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
Major-General Loudon, the best partisan soldier extant, and ripening
for better things, has usually a force of perhaps 10,000 under him,
four regiments of them regular grenadiers; and has been active on
the convoys, though hitherto unsuccessful. Let an active Loudon, with
increased force, try this, their vitally important convoy, from the west
side of the River; an active Ziskowitz co-operating on the east side,
where the road itself is; and do their uttermost! That is Daun's
plan,--now in course of execution. Daun, instead of meaning battle, that
day when Friedrich saw him, was cautiously stealing past, intending to
cross the River farther down; and himself support the operation. Daun
has crossed accordingly, and has doubled up northward again to the fit
point; Ziskowitz is in the fit point, in the due force, on this east
side too. Loudon, on the west side, goes by Muglitz, Hof; making a long
deep bend far to westward and hillward of all the Prussian posted corps
and precautions, and altogether hidden from them; Loudon aims to be in
Troppau neighborhood, "Guntersdorf, near Bautsch," by the proper day,
and pay Mosel an unexpected visit in the passage there.
Colonel Mosel, marshalling his endless Trains with every excellent
precaution, and the cleverest dispositions (say the Books), against
the known and the unknown, had got upon the road, and creaked forward,
many-wheeled, out of Troppau, Monday, 26th June. [Tempelhof, ii. 89-94.]
The roads, worn by the much travelling and wet weather, were utterly
bad; the pace was perhaps quicker than usual; the much-jolting Train got
greatly into a jumble:--Mosel, to bring up the laggards, made the morrow
a rest-day; did get about two-thirds of his laggards marshalled again;
ordered the others to return, as impossible. They say, had it not been
for this rest-day, which seemed of no consequence, Loudon would not have
been at Guntersdorf in time, nor have attempted as he did at Guntersdorf
and afterwards. At break of day (Wednesday, 28th), Mosel is again on the
road; heavily jumbling forward from his quarters in Bautsch. Few
miles on, towards Guntersdorf, he discovers Loudon posted ahead in the
defiles. What a sight for Mosel, in his character of Wagoner up with
the dawn! But Mosel managed the defiles and Loudon this time; halted his
train, dashed up into the woody heights and difficult grounds; stormed
Loudon's cannon from him, smote Loudon in a valiant tempestuous manner;
and sent him travelling again for the present.
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