128] 
armies, on the right side of the 
Rhine, would render such an at- 
tempt extremely hazardous, they 
determined to besiege neither, but 
to leave their future reduétion to 
the consequence of a plan of operas 
tions, which, if it succeeded ac- 
cording to their expectations, would 
not fail to put them in possession of 
those two cities, without the neces- 
sity of a siege, 
When the archduke crossed ‘to 
the right of the Rhine, he left a 
strong division of his forces in the 
Hundsdruck, the country lying on. 
the left of that river, between 
Mentz, on the north, and Manheim, 
on the south. This division, toge- 
ther with the garrisons of those two 
cities; was reputed sufficient to 
watch and repel the motions of 
general Moreau, who commanded 
the French forces in that quarter. 
But this active general was intent 
ona very different plan from that 
of annoying the Austrian division, 
or of forming the siege of either of 
these places. In order, however, 
to deceive them, by such appear- 
ances as might facilitate his designs, 
he made a variety of motions, in- 
dicating an attack of several of their 
posts ; and while they were making 
arrangements to oppose him, he 
drew off, unperceived, almost the 
whole of his army, and, by an ex- 
peditious march reached Strasburgh 
before the Austrians had discovered 
his motions, 
He had now attained the spot 
from whence he was to enter upon 
the execution of his projeét, which 
was, to cross the Rhine opposite this 
city, into Swabia, and to take the 
fort of Nebl; by being master of 
which, he would gain the com- 
mand of a Jarge extent of country 
In its proximity, Yand secure, an 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1796. 
entrance to the French into that © 
circle. . 
He had proposed to attempt a — 
passage in different places; and, in — 
order the more easily to effeét his 
design, to take possession of some of 
the islands in that river, but most of 
these happened to be overflowed, 
and the others were possessed by the 
Austrians, who were to be dislodged 
before he could make good his 
landing. To conceal his motions, 
he attacked them in the night of 
the twenty-fourth of June, in such 
force, and with so much resolution, 
that the Austrians were soon obliged 
to retire across the bridges com- 
municating with the German side, 
and which they had not time to 
destroy. Over these the French 
passed to that side, but they had 
neither sufficient artillery nor caval - 
ry to assist the infantry in case of 
an attack, which wasevery moment 
expected. In this critical situation, 
general Moreau determined to 
march forwards with the few pieces 
of cannon he had seized upon the 
islands. With these he resolutely 
assaulted the fortress of Kehl, and 
carried it. This sudden and unex- 
peéted success greatly alarmed the 
Austrianarmy, under the archduke ; 
the rear of which was thereby put 
intou danger, while the front was 
exposed to the force under Jourdan : 
who, colleéting the -divisions that 
had retreated, was preparing to join 
Kleber, again advancing towards 
the Austrians. 
Marshal Wurmser, who com- 
manded the Austrian troops in the 
Brisgaw, from which large detach- 
meuts had been sent to Italy, was 
unable to maintain bis ground 
against Moreau, and the archduke 
was bimself compelled to hasten to 
his aid; but before he could arrive, 
Moreau 
( 
