history of friedrich ii of prussia v 17-第22章
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her； stealthily reconnoitres the Prussian Villages ahead； and trims himself for assault； at sound of the two cannons to…morrow。 But there came no cannon…signal on the morrow； far other signallings and messagings to…morrow； and next day； and next； from the Konigstein and neighborhood！ 〃Wait； Excellency Feldmarschall ＇writes Bruhl to him； Note after Note； instead of signalling from the Konigstein＇： do wait a very little！ You run no risk in waiting； we； even if we MUST yield； will make that our first stipulation！〃 〃YOU will？〃 grumbles Browne； and waits； naturally； with extreme impatience。 But the truth is； the Adventure； on the Saxon side of it； has already altogether misgone； and becomes； from this point onwards； a mere series of failures； futilities and disastrous miseries； tragical to think of。 Worth some record here； since there are Documents abundant；especially as Feldmarschall Rutowski （who is General…in…Chief； an old； not esteemed； friend of ours） has produced； or caused to be produced； a Narrative； which illuminates the Business from within as well。 ＇PRECIS； &c。 （just cited）； compare TAGEBUCH DER EINSCHLIESSUNG DES SACHSISCHEN LAGERS BEY PIRNA （〃Diary；〃 &c。； which is the Prussian Account： in Seyfarth； BEYLAGEN）； ii。 22…48。＇ The latter is our main Document here：
I know not how much of the blame was General Rutowski's： one could surmise some laxity of effort； and a rather slovenly…survey of facts； in that quarter。 The Enterprise； from the first； was flatly impossible； say judges； and it is certain； poor Rutowski's execution was not first…rate。 〃How get across the Elbe？〃 Rutowski had said to himself； perhaps not quite with the due rigor of candor proportionate to the rigorous fact： 〃How get across the Elbe？ We have copper pontoons at Pirna； but they will be difficult to cart。 Or we might have a boat…bridge； boats planked together two and two。 At Pirna are plenty of boats； and by oar and track…rope； the River itself might be a road for them？ Boats or pontoons to Konigstein； by water or land； they must be got。 Eight miles of abysmal roads； our horses all extenuated？ Impossible to cart these pontoons！〃 said Rutowski to himself。Pity he had not tried it。 He had a week to do those eight bad miles in； and 2；000 lean horses； picking grass or brown leaves； while their riders threshed。 〃We will drag our pontoons by water； by the Elbe tow…path；〃 thought Rutowski； 〃that will be easier；〃and forthwith sets about preparing for it； secretly collecting boats at Pirna； steersmen； towing…men； bridge…tackle and what else will be necessary。
Rutowski made； at least； no delay。 Browne's messenger； we find； had come to him； 〃Thursday； 7th：〃 and on Friday night Rutowski has a squad of boatmen； steersmen and twoscore of towiug peasants ready； and actually gets under way。 They are escorted by the due battalions with field…pieces；who are to fire upon the Prussian batteries； and keep up such a blaze of musketry and heavier shot； as will screen the boats in passing。 Surely a ticklish operation； this；arguing a sanguine temper in General Rutowski！ The south bank of the River is ours； but there are various Prussian batteries； three of them very strong； along the north bank； which will not fail to pelt us terribly as we pass。 No help for it；we must trust in luck！ Here is the sequel； with dates adjusted。
ELBE RIVER； NIGHT OF OCTOBER 8th…9th。 Friday night； accordingly； so soon as Darkness （unusually dark this night） has dropt her veil on the business； Rutowski sets forth。 The Prussian battery； or bridge… head （TETE…DE…PONT）； at Pirna； has not noticed him； so silent was he。 But； alas； the other batteries do not fail to notice； to give fire； and； in fact； on being answered； and finding it a serious thing； to burst out into horrible explosion； unanswerable by the Saxon field…pieces； and surely perilous to human nature steering and towing those big River…Boats。 〃Loyal to our King； and full of pity for him； that are we；〃but towing at a rate； say of two shillings per head！ Before long； the forty towing peasants fling down their ropes； first one； then more； then all； in spite of efforts； promises； menaces； and vanish among the thickets； forfeiting the two shillings； on view of imminent death。 Soldiers take the towing…ropes； try to continue it a little； but now the steersmen also manage to call halt： 〃We won't！ Let us out； let us out！ We will steer you aground on the Prussian shore if you don't！〃 making night hideous。 And the towing enterprise breaks down for that bout； double barges mooring on the Saxon shore； I know not precisely at what point； nor is it material。
SATURDAY NIGHT； OCTOBER 9th…10th） New boatmen； forty new towmen have been hired at immense increase of wages； say four shillings for the night： but have you much good probability； my General； that even for that high guerdon imminence of death can be made indifferent to towmen？ No； you have n't。 The matter goes this night precisely as it did last： towmen vanishing in the horrible cannon tumult； steersmen shrieking； 〃We will ground you on the Prussian shore；〃 very soldiers obliged to give it up； and General Rutowski himself obliged to wash his hands of it； as a thing that cannot be done。 In fact； a thing which need not have been tried； had Rutowski been rigorously candid with himself and his hopes； as the facts now prove to be。 〃Twenty…four hours lost by this bad business〃 （says he； 〃thirty…six；〃 as I count； or； to take it rigorously； 〃forty… eight〃 even）： and now； Sunday morning instead of Friday； at what； in sad truth； is metaphorically 〃the eleventh hour；〃 Rutowski has to bethink him of his copper pontoons； and make the impossible carting method possible in a day's time； or do worse。
SUNDAY； MONDAY； OCTOBER 10th…11th； By unheard…of exertions； all hands and all spent…horses now at a dead…lift effort night and day； Rutowski does get his pontoons carted out of the Pirna storehouse； lands them at Thurmsdorf；opposite the Lilienstein；a mile or so short of Konigstein； where his Bridge shall be。 It is now the 11th； at night。 And our pontoons are got to the ground； nothing more。 Every man of us； at this hour； should have been across； and trimming himself to climb； with bayonet fixed！ Browne is ready； expecting our signal…shot to storm in on his side。 And our bridge is not built； only the pontoons here。 〃All things went perverse；〃 adds Rutowski； for farther comfort： 〃we ＇Saxon Home…Army＇ had with us； except Officers； only Four Pontoniers； or trained Bridge… builders； all the rest are at Warsaw：〃 sad thought； but too late to think it！
TUESDAY； TILL WEDNESDAY EARLY （12th…13th）； Bridge； the Four Pontoniers； with Officers and numb soldiers doing their best； is got built；Browne waiting for us； on thorns； all day； Prussians extensively beginning to strengthen their posts； about the Lilienstein； about Lichtenhayn； or where risk is； and in fact pouring across to that northern side； quite aware of Rutowski and Browne。
That same night； 12th…13th； while the Bridge was struggling to complete itself；rain now falling； and tempests broken out；the Saxon Army； from Pirna down to Hennersdorf； had lifted itself from its Lines； and got under way towards Thurmsdorf； and the crossing… place。 Dark night； plunging rain； all the elements in uproar。 The worst roads in Nature； now champed doubly； 〃such roads as never any Army marched on before。〃 Most of their cannon are left standing； a few they had tried to yoke； broke down； 〃and choked up the narrow road altogether； so that the cavalry had to dismount； and lead their horses by side…paths；〃figure what side…paths！ Distance to Thurmsdorf； from any point of the Saxon Lines； cannot be above six miles： but it takes them all that night and all next day。 Such a march as might fill the heart with pity。 Oh； ye Rutowskis； Bruhls； though never so decorated by twelve tailors； what a sight ye are at the head of men！ Dark night； wild raging weather； labyrinthic roads worn knee…deep。 It is broad daylight； Wednesday； 13th； and only the vanguard is yet got across； trailing a couple of cannons； and splashes about； endeavoring to take rank there； in spite of wet and hunger； rain still pouring； wind very high。
Nothing of Browne comes； this Wednesday； but from the opposite Gross…Sedlitz and Gott
