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
Vellinghausen is a poor little moory Hamlet in Paderborn Country,
near the south or left bank of the Lippe River; lies to the north of
Soest,--some 15 miles to your left-hand there, as you go by rail from
Aachen to Paderborn;--but nobody now has ever heard of it at Soest or
elsewhere, famous as it once became a hundred years ago. Ferdinand had
taken a singular position there, in the early days of July, 1761. Here
is brief Notice of that Affair, and of some results, or adjuncts, still
more important, which it had:--
"This Year, Ferdinand's Campaign is more difficult than ever; Choiseul
having made a quite spasmodic effort towards Hanover, while negotiating
for Peace. Two Armies, counting together 160,000 men, in great
completeness of equipment, Choiseul has got on foot, against Ferdinand's
of 95,000. Had a fine dashing plan, too;--devised by himself (something
of a Soldier he too, and full of what the mess-rooms call 'dash');--not
so bad a Plan of the dashing kind, say judges. But it was marred sadly
in one point: That Broglio, on issuing from his Hessian Winter-quarters,
is not to be sole General; that Soubise, from the Lower-Rhine Country,
is to be Co-General;--such the inexorable will of Pompadour. This clause
of the business Ferdinand, at an early stage, appears to have guessed or
discerned might, for him, be the saving clause.
"Now, as formerly, Ferdinand's first grand business is to guard
Lippstadt,--guard it now from these two Generals:--and, singular to see,
instead of opposing the junction of them, he has submitted cheerfully
to let them join. And in the course of a week or two after taking
the field, is found to be on the western or outmost flank of Soubise,
crushing him up towards Broglio, not otherwise! And has, partly by
accident, taken a position at Vellinghausen which infinitely puzzles
Broglio and Soubise, when they rush into junction at Soest (July 6th)
and study the thing, with their own eyes, for eight whole days, in
concert.' What continual reconnoitring, galloping about of high-plumed
gentlemen together or apart; what MEMOIR-ing, mutual consulting, beating
of brains, to little purpose, during those eight days!--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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