history of friedrich ii of prussia v 17-第15章

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　cannon；　with　iron　ramrods　too；　and　improved　ways；　like　our　own。　But　nothing　could　avail　them；　the　counter…fury　being　so　great。　They　had　to　go　at　the　Welhoten　part；　and　even　to　run；　plunging　into　Elbe；　a　good　few　of　them；　and　drowning　there；　in　the　vain　hope　to　swim。　〃Never　have　my　troops；〃　says　Friedrich；　〃done　such　miracles　of　valor；　cavalry　as　well　as　infantry；　since　I　had　the　honor　to　command　them。　By　this　dead…lift　achievement　（TOUR　DE　FORCE）　I　have　seen　what　they　can　do。〃　＇Letter　to　Schwerin；　〃Lobositz；　2d　August；　1756〃　（Retzow；　i。　64）；　RELATION　DE　LA　CAMPAGNE；　1756；　that　is；　PRUSSIAN　ACCOUNT　（in　　Gesammelte　Nachrichten）；　　i。　848。　Lloyd；　UT　SUPRA；　i。　2…11　（who　has　solid　information　at　first　hand；　having　been　an　actor　in　these　Wars。　A　man　of　great　natural　sagacity　and　insight；　decidedly　luminous　and　original；　though　of　somewhat　crabbed　temper　now　and　then；　a　man　well　worth　hearing　on　this　and　on　whatever　else　he　handles）。　Tempelhof；　GESCHICHTE　DES　SIEBENJAHRIGEN　KRIEGES　（which　is　at　first　a　mere　Translation　of　Lloyd；　nothing　new　in　it　but　certain　notes　and　criticisms　on　Lloyd；　when　Lloyd　ends；　Tempelhof；　Prussian　Major　and　Professor；　a　learned；　intelligent；　but　diffuse　man；　of　far　inferior　talent　to　Lloyd；　continues　and　completes　on　his　own　footing：　six　very　thin　4tos；　Berlin；　1794）；　i。　38　（Battle；　with　FOOTNOTES）；　and　ib。　51　（CRITICISM　of　Lloyd）。　Prussian　and　Austrian　Accounts　in　　Helden…Geschichte；　　iii。　800　et　seq。　Many　Narratives　in　FELDZUGE；　and　the　BEYLAGE　to　Seyfarth；　&c。　&c。＇

In　fine；　after　some　three　hours　more　of　desperate　tugging　and　struggling；　cannon　on　both　sides　going　at　a　great　rate；　and　infinite　musketry　（〃ninety　cartridges　a　man　on　our　Prussian　side；　and　ammunition　falling　done〃）；　not　without　bayonet…pushings；　and　smitings　with　the　butt　of　your　musket；　the　Austrians　are　driven　into　Lobositz；　are　furiously　pushed　there；　and；　in　spite　of　new　battalions　coming　to　the　rescue；　are　fairly　pushed　through。　These　Village…streets　are　too　narrow　for　new　battalions　from　Browne；　〃much　of　the　Village　should　have　been　burnt　beforehand；〃　say　cool　judges。　And　now；　sure　enough；　it　does　get　burnt；　Lobositz　is　now　all　on　fire；　by　Prussian　industry。　So　that　the　Austrians　have　to　quit　it　instantly；　and　rush　off　in　great　disorder；　key　of　the　Battle；　or　Battle　itself；　quite　lost　to　them。

The　Prussian　infantry；　led　by　the　Duke　of　Brunswick…Bevern　（〃Governor　of　Stettin；〃　one　of　the　Duke…Ferdinand　cousinry；　frugal　and　valiant）；　gave　the　highest　satisfaction；　seldom　was　such　firing；　such　furious　pushing；　they　had　spent　ninety　cartridges　a　man；　were　at　last　quite　out　of　cartridges；　so　that　Bevern　had　to　say；　〃Strike　in　with　bayonets；　MEINE　KINDER；　butt…ends；　or　what　we　have；　HERAN！〃　Our　Grenadiers　were　mainly　they　that　burnt　Lobositz。　〃How　salutary　now　would　it　have　been；〃　says　Epimetheus　Lloyd；　〃had　Browne　had　a　small　battery　on　the　other　side　of　the　Elbe；〃　whereby　he　might　have　taken　them　in　flank；　and　shorn　them　into　the　wind！　Epimetheus　marks　this　battery　on　his　Plan；　and　is　wise　behindhand；　at　a　cheap　rate。

Browne's　Right　Wing；　and　probably　his　Army　with　it；　would　have　gone　much　to　perdition；　now　that　Lobositz　was　become　Prussian；had　not　Browne；　in　the　nick　of　the　moment；　made　a　masterly　movement：　pushed　forward　his　Centre　and　Left　Wing；　numerous　battalions　still　fresh；　to　interpose　between　the　chasing　Prussians　and　those　fugitives。　The　Prussians；　infantry　only；　cannot　chase　on　such　terms；　the　Prussian　cavalry；　we　know；　is　far　rearward　on　the　high　ground。　Browne　retires　a　mile　or　two；southward；　Budin…ward；not　chased；　and　there　halts；　and　rearranges　himself；　thinking　what　farther　he　will　do。　His　aim　in　fighting　had　only　been　to　defend　himself；　and　in　that　humble　aim　he　has　failed。　Chase　of　the　Prussians　over　that　Homolka…Lobosch　country；　with　the　high　grounds　rearward　and　the　Metal　Mountains　in　their　hands；　he　could　in　no　event　have　attempted。

The　question　now　is：　Will　he　go　back　to　Budin；　or　will　he　try　farther　towards　Schandau？　Nature　points　to　the　former　course；　in　such　circumstances；　Friedrich；　by　way　of　assisting；　does　a　thing　much　admired　by　Lloyd；detaches　Bevern　with　a　strong　party　southward；　out　of　Lobositz；　which　is　now　his；　to　lay　hold　of　Tschirskowitz；　lying　Budin…ward；　but　beyond　the　Budin　Road。　Which　feat；　when　Browne　hears　of　it；　means　to　him；　〃Going　to　cut　me　off　from　Budin；　then？　From　my　ammunition…stores；　from　my　very　bread…cupboard！〃　And　he　marches　that　same　midnight；　silently；　in　good　order；　back　to　Budin。　He　is　not　much　ruined；　nay　the　Prussian　loss　is　numerically　greater：　〃3；308　killed　and　wounded；　on　the　Prussian　side；　on　the　Austrian；　2；984；　with　three　cannon　taken　and　two　standards。〃　Not　ruined　at　all；　but　foiled；　frustrated；　and　has　to　devise　earnestly；　〃What　next？〃　Once　rearranged；　he　may　still　try。

The　Battle　lasted　seven　hours；　the　last　four　of　it　very　hot；　till　Lobositz　was　won　and　lost。　It　was　about　5　P。M。　when　Browne　fired　his　retreat…cannon：cannon　happened　to　be　loaded　（say　the　Anecdote…Books；　mythically　given　now　and　then）；　Friedrich；　wearied　enough；　had　flung　himself　into　his　carriage　for　a　moment's　rest；　or　thankful　reflection；　and　of　all　places；　the　ball　of　the　retreat…　cannon　lighted　THERE。　Between　Friedrich's　feet；　as　he　lay　reclining；say　the　Anecdote…Books；　whom　nobody　is　bound　to　believe。

On　the　strength　of　those　two　Prussian　charges；　which　had　retired　from　case…shot　on　their　flank；　and　had　not　wings；　for　getting　over　sedge　and　ooze；　Austria　pretended　to　claim　the　victory。　〃Two　charges　repelled　by　our　gallant　horse；　Lobositz；　indeed；　was　got　on　fire；　and　we　had　nothing　for　it　but　to　withdraw；　but　we　took　a　new　position；　and　only　left　that　for　want　of　water；〃with　the　like　excuses。　〃Essentially　a　clear　victory；〃　said　the　Austrians；　and　sang　TE…DEUM　about　it；but　profited　nothing　by　that　piece　of　melody。　The　fact；　considerable　or　not；　was；　from　the　first；　too　undeniable：　Browne　beaten　from　the　field。　And　beaten　from　his　attempt　too　（the　Saxons　not　relievable　by　this　method）；　and　lies　quiet　in　Budin　again；with　his　water　sure　to　him；　but　what　other　advantages　gained？

Here　are　two　Letters；　brief　both；　which　we　may　as　well　read：

1。　FRIEDRICH　TO　WILHELMINA　（at　Baireuth）。

〃LOBOSITZ；　4th　October；　1756。

〃MY　DEAR　SISTER；Your　will　is　accomplished。　Tired　out　by　these　Saxon　delays；　I　put　myself　at　the　head　of　my　Army　of　Bohemia　＇Keith's　hitherto＇；　and　marched　from　Aussig　toa　Name　which　seemed　to　me　of　good　augury；　being　yours；to　the　Village　of　Welmina　＇Battle　was　called　OF　WELMINA；　by　the　Prussians　at　first＇。　I　found　the　Austrians　here；　near　Lobositz；　and；　after　a　Fight　of　seven　hours；　forced　them　to　run。　Nobody　of　your　acquaintance　is　killed；　except　Generals　Luderitz　and　OErzen　＇who　are　not　of　ours＇。

〃I　return　you　a　thousand　thanks　for　the　tender　part　you　take　in　my　lot。　Would　to　Heaven　the　valor　of　my　Army　might　procure　us　a　stable　Peace！　That　ought　to　be　the　aim　of　War。　Adieu；　my　dear　Sister；　I　embrace　you　tenderly；　assuring　you　of　the　lively　affection　with　which　I　am…F。〃　＇　OEuvres；　　xxvii。　i。　291。＇

　2。　PRINCE　OF　PRUSSIA　TO　VALORI　（who　is　still　at　Berlin；　but　　soon　going　as　it　proves；Broglio's　explosion　at　the　Lines　of　　Gross…Sedlitz　being　on　hand；　during　the　King's　absence；　in　　these　very　hours　＇〃5th…6th　October〃　（Valori；　ii。　353）。＇

〃CAMP　OF　LOBOSITZ；　5th　October；　1756。

〃You　will　know　the　news　of　the　day；　and　I　am　persuaded　you　take　part　in　it。　All　you　say　to　me　betokens　the　conspiracy　there　is　for　the　destruction　of　our　Country。　If　that　is　determined　in　the　Book　of　Fate；　we　cannot　escape　it。

〃Had　my　advice　been　asked；　a　year　ago；　I　should　have　voted　to　preserve　the　Alliance　＇with　YOU＇　which　we　had　been　used　to　for　sixteen　years　＇strictly　for　twelve；　though　in　substance　ever　since　1740＇；　and　which　was　by　nature　advantageous　to　us。　But　if　my　advice　were　asked　just　now；　I　should　answer；　That　the　said　method　being　now　impossible；　we　are　in　the　case　of　a　ship's　captain　who　defends　himself　the　best　he　can；　and　when　all　resources　are　exhausted；　has；　rather　than　surrender　on　shameful　conditions；　to　fire　the　powder…　magazine；　and　blow　up　his　ship。　You　remember　that　of　your　Francois　I。〃FORS　L'HONNEUR；　ah　yes；　very　well！〃Perhaps　it　will　be　my　poor　Children　who　will　be　the　victims　of　these　past　errors；〃　for　such　I　still　think　them；　I　for　my　part。

〃The　Gazettes　enumerate　the　French　troops　that　are　to　besiege　Wesel；　Geldern　＇Wesel　they　will　get　gratis；　poor　Geldern　will　almost　break　their　heart　first＇；　and　take　possession　of　Ost…　Friesland；　the　Russian　Declaration　＇Manifesto　not　worth　reading＇　tells　us　Russia's　intentions　for　the　next　year　＇most　truculent　intentions＇：　we　will　defend　ourselves　to　the　last　drop　of　our　blood；　and　perish　with　honor。　If　you　have　any　counsel　farther；　I　pray　you　give　it　me。


MAP　GOES　HERE　BETWEEN　P。　350　AND　351　Chap　VII　book　17


〃Remain　always　my　friend；　and　believe　that　in　all　situations　I　will　remain　yours；　and　trying　to　do　what　my　duty　is；　will　not　forfeit　the　sentiments　on　your　part　which　have　been　so　precious　to　me。　Your　servant；　　　　　　GUILLAUME。〃　＇Valori；　ii。　204…206。＇

〃Pity　this　good　Prince　contemplating　the　downfall　of　his　House；〃　suggests　Valori：　〃He　deserved　a　better　fate！　He　would　be　in　despair　to　think　I　had　sent　this　Letter　to　your　Excellency；　but　I　thought　perhaps　you　would　show　it　to　the　King；〃and　that　it　might　do　good　one　day。　＇Valori　（to　the　French　Minister；　〃12th　October；　1756〃）；　ii。　204。＇　The　Prussians　lay　in　their　〃Camp　of　Lobositz；〃　posted　up　and　down　in　that　neighborhood；　for　a　couple　of　weeks　more；　waiting　whether　Rrowne　would　attempt　anything　farther　in　the　fighting　way；　and；　in　fine；　whether　the　solution　of　the　crisis　would　fall　out　hereabouts；　or　on　the　other　side　of　the　Hills。



Chapter　VII。

THE　SAXONS　GET　OUT　OF　PIRNA　ON　DISMAL　TERMS。

The　disaster　of　October　1stfor　which　they　were　trying　to　sing　TE…DEUMS　at　Viennafell　heavier　on　the　poor　Saxons；　in　their　cage　at　Pirna：　〃Alas；　where　is　our　deliverance　now？〃　Friedrich's　people；　in　their　lines　here；　gave　them　such　a　〃joy…firing〃　for　Lobositz　as　Retzow　has　seldom　heard；　huge　volleyings；　salvoings；　running…fires；　starting　out；　artistically　timed　and　stationed；　thunderous；　high；　and　borne　by　the　echoes；　gloomily　reverberative；　into　every　dell　and　labyrinth　of　the　Pirna　Country；intended　to　strike　a　deeper　damp　into　them；　thinks　he。　＇Retzow；　i。　67。＇　But　Imperial　Majesty　was　mindful；　too；　and　straightway　sent　Browne　positive　order；　〃Deliver　me　these　poor　Saxons　at　any　price！〃　And　in　the　course　of　not　quite　a　week　from　Lobositz；　there　arrives　a　confidential　Messenger　from　Browne：　〃Courage　still；　ye　caged　Saxons；　I　will　try　it　another　way！　Only　you　must　hold　out　till　the　11th；　on　the　11th　stand　to　your　tools；　and　it　shall　be　done。〃

Browne　is　to　take　a　succinct　Detachment；　8；000　picked　men；　horse　and　foot；　to　make　a　wider　sweep　with　these；　well　eastward　by　the　foot　of　Lausitz　Hills；　and　far　enough　from　all　Prussian　parties　and　scouts；　to　march；　with　all　speed　and　silence；　〃through　Bohm…Leipa；　Kamnitz；　Rumburg；　Schluckenau；　and　come　in　upon　the　Schandau　region；　quite　from　the　northeast　side；　say；　at　Lichtenhayn；　an　eligible　Village；　which　is　but　seven　miles　or　so　from　the　Konigstein；　with　the　chasmy　country　and　t