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

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Even if these characteristics and their proper balance show Davoutls mastery of the art of command, can they be applied today? If so are 185 year old principles still valid and how does one learn them? Napoleon believed that certain attributes transcend time and that these can be learned through experience and study. He said, "Generalship is acquired only by experience and the study of all great captains.st12 Napoleon himself spent extensive time studying the past great leaders. As have others whom we consider to be great commanders. Napoleon's instructions to his subordinates included the following passage; Read over and over again the campaigns of Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar, Gustavus, Tuerene, Eugene and Frederic. Make them your models. This is the only way to become a great general and to master the secrets of the art of war. With your own genius enlightened by this study, you will reject all maxims opposed to these great commanders. 13 Whereas the corps commander today can nolonger view the battlefield as Davout did in 1809, he can still command it using the same principles and the art of command that Davout used. Although not fully defined, the art of command has been shown in the context of battle. One can derive that insight by studying how a great commander displayed the art of command in the dynamics of battle. As we have by following Louis Nicholas Davout from strategic commander to tactical executer. The events of April 1809 have
helped to provide definition to the art of command and have shown Marshal Davout to be a great commander. Without Davout's abilities during this period in Central Europe the French Army would not have performed as well as they did. It was Davout and this unique ability, the art of command, that made the difference. He continued to display this fully developed art at all three levels of war for the next six years in service to France and Napoleon. His allegiance to both never failed. Davout's performance can be summed up in four words--He was never defeated.
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ABSTRACT MARSHAL LOUIS N. DAVOUT AN
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TABLE OF CONTENTS ?&%slsAPPROVALPAG
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CHAPTER 1 BUT WHAT ARE WE TO UNDERS
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the study of simple strategy and ta
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This fact becomes even more obvious
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the grand tactic. Operational warfa
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Burgundian countryside. He was born
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In1803 Davout was given command of
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then launch a major offensive into
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This attack'then ensured victory fo
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would actually go to war. However,
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Bluecher made four unsuccessful att
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fight entirely on his own. The batt
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title until two years after the bat
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Without hesitation Davout pushed fo
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most of his marshals, generals, the
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CHAPTER 3 THE AUSTRIANS ARE OUR WOR
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Finally, with Davout's information
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Austrian influence in Germany and I
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organization, always slow to act. M
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course of action. They now had a be
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elieved Prince Eugene and Marshal A
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22 March Davout had sent a message
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were designated VII Corps and consi
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and intelligence at the strategic l
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across the Danube. The Austrians al
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transmitted from Napoleon to Berthi
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Normally, the message dispatched by
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me that the best maneuver would be
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Berthier chose to overlook this cor
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Landshut were only one corps and no
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destroy him. On the eighteenth Char
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critical for the French. Napoleon r
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Throughout these ten days before th
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CHAPTER 5 YOU ONLY HAVE A CURTAIN O
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Gudin to support the movement of hi
Page 75 and 76: well. They bought Davout the necess
Page 77 and 78: The remainder of the Austrians then
Page 79 and 80: His tactical leadership was at its
Page 81 and 82: Napoleon's vision of the battlefiel
Page 83 and 84: against the French. His troops succ
Page 85 and 86: to surrender at 5:00 P.M. Now Charl
Page 87 and 88: pursuit on two parallel roads leadi
Page 89 and 90: important part in Davout's decision
Page 91 and 92: orders and directions. While Davout
Page 93 and 94: Corps. He received no reply from th
Page 95 and 96: convinced he was being attacked by
Page 97 and 98: CHAPTER 6 THE DUKE OF AUERSTAEDT IS
Page 99 and 100: eginning to feel the fatigue of con
Page 101 and 102: Just as the Austrians began to move
Page 103 and 104: effect, Davoutfs forces became the
Page 105 and 106: The French carabiniers fired a volZ
Page 107 and 108: Charles would lose his desire to st
Page 109 and 110: The ~re'nch prevailed over the Aust
Page 111 and 112: CHAPTER 7 IN BATTLE MEN ARE NOTHING
Page 113 and 114: counter orders did nothing but conf
Page 115 and 116: doctrine, and most importantly the
Page 117 and 118: The art of war on land is an art of
Page 119 and 120: Maintaining this vision or coup d'o
Page 121 and 122: internal fears rather than obstinac
Page 123 and 124: who never made a mistake. The key i
Page 125: too seemed only to be small diversi
Page 129 and 130: Figure 1.Theater of Operations.
Page 131 and 132: INITIALACTIONSABOUT 1500Counteratta
Page 133 and 134: Figure 5.Davout's Running Fight on
Page 135 and 136: N1- 'LABER RIVER' SCHlERLlNGLANNESI
Page 137 and 138: Reserve Division: Demont' (3,215) 2
Page 139 and 140: APPENDIX C ORDER OF BATTLE CHANGES
Page 141 and 142: ll~avidG. Chandler, The Cam~aians o
Page 143 and 144: 3~hisis noted in Napoleon's corresp
Page 145 and 146: 20~his is from correspondence numbe
Page 147 and 148: WORKS CITED Primarv Sources Bonapar
Page 149 and 150: Arnold, James R. Crisis on The Danu
Page 151 and 152: ackground material and specifics on
Page 153 and 154: secondary source but all informatio
Page 155 and 156: INITIAL DISTRIBUTION LIST 1. , Comb
Page 157: STATEMENT A: Approved for public re
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