, 1866-08-07

village OF Benatek, on the Austr1anS'
right caught fire, and the 18th division
made a dash to secure it, but the Aus
TRANS were not driven out by the flames,
and here for the first time in the battle
was there hand-to-hand fighting. The
9th Regiment led the attack, and rushed
into the orchards of the village /; the
burning houses separated the combat
ants they poured volley after volley at
each other through the flames; but the
Prussians found means to get round the
burning houses, and, taking the defend
erS in reverse, forced them to retire, with
the loss of many prisoners.
at was 10 o'clock when Prince Frede-
rick Charles sent General Stuhnapl to
order the attack on Sadowa, DoheInitz
and Mokrowens. The columns advanced
covered by skirmishers, and reached the
river bank without much loss, buA from
there they had to fight every inch of
their way. The Austrian infantry held
the bridges and villages in force, and fired
fast upon them as they approached.
The Prussians could advance but slowly
along the narrow ways, and against the
defences of the houses, and the volleys
sweeping through the ranks seemed to
tear the soldiers down. The Prussians
fired much more quickly than their oppo-
nents, but they could not see to take
their aim /; the houses, trees and smoke
from the Austrian discharges Shrouded
the villages. Sheltered by this, the Aus
trian Jagers fired blindIy where they.
could tell by hearing that the attacking
columns were, and the shots told tremen-
1O,,1u an rho Drnccio, -, +bo;. 49,
formations; bat the latter improved
their positions, although slowly aud by
dlnt of sheer courage and perseverance,,
for they lost men at every yard of their
advance, and, in some places, almost
paved the way with wounded. Then, to
help the infantry, the Prussian artillery
turned It's fire, regardless of the enemy's
batteries, on the villages, and made tre-
mendouS havoc among the houses. Mok-
owens and DoheInilz both caught fire,
and the shells fell quickly and with fear
ful effect among the defenders of the
flaming hamIets the Austrian guns also
played upon the attacking infantry, but
at this time these were sheltered from
their fire by the houses and trees between.
In and around the villages, the fighting
continued for nearly an hour then the
Austrian Infantry, who had been there,
driven out by a rush Of the Prussians,
retired, bat only a little way up the
slope into a line with their batteries. The
wood above Sadowa was strongly held,
and that between Sadowa and Benatek,
teeming with riflemen, stood to bar the
way Of the 9TH division. But General
Fransky, who commands this division,
was not to be easily stopped, and he sent
his Infantry at the wood, and turned his
artillery on the Austrian batteries. The
9TH division began firing into the trees,
but found they could not make any inns
preston, for the defenders were conceal
ed, and musketry fire was useless against
them. Then Fransky let them GO, and
dashed in with the bayonet. The Aus
TRANS would not retire, but waited for
the struggle, and in the wood above Be-
natek was fought out one of the fercest
combats which the war has seen. The
9th Prussian Regiment went in nearly
5000 strong, with 90 officers, and came
out on the further side with only two
officers and between 800 and 400 men
standing; all the rest were killed or