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
Fight SECOND (July 16th) was a kind of revenge on the Erbprinz's part:
Affair of EMSDORF, six days after, in the same neighborhood; beautiful
too, said the Gazetteers; but of result still more insignificant.
Hearing of a considerable French Brigade posted not far off, at that
Village of Emsdorf, to guard Broglio's meal-carts there, the indignant
Erbprinz shoots off for that; light of foot,--English horse mainly, and
Hill Scots (BERG-SCHOTTEN so called, who have a fine free stride, in
summer weather);--dashes in upon said Brigade (Dragoons of Bauffremont
and other picked men), who stood firmly on the defensive; but were cut
up, in an amazing manner, root and branch, after a fierce struggle, and
as it were brought home in one's pocket. To the admiration of military
circles,--especially of mess-rooms and the junior sort. "Elliot's
light horse [part of the new 7,000], what a regiment! Unparalleled for
willingness, and audacity of fence; lost 125 killed,"--in fact, the
loss chiefly fell on Elliot. [Ib. ii. 109 (Prisoners got "were
2,661, including General and Officers 179," with all their furnitures
whatsoever, "400 horses, 8 cannon," &c.).] The BERG-SCHOTTEN too,--I
think it was here that these kilted fellows, who had marched with such
a stride, "came home mostly riding:" poor Beauffremont Dragoons being
entirely cut up, or pocketed as prisoners, and their horses ridden in
this unexpected manner! But we must not linger,--hardly even on WARBURG,
which was the THIRD and greatest; and has still points of memorability,
though now so obliterated.
"Warburg," says my Note on this latter, "is a pleasant little Hessian
Town, some twenty-five miles west of Cassel, standing on the north or
left bank of the Diemel, among fruitful knolls and hollows. The famous
'BATTLE OF WARBURG,'--if you try to inquire in the Town itself, from
your brief railway-station, it is much if some intelligent inhabitant,
at last, remembers to have heard of it! The thing went thus: Chevalier
du Muy, who is Broglio's Rear-guard or Reserve, 30,000 foot and horse,
with his back to the Diemel, and eight bridges across it in case of
accident, has his right flank leaning on Warburg, and his left on a
Village of Ossendorf, some two miles to northwest of that. Broglio,
Prince Xavier of Saxony, especially Duke Ferdinand, are all vehemently
and mysteriously moving about, since that Fight of Korbach; Broglio
intent to have Cassel besieged, Du Muy keeping the Diemel for him;
Ferdinand eager to have the Diemel back from Du Muy and him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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