•Theme
•Plan with
several branches
•Mobility/fluidity
of force
•Cohesion
•Dispersion
and concentration
•Operate on a line to threaten alternative
objectives
•Concentrate
direct artillery fire on key points to
be forced
Action
Napoleon was deeply influenced by the ideas of the above men.
In early campaigns (as a general) he exploited these ideas of variety and rapidity with harmony for ambiguity, deception, and rapid/easy
movement in order to surprise and successively defeat fractions of superior forces. In later
campaigns (as emperor) he exchanged variety and harmony for rigid uniformity via massed direct
artillery fire, dense infantry columns, and heavy cavalry going against
regions of strong resistance—that resulted in an ever higher and crippling cost in
casualties.
American colonists, Spanish and Russian guerrillas exploited variety and rapidity associated with environmental background (terrain, weather, darkness, etc.)
and mobility/fluidity of small bands with harmony of common cause
against tyranny/injustice
as basis to harass, confuse, and contribute toward the defeat of the British
and French under Napoleon.