Having learned of the attack upon Gabel, the Prince of Prussia sent 8 battalions to their relief, but, having got within half a league of the place, they discovered that the troops who had been there had been prisoners for nearly 24 hours. They also found their way blocked by the Austrians. Those troops then retraced their steps without attempting anything.

The Prussian prisoners from Gabel, having been escorted back to Warthenberg, arrived this morning at the Camp at Nismes. From here, they have been sent to the rear.

The Prussian officers were treated with much courtesy. His Royal Highness especially distinguished General Puttkamer, the Lieutenant Colonel, and the Prince of Holstein-Beck - Major of Regiment Kalckreuth, who dined with him. The Prince of Holstein said that General Puttkamer had been detached from the army of the Prince of Prussia with 2 battalions of infantry and 5 squadrons of Hussar Regiment Werner to escort 200 wagons to Zittau in order to bring bread and other provisions to the army. On the road near Gabel, they had been attacked by the Croats and Austrian hussars, who had captured more than 100 wagons in that first engagement. They had then thrown themselves into the town of Gabel, where the garrison was commanded by the Lieutenant Colonel of Regiment Württemberg. Four squadrons had saved themselves by going off to Zittau. The main reason that had obliged the Prussian to capitulate had been that they lacked water; the Austrian grenadiers, who had taken possession of the suburbs, had cut the supply.

We do not know if the army will march tomorrow; it appears that decision depends on news that we receive of the Prussians. The information that we have so far is contradictory: several deserters assure us that the Prussians have decamped from Leipa and that they are marching towards Zwickau and Kamnitz; others maintain that they are still in the same position. During the day, 72 Prussian deserters came in to our camp.

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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