Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-07-23
THE BATTLE OF SADOWA.
Half a Million Men Engaged-Hand 10
Hand Conflict


The military correspondent OF the London
Times, al the Prussian headquarters, gives a
full and clear account of the battle of Sadowa
We copy the principal passages:
OPENING OF THE BATTLE
The first shot fired was about half past seven
The Prussian horse artillery, close down TO the
river, replied to the Austrian guns, but nei-
ther side fired heavily, and for half an hour
The cannonade consisted of but little more than
single shots. At quarter before eight the
King OF Prussia arrived on the field, and very
soon after the horse artillery We're reinforced
by other field batteries, and the Prussian gum
ners began firing their shell quickly into the
Austrian position.
But as soon as the Prussian fire actively
commenced, Austrian guns seemed TO appear.
as if by magic in every point Of the position;
fIom every road, from every village, came
flashes OF fire and whizZing rife shells, which,
bursting with a sharp crack, sent their splin-
ters rafting among the guns, gunners, carri-
ages and horses.
FIERCE CANNONADE
As soon as the cannonade in front became
serious, the guns of the seventh division began
TO bomoard the village of Benatek; on the
Austrian right. The Austrians returned shot
for shot, and neither side either gained or lost
ground In the centre. too, the battle was yery
eyen-the Prussans pushed battery after bat
terry into the action, and kept up tremendous
fire on the Austrian guns; but these returned
il, and sometimes with interest, for the Aus
trlan artillery officers knew their ground and
every shell fell true; many officers ard men
FIGHTING AROUND THE VILLAGES.
While this cannonade had been going on.
some OF the infantry had been moved down to-
ward the river, where they took shelter from
the hre under a convenient undulation of
ground. The Eighth division came down on
the left-hand side Of the causeway, and under
the cover OF the rising in the ground formed
Its columns for the attack on the village of Sa-
dowa; while the Third and Fourth divisions
on the right hand side of the road prepared TO
storm DohelnitZ and Mokrowens. But little
before their preparations were completed, the
village of Benatek. on the Austrians' right
caught fire, and the Seventh division made q
dash 10 secure II, but the Austrians We're not
driven ont by the flames, and here for the
first time i'll the battle was there hand to- hand
lighting. The Twenty. seventh regiment led
the attack, and rushed into the orchards of the
village; the burning houses separated the cem-
batants, they poured yolley after volley at each
other through the flames; but the Prussians
found means TO get round the burning houses
and taking the defenders in reverse, forced
them TO retire with the loss Of many pris-
ODers.
Ii was 10 o'clock when Prince Frederick
Charles sent Gen. Stuhnapi 10 order the attack
on Sadowa, Dohelnitz and Mockrowens. The
columns advanced covered by skirmishers, and
reached the river bank without much loss but
from there they had to fight every inch OF their
way. The Austrian infantry neld the bridges
and villages in force, and fired fast upon them
as they approached. The Prussians could adj
vance but slowly along the narrow ways and
against the defenses of the houses, and the VOL
ieys sweeping IuIOuSu the Thinks steineu 10 Dear
the soldiers down. The Prussians fired much
more quickly than their opponents, but they
could not see TO take their aim; the houses
trees and smoke from the Austrian discharges
shrouded the village.
sheltered by this the Austrian Jagers fired
blindly where they could tell, by hearing, that
the attacking columns were. and the shots told
tremendously on the Prussians in their close
formations; but the latter improved their po-
sitions, although slowly. and bv dint 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 artil.
lery turned its fire, regardless of the enemy's
batteries. on the villages. and made tremen-
dous havoc among the houses. Mokrowens
and Dohelniiz both caught fire, and the shells
fell quickly and with fearful effect among the
defenders ef the flaming hamlefs: the Austrian
guns also played upon the attacking infantry,
bur 81 this time these were sheltered from their
fre by the houses and trees between =
- THE ArsTRIANe FLANKKD.
In and around the villages the fighting con-
tipued Tor nearly an hour; then the Austrian
infantry, who had been there driven out by
rush Of the Pyussians, renred, but only . little