The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-07-22
THE WAR IN EUROPE.
The Hattie OF Sadowa.
Details of the Baftle.-Its Decisive Char
aeter aud Proba bic Results.

The decisive blow has been struck and the
fortune Of war has once more declared in fa-
vor of Prussia. The bold conception aad
consummate execution of their far sighted
plan of campaign, AMI the results of as long
series of bloody encounters had at the close
OF last week. enabled the Prussian Generals
to mass their forces on the plain Of Bohemia,
and 10 press close upon their enemy, who,
after disputing the ground inch by inch along
every avenue OF that mountain grit kingdom,
had fallen back, foied at all points. painting
and bleeding, yet turning 10 bay ON his last
vantage ground on the Elbe, between bis two
strougholds Of Josephstadt and kouigsgratz.
pause of three DAYS seems to have been
alQwea 20 the combatants on both sides.
Finally, on Tuesday, the first Prussian army,
under Prince Frederick Charles, advancing
from Gitschin, on the road thatby Chium and
Horizltz leads TO Sadowa, and the second ar
my, under the Crown Prince, crossing the
Eihe TO meet them, drew up all their CONS
bined forces, under the immediate command
OF their king--an array, 1t is said, Of no less
than eight army corps-on some point near
konigsgratz, between the right bank of the |
Elbe and the left Of the Bistritz a minor |
tributary stream, which runs parallel to the |
main river from Horzitz to its confluence with |
it. Marshal Benedek, aware that the decisive
moment had arrived, issued from Konigsgrata, |
apparently with only ave army corps, but !
choosing, as was natural with man who |
stood on his own ground, most advantage |
Gus position. The battle field is described as |
being near Horzitz, near Sadowa, near Kon- |
igsgratz; the fighting ragged probably from |
one end to the other of this vast tract of |
country. The battle lasted twelve hours. For |
six hours the Austrians defended strong po- |
siton they had chosen behind the Bistritz, but |
il was taken by storm towards two o clock, |
nd Inv vAn n oil In tka he Il
feat Of the Austrians was complete The |
earliest Prussian bulletins of the same even
ing, at eight and eleven clock, claimed |
victory, and spoke of their army as close in |
pursuit of their routed eneIniea
By later accounts, dated yesterday. we are |
told that three flags and thirty four guns were |
taken by three of the victorious regiments, |
and no less than 10000 Austrian prisoners
had already been brought in. The trophies
by which other corps sgnalized their victory, |
and the total number of their prisoners. had
not yet been ascertained. But the Twelfth |
Prussian Hussars are said TO have broken |
two Austrian squares. By their own admis- |
sion the Prussians purchased their triumph |
at very heavy price all their corps were
brought into action, and all suffered severely. |
Nothing, however, can exceed the extent of |
the Austrian disaster. As telegram after
telegram comes IN, every fresh detail confirms
us in our conviction that the Imperial army
already exhausted by q series Of defeats in
which not less than 20 600 prisoners had fal
len into the enemyes hands, dispirted by
consciousness of the fearful odds against
which it had to contend, owing TO that fatal
neSe..e snn fh.@h experience proved to be
almost irresistible, went into the field bent
on supreme effort. not so much In defence
Of the monarchy as IN support OF It's ancient
military renown, and fought, not 30 much to
Conquer as 10 sell the victory at the highest
possible rate. The most illustrious names in
the Empire are among the dead and wounded.
Coun. Thus and Col. Binder, both high in
command are among the former; among the
latter three Arehdukes and Gen. Festetes.
Prince Llchteusten and Prince Windisch
gratz were taken prisonrs We have no acs
count Of the Austrian sde-a melancholy
truth that they have no good tdings with
which to mitigate the cruel intelligence, or
that the disorder in their camp is too great
for them TO think Of telegraphic or written
despatches-but the Prussians bulletins as
sures US that the enemies were falling back
upon ,koniggratz in a complete route, strew
ing their arms and baggage far and wide
along the road. The first instinct for self
preservation drove the fugitive multitude to
their frotress, but either they did not feel
safe even at kanniggrate, or Marshal Bene
oek was actuated by trategie reasons to a
movement sill further TO the rear, for we are
told that the Austrians were abandoning their
all important position at the great railway
junction at Pardubitz Where this great de
bdcie is to terminate; what points Marshal
Benedek may still consider defensibie, where
he can hope TO find breathing room for the
reorganization of his scattered and dispirited
forces, we hardly venture to enquire. The
suddeness, and the magnitude Of this sad Aus
trian calamity are too oyerpowering for any
man to speculate on its possible consequences
on the destinies of the Empire.
With the exception of few fortserses, of
no more avail in modern warfare to stay the
triumphant progress of victorious armies than
Josephsiadt and koniggratz have proved to
be, Benedek has nothing in his rear bat IN /
open country, nothing between him and the
capital but vast, smooth battle field, where
the cannon, the cavalry and the dread needle
gun of the Prussians will have free play.
The Austrians have done enough for the hon.
or of their arms; they must nov provide for
the safety Of the State and this can hardly
be done by prolonged resistance. 1t is not
the first instance in which Austria has lain
PROSTATE before an advancing power, nor the
first time in which an Emperor Of the House
OF Hapshurg, stepping forward on the NOR
row Of a lost battle, has stood suddenly be-
fore the conqueror, and by the natural pres
which consciousness of unmerited misfortureI /,
imparts to an elevated character, has saved
yet few fragments Of his tattered Imperial !,
mantle. King William of Prussia is in the |
camp, and the Emperor Francis Joseph is
not very far from Benedek's headquarters.
Let there be at Psrdubitz, or Olmutz. such
m interview as there was after Austerlits and
after Solferino. Better terms than Austria Z
may obtain now win certainly not be rranted
to her after two or three months protr.cesd /,
struggle has added to the evaporation ofl
hostile passions, nor after many more thous II
snds of Austria's noblest sons lie deep in
their blood on the battle Geld. On what con
ditions the two great German powers could
come to an agreement at the present moment
ii would be difficult TO say, and it wonid be
unnecessary. All that is rs4sired Of Austfisf
liz that she shonld sue foF suspension Of hos
Utilities, which there is little doubt would be
|rssdily granted, From an armistice TO .