Jean-Baptiste Jourdan, Magimel, Anselin et Pochard, Paris, 1818
This memoir is an official campaign account written by Marshal Jean-Baptiste Jourdan, describing the operations of the Army of Sambre-et-Meuse during the 1796 Rhine campaign of the French Revolutionary Wars.
The work provides a detailed, firsthand narrative of the French offensive operations launched into Germany against Austrian forces as part of the War of the First Coalition. Jourdan describes the organization of his army, strategic objectives, and the execution of operations along the Rhine, including advances into southern German territories and coordination with other French armies operating simultaneously on different fronts.
A major focus of the memoir is the operational sequence of the 1796 campaign: troop movements across the Rhine, engagements with Austrian forces, logistical constraints, and the challenges of maintaining communication and supply lines in extended operations deep into enemy territory. The account also reflects on command decisions, including moments of cooperation and tension with other French commanders, particularly in relation to the broader strategic plan devised by the Directory.
The memoir is both justificatory and analytical in tone, as Jourdan defends certain operational decisions while providing insight into the difficulties of coordinating large-scale Revolutionary armies in the field. It also sheds light on the evolving nature of warfare during this period, where mass armies, rapid maneuver, and extended operational fronts replaced older linear strategies.
While the focus is on French operations, the campaign necessarily involves frequent contact with Coalition forces operating along the Rhine, including Austrian and German contingents such as Prussian and Hessian units engaged in defensive operations in the region.
As one of the key primary sources for the 1796 Rhine campaign, this work remains essential for understanding both the French strategic approach and the operational realities of Revolutionary warfare in Germany.
