fˈɜːðɚ, hɪz dᵻfˈɛnsɪv səksˈɛs ɪn ðiːz fˈɜːst bˈæɾəlz ɪz ɐ kɹˈɛdɪt tə hɪz ɐbˈɪləɾi tʊ ɐtɹˈækt tˈæləntᵻd mˈɛn tə hɪz kˈɔːz ænd mˌeɪk jˈuːs ʌv ˈɛkspɜːt mˈɪlətˌɛɹi ɐdvˈaɪs, ˈiːvən wɛn ɪt kˈeɪm fɹʌm ɐnˈʌðɚ kˈʌntɹi.
Further, his defensive success in these first battles is a credit to his ability to attract talented men to his cause and make use of expert military advice, even when it came from another country.