Towards the end of April, the first attempt was made by the Vendean
chiefs to collect a body of men under arms, and to put them into motion,
for the purpose of performing service at a distance from their own
homes; and though considerable difficulty was felt in inducing them to
follow the standards, their first attempts were successful. In the early
part of May, they altogether succeeded in driving the soldiers out of
Thouars. A few days later, they did the same at Fontenay, though here
they met with a violent opposition, and much blood was shed. At these
two latter places, the cannon which Cathelineau had taken in so gallant
a manner at St. Florent, was brought into action, and quite supported
its character as a staunch royalist. At Fontenay, with its aid, they
took three or four other pieces of cannon, but none which they prized
as they did Marie Jeanne. It was universally credited among the
peasantry, that at Cathelineau's touch, this remarkable piece of
artillery had positively refused to discharge itself against the
Vendeans; and their leaders certainly were at no pains to disabuse them
of a belief which contributed so strongly to their enthusiasm.
Pages:
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144