 On 24 June 1866, he was promoted to lieutenant-general and Inspector-general of the Belgian Artillery.On 15 July 1870, he was put in charge of the army at Antwerp where he became military governor (and at the same time "aide de camp" of King Leopold II of Belgium) on 6 October 1870.In view of the dangerous international situation (the Franco-Prussian War had just started), Eenens now pleaded for strengthening the Belgian defenses, but the Cabinet of prime minister Jules Malou opposed this, supported by the Catholic party of Charles Woeste.