At least he was able to be present on the field of battle with the King and witness part of the campaign.
With the King he left Berlin on June 30th to join the army in Bohemia.
Already the news had come of the capitulation of the Hanoverians; the whole of North-West Germany had been conquered in a week and the Prussian flank was secure.

The effect of these victories was soon seen: his unpopularity was wiped out in blood.

Night by night as the bulletins arrived, crowds collected to cheer and applaud the Minister.
The King and his suite reached the army on July 1st; they were just in time to be present at the decisive battle.

At midnight on July 2d it was known that the Austrians were preparing to give battle near Koeniggraetz with the Elbe in their rear.

Early the next morning the King with Bismarck, Roon, and Moltke rode out and took up their positions on the hill of Dub, whence they could view what was to be the decisive battle in the history of Germany.