history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第58章

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s　flank　and　front；　hurls　Manteuffel　back；　who　has　no　support　at　hand：　〃ARAH；　ARAH　（Hurrah；　Hurrah）！　Victory；　Victory！〃　shout　the　Russians；　plunging　wildly　forward；　sweeping　all　before　them；　capturing　twenty…six　pieces　of　cannon；　for　one　item。　What　a　moment　for　Friedrich；　looking　on　it　from　some　knoll　somewhere　near　Zorndorf；　I　suppose；　hastily　bidding　Seidlitz　strike　in：　〃Seidlitz；　now！〃　The　hurrahing　Russians　cannot　keep　rank　at　that　rate　of　going。　like　a　buffalo　stampede；　but　fall　into　heaps　and　gaps：　Seidlitz；　with　a　swiftness；　with　a　dexterity　beyond　praise；　has　picked　his　way　across　that　quaggy　Zabern　Hollow；　falls；　with　say　5；000　horse；　on　the　flank　of　this　big　buffalo　stampede；　tumbles　it　into　instant　ruin；which　proves　irretrievable；　as　the　Prussian　Infantry　come　on　again；　and　back　Seidlitz。

In　fifteen　minutes　more　（I　guess　it　now　to　be　ten　o'clock）；　the　Russian　Minotaur；　this　end　of　it；　on　to　the　Gallows　Ground；　is　one　wild　mass。　Seldom　was　there　seen　such　a　charge；　issuiug　in　such　deluges　of　wreck；　of　chaotic　flight；　or　chaotic　refusal　to　fly。　The　Seidlitz　cavalry　went　sabring　till；　for　very　fatigue；　they　gave　it　up；　and　could　no　more。　The　Russian　horse　fled　to　Kutzdorf；　Fermor　with　them；　who　saw　no　more　of　this　Fight；　and　did　not　get　back　till　dark；had　not　the　Bridges　been　burnt；　and　no　crossing　of　the　Mutzel　possible；　Fermor　never　would　have　come　back；　and　here　had　been　the　end　of　Zorndorf。　Luckier　if　it　had！　But　there　is　no　crossing　of　the　Mutzel；　there　is　only　drowning　in　the　quagmires　there：death　any　way；　what　can　be　done　but　die？

The　Russian　infantry　stand　to　be　sabred；　in　the　above　manner；　as　if　they　had　been　dead　oxen。　More　remote　from　Seidlitz；　they　break　open　the　sutlers'　brandy…casks；　and　in　few　minutes　get　roaring　drunk。　Their　officers；　desperate；　split　the　brandy…casks；　soldiers　flap　down　to　drink　it　from　the　puddles；　furiously　remonstrate　with　their　officers；　and　〃kill　a　good　many　of　them〃　（VIELE；　says　Tielcke）；　especially　the　foreign　sort。　〃A　frightful　blood…bath；〃　by　all　the　Accounts：　blood…bath；　brandy…bath；　and　chief　Nucleus　of　Chaos　then　extant　aboveground。　Fermor　is　swept　away：　this　chaos；　the　very　Prussians　drawing　back　from　it；　wearied　with　massacring；　lasts　till　about　one　o'clock。　Up　to　the　Gallows…ground　the　Minotaur　is　mere　wreck　and　delirium：　but　beyond　the　Gallows…ground；　the　other　half　forms　a　new　front　to　itself；　becomes　a　new　Minotaur；　though　in　reduced　shape。　This　is　Part　First　of　the　Battle　of　Zorndorf；　Friedrichon　the　edge　of　great　disaster　at　one　moment；　but　miraculously　savedhas　still　the　other　half　to　do　（unlucky　that　he　left　no　Bridges　on　the　Mutzel）；　and　must　again　change　his　program。

Half　of　the　Minotaur　is　gone　to　shreds　in　this　manner；　but　the　attack　upon　it；　too；　is　spent：　what　is　to　be　done　with　the　other　half　of　the　monster；　which　is　again　alive；　which　still　stands；　and　polypus…like　has　arranged　a　new　life　for　itself；　a　new　front　against　the　Galgengrund　yonder？　Friedrich　brings　his　right　wing　into　action。　Rapidly　arranges　right　wing；　centre；　all　of　the　left　that　is　disposable；　with　batteries；　with　cavalry；　for　an　attack　on　the　opposite　or　southeastern　end　of　his　monster。　If　your　monster；　polypus…like；　come　alive　again　in　the　tail…part；　you　must　fell　that　other　head　of　him。　Batteries；　well　in　advance；　begin　work　upon　the　new　head　of　the　monster；　which　was　once　his　tail；　fresh　troops；　long　lines　of　them；　pushing　forward　to　begin　platoon…volleying：　time　now；　I　should　guess；　about　half…past　two。　Our　infantry　has　not　yet　got　within　musket…range；when　torrents　of　Russian　Horse；　Foot　too　following；　plunge　out；　wide…flowing；　stormfully　swift；　and　dash　against　the　coming　attack。　Dash　against　it；　stagger　it；　actually　tumble　it　back；　in　the　centre　part；　take　one　of　the　batteries；　and　a　whole　battalion　prisoners。　Here　again　is　a　moment！　Friedrich；　they　say；　rushed　personally　into　this　vortex；　rallied　these　broken　battalions；　again　rallied　and　led　them　up；　but　it　was　to　no　purpose：　they　could　not　be　made　to　stand；　these　centre　battalions；　〃some　sudden　panic　in　them；　a　thing　unaccountable；〃　says　Tempelhof；　〃they　are　Dohna's　people；　who　fought　perfectly　at　Jagersdorf；　and　often　elsewhere〃　（they　were　all　in　such　a　finely　burnished　state　the　other　day；　but　have　not　biting　talent；　like　the　grass…devils）：　enough；　they　fairly　scour　away；　certain　disgraceful　battalions；　and　are　not　got　ranked　again　till　below　Wilkersdorf；　above　a　mile　off；　though　the　grass…devils；　on　both　hands　of　them；　stand　grimly　steady；　left　in　this　ominous　manner。

What　would　have　become　of　the　affair　one　knows　not；　if　it　had　not　been　that　Seidlitz　once　more　made　his　appearance。　On　Friedrich's　order；　or　on　his　own；　I　do　not　know；　but　sure　it　is；　Seidlitz；　with　sixty…one　squadrons；　arriving　from　some　distance；　breaks　in　like　a　DEUS　EX　MACHINA；　swift　as　the　storm…wind；　upon　this　Russian　Horse…　torrent；　drives　it　again　before　him　like　a　mere　torrent　of　chaff；　back；　ever　back；　to　the　shore　of　Acheron　and　the　Stygian　quagmires　（of　the　Mutzel；　namely）；　so　that　it　did　not　return　again；　and　the　Prussian　infantry　had　free　field　for　their　platoon　exercise。　Their　rage　against　the　Russians　was　extreme；　and　that　of　the　Russians　corresponded。　Three　of　these　grass…devil　battalions；　who　stood　nearest　to　Dohna's　runaways；　were　natives　of　this　same　burnt…　out　Zorndorf　Country；　we　may　fancy　the　Platt…Teutsch　hearts　of　them；　and　the　sacred　lightning；　with　a　moisture　to　it；　that　was　in　their　eyes。　Platt…Teutsch　platooning；　bayonet…charging；on　such　terms　no　Russian　or　mortal　Quadrilateral　can　stand　it。　The　Russian　Minotaur　goes　all　to　shreds　a　second　time；　but　will　not　run。　〃No　quarter！〃〃Well；　then；　none！〃

〃Shortly　after　four　o'clock；〃　say　my　Accounts；　〃the　firing；〃　regular　firing；　〃altogether　ceased；　ammunition　nearly　spent；　on　both　sides；　Prussians　snatching　cartridge…boxes　of　Russian　dead；〃　and　then　began　a　tug　of　deadly　massacring　and　wrestling　man　to　man；　〃with　bayonets；　with　butts　of　muskets；　with　hands；　even　with　teeth　＇in　some　Russian　instances＇；　such　as　was　never　seen　before。〃　The　Russians；　beaten　to　fragments；　would　not　run：　whither　run？　Behind　is　Mutzel　and　the　bog　of　Acheron；on　Mutzel　is　no　bridge　left；　〃the　shore　of　Mutzel　is　thick　with　men　and　horses；　who　have　tried　to　cross；　and　lie　there　swallowed　in　the　ooze〃〃like　a　pavement；〃　says　Tielcke。　The　Russians；never　was　such　VIS　INERTIAE　as　theirs　now。　They　stood　like　sacks　of　clay；　like　oxen　already　dead；　not　even　if　you　shot　a　bullet　through　them；　would　they　fall　at　once；　says　Archenholtz；　but　seem　to　be　deliberate　about　it。

Complete　disorder　reigned　on　both　sides；　except　that　the　Prussians　could　always　form　again　when　bidden；　the　Russians　not。　This　lasted　till　nightfall；Russians　getting　themselves　shoved　away　on　these　horrid　terms；　and　obstinate　to　take　no　other。　Towards　dark；　there　appeared；　on　a　distant　knoll；　something　like　a　ranked　body　of　them　again；some　2；000　foot　and　half　as　many　horse；　whom　Themicoud　（superlative　Swiss　Cossack；　usually　written　Demikof　or　Demikow）　had　picked　up；　and　persuaded　from　the　shore　of　Acheron；　back　to　this　knoll　of　vantage；　and　some　cannon　with　them。　Friedrich　orders　these　to　be　dispersed　again：　General　Forcade；　with　two　battalions；　taking　the　front　of　them；　shall　attack　there；　you；　General　Rauter；　bring　up　those　Dohna　fellows　again；　and　take　them　in　flank。　Forcade　pushes　on；　Rauter　too；but　at　the　first　taste　of　cannon…　shot；　these　poor　Dohna…people　（such　their　now　flurried；　disgraced　state　of　mind）　take　to　flight　again；　worse　than　before；　rush　quite　through　Wilkersdorf　this　time；　into　the　woods；　and　can　hardly　be　got　together　at　all。　Scandalous　to　think　of。　No　wonder　Friedrich　〃looked　always　askance　on　those　regiments　that　had　been　beaten　at　Gross　Jagersdorf；　and　to　the　end　of　his　life　gave　them　proofs　of　it：〃　＇Retzow；and　still　more　emphatically；　　Briefe　eines　alten　Preussischen　Officiers　　（Hohenzollern；　1790）；　i。　34；　ii。　52；　&c。＇　very　natural；　if　the　rest　were　like　these！

Of　poor　General　Rauter；　Tempelhof　and　the　others；　that　can　help　it；　are　politely　silent；　only　Saxon　Tielcke　tells　us；　that　Friedrich　dismissed　him；　〃Go；　you；　to　some　other　trade！〃which；　on　Prussian　evidence　too；　expressed　in　veiled　terms；　I　find　to　be　the　fact：　　Militair…Lexikon；　　obliged　to　have　an　article　on　Rauter；　is　very　brief　about　it；　hints　nothing　unkind；　records　his　personal　intrepidity；　and　says；　〃in　1758　he；　on　his　request；　had　leave　to　withdraw；〃poor　soul；　leave　and　more！

Forcade；　left　to　himself；　kept　cannonading　Themicoud；　Themicoud　responding；　would　not　go；　stood　on　his　knoll　of　vantage；　but　gathered　no　strength：　〃Let　him　stand；〃　said　Friedrich；　after　some　time；　and　Themicoud　melted　in　the　shades　of　night；　gradually　towards　the　hither　shore　of　Acheron；that　is；　of　Acheron…Mutzel；　none　now　attempting　to　PAVE　it　farther；　but　simmering　about　at　their　sad　leisure　there。　Feldmarschall　Fermor　is　now　got　to　his　people　again；　or　his　people　to　him；　reunited　in　place　and　luck：　such　a　chaos　as　Fermor　never　saw　before　or　after。　No　regiment　or　battalion　now　is；　mere　simmering　monads；　this　fine　Army；　officers　doing　their　utmost　to　cobble　it　into　something　of　rank；　without　regard　to　regiments　or　qualities。　Darkness　seldom　sank　on　such　a　scene。

Wild　Cossack　parties　are　scouring　over　all　parts　of　the　field；　robbing　the　dead；　murdering　the　wounded；　doing　arson；　too；　wherever　possible；　and　even　snatching　at　the　Prussian　cannon　left　rearwards；　so　that　the　Hussars　have　to　go　upon　them　again。　One　large　mass　of　them　plundering　in　the　Hamlet　of　Zicher；　the　Hussars　surrounded：　the　Cossacks　took　to　the　outhouses；　squatted；　ran；　called　in　the　aid　of　fire；　their　constant　friend：　above　400　of　them　were　in　some　big　barn；　or　range　of　straw　houses；　and　set　fire　to　it；but　could　not　get　out　for　Hussars；　the　Hussars　were　at　the　outgate：　Not　a　devil　of　you！　said　the　Hussars；　and　the　whole　four　hundred　perished　there；　choked；　burnt；　or　slain　by　the　Hussars；and　this　poor　Planet　was　at　length　rid　of　them。　＇　Helden…Geschichte；　　v。　166。＇

Friedrich　sends　for　his　tent…equipages；　and　the　Army　pitches　its　camp　in　two　big　lines；　running　north　and　south；　looking　towards　the　Russian　side　of　things；　Friedrich's　tent　in　front　of　the　first　line；　a　warrior　King　among　his　people；　who　have　had　a　day's　work　of　it。　The　Russian　loss　turns　out；　when　counted；　to　have　been　21；529　killed；　wounded　and　missing；　7；990　of　them　killed；　the　Prussian　sum…total　is　11；390　（above　the　Prussian　third　man）；　of　whom　3；680　slain。　And　on　the　shores　of　Acheron　northward　yonder；　there　still　is　a　simmering。　And　far　and　wide　the　country　is　alight　with　incendiary　fires；many　devils　still　abroad。　Excellency　Mitchell；　about　eight　in　the　evening；　is　sent　for　by　the　King；　finds　various　chief　Generals；　Seidlitz　among　them；　on　their　various　businesses　there；　congratulates　〃on　the　noble　victory　＇not　so　conclusive　hitherto＇　which　Heaven　has　granted　your　Majesty。〃　〃Had　it　not　been　for　him；〃　said　Friedrich；〃Had　it　not　been　for　him；　things　would　have　had　a　bad　look　by　this　time！〃　and　turned　his　sun…eyes　upon　Seidlitz；　with　a　fine　expression　in　them。　＇Preuss；　ii。　153。　Mitchell　（ii。　432）　mentions　the　Interview；　nothing　of　Seidlitz。＇　To　which　Seidlitz's　reply；　I　find；　was　an　embarrassed　blush　an