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as been on the Bohemian slope of the Metal Mountains; securing the roads; towns and passes thereabouts; and looking out for the advance of Marshal Browne from the interior parts。 Town of Aussig; and the River…road (castle of Tetschen; on its high rock known to Tourists; which always needs to be taken on such occasions); these Keith has secured。 Lies encamped from Peterswalde to Aussig; the middle or main strength of him being in the Hamlet of Johnsdorf (discoverable; if readers like): there lies Keith; fifteen miles in length; like a strap; or bar; thrown across the back of that Metal… Mountain Range;or part of its back; for the range is very broad; and there is much inequality; and many troughs; big and little; partial and general; in the crossing of it。 A tract which my readers and I have crossed before now; by the 〃Pascopol〃 or Post… road and otherwise; and shall often have to cross!
Browne; vigorously astir in the interior (cannon and equipments coming by relays at such a pace); is daily advancing; with his best speed: in the last days of September; Browne is encamped at Budin; may cross the Eger River any day; and will then be within two marches of Keith。 His intentions towards Pirna Country are fixed and sure; but the plan or route he will take is unknown to everybody; and indeed to Browne himself; till he see near at hand and consider。 Browne's problem; he himself knows; is abundantly abstruse;bordering on the impossible; but he will try his best。 To get within reach of the Saxons is almost impossible to Browne; even were there no Keith there。 As good as impossible altogether; by any line of march; while Keith is afoot in those parts。 By Aussig; down the River; straight for the interior of their Camp; it is flatly impossible: by the south or southeast corner of their Camp (Gottleube way); or by the northeast (by Schandau way; right bank of Elbe); it is virtually so;at least without beating Keith。 Could one beat Keith indeed;but that will not be easy! And that; unluckily; is the preliminary to everything。
〃By the Hellendorf…Hennersdorf side; in the wastes where Gottleube Brook gathers itself; Browne might have a chance。 There; on that southeast corner of their Camp; were he once there to attack the Prussians from without; while the Saxons burst up from within; there;〃 thinks a good judge; 〃is much the favorablest place。 But unless Browne's Army had wings; how is it ever to get there? Across those Metal…Mountain ranges; barred by Keith:by Aussig; with the rocks overhanging Elbe River and him; he cannot go in auy case。 Were there no Keith; indeed (but there always is; standing ready on the spring); one might hold to leftward; and by stolen marches; swift; far round about!
〃By Schandau region; north side of the Elbe; is Browne's easiest; and indeed one feasible; point of approach;no Prussians at present between him and that; the road open; though a far circuit northward for Browne;were he to cross the Elbe in Leitmeritz circle; and march with velocity? That too will be difficult; nearly impossible in sight of Keith。 And were that even done; the egress for the Saxons; by Schandau side; is through strait mountain gorges; intricate steep passes; crossings of the Elbe: what force of Saxons or of Austrians will drive the Prussians from their redoubts and batteries there?〃 ' OEuvres de Frederic; iv。 86; 93; 96。'
Browne's problem is none of the feasiblest: but his orders are strict; 〃Relieve the Saxons; at all risks。〃 And Browne; one of the ablest soldiers liviug (〃Your Imperial Majesty's best general;〃 said the dying Khevenhuller long since); will do his utmost upon it。 Friedrich does not think the enterprise very dangerous; beating of Keith the indispensable preliminary to it; but will naturally himself go and look into it。
Tuesday; September 28th; Friedrich quits Pirna Country by the Prag Highway; making due inspection of his Posts as he goes along; and; the outmost of these once past; drives rapidly up the Mountains; gets; with small escort; through Peterswalde on to Johnsdorf that night。 Does not think this Keith position good; breaks up this 〃Camp of Johnsdorf〃 bodily next morning; and marches down the Mountains; direct towards Browne; who; we hear; is about crossing the Eger (his Pontoons now come at last); and will himself be on the advance。 From Turmitz; a poor mountain hamlet in the hollow of the Hills; which is head…quarters that night; the march proceeds again; Friedrich with the vanguard; Army; I think; on various country…roads; on both hands; till all get upon the Great Road again;Prag…Toplitz…Dresden Post…road; which is called; specially in this part of it; and loosely in whole; 〃The Pascopol;〃 and leads down direct to Budin and Browne。
〃A 'Pascopol' famed in military annals;〃 says our Tourist。 〃It is a road with many windings; many precipitous sweeps of up and down; road precipitous in structure;offers views to the lover of wild Nature: huge lonesome Hills scattered in the distance; waste expanses nearer hand; and futile attempts at moorish agriculture; but little else that is comfortable。 In times of Peace; you will meet; at long intervals; some post…vehicle struggling forward under melancholy circumstances; some cart; or dilapidated mongrel between cart and basket; with a lean ox harnessed to it; and scarecrow driver; laden with pit…coal;which you wish safe home; and that the scarecrow were getting warmed by it。 But in War…time the steep road is livelier; the common Invasion road between Saxony and Bohemia; whole Armies sweeping over it; and their thousand…fold wagons and noises making clangor enough。 。。。 One of those Hollows; on the Pascopol; is Joachimsthal; with its old Silver Mines; yielding coins which were in request with traders; the silver being fine。 'Let my ducat be a Joachimsthal one; then!' the old trader would say: 'a JOACHIMSTHAL…ER;' or; for brevity; a 'THAL…ER;' whence THALER; and at last DOLLAR (almighty and otherwise);now going round the world! 'Busching; Erdbeschreibung; v。 178。' Pascopol finishes in Welmina Township。 From the last hamlet in Welmina; at the neck of the last Hill; step downward one mile; holding rather to the left; you will come on the innocent Village of Lobositz; its poor corn…mills and huckster…shops all peaceably unknown as yet; which is soon to become very famous。〃
The Country…roads where Friedrich's Army is on march; I should think; are mostly on the mounting hand。 For here; from Turmitz; is a trough again; though the last considerable one; and on the crest of that; we shall look down upon the Bohemian Plains and the grand Basin of the Elbe;through various scrubby villages which are not nameworthy; through one called Kletschen; which for a certain reason is。 Crossing the shoulder of Kletschenberg (HILL of this Kletschen); which abuts upon the Pascopol;yonder in bright sunshine is your beautiful expansive Basin of the Elbe; and the green Bohemian Plains; revealed for a moment。 Friedrich snatches his glass; not with picturesque object: 〃See; yonder is Feldmarschall Browne; then! In camp yonder; down by Lobositz; not ten miles from us;'it is most true; Browne marched this morning; long before the Sun; crossed Eger; a