10-16-2010, 12:48 PM
The book Cannae Experience of Battle in the 2nd Punic War by Gregory Daly has an excellent chapter on Command that explains the difference. John Keegan's the Mask of Command is entirely about the subject.
Leadership in battle is the motivation of men to accomplish their leader's will. This is best accomplished by leaders who fight alongside their men and provide encouragement and are an example for the men. Generalship is best executed in a centralized location to the rear where the General can observe and react to battlefield events or cause the enemy to react to his own maneuvers or actions. The two are not mutually exclusive, Alexander and Caesar both would switch between the two as necessary. Alexander most often would conduct his generalship prior to battle in the deployment of his forces and then revert to personal leadership of the decisive force of his army. Caesar would become a battlefield leader when the situation was critical and the troops required his personal intervention.
Leadership in battle is the motivation of men to accomplish their leader's will. This is best accomplished by leaders who fight alongside their men and provide encouragement and are an example for the men. Generalship is best executed in a centralized location to the rear where the General can observe and react to battlefield events or cause the enemy to react to his own maneuvers or actions. The two are not mutually exclusive, Alexander and Caesar both would switch between the two as necessary. Alexander most often would conduct his generalship prior to battle in the deployment of his forces and then revert to personal leadership of the decisive force of his army. Caesar would become a battlefield leader when the situation was critical and the troops required his personal intervention.
