All this time Gustavus was in constant communication with
his generals outside, his messengers making their way by speed or
stratagem through the beleaguering Croats, and kept up the spirits
of his men by daily reviews and by the cheerful countenance which
he always wore.
The Swedish columns were gradually closing in towards Nuremberg.
One was led by the chancellor Oxenstiern, to whom had been committed
the care of the Middle Rhine and the Lower Palatinate, where he
had been confronted by the Spanish troops under Don Philip de Sylva.
On the 11th July, leaving Horn with a small force to oppose the
Spaniards, the chancellor set out to join his master. On the way he
effected a junction with the forces of the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel.
This general had been opposed in Westphalia by Pappenheim, but
he seized the opportunity when the latter had marched to relieve
Maestricht, which was besieged by Frederic of Nassau, to march away
and join Oxenstiern.
The Scotch officers Ballandine and Alexander Hamilton were with
their regiment in the Duchy of Magdeburg. When the news of the
king's danger reached them without waiting for instructions they
marched to Halle and joining a portion of the division of the Duke
of Saxe-Weimar, to which they were attached, pushed on to Zeitz,
and were there joined by the duke himself, who had hurried on from
the Lake of Constance, attended only by his guards, but, picking
up five Saxon regiments in Franconia.
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