On War

Produced by Charles Keller and David Widger








On War

by General Carl von Clausewitz

TRANSLATED BY COLONEL J.J. GRAHAM

1874 was 1st edition of this translation. 1909 was the London reprinting.

NEW AND REVISED EDITION WITH AN INTRODUCTION AND NOTES BY
COLONEL F.N. MAUDE C.B. (LATE R.E.)


EIGHTH IMPRESSION IN THREE VOLUMES





Contents


INTRODUCTION
PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION
NOTICE
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE AUTHOR


BRIEF MEMOIR OF GENERAL CLAUSEWITZ

BOOK I.	ON THE NATURE OF WAR
CHAPTER I.	  What is War?
CHAPTER II.	  Ends and Means in War
CHAPTER III.  The Genius for War
CHAPTER IV.	  Of Danger in War
CHAPTER V.	  Of Bodily Exertion in War
CHAPTER VI.	  Information in War
CHAPTER VII.  Friction in War
CHAPTER VIII. Concluding Remarks, Book I

BOOK II.	ON THE THEORY OF WAR
CHAPTER I.	  Branches of the Art of War
CHAPTER II.	  On the Theory of War
CHAPTER III.  Art or Science of War
CHAPTER IV.	  Methodicism
CHAPTER V.	  Criticism
CHAPTER VI.   On Examples

BOOK III.	OF STRATEGY IN GENERAL
CHAPTER I.	    Strategy
CHAPTER II.	    Elements of Strategy
CHAPTER III.	Moral Forces
CHAPTER IV.  	The Chief Moral Powers
CHAPTER V.   	Military Virtue of an Army
CHAPTER VI.	    Boldness
CHAPTER VII.	Perseverance
CHAPTER VIII.	Superiority of Numbers
CHAPTER IX.	    The Surprise
CHAPTER X.	    Stratagem
CHAPTER XI.	    Assembly of Forces in Space
CHAPTER XII.	Assembly of Forces in Time
CHAPTER XIII.	Strategic Reserve
CHAPTER XIV.	Economy of Forces
CHAPTER XV.	    Geometrical Element
CHAPTER XVI.	On the Suspension of the Act in War
CHAPTER XVII.	On the Character of Modern War
CHAPTER XVIII.  Tension and Rest

BOOK IV.	THE COMBAT
CHAPTER I.	    Introductory
CHAPTER II.   	Character of a Modern Battle
CHAPTER III.	The Combat in General
CHAPTER IV.	    The Combat in General (_continuation_)
CHAPTER V.	    On the Signification of the Combat
CHAPTER VI.	    Duration of Combat
CHAPTER VII.	Decision of the Combat
CHAPTER VIII.	Mutual Understanding as to a Battle
CHAPTER IX.   	The Battle
CHAPTER X.	    Effects of Victory
CHAPTER XI.	    The Use of the Battle
CHAPTER XII.	Strategic Means of Utilising Victory
CHAPTER XIII.	Retreat After a Lost Battle
CHAPTER XIV.    Night Fighting

BOOK V.	MILITARY FORCES
 CHAPTER I.	    General Scheme
 CHAPTER II.	Theatre of War, Army, Campaign
 CHAPTER III.	Relation of Power
 CHAPTER IV.	Relation of the Three Arms
 CHAPTER V.	    Order of Battle of an Army
 CHAPTER VI.	General Disposition of an Army
 CHAPTER VII.	Advanced Guard and Out-Posts
 CHAPTER VIII.	Mode of Action of Advanced Corps
 CHAPTER IX.	Camps
 CHAPTER X.	    Marches
 CHAPTER XI.	Marches (_continued_)
 CHAPTER XII.	Marches (_continued_)
 CHAPTER XIII.	Cantonments
 CHAPTER XIV.	Subsistence
 CHAPTER XV.	Base of Operations
 CHAPTER XVI.	Lines of Communication
 CHAPTER XVII.	On Country and Ground
 CHAPTER XVIII. Command of Ground

BOOK VI.	DEFENCE
 CHAPTER I.	    Offence and Defence
 CHAPTER II.	The Relations of the Offensive and Defensive to Each Other in Tactics
 CHAPTER III.	The Relations of the Offensive and Defensive to Each Other in Strategy
 CHAPTER IV.	Convergence of Attack and Divergence of Defence
 CHAPTER V.	    Character of Strategic Defensive
 CHAPTER VI.	Extent of the Means of Defence
 CHAPTER VII.	Mutual Action and Reaction of Attack and Defence
 CHAPTER VIII.	Methods of Resistance
 CHAPTER IX.	Defensive Battle
 CHAPTER X.	    Fortresses
 CHAPTER XI.	Fortresses (_continued_)
 CHAPTER XII.	Defensive Position
 CHAPTER XIII.	 Strong Positions and Entrenched Camps
 CHAPTER XIV.	Flank Positions
 CHAPTER XV.	Defence of Mountains
 CHAPTER XVI.	Defence of Mountains (_continued_)
 CHAPTER XVII.	Defence of Mountains (_continued_)
 CHAPTER XVIII.	Defence of Streams and Rivers
 CHAPTER XIX.	Defence of Streams and Rivers (_continued_)
 CHAPTER XX.	A. Defence of Swamps
 CHAPTER XX.	B. Inundations
 CHAPTER XXI.	Defence of Forests
 CHAPTER XXII.	The Cordon
 CHAPTER XXIII.	Key of the Country
 CHAPTER XXIV.	Operating Against a Flank
 CHAPTER XXV.	Retreat into the Interior of the Country
 CHAPTER XXVI.	Arming the Nation
 CHAPTER XXVII.	Defence of a Theatre of War
 CHAPTER XXVIII.	Defence of a Theatre of War (_continued_)
 CHAPTER XXIX.	Defence of a Theatre of War (_continued_)—Successive Resistance
 CHAPTER XXX.   Defence of a Theatre of War (_continued_)—When No Decision is Sought For

BOOK VII.	THE ATTACK
 CHAPTER I.	    The Attack in Relation to the Defence
 CHAPTER II.	Nature of the Strategical Attack
 CHAPTER III.	On the Objects of Strategical Attack
 CHAPTER IV.	Decreasing Force of the Attack
 CHAPTER V.	    Culminating Point of the Attack
 CHAPTER VI.	Destruction of the Enemy’s Armies
 CHAPTER VII.	The Offensive Battle
 CHAPTER VIII.	Passage of Rivers
 CHAPTER IX.	Attack on Defensive Positions
 CHAPTER X.	    Attack on an Entrenched Camp
 CHAPTER XI.	Attack on a Mountain Range
 CHAPTER XII.	Attack on Cordon Lines
 CHAPTER XIII.	Manœuvering
 CHAPTER XIV.	Attack on Morasses, Inundations, Woods
 CHAPTER XV.	Attack on a Theatre of War with the View to a Decision
 CHAPTER XVI.	Attack on a Theatre of War without the View to a Great Decision
 CHAPTER XVII.	Attack on Fortresses
 CHAPTER XVIII.	Attack on Convoys
 CHAPTER XIX.	Attack on the Enemy’s Army in its Cantonments
 CHAPTER XX.	Diversion
 CHAPTER XXI.	Invasion
 CHAPTER XXII.