In 1645, the French army, under the orders of the Prince of Condé, was
on the march to lay siege to Nordlingen, when it was discovered that
Count Merci, who commanded the Bavarians, had foreseen this intention,
and had entrenched himself in a strong position which defended
Nordlingen at the same time that it covered Donawerth.
Notwithstanding the favorable position of the enemy, Condé ordered the
attack. The combat was terrible. All the infantry in the centre and on
the right, after being successively engaged, was routed and dispersed,
in spite of the efforts of the cavalry and the reserve, which were
likewise carried away with the fugitives. The battle was lost. Condé,
in despair, having no longer either centre or right to depend upon,
collected the remnants of his battalions, and directed his march to the
left, where Turenne was still engaged. This perseverance reanimated
the ardor of the troops. They broke the right wing of the enemy,
and Turenne, by a change of front, returned to the attack upon his
centre. Night, too, favored the boldness of Condé. An entire corps of
Bavarians, fancying themselves cut off, laid down their arms; and the
obstinacy of the French general in this struggle for victory was repaid
by possession of the field of battle, together with a great number of
prisoners, and almost all the enemy’s artillery. The Bavarian army beat
a retreat, and the next day Nordlingen capitulated.