If you like this, then it's well worth attempting Clausewitz's famous On War. It's long and slightly fragmented but it does drive home how very little of war in the Napoleonic (and indeed present) era is about weapons and how much is about logistics.
This is a very fascinating account of the logistics behind war. I'd love to read more about modern equivalent of this, can someone suggest a few books on the subject?
It is no accident that the WWII Allies chose a logistics expert, Eisenhower, as their supreme commander in Europe.
The 1993 Gulf War supposedly lasted 7 months, only the last six weeks of which were active combat (“Desert storm”).
It's one thing for humans to go to war and kill each other for nothing, but when they have to drag animals into it...
It is worth reading about the impact of supply chain on the other front of the Napoleonic Wars, the Peninsular War in the Iberian Peninsula, especially Wellington's defense of Portugal and the Torres Vedras.
The French forces largely relied on foraging an pillaging for supplies when operating in the Iberian Peninsula, which initially gave them a strong advantage, being able to operate inland without support. But eventually it also became a problem.
As they went deeper into Spain and then into Portugal, the lack of well established and guarded supply routes meant that messengers and envoys had to cross enemy territory filled with partisans, resulting in the birth of the guerrilla.
When they invaded Portugal and headed for Lisbon, matters became far worse. Wellington had secretly fortified the peninsula leading to Lisbon with a massive set of three line of hill forts (the Lines of Torres Vedras), and used scorched earth tactics to wipe out any resources beyond the lines, while Lisbon was well supported by the British Navy (that had complete control of the waters after Trafalgar).
As the French forces approached, they were utterly surprised to find the heavy fortifications, and the barren land meant they had no resources to maintain themselves, as there was no supply chain.
Running out of food and unable to break into any of the fortifications, they were forced to withdraw completely after a month going back to Spain and losing 1/3 of its men in the process due to the harsh winter.
The Peninsular War by Esdaile is a great book about this front, and the Sharpe series by Cornwell complement that with a historical novel aspect, and astonishing attention to detail.