Battle Of Näfels (1799)
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The Battle of Glarus (also uncollectively the Combat of Näfels/Netstal), was a battle fought on October 1, 1799. The battle ended the Austro-Russian invasion of the
Helvetic Republic The Helvetic Republic (; ; ) was a sister republic of France that existed between 1798 and 1803, during the French Revolutionary Wars. It was created following the French invasion and the consequent dissolution of the Old Swiss Confederacy, ma ...
and was the last campaign which involved the Russian undefeated general
Alexander Suvorov Count Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov-Rymniksky, Prince of Italy () was a Russian general and military theorist in the service of the Russian Empire. Born in Moscow, he studied military history as a young boy and joined the Imperial Russian ...
. Initially, Suvorov's
rearguard A rearguard or rear security is a part of a military force that protects it from attack from the rear, either during an advance or Withdrawal (military), withdrawal. The term can also be used to describe forces protecting lines, such as Line of c ...
, led by
Andrei Rosenberg Diederich Arend von Rosenberg or Andrei Grigoryevich Rosenberg (; 1739 – 7 September 1813) was an Russian Empire, Imperial Russian general who led troops against Ottoman Turkey, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and First French Republic, Re ...
, was able to fend off a French attack led by Adolphe Mortier in the Battle of the Muota Valley. Suvorov's
vanguard The vanguard (sometimes abbreviated to van and also called the advance guard) is the leading part of an advancing military formation. It has a number of functions, including seeking out the enemy and securing ground in advance of the main force. ...
under
Pyotr Bagration Prince Pyotr Ivanovich Bagration (10 July 1765 – 24 September 1812) was a Russian general and prince of Georgians, Georgian origin, prominent during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Bagration, a member of the Bagrationi dynasty ...
managed to overwhelm French forces at
Glarus Glarus (; ; ; ; ) is the capital of the canton of Glarus in Switzerland. Since 1 January 2011, the municipality of Glarus incorporates the former municipalities of Ennenda, Netstal and Riedern.Netstal Netstal is a former Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in the canton of Glarus in Switzerland. Effective from 1 January 2011, Netstal is part of the municipality of Glarus. History Netstal is first mentioned in 1289 as ''Netstal''. Geogr ...
, but came to a stalemate near
Näfels Näfels is a former Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in the canton of Glarus in Switzerland. Effective from 1 January 2011, Näfels is part of the municipality of Glarus Nord. History Näfels is first mentioned in 1240 as ''Nevels''. ...
and
Mollis Mollis is a former municipality in the canton of Glarus in Switzerland. Effective from 1 January 2011, Mollis is part of the municipality of Glarus Nord. History Mollis is first mentioned in 1288. Geography Mollis has an area, , of . Of this a ...
. Russians completed the main tasks and took Glarus, which deprived the French of hope for decisive success. Suvorov began a retreat via the
Panixer Pass Panix Pass or Panixer Pass (Romansh language, Romansh: ''Pass dil Veptga'', German: ''Panixerpass'') (2404 m) is a Switzerland, Swiss Swiss Alps, Alpine pass between the cantons of Canton of Glarus, Glarus and Graubünden. The pass was once an im ...
. In his report to
Emperor The word ''emperor'' (from , via ) can mean the male ruler of an empire. ''Empress'', the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), mother/grandmother (empress dowager/grand empress dowager), or a woman who rules ...
Paul I Paul I may refer to: *Paul of Samosata (200–275), Bishop of Antioch *Paul I of Constantinople (died c. 350), Archbishop of Constantinople *Pope Paul I (700–767) *Paul I Šubić of Bribir (c. 1245–1312), Ban of Croatia and Lord of Bosnia *Paul ...
Suvorov did not mention the battle. Instead, the report portrayed his Alpine campaign as a series of his brilliant victories. Turning to the generals, Suvorov did not even want to consider the possibility of retreating through Italy.


Background

The Helvetic Revolution of 1798 led to a radical change in the Swiss constitution and to the military occupation of the country by
France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
. According to Glarus pastor Markus Freuler, this was because the old constitution "was no longer arbitrary to a large part of Switzerland and was no longer appropriate to the spirit of the people," and because only an external power was able to "carry out this important work." At that time, the state of Glarus, where
Anna Göldi Anna Göldi (also Göldin or Goeldin, 24 October 1734 – 13 June 1782) was an 18th-century Swiss housemaid who was one of the last persons to be executed for witchcraft in Europe. Göldi, who was executed by decapitation in Glarus, has been c ...
was executed as a
witch Witchcraft is the use of magic by a person called a witch. Traditionally, "witchcraft" means the use of magic to inflict supernatural harm or misfortune on others, and this remains the most common and widespread meaning. According to ''Enc ...
in 1782, renounced its rights to rule in numerous bailiwicks, but stuck to its old constitution. When its Militia troops were defeated at Wollerau, it only escaped military occupation by accepting the new constitution. The Flecken
Glarus Glarus (; ; ; ; ) is the capital of the canton of Glarus in Switzerland. Since 1 January 2011, the municipality of Glarus incorporates the former municipalities of Ennenda, Netstal and Riedern.Greater Canton of Linth, loudly Freuler under the "wise direction" of Government Governor Joachim Heer. But despite the promises made, after the Austrians' advance, Graubünden for the quartering of French troops. In April 1799, the confiscation of Glarus artillery led to an uprising. When the Austrians replaced the French as occupying power in May, the state of Glarus returned to the
Ancien Régime ''Ancien'' may refer to * the French word for " ancient, old" ** Société des anciens textes français * the French for "former, senior" ** Virelai ancien ** Ancien Régime ** Ancien Régime in France {{disambig ...
for a short time, with even the instigator of the
judicial murder Judicial murder is the intentional and premeditated killing of an innocent person by means of capital punishment; therefore, it is a subset of wrongful execution. The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' describes it as "death inflicted by process of law ...
of Anna Göldi receiving government honors. In August the French then invaded again. During the Egyptian Expedition Bonaparte's,
Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...
expanded its struggle against the revolutionary France through alliances with Austria, Russia and others
monarchical A monarchy is a form of government in which a person, the monarch, reigns as head of state for the rest of their life, or until abdication. The extent of the authority of the monarch may vary from restricted and largely symbolic (constitutio ...
ruled states led to the Second Coalition War. In 1799, the 68-year-old
Field Marshal Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army (in countries without the rank of Generalissimo), and as such, few persons a ...
Alexander Suvorov, as head of the Austro-Russian army in Italy, won a series of battles against troops from France and its subsidiary republics. As the "always willful and irritable old man" but became a burden for the coalition, he should join at the suggestion of the British
foreign minister In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral r ...
Lord Grenville William Wyndham Grenville, 1st Baron Grenville (25 October 175912 January 1834) was a British Pittite Tory politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1806 to 1807, but was a supporter of the Whigs for the duration of the N ...
.
Zurich Zurich (; ) is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. , the municipality had 448,664 inhabitants. The ...
to his compatriot
Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...
Alexander Korsakov Alexander Mikhailovich Rimsky-Korsakov (; August 24, 1753 – May 25, 1840) was a Russian general remembered as an unlucky assistant to Alexander Suvorov during his Swiss expedition of 1799–1800. Early career Korsakov entered military service ...
and the Austrian
Field Marshal Lieutenant Lieutenant field marshal, also frequently historically field marshal lieutenant (, formerly , historically also and, in official Imperial and Royal Austrian army documents from 1867 always , abbreviated ''FML''), was a senior army rank in certai ...
Friedrich Hotze and invade France with them. Previously,
Feldzeugmeister General of the Artillery () was a historical military rank in some German and Austro-Hungarian armies, specifically in artillery. It was commonly used in the 16th and 17th centuries, and survived until the beginning of the 20th century in some Euro ...
Archduke Charles of Austria Archduke Charles Louis John Joseph Lawrence of Austria, Duke of Teschen (; 5 September 177130 April 1847) was an Austrian Empire, Austrian field marshal, the third son of Emperor Leopold II and his wife, Maria Luisa of Spain. He was also the youn ...
had led the French troops in the Helvetic Republic under Obergeneral André Massena to the
Linth The Linth (pronounced "lint") is a Switzerland, Swiss river that rises near the Linthal, Glarus, village of Linthal in the mountains of the cantons of Switzerland, canton of canton of Glarus, Glarus, and eventually flows into the Obersee (Züri ...
-
Limmat The Limmat is a river in Switzerland. The river commences at the outfall of Lake Zurich, in the southern part of the city of Zurich. From Zurich it flows in a northwesterly direction, continuing a further 35 km until it reaches the river A ...
line was thrown back (
First Battle of Zurich The First Battle of Zurich, from 4 to 7 June 1799, forced French General André Masséna to yield the city of Zurich to the Austrians, under Archduke Charles, and to retreat beyond the Limmat, where he managed to fortify his positions, whic ...
), but was then replaced by Korsakov. Contrary to popular
thesis A thesis (: theses), or dissertation (abbreviated diss.), is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings.International Standard ISO 7144: D ...
, the Austrians had no influence on Suvorov using the route which was blocked at Gotthard chose. As a result, he found himself after the French had offered him strong resistance on the pass, but - contrary to the
legend A legend is a genre of folklore that consists of a narrative featuring human actions, believed or perceived to have taken place in human history. Narratives in this genre may demonstrate human values, and possess certain qualities that give the ...
- only weak resistance in the Schöllenen, in Altdorf in a dead end. He tried to reach Schwyz via the Chinzig Chulm, but learned in the Muotatal about Korsakov's defeats against Massena in the
Second Battle of Zurich The Second Battle of Zurich (25–26 September 1799) was a key victory by the Republican French army in Switzerland led by André Masséna over a Russian force commanded by Alexander Korsakov near Zürich. It broke the stalemate that had ...
and Hotzes against
Divisional general Divisional general is a general officer rank who commands an army division. The rank originates from the French Revolutionary System, and is used by a number of countries. The rank is above a brigade general, and normally below an army corps ...
Jean-de-Dieu Soult Marshal General Jean-de-Dieu Soult, 1st Duke of Dalmatia (; 29 March 1769 – 26 November 1851) was a French general and statesman. He was a Marshal of the Empire during the Napoleonic Wars, and served three times as President of the Council of ...
at
Schänis Schänis is a Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in the ''Wahlkreis'' (constituency) of See-Gaster (Wahlkreis), See-Gaster in the Cantons of Switzerland, canton of St. Gallen (canton), St. Gallen in Switzerland. History Schänis is firs ...
on 25/26. September. Massena's troops prevented him from marching north, and Division General Claude-Jacques Lecourbe prevented him from retreating south. The route over the Pragelpass and the Klöntal into the Linthtal offered a way out. The 29-year-old Gabriel Molitor, who had recently been appointed Brigade General, had driven two Austrian military leaders out of the latter since September 25: Major General
Franjo Jelačić Baron Franjo Jelačić Bužimski (; ; ; 14 April 1746 – 4 February 1810) was a Croatian military officer and nobleman, a member of the House of Jelačić. He began his service in the Habsburg army as a Grenz infantry officer and fought agai ...
towards
Sargans Sargans is a Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in the ''Wahlkreis'' (constituency) of Sarganserland (Wahlkreis), Sarganserland in the Cantons of Switzerland, canton of St. Gallen (canton), St. Gallen in Switzerland. Sargans is known for ...
and Field Marshal Lieutenant Friedrich Linken direction
Surselva Surselva Region is one of the eleven administrative districts in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It was created on 1 January 2017 as part of a reorganization of the canton.Brigade A brigade is a major tactical military unit, military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute ...
of Major General Franz Klöntal on. The existing reports describe the Battle of Näfels from different perspectives. Russian sources
hero A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or Physical strength, strength. The original hero type of classical epics did such thin ...
ize the defeat of Suvorov and blame it on the Austrians. In Switzerland, supporters of the Ancien Régime viewed the field marshal as a liberator, while supporters of the Helvetic Republic viewed him as "
Attila Attila ( or ; ), frequently called Attila the Hun, was the ruler of the Huns from 434 until his death in early 453. He was also the leader of an empire consisting of Huns, Ostrogoths, Alans, and Gepids, among others, in Central Europe, C ...
of our century," as
Heinrich Zschokke Johann Heinrich Daniel Zschokke (22 March 177127 June 1848) was a German, later Swiss, author and reformer. Most of his life was spent, and most of his reputation earned, in Switzerland. He had an extensive civil service career, and wrote histo ...
called him. The latter was probably mainly because of Suvorov's
massacre A massacre is an event of killing people who are not engaged in hostilities or are defenseless. It is generally used to describe a targeted killing of civilians Glossary of French words and expressions in English#En masse, en masse by an armed ...
of prisoners and civilians during the
Russo-Turkish War The Russo-Turkish wars ( ), or the Russo-Ottoman wars (), began in 1568 and continued intermittently until 1918. They consisted of twelve conflicts in total, making them one of the longest series of wars in the history of Europe. All but four of ...
.


According to locals

Under the eyes of the Austro-Russians, the ''Glarner-Zeitung'' wrote on October 3: «The 1st Wine Month was a terrible day, the Imperial Austrians received help from the Russian peoples, under the command of the famous hero Suwarow Italy across the Gotthard, united, they attacked the Franks at the beginning of Lake Klöntaler, and defeated them not only there, but also in all places, behind and near Riederen, Durschen, Nettstall, etc. The whole day from morning to evening one heard nothing other than cannoning and shooting, the Franks retreated as far as Näfels and
Mollis Mollis is a former municipality in the canton of Glarus in Switzerland. Effective from 1 January 2011, Mollis is part of the municipality of Glarus Nord. History Mollis is first mentioned in 1288. Geography Mollis has an area, , of . Of this a ...
, as well as over the Ennetberg and Frohnalp of the high mountains Schilt.» The newspaper described the field marshal as follows: Suvarov, a Russian senior general, small in stature, old, with ice-gray hair, common ordinary in conversation and dress like a soldier, but big in spirit, big in heroic deeds. This year he is showing the greatness of his military spirit in Italy, and it will soon develop in Switzerland The K. K. and Russian troops have their positions near Riederen, Nettstall and
Glarus Glarus (; ; ; ; ) is the capital of the canton of Glarus in Switzerland. Since 1 January 2011, the municipality of Glarus incorporates the former municipalities of Ennenda, Netstal and Riedern.ammunition Ammunition, also known as ammo, is the material fired, scattered, dropped, or detonated from any weapon or weapon system. The term includes both expendable weapons (e.g., bombs, missiles, grenades, land mines), and the component parts of oth ...
, but only had to operate with the
bayonet A bayonet (from Old French , now spelt ) is a -4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to talk of the beginnings of French, that is, when it wa ... , now spelt ) is a knife, dagger">knife">-4; we might wonder whethe ...
and did not carry any
cannons A cannon is a large-caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder during t ...
with them, the Franks did 8, so they lost a lot of people.» After
freedom of the press Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the fundamental principle that communication and expression through various media, including printed and electronic Media (communication), media, especially publication, published materials, shoul ...
was restored, Freuler published a
chronicle A chronicle (, from Greek ''chroniká'', from , ''chrónos'' – "time") is a historical account of events arranged in chronological order, as in a timeline. Typically, equal weight is given for historically important events and local events ...
of the small war that old-minded locals had waged against the French. Ninety named Glarus residents were killed and 56 wounded, most of them near Wollerau in 1798. The priest also mentioned a single incident involving women and children, in which a stray cannonball killed and wounded two people in Ennetbühls. Freuler only reported briefly on the much more important battle of Näfels, although he first made the vanquished the victors: "The Russians, with 1,800 men. Troops attacked the Franks lying on the lake, and chased them to Riederen, where the Franks resisted and wanted to stop the enemy's further advance, but the Russians attacked them one after the other with their bayonets and had to leave. When they gave way, they stormed across the Durschen to Nettstall, across the Untere Bruck, which the Franks set on fire to cover their retreat; But regardless of this, the Russians crossed the Linth River and pursued the enemy all day long on both sides of the river to Näfels and Mollis with alternating success. Four times they had to give way to Nettstall due to the fierce resistance of the Franks, but each time they stormed them, forcing them to retreat to Näfels,
Oberurnen Oberurnen is a former municipality in the canton of Glarus in Switzerland. Effective from 1 January 2011, Oberurnen is part of the municipality of Glarus Nord. History Oberurnen is first mentioned in 1340 as ''Obern Urannen''. Geography Oberurnen ...
and Mollis, so that the Russians maintained the battlefield. Their advance also threatened to cut off about a thousand French people in the
Sernftal The Sernftal or ''Kleintal'' is an alpine valley within Glarus Süd, in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland. It is formed by the Sernf, a right tributary of the Linth. Situated in the Sernftal are the villages of Elm (977 m) and Engi (812 m). Th ...
and upper Linth Valley, who then fled over Glarus, the Ennetbühlser Brücke and the Ennetberge, throwing their ammunition wagons into the water. An unknown person wrote to his nephew in Jura
On September 30 we learned that Suvorov was with a strong column of The Russian Italian Army came through the Klöntal mountain gorge. We believed that the French would defend these narrow and almost inaccessible gorges well, but we were wrong. On the morning of October 1st, we heard shooting and soon we saw them retreating behind Riedern towards Netstal. The French burned the bridge at Riedern, which protected the city of Glarus a little. The fight took place on the other side of the Löntsch. I went to Galgenbühl Sun Hill with my brother. All the other fights were just child's play compared to this one. The Russians ran into the fire without knowing the danger. This time the French had guns and the Russians had almost none. They pursued the French to below Näfels. This village was conquered and recaptured twice. To cover their retreat, the French also burned down the beautiful covered bridge at Netstal, but they were able to hold on in Näfels. The Russians, however, had over 2,500 wounded
The Helvetic Directorate was informed about the Battle of Näfels from the neighboring district capital Schänis. Johannes Theiler from Zurich, government commissioner for the canton of Linth, reported on October 2 that the previous day "after a stubborn encounter near Lake Klönthal, in which the enemy lost 2,000 men, the French were nevertheless repelled as far as Ober-Urnen, with losses of c. 800 men injured and dead". Late in the evening, however, after the French had received a half-brigade of reinforcements, the enemy was repulsed again "beyond Netstall." The French are "not only in possession of the Kerenzerberg to
Walenstadt Walenstadt is a municipality in the ''Wahlkreis'' (constituency) of Sarganserland in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. It is located on Lake Walen (also known as "Lake Walenstadt"). Geography Walenstadt has an area of . Of this area ...
," but have also "gained a firm foothold throughout the entire
Sarganserland The Sarganserland is a constituency (''Wahlkreis'') of the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland, with a population of 36,892 (). The constituency corresponds to the historical county of Sargans (13th to 15th century) and the later '' Landvogtei'' ...
up on this side of the Rhine." Now the troops are "inactive because of the bad weather." Also from Schänis, cantonal judge Xaver Gmür reported on October 4 to Rapperswiler Christoph Fuchs, who had previously been the acting government governor of the canton of Linth, Without the brave stance of the 2nd Swiss half-brigade, the French would have had to retreat and probably also Weesen lost. According to Gmür, the ratio of Russian losses to French losses was eight to one. Master cobbler Levi Feldtmann from Schwanden wrote a poem in
Knittelvers Knittelvers (also ''Knüttelvers'' or ''Knittel'') is a kind of Germanic verse meter which originated in Germany during the Middle Ages. In Knittelvers, consecutive lines rhyme pairwise (AABB) and each line has four stresses. "Strict" Knittelve ...
en with the title ''The Entry of the Russian Army Into Our Country.'' The manufacturer Johann Heinrich Blumer, who fled to Zurich, owned the ''Haus in der Wiese'' (Wiesli 5) in Glarus, where Suworow spent the last night before his retreat and Molitor also took up residence several times. Blumer learned from his manager Paulus Wichser that the Russian attack was a matter of winning or dying "because of great hunger," but that the French had advantageous positions. According to the family chronicle of master carpenter Balthasar Joseph Tschudi from
Ennenda Ennenda is a former municipality in the canton of Glarus in Switzerland. Effective from 1 January 2011, Ennenda is part of the municipality of Glarus. History Ennenda is first mentioned around 1303-07 as ''Obront-Ennant-A'' and ''Nydern-Ennant-A'' ...
, who visited the Russian camp in Netstal, there were wounded people lying there "almost in all the cellars and lairs." Overall, the reports gave the impression that the locals who remained in the valley watched the battle as powerless spectators. The weather was obviously wet enough that not many houses burned down, but not wet enough to prevent the French from firing.


After Archduke Karl

Archduke Karl wrote in his ''History of the 1799 campaign in Germany and Switzerland:'' "Side columns climbed the mountains during the night and appeared in the rear of the French on October 1st. Molitor had to give way: but, attacked with disorder by the Austrians and Russians, he did not lose his composure; stood up again and turned away the boldest of those pursuing him. Then he crossed the Linth at Nets-Thal; set the bridge on fire; defended it until it collapsed, and finally took positions near Näffels and Mollis. The allies wanted to take possession of the latter place and with it the road. They laboriously built a footbridge over the Linth; put 1 battalion over it, and drove the French out of Mollis: but could not hold on there, as division general Honoré Gazan brought the rest of his troops from the lower Linth to support Molitor.»


According to Jomini

Under the title "Beautiful Defense of Molitor in the Klöntal and in Näfels" one reads from the Vaudois military theorist
Antoine-Henri Jomini Antoine-Henri Jomini (; 6 March 177922 March 1869) was a Swiss-French military officer who served as a General officer, general in First French Empire, French and later in Russian Empire, Russian service, and one of the most celebrated writers o ...
, who served the Helvetic Republic, France and most recently as General-in-Chief in Russia: "The First Division Suvorov's, which had joined the Auffenberg brigade, finished the clearing of the Klöntal and threw the French back on the Linth. Calm in the midst of the danger that beset him, and conscious of the importance and danger of his position, Molitor put up the most skillful resistance, giving up only foot by foot of ground, burning down the bridge at Netstal and retreating behind that at Näfels. Jomini continued: "The advance guard Suvorov followed the French to Näfels, where Prince Bagration attacked them on October 1st. Perhaps never before had they shown more fortitude and bravery: assured of Gazan's support, Molitor forgot ten days of fatigue, privation and dogged fighting ..The position was conquered and retaken. The outnumbered Republicans fought bitterly to buy time for Gazan's division to arrive from Shenis; In this battle, the 2nd Helvetic Half-Brigade, electrified by the memories that the name Näfels awakened in it, covered itself in glory alongside the French. After Gazan finally left Weesen, he forced the Russians to retreat to Glarus.»


According to Molitor

Immediately afterwards, the most detailed report on the battle was written by Molitor, who, as the victor, did not need to embellish much. According to his information, he still controlled the eastern end of the Klöntalersee on the morning of October 1. Although he had recalled most of the troops that were supposed to follow Jelačić and the Left, he only had three battalions and six
companies A company, abbreviated as co., is a legal entity representing an association of legal people, whether natural, juridical or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members share a common purpose and unite to achieve specifi ...
. Because he noticed "that the Russians were sending a strong column over the mountains to encircle my right flank and cut off our retreat into the Glarus valley," he was forced to retreat to the Linth "in order to cover the passage of Näfels and thereby prevent the union of Suworow with Jelačić, across the banks of Lake Walen, or with Korsakov, who was still on the Thur had to be located." Molitor had left a reserve battalion at the Näfels Bridge and half a battalion each in
Engi Engi may refer to: * ENGI, a Japanese animation studio * Engi, Switzerland, a former municipality in the canton of Glarus in Switzerland * Engi (era) was a after ''Shōtai'' and before ''Enchō.'' This period spanned the years from July 901 t ...
and Kerenzen to observe the retreat of the Linken and Jelačić. He used his remaining units as follows: " ..on the covered bridge of Netstal, built in 1767 by
Hans Ulrich Grubenmann Several members of the Swiss family Grubenmann were famous as carpenters and civil engineers in the 18th century. The sons were innovators in bridge construction. (1668 – 27 June 1736) lived all his life in Gstalden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden whe ...
. According to Fred Heer, Molitor had Schanze (fortress construction) raised at the bridges of Näfels, Netstal and Glarus before the battle. which had been prepared for immediate demolition one and a half battalions with four guns moved to the right bank over ..Two and a half other battalions with three guns lined up in staggered order on the left bank behind Netstal. Molitor further wrote: "When we arrived at the Linth, the Netstal bridge presented itself as bait to the enemy; He fell there en masse, and immediately the bridge exploded with everything that tried to cross it: This order, carried out in a timely manner, plunged the Russians into great disorder, which was soon increased by the fire of the one and a half battalions and the artillery, which ...from the right bank covered the enemy's flank and delayed his deployment. Finally, however, his masses formed up and attacked our troops on the left bank with fury: But these ..held their ground with fearless cold-bloodedness. The enemy's attacks multiplied; One of his columns was overthrown by several others who, excited by the presence of their General Suvorov, rushed into our bayonets with blind boldness. Six times the Russians succeeded in throwing the French back to Näfels, and six times the French drove them back to Netstal with the bayonet, "always supported by our well-fed fire from the right bank, which the enemy found difficult to respond to." This cooperation between the units on both sides of the Linth enabled him to hold his ground in the narrow valley where the enemy could not use all of his forces at the same time.


According to Clausewitz

The reports of the Archduke, Jomini and Molitor were summarized by the
Military Science Military science is the study of military processes, institutions, and behavior, along with the study of warfare, and the theory and application of organized coercive force. It is mainly focused on theory, method, and practice of producing mi ...
Major General
Carl von Clausewitz Carl Philipp Gottlieb von Clausewitz ( , ; born Carl Philipp Gottlieb Clauswitz; 1 July 1780 – 16 November 1831) was a Kingdom of Prussia, Prussian general and Military theory, military theorist who stressed the "moral" (in modern terms meani ...
, who served not only in his homeland
Prussia Prussia (; ; Old Prussian: ''Prūsija'') was a Germans, German state centred on the North European Plain that originated from the 1525 secularization of the Prussia (region), Prussian part of the State of the Teutonic Order. For centuries, ...
but also in Russia, as follows: "The 1st. In October the allies attacked General Molitor again and forced him to retreat first behind the Netsthal bridge and then on both sides of the Linth to Näfels and Mollis. But this retreat took place under the most stubborn resistance, and although the Russians continually attacked the French with bayonets and, as Molitor himself says in his report, were often between his men, he still did not lose any of his guns and was able to keep his distance. In the evening at Näfels and Mollis to hold their own against Bagration, who was following him, whereupon Gazan rushed in with a pair of battalions to support him and forced Bagration to give up the already conquered villages of Näfels and Mollis.»


According to Suvorov

The fact that he pursued them under a chestnut tree near Riedern must have arisen from Gachot's imagination. Quite possible that the eccentric general slept through this blackest day of his career.William Wickham (ed.): ''The Correspondence of the Right Honorable William Wickham from the Year 1794.'' Volume 2, Richard Bentley, London 1870, p. 285 ();
Arthur Chuquet Arthur Maxime Chuquet (; 28 February 1853 – 7 June 1925) was a French historian and biographer. He was born in Rocroi, Ardennes. He is now best known for his ''Jeunesse de Napoléon'' appearing in three volumes from 1897 to 1899. He became a ...
(ed.): ''Un portrait inédit de Souvorov.'' In: ''Feuilles d'Histoire du XVIIe au XXe siècle.'' 1st year, 1st volume, Paris 1909, p. 258–260, here p. 258 ().
Probably on October 2 he wrote a
pessimistic Pessimism is a mental attitude in which an undesirable outcome is anticipated from a given situation. Pessimists tend to focus on the negatives of life in general. A common question asked to test for pessimism is "Is the glass half empty or half ...
picture of his situation, in which it is said that the Austrians can no longer be counted on: "We now only have the duty to unite with Korssakoff and, if possible, to save him. This is ..in
Schaffhausen Schaffhausen (; ; ; ; ), historically known in English as Shaffhouse, is a list of towns in Switzerland, town with historic roots, a municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in northern Switzerland, and the capital of the canton of Schaffh ...
and may have declined even further. His equipment and ammunition were lost. Our supply of cartridges is exhausted - we have almost no artillery at all. We have neither food nor wagons. The resistance, or rather the pursuit of the enemy, continues." Accordingly, the paper even talks about returning from
Chur '' Chur (locally) or ; ; ; ; ; ; or ; , and . is the capital and largest List of towns in Switzerland, town of the Switzerland, Swiss Cantons of Switzerland, canton of the Grisons and lies in the Alpine Rhine, Grisonian Rhine Valley, where ...
or immediately to Italy. On October 7, Suvorov reported to Archduke Karl from Panix that he had learned of Korsakov's defeat in the Muota Valley. Molitor occupied the narrows on the Klöntalersee: " ..however, we drove the enemy out of the imaginary defiles and pushed him to Mollis and Näffels, where we were on October 1st. moved in." Meanwhile,
General of the Infantry General of the infantry is a military rank of a General officer in the infantry and refers to: * General of the Infantry (Austria) * General of the Infantry (Bulgaria) * General of the Infantry (Germany) General of the Infantry (, abbr. ) is ...
Andrei Rosenberg pushed the French out of the Muotatal. "In these stubborn battles, however, we used up all our ammunition and were therefore forced to avoid new battles. This even caused me to give up the union with General Jellachich via Mollis and Wallenstadt, since this could only be carried out through new battles .. Suvorov apparently had to advance towards Lake Zurich, contrary to what Brigadier General François Louis Dedon believed was no longer even considered. In identical letters on October 9, Suvorov reported to the kings of
Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...
and
Sardinia Sardinia ( ; ; ) is the Mediterranean islands#By area, second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, and one of the Regions of Italy, twenty regions of Italy. It is located west of the Italian Peninsula, north of Tunisia an ...
, the French attacked Rosenberg at the same time "as the same eaning: Suvorov himselfunder General Derfelden's Command defeated General Molitor near Glaris. ..In this way I opened the direct route to Zurich, where I suspected Korsakoff's corps; But since I learned that it had been forced to change its position by superior enemy forces, I directed myself to Graubünden .." The letter concludes with the words: "In this way I have now come very close to my main goal and have gained the opportunity: to operate with united forces against the enemy, so that I hope that in a short time your. To be able to inform Your Majesty of the complete execution of the plan prescribed to me.» The letters show how Suvorov felt about the truth. To the Archduke he described Korsakov's defeat as a mere change of position. In his letter to the kings, he pushed back the date on which news of the battle at
Zurich Zurich (; ) is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. , the municipality had 448,664 inhabitants. The ...
arrived by three days. But above all he made the failed advance to Näfels and the occupation of Glarus without a fight to Siegen, in which later authors followed him. In the description of October 1, which is a report from Suvorov to Paul I. contains, the crucial hours are missing. It only says: " ..early in the morning the enemy was disturbed by rifle fire from the patrols sent forward, and immediately retaliated with a powerful rifle volley. Thereupon the advance guard, after uniting with the first detachment of General Schweikowsky's troops, advanced again to the battle. Despite his resistance and although he made good use of the impractical terrain and the reinforcements it gave him, the enemy was pushed back ..The battle lasted until 10 o'clock in the evening when Major General Prince Bagration dropped outposts as night fell and that Camp set up.» The fact that Suvorov only described the beginning and the end of the day supports the assumption that he spent it in bed. However, he seems to have recognized the danger of the enemy. The day of the battle coincided with Paul I's 45th birthday together. In another version of the report, Suvorov wrote that on "the solemn day of the most joyful birth of Yours. imperial. "Your Majesty ..Massena was defeated, and on the other side, the enemy suffered a continuous defeat for almost 24 hours at Lake Seruta , proves once again the devotion and loyalty of the subjects to their most merciful Monarchs.


According to Miliutin

The best Russian representation of the battle can be found in a work that
Dmitry Milyutin Count Dmitry Alekseyevich Milyutin (; – ) was a Russian Military history, military historian and politician who served as the Ministry of War of the Russian Empire, minister of war from 1861 to 1881. He was also the last Russian Field marshal ...
wrote in 1852 on behalf of the emperor and which Hartmann later commented critically on. This is largely the case Miliutin's report is an adaptation of Molitor's, garnished with (alleged) heroic deeds of the head of a musketeer regiment, Major General Nikolai Kamenski. The later Russian War Minister Miliutin describes the fighting at Lake Klöntal much more dramatically than the French general: "In the heat of the battle, many slipped on the rocks and fell backwards into the depths. The narrow road between the foot of the heights and the shore of the lake was covered with Russian and French corpses. The diary of Grenadier Captain Nikolaj Grjazew, published in 2013, the story of its origins «until today is unclear," only mentions piles of dead Russians. Conversely, only there is talk of a bayonet attack on a withdrawing column, in which the "worthless blood of the French" poured in streams over the valley. The following episode described by Miliutin corresponds to the quoted report of a Swiss eyewitness: "A small French detachment had taken up a position between Glarus and Schwanden to observe Lincken's Austrian column. To secure the retreat of this detachment, Molitor burned the bridge near Riedern and took a position behind the village of Netstall. He stayed here with the greatest persistence until the troops from Glarus united with him. The Netstal bridge sent Miliutin flying into the air like Molitor. The French then took up an advantageous position south of Näfels, "with the right flank leaning against the mountains and the left leaning against the Linth." A dense Tirailleur chain was spread out "behind fences, in canals and ditches". The cannons would have painted the street. Grjazew's diary leaves the enemy in the battle for Näfels - probably according to the facts - the remains of the Letzi use as breastwork. According to Miliutin swam through the construction of the Bocksteg mentioned by Molitor
Cossacks The Cossacks are a predominantly East Slavic languages, East Slavic Eastern Christian people originating in the Pontic–Caspian steppe of eastern Ukraine and southern Russia. Cossacks played an important role in defending the southern borde ...
the Linth, as French combat swimmers had done when Soult crossed the bridge near
Bilten Bilten is a former municipality in the canton of Glarus in Switzerland. Effective from 1 January 2011, Bilten is part of the municipality of Glarus Nord. History Bilten is first mentioned in 1050 as ''Billitun''. Geography Bilten has an ar ...
on September 25. In contrast, in the painting of the battle from Molitor's possession, one Cossack on horseback tries to attack the other To reach the shore. According to Miliutin, the arrival of Gazan's advance guard gave the enemy a numerical advantage. He further wrote: "The French troops, which were on the right bank of the Linth, were also reinforced by a Helvetic half-brigade, pushed Kamenski's battalion out of the village of Mollis again, crossed the river on the bridge and attacked the Russian troops, which had occupied Näfels, on the flank. Miliutin had Molitor's six counterattacks end in Näfels and not in Netstal. In Gryazev's diary, he boasts, together with Kamensky, "a hero who had hardly appeared in the war so far" (note from another hand ?) – to have saved the Russians through a nighttime fire attack.


Retreat

In order not to be cut off from Rosenberg, Suvorov moved into a camp south of Netstal after the Battle of Näfels. His headquarters was in Glarus, from October 1 to 4 in the ''Suworowhäuschen'' (Landstrasse 97), last night in the aforementioned ''Haus in der Wiese.'' As a precaution, Soult made arrangements for a possible one Retreat towards
Lake Zurich Lake Zurich (, ; ) is a lake in Switzerland, extending southeast of the city of Zurich. Depending on the context, Lake Zurich or can be used to describe the lake as a whole, or just that part of the lake downstream of the Hurden peninsula and ...
, but the Russians made no further attempt to break through. After Suvorov had called on Molitor on September 29 to surrender in order not to be encircled, this fate now threatened him: According to Massena's plan, Soult was to accompany him with the Molitor brigade and the Division Gazan from the north, Brigadier General Louis-Henri Loison from the south and Division General Édouard Mortier attack with two half-brigades from the Klöntal. Loison reached
Luchsingen Luchsingen is a village and former Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in the municipality of Glarus Süd and canton of Glarus in Switzerland. History Luchsingen is first mentioned in 1274 as ''Luchsingen''. In 2004 the former municipali ...
from the
Klausenpass Klausen Pass (German: ''Klausenpass''; elevation: ) is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting Altdorf, Uri, Altdorf in the canton of Uri with Linthal, Glarus, Linthal in the canton of Glarus. Somewhat unusually, the boundary between ...
on October 1 with a battalion from the Lecourbe division. The day after the Battle of Näfels, the Russians held a war council at which eight out of ten generals advocated retreat to the Surselva. Above all, according to his adjutant Colonel Komarowski, this was done by the 20-year-old
Grand Prince Grand prince or great prince (feminine: grand princess or great princess) (; ; ; ; ) is a hereditary title, used either by certain monarchs or by members of certain monarchs' families. Grand duke is the usual and established, though not litera ...
Konstantin The first name Konstantin () is a derivation from the Latin name '' Constantinus'' ( Constantine) in some European languages, such as Bulgarian, Russian, Estonian and German. As a Christian given name, it refers to the memory of the Roman empe ...
, who took part in Suvorov's campaign as a volunteer. The Russian colonel Paul Tiesenhausen remembered: «Standing in this valley we could clearly see both On the sides the French columns rushed to the crest of the mountains, in front of us Glarus [or. to reach the entrance to the
Sernftal The Sernftal or ''Kleintal'' is an alpine valley within Glarus Süd, in the canton of Glarus, Switzerland. It is formed by the Sernf, a right tributary of the Linth. Situated in the Sernftal are the villages of Elm (977 m) and Engi (812 m). Th ...
. To avoid this danger, another attack on Waasen Weesen had to be avoided and we had to hurry to reach the place [Glarus] before the enemy, otherwise we would be in danger We ran, surrounded by him, to see every way out of this cauldron cut off and perhaps to be destroyed on our part in a desperate fight due to the overwhelmingly overwhelming force. It was probably the most critical moment for us in this campaign, which everyone felt to the core. It was also here where the old venerable field marshal, sensing all the danger that threatened us, reached into his gray hair and exclaimed to those around him: 'One never says of a man before his death that he was always happy' .. According to Gryazev's diary, it was assumed that Suvorov had already decided in the Muota Valley to leave "this miserable Switzerland" by the shortest route. The momentum of the battle then led to the advance to Näfels "against his and our will". The unexpected attacks by the French on Rosenberg in the Muotatal would have resulted in a delay of two days in the withdrawal. Clausewitz attributed it to Suvorov's "hatred of the Austrians" that "like a stubborn Tartar-Khan with his horde, he suddenly diverted and rode home." The early onset of winter made crossing the 2407m high Panixer Pass hell. Auffenberg, who had to pass it first, had advised against retreating this way because the soldiers were not only "completely without ammunition, money, bread," but also "for the most part without shoes." Massena reported to the Directorate in Paris: «Since General Suvorov was informed of my plan and of the movements of Generals Loison and Mortier and was exhausted by the bloody battles that he had fought from
Bellinzona Bellinzona ( , ; ; is a municipality, a List of towns in Switzerland, historic Swiss town, and the capital of the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. The town is famous for its Three Castles of Bellinzona, three castles (Castelgrande, Montebello, Sa ...
to Glarus had had to deliver without ceasing, the country could neither provide him with food nor provide him with any help and he had already had to leave behind most of his luggage, his mules and his ammunition, and had had to throw some of his artillery into the lakes, he wanted to take advantage of the only way out that remained to him, ..to withdraw via Schwanden into the valley of
Engi Engi may refer to: * ENGI, a Japanese animation studio * Engi, Switzerland, a former municipality in the canton of Glarus in Switzerland * Engi (era) was a after ''Shōtai'' and before ''Enchō.'' This period spanned the years from July 901 t ...
and to Graubünden, hitting those of his wounded who still had the least strength and left us in
Muotathal Muotathal is a village and a municipality in Schwyz District in the canton of Schwyz in Switzerland. The eponymous valley, the Muotatal, is formed by the Muota, which joins Lake Lucerne at Brunnen. History Muotathal is first mentioned in 1246 ...
, Glarus and all the surrounding villages more than two thousand of them who were no longer able to walk.»


Battle of two worlds

In the French revolutionary armies people addressed each other as "citizens". The soldiers were volunteers, no one could become an officer without war experience. In the just after The Russian army, which was reorganized according to the Prussian model, faced extremely unequal castes. In a report for the French,
Tadeusz Kościuszko Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kościuszko (; 4 or 12 February 174615 October 1817) was a Polish Military engineering, military engineer, statesman, and military leader who then became a national hero in Poland, the United States, Lithuania, and ...
wrote about the Russians: "They are machines that only move on the orders of their officers." The principle is to always attack first. When the soldiers are allowed to advance on the enemy, they are given plenty of
brandy Brandy is a liquor produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35–60% alcohol by volume (70–120 US proof) and is typically consumed as an after-dinner digestif. Some brandies are aged in wooden casks. Others are coloured ...
to encourage them to fight; "Then they attack with courage and a kind of fury, and would rather be killed than retreat. The only way to shake them is to kill many of their officers. Then the fear of being cut down one by one takes hold of them and causes them to seek salvation in flight." The officers are also mostly brave, but "very few have education or even minimal military knowledge; "There are many lowlifes, fops and daredevils among them; in general they are all cruel and barbaric." Poland's national hero (who died in Solothurn in 1817) concluded: "In short, the superior knowledge of the French generals, the incomparable bravery of the First French Republic, Republican soldier are the best guarantee, guarantors of the victory.» Wilhelm Meyer described the two armies in the Second Battle of Zurich. After that, the majority of the French soldiers were very young, while the Russians were 25 to 40 years old. Most French generals were "at their strongest, some of them only in their early manhood" and had "quick orientation, correct sense of proportion, skill in the use of various types of weapons". According to Meyer, the French were always happy. They were trained "joking and playing, as it were". "The distracted style of fencing" – the tirailleur – "had become second nature to the lively, active, skilful Frenchman." They would have climbed the steepest valley edges and mountains and fell into the flanks of the enemy operating along the roads "with uncommon ease". The Russians, on the other hand, according to Meyer, "were forcibly trained into stiff puppet creatures." Under Suvorov they primarily practiced the bayonet attack. Their line infantry were not trained in tirailing. An "immoderate cargo train" made Suvorov's army cumbersome. According to British Lt. Col. William Stewart, who took part in the
Second Battle of Zurich The Second Battle of Zurich (25–26 September 1799) was a key victory by the Republican French army in Switzerland led by André Masséna over a Russian force commanded by Alexander Korsakov near Zürich. It broke the stalemate that had ...
, the Russians suffered losses "beyond any proportion I could have imagined had I not witnessed them myself," because they were «courageous soldiers, unconcerned with their lives, ready to be led to anything, but completely ignorant of the use of their musket as a firearm». Also the later Russian general Carlo Giuseppe Trinchieri di Venanzone, who was called Lieutenant Suvorov had taken part in the Alpine campaign, reported "that the Russian infantry were brave beyond expression and excelled in bayonet charges on the plain, but at that time they did not know how to fire a rifle shot." The smooth-bore, flintlock muzzle-loading rifles fired cartridges that contained the gunpowder and the bullet in a paper case. The French Musket Model 1777 (caliber 18 mm) was more precise than the Russian one. According to Meyer, there were accidents with the Russians because they loaded extremely quickly, too Their powder was "of extremely poor quality". They had bayonets almost twice as long as the French. In addition, their officers also wore the halberd-like spontoon, which had long since been abolished in France, their NCOs that "Short rifle" similar to the spontoon. The Cossacks sometimes stabbed the wounded to death with their lances, "but they were not heroes in front of the enemy." Suvorov only had small-caliber mountain guns from Kingdom of Sardinia, Piedmont, which had to be dismantled for transport on mule-back, as well as light Austrian cannons. These did not achieve the same effect as Molitor's Field gun system Jean-Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval, Gribeauval, especially if these were loaded with grapeshot. The French infantryman could be recognized by his dark blue coat, the Russian by his dark green coat. Neither of them were yet wearing shakos, which were supposed to protect against saber blows, but rather black felt hats that were opened up. The French grenadiers had red horsehair bushes on them. (Bear skin hats, according to Meyer, were only seen at parades.) The headgear of the Russian grenadiers was high, pointed tin caps. In contrast to the ''red Swiss'' which the mediation government provided to Napoleon, the soldiers of the ''demi-brigades auxiliaires helvétiques'' wore blue coats like the French infantrymen. They came from all parts of the country. Senior officers from the canton of Linth, none of whom served in the 2nd half-brigade, were Colonel Melchior Zwicki von Mollis, the battalion commanders Friedrich Spelti and Christian Tschudi from Glarus, the captains Jakob Ackermann from Kerenzen-Mühlehorn, Mühlehorn, Anton Eck von Schänis, Melchior Galati from Glarus, Hans Jenny von Schwanden, Hans Kamm von Kerenzen, Jakob Mechler from the March district, Xaver Reding from Näfels and a Tschudi from Schwanden. About the attack on the Gotthard Pass, where the Russians faced fewer than a thousand French, reports Grjatsev's diary: «As for the enemy prisoners, we had none in this battle: bayonet relieved us of the unnecessary trouble of carrying them with us, especially since there were no Austrians here with us, and apart from them none of us took on this menial duty. »


High death toll

The numbers given at the beginning of the article about troop strength and losses are an estimate that appears plausibility, plausible. According to Suvorov's Austrian lieutenant colonel Franz von Weyrother, Franz Weyrother, around 7,000 men were "held inactive" by 2,000 Frenchmen at Näfels. Molitor wrote of the victory of 3,000 French over 15,000 Russians. Koch reduced the number of Russians to 6,000 From there could They were taken over by the presumption, presumptive editor of Grjazew's diary. Reding left Bagration initially Even only had 2,400 Austrians and 1,760 Russian grenadiers and Jäger (military), Jäger, but then "probably" received reinforcements from the Schweikowski division. According to Clausewitz, Suworow had 10,000 men at his disposal on October 1, but he only used some of them. According to Hennequin, the total strength of his army from September 1 to the beginning of October was 706 officers and 20,579 soldiers 575 officers and 15,479 soldiers reduced. Before his withdrawal from Glarus (October 4), around ten battalions or 6,000-7,000 men from the Gazan Division confronted him. These could have been supported by three other battalions of the same army unit stationed in Schänis. The other generals subordinate to Soult were too far away: Mortier in the Muotatal, Brunet and Jean-Baptiste Drouet d'Erlon, Drouet in Einsiedeln, Laval in Lichtensteig. The painting in Molitor's possession shows a murderous fight in which the opponents interlock with each other. The French general estimated his own losses at 140 killed and 400 wounded, including all three battalion chiefs of his 84th demi-brigade and many officers, and the Russian losses at 400 killed, 1,700 wounded and 200 prisoners. Bodart even estimated that both parties together lost 3,300 men through death or wounding. For comparison: For the battles near Zurich, the same author mentions "bloody losses" of 3,500 and 10,000 men, respectively, for Schänis and Muotatal of 2,000 and 1,500 men, respectively. According to Ross, 36% of the soldiers engaged at Näfels suffered fatal or non-fatal injuries, compared to slightly less than 7% on average for all battles between 1792 and 1802 . The battles in which the people of Glarus supported the Austrians from May to August 1799, as well as the battle at Wollerau the year before were, against this background, insignificant skirmishes. According to Molitor, the 2nd Helvetic half-brigade lost eight officers and 40 soldiers at the Näfels bridge, according to their commander, Colonel Johannes Tobler from Ermatingen, a total of 75 out of 300 men, without the fallen captain Hans Pfander from Belp and eight wounded officers. Maag and Markus Feldmann, Feldmann estimated the Swiss's losses at 20 officers and 97 soldiers, including the seriously wounded adjutant major Zingg. Even the two commanders were not spared: Bagration suffered a "grapeshot bruise, contusion" on his thigh in the Klöntal. And a wound opened in Molitor during the battle, which resulted from a bullet through the thigh in 1795. According to government commissioner Theiler, the Russians brought around 1,200 French prisoners from the Muotatal to Glarus and left behind 2,600 wounded, prisoners and dead. Of the slightly wounded Russians, 800-900 are said to have crossed the Panixer Pass and 400-500 were taken prisoner. According to Hennequin, when he arrived in Chur, Suvorov had barely 14,000 men left (including 10,000 infantry). During the 16 days in Switzerland he had lost around 6,000 men, over a third of them at Näfels.


Judgments

Massena wrote to Molitor on October 31: « ..it will not be forgotten that you with your only brigade resisted the Austro-Russians for several days, that you beat them, that you took prisoners from them, that you with tenacity and cold blood defended important positions for the army and that in this way you prepared the defeat of Suvarov. Therefore, today receive the expression of the lively satisfaction of the government for your actions, which it could not overlook and which she knew how to assess correctly.» Suvorov's British backers were devastating in their judgment of the field marshal: William Wickham, State Secretary, Under Secretary of State and Envoy (title), Envoy in Switzerland, saw the Russians on October 11 in Feldkirch, Vorarlberg, Feldkirch, "every soldier loaded with the plunder of the poor inhabitants of Uri, Schweitz, and Glarus by whom they had been received as friends and deliverers". Everyone calls the French way of imposing contributions on the country a mercy compared to the plundering that Suvorov tolerates. On October 17, Wickham wrote to Foreign Minister Grenville that Suvorov's habit of eating an early lunch and then sleeping late was incompatible with the conduct of military operation, and in fact, the Russian had as head of the Army of Italy never visited a post or scouted a position. After the British envoy in Vienna, Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto, Lord Minto, made the acquaintance of Suvorov in Prague, he reported to Wickham on December: "Instead of a big one General and great man I find an ignorance, ignorant, scheming charlatan who, by the way, is completely crazy .. Minto even wrote to his wife on January 3, 1800, that Suvorov was the worst madman who ever walked around free. He owes all his success in Italy to the Austrian officers on his staff. According to a nephew of the Russian lieutenant general Charles du Houx de Vioménil, Vioménil, who was initially slated to head the Army of Italy, Suvorov played the madman because he wanted to be original in every way. In order to be adored by the soldiers, he indulged them in everything, so that there was never an army with less discipline and more excesses. Weyrother judged that Suvorov did not have to wait for Rosenberg and the pack animals to arrive, since "Glarus provided unexpectedly good and better meat, potatoes and bread than they earned." Rather, "this unexpectedly good hospitality may have been the innocent cause of the stay, which was in every respect so disadvantageous and disgraceful." "General timidity, supported by grand princely cowardice," overruled the field marshal, "who until then alone recognized the reasons that called for the offensive march to Walenstadt." Suvorov should not have brought forward the "completely false" argument about the lack of ammunition, "since otherwise he would praise the advantage of the naked rifle so much." Weyrother called the Grand Duke (who was educated by a member of the Swiss Directorate Frédéric-César de La Harpe) and his entourage people "whose brains were as empty of military knowledge as their chins were of hair, even though the feathered hat made them a general." Auffenberg wrote in connection with the battle: "FM ended here. Suvorov, his victorious career, could no longer be persuaded to make an attack, no matter how advantageous ..and, after leaving behind all the wounded, all his artillery and ammunition, he retreated over the Panix Mountain to Graubünden, during which a few 100 men froze to death, and almost all of his cavalry were destroyed.» The Suvorov literature does not even describe the defeat at Näfels as a battle. So Duffy, entitled «The Breakout from the Klöntal and the Check at Näfels» created the false impression that the final result was one to one. Fred Heer wrote without ifs and buts: "The fact that the Russian campaign in Switzerland became a fiasco cannot be blamed on Suvorov." Alexander Statiev, on the other hand, judged: «Suvorov did not expect problems in the Alps because he was convinced that he could defeat the small French would easily sweep away garrisons stationed on its path. However, due to inexperience in mountain warfare, Suvorov's corps had to contend with enormous strategic, tactical and logistics challenges, lost half of its troop strength and was unable to achieve its objectives. Conclusion of the Russian-Canadian military scientist: "Although all previous battles in the Swiss campaign ended in Russian victories, the failure to break out of the Alps at Näfels was a strategic defeat that destroyed all of these victories because it was the final nail in the coffin of the strategic plan, which required the cooperation of the allied forces in Switzerland.»


Glarus

The 21-year-old Maurice-François Dupin, grandson of Moritz of Saxony and father of the writer George Sand, provided Molitor with courier services as chasseur à cheval. He wrote to his mother about the Glarnerland: "You can hear the roar of the torrents that fall from the rocks, the whistle of the wind in the forests. But no more shepherds' songs, no more mooing of the flocks. The wooden houses had been hastily abandoned. Everything had fled from our sight. The residents had retreated into the interior of the mountains with their cattle. No living creature in the villages. This canton presented the picture of the saddest desert.» After Suvorov's withdrawal, the interim government governor Johann Peter Zwicky ordered that every community in the Glarus and Schwanden districts should "immediately remove and have the dead horses lying in their pens and other animals left in the open fields and on the streets removed and locked up." Since delayering was a ''dishonest profession'', he declared in a further decree that this did not apply to the "so necessary assistance in the removal of these animals that would otherwise contaminate everything." The ''Neues Helvetische Tagblatt'' reported from Glarus: "For 14 days, 60,000 men have passed through the land where neither grain nor wine grows, all food has been used up, and the hay has also run out, so that almost all of them become dairy cattle have to sell or slaughter.» Netstal wrote to the Swiss Directorate: "When they moved in, the Russians plundered quite a bit; A house was also burned down and we had to maintain over 1200 horses for 4 days. We lost most of the hay from both powers and because of bad weather the troops in the camp also needed a lot more than just hay, wood, potatoes, fences and stables are damaged [sic]; Many Franconian soldiers also allowed themselves excesses.» General Molitor ordered that Mollis and Näfels had to take over Netstal's share of the deliveries of hay, wood, etc. The Netstal municipality's behavior towards the French troops was "bourgeois and republican". She has already delivered a lot and suffered more than the others, although her "lucky circumstances" are not the best. On the initiative of the new 24-year-old government governor Niklaus Heer, brother of the late Joachim Heer, the pastors in Glarus and
Ennenda Ennenda is a former municipality in the canton of Glarus in Switzerland. Effective from 1 January 2011, Ennenda is part of the municipality of Glarus. History Ennenda is first mentioned around 1303-07 as ''Obront-Ennant-A'' and ''Nydern-Ennant-A'' ...
called for money, food, household goods, clothes and other necessities of life for "the small, poor community without this Riederen» to donate - a "love tax" that brought in a fairly significant amount of money and goods. In a "Call from the suffering humanity in the canton of Linth to the compassionate Swiss" in the "Wochenblatt für den Kanton Linth" it says about the Glarnerland: " ..these valleys, otherwise so rich in sources of prosperity, wide through industry and trade and wide, they too are now lying down ..and the mountains of them are, as it were, raising their hands up to you for help .. At the beginning of 1800, on the initiative of the Interior Minister of the Helvetic Republic, Albrecht Rengger, thousands of children from the cantons Waldstätten, Linth and Säntis, who were born as a result of the war their families could no longer be fed, were placed with foster parents in other parts of the country. 1250 of them came from Glarus. The later Federal Councilor Joachim Heer, the grandson of the government governor of the same name, described the state of the country after the warlike events of the summer and autumn of 1799 as follows: "The state - both the Helvetic Republic and the canton - without any financial resources, the communities exhausted by cruel requisitions; the wealthy sucked dry by an incredible billeting burden; the farmer stripped of livestock and fodder supplies; the poorer class without food and as a result of the complete stagnation of industry, without earnings ..


Variety

* In a ''Farewell Speech to General Suvorov'', Zschokke wrote: «When you arrived in Altdorf, you said very modestly: ''You wanted to become the Savior, Redeemer and Savior of Switzerland'' ..Savior You were, because you cured many thousands of Swiss people of their folly who hoped that you and the imperial family would bring us freedom and order and happiness and peace. You were our Redeemer, because your brave soldiers redeemed us from our hay and our livestock and our clothing and our money." He finally made them happy and happy "when you left again with a suit and jacket." * Paul I appointed Suvorov generalissimo on October 28. But he canceled the anti-French coalition. On the return journey to Russia, Suvorov fell ill and fell into disgrace for violating regulations. Four weeks after his return he died on May 18, 1800 - "unnoticed by the official Saint Petersburg, Petersburg". * On November 9, 1799, Bonaparte, returning home from Egypt, seized power in France and declared the French Revolution, Revolution over (Coup of the 18th Brumaire VIII). In 1803 he dissolved the Helvetic Republic as ''Médiateur de la Confédération de Suisse''. This and the collapse of his Empire in 1814/15 made it easier for the losers of Näfels to suppress the memory of this decisive battle. * After Paul I. had actually sided with France through a policy of armed neutrality, he was murdered on March 23, 1801. Switzerland and the new cantons that emerged from former subject territories owe the fact that they survived the fall of Napoleon to his son and successor Alexander I. (he was also a student of La Harpe). * Molitor, who, like Zschokke, had shown understanding for the opponents of the Helvetic Empire, was involved in the suppression of the Trienio Liberal, Spanish Revolution in 1823, for which he received the Marshal of France, Marshal's baton. * There is no monograph about the Battle of Näfels. Hartmann's 1892 criticism of the Russian Suvorov cult was not taken into account by Reding, Duffy or Fred Heer, but only in a footnote or in the bibliography mentioned. The ''Rapport des opérations de la brigade du général Molitor'' didn't even know Hartmann.With the exception of one by Johannes Wieland: ''History of the war events in Helvetia and Rhaetia as a manual for military instruction for Swiss officers of all weapons.'' 2. Part, Schweighauser, Basel 1827, p. 154/note* (), reproduced passage.


Notes


References


Sources

* * Materialsammlung zu den Vorgängen im Glarnerland während des Jahres 1799. Diverse Abschriften, mehrere Ausgaben des ''Wochenblattes für den Kanton Linth,'' der ''Glarner-Zeitung'' und des ''Schweizer-Boten'' sowie andere gedruckte Schriften. Landesarchiv des Kantons Glarus, PA 2.A 1:4. * ''Bulletin officiel du Directoire Helvétique et des autorités du Canton du Léman.'' Lausanne, 20. Sept. 1799, S. 130 f.; 11. Okt. 1799, S. 264; 13. Okt. 1799, S. 283; 16. Okt. 1799, S. 299; 17. Okt. 1799, S. 307 f. (). * Hans Conrad Escher von der Linth, Johann Konrad Escher, Paul Usteri (Hrsg.): ''Neues helvetisches Tagblatt.'' Bern, 7. Okt. 1799, S. 56; 8. Okt. 1799, S. 68; 14. Okt. 1799, S. 96; 17. Okt. 1799, S. 116; 30. Okt. 1799, S. 203 f.
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. * ''Le Moniteur Universel, Gazette nationale ou le Moniteur universel.'' Paris, 15. Okt. 1799, S. 86; 21. Okt. 1799, S. 109; 23. Okt. 1799, S. 117 (). * Ludwig Ferdinand Huber (Red.): ''Allgemeine Zeitung.'' Stuttgart, 26. Okt. 1799, S. 1328 (). * ''AmtsBerichte des Fürsten Suworow über seinen Feldzug in der Schweiz.'' In: Ludwig Ferdinand Huber (Red.): ''Allgemeine Zeitung.'' Stuttgart, 17.–26. Dez. 1799, S. 1553 f., 1562, 1566, 1570, 1574, 1584 f., 1593 f. (). * ''Rapport fait par le général Massena, commandant en chef l'armée du Danube, au directoire exécutif de la république française, sur les opérations de cette armée, du 3 au 18 vendemiaire an 8.'' In: ''Gazette nationale ou le Moniteur universel.'' Paris, 30. Okt.–6. Nov. 1799
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. * Johann Friedrich Ernst Albrecht: ''Kakodämon (Suworow) der Schrekliche, Pansalvins (Potjomkins) und Mirandas (Katharinas II.) Donnerkeil, Revisor des Codex der Menschen-Rechte.'' (Hennings), Pyropolis (Erfurt) 1800
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. * Marcus Freuler: ''Kurze Geschichte des veränderten Schicksals und kriegrischer Auftritten, welche den alten Kanton Glarus vom Jahr 1798 bis 1801 [!] betraffen.'' Buchdruckerei Glarus 1800, S. 29–31 (). *
Heinrich Zschokke Johann Heinrich Daniel Zschokke (22 March 177127 June 1848) was a German, later Swiss, author and reformer. Most of his life was spent, and most of his reputation earned, in Switzerland. He had an extensive civil service career, and wrote histo ...
: ''Abschiedsrede an den General Suwarow.'' In: ''Der aufrichtige und wohlerfahrene Schweizer-Bote.'' Luzern, 12. Febr. 1800, S. 77 f.
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. * François Louis Dedon-Duclos: ''Relation détaillée du passage de la Limat, effectué le 3 vendémiaire an 8 ..Cet ouvrage contient une notice historique de toutes les opérations militaires des armées du Danube et du Rhin [...]'' Didot jeune, Paris an 9 (1801), S. 125–127 (). * ''Jean Daniel Fridolsheim.'' In: François Babié, Jacques Grasset Saint-Sauveur: ''Archives de l'honneur, ou Notices sur la vie militaire [...],'' 1. Band, Laurens aîné, Paris 1805, S. 137–141 (). * Heinrich Zschokke: ''Historische Denkwürdigkeiten der helvetischen Staatsumwälzung.'' 3. Band, Steiner, Winterthur 1805, S. 252 f. (). * Levi Feldtmann: ''Poetische Gedanken über die Kriegs-Vorfälle und politischen Veränderungen, welche sich im Kanton Glarus vom Jahr 1798. bis 1803. zugetragen.'' Ohne Ort [1810], S. 51–60 (). * Erzherzog Karl (anonym erschienen): ''Geschichte des Feldzuges von 1799 in Deutschland und in der Schweiz.'' 2. Theil, Anton Strauss, Wien 1819, S. 253 f. (). *
Antoine-Henri Jomini Antoine-Henri Jomini (; 6 March 177922 March 1869) was a Swiss-French military officer who served as a General officer, general in First French Empire, French and later in Russian Empire, Russian service, and one of the most celebrated writers o ...
: ''Histoire critique et militaire des guerres de la Révolution.'' Nouvelle édition, 12. Band, ''Campagne de 1799 – deuxième période.'' Anselin et Pochard, Paris 1822, S. 275–277, 464–466 (Relation Venanzones) (). * Johann Samuel von Gruner: ''Verhältnis der Geognosie zur Kriegs-Wissenschaft, eine Skizze.'' In: ''Neue Jarbücher der Berg- und Hüttenkunde.'' 6. Band, 2. Lieferung, Nürnberg 1826, S. 187–233, hier S. 189, 227, 231
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. * Johannes Wieland: ''Geschichte der Kriegsbegebenheiten in Helvetien und Rhätien als Handbuch zum Militairunterricht für Schweizeroffiziere aller Waffen.'' 2. Theil, Schweighauser, Basel 1827, S. 154 f. (); 2. Aufl., 2. Band, Hugo Richter, Basel 1869, S. 163 f. (). * ''Armée du Danube. Campagne des années VII et VIII (1799) en Suisse. Rapport des opérations de la brigade du général Molitor, détachée dans les cantons de Schweiz et de Glaris (1).'' In: ''Le Spectateur militaire; recueil de science, d'art et d'histoire militaires.'' 11. Band, 57. Lieferung, 6. Jahrgang, Noirot, Paris, 15. Mai 1831, S. 108–132, hier: S. 125–130, 132 (). *
Carl von Clausewitz Carl Philipp Gottlieb von Clausewitz ( , ; born Carl Philipp Gottlieb Clauswitz; 1 July 1780 – 16 November 1831) was a Kingdom of Prussia, Prussian general and Military theory, military theorist who stressed the "moral" (in modern terms meani ...
: ''Die Feldzüge von 1799 in Italien und der Schweiz.'' 2. Theil (''Hinterlassene Werke'' [hrsg. v. Marie von Clausewitz], 6. Band). Ferdinand Dümmler, Berlin 1834, S. 202 f., 206, 209 f., 251 f., 381 (). * Georg Fuchs (Hrsg.): ''Correspondenz des Kais. Russ. Generalissimus, Fürsten Italiisky Grafen Alexander Wassiljewitsch Suworoff-Rimniksky über die Russisch-Oestreichische Kampagne im Jahre 1799. ..Aus dem Russischen übersetzt von Einem Preussischen Officier.'' 2. Theil, Carl Heymann, Glogau/Leipzig 1835, S. 204–207, 223 (). * Anton von Tillier: ''Geschichte der helvetischen Republik, von ihrer Gründung im Frühjahr 1798 bis zu ihrer Auflösung im Frühjahr 1803, vorzüglich aus dem helvetischen Archiv und andern noch unbekannten handschriftlichen Quellen.'' 1. Band, Chr. Fischer, Bern 1843, S. 394 f. (). * Jean Baptiste Frédéric Koch: ''Mémoires de Massena rédigés d'après les documents qu'il a laissés et sur ceux du Dépot de la guerre et du Dépot des fortifications.'' 3. Band, Paulin et Lechevalier, Paris 1849, S. 388–390 (). * Nikolai Alexejewitsch Polewoi: ''Geschichte des Fürsten Italiiski Grafen Suworoff-Rimnikski, Generallissimus [sic] der russischen Armeen.'' Übersetzung J. de la Croix, H. Schnakenburg, Riga 1850, S. 295 f. (). * Jules Nollet-Fabert: ''Le maréchal Molitor, 1770–1849. Extrait de la Lorraine militaire, galerie historique.'' Selbstverlag, Nancy 1851, S. 6–12, 39 f.
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. * Jean-Joseph Hisely (Hrsg.): ''Brief eines Verstorbenen, welcher sich den von Hrn. Prof. Monnard herausgegebenen (oder zum Druck beförderten) Denkwürdigkeiten des Generals v. Roverea anreihet.'' In: Bernhard Rudolf Fetscherin (Red.): ''Historische Zeitung. Herausgegeben von der schweizerischen geschichtforschenden Gesellschaft.'' 2. Jahrgang, Jent & Reinert, Bern 1854, Nr. 3 f., S. 19–25, hier S. 23 f.
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. * ''Mémoires du maréchal-général Soult, duc de Dalmatie, publiés par son fils.'' 2. Teil, 2. Band, Amyot, Paris 1854, S. 321 ff.
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. * George Sand (Pseudonym von Aurore Dupin): ''Histoire de ma vie.'' 2. Band, Michel Lévy frères, Paris 1856, S. 179, 185 f.
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. * Dmitri Miliutin: ''Geschichte des Krieges Rußlands mit Frankreich unter der Regierung Kaiser Paul's I. im Jahre 1799.'' Übersetzung Chr. Schmitt, 4. Band, 6. Theil, Jos. Lindauer, München 1857, Karte Nr. 43 zwischen S. 102 und 103, S. 116–119, 278–281, 284 f. (). * Theodor von Bernhardi: ''Denkwürdigkeiten aus dem Leben des kaiserl. russ. Generals von der Infanterie Carl Friedrich Grafen von Toll.'' 2. Auflage. 1. Band, Otto Wigand, Leipzig 1865, S. 98 f. (). * Eduard Winkelmann (Hrsg.): ''Suworow's Feldzug in Italien und der Schweiz. Aus den Aufzeichnungen eines Augenzeugen (Paul Tiesenhausen).'' In: ''Baltische Monatsschrift.'' 13. Band, Riga 1866, S. 242–259, hier S. 256–258 (). * Johann Jakob Blumer: ''Der Kanton Glarus in der Revolution vom Jahr 1798.'' In: ''Jahrbuch des Historischen Vereins des Kantons Glarus.'' 3/1867, S. 67–96
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. * Joachim Heer: ''Der Kanton Glarus unter der Helvetik.'' In: ''Jahrbuch des Historischen Vereins des Kantons Glarus.'' 5/1869, S. 34–88 (2. Zeitraum: 1. Januar bis 20. Mai 1799
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; 6/1870, S. 13–67 (3. Zeitraum: 20. Mai bis Herbst 1799
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, hier S. 34–36, 61 f.; 8/1872, S. 28–112 (3. Zeitraum: Herbst 1799 bis August 1802
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, hier S. 26, 30, 33. * William Wickham (Hrsg.): ''The Correspondence of the Right Honourable William Wickham from the Year 1794.'' Band 2, Richard Bentley, London 1870, S. 258 f., 284 f., 340 (). * The Countess of Minto: ''Life and Letters of Sir Gilbert Elliot First Earl of Minto ..edited by his Great-niece.'' Band 3, Longmans, Green, and Co., London 1874, S. 107 (). * Heinrich von Sybel: ''Geschichte der Revolutionszeit von 1789 bis 1800.'' 5. Band, Ebner & Seubert, Stuttgart 1879, S. 484 (). * David Hess: ''Die Tage des Schreckens.'' In: Jakob Baechtold (Hrsg.): ''Joh. Caspar Schweizer. Ein Charakterbild aus dem Zeitalter der französischen Revolution.'' Wilhelm Hertz, Berlin 1884, S. XLIV–LXIII (). * Wilhelm Meyer: ''Die Schlacht bei Zürich am 25. und 26. September 1799.'' F. Schultheß, Zürich 1886, S. 4–23
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. * Eduard Haug (Hrsg.): ''Der Briefwechsel der Brüder J. Georg Müller und Joh. v. Müller.'' 1. Halbband, J. Huber, Frauenfeld 1891, S. 200, 209 (). * Otto Hartmann: ''Der Antheil der Russen am Feldzug von 1799 in der Schweiz. Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte dieses Feldzugs und zur Kritik seiner Geschichtschreiber.'' A. Munk, Zürich 1892, S. 150 ff. (); Rezension: ''Revue critique d'histoire et de littérature.'' Paris, 23. April 1894, S. 338 f.(). * Rudolf Reding-Biberegg: ''Der Zug Suworoff's durch die Schweiz, 24. Herbst- bis 10. Weinmonat 1799'' (= ''Der Geschichtsfreund. Mitteilungen des historischen Vereins der fünf Orte Luzern, Ury, Schwyz, Unterwalden und Zug.'' 50. Band). Hans von Matt, Stans 1895, S. 49, 124–127
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. * Johannes Strickler (Hrsg.): ''Actensammlung aus der Zeit der Helvetischen Republik, Amtliche Sammlung der Acten aus der Zeit der Helvetischen Republik (1798–1803) ..Herausgegeben auf Anordnung der Bundesbehörden.'' 5. Band, Stämpfli & Cie., Bern 1895, S. 68–71 (). * Reinhold Günther: ''Der Feldzug der Division Lecourbe im Schweizerischen Hochgebirge 1799.'' J. Huber, Frauenfeld 1896, S. 172–175 (). * Hermann Hüffer (Hrsg.): ''Quellen zur Geschichte der Kriege von 1799 und 1800. Aus den Sammlungen des k. und k. Kriegsarchivs, des Haus-, Hof- und Staatsarchivs und des Archivs des Erzherzogs Albrecht in Wien.'' 1. Band, B. G. Teubner, Leipzig 1900, S. 45–48 (Franz von Weyrother, Weyrother), 63 (Franz Xaver von Auffenberg, Auffenberg), 69 (Venanzone), 78, 92–94 (Wickham, Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1. Earl of Minto), 143–146 (Tadeusz Kościuszko, Kościuszko), 394, 397, 402 f., 406 f., 412 f., 416 (). * Albert Maag: ''Die Schicksale der Schweizerregimenter in Napoleons I. Feldzug nach Russland 1812. Mit Benützung des Bundesarchivs.'' 3. Auflage. Ernst Kuhn, Biel 1900 (). * Carl Bleibtreu: ''Marschall Soult, Napoleons grösster Schüler.'' Alfred Schall, Berlin 1902, S. 21, 182. * Édouard Gachot: ''Histoire militaire de Masséna. La campagne d'Helvétie (1799).'' Perrin & Cie, Paris 1904, S. 389–409 (). * Gaston Bodart (Hrsg.): ''Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618–1905).'' C. W. Stern, Wien/Leipzig 1908, S. 344 (). *
Arthur Chuquet Arthur Maxime Chuquet (; 28 February 1853 – 7 June 1925) was a French historian and biographer. He was born in Rocroi, Ardennes. He is now best known for his ''Jeunesse de Napoléon'' appearing in three volumes from 1897 to 1899. He became a ...
(Hrsg.): ''Un portrait inédit de Souvorov.'' In: ''Feuilles d'Histoire du XVIIe au XXe siècle.'' 1. Jahrgang, 1. Band, Paris 1909, S. 258–260 (). * Louis Hennequin: ''Zürich. Masséna en Suisse. Messidor an VII–Brumaire an VIII (Juillet–Octobre 1799). Publié sous la direction de la Section historique de l'État-major de l'armée.'' Librairie militaire Berger-Levrault, Paris/Nancy 1911, S. 371–379, 531–533
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. * Albert Maag, Markus Feldmann: ''Die 2. helvetische Halbbrigade im Kampf um den Linthübergang bei Näfels. (1. Oktober 1799.) Aus dem noch unveröffentlichten Werke «Der Schweizer Soldat in der Kriegsgeschichte».'' In: ''Der «Schweizer Soldat».'' 3. Jahrgang, Nr. 4, 16. Februar 1928, S. 20–22
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. * Fernando Bernoulli: ''Die helvetischen Halbbrigaden im Dienste Frankreichs 1798–1805.'' Diss. phil. I, Universität Bern. Huber & Co., Frauenfeld 1934, S. 74–77 inkl. Planskizze. * Frieda Gallati: ''Glarus im Herbst 1799.'' In: ''Jahrbuch des Historischen Vereins des Kantons Glarus.'' 58/1958, S. 45–62, hier S. 54–57
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. * Felicitas Allart-von Nostitz: ''Der Westfeldzug Suvorovs in der öffentlichen Meinung Englands.'' (= ''Veröffentlichungen des Osteuropa-Institutes München.'' Reihe Geschichte. Band 45). Otto Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 1976, (), S. 69–71. * Peter Hoffmann: ''Alexander Suworow. Der unbesiegte Feldherr.'' Militärverlag der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik, Berlin 1986, , S. 199. * Anton Pestalozzi: ''Briefe an Lord Sheffield. Englische Kriegsberichte aus der Schweiz, Herbst 1799'' (= ''Neujahrsblatt ..zum Besten der Waisenhäuser.'' 152. Stück). Beer AG, Zürich 1989, S. 96 f. * German Studer-Freuler: ''Chronik der Familie des Balthasar Joseph Tschudi von Ennenda und seiner Frau Maria Magdalena Stählin von Netstal, begonnen am 20. Christmonat 1790, beendet nach 1802.'' In: ''Jahrbuch des Historischen Vereins des Kantons Glarus.'' 76/1996, S. 11–146, hier S. 112 f.
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. * Torsten Verhülsdonk, Carl Schulze: ''Napoleonische Kriege. Einheiten – Uniformen – Ausrüstung.'' VS-Books, Herne 1996, , S. 68 f. * Holger Böning: ''Der Traum von Freiheit und Gleichheit. Helvetische Revolution und Republik (1798–1803) – Die Schweiz auf dem Weg zur bürgerlichen Demokratie.'' Orell Füssli, Zürich 1998, . * Christopher Duffy: ''Eagles over the Alps. Suvorov in Italy and Switzerland, 1799.'' The Emperor's Press, Chicago 1999, , S. 212 f., 256–260, 262–264. * Nicole Gotteri: ''La campagne de Suisse en 1799. «Le choc des géants.»'' Bernard Giovangeli, Paris 2003, , S. 160–162. * Alexander Mikaberidze: ''«The Lion of the Russian Army:» Life and Military Career of General Prince Peter Bagration 1765–1812.'' Diss. phil., Florida State University, 2003
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, S. 159–165. * Beat Glaus: ''Der Kanton Linth der Helvetik.'' Historischer Verein des Kantons Schwyz, Schwyz 2005, . * ''Zürich 1799. Eine Stadt erlebt den Krieg.'' (= ''Stadtgeschichte und Städtebau in Zürich'' 7.) Stadt Zürich, 2005, (). * Steven T. Ross: ''The A to Z of the Wars of the French Revolution.'' Scarecrow Press, Lanham, Maryland 2010, , S. 20, 36 (). * Boris Bouget: ''Un débat méconnu au XVIIIe siècle, l'armement des officiers et des bas-officiers d'infanterie.'' In: Guy Saupin, Éric Schnakenbourg (Hrsg.): ''Expériences de la guerre, pratiques de la paix. Hommages à Jean-Pierre Bois.'' Presses universitaires de Rennes 2013, S. 81–96
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. * Werner Ort: ''Heinrich Zschokke (1771–1848). Eine Biografie.'' Hier + jetzt, Baden 2013, . * Jürg Stüssi-Lauterburg, Elena M. Tarkhanowa et al. (Hrsg.): ''Mit Suworow in der Schweiz. Das Tagebuch des Hauptmanns Nikolaj A. Grjazew vom russischen Alpenfeldzug des Jahre 1799 ..'' Merker im Effingerhof, Lenzburg 2013, , S. 162–169 (überarbeitete Aufzeichnungen eines Beteiligten, russisch/deutsch) * Jürg Stüssi-Lauterburg: ''Soult gegen Suworow 1799. 205. Neujahrsblatt der Feuerwerker-Gesellschaft (Artillerie-Kollegium) in Zürich auf das Jahr 2014.'' Beer, Zürich 2013, S. 54 f., 57. * Andreas Bräm: ''Glarus Nord'' (= ''Die Kunstdenkmäler des Kantons Glarus.'' Band 2). Gesellschaft für Schweizerische Kunstgeschichte GSK, Bern 2017
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PDF), S. 153, 165 f. * Fred Heer: ''Ungebetene Gäste. Das Glarnerland als Kriegsschauplatz oder: Wie der Krieg in unser Land kam.'' In: ''Ungebetene Gäste – das Kriegsjahr 1799.'' (= ''Jahrbuch 97.'' Historischer Verein Kanton Glarus 2017). Küng Druck AG, Näfels 2017, , S. 128–185, hier S. 155–158
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. * Alexander Statiev: ''The Alpine Campaign of 1799 as a Stepping Stone to a Doctrine of Mountain Warfare.'' In: Tallinn University Press (Hrsg.): ''Estonian Yearbook of Military History.'' 9 (15) 2019, , S. 29–65, doi:10.22601/SAA.2019.08.02, hier S. 51–54, 64 f. (nicht in Übersetzungen erhältliche russische Literatur). * Flurin Clalüna, Andrea Spalinger: ''Die Schweiz, wie sie nie war: Gedankenexperimente zur Geschichte des Landes.'' In: ''Neue Zürcher Zeitung.'' 29. Juli 2023. * {{DEFAULTSORT:Glarus 1799 Suvorov's Swiss campaign Battles of the War of the Second Coalition involving Russia Battles of the War of the Second Coalition involving Austria Battles involving the Helvetic Republic Glarus Historiography of Russia Historiography of Switzerland