History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 18Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 18
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
Winterfeld was not at Moys, he was at Gorlitz, just got in from
escorting an important meal-convoy hither out of Bautzen; and was in
conference with Bevern, when rumor of these Croat attacks came in at the
gallop from Moys. Winterfeld made little of the rumors: he had heard
of some attack intended, but it was to have been overnight, and has
not been. "Mere foraging of Croat rabble, like yesterday's!" said
Winterfeld, and continued his present business. In few minutes the sound
of heavy cannonading convinced him. "Haha, there are my guests,"
said he; "we must see if we cannot entertain them right!" sprang to
horseback, ordered on, double-quick, the three regiments nearest him,
and was off at the gallop,--too late; or, alas, too EARLY we might
rather say! Arriving at the gallop, Winterfeld found his grenadiers
and their insufficient reinforcements rolling back, the Hill lost;
Winterfeld "sprang to a fresh horse," shot his lightning glances and
energies, to his hand and that; stormfully rallied the matter, recovered
the Hill; and stormfully defended it, for, I should guess, an hour or
more; and might still have done one knows not what, had not a bullet
struck him through the breast, and suddenly ended all his doings in this
world.
Three other reasons the Prussians give for loss of their Hill, which are
of no consequence to them or to us in comparison. First, that Bevern; on
message after message, sent no reinforcement; that Winterfeld was left
to his own 10,000, and what he and they could make of it. Bevern is
jealous of Winterfeld, hint they, and willing to see his impetuous
audacity checked. Perhaps only cautious of getting into a general
action for what was intrinsically nothing? Second, that two regiments
of Infantry, whom Winterfeld detached double-quick to seize a couple of
villages (Leopoldshayn, Hermsdorf) on his right, and therefrom fusillade
Nadasti on flank, found the villages already occupied by thousands of
Croats, with regular foot and cannon-batteries, and could in nowise
seize them. This was a great reverse of advantage. Third, that an
Aide-de-Camp made a small misnomer, misreport of one word, which was
terribly important: "Bring me hither Regiment Manteuffel!" Winterfeld
had ordered. The Aide-de-Camp reported it "Grenadiers Manteuffel:" upon
which, the grenadiers, who were posted in a walled garden, an important
point to Winterfeld's right, came instantly to order; and Austrians
instantly rushed in to the vacant post, and galled Winterfeld's other
flank by their fire. [Abundant Accounts in Seyfarth, ii. (_Beylagen_),
162-163; _Helden-Geschichte,_ iv. 615-633; Retzow, i. 216-221.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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