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第83章

history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第83章

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r and Answer substantially to this effect:

    〃DAUN TO FERMOR 'Probably from Zittau; by Loudon's Hussars'。

〃Your Excellenz does not know that wily Enemy as I do。 By no means get into battle with such a one。 Cautiously manoeuvre about; detain him there; till I have got my stroke in Saxony done: don't try fighting him。           DAUN。〃

  〃ANSWER AS FROM FERMOR (Zorndorf once done; Daun by the first       opportunity got his Answer; duly signed 'Fermor;' but            evidently in a certain King's handwriting):

〃Your Excellenz was in the right to warn me against a cunning Enemy; whom you knew better than I。 Here have I tried fighting him; and got beaten。 Your unfortunate                      〃FERMOR。〃  'Muller;  Kurzgefasste Beschreibung der drei Schlesischen Kriege  (Berlin; 1755); in whom; alone of all the reporters; is the story given in an intelligible form。 This Muller's Book is a meritoriously brief Summary; incorrect in no essential particular; and with all the Battle…Plans on one copperplate: LIEUTENANT Muller; this one; not PROFESSOR Muller; ALIAS Schottmuller by any means!'

September 9th; Friedrich and Margraf Karl; correct to their appointment; meet at Grossenhayn; some miles north of Meissen and its Bridge; by which time Daun is clean gone again; back well above Dresden again; strongly posted at Stolpen (a place we once heard of; in General Haddick's time; last Year); well in contact with Daun's Pirna friends across the River; and out of dangerous neighborhoods。 Friedrich and the Margraf have followed Daun at quick step; but Daun would pause nowhere; till he got to Stolpen; among the bushy gullets and chasms。 September 12th; Friedrich had speech of Henri; and the pleasure of dining with him in Dresden。 Glad to meet again; under fortunate management on both parts; and with much to speak and consult about。

A day or two before; there had lain (or is said to have lain) a grand scheme in Daun: Zweibruck to burst out from Pirna by daybreak; and attack the Camp of Gahmig in front (35;000 against 20;000); Daun to cross the River on pontoons; some hours before; under cloud of night; and be ready on rear and left flank of Gahmig (with as many supplemental thousands as you like): what can save Prince Henri? Beautiful plan; on which there were personal meetings and dinings together by Zweibruck and Daun; but nothing done。 'Tempelhof; ii。 262…265。' At the eleventh hour; say the Austrian accounts; Zweibruck sent word; 〃Impossible to…morrow; cannot get in my Out…Parties in time!〃and next day; here is Friedrich come; and a collapse of everything。 Or perhaps there never seriously was such a plan? Certain it is; Daun takes camp at Stolpen; a place known to him; one of the strongest posts in Germany; intrenches himself to the teeth;good rear…guard towards Zittau and the Magazines; River and Pirna on our left flank; Loudon strong and busy on our right flank; barring the road to Bautzen; and obstinately sits there; a very bad tooth in the jaw of a certain King; not to be extracted by the best kinds of forceps and the skilfulest art; for nearly a month to come。 Four Armies; Friedrich's; Henri's; Daun's; Zweibruck's; all within sword…stroke of each other;the universal Gazetteer world is on tiptoe。 But except Friedrich's eager shiftings and rubbings upon Stolpen (west side; north; and at length northeast side); all is dead…lock; and nothing comes of it。

Friedrich has his food convenient from Dresden; but a road to Bautzen withal is what he cannot do without;and there lies the sorrow; and the ACHING; as this tooth knows well; and this jaw well! Harsch and Deville are busy upon Neisse; have Neisse under blockade; perhaps upon Kosel too; for some time past; 'Neisse 〃blockaded more and more〃 since August 4th (Kosel still earlier; but only by Pandour people); not completely so till September 30th; or even till October 26th:  Helden…Geschichte;  v。 268…270。' and are carting the siege…stock to begin bombardment: a road to Silesia; before very long; Friedrich must and will have。 Friedrich's operations on Daun in this post are patiently artful; and curious to look upon; but beyond description here: enough to say; that in the second week he makes his people hut themselves (weather wet and bad); and in the fourth week; finding that nothing contrivable would provoke Daun into fighting;he loads at Dresden provisions for I think nine days; makes; from two or from three sides; a sudden spurt upon Loudon; who is Daun's northern outpost; brushes Loudon hastily away; and himself takes the road for Bautzen; by Daun's right flank; thrown bare in this manner。 'Tempelhof; ii。 278。'

Road for Bautzen; which is the road for Zittau withal; for Daun's bread…basket; as well as for Neisse and Harsch! Nine days' provision; that is our small outfit; that and our own right…hands; and the waste world lies all ahead。 OCTOBER 1st; Retzow; as vanguard; sweeps out the few Croats from Bautzen; deposits his meal…wagons there; occupies Hochkirch; and the hilly environs to east; is to take possession of Weissenberg especially; and of the Stromberg Hill and other strong points: which Retzow punctually does; forgetting nothing;except perhaps the Stromberg; not quite remembered in time; a thing of small consequence in Retzow's view; since all else had gone right。

Hearing of which; Daun; with astonishment; finds that he must quit those beautifully chasmy fastnesses of Stolpen; and look to his bread; which is getting to lie under the enemy's feet; if Zittau road be left yonder as it is。 OCTOBER 5th; after councils of war and deliberation enough; Daun gets under way; 'Ib。 ii。 279。' cautiously; favored by a night very dark and wet; glides through to right of Friedrich's people; softly along between Bautzen and the Pirna Country; nobody molesting him; so dark and wet: and after one other march in those bosky solitudes; sits down at Kittlitz;ahead or to east of Bautzen; of Hochkirch; of Retzow and all Friedrich's people;and again sets to palisading and intrenching there。 Kittlitz; near Lobau; there is Daun's new head…quarter; Lobau Water; with its intricate hollows; his line of defence: his posts going out a mile to north and to south of Kittlitz。 And so sits; once more blocking Zittau road; and quietly waiting what Friedrich will do。

Friedrich is at Bautzen since the 7th; impatient enough to be forward; but must not till a second larger provision…convoy from Dresden come in。 Convoy once in; Friedrich hastens off; Tuesday; 10th October; towards Weissenberg Country; where Retzow is; some ten or twelve miles to eastward;Zittau…ward; if that chance to suit us; Silesia…ward; as is sure to suit。 At the 〃Pass of Jenkowitz;〃 short way from Bautzen; Pandours attempt our baggage; need to be battered off; and again off: which apprises Friedrich that Daun's whole Army is ahead in the neighborhood somewhere。 Marching on; Friedrich; from the knoll of Hochkirch; shoulder of the southern Hills; gets complete view of Daun;stretching north and south; at right angles to the Zittau roads and to Friedrich; in the way we described;and is a little surprised; and I could guess piqued; at seeing Daun in such a state of forwardness。 〃Encamp here; then!〃 he says;here; on this row of Heights parallel to Daun; within a mile of Daun: just here; I tell you! under the very nose of Daun; who is above two to one of us; and see what Daun will do。 Marwitz; his favorite Adjutant; one of those free…spoken Marwitzes; loyal; skilful; but liable to stiff fits; takes the liberty to remonstrate; argue; says at length; He; Marwitz; dare not be concerned in marking out such an encampment; not he; for his poor part! And is put under arrest; and another Adjutant does it; cannon playing on his people and him while engaged in the operation。

Friedrich's obstinate rashness; this Tuesday Evening; has not wanted its abundant meed of blame;rendered so emphatic by what befell on Saturday morning next。 His somewhat too authoritative fixity; a certain radiancy of self…confidence; dangerous to a man; his sovereign contempt of Daun; as an inert dark mass; who durst undertake nothing: all this is undeniable; and worth our recognition in estimating Friedrich。 One considerably extenua

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