Alexander : a history of the origin and growth of the art of war from ...

PHILOPCEMEN'S INTELLIGENCE. 673by clever stratagems, he had thus deceived Antigonus, andgained his end.One ofthe last acts in the drama of Greece was among itsmost brilliant, — the victory by Philopoemen at Mantinaea,third battle of the name, B. c. 206. This great man, " thelast of the Greeks," was strategos of the Achaean League.He was a fine type of the intelligent, diligent soldier. Livysays of him :" Philopoemen was possessed of an admirabledegree of skill and experience in conducting a march andchoosing his station ; having made these points his principalstudy, not only in times of war, but likewise during peace.Whenever he was making a journey to any place, and cameto a defile where the passage was difficult, it was his practice,first, to examine the nature of the ground on every side.When journeying alone, he meditated within himself ; if hehad company, he asked them, ' If an enemy should appear inthat place, what course ought he to adopt, if they shouldattack him in front ; what, if on this flank, or on that ; what,if on the rear ; for he might happen to meet them while hismen were formed with a regular front, or when they were inthe loose order of march, fit only for the road.' He wouldproceed to examine, either in his own mind or by askingquestions, ' What ground he himself would choose ; whatnumber of soldiers, or what kind of arms (which was a verymaterial point) he ought to employ ;where he should depositthe baggage, where the soldiers' necessaries, where the unarmedmultitude ;with what number and what kind of troopshe should guard them ; and whether it would be better toprosecute his march as intended, or to return back by theway he came ; what spot, also, he should choose for his camp ;how large a space he should inclose within the lines ;wherehe could be conveniently supplied with water ;where a sufficiencyof forage and wood could be had ; which would be his