The Pictorial Press: Its Origin and ProgressJackson, Mason
History
The Pictorial Press: Its Origin and Progress
Jackson, Mason
Illustration of books; Newspapers -- Illustrations
Amongst the many publications relating to the victorious career of
Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden, there was one entitled the _Swedish
Intelligencer_, printed at London, in 1632, for Nathaniel Butter and
Nicholas Bourne, both of them names associated with the first
establishment of newspapers in England. The _Swedish Intelligencer_
gives very full accounts of the exploits of Gustavus, and it is
illustrated with his portrait, a bird's-eye view of the siege of
Magdeburg, a plan showing how the King of Sweden and his army crossed
the river Lech into Bavaria, and a plan or bird's-eye view of the battle
of Lutzen, where Gustavus was killed. The portrait, the siege of
Magdeburg, and the battle of Lutzen, are engraved on copper, but the
passage of the Lech is a woodcut. I have copied the latter, the others
being too elaborate for reproduction on a reduced scale. The three last
named are very curious as illustrations of war news. Gustavus had
crossed the Danube, and his troops overspread the country between that
river and the river Lech. Field Marshal Tilly was in front of him,
waiting for reinforcements from the army of Wallenstein, in Bohemia, and
the junction of fresh levies raised in Bavaria, with which he hoped to
drive the invaders back across the Danube. The account in the _Swedish
Intelligencer_ of this celebrated passage of the River Lech is too long
for quotation, but I give a condensed version of the circumstances from
other sources.
The Lech takes its rise among the mountains of the Tyrol, and, after
washing the walls of Landsberg and Augsburg, falls into the Danube at a
short distance from the town of Rain. The banks are broken and
irregular, and the channel uncertain. Nor are there many rivers of the
same size in Germany which can be compared with it in the strength and
rapidity of its current. The united forces of Bavaria and the League,
with this efficient means of defence in front, extended their right wing
towards the Danube and their left towards Rain, while the banks of the
river, as far as the city of Augsburg, were observed by their patrols,
supported by detached bodies of infantry. Tilly had taken the precaution
of breaking down the bridges over the Lech, and had thrown up field
works at points where he judged the passage might be considered attended
with fewest difficulties. That the Swedes would attack him in his main
position was a pitch of daring to which, well as he was acquainted with
the enterprising spirit of the king, he could scarcely suspect him of
having yet attained. Such, however, was the full determination of
Gustavus. After he had reconnoitred the course of the Lech for some
miles, at the imminent peril of his life, he fixed upon a point between
Rain and Thierhauppen, where the river makes a sweep to the eastward, as
the spot for carrying his venturous design into effect. The king's
first intention was to throw a floating bridge over the stream, but the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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