Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-03-30


ceived the order to repair to La Veudee-
to that La Vendee which so many recol-
lections rendered dwful. The danger ap.
,peared great, but did not consider it a.
bove my courage.-!Iithert0 l. had the
good fortune not to be engaged in civil
wars. j knew that the events of battle
were the least dangers to be incurred iu
such contests land that the hatred of which
commander becomes the object, poisops
the remainder Of his life, but ioas sou
der. and IL acas mr. dirty to obey.
fiattered myself that my moderation
would disarm those Twas summoned to
combat, or that the blood which might
be condemned to shed. Less than six
thousand men, decorated with the title of
an army, were consigned to me, to reduce
and keep down an immense population
In such situation, If moderation had not
been my wish, it would have been my po-
Icy. thoughtful proper to use general
menaces, to avid making particular VIC
tins; invested with great powers, made
no use of them, and never reverted to
them except to apply to be relieved from
them.
Ny first object was to endeavour, to a.
void shedding French blood. On the Sd
of'June. before passing the Loire,I wrote
to the Vendean Generals, I" L do not blush
to ask peace Of you, for in civil wars there
b ~ no glory except in terminating them -
After the only battle which was fought,
wrote to the minister of ware NV heart
is torn by the aspect of a felt of battle.
where only Frenehmen are seen. shall
pursue the Vendeans more by PROPOSE
flons than by my columns.
These propositions were accepted. A
war which could have no influence on the
destiny Of France, which was to be decid-
ed on greater theatre, was terminated
within a fortnight after the. passage of the
Loire, and at that event the heart OF your
majesty must have been consoied
Sire, men whose hopes are always dis
appointed by peace and who wish to exag-
gerate the Importance of the war may ca
illuminate me, but to them the whole popu-
lation fla Vendee will reply--sS He con-
Quoted the war with humanity. His army
lett no traces of devastation behind it,
our property was respected, our inilabi-
tants preserved, our temples reversible
sent back the prisoners. He took care of
the wounded--lfe spared us in battle.-
lie restored us to our agricultural labors."
In great political connections two dis
tinct descriptions of men always appear.
Those of the one kind, brave. ardent, GAL
liant and generous, rush into danger the
others cowardly and irresolute, wait until
the commotion is passed in order to ga
ther its fruits. appeal to the testimony
of the former; they will give me their suf-
frases, as they have meEted mine The
iatter,.who are condemned even in their
own country, may calnmu;ate me the
justice oil a good King cannot long be de-
ceived.
The war Of La Vendee is to me, Sire,
title OF glory; not only carried it on hu-
: manelySnd as II had read in futurity
that lshould one day have to render an ac-
count Oft to your Majesty ;but had the
courage to resist the authority under which
1 acted, when its commands were opposed
tom my principles and my conscience.
| was orderedto bIotr IN and destrou
the hoases Of the Vendeaa Chiefs. / DISC
beyed, and Ionly marched detachments to
protect them. | was directed TO SET a
price on the heads of NJ. nj. Ia Roche ia
queline, Sapinand, &c. and ( disobeyeti.
was to have destroyed the bells, and
to have.carried oifhostages--I refused.
was to have thrown, by arbitrary mea-
sures, the expense of the war on the No.
bles. This did not do.-The property
ofall was equally protected.
was directed to condemn and immed;.
ately shoot the chiefs ,ctich might fall into
my hands. / saved them. NJ. M. de CIV
raj, Dubouchet, &c. we're set at liberty
The only blood which flowed except in
battle was that of my own soldiers, WIN
were restrained by rigid discipline.
Sire, even exceeded the bounds of All
moderation. At the battle of La Roche
Cerviere, three hours after the FIRE had
ceased, NJ. lie Lasseaux, VendeaD, fired
double-barrelled carbine at my aid-de-
camp and me. According to the laws OF
war, lwas entitled to consider him as al
assassin. Irescued him from inv soldiers.
who wished to sacrifice him.. and he still
lives.
need your justice, sire, and must en-
tighten it. For the present and the future
! am willing to rely on my past life. am
ready to present 1t as my defence. and a.
my guarantee. Born of an ho;,orahIe f,r
mily, have derived froh, them some v;r-
tues. i fought under MOreau AT Eneer.
at Maeskifk, at Biberbach, at Hochsted
and at fIohenlinden. Not to mention
Austeilitz; Wagram, the perilous sieoe 81
Gseta, the Isle Of Capera, which | took
from brave and long prepared enemy.
It's of deeds Of arms less brilliant. 6u,
ayhich have mora roo,, a.: -. 81 y '