Battle Studies | Page 4

leading their
men in battle or in their divers contacts with the enemy, he sent to each
one a questionnaire, in the form of a circular. The reproduction herein
is from the copy which was intended for General Lafont de Villiers,
commanding the 21st Division at Limoges. It is impossible to
over-emphasize the great value of this document which gives the key to
the constant meditations of Ardant du Picq, the key to the reforms
which his methodical and logical mind foresaw. It expounds a principle
founded upon exact facts faithfully stated. His entire work, in embryo,
can be seen between the lines of the questionnaire. This was his first
attempt at reaction against the universal routine surrounding him.
From among the replies which he received and which his family

carefully preserved, we have extracted the most conclusive. They will
be found in Appendix II--Historical Documents. Brought to light, at the
urgent request of the author, they complete the book, corroborating
statements by examples. They illuminate his doctrines by authentic
historical depositions.
In arranging this edition we are guided solely by the absolute respect
which we have for the genius of Ardant du Picq. We have endeavored
to reproduce his papers in their entirety, without removing or adding
anything. Certain disconnected portions have an inspired and fiery
touch which would be lessened by the superfluous finish of an attempt
at editing. Some repetitions are to be found; they show that the
appendices were the basis for the second part of the volume, Modern
Battle. It may be stated that the work, suddenly halted in 1870, contains
criticisms, on the staff for instance, which aim at radical reforms.
ERNEST JUDET.

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

CHAPTER 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

APPENDICES
I MEMORANDUM ON INFANTRY FIRE
1. Introduction 2. Succinct History of the Development of Small Arms,
from the Arquebus to Our Rifle 3. Progressive Introduction of
Fire-Arms Into the Armament of the Infantryman 4. The Classes of Fire
Employed with Each Weapon 5. Methods of Fire Used in the Presence
of the Enemy; Methods Recommended or Ordered but Impractical 6.
Fire at Will--Its Efficacy 7. Fire by Rank Is a Fire to Occupy the Men
in Ranks 8. The Deadly Fire Is the Fire of Skirmishers 9. The Absolute
Impossibility of Fire at Command
II HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS
1. Cavalry (An Extract from Xenophon) 2. Marius Against the
Cimbrians (Extract from Plutarch's "Life of Marius") 3. The Battle of
The Alma (Extract from the Correspondence of Colonel Ardant du Picq)
4. The Battle of the Alma (Extract from the Correspondence of Colonel

Ardant du Picq) 5. The Battle of Inkermann (Extract from the
Correspondence of Colonel Ardant du Picq) 6. The Battle of Magenta
(Extract from the Correspondence of Colonel Ardant du Picq) 7. The
Battle of Solferino (Extract from the Correspondence of Colonel
Ardant du Picq) 8. Mentana (Extract from the Correspondence of
Colonel Ardant du Picq)

BATTLE STUDIES

A MILITARY THINKER
Near Longeville-les-Metz on the morning of August 15, 1870, a stray
projectile from a Prussian gun mortally wounded the Colonel of the
10th Regiment of the Line. The obscure gunner never knew that he had
done away with one of the most intelligent officers of our army, one of
the most forceful writers, one of the most clear-sighted philosophers
whom sovereign genius had ever created.
Ardant du Picq, according to the Annual Register, commanded but a
regiment. He was fitted for the first rank of the most exalted. He fell at
the hour when France was thrown into frightful chaos, when all that he
had foreseen, predicted and dreaded, was being terribly fulfilled. New
ideas, of which he was the