THE ARMIES OF THE REVOLUTION
1.The Revolutionary Assemblies and the Armies.
If nothing were known of the revolutionary Assemblies, and notably of the Convention, beyond their internal dissensions, their weakness, and their acts of violence, their memory would indeed be a gloomy one.
But even for its enemies this bloodstained epoch must always retain an undeniable glory, thanks to the success of its armies.
When the Convention dissolved France was already the greater by Belgium and the territories on the left bank of the Rhine.
Regarding the Convention as a whole, it seems equitable to credit it with the victories of the armies of France, but if we analyse this whole in order to study each of its elements separately their independence will at once be obvious.It is at once apparent that the Convention had a very small share in the military events of the time.The armies on the frontier and the revolutionary Assemblies in Paris formed two separate worlds, which had very little influence over one another, and which regarded matters in a very different light.
We have seen that the Convention was a weak Government, which changed its ideas daily, according to popular impulse; it was really an example of the profoundest anarchy.It directed nothing, but was itself continually directed; how, then, could it have commanded armies?
Completely absorbed in its intestine quarrels, the Assembly had abandoned all military questions to a special committee, which was directed almost single-handed by Carnot, and whose real function was to furnish the troops with provisions and ammunition.The merit of Carnot consisted in the fact that besides directing over 752,000 men at the disposal of France, upon points which were strategically valuable, he also advised the generals of the armies to take the offensive, and to preserve a strict discipline.
The sole share of the Assembly in the defence of the country was the decree of the general levy.In the face of the numerous enemies then threatening France, no Government could have avoided such a measure.For some little time, too, the Assembly had sent representatives to the armies instructed to decapitate certain generals, but this policy was soon abandoned.
As a matter of fact the military activities of the Assembly were always extremely slight.The armies, thanks to their numbers, their enthusiasm, and the tactics devised by their youthful generals, achieved their victories unaided.They fought and conquered independently of the Convention.
2.The Struggle of Europe against the Revolution.
Before enumerating the various psychological factors which contributed to the successes of the revolutionary armies, it will be useful briefly to recall the origin and the development of the war against Europe.
At the commencement of the Revolution the foreign sovereigns regarded with satisfaction the difficulties of the French monarchy, which they had long regarded as a rival power.The King of Prussia, believing France to be greatly enfeebled, thought to enrich himself at her expense, so he proposed to the Emperor of Austria to help Louis on condition of receiving Flanders and Alsace as an indemnity.The two sovereigns signed an alliance against France in February, 1792.The French anticipated attack by declaring war upon Austria, under the influence of the Girondists.The French army was at the outset subjected to several checks.The allies penetrated into Champagne, and came within 130 miles of Paris.Dumouriez'
victory at Valmy forced them to retire.
Although 300 French and 200 Prussians only were killed in this battle, it had very significant results.The fact that an army reputed invincible had been forced to retreat gave boldness to the young revolutionary troops, and everywhere they took the offensive.In a few weeks the soldiers of Valmy had chased the Austrians out of Belgium, where they were welcomed as liberators.
But it was under the Convention that the war assumed such importance.At the beginning of 1793 the Assembly declared that Belgium was united to France.From this resulted a conflict with England which lasted for twenty-two years.
Assembled at Antwerp in April, 1793, the representatives of England, Prussia, and Austria resolved to dismember France.The Prussians were to seize Alsace and Lorraine; the Austrians, Flanders and Artois; the English, Dunkirk.The Austrian ambassador proposed to crush the Revolution by terror, ``by exterminating practically the whole of the party directing the nation.'' In the face of such declarations France had perforce to conquer or to perish.
During this first coalition, between 1793 and 1797, France had to fight on all her frontiers, from the Pyrenees to the north.
At the outset she lost her former conquests, and suffered several reverses.The Spaniards took Perpignan and Bayonne; the English, Toulon; and the Austrians, Valenciennes.It was then that the Convention, towards the end of 1793, ordered a general levy of all Frenchmen between the ages of eighteen and forty, and succeeded in sending to the frontiers a total of some 750,000men.The old regiments of the royal army were combined with battalions of volunteers and conscripts.
The allies were repulsed, and Maubeuge was relieved after the victory of Wattigny, which was gained by Jourdan.Hoche rescued Lorraine.France took the offensive, reconquering Belgium and the left bank of the Rhine.Jourdan defeated the Austrians at Fleurus, drove them back upon the Rhine, and occupied Cologne and Coblentz.Holland was invaded.The allied sovereigns resigned themselves to suing for peace, and recognised the French conquests.
