Schmettau was very quiet, still studious of War matters;[See Leben (by his Son, "Captain Schmettau;"a modest intelligent Book), pp. 440-447.] "sent the King" once,--in 1772, while Polish Prussia, and How it could be fortified, were the interesting subject,--"a JOURNAL," which he had elaborated for himself, "OF THE MARCHES OF KARL TWELFTH IN WEST PREUSSEN;" which was well received: "Apparently the King not angry with me farther?"thought Schmettau. A completely retired old man; studious, social, --the best men of the Army still his friends and familiars:--nor, in his own mind, any mutiny against his Chief; this also has its beauty in a human life, my friend. So long as Madam Schmettau lived, it was well; after her death, not well, dark rather, and growing darker: and in about three years Schmettau followed (27th October, 1775), whither that good soul had gone. The elder Brother --who was a distinguished Academician, as well as Feldmarschall and Negotiator--had died at Berlin, in Voltaire's time, 1751. Each of those Schmettaus had a Son, in the Prussian Army, who wrote Books, or each a short Book, still worth reading. [ Bavarian War of 1778, by the Feldmarschall's Son; ad this
Leben we have just been citing, by the Lieutenant-General's.] But we must return.
On the very morrow, September 5th, Daun heard of the glorious success at Dresden; had not expected it till about the 10th at soonest. From Triebel he sends the news at gallop to Lieberose and Soltikof: "Rejoice with us, Excellenz: did not I predict it?
Silesia and Saxony both are ours; fruits chiefly of your noble successes. Oh, continue them a very little!" "Umph!" answers Soltikof, not with much enthusiasm: "Send us meal steadily;and gain you, Excellenz's self, some noble success!" Friedrich did not hear of it for almost a week later; not till Monday, 10th,--as a certain small Anecdote would of itself indicate.
Sunday Evening, 9th September, General Finck, with his new 6,000, hastening on to join Wunsch for relief of Dresden, had got to Grossenhayn; and was putting up his tents, when the Outposts brought him in an Austrian Officer, who had come with a Trumpeter inquiring for the General. The Austrian Officer "is in quest of proper lodgings for General Schmettau and Garrison [fancy Finck's sudden stare!];--last night they lodged at Gross-Dobritz, tolerably to their mind: but the question for the Escort is, Where to lodge this night, if your Excellency could advise me?" "Herr, I will advise you to go back to Gross-Dobritz on the instant," answers Finck grimly; "I shall be obliged to make you and your Trumpet prisoners, otherwise!" Exit Austrian Officer. That same evening, too, Captain Kollas, carrying Schmettau's sad news to the King, calls on Finck in passing; gives dismal details of the Capitulation and the Austrian way of keeping it; filling Finck's mind with sorrowful indignation. [Tempelhof, iii. 237.]
Finck--let us add here, though in date it belongs a little elsewhere--pushes on, not the less, to join Wunsch at Torgau;joins Wunsch, straightway recaptures Leipzig, garrison prisoners (September 13th): recaptures all those northwestern garrisons,--multitudinous Reichsfolk trying, once, to fight him, in an amazingly loud, but otherwise helpless way ("ACTION OF KORBITZ"they call it); cannonading far and wide all day, and manoeuvring about, here bitten in upon, there trying to bite, over many leagues of Country; principally under Haddick's leading; [HOFBERICHT VONDER AM 21 SEPTEMBER BEY KORBITZ (in Meissen Country, south of Elbe;Krogis too is a Village in this wide-spread "Action") VORGEFALLENENACTION (Seyfarth, Beylagen, ii. 621-630).
Tempelhof, iii. 248, 258.] who saw good to draw off Dresden-ward next day, and leave Finck master in those regions. To Daun's sad astonishment,--in a moment of crisis,--as we shall hear farther on!
So that Saxony is not yet conquered to Daun; Saxony, no, nor indeed will be:--but Dresden is. Friedrich never could recover Dresden;though he hoped, and at intervals tried hard, for a long while to come.
Chapter VI.
PRINCE HENRI MAKES A MARCH OF FIFTY HOURS;THE RUSSIANS CANNOT FIND LODGING IN SILESIA.
