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
Schwartzwasser, a River of many tails (boggy most of them, Sohnelle or
SWIFT Deichsel hardly an exception), gathering itself from the southward
for twenty or more miles, attains its maximum of north at a place called
Waldau, not far northwest of Topferberg. Towards this Waldau, Lacy is
aiming all night; thence to pounce on our "left wing,"--which he will
find to consist of those empty watch-fires merely. Down from Waldau,
past Topferberg and Pfaffendorf (PRIEST-town, or as we should call it,
"Preston"), which are all on its northern or left bank, Schwartzwasser's
course is in the form of an irregular horse-shoe; high ground to its
northern side, Liegnitz and hollows to its southern; till in an angular
way it do join Katzbach, and go with that, northward for Oder the rest
of its course. On the brow of these horse-shoe Heights,--which run
parallel to Schwartzwasser one part of them, and nearly parallel to
Katzbach another (though above a mile distant, these latter, from
IT),--Friedrich plants himself: in Order of Battle; slightly altering
some points of the afternoon's program, and correcting his Generals,
"Front rather so and so; see where their fires are, yonder!" Daun's
fires, Loudon's fires; vividly visible both:--and, singular to say,
there is nothing yonder either but a few sentries and deceptive drums!
All empty yonder too, even as our own Camp is; all gone forth, even as
we are; we resting here, and our meal-wagons jingling on Glogau way!
Excellency Mitchell, under horse-escort, among the lighter baggage,
is on Kuchelberg Heath, in scrubby country, but well north behind
Friedrich's centre: has had a dreadful march; one comfort only, that
his ciphers are all burnt. The rest of us lie down on the grass;--among
others, young Herr von Archenholtz, ensign or lieutenant in Regiment
FORCADE: who testifies that it is one of the beautifulest nights, the
lamps of Heaven shining down in an uncommonly tranquil manner; and that
almost nobody slept. The soldier-ranks all lay horizontal, musket under
arm; chatting pleasantly in an undertone, or each in silence revolving
such thoughts as he had. The Generals amble like observant spirits,
hoarsely imperative. [Archenholtz, ii. 100-111.] Friedrich's line, we
observed, is in the horse-shoe shape (or PARABOLIC, straighter than
horse-shoe), fronting the waters. Ziethen commands in that smaller
Schwartzwasser part of the line, Friedrich in the Katzbach part, which
is more in risk. And now, things being moderately in order, Friedrich
has himself sat down--I think, towards the middle or convex part of his
lines--by a watch-fire he has found there; and, wrapt in his cloak, his
many thoughts melting into haze, has sunk ito a kind of sleep. Seated on
a drum, some say; half asleep by the watch-fire, time half-past 2,--when
a Hussar Major, who has been out by the Bienowitz, the Pohlschildern
way, northward, reconnoitring, comes dashing up full speed: "The King?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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