Friedrich Wilhelm Von Seydlitz - Seven Years' War

Seven Years' War

The next year, the Seven Years' War broke out. In May 1757, regardless of the custom of keeping the heavy cavalry in reserve, he brought his regiment forward to join the advance guard at the Battle of Prague; he nearly lost his life attempting to ride through a marshy pool. Also, at Kolin in June 1757, at the head of a cavalry brigade, he distinguished himself in checking the Austrian pursuit by a brilliant charge. Two days later, the king made him major-general and awarded him the Orden Pour le Mérite. He felt he had deserved the promotion for a long time, for he responded to Hans Joachim von Zieten's congratulations by saying, "It was high time, Excellency, if they wanted more work out of me. I am already thirty-six." Excepting this, Seydlitz was generally admired for his modesty and his virtues, both private and military, with a supreme coup d'œil that allowed him to utilize the cavalry to its full potential.

In the dismal weeks that followed the disaster of Kolin, Seydlitz asserted his energy and spirit in cavalry encounters on four occasions. On the morning of the Battle of Rossbach (1757-11-05), Frederick superseded two senior generals and placed Seydlitz in command of the whole of his cavalry. The battle resulted in the complete rout and disorganization of the enemy, and in achieving the result only seven battalions of Frederick's army had fired a shot - the rest had been the work of Seydlitz and his 38 squadrons. The same night, the king awarded him the Order of the Black Eagle, and promoted him lieutenant-general. Unfortunately, during the melee he had received a wound, and remained out of action for four months. Seydlitz' health was a frequent problem, undermined by his notorious promiscuity under the Margrave, and even the slightest wound incapacitated him.

Seydlitz rejoined the king in 1758, and at the Battle of Zorndorf, Seydlitz's cavalry again saved the day. At Hochkirch, with 108 squadrons he covered the Prussian retreat, and in the disaster of Kunersdorf, he received a severe wound in a hopeless attempt to storm a hill held by the Russians. During his convalescence he married Countess Albertine Hacke. He rejoined the army in May 1760, but his health was so impaired that Frederick sent him home again. While in the capital, he helped organise a defence of the city during the Austro-Russian Raid on Berlin. Although he was unable to prevent the enemy from briefly occupying the city, Frederick later praised him for his conduct.

Seydlitz did not reappear at the front until 1761. He received command of a wing of Prince Henry's army, composed of troops of all arms, and many doubts were expressed as to his fitness for this command, as his service had hitherto been with the cavalry exclusively. He answered his critics with his conduct at Freiberg on October 29, 1762, in which, leading his infantry and his cavalry in turn, he decided the day.