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
towards the King's side of things, towards Auras on Oder, namely,--there
to watch for oneself these interesting Royal movements; or even to join
with Loudon out there, if that seem the safer course, against them.
Of Czernichef at Auras we shall hear farther on,--were these Royal
movements once got completed a little.
MORNING OF AUGUST 12th, Friedrich has, in his bad lodging at Seichau,
laid a new plan of route: "Towards Schweidnitz let it be; round by
Pombsen and the southeast, by the Hill-roads, make a sweep flankward
of the enemy!"--and has people out reconnoitring the Hill-roads. Hears,
however, about 8 o'clock, That Austrians in strength are coming between
us and Goldberg! "Intending to enclose us in this bad pot of a Seichau;
no crossing of the Katzbach, or other retreat to be left us at all?"
Friedrich strikes his tents; ranks himself; is speedily in readiness
for dispute of such extremity;--sends out new patrols, however,
to ascertain. "Austrians in strength" there are NOT on the side
indicated;--whereupon he draws in again. But, on the other hand, the
Hill-roads are reported absolutely impassable for baggage; Pombsen an
impossibility, as the other places have been. So Friedrich sits down
again in Seichau to consider; does not stir all day. To Mitchell's
horror, who, "with great labor," burns all the legationary ciphers and
papers ("impossible to save the baggage if we be attacked in this hollow
pot of a camp"), and feels much relieved on finishing. [Mitchell, ii.
144; Tempelhof, iv. 144.]
Towards sunset, General Bulow, with the Second Line (second column of
march), is sent out Goldberg-way, to take hold of the passage of the
Katzbach: and at 8 that night we all march, recrossing there about 1
in the morning; thence down our left bank to Liegnitz for the second
time,--sixteen hours of it in all, or till noon of the 13th. Mitchell
had been put with the Cavalry part; and "cannot but observe to your
Lordship what a chief comfort it was in this long, dangerous and painful
March," to have burnt one's ciphers and dread secrets quite out of the
way.
And thus, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13th, about noon, we are in our old Camp;
Head-quarter in the southern suburb of Liegnitz (a wretched little
Tavern, which they still show there, on mythical terms): main part of
the Camp, I should think, is on that range of Heights, which reaches two
miles southward, and is now called "SIEGESBERG (Victory Hill)," from
a modern Monument built on it, after nearly 100 years. Here Friedrich
stays one day,--more exactly, 30 hours;--and his shifting, next time, is
extremely memorable.
BATTLE, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF LIEGNITZ, DOES ENSUE (Friday morning,
15th August, 1760).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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