Battle Studies: Ancient and Modern Battle

BATTLE STUDIES: ANCIENT AND MODERN BATTLE
By Colonel Ardant du Picq


Excerpt from Preface

In presenting to the American reading public a translation of a volume written by an obscure French colonel, belonging to a defeated army, who fell on the eve of a battle which not alone gave France over to the enemy but disclosed a leadership so inapt as to awaken the suspicion of treason, one is faced by the inevitable interrogation — "Why?"

Yet the answer is simple. The value of the book of Ardant du Picq lies precisely in the fact that it contains not alone the unmistakable forecast of the defeat, itself, but a luminous statement of those fundamental principles, the neglect of which led to Gravelotte and Sedan.

Napoleon has said that in war the moral element is to all others as three is to one. Moreover, as du Picq impressively demonstrates, while all other circumstances change with time, the human element remains the same, capable of just so much endurance, sacrifice, effort, and no more. Thus, from Caesar to Foch, the essential factor in war endures unmodified. . .


Contents

Frontispiece — Portrait of Colonel Ardant du Picq
Foreword
Preface
Translator's Note
Introduction
A Military Thinker
Record of Military Service of Colonel Ardant du Picq
Extract from the History of the 10th Infantry Regiment

PART ONE: ANCIENT BATTLE

Introduction
I. Man in Primitive and Ancient Combat
II. Knowledge of Man Made Roman Tactics; the Successes of Hannibal; Those of Caesar
III. Analysis of the Battle of Cannae
IV. Analysis of the Battle of Pharsalus and Some Characteristic Examples
V. Morale in Ancient Battle
VI. How Real Combatants Are Obtained and How the Fighting of To-Day Requires Them to Be More Dependable Than in Ancient Battle
VII. Purpose of This Study and What Is Necessary to Complete It

PART TWO: MODERN BATTLE

I. General Discussion
1. Ancient and Modern Battle
2. Moral Elements in Battle
3. Material and Moral Effect
4. The Theory of Strong Battalions
5. Combat Methods

II. Infantry
1. Masses — Deep Columns
2. Skirmishers — Supports — Reserves — Squares
3. Firing
4. Marches — Camps — Night Attacks

III. Cavalry
1. Cavalry and Modern Appliances
2. Cavalry Against Cavalry
3. Cavalry Against Infantry
4. Armor and Armament

IV. Artillery

V. Command, General Staff and Administration

VI. Social and Military Institutions; National Characteristics

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