A shot at Napoleon is framed as a high-reward but low-probability gamble. A hit could remove the enemy commander, but artillery of the period was far more likely to miss a single person than to strike him. The failed attempt would advertise the attacker's inability to reach its target, damaging friendly morale while encouraging the opposing army. Because the likely psychological result favoured the enemy, taking the shot merely because Napoleon is visible offers little advantage. Weapon accuracy and morale change the value of an apparently decisive target.
Notable Point · 3:29:47-3:32:43
Why firing artillery at Napoleon could backfire
A tactical aside weighs the enormous reward of killing Napoleon against the much likelier morale cost of missing him with period artillery.