Talk:Battle of Jasmund (1864)

Transferred from the article
Original documents should not be reproduced in articles, so I'm transferring them here for any potential future use. Parsecboy (talk) 13:34, 13 June 2017 (UTC)

Von Jachmann's battle report
Von Jachmann's battle report in the New Prussian Gazette (Neue Preußische Zeitung aka the Kreuz-Zeitung) of 19 March 1864 on page 1, reproduced below:
 * Captain Von Jachmann reports from Swinemünde on the 17th at 7 in the evening: HRH's ships "Arcona", "Nymphe" went today from Swinemünde to the Divenow and thence to Arcona, without meeting Danish cruisers. At half past twelve I saw 7 Danish vessels northwest of Arcona, and Captain Kuhn, who met me with the "Loreley" from Thiessow, informed me that these ships were frigates. Gave the order for the gunboats to withdraw to the shore, and with "Arcona", "Nymphe" and "Loreley" in open order attacked the enemy, who had now assembled and formed into two columns. As I approached the enemy, it was discovered that the enemy opposing us had a ship of the line, two frigates, two corvettes and an ironclad schooner. All were screw-driven ships. At 2 o'clock our ships opened fire and were quickly answered by the Danes, a running battle continuing until 5 o'clock; the Danes following "Arcona" and "Nymphe" back to the vicinity of Swinemünde. Our losses were 5 killed and 8 wounded, including the first officer of HM Corvette, Lieut. Berger, who was seriously wounded, having been hit next to me at the beginning of the battle. Your Royal Highness it gives me special honour to report that the officers and men behaved bravely and calmly during this engagement. From the "Loreley" I have received no message, she went back to Thiessow. The First Division of Gunboats was only able to play a very distant part in the battle and would have suffered no losses. The Danish squadron was superior in every way to ours, but may have suffered similar losses.

Reports in the Prussian press
The Royal Privileged Berlin Newspaper for State and Academic Matters'' (later the Vossische Zeitung) reported, in its issue of 20 March 1864 on page 3, initially on the promotion of Jachmann to rear admiral:

 - (St = A.) According to reports, His Majesty the King has telegraphed Captain Von Jachmann expressing the very highest recognition for the courage on the part of the navy in the face of great enemy superiority and to deigning to promote the said officer to [the rank of] rear admiral.

On pages 3 and 4 there are several accounts of the battle:

- Furthermore, the Ost-Zeitung'' ["Eastern Newspaper"] received a communication from Stralsund on the 18th based on accounts of one of the sailors involved in the fighting. According to him, two large Danish ships, which came from Arcona, were sighted early on the 17th by the gunboat division under Captain Kuhn. Captain Kuhn advanced to reconnoitre them with the "Loreley". Meanwhile, the corvettes "Arcona" and "Nymphe" from Swinemünde also came into view, and united with the gunboats in the [bay of] Prorer Wiek. The Danes did not follow them, but sought to cut them off. Our ships and three gunboats, like the "Loreley", therefore went back out to sea again and opened the battle. The gunboats fired at 3,000 paces. The "Loreley" was supposed to close within 500 paces of the enemy and cruise around the Danish ships at that distance, firing. The gunboats returned to the Ruden undamaged, and no member of the crews were injured, however, the Thissow pilot, Brand, who stood next to Captain Kuhn, was very badly wounded. He had his hand in his pocket, and both that and his genitals were torn away. (He died in Stralsund in the hospital on the 18th, morning) Surgeon Wenzel rendered him first aid. The lieutenant must have a big family and it would be appropriate to do something for them. From Stralsund on the 17th, bandages and similar material were sent to Dänholm in anticipation of injuries. The Third Division (6) gunboats, Lieutenant Commander Arendt, departed from there on the evening of the 16th for Swinemünde.''

 - From Stralsund, 18 March, the Ost-Zeitung reported: "It is said that the Danish frigate "Jylland" is lying in the Prorer Wyk [i.e. Prorer Wiek] in a heavily damaged state. (?)"

'' - Thiessow, where, according to the official report, the "Loreley" returned following the naval battle on the 17th, is the main base for Prussian pilots, and is near to the southeastern tip of Rügen, the now bare promontory of the Mönchgut peninsula, Thiessower Höwt. The island of Moen, to where the Danish fleet initially repaired on the 18th of this month, lies between Zealand and Laaland, at the southeastern tip of Zealand.''

Non-Prussian reports
The Oldenburg News (Oldenburger Nachrichten) in the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg reported on the battle in its issue of 20 March 1864:


 * Stralsund, 18 March. The "Stralsund Zeitung" writes about the naval battle that took place yesterday: the Prussians broke off, as the Danes increased [their numbers] to seven ships. The gunboats came in to Ruhden, both corvettes fortunately made it to Swinemünde, they were hotly pursued. The "Nymphe" had two killed, the "Arcona" three killed; nine men were wounded overall, Lieutenant Berger seriously. Great enthusiasm reigns within the navy. This morning, the Danish fleet headed for Mön.