The battles of the world : $b or, cyclopedia of battles, sieges, and important military eventsBorthwick, J. Douglas (John Douglas)
History
The battles of the world : $b or, cyclopedia of battles, sieges, and important military events
Borthwick, J. Douglas (John Douglas)
Battles; Military history
PLATTSBURG, EXPEDITION TO.--The British squadron against
Plattsburg, on Lake Champlain, was designed under General Sir
George Prevost, but it was abandoned, after a severe defeat of the
naval squadron of England on the Lake, September 11th, 1814.
PODULTZ, BATTLE OF.--Fought, June 28th, 1866, between the Austrians
and the Prussians. The Prussians everywhere were victorious. The
needle gun of their army was decidedly superior to any other weapon
used. The following is the _Times_ account:
“On the northern side of Gitschin and on the Turnau road the
Austrians had taken up a position to cover the town against the
Prussians, advancing from the direction of Turnau. As the Prussians
advanced they saw the village of Podultz close to the road, and on
their right, standing at the top of the gentle ascent by which the
road rises to the top of the lower spur, on the other side of the
road and about 300 yards from it, nearer to the advancing division
by 200 yards than Podultz, the village of Diletz, lying in the
plain, while high on their right they could see the chimneys of
Brada above the thick fir wood which, lying on the hill side, in
front of that village, runs down nearly to Podultz, and traced by
the different colours of the foliage the ground occupied by its
orchards. The three villages and the fir wood were held by Austrian
and Saxon troops, supported by seven battalions of artillery,
which were placed both on the spur and on the Brada Hill, while
behind the spur were hidden three of Austria’s finest cavalry
regiments--the Hussars of Radetzky, of Lichtenstein, and of the
Austrian Regiment the King of Prussia. As soon as the Prussians
came within range the Austrian batteries opened upon them; the
Prussian guns replied, and, under cover of their artillery, the
columns advanced to the attack of the position. The 8th and 48th
Regiments advanced against the village of Diletz, which was
garrisoned by the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 4th Saxon battalions, and where,
as the prisoners report, the King of Saxony himself took part
in the fight. The 12th and 18th Regiments advanced against the
village of Podultz. Both attacking columns were exposed to a very
hot fire, but after a severe struggle both villages were carried,
though that of Podultz, set on fire by a shell, was burning when
the Prussians occupied it. General Edelsheim, who commanded the
Austrian cavalry, with a desperate valour, attacked the burning
village, but the horses would not face the flames, and the Prussian
infantry, from behind the blazing houses, fired on the disordered
squadrons and killed many troopers. After taking Podultz, the 12th
and 18th Regiments pushed past Brada, leaving it to their right,
and made for the Lochow Road, in order to cut off the retreat of
the Austrians, who were retiring from Lochow on Gitschin. The
Austrian cavalry charged the advancing Prussians, but the latter
received them without forming square, and the horsemen recoiled,
broken by their steady fire.
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