American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-01-13
THE WAR OF LA VENDEE.


assistance OF Madame de Genlis, she has put to
geiher her remembranees OF the war, and of he
own personal sufferings The resignation and pie
~ which this extraordinary woman displayed in be
rnisfor,unes are, perhaps, beyond all precedent.
OF the many affecting situations in which Ma
dame de Bonchamps was placed, perhaps that de
scrlbed in the subjoined extract is the most stri
king;
As was in great want of sleep, l threw M
self, dressed, upon the bed; and slept profoundly
was abruptly reused at FIVE o'clock by the mistres
of the house, who came in haste to tell me that thu
Blues we're coming into those parts. had only
time TO save myself, with my two children and the
girl who followed US, in order to reach that village
Of ST. Herbelon. The distance between the village
and Ancens is hardly four leagues ; although We
set of al o'clock in the evening, we only reached
St. Herbelon at six in the morning. tits true we
were on foot, ard that carried Hcrmenee on my
back; aud my servant carried my daughter. We
often saw the Buesat distance, and then we were
obliged to go back. am convinced that in this
flight we walked or seven leagues. Having reach
cd ST. Herbelon, after having been exposed to thou.
sand dangers we we're Hospitality received at farm
that very day burning fever obliged US all three
to be put to bed. My daughter and myself found
our bodies covered with pustules, it was the small
pox The symptoms were very mild in my little
girl and myself, but with Hermenee the eruption
heart rending anxiety.
We were not yet recovered from this friehtful
maady, when some neighbors came to tell the far
mer with whom we lodged that if he had Vendeans
concealed with him he ought TO send them away
without delay, TO avoid the destruction of his house
by detachment Of Blues who were approaching
The farmer ledus, in this extremity to barn. opel
to every blast, and there laid US under the straw
We remained there all night. An excessive cold.
Joined to all that Hermnee had suffered at The mas
sage OF the Loire, completely threw back the erup.
llon, the smallpox, and the next day this deal
child expired in my bosom. | know not VIVA,
would have become Of me in this horrible situation
without religion, which is all sufficient and all-sup
porting. saw this beloved child in Heaven, and II
only wept Tor myself. | wrapped him in a large
white handkerchief, and held him dead in my arm.
lof ior'y-ee hours unwlingto part with the body
wi could deposit IT in con5ecrated ground AL
length found the means of having him secretly |
buried IN the Church.yard of ST.. Hetbelon This
cruel event having led to the discovery that we were
sheltered IN this barn. we obliged to leave H. A
good man OF the village, named Drounceu come TO
take US away, and he conducted US (my daughter
and MYSELF ito the house of one of his relation. a,
Hardoulliere, about half league from St. Herbe.
Ion. We we're yet covered with smsll-pox. a.
greed to par, from my faithful servant; but 7 bsd
the consolation of thinking, that, being no lonerr
with US, she had ceased to incur any individual
danger.
The Republicans having came from Nantes 70
make search about our new refuge, we were com. 1
PEELED, without delay, to leave the house and WERE
plectd IN the hollow Of tree about lively, f,s,l
hgo, We Climbed to this hiding place by mean,l
Of ladder, and We remained in it three day, andl
fnree nights, having the smallpox had more
ever, gathering in the knee, and one in the leg |
J suffered greatly from these two sores, vet I be
Contributed IN
carried of all the humors Of my disease.
The good peasant placed near us, in III. hollow
oil the tres, small pitcher of water and mor,e of
bread. Alter the moment of icy which I derived
rom the possibility OF saving myself with nv child
tSen IN the hollow Of a tree, who can expr,.s all
maj suffered IN that situation But it was an asv
lum and in that terrible hour il was every thine
Never did any one with more satisfaction and nl.a.
sure take possession Of convenient and spi,abI, |
aPar'heht'-hut, afterwards, what dark reflections
came crowdng upon my mind. The end rs an |
hour found myself so fatigued BY the coo,,rsin-d
attitude in which was obliged to remain in ,his
mario" prison, and which could not change. that
'nought II would be impossible for me to clos,
my eyes. My daughter suffered les, than ,,vs.Ie I
because ] held her on my knees, and al. corid
turn about, which she never did without rpbhno
my diseased knee IN these moments abe alwav.l
gave me extreme pain; but sustained from corn.
plant. -'''" 'o'h-
spent indeed,a horrible night; and nv inrui.-
llde, as well as my bodily suHernss, did moi allow
me moment of repose. My daughter ssn, +,
lie out during her sleep she continually eroan,d |
anG he1 Waiings wrung my heart.-When she a
woke' was to ask for drink. was myself devon.
GO y DurolnE thirst, which dared not satisfy in
"e .ess o. eSna9sl'og our little store Of water A,
e"sln'a' oreaS dsy, our charitable neasant rarns
~ o.ius ~ some Drown bread and some apnles
This visit alone was cOnsoa,ion for me- i pra..
20 me mar We were mol entirely abandoned ana ,ha,
we mad yet support and pretector hal nv .,,a'
.ts but eagerly ate some of the appIes be- appe
'hey quenched my thirst little; but soon n0a nss
celyed that this bad nonrishm.n, 0"' eooh Per-