Battle of Hoyerswerda
This article includes a improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (April 2008) ) |
Battle of Hoyerswerda | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Third Silesian War (Seven Years' War) | |||||||
Contemporary map of Hoyerswerda. Battle site is marked. | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Prussia | Austria | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Prince Henry of Prussia | General Wehla | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
3,000[citation needed] | 3,000 | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
minimal |
600 dead 1,800 captured |
The Battle of Hoyerswerda was a minor encounter of September 25, 1759 during the Third Silesian War (part of the Seven Years' War) between Prussian and Austrian forces. Following on from the calamitous Prussian defeat at Kunersdorf in August however, this small victory for Frederick the Great, taken together with the one fashioned at Korbitz four days earlier by Friedrich August von Finck, no doubt proved a timely tonic to his fragile confidence.
Preliminaries
In September 1759 various armies under
) to the Russian forces but he failed to gain the decisive terrain advantage he sought before offering battle.Meanwhile, Daun was looking to press home the great victory won at Kunersdorf when news reached him of the embarrassing defeat of the Austrian forces in Saxony, by a Prussian army but one third their size. Now more determined than ever to strike a decisive blow he marched his forces to Görlitz and climbed to high ground in order to observe the camp of Prince Henry of Prussia, his nearest, convenient opponent. Daun proclaimed his intention to storm this camp early the following morning, September 23.
The march of fifty hours
Unfortunately for
Von Daun's scouting horse reported that the Prussian baggage was now heading northeast towards Glogau. He suspected a trap and retired to
General Wehla had distinguished himself at the Siege of Dresden. His subsequent deployment at Hoyerswerda was as part of a line designed to prevent the Prussian forces in Saxony and Silesia combining together. Recent events suggested that such an occurrence was unlikely however, since Frederick the Great was tied up in a minuet with the Russians whilst Prince Henry of Prussia now appeared on his way to join his brother in the east. Indeed, von Daun had written to Wehla just a few days previously, informing him that there was no danger on his eastern flank.
Out of the woods
It must therefore, have been something of a shock when the Prussian vanguard under the Swiss General Lentulus, came streaming out of the woods. Wehla rallied his Croat regiment and formed his artillery but a well aimed Prussian cannonade swept through his Corps. Within a matter of minutes the Austrians were in full flight with their General captured and six hundred dead on the field. His hopes destroyed,