Tolstoy explains that the elaborate Borodinó battle plan prepared by Napoleon was in reality unworkable and valueless.
Summary:
Tolstoy, in this chapter, returns to his often-stated belief that battle plans prepared in advance are seldom useful in practice. On this day in reality no plan at all was needed, since the best place for the French to attack was completely obvious. Nonetheless, Napoleon took the trouble to create an elaborate, four-part Borodinó battle plan for his generals. Ironically, many historians still praise this plan. But, Tolstoy says, the truth is that no part of this plan was, or could be, carried out. For example, in the plan Poniatowski’s job was to turn the Russian left flank, but in the battle another French unit was blocking his way. So, like all the other parts of the plan, this part could not be executed. And, since Napoleon was so far away, he did not even know what was happening on the field during the battle, and therefore could not make adjustments to his plan as the battle unfolded.
quote from the chapter:
So not one of the orders in the disposition was, or could be, executed. But in the disposition it is said that, after the fight has commenced in this manner, orders will be given in accordance with the enemy’s movements, and so it might be supposed that all necessary arrangements would be made by Napoleon during the battle. But this was not and could not be done, for during the whole battle Napoleon was so far away that, as appeared later, he could not know the course of the battle and not one of his orders during the fight could be executed.
Book 10, Chapter 27
Tolstoy explains that the elaborate Borodinó battle plan prepared by Napoleon was in reality unworkable and valueless.
Summary:
Tolstoy, in this chapter, returns to his often-stated belief that battle plans prepared in advance are seldom useful in practice. On this day in reality no plan at all was needed, since the best place for the French to attack was completely obvious. Nonetheless, Napoleon took the trouble to create an elaborate, four-part Borodinó battle plan for his generals. Ironically, many historians still praise this plan. But, Tolstoy says, the truth is that no part of this plan was, or could be, carried out. For example, in the plan Poniatowski’s job was to turn the Russian left flank, but in the battle another French unit was blocking his way. So, like all the other parts of the plan, this part could not be executed. And, since Napoleon was so far away, he did not even know what was happening on the field during the battle, and therefore could not make adjustments to his plan as the battle unfolded.
quote from the chapter:
So not one of the orders in the disposition was, or could be, executed. But in the disposition it is said that, after the fight has commenced in this manner, orders will be given in accordance with the enemy’s movements, and so it might be supposed that all necessary arrangements would be made by Napoleon during the battle. But this was not and could not be done, for during the whole battle Napoleon was so far away that, as appeared later, he could not know the course of the battle and not one of his orders during the fight could be executed.
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