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
"Two days ago (July 29th), the Erbprinz crossed over into these
neighborhoods, with a strong Vanguard, nearly equal to Du Muy; and,
after studious reconnoitring and survey had, means, this morning (July
31st), to knock him over the Diemel again, if he can. No time to be
lost; Broglio near and in such force. Duke Ferdinand too, quitting
Broglio for a moment, is on march this way; crossed the Diemel, about
midnight, some ten miles farther down, or eastward; will thence bend
southward, at his best speed, to support the Erbprinz, if necessary, and
beset the Diemel when got;--Erbprinz not, however, in any wise, to
wait for him; such the pressure from Broglio and others. A most busy
swift-going scene that morning;--hardly worth such describing at this
date of time.
"The Erbprinz, who is still rather to northeastward, that is to
rightward, not directly frontward, of Du Muy's lines; and whose plan of
attack is still dark to Du Muy, commences [about 8 A.M., I should guess]
by launching his British Legion so called,--which is a composite body,
of Free-Corps nature, British some of it ('Colonel Beckwith's people,'
for example), not British by much the most of it, but an aggregate of
wild strikers, given to plunder too:--by launching his British Legion
upon Warburg Town, there to take charge of Du Muy's right wing. Which
Legion, 'with great rapidity, not only pitched the French all out, but
clean plundered the poor Town;' and is a sad sore on Du Muy's right, who
cannot get it attended to, in the ominous aspects elsewhere visible.
For the Erbprinz, who is a strategic creature, comes on, in the style
of Friedrich, not straight towards Du Muy, but sweeps out in two
columns round northward; privately intending upon Du Muy's left wing
and front--left wing, right wing, (by British Legion), and front, all
three;--and is well aided by a mist which now fell, and which hung on
the higher ground, and covered his march, for an hour or more. This mist
had not begun when he saw, on the knoll-tops, far off on the right, but
indisputable as he flattered himself,--something of Ferdinand emerging!
Saw this; and pours along, we can suppose, with still better step and
temper. And bursts, pretty simultaneously, upon Du Muy's right wing
and left wing, coercing his front the while; squelches both these wings
furiously together; forces the coerced centre, mostly horse, to plunge
back into the Diemel, and swim. Horse could swim; but many of the Foot,
who tried, got drowned. And, on the whole, Du Muy is a good deal wrecked
[1,600 killed, 2,000 prisoners, not to speak of cannon and flags], and,
but for his eight bridges, would have been totally ruined.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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