India 2001 books

On the fourth morning they were destined to have their wish. A temporary
bridge over the Thoue had been made near Varin, over which a great
portion of the cannon had been taken to a point near the Loire, from
which the royalists had been able to do great damage to the walls; they
had succeeded in making a complete breach of some yards, through which
an easy entrance might be made, were it not for the moat; much of the
rubbish from the walls had fallen into it, so as considerably to lessen
the breadth; but there was still about twenty feet of water to be
passed, and it was impossible, under the immediate guns of the castle,
to contrive anything in the shape of a bridge.
Notwithstanding the difficulties of the place, it was decided that
Larochejaquelin should take two hundred of his men and endeavour to make
his way through the water, and while he was doing this, de Lescure was
to force his passage over the bridge at Fouchard, and if possible, carry
the gate of the town; in doing this he would pass under the heights of
Bournan, and to this point M.


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