history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第89章
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loves another); all readers would be surprised to discover。 Some hints of him will perhaps be allowed us farther on。
SEQUEL OF HOCHKIRCH; THE CAMPAIGN ENDS IN A WAY SURPRISING TO AN ATTENTIVE PUBLIC (22d October…20th November; 1758)。
There followed upon Hochkirch five weeks of rapid events; such as nobody had been calculating on。 To the reader; so weary of marchings; manoeuvrings; surprisals; campings and details of war; not many words; we hope; may render these results conceivable。
Friedrich stayed ten days; refitting himself; in that Camp of Klein…Bautzen; on one of the branches of the Spree。 Daun; who had retired to his old strong place; on the 14th; scarcely occupying Hochkirch Field at all; came out in about a week; and took a strong post near Friedrich; not attempting anything upon him; but watching him; now better within sight。 Friedrich's fixed intention is; to march to Neisse all the same; what probably Daun; under the shadow of his laurels and his new Papal Hat; may not have considered possible; with the road to Neisse blocked by 80;000 men。 Friedrich has refitted himself with the requisite new cannon and furnitures; from Dresden; especially with Prince Henri and 6;000 foot and horse;led by Prince Henri in person; so Prince Henri would have it; the capricious little man; and that Finck should be left in Saxony instead of him。 All which weakens Saxony not a little。 But Friedrich hopes the Reichs Army is a feeble article; ill off for provision in those parts; and not likely to attempt very much on the sudden。 Accordingly:
FRIEDRICH MARCHES; ENIGMATICALLY; NOT ON GLOGAU; BUT ON REICHENBACH AND GORLITZ; TO DAUN'S ASTONISHMENT。
SUNDAY EVENING; OCTOBER 22d; Convoy of many wagons quit Bautzen (Bautzen Proper; not the Village; but the Town); laden with all the wounded of Hochkirch; above 3;000 by count; to carry them to Dresden for deliberate surgery。 Keith's Tebay; I perceive; is in this Convoy; not ill hurt; but willing to lie in Hospital a little; and consider。 These poor fellows cannot get to Dresden: on the second day; a Daun Detachment; hussaring about in those parts; is announced ahead; and (by new order from head…quarters) the Convoy turns northwards for Hoyerswerda;(to Tebay's disgust with the Commandant; 〃shied off;〃 says Tebay; 〃for twelve hussars!〃 'Second LETTER from Tebay; in Mitchell; ubi supra。')and; I think; in the end; went on to Glogau instead of Dresden。 Which was very fortunate for Tebay and the others。 The poor wounded being thus disposed of; Friedrich next night; at 10 o'clock; Monday; 23d; in the softest manner; pushes off his Bakery and Army Stores a little way; northward down the Spree Valley; on the western fork of the Spree (fork farthest from Daun); follows; himself; with the rest of the Army; next evening; down the eastern fork; also northward。 〃Going for Glogau;〃 thinks Daun; when the hussars report about it (late on Tuesday night): 〃Let him go; if he fancy that a road TO Neisse! But; indeed; what other shift has he;〃 considers Daun; 〃but to try rallying at Glogau yonder; safe under the guns?〃and is not in the slightest haste about this new matter。 'Tempelhof; ii。 341…347。'
United with his baggage…column; Friedrich proceeds northeastward; crosses Spree still northward or northeastward; encamps there; in the dark hours of Tuesday; no Daun heeding him。 Before daylight; however; Friedrich is again on foot; in several columns now; for the bad country…roads ahead;and has struck straight SOUTHeastward; if Daun were noting him。 And; in the afternoon of Wednesday; Daun is astonished to learn that this wily Enemy is arrived in Reichenbach vicinity; sweeping in our poor posts thereabouts; immovably astride of the Silesian Highway; after all! An astonished Daun hastens out; what he can; to take survey of the sudden Phenomenon。 Tries it; next day and next; with his best Loudons and appliances; finds that this Phenomenon can actually march to Neisse ahead of him; indifferent to Pandours; or giving them as good as they bring;and that nothing but a battle and beating (could we rashly dream of such a thing; which we cannot) will prevent it。 〃Very well; then!〃 Daun strives to say。 And lets the Phenomenon march (FROM Gorlitz; OCTOBER 30th); Loudon harassing the rear of it; for some days; not without counter harassment; much waste of cannonading; and ruin to several poor Lausitz Villages by fire;〃Prussians scandalously burn them; when we attack!〃 says Loudon。 Till; at last; finding this march impregnably arranged; 〃split into two routes;〃 and ready for all chances; Loudon also withdraws to more promising business。 Poor General Retzow Senior was of this march; absolutely could not be excused; though fallen ill of dysentery; like to die;and did die; the day after he got to Schweidnitz; when the difficulties and excitement were over。 'Retzow; i。 372。'
Of Friedrich's march; onward from Gorlitz; we shall say nothing farther; except that the very wind of it was salvatory to his Silesian Fortresses and interests。 That at Neisse; on and after November 1st;which is the third or second day of Friedrich's march;General Treskow; Commandant of Neisse; found the bombardment slacken more and more (〃King of Prussia coming;〃 said the Austrian deserters to us); and that; on November 6th; Treskow; looking out from Neisse; found the Austrian trenches empty; Generals Harsch and Deville hurrying over the Hills homewards; pickings to be had of them by Treskow;and Neisse Siege a thing finished。 'TAGEBUCH; &c。 (〃Diary of the Siege of Neisse;〃 4th August; 26th October; 6th November; 1758; 〃1 A。M。 suddenly〃); in Seyfarth; Beylagen; ii。 468…472: of Treskow's own writing; brief and clear。 Helden…Geschichte; v。 268…270。' It had lasted; in the way of blockade and half…blockade; for about three months; Deville; for near one month; half…blockading; then Harsch (since September 30th) wholly blockading; with Deville under him; and an army of 20;000; though the actual cannonade; very fierce; but of no effect; could not begin till little more than a week ago;so difficult the getting up of siege…material in those parts。 Kosel; under Commandant Lattorf; whose praises; like Treskow's; were great;had stood four months of Pandour blockading and assaulting; which also had to take itself away on advent of Friedrich。 Of Friedrich; on his return…journey; we shall hear again before long; but in the mean while must industriously follow Daun。
FELDMARSCHALL DAUN AND THE REICHS ARMY TRY SOME SIEGE OF DRESDEN (9th…16th November)。
OCTOBER 30th; Daun; seeing Neisse Siege as good as gone to water; decided with himself that he could still do a far more important stroke: capture Dresden; get hold of Saxony in Friedrich's absence。 Daun turned round from Reichenbach; accordingly; and; at his slow… footed pace; addressed himself to that new errand。 Had he made better despatch; or even been in better luck; it is very possible he might have done something there。 In Dresden; and in Governor Schmettau with his small garrison; there is no strength for a siege; in Saxony is nothing but some poor remnant under Finck; much of it Free…corps and light people: capable of being swallowed by the Reichs Army itself;were the Reichs Army enterprising; or in good circumstances otherwise。 It is true the Russians have quitted Colberg as impossible; and are flowing homewards dragged by hunger: the little Dohna Army will; therefore; march for Saxony; the little Anti…Swedish Army; under Wedell; has likewise been mostly ordered thither; both at their quickest。 For Daun; all turns on despatch; loiter a little; and Friedrich himself will be here again!
Daun; I have no doubt; stirred his slow feet the fastest he could。 NOVEMBER 7th; Daun was in the neighborhood of Pirna Country again; had his Bridge at Pirna; for communication; urged the Reichs Army to bestir itself; Now or never。 Reichs Army did push out a little against Finck; made him leave that perpetual Camp of Gahmig; take new camps; Kesselsdorf and elsewhere; and at length made him shoot across Elbe; to the northwest; on a pontoon bridge below Dresden; with retreating room to northward; and shelter under the guns of that City。 Reichs Army has likewise made powerful det