napoleonic warfare

napoleonic warfare the methods of warfare which became common in Europe in the early 19th century as a result of the campaigns of Napoleon Bonaparte between 1799 and 1815. Not all of the changes in the art of war during the Napoleonic era can be attributed to Bonaparte, but he instituted many organizational and tactical innovations. Chief among these were the introduction of the permanent army corps structure of several divisions with supporting artillery, cavalry, and logistical troops under one commander. Tactically, napoleonic warfare emphasized the offensive; the flank attack; highly mobile artillery and the integration of infantry, cavalry, and artillery forces; and the use of the infantry column as well as the line formation. His principles of were codified by the Swiss Baron Antoine-Henri Jomini, whose writings were highly honored at West Point and thus indirectly provided the basis for American strategy and tactics through the Civil War.