army rhine army rhine french field units formed april merging army army figured principal campaigns war coalition unsuccessful campaign concluded removal command army command proved successful time changes inaugurated french military reform taken hold september army rhine merged form purpose formation military planners paris understood upper south western german territories danube river basin strategically important defense republic rhine formidable barrier french perceived austrian aggression state controlled crossings controlled river finally ready access rhine rhine bank german states switzerland gave access upper danube river valley french control point offered immense strategic value french reliable approach vienna undoubtedly armies state disruption experienced soldiers fought raw volunteers urged revolutionary special representatives agents legislature sent cooperation military old officer class emigrated cavalry particular suffered departure artillery arm considered old nobility inferior assignment affected emigration survived intact problems acute following introduction mass conscription french commanders walked fine line security frontier victory protect regime paris hand desperate condition army constantly suspicion representatives new regime price failure evolution successes particularly northern theater war right flank armies center later army army north army combined form remaining center left flank united initially november formally april command order battle formation army included battalions squadrons total men infantry cavalry artillery standing june commander chief chief staff commander artillery commander engineers campaign april january saw austrian armies overall command count defeat attempt republican french armies cross capture fortress start campaign led confronted army lower rhine north lay opposite army upper rhine south august crossed quickly seized advanced south completely army surprise capture french armies held significant east bank rhine french away promising start offensive opportunity seize supply base strangely beat october forced retreat west bank rhine time sealed french temporarily picture austrians defeated left wing army battle moved west bank november gave successfully wrapped siege january concluded armistice french allowing austrians retain large portions west bank campaign entered contact french treason bad actual cause french failure campaign armies coalition included imperial contingents infantry cavalry states amounting including autonomous corps sizable force eighteenth century standards moderate force standards revolutionary wars total troops stretched line switzerland north_sea troops stretched swiss italian border adriatic furthermore portion troops corps pulled july support activities italy troops comprised bulk army thin white line infantry cover territory frankfurt sufficient depth resist pressure opposition spring drafts free imperial cities imperial estates augmented force men largely placed charles like use militias compared french coverage charles half number troops covering mile stretching near furthermore concentrated bulk force commanded confluence rhine main river attack likely offered gateway eastern german states ultimately vienna good bridges crossing relatively defined river bank north autonomous corps stretched thin line french citizen army created mass conscription young men systematically old men tempered teenagers young adults reputation rumor france furthermore army entirely dependent support countryside april pay metallic value pay spring early summer unpaid french army constant mutiny border town revolted june 17th frequently companies rebelled assault german states essential far french commanders understood terms war aims practical terms believed war pay budget payment feeding troops battles june saw republican french divisions commanded attack wing army led duke ferdinand frontal attack combined flanking maneuver forced austrians retreat future france played significant roles engagement division commander brigadier leader flanking column battle occurred war coalition larger conflict called wars french revolution located state germany kilometers east located distance kilometers north frankfurt opening began attack south won sufficient maneuver room east bank supposed join remainder distraction austrians duke moved north oppose cross rhine far south army carried scheme perfection allowing cross rhine june plan lure north army breach rhine defenses south strategy worked designed charles came north heavy forces drive successfully mounted assault crossing rhine near june french executed simultaneous crossings advance guard preceded main force infantry cavalry directed bridge force consisted recruits provided members literally raw recruits field hands day laborers drafted service spring year outnumbered reinforced stationed north river easier cross far away support smaller force troops force reach time relieve troops day divisions river thrust contingent reformed july managed hold city reinforcements arrived charles army away french formed river near executed crossing advanced east german shore rhine 16th 50th brigades 50th line infantry squadrons cavalry included 3rd 7th 10th imperial armies danger french pressed hard moved quickly east shore rhine coalition army east prevent charles executed orderly withdrawal columns valley bavaria trying maintain consistent contact flanks column withdrew mid july column near column included corps retreated eventually fourth austrian column smallest battalions squadrons general marched length northern shore austrian city given size attacking force charles withdraw far bavaria align northern flank perpendicular line autonomous corps prevent flanking south resist french onslaught course withdrawal abandoned french end july thousand charles men executed dawn attack camp remaining thousand french immigrant troops disarmed weapons charles withdrew east neutral zone expanded eventually encompassing southern german states summer summer fall included conflicts southern territories german states armies coalition armies sought flank mid summer situation looked grim coalition continued withdraw east northeast despite charles orders unite appeared probable succeed flanking charles driving wedge force august crushed charles force forcing withdraw east recognized danger changed direction moving corps join charles northern flank august charles inflicted defeat french day commanders lost battle french regardless tide turned coalition favor lines moving far german states separated far offer aid security coalition concentration troops forced wider wedge armies similar french tried charles french withdrew rhine charles pressed forward september attempted halt retreat received word defeat withdraw southern germany pulled troops supervising rear guard austrian corps commanded drew close lost prisoners standards artillery followed sensible distance armies clashed mortally wounded coalition victory french withdrew south west formed battle principal actions summer fall organizational command problems army rhine experienced command problems early operations campaign entirely french failure difficulties army faced especially situation competition direction revolution headed originally dedicated placed command undermined previous year appointment commander army revolution waned late leaning heavily royalist cause replaced later actions associate friend recently executed offered services having received title subdued paris rose insurrection convention bread riots april undeniably capable possibly brilliant popular commander began second campaign crossing october taking drove austrians rhine instead going winter quarters prepared army winter campaign difficult proposition eighteenth century december brigades crossed ice stormed january army crossed entered january surrendered 16th prussian british armies withdrew fled safety bremen succeeded avoiding frozen arrived amsterdam january revolution french occupied rest month major victory expulsion coalition low countries successful occupation alliance new marked unique episodes capture dutch fleet frozen french exceptional discipline french battalions amsterdam faced opportunity richest city europe showed remarkable self restraint consequently took united command armies north rhine crossed rhine force held position hero revolution took allowed colleague defeated understood paris betrayed plans enemy following eighteen months participated conspiracy return coronation king france school campaigns army rhine participated provided exception experience extraordinary young officers volume analysis emphasized importance experience conditions object training received early years war varied theater served character army belonged experience young officers experienced men unfortunate arrested participation army particularly contrasting campaigns disaster mixed success provided young officers like captains time valuable experience furthermore tested class enemy commanders example analysis singular lengthy volumes address detail value school singled french revolutionary army finest school world seen trade arms resurrection regime civil dignity allowed emperor napoleon strengthen newly created power rewarding valuable generals served command campaigns italy egypt soldiers held significant commands french revolutionary wars subsequently senior generals promoted different occasions mainly following major battlefield victories members subsequent incarnations named napoleon regime army included future commander chief saint joseph old man named honorary marshal awarded field position campaigns cavalry commander came command south german swiss campaigns served right hand man swiss campaign like competent inspired regimental commander saint participants campaign received honors fourth fifth promotions commanders
Army of the Rhine and Moselle