The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-29 00:00:00

THE PRUSSIAN ARMY.

(From the Times' Military Correspondent)
gEAD-QUARTERS OF THE FIRST ARMY,
HIRSCHFELD, June 22.
The Southern boundary of Saxon Lusatia runs
forward for a distance of about 15 English miles
within the general line of the Bohemian frontier of
Austria. In the salient angle of Saxony formed by
this peculiar tracing of the border line stands within
Saxon territory the frontier town of Zittau. This
town covers the issue of the passes which lead from
Reichenberg and Friedland, in Bohemia, through the
mountains into Lusatia, and commands the railway
which by the pass of Reichenberg runs from Pardu-
bitz to Bautzen. About six miles to the north-east
of Zittau and about 17 south-west of Gorlitz the
village of Hirschfeld is situated on the Neisse, at a
point where this river receives a small affluent called
the Kipper. In this village the headquarters of the
First Army have to-day been established. Directly
to the south are clearly seen the bold swelling masses
of the Bohemian mountains, which here rise higher
than. in any part of the chain except where the
Schneekoppe looms over the passes which lead into
Silesia. The break in the mountain line which
shows the defile through which passes the road to
Reichenberg can be distinctly seen from here.
Many eyes are often turned towards the gap in the
clear relief of the hills against the sky, and many
seek to know whether Prince Frederick Charles has
come south to force that pass, or expects the Aus-
trians to issue from it. But those who have to-day
marched along the 17 miles of dusty road from
Gorlitz can have little doubt with what object the
First Army is here; the amount of transport, which
stretched in almost a continuous line for 12 miles of
the way, told clearly that it was attached to an
army destined for more than the mere defence of a
frontier.
_ '

Prince Frederick Charles to-day broke up his
quarters at Gorlitz, drew a great part of the first
army together, and launched it by the two roads
which lead through Zittau and Seidenberg respec-
tively towards the Austrian frontier. The head-
quarter staff left Gorlitz about 3 this afternoon, and
pushed along a road crowded with marching troops
and military carriages to this village. The roadfrom
Gorlitz to this place was covered with an almost
unbroken stream of infantry regiments, batteries of
artillery, cavalry detachments, military carriages,
and a long line of country waggons as supplemen-
tary transport, while the thick cloud of dust which
rose about a mile and a half to the left showed that
an equally strong column was pushing forward by
the Seidenberg road. The heat was great, and the
dust, rising in dense clouds from beneath the feet of
the men and horses, or wheels of the carriages, hung
heavily upon the marching columns; but the men
stepped out cheerily, for they were anxious to ad-
vance, and they did not seem to suffer from fatigue.
One regiment, the 9th, has just marched in here,
with its drums and fifes playing, ranks closed up,
no stragglers, and the men keeping step so well that,
but for the dust on their clothes and appointments,
they might be imagined to be going for instead of
returning from a march.
The chaussee leading from Gorlitz to Zittau is
broad enough to allow four carriages to pass. The
march was excellently arranged ; there was no con-
fusion, and no halts had to be made except those
which were necessary to allow the men to rest. The
carriages of the Alilitary Train were scrupulously
kept to one side of the road, so as to leave the rest
clear for the troops. Its own baggage marched in
the rear of each battalion, but it was not much—
only one waggon with the reserve ammunition, a
cart for the officers' baggage, and three or four
packhorses to carry the paymasters' books and
the doctors' medicines. The soldiers marched
strongly ; their faces were lit up with excite-
ment, for they knew that every pace brought
them nearer to the enemy, and they long for
battle. The country people on the road or work-
ing by the wayside exchanged kind words with
the men, and expressed many good wishes for
their success, and did so with sincerity, for the
Prussian soldiers who have been billeted in the
Saxon hamlets have made themselves great favourites
with the villagers.
Never was a march better conducted. The stand-
ing crops which fringe the road for almost its entire
length were in no single place either trampled down
or passed through. The road was crowded and dusty,
but the men never left it, and, if there was a halt
where corn grew by the wayside, no soldier went
further from the line of march than to sit on the
narrow fringe of grass which separates the chaussee
from the cultivated ground, and in no case were the
fields intruded upon. The staff officers, too, with a
wise provision for the comfort of the troops, and
with a careful regard for the farmers, had arranged
that halts of long duration should be made by alter-
nate regiments at places where the hay had been cut
and carried home, and the short grass could, with-
out itself suffering any harm, afford relief to the
heated feet of the soldiers.
The road about a mile south of Gorlitz de-
scends a steep hill, formed by the spur of the
Landeskrone, which runs down to the edge of the
Neisse, and on which the town of Gorlitz is built.
It then runs along the valley as far as Ostritz ; on
the right are wide unenzlosed fields covered with
rich crops, which terminate on the low line of hills
that fringes the valley towards the west ; on the left
runs the slow stream of the Neisse, shrouded in
willows ; beyond the river a chain of gentle eleva-
tions separates its valley from that formed by the
Bolte rivulet, up which runs the road from Gorlitz
by Seidenberg to Friedland. A mile south of
Ostritz a chain of hills, standing directly across
the road, forms a defile through which the river
winds with a narrowed stream, the road bends to
the right, and goes over a hill thickly covered with
fir-trees, but soon descends again, and at Hirsch-
feld rejoins the course of the river. Two good mili-
tary positions for an army retreating on Gorlitz are
afforded on this road—that behind Hirschfeld,
where in front of the hill a rivulet crosses the way ;
and a second where, in front of Gorlitz, the road
dips down into the valley.
The Prussian troops are to-night in force in Zittau
and Friedland, and troops are placed all along the
road which connects those two towns. Headquar-
ters are established here in a very picturesque but
not overclep.n Saxon village. ' Prince Frederick
Charles and his Staff occupy the village inn ; the
square in front, half market-place half green, is
crowded with the carriages of the military train.
Soldiers are billeted in every cottage, and chargers
stand in every stable. The little hamlet is a con-
tinual scene of busy turmoil, horses are being
attended to, arms are being cleaned, and the men
are making ready for to-morrow's march, while now
and then a distant trumpet on the left tells that the
evening watches are being set by the troops that
lie towards Friedland. To-morrow the advance is
to be continued.
The resources of this little village are sorely taxed
by the sudden inroad of hungry men ; the common
room of the inn is filled with a multitude of soldiers
hungry with a long day's march. Each man buys
a large piece of bread and a junk of meat, and re-
tiring to a side table, or bench, cuts it up with his
pocket-knife, and makes a hearty meal. The regi-
mental officers fare no better than their men. The
campaign has already begun, and a great deal of
the outward distinctions of ranks has been, as is
always the ease, shaken off, but the real discipline
is unimpaired.
The health of the army is excellent • the sick
"
only average 21 per cent., which would be a re-
markably small number even in a period of pro-
found peace. The sanitary arrangements are so
good that there seems to
be every chance of this
in .
small proportion of illness being maintained.
The surgeons, hospital attendants, and sick-
bearers wear on their left arm a white band with a
red cross as a mark of their profession and their
neutrality.

CASTLE OF GRAFENSTEIN, June 23.
The troops which advanced yesterday towards
Bohemia were not allowed last night to cross the
frontier ; they were halted just before reaching the
boundary line, and there spent the night. Thus
they did not yesterday evening quite reach Fried-
land, but bivouacked at a little distance short of
that town. This morning at daybreak Prince Fre-
derick Charles sent one of his aides-de-camp, Major

von Rauch, to announce to the commander of the
nearest Austrian post that he in the course of the
day intended to pass the Bohemian frontier. Von
Rauch, as is usual in such cases, accompanied by a
trumpeter, whom he caused constantly to sound,
and himself waving a white handkerchief, fell m
with one of the Austrian patrols, which was fur-
nished by Radetzky's Hussars. The patrol fired on
the Staff officer, fortunately without effect ; he
boldly rode up to it, and on explaining the object of
his visit was conducted blindfolded to the comman-
dant of the advanced post, which was Reichenberg ;
this officer, of course, apologised for the mistake
which his patrol had made, and the aide-de-camp,
after a long and early ride, was escorted back to
within a short distance of the Saxon frontier, where
he soon met the advancing columns of his own
army.
To-day, with the First Prussian Army, Prince
Frederick Charles crossed the frontier into Bohe-
' mian territory. The troops were early under arms,
1 and fell into theirranksa little after daybreak, under
' a steady downfall of drizzling rain. They had to
march many miles from their billets to the places
' where they were to form columns for the advance,
but they stepped out well over slippery grass and
sloppy roads, and were all ranged in proper order
close to the Austrian frontier, but still on Saxon
ground, a little after 7. At 6 the Commander-in-
Chief left his last night's quarters at Hirschfeld, and
by the Zittau road reached the frontier a little before
eight. The frontier is marked on the road by a
toll-house, in front of which a long bar supplies the
place of a gate. This bar balances near its end
furthest from the tollhouse on a pivot, and by means
of a weight at the end of its shorter arm can be
raised almost perpendicularly upwards when the
road is to be left open for a free passage. On this
bar are painted the alternate black and gold stripes
which are the distinctive colours of Austria. The
bar was raised to-day, but not quite in a vertical
position ; high enough to allow a man on horse-
back to ride under it, it still sloped over the road.
It was here that Prince Frederick Charles took
up his position to watch his troops march over the
border. He had hardly arrived there before he
gave the necessary orders, and in a few moments
the Ulans, who formed the advanced guard of the
regiments that marched by this line, were over
the frontier. Then followed the infantry. As the
leading ranks of each battalion arrived at the first
point on the road from which they caught sight
of the Austrian colours that showed the frontier,
they raised a cheer, which was quickly caught up
by those in rear, and was repeated again and again
till, when the men came up to the tollhouse and
saw their soldier Prince standing on the border
line, it swelled into a roar of rapturous delight,
which only ceased to be replaced by a martial song
that was caught up by each battalion as it poured
into Bohemia. Their chief himself stood by the road-
side calm and collected ; but he gazed proudly on
the passing sections, and well he might, for never
did an army cross an enemy's frontier better
equipped, better cared for, or with a higher courage
than that which marched out of Saxony to-day.
Ever and anon he would call from a passing batta-
lion some officer or soldier who had before served
under him, and with a kindly inquiry or cheerful
word won a heart, for soldiers love officers who
take an interest in them. Everywhere to-day has the
Prince been greeted by the troops with loud cries
of joy ; as he rode along the way by which the
regiments were marching they cheered him con-
tinuously. At one point his reception was peculiarly
remarkable. A Pomeranian regiment (the 2nd),
which had served under him when he was a divi-
sional general, had piled its arms for a halt, and
the men were lying down by the side of the road to
rest. Suddenly the word was passed among them
that the Prince was coming; with one accord they
sprang as if by magic to their feet, made two long
lines along the road through which he might pass,
and gave him such a cheer as only old soldiers can.
The concentration of the troops and the advance
into Bohemia have been most excellently managed.
This same army exactly a week ago entered Saxony
prepared to fight in that country ; within that
time Saxony has been entirely occupied, and yester-
day the majority of the troops were again concen-
trated, and began their march into Austria. The
advance has been conducted in this way :—The
troops last night were concentrated on the frontier;
this morning, on the right, Herwarth von Bittenfel
pushed forward two columns from Dresden by the
valley of the Elbe into Bohemia; Prince Frederick
Charles advanced from Saxony ; his troops marched
in five columns ; the column on the right followed
the high road from Zittau ; the right centre
column marched along the railway lying to the left
of that road, the centre column followed a road to
the left of the railway. The left centre column
marched by the Friedland road, and the left column
by another road of this highway, Thus on a broad
front, and by several roads all within a distance
which ',would allow the different corps to concen-
trate in a very few hours, the army has moved to
the front well in hand and without inconvenience to
the troops. The march within Austsian territory has
been distinguished by the same regard for private
property that was so scrupulously observed in
Saxony. The Austrian villagers at first looked on
the irruption of the army of their northern kinsmen
half in fear, half in curiosity, but soon they came to
be on speaking terms with the soldiers, and then
were quickly seen supplying them with drinking
water and doing them other good services.
The castle of Grafenstein, in which the head-
quarters are fixed to-night, is the property of Count
Clam Gallas, who commands the first Austrian corps
in Bohemia; it is beautifully situated on the top
of a bill, covered with thick foliage, which rises
abruptly from the low ground of the valley of the
Neisse. The Count has not left much furniture for
the use of his unexpected guests, as nearly all the
movables were sent away some time ago to Vienna,
but a stock of mattresses have been found in the
house which the servants have good naturedly lent
to the temporary occupants, and the Prince and his
staff are accommodated in shakedowns very comfort-
ably in the rooms of an officer who is, perhaps,
waiting to fight a battle with their army beyond the
mountains. Two of Radetzky's Hussars have just
been brought in prisoners : they were out with a patrol
and came into collision with a patrol of the Prussian
regiment of Magdeburg Hussars ; in the skirmish
the horses:of these two Austrians were shot, and the
men were taken. They are the first prisoners of the
war. Fine soldierlike looking men, one cannot help
regretting that they are to be made prisoners of war,
but they are treated kindly, and who knows but
that the fate which has caused them to be taken
now may have saved them from being killed in a
subsequent battle? The rapid concentration of this
army has produced some feats in marching which
are quite extraordinary for troops who have only
Just taken the field. The sth Pomeranian Hussars
marched three days successively for long distances,
and yesterday made 50 English miles ; they were
elcaeinlleonnt the
dliitni
oen
7o fa
nmda rtchhe
mt o-e
n day,loo kwi
ni tghho as if rses
they
just turned out of barracks. What the
had only j
Austrians
are going to do is still a mere matter of
rm
sTheir patrols are out in this direction, but
sAu
only as they are. all along the frontier ; they do not
appear to be m more strength here than anywhere
else. Benedek maybe making for Silesia, or intend
to fight in Bohemia, for all that any one except
those in his secrets can tell.

We are now on the northern defences
of the
mountains, and one day's march will, without nppe_
sition, take us through the passes. The highest hills
are now so close that with a glass the stems of the
fir trees which clothe them can be easily distin-
guished as the road to Reichenberg lies straight be-
fore us, and it seems that we are going there, but
in war who can tell what a day will bring forth?

To-day's march was different from yesterday's ;

it was a march which showed that the enemy might
be found in front. The heavy baggage and reserve
commissariat transport is all a day's march in rear ;
the only carriages which were present to-day in the
column of route were the guns and waggons of the
artillery, the hospital carriages, and the few wag-
gons which are necessary to regiments when actu-
ally about to fight.
The advanced posts to-night are pushed forward
about seven miles towards the interior of Bohemia ;

there are vigilant patrols and pickets out, and all is
provided for against a surprise. These precautions
are of course always necessary with an army in the
field, but it does not appear as if in the present case
their utility would be put to the test, for the Aus-
trians do not seem to be in force in the neighbour-
hood, and it is not likely that we shall fall in with
them on this side of the mountains.

THE AUSTRIAN ARMY.

(From the Times' Military Correspondent.)
BOMISCH TRUBAU, June 25.

The news of a victory at Custozza, in Italy, has
filled this army with joy and pride. We hear that
2,000 prisoners are taken, and Prince Amadeus
wounded. Field-Marshal Benedek himself an-
nounced the glad tidings to a group of excited
hearers this morning, since when little else has been
talked of.

To the telegrams from Italy, Field-Marsha,
Benedek made the following reply in the name of
the Army of the North :

" Trubau, June 25.

"Field-Marshal Benedek and the whole Imperial Northern
Army, full of joyful admiration, send their hearty felicita-
tions to the brave Army of the South, and its illustrious
commander for the late glorious day of Custozza.
" The campaign in the South has opened with a brilliant
victory to our brothers in arms. A second glorious Custozza
is emblazoned on Austria's Imperial shield of honour."

At the foot of the order containing these tele-
grams Field-Marshal Benedek added the following
address to the troops :

"Soldiers of the Imperial Army of the North !—You will
hail this news with joy, and go forth to the approaching
strife with increased enthusiasm, so that we shall soon in-
scribe on the same shield a new and glorious battle name,
and announce to the Emperor a victory from the north also,
for which your martial ardour is longing, and which your
valour and devotion will win, to the cry of ' Long live the
Emperor. " BENEDER."

This evening, as the Field-Marshal, many of his
Staff, and civilians were present at a restaurant, the
reply arrived from Italy, and was handed round to
be read :
" THE ARCHDUKE ALBRECHT TO FIELD-MARSHAL
BENEDEK.

" The Army of the South and its Commander give heart-
felt thanks to their former General, well beloved, and to
his gallant army, persuaded that they will soon be able to
return felicitations upon a like success."

In a general order, dated the 13th of May, the
Commander-in-Chief laid down certain principles
which, as he said, were to be the Bible of the North-
ern army. A few selections may serve to indicate
the spirit in which he wishes the troops to act.

He is to be addressed in all communications as
" his Excellency the Field-Marshal Commander of
the Army," without any unnecessary titles or high
sounding phrases.

Health is to be cared for both by officers and men
for the sake of the Emperor's service. No talk
about differences of religion, birth, or nationalty ;
no jealousy nor unworthy rivalry. "We are one
army, with but one object before our eyes, to de-
serve well of our common Fatherland, to show our-
selves worthy of the Emperor's trust and love, and
to earn his approval." Soldiers are told that they
have nothing to do with politics. "And, above all,
the strictest discipline is to be maintained." The
officers must hold back their troops from excesses
with "an iron grasp." On entering- a foreign
country everything is to be paid for. " Absolutely
no plunder." Officers requiring horses must never
pay less than the regulation price.
All these and many other rules show that the
inhabitants have nothing to fear from the presence
of the _Nord Armee. War cannot be made without
the infliction of much suffering, but as far as pos-
sible this will be confined to the armies in the field.
Nor will they be left uncared for. Droves of oxen
follow the troops or arc collected from the surround-
ing country ; excellent bread is sent from Prague
and Vienna; hospitals are provided for the sick and
wounded, whose wants will be attended to by a
large staff of surgeons. The men are to my know-
ledge well clad, and, though forced marches must
try the hardiest pedestrians, waggons are not want-
ing to relieve the fatigue of the weary and footsore.
An Austrian army in the field carries no tents, and
the weaker soldiers must suffer from bad weather.
The soldier's accoutrements are light, his dress is
easy, his rifle (with bayonet) weighs less than ten
English pounds—much the same as our own. Enfield,
and his appeartince is more workmanlike than pic-
turesque. Recruits and service men still continue
to arrive by train or road, yet the country is by no
means drained of its resources. Plenty of stalwart
fellows are still in plain clothes, ready to be called
out if wanted. Indeed, the power of Austria and
Bavaria to furnish men seems almost inexhaustible,
to say nothing of the minor States, which follow in
the Imperial train.

So long as money is to be had the army will not
be allowed to suffer want. If we succeed in reach-
ing Prussian ground contributions will no doubt be
levied, but I am sure that the indignation caused by
the alleged excesses of the enemy will not be allowed
to vent itself in pillage, nor in the demand for any-
thing but necessaries.
During the last three days much rain has fallen
and the roads are rather heavy. But on mountain
roads the water soon drains off, and there is no check
to the cavalry, artillery, and trains that are pushing
through to-day.

On the afternoon of the 23d a body of the enemy
of all three arms were charged on the road between
Kratzau and Friedrichshein by the 6th and sth
half squadrons of Radetzky's Hussars and driven
back, leaving five dead. Several horses were taken.
Later in the evening a division of the enemy ad-
vanced from Einsiedel by Schonborn.
A squadron and a half of Prussian dragoons were
attacked most gallantly by half a squadron of hus-
sars and put to flight. Four prisoners were taken.
A battalion of Prussian Jagers formed line and
received the cavalry with a volley.
Major-General Fradricivio gave orders to retire,
and placed the avant garde close to Rochlitz.
The Austrians have been driven by superior force
to retire to Langenbruck, where they took up posi-
tion without being disturbed. An advanced post is
supposed to have been cut off, as an officer and some
men are missing.
On the same day (23) Gabel was entered by the
enemy, the Austrians retiring to Niemes. The Pru-
ssians opposed to the brigade Fradricivio are parts of
the 3d and 4th Prussian army corps, composed of
the Ist Hussars, 26th, 66th, and 67th Regiments of
Infantry.
Prisoners assert that 60,000 Prussians are within
three miles of Reichenberg.
It is reported that a more serious affair has oc-
curred near Reichenberg, in which the Major of the
Austrian Hussars, called King of Prussia's, and a
captain have been killed.

LICENSED VICTUALLERS' SC II 0 OL.—The annual
festival in support of this excellent institution was held at
the Crystal Palace onWednesday, when between 1,700 and
1,800 persons dined together there. Mr. James Watney,
jun., of the firm of Elliot, Watney, and Co., presided. The
society was instituted on the Bth of February, 1794, and
has now been 72 years in existence, during which period
nearly 17,000 licensed victuallers have enrolled their
names as members. The number of members is about
3,200, of whom 327, or about one-tenth of the whole num-
ber, are in receipt of weekly allowances, varying from 5s
to 10s. At the present time £lO6 16s. per week, or £5,553
12s. per annum, is expended, in addition to which allow-
ances of from £3 to £4 towards funeral expenses bring up
the expenditure under-this head to nearly £5,800. From
this branch alone £209,924 has been distributed.
Licensed victuallers who become members of the society,
and remain in business three years afterwards, and who
may be overtaken by distressed circumstances, accompanied
by sickness or permanent bodily infirmity, are entitled, on
application to the:governor and committee, and without the
anxious and often vexatious formality of election, to par-
ticipate in the benefits of the society, thus having the valu-
able advantage of immediate assistance. Tho dinner, pro-
vided by Messrs. Bertram and Roberts, appeared to give
general satisfaction. After a number of the children who
are being educated in the institution were introduced.
They presented a very healthy and pleasing appearance,
and their advent was hailed with cheers. Two of the senior
boys delivered addresses expressive of the benefits received
by themselves and the other recipients of the charity. The
chairman, in proposing the toast of the evening, " Success
to the Licensed Victuallers' School," stated that the school
was built in 1803, and since that time 1,600 children had
been admitted into it. It now contained 155 children, and
the meeting would judge from their appearance of the
healthiness of the children. Tho children appeared to be
well taught, and the only thing ho had to suggest was that,
in addition to the usual education imparted, they should
be taught French. Mr. Smalley, the secretary, then read
a list of subscriptions, which, including 450 guineas from
the chairman and his partners, amounted in the aggregate
to upwards of 2.000 guineas.