The Battle Of Nerlingen

August 27, 1634

After Vallenstein's murder in 1634 the army of king Ferdinand, under command of general Gallas, having successfully assaulted Dounawert, now sieged Nerlingen. Why would Sweden allow the Catholics to take such an important protestant city? Encamped near Bopfingen (10 kilometers from Nerlingen) and upon arrival of reinforcements they decided to approach the assaulters and take position on the road connecting Ulm and Nerlingen. The vital road allowed Sweden to gain supplies and leave no such possibility for the imperial army. As the Swedish army passed through the hard gorge and woodland, meanwhile one of their planned positions - Albuch - was taken by the imperial troops. The fight for that point went on at night time. When the morning came Gorn strained all of his available forces to take Albuch but bravery of Swedes crashed against numerical superiority of the opponent army. Field-marshal Gorn was sure he was unable to get Albuch and decided to retreat under cavalry cover. But by that time imperial army had assumed the offensive. The protestant army came in complete disorder. The infantry was destroyed and Gorn taken captive.