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
Friedrich did not recapture Dresden; far enough from that,--though Peace
came all the same. Hardly a week after our recovery of Schweidnitz,
Stollberg and his Reichsfolk, especially his Austrians, became
unexpectedly pert upon Henri; pressed forward (October 15th), in
overpowering force, into his Posts about Freyberg, Pretschendorf and
that southwestern Reich-ward part: "No more invadings of Bohemia from
you, Monseigneur; no more tormentings of the Reich; here is other work
for you, my Prince!"--and in spite of all Prince Henri could do, drove
him back, clear out of Freyberg; northwestward, towards Hulsen and his
reserves. [_Bericht von dem Angriff so am 15ten October, 1762, van der
Reichs-Armee auf die Kongilich-Preussischen unter dem Prinzen Heinrich
geschehen_ (Seyfarth, _Beylagen,_ iii. 362-364). _Ausfuhrlicher Bericht
von der den 15ten October, 1762, bey Brand vorgefallenen Action_ (Ib.
iii. 350-362). Tempelhof, vi. 238.] Giving him, in this manner, what
soldiers call a slap; slap which might have been more considerable, had
those Stollberg people followed it up with emphasis. But they did not;
so alert was Henri. Henri at once rallied beautifully from his slap
(King's reinforcements coming too, as we have said); and, in ten
days' time, without any reinforcement, paid Stollberg and Company by
a stunning blow: BATTLE OF FREYBERG (October 29th),--which must not go
without mention, were it only as Prince Henri's sole Battle, and the
last of this War. Preparatory to which and its sequel, let us glance
again at Duke Ferdinand and the English-French posture,--also for the
last time.
CANNONADE AT AMONEBURG (21st September, 1762). "The controversies
about right or left bank of the Fulda have been settled long since in
Ferdinand's favor; who proceeded next to blockade the various French
strongholds in Hessen; Marburg, Ziegenhayn, especially Cassel; with an
eye to besieging the same, and rooting the French permanently out. To
prevent or delay which, what can Soubise and D'Estrees do but send for
their secondary smaller Army, which is in the Lower-Rhine Country under
a Prince de Conde, mostly idle at present, to come and join them in the
critical regions here. Whereupon new Controversy shifting westward to
the Mayn and Nidda-Lahn Country, to achieve said Junction and to hinder
it. Junction was not to be hindered. The D'Estrees-Soubise people and
young Conde made good manoeuvring, handsome fight on occasion; so that
in spite of all the Erbprinz could do, they got hands joined; far too
strong for the Erbprinz thenceforth; and on the last night of August
were all fairly together, head-quarter Friedberg in Frankfurt Country (a
thirty miles north of Frankfurt); and were earnestly considering the
now not hopeless question, 'How, or by what routes and methods, push
to northwestward, get through to those blockaded Hessian Strong-places,
Cassel especially; and hinder Ferdinand's besieging them, and quite
outrooting us there?'
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