When the king arrived opposite
the Green Brigade he dismounted and made the soldiers an address,
thanking them for their great share in winning the battle of Leipzig.
Many of the Scottish officers were promoted, Munro being made a
full colonel, and many others advanced a step in rank. The Scottish
brigade responded to the address of the gallant king with hearty
cheers. Gustavus was indeed beloved as well as admired by his
soldiers. Fearless himself of danger, he ever recognized bravery
in others, and was ready to take his full share of every hardship
as well as every peril.
He had ever a word of commendation and encouragement for his
troops, and was regarded by them as a comrade as well as a leader.
In person he was tall and rather stout, his face was handsome,
his complexion fair, his forehead lofty, his hair auburn, his eyes
large and penetrating, his cheeks ruddy and healthy. He had an air
of majesty which enabled him to address his soldiers in terms of
cheerful familiarity without in the slightest degree diminishing
their respect and reverence for him as their monarch.
CHAPTER X THE PASSAGE OF THE RHINE
"I suppose," Nigel Graheme said, as the officers of the regiment
assembled in one of the Imperialist tents on the night after the
battle of Leipzig, "we shall at once press forward to Vienna;"
and such was the general opinion throughout the Swedish army; but
such was not the intention of Gustavus.
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