He was carried off the field, and his
troops, now without a leader, gave way, the movement being hastened
by two bodies of Swedish horse, who, eager for action, swam their
horses across the river and threatened to cut off the retreat. By
this time evening was at hand. The Swedes had secured the passage
of the river, but the Imperialist army still held its intrenched
position in the wood behind the Lech. Gustavus brought the rest of
his army across and halted for the night.
The Imperialist position was tremendously strong, being unassailable
on the right and covered in the front by the marshy ground. It
could still have been defended with every prospect of success by
a determined general, but the two best Imperialist commanders were
hors de combat, and Maximilian of Bavaria, the nominal generalissimo,
had no military experience. The army, too, was disheartened by the
first success of the Swedes and by the loss of the general whom
they regarded as well nigh invincible.
Tilly had now recovered his senses, but was suffering intense agony
from his wound, and on being consulted by Maximilian he advised
him to fall back, as the destruction of his army would leave the
whole country open to the Swedes.
The Imperialists accordingly evacuated their position and fell back
in good order during the night on Neuberg, and then to Ingolstadt.
Rain and Neuberg were occupied the next day by the Swedes.
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