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FEEDEEICK WILLIAM.
Field-Marshal Oct. 28, 1870. The Prince married, Nov. 29, 1854, Marie Anne, daughter of Leopold Frederick, reigning Duke of Anhalt, and has four children.
FEBDBRICK WILLIAM (Pre- DBRicK William Nicholas Char- les), Imperial Prince of Germany, and Crown Prince of Prussia, is the eldest son of William, King of Prussia, and now Emperor of Ger- many. He was born at the new palace in Potsdam Oct. 18, 1831, entered the military service at an early age, rose to the rank of gene- ral, and held numerous important appointments. In 1866, when the war broke out between Prussia and Austria, the chief of his staff wafi Major-General von Blumen- thal, and he had under his orders three army-corps, besides the Guard Corps under Prince Augustus of Wiirtemberg. The Crown Prince led his army, comj)osed of 125,000 men, from Silesia through the passes of the Sudetic Hills, an operation exjwsed to great difficul- ties and to considerable danger. By a series of brilliant operations the army pushed its way through the moimtains, fighting severe ac- tions at Trautenau, Nachod, Skalitz, and Schweinschadel. Before he had practically effected his jimction with Prince Frederick Charles, General Benedek had made prepa- rations to attack the latter with superior force, and the battle of Sadowa or Kdniggrfttz was the result (July 3, 1866). The Crown Prince appeared on the field unex- pected by the Austrians in the middle of the battle, struck the heart of the Austrian position, and decided the fortunes of the day. His march from Miletin to Kdnig- griitz, and his series of victories on entering Bohemia, established his reputation as an energetic com- mander. In the war between Ger- many and France the Crown Prince of Prussia acted a most conspicuous part. The close of July, 1870, found him on the Khine frontier^ in com- ,
mand of the Third German Ann comprising the 5th, 6th, and 11 North German corps, the Ist ai 2nd Bavarian corps, and the di' sions furnished by Baden, Wurtei berg, and Hesse, in all abo 200,000 men and 500 guns. On t 4th of Augfust he vigorously i tacked the position held at Weisse burg by that .portion of Marsl MacMahon's corps which was coi manded by General Abel Dous The French were repulsed and d persed after a severe strugg" Following up this important v tory, the Crown Prince attacked * the 6th the united army-oorps Generals MacMahon, Failly, a: Canrobert, drawn up in position Woerth. MacMahon had und him 50,000 men in all, and occupi a strong defensive position on t slopes of the Vosges. The Croi Prmce arrived from Weissenbu on the evening of the 5th with i army of 130,000 men, and begs the attack at seven the next mor ing. The French line was turn at two points, and their left ai centre broken, notwithstanding desperate charge of cavalry, wM< was ordered by MacMahon as last resort. At the memoral] engagement near S^dan (Sept. his troops and those of Prin Frederick Charles were eng^ against the greater part of mt Mahon's forces ; and the G«rma srcceeded in crossing the riv Meuse, this extremely difficult op ration being effected by the Croi Prince with his Prussians ai Wiirtembergers, supported by t Bavarians under General von d Tann. He next made his w towards Paris, entered VersaiU Sept. 20, commenced to throw ad< tional troops round the capital, ai remained in the vicinity of t invested city until after the ooncJ sion of peace. On Oct. 28 he w created a Field-Marshal of Prussi and on Nov. 8 a Kussian Fiel Marshal. After the termination the war the Imperial Prince, as '.
