en vigorously repulsed to
a considerable distance, general Ziethen perceived that their whole
army was forming. He immediately acquainted the king with what he
had discovered, and his majesty, after having himself observed the
disposition of the enemy, made his own with that sagacity and despatch
for which he has always been remarkable. The action began by attacking a
battery of forty pieces of large cannon, which covered the right wing
of the enemy. The two battalions of guards, with the regiments of the
margrave Charles and of Itzenplitz, marched up amidst a most terrible
fire to the very mouths of the cannon, with their bayonets screwed.
In this attack the Prussians sustained their greatest loss, though the
battery was carried as soon almost as they could reach it; then the
enemy's artillery, now turned against themselves, played furiously upon
them with their own powder. From that instant the two wings and the
centre of the Prussians continued to drive the enemy before them,
advancing all the time with that firm and regular pace for which they
have always been renowned, without ever halting or giving way. The
ground which the Austrians occupied was very advantageous, and every
circumstance that could render it more so had been improved to the
utmost by the diligence and skill of count Daun, who, remembering his
former success, was emboldened to enter the lists again with his royal
antagonist. The Prussians, however, no way terrified by the enemy's
situation nor their numbers, went calmly and dreadfully forward. It was
almost impossible in the beginning for the Prussian cavalry to act, on
account of the impediments of fallen trees, which the enemy had cut
down and laid in the field of battle, to retard their approach; but a
judicious disposition which the king made overcame that disadvantage.
When he first formed his army, he had placed four battalions behind
the cavalry of his right wing, foreseeing that general Nadasti, who was
placed with a corps of reserve on the enemy's left, designed to take him
in flank. It happened as he had foreseen, this general's horse attacked
the king's right wing with great fury; but he was received with so
severe a fire from the four battalions, that he was obliged to retire
in disorder. The enemy gave way on all sides; out at some distance
recovered themselves, and rallied three times, animated by their
officers, and by the superiority of their numbers. Every time they made
a stand, th