364 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
on the ground. Their march had been impeded by heavy rain and the 
consequent bad state of the roads, and took six hours instead of five; it was 
about twelve o'clock when the artillery were near enough to open fire and 
cover the infantry's advance. Soon afterwards part of the 6th Corps reached 
the ground ; it came up far to the Guards' left, its own left being near the 
Elbe. The remainder of the corps, except one brigade left to watch the 
fortress of Josefstadt, filled when it arrived, the vacant space. The 2nd 
Division of the Guard followed the 1st Division at an interval of nearly two 
hours, and bending to the right, attacked Lipa andChlurn. The 1st Corps 
gave support to the 7th Division of the 4th Corps, and to this division of 
the guard. The 5th Corps occupied its normal place as a general reserve. 
Thus the whole of the Crown Prince's army was on the ground in time to 
share more or less in the events of the day. 
On the opposite flank, at five or six miles distance, General Herwarth was 
pushing on with steady skill and good courage, and had fully attained his 
object of turning the Austrian left. Between three and four o'clock, when 
the guard was close upon the Sadowa road at Chlum and Kosberitz, one of 
Herwarth's divisions was near Charbusitz, whilst the other two were in 
occupation of Prim and Problus. The Austrian army was now pressed in 
front, pierced in the centre, assailed on both sides, and with its very line 
of retreat endangered. About three o'clock the King's staff observed that 
the Austrian artillery fire had generally slackened, and soon there came a 
recommendation from the front that the reserve cavalry should be sent 
forward. At half-past three the King put himself at their head and rode 
triumphantly through his victorious troops. Well might they greet him 
with cheers, and well might his heart be proud, for Prussia had won within 
the last few hours a new position in the world. 
Benedek's short published despatch, dated the 4th July,* attributed the 
defeat solely to the Prussians succeeding, under cover of the smoke and 
mist, in establishing themselves unobserved at Chlum, where they were in 
rear of part of his line. Nothing could give a more false impression of the 
day's proceedings. If the despatch in question really emanated from him 
he must have been, even on the following day, ignorant of the general 
bearing of the battle; such a misapprehension is not consistent with the 
keen insight which is an indispensable quality for a good Commander- 
in-Chief. 
Advance of the Prussians into Austria . 
The interest of the campaign, and indeed of the whole war, culminated 
with the battle of Koniggratz. The trophies were 174 guns, 11 standards, 
and 22,000 unwounded prisoners. The results were that Austria sued for 
peace. An armistice was applied for and refused. Pending the negotiations 
the Prussians advanced towards Yienna. 
On the 5th July, the day next but one after the victory, the forces crossed 
the Elbe in the neighbourhood of Pardubitz. On moving thence the three 
armies diverged from one another; the Crown Prince, still on the left, 
marched towards Olmutz, in which direction the main body of Austrians 
* In the “ Times ” of 6th Julj. 
