Frederick the Great and the Seven Years' War

by Herbert J. Redman

  7. Asprey, 543.

  8. Archenholtz, II, 113.

  9. ibid..

  10. Duffy, By Force of Arms, 284. Kessel puts losses at 15,611 for the Prussians, and 15,196 for the Austrians (Kessel, 511–512).

  11. Malleson, 154.

  12. Kessel, 59–66. For a biography of General Lattorf, see König, II, 369–371.

  13. Savory, 238; Stühr, II, 294–318; Reihe von Vorlesungen, IV, 279–322; Jomini, Traité, III, 221–235; Waddington, IV, 156–345; Dobson, 146.

  14. Szabo, 305.

  15. Die Kriege, Part 3, XIII, 341–347; Dobson, 135.

  16. Szabo, 298.

  17. Die Kriege, Part 3, XIII: 131–137; Sulicki, 327–328.

  18. Alfred Thayer Mahan, The Influence of Sea Power upon History 1660–1783 (Boston: Little, Brown, 1890), 62–64.

  PART VII

  Chapter 46

  1. Bisset, II, 223–224.

  2. Asprey, 545–546.

  3. ibid., 545.

  4. Archenholtz, II, 122–125. Also “fifty Leipzig merchants were arrested as sureties of payment by the city of a demand for 2 million crowns” (Fraser, 450).

  5. Duffy, Army of Frederick the Great, 97–100; Archenholtz, II, 124–125.

  6. Thiebault, I, 283–284.

  7. Asprey, 544–545; Helden Geschichte, VI, 595–598.

  8. Duffy, By Force of Arms, 332.

  9. Kessel, 169–170.

  10. Possibly the progress amounted to the outright bribery of Turkish officials by the desperate King—to the tune of 200,000 thalers (Szabo, 339).

  11. Szabo, 339.

  12. Duffy, By Force of Arms, 332; Bernhardi, II, 221–227; 263–292; Stühr, II, 365–368; 388–394; Krsowitz, I, 281–286; Janko, 222–253; Szabo, 324–327; Arneth, VI, 222–225; Friedrich II, Seven Years’ War, II, 165–181; Tempelhof, V, 46–57; Retzow, II, 325–340; Seyfart, III, 1–79; Malleson, 155–161; Kunisch, Aufklärung und Kriegserfahrung, 383–408; Jany, II, 596–614; Richard Waddington, La Guerre de Sept Ans Histoire Diplomatique et militaire Tome V: Pondichéry-Villinghausen-Schweidnitz (Paris: Libraire de Paris, Firmin-Didot, 1918), 44–57.

  13. Szabo, 368–369.

  14. Duffy, Russia’s Military Way, 154–155.

  15. Duffy, Army of Frederick the Great, 159.

  16. Dorn, Cavalry Regiments, 148.

  17. Asprey, 545. For a biography of Lossow, see König, II, 432–433.

  18. Dorn, 369.

  19. Tim Blanning, The Pursuit of Glory: The Five Revolutions that made Modern Europe, 1648–1815 (New York: Penguin, 2007), 595; Entick, V, 89–104.

  20. Retzow, II, 329; Carlyle, VII, 330–335; Kessel, 166–170.

  21. Anderson, 231.

  22. MacDonogh, 305.

  23. Duffy, By Force of Arms, 308.

  24. Reiners, 214.

  25. Mahan, 311.

  26. Easum, 156. As this source noted, “Saxon peasants, prisoners of war, deserters… camp followers, and freebooters unfit to wear the uniform or bear the name of soldiers were used to fill up the rosters.”

  27. Duffy, Army of Frederick the Great, 304; Jany, II, 599–601; Fraser, 452. As it worked out, a disproportionate number of the “Free Battalions” would end up in the force that Prince Henry would command in Saxony. His royal brother apparently did not relish the thought of dealing more than necessary with the shenanigans of the men in those units for another year. For instance, an entire battalion from one of those Free Corps units assigned to Prince Henry’s charge would desert “to the Reichsarmee on 31 August” (Duffy, By Force of Arms, 312). This is even laying aside the fact it was the Imperialists to which a battalion of “Prussians” would desert, rather the other way around.

  28. Jany, II, 596–598; Schaefer, Zweiter Band, 223. Kessel says the army at the start of the campaign totaled 110,000 men with 532 guns (Kessel, 174). See also Kessel, “Anhang #19: Starke und Zusammensetzung der preussischen Armee 1761,” 529–530; “Anhang #24: Die Verteilung der preuβischen Streitkrafte im Feldzug 1761,” 536–537.

  29. Fraser, 360; Szabo, 85; Duffy, Army of Frederick the Great, 147–150; Dorn, Cavalry Regiments, 44–46; Falls, 58; Varnhagen von Ense, Seydlitz, 30–35.

  30. Duffy, Army of Frederick the Great, 293.

  31. Kessel, 185–190.

  32. Cogniazzo, IV, 7–11; Marston, 72; Kessel, 151–159.

  33. Asprey, 545.

  34. Savory, 284–288; Dundas, 235–236; Helden Geschichte, VI, 608–611; Reihe von Vorlesungen, V, Part I, 143–165; Waddington, V, 58–69; Jomini, Traité, V, 1–78.

  35. Frederick II, Seven Years’ War, II, 166–167.

  36. Dorn, Cavalry Regiments, 46.

  37. Ibid., 56.

  38. Dorn, Cavalry Regiments, 122.

  39. Frederick II, Seven Years’ War, II, 167.

  40. Szabo, 329–330.

  41. Palmer, 165; Showalter, 302–306.

  42. “In Austria the contest between Lacy and Loudon [Laudon] endured for more than thirty years” (Duffy, Military Experience in the Age of Reason, 143). In the campaign at hand, Lacy was to drag his feet for weeks, refusing to play any active part in the field until July 1761.

  43. Duffy, By Force of Arms, 309.

  44. Stühr, II, 351; Arneth, VI, 181–182.

  45. Janko, 222–225.

  46. Duffy, By Force of Arms, 315; Maslovski, III, 286–288.

  47. Thadden, 440–441.

  48. Duffy, By Force of Arms, 311. Or at least no longer terminating entirely to Austria’s satisfaction. Which, of course, basically amounted to the same thing.

  49. Jany, II, 599–600.

  50. Arneth, VI, 230; Duffy, Instrument of War, 28–29.

  51. Duffy, Instrument of War, 124. See also Kessel, “Anhang #25: Die Verteilung der österreichischen Streitkräfte im Feldzug 1761,” 537–538.

  52. Duffy, Army of Frederick the Great, 23.

  53. R. Nisbet Bain, Daughter Peter the Great, 303.

  54. Ibid., 303–304.

  55. Duffy, Russia’s Military Way, 116.

  56. Duffy, Instrument of War, 367.

  57. Asprey, 548–549.

  58. Totleben’s duplicity finally caught up with him on June 29. He was placed under arrest, and sent home to face treason charges at trial, which convicted him to certain execution, but the death of Elizabeth before he could be actually be dispatched served as an exoneration of sorts. Further, after a suitable interval, Totleben even managed to rejoin the Russian military. The results/factors of the treachery are well summarized in Maslovski, III, 328–330.

  59. Malleson, 157.

  60. R. Nisbit Bain, Daughter Peter the Great, 288.

  61. Szabo, 294; Maslovski, III, 278. This total actually included 646 deserters, some of whom no doubt ended up serving in the Prussian army against their former comrades.

  62. Duffy, Instrument of War, 369.

  63. R. Nisbet Bain, Daughter Peter the Great, 303–304. By this time, the Russian court was anxious to get to the peace table as soon as possible.

  64. Held, 169–174.

  65. Duffy, Instrument of War, 365.

  66. Kessel, 81–85.

  67. Sulicki, 383–385.

  68. Dorn, Cavalry Regiments, 138.

  69. Asprey, 545.

  70. Kessel, 84–85; Maslovski, III, 293–294.

  71. Reihe von Vorlesungen, V, Part II, 883–912; Sulicki, 400–422.

  72. Dorn, Cavalry Regiments, 146.

  73. Schaefer, Zweiter Band, 275.

  74. Anderson, 230–231; Kessel, 391–392.

  75. Maslovski, III, 331–338.

  76. Thadden, 440–442; Duffy, A Military Life, 220–225.

  77. Reihe von Vorlesungen, V, Part I, 143–147; Cogniazzo, IV, 23–25.

  78. Bernhardi, II, 278; Waddington, V, 215–233.

  79. Duffy, By Force of Arms, 311.

  80. This is actually ironic, especially in view of Daun’s opinion about working specifically with the person of Laudon. “Physician, heal thyself.”

  Cha
pter 47

  1. Malleson, 156–157; Reihe von Vorlesungen, V, Part I, 168–174; Waddington, V, 215–234; Cogniazzo, IV, 35–38.

  2. Kessel, 196–197.

  3. Maslovski, III, 295–303. For a biography of General Thile (or Thiele), see König, IV, 87; Jomini, Traité, V, 82–104.

  4. Kessel, 199–201; Reihe von Vorlesungen, V, Part I, 174–190.

  5. It might be useful to refer to a good map of the marches/maneuvers, like Map #11 from Kessel’s Das Ende des Siebenjährigen Krieges 1760–1763. Blessed with abundant detail, it also provides a good overall view of the action thereabouts in 1761 in Silesia. One of the best features of Kessel’s landmark work on the last years of the war are those maps, with slip cover, loose leaf, and all. A mine of useful information and a ready source of contemporary and near contemporary accounts, period orders-of-battle, and the like make this an excellent two volume culmination to the preceding General Staff History of the war, which broke off its coverage near the Battle of Torgau in 1760.

  6. Tempelhof, V, 77.

  7. Malleson, 157; Duffy, By Force of Arms, 315; Kessel, 203–204.

  8. Heinz, 174–179.

  9. Duffy, By Force of Arms, 310.

  10. Approximately 19,456 infantry and 6,649 cavalry as of early May, along with 75 12-pounder guns and 24 howitzers (Kessel, 279). This in 36 battalions and 83 squadrons of horse. Hülsen had 4,943 infantry with him towards Freiberg, while Kleist had 3,053 cavalry which was over by Ilkendorf, Wondisehbohra, and Rehsa. Finally, the Free Corps total with Henry was an almost shocking 14 units.

  11. Duffy, By Force of Arms, 309. The Austrian forces in Saxony during the early campaign were deployed as follows: at Boxdorf and Dippoldiswalde, 16,000; and at Plauen, 25,000 more, along with scouts and irregulars, and the force at Zittau, or between 57,000 and 62,000 men at the end of May (Kessel, 283).

  12. Thadden, 441.

  13. Cogniazzo, IV, 12.

  14. Maslovski, III, 296–297.

  15. Duffy, Instrument of War, 133–136.

  16. Kennett, 50.

  17. Maslovski, III, 302–304; Kessel, 203–211.

  18. Much like General Wobersnow’s failed expedition in 1759 in trying to intercept the Russians while they were still in Poland.

  19. Pauli, VII, 72–76; König, II, 48.

  20. Kessel, 208–209.

  21. Malleson, 159; Reihe von Vorlesungen, V, Part I, 217–242; Cogniazzo, IV, 45–55; Dobson, 199; Entick, V, 131–133.

  22. Asprey, 548.

  23. Szabo, 339.

  24. As of July 17, in fact, he was reported to have had at his disposal 77,400 men and 294 guns (Duffy, By Force of Arms, 316).

  25. Helden Geschichte, VI, 630–642.

  26. Janko, 245–249. On May 11, Laudon had been strictly ordered, by a Cabinet-Schreiben from Vienna, which “told him not to take the offensive before the Russians arrived in Silesia” (Duffy, By Force of Arms, 315).

  27. Kessel, 216; Janko, 239–242; Reihe von Vorlesungen, V., Part I, 245–306. For a biography of Major Reitzenstein, see König, III, 276–277.

  28. Cogniazzo, IV, 51; Duffy, By Force of Arms, 316; Janko, 243–246; Malleson, 160–162; Waddington, V, 229–232.

  29. Kessel, 229. For a biography on Zastrow, see König, IV, 304–306.

  30. Malleson, 165.

  31. Dorn, Cavalry Regiments, 104–106.

  32. Ibid., 106.

  33. Jomini, Treatise, II, 338–340; Kessel Anhang #29 “Zum Gefecht bei Wahlstatt am 15. August,” 541–542.

  34. Duffy, By Force of Arms, 323.

  35. Kessel, 240–253; Jany, 605–607.

  36. Tielke, III, 84.

  37. Dupuy, 147.

  38. Although this latter appeared to be an overly optimistic idea.

  39. Asprey, 549; Szabo, 340–341; Dorn, Die Schlachten, 150–155: Reihe von Vorlesungen, V, Part I, 339–390; Dobson, 203.

  40. Who apparently understood only Russian.

  41. This could at least partially explain why Frederick did not strike at the Buturlin force on the evening of August 15 (Waddington, V, 243–244).

  42. The king apparently confuses this with Gotsyn in his account of the war (Frederick II, Seven Years’ War, Part II, 205–206).

  43. A total of eight 12-pounders, four 6-pounders, six howitzers, and four cannon (Reihe von Vorlesungen, V, Part II, 479–493); Dobson, 204. For a biography on Christian Wilhelm von Ziethen, see König, IV, 325.

  44. Dorn, Cavalry Regiments, 106.

  45. Tempelhof, V, 281–287; Friedrich II, Seven Years’ War, II, 205–207; Kessel, 343–344; Naumann, III, 6–11; 43–46.

  46. Dorn, Cavalry Regiments, 98.

  47. Friedrich II, Seven Years’ War, II, 206. Jomini states there were 600 Russians killed, along with 1,500 prisoners (Jomini, Treatise, II, 345–346). Kessel puts losses at 1,458 men and 48 officers for the Russians. Prussian casualties were 84 dead and 151 wounded (Kessel, 344).

  48. Maslovski, III, 326; Schaefer, Zweiter Band, 241–243; Asprey, 549; Easum, 169.

  49. Reihe von Vorlesungen, V, Part II, 490.

  50. Szabo, 341; R. Nisbet Bain, Daughter Peter the Great, 303.

  Chapter 48

  1. Thiebault, II, 267.

  2. Duffy, By Force of Arms, 323–327; Tempelhof, V, 327–342; Reihe von Vorlesungen, V, Part I, 411–466; Waddington, V, 253–259; Jomini, Traité, V, 143–156.

  3. Kunisch, Aufklärung und Kriegserfahrung, 921–922.

  4. Kessel, 259–267.

  5. Dorn and Engelmann, Die Schlachten, 150–155.

  6. A detailed order of the attack formations and their specific targets is found in Kessel, at Anhang #34 “Zusammensetzung der össtereich. Angriffskolonnen zum Sturm auf Schweidnitz am 1. Oktober 1761,” 546–547.

  7. Kessel, 261.

  8. Szabo, 364; Cogniazzo, IV, 73–79.

  9. Almon, 328.

  10. Archenholtz, II, 182–184.

  11. Duffy, By Force of Arms, 327; Duffy, Fortress in the Age of Vauban and Frederick the Great, 125; Cogniazzo, IV, 96–104.

  12. One source says 3,240 men and 107 officers fell into Austrian hands. Austrian losses of 1,363 men and 62 officers, with 92 men and five officers for the Russians (Kessel, 267).

  13. Duffy, By Force of Arms, 323; Arneth, VI, 243–246, 467 passim; MacDonogh, 306; Showalter, 306; Helden Geschichte, VI, 650–666.

  14. Kessel, 279–290; Reihe von Vorlesungen, V, Part II, 605–618; Tempelhof, V, 263–280; Szabo, 366–367. (See also Kessel, “Anhang #39 Zu den Quellen für den Feldzug in Sachsen 1761,” 549–551).

  15. For instance, General Jung Stutterheim was sent with a detachment towards the Peene on August 14 (Tempelhof, V, 265–266).

  16. Easum, 162, footnote.

  17. Kessel, 152; 527–528; Reihe von Vorlesungen, V, Part I, 151–152; Helden Geschichte, VI, 611–616; Tempelhof, V, 46–47.

  18. Kessel, 153.

  19. Reihe von Vorlesungen, V, Part I, 157–158.

  20. Kessel, 155–157; Dorn, Cavalry Regiments, 122; Tempelhof, V, 51–52.

  21. Dorn, Cavalry Regiments, 122.

  22. Jany, 611–614.

  23. Kessel, 291–302.

  24. Tempelhof, V, 265–266; Lawley, 111; Duffy, By Force of Arms, 310–314; Varnhagen von Ense, Seydlitz, 132–133.

  25. Kessel, 292–293.

  26. Ibid., 289.

  27. Easum, 164. As for the peasants and their nutritional needs, well…

  28. Lawley, 108–111; Varnhagen von Ense, Seydlitz, 130–137.

  29. Heinz, 178–179.

  30. Kessel, 391–401; Szabo, 362–363; Preussisch-Swedischen Kriege, 1757–1762, 132–170; Reihe von Vorlesungen, V, Part II, 883–912.

  31. Sulicki, 595–597; Szabo, 362. For a biography of Knobelsdorf, see König, II, 299–302.

  32. Kessel, 321–333.

  33. Which had been sent from Rostock to Werner’s assistance in retaining Colberg if at all possible (May 18). In early June, the determined Prince Eugene took up a post at the Bullwink
le, leaning over the little village of Nechin. This happened to be a virtually unassailable position, one from which the bluecoats were very reluctant to leave. Another force of Prussian infantry, four full battalions of grenadiers, under General Thadden, also swept forward; this from within Silesia.

  34. Which locale the greencoats were most anxious to secure as an anchor post.

  35. Duffy, Russia’s Military Way, 116–117; Waddington, V, 259–262; Jomini, Traité, V, 133–142.

  Chapter 49

  1. Tielke, V, 60; Kessel, 395; Reihe von Vorlesungen, V, Part II, 887–890.

  2. Sulicki, 612–614; Kessel, 397; Preussisch-Swedischen Kriege, 1757–1762, 147–148.

  3. Tempelhof, VI, 291–292.

  4. Duffy, Russia’s Military Way, 116.

  5. Kessel, 338–339; Dobson, 203.

  6. Archenholtz, II, 197.

  7. Dorn, Cavalry Regiments, 138. In the works of Dr. Pauli, this is identified as #81 (Pauli, II, 297). Pauli’s roster of the Prussian army, found in this volume between pages 216 and 321, provides much useful information, in a source that is a contemporary of the period on which it is reporting. Dr. Christopher Duffy’s monumental, landmark numbering of the various Prussian army units (on which nearly all modern accounts are based) likely found one of its important sources in Pauli’s roster.

  8. Kessel, 341; Tielke, V, 124–126. Waddington puts Russian losses at 2,850 men, while Prussian casualties were 539 (Waddington, V, 262).

  9. Tielke, V, 126–131; Entick, V, 137–141.

  10. R. Nisbet Bain, Daughter Peter the Great, 306.

  11. Reihe von Vorlesungen, V, Part II, 539–540; Kessel, 362–368.

  12. Tempelhof, V, 360–361.

  13. Archenholtz, II, 198–199.

  14. Kessel, 366.

  15. Archenholtz, II, 198–200.

  16. Archenholtz, II, 200.

  17. A very detailed map of the region round about is Map #14 from Eberhard Kessel’s Das Ende des Siebenjahrigen Kriege, 1760–1763.

  18. Kessel, 370–374.

  19. Tielke, V, 274–282.

  20. Kessel, 383–385.

  21. Dorn, Cavalry Regiments, 106; Sulicki, 469–477.

  22. Dorn, Cavalry Regiments, 94.

  23. Kessel, 401–411; Schaefer, Zweiter Band, 277–278.

  24. One source puts the force at 3,000 men (Schaefer, Zweiter Band, 278).