3-016-902 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The War in Denmark: the assault on No. 4 Redoubt at Düppel - from a sketch by our special artist, 1864. 'Since the seaward redoubts, No. 1 and No. 2, had been dismantled and silenced by the Prussian cannonade on former days, No. 4, which was the largest and most formidable of all, became the principal stronghold of the Danes to the left of their line. It commanded the road which leads from Gravenstein to Sonderburg right up the hill of Düppel, so that if this redoubt were once taken the enemy's artillery might find an easy passage to the rear of the Danish position...These observations will explain the peculiar importance of carrying that earthwork, the assault upon which is represented by our Engraving...The Prussians had directed their batteries upon Redoubts No. 4 and No. 3 with so much effect that most of the guns in position, there were disabled, while the Prussian outposts were within five hundred yards of them, and Prussian sharpshooters lay in their rifle-pits just outside the palisades...At four o'clock the enemy opened fire simultaneously from all the batteries in front and to the left of the mile-long line of redoubts. The defenders, for their part, did not fire a shot in return'. From "Illustrated London News", 1864.