The Battle of Ostra was the name given to the battle fought near the town of Ostra, which was near Dresden, between the Third Division of the USE Army under Michael Stearns and Swedish mercenary forces under Johan Banér. The battle took place on February 26, 1636, because Stearns chose to attack in a snowstorm, hoping to offset Banér's advantages in numbers and experience and to take advantage of the Third Division having proper winter gear, which many of Banér's mercenaries would not have.