THAT IS TO SAY, FRIEDRICH AT
HAND-GRIPS WITH FERMOR AND HIS RUSSIANS (25TH AUGUST, 1758).

Artless Fermor draws out to the open ground, north of Zorndorf, south
of Quartschen; arranges himself in huge quadrilateral mass, with his
"staff-baggage" (lighter baggage) in the centre, and his front, so
to speak, everywhere. [Excellent Plan of him, or rather Plans, in his
successive shapes, in Tielcke, ii. (PLATES 4, 5, 6, 7, 8).] Mass, say
two miles long by one mile broad; but it is by no means regular, and has
many zigzags according to the ground, and narrows and droops southward
on the eastern end: one of the most artless arrangements; but known to
Fermor, and the readiest on this pinch of time. Munnich devised this
quadrilateral mode; and found it good against the Turks, and their
deluges of raging horse and foot: Fermor could perhaps do better; but
there is such a press of hurry. Fermor's western flank, or biggest
breadth of quadrilateral, leans on that Zabern Hollow, with its fine
quagmires; his eastern, narrowest part, droops down on certain mud-pools
and conveniences towards Zicher. Gallows Hollow, a slighter than the
Zabern, runs through the centre of him; and with his best people he
fronts towards the Mutzel Bridges, especially towards Damm-Mill Bridge
whence Friedrich will emerge, sure as the sunrise, one knows not with
what issue. Artless Fermor is nothing daunted; nor are his people;
but stand patiently under arms, regardless of future and present, to a
degree not common in soldiering.

Friday, August 25th, by half-past three in the morning, Friedrich is
across the Mutzel; self and Infantry by Damm-Mutzel Bridge, cavalry by
another Bridge (KERSTEN-BRUGGE, means "Christian Bridge," in the dialect
of Charlemagne's time, a very old arrangement of Successive Logs up
there!) some furlongs higher up. The Bridge at Damm is perhaps some
three miles from the nearest Russians about Zicher; but Friedrich has
no thought of attacking Fermor there; he has a quite other program
laid, and will attack Fermor precisely on the side opposite to there.
Friedrich's intention is to sweep quite round this monstrous Russian
quadrilateral; to break in upon it on the western flank, and hurl it
back upon Mutzel and its quagmires. He has broken his two bridges after
passing, all bridges are gone there, and the country is bottomless:
surrender at discretion if once you are driven thither! And Friedrich's
own retreat, if he fail, is short and o