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
Wending always south, on their western or invisible side of those
Knolls, Friedrich's people have got to about the level, or LATITUDE as
we might call it, of Nadasti's left. To Radaxdorf, namely, to Lobetintz,
or still farther south, and perhaps a mile to west of Nadasti. Friedrich
has mounted to Lobetintz Windmill; and judges that the time is come.
Daun and Cavalry once got to support their right wing, and our south
latitude being now sufficient, Friedrich, swift as Prussian manoeuvring
can do it, falls with all his strength upon their left wing. Forms in
oblique order,--horse, foot, artillery, all perfect in their paces;
and comes streaming over the Knolls at Sagschutz, suddenly like a
fire-deluge on Nadasti, who had charge there, and was expecting no such
adventure! How Friedrich did the forming in oblique order was at that
time a mystery known only to Friedrich and his Prussians: but soldiers
of all countries, gathering the secret from him, now understand it, and
can learnedly explain it to such as are curious. Will readers take a
touch more of the DRILL-SERGEANT?
"You go stairwise (EN ECHELON)," says he: "first battalion starts,
second stands immovable till the first have done fifty steps; at the
fifty-first, second battalion also steps along; third waiting for ITS
fifty-first step. First battalion [rightmost battalion or leftmost,
as the case may be; rightmost in this Leuthen case] doing fifty steps
before the next stirs, and each battalion in succession punctually doing
the same:" march along on these terms,--or halt at either end, while you
advance at the other,--it is evident you will swing yourself out of the
parallel position into any degree of obliquity. And furthermore,
merely by halting and facing half round at the due intervals, you
shove yourself to right or to left as required (always to right in this
Leuthen case): and so--provided you CAN march as a pair of compasses
would--you will, in the given number of minutes, impinge upon your
Enemy's extremity at the required angle, and overlap him to the required
length: whereupon, At him, in flank, in front, and rear, and see if he
can stand it! "A beautiful manoeuvre" says Captain Archenholtz; "devised
by Friedrich," by Friedrich inheriting Epaminondas and the Old Dessauer;
"and which perhaps only Friedrich's men, to this day, could do with the
requisite perfection."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account