The time of day influences the combat by the difference between day and night; but the influence naturally extends further than merely to the limits of these divisions, as every combat has a certain duration, and great battles last for several hours.  In the preparations for a great battle, it makes an essential difference whether it begins in the morning or the evening.  At the same time, certainly many battles may be fought in which the question of the time of day is quite immaterial, and in the generality of cases its influence is only trifling.

33.  Weather.

Still more rarely has the weather any decisive influence, and it is mostly only by fogs that it plays a part.

34.  End and means in strategy.

Strategy has in the first instance only the victory, that is, the tactical result, as a means to its object, and ultimately those things which lead directly to peace.  The application of its means to this object is at the same time attended by circumstances which have an influence thereon more or less.

35.  Circumstances which attend the application of the means of strategy.

These circumstances are country and ground, the former including the territory and inhabitants of the whole theatre of war; next the time of the day, and the time of the year as well; lastly, the weather, particularly any unusual state of the same, severe frost, &c.

36.  These form new means.

By bringing these things into combination with the results of a combat, strategy gives this result—­and therefore the combat—­a special signification, places before it a particular object.  But when this object is not that which leads directly to peace, therefore a subordinate one, it is only to be looked upon as a means; and therefore in strategy we may look upon the results of combats or victories, in all their different significations, as means.  The conquest of a position is such a result of a combat applied to ground.  But not only are the different combats with special objects to be considered as means, but also every higher aim which we may have in view in the combination of battles directed on a common object is to be regarded as a means.  A winter campaign is a combination of this kind applied to the season.

There remain, therefore, as objects, only those things which may be supposed as leading directly to peace, Theory investigates all these ends and means according to the nature of their effects and their mutual relations.

37.  Strategy deduces only from experience the ends and means to be examined.