Turenne's Winter Campaign facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Turenne's Winter Campaign
Part of the Franco-Dutch War
Date December 1674 – January 5, 1675 Location France Result French victory Holy Roman Empire expelled from Alsace
Belligerents
France	Holy Roman Empire Brandenburg-Prussia
Commanders and leaders
Vicomte de Turenne	Alexander von Bournonville Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg
Strength
Initial: 20,000–28,000 men Total: 33,000 men	Initial: 57,000 men Total: 70,000 men

Turenne's Winter Campaign was a very clever military move. It happened during the Franco-Dutch War (1672-1678). In late 1674 and early 1675, Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne, led French soldiers. He surprised and defeated a much larger army. This army was mainly from the Holy Roman Empire. Turenne's victory pushed them out of a region called Alsace.

Why the War Started

The Franco-Dutch War began mostly because King Louis XIV of France wanted more glory. He also wanted to punish the Netherlands. He felt they had betrayed him during an earlier war, the War of Devolution (1667–1668).

• The Dutch started that war as friends with France.
• But Louis XIV wanted too much land.
• So, the Dutch teamed up with England and Sweden.
• This new team stopped France from expanding.
• Louis XIV then paid off Sweden and England to leave the alliance.
• In 1672, France invaded the Netherlands.
• The Dutch fought hard and slowed the French down.
• Soon, other powerful groups, like the Holy Roman Empire, joined the war against France.

Fighting in Alsace

While the main fighting in 1674 was in the Netherlands, Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, wanted to open another front. He aimed to attack France in Alsace. Much of Alsace was controlled by France. But some parts, like the city of Strasbourg, were not.

An army from the Holy Roman Empire, led by Field Marshal Alexander von Bournonville, crossed the Rhine River into Alsace. This happened near Strasbourg in September 1674. Turenne attacked them on October 4 at Entzheim. Turenne had fewer soldiers. The battle didn't have a clear winner. But it made Bournonville decide to stop fighting for the year. He moved his troops into "winter quarters."

• Winter quarters were places where armies stayed during the cold months.
• Bournonville's army was joined by more troops.
• These new soldiers came from Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg.
• King Louis XIV tried to send more soldiers to Turenne.
• He sent 20 groups of foot soldiers and 24 groups of horse soldiers.
• Even with these, Turenne was still greatly outnumbered.
• The king also called on French nobles to bring their own soldiers.
• Over 5,000 men gathered, but they were not trained well.
• Turenne found them useless and sent them home in November.

Turenne's Secret Plan

In the 1600s, armies usually fought between April and October. They avoided fighting in winter. Bad weather made it hard to move big guns and supplies. Roads turned to mud from rain and floods. Food and firewood were scarce in winter. Animal food was also hard to find. Armies would settle into winter quarters in autumn. They would start fighting again in spring.

Bournonville followed this tradition in 1674. He moved his army of about 57,000 men. They camped mostly in the rich area around Colmar in southern Alsace. He expected Turenne to do the same.

Turenne's army was camped in northern Alsace. But the French army had a secret advantage. The French military had improved its supply system. This meant French troops could fight all year round. Turenne explained his plan to King Louis XIV. He would use this advantage. He would march around the enemy's side. Then he would launch a surprise attack in the middle of winter.

How Turenne Tricked the Enemy

Turenne took steps to make sure Bournonville didn't suspect anything.

• French forts in Middle Alsace were prepared for defense. This made it look like the French were settling in for winter.
• Turenne marched his main army southwest, away from the enemy.
• After more soldiers arrived, Turenne had 33,000 men.
• He split his army into smaller groups. This was to confuse enemy spies.
• Each group got specific instructions on where to go.
• But Turenne didn't tell them his final goal.
• He kept the Vosges Mountains between his men and the enemy.
• He also used his horse soldiers to hide his movements even more.

The Winter Journey

The French army left its camps in early December 1674. They moved into Lorraine. Turenne took huge amounts of food. He ignored complaints from local leaders. They said he was taking all their food. The march went through Sarrebourg and Baccarat. They reached Epinal on December 18.

In Alsace, Bournonville and his allies argued about what to do. Some generals wanted to keep fighting in winter. They wanted to attack French forts. The Elector of Brandenburg wanted to move south and take Belfort. The exiled Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine wanted to get his land back. He sent troops to take Remiremont and Epinal. But when Turenne's soldiers got close, the duke's men ran away.

As news of the French march reached the enemy, Turenne tried to confuse them more. Small groups left the main army. They moved east into the Vosges Mountains. They pretended to attack through mountain passes. These included Col du Bonhomme and Col de la Schlucht. Enemy troops retreated under their pressure. But the French had no plan to truly attack there.

19th century engraving of the Battle of Turckheim

After Epinal, Turenne turned southeast. Snow and bad roads slowed them down. The soldiers got tired, and food ran low. The main French army marched through Remiremont. They met no resistance from the Duke of Lorraine's troops. They entered Belfort on December 27. The French had now reached the southern end of the Vosges.

From there, Turenne moved northeast. He reached Mulhouse in southern Alsace on December 29. He surprised an enemy group there. Turenne won a quick victory at the Battle of Mulhouse. As the new year began, the French headed north. They aimed for the enemy's main camp near Colmar. At the Battle of Turckheim on January 5, 1675, Turenne completely defeated Bournonville. Bournonville had to leave Alsace. He crossed back over the Rhine River at Strasbourg.

Why This Campaign Was Important

A French soldier said Turenne's winter move was "one of the best concerted Stratagems and at the Same Time one of the greatest Actions that ever was done by any General." Turenne was 64 years old. Yet, he bravely decided to ignore old rules by fighting in winter. Other generals might get less daring with age. But Napoleon said Turenne's "audacity grew with years and experience."

Turenne skillfully used the Vosges Mountains to hide his march. His campaign was a preview of similar clever moves. Later, great generals like Napoleon and Stonewall Jackson would use such tactics.