The Litchfield County post., 1827-08-23

,,s,,ol.. The attack OF the Vendeans was
that Of sharp--shOotcrs,- dispersed
shsr.selves So as 10 surround their adpeFsa-
,{es wifi, semicircuIar Gre, maintained by
hodv Of formidable mafksnen. accustomed
IN take aim with taIprecisiOn, and whose
sk;Il was the more dreadful, because, being
bahituated TO take advantage Of every tree,
h,,sh. or point Of shelter. those who were
dealing destruction amongst others, were
themselves comparatively free from risk.
This maneuyrc was termed s'egdiLter /; and
the execution of It resembling the Indian
bush-fghting, was, like the attack OF the red
warriOrs,accompan by whoops and shouts,
which seemed, from the extended space thro'
which they resounded, to multiply the num-
of the assaiIants. When the Republicans.
CALLED in this manner, pressed forward to
close attack, they found no enemy on which
to wreak their vengeance; for the loose ar
raw ofsthe Vendeans gave immediate passage
TO the head of the charged column, while its
tanks, as it advanced, were still more expo
sed than before to the murderous fire of their
invisible enemies. In this manner they were
sometimes led on from point to point, until
the regulars meeting with a barricade, or an
Admits, or a strong position in front, or be-,
cunning perhaps involved in defIe, the Ven-'
deans exchanged their fatal musketry for a
close and furious onset, throwing themselves
with the most devoted courage among the en-
emy's ranks, and slaughtering them in great
numbers. If, on the other handyth insur
gents were compelled to give way, pursuit
was almost as dangerous to the Republicans
as an engagement. The VPndean, when hard
pressed, threw. away his clogs, oryRooden-
shoes, of which he could make himself new
pair at the next resting place, sprang over
fence or canal, loaded his fusee as he ran, and
discharged it at the pursuer with fatal aim,
whenever he found opportunity of pausing
for that purpose. This species of combat,
which the ground rendered so advantageous
to the Vendeans, was equally SO in case Of
victory or defeat. IL the Republicans were
vanquished their army was nearly destroyed;
for the preservation of order became impOs-
sble; while baggage, ammunition, carriages.
guns, and all the material part, as it is called,
of the defeated army, fell into the possession
of the cOnquerors. On the other hand,
if the Vendeans sustained loss, the victors
found nothing on the field but the bodies of the
slain, and the sabots, or wooden-shoe of the,
fugitives. The few prisoners whom they
made, had generally thrown away or conceaE
ed their arms; and their army having no bag
gage or carriages of any kind, could of
course loose none. Pursuit was very apt to
convert an advantage into defeat; for the
cavalry could not act, and the infantry, dis
persed in the chase, became frequent victims
to those whom they pursued. In the field,
the Vendeans were courageous TO rashness.
They hesitated not to attack and carry ar
tillery with no other weapons than their
slaves and most Of their worst losses pro-
ceeded from their attacking fortified towns
and positions with the purpose of carrying
them by main force. After conquest, they
We're in general humane and merciful. But
this depended on the characters of the chiefs.
At Macheccoul, the insurgents conducted
themselves with great ferocity in the very be-
ginning Of civil war; and towards the end of
it, mutual and reprocal injuries had so eXas-
perated the parties against each other, that
quarter was neither given nor taken on either
side. Yet, until provoked by the extreme
cruelties Of the revolutionary party, and I'M
less conducted by some peculiarly ferOcious
chief, the character of the Vendeans united
clemency with courage. They gave quarter
readily to the vanqlished; but having no
means of retaining prisoners, they usually
shaved their heads before they set them at
liberty, that they might be distinguished, If
found again in arms, contrary to their parole
A5ho less striking feature, wasthe severity of
discipline respecting property, which was
taught them only by their moral sense. No
temptation could excite them to pillage; and
Madam La Roche Jacquelein has preserved
the following singular instance of their SIM
pie honesty AFTER the peasants had taken
the town Of Bressuire by storm, she overheard
two or three of them COMPLAIN of the want
of tobacco, to the use of which they were
addicted, like the natives of most countries
in general. What said the lady, lis there
no tobacco In the shops !! Tobacco enough
answered the simple hearted and honest pea.
SAINTS, who had not learned to make steel sup
ply the want of gold, tobacco enough; but
wehave no money to pay Cor it," a..
a ~, From thssLiteruy Cadet.
,.a.yv FLORIDA INDIANS.
We have read with feelings somewhat a.
wakened by the subject, the address of Col.
White, to the Seminole Indians, ut confer
.pca hn had with them nm the snh;act If