ll-mell upon the Elbe
Bridge, that is to say, in such circumstances, into Elbe River, and
swallow him bodily at a frightful rate! That fate was spared poor Daun.

MONDAY, 3d NOVEMBER, 1760, at half-past 6 in the morning Friedrich is
on march for this great enterprise. The march goes northward, in Three
Columns, with a Fourth of Baggage; through the woods, on four different
roads; roads, or combinations of those intricate sandy avenues already
noticed. Northward all of it at first; but at a certain point ahead (at
crossing of the Eilenburg-Torgau Road, namely), the March is to divide
itself in two. Half of the force is to strike off rightward there with
Ziethen, and to issue on the south side of Siptitz Hill; other half,
under Friedrich himself, to continue northward, long miles farther,
and then at last bending round, issue--simultaneously with Ziethen, if
possible--upon Siptitz Hill from the north side. We are about 44,000
strong, against Daun, who is 65,000.

Simultaneously with Ziethen, so far as humanly possible: that is the
essential point! Friedrich has taken every pains that it shall be
correct, in this and all points; and to take double assurance of hiding
it from Daun, he yesternight, in dictating his Orders on the other heads
of method, kept entirely to himself this most important Ziethen portion
of the Business. And now, at starting, he has taken Ziethen in his
carriage with him a few miles, to explain the thing by word of mouth.
At the Eilenburg road, or before it, Ziethen thinks he is clear as to
everything; dismounts; takes in hand the mass intrusted to him;
and strikes off by that rightward course: "Rightward, Herr Ziethen;
rightward till you get to Klitschen, your first considerable island
in this sea of wood; at Klitschen strike to the left into the woods
again,--your road is called the Butter-Strasse (BUTTER-STREET); goes
by the northwest side of Siptitz Height; reach Siptitz by the
Butter-Street, and then do your endeavor!"

With the other Half of his Army, specially with the First Column of it,
Friedrich proceeds northward on his own part of the adventure. Three
Columns he has, besides the Baggage one: in number about equal to
Ziethen's; if perhaps otherwise, rather the chosen Half; about 8,000
grenadier and footguard people, with Kleist's Hussars, are Friedrich's
own Column. Friedrich's Column marches nearest the Daun positions; the
Baggage-column farthest; and that latter is to halt, under escort