The forces which the two armies in this battle were:

Prussian Army - 27, 500 men of all arms.
Danish Army - 11,000 men of all arms

From April 18, the Danish army knew that the Prussian army was in their vicinity and kept on the alert, the commander sending out frequent reconnaissances in order to have some intelligence of the enemy. They did not, however, expect any immediate action..

On the morning of April 23 the officer commanding the outposts in the fields of Jagel, gave the warning that the whole Prussian army was advancing in order of battle.

Lieutenant Colonel Magius , the commander of the advanced guard which was composed of the 12th Line Battalion and one squadron of Hussars, was at this time near Bustrup, from where he saw the heads of Prussian columns marching in his direction. He immediately occupied the church of Hadeby, and established two companies in skirmish order to the south east of the village, and posted a third on the rampart (part of the Dannevirke) to the east of the roadway.

Firing commenced almost immediately and Captain Hveberg was one of the first killed. Seerup's section of Fuhrmann's battery, positioned itself on the limits of the district of Frederichsberg between the villages of Hadeby and Bustrup, while Lieutenant Guld , with a section of Jessen's battery, unlimbered to the rear of the villages. He launched his cannonballs on the Prussian artillery, and making good practice, caused numerous casualties. He maintained this position, despite the devastation wrought among the section, thanks to the assistance of another section of the battery sent up by Major Meza.

The early stages of the battle of Schleswig

Lieutenant - Colonel Magius held the enemy at bay for two hours, before receiving the order to retreat on Bustrup and to continue his retreat as far as the centre of the village, or until he joined the 13th Line Battalion. During this withdrawal the enemy returned to the offensive which cost the life of Captain Mecklenburg and several soldiers. Boevig's section of Jessen's battery, took a position to the south of Bustrup, and by some very controlled shots forced the retirement of one section of the Prussian artillery. However, the firing of the attackers obliged Boevig to fall back on Frederichsberg, where he placed his two pieces, one before and one to the rear of the bridge. At same time, another section of Fuhrmaan's battery was firing from the northern extremity of Bustrup in support of Boevig. Their combined efforts extinguish, in part, the fire of the hostile guns.

Lieutenant Thestrup, with a section of the Brun's battery, advanced to the west of Bustrup Dam, and took the Prussians in the flank without, however, causing them to quit their position. In this engagement the Danes suffered the loss of Lieutenant Colonel Magius, a most distinguished officer in the Danish army.

Major Holm, who succeeded him, maintained this position for two hours before being obliged to yield to superior numbers. He fell back along the Bustrup causeway, towards Frederichsberg. During this action the 2nd company of the 3rd Jagers was driven into marshy ground between the town and the Slien river with the result that a number of it's brave soldiers perished, either by the enemies fire or in the waters of this river.

It was now necessary to extricate the advance guard from this difficult position and facilitate its retreat. In consequence, Colonel Bülow, with the 1st Brigade, composed of the 1st and 11th Line Battalions, 2 guns and one half Squadron, advanced to the south of the Bustrup lake in order to take the enemy in flank. Major Ernst , with 2 pieces, a detachment of hussars and a company of the 2 Line Battalion, moved onto the heights of Erdberenberg, in order to support the troops committed to this action.

The 1st Line Battalion, under the commands of Colonel Rye, formed into column of attack, and supported by the 11th, accosted the plateau occupied strongly by the enemy. After crossing some ditches, they drove them from this position, despite a very sustained fire. The 11th Battalion, which had followed, veered toward the left of the 1st and occupied some hedges, from where they unleashed a hail of bullets which thinned the ranks of the enemy; but the Prussians brought fresh troops into the fight and manoeuvred in such a manner so as to turn the right flank of the column. The soldiers of the 11th Battalion, already exhausted, were decimated, leaving casualties strewn on the ground including the bodies of five of their officers.

They withdrew in the face of this superior strength, on the same road by which they had come, which climbs steeply, up the east side of the valley. While retiring they fired several rounds of grapeshot to discourage counter attacks from being organised by the enemy. This action enabled the advance guard to retire , in compact column, on Frederichsberg. Three companies of Jagers formed up behind Gottorp Castle, while the 12th Line Battalion retired by Frederichsberg, as far as the road to Husum where it deployed, the 1st company among the woods near Pulvermühle, and 3 other companies occupying the dams and the hedges. The 1st Brigade executed its retirement by Erdberenberg, defending the ground foot by foot, until the environs of Pulvermühle. Here they halted and also took up position.

Colonel Juel, who had been charged with the task of defending the castle, had put several companies behind the dam and the entrenchments established around this position. Sixteen embrasures had been designed to sweep the approaches (of the castle). At two of these guns from Fuhrmann's battery were located so they could launch their cannonballs and grapeshot down the driveway of the castle and at the causeway of Lollfus.

The Corps on the left, under the commands of Colonel Schleppegrell, reassembled at Altstadt, and received orders to wait there. Then at 11.30, he was directed to Huhnerhäuser, where Barner's squadron joined him. He continued his advance until, at 1.00 O'CLOCK, he was near Zigelei.

The 2nd Brigade, which had taken to arms at the sound of the drums moved to the south of Falkenberg, through Ruhekrug, on to the Thiergarten.

The cavalry, supported by 4 pieces of Fuhrmann's battery had advanced, at the commencement of the battle, on the right flank of the enemy in order to observe its movement. They watched it's march on the Small Dannevirke, well supported by the cavalry.

When Colonel Schleppegrell saw the engagement begin at Great Dannevirke, and soon after at the Pulvermühle, he sent in the 1st Jagers. Major Scheppelern formed his troops into company columns and marched against the attackers. Twice he was repulsed, but when Captain Michaelsen advanced at the head of the reserve and entered into the forest; the other troops rallied to occupy the edge of the woods and a house, from which they drove the defenders with the threat of the sword. The enemy posted on the causeway situated in front of the forest, defended their position with great stubbornness; the commander of Danish Corps was wounded, but the ardour of the soldiers was not diminished and maintained the fight until the Prussians, with their reserves arriving, began to force them back.

The latter stages of the battle of Schleswig

The 9th Line Battalion, commanded by Major Thestrup, was sent onto the heights which were covered with bushes, to the west of Annettenhöhe but, despite the greatest efforts, he was unable to maintain his position; the 10th Line Battalion coming to his relief, attacked the enemy boldly but the Prussian infantry met the attack with heavy fire. Major Raeder and three Lieutenants were wounded, as well as brave Captain Bonnichsen, who was mortally wounded. For two hours, the Danish infantry, displaying an admirable coolness, maintained their position and did not retire even when they saw the light troops of the attackers threaten to turn their flank. Instead a Battalion entered into the bushes near the ravine, with orders to hold for as long as possible.

On the left wing the masses of Prussian cavalry, supported by their infantry and the artillery forced the Danish cavalry retire. The 1st section of Fuhrmann's battery was placed in the fields of Little Dannevirke while the 2nd section, commanded by Lieutenant Gaettsche , moved into the village of Hysby and quickly positioned his guns. Together they caused the enemy cavalry to retire. The Prussians, however, perceiving that the artillery was not supported, sent in skirmishers, who, upon reaching a line of hedges, opened fire at close range which to forcing the guns to attempt a hasty retreat. To the rescue of Lieutenant Gaettsche came a squadron of the 6th regiment of Dragoons, under the command of Captain Wurtzen. These horsemen charged the German skirmishers who, although quickly dispersed, soon took advantage of the cover afforded by some houses and other obstacles in the field. From these positions they fired with effect on the Danish squadron, who had to pass through their ranks once again to retire. A sergeant of Lundegaardhus' artillery, using great presence of mind, limbered up the pieces in the village, and succeeded in catching up with the main body of the army without leaving one gun in the hands of the enemy.

It was now 5.00 in the evening, and the battle still raged all along the line. Lieutenant's Moltke and Schreiber with 3 howitzer launched their projectiles with the greatest success against the heads of the German (Prussian) infantry columns and against the pieces in position before Greater Dannevirke.

At this time the Danes decided to attempt a decisive effort against the Greater Dannevirke with the reserve composed of the 4th and 7th Line Battalions; but at that moment news came advising that Colonel Juel , believing he was in danger of being outflanked, had abandoned Gottorp castle. Although this news was recognised as false, and the castle was reoccupied, the offensive was abandoned. Instead the 4th and 7th line Battalions rushed to the extremity of the field in order to relieve troops who had been committed for several hours, and joined the 12th Line Battalion who were courageously defending the fir forest of Pulvermühle. Captain Neraae and Lieutenant Bie were wounded, and Captain Friederiksen, an officer of rare merit, was killed. While the Danish troops were making a fighting retreat across the Thiergarten the Prussians fell on the right flank of the 1st Brigade. Colonel Bülow, at the head of the 1st and 11th Line Battalions, attacked with vigour and forced them quickly to abandoning most of the forest.

The Danish artillery and cavalry, positioned on the heights of Taterkrg and Polhëgn, supported the troops who were beating a retreat. Their presence effectively prevented any Prussian pursuit. One of the last balls fired struck Major Holm, one of the bravest officers of the Danish army, wounding him mortally.

During this principal affair, Lieutenant Colonel Haxthausen was at Mysunde with the 5th Battalion, a detachment of dragoons, commanded by Captain Flindt and a few howitzers under the commands of Lieutenant Jurgensen.

At eight o'clock on the morning of April 23rd , the enemy moved on Mysunde with a strong column, composed of infantry, cavalry and 6 guns. Both sides commenced firing which continued until one o'clock, At four o'clock, the cannon thundered again until eight in the evening when the 2 Danish guns, exposed to a murderous fire, were demounted.

Several Danish reconnaissances, sent out to gather news of the enemy, learned that it had retired. Colonel Haxthausen then prepared to make a diversion on Brodersby but soon received news that he was in danger of being surrounded unless he retreated quickly, he therefore gave orders for the cutting of the ferry ropes and for the 2 guns to retire on Geel under the protection of Captain Nielsen. He then marched in the direction of Brodersby, which he found abandoned, and continued his retirement unhindered through Tolk and on to Flensborg.

So ended the battle of Schleswig, in which the Danes displayed great energy and a remarkable tenacity. They fought for eight hours against double their own strength and did not retire from the field of battle until they had inflicted great casualties on the German (Prussian) army. No trophies were left in the hands of the enemy. The Prussian general Wrangel, in his report, did not hesitate to render justice to the courage which was displayed by the Danish army. He remained with his troop at the scene of the battle, master of the town of Schleswig and of the castle of Gottorp.

The losses of the Danes in the battle of Schleswig was:

21 Officers dead
35 Officers wounded
50 Soldiers and under officers dead
500 Soldiers under officers wounded

The Prussians losses were considerably greater.

On April 24, the Hanoverians and the Mecklenburgers, received news of the battle of Schleswig. They immediately united and marched on Oversø. Their column, composed of 3 Battalions, 4 squadrons and one 6 gun battery, arrived suddenly on the Danish outposts resulting in 281 soldiers and 9 officers falling into the hands of the Germans, without being able to defend themselves. Those who had the time to take up their weapons made a vigorous resistance and killed a large number of the horsemen.

The Danes, however, thought that their army, notwithstanding its bravery, would be unable to hold out for long against a strength which was so superior to their own. They therefore resolved, for the moment, not to take any more chances in formal battles, but to use tactics to oppose the enemy. For if they didn't abandon the mainland, their army would be forced to retire before general Wrangel through middle and northern Schleswig, and to entrench in Jydland or it could find itself backed in to a corner according to the chances delivered by luck. The Prussians in this way, would have spent the summer, going from fight to fight until they penetrated into this Danish province. Profiting then, from the nature of their country and from their naval superiority, the Danes decided to move towards the east, onto the island of Als, situated 200 meters off the eastern coast of Schleswig, and separated by the Little Belt from the island of Fyen which in turn is separated by the wide Great Belt from the island of Zealand, on which Copenhagen is located. The island of Fyen dominates southern Jydland, and Als, Schleswig. A part of the Danish army retired onto Fyen, and the remainder camped on the island of Als. Wrangel occupied Jydland without opposition finding open doors everywhere, and the inhabitants impassive and calmly, exclaiming, "Take!" The Prussian general hit the country with a contribution of 11 million (Kroner).

The ease of communications by sea placed General Hedemann in a very good strategic position indeed, for in a few hours he could unite his troops on one of the two islands and either make a landing in Jydland or in Schleswig, in the rear or the right flank of the enemy. Accordingly he decided on an appropriate operation. After having simulated a landing on the coast of Jydland, the Danish general moved onto the island of Als, in order to disembark into Schleswig. The army was in the process of making this reconnaissance, when he received from Copenhagen the announcement of the evacuation of Jydland, due to the diplomatic influence of powers friendly to Denmark. The troops were, however, already too advanced for it to be possible of to avoid an engagement.

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