D. The position of the Prussian advancedguard to oppose the enemy I. who press it closely. DE F. The battalion of Beverling forming into a square, to cover the pass of the Buschmühle. G. March of the Prussians to the forest of Segan. H. Cannonading of the Austrians. THE LIFE OF DE ZIETEN THE interminable war which threatened the Prussian empire with devastation and ruin, and in which, notwithstanding the apparent doubtfulness of its issue, Frederick was inevitably involved, began in the month of August, 1756; a short time after his reconciliation with Zieten. The enemies of Prussia, having entered into secret alliances, had already meditated its destruction. The recovery of Silesia, in favour II. of the house of Austria, was not the sole object of the league; their aim was to palsy a political body which the creative genius of its sovereign had indued with such energy as to excite perpetual jealousy and alarm. Frederick endeavoured to elude the danger with which he was menaced by striking the first blow. He collected an army, and before the powers of Europe were at all aware of his intentions, he entered Saxony; occupied the city of Dresden, and blocked up the camp of Pirna; he then marched with a body of choice troops into Bohemia; beat marshal Brown at Lowositz; made a whole army prisoners of war; * and finally established his winter-quarters in Saxony. While these events were succeeding each other with astonishing rapidity, the Prussian generals, engaged in the blockade of Pirna, had recourse to such measures as were necessary for * At Pirna, the 14th of October. |