Austria, and a treaty of alliance with Italy, who bore any thing but good-will to the Austrian government.
On the 11th March, 1866, Prussia published a decree asserting her jurisdiction over Holstein, and on the 24th of the same month she issued a circular calling upon the German states to declare whether they would support Austria or Prussia in case of war. Both countries prepared for war. In April and May, Austria called on Prussia to disarm, and the latter replied with a counter demand. There was much incriminatory correspondence between Bismarck and Mensdorff (the Prussian and Austrian ministers); the Federal Diet met at Frankfort; the Prussians occupied Holstein and the Austrians retired; Prussia, on the 14th June, announced the confederation dissolved, and on the next day she declared war against Hanover and Saxony.
On the 18th June Prussia declared war against Austria. Nearly all the northern states of Germany pronounced in favor of Prussia, while the southern ones sided with Austria. The two great armies advanced to meet each other, the Austrian northern army, under command of Field Marshall Benedek, entering Silesia, where it was joined by the Saxons. At the same time the southern army of Austria, commanded by Archduke Albrecht, faced the Italians. The Prussian army moved with astonishing celerity, and thus was able to fight the great battle of the campaign on Austrian soil. Prince Frederick Charles with the First Army and the Army of the Elbe, the latter commanded by General Herwarth von Bittenfeld, entered Bohemia on the 23d of June; he was victorious in severe engagements at Liebenau, Turnau, and Podall, on the 26th, Hoehnewasser on the 27th, Munchengratz on the 28th, and Gitschin on the 29th June.
The Crown Prince with the Second Army entered Bohemia on the 22d June, was repulsed at Trautenau the 27th, victorious at Saar and Trautenau the 28th, and at
