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第19章

history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第19章

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4。'

〃JUNE 9th; The bombardment abates; a LABORATORIUM of our own flew aloft by some spark or accident; and killed tbirteen men。

〃JUNE 15th; From the King's Camp a few bombs 'King himself now gone' kindled the City in three places:〃but there is; by this time; new game afield; Prag Siege awaiting its decision not at Prag; but some way off。

Friedrich has been doing his utmost; diligent; by all methods; to learn where the Austrian Magazines were; that is; on what special edifices and localities shot might be expended with advantage; and has fired into these 〃about 12;000 bombs。〃 Here is a small thing still remembered:

〃Spies being; above all; essential in this business; Friedrich had bethought him of one Kasebier; a supreme of House…breakers; whom he has; safe with a ball at his ankle; doing forced labor at Spandau 'in Stettin; if it mattered'。 Kasebier was actually sent for; pardon promised him if he could do the State a service。 Kasebier smuggled himself twice; perhaps three times; into Prag; but the fourth time he did not come back。〃 'Retzow; i。 108。 n。' Another Note says: 〃Kasebier was a Tailor; and Son of a Tailor; in Halle; and the expertest of Thieves。 Had been doing forced labor; in Stettin; since 1748; twice did get into Prag; third time; vanished。 A highly celebrated Prussian thief; still a myth among the People; like Dick Turpin or Cartouche; except that his was always theft without violence。〃 'Preuss; ii。 57 n。'

We learn vaguely that the price of horse…flesh in Prag has risen to double; famine very sore: but still one hears nothing of surrender。 And again there is vague rumor that the City may be as it will; but that the Garrison has meal; after all we have ruined; which will last till October。 Such a Problem has this King: soluble within the time; or not soluble? Such a question for the whole world; and for himself more than any。



MAP GOES IN HEREfACING PAGE 446; BOOK xviii




Chapter IV。

BATTLE OF KOLIN。

On and after June 9th; the bombardment at Prag abated; and never rose to briskness again; the place of trial for decision of that Siege having flitted else…whither; as we said。 About that time; rumors came in; not so favorable; from the Duke of Bevern; which Friedrich; strong in hope; strove visibly to disbelieve; but at last could not。 Bevern reports that Daun is actually coming on; far too strong for his resisting;in other terms; that the Siege of Prag will not decide itself by bombardment; but otherwise and elsewhere。 Of which we must now give some account; brief as may be; especially in regard to the preliminary or marching part。

Daun; whose light troops plundered Brandeis (almost within wind of the Prussian Rear) on the day while Prag Battle was fighting; had; on that fatal event; gradually drawn back to Czaslau; a place we used to know fifteen years ago; and there; or in those neighborhoods; defensively manoeuvring; and hanging upon Kuttenberg; Kolin; especially upon his Magazine of Suchdol; Daun; always rather drawing back; with Brunswick…Bevern vigilantly waiting on him; has continued ever since; diligently recruiting himself; ranking the remains of the right wing defeated at Prag; drawing regiments out of Mahren; or whencesoever to be had。 Till; by these methods; he is grown 60;000 strong; nearly thrice superior to Bevern; though being a 〃Fabius Cunctator〃 (so called by and by); he as yet attempts nothing。 Forty thousand in Prag; with Sixty here in the Czaslau Quarter; 'Tempelhof; i。 196; Retzow (i。 107; 109) counts 46;000+66;000。' that makes 100;000; say his Prussian Majesty has two…thirds of the number: can the Fabius Cunctator attempt nothing; before Prag utterly famish?

Order comes to him from Vienna: 〃Rescue Prag; straightway go upon it; cost what it like!〃 Daun does go upon it; advances visibly towards Prag; Bevern obliged to fall back in front of him。 Sunday; 12th June; Daun despatches several Officers to Prince Karl at Prag; with notice that; 〃On the 20th; Monday come a week; he will be in the neighborhood of Prag with this view:they; of course; to sally out; and help from rearward。〃 〃Several Officers; under various disguises;〃 go with that message; June 12th; but none of them could get into the City; and some of them; I judge; must have fallen into the Prussian Hussar Parties:at any rate; the news they carried did get into the Prussian circuit; and produced an instant resolution there。 Early next morning; Monday 13th; King Friedrich; with what disposable force is on the spot;10;000 capable of being spared from siege…work; and 4;000 more that will be capable of following; under Prince Moritz; in two days;sets forth in all speed。 Joins Bevern that same night; at Kaurzim; thirty…five miles off; which is about midway from Prag to Czaslau; and only three miles or so from Daun's quarters that night;had the King known it; which he did not。

Daun must be instantly gone into; and shall;if he is there at all; and not fallen back at the first rumor of us; as Friedrich rather supposes。 In any case; there are preliminaries indispensable: the 4;000 of Prince Moritz still to come up; secondly; bread to be had for us; which is baking at Nimburg; across the Elbe; twenty miles off; lastly (or rather firstly; and most indispensable of all); Daun to be reconnoitred。 Friedrich reconnoitres Daun with all diligence; pushes on everything according to his wont; much obstructed in the reconnoitring by Pandour clouds; under which Daun has veiled himself; which far outnumber our small Hussar force。 Daun; as usual;showing always great skill in regard to camps and positions;has planted himself in difficult country: a little river with its boggy pools in front; behind and around; an intricate broken country of knolls and swamps; one ridge in it which they even call a BERG or Hill; Kamhayek Berg; not much of a Hill after all; but forming a long backbone to the locality; west end of it straight behind Daun's centre; at present。 Friedrich's position is from north to south; like Daun's; taking advantage of what heights and brooks there are; and edging northward to be near his bread…ovens: right wing still holds by Kaurzim; left wing looking down on Planian; a little Town on the High Road (KAISER…STRASSE) from Prag to Vienna。 Little Town destined to get up its name in a day or two;next little Town to which; twelve miles farther on; is Kolin; secretly destined to become and continue still more famous among mankind。 Kolin is close to the Elbe; left or south bank; Elbe hereabouts strikes into his long northwestern course (to Wittenberg all the way; Pirna; say 150 miles off; is his half…way house in that direction);strikes off northward hereabouts; making for Nimburg; among other places: Planian; right south of Nimburg; is already fifteen good miles from Elbe。

This is Friedrich's position; Wednesday; June 15th and the day following; somewhat nearer his ovens than yesterday。 Daun is yet parallel to him; has his centre behind Swoyschitz; an insignificant Village at the foot of those Kamhayek Heights; which is; ever since; to be found in Maps。 Friday; 17th; Friedrich's bread…wagons and 4;000 having come in; as doubtless the Pandours report in the proper place; Daun does not quite like his strong position any more; but would prefer a stronger。 Friday about sunset; 〃great clouds of dust〃 rise from Daun: changing his position; the Prussians see; if for Pandours and gathering darkness they can at present see little else。 Daun; truly; observing the King to have in that manner edged up; towards Planian; is afraid of his right wing from such a neighbor。 So that the reader must take his Map again。 Or; if he care not for such things; let him skip; and leave me solitary to my sad function; till we can meet on easier ground; and report the battle which ensued。 Daun hustles his right wing back out of that dangerous proximity; wheels his whole right wing and centre ninety degrees round; so as to reach out now towards Kolin; and lie on the north slope of the Kamhayek ridge; places his left wing EN POTENCE (gibbet…wise); hanging round the western end of said Kamhayek; its southern extremity at Swoyschitz; its northern at Hradenin; where (not a mile from Planian) his right wing had formerly been;with other intricate movem

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