ked the fortifications； slew the Marquis de Crevecoeur； with his own hand manned the post； traversed the other arm of the Rhine； surprised two Bavarian regiments of cavalry； and by this daring manoeuvre； secured the passage of the Rhine to the whole army； which； but for him； would not have been effected。 Wherever he came； he laid the country under contribution； and； at this moment of triumph for the Austrian arms； opened himself a passage to enter the territories of France。 In September； 1744； war having broken out between Austria and Prussia； the imperial army was obliged to return； abandon Alsatia； and hasten to the succour of the Austrian states。 Trenck succeeded in covering its retreat。 The history of Maria Theresa declares the damages he did the enemy； during this campaign。 He gave proof of his capacity at Tabor and Budweis。 With 300 men he attacked one of these towns； which was defended by the two Prussian regiments of Walrabe and Kreutz。 He found the water in the moats was deeper than his spies had declared； and the scaling ladders too short： most of those led to the attack were killed； or drowned in the water； and the small number that crossed the moats were made prisoners。 The garrison of Tabor； of Budweis； and of the castle of Frauenburg； were； nevertheless； induced to capitulate； and yield themselves prisoners； although the main body under Trenck was more than five miles distant。 His corps did not come up till the morrow； and it was ridiculous enough to see the pandours dressed in the caps of the Prussian fusiliers and pioneers； which they wore instead of their own； and which they afterwards continued to wear。
The campaign to him was glorious； and the enemy's want of light troops gave free scope to his enterprises； highly to their prejudice。 He never returned without prisoners。 He passed the Elbe near Pardubitz； took the magazines； and was the cause of the great dearth and desertion among the Prussians； and of that hasty retreat to which they were forced。 The King was at Cohn with his headquarters； where I was with him； when Trenck attacked the town； which he must have carried； had he not been wounded by a cannon… ball； which shattered his foot。 He was taken away； the attack did not succeed； and his men； without him； remained but so many ciphers。
In 1745； he went to Vienna； where his entrance resembled a triumph。 The Empress received him with distinction。 He appeared on crutches； she； by her condescending speech； inflamed his zeal to extravagance。 Who would have supposed that the favourite of the people would that year be abandoned to the power of his enemies； who had not rendered； during their whole lives； so much essential service to the state as Trenck had done in a single day？ He returned to his estate； raised eight hundred recruits that he might aid in the next campaign； and gather new laurels。 He rejoined the army。 At the battle of Sorau he fell upon the Prussian camp； and seized upon the tent of the King； but he came too late to attack the rear； as had been preconcerted。 Frederic gave up his camp to be plundered； for the Croats could not be drawn off to attack the army； and the King was prepared to receive them； even if they should。 In the meantime； the imperial army was defeated。
Here was a field for the enemies of Trenck to incite the people against him。 They accused him of having made the King of Prussia a prisoner in his tent； that he also pillaged the camp instead of attacking the rear of the army。 After having ended the campaign； he returned to Vienna to defend himself。 Here he found twenty…three officers； whom he expelled his regiment； most of them for cowardice or mean actions。 They were ready to bear false testimony。 Counsellor Weber and Gen。 Loewenwalde； had sworn his downfall； which they effected。 Trenck despised their attacks。 While things remained thus； they instructed one of the Empress's attendants to profit by every opportunity to deprive him of her confidence。 It was affirmed； Trenck is an atheist！ who never prayed to the holy Virgin！ The officers； whom he had broken； whispered it in coffee… houses； that Trenck had taken and set free the King of Prussia！ This raised the cry among the fanatical mob of Vienna。 Teased by their complaints； and at the requisition of Trenck himself； the Empress commanded that examination should be undertaken of these accusations。 Field…marshal Cordova was chosen to preside over this inquiry。 He spoke the truth； and drew up a statement of the case； it was presented to the Court； and which I shall here insert。
〃The complaints brought against him did not require a court…martial。 Trenck had broken some officers by his own authority； their demands ought to be satisfied by the payment of 12；000 florins。 The remaining accusations were all the attempts of revenge and calumny； and were insufficient to detain at Vienna； entangled in law…suits； a man so necessary to the army。 Moreover； it would be prudent not to inquire into trifles； in consideration of his important services。〃
Trenck； dissatisfied by this sentence； and animated by avarice and pride； refused to pay a single florin； and returned to Sclavonia。 His presence was necessary at Vienna； to obtain other advantages against his enemies。 They gave the Empress to understand； that being a man excessively dangerous； whenever he supposed himself injured； Trenck had spread pernicious views in Sclavonia； where all men were dependent on him。 He raised six hundred more men； with whom he made a campaign in the Netherlands； and in October； 1746； returned to Vienna。 After the peace of Dresden； his regiment was incorporated among the regulars； and served against France。
Scarcely had he arrived at Vienna； before an order came from the Empress that he must remain under arrest in his chamber。 Here he rendered himself guilty by the most imprudent action of his whole life。 He ordered his carriage and horses； despising the imperial mandate； went to the theatre； when the Empress was present。 In one of the boxes he saw Count Gossau； in company with a comrade of his own； whom he had cashiered： these persons were among the foremost of his accusers。 Inflamed with the desire of revenge； he entered the box； seized Count Gossau； and would have thrown him into the pit in the presence of the Sovereign herself。 Gossau drew his sword； and tried to run him through； but the latter seizing it； wounded himself in the hand。 Everybody ran to save Gossau； who was unable to defend himself。 After this exploit； the colonel of the pandours returned foaming home。
Such an action rendered it impossible for Maria Theresa to declare herself the protectress of a man so rash。 Sentinels were placed over him； and his enemies profiting by his imprudence and passion； he was ordered to be tried by a court…martial。 General Loewenwalde intrigued so successfully； that he procured himself to be named； by the Hofkriegsrath； president of the court…martial； and to be charged with the sequestration of the property of Trenck。 In vain did the latter protest against his judge。 The very man； whom the year before he had kicked out of the ante…chamber of Prince Charles； received full power to denounce him guilty。 Then was it that public notice was given that all those who would prefer complaints against Colonel Baron Trenck should receive a ducat per day while the council continued to sit。 They soon amounted to fifty…four； who； in a space of four months； received 15；000 florins from the property of Trenck。 The judge himself purchased the depositions of false witnesses； and Count Loewenwalde offered me one thousand ducats； if I would betray the secrets of my cousin； and promised me I should be put in possession of my confiscated estates in Prussia； and have a company in a regiment。
That the indictment and the examinations of the witnesses were falsified； has already been proved in the revision of the cause； but as the indictment did not contain one article that could affect his life； they invented the following stratagem。 A courtesan； a mistress of Baron Rippenda； who was a member of the court…martial； was bribed； and made oath she was the daughter of Count Schwerin； Field…marshal in the Prussian service； and that she was in bed with the King of Prussia； when Trenck surprised the camp at Sorau； made her and the King prisoners； and restored them their freedom。 She even ventured to name Baron Hilaire； aide…de…camp to Frederic； whom she affirmed was then present。 Hilaire； who afterwards married the Baroness Tillier； and who consequently was brother…in…law to Trenck； fortunately happened to be in Vienna。 He was confronted with this woman； and through her falsehoods； the gentleman was obliged to remain in prison； where they offered him bribes； which be refused to accept； and； to prevent his speaking； he continued in prison some weeks； and was not released till this shameful proceeding was made public。
Count Loewenwalde invented another artifice； he drew up a false indictment； and； that he might be prevented all means of justification； he chose a day to put it in practice； when the Emperor and Prince Charles were hunting at Holitzsch。 Loewenwalde's court…martial had already signed a sentence of death； and every preparation