The triumphant proclamation Blücher issued to the troops on 1 September masked the anxiety of Silesian Army Headquarters, which only increased on the 2nd. On this day, Blücher received Barclay’s letter from Altenberg dated the 29th, which reported the failed attempt on Dresden and the advance of Vandamme’s I Corps from Königstein around the right flank of the Bohemian Army. In response, Schwarzenberg decided to retreat over the Erzgebirge and back into Bohemia. Still, the Allies held all the mountain passes and Barclay predicted Schwarzenberg would advance again soon. He added that the Prussian troops had distinguished themselves through discipline and courage. Later that day, Major Wenzel Liechtenstein arrived from Schwarzenberg’s headquarters to present a verbal report based on extensive instructions from the Austrian staff. Not only did Liechtenstein provide news of the battle of Dresden, but he also requested that Blücher march to Bohemia with 50,000 men to reinforce the main army. The Austrian major also delivered Gneisenau a letter from Neipperg at Liebenau urging him to support Schwarzenberg’s request. “In the name of the good cause,” wrote Neipperg, “please do what is possible. By doing this, you will only bring more military renown to your glorious army.”

As noted, the Bohemian Army had moved across the Saxon frontier on 22 August, storming the imperial camp at Pirna on the 23rd. As the Silesian Army engaged the Army of the Bober on the 26th, Schwarzenberg assailed Dresden. However, the three days Schwarzenberg used to cover the twelve miles that separated Pirna from Dresden cost him dearly.