History of Friedrich II of Prussia, vol 18 | Page 8

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