The former strongly urged that the army should repass the morass
and march, as originally intended, to effect a junction with the
Saxons. He pointed out that the troops were fatigued with their
long and weary march during the day, and would have to fight without
food, as it had been found impossible to bring up the wagons with
the supplies; he particularly urged the point that Pappenheim would
arrive on the field before the victory could be won. But Gustavus
was of opinion that the disadvantages of retreat were greater than
those of action. The troops, hungry, weary, and dispirited, would
be attacked as they retired, and he believed that by beginning the
action early the Imperialists could be defeated before Pappenheim
could return from Halle.
Gustavus proposed to move forward at two o'clock in the morning;
but fate was upon this occasion against the great Swedish leader.
Just as on the previous day the expected length of the march
and the heavy state of the roads had prevented him from crushing
Wallenstein's scattered army, so now a thick fog springing up, making
the night so dark that a soldier could not see the man standing
next to him, prevented the possibility of movement, and instead of
marching at two o'clock in the morning it was nine before the sun
cleared away the fog sufficiently to enable the army to advance.
Then, after addressing a few stirring words to his men, Gustavus
ordered the advance towards Chursitz, the village in front of them.
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