Journal of Horace St. Paul
1757: The Advance to Nismes

July 7, 1757

Translated and Edited With Additional Materials By Neil Cogswell


The army marched at first light to go encamp at Münchengrätz. Here, the very fine castle belonging to Graf Wallenstein is home for Headquarters. Order of March from Kosmanos to Münchengrätz.

Yesterday afternoon, the Advanced Guard of 6 regiments of infantry of the Reserve and a thousand horse marched off to secure the proposed new encampment and Headquarters.

Today, the army was aroused by beat of drum at first light and assembled a quarter of an hour later. At 4 o'clock, it marched in 5 columns.

The 1st Column comprised all the cavalry of the Left Wing – Regiment Gelhay at the head. This column took the road behind the Second Line of Infantry passing the marsh at Woditz and from here, by way of Ober-Strakow and Studenecka, it crossed the dyke at Ober-Trenschin, which is near the Lobkopfer Pond; it then entered its new camp.

The 2nd Column was composed of the infantry of the Left Wing of the Second Line – Regiment Haller at the head. It marched across the new bridge and the marsh and defiled behind the Right Wing at Kosmanos joining the high road at Tschaloplos. From there, it went to Trenschin, where it crossed the dyke and immediately encamped.

The 3rd Column, composed of the Infantry of the Left Wing of the First Line – Regiment Pallavicini at the head, crossed the dyke where the right of that regiment had rested. It then took the direct route to Kosmanos, leaving the castle on its left. Afterwards, it passed beside the Church of P P Scholarum and continued its march. Leaving the 2nd Column on its left, it made camp immediately below the dyke at Trenschin.

The 4th Column included all the infantry of the Right Wing – Regiment Kaiser at the head. This passed the game park to the left of the 3rd Column, leaving Tschaloplos to the right. It then passed below Trenschin near the 3rd Column at Vessely, which it left to the left as also it did Münchengrätz. It then made its camp beyond Trenschin.

The 5th Column, composed of all the cavalry of the Right Wing – Regiment Archduke Joseph at the head, marched the other side of the wall of the game park leaving Pratletz on the left. It then crossed the meadows at Trentschin, keeping as close as possible to the left round Vessely and Münchengrätz. Then, it marched towards the neighborhood of Hoskowitz and encamped.

The Artillery marched by the high road.

The baggage of the Right Wing followed the artillery; that of the Left Wing followed the 1st Column.

The position of the new camp would be an extremely advantageous one in which to fight. Within a cannon shot, in front of the enemy, lies the River Iser. The right flank rests upon a pond, the left on some woods. Behind the Second Line, there is a hill covered with woods and small knolls. The left Wing of the Reserve Corps is in front of Münchengrätz, which is in front of the army.

News of the Prussians says that they have decamped from Neu-Schloss and marched towards Gabel. It appears that Marshal Keith is preparing to quit Leitmeritz.

Today, 26 deserters and 16 prisoners arrived at Headquarters. Amongst these, the Austrian hussars had captured a Prussian artillery officer who had recently been in Saxon service; he had stopped too long at an inn. Generals Nádasdy and Beck, as well as Colonel Loudon, continue to harass the Prussians, from whom they take prisoners every day.

We hear that the Croats of Colonel Loudon have entirely defeated and almost cut to pieces a battalion of Prussian grenadiers, from whom they took two cannon, without losing more than 80 men killed and wounded themselves.

Colonel Loudon has continually harassed the Prussians on the left bank of the Elbe. He has advanced as fart as Lobositz and Welmina, which are the principal gateways from Bohemia into Saxony. Although, from time to time, Colonel Loudon has been obliged to retire and distance himself from them, he has continually disquieted the Prussians, following them closely whenever possible. Thus he has found many occasions to gain small advantages over them and has greatly impeded their communications with Dresden along the Elbe.

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