Edmond Lenient (attributed), Millot frères, Besançon, 1920
This historical work examines the intersection of the French Revolution and military operations through the career of Lazare Hoche, with particular emphasis on his command of the Army of the Moselle and the broader evolution of French leadership under the Directory.
The first part of the book focuses on Hoche’s role during the Revolutionary Wars, especially his operations on the northeastern frontier where the Army of the Moselle played a key role in the campaigns against Coalition forces along the Rhine. It highlights his organizational reforms, operational planning, and efforts to restore discipline and effectiveness within the Revolutionary armies during a period of intense political instability.
A second major theme is the transition from Revolutionary command structures to the military leadership of the Directory period (1795–1799). The work discusses how generals such as Hoche, Jourdan, Moreau, and others shaped French military strategy during the later stages of the Revolutionary Wars, particularly in campaigns against Austria and its allies.
The book places strong emphasis on the relationship between politics and military command, showing how Revolutionary ideology, internal dissent, and government oversight influenced operational decisions. It also traces the gradual professionalization of the French officer corps during this period.
