Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-08-05
THE PRUssIAN ARMY.
Prince Frederick Charles, the Conn
Fnauder-fn-Chief.

as Jot AtCctNtu very lltlIc dttOhtlOh AiSAA
the American press. In Prussia he is re
gaIded as far superior TO the Crown
Prince, and as the equalif not the supe-
rior of the veteran Won MOltke.
PRINCE FREDERICK CHARLES OF PRUSSIA,
mr., sent COMMANDMENTS Chief of the Prus
sian army on the Rhine, son of Prince
Frederick, was born March 20, 1928. He
il the beloved Charles Alexander, and
nephew of the King, chief of his army
and a man of such extraordinary mill
| tary talents, that we might safely pro-
nounce him military genius. The eyes
of the entire German people are now
| turned upon him in unlimited trust and
confidence. 1t would be Interesting as
well as instructive 10 follow step by ster
the formation and development of this
extraordinary character, but, even If our
space did not forbid entering into minute
details, the reluctance of the Prince to
all publicity, and his stern refusal to fur
nish his biographers any information be-
You'd what has already become historical
concerning him, would preclude all idea
OF such al undertaking. Like all Prus-
sian Princes, Frederick Charles had
to enter the Prussian army when
scarcely ten years old, it being con-
sldered necessary that every descend
ant of the house of Hohenzollern, no mat
ter what his individual inclination may be,
should become fully acquainted with the
military service of his country, and that
whatever career he may ultimately follow,
he may be called upon at any moment to
oNu frr fIo afa &c Ua46
land in times of danger. With Frederick
Charles, however, there was no need Of
compulsion. The warlike spirit of his
ancestors animated him even in his earli-
est youth, and induced him to devote him
self with enthusiasm to his military
studies. The result of this innate love of
everything connected with the army, soon
became apparent in the rapid progress he
made in the military school of instruction.
The study of the life and glorious deeds
of Frederick the Great filled his leisure
hours, and it is said that he was on
several occasions severely reprimanded
for passing entire nights over
the histOro of the "Seven Years. War;"
and the study of the plans of battle adopt
ed by that illustrious captain. At the
outbreak of the first war of Schleswig-
Holstein, in 1S48, he was assigned to the
staff of the COmmander-in-Ch Chief of the
Prussian forces, Gen. Won Wrangel, when
at the battle of Schleswig, his impetuosi-
ty and his entire disregard of all danger,
while imperiling his life at every instant,
did not fail to encourage the troops, and
materially aided in securing the victory
TO the Prussian eagle. During the cam
paign in Baden in 1S49 he likewise distin-
guished himself on various occasions.
Fifteen years of peace now followed, dur
ing which the Prince resumed his theo-
Tetical studies of the science of war, made
himself familiar with all branches of the
army, and showed conclusively his supe-
rior talent for the organization as well as
for the skillful disposition of large armies.
The disregard of treaties by Denmark,
resulting in a declaration OF war against
that Power by Austria and Prussia; the
second campaign in Schleswig- Holstein
was soon entered upon, and although
Gen. Won Wrangel was at first appointed
Commander-in-Chief of the combined
armies, the command of the Prussian
division was intrusted to Prince Frederick
Charles, Dec. 10, 1868. He at once re-
cognized the fortified place of Duppal to
be one of the greatest Danish strongholds,
and a formidable barrier to the advance
of the German armies into Danish terri
tory. He therefore decided upon a regu-
lar siege and investment of the position.
The severity of the winter in these
Northern latitudes lnterfered considerably
with his operations, and it was not until
April, 1864, that he thought safe to order
first the bombardment and then the
of the Notifications. Twice the
assault was repulsed with serious slaugh-
ter, until at last the intrepid com
mander grasped the flag of the regiment
of Royal Guards and, personally leading
his troops to a third attack, drove the en-
envy out of his stronghold and gained
decided victory, the Danes losing over
5000 men and us pieces of artillery.
Being defeated in several other important
engagements, the Danes saw the impOssi-
bility of further resistance, and treaty
of peace was signed October 80, 1864.
At the outbreak of hostilities between
Prussia and Austria in 1866, Prince
Frederick Charles was called to the COM
mand of the First Division of the Prus-
sian army, Immediately marched his
troops to the frontier, which he crossed
on June %, and in ordering the attack
upon the forces of the enemy, ad-
dressed his men with the words:
''AIay your hearts beat toward God and
your fists upon the enemy" A success
sion of splendid victories at Liebenau,
Turnau, Podol, Munchengratz and GIFTS
chin, having forced the enemy into the
interior of Bohemia, Prince Frederick
Charles, who knew the Austrians to have
occupied a formidable position on the
nights, beyond the BistritZ, requested the
Crown Prince Frederick William to CometO
his assistance with the Second Division of
the army, but attacked the enemy on the
morning of July 5, without awaiting his
arrival. The Prussians fought desperately,
but the position of the enemy was so
well chosen, and their artillery so favora-
bly, placed, that the Prince could not
gain a decided advantage over them,
and it was not until the arrival
of the Second Division, under the
Crown Prince, that the enemy lost
ground, retreated under the deadly fire of
the Prussians, and was finally completely
routed, running in all directions, and in
the widest confusion. This ended the
celebrated battle of Sadowa. The enemy
was pursued from the 9TH to the 18th.
Brunn was taken, and the Prussian troops
found themselves near the Capital of Aus
tria, ready, at a moments notice, TO
march upon Vienna. The interference of
France, resulting in the treaty of Prague,
this ever-memorable campaign was at an
end, Austria Inundated, and her former
military prestige lost forever. As might
be anticipated from q man who had taken
such conspicuous part in in the brilliant
achievements of the Prussian army, our
hero, although proud of his troops, and
willingly admitting their superiority over
any European army which could then be
marshaled against them, had nevertheless
become aware of some serious drawbacks
and errors hitherto overlooked in the or
ganization of the Prussian army, and at
once concluded to advocate such reforms
as his experience had convinced him to
be absolutely necessary. Meeting with
opposition in high quarters, he is said 10
have resolved to submit his opinions to
a