XII. 1793. CHAP. in a little town, was the comrade of a gentleman: they led the same life, were interested in the same objects, shared the same dangers. The distinction of birth, the pride of descent, even the shades of individual thought, were obliterated amid the magnitude of present perils. Many differences of opinion existed in the beginning of the contest, but the atrocities of the Republicans soon made them disappear in the Royalist army. Persons of intelligence or skill, of whatever grade, became officers, they knew not 100, 101. how; the peasants insensibly ranged themselves under their orders, and continued their obedience only as long as they showed themselves worthy to command.1 1 Laroch. 69, Beauch. i. 185, 190. 21. nature of this war fare. It was extremely difficult for the Republicans in the Formidable outset to withstand this irregular force, acting in such a country, and animated with so enthusiastic a spirit. There was in all the early actions a prodigious difference between their losses and those of their opponents. The peasants, dispersed in single file between the hedges, fired with a clear view of their enemies, who were either in column or two deep in the fields; while their volleys could only be answered by a discharge at a green mass, through which the figures of the Royalists were scarcely discernible. Harassed and disconcerted by this murderous fire, the Republicans were rarely able to withstand the terrible burst, when, with loud shouts, the Royalists broke from their concealment, and fell sword in hand on the thinned ranks of their opponents. Defeat was still more bloody than action. Broken and dispersed, they fled through a woody and impervious country, and fell into the hands of the few peasantry who still remained in the villages, and who assembled with alacrity to complete the destruction of their enemies. When the Royalists, on the other hand, were routed, they immediately dispersed, leapt over the hedges, and returned home without the victors being able 70. Beauch. to reach them. Nowise discouraged by the reverse, they assembled again in arms, with renewed hopes, in a few days, and gaily took the field, singing "Vive le Roi quand même." 2 Laroch. 69, i. 184, 188, 190. 2 XII. 1793. 22. parations When a day was fixed on for any exploit, the tocsin CHAP. sounded in the village assigned as the rendezvous of the peasants--the neighbouring steeples repeated the signal, the farmers abandoned their homes if it was night, their Their preploughs if day, slung their fusils over their shoulders, for an exbound their girdle loaded with cartridges round their pedition. waists, tied their handkerchiefs over the broad-brimmed hats which shaded their sunburnt visages, addressed a short prayer to God, and gaily repaired to the appointed place, with a full confidence in the protection of Heaven and the justice of their cause. There they met their chiefs, who explained to them the nature and object of the expedition on which they were to be employed; and, if it was the attack of an enemy's column, the route they were to follow, the point of attack, and the hour and manner in which it was to be made. Immediately the groups dispersed, but the men regained their ranks; every one repaired to the station assigned to him, and soon every tree, every bush, every tuft of broom which adjoined the road, concealed a peasant holding his musket in one hand, resting on the1 Desmonother, watching like a savage animal, without moving. Vendée, 30. almost without drawing his breath.1 court, La onset, and valour. Meanwhile the enemy's column advanced, preceded by 23. a cloud of scouts and light troops, who were allowed to Their first proceed without challenge close past the lurking foe. They enthusiastic waited till the division was fairly in the defile, and was so far advanced that it could not recede; then a cry was suddenly raised like that of a cat, and repeated along the whole line, as a signal that every one was at his post. If the same answer was given, a human voice was suddenly heard ordering the attack. Instantly a deadly volley proceeded from every tree, every hedge, every thicket a shower of balls fell upon the soldiers without their being able to see the assailants; the dead and the wounded rolled together into the bottom of the road; and if the column did not immediately fall into confusion, and the voice of the officers, heard above the roar of musketry, XII. 1793. CHAP. roused them to burst through the hedges by which they were enveloped, the peasants instantly retired behind the next enclosure, and from its leafy rampart a fire as deadly proceeded as that which mowed them down on the road. If this second hedge was carried in the same manner, three, four, ten, twenty intrenchments of the same sort offered their support to that murderous retreat for the whole country is subdivided in this manner, and everywhere presented to its children an asylum, to its enemies a tomb. But the great cause of the early and astonishing success of the Vendeans was their enthusiastic and indomitable valour. The Republicans were, for the most part, composed of national guards and volunteers, who, though greatly better armed, equipped, and disciplined, were totally destitute of the ardent, devoted spirit by which the Royalists were animated. The former took the field actuated by no common feeling, but from the dread of the requisitions and sanguinary measures of the Convention; the latter fought alongside of their neighbours and landlords, in defence of their hearths, their children, and their 1 Desmon- religion. The one acted in obedience to the dictates of Vendée, 31, an unseen but terrible power, which had crushed the Guerres des freedom in whose name they were arrayed; the other Laroch. 70. yielded to their hereditary feelings of loyalty, and deemed themselves secure of Paradise in combating for their sovereign.1 court, La Vend. i. 55. Beauch. i. 185, 189. 24. But they cannot be after any success. Had the Vendean chiefs possessed the same authority over their troops which is enjoyed by the commanders of kept to their regular soldiers, they might at one time have marched to standards Paris, and done that which all the forces of the coalition were unable to effect. But their greatest success was always paralysed, by the impossibility of retaining the soldiers at their colours for any considerable length of time. The bulk of the forces was never assembled for more than three or four days together. No sooner was the battle lost or won, the expedition successful or defeated, than the peasants returned to their homes. The chiefs were left XII. 1793. alone with a few hundred deserters or strangers, who had CHAP. no family to return to, and all the advantages of former success were lost for want of the means of following them up. The army, however, was as easily reformed as it was dissolved: messengers were despatched to all the parishes; the tocsin sounded, the peasants assembled at their parish churches, when the requisition was read, which was generally in the following terms:-" In the holy name of God, and by the command of the King, this parish is invited to send as many men as possible to such a place at such an hour, with provisions for so many days." The order was obeyed with alacrity; the only emulation among the peasants was, who should attend the expedition. Each soldier brought a certain quantity of bread with him, and some stores were also provided by the generals. The corn and oxen necessary for the subsistence of the army were voluntarily furnished by the gentlemen and chief proprietors, or drawn by requisitions from the estates of the emigrants; and as the troops never remained together for any length of time, no want of provisions was ever 101, 102. experienced. The villages vied with each other for the Jom.iii.390, privilege of sending carts for the service of the army, and Th. iv. 174. the peasant girls flocked to the chapels on the road-side 184. to furnish provisions to the soldiers, or offer up prayers Vend. i. 98. for their success.1 1 Laroch. 391, 397. Beauch. i. Guerres des 25. want of bag gage and The army had neither chariots nor baggage-waggons; tents were totally out of the question. But the hospitals Their total were regulated with peculiar care; all the wounded, whether Royalists or Republicans, being transported to equipments. St Laurent sur Sêvre, where the charitable sisters and religious votaries, who flocked from all quarters to the scene of woe, assuaged their sufferings. They never could be brought to establish patrols or sentinels, or take any of the precautions against surprise which are in use among regular troops; and this irregularity not only exposed them to frequent reverses, but often rendered unavailing their greatest successes. The men marched, XII. 1793. CHAP. in general, four abreast, the officers in front being alone acquainted with their destination. They had few dragoons; and their cavalry, which never exceeded nine hundred men, was almost entirely mounted on the horses taken from the Republicans.1 1 Beauch. i. 185, 186. Laroch. 103. 26. of giving orders and fighting. When the troops were assembled, they were divided Their mode into different columns, to attack the points selected by the generals. The only orders given were-Such a leader goes such a road; who follows him? Arrived at the point of attack, the commands were given after the same fashion-Move towards that house, towards that tree; leap that hedge, were the only orders ever issued. Neither threats, nor the promise of rewards, could induce them to send forward scouts: when that duty was necessary, the officers were obliged to take it upon themselves. The peasants never went into battle without praying, and generally made the sign of the cross before they discharged their firelocks. They had a few standards which were displayed on important occasions; but no sooner was the victory gained, than they piled colours and drums upon their carts, and returned with songs of triumph to their villages. When the battle began, and the sound of the musketry and cannon was heard, the women, the children, the sick, and the aged, flocked to the churches, or prostrated themselves in the fields to implore a blessing on their arms. With truth it might be said, that on such occasions there was but one thought, one wish, throughout all La Vendée-every one waiting, in prayer, the issue of a struggle, on which the fate of all depended. As the insurrection broke out from the prevalence of a common feeling, without any previous concert, so it was conducted without any definite object, or the least alloy of individual ambition. Even after great successes had inspired the most desponding with the hope of contributing in a powerful manner to the restoration of the monarchy, the wishes of the insurgents were of the most moderate kind. To have the King once visit their |