History of Friedrich II of Prussia, vol 20 | Page 9

or
unconscious fellow-witness with him,-- agreeing beautifully almost
always.]
On ascertaining the Landshut disaster, Friedrich falls back a little;
northward to Gross-Dobritz: "Possibly Daun will think us cowed by
what has happened; and may try something on us?" Daun is by no
means sure of this COWED phenomenon, or of the retreat it has made;
and tries nothing on it; only rides up daily to it, to ascertain that it is
there; and diligently sends out parties to watch the Northeastward parts,
where run the Silesian Roads. After about a week of this, and some
disappointments, Friedrich decides to march in earnest. There had, one
day, come report of Lacy's being detached, Lacy with a strong Division,
to block the Silesian roads; but that, on trial, proved to be false. "Pshaw,
nothing for us but to go ourselves!" concludes Friedrich,-- and, JULY
1st, sends off his Bakery and Heavy Baggage; indicating to Mitchell,
"To-morrow morning at 3!"--Here is Mitchell's own account; accurate

in every particular, as we find: [Mitchell, ii. 164; Tempelhof, iv. 54.]
WEDNESDAY, JULY 2d. "From Gross-Dobritz to Quosdorf [to
Quosdorf, a poor Hamlet there, not QuoLsdorf, as many write, which is
a Town far enough from there]--the Army marched accordingly. In two
columns; baggage, bakery and artillery in a third; through a country
extremely covered with wood. Were attacked by some Uhlans and
Hussars; whom a few cannon-shot sent to the road again. March lasted
from 3 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon;" twelve long hours. "Went
northeastward a space of 20 miles, leaving Radeburg, much more
leaving Reichenberg, Moritzburg and the Daun quarters well to the
right, and at last quite to rearward; crossed the Roder, crossed the
Pulsnitz," small tributaries or sub- tributaries of the Elbe in those parts;
"crossed the latter (which divides Meissen from the Lausitz) partly by
the Bridge of Krakau, first Village in the Lausitz. Head-quarter was the
poor Hamlet of Quosdorf, a mile farther on. 'This march had been
carefully kept secret,' says Mitchell; 'and it was the opinion of the most
experienced Officers, that, had the Enemy discovered the King of
Prussia's design, they might, by placing their light troops in the roads
with proper supports, have rendered it extremely difficult, if not
impracticable.'"
Daun very early got to know of Friedrich's departure, and whitherward;
which was extremely interesting to Daun: "Aims to be in Silesia before
me; will cut out Loudon from his fine prospects on Glatz?"--and had
instantly reinforced, perhaps to 20,000, Lacy's Division; and ordered
Lacy, who is the nearest to Friedrich's March, to start instantly on the
skirts of said March, and endeavor diligently to trample on the same.
For the purpose of harassing said March, Lacy is to do whatever he
with safety can (which we see is not much: "a few Uhlans and
Hussars"); at lowest, is to keep it constantly in sight; and always
encamp as near it as he dare; [Tempelhof, iv. 54.]--Daun himself
girding up his loins; and preparing, by a short-cut, to get ahead of it in a
day or two. Lacy was alert enough, but could not do much with safety:
a few Uhlans and Hussars, that was all; and he is now encamped
somewhere to rearward, as near as he dare.

THURSDAY, 3d JULY. "A rest-day; Army resting about Krakau, after
such a spell through the woody moors. The King, with small escort,
rides out reconnoitring, hither, thither, on the southern side or Lacy
quarter: to the top of the Keulenberg (BLUDGEON HILL), at
last,--which is ten or a dozen miles from Krakau and Quosdorf, but
commands an extensive view. Towns, village-belfries, courses of
streams; a country of mossy woods and wild agricultures, of bogs, of
shaggy moor. Southward 10 miles is Radeberg [not RadebUrg,
observe]; yonder is the town of Pulsnitz on our stream of Pulsnitz; to
southeast, and twice as far, is Bischofswerda, chasmy Stolpen (too well
known to us before this): behind us, Konigsbruck, Kamenz and the
road from Grossenhayn to Bautzen: these and many other places
memorable to this King are discoverable from Bludgeon Hill. But the
discovery of discoveries to him is Lacy's Camp,--not very far off, about
a mile behind Pulsnitz; clearly visible, at Lichtenberg yonder. Which
we at once determine to attack; which, and the roads to which, are the
one object of interest just now, --nothing else visible, as it were, on the
top of the Keulenberg here, or as we ride homeward, meditating it with
a practical view. 'March at midnight,' that is the practical result arrived
at, on reaching home."
FRIDAY, JULY 4th. "Since the stroke of midnight we are all on march
again; nothing but the baggages and bakeries left [with Quintus to
watch them, which I see is his common function in these marches];
King