midnight
His duty thus performed , Draisen was free to act , and fell upon the flank and rear of the Austrian infantry ; and in a few minutes the battle was over , and the Austrians in full retreat . They made , however , another attempt to stand at Saara ; but it was hopeless , and they were soon pushed backwards again and , hotly pressed , poured over the four bridges across the Schweidnitz river , and for the most part continued their flight to Breslau . Until the Austrians had crossed the river the Prussian cavalry were on their rear , sabring and taking prisoners , while the infantry were halted at Saara , the sun having now set . Exhausted as they were by their work , which had begun at midnight and continued until now without pause or break , not yet was their task completely done . The king , riding up the line , asked if any battalion would volunteer to follow him to Lissa , a village on the river bank . Three battalions stepped out . The landlord of the little inn , carrying a lantern , walked by the king 's side .