Hepburn, Sir James Hamilton, Sir James Ramsay, and the Marquis of
Hamilton, who like Hepburn had quarrelled with Gustavus, left the
Swedish army the day after they arrived at Neustadt, after marching
away from Nuremberg. All the Scottish officers in the Swedish army
accompanied Hepburn and his three companions along the road for a
long German mile from Neustadt, and then parted with great grief
from the gallant cavalier who had led them so often to victory.
Malcolm Graheme did not remain behind in Bavaria with his comrades
of the Green Brigade. Gustavus, who had taken a great fancy to the
young Scotch officer, whose spirit of adventure and daring were
in strong harmony with his own character, appointed him to ride on
his own personal staff. Although he parted with regret from his
comrades, Malcolm was glad to accompany the king on his northward
march, for there was no probability of any very active service in
Bavaria, and it was certain that a desperate battle would be fought
when Gustavus and Wallenstein met face to face in the open field.
At Erfurt Gustavus was joined by Duke Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar with
his force, which raised his army to a strength of 20,000. The news
of his approach had again revived the courage of the Elector of
Saxony, who had occupied the only towns where the Elbe could be
crossed, Dresden, Torgau, and Wittenberg -- he himself, with his
main army of 15,000 men, lying at Torgau.
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