Skirmish of Århus

Skirmish of Århus or Rytterfægtningen on 31 May 1849 was a skirmish during the First Schleswig War between Denmark and Prussia under the German Confederation, a few kilometers north of the city of Aarhus, Denmark. The skirmish was a Danish victory that had the effect of stopping the Prussian advance through the peninsula of Jutland at the city of Aarhus.[2][3]

Rytterfægtningen
Part of the First Schleswig War
Fægtningen ved Aarhus (Skirmish at Aarhus) by unknown artist, 1849
Date 31 May 1849 Location Vejlby 2 km (1.2 mi) north of Aarhus 56.193471°N 10.201914°E Result Danish victory
Belligerents
German Confederation  Prussia	Denmark
Commanders and leaders
Constantine Alexander of Salm-Salm	Olaf Rye Gotthold Møller
Strength
16,000	18,000
Casualties and losses
2 killed 23 wounded 25 captured[1]	2 killed 5 wounded 4 captured[1]

Memorials

The memorial stone.

On the intersection of Trøjborgvej and Nørrebrogade a 10-foot engraved stone memorializes the skirmish.

Background

Beginning with the Battle of Bov the First Schleswig War had seen a number of battles take place in Southern Jutland until a truce was signed in August 1848. The truce lasted 8 months but in March 1849 fighting recommenced and the Danish army eventually retreated north through Jutland. The Danish army was split in three corps; one fortified at Dybbøl and another around Fredericia while the third, Nørrejyske Armékorps led by general Olaf Rye, moved to Helgenæs north of Aarhus with the goal of drawing German forces north and delay it while the army was concentrated and reinforced by sea at Fredericia. In late May lead elements of the Prussian forces reached Aarhus.[3][4]

The battle

Initially the Danish garrison, commanded by Gotthold Møller, retreated from Aarhus without a fight as they had been ordered to not defend the city, for fear of the destruction it might inflict on the city. The Prussian forces entered the city on 29 May but abandoned it again later that day and Danish forces re-entered the city. The Danes placed a small force consisting of a company of infantry and half a squadron of cavalry as a tentative defence. On 30 May, Prussian forces advanced again and retook the city, capturing a number of prisoners in the process.[2][3]

Pursued by Prussian troops, the Danish garrison withdrew north towards the Riis Forest which was defended by a battalion of infantry and a squadron of cavalry. The cavalry squadron attacked the advancing Prussian troops, driving them back to the Randersvej road, before they were compelled to retire. At this time two squadrons of Danish cavalry under Captain S. C. Barth on a reconnaissance mission from Helgenæs arrived and charged the Prussian infantry line from north to south along Randersvej.[2][3][4]

The advancing Danish cavalry reached a hill west of Riis Skov when two German squadrons counter-attacked from the south and from Hasle in the west, resulting in a hectic cavalry skirmish. Elements of the Danish force were sent back to Vejlby to take up defensive positions which was misinterpreted as a general retreat and the Prussian infantry advanced north-west, bypassing the Danish forces at Riis Forest. At this time Danish reinforcements arrived from the north and the German forces now found themselves both outnumbered and surrounded, forcing a retreat back to occupied Aarhus.[1][2]

Aftermath

The Prussian forces retreated and didn't advance to retake Aarhus again until 20 June. The goal of drawing German forces north and delaying had been accomplished and the corps was eventually shipped out from Helgenæs to Fredericia where it participated in the breakout on 6 July.

References

1. Nielsen, Johannes (1893). "1". Treårskrigen 1848–1851. Tøjhusmuseet. p. 4. ISBN 8789022033.
2. "Rytterfægtningen" (in Danish). Aarhus National Archives. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
3. "Rytterfægtningen ved Aarhus 31. maj 1849" (in Danish). Aarhus University. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
4. "Rytterfægtningen 1849" (in Danish). Aarhus University. Retrieved 19 August 2015.