f
cavalry, commanded on the right by Bulach, in the centre by Kniphausen,
and on the left by Ernest, Prince of Anhalt. The field pieces, twenty
in number, were disposed to the best advantage between the wings. Franz
Albert of Lauenburg, who had joined the army the day before, rode by
the king. A short halt was made at Chursitz, where the baggage was left
behind, and the army then advanced against the Imperialists, who at once
opened fire.

Wallenstein had posted his left so as to be covered by a canal, while
his right was protected by the village of Lutzen. On some rising ground
to the left of that village, where there were several windmills, he
planted fourteen small pieces of cannon, while to support his front,
which was composed of the musketeers in the ditches on either side of
the road, he planted a battery of seven heavy pieces of artillery.

The main body of his infantry he formed into four massive brigades,
which were flanked on both sides by musketeers intermixed with cavalry.
Count Coloredo commanded on the left, Holk on the right, Terzky in the
centre.

As the Swedish army advanced beyond Chursitz the seven heavy pieces
of artillery on the side of the road opened upon them, doing much
execution, while their own lighter guns could not reply effectively. The
Swedes pressed forward to come to close quarters. The left wing, led
by Duke Bernhard, was the first to arrive upon the scene of action.
Gallantly led by the duke his men forced the ditches, cleared the road,
charged the deadly battery, killed or drove away the gunners, and rushed
with fury on the Imperialist right.

Holk, a resolute commander, tried in vain to stem the assault; the
ardour of the Swedes was irresistible, and they scattered, one after
the other, his three brigades. The battle seemed already lost when
Wallenstein himself took his place at the head of the fourth brigade,
and fell upon the Swedes, who were disordered by the rapidity and ardour
of their charge, while at the same moment he launched three regiments of
cavalry on their flanks.

The Swedes fought heroically but in vain; step by step they were driven
back, the battery was recaptured, and the guns, which in the excitement
of the advance the captors had omitted to spike, were retaken by the
Imperialists.

In the meantime on the right the king had also forced the road, and had
driven from the field the Croats and Poles opposed to him, and he was on
the point of wheeling his troo