LOBOSITZ TO LEUTHEN: Horace St Paul and the Seven Years War, 1756-1757

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In 1756, Prince Charles of Lorraine confidently expected to be appointed to the chief command of the Austrian army once it was fully mobilised. The Prince thought sufficiently well of St Paul to offer him a post at his side as aide-de-camp and sent him to join Marshal Browne, then commanding in Bohemia, as a volunteer to learn something of soldiering. Having no regimental duties St Paul kept a journal of the day to day operations of the Austrians, thereby learning his new trade.

Day by day diary kept by Horace St Paul during the war. He is not shy to write, nothing happened, and also when the action is hottest he can be understandably brief. As a man learning his trade, he often records details of almost arcane significance.