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;000 posted there; knows nothing of Royal Highness's position; sees only Royal Highness's left wing on that woody Height; and after hours of preliminary cannonading; sends out General Chevert upon that。 Chevert; his subaltern 'a bit of right soldier… stuff; the Chevert whom we knew at Prag; in old Belleisle times'; goes upon it like fury; whom the Brunswick Grenadiers resist in like humor; hotter and hotter。 Some hard fighting there; on Royal Highness's left; Chevert very fiery; Grenadiers very obstinate; till; on the centre; westward; in Royal Highness's chief battery there; some spark went the wrong way; and a powder…wagon shot itself aloft with hideous blaze and roar; and in the confusion; the French rushed in; and the battery was lost。 Which discouraged the Grenadiers; so that Chevert made some progress upon them; on their woody Height; and began to have confident hope。
〃Had Chevert known; or had D'Estrees known; there was; close behind said Height; a Hollow; through which these Grenadiers might have been taken in rear。 Dangerous Hollow; much neglected by Royal Highness; who has only General Breitenbach with a weak party there。 This Breitenbach; happening to have a head of his own; and finding nothing to do in that Hollow or to rightward; bursts out; of his own accord; on Chevert's left flank; cannonading; volleying; horse… charging;the sound of which ('Hah; French there too!') struck a damp through Royal Highness; who instantly ordered retreat; and took the road。 What singular ill…luck that sound of Breitenbach to Royal Highness! For observe; the EFFECT of Breitenbach;which was; to recover the lost battery (gallant young Prince of Brunswick; 'Hereditary Prince;' or Duke that is to be; striking in upon it with bayonet…charge at the right moment); made D'Estrees to order retreat! 'Battle lost;' thinks D'Estrees;and with good cause; had Breitenbach been supported at all。 But no subaltern durst; and Royal Highness himself was not overtakable; so far on the road。 Royal Highness wept on hearing; the Brunswick Grenadiers too are said to have wept (for rage); and probably Breitenbach and the Hereditary Prince。〃 'Mauvillon; i。 228; Anonymous of Hamburg; i。 206 (who gives a Plan and all manner of details; if needed by anybody); Kausler; &c。 &c。'
This is the last of Royal Highness's exploits in War。 The retreat had been ordered 〃To Hanover;〃 but the baggage by mistake took the road for Minden; and Royal Highness followed thither;much the same what road he or it takes。 Friedrich might still hope he would retreat on Magdeburg; 40;000 good soldiers might find a Captain there; and be valuable against a D'Estrees and Soubise in those parts。 But no; it was through Bremen Country; to Stade; into the Sea; that Royal Highness; by ill luck; retreated! He has still one great vexation to give Friedrich;to us almost a comfort; knowing what followed out of it;and will have to be mentioned one other time in this History; and then go over our horizon altogether。
Whether Friedrich had heard of Hastenbeck the day his Brother and he met (July 29th; at Bautzen); I do not know: but it is likely enough he may have got the news that very morning; which was not calculated to increase one's good humor! His meeting with the Prince is royal; not fraternal; as all men have heard。 Let us give with brevity; from Schmettau Junior; the exact features of it; and leave the candid reader; who has formed to himself some notion of kingship and its sorrows and stern conditions (having perhaps himself some thing of kingly; in a small potential way); to interpret the matter; and make what he can of it:
〃BAUTZEN; 29th JULY; 1757。 The King with reinforcement is coming hither; from the Dresden side; to take up the reins of this dishevelled Zittau Army; to speed with it against the Austrians; and; if humanly possible; lock the doors of Silesia and Saxony again; and chase the intruders away。 Prince of Prussia and the other Generals have notice; the night before: 'At 4 A。M。 to…morrow (29th); wait his Majesty。' Prince and Generals wait accordingly; all there but Goltz and Winterfeld; they not; which is noted。
〃For above an hour; no King; Prince and Generals ride forward: there is the King coming; Prince Henri; Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick and others in his train。 King; noticing them; at about 300 paces distance; drew bridle; Prince of Prussia did the like; train and he saluting with their hats; as did the King's train in return。 King did not salute;on the contrary; he turned his horse round and dismounted; as did everybody else on such signal。 King lay down on the ground; as if waiting the arrival of his Vanguard; and bade Winterfeld and Goltz sit by him。〃 Poor Prince of Prussia; and battered heavy…laden Generals! 〃After a minute or two; Goltz came over and whispered to the Prince。 'Hither; MEINE HERREN; all of you; a message from his Majesty!' cried the Prince。 Whereupon; to Generals and Prince; Goltz delivered; in equable official tone; these affecting words: 'His Majesty commands me to inform your Royal Highness; That he has cause to be greatly discontented with you; that you deserve to have a Court…martial held over you; which would sentence you and all your Generals to death; but that his Majesty will not carry the matter so far; being unable to forget that in the Chief General he has a Brother!'〃 'Schmettau; pp。 384; 385。'
The Prince answered; He wanted only a Court…martial; and the like; in stiff tone。 Here is the Letter he writes next day to his Brother; with the Answer:
PRINCE OF PRUSSIA TO THE KING。
〃BAUTERN; 30th July; 1757。
〃MY DEAR BROTHER;The Letters you have written me; and the reception I yesterday met with; are sufficient proof that; in your opinion; I have ruined my honor and reputation。 This grieves; but it does not crush me; as in my own mind I am not conscious of the least reproach。 I am perfectly convinced that I did not act by caprice: I did not follow the counsels of people incapable of giving good ones; I have done what I thought to be suitablest for the Army。 All your Generals will do me that justice。
〃I reckon it useless to beg of you to have my conduct investigated: this would be a favor you would do me; so I cannot expect it。 My health has been weakened by these fatigues; still more by these chagrins。 I have gone to lodge in the Town; to recruit myself。
〃I have requested the Duke of Bevern to present the Army Reports; he can give you explanation of everything。 Be assured; my dear Brother; that in spite of the misfortunes which overwhelm me; and which I have not deserved; I shall never cease to be attached to the State; and as a faithful member of the same; my joy will be perfect when I learn the happy issue of your Enterprises。 I have the honor to be〃
AUGUST WILHELM。 Main de Maitre; p。 21。'
KING'S ANSWER; THE SAME DAY。
〃CAMP NEAR BAUTZEN; 30th July; 1757。 〃MY DEAR BROTHER;Your bad guidance has greatly deranged my affairs。 It is not the Enemy; it is your ill…judged measures that have done me all this mischief。 My Generals are inexcusable; either for advising you so ill; or in permitting you to follow resolutions so unwise。 Your ears are accustomed to listen to the talk of flatterers only。 Da