It was, however, a most
unfortunate circumstance that just at this critical moment he should
have lost the services of an officer whose prudence was equal to
his daring, and who was unquestionably one of the greatest military
leaders of his age.
It is probable that had Hepburn remained by his side the king would
not have undertaken the attack upon the impregnable position of
the Imperialists. Deprived of the counsellor upon whose advice he
had hitherto invariably relied, Gustavus determined to attempt to
drive Wallenstein from his position, the decision being finally
induced by a ruse of the Imperialist commander, who desired nothing
so much as that the Swedes should dash their forces against the
terrible position he had prepared for them. Accordingly on the 24th
of August he directed a considerable portion of his force to march
away from the rear of his position as if, alarmed at the superior
strength of the Swedes, he had determined to abandon the heights
he had so long occupied and to march away.
Gustavus fell into the trap, and prepared at once to assault the
position. Two hundred pieces of artillery heralded the advance,
which was made by the whole body of the musketeers of the army,
drafted from the several brigades and divided into battalions 500
strong, each commanded by a colonel. It was a terrible position
which they were advancing to storm.
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