The War

During the war, the optical telegraphs played an important part in communications between the headquarters (on Funen) and the troops in Jutland. The journals recording the messages that were sent provide a good picture of military communications. The telegrams were about transport and logistics, plus a few reports from the front and orders from the Ministry of War in Copenhagen

The Battle of Isted. Watercolour by Niels Simonsen. 1850. Frederiksborg Museum.

We can follow the progress of the battle in the journal of the Sønderborg telegraph station. On 24 July, the Minister of War sent the following message: "An attack on the enemy should not be delayed without good reason". The reply came two days later: "After two days of fighting, the army has won a decisive but bloody victory and has reached the town of Schleswig. We have captured five canons and a thousand prisoners".

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