This is a strategic river map of the Upper Rhine region around Strasbourg, created to illustrate French military operations during the 1796 campaign of the War of the First Coalition. It focuses specifically on the crossings of the Rhine by the Army of Rhin-et-Moselle and the related siege operations against the fortified bridgehead at Kehl.
The map shows the Rhine corridor in detail, emphasizing the complex geography of the river system near Strasbourg, including islands, tributaries, fortified crossings, and surrounding terrain. It highlights the two major French crossings of the Rhine, which were key operational maneuvers in the French attempt to push into southwestern Germany during the summer of 1796.
A central focus of the map is the siege of Kehl, where French forces attempted to secure and expand their bridgehead on the eastern bank of the Rhine. The work illustrates siege lines, artillery positions, and the contested control of the crossing points, which were essential for maintaining French operations across the river.
These operations were part of the broader campaign led by Jean Victor Marie Moreau, whose army conducted deep incursions into German territory while facing coordinated Austrian resistance under Archduke Charles elsewhere along the Rhine front.
The map serves both as a tactical reference and a strategic overview, helping readers understand how control of river crossings like Kehl shaped the entire Rhine campaign of 1796. It emphasizes the importance of engineering, fortifications, and logistics in Revolutionary War operations, where rivers often functioned as decisive operational barriers.
