the best teachers, but it is certainly a misfortune
if a cloud of theoretical prejudices comes between, for even the sunbeam
is refracted and tinted by the clouds. To destroy such prejudices, which
many a time rise and spread themselves like a miasma, is an imperative
duty of theory, for the misbegotten offspring of human reason can also
be in turn destroyed by pure reason.

CHAPTER XII. STRATEGIC MEANS OF UTILISING VICTORY

THE more difficult part, viz., that of perfectly preparing the victory,
is a silent service of which the merit belongs to Strategy and yet for
which it is hardly sufficiently commended. It appears brilliant and full
of renown by turning to good account a victory gained.

What may be the special object of a battle, how it is connected with the
whole system of a War, whither the career of victory may lead according
to the nature of circumstances, where its culminating-point lies--all
these are things which we shall not enter upon until hereafter. But
under any conceivable circumstances the fact holds good, that without a
pursuit no victory can have a great effect, and that, however short the
career of victory may be, it must always lead beyond the first steps in
pursuit; and in order to avoid the frequent repetition of this, we
shall now dwell for a moment on this necessary supplement of victory in
general.

The pursuit of a beaten Army commences at the moment that Army, giving
up the combat, leaves its position; all previous movements in one
direction and another belong not to that but to the progress of the
battle itself. Usually victory at the moment here described, even if it
is certain, is still as yet small and weak in its proportions, and would
not rank as an event of any great positive advantage if not completed by
a pursuit on the first day. Then it is mostly, as we have before said,
that the trophies which give substance to the victory begin to be
gathered up. Of this pursuit we shall speak in the next place.

Usually both sides come into action with their physical powers
considerably deteriorated, for the movements immediately preceding have
generally the character of very urgent circumstances. The efforts which
the forging out of a great combat costs, complete the exhaustion;
from this it follows that the victorious party is very little less
disorganised and out of his original formation than the vanquished,
and therefore requires time to reform, to collect stragglers, and issue