VOLUME II
CHAPTER I
SAUMUR
In the next three days the Vendeans bombarded the town, and during that
time fired against it everything they could cram into their cannons, in
the shape of warlike missiles; and they did not do so in vain, for the
walls, in portions, began to give way and to crumble into the moat,
which ran round the town, and communicated with the river Loire on each
side of it. The town is built on the Loire, and between the Loire and
the Thoue. After passing over the latter river at the bridge of
Fouchard, the road in a few yards came to the draw-bridge over the moat;
and from the close vicinity of the two rivers, no difficulty was found
in keeping the moat supplied with water in the driest weather. About a
mile below the town, the Thoue runs into the Loire.
Cathelineau found the men very impatient during the bombardment; they
did not now dream of going home till the work was over, and Saumur
taken; but they were very anxious to make a dash at the walls of the
town; they could not understand why they should not clamber into the
citadel, as they had done, over the green sods into the camp at Varin.
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