Nelson Henty In Freedom's Cause

Nelson Mandela, a past president of South Africa, said, “It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.” Mandela, an activist who spent twenty-seven years in prison, understood the risks a person has to take in order to become an effective leader. Superior leaders selflessly give up many benefits to help other people. They sacrifice time, money, and even personal health. Risking their lives, military leaders skillfully and courageously lead their soldiers through the thick of the battle. In G.A. Henty’s historical fiction book In Freedom’s Cause, William Wallace, a Scottish military leader, bravely defends Scotland from the hands of the English during the Wars of Independence. Of all the characters in In Freedom’s Cause, William Wallace qualifies as a
Wallace intelligently uses geographical features- bridges and rivers- as well as unique formations of the Scottish Army to defeat the English. For instance, at the battle of Sterling Bridge, Wallace knew that only two horses at a time could go across the narrow bridge. He plans that once half the English army crosses the bridge the English would charge at a small group of Wallace’s men who would run luring the English away. Then the main body of Wallace’s army would rush down and attack the other portion of the English army. When the soldiers who had attacked Wallace’s men return, they would find their army defeated (136-137). Using the Sterling Bridge to minimize the army, Wallace cleverly leads the Scots to conquer the English army. Furthermore demonstrating his ability to strategize, Wallace organizes the Scottish army into formations to stop the English army from breaking through and defeating the Scots. Henty writes that at the battle of Falkirk Wallace plans for the infantry too