The Lion of the North: A Tale of the Times of Gustavus AdolphusHenty, G. A. (George Alfred)
History
The Lion of the North: A Tale of the Times of Gustavus Adolphus
Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)
Gustav II Adolf, King of Sweden, 1594-1632 -- Fiction; Thirty Years' War, 1618-1648 -- Fiction
At Erfurt Gustavus was joined by Duke Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar with his
force, which raised his army to a strength of 20,000. The news of his
approach had again revived the courage of the Elector of Saxony, who
had occupied the only towns where the Elbe could be crossed, Dresden,
Torgau, and Wittenberg--he himself, with his main army of 15,000 men,
lying at Torgau. From him Gustavus learned that the Imperial army was
divided into three chief corps--that of Wallenstein 12,000 strong, that
of Pappenheim 10,000, those of Gallas and Holk united 16,000, making a
total of 38,000 men.
So great was the speed with which Gustavus had marched to Erfurt that
Wallenstein had received no notice of his approach; and believing that
for some time to come he should meet with no serious opposition, he had
on the very day after the Swedes reached Erfurt despatched Gallas with
12,000 men into Bohemia. A division of his troops was at the same time
threatening Naumburg, whose possession would enable him to block the
only easy road with which Gustavus could enter the country held by him.
But Gustavus at Erfurt learned that Naumburg had not yet fallen, and
marching with great rapidity reached the neighbourhood of that town
before the Imperialists were aware that he had quitted Erfurt, and
cutting up a small detachment of the enemy who lay in his way, entered
the town and at once began to intrench it. Wallenstein first learned
from the fugitives of the beaten detachment that Gustavus had arrived at
Naumburg, but as his own position lay almost centrally between Naumburg
and Torgau, so long as he could prevent the Swedes and Saxons from
uniting, he felt safe; for although together they would outnumber him,
he was superior in strength to either if alone. The Imperialist general
believed that Gustavus intended to pass the winter at Naumburg, and he
had therefore no fear of an immediate attack.
In order to extend the area from which he could draw his supplies
Wallenstein despatched Pappenheim to secure the fortress of Halle; for
although that town had been captured the fortress held out, and barred
the main road to the north. From Halle Pappenheim was to proceed to the
relief of Cologne, which was menaced by the enemy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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