Napoleon's Military Maxims

by Napoleon Bonaparte; Cairnes, William E.; D'Aguilar, George C.

• ISBN13: 9780486437309
• ISBN10: 0486437302
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-11-09
• Publisher: Dover Publications

Summary

This rich sampling of the knowledge and wisdom of one of history's greatest military commanders not only provides a fascinating glimpse of the French leader's intellectual ability for conducting military operations, but also reveals his thoughts, theories, and commentaries on waging war and the art of conducting statecraft.

Table of Contents

Dedication	xi
Introduction	xiii
Preface	xxvii
Table of Maxims
Frontiers	1	(1)
Plan of Campaign	1	(2)
Flanks	3	(1)
Junction of Forces	4	(1)
Forces to be Proportioned to Difficulties	5	(1)
Dangers of Retreat	5	(1)
Favourable Positions	6	(8)
Unfavourable Positions	14	(1)
Strength of an Army	15	(1)
Inferior Army	16	(1)
Lines of Communication	17	(1)
Line of Operations	18	(1)
Distance between Corps	19	(2)
Mountain Warfare	21	(1)
Enterprise and Bravery	22	(1)
Frontal Attack	23	(1)
Entrenching	24	(1)
Profiting by Enemy's Indecision	25	(1)
Transition from Defensive to Offensive	26	(1)
Changing the Line of Operation	27	(1)
Marching with Convoys	28	(1)
Encamping in Position	28	(1)
Position Surrounded	29	(1)
Cantonments	30	(1)
Flanking Attack	31	(1)
Corps without Communication	31	(1)
Junction of Retreating Columns	32	(1)
Detaching Part of Force at Night	33	(1)
Fight with the Maximum Force	34	(1)
Flank March	35	(1)
Leave Nothing to Chance	36	(2)
Composition of Advanced Guard	38	(1)
Entering a Defile	39	(1)
Interval between Corps	40	(1)
Encampments Mutually Defensive	41	(1)
Forcing a River	41	(1)
Forcing a River	42	(3)
Defending Passage of a River	45	(1)
Tetes de Pont	46	(1)
Fortresses	47	(1)
Ensuring Success of a Siege	47	(2)
Lines of Circumvallation	49	(2)
Field Fortification	51	(1)
Protection against a Surprise	52	(1)
Defence of a Fortress	52	(2)
Honourable Capitulation	54	(1)
Mutual Support of all Arms	54	(1)
Infantry Formation	55	(1)
Protection of Cavalry	56	(1)
Cavalry Charges	57	(1)
Cavalry Pursuit	58	(1)
Horse Artillery	58	(1)
Complement of Ammunition	59	(1)
Position of Artillery	59	(1)
Supplies on the March	60	(1)
Patriotism an effective Aid to Training	61	(1)
Organisation	61	(1)
First Qualification of a Soldier	62	(1)
Contents of a Knapsack	62	(1)
Attaching the Soldier to his Colours	63	(2)
Speeches on the Battlefield	65	(1)
Bivouacking	65	(1)
Information from Prisoners	66	(1)
Undivided Command	67	(1)
Councils of War	67	(1)
General's Judgment	68	(1)
Death or Victory	68	(2)
Dishonourable Capitulation	70	(1)
Honourable Capitulation	70	(1)
Conduct of General in Conquered Country	71	(2)
Traitors	73	(1)
Obedience versus Private Judgment	73	(2)
Sound Judgment	75	(1)
Chief of the Staff	76	(2)
Commander of Artillery	78	(1)
Duties of Officer in Command of Advanced Posts	78	(1)
Leading Principles of Famous Generals	79	(1)
Study of Famous Campaigns	80