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history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第102章

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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 detachments for capture of Leipzig and the northwestern towns; capture of Torgau; the Magazine town; first of all: summon them; with force evidently overpowering; 〃Free withdrawal; if you don't resist; and if you do!〃 At Torgau there was actual attempt made (November 12th); rather elaborate and dangerous looking; under Haddick; with near 10;000 of the 〃Austrian…auxiliary〃 sort: to whom the old Commandant judging Wedell; the late Anti…Swedish Wedell; to be now near rushed out with 〃300 men and one big gun;〃 and made such a firing and gesticulation as was quite extraordinary; as if Wedell were here already: till Wedell's self did come in sight; and the overpowering Reichs Detachment made its best speed else…whither。 'Tempelhof; &c。; 〃Letter from a Prussian Officer;〃 in  Helden…Geschichte; v。 286。' The other Sieges remained things of theory; the other Reichs Detachments hurried home; I think; without summoning anybody。

Meanwhile; Daun; with the proper Artilleries at last ready; comes flowing forward (NOVEMBER 8th…9th); and takes post in the Great Garden; or south side of Dresden; minatory to Schmettau and that City。 The walls; or works; are weak; outside there is nothing but Mayer and the Free Corps to resist; who indeed has surpassed himself this season; and been extraordinarily diligent upon that lazy Reichs Army。 Commandant Schmettau signifies to Daun; the day Daun came in sight; 〃If your Excellenz advance farther on me; the grim Rules of War in besieged places will order That I burn the Suburbs; which are your defences in attacking me;〃and actually fills the fine houses on the Southern Suburb with combustible matter; making due announcements; to Court and population; as well as to Dann。 〃Burn the Suburbs?〃 answers Daun: 〃In the name of civilized humanity; you will never think of such thing!〃 〃That will I; your Excellenz; of a surety; and do it!〃 answers Schmettau。 So that Dresden is full of pity; terror and speculation。 The common rumor is; says Excellency Mitchell; who is sojourning there for the presen
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