The place was an extremely strong one, and the king had relied confidently upon its holding out for two or three months.

Its fortifications were constructed in the best manner; it was abundantly supplied with cannon, ammunition, and provisions; and its surrender was inexcusable.
The fault was doubtless, to a large degree, that of its commandant, who was a man of no resolution or resources; but it was also partly due to the fact that a portion of the garrison were Saxons, who had at Pirna been obliged to enter the Prussian service.

Great numbers of these deserted; a hundred and eighty of them, in one day, going over from an advanced post to the enemy.

With troops like these, there could be no assurance that any post would be firmly held--a fact that might well shake the confidence of any commander in his power of resistance.
The blow was none the less severe, to Frederick, from being partly the result of his own mistaken step of enrolling men bitterly hostile in the ranks of the army.

Still, disastrous as the news was, it did not alter his resolution; and at even greater speed than before he continued his march.