“Every plan of campaign ought to have several branches and to have been so well thought out that one or other of the said branches cannot fail of success.”

Pierre-Joseph de Bourcet (1700-1780)

A French engineer and artillery officer who has been credited with initiating the use of the all-arms division as a tactical formation and also with pioneering work in the creation of a true general staff. He was also a mapmaker and military educator, reaching the rank of Lieutenant General.