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
Nadasti, a skilful War-Captain, especially with Horse, was beautifully
posted about Sagschutz; his extreme left folded up EN POTENCE there
(elbow of it at Sagschutz, forearm of it running to Gohlau eastward);
POTENCE ending in firwood Knolls with Croat musketeers, in ditches,
ponds, difficult ground, especially towards Gohlau. He has a strong
battery, 14 pieces, on the Height to rear of him, at the angle or elbow
of his POTENCE; strong abatis, well manned in front to rightwards: upon
this, and upon the Croats in the firwood, the Prussians intend their
attack. General Wedell is there, Prince Moritz as chief, with six
battalions, and their batteries, battery of 10 Brummers and another;
Ziethen also and Horse: coming on, in swift fire-flood, and at an
angle of forty-five degrees. Most unexpected, strange to behold! From
southwest yonder; about one o'clock of the day.
Nadasti, though astonished at the Prussian fire-deluge, stands to his
arms; makes, in front, vigorous defence; and even takes, in some sort,
the initiative,--that is, dashes out his Cavalry on Ziethen, before
Ziethen has charged. Ziethen's Horse, who are rightmost of the
Prussians: and are bare to the right,--ground offering no bush, no brook
there (though Ziethen, foreseeing such defect, has a clump of infantry
near by to mend it),--reel back under this first shock, coming downhill
upon them; and would have fared badly, had not the clump of infantry
instantly opened fire on the Nadasti visitors, and poured it in such
floods upon them, that they, in their turn, had to reel back. Back they,
well out of range;--and leave Ziethen free for a counter-attack shortly,
on easier terms, which was successful to him. For, during that first
tussle of his, the Prussian Infantry, to left of Ziethen, has attacked
the Sagschutz Firwood; clears that of Croats; attacks Nadasti's line,
breaks it, their Brummer battery potently assisting, and the rage
of Wedell and everybody being extreme. So that, in spite of the fine
ground, Nadasti is in a bad way, on the extreme left or outmost point
of his POTENCE, or tactical KNEE. Round the knee-pan or angle of his
POTENCE, where is the abatis, he fares still worse. Abatis, beswept by
those ten Brummers and other Batteries, till bullet and bayonet can act
on it, speedily gives way. "They were mere Wurtembergers, these; and
could not stand!" cried the Austrians apologetically, at a great rate,
afterwards; as if anybody could well have stood.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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