AY, 8th APRIL, With great punctuality, the King and Leopold met
at Michelau, both well across the Neisse. Here on Pontoons, Leopold had
got across about noon; and precisely as he was finishing, the King's
Column, which had crossed at Lowen, and come up the left bank again,
arrived. The King, much content with Leopold's behavior, nominates him
General of Infantry, a stage higher in promotion, there and then. Brieg
Blockade is, as natural, given up; the Blockading Body joining with the
King, this morning, while he passed that way. From Holstein-Beck not the
least whisper,--nor to him, if we knew it.

"Neipperg has quitted Neisse; but walks invisible within clouds of
Pandours; nothing but guessing as to Neipperg's motions. Rightly swift,
and awake to his business, Neipperg might have done, might still do, a
stroke upon us here. But he takes it easy; marches hardly five miles
a day, since he quitted Neisse again. From Michelau, Friedrich for his
part turns southwestward, in quest of Holstein and other interests;
marches towards Grotkau, not intending much farther that night. Thick
snow blowing in their faces, nothing to be seen ahead, the Prussian
column tramps along. [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ ii. 156.] In Leipe, a
little Hamlet sidewards of the road, short way from Grotkau, our Hussar
Vanguard had found Austrian Hussars; captured forty, and from them
learned that the Austrian Army is in Grotkau; that they took Grotkau
half an hour before, and are there! A poor Lieutenant Mitschepfal (whom
I think Friedrich used to know in Reinsberg) lay in Grotkau, 'with
some sixty recruits and deserters,' says Friedrich,--and with several
hundreds of camp-laborers (intended for the trenches, which will not now
be opened):--Mitschepfal made a stout defence; but, after three hours of
it, had to give in: and there is nothing now for us at Grotkau. 'Halt,'
therefore! Neipperg is evidently pushing towards Ohlau, towards Breslau,
though in a leisurely way; there it will behoove us to get the start of
him, if humanly possible: To the right about, therefore, without delay!
The Prussians repass Leipe (much to the wonder of its simple people);
get along, some seven miles farther, on the road for Ohlau; and quarter,
that night, in what handy villages there are; the King's Corps in two
Villages, which he calls 'Pogrel and Alsen,'"--which are to be found
still on the Map as "Pogarell and Alzenau," on the road from Lowen
towards Ohlau.

This is the end