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After Wallenstein's murder in 1634, King
Ferdinand's army under the command of General Hallas successfully captured
Donauwoerth and besieged the city of Noerdlingen. The Swedes could not
allow Catholics to take such an important Protestant city. They waited for
reinforcements at a camp near Bopfingen - 10 km (6 miles) from Noerdlingen
- and then decided to approach the enemy and take up their positions on
the road between Ulm and Noerdlingen. This manoeuvre allowed the Swedes to
amass supplies and left the Imperial army no such opportunity. However,
while the Swedish army was passing through a narrow gorge and a forest,
the Imperial forces succeeded in capturing one of the positions that the
Swedes had been counting on occupying: the Albuch mountain. The battle
lasted until late at night. At daybreak, Horn did his best to take Albuch
by force, but the Swedes' valour triumphed over the enemy's numerical
superiority. Field Marshal Horn became certain that he could not capture
the eminence and decided to retreat under cover of his cavalry. However,
the Imperials now took the offensive. The Protestant army was
disorganized, its infantry was all but exterminated, and Commander Horn
was taken prisoner.
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