Rossbach

Rossbach, a village in Prussian Saxony, 22 miles W. by S. of Leipzig and 9 SW. of Merseburg, is celebrated for the victory gained here by the Prussians under Frederick the Great (q.v.) over the combined French and Austrian armies on 5th November 1757. The 'rout of Rossbach' remained for a long time a term of reproach in the French army. The Prussians lost 540 killed and wounded, while the loss of the allies was more than 2700 killed and wounded and 5000 prisoners, among whom were 5 generals and 300 officers, and nearly 70 cannon.