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
Stiff dispute; and had the Austrians possessed the Prussian dexterity in
manoeuvring, and a Friedrich been among them,--perhaps? But on their own
terms, there was from the first little hope in it. "Behind the Windmills
they are a hundred men deep;" by and by, your Windmills, riddled to
pieces, have to be abandoned; the Prussian left wing rushing on with
bayonets, will not all of you have to go? Lucchesi, with his abundant
Cavalry, seeing this latter movement and the Prussian flank bare in that
part, will do a stroke upon them;--and this proved properly the finale
of the matter, finale to both Lucchesi and it.
The Prussian flank was to appearance bare in that leftward quarter; but
only to appearance: Driesen with the left wing of Horse is in a Hollow
hard by; strictly charged by Friedrich to protect said flank, and take
nothing else in hand. Driesen lets Lucchesi gallop by, in this career
of his; then emerges, ranked, and comes storming in upon Lucchesi's
back,--entirely confounding his astonished Cavalry and their career.
Astonished Cavalry, bullet-storm on this side of them, edge of sword
on that, take wing in all directions (or all except to west and south)
quite over the horizon; Lucchesi himself gets killed,--crosses a still
wider horizon, poor man. He began the ruin, and he ends it. For now
Driesen takes the bared Austrians in flank, in rear; and all goes
tumbling here too, and in few minutes is a general deluge rearward
towards Saara and Lissa side.
At Saara the Austrians, sun just sinking, made a third attempt to stand;
but it was hopelessly faint this time; went all asunder at the first
push; and flowed then, torrent-wise, towards all its Bridges over the
Schweidnitz Water, towards Breslau by every method. There are four
Bridges, Stabelwitz below Lissa; Goldschmieden, Hermannsdorf, above; and
the main one at Lissa itself, a standing Bridge on the Highroad (also
of wood); and by this the chief torrent flows; Prussian horse pursuing
vigorously; Prussian Infantry drawn up at Saara, resting some minutes,
after such a day's work. [Archenholtz, i. 209; Seyfarth, _ Beylagen,_
ii. 243-252 (by an eye-witness, intelligent succinct Account of the
Battle and previous March; ib. 252-272, of the Sieges &c. following);
Preuss, ii. 112, &c.; Tempelhof, i. 276.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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