第 3 节
作者:上访不如上网      更新:2021-02-18 21:08      字数:9314
  power); so many as will cover the expense。 Army to be got on actual foot hastily; instantly if possible: an 〃EILENDE REICHS…EXECUTIONS ARMEE;〃 so it ran; but the word EILENDE (speedy) had a mischance in printing; and was struck off into ELENDE (contemptibly wretched): so that on all Market…Squares and Public Places of poor Teutschland; you read flaming Placards summoning out; not a speedy or immediate; but 〃a MISERABLE Reich's Execution Army!〃 A word which; we need not say; was laughed at by the unfeeling part of the public; and was often called to mind by the Reich's Execution Army's performances; when said SPEEDY Army did at last take the field。
  For the Reich performed its Vote; actually had a Reich's Execution Army; the last it ever had in this world; not by any means the worst it ever had; for they used generally to be bad。 Commanders; managers are named; Romermonate are gathered in; or the sure prospect of them; and; through May…June; 1757; there is busy stir; of drumming; preparing and enlisting; all over the Reich。 End of July; we shall see the Reich's Army in Camp; end of August; actually in the field; and later on; a touch of its fighting withal。 Many other things the Reich tried against unfortunate Friedrich;gradual advance; in fact; to Ban of the Reich (or total anathema and cutting…off from fire and water): but in none of these; in Ban as little as any; did it come to practical result at all; or acquire the least title to be remembered at this day。 Finis of Ban; some eight months hence; has something of attractive as futility; the curious Death of a Futility。 Finis of Ban (October 14th; already indicated) we may for one moment look in upon; if there be one moment to spare; the restreaders may fancy it; and read only of the actuality and fighting part; which will itself be enough for them on such a matter。
  FRIEDRICH SUDDENLY MARCHES ON PRAG。
  Four Invasions; from their respective points of the compass; northeast; northwest; southeast and southwest: here is a formidable outlook for the one man against whom they are all advancing open… mouthed。 The one manwith nothing but a Duke of Cumberland and his Observation Army for backing in such duelhad need to look to himself! Which; we well know; he does; wrapt in profoundly silent vigilance; with his plans all laid。 Of the Four Invasions; three; the Russian; French; Austrian; are very large; and the two latter; especially the last; are abundantly formidable。 The Swedish; of which there is rumoring; he hopes may come to little; or not come at all。 Nor is Russia; though talking big; and actually getting ready above 100;000 men; so immediately alarming。 Friedrich always hopes the English; with their guineas and their managements; will do something for him in that quarter; and he knows; at worst; that the Russian Hundred Thousand will be a very slow…moving entity。 The Swedish Invasion Friedrich; for the present; leaves to chance: and against Russia; he has sent old Marshal Lehwald into those Baltic parts; far eastward; towards the utmost Memel Frontier; to put the Country upon its own defence; and make what he can of it with 30;000 men;West…Prussian militias a good few of them。 This is all he can spare on the Swedish…Russian side: Austria and France are the perilous pair of entities; not to be managed except by intense concentration of stroke; and by going on them in succession; if one have luck!
  Friedrich's motions and procedures in canton…quarters; through Winter and in late months; have led to the belief that he means to stand on the defensive; that the scene of the Campaign will probably be Saxony; and that Austria; for recovering injured Saxony; for recovering dear Silesia; will have to take an invasive attitude。 And Austria is busy everywhere preparing with that view。 Has Tolpatcheries; and advanced Brigades; still harassing about in the Lausitz。 A great Army assembling at Prag;Browne forward towards the Metal Mountains securing posts; gathering magazines; for the crossing into Saxony there。 There; it is thought; the tug of war will probably be。 Furious; and strenuous; it is not doubted; on this Friedrich's part: but against such odds; what can he do? With Austrians in front; with Russians to left; with French to right and arear; not to mention Swedes and appendages: surely here; if ever; is a lost King!
  It is by no means Friedrich's intention that Saxony itself shall need to be invaded。 Friedrich's habit is; as his enemies might by this time be beginning to learn; not that of standing on the defensive; but that of GOING on it; as the preferable method wherever possible。 March 24th; Friedrich had quitted Dresden City; and for a month after (head…quarters Lockwitz; edge of the Pirna Country); he had been shifting; redistributing; his cantoned Army; privately into the due Divisions; due readiness for march。 Which done; on fixed days; about the end of April; the whole Army; he himself from Lockwitz; April 20th;to the surprise of Austria and the world; Friedrich in three grand Columns; Bevern out of the Lausitz; King himself over the Metal Mountains; Schwerin out of Schlesien; is marching with extraordinary rapidity direct for Prag; in the notion that a right plunge into the heart of Bohemia will be the best defence for Saxony and the other places under menace。
  This is a most unexpected movement; which greatly astonishes the world…theatre; pit; boxes and gallery alike (as Friedrich's sudden movements often do); and which is; above all; interesting on the stage itself; where the actors had been counting on a quite opposite set of entries and activities! Feldmarschall Browne and General Konigseck (not our old friend Konigseck; who used to dry… nurse in the Netherlands; but his nephew and heir) may cease gathering Magazines; in those Lausitz and Metal…Mountain parts: happy could they give wings to those already gathered! Magazines; for Austrian service; are clearly not the things wanted there。 One does not burn one's Magazines till the last extremity; but wings they have none; and such is the enigmatic velocity of those Prussian movements; one seldom has time even to burn them; in the last crisis of catastrophe! Considerable portions of that provender fell into the Prussian throat; as much as 〃three months' provision for the whole Army;〃 count they;adding to those Frontier sundries the really important Magazine which they seized at Jung…Bunzlau farther in。 ' Helden…Geschichte; iv。 6…13; &c。' It is one among their many greater advantages from this surprisal of the enemy; and sudden topsy…turvying of his plans。 Browne and Konigseck have to retire on Prag at their swiftest; looking to more important results than Magazines。
  It is Friedrich's old plan。 Long since; in 1744; we saw a march of this kind; Three Columns rushing with simultaneous rapidity on Prag; and need not repeat the particulars on this occasion。 Here are some Notes on the subject; which will sufficiently bring it home to readers:   〃The Three Columns were; for a part of the way; Four; the King's being; at first; in two branches; till they united again; on the other side of the Hills。 For the King;〃 what is to be noted; 〃had shot out; three weeks before; a small preliminary branch; under Moritz of Dessau; who marched; well westward; by Eger (starting from Chemnitz in Saxony); and had some tussling with our poor old friend Duke d'Ahremberg; Browne's subordinate in those parts。 D'Ahremberg; having 20;000 under him; would not quit Eger for Moritz; but pushed out Croats upon him; and sat still。 This; it was afterwards surmised; had been a feint on Friedrich's part; to give the Austrians pleasant thoughts: 'Invading us; is he? Would fain invade us; but cannot!' Moritz fell back from Eger; and was ready to join the King's march; (at Linay; April 23d' (third day from Lockwitz; on the King's part)。 Onwards from which point the Columns are specifically Three; in strength; and on routes; somewhat as follows:
  1。 〃The FIRST Column; or King's;which is 60;000 after this junction; 45;000 foot; 15;000 horse;quitted Lockwitz (head… quarter for a month past); WEDNESDAY; APRIL 20TH。 They go by the Pascopol and other roads; through Pirna; for one place: through Karbitz; Aussig; are at Linay on the 23d; where Moritz joins: 24th; in the united state; forward again (leave Lobositz two miles to left); to Trebnitz; 25th; and rest there one day。
  〃At Aussig an unfortunate thing befell。 Zastrow; respectable old General Zastrow; was to drive the Austrians out of Aussig: Zastrow does it; April 22d…23d; drives them well over the heights; April 25th; however; marching forward towards Lobositz; Zastrow is shot through both temples (Pandour hid among the bushes and cliffs; OTHER side of Elbe); and falls dead on the spot。 Buried in GOTTLEUBE Kirk; 1st May。〃
  In these Aussig affairs; especially in recapturing the Castle of Tetschen near by; Colonel Mayer; father of the new 〃Free…Corps;〃 did shining service;and was approved of; he and they。 And; a day or two after; was detached with a Fifteen Hundred of that kind; on more important business: First; to pick up one or two Bohemian Magazines lying handy; after which; to pay a visit to the Reich and its bluster about Execution…Army; and teach certain persons who it is they are thund