history of friedrich ii of prussia v 17-第13章
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carcely got their horses； not to speak of training them； not to speak of cannon and the heavier requisites； when Schwerin began marching out of Glatz on Piccolomini。 As to the cannon for Browne and him； draught…cattle seem absolutely unprocurable。 Whereupon Maria Theresa flings open her own Imperial Studs： 'There； yoke these to our cannon； let them go their swiftest；'which awoke such an enthusiasm； that noblemen and peasants crowded forward with their coach…horses and their cart…horses； to relay Browne； all through Bohemia； at different stages； and the cannon and equipments move to their places at the gallop； in a manner；〃 ＇Archenholtz； i。 24。＇and even Browne； at the base of the Metal Mountains； has got most of his equipments。 And is astir towards Pirna （Army of 60；000； rumor says）； for relief of the Saxon martyrs。 Friedrich's complexities are getting day by day more stringent。
From the middle of September； Marshal Keith； as was observed； with Half of the Prussians； Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick under him； has been on the Bohemian slope of the Metal Mountains； securing the roads； towns and passes thereabouts； and looking out for the advance of Marshal Browne from the interior parts。 Town of Aussig； and the River…road （castle of Tetschen； on its high rock known to Tourists； which always needs to be taken on such occasions）； these Keith has secured。 Lies encamped from Peterswalde to Aussig； the middle or main strength of him being in the Hamlet of Johnsdorf （discoverable； if readers like）： there lies Keith； fifteen miles in length； like a strap； or bar； thrown across the back of that Metal… Mountain Range；or part of its back； for the range is very broad； and there is much inequality； and many troughs； big and little； partial and general； in the crossing of it。 A tract which my readers and I have crossed before now； by the 〃Pascopol〃 or Post… road and otherwise； and shall often have to cross！
Browne； vigorously astir in the interior （cannon and equipments coming by relays at such a pace）； is daily advancing； with his best speed： in the last days of September； Browne is encamped at Budin； may cross the Eger River any day； and will then be within two marches of Keith。 His intentions towards Pirna Country are fixed and sure； but the plan or route he will take is unknown to everybody； and indeed to Browne himself； till he see near at hand and consider。 Browne's problem； he himself knows； is abundantly abstruse；bordering on the impossible； but he will try his best。 To get within reach of the Saxons is almost impossible to Browne； even were there no Keith there。 As good as impossible altogether； by any line of march； while Keith is afoot in those parts。 By Aussig； down the River； straight for the interior of their Camp； it is flatly impossible： by the south or southeast corner of their Camp （Gottleube way）； or by the northeast （by Schandau way； right bank of Elbe）； it is virtually so；at least without beating Keith。 Could one beat Keith indeed；but that will not be easy！ And that； unluckily； is the preliminary to everything。
〃By the Hellendorf…Hennersdorf side； in the wastes where Gottleube Brook gathers itself； Browne might have a chance。 There； on that southeast corner of their Camp； were he once there to attack the Prussians from without； while the Saxons burst up from within； there；〃 thinks a good judge； 〃is much the favorablest place。 But unless Browne's Army had wings； how is it ever to get there？ Across those Metal…Mountain ranges； barred by Keith：by Aussig； with the rocks overhanging Elbe River and him； he cannot go in auy case。 Were there no Keith； indeed （but there always is； standing ready on the spring）； one might hold to leftward； and by stolen marches； swift； far round about！
〃By Schandau region； north side of the Elbe； is Browne's easiest； and indeed one feasible； point of approach；no Prussians at present between him and that； the road open； though a far circuit northward for Browne；were he to cross the Elbe in Leitmeritz circle； and march with velocity？ That too will be difficult； nearly impossible in sight of Keith。 And were that even done； the egress for the Saxons； by Schandau side； is through strait mountain gorges； intricate steep passes； crossings of the Elbe： what force of Saxons or of Austrians will drive the Prussians from their redoubts and batteries there？〃 ＇ OEuvres de Frederic； iv。 86； 93； 96。＇
Browne's problem is none of the feasiblest： but his orders are strict； 〃Relieve the Saxons； at all risks。〃 And Browne； one of the ablest soldiers liviug （〃Your Imperial Majesty's best general；〃 said the dying Khevenhuller long since）； will do his utmost upon it。 Friedrich does not think the enterprise very dangerous； beating of Keith the indispensable preliminary to it； but will naturally himself go and look into it。
Tuesday； September 28th； Friedrich quits Pirna Country by the Prag Highway； making due inspection of his Posts as he goes along； and； the outmost of these once past； drives rapidly up the Mountains； gets； with small escort； through Peterswalde on to Johnsdorf that night。 Does not think this Keith position good； breaks up this 〃Camp of Johnsdorf〃 bodily next morning； and marches down the Mountains； direct towards Browne； who； we hear； is about crossing the Eger （his Pontoons now come at last）； and will himself be on the advance。 From Turmitz； a poor mountain hamlet in the hollow of the Hills； which is head…quarters that night； the march proceeds again； Friedrich with the vanguard； Army； I think； on various country…roads； on both hands； till all get upon the Great Road again；Prag…Toplitz…Dresden Post…road； which is called； specially in this part of it； and loosely in whole； 〃The Pascopol；〃 and leads down direct to Budin and Browne。
〃A 'Pascopol' famed in military annals；〃 says our Tourist。 〃It is a road with many windings； many precipitous sweeps of up and down； road precipitous in structure；offers views to the lover of wild Nature： huge lonesome Hills scattered in the distance； waste expanses nearer hand； and futile attempts at moorish agriculture； but little else that is comfortable。 In times of Peace； you will meet； at long intervals； some post…vehicle struggling forward under melancholy circumstances； some cart； or dilapidated mongrel between cart and basket； with a lean ox harnessed to it； and scarecrow driver； laden with pit…coal；which you wish safe home； and that the scarecrow were getting warmed by it。 But in War…time the steep road is livelier； the common Invasion road between Saxony and Bohemia； whole Armies sweeping over it； and their thousand…fold wagons and noises making clangor enough。 。。。 One of those Hollows； on the Pascopol； is Joachimsthal； with its old Silver Mines； yielding coins which were in request with traders； the silver being fine。 'Let my ducat be a Joachimsthal one； then！' the old trader would say： 'a JOACHIMSTHAL…ER；' or； for brevity； a 'THAL…ER；' whence THALER； and at last DOLLAR （almighty and otherwise）；now going round the world！ ＇Busching； Erdbeschreibung； v。 178。＇ Pascopol finishes in Welmina Township。 From the last hamlet in Welmina； at the neck of the last Hill； step downward one mile； holding rather to the left； you will come on the innocent Village of Lobositz； its poor corn…mills and huckster…shops all peaceably unknown as yet； which is soon to become very famous。〃
The Country…roads where Friedrich's Army is on march； I should think； are mostly on the mounting hand。 For here； from Turmitz； is a trough again； though the last considerable one； and on the crest of that； we shall look down upon the Bohemian Plains and the grand Basin of the Elbe；through various scrubby villages which are not nameworthy； through one called Kletschen； which for a certain reason is。 Crossing the shoulder of Kletschenberg （HILL of this Kletschen）； which abuts upon the Pascopol；yonder in bright sunshine is your beautiful expansive Basin of the Elbe； and the green Bohemian Plains； revealed for a moment。 Friedrich snatches his glass； not with picturesque object： 〃See； yonder is Feldmarschall Browne； then！ In camp yonder； down by Lobositz； not ten miles from us；＇it is most true； Browne marched this morning； long before the Sun； crossed Eger； and pitched camp at noon＇ Good！〃 thinks Friedrich。 And pushes down into the Pascopol； into the hollows and minor troughs； which hide Browne henceforth； till we are quite near。
Quite near； through Welmina and a certain final gap of the Hills； Friedrich with the vanguard does emerge； 〃an hour before sunset；〃 overhanging Browne； not above a mile from the Camp of Browne。 A very large Camp； that of Browne's； flanked to right by the Elbe； goes from Sulowitz； through Lobositz； to Welhoten close on Elbe； and has properties extremely well worth studying just now！ 〃Friedrich〃 the Books say； 〃bivouacs by a fire of sticks；〃 short way down on the southern slope of the Hill； and till sunset and after； has eye…glass； brain； and faculties and activities sufficiently occupied for the rest of the night；his Divisions gradually taking post behind him； under arms； 〃not till midnight； the very rearmost of them。〃 ＇〃Tuesday； 28th September； left the Camp at Sedlitz； with 8 battalions 20 squadrons； to Johnsdorf： 29th； to Turmitz；Browne is to pass the Eger tomorrow。 From the tops of the Pascopol （30th）； SEE an Austrian Camp in the Plain of Lobositz。 Vanguard bivouacs in the 'neck' of the two Hills or a little beyond。〃 PRUSSIAN ACCOUNT OF CAMPAIGN 1756 （in Gesammelte Nachrichten； i。 844…845； 840…858）； Anonymous of Hamburg； &c。 &c。＇
Chapter VI。
BATTLE OF LOBOSITZ。
Welmina；or Reschni…Aujest； last pertinent of Welmina （but we will take Friedrich's name for it）； offers to the scrutinizing eye nothing； in our day； but some bewildered memory of 〃Alte Fritz〃 clinging obstinately even to the Peasant mind thereabouts。 A sleepy littery place； some biggish haggard untrimmed trees； some broken… backed sleepy…looking thatched houses； not in contact； and each as far as might be with its back turned on the other； and cloaked in its own litter and privacy。 Probably no human creature will be visible； as you pass through。 Much straw lying about； chiefly where the few gaunt trees look down on it （cattle glad of any shelter）： in fact； it is mainly an extinct tumult of straw； nothing alive； as you pass； but a few poor oxen languidly sauntering up and down； finding much to trample； little to eat。 The Czech Populations （were it not for that 〃Question of the Nationalities〃） are not very beautiful！
Close south of this poor Hamlet is a big Hill； conspicuous with three peaks； quite at the other base of which； a good way down； lies Lobositz； the main Village in those parts； a place now of assiduous corn…mill and fruit trade； and one of the stations on the Dresden…Prag Railway。 This Hill is what Lloyd calls the Lobosch； ＇Major…General Lloyd； History of the late War in Germany； 1756…1759 （3 vols。 4to； London； 1781）； i。 2…11。＇ twin to which； only flatter； is Lloyd's 〃Homolka Hill〃 （Hill of RADOSTITZ in more modern Plans and Books）。 Conspicuous Heights； and important to us here；though I did not find the Peasants much know them under those names。 By the southern shoulder of this Lobosch Hill runs the road from Welmina to Lobosi
