Bose's advance guard had arrived near Podol…

Bose's advance guard had arrived near Podol in the evening of June 26, 1866.

The Austrian commander, Clam-Gallas, had met with his Saxon counterpart Prince Albert, and they had decided that they have to plug the breech in their Iser line before Prussian reinforcements arrive.

Holding Podol is important because of two strategic bridges over the Iser, which a further Prussian advance would need.

The battle had started around 8 PM, when elements of Ferdinand Poschacher's brigade encountered Prussian skirmishers.

After driving them off, the brigade had barricaded itself in the town.

The Prussians had returned them with three battalions of line infantry and engaged the Austrian in street fighting.

The technological advantage of the Dreyse needle gun had allowed the Prussians to drive off the Austrians and clear the town.

Another Prussian battalion had crossed the river upstream and moved to attack the Austrians engaged in the town but had stumbled across Poschacher's two reserve battalions.

Clam-Gallas had ordered these reserves to attack, but they had been beaten off by the Prussians' superior firepower.

However, after repulsing three attacks, the Prussians had exhausted their ammunition and retired over the river.

Having lost the town, Clam-Gallas admits defeat and withdraws around 2 AM.

His losses amount to around one thousand and forty-eight men, including over six hundred prisoners.

Prussian losses total about one hundred.