He commanded a guard battalion at the Battle of Leuthen, again distinguished himself at the Battle of Hochkirch and was promoted major-general. In 1760 at Liegnitz Frederick gave him four hours in which to collect, arrange and dispatch the spoils of the battle, 6000 prisoners, 100 wagons, 82 guns and 5000 muskets. His complete success marked him as efficient, even in Frederick's army. At the Battle of Torgau, Saldern and von Möllendorf converted a lost battle into a great victory by their desperate assault on the Siptitz Heights with skillful manoeuvring and iron resolution. After Torgau, Saldern was acclaimed as one of the "completest general of infantry alive" by Thomas Carlyle. Subsequently, Frederick claimed that Saldern had brains and heart, by which he meant courage.