ours. On the third day of Gross-Nossen (Friday, October
2d), Friedrich detaches General Lentulus to rearward, or the way we
came, for news of Loudon. Rearward too, Lentulus sees nothing whatever
of Loudon: but, from the rumor of the country, and from two Prussian
garrison-soldiers, whom he found wandering about,--he hears, with horror
and amazement, That Loudon, by a sudden panther-spring, the night before
last, has got hold of Schweidnitz: now his wholly, since 5 A.M. of
yesterday; and a strong Austrian garrison in it by this time! That was
the news Lentulus brought home to his King; the sorest Job's-post of all
this War.

Truly, a surprising enterprise this of Loudon's; and is allowed by
everybody to have been admirably managed. Loudon has had it in his head
for some time;--ever since that colic of forty-eight hours, I should
guess; upon the wrecks of which it might well rise as a new daystar.
He kept it strictly in his own head; nobody but Daun and the Kaiser had
hint of it, both of whom assented, and agreed to keep silence.

"On Friedrich's removal towards Neisse and threatening of Bohemia,"
says my Note on this subject, "Loudon's time had come. Friedrich
had disappeared to southwestward, Saturday, September 26th: 'Gone to
Pilzen,' reported Loudon's scouts; 'rests there over Sunday. Gone
to Sigeroth, 28th; gone to Gross-Nossen, Tuesday, September 29th.'
[Tempelhof, v. 330.] That will do, thinks Loudon; who has sat immovable
at Kunzendorf all this while;--and, WEDNESDAY, 30th, instantly proceeds
to business.

"Draws out, about 10 A.M. of Wednesday, all round Schweidnitz at some
miles distance, a ring, or complete girdle, of Croat-Cossack people;
blocking up every path and road: 'Nobody to pass, this day, towards
Schweidnitz, much less into it, on any pretext.' That is the duty of
the Croat people. To another active Officer he intrusts the task of
collecting from the neighboring Villages (outside the Croat girdle) as
many ladders, planks and the like, as will be requisite; which also is
punctually done. For the Attack itself, which is to be Fourfold, our
picked Officers are chosen, with the 20 best Battalions in the Army:
Czernichef is apprised; who warmly assents, and offers every help:--'800
of your Grenadiers,' answers Loudon; 'no more needed.' Loudon's
arrangements for management of the ladders, for punctuality about the
routes, the times, the simultaneity, are those of a perfect artist; no
Friedrich could hav