Journal of Horace St. Paul
1757: Waiting on Events

August 6, 1757

Translated and Edited With Additional Materials By Neil Cogswell


Colonel Loudon sends word that he has advanced with his corps as far as Gottleuba. With the exception of 6,000 men under the orders of Prince Moritz who remain near Dresden, the whole of the army formerly commanded by Marshal Keith has arrived at Bischofswerda and is about to join the Army of the King.

A party of Prussian troops, who had been encamped at Weissenberg, marched to Baruth the better to cover the arrival of their convoys.

The Austrian advanced posts near the Weissenberg allowed themselves to be surprised during the day. The Prussians, who pretended to be gathering wood and watering horses, left a number of infantry and cavalry behind them who set up an ambush. They then carried off the vedettes without their being able to give any warning to the Austrian advanced posts. The Prussians then sortied from the wood with 200 hussars to attempt to carry off the main guard. However, 500 Austrian hussars burst upon them and chased them nearly all the way back to the same wood. Then, all of a sudden, our hussars found themselves surrounded by more than 2,000 men, both cavalry and hussars, and attacked in front by 400 light infantry. After having lost 50 to 60 men killed and wounded, the Austrian hussars retreated, but they brought back with them several Prussians whom they had taken prisoner. Then, having been joined by Colonel Count Emeric Esterh zy, they returned to the charge and recaptured the post.

The third division of Croats, consisting of 1,500 men, came in to join the army and encamped behind the reserve.

The rumour of an action between the Hanoverians and the French, that has been circulating since the 2nd of this month, was confirmed by a courier coming to Marshal Daun.

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