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The Eye of the Cyclone at the Fall of the XVIIIth Century: The Ill-Fated Helvetic Republic (1798-1803)Overview of Military Operations in the Low Countries, southern Germany, Switzerland and Tessin in 1799 and 1800 (Years VIII And IX Of The Republican Era)In Northern Holland, an expeditionary force under the Duke of York combined Russian and English troops. Having landed in summer, it failed to drive towards Belgium where it could threaten Paris within weeks. The French Army of the Rhine had been placed under command of General Jourdan. It suffered a severe blow from Archduke Charles at Stockach on 26 March 1799, thus having to retreat across the Rhine. General Jourdan then resigned and General Masséna, already in charge of operations in Switzerland, had to take over command of Army of the Rhine then scattered across Northern Switerland. By early June, Austrian forces mounted a brilliant offensive in front of Zurich and drove the French away (5-7 June 1799 – 1st Battle of Zurich). However no provisions had been made to pursuit and Masséna would soon stop retreating. Meanwhile General Lecourbe reinforced his positions by occupying Grimsel, Furka, Oberalp, and Saint Gothard Passes in succession (summer, 1799). By mid-1799, Masséna had troops settled from Basle to Tessin across Switzerland. General Lecourbe was holding positions over the Alps, facing Austrian forces of Generals Bellegarde and Hotze. The French totalled some 75,000 troops. Combined Austrian and Russian forces of a similar magnitude were positioned to the east of Zurich. They were placed under Archduke Charles and General Rimsky-Korsakov. Towards the end of the summer, Allied forces were looking forward to taking the offensive and eventually route the French out of Switzerland. However strategic command was being exercised from a remote headquarters at Vienna, the Aulic Council. For obscure reasons, a complex move was conceived to have Archduke Charles head north to relieve the English corps along the Lower Rhine while Russian forces of Field-Marshal Suvorov were ordered northward across the Alps to support General Rimsky-Korsakov in Glaris (northwest Switzerland). These moves were not only of a large magnitude, they also had to take place at a difficult time of the year in a hostile geographical environment. Furthermore, the armies had been through a protracted campaign; there were shortages of horses, forages, and other supplies. On 17 September, General Brune defeated the Allies at Bergen (Holland) and went on to rout the English to the sea. At the same time, Archduke Charles left his positions near Zurich to head North across the Rhine River, thereby exposing the Russians of General Rimsky-Korsakov. On 28th August, Field-Marshal Suvorov engaged in the Saint Gothard Pass, having abandoned most of his horses and cannons due to lack of carrying resources. Suvorov was expecting an easy ride with minimal resistance from the French. On the contrary, General Lecourbe had arranged for settlements all along the approach to the Saint Gothard Pass, with a solid retrenchment under the Hospice near the pass (alt. 2,108 m). General Bagration was assigned to conduct a force around the pass and come back behind the French, which he succeeded in doing. French resistance was finally overcome once the corps of Rosenberg arrived at Andermatt from the rear side.
On 25 September, Russian troops continued their advance North through the Schöllenen Gorges, to reach the famous Devil’s Bridge where a French party were entrenched as was expected. Cossack volunteers were left to slide into the river under heavy fire, prior to eventually capturing the bridge yet relatively unscathed. Suvorov reached Altdorf in the evening of 26 September, to discover that any available embarkation had been taken away. Reaching Näfels by foot was then out of question and the Russians had little choice but pursuing east through the Chinsig Pass (2,073 m.) into the Muotatal.
In the vicinity of Zurich, 100 km north from there, a decisive move was taking place at the same time. Having taken notice of the Austrian move away from their positions, General Oudinot threw some light bridges across the Limmat River at Closter-Fahr on 25 September and took the Russians by surprise. Weakened fortifications in front of Zurich were stormed on 26 September (2nd Battle of Zurich). In a coordinated move, General Soult went across the Linth River further South, overcoming Austrian settlements and General Hotze was killed in action. Some 100 cannons and 5,000 men were captured in a couple of days... On 27 September, still unaware of these developments, Suvorov was advancing forcefully eastbound through the Muotatal Pass, which Russians crossed within 12 hours. Weather was bad and the men exhausted. News of the Zurich disaster reached Field-Marshal Suvorov on the following day. One may speculate that had he been able to save a week, either by receiving mules to carry his supplies, or through better coordination altogether, his contribution could have turned around the military fortune of the Allies. Whatever the circumstances, old Suvorov did not give up and soon realised he had to escape further northeast through the Pragel Pass (1,515 m) towards Vorarlberg across the Upper Rhine in Austria. Arriving on 29 September in Glaris through the Klöntal, he was to realise Austrian troops of General Jellachich had already withdrawn. Instead, French troops had just settled there. Was this a case for the Russians to give up and secure terms for an honourable surrender ? By early October, the Army of Holland under General Brune was conducting a brilliant campaign culminating with the Battle of Castricum (6 October, 1799). The Duke of York had to settle for the Alkmaar Capitulation and the expeditionary corps was allowed to re-embark to England. In the later word of Napoléon:
On 1 October, the Russian rear-guard under General Rosenberg was still holding the French at Muotatal. Meanwhile, the avant-guard would fail in taking control of the bridge at Glaris, thereby giving up any hope of moving further north. The only contingency other than surrendering was fleeing back south towards the Rhine River, through the Panix Pass (2,407 m). And amazingly, this was the option 70-year old efeated Suvorov was to take after consulting his staff and regrouping his forces on 2-4 October! Progressing on 5 and 6 October along the Panix tracks proved extremely demanding. Snow had been accumulating up to meters high, horses were hungry and tired, men were exhausted and discouraged. Many troops would slide and fall in numbers to their death in the rocks. Equipment was appallingly inadequate. However the undomitable Field-Marshal was leading the way and marching with his men in the snow. By the evening of 6 October, following a 18 hour-progression, Suvorov actually reached the hamlet of Panix along the Rhine River! On the following days, remnents of the Russian forces were to regroup
at Chur prior to marching back to Austria and finally Russia. Some 11,000
men were accounted missing, or about half those who had entered Switzerland
some 3 weeks before. Once actually reaching St-Petersburg, Prince Suvorov
was to in disgrace with Tsar Paul I and banned to his native province.
He soon died on 18 May, 1800. Meanwhile General Masséna had been pursuing his advance and overtaken
the Austrians at Andelfingen (7 October). General Lecourbe was
to take over and go across the Rhine River to take foot in Bavaria.
In November, General Moreau arrived to take command of Army of the Rhine,
which he was to lead it successfully towards Vienna in 1800.
Placed on the Napoleon Series: January 2004
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