VON HELLWIG’S CAVALRY

BEFORE THE BATTLE OF BAUTZEN,

MAY 1813

translated by Geert van Uythoven

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From the journal of Major von Hellwig:

“Learning about the approach of an enemy column, on the 15th [May] I advanced over Ruhland into hiding near Ortrand. However, the enemy did not show himself. And because I received reliable information from spies that a complete French Army Corps [V Corps d’Armée] of 18 to 20,000 men, commanded by General [de Division] Lauriston and with many guns, was marching on Senstenberg, and as it was not hard to guess that it was trying to get into the flank of the combined and near Bautzen concentrated army – therefore I returned to my bivouac near Senstenberg on the 16th.

The French Army Corps really advanced into the forest not far from us. I was of the opinion in the meantime, in order to be able to send a report as detailed as possible to Bautzen, that I had to wait as long as possible until the corps had debouched from cover of the forest; then surely a detailed report would be at this moment of the utmost importance for the combined army. Acting according to this idea, and to gain as much information about the enemy as possible, I attacked the advance guard which may have consisted of eight hussar squadrons. These were not able to deploy into line completely because of the presence of a marsh, and had to advance against me in squadrons en colonne. This was favourable to me: my squadrons threw back the enemy without more ado, rolling up the enemy squadrons one after another, pushing them back on their main force. While I now had more then enough confirmation about the stated strength of the enemy and while my retreat across the causeways between the marshes was difficult, I retreated in good order, suffering only minor loss. I had nothing more urgent to do then sending the important report to headquarters in Bautzen. I flatter myself to have been the first who send a report in which this important enemy movement was pointed out.

While I was not pursued by the enemy, In retreated only two hours backwards from Senstenberg to Hoyerswerda, and bivouacked there for the night.

The lucky result of this attack was largely accomplished by the fact that, already longer convinced about the essential profit of the lance as long as it is been wielded properly, I had armed the first rank of my cavalry with this arm only a few days before. During this event, its profit was proven. Then although I led at the most three hundred hussars, of which every single one knew there would be no support, against an at least a thousand men strong cavalry, followed closely by many thousands of other troops; we were able to inflict a loss of 150 dead and wounded, while we suffered the loss of only five dead and a few wounded.”

Source: Militair-Wochenblatt, 30. Jahrgang (Berlin 1846), No. 30, pp.131-132.

© Geert van Uythoven