Page:Great Men and Famous Women Volume 2.djvu/65

 FREDERICK THE GREAT 243 former was not, as is well known, his work, as it was almost gained before he well knew what was going on : it was due principally to the indomitable bravery of Zeidlitz and the cavalry. His conduct at Leuthen could not be surpassed ; and his manner of promoting General Prince Maurice of Dessau, who had most nobly aided him in the battle, was highly characteristic. " I congratulate you on the victory, Field-7na7'shal" said Frederick, when they met on the field. The prince was still so much occupied with what was going forward, that he did not mark the exact words the king had used, till the latter again called out, " Don't you hear. Field-marshal, that I congratulate you on the victory gained ? " when the newly promoted made due acknowledgments in course. Frederick, in his great contest, was assisted by an English, Hessian, and Hanoverian army, as well as by English subsidies ; but, making full allowance for the value of these auxili- aries, it must still be admitted that great genius and courage were required to enable a King of Prussia to resist the combined forces of France, Austria, Rus- sia, and Sweden. Frederick eifected this, and his conduct deservedly obtained for him the name of " Great." During his first two wars, and till the period of the battle of Rossbach in the third war, he always kept at a distance from the scene, which may be allowed in a commander who has to overlook the whole, and is not called upon to defend posts or lead attacks in person. After the above period, however, and when he perceived that the nature of the contest, and public opinion- itself, demanded greater exertions from him, he several times, on due deliberation, exposed him- self to the danger of an ordinary brigadier. Several occasions of this kind might be specified. At the Battle of Kunersdorf, when attempting to assemble some remnants of the infantry, who were still holding their ground here and there, his horse was shot under him. At Liegnitz, a spent ball struck him on the calf of the leg. At Torgau again, when a newly advanced brigade began to give way, like all its predecessors, he rode into the heaviest fire of musketry, and received a shot on the breast, which penetrated his shirt, and for some moments de- prived him so completely of all power of breathing, that he was believed to be dead.* Frederick outlived his last great war for twenty-three years, and died in 1 786, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. Every hour of this last period of his life was assiduously occupied, almost to the hour of his death, in zealous exertions to improve his country and ameliorate the condition of his people. He certainly effected great things, but left much that he might have achieved totally unattempted. Living in the solitude which his dazzling fame had cast around him, separated from all immediate intercourse with his species by the very barrier his glory had interposed between him and other men, he acted his part to admiration before the crowds who, from far and near, came to behold him ; but, in its march, and at evening the king found himself everywhere beaten back. His last chance of success against his many opponents seemed lost ; and he spent the night seated in the church at Elsnig, in such mood as may be imagined. During the night the flanking column at last arrived, fell on the enemy, and crushed them. This was the last of Frederick's great battles.
 * This battle of Torgau, Frederick planned to win by a flank attack ; but tlie flanking column was delayed