La Vendee dechiree Reports are coming in of the death of Henri de la Rochejaquelein, Generalissimo of the Catholic and Royalist army raised in the Vendee. (Les blancs) Ever since the execution of Louis Capet, a year ago, refusing to accept the authority of the Convention in Paris, Royalist insur-gents in the Vendee have been threatening the future of the Revolution itself. Carrying standards of religious imagery these terrorists have even been heard of singing a counter "Marseilles" "Allon armees Catholiques, le jour de gloire est arrives Contre nous de la Republique L'etendard sanglant est levee... Aux armes poitevins, formez vos bataillons Marchez, marchez, le sang aux bleus Rougira nos sillons." La Bataille de Savenay The Convention could not stand back any longer and General Kleber was sent to reorganise the Republican (Les bleus) army and re-store order. A column under General Westermann has gained victory at Savenay (23rd December) and Citizen St. Juste on behalf of the Committee of Public Safety has authorised the publication of his report. "There is no more Vendee, citizens, it has perished under our free sword along with its women and children. I have just buried it in the marshes and mud of Savenay. Following the orders that you gave me I have crushed children under the hooves of horses, massacred women who at least... will engender no more brigands. I have made no prisoners with which to reproach myself." After the battle, surviving royalists attempted to recross the Loire but due to a lack of boats except for La Rochjaquelein and Stofflet they were unable to escape and deprived of leadership the army dispersed. Monsier Henri est Mort Since his escape La Rochejaquelien has been trying to rally his forces, but leading a reconnaissance with only a few armed horsemen he spotted two isolated Republican soldiers. They pretended to surrender but as the young general reached out to take their weapons one of the soldiers fired hitting Monsieur Henri in the forehead. Republican troops now hold sway and Citizen St. Juste has sent Jean Baptiste Carrier to Nantes as Representative en Mission to restore order. Robespierre et Danton Here in Paris, Camille Desmoulins has been trying to settle the differences of Citizens Robespierre and Danton. They all attended a dinner at Humberts two nights ago. Robespierre is anxious to give the Republic a firm foundation whilst Danton feels too much blood has been spilt already. No announcement has been made but Robespierre left clearly disappointed... Vive La Republique! Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire #16 Back to First Empire List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1994 by First Empire. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com