The Battle of Schweinschädel (Czech: Bitva u Svinišťan) took place during the Austro-Prussian War between Prussia and Austria on June 29, 1866. The IV Army Corps of the Austrian Army under Tassilo Festetics tried to stop the advance of the Prussian 2nd Army under Crown Prince Friedrich, but was defeated by the V Army Corps under General von Steinmetz and had to withdraw. Starting Positions The three Prussian armies had marched into Bohemia from different sides and separated by the Krkonoše. While the Prussian chief of staff Moltke wanted to achieve the unification of his armies, the Austrian commander-in-chief, Feldzeugmeister Benedek , tried to use his supposed advantage of the inner line to unite with the Saxon army and to defeat the first army under Friedrich Karl separately from the other armies. After the Battle of Skalitz, however, the second army had reached the rear of the Austrian army which required a fundamental regrouping by Benedek. On June 29, 1866, Benedek planned a retreat in the direction of Königgrätz to ensure this should Festetics with his IV Army Corps stop the second army. While a part of the Queenhof was supposed to oppose the Prussian Guard Corps , another part was supposed to delay Steinmetz's advance. V Corps was marching to Gradlitz in order to join other forces of Second Army. On the way, the V Corps met the Austrian Army. Advance on Schweinschadel On June 29, 1866, the Austrian reconnaissance patrols revealed that the guards were still at Praussnitz and the V Corps at Skalitz. The VI. Army corps under Louis von Mutius was still behind on the way via Nachod, his first brigade was initially assigned to the V Corps. Steinmetz had to give his troops a break after the march through the mountains and two heavy skirmishes and did not leave until about 2:00 p.m. To this end, he issued the following marching orders: “The V Army Corps with the detachment of Major General von Hoffmann will continue the march on Gradlitz today. The avant-garde (under special orders from Lieutenant General von Kirchbach) leaves at 2 p.m., goes from Zlic via the Aupa to Ratiboritz, from there via Westec and Westernec to tour the left wing of the enemy outpost chain behind the Trebesnow-Miskoles section, clears the terrain against Horicka on the right flank and wins the Chawalkowic-Gradlitz road. The main body , the reserve artillery and