Jean Nicolas Houchard
| Jean Nicolas Houchard | |
|---|---|
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General Houchard
|
|
| Born |
24 January 1739 Forbach, France |
| Died |
17 November 1793 (aged 54) Paris, France |
| Allegiance |
 Kingdom of France Kingdom of the French French First Republic
|
| Years of service | 1755–1793 |
| Rank | General-in-Chief |
| Commands held | Army of the Rhine |
| Battles/wars |
French conquest of Corsica French Revolutionary Wars |
| Awards | Name inscribed under the Arc de Triomphe |
Jean Nicolas Houchard (24 January 1739, Forbach, Moselle – 17 November 1793) was a French General of the French Revolution and the French Revolutionary Wars.
Born at Forbach in Lorraine, Houchard began his military career at the age of sixteen in the Régiment de Royal-Allemand cavalerie. He became a captain in the Bourbon-Dragons regiment in Corsica and took part in the Battle of Ponte Novu against rioters led by Pasquale Paoli, receiving a deep sabre cut across his cheek and a gunshot wound to his mouth which left him disfigured.
Houchard was a fervent patriot (supporter of the French Revolution. Phipps describes Houchard as "Brave & stupid... Tall, brave, a proved ‘patriot’". In 1792, he was colonel of a regiment of Chasseurs-à-cheval in the army of General Custine. On 11 April 1793 Houchard was appointed as Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the Moselle and when Custine was guillotined, Houchard replaced him in August as Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the North.
Custine prophesised that the command of an army would be “an evil present” to him. Houchard himself was fully aware that it could be a fatal command, and his confidence was thus shaken “is there any more cruel position than this?” he wrote At the head of the army he became dejected, and let the Representatives have a free hand, over-riding his bold plan. At Hondschoote he failed to exert control over any except Jourdan’s column, and spread his forces twice when concentration on Walmoden’s left would have given decisive victory. He was “In his element” leading the charge of a cavalry regiment. After Hondschoote he failed to organise an effective pursuit, “cowed” by the minor check at Rexpoede. Then he was denounced as incapable, not without reason. “The army, which knew his faults, knew also his gallantry and his patriotism...”. In December 1792 Custine “had not enough knowledge of war and he owed much to the advice of his lieutenant, Houchard, who was a bold and capable head of an advanced guard”. His appointment to command the ‘Moselle’ was “probably done to please Custine; he, however, considered it was a harmful present to Houchard, who, he feared, would fail in the command on an army. Custine certainly could judge men, and he was right in this case, for all who knew the worthy old Houchard considered him as lost when given a charge so much beyond his powers”.
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