This War of the First Coalition also proceeded disastrously for the Stadtholder's forces, and in the severe winter of 1794/95 a French army under general Charles Pichegru, with a Dutch contingent under general Herman Willem Daendels, crossed the great frozen rivers that traditionally protected the Netherlands from invasion.
The conflict against the First Coalition was equally disastrous for the Stadtholder's troops. During the harsh winter of 1794/95, a French army under General Charles Pichegru and a Dutch contingent led by General Herman Willem Daendels crossed the major frozen rivers that historically protected the Netherlands from invasion.