y on every side; the communication between the head and the rest
of the convoy was cut off; and general Ziethen, after having exerted all
his efforts for its preservation, being obliged to abandon the waggons,
retired to Troppau. Thus the whole convoy fell into the hands of the
enemy, who took above six hundred prisoners, together with general
Putkammer; and the king of Prussia was obliged to relinquish his
enterprise. This was a mortifying necessity to a prince of his high
spirit, at a time when he saw himself on the eve of reducing the place,
notwithstanding the gallant defence which had been made by general
Marshal the governor. Nothing now remained but to raise the siege, and
retire without loss in the face of a vigilant enemy, prepared to seize
every opportunity of advantage: a task which, how hard soever it may
appear, he performed with equal dexterity and success. Instead of
retiring into Silesia, he resolved to avert the war from his own
dominions, and take the route to Bohemia, the frontiers of which were
left uncovered by mareschal Daun's last motion, when he advanced his
quarters to Posnitz, in order to succour Olmutz the more effectually.
After the king had taken his measures, he carefully concealed his design
from the enemy, and, notwithstanding the loss of his convoy, prosecuted
the operations of the siege with redoubled vigour till the first day of
July, when he decamped in the night, and began his march to Bohemia. He
himself, with one division, took the road to Konitz; and mareschal
Keith having brought away all the artillery, except four mortars and one
disabled cannon, pursued his march by the way of Littau to Muglitz and
Tribau. Although his Prussian majesty had gained an entire march upon
the Austrians, their light troops, commanded by the generals Buccow and
Laudohn, did not fail to attend and harass his army in their retreat;
but their endeavours were in a great measure frustrated by the conduct
and circumspection of the Prussian commanders. After the rear of the
army had passed the defiles of Krenau, general Lasci, who was posted
at Gibau with a large body of Austrian troops, occupied the village of
Krenau with a detachment of grenadiers, who were soon dislodged; and
the Prussians pursued their march by Zwittau to Leutomyssel, where they
seized a magazine of meal and forage. In the meantime general de Ratzow,
who conducted the provisions and artillery, found the hills of Hollitz
possessed by the en