“Can we draw still stronger and more definite deductions from history? Yes. With the exception of Alexander, the consistently successful commanders of history, when faced by an enemy in a position strong naturally or materially, have hardly ever attacked it directly... Further, history shows that rather than resign himself to a direct approach, a Great Captain will take even the most hazardous indirect approach—if necessary over mountains, deserts or swamps, with only a fraction of the forces, even cutting himself loose from his communications. Facing, in fact, every unfavorable condition rather than accept the risk of stalemate invited by direct approach.”