The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-11-11
THE WAR OLA vENDEE.

y
II ,,ra from the French. entitled, Memoirs q
liz .uarchionesS De B0nehamps, on In en-
L.. The Marchioness de Bonchamps is wi
I5,w Of the celebrated chief who fell in tn
J. ar Of La V.ndee and with the assistanc
L. Madame DE GeniS. she has put togethe
Her remembrance of that war, and nf he
Lawn personal surering4. The resignation
IaI pety which this extraordinary wumal
lsplayed in her misfnrtunes, are, perhaps
I,eyond all precedent.
/ u the many affecting situations in which
Iudame de Bonchamps WAS placed, per.
II FPS that described IN the slbjoined ex
kact i the most striking
As WAS in great want Of sleep, ! threw
kny.rlf, dressed, upon the bed, and slept
nfoundly. | was abruptly reused at Eve
clock by the mistress nf the house, who
me in haste to tell the that the Blnes were
/ 1mlng into these parts. ! had only time
save myself, with my two children and
Il slrl who followed ~, in order to reach
he village Of ST. Herbelon. The distance
artween that village and Ancenis is hardly
i ur leagues but although we set off al 5
clock IN the evening, we only reached St
4 lerbeioa at six in the morning. II is true
were on foot, and that | carried Her
! pence ON my back, and my servant carried
~ daughter. We often saw tffc Blues at
stance, and then &e were obliged to go
hlck | am convinced that in this flight we
dked sly ar seven leagues. Having
t.ached ST. Herbclon, after having been
Exposed to Thousand dangers, We were
! L.. 81.
lay burning fever obliged US all three to
" put to bed My daughter and myself
d nnd our bodies covered with puslules, it
" - the small pox. The symptoms were
Dry mild in my little girl and myself, but
vi llermenee the eruption was imperfect,
aed in that monent he gave the most heart
reading anxiety.
" We were not yet recovered from this
rrishtfu malady, when some neighbors
ca me 10 tell the farmer with whom Ne
oIgtd, that if he had Vendeans concealed
with him, he ought 10 send them away with
uilt delay, to avoid the destruction of his
hpusc by IA detachment of Blues who were
approaching. The farmer led us, in this
Extremity, TO barn, open TO every blast,
nd there laid ns Under the straw. We re-
n ined there all night. An excessive cold. |
iined to all that Herminee had suffered at
h. passage of the Loire, completely threw |
llck the eruption, the small poX, and the |
rrxt day this dear child expired in my bo-
un, know not what would have become
b me in this horrible situation without re-
Ision, which is all sufficient and all supper
lns. saw this beloved child in Heaven.
nd Ionly wept for myself. wrapped
b. in large white handkerchief, and I
h ID him dead in my arms for forty-eght
h'urs, unwilling 10 part with IN. body tn |
rpIld deposit II in consecratcd ground. At
Ensth found the means of having him Sc
retly buried III the church yard of St. Her
/ lon. This cruel event having led 10 the dis
nvory tn we were sheltered in this barn,
b. were obliged to leave il. a good man of
u village, named Drounceu, came To take
b away, and he conducted us, lmy daugh-
b. aud my5elf,l to the house OF one of his
Ehtons at HArdoulIl.re, about half
AZ - from Herbeon. We were yet COW
I'D with suaA pox. agreed To part from
1y faithful serv ant but | had the censo-
'ton of thinking, that, being no longer
nth us, she had ceased to incur any indts,-
|udl danger.
The republicans having come from
tntes to mike Il search about our new re-
rgc, we We're compelled, without delay, to
ed'e the house ; and were placed in the
pillow of tree, about twelve feet high
Ne climbed to this hiding place by means {
\ ladder, and we remained IN it three
Itys and three nights, having the small
box; | had, moreover, a gathering in the
pee, and Que IN the leg. Isuffered great
from these two sores, yet believe they
pntnbuted to sa'emy life, as they freely .
sfned oil all the huinors of disease.
The good peasant placed near us, in the S
pillow OF the tree, small pitcher of water /
Ind morsel of bread. After the moment I
! Joy which derived from the possibility I
! saving myself with my child, even in the g
iIlo" Of tree, who can express all that d
suffered in that situation ? But it was an .
? YUM, and IN that terrible hour it was II
very thing. Never did any one with more e
alslactlon and pleasure take possession of n
convenient and suitable apartment. But, .
forwards, what dark reflections came c
Iowdlng upon my mind. At the end of P
, hour found myself 80 fitigurd. by the
Onstralned attitude IN which was Obliged "
Remain in this narrow prison, and which II
could not change, that thought il would II
impossible ior me 10 close my eyes,
y daughter suffered les. than myself, be. Il
'uSr held her ON my knees, and sh. o
'l'd turn aboat,which she never did with 4
III rubbing my diseased knee; in these a
she Away. gave me extreme )
',n ) hut sustained from complaint. Il
spent indeed, horrible night and nv b
I''n'nas' as well as my bodily sufItrings, s
~ y ao' aIio" me m9menl Of reposp.- /
> uansnler Slept little but during her n
sue Continually groaned, and her wall p
- WIRING my heart, When she aw,.c |,
wa, was t" ask for drink. wa. myself de- 9
oa ". ny burning thirst, which dared Il
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