battle battle june republican french force direction mounted amphibious crossing defending force soldiers circle action war coalition french drove positions subsequently controlled sides rhine separated politically geographically village eastern shore rhine city western shore united presence bridges series gates fortifications barrage dams allowed passage river rhine wild unpredictable difficult cross places times wider century non flood conditions channels tributaries wound marsh meadow created islands trees vegetation alternately submerged floods exposed dry seasons fortifications constructed fortress architect seventeenth century crossings contested french dutch war war spanish succession war polish succession critical success french plan army ability cross rhine consequently control crossings near swiss city ready access southwestern germany french armies sweep north south east depending military goal background end rhine campaign sides called truce lasted austrians announced end terrain rhine river flows west border german states mile stretch high rhine cuts steep gravel bed places moved miles north east terrain rhine makes wide northerly turn called rhine knee enters called rhine ditch rift valley bordered east west plain sides river miles wide villages farms far edges flood plain especially eastern old mountains created dark shadows horizon tributaries cut hilly terrain creating deep mountains tributaries wind flood plain river looked different century passage corrected straightened canal constructed control water level river wild unpredictable places times wider century incarnation river regular conditions channels wound marsh meadow created islands trees vegetation periodically submerged floods systems access reliable political complications german speaking states east bank rhine vast complex territories central europe called holy roman empire considerable number territories empire included entities size influence varied little states covered square miles included non pieces small complex territories family branches sizable defined territories governance states varied included autonomous free imperial cities different sizes influence powerful ecclesiastical territories varying sizes influence wealthy abbey powerful cologne states viewed map empire resembled carpet domains included territories outside empire territories completely surrounded france belonged german speaking states administrative legal mechanisms provided venue resolve disputes peasants jurisdictions jurisdictions organization imperial circles called groups states consolidated resources promoted regional organizational interests including economic cooperation military protection disposition armies coalition included contingents infantry cavalry states amounted troops including autonomous corps sizable force eighteenth century standards moderate force standards revolutionary wars duke brother served commander chief total troops stretched line switzerland north_sea troops comprised bulk army thin white line infantry cover territory frankfurt sufficient depth resist pressure opposition compared french coverage charles half number troops covering mile stretching near furthermore concentrated bulk force commanded confluence rhine main attack likely offered gateway eastern german states ultimately vienna good bridges crossing relatively defined river bank north autonomous corps stretched thin line assault german states essential far french commanders understood terms war aims practical terms believed war pay budget feeding troops french citizen army created mass conscription young men systematically old men tempered teenagers young adults france army entirely dependent support countryside occupied provisions wages wages paid worthless france paper currency april pay metallic value wages spring early summer french army constant mutiny border town brigade revolted june 17th brigade frequently brigade companies rebelled spring drafts free imperial cities imperial estates augmented force men militias field hands day laborers drafted service spring year gathered army march april largely guess work placed particular charles like use militias vital location consequently early june french started mass troops looked bulk french army cross engaged imperial force june june charles felt placing man militia crossing french plans counted troops man right wing duke ferdinand stood east bank rhine observing french garrisons fortress included remainder held west bank initially commanded operation led strong right wing occupied west bank left wing prince guarded rhine switzerland original austrian strategy capture use position rhine west bank strike french armies turn news arrived vienna successes northern italy sent italy reinforcements gave command austrian armies ordered hold ground french man held west bank rhine southwest army left flank troops entrenched right wing command positioned east rhine border french provinces switzerland german states northward center near left wing extended west commanded right wing commanded center directed left wing included divisions commanded wing included infantry cavalry divisions general division command included divisions led french plan called armies press flanks coalition northern armies german states simultaneously army approached vienna italy specifically army push south hopefully drawing troops attention allow army easier crossing rhine went according plan army force charles troops charles moved mass army north army early year stationed swiftly south cross river guarded man inexperienced lightly trained militia troops recruited spring circle south column river advanced rhine swiss german shoreline lake spread southern end trap charles army left wing army swung force cut flank autonomous corps dual attack went according french plan weeks june soldiers commanded pushed man austrian force june french placed fortress siege ran charles concentration austrians june casualties light sides pulled retreated commanding rushed battle east june prompting french continue withdrawal north actions confirmed charles intended cross mid rhine quickly moved sufficient force place address threat responding french charles committed forces middle northern rhine leaving militia crossing executed forced march army arrived charles realized left accomplish march rapidly left artillery infantry cavalry swiftly june troops assaulted forward posts river overwhelming militia withdrew leaving cannons solved artillery problem early morning june men embarked small boats landed islands river fortress imperial commentator observed time address destroy bridges communicate right west bank rhine progress french remaining crossed river suddenly attacked french controlled fortifications river islands advance guard french 3rd 16th brigades commanded year old general bridge fell guarding crossing jobs infantry infantry cavalry followed secured bridge outnumbered reinforced stationed north river easier cross far support smaller force troops relative easy distance prince army force reach time second attack simultaneous crossing occurred near crossing unopposed advanced dual east german shore rhine 16th 50th brigades 50th line infantry squadrons cavalry included 3rd 7th 10th day divisions river thrust contingent reformed 28th managed pull shattered force unite disorganized troops july armies met command managed hold city french troops turned flanks opted strategic withdrawal eastward shore rhine approach charles force rear cut bavaria division swung north east mountains hoping separate main force division presented danger flanking entire coalition force west east marched north joined aftermath immediate personnel losses minor french lost killed missing wounded militia lost plus guns ammunition wagons immediately french set securing defensive position establishing bridge allowed send cavalry captured artillery river strategic losses far greater french army ability cross rhine gave advantage charles army away french formed river loss crossings near swiss city crossing near city guaranteed french ready access southwestern germany troops fan flood plain prevent approach avoid flanking maneuver charles executed orderly withdrawal columns valley bavaria trying maintain consistent contact flanks column withdrew mid july column attached near column included corps retreated eventually fourth austrian column smallest battalions squadrons commanded retreated length northern shore austrian city subsequent territorial losses significant attack forced charles withdraw far bavaria align northern flank roughly perpendicular line north south autonomous corps array protected danube valley denied french access vienna prevent flanking south similarly flank prevent force north resist french onslaught course withdrawal abandoned french occupation end july thousand charles men command executed dawn attack camp disarmed remaining thousand troops weapons circle successfully negotiated french neutrality negotiations considerable discussion hand weapons french weapons taken charles withdrew east neutral zone expanded eventually encompassing southern german states situation reversed charles forces reunited defeat army battles 2nd september austrian division stormed rhine french counterattack drove french held crossing austrians controlled territory leading crossing battles october october withdrew troops south safe french soil french refused leading days siege locations orders battle french adjutant general commanding generals brigade 3rd brigade light 2nd battalion 11th brigade light 1st battalion 31st 56th brigade line battalions circle contingent infantry regiments battalions imperial cavalry squadrons squadrons field artillery battalions
Battle of Kehl (1796)