Chapter Summaries

Joseph secured Taine’s help in organizing Flemish representatives and built a Flemish force as his army advanced on Brussels. In Namur, Gaayar urged Wallonia’s merchants to rely on France, while Schevenement’s promise of major steel-rail investment shifted the committee’s attention.

• Joseph told Taine to gather Flemish representatives for a parliamentary election and set out for Brussels, while Taine agreed to rally soldiers and left with officers and an escort.
• Sean Hayes gathered Flemish prisoners into the French Army, and Joseph’s army captured Count Radetzky after attacking Mavrenne Town.
• Joseph formed a Flemish Legion of more than 4,700 men from the prisoners and led nearly 30,000 troops toward Brussels.
• Gaayar urged the Walloon Chamber of Commerce committee to rely on France and warned that Austria could restore its rule over Wallonia.
• Schevenement told the committee that Joseph had promised several hundred kilometers of steel-railed wooden railway, drawing the merchants’ attention.

Schevenement persuaded Walloon business leaders to support incorporation into France by describing major investments and announcing that Brussels could be included in the new province of South Brabant. The Walloon Chamber of Commerce held a vote on incorporation the next morning.

• Schevenement said the French Government would fund a major investment if Wallonia joined France, and that construction could begin around October.
• More than forty Chamber of Commerce Committee Members backed incorporation, giving the resolution more than two-thirds support alongside the army representatives.
• Eckeye read Paris’s plan to divide Wallonia into three provinces and said the Chamber of Commerce would nominate governors and municipal commissioners.
• Eckeye revealed that South Brabant would include Brussels and Namur, and Schevenement said the Crown Prince's army was advancing on Brussels.
• The committee members warmed to incorporation after hearing that Brussels might be added to Wallonia, and the Chamber of Commerce held a vote the next morning.

Wallonia voted to join France, while Lord Grenville pressured Franz II to commit Austria’s full strength to the war. Franz agreed to mobilize tens of thousands of additional troops for the Rhine front and compel the Holy Roman States to contribute forces.

• Wallonia voted 80 to 0, with two abstentions, to become three provinces of France, and General Gaayar called for conscription and reinforcements for the French war effort.
• Lord Grenville refused Franz II’s request to send the Duke of York’s army to support Prince Coburg, aiming to make the Emperor anxious enough to commit fully to the war.
• Wellesley told Grenville that his New Army lacked enough Percussion Cap Guns because the Gas Streetlight swindle had disrupted production.
• Franz II accepted Grenville’s proposal and pledged to mobilize Austria and send 50,000 to 70,000 more troops to the Rhine within six months.
• Thugut said Franz II would demand additional troops from the Holy Roman States, while Grenville promised increased British loans to support Austria’s army.

Friedrich, Grenville, and Baron Thugut agreed that Prussia and Austria would divide Saxony after the war, while Britain continued sending reinforcements. At sea, the Leisure escaped a British warship, but the Special Trade Association’s shipping losses showed that British patrols were making trade increasingly dangerous.

• Baron Thugut secured agreement that Prussia could obtain Leipzig and Wittenberg, while ownership of eastern Dresden was left for later discussion.
• Friedrich and Grenville agreed that Britain would continue sending reinforcements to Shanghaier.
• Baron Thugut was told that Duke of York would lead troops south and the Wallis Corps would join Prince Coburg in the Southern Netherlands.
• The Leisure left Ostend Harbor and fled when a British warship spotted it, throwing most of its cargo overboard to gain speed.
• The Leisure escaped into the Atlantic after nightfall, while its captain lamented the cargo lost during the pursuit.
• The Special Trade Association had lost nearly 60% of its ships in a month and a half of British patrols along the French coast.

Martin took command of the Leisure when a British frigate attacked it, but the Cloud Mist drew the frigate away and let the Leisure escape. The Cloud Mist’s steam-assisted escape revealed how France planned to break the British blockade and bring back strategic goods from the Americas.

• A British frigate caught the Leisure near Sweden and opened fire after the ship refused to submit to inspection.
• Martin learned that the captain was dead and Jurno was seriously wounded, so he ordered the Leisure to surrender.
• The Cloud Mist, commanded by Captain Michel Bar with Baron Foucard aboard, arrived and fired on the British frigate to draw its attention.
• Martin turned the Leisure away while the Cloud Mist used its paddle wheels and steam engine to escape the frigate.
• The chapter explained that France had built seven Special Merchant Ships to break the blockade and carry Cane Sugar and Cotton from the Americas.

Baron Foucard arrived in the United States as France’s special envoy and demanded that it honor its alliance by declaring war on the United Kingdom. As Washington delayed, Foucard and the French-funded American News rallied public opinion, leaving crowds demanding Congress uphold the treaty.

• France continued trading sugar despite the war, but its reliance on foreign raw materials and overseas markets made the British naval blockade a grave threat to its economy.
• After more than fifty days at sea, Baron Foucard arrived in Philadelphia aboard the Cloud Mist and presented Jefferson with France’s demand that the United States declare war on the United Kingdom.
• Washington delayed a decision by saying Parliament needed time to discuss and vote on the matter.
• Following the Crown Prince’s instructions, Foucard gave speeches in Philadelphia urging the French and American people to unite against the United Kingdom.
• The French-funded American News warned that Britain’s blockade threatened American trade and independence, popularizing the slogan “Saving France Is Saving America.”
• Crowds marched before the U.S. Congress, demanding that the United States honor its treaty and oppose British hegemony.

Joseph used a French-backed protest campaign and leaked the secret terms of the United States' negotiations with the United Kingdom to pressure Washington into rejecting concessions. After President Washington publicly denied the proposed deal, France agreed to let the United States remain neutral.

• Minister of Justice Jennings Randolph sent militia to disperse protesters, but they regrouped outside the Federal Court and continued their demonstrations.
• Hamilton, Madison, Jefferson, and other American leaders discussed the growing protests and their anger at the French Envoy's speeches.
• Hamilton read a newspaper report exposing the government's planned concessions to the United Kingdom and rushed to inform the President.
• Washington publicly rejected the reported concessions, demanded compensation and the return of captured Americans, and affirmed support for France.
• The United States sent a ship to retrieve Grand Justice Jay, while the French Envoy later agreed that the United States could remain neutral.

Jefferson and Hamilton agreed to France’s trade demands while keeping America neutral, including raising sugar prices and sending goods through Genoa. As Baron Foucard departed, American veterans gathered in Philadelphia and vowed to repay France, setting up a new effort to support French interests.

• Joseph accepted America’s neutrality and had Baron Foucard demand that it limit sugar sales to Britain and supply France with goods at favorable prices.
• Foucard proposed that America hoard sugar when prices fell and route exports to France through Genoa, and Hamilton and Jefferson agreed to the plan.
• Jefferson and Foucard secretly signed a package agreement covering diplomacy and trade, then Foucard sailed from Philadelphia aboard Cloud Mist.
• At the United States Veterans Home, veterans recalled French-American wartime sacrifices and pledged to find a way to repay France.
• A Veterans Home staff member told the veterans that France also needed their help.

Viscount Noailles recruited American veterans to fight for France, while Martin served aboard the fast French frigate Far Look in the Mediterranean. The Far Look sighted an enemy and prepared for battle.

• An American veteran donated money to help France, prompting other veterans to contribute until Viscount Noailles arrived and ordered the funds returned.
• Noailles offered the veterans a monthly salary and compensation to volunteer for France, and more than ninety signed up at the meeting.
• A week later, Noailles counted 480 Philadelphia volunteers and reported to the Crown Prince, estimating that thousands more might enlist.
• Five hundred American volunteers sailed for Genoa aboard merchant ships more than ten days later.
• Martin joined the French Navy as a Second Lieutenant and served as boatswain aboard the Far Look, a swift frigate in the Mediterranean.
• The Far Look spotted an enemy, and Martin called the sailors to their battle stations.

Martin and the French steam frigates Far Look, Seagull Wing, and Great Tide used their speed to evade Major Hicks’s English warships and pursue the merchant ships. Far Look caught the merchant ship Longtail Ray, and its guns opened fire.

• Orderly Officers warned the French ships that an English fleet of warships and merchant ships was approaching, and the three steam frigates accelerated to engage.
• Major Hicks ordered his ships to fire, but the French frigates made a sharp turn and raced past the English battle line without taking a direct hit.
• Hicks sent the galleys Beacon and Dragonfly after the French frigates while the merchant ships scattered to escape.
• Far Look caught up with the merchant ship Longtail Ray, and its guns blasted the ship’s midsection and sterncastle.

French Frigates used Ranger Tactics to attack a British Cruiser after sinking two merchant ships, while the British Mediterranean Fleet commander Lord Hood received an order criticizing his failure to protect merchant shipping. The British Cruiser was being battered, and the chapter left Lord Hood reading the Admiralty's reprimand aboard the Victory.

• The Far Look, the Seagull Wing, and the Great Tide attacked British merchant ships; the Seagull Wing and the Great Tide sank their targets, while the Far Look damaged a merchant ship's rudder but failed to catch another fleeing vessel.
• The French formation turned back to finish off the disabled merchant ship, but its lookout spotted a British Cruiser approaching.
• The Seagull Wing ordered the French Frigates to attack, and Martin told his crew to return to their stations.
• The three French Frigates used their speed and maneuverability to circle Hicks's Cruiser and bombard it, leaving the British flagship badly damaged.
• Lord Hood examined an Admiralty order aboard the Victory that accused him of failing to protect British merchant ships.

Lord Hood and his officers reconsidered British Mediterranean strategy after French frigates attacked merchant shipping and sank the Royal Navy cruiser Golden Elm. In Toulon, Napoleon learned that an Austrian legion had reached the pass and ordered an attack designed to encourage Beaulieu to advance.

• Lord Hood reviewed the French raids and discussed forming escort squadrons with Collingwood, Nelson, and Hotham.
• An officer reported that the Golden Elm had been sunk during an attack on Hicks's escort formation, prompting Hood to vow a counterstrike.
• Nelson proposed sending the British main fleet to sea to protect shipping and lure the French fleet from Toulon.
• Napoleon told Victor that Beaulieu had still not crossed the Alps, then received word that about four thousand Austrian soldiers had appeared west of the pass.
• Napoleon ordered the Moulins Legion to attack, intending to make Beaulieu feel safe enough to advance on Toulon.

Napoleon explained why he wanted the Austrians to advance confidently into Toulon, while Austrian forces swept through Monaco and Nice. As Provera and Sebottendorf continued west, they encountered newly arrived French troops and ordered attacks.

• Napoleon told Victor that Beaulieu would push west toward Toulon because British pressure and Napoleon's intuition would draw him there, and he expected Monaco to contribute to France's war funds.
• Provera's Austrian vanguard defeated French and Monacan defenders at Larvotto, then occupied Monaco and Nice as the Prince of Monaco retreated toward Nice and requested French protection.
• Beaulieu ordered Austrian reinforcements to cross the Alps cautiously, reported the advance to the Emperor, and asked the British to send supplies to La Condamine Port.
• Five days later, Provera's forces advanced from Nice toward Cagnes and discovered more than three thousand French soldiers from the Montpellier Legion defending the town.
• Sebottendorf's Austrian forces encountered several thousand French troops at Vence, and he ordered an immediate attack.

Napoleon’s forces held Vence and Cagnes against the Austrian advance while waiting in reserve, forcing Beaulieu to reconsider his route toward Toulon. When the Austrians withdrew from Vence and attempted a flanking move at Cagnes, Joubert learned that the enemy was now heading toward his position.

• Victor refused Marquis Peche’s repeated requests for reinforcements, obeying Napoleon’s order to wait while the Lyon Legion defended Cagnes.
• Baron Defer held Vence against the Sebottendorf Legion’s attacks, using his artillery and defensive works despite mounting casualties.
• Beaulieu ordered Sebottendorf to bypass Vence for Toulon Harbor if it remained untaken after three days, and sent Caretto’s Grenadier Battalion to reinforce Provera at Cagnes.
• Sebottendorf withdrew from Vence and prepared to march through the northern river valley toward Toulon Harbor.
• Caretto spotted a weakness in the French line at Cagnes and proposed a nighttime flanking move, which Provera agreed to attempt.
• Joubert sent a cavalry patrol to investigate the reduced cannon fire, and two Rangers returned to report that the Austrian Army had left Vence and was heading toward them.

Napoleon’s ambush caught the Austrian forces attacking Cagnes, while he stayed near Levens, managing supplies and refusing to reinforce Vence. The chapter left his plan underway as the French prepared to exploit the Austrians’ advance.

• Victor heard fighting near Cagnes and led his troops to attack the Austrian flank.
• Caretto’s Grenadier Battalion broke through the French defenses at Cagnes, then Caretto realized French forces were approaching from the north.
• Napoleon’s concealed troops blocked the roads behind the Austrian advance, while Sebottendorf’s Legion marched into Joubert’s ambush.
• Napoleon reviewed supply problems and relaxed with coffee before Augereau urged him to reinforce Vence.
• Napoleon told Augereau that Defair could hold Vence and explained that Beaulieu would likely bypass it to attack Toulon.

Napoleon’s forces launched coordinated surprise attacks on the Austrians around Vence, Cagnes, and Bell, breaking up their formations and forcing them to request reinforcements. As Napoleon Shaofu withdrew toward Saint-Jeannet, Provi’s westward advance met French artillery, while General Ojun tried to organize the Austrian response.

• After news arrived that the Austrian main force had left Vence by way of Saint-Jeannet, Napoleon sent Augereau to assemble the troops for an attack.
• Ruchir’s Legion attacked Napoleon Shaofu’s Legion at Vence, while Vic’s cavalry struck Sebotengla’s flank and French forces counterattacked near Cagnes.
• French artillery shattered Napoleon Shaofu’s advancing columns, and he led three thousand survivors back to Saint-Jeannet as thousands more were trapped to the west.
• General Ojun received two requests for reinforcements and ordered Dannenfeld to send troops to Qibi while directing Koli to protect the supply line.
• Provi led the Moulins and Corsican Legions west from Nice, but five French cannons opened fire on his force from a position northwest of the city.

Napoleon’s French forces surprised and decisively defeated Dannenfels’s Austrian Legion near Nice, capturing Dannenfels and thousands of soldiers. Augereau then encountered the approaching Provella Legion and routed it by claiming Victor Corps was attacking from behind.

• Napoleon waited with his army until Rangers reported Dannenfels’s Legion nearby, then assigned forces to attack and block reinforcements.
• Marmont established an artillery position while Sérurier’s Legion assaulted the Austrian front and Junot’s Skirmisher Battalion attacked the flank.
• French infantry and cavalry overwhelmed Dannenfels’s forces, captured nearly five thousand soldiers, and took Dannenfels prisoner.
• Augereau moved southwest and encountered more than three thousand Austrian soldiers from the Provella Legion near Nice.
• Augereau claimed Victor Corps was behind the Austrians, then led his eighteen hundred soldiers in a charge that scattered the enemy.

After defeating the Austrian forces around Nice, Napoleon crossed Cattibona Pass with the Army of Italy to begin the invasion of the Italian Peninsula. He led the advance into the Alps but learned that corruption had delayed winter clothing for the Montpellier Legion, threatening to slow his campaign.

• Beaulieu ordered his army to retreat toward Cattibona Pass after learning that Dannenfels had been defeated and Provera was under attack.
• Napoleon pursued Beaulieu but failed to trap his main force; the remaining Camuripi troops in Nice and Sebottendorf’s legion later surrendered.
• Napoleon reported victory in the Battle of Toulon, with thousands of enemy soldiers captured or killed, and received a promotion to colonel.
• Napoleon secured Cattibona Pass, and Augereau’s advance force began crossing into Italy.
• Napoleon learned that the Montpellier Legion’s winter clothing had not arrived because its procurement officers had embezzled funds, delaying the march through the snowy Alps.

Napoleon asked Jacques-Louis David to portray him during the Alpine campaign, then objected to the unheroic scene David was painting. In Brussels, Joseph approved Napoleon’s plan to cross the Great Saint Bernard Pass, convinced the route could give France a strategic advantage.

• Napoleon learned that the Moulins Legion cavalry was still recovering in Nice and ordered that it remain there.
• Napoleon asked Jacques-Louis David about his painting, then found himself depicted on an exhausted mule in a scene that looked like a retreat.
• Joseph explained to Lefebvre that Napoleon’s pass crossing could draw Austrian forces away and open several strategic options.
• Lefebvre warned that Switzerland and Bard Fortress could hinder the advance, but Joseph said Switzerland would stay out of the way and revealed a path around the fortress.
• Joseph signed his approval of Napoleon’s operation plan after the report reached him through the Shap Semaphore system.

Dimoubin feigned an advance on Genoa to draw the Austro-Sardinian forces away, while Melas ordered troops to secure the port and surround the French. Napoleon led a separate force over the Great Saint Bernard Pass, but his quartermaster warned that the army risked running out of food after crossing the Alps.

• Dimoubin learned that Melas's army was marching toward Montferrat and turned his forces east toward Genoa as Napoleon's plan required.
• Koli and Beaulieu warned that losing Genoa would threaten their supply lines and leave Alexandria exposed, while Genoa refused to let them deploy troops there.
• Cervoni proposed sending Austrian troops to Genoa before the French arrived, and Melas ordered the Argentau Legion to seize the port, Koli to block the French advance, and Cervoni to cut off Dimoubin's retreat.
• Napoleon led the Montpellier Legion, a Mulan Cavalry Battalion, and five thousand recruits over the Great Saint Bernard Pass in a surprise move.
• Napoleon's quartermaster warned that the army's food would run out after it crossed the Alps and urged him to wait two days.