HISTORY OF EUROPE. 



101 



vinces, and even farther, and es- 

 sentially contributed to repair theft 

 losses. 



One of the most effectual causes 

 of the surprising successes of the 

 Vendeans, was the method of*jn- 

 ducting their movements, whether 

 to attack the enemy or to avoid 

 him. The face of their country, 

 broken, vineven, and boggy, was 

 peculiarly unfavourable to tlic 

 transporting of heavy baggage. 

 For this reason they encumbered 

 themselves with none. Every man 

 carried what was indispensably ne- 

 cessary for himself; and a few horses 

 were sufficient for such luggage as 

 was not portable otherwise. Thus 

 equipped, their marches and their 

 retreats were equally quick. They 

 could surprise, attack, or encape 

 from the enemy with greatcelerity ; 

 to which hewasAvholly inadequate. 

 When victorious, they were able 

 to pursue him to what distance they 

 pleased ; and had only to guard 

 against ambuscades. When over- 

 powered, they soon were in safety, 

 from the quickness of theirmotions 

 unimpeded by the necessity of se- 

 .curing their baggage and arlilUry. 

 It was commonly owing to the 

 quantity and weight of these, that 

 the republicans, after obtaining ad- 

 vantages, lust them immediately by 

 following the, Vend< aus with iheir 

 cannon and heavy baggage. The 

 Vendeans, on puqrose, retreated 

 to narrow passes and marshy 

 grounds, whither the enemy could 

 not pursue them; or where, if he 

 attempted it, his giuisand carriages 

 stuck fast, and :ittordi.d an oppor- 

 tunity of re-engaging him to ad-- 

 vantage. Their local knowledge 

 enabled the Vendeans also, w hen 

 routed, to rally from all parts with- 

 out opposition, while favoured by 



darkness, and to renew the conflict 

 at break of day, totally unexpected 

 by the enemy ; whom, for that 

 reason, they frequently found un- 

 prepared to receive them. Often 

 too, wlien a blow of importance 

 was meditatttd, would the royalists 

 disperse at the approach of the re- 

 publicans ; who, seeing no enemy, 

 and apprehending no danger to be 

 near, were apt to be less on their 

 guard. When the apoointea hour 

 was come, which was always on 

 those occasions a little before the 

 dawn, they rushed from all sides on 

 tlje encampment of the enemy, 

 who seldomi was able to resist 

 them. 



Such were the methods prac- 

 tised by the Vendeans in their war- 

 fare with the republicans. They^ 

 so rarely failed of success, that, du- 

 ring a long time, the numerous bo- 

 dies dispatched by ihe Convention 

 to suppress the insurgents, were 

 usually either destroyed, or put to 

 flight. So disheartened at length 

 were the republican troops, that it 

 was with the utmost reluctance they 

 marched against the royalists of 

 La Vendee ; whom they dreaded 

 much more than any other enemy. 

 What is peculiarly remarkable, 

 amidst the surprising advantages 

 daily obtained by the Vendeans, 

 they had neither cavalry nor ar- 

 tillery. As their first victories had 

 been gained without these, ihry 

 were never very solicitous to pro- 

 cure them, until they found that • 

 sieges could not be imdertaken 

 without the one, noravictory com*. 

 pleted without the other. Having, ■ 

 however, no expert engineers 

 among them, they continued very 

 inattentive to the utility of cannon ; 

 and though they frequently took . 

 immense trains from the enemy, 



H i they 



