Cette paix est illusoire

In my last message to you, I related news of an Armistice in the Vendee. Jean - Nicholas Stofflet is the leader of the rebels in the Mauges. Brutal, authoritarian, but effective he has managed to create his own little kingdom, and has maintained his opposition to the agreement signed by Charette until now. Persued by republican forces he managed to inflict a defeat on General Canclaux at Chalonnes, (Ventose 28). The infernal columns were not stopped though and continued to seek out his supporters, avenging their defeat 4 days later at St Florent. A further reverse came at Chemille, and on Floreal 7 Stofflet’s camp at Maulevrier was discovered and destroyed. He finally had to submit to overwhelming pressure and on Floreal 13 signed the peace accord, the last of the Vendeean leaders to do so.

Lazare Hoche, commanding all republican forces, should be aware that this peace could prove illusory. Signed by the Vendeeans who are exhausted, they may use the armistice to regroup and plan further campaigns. Accepted by Charette, imposed on Stofflet, Cadoudal and many other Royalists are still at large and the flames of revolt may only have been dampened down.

Brigadier General d’Artillerie

Events in the Vendee bring to mind stories circulating the salons of Paris, of the adventures of Napoleon Buonaparte. Having come to prominence as a Captain during the siege of Toulon, and benefiting from the patronage of Robbespierre he was promoted to Brigadier General of Artillery with the Army of Italy. He received plaudits from General Dumerbion who attributed much of the success of the last campaign to his ability, only to find himself thrown into prison as a Jacobin on the fall of his patron.

Surviving the aftermath of Thermidor, it is now causing some amusement that the ambitious young General has turned his attention from submitting endless plans to Citizen Carnot and the Convention, to pressing claims for the hand and heart of Desiree Clary, daughter of a rich textile merchant in Marseilles. He will not be amused when he hears the announcement made (Germinal 9) that his military ambitions will have to be persued commanding an Infantry Brigade in the Vendee.

Traite de Basel

The success of French arms in the north was further underpinned (Germinal 16) when a treaty of peace and understanding was signed between France and Prussia in Basel. The coalition established against France has been broken, Austria isolated, and Republican troops confirmed in their occupation of the left bank ofthe Rhine. This brings hosilities in the new Batavian Republic to an end.

The treaty was negotiated and signed by Francois Barthelemy for the Convention, with Ambassador Karl von Hardenburg for Prussia, although it is believed a lot of the credit is due to Count von Haugwitz the Prussian Foreign Minister.

Malgre la retour a la liberte des transactions, les difficultes de ravitaillement subsistent.

Food supplies in Paris have continued to be at low levels, made worse by the terrible winter. For some weeks posters have been put up calling on the sections to rise up in protest. Matters came to a head (Germinal 12) when crowds entered the Convention shouting for bread. Riots broke out in many parts of the city, and protesters had to be evicted from the assembly at bayonet point. Without any serious organisation the unrest was contained by the National Guard, but deputies to the Convention alarmed by the situation declared martial law. General Pichegru was placed at the head of troops in the capital, assisted by de Thionville and Barras to contain the unrest.

Rasoir National

Madame Guillotine has claimed another illustrious victim. Fouquier Tinville, the former public prosecutor often referred to as the quiet buereaucrat of death, has himself been been found guilty in a packed courtoom and taken to climb the steps to the Rasoir National. As prosecutor of the revolutionary tribunal he was responsible for many scandalous prosecutions, his victims incuding Charlotte Corday, and Marie Antoinette herself.

De Breuc.