ad let slip
no opportunities of blackening his most innocent proceedings, he had
thought proper to acquaint his ministers with his reasons for making
this alteration with regard to his prisoners, whether French, Austrians,
or Russians.

{GEORGE II. 1727-1760}

GENERAL WEDEL DEFEATED BY THE RUSSIANS.

In the beginning of June, the king of Prussia, understanding that the
Russian army had begun their march from the Vistula, ordered the
several bodies of his troops, under Hulsen and Wobersnow, reinforced by
detachments from his other armies, to join the forces under count Dohna,
as general in chief, and march into Poland. Accordingly, they advanced
to Meritz, where the count having published a declaration [523] _[See
note 4 D, at the end of this Vol.]_, he continued his march towards
Posna, where he found the Russian army, under count Soltikoff, strongly
encamped, having in their rear that city and the river Warta, and in
their front a formidable intrenchment mounted with a great number of
cannon.

Count Dohna, judging it impracticable to attack them in this situation
with any prospect of success, endeavoured to intercept their convoys to
the eastward; but for want of provisions, was in a little time obliged
to return towards the Oder: then the Russians advanced to Zullichaw, in
Silesia. The king of Prussia thinking count Dohna had been rather too
cautious, considering the emergency of his affairs, gave him leave to
retire for the benefit of his health, and conferred his command upon
general Wedel, who resolved to give the Russians battle without delay.
Thus determined, he marched against them in two columns, and on the
twenty-third day of July attacked them at Kay, near Zullichaw, where,
after a very obstinate engagement, he was repulsed with great loss,
Wobersnow being killed and Manteuffel wounded in the action; and in a
few days the Russians made themselves masters of Franckfort upon the
Oder.

By this time the armies of count Daun and the king of Prussia had made
several motions. The Austrians having quitted their camp at Schurtz,
advanced towards Zittau in Lusatia, where having halted a few days, they
resumed their march, and encamped at Gorlithayn, between Sudenberg and
Mark-Dissau. His Prussian majesty, in order to observe their motions,
marched by the way of Hertzberg to Lahn, and his vanguard skirmished
with that of the Austrians, commanded by Laudohn, who entered Silesia
by the way of Griffenberg. Th