At the king’s staff-headquarters at Gitschin there was great activity. Aides-de-camp dashed back and forth with messages; groups of Prussian officers stood about talking earnestly; while all around were columns of marching infantry, struggling teams of artillery, and dashing squadrons of cavalry.
It was scarcely light, but his Majesty the King of Prussia was up and fully dressed. He was seated in his tent, closely studying a map. On one side of him sat a gaunt, clean-shaven man, his long bony finger indicating some spot on the chart. He was Field-Marshal Von Moltke, commander-in-chief of the Prussian armies in their campaign against the Austrians. Opposite the soldier sat an imposing and burly figure—that of Count Otto von Bismarck, then Prime Minister of Prussia, and later Chancellor of the German empire.
The three sat in consultation for some time, the soldier pointing out the the king the plan of attack, while the statesman ever and again flung out some suggestion or sought information.
It was the day of the battle of Königgrätz,134
