The Art of Commanding an Army

by Frederick the Great

Frederick the Great a.k.a. Frederick II King of Prussia 1740 to 1786 is considered by many historians to be one of the greatest generals of all times. This is an instruction book that King Frederic wrote for his Generals


ARTICLE I.
Of Prussian Troops, their Excellencies and their Defects.

ARTICLE II.
Of the Subsistence of Troops, and of Provisions.

ARTICLE III.
Of Sutlers, Beer, and Brandy.

ARTICLE IV.
Of Dry and Green Forage.

ARTICLE V.
Of the Knowledge of a Country.

ARTICLE VI.
Of the Coup D'Oeil.

ARTICLE VII.
Of the Distribution of Troops.

ARTICLE VIII.
Of Camps.

ARTICLE IX.
How to secure a Camp.

ARTICLE X.
In what Manner and for what Reason we are to send out Detachments.

ARTICLE XI.
Of the Tricks and Stratagems of War.

ARTICLE XII.
Of Spies, how they are to be employed on every Occasion, and in what Manner we are to learn Intelligence of the enemy.

ARTICLE XIII.
Of certain Marks, by which the Intentions of the Enemy are to be discovered.

ARTICLE XIV.
Of our own Country, and that which is either neutral or hostile; of the Variety of Religions, and of the different Conduct which such Circumstances require.

ARTICLE XV.
Of every Kind of March, which it can be necessary for an Army to make.

ARTICLE XVI.
On the Precautions necessary to be taken in a Retreat against Hussars and Pandours.

ARTICLE XVII.
Of the Method in which the Light Prussian Troops conduct themselves when engaged with the Hussars and Pandours.

ARTICLE XVIII.
By what Movements on our Side the Enemy may also be obliged to move.

ARTICLE XVIII.
By what Movements on our Side the Enemy may also be obliged to move.

ARTICLE XIX.
Of the Crossing of Rivers.

ARTICLE XX.
Of the Manner in which the Passage of Rivers is to be defended.

ARTICLE XXI.
Of the Surprise of Towns.

ARTICLE XXII.
Of Combats and Battles.

ARTICLE XXIII.
Of the Reasons which should induce us to give Battle, and in what Manner it is to be conducted.

ARTICLE XXIV.
Of the Hazards and unforeseen Accidents which happen in War.

ARTICLE XXV.
If it be absolutely necessary that the General of an Army should hold a Council of War.

ARTICLE XXVI.
Of the Manoeuvres of an Army.

ARTICLE XXVII.
Of Winter Quarters.

ARTICLE XXVIII.
Of Winter Campaigns in particular.

Genres: Military Fiction

103 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 26, 2008

About the author

Frederick II (German: Friedrich II.; 24 January 1712 – 17 August 1786) was a King in Prussia (1740–1772) and a King of Prussia (1772–1786) from the Hohenzollern dynasty. In his role as a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire, he was Frederick IV (Friedrich IV.) of Brandenburg. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel. He became known as Frederick the Great (Friedrich der Große) and was nicknamed Der Alte Fritz ("Old Fritz").

Interested primarily in music and philosophy and not the arts of war during his youth, Frederick unsuccessfully attempted to flee from his authoritarian father, Frederick William I, with childhood friend, Hans Hermann von Katte, whose execution he was forced to watch after they had been captured. Upon ascending to the Prussian throne, he attacked Austria and claimed Silesia during the Silesian Wars, winning military acclaim for himself and Prussia. Near the end of his life, Frederick physically connected most of his realm by conquering Polish territories in the First Partition of Poland.

Frederick was a proponent of enlightened absolutism. For years he was a correspondent of Voltaire, with whom the king had an intimate, if turbulent, friendship. He modernized the Prussian bureaucracy and civil service and promoted religious tolerance throughout his realm. Frederick patronized the arts and philosophers, and wrote flute music. Frederick is buried at his favorite residence, Sanssouci in Potsdam. Because he died childless, Frederick was succeeded by his nephew, Frederick William II of Prussia, son of his brother, Prince Augustus William of Prussia.