by his side。 He ran to the company； counted one； two； three； and beheaded the fourth。 He was continuing this； when a Harum…Bashaw left the ranks； drew his sword； and called aloud； 〃It is I who fired upon thee； defend thyself。〃 The soldiers stood motionless spectators。 Trenck attacked him and hewed him down。 He was proceeding to continue the execution of the fourth man； but the whole regiment presented their arms。 The revolt became general； and Trenck； still holding his drawn sabre； ran amidst them； hacking about him on all sides。 The excess of his rage was terrific； the soldiers all called 〃Hold！〃 each fell on their knees； and promised obedience。 After this he addressed them in language suitable to their character； and from that time they became invincible soldiers whenever they were headed by himself。 Let the situation of Trenck be considered； he was the chief of a band of robbers who supposed they were authorised to take whatever they pleased in an enemy's country； a banditti that had so often defied the gallows； and had never known military subordination。 Let such men be led to the field and opposed to regular troops。 That they are never actuated by honour is evident： their leader is obliged to excite their avidity by the hope of plunder to engage them in action； for if they perceive no personal advantage； the interest of the sovereign is insufficient to make them act。
Trenck had need of a particular species of officers。 They must be daring； yet cautious。 They are partisans； and must be capable of supporting fatigue； desirous of daily seeking the enemy； and hazarding their lives。 As he was himself never absent at the time of action； he soon became acquainted with those whom he called old women； and sent them from his regiment。 These officers then repaired to Vienna； vented their complaints； and were heard。 His avarice prevented him from making any division of his booty with those gentlemen who constituted the military courts； thus neglecting what was customary at Vienna： and in this originated the prosecution to which he fell a victim。 Scarcely had he entered Austria with his troops before he found an opportunity of reaping laurels。 The French army was defeated at Lintz。 Trenck pursued them； treated his prisoners with barbarity； and； never granting quarter in battle； the very appearance of his pandours inspired terror。
Trenck was a great warrior； and knew how to profit by the slightest advantage。 From this time he became renowned； gained the confidence of Prince Charles； and the esteem of the Field…marshal Count Kevenhuller； who discovered the worth of the man。 No partisan had ever before obtained so much power as Trenck； he everywhere pursued the enemy as far as Bavaria； carrying fire and sword wherever he went。 As it was known Trenck gave no quarter； the Bavarians and the French flew at the sight of a red mantle。 Pillage and murder attended the pandours wherever they went； and their colonel bought up all the booty they acquired。 Chamb； in particular； was a scene of a dreadful massacre。 The city was set on fire and the people perished in the flames； women and children who endeavoured to fly； were obliged to pass over a bridge； where they were first stripped； and afterwards thrown into the water。 This action was one of the accusations brought against Trenck when he was prosecuted； but he alleged his justification。
The banks of the Iser to this day reverberate groans for the barbarities of Trenck。 Deckendorf and Filtzhofen felt all his fury。 In the first of these towns 600 French prisoners capitulated； although his forces were four miles distant； but he formed a kind of straw men； on which he put pandour caps and cloaks； and set them up as sentinels； and the garrison； deceived by this stratagem； signed the capitulation。 The services he rendered the army during the Bavarian war are well known in the history of Maria Theresa。 The good he has done has been passed over in silence； because he died under misfortunes； and did not leave his historian a legacy。 He was informed that either at Deckendorf or Filtzhofen there was a barrel containing 20；000 florins； concealed at the house of an apothecary。 Impelled by the desire of booty； Trenck hastened to the place； with a candle in his hand； searching everywhere； and； in his hurry； dropped a spark into a quantity of gunpowder； by the explosion of which he was dreadfully scorched。 They carried him off； but the scars and the gunpowder with which his skin was blackened rendered his countenance terrific。
The present Field…marshal Laudohn was at that time a lieutenant in his regiment； and happened to be at the door when his colonel was burnt。 Scarcely was Trenck cured before his spies informed him that Laudohn had plenty of money。 Immediately he suspected that Laudohn had found the barrel of florins； and from that moment he persecuted him by all imaginable arts。 Wherever there was danger he sent him； at the head of 30 men； against 300； hoping to have him cut off； and to make himself his heir。 This was so often repeated that Laudohn returned to Vienna； where； joining the crowd of the enemies of Trenck； he became instrumental in his destruction。 Yet it is certain that； in the beginning； Trenck had shown a friendship for Laudohn； had given him a commission； and that this great man learned； under the command of Trenck； his military principles。 General Tillier was likewise formed in this nursery of soldiers； where officers were taught activity； stratagem； and enterprise。 And who are more capable of commanding a Hungarian army than Tillier and Laudohn？ I； one day said to Trenck； when he was in Vienna； embarrassed by his prosecution； and when he had published a defamatory writing against all his accusers； excepting no man；〃You have always told me that Laudohn was one of the most capable of your officers； and that he is a worthy man。 Wherefore then do you class him among such wretches？〃 He replied； 〃What！ would you have me praise a man who labours； at the head of my enemies； to rob me of honour； property； and life！〃 I have related this incident to prove by the testimony of so honourable a man； that Trenck was a great soldier； and a zealous patriot； and that he never took the King of Prussia prisoner； as has been falsely affirmed； and as is still believed by the multitude。 Had such a thing happened； Laudohn must have been present； and would have supported this charge。
Bavaria was plundered by Trenck； barges were loaded with gold； silver； and effects； which he sent to his estates in Sclavonia； Prince Charles and Count Kevenhuller countenanced his proceedings； but when Field…marshal Neuperg was at the head of the army； he had other principles。 He was connected with Baron Tiebes； a counsellor of the Hofkriegsrath who was the enemy of Trenck。 Persecution was at that time instituted against him； and Trenck was imprisoned； but he defended himself so powerfully that in a month he was set at liberty。 Mentzel； meanwhile； had the command of the pandours； and this man appropriated to himself the fame that Trenck had acquired by the warriors he himself had formed。 Mentzel never was the equal of Trenck。 Trenck now increased the number of his Croats to 4；000； from whom； in 1743； a regiment of Hungarian regulars was formed； but who still retained the name of pandours。 It was a regiment of infantry。 Trenck also had 600 hussars and 150 chasseurs； whom he equipped at his own expense。 Yet； when this corps was reduced； all was sold for the profit of the imperial treasury； without bringing a shilling to account。
With a corps so numerous； he undertook great enterprises。 The enemy fled wherever he appeared。 He led the van； raised contributions which amounted to several millions； delivered unto the Empress； in five years； 7；000 prisoners； French and Bavarian； and more than 3；000 Prussians。 He never was defeated。 He gained confidence among his troops； and will remain in history the first man who rendered the savage Croats efficient soldiers。 This it was impossible to perform among a bloodthirsty people without being guilty himself of cruel acts。 The necessity of the excesses he committed； when the army was in want of forage； was so evident that he received permission of Prince Charles； though for this he was afterwards prosecuted； while the plunders of Brenklau； Mentzel； and the whole army； were never once questioned。 That Trenck advanced more than 100；000 florins to his regiment； I clearly proved； in 1750。 This proof came too late。 He was dead。 The evidence I brought occasioned a quartermaster； Frederici； to be imprisoned。 He confessed the embezzlement of this money； yet found so many friends among the enemies of Trenck that he refunded nothing； but was released in the year 1754； when I was thrown into the dungeon of Magdeburg。
My cousin； who had lived like a miser； did not； at his death； leave half of the property he had inherited from his father； and which legally descended to me； it was torn from me by violence。
In 1744 he obliged the French to retire beyond the Rhine； seized on a fort near Phillipsburg； swam across the river with 70 pandours； attacked the fortifications； slew the Marquis de Crevecoeur； with his own hand manned the post； traversed