Books on Napoleonic Divisional Tactics

[General von Schnepf]

Hi there!

Does anyone know of a good book for Napoleonic tactics at the divisional/brigade level? I am only really finding books on battalion tactics, which seem infinitely numerous!

Thanks,
Owen

[John Cook]

Hi there!

Does anyone know of a good book for Napoleonic tactics at the divisional/brigade level? I am only really finding books on battalion tactics, which seem infinitely numerous!

Thanks,
Owen

Hi Owen,

Divisional level warfare takes us beyond unit tactics.  Baron Antoine Jomini, The Art of War, first published in French in 1838 is perhaps the definitive theoretical study of Napoleonic warfare.  It still influenced the conduct of war in the 1860s/1870s, and arguably in 1914.  Chapter IV. Grand Tactics and Battles is the part that will probably interest you most.  You can buy copies easily enough but it is free here in English translation.   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/13549/13549-h/13549-h.htm

[Glorfindel]

I also found "Napoleon's Army" by H. C. B. Rogers very readable.   This includes an excellent section which focuses on Davout's III Corps, including details of actions in Prussia and Poland.

[John Cook]

I also found "Napoleon's Army" by H. C. B. Rogers very readable.   This includes an excellent section which focuses on Davout's III Corps, including details of actions in Prussia and Poland.

I forgot about that one.  I must have bought my copy of Rogers 50 years ago I think.  The part on III Corps is based, as I remember, on Operations du 3e Corps 1806-1807 - Rapport du Marechal Davout published in 1896 from Davout's papers, deposited in the Ministry of War by his family in 1874.  It is still in print today in the original French but, as far as I know, has never been translated.  It is available on line here. https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k9307963.texteImage

[kipt]

Scott Bowden translated Davout's journal of 1805 -1807.  It was published as "Napoleon's Finest: Marshal Louis Davout And His 3rd Corps Combat Journal of Operations, 1805-1807" and published by Military History Press, 2006.

Great book with many maps and diagrams and installations by Keith Rocco and Steven Palatka.

[John Cook]

Yes, so he did.  I forgot about that.  It was, like his translation of Bressonet's Etudes Tactique, hideously expensive and as I already had it in the original French and can read French there wasn't much point.  In more constructive vein Vachee's Napoleon at Work, translated from the French by Frederic Lees is a fascinating insight into how Napoleon handled the Grande Armee.

[kipt]

Agree.  Have that also.