Journal of Horace St. Paul
1757: Waiting on Events

August 15, 1757

Translated and Edited With Additional Materials By Neil Cogswell


The news from Silesia tells of a considerable advantage gained by Colonel Jahnus, at the head of 4,000 Croats and several hundred hussars, over the Prussian General Kreytz. General Kreytz had assembled 8 battalions and 5 squadrons with which he intended to surprise Colonel Jahnus near Landshut, but, on hearing of their intention, Colonel Jahnus attacked the Prussians instead. The action lasted several hours. Finally the Prussians abandoned the field leaving behind 600 dead and 6 cannon. They must also have lost more than 1,000 wounded; 300 remained in the hands of the Austrians to supplement the 200 prisoners that they captured. Since this morning, we have been able to hear the sound of cannon fire coming from the direction of the advanced posts. Then, whilst General Nádasdy was in full march to continue his route to Gorlitz, he received the order to return because the whole Prussian army was advancing against the Austrian right. General Nádasdy had gone ahead, with all his equipages, to reconnoitre the camp that he intended to take near Ostritz; for some time we feared that he might have been captured by the Prussian hussars, who seized his equipages and some of those belonging to General Beck.

Towards 4 o'clock in the afternoon, His Royal Highness Prince Charles rode out with Marshal Daun to study the ground over which the Prussians might approach. They then gave orders for cannon to be posted where they judged it necessary and marked out the ground where each regiment is to deploy. They also sent a part of the Reserve Corps to the far side of the Neisse to occupy a height from which they will be able to take the Prussians in flank, if they attempt to debouch on that side. General Nádasdy retook his old position and pushed forward a body of Croats into a wood on the left.

The order has been given throughout the whole army that the heavy baggage is to be sent back behind Grottau. A large part has already gone back to Gabel.

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