ch as never was
before or since: Cavalry and Infantry, in quantity, bivouacking there,
in the environs of Pisek, on the grim Bohemian snow or snow-slush, in
the depth of winter, nightly for six weeks, without whisper of an enemy
at any time; whereby the Marechal did save Pisek (if Pisek was ever
again in danger), but froze horse and man to the edge of destruction
or into it; so that the "Bivouac of Pisek" became proverbial in French
Messrooms, for a generation coming. [_Guerre de Boheme,_ ii. 23, &c.]
And one hears in the mind a clangorous nasal eloquence from antique
gesticulative mustachio-figures, witty and indignant,--who are now gone
to silence again, and their fruitless bivouacs, and frosty and fiery
toils, tumbling pell-mell after them. This of Pisek was but one of
the many unwise hysterical things poor Broglio did, in that difficult
position; which, indeed, was too difficult for any mortal, and for
Broglio beyond the average.

One other thing we note: Graf von Khevenhuller, solid Austrian man,
issued from Vienna, December 31st, last day of the Year, with an Army
of only some 15,000, but with an excellent military head of his own, to
look into those Conquests on the Donau. Which he finds, as he expected,
to be mere conquests of stubble, capable of being swept home again at
a very rapid rate. "Khevenhuller, here as always, was consummate in his
choice of posts," says Lloyd; [General Lloyd, _History of Seven-Years
War,_ &c. (incidentally, somewhere).]--discovered where the ARTERIES
of the business lay, and how to handle the same. By choice of posts, by
silent energy and military skill, Khevenhuller very rapidly sweeps Segur
back; and shuts him up in Linz. There Segur, since the first days of
January, is strenuously barricading himself; "wedging beams from house
to house, across the streets;"--and hopes to get provision, the Donau
and the Bavarian streams being still open behind him; and to hold out a
little. It will be better if he do,--especially for poor Karl Albert
and his poor Bavaria! Khevenhuller has also detached through the Tyrol
a General von Barenklau (BEAR'S-CLAW, much heard of henceforth in
these Wars), who has 12,000 regulars; and much Hussar-folk under bloody
Mentzel:-across the Tyrol, we say; to fall in upon Bavaria and Munchen
itself; which they are too like doing with effect. Ought not Karl Albert
to be upon the road again? What a thing, were the Kaiser Elect taken
prisoner by Pandours!

In fine,