Fighting the French Revolution- the Great Vendee Rising of 1793 Read online

  Légion-de-Rosenthal

  Formed in September 1792, this légion comprised 237 chasseurs-à-pied formed into three companies and 75 horse in two companies, later increased to 300 foot and 400 horse.24 They arrived in April and their ‘deplorable indiscipline’ was noted by Representative Carra.25 In June the cavalry became the 19th Chasseurs-à-Cheval. Their uniform was green with straight-cut facings, white breeches and a tarleton helmet.

  Légion-des-Ardennes

  Fifty chasseurs-à-pied from this légion accompanied Westermann in late June.26

  Légion-Nantaise

  This légion was created by the Girondist Deputy, Coustard-de-Massy, on 7 June 1793. It comprised two battalions, each roughly 1,000 strong, and some cavalry and artillery. They first went into action on 20 June.27

  Légion-des-Alpes

  Sent to the region in April, the cavalry are shown in bicornes and a sky blue long-tailed jacket with red piping, collar and pointed cuffs; their trousers are variously shown as buff or sky blue, piped yellow.28

  Légion-des-Francs

  This légion was formed by merging several volunteer companies during the Siege of Mayence, to which was added a squadron of chasseurs-à-cheval. On arrival in the Vendée they totalled 120 horse and 399 foot. They are shown wearing a green jacket with white lapels (piped-red) and red collar, cuffs and turnbacks, although were probably quite varied in appearance.

  Compagnies-Franches

  The many independent free companies generally dressed in green or blue light infantry-style uniforms and many appear in army returns. The Toulouse Company was praised for its contribution during the First Battle at Fontenay, whereas the Volunteers of Barbézieux were troublesome to General Boulard.

  Paris Battalions

  Twelve battalions were raised to fight in the Vendée in May and June, comprising the Second Formation of Paris Battalions numbered 1st to 7th, 7-bis, 8th, 8-bis, 9th and 10th and often known by title and not number (for example the 5th being the Batallion-de-l’Unité). Many were over 800 strong, supported by battalion guns. They had a reputation for indiscipline, although Boulard did manage to turn some into good soldiers.

  ‘The heroes of 500 Livres’

  The infamous ‘heroes of 500 livres’ (the bounty paid on signing up) were raised by the sans-culotte General Santerre specifically to fight in the Vendée. They were (at least in part) distinguishable by their unusual uniform which comprised a brown jacket and Breton style double-breasted buff veste, red lapels, pointed cuffs and turnbacks, and buff breeches and collar.

  Although the battalions were strong their reputation was dreadful. Among them were the 9th Paris ‘Réunion’; 4th Paris ‘2nd des Gauvilliers’; 8-bis Paris ‘Faubourg St-Antoine’; and 7th Paris ‘Mont Conseil’; all forming Santerre’s Brigade in June. They are easily confused with battalions from the Second Formation due to the repetition of battalion numbers and titles.

  In addition to these two levies, Paris furnished several other battalions, three companies of chasseurs-à-pied, and fifteen companies of gunners.

  The Orléans Battalions

  Fourteen battalions were formed at Orléans in June, specifically to fight in the Vendée, by mixing new recruits with line troops and experienced volunteer companies; including fifty-four men for each battalion sent from the Army of the North. Formed of five companies from line and four companies from volunteer regiments they would have worn a mixture of white and blue jackets.

  The Fédérés-Nationaux

  A few fédérés battalions are mentioned in the Vendée, notably the Half-Battalion Finistère with Leygonier in April.

  Pioneer Companies

  In July the Army of the Brest Coast formed nine pioneer companies, each fifty-four strong, who helped construct defences and made moving through the difficult terrain easier.29

  The Conscripts of the ‘Levée-en-Masse’

  Carnot’s ‘Levée-en-Masse’ resulted in tens of thousands of largely unarmed, untrained and poorly clothed peasants gathering in towns on the periphery of the Vendée. They were dressed as civilians and most were armed with pikes or farmyard implements. They were universally considered a liability and were gradually merged into existing units.

  Volunteer Cavalry

  A diverse array of volunteer cavalry units featured, rarely over squadron strength, and referred to as chasseurs, hussars or dragoons. Excluding those connected to the Légions, two of the more famous were:

  Hussards-Américains

  This unit was raised from freed black slaves and was officially known as the 13-bis Chasseurs. Totalling eighty-four men they were deployed in the Vendée by order of 13 May and later became a familiar sight as an escort to Representative Carrier. They wore a sky blue chasseur-style uniform with white lace, red collar, pointed-cuffs, shoulder straps and turnbacks (all piped-white), and sky blue saddlecloth piped red, white and blue. They also wore a hussar style busby.

  Hussards-de-la-Mort

  Only a handful of these hussars appeared in the Vendée, merged with other units, and their contribution is often exaggerated in histories of the War. They had once formed part of the famous black-uniformed hussars who fought on the northern front.30

  Volunteer cavalry were gradually absorbed into regular regiments. For example, the Hussards-de-la-Mort, Hussards-de-l’Égalité, Chasseurs-de-Rosenthal and Hussards-de-la-Légion-des-Alpes became the 14th Chasseurs-à-Cheval.

  The Artillery

  The great majority of artillery comprised 4pdr battalion guns, officially two to each battalion. There were a few small artillery parks with heavier guns, although rarely a howitzer. Plenty of ordnance of widely varying calibre and age was pressed into service.

  The ‘artillery-volante’ (a trial form of horse artillery) was utilised to good effect, but only a few such batteries are mentioned in the War.

  Heavy artillery in fixed positions defended key bases such as Les Sables d’Olonne, Granville or Nantes.

  Artillery trains were managed by civilian contractors who, as will be seen, frequently fled when under threat.

  Gunboats

  On 2 May General Menou asked for gunboats to keep the Loire under Republican control.31 Some prevented rebels recrossing the Loire in December.

  The Navy

  Naval vessels supplied republican garrisons along the coast, and on at least two occasions became embroiled in combat. Naval gunners helped man Les Sables d’Olonne’s cannon.

  Representatives of the People and Political Commissaires

  In addition to the elected representatives sent by the National Convention and attached to the armies fighting in the Vendée, there were many others who appeared in the region for whole or part of the war: inspecting the coastal defences; ensuring ports were secure; checking on the political situation in key towns; watching ‘suspect’ generals, representatives and troops; raising recruits; reporting on the War’s progress, or in their Departments where they would become embroiled in events and remain to stiffen resolve.

  While some representatives were a hindrance, others developed effective working relationships with the generals. Some were even in the forefront of battle; Merlin de Thionville was noted for his bravery.

  In June a Central Commission was established in Saumur through which a group of representatives was tasked with ending the war and ‘assisting’ the generals in directing operations, ensuring supplies, and helping to reorganise the Army of the La Rochelle Coast. This was renewed when that army was forced back to Tours and became particularly unpleasant when the Hébértists effectively took over its functions.

  Representative Carrier made interesting observations on some of the generals which indicate that some were respected, even by this notorious Hébértist (some of their biographies can be seen in Appendix 1):

  ‘General Chalbos is a brave patriot; he has military talent but I find in him a prudence that is too sluggish for the Vendéen War… Marceau, Canuel, Muller, are ardent revolutionaries, pronounced and principled republicans, cour
ageous, talented soldiers. What a pity that these Children of the Revolution should not have a thorough knowledge of military tactics and plans of campaign!’

  Of Kléber he wrote:

  ‘In battle he shows unequalled coolness and courage. He is the general who has the greatest military knowledge in the Army of the West, of Brest, and perhaps of all the republican armies. Plans of campaign, arrangements of an army, orders of march, he knows everything perfectly. He has the frankness, the speech, the habits, the sans-culottism of a true republican; the only defect that I can see in him is that he is a little too severe on fighting days.’

  Taking a selection of others he wrote:

  Vimeux ‘is an old soldier who deserves the greatest esteem, an excellent patriot without Kléber’s knowledge.’

  Haxo ‘has the coolness and bravery of Kléber without his military knowledge.’

  ‘Beaupuy is a ci-devant; but what a good and brave general! He has always led the vanguard.’

  Marigny ‘is a brave bastard often in the thick of action. Speaking seldom, always on duty, he executed his orders punctually and precisely.’

  ‘The brave Rossignol…can carry out movements very well in a given plan of attack or defence, but it must be acknowledged that he has no talent or initiative.’

  ‘L’Échélle had no military talent, but what a fine republican he was! What an excellent sans-culotte!’

  Of the Army of Mayence he noted that ‘those who slander it are great scoundrels and conspirators…our successes are due to them…they profess the most pronounced and burning republicanism.’32

  Commissaires were appointed directly by the Convention (some being representatives) and were often agents of either the CPS or the Paris Commune (which effectively ran the War Ministry for much of 1793). They were spying on everyone.

  Perhaps the most infamous of these commissaires were the group who arrived in June, grandly entitled ‘National Commissaires of the Executive Council’. Ronsin, ‘Assistant to the Minister of War’, was at their head, assisted by other unsavoury characters such as Momoro and Grammont. As the summer progressed some were appointed to senior military commands and assisted with the purge of ci-devant officers.

  Military Depots

  The war drew in tens of thousands of men and to train, arm, and equip them the Republic established a number of military depots of which the principal were La Rochelle, Niort, Tours, Orléans and Rennes. Troops and supplies were constantly moving to and from these depots and many thousands of wounded were evacuated to their hospitals.

  The Treatment of Prisoners

  The frequent references to the use of the guillotine is a reminder that rebels were to be shown no mercy and the infamous drownings in the Loire, primarily instigated by Representative Carrier, were to begin later in the year. There are instances of some women and children who escaped butchery, but on the whole to be captured as a rebel resulted in death.

  The ‘Amalgame’

  Decrees of 26 February and 12 August ordered line and volunteer regiments to be merged at a ratio of one line to two volunteer battalions, renamed demi-brigades (theoretically designed to strengthen the resilience of the volunteers by adding a line unit). The ‘Amalgame’ only commenced in the Vendée in the late summer and the above ratio was not always applied.

  Chapter 3

  ‘For God and the King’:

  The Catholic and Royal Armies

  During the Spring two principal armies developed, with a third group of smaller armies towards the coast: By far the largest army, formed in the north and east of the region, was soon referred to as the Army of Anjou and Haut-Poitou (Armée-d’Anjou et Haut-Poitou) and subsequently the Grand Army Catholic and Royal (Grande-Armée Catholique-et-Royale). The Army of the Centre (Armée-du-Centre) recruited from the central and southern part of the region, and the many smaller armies near the coast and towards Nantes, would loosely be entitled the Army of the Pays-de-Retz and Bas-Poitou (Armée du Pays-de-Retz et Bas-Poitou) but as they often fought independently they commonly used more localised names.

  Calling the Men to Arms

  As peasant armies, the organisation was largely determined by the requirements of the peasants themselves: this meant that they would be called on to meet an immediate threat, or attain an agreed objective, then disperse back to their farms or trades until the next crisis threatened. With the exception of the winter campaign north of the Loire, when their retreat was cut off, the rebels could rarely be held together for more than a week at a time and were reluctant to go far from home, primarily regarding this as a war of defence.

  Among the many ways of calling the men to arms the rebels used messengers, sounded the tocsin, and even set the sails of windmills as specific angles to alert locals to the proximity of a threat. When called to arms the peasants would gather in companies under parish captains at prearranged locations (often the parish church or town square). The companies would then merge to form divisions at larger muster points. Each peasant would take a few days’ provisions, often carried in a canvas bag thrown over the shoulder.

  Some women (most famously Renée Bordereau) and young teenagers fought in the Vendéen ranks and occasionally acted as spies or messengers.

  Normally only half of a parish quota would gather so that the rest could continue farming. Only in dire emergences, such as during September and October, would all be summoned.

  The officers were selected from all ranks of society and (with a few exceptions) their personal bravery and leadership qualities determined whether their appointment would be sustained. The most senior leaders included the peasant trader, Cathelineau; the retired colonel, Royrand; former junior army officers, D’Élbée and Bonchamps; the naval lieutenant, Charette, and the gamekeeper, Stofflet. Henri de la Rochejaquelein and the Prince de Talmont are representative of the small number from the higher nobility.

  The Organisation of the Armies

  There were, as noted above, only two principal units of organisation for the infantry: the parish companies and the divisions. No intermediate level of organisation existed, although varying numbers of companies might be grouped together for specific tasks before each engagement.

  The Parish Companies

  These companies varied in strength (although 50-100 seems average) and were led by elected parish captains supported by lieutenants, sergeants and corporals. Drummers or men with hunting horns were often attached. Populous parishes might raise several companies, and responsibility for assembling them rested with local committees led by a person of note, but never a noble.1

  There is evidence for a degree of coercion with regard to less-than-willing locals, although occasional indiscriminate killing by republican troops left many with no option but to join the Vendéens. The armed troops would generally rely on stolen republican ammunition, but did manufacture some cartridges.

  The Divisions

  There was some variation in the structure of the twenty or so divisions, but they would be commanded by a general, supported by majors, ADCs, and officers with ranks such as lieutenant-general, adjudant-de-division, aide-major, and major-assistant. Other titles mentioned included commanders of outposts and parish messengers.2

  A single division could muster anything from 1,000 to 10,000 men. Bonchamps’ division was generally considered to be the most well organised and disciplined and benefitted from additional recruits from north of the Loire which may have added as many as 3-4,000 to his base of 7-8,000 men.3

  Each division formed small bodies of permanent or elite companies from their best marksmen (generally called chasseurs or tirailleurs). In battle these companies often merged together to form the elite of the army.

  The rebels also formed bodies of sappers and even had engineers in their ranks.4

  Regular Companies

  Sources generally agree that there were three ‘regular’ companies: the Compagnie-Francaise, the Compagnie-Suisse, and the Compagnie-Allemandes: each of about 120 to 200 troops (although their strength f
luctuated). They were kept on a permanent footing and D’Élbée formalised their organisation in July.

  The Compagnie-Francaise (French Company) was formed from non-Vendéen French under Joseph de Fay, formerly captain in the Régiment-de-Picardie, who joined the rebels after Saumur. He was ill for most of August and September but fought at Châtillon, Cholet and throughout the campaign north of the Loire, escaping after the battle of Savenay to join the Chouans.5

  The Compagnie-Suisse (Swiss Company) was formed from Swiss and German deserters under Baron Keller and included a number of former Swiss Guards.

  The Compagnie-Allemands (German Company) was formed mainly from German speaking deserters. Like the Compagnie-Suisse many may have come from the Légion-de-la-Fraternité. When not on campaign they often served as guards to the rebel arsenal. They were commanded by either Pivickeuham or Verdraz.6

  By late summer the Swiss and German Companies numbered around 600 men. They had no distinctive uniform and dressed like the peasants.7