The Art of War - Khamkoo

distinction: either they are entirely in flight (motion), and here it is impossible
to return them: or only a part are in flight, and here there is
some remedy. Many Roman Captains, by getting in front of those fleeing,
have stopped them, by making them ashamed of their flight, as did
Lucius Sulla, who, when a part of his Legions had already turned, driven
by the forces of Mithradates, with his sword in hand he got in front of
them and shouted, "if anyone asks you where you have left your Captain,
tell them, we have left him in Boetia fighting." The Consul Attilius
opposed those who fled with those who did not flee, and made them understand
that if they did not turn about, they would be killed by both
friends and enemies. Phillip of Macedonia, when he learned that his men
were afraid of the Scythian soldiers, put some of his most trusted cavalry
behind his army, and commissioned them to kill anyone who fled;
whence his men, preferring to die fighting rather than in flight, won.
Many Romans, not so much in order to stop a flight, as to give his men
an occasion to exhibit greater prowess, while they were fighting, have
taken a banner out of their hands, and tossing it amid the enemy, offered
rewards to whoever would recover it.
I do not believe it is out of order to add to this discussion those things
that happen after a battle, especially as they are brief, and not to be omitted,
and conform greatly to this discussion. I will tell you, therefore, how
engagements are lost, or are won. When one wins, he ought to follow up
the victory with all speed, and imitate Caesar in this case, and not Hannibal,
who, because he had stopped after he had defeated the Romans at
Cannae, lost the Empire of Rome. The other (Caesar) never rested after a
victory, but pursued the routed enemy with great impetus and fury, until
he had completely assaulted it. But when one loses, a Captain ought to
see if something useful to him can result from this loss, especially if some
residue of the army remains to him. An opportunity can arise from the
unawareness of the enemy, which frequently becomes obscured after a
victory, and gives you the occasion to attack him; as Martius, the Roman,
attacked the Carthaginian army, which, having killed the two Scipios
and defeated their armies, thought little of that remnant of the forces
who, with Martius, remained alive; and was (in turn) attacked and
routed by him. It is seen, therefore, that there is nothing so capable of
success as that which the enemy believes you cannot attempt, because
men are often injured more when they are less apprehensive. A Captain
ought, therefore, when he cannot do this, at least endeavor with industry
to restrict the injury caused by the defeat. And to do this, it is necessary
for you to take steps that the enemy is not able to follow you easily, or
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