For Daun has used his opportunity to invade Saxony; very cleverly checked by Prince Henri, while Frederick is on his way back.  To Daun’s surprise, the king moves off on Silesia.  Daun moved on Dresden.  Frederick, having cleared Silesia, sped back, and Daun retired.  The end of the campaign leaves the two sides much as it found them; Frederick at least not at all annihilated.  Ferdinand also has done excellently well.

V.—­Frederick at Bay

Not annihilated, but reduced to the defensive; best of his veterans killed off by now, exchequer very deficient in spite of English subsidy.  The allies form a huge cordon all round; broken into at points during the spring, but Daun finds at last that Frederick does not mean any invasion; that he, Daun, must be the invader.  But now and hereafter Fabius Cunctator waits for Russia.

In summer Russia is moving; Soltikoff, with 75,000 men, advancing, driving back Dohna.  Frederick’s best captains are all gone now; he tries a new one, Wedell, who gets beaten at Zuellichau.  Moreover, Haddick and Loudon are on the way to join Soltikoff.  Frederick plans and carries out his movements to intercept the Austrians with extraordinary swiftness; Haddick and Austrian infantry give up the attempted junction, but not so swift-moving Loudon with his 20,000 horse; interception a partial failure, and now Frederick must make straight for the Russians.

Just about this time—­August 1—­Ferdinand has won the really splendid victory of Minden, on the Weser, a beautiful feat of war; for Pitt and the English in their French duel a mighty triumph; this is Pitt’s year, but the worst of all in Frederick’s own campaigns.  His attack now on the Russians was his worst defeat—­at Kunersdorf.  Beginning victoriously, he tried to drive victory home with exhausted troops, who were ultimately driven in rout by Loudon with fresh regiments (August 9).

For the moment Frederick actually despaired; intended to resign command, and “not to revive the ruin of his country.”  But Daun was not capable of dealing the finishing stroke; managed, however, to take Dresden, on terms.  Frederick, however, is not many weeks in recovering his resolution; and a certain astonishing march of his brother, Prince Henri—­fifty miles in fifty-six hours through country occupied by the enemy—­is a turning-point.  Soltikoff, sick of Daun’s inaction, made ready to go home and England rejoiced over Wolfe’s capture of Quebec.  Frederick, recovering, goes too far, tries a blow at Daun, resulting in disaster of Maxen, loss of a force of 12,000 men.  On the other hand, Hawke finished the French fleet at Quiberon Bay.  A very bad year for Frederick, but a very good one for his ally.  Next year Loudon is to invade Silesia.