oleon Bonaparte As far back in history as Napoleon, officers knew that to be effective an army needs good and plentiful food. Without good food a soldier loses their edge. -They lose a portion of their strength. -They lose a portion of their reactions. -They do not make as good of decisions. -They quickly lose their motivation. Having food available for these vast armies was a huge task. Getting food to the right place when armies move is a nightmare. However, a soldier's nourishment can decide if they survive each battle. How opposing forces eat before battle may be as important to victory as tactics and weapons.