Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-07-23


rtes. The wood shove Sadowa was strongly
held. and thar between Sadowa and Benaies
ieeming with rifiemen. stood 20 bar the way OF
the seventh division. But Gen. franssy, who
commands this division, was not 20 b. easily
stopped. and he sent bis infantry ~ the wool
and turned his artillery on the Austrian ba,-
tsries.
The Seventh diyi.ion began fripr into tha
trees, but found they could not make apy I'm,
preston, for the defenders We're con ceale,,.
and musketry fire was useless agalnS, han
Then fransky ler them 60, and they dashed n
with the bayonet The Ausfrians would not
retire, but waited for the struggle, and in the
1 fiercest combats which the war has seen ".
9th Prussian regiment went in nearly aeco
\ strong, with 81 officers, and came opt on the
further side with only two ON GERS and be- ve.o
1 80 and 400 men standing: ali me res, 49,,
| killed or wounded. The other regiments os
| the division also suffered much, but NO; in ,hs
same proportion; but the wood was Carried
| The Ausirisn line was now driven In ON bon
hanks, but ITS commander formed a new lina
| OF battle little higher mp the hill round iss1
| sa silll folding the wood which lies above Sa-
dows.
NEW AUSTRIAN POSITION.
| Then me PrussIan artillery was sent across
tne Blsirltz' ana began 10 fire upon the new
Austrian position. Attbe same time the SMOKE
| OF Gen. Herwarths advance was gradually
seen moving towards the Austrian len for ne
nad at N.chanitz, village about seven miles
| lower down the Bisiritz than Sadowa found a
brigade of Saxon troops, with some Austrian
cavalry, and was driving them toward, me
position at Lissa, himself following in sucn a
| direction that IL appeared he would turn the
Austrian LETT nank. But The Austrian com,
mander seemed determined 70 hold his posi-
uon, and heavy masses OF infantry and cav
| airy could be seen on the upper nart of fha
| slope.
IN THR wooDs.
Ine Prussian infantry. which had taken he
villages OF Sadowa and DobelnIfz, was now
sent against tho woods. which, above these
places, runs along the side of the Sadova and
LISA road. They advanced against a., bat did
NJ q frG Gswr.a b. n.
| TRANS being here again concealed, the fire OF
the needle gun did not tell. and a whole bat
iery placed at the far end Of the wood fired
though the trees, and told on the Prusslan
ranks with awful effect But the assa,lan-s
fought on. al last broke down the obstacles At
the entrance, and then dashed in.
The nghting continued from tree 70 tree, and
the Austrians made many rush 20 recover
The lost position OF the wood, but in this close
nehui their boyish troops went down Ike
si, tine pms Seiore me strong men OF The eighth
a little, and their artillery played INTO the
trees, the Prussians suffered fearfully, and
about halfway up IN the wood the fght be-
Then Prince FREDERICK Charles sent the Firm
and Sixth divisions forward. They laid down
their helmets and knapsacks on the ground
and advanced 10 the river. The King was now
near 10 BIstritz, and the troops cheered him
loudly as they marched into battle. They
went over the Sadowa bridge, disappeared into
the wood. and soon the increased noise of mus
kerry told they had begun 10 fight hut the Aus
irian gunners sent saiyo after salyo amonp
them, and they did lot push the battle forward
more than a few hundred yards, for they fen
back themselves, and they could NOT reach the
enemy. Not only did The fragments of shells
fly about among them, scattering death and
awful gasbes among their ranks, but the por-
lions OF the trees torn by the artillery fire fey
thickly about-huge ragged spiinters, that
caused even more lrightful wounds.
ADVANCE OF THE CROWN PRINCE.
Herwarih, zoo, seemed checked upon the
right. The smoke OF his musketry and artiI-
lery, which bad hitherto been pushing forward
steadily stood stIll for q time. fransky's men
cut 10 pieces, could not be sent for ward 70 at
tack the Sadowa wood, for they would have
exposed themselves 10 be taken in the rear by
the artillery on The right OF the Austrian line
formed an front OF Llssa. All the artillery was
engaged except eight batteries, and these had TO
be retained In case of a reverse, for a. one time
the hring IN the Sadowa wood, and OF the Prus-
sian artillery on the slope, seemed almost as n
drawing back toward Bisuiz. The First army
was certainly checked in its advance, IL not
actually being pushed back.
Then the Prussian commanders began 70 look
anxiousIy 10 the left for the coming of the
Crown Prince. Some Austrian guns near
LISA We're seen 10 be firing towards the Prus-
sian left, and &. was hoped they mieht be d.
rected against the advanced guard Of the Sec
ond army, but al O'Clock there were no signs
Of PrussIan columns advancing against Lipa.
The Generals became manifestly uneasy, and
they drew the infantry out OF the batlle; cav
airy was also formed up, so thai II would be
available either for the pursuit OF The Aus
- e1e oNh-
Won Rnetz himself went of 10 look for The
Second army But he soon returned and
brought the intelligence that the Crown Prince
was forming his attack on Lips, and thar the
guns on the Austrian right had been firing
against his troops.
Then the First army took heart again. The
Sadowa wood was carried, and the battery be-
yond u was stormed by tie Jagars. At half
past three the Crown Prince columns Were
seen moving across the slope against Lipa, for
his artillery had silenced the Austrian guns,
and Herwarth was again pressing forward
against the Austrian left. In a quarter OF an
hour the Crown Princes infantry was engaged
al llpa, and their quick yolleys OF musketry,
rapidly advancing, told that the AUstrlans
were IN full retreat. The First army pushed
forward at once, the artillery limbered mp and
gale ped up the slope, coming into action on
every opportunity 70 send 10 shells against the
retreailng battallons; the infantry, emerging
from the woods, formed and pressed a. the
double. Prince Frederick Charles put him.
self at the head OF his regiment and dashed
over Inc Sadowa bridge ana up the road, fol-
lowed by all his light cavalry.
The Prussian artillery halted on the summit
of the Lipa hill and fired shells rapidly. which
burst with terrible precision over the heads OF
the fugItiyes. The cavalry flew forward IN
pursuit, but the Prince, after leading a short
way. had 10 60 TO superintend the general
movement, for the Austrian batteries had taken
post in the Stresal:tz ridge, and were firing
heavily against the pursuing Prussians. Then
the cavalry got out Of hand, and by small de-
tachments rushed on the Austrian batfalions:
but these, though retreatng fast, Were not
airy, who also suffered much from the Aus
trian artillery, for the shells burst repeatedly
among the squadrons, and killed many men
and horses. But the Austrian grns Were
driven off their ridge by the heavier fire Of the
more numerous Prussian batteries, and the
pursuit was renewed.
THE Pursuit.
Some of the retreating Austrians made for the
fortress OF koniggraiz, others for Pardubliz.
and troops were sent in purssit along both
roads. The wounded who Were lying on the
ground shrieked with fear when they saw the
cavalry galloping down towards them, but
Prince Frederick Charles took care that thew
should be avoided, and at one time checked .he
pursuit in order 10 move his 50 uadrons around
and not go through patch Of standing corn
where several wounded Ausfrians had taken
refuge. These, when they saw The lancers
coming, thought they were going 10 be massa-
creed. and cried piteously, waving white
handkerchiefs as a sign OF truce; but they had
no cause 10 fear. Large numbers Of prisoners
Were taken, for the pursuit was continued 20
Elb. and was not until nine o clock that an
firing ceased, but the main body OF the army
halted about seven.
~Sons OF the soil-drty boys.
HWhere are the prophets who predicted
a cold summeri