ten o'clock
There was not a man but knew that the fate of Prussia hung on the result of this battle , and for the moment wounds were forgotten . Men shook hands , with tears of joy streaming down their rugged cheeks ; and as others came running up from the other fires , to know what was the news , and then hurried off again to tell their companions , the forest rang with their cheering . All was not over yet . For a time the firing was louder and heavier than before , but towards ten o'clock news came that Ziethen was firmly established on the Siptitz hill , and that the Austrian battalions were drawing off . Then all lay down to sleep , rejoiced and thankful ; and even the Austrians , disconcerted as they were , were not altogether sorry that they must now consider themselves prisoners ; and free , for a long time to come , from further risk of battle . The news , in the morning , that the Austrian army had already crossed the river and was in full retreat southwards , afforded the most intense satisfaction . There was now a hope of shelter and rest in Torgau , instead of the prospect of remaining in the forest , drenched to the skin by the rain that had come down , without intermission , for the last twenty-four hours .