As the Thebans were retreating from Orchomenus towards Tegyrae, the Spartans, at the same time marching from Locris, met them. As soon as they came in view, advancing through the straights, one told Pelopidas [the Theban commander], “We are fallen into our enemy’s hands;” he replied, “And why not they into ours?” and immediately commanded his horse to come up from the rear and charge, while he himself drew his infantry, being three hundred in number, into a close body, hoping by that means, at whatsoever point he made the attack, to break his way through his more numerous enemies.
tl;dr:
Pelopidas and his Theban troops are on the road and run into a superior force of Spartans. One of his men basically tells him they’re screwed now, and Pelopidas says, no, they’re screwed, and orders an immediate attack, numbers be damned. Pelopidas DGAF.
Also, if that Leroy Jenkins reference went over your head, here is a link for the uninitiated.
Source:
Plutarch, John Dryden, and Arthur Hugh Clough. "Pelopidas." Plutarch's Lives. New York: Modern Library, 2001. 395. Print.
Further Reading:
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