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第33章

history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第33章

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r 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;  iv。 615…633; Retzow; i。 216…221。'

Enough; Winterfeld lay bleeding to death; the Hill was lost; Prussians drawing off slowly and back…foremost; about two in the afternoon; upon which the Austrians also drew off; leaving only a small party on the Hill; who voluntarily quitted it next morning。 Next morning; likewise; Winterfeld had died。 The Hill was; except as bravado; and by way of comfort to Kaunitz; nothing for the Austrians; but the death of Winterfeld; which had come by chance to them in the business; was probably a great thing。 Better than two pitched battles gained: who shall say? He was a shining figure; this Winterfeld; dangerous to the Austrians。 The most shining figure in the Prussian Army; except its Chief; and had great thoughts in his head。 Prussia is not skilful to celebrate her Heroes;the Prussian Muse of History; choked with dry military pipe…clay; or with husky cobwebbery and academic pedantry; how can she?but if Prussia can produce heroes worth celebrating; that is the one important point。 Apart from soldiership; and the outward features which are widely different; there is traceable in Winterfeld some kinship in soul to English Chatham his contemporary; though he has not had the fame of Chatham。

Winterfeld was by no means universally liked; as what brave man is or can be? Too susceptible to flattery; too this; too that。 He is; one feels always; except Friedrich only; the most shining figure in the Prussian Army: and it was not unnatural he should be Friedrich's one friend;as seems to have been the case。 Friedrich; when this Job's…message reached him (in Erfurt Country; eight days hence); was deeply affected by it。 To tears; or beyond tears; as we can fancy。 〃Against my multitude of enemies I may contrive resources;〃 he was heard to say; 〃but I shall find no Winterfeld again!〃 Adieu; my one friend; real Peer; sole companion to my lonely pilgrimage in these perilous high regions。

〃The Prince of Prussia; contrariwise;〃 says a miserable little Note; which must not be withheld; 〃brightened up at the news: 'I shall now die much more content; knowing that there is one so bad and dangerous man fewer in the Army!' And; six months after; in his actual death…moments; he exclaimed: 'I end my life; the last period of which has cost me so much sorrow; but Winterfeld is he who shortened my days!'〃 'Preuss; ii。 75; citing Retzow。'Very bitter Opposition humors circulating; in their fashion; there as elsewhere in this world!

Bevern; the millstone of Winterfeld being off his neck; has become a more responsible; though he feels himself a much…delivered man。 Had not liked Winterfeld; they say; or had even hated him; since those bad Zittau times。 Can now; at any rate; make for Schlesien and the meal…magazines; when he sees good。 He will find meal readier there; may he find other things corresponding! Nobody now to keep him painfully manoeuvring in these parts; with the King's Army nearer to him; but meal not。

On the third day after (September l0th); Bevern; having finished packing; took the road for Schles

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