Hopeless of victory the Imperialist centre was giving way, when the
explosion of one of their powder wagons still further shook them.
Attacked on both flanks and in front the Imperialist centre wavered,
and in a few minutes would have been in full flight. The Swedish
victory seemed assured, when a mighty trampling of horse was heard,
and emerging from the smoke Pappenheim with eight regiments of
Imperial cavalry dashed into the fray.
Pappenheim had already captured the citadel of Halle when Wallenstein's
messenger reached him. To wait until his infantry, who were engaged
in plundering, could be collected, and then to proceed at their
pace to the field of battle, would be to arrive too late to be of
service, and Pappenheim instantly placed himself at the head of
his eight regiments of magnificent cavalry, and galloped at full
speed to the battlefield eighteen miles distant. On the way he
met large numbers of flying Poles and Croats, the remnants of the
Austrian left, who had been driven from the field by Gustavus; these
he rallied, and with them dashed upon the troops of Stalhaus who
were pursuing them, and forced them backward. The relief afforded
to the Imperialists by this opportune arrival was immense, and
leaving Pappenheim to deal with the Swedish right, Wallenstein
rallied his own right on the centre, and opposed a fresh front to
the advancing troops of Duke Bernhard and Kniphausen.
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