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

July 24, 1757

Translated and Edited With Additional Materials By Neil Cogswell


At first light, 800 men had been sent into Zittau to aid in extinguishing the fires, which continued in several parts of the town. From the flames, they saved: 800 tons of flour, 300 quintals of powder, and also a quantity of fusils and other implements of war belonging to the Prussians.

Its strength having been augmented by the battalions from Zittau, the Prussian army extended its camp to the right. On the left, they made several changes; forming up their infantry in a potence to cover the flank, and transferring the cavalry who had occupied that ground to the right forming another potence. The Prussian army then initiated a foraging expedition in the plain that separated the two armies. This was the occasion of much skirmishing with the Austrian hussars, against whom the Prussians fired several shots from cannon that they had with the chain of foragers. By this action they probably wished to make us believe that they plan to hold their ground, but that is an old ruse - nobody here is duped by it.

Since yesterday, we have found a lieutenant and 16 Prussian soldiers who had hidden themselves in a cellar in Zittau. During the last two days, we have received 1,226 deserters from the Prussian army; this includes the Saxons and the other Prussians who deserted from Zittau.

His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Lorraine having come to the Headquarters of Marshal Daun at Eckartsberg, all the generals assembled for a Council-of-War. This Council resolved to make several changes in the position of the camp following the recommendations that Marshal Daun made after his tour this morning.

General Nádasdy informs us that the Prussian army that had been at Leitmeritz has passed the Elbe and yesterday reached Linay. Accordingly, he had brought forward his camp to Wegstädtl the better to observe them.

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