BOOK II. vested, without the most distant prospect of relief, he was under the necessity of capitulating, CHAP. III. and yielding, not to courage, but to stratagem. 1795.

Thus far successful, the French were determined upon the subjection of Mentz, which the King of Prussia had recently wrested from them. Accordingly, the blockade of this city was the first operation that took place on the frontiers of Germany. The defence of Mentz, formerly entrusted to the troops of the house of Brandenburg, had now devolved upon the emperor, who was pleased to select Marshal Clairfayt, as the most able officer, to whom the command of the troops collected for that purpose could be confided. Though towards the termination of the last campaign, this general had been driven across the Rhine, yet, undismayed, he returned to the charge; and having gallantly attacked and routed the French, who were posted upon the heights of Mornbach, on the 7th of May, he and his troops occupied that advantageous position.

In the month of October, however, Germany was menaced with a new invasion, and Mentz with a new siege, by Generals Jourdan and Pichegru. A considerable time having elapsed in preparation, a large portion of the army of the Sambre and Meuse suddenly crossed the Rhine, October 6, in the neighbourhood of Dusseldorff, which city was immediately summoned to surrender. It was taken by assault, but not before the Austrians had fortunately retreated. The duchy of Berg was also over-run; and the imperial army retiring on every side, a large quantity of ammunition and artillery fell into the hands of the invaders, who again invested Mentz.

When Pichegru had received intelligence of this success, he immediately crossed the Rhine with his army, and advancing against Manheim, obtained possession of that city, but with such astonishing facility, that it was evident, from the strength of the place, that the inhabitants had been seduced. Hereupon General Wurmser, who was advancing by rapid marches to the relief of Manheim, in vain endeavoured to form a junction with Marshal Clairfayt, having been overtaken and defeated by a detachment of the army of the Rhine and Moselle. The imperial arms, notwithstanding this sudden reverse, recovered their good fortune; for having soon after surprised and overcome their enemy, they boasted of superior adyantages.

As Pichegru was now no longer capable of assisting his colleague, Jourdan was under the necessity of raising the siege of Mentz, and retreating before the victorious Austrians to Dusseldorff, when he repassed the Rhine. In the mean time, Pichegru fell back upon Manheim; and, after leaving a considerable garrison in that place, and sustaining several sanguinary attacks, he was also very happy to cross that river, and effect his escape.

On the 29th of October, Major Clairfayt, having appeared before Mentz, attacked and carried the entrenched camp, which, by the assiduous labours of eleven months, the French had endeavoured to render impregnable. On the retreat of Jourdan, General Schaal occupied this strong position with fifty-two battalions of infantry and five regiments of cavalry. He was, however, obliged to retire, and leave in the possession of the assailants 260 pieces of cannon and 200 ammunition waggons. They also took about 2000 prisoners, among whom were two generals.

Notwithstanding the garrison of Manheim consisted of about 9000 men, it made an ineffectual resistance. On November 23, the imperialists obtained possession of an entrenched hill, called the Gulyenberg, by assault, as well as Necker fort; but though they were driven from the latter, such was their obstinate perseverance and unabating ardor, that this important city was at length obliged to capitulate after a long siege.

Öther disasters the French army were also obliged to encounter. Marshal Clairfayt and General Wurmser had crossed the Rhine in pursuit of them: and having formed a junction, they resumed possession of the Palatinate, and not only retook many of the acquisitions of the French, but even threatened to recover Luxemburg.Hereupon, Pichegru and Jourdan, having received the necessary reinforcements, marched to encounter the victorious foe. Pichegru carried the town of Kreutznach twice by storm, in the course of one day, December 1; but he was obliged to evacuate it soon after; while Jourdan, equally unsuccessful, was repulsed on the 20th of December, in an attack upon Kayserlautern, in which he lost 2000 men.

The

The severity of the weather, and an unexpected armistice of three months, put an end to this campaign, the close of which was far different from its commencement, and indeed from what might have been predicted, in consequence of the superior numbers of the French forces. troops of the house of Austria, who were now entirely destitute of the support of the Prussians, with whom they had been formerly united, conducted themselves with exemplary skill and uncommon bravery. The Field-marshals Clairfayt and Wurmser added greatly to their former reputation; and the generals Boros, Kray, and Haddick, displayed the most promising talents.

The reputation of the French generals, Pichegru and Jourdan, experienced a sudden diminution, in consequence of the losses they had sustained; and these generals, which is so frequently the case on such occasions, endeavoured to attach the blame to each other, and by these means became inveterate enemies.

The peace with Spain had produced a considerable effect on the military operations in Italy.

As soon as the court of Spain agreed to the termination of hostilities, the French troops, which had crossed the Pyrenées in search of conquests, soon found their way to the Appenines; and Kellermann became possessed of all the summits of the Alps, from the lake of Geneva to the county of Nice. For some time, however, the war was defensive in this quarter; and while the Austrians entrenched themselves at Borghetto and Albenga, the French strengthened their position at Dego, neither of the armies paying any attention to the neutrality of Genoa, the territories of which were occasionally invaded and occupied by both. This is the more remarkable, when we consider that the war was ostensibly undertaken on one side in defence of religion and monarchy, and on the other in behalf of the liberties of mankind. It seems, however, that neither party, when it suited its interests, paid the least respect to the rights of independent nations.

In the mean time, General de Vins, who had again assumed the direction of the Austro-Sardinian army, extended his redoubts along Mount Balin, which commands Savona and Vado, for the purpose of securing a retreat, in case he should be pressed with superior forces, and also with the view of keeping up the communication with Alexandria and Savona, whence he drew his supplies.

In consequence of the capture of all neutral vessels laden with corn in the Mediterranean, the army of Italy was at length reduced by famine; and a council of war having been held at Albenga, Oct. 26, it was determined to attack the imperialists throughout the whole extent of their line, with a view of chasing them from the dominions of Genoa, and obtaining a supply of provisions. Several partial engagements accordingly took place, in one of which the generals Augereau and Chastel drove the Austrians from Campo di

1795.

Pietra, with the loss of 500 prisoners. They were BOOK II. again attacked, November 16, by General Scherer in the valley of Loano; and, on the 22d, after CHAP. III. a battle which lasted from six o'clock in the morning until five in the afternoon, the imperialists were obliged to retreat to Garesio, with the loss of 8000, who were either killed or made prisoners. This action being renewed at break of day, Nov. 24, the Austro-Sardinians retreated towards Savona and Bagniano. De Vins, in this state of embarrasment, summoned the senate of Genoa to surrender the fortress of Savona, which was refused; and not being able to obtain possession of the place by force, the allies were obliged to pass the defiles of the Bochetta, and retire towards Acqui. Hereupon the French took possession of Pietra, Loano, Finale, and Vado, as well as of the immense magazines which the Austrians had collected at Savona. By means of this success, the barriers of the Pyrenées were completely laid open to the invaders.

The excesses, however, which accompanied their triumphs, soon reduced the republican army to a state of complete anarchy. In the mean time, the emperor, by his recent successes on the Rhine, was enabled to detach a body of 25,000 men into Italy, who fortified a position on the back of the Appenines; while the court of Turin, fully aware of its critical situation, sent a reinforcement of 6000 troops to General Colli, who commanded the Sardinian army. These circumstances added to their disorganization, and stopped for the present the career of the French.

The allies, however, were prevented from accomplishing any important enterprise, by the rigor of the season, the mountains being at this time covered with snow; and the fate of Italy was consequently postponed..

THE French government, under pretence of bad faith, having refused to advance the sum stipulated in the late treaty with the chiefs of La Vendée, as mentioned in a former chapter, another civil war broke out, and orders were issued to arrest several of the principal insurgents. Clermont, who had been permitted to traverse the departments lately in commotion, with a view of

preventing further hostilities, was seized in the act of distributing forged assignats. Tintinac de la Bossiére was also taken prisoner, when about to repair to Jersey. Cormartin was stopped, and likewise imprisoned, under the accusation of spending the money advanced to him in recruiting a new army. Charette, of whom the Freuch government was particularly jealous, was likewise

BOOK II. surrounded with spies. Another correspondence between the Vendéan chiefs and the English CHAP. IV. ministry having been intercepted, hostilities were unavoidable.

1795.

On the 16th of June, a report was made to the convention relative to the critical situation of La Vendée; and on the 21st, a manifesto appeared on the part of the insurgents, which was published in form at the head-quarters of Charette and Stofflet.

An expedition to the coast of Brittany had in the mean time been meditated by the British government, for the purpose of attacking France in the most vulnerable point. A number of regiments were accordingly raised and embodied, consisting partly of the unhappy Toulonese, who had been forced to abandon their country, and partly of those who had retired from France at different periods. As the number of volunteers for this desperate undertaking was insufficient, a multitude of prisoners were recruited from the gaols, a measure which had nearly proved fatal, as some of the troops exhibited a spirit of mutiny immediately after they sailed.

The youthful but promising Count de Sombreuil, who, by an extraordinary degree of courage, had lately obtained a military decoration from the King of Prussia; and the Count d'Hervilly, a general anterior to the abolition of monarchy, were prevailed upon to engage in this expedition. The chief command, however, was given to M. de Puisaye, formerly adjutant-general to Wimpffen, who possessed considerable influence among the Chouans, having formerly been one of their leaders. On this account he was chosen to direct this important enterprise; but, unfortunately, he was destitute both of military talents and of the confidence of the troops.

This little army, consisting principally of the regiments of Hector, Hervilly, Dudrenuc, RoyaleMarine, Royale-Louis, Loyal-Emigrant, and Royale-Artillerie, was embarked in transports, under the convoy of a small squadron, commanded by Sir John Borlase Warren. After being sixteen days at sea, the fleet arrived at the place of destination, and anchored in the bay of Quiberon on the 4th of July. During the night the debarkation of the main body of the troops was effected, under the orders of General d'Hervilly; and on the succeeding days the remainder landed, together with an immense quantity of muskets, uniforms, provisions, ammunition, and five pieces of cannon. In order to gratify the royalists, homilies, benedictions, and titles of nobility, were liberally recurred to: a quantity of assignats was also provided; and it is worthy of remark, that this paper money could not be termed forged, as it was entirely different from that issued under the authority of the French government.

The republicans having been obliged to eva

cuate Auray and Vannes, the invaders took pos session of those places, and extended their cantonments. As their position, however, could not be maintained without Fort Penthievre, which had recently received the appellation of Fort Sans-Culottes, it was attacked on the 2d of July, by means of three frigates on one side, while the emigrants presented themselves on the other with four pieces of artillery. The garrison, consisting of 400 men, capitulated to the English, after a resistance of two days.

Soon after, the royalists became masters of the whole peninsula, and also of the entrenched camp of Carnac, the inhabitants of which were quickly. joined by a body of Chouans. M. de Puisaye established his head-quarters at the village of Geneve; and having armed and clothed such of the peasantry as volunteered, under the title of Lieutenant-general of the King's armies, and commander-in-chief of the catholic and royal army of Brittany," he invited every description of Frenchmen to rally round his standard, by the publication of the following proclamation:

66

"Ye brave inhabitants of La Vendée, the admiration of Europe, and the envy of France; the moment is arrived to reap the fruits of your heroic toils. The illustrious shades of Bonchamp, L'Escure, La Roche Jacqueline, and as many other heroes as were your guides and friends, are hovering around you! The associates and inheritors of their glory, Charette, Stofflet, Sapineau, and all your intrepid leaders, will accomplish this great work, which they have begun and conducted with so much constancy and courage. We bring you ammunition, arms, and the assistance which a protecting power, that does not confine itself to a bare admiration of your fortitude, condescends to grant you.

"Ye loyal inhabitants of Brittany, who have honored me with your confidence, you now see that it has not been violated. The British government, roused by your perseverance and misfortunes, has granted your request. An army, entirely composed of French troops, comes to second your endeavours; and I bring you all the succours you have demanded. His Britannic majesty, forced to repel the aggressions of your tyrants, and to assert the respect due to his crown, has, nevertheless, graciously received your fellowcitizens, and the persecuted ministers of your religion, whom he now restores to your wishes. This is the only answer worthy of his majesty to the ambitious and destructive plans which your foes have imputed to his generous intentions. French officers and soldiers, who, like yourselves, for these four years past have fought for their king, now hasten to rejoin you; and your princes intend to place themselves at the head of your invincible columns."

As soon as the intelligence of these events

reached Paris, the national convention immediately selected two deputies, Blad, and Tallien, whom they dispatched to Brittany. While these stimulated the neighbouring departments, Hoche assembled troops; and having left Cherin, whom he had placed at the head of his staff, at Rennes, in order to furnish him with occasional supplies of ammunition, artillery, and provisions, he immediately proceeded to Auray to watch the enemy's motions. Conscious that he was at present incapable of opposing so formidable a force, he allowed the emigrants to remain in quiet possession of the fort of Quiberon, as well as of the peninsula, and remained a patient spectator of their progress. This commander-in-chief excused his inactive state, by declaring, that it was his inten⚫tion to shut up the enemy like so many rats in a trap!

When the general had collected a sufficient army, he forced the emigrants to withdraw to the camp of Kousten, under protection of the fort of Penthievre, July 10, while he himself remained at the village of Sainte-Barbe, and entrusted General Lemoine with the erection of the batteries intended to encompass the invading army. These preparations naturally alarmed the chiefs of the royalists, who immediately saw the necessity of raising the blockade, in order to keep up a communication with the disaffected in the interior parts of the country; and were therefore resolved, early on the following day, to assault the republican lines. On the preceding evening, how ever, July 15, intelligence of this important design was communicated by no less than four deserters; and preparations were accordingly made to counteract the enemy's operations. General Humbert, therefore, on the approach of their columns, agreeable to his orders, fell back; and the assailants were not only exposed to a severe fire of grape shot from two covered batteries in front, but also to a charge of infantry and cavalry on both their flanks. By this unexpected reception, the emigrants were entirely disconcerted; and about 300, with a number of nobles, including the Count de Talmont, were left dead on the field of battle. General d'Hervilly, who commanded on this occasion, was desperately wounded; and the republicans obtained possession of three pieces of Had it not been for the timely protection of five English boats, the victors would have accompanied the fugitives into Fort Penthievre.

cannon.

By this time the French commander-in-chief had a formidable force, consisting of the national guards of Brest and all the adjoining towns, in addition to a powerful reinforcement of regular troops. Thus the republicans were increasing, while the royalists were diminishing: and as the latter were penned up within the peninsula, Hoche determined to leave the lines hitherto occupied by his army, and oppose the invaders. It being

1795.

however necessary first to obtain possession of BOOK II. Fort Penthievre, he resolved to attack that place; and, notwithstanding all the engineers in his army CHAP. IV. were of opinion that it could only be reduced by regular approaches, Hoche was determined to carry it by assault. He was certainly encouraged to make this bold attempt by the number of deserters, who not only made him acquainted, from time to time, with all the movements in the royalists camp, but even undertook the task of conducting the republican troops to the fort, and obtaining its surrender.

The entrenched camp at length was forced, and while numbers of the royal army joined that of Hoche's, and protested their inviolable attachment to the republican cause, the remainder retired to a rock, where they had posted a piece of cannon, and defended themselves with the greatest intrepidity. As some of their chiefs, however, seized this opportunity of effecting their escape on board the boats which were sent to their assistance; and as the fire of the republicans was exceedingly fierce, these unhappy men, now reduced to the deplorable alternative of perishing by the swords of their enemy or the waves of the sea, were obliged to surrender at discretion.

Such was the melancholy fate of this unfortu nate expedition to the coast of France. About 700 of the emigrants perished at the foot of the rock, where they had taken shelter, called Le Rocher de Portignes; about 2000 were saved by the boats of the fleet; of those who surrendered, such as were not noble obtained their freedom after some time; and all the women and children of the Chouans were immediately liberated. This was the boast of those historians who defended the proceedings of France at this period; but on an impartial review, we must deem it more policy than humanity: it is evident, from what followed, that humanity was entirely abolished. The Bishop of Dol, and fourteen of his clergy, were devoted to immediate death, which they met with the most exemplary resignation. M. de Broglie, and several others of birth, to the amount of about 300, were tried by a military tribunal, consisting of a lieutenant-colonel, a captain, serjeant, corporal, and private; and being, as usual, condemned, suffered upon this occasion. The fate of Count Charles de Sombreuil, who had embarked in the expedition from sentiments of honor, and conducted himself in a gallant and disinterested manner, from the beginning to the end, was deeply lamented by all Europe. In a letter which this unfortunate youth addressed to Sir J. B. Warren, on the 28th of June, he said:

"A number of vessels which remained on the

coast, might have afforded me the disgraceful retreat which M. de Puisaye so vigilantly seized; but the dereliction of my companions in arms would have been far more shocking to me than

1796.

BOOK II. the lot which awaits me. I am bold to say, I deserved a better fate; and this you will acknowCHAP. IV. ledge, together with all those who know me, if chance will ever permit any of the companions of my misfortune to reveal to the world the mysteries of this fatal, this unexampled day.-Farewell: I bid you farewell with that calmness which can alone result from purity of conscience."

In Fort Penthievre and the peninsula were found 70,000 muskets, 150,000 pair of shoes, and all the artillery landed from the fleet. The beach of Quiberon was covered with wines, liquors, provisions, and stores of all sorts; and a regiment of infantry, taking advantage of the general confusion, is reported to have obtained possession of a number of vessels laden with flour, rice, and provisions.

The British squadron having remained some time on the coast, occupied the attention of the republican army. Several partial descents were attempted from time to time; and it was at length determined to seize on Noirmoutier, formerly the haunt of Charette and his followers. As this island was found to be too well guarded, the isle of Dieu, though considerably smaller in extent, was taken possession of instead, by the royalists, and converted into a place of arms; whereby the Chouans might be occasionally succoured: while the British cruizers, by hovering in the neighbourhood, kept the adjacent coast in continual alarm, and intercepted all communication by sea. The ardor of the insurgents, however, was cooled by reiterated defeats.

As Sapineau had recurred to arms, General Willot was sent, with a column of 1800 men, into the districts occupied by his adherents, with orders to seize on the grain and oxen of the inhabitants, and not to restore the latter until they had deposited their arms in the public magazines. Another body of troops proceeded in search of Stofflet, who still headed a small band of determined followers; but, unable any longer to cope with the republican forces in the open field, he lurked in the woods, and was forced to recur to the habits of his early life, by sometimes firing upon his prey from behind trees and hedges, and at other times encouraging his adherents in the pursuit and murder of occasional wanderers. The conduct of Charette, however, was more cautious; for he remained secreted with a few faithful companions, and made war more like a freebooter than a general. In short, it was apparent In short, it was apparent that these chiefs had lost all their influence, and that the Vendéan insurrection was near a termination.

The two principal leaders at length fell into the hands of their enemies. Stofflet, being deStofflet, being desirous to place himself at the head of a formidable party, left the haunts where he had so long re

mained in security, and ventured into the neighbouring towns. Being indefatigable in his exertions, he repaired from place to place, endeavouring to stimulate the now luke-warm spirit of a people which had been heretofore burning with zeal. In one of these excursions he unfortunately repaired to the village of Langreriere, with only one domestic and a couple of aide-de-camps. Intelligence of his arrival having reached Lontil and Liegard, two republican officers, they immediately hastened thither, at the head of a small body of infantry and cavalry; and, having secured all the avenues, suddenly entered the apartment, and seized one of the most powerful of the Vendéan chiefs, who, in the course of two years, had fought no less than 150 actions; in more than a hundred of which he had proved victorious. His execution immediately followed.

Still the bold and crafty Charette eluded the vigilance, and defied the menaces, of his enemies. Although no longer able to appear at the head of a formidable army, and raise a whole department in his defence, he yet continued to sustain a petty warfare. At this time his troops did not exceed 1000 infantry and 300 cavalry; but with these he acted constantly on the offensive; and, after a defeat, still found means to escape, and carry on the war anew, by rallying the wreck of his troops at twenty or thirty miles distance from the field of battle. As he knew some of the priests were in the pay of the government, he distrusted them all, and at length became so suspicious, that he confided his secrets to a few female favorites alone, who are said to have encouraged a temper naturally sanguinary to fresh excesses. At times, however, he pretended to negociate with the generals, and actually offered to accept of terms; but he refused the proposition of being exiled to Switzerland, or conveyed to Jersey; and disdainfully replied, "that all the fleets and vessels of the republic were not sufficient to transport the brave royalists under his command."

This hero having at length retired into the recesses of the forests of Machicoul and Prinée, he wandered with a few fugitives along the margin of Grand Lieu, and seldom left his retreat but when imperious necessity obliged him. Three small moveable columns of cavalry were sent thither in pursuit of him; and, as it was well known that he possessed about 6000 louis-d'ors in gold, this booty was promised as a reward to the person who should take him. The pursuit, at length, became so hot, that his mistress was seized, and a trunk, containing his correspondence, fell about the same time into the hands of his enemies. Soon after this, Moelle, one of his generals of division, was killed; and Caillue, another, wounded and taken prisoner, after a disastrous skirmish, at the close of which the brave