Torgau, Battle of

During the Seven Years' War, Austrian defeat by Prussians under Frederick the Great 3 November 1760, outside Torgau, a German town on the banks of the Elbe River; the victory gave Frederick command of the state of Saxony.

The Austrians, about 64,000 troops with 400 guns commanded by Count Leopold von Daun, had set up an entrenched camp outside Torgau. Frederick arrived with 45,000 Prussians and, splitting his army in two, directed one half under General Hans von Zieten to make a frontal attack while he took the rest and made an attack on the rear of the position. He was beaten off in both attempts, and withdrew his force to rejoin Zieten toward evening.

As night fell, Zieten's scouts found that one section of the Austrian defences was thinly guarded, and a sudden assault was able to break through and capture several batteries of artillery. This was followed up by a general advance, and the Austrians broke and began to retreat. The Austrians lost about 5,000 killed and wounded and 700 prisoners; Prussian losses were 13,100 killed and wounded.