Year: 1866

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Ss DID Ss = Ssa. s ss ssss osss
concealed. the FIRE Of the needle gun did not tell
and whole battery placed at the far end Of the wood
fired through the trees and told the Prussian ranks
with awful effect But the asaants fought on, at last
broke down the obstacles at the entrance and then
The fighting continued from tree to tree and the Aus
trians made many rsh TO recover the lost position OF
the wood; but in this close lighting their boyis troops
went down ike ninepins before the strong OF the
Eighth diyision but when tho defenders drew back


little and their artillery played into the trees the Prus
wood the fight became stationary


THE AUSTRIAN ARTILLERY FIRE


Al this time the Austrian artillery were making splen.
did practice and about one O'Clock the whole battle line
OF the Prussians could gain more ground, and was
obliged to 6ght hard to retain the position it had
At time 1t emed as II would be lost for guns had
been dsmounted by the Austrian fire. In the wooded
ground the needle gun had no fair aed andhe infantry
fight was very equal.


Then Prince Frederick Charles sent the Fifth and
Sixth divisions forward They laid down their helmets
The king now Bisrtz and tho troops cheer
ed him loudly they marched into the battle They
went over the sadowa BRIDGE disappeared Into the wood
and the noise Of musketry told they had
begun to fight the Austrian gunners sent savo after
savo among them and they did mot push the battle tor
wards moro than few hundred yards for they fell back
themselves and they could not reach the enemy.
Not only did the fragments OF the shells ny about
among them scattering death ana awful sasnes an among



artillery fire. few thiciIy about huge ragged spnters,
that caused even moro frishtfuI wounds


A CRITICAL MOMgHT


Herwarth, too. seemed checked upon the right. The
smoke of his musketry and artillery. which had hitherto
been pushing forward steadily, stood sfil for time


Fransky y men, cut 10 pieces, could not be sent Tor
ward TO attack the Sadowa wood for they would have
exposed themselves TO be taken In by the artillery
on the right of the Austrian tine formed in front OF
Lppa Ali the artillery was engaged except eight bat
terie and these had to be retained In of reverse,
for at time the firing In the Sadowa wood and Of
n aUad almost III
drawing back towards Bistrtz.


The First army corps was certainly checked in
its advance, IL not actually being pushed back.
Then the Prusslan commanders began TO look anxious
ly to the left for the coming OF the Crown Prince
towards the Prussan left and it was hoped they might
be directed against the advanced guard OF the Second
army, but at three o'clock there signs cs Prns
sian columns advancing against Lpa The generals be-
manifesty uneasy and they drew the infantry out
OF the bait Q cavalry was also formed up so that 1t
would be available either for the pursuit Of the Aus
TRANS or for rearding their pursuit and General Won
Rhetz himself went Oh to look for the Second army
But he soon returned and brought the intelligence that
the Crown Prince was forming his attack on Lpa and
that the guns on the Austrian right had been firing
against his troops.


wood was carried and the battery beyond stormed
by tho Jagers.


At haipast three the Crown Princes columns were
seen moving across the slope against Lpa for his art
lery had silenced the Austrian guns and Herwarh
again pressing forward against the Austrian left In
quarter Of an hour the Crown Princes infantry en-
gagged at Lipa, and their qaick voleys OF musketry
rapidly advancing told that the Austrans were in full
retreat The First army pushed forward at once, the
artillery mbered up and gaoped up the SLOPE coming
into action opportunity to send its shells against
the retreating baalions the infantry, emerging from
the woods, formed and pressed at the double Prince
Frederick Charles put himself at the head Of his reg
ment and dashed the Sadowa bridge and up the
road followed by all his light cavalry.


AUSTRIAN RETREJ.


On gaining the top Of the Lpa slopes the retreating
battaons Of the Austrians running across
hollow the ground which lies between Ipa and the
village OF Strescltz which lies about two miles further
south. Tho Prnssian artillery halted the summit Of
the Ipa hill and fired shells rapidly which burst with
terrible precision the heads Of the fugitives.


PURSUIT.


The cavalry few forward in pursuit; but the Prince,
after leading short way, had to TO superntend the
general movement for the Austrian batteries had taken
post In the Streselz ridge, and were firing heavily
ont Of hand and by small detachments rushed on the
Austrian battaions; but these though retreang fast
were not routed and in many Instances beat OF the
cavalry who also suffered much from the Austrian arti-
lery for the shells burst repeatedly among the squad
rons and killed many men and horses But the Austrian
guns driven of their ridge by the heavier FIRE tf tho
numerous Prussan batteries, and then the pursuit
was renewed.


Some OF the retreatiDg Ausrians made for the fortress
OF Koniggratz others for Pardubz, and troops were
sent in pursuit along both roads.


WOUNDED.


The wounded who were lying on the ground shreked
with fear when thew saw the cavalry gallopinp down
towards them; but Prince Frederick Charles took
that they should be avoided and at one time checked
tho pursuit. In order to his squadrons around and
not 60 through patch Of standing corn where several
wounded Ausrians had taken refuge. These when they
the Lancers coming thought they were going TO be
massacred and cried ptcously waving white bandker
chief a sign Of truce; but they had no cause to
fear


These lay in immense numbers in the field; the dead
too lay thick; but all that they require will be done TO-
morrow Every cottage In the neighborhood that has not
SLAMS lie side by side but the Krankenrager III out
and all will not be collected till late to morrow morning
their Voluntary labor are the Knights or St. John q
Jerusalem. This order Of Knighthood, renewed lately
for the Of the weak and suffering has sent here
large hospital establishment, under the direction oi
Count Theodore Stolberg From the voluntary contri-
buttons OF the Knights hospitals are maintained in the
nearest towns and in the field, all necessary hospital
accompany the army, hospital nurses provided and
by their aid many wounded arc carefully attended who
could not be looked after by the ordinary arrangements
HALT IN TIurMpB


Large numbers Of prisoners were taken for the pur
suit continued TO the Ebe and II not till nine
O'Clock that all firing had ceased tho main body Of the
army halted about As the Princes returned the
oattaions checred them for their victory bn they ief
the pursuit Of their enemies and the cheers Of their
victorious troops 10 look after the hospital accommoda
ton provided for the wounded.


The battle Of Sadowa has been great victory for the
Prussian army the troops fought with the most deter
mined courage they stood for hours under terrible re
for there are supposed 90 have been nearly fifteen hun
dred guns in action, OF which hundred and fifty
were Prussan, The immediate cause Of the victory
the Crown Princes attack on the Austrian LETT lank
which turned the position, but the attack In front had
great effect the ssuc unless 10 had been steadly
maintained, the Austrians might have rcpulsed the at
tack In flank.


II the opinion OF tho Prussan Generals that the
ran retreat was most skfu and that their artillery
was cxceently handled


TIE NUMBERS ENGAGED.
The member OF troops engaged on the Prussan side
was about two hundred and nfty thousand.
The Austrians arc supposed 10 have had almost an
equal number.


No details have yet been received OF the number Of
killed, wounded or prisoners


WITH THE AUSTRIANS.
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