Alain Gasquetさんのイラストまとめ

Soult, known for being highly critical of everyone, had a bad memory of the Hoche of 1793 then in his first campaign, due to his very “sans-culotte” manners that was not expected of an army commander and his lack of experience in logistics.

Hoche, now theoretically free to attack, still had the same orders to stay as reserve for the real breakthrough to Moreau. This was becoming an absurdity for the boiling general, as the entire point was to join Bonaparte as soon as possible.

However, even before launching new operations, the objectives for the upcoming 1797 campaigns were to be decided. But unfortunately, during these precious early months, the Directory would show his structural deficiencies in terms of strategic planning.

The Royal Navy did not see the French coming and only reacted when they were on their way back. In the end, the French lost a lot of men and ships, more by storms than by the British who had at least the satisfaction to destroy a ship named Droits de l’Homme. Anyway.

After defending Thionville and Dunkirk, he had by 1796 led the liberation of Alsace (despite of Pichegru), had been imprisoned by Saint-Just, had masterfully crushed the most ambitious British / Royalist expedition in France and finally smartly pacified the Vendee. He ruled.

But it failed again. In part because of the core defaults of the French plans that did not ensure the coordination of both French armies (we are not yet in the times of the Corps!) but also because of the very good generalship of the new Austrian leader, the Archduke Charles.

The offensive indeed started well, Jourdan and Moreau being able to cross decisively the tricky Rhine through competent manoeuvring, beating up several Austrian detachment on the way before marching deep into Germany territories.

This front was seen as the most strategic by the French government (and its military champion Lazare Carnot) and saw the largest concentration of forces, by then distributed among two massive armies totaling over 150,000 men on paper

I love Romantic illustrations of French Revolutionary soldiers where they all look like they just went out of a 3 years COVID lockdown.

So apparently there is a small local museum about the Battle of Hohenlinden (1800) with a huge diorama (and a lifesize Republican soldier cardboard to steal) and I already know will never convince my wife to visit. @AgeofNapoleon