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Frederick the Great and His Family by L. (Luise) Mühlbach
page 292 of 1003 (29%)
was only necessary to detain him, to prevent him from reaching the
Bohemian borders, until the Austrian army came to their assistance,
until the French troops had entered and taken possession of Prussia.
Therefore, Count Bruhl sent courier after courier to Saxony's
allies, to spread her cry for help to every friendly court. He then
collected the army, ordered them to camp at Pirna, which was very
near the boundary of Bohemia, and, as it was guarded on one side by
the Elbe, and on the other by high rocks, appeared perfectly secure.
When these preparations were commenced, the count's courage rose
considerably, and he determined to prove himself a hero, and to give
the Saxon army the inspiring consciousness that, in the hour of
danger, their king would be in their midst. The king therefore left
for the fortress of Konigstein, accompanied by Count Bruhl, leaving
the army, consisting of about seventeen thousand men, to follow
under the command of General Rutrosky, and to encamp at the foot of
Konigstein. Arrived at Konigstein, where they thought themselves
perfectly secure, they gave themselves up to the free and careless
life of former days. They had only changed their residence, not
their character; their dreams were of future victories, of the many
provinces they would take from the King of Prussia; and with this
delightful prospect the old gay, luxurious, and wanton life was
continued. What difference did it make to Count Bruhl that the army
was only provided with commissary stores for fourteen days, and that
this time was almost past, and no way had been found to furnish them
with additional supplies. The King of Prussia had garrisoned every
outlet, and only the King of Saxony's forage-wagon was allowed to
pass.

Frederick knew better than the Saxon generals the fearful,
invincible enemy that was marching to the camp of Pirna. What were
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