The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-07-28

In the wood above Benatek was fought
one of the fiercest combats which the
war has seen. The 9th Prussian regi-
ment went in nearly 5000 strong, with
ninety officers, and came out on the fur
ther side with only two officers and be-
tween 800 and 400 men standing all
the rest were killed or wounded. The
other regiments of the division also suf-
fered much, but not in the same proper
ton; but the wood was carried. The
Austrian line was now driven in on both
fanks, but it's commander formed a new
line Of battle a little higher up the hill,
round Lissa, still held the wood which
lies above Sadowa.
Then the Prussian artillery was sent
across the Bistritz, and began to fire
upon the new Austrian position. AT
the same time the smoke of Gen. Her.
warih's advance was gradually seen
moving towards the Austrian left, for
he had at Nechanitz, village about
seven miles lower down the Bistritz
than Sadowa, found brigade of Saxon
troops with some Austrian cavalry, and
was driving them towards the position
at Lissa, himself following in such a di-
rection that it appeared he would turn
the Austrian left flank. But the Aus
trian commander seemed determined to
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 ta-
keD the villages of Sadowa and Do
helnitz, was now sent against the woods,
which above these places, runs along
the side of the Sadowa and LISA road.
They advanced against 1t, but did not
at first make much impression, for the
Austrians being here again concealed,
the fire of the needle gun did not tell,
and II whole battery placed at the far
end Of the woods fired through the trees,
and told on the Prussian ranks with
awful effect But the assailants fought
on, at last broke down the obstacles 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 the close fighting their
boyish troops went down like nine pins
before the strong men of the Eighth 'di-
vision; but when the defenders drew
back a little and their artillery played
into the trees, the Prussians suffered
fearfully, and about halfway up in the
wood the fight became stationary.
Then Prince Frederick Charles sent
the Fifth and Sixth divisions forward.
They laid down their helmets and KNAPP
sacks on the ground and advanced to
the river. The King was now near to
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 musketry told
they had begun the fight !; but the Aus
trian gunners sent salvo after salvo
among them, and they did not push the
battle forward more than few hund-
red yards, for they fell back thems elves,
and they could not reach the enemy
Not only did the fragments ofshell fly
about among them, scattering death and
awful gashes among their ranks, but the
portions of trees torn by the artillery
fire flew thickly about--huge ragged
splinters, that caused even more fright
ful wounds.
Herwarth, too, seemed checked upon
the right. The smoke of his musketry
and artillery, which had hitherto been
pushing forward steadily, stood still for
time. Fransky's men, cut to pieces,
could not be sent forward TO attack the
Sadowa wood, for they would have eX-
posed themselves to be taken in the
rear by the artillery on the right of the
Austrian line formed in front of Lissa.
All the artillery was engaged except 6
batteries, and these had to be retained
in case of Il reverse, for at one time the
firing in the Sadowa wood, and ofthe
Prussian artillery on the slope, seemed
almost as it drawing back toward Bis
tritz. The First army was certainly
checked in its advance, if not actually
being pushed back.
Then the Prussian commanders be-
gan to look anxiously to the left for the
Austrian guns near Lissa were seen to
be firing toward the Prussian left, and
it was hoped they might be directed
against the advanced guard of the Sec
ond army, but at three o'clock there
were no sign of Prussian columns ad-
vancing against Lippa. The generals
became manitestly uneasy, and they
drew the infantry out Of the battle !;
cavalry was also formed up SO that it
would be available either for the pur-
suit of the Austrians, or for retarding
their pursuit, and Gen. Won Rhetz him
self went off to look for the Second ar
my. But he soon returned, and brought
the intelligence that the Grown Prince
was forming his attack on Lippa, and
that the gnns 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 beyond it was stormed by the
Jagars. At half past three the Crown
Princes columns were seen moving
across the slope against Lipa, for his
artillery had silenced the Austrian guns
and Herwarth was again pressing for
ward against the Austrian left. In
quarter of an hour the Crown Princes
tnn'ry unoR 2o1eys MHS Of @usketry ss rapidly ad
vancing, told that the Austrians were in
full retreat. The First army pushed
forward at once, the artillery imbered
up and galloped up the slope, coming
into action on every opportunity to