Battle of Dessau Bridge - Battle and Outcome

Battle and Outcome

In April of 1625, Mansfeld and his army moved quick as possible to Dessau as well as Wallenstein and the Imperial German army. Aldringen and his men arrived first, thus allowing them to form their "death trap" at the Dessau Bridge, deploying the heavy artillery which they possessed. Wallenstein's inexperience had Mansfeld overly confident and underestimated as they approached. Mansfeld was not aware that they were soon to face the most powerful and deceivingly large army along the river bank of the Elbe. On April 25, the battle began and the troops of Aldringen held off Mansfeld and his troops as they attempted to push across the bridge and river. The Catholic League was in soon in heavy force by the arrival of Wallenstein and troops. Mansfeld and his troops were completely overpowered. As soon as nearly half of Mansfeld's army was destroyed, the Danes retreated to Silesia. Mansfeld was able to rebuild his army with the help from Johann Ernst and an army of 7,000, which gave him a similar sized army which he had lost half of at Dessau. His rally did not last long as he died outside of a village in Sarajevo soon before his ally, Johann von Ernst. The Danish Protestant army fell apart and retreated into Upper Silesia. Christian IV of Denmark and his army were destroyed by the Count of Tilly in the Battle of Lutter, which left Tilly with the lands of Holstein, Jutland, and Schleswig.