He led the covering forces at the siege of Ypres and participated in the successful invasion of the Dutch Republic.

In 1792, having shown himself active in the cause of the Revolution, he was elected chef de bataillon of a volunteer battalion from the Corrèze.

During the French Consulate he appears to have been involved in conspiracies and was suspected with his old commanders Moreau and Pichegru of participation in the plot of Georges Cadoudal.

The latter was thus pitted against Wellington, and by skilful maneuvers drove the allied general back from Burgos and regained the ground lost at Salamanca.

Faced by the bulk of the combined Russian and Prussian armies, he bitterly defended the area around Gross-Gorschen.

After the fall of the First Empire he stayed loyal to the Bourbons and, having suffered for the Royalist cause, was well received by Louis XVIII, who gave him high commands.