Anyone who has opened a history book has heard of Napoleon Bonaparte. As a military leader, he led multiple campaigns during the French Revolutionary Wars and went on to lead France against other nations during the Napoleonic Wars. His military innovations in military tactics at the time are now studied by many military organizations and he is known to many as one of the greatest commanders in history. 

What was Napoleon's take on the importance of intelligence? A study of The Jena Campaign of 1805 by Jay Luvaas stated that Napoleon directed intelligence gathering and actions, as follows:

"To reconnoiter accurately defiles and fords of every description. To provide guides that may be depended on. To interrogate the cure and postmaster. To establish rapidly a good understanding with the inhabitants. To send out spies. To intercept public and private letters. To translate and analyse their contents. In a word, to be able to answer every question of the general-in-chief when he arrives at the head of the army. A general should neglect no means of gaining information of the enemy's movements, and, for this purpose, should make use of reconnaissance, spies, bodies of light troops commanded by capable officers, signals, and questioning deserters and prisoners."

Napoleon had an understanding that intelligence is multi-faceted and was not limited to understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the opponent. He wanted to use the information gathered about the land to find the best place to move his army, to have the advantage and know where to avoid. His officers didn't send out spies arbitrarily to any town to gather information, they sent them to strategic areas of interest.