flank by entrenchments armed with a powerful artillery. Maxim 14. was observed because his line of retreat lay in rear of the strongest part of his position.

It was fortunate for the Duke that his centre at Hastenbeck was not forced before Chevert's attack succeeded, otherwise his whole left wing would have been cut off from its line of retreat.

The French marshal' violated Maxim 21. in detaching Chevert's corps. It was isolated at Afferde during the whole of the 25th and might have been overwhelmed.

He ought to have supported the attack on the enemy's left wing with cavalry, which he did not employ at all. Although it could not have co-operated in the attack, on account of the steepness of the ground, it would have been most useful in deciding the victory and hindering the retreat of the enemy afterwards.

He showed himself wanting in presence of mind in ordering a retreat because of the appearance of some light cavalry in his rear. At the most he need only have detached a brigade of cavalry to repulse them.

It was with reference to his conduct on this occasion that Napoleon made the remark which is given in Chapter VI. on the qualities of a generalin-chief.

BATTLE OF TORGAU.

In November, 1760, the Austrians under Marshal Daun occupied the strong position of Torgau with 64 battalions, and 141 squadrons; their immediate base of operations was Dresden, which had been taken from Frederick during the preceding campaign.

Frederick approached Torgau from Leipsic with 68 battalions and 120 squadrons. He found the Austrian position very formidable, but he determined to attack it for the following reason. Russia was one of the coalition against him; hitherto the Russian armies had produced no sensible effect upon the war because their custom was to retire at the end of each campaign to take winter quarters in Poland, and in the spring following to march again to the Oder. But at this juncture the Russian general had entered into an engagement with the Austrians to winter on the Oder provided they maintained themselves at Torgau. This would have been ruinous to Frederick, since he would have found a great difficulty in recruiting his army with the Russians in the heart of his territory; and his weakened forces would have been exposed to be hemmed in early in the next campaign between the Russian and Austrian armies. He was, therefore, impelled by paramount

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considerations to risk a great deal to drive the

Austrians from Torgau.

The Austrian Position.

The left rested on the fortress of Torgau and the Elbe; the left wing occupied the heights of Zinna; the right rested on the forest of Donnitsch and occupied the heights of Siptitz.

The lake of Torgau secured the left front from attack; the front, which was besides difficult of access on account of the steepness of the heights, was covered by the marshy stream called the Rhorgraben, and the right flank, resting on the forest, was covered by strong and extensive abattis.

The King, judging their front unassailable, and their flanks not to be turned, resolved to attempt two attacks in the centre, one in front, and one in rear. For this purpose he divided his army into two parts.

One third under the command of Ziethen was destined to occupy the attention of the enemy in front, by threatening to attack, which it was to do really as soon as the King, who led the remaining two thirds by a long circuitous march through the forest of Donnitsch, was able to commence his attack on the enemy's rear.

Frederick's troops marched in three columns on different routes. In his march through the forest he

encountered the Austrian outposts who gave the alarm to Daun; and he, perceiving that he was to be attacked in rear, countermarched his whole line. Thus the right occupied the heights of Zinna, the left those of Siptitz.

About one o'clock the King debouched from the forest, but only with one of his columns, consisting of 10 battalions, a few squadrons, and 20 guns. The other columns had not arrived. Just at this time Ziethen, who had advanced on the original front of the Austrians, became engaged with the Austrian second line, which faced about and received him with a brisk cannonade.

Frederick, fearing Ziethen would be overwhelmed, formed his handful of men in two lines, and under cover of his 20 guns attacked the Austrian army in position. His battalions and guns were swept away in a moment by the fire of Daun's line, and by the grape from 200 guns.

The second and third columns arriving in succession were pushed into the fight, and in succession repulsed and almost destroyed. The Duke of Holstein who commanded the cavalry, and had not made his way through the forest in time to support these attacks, now came up, and by a brilliant charge improved the King's prospects a little; but he was notwithstanding obliged to retreat and abandon the field

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of battle. Meanwhile Ziethen, hearing the firing in his front diminish and recede, concluded that the King was beaten; he determined to try to join him by the left; he succeeded in reaching the village of Siptitz and in mounting the heights above it, thanks to that part of the Austrian line having been weakened by reinforcements sent from it to the first line. Ziethen succeeded then in uniting with the King's reserve, which had not been engaged; he formed this force, consisting in all of 28 fresh battalions, on the heights of Siptitz, the key of the Austrian position, at right angles to their line. The sun had now set. The King, informed of this lucky stroke, joined him with 10 weak battalions he had organized out of the wreck of forty which had been engaged in the battle. At midnight the Austrians retreated and crossed the Elbe.

Observations.

The Austrian position fulfilled all the requirements of Maxims 12. 14. 16. and 17. Maxims 12. and 14. because Dresden was the immediate base, and the most secure route to it from the field of battle lay through Torgau by the right bank of the Elbe, and the line of retreat was in rear of the left flank, which was unapproachable by the enemy.

Maxims 16. and 17. evidently in a very high de

gree.