Their forces were in much confusion.

Alexander had superseded Wittgenstein by Barclay, who now insisted on withdrawing the Russians into Poland.
To this the Prussian staff offered the most strenuous resistance.

Such a confession of weakness, urged Mueffling, would dishearten the troops and intimidate the Austrian statesmen who had promised speedy succour.
Let the allies cling to the sheltering rampart of the Riesengebirge, where they might defy Napoleon's attacks and await the white-coats.
The fortress of Schweidnitz would screen their retreat, and the Landwehr of Silesia would make good the gaps in their ranks.

Towards Schweidnitz, then, the Czar ordered Barclay to retreat.
There two disappointments awaited them.

The fortifications, dismantled by the French in 1807, were still in disrepair, and the 20,000 muskets bought in Austria for the Silesian levies were without touch-holes! Again Barclay declared that he must retreat into Poland, and only the offer of a truce by Napoleon deterred him from that step, which must have compromised the whole military and political situation.