Faced with such a difficult situation, Napoleon often adopted a second system of maneuver—the “strategy of the central position.” Very often under these circumstances the French found themselves operating at a numerical disadvantage against the combined strength of their opponents, but could procure superior numbers against any one part of their adversaries’ forces. It was this second factor that the system was designed to exploit to the full. “The art of generalship consists in, when actually inferior in numbers to the enemy (overall), being superior to him on the battlefield.” In brief,
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