Over and over again they reached the intrenchments, but were unable to force their way through the thickly bound fallen trees, while their lines were torn with a storm of iron and lead.

Never did the Scottish soldiers of Gustavus fight with greater desperation and valour.

Scores of them rolled lifeless down the slope, but fresh men took their places and strove to hack their way through the impenetrable screen through which the Imperialist bullets whistled like hail.
At last, when nigh half their number had fallen, the rest, exhausted, broken, and in disorder, fell suddenly back.

Gustavus in person then led on his Finlanders, but these, after a struggle as obstinate and heroic as that of their predecessors, in their turn fell back baffled.

The Livonians next made the attempt, but in vain.
In the meantime a sharp conflict had taken place between the Imperial cavalry and the Swedish left wing.