As mentioned, Mitchell changes his mind on things, which is one of the reasons why I trust Bisset not to have meddled with his papers, as Thiebault's editor/rewriter did. (Though of course Bisset selected what was interesting to him.) One of the things that changes the longer the war goes on is that Mitchell pays more and more attention to the horrendous price the war effort demands on the civilian population. Early on, in 1756, Fritz invading Saxony is a bold strategic choice Mitchell is totally behind, even if he's a bit disturbed at the occasional plundering. By the end of 1760/ start of 1761, though, he's horrified by the way the Saxons are treated. (He's also horried that Fritz and Heinrich are at odds about this and in one of their "I'm not talking to you" stages and reports "I have laboured underhand with the Prussian Ministers here to bring about some reconciliation, but they have made no progress. They are well disposed, but timid." Mitchell, getting between Fritz and Heinrich must have been only slightly less uncomfortable than getting between FW and Fritz, so no surprise there.) Some choice quotes showing Mitchell the war reporter:
December 1760:
My other letters by this messenger will inform your Lordship of everything that has passed since the 12th, and I am very unwilling and very unfit at the present moment to make reflections. I cannot think of the bombardment of Dresden without horror, nor of many other things I have seen. Misfortunes naturally sour men's tempers, and the continuance of them at last extinguishes humanity.
3rd January 1761:
The very harsh manner in which the country of Saxony is treated fills me with horror, though there is now the fatal plea of necessity for adopting measures which were practised before that necessity existed.
16th January 1761:
The demands of contributions of all sorts made by the Prussians in Saxony are most exorbitant, and far exceeding the abilities of the country to comply with, so that many of the subjects are now actually under military execution, equally ruinous to the country, and to the officers employed upon that service, who, when they have once tasted the sweets of plunder, cease to be soldiers.
None of this, btw, means he's now anti-Fritz. Also near the end of 1760, there are admiring descriptionis like:
His Prussian Majesty has escaped many dangers, but none greater nor more immediate than that I have mentioned. His deliverance is owing, under God, to his superior capacity, the celerity of his motions, and that firmness of mind he enjoys in the most horrid situations, and in the midst of the greatest alarms.
But if you ever need a canon basis for it NOT being anachronistic for a contemporary to be appalled even he's basically on board with the general war aim, here it is.
Andrew Mitchell: War Reporter at Large
As mentioned, Mitchell changes his mind on things, which is one of the reasons why I trust Bisset not to have meddled with his papers, as Thiebault's editor/rewriter did. (Though of course Bisset selected what was interesting to him.) One of the things that changes the longer the war goes on is that Mitchell pays more and more attention to the horrendous price the war effort demands on the civilian population. Early on, in 1756, Fritz invading Saxony is a bold strategic choice Mitchell is totally behind, even if he's a bit disturbed at the occasional plundering. By the end of 1760/ start of 1761, though, he's horrified by the way the Saxons are treated. (He's also horried that Fritz and Heinrich are at odds about this and in one of their "I'm not talking to you" stages and reports "I have laboured underhand with the Prussian Ministers here to bring about some reconciliation, but they have made no progress. They are well disposed, but timid." Mitchell, getting between Fritz and Heinrich must have been only slightly less uncomfortable than getting between FW and Fritz, so no surprise there.) Some choice quotes showing Mitchell the war reporter:
December 1760:
My other letters by this messenger will inform your Lordship of everything that has passed since the 12th, and I am very unwilling and very unfit at the present moment to make reflections. I cannot think of the bombardment of Dresden
without horror, nor of many other things I have seen. Misfortunes naturally sour men's tempers, and the continuance of them at last extinguishes humanity.
3rd January 1761:
The very harsh manner in which the country of Saxony is treated fills me with horror, though there is now the fatal plea of necessity for adopting measures which were practised before that necessity existed.
16th January 1761:
The demands of contributions of all sorts made by the Prussians in Saxony are most exorbitant, and far exceeding the abilities of the country to comply with, so that many of the subjects are now actually under military execution, equally ruinous to the country, and to the officers employed upon that service, who, when they have once tasted the sweets of plunder, cease to be soldiers.
None of this, btw, means he's now anti-Fritz. Also near the end of 1760, there are admiring descriptionis like:
His Prussian Majesty has escaped many dangers, but none greater nor more immediate than that I have mentioned. His deliverance is owing, under God, to his superior capacity, the celerity of his motions, and that firmness of mind he enjoys in the most horrid situations, and in the midst of the greatest alarms.
But if you ever need a canon basis for it NOT being anachronistic for a contemporary to be appalled even he's basically on board with the general war aim, here it is.