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history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第83章

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Of which only this feature and that can be laid hold of; as discernible; by the most industrious man。 Escort; in three main bodies; vanguard; middle; rear…guard; marches on each side; infantry on the left; cavalry on the right; as the ground is leveller there。 Length of the Train in statute miles; as it jumbles along at this point; is not given; but we know it was many miles; that horses and wagoners were in panic hardly restrainable; and we dimly descry; here especially; human drill…sergeantcy doing the impossible to keep chaos plugged down。 The poor wagoner; cannon playing ahead; whirls homeward with his vehicle; if your eye quit him;still better; and handier; cuts his traces; mounts in a good moment; and is off at heavy…footed gallop; leaving his wagon。 Seldom had human drill… sergeantcy such a problem。

The Prussian Vanguard; one Krockow its commander; repulsed that first Austrian attack; swept the Bass clear for some minutes; got their section of the carriages; or some part of it; 250 in all; hurried through; then halted on the safe side; to wait what Ziethen would do with the remainder。 Ziethen does his best and bravest; as everybody does; keeps his wagon…chaos plugged down; ranks it in square mass; as a wagon fortress (WAGENBURG); ranks himself and everybody; his cannon; his platoon musketry; to the best advantage round it; furiously shoots out in all manner of ways; against the furious Loudon on this flank; and the furious Ziskowitz on that; takes hills; loses them; repels and is repelled (wagon…chaos ever harder to keep plugged); finally perceives himself to be beaten; that the wagon…chaos has got unplugged (fancy it!)and that he; Ziethen; must retreat; back foremost if possible。 He did retreat; fighting all the way to Troppau; and the Convoy is a ruin and a prey。

Krockow; with the 250; has got under way again; hearing the powder… wagons start into the air (fired by the enemy); and hearing the cannon and musketry take a northerly course; and die away in that ominous direction。 These 250 were all the carriages that came in: happily; by Ziethen's prudence; the money; a large sum; had been lodged in the vanmost of these。 The rest of the Convoy; ball; powder; bread; was of little value to Loudon; but beyond value to Friedrich at this moment; and it has gone to annihilation and the belly of Chaos and the Croats。 Among the tragic wrecks of this Convoy there is one that still goes to our heart。 A longish; almost straight row of young Prussian recruits stretched among the slain; what are these? These were 700 recruits coming up from their cantons to the Wars; hardly yet six months in training: see how they have fought to the death; poor lads; and have honorably; on the sudden; got manumitted from the toils of life。 Seven hundred of them stood to arms; this morning; some sixty…five will get back to Troppau; that is the invoice account。 They lie there; with their blond young cheeks and light hair; beautiful in death;could not have done better; though the sacred poet has said nothing of them hitherto;nor need; till times mend with us and him。 Adieu; my noble young Brothers; so brave; so modest; no Spartan nor no Roman more; may the silence be blessed to you!

Contrary to some current notions; it is comfortably evident that there was a considerable fire of loyalty in the Prussians towards their King; during this War; loyalty kept well under cover; not wasting itself in harangues or noisy froth; but coming out; among all ranks of men; in practical attempts to be of help in this high struggle; which was their own as well as his。 The STANDE; landed Gentry; of Pommern and other places; we heard of their poor little Navy of twelve gunboats; which were all taken by the Swedes。 Militia Regiments too; which did good service at Colberg; as may transiently appear by and by:in the gentry or upper classes; a respectable zeal for their King。 Then; among the peasantry or lower classHere are Seven Hundred who stood well where he planted them。 And their Mothers Be Spartan also; ye Mothers! In peaceable times; Tempelhof tells us the Prussian Mother is usually proud of having her son in this King's service: a country wife will say to you: 〃I have three of them; all in the regiment;〃 Billerbeck; Itzenplitz; or whatever be the Canton regiment; 〃the eldest is ten inches 'stands five feet ten'; the second is eleven; the third eight; for indeed he is yet young。〃

Daun; on the day of this Domstadtl business; and by way of masking it; feeling how vital it was; made various extensive movements; across the River by several Bridges; then hither; thither; on the farther side of Olmutz; mazing up and down: Friedrich observing him; till he should ripen to something definite; followed his bombarding the while; perhaps having hopes of wager of battle ensuing。 Of the disaster at Domstadtl Friedrich could know nothing; Loudon having closed the roads。 Daun by no means ripens into battle: news of the disaster reached Friedrich next day (Saturday; July 1st);who 〃immediately assembled his Generals; and spoke a few inspiring words to them;〃 such as we may fancy。 Friedrich perceives that Olmutz is over; that his Third Campaign; third lunge upon the Enemy's heart; has prospered worse; thus far; than either of the others; that he must straightway end this of Olmutz; without any success whatever; and try the remaining methods and resources。 No word of complaint; they say; is heard from Friedrich in such cases; face always hopeful; tone cheery。 A man in Friedrich's position needs a good deal of Stoicism; Greek or other。

That Saturday night the Prussian bombardment is quite uncommonly furious; long continuing; no night yet like it:the Prussians are shooting off their superfluous ammunition this night; do not quite end till Sunday is in。 On Sunday itself; packings; preparations; all completed; and; 〃Keith; with above 4;000 wagons; safe on the road since 2 A。M。〃the Prussians softly vanish in long smooth streams; with music playing; unmolested by Daun; and leaving nothing; it is boasted; but five or three mortars; which kept playing to the last; and one cannon; to which something had happened。

Of the retreat there could be much said; instructive to military men who were studious; extremely fine retreat; say all judges;of which my readers crave only the outlines; the results。 Daun; it was thought; should have ruined Friedrich in this retreat; but he did nothing of harm to him。 In fact; for a week he could not comprehend the phenomenon at all; and did not stir from his place;which was on the other; or wrong; side of the River。 Daun had never doubted but the retreat would be to Silesia; and he had made his detachments; and laid himself out for doing something upon it; in that direction: but; lo; what roads are these; what motions whitherward? In about a week it becomes manifest that the retreat; which goes on various roads; sometimes three at once; has converged on Leutomischl; straight for Bohemia instead of Silesia; and that Daun is fallen seven days behind it; incapable now to do anything。 Not even the Magazine at Leutomischl could be got away; nor could even the whole of it be burnt。

Keith and the baggage once safe in Leutomischl (July 8th); all goes in deliberat
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