Journal of Horace St. Paul
1757: Advance Astride the Neisse

Part 5: The Combat at the Jakelsberg
September 10, 1757

Translated and Edited
With Additional Materials By Neil Cogswell


At 11 o'clock last night, the Army of the Duke of Bevern began to defile through GOrlitz, where they crossed the Neisse. The Austrian light troops were not tardy in recognizing this movement. General Beck, who commands them of this side of the river, was immediately on their heels and pressed them so closely that he carried off a small mortar, three munition wagons and several baggage wagons. He also captured a dozen prisoners, killed several and incessantly cannonaded the Prussian Rearguard until it abandoned Gorlitz entirely. The precipitation with which they retired did not allow the Prussians to carry off all their sick and wounded. Generals Draskowitz and Nadasdy vigorously pursued the Corps of General Lestwitz, which acted as the Rearguard for the Duke of Bevern; the Prussians fired a great number of cannon shots.

This march cost the Prussians a great number of deserters; since daybreak, as many as 83 Saxons have come across.

When His Royal Highness Prince Charles learned of the march of the Prussians, he ordered the 6 companies of grenadiers at Jauernick together with 1,000 horse under the orders of Prince von Lobkowitz, Colonel of the Cuirassier Regiment Stampach, to support the Croats, who had already taken possession of the town of Gorlitz when they arrived.

The Prussian army marched in three columns towards Langenau, where it encamped,

The prisoners taken in the affair of the 7th have been sent back to Gabel; from there they will be escorted further to the rear.

Journal of Horace St. Paul 1757 Part 5 The Combat at the Jakelsberg

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