Meanwhile, Tilly had made it to Leipzig in Saxony.

And after the city initially put up resistance to his pressure for food and quarter for his troops,

he was able to occupy it on September 16th.

Tilly then set his army to guard the north of the town.

On September 15th, Gustavus' army of 23,000 linked with the Saxon force of 16,000 men,

led by von Armin and John George himself at Dubin and went moving south to Leipzig.

The Saxon army was resplendent in fresh uniforms while the Swedes who had been marching

themselves ragged appeared to one observer, quote, like kitchen servants with their uncleanly

rags. On September 17th, the two armies met at Brightonfeld.

The imperial force was only slightly fewer than the Protestants, 37,000 to Gustavus' 39,000.

Tilly was older, cautious and patient, Pap and Heim was young during an epitome of classic

situation. There was apparently a legend in Pap and Heim's family that somebody a son of

their house would conquer an invading king, and perhaps Pap and Heim felt that call to destiny.

While scouting outside of Leipzig at Brightonfeld, Pap and Heim's forces spotted the Swedes and

he sent word to Tilly that he could not safely retreat, they would have to make battle.

Tilly was annoyed, felt his hand was forced, but deployed the army forward.

As soon as the Imperials were in range of the Protestants, they started an artillery bombardment

of the Swedish position. The Imperials arranged in a wide narrow line of the now classic squares of

Pichenstadt, the Tursio formation, immediately noticed the new arrangement of Gustavus' troops.

Lucer squares of cavalry, checkered with smaller squares of musket formations,

both much more mobile and responsive to changing battlefield conditions.

Furthermore, the musketeers had been drilled in a deadly new technique.

...