Tilly was fighting unwillingly, for he had wished to await the arrival from Italy of 12,000 veterans under General Altringer, and who were within a few days' march; but he had been induced, against his own better judgment, by the urgency of Pappenheim, Furstenberg, and the younger generals, to quit the unassailable post he had taken up in front of Leipzig, and to move out on to the plain of Breitenfeld to accept the battle which the Swedes offered.
A short distance in his front was the village of Podelwitz.

Behind his position were two elevations, on which he placed his guns, forty in number.

In rear of these elevations was a very thick wood.

The Imperialist right was commanded by Furstenberg, the left by Pappenheim, the centre by Tilly himself.

Although he had yielded to his generals so far as to take up a position on the plain, Tilly was resolved, if possible, not to fight until the arrival of the reinforcements; but the rashness of Pappenheim brought on a battle.