Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Military Technology, War, Politics

    Describes how the author related details of the 'Battle of Sad'war' [a reference to the battle of Sadowa, which was one of the decisive conflicts of the Austro-Prussian War] to his uncle who is an aged and conservative sergeant-major. His uncle mocks the alleged capabilities of the Prussian breech-loading needle-gun, which wreaked such havoc on the Austrians, and upholds the powers of the Brown Bess rifle.