Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-07
HOW IT WAS WON.
ACCOUNT Hy Won MoLrKE or the
FAMOUS BATTLE OF sAooWA.
ne union cf the Divided Prcsssan Armiss
on the Bsttic-fiesd-~A Seems
Of Greet slaughter.


delivered IL on May 9, 1881:
"Incorrect accounts Of the battle, of
xonniggratz are universal IN military his
tories and biographies. When his Majesty
the King arrived az his headquarters
In Bohemia on June 30th, the Crown
Prince, after several victories, had al
ready crossed the mountains on the
Rilesisn border and had driven back
across tie upper Elbe the opposing
Austrian corps. Prince Frederick Karl,
with the Frat army. corps, had press
ed forward beyond tiitschin. Both
armies could DO united by q march TO an
intervening point. The combatants who
had early assembled in Bohemia had the
advantage of the inner line of operations
against the two Prussian armies advancing
respectively from the north and south.
This advantage was reduced IN proportion
20 the nearness of the mutual approach OF
the two armies. field-Marshal Benedek
could not, moreover, attack one army with
out exposing bis flank to the other.
THE union of the two till then divided
armies on the battlefield l consider the
greatest feet of strategical generalship.
II was. therefore, the plan of the cam
paign TO continue the original unavoid-
able separation, and to defer the close
cooperation OF the forces TO the moment
when the central army of the enemy should
be encountered. This army might be sup
posed 10 stand after the retreat of the fore
most Austrian army corps, IN position
behind the Elbe, with the river, difficult
of passage, in front. and the wings rest:
ipg on the fortresses of Josepbstadt and
Konniegratz. Were il possible. to bring
paratively easy--to the right bank OF the
Elbe. we would have in line--say from
Koniginhof to Smidar-all our forces.
There remained, then, only the front at
tack on @ formidable position. For the
execution of this flank march across the
enemy's front 20 Pardubitz was necessary.
This march might be interrupted, now
ever, by the Austrians, and would De-
sides sndanger our connection with BIZ
lesia.
TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY.
without the union, Prince Friedrich
Karl remained alone before the Austrian
position, but the Crown Prince, who was
already on the left bank OF the Elbe,
could attack on the flank q position
which. without this help in 'front.'. could
hardly be captured. How much OF an
obstacle the Aupa would offer was not
known, and. therefore o reconnoltrlng ex-
pedition toward Josephstadt was CON-
manded. At all events, within the next
few DAYS the final decision must be made,
A responsibility Of tremendous weight for
him from whose shoulders no one could
takeit. A council OF war was not held
during this war mol. during the subsequent
one. ,,.
full sleep, which caused me TO forget the
cares of the day and gave me new strength
for the morning. had just laid myself In
bed on July Cd, Wien, at IL o'clock, Gene
raj Won Voigts-Rhetz came to my rooms.
Several accommodating expeditions during
the day had determined the. fact that the
q tt.olr ~ nf ~
Law, not behind the Elbe. but before the
same, and on the Bistriz. Prince Fried
rich Karl had accordingly already CON-
manded concentration further forward.
and had sent his chief of staff with the
news 10 the King. in Gitschin, whence his
Majesty had referred him to me.
"Thore was no more doubt as to what
should be done.
at crossed the market to the Kings
quarters, was admitted at once. and found
him alone and in bed. 1t needed but few
words to explain the advantages OF the
eituation, il it were utilized before the
Austrians should continue their retreat
across tho Elbs. His Majesty decided at
once to attack the enemy on all sides early
on the morning of July Sd. The course OF
Prince Friedrich Karl correspondent CON-
pletely with this decision, and 1t was ne
cessary only to make sure of the co-opera-
ton OF the Crown Prince, who was exactly
on the enemy's flank, but TO reach the
scene had TO cover a march Of two miles.
TIE NECESSARY ORDERS.
General Podbleiski and Count Warten-
sleben awaited me in my quarters. The
necessary orders were issued at once aud
at "a O'Clock were sent out in duplicate
copies by two roads to Koniginhot. FRINGE
Friedrich Karl was also notified Of the de-
cision in question by the returning OF
General Won Voigts-Rhetz.
AT 4 o'clock / proceeded with the two
officers mentioned to Horitz, where we
mounted the horses sent out in advance,
and moved forward. 1t was dark, rainy
morning, and the troops which went away
in the night had experienced difficult
marching. Nevertheless, at o'clock, al
was ready. The first shots. fell on the
right wing. and the firing gradually spread
along the whole front, which extended
1t was apparent that we had the whole
Austrian army before US. At s o'clock his
Majesty was on Mt. Rozkos before Sadowa,
where Prince Friedrich Karl made his re-
port Several Princes and Count Bismarck
also assembled there, and constituted such
O considerable group that hostile battery
sent over a couple of Grenades at them.
Z" 1t was by no means the plan that the
First army should hastily go over to the
general offensive. 1t was expected, on the
contrary, that the First army would oc-
cupy the whole front OF the enemy and
hold 10 fast till the Second army could
take part. At first we must content our
selves with getting possession OF the
Bistritz line, the woods and the villages
on the brook, to cut on the movements
of the enemy, and later to have IN our
hands the bridges. etc. Hours passed and
the line of battle did not make any re-
maYkable advance eastward. The attempt
has been made to spread the idea that the
half-lost battle was saved by the acct
dental appearance OF the Crown Prince.
In fact, the Austrians had not crossed the
Bistrtz at o single point, some OF the VII
lagos were taken, and the Second army
had the distinct order to advance. The
Second army could not arrive much before
midday, although naturally many looked
with impotence for II earlier. There was,
however, no cause for apprehension. When
the King asked me what l thought OF the
situation answered: Your Majesty Will
win not only the battle, but the campaign.
RKMNDEB.
"Tbe situation reminded me Of the fight
nj Bautzen, where the French right-wing
begged repeatedly for re-enforcements.
The Emperor returned the answer: trois
that at this time Marshal Ney must appear
on the right flank of the allies.
Just before Us was the forest OF Sado-
wa, In which Horns brigade was sustain
ing hot fire. | remember how deer,
with long jumps, ran through the troops
behind the forest. With Wartensleben
rode along the highway toward Lipa. We
met there an ownerless OK, which, despite
the shower of grensdes. moped tdere quiet
and undisturbed. Tho line opposite the
forest must be strong to give such fire,
thought, and beyond taking by storm from
the front, so i countermanded an order
giSen for such an assault.
The only commander in perilous posi-
tion was General Won Franksecki, who had
heroically defended the forest Of Maslowed.
Had the First army corps, notified at 8 A.
Nj. Of the coming battle, only begun its
march in time, il would have been able
TO give him the much needed assist
ance. Beyond this forest rose a noun
tain peak. bare but for two trees
aud sharply defined against the horn.
zon. 1t was the heights Of Housewives.
At IL O'clock white cloud rose there from
q firing battery. As the heights had not
been attacked by the First army, this Ere
could be directed only against the Second
axtny and xya tnvf,, ltxs. sxnlafmAd. ssVp,.