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woods and champaign to their appointed place of action； is seven or eight miles； lines when halted in battle…order will be two miles long or more。
Friedrich pours steadily along； horse and foot； by the rear cf Wilkersdorf； of Zorndorf；Russian Minotaur scrutinizing him in that manner with dull bloodshot eyes； uncertain what he will do。 It is eight in the morning； hot August； wind a mere lull； but southernly if any。 Small Hussar pickets ride to right of the main Army March； to keep the Cossacks in check： who are roving about； all on wing； and pert enough； in spite of the Hussar pickets； Desperado individuals of them gallop up to the Infantry ranks； and fire off their pistols there；without reply； reply or firing； till the word come； is strictly forbidden。 Infantry pours along； like a ploughman drawing his furrow； heedless of the circling crows。 Crows or Cossacks； finding they are not regarded； set fire to Zorndorf； and gallop off。 Zorndorf goes up readily； mainly wood and straw； rolls in big clouds of smoke far northward in upon the Russian Minotaur； making him still blinder in the important moments now coming。
Friedrich rides up to view the Zabern Hollow： 〃Beyond expectation deep； very boggy too； with its foul leakage or brook： no attacking of their western flank through this Zaberngrund；attack the corner of them； then； here on the southwest！〃 That is Friedrich's rapid resource。 The lines halt； accordingly； make ready。 Behind flaming Zorndorf stands his extreme left； which is to make the attack； infantry in front； horse to rear and farther leftwards；and under the command of Seidlitz in this quarter； which is an important circumstance。 Right wing； reaching to behind Wilkersdorf； is to refuse itself； whole force of centre is to push upon that Russian corner； to support the left in doing it；according to the Leuthen or LEUCTRA principle； once more。 May no mistakes occur in executing it this day！
The first division of the Prussian Infantry； or extreme Left； marches forward by the west end of flaming Zorndorf； next division； which should stand close to right of it； or even behind it in action； and follow it close into the Russian fire； has to march by the east end of Zorndorf； this is a farther road； owing to the flames； and not a lucky one。 Second division could never get into fair contact with that first division again： that was the mistake： and it might have been fatal； but was not； as we shall see。 First division has got clear of Zorndorf； in advancing towards its Russian business；is striding forward； its left flank safe against the Zaberngrund； steadily by fixed stages； against the fated Russian Corner； which is its point of attack。 First division； second division； are clear of Zorndorf； though with a wide gap between them； are steadily striding forward towards the Russian Corner。 Two strong batteries； wide apart； have planted themselves ahead； and are playing upon the Russian Quadrilateral； their fires crossing at the due Corner yonder； with terrible effect； Russian artillery； which are multitudinous and all gathered down to this southwestern corner； are responding； though with their fire spread； and far less effectual。 The Prussian line steps on； extreme left perhaps in too animated a manner； their cannon batteries enfilade the thick mass of Russians at a frightful rate （〃forty… two men of a certain regiment blown away by a single ball；〃 in one instance ＇Tielcke。＇）； drive the interior baggage…horses to despair： a very agitated Quadrilateral； under its grim canopy of cannon smoke； and of straw smoke； heaped on it from the Zorndorf side here。 Manteuffel； leader of that first or leftmost division； sees the internal simmering； steps forward still more briskly； to firing distance； begins his platoon thunder； with the due steady fury； had the second division but got up to support Manteuffel！ The second division is in fire too； but not close to Manteuffel； where it should be。
Fermor notices the gap； the wavering of Manteuffel unsupported； plunges out in immense torrent； horse and foot； into the gap； into Manteuffel's flank and front； hurls Manteuffel back； who has no support at hand： 〃ARAH； ARAH （Hurrah； Hurrah）！ Victory； Victory！〃 shout the Russians； plunging wildly forward； sweeping all before them； capturing twenty…six pieces of cannon； for one item。 What a moment for Friedrich； looking on it from some knoll somewhere near Zorndorf； I suppose； hastily bidding Seidlitz strike in： 〃Seidlitz； now！〃 The hurrahing Russians cannot keep rank at that rate of going。 like a buffalo stampede； but fall into heaps and gaps： Seidlitz； with a swiftness； with a dexterity beyond praise； has picked his way across that quaggy Zabern Hollow； falls； with say 5；000 horse； on the flank of this big buffalo stampede； tumbles it into instant ruin；which proves irretrievable； as the Prussian Infantry come on again； and back Seidlitz。
In fifteen minutes more （I guess it now to be ten o'clock）； the Russian Minotaur； this end of it； on to the Gallows Ground； is one wild mass。 Seldom was there seen such a charge； issuiug in such deluges of wreck； of chaotic flight； or chaotic refusal to fly。 The Seidlitz cavalry went sabring till； for very fatigue； they gave it up； and could no more。 The Russian horse fled to Kutzdorf； Fermor with them； who saw no more of this Fight； and did not get back till dark；had not the Bridges been burnt； and no crossing of the Mutzel possible； Fermor never would have come back； and here had been the end of Zorndorf。 Luckier if it had！ But there is no crossing of the Mutzel； there is only drowning in the quagmires there：death any way； what can be done but die？
The Russian infantry stand to be sabred； in the above manner； as if they had been dead oxen。 More remote from Seidlitz； they break open the sutlers' brandy…casks； and in few minutes get roaring drunk。 Their officers； desperate； split the brandy…casks； soldiers flap down to drink it from the puddles； furiously remonstrate with their officers； and 〃kill a good many of them〃 （VIELE； says Tielcke）； especially the foreign sort。 〃A frightful blood…bath；〃 by all the Accounts： blood…bath； brandy…bath； and chief Nucleus of Chaos then extant aboveground。 Fermor is swept away： this chaos； the very Prussians drawing back from it； wearied with massacring； lasts till about one o'clock。 Up to the Gallows…ground the Minotaur is mere wreck and delirium： but beyond the Gallows…ground； the other half forms a new front to itself； becomes a new Minotaur； though in reduced shape。 This is Part First of the Battle of Zorndorf； Friedrichon the edge of great disaster at one moment； but miraculously savedhas still the other half to do （unlucky that he left no Bridges on the Mutzel）； and must again change his program。
Half of the Minotaur is gone to shreds in this manner； but the attack upon it； too； is spent： what is to be done with the other half of the monster； which is again alive； which still stands； and polypus…like has arranged a new life for itself； a new front against the Galgengrund yonder？ Friedrich brings his right wing into action。 Rapidly arranges right wing； centre； all of the left that is disposable； with batteries； with cavalry； for an attack on the opposite or southeastern en