Alexander, according to Plutarch, “was naturally a great lover of all kinds of learning; and Onesicritus informs us, that he constantly laid Homer’s Iliad, according to the copy corrected by Aristotle, with his dagger under his pillow, declaring that he esteemed it a perfect portable treasure of all military virtues and knowledge.”
Napoleon was likewise a great student of military books. “Make offensive war,” he wrote, “like Alexander, Caesar, Gustavus Adolpus, Turenne, Prince Eugene, and Frederick; read, reread the accounts of their eighty-eight campaigns; model yours on theirs— it is the only way to become a great captain and discover the secret of the art.”
Even a rough soldier like Suvorof advised his godson: “Read well Eugene, Turenne, the Commentaries of Caesar, Frederick II, the first volumes of Rollin and the Count de Saxe.” Paul Jones probably had a truer conception of naval warfare than any other person of his era, and this was based not only on his own practical experience, but upon a detailed knowledge of naval history which amazed his listeners.
There are many books on war. Some are more interesting than a romance; others are duller than a textbook. Some are inspired with warlike spirit; others are dry records of facts. Some are frankly and honorably written; others are deliberate propaganda. Some are impartial; others show prejudices. Some are accurate; others are careless. Some express correct principles; others dangerous ones.
In selecting war books to read, we should choose books which will not only impart knowledge, but build military virtues and encourage a spirit of aggressiveness and daring. Further, it must be definitely acknowledged that the reading of military literature is only to supplement, never to replace practical experience at sea; to do a thing yourself is far different than to read how to do it in books; they have, however, proved one of the essentials in the development of every great leader.
1. Xenophon’s Anabasis. This first great book on war describes the advance of the Greek mercenaries with Cyrus into the heart of Persia, the death of Cyrus at Cunaxa, and the resolute attitude of Clearchus, who rallied the soldiers and resisted their inclination to surrender. “The generals and captains,” wrote Xenophon, “after listening to this address by Clearchus, went away and did as he directed; and thenceforth he commanded, and the others obeyed, not indeed having elected him commander, but perceiving that he alone possessed such qualities as a leader ought to have.” After Clearchus and the other leaders had been treacherously murdered by the Persians, the Greeks again fell into a panic, but Xenophon, a simple volunteer, who held no command, raised their spirits with a wonderful oration. He included in this a detailed estimate of the situation which would do credit to any general staff of today. It was replete with the most correct principles of war and constantly breathed an inspiring confidence and aggressiveness. Xenophon became the acknowledged leader of the Greeks and led them home through countless dangers. The book is beautifully written and translated, intensely interesting, filled with principles still applicable after twenty-two centuries and alive with the spirit of offensive warfare. (Available Bureau Navigation.)
2. Caesar’s Commentaries. This book is available for issue by the Bureau of Navigation. Caesar’s pen is mightier even than his sword. His commentaries describe the Roman campaigns in Gaul and Britain, and the civil war in Italy, Spain, and Greece. They are history in its highest form, and wonderfully accurate in every detail. Caesar praises the bravery of his enemies and the skill and resolution of their leaders. Thus he reports Divico, the chieftain of the Helvetii, as saying that his people “had been so trained by their ancestors that they were accustomed to receive, not to give hostages; of that fact the Roman people were witness.” In the subsequent battle with the Helvetii, which lasted from noon until dark, he states that “no one could see an enemy with his back turned.” In his description of the great battle in which the Nervii were annihilated, he pays the highest tribute to that heroic tribe of the Belgae. The commentaries not only describe the course of campaigns, but they give the reasons for every measure and trace the relation between policy and strategy.
3. Plutarch’s Lives of Illustrious Men. While these volumes give an excellent idea of ancient history, policy, strategy and tactics, they are primarily of value as a study of men, and man has not changed in eighteen centuries. “They deal with men of the first order,’’ writes Mabie, “and they deal only with men whose careers and achievements have dramatic action and story-telling quality; and these stories of real life are told with freshness, vigor and intelligence. The Lives are a mine of information, not always minutely accurate but truthful and full of vitality. They are sound to the heart in moral feeling and judgment; and are, therefore, the best possible textbook for the making of strong men.” There are fifty biographies and, with the exception of the last two or three, everyone is fascinating and inspiring. Here is Callicratidas, who, when urged to be careful of his life, said, “Sparta will not miss one man.” There you see Pelopidas, who, when a friend said, “We are fallen into the enemy’s hands,” replied, “Why not they into ours?” Now you admire old Anti- gonas at Andros, who said when the great superiority of the enemy fleet was pointed out, “For how many ships men wilt thou reckon me?” Then we read of Marcellus, of whom Hannibal said: “He is the only man who neither suffers us to rest when he is victor, nor rests himself when overcome. We shall have, it seems, perpetually to fight with him; as in good success his confidence, and in ill success his shame, still urges him to some further enterprise.” And finally you see Appius Claudius, who though old and blind, had himself carried into the Senate to make his last speech against the treaty with Pyrrhus. “I bore,” said he,” until this time, the misfortune of my eyes with some impatience, but now when I hear of these dishonorable motives and resolves of yours, destructive, to the glory of Rome, it is my affliction, that being already blind, I am not deaf, too.” The Bureau of Navigation has this book available for issue.
4. Poems of Ossian, translated by Macpherson. These once famous poems are now almost forgotten and it is difficult to obtain a copy. Ossian is believed to have been the son of Fingal, King of the Scots in the Third Century, A. D. It is claimed that these poems were transmitted in the songs of the bards, collected by Macpherson and translated into English. Others assert that they were originated by the translator himself. Whether authentic or not, they present an unrivaled picture of military life in its most perfect state. The military virtues, including chivalry to the enemy, are nowhere more beautifully or inspiringly described. In the constant warfare of the Scots with the Irish, Norsemen, and Romans, the great object of life was to perform an exploit worthy to be perpetuated in the songs of the bards. It is a series of such exploits that Ossian commemorates in these songs. Napoleon was a constant reader of Ossian. Suvorof carried them in all his campaigns and one can imagine that some of his fiery love of battle was inspired by Ossian’s wild imagery.
5. Heimskringla, a saga of the Norse Kings. This book, unfortunately, is difficult to obtain, but will repay your effort. The first half is by far the most interesting. After that the Norse kings did not amount to much. The ruling motives of the Norsemen are well described in the account of Odin’s death: “Odin died in his bed in Sweden; and when he was near his death he made himself be marked with the point of a spear, and said he was going to Godheim, and would give welcome there to all his friends, and all brave warriors should be dedicated to him. To some fic gave victory; others he invited to himself and they reckoned both of them to be well off in their fate.” While the Norsemen were unscrupulous and cruel, they were probably the fiercest and most fearless fighters of all history. Warfare was their entire life and their exploits are almost unbelievable. Sigurd Hiort at the age of twelve, killed a famous berserk and his eleven companions. On another occasion when riding alone he was attacked by the berserk Hake and thirty men and fell only after killing twelve and wounding Hake four times. King Hake of Sweden was mortally wounded after a victorious battle. While still alive he had himself placed in a ship with all his dead warriors; by his orders all sails were set and the ship set on fire. King Ingiald, seeing that he could not resist or escape his enemies, retired to his house, held a great feast in which all his men became drunk, and then fired the house so he and they were burned together. Vagn, taken prisoner after a desperate sea- fight, refused to accept quarter until it was given to his followers. Havard Hogvande, a famous viking, although both his Kgs were cut off, used his last arrow against the hostile chieftain. King Olaf Tryggvason, after fighting his ship to the very last, sprang overboard in full armor. When the gallant King Harald Hardrada fell in battle, his attendants refused quarter, and according to their custom died in a corpse-ring around their king. The Norsemen were remarkable for their self-reliance and versatility; they were remarkable seamen and covered great distances ; they were skilled in fighting from ships; they were equally skilled in all forms of fighting on land, even in besieging cities and acting as cavalry; loving battle, they were always aggressive, and expeditions of only a few ships terrorized whole countries. Their galley has become the symbol of seapower and is the central figure of our Naval Academy crest.
6. Memoires du General Baron de Marbot. This book is probably the greatest of all military memoirs. The writer’s copy is of the sixty-seventh French edition; there is an English edition, of which the Naval War College Library has a copy. Marbot enlisted as a simple hussar in the Bercheny regiment when he was so young that a moustache had to be pasted to his lip to avoid spoiling the appearance of the regiment. In his first campaign he was made lieutenant for a series of exploits and withstood the terrible siege of Genoa; the terms of the surrender permitted Massena to send two officers through the Austrian lines to General Bonaparte; Marbot was selected for this duty and served on Bonaparte’s staff at Marengo. From this time on he alternated between duty in cavalry regiments and on the staff of marshals, serving in every campaign for fifteen years, including Waterloo. He was on the staff of Marshals Bernadotte, Augereau, Murat, Lannes, and Massena, and at times served temporarily on the staff of the Emperor. During the campaigns of 1812 and 1813 he commanded a splendid cavalry regiment, the 23d Chasseurs. During the latter part of the retreat from Russia this regiment was one of the few which maintained its organization and served in the extreme rear guard under Ney; at the end there were so few horses that the regiment could not act as cavalry and those remaining were used to draw sleighs; as these could each carry two men, Marbot succeeded in bringing out practically all his men, except those killed in battle. The day before Waterloo Marbot was nominated general of brigade for a brilliant feat; in the battle, with the 7th Hussars and a battalion of infantry he covered the extreme right of the French Army and held up the Prussian advance by determined resistance. In his numerous actions Marbot received twelve wounds. His memoirs, if once commenced, will be read over and over again. They are more fascinating than any novel. While possibly not always accurate in details and perhaps exaggerating his personal exploits, they give a most intimate picture of the Napoleonic Wars and of their famous figures. The biographies of Augereau, Massena, and Lannes read like fairy tales. The descriptions of the engagements and charges of the 23d Chasseurs are masterpieces in the study of command and morale. Marbot describes the exact composition of the various staffs on which he served and their methods of operation. The ill effects of the jealousies of the marshals are emphasized. Marbot enlivens the memoirs by using anecdotes °f great soldiers and accounts of his personal adventures. He gives a particularly fine description of Lannes, probably the greatest of the marshals. Before Ratisbonne volunteers twice led the assault on the walls and each time were annihilated. At the third call no one stepped forth. “Very well!’’ Lannes cried, I will show you that before I was marshal I was a grenadier, and I am one still!” Seizing a ladder he started for the breach, and was held back only by his aides. “At the sight,” writes Marbot, “of a marshal of the Empire disputing with his aides de camp as to who should mount first to the assault, a shout of enthusiasm rang through the division. Officers and soldiers wished to march in the lead, and claiming this honor, pushed us, my comrades and me, aside in trying to take the ladders.” The next assault, led by the entire staff, won the city.
7. The Influence of Sea Power on History, 1660-1783, by Mahan. This is Mahan’s first and greatest book. As it covers such a long period, more action is condensed into a single volume than in any of his works and it is accordingly the most interesting. This volume created probably greater effects in the world than any military book ever written. While it covers a period during which conditions were quite different from those at present, this book still furnishes invaluable information on naval strategy, tactics, and leadership. Where Mahan treats of military warfare he is not on such solid ground and tends to exaggerate the influence of sea power at the expense of military power. One point of interest is Mahan’s opinion as to the slight effect of raids on commerce, which have so much in common with aircraft attacks on industrial centers for which so much now is claimed. This book is in the War College Library issued to ships.
8. England in the Seven Years’ War, by Corbett. This eminent author has advanced Mahan’s theory of naval warfare, in addition to having a less complicated and easier style. We are indebted to him for many accepted principles of naval strategy. This book is his best effort. It is of particular value in revealing the skill of Pitt in coordinating the diplomatic, military, and naval forces in his masterly national strategy in contrast with the weakness of preceding politicians. It also describes in detail a number of combined operations; Havana and Quebec were examples of splendid cooperation between the naval and military leaders. Attacks on Rochefort and Cherbourg were not so successful. Of the first Wolfe said: “The famous council sat from morning until late at night, and the results of the debates were unanimous not to attack the place they were ordered to attack.” This book is exceedingly well written and very frank, in contrast with other works by this author, which have a flavor of propaganda. It is included in the War College Library issued to ships.
9. The Campaign of Waterloo, by Ropes. This book gives a masterly exposition of command and staff work, although this campaign shows what not to do rather than what to do. Staff work practically did not exist in the French Army, and Ney who joined just three days before Waterloo did not even have a staff. It was rare that an officer knew what his orders were, and rarer still that he made a real effort to execute them. The British and Prussians were little better. No arrangements were made for the junction of the two armies in a defensive campaign, because, as Muffling said, “no doubt could be raised on the point.” But this was the principal point upon which the entire campaign revolved. Bulow did not get his corps into the battle of Ligny because he delayed marching for a day; in his defense he said that he was not informed that hostilities were imminent. But the cooperation and initiative of the Prussian corps commanders after Ligny, where Bliicher was ridden down in a cavalry charge and badly hurt, was remarkable. On the 16th the British chief of staff gave Wellington a most inaccurate report of the dispositions of his own forces, and this created confusion and distrust when forwarded to the Prussians, forming the basis for Gneisenau’s belief that the British had deliberately left them in the lurch at Ligny. The relations between Napoleon and Grouchy are truly heartrending, an entire series of errors on both sides. In analyzing a campaign from this viewpoint, the author has provided a most interesting and really great book. It is available for issue by the Bureau of Navigation.
10. Stonewall Jackson and the American Civil War, by Henderson. The author makes not only a careful analysis of the character, methods, and accomplishments of Jackson, but gives a complete and impartial account of the great campaigns in which he took part, from both Federal and Confederate viewpoints. One point to which great emphasis is given is the interference of politicians with commanders in the field. It was not the least of Jackson’s accomplishments that he greatly reduced this practice in the South by a threat to resign his command, while his opponents suffered from Lincoln’s amateur strategy. After reading this book it will be refreshing to recall the statement of General Pershing to Repington that “no C-in-C was ever left with so free a hand.” The staff work of the Civil War armies is carefully analyzed, numerous mistakes are pointed out, and the necessity for a general staff clearly demonstrated. The general lack of discipline in both armies is pointed out and Jackson praised for the iron discipline he enforced in his command. The book is most interesting and many passages are really inspiring. It is included in the War College Library issued to ships.
11. Battle Studies, by Ardant du Picq. This little book is one of the greatest that has ever been written on war. Du Picq analyzes battle from the viewpoint of the soldier and shows how he is affected by its various incidents and reacts to them. His picture of battle is entirely different from the battle of history, but one can see at once that it is a true one. He first examines ancient battle and shows that the success of the Roman legion was due to the fact that its organization and tactics were based upon “a profound knowledge of man’s heart.” He demonstrates that the success of Hannibal, the only leader who could consistently beat the legion, was due to “his admirable comprehension of the morale of combat, of the morale of the soldier, whether his own or the enemy’s. Du Picq shows that modern battle makes far greater demands on the resolution of the soldier than ancient fighting and emphasizes the necessity for closely-knit organizations where the soldiers are confident in their leaders and in each other and are welded together by a strict discipline enforced by both the officers and the men themselves; for tactical methods which are based on moral, in addition to material, considerations; and for military institutions and traditions of long standing based upon our civil institutions and national characteristics. It is absolutely necessary to be familiar with this book to correctly interpret military history. (War College Library.)
12. Military Policy of the United States, by Upton. Upton does for military policy, administration, and supply what du Picq does for tactics. His book, based throughout on the highest authority, is a terrible indictment of our military system. “Such a dearth of public spirit and want of virtue,” writes Washington, “such stockjobbing and fertility in all the low arts to obtain advantages of one kind or another in this great change of military arrangement I never saw before, and pray God’s mercy that I may never be witness again.” “If Job had been a general in my situation,” said Schuyler, “his memory would not have been so famous for patience.” General Gaines reported in 1812: “If I were called before heaven to answer whether we had not lost more men by the badness of the provisions than by the fire of the enemy, I should give it as my opinion that we had.” Lincoln, in a letter to Hooker, discloses a situation which reminds us of present conditions: “I much fear the spirit you have aided to infuse into the army, of criticizing their commander and withholding confidence in him, will now turn upon you. Neither you nor Napoleon, if he were alive again, could get any good out of an army while such a spirit prevails in it.” Upton’s masterly presentation of our military policy with its defects has had an important effect in bringing the army to its present state of efficiency. This book is in the War College Library issued to ships.
13. Napoleon as a General, by York von Wartenburg. This noted book is probably the best description of the characteristics and methods of Napoleon. In this study the author particularly emphasizes the iron inflexibility of Napoleon, citing as an example his attitude after Nelson had destroyed the French Fleet at Aboukir: “Whatever may have passed at this moment through Napoleon’s mind, his companions read no sign of it in his face. Of course he must have understood what a terrible impression this stroke must make on the army, already so disheartened; but he only felt the increased necessity of meeting the frowns of fate and dejection of his men with firmness. Both leaders and men now more than ever saw, that the future safety of the army depended solely upon this man of genius, who set fate at defiance."
14. Letters on Strategy, by Prince Kraft zu Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen. This is a delightfully written description of the Jena Campaign of 1806, the campaign of 1859 in Northern Italy and the Metz and Sedan campaigns in 1870, by an officer who commanded the artillery of the Prussian Guard. Strategy, command, and staff work are treated in great detail and simplicity. The chivalrous and soldierly bearing of the author shows itself on every page; he shows the effects of that perfect teamwork in the Prussian Army, whose leader said after the capture of Paris: “If one considers how small an amount of success is due to one’s individual self and through what weak instruments God manifests its greatness, it is a simple matter to be modest.” This spirit seems to have been absent in 1914. This book is in the War College Library issued to ships.
15. The World Crisis, by Winston Churchill. These two volumes cover the first two years of the war, including the relations between the Admiralty and the War Office, the escape of the Goeben and Breslau, the Antwerp episode, the Battle of Falkland Islands, operations in the North Sea and at the Dardanelles. In them Churchill defends his leadership as First Lord of the Admiralty. While the author is an “interested party,” he has certainly produced two great books, which contain so many valuable facts and ideas that no naval officer can afford to leave them unread. They present an accurate picture of national strategy in modern warfare and describe the functioning of the British government and its relations with the commanders in the field. Churchill constantly points out the need for cooperation and aggressiveness, he shows how the customs of the naval service prevented ships from being properly risked in war; he attacks, however, the war of exhaustion on the Western Front. The reader will be compelled to admit the correctness of many of his arguments and agree with much of his conduct of operations, despite the fact that he was a politician controlling military and naval operations in exactly the way of which Henderson complains so bitterly in Stonewall Jackson. This book is available for issue by the Bureau of Navigation.
16. Gallipoli Diary, by Ian Hamilton. As this diary was written from day to day during a desperate campaign, it gives a most interesting insight into the moral reactions of a commander-in-chief while under great responsibility. It also treats of the relations between a commander in the field and the home government and shows how Sir Ian tried “to steer a course between an optimism that deprives us of support and a pessimism that may wreck the whole enterprise.” He shows the methods of building up morale after heavy losses and the necessity for truth in war-time propaganda and censorship. He stresses throughout the offensive idea. Sir Ian writes with an honest soldierly spirit which will appeal to every military reader and shows his love of the military profession. In his spirited description of the wounded Inflexible he says: “Ten thousand years of peace would not produce a spectacle of so great virtue.” He shows that chivalry in warfare still remains in his eulogy of the heroic Doughty Wylie: “He had no hatred of the enemy. His spirit did not need that ugly stimulant.” If Sir Ian will not be counted a victorious general by history, he will at least be admired as a real soldier. Some copies of this book have been issued to the service and others will be issued on request.
17. The German General Staff and Its Decisions, 1914-1916, by von Falkenhayn. This is an extremely well written, frank, and informative book. The reasons for the various decisions of the German General Staff up to and including Verdun are fully and frankly stated, and, despite criticism of them by Ludendorff and Hoffmann, they will be given considerable weight by the reader. Even Verdun takes on a new appearance after reading Falkenhayn’s detailed estimate of the situation; he alone was in a position to view the situation on all fronts and his claims as to the effectiveness of this offensive are now greatly substantiated by Repington and Dewar. “It may indeed be fairly argued,” says the latter authority, “that if the Crown Prince’s offensive failed to secure victory for Germany in 1916, it averted a German defeat in that year.” The splendid staff preparations for the offensive of 1915 against Serbia are worthy of imitation. While the greater part of the book deals with military strategy, considerable space is given to the relations of the general staff with the navy and civil government. This book is available for issue by the Bureau of Navigation.
18. Ludendorff’s Own Story. This is a most able exposition of modern warfare. While it is concerned mostly with strategy and tactics from the viewpoint of the general in the field and the chief of the general staff, it describes also the dealings of Hindenburg and Ludendorff with von Falkenhayn and the other political, military, and naval leaders of the Central Powers, the administration of conquered territory, the efforts made to develop the German economic forces, and the use of diplomacy and propaganda. It is particularly valuable because of the wide field covered. During the Russian campaign and as regards Verdun he differs with von Falkenhayn and this part of his book should be compared with the latter’s account. Ludendorff is accurate and frank, except possibly in his description of the last two months of the war, and this part of his book should be compared with The Collapse of Central Europe, by Nowak. Where military events are being described the book is intensely interesting, but at some other times, where administration and policy are discussed, it tends to be somewhat dull. This book is in the War College Library issued to ships.
19. The Story of Our Submarines, by Klaxon. This is a really inspiring little book. It gives a vivid picture of war-time life on a submarine and recounts typical adventures of British boats. It is extremely well written, does not contain an uninteresting page, and gives the reader the real atmosphere of the submarine service. This book is available for issue by the Bureau of Navigation.
20. The Fighting at Jutland. This remarkably fine book contains the personal accounts of British officers on all types of ships. This phase of naval history concerns most of us more intimately than the tactics of the battle as viewed by the leaders, and this book pictures most graphically fighting at sea as it affects officers and men in subordinate positions. The accounts, while admittedly often inaccurate, impress the reader with their absolute honesty. There is not a bit of propaganda or a slur at the enemy in the whole book. Many inspiring incidents are related and there are a number of remarkable battle photographs. This book is available for issue by the Bureau of Navigation.
21. The Two White Nations, by von Hase. This interesting volume has been translated into English under the title Kiel and Jutland. The greater part of the book describes the Battle of Jutland, as viewed by the gunnery officer of the Derfflinger. It is written in a straight-forward style without attempt at propaganda. It gives a vivid description of the moral reactions of a crew when under an overwhelming and devastating fire. It contains valuable gunnery information. Some copies of this book have been issued to ships by the Bureau of Navigation, but no more are available for issue.
22. The First World War, 1914-1918, by Repington. The author had interviews with practically every noted leader on the Allied side during the war. He reported these in detail in his diary, together with his own impressions. Whatever may be the ethics of publishing to the world such personal interviews, Repington discloses the actuating motives of the allied leaders to have been at great variance with what they were popularly supposed to be during the war. It is necessary to read this book in order to clear one’s mind of the atmosphere of propaganda which still has not been brushed aside. It must be remembered that Repington had strong prejudices against Lloyd George and’ other political leaders and due allowance must be made for this. While his book is marred with long descriptions of war-time social activities, these are not entirely without interest in showing how Great Britain was governed during the war. This book is available for issue by the Bureau of Navigation.
23. Sir Douglas Haig’s Command, by Dewar. This book probably represents the position of Sir Douglas Haig, as the author is assisted by one of his staff officers. While it presents the case of an “interested party,” it makes a most able and convincing one, and sheds much new light upon the Western Front situation. It describes in detail the relations between the British and French commanders and their political leaders. It alleges that the French spirit was broken by Verdun and that after Nivelle’s defeat in 1917 their army was on the point of dissolution. It shows that our army did not do nearly as much as we consider it did. It presents startling facts concerning the conduct of the supreme command by Foch and shows how Haig insisted on carrying through the offensive in his own way. The excellent descriptions of the battles should be read in conjunction with Sir Douglas Haig’s official despatches, which contain remarkably fine maps. The campaign of exhaustion is as vigorously defended by Dewar as it is denounced by Churchill. Many incidents of heroism lend interest to the book. Some copies have been issued to ships, but no more are available.
24. The Collapse of Central Europe, by Nowak. This most illuminating book describes political, economic, and military conditions in the Central Powers during the last years of the war. It traces the various peace offensives of the Central Powers, the relations between the political and military leaders in the four allied countries, and vividly describes the terrible conditions under which the civil population lived. It shows how Austria ceased to exist as a nation as early as January, 1918, and that the army crumbled away gradually due to total lack of support. It relates how the Bulgarian army collapsed without resistance and marched home. It relates most accurately the successive moves leading to the Armistice and shows the breakdown of the German military leaders. It depicts the gradual dissolution of Austria-Hungary. This book is written in the clearest and simplest style and impresses the reader as being absolutely impartial and accurate. Copies of this book have been issued to ships and others will be issued on request.