Home › CHAPTER XX › CHAPTER XX: Prussians

CHAPTER XX: Prussians

He was engaged with the powerful and well disciplined armies of Austria; with the French, whose tactics and impetuosity were undisputed; with the immovable perseverance of the Russians; with the veterans of Sweden, and with the admirably organized forces of the empire. In numerical strength they far more than trebled the Prussians; yet he not only kept them constantly on the alert, but frustrated their combined attacks, and often defeated them with great loss.

At the opening of the next campaign (1759) the fortune of war was on the side of the Prussians. They destroyed the Russian magazines in Poland, levied contribution in Bohemia, and kept the imperialists in check. Prince Ferdinand, in order to protect Hanover, found it necessary to give the French battle at Minden, where success crowned his efforts. And had it not been for the unacfor the unaccountable conduct of Lord George Sackville, who commanded the cavalry, and disobeyed or misunderstood the order to charge the discomfited French, a victory as glorious and complete as that of Blenheim would, in all probability, have been the result. A decided reverse soon succeeded; the combined Austrian and Rusand Russian army of 80,000 men attacked the Prussians at Cunersdorf, and after a most sanguinary conflict the latter were defeated. Frederic soon retrieved this disaster, and the war continued to proceed with dubious advantage; but the English grew tired of this interminable kind of warfare, and turned their attention from the actions of their intrepid ally to matters affecting their colonial interests in the East and West Indies, and in America.

The bold and skilful operations of Clive in the East Indies attracted great notice. Having reinstated the nabob of Arcot, his next great exploit was the recapture of Calcutta, which had been taken by the nabob of Bengal. This was followed by the unexampled victory of Plassy, and the final establishment of the British in northern India. In America, admiral Boscawen burned the enemy's ships in the harbor of Louisburg, and compelled the town to surrender; the islands of St. John and Cape Breton were taken by general Amherst; and brigadier Forbes captured fort Du Quesne; while the French settlements on the African coast were reduced. The island of Guadaloupe, in the West Indies, was also taken by the English. Crown Point and Ticonderoga were conquered by general Amherst, and Sir William Johnson gained possession of the important fortress of Niagara. The French, thus attacked on every side, were unable to withstand the power and enthusiasm of their enemies: and general Wolfe, who was to have been assisted in his attack on Quebec by Amherst, finding that the latter general was unable to form a junction with him, resolved to attempt the arduous and hazardous enterprise alone. With this view he landed his troops at night under the heights of Abraham, and led them up the steep and precipitous ascent; so that when morning dawned, the French commander, the marquis de Montcalm, to his astonishment saw the English occupying a position which had before been deemed inacessible. To save the city a battle was now inevitable; both generals prepared with ardor for the conflict. Just as the scale of victory was beginning to turn in favor of the British, the heroic Wolfe fell mortally wounded. With redoubled energy his gallant troops fought on, till at length the French fled in disorder; and, when the intelligence was brought to the dying hero, he raised his head, and, with his last breath, faintly uttered, "I die happy;" nor was the death of Montcalm less noble or soldier-like. He had been mortally wounded; and he was no sooner apprised of his danger than he exclaimed, "So much the better; I shall not live to witness the surrender of Quebec." The complete subjugation of the Canadas quickly followed. And, amidst the exploits of his army and navy, George II. expired suddenly at Kensington, in the 34th year of his reign, and was succeeded by his grandson, George III., A.D. 1760.

On the European continent the last campaigns were carried on with less spirit than before: both sides were exhausted by their previous efforts, and the party which was desirous of peace endeavored to avert such occurrances as might revive the hopes of the enemy. A family compact was now concluded between the courts of Versailles and Madrid; and seeing no chance of gaining any colonial advantages over Britain while its navy rode triumphant on the ocean, they resolved to try their united strength in attempting the subjugation of its ancient ally, Portugal. That country was defended more by its natural advantages than by its military force; the progress of the Spaniards being retarded by the miserable condition of the roads, and by the neglect of all provision for their sustenance. An English force of 8,000 men, with a large supply of arms and ammunition, was sent to assist the Portuguese; and, though several towns at first fell into the hands of the Spaniards, the British and native troops displayed a decided superiority throughout the campaign, and compelled them to evacuate the kingdom with considerable loss. In Germany, prince Ferdinand and the marquis of Granby not only protected Hanover, but recovered the greater part of Hesse. At the same time Frederic experienced an unexpected stroke of good fortune. The empress Elizabeth of Russia died; and Peter III., who had long admired the heroic king, and who had never forgotten that the influence of Frederic had especially contributed to the foundation of his hopes and greatness, had no sooner ascended the throne than he made peace with him, and restored all the conquests of the Russians. From that time the king was not only enabled to concentrate his whole force against the Austrians, but was supported by Peter, who concluded an alliance with him, and despatched to his aid a corps of 20,000 men. The reign of Peter III. was, however, of very brief duration; and Catherine II., although she confirmed the peace, recalled the auxiliary Russians from the Prussian army.

Meanwhile the English were extending their conquests in the West Indies. They took Havannah and Manilla from the Spaniards; with Martinique, St. Lucie, Grenada, and St. Vincent from the French. Tired of a war which threatened the whole of their colonies with ruin, the cabinets of France and Spain were glad to find that the British minister was equally anxious to bring the war to a close. Peace, which was now the universal object of desire to all parties, was concluded at Versailles, on the 10th of February, 1763, between Great Britain, France, and Spain; and five days later, at Hubertsburg in Saxony, between Austria and Prussia. This memorable contest, which had required such an extraordinary expenditure of blood and treasure,-a war in which the half of Europe had been in arms against England and Prussia, was concluded with scarcely any alteration in the territorial arrangements of Germany, and without producing any great or lasting benefit to either of the belligerents, so far, at least, as their interest in Europe were concerned. But in the East and West Indies, as well as in America, it had added greatly to the colonial possessions of Great Britain.