that
Gustavus had treated ungenerously; and still more concerning Lieutenant
Colonel Douglas, whom Gustavus had committed to a common prison for
a slight breach of etiquette, a punishment at which the English
ambassador, Sir Harry Vane, remonstrated, and which the whole Scottish
officers considered an insult to them and their country.

There were probably faults on both sides. The Scottish troops were the
backbone of the Swedish army, and to them were principally due almost
the whole of the successes which Gustavus had gained. Doubtless
they presumed upon the fact, and although Gustavus recognized his
obligations, as is shown by the immense number of commands and
governorships which he bestowed upon his Scottish officers, he may
well have been angered and irritated by the insistance with which they
asserted their claims and services. It was, however, a most unfortunate
circumstance that just at this critical moment he should have lost the
services of an officer whose prudence was equal to his daring, and who
was unquestionably one of the greatest military leaders of his age.

It is probable that had Hepburn remained by his side the king would
not have undertaken the attack upon the impregnable position of the
Imperialists. Deprived of the counsellor upon whose advice he had
hitherto invariably relied, Gustavus determined to attempt to drive
Wallenstein from his position, the decision being finally induced by a
ruse of the Imperialist commander, who desired nothing so much as that
the Swedes should dash their forces against the terrible position he
had prepared for them. Accordingly on the 24th of August he directed
a considerable portion of his force to march away from the rear of his
position as if, alarmed at the superior strength of the Swedes, he had
determined to abandon the heights he had so long occupied and to march
away.

Gustavus fell into the trap, and prepared at once to assault the
position. Two hundred pieces of artillery heralded the advance, which
was made by the whole body of the musketeers of the army, drafted
from the several brigades and divided into battalions 500 strong, each
commanded by a colonel. It was a terrible position which they were
advancing to storm. Each of the lines of intrenchments was surmounted
by rows of polished helmets, while pikes and arquebuses glittered in
the sunshine; but it was not long that the scene was visible, for as the
battalions approached the foot of the Altenbu