Frederick the Great, the Memoirs of His Reader, 1758-1760 #266151

We had news that the Russians had struck their camp at Cammin, and that they were retiring in the direction of the forest of Massin, pursuing their march by way of Vietz and Massin to Landsberg. The King pursued them as far as the forest, without being able to attack the rear-guard. After our troops had passed Blumberg, it was discovered that a corps of Russians was posted behind the ponds and marshes which are in the forest, and had furnished the bridges and avenues with a large quantity of artillery, with which they fired on our hussars, but immediately our infantry had arrived, and had fired a few rounds from their guns, this Russian corps abandoned its position and continued its march. The King set up his quarters and his camp at Blumberg. I was called in the evening at five o'clock, my audience being very short.<br><br>"I was able to take nothing to-day from my barbarians except a good number of their sick and a large amount of their pitiful baggage. Were you not edified by the manner in which they had ruined this poor village?