Historical background
This was the second encounter in the 3 year secessional war between Denmark on one side and Schleswig-Holstein supported by Prussia, Austria and the German Federation on the other. Besides being King of Denmark, the Danish King Frederik the 7th was duke of the minor German duchy Schleswig-Holstein, which the Danes considered a part of the Danish kingdom.

In 1848 Schleswig-Holstein declared secession, intending to join the German Federation (which was a much looser organisation than the German federation of today). The result was war. It was not a continuos war, but a kind of stop-and-go war, with several truces implemented (forced by major powers such as Russia and Great Britain). The main pattern was a spring and summer campaign, followed by truce in the winter.

Schleswig
Now it was time the Schleswig-Holstein to revenge the defeat at Bov. It was Easter morning, between 9 and 10 am. Most of the Danish army was gathered for a church parade, when the alarm sounded: “The Prussians are coming.” The Schleswig-Holstein army, a Prussian Guards division and a division of German reichtroopers (federals) had been up early. In the days before, they had gathered South of the river “Sorgen”.

Between 2 - 4 am they had left their camps, to be ready to march at 6 1/2 - 7 am and now in the foggy morning, they converged in two large columns.

Facts - "To the German heroes"

German medal for the Battle of SLesvig

The right wing (East) column came from Stentenmühle, and consisted of the Prussian Guards (5000 men) with 10.000 German Reichtroopers in reserve. The German federal troops never participate in the actual battle, but by their mere presence, forcing the Danes to fight a very defensive battle. The left wing (West) column came from Sorgbrück and was made up of a Prussian infantry brigade (7.000 men) with the Schleswig-Holstein army (6.000 men) in reserve.

The Prussian commander, General von Wrangels, plan was to move the army up just South of “Dannevirke”, make camp, and attack the following day. But the Prussian Guards on the right wing (which at that time was well ahead of the left wing) arrived at the point, meeting almost no Danes at all. So the commander decided to move forward against Bustrup and Frederichsberg. Here southeast of Bustrup they were met by the Danish advance guard.

The Danes were outnumbered 1,5:1 and had to withdraw to two small hills, Galgebjerg (Gallows Hill) and Risbjerg. General von Wrangel who followed the right column, ordered the leader of the left wing (General von Bonin) to move West to “Lille Danevirke”. He did as ordered, but his two front battalions had already, (without his knowledge), moved forward, alarmed of the fighting in Bustrup.

In the meantime von Wrangel decided to attack the two small hills North of Bustrup, so he ordered von Bonin to countermarch - but the order only reached the rear part of Bonins column. At that time the Danes made a counterattack (with the 1st and 11th Battalion), the left flank of the troops attacking the small hills from Bustrup. The Prussian lines were wavering when suddenly the rear part of Bonins column under Colonel Steimetz charged the Danes in their left flank, and put them to rout.

This called for a general Danish retreat to the hill Erdbeerenberg (Strawberry Hill), and the Prussians occupied Friedrichsberg. When Bonin reached the area South of Lille Dannevirke, he suddenly realised that almost half of his command was missing. At that time, he finally received orders to countermarch, but as he faced Danish troops he decided to stay, and was soon reinforced by some Schleswig-Holstein troops. He attacked and the Danes withdrew to Husby and further back to Skovby.

Rest af the battle by Schlesvig (H.C. Henneberg)

On the east flank, the Prussians took Erdbeerenberg, and a heavy fight over some scrubby hills and a farm (Kratbakkerne and Anettenhöhe) developed. At some time the Danes had gathered a force, big enough to try a counterattack. But at that critical moment, the commander of the Royal Guards at the Castle Gottorp wrongly believed he was outflanked, and ordered a withdrawal from the castle. He quickly discovered his mistake and the castle was reoccupied. But precious time were lost, the counterattack was cancelled, and a general - but orderly - withdrawal, was carried out. The Prussian and the Schleswig-Holstein army had carried the day.

But almost the entire Danish Army had been fighting that Easter Day, and most important for the Danes, the Army was still intact, and the morale was not so bad. The troops knew they had faced the Prussians and a superior force (in numbers), given them a tough fight, and done their duty.