ing the progress of this cannonading some of the infantry had been moved forward towards the river, and while waiting to be brought into action they sheltered themselves under all convenient undulations of the ground. The 8th division advanced on the left side of the road, and, shielded by the rising ground, put its columns in position for an attack upon the village of Sadowa, while the third and fourth divisions on the other side of the road were put in readiness for storming Dohelnitz and Mockrowens.
Before their preparations were completed, it was observed that the village of Bistritz on the Austrian right had taken fire. The 7th division was ordered to take advantage of this circumstance and secure possession of the village, but the Austrians had not been driven out by the flames of the burning buildings, and made a stubborn resistance. Up to this time the fighting had been by the artillery only, but now it was hand to hand on the part of the infantry. The attack was led by the 27th regiment, who first forced their way into the orchards surrounding the village. The Austrians were on the other side of the burning buildings, and volley after volley was poured through the flames upon the assailants. While the 27th regiment engaged the Austrians in front, other regiments managed to flank the village, and by taking the Austrians in the rear, compelled them to retire with the loss of many of their number, who remained prisoners in Prussian hands.
It was about ten o'clock when the attack on Dohelnitz and Mockrowens was ordered. There was little opposition to the advancing columns until they reached the bank of the Bistritz; but from that point every inch of ground was stubbornly contended for. The Austrian infantry were in strong force at the approaches to the villages, and they poured a destructive fire upon the Prussians as they advanced. The latter were at great
