by Camille Rousset
Perrin, Paris, 1892
A comprehensive history of the volunteer forces that formed the backbone of France's early Revolutionary armies between 1791 and 1794. In this classic work, Camille Rousset examines the organization, recruitment, and military service of the volunteer battalions raised in response to the threats facing the newly established French Republic during the opening years of the French Revolutionary Wars.
Drawing upon official records, correspondence, military reports, and contemporary accounts, Rousset traces the rapid expansion of the volunteer movement, the patriotic fervor that inspired thousands to enlist, and the challenges of transforming enthusiastic civilians into effective soldiers. The book explores the relationship between volunteer battalions and the remaining regiments of the former Royal Army, the role of political ideology in military service, the amalgame that merged volunteers with regular troops, and the campaigns in which these citizen-soldiers fought.
Rich in historical detail, the volume provides valuable insight into the daily lives, organization, leadership, discipline, and battlefield experiences of the volunteers who helped secure the survival of Revolutionary France during its most critical years. It also examines the military reforms that laid the foundation for the powerful French armies of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras.
