The translation now presented to the people has been made with the earnest hope and the sincere expectation of its proving useful. As the existence of a large, well-instructed standing army is deemed incompatible with our institutions, it becomes the more important that military information be as extensively diffused as possible among the people. If by the present work the translators shall find they have contributed, even in an inconsiderable degree, to this important object, they will be amply repaid for the care and labor expended upon it.
To those persons to whom the study of the art of war is a new one, it is recommended to begin at the article "Strategy," [Chapter III.], from that point to read to the end of the [Second Appendix], and then to return to [Chapters I.] and [II.] It should be borne in mind that this subject, to be appreciated, must be studied, map in hand: this remark is especially true of strategy. An acquaintance with the campaigns of Napoleon I. is quite important, as they are constantly referred to by Jomini and by all other recent writers on the military art.
U.S. Military Academy,
West Point, N.Y.
January, 1862.
CONTENTS.
[TRANSLATORS' PREFACE.]
[CONTENTS.]
[DEFINITIONS OF THE BRANCHES OF THE ART OF WAR.]
[CHAPTER I. THE RELATION OF DIPLOMACY TO WAR.]