Which
produces
entire silence, and con-
siderable private reflexion, on the part of indignant Stolberg.
siderable private reflexion, on the part of indignant Stolberg.
Thomas Carlyle
197
16th Aug. --15th Sept. 1759.
"to the Wine-Hills of Frankfurt, I shall never dare to attack
"him.
"No, the torment of Tantalus, the pains of Prometheus,
"the doom of Sisyphus, were nothing like what I suffer for
"the last ten days" (from Kunersdorf till now, when destruc-
tion has to be warded off again, and the force wanting).
"Death is sweet in comparison to such a life. Have com-
"passion on me and itj and believe that I still keep to myself
"a great many evil things, not wishing to afflict or disquiet
"anybody with them; and that I would not counsel you to
"fly these unlucky Countries, if I had any ray of hope.
"Adieu, mon cher. "
Four days after, August 25th, from this same Fiirsten-
walde, the Russians still continuing stagnant, Friedrich de-
spatches, to Schmettau, Commandant of Dresden (by some
industrious hand, for the roads are all blocked), a Second
Letter, "That Dresden is of the highest moment; that in
"case of Siege there, relief" (Wunsch, namely, and perhaps
more that may follow) "is on the road; and that Schmettau
"must defend himself to the utmost. " Let us hope this
Second Missive may counteract the too despondent First,
which we read above, should that have produced discourage-
ment in Schmettau! * -- D'Argens does run to Wolfenbiittel;
stays there till September 9th. Nothing more from Friedrich
till 4th September, when matters are well cooled again.
6? . Waldau, 4th September. "I think Berlin is now in
"safety; you may return thither. The Barbarians" (Russians)
"are in the Lausitz; I keep by the side of them, between
"them and Berlin, so that there is nothing to fear for the
"Capital. The imminency of danger is past; but there will
"still be many bad moments toget through, before reaching
"the end of the Campaign. These, however, only regard
"myself; never mind these. My martyrdom will last two
"months yet; then the snows and the ices will end it. "**
Thus at Fiirstenwalde, then at Waldau, keeping
guard, forlorn but resolute, against the intrusive Russian-
Austrian deluges, Friedrich stands painfully vigilant
* Second Letter is given in Schmet tait's Lebcn, pp. 436, 7.
** (Enures de Frideric, six. 78, 82, 83, 85, 86.
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? 198 FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED, [book XIX.
22d Aug. 1759.
and expectant, -- still for about a fortnight more. With
bad news coming to him latterly, as we shall hear. He
is in those old moorland Wusterhausen Countries, once
so well known under far other circumstances. Thirty
years ago, in fine afternoons, we used to gallop with
poor Duhan de Jandun, after school-tasks done, to-
wards Mittenwalde, Fiirstenwalde and the furzy en-
virons, far and wide; at home, our Sister and Mother
waiting with many troubles and many loves, and Papa
sleeping, Pan-like, under the shadow of his big tree:
-- Thirty years ago, ah me, gone like a dream is all
that; and there is solitude and desolation and the Rus-
sian-Austrian death-deluges instead! These, I suppose,
were Friedrich's occasional remembrances; silent al-
ways, in this locality and time. The Sorrows of Werter,
of the Giaour, of the Dyspeptic Tailor in multifarious
forms, are recorded in a copious heart-rending manner,
and have had their meed of weeping from a sympathetic
Public: but there are still a good few Sorrows which
lie wrapt in silence, and have never applied there for
an idle tear! -- Let us look now into Daun's side of
things.
Daun, after Negotiation, has an Interview with Soltikof (at
Guben, August 22d). -- "Daun, who had moved to Priebus,
"with a view to be nearer Soltikof, had scarcely got his tent
"pitched there (August 13th), when a breathless horseman
"rode in, with a Note from Loudon, dated the night before:
"' King of Prussia beaten, to the very bone, beyond mistake
"'this time, --utterly ruined, if one may judge! ' Whata
"vision of the Promised Land! Delighted Daun moves for-
"ward, one march, to Triebel on the morrow; to be one march
"nearer the scene of glory, and endeavour to forge this
"biggest of the hot irons to advantage.
"At Triebel Soltikofs own account, elucidated by oral
"messengers, eye-witnesses,
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? CHAp, V. ] SAXONY WITHOUT DEFENCE. 199
22d Aug. 1759.
"spectus of this ever-memorable Victory, await the delighted
"Daun. Who despatches messengers, one and another;
"Lacy, the first, not succeeding quite: To congratulate with
"enthusiasm the most illustrious of Generals; who has beaten
"King Friedrich as none else ever did or could; beaten to
"the edge of extinction; -- especially to urge him upon "trampling out this nearly extinct King, before he gleam
"up again. Soltikof understands the congratulations very
"well; but as to that of trampling out, snorts an indignant
"negative: 'Nay, you, why don t you try it? Surely it is
'"more your business than my Imperial Mistress's or mine.
"'We have wrenched two victories from him this season. Kay
"' and Kunersdorf have killed near the half of us: go you in,
"'and wrench something! ' This is Soltikofs logic; which
"no messenger of Daun's, Lacy or another, aided by never
"suchmelodies and suasionsfromMontalembert and Loudon,
"who are permanently diligent that way, can shake.
"And truly it is irrefragable. Howcan Daun, ifhimself
"merely speculative, calculative, hope that Soltikof will con-
"tinue acting? Men who have come to help you in a heavy
"job of work, need example. Ifyou wish me to weep, be
"grieved yourself first of all. Soltikof angrily wipes his
"countenance at this point, and insists on a few tears from
"Daun. Without metaphor, Soltikof has shot away all his
"present ammunition, his staff of bread is quite precarious
"in these parts; and Soltikof thinks always, 'Is it my busi-
"'ness, then, or is it yours? '"
"Soltikof has entrenched himself on the Wine-Hills at
'' Lo. ssow, comfortably out of Friedrich's way, and contiguous
"to Oder and the provision-routes; sits there, angrily deaf to
"the voice of the charmer; nothing to be charmed out of
"him, but gusts of indignation, instead of consent. A proud,
"high-going, indignant kind of man, with a will of his own.
"And sees well enough what is what, in all this symphony of
"the Lacys, the Montalemberts, and surrounding adorers. "Montalembert, who is here this season, our French best man
"(unprofitable Swedes must put up with an inferior hand), is
"extremely persuasive, tries all the arts of French rhetoric,
"but effects nothing. 'To let the Austrians come in for the
"finishing stroke, -- Excellence, it will be to let them gain, in
"History, a glory which is of your earning. Daun and
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? 200 FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XIX.
23d Aug. 1759.
"Austria, not Soltikof and Russia, will be said to have extin-
"guished this pestilent King; whom History will have to
"remember! '* 'With all my heart,' answers Soltikof; 'I
"make the Austrians and History perfectly welcome!
"Monsieur, my ammunition is in Posen; my bread is fallen
"scarce; in Frankfurt can you find me one horse more V' In-
"dignant Soltikof is not to be taken by chaff; growls now
"and then, if you stir him to the bottom: 'Why should we,
"who are volunteer assistants, take all the burden of the
"work? I will fall back to Posen, and home to Poland and
"East Preussen, if this last much longer. "
"Austria has a good deal disgusted these Soltikofs and
"Russian Chief Officers; -- who are not so stupid as Austria
"supposes. Austria's steady wish is, 'Let them do their
"function of cat's-paw for us: we are here to eat the chestnuts;
"not, if we can help it, to burn our own poor fingers for
"them! ' After every Campaign hitherto, Austria has been
"in use to raise eager accusations at Petersburg; and get the
"Apraxins, Fermors into trouble: this is not the way to con-
"ciliate Russian General Officers. Austria, taught probably
"by Daun, now tries the other tack: heaps Soltikof with
"eulogies, flatteries, magnificent presents. All which Soltikof
"accepts, but with a full sense of what they mean. An un-
"manageable Soltikof; his answer always; -- 'Your turn
"now to fight a victory! I will go my ways to Posen again, if
"you dont. ' And, in these current weeks, in Soltikofs
"audience-room, if anybody were curious about it, we could
"present a very lively solicitation going on, with answers
"very gruff and negatory. No suasion of Montalembert,
"Lacy, and Daun Embassies, backed by diamond-hilted
"swords, and splendour of gifts from Vienna itself, able to
"prevail on the barbarous people.
"Daun at length resolves to go in person; solicits an In-
"terview with the distinguished Russian Conqueror; gets it,
"meets Soltikof at Guben, half-way house between Frankfurt
"and Triebel; select suite attending both Excellencies
"(August 22d); and exerts whatever rhetoric is in him on the
* Cboiseul's Letter (not Due de Choiseul, but Cmnle, now Minister at
Vienna) to Montalembert, "Vienna, 16ttftAugust;" and Montalembert "s
Answer, "Lieberbausen" (means Liberote), "31st August 1759:" in Mont-
alembert, Correspondance, u. 58-65.
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? CHAP. V. ] SAXONY WITHOUT DEFENCE. 201
22d Aug. 1759.
"barbarous man. The barbarous man is stiff as brass; but
"Daun comes into all his conditions: 'Saxony, Silesia, --
"Excellenz, we have them both within clutch; such ourex-
"quisite angling and manceuvering, in concert with your im-
"mortal victory, which truly gives the life-breath to every-
"thing. Oh, suffer us to clutch them: keep that King away
"from us; and see if they are not ours, Saxony first, Silesia
"next! Provisions of meal? I will myself undertake to
"furnish bread for you' (though I have to cart it from
Bohemia all the way, and am myself terribly off; but fixed to
do the impossible); "ration of bread shall fail no Russian
"man, while you escort us as protective friend. Towards
"Saxony first, where the Reichs Army is, and not a Prussian
"in the field; the very Garrisons mostly gone by this time.
"Dresden is to be besieged, within a week; Dresden itself is
"ours, if only you please! Come into the Lausitz with us,
"Magazines are there, loaves in abundance: Saxony done,
"Dresden ours, cannot we turn to Silesia together; besiege
"Grlogau together (I am myself about trying Neisse, by
"Harsch again); capture Glogau as well as Neisse; and
"crown the successfullest campaign that ever was? Oh, Ex-
"cellenz--! "' --
In a word, Excellenz, strictly fixing that condition
of the loaves, consents. Will get ready to leave those
Frankfurt Wine-Hills in about a week. "But the
loaves, you recollect: no Bread; no Russian! " Daun
returns to Triebel a victorious man, -- though with an
onerous condition incumbent. Tempelhof, minutely
computing, finds that to cart from Bohemia such a
cipher of human rations daily into these parts, will sur-
pass all the vehiculatory power of Daun. *
* Tempelhof, in. 225,
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? 202 FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book HS.
7th-23d Aug. 1759.
The "Reichs Army" so-called has entered Saxony, und/r
fine Omens; does some Feats of Sieging (August 7th-23d)
-- with an Eye on Dresden as the crowning one.
The Reichs Army, though it had been so tumbled
about, in Spring, with such havoc on its magazines
and preparations, could not wait to refit itself, except
superficially; and showed face over the Mountains al-
most earlier than usual. The chance was so unique: a
Saxony left to its mere Garrisons, -- as it continued
to be, for near two months this Year. On such golden
opportunity the Reichs Army, -- first, in light mis-
chievous precursor parties, who roamed as far as Halle
or even as Halberstadt; then the Army itself, well or
ill appointed, under Generalissimo the Prince von Zwei-
briick, -- did come on, winding through Thiiringen
towards the North-western Towns; various Austrian
Auxiliary-Corps making appearance on the Dresden
side. Eight Austrian regiments, as a permanency, are
in the Reichs Army itself. Commander, or part Com-
mander, of the eight is (what alone I find note-worthy
in them) "Herr General Thomas von Blonquet:" Irish
by nation, says a footnote;* -- sure enough some ad-
venturous "Thomas Plunket" visible this once, soldier-
ing, in those circumstances; never heard of by a sym-
pathetic reader before or after. It was while the King was
hunting the Haddick-Loudon people in Sagan Country
in such vehement fashion, that Zweibriick came trum-
peting into Saxony, -- King, Prince Henri, and every
body, well occupied otherwise, far away!
The Reichs Army has a camp at Naumburg (Ross-
bach neighbourhood): and has light troops out in Halle
neighbourhood; which have seized Halle; are very
* Seyfarth, n. 831 n.
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? CHAP. V. ] SCHMETTAU SURRENDERS DRESDEN. 203
7th-23d Aug. 1759.
severe upon Halle, and other places thereabouts, till
chased away. August 7th, the Reichs Army begirt
Leipzig; summoned the weak garrison there. It is a
Town capable of ruin, but not of defence: "Free-with-
drawal," proposes the Reichs Army,--- and upon these
terms gets hold of Leipzig, for the time being. Leipzig,
Torgau, Wittenberg; in a fort-night or less, all the
Prussian posts in those parts fall to the Reichs Army.
Its marchings and siegings, among those North-western
places, not one of them capable of standing above a
few days' siege, are worth no mention, except to Parish
History: enough that, by little after the middle of Au-
gust, Zweibruck had got all these places, "Free-with-
drawal" the terms for all; and that, except it be the
following feature in their Siege of Torgau, feature
mainly Biographic, and belonging to a certain Colonel
Wolfersdorf concerned, there is not one of those Sieges
now worth a moment's attention from almost any mortal.
This is the Torgau feature, -- feature of human nature,
soldiering under difficulties:
Colonel von Wolfersdorf beautifully defends himself in
Torgau (August 9th-14th). Two days after Leipzig was had,
there appeared at Torgau a Body of Pandours, 2,000 and
more; who attempted some kind of scalade on Torgau and
its small Garrison (of 700 or so), -- where are a Magazine, a
Hospital and other properties: not capable, by any garrison,
of standing regular siege; but important to defend till you
have proper terms offered. The multitudinous Pandours, if I
remember, made a rush into the Suburbs, in their usual
vociferous way; but were met by the 700 silent Prussians, --
silent except through their fire-arms and fieldpieces, -- in so
eloquent a style as soon convinced the Pandour mind, and
sent it travelling again. And in the evening of the same day
(August 9th), Colonel Wolfersdorf arrives, as new Com-
mandant, and with reinforcements, small though considerable
in the circumstances.
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? 204 FRIEDMCH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book m.
7th-23d Aug. 1759.
Wolfersdorf, one dimly gathers, had marched from Wit-
tenberg on this errand; the whole force in Torgau is now of
about 3,000, still with only field-cannon, but with a Captain
over them; -- who, as is evident, sets himself in a very earnest
manner to do his utmost in defence of the place. Next morn-
ing Keichs General Kleefeld (" CloverfiekT), with 6 or 8,000
Pandour and Regular, summons Wolfersdorf: "Surrender
instantly; or -- I "We will expect you! " answers Wolfers-
dorf. Whereupon, same morning (August 10th), general
storm; storm No. 1: beautifully handled by Wolfersdorf; who
takes it in rear (to its astonishment), as well as in front; and
sends it off in haste. On the morrow, Saturday, a second
followed; and on Sunday a third; both likewise beautifully
handled. This third storm, readers see, was "Sunday,
August 12th:" a very busy stormful day at Torgau here, --
and also, for some others of us, during the heats of Kuners-
dorf, over the horizon far away! Wolfersdorf tumbles back
all storms; furthermore makes mischievous sallies: a de-
structive, skilled person; altogether prompt, fertile in ex-
pedients; and evidently is not to be managed by Kleefeld.
So that Prince von Stolberg, Second to supreme Zweibriick
himself, has to take it in hand. And,
Monday 13th, at break of day, Stolberg arrives with a train
of battering guns, and 6,000 new people; summons Wolfers-
dorf: "No," as before. Storms him, a fourth time; likewise
"No," as before: attacks, thereupon, his Elbe Bridge, and
his Redoubt across the River; finds a Wolfersdorf party rush
destructively into his rear there. And has to withdraw, and
try battering from behind the Elbe Dam. Continues this,
violently for about two hours; till again Wolfersdorf, whose
poorfieldpieces, the only artillery he has, "cannot reach so
far with leaden balls" (the iron balls are done, and the
powder itself is almost done), manages, by a flank attack, to
quench this also.
Which produces entire silence, and con-
siderable private reflexion, on the part of indignant Stolberg.
Stolberg offers him the favourablest terms devisable: "With-
draw freely, with all your honours, all your properties; only
withdraw! " Which Wolfersdorf, his powder and ball being
in such a state of ebb, and no relief possible, agrees to; with
stipulations very strict as to every particular. *
* In Anonymous of Hamburg (in. 350) the Capitulation, "August 14th,"
given in cxtenso.
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? CHAP. V. ] SCHMETTAU SURRENDERS DRESDEN. 205
7th-23d Aug. 1757.
Colonel von Wolfersdorf withdraws, also beautifully (August
15th). Accordingly, Wednesday August 15th, at eight in the
morning, Wolfersdorf by the Elbe Gate moves out; across
Elbe Bridge, and the Redoubt which is on the farther shore
yonder. Near this Redoubt, Stolberg and many of his
General Officers are waiting to see him go. He goes in state;
flags flying, music playing. Battalion Hessen-Cassel, fol-
lowed by all our Packages, Hospital convalescents. King's
Artillery, and whatever is the King's or ours, marches first.
Next comes, as rearguard to all this, Battalion Grollmann; --
along with which is Wolfersdorf himself, knowing Grollmann
for a ticklish article (Saxons mainly); followed on the heel by
Battalion Hofmann, and lastly by Battalion Salmuth, trusty
Prussians both of these.
Battalion Hessen-Cassel and the Baggages are through
the Redoubt, Prince of Stolberg handsomely saluting as
saluted. But now, on Battalion Grollmann's coming up,
Stolberg's Adjutant cries out with a loud voice of proclama-
tion, many Officers repeating and enforcing: "Whoever is a
brave Saxon, whoever is true to his Kaiser, or was of the
"Reichs Army, let him step out: Durchlaucht will give him
"protection! At sound of which Grollmann quivers as if
struck by electricity; and instantly begins dissolving; -- dis-
solves, in effect, nearly all, and is in the act of vanishing like
a dream! Wolfersdorf is a prompt man; and needs to be so.
Wolfersdorf, in Olympian rage, instantly stops short; draws
pistol: "I will shoot dead every man that quits rank! "
vociferates he; and does, with his pistol, make instant ex-
ample of one; inviting every true Prussian to do the like:
"Jagers, Hussars, a ducat for every traitor you shoot down! "
continues Wolfersdorf (and punctually paid it afterwards):
unable to prevent an almost total dissolution of Grollmann.
For some minutes, there is a scene indescribable: storm of
vociferation, menace, musket-shot, pistol-shot; Grollmann
disappearing on every side, -- "behind the Redoubt, under
the Bridge, into Elbe Boats, under the cloaks of the Croats;"
-- in spite of Wolfersdorf's Olympian rages and efforts.
At sight of the shooting, Prince Stolberg, a hot man, had
said indignantly, "Herr, that will be dangerous for you (das
wird nicht gut gehn). '" Wolfersdorf not regarding him a whit;
regarding only Grollmann, and his own hot business of
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? 206 FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XII.
7th-23d Aug. 1759.
coercing it at a ducat per head. Grollmann gone, and Bat-
talion Hofmann in due sequence come up, Wolfersdorf, --
who has sent an Adjutant, with order, "Hessen-Cassel, halt"
-- gives Battalion Hofmann these three words of command:
"Whole Battalion, halt! -- Front! -- Make ready! " (with
due simultaneous click of every firelock, on utterance of that
last); -- and turning to Prince Stolberg, with a brow, with a
tone of voice: "Durchlaucht, Article 9 of the Capitulation is
express on this point; '. All desertion strictly prohibited; no
"deserter to be received either on the Imperial or on the Prussian
"side'! " (Durchlaucht silently gives, we suppose, some faint
sniff. ) "Since your Durchlaucht does not keep the Capitula-
"tion, neither will I regard it farther. I will now take you
"and your Suite prisoners, return into the Town, and again
"begin defending myself. Be so good as ride directly into
"that Redoubt, or I will present, and give fire! "
A dangerous moment for the Durchlaucht of Stolberg;
Battalion Salmuth actually taking possession of the wall
again; Hofmann here with its poised firelock on the cock,
"ready" for that fourth word, as above indicated. A General
Lusinsky of Stolberg's train, master of those Croats, and an
Austrian of figure, remarks very seriously: "Every point of
the Capitulation must be kept! " Upon which Durchlaucht
has to renounce and repent; eagerly assists in recovering
Grollmann, restores it (little the worse, little the fewer); wiu
five Wolfersdorf "command of the Austrian Escort you are to
ave," and every satisfaction and assurance; -- wishful only
to get rid of Wolfersdorf. Who thereupon marches to Witten-
berg, with colours flying again, and a name mentionable ever
since. *
This Wolfersdorf was himself a Pirna Saxon; serv-
ing Polish Majesty, as Major, in that Pirna time; per-
haps no admirer of "Feldmarschall Bruhl" and Company?
-- at any rate, he took Prussian service, as then offered
him; and this is his style of keeping it. A decidedly
clever soldier, and comes out, henceforth, more and
* Tcmpolhof, ni. 201-204; Seyfarth, II. 562n. , and Beylagen, n. 587;
Militair-Lcxikon, iv. 283.
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? CHAP. V. ] SCHMETTAU SURRENDERS DRESDEN. 207
7th-:>3d Aug. 1759.
more as such, -- unhappily not for long. Was taken
at Maxen, he too, as will be seen. Rose, in after times,
to be Lieutenant-General, and a man famous in the
Prussian military circles; but given always, they say,
to take the straight line (or shortest distance between
self and object), in regard to military matters, to re-
cruiting and the like, and thus getting himself into
trouble with the Civil Officials.
Wolfersdorf, at Wittenberg or farther on, had a
flattering word from the King; applauding his effective
procedures at Torgau; and ordering him, should Witten-
berg fall (as it did, August 23d), to join Wunsch, who
is coming with a small Party to try and help in those
destitute localities. Wunsch, the King had detached
(21st August), as we heard already. Finck the King
finds, farther, that he can detach (from Waldau Country,
September 7th);* Russians being so languid, and Saxony
fallen into such a perilous predicament.
"Few days after Kunersdorf," says a Note, which should
be inserted here, "there had fallen out a small Naval matter,
"which will be consolatory to Friedrich, and go to the other
"side of the account, when he hears of it: Kunersdorf was
"Sunday, August 12th; this was Saturday and Sunday fol-
lowing. Besides their Grand Brest Fleet; With new flat
"bottoms, and world-famous land-preparations going on at
"Vannes, for Invasion of proud Albion ,i;all which are at
"present under Hawke's strict keeping, the French have,
"ever since Spring last, a fine subsidiary Fleet at Toulon,
"of very exultant hopes at one time; which now come to
"finis:
"Sea-Fight (properly Sea-Hunt of 200 miles), in the Cadiz
"Waters, August 18th-19th. The fine Toulon Fleet, which
"expected at one time, Pitt's ships being so scattered over
"the world, to be 'mistress of the Mediterranean,' has found
* Tempelhof, in. 211, 237.
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? 208 FKIEDRICH LIKE tQ BE OVERWHELMED. [book XIX.
18th-19th Aug. 1759.
"itself, on the contrary (such were Pitt's resources and
"promptitudes), cooped in harbour all Summer; Boscawen
"watching it in the usual strict way. No egress possible; till,
"in the sultry weather (8th July -- 4th August), Boscawen's
"need of fresh provisions, freshwater, and of making some
"repairs, took him to Gibraltar, and gave the Toulon Fleet a
"transient opportunity, which it made use of.
"August 17th, at 8 in the evening, Boscawen, at Gibraltar
"(some of his ships still in dishabille or under repair), was
"hastily apprised by one of his Frigates, That the Toulon
"Fleet had sailed; been seen visibly at CeutaPoint so many
"hours ago. 'Meaning,' as Boscawen guesses, 'to be through
"the Straitsthis very night! ' By power of despatch, the dis-
"habille ships were rapidly buttoned together (in about two
"hours); and by 10 p. m. all were under sail. And soon were
"in hot chase: the game being now in view, -- going at its
'' utmost through the Straits, as anticipated. At 7 next morn-
"ing (Saturday August 18th) Boscawen got clutch of the
"Toulon Fleet; still well east of Cadiz, somewhere in the
"Trafalgar waters, I should guess. Here Boscawen fought
"and chased the Toulon Fleet, for 24 hours coming: drove it
"finally ashore, at Lagos on the coast ofPortugal, with five
"of its big ships burnt or taken, its crews and other ships
"flying by land and water, its poor Admiral mortally
"wounded; and the Toulon Fleet a ruined article. The wind
"had been capricious, here fresh, there calm; now favouring
"the hunters, now the hunted; both Fleets had dropped in
"two. De la Clue, the French Admiral, complained bitterly
"how his Captains lagged, or shore off and forsook him.
"Boscawen himself, who for his own share had gone at it
"eagle-like, was heard grumbling, about want of speed in
"some people; and said: 'It is well; but it might have been
"better! '*
"De la Clue, -- fallen long ago from all notions of
"'dominating the Mediterranean, -- had modestly intended
"to get through, on any terms, into the Ocean; might then, if
"possible, have joined the grand 'Invasion Squadron,' now
"lying at Brest, till Vannes and the furnishings are ready, or
"have tried to be troublesome in the rearofHawke, who is
* Beatson, n. 313-9; lb. in. 237, 8, De la Clue, the French Admiral's
Despatch; -- Boscawen's Despatch, &c. , In Gentleman's Magazine, xxix. 434.
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? CHAP, V. ] SCHMETTAU SURRENDERS DRESDEN. 209
26th Aug. --4th Sept. 1759.
"blockading all that. A modest outlook in comparison; --
"and this is what it also has come to. As for the Grand In-
vasion Squadron, Admiral Conflans, commanding it, still
"holds up his head in Brest Harbour, and talks big. Makes
'little of Rodney's havoc on the Flatbottoms at Havre, 'Will
"soon have Flatbottoms again; and you shall see! ' -- if
"only Hawke, and wind and weather and Fortune, will
"permit. "
Austrian Reichs Army does its
nan Reichs Army does its crowning Feat (August
26th -- September 4th): Diary of what is called
the "Siege" of Dresden.
Since the first weeks of August there have been
Austrian detachments, Wehla's Corps, Brentano's Corps,
entering Saxony from the north-east or Daun-ward side,
and posting themselves in the strong points looking to-
wards Dresden; waiting there till the Reichs Army
should capture its Leipzigs, Torgaus, Wittenbergs, and
roll forward from north-west. To all which it is easy
to fancy what an impetus was given by Kunersdorf
and August 12th; the business, after that, going on
double-quick, and pointing to immediate practical in-
dustry on Dresden. The Reichs Army hastens to settle
its north-western Towns, puts due garrison in each,
leaves a 10 or 12,000 movable for general protection,
in those parts; and, August 23d, marches for Dresden.
There are only some 15,000 left of it now; almost half
the Reichs Army drunk up in that manner; were not
Daun now speeding forth his Maguire with a fresh
12,000; who is to command the Wehlas and Brentanos
as well. And, in effect, to be Austrian chief, and
as regards practical matters, Manager of this im-
portant Enterprise, -- all-important to Daun just now.
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. XI. 14
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? 210 FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHlfLMED. [book XIX.
26th Aug. --4th Sept. 1759.
Schmettau in Dresden sees clearly what mischief is at
hand.
To Daun this Siege of Dresden is the alpha to
whatever omegas there may be: he and his Soltikof
are to sit waiting this; and can attempt nothing but
eating of provender, till this be achieved. As the Siege
was really important, though not quite the alpha to all
omegas, and has in it curious points and physiognomic
traits, we will invite readers to some transient inspection
of it, -- the rather as there exist ample contemporary
Narratives, Diariums, and authentic records to render
that possible and easy*
"Ever since the rumour of Kunersdorf," says one Diarium,
compiled out of many, "in the last two weeks of August,
"Schmettau's need of vigilance and diligence has been on the
"increase, his outlooks becoming grimmer and grimmer. He
"has a poorishGarrison for number (3,700 in all**), and not of
"the best quality; deserters a good few of them: willing
"enough for strokes; fighting fellows all, and of adventurous
'' turn, but uncertain as to loyalty in a case of pinch. He has
"endless stores in the place; for one item, almost a million
"sterling of ready money. Poor Schmettau, if he knew it,
"has suddenly become the Leonidas of this Campaign, Dres-
"den its Thermopylae; and" -- But readers can conceive the
situation.
"August 20th, Schmettau quits the Neustadt, or northern
"part of Dresden, which lies beyond the River: unim-
"portant that, and indefensible with garrison not adequate;
"Schmettau will strengthen the River bank, blow up the
"Stone Bridge if necessary, and restrict himself to Dresden
"Proper. The Court is here; Schmettau does not hope that
"the Court can avert a Siege from him; but he fails not to try,
"in that way too, and may at least gain time.
* In Tempelhof (in. 210-216-222)', complete and careful Narrative; in
Anonymous of Hamburg (in. 871-377), express "Day-book" by some Eye-
witness in Dresden.
** Schmettau's Leben (by his Son), p. 408.
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? CHAP. V. ] SCHMETTAU SURRENDERS DRESDEN. 211
26th Aug. --4th Sept. 1759.
"August 25th, He has a Mine put under the main arch of
"the Bridge: 'mine ill-made, uncertain of effect,' reports the
"Officer whom he sent to inspect it. But it was never tried,
"the mere rumour of it kept off attacks on that side. Same
"day, August 25th, Schmettau receives that unfortunate
"Royal Missive* written in the dark days of Reitwein,
"morrow of Kunersdorf (14th or 13th August)" which we read
above. "That there is another Letter on the road for him,
"indicating 'Relief shall be tried,' is unknown to Schmettau,
"and fatally continues unknown. While Schmettau is
"reading this (August 25th), General Wunsch has been on
"the road four days: Wunsch and Wolfersdorf with about
"8,000, at their quickest pace, and in a fine winged frame of
"mind withal, are speeding on: will cross Elbe at Meissen to-
"morrow night, -- did Schmettau only know. People say he
"did, in the way of rumour, understand that Kunersdorf had
"not been the fatal thing it was thought; and that efforts
"would be made by a King like his. In his place, one might
"have, at least, shot out a spy or two? But he did not, then
"or afterwards.
"Already, ever since the arrival of Wehla andBrentano
"in those parts, he has been labouring under many uncer-
"tainties; too many for aLeonidas! Hanging between Yes
"and No, even about that of quitting the Neustadt, for ex-
"ample: carrying over portions of his goods, but never
"heartily the whole; unable to resolve; now lifting visibly
"the Bridge pavement, then again visibly restoring it; --
"and, I think, though the contrary is asserted, he had at last
"to leave in the Neustadt a great deal of stores, horse-
"provender and other, not needful to him at present, orim-
"possible to carry, when dubiety got ended. He has put a
"mine under the Bridge; but knows it will not go off.
"Schmettau has been in many wars, but this is a case that
"tries his soldier qualities as none other has ever done. A
"case of endless intricacy, -- if he be quite equal to it; which
"perhaps he was not altogether.
16th Aug. --15th Sept. 1759.
"to the Wine-Hills of Frankfurt, I shall never dare to attack
"him.
"No, the torment of Tantalus, the pains of Prometheus,
"the doom of Sisyphus, were nothing like what I suffer for
"the last ten days" (from Kunersdorf till now, when destruc-
tion has to be warded off again, and the force wanting).
"Death is sweet in comparison to such a life. Have com-
"passion on me and itj and believe that I still keep to myself
"a great many evil things, not wishing to afflict or disquiet
"anybody with them; and that I would not counsel you to
"fly these unlucky Countries, if I had any ray of hope.
"Adieu, mon cher. "
Four days after, August 25th, from this same Fiirsten-
walde, the Russians still continuing stagnant, Friedrich de-
spatches, to Schmettau, Commandant of Dresden (by some
industrious hand, for the roads are all blocked), a Second
Letter, "That Dresden is of the highest moment; that in
"case of Siege there, relief" (Wunsch, namely, and perhaps
more that may follow) "is on the road; and that Schmettau
"must defend himself to the utmost. " Let us hope this
Second Missive may counteract the too despondent First,
which we read above, should that have produced discourage-
ment in Schmettau! * -- D'Argens does run to Wolfenbiittel;
stays there till September 9th. Nothing more from Friedrich
till 4th September, when matters are well cooled again.
6? . Waldau, 4th September. "I think Berlin is now in
"safety; you may return thither. The Barbarians" (Russians)
"are in the Lausitz; I keep by the side of them, between
"them and Berlin, so that there is nothing to fear for the
"Capital. The imminency of danger is past; but there will
"still be many bad moments toget through, before reaching
"the end of the Campaign. These, however, only regard
"myself; never mind these. My martyrdom will last two
"months yet; then the snows and the ices will end it. "**
Thus at Fiirstenwalde, then at Waldau, keeping
guard, forlorn but resolute, against the intrusive Russian-
Austrian deluges, Friedrich stands painfully vigilant
* Second Letter is given in Schmet tait's Lebcn, pp. 436, 7.
** (Enures de Frideric, six. 78, 82, 83, 85, 86.
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? 198 FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED, [book XIX.
22d Aug. 1759.
and expectant, -- still for about a fortnight more. With
bad news coming to him latterly, as we shall hear. He
is in those old moorland Wusterhausen Countries, once
so well known under far other circumstances. Thirty
years ago, in fine afternoons, we used to gallop with
poor Duhan de Jandun, after school-tasks done, to-
wards Mittenwalde, Fiirstenwalde and the furzy en-
virons, far and wide; at home, our Sister and Mother
waiting with many troubles and many loves, and Papa
sleeping, Pan-like, under the shadow of his big tree:
-- Thirty years ago, ah me, gone like a dream is all
that; and there is solitude and desolation and the Rus-
sian-Austrian death-deluges instead! These, I suppose,
were Friedrich's occasional remembrances; silent al-
ways, in this locality and time. The Sorrows of Werter,
of the Giaour, of the Dyspeptic Tailor in multifarious
forms, are recorded in a copious heart-rending manner,
and have had their meed of weeping from a sympathetic
Public: but there are still a good few Sorrows which
lie wrapt in silence, and have never applied there for
an idle tear! -- Let us look now into Daun's side of
things.
Daun, after Negotiation, has an Interview with Soltikof (at
Guben, August 22d). -- "Daun, who had moved to Priebus,
"with a view to be nearer Soltikof, had scarcely got his tent
"pitched there (August 13th), when a breathless horseman
"rode in, with a Note from Loudon, dated the night before:
"' King of Prussia beaten, to the very bone, beyond mistake
"'this time, --utterly ruined, if one may judge! ' Whata
"vision of the Promised Land! Delighted Daun moves for-
"ward, one march, to Triebel on the morrow; to be one march
"nearer the scene of glory, and endeavour to forge this
"biggest of the hot irons to advantage.
"At Triebel Soltikofs own account, elucidated by oral
"messengers, eye-witnesses,
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? CHAp, V. ] SAXONY WITHOUT DEFENCE. 199
22d Aug. 1759.
"spectus of this ever-memorable Victory, await the delighted
"Daun. Who despatches messengers, one and another;
"Lacy, the first, not succeeding quite: To congratulate with
"enthusiasm the most illustrious of Generals; who has beaten
"King Friedrich as none else ever did or could; beaten to
"the edge of extinction; -- especially to urge him upon "trampling out this nearly extinct King, before he gleam
"up again. Soltikof understands the congratulations very
"well; but as to that of trampling out, snorts an indignant
"negative: 'Nay, you, why don t you try it? Surely it is
'"more your business than my Imperial Mistress's or mine.
"'We have wrenched two victories from him this season. Kay
"' and Kunersdorf have killed near the half of us: go you in,
"'and wrench something! ' This is Soltikofs logic; which
"no messenger of Daun's, Lacy or another, aided by never
"suchmelodies and suasionsfromMontalembert and Loudon,
"who are permanently diligent that way, can shake.
"And truly it is irrefragable. Howcan Daun, ifhimself
"merely speculative, calculative, hope that Soltikof will con-
"tinue acting? Men who have come to help you in a heavy
"job of work, need example. Ifyou wish me to weep, be
"grieved yourself first of all. Soltikof angrily wipes his
"countenance at this point, and insists on a few tears from
"Daun. Without metaphor, Soltikof has shot away all his
"present ammunition, his staff of bread is quite precarious
"in these parts; and Soltikof thinks always, 'Is it my busi-
"'ness, then, or is it yours? '"
"Soltikof has entrenched himself on the Wine-Hills at
'' Lo. ssow, comfortably out of Friedrich's way, and contiguous
"to Oder and the provision-routes; sits there, angrily deaf to
"the voice of the charmer; nothing to be charmed out of
"him, but gusts of indignation, instead of consent. A proud,
"high-going, indignant kind of man, with a will of his own.
"And sees well enough what is what, in all this symphony of
"the Lacys, the Montalemberts, and surrounding adorers. "Montalembert, who is here this season, our French best man
"(unprofitable Swedes must put up with an inferior hand), is
"extremely persuasive, tries all the arts of French rhetoric,
"but effects nothing. 'To let the Austrians come in for the
"finishing stroke, -- Excellence, it will be to let them gain, in
"History, a glory which is of your earning. Daun and
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? 200 FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XIX.
23d Aug. 1759.
"Austria, not Soltikof and Russia, will be said to have extin-
"guished this pestilent King; whom History will have to
"remember! '* 'With all my heart,' answers Soltikof; 'I
"make the Austrians and History perfectly welcome!
"Monsieur, my ammunition is in Posen; my bread is fallen
"scarce; in Frankfurt can you find me one horse more V' In-
"dignant Soltikof is not to be taken by chaff; growls now
"and then, if you stir him to the bottom: 'Why should we,
"who are volunteer assistants, take all the burden of the
"work? I will fall back to Posen, and home to Poland and
"East Preussen, if this last much longer. "
"Austria has a good deal disgusted these Soltikofs and
"Russian Chief Officers; -- who are not so stupid as Austria
"supposes. Austria's steady wish is, 'Let them do their
"function of cat's-paw for us: we are here to eat the chestnuts;
"not, if we can help it, to burn our own poor fingers for
"them! ' After every Campaign hitherto, Austria has been
"in use to raise eager accusations at Petersburg; and get the
"Apraxins, Fermors into trouble: this is not the way to con-
"ciliate Russian General Officers. Austria, taught probably
"by Daun, now tries the other tack: heaps Soltikof with
"eulogies, flatteries, magnificent presents. All which Soltikof
"accepts, but with a full sense of what they mean. An un-
"manageable Soltikof; his answer always; -- 'Your turn
"now to fight a victory! I will go my ways to Posen again, if
"you dont. ' And, in these current weeks, in Soltikofs
"audience-room, if anybody were curious about it, we could
"present a very lively solicitation going on, with answers
"very gruff and negatory. No suasion of Montalembert,
"Lacy, and Daun Embassies, backed by diamond-hilted
"swords, and splendour of gifts from Vienna itself, able to
"prevail on the barbarous people.
"Daun at length resolves to go in person; solicits an In-
"terview with the distinguished Russian Conqueror; gets it,
"meets Soltikof at Guben, half-way house between Frankfurt
"and Triebel; select suite attending both Excellencies
"(August 22d); and exerts whatever rhetoric is in him on the
* Cboiseul's Letter (not Due de Choiseul, but Cmnle, now Minister at
Vienna) to Montalembert, "Vienna, 16ttftAugust;" and Montalembert "s
Answer, "Lieberbausen" (means Liberote), "31st August 1759:" in Mont-
alembert, Correspondance, u. 58-65.
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? CHAP. V. ] SAXONY WITHOUT DEFENCE. 201
22d Aug. 1759.
"barbarous man. The barbarous man is stiff as brass; but
"Daun comes into all his conditions: 'Saxony, Silesia, --
"Excellenz, we have them both within clutch; such ourex-
"quisite angling and manceuvering, in concert with your im-
"mortal victory, which truly gives the life-breath to every-
"thing. Oh, suffer us to clutch them: keep that King away
"from us; and see if they are not ours, Saxony first, Silesia
"next! Provisions of meal? I will myself undertake to
"furnish bread for you' (though I have to cart it from
Bohemia all the way, and am myself terribly off; but fixed to
do the impossible); "ration of bread shall fail no Russian
"man, while you escort us as protective friend. Towards
"Saxony first, where the Reichs Army is, and not a Prussian
"in the field; the very Garrisons mostly gone by this time.
"Dresden is to be besieged, within a week; Dresden itself is
"ours, if only you please! Come into the Lausitz with us,
"Magazines are there, loaves in abundance: Saxony done,
"Dresden ours, cannot we turn to Silesia together; besiege
"Grlogau together (I am myself about trying Neisse, by
"Harsch again); capture Glogau as well as Neisse; and
"crown the successfullest campaign that ever was? Oh, Ex-
"cellenz--! "' --
In a word, Excellenz, strictly fixing that condition
of the loaves, consents. Will get ready to leave those
Frankfurt Wine-Hills in about a week. "But the
loaves, you recollect: no Bread; no Russian! " Daun
returns to Triebel a victorious man, -- though with an
onerous condition incumbent. Tempelhof, minutely
computing, finds that to cart from Bohemia such a
cipher of human rations daily into these parts, will sur-
pass all the vehiculatory power of Daun. *
* Tempelhof, in. 225,
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? 202 FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book HS.
7th-23d Aug. 1759.
The "Reichs Army" so-called has entered Saxony, und/r
fine Omens; does some Feats of Sieging (August 7th-23d)
-- with an Eye on Dresden as the crowning one.
The Reichs Army, though it had been so tumbled
about, in Spring, with such havoc on its magazines
and preparations, could not wait to refit itself, except
superficially; and showed face over the Mountains al-
most earlier than usual. The chance was so unique: a
Saxony left to its mere Garrisons, -- as it continued
to be, for near two months this Year. On such golden
opportunity the Reichs Army, -- first, in light mis-
chievous precursor parties, who roamed as far as Halle
or even as Halberstadt; then the Army itself, well or
ill appointed, under Generalissimo the Prince von Zwei-
briick, -- did come on, winding through Thiiringen
towards the North-western Towns; various Austrian
Auxiliary-Corps making appearance on the Dresden
side. Eight Austrian regiments, as a permanency, are
in the Reichs Army itself. Commander, or part Com-
mander, of the eight is (what alone I find note-worthy
in them) "Herr General Thomas von Blonquet:" Irish
by nation, says a footnote;* -- sure enough some ad-
venturous "Thomas Plunket" visible this once, soldier-
ing, in those circumstances; never heard of by a sym-
pathetic reader before or after. It was while the King was
hunting the Haddick-Loudon people in Sagan Country
in such vehement fashion, that Zweibriick came trum-
peting into Saxony, -- King, Prince Henri, and every
body, well occupied otherwise, far away!
The Reichs Army has a camp at Naumburg (Ross-
bach neighbourhood): and has light troops out in Halle
neighbourhood; which have seized Halle; are very
* Seyfarth, n. 831 n.
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? CHAP. V. ] SCHMETTAU SURRENDERS DRESDEN. 203
7th-23d Aug. 1759.
severe upon Halle, and other places thereabouts, till
chased away. August 7th, the Reichs Army begirt
Leipzig; summoned the weak garrison there. It is a
Town capable of ruin, but not of defence: "Free-with-
drawal," proposes the Reichs Army,--- and upon these
terms gets hold of Leipzig, for the time being. Leipzig,
Torgau, Wittenberg; in a fort-night or less, all the
Prussian posts in those parts fall to the Reichs Army.
Its marchings and siegings, among those North-western
places, not one of them capable of standing above a
few days' siege, are worth no mention, except to Parish
History: enough that, by little after the middle of Au-
gust, Zweibruck had got all these places, "Free-with-
drawal" the terms for all; and that, except it be the
following feature in their Siege of Torgau, feature
mainly Biographic, and belonging to a certain Colonel
Wolfersdorf concerned, there is not one of those Sieges
now worth a moment's attention from almost any mortal.
This is the Torgau feature, -- feature of human nature,
soldiering under difficulties:
Colonel von Wolfersdorf beautifully defends himself in
Torgau (August 9th-14th). Two days after Leipzig was had,
there appeared at Torgau a Body of Pandours, 2,000 and
more; who attempted some kind of scalade on Torgau and
its small Garrison (of 700 or so), -- where are a Magazine, a
Hospital and other properties: not capable, by any garrison,
of standing regular siege; but important to defend till you
have proper terms offered. The multitudinous Pandours, if I
remember, made a rush into the Suburbs, in their usual
vociferous way; but were met by the 700 silent Prussians, --
silent except through their fire-arms and fieldpieces, -- in so
eloquent a style as soon convinced the Pandour mind, and
sent it travelling again. And in the evening of the same day
(August 9th), Colonel Wolfersdorf arrives, as new Com-
mandant, and with reinforcements, small though considerable
in the circumstances.
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? 204 FRIEDMCH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book m.
7th-23d Aug. 1759.
Wolfersdorf, one dimly gathers, had marched from Wit-
tenberg on this errand; the whole force in Torgau is now of
about 3,000, still with only field-cannon, but with a Captain
over them; -- who, as is evident, sets himself in a very earnest
manner to do his utmost in defence of the place. Next morn-
ing Keichs General Kleefeld (" CloverfiekT), with 6 or 8,000
Pandour and Regular, summons Wolfersdorf: "Surrender
instantly; or -- I "We will expect you! " answers Wolfers-
dorf. Whereupon, same morning (August 10th), general
storm; storm No. 1: beautifully handled by Wolfersdorf; who
takes it in rear (to its astonishment), as well as in front; and
sends it off in haste. On the morrow, Saturday, a second
followed; and on Sunday a third; both likewise beautifully
handled. This third storm, readers see, was "Sunday,
August 12th:" a very busy stormful day at Torgau here, --
and also, for some others of us, during the heats of Kuners-
dorf, over the horizon far away! Wolfersdorf tumbles back
all storms; furthermore makes mischievous sallies: a de-
structive, skilled person; altogether prompt, fertile in ex-
pedients; and evidently is not to be managed by Kleefeld.
So that Prince von Stolberg, Second to supreme Zweibriick
himself, has to take it in hand. And,
Monday 13th, at break of day, Stolberg arrives with a train
of battering guns, and 6,000 new people; summons Wolfers-
dorf: "No," as before. Storms him, a fourth time; likewise
"No," as before: attacks, thereupon, his Elbe Bridge, and
his Redoubt across the River; finds a Wolfersdorf party rush
destructively into his rear there. And has to withdraw, and
try battering from behind the Elbe Dam. Continues this,
violently for about two hours; till again Wolfersdorf, whose
poorfieldpieces, the only artillery he has, "cannot reach so
far with leaden balls" (the iron balls are done, and the
powder itself is almost done), manages, by a flank attack, to
quench this also.
Which produces entire silence, and con-
siderable private reflexion, on the part of indignant Stolberg.
Stolberg offers him the favourablest terms devisable: "With-
draw freely, with all your honours, all your properties; only
withdraw! " Which Wolfersdorf, his powder and ball being
in such a state of ebb, and no relief possible, agrees to; with
stipulations very strict as to every particular. *
* In Anonymous of Hamburg (in. 350) the Capitulation, "August 14th,"
given in cxtenso.
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? CHAP. V. ] SCHMETTAU SURRENDERS DRESDEN. 205
7th-23d Aug. 1757.
Colonel von Wolfersdorf withdraws, also beautifully (August
15th). Accordingly, Wednesday August 15th, at eight in the
morning, Wolfersdorf by the Elbe Gate moves out; across
Elbe Bridge, and the Redoubt which is on the farther shore
yonder. Near this Redoubt, Stolberg and many of his
General Officers are waiting to see him go. He goes in state;
flags flying, music playing. Battalion Hessen-Cassel, fol-
lowed by all our Packages, Hospital convalescents. King's
Artillery, and whatever is the King's or ours, marches first.
Next comes, as rearguard to all this, Battalion Grollmann; --
along with which is Wolfersdorf himself, knowing Grollmann
for a ticklish article (Saxons mainly); followed on the heel by
Battalion Hofmann, and lastly by Battalion Salmuth, trusty
Prussians both of these.
Battalion Hessen-Cassel and the Baggages are through
the Redoubt, Prince of Stolberg handsomely saluting as
saluted. But now, on Battalion Grollmann's coming up,
Stolberg's Adjutant cries out with a loud voice of proclama-
tion, many Officers repeating and enforcing: "Whoever is a
brave Saxon, whoever is true to his Kaiser, or was of the
"Reichs Army, let him step out: Durchlaucht will give him
"protection! At sound of which Grollmann quivers as if
struck by electricity; and instantly begins dissolving; -- dis-
solves, in effect, nearly all, and is in the act of vanishing like
a dream! Wolfersdorf is a prompt man; and needs to be so.
Wolfersdorf, in Olympian rage, instantly stops short; draws
pistol: "I will shoot dead every man that quits rank! "
vociferates he; and does, with his pistol, make instant ex-
ample of one; inviting every true Prussian to do the like:
"Jagers, Hussars, a ducat for every traitor you shoot down! "
continues Wolfersdorf (and punctually paid it afterwards):
unable to prevent an almost total dissolution of Grollmann.
For some minutes, there is a scene indescribable: storm of
vociferation, menace, musket-shot, pistol-shot; Grollmann
disappearing on every side, -- "behind the Redoubt, under
the Bridge, into Elbe Boats, under the cloaks of the Croats;"
-- in spite of Wolfersdorf's Olympian rages and efforts.
At sight of the shooting, Prince Stolberg, a hot man, had
said indignantly, "Herr, that will be dangerous for you (das
wird nicht gut gehn). '" Wolfersdorf not regarding him a whit;
regarding only Grollmann, and his own hot business of
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? 206 FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XII.
7th-23d Aug. 1759.
coercing it at a ducat per head. Grollmann gone, and Bat-
talion Hofmann in due sequence come up, Wolfersdorf, --
who has sent an Adjutant, with order, "Hessen-Cassel, halt"
-- gives Battalion Hofmann these three words of command:
"Whole Battalion, halt! -- Front! -- Make ready! " (with
due simultaneous click of every firelock, on utterance of that
last); -- and turning to Prince Stolberg, with a brow, with a
tone of voice: "Durchlaucht, Article 9 of the Capitulation is
express on this point; '. All desertion strictly prohibited; no
"deserter to be received either on the Imperial or on the Prussian
"side'! " (Durchlaucht silently gives, we suppose, some faint
sniff. ) "Since your Durchlaucht does not keep the Capitula-
"tion, neither will I regard it farther. I will now take you
"and your Suite prisoners, return into the Town, and again
"begin defending myself. Be so good as ride directly into
"that Redoubt, or I will present, and give fire! "
A dangerous moment for the Durchlaucht of Stolberg;
Battalion Salmuth actually taking possession of the wall
again; Hofmann here with its poised firelock on the cock,
"ready" for that fourth word, as above indicated. A General
Lusinsky of Stolberg's train, master of those Croats, and an
Austrian of figure, remarks very seriously: "Every point of
the Capitulation must be kept! " Upon which Durchlaucht
has to renounce and repent; eagerly assists in recovering
Grollmann, restores it (little the worse, little the fewer); wiu
five Wolfersdorf "command of the Austrian Escort you are to
ave," and every satisfaction and assurance; -- wishful only
to get rid of Wolfersdorf. Who thereupon marches to Witten-
berg, with colours flying again, and a name mentionable ever
since. *
This Wolfersdorf was himself a Pirna Saxon; serv-
ing Polish Majesty, as Major, in that Pirna time; per-
haps no admirer of "Feldmarschall Bruhl" and Company?
-- at any rate, he took Prussian service, as then offered
him; and this is his style of keeping it. A decidedly
clever soldier, and comes out, henceforth, more and
* Tcmpolhof, ni. 201-204; Seyfarth, II. 562n. , and Beylagen, n. 587;
Militair-Lcxikon, iv. 283.
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? CHAP. V. ] SCHMETTAU SURRENDERS DRESDEN. 207
7th-:>3d Aug. 1759.
more as such, -- unhappily not for long. Was taken
at Maxen, he too, as will be seen. Rose, in after times,
to be Lieutenant-General, and a man famous in the
Prussian military circles; but given always, they say,
to take the straight line (or shortest distance between
self and object), in regard to military matters, to re-
cruiting and the like, and thus getting himself into
trouble with the Civil Officials.
Wolfersdorf, at Wittenberg or farther on, had a
flattering word from the King; applauding his effective
procedures at Torgau; and ordering him, should Witten-
berg fall (as it did, August 23d), to join Wunsch, who
is coming with a small Party to try and help in those
destitute localities. Wunsch, the King had detached
(21st August), as we heard already. Finck the King
finds, farther, that he can detach (from Waldau Country,
September 7th);* Russians being so languid, and Saxony
fallen into such a perilous predicament.
"Few days after Kunersdorf," says a Note, which should
be inserted here, "there had fallen out a small Naval matter,
"which will be consolatory to Friedrich, and go to the other
"side of the account, when he hears of it: Kunersdorf was
"Sunday, August 12th; this was Saturday and Sunday fol-
lowing. Besides their Grand Brest Fleet; With new flat
"bottoms, and world-famous land-preparations going on at
"Vannes, for Invasion of proud Albion ,i;all which are at
"present under Hawke's strict keeping, the French have,
"ever since Spring last, a fine subsidiary Fleet at Toulon,
"of very exultant hopes at one time; which now come to
"finis:
"Sea-Fight (properly Sea-Hunt of 200 miles), in the Cadiz
"Waters, August 18th-19th. The fine Toulon Fleet, which
"expected at one time, Pitt's ships being so scattered over
"the world, to be 'mistress of the Mediterranean,' has found
* Tempelhof, in. 211, 237.
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? 208 FKIEDRICH LIKE tQ BE OVERWHELMED. [book XIX.
18th-19th Aug. 1759.
"itself, on the contrary (such were Pitt's resources and
"promptitudes), cooped in harbour all Summer; Boscawen
"watching it in the usual strict way. No egress possible; till,
"in the sultry weather (8th July -- 4th August), Boscawen's
"need of fresh provisions, freshwater, and of making some
"repairs, took him to Gibraltar, and gave the Toulon Fleet a
"transient opportunity, which it made use of.
"August 17th, at 8 in the evening, Boscawen, at Gibraltar
"(some of his ships still in dishabille or under repair), was
"hastily apprised by one of his Frigates, That the Toulon
"Fleet had sailed; been seen visibly at CeutaPoint so many
"hours ago. 'Meaning,' as Boscawen guesses, 'to be through
"the Straitsthis very night! ' By power of despatch, the dis-
"habille ships were rapidly buttoned together (in about two
"hours); and by 10 p. m. all were under sail. And soon were
"in hot chase: the game being now in view, -- going at its
'' utmost through the Straits, as anticipated. At 7 next morn-
"ing (Saturday August 18th) Boscawen got clutch of the
"Toulon Fleet; still well east of Cadiz, somewhere in the
"Trafalgar waters, I should guess. Here Boscawen fought
"and chased the Toulon Fleet, for 24 hours coming: drove it
"finally ashore, at Lagos on the coast ofPortugal, with five
"of its big ships burnt or taken, its crews and other ships
"flying by land and water, its poor Admiral mortally
"wounded; and the Toulon Fleet a ruined article. The wind
"had been capricious, here fresh, there calm; now favouring
"the hunters, now the hunted; both Fleets had dropped in
"two. De la Clue, the French Admiral, complained bitterly
"how his Captains lagged, or shore off and forsook him.
"Boscawen himself, who for his own share had gone at it
"eagle-like, was heard grumbling, about want of speed in
"some people; and said: 'It is well; but it might have been
"better! '*
"De la Clue, -- fallen long ago from all notions of
"'dominating the Mediterranean, -- had modestly intended
"to get through, on any terms, into the Ocean; might then, if
"possible, have joined the grand 'Invasion Squadron,' now
"lying at Brest, till Vannes and the furnishings are ready, or
"have tried to be troublesome in the rearofHawke, who is
* Beatson, n. 313-9; lb. in. 237, 8, De la Clue, the French Admiral's
Despatch; -- Boscawen's Despatch, &c. , In Gentleman's Magazine, xxix. 434.
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? CHAP, V. ] SCHMETTAU SURRENDERS DRESDEN. 209
26th Aug. --4th Sept. 1759.
"blockading all that. A modest outlook in comparison; --
"and this is what it also has come to. As for the Grand In-
vasion Squadron, Admiral Conflans, commanding it, still
"holds up his head in Brest Harbour, and talks big. Makes
'little of Rodney's havoc on the Flatbottoms at Havre, 'Will
"soon have Flatbottoms again; and you shall see! ' -- if
"only Hawke, and wind and weather and Fortune, will
"permit. "
Austrian Reichs Army does its
nan Reichs Army does its crowning Feat (August
26th -- September 4th): Diary of what is called
the "Siege" of Dresden.
Since the first weeks of August there have been
Austrian detachments, Wehla's Corps, Brentano's Corps,
entering Saxony from the north-east or Daun-ward side,
and posting themselves in the strong points looking to-
wards Dresden; waiting there till the Reichs Army
should capture its Leipzigs, Torgaus, Wittenbergs, and
roll forward from north-west. To all which it is easy
to fancy what an impetus was given by Kunersdorf
and August 12th; the business, after that, going on
double-quick, and pointing to immediate practical in-
dustry on Dresden. The Reichs Army hastens to settle
its north-western Towns, puts due garrison in each,
leaves a 10 or 12,000 movable for general protection,
in those parts; and, August 23d, marches for Dresden.
There are only some 15,000 left of it now; almost half
the Reichs Army drunk up in that manner; were not
Daun now speeding forth his Maguire with a fresh
12,000; who is to command the Wehlas and Brentanos
as well. And, in effect, to be Austrian chief, and
as regards practical matters, Manager of this im-
portant Enterprise, -- all-important to Daun just now.
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. XI. 14
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? 210 FRIEDRICH LIKE TO BE OVERWHlfLMED. [book XIX.
26th Aug. --4th Sept. 1759.
Schmettau in Dresden sees clearly what mischief is at
hand.
To Daun this Siege of Dresden is the alpha to
whatever omegas there may be: he and his Soltikof
are to sit waiting this; and can attempt nothing but
eating of provender, till this be achieved. As the Siege
was really important, though not quite the alpha to all
omegas, and has in it curious points and physiognomic
traits, we will invite readers to some transient inspection
of it, -- the rather as there exist ample contemporary
Narratives, Diariums, and authentic records to render
that possible and easy*
"Ever since the rumour of Kunersdorf," says one Diarium,
compiled out of many, "in the last two weeks of August,
"Schmettau's need of vigilance and diligence has been on the
"increase, his outlooks becoming grimmer and grimmer. He
"has a poorishGarrison for number (3,700 in all**), and not of
"the best quality; deserters a good few of them: willing
"enough for strokes; fighting fellows all, and of adventurous
'' turn, but uncertain as to loyalty in a case of pinch. He has
"endless stores in the place; for one item, almost a million
"sterling of ready money. Poor Schmettau, if he knew it,
"has suddenly become the Leonidas of this Campaign, Dres-
"den its Thermopylae; and" -- But readers can conceive the
situation.
"August 20th, Schmettau quits the Neustadt, or northern
"part of Dresden, which lies beyond the River: unim-
"portant that, and indefensible with garrison not adequate;
"Schmettau will strengthen the River bank, blow up the
"Stone Bridge if necessary, and restrict himself to Dresden
"Proper. The Court is here; Schmettau does not hope that
"the Court can avert a Siege from him; but he fails not to try,
"in that way too, and may at least gain time.
* In Tempelhof (in. 210-216-222)', complete and careful Narrative; in
Anonymous of Hamburg (in. 871-377), express "Day-book" by some Eye-
witness in Dresden.
** Schmettau's Leben (by his Son), p. 408.
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? CHAP. V. ] SCHMETTAU SURRENDERS DRESDEN. 211
26th Aug. --4th Sept. 1759.
"August 25th, He has a Mine put under the main arch of
"the Bridge: 'mine ill-made, uncertain of effect,' reports the
"Officer whom he sent to inspect it. But it was never tried,
"the mere rumour of it kept off attacks on that side. Same
"day, August 25th, Schmettau receives that unfortunate
"Royal Missive* written in the dark days of Reitwein,
"morrow of Kunersdorf (14th or 13th August)" which we read
above. "That there is another Letter on the road for him,
"indicating 'Relief shall be tried,' is unknown to Schmettau,
"and fatally continues unknown. While Schmettau is
"reading this (August 25th), General Wunsch has been on
"the road four days: Wunsch and Wolfersdorf with about
"8,000, at their quickest pace, and in a fine winged frame of
"mind withal, are speeding on: will cross Elbe at Meissen to-
"morrow night, -- did Schmettau only know. People say he
"did, in the way of rumour, understand that Kunersdorf had
"not been the fatal thing it was thought; and that efforts
"would be made by a King like his. In his place, one might
"have, at least, shot out a spy or two? But he did not, then
"or afterwards.
"Already, ever since the arrival of Wehla andBrentano
"in those parts, he has been labouring under many uncer-
"tainties; too many for aLeonidas! Hanging between Yes
"and No, even about that of quitting the Neustadt, for ex-
"ample: carrying over portions of his goods, but never
"heartily the whole; unable to resolve; now lifting visibly
"the Bridge pavement, then again visibly restoring it; --
"and, I think, though the contrary is asserted, he had at last
"to leave in the Neustadt a great deal of stores, horse-
"provender and other, not needful to him at present, orim-
"possible to carry, when dubiety got ended. He has put a
"mine under the Bridge; but knows it will not go off.
"Schmettau has been in many wars, but this is a case that
"tries his soldier qualities as none other has ever done. A
"case of endless intricacy, -- if he be quite equal to it; which
"perhaps he was not altogether.
