1. CROATS AT THE RIPPACH
The skirmish at the Rippach stream delayed Gustav Adolf’s army by several hours and lost him the element of surprise. At the beginning of the action the Swedish advance guard (probably Finns) caught up with a few companies of Croat horsemen and took one of their standards. The flag, painted on one side with the Imperial eagle and on the other with ‘Fortune’ (personified on a cannon ball), was seen as an omen that the next day would go well. ‘But the King tooke no great content at it,’ wrote Watts, ‘being sorry … that night had prevented him from taking more of them.’
The skirmish at the Rippach stream delayed Gustav Adolf’s army by several hours and lost him the element of surprise. At the beginning of the action the Swedish advance guard (probably Finns) caught up with a few companies of Croat horsemen and took one of their standards. The flag, painted on one side with the Imperial eagle and on the other with ‘Fortune’ (personified on a cannon ball), was seen as an omen that the next day would go well. ‘But the King tooke no great content at it,’ wrote Watts, ‘being sorry … that night had prevented him from taking more of them.’
2. THE WINDMILL BATTERY
The main Imperial battery of about 14 guns was positioned near a group of windmills at the right flank of the infantry and was the most heavily entrenched part of Wallenstein’s line. Duke Bernhard made repeated assaults on the battery and the nearby miller’s house. Twice his men got up to the guns, only to be driven back by Imperial infantry and cavalry posted to the rear of the battery. Only towards the end of the battle, with darkness falling, did the battery finally fall.
The main Imperial battery of about 14 guns was positioned near a group of windmills at the right flank of the infantry and was the most heavily entrenched part of Wallenstein’s line. Duke Bernhard made repeated assaults on the battery and the nearby miller’s house. Twice his men got up to the guns, only to be driven back by Imperial infantry and cavalry posted to the rear of the battery. Only towards the end of the battle, with darkness falling, did the battery finally fall.
3. DESTRUCTION OF THE OLD BLUE BRIGADE
Shortly after the King’s death the elite Blue Brigade advanced at the Imperial centre, straight into some of Wallenstein’s best
troops. Pinned by Comargo’s Infantry Regiment to its front, the Brigade was charged in the flank by Imperial cuirassiers. The veterans fought stolidly, holding their ground, ‘as if they’d forgotten how to retreat’, but were overwhelmed, leaving the greater part of their number lying as if in a great mound.
Shortly after the King’s death the elite Blue Brigade advanced at the Imperial centre, straight into some of Wallenstein’s best
troops. Pinned by Comargo’s Infantry Regiment to its front, the Brigade was charged in the flank by Imperial cuirassiers. The veterans fought stolidly, holding their ground, ‘as if they’d forgotten how to retreat’, but were overwhelmed, leaving the greater part of their number lying as if in a great mound.
4. THE IMPERIAL RETREAT
Wallenstein’s decision to retire from the battlefield came as a surprise to many of his troops, who believed the battle had not gone too badly and would continue into a second day. The retreat towards Leipzig began three hours into the night (about 8.00pm) ‘without either sound of Trumpet or Drumme’ to alert the Swedes, and continued into the small hours. Morale was rock bottom, especially in Pappenheim’s corps: ‘We marched with our heads down like gypsies, some regiments with but 100 men by their colours …’ Most regiments were quartered that night in the suburbs of Leipzig.
Wallenstein’s decision to retire from the battlefield came as a surprise to many of his troops, who believed the battle had not gone too badly and would continue into a second day. The retreat towards Leipzig began three hours into the night (about 8.00pm) ‘without either sound of Trumpet or Drumme’ to alert the Swedes, and continued into the small hours. Morale was rock bottom, especially in Pappenheim’s corps: ‘We marched with our heads down like gypsies, some regiments with but 100 men by their colours …’ Most regiments were quartered that night in the suburbs of Leipzig.
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