The city was mostly surrounded by water, with ships positioned nearby that had become frozen in with the icy conditions.

Upon Don Frederick's arrival, he dispatched a contingent of soldiers to capture these stranded vessels.

[2] However, as these soldiers approached the ships, they encountered a group of armed Dutch forces who were equipped with skates.

The uneven icy terrain proved challenging for conventional foot movement, but the Dutch skaters effectively glided over the ice, avoiding harm, and fired bullets at their adversaries.

Upon receiving news of this setback, the Duke promptly issued an order for the procurement of seven thousand pairs of skates, presumably to equip his troops for similar icy encounters in the future.