eo 
— 
BLANCHE DE BEAULIEU. 249 
expected to surprise a number of the fugitive royalists, and some 
part of their forces, amounting to nearly eighteen hundred men, 
assembled to hear a mass. 
The General now separated his little troop into several columns, 
with orders to traverse the forest in different directions, and sur- 
round tle appointed spot on every side. Half an hour, he calcu- 
lated, would suffice for each party to take up its respective position. 
One division remained to advance by the way which lay before him, 
the others separated on each side to pursue their respective routes ; 
the heavy tramp of their steps gradually became fainter and fainter, 
and at length died away altogether. 
The half hour passed quickly, and the word ‘ Forward !” was at 
length given by Marceau. As they cautiously and gradually ad- 
vanced, the cross-way which formed the centre of the forest appear- 
ed illuminated. On a nearer approach a number of glittering 
torches were perceived, and soon as every object became more dis- 
tinct, an unusual sight burst upon their view. On an altar rudely 
erected by piling together a number of loose stones, the minister of 
Saint Marie de Rhé was performing a mass ; a number of old men 
encircled the altar, bearing torches in their hands, and round about 
a crowd of women and children were on their knees, engaged in 
prayer. Between the republican army and this group, the men weres 
stationed in a thick phalanx, evidently prepared for attack or de- 
fence. The royalists did not wait for the onset. They had sharp- 
shooters in the wood, who had already commenced firing on the ap- 
proaching soldiers, who advanced firmly step by step, without pull- 
ing a trigger, or answering in any way the reiterated fire of their 
enemies. The only words heard were, after each discharge, ‘ Close 
up! close up!” Ajlthis time the priest continued to read the mass, 
his audience remaining on their knees, apparently unconcerned with 
what was passing around them. ‘The republican army steadily ad- 
vanced ; when they were within thirty paces of their enemies, the 
firing commenced ; the first rank dropping on one knee, three lines 
of guns were discharged, making terrible havoc among the royalists, 
and some balls, passing into the midst, fell at the foot of the altar, 
killing or wounding women and children in their course. All was 
instantly cries and tumult. The priest raised the host, and every 
head bent tothe earth in reverential silence. The republicans fired 
their second discharge at ten paces ; as calmly as though they were 
at a review, and with as much precision as before a target. Nei- 
ther party had time to reload, but, rushing on, closed with their 
bayonets; and here the republicans, being regularly armed, had a 
VOL, IX., NO. XXVI, 32 
