BOUCHOTTE (Jean-Baptiste). - Lot 48

BOUCHOTTE (Jean-Baptiste). Born in Metz. 1754–1840. Military officer and politician. Minister of War of the First Republic. Autograph manuscript. No place, no date. 2 folio pages in his small handwriting... Preliminary working notes: …The General-in-Chief of the Combined Army of the North and the Ardennes will assemble all the forces at his disposal to deliver a decisive blow and completely drive the enemy from the territory of the Republic during this campaign. (...) To this end, he will cross the Sambre, encircle the enemy, envelop him, and trap him within the portion of territory he has invaded; he will cut off the enemy’s communications with his own country and separate him from his supply depots, which he will burn if he cannot seize them. (...) The French army will erect as many bridges as necessary across the Sambre to ensure a retreat, should it prove essential, as well as the arrival of its supplies. It may also capture Charles-sur-Sambre [Charleroi], if this position is necessary to secure the river between that city and Maubeuge; it will also carefully hold the position at Beaumont. It will engage in a general battle as soon as the opportunity arises to fight to its advantage and rout the enemy army completely. General [Jourdan] will do his utmost to mislead the enemy regarding his plans; he will persuade them that he possesses even greater forces than he actually does… ultimately, he envisions a “surprise attack on Namur”… Appointed Minister of War in April 1793, Bouchotte created eleven armies and mustered 700,000 men, who were armed within four months. ON AUGUST 14 AND 16, 1793, HE ISSUED DECREES ORDERING THE MASS MOBILIZATION OF THE FRENCH PEOPLE. On September 5, 1793, he ordered the formation of the REVOLUTIONARY ARMY, and on October 5, 1793, the establishment of the Republican calendar. Jean-Baptiste Jourdan took part in the Belgian campaign under Dumouriez. Later, with the Army of the North, he fought in the battles of Jemmapes (November 6, 1792) and Neerwinden (March 18, 1793), distinguishing himself notably in the vicinity of Namur during the army’s retreat. On May 27, 1793, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general, and to major general on the following July 30. He commanded at the Battle of Hondschoote, where he was wounded while leading his troops in the assault on enemy entrenchments. On September 26, he replaced HOUCHARD as commander of the army. He soon became commander of the Army of the Ardennes, then of the Army of the North, and defeated Frederick-Josias of Saxe-Coburg at Wattignies (October 15–16, 1793), a fiercely contested battle that lasted 48 hours, and forced the Prince of Coburg to lift the blockade of Maubeuge.