' In this manner, rapid,
"hard of stroke, clear-headed and with stern regularity,
"drilled talent gets the burning Nessus'-shirt wriggled off;
"and tramps successfully forth with its baggages.
"hard of stroke, clear-headed and with stern regularity,
"drilled talent gets the burning Nessus'-shirt wriggled off;
"and tramps successfully forth with its baggages.
Thomas Carlyle
Truth is, Prince
Karl has himself written to Court that, having now
pushed his Enemy fairly over the Elbe, and Winter
being come with its sleets and slushes, ruinous to
* (Enures de Friieric, m. 68.
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? 56 SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [book XV.
9ti- 19th Nov. 1744.
troops that have been so marched about, the Campaign
ought to end; -- nay, his own young Wife is in
perilous interesting circumstances, and the poor Prince
wishes to be home. To which, however, it is again
understood, Maria Theresa has emphatically answered,
"No, -- finish first! "
November ,9th-l,9th: We defend the Elbe River. Friedrich
has posted himself on the north shore of the Elbe, from Par-
dubitz to the other side of Kolin; means to defend that side of
the River, where go the Silesian roads. At Bohdenetz, short
way across from Pardubitz, he himself is; Prince Leopold is
near Kolin: thirty miles of river-bank to dispute. The con-
troversy lasts ten days; ends in Elbe-Teinitz, a celebrated
"passage," in Books and otherwise. Friedrich is in shaggy,
intricate country; no want of dingles, woods and quagmires;
now and then pleasant places too, -- here is Kladrup for
example, where our Father came three hundred miles to dine
with the Kaiser once. The grooms and colts are all off at
present; Father and Kaiser are off; and much is changed
since then. Grim tussle of War now; sleety winter, and the
Giant Mountains in the distance getting on their white hoods!
Friedrich doubtless has his thoughts as he rides up and
down, in sight of Kladrup, among other places, settling many
things; but what his thoughts were, he is careful not to say
except where necessary. Much is to be looked after, in this
River controversy of thirty miles. Detachments lie, at inter-
vals, all the way; and mounted sentries, a sentry every five
miles, patrol the River-bank; vigilant, we hope, as lynxes.
Nothing can cross but alarm will be given, and by degrees
the whole Prussian force be upon it. This is the Circle of
Konigsgratz, this that now lies to rear; and happily there
are a few Hussites in it, not utterly indisposed to do a little
spying for us, and bring a glimmering of intelligence, now
and then.
It is now the second week that Friedrich has lain so, with
his mounted patrols in motion, with his Hussite spies; guard-
ing Argus-like this thirty miles of River; and ,the Austrians
attempt nothing, or nothing with effect. If the Austrians go
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? CHAP. IV. ] moldatj conquests not maintainable. 57
19th Nov. 1744.
home to their winter-quarters, he hopes to issue from Kolin
again before Spring, and to sweep the Elbe-Sazawa Tract
clear of them, after all. Maria Theresa having answered No,
it is likely the Austrians will try to get across: Be vigilant,
therefore, ye mounted sentries. Or will they perhaps make
an attempt on Prag? Einsiedel, who has no garrison of the
least adequacy, apprises us, That "in all the villages round
Prag, people are busy making ladders," -- what can that
mean? Friedrich has learned, by intercepted letters, that
something great is to be done on Wednesday 18th: he sends
Rothenburg with reinforcement to Einsiedel, lest a scalade of
Prag should be on the cards. Rothenburg is right welcome
in the lines of Prag, though with reinforcement still inef-
fectual; but it is not Prag that is meant, nor is Wednesday
the day. Through Wednesday, Friedrich, all eye and ear,
could observe nothing: much marching to and fro on the Aus-
trian side of the River; but apparently it comes to nothing?
The mounted patrols had better be vigilant, however.
On the morrow, 5 A. m. , what is this that is going on?
Audible booming of cannon, of musketry and battle, echoing
through the woods, penetrates to Friedrich's quarters at
Bohdenetz in the Pardubitz region: Attack upon Kolin,
Nassau defending himself there? Out swift scouts, and see!
Many scouts gallop out; but none comes back. Friedrich,
for hours, has to remain uncertain; can only hopeNassau will
defend himself. Boom, go the distant volleyings; no scout
comes back. And it is not Nassau or Kolin; it is something
worse: very glorious for Prussian valour, but ruinous to this
Campaign.
The Austrians, at two o'clock this morning, Austrians and
Saxons, came in great force, in dead silence, to the south
brink of the River, opposite a place called Teinitz (Elbe-
Teinitz), ten miles east of Kolin; that was the fruit of their
marching yesterday. They sat there forbidden to speak, to
smoke tobacco or do anything but breathe, till all was ready;
till pontoons, cannons had come up, and some gleam of dawn
had broken. At the first gleam of dawn, as they are shoving
down their pontoon boats, there comes a "Wer-da, Who
goes? " from our Prussian patrol across the River. Receiving
no answer, he fires; and is himself shot down. OneWedell,
Wedell and Ziethen, who keep wateh in this part, start in-
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? 58 SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [book XV.
19th Nov. 1744.
stantly at sound of these shots; and make a dreadful day of
it for these invasive Saxon and Austrian multitudes. Natural-
ly, too, they send off scouts, galloping for more help, to the
right and to the left. But that avails not. Wild doggery of
Pandours, it would seem, have already swum or waded the
River, above Teinitz and below: -- "Want of vigilance! "
barks Friedrich impatiently: but such a doggery is difficult
to watch with effect. At any rate, to the right and to the
left, the woods are already beset with Pandours; every scout
sent out is killed: and to east or to west there comes no news
but an echoing of musketry, a boom of distant cannon. *
Saxon-Austrian battalions, four or five, with unlimited artil-
lery going, versus Wedell's one battalion, with musketry and
Ziethen's hussars: it is fearful odds. The Prussians stand to
it like heroes; doggedly, for four hours, continue the dispute,
-- till it is fairly desperate; "two bridges of the enemy's now
finished;" -- whereupon they manoeuvre off, with Parthian
or Prussian countenance, into the woods, safe, towardsKolin;
"despatching definite news to Friedrich, which does arrive
"about 11 A. m. , and sets him at once on new measures. "
This is a great feat in the Prussian military annals;
for which, sad as the news was, Wedell got the name
of Leonidas attached to him by Friedrich himself.
And indeed it is a gallant passage of war; "Forcing
of the Elbe at Teinitz;" of which I could give two
Narratives, one from the Prussian, and one from the
Saxon side;** didactic, admonitory to the military mind, nay to the civic reader that has sympathy with
heroisms, with work done manfully, and terror and
danger and difficulty well trampled under foot. Leo-
nidas Wedell has an admirable silence, too; and
Ziethen's lazily-hanging under-lip is in its old attitude
again, now that the spasm is over. "Was thuts?
They are across, without a doubt. We would have
helped it, and could not. Steady! " --
* Orlich, n. 82-85.
*? Seyfartb, Beylage, i. 595-98; Helden-Geschichte, n. 1175-81.
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? CHAP. Iv. ] MOLDAU CONQUESTS NOT MAINTAINABLE. 59
19th-23d Nov. 1744.
FriedricKs Retreat; especially EinsiedeVs from Prag.
Seeing, then, that they are fairly over, Friedrich,
with a creditable veracity of mind, sees also that the
game is done; and, that same night, he begins
manoeuvering towards Silesia, lest far more be lost by
continuing the play. One column, under Leopold the
Young Dessauer, goes through Glatz, takes the Magazine
of Pardubitz along with it; -- good to go in several
columns, the enemy will less know which to chase.
Friedrich, with another column, will wait for Nassau
about Konigsgratz, then go by the more westerly road,
through Nachod and the Pass of Braunau. Nassau,
who is to get across from Kolin, and join us north-
wards, has due rendezvous appointed him in the
Konigsgratz region. Einsiedel, in Prag, is to spike
his guns, since he cannot carry them; blow up his
bastions, and the like; and get away with all discre-
tion and all diligence, -- north-westward first, to
Leitmeritz, where our magazines are; there to leave
his heavier goods, and make eastward towards Fried-
land, and across the "Silesian Combs," by what Passes
he can. Will have a difficult operation; but must
stand to it. And speed; steady, simultaneous, regular,
unresting velocity; that is the word for all.
And so it is done, -- though with difficulty, on
the part of poor Einsiedel for one. It was Thursday
19th November, when the Austrians got across the
Elbe: on Monday 23d, the Prussian rendezvousings are
completed; and Friedrich's column, and the Glatz one
under Leopold, are both on march; infinite baggage-
wagons groaning orderly along ('sick-wagons well
ahead,' and the like precautions and arrangements), on
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? 60 SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [book XV.
26th Nov. --16th Dec. 1744.
both these highways for Silesia: and before the week
ends, Thursday 26th, even Einsiedel is under way.
Let us give something of poor Einsiedel, whose dis-
asters made considerable noise in the world, that Win-
ter and afterwards.
"The two main columns were not much molested; that
"which went by Glatz, under Leopold, was not pursued at
"all. On the rear of Friedrich's own column, going towards
"Braunau, all the way to Nachod or beyond, there hung the
"usual doggery of Pandours, which required whipping off
'' from time to time; but in the defiles and difficult places due
"precaution was taken, and they did little real damage.
"Truchsess von Waldburg" (our old friend of the Spartan
feat near Austerlitz in the Moravian-Foray time, whom we
have known in London society as Prussian Envoy in bygone
years) "was in one of the divisions of this column; and one
"day, at a village where there was a little river to cross
"(river Mietau, Konigsgratz branch of the Elbe), got pro-
"voked injudiciously into fighting with a body of these
"people. Intent not on whipping them merely, but on whip-
ping them to death, Truchsess had already lost some forty
"men, and the business with such crowds of them was getting
"hot; when, all at once a loud squeaking of pigs was heard
"in the village," -- apprehensive swineherd nastily penning
his pigs belike, and some pig refractory; -- "at sound of "which, the Pandourmultitude suddenly pauses, quits fight-
"ing, and, struck by a new enthusiasm, rushes wholly into
"the village; leaving Truchsess, in a tragi-comic humour,
"victorious, but half ashamed of himself. * In the beginning
"of December, Friedrich's column reached home, by Braunau
"through the Mountains, the same way part of it had come in
"August; not quite so brilliant in equipment now as then.
"It was upon Einsiedel's poor Garrison, leaving Prag in
"such haste, that the real stress of the retreat fell; its diffi-
"culties great indeed, and its losses great. Einsiedel did
"what was possible; but all things are not possible on a
* (Euvres de Frederic, in. 73.
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? CHAP. IV. ] MOLDAU CONQUESTS NOT MAINTAINABLE. 61
26th Nov. -- 10th Dec. 1744.
"week's warning. He spiked great guns, shook endless
"hundredweights of powder, and 10,000 stand of arms, into
"the River; he requisitioned horses, oxen, without number;
"put mines under the bastions, almost none of which went off
"with effect. He kept Prag accurately shut', the Praguers
"accurately in the dark; took his measures prudently; and
"laboured night and day. One measure I note of him:
"stringent Proclamation to the inhabitants of Prag, 'Pro-
"'vision yourselves for three months; nothing but starvation
'"ahead otherwise. ' Alas, we are to stand a fourth siege,
"then? say the Praguers. But where are provisions to De
"had? At such and such places; from the Royal Magazines
"only, if you bring a certificate and ready money! Whereby
"Einsiedel got delivered of his meal-magazine, for one thing.
"But his difficulties otherwise were immense.
"On the Thursday morning, 26th November 1744, he
"marched. His wagons had begun the night before; and
"went all night, rumbling continuous (Anonymous of Prag*
"hearing them well), through the Karl-thor, north-west gate
"of Prag, across the MoldauBridge. All night across that
"bridge, -- Leitmeritz road, great road to the north-west: --
"followed finally by the march of horse and foot. But news
"had already fled abroad. Five hundred Pandours were in
"the City, backed by the Butchers' lads and other riotous
"Gesindel, before the rearguard got away. Sad tugging and
"wriggling in consequence, much firing from windows, and
"uproarious chaos; -- so that Rothenburg had at last to
"remount a couple of guns, and blow it off with case-shot.
"A drilled Prussian rearguard struggling, with stern com-
"posure, through a real bit of burning chaos. With effect,
"though not without difficulty. Here is the scene on the
"Moldau Bridge, and past that high Hradschin** mass of
"buildings; all Prag, not the Hradschin only, struggling to
"give us fatal farewell if it durst. River is covered with
"Pandours firing out of boats; Bridge encumbered to im-
"passability by forsaken wagons, the drivers of which had
"cut traces and run; shot comes overhead from the Hradschin
* Second "Letter from a Citizen &c. " (date, 27th November, see supra,
p. 24), in Helden-Geschichte, n. 1181-88.
** Old Palace of the Bohemian Kings (pronounce Radsheen); one of the
steepest Royal Sites in the world.
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? SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [book XV.
26th Nov. --16th Dec. 1744.
"on our left, much shot, infinite tumult all round, thorough-
"fare impossible for two-wheeled vehicle, or men in rank.
"' Halt! ' cries Colonel Brandes, who has charge of the thing;
"divides them in three: 'First one party, deal with these
"'river-boats, that Pandour doggery; second party, pull
"' these stray wagons to right and left, making the way clear;
"'third party, drag our own wagons forward, shoulderto shaft,
"'and yoke them out of shot-range; ? --? you, Captain Carlo-
"' witz,' and calls twenty volunteers to go with Carlowitz, and
"drag their own cannon, 'step you forward, keep the gate of
'"that Hradschin till we all pass!
' In this manner, rapid,
"hard of stroke, clear-headed and with stern regularity,
"drilled talent gets the burning Nessus'-shirt wriggled off;
"and tramps successfully forth with its baggages. About
"eleven A. m. , this rearguard of Brandes's did; should have
"been at seven, -- right well that it could be at all.
"Einsiedel, after this, got tolerably well to Leitmeritz;
"left his heavy baggage there; then turned at an acute angle
"right eastward, towards the Silesian Combs, as ordered:
"still a good seventy miles to do, and the weather getting
"snowy and the days towards their shortest. Worse still;
"old Weissenfels, now in Prag with his Saxons, is aware that
"Einsiedel, before ending, will touch on a wild high-lying
"corner of theLausitz which is Saxon Country; andthither-
"ward Weissenfels has despatched Chevalier de Saxe (in
"plenty of time, November 29th), with horse and foot, to
"waylay Einsiedel, and block the entrance of the Silesian
"Mountains for him. Whereupon, in the latter end of his
"long march, and almost within sight of home, ensues the
"hardest brush of all for Einsiedel. And, in the desolation
"of that rugged Hill country of the Lausitz, '? Hochwald
"' (Upper Wold),' twenty or more miles from BohemianFried-
"land, from his entrance on the Mountain Barrier and Silesian
"Combs, there are scenes -- which gave rise to a Court-
"Martial before long. For unexpectedly, on the winter after-
"noon (December 9th), Einsiedel, struggling among the
"snows and pathless Hills, comes upon Chevalier de Saxe
"and his Saxon Detachment, -- entrenched with trees, snow-
"redoubts, and a hollow bog dividing us; plainly unas-
sailable; -- and stands there, without covering, without
"'food, fire, or salt,' says one Eye-witness, 'for the space of
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? CHAP. IV. ] MOLDAU CONQUESTS NOT MAINTAINABLE. 63
26th Nov. -- 16th Dec. 1744.
"'fourteen hours. ' Gazing gloomily into it, exchanging a
"few shots, uncertain what more to do; the much-dubitating
"Einsiedel. 'At which the men were so disgusted and en-
"'raged, they deserted' (the foreign part of them, I fancy)
"'in groups at a time,' says the above Eye-witness. Not to
"think what became of the equipments, baggage-wagons,
"sick-wagons: -- too evident Einsiedel's loss, in all kinds,
"was very considerable. Nassau, despatched by Leopold
"out of Glatz, from the other side of the Combs, is marching
"to help Einsiedel; -- who knows, at this moment, where or
"whitherward? For the peasants are all against us; our
"very guides desert, and become spies. 'Push to the left,
"'over the Hochwald top, must not we? ' thinks Einsiedel:
"'that is Lausitz, a Saxon Country; and Saxony, though the
"' Saxons stand entrenched here, with the knife at our throat,
"' are not at war with us, oh no, only allies of Her Majesty of
'"Hungary, and neutral otherwise! ' And here, it is too
"clear, the Chevalier de Saxe stands entrenched behind his
"trees and snow; and it is the fourteenth hour, men deserting
"by the hundred, without fire and without salt; and Nassau
"is coming, -- God knows by what road!
"Einsiedel pushes to the left, the Hochwald way; finds,
"in the Hochwald too, a Saxon Commandant waiting him,
"with arms strictly shouldered. 'And we cannot pass through
"'this moor skirt of Lausitz, say you, then? ' 'Unarmed,
"'yes; your muskets can come in wagons after you,' replies
"the Saxon Commandant of Lausitz. 'Thousand thanks,
"'Herr Commandant; but we will not give you all that
"'trouble,' answer Einsiedel and his Prussians; 'and march
"'on, overwhelming him with politenesses,' saysFriedrich;--
"the approach of Nassau, above all, being a stringent civility.
"Of course, despatch is very requisite to Einsiedel; the
"Chevalier, with his force, being still within hail. The Prus-
sians march all night, with pitch-links flaring, -- nights (I
"think) of the 13th-15th December 1744, up among the high-
lands there, rugged buttresses of the Silesian Combs: a
"sight enough to astonish Riibezahl, if he happened to be
"out! As good chance would have it, Nassau and Einsiedel,
"by preconcert, partly by lucky guess of their own, were
"hurrying by the same road: three heaven-rending cheers
"(December 16th) when we get sight of Nassau; and find
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? 64 SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [book XV.
26th Nov. --16th Dec. 1744.
"that here is land! December 16th, we are across, -- by
"Riickersdorf, not far from Friedland (Bohmisch Friedland,
"not the Silesian town of that name, once Wallenstein's); --
"and rejoice now to look back on labour done. "*
These were intricate strange scenes, much talked
of at the time: Rothenburg, ugly Walrave, Hacke, and
other known figures, concerned in them. Scenes in
whichFriedrich is not well informed; who much blames
Einsiedel, as he is apt to do the unsuccessful. Ac-
counts exist, both from the Prussian and from the
Saxon side, decipherable with industry; not now worth
deciphering to English readers. Only that final scene
of the pitch-links, the night before meeting with
Nassau, dwells voluntarily in one's memory. And is
the farewell of Einsiedel withal. Friedrich blames
him to the last: though a Court-Martial had sat on his
case, some months after, and honourably acquitted
him. Good solid, silent Einsiedel; -- and in some
months more, he went to a still higher court, got still
stricter justice: I do not hear expressly that it was the
winter marches, or strain of mind; but he died in 1745;
and that flare of pitch-links in Rubezahl's country is
the last scene of him to us, -- and the end of Fried-
rich's unfortunate First] Expedition in the Second
Silesian War.
"Foiled, ultimately then, on every point; a totally
ill-ordered game on our part! Evidently we, for our
part, have been altogether in the wrong, in various
essential particulars. Amendment, that and no other,
is the word now. Let us take the scathe and the
scorn candidly home to us; -- and try to prepare for
doing better. The world will crow over us. Well,
* Helden-GescUichte, u. 1181-90,1191-94; Felizuge, i. 278-80.
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? CHAP. W. ] MOLDATJ CONQUESTS'NOT MAINTAINABLE. 65
36th Not 16th Dec. 1744.
the world knows little about it; the world, if it did
know, would be partly in the right! " -- Wise is he
who, when beaten, learns the reasons of it, and alters
these. This wisdom, it must be owned, is Friedrich's;
and much distinguishes him among generals and men.
Veracity of mind, as I say, loyal eyesight superior to
sophistries; noble incapacity of self-delusion, the root
of all good qualities in man. His epilogue to this
Campaign is remarkable; -- too long for quoting here,
except the first word of it and the last:
"No general committed more faults than did the
"King in this Campaign. * * The conduct of M.
"de Traun is a model of perfection, which every soldier
"that loves his business ought to study, and try to
"imitate, if he have the talent. The King has him-
"self admitted that he regarded this Campaign as his
"school in the Art of War, and M. de Traun as his "teacher. " But what shall we say? "Bad is often
"better for Princes than good; -- and instead of in-
"toxicating them with presumption, renders them cir-
"cumspect and modest. "* Let us still hope! --
* (Euvres, m. 76, 77.
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. VIU.
5
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? 66
[book XV. Dec. 1744.
SECOND SILESIAN WAR.
CHAPTER V.
FRIEDRICH, UNDER DD? FICULTD3S, PREPARES FOR A NEW
CAMPAIGN.
To the Court of Vienna, especially to the Hungarian
Majesty, this wonderful reconquest of Bohemia, without
battle fought, -- or any cause assignable but Traun's
excellent manoeuvering and Friedrich's imprudences
and trust in the French, -- was a thing of heavenly
miracle; blessed omen that Providence had vouchsafed
to her prayers the recovery of Silesia itself. All the
world was crowing over Friedrich: but her Majesty of
Hungary's views had risen to a clearly higher pitch of
exultation and triumphant hope, terrestrial and celestial,
than any other living person's. "Silesia back again,"
that was now the hope and resolution of her Majesty's
high heart: "My wicked neighbour shall be driven out,
and smart dear for the ill he has done; Heaven so
wills it! " "Very little uplifts the Austrians," says
Valori; which is true, under such a Queen; "and yet
"there is nothing that can crush them altogether down,"
adds he.
No sooner is Bohemia cleared of Friedrich, than
Maria, winter as it is, orders that there be, through
the Giant-Mountains, vigorous assault upon Silesia.
Highland snows and ices, what are these to Pandour
people, who, at their first entrance on the scene of
History, "crossed the Palus-Mseotis itself" (Father of
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? CHAP, v. ] PREPARING FOR A NEW CAMPAIGN. 67
8d Dec. 1744.
Quagmires, so to speak) "in a frozen state," and were
sufficiently accommodated each in his own dirty sheepskin? "Prosecute the King of Prussia," ordered
she; "take your winter-quarters in Silesia;" -- and
Traun, in spite of the advanced season, and prior
labours and hardships, had to try, from the south-
western Bohemian side, what he could do; while a
new Insurrection, coming through the Jablunka, spread
itself over the south-east and east. Seriously invasive
multitudes; which were an unpleasant surprise to
Friedrich; and did, as we shall see, require to be
smitten back again, and re-smitten; -- making a very
troublesome winter to the Prussians and themselves;
but by no means getting winter-quarters, as they once
hoped.
In a like sense, Maria Theresa had already (De-
cember 2d) sent forth her Manifesto or Patent, so-
lemnly apprising her ever-faithful Silesian Populations,
"That the Treaty of Breslau, not by her fault, is
broken; palpably a Treaty no longer. That they,
accordingly, are absolved from all oaths and allegiance
to the King of Prussia; and shall hold themselves in
readiness to swear anew to her Majesty, which will be
a great comfort to such faithful creatures; suffering,
as her Majesty explains to them that they have done,
under Prussian tyranny for these two years past. Im-
mediate dead-lift effort there shall be; that is certain;
and 'the Almighty God assisting, who does not leave
'such injustices unpunished, We have the fixed Chris-
'tian hope, Omnipotence blessing our arms, of almost
'immediately (ehestens) delivering you from this tem-
'porary Bondage (bisherigen Jock)? You can pray, in
the mean while, for the success of her Majesty's arms;
5*
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? 68
[book XV. Dec. 1744.
SECOND SILESIAN WAR.
good fighting, aided by prayer, in a Cause clearly
Heaven's, will now, to appearance bring matters swiftly
round again, to the astonishment and confusion of bad
men. "*
These are her Majesty's views; intensely true,
I jdoubt not, to her devout heart. Robinson and the
English seem not to be enthusiastic in that direction;
as indeed how can they? They would fain be tender
of Silesia, which they have guaranteed; fain, now and
afterwards, restrain her Majesty from driving at such
a pace down hill: but the declivity is so encouraging,
her Majesty is not to be restrained, and goes faster
and faster for the time being. And indeed, under less
devout forms, the general impression, among Pragmatic
people, Saxon, Austrian, British even, was, That Fried-
rich had pretty much ruined himself, and deserved to
do so; that this of his being mere "Auxiliary" to a
Kaiser in distress was an untenable pretext, now justly
fallen bankrupt upon him. The evident fact, That he
had by his "Frankfurt Union," and struggles about
"union," reopened the door for French tribulations
and rough-ridings in the Reich, was universally dis-
tasteful; all chance of a "general union of German
Princes, in aid of their Kaiser," was extinct for the
present.
Friedrich's rapidity had served him ill with the
Public, in this as in some other instances! Friedrich,
contemplating his situation, not self-delusively, but with
the candour of real remorse, was by no means yet
aware how very bad it was. For six months coming,
partly as existing facts better disclosed themselves,
* In Helden-Geschichte, n. 1194-1198; lb. 1201-1206, is Friedrich's
Answer, "19th December 1744. "
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? CHAP, v. ] PREPARING FOR A NEW CAMPAIGN. 69
Dec. 1744.
as France, Saxony and others showed what spirit they
were of; partly as new sinister events and facts arrived
one after the other, -- his outlook continued to darken
and darken, till it had become very dark indeed.
There is perennially the great comfort, immense if you
can manage it, of making front against misfortune; of
looking it frankly in the face, and doing with a re-
solution, hour by hour, your own utmost against it.
Friedrich never lacked that comfort; and was not heard
complaining. But from December 13th, 1744, when he
hastened home to Berlin, under such aspects, till June
4th, 1745, when aspects suddenly changed, are probably
the worst six months Friedrich had yet had in the world.
During which, his affairs all threatening to break down
about him, he himself, behoving to stand firm if the
worst was not to realise itself, had to draw largely on
what silent courage, or private inexpugnability of mind,
was in him, -- a larger instalment of that royal quality
(as I compute) than the Fates had ever hitherto de-
manded of him. Ever hitherto; though perhaps nothing
like the largest of all, which they had upon their Books
for him, at a farther stage! As will be seen. For he
was greatly drawn upon in that way, in his time. And
he paid always; no man in his Century so well; few
men, in any Century, better. As perhaps readers may
be led to guess or acknowledge, on surveying and con-
sidering. To see, and sympathetically recognise, cannot
be expected of modern readers, in the present great
distance, and changed conditions of men and things.
Friedrich, after despatching Nassau to cut out Ein-
siedel, had delivered the Silesian Army to the Old
Dessauer, who is to command in chief during Winter;
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? 70
SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [book XV.
19th Dec. 1744.
and had then hastened to Berlin, -- many things there
urgently requiring his presence; preparations, repara-
tions, not to speak of diplomacies, and what was the
heaviest item of all, new finance for the coming exer-
tions. In Schweidnitz, on Leopold's appearance, there
had been an interview, due consultings, orderings;
which done, Friedrich at once took the road; and was
at Berlin, Monday December 14th, -- precisely in the
time while Nassau and Einsiedel were marching with
torch-lights in Rubezahl's Country, and near ending
their difficult enterprise better or worse.
Friedrich, fastening eagerly on Home business, is
astonished and provoked to learn that the Austrians,
not content with pushing him out of Bohmen, are them-
selves pushing into Schlesien, -- so Old Leopold reports,
with increasing emphasis day by day; to whom Fried-
rich sends impatient order: Hurl them out again, gather
what force you need, ten thousand, or were it twenty
or thirty thousand, and be immediate about it; "I will
"as soon be pitched (herausgeschmissen) out of the Mark
"of Brandenburg as out of Schlesien:" no delay, I tell
you! And as the Old Dessauer still explains that the
ten or fifteen thousand he needs are actually assembling,
and cannot be got on march quite in a moment, Fried-
rich dashes away his incipient Berlin Operations; will
go himself and do it. Haggle no more, you tedious
Old Dessauer:
Berlin, "19th December" 1744. -- "On the 21st" (Monday,
one week after my arriving), "I leave Berlin, and mean to be
"at Neisse on the 24th at latest. Your Serenity will in the
"interim make out the Order-of-Battle" (which is also Order-
of-March) "for what regiments are come in. For I will, on
"the 25th, without delay, cross the Neisse, and attack those
?
Karl has himself written to Court that, having now
pushed his Enemy fairly over the Elbe, and Winter
being come with its sleets and slushes, ruinous to
* (Enures de Friieric, m. 68.
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? 56 SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [book XV.
9ti- 19th Nov. 1744.
troops that have been so marched about, the Campaign
ought to end; -- nay, his own young Wife is in
perilous interesting circumstances, and the poor Prince
wishes to be home. To which, however, it is again
understood, Maria Theresa has emphatically answered,
"No, -- finish first! "
November ,9th-l,9th: We defend the Elbe River. Friedrich
has posted himself on the north shore of the Elbe, from Par-
dubitz to the other side of Kolin; means to defend that side of
the River, where go the Silesian roads. At Bohdenetz, short
way across from Pardubitz, he himself is; Prince Leopold is
near Kolin: thirty miles of river-bank to dispute. The con-
troversy lasts ten days; ends in Elbe-Teinitz, a celebrated
"passage," in Books and otherwise. Friedrich is in shaggy,
intricate country; no want of dingles, woods and quagmires;
now and then pleasant places too, -- here is Kladrup for
example, where our Father came three hundred miles to dine
with the Kaiser once. The grooms and colts are all off at
present; Father and Kaiser are off; and much is changed
since then. Grim tussle of War now; sleety winter, and the
Giant Mountains in the distance getting on their white hoods!
Friedrich doubtless has his thoughts as he rides up and
down, in sight of Kladrup, among other places, settling many
things; but what his thoughts were, he is careful not to say
except where necessary. Much is to be looked after, in this
River controversy of thirty miles. Detachments lie, at inter-
vals, all the way; and mounted sentries, a sentry every five
miles, patrol the River-bank; vigilant, we hope, as lynxes.
Nothing can cross but alarm will be given, and by degrees
the whole Prussian force be upon it. This is the Circle of
Konigsgratz, this that now lies to rear; and happily there
are a few Hussites in it, not utterly indisposed to do a little
spying for us, and bring a glimmering of intelligence, now
and then.
It is now the second week that Friedrich has lain so, with
his mounted patrols in motion, with his Hussite spies; guard-
ing Argus-like this thirty miles of River; and ,the Austrians
attempt nothing, or nothing with effect. If the Austrians go
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? CHAP. IV. ] moldatj conquests not maintainable. 57
19th Nov. 1744.
home to their winter-quarters, he hopes to issue from Kolin
again before Spring, and to sweep the Elbe-Sazawa Tract
clear of them, after all. Maria Theresa having answered No,
it is likely the Austrians will try to get across: Be vigilant,
therefore, ye mounted sentries. Or will they perhaps make
an attempt on Prag? Einsiedel, who has no garrison of the
least adequacy, apprises us, That "in all the villages round
Prag, people are busy making ladders," -- what can that
mean? Friedrich has learned, by intercepted letters, that
something great is to be done on Wednesday 18th: he sends
Rothenburg with reinforcement to Einsiedel, lest a scalade of
Prag should be on the cards. Rothenburg is right welcome
in the lines of Prag, though with reinforcement still inef-
fectual; but it is not Prag that is meant, nor is Wednesday
the day. Through Wednesday, Friedrich, all eye and ear,
could observe nothing: much marching to and fro on the Aus-
trian side of the River; but apparently it comes to nothing?
The mounted patrols had better be vigilant, however.
On the morrow, 5 A. m. , what is this that is going on?
Audible booming of cannon, of musketry and battle, echoing
through the woods, penetrates to Friedrich's quarters at
Bohdenetz in the Pardubitz region: Attack upon Kolin,
Nassau defending himself there? Out swift scouts, and see!
Many scouts gallop out; but none comes back. Friedrich,
for hours, has to remain uncertain; can only hopeNassau will
defend himself. Boom, go the distant volleyings; no scout
comes back. And it is not Nassau or Kolin; it is something
worse: very glorious for Prussian valour, but ruinous to this
Campaign.
The Austrians, at two o'clock this morning, Austrians and
Saxons, came in great force, in dead silence, to the south
brink of the River, opposite a place called Teinitz (Elbe-
Teinitz), ten miles east of Kolin; that was the fruit of their
marching yesterday. They sat there forbidden to speak, to
smoke tobacco or do anything but breathe, till all was ready;
till pontoons, cannons had come up, and some gleam of dawn
had broken. At the first gleam of dawn, as they are shoving
down their pontoon boats, there comes a "Wer-da, Who
goes? " from our Prussian patrol across the River. Receiving
no answer, he fires; and is himself shot down. OneWedell,
Wedell and Ziethen, who keep wateh in this part, start in-
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? 58 SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [book XV.
19th Nov. 1744.
stantly at sound of these shots; and make a dreadful day of
it for these invasive Saxon and Austrian multitudes. Natural-
ly, too, they send off scouts, galloping for more help, to the
right and to the left. But that avails not. Wild doggery of
Pandours, it would seem, have already swum or waded the
River, above Teinitz and below: -- "Want of vigilance! "
barks Friedrich impatiently: but such a doggery is difficult
to watch with effect. At any rate, to the right and to the
left, the woods are already beset with Pandours; every scout
sent out is killed: and to east or to west there comes no news
but an echoing of musketry, a boom of distant cannon. *
Saxon-Austrian battalions, four or five, with unlimited artil-
lery going, versus Wedell's one battalion, with musketry and
Ziethen's hussars: it is fearful odds. The Prussians stand to
it like heroes; doggedly, for four hours, continue the dispute,
-- till it is fairly desperate; "two bridges of the enemy's now
finished;" -- whereupon they manoeuvre off, with Parthian
or Prussian countenance, into the woods, safe, towardsKolin;
"despatching definite news to Friedrich, which does arrive
"about 11 A. m. , and sets him at once on new measures. "
This is a great feat in the Prussian military annals;
for which, sad as the news was, Wedell got the name
of Leonidas attached to him by Friedrich himself.
And indeed it is a gallant passage of war; "Forcing
of the Elbe at Teinitz;" of which I could give two
Narratives, one from the Prussian, and one from the
Saxon side;** didactic, admonitory to the military mind, nay to the civic reader that has sympathy with
heroisms, with work done manfully, and terror and
danger and difficulty well trampled under foot. Leo-
nidas Wedell has an admirable silence, too; and
Ziethen's lazily-hanging under-lip is in its old attitude
again, now that the spasm is over. "Was thuts?
They are across, without a doubt. We would have
helped it, and could not. Steady! " --
* Orlich, n. 82-85.
*? Seyfartb, Beylage, i. 595-98; Helden-Geschichte, n. 1175-81.
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? CHAP. Iv. ] MOLDAU CONQUESTS NOT MAINTAINABLE. 59
19th-23d Nov. 1744.
FriedricKs Retreat; especially EinsiedeVs from Prag.
Seeing, then, that they are fairly over, Friedrich,
with a creditable veracity of mind, sees also that the
game is done; and, that same night, he begins
manoeuvering towards Silesia, lest far more be lost by
continuing the play. One column, under Leopold the
Young Dessauer, goes through Glatz, takes the Magazine
of Pardubitz along with it; -- good to go in several
columns, the enemy will less know which to chase.
Friedrich, with another column, will wait for Nassau
about Konigsgratz, then go by the more westerly road,
through Nachod and the Pass of Braunau. Nassau,
who is to get across from Kolin, and join us north-
wards, has due rendezvous appointed him in the
Konigsgratz region. Einsiedel, in Prag, is to spike
his guns, since he cannot carry them; blow up his
bastions, and the like; and get away with all discre-
tion and all diligence, -- north-westward first, to
Leitmeritz, where our magazines are; there to leave
his heavier goods, and make eastward towards Fried-
land, and across the "Silesian Combs," by what Passes
he can. Will have a difficult operation; but must
stand to it. And speed; steady, simultaneous, regular,
unresting velocity; that is the word for all.
And so it is done, -- though with difficulty, on
the part of poor Einsiedel for one. It was Thursday
19th November, when the Austrians got across the
Elbe: on Monday 23d, the Prussian rendezvousings are
completed; and Friedrich's column, and the Glatz one
under Leopold, are both on march; infinite baggage-
wagons groaning orderly along ('sick-wagons well
ahead,' and the like precautions and arrangements), on
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? 60 SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [book XV.
26th Nov. --16th Dec. 1744.
both these highways for Silesia: and before the week
ends, Thursday 26th, even Einsiedel is under way.
Let us give something of poor Einsiedel, whose dis-
asters made considerable noise in the world, that Win-
ter and afterwards.
"The two main columns were not much molested; that
"which went by Glatz, under Leopold, was not pursued at
"all. On the rear of Friedrich's own column, going towards
"Braunau, all the way to Nachod or beyond, there hung the
"usual doggery of Pandours, which required whipping off
'' from time to time; but in the defiles and difficult places due
"precaution was taken, and they did little real damage.
"Truchsess von Waldburg" (our old friend of the Spartan
feat near Austerlitz in the Moravian-Foray time, whom we
have known in London society as Prussian Envoy in bygone
years) "was in one of the divisions of this column; and one
"day, at a village where there was a little river to cross
"(river Mietau, Konigsgratz branch of the Elbe), got pro-
"voked injudiciously into fighting with a body of these
"people. Intent not on whipping them merely, but on whip-
ping them to death, Truchsess had already lost some forty
"men, and the business with such crowds of them was getting
"hot; when, all at once a loud squeaking of pigs was heard
"in the village," -- apprehensive swineherd nastily penning
his pigs belike, and some pig refractory; -- "at sound of "which, the Pandourmultitude suddenly pauses, quits fight-
"ing, and, struck by a new enthusiasm, rushes wholly into
"the village; leaving Truchsess, in a tragi-comic humour,
"victorious, but half ashamed of himself. * In the beginning
"of December, Friedrich's column reached home, by Braunau
"through the Mountains, the same way part of it had come in
"August; not quite so brilliant in equipment now as then.
"It was upon Einsiedel's poor Garrison, leaving Prag in
"such haste, that the real stress of the retreat fell; its diffi-
"culties great indeed, and its losses great. Einsiedel did
"what was possible; but all things are not possible on a
* (Euvres de Frederic, in. 73.
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? CHAP. IV. ] MOLDAU CONQUESTS NOT MAINTAINABLE. 61
26th Nov. -- 10th Dec. 1744.
"week's warning. He spiked great guns, shook endless
"hundredweights of powder, and 10,000 stand of arms, into
"the River; he requisitioned horses, oxen, without number;
"put mines under the bastions, almost none of which went off
"with effect. He kept Prag accurately shut', the Praguers
"accurately in the dark; took his measures prudently; and
"laboured night and day. One measure I note of him:
"stringent Proclamation to the inhabitants of Prag, 'Pro-
"'vision yourselves for three months; nothing but starvation
'"ahead otherwise. ' Alas, we are to stand a fourth siege,
"then? say the Praguers. But where are provisions to De
"had? At such and such places; from the Royal Magazines
"only, if you bring a certificate and ready money! Whereby
"Einsiedel got delivered of his meal-magazine, for one thing.
"But his difficulties otherwise were immense.
"On the Thursday morning, 26th November 1744, he
"marched. His wagons had begun the night before; and
"went all night, rumbling continuous (Anonymous of Prag*
"hearing them well), through the Karl-thor, north-west gate
"of Prag, across the MoldauBridge. All night across that
"bridge, -- Leitmeritz road, great road to the north-west: --
"followed finally by the march of horse and foot. But news
"had already fled abroad. Five hundred Pandours were in
"the City, backed by the Butchers' lads and other riotous
"Gesindel, before the rearguard got away. Sad tugging and
"wriggling in consequence, much firing from windows, and
"uproarious chaos; -- so that Rothenburg had at last to
"remount a couple of guns, and blow it off with case-shot.
"A drilled Prussian rearguard struggling, with stern com-
"posure, through a real bit of burning chaos. With effect,
"though not without difficulty. Here is the scene on the
"Moldau Bridge, and past that high Hradschin** mass of
"buildings; all Prag, not the Hradschin only, struggling to
"give us fatal farewell if it durst. River is covered with
"Pandours firing out of boats; Bridge encumbered to im-
"passability by forsaken wagons, the drivers of which had
"cut traces and run; shot comes overhead from the Hradschin
* Second "Letter from a Citizen &c. " (date, 27th November, see supra,
p. 24), in Helden-Geschichte, n. 1181-88.
** Old Palace of the Bohemian Kings (pronounce Radsheen); one of the
steepest Royal Sites in the world.
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? SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [book XV.
26th Nov. --16th Dec. 1744.
"on our left, much shot, infinite tumult all round, thorough-
"fare impossible for two-wheeled vehicle, or men in rank.
"' Halt! ' cries Colonel Brandes, who has charge of the thing;
"divides them in three: 'First one party, deal with these
"'river-boats, that Pandour doggery; second party, pull
"' these stray wagons to right and left, making the way clear;
"'third party, drag our own wagons forward, shoulderto shaft,
"'and yoke them out of shot-range; ? --? you, Captain Carlo-
"' witz,' and calls twenty volunteers to go with Carlowitz, and
"drag their own cannon, 'step you forward, keep the gate of
'"that Hradschin till we all pass!
' In this manner, rapid,
"hard of stroke, clear-headed and with stern regularity,
"drilled talent gets the burning Nessus'-shirt wriggled off;
"and tramps successfully forth with its baggages. About
"eleven A. m. , this rearguard of Brandes's did; should have
"been at seven, -- right well that it could be at all.
"Einsiedel, after this, got tolerably well to Leitmeritz;
"left his heavy baggage there; then turned at an acute angle
"right eastward, towards the Silesian Combs, as ordered:
"still a good seventy miles to do, and the weather getting
"snowy and the days towards their shortest. Worse still;
"old Weissenfels, now in Prag with his Saxons, is aware that
"Einsiedel, before ending, will touch on a wild high-lying
"corner of theLausitz which is Saxon Country; andthither-
"ward Weissenfels has despatched Chevalier de Saxe (in
"plenty of time, November 29th), with horse and foot, to
"waylay Einsiedel, and block the entrance of the Silesian
"Mountains for him. Whereupon, in the latter end of his
"long march, and almost within sight of home, ensues the
"hardest brush of all for Einsiedel. And, in the desolation
"of that rugged Hill country of the Lausitz, '? Hochwald
"' (Upper Wold),' twenty or more miles from BohemianFried-
"land, from his entrance on the Mountain Barrier and Silesian
"Combs, there are scenes -- which gave rise to a Court-
"Martial before long. For unexpectedly, on the winter after-
"noon (December 9th), Einsiedel, struggling among the
"snows and pathless Hills, comes upon Chevalier de Saxe
"and his Saxon Detachment, -- entrenched with trees, snow-
"redoubts, and a hollow bog dividing us; plainly unas-
sailable; -- and stands there, without covering, without
"'food, fire, or salt,' says one Eye-witness, 'for the space of
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? CHAP. IV. ] MOLDAU CONQUESTS NOT MAINTAINABLE. 63
26th Nov. -- 16th Dec. 1744.
"'fourteen hours. ' Gazing gloomily into it, exchanging a
"few shots, uncertain what more to do; the much-dubitating
"Einsiedel. 'At which the men were so disgusted and en-
"'raged, they deserted' (the foreign part of them, I fancy)
"'in groups at a time,' says the above Eye-witness. Not to
"think what became of the equipments, baggage-wagons,
"sick-wagons: -- too evident Einsiedel's loss, in all kinds,
"was very considerable. Nassau, despatched by Leopold
"out of Glatz, from the other side of the Combs, is marching
"to help Einsiedel; -- who knows, at this moment, where or
"whitherward? For the peasants are all against us; our
"very guides desert, and become spies. 'Push to the left,
"'over the Hochwald top, must not we? ' thinks Einsiedel:
"'that is Lausitz, a Saxon Country; and Saxony, though the
"' Saxons stand entrenched here, with the knife at our throat,
"' are not at war with us, oh no, only allies of Her Majesty of
'"Hungary, and neutral otherwise! ' And here, it is too
"clear, the Chevalier de Saxe stands entrenched behind his
"trees and snow; and it is the fourteenth hour, men deserting
"by the hundred, without fire and without salt; and Nassau
"is coming, -- God knows by what road!
"Einsiedel pushes to the left, the Hochwald way; finds,
"in the Hochwald too, a Saxon Commandant waiting him,
"with arms strictly shouldered. 'And we cannot pass through
"'this moor skirt of Lausitz, say you, then? ' 'Unarmed,
"'yes; your muskets can come in wagons after you,' replies
"the Saxon Commandant of Lausitz. 'Thousand thanks,
"'Herr Commandant; but we will not give you all that
"'trouble,' answer Einsiedel and his Prussians; 'and march
"'on, overwhelming him with politenesses,' saysFriedrich;--
"the approach of Nassau, above all, being a stringent civility.
"Of course, despatch is very requisite to Einsiedel; the
"Chevalier, with his force, being still within hail. The Prus-
sians march all night, with pitch-links flaring, -- nights (I
"think) of the 13th-15th December 1744, up among the high-
lands there, rugged buttresses of the Silesian Combs: a
"sight enough to astonish Riibezahl, if he happened to be
"out! As good chance would have it, Nassau and Einsiedel,
"by preconcert, partly by lucky guess of their own, were
"hurrying by the same road: three heaven-rending cheers
"(December 16th) when we get sight of Nassau; and find
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? 64 SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [book XV.
26th Nov. --16th Dec. 1744.
"that here is land! December 16th, we are across, -- by
"Riickersdorf, not far from Friedland (Bohmisch Friedland,
"not the Silesian town of that name, once Wallenstein's); --
"and rejoice now to look back on labour done. "*
These were intricate strange scenes, much talked
of at the time: Rothenburg, ugly Walrave, Hacke, and
other known figures, concerned in them. Scenes in
whichFriedrich is not well informed; who much blames
Einsiedel, as he is apt to do the unsuccessful. Ac-
counts exist, both from the Prussian and from the
Saxon side, decipherable with industry; not now worth
deciphering to English readers. Only that final scene
of the pitch-links, the night before meeting with
Nassau, dwells voluntarily in one's memory. And is
the farewell of Einsiedel withal. Friedrich blames
him to the last: though a Court-Martial had sat on his
case, some months after, and honourably acquitted
him. Good solid, silent Einsiedel; -- and in some
months more, he went to a still higher court, got still
stricter justice: I do not hear expressly that it was the
winter marches, or strain of mind; but he died in 1745;
and that flare of pitch-links in Rubezahl's country is
the last scene of him to us, -- and the end of Fried-
rich's unfortunate First] Expedition in the Second
Silesian War.
"Foiled, ultimately then, on every point; a totally
ill-ordered game on our part! Evidently we, for our
part, have been altogether in the wrong, in various
essential particulars. Amendment, that and no other,
is the word now. Let us take the scathe and the
scorn candidly home to us; -- and try to prepare for
doing better. The world will crow over us. Well,
* Helden-GescUichte, u. 1181-90,1191-94; Felizuge, i. 278-80.
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? CHAP. W. ] MOLDATJ CONQUESTS'NOT MAINTAINABLE. 65
36th Not 16th Dec. 1744.
the world knows little about it; the world, if it did
know, would be partly in the right! " -- Wise is he
who, when beaten, learns the reasons of it, and alters
these. This wisdom, it must be owned, is Friedrich's;
and much distinguishes him among generals and men.
Veracity of mind, as I say, loyal eyesight superior to
sophistries; noble incapacity of self-delusion, the root
of all good qualities in man. His epilogue to this
Campaign is remarkable; -- too long for quoting here,
except the first word of it and the last:
"No general committed more faults than did the
"King in this Campaign. * * The conduct of M.
"de Traun is a model of perfection, which every soldier
"that loves his business ought to study, and try to
"imitate, if he have the talent. The King has him-
"self admitted that he regarded this Campaign as his
"school in the Art of War, and M. de Traun as his "teacher. " But what shall we say? "Bad is often
"better for Princes than good; -- and instead of in-
"toxicating them with presumption, renders them cir-
"cumspect and modest. "* Let us still hope! --
* (Euvres, m. 76, 77.
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. VIU.
5
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? 66
[book XV. Dec. 1744.
SECOND SILESIAN WAR.
CHAPTER V.
FRIEDRICH, UNDER DD? FICULTD3S, PREPARES FOR A NEW
CAMPAIGN.
To the Court of Vienna, especially to the Hungarian
Majesty, this wonderful reconquest of Bohemia, without
battle fought, -- or any cause assignable but Traun's
excellent manoeuvering and Friedrich's imprudences
and trust in the French, -- was a thing of heavenly
miracle; blessed omen that Providence had vouchsafed
to her prayers the recovery of Silesia itself. All the
world was crowing over Friedrich: but her Majesty of
Hungary's views had risen to a clearly higher pitch of
exultation and triumphant hope, terrestrial and celestial,
than any other living person's. "Silesia back again,"
that was now the hope and resolution of her Majesty's
high heart: "My wicked neighbour shall be driven out,
and smart dear for the ill he has done; Heaven so
wills it! " "Very little uplifts the Austrians," says
Valori; which is true, under such a Queen; "and yet
"there is nothing that can crush them altogether down,"
adds he.
No sooner is Bohemia cleared of Friedrich, than
Maria, winter as it is, orders that there be, through
the Giant-Mountains, vigorous assault upon Silesia.
Highland snows and ices, what are these to Pandour
people, who, at their first entrance on the scene of
History, "crossed the Palus-Mseotis itself" (Father of
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? CHAP, v. ] PREPARING FOR A NEW CAMPAIGN. 67
8d Dec. 1744.
Quagmires, so to speak) "in a frozen state," and were
sufficiently accommodated each in his own dirty sheepskin? "Prosecute the King of Prussia," ordered
she; "take your winter-quarters in Silesia;" -- and
Traun, in spite of the advanced season, and prior
labours and hardships, had to try, from the south-
western Bohemian side, what he could do; while a
new Insurrection, coming through the Jablunka, spread
itself over the south-east and east. Seriously invasive
multitudes; which were an unpleasant surprise to
Friedrich; and did, as we shall see, require to be
smitten back again, and re-smitten; -- making a very
troublesome winter to the Prussians and themselves;
but by no means getting winter-quarters, as they once
hoped.
In a like sense, Maria Theresa had already (De-
cember 2d) sent forth her Manifesto or Patent, so-
lemnly apprising her ever-faithful Silesian Populations,
"That the Treaty of Breslau, not by her fault, is
broken; palpably a Treaty no longer. That they,
accordingly, are absolved from all oaths and allegiance
to the King of Prussia; and shall hold themselves in
readiness to swear anew to her Majesty, which will be
a great comfort to such faithful creatures; suffering,
as her Majesty explains to them that they have done,
under Prussian tyranny for these two years past. Im-
mediate dead-lift effort there shall be; that is certain;
and 'the Almighty God assisting, who does not leave
'such injustices unpunished, We have the fixed Chris-
'tian hope, Omnipotence blessing our arms, of almost
'immediately (ehestens) delivering you from this tem-
'porary Bondage (bisherigen Jock)? You can pray, in
the mean while, for the success of her Majesty's arms;
5*
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? 68
[book XV. Dec. 1744.
SECOND SILESIAN WAR.
good fighting, aided by prayer, in a Cause clearly
Heaven's, will now, to appearance bring matters swiftly
round again, to the astonishment and confusion of bad
men. "*
These are her Majesty's views; intensely true,
I jdoubt not, to her devout heart. Robinson and the
English seem not to be enthusiastic in that direction;
as indeed how can they? They would fain be tender
of Silesia, which they have guaranteed; fain, now and
afterwards, restrain her Majesty from driving at such
a pace down hill: but the declivity is so encouraging,
her Majesty is not to be restrained, and goes faster
and faster for the time being. And indeed, under less
devout forms, the general impression, among Pragmatic
people, Saxon, Austrian, British even, was, That Fried-
rich had pretty much ruined himself, and deserved to
do so; that this of his being mere "Auxiliary" to a
Kaiser in distress was an untenable pretext, now justly
fallen bankrupt upon him. The evident fact, That he
had by his "Frankfurt Union," and struggles about
"union," reopened the door for French tribulations
and rough-ridings in the Reich, was universally dis-
tasteful; all chance of a "general union of German
Princes, in aid of their Kaiser," was extinct for the
present.
Friedrich's rapidity had served him ill with the
Public, in this as in some other instances! Friedrich,
contemplating his situation, not self-delusively, but with
the candour of real remorse, was by no means yet
aware how very bad it was. For six months coming,
partly as existing facts better disclosed themselves,
* In Helden-Geschichte, n. 1194-1198; lb. 1201-1206, is Friedrich's
Answer, "19th December 1744. "
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? CHAP, v. ] PREPARING FOR A NEW CAMPAIGN. 69
Dec. 1744.
as France, Saxony and others showed what spirit they
were of; partly as new sinister events and facts arrived
one after the other, -- his outlook continued to darken
and darken, till it had become very dark indeed.
There is perennially the great comfort, immense if you
can manage it, of making front against misfortune; of
looking it frankly in the face, and doing with a re-
solution, hour by hour, your own utmost against it.
Friedrich never lacked that comfort; and was not heard
complaining. But from December 13th, 1744, when he
hastened home to Berlin, under such aspects, till June
4th, 1745, when aspects suddenly changed, are probably
the worst six months Friedrich had yet had in the world.
During which, his affairs all threatening to break down
about him, he himself, behoving to stand firm if the
worst was not to realise itself, had to draw largely on
what silent courage, or private inexpugnability of mind,
was in him, -- a larger instalment of that royal quality
(as I compute) than the Fates had ever hitherto de-
manded of him. Ever hitherto; though perhaps nothing
like the largest of all, which they had upon their Books
for him, at a farther stage! As will be seen. For he
was greatly drawn upon in that way, in his time. And
he paid always; no man in his Century so well; few
men, in any Century, better. As perhaps readers may
be led to guess or acknowledge, on surveying and con-
sidering. To see, and sympathetically recognise, cannot
be expected of modern readers, in the present great
distance, and changed conditions of men and things.
Friedrich, after despatching Nassau to cut out Ein-
siedel, had delivered the Silesian Army to the Old
Dessauer, who is to command in chief during Winter;
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? 70
SECOND SILESIAN WAR. [book XV.
19th Dec. 1744.
and had then hastened to Berlin, -- many things there
urgently requiring his presence; preparations, repara-
tions, not to speak of diplomacies, and what was the
heaviest item of all, new finance for the coming exer-
tions. In Schweidnitz, on Leopold's appearance, there
had been an interview, due consultings, orderings;
which done, Friedrich at once took the road; and was
at Berlin, Monday December 14th, -- precisely in the
time while Nassau and Einsiedel were marching with
torch-lights in Rubezahl's Country, and near ending
their difficult enterprise better or worse.
Friedrich, fastening eagerly on Home business, is
astonished and provoked to learn that the Austrians,
not content with pushing him out of Bohmen, are them-
selves pushing into Schlesien, -- so Old Leopold reports,
with increasing emphasis day by day; to whom Fried-
rich sends impatient order: Hurl them out again, gather
what force you need, ten thousand, or were it twenty
or thirty thousand, and be immediate about it; "I will
"as soon be pitched (herausgeschmissen) out of the Mark
"of Brandenburg as out of Schlesien:" no delay, I tell
you! And as the Old Dessauer still explains that the
ten or fifteen thousand he needs are actually assembling,
and cannot be got on march quite in a moment, Fried-
rich dashes away his incipient Berlin Operations; will
go himself and do it. Haggle no more, you tedious
Old Dessauer:
Berlin, "19th December" 1744. -- "On the 21st" (Monday,
one week after my arriving), "I leave Berlin, and mean to be
"at Neisse on the 24th at latest. Your Serenity will in the
"interim make out the Order-of-Battle" (which is also Order-
of-March) "for what regiments are come in. For I will, on
"the 25th, without delay, cross the Neisse, and attack those
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