Battle of Freiberg

The Battle of Freiberg was fought on 29 October 1762 and was the last great battle of the Third Silesian War.

Prince Henry of Prussia, younger brother of King Frederick II of Prussia, although commanding an army made up mostly of 'second line' troops and free battalions, decided to take the offensive against the Reichsarmy commanded by Prince Stolberg, who had the support of András Hadik's Austrian Corps. The allies were dug in behind field works on top of high ground to the west of the town of Freiberg. This position blocked all approaches to Dresden. To the rear of the allied position was the River Mulde, which was crossed by several bridges to the east of the town. On 28 October Prince Henry and his staff performed a reconnaissance of the allied position. This was hampered by the Austrian light troops, who occupied the woods in front of the high ground. Henry gathered enough information, however, to form a good picture of the enemy's dispositions.