The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-08-01

rout. strewing their arms and baggage far
and wide along the road. The first instinct
Of self preservation droye the fugitive mul-
titude to their fortunes, but either they did
not feel safe at Koniggrats, or Marshall
Benedek was actuated BY strategic reasons
to q movement still further TO the rear, for
we are told that the Austrians are abandon
their ali-impcrtant position at the great
junction Of Parduoitz.
Where this great debac,e is to terminate,
what points Marshal Benedek may still
consider defensble, where he can hope to
find breathing room for the reorganization
of his scattered and dispirited forces, we
hardly venture to inquire. The sudden
ness and the magnitude Of this sad Aus
trian calamity are too overpowering for any
man to speculate on its possible conseqden-
ces on the deslinies of the Empire. With
the exception Of a few fortresses, Of no more
avail in modern warfare to stay the trium-
plant progress Of victorious ARMY. than
Josephstadt and Koeniggratz have proved
to be, Benedek has nothing in his rear but
an open country, nothing between him and
the capital but a vast smooth battlefield,
where the cannon, the cavalry and the
dreaded needle gun of the Prussians will
have free play. The Austrians have done
enough for the honor of their arms they
must now provide for the safety Of the
State, and this can hardly be done by a
prolonged resistance. 1t is not the first in
stance in which Austria has lain prostrate
before an advancing enemy not the first
time in which an Emperor of the House OF
Hapsburg, stepping forward on the morrow
of lost battle, has stood suddenly before
the conqueror, and by the. natural prestige
of his station and the additional dignity
which consciousness of unmerited misfor-
tune imparts to an elevated character, has
saved yet few fragments of his tattered
imperial mantle. King William of Prussia
is In the camp, and the Emperor Francis
Joseph is not very far from Benedsk's
headquarters. Let there be at Pardeoux,
or at Olmntz, such an interview as there
was after Ansterlitz and after Solferino.
Better terms than, Austria may obtain now
will certainly not be granted to her after
two or three months protractod struggle
has added to the evaporation Of hostile
passions, nor after many more thousands
of Austrias noblest sons lie deep in their
blood on the battle field. On what condi-
lions the two great German Powers could
come to agreement at the present moment
it would be difficult to say, and it would he
unnecessary. All that is required of Aus.
tria is that she should sue for suspension
of hostilities, which there is little doubt
would be readily granted. From an arms.
tice to q peace, the Emperor Francis joseph
knows by experience there is but one step
in d tete-a-tete between two nonarchs.
FURTHER ACCOUNTS OF THE BATTLE.
GalIgnani's messenger Of July 9th says
At the battle fought close to Eonigereetz
the Prussians whose center was at Sadowa
had placed in lipe nearly the whole military
forces which the monarchy could dispose or
The Austrians. who had their center at
Iiopa, had also brought Oh the field Ill tho
disposable strength of the Empire with the
exception Of the army in Venatia. The
shock was terrible. and on both sides the
greatest bravery was displayed. A turning
movement Of the Prussials, who contrived
in consequence Of a. fog, and under the
cover of the smoke produced blythe firing
to establish themselves unperceived at
Chiumec, decided the fate of the day. The
Austrians. attacked all of sudden on the
flank and rear, yielded almost instinctiveIy
and in spitedf their courage and their first
success in the early of the day, gave way
The Prussians pressed On with ext aordi.
nary vigor, so that at last the wing was cut
off from the main body, and perfect pank
set in !; the retreat of the Anstrians became
changed into route, and the bridges oyel
the Elbe did not suffice to afford passage
to the mass offugitives::
The Generals, Princes Of the Imperial
family, and superior officers vainly gave al
example of the most desperate courage
nothing ayailed. Three Arch-dukes were
wounded, and a great number of genera
officers were either wounded, made prisoners
or killed. The real amount ofloss on both
sides is not Yet known, butt must be I'M
mense.
The Austrian army had, before the battle
taken up position, as we mentioned yes
tprday, on the right bank of the Elbe, bu,
was forced violentlyto the other side-thal
is, towards the east. The fate of tive
fortresses Josepnstadt and Kootggraetz il
as yet unknown. Will they open theii
gates to the enemy without opposition Oh
will they resist? No one can say but the
results unimportant, being only mattel
! @ CT detail.
What is certain is that at present Par
dubliz and the whole Of the railway linz
which runs there are abandoned by Marsha
Henedek, who is thus forced into Maravia
remains to be seen whether, in case tbt
military operations shonld continue, he vii
be able 10 defend the high road to Vienna
the point ofthe junction on the Rohmiscl
and Trubau Railways. In every case al
Bohemia is now open to the etemy, and tht
Prussians can act Ia that country as they
please.
The Way the People Slept on tht