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
The Scottish regiments retired in the deepest discontent, deeming
themselves affronted by others being ordered to the post of honour after
they had by their bravery cleared the way. The Swedish troops forced
their way in after hard fighting; and the Castle of Marienburg, so
long deemed impregnable, was captured after a few hours' fighting. The
quantity of treasure found in it was enormous, and there were sufficient
provisions to have lasted its garrison for twenty years.
Immediately the place was taken, Colonel Sir John Hamilton advanced to
Gustavus and resigned his commission on the spot; nor did the assurances
of the king that he intended no insult to the Scotch soldiers mollify
his wrath, and quitting the Swedish service he returned at once
to Scotland. Munro's regiment had taken no part in the storming
of Marienburg, but was formed up on the north side of the river in
readiness to advance should the first attack be repelled, and many were
wounded by the shot of the enemy while thus inactive.
Malcolm while binding up the arm of his sergeant who stood next to him
felt a sharp pain shoot through his leg, and at once fell to the ground.
He was lifted up and carried to the rear, where his wound was examined
by the doctor to the regiment.
“Your luck has not deserted you,” he said after probing the wound. “The
bullet has missed the bone by half an inch, and a short rest will soon
put you right again.”
Fortunately for a short time the army remained around Wurtzburg.
Columns scoured the surrounding country, capturing the various towns and
fortresses held by the Imperialists, and collecting large quantities of
provisions and stores. Tilly's army lay within a few days' march; but
although superior in numbers to that of Gustavus, Tilly had received
strict orders not to risk a general engagement as his army was now
almost the only one that remained to the Imperialists, and should it
suffer another defeat the country would lie at the mercy of the Swedes.
One evening when Malcolm had so far recovered as to be able to walk for
a short distance, he was at supper with Colonel Munro and some other
officers, when the door opened and Gustavus himself entered. All leapt
to their feet.
“Munro,” he said, “get the musketeers of your brigade under arms with
all haste, form them up in the square before the town hall, and desire
Sir John Hepburn to meet me there.”
The drum was at once beaten, and the troops came pouring from their
lodgings, and in three or four minutes the musketeers, 800 strong, were
formed up with Hepburn and Munro at their head. Malcolm had prepared to
take his arms on the summons, but Munro said at once:
“No, Malcolm, so sudden a summons augurs desperate duty, maybe a long
night march; you would break down before you got half a mile; besides,
as only the musketeers have to go, half the officers must remain here.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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