India 2001 books

The republican soldiers had been attacked and utterly
routed; most of them were now prisoners in the town; those who had
escaped had retreated to Saumur, and even they had left their arms
behind them.
All this good fortune greatly inspirited the Vendeans. The men talked
with the utmost certainty of what they would do when they were masters
of Saumur. Cathelineau had brought with him the celebrated cannon of St.
Florent, 'Marie Jeanne,' and she now stood in the market place of Done,
covered with ribbons and flowers. Many of the men had never hitherto
seen this wonderful piece of artillery, and they hastened to look at it.
'Marie Jeanne' that night was patted, kissed, and caressed by thousands.
Cathelineau was equally the object of their admiration; every peasant
who had not yet seen him, hurried to gaze on him; and after his arrival
in Doue, he was two hours employed in a military operation, hitherto
undertaken, I believe, by no other general: he was endeavouring to shake
hands with every man in the army.


Pages:
212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236