Army of England

The armed with England is one of the armed with the Republic, formed to fight against united Europe.

Creation and changes

the 5 brumaire An VI (October 26th 1797) the Directoire decided the gathering of a news armed with an aim of invading the Great Britain. At the end of December, this army was not joined together, but 40 000 men drawn from the Armed with Italy, and 10 000 taken in the armed with the Rhine and Mainz had the order to concentrate on its district. Napoleon Bonaparte was indicated as general-in-chief of this army, and, while waiting for it, the general Desaix, ordering by interim, was with Paris.
By decree of January 14th, 1800 (24 nivôse year VIII), put at execution on January 17th, it took the denomination of Armée with the West

from October 26th, 1797 to April 12th, 1798: general Bonaparte. The army not being joined together, Bonaparte preserves its general headquarter at Paris.
from October 26th, 1797 to March 27th, 1798, temporarily the general Desaix
from March 27th to October 7th, 1798, temporarily until the departure of the armed with the East (May 19th), then directly: general Kilmaine, which continues to reside at Paris. Then the troops starting to arrive, the staff organizes itself with Rouen.
from October 8th to November 1st, 1798: general Mill, in the absence of Kilmaine
from November 2nd, 1798 to January 2nd, 1799: general Kilmaine
from January 2nd to June 22nd, 1799, temporarily: general Mill
from June 23rd to July 19th, 1799, by interim: general Dembarrère
from July 20th to November 14th, 1799, temporarily: general Michaud
from November 15th, 1799 to January 16th, 1800: general Hédouville

With its creation, its district consists of a zone of 10 miles broad all along the coasts, of Brest to Ostend, by including/understanding part of 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th and 24e military divisions.
Starting from December 25th, 1798, territorial divisions are removed of this district, and return under the immediate orders of the generals ordering territorial divisions. The general headquarter is consequently transported from Rouen with Rennes, and this army then has the role of repressing the insurrection which started to reappear in the departments of the West.

Intended to invade England, this army was in fact charged to fight the Chouannerie in 1799. This is why it took in 1800 the name of army of the West.

C. Clerget: Tables of the French Armies during the wars of Revolution (Bookstore soldier 1905);

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