history of friedrich ii of prussia v 19-第14部分
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〃A strenuous thing; this of Wolfe's; though an unsuccessful。 Towards evening; the end of it; all Quebec assembled on the southern ramparts; witnessing with intense interest; the sublime Falls of Montmorenci gushing on; totally indifferent。 For about a month past; General Wolfe; with the proper equipments; and about 10;000 men; naval and military; who was expressly selected by Pitt to besiege Quebec; and is dying to succeed; has been trying every scheme to get into contact with it:to no purpose; so lofty; chasmy; rocky is the ground; cut by mountainous precipices and torrent streams; branches of the grand St。 Lawrence River; so skilfully taken advantage of by Montcalm and his people; who are at home here; and in regulars nearly equal Wolfe; not to speak of Savages and Canadians; Wolfe's plan of the 31st was not ill laid; and the execution has been zealous; seamen and landsmen alike of willing mind;but it met with accidents。 Accidents in boating; then a still worse accident on landing; the regiment of grenadiers; which crossed below the Falls; having; so soon as landed; rushed off on the redoubt there on their own score; without waiting for the two brigades that were to cross and co…operate ABOVE the Falls! Which cut Wolfe to the heart; and induced him; especially as the tide was making again; to give up the enterprise altogether; and recall everybody; while it was yet time。 ' Gentleman's Magazine for 1759; pp。 470…473; Thackeray; i。 488。' Wolfe is strict in discipline; loves the willing mind; none more; and can kindle it among those about him; but he loves discipline withal; and knows how fatal the too willing may be。 For six weeks more there is toil on the back of toil everywhere for poor Wolfe。 He falls into fevers; into miseries; almost into broken heart; nothing sure to him but that of doing his own poor utmost to the very death。 After six weeks; we shall perhaps hear of him again。 Gliding swiftly towards death; but also towards victory and the goal of all his wishes。〃
And now; after this flight half round the world; it is time we return to Oder Country; and a Friedrich on the edge of formidable things there。 Next day after Beeskow; where we left him; he duly arrived at Mullrose; was joined by Wedell there; August 6th; and is now at Wulkow;〃encamped between Lebus and Wulkow;〃 as we hear elsewhere;quite in the environs of Frankfurt and of great events。
FRIEDRICH TO GRAF VON FINKENSTEIN (Second Note)。
WULKOW; 8th August; 1759。
〃If you hear of firing to…morrow; don't be surprised; it is our rejoicing for the Battle of Minden。 I believe I shall have to keep you in suspense some days yet。 I have many arrangements to make; I find great difficulties to surmount;and it is required to save our Country; not to lose it: I ought both to be more prudent and more enterprising than ever。 In a word; I will do and undertake whatever I find feasible and possible。 With all that; I see myself in the necessity of making haste; to check the designs Haddick may have on Berlin。 Adieu; MON CHER。 In a little; you will have either a DE PROFUNDIS or a TE DEUM。F。〃 ' OEuvres de Frederic; xxv。 305; 306。'
Chapter IV。
BATTLE OF KUNERSDORF。
Sunday; July 29th; at Frankfurt…on…Oder divine worship was broken in upon; and the poor City thrown into consternation; by actual advent; or as good as advent; of the Russians: 〃On the Crossen road; close by; coming; come!〃 And they did undeniably appear; next morning; in force; on the opposite; eastern or Kunersdorf side of the River; on the top of the Oder…Dam there; and demanded instant admission; under penalty of general death by fire。
Within the Town stood Major Arnim; a Veteran of those parts; with 400 militia; these; with their muskets and with two cannon; are the only defence of Frankfurt; The Town has Gates; but its walls; I doubt; are mainly garden…walls and house…walls。 On the eastern side; the River; especially if you have cannon on the Bridge; gives it somethiug of protection; but on the western and all other sides; it is overhung by heights。 This Frankfurt; like its bigger Namesake on the Mayn; is known as a busy trading place; its Fairs much frequented in those Eastern parts; and is believed by the Russians to be far richer than it is。 The reader; as there happens to be ocular testimony extant; 'Johann Zudwig Kriele; SCHLACHT BEI KUNERSDORF; MIT &C。 (Berlin; 1801)。 Kriele was subsequent Pastor in the Parish; an excellent intelligent man: has compiled in brief form; with an elaborate Chart too; a clear account of everything; in the Battle and before and after it。' may like to see a little how they behaved there。
〃Arnim; taking survey of the Russian Party; values it; or what he can see of it; at 1;000 'they really were 6;000'; keeps his Drawbridge up; and answers stoutly enough; 'No。' Upon which; from the Oder…Dam; there flies off one fiery grenado; one and no more; which alighted in the house of 'Mrs。 Thielicke; a Baker's Widow; who was standing at the door;'killed poor Mrs。 Thielicke; blew the house considerably to wreck; but did not set fire to it。 Amim; all the Magistrates entreating him for the love of Heaven to leave them; is secretly shoving off his two cannon to the Northern Gate; and in fact is making his packages with full speed: 'Push for Custrin;' thinks Arnim; and save selves and cannon; since no good is to be done here!'
〃It was about 11 A。M。 when the Thielicke grenado fell: obstinate Arnim would by no means go; only packed all the faster。 A second summons came: still; No。 For the third and last time the Russians then summon: 'Grenadoes; a hundred more of them lie ready; unless!' 'We will; we will; O merciful servant of Czarish Majesty!' passionately signify the Magistrates。 But Arnim is still negative; still keeps the Bridge up。 One of the hundred does go; by way of foretaste: this lighted 'near the Ober Kirche; in the chimney of the Town Musikus;' brought the chimney crashing down on him 'fancy a man with some fineness of ear'; tore the house a good deal to pieces; but again did not set it on fire。 'Your obstinate Town can be bombarded; then;cannot it?' observed the Russian Messenger。'Give us Free Withdrawal!' proposes Amim。 'No; you to be Prisoners of War; Town at Czarish Majesty's discretion。' 'Never;' answers Arnim (to the outward ear)。'Go; oh; for the love of Heaven; go!' cry all Official people。
〃Arnim; deaf to clamor; but steadily diligent in getting ready; does at last go; through the Lebus Suburb; quick march; steady; yet at his best step;taking the Town…keys in his pocket; and leaving the Drawbridge up。 One is sorry for poor Arnim and his 400 Militia; whose conduct was perfect; under difficulties and alarms; but proved unsuccessful。 The terrified Magistrates; finding their Keys gone; and the conflagrative Russians at their gates; got blacksmiths on the instant; smote down; by chisel and mallet; the locked Drawbridge; smote open the Gates: 'Enter; O gracious Sirs; and may Czarish Majesty have mercy on us!' So that Arnim had small start for marchers on foot; and was overtaken about half…way。 Would not yield still; though the odds were overwhelming; drew himself out on the best ground discoverable; made hot resistance; hot and skilful; but in vain。 About six in the evening; Arnim and Party were brought back; Prisoners; to Frankfurt again; self; surviving men; cannons and all (self in a wounded state); and 'were locked in various Brew…houses;' little of careful surgery; I should fear。 Poor Arnim; man could do no more; and he has been unfortunate。〃
It is by no means our intention to describe the Iliad of miseries; the agitations; terrors and disquietudes; the tribulation and utter harrowing to despair; which poor Frankfurt underwent; incessantly from that day forward; for about five weeks to come。 〃The furnishings of victual 'Russian stock quite out' were to an inconceivable amount; surrender of arms; of linens; cloths; of everything useful to a hungry Army; above all things; of horses; so that at last there were but four horses left in all Frankfurt; and〃But we must not go into details。
〃On the second day; besides all this;〃 what will be significant of it all; 〃there was exacted 'ransom of 600;000 thalers (90;000 pounds); or you shall be delivered to the Cossacks!' Frankfurt has not above 12;000 inhabitants within its bounds; here is a sudden poll…tax of 7 pounds 10s。 per head。 Frankfurt has not such a sum; the most rigorous collection did not yield above the tenth part of it。 And more than once those sanguinary vagabonds were openly drawn out; pitch…link in hand: 'The 90;000 pounds or!' Civic Presidency Office in Frankfurt was not a bed of roses。 The poor Magistrates rushed distractedly about; wrung out moneys to the last drop; moneys; and in the end plate from those that had it; went in tearful deputation to General Soltikof;a severe proud kind of man; capable perhaps of being flattered;who usually locked them up instead。 Magistrates were locked in Russian ward; at one time; for almost a week; sat in the blazing sun; if you try for the shade of a tree; the sentry handles arms upon you;and were like to die。 To me; Kriele; it is a miracle how the most of us lived; nay we never really wanted food; so kind was Providence; so generous our poor neighbors out of all the Towns round。 The utmost of money that could be raised was 6;000 pounds; nothing but some little of plate; and our Bill for the remainder。 Soltikof; a high kind of gentleman; saw at last how it stood; let the Magistrates out of ward; sent back the plate'Nothing of that!'nay; Czarish Majesty was herself generous; and FORGAVE the Bill; on our petition; next Year。 Cossacks; indeed; were a plunderous wild crew; but the Russians kept them mostly without the gates。 The regular Russians were civil and orderly; officers and men;greatly beyond the Austrians in behavior。〃 'Kriele; Schlacht bei Kunersdorf; pp。 1…15 (in compressed state)。' By these few traits conceive Frankfurt: this; now forgotten in most books; is a background on which things were transacted still memorable to everybody。
〃Friday; August 3d; General Loudon came to hand: arrived early; in the Guben (or Western) Suburb; his 18;000 and he。 In high spirits naturally; and somewha