colleagues, especially by D'Ahremberg, in FORCING battle on those
rash terms: 'We Austrians absolutely will not!' said D'Ahremberg at
last, and withdrew, or was withdrawing, he for his part, across the
River again. So that Stair also was obliged to recross the River,
in indignant humor; and now lies at Aschaffenburg, suffering the
sad alternative, short diet namely, which will end in famine soon,
if these counsels prevail.

"Stair and D'Ahremberg do not well accord in their opinions;
nor, it seems, is anybody in particular absolute Chief; there are
likewise heats and jealousies between the Hanoverian and the
English troops ('Are not we come for all your goods?' 'Yes, damn
you, and for all our chattels too!')--and withal it is frightfully
uncertain whether a high degree of intellect presides over these
44,000 fighting men, which may lead them to something, or a low
degree, which can only lead them to nothing!--The blame is all laid
on Stair; 'too rash,' they say. Possibly enough, too rash.
And possibly enough withal, even to a sound military judgment, in
such unutterable puddle of jarring imbecilities, 'rashness,'
headlong courage, offered the one chance there was of success?
Who knows, had all the 44,000 been as rash as Stair and his
English, but luck, and sheer hard fighting, might have favored him,
as skill could not, in those sad circumstances! Stair's plan was,
'Beat Noailles, and you have done everything: provisions, opulent
new regions, and all else shall be added to you!' Stair's plan
might have answered,--had Stair been the master to execute it;
which he was not. D'Ahremberg's also, who protested, 'Wait till
your 12,000 join, and you have your provisions,' was the orthodox
plan, and might have much to say for itself. But the two plans
collapsing into one,--that was the clearly fatal method!