The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-07-27

Austrian artillery began TO tall PACK
over the brow of the hill, and again
battalions of infantry came in sight
and moved away obliquely toward the
center. Still, no Prussians appeared
in that direction, but they were GER
tainly forcing the Austrians back on
the right. It might have been ex-
pected that the reserves to the right
would have been sent up to hold the
top of the slope, but | could not see
it was so.
While the center advanced slowly
but surely, space seemed to be LETT
between the ground they bad occupied
and the left of the Austrians, who
were continually retiring there. The
houses burning fereely in Klum emit
ted volumes of smoke, which were
swept around toward the right.
Another village, lying apparently to
the left of Prague road, named eros
Biarits. or Hiaritz, as well as / could
catch the name, was now In flames.
More tumbrils blew up in that direc-
tiOn; so that there we're now six or
seven villages on FIRE from left to right.
The battle was assuming a more aw-
ful and tremendous aspect, and the
faint rays of sunshine which shot at
intervals through the lifting clouds,
only gave the scene greater terror.
Horses without riders careered among
the wounaed, who were crawling all
over the plain, dismounted. Dragons
dragged themselves to the rear, and
men came crawling along in such
large numbers that they appeared like
broad fringe to the edges of the bat
tie. But where they most swarmed
was over the plain, near the big tree.
The rolling Of the musketry in the
hollows beyond, smothered the voice
of the cannon. i.aa 3A
CRITICAL SITUATION FOR THE pRUs-
= SLAMS.
At this time the Austrian artillery
were making splendid practice, and
about one o'clock the whole line of
Prussians could gain no more ground,
and was obliged to fight hard to re-
tain the position it had won. At one
time it seemed as if it would be lost,
for guns had been dismounted by the
Austrian fire, and in the wooded
ground the needle gun had no fair
field, and the infantry fight was very
equal. Cf
Then Prince Frederick Charles sent
the 9Th and 9th Divisions forward.
They laid down their helmets and
knapsacks on the grounds, and adj
vanced to the river. The King was
near to Bistritz, and the troops cheer
ed him loudly as they marched into
battle. They went over the Sadowa
bridge, disappeared into. the wood,
and soon the increased noise told they
had begun to fight; but the Austrian
gunners sent salvo after salyo among
them, and they did not push the bat
tie forward more than a few hundred
yards, for they fell back themselves,
and they could not reach the enemy
Not only did the fragments of the
shells fly about among them, scatter
ing death and awful gashes among
their ranks, but the portions Of the
trees, torn by the artillery fire, few
thickly about, huge ragged splinters,
that caused even more frightful
wounds. ~
81 THE PRUssIANs DRIVEN. 81 II
Herwarth, tooq4 seemed checked
ubon the right The smoke of his
musketry and artillery, which had
hitherto been pushing forward stead
lily, stood still for time. Fransky's
men, cut to pieces, could not be sent
forward to attack the .Sadowa wood,
for they would have, exposed them
selves to be taken in the rear by ar
tillery on the right of the Austrian
line, formerly in trout of .Lipa. All
the artillery was engaged except eight
batteries, and these had to be retained
In case of a reverse; for at one time
the firing on the Sadowa wood, and
OF the Prussian artillery on the slope
seemed almost as if drawing back to-
ward Bistritz. 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 coming of the Grown Prince.
Some Austrian guns near Lipa were
seen to be firing toward the Prussian
left, and it was hoped they might be
directed against the advance guard of
the I'd Army, but at s o'clock there
were no signs of Prussian columns
advancing against Lipa The Gener-
ais became manifestly uneasy, and
they drew the infantry out of the bat
tie; cavalry was also formed up, so
that it would be available either for
the pursuit of the Austrians, or for
retarding their pursuit, and General
Won Rhetz himself went off to look
for the I'd Army.
THE AUSTRIAN RIGHT WATERING.
AS the Austrian left and center
gained ground the right yielded, and
column after column of Prussians
came upon the ridge firing as they ad
vanced, while their guns on the TANKS
swept the slowly retreating, but not
disorderly, Austrians, with shrapnel
and she'll. aI494 n raa+ i'm.
I