Although best known for his dispatches from the Crimea, William Howard Russell began his career during the closing stages of the First Schleswig War, when he covered the battle of Isted. In so doing he not only supplied one of the few English-language accounts of the conflict but also an eyewitness account of the battle.

Russell had joined the Schleswig-Holstein army soon after the commencement of the campaign of 1850, and he had become quite close to the members of its high command. He was thus in an excellent position to see the battle as it unfolded. However, before his account is considered a little background material is in order.

The year 1850 saw the Schleswig-Holstein army standing alone against the Danes, since their German allies, with the encouragement of several of the great powers, had thought better of continuing to support the insurrection. The duchy government was, however, determined to continue the war no matter the cost, and to this end it had obtained the services of the Prussian General Willisen and raised the army to some 30.000 men.

The campaign began when the insurgents advanced to just north-west of the town of Schleswig, where they erected fortifications and awaited the Danes. On the 23rd the latter decided to assault the Schleswig-Holstein position two days later, and with this in mind moved forward to a middle position on the 24th. This movement produced the actions which Russell witnessed.

Before we consider his account one final thing must be remembered. This is the battle as he saw it and should not be taken as necessarily accurate or complete. This is one mans view of a conflict which covered many square kilometers and involved over 60,000 men. It gives us therefore an idea of what the battle was like and an idea of what happened but only that. To understand the battle it is then necessary to consult a full history of the struggle.

More Battle of Isted (Idsted)

Introduction
Report on Battle of 24th July 1850
Report on Main Battle of 25th July 1850
Jumbo Map (extremely slow: 137K)

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