MARSHAL LOUIS N. DAVOUT AND THE ART OF COMMAND A ...

Very few officers study the grand detail, but spend most of their time exercising the troops, from a weak supposition that the military art consists alone in that branch; when therefore they arrive at the command of armies they are totally perplexed.3 This is one reason so many subordinate commanders prove to be failures when given command of larger units. A few of Napoleon's marshals offer very good examples of this principle. Emmanuel de Grouchy's ability to command a cavalry division was unmatched; however, as a wing commander at Waterloo he was overwhelmed. Ney offers another good example. He persistently allowed his rashness to affect his ability to control more than a small unit with any skill. Davout's coup d'oeil was evident in this example as he constantly understood the actions of the enemy and what must be done to prevent their success. He saw the big picture, and his actions reflected an understanding of this picture as well as a vision of what he should do. Davout's actions at Teugen-Hausen show he knew that potentially he had to fight but at the same time effect a linkup with the remainder of the French Army. He kept this operational vision in perspective when developing his tactical plans. Davout never lost this operational vision throughout the next three days of fighting even though it appeared that Napoleon had. Davoutls vision was key to adjusting the French dispositions and creating the circumstances for victory.