The Art of War
GENERAL AND AID-DE-CAMP OF THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA.
A New Edition, with Appendices and Maps.
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH
CORPS OF TOPOGRAPHICAL ENGINEERS, U.S. ARMY,
CORPS OF ENGINEERS, U.S. ARMY.
Originally published in 1862
In the execution of any undertaking there are extremes on either hand which are alike to be avoided. The rule holds in a special manner in making a translation. There is, on the one side, the extreme of too rigid adherence, word for word and line for line, to the original, and on the other is the danger of using too free a pen. In either case the sense of the author may not be truly given. It is not always easy to preserve a proper mean between these extremes. The translators of Jomini's Summary of the Principles of the Art of War have endeavored to render their author into plain English, without mutilating or adding to his ideas, attempting no display and making no criticisms.
To persons accustomed to read for instruction in military matters, it is not necessary to say a word with reference to the merits of Jomini. To those not thus accustomed heretofore, but who are becoming more interested in such subjects, (and this class must include the great mass of the American public,) it is sufficient to say, and it may be said with entire truth, that General Jomini is admitted by all competent judges to be one of the ablest military critics and historians of this or any other day.
baron de Antoine Henri Jomini
---
BARON DE JOMINI,
Capt. G.H. MENDELL,
AND
Lieut. W.P. CRAIGHILL,
PREFACE
CONTENTS.
SUMMARY
OF
THE ART OF WAR.
DEFINITION OF THE ART OF WAR.
CHAPTER I.
STATESMANSHIP IN ITS RELATION TO WAR.
ARTICLE I.
Offensive Wars to Reclaim Rights.
ARTICLE II.
Of Wars Defensive Politically, and Offensive in a Military Point of View.
ARTICLE III.
Wars of Expediency.
ARTICLE IV.
Of Wars with or without Allies.
ARTICLE V.
Wars of Intervention.
ARTICLE VI.
Aggressive Wars for Conquest and other Reasons.
ARTICLE VII.
Wars of Opinion.
ARTICLE VIII.
National Wars.
ARTICLE IX.
Civil Wars, and Wars of Religion.
ARTICLE X.
Double Wars, and the Danger of Undertaking Two Wars at Once.
CHAPTER II.
MILITARY POLICY.
ARTICLE XI.
Military Statistics and Geography.
ARTICLE XII.
Other Causes which exercise an Influence upon the Success of a War.
ARTICLE XIII.
Military Institutions.
ARTICLE XIV.
The Command of Armies, and the Chief Control over Operations.
ARTICLE XV.
The Military Spirit of Nations, and the Morale of Armies.
CHAPTER III.
THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF WAR.
OF STRATEGIC COMBINATIONS.
ARTICLE XVI.
Of the System of Operations.
ARTICLE XVII.
Of the Theater of Operations.
ARTICLE XVIII.
Bases of Operations.
Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
ARTICLE XIX.
Strategic lines and Points, Decisive Points of the Theater of War, and Objective Points of Operations.
OBJECTIVE POINTS.
ARTICLE XX.
Fronts of Operations, Strategic Fronts, Lines of Defense, and Strategic Positions.
FRONTS OF OPERATIONS AND STRATEGIC FRONTS.
LINES OF DEFENSE.
STRATEGIC POSITIONS.
ARTICLE XXI.
Zones and Lines of Operations.
OBSERVATIONS UPON THE LINES OF OPERATIONS IN THE WARS OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.
MAXIMS ON LINES OF OPERATIONS.
Fig. 4.
OBSERVATIONS UPON INTERIOR LINES—WHAT HAS BEEN SAID AGAINST THEM.
ARTICLE XXII.
Strategic Lines.
ARTICLE XXIII.
Means of protecting a Line of Operations by Temporary Bases or Strategic Reserves.
STRATEGIC RESERVES.
ARTICLE XXIV.
The Old System of Wars of Position and the Modern System of Marches.
ARTICLE XXV.
Depots of Supplies, and their Relation to Marches.
ARTICLE XXVI.
The Defense of Frontiers by Forts and Intrenched Lines.—Wars of Sieges.
INTRENCHED LINES.
ARTICLE XXVII.
The Connection of Intrenched Camps and Têtes de Ponts with Strategy.
TÊTES DE PONTS.
ARTICLE XXVIII.
Strategic Operations in Mountains.
ARTICLE XXIX.
Grand Invasions and Distant Expeditions.
EPITOME OF STRATEGY
CHAPTER IV.
GRAND TACTICS AND BATTLES.
ARTICLE XXX.
Positions and Defensive Battles.
ARTICLE XXXI.
Offensive Battles, and Different Orders of Battle.
Fig. 6.
Fig. 7.
Fig. 8.
Fig. 9.
Fig. 12.
Fig. 13.
Fig. 14.
Fig. 15.
Fig. 16.
ARTICLE XXXII.
Turning Maneuvers, and too extended Movement in Battles.
ARTICLE XXXIII.
Unexpected Meeting of Two Armies on the March.
ARTICLE XXXIV.
Of Surprises of Armies.
ARTICLE XXXV.
Of the Attack by Main Force of Fortified Places, Intrenched Camps or Lines.—Of Coups de Main in General.
COUPS DE MAIN.
CHAPTER V.
OF SEVERAL MIXED OPERATIONS, WHICH ARE IN CHARACTER PARTLY STRATEGICAL AND PARTLY TACTICAL.
ARTICLE XXXVI.
Of Diversions and Great Detachments.
ARTICLE XXXVII.
Passage of Rivers and Other Streams.
ARTICLE XXXVIII.
Retreats and Pursuits.
ARTICLE XXXIX.
Of Cantonments, either when on the March, or when established in Winter Quarters.
ARTICLE XL.
Descents.
CHAPTER VI.
LOGISTICS; OR, THE PRACTICAL ART OF MOVING ARMIES.
ARTICLE XLI.
A few Remarks on Logistics in General.
ARTICLE XLII.
Of Reconnoissances and other Means of gaining Correct Information of the Movements of the Enemy.
CHAPTER VII.
OF THE FORMATION OF TROOPS FOR BATTLE, AND THE SEPARATE OR COMBINED USE OF THE THREE ARMS.
ARTICLE XLIII.
Posting Troops in Line of Battle.
Fig. 28.
ARTICLE XLIV.
Formation and Employment of Infantry.
Fig. 31.
Fig. 32.
Fig. 33.
Fig. 34.
ARTICLE XLV.
Cavalry.
ARTICLE XLVI.
Employment of Artillery.
Of the Combined Use of the Three Arms.
CONCLUSION.
TO THE
SUMMARY OF THE ART OF WAR.
NOTE
Fig. 39.
Fig. 40.
SECOND APPENDIX
TO THE
SUMMARY OF THE ART OF WAR.
SKETCH OF THE PRINCIPAL MARITIME EXPEDITIONS.