The lines of red fires which marked Tilly's position on the slope
of a gentle eminence to the southwest were plainly to be seen. The
day broke dull and misty on the 7th of September, and as the light
fog gradually rose the troops formed up for battle. Prayers were
said in front of every regiment, and the army then moved forward.
Two Scottish brigades had the places of honour in the van, where
the regiments of Sir James Ramsay, the Laird of Foulis, and Sir
John Hamilton were posted, while Hepburn's Green Brigade formed part
of the reserve -- a force composed of the best troops of the army,
as on them the fate of the battle frequently depends. The Swedish
cavalry were commanded by Field Marshal Horn, General Banner, and
Lieutenant General Bauditzen.
The king and Baron Teuffel led the main body of infantry; the
King of Saxony commanded the Saxons, who were on the Swedish left.
The armies were not very unequal in numbers, the allies numbering
35,000, of whom the Swedes and Scots counted 20,000, the Saxons
15,000. The Imperialists numbered about 40,000. Tilly was fighting
unwillingly, for he had wished to await the arrival from Italy
of 12,000 veterans under General Altringer, and who were within a
few days' march; but he had been induced, against his own better
judgment, by the urgency of Pappenheim, Furstenberg, and the younger
generals, to quit the unassailable post he had taken up in front of
Leipzig, and to move out on to the plain of Breitenfeld to accept
the battle which the Swedes offered.
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