[4] N. F. S. Grundtvig's song "Det var en sommermorgen" ("It was a summer morning") touches on the battle of Isted.

The Danish High Command had no overall plan for the coming campaign in 1850, but during July a number of reports were received that the Schleswig-Holsteinian army had taken up positions north of the town of Schleswig.

Just like the Danes, the Schleswig-Holsteinian High Command hoped to lure the Danish army into giving battle at Isted and being defeated.

[1] The battle began early in the morning of 24 July, when the Danish vanguard clashed with the Schleswig-Holsteinian outposts and pickets.

The fighting of the day climaxed in a larger engagement at the Helligbæk (a stream) that involved substantial forces on both sides.

The previous days of warm weather, was suddenly replaced by heavy mist and pouring rain, which made it almost impossible for the officers on both sides to maintain an overview of the battlefield and their forces.

[1] The fierce fighting was described by William Howard Russel, correspondent for The Times:[5] To the extreme left, also, the Danes were repulsed and driven to a considerable distance northward, and as the Holstein tirailleurs were evidently advancing, while the fire from the Danish center had abated, sanguine hopes were entertained of the result.

The roar of the heavier cannon, and the rush and hiss of the balls through the air, were the only sounds that fell on the ear; the irregular firing of the Riflemen and infantry was like the rattle of a toy compared to the clash of an enormous steam engine.The firing was now heavier than ever, and at last the Schleswig-Holsteinian center gave way and retreated towards Schleswig: the right wing bent back and retired towards the town while the left fell back through the open ground to the west.

By late afternoon the Danes reached Skovby and the town of Schleswig, which was quickly occupied while the Schleswig-Holsteinian army retreated, ending the battle.

Baggesen was criticized for his frantic messages to the army commander after the death of General Schleppegrell, which caused the flanking attack that could have secured a major victory to be called off.

In memory of the battle the famous Isted Lion was erected on the cemetery of Flensburg where many of the fallen soldiers were buried.