Wilmington journal., 1866-08-09
For the Journal.

[. For the Journal.
E:rtruct from a Letter Of Friend Ia North Caro-
Hniun) in Germany, ,acith Reference 10 ht
| W1r IN Europe.
Itisintensely interesting bothin military and po
litica point of view but toolong story for letter
My sympathies are entirely with Austria-it is al
ways my fate to be on the losing side. Prussia, in
her arrogance forced Austria into position in
which she obliged to fight or be humiliated,
and Italy took advantage of Austria's moment OF
weakness to grasp at a province which every one
wishes her Italy to have, but which, we do not
like to see taken under such circumstances. Prus-
sia and Italy too have all the radical revolution
ary and ultra democratic elements of Europe on
their side, and [ always instinctiyely oppose any
cause which they uphold. So far from sympathl-
zing with your feelings the subject, love Ger
many next to NY own country, and my heart
bleeds for the woes that the brilliant but unscru-
pulous policy of one man (Bismarck) has inflicted
upon her.
In point of numbers, there is (or was) little dis
parity, about million of men each side-
Austria counting for 700O OOG and her Southern
German allies for 300, 600 men, while Prussia and
and the Northern German States count for 600 OOO
and Italy for 400, GOO men. Politically, / have
said, Austria claims all onr sympathy, but our ad-
m ration must be accorded to Prussia for her bril-
liant milit ry exploits. The war had lasted but
three weeks and actual hOstllities but ten dlys,
when the great Empire of Austria lay prostrate-
Glance at the map. Prussia overrun within week
from the first moment Hanover, SaXony and Hesse
Cassel, the only Northern German States that op-
posed her, advancing then in two great divisions
from Prussia, Silesia and from SaXony, thro' the
mountains that border all Northern Bohemia,
and behind which lay 300, 900 men, the very flow
er of the Austrian army, the Prussians fought
for week a series of brilliant engagements, and
succeeding in routing their two armies, attacked
the whole Austrian force near the fortress Konig-
gratz, defeated it with immense loss, (the prison
ers count by tens of thousands and dl owe it back
into Moravia. All Bohemia is in their hands,
and there is nothing to prevent their marching
upon Vienna and debating terms of peace there.
At this juncture, Austria cedes Nenetia to Napol-
eon he urges an armistice and will doubtless be-
come the arbiter in the dispute and gain some
thing for France, but not the Rhine provinces
Those he can never have until after a desperate
war against united Germany.
The Prussans have made most brilliant cam
paign, quite Napoleonic, accord them all credit
for it, but they much to their needle gun, a
superior breech-oading rife which be fired
at the rate of six shots per minute and will kill at
distance of 600 to 800 yards. All Europe is now
agog with this gun, and France and England are
instantly at work to furnish breech leaders to all
their troops The muzzle loader is condemned
hencefOrth and must pass away with flint locks
smooth bore cannon and other such relics of the
past So great was the execution of this Prussian
rifle, that the Austrian infantry, whose strong
point is the use Of the bayonet, could scarcely Fuse
it, being unable to gett close quarters in the face
of the terrific Prussian fire. The Prussa1fs may
indeed thank God and their acknowledgements
for their success. The perfect drill and discipline
of the Prussian army, together with their careful
and constant instruction il the of this paEtic-
uiar rifle. of course, enhance its effectiveness.