Early on the following morning, the whole army was on its march towards
Laval. The Vendean leaders were well aware that the republicans were now
on their track, and they were truly thankful that some unaccountable
delay in the movement of the enemy, had enabled them to put a great
river between themselves and their pursuers. The garrisons, which the
Convention had thrown into the towns of Brittany, were very
insufficient, both in numbers and spirit, and the blues abandoned one
place after another as the Vendeans approached. They passed through
Cande, Segre, and Chateau-Gonthier without having to fire a shot, and
though the gates of the town of Laval were closed against them, it was
only done to allow the republican soldiers time to escape from the other
side of the town.
The inhabitants of Laval flocked out in numbers to meet the poor
Vendeans, and to offer them hospitality, and such comfort as their small
town could afford to so huge a crowd. They begrudged them nothing that
they possessed, and spared neither their provisions nor their houses.
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