The loss of the French in the field was great, and the bitter hostility of the German peasantry made their retreat a bloody one.

Moreau, on the other hand, learning how Jourdan was discomfited, found himself compelled to give up the plan of pursuing his march further into Germany, and executed that famous retreat through the Black Forest which has made his name as splendid as any victory in the field could have done.

But this reverse, however alleviated by the honours of Moreau's achievement, was attended with appearances of the most perilous kind.

The genius of Carnot had devised a great scheme of operations, of which one half was thus at once cut short.

He had meant Moreau and Jourdan, coalescing beyond the Rhine, to march upon the Tyrol; while Buonaparte should advance from the scene of his Italian conquests, join his brother generals on that frontier, and then march in union with them to dictate a peace before the gates of Vienna.