SALDERN, FRIEDRICH CHRISTOPH VON (1719- 1785), Prussian soldier and military writer, entered the army in 1735, and was transferred to the Guards in 1739. As one of Fred erick's aides-de-camp he was the first to discover the approach of Neipperg's Austrians at Mollwitz. He commanded a guard bat talion at Leuthen, again distinguished himself at Hochkirch and was promoted major-general. In 1760 at Liegnitz Frederick gave him four hours in which to collect, arrange and despatch the spoils of the battle, 6,000 prisoners, 1 oo wagons, 82 guns and 5,000 muskets. His complete success made him a marked man even in Frederick's army. At Torgau, Saldern and Mollendorf (q.v.) with their brigades converted a lost battle into a great victory by their desperate assault on the Siptitz heights. The manoeuvring skill, as well as the iron resolution, of the attack, has excited the wonder of modern critics, and after Torgau Saldern was accounted the "completest general of infantry alive" (Carlyle). In the follow
ing winter, however, being ordered by Frederick to sack Hubertus burg, Saldern refused on the ground of conscience. Nothing was left for him but to retire, but after the peace the general was at once made inspector of the troops at Magdeburg. In 1766 he be came lieutenant-general. Saldern was a pedant of the most pro nounced type. In one of his works he discussed at great length the question between 76 and 75 paces to the minute as the proper cadence of infantry. "Saldern-tactics" contributed powerfully to the disaster of Jena in 1806. His works included 7'aktik der In fanterie (Dresden, 1784) and Taktische Grundsiitze (Dresden, 1786), and were the basis of the British "Dundas" drill-book.