When near Borne, some eight miles from Neumarkt, he caught sight in the dim light of a considerable body of horse, stretching across the road in front of him as far as he could make out the line.

The Prussian cavalry were at once ordered to charge down on their left flank.
The enemy proved to be five regiments of cavalry, placed there to guard the army from surprise.

They, however, were themselves surprised; and were at once overthrown, and driven in headlong flight to take shelter behind their right wing at Nypern, five hundred and forty being taken prisoners, and a large number being killed or wounded.
Frederick rode on through Borne, ascended a small hill called the Scheuberg, to the right of the road, and as the light increased could, from that point, make out the Austrian army drawn up in battle array, and stretching from Nypern to Sagschuetz.

Well was it for him that he had reviewed troops over the same ground, and knew all the bogs and morasses that guarded the Austrian front.

For a long time he sat there on horseback, studying the possibilities of the situation.
The Austrian right he regarded as absolutely impregnable.