The disaster of October 1st, -- for which they
were trying to sing Te-Deums at Vienna, -- fell heavier
on the poor Saxons, in their cage at Pirna: "Alas,
where is our deliverance now?
were trying to sing Te-Deums at Vienna, -- fell heavier
on the poor Saxons, in their cage at Pirna: "Alas,
where is our deliverance now?
Thomas Carlyle
His
right wing holds the Homolka Hill, -- that too would
now be valuable to Browne; and cannot be had gratis,
as yesternight! Friedrich's left wing is on the Lobosch;
Pandours pretty well extinct before it, but now from
Welhoten quarter new Regulars coming on thither, --
as if Browne would still take the Lobosch? Which
would be victory to him; but is not now possible to
Browne. Nor will long seem so; -- Friedrich having
other work in view for him; -- meaning now to take
Lobositz, instead of losing the Lobosch to him! Fried-
rich pushes out his Left Wing still further leftward,
leftward and downward withal, to clear those vineyard-
fences completely of their occupants, Pandour or Re-
gular, old or new. This is done; the vineyard-fences
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VI. ] BATTLE OF LOBOSITZ. 283
1st Oct. 1756.
swept; -- and the sweepings driven, in a more and
more stormy fashion, towards Welhoten and Lobositz;
the Lobosch falling quite desperate for Browne.
Henceforth Friedrich directs all his industry to
taking Lobositz; Browne, to the defending of it, which
he does with great vigour and fire; his batteries, re-
doubts, doing their uttermost, and his battalions rushing
on, mass of them after mass, at quick march, obstinate,
fierce to a degree, in the height of temper; and showing
such fight as we never had of them before. Friedrich's
Left Wing and Browne's Right now have it to decide
between them; -- any attempt Browne makes with his
Left through Sulowitz (as he once did, and once only)
is instantly repressed by cannon from the Homolka
Hill. And the rest of the Battle, or rather the Battle
itself, -- for all hitherto has been pickeering and
groping in the mist, -- may be made conceivable in
few words.
Friedrich orders the second line of his Left Wing
to march up and join with the first; Right Wing,
shoving its two lines into one, is now to cover the Lo-
bosch as well. Left Wing, in condensed condition,
shall fall down on Lobositz, and do its best. They
are now clear of the vineyard works; the ground is
leveller, though still sloping, -- a three furlongs from
the Village, and somewhat towards the Elbe, when
Browne's battalions first came extensively to close
grips; fierce enough (as was said); the toughest wrestle
yet had with those Austrians, -- coming on with steady
fury, under such force of cannon; with iron ramrods,
too, and improved ways, like our own. But nothing
could avail them; the counter-fury being so great. They
had to go at the Welhoten part, and even to run, --.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 284 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEGINS. [book rra.
1st Oct. 1756.
plunging into Elbe, a good few of them, and drowning
there, in the vain hope to swim. "Never have my
troops," says Friedrich, "done such miracles of valour,
"cavalry as well as infantry, since I had the honour to
"command them. By this dead-lift achievement (tour
"de force) I have seen what they can do. "*
In fine, after some three hours more of desperate
tugging and struggling, cannon on both sides going at
a great rate, and infinite musketry ("ninety cartridges
a man on our Prussian side, and ammunition falling
done"), not without bayonet-pushings, and smitings
with the butt of your musket, the Austrians are driven
into Lobositz; are furiously pushed there, and, in spite
of new battalions coming to the rescue, are fairly pushed
through. These Village-streets are too narrow for new
battalions from Browne; "much of the Village should
have been burnt beforehand," say cool judges. And
now, sure enough, it does get burnt; Lobositz is now
all on fire, by Prussian industry. So that the Austrians
have to quit it instantly; and rush off in great disorder;
key of the Battle, or Battle itself, quite lost to them.
The Prussian infantry, led by the Duke of Bruns-
* Letter to Schwerin, "Lobositz, 2d August 1756" (Retzow, i. 64); Re-
lation de la Campagne 1756, that is, Prussian Account (in Gcsammelte Nacli-
richten), i. 848. Lloyd, ut supra, i. 2-11 (who has solid information at first
hand, having been an actor in these Wars. A man of great natural saga-
city and insight; decidedly luminous and original, though of somewhat
crabbed temper now and then; a man well worth hearing on this and on
whatever else he handles). Tempelhof, Geschichte ties siebenjahrigenKrieges
(which is at first a mere Translation of Lloyd, nothing new in it but cer-
tain notes and criticisms on Lloyd; when Lloyd ends, Tempelhof, Prussian
Major and Professor, a learned, intelligent, but diffuse man, of far inferior
talent to Lloyd, continues and completes on his own footing: six very thin
4tos, Berlin, 1794), i. 38 (Battle, with foot-notes), and ib. 51 (criticism of
Lloyd). Prussian and Austrian Accounts in Helden-Geschichte, in. 800 et
seq. Many Narratives in Feldiuge, and the Beylage to Seyfarth; &c. &c.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VI. ] BATTLE OF LOBOSITZ. 285
1st Oct. 1756.
wick-Bevern ("Governor of Stettin," one of the Duke-
Ferdinand cousinry, frugal and valiant), gave the highest
satisfaction; seldom was such firing, such furious push-
ing; they had spent ninety cartridges a man; were at
last quite out of cartridges; so that Bevern had to say,
"Strike in with bayonets, meine Kinder; butt-ends, or
what we have; her an V Our Grenadiers were mainly
they that burnt Lobositz. "How salutary now would it
"have been," says Epimetheus Lloyd, "had Browne
"had a small battery on the other side of the Elbe;"
whereby he might have taken them in flank, and shorn
them into the wind! Epimetheus marks this battery
on his Plan; and is wise behindhand, at a cheap
rate.
Browne's Bight Wing, and probably his Army with
it, would have gone much to perdition, now that Lo-
bositz was become Prussian, -- had not Browne, in
the nick of the moment, made a masterly movement:
pushed forward his Centre and Left Wing, numerous
battalions still fresh, to interpose between the chasing
Prussians and those fugitives. The Prussians, infantry
only, cannot chase on such terms; the Prussian cavalry,
we know, is far rearward on the high ground. Browne
retires a mile or two, -- southward, Budin-ward, -- not
chased; and there halts, and rearranges himself; think-
ing what farther he will do. His aim in fighting had
only been to defend himself; and in that humble aim he
has failed. Chase of the Prussians over that Homolka-
Lobosch country, with the high grounds rearward and
the Metal Mountains in their hands, he could in no
event have attempted.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 286 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEGINS. [book XVII.
1st Oct. 1756.
The question now is: Will he go back to Budin;
or will he try farther towards Schandau? Nature points
to the former course, in such circumstances; Friedrich,
by way of assisting, does a thing much admired by
Lloyd; -- detaches Bevern with a strong party south-
ward, out of Lobositz, which is now his, to lay hold
of Tschirskowitz, lying Budin-ward, but beyond the
Budin Road. Which feat, when Browne hears of it,
means to him, "Going to cut me off from Budin, then?
"From my ammunition-stores, from my very bread-cup-
"board! " And he marches that same midnight, silently,
in good order, back to Budin. He is not much ruined;
nay the Prussian loss is numerically greater: "3,308
"killed and wounded, on the Prussian side; on the
"Austrian, 2,984, with three cannon taken and two
"standards. " Not ruined at all; but foiled, frustrated;
and has to devise earnestly, "What next? " Once re-
arranged, he may still try.
The Battle lasted seven hours; the last four of it
very hot, till Lobositz was won and lost. It was about
5 p. m. when Browne fired his retreat-cannon: -- cannon
happened to be loaded (say the Anecdote-Books, mythi-
cally given now and then); Friedrich, wearied enough,
had flung himself into his carriage for a moment's rest,
or thankful reflection; and of all places, the ball of the
retreat-cannon lighted there. Between Friedrich's feet,
as he lay reclining, -- say the Anecdote-Books, whom
nobody is bound to believe.
On the strength of those two Prussian charges,
which had retired from case-shot on their flank, and
had not wings, for getting over sedge and ooze, Austria
pretended to claim the victory. "Two charges repelled
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VI. ] BATTLE OF LOBOSITZ. 287
4th Oct. 1756.
by our gallant horse; Lobositz, indeed, was got on fire,
and we had nothing for it but to withdraw; but we
took a new position, and only left that for want of
water;" -- with the like excuses. "Essentially a clear
victory," said the Austrians; and sang Te-Deum about
it; -- but profited nothing by that piece of melody.
The fact, considerable or not, was, from the first, too
undeniable: Browne beaten from the field. And beaten
from his attempt too (the Saxons not relievable by this
method); and lies quiet in Budin again, -- with his
water sure to him; but what other advantages gained?
Here are two Letters, brief both, which we may as
well read:
1". Friedrich to Wilhelmina (at Baireuth).
"Lobositz, 4th October 1756.
""My deAr Sistee, -- Your will is accomplished. Tired
"out by these Saxon delays, I put myself at the head of my
"Army of Bohemia" (Keith's hitherto); "and marched from
"Aussig to -- a Name which seemed to me of good augury,
"being yours, -- to the Village of Welmina (Battle was
called of Welmina, by the Prussians at first). "I found the
"Austrians here, near Lobositz; and, after a Fight of seven
"hours, forced them to run. Nobody of your acquaintance
"iskilled, except Generals Ltideritz and Oerzen" (who are
not of ours).
"I return you a thousand thanks for the tender part you
"take in my lot. Would to Heaven the valour of my Army
"might procure us a stable Peace! That ought to be the
'' aim of War. Adieu, my dear Sister; I embrace you tenderly,
"assuring you of the lively affection with which I am" --
* (Euvres, xxvn. i. 291.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 288 SEVEN-YEAKS WAR BEGINS. [book XVII.
5th Oct: 1756.
2? . Prince of Prussia to Valori (who is still at Berlin, but soon
going as it proves, -- Broglio's explosion at the Lines of
Gross-Sedlitz being on hand, during the King's absence,
in these very hours*).
"Camp of Lobositz, 5th October 1756.
"You will know the news of the day; and I am persuaded
"you take part in it. All you say to me betokens the eon-
"spiracy there is for the destruction of our Country. If that is
"determined in the Book of Fate, we cannot escape it.
"Had my advice been asked, a year ago, I should have
"voted to preserve the Alliance" (with you) "which we had
"been used to for sixteen years" (strictly for twelve, though
in substance, ever since llfiO), "and which was by nature ad-
vantageous to us. But if my advice were asked just now,
"I should answer, That the said method being now impos-
"sible, we are in the case of a ship's captain who defends
"himself the best he can, and when all resources are ex-
hausted, has, rather than surrender on shameful conditions,
"to fire the powder-magazine, and blowup his ship. You
"remember that of your Francois I. " -- Fors Vhonneur; ah
yes, very well! -- "Perhaps it will be my poor Children who
"will be the victims of these past errors, -- for such I still
think them, I for my part.
"The Gazettes enumerate the French troops that are to
"besiege Wesel, Geldern" (Wesel they will get gratis, poor
Geldernwill almost break their heart first), "and takepos- "session of Ost-Friesland; the Russian Declaration" (Mani-
festo not worth reading) "tells us Russia's intentions for the
"next year" (most truculent intentions): "we will defend
"ourselves, to the last drop of our blood, and perish with
"honour. If you have any counsel farther, I pray you give
"it me.
"Remain always my friend; and believe that in all situa-
tions I will remain yours; and trying to do what my duty is,
"will not forfeit the sentiments on your part which have been
"so precious to me. Your servant, -- GuillAume. "**
"5th-6th October" (Valori, n. 353). ** Valori, n. 204-206.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VI. ] BATTLE OF LOBOSITZ. 289
5th Oct. me.
"Pity this good Prince contemplating the downfal
"of his House," suggests Valori: "He deserved a better
"fate! He would be in despair to think I had sent
"this Letter to your Excellency; but I thought perhaps
"you would show it to the King," -- and that it might
do good one day. * The Prussians lay in their "Camp
of Lobositz," posted up and down in that neighbour-
hood, for a couple of weeks more; waiting whether
Browne would attempt anything farther in the fighting
way; and, in fine, whether the solution of the crisis
would fall out hereabouts or on the other side of the
Hills.
* Valori (to the French Minister, "12th October 1756"), n. 204.
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. IX. 19
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 290 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEGINS. [book XVII.
lst-Hti Oct 1756.
CHAPTEE VII.
THE SAXONS GET OUT OF PIRNA ON DISMAL TERMS.
The disaster of October 1st, -- for which they
were trying to sing Te-Deums at Vienna, -- fell heavier
on the poor Saxons, in their cage at Pirna: "Alas,
where is our deliverance now? " Friedrich's people, in
their lines here, gave them such a "joy-firing" for
Lobositz as Retzow has seldom heard; huge volleyings,
salvoings, running-fires, starting out, artistically timed
and stationed, thunderous, high; and borne by the
echoes, gloomily reverberative, into every dell and
labyrinth of the Pirna Country; -- intended to strike
a deeper damp into them, thinks he. * But Imperial
Majesty was mindful, too; and straightway sent Browne
positive order, "Deliver me these poor Saxons at any
price! " And in the course of not quite a week from
Lobositz, there arrives a confidential Messenger from
Browne: "Courage still, ye caged Saxons; I will try
it another way! Only you must hold out till the 11th;
on the 11th, stand to your tools, and it shall be
done. "
Browne is to take a succinct Detachment, 8,000
picked men, horse and foot; to make a wider sweep
with these, well eastward by the foot of Lausitz Hills,
and far enough from all Prussian parties and scouts;
to march, with all speed and silence, "through Bohm-
* Retzow, i. 67. j
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VII. ] HOW THE SAXONS GET OUT OF PIRNA. 291
lst-14th Oct. 1756.
"Leipa, Kamnitz, Rumburg, Schluckenau;" and come
in upon the Schandau region, quite from the north-east
side; say, at Lichtenhayn; an eligible Village, which
is but seven miles or so from the Konigstein, with the
chasmy country and the river intervening. Monday,
October 11th, Browne will arrive at Lichtenhayn (sixty
miles of circling march from Budin); privately post
himself near Lichtenhayn; Prussian posts, of no great
strength, lying ahead of him there. You, indignant
extenuated Saxons, are to get yourselves across, --
near the Konigstein it will have to be, under cover of
the Konigstein's cannon, -- on the front or river-
ward side of those same Prussian posts: crossing-place
(Browne's Messenger settles) can be Thiirmsdorf Hamlet,
opposite the Lilienstein, opposite the Hamlets of Eben-
heit and Halbstadt there. Konigstein fire will cover
your bridge and your building of it.
"Monday night next, I say, post yourselves there,
with hearts resolute, with powder dry; there, about
the eastern roots of the Lilienstein" (beautiful Show
Mountain, with stair-steps cut on it for Tourist people,
by August the Strong), "and avoid the Prussian bat-
tery and abatis which is on it just now! You at Eben-
heit, I at Lichtenhayn, trimmed and braced for action,
through that Monday night. Tuesday morning, the
Konigstein, at your beckoning, shall fire two cannon-
shots; which shall mean, "All ready here! " Then for-
ward, you, on those Prussian posts by the front; I will
attack them by the rear. With right fury, both of
us! I am told, they are but weak in those posts;
surely, by double impetus, and dead-lift effort from us
both, they can be forced? Only force them, -- you
are in the open field again; and you march away with
19*
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 292 SEVEN-TEARS WAR BEGINS. [book Xvn.
lst-Mth Oct. 1756.
me, colours flying; your hunger-cage and all your tri-
bulations left behind you! " --
This is Browne's plan. The poor Saxons accept,
-- what choice have they? -- though the question of
crossing and bridge-building has its intricacies; and
that inevitable item of "postponement till the 11th" is
a sore clause to them; for not only are there short and
ever shorter rations, but grim famine itself is advancing
with large strides. The "daily twenty ounces of meal"
has sunk to half that quantity; the "ounce or so of
butcher's-meat once a week" has vanished, or become
horse of extreme leanness. The cavalry horses have
not tasted oats, nothing but hay or straw (not even
water always); the artillery horses had to live by
grazing, brown leaves their main diet latterly. Not
horses any longer; but walking trestles, poor animals!
And the men, -- well, they are fallen pale; but they
are resolute as ever. The nine cornmills, which they
have in this circuit of theirs, grind now night and day;
and all the cavalry are set to thresh whatever grain
can be found about; no hind or husbandman shall
retain one sheaf: in this way, they hope, utter hunger
may be staved off, and the great attempt made. *
Browne skilfully and perfectly did his part of the
Adventure. Browne arrives punctually at Lichten-
hayn, evening of the 11th; bivouacks, hidden in the
Woods thereabouts, in cold damp weather; stealthily
reconnoitres the Prussian Villages ahead, and trims
himself for assault, at sound of the two cannons to-
morrow. But there came no cannon-signal on the mor-
* Precis de la Retraite de VArmee Saxonne de son Camp de Pima (in
Gesammelle Nachrichlen, I. 482-494).
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VII. ] HOW THE SAXONS GET OUT OP PIRNA. 293
lst-14th Oct. 1756.
row; far other signallings and messagings tomorrow,
and next day, and next, from the Konigstein and
neighbourhood! "Wait, Excellency Feldmarschall"
(writes Briihl to him, Note after Note, instead of signal-
ling from the Konigstein): "do wait a very little! You
run no risk in waiting; we, even if we must yield, will
make that our first stipulation! " " You will? " grumbles
Browne; and waits, naturally, with extreme impatience.
But the truth is, the Adventure, on the Saxon side of
it, has already altogether misgone; and becomes, from
this point onwards, a mere series of failures, futilities,
and disastrous miseries, tragical to think of. Worth
some record here, since there are Documents abundant;
-- especially as Feldmarshall Rutowski (who is General-
in-Chief, an old, not esteemed, friend of ours) has
produced, or caused to be produced, a Narrative, which
illuminates the Business from within as well. * The
latter is our main Document here:
I know not how much of the blame was General Rutowski's:
one could surmise some laxity of effort, and a rather slovenly survey of facts, in that quarter. The Enterprise, from the
first, was flatly impossible, say judges; and it is certain, poor
Rutowski's execution was not first-rate. "How get across the
"Elbe? " Rutowski had said to himself, perhaps not quite with
the due rigour of candour proportionate to the rigorous fact:
"How get across the Elbe? We have copper pontoons at
"Pima; but they will be difficult to cart. Or we might have a
"boat-bridge; boats planked together two and two. At Pirna
"are plenty of boats; and by oar and track-rope, the River
"itself might be a road for them? Boats or pontoons to
"Konigstein, by water or land, they must be got. Eight miles
* Precis, &c. (just cited); compare Tagebuch der Einschliessung dcs
sdchsischen Lagers bey Pirna ("Diary," &c, which is the Prussian Account:
in Seyfarth, Beylagen), n. 22-48.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 294 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEGINS. . [book XVII.
Ist-ldih Oct. 1756.
"of abysmal roads, our horses all extenuated? Impossibleto
"cartthese pontoons! " said Rutowski to himself. -- Pity he
had not tried it. He had a week to do those eight bad miles
in; and 2,000 lean horses, picking grass or brown leaves,
while their riders threshed. "We will drag our pontoons by
"water, by the Elbe tow-path," thought Rutowski, "that will
"be easier;" -- and forthwith sets about preparing for it,
secretly collecting boats at Pirna, steersmen, towing-men,
bridge-tackle, and what else will be necessary.
Rutowski made, at least, no delay. Browne's messenger,
we find, had come to him, "Thursday, 7th:" and on Friday
night Rutowski has a squad of boatmen, steersmen, and two
score of towing peasants ready; and actually gets under way.
They are escorted by the due battalions with fieldpieces; --
who are to fire upon the Prussian batteries, and keep up such
ablaze of musketry, and heavier shot, as will screen the
boats in passing. Surely a ticklish operation, this; -- arguing
a sanguine temper in General Rutowski! The south bank of
the River is ours; but there are various Prussian batteries,
three of them very strong, along the north bank, which will
not fail to pelt us terribly as we pass. No help for it; -- we
must trust in luck! Here is the sequel, with dates adjusted.
Elbe River, Night of October 8th-9th. Friday night, ac-
cordingly, so soon as Darkness (unusually dark this night)
has dropt her veil on the business, Rutowski sets forth. The
Prussian battery, or bridge-head (tete-de-pont), at Pirna, has
not noticed him, so silent was he. But, alas, the other bat-
teries do not fail to notice; to give fire; and, in fact, on being
answered, and finding it a serious thing, to burst out into hor-
rible explosion; unanswerable by the Saxon field-pieces; and
surely perilous to human nature steering and towing those big
River-Boats. "Loyal to our King, and full of pity for him;
that are we;" -- but towing at a rate, say of two shillings per
head! Before long, the forty towing peasants fling down
their ropes, first one, then more, then all, in spite of efforts,
promises, menaces; and vanish among the thickets, -- for-
feiting the two shillings, on view of imminent death. Soldiers
take the towing-ropes; try to continue it a little; but now the
steersmen also manage to call halt: "We won't! Let us
"out, let us out! We will steer you aground on the Prussian
"shore if you don't! " making night hideous. And the tow-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VII. ] HOW THE SAXONS GET OUT OP PIRNA. 295
lat-14th Oct. 1756.
ing enterprise breaks down for that bout; double-barges
mooring on the Saxon shore, 1 know not precisely at what
point, nor is it material.
Saturday night, October ,9th-10th, New boatmen, forty new
tow-men have been hired at immense increase of wages; say
four shillings for the night: but have you much good pro-
bability, my General, that even for that high guerdon im-
minence of death can be made indifferent to tow-men? No,
you haven't. The matter goes this night precisely as it did
last: tow-men vanishing in the horrible cannon-tumult; steers-
men shrieking, "We will ground you on the Prussian shore;"
very soldiers obliged to give it up; and General Rutowski
himself obliged to wash his hands of it, as a thing that cannot
be done. In fact, a thing which need not have been tried,
had Rutowski been rigorously candid with himself and his
hopes, as the facts now prove to be. "Twenty-four hours
"lost by this bad business (says he; "thirty-six," as I count,
or, to take it rigorously, "forty-eight" even): andnow, Sunday morning instead of Friday, atwhat, insad truth, is me-
taphorically "the eleventh hour," Rutowski has to bethink
him of his copper pontoons; and make the impossible carting
method possible in a day's time, or do worse.
Sunday, Monday, October 10th, 11th, By unheard-of exer-
tions, all hands and all spent-horses now at a dead-lift effort
night and day, Rutowski does get his pontoons carted out of
the Pirna storehouse; lands them at Thiirmsdorf, -- opposite
the Lilienstein, -- a mile or so short of Konigstein, where his
Bridge shall be. It is now the 11th, at night. And our
pontoons are got to the ground, nothing more. Every man of
us, at this hour, should have been across, and trimming him-
self to climb, with bayonet fixed! Browne is ready, expecting
our signal-shot to storm in on his side. And our bridge is not
built, only the pontoons here. "All things went perverse,"
adds Rutowski, for farther comfort: "we" (Saxon Home-
Army) "had with us, except Officers, only Four Pontoneers,
"or trained Bridge-builders; all the rest are at Warsaw:"
sad thought, but too late to think it!
Tuesday, till Wednesday early (12th-13th), Bridge, the four
Pontoneers, with Officers and numb soldiers doing their best,
is got built; -- Browne waiting for us, on thorns, all day;
Prussians extensively beginning to strengthen their posts,
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 296 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEGINS. [book XVII.
l<<t-Uth Oct. 1756.
about the Lilienstein, about Lichtenhayn, or where risk is;
and in fact, pouring across to that northern side, quite aware
of Rutowski and Browne.
That same night, 12th-13th, while the Bridge was
struggling to complete itself, -- rain now falling, and
tempests broken out, -- the Saxon Army, from Pirna
down to Hennersdorf, had lifted itself from its Lines,
and got under way towards Thurmsdorf, and the
crossing-place. Dark night, plunging rain; all the
elements in uproar. The worst roads in nature; now
champed doubly; "such roads as never any Army
marched on before. " Most of their cannon are left
standing; a few they had tried to yoke broke down;
"and choked up the narrow road altogether; so that
"the cavalry had to dismount, and lead their horses
"by side-paths," -- figure what side-paths! Distance
to Thurmsdorf, from any point of the Saxon Lines,
cannot be above six miles: but it takes them all that
night and all next day. Such a march as might fill
the heart with pity. Oh, ye Rutowskis, Briihls, though
never so decorated by twelve tailors, what a sight are
ye at the head of men! Dark night, wild raging
weather, labyrinthic roads worn knee-deep. It is broad
daylight, Wednesday 13th, and only the vanguard
is yet got across, trailing a couple of cannons; and
splashes about, endeavouring to take rank there, in
spite of wet and hunger; rain still pouring, wind very
high.
Nothing of Browne comes, this Wednesday; but,
from the opposite Gross-Sedlitz and Gottleube side,
the Prussians are coming. This morning, at daylight,
struck by symptoms, "the Prussians mounted our
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VII. ] HOW THE SAXONS GET OUT OP PIRNA. 297
13th Oct. 1756.
empty redoubts:" they are now in full chase of us,
Ziethen with Hussars as vanguard. A difficult bit of
marching, even Ziethen and his light people find it;
sprawling forward, at their cheriest, with daylight to
help, and in chase, not chased, through such intricacies
of rock and mud. Ziethen's company did not assist
the Saxons! They wheel round, show fight, and there
is volleying and bickering all day; the Saxon march
getting ever more perturbed. Nearly all the baggage
has to be left. Ziethen takes into the woods near
Thurmsdorf; giving fire as the poor wet Saxons, now
much in a pell-mell condition, pass to their Bridge. *
Heavier Prussians are striding on to rear; these, from
some final hilltop, do at last belch out two cannon-shots:
figure the confusion at that Bridge, the speed now be-
coming delirious there! Towards evening, rain still
violent, the Saxons, baggage-less, and rushing quite
pell-mell the latter part of them, are mostly across,
still countable to 14,000 or so; -- upon which they
cut their Bridge adrift, and let the river take it. At
Eaden, a few miles lower, the Prussians fished it out;
rebuilt it more deliberately, -- and we shall find it
there anon. This day Friedrich, hearing what is afoot,
has returned in person from the Lobositz Country;
takes Struppen as his head-quarter, which was lately
the Polish Majesty's.
From Browne there has nothing come this Wednes-
day; but tomorrow morning at seven, there comes a
Letter from him, written this night at ten; to the
effect:
* Prussian Account (in Gcsammelte Nachrichlen), I. 852.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd.
right wing holds the Homolka Hill, -- that too would
now be valuable to Browne; and cannot be had gratis,
as yesternight! Friedrich's left wing is on the Lobosch;
Pandours pretty well extinct before it, but now from
Welhoten quarter new Regulars coming on thither, --
as if Browne would still take the Lobosch? Which
would be victory to him; but is not now possible to
Browne. Nor will long seem so; -- Friedrich having
other work in view for him; -- meaning now to take
Lobositz, instead of losing the Lobosch to him! Fried-
rich pushes out his Left Wing still further leftward,
leftward and downward withal, to clear those vineyard-
fences completely of their occupants, Pandour or Re-
gular, old or new. This is done; the vineyard-fences
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VI. ] BATTLE OF LOBOSITZ. 283
1st Oct. 1756.
swept; -- and the sweepings driven, in a more and
more stormy fashion, towards Welhoten and Lobositz;
the Lobosch falling quite desperate for Browne.
Henceforth Friedrich directs all his industry to
taking Lobositz; Browne, to the defending of it, which
he does with great vigour and fire; his batteries, re-
doubts, doing their uttermost, and his battalions rushing
on, mass of them after mass, at quick march, obstinate,
fierce to a degree, in the height of temper; and showing
such fight as we never had of them before. Friedrich's
Left Wing and Browne's Right now have it to decide
between them; -- any attempt Browne makes with his
Left through Sulowitz (as he once did, and once only)
is instantly repressed by cannon from the Homolka
Hill. And the rest of the Battle, or rather the Battle
itself, -- for all hitherto has been pickeering and
groping in the mist, -- may be made conceivable in
few words.
Friedrich orders the second line of his Left Wing
to march up and join with the first; Right Wing,
shoving its two lines into one, is now to cover the Lo-
bosch as well. Left Wing, in condensed condition,
shall fall down on Lobositz, and do its best. They
are now clear of the vineyard works; the ground is
leveller, though still sloping, -- a three furlongs from
the Village, and somewhat towards the Elbe, when
Browne's battalions first came extensively to close
grips; fierce enough (as was said); the toughest wrestle
yet had with those Austrians, -- coming on with steady
fury, under such force of cannon; with iron ramrods,
too, and improved ways, like our own. But nothing
could avail them; the counter-fury being so great. They
had to go at the Welhoten part, and even to run, --.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 284 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEGINS. [book rra.
1st Oct. 1756.
plunging into Elbe, a good few of them, and drowning
there, in the vain hope to swim. "Never have my
troops," says Friedrich, "done such miracles of valour,
"cavalry as well as infantry, since I had the honour to
"command them. By this dead-lift achievement (tour
"de force) I have seen what they can do. "*
In fine, after some three hours more of desperate
tugging and struggling, cannon on both sides going at
a great rate, and infinite musketry ("ninety cartridges
a man on our Prussian side, and ammunition falling
done"), not without bayonet-pushings, and smitings
with the butt of your musket, the Austrians are driven
into Lobositz; are furiously pushed there, and, in spite
of new battalions coming to the rescue, are fairly pushed
through. These Village-streets are too narrow for new
battalions from Browne; "much of the Village should
have been burnt beforehand," say cool judges. And
now, sure enough, it does get burnt; Lobositz is now
all on fire, by Prussian industry. So that the Austrians
have to quit it instantly; and rush off in great disorder;
key of the Battle, or Battle itself, quite lost to them.
The Prussian infantry, led by the Duke of Bruns-
* Letter to Schwerin, "Lobositz, 2d August 1756" (Retzow, i. 64); Re-
lation de la Campagne 1756, that is, Prussian Account (in Gcsammelte Nacli-
richten), i. 848. Lloyd, ut supra, i. 2-11 (who has solid information at first
hand, having been an actor in these Wars. A man of great natural saga-
city and insight; decidedly luminous and original, though of somewhat
crabbed temper now and then; a man well worth hearing on this and on
whatever else he handles). Tempelhof, Geschichte ties siebenjahrigenKrieges
(which is at first a mere Translation of Lloyd, nothing new in it but cer-
tain notes and criticisms on Lloyd; when Lloyd ends, Tempelhof, Prussian
Major and Professor, a learned, intelligent, but diffuse man, of far inferior
talent to Lloyd, continues and completes on his own footing: six very thin
4tos, Berlin, 1794), i. 38 (Battle, with foot-notes), and ib. 51 (criticism of
Lloyd). Prussian and Austrian Accounts in Helden-Geschichte, in. 800 et
seq. Many Narratives in Feldiuge, and the Beylage to Seyfarth; &c. &c.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VI. ] BATTLE OF LOBOSITZ. 285
1st Oct. 1756.
wick-Bevern ("Governor of Stettin," one of the Duke-
Ferdinand cousinry, frugal and valiant), gave the highest
satisfaction; seldom was such firing, such furious push-
ing; they had spent ninety cartridges a man; were at
last quite out of cartridges; so that Bevern had to say,
"Strike in with bayonets, meine Kinder; butt-ends, or
what we have; her an V Our Grenadiers were mainly
they that burnt Lobositz. "How salutary now would it
"have been," says Epimetheus Lloyd, "had Browne
"had a small battery on the other side of the Elbe;"
whereby he might have taken them in flank, and shorn
them into the wind! Epimetheus marks this battery
on his Plan; and is wise behindhand, at a cheap
rate.
Browne's Bight Wing, and probably his Army with
it, would have gone much to perdition, now that Lo-
bositz was become Prussian, -- had not Browne, in
the nick of the moment, made a masterly movement:
pushed forward his Centre and Left Wing, numerous
battalions still fresh, to interpose between the chasing
Prussians and those fugitives. The Prussians, infantry
only, cannot chase on such terms; the Prussian cavalry,
we know, is far rearward on the high ground. Browne
retires a mile or two, -- southward, Budin-ward, -- not
chased; and there halts, and rearranges himself; think-
ing what farther he will do. His aim in fighting had
only been to defend himself; and in that humble aim he
has failed. Chase of the Prussians over that Homolka-
Lobosch country, with the high grounds rearward and
the Metal Mountains in their hands, he could in no
event have attempted.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 286 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEGINS. [book XVII.
1st Oct. 1756.
The question now is: Will he go back to Budin;
or will he try farther towards Schandau? Nature points
to the former course, in such circumstances; Friedrich,
by way of assisting, does a thing much admired by
Lloyd; -- detaches Bevern with a strong party south-
ward, out of Lobositz, which is now his, to lay hold
of Tschirskowitz, lying Budin-ward, but beyond the
Budin Road. Which feat, when Browne hears of it,
means to him, "Going to cut me off from Budin, then?
"From my ammunition-stores, from my very bread-cup-
"board! " And he marches that same midnight, silently,
in good order, back to Budin. He is not much ruined;
nay the Prussian loss is numerically greater: "3,308
"killed and wounded, on the Prussian side; on the
"Austrian, 2,984, with three cannon taken and two
"standards. " Not ruined at all; but foiled, frustrated;
and has to devise earnestly, "What next? " Once re-
arranged, he may still try.
The Battle lasted seven hours; the last four of it
very hot, till Lobositz was won and lost. It was about
5 p. m. when Browne fired his retreat-cannon: -- cannon
happened to be loaded (say the Anecdote-Books, mythi-
cally given now and then); Friedrich, wearied enough,
had flung himself into his carriage for a moment's rest,
or thankful reflection; and of all places, the ball of the
retreat-cannon lighted there. Between Friedrich's feet,
as he lay reclining, -- say the Anecdote-Books, whom
nobody is bound to believe.
On the strength of those two Prussian charges,
which had retired from case-shot on their flank, and
had not wings, for getting over sedge and ooze, Austria
pretended to claim the victory. "Two charges repelled
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VI. ] BATTLE OF LOBOSITZ. 287
4th Oct. 1756.
by our gallant horse; Lobositz, indeed, was got on fire,
and we had nothing for it but to withdraw; but we
took a new position, and only left that for want of
water;" -- with the like excuses. "Essentially a clear
victory," said the Austrians; and sang Te-Deum about
it; -- but profited nothing by that piece of melody.
The fact, considerable or not, was, from the first, too
undeniable: Browne beaten from the field. And beaten
from his attempt too (the Saxons not relievable by this
method); and lies quiet in Budin again, -- with his
water sure to him; but what other advantages gained?
Here are two Letters, brief both, which we may as
well read:
1". Friedrich to Wilhelmina (at Baireuth).
"Lobositz, 4th October 1756.
""My deAr Sistee, -- Your will is accomplished. Tired
"out by these Saxon delays, I put myself at the head of my
"Army of Bohemia" (Keith's hitherto); "and marched from
"Aussig to -- a Name which seemed to me of good augury,
"being yours, -- to the Village of Welmina (Battle was
called of Welmina, by the Prussians at first). "I found the
"Austrians here, near Lobositz; and, after a Fight of seven
"hours, forced them to run. Nobody of your acquaintance
"iskilled, except Generals Ltideritz and Oerzen" (who are
not of ours).
"I return you a thousand thanks for the tender part you
"take in my lot. Would to Heaven the valour of my Army
"might procure us a stable Peace! That ought to be the
'' aim of War. Adieu, my dear Sister; I embrace you tenderly,
"assuring you of the lively affection with which I am" --
* (Euvres, xxvn. i. 291.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 288 SEVEN-YEAKS WAR BEGINS. [book XVII.
5th Oct: 1756.
2? . Prince of Prussia to Valori (who is still at Berlin, but soon
going as it proves, -- Broglio's explosion at the Lines of
Gross-Sedlitz being on hand, during the King's absence,
in these very hours*).
"Camp of Lobositz, 5th October 1756.
"You will know the news of the day; and I am persuaded
"you take part in it. All you say to me betokens the eon-
"spiracy there is for the destruction of our Country. If that is
"determined in the Book of Fate, we cannot escape it.
"Had my advice been asked, a year ago, I should have
"voted to preserve the Alliance" (with you) "which we had
"been used to for sixteen years" (strictly for twelve, though
in substance, ever since llfiO), "and which was by nature ad-
vantageous to us. But if my advice were asked just now,
"I should answer, That the said method being now impos-
"sible, we are in the case of a ship's captain who defends
"himself the best he can, and when all resources are ex-
hausted, has, rather than surrender on shameful conditions,
"to fire the powder-magazine, and blowup his ship. You
"remember that of your Francois I. " -- Fors Vhonneur; ah
yes, very well! -- "Perhaps it will be my poor Children who
"will be the victims of these past errors, -- for such I still
think them, I for my part.
"The Gazettes enumerate the French troops that are to
"besiege Wesel, Geldern" (Wesel they will get gratis, poor
Geldernwill almost break their heart first), "and takepos- "session of Ost-Friesland; the Russian Declaration" (Mani-
festo not worth reading) "tells us Russia's intentions for the
"next year" (most truculent intentions): "we will defend
"ourselves, to the last drop of our blood, and perish with
"honour. If you have any counsel farther, I pray you give
"it me.
"Remain always my friend; and believe that in all situa-
tions I will remain yours; and trying to do what my duty is,
"will not forfeit the sentiments on your part which have been
"so precious to me. Your servant, -- GuillAume. "**
"5th-6th October" (Valori, n. 353). ** Valori, n. 204-206.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VI. ] BATTLE OF LOBOSITZ. 289
5th Oct. me.
"Pity this good Prince contemplating the downfal
"of his House," suggests Valori: "He deserved a better
"fate! He would be in despair to think I had sent
"this Letter to your Excellency; but I thought perhaps
"you would show it to the King," -- and that it might
do good one day. * The Prussians lay in their "Camp
of Lobositz," posted up and down in that neighbour-
hood, for a couple of weeks more; waiting whether
Browne would attempt anything farther in the fighting
way; and, in fine, whether the solution of the crisis
would fall out hereabouts or on the other side of the
Hills.
* Valori (to the French Minister, "12th October 1756"), n. 204.
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. IX. 19
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 290 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEGINS. [book XVII.
lst-Hti Oct 1756.
CHAPTEE VII.
THE SAXONS GET OUT OF PIRNA ON DISMAL TERMS.
The disaster of October 1st, -- for which they
were trying to sing Te-Deums at Vienna, -- fell heavier
on the poor Saxons, in their cage at Pirna: "Alas,
where is our deliverance now? " Friedrich's people, in
their lines here, gave them such a "joy-firing" for
Lobositz as Retzow has seldom heard; huge volleyings,
salvoings, running-fires, starting out, artistically timed
and stationed, thunderous, high; and borne by the
echoes, gloomily reverberative, into every dell and
labyrinth of the Pirna Country; -- intended to strike
a deeper damp into them, thinks he. * But Imperial
Majesty was mindful, too; and straightway sent Browne
positive order, "Deliver me these poor Saxons at any
price! " And in the course of not quite a week from
Lobositz, there arrives a confidential Messenger from
Browne: "Courage still, ye caged Saxons; I will try
it another way! Only you must hold out till the 11th;
on the 11th, stand to your tools, and it shall be
done. "
Browne is to take a succinct Detachment, 8,000
picked men, horse and foot; to make a wider sweep
with these, well eastward by the foot of Lausitz Hills,
and far enough from all Prussian parties and scouts;
to march, with all speed and silence, "through Bohm-
* Retzow, i. 67. j
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VII. ] HOW THE SAXONS GET OUT OF PIRNA. 291
lst-14th Oct. 1756.
"Leipa, Kamnitz, Rumburg, Schluckenau;" and come
in upon the Schandau region, quite from the north-east
side; say, at Lichtenhayn; an eligible Village, which
is but seven miles or so from the Konigstein, with the
chasmy country and the river intervening. Monday,
October 11th, Browne will arrive at Lichtenhayn (sixty
miles of circling march from Budin); privately post
himself near Lichtenhayn; Prussian posts, of no great
strength, lying ahead of him there. You, indignant
extenuated Saxons, are to get yourselves across, --
near the Konigstein it will have to be, under cover of
the Konigstein's cannon, -- on the front or river-
ward side of those same Prussian posts: crossing-place
(Browne's Messenger settles) can be Thiirmsdorf Hamlet,
opposite the Lilienstein, opposite the Hamlets of Eben-
heit and Halbstadt there. Konigstein fire will cover
your bridge and your building of it.
"Monday night next, I say, post yourselves there,
with hearts resolute, with powder dry; there, about
the eastern roots of the Lilienstein" (beautiful Show
Mountain, with stair-steps cut on it for Tourist people,
by August the Strong), "and avoid the Prussian bat-
tery and abatis which is on it just now! You at Eben-
heit, I at Lichtenhayn, trimmed and braced for action,
through that Monday night. Tuesday morning, the
Konigstein, at your beckoning, shall fire two cannon-
shots; which shall mean, "All ready here! " Then for-
ward, you, on those Prussian posts by the front; I will
attack them by the rear. With right fury, both of
us! I am told, they are but weak in those posts;
surely, by double impetus, and dead-lift effort from us
both, they can be forced? Only force them, -- you
are in the open field again; and you march away with
19*
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 292 SEVEN-TEARS WAR BEGINS. [book Xvn.
lst-Mth Oct. 1756.
me, colours flying; your hunger-cage and all your tri-
bulations left behind you! " --
This is Browne's plan. The poor Saxons accept,
-- what choice have they? -- though the question of
crossing and bridge-building has its intricacies; and
that inevitable item of "postponement till the 11th" is
a sore clause to them; for not only are there short and
ever shorter rations, but grim famine itself is advancing
with large strides. The "daily twenty ounces of meal"
has sunk to half that quantity; the "ounce or so of
butcher's-meat once a week" has vanished, or become
horse of extreme leanness. The cavalry horses have
not tasted oats, nothing but hay or straw (not even
water always); the artillery horses had to live by
grazing, brown leaves their main diet latterly. Not
horses any longer; but walking trestles, poor animals!
And the men, -- well, they are fallen pale; but they
are resolute as ever. The nine cornmills, which they
have in this circuit of theirs, grind now night and day;
and all the cavalry are set to thresh whatever grain
can be found about; no hind or husbandman shall
retain one sheaf: in this way, they hope, utter hunger
may be staved off, and the great attempt made. *
Browne skilfully and perfectly did his part of the
Adventure. Browne arrives punctually at Lichten-
hayn, evening of the 11th; bivouacks, hidden in the
Woods thereabouts, in cold damp weather; stealthily
reconnoitres the Prussian Villages ahead, and trims
himself for assault, at sound of the two cannons to-
morrow. But there came no cannon-signal on the mor-
* Precis de la Retraite de VArmee Saxonne de son Camp de Pima (in
Gesammelle Nachrichlen, I. 482-494).
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VII. ] HOW THE SAXONS GET OUT OP PIRNA. 293
lst-14th Oct. 1756.
row; far other signallings and messagings tomorrow,
and next day, and next, from the Konigstein and
neighbourhood! "Wait, Excellency Feldmarschall"
(writes Briihl to him, Note after Note, instead of signal-
ling from the Konigstein): "do wait a very little! You
run no risk in waiting; we, even if we must yield, will
make that our first stipulation! " " You will? " grumbles
Browne; and waits, naturally, with extreme impatience.
But the truth is, the Adventure, on the Saxon side of
it, has already altogether misgone; and becomes, from
this point onwards, a mere series of failures, futilities,
and disastrous miseries, tragical to think of. Worth
some record here, since there are Documents abundant;
-- especially as Feldmarshall Rutowski (who is General-
in-Chief, an old, not esteemed, friend of ours) has
produced, or caused to be produced, a Narrative, which
illuminates the Business from within as well. * The
latter is our main Document here:
I know not how much of the blame was General Rutowski's:
one could surmise some laxity of effort, and a rather slovenly survey of facts, in that quarter. The Enterprise, from the
first, was flatly impossible, say judges; and it is certain, poor
Rutowski's execution was not first-rate. "How get across the
"Elbe? " Rutowski had said to himself, perhaps not quite with
the due rigour of candour proportionate to the rigorous fact:
"How get across the Elbe? We have copper pontoons at
"Pima; but they will be difficult to cart. Or we might have a
"boat-bridge; boats planked together two and two. At Pirna
"are plenty of boats; and by oar and track-rope, the River
"itself might be a road for them? Boats or pontoons to
"Konigstein, by water or land, they must be got. Eight miles
* Precis, &c. (just cited); compare Tagebuch der Einschliessung dcs
sdchsischen Lagers bey Pirna ("Diary," &c, which is the Prussian Account:
in Seyfarth, Beylagen), n. 22-48.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 294 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEGINS. . [book XVII.
Ist-ldih Oct. 1756.
"of abysmal roads, our horses all extenuated? Impossibleto
"cartthese pontoons! " said Rutowski to himself. -- Pity he
had not tried it. He had a week to do those eight bad miles
in; and 2,000 lean horses, picking grass or brown leaves,
while their riders threshed. "We will drag our pontoons by
"water, by the Elbe tow-path," thought Rutowski, "that will
"be easier;" -- and forthwith sets about preparing for it,
secretly collecting boats at Pirna, steersmen, towing-men,
bridge-tackle, and what else will be necessary.
Rutowski made, at least, no delay. Browne's messenger,
we find, had come to him, "Thursday, 7th:" and on Friday
night Rutowski has a squad of boatmen, steersmen, and two
score of towing peasants ready; and actually gets under way.
They are escorted by the due battalions with fieldpieces; --
who are to fire upon the Prussian batteries, and keep up such
ablaze of musketry, and heavier shot, as will screen the
boats in passing. Surely a ticklish operation, this; -- arguing
a sanguine temper in General Rutowski! The south bank of
the River is ours; but there are various Prussian batteries,
three of them very strong, along the north bank, which will
not fail to pelt us terribly as we pass. No help for it; -- we
must trust in luck! Here is the sequel, with dates adjusted.
Elbe River, Night of October 8th-9th. Friday night, ac-
cordingly, so soon as Darkness (unusually dark this night)
has dropt her veil on the business, Rutowski sets forth. The
Prussian battery, or bridge-head (tete-de-pont), at Pirna, has
not noticed him, so silent was he. But, alas, the other bat-
teries do not fail to notice; to give fire; and, in fact, on being
answered, and finding it a serious thing, to burst out into hor-
rible explosion; unanswerable by the Saxon field-pieces; and
surely perilous to human nature steering and towing those big
River-Boats. "Loyal to our King, and full of pity for him;
that are we;" -- but towing at a rate, say of two shillings per
head! Before long, the forty towing peasants fling down
their ropes, first one, then more, then all, in spite of efforts,
promises, menaces; and vanish among the thickets, -- for-
feiting the two shillings, on view of imminent death. Soldiers
take the towing-ropes; try to continue it a little; but now the
steersmen also manage to call halt: "We won't! Let us
"out, let us out! We will steer you aground on the Prussian
"shore if you don't! " making night hideous. And the tow-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VII. ] HOW THE SAXONS GET OUT OP PIRNA. 295
lat-14th Oct. 1756.
ing enterprise breaks down for that bout; double-barges
mooring on the Saxon shore, 1 know not precisely at what
point, nor is it material.
Saturday night, October ,9th-10th, New boatmen, forty new
tow-men have been hired at immense increase of wages; say
four shillings for the night: but have you much good pro-
bability, my General, that even for that high guerdon im-
minence of death can be made indifferent to tow-men? No,
you haven't. The matter goes this night precisely as it did
last: tow-men vanishing in the horrible cannon-tumult; steers-
men shrieking, "We will ground you on the Prussian shore;"
very soldiers obliged to give it up; and General Rutowski
himself obliged to wash his hands of it, as a thing that cannot
be done. In fact, a thing which need not have been tried,
had Rutowski been rigorously candid with himself and his
hopes, as the facts now prove to be. "Twenty-four hours
"lost by this bad business (says he; "thirty-six," as I count,
or, to take it rigorously, "forty-eight" even): andnow, Sunday morning instead of Friday, atwhat, insad truth, is me-
taphorically "the eleventh hour," Rutowski has to bethink
him of his copper pontoons; and make the impossible carting
method possible in a day's time, or do worse.
Sunday, Monday, October 10th, 11th, By unheard-of exer-
tions, all hands and all spent-horses now at a dead-lift effort
night and day, Rutowski does get his pontoons carted out of
the Pirna storehouse; lands them at Thiirmsdorf, -- opposite
the Lilienstein, -- a mile or so short of Konigstein, where his
Bridge shall be. It is now the 11th, at night. And our
pontoons are got to the ground, nothing more. Every man of
us, at this hour, should have been across, and trimming him-
self to climb, with bayonet fixed! Browne is ready, expecting
our signal-shot to storm in on his side. And our bridge is not
built, only the pontoons here. "All things went perverse,"
adds Rutowski, for farther comfort: "we" (Saxon Home-
Army) "had with us, except Officers, only Four Pontoneers,
"or trained Bridge-builders; all the rest are at Warsaw:"
sad thought, but too late to think it!
Tuesday, till Wednesday early (12th-13th), Bridge, the four
Pontoneers, with Officers and numb soldiers doing their best,
is got built; -- Browne waiting for us, on thorns, all day;
Prussians extensively beginning to strengthen their posts,
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 296 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEGINS. [book XVII.
l<<t-Uth Oct. 1756.
about the Lilienstein, about Lichtenhayn, or where risk is;
and in fact, pouring across to that northern side, quite aware
of Rutowski and Browne.
That same night, 12th-13th, while the Bridge was
struggling to complete itself, -- rain now falling, and
tempests broken out, -- the Saxon Army, from Pirna
down to Hennersdorf, had lifted itself from its Lines,
and got under way towards Thurmsdorf, and the
crossing-place. Dark night, plunging rain; all the
elements in uproar. The worst roads in nature; now
champed doubly; "such roads as never any Army
marched on before. " Most of their cannon are left
standing; a few they had tried to yoke broke down;
"and choked up the narrow road altogether; so that
"the cavalry had to dismount, and lead their horses
"by side-paths," -- figure what side-paths! Distance
to Thurmsdorf, from any point of the Saxon Lines,
cannot be above six miles: but it takes them all that
night and all next day. Such a march as might fill
the heart with pity. Oh, ye Rutowskis, Briihls, though
never so decorated by twelve tailors, what a sight are
ye at the head of men! Dark night, wild raging
weather, labyrinthic roads worn knee-deep. It is broad
daylight, Wednesday 13th, and only the vanguard
is yet got across, trailing a couple of cannons; and
splashes about, endeavouring to take rank there, in
spite of wet and hunger; rain still pouring, wind very
high.
Nothing of Browne comes, this Wednesday; but,
from the opposite Gross-Sedlitz and Gottleube side,
the Prussians are coming. This morning, at daylight,
struck by symptoms, "the Prussians mounted our
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VII. ] HOW THE SAXONS GET OUT OP PIRNA. 297
13th Oct. 1756.
empty redoubts:" they are now in full chase of us,
Ziethen with Hussars as vanguard. A difficult bit of
marching, even Ziethen and his light people find it;
sprawling forward, at their cheriest, with daylight to
help, and in chase, not chased, through such intricacies
of rock and mud. Ziethen's company did not assist
the Saxons! They wheel round, show fight, and there
is volleying and bickering all day; the Saxon march
getting ever more perturbed. Nearly all the baggage
has to be left. Ziethen takes into the woods near
Thurmsdorf; giving fire as the poor wet Saxons, now
much in a pell-mell condition, pass to their Bridge. *
Heavier Prussians are striding on to rear; these, from
some final hilltop, do at last belch out two cannon-shots:
figure the confusion at that Bridge, the speed now be-
coming delirious there! Towards evening, rain still
violent, the Saxons, baggage-less, and rushing quite
pell-mell the latter part of them, are mostly across,
still countable to 14,000 or so; -- upon which they
cut their Bridge adrift, and let the river take it. At
Eaden, a few miles lower, the Prussians fished it out;
rebuilt it more deliberately, -- and we shall find it
there anon. This day Friedrich, hearing what is afoot,
has returned in person from the Lobositz Country;
takes Struppen as his head-quarter, which was lately
the Polish Majesty's.
From Browne there has nothing come this Wednes-
day; but tomorrow morning at seven, there comes a
Letter from him, written this night at ten; to the
effect:
* Prussian Account (in Gcsammelte Nachrichlen), I. 852.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd.
