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
"The Austrian regiment Andlau, at our right hand, could not get itself
formed properly by reason of the houses; it was standing thirty deep,
and sometimes its shot hit us on the back. On my left the Austrian
regiment Merci ran its ways; and I was glad of that, in comparison.
By no method or effort could I get the dragoons of Bathyani, who stood
fifty yards in rear of me, to cut in a little, and help me out,"--no
good cutting hereabouts, think the dragoons of Bathyani. "My soldiers,
who were still tired with running, and had no cannon (these either from
necessity or choice they had left behind), were got scattered, fewer in
number, and were fighting mainly out of sullenness. More our honor, than
the notion of doing good in the affair, prevented us from running off.
An Ensign of the regiment Arberg helped me awhile to form, from his and
my own fragments, a kind of line; but he was shot down. Two Officers
of the Grenadiers brought me what they still had. Some Hungarians,
too, were luckily got together. But at last, as, with all helps and the
remnants of my own brave Battalion, I had come down to at most 200, I
drew back to the Height where the Windmill is," [Kutzen p. 103 (from
"Prince de Ligne's DIARY, i. 63, German Translation").]--where many have
drawn back, and are standing in sheltered places, a hundred deep, say
our Books.
Stiff fighting at Leuthen; especially furious till Leuthen Churchyard,
a place with high stone walls, was got. Leuthen Village, we observe, was
crammed with Austrians spitting fire from every coign of vantage; Church
and Churchyard especially are a citadel of death. Cannon playing from
the Windmill Heights, too;--moments are inestimable. The Prussian
Commander (name charitably hidden) at Leuthen Churchyard seems to
hesitate in the murderous fire-deluge: Major Mollendorf, namable
from that day forward, growling, "No time this for study," dashes out
himself, "EIN ANDRER MANN (Follow me, whoever is a man)!"--smashes in
the Church-Gate of the place, nine muskets blazing on him through it;
smashes, after a desperate struggle, the Austrians clean out of it, and
conquers the citadel. [Muller, p. 42.]
The Austrians, on confused terms, made stiff dispute in this second
position for about an hour. The Prussian Reserve was ordered up by
Friedrich; the Prussian left wing, which had stood "refused," about
Radaxdorf, till now: at one time nearly all the Prussians were in fire.
Friedrich is here, is there, wherever the press was greatest; "Prince
Ferdinand," whom we now and then find named, as a diligent little
fellow, and ascertain to be here in this and other Battles of
Friedrich's,--"Prince Ferdinand at one time pointed his cannon on
the Bush or Fir-Clump of Radaxdorf;--an aide-de-camp came to him with
message: "You are firing on the King; the King is yonder!" At which
Ferdinand [his dear little Brother] ERSCHRACK," or almost fainted with
terror. [Kutzen, p. 110.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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