The Seven Weeks' War
Page 37
In the meantime, General von Roeder had been appointed governor of the town, to whom the burgomaster represented, on the 23rd July, that the town had already furnished six millions of gulden, and about two millions of rations, and requested to appeal against the subsequent contribution to the King of Prussia. So much did this misfortune of his city weigh on the burgomaster that the same night he committed suicide. The town sent a deputation to Berlin which treated so effectually, and was so powerfully supported by the opinions of the foreign press, that the contribution was not insisted upon by the king. Frankfort shortly afterwards was united definitely to Prussia, when the first contribution of six millions was not actually returned to the citizens, but was retained by the government to be expended in public works for the benefit of the city.
General Falckenstein, at Frankfort, issued the following general order to his troops:—
Soldiers of the Army of the Maine!—On the 14th of this month at Aschaffenburg, we have fulfilled the second portion of our task. On that day the right bank of the Maine, as far as our arms reached, was cleared of the enemy. Before we advance to new deeds, it behoves me to express to you all my recognition of the manner in which you have made the numerous exertions necessary for our success. Yet it is not that alone which I have to praise. It is your valour, and the energy with which, in six great and several smaller actions, you have hurled yourselves upon the enemy, knitted victory to your banners, and made thousands of your adversaries prisoners. You defeated the Bavarians in two brilliant engagements at Wiesenthal, and Zella on the 4th of this month, crossed the Rhön mountains in order again to spring upon the Bavarian Army at the four different points of Hammelburg, Kissingen, Hausen, and Waldaschach: everywhere you were victorious.
So soon as the third day after the bloody storming of Kissingen, the same division had crossed to the Spessart to engage the eighth Federal corps. The victory of the thirteenth division over the division of Darmstadt at Laufach, and the capture of Aschaffenburg from the united Federal and Austrian troops on the 14th, were the earnings of its bravery and its toils. On the 16th Frankfort was occupied by it I must express to this division my special thanks. Fortunate to be generally at the head of the corps, and so the first to come into collision with the enemy, it showed itself as worthy of this honourable post, as did the intelligence and energy of its leader to take advantage of his opportunities.
Headquarters,
Von Falckenstein,
Frankfort, 14th July, 1866.
Commander-in-Chief of the Army
CHAPTER 4: The Campaign South of the Maine
The day that General von Falckenstein published his general order to the troops, the Army of the Maine lost its commander. The difficult state of affairs in Bohemia, caused by the animosities of political parties, which, till the Prussian invasion, had been kept down by the strong hand of the Austrian Government, had, on the removal of that pressure, sprung forth into full life. The importance of the communications of the main Prussian armies with the provinces of Saxony and Silesia, which were threatened by the three fortresses of Theresienstadt, Josephstadt, and Königgrätz, led the King of Prussia to appoint General Falckenstein as military governor-general of that province.
Lieutenant-General von Manteuffel assumed the command of the Army of the Maine in Falckenstein’s place. The division which General Manteuffel had commanded was placed under General Flies. On the 18th July Wiesbaden was occupied by the Prussians; and on the 20th Kummer’s brigade was pushed southwards as an advanced guard and entered Darmstadt, but the main body of the army halted at Frankfort until the 21st. While he waited at Frankfort General Manteuffel received reinforcements. These consisted of three battalions, three squadrons, and two batteries of Oldenburg, two battalions of Hamburg, one of Lübeck, one of Waldeck, which was detached to watch the fortress of Mainz, one of Bremen, one of Schwarzburg-Sonderhausen.
Besides these contingents of the allies of Prussia, he also received five fourth battalions of Prussian troops, which remained as the garrison of Frankfort, the ninth Jäger battalion, and three reserve regiments of Landwehr cavalry,—in all fifteen battalions, twelve squadrons, and twelve guns, which mustered over twelve thousand combatants. Of these, five thousand men were left to hold the line of the Maine at Frankfort, Hanau, and Aschaffenburg. The remainder raised the active army to a strength of sixty thousand combatants.
At the same time a second reserve corps was formed at Leipsic and placed under the command of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. It consisted of the division of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, which numbered four battalions of infantry, one battalion of Jägers, four squadrons, and two 6-pounder batteries, and of a combined Prussian division, which was placed under the command of General Horne, who had formerly commanded the eighth division of the army of Prince Frederick Charles. Horne’s combined division consisted of the fourth regiment of the Prussian Guard, the fourth battalions of five regiments of the line, two battalions of Anhalt, two regiments of Landwehr cavalry, and eight batteries. This second reserve corps mustered in all about twenty-three thousand combatants. It was intended to enter Bavaria by way of Hof, and either to act against the rear of the united Bavarian and Federal corps, while engaged with General Manteuffel, or to force the Bavarian army to form front towards the east, and prevent Prince Charles of Bavaria from acting in concert with Prince Alexander against Manteuffel.
By the 21st July, the railway from Frankfort to Cassel had been repaired by the railway detachment of the Army of the Maine, and was available throughout its whole length, not only for military transport, but also for private traffic On that day, the main body of the Army of the Maine quitted Frankfort, and moved towards the south. Beyer’s division at the same time advanced from Hanau by Aschaffenburg to the south. The Bavarians had not occupied the road from Würzburg to the passage of the Maine at Heidenfeld. The eighth Federal corps was reported to be in retreat through the Odenwald, by Höchst and Moltenberg. Further information told that the Bavarians were concentrated, and in position near Würzburg.
It then appeared probable that part of the eighth Federal corps intended to hold the defiles of the Odenwald, and the line of the Neckar, while the remainder of its troops joined the Bavarians near the Tauber. To take advantage of two roads, in order to move quickly, and if possible to press upon Prince Alexander before he was firmly linked with the Bavarians, and to shield his right flank against any detachments lurking in the Odenwald, General Manteuffel moved Goeben’s division by Darmstadt on Könieg, while Flies and Beyer pushed up the valley of the Maine by Wurth. At the same time he sent a strong reconnaissance up the right bank of the river against Heidenfeld. Frankfort and Aschaffenburg were firmly occupied.
On the 23rd July, the Army of the Maine occupied a position near Moltenberg and Amorbach. Along its whole front it could firmly feel the eighth Federal corps. It was found that the enemy was in force on the Tauber, and that his advanced posts were pushed over the river as far as Hundheim. On the 24th two actions took place on the Tauber, an affluent of the Maine, which falls into the latter stream below Wertheim. General Manteuffel moved against the Tauber in three columns. On the left Flies’ division advanced on Wertheim. The two columns on the right were under General Goeben. Of these, that on the left consisted of the Oldenberg brigade and the battalion of Bremen, which moved upon Werbach against the division of Baden. That on the right, consisting of the remaining troops of Goeben’s division, with Wrangel’s brigade in front, marched on Tauberbischofsheim. Beyer’s division was moved on Dermbach as the reserve.
At Tauberbischofsheim the Würtemberg division, under General Hardegg was posted, to hold the place itself, and then issue from the valley on the road towards Würzburg, in case of an attack by the Prussians. The artillery fire of the advanced guard brigade of Goeben’s divisions caused great loss among the defenders, and soon forced them to retire from the village. General Hardegg withdrew his troops, but endeavoured to hold the Prussians in the houses, and to prevent the advance
of their batteries. By blowing up the bridge over the Tauber, he for a time prevented the progress of the Prussian artillery. After a hot combat, which lasted three hours, the Würtembergers were relieved by the fourth division of the eighth Federal corps. The action increased in fury, but ultimately the Prussians gained the passage of the Tauber at Bischofsheim, and pushed their outposts a short distance along the road to Würzburg.
The action at Werbach afforded the brigade composed of the Oldenburgers and the battalion of Bremen, its first opportunity to display its efficiency. As soon as the Prussian advanced guard, which attacked Bischofsheim, met with opposition, this brigade was pushed against Werbach. The enemy evacuated Hochhausen, which lies on the left bank of the river, without firing a shot, but set himself stolidly to oppose the passage of the stream at Werbach. The attacking troops had marched for twelve hours on the 23rd July, and on the 24th had been moving from five o’clock in the morning until two in the afternoon. They found their opponents in a good position, from which they themselves were exposed to a heavy cannonade. The Oldenburg artillery opened, and with such a good effect, that it soon got the fire of the opposite batteries under. These did not make good practice: the loss they inflicted was most trivial. The infantry, which had been hidden behind some rising ground, and in a wood, then advanced to the attack of the village of Werbach, threading their way through the intricate vineyards which clothed the slope down to the Tauber.
After a short time spent in skirmishing, the Oldenburgers rushed to the assault, part forcing their way over the barricades, part wading through the water of the stream, which rose breast high against them. Their losses were heavy, but their rush successful They carried the houses, and drove the defenders clean through the village, and themselves covered by the houses, commenced a murderous fire on the retreating columns. The combat at Werbach not only secured to General Manteuffel the passage of the stream at that point, but had a more important result. The division of Baden retreated so far after its failure here, that the position in which the Federal corps had determined to fight on the Tauber on the following day had to be evacuated.
At Wertheim, General Flies forced back the Hessians, whom he found posted there, and secured the passage of the Tauber at this point also.
The commander of the eighth Federal corps, when he perceived that he could no longer hold the line of the Tauber, fell back to Gerscheim, a village half way between Tauberbischofsheim and Würzburg, and about seven miles from either place. Here he determined, on some wooded heights, to await the Prussians. In the meantime the Bavarian army, following the road from Würzburg to Aschaffenburg, closed towards the eighth corps, and taking post on the north at Helmstadt, and Utingen, formed with it a long line of battle, in rear of which lay Würzburg and the Maine.
General Manteuffel was obliged to attack the allied corps in this position, although they were numerically much superior to him. He formed the intention of strengthening his right, and pivoting himself on Wertheim, to act with vigour against the allied left. He hoped thus to push his adversaries off the road to Würzburg, and to force them into the elbow which the Maine forms north of that place. There cut off from their communications, and with the river in their rear, they would have had almost no resource except that of capitulating.
On the 25th, the Prussian commander-in-chief drew forward Beyer’s division, which had hitherto remained in reserve in rear of his left wing, and placed it between those of Goeben and Flies. The Army of the Maine now formed a line of battle about ten miles long, but only Goeben and Beyer were to attack on the 25th. Flies was to hold himself at Wertheim as the pivot of the army. Goeben was to attack the eighth Federal corps; Beyer the Bavarians. General Kummer’s brigade, on the 25th, marched as the advanced guard of Goeben’s division. When that officer had passed a wood lying a short distance in front of Gerscheim, he made out the enemy—Würtembergers, Nassauers, and Austrians drawn up on the north of the road in order of battle. Their superiority in artillery was very considerable; they had eight batteries, six regiments of cavalry, and about seventy thousand infantry, while Kummer had only six battalions, four squadrons, and two batteries. Wrangel’s brigade had marched towards the right, in order to act against the enemy’s left flank.
The Oldenburg brigade, with the reserve, were behind, but at so great a distance that their arrival on the ground could not be calculated upon for an hour. Nevertheless General Kummer determined at once to attack. His two batteries came into position, some infantry occupied the wood beside him, the rest of the foot soldiers and the cavalry formed in order of battle, and his artillery opened fire. The enemy replied from forty pieces, and after a cannonade which lasted three-quarters of an hour, compelled the Prussian guns to retire. Prince Alexander of Hesse immediately sent some infantry against the wood, but the Prussians held the trees firmly, and from the cover slaughtered their assailants with their quickly-loaded arm.
At this time the Oldenburg brigade and the reserves came up, and Wrangel was seen advancing against the enemy s left. The artillery fire of the allies told little on the Prussian troops, and caused but slight loss in proportion to the number of guns engaged. Wrangel’s appearance on his left, and Kummer’s steady hold of the wood, made the enemy begin slowly to retire. The Oldenburg artillery joined to Kummer’s two batteries, fired heavily upon their slowly retreating columns. The allied batteries, halting at every favourable spot, came into action, and it was not till nightfall that the cannonade ceased. By that time the Prussians had occupied and passed beyond Gerscheim. On the same day, Beyer advanced against the Bavarians, who were in position near Helmstadt, by way of Bottingheim and Neubrunn.
In front of Bottingheim he fell in with some cavalry patrols. At Neubrunn some infantry made its appearance. This was the advanced guard of the Bavarian main body, which was about to advance against Werbach. This infantry Beyer attacked sharply, and drove back towards Helmstadt. In rear of Neubrunn the retiring Bavarians were reinforced, and halted in a swelling plateau, much dotted over with plantations. The battle now began in earnest The Prussian advanced guard moving towards Mädelhofen found an unoccupied plantation on the Bavarian left Pivoted on this it wheeled up to its left, and moved against Helmstadt. At the same time Beyer’s main body moved straight upon that village. The Bavarians could not maintain themselves in that place, but their artillery, which drew off towards Utingen, took up a position beyond Helmstadt, from which their guns rained a hot fire of shells upon the heads of the Prussian columns. The Prussian artillery, covered by numerous skirmishers in the plantations, engaged the Bavarian guns. About three hours after the beginning of the fight the enemy’s artillery drew off to Utingen, and so left the road to Mädelhofen, the most direct route to Würzburg open to Beyer’s left wing.
The Prussian division then made a concentrated attack against a wood near Mädelhofen, under cover of which heavy masses of Bavarian infantry were preparing for an attack towards Neubrunn. At the same time, Beyer’s two regiments of cavalry dashed against the Bavarian horse, which in front of the wood were covering the formation. A severe hand to hand combat took place. The Bavarian horsemen were finally, however, overcome, and forced to quit the field. While the cavalry were engaged, some of the Prussian infantry pushed the Bavarian battalions back to Waldbrunn. The whole of Beyer’s division then moved against the plantations near Mädelhofen and Waldbrunn, but the enemy drew off so quickly that Beyer concluded the action had terminated, and ordered his troops to bivouac.
It was not so, however. Hardly had the Prussian regiments taken up their positions for the night, than an attack opened upon their left rear in the direction of Helmstadt. A part of the Bavarian Army had, unperceived, advanced in this direction from Utingen, and now opened a second action with a heavy cannonade. Beyer quickly changed his front left back, forming a reserve of the two regiments which had previously been upon his right. His artillery, as soon as it had taken up its new position, opened fire against the line of Bavarian guns, which was continually pushing more
and more in the direction of Neubrunn, in order to outflank the Prussian position.
This fire, however, did little towards silencing the Bavarian batteries. The Prussian reserve, which had a long distance to travel, was far from the left wing. Every moment the attack of the enemy’s infantry might be expected. Matters seemed very critical. But the Bavarians did not attack. After a time his reserve reached Beyer’s left. He then ordered a general advance, which was successful. Prince Charles of Bavaria was forced back to Roszbrünn, where he halted General Beyer calculated upon for an hour.
Nevertheless General Kummer determined at once to attack. His two batteries came into position, some infantry occupied the wood beside him, the rest of the foot soldiers and the cavalry formed in order of battle, and his artillery opened fire. The enemy replied from forty pieces, and after a cannonade which lasted three-quarters of an hour, compelled the Prussian guns to retire. Prince Alexander of Hesse immediately sent some infantry against the wood, but the Prussians held the trees firmly, and from the cover slaughtered their assailants with their quickly-loaded arm. At this time the Oldenburg brigade and the reserves came up, and Wrangel was seen advancing against the enemy’s left. The artillery fire of the allies told little on the Prussian troops, and caused but slight loss in proportion to the number of guns engaged. Wrangel’s appearance on his left, and Kummer’s steady hold of the wood, made the enemy begin slowly to retire.