erbach and Tilly's
line; through these villages the Swedes defiled slowly, and formed up on
the open ground beyond them. Tilly's army was drawn up in a continuous
line, the infantry ranged in heavy battalions in the centre, the cavalry
on the wings, and the heavy artillery in a mass in front of the
infantry. Gustavus arrayed the Swedes in two lines and a reserve,
infantry in the centre, cavalry on the flanks, and the Saxons were drawn
up in a similar formation on the left of the Swedish left-wing cavalry.
So far as can be gauged the respective numbers were at least 32,000
Imperialists, 22,000 Swedes and 15,000 Saxons. The Swedish infantry was
drawn up on an entirely novel system; each brigade of infantry, composed
of several battalions, was formed in many small and handy corps of
pikemen and musketeers, and parties of musketeers were also detached to
support the cavalry. The guns were scattered along the front. The Saxons
were ranged, like Tilly's army, in heavy masses of foot and horse
preceded by a great battery of guns. At 2 P.M. Pappenheim, commanding
Tilly's left wing, led forward the whole of his cavalry in a furious
charge. Feeling the fire of the musketeers who were intercalated amongst
the Swedish horse, Pappenheim swung round to his left and charged the
Swedish right wing in flank. The Swedes of both lines promptly wheeled
up, and after a prolonged conflict the Imperial horse were driven
completely off the field. The attack of Tilly's right wing under
Furstenberg directed against the Saxons was more successful. The Saxons
were at once broken and routed, only a handful under Arnim maintaining
the ground. Furstenberg pursued the fugitives for many miles, and Tilly
with the centre of infantry (which, considering the depth of its
formations, must have possessed great manoeuvring power) rapidly
followed him and formed up opposite the now exposed left of the Swedes.
Thereupon the Swedes, in their light and handy formation, changed
position rapidly and easily to meet him. Tilly's attack was strenuously
opposed, and at this moment the decisive stroke of the battle was
delivered by the Swedish right wing, which, having disposed of
Pappenheim, swung round and occupied the ground originally held by the
Imperial infantry, seized Tilly's guns, and with them enfiladed the
enemy's new line. This put an end to the attack of the Imperial foot,
and before sunset Tilly was in full retreat, hotly pursued and losing
heavily in pris