Battle of Emsdorf
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Emsdorf was fought on 14 July 1760 during the Seven Years' War
at Emsdorf in present-day Hesse
, Germany, between forces of British, Hanoverian and Hessian troops under the Prince of Hesse-Kassel (or Hesse-Cassel) against German troops in French service under Marechal de Camp Glaubitz. It was part of the campaign to disrupt the French line of communications by capturing Marburg, a French supply depot.
The Anglo-Hannoverian force consisted of six Hanoverian and Hessian infantry battalions, some Hanoverian jägers, Luckner
's light cavalry hussars and the British 15th Light Dragoons. The French force consisted of five infantry battalions from the German regiments of Royal-Bavarière and Anhalt, a regiment of hussars and some light troops.
The British forces initially surprised the French force in camp as they sat down to lunch. The French hussars fled at the onset while two of the infantry battalions managed to form up before receiving the concentrated fire of the Hessian battalions. Glaubitz sent one battalion back to Marburg while he tried to withdraw to Kirchhain with the rest of his troops. Most of the escape routes were cut by Luckner and the light troops. The Anglo-Hannoverian ultimately captured over 1650 prisoners, mostly due to several charges by the British 15th Light Dragoons into the retreating French force.
The victory was largely won by the well handled British 15th Light Dragoons
who suffered heavily with 125 of the 186 Allied casualties. Lieutenant Colonel William Erskine
of the 15th Dragoons presented King George III with 16 colors captured by his regiment after the battle. However, the objective of capturing Marburg was not achieved.
The Battle of Emsdorf was also the first ever Battle Honour awarded. Earlier battles were then given the status of a Battle Honour.
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
at Emsdorf in present-day Hesse
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
, Germany, between forces of British, Hanoverian and Hessian troops under the Prince of Hesse-Kassel (or Hesse-Cassel) against German troops in French service under Marechal de Camp Glaubitz. It was part of the campaign to disrupt the French line of communications by capturing Marburg, a French supply depot.
The Anglo-Hannoverian force consisted of six Hanoverian and Hessian infantry battalions, some Hanoverian jägers, Luckner
Luckner
Luckner can refer to*Nicolas Luckner or to his grandson*Felix von Luckner* Several "Luckner" Ultra Heavy Tanks have been constructed, both as models, and in computer wargames, by a number of different fantasy wargame producers, as a tribute Felix von Luckner status as a "good guy" war hero....
's light cavalry hussars and the British 15th Light Dragoons. The French force consisted of five infantry battalions from the German regiments of Royal-Bavarière and Anhalt, a regiment of hussars and some light troops.
The British forces initially surprised the French force in camp as they sat down to lunch. The French hussars fled at the onset while two of the infantry battalions managed to form up before receiving the concentrated fire of the Hessian battalions. Glaubitz sent one battalion back to Marburg while he tried to withdraw to Kirchhain with the rest of his troops. Most of the escape routes were cut by Luckner and the light troops. The Anglo-Hannoverian ultimately captured over 1650 prisoners, mostly due to several charges by the British 15th Light Dragoons into the retreating French force.
The victory was largely won by the well handled British 15th Light Dragoons
15th The King's Hussars
The 15th The King's Hussars was a cavalry regiment in the British Army. First raised in 1759, it saw service over two centuries, before being amalgamated into the 15th/19th Hussars in 1922.-Formation:...
who suffered heavily with 125 of the 186 Allied casualties. Lieutenant Colonel William Erskine
Sir William Erskine, 1st Baronet
Lieutenant-General Sir William Erskine, 1st Baronet was a British Army commander and the 1st baronet of the Erskine of Torrie creation.-Background:...
of the 15th Dragoons presented King George III with 16 colors captured by his regiment after the battle. However, the objective of capturing Marburg was not achieved.
The Battle of Emsdorf was also the first ever Battle Honour awarded. Earlier battles were then given the status of a Battle Honour.