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

July 11, 1757

Translated and Edited With Additional Materials By Neil Cogswell


Having advanced from Münchengrätz to Swigan with their whole force, with the exception of the Corps of General Nádasdy who remained camped at Wegstädtl, the Austrians threatened Reichenberg; they were also in a position from which they could move against Silesia. Today, however, we start to perceive some irresolution in our leadership. The army left the camp of Swigan to retrace its steps and take another encampment at Münchengrätz.

Order of March from Swigan to Münchengrätz

    The army beat to arms at 4 o'clock in the morning. An hour later, it marched in four columns.

    The 1st Column, comprising the entire Left Wing of the First Line – Regiment Savoyen at the head, crossed the wooden bridge at Hubal. It then marched to Münchengrätz, re-crossed the Iser, then marched immediately towards Kloster Haber and took its new camping ground near Manikowitz.

    The 2nd Column was composed of the whole of the Left Wing of the Second Line – Regiment Liechtenstein at the head. They passed the bridge of boats at Darzenitz, then crossed the dyke of the Zabokomer pond, after which it went by way of Honsob, Hoskowitz, Münchengrätz and the little Plegrow. After re-crossing the river, this column entered camp around Manikowitz.

    The 3rd Column comprised the whole of the Right Wing of the First Line – Anhalt-Zerbst cavalry at the head; the infantry of this column, led by Regiment Arenberg, followed the Dragoon Regiment Archduke Joseph. This column marched along the old lines of the infantry encampment, leaving Laukowitz to its left. It then passed through Kotzniowitz and entered its new camp near Newecklowitz.

    The 4th Column, comprising the whole of the Right Wing of the Second Line – Regiment Kalkreuth at the head, also followed the lines of the old infantry camp. It then traversed Laukowitz and Mohelnitz before marching towards Newecklowitz, where it encamped. The infantry of this column, led by Regiment Maynz, followed the cavalry.

    The Right Wing of the Reserve Corps followed the First Line; the Left Wing followed the Second Line.

    The artillery marched to Podol in the wake of the 2nd Column.

    In order to prevent the equipages going in front of the troops, orders were issued to the advanced posts not to let them pass.

The new camp rests its right on a ravine at Newecklowitz; its left is supported by another ravine behind the wood at Manikowitz. The camp is bisected by a ravine through which flows a stream that enters the Iser near Kloster. Kloster has an old castle that was once the property of the Knights Templar – it is still possible to see their tombs. The castle currently belongs to the House of Waldstein.

The Reserve Artillery Park contains: 16 howitzers of 6" caliber, 24 12-pounders, 50 6-pounders and 36 3-pounders. The Park is in the meadows beside the Iser, between Kloster and Münchengrätz.

During the day, 24 deserters and 5 prisoners arrived at Headquarters, which, once again, are established at Münchengrätz.

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© Copyright 2000 by James J. Mitchell

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