history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第51节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ut evidently with approval from Prince Karl。 Everybody sees； this is the way to Prince Karl's favor at present。 〃Have not I reconquered Silesia？〃 thinks Prince Karl to himself； and beams applause on the high course； not the low prudent one。 ＇Kutzen； pp。 45…48。＇ In a word； the Austrians decide on stepping out to meet Friedrich in open battle： it was the first time they ever did so； and it was likewise the last。
Sunday； December 4th； at four in the morning； Friedrich has marched from Parchwitz； straight towards the Austrian Camp； ＇Muller； p。 26。＇ he hears； one can fancy with what pleasure； that the Austrians are advancing towards him； and will not need to be forced in their strong position。 His march is in four columns； Friedrich in the vanguard； quarters to be Neumarkt； a little Town about fourteen miles off。 Within some miles of Neumarkt； early in the afternoon； he learns that there are a thousand Croats in the place； the Austrian Bakery at work there； and engineer people marking out an Austrian Camp。 〃On the Height beyond Neumarkt； that will be？〃 thinks Friedrich； for he knows this ground； having often done reviews here； to Breslau all the way on both hands； not a rood of it but is familiar to him。 Which was a singular advantage； say the critics； and a point the Austrian Council of War should have taken more thought of。
Friedrich； before entering Neumarkt； sends a regiment to ride quietly round it on both sides； and to seize that Height he knows of。 Height once seized； or ready for seizing； he bursts the barrier of Neumarkt； dashes in upon the thousand Croats； flings out the Croats in extreme hurry； musketry and sabre acting on them； they find their Height beset； their retreat cut off； and that they must vanish。 Of the 1；000 Croats； 〃569 were taken prisoners； and 120 slain；〃 in this unexpected sweeping out of Neumarkt。 Better still； in Neumarkt is found the Austrian Bakery； set up and in full work；delivers you 80；000 bread…rations hot…and…hot； which little expected to go such a road。 On the Height； the Austrian stakes and engineer…tools were found sticking in the ground； so hasty had the flight been。
How Prince Karl came to expose his Bakery； his staff of life so far ahead of him？ Prince Karl； it is clear； was a little puffed up with high thoughts at this time。 The capture of Schweidnitz； the late 〃Malplaquet〃 （poorish Anti…Bevern Malplaquet）； capture of Breslau； and the low and lost condition of Friedrich's Silesian affairs； had more or less turned everybody's head；everybody's except Feldmarschall Daun's alone：and witty mess…tables； we already said； were in the daily habit of mocking at Friedrich's march towards them with aggressive views； and called his insignificant little Army the 〃Potsdam Guard…Parade。〃 ＇Cogniazzo； ii。 417…422。＇ That was the common triumphant humor； naturally shared in by Prince Karl； the ready way to flatter him being to sing in that tune。 Nobody otherwise can explain； and nobody in any wise can justify； Prince Karl's ignorance of Friedrich's advance； his almost voluntary losing of his staff…of…life in that manner。
MAP TO GO HEREFACING PAGE 48； BOOK 18 continuation
Prince Karl's soldiers have each （in the cold form） three days； provision in their haversacks： they have come across the Weistritz River （more commonly called Schweidnitz Water）； which was also the height of contemptuous imprudence； and lie encamped； this night； in long line； not ill…chosen （once the River IS behind）； perpendicular to Friedrich's march； some ten miles ahead of him。 Since crossing； they had learned with surprise； How their Bakery and Croats had been snapt up； that Friedrich was not at a distance； but near；and that arrangements could not be made too soon！ Their position intersects the Great Road at right angles； as we hint； and has villages； swamps； woody knolls； especially； on each wing； good defences。 Their right wing leans on Nypern and its impassable peat…bogs； a Village two or three miles north from the Great Road； their centre is close behind another Village called Leuthen； about as far south from it： length of their bivouac is about five miles； which will become six or so； had Nadasti once taken post； who is to form the left wing； and go down as far as Sagschutz； southward of Leuthen。 Seven battalions are in this Village of Leuthen； eight in Nypern； all the Villages secured； woods； scraggy abatis； redoubts； not forgotten： their cannon are numerous； though of light calibre。 Friedrich has at least 71 heavy pieces； and 10 of them are formidably heavy；brought from the walls of Glogau； with terrible labor to Ziethen； but with excellent effect； on this occasion and henceforth。 They got the name of 〃Boomers； Bellowers （DIE BRUMMER）；〃 those Ten。 Friedrich was in great straits about artillery； and Retzow Senior recommended this hauling up of the Ten Bellowers； which became celebrated in the years coming。 And now we are on the Battle…ground； and must look into the Battle itself； if we can。
Chapter X。
BATTLE OF LEUTHEN。
From Neumarkt； on Monday； long before day； the Prussians； all but a small party left there to guard the Bakery and Army Properties； are out again； in four columns； towards what may lie ahead。 Friedrich； as usual in such cases； for obvious reasons； rides with the vanguard。 To Borne； the first Village on the Highway； is some seven or eight miles。 The air is damp； the dim incipiences of dawn struggling among haze； a little way on this side Borne； we come on ranks of cavalry drawn across the Highway； stretching right and left into the dim void： Austrian Army this； then？ Push up to it； see what it is； at least。
It proves to be poor General Nostitz； with his three Saxon regiments of dragoons； famous since Kolin…day； and a couple of Hussar regiments； standing here as outpost；who ought to have been more alert； but they could not see through the dark； and so； instead of catching； are caught。 The Prussians fall upon them； front and flank； tumble them into immediate wreck； drive the whole outpost at full gallop home； through Borne； upon Nypern and the right wing；without news except of this symbolical sort。 Saxon regiments are quite ruined； 〃540 of them prisoners〃 （poor Nostitz himself not prisoner； but wounded to death ＇Died in Breslau； the twelfth day after （Seyfarth； ii。 362）。＇）； and the ground clear in this quarter。
Friedrich； on the farther side of Borne； calls halt； till the main body arrive； rides forward； himself and staff； to the highest of a range or suite of knolls； some furlongs ahead； sees there in full view； far and wide； the Austrians drawn up before him。 From Nypern to Sagschuitz yonder； miles in length； and so distinct； while the light mended and the hazes faded； 〃that you could have counted them ＇through your glasses＇； man by man。〃 A highly interesting sight to Friedrich； who continues there in the profoundest study； and calls up some horse regiments of the vanguard to maintain this Height and the range of Heights running south from it。 And there； I think； the King is mainly to be found； looking now at the Austrians； now at his own people； for some three hours to come。 His plan of Battle is soon clear to him： Nypern； with its bogs and scrags； on the Austrian right wing； is tortuous impossible ground； as he well remembers； no good prospect for us there： better ground for us on their left yonder； at Leuthen； even at Sagschutz farther south； whither they are stretching themselves。 Attempt their left wing； try our 〃Oblique Order〃 upon that； with all the skill that is in us； perhaps we can do it rightly this time； and prosper accordingly！ That is Friedrich's plan of action。 The four columns once got to Borne shall fall into two； turn to the right； and go southward； ever southward：they are to become our two Lines of Battle； were they once got to the right point southward。 Well opposite Sagschutz； that will be the point for facing to left； and marching up；in 〃Oblique Order；〃 with the utmost faculty they have！
〃The Oblique Order； SCHRAGE STELLUNG；〃 let the hasty reader pause to understand； 〃is an old plan practised by Epaminondas； and revived by Friedrich；who has tried it in almost all his Battles more or less； from Hohenfriedberg forward to Prag； Kolin； Rossbach； but never could； in all points； get it rightly done till now； at Leuthen； in the highest time of need。 〃It is a particular manoeuvre；〃 says Archenholtz； rather sergeant…wise； 〃which indeed other troops are now ＇1793＇ in the habit of imitating； but which； up to this present time； none but Prussian troops can execute with the precision and velocity indispensable to it。 You divide your line into many pieces； you can push these forward stairwise； so that they shall halt close to one another；〃 obliquely； to either hand； and so； on a minimum of ground； bring your mass of men to the required point at the required angle。 Friedrich invented this mode of getting into position； by its close ranking； by its depth； and the manner of movement used； it had some resemblance to the 〃Macedonian Phalanx；〃chiefly in the latter point； I should guess； for when arrived at its place； it is no deeper than common。 〃Forming itself in this way； a mass of troops takes up in proportion very little ground； and it shows in the distance； by reason of the mixed u
