being massed on and around the Allersheim Hill. It was determined
therefore to seize the Weinberg at once, and the execution of this step
was committed to Horn.

The choice was most unfortunate. The service was one upon the prompt
carrying out of which victory depended, and Horn, though a brave and
capable commander, was slow and cautious, and particularly unfitted for
executing a service which had to be performed in a dark night across a
country with which he was not familiar. Taking with him four thousand
chosen musketeers and pikemen and twelve guns he set out at nine
o'clock, but the rough road, the dikes, and ditches which intercepted
the country impeded him, and the fact that he was unacquainted with the
general position of the country made him doubly cautious, and it was not
until midnight that he reached the foot of the hill.

Here, unfortunately, he came to the conclusion that since he had
encountered such difficulties in crossing the flat country he should
meet with even greater obstacles and delays in ascending the hill in the
dark; he therefore took the fatal resolution of remaining where he
was until daylight, and accordingly ordered the column to halt. Had he
continued his march he would have reached the summit of the Weinberg
unopposed, and the fate of the battle on the following day would have
been changed. But the Imperialist leaders, Gallas and Cardinal Infanta
Don Fernando, had not been unmindful of the commanding position of the
hill upon which Horn was marching, and had given orders that it should
be occupied before daylight by four hundred Spaniards.

The commander of this force was as over prompt in the execution of his
orders as Horn was over cautious. He reached the top of the Weinberg
before midnight, and at once set his men to work to intrench themselves
strongly. As soon as daybreak enabled Horn to see the fatal consequences
which had arisen from his delay he ordered his men to advance. With
their usual gallantry the Swedes mounted the hill and rushed at the
intrenchment. It was defended with the greatest obstinacy and courage by
the Spaniards; but after desperate fighting the Swedes forced their way
into the work at two points, and were upon the point of capturing the
position when an ammunition wagon accidentally exploded in their midst,
killing great numbers and throwing the rest into a temporary disorder,
which enabled the Spaniards to drive them out and again occupy the
intrenchments.