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
"Quadt's Fortress is very strong, mostly hewn in the rock; and he has
that important outwork of a FLECHE; which is excellent for enfilading,
as it extends well beyond the glacis; and, being of rock like the rest,
is also abundantly defensible. Loudon's people, looking over into
this FLECHE, find it negligently guarded; Quadt at breakfast, as would
seem:--and directly send for Harsch, Captain of the Siege, and even for
Loudon, the General-in-Chief. Negligently guarded, sure enough; nothing
in the FLECHE but a few sentries, and these in the horizontal position,
taking their unlawful rest there, after such a morning's work. 'Seize me
that,' eagerly orders Loudon; 'hold that with firm grip!' Which is
done; only to step in softly, two battalions of you, and lay hard hold.
Incompetent Quadt, figure in what a flurry, rushing out to recapture
his FLECHE,--explodes instead into mere anarchy, whole Companies of him
flinging down their arms at their Officers' feet, and the like. So
that Quadt is totally driven in again, Austrians along with him; and
is obliged to beat chamade;--D'O following the example, about an hour
after, without even a capitulation. Was there ever seen such a defence!
Major Unruh, one of a small minority, was Prussian, and stanch; here is
Unruh's personal experience,--testimony on D'O's Trial, I suppose,--and
now pretty much the one thing worth reading on this subject.
"MAJOR ULZRUH TESTIFIES: 'At four in the morning, 26th July, 1760, the
Enemy began to cannonade the Old Fortress [that of Quadt]; and about
nine, I was ordered with 150 men to clear the Envelope from Austrians.
Just when I had got to the Damm-Gate, halt was called. I asked the
Commandant, who was behind me, which way I should march; to the
Crown-work or to the Envelope? Being answered, To the Envelope, I
found on coming out at the Field-Gate nothing but an Austrian
Lieutenant-colonel and some men. He called to me, "There had been
chamade beaten, and I was not to run into destruction (MICH UNGLUCKLICH
MACHEN)!" I offered him Quarter; and took him in effect prisoner, with
20 of his best men; and sent him to the Commandant, with request that
he would keep my rear free, or send me reinforcement. I shot the Enemy a
great many people here; chased him from the Field-Gate, and out of
both the Envelope and the Redoubt called the Crane [that is the FLECHE
itself, only that the Austrians are mostly not now there, but gone
THROUGH into the interior there!]--Returning to the Field-Gate, I
found that the Commandant had beaten chamade a second time; there were
marching in, by this Field-Gate, two battalions of the Austrian Regiment
ANDLAU; I had to yield myself prisoner, and was taken to General Loudon.
He asked me, "Don't you know the rules of war, then; that you fire after
chamade is beaten?" I answered in my heat, "I knew of no chamade; what
poltroonery or what treachery had been going on, I knew not!" Loudon
answered, "You might deserve to have your head laid at your feet, Sir!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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