Essex consults the president, Thomas Norris, at…

The French attack the Piedmontese army in Saorgio in June 1793 and are defeated.

The Allies try to mount a counteroffensive, but this effort is crippled by the slowness of the new commander, Austrian general Joseph De Vins, who plans to recapture both Savoy and Nice.

Because he suffers badly from gout, De Vins intends to supervise both operations from the capital of Turin.

The Duke of Montferrat, named to lead the invasion of Savoy, has been directed to follow strict daily instructions from De Vins.

Since Turin is forty-five miles (seventy-two kilometers) away, the arrangement is impractical.

The Count of Saint-André has been directed to advance on Nice from Saorgio.

This effort is complicated by the dislike that Saint-André and his Austrian subordinate Michelangelo Alessandro Colli-Marchi have for one another.

Furthermore, the Piedmontese officer corps hates De Vins' chief of staff, Eugène-Guillaume Argenteau.

At this time, areas of southern France rebel against the revolutionary government.

Large forces have been diverted to contain the revolt at the Siege of Toulon, giving the allies a chance to recover territory.

De Vins and King Victor Amadeus leave in August for the southern front, where operations are supposed to start on September 7, 1793.

The French army, carrying out Bonaparte's plan in the Battle of Saorgio in April 1794, advances northeast along the Italian Riviera, then turns north to seize Ormea in the mountains.

From Ormea, they thrust west to outflank the Austro-Sardinian positions around Saorge.

As a result, the coastal towns of Oneglia and Loano as well as the strategic Col de Tende (Tenda Pass) fall into French hands.

Later, Augustin Robespierre sends Bonaparte on a mission to the Republic of Genoa to understand that country's intentions towards France.