two o'clock in
the afternoon
Sending urgent messages to Bevern , to hurry up reinforcements , Winterfeld led his two regiments forward , joined the grenadiers and , rushing eagerly up the hill , regained the position . But the Austrians were not to be denied , and the fight was obstinately sustained on both sides . No reinforcements reached Winterfeld and , after an hour 's desperate fighting , he was struck in the breast by a musket ball and fell , mortally wounded . The Prussians drew off , slowly and in good order , at two o'clock in the afternoon ; and soon afterwards the Austrians also retired , nothing having come of this useless battle save heavy loss to both sides , and the killing of one of Frederick 's best and most trusted generals . It was not , however , without result ; for Bevern , freed from the restraint of his energetic colleague , at once fell back to Schlesien , where he was more comfortable , near his magazines . Keith sent for Fergus , on the evening when this bad news had arrived . `` I want you , lad , to undertake a dangerous service .