CHAP. ZXI.] 



AU8TTIIAN CAVALRY. 



337 



ted a 

 hcalt 

 > cut 

 river 



Spree. The whole affair \/as most skilfully planned and 

 boldly executed, and had a very great moral effect for a 

 time. It is a proof of the excellent capacity of the 

 Austrian cavalry for this kind of service. 



The attack and capture of the Prussian convoy under 

 command of Colonel Mosel in its march from Troppau 

 to Olmutz on the 30th June, 1758, was the most impor- 

 tant operation of that kind during the Seven Years' 

 War, and had a most decisive eflFect upon the result of the 

 campaign, compelling as it did the raising of the siege 

 of Olmutz and the retreat of Frederick into Bohcnia. 



Colonel Mosel set out from Troppau on the 26 :h June 

 with nearly 4,000 waggons and an escort of eight 

 battalions, 3,000 recruits or convalescents in four bat- 

 talions, and 1,100 cavalry.' Marshal Daun, who com- 

 manded the Austrian army, took steps to waylay his 

 march, feeling confident that if he wished to save 

 Olmutz he must raise the siege either by cutting off the 

 convoy or fighting a pitched battle. In the hope of 

 deceiving Frederick he manoeuvred as if about to offer 

 battle while he detached Major-General Loudon, the best 

 partisan soldier in his army, to attack the convoy from 

 the west, while Ziskowitz was sent to attack it from the 

 east. Frederick, not deceived by the manoeuvres of 

 Daun, and feeling that all depended upon the safe arrival 

 of the convoy, despatched General Ziethen to Colonel 

 Mosel's assistance with twenty squadrons and three 

 battalions.^ 



General Loudon performed his task with great ability ; 

 he concealed his march from the Prussians successfully, 

 and on the third day out Colonel Mosel was attacked 

 near Gunersdorf. Loudon occupied the heights which 

 commanded the defile between Bautsch and Alt Liebe, 

 placing his Croats and Hungarians in the woods, and 

 formed his cavalry to the right in the plain, across the 

 road, so as to envelop the head of the column as it 

 debouched from the defile. In the meantime he drew a 

 close cordon of posts across the route between himself 



' Jomini, Grand Operations, ii. 106. ^ Frederick's Memoirs, 

 ii. U. 



