Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-07-12
THE WAR In EUROPE.

The Prussian Army-GeneraI Description of the
Through saxony.
military Correspondence of the London Times]
HEADQUARTERS OF THE FIRST ARMY
GARLITz, June IS.
It must be born in mind that in the theatre of
war there are three rivers of the name of Nelsse.
They ALL either directly indirectly, afHuents
of the Oder, and are therefore, not unlikely to be
COMPOUNDED with one another. The most westerly
of the three is that which flows past this town.
It rises in Bohemia, passes by Zittau, forming near
that town the defile by which Napoleon in 1913
penetrated into Bohemia, flows by Osritz, Gorlitz,
Priebus and Muskau, communicates with the
Spree by the Cottbus Canal, and finally falls into
the Oder The next river of this name towards
the East is affiuent of the Katzbach, itself an
af1uent of the Oder. This Neisse is distinguished
as the Wuthende, or raging Neisse It rises near
Hohenfriedberg celebrated for the victory gained
in 1745 by Frederick the Great over the Austrians,
passes by Jauer, and joins the Katzbach about
seven miles above Legnitz. 1t was between
Jauer and the confluence Of these two steams that
the battle of Katzbach was lost by Macdonald in
1913. The Neisse river which past the for
tress OF Nelsse, the present headquarters of the
Crown Prince, rises in the mountains south of
Glatz, passes by that fortress, and by Nesse, and
joins the Oder about II miles below Brieg. It is
to this river that the principal defles leading
through the Riesen Gebirge into Central Silesia
are due. The Prussian advanced guards occupied
Dresden last evening, and Prince Frederick
Charles has thus gained possession of the line of
railway which forms the lateral communication
through Saxony. The advance has as yet been
unopposed the Austrian General still tarries be-
hind the mountains Great movements have been
gong on among his troops but no indication of
an advance has as yet been given. Now it a1o-
pears if the Austrians will have difficult task
before them should they attempt to deprive the
Russians OF the advantages which the latter have
already gained, for Prince Frederick Charles is
this morning firmly fixed in Saxony, and has evil
IDENTIFY no intention of allowing his hold on this
country to be lightly shaken off.
The general cause of events in the occupation
of Saxony has been as follows On the evening
OF the 10Th, when the Saxon Government had re-
jected the Prussian uHinatuna and knew that the
army OF Prince Frederick Charles was concentrated
on the frontier, means were adopted to impede as
much as possible the advance of the Prussian
troops. Saxon pioneers were set to work upon
the railways which lead from the frontier upon
Dresden. OF such railways there are two. that
which follows the valley of the Elbe and joins the
Leipsic line at Riesa and that which from Gorltz
leads by Bautzen upon the capital of Saxony.-I
At nlghtfall the Saxon pioneers commenced their
work, but IN the dark, and, under constant appre-
henslon OF being broken in upon by the Prussian
advance guards, they made but little progress.
The rails were taken up, but were neither carried
away, twisted nor broken so as not to be again
available. At II o'clock at night the
wooden bridge which carries the railway branches
to Lelpslc and Chemnitz across the Elbe near
Reza was set on fire by means of petroleum It's
destruction was not accomplished, for only two
piers were burnt, and the whole bridge was again
made passable by the evening of the next day.
When the work Of demolition went slowly on in
Saxony, heavy masses of Prussian troops were
drawing together, and closing down to the very
frontier line Of that kingdom Between Gorlitz
and the border on the west, Prince Frederic
Charles marshalled three strong corps d'awaee
while near Streba, on the north, Gen. Won Bitten
field divided his force into three columns, SO as to
advance with broad front and quickly as pos
slble on the railway junction at Riesca During
the few dark hours of the short Summer night the
last preparations for the invasion were made the
main bodies of the troops were all collected to-
5ether about midnight, and the soldiers piled
arms to rest and wait for dawn. Few slept dull
and heavy murmu continually rose from the
crowded columns, and told the subdued but deep
excite ment which pervaded the hearts of the men,
md this excitement was not without cause for
LII thought the Autrian was in Dresden, and that
mere would be a battle on the morrow. The time
passed slowly, and it seemed as if day would
never break At last the first faint streaks of dawn
appeared, the troops eagerly fell into their ranks
md, before the sun had risen, theadvanced guards
we're pushing brlskly over Saxon ground.
The pioneers who were engaged on the railways
led before the foremost troops got near them
ortunate to avoid being taken. What Saxon
roops there were on the lines of the advance also
etreated quickly toward Dresden.
Blttenfeld, from the north, reached Riesa abont
O'Clock, and occupied that town in force Be
oW the town two pontoon bridges were quickly
brown across the Elbe part of the troops crossed
o the right bank and pushed on to Grossenhain,
Vnlie another portion were directed up the left !
,ank OF the river toward Nielsen. Hardly had
5lttenteld's troops established themselves in RE
a, when detachment of the Field Railway CORPS
rived from Berlin who immediately commenced
he restoration of the lines which had been torn
p on therallway, while pioneers were set to re-
air the burnt portion of tie bridge.
In the meantime the columns of the main army i
Iere advancing in Cusatia Lobau was occupied t
etore midday, and Bautzen in the afternoon
SUIT Prince Frederick Charles proceeded cautious
Y, for he knew that the passes from Gabel and
led against his left, and that he mnst
uard against an Austrian attack from that direc-
on. 10 cover his communication from Gorlitz
nd to shield his left flank, he pushed strong de-
achment along the Titan road to point little
eyond Ostrltz. On Saturday he did little except
, estsbl1sh himself in his position. On Sunday
detachment was pushed out to the right to feel
ttentleds left, and the Prince pushed troops to
scho1sWerda, on the Dresden road, while the
avtnceo guard OF HerWarth occupied Meissen l.
esterday simultaneous advance was made on n
Re capital, the advancing columns met with no b
and last night the Prussian colors
Dated over Dresden. W
Inc telegraph tells us that the Austrians intend
postpone the commencement of active onoro Il
ons until Federal contingent of sc, 900 men can q
put the held to assist in the operations against
aAony. To-day Austrian movements have been
'ported IN the direction of Reichenberg, but all
'porIs from the outposts must at present be re-
s1ved with considerable caution
From Hanover we hear that Gen. Manteufel has
assoc Luneburg and is pressing southwark and
lat the town OF Hanover was last night occupied, |
ter twelve hours march, by Gen. Won Faiken-
EN- Inns General commands the Prussian corps al
hlch mentioned in previous letter as beino in &c
'ocess OF concentration at Minden. ~
The Prusslan Gen. Won Beyer with the coros ca
nlch was concentrated at Wetzlar, has occupied