had
designated
the duke, Bernard de
Weimar, to take command in his place if
he should fall during the battle.
Weimar, to take command in his place if
he should fall during the battle.
Abelous - Gustavus Adolphus - Hero of the Reformation
org/access_use#pd
? CHAPTEK VII.
The Close of the Liee of Gustavus
Adolphus.
Eeturn of the Swedes into Saxony -- Victory and Death of Gus-
tavus Adolphus at Lutzeu -- His Administration in Sweden.
AFTER having joined his troops with
those of Bernard de Weimar, the
Kino; of Sweden marched ao:ainst the Duke
of Friedland, following the route of the
previous year, but in the opposite direc-
tion. Twenty thousand men, experienced
in former campaigns, were under his com-
mand. Every-where the people were hap-
py to see him again, and gave him a hearty
welcome. They never ceased admiring the
battalions in their imposing martial array,
with Gustavus at their head, riding in the
profoundest silence upon his large white
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? 162 GusTAvus Adolphus.
steed, not distinguishing himself from the
simple soldier, save by the long white
plume of his small gray hat, made after
the Swedish fashion.
When this valiant army stopped for
repose anywhere no disorderly conduct
whatever was observed. Men and their
possessions were every-where respected.
In Franconia and Thuringia the Swedes
prayed, morning and evening, with their
hosts and thanked them for their hospi-
tality. The Germans of these countries
looked upon the soldiers as members of
their own family, and separated from them
in tears.
A trifling event contributed particularly
to add to their appreciation of the good-
ness of the King of Sweden, and was looked
upon as a good omen for the future. Nor
is it forgotten among them to this day.
As he was passing through a certain sec-
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? GusTAVus Adolphus. 163
tion of the country, the king saw a bird
of prey pursuing a lark. Just as his atten-
tion was attracted to the scene, the little
persecuted bird flew down and lighted
upon his bosom. The king smilingly took
it, held it tenderly in his hands, and said,
"Poor little bird, may God protect you;"
then, when the bird of prey was flown
away, and the lark out of danger, he set it
free, thanking God for giving him even
this small opportunity for saving one of
his innocent creatures from persecution.
In this trifling event was plainly symbol-
ized the work which Gustavus Adolphus
accomplished. Austria, for Protestant Ger-
many, was a bird of prey, ready to devour
it ; and it was into his hands that it cast
itself, in order to recover its liberty.
At Erfart, Gustavus found the queen,
who was awaiting him there. She was so
anxious to see him that she hastened out
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? 164 GusTAvus Adolphus.
to meet Mm, which she did, in one of the
public squares of the city. But their re-
joicing could be but of short duration, for
Wallenstein was only a little way off from
Erfurt.
The next day, October 28, 1632, Gus-
tavus Adolphus called together the magis-
trates of the city, and addressed them in
the following words :
"I now confide to your care that which
I hold most precious upon earth, the queen,
my beloved wife. You know, sirs, that
every thing in this world is subject to vi-
cissitudes, and above all, war, that scourge
which God uses to chastise the perversity
of men. Just as to any other, some mis-
fortune may fall to my lot, perhaps death.
If such should be the will of God concern-
ing me, have, for my cherished wife, the
fidelity and devotion of which you have
ever given me the proofs. "
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? Gustavus taking leave of his Queen.
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 167
As the queen burst into tears, he pressed
her to his heart, and said to her, "Be of
good courage, we shall see each other
again ; if it may not be in this life, it will
at least be, sooner or later, in the abode
of eternal blessedness. "
He kissed her a last time, flew to his
horse, and rejoined his troops who were
just setting out.
Pressing ahead of the corps which Wal-
lenstein had sent to seize upon Naumburg,
he entered there, November 1, 1632. The
people were transported with joy, and vied
with each other for the honor of first
touching his garments. They knew not
how, worthily, to show their gratitude to
their protector. Several cast themselves
at his feet. Gustavus raised them imme-
diately, and, turning to one of the ofl&cers,
said, with a melancholy air, " Might it not
be said that this people believe me a God !
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? 168 GusTAvus Adolphtjs.
Our affairs are now prosperous, but I
mucli fear lest God punish them for their
idolatry, and prove to them, only too soon,
that I am only a man, weak and mortal,
even as they. "
The Austrian army arrived too late to
take Naumburg, and camped less than a
half-league from this city, at Weissenfels.
Twice as numerous as the Swedes, they
counted upon an easy victory as soon - as
an occasion should offer. But Gustavus
Adolj^hus , following the same tactics as at
Nuremberg, strongly intrenched himself
outside of Naumburg, and then awaited
the arrival of the re-inforcements that he
expected from Lower Saxony.
Wallenstein again shrank from attack-
ing the Swedish camp, convinced that it
was impregnable. Pappenheim, not being
able to endure inaction, asked and ob-
tained permission to lead eleven thousand
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 169
men to the succor of Cologne. The sep-
aration between the two generals and their
troops took place at Lutzen, not far from
Leipsic, where Wallen stein intended to
make his winter-quarters, supposing that
the enemy would do the same at Naum-
burg. As soon as Gustavus Adolphus was
advised of the departure of Pappenheim,
he said, " I believe truly, that God is giv-
ing the enemy into my hands," and, with-
out the loss of a moment, he set out in
pursuit of Wallenstein, and in one day
reached him, before Lutzen. But it was
already night and, greatly to his regret,
the battle had to be postponed until
morning.
At day-break, Gustavus Adolphus sum-
moned his chaplain, and passed one hour
with him in prayer. He then attended
the regular religious services, held every
morning, for the soldiers. It was remarked
11
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? 170 GusTAvus Adolphus.
that, contrary to ordinary custom, lie re-
mained upon his knees during the whole
service. He was engaged in the profound-
est devotion. He gave orders to sing the
celebrated battle hymn which he himself
had composed, and which greatly warmed
the hearts of his soldiers before the battle.
"Notwithstanding the tumult and the
threatening cries which resound around
you, fear nothing, little flock. Your ene-
mies rejoice in your destruction, but their
joy shall be of short duration. Let not
your courage fail you.
" Your cause is the cause of God ! ac-
complish your mission, place yourselves in
the hands of God, and you shall fear no
danger. He will find another Gideon to
defend the people and the Word of God.
"We hope that at the name of Jesus,
the violence and snares of the wicked will
turn against them. They will thus become
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 171
an object to be despised. God is with us,
we are with bim ; victory belongs to us. "
It was the 6th of November, 1632. A
thick fog covered the plain on which the
bloody struggle was to take place. Even
the troops nearest the foe were unable
to see them. The singing of psalms,
now and then broken in upon by Wallen-
stein's cannon, announcing the near attack,
was all that could be heard. Gustavus
Adolphus, while awaiting the rising of the
sun, placed his army in battle-array, and
gave the ancient word of command, " God
is with us. " He was mounted and with-
out armor. The need of protecting his
body from the shot of the enemy was
pressed upon him, above all, on such a day
as was now expected. He replied, "The
Eternal One is my armor. " He then passed
along his lines in order to encourage his
men. At first he addressed himself to the
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? 172 GusTAVus Adolphus.
Swedes. " My dear compatriots and friends,''
said he, " the day has arrived on which you
are to show what you have already learned
in war. You have before you the enemy
which we have so long sought, and he is
no longer sheltered behind formidable in-
trenchments or high mountains. He is in
the plain which lies open before us. It is
not willingly, nor because he is sure of
victory, that he accepts battle to-day, you
well know. It is because it is impossible
longer to avoid meeting us and our arms.
So, hold yourselves ready; conduct your-
selves as worthy soldiers; fight valiantly
for your God, your country, and your
king. "
Then he passed to the left wing of the
army, formed of the German allies, and
said to them, " My brothers and loyal com-
rades, I beseech you, in the name of a
Christian conscience and of your honor, to
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? GusTAVus Adolphus. 173
do your duty to-day, as you have done
heretofore. A year ago, and not far from
here, you fought the old Tilly and his
hosts. I trust that the enemy that is now
before you will share no better fate than
he and they. March with courage ! you
will fight not under my orders, but with
me and by my side. I myself will show
you the way. I am ready to risk my life
and to shed my blood with you. Follow
me, have confidence in God, and bear away
a victory whose fruits you and your pos-
terity will gather forever. Kemember that
if you are defeated, your religion and your
liberty are at an end. "
The soldiers replied with shouts of joy
and enthusiasm to the words of their chief.
The king, far from sympathizing with their
transports, was graver than was his wont,
and seemed even sad. He had taken every
measure as a man preparing to die. He
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? 174 GusTAVTJs Adolphus.
had designated the duke, Bernard de
Weimar, to take command in his place if
he should fall during the battle. The sad-
ness of his face was only an index of the
solemn thoughts that agitated him within,
and of the last regrets for the lawful affec-
tions of earth, before yielding himself up
to God without reserve and forever.
Toward eleven o'clock the fog was dis-
sipated ; the sun brilliantly illuminated the
field of Lutzen. When the two armies
came in sight Gustavus Adolphus once
more inclined his head and prayed men-
tally, with an astonishing fervor. Then
raising his eyes toward heaven, clasping
his hands upon the hilt of his sword, he
cried aloud, " Jesus ! Jesus ! be thou my
help this day, while I battle for the glory
of thy sacred name. " He then brandished
his sword above his head and added, " For-
ward now, in the name of the Lord ! "
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? ? D 1
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 177
The king was surrounded by Francis Al-
bert, Duke of Lauenburg, by the Marshal
of the palace of Breitsheim, by his page,
Leubelfingen, by several officers, and by
two servants.
The cannonadins: bes^an on both sides,
and the Swedish troops threw themselves
upon the enemy. Several bullets fell near
the king, but did not prevent him from
placing himself at the right wing of his
army, by passing along the road from
Lutzen to Leipsic, back of which were the
Austrians. They had dug trenches from
which they hurled a murderous fire against
the Swedes, without being in turn exposed
to the fire of the other army. Gustavus
had commanded his infantry to cross these
ditches, and as they did not advance fast
enough to suit him, he descended from his
horse and went with them to set them an
example and give them a renewed ardor.
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? 178 GusTAvus Adolphus.
The soldiers begged him to remount, which
he did, and then hastened to the head of
the cavalry. The trenches were passed.
The left wing of the enemy were dispersed
by the Fins, whom the king commanded in
person. At this moment he learned that
his infantry were giving way and he flew
to their relief
Schiller says, "His proud courser bears
him like an arrow over beyond the trenches.
But the passage is more difficult for the
squadrons that would accompany him, and
a few cavalry, among whom are Count
Francis Albert, are alone sufficiently well
mounted to keep with him. He pushes
directly for the point where his infantry
seem hardest assailed, and while he essays
to find a weak point in the enemy's line to
which he may direct his attack, his natural
short-sightedness takes him too near the
enemy. An imperial officer remarking that
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? GusTAvus Adolphus.
179
the Swedes make open patli for him to
let him pass first, shows him, by point-
ing the finger, to a musketeer and says,
' Put that one out of the way, for he is a
great personage among them. ' The soldier
obeys, and his ball fractm^es the arm of the
king. At this moment the regiment comes
up. At the sight of his blood, and on
GUSTAVUS "WOUNDED.
hearing repeated cries of ^The king is
wounded ! The king has received a shot ! '
the brave men are seized with fright, and
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? 180 GusTAvus Adolphus.
there threatens a general panic. 'It is
nothing ; follow me ! ' cries the king, col-
lecting all his forces. But soon overcome
with pain, and ready to faint, he tells the
Duke of Lauenburg, in French, that no one
else might comprehend him, to take him
quietly outside of the* combat. The duke
obeys, and in order to spare the Swedes
the sight of their wounded king he takes
the longest road, to the right wing of his
army. On the wa}^ he receives another
wound in his back, that takes from him his
remaining strength. ^I have enough, my
brother,' says he, in a dying voice, 'leave
me and save your life. ' Scarcely has he
uttered these words when he falls from his
horse, and, struck by several shots more,
abandoned by friends, he draws his last
breath in the hands of the Croatians. *
* His young page, Leubelfingen, alone remained by
the king, and was pierced iTirough by a sword, but lie
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? GusTAVus Adolphus. 181
" In an instant the Swedisli army knows
that it is without a chief, but this frightful
intelligence, far from diminishing its cour-
age, raises it even to madness. Life has
no more value to these brave legions, since
the most glorious and most useful one
among them all has come to his end ; death
has no more terrors, since it has taken the
most precious life of all. "
" Like furious lions the Upland, the Fin-
land regiments, the Ostrogoths and the
Visigoths, hurl themselves upon the left
wing of the enemy and cut it in pieces.
" At the same time, the Duke Bernard
de Weimar, according to the wish of the
king, takes the command of the army. . . .
He throws himself upon the right wing of
the enemy and soon seizes their artillery.
lived a few days after the battle, and it was he that re-
lated of the last moments of Gustavus Adolphus. A
large stone was rolled to the spot on which he fell, and
is known to this day as the Rock of the Swedes.
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? 182 GusTAvus Adolphus.
Nothiug can withstand tlie impetuosity of
the Swedes. "
Wallenstein, seeing his troops giving
way every- where without being able to
bring them back into line, hoped no longer
for success, and was preparing to retreat,
when Pappenheim arrived with eight regi-
ments to his support. The battle began
anew. Pappenheim longing to measure
himself with Gustavus Adolphus, and igno-
rant of his death, swept through the con-
fusion and threw himself upon the right
wing of the Swedish army, but being
immediately wounded, was forced to with-
draw, and with him disappeared all hope
of success for the imperials, who profiting
by the night fled away, leaving the Swedes
masters of the battle-field, and possessors
of their artillery and baggage.
Pappenheim died the day after the bat-
tle, and Wallenstein abandoned Saxony to
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? GusTAvus Adolpiius. 183
the conquerors, who finally retook all the
strong places occupied by the Austrians.
He gained one unimportant victory over
the Swedes, at Steinau, owing to their
small force and inefficient general. After-
ward he conspired against the emperor,
who caused his assassination in 1634.
The victory of Lutzen was a cause of
more grief than joy to the Swedes. Their
beloved king was dead. Nothing could
compensate for this irreparable loss. The
army wept for him as for a father, and all
the Protestants of Europe felt that their
most cherished hopes were buried with
him in his grave.
Gustavus Adolphus was scarcely forty
years of age. What would he have done
had he lived ? . . . Did he aspire, as some
have pretended, to the imperial ^crown?
and did death alone prevent him from tar-
nishing his glory by overturning his ambi-
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? 184 GusTAvus Adolphus.
tious projects? We cannot say. But his
life was wholly exempt from all such evi-
dence, and to his latest breath he remained
faithful to his sacred mission. He battled
for the Gospel and for liberty.
God has caused the seed which his serv-
ant watered with his blood to germinate
and ripen. Truth is immortal, and its
enemies even, in the hands of Providence,
are often the instruments employed in
promoting its eternal and inevitable tri-
umph. Who would have thought, when
this hero of the North fell, this most
formidable and marked defender of the
Reformation, that, instead of its being the
exploits of his valiant successors, it should
be the work of two cardinals that should
give to Germany that religious independ-
ence which she had sought for thirty
years, and that should determine the fut-
ure of European Protestantism ! When
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? GusTAVus Adolphus. 185
Gustavus Adolphus was besought to save
his life, he replied, " God, the all-powerful,
livesP The unexpected closing of this
long and cruel war, the way in which was
accomplished the work of the great King
of Sweden, has well justified this wise re-
ply, which many other events of history
have confirmed, and in which it has been
plainly seen that human combinations,
calculations, and foresight avail but little,
while they have shown forth more strik-
ingly the irresistible and consoling power
of the Master of the Universe.
Few men have left to posterity a mem-
ory more admirable than that of Gustavus
Adolphus. Even his enemies can but ren-
der him justice. "He is the greatest king
in the world," said the Pope. Around his
name cluster the most solid, as well as the
most brilliant qualities. We have seen
his profound faith, his inflexible justice,
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? 186 GusTAYUs Adolphus.
his unchangeable goodness, his courage --
sometimes a little rash -- and his touching
tenderness for his family: all the virtues
of the man and the hero, united to a mili-
tary genius which has been equaled but
never surpassed.
He completely transformed the art of
war. According to Michelet he made war
upon this, then new, principle, "That that
v^hich is mio^htiest in war is not the swift-
ness of the Turk, the tempest of cavalry,
nor heavy coats of mail, nor even the walls
and strong fortifications of Holland -- but
human walls; firm infantry on the plain,
and the breasts of men. " And, far from
forming the solid square as the Spaniards,
or placing rank against rank, which, when
once broken, become ever more and more
mixed and confused, he arranged his men
in simple file with a space behind them,
saying, " If the cavalry break your line, let
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 187
them pass, and re-form in double-quick. "
This wonderful confidence in moral force
had its effect. The beautiful Swedish tac-
tics attracted the brave so powerfully that
many left lucrative employments to take
part in this hazardous style of war, who
had no taste for ramparts and fortifications.
And there was still one thing more admira-
ble -- the discipline which Gustavus Adol-
phus introduced into his army ; it was his
military code, a clief-d^ oeuvre of the kind,
in which the severity of the law had the
love of justice and the fear of God for its
base. He said, " One may be a bold fight-
er, but not a good soldier, without being a
Christian. "
Gustavus Adolphus was not only a great
general and a remarkable Christian, but
he was also an administrator of the first
order, and proved that he was not less capa-
ble of directing a State than of command-
12
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? CHAPTEK VII.
The Close of the Liee of Gustavus
Adolphus.
Eeturn of the Swedes into Saxony -- Victory and Death of Gus-
tavus Adolphus at Lutzeu -- His Administration in Sweden.
AFTER having joined his troops with
those of Bernard de Weimar, the
Kino; of Sweden marched ao:ainst the Duke
of Friedland, following the route of the
previous year, but in the opposite direc-
tion. Twenty thousand men, experienced
in former campaigns, were under his com-
mand. Every-where the people were hap-
py to see him again, and gave him a hearty
welcome. They never ceased admiring the
battalions in their imposing martial array,
with Gustavus at their head, riding in the
profoundest silence upon his large white
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? 162 GusTAvus Adolphus.
steed, not distinguishing himself from the
simple soldier, save by the long white
plume of his small gray hat, made after
the Swedish fashion.
When this valiant army stopped for
repose anywhere no disorderly conduct
whatever was observed. Men and their
possessions were every-where respected.
In Franconia and Thuringia the Swedes
prayed, morning and evening, with their
hosts and thanked them for their hospi-
tality. The Germans of these countries
looked upon the soldiers as members of
their own family, and separated from them
in tears.
A trifling event contributed particularly
to add to their appreciation of the good-
ness of the King of Sweden, and was looked
upon as a good omen for the future. Nor
is it forgotten among them to this day.
As he was passing through a certain sec-
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? GusTAVus Adolphus. 163
tion of the country, the king saw a bird
of prey pursuing a lark. Just as his atten-
tion was attracted to the scene, the little
persecuted bird flew down and lighted
upon his bosom. The king smilingly took
it, held it tenderly in his hands, and said,
"Poor little bird, may God protect you;"
then, when the bird of prey was flown
away, and the lark out of danger, he set it
free, thanking God for giving him even
this small opportunity for saving one of
his innocent creatures from persecution.
In this trifling event was plainly symbol-
ized the work which Gustavus Adolphus
accomplished. Austria, for Protestant Ger-
many, was a bird of prey, ready to devour
it ; and it was into his hands that it cast
itself, in order to recover its liberty.
At Erfart, Gustavus found the queen,
who was awaiting him there. She was so
anxious to see him that she hastened out
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? 164 GusTAvus Adolphus.
to meet Mm, which she did, in one of the
public squares of the city. But their re-
joicing could be but of short duration, for
Wallenstein was only a little way off from
Erfurt.
The next day, October 28, 1632, Gus-
tavus Adolphus called together the magis-
trates of the city, and addressed them in
the following words :
"I now confide to your care that which
I hold most precious upon earth, the queen,
my beloved wife. You know, sirs, that
every thing in this world is subject to vi-
cissitudes, and above all, war, that scourge
which God uses to chastise the perversity
of men. Just as to any other, some mis-
fortune may fall to my lot, perhaps death.
If such should be the will of God concern-
ing me, have, for my cherished wife, the
fidelity and devotion of which you have
ever given me the proofs. "
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? Gustavus taking leave of his Queen.
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 167
As the queen burst into tears, he pressed
her to his heart, and said to her, "Be of
good courage, we shall see each other
again ; if it may not be in this life, it will
at least be, sooner or later, in the abode
of eternal blessedness. "
He kissed her a last time, flew to his
horse, and rejoined his troops who were
just setting out.
Pressing ahead of the corps which Wal-
lenstein had sent to seize upon Naumburg,
he entered there, November 1, 1632. The
people were transported with joy, and vied
with each other for the honor of first
touching his garments. They knew not
how, worthily, to show their gratitude to
their protector. Several cast themselves
at his feet. Gustavus raised them imme-
diately, and, turning to one of the ofl&cers,
said, with a melancholy air, " Might it not
be said that this people believe me a God !
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? 168 GusTAvus Adolphtjs.
Our affairs are now prosperous, but I
mucli fear lest God punish them for their
idolatry, and prove to them, only too soon,
that I am only a man, weak and mortal,
even as they. "
The Austrian army arrived too late to
take Naumburg, and camped less than a
half-league from this city, at Weissenfels.
Twice as numerous as the Swedes, they
counted upon an easy victory as soon - as
an occasion should offer. But Gustavus
Adolj^hus , following the same tactics as at
Nuremberg, strongly intrenched himself
outside of Naumburg, and then awaited
the arrival of the re-inforcements that he
expected from Lower Saxony.
Wallenstein again shrank from attack-
ing the Swedish camp, convinced that it
was impregnable. Pappenheim, not being
able to endure inaction, asked and ob-
tained permission to lead eleven thousand
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 169
men to the succor of Cologne. The sep-
aration between the two generals and their
troops took place at Lutzen, not far from
Leipsic, where Wallen stein intended to
make his winter-quarters, supposing that
the enemy would do the same at Naum-
burg. As soon as Gustavus Adolphus was
advised of the departure of Pappenheim,
he said, " I believe truly, that God is giv-
ing the enemy into my hands," and, with-
out the loss of a moment, he set out in
pursuit of Wallenstein, and in one day
reached him, before Lutzen. But it was
already night and, greatly to his regret,
the battle had to be postponed until
morning.
At day-break, Gustavus Adolphus sum-
moned his chaplain, and passed one hour
with him in prayer. He then attended
the regular religious services, held every
morning, for the soldiers. It was remarked
11
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? 170 GusTAvus Adolphus.
that, contrary to ordinary custom, lie re-
mained upon his knees during the whole
service. He was engaged in the profound-
est devotion. He gave orders to sing the
celebrated battle hymn which he himself
had composed, and which greatly warmed
the hearts of his soldiers before the battle.
"Notwithstanding the tumult and the
threatening cries which resound around
you, fear nothing, little flock. Your ene-
mies rejoice in your destruction, but their
joy shall be of short duration. Let not
your courage fail you.
" Your cause is the cause of God ! ac-
complish your mission, place yourselves in
the hands of God, and you shall fear no
danger. He will find another Gideon to
defend the people and the Word of God.
"We hope that at the name of Jesus,
the violence and snares of the wicked will
turn against them. They will thus become
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 171
an object to be despised. God is with us,
we are with bim ; victory belongs to us. "
It was the 6th of November, 1632. A
thick fog covered the plain on which the
bloody struggle was to take place. Even
the troops nearest the foe were unable
to see them. The singing of psalms,
now and then broken in upon by Wallen-
stein's cannon, announcing the near attack,
was all that could be heard. Gustavus
Adolphus, while awaiting the rising of the
sun, placed his army in battle-array, and
gave the ancient word of command, " God
is with us. " He was mounted and with-
out armor. The need of protecting his
body from the shot of the enemy was
pressed upon him, above all, on such a day
as was now expected. He replied, "The
Eternal One is my armor. " He then passed
along his lines in order to encourage his
men. At first he addressed himself to the
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? 172 GusTAVus Adolphus.
Swedes. " My dear compatriots and friends,''
said he, " the day has arrived on which you
are to show what you have already learned
in war. You have before you the enemy
which we have so long sought, and he is
no longer sheltered behind formidable in-
trenchments or high mountains. He is in
the plain which lies open before us. It is
not willingly, nor because he is sure of
victory, that he accepts battle to-day, you
well know. It is because it is impossible
longer to avoid meeting us and our arms.
So, hold yourselves ready; conduct your-
selves as worthy soldiers; fight valiantly
for your God, your country, and your
king. "
Then he passed to the left wing of the
army, formed of the German allies, and
said to them, " My brothers and loyal com-
rades, I beseech you, in the name of a
Christian conscience and of your honor, to
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? GusTAVus Adolphus. 173
do your duty to-day, as you have done
heretofore. A year ago, and not far from
here, you fought the old Tilly and his
hosts. I trust that the enemy that is now
before you will share no better fate than
he and they. March with courage ! you
will fight not under my orders, but with
me and by my side. I myself will show
you the way. I am ready to risk my life
and to shed my blood with you. Follow
me, have confidence in God, and bear away
a victory whose fruits you and your pos-
terity will gather forever. Kemember that
if you are defeated, your religion and your
liberty are at an end. "
The soldiers replied with shouts of joy
and enthusiasm to the words of their chief.
The king, far from sympathizing with their
transports, was graver than was his wont,
and seemed even sad. He had taken every
measure as a man preparing to die. He
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? 174 GusTAVTJs Adolphus.
had designated the duke, Bernard de
Weimar, to take command in his place if
he should fall during the battle. The sad-
ness of his face was only an index of the
solemn thoughts that agitated him within,
and of the last regrets for the lawful affec-
tions of earth, before yielding himself up
to God without reserve and forever.
Toward eleven o'clock the fog was dis-
sipated ; the sun brilliantly illuminated the
field of Lutzen. When the two armies
came in sight Gustavus Adolphus once
more inclined his head and prayed men-
tally, with an astonishing fervor. Then
raising his eyes toward heaven, clasping
his hands upon the hilt of his sword, he
cried aloud, " Jesus ! Jesus ! be thou my
help this day, while I battle for the glory
of thy sacred name. " He then brandished
his sword above his head and added, " For-
ward now, in the name of the Lord ! "
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? ? D 1
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 177
The king was surrounded by Francis Al-
bert, Duke of Lauenburg, by the Marshal
of the palace of Breitsheim, by his page,
Leubelfingen, by several officers, and by
two servants.
The cannonadins: bes^an on both sides,
and the Swedish troops threw themselves
upon the enemy. Several bullets fell near
the king, but did not prevent him from
placing himself at the right wing of his
army, by passing along the road from
Lutzen to Leipsic, back of which were the
Austrians. They had dug trenches from
which they hurled a murderous fire against
the Swedes, without being in turn exposed
to the fire of the other army. Gustavus
had commanded his infantry to cross these
ditches, and as they did not advance fast
enough to suit him, he descended from his
horse and went with them to set them an
example and give them a renewed ardor.
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? 178 GusTAvus Adolphus.
The soldiers begged him to remount, which
he did, and then hastened to the head of
the cavalry. The trenches were passed.
The left wing of the enemy were dispersed
by the Fins, whom the king commanded in
person. At this moment he learned that
his infantry were giving way and he flew
to their relief
Schiller says, "His proud courser bears
him like an arrow over beyond the trenches.
But the passage is more difficult for the
squadrons that would accompany him, and
a few cavalry, among whom are Count
Francis Albert, are alone sufficiently well
mounted to keep with him. He pushes
directly for the point where his infantry
seem hardest assailed, and while he essays
to find a weak point in the enemy's line to
which he may direct his attack, his natural
short-sightedness takes him too near the
enemy. An imperial officer remarking that
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? GusTAvus Adolphus.
179
the Swedes make open patli for him to
let him pass first, shows him, by point-
ing the finger, to a musketeer and says,
' Put that one out of the way, for he is a
great personage among them. ' The soldier
obeys, and his ball fractm^es the arm of the
king. At this moment the regiment comes
up. At the sight of his blood, and on
GUSTAVUS "WOUNDED.
hearing repeated cries of ^The king is
wounded ! The king has received a shot ! '
the brave men are seized with fright, and
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? 180 GusTAvus Adolphus.
there threatens a general panic. 'It is
nothing ; follow me ! ' cries the king, col-
lecting all his forces. But soon overcome
with pain, and ready to faint, he tells the
Duke of Lauenburg, in French, that no one
else might comprehend him, to take him
quietly outside of the* combat. The duke
obeys, and in order to spare the Swedes
the sight of their wounded king he takes
the longest road, to the right wing of his
army. On the wa}^ he receives another
wound in his back, that takes from him his
remaining strength. ^I have enough, my
brother,' says he, in a dying voice, 'leave
me and save your life. ' Scarcely has he
uttered these words when he falls from his
horse, and, struck by several shots more,
abandoned by friends, he draws his last
breath in the hands of the Croatians. *
* His young page, Leubelfingen, alone remained by
the king, and was pierced iTirough by a sword, but lie
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? GusTAVus Adolphus. 181
" In an instant the Swedisli army knows
that it is without a chief, but this frightful
intelligence, far from diminishing its cour-
age, raises it even to madness. Life has
no more value to these brave legions, since
the most glorious and most useful one
among them all has come to his end ; death
has no more terrors, since it has taken the
most precious life of all. "
" Like furious lions the Upland, the Fin-
land regiments, the Ostrogoths and the
Visigoths, hurl themselves upon the left
wing of the enemy and cut it in pieces.
" At the same time, the Duke Bernard
de Weimar, according to the wish of the
king, takes the command of the army. . . .
He throws himself upon the right wing of
the enemy and soon seizes their artillery.
lived a few days after the battle, and it was he that re-
lated of the last moments of Gustavus Adolphus. A
large stone was rolled to the spot on which he fell, and
is known to this day as the Rock of the Swedes.
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? 182 GusTAvus Adolphus.
Nothiug can withstand tlie impetuosity of
the Swedes. "
Wallenstein, seeing his troops giving
way every- where without being able to
bring them back into line, hoped no longer
for success, and was preparing to retreat,
when Pappenheim arrived with eight regi-
ments to his support. The battle began
anew. Pappenheim longing to measure
himself with Gustavus Adolphus, and igno-
rant of his death, swept through the con-
fusion and threw himself upon the right
wing of the Swedish army, but being
immediately wounded, was forced to with-
draw, and with him disappeared all hope
of success for the imperials, who profiting
by the night fled away, leaving the Swedes
masters of the battle-field, and possessors
of their artillery and baggage.
Pappenheim died the day after the bat-
tle, and Wallenstein abandoned Saxony to
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? GusTAvus Adolpiius. 183
the conquerors, who finally retook all the
strong places occupied by the Austrians.
He gained one unimportant victory over
the Swedes, at Steinau, owing to their
small force and inefficient general. After-
ward he conspired against the emperor,
who caused his assassination in 1634.
The victory of Lutzen was a cause of
more grief than joy to the Swedes. Their
beloved king was dead. Nothing could
compensate for this irreparable loss. The
army wept for him as for a father, and all
the Protestants of Europe felt that their
most cherished hopes were buried with
him in his grave.
Gustavus Adolphus was scarcely forty
years of age. What would he have done
had he lived ? . . . Did he aspire, as some
have pretended, to the imperial ^crown?
and did death alone prevent him from tar-
nishing his glory by overturning his ambi-
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? 184 GusTAvus Adolphus.
tious projects? We cannot say. But his
life was wholly exempt from all such evi-
dence, and to his latest breath he remained
faithful to his sacred mission. He battled
for the Gospel and for liberty.
God has caused the seed which his serv-
ant watered with his blood to germinate
and ripen. Truth is immortal, and its
enemies even, in the hands of Providence,
are often the instruments employed in
promoting its eternal and inevitable tri-
umph. Who would have thought, when
this hero of the North fell, this most
formidable and marked defender of the
Reformation, that, instead of its being the
exploits of his valiant successors, it should
be the work of two cardinals that should
give to Germany that religious independ-
ence which she had sought for thirty
years, and that should determine the fut-
ure of European Protestantism ! When
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? GusTAVus Adolphus. 185
Gustavus Adolphus was besought to save
his life, he replied, " God, the all-powerful,
livesP The unexpected closing of this
long and cruel war, the way in which was
accomplished the work of the great King
of Sweden, has well justified this wise re-
ply, which many other events of history
have confirmed, and in which it has been
plainly seen that human combinations,
calculations, and foresight avail but little,
while they have shown forth more strik-
ingly the irresistible and consoling power
of the Master of the Universe.
Few men have left to posterity a mem-
ory more admirable than that of Gustavus
Adolphus. Even his enemies can but ren-
der him justice. "He is the greatest king
in the world," said the Pope. Around his
name cluster the most solid, as well as the
most brilliant qualities. We have seen
his profound faith, his inflexible justice,
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? 186 GusTAYUs Adolphus.
his unchangeable goodness, his courage --
sometimes a little rash -- and his touching
tenderness for his family: all the virtues
of the man and the hero, united to a mili-
tary genius which has been equaled but
never surpassed.
He completely transformed the art of
war. According to Michelet he made war
upon this, then new, principle, "That that
v^hich is mio^htiest in war is not the swift-
ness of the Turk, the tempest of cavalry,
nor heavy coats of mail, nor even the walls
and strong fortifications of Holland -- but
human walls; firm infantry on the plain,
and the breasts of men. " And, far from
forming the solid square as the Spaniards,
or placing rank against rank, which, when
once broken, become ever more and more
mixed and confused, he arranged his men
in simple file with a space behind them,
saying, " If the cavalry break your line, let
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? GusTAvus Adolphus. 187
them pass, and re-form in double-quick. "
This wonderful confidence in moral force
had its effect. The beautiful Swedish tac-
tics attracted the brave so powerfully that
many left lucrative employments to take
part in this hazardous style of war, who
had no taste for ramparts and fortifications.
And there was still one thing more admira-
ble -- the discipline which Gustavus Adol-
phus introduced into his army ; it was his
military code, a clief-d^ oeuvre of the kind,
in which the severity of the law had the
love of justice and the fear of God for its
base. He said, " One may be a bold fight-
er, but not a good soldier, without being a
Christian. "
Gustavus Adolphus was not only a great
general and a remarkable Christian, but
he was also an administrator of the first
order, and proved that he was not less capa-
ble of directing a State than of command-
12
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