Nicholas Conrad first positions 1,500 men to observe and harass the imperial advance, then circulates warnings that draw contingents away from the force facing Maximilian at Constance. Maximilian appears not to notice that the army he believes pinned there is shrinking as allied contingents leave. Bern contributes 3,000 troops, while Solothurn's men bring enough food and wine to sustain units arriving from farther away. This logistical preparation lets distant contingents move quickly without carrying all their own supplies. Conrad uses the imperial camp's poor security to persuade a council of war to attack before nightfall. The timing is deliberate: darkness will magnify the cost of any imperial retreat, while another thousand Swiss are expected to arrive late in the fight.
Chapter · 31:54-36:49
Nicholas Conrad concentrates the cantonal response
Local warnings, allied reinforcements, and food supplied by Solothurn let Nicholas Conrad assemble 5,000 troops and choose an immediate attack despite heavy odds.