On September 9th, 1631, the hostile armies were in sight of each other, between Breitenfield and Leipzig, and here the great battle of the war was to be fought. It was not Tilly and Gustavus Adolphus, but the two systems of religion which that day stood face to face. The Swedish and Saxon army amounted to about thirty-five thousand men, and the Emperor and the Catholic League had about the same number. But if all the millions which each side represented had all been present, the battle would not have been more representative, more decisive, nor more important. Tilly's usual confidence had deserted him, and he said afterward that he was forced into battle by his own subordinate, General Pappenheim. The battle began with two hours of cannonading, the wind, being from the west, blew the smoke, the dust from the plains and from a plowed field, into the faces of the Swedes. The king quickly moved his forces to the north, and Tilly left his position and attacked the Swedes, but their fire was so galling that he moved to the right and attacked the Saxons with such tremendous impetuosity that their line was broken and the whole army thrown into confusion. The Elector himself retired to Eilenberg, but in spite of his defection, a few of his best regiments held their ground and saved the good name of Saxony. Pappenheim, the Phil Sheridan of the Imperial army, threw his best cavalry regiments against the Swedes, where the king of Sweden himself commanded. Seven times did Pappenheim make his swift charge, seven times repulsed. He left most of his men on the field, which he abandoned to his conquerors. In the meantime, Tilly, having routed the remainder of the Saxons, attacked with his triumphant troops the left wing of the Swedes, commanded by General Gustavus Horn. The Swedes made a gallant resistance, until the king, with the troops who had driven Pappenheim from the field, came to terminate the battle. After driving Tilly and his troops out of the way, Gustavus reached the eminence on which the Imperial artillery had been placed, and he turned on the Imperialists the full destructive play of their own artillery. Tilly forced a retreat through the midst of his conquerors, and left only four veteran regiments to meet Gustavus and his victors. These veterans of Tilly's had never known defeat. By night their numbers were reduced to only six hundred men. As soon as the darkness came they fled from the field, leaving the Swedes in undisputed possession. The king of Sweden threw himself on his knees and gave public thanks to God in earnest prayer for this wonderful victory. He then rode through the ranks, shaking hands with his officers and thanking his brave men in warm words of praise for their heroic actions. The same day he wrote Chancellor Oxenstiern: "Although we mourn the loss of many brave men, we must, nevertheless, above all, thank God for this victory and protection which He has given us, for we have never incurred greater dangers."