by H M Hozier
The main body of the brigade then made an attack against the plantation, but was received with such a heavy fire of artillery and musketry that it reeled under the iron storm. It paused a few moments to steady itself, then, covered by skirmishers, sprang forwards upon the trees. The Austrians, against overpowering numbers, stood their ground with wonderful determination, and it was not till bayonets had been crossed, that they quitted the cover. The Prussians halted to rally at the further edge of the wood, while the Austrians drew slowly back along the road towards Olmütz, but lined the ditches in the fields by the wayside with sharpshooters.
All the Austrian battalions had meanwhile formed, and Rothkirch advanced them for a counter-attack, by which he hoped to recover the wood, and drive the Prussians again over the Blatta. The Prussians awaited their approach till they came within one hundred yards of the trees. Then the needle-gun opened with its deadly rapidity, and with rapid and perpetual volleys broke down the heads of the assailant columns. The Austrian battalions were crushed beneath the greeting and in partial confusion drew back. The Prussians rallied, and followed them as they retired to some open ground near the village of Wierowan, beside the road to Olmütz.
During the whole of this combat, the Austrian artillery had played upon the Prussian left flank. General Malotki directed two hundred of the 4th regiment to attack the guns in skirmishing order. The biting fire of the sharpshooters, coupled with the salvoes of the Prussian batteries on the west of the Blatta, forced the enemy’s pieces to withdraw to a more convenient distance, and Malotki could make his preparations for a further advance.
In the meantime, Hartman’s cavalry had not been idle. At the same time as Malotki advanced, on his left flank a Prussian detachment under Lieutenant-Colonel Kehler, who commanded the 1st Royal hussars, was pushed forward from Prossnitz, by way of Wrahowitz, towards the village of Dub on the March. This detachment consisted of the 1st Royal hussars, a 4-pounder battery, and one battalion of the 5th Prussian regiment of the Line. East of Wrahowitz, it fell in with the Austrian flanking parties. As these were apparently in much superior force, it retired behind the Wallowa, and from the right bank of this stream its artillery opened a fire which at least detained some of the Austrian artillery accompanying Rothkirch’s brigade in this direction.
On the morning of the 15th July, after Malotki’s brigade had marched on Wiklitzer Hof, Hartman’s cavalry division of three brigades took post near and behind it, about Klopotowitz and Biskupitz. Hartman’s three brigades were, the light brigade of Landwehr cavalry, consisting of the 2nd regiment of Landwehr Hussars and the 1st regiment of Landwehr Uhlans, a light brigade of the Line, consisting of the 2nd Royal hussars and the 10th Uhlans, and a heavy, or cuirassier brigade, consisting of the 1st and 5th regiments of Cuirassiers.
As Malotki pressed upon the Austrian brigade, and it began to retire from the direction of Tobitschau towards Wierowan, Hartman, in order to harass its retreat, formed the design of passing his cuirassier brigade, which formed his extreme left, over the Blatta, and with it acting against the Austrian right flank. Some officers sent to reconnoitre found that the bridge over the river near Biskupitz was neither held nor had been destroyed by the enemy.
When the 5th Cuirassiers had crossed the bridge and had gained the further bank, it perceived the Austrian artillery train on the road between Olmütz and Tobitschau, which, on account of the action going on near the latter place, had been halted north of Rakodau, and appeared to be without any escort.
Colonel Bredow, who commanded the 5th Cuirassiers, sought permission from General Hartman to attack the artillery train. This permission was accorded to him, not, however, till the Austrian artillery had noticed the Prussian cavalry. The gunners unlimbered, and opened upon the horsemen with shell, but at a long range, for they saw not the 5th Cuirassiers, who were on their own side the stream, but the 1st, who were still near Biskupitz.
Bredow, under cover of some undulating ground, formed his regiment in échelon of squadrons, for the attack of the guns. The first squadron he kept towards his right to cover the flank of his attack from any Austrian cavalry which might lie in that direction, the second and fourth squadrons he directed full against the front of the battery, and supported the second with the third as a reserve.
The squadrons moved forward in perfect lines, slowly and steadily at first, seeming to glide over the field, gradually increasing their pace, regardless of the tremendous fire directed upon them, which emptied some saddles. When within a few hundred paces of the battery they broke into a steady gallop, which increased in rapidity at every stride that brought the horses nearer to the Austrian line. All the time of their advance the gunners poured round after round into them, striving with desperate energy to sweep them away before they could gain the mouths of the cannons. Rapid flashes of flame breaking from the mouths of the guns accompanied the discharge of the shells, which were being blurted forth with a nervous haste through the thick clouds of smoke that hung heavily before the muzzles.
The flank squadrons, bending a little away from their comrades, made for either end of the line of guns, in expectation of finding there some supporting cavalry. The two centre ones went straight as an arrow against the guns themselves, and hurled themselves through the intervals between them upon the gunners. Then the firing ceased in a moment, and the smoke began to drift slowly away, but all noise was not hushed; shrieks from men cut down by the broad blades of the cuirassiers, cries for quarter, the rapid tramp of snorting and excited horses, the rattle of steel, shouts, cheers, and imprecations from the excited combatants, rose up to heaven in a wild medley, along with the prayers which were being offered up by another armed host not many miles distant at Brünn, where on this Sunday the army of Prince Frederick Charles was engaged in a solemn thanksgiving for their hitherto victorious career.
Eighteen guns, seven waggons, and one hundred and sixty-eight horses, with one hundred and seventy prisoners, fell into the hands of the Prussian force—a noble prize to be won by a single regiment. It lost only twelve men and eight horses, for the swelling ground and rapid motion of the gliding squadrons baulked the aim of the gunners, who mostly pointed their pieces too high, and sent their shells over the heads of the charging horsemen. Of the eighteen captured guns seventeen were conveyed to Prossnitz. One was too much disabled to be moved.
While the Prussian cuirassiers were engaged in drawing the captured guns to a safe place, a squadron of hostile cavalry deployed from Nenakowitz. Colonel Bredow placed himself at the head of his first squadron, and charged to cover the retreat of his regiment’s spoils. This squadron dashed with a heavy surge upon the hostile ranks. The lighter Austrian horsemen, borne down and scattered by their ponderous shock, broke in wild confusion, could not rally, and were driven far beyond Nenakowitz.
The Austrian infantry still held Wierowan, and was thus in rear and flank of the cuirassiers, who, under the fire of musketry, could not hold their position on the plateau in front of the Blatta, and were obliged for a time to retire towards Klopotowitz.
The village of Wierowan was, however, soon carried by the Prussian infantry, as well as that of Rakodau, which lay behind it. Both places were occupied, and one of the Prussian batteries crossing the Blatta opened upon the retreating Austrians, who drew off towards Dub. About mid-day the combat terminated at this point. But while this action had been going on northwards of Tobitschau, the Prussians had reaped other successes in the direction of Traubeck. The two fusilier companies of the 4th regiment, which soon after the commencement of the action had been directed upon Tobitschau, at that place fell in with three Austrian companies. These they drove out of the town, after a short though sharp engagement, and captured from them several prisoners.
Another battalion and the two remaining companies of their own battalion were then sent by Malotki to support the Prussian advance in this direction. They advanced towards Traubeck, and occupied that place without any serious opposition, although some stray detachments of the Aus
trians were in its immediate vicinity. Under the cover of the garrison of Traubeck, a detachment of Hartman’s cavalry advanced against Prerau. This detachment consisted of three squadrons of the second Royal hussars, the regiment of Landwehr hussars, a squadron of Polish Uhlans, and a battery of horse artillery, and was accompanied by a company of fusiliers, who were quickly mounted on some waggons near at hand. Before Hartman could develop his attack towards Prerau, an Austrian column was seen advancing from Olmütz towards Dub. It consisted of six battalions, a battery, and some squadrons. These had been despatched by the commandant of the fortress to support Rothkirch’s brigade in the neighbourhood of Tobitschau.
At the same time as these Austrian reinforcements approached the scene of action, Prussian supports were also coming up. General von Bonin, who commanded the first Prussian corps d’armée, and had ordered Malotki’s advance, at the commencement of the engagement, not knowing in what strength the Austrians were, had sent his aides-de-camp to order the remaining brigades of his corps to move on Tobitschau. The commanders of these brigades, hearing the cannonade, had of their own accord moved in the direction of the sound, and the advanced guard, formed of Barnekow’s brigade, which mustered six battalions and a battery, had already reached Biskupitz when the Austrian reinforcements from Olmütz came into sight Biskupitz lies about a mile to the west of Wierowan.
The rifled battery of Barnekow’s brigade immediately came into action, and fired against the right flank of the Austrian advance. At the same time a battery for which Bonin had sent came up, and, joining the battery Malotki had previously with him, took up a position on the west of the main road. The Austrian guns advanced to Dub, and there near the church came into action to cover the deployment of their infantry. But the quick handling of the Prussian guns and the advance of Barnekow were too formidable for the sallying troops, and they, without engaging with Malotki, retired again to the fortress.
About five o’clock in the afternoon General Hartman, with his detachment of cavalry, approached Prerau. He found a good ford through the Beczwa near Wichowitz, and passed the stream by means of it, leaving his company of fusiliers to secure the passage. With his horsemen he passed on towards Dluhonitz and Roketnitz. As soon as he had crossed the railway he discovered an Austrian battalion on the west of Dluhonitz, and other detachments of hostile infantry could be made out partially concealed in the ripe corn. General Hartman deployed his cavalry. In the first line he placed the Landwehr hussars and the squadron of Uhlans with the battery on their left flank, covered by the fourth squadron of Royal Hussars. The second and third squadrons of the latter regiment formed his second line. As soon as the battery had shaken the detachments of Austrian infantry, Hartman attacked them. In vain the Austrians attempted to form company squares; the horsemen were too quick for them, got among them before their formation was complete, and made a large number of prisoners, but however without very severe loss to themselves.
During this attack a large number of Austrian baggage waggons were hurrying along the road from Roketnitz towards Prerau. Hartman sent his three leading squadrons, under Colonel Glasenapp, against the road to cut off the baggage trains, and sent away his prisoners with an escort to Tobitschau. The drivers of the baggage waggons, perceiving the threatened attack, began to overturn the carts in the ditches alongside the way. In the meantime some Austrian artillery had come into action on the hills north of Roketnitz, which told with effect on the Prussian troops. At the same time five squadrons of an Austrian cuirass regiment appeared on the left flank of the Prussians, while five squadrons of Austrian hussars also dashed into the field to protect Feldzeugmeister von Benedek, who with his staff had been mixed up with the escort of the baggage train, and had been personally engaged in the mêlée with the Prussian cavalry.
Colonel Glasenapp tried to retire, but the Austrian Haller hussars came down upon him, and he was forced to turn to face them. The attack on both sides could only, on account of the standing corn, be made at a trot. The hand-to-hand combat which ensued endured for some ten minutes. Man pressed against man—horse against horse; swords and revolvers were freely used, Glasenapp himself went down, and many of his troopers beside him were borne to earth. At last the relics of his squadrons shook themselves free from the rough embrace of their assailants, and managed to gain a retreat As far as possible in the time they could spare they broke the railway and the telegraph; and then, recrossing the Beczwa, took up a position on its western bank.
The Austrian cavalry did not pursue. Benedek, threatened on his right flank by the approach of the crown prince’s army, pushed by forced marches towards Vienna, and Rothkirch’s brigade, which had been engaged at Tobitschau, retreated by Kobe, and followed him along the Prerau road. When the Austrian general reached Hradschin he heard that the railway at Lundenburg had been cut by Prince Frederick Charles. He then crossed the Carpathians, and by a flank march down the valley of the Waag, gained Pressburg by way of Tyrnau. Here, on the 21st July, he placed the leading divisions of his army in direct communication with that of the Archduke Albrecht, which was round Vienna.
On the 17th the army of the crown prince occupied Prerau, which by that time was entirely deserted by the Austrians. This was the result of the action of Tobitschau, which cost the Austrians about Ave hundred killed and wounded, five hundred prisoners, and seventeen guns; the Prussians about three hundred killed, wounded, and missing.
The army of the crown prince, after the action of Tobitschau, left the fifth corps d’armée to watch Olmütz, and moved in two columns upon Brünn, which place it reached on the 19th July.
CHAPTER 3: Further Advance of the Prussian Armies from Brünn to the Danube
While the crown prince had moved in the direction of Prerau, Prince Frederick Charles had occupied Brünn on the 12th July. Here the First Army halted on the 15th.
All the 14th the possibilities and probabilities of an armistice and of a subsequent peace were discussed warmly by the officers and soldiers of the Prussian Army at Brünn. In every restaurant and in every taproom, over bottles of champagne or flagons of beer, amid the light blue smoke of cigars and the dark clouds of strong tobacco, there was only this one subject of conversation. All kinds of theories were broached; knots of officers discussed it quietly in the hotels and in their quarters, crowds of soldiers in the streets stopped every orderly to question him as to his knowledge of passing events, or collected round some comrade supposed to have good information, to hear him dilate upon the intentions of the Emperor of the French, or the private views of the Kaiser. But those who really knew what was to happen preserved a profound silence, and nothing was authentically known beyond the precincts of the headquarter-house, and there only to a very few.
In the meantime the advanced guard was ordered to march forward the next morning as far as Moschau, twenty miles from Brünn, on the road to Vienna, and the greater part of the troops who were at Brünn that night were at the same time to move in that direction. But the king remained in the Moravian capital, and the headquarters of Prince Frederick Charles also halted there another day. The town was still thronged by a multitude of Prussian soldiers, who wandered about idly, looking into the shop windows, or trying to read the notices placarded on the walls in the Moravian dialect Prussian sentries were mounted on the main guard, and looked out of place by the side of the sentry boxes and door posts painted with the black and gold colours of Austria.
In front of the rathhaus, where the king was lodged, a Prussian guard and numerous sentries had taken the place of the civil watch, who usually stand at the gate of the meeting-house of the town council. In front, in the Platz, artillery carriages were closely parked, and were surrounded by the piled arms of a regiment which, billeted in the houses round, had here its place for assembly. Thick crowds of the inhabitants, with soldiers sprinkled among them, stood to listen to the music of a regimental band which, standing between the gate of the rathhaus and the guns, was playing Prussian airs. Country women with bright coloured handkerc
hiefs over their heads, and dressed in highly tinted muslins, wandered about the crowd, selling from their baskets gingerbread and sweetmeats to the people and the soldiers equally. The theatre was crowded with uniforms, knots of officers were smoking at every hotel door, and the whole town was alive with a lazy activity, except where the closed railway station looked down upon the bare line and its deserted warehouses.
There were sentinels now upon the Spielberg, and Prussian colours floated from its flagstaff. Numbers of soldiers were leaning against the parapets talking with earnestness, for they were deep in discussion of the probabilities of peace, and questioned everyone who came into the fort as to the latest news, half afraid to hear that an armistice was already concluded, and that they would never see the capital of Austria. Nor were the privates alone ill pleased with the prospect of so speedy a peace; the officers wished for the glory of marching into Vienna, and of ending the campaign by the occupation of the enemy’s capital; high and low seemed to think that this would only be the just reward of their hard work; and while the younger ones only looked forward to the excitement of entering a large town, and hoped for a little more fighting and higher promotion, those who had planned and carried out the strategy of the campaign regarded the visit of M. Benedetti to headquarters much in the same light as that in which a skilful chess-player about to check-mate his adversary’s king would view the intrusion of an officious stranger, who suddenly stopped the game by sweeping the men off the board and putting them into his pocket.
The order for the march of the troops on the following morning gave rise to hopes that a further advance was actually decided upon.
By the evening of the 14th it was known that the negotiations for an armistice had failed. The Prussians sent to the Austrians the conditions on which they would agree to a cessation of hostilities, and at the same time stated that no alteration in the terms would be permitted. One of these conditions was that the Prussian Army should occupy the line of the Thaya, and consequently have possession of the railway station at Lundenburg. The Austrians sent back a proposal that an armistice should be granted for three days, and during this time that the Prussian Army should remain in its actual position. As the acceptance of this proposal would have allowed time for the Austrian Army at Olmütz to be withdrawn to the neighbourhood of Vienna, and to be placed across the line of march of the Prussians towards the capital, it seemed clear that the intention of the Austrians was not to conclude peace, but only to gain time for the concentration of their troops. Negotiations were in consequence broken off, and the march southward was ordered to be continued.