, 1866-08-07

division also suffered much, out not In
the same proportion; but the wood was
carried. The Autrian line was now driven
in on both TANKS, but its commander
formed a new line of battle a little higher
up the hill, round Lipo, still holding the
wood which lies above SadoWa.
"Then the Prussian artillery was sent
across the Bistrltz, and begun to fire
upon the new Austrian position. At the
same time the smoke Of General Herr
warth's advance was gradually seen NOV
ing towards the Austrian left for he had at
Nechanitz, a village about seven miles low
err down the Bistritz than Sadowa, found a
brigade of Saxon troops, with some Aus
trian cavalry, and YVES driving them to-
wards the position at Lipa, himself fol-
lowing in such direction that it appear
ed he would turn the Austrian left flank.
But the Austrian commander seemed de-
termined % hold his position, and heavy
masses of infantry and cavalry could be
seen on the upper part of the slope. The
Prussian infantry, which had taken the
villages of Sadowa and Dohelnitz, was
now sent against the wood, which, above
these places, runs along the side of the
Sadowa and Lipa road. They advanced
AQulISL IL, UuG ulu uOU ~ Al ldh tluCu
impression, for, the Austrians being here
concealed, the fire of the needle-gun did
not tell, and a whole battery placed at
the far end of the wood fired through the
trees, and told on the Prussian ranks
with awful effect. But the assaiIants
fought on, at last broke down the ohsta-
Giles at The entrance, and then dashed in.
The fighting continued from tree to tree,
and the Austrians made many a rush to
recover the lost position of the wood, but
in this close fighting their boyiSh troops
went down like ninc-pins before the
strong men of the Sth division but
when the defenders drew back a little,
and their artillery played into the trees,
he Prussians suffered fearfuIly, and about
half wav up in the wood the fight be-
cam stationary.
CAT this time the Austrian artillery
were making splendid practice, and about
o'clock the whole battle line of the
Prussians could gain no more ground, and
was obliged to fight hard 10 retain the
p~osition it had won. At one time it
seemed as if it would be lost, for guns
had been dismounted by the Austrian
FIRE. and in the wooded ground the
needle-gun had no fair field, and the in
fantry fight was very equal. Then
Prince Frederick Charles sent the 5lh and
9th divisions forward. They laid down
their helmets and knapsacks on the
ground, and advanced TO the river. The
King was. now near to Bislrltz, and the
troops cheered him loudly as they
marched into the battle. They went
over the Sadowa bridge, disappeared in
to the wood, and soon the increased
noise of musketry told they had begun to
fight but the Austrian gunners sent
salvo after salvo among them, and they
did not push the battle forward more
than a few hundred yards, forthey fell back
themselves, and they could not reach the
enemy Not only did the fragments of
the shells fly about them, scattering
death and awful gashes among their
ranks. but the portions Of the trees, torn
by The artillery fire. few thickly about
huge ragged splinters. that caused even
more frightful wounds. Herrwarth, too,
seemed checked upon the right. The
smoke of his musketry and artillery,
which had hitherto been pushing for
ward steadily, stood still for a time.
- 81 49, nN,,Il not