The darkness
was their only friend, and on they went towards Montreuil.
The republican soldiers were stopped by the waggons and cannons; it was
then as dark as a night in June ever is; it was well known also that the
Republic had no friends in Montreull; the troops had been driven from
the place by M. de Lescure, on his road to Doue, and the royalists would
be able to make a very strong stand in the streets of the town; the
pursuit was, therefore, given up, and the blues returned to the camp at
Varin, with all the artillery and the baggage belonging to the
royalists.
M. d'Elbee remained all the while in his position by the river; he heard
the firing--he also heard the confused noise of the retreat, but he felt
that it was impossible for him, at that hour of night, to take any steps
without knowing what had been done, or what he had better do: at about
four in the morning, he learnt exactly what had occurred, and then he
rejoined Cathelineau at Montreuil.
The Vendeans, during the night, lost every cannon they possessed; all
their baggage, consisting of provisions, wearing apparel, and
ammunition; they lost also about five hundred men, in killed, wounded
and prisoners; but all this was not of so much injury as the loss of the
prestige of victory.
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