Though the French were held at bay during his tenure, his slowness and poor health prevented Piedmont's lost territories from being recovered.

On 8 September 1757 De Vins became Major, on 16 July 1760 he was named Oberstleutnant, and on 13 October 1761 he was elevated to Oberst (colonel).

The Croatian Corps of the Habsburg Army under his command[3] with 24,380 men and 1,280 horses moved from Karlovac to the southeast in order to stop the Ottoman incursions into the border area and to liberate parts of Croatia in the regions of Kordun and Lika.

In the south, the Piedmontese army withdrew to a powerful defensive position at Saorge (Saorgio), blocking access to the strategically important Col de Tende (Tenda Pass).

Prince Maurizio, Duke of Montferrat, named to lead the invasion of Savoy, was directed to follow strict daily instructions from De Vins.

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

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

[8] In the end, the offensive petered out when snow began to fall in the mountains, prompting the disappointed king to return to his capital in mid-November.

[9] The following year, Sardinian General Dellera wanted to occupy Briga Alta northeast of Saorgio, but De Vins overruled him.

With Saorgio outflanked on the east, De Vins advised Colli to hold the position but to send back other forces not needed for immediate defense.

Relations between the Allies were so poor at this time that some Piedmontese officers believed that De Vins had betrayed their nation.

[17] French general François Christophe de Kellermann was defeated and driven back west, losing Vado.

[18] Kellermann was replaced by Barthélemy Louis Joseph Schérer and the new general counterattacked in the fall, recapturing some lost territory.

De Vins, suffering from scurvy according to Colli's chief of staff, named Wallis as his replacement and left the army on 22 November 1795.