登陆注册
4699200000999

第999章

The Swedish Detachment had not marched many miles, when,--after or before some flourishes of martial trumpeting,--there verily fell on the Swedish flank, out of a clump of dark wood, five shots, and wounded one man. To the astonishment and panic of the other two hundred and ninety-nine; who made instant retreat, under new shots and trumpet-tones, as if it were from five whole hussar regiments;retreat double-quick, to Prentzlow; alarm waxing by the speed;alarm spreading at Prentzlow itself: so that the whole Division got to its feet, recrossed the Peene; and Uckermark had nothing more to pay, for that bout! This is not a fable, such as go in the Newspapers," adds my Authority, "but an accurate fact:" [

Helden-Geschichte, iv. 764, 807; Archenholtz, i.

160.]--probably, in our day, the alone memorable one of that "Swedish War.""The French," says another of my Notes, "who did the subsidying all round (who paid even the Russian Subsidy, though in Austria's name), had always an idea that the Swedes--22,000 stout men, this year, 4,000 of them cavalry--might be made to co-operate with the Russians; with them or with somebody; and do something effective in the way of destroying Friedrich. And besides their subsidies and bribings, the French took incredible pains with this view;incessantly contriving, correspondencing, and running to and fro between the parties: [For example: M. le Marquis de Montalembert, CORRESPONDANCE AVEC &c., ETANT EMPLOYE PAR LE ROI DE FRANCE AL'ARMEE SUEDOISE, 1757-1761 ("with the Swedish Army," yes, and sometimes with the Russian,--and sometimes on the French Coasts, ardently fortifying against Pitt and his Descents there:--a very intelligent, industrious, observant man; still amusing to read, if one were idler), A LONDRES (evidently Paris), 1777, 3 vols. small 8vo. Then, likewise very intelligent, there is a Montazet, a Mortaigne, a Caulaiucourt; a CAMPAGNE DES RUSSES EN 1757; &c. &c., --in short, a great deal of fine faculty employed there in spinning ropes from sand.] but had not, even from the Russians and Czarish Majesty, much of a result, and from the Swedes had absolutely none at all. By French industry and flagitation, the Swedish Army was generally kept up to about 20,000: the soldiers were expert with their fighting-tools, knew their field-exercise well; had fine artillery, and were stout hardy fellows: but the guidance of them was wonderful. 'They had no field-commissariat,' says one Observer, 'no field-bakery, no magazines, no pontoons, no light troops; and,'

among the Higher Officers, 'no subordination.' [Archenholtz, i.

158.] Were, in short, commanded by nobody in particular. Commanded by Senator Committee-men in Stockholm; and, on the field, by Generals anxious to avoid responsibility; who, instead of acting, held continual Councils of War. The history of their Campaigns, year after year, is, in summary, this:--"Late in the season (always late, War-Offices at home, and Captaincies here, being in such a state), they emerged from Stralsund, an impregnable place of their own,--where the men, Iobserve, have had to live on dried fishy substances, instead of natural boiled oatmeal; [Montalembert, i. 32-37, 335. 394, &c.

(that of the demand for Neise PORRIDGE, which interested me, Icannot find again).] and have died extensively in consequence:--they march from Stralsund, a forty or thirty miles, till they reach the Swedish-Pommern boundary, Peene River; a muddy sullen stream, flowing through quagmire meadows, which are miles broad, on each shore. River unfordable everywhere; only to be crossed in four or five places, where paved causeways are. The Swedes, with deliberation, cross Peene; after some time, capture the bits of Redoubts, and the one or two poor Prussian Towns upon it;Anklam Redoubt, PEENE-MUNDE (Peene-mouth) Redoubt; and rove forward into Prussian Pommern, or over into the Uckermark, for fifty, for a hundred miles; exacting contributions; foraging what they can;making the poor country-people very miserable, and themselves not happy,--their soldiers 'growing yearly more plunderous,' says Archenholtz, 'till at length they got, though much shyer of murder, to resemble Cossacks,' in regard to other pleas of the crown.

"There is generally some fractional regiment or two of Prussian force, left under some select General Manteuffel, Colonel Belling;who hangs diligently on the skirts of them, exploding by all opportunities. There have been Country Militias voluntarily got on foot, for the occasion; five or six small regiments of them;officered by Prussian Veterans of the Squirearchy in those parts;who do excellent service. The Governor of Stettin, Bevern, our old Silesian friend, strikes out now and then, always vigilant, prompt and effective, on a chance offering. This, through Summer, is what opposition can be made: and the Swedes, without magazines, scout-service, or the like military appliances, but willing enough to fight [when they can see], and living on their shifts, will rove inward, perhaps 100 miles; say southwestward, say southeastward [towards Ruppin, which we used to know],--they love to keep Mecklenburg usually on their flank, which is a friendly Country.

Small fights befall them, usually beatings; never anything considerable. That is their success through Summer.

"Then, in Autumn, some remnant more of Prussian regulars arrive, disposable now for that service; upon which the Swedes are driven over Peene again (quite sure to be driven, when the River with its quagmires freezes); lose Anklam Redoubt, Peene-munde Redoubt;lose Demmin, Wollin; are followed into Swedish Pommern, oftenest to the gates of Stralsund, and are locked up there, there and in Rugen adjoining, till a new season arrive."--This year (1757-1758), Lehwald, on turning the key of Stralsund, might have done a fine feat; frost having come suddenly, and welded Rugen to mainland.

同类推荐
  • 才调集

    才调集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 素问要旨论

    素问要旨论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 瀛涯胜览集

    瀛涯胜览集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • I and My Chimney

    I and My Chimney

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 闽中理学渊源考

    闽中理学渊源考

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 流亡公主要篡位

    流亡公主要篡位

    夷桐国宣华年间,皇帝崩,宫廷大乱,国家一分为二,皇室后裔三皇子北宫瑛据守南方建扶摇国,前朝将军南荣韶环占领北方建楠康国,两国交战,天下混乱,盗匪四起,疾病蔓延,在那动荡的年间,一位名为郑梓柔的奇女子飘荡于乱世,所到之处深受百姓爱戴,芳名流于乱世。她是一夕之间亡国的蛮横公主,改头换面决意走上复国之路,却遇上了不喜王位的敌国之王,两人赏美景,共游玩,逛青楼,戏美男,不知谁是真情谁是假意,她惦记着他的王位,他顾虑着她的梦想…流落公主,逃跑君王,将门之女,书香之弟,权倾朝野的温润丞相,痴傻俏丽的落难王子,各种机遇,不同的相遇,交织着悲欢离合。各自心思玲珑,却难诉衷肠,到底是众人皆醉唯己独醒,还是身在棋局旁观者清?不虐不腻,互相扶持!各自成长,喜怒哀乐,平淡中生出迷茫,愁绪中诞生治愈。
  • 离婚硝烟

    离婚硝烟

    婚姻是什么?婚姻是一面镜子,照清楚在里面的两个人。有人想逃,而有人则拼命挽留。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 这是个游戏世界

    这是个游戏世界

    某一天,林凡觉醒了前世的记忆,发现自己穿越到了一个以游戏为主导的神奇世界。…… 新书《炼器祖师讨厌女人》已经上传,请多多支持
  • 儿子带你去追你爸

    儿子带你去追你爸

    我不关你喜欢谁,你把我当成谁,只要你愿意和我在一起,就够了。
  • 一念仙成

    一念仙成

    作为天下第一高手,地乙一点也不想飞升成仙,在凡间呼风唤雨的,去仙界当个小底层有意思吗?费劲周折,终于掌握了赖着不飞升的方法,但义之所在,决然飞升,在仙界也要活出不一样的精彩!
  • 不败武帝

    不败武帝

    一千万年前,万界至尊天帝镇压一代武帝于九重天界之下,一千万年后,一名少年从遗弃之地走出,剑指苍穹,势要推翻天道!
  • 夙夜谣

    夙夜谣

    天启大战三百年后,甲子大雪中止的第一天,昆仑雪域毫无征兆的封了山。这一年,普通又特殊。在昆仑虚上下的缄默中,没有一位修炼有成的神族、地仙得以飞升天界。许多年后,昆仑弟子间仍有传言:那一日,泽氏族长之女、天英门弟子夜瑶,葬身所饲灵兽之口。仅此而已。——暗夜无边,谁能执手同行?——推荐一下自己的完本书:《夜坠星河》,悬疑权谋故事,欢迎同行~
  • 无门慧开禅师语录

    无门慧开禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 重生之法神是女王

    重生之法神是女王

    【新书《围观神仙女友的日常》已发,求收藏】她本红装,却偏偏一身男装,一战成名,她成为晨域区除了容瑾白之外最令人敬仰的第一法师。魔族来袭,容落临危受命,率领魔法兵团前往魔族进攻之地,临走前,有人问他,最想做的是什么事情。容落一身干练的军装,双手负背,声音冰冷,“第一,覆灭魔族,第二,找到他。”稳定每日两千(除去特殊情况),偶尔加更。
  • 我本英雄

    我本英雄

    本书讲述为摘掉欠发达的帽子,文山市委书记石亚南和市长方正刚一味追求GDP,为七百万吨钢铁的上马呕心沥血,却酿发了一场重大经济灾难。他们大搞地方保护主义,按官场潜规则办事,不惜违规违纪,最终造成该市最大的企业家吴亚洲自杀谢罪,一百六十多亿扔进了水里。石亚南、方正刚痛定思痛,千方百计挽狂澜于既倒,但仍没改变被查处、被撤职的命运。小说真实生动地表现了石亚南、方正刚这些决策政治家们在改革过程中形成的“历史原罪”,和在新的历史条件下所面临的困境。