The Seven Weeks' War (Volume 2); Its Antecedents and Its Incidents. by H. M. Hozier Based Upon Letters Reprinted by Permission from "The Times"

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1867. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV. THE TRUCE. During the armistice of five days, the Prussian troops remained in the Marchfeld. On the morning of the 23d, the troops who had been the previous day engaged in the combat of Blumenau marched back to their positions on their own side of the line of demarcation which was to be observed by the Prussians during the armistice. Between this line and that up to which the Austrian outposts were pushed forward extended a narrow belt of neutral ground, on which the soldiers of either side were forbidden to tread, and where the labourers were cutting the corn and carrying in the harvest as peaceably and diligently as if there was no enemy in their country, and no Prussian vedettes were posted along the course of the Roszbach. The troops, not ungrateful for a little idleness after their hard work, lay billeted in the villages between Ebenthal and the line of demarcation, knapsacks were unpacked, and their motley contents laid out on the banks by the roadside to be dried and aired in the sun. The artillery ammunition went under a careful inspection; groups of soldier-tailors sitting together under the trees patched up holes made in uniforms either by the wear and tear of the campaign, or by the too near approach of a bullet or the splinter of a shell. Everywhere through the cantonments there was a listless, idle air of careless comfort and rest, such as can only be thoroughly appreciated by those who have been marching and fighting for weeks past under a burning sun or heavy soaking rain; except where the sentinel paced up and down before some cottage improvised into a guardhouse, where the regimental colours were deposited, or where the vedette sat mounted, with pistol in hand, peering as carefully towards Florisdorf and the Danube as if the...