History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 20Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 20
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
Russian main Army clean gone; already got to Jauer, as we hear; and Beck
with a Division to see them safe across the Oder;--only Czernichef and
20,000 being left, as a Corps of Loudon's. Who, with all Austrians, are
quiet in their Heights of Kunzendorf again. And thus, on the twentieth
morning, September 10th, this strange Business terminated. Shot of those
batteries is drawn again; powder of those mines lifted out again: no
firing of your heavy Artillery at all, nor even of your light, after
such elaborate charging and shoving of it hither and thither for
the last three weeks. The Prussians cease their bivouacking, nightly
striking of tents; and encamp henceforth in a merely human manner; their
"Spanish Riders" (FRISIAN Horse, CHEVAUX-DE-FRISE, others of us call
them), their Storm-pales and elaborate wooden Engineerings, they
gradually burn as fuel in the cold nights; finding Loudon absolutely
quiescent, and that the thing is over, for the present. One huge peril
handsomely staved away, though so many others impend.
By way of accelerating Butturlin, Friedrich, next day, September 11th,
despatched General Platen with some 8,000 (so I will guess them from
Tempelhof's enumeration by battalions), to get round the flank of
Butturlin, and burn his Magazines. Platen, a valiant skilful person, did
this business, as he was apt to do, in a shining style; shot dexterously
forward by the skirts of Butturlin; heard of a big WAGENBURG or
Travelling Magazine of his, at Gostyn over the Polish Frontier; in fact,
his travelling bread-basket, arranged as "Wagon-fortress" in and round
some Convent there, with trenches, brick walls, cannon and defence
considered strong enough for so important a necessary of the road.
September 15th, Platen, before cock-crow, burst out suddenly on this
Wagon-fortress, with its cannons, trenches, brick walls and defensive
Russians; stormed into it with extraordinary fury: "Fixed bayonets,"
ordered he at the main point of their defence, "not a shot till they are
tumbled out!"--tumbled them out accordingly, into flight and ruin; took
of prisoners 1,845, seven cannon, and burnt the 5,000 provender wagons,
which was the soul of the adventure; and directly got upon the road
again. [Tempelhof, v. 281-293; _Helden-Geschichte,_ vi. 643-649.]
Detachments of him then fell on Posen, on Posen and other small Russian
repositories in those parts,--hay-magazines, biscuit-stores soldiers'
uniforms; distributed or burnt the same;--completely destroying the
travelling haversack or general road-bag of Butturlin; a Butturlin that
will have to hasten forward or starve.
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