about nine in the evening
He heard the `` hurrahs '' of the soldiers he met , and the loud cheers with which they greeted him ; no pride of victory kindled in his noble face ; he sat on his horse cold and silent ; he thought of the slain , who had bought him this victory with their lives , he thought of the future , and with anxious care he asked himself whether this victory would yield the fruit desired , and extricate the army from the dangerous position into which it had been led . The royal head-quarters were established in the Schützhaus at Langensalza . Scarcely was the king a little refreshed , when he ordered the general in command , and the chief of the general staff to be summoned , and he invited General von Brandis , Count Platen , Count Ingelheim , with Lex and Meding , to be present at the council of war . At about nine in the evening the officers assembled in the king 's room . The king urged an immediate march upon Gotha , but the general in command and the chief of the staff declared that the army was in such a state of exhaustion it could not march . In vain General Brandis pointed out that even for a tired army a short march of two hours and then excellent quarters in Gotha , was better than a bivouac in the fields without proper food ; the chief of the general staff declared the march to be absolutely impossible , and the general in command refused to be responsible for its consequences . Both these gentlemen asked earnestly for permission to leave the council , as their presence with the troops was absolutely necessary .