EARTHWORKS. 485 



and Trebescow, and Clam Gallas and the Saxons 

 at Miinchengratz and Gitchin. Benedek ought to 

 have beaten both wings of the Prussian army in 

 detail ; and he could have done it, had he only- 

 possessed common sense. 



If he had determined to accept a general 

 engagement, having the choice of ground, his 

 line of battle ought to have been formed behind 

 the river Elbe instead of in front of it — a fatal 

 error. 



As his army had occupied the field he had 

 chosen for a decisive action for some days, his 

 men ought to have entrenched themselves. The 

 late American war has shown that spades and 

 pickaxes are as much arms of defence as cannon 

 and rifles are of attack ; and earthworks, if they 

 had not entirely changed the fate of the day, at 

 any rate would have impeded the progress of the 

 enemy, and saved the army from an ignominious 

 annihilation. 



Again, with twenty thousand of the finest cavalry 

 in Europe, Benedek ought to have been made aware 

 of every movement of the Prussians; whereas 



