page_title: Battle of Nauen
section_title: Skirmish at Nauen
hierarchical_section_title: Battle of Nauen / Skirmish at Nauen
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Kurfürst Georg Wilhelms Leibgarde, genannt Blauröcke um 1632, links Musketier rechts ReiteroffizierEnglish: A captain and subaltern of Electress Dorothea's Own Brandenburg Infantry, ca. 1675
context_page_description: The Skirmish at Nauen, took place on 27 [O.S. 1675] 6 near the town of Nauen between the vanguard of the Brandenburg-Prussian army and Swedish rearguard units during the Swedish-Brandenburg War.
  The engagement ended with the capture of the town of Nauen by Brandenburg-Prussia.
  The decisive military victory in favour of Brandenburg, however, took place at the Battle of Fehrbellin on the following day.
context_section_description: In the meantime, a 1,200 strong Brandenburg advance guard under Lieutenant Colonel Sydow had ridden at the gallop to a position covering Nauen. The lakeland in front of the town was only passable over a narrow causeway, so the Swedes had thrown up protective fieldworks, including several cannon, at a good defensive point. In spite of that, they offered no resistance when they saw a large number of enemy horsemen advancing on them. Instead, they tipped their cannon into the nearby lake and beat a hasty retreat. The fleeing soldiers were pursued by Brandenburg cavalry to the edge of the town of Nauen, suffering heavy losses.
  The largest element of the Swedish contingent withdrew behind a stream beyond the town.
  A smaller element, a battalion of musketeers, occupied Nauen, meeting the advancing Brandenburgers with a fierce fire from their muskets and cannon. Nevertheless, even before they were reinforced by cannon and more dragoons in front of the town, 200 Brandenburg troopers succeeded in driving back a Swedish rearguard of 1,000 cuirassiers. In response, the Swedes rapidly surrendered the town of Nauen to Brandenburg and fled. During this further retreat, the pursuing Brandenburg cavalry inflicted further casualties on the Swedes.
  Despite that, the Brandenburg cavalry could not capture the crossing over the stream behind the town. At the end of the bridge, the Swedes had erected a defensive position with several cannon. The fire from these guns forced the Brandenburgers to pull back with losses. Meanwhile, behind the Swedish fortification, the main Swedish army had deployed in order of battle. A division under Field Marshal Derfflinger succeeded, however, in repairing the bridge that had been damaged by enemy fire and in setting up three cannon that were able to destroy the Swedish guns at the fieldworks. Nevertheless, the enemy was in a good position, as before, so that a frontal assault would have been too fraught with risk. In addition, the Brandenburg troops were exhausted by their forced march. So the order was issued to pull back into and behind the town of Nauen and to pitch camp for the night.
caption: Brandenburg captain and lieutenant of Electress Dorothea's Own Infantry Regiment, ca. 1675
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