1813 Dennewitz 2

THE 3rd POMERANIAN LANDWEHR CAVALRY REGIMENT

AT DENNEWITZ

6 September 1813

translated by Geert van Uythoven

“During the battle of Dennewitz (on 6 September 1813), Major von Barnekow (formerly in the Guard Regiment) commanded the 3rd Pomeranian Landwehr Cavalry Regiment. An enemy infantry mass (Württemberger) had remained to long on this side of Rohrbek. Major von Barnekow did not hesitate and charged the infantry with two squadrons of the regiment (both other squadrons of it had been detached). The major and his adjutant, Lieutenant Schmidt rode at the head of the charge, and immediately fell victim to their heroic bravery. The staff-trumpeter, who was with them, escaped the danger. Cavalry-captain von Treskow who was second in command, immediately resumed the place of the major. With his own hands, he captured a colour out of the centre of the square. A very dangerous shot through his belly did not prevent him bringing the colour out of the melee and in safety, and only when he had delivered it in safe hands, he gave in to the consequences of the wound sustained. if the heroic dead of Major von Barnekow would have animated all of his subordinates to the highest, the determination of Cavalry-Captain von Treskow, who wrestled from the enemy their banner out of its closest ranks, would have given them the stunning conviction that with such a drive all resistance would be useless. And so it happened that, with the aid of our rushed up infantry, the maybe tenfold superior enemy completely was defeated.

His majesty the King rewarded Cavalry-Captain von Treskow with the iron Cross 2nd class, and had the grace to promote him to major and commander of the 7th Kurmark Landwehr Cavalry Regiment.”

Source: Anonymous, “Karakterzüge, Anekdoten”, in Militair-Wochenblatt, 2. Jahrgang (Berlin 1817), pp. 95-96.

For comparison: George Nafziger, “Napoleon at Dresden, the Battles of August 1813” (Chicago 1994) p. 266: “The remainder of the 1/9th Württemberg was pushed back on Morand’s division. General Stockmayer, beset by the cloud of Prussian skirmishers from Tauentzien’s corps, found himself obliged to withdraw his brigade. The Prussian skirmishers were supported by the 1/,2/3rd Pommeranian Landwehr Cavalry Regiment. This force pushed through the Württembergers and quickly encountered the 7th Württemberg Regiment, also part of Stockmayer’s brigade, formed in square. The Pommeranian cavalry attacked and at 60 paces received the defensive fire from the square and withdrew.

Polczinski’s battalion (3/4th Reserve Regiment) completely deployed as skirmishers, closed on the 7th Württembergers, supported by the guns from Jenichen’s Horse Battery #6 and Gleim’s 6pdr Battery #17. The two batteries began to fire canister on the huddled mass of Württembergers, breaking the square and inflicting heavy casualties on it. The square was broken with 15 officers and 516 men being lost. Only 70 escaped back to their division. A total of 230 were captured and the rest were killed or wounded. The 2nd Württemberg Regiment found itself trapped in the same manner and it too was destroyed.”