by Rob Harper
90. Ibid. p.142.
Chapter 7: The Republic in Crisis
1. A.Soboul, op-cit. p.259.
2. J.J.Savary, op-cit. Vol.1, p.242.
3. Ibid. p.249.
4. Ibid. p.250.
5. F.Deniau , op-cit. Vol.2, pp.155-6.
6. Ibid. pp.156-7.
7. Ibid. p.157.
8. Ibid. p.158, indicates 800 infantry and a platoon of the 8th Hussars who had been at Montilliers when informed the rebels were in Vihiers. Mme Rochejaquelein says 2,000; SHD-1 M 488 - Joseph Dupont, lieutenant Relation de la bataille de Saumur livrée le 9 juin 1793 (1829).
9. F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2, p.158.
10. Ibid. p.159.
11. Ibid. p.171.
12. F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2, p.159.
13. J.Crétineau-Joly, op-cit. p.167.
14. Mme Rochejaquelein, op-cit. pp.171-2; J.J.Savary, op-cit. Vol.1, p.248.
15. SHD B 5/5-25 & 5-25: 10th June; F.Deniau suggests about 6,000 (Vol.2, p.162); Dupont suggests 8,348 men, but his figures are largely based on optimistic assumptions of unit strengths.
16. F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2, p.163. for number of cannon, Dupont for infantry and cavalry.
17. SHD-B5/5-21:8th June.
18. F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2, p.164.
19. J.Cretineau-Joly, op-cit. p.167.
20. SHD-B5/5-23:9th June.
21. See SHD-B5/5-23 to 5-25.
22. F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2, p.165.
23. SHD-B5/5-21:8th June.
24. Ibid.
25. Ibid.
26. J.J.Savary, op-cit. Vol.1, p.251 notes 5th Calvados, 640 men; 6th Calvados, 629 men; 14th Paris, 400 men; 1st Chinon, 960 men; Légion de Rosenthal, 200 men; 35th Gendarmerie under Rossignol, 500 men; 100 gunners with 6x4pdr guns; detachment of lancers from Légion-de-la-Fraternité, 50 men. In C.L.Chassin, op-cit. Vol.V2, p.45. An eye witness indicates: 2 Orléans battalions; 1 Calvados battalion; a company of foot chasseurs; the Légion-de-Rosenthal; 35th Gendarmerie; a detachment from Legion-de-la-Fraternité; total: 3,600 men). His cavalry was 500 strong.
27. C.L.Chassin, op-cit. Vol.V2, pp.44-5.
28. Poirier-de-Beauvais, op-cit. pp.51-2.
29. Mme Rochejaquelein, op-cit. p.173.
30. Ibid.
31. E.Gabory, op-cit. pp.171-2.
32. C.L.Chassin, op-cit. Vol.V.2, footnote: p.48. Fleuriot, Donnissan and Beauvolliers commanded around 8,000. Cathelineau, Lescure and Desessarts may have contributed.
33. E.Gabory, op-cit. pp.171-2.
34. C.L.Chassin, op-cit. Vol.V.2, p.41 and 48.
35. SHD-B5/5-29:12th June.
36. F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2, p.171.
37. F.Favier, Berthier L’Ombre de Napoléon, (Perrin:2015) p.63.
38. Dupont indicates 72 cannon (many 4pdrs). They placed 30 guns in an artillery park within Saumur, suggesting they lacked gunners.
39. Dupont: 13,000; J.J.Savary Vol.1, p.257: 7-8,000 of which 400 were line troops; C.L.Chassin, Vol.V2, p.258 states less than 8,000; F.Deniau states 8-9,000 (Footnote:Vol.2, p.173).
40. J.J.Savary, op-cit. Vol.1, p.258.
41. SHD-B5/5-24 and 5-25.
42. J.J.Savary, op-cit. Vol.1, p.258.
43. H.Coutau-Bégarie and C.Doré-Graslin(eds), op-cit. p.259.
44. Ibid. pp.252-3.
45. J.J.Savary, op-cit. Vol.1, p.259, suggests 400 men of the 35th Division Gendarmerie fell under his command, but might be mistaken as these were with Salomon.
46. Other troops present included: 3rd and 5th Paris; detachment Légion-de-Rosenthal; two more Orléans battalions; a Co-Franche des Pyrénées; detachment 72nd Line; detachments from 8th Hussars, 10th, 13th and 19th Dragoons.
47. F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2, p.179.
48. Mme Rochejaquelein, op-cit. p.175; H.Coutau-Bégarie/C.Dore-Graslin(eds), op-cit. p. 260, indicates this cavalry was 200 strong.
49. C.L.Chassin, op-cit. Vol.V2, p.49, indicates they placed him at the mouth of a cannon. The exact timing of this second attack is unclear, some placing it towards 8pm.
50. F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2, p.175. and J.J.Savary, op-cit. Vol.1, p.260 reflect the different accounts.
51. C.L.Chassin, op-cit. Vol.V2, p. 50.
52. F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2, p.179. The cuirassiers possibly charged more than once during the day and the accounts may have become blurred. There were 122 cuirassiers at Saumur and only 34 came out of the battle unscathed (C.L.Chassin, op-cit. Vol.V.2, p.53).
53. J.J.Savary, op-cit. Vol.1, p.260.
54. Mme Rochejaquelein, op-cit. p.470.
55. H.Coutau-Bégarie and C.Dore-Graslin(eds), op-cit. p.262.
56. Ibid. p.262.
57. Ibid. p.266.
58. Ibid. p.262
59. Mme. Rochejacquelein, op-cit. p.470.
60. Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2 pp.180-1.
61. Ibid. p.181.
62. H.Coutau-Bégarie and C.Dore-Graslin(eds), op-cit. p.264.
63. Ibid. p.263
64. Ibid. p.264.
65. F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2, p.182.
66. Ibid. p.179.
67. Mme. Rochejacquelein, op-cit. p.176.
68. F.Deniau, op-cit., Vol.2, p.186.
69. C.L.Chassin, op-cit., Vol.V2, pp.49-50.
70. SHD-B5/5-31:13th June.
71. This is an exaggeration. Sources vary for Republican losses: 80 guns, 100,000 fusils, 11,000 prisoners (J.Cretineau-Joly, op-cit., p.173); Mme Rochejaquelein: 4,000 killed and wounded and 6,000 captured between 3 and 10 June; Blordier-Langlois: 3,000 Republican to 2,000 Vendéen casualties (F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2, Footnote: p.193). A report from August 1794 stated 45 guns lost and entire Paris battalions threw away their fusils without firing a shot (CL. Chassin, op-cit. Vol.1. p.482).
72. Mme Rochejaquelein, op-cit. pp.177.
73. Ibid. p.177, indicates 60 killed, 400 wounded.
74. J.J.Savary, op-cit. pp.263-4.
75. F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2, p.195.
76. SHD-B5/5-32:13th June.
77. SHD-B5/5-31:13th June.
78. F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2, p.201.
79. H.Coutau-Bégarie and C.Dore-Graslin(eds), op-cit. p.273.
80. F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2, p.210.
81. E.Stofflet, Stofflet et La Vendée 1753-1796 (Pont-a-Mousson:1868), pp.100-101.
82. SHD-B5/5-26: 11th June.
83. SHD-B5/5-32. They had 25 wagons but needed 300.
84. H.Coutau-Bégarie and C.Dore-Graslin(eds), op-cit. p.274.
85. Ibid. p.275.
86. Ibid. p.277.
87. J.J.Savary., op-cit. Vol.1, p.309.
88. Ibid. p.311.
89. Ibid. p.311.
90. Ibid. pp.329-30.
91. R.Bittard-des-Portes, op-cit. pp.94-100.
92. Ibid. Footnote: p.103.
93. Ibid. p.105.
94. Ibid. Footnote: pp. 105-6.
95. F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2, p.226.
96. H.Coutau-Bégarie and C.Dore-Graslin(eds), op-cit. p.249.
97. F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2, p.227.
98. C.L.Chassin, op-cit. Vol.P2, p.95.
99. F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2, p.240.
100. F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2, p.253.
101. Mme Rochejaquelein, op-cit. p.196.
102. R.Bittards-des-Portes, op-cit. pp.111-12.
103. Y.Guin, La Bataille de Nantes, 29 Juin 1793 (Laval:1993), p.89, indicates 600 men: 3rd Loire-Inférieure, National Guards from Nort and Châteaubriant.
104. C.L.Chassin, op-cit. V.2, p.240.
105. Y.Guin op-cit. p.104.
106. Ibid. p.101.
107. R.Bittard-des-Portes op-cit. p.112.
108. Ibid. p.112.
109. Ibid. p.113.
110. C.L.Chassin op-cit. Vol.V2, p.241.
111. P.Doré-Graslin, op-cit. p.77.
112. J.Cretineau-Joly, op-cit. p.196.
113. C.L.Chassin op-cit. Vol.V2, p.248.
114. Y.Guin op-cit. p.106.
115. Ibid. p.110.
116. Ibid. p.111.
<
br /> 117. Ibid. p.112. The shot came from the Hotel de la Tête-Noire (top of Rue des Hauts-Pavés).
118. Ibid. p.110.
119. C.L.Chassin op-cit. Vol.V.2, p.255.
120. Ibid. p.252.
121. R.Bittard des Portes op-cit. p.118.
122. Ibid. p.119.
123. Y.Guin, op-cit. pp.117-18.
124. The Légion-du-Nord comprised 1,200 infantry, 400 cavalry and 8 guns: Chassin op-cit. Vol.V2, p.183.
125. Rebel numbers are unclear, Westermann exaggerates their strength as 8-10,000 (Chassin, op-cit. Vol.V2, p.183).
126. Ibid. p.183.
127. This account is extracted from Mme Rochejaquelein, op-cit. pp. 192-3 and SHD-B5/5-62: Report by Westermann 25th June.
128. H. Coutau-Bégarie and C.Doré-Graslin(eds), op-cit. pp.222-3.
129. C.L.Chassin, op-cit. Vol.V2, pp.216-22. Gautron (in H. Coutau-Bégarie/C. Doré-Graslin(eds), op-cit. p.224), suggests he had 700 infantry and 1,300 cavalry.
130. Collinet, op-cit. p.146.
131. Ibid. pp.144-5.
132. Ibid. p.147.
Chapter 8: The Sans-Culotte Army
1. C.L.Chassin, op-cit. Vol.2, p.471.
2. Ibid. p.413.
3. J.Cretineau-Joly, op-cit. Vol.1 pp.200-203.
4. C.L.Chassin, op-cit. V.2, 287.
5. Known today as Pont-Paillet.
6. L.Fuchard, Les Quatre Guerres à Chatillon-sur-Sèvre (Choletais:1992) p.107. The Vendéens had 3,000.
7. C.L.Chassin, op-cit. V.2, p.287.
8. J.J.Savary, op-cit. Vol.1, p.354.
9. L.Fuchard, op-cit. p.107 suggests 3,000 at St-Jouin, but this seems very high; Aubertin, Adj-Gen, Mémoires inédits sur la Guerre de la Vendée 1793-4, in Mémoires du General Hugo (Paris:1823) p.24.
10. A.Béjarry, op-cit. p.97-100.
11. Poirier-de-Beauvais, op-cit. pp.68-9.
12. Ibid. p.68.
13. S.Hilard, Marigny et la memoire assassinée (Choletais:1998), pp.80-82.
14. Aubertin, op-cit. p.25.
15. Poirier-de-Beauvais, op-cit. pp.69.
16. C.L.Chassin, op-cit. Vol.V2, p.289.
17. Mercier-de-Rocher in C.L.Chassin, op-cit. Vol.V2 p. 288.
18. L.Fruchard, op-cit. p.111.
19. R.S.V: June 1998 pp.41-3.
20. C.L.Chassin, op-cit. Vol.V.2, p.289.
21. Quoted in C.L.Chassin, op-cit. V.2, p.290.
22. R.S.V: June 1998, pp.41-3.
23. L.Fruchard, op-cit. p.112.
24. Hilard, op-cit. pp.80-2.
25. R.S.V: June 1998, pp.41-3.
26. Béjarry, op-cit. p.99.
27. Poirier-de-Beauvais, op-cit. pp.68.
28. This was one of the Orléans battalions: starting 470 strong and ending with 17. Béjarry, op-cit. p.100.
29. S.Hilard, op-cit. pp.80-2.
30. Mme Rochejaquelein, op-cit. pp.202-3.
31. Aubertin, op-cit. p.25.
32. Ibid. p.26.
33. Poirier-de-Beauvais, op-cit. p.69.
34. Ibid. p.70.
35. Ibid. p.72.
36. J.J.Savary, op-cit. Vol.1, p.360.
37. A.Béjarry, op-cit. p.100.
38. J.J.Savary, op-cit. Vol.1, p.363.
39. Ibid. p.365.
40. Ibid. p.356 (i.e. troops in Coulanges, 5,000 with Westermann and 7,000 with Biron)
41. Ibid. p.367.
42. Ibid. p.367.
43. Ibid. p.368.
44. Ibid. p.369.
45. Ibid. pp.369-70.
46. Ibid. p.375.
47. Ibid. pp.372-73.
48. Ibid. p.373.
49. Ibid. p.375.
50. Ibid. p.377.
51. R.Blachez, Bonchamps et l’Insurrection Vendéene 1760-1793 (Paris:1902) p.221.
52. S.Hilard, op-cit. pp.83-5.
53. Mme Rochejaquelein, op-cit. p.227.
54. R.Blachez, op-cit. p.222, suggests this detour was pointless as the river was fordable in numerous places.
55. Poirier-de-Beauvais, op-cit. p.73.
56. R.Blachez, op-cit. p.222.
57. Poirier-de-Beauvais, op-cit. p.73.
58. R.Blachez, op-cit. p.223.
59. Ibid. p.224.
60. Poirier-de-Beauvais, op-cit. p.74.
61. S.Hilard, op-cit. pp.83-5.
62. R.Blachez, op-cit. p.225.
63. Mme Rochejaquelein, op-cit. pp.228-9.
64. Poirier-de-Beauvais, op-cit. p.75.
65. J.J.Savary, op-cit. Vol.1, p.377.
66. RSV: No.202. March-April 1998, pp.25-6.
67. These were probably Chabot and Joly’s troops. Loidreau suggests they placed forty guns near Jusalem Farm but gives no source (RSV:No.202). P.Mercier, Piron de la Varenne (Paris:1938), p.52, notes forty guns dispersed amongst the army, saying many were fresh from foundries.
68. Royalist account of the battle suggests 15,000 with 30 guns; Loidereau: 7-8,000 with little artillery; Mercier-de-Rocher: 10-12,000; P.Doré-Graslin: 10,000.
69. Mercier-de-Rocher, op-cit. p.53.
70. J.J.Savary, op-cit., Vol.1, p.397.
71. Ibid.
72. R.S.V: No.202.
73. J.J.Savary, op-cit. Vol.1, p.387.
74. Ibid. p.387.
75. J.G.Gallaher, The Iron Marshal (Greenhill:2000) pp.21-23.
76. J.J.Savary, op-cit. pp.392-3.
77. Ibid. pp.393-4.
78. Ibid. pp.421-2.
79. Ibid. p.418.
80. Ibid. pp.419-24.
81. P.Doré-Graslin, op-cit. pp.82-3.
82. F.L’Hostis, Les-Ponts-de-Cé, une ville à feu et a sang 1793-6 (Choletais:1995), pp.50-1.
83. J.J.Savary, op-cit. Vol.1, p.420.
84. F.L’Hostis, op-cit. pp.51 and 55.
85. Ibid. p.424 suggests detachments from the Sarthe and Jemappes battalions and Angers National Guard involved in this assault.
86. J.J.Savary, op-cit. Vol.1, p.394.
87. Ibid. p.395.
88. Ibid. pp.402-3. Reported by Tuncq.
89. F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2, Footnote: p.410.
90. Ibid. p.410
91. P.Doré-Graslin, op-cit. p.82.
92. A.Béjarry, op-cit. pp.102-3.
93. F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol, 2, p.411
94. A.Billaud and J.d’Herbauges, op-cit. p.223.
95. F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2, p.412.
96. R.Bittard-des-Portes, op-cit. p.128.
97. P.Doré-Graslin, op-cit. p.83.
98. T.Rouchette, André Mercier de Rocher, Memoires pour server a l’histoire de la guerre de Vendée (Loudéac:1989) p.208 suggests Tuncq led 3,600 men.
99. Rebel numbers are unclear. Some Royalist accounts talk of 25-30,000 men but Republican accounts, normally the ones to exaggerate rebel strength, indicate 8-9,000 (C.L. Chassin, op-cit. Vol.V2, pp.181 and 259).
100. The 11th Hussars formed 26th June from Légion-de-la-Fraternité and Hussards-de-la-Liberté. Chalbos sent them to support Tuncq.
101. Poirier-de-Beauvais, op-cit. pp.91-2.
102. Ibid. pp.91-2. A messenger reported to the Republicans in Les Sables that 3-4,000 rebels had been repulsed with the loss of 160 men: Collinet, op-cit. p.148.
103. Collinet, op-cit. p.149.
104. Ibid. pp.154-5.
105. J.J.Savary, op-cit. Vol.1, p.426.
106. Ibid. p.428.
Chapter 9: ‘Destroy the Vendée!’
1. J.J.Savary, op-cit. Vol.1, pp.429-31.
2. J.J.Savary, op-cit. Vol 2, pp.18-22.
3. C.L.Chassin, op-cit. Vol.V2, p.437.
4. J.J.Savary, op-cit. Vol 2, p.11.
5. Grouchy, Marquis de, Mémoires du Maréchal de Grouchy. Vol.1 (Paris:1873), p.37.
6. Ibid. p.37. Comprising 2,739 volunteers, 1,090 line troops, 252 cavalry and 144 gunners.
7. J.J.Savary, op-cit. Vol.2, p.13.
8. Ibid. p.24-5.
9. Ibid. p.16.
10. Ibid. p.23.
11. F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2, pp.439-40.
12. J.J.Sav
ary, op-cit. Vol.2, p.23.
13. Ibid. p.12.
14. Mme Rochejaquelein, op-cit. pp.219-20.
15. Ibid. pp.219-20.
16. Poirier-de-Beauvais, op-cit. p.95.
17. Mme Rochejaquelein, op-cit. pp.219-20.
18. A.Béjarry, op-cit. pp.106-7; Mme Rochejaquelein, op-cit. pp.219-20.
19. Poirier-de-Beauvais, op-cit. pp.94-5.
20. Ibid. p.96.
21. Ibid. p.95.
22. Mme Rochejaquelein, op-cit. pp.219-20.
23. A.Béjarry, op-cit. p.109.
24. Poirier-de-Beauvais, op-cit. pp.101-2.
25. The Republicans claimed 2x12 pdrs, 4x8 pdrs, 10x4pdrs and 6 caissons (C.L.Chassin, op-cit. Vol.V2, p.463-4); Beauvais estimated their loss at 1,200 (800 from Charette’s troops).
26. Collinet, op-cit. p.161.
27. Ibid. p.162.
28. R.Bittard-des-Portes, op-cit. p.154-5.
29. F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2, p.484.
30. Collinet, op-cit. p.163.
31. J.J.Savary, op-cit. Vol.2, p.71-2.
32. R.Bittard-des-Portes, op-cit. p.156.
33. C.L.Chassin, op-cit. Vol.V2, p.557.
Chapter 10: ‘The Promenade of the Sovereign People’
1. Grouchy, op-cit. pp.46-7.
2. C.L.Chassin, op-cit. Vol.V3, pp.17-18.
3. Ibid. p.19. Sybarites better translate today as hedonists.
4. Ibid. p.20.
5. Ibid. pp.20-2.
6. Ibid. p.25.
7. Ibid. Vol.V.2, p.557.
8. R.Bittard-des-Portes, op-cit. pp.161-2.
9. Ibid. p.162.
10. C.L.Chassin, op-cit. Vol.V2, pp.557-8.
11. R.Bittard-des-Portes, op-cit. p.163.
12. C.L.Chassin, op-cit. Vol.V2, p.558. Grouchy claimed 10,000 rebels attacked.
13. R.Bittard-des-Portes, op-cit. p.163.
14. F.Deniau, op-cit. Vol.2, p.501.
15. Ibid. p.501.
16. J.Crétineau-Joly, op-cit. Vol.1, p.253.
17. Poirier-de-Beauvais, op-cit. pp.103-4.
18. J.J.Savary, op-cit. Vol.2, p.120: Lecomte reported 200 to Chalbos (8th September); A.Billaud & J.d’Herbauges, op-cit. pp.229-30, suggests 3,000; H. Servien, Petite Histoire des Guerres de Vendée (Chiré 1981), p.66, cites 3,000 killed, hundreds captured, with the Vendéens losses at 1,500.
19. J.J. Savary, Ibid. p.121.
20. 4th, 5th, 15th Orléans, 8th Hussars, 26th Div-Gendarmerie.
21. C.L.Chassin, op-cit. Vol.V3, pp.40-1.
22. Ibid. p.59.
23. E.Gabory, op-cit. p.262.
24. Ibid. p.262.
25. J.J.Savary., op-cit. Vol.2, p.157.
26. C.L.Chassin, op-cit. Vol.V3, p.44.