terror

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combined arms approach proved itself on the ­defense as well as the offense. Pappenheim’s cuirassiers were held off by the salvos of the infantrymen, while Banér’s Swedish and Finnish cavalry launched their own sharp sallies.
Seven times Pappenheim drove his men against the Swedish lines, ignoring all of Tilly’s commands to retire. Seven times he was driven back. Then Banér launched a massive counterattack and drove the Black Cuirassiers from the field. In complete disorder, Pappenheim’s heavy cavalry fled toward Halle. Banér made to pursue, but Gustav Adolf recalled him to the line.

The king was cautious. Things were not going well on his left. Seeing Pappenheim tangled up, Tilly sent the imperial cavalry on the opposite flank into battle. Here, Tilly’s forces met with far better results. The Saxons, for all their glitter, did not have the years of Polish and Baltic wars behind them that Gustav and his Swedish veterans enjoyed. The very first charge of the imperial cavalry shattered them.
True to his nature, the elector himself led the rout. Seized with terror, John George and his splendiferous noble bodyguard galloped off the field, leaving their army behind. The army followed soon enough. Within half an hour, the powerful imperial cavalry had driven the entire Saxon army into headlong retreat.
The Swedish left flank h

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