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

" July 25, P.M.
•
" The closes of the day has unfortunately not coffe-
e; orded with its auspicious commencement; the &hies-
wig-Holsteiners 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, ins-
pot teat intelligence reached us respecting the left wing,
stating that tne action wee taking a favourable turn
in that
.quarter. The left wing, however, had given
way considerably, and had for some time abandoned the
'lrene 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 its the latter direction.
and soon discovered that the enemy had 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 manoeuvre on the
.part of the Danes; for if our 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 4t, result in
the centre. The threatened point near Mlbebye was
protected by the advance of artillery and the action
commenced in this quarter also. Meanwhile the fight-
ing continued in the centre, and in thecight wing, whore
our troops maintained their position along the Langsee
and the pats at Welspang. In the centre the cannonad-
ing and tire of mesksky xr6re ihamirkept up without
any advance on the part or the enemy. At about two
o'clock r.u. 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 army on this side was completely
broken up. and as far as a civilian could judge the pas-
sage over the Langsee at Galdenholm could no longer
be secured. A part of the artillery was now brought
back towards the town and the action was visibly ap-
proaching, while the contest broke out with fresh vio-
lence at the Haide•Dorfehen. Your correspondent now
left the town, and saw nothing more, except that a por-
tion of the Ist Schleswig-Holstein Jager corps took up
their position, with a few pieces of artillery, on the south
side of the Schlei (west of the Haddebyer Damm, on the
Loopstedt heights). Subsequently intelligence reached
us that the enemy were distant a short halt mile from
the town, and that another attack was then preparing on
our side. It 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
read from Schleswig to Flensburg is guarded by artillery,
in which case the appreucnsion 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 team' to-day is of greater
importance than that fought last year at Fredericia on
the Gth of July. We have lost a great number of
officers, and several surgeons have le en 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 sides fought and conducted
themselves well the victory must be ascribed to the force I
lof numbers. The Danish troops were about 38,000
strong, cud ours 28,000. It is probable that many
Swedes and evert Russians fought in the ranks of the
enemy, but for the truth of this we cannot answer.",
HAMBURGH, JULY 28.
"It is impossible to describe the depression caused by
the sad fate of the Schleswig-Elolsteiners 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
Holsteiners. 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."
.__

11
":11A, JULY 2.
" A messenger of woe, who wiiBURG adll sprellconsternat6ion
among all your really German readers, has reached us
trom the Holsteiners. It was not, indeed, victorious
news that we had to forward respecting the first serious
engagement of the 24th, but the events of that day jus-
titled the 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 th ut Von derTann, who commanded
the left wing of the Schleswig-Holsteiners, had broken
through the centre of the Danish army. • Attempted'
to break through it would have been a jester ex-
pression. The , bold mauceuvre failed, and appears to
have led to the total loss of the battle. The charging
ranks of the Schleswig-Ilolsteiners 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' tattle, which was fought with,incredible
exasperation 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 bad been engaged, was conducted
in good order. The Staathalterschaft and the adminis-
trative department proceeded from Schloss Gottorf to
Rendsburg. The outworks at Eckernforde have been
voluntarilf 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 superfluous."
" Quarter to 3 o'clock P.N.
" 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 concetrated
upon WittLnsee. Von der Tann has not taken flight,
bat, on the contrary, is at the head of a body of 16,000
men. The reports of a countless Lumber of killed and
taken on the pert of the Schleswig-Holsteiuers have not
been confirmed to their full extent. An escort brought
the wounded into Altona at about 1 o'clock, and would
be followed by the Danish prisoners.
This nkht, at half-past 12 o'clock, orders were given
to abandon Eckernforde and dismantle the fortifications,
which was already accomplished at 5. The artillery
arrived at Rendsburg. The Getion is still in the pos-
session of Prussia, and appears out of danger. Among
the Danish prisoners is his Excellency Baggcson, a
person of considerable importance."

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DENMARK AND THE D 7
The news of the defeat of the Heist 4403,
firmed, and the victory of Idstedt appears to
been, on the pat of the Dam,s, even more complete
than had been at first supposed. There is Nit little
doubt that eretbis Schleswig is completely free from the
presence of the Holstein troops, who have fallen back
across the Eeider; indeed the Feuilies Rhenanes states
that the mouths of the Schlei and the Eeider have
fallen into the power of the Danes, who have landed
and taken possession of Tonningen and Cappelli.
The following details are extracted from the Boi-
senhalle of the 2Gth instant :--