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第29节

history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第29节

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take command in his absence:and; August 25th; has to march; with a small Division; which; at Dresden; he will increase by Moritz's; now needless in the Pirna Country; towards Thuringen; to look into Soubise and the Reich's Army; as a thing that absolutely cannot wait。 Arrives in Dresden; Monday; August 29th; and Or let the old Newspaper report it; with the features of life:

〃DRESDEN; 29th AUGUST; 1757; This day; about noon; his Majesty; with a part of his Army from the Upper Lausitz; arrived at the Neustadt here。 Though the kitchen had been appointed to be set up at what they call The Barns (DIE SCHEUNEN); his Majesty was pleased to alight in Konigsbruck Street; at the new House of Bruhl's Chamberlain; Haller; and there passed the night。 Tuesday evening; 30th; his Majesty the King; with his Lifeguards of Horse and of Foot; also with the Gens…d'Armes and other Battalions; marched through the City; about a mile out on the Freiberg road; and took quarter in Klein Hamberg。 The 3lst; all the Army followed;〃a poor 23;000; Moritz and he; that was all! '〃22;360〃 (Templehof; i。 228)。'〃the King's field…equipage; which had been taken from the Bruhl Palace and packed in twelve wagons; went with them。〃 'Rodenbeck; p。 316; Preuss; ii。 84 n; Mitchell's Interview ( Memoirs and Papers;  i。 270)。'



Chapter VI。

DEATH OF WINTERFELD。

Before going upon this forlorn march of Friedrich's; one of the forlornest a son of Adam ever had; we must speak of a thing which befell to rearward; while the march was only half done; and which greatly influenced it and all that followed。 It was the seventh day of Friedrich's march; not above eighty miles of it yet done; when Winterfeld perished in fight。 No Winterfeld now to occupy the Austrians in his absence; to stand between Silesia and them; or assist him farther in his lonesome struggle against the world。 Let us spend a moment on the exit of that brave man: Bernstadt; Gorlitz Country; September 7th; 1757。

The Bevern Army; 36;000 strong; is still there in its place in the Lausitz; near Gorlitz; Prince Karl lies quiet in his near Zittau; ever since he burnt that Town; and stood four days in arms unattackable by Friedrich with prospect of advantage。 The Court of Vienna cannot comprehend this state of inactivity: 〃Two to one; and a mere Bevern against you; the King far away in Saxony upon his desperate Anti…French mission there: why not go in upon this Bevern? The French; whom we are by every courier passionately importuning to sweep Saxony clear; what will they say of this strange mode of sweeping Silesia clear?〃 Maria Theresa and her Kriegs…Hofrath are much exercised with these thoughts; and with French and other remonstrances that come。 Maria Theresa and her Kriegs…Hofrath at length despatch their supreme Kaunitz; Graf Kaunitz in person; to stir up Prince Karl; and look into the matter with his own wise eyes and great heart: Prince Karl; by way of treat to this high gentleman; determines on doing something striking upon Bevern。

Bevern lies with his main body about Gorlitz; in and to westward of Gorlitz; a pleasant Town on the left bank of the Neisse (readers know there are four Neisses; and which of them this is); with fine hilly country all round; bulky solitary Heights and Mountains rising out of fruitful plains;two Hochkirchs (HIGH…KIRKS); for example; are in this region; one of which will become extremely notable next year:Bevern has a strong camp leaning on the due Heights here; with Gorlitz in its lap; and beyond Gorlitz; on the right bank of the Neisse; united to him by a Bridge; he has placed Winterfeld with 10;000; who lies with his back to Gorlitz; proper brooks and fencible places flanking him; has a Dorf (THORP) called Moys in HIS lap; and; some short furlong beyond Moys; a 2;000 of his grenadiers planted on the top of a Hill called the Moysberg; called also the Holzberg (WOODHILL) and Jakelsberg; of which the reader is to take notice。 Fine outpost; with proper batteries atop; with hussar squadrons and hussar pickets sprinkled about; which commands a far outlook towards Silesia; and in marching thither; or in continuing here; is useful to have in hand;were it not a little too distant from the main body。 It is this Jakelsberg; capable of being snatched if one is sudden enough; that Prince Karl decides on: it may be good for much or for little to Prince Karl; and; if even for nothing; it will be a brilliant affront upon Winterfeld and Bevern; and more or less charming to Kaunitz。

Winterfeld; the ardent enterprising man; King's other self; is thought to be the mainspring of affairs here (small thanks to him privately from Bevern; add some): and is stationed in the extreme van; as we see; Winterfeld is engaged in many things besides the care of this post; and indeed where a critical thing is to be done; we can imagine Winterfeld goes upon it。 〃We must try to stay here till the King has finished in Saxony!〃 says Winterfeld always。 To which Bevern replies; 〃Excellent; truly; but how?〃 Bevern has his provender at Dresden; sadly far off; has to hold Bautzen garrisoned; and gets much trouble with his convoys。 Better in Silesia; with our magazines at hand; thinks Bevern; less mindful of other considerations。

Tuesday; September 6th; Prince Karl sends Nadasti to the right bank of the River; forward upon Moys; to do the Jakelsberg before day to…morrow: only some 2;000 grenadiers on it; Nadasti has with him 15;000; some count 20;000 of all arms; artillery in plenty; surely sufficient for the Jakelsberg; and Daun advances; with the main body; on the other side of the River; to be within reach; should Moys lead to more serious consequences。 Nadasti diligently marches all day; posts himself at night within few miles of Moys; gets his cannon to the proper Hills (GALLOWS Hill and others); his Croats to the proper Woods; and; before daylight on the morrow; means to begin upon the Moys Hill and its 2;000 grenadiers。

Wednesday morning; at the set hour; Nadasti; with artillery bursting out and quivering battle…lines; is at work accordingly; hurls up 1;000 Croats for one item; and regulars to the amount of 〃forty companies in three lines。〃 The grenadiers; somewhat astonished; for the morning was misty and their hussar…posts had come hastily in; stood upon their guard; like Prussian men; hurled back the 1;000 Croats fast enough; stubbornly repulsed the regulars too; and tumbled them down hill with bullet…storm for accompaniment; gallantly foiling this first attempt of Nadasti's。 Of course Nadasti will make another; will make ever others; capture of the Jakelsberg can hardly be doubtful to Nadasti。

Winterfeld was not at Moys; he was at Gorlitz; just got in from escorting an important meal…convoy hither out of Bautzen; and was in conference with Bevern; when rumor of these Croat attacks came in at the gallop from Moys。 Winterfeld made little of the rumors: he had heard of some attack intended; but it was to have been overnight; and has not been。 〃Mere foraging of Croat rabble; like yesterday's!〃 said Winterfeld; and continued his present business。 In few minutes the sound of heavy cannonading convinced him。 〃Haha; there are my guests;〃 said he; 〃we must see if we cannot entertain them right!〃 sprang to horseback; ordered on; double… quick; the three regiments nearest him; and was off at the gallop; too late; or; alas; too EARLY we might rather say! Arriving at the gallop; Winterfeld found his grenadiers and their insufficient reinforcements rolling back; the Hill lost; Winterfeld 〃sprang to a fresh horse;〃 shot his lightning glances and energies; to his hand and that; stormfully rallied the matter; recovered the Hill; and stormfully defended it; for; I should guess; an hour or more; and might still have done one knows not what; had not a bullet struck him through the breast; and suddenly ended all his doings in this world。

Three other reasons the Prussians give for loss of their Hill; which are of no consequence to them or to us in comparison。 First; that Bevern; on message after message; sent no reinforcement; that Winterfeld was left to his own 10;000; and what he and they could make of it。 Bevern is jealous of Winterfeld; hint they; and willing to see his impetuous audacity checked。 Perhaps only cautious of getting into a general action for what was intrinsically nothing? Second; that two regiments of Infantry; whom Winterfeld detached double…quick to seize a couple of villages (Leopoldshayn; Hermsdorf) on his right; and therefrom fusillade Nadasti on flank; found the villages already occupied by thousands of Croats; with regular foot and cannon…batteries; and could in nowise seize them。 This was a great reverse of advantage。 Third; that an Aide…de…Camp made a small misnomer; misreport of one word; which was terribly important: 〃Bring me hither Regiment Manteuffel!〃 Winterfeld had ordered。 The Aide…de…Camp reported it 〃Grenadiers Manteuffel:〃 upon which; the grenadiers; who were posted in a walled garden; an important point to Winterfeld's right; came instantly to order; and Austrians instantly rushed in to the vacant post; and galled Winterfeld's other flank by their fire。 'Abundant Accounts in Seyfarth; ii。 ( Beylagen); 162…163;  Helden…Geschichte;  

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