circumspection, the
troops began to move in the night between the thirteenth and fourteenth
of October, favoured by a thick fog, which greatly increased the
darkness of the night. Their first care was to take possession of the
hill that commanded Hochkirchen, from whence they poured down upon the
village, of which they took possession, after having cut in pieces the
free companies posted there. The action began in this quarter about
four in the morning, and continued several hours with great fury, for,
notwithstanding the impetuous efforts of the Austrian troops, and the
confusion occasioned among the Prussians by the surprise, a vigorous
stand was made by some general officers, who, with admirable expedition
and presence of mind, assembled and arranged the troops as they could
take to their arms, and led them up to the attack without distinction
of regiment, place, or precedence. While the action was obstinately
and desperately maintained in this place, amidst all the horrors of
darkness, carnage, and confusion, the king being alarmed, exerted all
his personal activity, address, and recollection, in drawing regularity
from disorder, arranging the different corps, altering positions,
reinforcing weak posts, encouraging the soldiery, and opposing the
efforts of the enemy; for although they made their chief impression upon
the right, by the village of Hochkirchen, mareschal Daun, in order to
divide the attention of the king, made another attack upon the left,
which was with difficulty sustained, and effectually prevented him from
sending reinforcements to the right, where mareschal Keith, under the
greatest disadvantages, bore the brunt of the enemy's chief endeavours.
Thus the battle raged till nine in the morning, when this gallant
officer was shot through the heart. Prince Francis of Brunswick had
met with the same fate; prince Maurice of Anhault was wounded and taken
prisoner, and many others were either slain or disabled. As the right
wing had been surprised, the tents continued standing, and greatly
embarrassed them in their defence. The soldiers had never been properly
drawn up in order; the enemy still persevered in their attack with
successive reinforcements and redoubled resolution; and a considerable
slaughter was made by their artillery, which they had brought up to the
heights of Hochkirchen. All these circumstances concurring, could not
fail to increase the confusion and disaster of the Prussians; so that
ab