istering blows among their captives whenever a
delay or stoppage occurred.

The whole country through which they passed was desolated and wasted,
and the army would have fared badly had it not been for the herds of
captured cattle they drove along with them, and the wagons laden with
flour and wine taken at New Brandenburg and the other towns they had
stormed. The marches were long, for Tilly was anxious to accomplish his
object before Gustavus should be aware of the direction he was taking.

This object was the capture of the town of Magdeburg, a large and
important city, and one of the strongholds of Protestantism. Here he was
resolved to strike a blow which would, he believed, terrify Germany into
submission.

When Gustavus heard that Tilly had marched west, he moved against
Frankfort-on-the-Oder, where the Imperialists were commanded by Count
Schomberg. The latter had taken every measure for the defence of the
town, destroying all the suburbs, burning the country houses and mills,
and cutting down the orchards and vineyards.

Gustavus, accompanied by Sir John Hepburn, at once reconnoitred the
place and posted his troops. The Blue and Yellow Brigades were posted
among the vineyards on the road to Custrin; the White Brigade took post
opposite one of the two gates of the town. Hepburn and the Green Brigade
were stationed opposite the other.

As the Swedes advanced the Imperialist garrison, who were 10,000 strong,
opened fire with musketry and cannon from the walls. The weakest point
in the defence was assigned by Schomberg to Colonel Walter Butler, who
commanded a regiment of Irish musketeers in the Imperialist service.
In the evening Hepburn and some other officers accompanied the king
to reconnoitre near the walls. A party of Imperialists, seeing some
officers approaching, and judging by their waving plumes they were
of importance, sallied quietly out of a postern gate unperceived and
suddenly opened fire. Lieutenant Munro, of Munro's regiment, was shot in
the leg, and Count Teuffel, a colonel of the Life Guards, in the arm.
A body of Hepburn's regiment, under Major Sinclair, rushed forward and
drove in the Imperialists, a lieutenant colonel and a captain being
captured.

So hotly did they press the Imperialists that they were able to make a
lodgment, on some high ground near the rampart, on which stood an old
churchyard surrounded by a wall, and whence their fire could sweep
the enemy's works. Some cannon wer