history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第53章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


eights　and　difficult　grounds；　stormed　Loudon's　cannon　from　him；　smote　Loudon　in　a　valiant　tempestuous　manner；　and　sent　him　travelling　again　for　the　present。

Loudon；　I　conjecture；　would　have　struggled　farther；　had　not　he　known　that　there　would　be　a　better　chance　again　not　very　many　miles　ahead。　London　has　studied　this　Convoy；　knows　of　Ziethen　coming　to　it　with　so　many；　of　Ziskowitz　coming　to　him；　Loudon；　with　so　many；　that　Ziethen　cannot　send　for　more　（roads　being　all　beset　by　our　industry　yesterday）；　that　Ziskowitz　can；　should　it　be　needful；and　that　at　Domstadtl　there　is　a　defile；　or　confused　woody　hollow；　of　unequalled　quality！　Mosel　jumbles　on　all　day　with　his　Train；　none　molesting；　at　night　gets　to　his　appointed　quarters；　Village　of　Neudorfl；　＇The　L；　or　EL；　is　a　diminutive　in　these　Names：　（NEUDORFL）　〃New…ThorpLET；〃　（DOMSTADTL）　〃Cathedral…TownLET；〃　and　the　like。＇　and　there　finds　Ziethen：　a　glad　meeting；　we　may　fancy；　but　an　anxious　one；　with　Domstadtl　ahead　on　the　morrow。　Loudon　concerts　with　Ziskowitz　this　day；　calls　in　all　reinforcements　possible；　and　takes　his　measures。　Thursday　morning；　Ziethen　finds　the　Train　in　such　a　state；　hardly　half　of　it　come　up；　he　has　to　spend　the　whole　day；　Mosel　and　he；　in　rearranging　it：　Friday　morning；　June　30th；　they　get　under　way　again；Friday；　the　catastrophe　is　waiting　them。

The　Pass　of　Domstadtl；　lapped　in　the　dim　Moravian　distance；　is　not　known　to　me　or　to　my　readers；　nor　indeed　could　the　human　pen　or　intellect；　aided　by　ocular　inspection　or　whatever　helps；　give　the　least　image　of　what　now　took　place　there；　rendering　Domstadtl　a　memorable　locality　ever　since。　Understand　that　Ziethen　and　Mosel；　with　their　waste　slow　deluge　of　wagons；　come　jumbling　in；　with　anxiety；　with　precautions；precautions　doubled；　now　that　the　woody　intricacies　about　Domstadtl　rise　in　sight。　〃Pooh；　it　is　as　we　thought：　there　go　Austrian　cannon…salvos；　horse…charges；　volleying　musketries；　as　our　first　wagons　enter　the　Pass；and　there　will　be　a　job！〃　Indecipherable　to　mankind　far　off；　or　even　near。　Of　which　only　this　feature　and　that　can　be　laid　hold　of；　as　discernible；　by　the　most　industrious　man。　Escort；　in　three　main　bodies；　vanguard；　middle；　rear…guard；　marches　on　each　side；　infantry　on　the　left；　cavalry　on　the　right；　as　the　ground　is　leveller　there。　Length　of　the　Train　in　statute　miles；　as　it　jumbles　along　at　this　point；　is　not　given；　but　we　know　it　was　many　miles；　that　horses　and　wagoners　were　in　panic　hardly　restrainable；　and　we　dimly　descry；　here　especially；　human　drill…sergeantcy　doing　the　impossible　to　keep　chaos　plugged　down。　The　poor　wagoner；　cannon　playing　ahead；　whirls　homeward　with　his　vehicle；　if　your　eye　quit　him；still　better；　and　handier；　cuts　his　traces；　mounts　in　a　good　moment；　and　is　off　at　heavy…footed　gallop；　leaving　his　wagon。　Seldom　had　human　drill…　sergeantcy　such　a　problem。

The　Prussian　Vanguard；　one　Krockow　its　commander；　repulsed　that　first　Austrian　attack；　swept　the　Bass　clear　for　some　minutes；　got　their　section　of　the　carriages；　or　some　part　of　it；　250　in　all；　hurried　through；　then　halted　on　the　safe　side；　to　wait　what　Ziethen　would　do　with　the　remainder。　Ziethen　does　his　best　and　bravest；　as　everybody　does；　keeps　his　wagon…chaos　plugged　down；　ranks　it　in　square　mass；　as　a　wagon　fortress　（WAGENBURG）；　ranks　himself　and　everybody；　his　cannon；　his　platoon　musketry；　to　the　best　advantage　round　it；　furiously　shoots　out　in　all　manner　of　ways；　against　the　furious　Loudon　on　this　flank；　and　the　furious　Ziskowitz　on　that；　takes　hills；　loses　them；　repels　and　is　repelled　（wagon…chaos　ever　harder　to　keep　plugged）；　finally　perceives　himself　to　be　beaten；　that　the　wagon…chaos　has　got　unplugged　（fancy　it！）and　that　he；　Ziethen；　must　retreat；　back　foremost　if　possible。　He　did　retreat；　fighting　all　the　way　to　Troppau；　and　the　Convoy　is　a　ruin　and　a　prey。

Krockow；　with　the　250；　has　got　under　way　again；　hearing　the　powder…　wagons　start　into　the　air　（fired　by　the　enemy）；　and　hearing　the　cannon　and　musketry　take　a　northerly　course；　and　die　away　in　that　ominous　direction。　These　250　were　all　the　carriages　that　came　in：　happily；　by　Ziethen's　prudence；　the　money；　a　large　sum；　had　been　lodged　in　the　vanmost　of　these。　The　rest　of　the　Convoy；　ball；　powder；　bread；　was　of　little　value　to　Loudon；　but　beyond　value　to　Friedrich　at　this　moment；　and　it　has　gone　to　annihilation　and　the　belly　of　Chaos　and　the　Croats。　Among　the　tragic　wrecks　of　this　Convoy　there　is　one　that　still　goes　to　our　heart。　A　longish；　almost　straight　row　of　young　Prussian　recruits　stretched　among　the　slain；　what　are　these？　These　were　700　recruits　coming　up　from　their　cantons　to　the　Wars；　hardly　yet　six　months　in　training：　see　how　they　have　fought　to　the　death；　poor　lads；　and　have　honorably；　on　the　sudden；　got　manumitted　from　the　toils　of　life。　Seven　hundred　of　them　stood　to　arms；　this　morning；　some　sixty…five　will　get　back　to　Troppau；　that　is　the　invoice　account。　They　lie　there；　with　their　blond　young　cheeks　and　light　hair；　beautiful　in　death；could　not　have　done　better；　though　the　sacred　poet　has　said　nothing　of　them　hitherto；nor　need；　till　times　mend　with　us　and　him。　Adieu；　my　noble　young　Brothers；　so　brave；　so　modest；　no　Spartan　nor　no　Roman　more；　may　the　silence　be　blessed　to　you！

Contrary　to　some　current　notions；　it　is　comfortably　evident　that　there　was　a　considerable　fire　of　loyalty　in　the　Prussians　towards　their　King；　during　this　War；　loyalty　kept　well　under　cover；　not　wasting　itself　in　harangues　or　noisy　froth；　but　coming　out；　among　all　ranks　of　men；　in　practical　attempts　to　be　of　help　in　this　high　struggle；　which　was　their　own　as　well　as　his。　The　STANDE；　landed　Gentry；　of　Pommern　and　other　places；　we　heard　of　their　poor　little　Navy　of　twelve　gunboats；　which　were　all　taken　by　the　Swedes。　Militia　Regiments　too；　which　did　good　service　at　Colberg；　as　may　transiently　appear　by　and　by：in　the　gentry　or　upper　classes；　a　respectable　zeal　for　their　King。　Then；　among　the　peasantry　or　lower　classHere　are　Seven　Hundred　who　stood　well　where　he　planted　them。　And　their　Mothers　Be　Spartan　also；　ye　Mothers！　In　peaceable　times；　Tempelhof　tells　us　the　Prussian　Mother　is　usually　proud　of　having　her　son　in　this　King's　service：　a　country　wife　will　say　to　you：　〃I　have　three　of　them；　all　in　the　regiment；〃　Billerbeck；　Itzenplitz；　or　whatever　be　the　Canton　regiment；　〃the　eldest　is　ten　inches　＇stands　five　feet　ten＇；　the　second　is　eleven；　the　third　eight；　for　indeed　he　is　yet　young。〃

Daun；　on　the　day　of　this　Domstadtl　business；　and　by　way　of　masking　it；　feeling　how　vital　it　was；　made　various　extensive　movements；　across　the　River　by　several　Bridges；　then　hither；　thither；　on　the　farther　side　of　Olmutz；　mazing　up　and　down：　Friedrich　observing　him；　till　he　should　ripen　to　something　definite；　followed　his　bombarding　the　while；　perhaps　having　hopes　of　wager　of　battle　ensuing。　Of　the　disaster　at　Domstadtl　Friedrich　could　know　nothing；　Loudon　having　closed　the　roads。　Daun　by　no　means　ripens　into　battle：　news　of　the　disaster　reached　Friedrich　next　day　（Saturday；　July　1st）；who　〃immediately　assembled　his　Generals；　and　spoke　a　few　inspiring　words　to　them；〃　such　as　we　may　fancy。　Friedrich　perceives　that　Olmutz　is　over；　that　his　Third　Campaign；　third　lunge　upon　the　Enemy's　heart；　has　prospered　worse；　thus　far；　than　either　of　the　others；　that　he　must　straightway　end　this　of　Olmutz；　without　any　success　whatever；　and　try　the　remaining　methods　and　resources。　No　word　of　complaint；　they　say；　is　heard　from　Friedrich　in　such　cases；　face　always　hopeful；　tone　cheery。　A　man　in　Friedrich's　position　needs　a　good　deal　of　Stoicism；　Greek　or　other。

That　Saturday　night　the　Prussian　bombardment　is　quite　uncommonly　furious；　long　continuing；　no　night　yet　like　it：the　Prussians　are　shooting　off　their　superfluous　ammunition　this　night；　do　not　quite　end　till　Sunday　is　in。　On　Sunday　itself；　packings；　preparations；　all　completed；　and；　〃Keith；　with　above　4；000　wagons；　safe　on　the　road　since　2　A。M。〃the　Prussians　softly　vanish　in　long　smooth　streams；　with　music　playing；　unmolested　by　Daun；　and　leaving　nothing；　it　is　boasted；　but　five　or　three　mortars；　which　kept　playing　to　the　last；　and　one　cannon；　to　which　something　had　happened。

Of　the　retreat　there　could　be　much　said；　instructive　to　military　men　who　were　studious；　extremely　fine　retreat；　say　all　judges；of　which　my　readers　crave　only　the　outlines；　the　results。　Daun；　it　was　thought；　should　have　ruined　Friedrich　in　this　retreat；　but　he　did　nothing　of　harm　to　him。　In　fact；　for　a　week　he　could　not　comprehend　the　phenomenon　at　all；　and　did　not　stir　from　his　place；which　was　on　the　other；　or　wrong；　side　of　the　River。　Daun　had　never　doubted　but　the　retreat　would　be　to　Silesia；　and　he　had　made　his　detachments；　and　laid　himself　out　for　doing　something　upon　it；　in　that　direction：　but；　lo；　what　roads　are　these；　what　motions　whitherward？　In　about　a　week　it　becomes　manifest　that　the　retreat；　which　goes　on　various　roads；　sometimes　three　at　once；　has　converged　on　Leutomischl；　straight　for　Bohemia　instead　of　Silesia；　and　that　Daun　is　fallen　seven　days　behind　it；　incapable　now　to　do　anything。　Not　even　the　Magazine　at　Leutomischl　could　be　got　away；　nor　could　even　the　whole　of　it　be　burnt。

Keith　and　the　baggage　once　safe　in　Leutomischl　（July　8th）；　all　goes　in　deliberate　long　column；　Friedrich　ahead　to　open　the　passages。　July　14th；　after　five　more　marches；　Friedrioh　bursts　up　Konigsgratz；　scattering　any　opposition　there　is；　and　sits　down　there；　in　a　position　considered；　he　knows　well　how　inexpugnable；　to　live　on　the　Country；　and　survey　events。　The　4；000　baggage…wagons　came　in　about　entire。　Fouquet　had　the　first　division　of　them；　and　a　secondary　charge　of　the　whole；　an　extremely　strict；　almost　pedantic　man；　and　of　very　fiery　temper：　〃HE；　D'OU　VENEZ…VOUS？〃　asked　he　sharply　of　Retzow　senior；　who　had　broken　through　his　order；　one　day；　to　avert　great　mischief：　〃How　come　you　here；　MON　GENERAL？〃　〃By　the　Highway；　your　Excellency！〃　answered　Retzow　in　a　grave　stiff　tone。　＇Retzow；　i。　302。＇

Keith　himself　takes　the　rear…guard；　the　most　ticklish　post　of　all；　and　manages　it　well；　and　with　success；　as　his　wont　is。　Under　sickness　at　the　time；　but　with　his　usual　vigilance；　prudence；　energy；　qualities　apt　to　be　successful　in　War。　Some　brushes　of　Croat　fighting　he　had　from　Loudon；　but　they　did　not　amount　to　anything。　It　was　at　Holitz；　within　a　march　of　Konigsgratz；　that　Loudon　made　his　chief　attempt；　a　vehement；　well…intended　thing；　which　looked　well　at　one　time。　But　Keith　heard　the　cannonading　ahead；　hurried　up　with　new　cavalry；　new　sagacity　and　fire　of　energy；　dashed　out　horse…charges；　seized　hill…tops；　of　a　vital　nature；　and　quickly　ended　the　affair。　A　man　fiery　enough；　and　prompt　with　his　stroke　when　wanted；　though　commonly　so　quiet。　〃Tell　Monsieur；〃some　General　who　seemed　too　stupid　or　too　languid　on　this　occasion；〃Tell　Monsieur　from　me；〃　said　Keith　to　his　Aide…　de…camp；　〃he　may　be　a　very　pretty　thing；　but　he　is　not　a　man　（QU'IL　PEUT　ETRE　UNE　BONNE　CHOSE；　MAIS　QU'IL　N'EST　PAS　UN　HOMME）！〃　＇Varnhagen；　　Leben　des　&c。　Jakob　von　Keith；　　p。　227。＇　The　excellent　vernacular　Keith；still　a　fine　breadth　of　accent　in　him；　one　perceives！　He　is　now　past　sixty；　troubled　with　asthma；　and　I　doubt　not　may　be；　occasionally；　thinking　it　near　time　to　end　his　campaigns。　And　in　fact；　he　is　abo