Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-07-24

of their routed enemies. By later ae-
counts, dated yesterday, we are told that
three flags and thirty-iour guns were ta-
ken by three of the victorious regiments,
and no less tfan ten thousand Austrian
prisoners had already been brought in.
The trophies by which other corps sig
nalized their victory and the total num-
Der of their prisoners had not yet been
ascertained but the Twelfth Prussian
Hussars are said to have broken two
Austrian squares By their own admis-
sion the Prussians purchased their tr-
umph at very heavy price all their
corps were brought into action, and all
suffered severely Nothing, however,
can exceed the extent of the Austrian
disaster As telegram after telegram
comes in, every fresh detail confirms us
in our conviction that the Imperial army,
already exhausted by series of defeats IN
which no less than 10000 prisoners had
fallen into the enemy's hands, dispirlted
by the consciousness of the fearful odds
against which it had to contend owing
to the fatal needle gun which experience
had proved to be almost irresistible, went
into the field bent on a supreme effort
not so much in defence of the monarchy
as in support Of its ancient military re-
nown, and fought not so much to con-
quer as to sell victory at the highest pos
sibe rate The most illustrious names
in the empire are among the dead and
wounded Count Thun and Colonel
Binder, both high in command, are
among the former; among the latter
three Archdukes and General Festetics.
Prince Dichtenstein and Prince Win
dischgraiz were taken prisoners.
We have no accounts on the Austrian
side-a melancholy proof that they have
no good tidings with which to mitigate
the cruel intelligence or that the disorder
in their camp is too great for them 10
think of telegraphic or written dispatch
es-but the Prussian bulletins assure us
that their enemies were falling back upon
Koniggratz in complete route, strewing
their arms and baggage far and wide
along the road. The first instinct of
selfperservation drore the .fugitice mut-
itude TO their fortress but either they
did not feel safe even at konggratz or
Marshal Benedek was actuated by strate-
getic reasons to movement still further
to the rear, for we are told that the Aus
trians we're abandoning their all-impor-
tant position at the great railway junction
at Parduhitz. Where this great debdrle is
to terminate what points Marshal Bene-
dek may still consider defensible, where
he can hope to find breathing room for
the reorganization of his scattered and
dispirited forces, we hardly venture to
inquire The suddenness and the mag
ntude of this sad Austrian calamity are
too overpowering for any man to speeu-
late on its possible consequences on the
destinies of the empire. With the ex-
ception of few fortresses, of no more
avail in modern warfare to stay the trl-
umphant progress Of victorious army
than Josephstadt and koniggratz have
proved to be. Benedek had 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 dread needle gun of
the Prussians will have free play The
Austrians have done enough for the
honor of their arms they must now pro-
vide for the safety of the State, and this
can hardly be done by a prolonged re-
sistance. 1t is not the first instance in
which Austria has lain PROSTATE 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 conquoror, aud by
the natural prestige of his station and
the additional dignity which conscious
ness of unmerited misfortune 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 Jo-
seph is not very far from Benedeks
headquarters. Let there be at Pardu-
bitz or at 0lmutz such an interview as
there was after Austerlitz and after Sol
ferino. Better terms than Austria
may obtain now will certainly not
be granted to her after two or
three months protracted struggle has
added to the evaporation of hostile pas
sions, nor after many more thousands of
Austria's noblest sons lie deep in their
blood on the battlefield On what con-
ditions the two great German Powers
could come to agreement at the present
moment, il would be difficult to say, and
it would be unnecessary. All that is re-
quired of Austria is that she should sue
for suspension of hostilities, which
there is little doubt would be readily
granted. From an armistice to peace
the Emperor Francis Joseph knows by
experience there is but one step in a
tete-d-tete between two monarchs.