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
And this is, more minutely than need have been, in authentic form only
too diffuse, the once world-famous Warkotsch Tragedy or Wellnigh-Tragic
Melodrama; which is still interesting and a matter of study, of pathos
and minute controversy, to the patriot and antiquary in Prussian
Countries, though here we might have been briefer about it. It would,
indeed, have "finished the War at once;" and on terms delightful to
Austria and its Generals near by. But so would any unit of the million
balls and bullets which have whistled round that same Royal Head, and
have, every unit of them, missed like Warkotsch! Particular Heads, royal
and other, meant for use in the scheme of things, are not to be hit on
any terms till the use is had.
Friedrich settled in Breslau for the Winter, December 9th. From
Colberg bad news meet him in Breslau; bad and ever worse: Colberg,
not Warkotsch, is the interesting matter there, for a fortnight
coming,--till Colberg end, it also irremediable. The Russian hope
on Colberg is, long since, limited to that of famine. We said the
conveyance of Supplies, across such a Hundred Miles of wilderness,
from Stettin thither, with Russians and the Winter gainsaying, was the
difficulty. Our short Note continues:--
"In fact, it is the impossibility: trial after trial goes on, in a
strenuous manner, but without success. October 13th, Green Kleist tries;
October 22d, Knobloch and even Platen try. For the next two months there
is trial on trial made (Hussar Kleist, Knobloch, Thadden, Platen), not
without furious fencing, struggling; but with no success. There are,
in wait at the proper places, 15,000 Russians waylaying. Winter comes
early, and unusually severe: such marchings, such endeavorings and
endurances,--without success! For darkness, cold, grim difficulty,
fierce resistance to it, one reads few things like this of Colberg. 'The
snow lies ell-deep,' says Archenholtz; 'snow-tempests, sleet, frost: a
country wasted and hungered out; wants fuel-wood; has not even salt. The
soldier's bread is a block of ice; impracticable to human teeth till you
thaw it,--which is only possible by night.' The Russian ships disappear
(17th October); November 2d, Butturlin, leaving reinforcements without
stint, vanishes towards Poland. The day before Butturlin went, there had
been solemn summons upon Eugen, 'Surrender honorably, we once more bid
you; never will we leave this ground, till Colberg is ours!' 'Vain to
propose it!' answers Eugen, as before. The Russians too are clearly
in great misery of want; though with better roads open for them; and
Romanzow's obstinacy is extreme.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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