“Will the conscripts from hence be required
to join at Chatillon or at Cholet?” said the
old man.
“Those from St. Laud’s, at Chatillon,”
said Henri; “but the men will not leave their
homes, they will know how to receive the soldiers if
they come amongst them.”
So saying, he got up and went out, and the priest
followed him; they had much to do, and many things
to arrange; to distribute arms and gunpowder, and
make the most of their little means. It was not
their present intention to lead the men from their
homes, but they wished to prepare them to receive
the republican troops, when they came into the country
to enforce the collection of the republican levy.
CATHELINEAU
The revolt of St. Florent took place on the day after
that on which the priest had breakfasted at Durbelliere,
and the rumours of it went quickly through the country.
As Cathelineau had said, the news was soon known in
Nantes and Angers, and the commander of the republican
troops determined most thoroughly to avenge the insolence
and rebellion of the vain people of St. Florent.
He was not, however, able to accomplish his threat
on the instant, for he also was collecting conscripts
in the neighbourhood of Nantes, and the peasantry
had heard of the doings of St. Florent as well as
the soldiers, and the men of Brittany seemed inclined
to follow the example of the men of Anjou.
He had, therefore, for a time enough to occupy his
own troops, without destroying the rebels of St. Florent—and
it was well for St. Florent that it was so. Had
he at once marched five hundred men, with four pieces
of cannon against the town, he might have reduced the
place to ashes, and taken a bloody revenge for their
victory The men of St Florent would have had no means
of opposing such a force, and the peasantry generally
were not armed, the tactics of the royalists were
not settled, and the revolt through the province was
not general. The destruction of St Florent was
postponed for a month, and at the expiration of that
time, the troops of the republic had too much to do,
to return to the little town where the war had commenced.
The rumour of what had been done at St. Florent, was
also soon known in Coron, in Torfou, and in Clisson.
The battle was fought on Thursday, and early on Saturday
morning, M. de Lescure had heard some indistinct rumour
of the occurrence; indistinct at least it seemed to
him, for he could not believe that the success of
the townspeople was so complete, as it was represented
to him to be; he heard at the same time that the revolt
had been headed by Cathelineau and Foret, and that
as soon as the battle was over, they had started for
Durbelliere to engage the assistance of Henri Larochejaquelin.
De Lescure, therefore, determined to go at once to
Durbelliere; and Adolphe Denot, who was with him,
accompanied him.
