The son of the general Jacques Pierre Abbatucci, Jean Charles was born in Zicavo, Corsica, and studied at the military school in Metz, leaving it in 1787 aged 17 to join the 2nd regiment of foot artillery as a sous-lieutenant.

Jean Victor Marie Moreau then gave Abbatucci and generals Bellavène, Decaen and Montrichard the task of organising the Rhine crossing at Kehl, which was carried out on 26 June 1796.

These successes won him the rank of général de brigade (effective on 10 July 1796) and on 12 August he fought the Émigré rearguard at Wertheim which he had pursued as far as Erkheim.

Immediately rushing to the head of a second battalion, he animated his troops by his example and his words, supported those who were stumbling, saved those whose courage was leaving them and finally led them onto the enemy banks where they overthrew the Austrians who they had already beaten once that day".

He was then put in control of the stronghold of Huningue, which covered upper Alsace and thus was highly important for Moreau in his re-crossing of the Rhine back into France after Jourdan's disasters in Franconia.