HISTORY OF EUROPE. {79 
fhspection of the public, and which tober, 1795, which they représent- 
they asserted to be of incontestible ed as connected with, and origina- 
authenticity, would unfold, they ing from royalism, they formally 
said, the whole process of the trea- charged general Pichegru*with be- 
sons in question. After reverting traying at that very time, the re- 
_ to the events of Vendemiaire, Oc- public, by acceding to the propo- 
iy 
“® Of the intention of general Pichegru, to restore the royal familyof France, there is not 
~ now any doubt. It has been clearly avowed, indeed, by subsequent occurrences. As we 
_hhave had occasion to take notice in our volume for 1794, he was never at great pains ta 
disguise hissentiments, wishes and designs, in favour of royalty. He possessed a fine 
understanding, as well as great knowledge and skill in military affairs: but the most 
prominent feature in his character was a manly boldness, simplicity and strength of 
mind, which scorning defiles, advanced, as directly as possible, to its object. The fol- 
lowing remarks on the tactics, manners, and person of general Pichegru, are extracted 
and translated from a work entitled, Histoire Chronologique des operations de l’ Armée 
du Nord, et de celle de Sambre et Meuse, par le citoyen David, Temoin, du plupart 
de leurs Exploits. The tactics of general Pichegru are of a nature altogether new and 
- original. His system consists wholly in pursuing the enemy without intermission ; in 
courting opportunities of engagements; in keeping his whole force together, without 
dividing it for the purpose of carrying on sieges ; to reduce only such as are necessary, 
_ in order tosecure proper positions, without seeming to be at all concerned about the 
reduction of such strong places as he had left behind him. 
This system of military tactics was the only one that was suitable to our situation ; 
andfarther, it was the only system that suited the characterofthe French. It is not to 
‘be doubted that our troops were full of courage and bravery; but the greater part of 
_ them wasnewly levied, aud not sufficiently trained in sieges, for the purpose of under~ 
taking a siege of any difficulty. Farther still, the French soldier js too ardent and im- 
patient te go through with a chain of operations that require perseverance. In the 
field, he certs forth as an eagle, and fights like a lion. But a long and arduous siege 
repels, and ofttimes, evendiscourages him. In order to have a military body of men 
perfect and invincible, it would be necessary to carry on sieges with Swiss troops, and 
_ to have French armies of observation. But while a general has only Frenchmen un- 
_ der his command, he ought not tolet them grow restive, by remaining long in one place; 
but to keep them always in breath, and always within view of the enemy. 
_— If Pichegru had obeyed the orders of the committee of public safety ; if he had not 
| : known the character of the French and adopted an unusual system of tactics, he would 
have sacrificed fifty thousand men, at least, before our towns of Hainault. Perhaps he 
might have been beaten. And even, in case of success and victory, he most assuredly 
' would not have been able to push his conquests even to the northern sea, and the 
confines of Westphalia. The king of Prussia was the only sovereign, among the co- 
_ alesced powers, who set the plans of Pichegru at defiance, and the only one thatdid 
him justice. About the beginning ofthe campaign, that monarch wrote a letter: (pub- 
_ lished in a Belgic newspaper), to the following effect: ‘‘ It is impossible to save your 
ccs from invasion. The French have armiés always springing up, one after 
-@mother. Be not deceived: their generals pursue a wise System of tactics, which 
‘ disconcerts ours, and gets the better of them.” 
_. Pichegru, formerly professor of mathematics at Brienne, is five feet five inches in 
height > of a large size, without being corpulent ; and, in a word, formed in the very 
mould ofa warrior. His appearance is, at first sight, severe and forbidding ; but it 
paoftens in conversation, and inspires the greatest degree of trust and confidence. His 
politeness has no sort of resemblance to what is called etiquette, which is commonly 
‘Rothing else than duplicity and roguery. His politeness is without affectation, and 
b> y sincere. You may see, at once, that he is obliging, from a frankness of 
ition, and naturally good. But he has nothing about him of what was, hereto- 
» considered as essential to a courtier, 
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