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
Daun, Lacy and Loudon, the Three-lipped Pincers, have of course
followed, and are again agape for Friedrich, all in scientific postures:
Daun in the Jauer region, seven or eight miles south; Lacy about
Goldberg, as far to southwest; Loudon "between Jeschkendorf and
Koischwitz," northeastward, somewhat closer on Friedrich, with the
Katzbach intervening. That Czernichef, with an additional 24,000, to
rear of Loudon, is actually crossing Oder at Auras, with an eye to
junction, Friedrich does not hear till to-morrow. [Tempelhof, iv.
148-151; Mitchell, ii. 197.]
The scene is rather pretty, if one admired scenes. Liegnitz, a square,
handsome, brick-built Town, of old standing, in good repair (population
then, say 7,000), with fine old castellated edifices and aspects:
pleasant meeting, in level circumstances, of the Katzbach valley with
the Schwartz-wasser (BLACK-WATER) ditto, which forms the north rim of
Liegnitz; pleasant mixture of green poplars and brick towers,--as seen
from that "Victory Hill" (more likely to be "Immediate-Ruin Hill!")
where the King now is. Beyond Liegnitz and the Schwartzwasser,
northwestward, right opposite to the King's, rise other Heights called
of Pfaffendorf, which guard the two streams AFTER their uniting. Kloster
Wahlstatt, a famed place, lies visible to southeast, few miles off.
Readers recollect one Blucher "Prince of Wahlstatt," so named from one
of his Anti-Napoleon victories gained there? Wahlstatt was the scene of
an older Fight, almost six centuries older, [April 9th, 1241 (Kohler,
REICHS-HISTORIE).]--a then Prince of Liegnitz VERSUS hideous Tartar
multitudes, who rather beat him; and has been a CLOISTER Wahlstatt ever
since. Till Thursday, 14th, about 8 in the evening, Friedrich continued
in his Camp of Liegnitz. We are now within reach of a notable Passage of
War.
Friedrich's Camp extends from the Village of Schimmelwitz, fronting
the Katzbach for about two miles, northeastward, to his Head-quarter in
Liegnitz Suburb: Daun is on his right and rearward, now come within
four or five miles; Loudon to his left and frontward, four or five,
the Katzbach separating Friedrich and him; Lacy lies from Goldberg
northeastward, to within perhaps a like distance rearward: that is the
position on Thursday, 14th. Provisions being all but run out; and three
Armies, 90,000 (not to count Czernichef and his 24,000 as a fourth)
watching round our 30,000, within a few miles; there is no staying here,
beyond this day. If even this day it be allowed us? This day, Friedrich
had to draw out, and stand to arms for some hours; while the Austrians
appeared extensively on the Heights about, apparently intending an
attack; till it proved to be nothing: only an elaborate reconnoitring by
Daun; and we returned to our tents again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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