The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-17 00:00:00

pieces in pursuit ; they fired at the chausse'& and ex-
pedited the retreat of the waggons of the train con-
siderably ; but finding the main body south of the
road too strong, they did not continue the pursuit
for any distance, and the Holsteiners retired towards
Osterbye in good order.
This was the close of the engagement. The Hol-
steiners, as they retired, set fire to the Danish camp,
and in two hours it was entirely destroyed. Smaller
encampments at other points were given to the
flumes in the same manner, and our route south-
ward was illuminated by several conflagrations on
the hills behind us. The moon set calm and silvery,
exactly opposite to the scene of destruction. The
narrow roads were choked up by the waggons con-
veying the wounded and baggage, and the artillery,
but as we were not pressed on, no casualties occurred.
The heavy firing at Eckernforde to the east con-
tinued after nightfall-; it is said it was only intended
to check the advance of the Holstein infantry on the
town, whilst the Danish troops were embarked in
their ships and boats and taken across the bay, but
I cannot answer positively fur what I did not see.
A mill behind the town was set on fire, and burned
for many hours. It is reported this morning that
Eckernforde is in possession of the Holsteiners, but
it is a question if they can hold it, as they are always
open to an attack from the water.
The artillery was brought back to Damendorf, and
the infantry to other points south of it, but still in ad-
vance of their former positions. The men bivouaced
by their watch fires, and appeared in nowise dis-
couraged by the result of the day's proceedings, for
they were singing and cheering merrily as the wag-
gons laden with their wounded comrades crawled
along the road by the side of their posts towards
Rendsburg.
Of the loss of the Holsteiners during the day I
can give no estimate, and many other details must
be supplied from the future official reports. I saw
only the march and attack on the main point,
Missunde and the bridge over the Schlei. To the
left, against the town of Schleswig, nothing was
attempted. Whether any attack will be done to-day
is uncertain. The Holstein artillery has propor-
tionately suffered the most. Two or three guns were
dismounted but none lost. The chances are against
any extensive movement to-day. The result of the
affair may be briefly stated : if the object was to force
the bridge of Missunde, it was decidedly defeated,
as no impression was made on the works, and the
Danes were able at the close of the day to become
the assailants; if it was a mere reconnaissance, it
only proved that the Danes are very strongly in-
trenched, which was pretty well known before. On
the other hand the Danes appear to have declined
defending Eckernforde at all on the land side, and
assuming to-day's report to be correct, it is in the
hands of the Holsteiners. The line of opera-
tions from
.point to point was extensive, and if
I double the number of wounded I saw myself from
the main point of attack alone, 100 men killed and
disabled may cover the loss of the Holsteiners, but it
is only a rough guess.
FOUR O'CLOCK P.m.—There has been no further
movement this morning. The Holstein troops have
returned to their former position at Duvenstedt.