Wallenstein had brought with him vast stores of provisions, and could draw upon the surrounding country for the further maintenance of his army.

It was only necessary then to place himself in a position where the Swedes could not attack him with a hope of success.
Such a position lay at a distance of three miles from Nuremberg, where there was a wooded hill known as the Alte Veste.

Round this Wallenstein threw up a circle of defences, consisting of a ditch behind which was an interlacement of forest trees, baggage wagons, and gabions, forming an almost insurpassable obstacle to an attacking force.

Within this circle he encamped his army, formed into eight divisions, each about seven thousand strong, while two considerable bodies of troops in the diocese of Bamberg and the Upper Palatinate prepared to oppose any forces approaching to the aid of Nuremberg, and the Croats, horse and foot, scoured the country day and night to prevent any supplies entering the city.

Having thus adopted every means for starving out the beleaguered army and city, Wallenstein calmly awaited the result..