Saalfield

10 October 1806

Poor Prussian communications led to the disastrous battle of Saalfield between advance units of Napoleon Bonaparte's invading army and a small force under the vehemently anti-French Prince Louis Ferdinand.

Ferdinand had a little over 8000 men to stop some 41,000 troops under marshals Lannes and Augereau. He did have 44 cannon to boost his firepower, but was in trouble almost from the start.

As soon as Lannes saw the Prussians he launched an immediate assault to pin Ferdinand's force.

The Prussians were soon in desperate trouble and the prince led a brave, but foolish, charge to rescue the situation. French cavalry attacked and during the clash Ferdinand was killed.

He was only one of some 900 Prussians killed. A further 1800 were captured, along with most of the cannons.

The French suffered fewer than 200 casualties.