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

the grand tactic. Operational warfare or grand tactics are major campaigns within a theater used to accomplish strategic objectives. It is more or less a link between the tactical and strategic level of warfare. This is the period of time when Davout is the commander of all forces of the Army of Germany before the arrival of Napoleon. Finally the tactical level is the art of fighting battles and engagements. The period of 19 through 23 April 1809 provides numerous opportunities to examine Davout's art of command at this level. Davoutls leadership here not only allows one to witness the art of command, it saved the French army from defeat at the hands of the Austrians along the Danube River in Bavaria. Davout certainly did not defeat the Austrians by himself, there were other factors such as the superior quality of his subordinates and the high caliber of his soldiers that contributed to the French victories. However, it will become obvious that without Davout victory may not have been attained as easily as it was. Left to Napoleon it quite possibly could have met defeat, possible intervention by Prussia, and quite probably the end of the French Empire six years early. Fortunately for the French, Davout displayed an art of command at Abensberg-Eckmuehl that ensured success during the early phases of Napoleon's 1809 campaign.