29 September – North Germany – Day 8

Day 2 siege of Salzwedel

Day 1 siege of Kladen

                                 

As the French settle down to two sieges the Prussians launch a surprise attack on Dahre.

3^rd French corps are reorganising south of the town, when 1^st Prussian corps attack from the north.   It will take four hours for the French to concentrate and prepare to march to “the sound of the guns”.   Meanwhile the infantry brigade providing the garrison of the town will have to hold against the whole of the Prussian corps.

The Prussians deployed in front of the town and moved their artillery into close range.  They fired on the garrison for two hours, but inflicted no casualties.  When 3^rd French corps arrived the Prussians attacked with two brigades.

The garrison held another hour, but finally broke with 50% casualties.   However the two Prussian brigades received 30% and 20%.  

The two French brigades sent to support the town had to test their morale when the garrison broke.  Both failed and were shaken.

There was a lull whilst the Prussians replaced their battered brigades, and the French their shaken brigades.  

At nightfall the Prussians had one brigade in the town, and claimed victory.

The French had lost 2500 casualties and two brigades in rout

The Prussians had lost 1700 casualties

The majority of the French casualties were on the garrison, but both corps had suffered heavy casualties and would two or three days to recover.