The Prince on his Return from Italy to Dessau shew'd that Time and Absence had not that Effect upon him as they generally have upon Lovers. He returned as much in love with Madamoiselle de Fohsen as he was at setting out. He married her in 1698, and soon after, viz. in 1701, she was by the Emperor acknowledged a Princess of the Empire. He has had five Sons and two Daughters by her, the eldest of whom is dead.
But the Embraces of a tender Spouse cou'd not keep him at home; a Warrior he was born, and a Warrior he would be. The War being then kindled between the Emperor and the French, the Prince went to serve in the Army on the Rhine, and was present at the taking of Keiserswaert. Soon after, King Frederic I. gave him the Command of 6000 Men, whom he sent to the Emperor's Assistance in Italy, where he signaliz'd himself in every Campaign, but especially at the raising of the Siege of Turin. The Duke of Savoy, afterwards King of Sardinia, with whom the Prince had not a very good Understanding, doing me the Honour to talk to me about him one day, said, The Prince of Anhalt has too much Fire; but when he is ripen'd by Age, he will be a great General. He was born with the Genius of a Captain, and he has contributed to save my Crown.
When a Neutrality was agreed on for Italy between the Emperor, his Allies, and France, the Prince of Anhalt was recall'd, and the King gave him the Command of his Troops in Flanders, where he maintain'd the Reputation which he had acquir'd in Italy, and was continued in his Command till the Peace of Utrecht.
The Obstinacy of Charles XII. King of Sweden in refusing to hearken to a Treaty for the Sequestration of Stetin, having oblig'd the King of Prussia to make war upon him, the Prince of Anhalt serving under the King, who then commanded his Army in Person, had the Honour to defend the Isle of Rugen, against the King of Sweden, who came in the Night and attack'd it with Fury; but the Swedes were repulsed, after having lost a number of considerable Officers in the Action. Since the Treaty with Sweden, this Prince has had no occasion to signalize his Valour. He resides commonly at Dessau, or at Magdebourg; and does not come to Court but when Affairs call him. He has three Sons in the King's Service, of whom the two eldest have Regiments of their own, and the third commands his Father's.
The King, who has a great Affection for the Prince of Anhalt, makes no considerable Regulation with regard to his Troops, or in any thing relating to the War-Office, without his Advice. His Majesty has given him considerable Tracts of Land in Prussia, where 'tis said the Prince is building not only Villages, but entire Towns.
M. d'Arnheim is the third Marshal. This old Gentleman, who is past fourscore, learnt the Art of War under two Great Masters, the Elector Frederic-William of Brandenbourg, and Montecuculi the Rival of Turenne.
The Marshal de Natzmer is an old Soldier also, who has serv'd under several Commanders with very great
Distinction; particularly the Prince of Waldeck, General of the Dutch Forces, the Prince of Orange afterwards King of England, and lastly under the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene of Savoy; who had all an Esteem for his Valour and Military Experience; this Marshal having been in all the Battles which those Generals fought in the Netherlands, and having been always wounded or had a Horse shot under him.
After having mentioned the chief Commanders of the King's Forces to you, I think it incumbent on me to give you an Account of those Persons whose Credit or Employments have the greatest Influence upon the Government; in which you will please to excuse me, if I do not follow that Order I have hitherto observ'd in my Narrative.