In 'Battle Studies', Ardant Du Picq delves into the psychology of warfare, examining the chaotic nature of battle and the human responses it elicits. With a keen eye for detail, he explores historical conflicts, drawing lessons that remain relevant to military strategy today. His insights challenge conventional wisdom, urging leaders to understand the mental state of soldiers amidst the turbulence of combat. As he dissects the interplay between morale, leadership, and combat conditions, readers are invited to ponder critical questions about the nature of conflict. This fascinating exploration not only enriches our understanding of war but also casts a reflective light on the human condition itself.
By Ardant Du Picq
Published: NaN
""The art of war is a science that must remain in constant evolution, for the battlefield is but a reflection of the human spirit in its struggle for survival and supremacy.""
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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Windham Press is committed to bringing the lost cultural heritage of ages past into the 21st century through high-quality reproductions of original, classic printed works at affordable prices. This book has been carefully crafted to utilize the original images of antique books rather than error-prone OCR text. This also preserves the work of the original typesetters of these classics, unknown craftsmen who laid out the text, often by hand, of each and every page you will read. Their subtle art involving judgment and interaction with the text is in many ways superior and more human than the mechanical methods utilized today, and gave each book a unique, hand-crafted feel in its text that connected the reader organically to the art of bindery and book-making. We think these benefits are worth the occasional imperfection resulting from the age of these books at the time of scanning, and their vintage feel provides a connection to the past that goes beyond the mere words of the text.
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“"The art of war is a science that must remain in constant evolution, for the battlefield is but a reflection of the human spirit in its struggle for survival and supremacy."”
Battle Studies
By Ardant Du Picq
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Ardant Du Picq (1821-1870) was a distinguished French military officer and theorist, renowned for his influential writings on military strategy and tactics. His seminal work, 'Battle Studies' ('Études sur le combat'), published posthumously in 1880, is considered a cornerstone in the field of military theory, emphasizing the psychological and social aspects of combat alongside traditional tactical analysis. Du Picq's writing style is characterized by a rigorous analytical approach, blending empirical observation with philosophical insights, which has profoundly shaped modern military thought. His emphasis on the human factors in warfare continues to resonate with military scholars and practitioners.
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