one o'clock in the morning on the
5th of November
From Halle Pappenheim was to proceed to the relief of Cologne , which was menaced by the enemy . Having done this , Wallenstein withdrew from the line of the Saale and prepared to distribute his army in winter quarters in the towns of the district , he himself with a portion of the force occupying the little town of Lutzen . But Gustavus had no idea of taking up his quarters for the winter at Naumburg ; and he proposed to the Elector of Saxony that if he would march to Eilenberg , midway to Leipzig , he himself would make a detour to the south round Wallenstein 's position and join him there . Without waiting to receive the answer of the elector , Gustavus , leaving a garrison in Naumburg , set out at one o'clock in the morning on the 5th of November on his march ; but before he had proceeded nine miles he learned from a number of gentlemen and peasants favourable to the cause that Pappenheim had started for Halle , that the remainder of the Imperial army lay dispersed among the towns and villages of the neighbourhood , and that Wallenstein himself was at Lutzen . Gustavus called his generals together and informed them of the news . Learning that Lutzen was but five miles distant -- as it turned out , a mistaken piece of information , as it was nearly twice as far -- he ordered that the men should take some food , and then wheeling to the left , push on towards Lutzen . It was not until some time later that Wallenstein learned from the Imperial scouts that Gustavus was upon him .