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

PruSSlan IlrallleurS, who were stag
gered by fearful volleys of musketry.
Their officers were all killed or wound
ed. They fell suddenly back. Down
came the Prussians, but they were
received on the bayonet point and
with dubbed musket, and were driven
back to the shelter of the wood, and
some were carried off prisoners in the
retreating column. Indeed, handfuls
of Prussians were coming into the
town behind us all the day, showing
how close the fight was, and consid-
cradle body of the 9th Regiment,
with some officers, are now in the
Grosser Ring. Chesta and Visa are
now burning, so that from left to right
the flames of ten villages, and the
flashes of guns and musketry, contend
ed with the sun that pierced the
clouds for the honor of Illuminating
the seas of steel and the fields of car
mage. 1t was 3 o'clock.
ALL is LOST.
The efforts of the Austrians to oc-
cupy Klum and free their center had
failed, their right was driven down in
a helpless mass toward Koniggratz,
quivering and palpitating as shot and
she'll tore through it. All is lostl"
Artillery still Numbered with force
and violence which might have led a
stranger to such scenes to think no
enemy could Withstand it. The Aus
trian cavalry still hung like white
thunder cloud on the TANKS, and
threatened the front of the Prussians,
keeping them in square and solid
columns. But already the trains
were streaming away from KONG
gratz, placing the Elbe and Adler be-
tween them and the enemy
The grip of the Prussians could not
be shaken. Word was brought to me
to leave at once, for the city gates
were about being closed, and the gun
ners on the walls were laying their
pieces to cover the foundations and
the causeways. One more glance
showed very hell of fre-cornfelds,
highways, slopes and dells and hill
sides covered with the slain-the pride
and might of Austria shattered and
laid low. What happened more | can
only tell from hearsay. But am
told that at the last the Aus
trian horse saved all that was
not lost, and in brilliant charges
rolled back the tide of Prussian
infantry; that the gunners threw
their pieces into the Elbe, and into
the inundated fields as they retreated;
that men were drowned in hundred as
they crowded over pOntoon bridges
hastily. laid and sunk, or burnt ere
columns could cross over; that lug
gage trains, reserve ammunition, guns
and prisoners, the spoils of that enor-
NOUS host, fell into the hands of the
victors, who remained masters of that
hard fought field, covered for nine
miles with myriads of the slain. Well
might Benedek exclaim, All is lost
but my life! Would to God [ had
lost that tooP .s-
The retreat was not rout, thanks
to the cavalry. At $50 A. M. we halt
ed (July A at Hohemauth General
Benedek and staff came in somewhat
later, having halted at Holic on the
evening of the battle, and it is said
he will give up the command. The
staff officers are much detected; all
the more because the day was won
but for the fatal neglect of Klum, the
very center of the position, which
was SO, unaccountably left unguarded.
Benedek has covered his retreat with
a powerful rear guard. Cavalry and
artillery are all along the road, but
still there is chance that the Prus-
SLAMS may cut In on our lines by
cross-road, and the strong guard with
US is constantly on the alert al
There is no account of our losses,
estimates varying from 10000 to
$4,000 If the prisoners be included,
| am inclined to think the latter num-
Der correct. The loss in guns is esti-
mated at $50 to $50. 1t would not
astonish me to hear it was more.
THE RETREAT.
LEITOMIsCHL, July 5-All night
the Austrian army, or what is left of
it-still a prodigious host-has been
pouring through this town, and still
pours on. Camps are formed all along
the road and efforts are made to re-
form the regiments, which are aided
by the men, anxious in all eases to get
under their colors again Count Mems
dorff has just arrived, and is now walk
ing up and down outside the humble
inn where / am quartered, speaking to
the soldiers, and giving the weary,
foot sore men little gifts of money to
get food and tobacco,