f red
fires which marked Tilly's position on the slope of a gentle eminence to
the southwest were plainly to be seen. The day broke dull and misty on
the 7th of September, and as the light fog gradually rose the troops
formed up for battle. Prayers were said in front of every regiment, and
the army then moved forward. Two Scottish brigades had the places of
honour in the van, where the regiments of Sir James Ramsay, the Laird of
Foulis, and Sir John Hamilton were posted, while Hepburn's Green Brigade
formed part of the reserve--a force composed of the best troops of the
army, as on them the fate of the battle frequently depends. The Swedish
cavalry were commanded by Field Marshal Horn, General Banner, and
Lieutenant General Bauditzen.

The king and Baron Teuffel led the main body of infantry; the King of
Saxony commanded the Saxons, who were on the Swedish left. The armies
were not very unequal in numbers, the allies numbering 35,000, of whom
the Swedes and Scots counted 20,000, the Saxons 15,000. The Imperialists
numbered about 40,000. Tilly was fighting unwillingly, for he had
wished to await the arrival from Italy of 12,000 veterans under General
Altringer, and who were within a few days' march; but he had been
induced, against his own better judgment, by the urgency of Pappenheim,
Furstenberg, and the younger generals, to quit the unassailable post
he had taken up in front of Leipzig, and to move out on to the plain of
Breitenfeld to accept the battle which the Swedes offered.

A short distance in his front was the village of Podelwitz. Behind his
position were two elevations, on which he placed his guns, forty
in number. In rear of these elevations was a very thick wood. The
Imperialist right was commanded by Furstenberg, the left by Pappenheim,
the centre by Tilly himself. Although he had yielded to his generals
so far as to take up a position on the plain, Tilly was resolved, if
possible, not to fight until the arrival of the reinforcements; but the
rashness of Pappenheim brought on a battle. To approach the Austrian
position the Swedes had to cross the little river Loder, and Pappenheim
asked permission of Tilly to charge them as they did so. Tilly consented
on condition that he only charged with two thousand horse and did not
bring on a general engagement. Accordingly, as the Scottish brigade
under Sir James Ramsay crossed the Loder, Pappenheim swept down upon
them.

The Scots stood firm, and with pike and m