history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第60章
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Infantry； to left of Ziethen； has attacked the Sagschutz Firwood； clears that of Croats； attacks Nadasti's line； breaks it； their Brummer battery potently assisting； and the rage of Wedell and everybody being extreme。 So that； in spite of the fine ground； Nadasti is in a bad way； on the extreme left or outmost point of his POTENCE； or tactical KNEE。 Round the knee…pan or angle of his POTENCE； where is the abatis； he fares still worse。 Abatis； beswept by those ten Brummers and other Batteries； till bullet and bayonet can act on it； speedily gives way。 〃They were mere Wurtembergers； these； and could not stand！〃 cried the Austrians apologetically； at a great rate； afterwards； as if anybody could well have stood。
Indisputably the Wurtembergers and the abatis are gone； and the Brandenburgers； storming after them； storm Nadasti's interior battery of 14 pieces； and Nadasti's affairs are rapidly getting desperate in this quarter。 Figure Prince Karl's scouts； galloping madly to recall that Daun Cavalry！ Austrian Battalions； plenty of them； rush down to help Nadasti； but they are met by the crowding fugitives； the chasing Prussians； are themselves thrown into disorder； and can do no good whatever。 They arrive on the ground flurried； blown； have not the least time to take breath and order： the fewest of them ever got fairly ranked； none of them ever stood above one push： all goes rolling wildly back upon the centre about Leuthen。 Chaos come on us；and all for mere lack of time： could Nadasti but once stretch out one minute into twenty！ But he cannot。 Nadasti does not himself lose head； skilfully covers the retreat； trying to rally once and again。 Not for the first few furlongs； till the ditches； till the firwood； quagmires are all done； could Ziethen； now on the open ground； fairly hew in； 〃take whole battalions prisoners；〃 drive the crowd in an altogether stormy manner； and wholly confound the matter in this part。
Prince Karl； his messengers flying madly； has struggled as man seldom did to put himself in some posture about Leuthen； to get up some defences there。 Leuthen itself； the churchyard of it especially； is on the defensive。 Men are bringing cannon to the windmills； to the swelling ground on the north side of Leuthen； they dig ditches； build batteries；could they but make Time halt； and Friedrich with him； for one quarter of an hour。 But they cannot。 By the extreme of diligence； the Austrians have in some measure swung themselves into a new position； or imperfect Line round Leuthen as a centre；Lucchesi； voluntarily or by order； swinging southwards on the one hand； Nadasti swinging northwards by compulsion；new Line at an angle say of 75 degrees to the old one。 And here； for an hour more； there was stiff fighting； the stiffest of the day；of which； take one direct glimpse； from the Austrian side； furnished by a Young Gentleman famous afterwards：
Leuthen； let us premise； is a long Hamlet of the usual littery sort； with two rows； in some parts three； of farm…houses； barns； cattle…stalls； with Church； or even with two Churches； a Protestant and a Catholic； goes from east to west above a mile in length。 With the wrecks of Nadasti tumbling into it pell…mell from the southeast； and Lucchesi desperately endeavoring to swing round from the northwest； not quite incoherently； and the Prussian fire…storm for accompaniment； Leuthen is probably the most chaotic place in the Planet Earth during that hour or so （from half…past two to half…past three） while the agony lasted。 At one o'clock Nadasti was attacked； at two he is tumbling in mid…career towards Leuthen： I guess the date of this Excerpt； or testimony by a Notable Eye… witness； may be half…past two； crisis of the agony just about to begin： and before four it was all finished again。 Eye…witness is the young Prince de Ligne； now Captain in an Austrian Regiment of Foot； and standing here in this perilous posture； having been called in as part of the Reserve。 He says：
〃Cry had risen for the Reserve；〃 in which was my regiment； 〃and that it must come on as fast as possible；〃to Leuthen； west of us yonder。 〃We ran what we could run。 Our Lieutenant…Colonel fell killed almost at the first； beyond this we lost our Major； and indeed all the Officers but three；three only； and about eleven or twelve of the Voluuteer or Cadet kind。 We had crossed two successive ditches； which lay in an orchard to left of the first houses in Leuthen； and were beginning to form in front of the Village。 But there was no standing of it。 Besides a general cannonade such as can hardly be imagined； there was a rain of case… shot upon this Battalion； of which I； as there was no Colonel left； had to take command； and a third Battalion of the Royal Prussian Foot…guards； which had already made several of our regiments pass that kind of muster； gave； at a distance of eighty paces； the liveliest fire on us。 It stood as if on the parade…ground； that third Battalion； and waited for us； without stirring。
〃The Austrian regiment Andlau； at our right hand； could not get itself formed properly by reason of the houses； it was standing thirty deep； and sometimes its shot hit us on the back。 On my left the Austrian regiment Merci ran its ways； and I was glad of that； in comparison。 By no method or effort could I get the dragoons of Bathyani； who stood fifty yards in rear of me； to cut in a little； and help me out；〃no good cutting hereabouts； think the dragoons of Bathyani。 〃My soldiers； who were still tired with running； and had no cannon （these either from necessity or choice they had left behind）； were got scattered； fewer in number； and were fighting mainly out of sullenness。 More our honor； than the notion of doing good in the affair； prevented us from running off。 An Ensign of the regiment Arberg helped me awhile to form； from his and my own fragments； a kind of line； but he was shot down。 Two Officers of the Grenadiers brought me what they still had。 Some Hungarians； too； were luckily got together。 But at last； as； with all helps and the remnants of my own brave Battalion； I had come down to at most 200； I drew back to the Height where the Windmill is；〃 ＇Kutzen p。 103 （from 〃Prince de Ligne's DIARY； i。 63； German Translation〃）。＇where many have drawn back； and are standing in sheltered places； a hundred deep； say our Books。
Stiff fighting at Leuthen； especially furious till Leuthen Churchyard； a place with high stone walls； was got。 Leuthen Village； we observe； was crammed with Austrians spitting fire from every coign of vantage； Church and Churchyard especially are a citadel of death。 Cannon playing from the Windmill Heights； too； moments are inestimable。 The Prussian Commander （name charitably hidden） at Leuthen Churchyard seems to hesitate in the murderous fire…deluge： Major Mollendorf； namable from that day forward； growling； 〃No time this for study；〃 dashes out himself； 〃EIN ANDRER MANN （Follow me； whoever is a man）！〃smashes in the Church…Gate of the place； nine muskets blazing on him through it； smashes； after a desperate struggle； the Austrians clean out of it； and conquers the citadel。 ＇Muller； p。 42。＇
The Austrians； on confused terms； made stiff dispute in this second position for about an hour。 The Prussian Reserve was ordered up by Friedrich； the Prussian left wing； which had stood 〃refused；〃 about Radaxdorf； till now： at one time nearly all the Prussians were in fire。 Friedrich is here； is there； wherever the press was greatest； 〃Prince Ferdinand；〃 whom we now and then find named； as a diligent little fellow； and ascertain to be here in this and other Battles of Friedrich's；〃Prince Ferdinand at one time pointed his cannon on the Bush or Fir…Clump of Radaxdorf；an aide…de…camp came to him with message： 〃You are firing on the King； the King is yonder！〃 At which Ferdinand ＇his dear little Brother＇ ERSCHRACK；〃 or almost fainted with terror。 ＇Kutzen； p。 110。＇
Stiff dispute； and had the Austrians possessed the Prussian dexterity in manoeuvring； and a Friedrich been among them； perhaps？ But on their own terms； there was from the first little hope in it。 〃Behind the Windmills they are a hundred men deep；〃 by and by； your Windmills； riddled to pieces； have to be abandoned； the Prussian left wing rushing on with bayonets； wil
