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Updated: May 20, 2025
Friedrich, at Elsnig, found every hut full of wounded, and their surgeries, and miseries silent or loud. He himself took shelter in the little Church; passed the night there. Of the final Ziethen-Lestwitz effort he would scarcely hear the musketry or cannonade, being so far away from it. Reach him the news soon did; and surely none could be welcomer.
"The Austrians are broken up; and our battalions and theirs are so mixed that there is no saying where they are, or how matters will stand in the morning. The king has gone to Elsnig, two or three miles away." "Is there no news of Ziethen?" "None. They have just begun to fire heavily again in that direction, but what he has been doing all day, no one has any idea."
His last chance of success against his many opponents seemed lost: and he spent the night seated in the church at Elsnig, in such mood as may be imagined. During the night the flanking column at last arrived, fell on the enemy, and crushed them. Frederick outlived his last great war for twenty-three years, and died in 1786, in the seventy-fourth year of his age.
Head-quarters change from the altar-steps in Elsnig Church to secular rooms in Torgau. Ziethen has already sped forth on the skirts of Lacy; whole Army follows next day; and, on the War-theatre it is, on the sudden, a total change of scene. Conceivable to readers without the details. Hopes there were of getting back Dresden itself; but that, on closer view, proved unattemptable.
Night is now sinking on this murderous day: "Nothing more to be made of it; try it again to-morrow!" thinks the King; gives Hulsen charge of bivouacking and re-arranging these scattered people; and rides with escort northwestward to Elsnig, north of Neiden, well to rear of this bloody arena, in a mood of mind which may be figured as gloomy enough.
At nine o'clock a cavalry officer came riding along. He drew rein at the fire. "Can anyone tell me where I can find the king?" "He is at Elsnig, captain," Karl said, rising and saluting. "May I ask what is the news, sir?" "The news is good. Ziethen has gained the heights. We can see the flash of fire round the Siptitz hill." A cheer broke from all the Prussians within hearing.
He descended the hill, and took up his quarters in the church at the little village of Elsnig, where every house was full of wounded. He had left Hulsen the charge of endeavouring to reform the scattered troops, but he could do but little that way. In vain did the generals and officers move about with orders, expostulations, and threats.
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