Maguire is Governor of Dresden.

The consternation of garrison and population was extreme.

To Lacy himself it did not seem conceivable that Friedrich could mean a Siege of Dresden.
Friedrich, that night, is beyond the River, in Daun's old impregnability of Reichenberg: 'He has no siege-artillery,' thinks Lacy; 'no means, no time.' "Nevertheless, Saturday, next day after to-morrow,--behold, there is Hulsen, come from Schlettau to our neighborhood, on our Austrian side of the River.

And at Kaditz yonder, a mile below Dresden, are not the King's people building their Pontoons; in march since 2 in the morning,--evidently coming across, if not to besiege Dresden, then to attack us; which is perhaps worse! We outnumber them,--but as to trying fight in any form?
Zweibruck leaves Maguire an additional 10,000;--every help and encouragement to Maguire; whose garrison is now 14,000: 'Be of courage, Excellenz Maguire! Nobody is better skilled in siege-matters.
Feldmarschall and relief will be here with despatch!'-- and withdraws, Lacy and he, to the edge of the Pirna Country, there to be well out of harm's way.

Lacy and he, it is thought, would perhaps have got beaten, trying to save Dresden from its misery.