The Express.
London, England, 1866-07-03 00:00:00

THE LATE BATTLES IN BOHEMIA.

The Times publishes letters from its military
correspondent at the headquarters of the First
Prussian Army, changing from place to place, the
latest date being the 27th ult.
The correspondent speaks highly of the conduct of
the Prussian soldiers on their march into Bohemia.
As in the British service, everything that a soldier
wishes to buy must be scrupulously paid
for, and there seems to be no desire among
the men that it should be otherwise ; in
faA, the troops are much morc plundered than
plunderers. The corps, too, march magnificently.
After a wet day and a long journey they came up
the hill of Reichenberg on the 24th ult. with ranks
closed up, with as perfect a step as on a holiday
parade, and wont swinging along as if they could
not know fatigue ; yet they were heavily encum-
bered, for every man carried his knapsack, the
weight of which tells severely against a soldier's
mivehing, and might, in a country whore trans-
port is apparently so plentiful, be carried for him.
The headquarters at Reichenberg were in the
Schloss or Castle, which stands on a hill, overlook-
ing the picturesque town, and commanding a
beautiful view of the plains and mountains be-
yond it.
On the night of the 25th the Prussian advanced
posts were pushed forward to the tops of the range
of hills which bound the valley of Liebenau on the
north, and the next morning General von Horne,
who with the Bth division held the outposts, ad-
vanced early to occupy Liebenau. As his advanced
guard entered the village the Austrian rearguard
were discovered tearing up the pavement, in order
to form a barricade scrota the narrow street through
which the high road runs. On the approach of the
advanced guard they retired to the hill over which
the road to Tiirnau passes south of the village.
Here the Austrians took up position, but after
some sharp firing had to retire, making for the hills
of Dauba. It is evident that the Austrian com-
mander had not calculated on the rapid advance
of General von Horne, a; his dispositions for the
defence of the Liebenau position were quite incom-
plete.
On the evening of the 26th, Prince Frederick
Charles threw a light 'pontoon bridge over the
river a little below the broken bridge of Tdrnau,
and occupied the town with a small force without
opposition. Home's division marched at the same
time by the country road on the east, occupied the
village of Swierzin, and pushed its advanced guard
towards Podoll. The Jagers, who were leading,
got to within three-quarters of a m;le of Podoll-
bridge before they came into collision with Aus-
trian outposts, but here they found the enemy,
and a sharp action ensued, for the Austrians had
six battalions in the village, and meant to hold
the place and cover the passage of the river.
It was about 8 o'clock, and the dusk of the even-
ing was rapidly closing in, when the Jagers first
felt their enemy. Tho Austrians were defending
the first house in the village, a large square farm-
house with windows without glass, but with heavy
gratings ; but after obstinate fighting they were
borne back to where the cottages of the village
closed on each side of the road, and where the de-
fenders had hastily thrown some hewn down willow
trees as a barricade across the way.