The Sun.
London, England, 1850-07-30 00:00:00

Lc

bEIf:NIA 11K AND THE DUCHIES.
The news of the defeat of the Holsteiners is con-
firmed, and the victory of Idstedt appears to have
been, on the part of the Danes, even more complete
than hai been at first supposed. There is but little
doubt that erethis Schleswig is complesely free from the
pres9nce of the Holstoin troops, who have fallen back
across the I.l?ider ; the Feuilles Rhenanes states
that the rnotrhs of the Sch!ei and the Eeider have
fallen into the power of the Danes, who have landed
and taken pa-session of Tonningen and Cappeln.
The following details are extracted from the Bor•
senhalle of the 26th instant :

" July 25, P.M.
" The close of the day has unfortunately not eorre-
tuor.ded with its auspicious commencement; the Schles-
wig-Holsteinors have succumbed to the superior force of
their enemies. When we had di.patched our communi-
cation this morning, containing the principal intelligence
relative to the position of affairs in the right wing, we
intended to proceed to the district of Idstedt, in which
the centre was stationed. Meanwhile, however, im-
portant intelligence reached us respecting the left wing,
stating that tae action w..:11 taking a favourable turn
in that quarter. The left wing, however, had given
way considerably, and had for some time abandoned the
Prone line, while Brigadier-General Count von Baudisin
had been wounded in the morning. The apprehensions
caused by this event were increased by the circumstance
that the sound of cannonading was heard from the north
as well as from the north-west. We accordingly adopted
the determination of proceeding in the latter direction,
and soon discovered that the enemy hal from the west of
our position extended completely to the south, so that
fighting was already going on near the village of Schu-
bye. This certainly was a hazardous macceuvre on the
part of the Danes; for if onr centre should press forward
victoriously, by falling back to the left, the troops ad-
vanced towards the west might be cut off; on the other
hand, if the enemy should overpower the centre on this
side, the advanced troops might take the main body of
the Schleswig-Holstein army in flank, and even en-
danger their retreat. The adoption of this manoeuvre
showed that the Danes made sure of the result in
the centre. The threatened point near Schubye was

protected by the advance of artillery and the - action
commenced in this quarter also. Meanwhile the fight-
ing continue d in the centre, and in the right wing, where
our troops maintained their position along the Langsee
and the pa.,s at Welspang. In the centre the cannonad-
ing and lire of musketry were sharply kept up without
any advance on the part of the enemy. At about two
o'clock P.M. the Danes succeeded in taking the Idstedt
wood by a charge of bayonets. This movement was ren-
dered possible owing to the ammunition of our artillery,
failing. From this moment your correspondent consi-
dered the fate of the battle decided, since by the taking
of this wood which bordered the Schleswig and Flens-
burg road on the west, and the Langsee on the east,
the position of the areiy on this side was completely
broken up. and as far as a civilian could judge the pas-
sage over the Liingsee at Galdenholm could no longer
bo secured. A part of the artillery was now brought
back towards the town arid the action was visibly ap-
proaching, while the contest broke ou with fresh vio-
lence at the Heide Dorfchen. Your correspondent now
left the town, and saw nothing more, except that a por-
tion of the Ist Schleswig-Holstein Jager corps Wok up
their with a few pieces of artillery, on the south
side of the Schlei (west of the Haddeb) er Damn], on the
Loopstedt heights). Subsequent!) intelligence reached
us that the enemy were disLant a short halt mile from
the town, and that another attack was then preparing on
our side. Ic appears to us probable that the Danes will
take possession of the town ere evening, although this
is doubted by many. We are further informed that the
road from Schleswig to Flensburg is guarded by artillery,
in which case the apprehension we entertained at first,
that the enemy's corps to the west might cut off
the line of retreat to the fortress, would prove
groundless. Our right wing will have retreated
to Missunde. The action to-day is of greater
importance than that fought last year at Fredericia on
the 6th of July. We have lost a great number of
officers, and several surgeons have been sacrificed. The
defeat of this day is attributable to the superior force of
the enemy. Our troops fought bravely, and so also did
the Danes. Since both aides fought and conducted
themselves well the victory must be ascribed to the force
of numbers. The Danish troops were about 3b,000
strong, and ours 28,000. It is probable that many
Swedes and even Russians fought in the ranks of the
enemy, but for the truth of this we cannot answer."
HAMBURG/I, JULY 26.
" It is impossible to describe the depression caused by
the sad fate of the Schleswig-Holsteiners yesterday.
No one can understand the sudden development of
the unexpectedly large force by which the Danes
succeeded in breaking the line of the brave
Holateiners. To this must be ascribed the
rumours which were current during the first
tumult that they had been assisted by Russians and
Swedes. The North Jutlanders and Bornholmers speak
a very unnintelligible language, and this may have led
to the mistake. The losses on both sides must have
been dreadful. Eye-witnesses say that they have never
beheld a battle so desperately fought."
":HAMBURGH, JULY 26.
" A messenger of woe, who will spread consternation
among all your really German readers, has reached us
from the Holsteiners. It was sot, indeed, victorious
news that we had to forward respecting the first serious
engagement of the 24th, but the events of that day jus-
titiedthe most hopeful anticipations for the cause of the
Schleswig-Holsteiners. Yesterday evening the latest
intelligence was decidedly favourable; it reached up to
nine o'clock in the morning, and informed us of the re-
retreat of the Danes to Flensburg after a well-contested
engagement. It stated that Von derTann, who commanded
the left wing of the Schleswig-Holsteiners, bad broken
through the centre of the Danish army. Attempted'
to break through it would have been a jester ex-
pression. The bold manceavre failed, and appears to
have led to the total loss of the battle. The charging
ranks of the Schleswig-Holsteiners advanced against a
force far superior in numbers, which fell back for a mo•
ment in order to envelope the enemy. The result of the
fearful two days' battle, which was fought with. incredible
exa-peration on both sides, and during which fresh bat-
talions of Danish troops were continually brought into
the field from Flensburg, was the retreat of the Schles-
wig-Holstein army upon Schestadt, and the entry of the
Danish army with beating drums into the town of
Schleswig yesterday evening, between eight and nine
o'clock. The retreat of the Schleswig-Holsteiners, the
whole body of whom had been engaged, was conducted
in good order. The Staathalterschaft and the adminis-
trative department proceeded from Schloss Gottort to
Rendsburg. The outworks at Eckernforde have been
voluntarily abandoned. The despondency and exaspe-
ration which this unexpected intelligence has produced
in all circles we do not attempt to describe. Your own
reflections and feelings must render it superfluons."
" Quarter to 3 o'clock P.M.
" The Schleswig-Holstein cause is not in so desperate
a predicament as there was occasion to believe from the
first intelligence. 25,000 picked troops are cones trated
upon Witt, nsee. Von dor Tann has not taken flight,
bat, on the contrary, is at the heart of a body of 16,000
men. The reports of a countless number of killed and
taken on the part of the Schleswig-Holsteiners have not
been confirmed to their full extent. An escort brought
the woueded into Altona at about 1 o'clock, and would
be followed by the Danish prisoners.
" This night, at half-past 12 o'clock, orders were given
to abandon Eckernforde and dismantle the fortifications,
which was alreedy accomplished at 5. The artillery
arrived at Rendsburg. The Gefion is still in the pos-
session of Prussia, and appears out of danger. Amoag
the Danish prisoners is his Excellency Baggeson, a
person of considerable importance."