Shortly after Napoleon’s defeat at Leipzig on 19 October 1813, Davout received orders to defend against the advancing coalition armies. Davout successfully prepared the defense of Hamburg and made the decision to establish a defensive line behind the Stecknitz River. French infantry divisions were placed to defend the southern portion of the line while the Danish Auxiliary corps under the command of Prince Frederik was ordered to defend the northern part of the line, from Travemünde to an area north of Mölln. Wallmoden commanded the coalition army given the responsibility to commence offensive operations against the French. The coalition plan called for the French divisions to be surrounded and besieged in Hamburg. Once the French had been surrounded in Hamburg the offensive would advance north to isolate and destroy the Danish Auxiliary corps opening Denmark for invasion. The defeat or surrender of the Danes would then allow Sweden to take possession of Norway. As a part of this plan, Wallmoden's army was reinforced with a Swedish corps and placed under the overall command of Prince Karl Johan of Sweden. In late November, Davout realized that a major enemy offensive was forthcoming. He instantly began drawing up plans for the French withdrawal to Hamburg. This left the defence of Holstein in the hands of the Danish Auxiliary corps. On 30 November, Davout withdrew his French divisions to Hamburg. On 9 December, coalition forces crossed the Alster River, severed the passage way between Hamburg and Holstein, and isolated the Danes. A short time later, Prince Frederik learned that the French corps was surrounded in Hamburg. With no means to reach Hamburg, the Danes left their defensive position in Lübeck and withdrew north toward Bornhöved. At the same time, coalition forces under the command of Wallmoden moved north in an attempt to block the Danish line of retreat. The Danes crossed the Eider Canal and took positions near Gettorf and Lindau. Elements of Wallmoden's corps by that time had reached Sehested. The Danes knew that Wallmoden was on their heels and had two alternatives. If they continued to march north, they feared that their slow convoy would be attacked by a Swedish cavalry division now located in Wittensee. If they marched west in an attempt to reach a defensive position at Rendsborg, they would likely cross paths and be forced to confront Wallmoden’s infantry. On 10 December, Prince Frederik made his decision and