fl 



266 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period III. 



of the Swetlisli ranks ; hia example inspired his men, 

 and inflamed their courage, so that all went down before 

 them. Wallenstein rapidly availing himself of the 

 favourable moment, re- formed his line, and leading it again 

 to the charge, the Swedes were driven back with en(3r- 

 mous loss, and the twice captured cannon were again 

 taken from them. Piccolomini and Tersky ably seconded 

 the efforts of Pappenheim, the Swedish regiment of 

 Blues being cut down after a desperate fight by Piccolo- 

 mini's cuirassiers. Seven times did that gallant cavalry 

 leader charge, six times was he wounded, and seven 

 -xorsea were shot under him before he was carried in the 

 general rout off" the field. Wallenstein was hit several 

 times, while Pappenheim, the only cavalry leader of 

 Germany who could be compared with Gustavus Adol- 

 phus, had his gallant spirit stilled for ever, upon the 

 same field that had been so fatal to his great rival. 



The death of Pappenheim ended the good fortune of 

 the Imperial army. He had blazed across the struggle 

 like a meteor brightening their prospects, and lighting 

 them on to victory : when he fell, it was as if the sun 

 had gone down, and the dejected cuirassiers fled from 

 the field of battle in blank despair. 



The Swedes, again rallying, threw the remains of the 

 first and second line into a single one, and made a final 

 and successful charge, when night coming on, put an 

 end to one of the most sternly contested and bloody 

 battles that has ever been fought. 



The influence of the cavalry in this action is very 

 marked, and is a proof of the great value of the reforms 

 effected by Gustavus Adolphus in the method of em- 

 ploying it. One of the great reasons, however, that 

 caused its increased influence, was evidently the extra- 

 ordinary capacity of the Swedish king as a cavalry 

 commander. The impetuosity of Pappenheim's disposi- 

 tion also affected the operations of the Imperial cavalry 

 very materially. 



How different was the battle of Lutzen from the battle 

 of Bouvines with its boasted chivalry, with its Count of 

 Boulogne, and his circle of pikemen ! How different 



