Won by the Sword

Won by the Sword, by G.A.
Henty

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Title: Won by the Sword
Author: G.A. Henty

Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4931] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on March 31,
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Edition: 10
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Won by the Sword A Story of the Thirty Years' War
G.A. Henty

PREFACE.
MY DEAR LADS,
In my preface to the Lion of the North I expressed a hope that I might
some day be able to continue the history of the Thirty Years' War. The
deaths of Gustavus and his great rival Wallenstein and the crushing
defeat of the Swedes and their allies at the battle of Nordlingen brought
the first period of that war to a close. Hostilities, indeed, never ceased,
but the Swedes no longer played the leading part on the Protestant side
that they had hitherto occupied. Oxenstiern, the great chancellor of
Sweden, saw that the only hope of eventual success lay in engaging
France in the struggle, and he and the Duke of Weimar went to Paris
and pointed out to Richelieu that unless France intervened, Austria
must become the master of all Germany, and as the ally of Spain would
have it in her power to completely dominate France. Richelieu
perceived the opportunity, made a treaty with the Swedes and Weimar,

and engaged to grant large subsidies to the former, and to send an army
to cooperate with the latter. Then began the second period of this long
and terrible struggle, France now taking the place that Sweden had
hitherto occupied, and bearing the brunt of the conflict. She emerged
triumphant with her territories largely increased, while Austria was
crushed and humiliated, and Spain was dethroned from her position as
the dominating power of Europe. The success of France was greatly
due to the fact that her armies were led by two of the greatest military
geniuses of all times, viz., Conde and Turenne, men of very different
types, but equally great as commanders, and equally at the time of
which we are speaking devoted to the cause of France. Both were men
of extraordinary personal courage, and although one was as prudent and
careful of the lives of his troops as the other was impetuous and
careless at what cost he won his victories, they worked together with a
harmony that could have hardly been expected among men so
differently constituted. Although, in the subsequent wars of the Fronde
they took different sides, their friendship, except during a short period
of alienation, was never shaken, and their admiration for each other's
genius never abated.
Yours sincerely,
G.A. HENTY
CHAPTER I
: A STROKE OF GOOD FORTUNE
A mounted officer, followed by two orderlies, was proceeding at a
brisk trot from Paris to St. Denis, in October, 1639, when he came upon
a large party of boys, who, armed with sticks, were advancing in
something like military order against a wall on the top of a low hill.
"What are you doing?" he asked the lad who appeared to be the leader.
"We are playing at war, sir. We are advancing against the fortress of La
Motte. This is the regiment of Turenne."

"And who are you at other times?" the officer asked with a smile.
"My name is Hector Campbell, sir."
"Then you are not French?"
"No, sir; my father was an officer in the Scotch regiment. He was killed
at the siege of La Rochelle."
"And who is taking care of you?"
"I live with Angus MacIntosh. He was a sergeant in my father's
company. He was badly wounded at La Rochelle, and not being fit for
further service, he took