India 2001 books

Hitherto the royalists had always been the
attacking party; the republicans had contented themselves with
endeavouring to keep their position within the towns; and when driven
from thence, had retreated altogether out of the revolted district.
Except lately at Nantes, the Vendeans had as yet incurred no great
reverse; they had not, therefore, learnt to fear that their houses would
be attacked and burnt; their corn and cattle destroyed; and even their
wives and children massacred. The troops which had now been dispatched
by the Convention for the subjection of the country, were of a very
different character from those with whom the Vendeans had as yet
contended, and the royalists were not long before they experienced all
the horrors of a civil war, in which quarter was refused them by their
enemies, and mercy even to children was considered as a crime.
When Santerre rode up to the door of the chateau, ten men might have
taken possession of Durbelliere. It was a fine July evening, about seven
o'clock.


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