Battle of Kaiserslautern

The Battle of Kaiserslautern (28-30 November 1793) was a battle of the War of the First Coalition (part of the French Revolutionary Wars), fought near the German city of Kaiserslautern. It resulted in a victory of the Prussian army under the Duke of Brunswick against the French Army of the Moselle led by Lazare Hoche.

Prologue

Having failed to capture the fort at Bitche, the Duke of Brunswick retreated into the Vosges. In terrible weather the French Army of the Moselle, led by Lazare Hoche who had been appointed to the post in October, pursued the Prussian forces. Having lost contact with the Prussians, Hoche divided his army to locate them. The Duke of Brunswick found an excellent position on the swampy river Lauter.

The battle

First day

On 28 November the French army advanced in three columns, commanded by Alexandre Camille Taponier (right), Hoche (center) and Jean-Jacques Ambert (left) against the Prussian position. Taponier's column was the first to encounter the Prussians and to open the battle, meeting moderate success. On the left, Ambert encountered problems crossing the Lauter with his 6,000 men and was soon faced by the corps of Friedrich Adolf von Kalckreuth which outnumbered him heavily. Menaced with encirclement, Ambert had to retreat and rejoined Hoche's center column.

Second day

The next day, having located the Prussians, the French army crossed the river in force. The advance force led by the generals Dubois and Molitor became stuck on the plateau...
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