In April 1796, still serving under Field Marshal Count Clerfayt, he was appointed to the staff of Archduke Charles by Emperor Francis II. With his deputy, Anton Mayer von Heldensfeld, Schmitt planned the 1796 campaign, which, after several initial setbacks, produced the Imperial victories at the Battle of Amberg (24 August 1796) and the Battle of Würzburg (2 September 1796), and resulted in the French retreat to the west shore of the Rhine. He was promoted to "Generalmajor" on 6 September 1796.