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1G45.]
Military discontents after
Baner’s death. CHRISTINA. THE REGENCY. Dangerous jealousies among
tlie generals.
311
venture to entrust him with an army ;
now the
general had since been constantly there, was ac-
customed to this war, and beloved in the army *."
Shortly before, the administration write to the
general of artillery, John Lilyehoek, then governor
of Hinder Pomerania: "So soon as we have named
a chief general, you shall become with him what
Tin’stenson was with Baner, for your known as-
siduity, skill, and trueness ^." From Charles Gus-
tavo Wrangel’s correspondence, it is plain that he
believed liimself passed over by this advancement
of Lilyehoek to the lieutenant-generalcy ; yet he
was now but twenty-eight years old’’! Lilyehoek
afterwards fell in the bloom of life at Leipsic, as
Nicholas Brahe ’ liad found an early death at Lut-
zen ; he, too, in the judgment of Gustavus Adolpluis,
gave promise of becoming a great commander.
What a school of heroes did not this monarch
form !
After the death of Baner great disorders arose
in the army. No one, since Gustavus Adolphus,
had had it so fully under his sway. Field-marshal
Torstenson was absent, and no one remained whose
authority could be once compared witli his, even
remotely. The three major-generals, Adam Pful,
Charles Gustave Wrangej, and Arvid Witten-
bei’g, assnraed indeed the command, and in con-
junction with Gu^briant even routed the enemy
again at Wolfenbuttel ;
but the conditions which
the colonels stipulated for their obedience showed
that it would be of no long duration. They sent
two delegates to Sweden to submit their demands
to the government. Twenty-three colonels sub-
scribed an agreement to acknowledge no new cmn-
mander before these should be conceded. The
same combination npon which they acted in tlie
militai’y concerns they extended also to those of
politics *. They supported the demands for the
delivery of various strong places, preferred by the
house of Brunswick-Luneburg, which even after
the death of duke George followed the same am-
biguous policy, and now again approximated to the
! Protocol of the senate for 1641, in Adlersparre’s Col-
lections, ii. 21S.
5 To John Lilyehoek, May 24, 1(141. Re^.
s Here we may extract some passages from the letters of
the old field-marshal Herman Wrangel to his son :
" Our
new field-marshal (Torstenson) hath gout, and getteth not up
yet in fourteen days. Lilyehoek. is to be made lieutenant-
general, in order to be Torstenson’s successor ; for Torsten-
son cannot last long. I have indeed represented that you
have been nine years with the army, and have worked suffi-
ciently for that no other should be preferred above you ; but
I received for answer that you were still young enough to
wait. If Lilyehoek become field-marshal after Torstenson,
you appear destined to take his (Lilyehcek’s) place. There-
fore quit not the army, so long as fortune remains with our
arms ; your actions will bring you forward. I indeed expect
that Stalhandske will be ordnance-master in Lilyehcek’s
place, because he is the oldest major-general, and besides
commands as general in Silesia. But this steel-glove is an
old worn-out carle, and a swiller withall." Stockholm, Aug.
10, 1641. This promotion did not take place ;
Stalhandske
was made general of the cavalry. Aug. 17, 1641, Herman
Wrangel writes again to his son :
" Torstenson is better, and
goes shortly to the army with 500,000 rix-doUars, of which
you get your part,"—and adds the following fatherly ex-
hortation, "Mind that ye lay hands upon somewhat, as the
rest do ; he that takes it has it," Correspondence of Charles
Gustave Wrangel, in the Library of Sko Cloister.
7 "Him also king Gustavus at Nurejnberg had judged
capable of commanding the army." Puffendorf, xiii. 29.
emperor, at the very time when it was negotiating
an alliance with Sweden. Agents of Luneburg
and Denmark fanned the tlame of discontent,
which was heightened by real distress. Troopers
and soldiers bartered their horses and accoutre-
ments for provisions, and clamoured, on occasion
of Grubbe"s arrival, that councillors of war, whom
they did not need, were sent to them, but no money
and no field-marshal. The officers said publicly,
that they would no longer obey a Swedish general,
s])oke of peace, and entered into secret connexions
with the enemy. We are informed from a safe
hand, the ministry state in their instructions
for Torstenson, that our pretended friends are
busying themselves with dangerous practices in the
main army ;
if the field-marshal could not gain the
mastery of the troops, his chief aim must be di-
rected to secure the places on the sea-coast, to
draw around hiin all of the army that would pre-
serve their honour, Swedes, Livonians, and others,
to unite with Stalhandske, and make some firm
stand on the Elbe or Oder ;
he should at the same
time keep a watchful eye on Denmark, which had
a liand in misleading the army ’.
Affairs did not proceed to these extremities,
after Salvius had supplied the first needfulness by
an advance from the French subsidies, and the
colonels returnins from Stoekliolm brought with
them new assurances and promises. Yet the state
of things, after a summer spent amidst dissension
and want, was still
very critical at the arrival of
Torstenson 2, which was delayed by illness until late
in the autumn. He brought with him from Sweden
fresh troops^ and money, though not sufficient for
the necessities of the army. Relations with the
dukes of Luneburg, especially through the party
they had created in the army, became more and
more entangled. Jealousy and discontent divided
the commanders. The oldest major-general, Pful,
took his departure, out of disgust at the promotion
of Lilyehoek. Wx’angel was in ill-humour, and ab-
sent for some time^; Wittenberg, through fracture
8 "
The whole body of the colonels and officers of our
army have petitioned for assistance to the house of Lune-
burg, and the transference of several places." The adminis-
tration to major-generals Pful, Wrangel, and Wittenberg,
July 1, 1641. Ueg. _ George, duke of Luneburg, had died
on the 2d of April of that year.
9 " One said in my presence, that tliey wo’.ild hear of no
more Swedish generals." Charles Gustave Wrangel to his
father, Sestedt on the Leine, Sept. 13, 1041. Correspondence.
1
By-instruction for Torstenson, Aug. .SI, 1641. Reg.
2 He came to the army, then encamped round Winsen on
the Alter, in Westphalia, Nov. 15, 1041.
^ Four companies of East-Goths, four of West-Goths, five
of Smalanders, four of Uplanders, four of Westmanlanders,
four from East-Bothnia, three of Snialand horse, besides
some Finnish cavalry. Instruction for the admiral Erie
Ryning (who brought over the recruits), and letier to the
governors of Pomerania, July 3, 1641. Reg.
•» " I perceive from all, that they are here little favourable
to me: and mark also, that how zealously and truly soever
I do my duty, yet they make as if they knew it not ;
and
daily experience shows that their aflfection to one and another
much exceeds what they bear to me. Of my advancement
to be general of the infantry no man has spoken aught ; but
Mortaigne (although in the life-time of field-m.nrshal Baner,
and even afterwards, I was thought worthy to command) is
still associated with me as a general of infantry." He ex-
presses a wish to quit the army. C. G. Wrangel to his
father, Saltzwedel, Feb. 22, 1642. Correspondence in the
Library of Sko Cloister. Wrangel was afterwards, in the
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