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320 The Crown Prince's columns were visible about half-past three in the afternoon advancing against Lipa across the slope in front of him. His artillery had silenced that of the Austrians, and General Herewarth again began to press against the Austrian left wing. For half an hour, perhaps, the Crown Prince's infantry vigorously engaged the Austrians at Lipa. The increasing volume of sound from their rapid volleys showed that they were advancing and that the Austrians were in full retreat. Then the order was given for the First Army to advance in full force. The artillery was sent up the slope at a gallop, coming into action whenever opportunity presented, and pouring a vigorous fire against the retreating columns, while the infantry which had carried the wood pressed forward at double quick and made a vigorous pursuit.

Prince Frederick Charles led his own regiment across the Sadowa bridge and along the road, and was followed closely by all his light cavalry. As he reached the top of the slope the retreating squadrons and battalions of the Austrians were within range of the Prussian artillery and crossed a depression lying between Lipa and Streselitz, a village about two miles farther southward. On the crest of the Lipa Hill the Prussian artillery halted and fired with great rapidity at the dense masses of fugitives. The cavalry was sent to press the retreat, but was prevented by the Austrian artillery, which fired vigorously from the Streselitz ridge. The cavalry charged repeatedly upon the Austrians, but their battalions could not be broken. The Prussian artillery fire was now much more heavy than that of the Austrians, and had succeeded in driving the Austrian batteries away from the ridge. Some of the retreating Austrians moved in direction of Koeniggratz and others in that of Pardubitz, and the Prussians went in pursuit along both roads. The ground was thickly covered with dead and wounded. The wounded shrieked with fear as they saw the cavalry galloping