The Austro-Prussian War
At Gastein, as has already been stated, the Schleswig-Holstein affair
had been brought to a settlement, but it was only a preliminary one.
Fresh disputes soon broke out between the two powers. Austria, already
regretting her compliance, inclined more and more to the side of the
enemies of Prussia, who wished to restore the independence of Schleswig
and Holstein and make them part of the Confederation. The old jealousy
broke forth anew, and, unable to reconcile herself to any real increase
of Prussian power, Austria attempted to force King William to yield to
the wishes of the Confederation. Laying before the Diet the danger of
permitting Prussia to have its way, she succeeded in having a motion
carried to oppose that power. Convinced that war was again inevitable,
King William declared all former negotiations off, and urged Saxony,
Hanover, and electoral Hesse to form an alliance preserving their
neutrality. But here, too, meeting with a repulse, he was forced to put
his whole army in the field and enter the struggle alone. His real
feelings on the subject are evident from his parting words to Prince
Frederick Charles after war had been declared and the march of troops
into the enemy’s country had begun:
“I am an old man to be making war again, and well know that I must
answer for it to God and to my conscience. Yet I can truthfully declare
that I have done all in my power to avert it. I have made every
concession to the Emperor that is consistent with the honor of Prussia,
but Austria is bent on our humiliation and nothing short of war will
satisfy her.”
Thus with a firm faith in God’s help and the righteousness of his cause
the aged monarch placed himself at the head of his army, resolved to
perish with it rather than yield in this vital question. Nor did he
trust in vain. By forced marches Generals Vogel von Falkenstein and von
Manteuffel invaded northern Germany, took possession of Hanover, and
forced King George, after a gallant resistance at Langensalza, to
capitulate, abdicate his throne, and abandon the country permanently.
The main army, divided into three parts, commanded respectively by the
Crown Prince, Prince Frederick Charles, and General Herwarth von
Bittenfeld, speedily overran the enemy’s country, and before the King
had left for the seat of war he was informed by telegraph of the
victories of Skalitz and Münchengrätz, of Nachod and Trautenau. The
first decisive results had been accomplished by the Crown Prince, and on
the morning of June 29 the King joyfully shouted to the people from the
open window of the palace: “My son has won a victory—good news from all
quarters! All is well—my brave army!” The next day he left Berlin, and
on July 2 reached Gitschin in Bohemia, where he was welcomed with joy by
Prince Frederick Charles and his victorious troops. On the following day
occurred one of the most famous battles of history—that of Königgrätz.
The King had just lain down to rest the previous night on the plain iron
camp cot that accompanied him everywhere, when Lieutenant General von
Voigts-Rhetz reached Gitschin with the news that the Austrians were
stationed between the Prussian army and the Elbe. King William at once
summoned his great strategist, General von Moltke, and Adjutant Count
von Finkenstein was hastily despatched to the Crown Prince with orders
to bring up his army, which was then in the mountains of Silesia. The
guns were already booming from the neighboring heights and the smoke of
battle beginning to fill the valleys like a mist when the King mounted
his favorite mare Sadowa at the little village of Kleinitz, early on the
morning of July 3, and dashed into the thick of the fray. The fire was
so sharp that his staff, large enough to have been easily taken for a
regiment of cavalry, was forced to scatter, but finally reached a
position on the Roscoberg, where Count Finkenstein soon appeared with
word that the Crown Prince was already on the march. Hour after hour
passed, however, and nothing was to be seen of him. The issue was
critical, and King William’s anxiety grew more and more intense, until
at last, about two o’clock in the afternoon, the guns of the Crown
Prince were heard in the enemy’s rear and the day was won. The Austrians
were soon in full flight and were pursued as far as the Elbe by the
victorious foe.
Soon after the Crown Prince’s arrival the King left the Roscoberg and,
followed by his staff, rode down into the battle-field, urging the men
to fresh valor by his inspiring presence, and disregard of danger from
the enemy’s fire. None of his escort dared remonstrate with him, until
at length the faithful Bismarck summoned courage and, riding up beside
the King, begged him not to place his life in such jeopardy. Kindly but
earnestly he answered: “You have done right, my friend. But when these
brave fellows are under fire, the King’s place is with them. How can I
retire?”
The results of this splendid victory were decisive, but the chief glory
rests with the Crown Prince, whose troops after a long and exhausting
march arrived just in time to save the day. It was a touching moment
when the father and son met upon the field of battle, and all eyes were
wet as the King, embracing Prince Frederick with fatherly pride, pinned
on his breast the Order of Merit. The crushing defeat of Königgrätz
effectually broke the enemy’s resistance, and the Prussians had advanced
almost within sight of Vienna when the announcement of a truce put an
end to hostilities.
In southern Germany the army of the Main under General Vogel von
Falkenstein had also ended the struggle by a series of successful
engagements, and on August 23 a treaty of peace was signed at Prague, by
which Austria agreed to withdraw from the German Confederation; and
Schleswig-Holstein, Hanover, electoral Hesse, Nassau, and the free city
of Frankfort-on-the-Main were permanently incorporated with Prussia.
Thus were King William’s labors at last crowned with success. Alone and
almost without a friend in Germany he had gone forth to battle against a
powerful enemy, and victory had been his. Beyond the Alps, however, he
had found a friend in need in King Victor Emmanuel of Italy, who had
aided him by attacking Austria at the same time from the south, thus
dividing her forces. Covered with laurels, the victorious troops
returned, meeting with ovations everywhere, but especially in Berlin.
The whole city was _en fête_ to welcome them. Triumphal arches were
erected. Countless wreaths, banners, and garlands of flowers decorated
the streets. Strains of music, pealing of bells, thunder of cannon
proclaimed the arrival of the army, as it entered the city gates, headed
by the heroic monarch and greeted with tumultuous shouts by the
populace. An altar had been erected in the Lustgarten, where a praise
service was held, the troops and people joining in singing “Ein’ feste
Burg ist unser Gott.” The eleventh of November was appointed as a day of
general thanksgiving throughout the country, and trees were planted
everywhere in commemoration of the joyful occasion.
The results of this war did even more than those of the preceding one
with Denmark to prove the wisdom of the King’s position in regard to the
army, besides the large increase of territory it brought to Prussia. By
far the most important issue of the campaign, however, was the
establishment of the North German Confederation and the conclusion of an
offensive and defensive alliance between this and the South German
States, by which both agreed to respect the inviolability of each
other’s territory and bound themselves in time of war to place their
whole military force at the other’s disposal, the chief command of the
united armies to be intrusted in such case to King William of Prussia.
Thus did our august hero advance slowly but surely toward the
realization of his hopes and aims, and visions of a restoration of the
glories of the ancient holy German Empire already thrilled the hearts of
patriots with a promise of the final fulfilment of their long-cherished
dreams, as the King in his magnificent speech before the Imperial Diet
on February 24, 1867, painted in glowing terms the future of a united
Fatherland. Even the Prussian House of Deputies were weary of the long
contention, and in the face of the universal recognition and admiration
awarded their sovereign’s achievements, it abandoned its opposition to
the government, and the King’s courage and perseverance were at last
rewarded.