more important results
than Magazines.
* Helden-Geschichte, iv. 6-13; &c.
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. X. 2
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? 18 SEVEN-YEAES WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book xvni.
20th April--2d May 1T67.
It is Friedrich's old plan. Long since, in 1744, we
saw a march of this kind, Three Columns rushing with
simultaneous rapidity onPrag; and need not repeat the
particulars on this occasion. Here are some Notes on the
subject, which will sufficiently bring it home to readers:
"The Three Columns were, for a part of the way, Four;
"the King's being, at first, in two branches, till they united
"again, on the other side of the Hills. For the King," what
is to be noted, "had shot out, three weeks before, a small pre-
liminary branch, under Moritz of Dessau; who marched,
"well westward, by Eger (starting from Chemnitz in Saxony);
"and had some tusseling with our poor old friend Duke
"d'Ahremberg, Browne s subordinate in those parts.
"D'Ahremberg, having 20,000 under him, would not quit
"Eger for Moritz; but pushed out Croats upon him, and sat
"still. This, it was afterwards surmised, had been a feint on
"Friedrich's part; to give the Austrians pleasant thoughts:
'"Invading us, is he? Would fain invade us, but cannot! '
"Moritz fell back from Eger; and was ready to join the
"King's march, 'atLinay, April 23d' (third day from Lock-
"witz, on the King's part). Onwards from which point the
"Columns are specifically Three; in strength, and on routes,
"somewhat as follows:
1? . "The First Column or King's, -- which is 60,000 after
"this junction, 45,000foot, 15,000horse, -- quitted Lockwitz
"(headquarter for a month past), Wednesday, April 20th.
"They go by thePascopol and other roads; through Pirna,
"for one place: through Karbitz, Aussig, are at Linay on
"the 23d; where Moritz joins: 24th, in the united state, for-
"ward again (leave Lobositz two miles to left); to Trebnitz,
"25th, and rest there one day.
"At Aussig an unfortunate thing befel. Zastrow, respect-
"able old General Zastrow, was to drive the Austrians out of
"Aussig: Zastrow does it, April 22d-23d, drives them well
"over the heights; April 25th; however, marching forward
"towards Lobositz, Zastrow is shot through both temples
"(Pandour hid among the bushes and cliffs, other side of Elbe),
"and falls dead on the spot. Buried in Gottleube Kirk, "1st May. ",
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? CHAP. 1. 1 THE CAMPAIGN OPENS. 19
20th April--2d May 1757.
In these Aussig affairs, especially in recapturing the
Castle of Tetschen near by, Colonel Mayer, father of
the new "Free-Corps," did shining service; -- and was
approved of, he and they. And, a day or two after,
was detached with a Fifteen Hundred of that kind, on
more important business: First to pick up one or two
Bohemian Magazines lying handy; after which, -- to
pay a visit to the Reich and its bluster about Execution-
Army, and teach certain persons, who it is they are
thundering against in that awkwardly truculent manner!
Errand shiningly done by Mayer, as perhaps we may
hear, -- and certainly as all the Newspapers loudly
heard, -- in the course of the next two months.
At crossing of the Eger, Friedrich's Column had
some chasing of poor D'Ahremberg; attempting to out
him off from his Bridges, Bridge of Koschlitz, Bridge
of Budin; but he made good despatch, Browne and he;
and, except a few prisoners of Ziethen's gathering, and
most of his Magazines unburnt, they did him no damage.
The chase was close enough; more than once, the
Austrian head-quarter of tonight was that of the Prus-
sians tomorrow. Monday, May 2d, Friedrich's Column
was on the Weissenberg of Prag; Browne, D'Ahrem-
berg, and Prince Karl, who is now come up to take
command, having hastily filed through the City, leaving
a fit garrison, the day before. Except his Magazines,
nothing the least essential went wrong with Browne;
but Konigseck, who had not a Friedrich on his heels,
-- Konigseck, trying more, as his opportunities were
more, -- was not quite so lucky.
2? . "Column Second, to the King's left, comes from the
"Lausitz under Brunswick-Bevern,-- 18,000 foot, 5,000
"horse. This is theBevern who so distinguished himself at
2*
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? 20 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book XVIII.
21st April 1757.
"Lobositz last year; and he is now to culminate into a still
"brighter exploit,--the last of his very bright ones, as it
"proved. Bevern set out from about Zittau (from Grottau,
"few miles south of Zittau), the same day with Friedrich, that
"is April 20th; -- and had not well started till he came upon
"formidable obstacles. Came upon General Konigseck,
"namely: a Konigseck manoeuvering ahead, in superior
"force; aMacguire, Irish subordinate of Konigseck's, com-
"ing from the right to cut off our baggage (against whom
"Bevern has to detach); a Lacy, coming from the left; -- or
"indeed, Konigseck and Lacy in concert, intending to offer
"battle. Battle of Reichenberg, which accordingly ensued,
"April21st," -- of which, though it was very famous for so
small a Battle, there can be no account given here.
The short truth is, Konigseck falling back, Parthian-
like, with a force of 30,000 or more, has in front of
him nothing but Bevern; who, as he issues from the
Lausitz, and till he can unite with Schwerin farther
southward, is but some 20,000 odd: cannot Konigseck
call halt, and bid Bevern return, or do worse? Konigseck,
a diligent enough soldier, determines to try; chooses an
excellent position, -- at or round Reichenberg, which
is the first Bohemian Town, one march from Zittau in
the Lausitz, and then one from Liebenau, which latter
would be Bevern's second Bohemian stage on the Prag
road, if he continued prosperous. Reichenberg, stand-
ing nestled among hills in the Neisse Valley (one of
those Four Neisses known to us, the Neisse where
Prince Karl got exploded, in that signal manner,
Winter 1745, by a certain King), offers fine capabili-
ties; which Konigseck has laid hold of. There is
especially one excellent Hollow (on the left or western
bank of Neisse River, that is, across from Reichenberg),
backed by woody hills, nothing but hills, brooks, woods
all round; Hollow scooped out as if for the purposej
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? -CHAP. I. 1 THE CAMPAIGN OPENS. 21
21st April 1757.
and altogether of inviting character to Konigseck.
There "Wednesday, April 20th," Konigseck posts him-
self, plants batteries, fells abatis; plenty of cannon, of
horse and foot, and, say all soldiers, one of the best
positions possible.
So that Bevern, approaching Reichenberg at evening,
evening of his first march, Wednesday, April 20th,
finds his way barred; and that the difficulties may be
considerable. "Nothing to be made of it tonight,"
thinks Bevern; "but we must try tomorrow! " and has
to take camp, "with a marshy brook in front of him,"
some way on the hither side of Reichenberg; and
study overnight what method of unbarring there may
be. Thursday morning early, Bevern, having well
reconnoitred and studied, was at work unbarring.
Bevern crossed his own marshy brook; courageously
assaulted Konigseck's position, left wing of Konigseck;
stormed the abatis, the batteries, plunged in upon
Konigseck, man to man, horse to horse, and after
some fierce enough but brief dispute, tumbled Konigs-
eck out of the ground. Konigseck made some attempt
to rally; attempted twice, but in vain; had fairly to
roll away, and at length to run, leaving 1,000 dead
upon the field, about 500 prisoners; one or two guns,
and I forget how many standards, or whether any kettle-
drums. This was thought to be a decidedly bright
feat on Bevern's part (rather mismanaged latterly on
Konigseck's);* -- much approved by Friedrich, as he
* Tempelhof, i. 100; Helden-Geschichte, m. 1077 (Friedrich's own
Account, "Linay in BOhmen, 24th April 1757"); &c. &. There is, in
Btlsching's Magazin (xvi. 139 et seq. ), an intelligible sketch of this Action
of Reichenberg, with satirical criticisms, which have some basis, on Lacy,
Macguire and others, by an Anonymous Military Cynic, -- who gives many
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? 22 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book XvIII.
20th April -- 2d May 1757.
hears of it, at Linay, on his own prosperous march
Prag-ward. A comfortable omen, were there nothing
more.
Konigseck and Company, torn out of Reichenberg, and set running, could not fairly halt again and face
about till at Liebenau, twenty miles off, where they
found some defile or difficult bit of ground fit for them;
and this too proved capable of yielding pause for a few
hours only. For Schwerin, with his Silesian Column,
was coming up from the north-east, threatening Konigs-
eck on flank and rear: Konigseck could only tighten
his straps a little at this Liebenau, and again get under
way; and making vain attempts to hinder the junction
of Schwerin and Bevern, to defend the Jung-Buntzlau
Magazine, or do any good in those parts, except to
detain the Schwerin-Bevern people certain hours (I
think, one day in all), had nothing for it but to gird
himself together, and retreat on Prag and the Ziscaberg,
where his friends now were.
The Austrian force at Reichenberg was 20,000;
would have been 30 and odd thousands, had Macguire
come up (as he might have done, had not the ap-
pearances alarmed him too much); Bevern, minus the
Detachment sent against Macguire, was but 15,000 in
fight; and he has quite burst the Austrians away, who
had plugged his road for him in such force: is it not
a comfortable little victory, glorious in its sort; and a
good omen for the bigger things that are coming?
Bevern marched composedly on, after this inspiriting
tussle, through Liebenau and what defiles there were;
such io Busching (that of Fontenoy, for example), not without force of
judgment, and signs of wide study and experience in his trade.
? ?
Jan. --April 1757.
slices thereabouts; Austria's share, we need not say, is
that jewel of a Silesia. Czarish Majesty, on the ex-
treme East, takes Preussen, Konigsberg-Meinel Country
in whole; adds Preussen to her as yet too narrow Ter-
ritories. Wesel-Cleve Country, from the other or
Western extremity, France will take that clipping, and
make much of it. These are quite serious business-en-
gagemente, engrossed on careful parchment, that Spring
1757, and I suppose not yet boiled down into glue,
but still to be found in dusty corners, with the tape
much faded. The high heads, making preparation on
the due scale, think them not only executable, but
indubitable, and almost as good as done. Push home
upon him, as united Posse Comitatus of Mankind; in
a sacred cause of Polish Majesty and Public Justice,
how can one malefactor resist? "Aft, n^i tres-chere Reine"
and "Oh, my dearest Princess and Cousin," what a
chance has turned up!
It is computed that there are arrayed against this
one King, under their respective Kings, Empress-
Queens, Swedish Senates, Catins and Pompadours, po-
pulations to the amount of above 100 millions, -- in
after stages, I remember to have seen "150 millions1'
loosely given as the exaggerative cipher. Of armed
soldiers actually in the field against him (against
Hanover and him), in 1757, there are, by strict count,
430,000. Friedrich's own Dominions at this time con-
tain about Five Millions of Population; of Revenue
somewhat less than Two Millions sterling. New taxes he cannot legally, and will not, lay on his People. His
Schatz (ready-money Treasure, or Hoard yearly accu-
mulating for such end) is, I doubt not, well filled, --
express amount not mentioned. Of drilled men he has,
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? G SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book Xvni.
26th--27th March 1757.
this Year, 150,000 for the field; portioned out thriftily,
-- as well beseems, against Four Invasions coming on
him from different points. In the field, 150,000 sol-
diers, probably the best that ever were; and in garri-
son, up and down (his Country being, by nature, the
least defensible of all Countries), near 40,000, which
he reckons of inferior quality. So stands the account. *
These are, arithmetically precise, his resources,? plus
only what may lie in his own head and heart, or
funded in the other heads and hearts, especially in
those 150,000, which he and his Fathers have been
diligently disciplining, to good perfection, for four
centuries come the time.
France, urged by Pompadour and the enthusiasms,
was first in the field. The French Army, in superb
equipment, though privately in poorish state of disci-
pline, took the road early in March; "March 26th and
27th," it crossed the German Border, Cleve Country
and Koln Country; had been rumoured of since Ja-
nuary and February last, as terrifically grand; and
here it now actually is, above 100,000 strong, -- 110,405, as the Army-Lists, flaming through all the
Newspapers, teach mankind. ** Bent mainly upon
Prussia, it would seem; such the will of Pompadour.
Mainly upon Prussia; Mardchal d'Estrees, crossing at
Koln, made offers even to his Britannic Majesty to be
forgiven in comparison; "Yield us a road through your
Hanover, merely a road to those Halberstadt-Magde-
* Stenzel, iv. 308, 306, v. 39; Ranke, nr. 415; Preuss, n. 389, 43,124;
&c. &c. , -- substantially true, I doubt not; but little or nothing of it so
definite and conclusively distinct as it ought, in all items, to have been,
by this time, -- had poor Dryasdust known what he was doing.
** Helden-Geschichte, iv. 391; m. 1073.
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? CHAP, i. l THE CAMPAIGN OPENS. 7
Jan. --April 1757.
burg parts, your Hanover shall have neutrality! "
"Neutrality to Hanover? " sighed Britannic Majesty:
"Alas, am not I pledged by Treaty? And, alas, withal,
how is it possible, with that America hanging over
us? " and stood true. Nor is this all, on the part of
magnanimous France: there is a Soubise getting under
way withal, Soubise and 30,000, who will reinforce the
Reich's Armament, were it on foot, and be heard of by
and by! So high runs French enthusiasm at present.
A new sting of provocation to Most Christian Majesty,
it seems, has been Friedrich's conduct in that Damiens
matter (miserable attempt, by a poor mad creature, to
assassinate, or at least draw blood upon the Most
Christian Majesty*); about which Friedrich, busy and
oblivious, had never, in common politeness, been at
the pains to condole, compliment, or take any notice
whatever. And will now take the consequences, as
due! --
The Wesel-Cleve Countries these French find aban-
doned: Friedrich's garrisons have had orders to bring
off the artillery and stores, blow up what of the works
are suitable for blowing up; and join the "Britannic
Army of Observation" which is getting itself together
in those regions. Considerable Army, Britannic wholly
in the money part: new Hanoverians so many, Bruns- wickers, Biickeburgers, Sachsen-Gothaers so many;
add those precious Hanoverian-Hessian 20,000, whom
we have had in England guarding our liberties so
long, -- who are now shipped over in a lot; fair wind
and full sea to them. Army of 60,000 on paper; of
* "Evening of 5th January 1757" (exuberantly plentiful details of it,
and of the horrible Law-procedures which followed on it: in Adelung, virr,
197-220; Barbier, &e. &c).
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? 8 SEVEN-YEAR8 WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book Xvm.
16th April 1757.
effective, more than 50,000; Headquarters now at Biele-
feld on the Weser; -- where, "April 16th," or a few
days later, Royal Highness of Cumberland comes to
take command; likely to make a fine figure against
Marechal d'Estrees and his 100,000 French! But
there was no helping it . Friedrich, through Winter,
has had Schmettau earnestly flagitating the Hanoverian
Officialities: "The Weser is wadeable in many places,
you cannot defend the Weser! " and counselling and
pleading to all lengths, -- without the least effect.
"Wants to save his own Halberstadt lands, at our
expense! " Which was the idea in London, too:
"Don't we, by Apocalyptic Newswriters and eyesight of
our own, understand the man? " Pitt is by this time
in Office, who perhaps might have judged a little
otherwise. But Pitt's seat is altogether temporary, in-
secure; the ruling deities Newcastle and Royal High-
ness, who withal are in standing quarrel. So that
Friedrich, Schmettau, Mitchell pleaded to the deaf.
Nothing but "Defend the Weser," and ignorant Fatuity
ready for the Impossible, is to be made out there.
"Cannot help it, then," thinks Friedrich, often enough,
in bad moments; "Army of Observation will have its
fate. Happily there are only 5,000 Prussians in it,
Wesel and the other garrisons given up! "
Only 5,000 Prussians: by original Engagement,
there should have been 25,000; and Friedrich's inten-
tion is even 45,000 if he prosper otherwise. For in
January 1757 (Anniversary, or nearly so, of that
Neutrality Convention last year), there had been, --
encouraged by Pitt, as I could surmise, who always
likes Friedrich, -- a definite, much closer Treaty of
Alliance, with "Subsidy of a million sterling," Anti-
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? CHAP. I. ] THE CAMPAIGN OPENS. 9
Jan. --April 1757.
Russian "Squadron of Observation in the Baltic,"
"25,000 Prussians," and other items, which I forget.
Forget the more readily, as, owing to the strange state
of England (near suffocating in its Constitutional bed-
clothes), the Treaty could not be kept at all, or serve
as rule to poor England's exertions for Friedrich this
Year; exertions which were of the willing-minded but
futile kind, going forward pellmell, not by plan, and
could reach Friedrich only in the lump, -- had there
been any "lump" of them to sum together. But Pitt
had gone out; -- we shall see what, in Pitt's absence,
there was! So that this Treaty 1757 fell quite into
the waste-basket (not to say, far deeper, by way of
"pavement" we know where! ), -- and is not mentioned
in any English Book; nor was known to exist, till
some Collector of such things printed it, in compara-
tively recent times. "* A Treaty 1757, which, except
as emblem of the then quasi-enchanted condition of
England, and as Foreshadow of Pitt's new Treaty in
January 1758, and of three others that followed and
were kept to the letter, is not of moment farther.
Reich's Thunder, slight Survey of it; with Question,
Whitherward, if anywhitherl
The thunderous fulminations in the Reich's Diet, --
an injured Saxony complaining, an insulted Kaiser,
after vain Dehortatoriums, reporting and denouncing,
"Horrors such as these: What say you, 0 Reich? " --
have been going on since September last; and amount
to boundless masses of the liveliest Parliamentary Elo-
* "M. Koch in 1802," not very perfectly (Scholl, ni. SOnj who copies
what Koch has given).
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? 10 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book XvIII.
Jan. --April 1757.
quence, now fallen extinct to all creatures. * The
Kaiser, otherwise a solid pacific gentleman, intent on
commercial operations (furnishes a good deal of our
meal, says Friedrich), is Officially extremely violent
in behalf of injured Saxony, -- that is to say, in fact,
of injured Austria, which is one's own. Kur-Mainz,
Chairman of the Diet (we remember how he was got,
and a Battle of Dettingen fought in consequence, long
since); Kur-Mainz is admitted to have the most decided
Austrian leanings: Britannic George, Austria being now in the opposite scale, finds him an unhandy Kur-
Mainz , and what profit it was to introduce false weights
into the Reich's balance that time! Not for long genera-
tions before, had the poor old semi-imaginary Reich's-
Diet risen into such paroxysms; nor did it ever again
after. Never again, in its terrestrial History, was
there such agonistic parliamentary struggle, and terrific
noise of parliamentary palaver, witnessed in the poor
Reich's Diet. Noise and struggle, rising ever higher,
peal after peal, from September 1756, when it started,
till August 1757, when it had reached its acme (as
perhaps we shall see), though it was far from ending
then, or for years to come.
Contemporary bystanders remark, on the Austrian
part, extraordinary rage and hatred against Prussia;
which is now the one point memorable. Austria is
used to speak loud in the Diet, as we have ourselves
seen: and it is again (if you dive into those old iEolus'-
Caves, at your peril) unpleasantly notable to what
pitch of fixed rage, and hot sullen hatred, Austria has
now gone; and how the tone has in it a potency of
* Given, to great lengths, in Helden-Getchickte, m. , iv. (and other
easily avoidable Books).
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? CHAP. I. ] THE CAMPAIGN OPENS. 11
Jan. --April 1757.
world-wide squealing and droning, such as you nowhere
heard before. Omnipotence of droning, edged with
shrieky squealing, which fills the Universe, not at all
in a melodious way. From the depths of the gamut to
the shrieky top again, -- a droning that has something
of porcine or wild-boar character. Figure assembled
the wild-boars of the world, all or mostly all got to-
gether, and each with a knife just stuck into its side,
by a felonious individual too well known, -- you will
have some notion of the sound of these things. Fried-
rich sometimes remonstrates: "Cannot you spare such
phraseology, unseemly to Kings? The quarrels of
Kings have to be decided by the sword; what profit in
unseemly language, Madam? " -- but, for the first year
and more, there was no abatement on the Austrian
part
.
Friedrich's own Delegate at Regensburg, a Baron
von Plotho, come of old Brandenburg kindred, is a
resolute, ready-tongued, very undaunted gentleman;
learned in Diplomacies and Reich's Law; carries his
head high, and always has his story at hand. Argument,
grounded on Reich's Law and the nature of the case,
Plotho never lacks, on spur of the hour: and is indeed
a very commendable parliamentary mastiff; and honour-
able and melodious is the bark of him, compared with
those enfuriated porcine specimens. He has Kur-
Hanover for ally on common occasions, and generally
from most Protestant members individually, or from the
Corpus Evangelicorum in mass, some feeble whimper of
support. Finds difficulty in getting his Reich's Plead-
ings printed; -- dangerous, everywhere in those Southern
Parts, to print anything whatever that is not Austrian:
so that Plotho, at length, gets printers to himself, and
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? 12 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [boos XVIII.
Jan. --April 1757.
sets up a Printing-Press in his own house at Regens-
burg. He did a great deal of sonorous pleading for
Friedrich; proud, deep-voiced, ruggedly logical; fairly
beyond the Austrian quality in many cases, -- and
always far briefer, which is another high merit. Oc-
tober coming, we purpose to look in upon Plotho for
one minute; "October 14th, 1757;" which may be
reckoned essentially the acme or turning-point of these
unpleasant thunderings. *
What good he did to Friedrich, or could have done
with the tongue of angels in such an audience, we do
not accurately know. Some good he would do even in
the Reich's-Diet there; and out of doors, over a German
public, still more; and is worth his frugal wages, -- say
1,000? . a year, printing and all other expense included!
This is a mere guess of mine, Dryasdust having been
incurious: but, to English readers, it is incredible for
what sums Friedrich got his work done, no work ever
better. Which is itself an appreciable advantage, com-
putable in pounds sterling; and is the parent of innu-
merable others which no Arithmetic or Book-keeping
by Double Entry will take hold of, and which are
indeed priceless for Nations and for persons. But this
poor old bed-ridden Reich, starting in agonistic spasm
at such rate: is it not touching, in a Corpus moribund
for so many Centuries past! The Reich is something;
though it is not much, nothing like so much as even
Kaiser Franz supposes it . Much or not so much,
Kaiser Franz wishes to secure it for himself; Friedrich
to hinder him, -- and it must be a poor something, if
not worth Plotho's wages on Friedrich's part.
It would insult the patience of every reader to go
* Helden Geschichle, iv. 745-9.
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? CHAP. I. ] THE CAMPAIGN OPENS. 13
Jan. --April 1757.
into these spasmodic tossings of the poor paralytic
Reich; or to mention the least item of them beyond
what had some result, or fraction of result, on the
world's real affairs. We shall say only, therefore, that
after tempests not a few of porcine squealing, answered
always by counter-latration on the vigilant Plotho's
part;-- squealing, chiefly, from the Reichs-Hofrath at
Vienna, the Head Tribunal of Imperial Majesty, which
sits judging and denouncing there, touched to the soul,
as if by a knife driven into its side, by those unheard-
of treatments of Saxony and disregard to our Dehorta-
toriums, and which bursts out, peal after peal, filling
the Universe, Plotho not unvigilant; -- the poor old
Reich's-Diet did at last get into an acting posture, and
determine, by clear majority of 99 against 60, that
there should be a "Reich's Execution Army" got on
foot.
Reich's Execution Army to coerce, by force of
arms, this nefarious King of Prussia into making in-
stant restitution to Saxony, with ample damages on the
nail; that right be done to Kurfiirsts of this Reich. To
such height of vigour has the Reichs-Diet gone; -- and
was voting it at Regensburg, January 10th, 1757;*
that very day when nefarious Friedrich at Berlin, case-
hardened in iniquity to such a pitch, sat writing his
Instruction to Count Finck, which we read not long since.
Simultaneous movements, unknown to one another, in
this big wrestle.
Reich's-Diet perfected its Vote; had it quite through,
and sanctioned by the Kaiser's Majesty, January 29th:
"Arming to be a triplum" (triple contingent required of
you, this time); with Romish-months (Bdmeivnonate)
of cash contribution from all and sundry (rigorously
* WeMen-9eMhi<ihle, iv. 252-302-389; Stauael, v. 32.
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? 14 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book XVIII.
Jan. --April 1757.
gathered, I should hope, where Austria has power), so
many as will cover the expense. Army to be got on
actual foot hastily, instantly if possible: an ieilende
Beichs-Executions-Armee;' so it ran, but the word eilende
(speedy) had a mischance in printing, and was struck
off into elende (contemptibly wretched): so that on all
Market-Squares and Public Places of poor Teutschland,
you read flaming Placards summoning out, not a speedy
or immediate, but 'a miserable Reich's Execution Army! '
A word which, we need not say, was laughed at by
the unfeeling part of the public; and was often called
to mind by the Reich's Execution Army's performances,
when said speedy Army did at last take the field.
For the Reich performed its Vote; actually had a
Reich's Execution Army; the last it ever had in this
world, not by any means the worst it ever had, for
they used generally to be bad. Commanders, managers
are named, Romermonate are gathered in, or the sure
prospect of them; and, through May -- June 1757,
there is busy stir, of drumming, preparing, and en-
listing, all over the Reich. End of July, we shall see
the Reich's Army in Camp; end of August, actually
in the field; and later on, a touch of its fighting withal.
Many other things the Reich tried against unfortunate
Friedrich, -- gradual advance, in fact, to Ban of the
Reich (or total anathema and cutting off from fire and
water): but in none of these, in Ban as little as any,
did it come to practical result at all, or acquire the
least title to be remembered at this day. Finis of Ban,
some eight months hence, has something of attractive
as futility, the curious Death of a Futility. Finis of
Ban (October 14th, already indicated) we may for one
moment look in upon, if there be one moment to spare;
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? CHAP. 1. 1 THE CAMPAIGN OPENS. 15
20th April -- 2d May 1757.
the rest -- readers shall fancy it; and read only of the
actuality and fighting part, which will itself be enough
for them on such a matter.
Friedrich suddenly marches on Prag.
Four Invasions, from their respective points of the
compass, north-east, north-west, south-east and south-
west: here is a formidable outlook for the one man
against whom they are all advancing open-mouthed.
The one man, -- with nothing but a Duke of Cumber-
land and his Observation Army for backing in such
duel, -- had need to look to himself! Which, we well
know, he does; wrapt in profoundly silent vigilance,
with his plans all laid. Of the Four Invasions, three,
the Russian, French, Austrian, are very large; and the
two latter, especially the last, are abundantly formidable.
The Swedish, of which there is rumouring, he hopes
may come to little, or not come at all. Nor is Russia,
though talking big, and actually getting ready above
100,000 men, so immediately alarming. Friedrich
always hopes the English, with their guineas and their
managements, will do something for him in that quarter;
and he knows, at worst, that the Russian Hundred-
Thousand will be a very slow-moving entity. The
Swedish Invasion Friedrich, for the present, leaves to
chance: and against Russia, he has sent old Marshal
Lehwald into those Baltic parts; far eastward, towards
the utmost Memel Frontier, to put the Country upon
its own defence, and make what he can of it with
30,000 men, -- West-Prussian militias a good few of
them. This is all he can spare on the Swedish-Russian
side: Austria and France are the perilous pair of enti-
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? 16 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A ftEIGHT. [book XTOI.
20th April--2d May 1757.
ties; not to be managed except by intense concentration
of stroke; and by going on them in succession, if one
have luck! --
Friedrich's motions and procedures in canton-quarters,
through Winter and in late months, have led to the belief
that he means to stand on the defensive; that the scene
of the Campaign will probably be Saxony; and that
Austria, for recovering injured Saxony, for recovering
dear Silesia, will have to take an invasive attitude.
And Austria is busy everywhere preparing with that
view. Has Tolpatcheries, and advanced Brigades, still
harassing about in the Lausitz. A great Army assembling
at Prag, -- Browne forward towards the Metal Mountains
securing posts, gathering magazines, for the crossing
into Saxony there. There, it is thought, the tug
of war will probably be. Furious, and strenuous, it is
not doubted, on this Friedrich's part: but against such
odds, what can he do? With Austrians in front, with
Russians to left, with French to right and a-rear, not
to mention Swedes and appendages: surely here, if
ever, is a lost King! --
It is by no means Friedrich's intention that Saxony
itself shall need to be invaded. Friedrich's habit is, as
his enemies might by this time be beginning to learn,
not that of standing on the defensive, but that of going
on it, as the preferable method wherever possible.
March 24th, Friedrich had quitted Dresden City; and
for a month after (headquarters Lockwitz, edge of the
Pirna Country), he had been shifting, redistributing,
his cantoned Army, -- privately into the due Divisions,
due readiness for march. Which done, on fixed days,
about the end of April, the whole Army, he himself
from Lockwitz, April 20th, -- to the surprise of Aus-
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? CHAP. I. ] THE CAMPAIGN OPENS. 17
20th April--2d May 1757. ,
tria and the world, Friedrich in three grand Columns,
Bevern out of the Lausitz, King himself over the Metal
Mountains, Schwerin out of Schlesien, is marching with
extraordinary rapidity direct for Prag; in the notion
that a right plunge into the heart of Bohemia will be the
best defence for Saxony and the other places under menace. This is a most unexpected movement; which greatly
astonishes the world-theatre, pit, boxes and gallery
alike (as Friedrich's sudden movements often do); and
which is, above all, interesting on the stage itself,
where the actors had been counting on a quite opposite
set of entries and activities! Feldmarschall Browne,
and General Konigseck (not our old friend Konigseck,
who used to drynurse in the Netherlands, but his nephew
and heir) may cease gathering Magazines, in those
Lausitz and Metal-Mountain parts: happy could they
give wings to those already gathered! Magazines, for
Austrian service, are clearly not the things wanted
there. One does not burn one's Magazines till the last
extremity; but wings they have none; and such is the
enigmatic velocity of those Prussian movements, one
seldom has time even to burn them, in the last crisis
of catastrophe! Considerable portions of that provender
fell into the Prussian throat; as much as "three-months
provision for the whole Army," count they, -- adding
to those Frontier sundries, the really important Maga-
zine which they seized at Jung-Bunzlau farther in. * It
is one among their many greater advantages from this
surprisal of the enemy, and sudden topsy-turvying of
his plans. Browne and Konigseck have to retire on
Prag at their swiftest; looking to more important results
than Magazines.
* Helden-Geschichte, iv. 6-13; &c.
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. X. 2
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? 18 SEVEN-YEAES WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book xvni.
20th April--2d May 1T67.
It is Friedrich's old plan. Long since, in 1744, we
saw a march of this kind, Three Columns rushing with
simultaneous rapidity onPrag; and need not repeat the
particulars on this occasion. Here are some Notes on the
subject, which will sufficiently bring it home to readers:
"The Three Columns were, for a part of the way, Four;
"the King's being, at first, in two branches, till they united
"again, on the other side of the Hills. For the King," what
is to be noted, "had shot out, three weeks before, a small pre-
liminary branch, under Moritz of Dessau; who marched,
"well westward, by Eger (starting from Chemnitz in Saxony);
"and had some tusseling with our poor old friend Duke
"d'Ahremberg, Browne s subordinate in those parts.
"D'Ahremberg, having 20,000 under him, would not quit
"Eger for Moritz; but pushed out Croats upon him, and sat
"still. This, it was afterwards surmised, had been a feint on
"Friedrich's part; to give the Austrians pleasant thoughts:
'"Invading us, is he? Would fain invade us, but cannot! '
"Moritz fell back from Eger; and was ready to join the
"King's march, 'atLinay, April 23d' (third day from Lock-
"witz, on the King's part). Onwards from which point the
"Columns are specifically Three; in strength, and on routes,
"somewhat as follows:
1? . "The First Column or King's, -- which is 60,000 after
"this junction, 45,000foot, 15,000horse, -- quitted Lockwitz
"(headquarter for a month past), Wednesday, April 20th.
"They go by thePascopol and other roads; through Pirna,
"for one place: through Karbitz, Aussig, are at Linay on
"the 23d; where Moritz joins: 24th, in the united state, for-
"ward again (leave Lobositz two miles to left); to Trebnitz,
"25th, and rest there one day.
"At Aussig an unfortunate thing befel. Zastrow, respect-
"able old General Zastrow, was to drive the Austrians out of
"Aussig: Zastrow does it, April 22d-23d, drives them well
"over the heights; April 25th; however, marching forward
"towards Lobositz, Zastrow is shot through both temples
"(Pandour hid among the bushes and cliffs, other side of Elbe),
"and falls dead on the spot. Buried in Gottleube Kirk, "1st May. ",
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? CHAP. 1. 1 THE CAMPAIGN OPENS. 19
20th April--2d May 1757.
In these Aussig affairs, especially in recapturing the
Castle of Tetschen near by, Colonel Mayer, father of
the new "Free-Corps," did shining service; -- and was
approved of, he and they. And, a day or two after,
was detached with a Fifteen Hundred of that kind, on
more important business: First to pick up one or two
Bohemian Magazines lying handy; after which, -- to
pay a visit to the Reich and its bluster about Execution-
Army, and teach certain persons, who it is they are
thundering against in that awkwardly truculent manner!
Errand shiningly done by Mayer, as perhaps we may
hear, -- and certainly as all the Newspapers loudly
heard, -- in the course of the next two months.
At crossing of the Eger, Friedrich's Column had
some chasing of poor D'Ahremberg; attempting to out
him off from his Bridges, Bridge of Koschlitz, Bridge
of Budin; but he made good despatch, Browne and he;
and, except a few prisoners of Ziethen's gathering, and
most of his Magazines unburnt, they did him no damage.
The chase was close enough; more than once, the
Austrian head-quarter of tonight was that of the Prus-
sians tomorrow. Monday, May 2d, Friedrich's Column
was on the Weissenberg of Prag; Browne, D'Ahrem-
berg, and Prince Karl, who is now come up to take
command, having hastily filed through the City, leaving
a fit garrison, the day before. Except his Magazines,
nothing the least essential went wrong with Browne;
but Konigseck, who had not a Friedrich on his heels,
-- Konigseck, trying more, as his opportunities were
more, -- was not quite so lucky.
2? . "Column Second, to the King's left, comes from the
"Lausitz under Brunswick-Bevern,-- 18,000 foot, 5,000
"horse. This is theBevern who so distinguished himself at
2*
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? 20 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book XVIII.
21st April 1757.
"Lobositz last year; and he is now to culminate into a still
"brighter exploit,--the last of his very bright ones, as it
"proved. Bevern set out from about Zittau (from Grottau,
"few miles south of Zittau), the same day with Friedrich, that
"is April 20th; -- and had not well started till he came upon
"formidable obstacles. Came upon General Konigseck,
"namely: a Konigseck manoeuvering ahead, in superior
"force; aMacguire, Irish subordinate of Konigseck's, com-
"ing from the right to cut off our baggage (against whom
"Bevern has to detach); a Lacy, coming from the left; -- or
"indeed, Konigseck and Lacy in concert, intending to offer
"battle. Battle of Reichenberg, which accordingly ensued,
"April21st," -- of which, though it was very famous for so
small a Battle, there can be no account given here.
The short truth is, Konigseck falling back, Parthian-
like, with a force of 30,000 or more, has in front of
him nothing but Bevern; who, as he issues from the
Lausitz, and till he can unite with Schwerin farther
southward, is but some 20,000 odd: cannot Konigseck
call halt, and bid Bevern return, or do worse? Konigseck,
a diligent enough soldier, determines to try; chooses an
excellent position, -- at or round Reichenberg, which
is the first Bohemian Town, one march from Zittau in
the Lausitz, and then one from Liebenau, which latter
would be Bevern's second Bohemian stage on the Prag
road, if he continued prosperous. Reichenberg, stand-
ing nestled among hills in the Neisse Valley (one of
those Four Neisses known to us, the Neisse where
Prince Karl got exploded, in that signal manner,
Winter 1745, by a certain King), offers fine capabili-
ties; which Konigseck has laid hold of. There is
especially one excellent Hollow (on the left or western
bank of Neisse River, that is, across from Reichenberg),
backed by woody hills, nothing but hills, brooks, woods
all round; Hollow scooped out as if for the purposej
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? -CHAP. I. 1 THE CAMPAIGN OPENS. 21
21st April 1757.
and altogether of inviting character to Konigseck.
There "Wednesday, April 20th," Konigseck posts him-
self, plants batteries, fells abatis; plenty of cannon, of
horse and foot, and, say all soldiers, one of the best
positions possible.
So that Bevern, approaching Reichenberg at evening,
evening of his first march, Wednesday, April 20th,
finds his way barred; and that the difficulties may be
considerable. "Nothing to be made of it tonight,"
thinks Bevern; "but we must try tomorrow! " and has
to take camp, "with a marshy brook in front of him,"
some way on the hither side of Reichenberg; and
study overnight what method of unbarring there may
be. Thursday morning early, Bevern, having well
reconnoitred and studied, was at work unbarring.
Bevern crossed his own marshy brook; courageously
assaulted Konigseck's position, left wing of Konigseck;
stormed the abatis, the batteries, plunged in upon
Konigseck, man to man, horse to horse, and after
some fierce enough but brief dispute, tumbled Konigs-
eck out of the ground. Konigseck made some attempt
to rally; attempted twice, but in vain; had fairly to
roll away, and at length to run, leaving 1,000 dead
upon the field, about 500 prisoners; one or two guns,
and I forget how many standards, or whether any kettle-
drums. This was thought to be a decidedly bright
feat on Bevern's part (rather mismanaged latterly on
Konigseck's);* -- much approved by Friedrich, as he
* Tempelhof, i. 100; Helden-Geschichte, m. 1077 (Friedrich's own
Account, "Linay in BOhmen, 24th April 1757"); &c. &. There is, in
Btlsching's Magazin (xvi. 139 et seq. ), an intelligible sketch of this Action
of Reichenberg, with satirical criticisms, which have some basis, on Lacy,
Macguire and others, by an Anonymous Military Cynic, -- who gives many
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? 22 SEVEN-YEARS WAR RISES TO A HEIGHT, [book XvIII.
20th April -- 2d May 1757.
hears of it, at Linay, on his own prosperous march
Prag-ward. A comfortable omen, were there nothing
more.
Konigseck and Company, torn out of Reichenberg, and set running, could not fairly halt again and face
about till at Liebenau, twenty miles off, where they
found some defile or difficult bit of ground fit for them;
and this too proved capable of yielding pause for a few
hours only. For Schwerin, with his Silesian Column,
was coming up from the north-east, threatening Konigs-
eck on flank and rear: Konigseck could only tighten
his straps a little at this Liebenau, and again get under
way; and making vain attempts to hinder the junction
of Schwerin and Bevern, to defend the Jung-Buntzlau
Magazine, or do any good in those parts, except to
detain the Schwerin-Bevern people certain hours (I
think, one day in all), had nothing for it but to gird
himself together, and retreat on Prag and the Ziscaberg,
where his friends now were.
The Austrian force at Reichenberg was 20,000;
would have been 30 and odd thousands, had Macguire
come up (as he might have done, had not the ap-
pearances alarmed him too much); Bevern, minus the
Detachment sent against Macguire, was but 15,000 in
fight; and he has quite burst the Austrians away, who
had plugged his road for him in such force: is it not
a comfortable little victory, glorious in its sort; and a
good omen for the bigger things that are coming?
Bevern marched composedly on, after this inspiriting
tussle, through Liebenau and what defiles there were;
such io Busching (that of Fontenoy, for example), not without force of
judgment, and signs of wide study and experience in his trade.
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