The Prussian Second Army's 
advance on Austria came through 
the Riesengebirge Mountains, 
along the eastern border of 
Bohemia.  As its V Corps, 
commanded by General von 
Steinmetz, emerged from the 
pass at Nachod, it was met by 
the Austrian VI Korps.  The 
battle ensued on June 27th, 
1866.

Austrian commander Field Marshal 
Wilhelm Baron von Ramming 
immediately formed his infantry 
and charged the leading 
Prussians, hoping to bottle V 
Corps in the pass.  Despite 
taking huge losses, the infantry 
almost succeeded, so effectively 
holding back the Prussian 
advance that Ramming became 
convinced that he had won.  
Prematurely sending in his 
cavalry to "mop up", Ramming 
gave the Prussian infantry a 
respite.  Despite being 
substantially lower in quality 
than the Austrians, the 
numerically superior Prussian 
cavalry held the Austrian horse 
long enough to allow Steinmetz 
to reinforce his infantry.  When 
the Austrians reverted to 
infantry assaults, the new units 
added firepower gave the 
Prussians the decisive edge.  

Austrian charges continued as 
glory-hungry unit commanders 
ignored Ramming's orders and 
made repeated  uncoordinated 
attacks. Austrian infantry 
performed gallantly but futilely,
charging the Prussian Needle-
guns in close-packed columns 
until they were so decimated 
that they could no longer 
continue.

In the late afternoon, Ramming 
withdrew to the west.  Steinmetz 
followed the next day, to be 
confronted by Archduke Leopold's 
VIII Korps at Skalitz.