about five in the morning
General von Brandis alone shook his head , and opined that if the Bavarians were advancing and the Prussians occupied in the south , it was a stronger reason for hastening as quickly as possible to meet them , and stretching towards them a helping hand , before the overwhelming Prussian forces could come down upon them from the north . The order was given to erect batteries , and the king and his suite , exhausted by a sleepless night , repaired to Thamsbrück , a small village on the banks of the Unstrut , and there the king took up his quarters in the Pfarrhaus . Clear and brilliant rose the sun on the 27th of June , and his first rays lighted up the varied changing picture of the Hanoverian army encamped around Langensalza . At about five in the morning the king withdrew to the quiet Pfarrhaus on the hill at Thamsbrück , and retired to rest . From the dispositions made by the general staff a delay of several days was expected , with probably some defensive fighting , whilst tidings were awaited of a more certain nature from the Bavarians . Beneath a large and ancient linden-tree in front of the pastor 's house the king 's suite were assembled , discussing an extremely simple but much-relished breakfast . A large table covered with a white cloth bore a coffee service of blue and white pottery , such as is traditional in all primitive old country-houses in North Germany , and the perfume which arose from the large pot standing on an ancient-looking chafing-dish was certainly not from Mocha .