Part 1: Introduction (June 28-July 14)

Introduction

Whilst a corps under Nádasdy keeps watch on the operations of the King and Marshal Keith, the main body of the Austrian army has arrived at Nismes. There, it is in close proximity to the corps commanded by the Prince of Prussia, whose line of communication extends through Gabel to its principal magazine at Zittau.

The plates showing the encampments of the Imperial and Royal army that accompany the journal are based on sketches made by St Paul. The map of Zittau is based on a representation in "Schauplatz des Gegenwärtigen Kriegs" by G N Raspe (recently reprinted by LTR Verlag ISBN 3-88706-390-2). Those readers who would like to follow the operations around Zittau more closely may wish to consult the 1:50,000 scale topographical map L 5154 for Zittau (ISBN 3-86170-173-1).

JULY 15th

The whole army made a forward movement in order to take up a better position. The Prussians appear to wish to hold firm at Reichstadt and at Leipa.

Order of March for the Advance of the Army

The Army marched in four columns.

The 1st Column comprised the infantry of the Left Wing of the First Line. Regiment Arenberg took the lead followed by those of Puebla, Kheul, Moltke, Hildburghausen and Archduke Carl. It took the direct road towards Röhr-Wasser where they crossed the wooden bridge over the Polzen. From there, it crossed the stone bridge to Partzendorff. Then, after marching to their left around the height called the Wachenbürg, they encamped.

The 2nd Column was composed of the Left Wing of the Second Line of infantry. Regiment Browne took the lead followed by those of Bethlen, Harsch, Baden, Gaisruck, Wolfenbüttle and Harrach. In its march yesterday, these troops had crossed the bridge that had been thrown across at Höflitz; from thence, they took the road towards Nismes Castle. Then, leaving the castle to their left, they crossed the bridge and traversed the town near Schubert, and marched onto the height to take their new camp.

The 3rd Column, comprising the First Line of cavalry of the Left Wing, marched by the right - Regiment Anspach at the head. It took the road through Nismes, crossing the bridge that is upstream of the gibbet. From there, it followed the road which runs to the left of the church. Then, by the hollow way, it entered camp.

The 4th Column was composed of the cavalry of the Second Line of the Left Wing - Regiment Liechtenstein at the head. It went: towards Plauschenitz, between the wood and the infantry of the Second Line of the Left Wing, then to the highroad. Then, passing the stone bridge and keeping always to the left of the 3rd Column, it crossed the water at Nismes at the bridge near the gibbet. It then went to the left towards Nismes Farm and encamped.

The camp-markers of the infantry and cavalry of the Right Wing assembled this morning to mark out their new camp. The troops of this Wing did not themselves march until after the Left Wing had vacated the ground and taken their new camp.

The Reserve Corps continues to form the Advanced Guard and marched forward about 800 paces. Its left flank is supported by the same wood as yesterday; the right, composed of three regiments of cavalry, forms a potence.

The left flank of the first line of the army now rests on the wood beside the Polzen, where the Reserve Corps stood yesterday; the right flank extends as far as the height which dominates the village of Partzendorff and the plain that is to the left of the stream. There, the Right Wing of the Cavalry holds the same ground that it did before. The second line of the army is in position parallel to the first.

Marshal Daun mounted his horse and, in the company of the Quartermaster-General, rode out to reconnoiter all the approaches to the new camp in case it should become a battlefield.

After the sixth cannon shot that General Macquire fired against the town of Gabel this morning, General Puttkamer, who commanded there, asked for terms. As a result, Colonel Müffling entered the town to draw up the articles of capitulation. By these, it was agreed that the garrison should become prisoners of war. Despite the fact that they had pillaged a part of the town yesterday, the officers and soldiers are to retain their equipages and personal effects; this excludes anything captured yesterday with the wagons of which I have already spoken.

The Prussian troops in Gabel included 1 battalion each of Württemberg, Old-Billerbeck, Kalckreuth, Kleist together with 1 squadron of Werner Hussars and several other troops. In all, it amounted to 1,887 soldiers, 67 officers and the Major General. We also captured 8 cannon, including that taken yesterday, as well as 100 wagons and nearly 400 horses. The Austrian casualties amounted to nearly 300 killed and wounded: Lieutenant-Colonel Qualem, volunteer, was killed; Captain-of-Grenadiers Graf Poniatowsky of Infantry Regiment Wallis, who had greatly distinguished himself, was hit by several musket balls and had his thigh broken.

The four Prussian battalions could have retired from Gabel to Reichstadt on the night of 14th/15th, whilst the town was incompletely invested. Alternatively, the Prince of Prussia could have sent them aid if he had known of their situation. However, because the Austrians had cut off his communication through Reichstadt by their simultaneous attack on that post, he was probably unaware of the danger to Gabel. Another interpretation for the extreme timidity of their actions, so out of character for Prussians, is because they do not have the strength at Leipa that we suppose.

More Journal of Horace St. Paul 1757

Part 1: Introduction (June 30-July 14)

Part 2: Introduction and July 15
July 16, 1757
July 17, 1757
July 18, 1757
July 19, 1757
July 20, 1757
July 21, 1757
July 22, 1757
July 23, 1757
July 24, 1757
July 25, 1757

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