Florent who had come with
Cathelineau, saw it at the same time, and vieing with each other, rushed
onwards to gain the prize.
The republicans were amazed at the impetuosity of their enemies, and at
last fled before them; when once these newly-levied troops were turned,
their officers found it impossible to recover them; it was then sauve
qui peut, and the devil take the hindmost. The passage from the camp
towards the town was still open; no attack having been made from that
quarter; and through the wooden gate, which had been erected there, the
valiant Marseillaise rushed out as quick as their legs could carry them;
the officers of the Vendeans offered quarter to all who would throw down
their arms, and many of them did so, but most of them attempted to gain
the town; they knew that if once they could cross the bridge at Fouchard
they would be within the protection afforded by the castle guns--but not
one of them reached the bridge.
M. d'Elbee had found that he could not himself take the position which
had been pointed out to him, as, had he done so, his men would have been
cut to pieces by the cannons from the castle, but he effectually
prevented any one else from doing so; not thirty men from the whole
encampment got into the town of Saumur, and those who did so, made their
way through the river Thoue.
Pages:
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280