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Rh whom 18,000 were prisoners. There were many stragglers, and the route followed by the retreating army was strewn with knapsacks, muskets, provisions, clothing, munitions of war, and kindred material, such as can always be found in the wake of a retreating and demoralized force. The rapid firing of the needle-gun was an important factor in winning the battle of Sadowa. But the superior organization of the Prussians, their admirable strategy before the battle and equally admirable tactics during its progress, and the carefully timed junction of the First and Second Armies at the proper moment, were of more consequence than the operation of the weapon which has revolutionized the armament of the infantry soldier all over the civilized globe.

It was several days before the Austrians were able to collect their scattered battalions and put their army once more into any thing like a fighting condition. All the northern provinces of Austria were abandoned to the enemy, and the army retreated upon Vienna, halting occasionally to hold the advancing Prussians in check, but delivering no severe blow or offering any great obstacle to their progress. On the 30th July an armistice was granted, and two days later the king of Prussia reviewed his army fifteen miles from Vienna. After the review the Prussians started on their return, while negotiations for peace were rapidly pushed.

On the 23d August the treaty of peace was signed at Prague. By its articles Austria consented to the breaking up of the German confederation, and to Prussia's annexation of Hanover, Hesse-Cassel, Nassau, and Frankfort. She also gave up Holstein and her political influence in Northern Germany, and made other concessions of minor importance. About the same time Austria made a truce with Italy, and on October 3d a definitive peace, by which the union of Venetia and Lombardy with Italy was