under the charge
of a sergeant, and told that he would be shot if he tried to
escape.

Frederick, with more battalions that had come up, pushed on;
thrusting the Austrians back until he had left Hochkirch on his
left. But by this time it was past eight o'clock, the fog was
dispersing, and he saw a great body of Austrians on the heights to
his right, from Waditz to Meschduitz, as well as on the whole line
of heights on the left. His only line of retreat, therefore, was
along at the foot of the Dressau heights.

These he ordered to be seized, at once. This was done before the
Austrians could reach the spot, they being hindered by furious
charges by Ziethen, from the open ground between Kumschutz and
Canitz; and Frederick rearranged his front of battle, and waited
for Retzow to come up with the left wing.

The Austrians tried several attacks, but with little success. They
too had been hindered and confused by the mist, and the force that
had been engaged in and round Hochkirch had suffered terribly; and
they pushed forward but feebly, now that the Prussian guns on the
heights were able to open fire upon them.

Retzow was long in coming, for he too had been attacked by twenty
thousand men, who had been told off by Daun for the purpose. The
attack, however, was badly managed and feeble; but it delayed
Retzow from making a start, when Frederick's urgent messages
reached him. During this anxious delay the Austrians captured
Frederick's main battery of thirty guns, north of Rodewitz; and
were beginning to press forward, when Retzow came onto the ground
and took up a position at Belgern, covering Frederick's left flank.
Had he been an hour sooner, he might have saved the heavy battery
which lay beyond the range of the guns on the Dressau heights, and
which Frederick could not have supported without bringing on a
general battle.

Then, in a steady and leisurely manner, the king drew off his
forces and took up a new position from Krewitz to Puswietz,
carrying off the whole of his baggage; Retzow and the troops on the
Dressau heights covering the movement, until all had passed; Daun
and his great army standing on their circle of hills, watching, but
not interfering with the movement.

Frederick's rashness had cost him dear. He had lost eight thousand
men; five thousand three hundred and eighty-one of them, and a
hundred and nineteen officers, killed or prisoners; the rest
wounded. He had also lost a hundred and one guns,