India 2001 books

De Lescure had studied and thought much; he was older than
Larochejaquelin, much better educated than Cathelineau. He was as ardent
in the cause as they were; why else had he undertaken it? but he
understood better than they did the fearful chances which were against
them: the odds against which they had to fight, the almost insuperable
difficulties in their way. He knew that the peasantry around them would
be brave and enthusiastic followers, but he also knew that it would be
long before they were disciplined soldiers. He was sure that they would
fight stoutly round their homes and their families; but he felt that it
would be almost impossible to lead any body of them to a distance from
their own fields. He foresaw also all the horrors into which they were
about to plunge; horrors, of which an honourable death on the field of
battle would be the least. The Republic had already shown the bitterness
of their malice towards those who opposed them, and de Lescure knew what
mercy it would shew to those of his party who fell into its power.


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