He was in a very bad humour, too, having discovered that Retzow had failed to take possession of the Stromberg, a detached hill which would have rendered the position a safe one.

He put him under arrest, and ordered the Stromberg to be occupied.
The next morning the force proceeding to do so found, however, that the post was already occupied by Austrians; who resisted stoutly and, being largely reinforced, maintained their position on the hill, on which several batteries were placed.

It was now Tuesday, and Frederick determined to march away on the Saturday.
His obstinacy had placed the army in an altogether untenable and dangerous position.

All his officers were extremely uneasy, and Keith declared to the king that the Austrians deserved to be hanged if they did not attack; to which Frederick replied: "We must hope that they are more afraid of us than even of the gallows.".