第23章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"The Life and Adventures of Baron Trenck",免费读到尾

  Ifanyoneofhisofficershadmadearichcapture,Trenckinstantlybecamehisenemy。Hewassentoneverydangerousexpeditiontillhefell,andthecolonelbecamehisuniversalheir,forTrenckappropriatedallhecouldtohimself。Hewasreputedtobeamanmostexpertinmilitaryscience,anexcellentengineer,andtopossessanexacteyeinestimatingheightsanddistances。Inallenterpriseshewasfirst;inuredtofatigue,hisironbodycouldsupportitwithoutinconvenience。Nothingescapedhisvigilance,allwasturnedtoaccount,andwhatvalourcouldnotaccomplish,cunningsupplied。Hispridesufferedhimnottoincuranobligation,andthushewasunthankful;hisactionsallcentredinself,andashewasremarkablyfortunateinwhateverheundertook,heascribedeventhat,whichaccidentgave,toforesightandgenius。

  Yetwasheever,asanofficer,amostusefulandinestimablemantothestate。Hisrespectforhissovereign,andhiszealinherservice,wereunbounded;wheneverherglorywasatstake,hedevotedhimselfhervictim。ThisIasserttobetruth:Iknewhimwell。

  Oflittleconsequenceisittome,whetherthehistoriansofMariaTheresahave,orhavenot,misrepresentedhistalentsandthefamehedeserved。

  ThelifeofTrenckIwriteforthefollowingreasons。Hehadthehonourfirsttoform,andcommand,regulartroops,raisedinSclavonia。Thesoldiersacquiredgloryundertheirleader,andsustainedthetotteringpowerofAustria:theymadelibationsoftheirbloodinitsdefence,asdidTrenck,invariousbattles。Heservedlikeabravewarrior,withzeal,loyalty,andeffect。ThevilepersecutionsofhisenemiesatVienna,withwhomherefusedtosharetheplunderhehadmade,losthimhonour,liberty,andnotonlythepersonalpropertyhehadacquired,butlikewisethefamilypatrimonyinHungary。Hediedlikeamalefactor,illegallysentencedtoimprisonment;andknaveshaveaffirmed,andfoolshavebelieved,andbelievestill,hetooktheKingofPrussiaprisoner,andthathegrantedhimfreedominconsequenceofabribe。SohavetheloyalHungariansbeenledtosupposethatanHungarianhadreallybeenatraitor。

  Bymywritings,Iwishtoprovetothisnoblenationonthecontrary,thatTrenck,forhisloyaltydeservedcompassion,esteem,andhonourinhiscountry。ThisIhavealreadydoneintheformerpartofmyhistory。ThedeadTrenckcanspeaknomore;butitisthedutyofthelivingevertospeakindefenceofright。

  TrenckwrotehisownhistorywhilehewasconfinedinthearsenalatVienna;and,inthelasttwosheetsheopenlyrelatedthemannerinwhichhehadbeentreatedbythecouncilofwar,ofwhichCountLoewenwalde,hisgreatestenemy,waspresident。Thecount,however,foundsupporterstoopowerful,andthesesheetsweretornfromthebookandpubliclyburntatVienna。Defenceafterthisbecameimpossible:hegroanedunderthegripofhisadversaries。

  Ihavegivenaliteralcopyofthesesheetsinthefirstpartofthishistory;andIagainrepeatIamabletoprovethetruthofwhatisthereasserted,bytheacts,proceedings,andjudicialregisterswhichareinmypossession。HewasconfinedintheSpielberg,becausemuchwastobedreadedfromaninjuredman,whomtheyknewcapableofthemostdesperateenterprises。Hedieddefenceless,thesacrificeofiniquityandunjustjudges。Hedied,andhishonourremainedunprotected。Iambydutyhisdefender:

  althoughheexpiredmypersonalenemy,theauthorofnearlyalltheillsIhavesuffered。IcametotheknowledgeofhispersecutorstoolatefortheunfortunateTrenck。Andwhoarethosewhohavedividedhisspoils——whoslewhimthattheymightfattenthemselves?

  YourtitleshavebeenpaidforfromthecoffersofTrenck!Yetneithercanyourcabals,yourwealthyprotectors,yourownriches,noryourcreditatcourt,deprivemeoftherightofvindicatinghisfame。

  Ihaveboldlywritten,haveopenlyshown,thatTrenckwaspillagedbyyou;thatheservedthehouseofAustriaasaworthyman,withzeal;notincourt—martialsandcommitteesofinquiry,butfightingforhiscountry,sharingthesoldier’sglory,fallingthevictimofenvyandpower;fallingbythehandsofthosewhoareunworthyofjudgingmerit。HetaketheKingofPrussia!TheymightaswellsayhetooktheEmperorofMorocco。

  Yes,heisdead。ButshouldanymandareaffirmthattheHungarianorthePrussianTrenckwerecapableoftreason,thateitherofthemmeritedpunishmentforhavingbetrayedtheircountry,hewillnothavelongtoseekbeforehewillbeinformedthathehasdoneusbothinjustice。Afterthispreface,IshallcontinuemynarrativeontheplanIproposed。Trenck,thefather,wasamiser,yetawell—meaningman。Trencktheson,wasayouthfulsoldier,whostoodinneedofmoneytoindulgehispleasures。Manycuriouspranksheplayed,whenanensigninIknownotwhatregimentoffoot。Hewenttooneofthecollectorsofhisfather’srents,anddemandedmoney;

  thecollectorrefusedtogivehimany,andTrenckclovehisskullwithhissabre。Aprosecutionwasenteredagainsthim,but,warbreakingoutin1756,betweentheRussiansandtheTurks,heraisedasquadronofhussars,andwentwithitintotheRussianservice,contrarytothewillofhisfather。

  Inthiswarhedistinguishedhimselfhighly,andacquiredtheprotectionofField—marshalMunich。HewassosuccessfulasaleaderagainsttheTartars,thathebecameveryfamousinthearmy,andattheendofthecampaign,wasappointedmajor。

  IthappenedthatflyingpartiesofTurksapproachedhisregimentwhenonmarch,andTrenckseeingafavourablemomentforattackingthem,wenttoColonelRumin,desiringtheregimentmightbeledtothecharge,andthattheymightprofitbysofairanopportunity。

  Thecolonelanswered,\"Ihavenosuchorders。\"TrenckthendemandedpermissiontochargetheTurksonlywithhisownsquadron;butthiswasrefused。Hebecamefurious,forhehadneverbeenacquaintedwithcontradictionorsubordination,andcriedaloudtothesoldiers,\"Iftherebeonebravemanamongyou,lethimfollowme。\"

  Abouttwohundredsteppedfromtheranks;heputhimselfattheirhead,routedtheenemy,madeahorriblecarnage,andreturnedintoxicatedwithjoy,accompaniedbyprisoners,andloadedwithdisseveredheads。Oncemorearrivedinpresenceoftheregiment,heattackedthecolonel,treatedhimliketherankestcoward,calledhimopprobriousnames,withouttheotherdaringtomaketheleastresistance。Theadventure,however,becameknown;Trenckwasarrested,andorderedtobetried。Hisjudgescondemnedhimtobeshot,andthedaywasappointed,buttheeveningbeforeexecution,Field—marshalMunichpassednearthetentinwhichhewasconfined,Trencksawhim,cameforward,andsaid,\"CertainlyyourexcellencywillnotsufferaforeigncavaliertodieanignominiousdeathbecausehehaschastisedacowardlyRussian!IfImustdie,atleastgivemepermissiontosaddlemyhorse,andwithmysabreinmyhand,letmefallsurroundedbytheenemy。\"

  TheTartarshappenedtobeatthistimeharassingtheadvancedposts;theField—marshalshruggedhisshoulders,andwassilent。

  Trenck,notdiscouraged,added,\"Iwillundertaketobringyourexcellencythreeheadsorlosemyown。Willyou,ifIdo,bepleasedtograntmemypardon?\"TheField—marshalreplied,\"Yes。\"

  ThehorseofTrenckwasbrought:hegallopedtotheenemy,andreturnedwithinfourheadsknottedtothehorse’smane,himselfonlyslightlywoundedintheshoulder。Munichimmediatelyappointedhimmajorinanotherregiment。Variousandalmostincrediblewerehisfeats:amongothers,aTartarranhimthroughthebellywithhislance:Trenckgraspedtheprojectingendwithhishands,exertedhisprodigiousstrength,brokethelance,setspurstohishorse,andhappilyescaped。Ofthiswound,dreadfulasitwas,hewassooncured。Imyselfhaveseenthetwoscars,andcanaffirmthefact;I

  alsolearnedthis,andmanyothersin1746,fromofficerswhohadservedinthesamearmy。

  Duringthiscampaignhebehavedwithgreathonour,waswoundedbyanarrowintheleg,andgainedtheaffectionofField—marshalMunich,butexcitedtheenvyofalltheRussians。Towardstheconclusionofthewarhehadanewmisfortune;hisregimentwasincommodedonallsidesbytheenemy:heentreatedhiscolonel,forleavetoattackthem。ThecolonelwasoncemoreaRussian,andhewasrefused。

  Trenckgavehimablow,andcalledaloudtothesoldierstofollowhim。TheyhoweverbeingRussians,remainedmotionless,andhewasputunderarrest。Thecourt—martialsentencedhimtodeath,andallhopeofreprieveseemedover。Thegeneralwouldhavegrantedhispardon,butashewashimselfaforeigner,hewasfearfulofoffendingtheRussians。Thedayofexecutioncame,andhewasledtotheplaceofdeath,MunichsocontriveditthatField—marshalLowenthalshouldpassby,atthismoment,incompanywithinhislady。Trenckprofitedbytheopportunity,spokeboldly,andprevailed。Areprievewasrequested,andthesentencewaschangedintobanishmentandlabourinSiberia。

  Trenckprotestedagainstthissentence。TheField—marshalwrotetoPetersburg,andanordercamethatheshouldbebroken,andconductedoutoftheRussianterritories。Thisorderwasexecuted,andhereturnedintoHungarytohisfather。AtthisperiodheespousedthedaughterofField—marshalBaronTillier,oneofthefirstfamiliesinSwitzerland。Thetwobrothersofhiswifeeachbecamelieutenant—general,oneofwhomdiedhonourablyduringthesevenyears’war。Theotherwasmadecommander—generalinCroatia,whereheisstillliving,andisattheheadofaregimentofinfantrythatbearshisname。Trenckdidnotlivelongwithhislady。Shewaspregnant,andhetookhertohuntwithhiminamarsh:shereturnedill,anddiedwithoutleavinghimanheir。

  Havingnoopportunitytoindulgehiswarlikeinclination,becauseofthegeneralpeace,heconceivedtheprojectofextirpatingtheSclavonianbanditti。

  Trenck,toexecutethisenterprise,employedhisownpandours。Thecontestnowcommencedandactivityandcouragewerenecessarytoensuresuccessinsuchawar。Trenckseemedbornforthismurderoustrade。Dayandnighthechasedthemlikewildbeasts,killingnowone,thenanother,andwithoutdistinction,treatingthemwiththeutmostbarbarity。

  Twoincidentswillsufficientlypaintthecharacterofthisunaccountableman。HehadimpaledalivethefatherofaHarum—

  Bashaw。Oneeveninghewasgoingonpatrol,alongthebanksofabrook,whichseparatedtwoprovinces。Ontheoppositeshorewasthesonofthisimpaledfather,withhisCroats。Itwasmoonlight,andthelattercalledaloud——\"Iheardthyvoice,Trenck!Thouhastimpaledmyfather!Ifthouhastaheartinthybody,comehitheroverthebridge,Iwillsendawaymyfollowers;leavethyfirearms,comeonlywiththysabre,andwewillthenseewhoshallremainthevictor。\"Theagreementwasmade——andtheHarum—BashawsentawayhisCroats,andlaiddownhismusket。Trenckpassedthewoodenbridge,bothdrewtheirsabres;butTrencktreacherouslykilledhisadversarywithapistol,thathehadconcealed,afterwhichheseveredhisheadfromhisbody,tookitwithhim,andstuckituponapole。

  Oneday,whenhunting,heheardmusicinalonehousewhichbelongedtooneofhisvassals。Hewasthirsty,entered,andfoundtheguestsseatedattable。Hesatdownandatewithinthem,notknowingthiswasarendezvousforthebanditti。Ashewasseatedoppositethedoor,hesawtwoHarum—Bashawsenter。Hismusketstoodinacorner;hewasstruckwithterror,butoneofthemaddressedhimthus:—\"Neitherthee,northyvassals,Trenck,haveweeverinjured,yetthoudostpursueuswithcruelty。Eatthyfill。Whenthouhastsatisfiedthyhunger,wewillthen,sabreinthyhand,seewhohasmostjusticeonhisside,andwhetherthouartascourageousasmenspeakthee。\"

  Hereupontheysatdownandbegantoeatanddrinkandmakemerry。

  ThesituationofTrenckcouldnotbeverypleasant。Herecollectedthatbesidesthese,theremightbemoreoftheircompanions,without,readytofalluponhim;he,therefore,privatelydrewhispistols,heldthemunderthetablewhilehecockedthem,presentedeachhandtothebodyofaHarum—Bashaw,firedthembothatthesameinstant,oversetthetableontheguests,andescapedfromthehouse。Ashewenthehadtimetoseizeononeoftheirmuskets,whichwasstandingatthedoor。OneoftheCroatswasleftwelteringinhisblood;theotherdisengagedhimselffromthetable,andranafterTrenck,whosufferedhimtoapproach,killedhimwithinhisowngun,struckoffhisheadandbroughtithomeintriumph。Bythisactionthebandittiweredeprivedoftheirtwomostvalorouschiefs。

  Warbrokeoutaboutthistime,in1740,whenalltheHungarianstookuparmsindefenceoftheirbelovedqueen。Trenckofferedtoraiseafreecorpsofpandours,andrequestedanamnestyforthebandittiwhoshouldjoinhistroops。Hisrequestwasgranted,hepublishedtheamnesty,andbegantoraiserecruits;hethereforeenrolledhisownvassals,formedacorpsof500men,wentinsearchoftherobbers,drovethemintoastraitbetweentheSaveandSarsaws,wheretheycapitulated,and300ofthemenrolledthemselveswithhispandours。Mostofthesemenweresixfeetinheight,determined,andexperiencedsoldiers。Toindulgethemoncertainoccasionsintheirthirstofpillageweremeanswhichhesuccessfullyemployedtoleadthemwherehepleased,andtorenderthemvictorious。BymeansliketheseTrenckbecameatoncetheterroroftheenemiesofAustria,andrenderedsignalservicestohisEmpress。

  In1741,whilehewasexercisinghisregiment,acompanyfireduponTrenck,andkilledhishorse,andhisservantthatstoodbyhisside。Herantothecompany,countedone,two,three,andbeheadedthefourth。Hewascontinuingthis,whenaHarum—Bashawlefttheranks,drewhissword,andcalledaloud,\"ItisIwhofireduponthee,defendthyself。\"Thesoldiersstoodmotionlessspectators。

  Trenckattackedhimandhewedhimdown。Hewasproceedingtocontinuetheexecutionofthefourthman,butthewholeregimentpresentedtheirarms。Therevoltbecamegeneral,andTrenck,stillholdinghisdrawnsabre,ranamidstthem,hackingabouthimonallsides。Theexcessofhisragewasterrific;thesoldiersallcalled\"Hold!\"eachfellontheirknees,andpromisedobedience。Afterthisheaddressedtheminlanguagesuitabletotheircharacter,andfromthattimetheybecameinvinciblesoldierswhenevertheywereheadedbyhimself。LetthesituationofTrenckbeconsidered;hewasthechiefofabandofrobberswhosupposedtheywereauthorisedtotakewhatevertheypleasedinanenemy’scountry,abandittithathadsooftendefiedthegallows,andhadneverknownmilitarysubordination。Letsuchmenbeledtothefieldandopposedtoregulartroops。Thattheyareneveractuatedbyhonourisevident:

  theirleaderisobligedtoexcitetheiraviditybythehopeofplundertoengagetheminaction;foriftheyperceivenopersonaladvantage,theinterestofthesovereignisinsufficienttomakethemact。

  Trenckhadneedofaparticularspeciesofofficers。Theymustbedaring,yetcautious。Theyarepartisans,andmustbecapableofsupportingfatigue,desirousofdailyseekingtheenemy,andhazardingtheirlives。Ashewashimselfneverabsentatthetimeofaction,hesoonbecameacquaintedwiththosewhomhecalledoldwomen,andsentthemfromhisregiment。TheseofficersthenrepairedtoVienna,ventedtheircomplaints,andwereheard。Hisavaricepreventedhimfrommakinganydivisionofhisbootywiththosegentlemenwhoconstitutedthemilitarycourts,thusneglectingwhatwascustomaryatVienna:andinthisoriginatedtheprosecutiontowhichhefellavictim。ScarcelyhadheenteredAustriawithhistroopsbeforehefoundanopportunityofreapinglaurels。TheFrencharmywasdefeatedatLintz。Trenckpursuedthem,treatedhisprisonerswithbarbarity;and,nevergrantingquarterinbattle,theveryappearanceofhispandoursinspiredterror。

  Trenckwasagreatwarrior,andknewhowtoprofitbytheslightestadvantage。Fromthistimehebecamerenowned,gainedtheconfidenceofPrinceCharles,andtheesteemoftheField—marshalCountKevenhuller,whodiscoveredtheworthoftheman。NopartisanhadeverbeforeobtainedsomuchpowerasTrenck;heeverywherepursuedtheenemyasfarasBavaria,carryingfireandswordwhereverhewent。AsitwasknownTrenckgavenoquarter,theBavariansandtheFrenchflewatthesightofaredmantle。Pillageandmurderattendedthepandourswherevertheywent,andtheircolonelboughtupallthebootytheyacquired。Chamb,inparticular,wasasceneofadreadfulmassacre。Thecitywassetonfireandthepeopleperishedintheflames;womenandchildrenwhoendeavouredtofly,wereobligedtopassoverabridge,wheretheywerefirststripped,andafterwardsthrownintothewater。ThisactionwasoneoftheaccusationsbroughtagainstTrenckwhenhewasprosecuted,butheallegedhisjustification。

  ThebanksoftheIsertothisdayreverberategroansforthebarbaritiesofTrenck。DeckendorfandFiltzhofenfeltallhisfury。

  Inthefirstofthesetowns600Frenchprisonerscapitulated,althoughhisforceswerefourmilesdistant;butheformedakindofstrawmen,onwhichheputpandourcapsandcloaks,andsetthemupassentinels;andthegarrison,deceivedbythisstratagem,signedthecapitulation。TheservicesherenderedthearmyduringtheBavarianwararewellknowninthehistoryofMariaTheresa。Thegoodhehasdonehasbeenpassedoverinsilence,becausehediedundermisfortunes,anddidnotleavehishistorianalegacy。HewasinformedthateitheratDeckendorforFiltzhofentherewasabarrelcontaining20,000florins,concealedatthehouseofanapothecary。

  Impelledbythedesireofbooty,Trenckhastenedtotheplace,withacandleinhishand,searchingeverywhere,and,inhishurry,droppedasparkintoaquantityofgunpowder,bytheexplosionofwhichhewasdreadfullyscorched。Theycarriedhimoff,butthescarsandthegunpowderwithwhichhisskinwasblackenedrenderedhiscountenanceterrific。

  ThepresentField—marshalLaudohnwasatthattimealieutenantinhisregiment,andhappenedtobeatthedoorwhenhiscolonelwasburnt。ScarcelywasTrenckcuredbeforehisspiesinformedhimthatLaudohnhadplentyofmoney。ImmediatelyhesuspectedthatLaudohnhadfoundthebarrelofflorins,andfromthatmomenthepersecutedhimbyallimaginablearts。Wherevertherewasdangerhesenthim,attheheadof30men,against300,hopingtohavehimcutoff,andtomakehimselfhisheir。ThiswassooftenrepeatedthatLaudohnreturnedtoVienna,where,joiningthecrowdoftheenemiesofTrenck,hebecameinstrumentalinhisdestruction。Yetitiscertainthat,inthebeginning,TrenckhadshownafriendshipforLaudohn,hadgivenhimacommission,andthatthisgreatmanlearned,underthecommandofTrenck,hismilitaryprinciples。

  GeneralTillierwaslikewiseformedinthisnurseryofsoldiers,whereofficersweretaughtactivity,stratagem,andenterprise。AndwhoaremorecapableofcommandingaHungarianarmythanTillierandLaudohn?I,onedaysaidtoTrenck,whenhewasinVienna,embarrassedbyhisprosecution,andwhenhehadpublishedadefamatorywritingagainstallhisaccusers,exceptingnoman,——\"YouhavealwaystoldmethatLaudohnwasoneofthemostcapableofyourofficers,andthatheisaworthyman。Whereforethendoyouclasshimamongsuchwretches?\"Hereplied,\"What!wouldyouhavemepraiseamanwholabours,attheheadofmyenemies,torobmeofhonour,property,andlife!\"Ihaverelatedthisincidenttoprovebythetestimonyofsohonourableaman,thatTrenckwasagreatsoldier,andazealouspatriot,andthathenevertooktheKingofPrussiaprisoner,ashasbeenfalselyaffirmed,andasisstillbelievedbythemultitude。Hadsuchathinghappened,Laudohnmusthavebeenpresent,andwouldhavesupportedthischarge。

  BavariawasplunderedbyTrenck;bargeswereloadedwithgold,silver,andeffects,whichhesenttohisestatesinSclavonia;

  PrinceCharlesandCountKevenhullercountenancedhisproceedings;

  butwhenField—marshalNeupergwasattheheadofthearmy,hehadotherprinciples。HewasconnectedwithBaronTiebes,acounselloroftheHofkriegsrathwhowastheenemyofTrenck。Persecutionwasatthattimeinstitutedagainsthim,andTrenckwasimprisoned;buthedefendedhimselfsopowerfullythatinamonthhewassetatliberty。Mentzel,meanwhile,hadthecommandofthepandours;andthismanappropriatedtohimselfthefamethatTrenckhadacquiredbythewarriorshehimselfhadformed。MentzelneverwastheequalofTrenck。TrencknowincreasedthenumberofhisCroatsto4,000,fromwhom,in1743,aregimentofHungarianregularswasformed,butwhostillretainedthenameofpandours。Itwasaregimentofinfantry。Trenckalsohad600hussarsand150chasseurs,whomheequippedathisownexpense。Yet,whenthiscorpswasreduced,allwassoldfortheprofitoftheimperialtreasury,withoutbringingashillingtoaccount。

  Withacorpssonumerous,heundertookgreatenterprises。Theenemyfledwhereverheappeared。Heledthevan,raisedcontributionswhichamountedtoseveralmillions,delivereduntotheEmpress,infiveyears,7,000prisoners,FrenchandBavarian,andmorethan3,000Prussians。Heneverwasdefeated。Hegainedconfidenceamonghistroops,andwillremaininhistorythefirstmanwhorenderedthesavageCroatsefficientsoldiers。Thisitwasimpossibletoperformamongabloodthirstypeoplewithoutbeingguiltyhimselfofcruelacts。Thenecessityoftheexcesseshecommitted,whenthearmywasinwantofforage,wassoevidentthathereceivedpermissionofPrinceCharles,thoughforthishewasafterwardsprosecuted;whiletheplundersofBrenklau,Mentzel,andthewholearmy,wereneveroncequestioned。ThatTrenckadvancedmorethan100,000florinstohisregiment,Iclearlyproved,in1750。Thisproofcametoolate。Hewasdead。TheevidenceIbroughtoccasionedaquartermaster,Frederici,tobeimprisoned。Heconfessedtheembezzlementofthismoney,yetfoundsomanyfriendsamongtheenemiesofTrenckthatherefundednothing,butwasreleasedintheyear1754,whenIwasthrownintothedungeonofMagdeburg。

  Mycousin,whohadlivedlikeamiser,didnot,athisdeath,leavehalfofthepropertyhehadinheritedfromhisfather,andwhichlegallydescendedtome;itwastornfrommebyviolence。

  In1744heobligedtheFrenchtoretirebeyondtheRhine,seizedonafortnearPhillipsburg,swamacrosstheriverwith70pandours,attackedthefortifications,slewtheMarquisdeCrevecoeur,withhisownhandmannedthepost,traversedtheotherarmoftheRhine,surprisedtwoBavarianregimentsofcavalry,andbythisdaringmanoeuvre,securedthepassageoftheRhinetothewholearmy,which,butforhim,wouldnothavebeeneffected。Whereverhecame,helaidthecountryundercontribution,and,atthismomentoftriumphfortheAustrianarms,openedhimselfapassagetoentertheterritoriesofFrance。InSeptember,1744,warhavingbrokenoutbetweenAustriaandPrussia,theimperialarmywasobligedtoreturn,abandonAlsatia,andhastentothesuccouroftheAustrianstates。Trencksucceededincoveringitsretreat。ThehistoryofMariaTheresadeclaresthedamageshedidtheenemy,duringthiscampaign。HegaveproofofhiscapacityatTaborandBudweis。With300menheattackedoneofthesetowns,whichwasdefendedbythetwoPrussianregimentsofWalrabeandKreutz。Hefoundthewaterinthemoatswasdeeperthanhisspieshaddeclared,andthescalingladderstooshort:mostofthoseledtotheattackwerekilled,ordrownedinthewater,andthesmallnumberthatcrossedthemoatsweremadeprisoners。ThegarrisonofTabor,ofBudweis,andofthecastleofFrauenburg,were,nevertheless,inducedtocapitulate,andyieldthemselvesprisoners,althoughthemainbodyunderTrenckwasmorethanfivemilesdistant。Hiscorpsdidnotcomeuptillthemorrow,anditwasridiculousenoughtoseethepandoursdressedinthecapsofthePrussianfusiliersandpioneers,whichtheyworeinsteadoftheirown,andwhichtheyafterwardscontinuedtowear。

  Thecampaigntohimwasglorious,andtheenemy’swantoflighttroopsgavefreescopetohisenterprises,highlytotheirprejudice。Heneverreturnedwithoutprisoners。HepassedtheElbenearPardubitz,tookthemagazines,andwasthecauseofthegreatdearthanddesertionamongthePrussians,andofthathastyretreattowhichtheywereforced。TheKingwasatCohnwithhisheadquarters,whereIwaswithhim,whenTrenckattackedthetown,whichhemusthavecarried,hadhenotbeenwoundedbyacannon—

  ball,whichshatteredhisfoot。Hewastakenaway,theattackdidnotsucceed,andhismen,withouthim,remainedbutsomanyciphers。

  In1745,hewenttoVienna,wherehisentranceresembledatriumph。

  TheEmpressreceivedhimwithdistinction。Heappearedoncrutches;

  she,byhercondescendingspeech,inflamedhiszealtoextravagance。

  Whowouldhavesupposedthatthefavouriteofthepeoplewouldthatyearbeabandonedtothepowerofhisenemies;whohadnotrendered,duringtheirwholelives,somuchessentialservicetothestateasTrenckhaddoneinasingleday?Hereturnedtohisestate,raisedeighthundredrecruitsthathemightaidinthenextcampaign,andgathernewlaurels。Herejoinedthearmy。AtthebattleofSorauhefelluponthePrussiancamp,andseizeduponthetentoftheKing,buthecametoolatetoattacktherear,ashadbeenpreconcerted。Fredericgaveuphiscamptobeplundered,fortheCroatscouldnotbedrawnofftoattackthearmy,andtheKingwaspreparedtoreceivethem,eveniftheyshould。Inthemeantime,theimperialarmywasdefeated。

  HerewasafieldfortheenemiesofTrencktoincitethepeopleagainsthim。TheyaccusedhimofhavingmadetheKingofPrussiaaprisonerinhistent;thathealsopillagedthecampinsteadofattackingtherearofthearmy。Afterhavingendedthecampaign,hereturnedtoViennatodefendhimself。Herehefoundtwenty—threeofficers,whomheexpelledhisregiment,mostofthemforcowardiceormeanactions。Theywerereadytobearfalsetestimony。

  CounsellorWeberandGen。Loewenwalde,hadswornhisdownfall,whichtheyeffected。Trenckdespisedtheirattacks。Whilethingsremainedthus,theyinstructedoneoftheEmpress’sattendantstoprofitbyeveryopportunitytodeprivehimofherconfidence。Itwasaffirmed,Trenckisanatheist!whoneverprayedtotheholyVirgin!Theofficers,whomhehadbroken,whispereditincoffee—

点击下载App,搜索"The Life and Adventures of Baron Trenck",免费读到尾