"So much the better, they will have something to do, and will not prevent us from carrying the principal point." We were completely victorious: but lost the baggage. The head quarters left without defence, were entirely pillaged: and Trenck had for his share of the plunder, the King's tent, and all his silver plate.
A few days after the battle of Soran, the postman brought me the following letter from my cousin Trenck, dated from Essek, and written four months before.
"I find by your letter from Berlin, of Feb, 12, that you desire me to send you some Hungarian horses, that you may employ them against my Hussars and Pandours. I perceived with pleasure, in the last campaign, that the Prussian Trenck was a good soldier. As a proof of my attachment, I sent you back your horses, which my people had taken. But if you want Hungarian horses, try next campaign to carry ⟨off⟩ mine by open force; or else come and join your cousin, who will receive you with open arms, will treat you like his son and his friend, and will procure you call the advantages you can desire," &c.
Cornet Wagoitz, and Lieutenant Gratthausor who are both alive, were present; I gave them the letter, we laughed at its contents; and it was resolved that we should show it to Colonel Iaschinzki, commandant of the corps, on condition that he should not speak of it. An hour after we did as we had agreed. When he had read my letter with an appearance of astonishment, we all began to laugh: and as there was a report that a body of troops, would be sent to Hungary, Ioaschinzki said"we
