"great captains," and fighting "was very much an art." Hence, many reformers advocate a "maneuver" strategy, based on simple but reli- able weapons, small but agile forces, and, above all, the creative genius of field commanders.
Modern armies are so large and face each other across such broad fronts that simply keeping them supplied and moving requires bureau- cratic coordination. The Prussians pioneered military bureaucracy with the creation of a general staff in...